Tedford's QBs suffer from separation anxiety: here's the bottom line: Tedford is coaching quarterbacks better at his level than NFL teams are coaching them at theirs

Sporting News, The, March 25, 2005 by Dan Pompei

When Jeff Tedford has sent his quarterback chicks out from his nest, they haven't exactly soared like eagles. There is only one Pro Bowl appearance among them.

Tedford's latest fledgling is Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers, potentially the first pick in the draft. To evaluate Rodgers, NFL scouts have to consider the other quarterbacks Tedford has coached and wonder if Rodgers isn't a letdown waiting to happen.

"I would never get scared off by something like that," one AFC general manager says. "You have to evaluate the player based on the talent. But certainly you have to be aware of the history and go the extra mile to make sure you feel good about the player."

It's not as if Tedford is running a shell game on NFL teams. The Cal coach isn't deceiving anyone as much as he is coaching quarterbacks better at his level than NFL teams are coaching quarterbacks at their levels.

Tedford's quarterbacks at Fresno State, Oregon and Cal have been extensions of him because he does the work for the player. He's one of those coaches who puts in 18-hour days and sleeps in his office three or four nights a week. "He does the thinking for the quarterback ahead of time, so all the quarterback has to do is carry out the plan," an NFC general manager says. "He narrows the quarterback's options, so all he has to do is throw the ball to the right spot."

Tedford's offense is quarterback-friendly like McDonald's is kid-friendly. His quarterbacks aren't asked to try anything ambitious. The system makes it easy for Rodgers to find an open receiver quickly. Tedford also is one of the best technique coaches around. Notice how Rodgers holds the ball up around the Cal decal on his helmet--a Tedford trademark.

The problem is quarterbacks often regress on fundamentals after they are separated from Tedford. It happened with Kyle Boller after he became a Raven.

So the onus is on the talent evaluator to look past the system and see the player, which is as challenging as looking past the fat and seeing the muscle.

This is not unlike what Steve Spurrier did at Florida for so many years. He won consistently with explosive passing games but never produced a standout NFL quarterback. Tedford, however, has had better quarterback lumber than Spurrier. Even Billy Volek, another Tedford product, has been a quality NFL backup for the Titans after entering the league as an undrafted free agent.

There isn't a lot we can say about Rodgers definitively except he throws a nice short pass. But nice short passes are not worth $19 million, which the first pick in the draft expects to get in guaranteed bonuses.

His accuracy is a little spotty on those rare occasions when he attempts the difficult throw. Rodgers is a good caretaker quarterback who doesn't often make the Homer Simpson play--dohhh! He's tough enough, has enough arm strength and enough mobility. But he isn't spectacular in any area. His instincts and ability to gauge pressure and see the field are questionable.

Rodgers can be a winning NFL quarterback in the right situation, but there is not enough evidence to proclaim him a franchise player. If he were graded strictly on ability and his position were not a factor, he'd be considered a second-round talent.

You can have Rodgers if you want him. Me, I'll take Tedford.

The Tedford tree Five recent NFL draft Dicks played under Jeff Tedford at Fresno State, Oregon or Cal.

Trent Dilfer

Drafted: 6th overall by the Bucs in 1994

Has he justified the pick? No. He has a passer rating of 70.6 and a completion percentage of .552 in 11 NFL seasons after having a passer rating of 102.8 and a completion percentage of .589 in two seasons under Tedford.

Akili Smith

Drafted: 3rd overall by the Bengals in 1999

Has he justified the pick? No. Smith was drafted ahead of Daunte Culpepper, but Smith has been cut by two teams and is trying to show he can be an NFL backup by playing in NFL Europe this spring.

David Carr

Drafted: 1st overall by the Texans in 2002

Has he justified the pick? He is on his way. Tedford's influence on Carr's draft stock was minimal because Carr played for Tedford for only one year, throwing 11 passes as a freshman.

Joey Harrington

Drafted: 3rd overall by the Lions in 2002

Has he justified the pick? No. It's too early to call him a bust, but you certainly wouldn't say he has played up to expectations.

Kyle Boller

Drafted: 19th overall by the Ravens in 2003

Has he justified the pick? It's too early to say. He made dramatic improvement in his one year with Tedford, just in time to become a first-round draft pick. Passer rating under Tedford: 126.8; passer rating in the NFL: 68.1.

INSIDE DISH

Those who were at the Redskins' facility in spring 2001 are not surprised the team acquired WR Santana Moss in a trade with the Jets. Team owner Dan Snyder was infatuated with Moss four years ago and wanted to draft him, but then-coach Marty Schottenheimer preferred Rod Gardner. The Redskins chose Gardner with the 15th overall pick, and Moss went to the Jets with the 16th. Neither team has been happy with its choice. The Redskins are trying to trade Gardner, and the Jets were happy to acquire WR Laveranues Coles for Moss, a player they thought nursed injuries too long and missed too many practices. * There have been reports the Ravens could try to trade OLB Peter Boulware now that they are switching to a 4-3, but G.M. Ozzie Newsome wonders how he could trade a player who is rehabbing a toe injury and won't be ready to play until training camp. Boulware might be best suited to play outside linebacker in a 3-4, but he did make the Pro Bowl twice as a strongside linebacker who moved up to end on third downs in a 4-3 scheme during the first five years of his career. * Getting a fourth-round pick for backup QB Trent Dilfer was a nice first move for new Seahawks president Tim Ruskell. Initially, it had appeared the market for Dilfer was a late-round selection. The Seahawks knew Dilfer was going to leave the team after the 2005 season anyway because he let it be known he believes he still can be a starter and wanted out of Seattle. Dilfer can try to prove himself in Cleveland, and Ruskell has to find a veteran backup for Matt Hasselbeck. * Former Heisman Trophy winner Jason White didn't help or hurt his draft stock at Oklahoma's pro day last week, but concerns about the quarterback's two surgically repaired knees were allayed at the Scouting Combine, where White checked out fine physically. Though he has size (6-2, 220) and intelligence, White generally is considered a second- or third-tier quarterback who probably won't go until late in the draft. * Failing a physical exam cost LB Kendrell Bell nearly $10 million. The Giants were offering the former Steeler a signing bonus of almost $13 million but pulled the offer after they received his medical report. Bell ended up with the Chiefs and received a signing bonus of $3.5 million. He also has a chance to earn roster bonuses of $3.5 million in 2006 and $3 million in 2007. * Not signing free-agent RT Fred Miller wasn't a big deal to the Rams because they have high hopes for Scott Tercero as their starting right tackle. When Tercero's season ended in mid-November because of a shoulder injury, he was the Rams' second-best blocker after LT Orlando Pace. A sixth-round pick in 2003, Tercero still is developing but clearly has shown potential. The Rams are not counting on Kyle Turley to be their right tackle again but are considering drafting a tackle in the early rounds.