Everyone is forgetting the dark horse in the QB race. What if JaMarcus Russell comes out. His raw tools could make him a real climber come combine time, and he's got some momentum if he chooses to end his college career now.

I mentioned Russel being one to think about should he decide to enter the draft. I think he has the tools to do something in the NFL.

He's the type of Boom or Bust guy that I could totally see Al Davis pulling the trigger on if he has a big day at the combine.

russell will suck in the nfl. hes a culpepper clone. hes got all the raw athleticism in the world, but he clearly cant read a defense too well, and sick talent can only get you by so long in the nfl at quarterback.

as for smith, doubt all you want. he wasnt too short or too slow or anything else to win a crapload of games at ohio state. and unlike quinn, smith usually plays his best in the biggest games. the scouts will break the guy down just like they did vince young. but young won a lot of games in college, played his best in the biggest games, and look now, hes a very good nfl qb. smith will be too.

Troy Smith is not Vince Young, they wont even be similar at the NFL level. I don't see any sort of comparison with these guys. All I see with Troy Smith is a college football quarterback. Nothing about him transcends to the NFL that I see. Time will tell though.

As for Quinn (and the pre-hijack topic of this thread), I just like what the guy does, while not surrounded by Heisman candidates. I like how he makes quick reads, I like everything this guy does on the football field. If Oakland is smart, they take him, and concentrate on the offensive line. Get him some protection, then over the next couple years, get him some receivers. Let Aaron Brooks start the season, unless you can build the offensive line in the off-season (which I doubt they can do). If Oakland passes on him, Detroit would be foolish to pass on him. Kitna is not going to be around the NFL much longer.

Then again, there is always the chances of other teams trading up, but that is merely speculation at this point until rumors start circulating.

Brady Quinn was better in 05 than he was in 06 and will be mediocre at bet in the nfl.

Troy Smith is a leader, and will turn heads in the nfl... and when he does, i will be the first to say i told you so.

Wow, another Ohio State fan touting their own guy over someone from Notre Dame. I'm shocked

wow, another non-osu guy talkin shit about osu and their players.
goes both ways.
fact is... you parade around here blinded by your hatred for the osu program, and neglect seeing any talent for this reason and this reason alone.

That is where you are wrong. I talk trash about them in the college football forum. It doesn't benefit me a bit to just talk bad about someone in this forum because I don't like their school.

I gave my reasonings, rather than just saying he is a leader and will turn heads.

You can't avoid the fact that everybody in the nation knows who Troy Smith is throwing the ball to in college, and virtually nobody knows who is catching the ball at Notre Dame.

Going to be a different world for these guys after the draft and Quinn is far more prepared than Troy Smith is.

honestly man, if notre dame was #1 in the country, dont you think everyone would know who they were passing to?
comes with the spotlight on the #1 spot.
anything else?

No, they wouldn't.

Much like last year, unless you were a big college football fan, you didn't know who Vince Young was throwing the ball to. Everybody knew he wasn't going to be any good in the NFL because he had bad mechanics (that is what the experts were telling you on the sports channels), but the receivers were virtually unknowns.

The Notre Dame receivers are unknowns at best by most.

Actually ND's receivers are pretty good, especially Jeff Samardzija. Quinn's receivers have nothing to do with him being widely inconsistent, inaccurate at times, and struggles against top competition.

Now I could be wrong, and Quinn could end up being a good QB, but if I am drafting in the top 5 this year, Quinn would not be a guy I consider. Too much risk, and he has not shown me enough. If he was in last year's class, I would have ranked him behind Leinart, Young, and Cutler.

I disagree, if I had to choose between Vince Young and Brady Quinn I think I'd take Quinn. Young was great in college, but that's because he had total control when he had the ball. Running QB's usually don't work out too well, there are some exceptions of course but I'm talking in general here.
Anyway, though Quinn has his problems, I think that, for the most part, he's pretty good in the pocket, and usually, makes good decisions.

Of course, I like Georgia Tech, where people know our recievers and not our QB!

I can't believe its even a debate. Troy Smith will never be able to hold his own in the NFL. He may be a good QB for some NFL team one day, but he want start for several years. He got lucky winning the Heisman, only because he didn't lose a game and he had a comeback story. Brady Quinn statistically beat him in passing yards and Total TDs. Brady Quinn has the height, arm, and talent to be a better QB than troy smith in three years. Brady Quinn should go to Oakland, and they should concentrate on a solid offensive line for Brady Quinn. Thats a step in the right direction for Oakland. I would have to admit Brady Quinn couldn't be as effective as a QB in detroit, but no matter where Brady goes, he will be a starter next year, and Troy Smith want be.

Just b/c Quinn may be a starter first doesn't mean anything. To solve this debate, your going to need to look at it in 5 years. Just b/c Brady gets thrown to the wolves early won't mean he's a better QB. he's going to have to prove it on the field and in big games.

You know, in all honesty, if either of these two guys wound up at Tampa Bay I would be thrilled.

Is Calvin Johnson going into the draft? Does anyone know if he's decided yet?

Not official yet, many are assuming he will.

thats his job.lol