Is Matt Leinart the real deal?

[MikeD]

Based on the earlier Detroit Lions thread, wanted to get some opinions on Matt Leinart.

Is he the real deal at QB? Or has he benefitted from being surrounded by high quality talent (Bush, White, Williams, etc.)?

[Showtime]

Depends on the next 2 games. Either way Matt is a safe draft choice. He is mentally tough, has been QB'ing at the highest collegiate level for 3 years and has the tools to start in the NFL. At worst he will become a decent backup.

Hard to pick out of the 5 best QB's this year (Leinart, Rogers, Quinn, Vick and Young), but I would probably grab Young if were available and see if he can become a better passing Michael Vick. After Young, then Leinart, Quinn and Rogers. Quinn could be the next Montana.... Rogers is solid. Vick is biggest gamble and could end up the most fun to watch like his brother. This is shaping up to be a great QB class imo.

[ialsohaveadream]

Leinart runs the offense well, and he's got good arm strength. My guess is that in the right situation, he's a solid pro. Vince Young should start practicing at receiver if he wants to make the NFL. My boy Kyle Wright is the real deal, though. The kid throws laser beams...he just needs a little more experience.

[MikeD]

Vick definitely needs another year at VT, and then will need time to develop in the pros. He's got the tools, but is not close to being NFL ready.

I'm not sold on Quinn, but admittedly I've not watched much Notre Dame football. Of the entire group I like Young's upside the most, though IAHAD may be right about the WR thing. One way or another, he'll be playing on Sundays.

Kyle Wright has the tools, but no way you can project a freshman QB. People were high on Chris Rix too at one point, ya know. ;)

I think Leinart will be a solid pro. Showtime is right about playing in a pro style system, in many big games over the years. I don't think he's a franchise QB though, and I'd never take him over Bush if I was drafting #1.

[ialsohaveadream]

No way I'd take Vince Young as a QB. If he pulled a Matt Jones and came out as a WR, I'd be interested. Hell, maybe the Steelers will draft him. Cowher loves that stuff.

I don't think Quinn's that great, but like MikeD, I haven't been so focused on rooting against ND that I haven't paid attention.

And by the way, Wright's a soph...and hopefully not "lyme diseased" (*cough* CRAZY *cough*) like Sexton or inconsistent like Rix.

[Thesifer]

Depends on the next 2 games. Either way Matt is a safe draft choice. He is mentally tough, has been QB'ing at the highest collegiate level for 3 years and has the tools to start in the NFL. At worst he will become a decent backup.

Hard to pick out of the 5 best QB's this year (Leinart, Rogers, Quinn, Vick and Young), but I would probably grab Young if were available and see if he can become a better passing Michael Vick. After Young, then Leinart, Quinn and Rogers. Quinn could be the next Montana.... Rogers is solid. Vick is biggest gamble and could end up the most fun to watch like his brother. This is shaping up to be a great QB class imo.

Would be hard to draft Young since he is a Junior this year. And unless he has said otherwise, I seriously doubt he drops out for the draft. I would assume he has another year at UT.

[bachviet]

He probably ends up as an average QB.

[VTGreg]

Young has said he is returning for his senior but who knows if that will change if they win the NC. I too agree with the WR comment. However, I think he will want to test the waters as a QB and someone will take a chance on him. He really needs to work on his release point if he wants to make it as a QB in the NFL. He has the worst release (throws it 3/4) of any top rated QB I can think of in recent years. David Carr has a 3/4 release but it isn't nearly as exagerated as Young's release.

Leinart is a safe pick as the top QB. He is surrounded by a lot of talent and that does improve his production but he has poise and is already used to a pro style offense.

Quinn will be back next year as well. I think he has very good physical tools and benefits from being coached by Charlie Weiss for 2 years before heading to the pros. He will be a top 10 pick next year.

Vick will be back next year also. He will definitely be a WR in the NFL. He doesn't have the physical size (he's under 6'0) to play QB in the NFL. Height was a question mark for Michael when he got drafted and Marcus is shorter than Michael.

The top rated QB's in the draft this year will be Leinart, Omar Jacobs, Sam Keller and Charlie Whitehurst. Leinart is the only QB on Kiper's top 25 board (only includes seniors).

[Sirrich3]

Leinart should have gone Pro last year!!!

[VTGreg]

Leinart should have gone Pro last year!!!

He was having problems with his elbow (had surgery in the off-season) and would have slid in the draft. He made the right decision to wait a year. He may not be the top pick because of the needs of the teams with the top picks, but he will be top 5.

[kgsilvas]

He should make at least a decent NFL QB. He is quick both mentally and physically. He seems to call most of his own plays and does that well.

[MikeD]

He was having problems with his elbow (had surgery in the off-season) and would have slid in the draft. He made the right decision to wait a year. He may not be the top pick because of the needs of the teams with the top picks, but he will be top 5.

He made the right decision, even if you only consider the co-eds on the USC campus. ;)

I think Leinart will be a decent pro. I don't see sure-fire/slam dunk potential, but you rarely do in college. I think it's difficult to grade him based on some of the talent he's surrounded by (namely Bush), but his team has won 30+ straight and that should say something.

A good correlation would be LaDanian Tomlinson, who I was unsure of coming out of TCU based on the offense that he played in. We all know how he turned out. With Leinart, it could be the same thing but I just feel like he's going to be a Jake Plummer type: solid QB, but not the kind of guy to carry a team to a championship.