Tedford's QBs far from sure bet to succeed in NFL

By Dan Pompei
Chicago Tribune
Sporting News
March 20, 2005
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 California 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 California 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 California 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. The problem is quarterbacks often regress on fundamentals after they are separated from Tedford. It happened with Kyle Boller after he became a Raven.
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 dumb play. 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.
You can have Rodgers if you want him. Me, I'll take Tedford.