Buckskin86's article he cited gets at the point the best for me. The issue as I see it is one of coaching. If Todd lacks something as a QB, what that is as far as I see is leadership. He is perhaps too quiet, as seems the case for Romo here in Dallas. That is not the end of the situation, but coaching, despite his present age--he still sounded young in that interview--but as I was saying, coaching for me will be the thing that makes him or breaks him. My Bears should get him if they can, but I do not trust the coaching for the QB position in Chicago. I would love to see what Parcels and the Dolphins could do with him, but most people to me underestimate the impact of coaching. Parcels wins with servicable QBs while other coaches need 'stars' of one callibur or another. Boeckman could be valuable for the right coach, especially if he were to sit for two years and learn. His problems with the rush to me are the sign of a QB that lacks game experience, and the leadership that goes with it. I would have understood if Boeckman was kept as the starter last year. In the bowl game against Texas this year, TOSU would have won in my opinion if Boeckman had been given more than a pass down here and there but had started the game. He was on a roll and really showed what a good passer can do, which TP did not show because of his developmental stage as a passer at this stage.
What QB would have forced TP to sit last year after the USC loss? In the history of Ohio State, only
Art Schlichter seems to me talented enough to hold back TP. Others may have done it because of their superior knowledge of the game. In the long run, getting benched because of TP is not a mark against Boeckman but rather a mark in favor of TP. I think he is that good, despite his stage of development as a passer being clearly to me behind Boeckman. Anyway, this is how I see the situation and think Boeckman has enough to be a very solid pro, especially if he gets in with the right coaches and is not rushed with the expectations of immediate success. Too many people underestimate the value of system and coaching when it comes to QB success in the NFL. The condition of immediate gratification hurts many drafted players it seems to me. But that is part of life in any event. Todd needs to get the time playing in the pros. How many coaches could succeed the way Bellichek(sp) did last year with a QB who has no game experience? Not many others it seems to me. That is what real coaching can accomplish. That is as rare as a five tool baseball player or an Elway or the like. But even Elway needed a new coach to go all the way. The Steelers have the system where Todd could grow and become successful, though I doubt he would ever supplant
Ben Roethlisberger. He could get the maturity to be a good QB but such a thing does not often show itself in a man's mid or early 20s. Having other pros around him would not hurt Boeckman, though the pro game is different than college no doubt. Boeckman will be a late pick is my guess. I hope it is at a place that will give him a real chance, but I still think he needs to grow up as a leader, which for his personality type takes time.
