Historical Precedent for Isaiah Stanback's Career Prospects
by Tim Wilson on Apr 10, 2009 11:11 AM CDT
Email
Printhttp://www.footballoutsiders.com/extra-points/2009/pfw-way-we-hear-it-45
From Football Outsiders (link above):
"OK. Soapbox time. This is an article on high school quarterback Tony Lippett, who Free Press writer Matt Dorsey suggests would be a good fit for Michigan State at either quarterback or wide receiver. That's all fine and dandy, but [Lippett says in his article]... 'Some of the best wide receivers in the NFL have been converted quarterbacks.'
"Some of the best wide receivers in the NFL? No. One of the best wide receivers in the NFL: Hines Ward, and Ward played wide receiver full-time his final two years at Georgia. He's not a "converted quarterback" in the same way Patrick White will be or Eric Crouch was at safety. Besides Ward, who's the most prominent converted quarterback who's excelling as a wide receiver? Antwaan Randle El isn't one of the best wide receivers in the league according to anyone except, perhaps, the 2005 Redskins; Matt Jones has shown flashes of talent but took four years to emerge as a starter and would be considered a bust even before factoring in his drug problem. Brad Smith's career is totally stagnant. The idea that there's some sort of opportunity to extract value out of college quarterbacks by putting them at wide receiver simply isn't supported by evidence."
To me, this is an unfortunate reminder that Isaiah Stanback, despite his formidable physical skill set, is working against history in his efforts to become a productive wide receiver. I'd like to see Stanback turn into a reliable #2 or #3 WR, but I think at this point, we should be happy to see him turn into a top tier kick returner and occasional Wildcat option. I think anything much beyond that might be a pipe dream given the historical trends, and that doesn't even take into account his injury history.
Another user-created commentary provided by a BTB reader.
18 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Oh boy, here we go...
although I completely agree, the Stanbackers are going to come out of the woodwork now.
Stanback will be lucky to make a consistent special teams impact. To think he will make a bigger splash is wishful thinking.
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
+1
Its hard to name someone who has as much potential as Isaih to anything. He’s big Physical and fast what more could you want? We have alot into this kid even though he wasnt a high draft pick. If he can become what Tim said a good kick returner and a option at the wild cat formation i think he would be what most thought he would. Any thing beyond that like a “vialble” option at the #2 or 3 reciever in my eyes would be a bonus and he would far exceed my expectations of him. Good post tim.
09+24+28+23+82+11+94+41+26+31+90+32+56=2009 Success!!!!
I still wouldnt mind picking up Pat White in the third
To see him in the wildcat would be very interesting but I think a team like Miami or someone else will beat us to it. One team I think will use more of a wildcat formation this year is San Diego. Having Sproles and LT in the backfield teams would have to watch out for both and it would be very interesting plus we already know LT can throw the ball he has a throwing TD almost every year.
Whoever was writing that on football outsiders...
is crazy. I think Hines Wards is a very good receiver that you want on your team… but one of the best receivers in the NFL?
Plllllease.
They've done studies, you know. 60% of the time it works, every time.
I think was looking at the past several years
Not necessarily the 2009 season.
I don’t think it’s a stretch to say that Hines Ward is a top 10 receiver in the league over the past 5-6 years.
The point, though, was not that Ward is an example of how former QBs can turn into top receivers, but that it is rare that he is even a very good receiver, considering his QB heritage. There is a severe lack of college quarterbacks who turned into productive NFL wideouts. Isaiah Stanback could prove himself to be an exception, but as Regaberto said above, I think “excellent special teamer” is a more realistic (and still successful) outcome for him.
Larry Allen benched 700 pounds. That is Leonard Davis times two.
Keith Rivers won't cover him in the flat...
;-)
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
It seems
over the years we have tried a number of players at positions they didn’t play in university. Success has varied greatly . Expectations generally exceeds performance. It has taken time to get Stanback to a point to really contribute. I hope that he has great success. I also hope that if he does succeed he recalls the patience shown by this team to get him there.
History to me is worthless
We’ve been repeating history as a society since time began and look where that has gotten us.
If Stanback has the smarts, dedication, and the drive to succeed, he will. He’s got everything and more that he needs physically, it’s the mental part that will determine how far he goes.
Then again, if he can’t stay healthy all of this is negated.
I'm going to disagree here...
I haven’t seen the kind of acceleration out of his cuts and ability to separate that I’d hoped for. He takes a lot of false steps and has to gear down instead of sinking his hips and maintaining speed in his route trees.
His speed is very straight-line and he lacks the explosiveness and body control that you look for in a WR. Like I said in several previous posts, while it may be a bit too early for some to label him a bust, if it looks like a duck, and it quacks like a duck, chances are…its a duck.
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I've seen him on the sideline and in the trainer's room a lot
He’s probably a team doctor.
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Not really a fan of Stanback's
But I think he deserves at least one more year before we label him anything. Right now he’s just an injury-prone project. Maybe he can shake both labels and at least turn into a decent role player in this offense.
And I don’t look for him to take over for Felix on kick returns, unless they’re afraid of Felix getting injured, which I suppose is legitimate.
Epic Fail since 1985
Another name to throw into this conversation is Ronald Curry
Curry came out of the same Tidewater Virginia area as Michael Vick, and at the time was considered the better prospect. Vick went to Va. Tech, Curry to Carolina because they offered him two sports – Bball and Football.
Curry has been a consistent #2 for Oakland, and they even toyed with him being the #1.
BUT, he’s obviously NOT an elite NFL receiver… once again showing how difficult it is for even a great athlete to make the transition.
Stanback deserves another year. And even if he proves a bust, I don’t think it was a horrible pick. I like the Cowboys willingness to go after projects and etc. in the mid-rounds.
Tar Heels started this college Bball season with one goal in mind - that loss to Kansas in last year's final 4 will make this team all bid-ness!
I like Stanback, but I'm not expecting him to be a number 1.
I’d be happy if he could stay healthy, catch 20 balls, return a few kicks, and run some terrorist plays. That’s all I want.
"I see the door, I just get off on running through the wall." - Young Tripp
by Carl Shelton (GloryDayz88) on Apr 11, 2009 7:30 AM CDT reply actions
He should have been cut
Awhile ago. The only reason he’s still on the team is that we have no depth at wide receiver.
I'd argue we also have very little depth at kick returner, the spot where he contributes more frequently now
Larry Allen benched 700 pounds. That is Leonard Davis times two.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
