As the previous article stated, Anthony Morelli is among 20 quarterbacks invited to perform at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this week. Thus far, he has excelled in only one of six workouts in which he participated. The 6’4″ Morelli tied for seventh place in the vertical leap drill, bouncing an amazing 26.5 inches skyward. Whoop-de-doo! (As a relative indicator, the event-leading vertical jump was scored by 6’2″ running back Carl Stewart of Auburn, who jumped 39 inches; the top quarterback was 6’3″ Josh Johnson of San Diego, who jumped 33.5 inches.)
Hey, Ryan, Brennan, and Henne can eat their hearts out! Dis boy kin jump, massa! (He can’t pass worth a shit, he can’t run, he can’t see the field, but yazza, he sho’ kin jump!)
I heard one NFL commentator saying that Morelli made a lot of mistakes as a sophomore, and he continued to make those same mistakes as a senior. He didn’t get much PT as a sophomore, but what the guy said was correct anyway. Morelli failed to improve in his time at Penn State. He’s still a sophomore developmentally.
The same commentator posited that Morelli would probably be drafted. “This is one guy who looks the part,” he said. “Some team is going to want to see if they can mold him.”
More power to that team if it can. One thing is for certain: there are no Jay Paternos coaching quarterbacks in the NFL. So, perhaps someone can shape Morelli up.
The Turkey will return later this week with a look at the performances of Dan Connor and Justin King at the NFL Scouting Combine.
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jd says
unfortunately, DC had to go home today due to illness.
guess we’ll have to wait ’till senior day.
jed says
For better or worse, Tony is no longer our problem. The boy has the frame and when purchased at the right price, some good coaching will only help. To be sure , third string QB is the best job on the field and beats dragging around a large bag of bats and balls on the playground. I wish him luck, now we will see what the lad is made of. However, I fear that by the middle of next PSU season, he may have looked pretty good. Hope springs eternal, unless you’re a 60 something that’s seen this a dozen times or more….let’s hope for the best for all.
The Nittany Turkey says
Thanks for the update on DC, jd. I’m sorry to learn that he won’t be participating in the rest of the Combine. Now, all eyes turn to Justin King.
—TNT
The Nittany Turkey says
True, Jed, AM is not our problem, but I do enjoy the speculation about how well these Nittany Lions will do in the pros with a different approach to coaching. (I didn’t say a better approach, but I probably meant it.)
—TNT
jed says
Any speculation as to the QB situation for PSU for next year?
The Nittany Turkey says
My considered, albeit cursory, opinion is that we’ll be seeing a reprise of the Mills/Robinson offense merely recaptioned as the “Spread HD.” Put a tuxedo on a pig and he’ll still stand out at the ball. Anyway, my bet is on Clark as starting QB and Devlin at wideout for most of the season, with some trick plays mixing the two of them up. I think the Valeramo Bowl was a preview.
So, what do you think?
—TNT
jed says
A two QB system crossed my mind, but I placed it with the same thought that the pain in my side might be cancer. Clark saw little time so it will be hard to judge. I never saw his stat’s , so I don’t know how tall he is. Morreli biggest fault ( to my way of thinking) was that he couldn’t read the field. but if your coach can’t do it , it’s hard to teach someone else. Let’s hope that Clark brings much raw talent with him. A new play book will help put some points on the board, let’s not get into the Brown ’48 thing again as we all know that song too well. A . Maybe if we can put some helmets on 4 or 5 of Hawbakers Euclids’ we will have a line big enough to hold up in the big ten and that would be a big help. As we in Pa. face our third ice and snow storm in a week, my thoughts drift to a warm April afternoon and the Blue and white game. Until then keep us posted as there are only two sports seasons… football and waiting for football.
The Nittany Turkey says
Clark is listed at 6’2″/232 and Devlin is 6’4″/212. Many opinionated fans think that Clark should sit down and let Devlin play, as they think Devlin, who will be a sophomore, has superior talents. (Of course, opinionated fans know everything.) They know that JoeJay will play Clark because he’s a senior and without respect to any perceived talent differential. Of course, in 2005, these same expert fans were screaming for the sophomore Morelli to replace Michael Robinson. I’m afraid to go back and look at my own writing from that time, because I was probably one of the pseudo-experts axe-ing for that!
As for Morelli, you, I, and the NFL scouts agree on that assessment about his field reading ability, to wit: “Struggles to get past first read — birddogs that read from the snap.” That won’t get him far against NFL secondaries, unless someone is looking to break the record for interceptions thrown in a season.
—TNT
Das says
Just a quick correction. Clark actually has two years of remaining eligibility left because he was academically ineligible during his first year at PSU. So we have a tricky quarterback scenario with Daryll Clark having two years left as possibly the starter and Devlin with four years (since he redshirted last year). This could potentially turn out to be an anthony morelli type situation where Devlin could only get to see two years on the field and have little to no room for development, although im sure some will say he’s already more developed than morelli ever was. Also, with the possiblity that Pryor will come to Penn State comes the potential transfer of Pat Devlin. So whats gonna happen?
The Nittany Turkey says
Thanks, Das. I stand corrected on Clark.
The Pryor situation is certainly a factor that deserves consideration, and it hurts my head to speculate on the combinatorial explosion of potential quarterback machinations if Pryor were to commit. As he hasn’t done so yet—and as some of the revelations about his character continue to emerge—I have my doubts about whether Pryor will ever wear blue and white. So, I’ll reserve my speculation for the moment and just say that if Pryor signs and I were Devlin, I’d undoubtedly transfer to someplace where I could get some PT.
As you mentioned, Devlin may bolt anyway. Without him on the roster and assuming Pryor goes elsewhere, the quarterbacking situation goes straight down the toilet after Clark leaves. Well, hell, Clark hasn’t had any significant playing time, either, so it starts in the toilet as of the first snap against Coastal Carolina. Whether Clark can pull himself out of the latrine and excel is anyone’s guess. Especially Jay’s.
—TNT
jed says
Pryor ain’t comin’ to PSU. Local news has it that Joe was nicely received and dismissed. At any other big ten school ,Tyrell will be on the short list for the trophy before he gets off the bench at PSU. With the coaching change at Michigan , my guess is Ohio State. Had not heard of the character issue, work with a man who scouts for high school football and says he’s a nice kid ,although West Jeannette isn’t the promised land. Once again, my hope is that Clark has raw talent and can over come the weakness of our QB coaching. Having a good line, to give him some time to do things will also be an issue.
The Nittany Turkey says
Yeah, Pryor has spent quite a bit of time at Ohio State, which looks like the probable destination for a guy who I’ve seen described as the best overall Pennsylvania athlete since Jim Thorpe.
Once again, Clark’s raw talent will never overcome the quarterback coach who will “mold” him—any such talent will grow moldy under JayPa.
—TNT
The Nittany Turkey says
P.S.
I have no idea what character issue I was referring to. Sometimes my brain shows signs of proceeding on its own without me.
jed says
Back to Pryor, my friend, who has coached and scouted for 20 some years, says he’s the best he’s ever seen. Most say he’s the best in the country and have to think hard as to who was the last to be on that level. I don’t blame the kid for taking his time, he’s in the catbird seat and can go anywhere he wants. It’s a shame that a school on the level of PSU isn’t the top choice. Anyway, great discussion , glad to see some people “in the know” joining in. Not to say the the Turkey isn’t the “word”. Nice to pass the time through our 4th ice and snow storm in a little over a week.
The Nittany Turkey says
The Turkey is a bullshit artist with a brain like a compost sieve. So, I’m fortunate to have knowledgeable and connected readers who can surmount my brainological deficit.
—TNT