ESPN College Football

2011 overall record: 10-3
2011 conference record: 6-3
Returning starters: Offense (6), Defense (8), P/K (2)

Top returners: WR Terrance Williams, WR Tevin Reese, S Ahmad Dixon, S Sam Holl, CB K.J. Morton, S Mike Hicks, OL Cyril Richardson, OL Ivory Wade

Key losses: QB Robert Griffin III, WR Kendall Wright, RB Terrance Ganaway, OL Philip Blake, LB Elliot Coffey, DT Nicolas Jean-Baptiste, DL Tracy Robertson

2011 statistical leaders (*returners)

Rushing: Terrance Ganaway (1,547 yards)
Passing: Robert Griffin III (4,293 yards)
Receiving: Kendall Wright (1,663 yards)
Tackles: Elliot Coffey (114)
Sacks: Tracy Robertson (4.5)
Interceptions: K.J. Morton* (4)

Spring answers

1. Don't sweat the quarterbacks: Anybody who thinks Baylor's destined to go back to 3-4 win seasons in the post-RG3 era isn't paying much attention. Nick Florence had a rough time as a true freshman filling in for RG3 in 2009, but he's grown up a whole lot since then, and he'll get a chance to show it this fall. Behind him, Bryce Petty is itching for a chance, too, but Florence's leadership and decision-making assured him the job in the spring.

2. The receivers are ready to roll: And what about Kendall Wright's absence? He led Baylor in receiving for each of the past four seasons, but Baylor's going to be just fine in his wake, too. Terrance Williams is a future NFL draft pick, and Tevin Reese is ready to see an increased role in the offense, too. Lanear Sampson offers more depth and playmaking ability at the position.

3. Lache Seastrunk is a lot more than just hype: The Temple, Texas, native couldn't quite catch on at Oregon, but he's proving he'll be a factor at Baylor at some point, if not immediately. The backfield is still crowded, but he exploded for 138 yards and a touchdown on seven carries. He's the fastest of the Baylor backs, but he's got to prove he can be the most productive too.

Fall questions

1. How much better can the defense get? Baylor doesn't have the RG3 Express to fall back on anymore. He helped make the Bears the first team to ever win four consecutive games in a single season while also giving up at least 30 points. BU won games in 2011 while giving up 56, 48 and 42 points, too. Phil Bennett's defense has the athletes, but it's got to force more turnovers like it did the second half of the season and get those point totals down. Florence is good, but he's no RG3. If the defense doesn't improve, making a bowl will prove difficult.

2. Can Baylor truly carry on without Robert Griffin III? Baylor has all the pieces in place to get back to a bowl game, but RG3 had plenty of truly intangible attributes that are hard to duplicate. He was a compelling leader who always seemed to make everyone around him better. Florence sounds like he has many of those same things, but will they translate into wins? You never quite know for sure. RG3 was a truly transcendent player unlike anything Waco had ever seen.

3. Will the Bears have a featured running back? Seastrunk made lots of noise in the spring game, but Jarred Salubi and Glasco Martin have a lot more experience, and that could pay off in playing time when it comes to things like pass blocking and doing the little things right. Jay Finley and Terrance Ganaway grabbed starring roles the past two seasons, but will coach Art Briles use a committee come fall? Or will he find a back to lean on?

This time last year, we broke down who in the Big 12's would most likely hit the benchmarks for their positions in 2011. The quarterbacks came first.

Here's what I wrote then.

The clear line designating the best at the position is 3,000 yards. Plenty will top the number, and some from the Big 12 will even hit 4,000 yards.

In 2011, 39 quarterbacks broke the 3,000-yard mark.

Well, it's time to grade the prediction.

I broke down all 10 teams' prospects at having a 3,000-yard passer, but picked only six to do it.

1. Landry Jones, Oklahoma -- Jones topped 3,000 yards as a freshman filling in for an injured Sam Bradford in 2009 and had 4,718 yards last season, almost 500 yards more than anyone else in the Big 12. He also had the most attempts of any quarterback in college football. It's safe to say he's got this.

Final yardage tally: 4,463 yards

Thoughts: Easy pick here. Not much to say.

2. Brandon Weeden, Oklahoma State -- Weeden is probably a good bet to clear 4,000 yards, too. He had 4,277 last season and brings back a Biletnikoff Award winner at receiver in Justin Blackmon. He and Jones should be locked in a season-long battle for a spot as the first-team All-Big 12 quarterback, among other honors.

Final 2011 yardage tally: 4,727 yards

Thoughts: Weeden definitely won that battle with Jones, but RG3 surpassed even the highest expectations for him in 2011, winning the Heisman. Still, no contest on the 3,000-yard mark.

3. Seth Doege, Texas Tech -- Texas Tech has had a 3,000-yard passer for 11 consecutive seasons, the longest streak in college football. Coach Tommy Tuberville wants to run it more, but not that much more. Doege looks likely to slide into a spot as the next in line for two seasons.

Final 2011 yardage tally: 4,004 yards

Thoughts: His offense sort of crumbled around him thanks to injuries -- his top two running backs and receivers both missed significant time, and the offensive line was banged up, too -- but Doege did a great job continuing the quarterback tradition at Tech as a first-year starter.

4. Robert Griffin III, Baylor -- Griffin's 3,501 yards was his first 3,000-yard season, and he showed lots of development as a passer during his sophomore campaign. That should continue as a junior in 2011, and he's got a deep, talented receiving corps.

Final 2011 yardage tally: 4,293 yards

Thoughts: Well, undershot this one. We all knew RG3 had upside, but legitimate Heisman potential? He surprised us all with that one. He also helped Kendall Wright win the Big 12 receiving title, too.

5. Ryan Tannehill, Texas A&M -- Tannehill only had 1,638 yards last season, but he did it in just more than six games. With Jeff Fuller and a handful of other capable receivers, he should clear the mark easily in 2010.

Final 2011 yardage tally: 3,744 yards

Thoughts: Tannehill had his problems in 2011, namely throwing a league-high 15 interceptions and stumbling to a 7-6 record, but he was productive. He parlayed his season and a half of experience into a top-10 draft pick. Not bad. Fuller, though, was another story. We'll get to the receivers later.

6. Tyler Gabbert/James Franklin, Missouri -- I don't have much doubt that the pair will combine for at least 3,000 yards, but Missouri has a handful of solid running backs and both look like capable quarterbacks. If one struggles, the other could fill in and leave the Tigers without a 3,000-yard man at the helm.

Final 2011 yardage tally: 2,872 yards

Thoughts: Gabbert transferred just weeks after this was written, but Franklin took a hold of the job and played well as a sophomore. I knew he'd run and change Mizzou's offense a bit, but I'm not sure I expected him to run as much as he did (217 rushes). He handled it well, but it was surprising. He threw the ball 98 fewer times in 2011 (377 attempts) than Blaine Gabbert did in 2010 (475 attempts).

I didn't believe Texas, Iowa State, Kansas State or Kansas would have a 3,000-yard passer. None of them did. In fact, none of them even had a 2,000-yard passer, even though K-State and Kansas started the same quarterback in each game all season.

All things considered, how would you grade my picks?

Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan spent plenty of time with Baylor Heisman winner Robert Griffin III before selecting him with the second overall pick of April's NFL draft.

He spent enough and saw enough to leave no doubt about where RG3 stands as a Redskin entering his first season.

"He's the starter. Period," Shanahan said.

Griffin took part in his first rookie minicamp for 90 minutes on Sunday, but when he takes part in offseason workouts with the rest of the team later this month, he'll be the starter.

After drafting Michigan State quarterback Kirk Cousins in the draft, too, it's necessary for Shanahan to make that clear. Griffin will be ahead of Rex Grossman, too.

Shanahan said the Redskins didn't go through all the trouble to get Griffin -- trading three first-round picks and a second-rounder to the St. Louis Rams for the No. 2 overall spot -- just to have him play backup. The coach said he made the decision even before the three-day minicamp.

"We're going to adjust our system to what he feels comfortable with," Shanahan said, "and we'll watch him grow and we'll do what we feel like he can do and what he does the best. ... One thing the NFL is not used to is a quarterback with his type of speed and his type of throwing ability, so I think we can do some things that people haven't done."

Anybody else pretty excited to see what that means?

Griffin noted, though, that there's no friction between himself and Cousins.

"We went over the playbook together. There's no issues there," he said. "We're both out there trying to get better, so we're cool. We ate a burrito together."

"Not the same burrito," he added with a laugh. "Just to clear that up."

The 2012 NFL draft is over, but it's never too early to look ahead to 2013. I mean, we basically have to, right?

NFL draft guru Todd McShay released his first-round mock draft, and there are plenty of Big 12 talents on the list. You'll need ESPN Insider to see it all, but here's who he pegs as a first-rounder for next year.

No. 3, Minnesota Vikings: Jackson Jeffcoat, DE, Texas

My take: This is the first of many times you'll see Jeffcoat's name on draft lists. Jeffcoat came to Texas as the nation's No. 1 recruit in the 2009 class, and next offseason will be the first in which he's available for the NFL draft. He's made good on his potential, but struggled with an ankle injury that slowed an otherwise outstanding first season. He was very solid in 2011, but could be poised for a breakout season in 2012 on the national stage. Either way, I'd be shocked if Jeffcoat wasn't a first-rounder whenever he leaves. If he continues to progress, top five is a near certainty.

No. 12, Seattle Seahawks: Terrance Williams, WR, Baylor

My take: Williams has a lot to prove in 2012. He may have had the quietest 900-yard receiving season in history last season, overshadowed by the Big 12's leading rusher (Terrance Ganaway), leading receiver (Kendall Wright, 1,600+ yards), and Heisman winner Robert Griffin III. Can Williams handle the pressure from defenses as the bona fide No. 1 target for a new quarterback in Nick Florence? You have to love Williams' physical attributes, but can he maintain his production? I'm confidently betting yes, but we'll find out next year.

No. 19, Kansas City Chiefs: Landry Jones, QB, Oklahoma

My take: Jones has plenty to prove, too. When Ryan Broyles went down, Jones struggled. He's back, and coaches love what he's done this spring. If he plays well, I could see Jones reinvigorating his stock and rising into the top 10 or top five. If he struggles again, I'd be shocked if he was a first rounder. Of all the Big 12 talents on this list, I'd say Jones' stock is the most volatile.

No. 25, Cincinnati Bengals: Alex Okafor, DE, Texas

My take: Love Okafor's game a whole lot, and admittedly, I regret snubbing him from the Big 12's top 25 players in 2011. The thing with him is, his physical attributes don't wow you like his teammate Jeffcoat's does. That said, he's consistently productive, and that says a lot. He has plenty of help in Texas' defense, and the Longhorns defensive line will be scary this year with Jeffcoat, Okafor and juco transfer defensive tackle Brandon Moore, who teammates pegged as "unstoppable" this spring.

We've already gone over my thoughts on the Big 12's first round of the draft. What about the rest? Here are some thoughts:

• [+] Enlarge
  Brian Spurlock/US PresswireThe Lions saw enough from Ryan Broyles to take a risk on him in the second round.
  Absolutely fantastic to see Ryan Broyles find a home in Detroit in the second round. Broyles is a second-round talent, and it was great to see him recognized as such -- with NFL teams seeing enough out of his newly-rehabbed knee to know he's a solid prospect. No player in the history of college football had more receptions. I like his chances for a productive career, especially on a building Detroit team with a lot of talent, especially at the offensive skill positions.
• I've written about it in the past, but I'm intrigued to see what Missouri tight end Michael Egnew does at the next level. He was less productive than his predecessors at Mizzou, Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman, but supposedly is a more talented blocker. Coffman got stuck in a franchise that didn't seem willing to use him for what he is -- a receiving tight end -- but can Egnew shed the Mizzou tight end stereotype? We'll find out in Miami.
• Really happy to see things work out well for Oklahoma's Frank Alexander, who was drafted in the fourth round by Carolina. He had a scare at the combine. Doctors thought he had a heart condition and his playing career was in jeopardy. Turns out, he was fine. Glad the mixup didn't cost him more than it could have.
• Allow me to join in the chorus of folks asking, "What the heck is Washington doing drafting Kirk Cousins?" Nothing against Cousins, who I actually think will do well at the next level (or could elsewhere, at least), but this isn't even about bringing in a fellow rookie to "compete with" Robert Griffin III. Washington has plenty of other holes. The Redskins couldn't try to draft and fill it, while finding a backup quarterback in free agency? Seriously. Good grief. And you wonder why Washington hasn't won anything in a long while.
• Ronnell Lewis' fall from top-25 prospect to fourth-rounder is intriguing. Did NFL teams see him up close and get spooked by his lack of a true position? In my book, he'd be a great defensive end, but if NFL teams think he's too small, I have major, major doubts about his ability to play the linebacker spot. The mental part of the game didn't come easily to Lewis at OU, but his career will be fascinating to watch. He's got a high motor, and if it doesn't work out, it won't be because of a lack of effort.
• Good on A&M's Randy Bullock, who went in the fifth round. Prepare for a similar fate in 2011, Quinn Sharp.
• Interesting to see OU's Travis Lewis fall all the way to the seventh round. How much did his broken toe in 2011, which he rushed back from to help his team, hurt his NFL stock? His tape from senior season was underwhelming, no doubt. NFL teams had to be scared about his lack of progression from freshman to senior year, at least not what you'd expect from a guy who topped 140 tackles as a freshman.
• A year ago, A&M folks were rejoicing a future Big 12 title run when Jeff Fuller announced his intention to return. The Aggies went 7-6 and Fuller went undrafted. I hate to see when guys who make decisions to come back get hurt by them, but Fuller's season started with a hamstring injury, and his production never recovered, even when he got healthy. Almost the exact same scenario with A&M corner Coryell Judie, who couldn't get healthy in 2011 and didn't get drafted, even though he was one of the Big 12's top players in 2010.
• Meanwhile, Bryce Brown was drafted, and his 2011 tape included three total carries, one of which was a fumble on his own goal line that nearly cost 10-win Kansas State a game early in the season. Take a bow, Mr. Brown.
• Adding Josh Cooper to the Browns to play with Brandon Weeden? Well played, Cleveland. Well played.
• How did Leonard Johnson go undrafted? I have no idea. Seemed like a solid middle rounder to me, and he proved his worth plenty of times this year against some great Big 12 receivers. His physical skills don't wow you, but he's instinctive at the position, and was physical and productive.

Our NFL draftniks, Todd McShay and Mel Kiper, have released their final mock drafts before tonight's draft, so feel free to follow along as Big 12 talents get their names called.

McShay went all the way through seven rounds with his mock. Here's Kiper's mock draft , too

Here's where they slotted the first-rounders.

Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor

• Kiper: No. 2, Washington Redskins
• McShay: No. 2, Washington Redskins

"They gave up a lot, but in the end the Redskins will get their man," Kiper writes. "I'm excited to see what RG3 can accomplish in D.C., and the work the Redskins did to add pieces to the wide receiving corps (regardless of the prices paid) will certainly make the transition easier. Great kid, big-time promise. Should be fun to watch."

Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

• Kiper: No. 6, St. Louis Rams
• McShay: No. 7, Jacksonville Jaguars

"I had St. Louis as a team likely to move down, given that we know the front office has been openly interested in the idea. But if they're still here, I think Blackmon is the pick," Kiper writes. "He'll pay immediate dividends for the offense, and Sam Bradford will finally have a target most of us evaluators can see as a potential true No. 1."

Ryan Tannehill, QB, Texas A&M

• Kiper: No. 8, Miami Dolphins
• McShay: No. 8, Miami Dolphins

"No surprises here. I've said before I think Tannehill has been a little overhyped by the draft process, but I agree with colleague Todd McShay that the upside is undeniable," Kiper writes. "This really is the best setting for Tannehill, too. We know Miami lacks a long-range plan at quarterback, and while Tannehill isn't an immediate starter, you take him for the promise. Joe Philbin gets another young project to take on. He's succeeded with young QBs before."

Brandon Weeden, QB, Oklahoma State

• Kiper: No. 22, Cleveland Browns
• McShay: No. 37, Cleveland Browns

"For weeks we've seen Weeden as a great fit for the Browns at No. 37 overall. The problem is Weeden is the last QB in the draft after RG3 that most front office folks believe can start games early if called on," Kiper writes. "The Browns really want to find competition for Colt McCoy. If they don't get Weeden here, they risk losing him. They know they can still get a good player early in Round 2. I think you secure the QB here."

Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor

• McShay: No. 26, Houston Texans

Tom Luginbill talks about how Trent Richardson, Courtney Upshaw and Robert Griffin III were rated coming out of high school.

Heisman Trophy winner and presumptive second-overall pick Robert Griffin III sits down with E:60's Rachel Nichols before the NFL draft. RG3 comes to New York City on the cusp of the next great step in an already storied list of accomplishments.

This is real. Beware if you produce nightmares easily.

• The Big 12 may have its new commissioner in place by spring meetings at the end of April, reports Chuck Carlton of the Dallas Morning News.
• As each day goes by, it becomes clearer how big a mess Charlie Weis inherited at KU, writes Tom Keegan of the Lawrence Journal-World.
• Kansas is naming a few streets on campus after legendary coach Don Fambrough, who recently passed away.
• Look for a four-team playoff to take shape this week at the BCS meetings, writes Matt Hayes of Sporting News.
• Kansas removed two players from the roster after an incident at a local bar.
• Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman asks: What if Landry Jones had gone pro?
• WVU coach Dana Holgorsen talks about the plans for OC Shannon Dawson, who'll open up the offense soon, writes Mike Casazza of the Charleston Daily Mail.
• Oklahoma receiver Ryan Broyles worked through his injury, and it may pay off soon, writes Mike Baldwin of The Oklahoman.
• RG3 and Andrew Luck will be the first two picks in the NFL draft on Thursday night, but they were almost college teammates.
• How will West Virginia handle the Big 12 transition?
• Coach Bill Snyder weighed in on the kickoff rule changes for 2012.
• Remember Oklahoma transfer Brandon Williams? Sounds like he's tearing it up at A&M this spring.

Bill Polian discusses what people will be saying about Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III in five years.

Kevin Garnett helped me move once. Kevin Costner cooked me dinner after a bad breakup. Kevin Sorbo introduced me to his podiatrist.

• Big 12 expansion is still a possibility, says TCU athletic director Chris Del Conte. “Once a commissioner and television contract are finalized, then you take a deep breath and look at all the possibilities out there. You could remain at 10 or you could expand," he said.
• Here's your must-see video of the day. Charlie Weis is trying to teach his team how to do everything, including celebrate a win. He goes on a very frank rant, and Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star has video of the whole entertaining exchange. Dodd also updates one of the Big 12's best Cinderella stories: Kansas linebacker Steven Johnson is hoping to be drafted.
• Bob Stoops isn't happy, and believes his quarterback, Landry Jones, doesn't get the recognition he deserves.
• Austin Meek of the Topeka-Capital Journal has more from the 6 a.m. practice open to media.
• SI.com's Peter King says this year's NFL draft is a flashback to 1998, with two franchise quarterbacks at the top.
• RG3 isn't in Washington D.C. yet, but he's already having an impact on the franchise and its fans, writes SI.com's Don Banks.
• West Virginia backup quarterback Ford Childress, 18, was arrested for driving under the influence, and a preliminary breath test revealed a blood alcohol content of .189.
• Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express-News examines an alternate universe in which Texas AD DeLoss Dodds hired all the wrong coaches.
• TCU fans and teams will save a whole lot of money on travel in the Big 12.
• Oklahoma State is playing the name game with its "spring game," writes Gina Mizell of The Oklahoman.
• Dallas' mayor and Texas AD DeLoss Dodds met to discuss the Red River Rivalry in the city.
• West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith opens up about why his practice reps have been limited this spring practice.
• The Fort Worth Star-Telegram wants to know what you think about TCU's new uniforms.
• Here's another look at the work the Texas Tech football team did to aid tornado victims in Lancaster, Texas.
• TCU sold 22,000 season tickets last season. It has 15,700 so far this year, and is shooting for a school-record 30,000.
• Former Texas center Dallas Griffin is battling MS, but Tully Corcoran of Fox Sports explains Griffin's hobby to help stay positive.
• Rowan Kavner of the Dallas Morning News breaks down TCU's offensive line this year.

Todd McShay goes inside the highlight to take a look at Robert Griffin III and Andrew Luck, the likely top two picks in the NFL draft.

Baylor kicked off last season with a memorable Friday night win over TCU. We'll see the Bears play twice outside of Saturday this season.

Baylor moved its season opener against SMU in Waco to Sunday. The game will be televised at 6:30 p.m. ET on Fox Sports Net.

Last season, Texas A&M played its season opener against SMU on Sunday night, too.

Baylor will play on Friday night two weeks later, too. Its road opener against Louisiana-Monroe will be televised on ESPN or ESPN2 on Sept. 21 at 8 p.m. ET.

"We welcome opportunities to play on television and are pleased with the visibility and opportunity for Baylor Nation to watch our games," coach Art Briles said in a release.

It's a good move for the Bears, who'll be entertaining to watch in 2012, but won't have the national draw of an electric player like Robert Griffin III to make everyone stop and watch.

The game against SMU should be particularly interesting. They'll get a big stage to themselves, and former Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert may be lining up across from them.

Could we see a big game to kick off the year from new starter Nick Florence? Could be another star in the making.

Don't worry about a short week after the opener. The Bears are off in Week 2 before facing Sam Houston State. They'll have a six-day week to prepare for the road game against Monroe.

ESPN The Magazine broke out a profile of the likely No. 2 pick in the NFL draft, Baylor's Robert Griffin III.

You'll see it in the NFL draft issue on newsstands April 30, with RG3 on the cover.

You know RG3, but what about the first two that came before him? Tom Friend explains plenty about the relationship, but also a good bit about the man who the Redskins hope is the future of their franchise.

An excerpt:

A few days before flying to New York, he sat in a Waco dress shop while Rebecca picked out something to wear for Heisman night. He had time to kill, so he started writing an acceptance speech in case he won. He thought of his father and grandfather, and the phrase "unbelievably believable" popped into his head. Unbelievable because he used to be just a small kid in a ponytail. Believable because he ran hills for 15 years to get where he was.

When he accepted the trophy, he got to read the speech out loud in those Superman socks. But RG2 had researched Heisman flops (see Andre Ware, Gino Torretta, Eric Crouch, Danny Wuerffel) and decided many had gotten fat and happy. So hours later, RG2 and RG3 were working out at the hotel fitness center at 2 a.m. "I told him, '10 years down the road, you're the Heisman Trophy winner,'" RG2 explains. "'But right now you can't act like that. You've got to act the way you acted before you won the award.'"

No doubt about it: You'll learn a lot more about RG3 and where he comes from in the piece. Check it out.

The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel's Bob McGinn offered up an assessment of the best quarterbacks in the NFL draft, and included within are some pretty frank assessments of quarterbacks Big 12 fans are very, very familiar with.

A few select passages:

On Robert Griffin III:

"Everybody is just assuming because of the Heisman and the socks and all that ... they are ignoring a lot of bad tape that he's had," a third scout said. "I don't think he has vision or pocket feel, which to me are the two most important components of quarterbacking. He's just running around winging it. He's (Michael) Vick, but not as good a thrower."

... "He's got a little bit of a selfish streak, too. Everybody was laying on Cam, but for some reason this guy has become gloves off. He doesn't treat anybody good."

My take: To some degree, I'd agree with the bad tape argument, but if you look at the games when Baylor got thumped -- Texas A&M and Oklahoma State -- he really only played extremely poor in stretches of the second half against Texas A&M. That's the only game it looked like his game got really rattled. He threw some awful balls in that game. Baylor moved the ball consistently against OSU, but was undone by turnovers and poor execution in the red zone. That, and a defense that had no hope of stopping OSU. The only other game that should raise questions is probably the first three quarters against Kansas, but that game wasn't on TV. I'll admit I haven't seen that one.

As for the less tangible criticisms? That's the kind of stuff that comes out over time. Griffin was a starter in the Big 12 for three-plus years and you never heard anything about him being selfish or not treating others well. In fact, it was just the opposite. I'd argue no team in the Big 12 rallied around a leader like Baylor did Griffin last year. Not sure where the other stuff is coming from.

I'm not saying the scout didn't say that. I'm saying the scout is wrong. The kind of traits he's talking about come out over time, especially with players at one place as long as RG3 was at Baylor. You hear about them. In this draft class alone, there's two or three guys you've heard plenty of that about. Probably three or four more guys in the league now that have that rep. You never heard that once about RG3. He's a confident guy, and for those outside Griffin's team and program, sometimes it can come off the wrong way. But for the people fighting with him? The people on his team? They love it. He makes everyone around him better, and not just because of his physical skills.

On Ryan Tannehill:

"He's only started 17, 18 college games. I like the kid. But it's going to be heaped on him too early if they take him in the first four or five picks. It's crazy."

My take: Yup. Like the scout, you have to love everything Tannehill brings from a physical standpoint. He's a 100 percent prototype NFL quarterback. Big arm, athletic, solid build. But there are plenty of other question marks, and all you really need to do is watch the second halves of about, oh, five games in 2011. I've written about this plenty.

On Brandon Weeden:

"At the Senior Bowl, when he threw on air, great," another scout said. "When the game started he had two picks and looked so uncomfortable when he had to move. I do not see it with this guy at all." ... "Not a very strong arm," a third scout said. "Not very good in the pocket. Average intelligence. He's just a guy."

My take: I hope that scout's looking at more than just the Senior Bowl. Weeden had a really rough outing in that game, worse than any he had during the 2010 or 2011 seasons, and it's tough to really know why. But "not a very strong arm?" That's absurd. And "just a guy?" No way.

Weeden's never going to be a guy who can move much. His former offensive coordinator, Dana Holgorsen, joked with me last week that Weeden couldn't run to save his life. It's fairly obvious if you watch OSU play very much. But his arm? You know, the thing that really matters in the NFL? Outside of Luck, it might be second to none in this entire draft when it comes to strength and accuracy.

Tough talk from scouts here. What do you think? Fair? Or unfair?