Would you let this man develop your quarterback?

[Mr. Scot]

So let's say for a moment that you're the agent for one of this year's top QB prospects.

(First and most important question: Why are you surfing a message board? But we'll let that slide for now)

You have the prospect of your client going to the Chiefs and learning under Andy Reid. During his time in the NFL, Reid has developed a reputation for being a quarterback guru with Donovan McNabb being his prize pupil. If your client goes to KC, maybe he can be the next Reid student to make a big name for himself.

But there's a caveat...

Reid's disciples have been shown to be system quarterbacks. To a man, any one of them that's tried to make a living playing outside of Reid's offense has failed (miserably, in some cases). Now, some might cite Jeff Garcia as one who succeeded elsewhere, but Reid didn't actually develop Garcia and even he couldn't function worth squat unless he was in a West Coast Offense.

So while your client might turn out to be a top QB in the league under Reid's tutelage, he may do so only as long as he's tied to Reid. That could be an issue when it comes time for free agency.

So would you hope for your guy to be picked by the Chiefs, or would you rather see him elsewhere?

[Kevin Greene]

Alex Smith is their QB and will do extremely well.

As an OT and the 1st pick I have no issues with Reid's style of play.

MIcheal Vick had a lot of success in Atlanta before being "forced" into Reid's system and played well when healthy in Philly.

[Stroupe-a-loop]

It basically just boils down to McNabb playing badly in Washington, right? Nobody really expected much out of Kolb, Feely, or Fiedler. And he also "developed" Favre, though not as a head coach, so I don't think people look at him as a system guy so much as a coach that can fit a system around a QB.

[fieryprophet]

Umm, hell yes. What gets overlooked in this talk of Reid being a "system" coach is that the quarterbacks that left his tutelage weren't all that great in the first place (like Kolb) or were unmotivated on their new teams (McNabb.) And Kolb was hampered by the absolute worst offensive line in the entire NFL being asked to perform an offense unsuited to his strengths.

And the track record on Reid as a head coach isn't that long, you basically have McNabb, Kolb, Vick and Foles.

[Cary Kollins]

Reid had his team contending for championships year in and year out. I wouldn't be concerned with my guy going there.

[Mr. Scot]

It basically just boils down to McNabb playing badly in Washington, right? Nobody really expected much out of Kolb, Feely, or Fiedler. And he also "developed" Favre, though not as a head coach, so I don't think people look at him as a system guy so much as a coach that can fit a system around a QB.

The Dolphins expected enough out of Feeley to trade a second round pick for him. And I'm pretty sure the Cards had bigger plans for Kolb when they got him for a second rounder and Dominique Rogers-Cromartie.

[fieryprophet]

The Dolphins expected enough out of Feeley to trade a second round pick for him. And I'm pretty sure the Cards had bigger plans for Kolb when they got him for a second rounder and Dominique Rogers-Cromartie.

And everyone laughed at them for making those trades. Just because some teams got desperate doesn't mean the rational world thought highly of the QBs they were targeting.

[csx]

Considering they won't be picking a QB first overall it really isn't relevant. Although, if they were I really don't see why anyone would think twice about going to him.

[Mr. Scot]

Reid had his team contending for championships year in and year out. I wouldn't be concerned with my guy going there.

What do you do if, after his initial contract runs out, the Chiefs next contract offer to him is underwhelming?

There's a decent track record of other teams getting burned by having big expectations of Reid pupils. Are you confident that he can get a better offer in free agency despite that history?

[Mr. Scot]

And everyone laughed at them for making those trades. Just because some teams got desperate doesn't mean the rational world thought highly of the QBs they were targeting.

I know. I was one of the people laughing. Makes me wonder whether future teams will be gun shy.

And that's kinda the heart of the question. Do you want your NFL success to be closely tied to a particular guy and/or his system?

Basically, is success still worth it if it limits your options?

[fieryprophet]

I know. I was one of the people laughing. Makes me wonder whether future teams will be gun shy.

And that's kinda the heart of the question. Do you want your NFL success to be closely tied to a particular guy and/or his system?

Basically, is success still worth it if it limits your options?

I really believe that any truly good quarterback will be able to succeed no matter what system he finds himself in. Hell, Tom Brady has been through three major offensive systems in his career. Obviously, you want to tailor that system to the player's strengths, but that's why Reid would be a great choice, because he has a history of tailoring his system to his quarterback and getting production even out of players who normally wouldn't be successful.

[Cary Kollins]

^this.

[Mr. Scot]

I really believe that any truly good quarterback will be able to succeed no matter what system he finds himself in. Hell, Tom Brady has been through three major offensive systems in his career. Obviously, you want to tailor that system to the player's strengths, but that's why Reid would be a great choice, because he has a history of tailoring his system to his quarterback and getting production even out of players who normally wouldn't be successful.

I've always thought WCO quarterbacks in general were somewhat overrated because the system is very quarterback friendly (especially Reid's version of it).

Extending your logic, would you posit that McNabb is not a truly good quarterback? His second stint was under another guy with a "quarterback guru" rep (Shanahan).

And as a side note, there's an evil little part of my mind that would love to see what Reid could do if we traded him Jimmy Clausen.

(granted, a lot of Panther fans have parts of their brain that wish we'd trade Clausen anywhere)

[Stroupe-a-loop]

The Dolphins expected enough out of Feeley to trade a second round pick for him. And I'm pretty sure the Cards had bigger plans for Kolb when they got him for a second rounder and Dominique Rogers-Cromartie.

Probably, but I think it's fair to say that those front offices didn't know what the hell they were doing.