knapplc
International Man of Mystery
When I was a kid, my father and uncle -- both huge Nebraska fans -- used to to tell me about the great Tommie Frazier. As I got older, I looked up Tommie and learned that he was indeed great, but that he never made the NFL because he was a run-first quarterback in legendary coach Tom Osborne's option offense. Given the recent success of dual-threat quarterbacks such as Michael Vick, Cam Newton, Russell Wilson and RGIII, do you think Frazier would get drafted in the NFL if he were coming out of college today? If so, do you think Frazier could be successful?
-- Brian, Glastonbury, Conn.
First of all, Brian, thanks for making me feel really old by reinforcing that I probably have a whole generation of readers who only know of Tommie Frazier through stories and YouTube clips. Frazier, now 38, is barely older than I am. He was also unquestionably one of the most dominant players in college history. But the difference between him and the more modern guys you mentioned is that the latter group didn't play in purely triple-option offenses like Nebraska's. In fact, those more recent quarterbacks were excellent passers who finished first or second nationally in pass efficiency in their respective final seasons; it's conceivable they would have been drafted (though likely not as high) even if they weren't the least bit mobile.
Frazier, on the other hand, attempted just 163 passes his senior season. By comparison, 2012 Heisman winner Johnny Manziel racked up 434 attempts last year. It would be unfair to call Frazier a bad passer, as he did complete 56 percent of his throws during that 1995 season with a 17-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. In fact, Frazier's 156.1 efficiency rating was about the same as both Manziel's and first-round pick E.J. Manuel's in 2012. Of course, only a handful of teams (Georgia Tech and the service academies) run a full-fledged option offense today, and if Frazier were coming up now, he'd likely be in a different scheme. Imagine an alternate universe in which Frazier is born 18 years later and matriculates at Oregon! In that scenario, he'd have more chances to prove his merit as a passer. Even then, though, he'd probably follow much the same recent path as Denard Robinson. He would be drafted, but only as a running back or receiver. The real Frazier never was afforded that chance due in part to health issues leading up to the draft.
LINK
I'd say Stewart's assessment is pretty good. I could see Tommie as kind of a Denard Robinson-type player. And his skills would translate better as a running back in the NFL than a QB, even a hybrid like RGIII.
-- Brian, Glastonbury, Conn.
First of all, Brian, thanks for making me feel really old by reinforcing that I probably have a whole generation of readers who only know of Tommie Frazier through stories and YouTube clips. Frazier, now 38, is barely older than I am. He was also unquestionably one of the most dominant players in college history. But the difference between him and the more modern guys you mentioned is that the latter group didn't play in purely triple-option offenses like Nebraska's. In fact, those more recent quarterbacks were excellent passers who finished first or second nationally in pass efficiency in their respective final seasons; it's conceivable they would have been drafted (though likely not as high) even if they weren't the least bit mobile.
Frazier, on the other hand, attempted just 163 passes his senior season. By comparison, 2012 Heisman winner Johnny Manziel racked up 434 attempts last year. It would be unfair to call Frazier a bad passer, as he did complete 56 percent of his throws during that 1995 season with a 17-to-4 touchdown-to-interception ratio. In fact, Frazier's 156.1 efficiency rating was about the same as both Manziel's and first-round pick E.J. Manuel's in 2012. Of course, only a handful of teams (Georgia Tech and the service academies) run a full-fledged option offense today, and if Frazier were coming up now, he'd likely be in a different scheme. Imagine an alternate universe in which Frazier is born 18 years later and matriculates at Oregon! In that scenario, he'd have more chances to prove his merit as a passer. Even then, though, he'd probably follow much the same recent path as Denard Robinson. He would be drafted, but only as a running back or receiver. The real Frazier never was afforded that chance due in part to health issues leading up to the draft.
LINK
I'd say Stewart's assessment is pretty good. I could see Tommie as kind of a Denard Robinson-type player. And his skills would translate better as a running back in the NFL than a QB, even a hybrid like RGIII.
