Steve Keim Talks To Joe
January 15th, 2015
Cardinals GM Steve Keim, a Jason Licht confidante, talks to Joe about spread-option quarterbacks.
Again yesterday, Joe was walking his legs off, pacing the sidelines of the Shrine Game practices in St. Petersburg talking to coaches, general managers and scouts to try to gain info and learn about what plans the Bucs may have for their 2015 draft.
One guy Joe buttonholed was Cardinals general manager Steve Keim. Aside from Bill Belicheat, Keim may be Bucs general manager Jason Licht’s closest NFL mentor. The two were tight when Licht served as Keim’s right-hand man in Arizona.
So Joe figured tapping Keim’s noggin may just shed light on what Licht may be thinking. Joe asked Keim about how to break down college spread-option quarterbacks.
JoeBucsFan: Quarterbacks who run a spread-option in college, that offense is so foreign to what is run mainly in the NFL. The differences in responsibilities are stark. How can you project how a spread-option quarterback can translate into the NFL?
Steve Keim: Guys like Russell [Wilson] and [Colin] Kaepernick, guys who are mobile quarterbacks, at one time we probably would have thrown those guys by the wayside. But now, the fact that [mobile] guys have had some success — in our business a lot of time we look at ‘comps’ [or comparables]. Guys who we can compare. But at the end of the day, you still have to have the necessary physical tools to throw the football. Whether it is arm strength and, more importantly in my opinion, the ability to make anticipatory throws and to be able to fit the ball into tight windows in terms of accuracy. There are a lot of quarterbacks out there but there are very few who can throw with natural accuracy, which is why you see such a supply-and-demand issue. So at the end of the day, those guys can make plays with their feet with escapability and mobility, but you have to be able to throw the football effectively. As long as they — you saw Kaepernick come out and he had the arm strength and he had enough accuracy and the tools. So the same with Russell. You go back and look at Russell Wilson, [Seattle general manager] John Schneider said it best. Aside from his lack of height, what’s wrong with him? He has big hands. He has a strong arm. He is a great leader. He has mobility. He has physical toughness. All the traits you want in a quarterback.
Joe: Didn’t Wisconsin and NC State [where Wilson played in college] run pro-style offenses?
Keim: [Wisconsin] did some spread stuff. NC State was more pro stuff. You always look at comps and with Russell, there were not a lot of quarterbacks who had success that were 5-10.
Now Joe isn’t sure what Licht is looking for in a quarterback much less if he is looking for a quarterback (Lord, let him look for a quarterback, puh-LEEZE!). Licht has only spoken about the Bucs publicly a handful of times in recent weeks, and he has given no indication which way he is leaning concerning the draft. Since the season ended, Licht has gone dark after appearing on the Buccaneers Radio Network in late December.
Joe is going to guess Licht’s concept of a good quarterback isn’t a whole lot different than Keim’s.
As for what Belicheat looks for in a quarterback, Joe isn’t even going to try to guess.
January 15th, 2015 at 7:17 am
Bucs fans can only hope Licht is even close to Keim and some of the others personnel people he has worked with. That would be huge for us!
January 15th, 2015 at 7:51 am
If the Bucs don’t draft Winston #1 it will be a big mistake.
January 15th, 2015 at 7:56 am
I’m not saying this will/should happen……but maybe the best pick is not taking Mariota/Winston at all. All of the opinions are messin with my head. Pretty soon, I’ll be thinking we should draft the Navy QB and wait out his two-year service commitment.
January 15th, 2015 at 8:11 am
Someone needs to tell Bawlmerbucfan that Roger Staubach was not quarterbacking Navy this past season!
OBW, made my first-ever big football betting hit Roger’s first year out of the academy when he was the quarterback for Pensacola NAS. They came in and played the Quantico Marines, who were darn good, but the Marine kids my age had no idea of Staubach’s abililties. Having grown up in Annapolis, spent a lot of Saturday afternoons at Navy-Marine Corps MS watching him in amazement.
I think I won 20 $1 bets because the Marines simply had no answer for Roger!
January 15th, 2015 at 8:20 am
Any red flags on a QB number 1 overall, you must pass on them. Clear cut franchise QBs have no red flags. #IMO
January 15th, 2015 at 8:28 am
“More importantly, IMO, The ability to make anticipatory throws, and the ability to fit the ball into tight windows in terms of accuracy.”
Most anyone w above average football intelligence knows this is where Winston excels as a collegiate QB. Not saying Mariota cant, but you also can’t say he can with regularity. You just can’t because there is no proof. Follow the link for an example, and search for game tape and educate yourself!
https://www.dropbox.com/s/v8wds4jnxvme9a1/Photo%20Jan%2009%2C%2012%2035%2009%20AM.png?dl=0
January 15th, 2015 at 8:29 am
Barry, so what red flags do you see for each Of the top 2 QBs?
January 15th, 2015 at 8:43 am
The ability to make anticipatory throws is Mr. Winston’s specialty.
January 15th, 2015 at 8:54 am
Phil Says
“If the Bucs don’t draft Winston #1 it will be a big mistake if anyone else drafts his also..”
Fixed that for you.
January 15th, 2015 at 8:54 am
Its Winston, or its Winston….
January 15th, 2015 at 8:56 am
Barry Says
“Any red flags on a QB number 1 overall, you must pass on them. Clear cut franchise QBs have no red flags.”
I don’t want Winston, but I’m sorry to say, you are wrong. EVERY quarterback…or draft pick…has red flags. Otherwise they would not have to adjust to Pro Football.
January 15th, 2015 at 8:58 am
@Barry no red flags on a number 1 QB? Are you talking about red flags with character, playing skills, or both. Because if it’s both everyone has “red flags”. If you don’t draft a QB with some “red flags” then you’ll have to sign a free agent with “red flags”. You can’t go into a draft with that mindset. Scouts are going to find a weakness to everyone’s game. With that kind of rationale we should have never drafted Sapp and Dallas should of passed on Dez Bryant. Any time you’re drafting any player in any round, there is no guarantee that the player will pan out. Doesn’t matter if there an ex-con or a choir boy, have all of the measurables or stink up the combing. GM’s just have to do their homework and in the end, trust their gut.
January 15th, 2015 at 8:59 am
Matt Says
“More importantly, IMO, The ability to make anticipatory throws, and the ability to fit the ball into tight windows in terms of accuracy.”
Most anyone w above average football intelligence knows this is where Winston excels as a collegiate QB. Not saying Mariota cant, but you also can’t say he can with regularity.”
Here’s another way to look at it. Why does Winston have to throw into tight windows? Hmmn?
Because he projects his passes and defenses nearly always know where he is going. That’s why his picks are so high. And that spells disaster in the NFL.
January 15th, 2015 at 9:00 am
*combine
January 15th, 2015 at 9:01 am
It’s easy to be “anticipatory” when you never take your eyes off the intended target.
Mariota is able to make his decisions more quickly, and has good instincts.
January 15th, 2015 at 9:01 am
Steve Keim looks eerily similar to former UConn lineman Rob Lunn, overseer of The Fat White Guy blog…..
January 15th, 2015 at 9:06 am
The more I look into the two quarterbacks the more I see us not taking one. We are talking about #1 here. Unfortunately, I really don’t see anyone worthy of the pick… We need to trade it if we can. There’s no ‘freak’ to be had.
January 15th, 2015 at 9:08 am
C’mon Bonzai, You may like Mariota over Winston and that’s fine, but to infer that Mariota is a better passer and throws better anticipatory throws is a little unfounded. It’s pretty much a consensus among every educated NFL pundit that Winston has better throwing abilities. Mariota is faster, has more escapability, can extend plays better, and can throw on the run better. I give you that. To say he can throw into tight windows and lead receivers with passes in stride better than Winston is simply not true.
January 15th, 2015 at 9:15 am
@Posey99… You may be right about this draft class. At a glance, this draft class looks weaker than some others in past years. Having said that, do you try to change your franchise by drafting Mariota/Winston with the 1st pick or do you trade down and give yourself an opportunity to draft multiple mediocre players? I would go with trying to change the franchise IMO.
January 15th, 2015 at 9:27 am
@nate
Yes, but there is some good lineman. I would be ok trading back with Washington or New York and taking Brandon scherff (closest to a freak) picking up another 1st next year and a 2nd this year take Petty with one of our 2nd rounders this year and another lineman like clemmings. That would give us a quarterback and two really good lineman and an extra 1st rounder next year.
January 15th, 2015 at 9:30 am
Winston has some red flags on off-field behaviour, but Mariota has red flags on his accuracy and anticipation. To me it’s pretty clear, you can’t spend the number 1 pick on a guy who is questionable on the field.
January 15th, 2015 at 9:46 am
Mariota had the luxury of wide open receivers most of the time. NFL defenses are much faster and too good to give much of a window to throw. Arm strength, accuracy and the ability to throw into tight coverage is absolutely critical. Mariota would be a good option, only if he possesses the most important traits.
January 15th, 2015 at 10:01 am
In my opinion, with regards to Marriota, you can’t knock him for something he wasn’t asked to do, and he wasn’t asked to pass a lot from the pocket and make pro-style reads. I have seen him do it, but not much. And I think his athleticism and upside is simply higher than Winston’s, so I think he should be our pick. Also I’m not going to lie since we dealt with Freeman, I would like someone I know is going to work hard and not get in trouble. With all that said, I’m don’t know which QB though will be better and I’m glad it’s not my decision.
January 15th, 2015 at 10:06 am
Who does Mariota compare to in the NFL?
Kaepernick?
Wilson?
Bortles?
January 15th, 2015 at 10:07 am
Winston is easily the better pro QB prospect. Its not even close really. Mariota will probably turn out to be a decent pro QB within 2-3 years. but Winston will be a Top 10 NFL QB before Mariota is even ready to start most likely.
January 15th, 2015 at 10:09 am
Meant to add that if Wilson is what the Bucs think the ceiling is for Mariota, it means the Bucs will pick him. He’s a brilliant game manager and that would suit Lovie perfectly.
If the Bucs think he compares to Kaepernick, I just don’t see them drafting him.
January 15th, 2015 at 10:48 am
Mariota all the way
January 15th, 2015 at 11:33 am
One thing I feel pretty certain about. Whatever happens neither Joe nor anybody will be getting any hints from L&L Koetter or anybody with the Bucs.
The draft is like a giant poker game. Why would the Bucs reveal any of their genuine thoughts. Even if they have already decided to go with Jameis or Marcus they would be truly stupid to let that leak out.
Let’s wait and see what’s on the table and what the “real” cost of taking one of the Heismans will be. How many draft picks would another desperate team offer up? No matter how sold you are on drafting a QB there would be a tipping point somewhere that would convince you to trade.
Practically speaking no other team may offer the enormous ransom we would ask but you have to play your cards close to the vest in case there is another Washington Redskins out there willing to give you the farm for your choice.
January 15th, 2015 at 11:35 am
$20, huh Tom. That was like a weeks pay Bach then. Lot better than the $8 an hour job you have now.
January 15th, 2015 at 12:57 pm
Why guess if MM8 game translates. Draft the guy u don’t have to guess about JW5
January 15th, 2015 at 2:46 pm
Ha Ha Joe 90% of all people have no idea what buttonholeing is. Can you imagine the old Parlament and even our Senate rules. If someone gets their finger in your button hole you are’t allowed to walk away untill they are done talking.
January 15th, 2015 at 2:56 pm
Winston just seems like a QB who will land with the Titans. He fits their personna to a T. He will slog along up there until it blows up. Bucs escape backing up upon themselves.
January 15th, 2015 at 3:59 pm
@ Joe,
Out of curiosity, what do you both see as both the perfect case and realistic scenarios next year if we draft a QB? Is he starting at any point in the 2015 season?