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Scouting Report 2009: Better Know a Draft Prospect: West Virginia Quarterback Pat White

Patwhite_medium

 

Sometimes you find players instantly and they stick with you. That happened when I tuned into the 2006 Sugar Bowl between Georgia and West Virginia. I was expecting a route and when I tuned in, it was 28-0. Except it was 28-0 West Virginia! Since then, Pat White has always been on my radar as a player.

White became the first quartback in NCAA history to go 4-0 as a starter in bowl games, led the Mountaineers to two Big East championships, and twice had the Mountaineers perilously close to National Championship game appearances. 

Pat White represents something of an enigma for whoever drafts him. Originally everyone pegged him making a Matt Jones-ish transition to WR, but his Senior Bowl and Combine performance have made some re-evaluate him as a true NFL QB.

What does White offer the Jacksonville Jaguars should he end up in the Teal and Black?

Star-divide

Video Killed the Scouting Report

 

 

By the Numbers

 

At A Glance
Position 1:  Quarterback
Height:  6'1
Position 2:  WR/Returner
Weight:195
Class:  Senior Age:  22
Projected Round: 3-5

 40time:  4.5

White certainly isn't your prototypical 6'4, 225 lb QB who stands firm in the pocket. He certainly has a good 40 time and is elusive.

According to the Experts

Positives

Draft Countdown: Athletic, High football IQ, natural leader

FF Toolbox: Consistently got better as a quarterback throughout his time at WVU

NFL Spot: White is highly athletic.  He has good speed and can change direction quickly.  When White has the ball he's a threat to score on any play.  His vision, and elusiveness in the open field made him the most dangerous player in college football when he had the ball.

Negatives

Draft Countdown: Lacks the physical skills to make it as a consistent starter

FF Toolbox: White will not be a quarterback in the NFL. He is practically a running back, but he will not be one of those at the next level either.

NFL Spot: The fact remains he is undersized and lacks experience as a pocket passer.  I suppose at this point the one of the main weakness' of Pat White is his reluctancy to change positions and show scouts what he can do as a receiver.  As a passer his elongated delivery doesn't play in his favor, and his accuracy can be inconsistant.

According to the Blogosphere

I contact the guys over at The Smoking Musket, SBN's Mountaineer blog, and this is what they had to say on White

On Pat White being a winner...

You're going to see a lot of scouting reports between the combine and the draft talking about Pat White being a "winner."  It's a true statement, but somewhat disingenuous the way it's used by these scouts.  The label "winner" is almost always preceded or followed by a long diatribe on why White won't succeed at the professional level as a QB.  Then, under positives, we get "winner," like that's supposed to negate everything the scout just wrote.  Well, as a Mountaineer fan, I'm here to tell you that Pat White is a winner, and in my mind, will continue as exactly that, regardless of position.

White went to the combine expected to feign skill at QB and then quickly start his transformation to wide receiver.  Well, a funny thing happened, as White completely outshone every other signal-caller in Indianapolis.  Of course, with his lack of skills and arm strength, there was no way White was going to be able to compete with the big, bad Mark Sanchez's of the world.  But there he was, throwing deep outs with laser-like accuracy while Sanchez and Co. struggled.  Sure, maybe in hindsight, it was foolish to doubt the only QB in NCAA to history to win four bowl games (two of which were of the BCS variety).  But, don't worry, White's seen it before.  And he'll continue to see it, up until the point where an NFL team gives him a shot at quarterback.  Sure, he might not make it as a starter in this league -- few do.  But he deserves that shot.  Expect that last point to be further driven home during White's pro-day at WVU.  And if it doesn't happen for White, he'll make that move to WR.  Then, at that point, I fully expect him to succeed there.  I guess I could doubt him, but four years at WVU have taught me not to.

Why Should Pat White Be a Jaguar

If Gene Smith wants a team player who will give 110% and not care if he gets the ball on every play, he'll want Pat White. If he wants a guy who has something else "Click On" at kickoff, he'll want Pat White. White offers many different play making abilities, and do so while we figure out if he could actually be a Quarterback in the NFL.

0 recs  |  Comment 29 comments |

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I think

if he will be aviable, then he will be the safest pick for us in this draft.
My only question is in which round want the Jaguars to pick him? 2, 3 maybe 4?
By the way thanks for the article.

by Zoltan from Budapest on Mar 2, 2009 7:05 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

I Don't Think

This isn’t the solution to our problems. David Garrard got hammered last year behind an O-line that blocked as well as wet toilet paper. It is to his credit that he played the entire season and did ok, not great, but ok. I cannot think of any games last year that we lost because of David Garrard. It wouldn’t have mattered if had we Peyton Manning or Tom Brady behind center, they would have both sacked as many times and had as bad a year (Actually, since neither is all that known for mobility, they would have been sacked more then Garrard)……. We need to draft big a big defensive tackle or a big O line men. I know all the arguemnts about BAP, but we are going to have a high pick and their is going to be plenty of talent on the board when we make our selection. With all the talent this year it would probably be a good idea to trade down for picks…….Whateve we do, for the love of God no more first round wide receivers….Soward…..Williams….Do we need the trifecta?

by Kingfysh on Mar 2, 2009 9:26 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

What round are we talking?

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by Tkopa on Mar 2, 2009 10:54 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

Second day pick, so between 3-5

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by FSBlueApocalypse on Mar 2, 2009 11:02 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Sorry

FSBlue, I didn’t see that you were thinking 3-5 round. I think he would definetly be a player to consider in those rounds. Although, I would prefer that we draft him as either a QB or a WR. I don’t like drafting these QBs and then trying to teach them to do something that they have never done, ie catch the ball. We are only now have some success with Matt Jones, three (four) years after drafting him……This year’s draft is going to be very interesting to watch.

by Kingfysh on Mar 2, 2009 11:44 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, the "Projected Round" part in the By the Numbers section is where I think they'll go

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by FSBlueApocalypse on Mar 2, 2009 11:52 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

great 4

slightly questionable at 3
in my opinion

surreal to be teal

by Surteal on Mar 2, 2009 11:14 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

I can tell you for a fact

The Jaguars are way, way, way hot on Pat White.

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by River City Rage on Mar 2, 2009 12:36 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I'm sure we will bid against ourselves

and offer him a big contract. Ugh!

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by Tkopa on Mar 2, 2009 2:59 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Hmm?

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by FSBlueApocalypse on Mar 2, 2009 4:30 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

oh yeah

in vics video interviews from the combine every single coach, save tucker seemed to end up talking about him

surreal to be teal

by Surteal on Mar 2, 2009 1:04 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I'd even bet that Tucker's considered him as a Nickel Corner

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by River City Rage on Mar 2, 2009 1:37 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

As much as the Jags coaches love him

which I do too, I just think that a team that loves the wildcat stuff will use him. He’s the perfect Troy Smith type of player for an offense where he can be used as a triple threat to go to wide out, run, or throw. If the Jaguars were to draft him then I imagine we’ll be seeing some wildcat sets in the future

by SoCalStites on Mar 2, 2009 1:57 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I like the idea of picking him up in a later round.

Right now our QB depth consists of Cleo Lemon. I think Pat White has to help out there.

by Jags on Mar 2, 2009 3:21 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

Speacking of Cleo

Im really surprised that Gene hasnt given him the axe yet. I figured he would have been on the block next to Porter and Florence. Pat White would be an improvement over Cleo.

by JagSoldier on Mar 2, 2009 3:26 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

sorry, but no he wouldn't.

Cleo is a proven NFL commodity. He’s a better backup than many NFL teams have. He’s better than Quinn Grey, that’s for sure. I really like Cleo and think he was a great signing and will serve his purpose well. A solid Back-up for 2 more years.

-Collin

The End Is Nigh...

by silencecs on Mar 2, 2009 3:28 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Im just not that big on the guy.

I want the Jags to start looking for a possible future QB for the team. Garrards no spring chicken even though he is pretty healthy for his age.

by JagSoldier on Mar 2, 2009 3:35 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

No one's saying Cleo's the future

He’s just a solid backup for the present. I don’t think it’d be the best idea to axe him while still developing a younger guy like Pat White.

by MoveThoseChains on Mar 2, 2009 4:30 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Lemon is

definitely better than Pat White right now. And chances are that this wont change as White will probably not get a good chance of being a QB.

by Ewdtrey on Mar 2, 2009 5:27 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Pat

Is more of a do it all type player who could see 10-15 snaps per game at quarterback, but thats it. He will never be a full time QB.

Thats Good For Another Jacksonville... First Down.

by Bestjagfan on Mar 2, 2009 8:43 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

I would've agreed

Before I saw the Senior Bowl. He was very impressive in the game and wasn’t used as I expected him to be. He stood in the pocket, made the reads, and made great throws all over the field. I’m not going to say that he’s going to be a full time QB, but I’m not going to say he’ll absolutely never make it.

by SoCalStites on Mar 2, 2009 9:06 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

He Was Good In The Senior Bowl

You’re right, he did play very well. But teams might shy away from him because of his lack of prototypical size. The only way I see him starting full time is maybe in a West Coast offense, where he can use his mobility and decent accuracy to his advantage.

Thats Good For Another Jacksonville... First Down.

by Bestjagfan on Mar 2, 2009 9:58 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

A college-originating coach like Dirk Koetter

could make Pat White pretty effective, I’d think. I think the Jags have a better shot than most other teams at making Pat White a good full-time quarterback.

by MoveThoseChains on Mar 2, 2009 10:48 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Del Rio

Really is high on this guy. At some of the Senior Bowl practices every time they would ask about a player who impressed him he would name Pat White. And Vic had an interview with him during the combine, and again, Pat White was brought up.

Pat could represent good value in the fourth, so it could be safe to say there is a possibility that he will be wearing teal next year.

Thats Good For Another Jacksonville... First Down.

by Bestjagfan on Mar 2, 2009 4:39 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I agree...

I saw a smile come across JDR’s face everytime he talked about White.

by jagsfanbrunell on Mar 3, 2009 11:12 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

but if they

want him so bad, do they risk not taking him in the 3rd
he could be gone at the end of 3
i guess this goes back to the board but what if we traded down in 3 to get a 4 and got white at mid 3

am i crazy and playing madden or does that sound good?

surreal to be teal

by Surteal on Mar 3, 2009 4:37 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

I have no idea where Pat is ranked among most teams' boards

That sounds good but I don’t know what other teams are thinking. I’m a fan of adding picks all the time so that would make sense to me

by SoCalStites on Mar 3, 2009 4:47 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

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