Pat White and Drew Willy are two quarterbacks who are not getting the recognition they deserve. With all the talk about Matt Stafford, Mark Sanchez, and Josh Freeman, everybody is overlooking Drew Willy and Pat White. I’m a season ticket holder for the Buffalo Bulls, so I’ve watched Drew Willy play for years now. And I’ve watched my share of Pat White, including yesterday’s NFL combine, and even I was totally impressed with his quarterbacking abilities.
Pat White – His Quarterbacking Skills are Underrated
Pat White made a great showing at the 2009 NFL Combine. He was the surprise of the day for the quarterbacks in my book – and a lot of the analysts agreed. We know about Pat White’s athleticism – he ran a 4.5 in the 40 yd dash and hit his head on the dome roof in the vertical. He’s not big at about 6′0″ 200 lbs, but man can he fly. So everyone was saying he’ll make a great receiver in the NFL – and that is probably true. White said he’ll work out at both quarterback and receiver at his pro day, showing that his attitude and determination to play football at the NFL level are as sharp as his athletic skills.
But hold on just one minute here. Before you line him up out wide, let’s think about this for a minute. He made all the throws at the NFL combine. He showed great arm strength, great touch, and tremendous accuracy from both in the pocket and on the run. He looked confident, comfortable, and poised – kind of like he was the only one there that knew how good his quarterbacking skills were – and I’m pretty sure that when the day began he was the only one that knew.
But I’m tellin ya, that kid can throw the football. He’ll be elusive, versatile, and dangerous out of the pocket. He can throw on the run and he can run. Those are the guys that freeze the cornerbacks and linebackers when they roll out – you can’t win! You don’t know what he’s going to do, and no matter which way you play it, he’s going to take the opening you give him.
Maybe he won’t be the starting quarterback for the first couple of years in the NFL. Maybe he should go to a team that can let him learn from an experienced veteran while he develops a football mind to match his football body. Then, after a couple of years, you’ll know if he’s ever going to be an NFL quarterback or not. If so, you’ve got one hell of a weapon. If not, you’ve probably got one hell of a receiver or defensive back. Remember, nobody knows the X’s and O’s like the quarterbacks do. Anywhere you put him on the field, he’s going to know more than the guy lined up across from him. A receiver that thinks like a quarterback. And hey, what the hell – let him take a few shotgun snaps and roll-out once in a while to confuse the hell out of the defense. He can run it, or he can throw on the run. Mix that in there a few times a game and you might just get the spark your team needs at that point.
But for my money, I’m giving Pat White a shot. I’m gonna bring him in at Quarterback behind a veteran and see what he turns into. You almost can’t lose with a versatile athlete like that. He’s going to find a way to contribute and make plays no matter where you line him up on the field. Fine showing young man. We’re pullin for ya for sure.
Drew Willy – An Experienced Leader – Cool Under Pressure
Drew Willy became the starting quarterback three games into his freshman year for the University of Buffalo Bulls and never looked back. This was a team that never did anything. They’ve only been a Division I college team since the late 90’s, and up until the 2007 season never won more than three games in a season.
The hardships that Willy faced in the early years at such a poor program really helped build his tough character. The Bulls never had a good coaching staff, and the University didn’t really care about football. Until one day, all that changed. In came the football hero and savior for one of the poorest programs in the country – Coach Turner Gill. If you’re not familiar with Coach Gill, he was a quarterback at Nebraska in the early 80’s. They won the national championship and went 28-2 in the years he lead the team. He went on to be an assistant coach for the Cornhuskers and then an assistant with the Green Bay Packers. When Coach Gill arrived, everything changed.
In only his third year with the program, Coach Gill and Drew Willy lead the UB Bulls to the MAC championship, beating the undefeated and 12th ranked Ball State Cardinals for the title. And let me tell you from first hand experience, it was one hell of an exciting season! Five of the first 8 games came down to the last play of the game. The Bulls won two games in overtime, lost one in overtime, won one on a Hail Mary on the last play of the game, and lost one when the game-winning field goal hit the upright. I hardly took a breath all season, and I’m pretty sure I aged five years in three months! It was by far the most exciting season of football I have ever witnessed at any level in my entire life! It was just one miraculous game after another.
Drew, a 3 1/2 year starter, is very cool under pressure. And believe me, he was under pressure a lot! He’s tough and patient in the pocket, intelligent, can make all the throws, and makes very few mistakes. His statistics got better each of his last three years and were outstanding his senior year:
He’s 6′4″, 214 pounds and a traditional pocket passer who can read the field and will stand in there and take the hits to make a play. A great leader, intelligent, well-liked, and hard working. I’m quite surprised he isn’t getting any attention at all. But that’s what happens when you play for Buffalo. Nobody faced more hardships or more gut-wrenching situations than Drew Willy did. He’s got the size, the brains, the experience, the poise, and the leadership skills to do something at the NFL level in my opinion. Time will tell if he will get his chance, but I believe he’s got what it takes to make a statement in the NFL.
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