Seamus
5/31/2007, 12:32 PM
Interesting article in the World:
J.C. (http://www.tulsaworld.com/sports/college/article.aspx?articleID=070531_238_B1_MELWo42372&breadcrumb=OU)
Ahead of his time
http://www.tulsaworld.com/articleimages/2007/070531_B1_MELWo42372_wattsMACGS.jpg
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
5/31/2007
Switzer says J.C. Watts would be playing quaterback in today's NFL
Have you seen old video footage of Iba Awards keynote speaker J.C. Watts scrambling around and throwing spirals for the New York Jets?
No?
That's because the footage doesn't exist.
What's the problem?
"I was probably about six or seven years ahead of my time," Watts said.
Watts, a star quarterback at Eufaula High School and the University of Oklahoma, played pro ball in the Canadian Football League instead of the National Football League. Back then, the NFL wanted only cookie-cutter quarterbacks. Watts wasn't the right kind of cookie, but he tasted great to the folks up north.
Watts led the Ottawa Rough Riders to the Grey Cup -- the CFL's Super Bowl -- as a rookie and was chosen the game's offensive MVP even though his team lost. Watts played in Canada from 1981-86 and apparently made a lasting impression. Go to the CFL's official Web site and Watts' name is listed under "legends."
NFL quarterbacks come in all shapes, sizes and hues nowadays. If Watts played quarterback in this era "he would be a guy that would be drafted and would play in the NFL, I promise you,"
former OU and Dallas Cowboys coach Barry Switzer said.
Watts led a run-heavy wishbone offense at OU and twice was selected MVP of Orange Bowls. The Jets picked Watts in the eighth round of the 1981 NFL Draft with the intent of employing him as a running back and return man.
The Jets told Watts he had zero chance of being a quarterback and advised him to head across the border if he wanted to play the position. The CFL, where Warren Moon honed his craft before heading to the NFL, was more open-minded about QB's.
"My intentions were to go up there and prove that I could throw the ball 30 times a game and come back to the National Football League," Watts said. "I went up there and proved that I could throw the ball 30 times a game and I was successful at it, but the NFL just didn't have that many black quarterbacks at that time."
Watts led the CFL in yards per completion in 1983 and he threw for more than 6,000 yards over the next two seasons.
Even when Watts was running the 'bone at OU, former Oklahoma State coach Pat Jones had a pretty good idea that Watts was not a legs-only player.
"Those drives he engineered to beat Florida State in both of those Orange Bowls, they were throwing drives," Jones said. "They had to throw the ball to win those games. I thought he was more of a passer than a thrower. I thought he was a legit passer that had running skills."
People ask Switzer to pick his best OU quarterback. Troy Aikman notwithstanding, Switzer will point out that Watts was the lone Sooner quarterback to play the position professionally.
Watts, listed at 5-foot-11 in college, knew his chances of playing quarterback in the NFL would be limited. He played option football at OU, so that made teams suspect his ability to run a pro-style offense. The race issue crossed his mind, but he said he had to take the Jets at face value when they told him skin color wasn't an issue. And, at that time, everyone was looking for "the next Terry Bradshaw," according to Jones. Translated, teams back then wanted 6-foot-4 pocket passers.
"Today, I think they still want that kind of quarterback, but it's not taboo for a quarterback to be mobile," Watts said.
"Steve Young was a mobile quarterback. Donovan McNabb is a mobile quarterback. Randall Cunningham was a mobile quarterback. Warren Moon was a mobile quarterback. But those guys threw it downfield."
Watts indicated there is a difference between a mobile quarterback and a running quarterback, and he believes a running quarterback can't take a team to a Super Bowl. He puts himself in the mobile category, even though there were CFL seasons when he averaged a furlong per carry. He said he learned in a hurry that it's not smart to run for more yards than your running back.
"But if you are mobile, on third-and-5, you can drop back and if nothing is there, you can go get that six yards and get a first down. That's a real asset these days," Watts said.
"My style of quarterback is much more acceptable today. National Football League teams just have a different take on mobile quarterbacks these days, especially black mobile quarterbacks."
Watts would be perfect for spread option shotgun offenses in today's NFL, according to Switzer, adding that Watts is comparable height-wise with Michael Vick, Drew Brees and Tony Romo.
Watts doesn't sound like a man who regrets missing out on the NFL. He wanted to prove he could be a pro quarterback and he did it, although out of sight from those who watched him play in college.
"I had five good years in the Canadian Football League," he said. "I had five great years at the University of Oklahoma. I don't think any NFL experience could have been more special than that."
J.C. (http://www.tulsaworld.com/sports/college/article.aspx?articleID=070531_238_B1_MELWo42372&breadcrumb=OU)
Ahead of his time
http://www.tulsaworld.com/articleimages/2007/070531_B1_MELWo42372_wattsMACGS.jpg
By JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
5/31/2007
Switzer says J.C. Watts would be playing quaterback in today's NFL
Have you seen old video footage of Iba Awards keynote speaker J.C. Watts scrambling around and throwing spirals for the New York Jets?
No?
That's because the footage doesn't exist.
What's the problem?
"I was probably about six or seven years ahead of my time," Watts said.
Watts, a star quarterback at Eufaula High School and the University of Oklahoma, played pro ball in the Canadian Football League instead of the National Football League. Back then, the NFL wanted only cookie-cutter quarterbacks. Watts wasn't the right kind of cookie, but he tasted great to the folks up north.
Watts led the Ottawa Rough Riders to the Grey Cup -- the CFL's Super Bowl -- as a rookie and was chosen the game's offensive MVP even though his team lost. Watts played in Canada from 1981-86 and apparently made a lasting impression. Go to the CFL's official Web site and Watts' name is listed under "legends."
NFL quarterbacks come in all shapes, sizes and hues nowadays. If Watts played quarterback in this era "he would be a guy that would be drafted and would play in the NFL, I promise you,"
former OU and Dallas Cowboys coach Barry Switzer said.
Watts led a run-heavy wishbone offense at OU and twice was selected MVP of Orange Bowls. The Jets picked Watts in the eighth round of the 1981 NFL Draft with the intent of employing him as a running back and return man.
The Jets told Watts he had zero chance of being a quarterback and advised him to head across the border if he wanted to play the position. The CFL, where Warren Moon honed his craft before heading to the NFL, was more open-minded about QB's.
"My intentions were to go up there and prove that I could throw the ball 30 times a game and come back to the National Football League," Watts said. "I went up there and proved that I could throw the ball 30 times a game and I was successful at it, but the NFL just didn't have that many black quarterbacks at that time."
Watts led the CFL in yards per completion in 1983 and he threw for more than 6,000 yards over the next two seasons.
Even when Watts was running the 'bone at OU, former Oklahoma State coach Pat Jones had a pretty good idea that Watts was not a legs-only player.
"Those drives he engineered to beat Florida State in both of those Orange Bowls, they were throwing drives," Jones said. "They had to throw the ball to win those games. I thought he was more of a passer than a thrower. I thought he was a legit passer that had running skills."
People ask Switzer to pick his best OU quarterback. Troy Aikman notwithstanding, Switzer will point out that Watts was the lone Sooner quarterback to play the position professionally.
Watts, listed at 5-foot-11 in college, knew his chances of playing quarterback in the NFL would be limited. He played option football at OU, so that made teams suspect his ability to run a pro-style offense. The race issue crossed his mind, but he said he had to take the Jets at face value when they told him skin color wasn't an issue. And, at that time, everyone was looking for "the next Terry Bradshaw," according to Jones. Translated, teams back then wanted 6-foot-4 pocket passers.
"Today, I think they still want that kind of quarterback, but it's not taboo for a quarterback to be mobile," Watts said.
"Steve Young was a mobile quarterback. Donovan McNabb is a mobile quarterback. Randall Cunningham was a mobile quarterback. Warren Moon was a mobile quarterback. But those guys threw it downfield."
Watts indicated there is a difference between a mobile quarterback and a running quarterback, and he believes a running quarterback can't take a team to a Super Bowl. He puts himself in the mobile category, even though there were CFL seasons when he averaged a furlong per carry. He said he learned in a hurry that it's not smart to run for more yards than your running back.
"But if you are mobile, on third-and-5, you can drop back and if nothing is there, you can go get that six yards and get a first down. That's a real asset these days," Watts said.
"My style of quarterback is much more acceptable today. National Football League teams just have a different take on mobile quarterbacks these days, especially black mobile quarterbacks."
Watts would be perfect for spread option shotgun offenses in today's NFL, according to Switzer, adding that Watts is comparable height-wise with Michael Vick, Drew Brees and Tony Romo.
Watts doesn't sound like a man who regrets missing out on the NFL. He wanted to prove he could be a pro quarterback and he did it, although out of sight from those who watched him play in college.
"I had five good years in the Canadian Football League," he said. "I had five great years at the University of Oklahoma. I don't think any NFL experience could have been more special than that."