A Closer Look At QB Greg McElroy

[JetNation]

After an ineffective Mark Sanchez threw a poor third down and short pass this Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, Rex Ryan decided to make a change at the quarterback position. It wasn’t the guy that many fans thought it would be in Tim Tebow, but rather Greg McElroy. McElroy was a 7th round pick of the Jets in the 2011 NFL Draft, a pick that was acquired when the Jets traded Kerry Rhodes to the Cardinals, ironically. He came into the game yesterday down 3-0 and led the Jets to a TD scoring drive which was a 1 yard pass to TE Jeff Cumberland and ultimately led the Jets to the 7-6 victory. Here’s a little about McElroy for fans to get to know the guy who could supplant Sanchez and Tebow as the new Jets quarterback.

McElroy played college football at the University of Alabama under coach Nick Saban. McElroy saw limited time in his freshman and sophomore year backing up John Parker Wilson. McElroy started his junior year and in his first year as the starter led the Crimson Tide to an SEC Championship against the Florida Gators. He was the MVP of that game, going 12-18 for 239 yards. The team continued their run into the BCS National Championship game against Texas where they won 37-21 behind a great game by Cleveland Browns RB Trent Richardson. McElroy didn’t play a great game, but later revealed he had cracked ribs (another irony) that he sustained in the SEC Championship game which led the Crimson Tide to run the ball more often in the National Championship game.

As a senior McElroy led Alabama to a 10-3 record and a win in the Capitol One Bowl against Michigan State. McElroy holds the records at Alabama for most passing yards in a season as well as touchdown passes in a season. He also holds the records for highest percentage of passes completed in a game(12-13) and consecutive completions (12).

McElroy, when declaring his eligibility for the NFL Draft was critiqued hard and evaluated by every scout imaginable. Here are some of the things that were said about him prior to the draft in 2011, courtesy of NFL Draft 101:

STRENGTHS
•Has a nice short game, great fit for a West Coast offense
•Makes good decisions with the ball (Career 39 TD to 10 INT ratio at Alabama).
•Solid mechanics
•Tough, played in the National Championship Game with 2 cracked ribs
•Has great intangibles: intelligent, personable, strong character and a leader
•Smart, graduated with a 3.85 GPA
•Elevated his stock with a strong week at the Senior Bowl

WEAKNESSES
•Arm strength is average at best – struggles going deep or outside the hashes
•Played in a run-first offense, didn’t have to carry his team
•Limited athlete – Not a threat to run
•Footwork needs to improve
•Lacks great measureables but has the makeup of a backup QB

Talking about the weaknesses, McElroy has shown a tremendous work ethic since he has been drafted. It is often said in the social media that he is the first guy in the building and last guy out, something a quarterback should do. He has made strides in his arm strength, grip strength, and has taken his lifting program very seriously. His speed is average but his improved footwork helps him get out of danger, avoid the rush and still keep his eyes down the field. His mechanics are virtually flawless. He has a nice easy throwing motion and now with his improved arm strength he can make all the throws. His drop backs are very consistent (although there was only a small sample of 7 passes) and unlike, the previous starter, his eyes remained down the field rather than on the incoming pass rush.

McElroy is also an excellent game manager. No quarterback wants to be labeled strictly as a “game manager” but the Jets offensive philosophy is very similar to that of Alabama when McElroy was there. They were a run first team that asked him to take care of the football and get key 3rd down conversions. There’s no doubt he can do the same for the Jets going down the stretch.

Rex has stated that he will make a decision by the end of Tuesday, but won’t tell the media until Wednesday. It’s obvious that McElroy’s intangibles, his smarts, and the way the team rallied around him this past weekend are weighing on Rex Ryan right now. Although Jet fans have only seen a small bit of what he can do, they hope to see more out of the former National Champion in the last 4 games.

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[bitonti]

another fun fact he wore 12 at Alabama in tribute to Joe Willy.

i suspect Rex will go with Greg this week. the players responded to the change.

[CrazyCarl40]

You forgot his number 1 strength: he isn't Mark Sanchez.

[bmd71]

This article mentions improved arm strength along with improvements in grip strength and footwork. Maybe McElroy had improved on the weaknesses that caused him to be a 7th round pick. The Jets organization needs to find out if he has what it takes to be a quality starting quarterback in the NFL.

[#27TheDominator]

•Tough, played in the National Championship Game with 2 cracked ribs

Unheard of! Did that bufoon Nick Saban even know?

Talking about the weaknesses, McElroy has shown a tremendous work ethic since he has been drafted. It is often said in the social media that he is the first guy in the building and last guy out, something a quarterback should do.

We hear this kind of sh*t about guys all the time. We've heard it (and the opposite) about Sanchez. I wonder if part of the purpose of this pick was to try to help Mark out. He had been with Brunell to see how a vet preps, but it also helps to have a smart young guy trying to pick up the offense at the same time as you. More of a colleague. That was always considered one of McElroy's strengths. They probably just thought he'd be a good backup, but his influence had to be a plus.

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[Rjpickett21]

This article mentions improved arm strength along with improvements in grip strength and footwork. Maybe McElroy had improved on the weaknesses that caused him to be a 7th round pick. The Jets organization needs to find out if he has what it takes to be a quality starting quarterback in the NFL.

Exactly my point in writing the article...he knew his weaknesses and improved on them. What has Sanchez done to improve himself as a QB? Answer is NOTHING. The Jets need to turn a new leaf and hand the reigns to McElroy. See what he can do. It can't be any worse than Sanchez. Keep in mind the Jets have multiple flaws on offense besides QB (OL, WR drops) but the run game has improved over the season and if the Jets need someone who will limit mistakes and take care of the ball their man is McElroy!

[CrazyCarl40]

Exactly my point in writing the article...he knew his weaknesses and improved on them. What has Sanchez done to improve himself as a QB? Answer is NOTHING. The Jets need to turn a new leaf and hand the reigns to McElroy. See what he can do. It can't be any worse than Sanchez. Keep in mind the Jets have multiple flaws on offense besides QB (OL, WR drops) but the run game has improved over the season and if the Jets need someone who will limit mistakes and take care of the ball their man is McElroy!

Really? He hasn't run multiple off-season programs with his wideouts? He didn't become a gym rat to become stronger? He hasn't worked with coaches to try and get better? Oh wait. He has done all of those. The guy puts in the work, but he isn't getting results. That doesn't mean he hasn't tried.

You people are ridiculous.

[stoicsentry]

He can't run? People keep saying he's slow.

I've only watched him with the Jets (not at Alabama), so I guess I'm missing something here, but he has looked pretty quick (Ryan Fitzpatrick quick, not RG3 quick) every time I've seen him in a Jets uniform, pre-season and last game. I think Sanchez has slightly above average speed for a QB, and McElroy looks ever so slightly faster than Sanchez.

I must be missing something.

[THE ILK]

You forgot his number 1 strength: he isn't Mark Sanchez.

So not being Tebow is 2?

[Rjpickett21]

Really? He hasn't run multiple off-season programs with his wideouts? He didn't become a gym rat to become stronger? He hasn't worked with coaches to try and get better? Oh wait. He has done all of those. The guy puts in the work, but he isn't getting results. That doesn't mean he hasn't tried.

You people are ridiculous.

Most people IMPROVE when they do Jets West, when they workout hard and get stronger (which doesn't have anything to do with his performance as a QB football player ask David Boston). He is not a good QB for NY....maybe he can be successful elsewhere but he doesn't have what it takes to be in NY. He's getting zero results partially because of his ever changing wide receiving core and the fact that his hard work in offseason hasn't paid off. MOST QBs in their 4th year you see a drastic improvement in reading defenses, making decisions, eluding the rush, or they crumble....Sanchez is crumbling to a point where he has no confidence. So no he hasn't improved regardless of his weight lifting or off season WR workouts. Bottom line is Jets need a change, a change that will pump the team up and get people excited and that's McElroy.

[Rjpickett21]

Which doesn't have anything to do with his performance as a football player, ask David Boston**....EDIT

[Rjpickett21]

He can't run? People keep saying he's slow.

I've only watched him with the Jets (not at Alabama), so I guess I'm missing something here, but he has looked pretty quick (Ryan Fitzpatrick quick, not RG3 quick) every time I've seen him in a Jets uniform, pre-season and last game. I think Sanchez has slightly above average speed for a QB, and McElroy looks ever so slightly faster than Sanchez.

I must be missing something.

The knock on his speed was from the NFL DRAFT scouting report, but as stated in the article he has improved on a lot of his so called "flaws" to help him improve as a QB. Mark still makes the same mistakes 4 years later...better college program in Alabama better coach in Nick Saban. Not enough sample size to say but yes, you can't get much slower and less agile than Sanchez lol

[CrazyCarl40]

Most people IMPROVE when they do Jets West, when they workout hard and get stronger (which doesn't have anything to do with his performance as a QB football player ask David Boston). He is not a good QB for NY....maybe he can be successful elsewhere but he doesn't have what it takes to be in NY. He's getting zero results partially because of his ever changing wide receiving core and the fact that his hard work in offseason hasn't paid off. MOST QBs in their 4th year you see a drastic improvement in reading defenses, making decisions, eluding the rush, or they crumble....Sanchez is crumbling to a point where he has no confidence. So no he hasn't improved regardless of his weight lifting or off season WR workouts. Bottom line is Jets need a change, a change that will pump the team up and get people excited and that's McElroy.

So I was right?

And the people/fans would get excited if ANYONE went to replace Sanchez. McElroy is probably closer to Sanchez as a player than he is to what this team actually needs. But he isn't Sanchez, so he'll do right now.

[jorge o8]

sorry but in the game agaist the texans sanchez had 2 open recievers and froze no nfl qb can ever do that he just has not improved over the years a change is what we need

[Rjpickett21]

No ones saying mcelroys the future. Hes just the best option right now. Who knows what he can do unless they play him?

[Maxman]

Really? He hasn't run multiple off-season programs with his wideouts? He didn't become a gym rat to become stronger? He hasn't worked with coaches to try and get better? Oh wait. He has done all of those. The guy puts in the work, but he isn't getting results. That doesn't mean he hasn't tried.

You people are ridiculous.

You people? What the hell is that.

[dbatesman]

He can't run? People keep saying he's slow.

I've only watched him with the Jets (not at Alabama), so I guess I'm missing something here, but he has looked pretty quick (Ryan Fitzpatrick quick, not RG3 quick) every time I've seen him in a Jets uniform, pre-season and last game. I think Sanchez has slightly above average speed for a QB, and McElroy looks ever so slightly faster than Sanchez.

I must be missing something.

It's more processing speed than physical speed. He's obviously not in Sanchez's class as a pure athlete, but he's got enough pocket presence and common sense not to just stand there and wait for somebody to telescope his spine.

[stoicsentry]

The knock on his speed was from the NFL DRAFT scouting report, but as stated in the article he has improved on a lot of his so called "flaws" to help him improve as a QB. Mark still makes the same mistakes 4 years later...better college program in Alabama better coach in Nick Saban. Not enough sample size to say but yes, you can't get much slower and less agile than Sanchez lol

Huh? You're saying Sanchez is slow? If you mean slow to develop as a QB, slow at reading the field, slow decision making, etc. then yes. If you mean he has no speed then I disagree. Peyton, Eli, Brady, Palmer, etc. those guys are slow. Sanchez has at least average speed as a QB. He may be a knucklehead but he's not slow.

[T0mShane]

On the TD, the patience and presence McElroy showed was impressive. Instead of freaking out when he saw his man open, he got himself a better angle, processed how much time he had with a guy bearing down on him, and dropped a perfect, catchable ball to the TE. Mark would have likely completed it, too, but he'd have made a harder play by trying to loft it to a spot the second he realized his target was open. Mac made the play the way a veteran does it, though. Impressive.

[dbatesman]

On the TD, the patience and presence McElroy showed was impressive. Instead of freaking out when he saw his man open, he got himself a better angle, processed how much time he had with a guy bearing down on him, and dropped a perfect, catchable ball to the TE. Mark would have likely completed it, too, but he'd have made a harder play by trying to loft it to a spot the second he realized his target was open. Mac made the play the way a veteran does it, though. Impressive.

It's a testament to how utterly diarrheal Sanchez has become that when his replacement goes 5/7 for 29 yards and a TD, we immediately start giving him nicknames.

Just for the record, I prefer GMC.

[THE ILK]

I see honorary Ilk member.

[T0mShane]

It's a testament to how utterly diarrheal Sanchez has become that when his replacement goes 5/7 for 29 yards and a TD, we immediately start giving him nicknames.

Just for the record, I prefer GMC.

McVictory

[dbatesman]

McVictory