Harbaugh NFL Quarterbacks
Came across some interesting info (at least interesting enough for the off-season). In 2013, the quarterbacks with the top Wonderlic scores were:
1.Blaine Gabbert 42
2. Alex Smith 40
3. Eli Manning 39
4. Matt Flynn 38
5. Colin Kaepernick 37
For those who are unfamiliar with the Wonderlic test, it is used by the NFL to gauge intelligence. 50 is the maximum score, NFL players overall average about 20.
The reason this is interesting is that 3 of these 5 (Gabbert, Smith, Kaepernick) played for the 49ers under Harbaugh. (Also of note: Andrew Luck was ranked 7th, also with 37). Although it is already known that Harbaugh looks for smart football players, this info illustrates how heavily player intelligence factors into his decisionmaking, and perhaps provides some insight into recent recruiting offers.
"this info illustrates how heavily player intelligence factors into his decisionmaking, and perhaps provides some insight into recent recruiting offers."
Just as Harbaugh had players on his team with high wonderlics he had players with very low wonderlics too. Frank Gore, one of his very favorite players, recorded one of the lowest wonderlics ever, a 4. Above everything it looks like Harbaugh is looking for players who work their asses off and compete.
Holy smokes. Did he get 3 points just for writing his name?
That...and the RB responsibilities are signficantly less than QB.
Gore actually scored a 6, also he is learning disabled and dyslexic which makes that type of test extremley difficult.
For example: Paper sells for 21 cents per pad. What will four pads cost? Seems like a relativley innocuous question for most, but I could see how during a timed test questions like these might not purvey your actual intelligence. Dan Marino and Terry Bradshaw had very low scores and turned out alright. Mouth breather Eli Manning outscored his brother Peyton, Johnny Manziel outscored Tom Brady. Go figure, right?
Harbaugh also drafted Carlos Hyde who scored a 9 FWIW. I played with some guys in High School that could lose a game of tic-tac-toe to a chicken, but when you put them on a white board and gave them a playbook it was like A Beautiful Mind. Football smarts can be vastly different than book smarts.
Based off just your post, Luck was not 7th. He was T5th.
There was some confusion there. The original data I found gave Kaepernick a 38, but Wikipedia says he got a 37. I changed Kaepernick's score, but didn't adjust the rankings.
FWIW, I don't think that the Wonderlic test is considered a very good measure of intelligence. It's an old, out-dated measurement that sort of just sticks around because it has been around forever.
Trader Joe's Merlot
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
But lay off the QB's must be smarter tripe. It probably doesn't hurt to be smart, but Dan Marino (and I'm not a fan) scored something like an 8 and may have been the best passer of all time. I'm sorry but throwing for 5k yards and 48 touchdowns in the early 80's must be akin to throwing for 7k yards and 68 touchdowns now. That has to be the most impressive passing season ever.
I think sometimes, regardless of book intelligence, some people have skills that translate elswhere. Marino was obviously gifted at football and reading defenses even if he wasn't the smartest cookie.
And Blaine Gabbert......hahahahahahhaha. So much for the player must be smart to be able to play. He's tuurrrible.
Methinks you may have reached a little in this conclusion.
but I'll assume that is the case. My assertion was not that quarterbacks must be smart to be good, it was that Harbaugh rates intelligence highly in his selection process (at least with quarterbacks).
and I thought I was replying to the poster who said something about Gore being an RB and not a QB implying they must be smarter.
Sorry. Although the last part of my post was meant for you. I think you are overthinking this a bit. Didn't he inherit Smith? And Gabbert was a backup for all of what, one year under Harbuagh? I doubt he was brought in because he was book smart.
The only guy he really went after was Kaepernick. Who he used to replace an even smarter QB. I think he drafted Kaepernick because the thought he'd be the best player not much else.
I'm sure all coaches would like smart players, but I bet if you ask them, they'd value the guy who goes all out, cares as much as the coach does, and has Football IQ and can play over someone who can score high on a test. I think the fact that he had 3 of the top 5 is coincidence more than anything.
The fact that Gore was one of his favorites shows to me that Harbaugh (as any good football coach Urban, Belichick, Saban, etc.) wants a certain type of guy and intelligence as measured by a Wonderlic test isn't really it. Just my two cents.
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
Clearly, the OP is suggesting that RBs are all idiots and all the other coaches prefer QBs with low Wonderlic scores. Where did you get your Lit degree? Clearly not Michigan.
/s
I don't mean to threadjack. But, does anyone have any pictures from the QB Camp this weekend? I figured there had to be some great photos of Jay Cutler smoking cigs, Denard smiling and Harbaugh Harbaughing.
asking for those pics.
My Wonderlic score was eleventy four.
Can you practice and improve your Wonderlic score? If so then what's the point?
Sent from MGoBlog HD for iPhone & iPad
Where is Ryan Fitzpatrick on this list? He got something crazy like a 49 or something I remember.
Texans fan I can tell you that meant squat.
Although he is apparently a nice guy. So, he's got that going for him I guess. And the Harvard diploma too....
Probably being overly picky here but if Luck also got a 37 then isn't he tied for 5th?