TMI 2007 Part Deux: Logan Gray.
This is the second installment in my long and winding analysis of our incoming 2007 signing class, and eventually some of our 2008 prospects. Today's signee is Columbia (Rock Bridge), Missouri quarterback Logan Gray.
In hopes of directing some more traffic there, I'll again be directing you to SunshinePreps.net for some junior video on young Gray.
Gray's Profile: Logan comes from a high school program with some history of turning out D-1A quarterbacks. He took over the starting job from Chase Patton, who was recruited by the Dawgs before signing with Missouri in 2004 as Rivals #4 quarterback in the country. Logan, like most of Richt's recent quarterback recruits attended the Elite 11 Quarterback Camp in California before his senior season, after having worked as a ballboy at the camp before his junior campaign. Gray's junior numbers were impressive (131 of 225 passing, for a 58.2% completion rate, 2,169 yards passing, and 25 TD's against 10 picks).
Strengths: Gray makes the right throw for the right route. He doesn't have the rifle arm of a Matt Stafford, but only 1-2 high schoolers per year do. Many of them spend the next two years learning when to put the rifle on safety. Gray has no such handicap, as he puts just enough on the ball for the West Coast passing routes of the Rock Bridge offense. You can see on the deep post routes that he can wing it plenty far for our purposes.
Gray's bigger asset may be his speed. You can tell that the kid has some serious wheels when he decides to tuck it and run. The fact that he does indeed tuck the ball when he crosses the line of scrimmage is a huge plus, and something that even some college quarterbacks don't do. He does switch arms, which some coaches don't like and others recommend. I think Coach Richt prefers that QB's use one arm, but I'm not sure. I've never had the chance to ask him. Aside from his speed, Gray shows good moves in the open field and picks up blockers well, especially for a guy who is essentially a pocket passer. I could see him giving us the chance to run some read-option stuff, much like we did with D.J. Shockley.
Weaknesses: This boy needs some fried baloney and cheese sandwiches, ASAP. He's listed at 6'2, 185 lb. I'd believe the 6'2 part, but if Logan Gray weighs 185, then I weigh 185. I think it would be accurate to say that we're both about 20 pounds away from 185, just in opposite directions. I'll let you guess who's covering the over and who's got the under. Again, he may have bulked up some in the 15 months since this video was shot, but the senior video (which unfortunately you can't see unless you subscribe to, well, you know . . .) doesn't lead me to think he's an ounce over 180. He's about 25 pounds away from being able to take the beating of being an SEC quarterback.
Gray has a tendency to focus on receivers, especially on the above-referenced long posts. This is not uncommon in high school, where coaches are often looking for an athletic mismatch which allows them to go deep. In fairness however, he is smooth and decisive on the shorter routes, getting the ball where it needs to go. Also, if I were a high school quarterback throwing to Aron White, I would probably overfocus as well.
This video also shows a bit of a "windup" delivery, which leads to a slow release. It's not the worst in the world, but if you compare it to the wrist-flicking flame thrower attached to Matt Stafford's right shoulder, you'll see the difference. In fairness, I think his time at the Elite 11 Camp may have tightened his delivery a bit as well.
Bottom Line: Gray is obviously very polished for a high school quarterback. I think the people who think he'll move to receiver are just plain wrong. The kid is a lot like Joe Cox coming out in that he comes from a system that requires him to think and manage the game, and he does both quite well. He'll have two years to develop physically before he's ever called on to take any significant snaps. By the time he takes over full time in 2009 or 2010, Gray will be ready in much the same way D.J. was ready to after his extended run in the #2 slot. A good long term pickup at a position where you have to think long term.
Tune in on Monday when I'll have another installment on the road to signing day.
In hopes of directing some more traffic there, I'll again be directing you to SunshinePreps.net for some junior video on young Gray.
Gray's Profile: Logan comes from a high school program with some history of turning out D-1A quarterbacks. He took over the starting job from Chase Patton, who was recruited by the Dawgs before signing with Missouri in 2004 as Rivals #4 quarterback in the country. Logan, like most of Richt's recent quarterback recruits attended the Elite 11 Quarterback Camp in California before his senior season, after having worked as a ballboy at the camp before his junior campaign. Gray's junior numbers were impressive (131 of 225 passing, for a 58.2% completion rate, 2,169 yards passing, and 25 TD's against 10 picks).
Strengths: Gray makes the right throw for the right route. He doesn't have the rifle arm of a Matt Stafford, but only 1-2 high schoolers per year do. Many of them spend the next two years learning when to put the rifle on safety. Gray has no such handicap, as he puts just enough on the ball for the West Coast passing routes of the Rock Bridge offense. You can see on the deep post routes that he can wing it plenty far for our purposes.
Gray's bigger asset may be his speed. You can tell that the kid has some serious wheels when he decides to tuck it and run. The fact that he does indeed tuck the ball when he crosses the line of scrimmage is a huge plus, and something that even some college quarterbacks don't do. He does switch arms, which some coaches don't like and others recommend. I think Coach Richt prefers that QB's use one arm, but I'm not sure. I've never had the chance to ask him. Aside from his speed, Gray shows good moves in the open field and picks up blockers well, especially for a guy who is essentially a pocket passer. I could see him giving us the chance to run some read-option stuff, much like we did with D.J. Shockley.
Weaknesses: This boy needs some fried baloney and cheese sandwiches, ASAP. He's listed at 6'2, 185 lb. I'd believe the 6'2 part, but if Logan Gray weighs 185, then I weigh 185. I think it would be accurate to say that we're both about 20 pounds away from 185, just in opposite directions. I'll let you guess who's covering the over and who's got the under. Again, he may have bulked up some in the 15 months since this video was shot, but the senior video (which unfortunately you can't see unless you subscribe to, well, you know . . .) doesn't lead me to think he's an ounce over 180. He's about 25 pounds away from being able to take the beating of being an SEC quarterback.
Gray has a tendency to focus on receivers, especially on the above-referenced long posts. This is not uncommon in high school, where coaches are often looking for an athletic mismatch which allows them to go deep. In fairness however, he is smooth and decisive on the shorter routes, getting the ball where it needs to go. Also, if I were a high school quarterback throwing to Aron White, I would probably overfocus as well.
This video also shows a bit of a "windup" delivery, which leads to a slow release. It's not the worst in the world, but if you compare it to the wrist-flicking flame thrower attached to Matt Stafford's right shoulder, you'll see the difference. In fairness, I think his time at the Elite 11 Camp may have tightened his delivery a bit as well.
Bottom Line: Gray is obviously very polished for a high school quarterback. I think the people who think he'll move to receiver are just plain wrong. The kid is a lot like Joe Cox coming out in that he comes from a system that requires him to think and manage the game, and he does both quite well. He'll have two years to develop physically before he's ever called on to take any significant snaps. By the time he takes over full time in 2009 or 2010, Gray will be ready in much the same way D.J. was ready to after his extended run in the #2 slot. A good long term pickup at a position where you have to think long term.
Tune in on Monday when I'll have another installment on the road to signing day.
posted by MaconDawg at 10:40 AM
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