[painekiller]

T.J.. Yates

TJ Yates QB North Carolina


TALENT BOARD

Round 5



STRENGTHS

TJ is a smart QB who has the respect of his teammates and coaches and knows how to run the offense. He reminds me of John Kitna (QB Dallas Cowboys). He has good overall athletic talent and, when he has good players around him, he can be very effective. TJ plays well under center as well as playing in the shotgun. He seems to have a good understanding of the game; he reads defenses well and is smart enough to be trusted to call an audible. TJ plays a very mature game and seems to understand that not every play needs to be a succesful play for an offense to be effective. He has been very productive at the college level. TJ, in the right offense at the next level, could be a very productive and effect QB. I believe in a West Coast Offense, this kid could develop into a starting QB.



CONCERNS

Because of TJ 's lack of franchise arm strength, I think his selection in the draft may be limited to warm weather teams or dome teams that run the West Coast Offense (WCO). As he improves his mechanics and his arm gets stronger, he could be a pretty good QB for just about any team, but a team running the WCO will be the best fit for him.



BOTTOM LINE

This kid is very underrated and with the right players around him, he could easily be a starting QB for the team that drafts him. It might take some time, but the potential is there. Some teams will not rate TJ very high because he doesn't have that great arm. But other teams will see that TJ could be a very valuable player down the road and just maybe more than just a back-up. He also reminds me of Trent Dilfer, who won a Super Bowl playing for the Ravens in 2007. Trent was also the sixth pick in the 1st round of the 1994 draft. Trent struggled when playing for the Buccaneers and always seem to be signed by other clubs as a back-up QB. In spite of that, he always seemed to get on the field and be productive. It would not surprise me at all if TJ's career takes the same path because it seems in this draft he is not getting enough respect. If he can learn to get rid of the ball faster and make decisions quicker, he could become a better QB than Kitna or Dilfer. TJ has to be in the right situation for him to become productive, but that doesn't mean he doesn't have the potential to impact at the next level.
The BS Detector
Drew Boylhart April/11

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04/09/2011 - Bryn Renner was the star of North Carolina's spring game for the second year in a row. But this time was different. He wasn't just a backup flinging the football around the field trying to make a name for himself. "To be honest, I was a lot more nervous because I was running with the" starters, Renner said. Renner, who is replacing four-year starter T.J. Yates at quarterback, completed 9 of 13 passes for 123 yards and a touchdown. His 43-yard touchdown strike to Erik Highsmith was the major highlight of the day. The Tar Heels opted against a traditional spring game, instead playing a controlled scrimmage that lasted about 45 minutes on an overcast afternoon. No score was kept in front of a crowd of about 15,500 people. It was a stark contrast from last year's spring game, which took place in front of a crowd of 29,500 and was televised on ESPN. Renner passed for 184 yards and a score in that contest. He was just as sharp and just as excited this time. North Carolina coach Butch Davis described his new quarterback as "gregarious, passionate, hyper, high-strung." "That can be contagious," Davis said. "That's infectious. Everybody is like, 'Man, this guy is geeked up. He's ready to go.' So they want to play to the same level that he does. He's just got to realize that there are a lot of things that he's not ready to do yet, but he will if he'll keep working." Renner agreed. He cited his pre-snap reads and adjustments as areas he wanted to improve in the aftermath of the scrimmage. Renner also is looking for some comfort in his new role that will make him more like Yates, who had a knack for staying calm under pressure. "It's definitely something I need to control," Renner said. "I have a lot of energy. Sometimes it's kind of like nervous energy, but then other times it's like I'm just really excited to be out here and be a Carolina Tar Heel. I just have to channel it." - AP Sports

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Overview

Despite starting the previous three seasons, Yates entered his senior campaign fighting with Bryan Renner for playing time. Not only did Yates win the job, he earned Honorable Mention All-ACC honors as one of the more improved quarterbacks in the country.

His maturity and mental toughness throughout a season most Tar Heel fans would rather forget is sure to impress NFL teams. For Yates to earn a shot in the NFL, teams will have to be impressed with his intangibles, because his lack of ideal arm strength and accuracy makes him tough to grade as anything more than a late-round consideration.
Analysis

Positives: Cerebral quarterback who does the little things well. Extends his arm and carries out the play-action fake well. Possesses enough mobility and pocket sense to feel the pressure coming, step up to avoid it and buy extra time for his receivers to separate. Understands the offense. Shows the confidence and recognition to move defenders with his eyes and make his progressive reads. Good accuracy in the short to intermediate zones. Consistently throws his receivers open on underneath routes. Not a legitimate scrambling threat, but will take what the defense gives him. Has made steady gains throughout his career. Emerged as the unquestioned leader of this team amid plenty of off-field turmoil.

Negatives: Might be maxed out. Doesn't possess the size, athleticism or arm strength most teams are looking for in a developmental prospect. Only average arm strength and accuracy outside of the hashes.

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