I still can’t figure out what it is about self-described quarterback guru George Whitfield and this “QB Academy” that he runs in San Diego, the one that Jameis Winston has been in since January. George keeps getting to train high-profile quarterbacks before the NFL Draft with his brooms and tennis raquets. He has the QBs train on the beach. We’re led to believe these guys are “grinding” and “getting better.”
What am I missing here? As former NFL QB Shaun King points out, here are some names that George has handled.
Its amazing agents keep sending their guys out to whitfield. Name one qb he has made better? He blew up off Luck, luck came ready made
— shaun king (@realshaunking) March 31, 2015
Im serious tebow, manziel, Gabbert, manuel all these guys went to whitfield, which 1 did he make better…… — shaun king (@realshaunking) March 31, 2015
Now, let’s not forget here that all four of those guys were drafted in the first round. It’s not like George is forcing teams to take his guys in the first round. He’s being paid by agents to increase a guy’s draft value. If the GMs are too dumb to figure out a guy isn’t a first rounder, that’s on them.
George also spent four weeks training Ben Roethlisberger back in the day, which really launched his career. There was also work with Cam Newton in 2011 that made people think George was a genius and that he helped develop Newton into the NFL Rookie of the Year. Gus Malzahn was Cam’s offensive coordinator. You know what coach won’t let his quarterbacks work with Whitfield while they’re still in school? Malzahn.
King doesn’t seem to be a fan even after these guys leave school where they pay $300 per session with the guru.
This is all george whitfield and his stick. Every year he adds something else unnecessary to make himself look like some kinda qb whiz
— shaun king (@realshaunking) March 31, 2015
So today George tried to show that Jameis can move in the pocket. He’s not going to be using his 4.97 speed to gas by linebackers, so now it’s time to show that Jameis can avoid a broom stick and step up in the pocket.
Let’s get Shaun’s (14-10 as NFL starter) evaluation…
And yall know im a big Jameis Winston guy but i keep it 100. That workout was C+ at best. His footwork was bad and he was inaccurate.
— shaun king (@realshaunking) March 31, 2015
Oh dear god. What kind of trouble are the Buccaneers about to get themselves into? This isn’t like Roethlisberger walking into a situation where the Steelers had Max Starks, Alan Faneca, Jeff Hartings and Marvel Smith on the line. Jameis will be running for his life on a weekly basis.
It wasn’t just Shaun who seemed a little troubled by today’s workout. There’s still time for the Buccaneers to do the right thing and take Mariota.
Winston & Whitfield tried too hard to prove point throwing off platform…average workout…would have been better at 60 throws not 102
— Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) March 31, 2015
Look, the Buccaneers are taking Winston. It’s a done deal. He’s going to go down there and be a bust. There will be rumblings of a weight issue, which will lead to shoulder troubles, which will eventually lead to knee trouble. Mariota will have a solid NFL career and Jameis will fade away like Jamarcus Russell. This book has pretty much been written. Now it just has to play out.
Meanwhile, ESPN will continue to caress George Whitfield’s balls and call him the QB guru. His work is done once the guy is drafted in the first round.
