Reusse: Why wasn't Keenum drafted? Ex Gopher solves mystery...

[purplefaithful]

Vikings quarterback Case Keenum was so good, he made and broke coaching careers at HoustonTony Levine, a former Gophers wide receiver who coached at the University of Houston, said that pro scouts "tried to come up with every reason they could to ignore" Keenum's college statistics and success.Levine was a receivers and special teams coach for Sumlin from 2008 to 2011, the bulk of Keenum’s career. He saw the amazing performances from Keenum, and also what happened to the Cougars in 2010 when Case tore an ACL in the third game of the season at UCLA.
“We started 2-0 with Case,’’ Levine said. “We lost when he got hurt at UCLA, and went 3-7 over the last 10 games of the season.’’
Keenum had redshirted as a freshman in 2006. In January 2011, he was awarded another season by the NCAA due to the third-game injury. That made Case a sixth-year senior as the Cougars finished 13-1 and wound up No. 8 in the national rankings.
Maybe that was it … the NFL teams thought Keenum was too old to draft at 23? Or his arm was tired from throwing 2,229 collegiate passes?
“I can remember vividly an NFL scout telling me, ‘If Case was two inches taller, he would be drafted in the first round,’ ‘’ Levine said. “And the other thing you always heard was, ‘He’s a system quarterback.’
“They tried to come up with every reason they could to ignore the stats he had and the games he won. Whenever I talked to someone from the NFL, I would say, ‘Those stats and wins … they were not by accident.’ ‘’
http://www.startribune.com/vikings-quart...462330323/

[Guest]

“I didn’t recruit him, but he has all the things you look for as a recruiter. He has the arm, the mobility in the pocket, and also the poise and natural leadership. His dad is a famous high school coach in Texas, and you could tell right away that he’s a coach’s kid.
“He’s going to know the offense as well as the coaches. And he’s such a genuine guy, teammates are going to gravitate to him, and that would be whether it was in middle school football, or with the Vikings.’’
Why now … after one season on a practice squad, and 24 starts in four seasons with the Texans and the Rams, is this 6-foot-1, record-holding college quarterback getting NFL raves?
“Opportunity,’’ Levine said. “This is the first time where he’s been able to play the position for an extended period, and have the feeling it is his job to keep. When he played in the past, it was two games here or there, or they were waiting for someone else to play, like [Jared] Goff in L.A.
“I see a comfort level. As a Vikings fan, and even more as a Case Keenum fan, it has been fun to watch him cut it loose again.’’

[Guest]

He has the skill set and mentality to succeed.  He also has that chip on his shoulder just as Thielen has. They know in their mind and heart that they can do this, all they really needed was a solid chance. 

[Guest]

Cool beans.  Love this.

[Guest]

i am loving case, but we’ve been robbed by so many 1-year wonder qbs. and even recently around the nfl one year wonders like kolb, who was also with shurmur shows how theyre easy to happen and can with our coaches. 

the articles like this and by arif show positives. the last few games show positives, but im just scared. shurmur has him going great him his system and we have a ton of talent. however, case is getting better every week, playing to his strengths, is very confident, great at navigating the pocket (something sleeves couldnt do), and is making good reads - but is still missing a few wide open guys streaking!!! which will keep coming. 

i love case, but im scared to be handed something like this for free as a vikes fan.

[Guest]

Just roll and enjoy it would be my reco. Maybe the feel good story we had hoped for is happening right before our eyes? 

Teddy will have to wait to get his chance in mop-up, next season or something happens that will go unspoken/un written. 

Still 25% of the season in front of us and hopefully great post-season things. Contracts can always be written to reward a player and protect the franchise.

Win/win is Case does great, they keep him and Shurmur too. Promote him to Asst HC with a big asz pay raise.  Zygi aint afraid to pay coaches now that the Taj Mahal is built and paid for 

[Guest]

Literally the only negative I can find in the Keenum story is that he's 29. If he continues to play this well, not just the rest of this year but beyond, I guess I'd be sick that the kid didn't get more of an opportunity earlier in his career.

While hard work will always grant you some level of success, it's truly opportunity that elevates many people to "greatness". 

[Guest]

Nep---you're saying it's because we're Viking fans that we can't have good things.