In the
“new” NFL, it has become fashionable to espouse the
doctrine that the quarterback is simply another tool in
the shed. It is now fashionable to preach that
quarterbacks are there not to lose games, rather than to
win them, and that the good old days of teams looking for
that big raw-boned kid with the strongest arm on the block
are over. You’ll find no argument here that the game
management and cerebral side of the position are more
critical than ever and are the first things teams should
look for in a college quarterback as the draft approaches,
but what if you could find that set of skills and the
young man happens to also be capable of launching
footballs into a low orbit?Such is the case of
Kyle Orton, the supremely talented quarterback from
Purdue.
Ever
since he made his debut against Akron
in 2001 and connected on a 40-yard pass with Kevin Noel,
Orton has seemingly improved with every snap. The
atmosphere at Purdue is such a wonderful fit for
quarterbacks, passing quarterbacks in particular, due to
the outstanding direction quarterbacks receive from Head
Coach Tiller and Quarterbacks Coach Blaine Bennett. The
university is on the verge of becoming a quarterback
factory of sorts, producing the likes of Drew Brees,
Orton, and Brandon Kirsch, Orton’s backup-who looked
terrific in the spring games and looks to step right in
next season.
The
accolades for Orton this fall have been endless and are
all well deserved, but some numbers from last year tell
much of the story. For all the deep throws Purdue
attempts, Kyle still came away completing over 60% of his
passes. And even more telling is that in 414 throws, he
was only intercepted 7 times, and not all of those were
his fault. What stands out in my mind even more than
those numbers is the sight of Kyle throwing for 230 yards
in last year’s Capital One Bowl against Georgia while
playing with a dislocated left thumb, sprained toe and
cracked rib. That’s the sort of toughness NFL general
managers love to see because it speaks volumes for the
type of player they are investing in.
Purdue’s
quarterbacks coach Blaine Bennett was kind enough to take
a few minutes to chat with us over the phone recently
about his latest prize pupil.
DBI:
Thank you so much for your time Coach Bennett. There are
some games that you guys throw the ball so much, it would
seem you do nothing else. Have you noticed whether or not
Kyle’s progressions and mechanics are better in those
games than in the games you put it up fewer times?
Coach
Bennett: Sure, any time you throw the ball a lot, it gets easier,
because you anticipate your reads. If you throw a pattern
a lot in a game, you’re going to run it better than if you
don’t see it for two or three series.
DBI:
When a quarterback is in a groove like Kyle was last year
when he went 171 passes without an interception, is there
a tendency to lay off and “don’t fix what’s not broken?”
Coach
Bennett: Absolutely.
DBI:
Kyle’s form appears to be, for the most part excellent.
Are you happy with his form, or does he still drop down to
¾ arm every once in a while?
Coach
Bennett: No, we’re pretty happy with his form. But, sure, every now
and then you see something you want to remind him of.
DBI:
Kyle has such a cannon for an arm, have you had any trouble
getting him to rein in that arm of his on the shorter
throws?
Coach
Bennett:No, it’s
more a matter of getting the receivers used to the pace of
the ball.
DBI:So it doesn’t skip off their hands and into the facemask…
Coach
Bennett:
Exactly. But we have a couple of very good receivers this
year.
DBI:Having played quarterback yourself; do you find yourself
occasionally trying to teach Kyle to do some things that
you yourself couldn’t do?
Coach
Bennett: Oh (chuckle), Kyle is a much different quarterback than I
was.
DBI:How does your own style compare to his?I’ve never
seen film of you playing.
Coach
Bennett:Not many
people have. He’s much better, much stronger arm.
DBI:When Kyle was intercepted a couple times at the end of last
year, was that due to mechanics or reads?
Coach
Bennett: Oh reads, but a couple of those were dropped balls.
DBI:When Kyle throws a couple interceptions, does he still get
down on himself?
Coach
Bennett:No,
that’s one of the great things about Kyle; he’s the same
no matter how the game is going — very even-keeled.
DBI:
Are you happy with his progressions and reads?
Coach
Bennett:Oh yes.
We’re very happy with the speed with which he makes his
progressions. Kyle’s making excellent decisions and very
few mistakes.
Kyle was
also gracious enough to take some time to answer a few
questions for us.
DBI:Kyle,
you’re going to be facing some very good defenses again
this year. You’ve been quoted as saying that, “When the
defense is doing something we can’t figure out, it’s
frustrating.” How mentally ready are you for facing those
frustrating defenses, knowing there will be challenging
times ahead?
Kyle:It’s
kind of like a chess game, but I think we’re ready as an
offense to face whatever defenses throw at us. Hopefully
we can frustrate them as much as they frustrate us.
DBI:There was that run you had last year when you went 171
passes without an interception. Was that a matter of
getting into a groove, or just that you were reading
defenses better as you learned throughout the year?
Kyle:It’s
pretty much just a matter of knowing what the defense is
trying to do and making smart decisions. I knew with our
defense last year being so good that we didn’t have to
take a lot of chances on offense. We pride ourselves on
ball security.
DBI:You’re seeing a lot of accolades heaped on you right now,
is there anywhere you go or anyone in particular that you
turn to who helps you keep your feet on the ground?
Kyle:My dad
does a great job of that. At the same time, while I
appreciate all the preseason hype, I know it doesn’t mean
all that much.
DBI:There were a few games last year when you were throwing all
game, and you obviously enjoyed those. How do you guard
against the temptation to throw if it may not be the best
thing for the team?Do you feel you are at a point
where you can make that decision objectively, or do you
still need someone to tell you when you’re in the heat of
battle?
Kyle:I think
I’m experienced and poised enough to make the right
decisions. Sure, I would like us to throw all the time,
but that’s not what’s best for the team. I want to win
games and we have three great running backs that can help
us do that.
DBI:You really appeared to make great strides last year in
making good reads and making quick decisions with the
ball. Do you practice that somehow in the off-season to
stay sharp, or is that something that can only be
practiced with linemen bearing down on you?
Kyle:Nothing
beats game experience, but watching film and knowing as
much as you can about where your guys are and where the
defense is helps a lot.
DBI:You’ve stated that you want the game in your hands.
Accepting that responsibility may mean that you had it in
your hands and lost. Would you say that’s more for the
thrill of the rush you get when you’re under pressure, or
because you feel you’re the most capable to do the right
thing with it?Or is it a little of both?
Kyle:As a
quarterback, that comes naturally. You’re going to be
given too much credit when you win sometimes and blamed
too much for losses at times. I’m confident that I can
help our team win every game we play this year, but I
certainly won’t do it all by myself.
DBI:The media guide lists you at 6’4”. Are you a full 6’4”?What weight do you feel, or are they telling you that
you will eventually carry for peak performance?
Kyle:I’m
pretty much 6’4” on the button, and I weigh around
220-225.
DBI:It would seem that you have taken over the leadership of
this team. Have you made a conscious effort to seek guys
out who may be struggling or have problems, or do you
basically just be yourself and if they have a problem,
they can come see you?
Kyle:I will
talk to guys if I think I can help, but everyone on the
team knows they can come to me to talk. As a senior and
as the quarterback, I’m in a natural leadership position,
and I relish that responsibility.
DBI:With all the attention being heaped on you, you most likely
have less and less time for yourself. Are you confident
that you have a schedule worked out for taking care of
your academics?
Kyle:I’m
comfortable with my schedule. Tom Schott, our SID, does a great job of scheduling my interviews and appearances, and he
doesn’t over-commit me. It’s a tough balance because of
all the film I like to watch, but, as a senior, I’m
confident I will be able to handle it.
DBI:What class are you most looking forward to this fall?
Kyle:I’m a
history major and like pretty much every history class I
take.
DBI:The consensus seems to be that the Big Ten is up for grabs
this year, though it certainly isn’t going to be easy. I
assume you feel yourself capable of winning the Big Ten if
you guys have an outstanding year. If you manage that,
that would most likely put you in the middle of the
national championship race. Have you dared to let
yourself dream of making it that far?Do you throw
the winning touchdown with no time left on the clock?
Kyle:Sure, I
think everyone has dreamed of making the winning play in
the national championship game. That would be the
ultimate. But I’m a one game at a time kind of guy, and
right now I’m just worried about Ball State this Saturday.
DBI:Thank you once again. Good luck to you gentlemen. I
believe you may have a special season.
Kyle: Thanks.
Orton
will most likely battle Andrew Walter of Arizona State and
Dan Orlovsky of Connecticut for the top quarterback spot
in the draft this year. He will be in the spotlight in
what promises to be huge games against every tough Big Ten
foe this year. If he shines in those games, it would be
difficult to make a case against making him the first
quarterback taken.
As he
showed in the season opener against an overmatched
Syracuse squad, he can consistently throw the deep and
intermediate range passes with accuracy and gets a very
nice pace on the ball. He makes good, quick reads and
probably has the quickest release of the senior
quarterbacks who’ll be available next April. If he
continues to develop along the lines of his previous three
years, it is possible that he will be the first
quarterback taken. How high up in the draft will depend
on needs of first few teams drafting. Regardless of the
spot in which he is picked, Orton has all of the tools to
make an outstanding quarterback in the NFL, one who will
be drafted not only to not lose games, but as a weapon to
win them as well.
