ASSESSING THE EX-GAMECOCK STAR’S NFL PROSPECTS …
Prior to the 2011 University of South Carolina football season, FITS correspondent Jordan Dominick published an article entitled “Is Connor Shaw Ready?”
His story assessed the then-redshirt sophomore’s ability to take over for starting quarterback Stephen Garcia – who at the time was in the middle of a sustained career implosion that would eventually see him booted from the Gamecock football team.
In his story, Dominick quoted Shaw’s father – Georgia high school coach Lee Shaw – as having zero doubt about his son’s ability to take over the starting job at South Carolina.
“Connor has great instincts and with his dual threat capabilities, I believe he is ready for the demands of SEC football and most importantly the demands of leading his team to a very successful season,” Shaw said. “Connor has worked very hard this off-season to prepare himself as the starter at South Carolina.”
Boy did father ever know best …
Shaw’s career as a Gamecock dramatically exceeded expectations. In two-and-a-half seasons at the helm of head coach Steve Spurrier’s offense, he posted a 27-5 record as a starter – including a perfect record at home (17-0), in bowl games (3-0) and against arch-rival Clemson (2-0). Shaw threw for 6,074 yards and 56 touchdowns at USC – completing 65.5 percent of his passes and throwing only 16 interceptions (including only one pick in 2013). He also ran for 1,683 yards and another 17 touchdowns.
Shaw also provided a level of mental toughness, calm leadership and peak performance in the clutch that helped the Gamecocks rise over their historical mediocrity – posting three consecutive 11-win seasons (the school had won 10 games just once previously) and three consecutive Top Ten finishes.
He was, in a word, “Shawsome.”
Heading into the 2014 NFL draft, though, Shaw is facing some of the same doubters he faced three years ago … in fact NFL expert Mel Kiper, Jr. has referred to Shaw as a “career backup” in the pros, predicting his name will be called somewhere between the fifth and seventh round (if he’s drafted at all).
Wow …
Could Shaw – a 6-foot-1, 210-pound native of Flowery Branch, Georgia – really go un-drafted?
Yes – which is surprising.
Shaw’s height and weight are roughly identical to former Texas A&M standout Johnny Manziel and Louisville superstar Teddy Bridgewater – both of whom are projected to be chosen in the first round of the draft. Believe it or not, Shaw is faster than both players – posting a 4.62 time in the forty-yard dash (compared to Manziel’s 4.63 and Bridgewater’s 4.78). He also has a higher vertical jump and longer broad jump than both Manziel and Bridgewater. Pro scouts fret over his arm strength, however, leading to this rather dismissive “bottom line” on NFL.com …
Lacks prototype measurements and arm talent and played in a high-percentage, dink-and-dunk passing game that has not translated well to the pros, yet possesses the intangibles, toughness, football intelligence and escapability to warrant developing. Is the type of player you root for and has make-it qualities that could eventually surprise. Potentially adds situational value.
“Situational value?” Yeah … write those words down. Right next to “career backup.”
Because our guess is Connor Shaw has already written them down … and is already using them as motivation.
Connor Shaw is indeed “the type of player you root for.” But we think he’s much more than that: We think he’s a Tom Brady-style sleeper in a draft full of overrated signal-callers. And if he does slip all the way down to the seventh round (or the un-drafted free agent pool), expect him to prove his doubters wrong once again … and make one franchise’s fans very happy.
87 comments
Shaw certainly was a ‘poised’ qb at South Carolina for the senile , ‘ole ball coach’. If he can play for that psycho , he can certainly play in the NFL. Loved watching him beat up on Dabo and Clemson.
How can you be able to determine if someone is a psycho ? The ” ole ball coach ” is the best USC coach ever, look it up ?
I hope you are right, it is always great to see one of the good guys succeed.
Mostly this is a VERY Boring Write-up regurgitating the things that are stale, and we already know…FITS really needs to hire some talent. I’m guessing since the draft is tonight, he’s trying to capitalize n that.
Anyway: The local Gamecock Haters have a way of placing the bar just over the head of the target.
First you questioned Shaw’s legitimacy as a starter. You ended up eating S#*t on that one.
Then you laughed when Shaw was mentioned as an NFL player. He will get that shot…
Now you are placing the bar at being drafted..
And if he passes the Draft threshold, you F*#king idiots will attack on the idea: He’s not a starter….
I don’t think FITS is totally malicious, though he will pounce at the least opening. I think FITS is simple-minded about sports and just follows the common theme of SC media, looking to bash the Gamecocks first, and belittle the accomplishments, because of their own nature of smallness.
WOW Tango, use that same thinking in your political arena and you could be somebody someday.
I just picture GrandTango as a very nice person to be around, he probably walks around with a smile on his face, petting dogs and kissing babies as he strolls to his volunteer job of reading to the blind.
Okay, he comes across as the grumpy old “get off my lawn” neighbor who’s hated by the entire neighborhood.
I come off as one who will say what the F*#k needs to be said to a bunch of Dumb@$$#$…who are used to practicing clichés, because you are too stupid to think for yourself…
You copy the status quo, so you can get along, and you’re too stupid to present original ideas…
I get along very well w/ people who get it (there are lots)..and I do very well w/ those who don’t get it, if they don’t talk to me about $#!* they are clueless about.
I just get p!$$#d and I don’t suffer fools, who try to tell er’body what to do, very well…despite your track record of being wrong, over and over…
So in other words Squishy is walking on your grass?
No, you ignorant, simple-minded Cliché. I step on your grass (FITS) and walk up to you and Slap the F*#k out of you…because I cannot stand weak-minded Idiots, trying to pontificate to smarter and more accomplished people…
A lot of people like to run their mouths, but, as you prove, most of you are a waste of time. You want to feel important, but you bring little or nothing to the table. You actually do more harm (by voting) than anything else…
So you may run your mouth to me to feel relevant, but maybe you’ll also absorb some of the value in my assessment, that no one else will, or can, give you..And you’ll think twice before making a D*#m fool of yourself in your personal lives…
Of course, it has not worked on FITS, but I think my accurately analyzing him has made a lot of others see him for the buffoon and liar he is..
So you’re saying that you have an anger management problem…
You do realize that there are more people here who are smarter than you that laugh at your comments and just try to get under your skin.
The only reason you’re even on this blog is because you think people will listen to you, that you might get some attention that you’re obviously missing at home.
you seem to be the only one running your mouth and wasting time dumba$$, but if you want to try to “Slap the F*#k out of me” tell me when and where and we can see if you have the balls to do it. Or are you just wasting time with idle threats?
Hahahaha…run your mouth, then get the $#!* slapped out of you (verbally) and your simple mind can’t handle it…
If you can’t play w/ the big boys, stay on the bench, idiot….
GrandTango likes the big boys, especially when they slap and spank him.
“big boys?” who, you hiding behind the computer. I’ll tell you what “big boy”. Tell me where and when to meet you and I will show you what its like when a real big boy slaps the shit out of you, dumbass little man. I doubt you have the balls to really do it, and if not then it proves my point and that you are nothing but a pu$$y.
0-5, Dumb@$$…Hahahahaha…now go suck Dabo’s D!*k some more…he loves it when you gum his B@!!$…because you have no teeth…Redneck…LMAO…
Clemson football is Div. II…compared to SC.
Vandy and KY have a better chance to beat SC, than your Weak-@$$ inferior, program…w/ a million-dollar loser cheerleader as coach…
That’s exactly what I, and everyone else in here, thought. Big talk but really just a little baby chicken shit By the way who ever said I was a Tater? I hate to burst that bubble you live in called Fantasyland, but just because someone thinks you are just full of shit doesn’t mean they aren’t a Gamecock, You dumb fuck. Just shut up, you make the rest of us true fans look bad.
Yeah right. You’re not a D*@k-sucking Tater…LMAO…You’re like a stupid F*#king Liberal…always run from what you are…
Spurrier is bending you over and reaming out you and Dabo…and there ain’t a Damn thing you can do about it, except toke on Dabo’s D!*k and try to fight, Bo…
Because you’re an ignorant, hick Dumb@$$…who Boffs your own sister…in a threesome w/ your Mama…Hahahaha…You a trip…
awww what da matter putty tat? I am starting to think you are the one who is really a democratic Clem5on fan yourself, because no one not could be that fucking stupid in reality. We don’t want you in Gamecock nation dumbass. You would fit in perfectly up in tatertown.
LMAO: Let’s chronicle this: You go from an alleged non-Tater, who gets your @$$ kicked (verbally) and wants to meet me and Fight about it…
Now you’re accusing me of being a “democratic” Clemson fan, that you can expel from Gamecock Nation w/ the omniscient powers…(that reside in your mind)….
You are the classic portrait of a delusional Nutjob, who takes a bite, then chokes on the enormity of what I fed you…
If you’re too stupid to play…if may be a good idea to STFU, instead of looking like the Dumb@$$, or smarting Tater fan, you obviously are…
Answer me this idiot how is ” Blah Blah @#%#$%(*^%#@ blah blah blah” a verbal ass kicking? You are too much of a freak off his medication to understand anything in the real world. Go sing your gayass “Tiger Rag”, and go fuck yourself. now that’ seams more like an “verbal” ass kicking than any of the BS you spew on here daily.
PeeWee Herman much?
Tiger fan?
On the bright side, with that attitude you’re likely to be dead of a heart attack or stroke in the next few years. Yay for us.
pretty sure i would murder someone with my bare hands to get a shot at being a ‘career back-up’ in the NFL.
No shit. Just ask Charlie Whitehurst.
Or his Dad or Cliff Stoudt.
I’ve heard that those guys can make $10, even $20 bucks an hour. Oh, no, I mean minute… Sign me up! I think the last thing I read indicated the average backup QB grosses well over a million per year, and even the bottom feeders make $300-400k…
I thought the same thing about the USC punter (Ryan Succop) who was taken dead last in the draft: Mr. Nobody. Yet, he became the top punter in the NFL and is still there today. I’m not a Gamecock fan at all, played against them in college, but, I’d take Connor Shaw any day as my QB. He’s a winner who finds ways to win, never quits, causes no problems off the field, keeps his mouth shut, and lets his playing speak for him. A quality QB and person. He’ll get picked up very late in the draft, but may be considered in the future as the most outstanding draft choice from the 2014 draft.
Succop was and is a star player, just as Shaw is. Glad someone brought Ryan up, though.
Succop is a placekicker, not a punter.
Correct, but he did punt some. Just not in the NFL.
He’s known for his place kicking expertise.
It was a nice post you had for someone that is not a Gamecock, however I have to point out that Succup war the placekicker, not punter, and drafted as what they call “Mr. Irrelevant” not Mr. Nobody. Either way thought you are right, Shaw is a winner, stays out of trouble, and is the kind of guy you follow because he leads by example. He will get drafted. To tell you the truth even as a Gamecock I would also like to see Tajh get drafted too. I would pose a question. which goes first?
You are correct on both points: place kicker and Mr. Irrelevant.
I think Tajh will get drafted first. Not because he is the best, maybe because he’s the most well known. Tajh is very good. I’d still take Connor Shaw as more sturdy and can take a hard hit. They are 2 different types of QB’s. Success will depend upon the style of the NFL team. Tajh will need an excellent Offensive Line, or a top team. Connor can probably make it with a lesser OL on a lower NFL team. Connor is more experienced in running for his life behind the often questionable USC OL.
ELCID – I think I know you, former Disney on Ice star, you. Well said, Connor Shaw is as intelligent and tough as any QB in this draft and possibly even more athletic. He will improve his arm strength as he is asked to through deeper and into tighter windows. I’m a Connor fan all the way!
Shaw was serviceable when recruited, but he really improved his passing each year. He never possessed the raw physical talent (of say a Jadaveon Clowney) but often hard work and brains will sometimes overcome that at the QB position – so long as you have the minimal skill set required. I think Shaw does, and could be a starter one day. Tom Brady? That may be pushing it….. As a Tiger, I hope he gets drafted early and makes a buttload of money. He was always a class act.
Shaw is one tough QB, I saw him, do the things NFL QB’s could not do today. Fran T comes to mind. Tell me why he would not be good in the NFL ?
CHICAGO! He is Boomer Esiason and Jim McMahon and Johnny Unitas dynamite ready to explode the score board and blow up the trophy case. Shaw is Audie Murphy material.
From what he’s done in the past, he’s only going to need a firecracker to blow up that trophy case.
He will get picked up in the 5th round (ahead of Tajh). God I love Connor Shaw. My favorite Gamecock of all time.
No question Todd. I’d sure like to see him get the opportunity he deserves.
Still believing that?
Looks like Manzel got a personal jock carrier as a bonus.
Did you take another job or something there D2? You are such a little jealous bitch. You aren’t even half the man Connor already is and you never will be, and it just burns you doesn’t it?
I hear Lizard Lick Towing is working on a deal with the network to repossess Victor Hamilton’s newly purchased car for their upcoming episode.
How many quarterbacks will Cleveland keep? How many do they currently have? What are the chances that the Free Agent will survive? Was Shaw hired to throw passes during training camp until they get their receiver numbers worked out, then send him his pink slip?
If Shaw has any brains he’ll realize he’s just being used for a few months and just go ahead and move on with his original plans and join the military.
WOW, all of that writing proves it burns you to know Shaw is already 100 times the man you will ever be. FYI non drafted QB’s can still win super bowls and win MVP’s. Just ask Kurt Warner, so as far as predictions you don’t know shit kid. go back to D2 and wish it could have been you one day. I thought you weren’t going to respond to me anymore. I guess you were full of shit there too huh? Check mate bitch!!!!!
Rudy!!! Rudy!!! Rudy!!!
Is that what they chanted for you D2? Jealousy is a bitch like you!
Vince Young, recently signed by the Browns for 1-year @ $730,000, was released today. That leaves Johnny Football, Brian Hoyer, and Tyler Thigpen, along with Connor.
He has got to take this once in a lifetime shot. If he doesn’t make it, his plans to join the military and one day be a football coach are something to be admired.
Guess you lost that bet.
I have confidence that if Connor really wants to play in the NFL, he will. Because he will do what it takes to prove himself worthy.
Good luck to you Connor! Your many fans and supporters will be thrilled to see you at the next level.
Restore honor… oh, wait.
Well that escalated quickly….
(In my Will Ferrell voice)
As someone who used to watch older brother, Jaybo Shaw & my daughter flirt in 8th grade, I got to see Connor grow up as a good kid and see him put his heart into every Flowery Branch High game. Whoever dismisses this kid for his perceived arm short comings or size is going to be surprised. He’ll fight hard and if he goes down, he’ll go down swinging. Can’t think of a more mature, calm leader on the field. Coach Lee Shaw raised good men.
Shaw, while having a big heart, would end up like Rudy on the practice field if put on the filed with guys who are bigger and faster than the guys who pounded him into the dirt on the college fields.
Remember; Connor played SEC football. Not the ACC…The ACC may be why Tajh did not go first round, even though Dabo says he’s the best in the NFL, while still in college…
Yeah, and those SEC boys beat the shit out of Shaw, the NFL has teams where every defense is bigger, faster, and has more talent than any SEC team.
Rudy!!! Rudy!!! Rudy!!!
You mean Connor Shaw Beat the S#*! out of Clemson…and that’s what really has you P!$$Ing all over yourself…isn’t it???….LMAO…..
Don’t really care, not a Clemson fan… but I do find their fans a little more tolerable to be around than dirtpecker fans.
Sure….
He might not be, but his boyfriend is a Clem5on fan
That’s no way to talk about your dad.
Great comment. I agree, based on what I saw of Connor…
Thanks. Despite what Squishy thinks, I’m not blind to Shaw’s shortcomings, I’m weighing who’s left, talent, and drive, and I feel good about his chances of succeeding. Guess we’ll see how his distance has improved, whether he works in the pocket, or not.
The reasons that are listed as to why he might not be drafted will end up being deep in the shadows to the reasons he ends up being a highly talked about name later on. I think a great option is for a team that recognizes and pursues talent that can be developed in the first year. He could easily serve as a backup in the first year, and be start ready by the second. He has the will power and the ethic to allow himself to be made better. May be a late round pick, but hopefully there is a decent team that decides to say “We’re looking down the road, and Shaw is the lead car.”
Hey FITS…there’s a BIG Elephant in the Room of 6-51/2 and 265 lbs.
Remember you and that F*#king typical bashing Idiot RT told us we were Stupid to be excited about JD Clownery???
Where is that Ignorant F*#k now, and why are you not issuing a mea culpa. You are real quick to brag about getting something right, even when it’s Slam Dunk material, everybody already knew…
Why the silence now???…I think we know why, Dumb@$$….LMAO….
I believe the average elephant has a higher IQ than the person you described.
The person you describe, if not for football would be standing in line next to his mama in the soup factory… or a cellmate with his daddy.
Let’s see if Clowney is smarter than the average flash in the pan NFL player who ends up broke in 10 years.
Hating a brother will come back on you…
I did not hate D’Quan Bowers when he under-achieved at Clemson. Why you hopin’ JD ends up broke???
PS: Did Sammy get drug tested???..I hope so, for his sake. If he’s still using, he needs to get help. I worry he may not get it, if they just want to muse him, like Dabo did…
He’s not my brother, what’s he going to do… pop a cap in my ass? Maybe sell me some poor quality crack?
I guess I can always challenge him to a spelling contest.
Did I say I hope he ends up broke? No.
What do I care if Watkins got drug tested… I’m assuming that he did during the combine or pro days. Why would a team take him first round if he didn’t? I swear you get dumber and dumber by the day.
Boy you sure went all ebonics on us in that last comment.
Watkins is good, I understand the trade, but I really can’t see the costs making it worthwhile. I remember when the Falcons passed up a lot of good talent, left the cabinets bare, to get Julio Jones. Will it end the same? we’ll see, I guess.
Connor will definitely be drafted and do well. He’s got the heart, work ethic and drive to succeed.
If Clowney had Connor’s heart, he’d be unstoppable. But he doesn’t. Work ethic??? Not so much. Drive??? Nah.
He DOES have exactly one SHITpot of money though. I suspect that was his goal all along. Mission accomplished, JD!
Definitely drafted?? Wrong notacock breath.
Amazing! You must be a prophet. Or a voodoo priestess. While you’re making your prognostications, who won the Braves game yesterday?
The team that scored the most runs you dumbass.
Thank you for writing this.
The tape actually proves all of the criticisms wrong. He can PLAY. A steal in the 6th round. I love this guy.
A very good steal. No draft and no contract. Name any Spurrier coached Sourth Carolina QB to make it in the NFL?
A bit condescending. Haha. But yeah, doesn’t seem like there are any, though Stephen Garcia may have gotten a shot if he didn’t have all of his off-the-field troubles. Making his way through the AFL now.
Though… supposedly he just got suspended in the AFL too. Geeeeez.
South carolina is the bestest estest state for sportz in the world!^ !
Shaw reminds me so much of Dan Reeves. Few people remember Reeves was the QB at SCAR. He was a good player but a savy coach. Shaw has that kind of football smarts. He will make a name for himself on Sunday, but it will be as a coach in a few years.
Per the USA Today analysts on the Winners and Losers in Round 2 & 3 yesterday:
Losers:
A running back from the 2013 draft: Former South Carolina star
Marcus Lattimore, once regarded as a first-round prospect before
enduring a horrific knee injury in 2012 while with the Gamecocks,
essentially redshirted with the 49ers in 2013 after falling to the
fourth round. Yet Niners starter Frank Gore is still going strong,
Kendall Hunter presently seems entrenched as the backup, and San
Francisco spent a second-round pick Friday night on highly regarded Ohio
State RB Carlos Hyde. Sure seems like Lattimore might have to move on
to play meaningful snaps any time soon.
Any reason other than nothing better to do than to write yet another Anti-USC player post that wasn’t even part of the story or discussion here? Tango Jr, huh?
I didn’t write it, a reporter for USA Today did.
Unlike garnet wearing sun glass wearers here, this guy is stating facts. Do you think SF is going to keep a 2nd round draft player sitting on the bench while paying him millions while a league minimum redshirt player is on the field? Like it or not, Lattimore may not make it out of training camp before being cut or traded.
No one said who wrote it, I am just pointing out that in no way was this article about Lattimore, but for some pathetic reason you felt the need to bash someone who wasn’t even part of this post or story. That is why you need a better life, because other than putting down USC you have none
Just another University of South Carolina pipe dream like the great George Rogers.
He may or may not make it.
Nothing to see here, move along……………….
Must really suck for Shaw to go undrafted and guys on the teams he beat get picked up. Says a lot about Spurrier as a QB coach. How many of Spurrier’s QBs at SC have made it in the pros?
5 is just the half way point! My GAMECOCKS are going to win 10 in a row against the kitties!!!!
My Patriots drafted Jimmy Gacrappolo, but I wish they had drafted Connor Shaw. The Patriots draft pick makes me scratch my head at people who doubt Shaw. Garappolo came from a division 1aa school, and barely has a .500 record plus a ton of his own question marks, including phantom sacks and questionable decision making abilities. God! That must be the kiss of death in the NFL. Caves under pressure and can’t make decisions quickly. But wait, he looks like a quarterback and Shaw doesn’t.
Make my words, Connor one day will prove to be a Brady. We’ll all be talking about that draft where Garoppolo, Bridgewater, Manziel and McCarron all proved to be colossal busts, while the one undrafted nobody beat them all.