Mike White   QB   Western Kentucky

TALENT
ROUND
3

STRENGTHS
Mike might be the most complete quarterback in this draft. He has the size and solid arm talent and strength but what he brings to the position is the mental and football intelligence that most quarterbacks are still learning when coming out of college into the pros. He can play in any style of offense, under center or out of the spread. He shows good accuracy from the pocket and his leadership skills and management of the game plan is excellent. Mike can help a team right away as a back up and at some point in his career if given the chance to get on the field he could be a starting quarterback.

CONCERNS
Mike shows the ability to over think himself and miss on the plays that require the quarterback not to miss on. He is stout in the pocket but has to learn to manipulate the pocket and extend passing plays to give him a chance to reset and make throws that count at the most important times of a game.

BOTTOM LINE
Mike does not make the talent around him better…the talent around him makes him better. He is a competent quarterback and with the right coach and in the right system with good talent around him Mike can be a starting quarterback in the NFL. For the purposes of this draft Mike should be selected with the thought process that anything is possible and selecting him and giving him time to develop better “instincts” of his position just might be the answer to him becoming a quarterback similar to a Tony Romo. Mike might not have as strong an arm as Tony had but their style of playing the game and “over thinking” is similar. Tony had a problem committing to the play that was called and was always thinking right up to the snap that there is a better play to call. Mike seems to struggle committing to the play call and at other times being stubborn and too committed to the play call. Confused? Basically what I’m saying is that Mike things too much and it affects his play on the field and until he can let his talent direct the play instead of his thinking he will struggle to make plays at the most important times of a game. There is nothing wrong with Mike’s overall talent, he does have to work on his deep ball and he might struggle in the red zone fitting the ball into those tight zones but the truth is Mike’s biggest issue to overcome is “over thinking” every process on the field, on every play from the play call, to his mechanics, to what spot to throw to and remembering to look off defensive backs and on, and on, and on, and on. Now most of you are going to think, isn’t this what every quarterback does at the line of scrimmage? That’s true every quarterback goes through this type of thinking but the difference is, the good one’s do it without even knowing they do it, the quarterbacks who don’t make it… do it methodically thinking and check off each box in their heads as they go through the process. With repetition and a stable coaching staff and staying in the same offensive system for a few years, Mike could easily become a starting quarterback in the NFL that’s if he can eliminate the “over thinking” but that’s the hitch, some players never do, they never turn the page and stop over thinking.

Drew Boylhart   FEB.2018