It is a patently ridiculous premise, which is fitting because it goes with the most ridiculous day on the sports calendar.
It is called “The Tedford Factor,” a brand-new draft day phrase to join the nonsense lexicon alongside “war room,” “big board” and “on the clock.”
The “Tedford Factor” goes like this: Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers–projected to be a top-five pick–might be downgraded in Saturday’s draft. Why? Because five quarterbacks previously coached by Jeff Tedford who were drafted in the first round haven’t turned into Joe Montana.
Tedford thinks it’s unfair to lump Rodgers– who transformed into one of the top passers in the nation–with five completely different guys.
I think it’s even more unfair to blame Tedford for the failings of a multitude of NFL coaches. Tedford gets the most out of his quarterbacks. He has helped turn five players–Trent Dilfer, Akili Smith, David Carr, Joey Harrington and Kyle Boller–into first-round prospects.
Then the NFL geniuses swoop in, analyze the player with all their vast expertise and million-dollar resources and make their pick. And when the guy doesn’t become an instant winner, it’s Tedford’s fault?
Of Tedford’s pupils, only Smith can be pronounced a complete bust, mostly–it seems–due to his own work ethic. Dilfer, whatever you may think of him, won a Super Bowl. The other three have alternately struggled and shown promise but are still relatively young.
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Yet in the days leading up to the draft, there have been anonymous quotes from scouts and personnel directors denigrating the Tedford-coached quarterbacks as “robotic,” “mechanical” and “rigid.” The quarterbacks leave Tedford’s tutelage functioning at a high level and worthy of being high draft picks. But high draft picks are chosen by lousy teams–teams that usually have poor supporting casts, instability in the coaching ranks and an institutional lack of vision. The young quarterbacks are forced into action quickly and struggle. The coaches change their mechanics.
So that’s all Tedford’s fault?