The 49ers reportedly have interest in free agent quarterback Pat White, according to USA Today. Do you think the Niners should sign him?
White (6-0, 205 pounds) is 27 years old and has not played football in two years. The Dolphins drafted him with the 44th pick of the 2009 draft and they cut him a little more than a year later.
He ran a 4.55 40-yard dash at the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine, and he rushed for 4,480 yards as a quarterback in Rich Rodriguez’s spread option offense at the University of West Virginia.
Accuracy is the No.1 criteria in a quarterback for me. An NFL quarterback has to be able to throw into small windows 15-17 yards down the field.
White never has had that attribute, but that doesn’t mean he can’t acquire it with quality coaching.
Steve McNair had a powerful arm and racked up eye-popping stats at Alcorn State in an offense where he had huge windows to throw balls to receivers who were wide open. McNair’s receivers often had to jump or dive or make some kind of spectacular catch, even when there was no defensive back in the frame. McNair improved in the NFL, but never became extremely accurate.
Sid Gillman did wonders in a short time with Steve Young on the L.A. Express of the USFL, and then Steve really blossomed on the 49ers under Bill Walsh.
Quarterbacks can improve their accuracy and passing skills with good coaching, but it takes work. White has been working for the last month in San Diego with quarterback guru George Whitfield Jr. It’s the only football work White has done in the past two years. He has a lot of work to do.
The 49ers would have to school White on progressions and pocket discipline because his previous NFL offensive coordinator, Tony Sparano, has a system that is devoid of those features. I’d guess Jim Harbaugh, “The Quarterback Whisperer,” probably believes he can turn White into a quality NFL quarterback. I expect Harbaugh to talk Trent Baalke into signing White.
And if they can sign White to a cheap deal, why not? After all, which other quarterbacks are out there?
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