2012 NFL Draft: 5 Reasons Why SF 49ers Should Target QB Kellen Moore

Kellen Moore: the future starting quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers.

Fans: rejoice. Front office: pay heed. 

As difficult as it may be, let's remove ourselves from the ongoing 2011 NFL playoff picture. Yes, it has been a seemingly interminable amount of time since the Red and Gold last made any noise in January.

But this is some rather savory food for thought.

How long has it been since a true franchise quarterback led this team on Sundays?

Thirteen years, 12 seasons and Tim Rattay.

And Shaun Hill.

(My apologies Jeff Garcia. Your three consecutive Pro Bowls and franchise mark for most passing yards in a single season are duly noted.)

And with the 20th pick of the 2012 NFL draft, the San Francisco 49ers select Kellen Moore, quarterback out of Boise State.

Boo bird contrarians who scream, "Physical limitations!," please hold your thoughts until the end of the discussion.

Let's disregard for a moment the ever-changing logistics of the draft and player evaluations (i.e. draft order, Senior Day, Scouting Combine, draft-day trades).

Let's place Mr. Moore in a vacuum and explore his accomplishments and merits as a starting quarterback in the National Football League.

Quarterback Since Birth

Moore was born and bred to play quarterback.

As the son of a highly successful head football coach, he avidly studied the game under his father Tom since an early age. (Tom was an excellent head coach at Prosser High School in Washington, winning 21 league titles and four state championships during his 20-plus year tenure.)

The senior Moore taught Kellen the "bigger picture" about the quarterback position. From as early as second grade, Kellen was drawing up plays and learning to read defenses during his dad's practices after school.

Once he ascended to starting quarterback at Prosser High, he racked up an incredible 11,367 yards, 173 TDs, 34 INTs and completed 65.9 percent of his passes. He set state career records for completions and TD passes, among other single season marks.

Put succinctly, Kellen drew up plays in elementary school, watched game film and ran drills with the varsity squad in middle school and established state records in high school.

His flourishing evolution continued right on through college.

High Football IQ

As highlighted in the previous slide, the man diagrammed plays in the second grade.

He studied the confounding art of game film at the age of 12. He called his own plays during his junior and senior years of high school. Moore was simply beyond his years from the very beginning.

Teammates and coaches at Boise State and scouts observing him all note his intellectual approach and comprehensive understanding of the game. "He's a cerebral guy with an amazing football intellect," said Tyler Shoemaker, a wide receiver for the Broncos. 

Added head coach Chris Petersen: "He feels the game very well. He anticipates better than any of the college guys I've been around."

An NFL scout articulated what Kellen and every successful professional quarterback must do. "He slows the game down."

He understands implicitly his and his offensive teammates' responsibilities on a given play while simultaneously reading and discerning the opposing defense.

Although it remains to be seen if he can bring this rare skill set to the NFL, few players understood the game of football as well as Kellen did at the college level.

Accuracy and Pocket Presence Trump

What two things trump a small physical stature for an NFL quarterback?

Delivering the ball timely and accurately and standing strong in the pocket when protection breaks down.

There's an appropriate time for when the football needs to leave the quarterback's hands, as stated by Wesley Bunting of the National Football Post, and Moore does exactly that. He anticipates routes and delivers the ball to his receivers at the proper moment.

"It comes out so quick, and he has such anticipation, instincts," declared an NFL scout.

As for "timely's" partner in crime, one needs only to look at Moore's career completion percentage, touchdown-to-interception ratio and passer efficiency rating to understand his deadly accuracy.

69.8%, 142-28, 169.0.

He ranks in the top five in all three categories.

His pocket awareness is second-to-none. Former head coach Chris Petersen agrees. "And there's nobody in college football who works the pocket like he does. He slides, he glides, he moves up. He just has a phenomenal feel for avoiding sacks."

That same NFL scout furthered the praise. "Rare accuracy. Rare pocket presence. Rare production."

OK, in reality, Moore is 5'11" and some change. (Scouts and GMs–please disguise your horror for just a moment)

College QBs measuring below 6'3", entering the NFL through the draft–if they get drafted at all–often find themselves as the star of the not-so-star-studded practice squad. Or vanishing from the league in complete obscurity.

But there's an exception–and a great one at that.

His name is Drew Brees, and he just surpassed one of the most hallowed NFL records—that being the one set by the great Dan Marino for most passing yards in a season at 5,084.

Brees finished the 2011 regular season with 5,476 yards and completed 71.2 percent of his passes–also a new record. ("Is that bad? Did I break it?")

It's a lofty comparison. I don't predict Kellen Moore being the second coming of Drew Brees, but he fits the physical mold. And both are incredibly accurate. 

More Than a Collegiate System QB

Every year, scouts downgrade the stock of prospective NFL quarterbacks because they deem them as "system quarterbacks."

That translates into "gimmicky, spread, read-option college systems." That further translates into "stuff that just won't work in the National Football League." Think Colt Brennan, Graham Harrell, Case Keenum. (The jury is still out on Tim Tebow.)

Moore did not play in the ubiquitous college spread offense. He, instead, played in one leaning more towards a pro style. He routinely took snaps from under center and operated in more of a "traditional run-based attack." Coach Petersen employed a strong running game with Doug Martin and D.J. Harper that balanced a prolific passing attack.

The departure of star wideouts Austin Pettis (71 REC, 951 YDS, 10 TDS) and Titus Young (71 REC, 1,215 YDS, nine TDS) after the 2010 season further validates the assertion that Moore succeeded with inferior offensive weapons.

Moore had arguably his best season to date in 2011 by setting career-highs in completion percentage (74.3) and passing touchdowns (43).   

Winning Pedigree

Moore enjoyed a record-setting career in high school and college.

His three first team All-League recognitions were part of a host of impressive accolades to go along with his all-time gaudy statistical achievements at Prosser High in the state of Washington. He led his squad to a 12-1 record and placement in the state semifinals during his senior year.

At Boise State, he racked up at least 12 victories and no more than one loss in all four seasons, including a perfect 14-0 record during his sophomore year and 3-1 in bowl games.

He compiled an unprecedented 50-3 record as a starter, setting the all-time NCAA record for most career victories, according to the Tucson Citizen. That record might have stood at 52-1 if it weren't for missed chip-shot field goals in consecutive seasons.

Moore finished his stellar college career ranked in the top five all time with 14,667 yards (No. 4), 142 passing TDs (No. 2), 69.8 completion percentage (No. 4) and efficiency rating of 169.0 (No. 3)–not to mention the most important honor of being the winningest player in NCAA football history.

"He has the it factor...that everybody's looking for," said an NFL scout.

Look for Kellen to bring that factor and continue his winning ways if an NFL team gives him a legitimate shot.

Final Thoughts

Kellen Moore had detractors at every stage of his football career.

At Prosser High, many scoffed when he replaced a senior as the starting quarterback in just his sophomore year. He tossed three touchdown passes in the season opener.

At college tryouts, the pervading thought among coaches was that "he's too short." Once given the opportunity at Boise State after redshirting his freshman season, he merely led an upset over No. 17 Oregon in his first start on the road, throwing for 386 yards and three touchdowns.  

As the 2011 bowl season wraps up and talk of the NFL draft intensifies, his 5'11'', 191-pound frame continues to bring him grief.

Will he be able to stand up in the pocket and employ down-the-field vision over tall defensive fronts? Does he possess the arm strength to throw the deep ball? Will he be able to withstand the physical beating endured by NFL quarterbacks?

ESPN scout gurus Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay predict him going as late as the seventh round.

All of this mounting doubt really is of no surprise. It has followed Moore every step of the way.

More importantly is that he casts it aside when it arises, leaning on perseverance and hard work–and putting up efficient, big-time production on the field.

That's where Jim Harbaugh and the San Francisco 49ers enter the picture.

Moore fits in seamlessly with the Harbaugh mentality. Both are extremely blue-collar guys. Harbaugh gave his 2011 players shirts expressing that identity.

Dedication, preparedness and mental toughness are the underlying components of Moore's foundation. Harbaugh undoubtedly values those ideals.

Both grew up in a football family and take a cerebral, no-nonsense approach to the game.

As seen with the resurrection of Alex Smith, Harbaugh is one of the best in the business at realizing potential in quarterbacks—despite substantial outside detraction—and turning it into production on the field. He can surely do the same with Kellen Moore.

My perfect hypothetical for the 49ers: give Smith a two or three-year deal, draft Moore in one of the middle rounds, allow him to develop while Smith continues his efficient play under the Harbaugh system and give Moore the reigns once Smith's contract is up.

Win now, win in the future. Seems like a winning recipe to me.