Zwick to Play in Hula Bowl

[The Butler]

Justin Zwick was nominated for the Hula Bowl by Head Coach Jim Tressel, and the Massillon graduate will play in the game, under the direction of NFL coaches.

http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?Category=17&ID=325021&r=15&subCategoryID=

[austinsm11]

This should be a great opportunity for Zwick to impress some coaches.

[cfultonTIGER]

good luck to j zwick , make us proud ,,:rockon:

[longtimefirsttime]

It will be a good opportunity for him. Good luck.

[crackerman]

i truly think he will be on an nfl roster next year.

[Kamd50]

Happy to hear it, good luck and congrats Justin:thumbsup:

[American Eagle]

i truly think he will be on an nfl roster next year.

WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING??????????????????

[TigerCoach]

WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING??????????????????

He's not smoking anything, he just knows what he is talking about, and :iagree:

[monte81]

The back last year for USCnever started a game or played any primetime minutesang gets around 350,000 a year holding a clipboard on Sundays! Terrel Davis was 3rd string at Georgia and was one of the best in the NFL for 5 seasons! I hope Zwick has a great game and shows teams that he can get it done! At OSU he should played behind a better all around athlete in Smith but would of started for 9 out of 11 big ten teams for at least 2/3 seasons and at majority of teams throughout the ACC and SEC and the nation for that matter!

I think he can be developed into a good NFL backup! My opinion would of been a 1st or 2nd round pick at another school--Zwick Never should of went to OSU!

[obie7661]

WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING??????????????????

He'll be drafted and end up on an NFL roster. He would have started and stared at 99.9% of the schools.

[OTC TIGER]

Justin was also invited to play in Senior Bowl which is actually better than
Hula Bowl as far as the NFL is concerned.

[Smitty]

... Zwick Never should of went to OSU!

I said that many times.

I can imagine what could have been if he would have been at Auburn, Georgia, FSU, Oregon, Cal, ... for the past 2 years.

[OTC TIGER]

Tennessee was a close 2nd...Justin was a powerful tool in recruiting for Jim
Tressel..who would have thought 4 years ago that Mike DeAndrea and Justin
would not have had a more significant roll at OSU..:rock:

[chumly]

WHAT ARE YOU SMOKING??????????????????

He could be smokin' the same pipe that the NE Patriot coaches were smokin' when they picked Matt Cassel.:smile:

Zwick has a great opportunity ahead of him.

[chumly]

If it is true that he was also invited to the Senior Bowl, it confirms what some knew about JZ getting looks from NFL scouts at OSU practices despite being 2nd string behind Smith.

Just IMO and for an example, Zwick was at least as good as John David Booty at USC and probably would have started there this year - under a good head coach and offensive system at the right place he would have prospered. As great a coach that Tressel is and as good as Ohio State is and how well Smith has done does not change the fact that things were handled very poorly by Daniels and Tressel (Zwick finding out from watching TV that Smith was named the starter after the Texas game in '05 and other things that happened before that). I can't blame Zwick for being bitter at times, but he grew through it and I think Tressel owed him this one. Tressel himself must have known Zwick would have been playing for a lot of other D1 schools.

[xtiger]

You never know.....Zwick may be the hero in the BCS Championship Game.

Ya never know when you you might need your #2!

[monte81]

He could be smokin' the same pipe that the NE Patriot coaches were smokin' when they picked Matt Cassel.:smile:

Zwick has a great opportunity ahead of him.

Thats the same team that drafted a mediocore QB from michigan named Tom Brady and 3 Super Bowls later?????

Zwick is a pro style QB and will do well under the right system and collect a hellva retirement plan after 3 seasons!!

[monte81]

If it is true that he was also invited to the Senior Bowl, it confirms what some knew about JZ getting looks from NFL scouts at OSU practices despite being 2nd string behind Smith.

Just IMO and for an example, Zwick was at least as good as John David Booty at USC and probably would have started there this year - under a good head coach and offensive system at the right place he would have prospered. As great a coach that Tressel is and as good as Ohio State is and how well Smith has done does not change the fact that things were handled very poorly by Daniels and Tressel (Zwick finding out from watching TV that Smith was named the starter after the Texas game in '05 and other things that happened before that). I can't blame Zwick for being bitter at times, but he grew through it and I think Tressel owed him this one. Tressel himself must have known Zwick would have been playing for a lot of other D1 schools.

For the style of offense that Tressel runs at OSU and while at YSU is a running uptempo offense with the Qb out of the pocket making plays! Wrong fit for a Qb that would of lit it up in the SEC or ACC! JZ is drop back and read QB who needs protection packages that the NFL will offer. He is better than the 2 QB's Cleveland has right now and half the rest of the league--he just has not gotten the game reps.

[obie7661]

Ohio State's backup quarterback will finally get a chance to show what he can do

New article on Zwick: http://starbulletin.com/2007/01/13/sports/story05.html

[DAWGH8R]

JZ hasn't had a good showing in the Hula Bowl. Timing seemed WAY off, and the 4th quarter INT was saved by an offside call. Next play he throws another INT, however it was more the receivers fault !!

Poor guy left better receivers in Ohio !!

[chumly]

He made two nice throws that were dropped in the first series. Yeah he got a break on the first INT, but that receiver made a WEAK attempt to catch the ball on the following INT (was he afraid of getting hit??) - the ball was right where it was supposed to be - that INT hurt that receiver more than it did Zwick IMO, the scouts will see that as well as the dropped passes. He can move on to the pro day and combines.

I'm glad that game is over - what a crappy format for a football game.

[Spize]

ooo that guy said a naughty word.

[DAWGH8R]

Turned on the NEWS, and just switched back to the game. EAST is winning !!??! WTF happened??

[chumly]

Sorry, I meant "crummy" format.

[ChronicTiger]

they went for two with 44 second to go. then itercepted zebransky on a desperation drive and took it to the house. 18-10

[chumly]

I don't know if anyone else caught this, but after JZ threw the 1st INT and got the offsides penalty break, Rich Rodriguez told him how that play was supposed to run, to look-off the recievers on the left and come back to the right. He did on the very next play and threw a rope to that sissy who was afraid to stick his hands out and catch the ball.

Zwick is a heady kid and a quick read. I guarantee you (not really, but you know what I mean)- someone's draft room will saying - "do we take a chance letting him go past the 7th round see if we can get him as a FA?"

[longtimefirsttime]

What luck he's had the past few months. Obviously Troy Smith established himself as the stud QB for the Buckeyes. But how many dropped passes have there been when Zwick has played? The receiver should have had that ball last night. From what I've read on the draft boards (for what they're worth) they have Zwick as about the 25-30th best QB in the country and have him as a sixth or seventh round pick.

[CarlE]

He is going to shock some people. I doubt there are 30 better QBs in college football than him. My opinion.

[austinsm11]

JZ hasn't had a good showing in the Hula Bowl. Timing seemed WAY off, and the 4th quarter INT was saved by an offside call. Next play he throws another INT, however it was more the receivers fault !!

Poor guy left better receivers in Ohio !!

My thoughts exactly. I thought he was lucky with the offside call and then he turns around and throws another one. I was like how did he make 2 big mistakes like that in a row, especially after being given a second chance, and wondering what the scouts were thinking. After watching them replay it the db just took it away from the receiver's hands and it wasn't Zwick's fault. Regardless, I think Justin needs a better showing. Didn't someone say that he is going to be in another one of these bowls? I will say that I wish the East Qb's would have played several series in a row to get into a rhythm. I didn't like how they rotated every series.

I thought the Qb from Boise State (I didn't see what happened at the end though) and from Clemson looked pretty good.


I also turned the game off with a couple minutes left. Figured it was over and I kept dozing off.

LTFT, that is interesting. I never really paid attention. For someone to have him 25-30th and go in the 6th or 7th seems strange. Do 25-30 quarterbacks even get drafted in a year? That would be 3-4 every single round. I thought maybe 12-15 get drafted, but again, I never really paid that close attention.

[TigerVic]

If it weren't for bad luck, he'd have no luck at all.

[Al.]

The Hula Bowl was just another "Groundhog Day” all over again for JZ that mirrored his OSU career.

[Smitty]

He is going to shock some people. I doubt there are 30 better QBs in college football than him. My opinion.

I agree. The NFL is more interested in "physical stature"; QBs that are 6'5" (or taller) and "big" will be drafted over the 5' 11" guys. That's why Doug Flutie played in Canada and Troy Smith will probably be used as a WR in the NFL.

30 better QBs in NCAA football better than Zwick? Perhaps... but the college game is different than the pro game. Heck, I'd rate Zwick at least as "equivalent" with Brady Quinn as a pro prospect.

[chumly]

I don't buy it (the "bad luck") and I don't think Zwick dioes either - he has more "Faith" than to put his fate in the hands of "bad luck." Passes 1-3 were right on the mark, perfect spirals and 2 were dropped. Under the watchful eyes of pro scouts, I'd be more worried if I were the players who dropped the passes

The last pass to # 87 was perfect! If #87 made the right move and postiioned himself properly to catch the ball instead of fading away from it at the last moment, he would have caught it and maybe gone for a touchdown. That INT cost #87 some serious draft stock for #87, not Zwick.

[OTC TIGER]

For Justin, Pro day at OSU will likely be more productive for him in as much
as he be throwing to a highly familiar reciever where timing should not be an
issue,the defenses in these All Star games usually have an advantage and
offensive playbooks are limited,the practices more times than not yield more
about the player than the actual game itself.

[TigerLoverFromAfar]

All right, all right- ALL OF YOU KNOW THAT I AM A DEVOTE TIGER FAN and I wish all of our alum the best... that said- Zwick will not PLAY in the NFL. He has no arm strength, he can't throw from right to left down the field, and he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. He is not a diverse QB, he isn't good under pressure, and most NFL scouts would realize that from film.
With all the talent in this year's draft I don't see him being drafted, at all, let alone in the first few rounds..and there are 30 better college qb's than Zwick.
Brady Quinn
Pat White
Matthew Stanton
Brian Brohm
Jordan Palmer
JaMarcus Russell
Troy Smith
Chad Henne
Chris Leak
Blake Mitchell
Drew Stanton
trent Edwards
Kevin Kolb
Tyler Palko
John Beck
Luke Getsy
Toby Koroidi
James Pickney
Zac taylor
Lester Ricard
Jared Zebransky
Justin Rascati
Matt Gutierrez
Jeff Rowe
Isaiah Stanbeck



Well maybe not 30 but there is a lot of better talent out there.

[TigerLoverFromAfar]

Only throw SOFT food please.:biggrin:

[chumly]

Those were pretty entertaining posts TLFA...

I and millions of others saw Zwick hit the broad side of a barn named Ryan Hamby one night in 2005. One of those guys on your list had to COMPETE with Zwick to get the starting job and got some help from the "broad side of the barn." Otherwise, that other guy on the list (you know the Heisman guy) would have been sharing duties with Zwick much deeper into 2005.

Ask Santonio Holmes and a few other All-Americans if Zwick has arm strength. Anyone who saw him throw that INT last night and understands the speed of the game isn't even questioning his arm strength, unless there's something other than tobacco in their pipe.

It's amazing how much Zwick's mechanics have improved since 2004 considering his limited game action. People who are still questioning his arm strength or saying he throws off his back foot are reading the same ole recycled "Zwick-hater" stuff on the Net and are a little naive to put it nicely. There are a few good ex-QBs I know out there who have not written-off Zwick and still like him and his potential future in the NFL. There might be a good NFL QB coach who might laugh all the way to the bank with Zwick someday.

We'll have to wait and see.

[ChronicTiger]

I didn't like how they rotated every series.


Thats what I thought......

[pigskinmccarthy]

All right, all right- ALL OF YOU KNOW THAT I AM A DEVOTE TIGER FAN and I wish all of our alum the best... that said- Zwick will not PLAY in the NFL. He has no arm strength, he can't throw from right to left down the field, and he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. He is not a diverse QB, he isn't good under pressure, and most NFL scouts would realize that from film.
With all the talent in this year's draft I don't see him being drafted, at all, let alone in the first few rounds..and there are 30 better college qb's than Zwick.
Brady Quinn
Pat White
Matthew Stanton
Brian Brohm
Jordan Palmer
JaMarcus Russell
Troy Smith
Chad Henne
Chris Leak
Blake Mitchell
Drew Stanton
trent Edwards
Kevin Kolb
Tyler Palko
John Beck
Luke Getsy
Toby Koroidi
James Pickney
Zac taylor
Lester Ricard
Jared Zebransky
Justin Rascati
Matt Gutierrez
Jeff Rowe
Isaiah Stanbeck



Well maybe not 30 but there is a lot of better talent out there.

Luke Getsy will not get drafted over Justin. I think hes a terrible QB. Also Chad Henne has already reported that hes staying for his senior year. The QB that might suprise some people is Drew Stanton.I have had the fortunate opportunity to see him play about 6 times and I think with a real coach he could have led Michigan State to greatness.

[ChronicTiger]

All right, all right- ALL OF YOU KNOW THAT I AM A DEVOTE TIGER FAN and I wish all of our alum the best... that said- Zwick will not PLAY in the NFL. He has no arm strength, he can't throw from right to left down the field, and he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. He is not a diverse QB, he isn't good under pressure, and most NFL scouts would realize that from film.
With all the talent in this year's draft I don't see him being drafted, at all, let alone in the first few rounds..and there are 30 better college qb's than Zwick.
Brady Quinn
Pat White
Matthew Stanton
Brian Brohm
Jordan Palmer
JaMarcus Russell
Troy Smith
Chad Henne
Chris Leak
Blake Mitchell
Drew Stanton
trent Edwards
Kevin Kolb
Tyler Palko
John Beck
Luke Getsy
Toby Koroidi
James Pickney
Zac taylor
Lester Ricard
Jared Zebransky
Justin Rascati
Matt Gutierrez
Jeff Rowe
Isaiah Stanbeck



Well maybe not 30 but there is a lot of better talent out there.

I would guess that the week of practice and workouts with NFL staff went further in determining the future of Zwick than the few series we got to see last night. I would also think he has gotten better since 2005, the last time he saw any real action. Have you seen him workout or practice recently or are you just going by what you saw last night?

[longtimefirsttime]

Here is what one of the draft boards (Great Blue North Draft Report, for what it's worth) has as it's top QB's:

*=underclassman
X indicates player has or has had a serious injury concern (Ka - Knee/ACL; Ko - Knee/other; Sh - Shoulder; Hd - hand; Th - thumb; Nk -neck; Bk - back; L - leg; F - foot; An - ankle; Am - arm; C - concussion; Hm - hamstring; Hp - hip; Wr - wrist; NF - non-football injury or illness; O - other)


Brady Quinn, 6-4, 222, Notre Dame
*Brian Brohm, 6-4, 225, Louisville (XKa)
Drew Stanton, 6-2, 230, Michigan State
*Kyle Wright, 6-4, 220, Miami
*JaMarcus Russell, 6-6, 250, LSU
Jordan Palmer, 6-5, 235, UTEP
Kevin Kolb, 6-3, 220, Houston
Tyler Palko, 6-2, 220, Pittsburgh
Troy Smith, 6-1, 215, Ohio State
Jeff Ballard, 6-1, 210, TCU
Jeff Rowe, 6-5, 220, Nevada
Lester Ricard, 6-5, 222, Tulane
John Beck, 6-2, 210, BYU
Jared Zabransky, 6-2, 205, Boise State
Steven Moffett, 6-3, 210, Central Florida
Chris Leak, 6-0, 215, Florida
Luke Getsy, 6-2, 220, Akron
Sam Hollenbach, 6-4, 225, Maryland (XSh)
Trent Edwards, 6-4, 220, Stanford (XSh)
Reggie Ball, 5-11, 195, Georgia Tech
Pat Julmiste, 6-3, 220, South Florida
Jerry Babb, 6-3, 218, Louisiana-Lafayette (XSh)
James Pinkney, 6-3, 210, East Carolina
Brett Ratliff, 6-4, 225, Utah
Matt Gutierrez, 6-4, 235, Idaho State (XSh)
Justin Zwick, 6-5, 225, Ohio State
Drew Tate, 6-0, 192, Iowa
John Padrick, 6-3, 210, Florida International
John Stocco, 6-2, 205, Wisconsin
Joey Lynch, 6-2, 190, Ball State
Phil Horvath, 6-3, 200, Northern Illinois (XAr)
Will Proctor, 6-2, 205, Clemson
Joseph Ayoub, 6-3, 215, California
Kole McKamey, 6-2, 210, New Mexico
Ryan Cubit, 6-2, 215, Western Michigan (XK)
Tim Brasic, 6-2, 200, Illinois
Shane Steichen, 6-3, 195, UNLV
Steve Levy, 6-1, 230, California
Matt Moore, 6-4, 195, Oregon State
Joe Tereshinski, 6-3, 225, Georgia (XAn)
Zac Taylor, 6-2, 210, Nebraska
Bryan Cupito, 6-3, 205, Minnesota
Perry Patterson, 6-4, 242, Syracuse
Isaiah Stanback, 6-2, 205, Washington
Jimmy Skinner, 6-3, 195, Marshall
Christian Olsen, 6-3, 215, Virginia
Dalton Bell, 6-2, 195, West Texas A&M
Shawn Bell, 6-0, 210, Baylor
Josh Swogger, 6-5, 255, Montana
Chris Williams, 5-11, 205, Alabama-Birmingham
Dylan Meier, 6-2, 215, Kansas State (XSh)
Matt Bonislawski, 6-3, 215, UConn (XO)
Steve Wichman, 6-3, 225, Idaho
Jimmy Terwilliger, 6-0, 170, East Stroudsburg State
Patrick Byrne, 6-3, 215, Memphis (P)
Ken Huff, 6-2, 215, Tuskegee
Collin Drafts, 6-2, 200, Charleston Southern
Tyler Thigpen, 6-2, 220, Coastal Carolina
Jeff Terrell, 6-3, 220, Princeton
Aries Nelson, 6-2, 215, Mississippi Valley State
Allan Webb, 6-3, 210, Texas College (WR)

[Smitty]

I saw Gutierriez (QB, Idaho State Bengals) in their game vs the U. of Idaho Vandals. I certainly didn't see anything that pique an NFL scout's interest... and he's rated one notch above Zwick? Hmmmm.

[OTC TIGER]

Justin will definitely open some eyes at the combine..particularly with how
many reps he will do with 225 lbs..It will be at least 30 :weightlift:

[MsLnTiGeR06]

Zwick will too be drafted into the NFL even though he may not start. At least he will be on a team making some serious money.

[mmauthor]

I'm impressed that TLFA is familiar enough with all of those quarterbacks to judge that they're better than Zwick.

[SuperBran]

Justin will definitely open some eyes at the combine..particularly with how
many reps he will do with 225 lbs..It will be at least 30 :weightlift:

if he puts up 30 reps then he'd probably set a record for qbs. i can't recall any qb even getting close to that. jay cutler put up 23 or 24 last year, and that's the closest i've seen.

regardless, though, bench reps may open some eyes, but even if he put up 70 reps that really doesn't mean as much for a qb, unless he's switching positions. no matter how strong a qb is, he's not worth much if he can't hit the broad side of a barn (and i'm not saying that zwick can't, but rather stating a general thought).

[TigerLoverFromAfar]

That list ltft still has him listed as #26 ..and CarlE asked if there were 30 better qbs- not if they would be drafted before him. That's why I included those staying at college another year.
We will have to wait and see when and IF he goes...heck, I hope he does well, but I think you all are cashing a check that's gonna bounce.

[TigerLoverFromAfar]

He does have the look of a NFL QB- but come on, with the reps.

[TigerLoverFromAfar]

If Justin gets drafted it'll be a late round and /or as a free agent.

[TigerLoverFromAfar]

I would guess that the week of practice and workouts with NFL staff went further in determining the future of Zwick than the few series we got to see last night. I would also think he has gotten better since 2005, the last time he saw any real action. Have you seen him workout or practice recently or are you just going by what you saw last night?

I watched footage of practices from the Hula Bowl that were in an interview from the coverage.
I don;t think a whole lot has changed with Zwick- and what we saw in 2005 isn't what we'll see now- if it was Smith would have been the back-up.
Remember that.
And I see Drew Stanton being the suprise as well.

[Smitty]

I'm impressed that TLFA is familiar enough with all of those quarterbacks....

1.) No kidding. I can honestly admit to only seeing a select FEW (very few) of 'em in person and but a hand-full more on TV.

2.) Is she really analyzing the QB play... or looking at the "booty" in those tight football pants??

:huh:

[TigerLoverFromAfar]

Booty? You know I am the only chick in America who thinks Brady Quinn (and his sister) is ugly....of course...I am a softy for that Colt Brennan, and Chase Daniel. They are pretty hot.
But they are just boys....but it isn't about the booty, I read about the qb's- and I am a suscriber to espn the magazine, and S.I.-just because I have breasts doesn't mean that I do not know about football, contrary to what CarlE thinks I can fold laundry and watch college football.:hyper:

[1600TigerFan]

Arm Strength ? I cant recall another qb that I saw when he was in Highschool throw the deep out better.....anyone remember those days, cant imagine he got any weeker. Lets just all wish him luck and hope that he is able to get put into a system where he can display that "confident gunman" approach in the good ole days.

[OTC TIGER]

This whole discussion can be summed up with one word..CONFIDENCE..
He has an NFL body, a great arm,he has the knowledge of the passing game
so all the attributes are there from a physical standpoint..Let's remember
other than Mo Clarett Zwick was heralded as thee Guy for the next 4 yrs
at QB..even when he got to OSU there was talk of him starting ahead of
Krenzel as a true Freshman:scratchchin: when he did get his opportunity
he was constantly hearing about should Troy Smith be given a chance..
looking over your shoulder afraid to make a mistake is not good for young
college QB..I am not here saying Smith should not have started but Justin
never really had the opportunity to build his confidence up.

Given the right opportunity in the right system I think he could do well..
with that said he may be better off NOT getting drafted so he could sign
a free agent deal in the right situation.

[TigerLoverFromAfar]

Are you kidding me-Confidence doesn' t win games- ask terrell owens. And IF he had this "confidence" then the backup breathing down his throat wouldn't have bothered him, are you saying that his performance was affected by a little competition? That doesn't sound like NFL material. The things you listed are not all it takes to be a NFL qb. Certainly you need knowledge of the passing game, but if you have no arm then why would you even throw.? His arm strength is disputable. And the right QB had the starting spot on the Buckeyes roster.

[OTC TIGER]

Are you kidding me-Confidence doesn' t win games- ask terrell owens. [QUOTE]

Your right...Players win games-ask Ryan Hamby :doh:

[obie7661]

A not so overly-friendly article in the Wooster Daily-Record about Justin Zwick:

http://www.the-daily-record.com/news/article/1503051

[longtimefirsttime]

The article really provides little new insight over what was already known. These article excerpts may explain the writer's motivation:

"College football has not gone well for Zwick, who played for Orrville as a freshman and sophomore before transferring to Massillon for his final two prep seasons."

and

"Attempts in the last few years to interview Zwick by The Daily Record have been unsuccessful, but he did speak with reporters covering the BCS National Championship Game."

Is the writer tired from trying to grind that axe?

[chumly]

...more recycled bird droppings from another parrot in the press.

[TigerLoverFromAfar]

Yeah and no love for a hometown boy since he transferred from Wayne County to come to Massillon.