Minnesota's Weber Preps For Job In The NFL

Quarterback Adam Weber indicated scouts of the Green Bay Packers came to the Minnesota campus during his senior season.

Following a pro day workout in which he gained attention for his athleticism, Minnesota quarterback Adam Weber is looking forward to an opportunity to play in the NFL.

Weber turned heads with a 39-inch vertical jump at his pro day back on March 8 that would have been the second-best number among players at his position at the NFL Combine.

"I wish vertical jump carried over to where I get drafted as a quarterback," Weber told Cheesehead TV. "I'd be pretty high then."

At the same time, he recognizes that at no point during a football game will a vertical jump factor into the outcome, and that alone won't get him drafted.

"I don't think it has a lot of weight when it comes to a team being interested, but I think it shows that I'm healthy and I'm athletic," said Weber. "I still have a lot of athleticism that I can use to my benefit when it comes to playing quarterback at the next level."

By most accounts, Weber has a chance to be a late-round draft choice in this year's NFL Draft, which begins on Apr. 28.

If and when he gets selected, Weber will have to show he can cut back on his interceptions.  During his four year collegiate career, had two seasons of double-digit interceptions that stick out like a sore thumb when he threw 19 in 2007 and 15 in 2009.

"Obviously I wasn't in one system for all four seasons," said Weber. "That would have been a great thing. I played in three different offenses in four years, and there was a lot of inconsistency when it came to our identity on offense and obviously changing up terminology and plays, so that made it difficult.

"I'm not using that as an excuse, but I think that plays into the wins and losses record and the success that we had on offense. When it comes to a professional team, you give me a system to  and some experience, I can go out there and I can perform. I have tremendous confidence in my abilities. And I think I've shown that when given some time to be in a system for a season or two, my interceptions have dropped."

To his credit Weber cut back on his interceptions in both his sophomore season (when he had 8 compared to 15 touchdown passes) and again his senior season (with 9 interceptions compared to 20 touchdowns).

Among the more endearing qualities of Weber's is his ability to both durable and available.

He started 50 consecutive games for the Gophers, which set a Big Ten conference record for quarterbacks and tied the all-time mark among players at all positions.

"Obviously in football there's a lot of injuries and things that can happen along the way," said Weber. "I was very lucky that nothing very serious happened to me in my four-year career.

"I think it says a lot about durability, especially at the quarterback position. That's definitely a record that I take a lot of pride in."

Weber is also the Minnesota school record holder in career passing attempts, completions, yards and touchdowns.

The Gophers quarterback said that scouts of the Green Bay Packers came to the campus during his senior season. He also said that at some point or another, representatives of all 32 teams came to campus to watch his film or meet with his coaches, which was very reassuring to see that amount of interest.

"When it comes to getting exposure and having teams be interested, every team was represented this year throughout the season, which was great," said Weber. "Any time you have a chance to showcase your skills in front of scouts is a benefit.

Weber has a visit with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Apr. 18 where he'll meet with their coaches and go over film with them.

After that, the anticipation of the Draft will nearly be over.

"Now with this whole entire process of training for the pro day now just passing for teams and just trying to get a feel for their interest," said Weber, "I feel like they have a good idea of who I am and what I can bring to the table."

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Comments (2)

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Asshalo's picture

April 16, 2011 at 10:04 am

Minnesota was a bit of a mess while weber was there so I guess he deserves a little slack like you imply.

I also like Ben Chappell out of Indiana. Hes got a good arm and decent accuracy. I think he is more likely to be drafted than weber. I can see green bay taking either with 1 of their three picks in the 6th and 7th. I can also see either not getting drafted.

You would think mike mccarthys reputation with developing qbs would give them an edge over other teams when unstaffed qbs ares deciding what team to sign with. What an unstaffed qb knows what's best for him and what factors they use to decide are two different things though.

Really makes you wonder what their strategy with Flynn will be and what value they place on graham Harrell.

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Asshalo's picture

April 16, 2011 at 10:06 am

Not even going to try to edit this. Frigging iPad corrects way too much.

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