Colt Brennan Blog

Entries from January 2008

Colt wins accuracy competition

January 31, 2008 · Leave a Comment

From the Arizona Republic:

Fourteen of the best college football players from the 2007 season competed in the 10th College Football All-Star Challenge on Tuesday afternoon at the Arizona State University Soccer Stadium in Tempe.

Participating in the quarterback drills were John David Booty of Southern California, Colt Brennan of Hawaii, Chad Henne of Michigan, Matt Ryan of Boston College and Delaware’s Joe Flacco.

Flacco won two challenges, including the long toss with a pass of 74 yards. [...]

Brennan won the accuracy competition portion of the quarterback challenge.

“Obviously, these next four months for everyone will be grueling,” Brennan said, referring to preparations for the NFL draft, which will be held April 26-27 in New York.

Categories: Draft

Sporting News: And the Colt Brennan bashing begins

January 29, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Sporting News:

I sought Brennan in Mobile, Ala., during Senior Bowl week to see how he was handling the bashing. I wondered if he would be defensive, maybe even a little testy. Instead, Brennan was smiling. And he should have been.

Think about it. Despite all of these question marks that could drop Brennan out of not just the first round but possibly the draft’s first day, he will likely be among the top five quarterbacks selected.

He will be given time to develop because nobody will be expecting him to have a rookie season like Dan Marino’s. “I want to go to a place where the coaches want to invest time with me and I can be the guy down the road,” says Brennan.

There is a demand for his services, too. Did you see all of the mediocre quarterback play in the NFL this season? Plenty of teams need quarterback help. And plenty of teams had their eyes on Brennan last week.

Categories: Draft

Colt wrapup part 2

January 27, 2008 · Leave a Comment

From the Honolulu Advertiser:

Brennan, who was in for only 17 plays, completed 2 of 6 passes for 29 yards and one interception for the South squad, but there was one bright spot for him in the game — the South defeated the North, 17-16, thanks to a 2-yard touchdown run by Florida’s Andre Caldwell on the game’s final play.

“It was a great game (as a whole),” Brennan said. “I wish I could have played a lot better. But our team had a great chemistry and it’s been a fun week. I just hope I can work out in the next couple of months and get bigger and stronger and have a great combine.”

Communication issues also created problems for the other two South quarterbacks — Kentucky’s Andre Woodson, who finished the day 3 of 6 for 27 yards and a touchdown, and South Offensive MVP Erik Ainge of Tennessee, who was 13 of 21 for 159 yards and led the South on its winning drive.

“Every time I went in, my headpiece kept messing up and I couldn’t hear the plays right,” Brennan said. “I didn’t know if I was calling the right play or not.”

“He (Brennan) couldn’t get the plays because of the microphone problems, and it caused him to be a little bit discombobulated,” said San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who was part of the South squad coaching staff. “But he had a great week of practice. He’ll be fine (in the NFL) because he sees things so well and gets the ball out quick.”

Categories: Draft · Stats

Colt Senior Bowl

January 26, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Stephen Tsai has a wrap:

It admittedly wasn’t a very good Senior Bowl for Colt Brennan.
Despite being named the South’s captain (in voting by teammates), he played in three series — two of which ended in turnovers, including an interception.
Colt was sick last week, and lost some weight.
Now he plans to return to California to train, and to gain weight and strength. He has several more opportunities — at next month’s NFL combine, at the Pro Day in mid-March, and at private workouts.
The one things scouts won’t ignore is his body of work in college. There aren’t many QBs as accurate as Colt.

Categories: Draft

Brennan to start for South

January 25, 2008 · Leave a Comment

In the January 26 Senior Bowl.

Meanwhile, the AP has a feature on Brennan.

Categories: Draft · Media Features

McShay: QBs struggling; Martz to blame?

January 25, 2008 · 1 Comment

This is from Scouts Inc / ESPN.com’s Todd McShay:

MOBILE, Ala. — All three South team quarterbacks have struggled during Senior Bowl week, and none more than Kentucky’s Andre’ Woodson, a former first-round prospect whose draft stock is free-falling right now. Woodson certainly deserves much of the blame for his own struggles but according to two different scouts we’ve spoken to this week new 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz is a big part of the problem as well.

Martz has apparently attempted to mold Woodson, Hawaii’s Colt Brennan (Hawaii) and Tennessee’s Erik Ainge into proper fits for his system in only a four-day period. In doing so, Martz has tinkered with their footwork on drops and timing as passers. [...]

While none of the three quarterbacks have adjusted well given such a short period of time, the system suits Brennan and Ainge far better than it does Woodson. Like the many pro quarterbacks to have success in Martz’s scheme at the next level — such as Kurt Warner, Mark Bulger and Jon Kitna — Brennan and Ainge have relatively quick releases and are used to delivering the ball to a spot in order to mask their lack of ideal arm strength. Woodson, meanwhile, has a slower delivery but is often able to make up for that by getting outstanding zip on his throws.

Categories: Draft

ESPN.com: Sugar Bowl beating and lingering questions have Brennan on a mission

January 23, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Now comes the question that will dog Brennan until he proves otherwise: Is he ready for the NFL? His showing in the Sugar Bowl certainly didn’t do him any favors, especially with so many questions hovering about the competition he’d faced at Hawaii leading into that game. But this week at the Senior Bowl the 2007 Heisman Trophy finalist is getting a chance for redemption, and in a twisted sort of way, thinks the Sugar Bowl drubbing might have been a blessing in disguise.

“Adversity is something that doesn’t really scare me. It doesn’t really bring me down,” said Brennan, one of three quarterbacks on the South team along with Kentucky’s Andre’ Woodson and Tennessee’s Erik Ainge. “The only thing that bowl game did for me was that it gave me great motivation and determination for these next few months. [...]

Al Saunders, the Washington Redskins’ associate head coach and offensive coordinator, said he sees some similarities between Brennan and New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.

Read the rest of the article here.

Categories: Draft · Media Features

Rivals.com feature on Brennan at Senior Bowl

January 22, 2008 · Leave a Comment

From Rivals.com:

The best-known player at the Senior Bowl also represents one of the game’s biggest mysteries.

Quarterback Colt Brennan broke 31 NCAA records while operating Hawaii’s run-and-shoot system, but nobody knows what kind of success he might have running a more traditional offense.

“I’m one of those quarterbacks that’s a big question mark,” Brennan acknowledged Monday after his South team completed its first practice. “I can be rising up the draft board or falling down depending on how I show up and execute.”

Read on here.

Categories: Media Features

McShay: Brennan one of ‘Five Propects Who Arguably Have The Most At Stake’

January 21, 2008 · Leave a Comment

At the Senior Bowl:

3. Colt Brennan, QB, Hawaii
Biggest pro: Accuracy.
Biggest con: Past NFL busts of quarterbacks from spread systems in college.
Senior Bowl agenda: Bounce back from dismal Sugar Bowl outing. Prove to scouts he can make same throws into tighter windows versus faster defenders.
Draft projection: Second or third round.

Of course, this blog will keep you updated as Senior Bowl notes come in.  The Senior Bowl is on Jan 26.

Categories: Draft

Sugar Bowl trip was final journey for UH fan

January 17, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Star Bulletin:  “Two weeks before the biggest game ever for the University of Hawaii football team, Ernest Dung A’ana learned from doctors that he had terminal liver cancer.  He also had an aneurysm three times larger than normal, posing a danger on airline flights. But that did not keep him from traveling to New Orleans to watch former UH quarterback Colt Brennan play in the Sugar Bowl.”

Read the rest of the story.

Categories: Uncategorized

Colt still has things to do in Hawaii

January 8, 2008 · 1 Comment

Honolulu Advertiser summarizes what he’s doing in Hawaii after his CFB finished.

Categories: Uncategorized

Colt’s reaction to June Jones’ departure

January 8, 2008 · Leave a Comment

As you undoubtedly heard, Hawaii coach June Jones has departed the University of Hawaii to SMU.

This blog does not need to note how poorly UH handled the situation.  Of note:  Herman Frazier appears to be out as Hawaii athletic director.

Colt made a couple of statements about the departure, and Hawaii’s future.

From Tsai’s blog:  Colt Brennan on the coaching search:
“Hawai‘i is a unique place. You just can’t bring in any football coach from anywhere. You’ve got to bring in someone who understands the culture and the community, as well with the football aspect to it. Coach Jones knew that because he lived here and went to school here, and he came back here years later as a seasoned coach, and balanced those things really well.”

Colt also endorsed Chow as a potential HC for Hawaii.  It’s not known whether Chow would be interested for the position; Chow previously was a leading candidate when Jones was hired in ‘99.

And here are Colt’s remarks while Jones was interviewing for the SMU job.

Categories: Uncategorized

Brennan vs. ‘BCS conference’ teams

January 2, 2008 · 2 Comments

As previously noted, Brennan played his statistically worst game against UGA.  Colt told reporters after that “It was the worst game of my life.” 

A quick look at previous games against ‘BCS conference’ teams tells the story of how comparatively bad it went.  Against Georgia, Colt went 22/38 (58%), for 169 yards, 0TD and 3 INTs.  (As several commentators have pointed out, it’s not all on Colt’s shoulders — to do so neglects credit for the NFL-caliber UGA defensive line, and the problems Hawaii had with its offensive line.)

2007

WASHINGTON
42/50, 84%, 442 yards, 5 TDs, 0 INT

2006 

  • 436 yards a game
  • 133/184= 72.3% completion rate.
  • 12TDs, and 5 picks.

ARIZONA STATE:
33/42, 79%, 559 Yards, 5 TD, 1 INT, 224.9

OREGON STATE:
37/50, 74%, 401 Yards, 2 TD, 2 INT, 146.57

PURDUE:
33/48, 69%, 434 Yards, 3 TD, 1 INT, 161.16

ALABAMA:
30/44, 68%, 350 Yards, 2TD, 1INT, 145.46 rating

2005.

  • 77/117, 66%
  • 290 yards/game
  • 6 TDs, 2 INTs

USC
21/32, 65%, 250 Yards, 1 TD, 1 INT, 135.3 rating

MICHIGAN STATE
23/31, 74.2%, 219 Yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT, 154.8 rating

WISCONSIN
33/54, 61%, 403 Yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT, 138.4 rating

Categories: Stats

Sugar Bowl: UGA beats Hawaii

January 1, 2008 · 28 Comments

Bigger, faster, stronger, better: the Bulldogs of UGA defeated Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl.

Colt’s final line for the night: 22-of-38 for 169 yards, intercepted three times and lost two fumbles. Brennan was sacked 8 times, and hurried at least twice as much.

This fan blog doesn’t need to sugarcoat it: the game was certainly the worst game during his career at the University of Hawaii.

Yet no one can take away the magic of Hawaii’s incredible regular season. And no one can deny the reciprocal love between Brennan and the state of Hawaii. Indeed, despite the drumming by UGA, at the conclusion of the Sugar Bowl, Hawaii’s large number of fans — and, considering the distance traveled, large they were — gave the team a standing ovation.

Numerous articles, both national and local, have noted how much Brennan and the Warriors have meant to the isolated state in the middle of the Pacific. The Star-Bulletin noted that “The impact of UH’s greatest football player ever transcended sports. He is a one-man chamber of commerce and has become the state’s most visible figure.”

Sports figures are mere mortals who excite and inspire. Since his January press conference announcing his senior season return, Colt inspired the state to think of the unthinkable: BCS glory. And while they ultimately came up short, Colt, and all of the Warriors, deserve thanks, praise, and applause for what they’ve done for Hawaii.

PS site note: With Colt’s Hawaii career officially over, this blog will begin to monitor news and analysis about Colt’s draft projections, etc.

Categories: Stats

Sugar Bowl quick hits

January 1, 2008 · Leave a Comment

AP:  From ex-con to Hawaii hero, Brennan closes out record-breaking college career at Sugar Bowl

AJC: Hawaii QB Brennan studies Bulldogs

SI:  Brennan’s entire career will be defined by Sugar Bowl

Categories: Uncategorized

Gameday: Hawaii versus UGA

January 1, 2008 · 1 Comment

Today, New Years Day, the Hawaii Warriors play the Bulldogs of Georgia.  For the Warriors, it’s by far the biggest game, on the biggest stage, in what may be the biggest event for the state of Hawaii since statehood.

For fuller coverage on what Hawaii will do when it has the ball (the focus of this blog, since it is a CB blog), check out the Advertiser and Star Bulletin’s coverage.

When it comes to Colt, some questions still exist among some ‘experts.’

1)  How does Colt fare against high-prestige defenses?

2)  More specifically, how does Colt fare against fast blitzes like the ones Georgia will throw against Hawaii?

3)  How will Colt perform on a huge stage like the primetime Sugar Bowl?

Certainly as we saw with Vince Young’s last college game, Colt has a chance to silence doubters.  And Hawaii has a chance to play itself into one of the greatest Cinderella stories in college football.  Will they do it?  We’ll see tonight.

Categories: Uncategorized