T.J. Yates' stock is going up

T.J. Yates (13) makes a pass during the North Carolina Tar Heels vs. Virginia Tech Hokies game at Kenan Stadium in Chapel Hill, N.C. on Saturday, November 13, 2010.

By Tim Hall
Apr 19, 2011

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Former Tar Heel quarterback T.J. Yates is riding a wave of good feelings he hopes will extend through next week's NFL Draft.

About six days ago, veteran quarterbacks coach Larry Kennan said Yates, a four-year starter at the University of North Carolina, is "way ahead of where a lot of guys are at that time." He credited Yates' coaches at UNC and his ability to read coverages and detect blitzes.

"I've worked with Byron Leftwich and Chad Pennington and Drew Brees and T.J. is about as good as anybody I've seen," Kennan told the National Football Post. "He's very aware. He can watch film and see exactly what's going on with coverage. He's very advanced."

NFL Network's Mike Mayock had called Yates his sleeper choice at quarterback for this year's draft.

Yates earned the praise with a solid senior season and an impressive showing at workouts and interviews. The guy who once was booed at the Dean Dome could possibly be an NFL draft pick.

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RE: T.J. Yates' stock is going up

Wow Badger, 9 posts out of 34. Why don't you just become a Tar Heel fan so you will feel at home. It's amazing how these subjects about Tar Heels brings the Dookies and Wolf Pups out in force. Anyone want another slice of Envy with that cup of Admiration. Go ahead, it will make you feel better, let it out all you posers, you want to be a Tar Heel!

RE: T.J. Yates' stock is going up

And Yates didn't PUNK anybody in the State game this year. He threw one pass that was probably 10 yards or less. Thanks to pizz poor tackling by State, we brought him down about 60 yards down field. All Yates did was throw a quick pass to a guy that, by all rights, should have resulted in a 10-15 yard gain, tops.

It was almost like an error in baseball. If you hit a pop fly into the infield, and the shortstop drops it, the guy ends up safe at first base. But he's not credited with a hit. That's how I saw a lot of Yate's big gainers against State. They were great plays. But Yates didn't have much to do with them being so successful.

RE: T.J. Yates' stock is going up

Surely no one is trying to argue that Yates was better than Russell as a college QB?

Here's my observation about Yates. He could sling it a country mile, and Carolina's receivers, quite often, were able to go and get it for HUGE gainers. That's why he put up some of his monster yardage numbers. He had an arm. But when it came to the short IMPORTANT passes right around the line of scrimmage, he didn't have much touch or timing. That's why I can't see him doing well in the NFL. I don't think he's all that good. He mainly just has good arm strength. But is that good enough for the NFL?

Russell is probably too short. That's why he probably won't get to the NFL.

RE: T.J. Yates' stock is going up

Wouldn't it be ironic if TJ Yates were to someday play in the NFL and the great Russell Wilson...not?
- Posted by 4tarheels

Touche'!

RE: T.J. Yates' stock is going up

Yates took a sack for a safety at the end of the game, and State won for the fourth year in a row, and you're sitting there laughing out loud at STATISTICS???

I was simply responding to a specific post that basically said Yates "sucked" when he played against NCSU. (or teams that wear red with an "S" on their helmet...remember? the post is still there.)

Fun, is what Facts are! Yates PUNKED Wilson in that game, no matter how that hail-mary prayer made the final results turn out.
- Posted by GoLower

I don't remember anyone saying Yates, the man, sucked against State. I think it was more that his team has continually lost to the Pack. Yates certainly has not sucked against State. In fact, I think he had pretty good games almost every time he played us.

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