Tony Pike-fringe 1st Rounder

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Tony Pike, QB, Cincinnati
Pike will measure at 6-foot-5, making him the tallest QB prospect. That will interest many coaches who value the importance of height in the NFL. I have watched this guy on tape in a number of games, and he will impress with his mobility -- a solid short shuttle time would not surprise me, and a sub-5.0 40 is not out of the question. Without Bradford and Clausen throwing, Pike will take center stage, and his arm strength and accuracy should shine. The guy threw 48 touchdown passes and just 17 interceptions in the last two years. At least seven teams are looking for a quarterback in this draft, and Pike could establish himself as a Joe Flacco-type by the end of the combine.

http://www.nfl.com/combine/story?id=09000d5d81683cce&template=with-video-with-comments&confirm=true
 
After a busy four-month stretch that included playing in the Sugar Bowl and Senior Bowl, participating in the scouting combine and doing private workouts and visits, Pike seems relaxed as he enters draft week that starts Thursday night with the first round.

Pike could go anywhere from rounds two through five, but the consensus is that he will go in the fourth round. That's the grade that was assigned by NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock, and ESPN's Mel Kiper has Pike going to Seattle in the fourth round.

"The process has been long considering that some of it actually started before my senior year, but the nerves are dying down a little bit," Pike said. "The process has been a roller coaster with its share of ups and downs. It was just a matter of going out and doing what I could do."

One thing that helped Pike was talking to former UC standouts Connor Barwin and Haruki Nakamura about how hectic the process could be.

Although most of the attention about quarterbacks has been focused on Sam Bradford, Jimmy Clausen, Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy, Pike is part of that second group that has been closely bunched since the combine. That group includes Fordham's John Skelton and Central Michigan's Dan LeFevour.

In addition to private workout with the Bengals, Pike has received attention from the Chiefs, Broncos, Patriots, 49ers, Cardinals and Vikings. All of those teams are in position to draft someone and have them develop on the bench for a season or two.

"It's been good to sit down with teams one-on-one and talk to them on a football level by going into the film room or breaking plays down," Pike said.

Wherever he goes, Pike is confident that he can do the job. Pike's career numbers at UC were 421 of 682 for 5,018 yards, 49 touchdowns and 20 interceptions and two Big East titles.

While Pike does possess a strong arm, there are questions about his durability and ability to consistently make the touch passes. Scouts also believe he needs to gain another 10 pounds to fill out his 6-foot-6, 230-pound frame.

"The biggest thing is I feel like I can go anywhere, develop a level of confidence with the offense and be successful," Pike said.

Pike would love to end up is with the Bengals, who might consider drafting a quarterback in the final three rounds. Pike watched as Huber was drafted last year and what it meant to him and his family to be playing at home.

The Reading High School grad has memories of going to Riverfront Stadium as a kid and watching Boomer Esiason. He has also been to games at Paul Brown Stadium, but the last one was a preseason game against New Orleans.

"The visit to the Bengals was something I enjoyed. I got to talk to the coaches and meet Mike Brown," Pike said. "I saw how Kevin got drafted by them and got to stay close to home and that is something I would also like to be a part of."

During last week's local workout held by the Bengals, Pike did not throw due to a jammed thumb on his throwing hand. But after more than two weeks of rest, he should be ready for rookie minicamp next month.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100418/SPT0101/4190329/1064/UC+s+Pike+ready+for+draft
 
Checking in w/ Tony Pike (Cnati)

Out at UC spring practice on Tuesday, it was the normal cast of characters gracing the sidelines and the field, except for a 6-foot-6 goateed quarterback making his way around to different groups of players.

Tony Pike was hanging out for some of practice and caught up with some of his former teammates just a few days before he learns where the next chapter in his life is going to take him.

The signs of many mock drafts point toward Pike going in the fourth round, maybe as early as the third.

There have been 72 quarterbacks drafted in the third round or later between 2000 and 2007 and it is hard to find many that didn't have at least some type of chance, somewhere. (I go through 2007 because there isn't enough time for QBs to emerge and develop in two years)

Here are the most notable names on that list: Marc Bulger (6th round, 2000), Tom Brady (6th, 2000), Chris Weinke (4th, 2001), Sage Rosenfels (4th, 2001), David Garrard (4th, 2002), JT O'Sullivan (6th, 2002), Chris Simms (3rd, 2003), Seneca Wallace (4th, 2003), Matt Schaub (3rd, 2004), Luke McCown (4th, 2004), Kyle Orton (4th, 2005), Derek Anderson (6th, 2005), Matt Cassel (7th, 2005), Bruce Gradkowski (6th, 2006), Trent Edwards (3rd, 2007).

Those are 15 out of the 72 would be considered notable and all have started games and at times played well. You can add or subtract some from the list, but for the most part these guys would be considered the ones who exceeded expectations.

That is about a 21 percent chance of success. Number Tony Pike can certainly live with considered how far he has come in the past two years.

It is hard to know exactly where Pike will go at this point and the three-day draft throws a stick in the spokes of what to do during the draft days.

"It is hard with the draft being three days now," Pike said. "My family was trying to plan a day to have the family over and have a get-together, but with a three-day draft it is hard to pick a day. I will probably just spend a couple days golfing and get together with family on Saturday.

"It is so hard because a team will have you a second round grade and another team will have you at a fourth round grade, it is going to come down to what team and what their needs are and where they have you slotted."


http://cnati.com/blogs/paul/2010/04/checking-in-with-tony-pike.php
 
Ouch so much for fringe 1st rounder.

Fringe 7th rounder.

Oh well good luck with the Panthers Tony. Beat the ostrich.
 
Strange that Carolina picked two top 5 (arguably) qb's. Hopefully Pike has a chance to make the squad.
 
My only problem with this pick, and I'm not trying to be negative, is that what good is two rookie qb's? I know nothing about carolina, but if they are counting on these two guys, they are screwed. No matter what, you need a back up who has played in the NFL who can teach the rookie things. If you have two rookie qb's, your not going to get that. Then again, Carolina could have another qb, I will admit I don't know squat about the NFL, because it is freaking boring.
 
bradjohansen Talked to Pike after live shot. His agent was convinced Bengals would take him in the 4th Rd. Passed twice in 4th, once in 5th. Bummed.
 
I thought for sure the Bungles would take him in the 3rd or 4th. Having no backup means its all or nothing with Carson. How many college teams operate that way? One star with the rest walk-ons? Cmon man.
 
The past few weeks have been a juggling act for quarterback Tony Pike, as he's balanced his student commitment at the University of Cincinnati against his rookie responsibilities with the Carolina Panthers.

Pike, a sixth-round draft pick, attended Panthers minicamp in early May but was forced to sit out of practices until Tuesday. An agreement between the NCAA and NFL doesn't allow rookies to participate in voluntary workouts until their college class graduates, even if they're not enrolled.

"The biggest struggle is knowing that everyone was (practicing with the Panthers)," Pike said. "Your college days are over, and you want to get here and meet the guys you're going to be spending a long time with."

Pike said he kept busy in Cincinnati.

He finished his studies and threw the first pitch of a Cincinnati Reds baseball game. But he said he mostly concentrated on keeping pace with the Panthers.

Pike went through drills to stay in shape. He played catch with college teammate Mardy Gilyard, a St. Louis Rams rookie receiver, to keep his arm fresh. And most beneficial, Pike said, he received meeting notes and a playbook from Panthers quarterbacks coach Rip Scherer.

Coach John Fox said he was impressed with how Pike practiced Tuesday.

"He's a conscientious guy, so he's done all the book work," Fox said. "But to really take it through with your body is the key. I think he's a sharp guy, and he's got a lot of ability.

"It looked like he didn't miss a beat today."

Pike also was happy with his practice, but he still found areas to improve.

He showed his strong arm and tight spiral, but he also stepped across the line of scrimmage during a pocket-presence drill. Starting quarterback Matt Moore was quick to point out the rookie's mistake.

Pike got a few reps when the Panthers offense scrimmaged the defense. He read zone coverage on one play and threaded a downfield pass through double coverage for a completion. Then he fumbled the next snap.

Pike said it will take him some time to become consistent.

"At (Cincinnati), we didn't have many defensive guys (the past two weeks) so I was just throwing on air," he said. "The mental part is coming along a lot further than what the speed of the game is. The speed is just going to take a few days to adjust to."

Pike said he'll take the mistakes he made and learn from them.

"Every time you throw an incompletion or miss a pass, you're going to hate yourself," he said. "When you get out here, your adrenaline is flowing so much more than when you're just throwing to some guys you've been throwing to for a while. You get out here, and your mind is going a mile a minute.

"The biggest thing is to just slow down your mind and play like you've been playing."

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/06/08/1487860/for-pike-theres-room-to-grow.html#ixzz0qNQZUiOz
 
he Panthers signed sixth-round draft pick quarterback Tony Pike on Tuesday. Pike was one of three sixth-rounders taken by Carolina in the draft. He's the sixth of the team's 10 draft picks to sign.

Pike is fourth on the team's depth chart -- behind Matt Moore, Hunter Cantwell and Jimmy Clausen. He signed a four-year deal with an $81,145 signing bonus, according to his agent Rick

http://blogs.charlotte.com/panthers/2010/06/panthers-sign-rookie-qb-pike.html
 

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