According to coach Walsh, poise under fire and footwork were the two reasons why he paid attention and eventually drafted Montana. Let's just say Geno ain't Montana, ok? That said, was Montana's talent and skill set perfect? Some might argue that Montana didn't have strong arms, some might said he wasn't built for NFL.
Although the NFL Combine was not formed until 1982, NFL scouts still evaluated potential draftees through the use of combines in 1979. Candidates were rated in a number of categories on a scale of one to nine, with one being the worst mark and nine being the best mark. The categories they used were contingent on the position that the athlete played.
Despite his performance on the field, Montana was not rated highly by most scouts. At one combine, Montana rated out as six-and-a-half overall with a six in arm strength, used to judge how hard and how far a prospect could throw the ball. By comparison, Jack Thompson of Washington State rated an eight, the highest grade among eligible quarterbacks.
In the 1979 NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers selected Montana at the end of the third round with the 82nd overall pick. Montana was the fourth quarterback taken, behind Thompson, Phil Simms, and Steve Fuller, all selected in the first round.
Geno might have stronger arm and more athletic, but few could elevate their game with pressure, Joe was unique. That said, Montana might have a miserable time in Al Davis' long ball offense, Walsh's 3/5 step fitted him perfectly.