Tag Archive for Quarterback

Ryan Nassib Scouting Report

January 9, 2013 No comments

Ryan Nassib

Position

QB

Height

6’2

School

Syracuse

Weight

228

Class

Senior

40 Time

4.80

Grade

3rd Round

Arm Strength:

Nassib possesses a strong arm and displays excellent velocity on his passes. He can make every throw with ease and arm strength should not be a problem at the next level. He has to do a much better job of varying his touch. Too often he rifles balls on check-downs that put his receivers in tough situations.

Grade: 4.0

Accuracy:

Inconsistent would be one way to describe Nassib’s accuracy. In the short game he is generally on point, however on intermediate and deep routes his accuracy starts to get spotty. He lacks pin-point accuracy and usually his receivers have to make adjustments to his passes. He’ll also flat out miss wide open receivers on what should be routine throws. He does show some rare flashes but for the most part it’s hard to describe Nassib as an accurate passer.

Grade: 2.5

Mobility:

Nassib has a more compact build than your traditional quarterback and he is quite athletic. He is very mobile in the pocket and can extend plays with his legs. He does present a threat to run and he’s actually had his number called on a few designed quarterback runs at Syracuse. He can pick up some solid gains with his legs if need be.

Grade: 3.0

Decision Making:

Nassib strikes me as a student of the game who knows his offense well. He knows where his receivers are and he goes through his progressions quickly. He does tend to lock onto targets for more than he should at times though. He tends to get a little skittish under pressure although he does show the ability to hang in the pocket and deliver a pass whilst taking a hit. Occasionally he’ll simply make bad reads which makes me wonder if he had already per-determined where he’d go with the ball before the snap and failed to actually read the coverage. Most of the time he will take what the defense gives him and he doesn’t force many passes.

Grade: 2.5

Mechanics:

Nassib has one of the quickest releases of any quarterback in this class. He’s also used to play from under center and he does show a pretty good 3 and 5 step drop. He can plant his back leg and drive the ball immediately as he reaches the end of his drop with little wasted motion. His footwork is usually crisp although he does rush his mechanics when facing pressure which leads to more errant passes. That said he usually does pass with his feet set and good balance.

Grade: 3.5

Pocket Awareness:

I’m a little bit skeptical of Nassib’s pocket poise. Sometimes he shows great ability to step up in the pocket and keep his eyes down-field to find an open man. Yet other times he holds onto the ball too long, or he gets happy-feet in the pocket and makes rushed decisions when he could have remained patient and made the play. I also don’t like that he makes himself a runner too early. He’ll tuck the ball well before he’s crossed the line of scrimmage essentially wiping out any possibility of still passing the ball. He doesn’t strike me as being overly comfortable in the pocket for whatever reason.

Grade: 2.0

Intangibles:

Nassib is well experienced, being a 3 year starter for the Orange. His numbers have steadily improved throughout his career despite playing with a poor supporting cast. As mentioned earlier he seems like a smart quarterback with a high football IQ. He came up big in games against Louisville and Missouri this year, leading a game-winning drive in the latter. He has no known character issues or major injury concerns. Doesn’t strike me as a franchise quarterback worthy of a 1st round pick.

Grade: 3.5

Outlook:

There’s a lot to like about Ryan Nassib. He’s a 3 year starter with a strong arm and athletic build. His mechanics are good and he’s got a lightning quick release. Despite all of that, he still struggles with his accuracy and I’m not sold on his pocket poise. He looks like a guy who can sit and develop and maybe eventually battle for a starting role but he’s not someone who can step in from day 1 and lead a team and perform admirably. I’m not buying the 1st round hype right now.

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Mike Glennon Scouting Report

January 8, 2013 No comments

Mike Glennon

Position

QB

Height

6’5

School

North Carolina State

Weight

232

Class

Senior

40 Time

5.15

Grade

1st Round

Arm Strength:

Mike Glennon posses a strong arm and he is capable of flinging it 60 yards down-field. He shows great ability to zip passes but also to put touch on balls thrown to the flats. Because of this, he throws a very catchable ball, although you wouldn’t get that impression from watching his receivers. His velocity can be a bit slow at times and his passes tend to hang. This is a mechanical issue and it can be corrected but he will not get away with his “lobs” over the middle in the NFL.

Grade: 3.0

Accuracy:

Grading Glennon’s accuracy can be a tad frustrating to grade. More often than not he shows excellent accuracy across the whole field. Short, intermediate and deep he throws a beautiful ball. He throws one of the best deep balls I’ve seen in awhile. His placement is great and usually puts the ball in a spot where his receiver can make a play. That’s the good and more often than not it’s good. But when it’s bad, you can’t help but think what the hell he was trying to do. He’ll miss badly on ordinary routes and a lot of it stems, again, from mechanical issues. Throwing with poor balance and weight distribution, off his back foot etc. The potential is there he just has to be more consistent.

Grade: 3.5

Mobility:

Listed at 6’5, Glennon is a tall quarterback and he’s a pure pocket passer. You won’t catch him running much. He’s not a total statue as he those show some scrambling ability and can buy himself some more time to throw. However, he offers zero threat as a runner and he will struggle to elude most free rushers.

Grade: 2.0

Decision Making:

Glennon is a smart quarterback and is certainly ahead of your average quarterback in terms of reading defenses. He has the ability to look off the safety and quickly go through his progressions to find the open man. He does a good job with his pre-snap reads and can take advantages of 1 on 1 coverage if he sees no safety over the top. At times he does try to force balls into coverage and thus his interception totals are high. Most of these forced passes come when he’s under pressure and it’s not so much that they’re bad decisions but his mechanics are compromised and he throws it anyways. These passes often miss their mark and are often broken up or picked.

Grade: 2.5

Mechanics:

It’s easy to fall in love with Glennon’s over-the-top release. It’s very pretty… Back to football. Because he is a tall quarterback with long limbs his release isn’t the quickest out there, it’s average at best. Where his mechanical deficiencies arise is in his footwork. He does play in a pro-style offense and he took a lot of snaps from under center. He’s used to the 3, 5 and 7 step drops so he’s already much further along than most quarterbacks. However, his footwork is very inconsistent and it especially breaks down in the face of pressure. He gets caught throwing flat footed a lot, which leads to inaccurate passes. He’ll throw while leaning back, which leads to poor ball velocity and those ugly floaters. All of this can be fixed but it is a problem right now and he’ll need to sort all of these issues out before he can be a starter in the NFL.

Grade: 2.0

Pocket Awareness:

Glennon generally has a good feel for the pocket. He has a good sense of when the pressure is coming and when to step up in the pocket or to scramble. If there is any problem it’s that he tends to hold onto the ball too long at times trying to make a play. This, combined with his athletic shortcomings, has led to a few unnecessary sacks and/or fumbles. He does show the ability to stand in the pocket and complete a pass while taking a hit. However, as mentioned earlier he tends to fade away during these throws and accuracy as well as ball velocity is compromised.

Grade: 3.0

Intangibles:

Only a 2 year starter for the Wolfpack but he did beat out Russell Wilson before Wilson eventually transferred to Wisconsin, giving them both the opportunity to start. Was highly touted coming out of high school. Has put up good numbers in college mainly because he was a high volume passer. Was second in the nation in pass attempts as a senior. This is one reason for high interception totals although they are on him as well. Played on a team that didn’t feature much talent around him and suffered through offensive line woes and numerous dropped passes per game. Regarded as a smart player with a high football IQ. Gives me the impression that he has the “it” factor to become a franchise quarterback. Led an impressive and thrilling game-winning drive against Florida State despite his team being largely over-matched. Has no known character issues or major injury concerns.

Grade: 3.5

Outlook:

It seems like a lot of draftniks are split on Glennon and I can definitely see why. He can be inconsistent and you don’t exactly know what you’re going to get. However, I believe he did the best he could with the team around him. His receivers were awful and were completely unreliable at times. He reminds me a lot of Matt Ryan actually. Both are similar athletically with a similar arm. Both had high interception totals which scared some people away. Both are regarded as hard working guys. More importantly, both played on teams that didn’t have a lot of talent. Matt Ryan didn’t complete 60% of his passes a senior but no one will question his accuracy now. Everyone thought he was a slam-dunk bust because of his numbers in college but college stats don’t translate to the NFL. I think Glennon has all the tools to be a franchise quarterback and if he is as smart and has the work ethic that has been described by many, there is no reason he can’t overcome his mechanical issues with coaching. He’s the guy I’d take the chance on if I needed a quarterback out of this poor quarterback class.

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Tyler Wilson Scouting Report

January 4, 2013 No comments

Tyler Wilson

Position

QB

Height

6’2

School

Arkansas

Weight

218

Class

Senior

40 Time

4.90

Grade

2nd Round

Arm Strength:

Tyler Wilson has a fairly strong arm and he can make all the necessary throws with ease. He does a good job of knowing when to put some extra zip on passes and when to add some touch. He shows flashes of fitting the ball into tight windows and he can sling it over the middle. I have noticed his release tends to drop as he “whips” the ball across the middle at times.

Grade: 3.5

Accuracy:

Wilson’s accuracy is erratic and that is largely due to his mechanics. He can make beautiful throws over the middle fitting the ball in the tightest of windows. I’ve seen him make some throws that have literally made me say “wow”. Yet, he will occasionally throw behind his receiver on a 3 yard crossing route. His accuracy across the range is inconsistent at best and it all stems from mechanical issues and rushing his throws.

Grade: 2.5

Mobility:

Not known for his scrambling abilities, Wilson is rather average in this regard. He can maneuver around in the pocket and buy some time but most defensive ends can chase him down. He shows he can pick up a few yards if a clear rushing lane is given but don’t expect many 10+ yard gains in his NFL career.

Grade: 2.5

Decision Making:

Tyler Wilson reminds me of Brandon Weeden in this regard. When he’s got a clean pocket to work with he looks poised as he scans the field and goes through his progressions and usually spots the open man. However, when pressured he can struggle to make snap decisions and he ends up forcing a lot of passes into coverage. Of course there are plenty of instances where he does have time but forces balls into coverage anyways. I do like that he can go through his progressions and that he can buy himself more time if need be. However, too many passes are forced with bad mechanics under pressure (think Matt Stafford) that are way too risky to be throwing.

Grade: 2.0

Mechanics:

I’ll give credit to Wilson that he does take a lot of snaps from under center, certainly more than your average college quarterback nowadays. His mechanics need a lot of work though. He’s usually unbalanced on his drop-backs and something just doesn’t look right. His 3, 5 and 7 step drops will need refinement for sure. While his ability to change his release point and make quick throws can be a positive and gets him out of trouble, a lot of the times he ends up throwing ducks or inaccurate passes that can be easily picked off because his upper body and lower body are completely out of sync. As mentioned earlier his release point tends to drop as he tries to put more zip on his passes which could lead to some batted passes.

Grade: 2.0

Pocket Awareness:

One of the biggest praises for Wilson is his ability to stand tall in the pocket and take a hit. Seriously, he was destroyed at times but he took the shot to complete a pass. He senses pressure pretty well and rarely gets sacked because he held onto the ball too long. I did notice at times he would ditch the pocket a little bit early but it was because he had been pressured all game.

Grade: 3.0

Intangibles:

Tyler Wilson is only a 2 year starter and I’m a firm believer that the more experience the better. As of now his inexperience shows in the form of his inconsistent mechanics and questionable decisions. However, he’s got a solid base to work with and should improve with coaching in the NFL. His play regressed as a senior but so did Arkansas together as a team. He is regarded for his great toughness and it shows on tape. Wilson is a grinder and will do anything to win. He has no major injury concerns although he did miss the big game against Alabama as a senior due to a concussion. With the hits he’s took in college it’s something that should be monitored. No known character issues.

Grade: 3.0

Outlook:

I want to like Tyler Wilson. He’s got all the tools to succeed and, unlike Geno Smith, I believe he has “it”. He’s just too raw right now I believe. His mechanics need a complete overhaul and he has to take better care of the football. I think ideally he should go to a team that doesn’t need him to start immediately but to be groomed as a successor. He can have success in the NFL but he’ll need some time. If a team drafts him in the 1st round and forces him to start from Day 1, with a poor supporting cast, I think he’ll struggle mightily.

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Geno Smith Scouting Report

December 30, 2012 No comments

Geno Smith

Position

QB

Height

6’3

School

West Virginia

Weight

220

Class

Senior

40 Time

4.85

Grade

3rd Round

Arm Strength:

Geno Smith has a solid arm albeit unspectacular. He shows he can make every throw and put nice zip on passes over the middle. However, his passes do hang at times and if he doesn’t step into his throws pass velocity definitely sees a drop. His lack of “arm strength” is more due to bad mechanics more than anything.

Grade: 2.5

Accuracy:

Geno is inconsistent with his accuracy. He shows flashes of being able to thread the needle but those passes are not the norm. His short passes are usually on target and he gives his receiver a chance to catch and run. If given enough time he’s usually accurate in the intermediate and deep game as well. However, his accuracy drops with bodies around him in the pocket. He rushes his mechanics and as a result his passes tend to be more inaccurate. Likewise, throws on the run can get inaccurate as well. The flashes he shows are not enough to convince me that he is an accurate passer or that he can become one consistently at the next level.

Grade: 2.5

Mobility:

Certainly more mobile than your average quarterback but no one will confuse him for Michael Vick or RG3 anytime soon. He does have the athleticism to escape from pressure in the pocket and he can pick up some decent yardage with his legs if given a rushing lane.

Grade: 3.0

Decision Making:

Decision making is probably my biggest gripe about Geno Smith. Sure, on paper his numbers look phenomenal and it’s hard to call him a bad decision maker when his interception numbers are so low. However, his offense is designed for a lot of easy throws that inflate his numbers. There are a wide range of plays where he pretty much only has 1 option to go with the ball on a quick screen for example, or shallow crossing route, or quick flip to Tavon Austin who can take a forward pitch for 15 yards and a 1st down. Not to mention a lot of the time it seems like he’s only asked to read one side of the field. I am not questioning the mans intelligence as it could be by coach design for whatever reason, but it could also be to mask Smith’s weaknesses. There’s no way to know for sure. He does have the ability to stay in the pocket and go through his progressions. I’ve seen him do this a lot, but he tends to be slow in doing so. He locks onto his primary receiver and waits too long before going to his 2nd or 3rd read. When he does, his throws are late and often fall incomplete or are batted away. His internal clock has to be much faster or his interception numbers will soar in the NFL.

Grade: 2.0

Mechanics:

The offense Geno Smith plays in at WVU calls for a lot of snaps from shotgun. He rarely drops back from under center and throws a pass. He’ll need to learn proper footwork and drop-back technique heading into the NFL. His release is a little bit long but it’s nothing that should affect him too much. He needs to be sharper with his mechanics as he will throw off-balance too much. He needs to do a better job of stepping through his throws and really driving the ball down-field.

Grade: 2.0

Pocket Awareness:

Geno is usually calm and poised in the pocket. He doesn’t look at the rush and he stands tall and keeps scanning the field despite what is going on around him. I don’t like that once he decides to run he tucks the ball and stops looking down-field completely. He can be a little bit late to feel pressure but usually he gets the ball out quickly.

Grade: 3.0

Intangibles:

Smith is a 3 year starter for the Mountaineers and has been very productive throughout his career. A lot of that is due to his offense but still throwing only 20 interceptions through 3 years is impressive. Has been regarded as a high character player who works hard in the film room. I don’t see the “it” factor from him to convince me hes a franchise quarterback and there are conflicting reports about his overall attitude. Some say hes a winner and great leader while others say his attitude sours when things don’t go his way. I’m sure this will all unfold as the draft gets closer. He has no major injury concerns or known character issues.

Grade: 3.0

Outlook:

At this point, Geno Smith is the favorite to be drafted #1 overall by the Kansas City Chiefs. Now there is still plenty of time for things to change from now until the draft. Me personally, I don’t see it. He started out hot and his play seems to have gotten worse over the course of the season. I think that is blinding some people in their judgement. He’s a project. I don’t think he’s ready to start from day 1 and that seems to be the norm for quarterbacks in recent years. People see that he has all the tools but he’s got a lot of work to do to maximize his potential. Even when he does, I don’t see Geno Smith ever being a top tier quarterback but more of a serviceable starter at best. The quarterback position is at a premium more than ever in the NFL and as a result more and more college prospects are being overrated.

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Matt Barkley Scouting Report

December 20, 2012 One comment

Matt Barkley

Position

QB

Height

6’2

School

USC

Weight

230

Class

Senior

40 Time

4.85

Grade

2nd Round

Arm Strength:

Matt Barkley’s arm strength is adequate. He doesn’t have a strong arm by any stretch of the imagination but it’s not something that should hinder his performance. He can make every throw and he does have the ability to put some extra zip on passes over the middle. He naturally doesn’t have a strong arm so if his footwork is sloppy or if he doesn’t drive his hips then we start to see some passes sailing a bit. His deep ball also tends to have a lot of air on it giving safeties some extra time to react.

Grade: 2.5

Accuracy:

While his accuracy can be good at times, he’s inconsistent and is certainly never going to be an elite passer in terms of accuracy. When he has time in the pocket he generally makes good throws and places the ball well. When pressured however, his accuracy declines and you’ll see him put the ball on his receivers wrong shoulder or throw a ball up for grabs. His receivers are very talented so he gets away with this more than the average quarterback. His down-field accuracy is good but again can be inconsistent. He does show the ability to drop the ball between safeties and linebackers however which does take a lot of skill. His deep ball accuracy isn’t great and a lot of the time he’s asking his receivers to simply go up and make the play. Also, because he doesn’t have a great arm to flip it 60 yards down-field, a lot of his “deep” balls actually come out pretty early where his receivers don’t have much of a chance to create a lot of separation.

Grade: 3.0

Mobility:

Barkley isn’t much of a scrambler and he presents very little threat to run. However, he is pretty good at maneuvering in the pocket. He can buy himself some extra time and does a good job of escaping pressure while keeping his eyes down-field.

Grade: 2.5

Decision Making:

Credit must be given to Barkley because he seems like a smart quarterback who studies well. He makes pre-snap reads and does a good job of taking advantage of certain situations. At the same time he occasionally tries to force the issue based on the pre-snap match-up alone and not what actually occurs between the receiver and defensive back post-snap. He has the ability to stand in the pocket and go through his progressions to find an open receiver. Unfortunately, his offensive line at USC was terrible at times so he didn’t get many clean pockets. This is likely why so much of the offense is based on quick short passes. It takes the burden off the line to protect Barkley but it also takes the burden off him as the passes are pre-determined. Under pressure he tends to make mistakes. He rushes throws and will force the issue. Sometimes its better to take the sack or throw the ball away and like most young quarterbacks Barkley still tries to make the play, often ending with an interception. The pressure can also get to him late in games. He sometimes rushes throws that he really didn’t have too but because of getting pressured so much throughout the game his internal clock gets faster and faster.

Grade: 2.5

Mechanics:

Barkley’s mechanics are quite good. He has a clean overhead release and while it’s not lightning quick, it definitely isn’t slow. He has experience dropping back from under center and his footwork is generally good. He’ll make some off-balance throws under pressure which can get him in trouble at times. That ties more into his decision making than his mechanics though. He also does a great job of adjusting his throwing angle given the situation.

Grade: 3.5

Pocket Awareness:

As mentioned earlier, Barkley has a good feel for the pocket. He feels pressure well and is able to move around in the pocket to find a clear throwing lane. He does tend to get a bit jumpy if he’s been pressured throughout the game. However, for the most part he is calm and poised in the pocket.

Grade: 4.0

Intangibles:

A 4 year starter for one of the best teams in college football. A smart quarterback who obviously puts in a lot of work in the film room. Well liked and regarded as a high character player. Runs an offense that is very heavily oriented on dinking and dunking. Has a very talented group of skill position players around him that pad his numbers by taking simple screens and slant passes all the way for touchdowns. Would need to be in a similar system in the NFL to succeed. Has never had any off-field issues or major injuries although he did suffer an AC sprain on his throwing arm before his senior year ended.

Grade: 3.0

Outlook:

I am not sold on Matt Barkley being a slam-dunk franchise quarterback being worth the #1 overall pick. He does some things well but nothing really stands out to me that says he’ll be a great starter in the NFL. He’s got an average arm and makes questionable decisions when rattled. I’m also concerned that he had so many talented players around him that were able to take his short passes and turn them into long gains. If he’s dinking and dunking so much at the college level I can’t see him being a down-field passer in the NFL, especially considering defensive backs will drive on his passes much faster. His ceiling to me is someone like a Sam Bradford or Andy Dalton. Smart quarterbacks who put up solid numbers but they need pieces around them to be successful. They can’t carry a team and they are limited in what they can do offensively. That’s not worth the #1 overall pick. It’s not even worth a first round pick in my opinion.

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