Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Cam Newton: what a physical specimen he is, as we all know. Love his over the top release. As we all saw...his errant shorter throws were the result of slow and sloppy footwork. I am sure he will correct this...however, this is why Newton is going to need time, being almost exlusively a spread shotgun QB and not having to work previously on the standard pro style footwork---3 to 5 to 7 step drops. Plus, he will need to work diligently on his ballhandling. He is not anywhere near NFL ready---which is a frustration for teams that want to tag him in the top ten picks.
The perfect scenario for him, imo, would be to go to Buffalo, where he can play behind Ryan Fitzpatrick for a year, while he hones his skills and assimilates into their system and the speed of the NFL.
While the inaccuracy on the short routes did not concern me much---I was happy to see him participating---and he looked like he was soaking in the experience and enjoying himself---he seems like a great kid---and that's what we need to remind ourselves---he is just that: a starry-eyed kid.
Christian Ponder: The most polished thrower of the group---which doesn't surprise me. What concerns me is how often he and his offense squandered drives at FSU, especially surrounded by all that premier talent. I am not sure what to make of it. Something seems awry. And he had a very good OC (turned HC) in Jimbo Fisher. In some ways he reminds me of a more polished version of Charlie Whitehurst---big arm---physically strong---but not the kind of finisher of drives that you would expect. But---there's no question he is having a very strong post-season, and his decision to go ahead and throw yesterday improved his stock even further---he now may not be on the board when the Cardinals pick at #38. I envision the Seahawks thinking long and hard about him at #25. If Buffalo does not take a QB at #3...look for them to hop on Ponder early in round two.
Blaine Gabbert: It was disappointing that he---because of his agent's advice---chose not to throw...especially when all the other QBs elected to. I think this hurt him some---because I think he is one of the more over-hyped players in this draft...and a great deal has to do with this being a supbar group of QB prospects....so the pundits have to hype someone---AND---following this Super Bowl, every team is drooling about the chances of acquiring their own version of Aaron Rodgers.
In this draft there are no Aaron Rodgerses. The closest talent-wise is Cam Newton---and if Cam Newton could spend his first three years playing behind a HOF QB and sharpening his skills---look out.
Gabbert will probably look very good (in comparison to most of the others) on his Pro Day---but---and this is the thing people sometimes forget---throwing passes in shorts under no duress doesn't mean much at all. Throwing a pinpoint out pass on 3rd and 4 with a rusher bearing in on you does. This is the area that concerns me about Gabbert---his percentages in 3rd down situations were not good at Mizzou...and he is going to need the right coach and the right sysytem to help him turn this corner. I hate to say it but I think the best scenario for him would be landing in SF with Jim Harbaugh and sitting a couple of years behind Alex Smith. The West Coast offense is a good fit for him.
Jake Locker: The combination of physical skills this young man possesses is so attractive, some coach---and I think it may be Mike Shanahan---will believe he can coach Locker up and turn him into a Pro Bowl QB.
Shanahan has said that Locker reminds him in some ways of Jake Plummer. Maybe with Locker's propensity to bolt from the pocket, but Locker has a much stronger arm than Jake's.
I thought his sound bites and the combine were outstanding. What a great great kid he is. Takes nothing for granted. Has it all in perspective. Despite his drop in stock from last year, he is truly savoring the experience and gathering himself in the process. I thought the humble way he responded to the questions about his lack of accuracy showed great maturity and class on his part. He made no excuses. He instead is choosing to look to the present and future. He won me over---if the Cardinals take him at #38, I will be happy and very intrigued. However, I think he will be taken as early as #10 (Washington)...quite possibly at #25 (Seattle) and I would not be surprised if he goes at #33 (Patriots). Imagine what getting tutored by Tom Brady could do for this kid's approch to the game and his confidence moving forward.
Colin Kaepernick. Has the strongest arm of the group---59 mph. Of course, he throws a baseball in the 90s, so it's not that surprising. Plus, he ran a slick 40. This is why he will be a late first, early second round pick. He comes from a funky offensive system---where he was taking snpas exclusively from the shotgun---and he needs to shorten his delivery---which will take time. Again, I could see the Patriots being interested in him with one of their first three to four picks. Knowing them, they will use Kaepernick at WR while they are helping him hone his QB skills at the #3 QB.
Talk about great kids---this kid was adopted---he is so grateful to his his adoptive parents---and get this---there were times at Nevada where HC Chris Ault was so hard on Kaepernick that any normal young QB under such constant scrutiny and badgering would have quit and asked for a transfer. But, Kaepernick is tough---more tough than people realize. Did you see the second half he played versus Boise St.? Well, 4 years of Ault's badgering paid off in the biggest game in the history of Nevada football, because Kaepernick---despite playing with temps in the teens---delivered repeatedly when he had to---including an incredibly clutch 4th and goal out pass TD to his left that he threw on the money to tie the game with about a minute left.
The team I would expect to go after him hard is Oakland. He fits their style. Oakland does not have a first round pick...but I could see them making a deal to move up into the early portion of round two to take him.
Greg McElroy: he ran a good time in the 40...could not throw because of the broken bone in his hand that he suffered at the Senior Bowl...but he made sure the doctors arranged his cast so he could still write. Good decision there because he scored a 48 out of 50 on the Wonderlic. Wow.
As you all know by now, I think McElroy is the best fit for the Cardinals. We already have the big, strong-armed young QB in John Skelton...what we need Skelton to become is efficient---and that's the thing about McElroy---this kid is extremely efficient in his approach, in his mechanics and in his desire to win. Plus, he's one tough kid. Warner-esque in that department, imo.
If you want my thoughts on any of the other QBs, please let me know.
As always I am interested in your thoughts.
The perfect scenario for him, imo, would be to go to Buffalo, where he can play behind Ryan Fitzpatrick for a year, while he hones his skills and assimilates into their system and the speed of the NFL.
While the inaccuracy on the short routes did not concern me much---I was happy to see him participating---and he looked like he was soaking in the experience and enjoying himself---he seems like a great kid---and that's what we need to remind ourselves---he is just that: a starry-eyed kid.
Christian Ponder: The most polished thrower of the group---which doesn't surprise me. What concerns me is how often he and his offense squandered drives at FSU, especially surrounded by all that premier talent. I am not sure what to make of it. Something seems awry. And he had a very good OC (turned HC) in Jimbo Fisher. In some ways he reminds me of a more polished version of Charlie Whitehurst---big arm---physically strong---but not the kind of finisher of drives that you would expect. But---there's no question he is having a very strong post-season, and his decision to go ahead and throw yesterday improved his stock even further---he now may not be on the board when the Cardinals pick at #38. I envision the Seahawks thinking long and hard about him at #25. If Buffalo does not take a QB at #3...look for them to hop on Ponder early in round two.
Blaine Gabbert: It was disappointing that he---because of his agent's advice---chose not to throw...especially when all the other QBs elected to. I think this hurt him some---because I think he is one of the more over-hyped players in this draft...and a great deal has to do with this being a supbar group of QB prospects....so the pundits have to hype someone---AND---following this Super Bowl, every team is drooling about the chances of acquiring their own version of Aaron Rodgers.
In this draft there are no Aaron Rodgerses. The closest talent-wise is Cam Newton---and if Cam Newton could spend his first three years playing behind a HOF QB and sharpening his skills---look out.
Gabbert will probably look very good (in comparison to most of the others) on his Pro Day---but---and this is the thing people sometimes forget---throwing passes in shorts under no duress doesn't mean much at all. Throwing a pinpoint out pass on 3rd and 4 with a rusher bearing in on you does. This is the area that concerns me about Gabbert---his percentages in 3rd down situations were not good at Mizzou...and he is going to need the right coach and the right sysytem to help him turn this corner. I hate to say it but I think the best scenario for him would be landing in SF with Jim Harbaugh and sitting a couple of years behind Alex Smith. The West Coast offense is a good fit for him.
Jake Locker: The combination of physical skills this young man possesses is so attractive, some coach---and I think it may be Mike Shanahan---will believe he can coach Locker up and turn him into a Pro Bowl QB.
Shanahan has said that Locker reminds him in some ways of Jake Plummer. Maybe with Locker's propensity to bolt from the pocket, but Locker has a much stronger arm than Jake's.
I thought his sound bites and the combine were outstanding. What a great great kid he is. Takes nothing for granted. Has it all in perspective. Despite his drop in stock from last year, he is truly savoring the experience and gathering himself in the process. I thought the humble way he responded to the questions about his lack of accuracy showed great maturity and class on his part. He made no excuses. He instead is choosing to look to the present and future. He won me over---if the Cardinals take him at #38, I will be happy and very intrigued. However, I think he will be taken as early as #10 (Washington)...quite possibly at #25 (Seattle) and I would not be surprised if he goes at #33 (Patriots). Imagine what getting tutored by Tom Brady could do for this kid's approch to the game and his confidence moving forward.
Colin Kaepernick. Has the strongest arm of the group---59 mph. Of course, he throws a baseball in the 90s, so it's not that surprising. Plus, he ran a slick 40. This is why he will be a late first, early second round pick. He comes from a funky offensive system---where he was taking snpas exclusively from the shotgun---and he needs to shorten his delivery---which will take time. Again, I could see the Patriots being interested in him with one of their first three to four picks. Knowing them, they will use Kaepernick at WR while they are helping him hone his QB skills at the #3 QB.
Talk about great kids---this kid was adopted---he is so grateful to his his adoptive parents---and get this---there were times at Nevada where HC Chris Ault was so hard on Kaepernick that any normal young QB under such constant scrutiny and badgering would have quit and asked for a transfer. But, Kaepernick is tough---more tough than people realize. Did you see the second half he played versus Boise St.? Well, 4 years of Ault's badgering paid off in the biggest game in the history of Nevada football, because Kaepernick---despite playing with temps in the teens---delivered repeatedly when he had to---including an incredibly clutch 4th and goal out pass TD to his left that he threw on the money to tie the game with about a minute left.
The team I would expect to go after him hard is Oakland. He fits their style. Oakland does not have a first round pick...but I could see them making a deal to move up into the early portion of round two to take him.
Greg McElroy: he ran a good time in the 40...could not throw because of the broken bone in his hand that he suffered at the Senior Bowl...but he made sure the doctors arranged his cast so he could still write. Good decision there because he scored a 48 out of 50 on the Wonderlic. Wow.
As you all know by now, I think McElroy is the best fit for the Cardinals. We already have the big, strong-armed young QB in John Skelton...what we need Skelton to become is efficient---and that's the thing about McElroy---this kid is extremely efficient in his approach, in his mechanics and in his desire to win. Plus, he's one tough kid. Warner-esque in that department, imo.
If you want my thoughts on any of the other QBs, please let me know.
As always I am interested in your thoughts.
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