What I watched this bowl season at QB
by Brian Levenson on Jan 11, 2011 12:16 PM EST
in 2011 NFL Draft
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PrintNow, I'm not a huge NCAA football fan, but when a good game coincided with a bigtime QB prospect, I watched it. I watched TCU/Wisconsin, VT/Stanford, and the national championship. I know that's not a huge group of games, but that means that I've seen Cam Newton, Tyrod Taylor, Andrew Luck, Andy Dalton, and Scott Tolzien in their most important games against high quality competition. All of those guys are thought of as top 10 QB's, even though Tolzien is a little lower down the list and likely a 6th round pick if he's taken at all.
Let's start with the obvious: Andrew Luck.
VT/Stanford
Luck: First off, have you seen Luck's stats? Incredible. 70% completions, 32 TDs to 8 INTs. Then the commentator said that Luck's playbook has about 350 plays to choose from. I started drooling. Then I saw him throw. I had to go change my pants. I will say this right now: I will be absolutely shocked if he is NOT the next Peyton Manning. Actually, that's not entirely right, because Luck would never sack himself or pout on the sideline. He's just a complete QB who is very accurate and can handle learning a gigantic pro-style offense. He's the perfect specimen. The Panthers are probably still swearing about his decision to stay in school.
Tyrod Taylor: I watched Taylor, and quite frankly I wasn't impressed. He never really seemed to use his arm. He was a big dink n dunker in the game, and there was one play in specific that was concerning to me. It was a 3rd and medium-long, and Stanford rushed 5. His O-line picked up all their blocks, but Taylor didn't expect them to, so rather than holding the ball and looking downfield, he looked to find a hole to run through. Needless to say, Stanford held the line and Taylor was left with nothing to do but get outside the pocket and throw the ball away. Run first QBs do not fly in my book. I think he'll a Vick-ish player in the NFL. And by Vick-ish, I mean a little bit better than Marcus Vick. He's likely to be a late pick, possibly at WR. I don't expect much from him at all.
TCU/Wisconsin
Tolzien: Tolzien is interesting. I'm not sure what to make of this guy. He seems to have a pretty accurate arm. He's certainly not a scrub player or anything like that, but he's on a run first, run second, run third team, so he never got a chance to show what he can do. I don't know if that's a trust thing or if it's just the way the team is, but I get the feeling that given the shot, he'll impress somebody enough to get drafted. He does run a pro-style offense, and does so fairly well. I think he's likely to have a good combine performance, and that'll lead to somebody wanting him in the late rounds.
Dalton: All right, are you ready for this? Dalton is in my top 3 favorite QBs in all of the NCAA, and as far as bang for your buck, you will not do better. I watched his first drive of the game and here's what I saw: He threw one of those ten yard outs, and it had good enough zip to get to his guy without any threat of it getting intercepted. He then ran for some yardage. He finished the drive by standing in the face of the rush and delivering a perfect seam pass to his TE over the top for a 23 yard score. That was all I needed to see. He's pretty accurate. He can put some touch on the ball, but he also zipped his passes enough to hit the deep outs and beat safeties down the sideline in cover 2. If he's not taken in the 2nd round, he'll be taken in the 3rd. Count on it.
And last but not least,
Cam Newton: Cam is an important person to break down because he's likely to be someone's 1st round pick. Still, when it comes to the question of "what did I see last night?" SEC fans might not love my answer. I saw in Cam Newton a little hint of Jamarcus Tebow. He's got the Tebow dual threat thing going, and he works it pretty hard. He's a strong runner, but I tend to think of that as a bonus and not a core skill for a QB. As far as passing, he dink n dunked pretty much the whole game, and never really seemed to take any big shots deep or anything like that. He might have a big arm, but he didn't even try to use it last night when it mattered. He had a 30 yard TD pass, but really he just put the ball on his guy and let him run. Basically, I'm not impressed. We'll see what the combine brings, but as of right now, I'm not sure I'd be OK handing this guy the reigns, even if he was gonna sit for a year or two before seeing the field.
I should say, I'm pretty picky when it comes to QBs. I didn't expect to have anyone actually impress me, so Kellen Moore, Dalton and Luck (my personal top 3 NCAA QBs) have been great surprises for me. Any of these guys could turn out to be good QBs, but that's just what I saw in watching games this NCAA postseason.
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I get the feeling that Andy Dalton could be a Jaguar when it’s all said and done. I don’t think they will be in position to nail down a QB worthy of a first round pick so they will likely wait, and Dalton seems like a great option. Great read.
2guys1football.com
by Matthew Fairburn on Jan 11, 2011 12:23 PM EST reply actions
Vic wrote yesterday this about him
Q: What are your thoughts on Andy Dalton from TCU?
Vic: I think he might have a brand on his hip: "Property of Gene Smith."
Hm…
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by Zoltan from Budapest on Jan 11, 2011 12:37 PM EST up reply actions
Unless Blaine Gabbert somehow makes it to the 16th pick, I’ve become a Dalton convert.
by Alfie Crow on Jan 11, 2011 12:36 PM EST via mobile reply actions
What if Locker is still there at 16?
Would you draft him?
Life without knowledge is death in disguise
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by Zoltan from Budapest on Jan 11, 2011 12:38 PM EST up reply actions
BAP Zoltan
If he’s at the top of the board then yes, but imo you would get better value drafting a safety or OL in the 1st round and Dalton in the 2nd. (I would say corner also, but I don’t think there’ll be one worthy of pick 16). The Jaguars have also stated that they are likely to add a “developmental QB” in the draft. A 1st rounder is not generally considered a “developmental” guy. He’s usually a starter, so I don’t expect a 1st rounder. Besides, Gene is predictably unpredictable. He won’t make the obvious pick.
by Brian Levenson on Jan 11, 2011 12:44 PM EST up reply actions
Me too.
Life without knowledge is death in disguise
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by Zoltan from Budapest on Jan 12, 2011 7:44 AM EST up reply actions
I'm just not sold on Locker
He didn’t look good the limited amount I got to see him play this season. But I don’t break down film nearly as much as our office does. If we draft him, there’s good reason.
However, don’t count me in the disappointed group if we pass on him.
by BeerMuscles on Jan 12, 2011 11:38 AM EST up reply actions
By the way I have no problem with a Dalton draft too
He looks like a QB who can play.
Life without knowledge is death in disguise
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by Zoltan from Budapest on Jan 11, 2011 12:39 PM EST up reply actions
I totally agree.
To me Gabbert will really distance himself from the Mallett/Newton/Locker group as the draft run-up progresses. Dalton is a “Gene-guy” if ever there was one. If he’s available in Rd 2 I hope Gene snags him. If not I’m looking at Ponder in Rd 3.
btw, I’m psyched to see Janoris Jenkins pull out of the draft. The rumblings of him being a possibility at #16 worried me.
agreed
screw janoris! Gabberts a top 5 pick and i am jealous we wont get him. i guess now ill have to watch some dalton tape and have to convert
by harveyismyboy on Jan 11, 2011 2:18 PM EST up reply actions
if the Jags end up with one of:
Gabbert, Locker, Devlin, or Dalton… I’ll be quite satisfied.
@neufaustcan
+100000 those
are my top 4 Qbs also by a long shot…. i dont want anyone else.
by harveyismyboy on Jan 11, 2011 2:30 PM EST up reply actions
+1
Watched the Rose Bowl Game. Was impressed by a couple of things. 1. His smart decsion making and that decsion making was quick .
And 2. He made a wide range of throws that you would expect any nfl QB to make.
3. He has that mobile element
4. His poise under pressure
I am willing to bet that this guy will be wearing teal next year
by jesusjagfan2009 on Jan 12, 2011 8:04 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I agree
personally i wasnt a big fan of Dalton till I saw the bowl game where I was extremely impressed
Dalton
I’m right there with you guys. He reminds me a bit of Brad Johnson.
I'm not sure we can trust him...
he’s a ginger!
by JPQ! on Jan 11, 2011 1:40 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
hahahaha yesss thank you
you said it before me. always putting it best JPQ
by harveyismyboy on Jan 11, 2011 2:18 PM EST up reply actions
Urban Dictionary - Ginger
Ginger – A human, characterized by pale skin, freckles and bright red hair. “Gingers” are generally considered to be inferior to their more melanin-rich brethren, and thus deservingly discriminated against. Gingers are thought to have no souls. The condition, “gingervitis” is genetic and incurable.
Ex. - Ron Howard is a ginger.
He DOES attend a Christian university...
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Formerly Gallagher's Watermelons and Player To Be Named Later
by CaliforniaJag on Jan 11, 2011 1:59 PM EST up reply actions
I wasn't mocking him.
I think that’s fantastic that he has that type of good values system.
I was mocking the Tebow fans, who must think TT is the only upstanding, Christian football player in the universe.
Right there with you guys...
I liked Dalton. I have been reading a lot about Luck and watched a little of the Stanford/VT game, but in the little I watched – I didn’t see this Manning skill. I shut the game down pretty early and the entire NFL fan base can’t be wrong – but his name… “Luck” – is that good MoJo? We know Dalton is ready to walk into a bar and start throwing round house kicks.
another thing to like about Dalton
is that he has consistantly improved at TCU in ALL of his numbers
year ATT CMP YRD % YD per CMP LG TD INT SK RATING
2007 222 371 2459 59.8 6.63 70 10 11 16 118.48
2008 182 307 2242 59.3 7.30 65 11 5 14 129.19
2009 199 323 2756 61.6 8.53 75 23 8 12 151.83
2010 209 316 2857 66.1 9.04 93 27 6 8 166.48
This is what i really like
If we are going to be a rebuilding team with chance at a superbowl we need a guy that can become better year after year. FULL CONSISTENCY is nothing more than constant improvement.
Thanks for the scouting report
As far as the Newton info…were you watching the same game I did? I agree that he took off running too much, but I saw a lot of solid throws. He hit his TE deep down the seam. He put touch on a pass over the top down the left sideline that would’ve gone for a TD if his receiver didn’t fall down while catching it. He threw a ball away while out of the pocket and about to be sacked, something Garrard never seems to do. I was very impressed with his passing ability, and I don’t watch a lot of college football either. I expected him to be Vince Young, but I’d be surprised if Cam Newton isn’t a better player than Vince Young by quite a bit. I’d easily take him at 16; he’s got all the physical tools, has shown he can already make some throws, and has the upside of being a great runner as well. With some work I don’t see why he can’t be similar to Daunte Culpepper.
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i usually agree with you but please, just look at newtons past
had the allegations, and sure he is athletic and all, but when was the last time you saw someone in the mold of VY, Cam, etc. body type and skill set and INTELLIGENCE (Cam is dumb) actually work in the NFL?….oh thats right, never. Big black quarterbacks like him dont work. They just dont. plain and simple. He’s just like Akili SMith and Kordell Stewart. You probably thought those two would be great NFL QB’s also. Well look at just how poor they did. Cam Newton=Akili Smith 2.0. Fuck no i dont think Cam should be drafted in the first 2 rounds
by harveyismyboy on Jan 11, 2011 2:30 PM EST up reply actions
I just think it’s funny that he says black quarterbacks don’t work out. Donovan McNabb was one of the best when he was in his prime and now Josh Freeman is becoming a stud at the QB position. So to pass on a black QB because some have failed is funny to me. Cam Newton has a great skill set, a strong arm, good mechanics, strong, can scramble when needed, To say he is dumb is funny, he actually was very smart this year, that explains his 30 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions. 182.05 QB Rating, one of the highest in college football history. The guy just isn’t a running quarterback. He’s proved all year that he is an efficient passer. Now do I think the Jaguars would take him with his character concerns? Not a chance. But I do think he will be a good NFL quarterback if coached right.
And this will be moderated when I get to my laptop.
by Alfie Crow on Jan 11, 2011 4:37 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Daunte Culpepper wasn't that good.
He is a wonderful person, and I admire him, but he made the playoffs twice.
I need to go back and watch some games
DVRed a bunch of the bowl games and need to see some of these QB’s play in more depth. Im not a scout by any means but before I start throwing my opinion out there I wanna be more informed.
"I’m going to punish him. If he hits me, fine, but if I catch him, believe me, I’m going to get the better shot." - Fred Taylor
Newton
Wished you had watched him more this season, especially the SEC championship, where he put on a clinic passing. He hit deep outs and touch passes all game. And the National Championship wasn’t bad. Darvin Adams dropped one beautiful one, and stopped running on another. Both would have been 50+ TDs. (By the way Adams is a good receiver usually. Look out for him next year as a senior) Beside the errant interception, which is debatable as to who’s fault it was, he had a good game against a good defense. The people on defense are allowed to win too sometimes.
VT had a bad bowl game, Tyrod didn’t really. The announcers themselves even said how he was a one man show whose o-line and usually good three headed running game didn’t show up. On the one you mentioned where he didn’t trust his offensive line… I’d have a hard time trusting them as well if I had been getting hit and running for my life every pass play.
If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik
I was amazed watching last night
That Newton did what he did this season with those receivers, I know your an Auburn fan so if I’m wrong of course correct me but those recievers are not very good at all. I liked Cam before and last night was enough for me to think of him as the best prospect at the position this year. I’ll trust our guys to do their HW on him but I don’t see a lot of faults on the field.
I was impressed by how hard Taylor battled, but I have a hard time thinking he will ever be more then a spot backup QB in the league.
by jstnblke41 on Jan 11, 2011 7:40 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Haha
Yeah, I’m probably gonna defend those receivers more than they deserve. They aren’t bad, but Auburn definitely doesn’t have anyone who turns heads like some other SEC teams a la Jones, Jeffery, Green or Moore. Adams has had some pretty amazing catches this season, but he drops routine ones.
I don’t expect Taylor to become a great player, or even starter, but I think he has the potential to.
If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik
Yea
Exactly what I’m talking about when I say Taylor was a one man show in that game. He wasn’t getting much help from his offensive or defensive guys.
If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik
He'll make a solid NFL WR
Marcus Vick 2.0 He went to VT too. It should be an easy jump.
by Brian Levenson on Jan 12, 2011 1:01 PM EST up reply actions
I believe
He can be a successful quarterback. Like I said somewhere else, I don’t Expect it of him, but I think he Can
If hip hop is dead, then it happened the day that Dilla died.
-Akrobatik
A couple things about Dalton....
….TCU plays “sideways” ball a lot, so remember that. They also played the MWC which isn’t that good. Also, I’ve seen him give some inconsistent games, but no where near the level of inconsistency achieved by Jerard (yes I purposely misspelled his name).
Why is this important? Well TCU plays kinda like the Jags. The offense is based off the inside run and then they try to hit you outside with play makers. It actually looks similar to what Coach Koetter does. However, if Coach Koetter isn’t here next season, I’m not sure how Dalton would fair in a more pro offense.
to clarify some things...
Yes its the mwc, but while he has been at tcu he has had 3 near perfect seasons. He faced a utah team that beat down bans in 08 and almost won. Faced boise and lost due to trickery in a bcs game and beat Wisconsin. After this year the mwc will be weak again but its been strong enough to send two teams to bcs conferences and one to go independent.
And a coach to leave for michigan.
And if you had a choice would you pass on a qb from deleware just because they played " weak" conference opponents? If so flacco would never had been grabbed. Dalton will be good and kellen moore as well. I see dalton as a flacco type and moore as a matt ryan.
I do agree that dalton would fit our system perfectly if koetter stays.
Dammit just go out there and play to win and I'll be here to cheer!!!!
by Vegasjags on Jan 11, 2011 8:01 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Flacco...
….was a special breed though. Credit to Ozzie Newsome who’s known for making that kind of find.
I'm talking about only what I saw
And I saw TCU take on the number 5 team in the country.
by Brian Levenson on Jan 12, 2011 12:24 AM EST up reply actions
I'm not fully convinced he has the arm strength
But I just can’t hate on how clutch he is. I LOVE him as a college guy. I really hope he succeeds at whatever he does.
by Brian Levenson on Jan 12, 2011 12:26 AM EST up reply actions
My scouting on QBs
UARTER BACK
1st pick- QB Andrew Luck- Stanford – sshh, it’s a secret, but he’s better than Stafford, Bradford etc.
1-2 QB Jake Locker, Washington – prototypical specimen 6ft3in, 230lb, 4.53sec. Runs too hard, his team keeps losing and inaccurate passer. Should be more developed than he is after all this time. Pass.
1-2 QB Cam Newton, Auburn. -6ft5, 250lb. I saw him play a game before the championship. Good player but Vince Young 2.0 with a worse personality and more character concerns. Pass.
1-2: QB: Ryan Mallet – Arkansas- 6ft6in great arm for a moron, no feel for the game.Can’t run. Loses his cool and rumoured to have real character concerns. Loses games, looks like a bust coming.
1-4 QB Christian Ponder, Florida State, – injured. Apparently this is his usual state. Seemed a little laid back and didn’t seem a take charge guy. Maybe a bit soft.
2-5 QB Pat Devlin, Delaware, 6-3, 225, 4.82 decent all around player. Put 19 points on the board and not to blame at all when his team crumbled. Small school ball isn’t as intense as BCU bowls but he looks likely.
2-5 QB Andy Dalton- TCU – 6ft2in, 222lb. Competent game manager. Nothing wrong with that. Tried to run a little was okay. Good decision maker. Was fired up – has ranga red hair – but kept his composure and put the team on his back. Like him at 3 or 4.
2-5 QB Colin Kaepernick, Nevada: positives: 6ft6in, 220lb, 4.4sec, 94mph fastball 10,000 yards passing, 4000yards running. Negatives: Long and slow as molasses release, he’s gangly and doesn’t protect the ball or listen to his coach and makes too many excuses. Overrated and over drafted after his upcoming combine.
4-7 QB: Terrell Pryor, Ohio State: Good-ish but up himself. Vince Young-ish.Attitude like Kaepernick.
4-7 QB Tyrod Taylor – V-Tech – Vick with a brain and a conscience. Slower but shiftier, arms good but passing needs work but can buy time in the pocket to give us options. Cool and composed. Only 6ft1in, 195lb.Seems an unflappable, high character guy ie. he’s vegetarian.
Since the whole league ‘Luck-ed out’ of all the also-rans I’d only take Dalton, Devlin or Taylor between rounds 2-7.
What could of happened; did.
Your Tyrod Taylor writeup is just strange
Vick with a brain and a conscience.
That’s so much of a stretch you just broke my Stretch Armstrong doll. Taylor is nothing near as good as Vick was coming out.
Slower but shiftier,
Did you just say Tyrod Taylor was shiftier than Michael Vick? Uh…
arms good but passing needs work but can buy time in the pocket to give us options.
Sound like this “Garrard” dude I’ve seen play before. Not overly impressive.
Only 6ft1in, 195lb.
That’s freaking TINY for a QB.
Seems an unflappable, high character guy ie. he’s vegetarian.
Please look up the definition of the word “literally”, then read the following sentence:
Being a vegetarian has LITERALLY nothing to do with being a “high character guy”.
You just wrote up Tyrod Taylor like he’s a top five QB prospect in a great QB draft when he’s realistically not likely to even play QB in the NFL.
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by CaliforniaJag on Jan 15, 2011 6:48 PM EST up reply actions
In depth analysis at Football Outsiders
Andrew Luck
Jake Locker
Blaine Gabbert
Ryan Mallet
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/cover-3
What could of happened; did.
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