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NFL Draft Blog
What kind of QB do you want?
April, 5, 2013 12:31PM ET
By Kevin Weidl
The past few weeks I've had several conversations with scouts and one NFL offensive coach with a strong background dealing with and evaluating quarterbacks. During those talks, several interesting points came up that have helped me put my finger on the pulse of the 2013 quarterback class at this point.
The biggest takeaway is that with the lack of a clear-cut No. 1 prospect in this year's class, it becomes necessary to break the group into three distinct categories based on scheme fits: read/progression (West Coast) passers, dual-threat QBs, and pure pocket passers. It's similar to how the tight end position is broken down with the traditional "Y" or "Joker" tight ends, who are undersized pass-catching types. Teams that need help at quarterback must do a thorough job of evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of each prospect.
This wasn't the case last year, where at the top Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III were a cut above all other quarterback prospects and could have acclimated to any style of offense. More so than any recent year, this group will be ranked differently from team to team, based in large part on whether they have the skill set to fit each team's offensive system.
So where do the 2013 prospects fit? Here's a look.
Read/progression QBs
Quarterbacks who fit into these schemes -- whether true West Coast offenses or those that incorporate similar principles -- are able to get through their reads quickly, show proper footwork, get the ball out on time and in rhythm, and must be accurate. Among this year's prospects, USC's Matt Barkley (Scouts Inc. grade: 87) is atop the list.
If a team needs a QB for a West Coast-style of offense, Matt Barkley could be the guy.
Barkley didn't get much help from his offensive line in 2012, and suffered a season-ending shoulder injury against UCLA that eventually required surgery. He is also limited athletically and lacks elite physical tools, but you could argue his experience in the Trojans' pro-style system makes him the most NFL-ready passer in this year's class. His film shows a quarterback who sees the entire field, can get deep into his progressions and throws with rhythm.
Tyler Wilson (Scouts Inc. grade: 88) of Arkansas also fits in this category, though he faces more questions than Barkley and is something of a wild card in the class. There's no denying Wilson's toughness and leadership, though you have to wonder how high his ceiling is.
He flashes the capability to deliver a strike with touch and trajectory working the middle of the field. Wilson also shows the ability to change his release point and deliver an accurate throw when he's on an uneven platform. However, his overall accuracy is spotty at times and his decisions with ball can be erratic. Some view Wilson as an NFL backup type, who doesn't have all the tools to be a starter but could hold down the fort and win a few games if the starter goes down.
Ryan Nassib (Scouts Inc. grade: 85) is in the mix here, but I'm not as high on him as some others. Tutored at Syracuse by new Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, Nassib has vastly improved over the course of his career and has shown the ability to transfer and apply that coaching to the field. However, there are questions whether he has maxed out his potential.
Nassib is tough enough to hang in the pocket and deliver a throw while taking a hit, but his lack of natural touch is glaring on tape. His release is not fluid either, and the fact that he doesn't change launch points well can affect his accuracy when he's forced to throw off balance. There are also concerns about his ability to handle an attacking style of defense. These issues popped up on the Rutgers tape -- arguably his worst tape of the 2012 season -- where the Scarlet Knights were relentless bringing pressure and rattled Nassib into some errant throws, decisions and turnovers throughout the contest.
Finally, keep an eye on Tulane's Ryan Griffin (Scouts Inc. grade: 30), who had a strong week at the Texas vs. Nation all-star game and is creating some buzz late in the scouting process. Griffin doesn't have great athleticism and lacks ideal arm strength, but he's tough and throws with anticipation and touch.
He played in a college system similar to the one run by the New Orleans Saints, and Griffin is able to get through his reads and find throwing lanes on tape. He plays with an edge, and could find a landing spot somewhere in the Day 3 range.
What kind of QB do you want?
April, 5, 2013 12:31PM ET
By Kevin Weidl
The past few weeks I've had several conversations with scouts and one NFL offensive coach with a strong background dealing with and evaluating quarterbacks. During those talks, several interesting points came up that have helped me put my finger on the pulse of the 2013 quarterback class at this point.
The biggest takeaway is that with the lack of a clear-cut No. 1 prospect in this year's class, it becomes necessary to break the group into three distinct categories based on scheme fits: read/progression (West Coast) passers, dual-threat QBs, and pure pocket passers. It's similar to how the tight end position is broken down with the traditional "Y" or "Joker" tight ends, who are undersized pass-catching types. Teams that need help at quarterback must do a thorough job of evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of each prospect.
This wasn't the case last year, where at the top Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III were a cut above all other quarterback prospects and could have acclimated to any style of offense. More so than any recent year, this group will be ranked differently from team to team, based in large part on whether they have the skill set to fit each team's offensive system.
So where do the 2013 prospects fit? Here's a look.
Read/progression QBs
Quarterbacks who fit into these schemes -- whether true West Coast offenses or those that incorporate similar principles -- are able to get through their reads quickly, show proper footwork, get the ball out on time and in rhythm, and must be accurate. Among this year's prospects, USC's Matt Barkley (Scouts Inc. grade: 87) is atop the list.
If a team needs a QB for a West Coast-style of offense, Matt Barkley could be the guy.
Barkley didn't get much help from his offensive line in 2012, and suffered a season-ending shoulder injury against UCLA that eventually required surgery. He is also limited athletically and lacks elite physical tools, but you could argue his experience in the Trojans' pro-style system makes him the most NFL-ready passer in this year's class. His film shows a quarterback who sees the entire field, can get deep into his progressions and throws with rhythm.
Tyler Wilson (Scouts Inc. grade: 88) of Arkansas also fits in this category, though he faces more questions than Barkley and is something of a wild card in the class. There's no denying Wilson's toughness and leadership, though you have to wonder how high his ceiling is.
He flashes the capability to deliver a strike with touch and trajectory working the middle of the field. Wilson also shows the ability to change his release point and deliver an accurate throw when he's on an uneven platform. However, his overall accuracy is spotty at times and his decisions with ball can be erratic. Some view Wilson as an NFL backup type, who doesn't have all the tools to be a starter but could hold down the fort and win a few games if the starter goes down.
Ryan Nassib (Scouts Inc. grade: 85) is in the mix here, but I'm not as high on him as some others. Tutored at Syracuse by new Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, Nassib has vastly improved over the course of his career and has shown the ability to transfer and apply that coaching to the field. However, there are questions whether he has maxed out his potential.
Nassib is tough enough to hang in the pocket and deliver a throw while taking a hit, but his lack of natural touch is glaring on tape. His release is not fluid either, and the fact that he doesn't change launch points well can affect his accuracy when he's forced to throw off balance. There are also concerns about his ability to handle an attacking style of defense. These issues popped up on the Rutgers tape -- arguably his worst tape of the 2012 season -- where the Scarlet Knights were relentless bringing pressure and rattled Nassib into some errant throws, decisions and turnovers throughout the contest.
Finally, keep an eye on Tulane's Ryan Griffin (Scouts Inc. grade: 30), who had a strong week at the Texas vs. Nation all-star game and is creating some buzz late in the scouting process. Griffin doesn't have great athleticism and lacks ideal arm strength, but he's tough and throws with anticipation and touch.
He played in a college system similar to the one run by the New Orleans Saints, and Griffin is able to get through his reads and find throwing lanes on tape. He plays with an edge, and could find a landing spot somewhere in the Day 3 range.
