NFL Draft 2014 Preview (2 page)

Strengths:
Athletic with very good feet — can roll the pocket, evade the rush or escape when pocket crumbles. Terrific arm talent — releases quickly and can make all the throws. Quick-armed with wrist snap. Can alter his platform and throw on the move or off his back foot. Throws come out on time and accurately. Drills short-to-intermediate throws and flashes touch. Likes to play and it shows. Sells out to make a play. Record-breaking production. Adapted to coaching/system change and receiver turnover. Improved ball security — fumbled only once as a senior compared to 12 times the previous two seasons. Fine intangibles for the position — advanced maturity, leadership and intelligence. Shows poise and moxie. On-field general who commands the huddle. Passionate about the game and works at his craft. Three-time captain.

Weaknesses:
Lacks ideal height and has relatively small hands. Bulk is just adequate. Could stand to improve as a deep passer. At times tries to do too much and forces some throws. Occasionally throws off balance unnecessarily and sails some throws. Operated out of the shotgun and pistol and made a lot of short/lateral throws and half-field reads. Production is inflated by spread offense and porous Mountain West Conference defenses — nine 2013 opponents (excluding an FCS opponent) ranked between 81st and 125th nationally in scoring defense and/or passing defense. Had his worst game in the Las Vegas Bowl against USC.

Future:
Athletic, tough, instinctive, strong-armed, highly competitive quarterback who will impress in workouts, interviews and on the board and improved his draft standing with those skills in the postseason. Elevated the Fresno State program and profiles like a gunslinger, though he’d be better served in the long run honing his game-management skills. Will be a starter sooner rather than later and the degree to which he’s able to make those around him better will determine his ceiling.

Draft projection:
Top-50 pick.

Scout’s take:
“After the Senior Bowl, Carr is going to get in the first round. He came in there cold turkey and was the best quarterback there. He knew the offense. He made the adjustments. He was the most accurate passer there. Think of all the quarterbacks who went to the Senior Bowl and struggled with timing and new receivers. So many teams need quarterbacks —he is going to go.”

QB DAVID FALES, #10

SAN JOSE STATE
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Grade: 5.18

Ht: 6-1 5/8 | Wt: 212 | Sp: 5.01 | Arm: 31 3/4 | Hand: 9 1/4

History:
His brother, Austen, is a quarterback at San Jose State. Also lettered in basketball as a California prep. Began his collegiate career at Nevada where he redshirted behind Colin Kaepernick. Transferred to Monterey (Calif.) Peninsula College for the next two seasons, where he threw for 4,635 yards and 37 touchdowns. Moved on to San Jose State for the ’12 campaign and completed 327-of-451 passes for 4,193 yards (72.5 percent) with 33 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 13 starts and was the FBS most accurate passer. Named MVP of the Military Bowl after recording 395 yards and two touchdowns. Threw for 312-487-4,189-33-13 (64.1) in 12 starts in ’13. Was one of only two QBs, joining Fresno State’s Derek Carr, with 4,000-plus yards in both ’12 and ’13. Had a 17-8 career record in 25 starts. Team captain

Strengths:
Well built (works hard in the weight room). Sets up cleanly and with balance. Nice play fake. Compact, three-quarters release with clean, quick arm action. Throws a clean spiral with good short-to-intermediate accuracy. Flashes touch. Confident and competitive. Tough and durable. Sparkling intangibles — outstanding personal and football character. Leads vocally and by example and is universally respected. Intelligent, passionate, motivated football junkie who takes pride in his craft and puts the time in to improve.

Weaknesses:
Lacks ideal height and has relatively small hands. Average foot athlete and escapability. Can improve maneuverability in the pocket. Not yet sophisticated with his eyes. Tends to stare down his primary. Arm strength is just functional — struggles to drill velocity throws on a line and is not a natural deep thrower. Accuracy wanes downfield. Needs to improve against the blitz. Just a two-year starter.

Future:
Burst onto the scene as a junior-college transfer in 2012 when he led the nation in completion percentage (72.5), executing a quarterback-friendly system and putting himself on the NFL radar. Concerns about his height and arm strength will limit his appeal, but at worst should be a quality backup in a precision-matchup system.

Draft projection:
Late draftable pick.

Scout’s take:
“I like the kid and his makeup and character, but he’s an undersized guy with average arm strength at best.”

QB JIMMY GAROPPOLO, #10

EASTERN ILLINOIS
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Grade: 5.75

Ht: 6-2 1/4 | Wt: 226| Sp: 4.97 | Arm: 31 | Hand: 9 1/4

History:
Last name is pronounced “gah-ropp-ah-low.” The Illinois prep started the final eight games of his true freshman season in 2010, completing 124-of-211 passes for 1,639 yards (58.8 percent) with 14 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Made all 11 starts in ’11 and tossed 217-349-2,644-20-14. Threw for 331-540-3,823-31-15 (61.3) in 12 starts in ’12. Named the Walter Payton Award winner, given to top player in FCS, in ’13 after recording a monster 375-568-5,050-53-9 (66.0) in 14 contests. Threw for 450 yards and six touchdowns in the Panthers only regular season loss to Northern Illinois. Is one of only two quarterbacks to throw for more than 5,000 yards in a season (Taylor Heinicke, 2012) in FCS history. Was named the Offensive MVP of the East-West Shrine Game. Had eight career rushing touchdowns and a 23-22 record in 45 starts.

Strengths:
Has a very quick trigger and good wrist snap that translates to a smooth throwing motion and clean, compact delivery (no windup). Lightning release quickness. Urgent decision maker. Sells play-action. Athletic enough to slide in the pocket and buy time with his feet while keeping his eyes downfield. Good anticipation — throws his receivers open. Can change ball speeds and drop it in a bucket. Does not take unnecessary sacks and will dump the ball. Will deliver the ball looking down the barrel of a gun. Tough-minded and poised in the pocket — can withstand a hit and pop back up. Highly competitive. Smart, respected, vocal team leader. Very durable, experienced, four-year starter. Good football intelligence.

Weaknesses:
Is a tad undersized with small hands and short arms. Uses a three-quarters delivery that could lead to batted balls. Works heavily out of the shotgun in a spread offense and footwork could require adjustment to working from under center. Does not always feel pressure in the pocket. Does not rip the deep out or drive the ball with high RPMs. Undershoots and often hangs the deep ball. Makes receivers work for the ball downfield and deep accuracy could stand to improve. Makes a lot of simple, one-look reads and was not heavily challenged by consistent pressure or complex looks in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Future:
A highly decorated FCS passer, Garoppolo could excite quarterback coaches with his quick delivery, mental make-up and work habits, yet he still needs to prove he can fit the ball into tight windows and do more than carve up soft shells the way he regularly did on his way to a record-breaking performance in college. Possesses the physical tools to eventually earn an NFL starting job in a rhythm passing game with continued refinement, but is more of a caretaker than a game changer and will require some patience adapting to the NFL game.

Draft projection:
Top-50 pick.

Scout’s take:
“He’s the fast riser in the group. I had him parked in the fourth (round) heading into the postseason. He acquitted himself very nicely in the all-star games. He’s sound mechanically. Everyone keeps talking about the other three big-name quarterbacks. I’m not sure this kid won’t be better than all of them in three years. I wouldn’t be surprised if he creeped into the back of the first — I wouldn’t.”

QB-RB-SS JORDAN LYNCH, #6

NORTHERN ILLINOIS
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Grade: 5.05

Ht: 6-0 1/8 | Wt: 217 | Sp: 4.74 | Arm: 29 3/4 | Hand: 8 7/8

History:
Also played safety as an Illinois prep at Chicago-area Mount Carmel. Redshirted in 2009. Saw action in nine games in ’10 as a backup to Colts 2012 seventh-rounder Chandler Harnish, completing 4-of-6 passes for 13 yards (66.7 percent) with one touchdown and zero interceptions while rushing 31 times for 362 yards (11.7-yard average) and three touchdowns. Spent ’11 campaign as Harnish’s backup, appearing in 13 games and posting 15-20-166-1-0 (75.0) and rushing 45-246-3 (5.5). Had a breakout season in ’12, throwing for 237-394-3,138-25-6 (60.2) while scampering for 294-1,815-19 (6.2) on the ground in 14 starts and finished seventh in the Heisman balloting. Became the first player in FBS history to rush for more than 1,500 yards and throw for 3,000 yards in the same season. Was a Heisman Trophy finalist and named the MAC Offensive Player of the Year in ’13 after tossing 253-404-2,892-24-8 (62.6) and rushing 292-1,920-23 (6.6) in 14 games. Rushed for 316 yards at Central Michigan and an FBS record by a QB 321 yards vs. Western Michigan. Had a 24-4 career record in 28 starts.

Strengths:
Exceptional competitor. Tough, physical runner — drops his shoulder and barrels through contact with determination. Very good competitive speed. Rare agility and change of direction — recorded a Combine-best 6.55-second 3-cone shuttle time and showed outstanding agility in RB drills at his pro day. Exceptional overall production. Outstanding work habits. Carried the offense and willed the team to victory.

Weaknesses:
Is short and operates heavily in the gun in an offense that features rolling pockets that allow him to see the field more clearly. Many of his throws involve simplified, one-look reads to stationary targets. Tends to bird-dog his primary target. Is jittery and quick to tuck and run in the pocket. Accuracy is sporadic at each layer, short to deep. Must improve timing and anticipation. Recorded a 29 1/2-inch vertical jump.

Future:
A gritty competitor, Lynch ran to set up the pass and was feared more as an option runner than as a pocket-moving passer. Could contend for a job as a No. 3 quarterback if he learns to refine his passing instincts. Developmental project with immediate value as a practice-squad, read-option quarterback. Toughness and competitiveness could translate well as a box safety or hybrid running back, though odds could be long unless he fully embraces a position change.

Draft projection:
Late draftable pick.

Scout’s take:
“He’s just a guy. He’s probably going to land in the fifth round. He’s an undersized, run-around West Coast quarterback. That’s what he is. If he’s starting for you, you’re in trouble.”

QB JOHNNY MANZIEL, #2 (SOPH-3)

TEXAS A&M
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Grade: 5.90

Ht: 5-11 3/4 | Wt: 207 | Sp: 4.66 | Arm: 31 3/8 | Hand: 9 7/8

History:
The Texas prep was named a Parade All-American after throwing 45 touchdown passes and rushing for 30 more as a senior. Redshirted in 2011. Was arrested in June ’12 for three misdemeanors after breaking up a fight with a friend and pled guilty to failure to identify with other two charges dropped. Burst onto the scene in the fall, becoming the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy, the Davey O’Brien Award and the Manning Award after completing 295-of-434 passes for 3,706 yards (68.0 percent) with 26 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 13 starts. Also rushed 201 times for 1,410 yards (7.0-yard average) and 21 touchdowns. Became the only player in NCAA history to have 5,000 total yards and 1,000 rushing yards in a single season and set the SEC record with 5,116 yards of total offense. Was scheduled to be a counselor at the Manning Passing Academy in July ’13 but was dismissed after oversleeping and missing meetings. Missed the first half of the season opener against Rice after being suspended for an “inadvertent violation” of NCAA rules pertaining to if he accepted money for autographs. Had a stellar sophomore season in ’13, throwing for 300-429-4,114-37-13 (70.0) and rushing 144-759-9 (5.3) in 13 games (12 starts). Set at least 35 NCAA, SEC or school records in his brief two year career. Had a 19-6 career record in 25 starts.

Strengths:
Has big hands and grips the ball well on the move. Dynamic athlete. Exceptional game-day competitor — rises to the occasion. Has a passion for the game. Played on the biggest of stages and revels in having his back against the wall. Stepped up against a national championship Alabama defense in 2012 and has proven he can command come-from-behind victories, as he capped his career in the Chick-fil-A bowl vs. Duke by overcoming a 21-point halftime deficit. Sufficient timing, ball placement and accuracy (68.9 percent career passing percentage). Terrific scrambling ability. Reverse spins and buys time in the pocket while continuing to scan the field — can still set his feet, alter his throwing motion and manipulate his arm and throwing platform. Houdini-like escapability (uses subtle, nifty sidestep moves) and improvisational ability in the pocket to pull a rabbit out of his hat and create magic. Has peripheral, wide-eyed running vision (sometimes appears to have eyes in back of his head) and a very good feel for spacing. Carries the ball with a fearless confidence that he will find a way to create and usually gains positive yardage on broken plays when he appears trapped. Is mentally and physically tough — will pop back up from hard collisions and respond to a challenge. Record-setting and award-winning two-year production. Has a knack for sustaining drives and possesses playmaking ability to create on third downs and in critical situations to keep the sticks moving.