| 26 February 2010
I wasn't very high on Sam Bradford BEFORE he injured his shoulder twice in the same season and I'm even less high on him now. Count me as a guy who doesn't like Jimmy Clausen much either, although I suppose I'd have to agree he's the most pro ready QB. Clausen just doesn't strike me as a leader more of just a guy that goes out there and does what he's minimally supposed to do. I'm not a Notre Dame homer from Illinois so that may rankle some of the ND faithful that follow this blog.
Clausen also didn't physically impress coming in at only 6-2 3/4 222-pounds, about average for most QBs in the NFL. Ideally you'd like a QB to be a bit taller.
Sam Bradford on the other hand came out and impressed with his "ideal" size 6-4 236-pounds, Bradford is yet another QB who won't throw at the combine due to injury.
Colt McCoy also showed up on the lower end of the spectrum, measuring out as the smallest out of all the top rated QBs in this year's draft. McCoy measured out at only 6-1 216-pounds.
One of the reasons I'm not high on a lot of the QBs is the spread offense that they play out versus the pro-set. The reason Clausen is so hightly regarded is because he obviously comes out of Charlie Weiss' NFL system, where as Bradford, McCoy and Tebow primarily come out of a shot gun spread offense with McCoy and Tebow coming out of an option set. The QB position is really going more towards a duel threat option type and it's going to take a lot for them to adjust to NFL offenses. The overall quality of the QBs is slowly going to fall which is going to create a greater feeling of desperation as teams
One of the things that strikes me is that the criticism Tim Tebow has faced coming out of a shot gun offense where as Sam Bradford hasn't faced as much criticism but played in a shot gun spread offense as well. Bradford's offense was more pass heavy, but the key to the NFL offense and to Tebow's criticism has been talk about his foot work. Will Tebow have the foot work down to make it in the NFL.
There is the additional concern about Tebow's release point, but it's not so much his release as his wind up delivery. It's a tweak to his delivery and Tebow spoke about it at length during his press conference today. Most folks are asking about his new made over delivery where as Tebown insisted it's more of a tweak to where he holds the ball. One of those fundamental aspects you want out of your QB is for them to hold the ball high, up by their ear lobes as an example. That way when they deliver the football it's more of a hitch and fire motion rather than a wind up.
Bradford has a better throwing motion, but there has to be talk of whether or not his shoulder has healed enough to justify him being the first overall QB selected in the draft. I suppose this just goes to show the nature of scouting QBs in the NFL and how it's such an inexact science.
All that aside the focus should be on the QBs that are actually expected to throw at the NFL combine instead of the top prospects who have chosen to not to throw. Unless you're McCoy or Bradford and recovering a shoulder injury you should be out there throwing the football.
So some of the more intriguing prospects expected to throw who might make it in the NFL as backups, Oregon State's Sean Canfield who comes from Mike Riley's NFL style spread offense. Canfield was a passer who completed nearly 68-percent of his passes as a senior and the Beavers have put out some quality QBs of late. Canfield also measured in at 6-4 223 and will throw at the combine, I suspect he is one of the QBs that could best help his draft stock by how well he throws.
Elsewhere Tony Pike of Cincinnati who has been on a downward spiral ever since the Sugar Bowl against the Florida Gators measured in at 6-6 223-pounds which will raise some eyebrows in that he seems to be a bit under weight. Questions will arise on whether or not Pike can take a pounding on his 223-pound frame. He needs to add some quality weight to his frame and have a good combine to help boost his stock.
Jevan Sneed from Ole Miss is also expected to throw and he measured an average 6-foot-3 219-pounds. He is another QB that we'll keep an eye on amongst a group of three or four who could help their draft stock by how well they throw given they will have every opportunity to shine.
Also taking place today was the offensive linemen bench press and the story of the combine as usual if only blocking skill could be measured in how well a player pumps out reps on the 225-pound barbell....Mitch Petrus an offensive guard prospect from Arkansas tied the combine record by putting up 45-reps.
Vladimir Ducasse is a prospect Bears fans will keep a sharp eye and with good reason. Ducasse put up an average total of 29 reps on the 225-pound weight bar. Not disappointing but not awe inspiring, really you could call the bench press one of the most overrated events at the combine because it essentially measures a player's endurance in lifting the weight up over and over again rather than testing brute strength.
Bryan Bulaga from the Iowa Hawkeyes one of the top offensive tackle prospects in the NFL draft, he could throw up 15 reps on the weight bench and would still likely go amongst the Top-15 picks in the draft. Bulaga's total reps 26 at 225-pounds, nothing special average maybe a little disappointing for him. Bulaga's at a disadvantage with his longer arms, but it's an advantage as an OT. That being said hopefully Bulaga is a lot better than the last big time OT to come out of Iowa, Robert Gallery who has been a complete bust thus far in his career.
Anthony Davis from Rutgers, another one of the top offensive tackle prospects in the draft, a disappointing rep total, but I have to emphasize not indicative of future success in the NFL. Davis a disappointing 21 reps on the 225-pound bench press.
Mike Iupati who is one of the more powerful players out here at this weekend's NFL combine, he simply throws guys around out there. Iupati stepped up and cranked out 27 reps at 225-pounds again not an indication of overall strength but if you've seen Iupati on tape you know just how naturally strong and powerful he is. I'd love to think that these reps on the bar would actually hurt their stock so that the more of the better prospects could start to slide towards the Bears, but that won't happen.
Russell Okung who is likely the number one overall rated offensive tackle in this year's draft measured out with the longest arms of any of the OTs at the combine...36-inch arms on his 6-5 frame. Okung laid back and threw up 36-reps. Okung is an impressive prospect overall and that wing span is VERY impressive.
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