"Bottom of the class": Bruce Feldman talks Combine quarterbacks

[Mr. Scot]

College football analyst Bruce Feldman asked several NFL personnel people about what they saw at The Combine.

Their answers can be found in this article from The Athletic.

A lot of topics are covered, but I've snipped the portion that's likely of most interest here, that being what was said about the quarterbacks.

Excerpts below:

Bottom of the class: Quarterbacks, quarterbacks, quarterbacks

This is a really underwhelming crop of quarterbacks, and their performances didn’t get NFL personnel any more optimistic about them.

“There was nobody where I found myself saying, ‘Oh, wow,’ while watching,” said one NFL assistant who works with QBs. Pitt’s Kenny Pickett is seen by several personnel men The Athletic spoke with as the top prospect. Some will knock Pickett for only having only 8 1/2-inch hands, but the coaches I talked to didn’t think that was enough reason to bump him from the top spot of this group. Joe Burrow has smaller hands (nine inches) too.

Kenny Pickett

Pickett ran a 4.73 40, which was faster than most expected. “He’s plenty big enough. His interview was good — I think he’s a second-round guy who will end up getting picked in the first round because there are no other first-round guys this year,” said one NFL assistant. “His arm is strong enough, but it’s not special. I think good, not great.”

Desmond Ridder

Cincinnati’s Desmond Ridder is an interesting evaluation. He ran very well (4.52 40) and tested great (4.29 shuttle; 36-inch vert; 10-7 broad jump) and has big hands (10 inches).

“He also comes across as a super mature guy,” said an NFL assistant. “But what Sam Howell is really good at is what Desmond Ridder is missing from his game. Howell sees the field really well, (and) can throw with touch and get through his progressions. With Ridder, I didn’t see him get through his progressions well from the pocket. I don’t think he sees it very well. And I know he ran a fast 40, but you don’t see that kind of speed on film. Watch the Tulsa game. He’s getting caught by those defensive ends. He didn’t play very fast, unless he was playing through an injury. I don’t think he’s naturally accurate. You see guys that are wide open and he airmails it or he puts so much on it where the safety can get to it.”

Sam Howell

Howell, the former North Carolina star, also had a lackluster showing. “He was spotty,” said the NFL QB coach. “He didn’t throw it great, and he was in the ‘not as good’ group (of QBs). He seems maxed out. People like to compare him to Baker (Mayfield), but he doesn’t have Baker’s arm. Baker was super accurate; Sam’s pretty good, but I’m not sure. That offense he played in was so RPO-heavy. I look at him and Pickett and I wonder, how much better can they get?”

Malik Willis

Liberty’s Malik Willis is, to use a term some scouts like, “toolsy.” He has an incredibly powerful arm to go with the wheels of a running back. “He’s not quite as fast as Lamar (Jackson), but I think he plays like a high 4.4 guy and he can make people miss,” said one veteran NFL assistant. “I feel like he’s still really, really raw, and he turned it over a lot against not great competition where he was almost always the best athlete on the field. That’s not gonna be the case in our league. There will be a bunch of linebackers who can run with him and some D-linemen who can too.”

Another NFL assistant is also skeptical of Willis’ passing ability.

“He has a big arm,” said the coach. “He can generate serious horsepower, and his accuracy is good when it’s the first read. It’s best when he can throw it on a line. When he needs to have touch, that’s when it is a little more scattershot. You don’t get many plays in the NFL that are ‘1-2-3 throw.’ Instead, you have to react and change and then throw. Mac Jones was deadly on that secondary (read) accuracy. That’s my biggest concern with Malik.”

Matt Corral

Ole Miss’ Matt Corral, who is coming off of an ankle injury suffered in the Rebels’ bowl game, didn’t work out. He’s another wild-card prospect.

“He was alright in the interview,” said an NFL assistant. “He knew his offense, but there are still some concerns about his maturity. He’s had a bumpy path and has come out on the other side. He and Lane (Kiffin) get along famously, but you do wonder, what are you getting into with him? He’s gonna be expected to be the leader of a bunch of men with families.

“He has a really quick release and has some ‘wow’ throws on tape, but he plays with so much risk. He has such a short memory — which can be good — but you see him throwing picks and think, can you reel it in just a little to get out of here with a win? He’s a much better runner than I expected. He’s tough. He held up against some big hits, but those hits in the NFL are gonna be a lot worse.”

Carson Strong

Nevada QB Carson Strong, who came to the combine with some medical concerns about his knee, didn’t seem to help himself in his meetings with teams. “He came across as immature,” said one coach. “He had no idea on protections and didn’t know his offense very well.”

And one final note...

The QBs who impressed the most in their interviews in terms of football knowledge and recall were Pickett, Howell and Southeastern Louisiana’s Cole Kelley, the 6-foot-7, 249-pound Arkansas transfer.

Edited March 11, 2022 by Mr. Scot

[Waldo]

I wish we could make Rhule have to roll with Sam and eat it. At least we would only be wasting 1 (fingers crossed) pick on any QBs this year. It really looks like a really bad class.

Edited March 11, 2022 by Waldo

[BurnNChinn]

Yeah let’s roll with a qb at 6 in the draft, people are crazy if they think we should do that in this draft.

[Martin]

The biggest surprise was the comments on Strong. He’s known for making all protection calls himself and changing plays etc. due to his excellent grasp of the playbook in a NFL like offense. This essentially says the complete opposite. So a bit weird to say the least.

[Mr. Scot]

10 minutes ago, Martin said:

The biggest surprise was the comments on Strong. He’s known for making all protection calls himself and changing plays etc. due to his excellent grasp of the playbook in a NFL like offense. This essentially says the complete opposite. So a bit weird to say the least.

I was struck by that too.

It is true that NFL systems are going to be much more complicated.

[frankw]

19 minutes ago, BurnNChinn said:

Yeah let’s roll with a qb at 6 in the draft, people are crazy if they think we should do that in this draft.

Drafting a QB is crazy but giving up five first round picks is genius

[mrcompletely11]

Just now, frankw said:

Drafting a QB is crazy but giving up five first round picks is genius

The solution to righting this ship is easy and right in front of our faces.  And it doesnt involve giving up any capital.

 

Build the line in this draft and get your qb next draft.  Why this is a mystery to the folks at Mint st I have no clue

[frankw]

1 minute ago, mrcompletely11 said:

The solution to righting this ship is easy and right in front of our faces.  And it doesnt involve giving up any capital.

 

Build the line in this draft and get your qb next draft.  Why this is a mystery to the folks at Mint st I have no clue

I mean I would be fine with just putting on a blindfold and stumbling our way into the top pick next year but it isn't going to happen and it is only making ourselves more miserable dreaming about it. Tanking is not plausible here. I also don't think Sam Darnold has the support of the team anymore. We are already having a hard time keeping players without overpays. You want to tell a young player hoping for his big contract to waste another year watching Sam Darnold lob a football straight to multiple defenders?

[NanuqoftheNorth]

6 minutes ago, mrcompletely11 said:

The solution to righting this ship is easy and right in front of our faces.  And it doesnt involve giving up any capital.  Build the line in this draft and get your qb next draft.

Agreed.

Quote

  Why this is a mystery to the folks at Mint st I have no clue

We all know why.  The owner is clueless and the incompetent people he's put in charge are attempting to save their jobs. 

[ForJimmy]

19 minutes ago, mrcompletely11 said:

The solution to righting this ship is easy and right in front of our faces.  And it doesnt involve giving up any capital.

 

Build the line in this draft and get your qb next draft.  Why this is a mystery to the folks at Mint st I have no clue

I’d be ok with this or drafting one. Two options that won’t set us back too much. Your option is definitely the safest. I’m ok with taking some risk on a QB on only using ONE first round pick (possibly even a trade down).

[Mr. Scot]

9 minutes ago, NanuqoftheNorth said:

We all know why.  The owner is clueless and the incompetent people he's put in charge are attempting to save their jobs. 

Plus the owner seems to like making big splashy moves so he can say "Hey, look everybody! I've got great big brass balls!"

[Mr. Scot]

1 minute ago, ForJimmy said:

I’d be ok with this or drafting one. Two options that won’t set us back too much. Your option is definitely the safest. I’m ok with taking some risk on a QB on only using ONE first round pick (possibly even a trade down).

I think a pretty good portion of us would be.

The problem with this approach is that it's not necessarily of great benefit to that one guy who really needs to save his ass this season.

I know we don't give a sh-t, but he does and unfortunately he's in position to do something about it.

[davos]

Given how the market is shaking out, there’s not a ton at our disposal that would be a potential franchise grab. 

Really looking like Cross or Penning. I selfishly would love Garrett Wilson but know OL is the must. 

Tepper needs to accept QB limbo that the Broncos were in for 6 years and find a new GM and coach first. But I fear Plan B is indeed reaching for a QB at 6 in the event no one comes here, which is likely.

We’re about to experience a Paxton Lynch/The Golden Calf of Bristol/Drew Lock type situation.

[NanuqoftheNorth]

2 minutes ago, Mr. Scot said:

Plus the owner seems to like making big splashy moves so he can say "Hey, look everybody! I've got great big brass balls!"

Yep,

Tepper is living proof of the old adage:  The difference between men and boys is the cost of their toys

Tepper doesn't seem to grasp his role as an owner.  

Hire the best management possible. 

Then, step back and let them do their jobs.

TL/DR: David Tepper is still doing it ass-backwards