Poll of NFL sources finds gulf of opinion on QBs

[pantherfan81]

Since the Combine ended Tuesday, I've been polling league sources on their rankings of the quarterbacks. I spoken or texted with seven sources (ranging from area scouts to front office executives) as of Saturday morning and have some interesting results.

In six of the seven cases, Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert were the top two rated quarterbacks. Four teams had Auburn's Newton as the top passer. Three had Gabbert. All three of the Gabbert fans noted, however, that his March 17 Pro Day would significantly impact their grade on him.

Interestingly enough, the same four teams that rated Newton No. 1 had Arkansas' Ryan Mallett ranked as the third QB -- with one exception. One of these clubs had the rankings had Mallett as the No. 2 passer behind Netwon. This source is obviously less concerned about the so-called character questions of these two SEC stars than other teams.

The wildcard of the QB rankings was Washington's Jake Locker. Three teams had Locker as the 3rd rated quarterback. The other four teams rated Locker 4th (two teams), 6th and 7th, respectively in this year's QB class.

The other QBs jumping ahead of Locker for these clubs were Florida State's Christian Ponder, TCU's Andy Dalton and Nevada's Colin Kaepernick.

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Goes to show how variable this QB class is.

[Brooklyn Bully]

The combine is such a joke. Going into it, Cam was seen as the top dog. He had a bad day with WRs he wasn't used to and Gabbert didn't even throw. Then all the sudden Gabbert is the top dog! And Mallett, who has "character issues", actually threw fairly well but no one cared because of the kid's issues. The combine is NOT a means to defining anything. Looking at a QBs college career is the only real way to do it. Why people care so much about the combine is beyond me. The only guys it DOES work for are guys like Chris Johnson, small school nobodies who catch someones eye on a prime time stage.

[Snake]

Not a true #1 among them. IMO Gabbert hurt his stock immensely when he did not throw at the combine. All he had to do is beat a poor performance by Newton and he would have been #1. Now if he has a bad Pro day it could seen him down to at least #4 or #5 QB taken. Its a neck and neck race with all QBs this year.

[Mr. Scot]

I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me why having receivers he "wasn't familiar with" hurt Cam Newton so much but didn't seem to affect anybody else.

[teeray]

I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me why having receivers he "wasn't familiar with" hurt Cam Newton so much but didn't seem to affect anybody else.

It doesn't matter when you hurl the ball into the third row.

I think people believe Cam did worse than he actually did at the combine. He had three really bad throws in the deep outs. I concede that point. He had one other not so great throw in another drill.

Other than that his throws were good.

Even though he completed 11-21 throws he only truly had about 4 bad throws.

Also people need to realize that in some drills he threw better than guys who were credited with completions. Even on the deep outs several of the other QBs were throwing it low and inside. The receivers were catching them but they were awful throws.

So people shouldn't get so caught up in the 11-21 stuff.

I can tell you this. He had 11 completions. He had 3 really good go route throws that were not complete. That is 14. He had a corner route that was a really good throw that wasn't complete. That is 15 good throws. And one of the deep out was actually a good throw that the receiver fell down on. That is 16 good throws. On one of the deep outs to left side he hit a guy in the hands that dropped the ball. That is 17.

Now all of the sudden that is 17-21. Not too bad.

It would have been better if three of the misses he did have didn't end up in the press booth. :p :p :p

[Highlandfire]

I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me why having receivers he "wasn't familiar with" hurt Cam Newton so much but didn't seem to affect anybody else.

Because the other QB's could hit a broad side of a barn if they were in it?

[teeray]

Read More

Goes to show how variable this QB class is.

Surprised I guess that 4 teams still have Cam #1

[Brooklyn Bully]

I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me why having receivers he "wasn't familiar with" hurt Cam Newton so much but didn't seem to affect anybody else.

Easy. If his Auburn WRs were out there, he would have "looked better" to the critical eyes that burned him for "throwing horribly" at the combine. It's sort of like how Pro Bowl QBs aren't on the same page with their star WRs like they are with their own WRs, or how NBA players look odd during the All-Star game. I'm not saying Cam is a top talent, but he would've looked better had he been in rhythm with the WRs. That's why the combine is a joke. Julio Jones had a GREAT combine and all the sudden people want him over A.J. Green when A.J. Green's body of work is better? Fairley was a BEAST this season but he does poorly on one training day and his stock plummets? Give me a break.

[Snake]

I'm still waiting for someone to explain to me why having receivers he "wasn't familiar with" hurt Cam Newton so much but didn't seem to affect anybody else.

It would have been a lot easier to compare if we had another Spread guy throwing. His timing with his WRs was off because he is still getting use to dropping back.

[InDaZone]

When you are just throwing in shorts with no pass rush... you shouldn't only go 11 for 21.

That's if you want to play in the NFL as a QB.

[Highlandfire]

Newton is going to set some franchise back years and cost them millions. I pray its not Carolina that is stupid enough to draft the gimmick.

[Davidson Deac II]

When you are just throwing in shorts with no pass rush... you shouldn't only go 11 for 21.

That's if you want to play in the NFL as a QB.

I mostly agree, but by the same token, you can't judge a player by his performance in one event. Not that I think we should take Newton, but I certainly wouldn't judge him by that one performance.

[teeray]

When you are just throwing in shorts with no pass rush... you shouldn't only go 11 for 21.

That's if you want to play in the NFL as a QB.

You mean like Drew Brees did when he went 11-20 at his combine. You better hurry up and tell the Saints that so they can give their Lombardi trophy back!!! :rofl:

[bwhit33]

accuracy at the combine isnt measured by completions... its measured by timing of the release and consistency... Cam was neither