QB Prospects Work-out at Indy Combines

March 1, 2010 10:20 pm
fortrouge
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Here are this years crop of top college QB’s eligible to become NFL QB’s come draft day…however none chose to throw at the Indy Scouting Combines Sunday. This group can best be described as an enigma. You have 4 quality QB’s that all had stellar college careers…but that is all they were college games. Of such a talented group there are many questions to be asked of each of them adapting to the NFL game. Depending on what a team really wants and the risk they wish to take…some may go in the top 10 or none may go in the first round. Let us take a look at them.

Sam Bradford isn’t 100%

Sam Bradford (Oklahoma) – Has the pro-typical size at 6’4″ 236 with a very accurate throwing arm. Won the Heisman in 2008. However the knock is his twice injured throwing shoulder which has had 2 operations. Once repaired and the second time reconstructed. Because of this he did not work out at the Combines so no one will know how his arm looks until his Pro-Day and it may only be at 90% then. If Sam had remained injury free throughout his college career, he would most likely be considered a definite franchise QB and the Rams would swoop him up with the first pick. Any team that does decide to take Bradford though knows it will be a risk with his shoulder…those are the hard cold facts. He could go onto to have a brilliant career and never have a problem again or not make it through his first brutal year of punishment that rookie QB’s have to adapt to in the hard cold world of the NFL…where behemoth sized men have only one thought in their mind and that is to rip your arms off and beat you with them. It will be interesting to see where Sam Bradford gets picked. I myself would not touch him.

Tim Teebow may play multiple positions

Tim Teebow (Florida) – The most enigmatic of the bunch. Some argue he is the greatest college QB in NCAA history. He did it all in his career and won many games under Urban Meyer with the very successful Gators. Has nice size at 6’3″ and a solid 236 and loves to run with the ball as that was a integral part of the Gators offense. But no QB has as many skeptics as to being able to play the NFL game. Did not throw at the Combine but did partake in all of the workouts. Plain and simple he blew away the QB competition in all the drills combined. Teebow is definitely an athlete and this has some teams looking at him not as a QB but to develop him into a TE or FB. But Tim wants none of that for now…so much so he is actually changing the mechanics of this throwing motion. He was knocked in college for having that low looping back swing to his throwing motion before the ball comes up over and out of his shoulder. That cannot remain in the NFL where every second counts…where you will either get the ball released or be knocked on your ass! So at least Teebow realizes this and is willing to change to a quicker release keeping the ball at shoulder height all the time. Time will tell if he can accomplish this. If no NFL team thinks he can be a QB then look for him to drop out of the first round. But someone will pick him up for his sheer athletics.

Colt McCoy will lead a power house offence

Colt McCoy (Texas) – When I see Colt I see CFL QB. He reminds me a lot of Matt Dunigan who had very successful CFL career. NFL small at 6’1″ and 216 he too was a “system QB” that had great success with the Longhorns program. Did not throw at the Combines because he too banged up his shoulder at seasons end but did participate in the drills where he was average. Knock is his size for the rigors of the NFL season and the fact he does not have a strong arm and lacks the good deep ball that you must have in your NFL arsenal. Drew Brees is a NFL small QB but he has a lovely accurate deep ball. He would need a couple of years of development on the sidelines for any team that selects him. He would definitely be a project. Depending on the amount of time a team is willing to spend…he could drop to the 3rd round or later. Like I say…I see future CFL star for Colt McCoy.

Jimmy Clausen is a top prospect but…

Jimmy Clausen (Notre Dame) – Clausen some like as the best of this years bunch. While he had the less success in wins with the Golden Domers as they struggled to get things going on defense during Clausen’s run…he does have he best stats of the top QB prospects. Extreme accuracy with the highest college career completion percentage at 65% with the lowest TD’s to INT’s ratio make some scouts think he can become the best NFL starter down the road. Nice size at 6’3″ 222 Clausen showed grit and determination in leading the Irish offense during his tenure. Quick and accurate in the short passing game he too would have to work on his release point a bit and gain arm strength for a deep ball. But a team with a West-Coast offense could develop him nicely for their style of passing game. He is very adapt at rolling out and throwing and will not hesitate to run those few yards for a first down. Clausen just may be the first to go of this group. I like him the best.

Defensive players work out Monday and Tuesday….I have my eye on a few to shore up by Browns defense and will let you know how they looked.