IRVING, Texas – This year's draft lacks the same star power at quarterback as last year, but here are a few quarterbacks that could go in the early or middle rounds of this year's draft:
- *Matt Barkley USC *
Gets his shoulders around when he throws on the boot…accurate on the move…ball out quick on short side screen…can get rid the ball on the HOT…can throw to a spot…was a little careless with the ball against Syracuse and UCLA…tries to slide forward in the pocket when throwing the ball…nice slant for a touchdown when feet were not set…can bring the receiver down the stem…can change his arm angle to make throws…will check the ball down…nice touch to Woods on the "9" along the sideline…threw it right in the window…knows where the blitzer is coming from…doesn't make the WR work for the ball…will set the protection…puts the deep ball in a good spot…makes quick decisions…took big hit in UCLA game which resulted in a fumble…can lead a receiver across the field…gets the ball to the right guy…can float the ball to the flat…always has defenders around him in the pocket…touch to the sideline…gets rid of the ball when not open…made a great read on single high safety for a touchdown against Oregon…keeps his eyes down the field…was hurried in the UCLA game and not as accurate…
- *Geno Smith West Virginia *
Operates mainly out of the shot gun…tends to stare at his receiver…will take a hit in the pocket but will deliver the ball…outstanding mobility…bounces on his feet in the pocket…plays on his toes…strong arm…can throw it on the line…can throw in a tight window…tries to fit it in down the field between defenders…will throw the ball away if in trouble…can make throws off balance…had ball knocked out of his hand in the pocket against Texas…needs to be more accurate on the slant…might be making up his mind pre snap of where to throw the ball…showed some touch on the swing against TCU…times where he holds the ball…can buy a second chance with his feet…will get careless with mechanics….will make some poor choices with the ball throwing down the middle…can hit his man on the move…made some tough throws on 4th down against Texas and TCU…strength to avoid the rush…can make those backside throws…made throw from left hash all the way to the right against Oklahoma…can drive the ball when he has too…led receiver down the sideline against Oklahoma for a touchdown…I believe there a plenty to work with here….his mobility gives him a chance…smart, hard-working kid that has tools….
- *Tyler Wilson Arkansas *
Can fit the ball inside…will stand in the pocket to deliver the pass…at times will look at the receiver late, then try and get him the ball…had some bad interceptions…I didn't see much zip on the ball…can throw it on the move going to his left…can put the ball in spots…really has to wind up to get the ball down the field…is not a very mobile quarterback…likes to throw ball underneath but might be because the struggles of the offensive line…made a nice throw on the "4" or the In against South Carolina…was able to hit his man on the move…cannot run away from trouble…made a bad decision on the read option, took a tackle for a loss…throws the ball with a three quarter motion…will hang in the pocket…took a huge hit from Clowney and delivered a touchdown strike….throws a ton of passes off his back foot…don't blame him for not setting his feet…plays with some awareness in the pocket….thought he was a much better player as a Junior than Senior but all that he went through most likely had an effect on him…was not impressive in his live work at Senior Bowl…wasn't accurate at all with his passes….probably a better player overall than the one I am describing but has been a struggle for him….
- *Mike Glennon North Carolina St *
Smooth throwing motion…can throw the ball on the line…can lead the receiver up the field…nice touch laying the ball to the outside for the receiver to run under…can throw the "9" with touch and accuracy…showed some touch on the swing pass in the flat…had a fumble on a sack in the pocket against Miami….can fit the ball between defenders…will check down if he doesn't have anything down field…showed the ability to slide in the pocket and avoid but would not call him a threat to run with the ball…keeps his eyes down the field when his receiver broke free…showed the ability to get the ball off…little high versus Florida State on the curl…can high the crossing route…type of quarterback that lets routes develop than makes the throw…found a busted coverage against North Carolina that resulted in a touchdown…will stand very tall in the pocket but not a statue…his best trait in my view is his touch…observed a 55 and 60 yard pass in games I studied…believe the arm can make the necessary throws…
- *EJ Manuel Florida State *
Throws like he is pushing the ball…shows some touch on the move but not always accurate…is an athlete with the ball in his hands…moves out of the pocket to make throws…can snap it off quickly…made a nice throw down the middle of the field off the zone read, managed to get it over the top of the linebacker…shows arm strength…made an off balance throw on a "9" for a touchdown…will struggle with accuracy…had man wide open in the corner against Miami but [embedded_ad]
overthrew him…had a fumble in the same game when he was aware in the pocket of the rush…is not consistent with his throwing motion…careless…threw the ball up for grabs in the Florida when he was under pressure…doesn't appear like he reads coverage well…another interception with a crossing route where he didn't see the linebacker…He tends to hold the ball too long in the pocket and seemed rattled by pressure…was much better in the Senior Bowl when it came to throwing the ball after he looked awful during the practices…would not draft him if you just studied the Florida game…might have more athletic ability than Geno Smith in this draft but his throwing motion is going to have to be completely redone….
