2011 NFL Draft: Why is Ryan Mallett's Stock Plummeting?
On paper Ryan Mallett is the best QB prospects in the NFL.
He has the ideal size and arm strength to be a successful QB at the next level. He has SEC experience and led his team to a BCS Bowl game.
But none of this translates to NFL success.
He has poor arm accuracy, lacks proper throwing mechanics and has had some character concerns in the past.
As time goes, on the general consensus on Mallett is becoming worse and worse. Here are 10 reasons his draft stock is sliding by the day.
10. Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino Has Awful History With Grooming QBs
1 of 10
The previous names on Petrino’s list of QBs he coached in college tell the story.
Do Dave Ragone, Stefan LeFors, Chris Redman, or Brian Brohm just scream success to you?
There is something about Petrino's system.
Maybe he does a good job masking the deficiencies of his QBs, or maybe he allows them to develop bad habits.
Regardless, Petrino’s track record isn’t going to help Mallett.
9. Not Very Accurate On The Run
2 of 10
Not very accurate to begin with, he becomes even less accurate when on the move. Mallett has a tendency for his balls to sail high on his receivers because of his super-human arm strength.
He has issues setting his feet on roll-outs and relies far to often on his arm to complete passes.
Mallett completed 55.8 percent of his passes in 2009 and 49 percent on third down—but only 40.5 percent on third-and-10 or more.
In 2010 he completed 64 percent of his passes, but this stat doesn't tell the whole story. He threw a ton of short slants and screens that are easy to make.
He did lead the nation on completions of 25 yards or more, but he has a tendency to force it. Not a good trait for a NFL QB on the run trying to zip a throw into double coverage downfield.
8. Doesn't Fare Well Against Top Competition
3 of 10
Check out his stat line in the biggest games he has played in....
He threw three interceptions against Alabama after completing a awful 34 percent of his throws the year before. Each resulted in a loss.
In his '09 tilt against Mississippi, he only completed 12 of 34 passes in a season altering loss.
He collected 96 passing yards against Auburn before getting knocked out of the game and watching his team get spanked by Cam Newton.
In the Sugar Bowl he completed just over 50 percent of his throws.
He threw 11 TDs against Tennessee Tech, UTEP and Louisiana-Monroe and only three against LSU, Auburn and Alabama in 2010.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
7. Cam Newton Entered the Draft
4 of 10
Auburn's Cam Newton had one of the best seasons of all-time in 2010.
So it was of little surprise to anyone that Newton decided to skip his senior season and enter the NFL draft.
He is a better player than Mallett and is universally coveted ahead of him in mock drafts.
A team that needs a QB will take Newton before Mallett.
6. Must Adjust Throwing Motion
5 of 10
The angle at which Mallett throws a pass is unorthodox and something NFL coaches will pick-up on immediately.
It takes a bit too long for the ball to leave his hands and in the NFL that is all the difference in the world.
He also has a tendency to throw off his back foot—which will haunt him at the next level.
5. Character Concerns
6 of 10
Nobody has considered Mallett to be a model citizen.
Sources inside the Arkansas organization claimed to have personally witnessed Mallett use marijuana and cocaine.
Wes Bunting of the National Football Post recently quoted a scout as saying, “I got stuff on Mallett that no one even knows about and I wouldn’t touch him.”
He has been arrested for public intoxication and had a messy divorce with the University of Michigan when he decided to transfer.
Obviously he isn't a horrible criminal that should be in jail, but don't think the scouts aren't thinking about his past.
4. Not a Leader
7 of 10
Don't expect to ever see Mallett barking orders in the huddle. The lack of intensity when he plays is evident and not very inspiring to the rest of the offense.
He has never been considered a great teammate and reportedly was very distant from his fellow players at Arkansas.
Mallett is also pretty bad with the media and that is never a good attribute for a NFL QB.
3. Injury Concerns
8 of 10
He had a nagging foot injury that lingered for most of the off-season and into the regular season. He suffered a concussion in October and suited up the very next week.
Maybe he got the rest he needed, maybe he didn't. But the very next week he left a game against Ole Miss with a bruised shoulder.
He underwent surgery to tighten his left shoulder in January of 2010 so maybe it was the shoulder, yet it sure makes you wonder about any lingering effects from the concussion.
He injured the ring finger on his throwing hand in June of '09 after a mishap in the weight room and was out for weeks. Mallett also dislocated the thumb on his throwing hand during spring drills in 2008, while sitting out for the year after transferring from Michigan.
2. Didn't Play Well In Sugar Bowl
9 of 10
On the national stage, in the biggest game of his career—Mallett struggled.
He was plagued by some drops but he did not respond well to the adversity.
He finished the game with 247 yards but only completed 51 percent of his passes. Ohio State was able to get into the back-field often and that seemed to rattle Mallett.
When a play went awry it is the QBs job to adjust and he doesn't. The ability to freestyle and still make a perfect throw is something Mallett struggles to do.
1. Has Little Work Ethic
10 of 10
Mallett has used his natural talents to carry him through college. A 6'7 QB is a rarity and he knows it, but that doesn't mean it will translate into NFL success.
Does Mallett have it in him to study film into the wee hours of the night? Is he willing to put in the time and effort that it takes to be a successful NFL QB?
He can rely on his arm strength and size in college, but not in the NFL.
He has shown no signs of a strong work ethic and little evidence to prove that he is willing to change.
Would you want your favorite NFL team to draft a guy like this?
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Post-June 1 Trade Candidates ☎️")
.JPG?w=600 "TO Talks Cowboys Relationship")
.jpg?w=600 "Taylor Heinicke Retiring")
.jpg?w=600 "49ers OC Hypes Mike Evans 🤩")