2011 Washington Redskins: Which Quarterback Prospect Looked the Most Impressive?
Aww, draft season. The time of year where tons of football fans and media personalities drool over the latest crop of former college stars as they make the jump to the big leagues. Watching the drills, no matter how monotonous, still seems to be one of the more interesting parts of the process. The draft hype machine is in full affect.
There are a lot of top priorities for the Redskins going into the draft. Outside linebacker, defensive end, nose tackle, offensive linemen, perhaps even running back. But for those of you who can't stomach Rex Grossman taking a snap from under center this season, there is no bigger need for the Redskins than quarterback.
Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan hinted that he'll be making his final decision on what to do about disposed starter Donovan McNabb after the draft, which seems to suggest that the quarterback conundrum will be addressed at some point during the draft. There are various theories about when and where the Redskins should draft a quarterback, but let's not think about that.
Let's take a look at the quarterbacks who are on the Redskins radar performed at today's combine.
(Dis?)Honorable Mention
1 of 9
I'll never understand why some players projected to go number one overall, don't throw at the Combine.
I mean, it works. Sam Bradford didn't throw at the Combine (though he was dealing with nagging shoulder issues). Matt Stafford didn't throw at the Combine. Clearly there is something missing in my thought process, because both of them were the first quarterback taken off the board. (Not coincidentally, both of them have the same agent).
But for Blaine Gabbert, I feel like it's different. Blaine Gabbert had a late first round, early second round value in December. Then Andrew Luck chose to return to college, and suddenly he's the number one quarterback in the draft?
What? Why?
Gabbert seems to have the most raw talent, but he's coming from a spread offense and he'll have to adjust. Bradford and Stafford seemed to earn their relative draft values; Gabbert has come out of absolutely no where to be talked about as the number one pick overall.
We'll have to wait until his Pro Day to see him throw the football, but it just bothers me. Don't get me wrong; I think he has legit talent. Number one quarterback taken off the board talent? No, but we're working with a relatively thin quarterback class this year, so someone is going to take a shot on him. But it would've been nice to see him come out and compete, show that he can drop back and pass like he's coming from under center, and being put in an unfamiliar environment.
That's the point of the Combine, to me; to put these players (quarterbacks especially) in new situations, with unfamiliar receivers and circumstances, see where they excel and see where they need work. Not throwing at the Combine because you don't want to. Especially when a guy like Greg McElroy's draft value will take a hit because he physically can't throw the ball (McElroy has a broken hand), just rubs me the wrong way.
It works, but I don't have to like that it works.
Jake Locker
2 of 9
Coming into the Combine, University of Washington quarterback Jake Locker had a lot to prove. After a poor senior season (after choosing to stay in school instead of come out in 2010), a poorly played bowl game, (Locker didn't complete a pass until the third quarter), and a Senior Bowl that can be best described as "meh", the man that many said would be in burgundy and gold last season had seen his draft stock take a considerable hit.
That said, Locker had a pretty solid Combine showing.
There's no denying that Locker is an athlete. He tied Cam Newton for the third fastest 40-yard dash time, tied for third again with Newton in the vertical jump (30 inches), and tied for fourth with Gabbert in the broad jump.
Locker seemed confident throwing the ball. He threw with accuracy and good timing. He showcased that he possesses a rocket arm. He still needs to work on his footwork a bit, but for the most part, Locker showcased all the things you want in a first round quarterback.
In interviews, Locker came off very well, particularly in a segment on NFL Total Access, where he displayed great knowledge of the X's and O's talking about a few plays he made in college.
Rumor has it Mike Shanahan was interested in Locker last year, and it wouldn't shock me if he still had the same level of interest . Locker has all the tools to be successful on the next level; he just needs a head coach willing and able to develop him.
Christian Ponder
3 of 9
Christian Ponder was another quarterback that was thought to be a first round prospect, but an injury filled senior season, and some questionable decision making have left him with a second or third round grade.
At the Combine, he easily looked like one of the more pro ready, polished quarterbacks. Ponder isn't quite the athlete everyone else is---his 40-yard dash was good enough for sixth, his vertical jump placed him fifth amongst quarterbacks, and his broad jump also placed him at fifth---but it was clear in his throws that he had played in a pro-style offense before.
His footwork for three, five and seven step drops were solid, and he displayed good accuracy on the short and intermediate throws. He struggled with his deep throw accuracy, which has always been the knock on him. He has the 'west coast offense quarterback' label.
Ponder carried himself well at the podium and during interviews, and he's a smart guy as well. He seems to be a good fit for the Redskins---if it were me, he's one of the guys I'd have at the top of my board as far as quarterbacks go---and, with a little polish, could develop into a very good starter.
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Ryan Mallett
4 of 9
If the Combine had an award for "prettiest thrown football", Ryan Mallett would win every time.
Mallett entered the Combine with lots of question marks about his character, but even when pressed and harassed by the scandal hungry media, Mallett kept calm, cool and collected. His character issues will be tried and tried again in the meeting rooms of NFL teams, but Mallett handled himself well on and off the field.
Mallett chose not to run the 40-yard dash, and no other measurement for him looks great...but the way he throws the football is nuts. Mallett displayed good accuracy, especially on the deep throws, where he really let the ball fly. I could watch Mallett throw a football every day, or at least on Sunday's. He looks to be every bit the NFL ready quarterback that people think he is.
The only thing we didn't see is how Mallett reacts under pressure in a football game. He tends to lose some composure in the pocket and doesn't have the mobility to avoid the rush.
That was always my thing with him; the lack of mobility. He's not going to speed past anyone for a first down or anything. But when I thought about it, it might be true that Mike Shanahan likes his guys big and mobile, but Kyle Shanahan likes pocket passers. Matt Schaub is a big, 6'5" guy who's domain is mainly in the pocket. Rex Grossman is much the same, minus the height.
Mallett has jumped onto my radar again. The former Razorback may end up playing on the team that made Hogs famous after all...
Tyrod Taylor
5 of 9
Tyrod Taylor's situation is weird, because you know some team is going to take him in the later rounds and try to make him a wide receiver.
Watching him throw the football today, I have to ask...why? He's a project, sure, but he still seems like a solid quarterback prospect.
Taylor has a cannon for an arm. He's got a completion percentage above 60 percent, and seems to be able to make all the throws. People call him the poor man's Michael Vick, but they're two different guys. Taylor can make plays with his legs, but he can also make the throws on a consistent basis.
His Combine numbers are solid; he was the fastest quarterback--4.51 40-yard dash--recorded the second best vertical jump, and tied Cam Newton for the longest broad jump. His throws were crisp (once again, footwork rears it's ugly head), but his deep throw accuracy was nuts; he put the ball exactly where his wide receiver could catch it every time.
The Redskins won't take a chance on Taylor, but I kind of wish they would. He's an interesting prospect, and seems like he could be a better version of Brad Smith; a Wildcat quarterback who can run the ball, but can also throw the ball. That's the key to the Wildcat, and why teams like the Dolphins (and the Jets, sort of) have more success with it. No one is going to be afraid when Brandon Banks takes a snap at quarterback unless he can throw the ball.
Taylor can throw the ball. If it were me, and Taylor was floating around in the late rounds, he'd be worth taking a chance on. At worst, he'd be a solid back-up quarterback. He can become a contributor on offense and add a new dimension to it. At best, he can end up as a legit starter, or at least gain some trade value down the line.
There's a lot worse prospects than Taylor, which makes it so odd that no one is taking him seriously.
Colin Kaepernick
6 of 9
Kaepernick is another intriguing third-or-fourth round prospect. He had some buzz during Senior Bowl week, but didn't have a great showing, and the buzz cooled off a bit.
After the Combine, it's safe to say that Kaepernick didn't do much to improve or hurt his draft stock. We all know he's fast; he ran the second fastest 40-yard dash, running a 4.53. The other numbers weren't great, which is going to be a knock on him.
He overthrew a few receivers in the early drills, but seemed to correct it on the intermediate throws. On the deep throws, it seemed like Kaepernick was almost deliberately trying to reign in his arm strength, and considering how well he threw the ball, that in itself is impressive.
The same knocks on him still exist though. He still needs to work on his (say it with me now) footwork, and shorten his throwing motion up (hard for a guy who has such long arms). Still, he seems to be able to make all the throws.
Kaepernick didn't help or hurt himself. He stayed a solid prospect who needs a little bit of work to really take him over the top.
Ricky Stanzi
7 of 9
It seems like me, my friend Paul (who is from Iowa) and Mike Mayock, are the only people whole like Ricky Stanzi as an NFL prospect.
People ask what the upside is. I see a guy who improved his completion percentage every year he was in college. He doesn't have a rocket arm, but he has a big enough arm to get it there. He didn't blow away the competition at the Combine, and there are a lot of purer athletes than him. He displayed good accuracy on most of his throws and good focus and (one more time) footwork...
...Why does no one like this guy!?
He and Taylor seem to be in the same boat; guys who seem to have the talent to succeed at the next level, but for one reason or another, doesn't receive the press or hype as some of the other guys. I like his pocket presence, and I like his decision making. His biggest problem, is finishing games; he tends to fade down the stretch and starts to force a few plays and taking sacks and hits he doesn't need to.
The Redskins will probably pass on Stanzi, unless they want depth at the quarterback position and want to see what Stanzi can do. But I like the guy, and that counts for something, right?
Andy Dalton
8 of 9
I asked Joe Theismann if he'd rather draft Cam Newton or Andy Dalton.
His response?
"I've always liked Andy."
That said, Dalton, like Kaepernick, didn't do much to help or hurt his draft stock. He finished at the bottom of the QB pack in athletic measurements, and his throws were somewhat inconsistent, especially the deep throws.
Where Dalton really impressed me was on a segment on NFL Total Access. Former 49ers and Lions head coach Steve Mariucci gave him a play. They then went on with the segment a little bit, before Mooch put him back on the board, asked him to draw it and explain.
Dalton passed the board test with flying colors and displayed good knowledge of the X's and O's, which was impressive to me.
Dalton is still a second or third round value, but he's got a solid football mind and is a great developmental prospect.
Cam Newton
9 of 9
Cam, Cam, Cam...
Newton is probably this years' Tim Tebow. Only, you know...without all the likeability and humbleness that Tebow showcased.
It was no surprise that Newton blew away most of the competition with his athletic measurements; Newton tied Jake Locker's 40-yard dash with a 4.59, tied Locker again with a 35-inch vertical leap, and tied for first in the broad jump. He's a natural athlete.
He also throws the football very well. He has a quick release, and good mechanics.
However, even though he throws a pretty football, his accuracy was all over the place. He struggled on most of the throws, throwing a great ball one throw, then following it up with a bad one.
As if there weren't enough nagging character issues and red flags, Newton opened his Combine press conference by reading a prepared statement.
I fall in and out of love with Cam. His ceiling seems endless; with some solid coaching, he'll turn into a great quarterback in the league. With reports that he got defensive when coaches pressed him about why he chose to run a quarterback sneak in the National Championship game instead of take a knee, the fact that he refers to himself in the third person at times...
He's got so many question marks. There's a lot of raw potential, and it wouldn't shock me if Shanahan took a chance on his potential. It might, however, disappoint me.
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