Scouting for a QB

Height: 6-4
Weight: 225
40-Yard Dash: 4.95 (EST)

Scouting Report:

It seems the jury is split somewhat when it comes to QB [take a guess]. Some view him as a high first-round pick (I've seen him ranked as high a 7 on some Big Boards) while others think he could slide down into the later part of the round. Based on his senior season, however, I think he will fall somewhere between the two. He has the size, arm strength, intelligence, poise, and leadership skills needed to develop into a solid NFL starter, but I'm not sure he'll ever be a franchise-type QB.

He has good zip on his passes and improved his accuracy tremendously as a senior, but still struggles at time with his throws. He seems to read defenses well and make the correct pre-snap adjustments. And he isn't afraid to take command in the huddle.

One drawback that is often pointed out when it comes to him is he doesn't have much in the speed department. He does, however, have enough athletic ability to move around well in the pocket and scramble for the occasional first down. He could stand to shorten his release somewhat though. He tends to wind up a little too much, which gives defensive backs an extra split second to react to the play. In the NFL, that can be the difference between a touchdown and an interception.
His footwork is also inconsistent at times, which probably leads to his occasional bouts of wildness.

Overall his consistency and accuracy suffer some. Typically his poor decisions lead to picks. He threw 19 interceptions in his senior year. Scouts will be a little nervous about his ability to make a solid decision under pressure. His arm strength has been continuously questioned throughout various workouts. He did not throw at the combine and at his pro-day he did not do too well under the pressure, forcing some passes.

His somewhat weak arm, along with his tendency to be reckless with the football, could be a formula for a very large number of interceptions in the NFL. That's not something you want from your franchise quarterback.
He could very well work out and be a legitimate franchise player, but he is going to be a risky pick.

If I were the Panthers I would pick Failey who is widely regarded as the most physically talented player in the draft. Fairley would be a far less risky pick.
With Fairley’s strength and speed, he is almost certain to make an immediate impact in the NFL. But Fairley is a defensive tackle, and although the position is the backbone of any defense, it's not the most glamorous position on the football field; so it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Panthers try to put a fresh face on the franchise after the team's horrific season last year and the Jimmy Clausen fiasco.











OK, so I plagiarized the hell out of a couple of scouting reports on Matt Ryan and whether they should draft him of Glen Dorsey. Not apples to apples, but I think you get the idea.

btw, he was seen as easily the only true blue-chip QB (but not a franchise guy) coming out that year. Flacco was an after-thought.

 

Ryan is not an elite QB.

 

Newton's running style makes him a prime candidate for a major knee injury. He'll then be as useless as Culpepper became after his.

 

Is his "Running Style" really that unlike any running QB? I guess my point is, running QB's are more likely to suffer an injury than non running QB's because they tend to take more hits, but I doubt his chances of a knee injury are any greater than any other running QB. Also, Steve Young was considered a running QB and that worked out pretty good. I am not advocating for Newton or any QB specific, I just want to best player for the job. I would prefer a traditional pocket QB with some mobility IE Aaron Rodgers, but who doesnt want that?

 

He runs upright for the most part and with his size no DB is going to take him on in the upper body. His knees have big bullseyes on them. With the running option then limited I cannot see Newton developing into a pocket passer. The question no one seems to have an answer for is does Newton run because he can't read the defense well enough to come off his intended target and find another of because he sees the coverage well enough to determine his running is the best option.

 

You're both kind of wrong. Running QBs can not only evade hits better than pocket QBs, but they can also see who's coming after them in the open field. Steve Young's career ended on a blindside sack, not an open field run.

 

The only reason I like Newton so much is his ability to--wait for it....

....extend plays. I'm concerned about his transgressions, but I'd be willing to bet 90% of you would take Big Ben in a split second, even with the "off field" issues.

No, Newton is not Ben. Not yet, at least. But he has the tools to replicate that type of game. And, he's not an alleged rapist.

 

put me in the 10%