sbk92
2
- Messages
- 12,134
- Reaction score
- 6
By Todd McShay
Scouts Inc.
The national spotlight is on the Pac-10 this week, as No. 2 Oregon and its dynamic backfield tandem of QB Darron Thomas and RB LaMichael James head to Los Angeles to take on USC. But fans of good quarterback play should pay close attention to USC's Matt Barkley, who is not eligible for the 2011 draft as a true sophomore but is nonetheless being closely monitored by NFL scouts.
Barkley has been the most consistent performer among all pro-style quarterbacks in college football this season, showing all the tools and skills NFL teams covet in a top-flight quarterback prospect. Does that mean we would draft Barkley ahead of Stanford's Andrew Luck if he were eligible in 2011? Absolutely not.
But after studying Barkley on coaches' copy tape in three games this season, we would make an argument that Barkley is on pace to become a top-10 draft pick in 2012 or 2013.
Luck will go head-to-head with Washington QB Jake Locker this week in a showdown between the top two quarterbacks on Scouts Inc.'s board. The Huskies' struggles have taken some of the shine off the matchup, but we're hearing there will be representatives from at least 16 NFL teams in attendance.
The game provides an opportunity to see how each quarterback handles adversity, commands the huddle and competes in the heat of the moment. And playing against each other raises the stakes for Locker and Luck.
What are scouts thinking about each prospect coming into this matchup? Here's a look at how both have fared so far this season.
Locker's issues
To be fair, Locker has a marginal supporting cast -- much worse than that of Luck, Barkley and Ryan Mallett -- and has taken a beating in the pocket behind a leaky offensive line while waiting for slower receivers to separate from coverage. Unfortunately, he has developed some bad habits as a result.
There are times when he looks anxious even when the protection is solid, and that occasionally leads Locker to make offbalance throws or force balls into coverage.
Locker has elite physical tools, is a hard worker and has the toughness you look for in a future NFL starter. His character or competitiveness can't be questioned, but he's not nearly as polished as scouts hoped he would be midway through his senior season. He is failing to recognize coverages quickly, throws too many passes up for grabs and is far too inconsistent with his footwork, and thus his accuracy.
Luck's improvement
Luck had spurts of inconsistent play early in the season, particularly against UCLA, but he has settled into a nice groove recently. The biggest improvement I see in his game is his anticipation. When Luck gets to the line of scrimmage, he knows what he's looking for and is able to diagnose those things (potential coverages, front alignments, blitzes, etc.) much more quickly than he did as a freshman. As a passer, he is identifying coverages earlier in his drops and as a result is getting the ball out quicker.
Luck does not always throw the most beautiful spiral, and the consistency of his mechanics is a work in progress. However, the most important skills for a quarterback prospect are accuracy, decision-making and mental/physical toughness, and Luck excels in each of those areas.
News and Notes
• Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt is a junior, but NFL scouts are buzzing about his play this fall. The former Western Michigan transfer lacks elite athleticism but has a quick first step, is powerful at the point of attack and plays with a tremendous motor.
Watt has 39 total tackles in eight games played, including 13.5 for loss and five sacks (all solo). He has broken up six passes, blocked two kicks and forced a fumble. There is no talk right now about Watt leaving school early, but he will have a difficult decision to make if he continues to play at his current level.
• Texas A&M QB Jerrod Johnson split time with Ryan Tannehill last week against Kansas, and there's a strong possibility Johnson will lose his starting job in the next week or two. Johnson has not looked the same following offseason shoulder surgery, struggling with velocity and accuracy, and at this point it is highly unlikely he will hear his name called on draft weekend.
• Two different scouts have told me they believe Ohio State junior WR DeVier Posey will leave school for the NFL after this season. Posey is not an elite prospect but is a smooth athlete with enough physical tools to develop into a No. 2 starter in the NFL.
Georgia's A.J. Green is far and away the top wide receiver prospect in the country, and there is a noticeable drop-off in talent behind him. Alabama's Julio Jones and Pittsburgh's Jonathan Baldwin are fringe first-round talents, and then there's a handful of wide outs -- including Troy's Jerrel Jernigan, Notre Dame's Michael Floyd and Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles -- jockeying for position in the second-to-third-round range. Posey is talented enough to work his way into that third-tier mix.
North Carolina CB Charles Brown, who started 13 games last season and notched 66 total tackles, nine pass breakups and three interceptions, has elected to redshirt this season after missing time because of NCAA investigations. We gave Brown a fifth-round preseason grade, and at this point he will be in the late-round mix in 2012.
Scouts Inc.
The national spotlight is on the Pac-10 this week, as No. 2 Oregon and its dynamic backfield tandem of QB Darron Thomas and RB LaMichael James head to Los Angeles to take on USC. But fans of good quarterback play should pay close attention to USC's Matt Barkley, who is not eligible for the 2011 draft as a true sophomore but is nonetheless being closely monitored by NFL scouts.
Barkley has been the most consistent performer among all pro-style quarterbacks in college football this season, showing all the tools and skills NFL teams covet in a top-flight quarterback prospect. Does that mean we would draft Barkley ahead of Stanford's Andrew Luck if he were eligible in 2011? Absolutely not.
But after studying Barkley on coaches' copy tape in three games this season, we would make an argument that Barkley is on pace to become a top-10 draft pick in 2012 or 2013.
Luck will go head-to-head with Washington QB Jake Locker this week in a showdown between the top two quarterbacks on Scouts Inc.'s board. The Huskies' struggles have taken some of the shine off the matchup, but we're hearing there will be representatives from at least 16 NFL teams in attendance.
The game provides an opportunity to see how each quarterback handles adversity, commands the huddle and competes in the heat of the moment. And playing against each other raises the stakes for Locker and Luck.
What are scouts thinking about each prospect coming into this matchup? Here's a look at how both have fared so far this season.
Locker's issues
To be fair, Locker has a marginal supporting cast -- much worse than that of Luck, Barkley and Ryan Mallett -- and has taken a beating in the pocket behind a leaky offensive line while waiting for slower receivers to separate from coverage. Unfortunately, he has developed some bad habits as a result.
There are times when he looks anxious even when the protection is solid, and that occasionally leads Locker to make offbalance throws or force balls into coverage.
Locker has elite physical tools, is a hard worker and has the toughness you look for in a future NFL starter. His character or competitiveness can't be questioned, but he's not nearly as polished as scouts hoped he would be midway through his senior season. He is failing to recognize coverages quickly, throws too many passes up for grabs and is far too inconsistent with his footwork, and thus his accuracy.
Luck's improvement
Luck had spurts of inconsistent play early in the season, particularly against UCLA, but he has settled into a nice groove recently. The biggest improvement I see in his game is his anticipation. When Luck gets to the line of scrimmage, he knows what he's looking for and is able to diagnose those things (potential coverages, front alignments, blitzes, etc.) much more quickly than he did as a freshman. As a passer, he is identifying coverages earlier in his drops and as a result is getting the ball out quicker.
Luck does not always throw the most beautiful spiral, and the consistency of his mechanics is a work in progress. However, the most important skills for a quarterback prospect are accuracy, decision-making and mental/physical toughness, and Luck excels in each of those areas.
News and Notes
• Wisconsin DE J.J. Watt is a junior, but NFL scouts are buzzing about his play this fall. The former Western Michigan transfer lacks elite athleticism but has a quick first step, is powerful at the point of attack and plays with a tremendous motor.
Watt has 39 total tackles in eight games played, including 13.5 for loss and five sacks (all solo). He has broken up six passes, blocked two kicks and forced a fumble. There is no talk right now about Watt leaving school early, but he will have a difficult decision to make if he continues to play at his current level.
• Texas A&M QB Jerrod Johnson split time with Ryan Tannehill last week against Kansas, and there's a strong possibility Johnson will lose his starting job in the next week or two. Johnson has not looked the same following offseason shoulder surgery, struggling with velocity and accuracy, and at this point it is highly unlikely he will hear his name called on draft weekend.
• Two different scouts have told me they believe Ohio State junior WR DeVier Posey will leave school for the NFL after this season. Posey is not an elite prospect but is a smooth athlete with enough physical tools to develop into a No. 2 starter in the NFL.
Georgia's A.J. Green is far and away the top wide receiver prospect in the country, and there is a noticeable drop-off in talent behind him. Alabama's Julio Jones and Pittsburgh's Jonathan Baldwin are fringe first-round talents, and then there's a handful of wide outs -- including Troy's Jerrel Jernigan, Notre Dame's Michael Floyd and Oklahoma's Ryan Broyles -- jockeying for position in the second-to-third-round range. Posey is talented enough to work his way into that third-tier mix.
North Carolina CB Charles Brown, who started 13 games last season and notched 66 total tackles, nine pass breakups and three interceptions, has elected to redshirt this season after missing time because of NCAA investigations. We gave Brown a fifth-round preseason grade, and at this point he will be in the late-round mix in 2012.