Monday, February 28, 2011

2011 NFL Combine day 2: QBs

* QB notes’ll be quick, since the Rams aren’t looking. Blaine Gabbert took plenty of heat for opting not to throw this weekend. Cam Newton’s thinking Gabbert had the right idea right about now, though. Newton struggled with accuracy throughout the day and didn’t appear to have a clue how to throw a square out. It does look like his problems are timing and footwork problems that should be fairly easy to fix, though.

- On the upside at QB: Christian Ponder doesn’t have the big arm, but everything he threw was pinpoint, including some perfect deep routes. One of the few QBs who consistently threw to the proper shoulder. Ponder has really elevated his prospects, following his Senior Bowl MVP with an excellent Combine. Andy Dalton showed unexpected deep arm strength and threw perfect slant passes. Jerrod Johnson threw better than I expected he would, especially the short stuff, while Scott Tolzein threw better deep stuff than I anticipated. Ryan Mallett’s getting accolades for his huge arm but he was well behind the other QBs at running and jumping.

- In the middle: Jake Locker’s short and intermediate accuracy is improving but he had trouble finding his range on deep throws. Pat Devlin threw precise short sideline passes but didn’t display much of a deep arm. Colin Kaepernick, the opposite. Big arm, threw some perfect bombs, but a total adventure on square outs.

- On the downside: Tyron Taylor looked afraid to unleash the beast, tentatively underthrowing just about everything. Taylor Yates looked like the worst QB there.

- Sleeper QB: Jeff Van Camp, Florida Atlantic. Didn’t see the guy do anything wrong all day. Decent accuracy on slant routes, threw some nice deep balls and really nailed his throws on corner routes.

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