Master 2013-14 College QB thread

[Demi]

Vince Young and Jamarcus Russell had two of the greatest pro days ever...

[dead_poet]

ESPN - Blake Bortles had outstanding pro day, likely to be 1st QB taken in NFL draft, says ESPN's Ron Jaworski

And then I read your opinion, and I was confused. You posted some positive thoughts from a few experts, but did any of them come away "underwhelmed" as you did? I'm actually curious. "Outstanding" and "meh" are very conflicting views! I suppose reality is somewhere in between... I'm just shocked you didn't come away with something more positive, especially after reading that other comment.

As I said, I don't get to watch many Pro Days, so my frame of reference here is limited. What I saw were a few passes (especially the intermediate stuff) where the receivers really seemed to bail him out as his placement was questionable (though I don't know if he was purposefully throwing to those locations or not, meaning high and behind them). I did see a few wobbly throws. The short stuff, to me, looked like passes that anybody expected to be drafted at all should make. He had a short comeback route where he threw it way low, resulting in an incompletion. He also had several overthrows and his deep stuff didn't look great. He made a couple of nice completions deep, but they weren't the majority. I may have had too high of expectations for the scripted workout.

It's easy to see why Pro Days are but a small fraction of the evaluation equation.

FYI: Derek Carr's Pro Day is today. I don't know if it'll be available to stream.

[Mothman]

As I said, I don't get to watch many Pro Days, so my frame of reference here is limited. What I saw were a few passes (especially the intermediate stuff) where the receivers really seemed to bail him out as his placement was questionable (though I don't know if he was purposefully throwing to those locations or not, meaning high and behind them). I did see a few wobbly throws. The short stuff, to me, looked like passes that anybody expected to be drafted at all should make. He had a short comeback route where he threw it way low, resulting in an incompletion. He also had several overthrows and his deep stuff didn't look great. He made a couple of nice completions deep, but they weren't the majority. I may have had too high of expectations for the scripted workout.

It's easy to see why Pro Days are but a small fraction of the evaluation equation.

FYI: Derek Carr's Pro Day is today. I don't know if it'll be available to stream.

I looked but I can't find any indication that will be available...

There's a new article about Carr at NFL.com: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap200000 ... te-pro-day

[dead_poet]

Mock draft 4.0: Bridgewater has dramatic fall

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/mock-draf ... ter_nfl_cb

[Mothman]

I have to confess, I'm becoming fascinated with Derek Carr as a prospect. He strikes me more and more as a QB who has the qualities you want in an NFL starter and whose main drawbacks are issues with mechanics that he should be able to improve with good coaching. I'm very curious to see how his pro day goes today.

I'm running across some interesting tidbits on him too, like this one from Tony Pauline during the combine:

At last count at least 17 quarterback coaches polled at the combine rank Derek Carr over Johnny Manziel.

I think we've already posted this tweet from NFL reporter AlbertBreer:

I was surprised to hear one veteran personnel man I respect a bunch say Derek Carr was the best QB in the group.

Then there's this from Daniel Jeremiah:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap200000 ... ny-manziel

It's all pretty intriguing!

[Mothman]

Mock draft 4.0: Bridgewater has dramatic fall

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/mock-draf ... ter_nfl_cb

Hmmm... maybe there won't be any QBs projected to go in the top 10 by the time draft day actually arrives!

[S197]

I have to confess, I'm becoming fascinated with Derek Carr as a prospect. He strikes me more and more as a QB who has the qualities you want in an NFL starter and whose main drawbacks are issues with mechanics that he should be able to improve with good coaching. I'm very curious to see how his pro day goes today.

It's much more than just his mechanics, he doesn't do well under pressure and also the level of competition he played against was very low. The system he plays in also benefits him a great deal.

He intrigues me too but only because of his potential and most of that being his arm. You can coach footwork but you can't coach that type of arm. However, pocket presence, reading the field, and presnap adjustments will be a big obstacle for him in the NFL. I just don't see the reward for the risk at #8. 2nd round perhaps but man at #8 he better show a heck of a lot more than what I saw in the stands watching him this year.

[Mothman]

It's much more than just his mechanics, he doesn't do well under pressure and also the level of competition he played against was very low. The system he plays in also benefits him a great deal.

I said "main drawbacks" not "only drawbacks".

To me, the whole point of re-signing Cassel was to give the Vikes a serviceable QB while they develop their next QB. Carr's shown the ability to learn and adapt as a college player and he reportedly responds well to coaching so if he ends up in a Vikings uniform, they should be able to let him learn behind the scenes for a season (maybe even two) and smooth out some of the rougher spots in his game.

[S197]

Well it appears the Raiders sent everyone except their waterboy to watch Carr's pro day so maybe he won't even be an option. Granted it's tough to tell with all the smoke and mirrors this time of year.

I just think if we're bringing in a guy to sit and learn is Carr all that much better than a Garoppolo, Murray or Mettenberger? I just don't think so. In a lot of ways Carr has a lot in common with Kaepernick. Both athletic, cannon for arms, and basically played the same competition. If NFL teams graded Kaep as a 2nd rounder, I just don't see Carr as a top 10 pick.

[Mothman]

Well it appears the Raiders sent everyone except their waterboy to watch Carr's pro day so maybe he won't even be an option. Granted it's tough to tell with all the smoke and mirrors this time of year.

I just think if we're bringing in a guy to sit and learn is Carr all that much better than a Garoppolo, Murray or Mettenberger?

I just don't think so. In a lot of ways Carr has a lot in common with Kaepernick. Both athletic, cannon for arms, and basically played the same competition. If NFL teams graded Kaep as a 2nd rounder, I just don't see Carr as a top 10 pick.

I originally responded to this by saying:

He doesn't have to be a top 10 pick for the Vikings to draft him. I don't think anybody views him as a top 10 talent so if he goes that high it will be a "need" pick and that will inevitably lead to groans and years of criticism from fans of any team that takes him that high.

Frankly, I think if any of the QBs in this draft go in the top 10 they'll be "need picks" but at this point, as a fan, I've accepted that with the current rules favoring the pass and the widely-held perception that the NFL is now a QB-driven league, that's going to happen more and more often.

Now I'm going to edit that take: I'm seeing more and more buzz suggesting that Carr could go in the top 10. Maybe the Vikings would have to draft him at 8 to get him, assuming the Raiders haven't selected him already. I still don't know if he's viewed as a top 10 talent but ultimately, I suppose a top 10 talent is a player that gets chosen in the top 10.

I've read so many conflicting views abut the QBs in this draft I don't really know what to think anymore. In the end, I just want the Vikes to draft a good one. It's the results that concern me most, not the road they take to get there.

[KSViking]

I've read so many conflicting views abut the QBs in this draft I don't really know what to think anymore. In the end, I just want the Vikes to draft a good one. It's the results that concern me most, not the road they take to get there.

This sums up my sentiments pretty much exactly. I have some opinions of QBs, that I like or don't like, but if they turn into a winner for the Vikings, I don't care what their name is, what college they came from, whether they are a scrambling or pocket QB. If they take us to a championship, or hell, even to a Superbowl appearance. I would be pretty happy at this point.

[Eli]

Mock draft 4.0: Bridgewater has dramatic fall

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/mock-draf ... ter_nfl_cb

If the draft shapes up like that, you want to be in the middle of the 1st round. I see little difference between the players projected around #8 and those around #20.

[S197]

I originally responded to this by saying:

He doesn't have to be a top 10 pick for the Vikings to draft him. I don't think anybody views him as a top 10 talent so if he goes that high it will be a "need" pick and that will inevitably lead to groans and years of criticism from fans of any team that takes him that high.

Frankly, I think if any of the QBs in this draft go in the top 10 they'll be "need picks" but at this point, as a fan, I've accepted that with the current rules favoring the pass and the widely-held perception that the NFL is now a QB-driven league, that's going to happen more and more often.

Now I'm going to edit that take: I'm seeing more and more buzz suggesting that Carr could go in the top 10. Maybe the Vikings would have to draft him at 8 to get him, assuming the Raiders haven't selected him already. I still don't know if he's viewed as a top 10 talent but ultimately, I suppose a top 10 talent is a player that gets chosen in the top 10.

I've read so many conflicting views abut the QBs in this draft I don't really know what to think anymore. In the end, I just want the Vikes to draft a good one. It's the results that concern me most, not the road they take to get there.

It's clear there is no consensus top QB in this class, which is why I often use the term tier to describe the placement of the various QB's. Is Carr a tier 1 guy? Personally I don't think so but I know others think differently. With the 8th pick, you can essentially take the best player in the entire draft at certain positions. QB will not be one of them but WR, DB, LB, and OT are certainly possibilities. The Vikings have holes beyond the QB position so why not fill it with a guy who you think is the best out of the entire class? The biggest mistake the Vikings can do is follow the herd if there's a run on QBs, they're better off looking at the guys being passed on during the panic.

[PacificNorseWest]

I have now convinced myself that A.J. McCarron is the franchise quarterback that the Minnesota Vikings have been waiting for. He has pulled even with Teddy (my opinion) and with how my receptiveness has grown weekly on AJ in the NFL, I'm certain he will be my favorite come draft time.

If you're dying to hear why, then I guess I'll have to tell you...

He's steady...Efficient. You know what you'll get.

He has experience with a pro-style offense and can play from under center, which seems to me more and more a rarity these days. From everything I've seen of the kid, he can progress through his reads better than most college quarterbacks do when they come into the NFL. He's accurate. He's accurate even under pressure. Moxy is what comes to mind. After the Nat'l Championship game a few years ago when we heard from Barrett Jones postgame that A.J. called him out in the huddle, I knew he was fiery and not scared to take control. He's a leader. He's won. And then won again. I like his size. Good height, sturdy weight....Durable. Did he even miss a game at Alabama?

Only negative I foresee coming form analysts is arm strength, but I'm not too concerned as long as he can make the mid-range throws consistently and accurately, which he seems to be able to do. Patterson will go after the deep balls.

This is the guy, folks. Get ready and then get used it. You'll like it. I promise.

[AP_AD28]

Ive wavered back and forth on nearly all the QB's in the draft this year. Toward the beginning I was very against McCarron, however very surprisingly im slowly warming up to him. I think it would be IDEAL if the Vikings were able to pull off a trade down in the first round and take Mosley, stay put in the second round and take a tall corner that's slipping down the board exactly like they did last year with Rhodes, and trade back up in the middle of the second round if McCarron is still there and take him, ill consider the first 2 rounds nearly perfect given that we arent able to get Khalil Mack.