Breaking down the quarterback prospects

[m14]

Breaking down the quarterback prospects

By Mike Mayock | NFL Network

My top 5 senior QBs include three potential first-round picks, an intriguing wild card and a I-AA star with considerable upside. A synopsis of each QB follows:

Mayock's full rankings

Find out who Mike Mayock's top five NFL draft prospects are at every position. Some of his choices might surprise all of you rabid draft followers out there: Get the complete rankings ...

1. Matt Ryan -- 6-foot-5, 228 pounds (Boston College)

Should be a top 5 pick. He has the rare combination of natural ability and the critical intangibles of leadership, work ethic, toughness and football intelligence. He has a big arm and an ideal frame for a quarterback. He also has an ability to get bigger and stronger and possesses deceptive athleticism. He won't win any races, but understands how to move in the pocket to create throwing lanes. He had tremendous accuracy but has an annoying habit of forcing the ball into coverage. This results in a higher number of interceptions. His stock will continue to soar as coaches and general managers interview him at the Senior Bowl and combine.

2. Andre Woodson -- 6-4, 210 pounds (Kentucky)

A potential first-round pick given his tremendous arm strength and upside. He has excellent size and throws a great ball when given a clean pocket. However, his accuracy and decision-making diminish when forced to move within the pocket. Additionaly, Woodson has a long delivery which must be accelerated at the pro level or he will always struggle to deliver the ball on time. Woodson is tough and has played well in an extremely difficult conference.

3. Brian Brohm -- 6-3, 227 pounds (Louisville)

Brohm was a tremendously productive four-year starter at a school with a fairly sophisticated vertical passing game. He also benefited from NFL-style WRs Mario Urrutia and Harry Douglass and dependable TE Gary Barnidge. Brohm can process information and deliver the football on time. He has good, not great, arm strength and very good accuracy when he can step into his throws. Brohm is not very athletic and not as consistent with his decisions and accuracy when forced to redirect his feet. He showed good toughness throughout a difficult senior season with a new coaching staff and porous defense. His value warrants late-first to mid-second round consideration.

The best of the rest:
Name	School	Analysis
Chad Henne	Michigan	Up-and-down senior year compounded by injuries.
Colt Brennan	Hawaii	Side-armed slinger with quick release.
J.D. Booty	USC	Injury on throwing hand complicates evaluation.
Josh Johnson	San Diego	Athletic playmaker must show well in All-Star environment.
Erik Ainge	Tennessee	Lacks mobility and arm strength.

4. Dennis Dixon -- 6-3, 200 pounds (Oregon)

Knee injury against Arizona further complicates a difficult evaluation. He elevated his game as a senior by completing 68 percent of his passes with 20 TDs and only 4 INTs. Improved his decision-making and accuracy despite playing minor league baseball last summer. Dixon throws the ball better than Vince Young did in college and is almost as athletic with his legs. He is a a raw prospect with tremendous upside, but the knee must be evaluated prior to the draft.

5. Joe Flacco -- 6-6, 235 pounds (Delaware)

The transfer from Pitt has opened eyes with his size and arm strength. Flacco can make every throw with touch and accuracy. I watched him practice earlier this season and came away highly impressed with his arm, but felt like he needed significant work with his feet. With a good postseason (all-star games, individual workouts, etc.), Flacco has a chance to go in the second or third round.

[m14]

I think its very possible that we could draft Brohm in the second round.

What do you think?

[scott24falcs]

Thanks for posting. As far as all the QB prospects, their draft stock will be affected greatly by the combine, Senior Bowl, and interviews. It is very possible that one of these "big 3," by draft day, will be considered a top 3 pick, or, one of them could be considered a 2nd round guy.

[Money Lee]

When the film study and combine results are in, Woodson's physical ability will vault him to #1.

Just like Petrino wanted Nicholas, an opponent he knew well from the Big East. Petrino will want Woodson, also an annual opponent of Louisville.

[scott24falcs]

"Let it also be known that Mayock is a Boston College graduate"

Very interesting, didn't know that.

[Kayoh]

Flacco? Really? That's pretty unique. I've always liked Mayock a lot better than Kiper, but neither are ever really that great. I take Mayock's words to heart more than websites because he's actually been around, and probably knows a lot more NFL team representatives than any website that there is out there.

Here's what the differences are:

NFLDraftScout:

1. Ryan

2. Woodson

3. Brohm

4. Brennan

5. Henne

6. Ainge

7. Flacco

8. JDB

9. Dixon

10. Johnson

NFLDraftCountdown:

1. Ryan

2. Brohm

3. Woodson

4. Henne

5. Brennan

6. JDB

7. Ainge

8. Keller (lolwut?)

9. Dixon

10. Flacco

[Peyton]

Flacco rated higher than Brennan. Funny.

[chris30277]

The farther Brohm falls the more of a chance I see us trading up to get him. I would love to trade back into the first round and get him, but only if we can justify it by not having to give up too much.

[freakyfalcon]

ill be happy with Ryan, Brohm, or Woodson.

honorable consideration is Flacco. Ive never heard of the guy but his measurables are kind of interesting. Anyone know if the Delaware Blue Hens are still in the 1-AA playoffs? Maybe I catch him in a game on TV.

[Peyton]

Delaware is still in it, they are playing S. Illinois.

The championship game could be Delaware against Richmond, which would be quite interesting because Richmond just beat them 61-56 in triple overtime a few weeks ago.

[Poster Large Johnson]

couldnt agree with Maycock more

I would go in this order for us

1. Woodson

2. Dixon

3. Brennan

4. Josh Johnson

Matt Ryan deserved consideration, but he doesnt want to play in ATL & turned out to be a huge scum bag in his interview with Brad Nessler this past Sat.

Brian Brohm is going to be a good pro QB but we are 3-4 years from having the line needed for him to excel here.

Woodson & Dixon are both just big game winners, both possess great leadership, decision making & accuracy plus Dixon gives you mobility.

Brennan makes me nervous because of the system & the fact he played no one in college but he does have incredible accuracy & a super quick release which would be good here.

Josh Johnson is a lesser version of the best of Woodson, Dixon & Brennan. I was lucky enough to see this kid play live twice this year in SD & like him alot. Again he is a DIv II player & like Brennan played cupcake talent. The mobility & our need for that definitely helps him get in my top 4.

[celtiksage]

Brohm is not very athletic? He calls this out for Brohm, who is about the same athletically as Ryan, after spooging all over Ryan, but says nothing about Woodson and his feet of clay?

And I totally agree with him. In watching Brohm's last two games, he looked like a statue in the pocket, so much so that I got mad enough to change the channel about half way through his last game. He was a mirror image of Harrington. Let the pocket collapse and the just stand there until it converges on you from all sides. And a couple times that was with as much as 5 seconds to make a decision. You have to have much more pocket awareness than that in the NFL. I'm practically afraid of drafting Brohm, and I'm sure our FO will see on video what I've seen in 3 1/2 games this year.

We should wait until the 3rd Round and see who falls.

celtik

[Draftnut57]

Give me Ryan in the first or Flacco in the 3rd . Or trade for Quinn .Cleve will not let Anderson go , I asure you of that.

[MSalmon]

Mayock brings up a good point on Brennan. That sidearmed stuff rarely works in the NFL.

[jidady]

I love Mike Mayock as a football evaluator, but this quote makes me laugh: "has an annoying habit of forcing the ball into coverage".

That's not an annoying habit. That's a death sentence.

[Poster Large Johnson]

draftnut57 (12/4/2007)

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Give me Ryan in the first or Flacco in the 3rd . Or trade for Quinn .Cleve will not let Anderson go , I asure you of that.

A. RYan is massively overrated

B. He doesnt want to play in Atl

C. BQ is Clev future.

[Peyton]

Mayock brings up a good point on Brennan. That sidearmed stuff rarely works in the NFL.

Bernie Kosar threw every pass of his career sidearm, turned out OK. Elway threw sidearm lots of the time, turned out OK. Phillip Rivers throws sidearm, he doesn't get balls knocked down. Roethlesbergers got a goofy sidearm delivery.

Really, it's a non-issue.

[aveboogie2]

jidady (12/4/2007)

---

I love Mike Mayock as a football evaluator, but this quote makes me laugh: "has an annoying habit of forcing the ball into coverage".

That's not an annoying habit. That's a death sentence.

It's only an annoying habit because Mayock is BC alum and doesn't want to bury Ryan.

Film don't lie...It's one thing if it was mechanics, but Ryan is just simply careless with the ball. Has been throughout college!

[iDash]

Brohm late-first to mid-second round, I said it first 2nd round!

3 qbs in the first round I think Not!

[MSalmon]

Peyton (12/4/2007)

---

Mayock brings up a good point on Brennan. That sidearmed stuff rarely works in the NFL.

Bernie Kosar threw every pass of his career sidearm, turned out OK. Elway threw sidearm lots of the time, turned out OK. Phillip Rivers throws sidearm, he doesn't get balls knocked down. Roethlesbergers got a goofy sidearm delivery.

6'5 QBs and Elway rarely did it unless on the run. Rivers is having a less than stellar year as well.

Here's two more side armers for you: David Carr and Kyle Boller

Really, it's a non-issue.

[Serge Storms]

He's undersized, he throws sidearm, he throws into coverage, he plays in a weak conference, he plays in a passer-friendly system that inflates his numbers shamelessly, is there a good part about Brennan as an NFL prospect? Just about every physical trait and his lack of success against just about anyone outside of the WAC works against him. I can't imagine him being a first day prospect.

[Peyton]

He's undersized,

Um, not really. He's 6'2. He can put on weight. Geez, how thick do you need him to be.

he throws sidearm

Non-issue

, he throws into coverage,

Yet somehow he has the highest single season efficiency rating and career efficiency rating in college football history, and he completes 70% of his passes. Yeah, those are traits for a QB that throws into coverage.

he plays in a weak conference, he plays in a passer-friendly system that inflates his numbers shamelessly,

Geez, should the guy apologize because his offensive system is designed to score points?

is there a good part about Brennan as an NFL prospect?

Well other than his great arm, lightning fast release, incredible accuracy, great field vision, and fantastic leadership skills, I can't think of anything.

Just about every physical trait and his lack of success against just about anyone outside of the WAC works against him. I can't imagine him being a first day prospect.

Dude, his team is undefeated. He threw for 1000 yards last year and 8 TDs against Arizona State and Purdue. He's won 22 out of his last 23 starts and that includes wins over 2 PAC 10 teams and a Big 10 team. So what the **** are you talking about? He'll be drafted on the first day, count on it.

[Serge Storms]

He's not tall and he has a sidearm throwing motion. That's a horrible combination in the NFL no matter how you want to look at it. Anyone that wants to not obscure examples of successful quarterbacks with sidearm throwing motions, go ahead, I trust most people here can tell the difference between obscure examples used to prove a point, and what is actually functional.

He also plays in a weak conference, against bad competition that's not going to make him pay for all of the receiver screens and other gimmicks that don't fly near as well in the NFL. When it comes to throwing the ball forward, he throws into coverage.

I'm not saying that he can't be successful in a system. I'm saying that his stats are worthless in the NFL because he played in a system that boosted his stats and in a weak conference that could not handle that type of offense.

Great arm? Better than any other quarterback's? "Incredible accuracy," I didn't know an NFL quarterback should take so much pride in being able to complete screen passes over and over again. Great field vision, with his ability to get picked off even in the WAC? He shouldn't even be playing Mississippi State, much less a big SEC team like Georgia. He's going to complete over 70 percent of his passes against Georgia, and he's going to lose by a solid margin. The only teams he beat in the PAC-10 were Oregon State (that team that once upset USC and does nothing else) and Washington. (:hehe:) Oh, and Purdue.:w00t::w00t::w00t::w00t:

[Serge Storms]

I probably worded one statement wrong. I can imagine Brennan being taken in the first day, there are plenty of incredibly stupid GM's out there that would make such a move, but I will say that I would probably laugh my ##### off and consistently mock whatever team takes him. Needless to say, if the Falcons end up taking him, I'll probably be walking funny, as it would be the equivalent of McKay kicking each and every Falcon fan in the groin.

[ATLBrave]

vickfalcons23 (12/4/2007)

---

couldnt agree with Maycock more

I would go in this order for us

1. Woodson

2. Dixon

3. Brennan

4. Josh Johnson

Matt Ryan deserved consideration, but he doesnt want to play in ATL & turned out to be a huge scum bag in his interview with Brad Nessler this past Sat.

Brian Brohm is going to be a good pro QB but we are 3-4 years from having the line needed for him to excel here.

Woodson & Dixon are both just big game winners, both possess great leadership, decision making & accuracy plus Dixon gives you mobility.

Brennan makes me nervous because of the system & the fact he played no one in college but he does have incredible accuracy & a super quick release which would be good here.

Josh Johnson is a lesser version of the best of Woodson, Dixon & Brennan. I was lucky enough to see this kid play live twice this year in SD & like him alot. Again he is a DIv II player & like Brennan played cupcake talent. The mobility & our need for that definitely helps him get in my top 4.

You want to talk about needing a line to succeed here, then why is Woodson high on your list? The guy almost reminds me of Byron Leftwich, with his slow release, and inability to throw outside the pocket.