2013 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse

Written by Eric Galko on .

Ryan NassibOnce he develops chemistry and timing within the offense, Nassib can quickly become a capable NFL starter, with the football IQ, short-area athleticism, footwork, and steady college improvement to develop into a Pro Bowl level passer.

His composure, consistency, and decisiveness throughout his game is what makes him a 1st round talent as a quarterback, and though he's not as either physically gifted or completely polished as Top 10 valued quarterbacks are, he certainly could reach that level in an ideal offensive fit early and time to progress as a passer in the NFL.

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2013 NFL Draft: Predicting the Quarterback Rankings of the Draft’s QB Needy Teams

Written by Eric Galko on .

Ryan NassibEach quarterback board is different for every NFL team. Factors such as current roster/quarterback situation, past experiences among decision makers, and scheme fits affect how teams evaluate quarterbacks. Teams adjust their “round grade” on quarterbacks drastically based on these factors, which results in wildly different opinions among teams throughout the league.

While this doesn’t include any insight into exactly what these teams are thinking, I’ve done my best to evaluate how each quarterback-needy team likely evaluates these top quarterbacks.

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2013 NFL Draft: Top Ten Prospects with Character Concerns

Written by Walker Rhodes on .

Tyler BrayWhen preparing for the draft, there’s only so much an NFL team can gain from watching film. They already know that nearly all of the players they’re looking at are elite players that were some of the best on their team. Why then to so many draft picks fail to succeed at the next level?

In many cases, it’s a matter of character. Success at the highest level requires strong mental traits as well as physical, and that’s why teams devote so much of their time investigating prospect’s backgrounds. Who are the ten players that will be receiving some extra scrutiny this month?

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2013 NFL Draft: Five Potential Trades to Watch Out for on Draft Day

Written by Eric Galko on .

EJ ManuelPart of what makes the draft so much fun to watch and so difficult to predict is the fact that teams are able to shift positions via trade. Teams want to move up to secure a prospect high on their board or secure their “franchise quarterback”. Teams want to move down to get the best value for their pick by adding more draft selections.

In a draft class that is relatively even grade-wise throughout the first round, we could see a lot of movement, even in the Top 6 picks. And, with the quarterback class having the most “value” in the second round, we could see as many as three teams trade up from the 2nd round to secure their franchise quarterback.

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2013 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Geno Smith, QB, West Virginia

Written by Alex Brown on .

Geno Smith"Entering the season, Geno Smith was easily the most accurate quarterback I graded on tape. After another 4,200+ yard passing season in which he improved his completion percentage to 71.2 and increased his passing touchdowns from 31 to 42, Smith actually regressed in terms of ball placement and total accuracy. In 2011, his receivers were rarely forced to break their stride on drags, digs, deep crossing patterns, posts, or go routes, as Smith had both the arm talent to drive the ball down field and the anticipation to lead his receivers with the throw.

As a senior, however, Smith missed throws far more often, missing with high ball placement, which is a sign of release point inconsistencies. Having the experience of throwing a multitude of NFL routes now, through just two years as a starter, as well as showing extreme efficiency in accurately throwing said routes bodes well for this prospective NFL Draft prospect."

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2013 NFL Scouting: The Ramifications of Oakland's Trade for Matt Flynn

Written by Walker Rhodes on .

 

Matt FlynnAfter setting several single game franchise records with the Green Bay Packers in 2012, quarterback Matt Flynn was set to be one of the hottest commodities in free agency the following summer. Instead, Flynn found the market to be less than he expected, and he settled with a three year contract in Seattle.

The Seahawks realized a few months later that they'd drafted a gem in Russell Wilson, and year later Flynn found himself on the market once again. His new destination? Oakland, via a trade for what will likely be a late round draft pick

What does the move mean for Oakland, Seattle, and the 2013 NFL Draft?

 

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2013 NFL Draft: What We Learned from March's Pro Days

Written by Walker Rhodes on .

 

Denard RobinsonWhile the amount that we can actually learn from a pro day work out is limited, they're still a key part of the evaluation process and they shouldn't be taken too lightly. These workouts can be crucial, especially for those who either weren't able to work out at the Combine and who did and put up a poor showing.

We've had pro days nearly every day this month, but now, with the exception of a couple personal pro days that will happen in April, teams will be turning their attention to one on one interviews with prospects. Before we turn our attention there as well, let's take a look at some of the key things we've learned in the past month.

 

 

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2013 NFL Draft: Marcus Lattimore’s Pro Day Workout Was A Positive Step in His Long Journey to the NFL

Written by Eric Galko on .

Marcus LattimoreRecovering from a major knee injury as a running back is an overwhelming undertaking. It takes months of mentally and physically exhausting rehab, detailed work to ensure no hiccups or long-term issues arise, and there’s a strong chance in not returning to pre-injury form.

For South Carolina’s Marcus Lattimore, he’s forced to overcome TWO major knee injuries from his three year stint in college. After torn ligaments in his left knee in 2011, he suffered ligament damage in his right knee just a year later. After declaring for the 2013 NFL Draft, his road to recovery has been an uphill one, but one that scouts will be eagerly following and likely rooting for. His flashes as a freshman lead him to be touted as a future NFL star.

After his Pro Day workout for NFL scouts  to prove his rehab is on track, Lattimore is confident he’ll be able to return to his elite-running back form as early as the beginning of the 2013 season.

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2013 NFL Draft: Just How Big of a Risk is Ezekiel Ansah?

Written by Walker Rhodes on .

Ziggy AnsahOne of the most controversial prospects amongst potential top ten draft selections is BYU’s athletic freak Ezekiel Ansah. Opinions on the defensive end prospect vary widely. Some feel he has the potential to be an elite pass rusher with some development, others, like South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Omar Kelly feel that Ansah is just a “strong African learning football”.

There’s no question that picking Ansah will have some risk involved – but nearly all draft picks do. Is Ansah really that dangerous of a selection when compared to the rest of the defensive line class?

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NFL Draft 2013: USC’s Matt Barkley is Limited, But Still Can Be a Franchise NFL Quarterback

Written by Eric Galko on .

Matt Barkley

Playing at one of the best universities in this country in terms of football tradition and program prestige, the starting quarterback job at University of Southern California brings many things to those who bear the title: Elite talents abound on both sides of the ball. Some of the best coaches in the country. Treatment as though you suit up for an NFL team. Heisman trophy consideration.

And nowadays, major question marks about your ability to play in the NFL.

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