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2016 NFL Draft: Lynch, Goff joining QB class full of promise and projects
By Rob Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com
December 31, 2015 12:52 pm ETThe 2016 NFL Draft features plenty of talent at the quarterback position, but it’s spread out between a dozen (or more) prospects.
That’s unlike a year ago when it was obvious that the top two prospects — Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota — were relatively transcendent underclassmen (and then a steep drop-off in talent after them), the 2016 draft is loaded with projects.
The crop was significantly boosted Thursday with the expected announcements that the top two quarterbacks on NFLDraftScout.com’s board — Paxton Lynch (Memphis) and Jared Goff (California) – were forgoing their senior seasons and heading to the NFL.
Lynch (6 feet 6, 230 pounds) possesses all of the physical tools to excite scouts, including rare agility for a man of his size and a hose for an arm. However, rather than end his career with a bang, Lynch struggled mightily in a 31-10 loss to Auburn, raising all kinds of questions about the steep learning curve he’ll face in the NFL.
Which QB-needy team will be in position to take Cal’s Jared Goff? (USATSI)
Goff (6-4, 210), on the other hand, was brilliant in guiding Cal to its first bowl victory since 2008, tossing six touchdowns without an interception to win the Armed Forces Bowl. That victory, however, came against an overmatched Air Force defense and there are plenty of concerns as to whether Goff’s thin frame and average arm strength will hold up in the NFL, making it potentially critical that he’s drafted by a team that fits his strengths.
The top-rated seniors at the position also come with significant questions.
Michigan State’s Connor Cook remains in the first round conversation as the 6-2, 220-pounder has the build, arm strength and track record in a pro-style offense to offer a relatively quick transition to the NFL.
Scouts, however, question how much of the Spartans’ success is due to Cook. Michigan State beat Ohio State on Nov. 21 without Cook by sticking to Mark Dantonio’s philosophy of running the ball and playing physical, assignment-sound defense. Despite starting the past three years for Sparty, Cook still has a tendency to spray the ball due to inconsistent footwork.
Further, scouts question whether Cook, who curiously was never voted a captain by teammates during his collegiate career, has the leadership traits necessary to ever be a franchise quarterback.
North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz is the small-school wild card to keep an eye on. He was lightly recruited out of high school due in part to his size (5-8, 125 pounds as a high school freshman) but he sprouted and now possesses an ideal frame for the NFL (6-5, 231).
Not surprisingly, Wentz has starred against the lower competition, guiding the Bison to a berth in the FCS national championship Jan. 9 against Jacksonville State. While he possesses the frame, arm and surprisingly athleticism scouts are looking for, he comes with obvious level of competition questions with only one career appearance against an FBS team (Iowa State). Scouts are excited to see Wentz matched up against top talent at the Senior Bowl. A strong performance in Mobile could push Wentz into the first-round mix.
With an undefeated record at Ohio State that includes sparkling performances in playoff wins last year against Alabama and Oregon to guide the Buckeyes to a national championship, Cardale Jones doesn’t come with the same level of competition questions as Wentz. Further, he boasts the most exciting skill-set of this year’s quarterbacks with a Daunte Culpepper-like combination of size (6-5, 250 pounds), arm strength and athleticism.
While undeniably gifted, Jones is quite a gamble at the next level, having started only 11 games (and played in 23 overall) over his collegiate career. In terms of running the ball or chucking it downfield on vertical routes, Jones looks like a future star. It is virtually everywhere else, however, that Jones needs considerable polishing before he can be expected to guide an NFL franchise.
With no guarantees among quarterbacks at the top, NFL teams could elect to take advantage of this year’s bumper crop of offensive and defensive linemen (who make up the majority of our current mock drafts) and instead wait until the middle rounds to find a passer.
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There are some intriguing prospects amongst the second-tier quarterbacks, including Mississippi State’s Dak Prescott, Stanford’s Kevin Hogan, Arkansas’ Brandon Allen and Louisiana Tech’s Jeff Driskel, each of whom made strides in 2015.
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None, however, boasts the complete skill-set to ease the concerns of QB-needy general managers throughout the NFL, which should make the buildup to this year’s draft all the more fascinating to watch.
AgamemnonCowboys, 49ers, Rams best NFL fits for Cal QB Jared Goff
By Rob Rang | The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com
December 29, 2015 5:40 pm ETWith California cruising to a 55-36 victory over Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl on Tuesday, it is likely only a matter of time before junior quarterback Jared Goff officially announces that he will forgo his senior season and head to the NFL.
As such, the time has come to begin projecting which NFL team Goff — who completed 25 of 37 passes for 467 yards and six touchdowns without an interception in the win — projects to fit best.
Before taking a team-by-team approach, it is important to recognize what separates the 6-foot-4, 210-pound Goff from the other quarterbacks atop NFLDraftScout.com’s board.
When projecting quarterbacks to the NFL, so much attention is spent evaluating arms. While velocity and accuracy are obviously critical for success at the position, footwork and poise are equally important. These are two elements in which Goff excels.
Goff has enough velocity to make every NFL throw and he has spectacular touch on intermediate and deep routes, as demonstrated by this drop in the bucket for a touchdown Tuesday.
And this one a few moments later.
As was highlighted by ESPN’s commentators during the Armed Forces Bowl, however, it is Goff’s fundamentally sound footwork which earns his accuracy.
While Goff isn’t a true dual threat, he possesses the light feet and spatial awareness to buy time in the pocket, subtly side-stepping pass-rushers and stepping up when needed.
This is an important differentiation from stronger-armed passers like Michigan State senior Connor Cook and Penn State junior Christian Hackenberg, who occasionally spray passes because they fail to consistently step into their throws. These quarterbacks have the rifles to simply zip passes through the tight windows. Goff, conversely, relies more on anticipation and terrific ball placement to hit receivers as they make their cuts or simply lofting throws over the top of defenders.
Asking Goff to fire deep outs from the opposite hash or battle fierce winds in an outdoor stadium could lead to struggles in the NFL, which is why the Cleveland Browns, Chicago Bears or Buffalo Bills might want to look elsewhere if any of those franchises chooses to add competition at quarterback during the offseason.
While the ball-hawking secondaries of the NFC West would present a formidable challenge for Goff, the commitment to young running backs Todd Gurley and Carlos Hyde (when he’s healthy) for the St. Louis Rams and San Francisco 49ers could make the Cal quarterback an intriguing option. With opposing defenses committed to stopping the run, Goff’s technically sound footwork, accuracy on the move and touch on deeper passes could make him effective quickly — in much the same way that the similarly slim-built Teddy Bridgewater has performed for the Minnesota Vikings.
Goff, who grew up a 49ers fan in nearby Novato, California, and wears No. 16 in tribute to the great Joe Montana, would seem an obvious candidate for San Francisco general manager Trent Baalke. The 49ers are currently projected to take Goff with the fifth overall pick.
While being selected by his “hometown” 49ers would certainly make for a terrific human interest story, teams draft players based on schematic fits, not zip codes.
Because Goff has good accuracy and enough athleticism to keep defenses honest as a runner, a creative offensive mind like New York Jets offensive coordinator Chan Gailey could find Goff especially intriguing, as could Houston Texans head coach Bill O’Brien, who worked wonders with Hackenberg while at Penn State but is likely to be out of the Goff sweepstakes with his Texans fighting for a playoff spot.
While Goff shows some upper level traits (like the ability to look off defenders) to get scouts excited, it is worth noting the relative simplicity of the offense he starred in at Cal, a spread attack with plenty of predetermined reads.
As such, like most young quarterbacks, Goff would be best served learning for a year or two before getting pushed onto the field. Serving as an apprentice behind Tony Romo in Dallas, for example, could be ideal.
In summary, Goff isn’t a transcendent talent with the traits to wow scouts the way that Jameis Winston and Marcus Mariota did a year ago. His blend of anticipation, accuracy, subtle athleticism and poise, however, project well to a quick-hitting offense that allows him to challenge down the seam and sidelines with his deft touch.
Jared Goff is the No. 2 QB in the NFLDraftScout.com prospect rankings. (USATSI)Jared Goff is the No. 2 QB in the NFLDraftScout.com prospect rankings. (USATSI)
I am not a true believer in Goff, but maybe Fisher is? The guy I like best is the QB for Ole Miss, but he isn’t in this year’s draft.
AgamemnonDon’t be shocked if the Chargers draft Goff. They own the third pick. Cleveland will take Paxson Lynch at 2, barring the Titans don’t trade the first pick.
That is true, Jack. Even if they don’t, SF will and probably Philly. imo
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000551301/article/2016-nfl-draft-order-and-needs-for-every-team
These guys list Browns, Cowboys, 49ers, Eagles, and Texans with QB as their primary need.
Agamemnon
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