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Mike Mayock: Browns Should Draft Jared Goff
By Joe Ginley  @JoeGinley on Feb 23, 2016, 12:01p 53


Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Jared Goff is the better option for the Browns according to Mike Mayock.

Two camps have emerged among NFL Draft junkies and team executives: Team Jared and Team Wentz.

Count NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock firmly in Team Wentz.

However, the draft analyst believes Jared Goff would be the better fit for the Cleveland Browns.

Mayock talked quarterbacks during an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show on Monday. The former CBS and NBC analyst focused on the choice between Jared Goff and Carson Wentz.

Mayock began his interview by speaking about discussing the differences between Wentz and Goff, both talented, but very different quarterbacks.

"The first piece of it is some people are Wentz guys, some people are Goff guys around the league. If you're a Goff guy, it's because he's more polished and ready to go day one. He's got beautiful pocket awareness, really good feet, the ball comes out quickly with a quick release, he's accurate with good arm strength.

"If you're Cleveland at No. 2, and you're looking for a quarterback ready to go on day one, he's the more logical guy today."

Mayock then vouched for Wentz, a player he feels can be developed into a great quarterback.

"I look at Carson Wentz, 6'5 1/2 235 [pounds], and he's as good or better of an athlete than Andrew Luck. He has a big arm, he's been under center. He's only started 23 games, and people are going to kill him for being in a Division I-AA program, but I see a guy, who in 2-3 years from now, the ceiling is unlimited. I have him at No. 1 because I love his upside. I'm scared to death that we rarely develop quarterbacks in our league anymore, which makes me worry."

Outside of the top three, the consensus among draftniks is the quality of prospects drops significantly.

Mayock did not stray from this narrative, mentioning Lynch and Cook as lesser options.

"If not Goff or Wentz, depending on what you're looking for today, it's Paxton Lynch from Memphis who reminds me of Joe Flacco coming out of Delaware. [Lynch] has a big arm. I spent three hours with him last week in Orlando watching tape with him and watching him throw the ball. And then the fourth guy with potential and first-round talent is Connor Cook. But Rich, people are questioning a lot of stuff about him, and I think he's taken on some water already, and I think he made a mistake for him not playing in the Senior Bowl."

Interestingly enough, Mayock seems to have a beef with Cook. Mayock talked very negatively of the Michigan State product.

"He had accepted the Senior Bowl [invite] and declined after that. It felt like he could have dealt with a lot of this stuff in Mobile and gotten it over with. So he could have come to the Combine clean and ready to compete. And he should have, in my opinion, this is more important than the other stuff, why wouldn't he want to stand next to Carson Wentz and show this kid from North Dakota State that, 'Hey, I'm better than you.' It's competition. That's what we're looking for. The guy never had 60 percent or higher completion rate in college, there's a whole cast of things. All of this stuff, I would have loved to have seen the kid come to the Senior Bowl and say, 'Look, folks, I'm the No. 1 quarterback in this draft, and here's why. And when he didn't do that, I think he opened himself up to more conversation."

The primary takeaway from Mayock's interview with Eisen? The Browns should take Goff.

I'm inclined to agree with Mayock's analysis on this particular topic, but Wentz also has plenty of promise. What do you think? Tell us if you're Team Jared or Team Carson in the comments section below.


http://www.dawgsbynature.com/2016/2/23/11099382/mike-mayock-browns-should-draft-jared-goff

I don't like what Mayock is saying. At all.

I don't care about the guy who is more ready day one.

This is great. We finally are in a position to grab a legit QB without talking craziness in moving up in any draft.

I'm confident in Huey and Sanders. Whoever they like I'm all in. But I gotta say I'm really liking what Wentz brings to the AFC North. In 2 or 3 years I see this being the Wentz and Dalton show. Berger will be gone and Flacco on his last leg. It's time to pull the trigger.

Peen-Mac-Noone's moving up to #1 in this draft. This isn't Luck who everyone wants. Dallas won't do it because of Romo. They might take who we don't. Jones might take a Prescott later. Frisco needs a total rebuild and won't surrender multiple 1's to do it.

We're safe at 2. We'll get who we want.

If we are hell bent on taking a QB, and if we have Went and Goff as a plan A and plan B as you state, then I would rather have Goff and keep the 2nd or 3rd round pick than Wentz. The difference is not that big, IMO.

I stand pat, and after Tenn takes the OT I see if anyone wants to move up for their choice of QB. Ideally we do a couple of small drops and pick up decent return each time (a 2nd this year, or maybe a 1st next year depending on the size of the drop).

We've been good at draft day trades but we have absolutely screwed the pooch when we used those extra picks.

peen...Stories like the one below might create more interest in moving up to #1 in this draft...

QB prospect Carson Wentz compared to Andrew Luck by Mike Mayock: 'I see a similar ceiling'
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2016/02/mike_mayock_compares_carson_we.html

I don't care if someone does move up. I wouldn't. I think both Goff and Wentz can be at least plus QB's. Which one turns out to be the best? I don't know.

I am not willing to give up picks either this year or future years. We have a lot of needs on this team, and if you look at only last year, QB wasn't the problem. I understand we need to get a QB we can put in place for the next decade, but we also have to consider other positions as well.

Either way, if we have to take the leftover QB, and QB is indeed the way we want to go, the leftover will be good enough IMO.

Found a series of Qb evaluations that looks pretty good from Thedraftwire.usatoday.com for Goff, Wentz, Lynch and Prescott. Disappointed that I cannot find one for Cook. I skimmed these quickly and they look look pretty good but they are too long for me to go through them in depth before posting. If I tried, I would lose these pages and not be able to re-find them - sometimes it pays to know yourself.

2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report: California QB Jared Goff


By: Jon Ledyard | January 6, 2016 6:24 pm ET
Jared Goff

California quarterback Jared Goff threw for a ridiculous 96 touchdowns in three years as a Golden Bear, but will need to answer questions about arm strength and ball placement at the next level.

QB Jared Goff
College: California
Year: Junior
Birth Year: 1994
Height: 6-4
Weight: 210

Strengths
Ideal stature in the pocket
Adeptly steps into throws with sound lower body mechanics
Great pocket presence, feels pressure and moves well to avoid it
Keeps his feet active in the pocket while moving through progressions
Quick, fundamentally sound release
Carries the ball high in his stance
Throws with excellent anticipation to release passes as receivers break in routes
Flashes excellent touch to drop the ball in the bucket over defenders
Consistently accurate enough to put ball in catchable location for target
Gets the ball out quickly
Arm strength to stretch the field
Strong zip on the ball 15-20 yards out
Good accuracy on the move, keeps upper body mechanics on point
Solid athlete with the ability to scramble when necessary
Uses eyes well to manipulate defenders in coverage
Started every game possible at California (37)
Tough in the pocket, will take shots attempting to make throws
RELATED:

NFL Draft prospect highlights: Watch Jared Goff win before the throw
Weaknesses
Ball location can be an issue, accurate enough to hit target, but not in ideal spot
Forces receivers to make tough adjustments at times, even on rhythm throws
Good, not great velocity, throws to the far hash can dip significantly
Will occasionally force throws off his back foot under pressure
Spread offense created a lot of big windows and first read throws, inflated production
Inconsistent deep ball accuracy, rushes throws a bit and sails the ball
Predetermines throws pre-snap at times
Took almost every snap from shotgun, will need work on drops from under center
RELATED:

2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Memphis QB Paxton Lynch
Analysis
Jared Goff is a prospect who has grown on me with every viewing, culminating in one of the better quarterback performances we’ve seen this season in California’s bowl game against Air Force. Like every quarterback in this class, Goff isn’t without his issues, but he also displays plenty of skills that should translate nicely to the NFL.

Jared GoffFirst, what I enjoy/appreciate about Goff. He’s exceptionally calm in the pocket, showing the patience and footwork to let routes develop and still hit receivers with excellent timing. His eyes are always downfield, confidently perusing what the defense is giving him and making quick, sharp decisions with a clean release. Goff’s upper body mechanics typically stay very sound, and he doesn’t waste time with the ball in the pocket. We’ll get to his accuracy on a more in-depth level in a bit, but suffice to say he throws a catchable ball the vast majority of the time.

His arm strength has been much-maligned, but even the term “arm strength” is a rather vague one, so I’ll break down what I see for you. Goff doesn’t have the cannon that Paxton Lynch or even Connor Cook have, but he does throw with good zip up to 15-20 yards, largely due to his feet being set and the junior generating power from his hips. He’s especially on point with seam throws inside the hashes, able to drive the ball to a location when he doesn’t have to shift his base.

Outside the hashes things get a little more sticky. Goff doesn’t have the arm to wing a pass from the far hash to the sideline without some fluttering and dipping of the ball. That makes any out-route throw to the far sideline pretty dangerous against NFL corners, limiting Goff’s options a bit.

Throwing deep isn’t much of an issue to me, as Goff actually overshot his target more than he underthrew receivers. He can winJared Goff down the field vertically, but his accuracy is inconsistent, as he’ll flash the ability to drop one in the bucket before overshooting his receiver by several yards. His mechanics look good, but Goff may rush the throw a bit and release the ball a tad early, causing the pass to sail to it’s intended target. His arm isn’t the issue though, and the right quarterback coach will have plenty to work with to improve this area of Goff’s game.

My biggest issue with Goff actually goes back to his accuracy. While he almost always puts the ball in the vicinity of his receiver, too often Goff doesn’t place it in the most advantageous location for a routine catch to be made. Even on slants and digs Goff can be somewhat off-target, forcing the receiver into an adjustment that is not only unnecessary, but can also minimize yards after catch. With smaller windows in the NFL, a lot of these throws can be broken up or even intercepted if they become a regular habit. I’ll have a post with video coming this week to show you what I’m talking about.

Jared GoffThat said, Goff shows advanced tendencies for a quarterback that could lead to him being the first passer off the board in this year’s draft. When forced to do so he’ll work through progressions calmly, move the pocket when necessary, and show the important ability to make anticipatory throws downfield to his receivers. This is especially important for a quarterback with limited velocity, as Goff’s timing will help him win where his natural tools cannot.

When I first watched Goff, I wasn’t sure many NFL teams would be gung-ho about his lack of “upside” due to limited physical capabilities. The more I watch however, I see a quarterback who can win despite those limitations, especially within the right system and with sound coaching. Mechanically and mentally, Goff is a sharp prospect who has improved each year at Cal, and physically he’s not as inept as many would make you believe. I don’t think he’s a top 20 player like some do, and I value him around the same range as Lynch (late first, early second), but I do think Goff may be the most NFL-ready passer in the draft.

Grade: Second Round

http://thedraftwire.usatoday.com/2016/01/06/2016-nfl-draft-scouting-report-california-qb-jared-goff/

2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report: North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz


By: Jon Ledyard | December 28, 2015 11:01 am ET
Carson Wentz

Blessed with a powerful arm and an ideal quarterback build, North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz could be the answer for a team looking to develop their next franchise quarterback

QB Carson Wentz
College: North Dakota State
Year: RS Senior
Birth Year: 1992
Height: 6-6
Weight: 231

Strengths
Ideal frame and build for a quarterback
Good stature in pocket, will stand tall and take a hit to make a throw
Calm and composed, trusts his protection and rarely leaves clean pocket
Puts great velocity and spin on the ball, can drive the ball to target
Arm strength to make throws to the opposite hash consistently
Very accurate between the hashes, can thread needles
Flashes a lightning quick release at times
Can wing it deep, arm strength won’t be a question
Shows very good touch to drop passes into the bucket
Climbs in the pocket while keeping his eyes downfield, good feel for edge pressure
Not afraid to take shots down the field, uses his physical gifts well
Improving in his ability to read defenses
Throws accurately on the run
Adept at running the zone read
Very good athlete, tough competitor, ideal mental makeup
Smart, hard-working prospect with ideal leadership skills
RELATED:

2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Memphis QB Paxton Lynch
Weaknesses
Needs to speed up everything, decisions come too slow
Want his internal clock in the pocket to accelerate, can hold the ball too long
Struggles to read defenses and more intricate coverages
Will trust his arm too much, forcing passes into coverage
Needs work at moving through progressions, rarely moves off of first read or flips field with his eyes
When moving to second read will sometimes panic and rip it without reading coverage
Holds ball too low in his stance, elevating it will expedite delivery
Deep ball accuracy is inconsistent, drops some dimes but misses vertical shots too
Ball placement is a big concern, makes receivers adjust to off-target throws too often
Decisions come too slow to make anticipatory throws, allows coverage to recover
Bad tendency to throw where receiver was or is, rather than where they are going
Will stare down targets and pre-determine throws regardless of coverage
At times will rock back and really load the ball up unnecessarily for driven throws
Only 22 games as a starter
Broken wrist suffered in Week 6 of 2015 season
RELATED:

2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Mississippi State QB Dak Prescott
Analysis
Carson Wentz was dominant for FCS powerhouse North Dakota State during their 2014 title run, leading the Bison to a championship with his arm and his legs. 2015 was intended to be more of the same, but a wrist injury cut short Wentz’s collegiate career after an up-and-down start to his senior year.

Carson WentzStill, Wentz’s rocket arm and ideal measurables have garnered him a ton of attention already in the pre-draft process, and rightfully so. The 6-6 senior shows a ton of poise in the pocket, stepping into throws to zip the ball through tight windows. Velocity isn’t an issue for Wentz, who shows generally sound mechanics to all levels of the field, displaying an arm that can make every throw.

His release can be a little inconsistent. Sometimes Wentz will rock back and load the ball up in his delivery, while other times he zips it out of his hand with no wasted motion. You get the feeling that there are moments he tries to make his release too perfect and robotic, which slows down the process considerably. Again, I think Wentz’s motion is generally solid, but there are still little inconsistencies that show up from time to time.

The mental aspect of the game is still a work in progress for Wentz. He’s improving in his ability to read coverages, but NDSU’s offense offered a lot of predetermined throws that typically made life easy for Wentz. He’s flashed the ability to work through progressions and make good tosses, but the process typically happens much slower than it should. Wentz rarely flips the field or moves a defense with his eyes, often staring down his target until the receiver works open. And when forced to move to a second target, Wentz sometimes isn’t comfortable and either holds the ball or makes a questionable throw.

Anticipatory throwing is another area that gets Wentz in trouble, as he wants to see his target open rather than feel or “throw” the receiver open. This leads to the occasional late throw, something Wentz’s arm was good enough to get away with at the FCS level, but could be trouble in the NFL. Again, this is a very coachable flaw, but one that he’ll have to improve on for timing routes and things of that nature.

Wentz is generally accurate on all short-intermediate routes, especially between the hashes. Occasionally his ball placement canCarson Wentz get sloppy outside the numbers, but his arm strength to zip passes from the opposite hash to the sideline is impressive. Wentz is a bit more inconsistent down the field, but his deep ball appeared much-improved in 2015 before his injury. Wentz throws with the touch and strength to drop the ball in a bucket vertically, but too often he’ll overthrow his target. In fairness to Wentz, the Bison didn’t have much speed at receiver, and I think he’ll fare far better on deep passes when he has NFL receivers tracking the football down the field.

If a team in the draft is looking for a day one starter, Wentz isn’t your guy. He simply isn’t ready from a cerebral standpoint, and has some flaws and weaknesses that can only be worked out with experience and coaching. Wentz also has abilities you can’t teach, and the work ethic and drive to overcome the deficiencies in his game over time. For a team trying to develop a quarterback for long term success, Wentz could be the answer. The physical tools and mental makeup are there, he just needs time around an NFL offense before he’s ready to take the reins. Patience will be the key, but in a quarterback-starved league, Wentz should be a highly-coveted second day prospect come April.

Grade: 2nd round

http://thedraftwire.usatoday.com/2015/12...t-carson-wentz/

2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Mississippi State QB Dak Prescott


By: Jon Ledyard | December 24, 2015 10:11 am ET
Dak Prescott

Dak Prescott has been heralded as one of the more exciting college football quarterbacks to watch during his years at Mississippi State, but a closer examination of the tape shows a prospect with a long way to go if he wants to last in the NFL.

QB Dak Prescott
College: Mississippi State
Year: RS Senior
Birth Year: 1993
Height: 6-2
Weight: 230

Strengths
Powerful, well-built frame meant to withstand punishment
Flashes ability to throw a tight spiral when his mechanics are under control
Good, calm pocket presence, will step up to evade pressure and keep eyes downfield
When base is sound, can drive the ball into tight windows with excellent velocity
Strong frame that stands tall in the pocket despite pressure
Mobility to escape the pocket and extend plays when needed, always keeping eyes downfield
Works through his progressions while staying calm in the pocket
Gets rid of the football quickly/efficiently without taking undue punishment in the pocket
Can move a defense with his eyes and mobility, creating windows for receivers where there were none
Strong runner in the open field that is tough to bring down
Physical, competitive, physically and mentally tough
Heralded throughout the college ranks for his maturity, character, and leadership abilities
Extremely hard worker who has made strides every year
RELATED:

2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Memphis QB Paxton Lynch
Weaknesses
Inconsistency mars almost every aspect of his game, especially mechanically
Rocks back with a slight hitch in his delivery when putting zip on the ball
Can wind up with longer release when going down the field
Tendency to release the ball a tad early, resulting in a sailing or fluttering pass
Needs to vary the pace of the ball to match the situation/route (no bullets on screens)
Location and accuracy are generally poor, makes receivers adjust to off-target balls and minimizes yards after catch
Makes very poor decisions at times, forces passes into coverage
Footwork can get sloppy, will fall off his base throwing to his left, loses accuracy/velocity
Doesn’t possess the heralded “power arm” that he was once rumored to have
Deep ball accuracy is lacking, touch passing needs a compass
Does not throw with anticipation, poor timing leads to late throws to all areas of the field
Can be confused and fooled by more intricate coverage schemes (ex. Alabama’s pattern reading)
Lacks accuracy and velocity when throwing on the move
Not a great athlete, heavy-footed and lacking lateral quickness and explosiveness as a runner
RELATED:

Draft Wire Mock Draft 1.0: Bosa, Treadwell lead the way for 2016 class
Analysis
You’d have to look far and wide across the college football ranks to find someone that would say a negative thing about Dak Prescott’s character or leadership ability. One of the all-time most beloved members of Mississippi State’s football program, Prescott has left an impression with fans, teammates and coaches due to his work both on and off the field. He’ll undoubtedly receive the same high marks from NFL teams that value his leadership abilities and work ethic, traits that have helped Prescott become a better pure passer during each of his seasons at Mississippi State.

Dak PrescottThat said, Prescott is still a huge project for the next level, as almost every aspect of his game suffers from tremendous inconsistency. The senior quarterback’s ball location and accuracy tend to diminish the further down the field he throws, and he doesn’t possess the pure arm strength to make up for some mechanical errors. You see flashes of what could be if his footwork and delivery always worked in such perfect unison, as Prescott can drive a tight spiral into a tight window with terrific placement.

Unfortunately those glimpses are too few and far between, as Prescott will often release the ball a touch early, causing passes to sail high, even on short-range targets. His feet are often not set in the direction of his pass, sometimes due to the fact that Prescott will occasionally fall off his base when throwing to his left. The Bulldogs quarterback will make strange decisions with his delivery at times too, choosing to zip the ball when it needs more finesse and vice-versa. I love that he keeps his eyes downfield when on the move, but Prescott’s accuracy and velocity suffer remarkably when he can’t set his feet.

Few have worked harder than Prescott has at improving his cerebral process, and while I love the fact that he’ll stay calm in the pocket to work through progressions and take what is there, the reality is that he can also make some mind-numbing decisions. Prescott will force passes into tight windows when under duress, and more intricate coverage schemes like Alabama’s pattern-reading defense fooled him consistently.

When he’s at his best, Prescott shows a great natural feel for pressure in the pocket, sliding around to re-establish his base anDak Prescott 3 hang tough in the face of contact. There is no doubt that when the mechanics are clicking, Prescott can throw a pretty ball on a rope, but these moments are simply too rare to take a chance on in the first half of the draft. I think Prescott will get snatched up late on day three due to the flashes of talent that are evident on tape and an exceptional work ethic that promises improvement, but right now there isn’t much to show he’ll be anything more than a decent backup someday.

Grade: 6th round

http://thedraftwire.usatoday.com/2015/12...t-dak-prescott/

I agree, it's time to stop being led around by the nose and stop pulling a Butch, and just let the draft come to us. Take our bpa and quit biting on all these other teams who threaten to move up on us.

2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Memphis QB Paxton Lynch


By: Jon Ledyard | December 22, 2015 7:47 am ET
2016 NFL Draft Paxton Lynch pass from pocket

With no apparent top-10 prospect among the class of quarterbacks eligible for the 2016 NFL Draft, Memphis quarterback Paxton Lynch could see his stock elevate quickly this fall, thanks to a powerful arm and ideal measurables.

QB Paxton Lynch
College: Memphis
Class: Redshirt Junior
Birth year: 1994
Height: 6-7
Weight: 245

Strengths
3-year starter
Top-notch velocity to fit the ball into tight windows and make lower percentage throws with good consistency
Comfortable/accurate on the move, can square up and release quickly
Arm strength to throw without proper mechanics/compromised base and still hit targets on time
When feet are set, can drop it in the bucket vertically
Distance throwing not an issue, rarely under throws receivers
Excellent athlete who is elusive in space and tough to bring down one-on-one
Love his pocket presence, very calm and collected
Great feel for pressure and has the mobility to avoid it
Has unique ability to extend plays from the pocket
Despite many one-read throws, flashes ability to move through progressions steadily in the pocket
Master of the ball fake, RPOs, very decisive
Tough, competitive kid with ideal leadership ability
RELATED:

Everything you need to know about the 2016 NFL Draft
Weaknesses
Will all-arm throws on occasion and get sloppy with his feet
Ball location/accuracy to the boundary is inconsistent
Throws so hard at times that ball will exit his hand a tad late and dip quickly as a result
Ball doesn’t consistently spiral or spin aerodynamically to the target
Needs to learn to vary ball’s pace at times to make passes more catchable for receivers
Still learning to throw with anticipation, could afford to throw tad late in college due to arm strength
Tendency to load the ball up and fire, causes slight delay in release
Worry about long-term arm strength if current throwing style doesn’t change
Lots of one-read, quick hitting throws
Will need time to adjust to pro-style offense from largely shotgun, spread scheme
RELATED:

2016 NFL Draft Scouting Report: TCU WR Josh Doctson
Analysis
I won’t go so far as to say that Lynch is a blue-chip prospect, but there are raw skills and abilities that he possesses that perhaps no other quarterback in this class can claim. In a perfect world, you’d like to see a more mechanically sound passer who can spin a prettier ball to his targets, but Lynch has found a way to be successful without top-notch form.

2016 NFL Draft Paxton Lynch shuttleThe biggest reason for Lynch’s prowess as a passer is his rocket arm, which can unhinge passes on a frozen rope to his targets, even without a sound base at times. Lynch’s ability to create gains in the passing game despite a crumbling pocket or compromised mechanics is special, and makes me excited for his ceiling when he does master the details.

The Memphis product is still learning to vary the ball’s pace, but Lynch has already shown remarkable touch and accuracy throwing deep, with the ability to drop passes into the bucket despite tight coverage. His ability to thread the needle in the smallest of windows, whether on the run or from the pocket, allows Lynch to complete lower percentage throws that most quarterbacks cannot.

His NFL system fit offers some versatility, as Lynch shows the presence and developing footwork to thrive from the pocket as a downfield passer, while also being an excellent ball handler and fully capable as a rusher. He’ll need time to master progressions and reads for a pro-style offense, but the comfortability is there to excel in a West Coast attack quickly. I don’t see Lynch as a bad fit for any system honestly, as long as the coaching staff is patient and doesn’t thrust undue responsibility on him too early.

Probably my favorite trait about Lynch is his underrated athleticism, which allows him to escape pressure with quick feet and top-notch movement skills. You’d expect more awkward lower-body mechanics from a 6-7 quarterback, but instead Lynch is a very natural and fluid mover, which allows him to escape pressure quickly while keeping his attention down field.Paxton Lynch Mempis postgame celebration

The best case scenario is for Lynch to sit behind a veteran and refine his throwing mechanics and understanding of a pro-style offense for awhile, but in today’s NFL that might not be possible. He’s currently too reliant on his arm to make plays, but against better competition that won’t always be possible. I’m excited about Lynch’s future, and the fact that his toolset should make him attractive to a variety of different offenses, but I hope whatever team he lands with doesn’t accelerate him to a starting position too quickly and ruin the potential he currently possesses.

Grade: Late 1st Round

http://thedraftwire.usatoday.com/2015/12...rojection-film/

Hey.........someone who agrees w/me.

Yes. He reminds me of Brady Quinn w/the accuracy thing. I remember Tuck nicknaming BQ "Wild Thing" back in the day.

The other thing that the author did not mention was that Goff makes some really dumb throws. He forces the ball into coverage too often. That might work against Air Force, Washington St, Arizona, and USC, but it won't work in the NFL. Heck, even Goff has said he doesn't know what he was thinking after some of his throws.

I've run into Jon Ledyard before and I'm not sure how much I trust his prognostications. He has A'Shawn Robinson as a 3rd rounder. I did a little research and his twitter bio says he's a high school strength and conditioning coach born in 1990.

I'm not saying his takes are wrong, I'm just not sure of his methodology or track record. His observations seem fairly accurate, but I question how he weights different factors and stacks his board as a result.

What are your qualifications?

Exactly.

What I read seems like a pretty good evaluation of the players as they are now. I don't think that takes a whole lot of talent. Just time to actually watch film and get your thoughts on paper.

As for what to do with those evaluation and how to project them out is where the great GM's make their living.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000...erence-in-draft

Did Browns' Hue Jackson hint about QB preference in draft?

INDIANAPOLIS -- Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson has made no secret of his interest in selecting a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

He might have clued everyone in to his preference on which QB the Browns take with a comment he made Wednesday at the NFL Scouting Combine.

Jackson said hand size -- a trait that draws a lot of attention when it comes to QBs -- does indeed matter for signal-callers, citing the rainy, snowy weather that QBs will encounter when playing in the AFC North.

Why is this a potential hint into his QB preference?

The top quarterbacks at the combine this week have not yet had their hands measured here in Indianapolis, but the scuttlebutt, per USA TODAY's Tom Pelissero, is that Cal's Jared Goff, one of the top QBs available this year, has "tiny" hands.

Four of the five most recent NFL Media mock drafts have the Browns taking Goff at No. 2. However, NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah has Cleveland taking the other most highly regarded QB available this year, North Dakota State's Carson Wentz.

Wentz, who was measured last month at the Reese's Senior Bowl, has 10-inch hands, more than big enough to suffice for an NFL QB. Goff, an underclassman, didn't take part in the Senior Bowl, so his hand size is a mystery that will go unsolved until, presumably, tomorrow, when he's due to be measured at the combine.

Unless he defies expectations when paw meets tape measure, it won't be a favorable development for Goff, and it could push Jackson into Wentz's corner, if he's not there already.

Maybe they'll have the QBs hold a whopper in the interview room.

(Man... that sounds illegal.)

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-d...al-measurements

Jeff Driskel: 9 3/4"
Kevin Hogan: 10 1/8"
Cody Kessler: 9 7/8"
Carson Wentz: 10"

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-d...al-measurements

Brandon Allen: 8 1/2"
Jacoby Brissett: 9 1/2"
Jake Coker: 9 1/2"
Dak Prescott: 9 7/8"


FWIW:

Johnny Manziel: 10 1/4"
Brandon Weeden: 9 1/2"
Brady Quinn: 9 5/8"
Colt McCoy: 9 3/8"
Cam Newton: 9 7/8"
Aaron Rodgers: 9 3/8"
Tom Brady: 9 3/8"

http://draftbreakdown.com/mel-kiper-raises-strange-concern-for-browns-and-carson-wentz/

According to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Calbot, Mel Kiper suggested that the Cleveland Browns should have concerns as to whether Carson Wentz can handle playing in cold weather because he’s never played a collegiate game in conditions colder than 34 degrees:

Mel Kiper said one question about Carson Wentz for #Browns is that he hasn’t played in a game below 34 degrees

— Mary Kay Cabot (@MaryKayCabot) February 22, 2016


NDSU plays in a dome. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that... just saying that once again with Wentz, there's no data where people are assuming there's data.

First the NFL makes a push to get more women in front offices and now they are scrutinizing a guy's hand size.

Coincidence?

NDSU played in a dome so not that many cold weather games for Wentz

Supposedly Lynch is going to have the biggest hands of all the Qb's

That would make zero difference to me any way.

wow. They call Dak Prescott "Not a great athlete, heavy-footed and lacking lateral quickness and explosiveness as a runner." Where was that criticism for Goff? Why would we highlight a quarterback's running ability as a weakness? Hmm...

And seriously, they want to kill him for his decision making against Alabama? That was a bloodbath. He was getting crushed *all day*. He ended up throwing for 300 yards and a pick when his OL was vastly overmatched by 'Bama's DL. Then 7 days later, after getting hammered play after play, he came out threw for 508 yards, 5 TDs, and ran for 46 yards and 2 TDs against Arkansas.

I agree the top criticism is pretty ridiculous. He's a pretty athletic dude.

As far as the second, it's harder for me to say. The stats don't tell the whole story. I know in the Senior Bowl he was named MVP, but he threw a horrible pass in the red zone that should have been a pick. I'd have to dig in to the film.

Alabama was definitely his worst game this year but the whole team just got demolished by them.

j/c:

Goff measured in 6'4, 215lbs, w/ 9-inch hands.

Tom Pelissero Verified account
@TomPelissero
Jared Goff measured in at 6'4", 215 with 9-inch hands. So small hands, not "tiny".

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Yeah, I checked out Goff, too... I don't think he ever played in a game below 40° in college.

so 3/8" smaller than Aaron Rodgers and Brady. Is that enough to make a difference? Can't they just take a little air out of the ball?

Put DePodesta on it.

If the Browns start making decisions based off of hand size I'm heading for the 480 bridge.

j/c:

Carson Wentz 10-inch hands, 6-5 1/4, 237lbs.

Bridgewater has "smallish" hands @ 9-1/4". Maybe he can recommend a glove manufacturer...