Ratings Explanation
6=Elite
5=Long-time/solid NFL starter
4=Low-end starter
3=No. 2 quarterback
2=No. 3 quarterback
1=practice squad player
Note: All six quarterbacks were rated on a six-point grading system. 6 being
the highest, 1 being the lowest.
The ratings are based purely on ability/talent/skill. Character, leadership, and
non-football playing factors were not taken into consideration because those
issues will be resolved by NFL teams as we get closer to the draft.
Tony Pike/Cincinnati/North
Arm Strength: 5.0
Comments: Pike has an ideal NFL arm. You can see how the ball comes out of his
hands with power and torque. Because of the power in his passes, he was willing
to take some chances.
Accuracy: 4.5
Comments: Like many quarterbacks with a strong arm, Pike tended to have a small
problem with shorter passes that required touch. However, he was very good on
intermediate or deeper passes.
Pocket Awareness/Movement: 4.5
Comments: He did a good job with his footwork. He also had precise movement on
his five and seven-step drops.
Mechanics: 4.25
Comments: Pike has a high release point and he does a nice job of putting the
ball back on his throwing motion. This helps him get more power into his passes.
Numerical Grade: 4.55
Comments: There's no question that Pike projects to be a starter down the road
at the NFL level. He has what personnel evaluators want--size and arm strength.
Round Target: 2-3
Comments: Pike is what scouts look for in a quarterback. He's big and has a
solid arm. Those traits will help get him selected early in the draft.
Jarrett Brown/West Virginia/South
Arm Strength: 4.75
Comments: He reminded me of former NFL QB Rohan Davey, but in a better sense.
Brown has a strong arm and he's willing to throw the ball into tighter windows.
NFL personnel evaluators love when a young quarterback is willing to make tough
throws. The passing windows are tighter on the NFL level, so Brown probably won
over some scouts this week.
Accuracy: 4.25
Comments: For the most part, Brown was pretty accurate this week. He was a bit
inconsistent with shorter passes that required a bit more touch on the ball.
Pocket Awareness/Movement: 4.25
Comments: Brown did a good job of knowing where his receivers were most of the
time.
Mechanics: 4.0
Comments: His footwork was good for the most part. Brown had a consistent
release point, but was able to throw from different platforms when necessary.
Numerical Grade: 4.31
Comments: There was probably no quarterback that helped himself more this week
in Mobile than Brown. He was very consistent from the outset of practices this
week on Monday.
Round Target: 3-4
Comments: There's no question that Brown helped himself this week. He could go
even higher if he has a strong NFL combine and pro day.
Sean Canfield/Oregon State/North
Arm Strength: 1.75
Comments: Canfield probably had the weakest arm of the the six quarterbacks in
Mobile this week. He simply can't drive the ball at all down field.
Accuracy: 4.0
Comments: What stood out with Canfield was his accuracy. While he doesn't have a
good arm, he still puts the ball where it needs to be on shorter to intermediate
routes.
Pocket Awareness/Movement: 4
Comments: He did a decent job of evading the rush this week. He seemed to have a
good sense of where his intended targets were on the field.
Mechanics: 3.25
Comments: Canfield's footwork wasn't great this week, but it was good enough for
him to throw the ball from where he was on the field.
Numerical Grade: 3.25
Comments: His accuracy could help overcome his obvious lack of arm strength.
Round Target: 5-6
Comments: There's going to be a place in the NFL for a guy like Canfield. While
he showed to have well less than an ideal arm, his accuracy was very good. That
will help him gain notice on the final day of the draft.
Tim Tebow/Florida/South
Arm Strength: 2.5
Comments: It was quite evident from his first snap on Monday that Tebow had a
below average NFL arm. Because his mechanics were off, that took power off his
passes. He also needs to get more force into his throws.
Accuracy: 3.25
Comments: His accuracy was better later in the week. However, because of his
poor mechanics, Tebow had problems hitting even open receivers at times. Every
once in a while he threw the ball better down field, but he was still way too
inconsistent in that area. What he did well was throw some fades passes with
good touch.
Pocket Awareness/Movement: 4.50
Comments: Creating functional space to throw the ball wasn't a problem for Tebow
at all. He seemed to have a decent understanding of where to go with the ball
this week.
Mechanics: 1.25
Comments: Tebow's release point is a big problem. He's unable to get enough
power into his throws because of where he releases the ball. He also tends to
hold the ball too low and it takes him too long to get the ball out of his left
hand. His footwork also needs to be more consistent.,
Numerical Grade: 2.88
Comments: Whichever team drafts Tebow will have a full understanding of what he
is and what he isn't. He has a below average NFL arm, but moves very well in and
outside the pocket. If he can get his mechanics straightened out, he'll have a
chance to move up the draft chart at the next level.
Round Target: 5-6
Comments: Based on the obvious issue with his mechanics, Tebow is likely to drop
to the third day of the draft. The only way he goes off the board higher is if a
team thinks he'll be able to play another position,
Dan LeFevour/Central Michigan/North
Arm Strength: 2.25
Comments: Because of his lack of arm strength, LeFevour came up short on too
many passes this week in practice. He pushes the ball out of his hands instead
of throwing it.
Accuracy: 3.0
Comments: He aimed the ball a little bit this week instead of throwing it. His
accuracy was up and down this week.
Pocket Awareness/Movement: 3.25
Comments: LeFevour moves around well, but he doesn't always see what's going on
around him.
Mechanics: 2.75
Comments: Consistent, good footwork was an issue for him. He also tends to push
the ball instead of just throwing it normally.
Numerical Grade: 2.81
Comments: LeFevour just doesn't have the arm strength that will gain notice in
any setting. That's going to push him down draft boards. He needs to have his
throwing motion adjusted.
Round Target: 6-7
Comments: LeFevour projects to go off the board late in the draft. He simply
lacks adequate arm strength that NFL scouts covet.
Zac Robinson/Oklahoma State/South
Arm Strength: 2.15
Comments: For the most part, the ball didn't come out fast or hard from
Robinson's right hand. Occasionally, he threw the ball with some speed, but when
he did, he seemed to overthrow his intended target.
Accuracy: 2.25
Comments: Robinson's passes tended to be off the mark quite a bit during most of
the practices this week. He had a hard time getting into any kind of rhythm,
Pocket Awareness/Movement: 3
Comments: He moved fairly well in the pocket, but needed to do a better job of
getting the ball out of his hands.
Mechanics: 2.75
Comments: Robinson's footwork was a bit inconsistent. His release point on
several passes also was an issue this week.
Numerical Grade: 2.54
Comments: Robinson's lack of arm strength and accuracy hurt him this week. The
hope is that his game tape will provide NFL decision makers with a more positive
outlook.
Round Target: 6-7
Comments: Robinson projects as a late-round pick or as a priority free agent
based on what we saw this week. He'll need to have a strong pro day as well as a
strong NFL combine performance in order to be selected higher in the draft.
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