ESPN Say's Newton To Enter Draft

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by skinsfaninok

I've seen Gabbert play quite a bit and dude is great..... When he stands all day BUT once that pocket caves he makes horrible decisions and isn't very accurate deep down field, has a good upside because he has a big arm but so does Mallett. I'm sticking with my guns And saying Locker will be the best QB of this draft.. Dalton is the sleeper QB with Ponder

Personally for me it's that commitment to resetting his shoulders and constantly looking downfield that has got me rooting for Gabbert (I believe the third play in that video is the first example). I think in this day and age of exotic blitzes and 250+ pound front 7 players running like safeties that you need a guy with some mobility, unless of course you can find a Peyton Manning type player that always knows where to put the ball before the defense can get to him.

To put it simply I saw a good amount of Aaron Rodgers in Gabbert even though his numbers in that game weren't ideal.

Originally Posted by SOUL-SKINS

I think it hurts him. I def think he will be there at 10. So if Shanny likes him he's ours. I hope we take him.

If I had to guess I would say that Arizona takes him at 5 while Buffalo takes Cam at 3. That leaves us with Mallet, Locker, and Dalton/Ponder. Personally I think you should always expect to reach on a QB when you're picking around 10 and beyond.

[MTK]

Not throwing at the combine is no big deal. He'll have his private workouts to show how well he can throw in shorts and a t-shirt.

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

So what do you all think of Gabbert choosing not to throw at the combine?

If it not due to injury, I think it raises flags.

[warriorzpath]

After seeing a lot of reference back to Aaron Rodgers, I was trying to determine what was different about him and Alex Smith and Jason Campbell coming out of college in the same draft year.

They all seemed to be talented, even though Alex Smith was preceived to be on another level -- which was indicated by their draft positions. So it wasn't something that only the nfl scouts saw.

I know it wasn't about winning because in Jason Campbell's senior year, Auburn finished undefeated and ranked #2.

So what was it in Rodgers that was different coming out of college -- that we should look for in a qb coming out of the draft this year (or any other year for that matter)?

Or is it an intangible trait that you can't really measure or discover until after the qb's been drafted?

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

Originally Posted by Lotus

Nor do I.

He's done nothing in the 4 years he had a Washington. Sucked in the Senior Bowl and the bowl game vs Nebraska. He's inaccurate, makes bad decisions and did I mention INACCURATE?? But we should take him why?? Because he can roll out and is fast?? He should just play baseball.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by EARTHQUAKE2689

He's done nothing in the 4 years he had a Washington. Sucked in the Senior Bowl and the bowl game vs Nebraska. He's inaccurate, makes bad decisions and did I mention INACCURATE?? But we should take him why?? Because he can roll out and is fast?? He should just play baseball.

To my eyes this is a great take on Locker.

[wilsowilso]

Originally Posted by EARTHQUAKE2689

He's done nothing in the 4 years he had a Washington. Sucked in the Senior Bowl and the bowl game vs Nebraska. He's inaccurate, makes bad decisions and did I mention INACCURATE?? But we should take him why?? Because he can roll out and is fast?? He should just play baseball.

It seems like you haven't watched Locker play very much if at all.

How about this take. Over the eight or nine years that Pete Carroll was at USC which was by far and away the biggest NFL factory of the last decade Carroll says that Locker is the best QB USC ever faced in his entire tenure at college footballs biggest powerhouse.

When a coach with that much experience with NFL caliber players says something like that you have to ask yourself who is a better person to evaluate a PAC 10 QB? There is no one more qualified and I mean no one on planet Earth.

Locker is a really talented football player and he has elite tools.

Sure he could be a bust, but that happens plenty with can't miss QB's.

[skinsfaninok]

Originally Posted by wilsowilso

It seems like you haven't watched Locker play very much if at all.

How about this take. Over the eight or nine years that Pete Carroll was at USC which was by far and away the biggest NFL factory of the last decade Carroll says that Locker is the best QB USC ever faced in his entire tenure at college footballs biggest powerhouse.

When a coach with that much experience with NFL caliber players says something like that you have to ask yourself who is a better person to evaluate a PAC 10 QB?

There is no one more qualified and I mean no one on planet Earth.

This....


Also locker had by far the worst supporting cast out of the other top tier QBs in the draft. Played in a pro style system which really helps.

He's smart has a big time NFL arm and can move as well as Any QB in the draft. There's a reason why he was considered a top 5 pick last year, he decided to return to school which is a good sign, it just didn't work out as he planned.

And what QBs are you'll wanting to take instead of JL? Dont say Cam or Mallett. Gabbert would be my 2nd choice but the fact that he has never played under center pretty much is scary IMO.

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by skinsfaninok

This....


Also locker had by far the worst supporting cast out of the other top tier QBs in the draft. Played in a pro style system which really helps.

He's smart has a big time NFL arm and can move as well as Any QB in the draft. There's a reason why he was considered a top 5 pick last year, he decided to return to school which is a good sign, it just didn't work out as he planned.

And what QBs are you'll wanting to take instead of JL? Dont say Cam or Mallett. Gabbert would be my 2nd choice but the fact that he has never played under center pretty much is scary IMO.

I don't doubt that Locker had a poor supporting cast, but if we bring him here and he doesn't play well then its Jason Campbell all over again. We need a QB that can perform despite not having all the pieces around him. I'll always look at a QB's performance in relation to his supporting cast but there are standards that should be met.

With McNabb for instance I didn't expect him to easily post a 90+ QB rating but I did expect him to have some distance between his TD's and INT's along with at least a 60% completion percentage (or a YPA average that made up for a sub 60% completion percentage). I also expected a reasonable amount of third downs to be converted.

Locker was suppose to be an elite QB at the collegiate level. It's not like he was paired with some poh-dunk SEC 3 yards and a cloud of dust offensive mind, but rather a respected offensive mind in Steve Sarkisan. Yet he had 4 games this past year where he failed to throw for more then 75 yards (though I think one game he might have been knocked out early).

As I said before I'm not totally opposed to Locker and theres still a part of me that thinks Shanahan can fix him if it comes down to it. However my gut keeps telling me that this is a younger and faster version of McNabb. Anyway this might shed some light on the situation.

February 25, 2011 at 1:59 PM
Mike Shanahan compares Jake Locker to Jake Plummer
Posted by Danny O'Neil

INDIANAPOLIS -- Washington coach Mike Shanahan -- whose team holds the No. 10 overall pick in the draft -- was asked about quarterback Jake Locker and comparisons to Jay Cutler.

"I would make more similarities to Jake Plummer," Shanahan said, "because of his ability to run."

Specifically, that ability to make plays on the move, to get outside the pocket, is a strength of Locker's. When people question Locker's accuracy, it is his accuracy from the pocket. He's as accurate as any quarterback in this draft throwing on the move.

Shanahan acquired Plummer from Arizona, and he took the Broncos to the playoffs. In 2006, Plummer was benched for Cutler -- who was then a rookie -- and retired after the season.

Shanahan said at the end he only watched a few games featuring Locker and looked forward to studying him more.

[wilsowilso]

I keep hearing people compare QB prospects to D McNabb using DM as the type of player you don't want to draft.

The guy is only a borderline Hall of Famer.

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by wilsowilso

I keep hearing people compare QB prospects to D McNabb using DM as the type of player you don't want to draft.

The guy is only a borderline Hall of Famer.

As an Eagle though. As a Redskin in Shanahan's system he's a cautionary tale.

[skinsfaninok]

Shanny made Plummer a very solid QB, locker is a better overall athlete than Jake IMO. If we don't draft locker or Gabbert I'd just assume not take a QB this yr

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

I've watched Locker play all 4 years and even if someone doesn't have a great supporting cast you can tell if they have the opportunity to be a solid player. In the senior bowl when he had a chance to show what he can do what did he do? Nothing. Matt Leinart had a great supporting cast at USC and isn't worth a squirrel fart. Also, every player in the draft is talented. You don't get this far without being talented. Just riddle me this: What has Locker done for anyone to say he is the best QB in this draft?? Because he can run??? Not buying it. AJ Green, Von Miller, or Blane Gabbert.

[skinsfaninok]

Originally Posted by EARTHQUAKE2689

I've watched Locker play all 4 years and even if someone doesn't have a great supporting cast you can tell if they have the opportunity to be a solid player. In the senior bowl when he had a chance to show what he can do what did he do? Nothing. Matt Leinart had a great supporting cast at USC and isn't worth a squirrel fart. Also, every player in the draft is talented. You don't get this far without being talented. Just riddle me this: What has Locker done for anyone to say he is the best QB in this draft?? Because he can run??? Not buying it. AJ Green, Von Miller, or Blane Gabbert.

He was pretty good at UW, is he still a little raw? Yes no doubt but if you think any other QB in this draft is ready to play next year, you are mistaken. Let me ask you this my man, you say Gabbert? What has he done that Locker hasn't? Thats right Nothing, so we are in the same boat my friend just different opinions. Btw I would take Green or Miller at 10 also, BUT they won't be there. How bout we go after Matt Flynn or Kyle Orton?





Jake Locker, Washington, NFL Draft - DraftCountdown.com


pretty good assessment of Locker

[skinsfaninok]

NFL.com news: Combine could be extremely important for 2011 QB class


They mention Ponder here as well

NFL Videos: Grading the quarterbacks