Category: Scouting Report (Page 34 of 38)

Introduction

Below you’ll find four videos featuring Robert Griffin III (QB, Baylor). The first video is every snap Griffin impacted in last year’s Texas Bowl where Baylor were defeated convincingly by Illinois. The next three videos feature tape from 2011 – every snap Griffin took in the games against TCU, Texas A&M and most recently, Missouri. I’ll break down and analyse the Tigers game from last Saturday later in this piece as it’s the freshest example of what Griffin’s going to bring to the NFL if he chooses to declare as a fourth-year junior. However, before you read on I would urge you to watch tape of the Illinois game and then watch at least one of the 2011 videos. Compare and contrast what you see.   

Thanks to JMPasq for supplying the game tape

Robert Griffin III provides one of the great mysteries of this year’s potential draft class. I’m struggling to grade Griffin, despite the fact I’ve watched more of his tape this year than the vast majority of players eligible for the 2012 draft.   

If you took the opportunity to watch the Illinois tape, you’ll probably come to the same conclusion I did. I’d seen Baylor a few times in 2010 and never been particularly taken by their quarterback. It’s a heavy screen game – lot’s of passes into the flats, a high percentage for completions but not a lot of real productivity. Essentially, Baylor’s offense was built around getting the ball to track-star athletes playing receiver and trying to create outside space to use that electrifying speed. Griffin was the middle man and very rarely was he asked to make any passes you could grade down as evidence of next-level ability. His skills as an athlete to run with the ball offered a zone-read option – another feature that doesn’t translate to the NFL. Overall, it wasn’t very impressive if you’re a team looking for a franchise quarterback.   

I came into the 2011 season wondering if Griffin was even draftable. Maybe someone would give him a try, but who? In fairness I suspect he had similar realistic ambitions which is why he talked during the summer about staying for a fifth year at Baylor and attending law school, having already completed his degree in political science. He’s an intelligent and personable individual and while football made him a star in college, it wouldn’t necessarily make him a star as a professional. Nobody was talking about Robert Griffin III as a pro-prospect, let alone someone that could potentially be a first round pick.

Now, everything has changed.   

The reason I wanted to highlight that Illinois tape from the Texas Bowl is simply to emphasise the development Griffin has gone through. Look at any of the three subsequent videos and you could be forgiven for thinking you’re watching two completely different players. Suddenly he’s driving the ball downfield with great consistency, he’s making touch throws at every level (short range, intermediate, deep) and he’s progressing through a couple of good, quick reads. I’ve talked a lot about the footwork and mechanical improvements he’ll need to make, but this is just about as good as it gets in terms of a twelve-month improvement.   

All kinds of questions eminate from that. Is it testament to a man who’s worked at his craft knowing he needed to make several improvements for a shot at the NFL? Do we credit the coaches? Ultimately this development will have needed some tuition. Is it simply down to experience? How much better can he get either with further playing time at Baylor or by moving to the NFL to work full-time on honing his skills?   

It’s that final question that intrigues me the most and makes Griffin such an unknown. Right now he has some attractive pro-features and there are also some things to work on. However, if we can see this level of improvement as he grows at Baylor – what level could he achieve being managed in the NFL? Are we looking at a player with elite potential here? Are we looking at a player who just works harder than everyone else and has clicked for one great year and actually may struggle to make further gains? Is he maxed out?   

The only time we’ll find the answer to that is the day Griffin is standing in a NFL stadium and he’s throwing the football. I suspect some teams will be enamoured by the potential, yet others will avoid the unknown. Someone will believe in this guy, probably enough to make him a relatively early pick. So that leads to two further obvious questions – will Pete Carroll be that man to believe in Robert Griffin III and just how high would a team be willing to draft him? Top ten? First round? Early second round similar to Colin Kaepernick?   

We know the Seahawks had some interest in Kaepernick last year – enough to put him at #2 on their list of quarterbacks behind Blaine Gabbert and just above Andy Dalton. We also understand that had they been able to trade down into the early part of round two, they would’ve considered drafting Kaepernick who eventually went in that range to San Francisco.   

Griffin has some similarities to the former Nevada passer – they’re both athletic player with running ability, both own strong arms but require mechanical tweaks to their technique, they’ll both enter the league considered longer term projects than some other quarterbacks but there’s also lot’s of physical potential and both are considered strong characters, good leaders and hard workers. There are, of course, strong differences between the two and I believe Griffin is a more polished overall passer, but he’s less of a threat as a runner. If the Seahawks rated Kaepernick as a potential early second round pick, would Griffin get a similar grade? Or is the mere interest in Kaepernick to begin with enough to suggest that maybe this team would possibly take Griffin earlier given the growing need to solve the quarterback dilemma?   

I’m going to move on from Kaepernick for now and leave that comparison – mainly because he’s yet to even start a NFL game and there are differences between the two that I won’t go into here. I’ve not seen anyone in the NFL I can logically compare to Griffin. More on that in a moment, but for now let’s get into the Missouri tape…   

The first play that stands out comes at exactly the 1:00 minute mark. It’s a 4WR set with two go routes on the outside. Griffin takes the snap in the shotgun before making an initial red to his left, then coming back to the right hand side to search for a second target. None of the receivers run a good route in fairness and the offensive line are unable to maintain a clean pocket for any suitable amount of time to let the play develop. Griffin detects the pressure after the second read and is able to step up into the pocket and scramble to the right hand side. He can run here but instinctively holds up at the LOS to make a pass, throwing back across his body. The throw is high and asks a lot of Kendall Wright, who jumps at full stretch but only manages to get a finger tip to the ball. If you were being kind to you could say he put the ball in an area only the receiver could get it, but ultimately the receiver doesn’t because it’s marginally inaccurate.   

What I liked about this play though was the ability to feel the pressure without letting it impact the play. He still makes two reads and he doesn’t linger on a target when it’s time to move. Buying time for throw gives him the chance to make a completion and he doesn’t sell out on the play to make a run for it. The pass was difficult across his body, but almost completed. With a degree of better accuracy, that could’ve been a play scouts return to when trying to make a strong case for drafting Griffin. It may remain a good example anyway.   

Running with the ball is a concern for me. In fact, I’d go as far to say Griffin is a bit of a liability here. Yes he’s an athlete who can get the first down when the pass breaks down and potentially even make the big unexpected play. However, ball security is a major problem and his lack of bulk and upright running style could make him an easy target. The Missouri game isn’t the first game he’s fumbled the ball carrying it in a bad position. If we’re going to talk about Griffin as a threat running in space, he has to avoid turnovers by doing a better job of protecting the ball. His running style involves a lot of arm movement, but he needs to tuck the ball closer to his chest and not leave it open to be punched out. I counted three fumbles in this game, two from running plays. It’s something I’ve noticed in other games this year and I suspect it’ll happen again.   

He’s got excellent straight line speed and he’s definitely an athlete but whether he’s holding back due to his previous knee injury or whether he’s just not that elusive, Griffin never seems to break open the huge gain with his legs despite having the opportunity to run on a number of plays. That’s not a big deal, because you dont want the quarterback running too much at the next level anyway. However, I think it brings some reality to Griffin’s status because he’s not going to be an explosive Michael Vick-type runner. He may be a better passer than Vick though and his on-field IQ certainly matches the strong academic intelligence he’s shown with his studies.   

What I really like about Griffin is the way he reacts to the environment around him and undoubtedly that’s one of the reasons he’s limited turnovers this year. When he needs to he can get out of a bad situation or play call. If a pass rusher gets in his face just as he’s ready to release, he won’t just jam it in there regardless. Instead, he’ll pull the ball down and look to extend the play for a better passing lane or a run. When he’s in the pocket and the protection fails, he won’t bail too soon and he keeps his eyes downfield. Griffin has consistently shown he understands when to move out of the pocket to buy extra time and when it makes sense to stand tall and deliver the football. When you’re constantly aware of what’s unfolding in front of you, a quarterback can make better decisions and he can improvise. I need to see a quarterback in college that’s able to make something from a broken play, or at least not be tied to the script. Griffin does that.   

The evidence this season shows his placement is fantastic and he plays the percentages. He’s got a rare and under rated talent – which some would write off as conservative – and that’s to put the pass in a position where either his receiver is getting it or nobody is. He’s not ultra-cautious with this with constant check downs all the time (Kevin Kolb) or fearing any pass beyond 20-yards (Kevin Kolb). He’s prepared to take on a pass in a tight window. However, you notice in the red zone how he throws low and that’s a good skill to have. He limits the take away potential and although it demands more from the receiver, they have the opportunity to respond and make a play. It’s another reason why he has such a low number of turnovers.   

One of my favorite plays from the Missouri game came at 4:25. He takes the snap in the gun and pumps with his shoulder to the outside right sideline before throwing a really difficult pass for a ten-yard gain to a receiver in single coverage. He actually throws over two defenders who both leap for the ball, but the pass is too good. That’s perfect placement and touch.   

The announcer at 5:28 made a slight complaint with a pass featured, where Griffin is hammered by a defensive lineman but still gets the throw off with decent velocity. It’s high and misses the target, but I still think the receiver could do a better job at trying to catch that ball. If he makes that pass, it’d be twice as much of a positive than missing the target is a negative.   

Footwork still a problem and I suspect this isn’t going to be something addressed in 2011. Griffin still dances in the pocket too much and it hurts his ability to get the quick release. I wouldn’t be surprised if he misses the occasional opportunity because he has to keep re-setting to deliver the football. If he drops back and the receiver gets instant separation, by the time he’s taken two steps and then needed to plant both feet the chance might have gone. It’s not just missing chances that will occur through this, the extra time wasted will give defensive lineman a chance to reach the quarterback. The constant re-setting also sometimes puts Griffin’s body shape into an awkward position and while I’ve not seen any instances where this has impacted a throw yet, it’s something I’ve started to look for in each new game.   

This is a big issue, but not impossible to fix quickly. Joe Flacco basically had to learn to drop-back from scratch as a rookie. He also had to learn the whole concept of footwork and how it can help a quarterback, yet he still started as a rookie and has been a regular feature for the Baltimore Ravens ever since. Good coaching helped Flacco and there’s every chance it could help Griffin too. Most quarterbacks have some technical flaws to work on when they enter the NFL – thankfully footwork is easier to fix than a throwing motion or a weak arm. Griffin should be fine if he gets the right coaching, but eliminating the pressure to start quickly would help in the long term (as it would for most rookies).   

The touchdown at 7:25 is a thing of beauty. Shotgun snap and Griffin doesn’t like his first read. He scrambles right to avoid an outside rush to the strong side before throwing a lazer to the receiver in the end zone. It’s a textbook throw on the run, mechanically very good with the exact necessary velocity with two defensive backs in the region. A lot of players can’t put that level of power into a throw while running, it’s often lofted into the end zone, broken up or intercepted. That’s a touchdown because Griffin can put the required zip on the ball in that situation. When you see the all-22 replay you realise what a special pass that is. It’s a tiny window to throw into, he’s made a split second decision to make the pass and he’s executed to perfection. That may be the second most impressive pass I’ve seen this season after Geno Smith’s impossibly brilliant pass against LSU.   

His deep accuracy is very good and remains a positive overall but it’s not perfect. The pass at 8:06 should’ve been a touchdown and Griffin just misses by over shooting. He has to make that throw and it’s as poor as the touchdown mentioned above was exceptional.   

They went back to this play at 10:57 and this time made the downfield completion for a big touchdown. I need to decide if this great deep accuracy translates to the NFL because Baylor’s receivers are all very quick. In the NFL, the cornerbacks are generally quick too and they’ll do a better job disrupting your route early in the play. He’s often throwing downfield to players who can create separation through pure speed. It’ll be harder at the next level, but not impossible. My assessment, having seen so many of Griffin’s deep completions now, is that this is a translatable skill but one that must be tempered. He’s not going to do this every week in the pro’s, but it’s good to know he can keep a defense honest with his deep ball and it’s not just a throw and hope either. There is some thought going into these long passes and it’ll be a weapon to take into the pro’s.   

I’ve watched more Griffin tape than I usually need to see to make a judgement on a prospect and stick to my guns. Even now I’m still confused as to what’s holding me back from just saying, ‘you know what, this guy is a top pick after all’. Maybe it’s time to give him the high grade? Maybe it’s because there’s nobody quite like him already in the league? He’s not Cam Newton, he’s not Michael Vick. He’s Robert Griffin. The simple fact is we may never know whether a Robert Griffin type player will work until we see it with our own eyes on a Sunday. He is, quite simply, a unique football player. Aside from mechanical tweaks and footwork issues, I’m not sure there’s any reason not to take on the RG3 experiment.   

So would the Seahawks be interested? Very possibly. Using what information we have (previously signed players, interviews, previous targets, declared philosophy) I think the Seahawks are looking for a quarterback who can lead a ball control offense. They’re not necessarily looking for a Cam Newton-type. I’m a big fan of Newton’s and was among the first to tout him as a probable #1 pick last year, but he’s the kind of player you cannot manage. He’ll go out to lead a drive and you won’t know what to expect – he’s unpredictable. By the end of this year most of his touchdowns could be on broken plays or improvised decisions. A lot of his turnovers may have happened when he’s stuck to the script and tried to force it. Newton is a rare talent with major potential, but he’s also someone who needs to do it his way.   

The Seahawks may want a little more control over their quarterback. That’s not to say they don’t want someone who can improvise and make something out of nothing, but they proabably want to limit the risks a little more and make a concerted effort to restrict turnovers. They want someone who’s mobile enough to extend plays, but also someone who can sit in the pocket and take what a defense offers. The Seahawks want to utilise a deep ball, but there’s also a lot of orthodox WCO short passes and game management.   

When you sit down and think about it, some of the best quarterbacks in the league fit that bill. Aaron Rodgers isn’t a big risk taker, but he manipulates a defense and can extend plays to improvise. He has an arm to drive the ball downfield. He limits turnovers. It’s not that the Seahawks are necessarily looking for a lesser player – they perhaps just don’t want the unpredictable loose cannon who makes it up as he goes along but is talented enough to thrive in that mould (which in fairness, also represents a portion of the NFL’s better QB’s).   

Griffin fits into what I suspect the Seahawks want from their quarterback. The question that lingers is whether or not they’d see him as a top-ten pick type talent or someone they don’t trust enough to hand over the keys to future success. Pete Carroll may only get one shot at drafting a franchise quarterback, so he has to get it right. I suspect other teams could see Griffin as worthy of the high pick and waiting for him later on may lead to a dead end. Will he declare? If he gets a high grade from the draft committee I think he will and it’ll complete the transformation of a player who has grown significantly in the last twelve months. Whether he continues that development in Seattle remains to be seen.

Quinton Coples: Unimpressive pass rusher and painful looking tattoo's

I’ve just finished watching the Louisville vs North Carolina game from Saturday, focusing on UNC defensive lineman Quinton Coples. I’ve never been that impressed when I’ve watched him in the past, but this was a game I thought he had a chance to dominate. Louisville are struggling a bit – losing at home to Marshall the previous week and starting a freshman left guard who had only recently converted from defense.

However, much to my disappointment, Coples was again largely ineffective. This is a player everyone is touting as the best defensive prospect for 2012 – without fail. A lot of high profile pundits have Coples ranked very highly – he’s #2 on Mel Kiper’s big board and several others have him in the top five of their mock drafts. Sorry, but I don’t see a top five pick when I watch Quinton Coples. I’m not even convinced I see a player with first round potential period.

One of the biggest problems I have with him is figuring out what kind of player he’ll be at the next level. He’s not a great speed rusher or a player who creates consistent pressure with technique, power or by mastering one particular move. That says to me you’re fighting a losing battle trying to force him into a right end role in the 4-3 (the position he mostly plays for North Carolina). He’s about 275-280lbs which isn’t ideal size to kick inside and play three technique where I think he’d really struggle against the run and would have major problems against interior blocking. I end up looking at the five technique position, but even then I’m not completely convinced because he doesn’t do a great job shedding blocks after engaging an offensive lineman. He can hold the point of attack to free up room for on-rushing linebackers, which is probably why I settle for the orthodox 3-4 five-tech with some remaining suspicion.

Whatever position you think he fits, you’ll have a hard time convincing me that this guy is worth the hype. He might be the most over rated 2012 draft eligible player – which says a lot given who he’s competing with for that honor.

Case in point… it’s third down on Louisville’s 5 yard line in the first quarter and Coples is playing right end. There’s no explosion off the snap and he engages the left tackle but can’t beat him round the edge. He tries a move to pull inside, but the tackle just passes him off to the freshman guard who just completely stones him still with a two hand punch to the chest. It was such a laboured move that didn’t threaten either offensive lineman – initial burst lacking, not enough speed and he’s beaten for power by a guard who’s learning the position on the run.

Coples doesn’t play with any real urgency or fire. He could make up for a lack of edge speed by just competing at 100% and flashing the kind of power you expect from someone at 280lbs and 6-6, but it’s never there. He hasn’t got a bull rush. He hasn’t got a spin move. He hasn’t got a good club or swim. What does he bring to the table other than a big frame and above average athleticism for that size? His hand usage needs to be much better, too often he gets tied up with a lineman when a sudden jolt or a club would free him up to get that extra space needed to work into the backfield. I don’t see a guy who finishes plays – the one time he did have an effective splash it was only to jolt the running back backwards for another defender to complete the move. Coples beat a converted wide out playing tight end who was hopelessly misplaced in that situation, hardly a moment worthy of great praise.

Another big problem I have is how often Coples is subbed out of the game. I didn’t keep an official count but he seems to be in on around 60% of the defensive snaps, switching with Donte Paige-Moss. Really?A top five pick who plays right end but you’re subbing him out for four consecutive plays when Louisville have moved from their own 35 to inside UNC territory? It would’ve been five plays but for a time out. I think back to defensive lineman I’ve watched in recent years and rated highly and how ridiculous it would be to think of those guys stood watching from the sidelines on key first downs. That’s Coples for you. Why? Does he get tired easily? Are the coaches not telling us about an injury? Is it a conditioning issue?

I’ve been critical of other players in the past for relying on speed and not mastering a technical move or owning a strong repertoire (eg another former Tar Heel – Robert Quinn). Coples doesn’t have the speed or the moves. He looks so laboured as a pass rusher, without lacking the obivous qualities to move inside. To some degree he reminds me of a poor man’s Carlos Dunlap – who has almost identical size at 6-6, 277lbs. During his time at Florida, Dunlap was pretty frustrating because he had excellent physical qualities but coasted through games. Every now and again though he’d turn it on for a series and look like an elite prospect. He went from a potential top-10 pick to a late second rounder, taken by Cincinnati, mainly due to attitude and inconsistency.

It was a bit of a wake up call for Dunlap, who registered 9.5 sacks in an impressive rookie season for the Bengals. Coples’ all round play reminds me of the worst of Dunlap, just without the ability to really turn it on every now and again. If the elite potential is there, then maybe I could buy into a little of the hype. Sometimes a guy’s best football really is in the pro’s. With Coples, I just can’t see it. He looks like a player I’d possibly take the chance on in round two (like Dunlap) but wouldn’t invest much more based on his body of work so far.

With regards to the Seahawks, I don’t see how he fits into the scheme and projecting him to Seattle would be a misguided projection in my mind. He isn’t a LEO candidate or a player who could spell the Red Bryant position. I don’t see him moving inside to the three technique.

I’m surprised so many people are willing to throw Coples into the top five of a mock draft or big board. The only thing more confusing to me is how established draft pundits actually give his time-share buddy Donte Paige-Moss a first round grade – a player who at no point during his career has flashed anything but average pass rushing ability and mid-to-late round qualities. Is it the real lack of elite defensive talent and people need someone to invest their faith in? I’m not sure, but I’d keep looking for a defensive player worthy of the grade.

The real stars on UNC’s defense come at linebacker and Zach Brown is a proper first round prospect (see video below, courtesy of JMPasq). In this game he was again all over the field, showing great recognition skills and the physical qualities to react and make an impact as the play develops. He had an interception reading the QB like a book and showed surprising strength when engaging lineman as a pass rusher.

Alongside receiver Dwight Jones, Brown is the Tar Heel who excites me the most in terms of the draft. Certainly I don’t see Coples being an early pick as the foregone conclusion many appear to have drawn. There’s still plenty of time for this assesment to change and certainly he has time to add to the 2.5 sacks he has this year (2.0 came against James Madison in week one). A major improvement is needed however to come anywhere near to justifying the lofty expectations.

Landry Jones broke the Sooner's all-time passing record in the win over FSU

Oklahoma and Florida State were ranked #1 and #5 coming into this weekend. My lasting impression afterwards was – why?

This wasn’t a great game by any stretch of the imagination, despite the big billing. Florida State’s offense barely troubled all night and looked positively cupcake when the far-from-spectacular EJ Manuel was replaced by skinny freshman Clint Tricket. The Sooner’s never really capitalised, keeping FSU in the game thanks to a lack of killer instinct on offense themselves.

Opinion is mixed on quarterback Landry Jones. On this blog there have been some aggressive arguments in favor of a high draft grade. National pundits are conflicting in their opinions – Tony Pauline has suggested a fourth round mark, while Todd McShay has Jones ranked among the top prospects for 2012.

My own personal opinion has always been that he has a lot of the qualities needed to start at the next level, but this is not a player I’d want to be handcuffed to with a high pick. Regular visitors will know how aggressive I think the Seahawks need to be in finding a franchise quarterback – but I cannot get behind Jones as that guy. That judgement was only reaffirmed in this game.

This was a typical Landry Jones on the road performance. He’s thrown 28 career interceptions, with 22 coming away from home field. Get pressure on him on the road in a difficult atmosphere and he generally struggles. Put a capable quarterback on the other team and Oklahoma struggles – as we saw last year with Blaine Gabbert and Ryan Tannehill. Unfortunately for FSU, the combination of EJ Manuel and Clint Tricket never threatened.

He finished with a state line of 18-27 for 199 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. The first pick came with pressure up the middle, he panics and can’t avoid the defensive lineman and in trying to throw it away ends up turning it over. The second interception came after an over thrown deep ball into double coverage which was way off target. Bad decision, bad execution.

The Florida State defensive line was creating only average pressure, but even that was enough to throw him out of sync at times. Brandon Jenkins again confirmed my suspicions that he’s a long way off many people’s projected first round grade as a non-factor in this game. Instead it was down to sophomore Bjoern Werner – from Berlin, Germany – to stand out and flash pro-potential. Werner consistently caused problems off the edge and he could be a pick in the JJ Watt mould for 2013.

The talk afterwards was about a hard fought Sooners win on the road, but in terms of a pure draft projection you have to say that Jones still has a big question mark after this performance. The Oklahoma fast-paced offense doesn’t have the same fluidity and is easily disrupted by pressure on it’s signal caller. When Jones is taken out of that comfort zone, the errors creep in. How else can you describe a 22-6 interception difference between home and road games? The simple fact is that at the next level Jones isn’t going to be playing in such a well oiled machine of an offense that can operate with quick screens, up-tempo no huddle passes and keeping a defense off guard. He’s going to face almost constant pressure, he’s going to have to stay poised in the pocket and run through progressions. Can he do that? I am totally unconvinced.

Essentially, he’s going to have to be the man to cause the havoc through talent, technique, accuracy, execution and decision making. It won’t be because his offense has gone no-huddle before the other team has set a formation and before you know it the talented wide receiver has the ball on a screen and it’s a first down. Sam Bradford found a way to excel within this sytem because he was such a talented all round quarterback, he stuck out in a way Jones doesn’t. Bradford’s own performances were not dictated by his environment.

Here’s what it all boils down to – Jones is at his best when the Oklahoma offense is at its best. There’s never a case when the offense is playing a sluggish game and Jones carries the team on his back and drags them through. He is a product of his surroundings. When I draft a quarterback in the top 10-15, he better be able to go out there and keep me in a game on his own. That is the biggest question mark I continue to have, is Jones capable of that? Is he going to be found out at the next level when he can’t rely on a well-oiled scheme? When the chips are down and the run game isn’t working – when there’s another QB on the opposition roster throwing the ball around nicely – will he be able to step up to the plate? Or will he be JP Losman?

Until he can perform in a not-ideal environment and really stand out, I don’t feel confident enough to grade him any higher than round 2-3. This performance at Florida State didn’t make me feel like we’d seen a major improvement from that Missouri game last year when Blaine Gabbert looked a much brighter prospect than Jones. Had Gabbert been starting for Florida State, they would’ve probably won this game.

Now I don’t want to come across so overly negative because as I say there are some pro-aspects to his game. He made one excellent throw down the left sideline  in the second half (nice touch/placement) and although the touchdown pass was under thrown to a wide open receiver, he still got the ball into the right area for his playmaker to make a game winning catch. Physically he’s not elite, but he’s going to be able to make most of the throws you expect from a NFL quarterback.

However, I feel like we almost have to talk about the negatives more just because he is being vaulted above his means as a top-10 quarterback. He is not – in any way shape or form – a top ten pick in my view. By giving him a grade in round 2-3, you almost have to justify not having him earlier by talking about negatives rather than the positives that warrant a possible round two selection. Because people have Jones as high as they do, the debate has already become ‘prove that isn’t the case’.

Jones is competing with Ryan Tannehill and a handful of others to be the #3 ranked quarterback in my view. I feel like we should be speaking more positively about that, yet I fear the debate will always carry a negative angle because he isn’t a top ten pick but people will argue the opposite.

And while you can rightly argue Christian Ponder shouldn’t have gone 12th overall this year either, we can’t use that decision by the Minnesota Vikings to justify any quarterback in the forthcoming drafts being projected above their deserved grade.

***NOTES***

Matt Barkley had five touchdown passes for USC as they defeated Syracuse 38-17. He finished with a stat line of 26-39 for 324 yards and no turnovers. I’m led to believe it wasn’t the most efficient performance despite those impressive numbers, but Barkley is carrying his team along kicking and screaming right now. After three weeks he’s throwing 70% completions, he has a 9-1 touchdown-interception ratio and he’s on pace for 3568 passing yards.

Andrew Luck and Stanford outlasted Arizona to record a comfortable 37-10 victory on the road. Stanford should be ranked higher than #6, especially if Luck is truly as good as some appear to believe. Personally I’d have Stanford and LSU as the top two. Luck went 20-31 in this game for 325 yards and two touchdowns. He also had three carries for 36 yards. Nick Foles wasn’t as productive for Arizona, going 24-33 for 239 yards and a score. He maintains a late round grade.

Robert Griffin put up big numbers again in a blowout 48-0 victory for Baylor over Stephen F. Austin. In a delayed game, Griffin went 20-22 for 265 yards, three touchdowns and no turnovers. He also added 78 yards on the ground from eight carries.

Ryan Tannehill finished with 337 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in Texas A&M’s 37-7 win over Idaho. He completed 26-39 passing in a stop-start performance.

Austin Davis got back to winning ways in a big 52-6 win for Southern Miss over SE Louisiana. Davis threw two touchdown passes.

Justin Blackmon had a surprisingly quiet day for Oklahoma State with just 57 yards and a touchdown in a 59-33 win over Tulsa. Brandon Weeden had three more touchdown passes and 369 yards, but he added two more interceptions. He’s throwing an 8-6 ratio at the moment, surprising given he only threw 13 picks last year.

Logan Harrell – sleeper defensive tackle prospect from Fresno State – had 1.5 sacks in a victory over North Dakota. He has thirteen sacks in 2010 and 2011 so far. One to watch.

I’ve just completed the Boise State vs Georgia game and still have LSU vs Oregon to watch this afternoon. Tonight I’ll be watching West Virginia (Bruce Irvin) vs Marshall (Vinny Curry). I also had the opportunity to watch USC-Minnesota and have Baylor’s victory over TCU saved on tape, but you can check out Robert Griffin’s performance in the video above thanks to JMPasq. If Griffin can perform as he did in that game regularly this season, he’ll warrant greater consideration than the late ground rade I’d previously offered. Expect some thoughts on WVU vs Marshall later tonight or tomorrow.

A lot of our conversations this season will be based around quarterbacks considering the Seahawks starting situation. I don’t want to linger exclusively on the position and certainly we’ll cover a lot of different areas (particularly on defense) but I do want to start by discussing a couple of QB’s that were on show this weekend.

The USC Trojans slipped past Minnesota 19-17 and almost lost the game thanks to bizarre policy on two-point conversions and a truly horrible second half performance. It was such a far cry from the first two quarters, where Matt Barkley was sensational and Minnesota couldn’t get close to sophomore receiver Robert Woods.

Barkley reaffirmed my belief that there’s very little between him and fellow quarterback stand-out Andrew Luck. His control of play action was impressive, he was extremely efficient and could’ve had much more joy than the school-record 34 completions he compiled. All three passing touchdowns flashed different aspects of his game… The first a brilliant pump fake and fade to the back of the end zone for Woods, throwing the defensive back into confusion/embarrassment. The second score was a perfectly thrown deep ball from the 50-yard line – faultless placement, velocity and timing. His third touchdown was a little more simple, but no less well executed as a quick slant on the money to the right hand side of the end zone.

Yet the most impressive play that stood out to me came in the second half when Barkley took a play action, snapped back around and in a split second sensed the inside pressure with a defensive end cutting inside and evading the guard. He side steps the rusher buying enough time to throw for a three-yard gain. In reality it was a 13-yard play, a lot of quarterbacks wouldn’t have been able to diagnose the rush so quickly after the snap/play action. To not only avoid the sack and subsequent big loss but to also turn it into a three-yard gain is the kind of play that pro-scouts will drool over almost as much as the 43-yard touchdown bomb.

The second half was chaotic – and I’d blame Lane Kiffin mostly – but USC didn’t run the ball well enough and allowed Minnesota back into a contest that looked over at half time. They went away from the combination that worked so well between Barkley-Woods (who had a record 17 receptions and looks every bit a future NFL talent) and the offensive line, which includes Ryan Kalil at left tackle, didn’t do a good enough job to allow the Trojans to play this one out.

Andrew Luck deserves a lot of the hype he receives, but it’s 1a and 1b with Barkley and I’m still not convinced that the USC quarterback doesn’t deserve to be 1a. Luck has the better team at this stage and is clearly being set up for a big tilt at the Heisman. He will be the #1 pick next year if he stays healthy, but even now it’s hard to see Barkley lasting much longer on the board after that.

A name to watch on defense for USC this year – DE Nick Perry. He was being touted for a big year in 2010 but injury hampered his progress. He looked good in this one and back at 100% health. If he continues in this form people will start talking about his NFL future again.

***UPDATE***

Thanks to JMPasq, we know have game tape to view of Barkley’s performance vs Minnesota:

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I’ve been critical of Kellen Moore’s pro-future and after watching BSU vs Georgia, nothing has changed in that respect. I’ll qualify firstly that I have a lot of respect for Moore and Boise State. They’ve created a defense which ranks amongst the best in college football and a timing offense which creates almost a ‘slow death’ mentality, frustrating the life out of the opposition and controlling the clock. Moore is integral to the offense clicking – he’s a student of the game who appears to have excellent intangibles.

However, I maintain an UDFA grade for Moore for several reasons. The obvious problem is a lack of physical clout, which isn’t totally unexpected for a 6-0 quarterback weighing 190lbs. A lot of people love to point to Drew Brees when you talk about 6-0 quarterbacks, but Brees weighs a good 20lbs more than Moore and even as a physically weaker passer who has enjoyed massive success, he’s still much more capable than Moore.

Mechanically there are issues – such as the shot-put style throwing motion when trying to generate more velocity and the slightly slingy release which will cause problems at the next level due to his height. There’s a lot of short passes into the flat and dump offs in the Boise State system and Moore is very efficient as you’d expect in a high percentage pass offense. Yet in the first half he’s completed just 1-3 attempted passes of 15+ yards yet managed 7-8 of 0-15 yards to his left hand side. Of the three passes of +15 yards he’s thrown a bad interception, where Georgia actually managed to get some pressure in his face forcing a bad read throwing into a zone with four defenders and one receiver. The pass itself is lofted, floaty and easy for the right cornerback to come across and snatch.

I don’t expect Moore to make that pass under any circumstance, but he locked onto the receiver and when pressured his decision is to try and force it anyway. It shows what pressure can do – and he still had a good 2.5-3 seconds to make a decision before the linebacker rush. This is one of my biggest concerns with Moore. Last year Boise State gave up five sacks (in comparison, there were games last year where Jake Locker was sacked more than five times in a single game). Their quarterback enjoys, for the most part, one of the cleanest pockets in college football. This allows the timing offense to work – short passes, one quick read then checkdown, get the ball into the hands of your playmakers. When Moore isn’t afforded that time and level of comfort, the timing is thrown off. How will he react?

We only had 3-4 incidents in this game because Georgia were awful, but the interception was a major concern for me. On the first drive with pressure in his face he similarly almost threw a pick into triple coverage only for the DB to drop the ball. It’s easy to sit back and admire another completion of 7-8 yards from a clean pocket, but in the NFL even if Moore is playing for New England he’s not going to enjoy that kind of environment. Can he make 2-3 quick reads and drive a ball 10+ yards quickly? Is he going to lock on to receivers and try to force things, as we see here, when pressured? Can he feel basic pressure up the middle, buy time and make the right decision? Can he avoid locking on and attempting the throw as his bail out when the timing is thrown off?

I can’t really answer these questions without seeing it happen and considering Moore is physically weaker than even most back ups in the NFL, it’ll take a major leap off faith to expect a team to spend a on the player. I’m not saying someone won’t take the relatively low gamble in the later rounds, but it’s not a choice I would make personally.

For an alternative view, it’s worth noting SI.com’s Tony Pauline has given Moore an UDFA grade too. Evan Silva from Rotoworld also noted on twitter today, “QB Kellen Moore was measured on campus last year. He is 5-foot-11 5/8 and 195 pounds. He has free agent-only grades from NFL.”

As for Georgia, somebody should’ve thrown the towel in during the third quarter. Just an awful performance on both sides of the ball. Who is responsible for ranking them at #19 and Notre Dame #16?

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What about the other quarterbacks? Logan Thomas made his first start for Virginia Tech in a blow out victory over Appalachian State, going 9-19 for 149 yards and two scores. Thomas is a wild card to keep an eye on – physically capable of having a big year on a decent VT team, but ultimately learning on the run as the new starter. Cam Newton picked things up quickly and ended up dominating for Auburn – I don’t expect Thomas to enjoy that level of success, but he’s someone worth monitoring this year.

Kirk Cousins had the expected easy day against Youngstown State going 18-22 for 222 yards and a score. Michigan State have a big opportunity to go unbeaten this year and win a Big-Ten title – that will help Cousins as he aims to become the top ranked senior passer. He reminds me a little of Kevin Kolb in terms of technique and has a chance to go in rounds 2-3 next April.

Andrew Luck was another quarterback who had it relatively easy, as Stanford smashed San Jose State at home. It wasn’t a perfect performance, recording 17-26 for 171 yards and two touchdowns. He added a further rushing touchdown.

Austin Davis just about managed a winning start for Southern Miss in difficult weather conditions against Louisiana Tech. Davis passed for 226 yards and an interception, while running for 51 more yards in a 19-17 victory thanks to a winning field goal with just over two minutes in the game. Special teams mistakes hurt the Golden Eagles on several occasions, but they survived and maintain hopes for an unbeaten season.

Landry Jones had a comfortable afternoon against Tulsa, going 35-47 for 375 yards and a touchdown. #1 ranked Oklahoma were barely tested in a 47-14 victory.

Guest Blogger Daniel recommended watching NC State QB Mike Glennon this season – he went 18-31 for 156 yards and a touchdown in a 43-21 win over Liberty. This was his first start, expect greater efficiency as the year progresses.

It was a strange day for South Carolina against ECU as Steve Spurrier chose not to start Stephen Garcia, watched his team limp out of the blocks and then decided to bring back their presumed starting QB to force a comeback victory. Despite all of the off-field issues, it’s clear Garcia offers the best opportunity for the Gamecocks to realise their potential this season. He had 110 yards passing, 56 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Star receiver AlshonJeffery had five catches for 92 yards and no scores. Brilliant sophomore running back Marcus Lattimore – an expected key player in the 2013 draft – had 145 total yards and three touchdowns.

Tyler Wilson had a nicestart to life as Ryan Mallett’s replacement in Arkansas. He dissected the Missouri State Bears to the tune of 260 yards and two touchdowns. It wasn’t good news for John Brantley though, who struggled in Charlie Weis’ simplified offense in Florida. Brantley went 21-30 for 229 yards, one touchdown and two picks against Florida Atlantic.

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Quentin Coples had two sacks to start the season for UNC. A possible orthodox 5-technique at the next level, that’s a good start for someone with legit top-10 potential. Tar Heels wide out Dwight Jones equally had a great start – scoring twice in a nine-catch, 116-yard performance against James Madison. Jones will surprise a few people this year.

The defensive player of the week may be Arizona State linebacker Vontaze Burflict. A legitimate first round talent, Burflict had three sacks against UC Davis.

A player I have a lot of time for that hasn’t received much national consideration is Logan Harrell (DT, Fresno State). He started 2011 with a sack in defeat to California – he had 10.5 sacks last season.

Mohamed Sanu (WR, Rutgers) registered seven catches for 68 yards and a touchdown against NC Central. Interestingly, he didn’t run the ball once – something he’s done regularly as a multi-threat playmaker.

Brandon Jenkins (DE, Florida State) and Jonathan Massaquoi (DE, Troy) both went sackless in week one.

Biletnikoff certainty Justin Blackmon had eight catches for 144 yards as Oklahoma State rolled past Louisiana-Lafayette. Quarterback Brandon Weeden threw three interceptions in the game.

Despite a bitterly disappointing defeat to South Florida, Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd had 12-catches for 154-yards and a pair of touchdowns. That’s a good start for a guy troubled by off-the-field issues.

This is what speed skating looks like on grass

A lot of people think Landry Jones is an elite quarterback prospect. It may not be a popular opinion, but I’m going to disagree. I think he’s a system quarterback, at least as we stand here today pontificating on whether the Seahawks are going to finally draft a quarterback early next year. I also think he’s been vaulted into a position of hype based around the guy he replaced.  

Let me stress that I’m not writing off Landry Jones as either a high pick next April or a productive pro-quarterback. He has a full season with the Sooners to enhance his stock and he’s more than capable of achieving that. If Jones leads Oklahoma to an unbeaten season and therefore potentially a national title shot, then kudos to him and maybe I’ll look back on this piece with some regret. However, you could argue that’s exactly what should’ve happened 12 months ago when having topped the polls for a mere week Blaine Gabbert outplayed Jones in a way that destroyed any ambitions of ending the year #1.  

I’ll also qualify that I disagree with Tony Pauline’s fourth round grade issued earlier this week. I think the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Jones isn’t close to the same level as Andrew Luck or Matt Barkley and talk of him going in the top ten is premature. However, he is at the top of a list of second tier quarterbacks (including Kirk Cousins at Michigan and Austin Davis at Southern Miss) who can really pump up their tyres with a great 2011 season.  

And let’s be brutal here – if Christian Ponder can endure his 2010 season and still go 12th overall, then Landry Jones is capable of going earlier.  

It’s easy to get behind a prospect like Jones. If you pick the right weekend you’ll find a productive quarterback churning out huge yardage and winning a football game. We’ve recently seen one Oklahoma quarterback enter the league seamlessly and Sam Bradford appears set to have a long and successful career in St. Louis.  

Let’s get one thing straight right away – Landry Jones is not Sam Bradford. It’s not close. The only thing they really have in common is the color of their college jersey. I’m not saying people have compared the two, but let’s just make it clear right now that Bradford’s success should have no bearing at all when grading Jones.  

Both quarterbacks benefited from a system that often requires only one read, includes a lot of multiple WR sets and is basically designed to create an up-tempo passing offense that dominates. Bob Stoops has created a system that works, wins and makes yardage inevitable for it’s quarterbacks.  

Bradford threw 86 touchdowns in two years before injury ruined his final year in college. He won a Heisman Trophy following a 2008 season where he passed for nearly 5000 yards. Although the system played it’s part there, Bradford found a way to shine through it. People rarely talked about the offense at Oklahoma when Bradford was under center. He was completing the same swing passes, one read quick throws, mastering the no huddle offense. Yet he did it with such supreme execution and accuracy to become the #1 player among his peers.  

Jones has similarly enjoyed mass-production during his two years starting. Like Bradford he passed for nearly 5000 yards last year. However, when I watch him play I usually feel like I’m watching a productive system rather than a quarterback for the ages. Jones doesn’t shine through withrare accuracy and execution. He has decent arm strength but not a Ryan Mallett type cannon. He isn’t mobile in the pocket or a threat running the ball (Bradford was unexpectedly elusive). He isn’t making multiple reads and very often throws blind to the first scripted target.  

A fun thing to do sometimes is compare quarterbacks from previous classes to the upcoming group. We’ve heard a lot – too much – about how next year’s class is going to be so much better than previous years. Hyperbole. I would argue that a strong point can be made about the top end talent – Luck and Barkley – being a class above. Beyond that it’s just another year of quarterbacks.  

In my mind Jones is not a superior talent to Blaine Gabbert or Cam Newton. He lacks the physical potential of Jake Locker, which is exciting if unpredictable. I understand why Ryan Mallett went in round three, but his on-field game is also light years ahead in my mind. Jones isn’t going to come in and light up a team with physical potential or great accuracy. He’s going to have to learn an offense that demands so much more than he’s used to (not unusual for college QB’s admittedly, but this is an exaggerated case that makes an accurate grade a real challenge). He’s not going to extend plays with an elusive athleticism. At this stage he’s a guy I could see really prospering in the right environment (eg the Josh McDaniels offense) but you’d need the system to make the quarterback, because this is not a quarterback who makes the system.  

In terms of the Seahawks I don’t think he fits their now obvious desire to make mobility a key component. That’s not to say a guy has to be Michael Vick or Vince Young running the ball, but clearly they need to have a certain degree of athletic ability. Charlie Whitehurt and Josh Portis have the 8th and 11th best short shuttle times ever recorded at the combine. Tavaris Jackson is similarly a capable mover. All three would run above-average forty times for their position.  

Jones does not fit that mantra. He’s not Ryan Mallettas a runner, don’t get me wrong. He’s not going to be out-paced by a shirtless Andre Smith in the forty yard dash. In fact Jones will make the occasional play on the ground and he’s capable with boot legs and play action. However, it’s not a striking positive to his game or necessarily what he’s about as a quarterback and I’m not sure it fits in with Seattle’s outlook.  

What I like about Jones is the fact he isn’t restricted to making several easy throws the way Jimmy Clausen was in college. It’s one of the bigger concerns I have with Kirk Cousins. Jones threw the ball on a medium level consistently well in certain games last year (particularly vs Florida State). His arm isn’t a cannon, but it’s good enough. It doesn’t look as forced going dowfield as when Cousins attempts a deep pass.  

He outclassed Christian Ponder in 2010, but looked like the second best QB when sharing a field with Blaine Gabbert, Ryan Tannehill and Brandon Weeden. Can he be the best quarterback on the field in every game this year? If so, Oklahoma will have a big season and we start talking about first round grades.  

But because he doesn’t have explosive physical talent or elite accuracy, you’re always going to be wondering whether he can cope with a much more demanding system and whether he’ll stand out. Teams will gamble on a Jake Locker ‘getting it’ because he looks like John Elway physically if not necessarily in his performance at this early stage in his career. Teams won’t always gamble on a guy with all the yards and scores you’d ever want, but with a lingering concern that without his vast array of swing passes and screens he’ll just be found out.

What if I suggested Matt Barkley could be the best 2012 eligible player in college football? 

Would you assume I’d gone crazy? That may be fair. Would you write this piece off as a token gesture a matter of weeks before the new college football season begins? I haven’t got time for that, honest. Or would you consider for a moment that maybe – just maybe – Matt Barkley might be a marginally better quarterback prospect than Andrew Luck? Is that possible? 

I’ve spent a lot of time watching both quarterbacks and have a really difficult time separating them because in my mind they both have elite potential. Universally the media, fans and dare I say scouts have already anointed Luck the 2012 #1 overall pick in waiting. Stanford may have lost a fine head coach, but they maintain a strong offensive line and top-drawer running game. There are at least three receivers on their roster capable of making plays consistently. Basically, barring a freak and unfortunate injury, Andrew Luck is going to have another great year in 2011. Should that happen as expected, he will be the #1 pick. No doubt about it. 

He may be the most perfectly acceptable quarterback prospect in the history of the game. From the NFL bloodlines, the professional character and personality, the near flawless mechanics, more than satisfactory production and a cluster of wins – there’s barely anything you’d change about the guy. The team that passes on Luck would have to be drafting Clark Kent or Bruce Wayne with the #1 overall pick to avoid the howls of derision. 

I’m not trying to argue here that a team should pass on Luck (they won’t) or that I don’t think he will succeed in the NFL. He has a great shot at making it work as long as he isn’t drafted by an awful franchise like Cincinnati or Oakland. Unfortunately for Luck, both are terrifyingly realistic possibilities. 

But certainly I think the bubble of warranted hype surrounding Luck is so impenetrable, that we dare not consider whether anyone else could be… better. It’s like a taboo among college football observers. To suggest someone is better than Luck is comparable to discussing the finer points of Brett Favre’s impact at Minnesota with Tavaris Jackson.  

If Luck is fortunate enough to land in a better situation than Cincinnati/Oakland, even then he will still struggle to match the success of players who entered the league with much less hype or investment than he. The prospect that someone from the same draft class could end up having more success is not a pipe dream and neither is the possibility that someone could actually be a better football player given an equal or superior circumstance. 

When I watch Matt Barkley I’m often amazed at how little hype he receives in comparison to Luck. From a mechanical and physical point of view, they are very similar. Both appear to be grounded individuals who you’d be happy to have as the ‘face of your franchise’. Both appear to have been systematically trained for the NFL from a young age. Both have a level of athleticism which you don’t often see from quarterbacks with their build. 

Luck was lauded as a successful red-shirt freshman starter – and posted a stat list that read 56% completions, 13 touchdowns and 2575 yards. In seven games he threw for fewer than 200 yards as Stanford leaned on a brilliant running game. He had three games where he threw less than 50%, including a 33% game against California where he went 10/30 for 157 yards and an interception. Stanford lost 34-28. 

Luck started 2010 in a similar fashion, looking far from elite against UCLA in game two (46% completions) and he wasn’t completely polished against Notre Dame a fortnight later. However, as the year developed so did Stanford’s quarterback and by the end of the season he was regularly throwing 80% games and leading his team to victory in the Orange Bowl. It was that level of progress that convinced me Luck warranted the hype – you never expect a player to avoid a learning curve. Once he’d mastered the offense, the pace of the game and his own limitations, he began to play at a level that warranted huge praise. 

Matt Barkley didn’t have a red-shirt year at USC, he started all but one game as a true freshman. In just his second start in college football, he led a game winning drive to beat a tough Ohio State team on the road. He didn’t lose a game as a true freshman until Halloween at Oregon. His two other defeats that year came against Luck’s Stanford and a sickener against Arizona and Nick Foles. 

He had some tough games, as did Luck, but managed a superior completion rate of 60% and threw a similar amount of touchdowns (15). Turnovers were much greater (14 compared to Luck’s four) but Barkley was asked to do a lot more as an instant starter than Luck as a red-shirt. 

As a true-sophomore, Barkley’s game continued to progress at rapid rate. He improved his completion percentage to 63%, made eleven more touchdowns and continued to act as the focal point of the offense. Although he played behind an offensive line containing elite college players such as Matt Kalil and Tyron Smith, he wasn’t aided by the same well-oiled running game Luck enjoys at Stanford. Barkley’s top target was a true freshman receiver called Robert Woods – insanely talented, but learning on the run. 

Barkley’s performance as an immediate two-year starter have been nothing short of incredible. There was no pause for thought at USC and let’s not forget that in between two very succesful years he’d had to cope with controversy in the form of strict NCAA sanctions and a high profile coaching change. Barkley hasn’t just taken that in his stride, he’s sprinting at full pace. 

In what was a beautifully under rated meeting last year, the pair met in a classic encounter that Stanford won thanks to a field goal in the dying embers 37-35. Barkley matched Luck throw-for-throw. Whenever Stanford’s QB asked the question, his opposite number shot back the answer without hesitation. 

When I go back and look at the tape, I end up asking myself a couple of questions. Firstly, if this was a Luck vs Barkley boxing match decided on points – who would’ve won? Secondly, who is making the more complex and challenging throws? Who is facing the most pressure in the pocket? Who is being forced to make clutch plays? 

In both circumstances, the answer was Matt Barkley. Judge for yourself… 

Focus on the second video and Barkley’s tape. Look at the play on 2:51 where he pumps to sell the linebacker and throws a dart into coverage, picking out his target ahead of two defensive backs. Check out the pinpoint accuracy to dissect two defenders for a touchdown at 3:57 and at 8:10. The touch and placement at 4:25 is perfect (the dropped catch is not). The play with his legs at 6:52 flashes his athleticism and the throw across his body at 8:51 proves he can improvise, feel pressure and make a quick judgement. It doesn’t get much more clutch than 3rd and long on the road, down a score and making the completion at 10:08. 

Yet the most impressive play in the whole video – the one that smashes the rest out of the park and why portrays a perfect example of why I rate the guy so highly, is the final play on the video. It’s an incompletion through the hands of Robert Woods. Needing a score to take a late fourth quarter lead Barkley looks to his left and fakes, moves to his second read and doesn’t like it, goes to a third read and again doesn’t release the ball, goes back to his second read and throws an impossibly perfect pass to the back of a crowded end zone splitting coverage and nailing what should’ve been a potential game winning score. 

Should’ve been, but wasn’t. Stanford won the game. 

As I said at the start of the piece, I’m not trying to make a negative case for Andrew Luck. I think you’re talking about two elite quarterback prospects, one is assumed to be the greatest college QB since Peyton Manning and the other gets a decent press, but nowhere near a comparable level of hype. Both have started at a young age and impressed, although Barkley has faced (in my view) a much greater baptism of fire. 

There’s every chance Barkley won’t declare for the 2012 draft knowing he’ll get the opportunity to play in a bowl game next year and compete for a PAC12 title. He’ll also be well aware that the competition to go first overall in 2013 will be weaker – and some players do see being the #1 pick as a worthwhile enough achievement to impact their decision on whether to declare. 

Even so, both are draft eligible next year. A lot can happen in a single season to impact upon grades and opinions but with a few weeks to go until football finally returns, I’m not opposed to the idea that Barkley may be the better player.