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Atlas wanted this, so I just thought I'd give it to all of you.
Week 1 of the college football season has come and gone, and a few things stuck out to me as I kept an eye on NFL prospects across the country. The first is a trio of quarterbacks who stood out with impressive performances.
[+] EnlargeKellen Moore
Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesKellen Moore's ability to evade pressure stood out against the Bulldogs.
Boise State QB Kellen Moore (Scouts Inc. Grade: 46)
Moore completed 28 of 34 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-21 win over Georgia. His accuracy, touch and ability to handle adverse conditions were as good as expected, and it's also worth noting that he didn't take a sack against the Bulldogs. Moore isn't a great athlete but has above-average pocket mobility and awareness.
His command of the offense and ability to anticipate helped him get rid of the ball before Georgia's talented athletes could close in on him, and although Moore did make a bad decision in the face of pressure that led to a second-quarter loss of yardage, those plays are the exceptions rather than the rule for him.
Moore is a very good college quarterback and his intangibles are extremely impressive, but he will have a hard time moving out of the late-round area because of his lack of size (5-foot-11], 195 pounds) and his arm strength, which is average at best.
Baylor QB Robert Griffin III (Grade: N/A)
Griffin is a draft-eligible junior who does not carry a Scouts Inc. grade at this point, but his performance in a 50-48 win over TCU was scary-good. He completed 21 of 27 passes for 359 yards and five touchdowns, showing above-average arm strength and touch on several deep throws. There's also a lot to like about the way he froze the Horned Frogs with his play fakes.
However, it was how quickly he got the ball out of his hands that stood out the most. Griffin's accurate reads and decisiveness made it almost impossible for the pass rush to get to him when he didn't look downfield. He also flashed his impressive athleticism and even made a nice catch over the middle on a throwback pass. If Griffin continues to show improvement in his decision-making and overall passing, he will start making noise in NFL scouting circles very quickly.
West Virginia QB Geno Smith (Grade: N/A)
Another ungraded junior, Smith appeared surprisingly comfortable in his first game in new head coach Dana Holgorsen's scheme. Smith connected on 26 of 35 attempts for 249 yards and two touchdowns, and he spread the ball around to nine receivers in the process.
Two passes in particular stood out. Smith showed good anticipation and put good velocity on a 28-yard completion over the middle to receiver Stedman Bailey in the first quarter, and, on his first touchdown pass, did an excellent job of recognizing single coverage and creating space for his receiver near the goal line by selling the play fake. And although Smith is not a run-first quarterback, he also used his feet very well. He did an excellent job of evading pressure and showed that he can extend drives with his legs when he breaks the contain.
More on the Mountaineers
Three of Smith's teammates also jumped out in the Mountaineers 34-14 win over Marshall.
OLB/DE Bruce Irvin (Grade: 88), a pass-rush specialist who is transitioning to a full-time role, recorded his first sack of the season late in the third quarter after using his quickness to shoot inside the offensive tackle and get to the quarterback. Irvin showed good overall burst and looked agile, but he did little to ease concerns about his ability to defend the run.
He was often turned outside by blockers, got caught too far upfield at times and took too long to get off blocks. Irvin was productive in limited snaps last season and earned an early-second-round grade in preseason film study, but unless he shows the ability to be an effective three-down player, he will have a hard time challenging for a spot in the first round.
PR/KOR Tavon Austin (Grade: N/A) had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that showcased good vision and top-end speed, but a heads-up play on a punt might have been even better. Austin was in position and had the awareness to snatch up a Marshall punt that bounced off a teammate deep in Mountaineers territory, turning a bad bounce that could have flipped field position into something of a positive. Austin is just a junior, but he does have some potential as an undersize (5-9, 176) slot receiver/return man at the next level.
Finally, WVU CB Keith Tandy (Grade: 76) is a hard-nosed player and showed off his willingness to play a physical game in run support and after the catch, but I was a bit disappointed in his lack of discipline in zone coverage. Tandy got caught drifting in the secondary at times, and he got beaten over the top at one point when he stepped up before Marshall QB Rakeem Cato crossed the line of scrimmage. His physical nature and ball skills earn him a mid-third-round grade at this point, but Tandy will have to show improvement in coverage to move up draft boards.
Week 1 of the college football season has come and gone, and a few things stuck out to me as I kept an eye on NFL prospects across the country. The first is a trio of quarterbacks who stood out with impressive performances.
[+] EnlargeKellen Moore
Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesKellen Moore's ability to evade pressure stood out against the Bulldogs.
Boise State QB Kellen Moore (Scouts Inc. Grade: 46)
Moore completed 28 of 34 passes for 261 yards and three touchdowns in a 35-21 win over Georgia. His accuracy, touch and ability to handle adverse conditions were as good as expected, and it's also worth noting that he didn't take a sack against the Bulldogs. Moore isn't a great athlete but has above-average pocket mobility and awareness.
His command of the offense and ability to anticipate helped him get rid of the ball before Georgia's talented athletes could close in on him, and although Moore did make a bad decision in the face of pressure that led to a second-quarter loss of yardage, those plays are the exceptions rather than the rule for him.
Moore is a very good college quarterback and his intangibles are extremely impressive, but he will have a hard time moving out of the late-round area because of his lack of size (5-foot-11], 195 pounds) and his arm strength, which is average at best.
Baylor QB Robert Griffin III (Grade: N/A)
Griffin is a draft-eligible junior who does not carry a Scouts Inc. grade at this point, but his performance in a 50-48 win over TCU was scary-good. He completed 21 of 27 passes for 359 yards and five touchdowns, showing above-average arm strength and touch on several deep throws. There's also a lot to like about the way he froze the Horned Frogs with his play fakes.
However, it was how quickly he got the ball out of his hands that stood out the most. Griffin's accurate reads and decisiveness made it almost impossible for the pass rush to get to him when he didn't look downfield. He also flashed his impressive athleticism and even made a nice catch over the middle on a throwback pass. If Griffin continues to show improvement in his decision-making and overall passing, he will start making noise in NFL scouting circles very quickly.
West Virginia QB Geno Smith (Grade: N/A)
Another ungraded junior, Smith appeared surprisingly comfortable in his first game in new head coach Dana Holgorsen's scheme. Smith connected on 26 of 35 attempts for 249 yards and two touchdowns, and he spread the ball around to nine receivers in the process.
Two passes in particular stood out. Smith showed good anticipation and put good velocity on a 28-yard completion over the middle to receiver Stedman Bailey in the first quarter, and, on his first touchdown pass, did an excellent job of recognizing single coverage and creating space for his receiver near the goal line by selling the play fake. And although Smith is not a run-first quarterback, he also used his feet very well. He did an excellent job of evading pressure and showed that he can extend drives with his legs when he breaks the contain.
More on the Mountaineers
Three of Smith's teammates also jumped out in the Mountaineers 34-14 win over Marshall.
OLB/DE Bruce Irvin (Grade: 88), a pass-rush specialist who is transitioning to a full-time role, recorded his first sack of the season late in the third quarter after using his quickness to shoot inside the offensive tackle and get to the quarterback. Irvin showed good overall burst and looked agile, but he did little to ease concerns about his ability to defend the run.
He was often turned outside by blockers, got caught too far upfield at times and took too long to get off blocks. Irvin was productive in limited snaps last season and earned an early-second-round grade in preseason film study, but unless he shows the ability to be an effective three-down player, he will have a hard time challenging for a spot in the first round.
PR/KOR Tavon Austin (Grade: N/A) had a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown that showcased good vision and top-end speed, but a heads-up play on a punt might have been even better. Austin was in position and had the awareness to snatch up a Marshall punt that bounced off a teammate deep in Mountaineers territory, turning a bad bounce that could have flipped field position into something of a positive. Austin is just a junior, but he does have some potential as an undersize (5-9, 176) slot receiver/return man at the next level.
Finally, WVU CB Keith Tandy (Grade: 76) is a hard-nosed player and showed off his willingness to play a physical game in run support and after the catch, but I was a bit disappointed in his lack of discipline in zone coverage. Tandy got caught drifting in the secondary at times, and he got beaten over the top at one point when he stepped up before Marshall QB Rakeem Cato crossed the line of scrimmage. His physical nature and ball skills earn him a mid-third-round grade at this point, but Tandy will have to show improvement in coverage to move up draft boards.
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