MATT RYAN QB BOSTON COLLEGE
Analysis
POSITIVES: Has a tall frame with good muscle tone and, while a bit lean, he has the frame to carry at least another 10 pounds of bulk with no loss in quickness...More of a short-to-intermediate passer, but he does a good job of going through progressions and is limber enough to make those throws while on the move...Very accurate passer when flushed out of the pocket, but has the strength to step up and absorb punishment...Shows the balance and body control to throw the ball across his body from the outside hashes, demonstrating good lateral slide (4.29 20-yard shuttle) for his position...Has a quick drive back from center to his throwing point, setting his feet properly before delivering the throw...Good team leader who puts in the extra hours in the film room and training room...Good lifter who plays with a fiery attitude and won't back away from a confrontation...Has very good game-management skills, making quick decisions while generally showing proper judgment...Cool under pressure and knows how to step up and avoid the bull rush...Seems to have ice water running through his veins and is never rattled, despite facing a fierce pass rush...Has complete command of the huddle and the training staff calls him one of the toughest players to ever wear a BC uniform, citing his dedication and long hours rehabilitating from offseason foot surgery...Drives away from center with a fluid stride and has the body control to quickly get into position to make the throw, whether in the pocket or on the move (can pass from the sprint or from dropback action)...Has an over-the-shoulder delivery and release, carrying the ball chest-high, and has a quick wrist flick and ability to adjust his release depending on the throwing situation, but he makes most of his mistakes on the deep ball. In that situation, he threw nine of his 10 interceptions in 2006 and 10 of 14 in '07...It is rare to see him force the ball, showing patience going through progressions and also has the intelligence to get innovative...Has the strength to stand tall in the pocket and will not be forced into rushing his throws (will take a sack rather than fire into traffic)...Not easy to knock down once he gets on the move and is a slippery runner who lacks valid foot speed, but has good side-step agility...Inspires the confidence of the entire team on the field and he is a mature leader who won't point fingers, rather accepting blame for a broken play...Excels throwing in the short area, as he puts good zip and touch on his throws, especially on underneath and crossing routes...Can vary his speed and take something off when working in this area...Very good game manager who has the pinpoint accuracy to put the ball into tight areas and keeps the receivers in their routes, doing a nice job of hitting them out of the breaks...Can vary the speed on his short throws, but can drill it to his targets while on the move without having his man have to adjust...Has a nice feel for pocket pressure, demonstrating the vision to locate the backside action and does a good job of stepping up and out to avoid, but will not hesitate to tuck the ball and run with it, if he locates a good crease...Has the ideal height you look for in a quarterback to scan the field over the defensive linemen and is quick to check down and locate his secondary receivers, keeping defenses honest when rolling out, as he does not need to set his feet to fire the ball on the move...In 2007, he showed improved footwork in his setup, driving back from center much smoother than in the past...Surveys the field and goes through progressions well, but needs to look off his primary target more often...Worked hard to improve throwing the deep pass with better placement...Not really an escape artist, but he shows good awareness to pressure and has enough mobility to elude heat in the pocket...Knows how to vary the speed of his tosses when working underneath.
NEGATIVES: Lacks the arm strength to challenge the deep secondary, as his long throws tend to flutter or hang up long enough for defenders to attack the ball in flight (see 2006 Brigham Young and Wake Forest contests and 2007 Massachusetts and Virginia Tech games)...Needs to do a better job of planting his feet to get more zip behind his long throws...Has inconsistent and adequate velocity when firing the ball deep...Weakest area of his game is exposed when he attempts to fire the deep ball, as the pass tends to lack accuracy...Runs too hot and cold when trying to air the ball out, as his long throws lack trajectory...Needs to improve timing on his deep throws, as he is very inconsistent hitting those targets coming out of cuts...Holds for PATs and field goals, but needs to be quicker fielding and placing the ball...Strong runner with the ball, but runs a bit erect, resulting in fumble issues, as he does not always protect the ball when breaking past the line of scrimmage...Does not have the foot quickness to keep defenses honest as a runner and while he shows good vision as a passer, he will run into a crowd when carrying the pigskin (needs to be more alert to cutback lanes)...When he generates a high push in his delivery or throws off his back foot, his passes lose some zip, resulting in a high amount of tosses getting deflected (see 2007 North Carolina State, Massachusetts, Virginia Tech and Florida State games)...When he holds on to the ball too long waiting for his receivers to break, he will leave his passes behind too often (see 2007 Wake Forest, Virginia Tech SEC Game, Florida State and Maryland contests)...Needs to make quicker decisions when he is flushed out of the pocket and must stop trying to force his throws into tight areas...Needs to protect the ball better; had fumble issues in 2007, especially after getting sacked (see 2007 Georgia Tech, Miami and Michigan State games).
COMPARES TO: MATT SCHAUB-Houston...Before 2007, Ryan looked a lot like the Jets' Chad Pennington, only much more effective utilizing a short-to-intermediate area passing attack. He has good mobility to throw when flushed out of the pocket and is an efficient game manager. He shows good strength stepping up in the pocket and the lateral agility to side-step the bull rush, but is not a threat to get big real estate with his feet. He lacks accuracy and arm strength when unleashing the long ball, as most of his interceptions were the result of him trying to attack the deep secondary. He is a cool field general with a great work ethic and shows some similarity to Rich Gannon (ex-Raiders, Chiefs) in his ability to be innovative on the field. He is not a good fit for a vertical passing attack, but for a team comfortable moving the chains with a mistake-free engineer at the helm, they could find a nice fit in Ryan during the draft's first day.
Injury Report
2006: Suffered a left foot bone fracture (fifth metatarsal) vs. Virginia Tech (10/12), sitting out the Buffalo clash.
2007: Underwent left foot surgery on Jan. 5 to repair the broken bone in his left foot.
SAM BAKER OT USC
Analysis
POSITIVES: Has a tall frame with solid overall muscle development, good arm length, wide hips and thighs, good lower-body thickness -- especially in the thighs and calves -- big, strong hands and room on his frame to add at least another 20 pounds of bulk without a negative impact...Has good quickness off the snap, running with a normal stride and builds his acceleration nicely...Has the initial step to gain advantage off the ball and will generally play on his feet when stationary, showing good balance to slide and re-adjust in pass protection...Knows how to sink his weight and drop his pads to generate a strong anchor...Hits the defenders instantly coming off the ball, delivering power behind his arm swipes...Gains position and sustains blocks when he plays with a wide base and arms extended...Has the leg drive to steer and pin the defender, but needs to be more consistent with his knee-bend...Can gain position working in-line when he keeps his pad level down and shows decent explosion when generating cut blocks...Plays a bit bent at the waist, but has the upper-body strength to jolt and control his man...Once he gets his hands on an opponent, the battle is over...Uses hands properly to turn the defender, as he is very quick to set and extend, delivering a forceful jab and punch on the pass rusher...Better gaining position on in-line blocks than on the move, as he aggressively works to control and widen rush lanes...Has enough agility to make the reach block, doing a solid job of walling off on screens...Alert to stunts and the blitz, working hard to maintain a low base, using his long arms to extend and lock into the defender...Competes and works hard in the weight room and shows good communication skills to work well with the offensive guard in picking up stunts with ease...Shuffles his feet well setting up in pass protection but lacks sustained quickness...Can quickly redirect a defender when he gets his hands on him, as he throws those hands with very good timing to press and keep the defensive end at bay...Compensates for a lack of ideal lateral movement by playing flat-footed when trying to recover in his kick-slide...While he might struggle with fast movement in the second level, he does a good job of blocking when his man is directly in front of him.
NEGATIVES: Can lock on and control his man at the line of scrimmage and runs with a normal stride, but will struggle to adjust to movement working into the second level...Not used much on traps and pulls, as he takes poor angles in attempts to neutralize linebackers...Needs to keep his feet when working in space, as he will overextend at times in attempts to engage a moving target...Balance is much better working in-line, as he gets his base too narrow when having to move long distances...Has a strong hand punch, but his hands are not quick, causing him to have problems adjusting instantly to counter moves (especially cross-face action)...Will sometimes get his hands outside his frame, resulting in wild whiffs in attempts to sustain...Crosses his feet at times when trying to retreat in pass protection and is susceptible to speed moves off the edge...Just an adequate student, but does show good coverage recognition skills on the field...For a player with his impressive strength, he needs to generate a strong hand jolt with better consistency...Plays with good effort, but needs to stay on blocks longer...Relies more on power than technique, lacking the true explosion you would want from someone his size coming off the snap...Needs to improve his footwork a bit, as he seems hesitant redirecting to inside moves...Will punch and jab at defenders rather than trying to push off.
COMPARES TO: JEFF BACKUS-Detroit...Baker is a strong, physical straight-line blocker who is best when working in-line. He struggles with second-level defenders because he lacks ideal lateral range, but is a good mauler who sustains blocks and widens the running lane. He has enough initial quickness off the snap to gain advantage and plays flat-footed, demonstrating the hand punch to shock and jolt his man. He needs to be quicker with his hands, as he is too inconsistent with cross-face counter moves and, when he gets too tall in his stance and narrow in his base, the defender has some success in pulling him off balance. Finishing his blocks is an area in which he could improve, but Baker is a good mauler with the hand strength to dominate in one-on-one situations.
Injury Report
2005: Suffered a bone chip in his left knee vs. California (11/12), but did not miss any playing time.
2006: Played all year with a left knee sprain, undergoing arthroscopic surgery after the season that limited him in 2007 spring drills.
2007: Suffered a slight cracked rib in a mid-August scrimmage...Did not play vs. Notre Dame (10/20) after missing the second half of the previous game vs. Arizona (10/13) with a hamstring strain...Returned vs. Oregon (10/27), but re-injured his hamstring and was forced to sit out the next two contests vs. Oregon State and California.
CURTIS LOFTON LB OKLAHOMA
Analysis
POSITIVES: His frame is stocky, but not overly thick, with solid overall muscle development, tapered hamstrings and a thick chest, broad shoulders and defined calves...Instinctive player with above-average quickness and playing speed to close on the ball with good urgency...Physical tackler with a nose for the ball...Like DeMeco Ryans, his instincts, downhill closing speed and ability to sift for the ball through trash makes him a better prospect in the middle than the strong side...Moves well laterally, but is best when making tackles inside vs. wide plays...Has a solid work ethic and strong leadership ability...Smooth and flexible when giving chase and shows the feet to get good depth in his pass drops...Able to slip and avoid blocks on the move, showing natural pop and strength to bring down ballcarriers on initial contact...Changes direction well and has the acceleration to close...Plays with good emotion and will give chase until the whistle...Will run a long way to deliver a hit and is a violent collision-type tackler who sells out to make plays...Well-respected by the staff and has a solid work ethic, as he will do the little extras to improve...Rarely caught out of position and reacts decisively to the run or pass...Able to anticipate and track the ball in flight...When he sees blocking schemes develop, he moves quickly to avoid...Keeps his pad level down to get inside the offensive lineman and slip blocks...Effective reading the inside run and stepping up to take on the lead blocker in attempts to stack (will struggle vs. double teams)...Can stuff a fullback and clog the rush lane when he squares his shoulder and lowers his pads to stick his hat in the opponent's chest...Has the upper-body strength and hand punch to reroute tight ends and slot receivers...Adequate when playing over the tight end, playing off blocks and taking good angles when chasing down outside runners...Slippery getting around trash and shows enough range to the sideline to push the run back inside, sifting and scraping, showing the short-area burst to close on the ball...Strong tackler who explodes behind his hits when striking people on contact...Can lock on and stay on the hip of short-area receivers, thanks to loose hips and quick feet to shadow...Picks up secondary receivers well in the zone and gets a quick break on the ball, showing good hands and vision to track the ball in flight and get to the pass at its high point...Not much of a pass rusher, but on the bull rush, he can bring the heat and chase down ballcarriers from behind.
NEGATIVES: Lacks the ideal size to play strong-side linebacker, as offensive tackles can engulf and neutralize him on the edge, but he is an effective bull rusher...Does not have the pass-rush moves to impact the pocket from an outside position and is best when making plays downhill rather than attacking the backfield on a regular basis...Has good change-of-direction agility, but is just a little stiff in his turn when working in space, with the burst to close...Has a good motor chasing down the ball, but needs to generate better stop-and-go action to recover when he outruns the play...Must use his hands better in attempts to avoid cut blocks...Does not have the "sand in his pants" to stack and control double teams...Has decent wrap-up technique, but is better as a collision-type, drag-down tackler due to his upper-body strength (does not always keep his hands inside his frame to wrap and secure)...Good in his chase pursuit, but can get caught up inside due to his size and when blitzing off the edge, he lacks the array of moves to surprise blockers.
COMPARES TO: DeMECO RYANS-Houston...Like Ryans, Lofton might be a better fit at middle linebacker, where he can feed off his defensive tackles. While he was effective at Oklahoma isolated on the edge over the head of an offensive tackle, the strong-side spot might be his second-best position. He is a smart, instinctive player with quick feet to close, but he is a violent tackler who might get a bit reckless in his pursuit. He is a quick read-and-react type who appears to have the vision and timing to make the interception. With the success that the undersized Ryans had the last two years, teams that view Lofton as a similar player in size and ability won't let him slide on draft day.
Injury Report
No injuries reported.
Thought I'd throw this in here, too, since everybody (Rob) seems to be have been pollutin' your analysis thread, boss.
Interview after he was drafted:
Linebacker Curtis Lofton
Q: Have you had any previous contact with the Atlanta Falcons, and did that previous contact lead you to believe they would draft you?
A: Yes. After my visit, I talked with my linebacker coach and discovered that he talked to Thomas Dimitroff. At first, I was a little unsure if they’d pick me, but overall, I think it’s awesome.”
Q: What position did they project you to play here?
A: "They feel that I can play all three linebacker positions. It’s going to be fun to mix-it-up and see which position fits best.”
Q: How was your progression in college, and where did you obtain most of your experience?
A: “As a freshman, I came into Oklahoma as a middle linebacker and also played during my sophomore year. They had a guy go down at the strong-side linebacker position and I was up for a job as a linebacker, so they switched me over. I started at that position for five games and felt really good. At the start of my junior year, my linebacker coach moved me back to middle linebacker, and I’ve been there ever since.”
Q: Do you feel more comfortable at the inside position or do you feel like you can still step out?
A: “I feel comfortable anywhere. I definitely feel comfortable playing the middle position, but I also feel comfortable playing offside too.”
Q: What did your workout with the Falcons entail?
A: “First, the Falcons and my linebacker coach took me into the film room and asked me to break down some film. Then we went outside. The overall workout wasn’t position specific.”
Here's some fuel for your man-crush Robby. This is actual pretty encouraging to read:
Head Coach Mike Smith
Q: In meeting Matt, what was the thing that most impressed you about him?
A: “It was his football intelligence; I think he’s very intelligent. In our meeting, we had an opportunity to sit down with Mike Mularkey and Bill Musgrave and get up on the board and see what he can do. I think it’s real easy to evaluate a guy and how he throws a football, but it’s different when he sits down in a meeting situation. They really tried to stump him; they really gave him some difficult stuff in terms of trying to find out what he knows and what he doesn’t know. He was outstanding on the boards and very cerebral.”
Head Coach Mike Smith
Q: Coach, were there any last second tugs at your defensive alter ego?
A: “No, not at all. This is a great pick for us. Earlier in the week, we were going through this decision making process. I believe it was on Thursday that we came to a conclusion that this is the direction that we want to go. If something were to happen at the last minute there, I think when you’re picking at the third spot you’re going to get a good football player. So we were very excited with this.”
Q: Coach, what are your thoughts about rookie quarterbacks playing?
A: “I really don’t have any thoughts on whether you play a guy or not. I don’t have preconceived ideas. Anybody that we draft today or tomorrow, I want them to have the mindset that they’re going to come in and compete to play from day one. I think it’s very, very important. I think as a football player that’s what you do; you compete to be a starter. So if he’s the best player, whether it’s the rookie quarterback, a rookie offensive lineman, a rookie linebacker, we want those guys to come in and compete. We’re going to put the best player out on the field.”
Q: This history of quarterbacks in the first round has been spotty. What is it about this guy that makes you guys think that he’ll buck the trend?
A: “I’ve understood that along the way, as far as the percentages. However, I think with Matt it’s a combination of the intelligence and leadership ability that he has. I can’t stress enough that he has the ability to take on not only the offense but the whole team. I’ve been around a situation in New England where we had a quarterback that had the whole team. That was one aspect that was very attractive as well as his skill set on the field. He has the ability to stand tall in the pocket and he has the vision. He has a very nice ability to move laterally in the pocket. He’s accurate underneath and can also throw a deep ball. He’s an intelligent football player and the last thing that I want to stress is his toughness.”
On speculation Ryan does not make players around him better:
A: “I’ve never really given that any thought. Matt is the type of guy that uplifts people as far as personality goes. I think going forward with the type of receivers that we have on our team and the running back situation we’ll continue to get better and better.”
Q: How did you reconcile his higher percentage?
A: I think it’s been less than three percent. There have been other quarterbacks here that have been drafted that have had higher interception rates. Given the fact that he had a situation where I think we calculated quite a few drops, as well. We took that into consideration and believed that wasn’t an issue for us.
Q: Were his receivers an issue regarding interceptions?
A: “It would have been situations where someone was on a receivers back tugging on him and the receiver wasn’t able to catch the ball that might have been in his hands. I’m not at all suggesting that the receiver corps is not adept. I’m suggesting that there were situations that presented themselves. There may have been dropped balls and it’s unfortunate for Matt’s rating.”
its finally sinking in to me that ryan is our new qb. i wonder what # he is going to wear.
| QUOTE (bossFALCON @ Apr 26 2008, 09:53 PM) |
| its finally sinking in to me that ryan is our new qb. i wonder what # he is going to wear. |
#2 would be appropriate.
bhjk,tt