NFL combine QB recap: Tyler Bray rises, Geno Smith holds steady

[Tribal Warfare]

NFL combine QB recap: Tyler Bray rises, Geno Smith holds steady

INDIANAPOLIS — The 2013 NFL Draft quarterback class is ripe for someone, really anyone, to step up and take the reins as the lead prospect.

One of the players in the mix to potentially do that, Matt Barkley, was one of three quarterbacks invited to the scouting combine that did not participate in drills because of an injury (Zac Dysert and Sean Renfree being the others). Barkley’s absence left a host of other contenders hoping to close the gap on West Virginia’s Geno Smith, currently a general-consensus pick as the No. 1 QB available.

The QB group worked through its on-field drills on Sunday, two days after meeting with the media. A quick look at how some of the top participating quarterbacks fared this weekend, and what it might mean going forward:

Geno Smith, West Virginia
Height: 6-2 … Weight: 218 … 40 time: 4.59 … Vertical jump: 33.5 inches

If you needed any further proof that there is no RGIII in this year’s QB class, Smith running the best 40-yard-dash at this position should do it. But for Smith, his 4.59 40 should help convince teams that he can get out of the pocket and make plays, even if he’s not an option-offense prospect.

On the flip, however, Day 4 of the combine wrapped without any real sense that any QB had separated himself from the rest. All the throws were there for the West Virginia product, but his inability to really run away and hide from the rest of the class certainly will not help his case for the No. 1 overall selection.

Ryan Nassib, Syracuse
Height: 6-2 … Weight: 227 … 40 time: 5.06 … Vertical jump: 28.5 inches

Nassib’s low-end 40 time (unofficially 5.06, better than only Landry Jones at quarterback) proofed what his college tape showed and what he told the media here Friday: He’s not a speed QB.

“I’m not much of a runner by trade like some other guys,” Nassib said, when asked if he could run the zone-read.

As a pocket passer, though, Nassib did nothing to hurt his stock during Sunday’s workout. The knocks on Nassib include that he lets his mechanics slip and occasionally floats passes downfield. But in the controlled combine environment, he was able to flash a strong, accurate arm. Nassib is a more athletic QB than he showed in the 40, too, so don’t expect his 5.06 to hurt him too much.

Mike Glennon, N.C. State
Height: 6-7 … Weight: 225 … 40 time: 4.94 … Vertical jump: 26.5 inches

Right now, Glennon is a sort of take-what-you-get prospect for NFL teams. He did manage to come in under 5.0 seconds unofficially in the 40, topping Nassib, Tyler Bray and Jones, but he’s simply a tall, gangly QB with room to grow both physically and as a passer.

There’s no denying that he has a strong arm — one of the strongest in the draft. Is that enough to convince NFL teams to overlook his downsides? Maybe, but Sunday likely will not go down as his distinguishing moment.

Tyler Bray, Tennessee
Height: 6-6 … Weight: 232 … 40 time: … Vertical jump: DNP

Say hello to your high-riser at the QB position out of the combine. Bray weighed in at 232, up a whopping 24 pounds from his final game at Tennessee. Like Glennon and Nassib, he’s far from a burner or an option guy, so his high 40 time shouldn’t hinder him too much.

And that’s especially true because Bray zinged the ball (and did so accurately) during drills. There’s definitely room for quarterbacks to rise and fall between now and the draft, and Bray’s weekend work has him trending in the right direction.

Tyler Wilson, Arkansas
Height: 6-2 … Weight: 215 … 40 time: 4.94 … Vertical jump: 28.5 inches

Wilson was middle of the road in most of Sunday’s drills. That’s an improvement from a couple days ago, when Wilson measured in alongside Colby Cameron and Matt Scott as the smallest QB prospects here (6-2) and stood alone with the smallest hands (8 3/4). The latter could be an issue for a lot of teams — small hands are believed to translate to a weak grip on the football and, thus, fumbles and/or passes that tend to wobble.

Wilson still has work to do as a passer, where his footwork tends to desert him. He did not make any glaring mistakes Sunday.

E.J. Manuel, Florida State
Height: 6-4 … Weight: 237 … 40 time: 4.65 … Vertical jump: 34 inches

Manuel said Friday, “I definitely feel I’m the best quarterback in this class.” Even though that may not wind up being true, Manuel continues to look more and more like a definite Day 2 option for teams hoping to develop a quarterback. Manuel finished second to Smith in the 40, but he measured in with the biggest hands of any QB (10 3/8 inches), put up the top vertical jump and posted the second-best broad jump (9 feet, 10 inches).

He’s an athlete with a nice arm, plus might be capable of running at least a little read-option. All of that could combine to drive Manuel up the draft board.

Landry Jones, Oklahoma
Height: 6-4 … Weight: 225 … 40 time: 5.11 … Vertical jump: 31 inches

Jones timed in as the slowest of the quarterbacks who participated Sunday, with a 5.11. That’s only so important for a pocket guy like Jones, but it does further the perception that Jones’ all-around game is tolerable yet underwhelming. Jones appeared to have a fine day throwing the football — hitting his spots when able to set and fire has never been his bugaboo, though.

[Pestilence]

Mayock made all of those comments about Geno and then said he'd only watched 6 of his games.

[Clyde Frog]

Originally Posted by BossChief

Someone needs to tweet Andrew Lucks numbers from last years combine to him...and Cam Newtons from the year before when he "destroyed the combine"

What the **** is wrong with he media?

Do they just not want a stud quarterback in Kansas City?

Cam 40 = 4.59 High = 39" Broad = 136"

Luck 40 = 4.67 High = 36" Broad = 134"

Geno 40 = 4.59 High = 33.5 Broad = 134"

I dont have a twitter account

[Pestilence]

NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock was asked for his thoughts on QB Geno Smith’s performance at the NFL Combine. Mayock liked the fact that he participated in all the throwing drills and felt he put his physical skills on display, but in the end it comes down to game tape and Mayock, like he does with all the QBs in this draft class, has questions.

“I saw everything that I saw on tape about Geno, and that is he flashed everything you want to see in a franchise quarterback on tape during the season,” said Mayock. ”He has a big arm, good arm, he moves well, he can be accurate. Everything I saw on tape I saw here. He’s a natural thrower; he doesn’t force the ball. What I go back to is I don’t care as much about this – I’m happy he did this because it just shows me he’s not afraid; Cam Newton did it and he didn’t throw the ball well and he still was the first pick in the draft. To me, it’s more important what you see on tape.

“I want to bang the table because I want to like Geno Smith. We interviewed him, I love what he had to say, but there are just too many inconsistencies on tape for me to say that Kansas City or anybody that high should take him. He’s more of a 20-32 [overall pick player]; I’ve said that based on watching six of his games. I’m going to watch the rest of them, but there are just so many inconsistencies with both Geno Smith and the entire quarterback class that I trouble banging the table for any of them.”

Smith did have one of the better throwing performances at the Combine Sunday. He clearly had the liveliest arm of the group and threw a good deep ball. He also showed his athleticism with the fastest 40 time (4.59) and highest vertical leap among the QBs.

**** you, Mayock.

[KILLER_CLOWN]

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut

That article may as well written its conclusions before the combine.

"Geno Smith proved to be faster than everyone else and made all the throws....but did nothing to separate himself". Just exactly WTF else did you want him to do?

And any combine article that says that Tyler Wilson was anything other than complete crap isn't worth the bandwidth it took to post it. That's a litmus test takeaway from all of yesterday's reports: Did this person know enough about what he was watching to realize that Tyler Wilson looked like dogshit?

If not, then stop reading.

Though I agree that Bray looked decent, it's hard to say how good he looked because the group he was in was just absolute trash. He clearly stood out from the Colin Klein's of the field, but that wasn't saying much.

I wish he was in group 5 with Geno, Manuel, Scott and Wilson so we could've seen where he slotted in with those guys.

I heard he upset a few scouts by not getting them coffee.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Pestilence

Mayock made all of those comments about Geno and then said he'd only watched 6 of his games.

[Deberg_1990]

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

Exactly. Mayock made similar statements yesterday. Yes, I saw the film that Mayock demonstrated as poor decisions. But with nearly 70% completion rate, isn't Smith allowed to make a few mistakes?

His comments were absurd. Either there's some kind of hidden secret about Geno Smith that no one in the media is sharing or they just can't seem to wrap their heads around the simple truth that Andrew Luck and RGIII are unique.

I've come to the conclusion Mayock is a complete idiot and NFL network is doing a disservice to its viewers with him spouting such nonsense.

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

Why does everyone want to turn Geno into an option offense QB?

He's black... Duh

Honestly its the stupidest thing ever.

[Dave Lane]

Where's the Mayock video?

[Pestilence]

Originally Posted by Dave Lane

Where's the Mayock video?

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Deberg_1990

I've come to the conclusion Mayock is a complete idiot and NFL network is doing a disservice to its viewers with him spouting such nonsense.

Dude, they're analyizing QBs with Mike Tannenbaum and Scott ***** right now.

"Disservice" is way, way too polite.

[Direckshun]

I think that if Bray lasts to our 2nd pick, we should take him.

It's about as close as we're getting to a premier chance at a QB in this draft, because we're sure as **** not taking Geno.

[Dave Lane]

Good god after watching the video of Mayock he's a complete ****ing idiot!

[Bo's Pelini]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

I think that if Bray lasts to our 2nd pick, we should take him.

It's about as close as we're getting to a premier chance at a QB in this draft, because we're sure as **** not taking Geno.

Skipping Geno for Bray would be like passing go without collecting 200 dollars

[Dave Lane]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

I think that if Bray lasts to our 2nd pick, we should take him.

It's about as close as we're getting to a premier chance at a QB in this draft, because we're sure as **** not taking Geno.

**** off!

[Pestilence]

Everytime your man beats the coverage and he's wide open....you have to complete that 100 out of 100 times.

Never done by ANY QB in this league. **** off, Mayock.