Evan Watkins at VTScoop reports that at least one NFL scout is less than enthusiastic about Jerrod Evans's decision to declare a year early for the draft.
"He made a huge mistake coming out. There are so many players who won't gain anything on their draft value by going back to school, but he wasn't one of them. He still has to have reps and learn to play quarterback. Where are his reps coming from now?"
One scout's opinion does not a career derail. The assumption when Evans declared was that in a weak QB class, a team would be willing to pick him up as a project. But it's still disheartening to hear such a critical evaluation of a player who earned our admiration.
Here's hoping Jerrod proves all the haters wrong.
Read the article here. It is not behind a paywall.
Comments
Luckily and unluckily for Jerod, QB scouting and evaluation can vary significantly from team to team and from scout to scout. It's good because not every scout/team may be as critical, but it's also bad because the draft is needs based and if the teams going after QB's all happen to have scouts with that highly negative critical opinion, he's shit out of luck.
Where do you get this narrative that QB scouting varies wildly from team to team? Sorry for seeming like I'm calling you out, but I've literally never heard this before.
Really? Like the Raiders reputation for drafting based on combine performance rather than game productivity?
See example...
Edit: Now I know some of these guys didn't get drafted by the browns but just looking at the ones they did draft, (manziel, weeden lol, McCoy Quinn, Frye) they have all failed. Now with the other QB's.... QB scouting goes further than just the draft, but it shows you some teams can't scout worth a shit (And I'm a redskins fan, so we're probably a close second to Cleveland) and some teams excel.
Other QB reaches (in the first round only) I can think of top of my head is EJ Manuel, Christian Ponder, and Tim Tebow. So it doesn't happen often, but QB scouting can vary A LOT for some teams.
Obviously some teams are much more successful at identifying talent at certain positions, but I have hard time imagining that the scouting staffs are doing this vastly different from one another. Especially with the way pro sports team "copycat". It also seems like a lot of front office personnel move from team to team frequently so there has to be cross pollination going on. Some teams have also had to deal with meddlesome owners and egos in the front office (ie. Redskins, Raiders).
That being said, I have no insight to the inner workings of any NFL front office, so I could be completely off base as well. It just seems hard to believe that teams are doing things vastly different from one another when it comes to talent evaluation. I just think some teams are more willing to take big risks on certain players with more red flags due to personnel needs and front office/coaching egos.
Oh hey Captain Obvious
This is such a tricky situation because, while I do believe he should have stayed one more year, I can understand the reasons why he may have left. He is 23 years old, lost his top two receiving targets, and ran a ton more than he probably anticipated in this offense last season. He had one of the best statistical seasons of any QB, so he probably felt there was a small chance of duplicating that without Ford and Bucky, and with his older age and the running load he shouldered here, maybe felt there was too great a chance of injury.
He did need one more year of development in college though, and unless he absolutely blows away scouts at the combine and pro day, I fear a lot of scouts may share this opinion on his potential. We all knew Bucky was pretty much gone this year, but I honestly feel Evans' final decision may have hinged on Ford leaving. Had he stayed, I think Fuente would have had a little easier job of convincing Jerod to do so as well. But, what's done is done, and I can't fault him for making the decision he think is best for him and his family. I hope he crushes the combine.
Agree with everything in here except phrasing of "top 2 receiving targets." His top 2 were Ford and Philips which would put Hodges at number 3. So more appropriate phrasing would be "2 of his top receiving targets." Semantics, I know. Just didn't want Philips and Hodges to get mixed up. Sorry for being "that guy."
I agree with the Scout. He can't get past a first read. In the NFL, he is a major project.
1st & 2nd rounders can get away with being seen projects...for a couple of seasons. Low rounders/UFA's need to show some sort of cost/benefit return very quickly and get little oppurtunity to prove it - they are on a very short leash.
Agreed. I LOVED Jerrod Evans, but if anyone coming out early needed another year of seasoning, it was him. He'll be lucky to stick with a NFL roster, IMHO. I mean, see LT3, where is he now? He had better passing skills than Jerrod at this point. Guess I'm a hater. Actually, the only thing I hate is sugar-coating reality, but who could hate Jerrod? He gave it his all on every play, and had decent running & passing skills, but the QB draw thing won't exactly keep him functional very long in the NFL.
He's already gone. Wish him luck and move on.
I agree that he shouldn't have left. I think another year under CJF's tutelage would have only benefitted him. But I'm sure he had well thought out reasons for doing so (such as the high rushing workload he received). I just hope he sticks to some roster or other.
Really?!!
via GIPHY
Shit! there goes my draft prediction pool... 3rd round my ass. /s
That look when you realize you knew something all along.
SIDE NOTE: My #sauces have informed me that conditioning is going really well and this years Spring game is going to show some real competition and raw talent behind center. Two guys are really picking up the system fast and going to make it interesting.
My not so crazy prediction is that one of these guys is Hooker.
via GIPHY
Buzzfeed: But wait till you see the second choice..... it will blow your mind!!! (not really)
Any word on how Bush looks?
Apparenly he's gotten really into painting puppies. Oh wait, not that Bush.
So I'm actually afraid to google this. Can someone explain the joke?
former president bush has turned to painting since he left office, apparently his portraits of world leaders are really good
came in having to learn a new system. I see him being a backup to one of the other guys. Either way it's shaping up to be a lot better of a competition then last year. From all accounts, we may be just fine. Having the smartest guy on the team being our QB typically creates good things.
Who are you referring to as the "smartest guy"? Or is this sarcasm?
Jack Click, baby, Jack Click. He's got the name for fame.
Hmm, I don't know. I think I know who BAG may be referring to.
Facyson is flipping to QB?!
(..../s)
I'm kind of fond of the way it looks.
does anybody know if the spring game will be televised? I'm going to be at a family reunion at the beach (probably no cable TV but hope to have internets) with my English family (American football heathens, basically) and I'm basically just counting on not being able to watch any of it. I'm still holding out a tiny pinch of hope just in case, though.
Rumors were last year coaches didn't want it on TV.
at an HC event last year, someone asked him and he said it was not his decision.
Who's ever decision it was, I can understand not wanting to tip our hand or avoid a potential televised embarrassment that could have resulted from a coaching change and a QB change.
I understand when installing a new system and having a QB battle taking place, so I would not be surprised if this year is not televised either - but it would be nice to see them on TV again in the upcoming years.
On the contrary, if we run two equalish-looking QBs out there for a spring game, WVU won't know who to prepare for. Kind of the like the mystery of whether Tyrod or Glennon was going to play.
and if you show them absolutely nothing then mystery will only grow
Let's just give every QB Lawson's old jersey,
List him as QB 1 through 4 for the game,,
Say he won the job,
And then say it was due to a typo in the program.
We can make it a tradition for the Spring Game,
And refer to it as the man or rumor.
Thanks for the info!
Would you say for those qbs that the system is CLICKing? Cause it sure sounds like our picture of this job is about to get JACKed up.
Ummm...aren't there only 2 eligible new guys that need to pick-up the system?
Like it or not, he declared. Water under the bridge. We wish him well.
I have no recollection the name of that show..I just know I watched it a few times extremely blazed in college and loved it. Well done.
Trailer Park Boys
Expect to hear more like this in the upcoming weeks. From what I've heard, the majority opinion is that his declaring early was a big mistake for his career.
He has a point in that it was a very weak QB class. But just because the class was weak doesn't mean an NFL team was going to go out on a limb.
Do I think he made a mistake, yes. Was it his mistake to make, yes. Do I wish him the best of luck, yes I do.
There are 15 quarterbacks at the combine this year.
According to nfl.com, there are 8 teams that have a need for a quarterback, depending on trades and free agency. That being said, I think even with a trade (Cousins or Garoppolo) a team would probably pick up a backup, cheaply from the draft. So lets say as many as 10 get drafted.
Watson and Trubisky will probably be the top two quarterbacks taken in my opinion.
I can also see Webb, Kaaya, and Dobbs coming off the boards next.
After those top five I think it's pretty much a crap shoot.
I think Evans is in the next group with Peterman and Liufau.
Based on history I don't trust Texas Tech, Texas A&M, or Notre Dame quarterbacks in the NFL.
Leidner and Russell aren't as accurate,
Beathard (snicker) has too small hands (Scouts recommend 9 1/2 in, he has 9 1/8th in),
Rush lacks arm strength and mobility
Chad Kelly? Somebody is bound to take a shot with him
You might not trust them but I've seen several draft predictions give a lot of love to Mahomes and Kizer (as in 1st round predictions). As always though, who knows what teams will actually do on draft night.
Teams with a need at QB? As in a starting QB?
Evans isn't remotely going to be drafted to be a starter - this year or for any future year. At best, somebody will roll the dice hoping that he can quickly show he can be a cheap, emergency back-up. Otherwise, they'll very quickly move on and roll the dice on someone else.
If by some luck of the draw, he proves he can be a cheap, viable back-up (a la TT5), he might get a chance to stick around long enough to have a chance at being a starter.
But the odds are long. The NFL is a passionless beast that quickly chews up and spits out low round QBs that don't quickly prove they can add value.
I was just going off of a Team Needs column about the draft from NFL.com. They only listed 8 teams as needing QBs, but I'm assuming 2 more will probably get drafted as backups kind of like how the Redskins drafted RG3 and Cousins in the same draft.
The website didn't list the Patriots but I am assuming they're going to trade Garoppolo, and then 1 more team will probably want one.
Only a handful of QBs in a draft will ever be given the keys to the car of an NFL team. And maybe two will be a multi-year starter. Not every team needing a starting QB is going to draft one because there just aren't that many good ones. Some teams will simply sign a FA or trade for one.
Mahomes is probably in the top group, like it or not, and Kizer is probably in the 2nd group, with guys like Kaaya and Webb. But it is a weak group when a player like Trubisky is heading up the class. That being said, they'll probably take 8 QBs in the first round, then whine about how they are all big disappointments. Go figure.
Here's hoping Jerrod proves all the haters wrong.
I don't think this observation makes someone a hater. Most of the people on this board thought Evans should have stayed at VT another year.
Thinking he should have stayed another year isn't cheering for him to fail. I hope he has a successful NFL career.
There's a long history of people who offer legitimate opinions and critiques of being labeled "haters" on TKP. Look no further than the scorn that rained down upon those who had the opinion that Logan Thomas should have angled to be a NFL TE for a prime example of this.
This was Evans' choice to make. Having the opinion that it was the wrong choice shouldn't make one a hater, but such is life in TKP.
FTFY
Hey, us keyboard warriors know a LOT more than any player entering the draft or head coach or scout ever thought about knowing. My mommy told me so. /s
REALLY.??? Dude if you get your feelings hurt on this board then I certainly hope you don't post anywhere else. TKP is just about the most tolerant place on the web. A long history of being labeled a hater??? Ok I guess... you have right to your perspective but this place has a lot of room for diverse opinions IMHO.
Eh, mostly.
{Gob Bluth gif}
I gotcha. Was it this one?
Mel kiper always said he is the most lied to man around the NFL. We will know the true feeling of teams after the draft. I have a hard time seeing him go undrafted. If he gets on a team, he either will or won't have the talent to make it. An extra year in his case doesn't change that much. Do we really think he would become Tom Brady after another year in a non-pro-style offense?
Mel Kiper can fuck himself with a rusted studded spike.
He has a pretty shady history of shit he's pulled with VT players in the past, such as telling Ken Oxendine he was a first day pick because someone paid him to say it only to see Ox go completely undrafted.
Never heard that Ox story. What is the background?
Hadn't heard this either, but wiki says he was drafted by the falcons, so \_()_/
More importantly "On July 28, 2012, in Lawrenceville, GA, he married Playboy June 2011 playmate, Mei-Ling Lam."
This. This is Winning the Championship of Life:
This not so much:
Confusing Ox with Shy Stith?
That's what I am wondering.
Shit
Yes
Ox and Stith were both taken in the 7th rounds (Ox at 201 and Stith at 243).
Why do I hear this in John Madden's voice?
Reminder that given his family situation, sometimes it's best to go and get at least some guaranteed income.
Might not be a star, but he'll be getting paid.
And yes, I'll drink
Man, some people are really down on Evans. Scouts are wrong a decent amount in this day an age. Macho Man, you got any advice for young Jerod?
I wish I could have Jerod back on Hokies' roster. Since he's gone to the next level, best of luck Jerod. It was fun while it lasted, 10-win-season-fun.
Jerod made the picture of all the QBs invited to Grudens QB camp his header.
I think he is enjoying everybody doubting him. Regardless of what we think of his decision, I thouroughly enjoyed watching him play this year and will be excited whenever he gets drafted (especially if it's to the Panthers.)
The Panthers?
Hope not. I'm a Panthers fan and I wouldn't wish that on him. He doesn't unseat Cam there and even Derek Anderson has a pretty strong hold on backup duties. And on the offhand chance he actually gets to play that Ol would get him killed.
Yeah I've been whining about the Panthers failing to bring in Hokies, but Jerod is one I hope they don't pursue just because I don't think it'd be a good situation for him. Anderson has that backup spot on lockdown and Joe Webb provides too much roster versatility behind him to warrant bringing in anymore QBs.
Also the entire draft should pretty much be throwing OL picks at the wall and seeing what sticks in my opinion. Maybe a TE here or a DB there, but something has to be done up front.
Motley is doing the D.C. regional NFL combine today.
Is he gunning for a scout team? Is this common for backups? I need some information.
What info would you like? Info on Motley or regional combine?
Yes?
Since Motley was brought up, here's a potentially interesting off-season topic:
I think Motley would have steered us to at least 8 wins this past season.
Would you have taken 8 wins in exchange for Jerod Evans starting next season?
I would have.
Personally I wouldn't have. No one has any idea what we're going to get out of the receivers next year, could be (not super likely) that they suck and it doesn't really matter who we have behind center. I'd much rather have the successful season that changes program momentum than the potential of Evans in a year where we take a step back with regards to offensive talent. Also what if we don't win the ACC with Motley under center?
Well, I mean we didn't win it with Evans under center either?
Yeah I meant the Coastal. My fault
No. You never play for 'the next season'. You always play to win this season.
I got nothing on Motley.
The regional combines:
http://www.richmond.com/redskins-xtra/state-college-players-will-partici...
https://www.nflregionalcombines.com
Good read to start.
Dude is right
What motivation would a scout have to downgrade a player? Maybe trying to get a bargain or throw off competition?