NFL Draft Diamonds Film Breakdown: The best of the rest, QB Edition
QB Prospects: Tyree Jackson, Kyle Shurmur, Easton Stick, Clayton Thorson, Brett Rypien
As the quarterbacks are officially done with the 2019 NFL Combine; their pro day is the only thing between now and draft day. And of course, numerous meetings with teams and numerous articles like this one trying to break down each guy. We have broken down the most talked about QB prospects individually, which you can find at www.nfldraftdiamonds.com if you want to go back and read them. We will break the remaining QB’s up, going over pro’s and con’s of each one as well as 1-2 clips of each guy. We will touch on Tyree Jackson, Kyler Shurmur, Easton Stick, Clayton Thorson, and Brett Rypien today. We will break down the remaining QB’s in another article.
Tyree Jackson – University at Buffalo
Pros:
- Extremely athletic
- Strong arm
- Can make every throw
- Relied on heavily by his team
Cons:
- Mechanics can get sloppy at times
- Long delivery at times
- Needs development (every prospect does)
- Accuracy concerns
Below is a clip demonstrating Jackson’s athletic ability and strong arm. He is able to escape the pocket and deliver over a 55-yard strike on the run. Plays like this are reasons why teams will take a chance on Jackson in hopes of being able to develop him into the QB they want him to be.
Kyle Shurmur – QB – Vanderbilt
Pros:
- Takes what the defense gives him
- Keeps his eyes on the defense, downfield, does not stare down his receivers
- Mechanically sound
- Smart
Cons:
- Holds on to ball too long at times
- Not a high ceiling (probably not a low floor though)
- Can have a windy delivery when pass rush leads to bad mechanics
- Would like to see more dep shots (could be product of the offense/personnel)
Below is a clip of Shurmur demonstrating his ability to move up in the pocket and deliver and accurate ball for a touchdown. He does a good job keeping his eyes downfield and not on the pass rush. Shurmur improved each year and has a shot to stick around at the next level thanks to his football IQ.
Easton Stick – QB – North Dakota State University
Pros:
- Gets most out of his arm
- Played in multiple personnel as well as under center and shotgun
- Very good athlete (good runner)
- Good mechanics
- Just a football player
Cons:
- At times tries to fit balls in when shouldn’t
- Level of competition
- How will he be against faster defenses
- When he misses it is usually due to drop in arm slot
Below are two clips of Stick that show why he is starting to generate more buzz. The first clip shows him staying comfortable in the pocket while going through his progressions before delivering a spot-on throw. Also, a fantastic job by his offensive line. The second clip shows his mobility and ability to pick up first downs with his legs. Great job on third and long to do just enough to keep the drive alive.
Clayton Thorson – QB – Northwestern
Pros:
- Size scouts look for
- Still athletic and moves well even after surgery
- Good movement in pocket, slides up well with eyes downfield
- Flashes NFL potential
Cons:
- Stares down his targets at times
- Pre-determined throws
- Turnovers
- Misses open targets he shouldn’t
Below is a clip of Thorson showing his ability to move well in the pocket. He does a good job slide stepping up into the pocket to avoid the pressure and delivering a touchdown pass on third down. Thorson flashes NFL potential and has the size that scouts look for in taking a quarterback they could potentially develop.
Brett Rypien – QB – Boise State University
Pros:
- Experience
- Spot on mechanics
- Goes through his progressions
- Versatile under center and in shotgun
- Sees field well
Cons:
- Takes unnecessary sacks at times
- Inconsistent when not comfortable in pocket (as most QB’s)
- Several of his mistakes were pre-determined throws
Below is a clip of Rypien looking off the safety and delivering an accurate ball over the middle. Rypien is a four-year starter who sees the field extremely well. This bodes well for him and his chances of sticking around in the league in some way or fashion.