Andrew Luck of Stanford ~ 6.4/235
"Wes Bunting: I think Andrew Luck [Stanford] is your number one overall pick. He's a guy who has the "it'' factor, which is the most important quality. The physical skill set is there. I would put money in the bank and say this kid can win a Super Bowl for you. He's your number one quarterback prospect.
Then, you have two guys who are physically talented, but the biggest question is do they have that ''it'' factor? I'm talking about Washington's Jake Locker and Arkansas' Ryan Mallett. Mallett is banged up and he's strictly a pocket passer. Lethargic footwork. If you make him move his feet he really struggles. Some scouts really don't like him. But with his physical skill set it only takes one team and I think he's going to go high in the first round somewhere. Would I take him up there? Absolutely not, but I think some team will fall in love with him.
Jake Locker is really inconsistent. He's at his best outside the pocket. He's not the most consistent pocket passer but he shows flashes. He's struggled against top-level competition. He's struggled to go through his progressions consistently. His accuracy gets spotty, but physically he's got all the tools. He's spent his summers playing baseball so that's affected his ability to develop; there's still plenty of upside there.
He's one guy the Cowboys could look at, give him a year or two to develop. I think he's similar in many ways to Stephen McGee, who I really liked coming out
Cowboys Nation: I want to ask you one more question about Luck, because you talk about his "it" factor. I watched him closely against Oregon and in the first half there he looked brillant, but in the 2nd half, after his top receiver went out, he started forcing passes and was intercepted a couple of times on 1st down, which is one of Tony Romo's foibles. You've seen a lot more of him than I have, what makes you so high about his intangibles?
Wes Bunting: This will put that Oregon game in perspective. I agree, he did press a bit. But when that receiver went out, Luck is down his top two receivers for the year, his number one and his number two. So now he's throwing to his number three and his number four guys and with all due respect to Stanford, they're not a real deep skill-position team, and his number three and his number four are not real good.
He's on the road at Oregon, and he knows he's got to keep pace with Oregon because his defense isn't going to stop the Ducks offense. So right there, he's demonstrating that he understands the situation. That's an example of "it" to me. Has Stanford ever been a factor in a bowl game the last decade? Not really. This guy comes along and he gets them to a bowl game starting as a freshman. He's going to take them to another starting as a sophomore. If he were to stick around'another year, and he might, he could be one of the best quarterback prospects to come along since Peyton Manning.
Cowboys Nation: You think that highly of him?
Wes Bunting: He's absolutely the real deal. Of all the quarterbacks to come out the last five years, I would take this guy to the bank over all of them. I like him that much.
Cowboys Nation: So he could get the Eli Manning treatment, in terms of draft value, when he comes out?
Wes Bunting: Yeah, and he's a better prospect than Eli Manning. I would give up the farm for him, if I really needed a quarterback. He's one of the few guys taken number one who I would feel confident about."
Then, you have two guys who are physically talented, but the biggest question is do they have that ''it'' factor? I'm talking about Washington's Jake Locker and Arkansas' Ryan Mallett. Mallett is banged up and he's strictly a pocket passer. Lethargic footwork. If you make him move his feet he really struggles. Some scouts really don't like him. But with his physical skill set it only takes one team and I think he's going to go high in the first round somewhere. Would I take him up there? Absolutely not, but I think some team will fall in love with him.
Jake Locker is really inconsistent. He's at his best outside the pocket. He's not the most consistent pocket passer but he shows flashes. He's struggled against top-level competition. He's struggled to go through his progressions consistently. His accuracy gets spotty, but physically he's got all the tools. He's spent his summers playing baseball so that's affected his ability to develop; there's still plenty of upside there.
He's one guy the Cowboys could look at, give him a year or two to develop. I think he's similar in many ways to Stephen McGee, who I really liked coming out
Cowboys Nation: I want to ask you one more question about Luck, because you talk about his "it" factor. I watched him closely against Oregon and in the first half there he looked brillant, but in the 2nd half, after his top receiver went out, he started forcing passes and was intercepted a couple of times on 1st down, which is one of Tony Romo's foibles. You've seen a lot more of him than I have, what makes you so high about his intangibles?
Wes Bunting: This will put that Oregon game in perspective. I agree, he did press a bit. But when that receiver went out, Luck is down his top two receivers for the year, his number one and his number two. So now he's throwing to his number three and his number four guys and with all due respect to Stanford, they're not a real deep skill-position team, and his number three and his number four are not real good.
He's on the road at Oregon, and he knows he's got to keep pace with Oregon because his defense isn't going to stop the Ducks offense. So right there, he's demonstrating that he understands the situation. That's an example of "it" to me. Has Stanford ever been a factor in a bowl game the last decade? Not really. This guy comes along and he gets them to a bowl game starting as a freshman. He's going to take them to another starting as a sophomore. If he were to stick around'another year, and he might, he could be one of the best quarterback prospects to come along since Peyton Manning.
Cowboys Nation: You think that highly of him?
Wes Bunting: He's absolutely the real deal. Of all the quarterbacks to come out the last five years, I would take this guy to the bank over all of them. I like him that much.
Cowboys Nation: So he could get the Eli Manning treatment, in terms of draft value, when he comes out?
Wes Bunting: Yeah, and he's a better prospect than Eli Manning. I would give up the farm for him, if I really needed a quarterback. He's one of the few guys taken number one who I would feel confident about."
"Skinny: As a red-shirt sophomore, Luck is part of the class of 2013. However, many believe he could declare for the 2011 NFL Draft should he turn in the breakout season expected of him. His numbers (2,575 yards, 13 touchdown passes) weren’t exactly eye-popping as a freshman, nor was he setting records as other signal callers have in recent seasons. Nevertheless, there is no denying the NFL talent that the Stanford quarterback is blessed with. He looks like a pro quarterback already with his 6’4” and 234-pound frame. Luck has the release of gunslinger…once he’s ready to pull the trigger the ball is on its way to the target in an instant. He also brings a Major League fastball—the Cardinal can make throws that most collegiate quarterbacks can only dream of. His physical ability isn’t the only reason he’s elevated himself to our number one overall pre-season pro prospect. The son of an NFL quarterback, Luck is bright and possesses great instincts for someone with just one season of college experience. He’s a hard-working leader and the fact that he’s playing for former pro-quarterback Jim Harbaugh in Stanford’s pro-style offense doesn’t hurt Luck’s chances at the next level. With just 12 games of college experience Luck doesn’t enter the 2010 college season as a finished product. There are kinks in his throwing motion that need to be corrected and he needs improve his accuracy (56.2 completion percentage as red-shirt freshman) as well as his ability to read opposing defenses. No one doubts that he will be one of the first players selected in the NFL Draft when he is ready to make the jump. The only question is: how high will he go? - Scouting Quarterbacks: Class of 2013
SCOUT'S TAKE
Pros: What stands out immediately about Luck is that he has one of the quickest throwing motions since Dan Marino. When Luck lets it fly his passes are laser fast and accurate—truly beautiful. Aside from that, Luck has quintessential NFL measurables; he is 6’4” and 230-plus pounds, very intelligent and instinctual. The red-shirt sophomore has wonderful footwork in his drop backs and when throwing the football. Luck has light and graceful feet that give him unexpected mobility, allowing him to almost glide through the pocket to avoid would-be sackers (he was sacked only six times in 2009). At Stanford, he is currently playing in a pro-style offense and getting pro-style coaching under Head Coach and former NFL quarterback Jim Harbaugh. That gives him a leg up on prospects that play in spread offenses with everything called from the sideline. Luck also has “it”, the ability to play well in big games and in big moments, which is a must for NFL quarterbacks. In other words, Luck does not just feast on weak Pac-10 opponents; he saves his best for the likes of USC and Oregon. Luck has a very strong arm, he is not all release; he can easily drive the ball down the field and has little trouble fitting the ball into tight windows. Not only did the Stanford signal caller put up some impressive numbers (13 touchdown passes, four interceptions), including leading the Pac-10 in passing efficiency (143.47), he won games (eight) and directed the Cardinal to their first winning season since 2001. The Texas boy also has the intangibles. The high school valedictorian is one of the brightest student athletes in the nation and despite his youth, Luck displayed leadership skills from day one, which he backs up with work ethic and toughness.
Cons: The biggest issue with Luck is his awkward throwing motion. He has a windup that causes him to drop the ball below his waist before he throws it which, unlike Tim Tebow’s, doesn’t appear to add momentum to Luck’s passes. In many ways the windup is separate from his actual throwing motion; Luck simply has to learn to cock the ball and throw. He was injured towards the end of the Cardinal’s season and will have to prove he is healthy—surgery on an injured finger in his throwing hand forced the quarterback to sit out the Sun Bowl. Luck also has to do a better job of going through his progressions before running or locking onto a single receiver. While the Stanford man had incredible moments during his red-shirt freshman year, he still needs to be more consistent. Luck’s release point is a bit to the side even under the best of circumstances.
Our View: An incredible quarterback prospect, Luck has noticeable but easily correctable flaws. The Cardinal comes from an impressive pedigree—his father Oliver was an NFL quarterback with the Houston Oilers from 1983 to 1986. Luck’s positives outweigh his negatives to the point where NFL types are already drooling over his potential despite the fact he has three years of eligibility remaining heading into the 2010 campaign. He has everything necessary to develop into an elite NFL quarterback. Given that Luck’s flaws can be corrected with playing experience and coaching, he’ll be under the gun to show marked improvement during his sophomore year. His progress will go a long way in deciding whether he declares for the 2011 NFL Draft or remains in school for his junior season. With Heisman Trophy runner-up Toby Gerhart moving on to the league where they play for pay, Luck must also prove he can handle being the focal point of the Cardinal offense. He has the ability to challenge Washington senior quarterback Jake Locker for Pac-10 Player of the Year honors as well as the honor of being the top overall pick in the NFL Draft next April."
SCOUT'S TAKE
Pros: What stands out immediately about Luck is that he has one of the quickest throwing motions since Dan Marino. When Luck lets it fly his passes are laser fast and accurate—truly beautiful. Aside from that, Luck has quintessential NFL measurables; he is 6’4” and 230-plus pounds, very intelligent and instinctual. The red-shirt sophomore has wonderful footwork in his drop backs and when throwing the football. Luck has light and graceful feet that give him unexpected mobility, allowing him to almost glide through the pocket to avoid would-be sackers (he was sacked only six times in 2009). At Stanford, he is currently playing in a pro-style offense and getting pro-style coaching under Head Coach and former NFL quarterback Jim Harbaugh. That gives him a leg up on prospects that play in spread offenses with everything called from the sideline. Luck also has “it”, the ability to play well in big games and in big moments, which is a must for NFL quarterbacks. In other words, Luck does not just feast on weak Pac-10 opponents; he saves his best for the likes of USC and Oregon. Luck has a very strong arm, he is not all release; he can easily drive the ball down the field and has little trouble fitting the ball into tight windows. Not only did the Stanford signal caller put up some impressive numbers (13 touchdown passes, four interceptions), including leading the Pac-10 in passing efficiency (143.47), he won games (eight) and directed the Cardinal to their first winning season since 2001. The Texas boy also has the intangibles. The high school valedictorian is one of the brightest student athletes in the nation and despite his youth, Luck displayed leadership skills from day one, which he backs up with work ethic and toughness.
Cons: The biggest issue with Luck is his awkward throwing motion. He has a windup that causes him to drop the ball below his waist before he throws it which, unlike Tim Tebow’s, doesn’t appear to add momentum to Luck’s passes. In many ways the windup is separate from his actual throwing motion; Luck simply has to learn to cock the ball and throw. He was injured towards the end of the Cardinal’s season and will have to prove he is healthy—surgery on an injured finger in his throwing hand forced the quarterback to sit out the Sun Bowl. Luck also has to do a better job of going through his progressions before running or locking onto a single receiver. While the Stanford man had incredible moments during his red-shirt freshman year, he still needs to be more consistent. Luck’s release point is a bit to the side even under the best of circumstances.
Our View: An incredible quarterback prospect, Luck has noticeable but easily correctable flaws. The Cardinal comes from an impressive pedigree—his father Oliver was an NFL quarterback with the Houston Oilers from 1983 to 1986. Luck’s positives outweigh his negatives to the point where NFL types are already drooling over his potential despite the fact he has three years of eligibility remaining heading into the 2010 campaign. He has everything necessary to develop into an elite NFL quarterback. Given that Luck’s flaws can be corrected with playing experience and coaching, he’ll be under the gun to show marked improvement during his sophomore year. His progress will go a long way in deciding whether he declares for the 2011 NFL Draft or remains in school for his junior season. With Heisman Trophy runner-up Toby Gerhart moving on to the league where they play for pay, Luck must also prove he can handle being the focal point of the Cardinal offense. He has the ability to challenge Washington senior quarterback Jake Locker for Pac-10 Player of the Year honors as well as the honor of being the top overall pick in the NFL Draft next April."
"Positives: Can make every throw at the next level... Shows good zip on deep outs and corner routes... Extremely efficient, averaged 8.94 yards per attempt and nearly 16 yards per completion as a freshman... No wasted motion, effortless release... Very good at selling the play action... Almost flawless footwork, does a great job in his drop steps... Gets good ball rotation on his throws, consistent tight spirals on his deep ball... Great decision maker, does a good job reading the defense... Very smart kid, a leader on and off the field... Good scrambler, was second on the team in rushing in 2009... Above average athlete for the quarterback position, very quick feet... Prototypical height and frame for the position... Plays in a pro-style offense and is coached by former NFL quarterback Jim Harbaugh... Father Oliver Luck was an NFL quarterback for the Houston Oilers.
Negatives: Is consistently asked to throw intermediate and deep routes which results in the lower completion percentage compared to many QBs who rely on yards after catch... Has not put up incredible yardage or touchdown totals, plays in a system that runs to set up the pass and isn't asked to throw 30-40 times per game.... A little inconsistent game to game, has some big performances and then some games where he takes a backseat to the Stanford running attack."
Negatives: Is consistently asked to throw intermediate and deep routes which results in the lower completion percentage compared to many QBs who rely on yards after catch... Has not put up incredible yardage or touchdown totals, plays in a system that runs to set up the pass and isn't asked to throw 30-40 times per game.... A little inconsistent game to game, has some big performances and then some games where he takes a backseat to the Stanford running attack."
"Andrew Luck did not put up great numbers as a redshirt freshman in 2009, but at 6-4 and 235 pounds he has the look of an NFL quarterback. As a freshman at Stanford he completed 56.2 percent of his passes for 2,575 yards and 13 touchdowns. However, he showed plenty of poise and potential throwing just four interceptions. By the end of his freshman campaign he was looking like a great quarterback and there was plenty of reason for people already talking about him going pro after the 2010 season.
Luck has not disappointed as a sophomore. The Cardinal attack has hit the air and through seven games Luck has completed 66.5 percent of his passes for 1,728 yards and an impressive 19 touchdowns. Luck is not much of a rushing threat, but he is quite elusive and has only been sacked three times this season. Occasionally he will even bust out a big run and actually has Stanford's longest run of the year at 52 yards.
Luck is still not a completely polished quarterback, but leading his team on a late game winning drive against USC was something that he has not done before. The NFL wants to see a poised quarterback and Luck was very poised and effective in that game winning drive. Right now he could be the first selection of the draft, but fellow Pac-10 quarterback Jake Locker will have something to say about that once the two meet up in workouts. However, Luck seems relatively sure that he will return to school for at least one more year, but what else is he supposed to say when he is leading a 6-1 team to a possible BCS bowl."
Luck has not disappointed as a sophomore. The Cardinal attack has hit the air and through seven games Luck has completed 66.5 percent of his passes for 1,728 yards and an impressive 19 touchdowns. Luck is not much of a rushing threat, but he is quite elusive and has only been sacked three times this season. Occasionally he will even bust out a big run and actually has Stanford's longest run of the year at 52 yards.
Luck is still not a completely polished quarterback, but leading his team on a late game winning drive against USC was something that he has not done before. The NFL wants to see a poised quarterback and Luck was very poised and effective in that game winning drive. Right now he could be the first selection of the draft, but fellow Pac-10 quarterback Jake Locker will have something to say about that once the two meet up in workouts. However, Luck seems relatively sure that he will return to school for at least one more year, but what else is he supposed to say when he is leading a 6-1 team to a possible BCS bowl."
"The son of an NFL quarterback, Luck has benefited from steady protection and has been groomed in an incubator for QBs under the tutelage of former NFL Pro Bowler Jim Harbaugh. For a redshirt sophomore, Luck is poised, patient and lets the game come to him. He has shown, with a thick lower body, that he can make throws with defenders draped around his legs and even escape the pocket for considerable yardage.
He is a tough, smart, highly respected team leader even though he has been in the program for only three years. When the Cardinal needs a play in critical situations, he has made them, charting very well on third downs and operating from under center in a pro-style offense the vast majority of the time. If he decides to depart early, he will contend with Locker to be the first quarterback selected. Sources say Harbaugh's presence at Stanford could directly affect his decision."
He is a tough, smart, highly respected team leader even though he has been in the program for only three years. When the Cardinal needs a play in critical situations, he has made them, charting very well on third downs and operating from under center in a pro-style offense the vast majority of the time. If he decides to depart early, he will contend with Locker to be the first quarterback selected. Sources say Harbaugh's presence at Stanford could directly affect his decision."
Fanatical FootBall Fiend on Andrew Luck
What can I say? A tremendous arsenal of athletic skills, outstanding mastery of the Game, all the Processsing Speed in the world, and absolutely phenomenal Pocket Pressence. His teammates love him, and well they should.
He'll probably go #1 in the Draft ~ IF he comes out!! ~ and that would be a pick well invested, indeed.
As always, the preceding thoughts were regurgitated, derivative tripe, adding no value whatsoever, while in fact obliterating intelligent thought and offending the spirit of all decent men. You are now stupider for having read it, and are encouraged, in the strongest possible language, never to expose your eyes to this Site again.
He'll probably go #1 in the Draft ~ IF he comes out!! ~ and that would be a pick well invested, indeed.
As always, the preceding thoughts were regurgitated, derivative tripe, adding no value whatsoever, while in fact obliterating intelligent thought and offending the spirit of all decent men. You are now stupider for having read it, and are encouraged, in the strongest possible language, never to expose your eyes to this Site again.
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