Scouting Reports- QB

A-H / I-P / Q-Z

Scott Riddle                                                                                                                                            Elon

    Has decent size and good arm strength.  Has a good release.  Has some athletic ability and does a good job avoiding pressure.  Didn't exactly dominate his level like anticipated.  Needs to work on his mechanics.  Throws off his back foot a lot.  Has a tendency to throw a lot of jump balls and throws more INTs than you would like against lower level of competition.  Has decent skills but doesn't figure as much more than a backup and it will require a lot of work to get to that level.

Kevin Riley                                                                                                                                    California

    Has decent size and slightly above average arm strength.  Looks the part and has decent athletic ability.  Runs a little hot and cold with his play and his accuracy.  His release is a little bit long and he doesn't always have good throwing mechanics.  Will sometimes drop his elbow which will cause the ball to sail.  Also doesn't always get his shoulders square.  Struggles some mentally.  Doesn't always seem sure of himself and is hesitant in his play.  He doesn't always do a good job of feeling pressure and he doesn't always make good decisions.  At times he doesn't look like much of a prospect and at other times there are glimpses that make you think that maybe he could make it in the NFL.  Further complicating matters right now is that he sustained a knee and calf injury that knocked him out for the season.  He doesn't figure to get drafted but might get a chance as an undrafted free agent.

Justin Roper                                                                                                                                   Montana

    Tall QB with decent arm strength.  Transferred from Oregon where he was undefeated as a starter.  Never looked real comfortable in the Oregon spread offense even though he is pretty athletic for a tall guy.  I thought that he would dominate this level of competition but he really didn't.  Has a little bit of a long release and at times likes to throw into coverage.  Has some good physical skills to work with but he hasn't taken his game to the next level.

Steven Scheffield                                                                                                                        Texas Tech

    Tall QB who is really skinny which has earned him the nickname "Sticks".  Has been in a tight QB battle with Taylor Potts the past couple years and he lost out this past season.  Potts played well so he didn't get a lot of playing time.  System type QB who lacks great arm strength.  Has some mobility but has durability concerns.  He lacks bulk to absorb hits and has a history of injuries.  His foot is a concern because it broke twice in a year.  Decent college QB who was never able to take the reins at Texas Tech.  Doesn't figure to have enough ability to make it on the next level.

Ricky Stanzi                                                                                                                                           Iowa

    Has good size and decent arm strength.  Creates a lot of love/hate with his play.  At times will show some magic and help lead his team back to victory.  The problem is that they are often behind because of his poor play.  Can make some big throws but overall isn't very accurate.  Throughout his career he has often gotten bailed out by his receivers.  Really struggles throwing the deep ball.  Is a decent athlete and can make things happen with his feet even though he is not a running QB.  Is really plagued with making bonehead plays.  No QB has more "what in the world was he doing" plays that he does.  He is kind of similar to Jake Plummer but Plummer didn't make as many bonehead plays and had more magic about him.  Has some ability but needs to be more consistent.

Tyrod Taylor                                                                                                                            Virginia Tech

    Super athletic QB with marginal size.  No QB improved more between junior year and senior year than he did but he still has a way to go.  Is a great runner and is dangerous in the open field.  Plays the game like a QB but has some RB skills and could get a look there.  Has a strong arm and a good release.  Is a rhythm passer who struggles with accuracy when that rhythm is disrupted, whether that be due to pressure or standing in the pocket for a long time waiting for someone to get open.  Has gotten better but at times still struggles to lead receivers and at times leads them into defenders.  Might have small hands because his ball flutters in in climate weather.  Has gotten better but still makes a number of bad decisions, especially when he is pressured.  You have to like the fact that he has gotten better.  He is a great athlete that is bound to get an opportunity to develop into a QB.

Scott Tolzien                                                                                                                                  Wisconsin

    Has good size and shows good leadership skills.  He has a decent arm and release.  Wasn't asked to do a lot but did a good job managing the game.  Has experience in a pro style type offense.  Improved his accuracy over the course of his career.  Sometimes he gets locked onto his receiver.  Doesn't have a lot of upside but is a solid player who could develop into a solid backup who might be able to start in the right system.

Jeff Van Camp                                                                                                                     Florida Atlantic

    Tall QB with decent bulk.  Is the son of a professional wrestler.  Has average arm strength and accuracy.  His release is a little bit long.  Filled in a couple games two years ago when Rusty Smith went down with injury but this past season was his first as a starter.  Improved as the season progressed.  Solid college QB who could have some potential as a backup.

Marc Verica                                                                                                                                      Virginia

    Has decent size and arm strength.  Has good athletic ability.  Inconsistent with his accuracy and he really struggles down the field.  Decision making has been a problem and he has been susceptible to turnovers.  Doesn't seem like much of a prospect but could get a chance due to his athleticism.

Trevor Vittatoe                                                                                                                                    UTEP

    Frustrating prospect who has really good athleticism.  Has decent size and good arm strength.  He is a good athlete who can pick up yards with his feet but he doesn't like to run and rarely does.  Doesn't have good mechanics and therefore isn't overly accurate.  Throws the ball 3/4 and kind of slings it.  Has terrible footwork, rarely setting his feet or throwing off his front foot.  Really struggles reading defenses.  At times looks like he decides where the ball is going to go before the snap and then he forces it in there.  The frustrating thing is that he has a lot of talent but despite all his experience he doesn't ever seem to get better.  Still, some team might be interested in him as a project.

Troy Weatherhead                                                                                                                          Hillsdale

    Small school QB who really dominated his level of competition but failed to dominate the Cactus Bowl.  He has good size and was really accurate on his level.  Has below average arm strength.  Played in a system that didn't force him to throw the ball downfield.  Will be making a huge jump in competition and he only has average skills.

Adam Weber                                                                                                                                Minnesota

    Has good size.  Isn't overly athletic but isn't a stiff.  Has decent arm strength.  His release is inconsistent, sometimes it is compact and short and sometimes it is long.  When his release is compact his accuracy is better.  Doesn't always do a good job of throwing receivers open and isn't always a good decision maker, especially when there are people in his face.  Has a lot of experience, his best year being his sophomore year.  At that point he looked like he was going to be a quality prospect.  Has been somewhat inconsistent throughout his career but it is important to note that he has had a different offensive coordinator each year for the five years he has been there.  He possesses the skills to be a quality backup and maybe with some coaching consistency he can get there.

Chris Whitney                                                                                                                                Villanova

    Has good size and good athleticism.  Has below average arm strength which might be a huge issue on the next level.  Has a decent release.  Was pretty accurate in their system but they don't throw the ball down field very much.  Accuracy seems to drop dramatically when pressured.  Can run and can get yards with his feet.  Has a magical ability to dodge the pass rush.  Is strong and is hard to bring down.  Doesn't back down from contact and can be pretty physical.  Has had a couple monster blocks over the past few seasons.  Could easily get a look as a FB or TE.  Intriguing physical specimen who lacks the arm strength needed but might be able to change positions.

T.J. Yates                                                                                                                              North Carolina

    Has decent size and arm strength.  Was consistently booed his junior year but he developed and played better this past season.  Has decent accuracy.  Does a better job of taking care of the football and improved his decision making.  He still is a victim of boneheaded plays.  Has potential to develop into a solid backup.