• Points to Stroud for
being so honest in his media availability. He showed accountability as a leader in saying he should have run more as a Buckeye, and awareness for where he needs to get better. He showed loyalty in
saying he didn’t want to go to Chicago, because of what that would mean for his ex-teammate Justin Fields, who he considers a big brother. He explained the football stuff at a high level.
Will all that matter in where he’s drafted? It actually might. One knock on Stroud has concerned his maturity as a quarterback, and with all that playing the position entails. He showed a lot of it on Friday, and if teams are walking away from interviews with the same sort of impression that he’s growing as a person, it certainly could impact his stock.
•
We’ll all be watching for Young’s weight on Saturday (he weighs in early in the morning). Teams will also be interested to see where USC star receiver Jordan Addison is in that department. Listed at 6’0” and 175 pounds last year, the 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner has a chance to be the first receiver taken, but there are fair questions to ask about how he’ll physically stand up to the rigors of an NFL season, especially after injuries cost him three games last year.
The quarterbacks workout Saturday, and the four presumed first rounders—Alabama’s Bryce Young, Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud, Kentucky’s Will Levis and Florida’s Anthony Richardson—will head into the day into uniquely different spots.
For Young, really, there was enough to lose by working out, which is probably why he won’t. For Stroud, this should be a showcase, given his strength and that he throws the prettiest ball in the draft. For Levis, there’s something to gain by throwing. For Richardson, there’s a lot to gain. And so we had an NFC assistant coach who’s studied the class to give us a little break down on what to look for with the four tomorrow afternoon.
Young: “It’s smart to not throw for him, he would not look great in this environment. His ball placement’s really good, he can spin it fine. But his arm is just ok strength-wise. He’s incredible in the areas Levis and Richardson struggle with—he knows how to throw the appropriate ball, with the right touch and timing. And in a combine environment, with no defenders out there, he might just look smaller and weaker than the other guys. So it’s good that he’s not throwing.”
Stroud: “He’s such a natural thrower. He makes throws easily with touch, he can layer balls over defenders from the pocket. I expect him to throw it really well, he should be right in his wheelhouse tomorrow, it should look clean. He plays with good footwork, the right base, he’s a prime candidate for a day like this. He should throw. He’ll definitely look great. … The questions with him are more that he had better wideouts than most of the NFL, and two first-round tackles, kind of like Mac [Jones] coming out of Bama, although he’s way more talented than Mac.
Levis: “He’s got a Jimmy [Garoppolo] type of uber quick release, and because of that, and the sort of locked motion he’s got, everything is a fastball. He struggles to throw with touch, but he can do it, it’s just not consistent. So I want to see touch on his ball, throw some corner routes with air underneath them, nine routes where he’s getting the ball to turn over. Can he throw with touch accurately consistently? His footwork should be great, so really you’re looking for him throwing the right kinds of ball consistently.”
Richardson: “Anthony’s gonna look like Cam. He’s gigantic, can throw the hell out of the ball. But like Will, the issue is throwing with touch, anticipation and the consistency in accuracy. He’s shown can be accurate, but as a total player, he’s not been an accurate passer. … He has the most to show—proper footwork, his base, throwing on time, his accuracy and ability to throw the right ball every time, in those areas, he can help himself a ton.”
https://www.si.com/nfl/2023/03/03/n...j-stroud-anthony-richardson-saturday-workouts
sports.yahoo.com
. When I watched the game, I thought it was targeting. I did think it was a desperation play but admired the quarterback for at least trying to score. If it had been a touchdown Stroud would still be getting accolades. As with QBs getting hit, WRs have this occur sometimes. In NFL, every player get paid for it.
