Breaking Down QB’s Jacoby Brissett and Dak Prescott

[RS12]

Dak Prescott – QB – Mississippi State

Dak is a fifth year senior and a true two year starter for Mississippi State. He got seven starts in 2013 but was really splitting time with Tyler Russell. Has been the true starter the last two seasons. Showed a lot of improvement from 2014 to 2015. In 2014 he completed 61% of his throws for 3449 yards 27 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. In 2015 he upped his completions percentage to 66% and threw for 3793 yards, 29 touchdowns and only 5 interceptions.

Size –

6020 – 230 – 4.69 (All Estimates)

Strong Points –

Size, very good athlete. Extremely competitive. Loves the game and works to get better. Strong arm. Has a very quick delivery. Vastly improved over the 2014 season. Is capable of making all the throws. Good leadership skills. Shows very good accuracy on short throws. Can extend plays with his feet and is dangerous when used as a runner. Is much improved at finding the open man and going through a progression.

Weak Points –

Ball placement and accuracy on mid-range and deep throws is average. Does not play in a very complex offense. Not a real touch passer.

Summation –

If you look at tape from 2014 and compare it to 2015, he is much improved. His decision making is better and he has a much quicker delivery. He still will force some throws but overall he is much improved. He has a “live” arm with snap in his wrist. Has a lot of tools but still in the developmental stage. Will come in as a three and should be a two his second year. May eventually be a starter but that will depend on the system and his continual development. Dak has a lot of upside but it’s up to him how quickly he improves.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/breaking-down-qbs-jacoby-brissett-and-dak-prescott/

 

[bodi]

I do not want either of these guys on our team

 

[marchetta]

Dak Prescott QB Mississippi St

STRENGTHS
Dak might be one of the most improved quarterbacks in this draft. He shows on film a strong arm with the athletic talents to extend plays. He stands strong in the pocket under adverse situations and when he throws in rhythm, he shows the type of accuracy needed to be successful for the next level. Dak has good leadership skills and has the respect of his teammates and coaches. He has been under center, but seems to work better in a shotgun offense. Dak reminds me a lot of Geno Smith when he came out and has a lot of the same talents and ability but unlike Geno, Dak seems to be more attuned to the needs of the NFL in the style of play they want in their quarterbacks. Dak has been working very hard for the last few years to make more plays from the pocket with accuracy and the type of throws that the NFL expects from its starting quarterbacks. Dak’s potential to lead and learn are his dominating attributes.

CONCERNS
Dak has improved every year but still struggles with his accuracy when he is on the run, accuracy when coming off his primary receivers and accuracy on the deep ball when he has to put air under his passes. He also seems to go to his check down receiver too late and holds on to the ball too long waiting for receivers to get completely open. When he breaks the pocket, he doesn’t look to pass the ball and when he runs the ball, he looks for contact instead of protecting himself. In spite of all these important issues, Dak has improved and I suspect will continue to improve because he seems to be very coachable.

TALENT BOARD: ROUND 2
Dak may take some time to develop but I think that time will be well spent. He has the ability to take what he learns in practice on to the field and he also has this innate need to win no matter what it takes. Dak doesn’t have to be the star of the game. He doesn’t have to make the big play, but he does have to win. You are correct in thinking that when Dak is losing he reverts back to that “athletic” quarterback who will take off and run the ball instead of standing in the pocket and making plays, but every time I have watched Dak play this year he only reverts back to that style of play after he has tried very hard all game long to play from the pocket and it just hasn’t brought the expected success. Dak has improved his play from the pocket every year. He still has a lot to learn about the passing game, but this kid is a sponge and without a doubt has shown that he is willing to learn. I would think those teams like the Bills, Seahawks, Eagles, or any other team that believes that athletic quarterbacks are not the scourge of the NFL will rate Dak higher than those who think otherwise. If you’re looking for a potential starting quarterback to develop, I think selecting Dak would be very smart. The truth is every team in this draft should be looking at drafting Dak and not just the teams with conventional offenses and boring offensive coordinators.

Jacoby Brissett QB North Carolina St

STRENGTHS
Jacoby has excellent overall size, athletic talent and arm strength to play quarterback at a high level for the team that selects him. He can extend plays with his athleticism and is hard to bring down with just one player because of his size. He has good velocity on his ball and, when given the time, has good overall accuracy to make all the throws at the next level. Jacoby shows on film solid leadership skills through his play on the field. Jacoby can play under center or in the shotgun without it affecting his accuracy. Developing Jacoby behind a solid veteran quarterback would be the right scenario for Jacoby to succeed and become a starting quarterback with excellent potential to be a winning quarterback in the years to come.

CONCERNS
Jacoby has to learn two very important things. First, he has to learn to trust his offensive line and play more from the pocket and in rhythm. Second, he has to learn to look down the field for open receivers when he breaks the pocket and not just look to gain yardage running. Then, he has to learn to trust his receivers and throw to them when they look like they are covered, when in truth they are not. Jacoby needs to tighten up his throwing motion and not stare down his receivers. He should also reset his feet and throw the ball with accuracy or slide in the pocket instead of breaking the pocket and then…well, I guess that’s more than two very important things, oops my bad. Let’s just go with a description of developmental quarterback.

TALENT BOARD ROUND: 3
Consistent accuracy is one of the keys to being a starting quarterback in the NFL. If you have that and can make all the throws on time, then all the rest will come if you can learn to stand in the pocket and make plays in the passing game. Jacoby has had a poor offensive line, but in their defense, he has not helped them to become better by learning to slide, by getting rid of the ball faster or going to his check downs. Jacoby falls in love with the big play and the dramatic play. When he makes a dramatic run, he thinks that’s a good thing. When I see him make a dramatic run by breaking the pocket, I see a player who is an excellent athlete, but not an excellent quarterback. I like Jacoby’s potential because I see the leadership qualities needed in him to adjust and play to what will fit him and make him successful at the next level. He just has to learn to use the pocket to his advantage and when he does take off, protect himself by going down. He also has to accept that not every play needs to be a positive play or an impact play. It’s alright to take a sack if that’s the smart play for that situation. There is no doubt in my mind that Jacoby can become a starting quarterback in the NFL. If he does, anything can happen after that -- at least that’s what I see on film. In my book, Jacoby is a terrific developmental quarterback with the ability to start and be a winning quarterback.