Christian Hackenberg looks more like project than prospect

[RS12]

EVANSTON, Ill. -- It was exciting to get a chance to see Penn State QB Christian Hackenberg up close Saturday in the Nittany Lions' game at Northwestern. However, I came away very unimpressed with the junior signal-caller in PSU's 23-21 loss.

Overall, he looked like more of a project than a prospect.

It's impressive to see how the ball jumps out of his hand in warm-ups. He's a big, physical player with a live arm. That's what makes him so intriguing.

But then the game started. He was really bad in the first half. He got things going and made some throws in the second half, but his accuracy, touch and awareness are all question marks. His ball placement and decision making are not very good. He completed 21 of 40 passes for 205 yards, no touchdowns and an interception Saturday.

There are a lot of people in the NFL that have evaluated quarterbacks for a long time, and they will tell you that touch and accuracy are two of the toughest areas to improve in. Those things are two of his biggest problems.


Better version of Logan Thomas


There's no denying that Hackenberg looks the part. He might resemble Carson Palmer in stature, but in terms of how he plays, he reminds me of a better version of former Virginia Tech QB Logan Thomas. In fact, the first comparisons that popped into my mind when I watched him play were to Thomas and Derek Anderson, respectively, when they were in college

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...kenberg-looks-more-like-project-than-prospect

 

[IAmLegend]

Logan Thomas is the worst comparison for Hack that I've ever seen. That writer loses all credibility to me.

Hackenberg has certainly had his ups and downs, but it's hard to really assess him when the team he plays on is so awful. It's similar to Jared Goff's situation at Cal. Hackenberg's O-Line has him running for his life on every snap, and they have no play makers at the WR position.

He's one of the most sacked players in the country. I remember watching the game against temple where he was sacked 10 times, including the last play of the game where Temple only brought TWO rushers... His O-Line is horrid. And yet, he went 7 games straight without throwing an INT and had his team's record at 7-2 before Saturday's last-second loss to Northwestern, albeit against not so great competition.

Also, he's playing in an offensive system that he's not suited for. Hackenberg's strength is his arm talent and his ability to throw the ball vertically down the field. Penn State has him throwing horizontally way too much because they know it was a wine cannot give him enough time to set his feet and make throws. So they are constantly running WR our screens, quick outs, and draw plays.

He definitely isn't a flawless prospect, but I think he's a lot better than he gets credit for. Under the right coaching and on a team that can actually keep him on his feet, he might be able to be a good QB. It's just almost impossible to tell until he gets a chance.

 

[RS12]

Better version of Logan Thomas

Yikes

 

[IAmLegend]

Logan Thomas is the worst comparison for Hack that I've ever seen. That writer loses all credibility to me.

Hackenberg has certainly had his ups and downs, but it's hard to really assess him when the team he plays on is so awful. It's similar to Jared Goff's situation at Cal. Hackenberg's O-Line has him running for his life on every snap, and they have no play makers at the WR position.

He's one of the most sacked players in the country. I remember watching the game against temple where he was sacked 10 times, including the last play of the game where Temple only brought TWO rushers... His O-Line is horrid. And yet, he went 7 games straight without throwing an INT and had his team's record at 7-2 before Saturday's last-second loss to Northwestern, albeit against not so great competition.

Also, he's playing in an offensive system that he's not suited for. Hackenberg's strength is his arm talent and his ability to throw the ball vertically down the field. Penn State has him throwing horizontally way too much because they know it was a wine cannot give him enough time to set his feet and make throws. So they are constantly running WR our screens, quick outs, and draw plays.

He definitely isn't a flawless prospect, but I think he's a lot better than he gets credit for. Under the right coaching and on a team that can actually keep him on his feet, he might be able to be a good QB. It's just almost impossible to tell until he gets a chance.

This is the O-Line he has protecting him..

 

[jwithrowcpd]

I brought this up on a previous post about Hack, as PSU fan I have watched this guy play for the last three years. From what I saw from him as a freshman, I thought that he would be a can't miss draft prospect. But after O'Brien left and with the ramifications of the scholarship reductions, the last two years have been difficult to watch. Hack has the best arm talent in this draft but his accuracy is all over the place. His Oline is terrible, I'll give you that, but even when he does get time to throw he has been inaccurate. He consistently throws balls that don't hit the WR in the numbers, but rather make the WR have to make a more difficult catch than is necessary. He has also overthrown or flat out missed guys who are wide open. I'd like to believe that its a confidence thing and once he gets placed into a situation where is isn't running for his life all the time, things will fall into place. He is going to need some work with a QB coach who knows what they are doing to un-do all of the bad habits that he has picked up over the last two years. I still consider him a prospect due to his arm talent, but he is not a day 1 starter. He will need to sit behind someone for a year or two before he will be ready to be a starter.

 

[Hardline]

Only take him if he slips in the 4th round or later.

 

[darthseinfeld]

I brought this up on a previous post about Hack, as PSU fan I have watched this guy play for the last three years. From what I saw from him as a freshman, I thought that he would be a can't miss draft prospect. But after O'Brien left and with the ramifications of the scholarship reductions, the last two years have been difficult to watch. Hack has the best arm talent in this draft but his accuracy is all over the place. His Oline is terrible, I'll give you that, but even when he does get time to throw he has been inaccurate. He consistently throws balls that don't hit the WR in the numbers, but rather make the WR have to make a more difficult catch than is necessary. He has also overthrown or flat out missed guys who are wide open. I'd like to believe that its a confidence thing and once he gets placed into a situation where is isn't running for his life all the time, things will fall into place. He is going to need some work with a QB coach who knows what they are doing to un-do all of the bad habits that he has picked up over the last two years. I still consider him a prospect due to his arm talent, but he is not a day 1 starter. He will need to sit behind someone for a year or two before he will be ready to be a starter.

To me he is a guy who is just so hard to judge. 1st overall talent but is it him or situation that suppresses his play. Or both

Ive also heard whispers of some attitude problems, but that isnt something I can really judge because you hear all sorts of innacruate negatives about players this tims of year

 

[Alexander]

Some analysts have said he reminds them of Tom Savage, who got taken by the Texans and is still a work in progress. I can see that. Falling in love with arm talent.

I personally do not think he can step in and play without a lot, I mean, a lot, of good focused coaching. He does some really bad things with his footwork and I find it hard to believe that Penn State coaches have not tried to work with him.

 

[LucaBrasi]

Take a look at his tape when he played for Bill O'Brien

 

[Hailmary]

Some analysts have said he reminds them of Tom Savage, who got taken by the Texans and is still a work in progress. I can see that. Falling in love with arm talent.

I personally do not think he can step in and play without a lot, I mean, a lot, of good focused coaching. He does some really bad things with his footwork and I find it hard to believe that Penn State coaches have not tried to work with him.

You would think, but I'm not so sure. There was postseason all-star game a few years back and there was a segment of NFL coaches working with the QBs. I was pretty shocked at how the coaches had to hammer home some basic footwork stuff,and these kids were supposed to be some of the best that the collegiate level had to offer.

I agree with the poor footwork. I've seen him making too many throws where he's falling backwards (which is partly why his accuracy's been so inconsistent).

 

[Future]

To me he is a guy who is just so hard to judge. 1st overall talent but is it him or situation that suppresses his play. Or both

At some point, the quarterback is responsible for sacks. Quick throws, identifying blitzers and changing pass protections are all part of what NFL QBs are asked to do, and he doesn't show that.

He's likely going to play with a poor OL in the NFL at one point or another, and if he can't handle pressure now I don't see why he would then. It's no different than any number of other QBs who come out of spreads and play behind dominant OLs where they never have to face pressure and then struggle in the NFL

 

[Alexander]

Take a look at his tape when he played for Bill O'Brien

It was better, but I don't see O'Brien making Savage a player. He is too busy recycling Patriot castoffs and failing at that too.

 

[maxdallasfan]

The Iggles will take him. They are sly like that because they know that 100,000 PSU fans will buy his jersey.

Just watch and see

 

[lkelly]

It was better, but I don't see O'Brien making Savage a player. He is too busy recycling Patriot castoffs and failing at that too.

A lot of the reason why it was better was that he could throw it anywhere near Allen Robinson and he would usually make the catch. A solid WR is a great deodorant for a QB, something that Eli Manning has built a career around.