Adrian Fedkiw
There’s not much to dislike about Carson Wentz.
Even the scouts pretty much agree and they are the nitpickiest of nitpickers.
The Bleeding Green Nation boys took a look back at Bob McGinn’s draft prospects series from April last week to see what the talent evaluators had to say about the 2016 Philadelphia Eagles draft class. For those that don’t know, the Journal Sentinel’s McGinn does this draft series each year and ranks players according to what he hears from scouts.
The scouts don’t hold back either, McGinn has some really good stuff.
Only two Eagles made it into his series, Wentz and fifth-round running back Wendell Smallwood. I was hoping third-round guard Isaac Seumalo would make it into the guards section, but he made it into the “others” category.
Wentz was the second-ranked quarterback in his ratings behind California’s Jared Goff. So what did the scouts have to say about Wentz?
Prototypical,” one scout said. “I see everything. Arm strength. Accuracy. Toughness. Athletic ability. Smart. Great kid.”
“He’s a genius, Wentz is,” said another scout with knowledge of Wentz’s 40 on the Wonderlic. “He could be really good. He’s the best runner, he’s the best athlete. He is off the charts.”
“He gets away with things in that league (Missouri Valley) that he wouldn’t get away with in the SEC,” a third scout said. “He tries to throw in tight windows. Even in the (FCS) title game he threw two picks. The guy he reminds me of is (Blake) Bortles. Everybody was so excited about Bortles because of the height and the athletic ability, and this guy has the same thing. At least Bortles played against big-time competition. At this point I just don’t see where he’s that accurate of a passer.”
Compared by that same scout to Ben Roethlisberger. “He’s big, athletic and has a freaking cannon,” a fourth scout said. “Level of competition is the only thing. I’d sit him for a year and a half, two years. Then I got a real starter. He’ll be shoved into the fire too quickly and it may crush him.”
There’s nothing here we haven’t heard before. I’ve heard the Bortles and Roethlisberger comparisons and they’re fair. The only thing I kind of disagree with is what the fourth scout said and to sit him for a year and a half, two years. I believe Wentz might be more pro-ready than people believe due to his intelligence and experience taking snaps from under center. I also think he has the mental makeup to handle himself and don’t think he’ll be crushed like the fourth scout said. Once the Eagles are out of the playoff picture, I’m playing Wentz. I’m not waiting until year two.
Overall, the scouts pretty much praised Wentz compared to some of the other quarterbacks such as Goff and Paxton Lynch. Here’s the analysis on Goff.
“Extremely accurate,” one scout said. “Amazing feet and pocket presence. Very similar to (Tom) Brady that way. Can make all the throws. But he has such a slight build. He needs to get stronger. And having played in that spread system he will need to take snaps under center and make adjustments.”
“He was surrounded by nothing,” another scout said. “His best running back had a hip and was hurt all year, the receiver has all kind of talent and he’s a nut job. The rest of them are pedestrian. He might be the most ready but I’d be nervous taking him before 10. Thing I don’t like is his slender build.”
Finished with a passer rating of 98.9. Another Cal product, Aaron Rodgers, posted a two-year rating of 102.9 in 2003-’04. “I just don’t see him having that winner quality about him,” a third scout said. “His arm isn’t great. They do a lot of that dink and dunk offense, a lot of that false production. He gets rattled by pressure. Everything has kind of got to be under control for him. He couldn’t win there and you want him to be the face of your franchise?” From Novato, Calif. Small hands (9 inches). Scored 34 on the 50-question Wonderlic intelligence test.
And Lynch?
“He’s the guy I like,” one scout said. “He’s got the poise, the vision. You can see what Memphis has done since he’s been there. Guy beat Mississippi and put Memphis on the map. Good athlete. Got all the things I look for in a guy.” Only other offers out of Deltona, Fla., were from Florida A&M and Bethune-Cookman.
“For a tall guy he doesn’t act like (Dan) McGwire or somebody,” another scout said. “He can get out of trouble. He can run. He can make all the throws. Accuracy is good, not great. Just give him a minute … but Jacksonville gave (Blake) Bortles only four games.” His 36-inch vertical jump tied Cardale Jones for best effort among QBs. His passer rating of 93.5 included 110.6 in ’15.
“You might hit the home run with Lynch but because of the mental you might strike out,” a third scout said. “He has the best arm. It ain’t even close. That big, tall son of a gun can run, too. He’s a little spacy, a little different.”
Added a fourth scout: “The overall maturity level and disposition, I’d be a bit concerned. Big kid, strong arm. But he’s a ways away mentally.” Wonderlic of 18.
I’m just not a believer in Lynch. I don’t think he has the mental makeup and agree he’s a “little spacy” as one scout put it. He has all the physical tools, just not much else.
Smallwood didn’t make the top 12 of McGinn’s running back rankings, but did make it into the unsung hero category.
Fast (4.41), undersized third-down back with tremendous hands and the fortitude to run inside. Weak in pass protection. Charged with witness intimidation in a 2014 murder case but charges were dropped. “They (school officials) said it looks 4,000 times worse than it ended up being,” one scout said. “They love him there.”
Head coach Doug Pederson had some kind words for the West Virginia product last Tuesday during a press conference. Apparently he was very impressive on the first day of OTA’s.
“He’s a guy that I think can be explosive,” Pederson said. “I really like how well he catches the football out of the backfield. I think that’s something that’s just a gift that he has. He’s a natural pass-catcher. I like that part of him. I like his vision.”