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He's not.
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2015 Draft Prospects
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JMcCurry08
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CBBI
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If that's true, and it's hard to take much seriously two weeks away from the draft, but if it's true it leads me to believe that O'Connell does not have a particularly high opinion of Mariota.
There is basically no one who knows how close/far away Mariota is from being an NFL QB than the Browns QB coach. If they have the opportunity to select him and don't, that's as telling as it gets to me.
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http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draf...t-fits-offensive-prospects-2015-nfl-draft-nfl
Best fits for offensive line prospects
Todd McShay, Scouts Inc.
We've recently looked at the best position fits for the wide receivers and front-seven players in the 2015 NFL draft, and Friday we're turning our attention to the offensive line class. Here's how each of the prospects in the Day 1 and Day 2 mix project at the NFL level:
Pure left tackles
Andrus Peat, Stanford (Scouts Inc. overall rank: 12): I wish he were a little stronger as a finisher, but more so than any prospect in this class, he has the combination of elite length (6-foot-7, 313 pounds with 34 3/8-inch arms) and agility to project as a very successful left tackle in the NFL.
D.J. Humphries, Florida (25): He lacks the power you'd like to see in an NFL offensive tackle, but he may have the quickest feet and best overall agility in this class along with Cedric Ogbuehi. That makes him a better fit for a zone-blocking scheme, which can utilize his athleticism and hide his lack of strength. His sub-34-inch arms (33 5/8) are a concern at the left tackle spot.
Jake Fisher, Oregon (46): He reminds me of Lane Johnson in terms of his natural movement skills. He isn't that level of a prospect, but he's just a really smooth athlete who can mirror and slide with ease in pass protection. But he really needs to become stronger and a better finisher as a run-blocker, which is why he's a best fit in a zone-blocking scheme. Like Humphries, his sub-34-inch arms are a red flag.
Pure right tackles
Ereck Flowers, Miami (FL) (18): I won't completely rule him out as a future NFL left tackle, but he projects better at right because he's not an ideal athlete at the left tackle position. But he's got great size (6-6, 329 pounds), length (34 1/2-inch arms) and explosive upper-body power, and he has a great work ethic. He could be the second- or third-best O-lineman in this class when all is said and done.
T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh (29): He's very raw given his limited experience at the position. If you lined him up at left tackle in the NFL right now he'd be a major liability, because he has major work to do with his technique. But the tools are all there to be a very good NFL right tackle. There were times on tape when he completely overpowered guys with his great strength.
Tackles/guards
Brandon Scherff, Iowa (6): I'm not an all-or-nothing guy when it comes to arm length for tackles, which is why I won't rule out the possibility of Scherff (who has 33 3/8-inch arms, shorter than ideal for the position) developing into an NFL left tackle. But his shorter arms and the fact that he's not an elite athlete do raise questions as to whether he could hold up against speed rushers and complete pass-rushers in the NFL. But if I'm a team that has the flexibility to play him at either guard or tackle, I'd take him over any other offensive lineman in this class. I love his toughness, power as a run-blocker, and ability to finish blocks.
La'el Collins, LSU (19): I think when all is said and done he's either a right tackle or a guard in the NFL. He isn't an elite athlete, and like Scherff, he has shorter arms (33 1/4 inches), but he possesses great awareness, toughness and finishing ability. He's a very consistent blocker.
Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M (31): He played guard, right tackle and left tackle for the Aggies, and it's hard to evaluate him as a left tackle, because he had some ups and downs playing the position. Any time he was threatened by power, it usually didn't go very well. But his versatility is very valuable and he has outstanding foot quickness and overall length (including 35 7/8-inch arms). He needs to get healthy, coming off of a torn ACL, and then get stronger.
Guards
Laken Tomlinson, Duke (59): He started all 52 games of his career at right guard. So if you're drafting Tomlinson, you're drafting a right guard. He's not a great athlete but is the best of this year's guard class, and he's a proven run-blocker.
Tre' Jackson, Florida State (64): You're not going to beat Jackson by running through him. He's a thick, wide-bodied guy who dominates in the running game. You need to protect him on passing plays, as a quick 3-technique defensive tackle could give him trouble, but if you know how to mask his weaknesses he can be very effective for you in the running game.
A.J. Cann, South Carolina (70): There isn't a whole lot different in his tape from Jackson's. He's outstanding in the running game but has limitations in pass protection. His awareness is good, and his hard work in the film room transfers to the field.
Centers with tackle experience
Cameron Erving, Florida State (17): The best thing that ever happened to Erving was FSU moving him from left tackle to center this season in order to get its best five linemen on the field. He wasn't having a great year at left tackle, but he got better every game he played at center. He is really light on his feet, has really good length (6-5, with 34 1/8-inch arms) and has a powerful upper body. He does a great job on zone-stretch plays and as a second-level blocker.
Ali Marpet, Hobart (92): He's tough to evaluate given his low level of competition. The last tape I studied of him was against Curry College, during which he took a defensive end who left his feet going for a pass breakup and threw him six yards back in the air. He's just so dominant at the point of attack against lesser players that it's hard to gauge if it will actually translate to the NFL. His agility and speed numbers at the combine were off the charts -- he ran a 4.98 40-yard dash with a 1.71-second 10-yard split at 6-4, 307 pounds, which is outstanding -- but I don't know if he can handle playing on an island in pass protection in the pros. He had some ups and downs at the Senior Bowl playing against legit competition.
Best fits for offensive line prospects
Todd McShay, Scouts Inc.
We've recently looked at the best position fits for the wide receivers and front-seven players in the 2015 NFL draft, and Friday we're turning our attention to the offensive line class. Here's how each of the prospects in the Day 1 and Day 2 mix project at the NFL level:
Pure left tackles
Andrus Peat, Stanford (Scouts Inc. overall rank: 12): I wish he were a little stronger as a finisher, but more so than any prospect in this class, he has the combination of elite length (6-foot-7, 313 pounds with 34 3/8-inch arms) and agility to project as a very successful left tackle in the NFL.
D.J. Humphries, Florida (25): He lacks the power you'd like to see in an NFL offensive tackle, but he may have the quickest feet and best overall agility in this class along with Cedric Ogbuehi. That makes him a better fit for a zone-blocking scheme, which can utilize his athleticism and hide his lack of strength. His sub-34-inch arms (33 5/8) are a concern at the left tackle spot.
Jake Fisher, Oregon (46): He reminds me of Lane Johnson in terms of his natural movement skills. He isn't that level of a prospect, but he's just a really smooth athlete who can mirror and slide with ease in pass protection. But he really needs to become stronger and a better finisher as a run-blocker, which is why he's a best fit in a zone-blocking scheme. Like Humphries, his sub-34-inch arms are a red flag.
Pure right tackles
Ereck Flowers, Miami (FL) (18): I won't completely rule him out as a future NFL left tackle, but he projects better at right because he's not an ideal athlete at the left tackle position. But he's got great size (6-6, 329 pounds), length (34 1/2-inch arms) and explosive upper-body power, and he has a great work ethic. He could be the second- or third-best O-lineman in this class when all is said and done.
T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh (29): He's very raw given his limited experience at the position. If you lined him up at left tackle in the NFL right now he'd be a major liability, because he has major work to do with his technique. But the tools are all there to be a very good NFL right tackle. There were times on tape when he completely overpowered guys with his great strength.
Tackles/guards
Brandon Scherff, Iowa (6): I'm not an all-or-nothing guy when it comes to arm length for tackles, which is why I won't rule out the possibility of Scherff (who has 33 3/8-inch arms, shorter than ideal for the position) developing into an NFL left tackle. But his shorter arms and the fact that he's not an elite athlete do raise questions as to whether he could hold up against speed rushers and complete pass-rushers in the NFL. But if I'm a team that has the flexibility to play him at either guard or tackle, I'd take him over any other offensive lineman in this class. I love his toughness, power as a run-blocker, and ability to finish blocks.
La'el Collins, LSU (19): I think when all is said and done he's either a right tackle or a guard in the NFL. He isn't an elite athlete, and like Scherff, he has shorter arms (33 1/4 inches), but he possesses great awareness, toughness and finishing ability. He's a very consistent blocker.
Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M (31): He played guard, right tackle and left tackle for the Aggies, and it's hard to evaluate him as a left tackle, because he had some ups and downs playing the position. Any time he was threatened by power, it usually didn't go very well. But his versatility is very valuable and he has outstanding foot quickness and overall length (including 35 7/8-inch arms). He needs to get healthy, coming off of a torn ACL, and then get stronger.
Guards
Laken Tomlinson, Duke (59): He started all 52 games of his career at right guard. So if you're drafting Tomlinson, you're drafting a right guard. He's not a great athlete but is the best of this year's guard class, and he's a proven run-blocker.
Tre' Jackson, Florida State (64): You're not going to beat Jackson by running through him. He's a thick, wide-bodied guy who dominates in the running game. You need to protect him on passing plays, as a quick 3-technique defensive tackle could give him trouble, but if you know how to mask his weaknesses he can be very effective for you in the running game.
A.J. Cann, South Carolina (70): There isn't a whole lot different in his tape from Jackson's. He's outstanding in the running game but has limitations in pass protection. His awareness is good, and his hard work in the film room transfers to the field.
Centers with tackle experience
Cameron Erving, Florida State (17): The best thing that ever happened to Erving was FSU moving him from left tackle to center this season in order to get its best five linemen on the field. He wasn't having a great year at left tackle, but he got better every game he played at center. He is really light on his feet, has really good length (6-5, with 34 1/8-inch arms) and has a powerful upper body. He does a great job on zone-stretch plays and as a second-level blocker.
Ali Marpet, Hobart (92): He's tough to evaluate given his low level of competition. The last tape I studied of him was against Curry College, during which he took a defensive end who left his feet going for a pass breakup and threw him six yards back in the air. He's just so dominant at the point of attack against lesser players that it's hard to gauge if it will actually translate to the NFL. His agility and speed numbers at the combine were off the charts -- he ran a 4.98 40-yard dash with a 1.71-second 10-yard split at 6-4, 307 pounds, which is outstanding -- but I don't know if he can handle playing on an island in pass protection in the pros. He had some ups and downs at the Senior Bowl playing against legit competition.
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I'd feel okay with Petty or Grayson in the 2nd round at this point.
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Petty I think has the higher ceiling but I'm not sure he's going to be much better than Weeden.
Grayson looks like a career backup to me.
The more I look, the more I think this draft really sucks for QBs outside of the top 2 and I even have some doubts about Mariota.
Grayson looks like a career backup to me.
The more I look, the more I think this draft really sucks for QBs outside of the top 2 and I even have some doubts about Mariota.
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Petty is 23 and has room for growth.
Weeden never had a chance at his ceiling because he was 134 years old with almost no growth potential.
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Obviously there is an age thing there but they come from very similar systems with very similar production. The learning curve, as many have said, will be steep. He will need to sit for 1-2 years at least and not start week 1 like Weeden did if he's gonna have a chance.
Of the 2nd and 3rd tier QBs, I like Petty the most but that isn't saying a whole lot. Not sure I want to burn a 2nd on him. 3rd might be ok 4th for sure. I think there are better players with a better success rate in the 2nd round.
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It wouldn't be an NFL draft without Browns fans talking themselves into drafting a backup quarterback way too early.
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