JDailey23
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With the 5th pick in the RCF Mock Draft
Your Denver Broncos select...
Josh Allen, QB. North Dakota
Overview
A late bloomer, Allen received no interest from FBS programs after his high school career. He signed with Reedley Community College in California for the 2014 season, throwing for 26 touchdowns and 285 yards a game (with 66 rushing yards per contest) in his lone season there. Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl saw Allen's talent, wondering if he could be another Carson Wentz, the number two overall pick for the Philadelphia Eagles who he recruited and coached at North Dakota State before moving to Laramie. Allen only got a chance to play in two games (4-of-6, 51 yards passing; 3 rushes, 40 yards) for the Cowboys in 2015, starting once, before breaking his right clavicle and taking a medical redshirt. His sophomore season, on the other hand, was healthy and productive. The Cowboys made the Mountain West Conference Championship game with his leadership in 14 starts, completing 56 percent of his passes (209-of-373) throwing for 3,203 yards and 28 touchdowns. That completion percentage and his 15 interceptions showed that his game needs to be tamed, and those concerns were only exacerbated in 2017. Allen was an honorable mention all-conference pick as a junior, but he finished 72nd in the country in passing efficiency by completing just 56.3 percent of his passes (152-of-270) for just 1,812 yards and 16 touchdowns against six interceptions. Allen struggled against Power Five foes Iowa (23-of-40, 174 yards, 2 INT) and Oregon (9-of-24, 64 yards, INT). He missed the last two regular season games with an injury to his throwing shoulder but returned for the Cowboys' bowl win over Central Michigan (11-of-19, 154 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT).
Analysis
Strengths
Prototype frame for pocket passer. Sturdy base allows him to shake off sacks and extend plays. Rare arm strength and overall arm talent. Has variety of release points if needed. Can uncork suddenly when it breaks open. Able to thread the needle with a rocket launcher. Makes throws that no other quarterback in college can make. Excellent thrower of deep outs. Able to outpace safeties to deep sideline throws. Aggressive pump-fakes open double moves. Turns into competent traffic director when scrambling. Can roll right and fling it down the field with impressive velocity and placement. Asked to read the entire field. No throw is too challenging. Has arm strength and mobility to create explosive plays when play goes off-schedule. Ability to challenge safeties over the top could help running games. Attacks intermediate windows with pretty good precision when allowed to sit down in the pocket. Has experience under center and operating in play-action passing attack. Willing to pull it and move the chains with his legs. Has experience in poor weather.
Weaknesses
Never had completion rate higher than 56 percent in either season as a starter. Accuracy diminishes greatly when he's forced to move his feet. May have too much hero in his blood. Tries to overcome obstacles with arm talent and makes poor decisions because of it. Takes too many chances with low percentage throws. Needs to play smarter and place higher value on the ball. Fastball pitcher whose touch could use improvement short. Will baby the deep throws at times. Field-reading is spotty. Needs to be more patient in allowing combo routes to develop. Would benefit by trading some velocity for better timing. Anticipatory throws don't seem to come naturally. Pre-snap game plan appears unfocused. Breaks from pocket without cause throwing off his timing with receivers. Doesn't keep feet "throw-ready" when sliding in pocket. Frequently defaults to off-platform throws when there is time to set feet and deliver.
Bottom Line
Likely be the biggest boom-or-bust quarterback prospect in the draft. Allen's size and arm talent are prototypical for early first-round picks, but it's rare to find a quarterback with such a low college completion rate become a successful pro. Allen's receivers struggled to separate, but there were plenty of times where his lack of anticipation and post-snap plan did him in. Allen can make some truly special throws, but his ability to improve the mental part of his game will determine whether he's a good NFL starter or just another big, strong-armed guy.
Add in the fact that John Elway can’t stop dreaming of this guy, he will have the ability to sit for a season or two and learn all aspects of the game.
@AZ_ and the Jets are on the clock.
Your Denver Broncos select...
Josh Allen, QB. North Dakota
Overview
A late bloomer, Allen received no interest from FBS programs after his high school career. He signed with Reedley Community College in California for the 2014 season, throwing for 26 touchdowns and 285 yards a game (with 66 rushing yards per contest) in his lone season there. Wyoming head coach Craig Bohl saw Allen's talent, wondering if he could be another Carson Wentz, the number two overall pick for the Philadelphia Eagles who he recruited and coached at North Dakota State before moving to Laramie. Allen only got a chance to play in two games (4-of-6, 51 yards passing; 3 rushes, 40 yards) for the Cowboys in 2015, starting once, before breaking his right clavicle and taking a medical redshirt. His sophomore season, on the other hand, was healthy and productive. The Cowboys made the Mountain West Conference Championship game with his leadership in 14 starts, completing 56 percent of his passes (209-of-373) throwing for 3,203 yards and 28 touchdowns. That completion percentage and his 15 interceptions showed that his game needs to be tamed, and those concerns were only exacerbated in 2017. Allen was an honorable mention all-conference pick as a junior, but he finished 72nd in the country in passing efficiency by completing just 56.3 percent of his passes (152-of-270) for just 1,812 yards and 16 touchdowns against six interceptions. Allen struggled against Power Five foes Iowa (23-of-40, 174 yards, 2 INT) and Oregon (9-of-24, 64 yards, INT). He missed the last two regular season games with an injury to his throwing shoulder but returned for the Cowboys' bowl win over Central Michigan (11-of-19, 154 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT).
Analysis
Strengths
Prototype frame for pocket passer. Sturdy base allows him to shake off sacks and extend plays. Rare arm strength and overall arm talent. Has variety of release points if needed. Can uncork suddenly when it breaks open. Able to thread the needle with a rocket launcher. Makes throws that no other quarterback in college can make. Excellent thrower of deep outs. Able to outpace safeties to deep sideline throws. Aggressive pump-fakes open double moves. Turns into competent traffic director when scrambling. Can roll right and fling it down the field with impressive velocity and placement. Asked to read the entire field. No throw is too challenging. Has arm strength and mobility to create explosive plays when play goes off-schedule. Ability to challenge safeties over the top could help running games. Attacks intermediate windows with pretty good precision when allowed to sit down in the pocket. Has experience under center and operating in play-action passing attack. Willing to pull it and move the chains with his legs. Has experience in poor weather.
Weaknesses
Never had completion rate higher than 56 percent in either season as a starter. Accuracy diminishes greatly when he's forced to move his feet. May have too much hero in his blood. Tries to overcome obstacles with arm talent and makes poor decisions because of it. Takes too many chances with low percentage throws. Needs to play smarter and place higher value on the ball. Fastball pitcher whose touch could use improvement short. Will baby the deep throws at times. Field-reading is spotty. Needs to be more patient in allowing combo routes to develop. Would benefit by trading some velocity for better timing. Anticipatory throws don't seem to come naturally. Pre-snap game plan appears unfocused. Breaks from pocket without cause throwing off his timing with receivers. Doesn't keep feet "throw-ready" when sliding in pocket. Frequently defaults to off-platform throws when there is time to set feet and deliver.
Bottom Line
Likely be the biggest boom-or-bust quarterback prospect in the draft. Allen's size and arm talent are prototypical for early first-round picks, but it's rare to find a quarterback with such a low college completion rate become a successful pro. Allen's receivers struggled to separate, but there were plenty of times where his lack of anticipation and post-snap plan did him in. Allen can make some truly special throws, but his ability to improve the mental part of his game will determine whether he's a good NFL starter or just another big, strong-armed guy.
Add in the fact that John Elway can’t stop dreaming of this guy, he will have the ability to sit for a season or two and learn all aspects of the game.
@AZ_ and the Jets are on the clock.
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