2016 NFL Draft - The Quarterbacks

As I've said in the other thread though, I don't see Dallas taking a QB at #4. Teams not in need of an immediate QB just don't take them in the 1st round. At least not early. The Packers took Rodgers because he was way up on their board and he slid late into the round.

 

But the Favre/Romo comparison is a bit off considering Tony's injury history and the way the Cowboy's season fell apart when he was not on the field. It's fresh in the memory and will definitely affect decision making on draft day. Getting a competent back-up in FA that can keep the ship afloat while the starter is out is a difficult task. Taking measures to not only solidify the #2 but to also get the future at the position is justifiable in Dallas' case.

Romo's 35. He'll be 38 at the end of his contract giving the Cowboys 3 years to groom his replacement. I think Wentz is definitely in play at #4.

 

Completely agree.

Wentz may have a higher ceiling (debatable) but if he's taken through the Cleveland QB ringer as a rookie, he'll wash out in a year or two.

 

Also when you hear Dallas talking about RG3 not being a "fit" offensively.

 

It's not that I don't think Dallas won't go QB. I just don't see it at the top of the 1st round. I expect one on day 2, or even a trade up into the late 1st.

 

And Wentz did as well:

6'5" 237 (5 lbs heavier than the Senior Bowl. 33 1/4 arm with 10" hands



Goff and Hackenburg had the smallest hands...Then Hue Jackson went on to say size matters:

I am actually a little torn...I was starting to lean back towards Goff after listening to the radio yesterday. The point came on about Wentz playing in front of large crowds. The biggest crowd he has ever played against is 21,800 screaming fans...

That half the number he will have to contend with at the smallest NFL stadium on the road...


I must say, the more I think about it, the more that worries me...

Now, the small hands issue has me worried about Goff in Cleveland winters...Just like Wentz hasn't played in front of crowds, Goff hasn't played in winter...

I may lean back towards Bosa at #2

 

I can't see Cleveland NOT going QB at #2. Long enough they've taken a next tier guy at the end of the 1st and it's bitten them every time. Cleveland has a chance to get the guy they want, not just best QB available. They won't pass it up this time IMO.

Also Irish I'm gonna send you a PM in the next few minutes.

 

I'm going to try and find a link to an article that did a study on hand size and fumble rate. If I remember correctly it basically blasted coaches for even considering this as a negative in a quarterback.

I wouldn't be too concerned about Wentz and the crowd factor. If he can handle being grilled by NFL coaches and interviewers during Senior bowl week I think he should be able to handle the pressure of the crowd.

The pressure of opposing defenses probably won't give him much of a chance to look in the stands unless he's flat on his back.

 

I just read a website called CHEAT SHEET. The article said that the Browns are the #1 team in line for Brock Osweiler this off-season. It also stated (just like above post) that the Browns have to get a franchise QB this year in order to move forward as a frnchise.

This is what I was hinting at about the franchise not spending all the cap money but some of it to fill some spots. Also to free up the top of this draft. Osweiler in my mind is a great guy to bring in here along side of McCown. Both pocket passers that have size. Also both have been backups in their career. Throw that with played with Manning and it should be a no brainer. Sign Osweiler then look at a true #1 WR to go along with Gordon. Those would be my free agent targets for offense. You can draft good lineman.

 

I think that study is more relevant to RBs and their fumble tendencies...I'm not worried about him fumbling while scrambling..I'm worried about his grip when trying to spin the ball into double coverage in the middle of winter. I can certainly see how the hand span would make a difference when it comes to inclement weather.

I have small hands 8 3/4...Given perfect circumstances, I can grip a pro size football fairly well and throw it fairly accurate up to about 20 yards...Once the temp drops and or the ball gets wet, I can't throw a spiral to save my ass...It's always been that way, since high school. During practice, I would throw balls and friends would ask why I didn't try out for QB...I would explain, then when the weather changed, I seriously couldn't throw a spiral, let alone have any accuracy.

So, study be damned, I know on a personal level...although I admit, someone who does it every single day of their lives, it shouldn't effect them to nearly that extent...Problem is we don't know, because Goff is out in the California sun...

 

Eh, Rodgers spent his days in the Cali sun spinning the ball with his little hands. Hasn't been a detriment to him and his winter playing conditions are considered some of the worst in the NFL.

I'm having a tough time finding that link. Everything comes up Patriots and the question mark around their fumble rate. There was a list of recent QBs that were successful with less than ideal hand size (anything under 9.5"). Then they compared it to QBs that were over that benchmark that struggled.

The constant? If they were good coming in the size of their hands had zero impact on their game at the professional level.

 

My dinky little girl-like hands somehow have a 9" span on the nose. I would have sworn I'd come in at 8". Apparently it's since I can get my thumb and pinky almost parallel without any external force.

 

So, your dinky little girl-like hands are the same size as Goff's...

I am not interested in the least about QBs that struggled over 9.5"...You will find dozens of struggling QBs no matter what the subject matter is...

Also, I am not interested in successful QBs with 9.5" either, that is a more average hand size...

Show me those 9" and under as Goff isn't at 9.5, he is at 9.0, which is closer to my tiny hands than that.

Here of draft picks going back to the 2010 draft, QBs with hands 9" or smaller:

Sean Mannion 9
Tyler Wilson 8 3/4
Sean Renfree 9
Ryan Tannehill 9
Jimmy Clausen 9
Zac Robinson 9

THAT is just how rare it is to have hands that small..Out of this list Tannehill is the only one CLOSE to having any success and that is debatable.

Now here is a list of current starting QBs:
Tom Brady Can't find a hand size, one article talked about his big hands, but I can't verify that.
Peyton Manning Seems this wasn't a measurement taken 10 years ago..Found 2 UNRELIABLE sources that says Manning has a 12" hand. I find that VERY hard to believe, but they must be big.
Drew Brees 10 1/4
Andrew Luck 9 1/2
Aaron Rodgers 9 3/8
Russell Wilson 10 1/4
Teddy Bridgewater 9 1/4 Dome QB, Lone December game in cold, against GB threw 53% comp..career ave. 64.9%
Blake Bortles 9 3/8
Derek Carr 9 1/8 (possibly why he was passed up by cold weather teams?) In two years, in the months of December outside of California, his comp % drops below 50%...coincidence?
Tony Romo 8 7/8 Best QB at 9" or smaller, but he has historically been better indoors and in warm weather, while struggling in cold weather. I think he makes this argument relevant.
Matthew Stafford 10
Cam Newton 9 3/4
Matt Ryan 9 1/8 Very good in Dome, not very good outside in general, let alone in cold weather.
Ben Roethlisberger 10
Phillip Rivers Cannot find
Andy Dalton 9.5
Joe Flacco 9 5/8
Eli Manning Cannot find
Alex Smith 9 3/8


Now, I found some compelling evidence that size does matter...please give me hope with some evidence of your own that it doesn't....

 

I'm not sold that any of that is evidence because of how many variables that are not entertained within it, but you have shown the foundation for your opinion.

My point is pretty simple. If a quarterback could play to begin with his hand size should not be so great of a factor that he should be knocked down the board and leapfrogged by a quarterback that has less intangibles, less of a track record and more question marks. How many games did the Browns play in snowy weather last season? What about the season before? If Hue and co. make a decision at #2 to select a QB based on hand size and it turns out to be the wrong decision... *WALL*

My favorite quarterback of all-time had hands that are said to be under 9", had a cannon for an arm, outstanding accuracy and he's in the hall. He played well in bad weather and he played in plenty of it over his career. In fact, he had to play in Canada before he could even land a starting NFL gig.

On the flip-side, Manning is notoriously bad in lousy weather and apparently he has gargantuan hands of mythical proportions (I agree, 12 is an absurd rumor) yet he's in the discussion for greatest quarterback of all-time.

 

Well, my wife swears it doesn't. Does that count?

 

Hand size, shmand size.

I would be more apt to guess on a QB's ability based on hat size.

 

So this article was written and formula created for fantasy football purposes, but here goes:

http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/47036/311/exploring-qb-hand-size

Just like "functional speed" [(W*200)/40t^4)], this formula attempts to discern a QB's "value" based on height/hand-size ratio. The formula is HS/H*100.

So Goff, with 9" hands and 76" height offers an 11.84 value. That is considerably less than say, Johnny Manziel who offered 13.50. But Manziel is considerably more than say, Aaron Rodgers who offers 12.84.

So the bottom line is that hand size is silly. And not a very good indicator of whether or not the QB will be successful.

About all it tells us is that when the weather drops, unless he's got Tom Brady's ball boys on the sidelines, Goff may have a few 'slips' if he double-clutches or pump fakes outdoors. Whoop-dee-do.

 

Agreed.

Scouts, GMs and coaches are simply trying to find ways to make an exact science out of something inexact in nature. A quarterback could be 6'5", 235 lbs with 10" hands, a cannon arm, solid accuracy, good touch and an IQ of 50 and some GM would be drooling over his physical intangibles and ignoring the fact that he still orders Happy Meals.

Of course, the same GM might be having lunch right now -

 

My point being is that even the hand size measurement itself is messed up. I have really short fingers. The only reason I have an "acceptable" NFL hand size (still small) is because of the flexibility of my thumb and lesser extent pinky. Heck the Arkansas QB I believe exploited this this year by getting a massage beforehand so his hand would be more flexible. He gained half an inch or so. And people thought only dick measuring competitions could be altered with a massage.

Point being is that the combine is ass-backwards. Players are taught to lift weight in an unconventional way for a drill that may not show anything. Players are said to have different game speed than field speed but they are told to run in shorts instead of pads. Then there is the whole hand thing If it even means anything they should have eh QB grab one ball as wide as they can with their throwing hand and mark off ALL fingers. It's more complicated but may lead to better data.