Colin Kaepernick Scouting Report

Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada, 6'5 225 lbs

SKILLS

Don't these 2 QBs just look similar?

Size/Arm Strength: 9.5 - Extremely gifted as an athlete, Colin Kaepernick's long and lean frame is reminiscent of Vince Young, former University of Texas Longhorn and current NFL player. Needs to add some weight to his skinny frame, but nonetheless he has ideal size for a quarterback in the NFL.

Kaepernick competed at the annual summer passing camp, the Peyton Manning Passing Academy last summer in preparations for his senior season, catching the eye of former Super Bowl winner and Pro-Bowl quarterback Peyton Manning and younger brother Eli Manning, also a Super Bowl winer and Pro-Bowler. The two brothers "giggled" at how much velocity and zip there was to Colin Kaepernick's ball. His arm strength might've been the most impressive they had ever seen. These are two of the NFL's best saying this. 


Even more so following the Senior Bowl, Colin Kaepernick's ability really came into national focus. 

Colin K. impressed the Manning Brothers

Here is what NFL Draft Scout said following their evaluation of Colin Kaepernick's senior bowl week, 

"Displaying the arm strength, accuracy and touch to be an early round pick, Kaepernick played side by side with Washington's Jake Locker... and was the more impressive thrower." 

My position on Jake Locker is well documented within this site, but this high of praise for Kaepernick's ability is universal among scouts involved with the draft. 

I recently spoke with and have gotten to know better Eric Galko from Optimum Scouting. A respectable and knowledgable draft expert, Eric could not help but listen in on an NFL scout talking about Colin Kaepernick. In regards to what the scout said, 

"Heard on plane back from scout that Kaepernick could go as high as 2nd round! I think Mia, Ten, Min most interested; I think he's a project."

 I usually smirk and give little credence when draft bloggers mention sources or scouts, but seeing how Eric personally was onboard a plane with the scout, I am convinced that the report is firm. To the point, if Kaepernick continues to show this kind of improvement in the NFL Combine, his stock will only go higher. The closer and closer we get to April 28th, the more possible it becomes for Colin Kaepernick to get drafted in the late first round area. 

Accuracy: 7 – In each progressive year, Colin Kaepernick improved his completion percentage, finishing the 2010 season with a 64.9 completion percentage (53% freshman year, 54% sophomore year, and 58% junior year). 

Colin K. and his delivery

Despite the awkward delivery, Kaepernick's ability to fit the ball in tight windows is often overlooked. His high throwing plane is what allows Colin to make throws over linebackers but underneath the safety. In the NFL he won't get away with forcing throws over the middle due to much more talented linebackers, however I really do feel throwing above the reach of linebackers is one of Colin Kaepernick's strong attributes as a quarterback. 

In looking over Colin Kaepernick's games this season, he flashed an ability to make solid throws outside of the numbers. He is inconsistent with his ball placement on these throws, but he does a good job of minimizing turnovers. That being said, he This ability dovetails off of Kaepernick's huge arm and the velocity he is able to put behind the football. 

The consensus concern is Kaepernick's accuracy vertical and deep down the field. Kap was never asked to throw many "go routes" because of a option run, spread attack offense. Kaepernick excelled in the short passing game, and was particularly effective throwing intermediate passes outside of the numbers. The flashes of greatness are quite evident in the big plays and highlights Colin Kaepernick put on display throughout his career. The stats do not lie about his ability to produce. The thing going forward will be his consistency in being accurate, cleaning up of technique, and making a label for himself. Is he just a "developmental project"? Or can he convince an NFL team that he can come in and compete early on? 

Throwing Mechanics/Footwork: 5 – This is the area with the most fluctuation in evaluation. You have solid junior and senior tape on Colin Kaepernick performance wise, but throwing mechanics and footwork are glaring weaknesses. Major improvement and development are musts for the kid. At the same token, as an evaluator for the draft, you have to take into consideration the work, effort, and results from Kaepernick's pre-draft workouts, senior bowl and combine which is coming up this weekend. 

When I break down Colin's throwing motion, he surprisingly gets the ball out very quickly. His non-throwing arm, the lead hand is what throws people off. He pronates his arm straight forward in an unorthodox manner, but behind that cover he rears the ball back and fires it out with great velocity. I found out that this quick delivery however came in spurts. Colin gets into trouble when he puts in a windup to his throws. This can be attributed to his former days as a baseball player (actually drafted by the Cubs in '09). Nevertheless his delivery needs work, but somehow is effective. 

Colin's release and spin of the ball is quite exceptional. His clean, tight spiral was evident in senior bowl practices. This release combined with his velocity, arm strength, and flashes of accuracy intrigue talent evaluators. The ceiling for Colin Kaepernick in the 2011 NFL Draft is as high as any quarterback available. 

Colin K., next surprise 1st rounder?

Mobility/Athleticism: 10 - In each of his final 3 seasons at Nevada, Colin Kaepernick averaged more than 7 yards per rush, compiled more than 1,100 yards rushing, and scored 16 or more touchdowns. His final year in 2010, Colin did what only 2 other modern quarterbacks have done. He, along with Tim Tebow, and Cam Newton are the only quarterbacks to throw for 20 or more touchdowns, and run for 20 or more touchdowns. The 20-20 club so to speak. 


Kaepernick's athleticism as mentioned earlier in this report, is remarkable. At 6'5 and 225 lbs, Colin Kaepernick runs like a deer; he is a long strider, and is very smooth in open space. His top end speed is what separates Colin Kaepernick; Colin is very similar to Cam Newton in that both hvae the ability to really turn on the jets after hitting the second and third levels of a defense (linebackers and safeties). On tape, you can just see his 4.5 speed as he blows by safeties and cornerbacks en route to a long touchdown run. His combine results need to provide backing for the claims that he can run a sub 4.5 40 time. 


The escapability factor, a growing trait necessary at the NFL level, is another positive to Kap's game. Particularly against Boise State in their home upset win, Colin Kaepernick was able to consistently avoid the pressure, move around comfortably inside and outside the pocket, and throw the ball accurately downfield. Any time he needed to come up with a big play, he made it. This ability to escape pressure also leads to another plus for Kap, as he is an accurate passer while on the move. His arm strength and velocity allows him to make NFL caliber throws down the sidelines and outside the numbers. 

ANALYSIS

Best fit: Tennessee Titans, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings; as mentioned before all three are interested. All three teams have strong receiving corps, and all three most definitely need starting quarterbacks. Steam will come up around April about HOW interested these teams may or may not be, and that is something I will be closely following and updating on. 

X-Factor: How will he fair at the combine, competing against top NFL Draft prospects Cam Newton, Jake Locker, Ryan Mallett, and Christian Ponder? Will he come in a more polished quarterback? Or will the stigma of being a developmental player stick with him? 


The interviewing process for Colin Kaepernick will also be a huge deciding factor in where he gets drafted. Everyone knows how good of a kid Kaepernick is, but what needs to be determined for certain is whether or not his football IQ is up to par. "Chalk talk" with NFL teams will likely be the center of interviewing for Kaepernick. 

"Chalk talk"

Playing in a Pistol offense Colin Kaepernick will be transitioning to a completely different offensive scheme at the pro level, regardless of who drafts him. His biggest problem at times, is his decision making, as he will force throws towards his primary receiver. He rarely went through difficult passer progression, so this will be a big key for teams interested in drafting Colin Kaepernick. The upside and physical attributes warrant high draft value, but the unpolished passing ability will draw concerns. Intangibles of football IQ, character, and personal drive will have to be the overriding factors for Colin Kaepernick if he expects to get drafted at the end of round 1.

Where he will be picked: Late 1st to Mid 2nd Round

Where he should be picked: Early 2nd Round

NFL Comparison: Vince Young, QB, Texas

Cam Newton Scouting Report

Cam Newton, Auburn, 6'6 250 lbs

SKILLS

Size/Arm Strength: 10 - Excellent size (6'6 250 lbs) along with a cannon of an arm. Cam Newton can make every single throw on the football field.

Accuracy: 7.75 – Better accuracy than he gets credit for, Newton completed 66.1% of his passes. Only one QB in FBS had a better passer rating (Kellen Moore- 182.6), as  Newton posted a 182.0 passer rating. Beyond the statistics is what hinders Newton however; the offensive scheme was very rudimentary and basic at its' core in passing reads. What I mean by this is that he rarely was counted upon to look past his primary receiver, because defenses were stacking and loading the box in order to contain his running ability. His rapid release, ability to escape pressure, and extremely powerful arm strength, masked the relatively simple passing game that did not force Cam Newton to go through a thick passing progression. 

While he fits the football in tight windows, he sometimes gets into trouble with his ball placement across the middle; will get excited and footwork is poor, leading to overthrows. His accuracy is inconsistent due to his footwork and technique. His potential will flash on throws deep and outside the numbers (pro-level throws), and his upside is very evident even to the common fan.

Former Oilers QB, Warren Moon

Warren Moon, who has also been a major part of the development of Cam Newton during the Pre-Draft season, stated Cam's specific problem regarding his lower half, 

    "He wasn't transferring well," Moon said afterward. "He was throwing leaning backward. Even though he has a very strong arm, I don't care how strong of an arm you have, if you're not in the right throwing motion, you're not going to get good accuracy on the football, the ball is going to go high on you. As soon as he gets that weight transferred, he throws the ball as accurately as anyone you've been around."

With that being said, understanding Cam's raw ability, his potential, and Hall of Fame QB help, I have to give him a somewhat high rating on accuracy.

Throwing Mechanics/Footwork: 6.25 – The only reason I give this high of a grade, is that Newton's throwing mechanics need no work. He has no wind-up in his delivery, his release is consistent, and the ball absolutely fires out of his hand. His release point isn't at an awkward angle, it's fluid and over the top, and the ball comes out quickly. 

The biggest problem I have with Cam Newton is his footwork. This is the main area for improvement. Cam has always gotten by on athletic and God-given talent his entire football career. Even in the toughest conference of College football (the SEC), Newton was able to get away with bad footwork. 

First off he worked out of a spread offense, and as Cam himself said, "A lot of times I probably can count on one hand the times I took a snap from under center in one game." But he understands where he needs to be, "But now it depends what scheme you go into, but at the same time you have to be able to get a snap from under center and be fluent at it. That's one of the first things we tried to tackle."

Secondly, rather than reaching the end of his pass drops, planting his back foot, shifting his weight forward, and delivering an accurate ball, Cam Newton reached the end of his pass drop, hopped around, and threw the ball downfield by torquing his hips and waist. He didn't do a particularly good job of always setting his feet and shifting his weight forward, this is something, as mentioned by Warren Moon that he needs to gain consistency in doing. His base on film is inconsistent in that his feet are too close together. On a quick note however, his base looked very solid (much wider) in his media workout.

And in saying this, I will be the first to recommend watching Newton's media-workout, and the tremendous strides he has made thus far. Once again, upside is there, and its obvious that potential is there, consistency in footwork/technique and accuracy are the biggest questions. 

Mobility/Athleticism: 10 - The one player in the draft whose athleticism will literally jump off the screen. At 6'6 250 lbs, Cam Newton looks like a defensive end, moves like a running back, and throws as well as anyone in the country. One of only 2 quarterbacks ever to throw for 30 touchdowns and run for 20 touchdowns, Cam Newton bullied through opponents on his way to more than 1400 yards rushing. I would not be surprised if Cam runs in the 4.4-4.5 range in the 40 yard dash. 

The reason for Newton's success running the ball, is his natural field vision as a runner, and his ability to anticipate his defenders momentum. He smoothly weaves his way in and out of traffic, constantly seeming in full control of his surroundings. Beyond this field vision, he also has the burst and explosiveness to just burn his opponents once he finds his path. All in all a dynamic athlete who has natural running ability.

ANALYSIS

Best fit: Newton needs to be in an offense with a strong running game, and needs a coaching staff that tailors the offense to suit Newton's mobility and athleticism. 

Could C.J. Spiller catch passes from Cam Newton in 2011?

The first place I think Newton could go, is Buffalo, where Chan Gailey is known for being a unique offensive coordinator who craves game changing, dynamic playmakers in his offense. Cam Newton, C.J. Spiller, and Stevie Johnson could combine for a nice, young, and talented trio of offensive playmakers with which the Bills could build around for the future. 

The next best fits would be the Cardinals, the Titans, or the 49ers. All three teams have young weapons at RB and WR, and all three teams are in need of a franchise quarterbacks. 

With the recent coaching changes in Tennessee and San Francisco, I'm not sure if either team will be willing to hand the reigns to a raw and developing rookie like Cam Newton. 

And in Arizona, I'm hearing trade rumors swirling about Kevin Kolb, Marc Bulger, and even Kyle Orton, so maybe Ken Whisenhunt (Head coach of AZ) wants to bring in a QB with experience and allow John Skelton to develop. 

The Cards, Titans, and 49ers all are fluent situations regarding personnel and coaching staff changes, therefore I feel the Bills have the best foundation in which to add Cam Newton through the draft.

X-Factor: What are teams going to find out about his character, integrity, and past? Will Newton's past mistakes (Florida cheating, father's solicitation for a "Pay-to-Play" plan, and stolen laptop) force teams to pass on him in the 2011 Draft? Can he convince NFL teams, through interviews that he is a changed human being and has learned his lesson? Or will he portray a "Me" attitude that pushes teams away. How teams view his character will go a long way in where Cam Newton will be drafted. 

Another big factor, in my opinion, is Newton's ability to overcome adversity, and how teams view that as well. Facing the most scrutiny ever faced by a college football player in 2010, Newton forged one of the most memorable single season performances ever in FBS history. Newton dominated his opponents inside the toughest conference in the nation, willed his team to comeback victories all season long, notched a perfect season, won a Heisman trophy, and won a National title despite the controversies surrounding him throughout. His ability to shut out surrounding media and maintain focus on the football field, should tell NFL teams that Newton's fortitude is unshakeable and he wins no matter what happens off the field.

Where he will be picked: Top 5. I am hard pressed to say that Newton will not be drafted after the Top 5 picks in the 2011 Draft. His raw talent, ability to overcome adversity, and willingness to put in the necessary work to improve his technique should convince teams of his upside, strong will and work ethic. There's a difference between work ethic and character issues, and the media is beginning to mix the two. I agree that he has legitimate character issues but to question his work ethic is something I refuse to do. Newton's improvement as a passer from the poor Clemson game, to the blowout SEC championship, should exemplify his in season work and commitment to excellence. 

Where he should be picked: Top 5. His actual draft stock should correlate respectively to his on field play. Would benefit from a draft day slide to a more talented team, but I could see him be a game changer as early as his rookie season.

NFL Comparison: Daunte Culpepper, former Minnesota Viking, Oakland Raider, and Detroit Lion. Currently starting QB for UFL Sacramento Mountain Lions

Cam Newton 2010-2011 highlight video

Cam Newton Will Win the Heisman

How can you argue with these plays?  And a national title appearance?  And a 188 QB Rating.  28-6 TD-INT ratio.  20 rushing touchdowns.




Cam Newton will win the Heisman.  Agree?