http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2016jgoff.php
Jared Goff Scouting Report
By Charlie Campbell
Strengths:
- Throws a very catchable ball
- Makes good touch throws into tight windows
- Can pick up yards on the ground
Weaknesses:
- Thin build; needs more weight/bulk
- Lets pass rush affect his mechanics
- Can develop some bad mechanical habits
- Quality arm, but not a cannon, by NFL standards
- Needs development for a pro-style offense
- College offense inflated his stats
- College offense ran lot of plays he won't run in the NFL
Summary: Weeks before Paxton Lynch ended the season with a dud against Auburn, I had Goff ahead of Lynch on my big board. In my opinion, Goff is the top quarterback prospect for the 2016 NFL Draft. Despite playing in a gimmicky college offense, Goff is the most polished passer with accuracy, field vision, and the ability to distribute the ball. He definitely needs development, and his NFL readiness is not close to Andrew Luck or Jameis Winston, but Goff has the tools to be a quality NFL starter.
Goff was a point machine in the Bear Raid offense over the past three seasons. As a freshman, he completed 60 percent of his passes for 3,508 yards with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Goff showed a big jump in play as a sophomore, completing 62 percent of his passes in 2014 for 3,973 yards with 35 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His best year was 2015 when he ripped apart the Pac-12. For the year, the junior completed 64 percent of his passes for 4,719 yards with 43 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.
Goff's career completion percentage is vastly inflated from a lot of instant quick throws and bubble screens; however, he is an accurate passer. Goff can hit receivers in stride on slants and digs in the short to intermediate part of the field. Those are staple plays in a West Coast offense. Goff also has shown the skills to loft in some beautiful touch passes to the sidelines and downfield. He throws a very catchable ball and has a strong enough arm to make all the required throws in the NFL. Goff's tape flashes anticipation and field vision with the ability to work through his progressions and find an open receiver. He needs to get more consistent for the NFL, but he has that potential.
An underrated aspect of Goff's game is athleticism. He shows nice feet to move and climb in the pocket. Goff also can take off to pick up yards on the ground. However with his thin build, he will have to be careful about doing that in the NFL. Still, Goff projects to having functional mobility.
The junior doesn't possess a cannon like Matthew Stafford or Joe Flacco. In terms of arm strength, other 2016 prospects like Paxton Lynch or Cardale Jones are much more powerful, but Goff makes up for it with better accuracy and ball placement than his 2016 counterparts.
There is no doubt that scheme-wise, Goff will need development. He can get rattled by the pass rush, and that caused him to develop some bad habits during his junior year. Goff was working to correct them late in the 2015 season. It also would help him add bulk for the NFL to handle the pounding. That could help him to avoid getting injured. Goff also was always in shotgun, so learning to work under center will be another point of emphasis.
Teams are concerned about Goff's skinny frame. They would like him to get thicker, but sources were unsure that Goff had the body to gain and sustain more weight. He also has 9-inch hands. His hands are smaller than any of the quarterbacks who were drafted in the first round over the past couple of years (Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota, Blake Bortles, Teddy Bridgewater and Johnny Manziel).
Team sources have mixed opinions; some liked Goff and while other weren't very impressed with him. In speaking to a general manager from a team that is among the best at evaluating and developing quarterbacks, he felt that Goff was the best of the draft-eligible signal-callers. Others feel that Carson Wentz is better. If it weren't for so many teams being desperate for a quarterback, Goff would probably be a mid- to late first-rounder. However with the huge demand at the position, Goff looks likely to be a top-10 pick.
Player Comparison: Matt Ryan. In terms of build and style of play, Goff is reminiscent of Ryan. Both are functional pocket passers who can challenge a defense with accuracy in all levels of the field. Goff is a better runner than Ryan, but Goff won't be a true dual-threat quarterback in the NFL. Ryan was chosen with the third-overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, and Goff could also go in the top 10. If Goff lands with good talent around him, I could see him being a quarterback similar to Ryan, but I think not quite as good as Ryan.
NFL Matches: Cleveland, Dallas, San Francisco, Philadelphia,
St. Louis, Houston, New York Jets and Buffalo
There are a lot of teams in the NFL that are in need of a franchise quarterback. The Browns' quarterback odyssey looks poised to continue. Goff is in play for Cleveland's first-round pick as he is more NFL-ready, and that could appeal to the franchise's new regime. However, Browns head coach Hue Jackson said he likes big hands on his quarterback and Goff doesn't have that attribute. WalterFootball.com also knows sources in Cleveland who prefer Carson Wentz.
The Cowboys could consider taking Goff with the fourth-overall pick. That would be a great situation for Goff to learn behind Tony Romo for a year or two while being developed by Jason Garrett. However, it sounds like Dallas is more likely to grab a young veteran in free agency while using its first-rounder on an instant contributor who can help Dallas make a playoff run in 2016 with Romo and Dez Bryant back from injury.
The 49ers are in the market for a starting quarterback with Colin Kaepernick on his way out of San Francisco. Goff would make a ton of sense for the 49ers.
St. Louis appears ready to give up on Nick Foles, and the Rams continue to have a big need at quarterback. Philadelphia is a wild card. The new regime won't be locked in to Sam Bradford and could consider making a move to find a better starter. The Rams and Eagles may have to trade up for Goff.
The lack of a quarterback is holding back the Texans, Bills and Jets from seriously challenging in the AFC. All three teams would probably have to trade up to land Goff. They have rosters capable of contending but each needs a long-term answers at quarterback, so one could be aggressive with giving up multiple picks to go get a player who that team's staff believes can be the new franchise quarterback.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPZzyzqcNIE
http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2016dukewilliams.php
Duke Williams 2015 Preview
By Charlie Campbell
Career Recap: It hasn't been easy to be a wide receiver prospect at Auburn the past few seasons, as the Tigers have been led by the ground game with a running quarterback at the helm. Despite the lack of opportunities, for the second-straight draft, the Tigers should produce an early-round prospect at wideout. Last year Sammie Coates was a third-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, and next year. Duke Williams has the potential go in the early portion of the draft.
The junior college transfer Williams was unknown at this time last year, while Coates was the receiving star coming off Auburn's appearance in the National Championship game. While Coates got all the hype, Williams displaced him as the No. 1 receiver in the Tigers' offense last fall. When Auburn had to convert through the air, Williams was the go-to guy. He totaled 45 receptions for 730 yards with five touchdowns in his shortened season. His average of 16 yards per catch indicated his potential to produce more if he had received more targets.
The year ended on a sour note as Williams hurt himself by getting suspended for Auburn's Bowl game.
2015 Season Outlook: The schedule is shaping up for Williams to see some good tests before going pro. For the third game of the season, Auburn will take on LSU, which has a good cornerback tandem in juniors Tre'Davious White and Rashard Robinson.
Williams will face an even better duo a week later with Mississippi State's Will Redmond and Taveze Calhoun. The Bulldog corners are big, and it will be interesting to see if Williams can gain separation going against them.
In late October, Williams will take on a tough Ole Miss defense that gets excellent play out of do-it-all cornerback Tony Connor. He is a tough defender who could be charged with matching up on Williams.
From the preseason view, those are Williams' best opponents and coverage challenges. He also will see good talent in games against Texas A&M, Georgia, and Alabama.
Skill-Set Summary: The NFL is a passing-driven league, and Williams has a skill set to play on Sundays. With size and speed, he could get consideration as a future No. 1 receiver. Williams isn't a true burner, but he has the quickness to get separation. He also uses his size well to shield defenders from the ball and be physical with cornerbacks.
Williams is a raw receiver, as one could expect given his lack of experience. He needs to improve his route-running and hands. Last season, Williams dropped some passes deep downfield that could have gone for big plays. It will be interesting to see how he improves with a year of experience in the SEC.
In speaking with sources, Williams already made a good on the field impression with scouts. They said that his game reminded them of Anquan Boldin, which is high praise for Williams.
2016 NFL Draft Expectations: Williams looks like a potential early-rounder for the 2016 NFL Draft. He could end up being as high as a first-rounder or as low as a third-rounder. The real wrinkle would be if his off-the-field issues submarine his draft stock.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYsFuaHjNoc
