Evaluating quarterback play is one in every of my favourite workouts, and there aren’t many higher individuals to do this with than a Professional Soccer Corridor of Famer.
Kurt Warner joined me on the most recent episode of “The Joel Klatt Present” to debate passing ideas, quarterback play within the NFL as we speak and plenty of extra quarterback-related gadgets.
We additionally mentioned our evaluations of the quarterback prospects within the 2025 NFL Draft, notably Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. Final month, I ranked Sanders forward of Ward in my record of the highest 5 quarterbacks on this yr’s draft class. As Warner and I shall be part of NFL Community’s Draft Day protection subsequent month, I needed to select his mind a bit and see how he views Ward and Sanders a month out from the draft.
Here is a snippet of our dialog.
Klatt: So let me simply begin with this: You noticed all the fellows on the mix. As you put together for the draft, how do you stack up this class basically, and what have been your general emotions of the category after Indy?
Warner: I assumed the category was stable throughout the board. Once I assume again to Indy, I form of assume that a whole lot of instances it form of goes up and down, and you bought some guys which are fairly good, after which the fellows that are not superb. I assumed this class as a complete we had various guys that threw the ball effectively on the mix. I do not do a whole lot of tape examine earlier than the mix, possibly do some bit simply to get only a contact of who these guys are. As , I do not watch a whole lot of faculty soccer in the course of the NFL season. I am an NFL man, initially. So, I prefer to go to the mix and get an opportunity to see the fellows, after which I am going to pop on the tape afterward, which I have been doing for the final week or so.
Here is the fascinating factor for me: Once I watch them on tape, I am unsure any of those guys are that completely different from a processing, enjoying on time, studying the sector kind of perspective. I really feel like the vast majority of these guys, a minimum of on the high of the category, are very comparable guys after I watch them on tape. In case you simply took the names off the jerseys and also you seemed, you’d go, “OK. I’ve seen that earlier than. I’ve seen that earlier than. I’ve seen that earlier than.”
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Now Cam (Ward), he is obtained a bit of further uniqueness to his capability to throw the soccer. I believe that is what catapults him to the highest of the category. I do not assume while you watch him in comparison with these different guys, like Shedeur, Jaxson [Dart] or Tyler [Shough], that while you watch his decision-making and throwing on time that Cam jumps off the pages, like “Oh gosh, he is so significantly better in all these areas.” I simply assume he is obtained a bit of uniqueness to the way in which he throws the soccer. Possibly a bit of extra muscle on the ball. He has the flexibility to throw off platform. So, I believe you place [Ward] on the high as a result of what if that expertise transfers to the subsequent stage, do we now have one thing particular past that?
Klatt: Once you take a look at a man like Cam, what kind of offense do you see him thriving in on the subsequent stage?
Warner: That is an excellent query. What I actually consider about all of those guys, even Cam, is that I am unsure any of those guys is an effective sufficient athlete to outlive on the NFL stage being an athletic quarterback, if that is smart. You recognize that the Josh Allen’s, Lamar Jackson‘s and the Patrick Mahomes‘. I believe most of those guys, if they will be actually good on the subsequent stage, it is obtained to return right down to processing and getting the ball out of their arms, as a result of I do not assume any of them are nice at shopping for time or being elusive.Â
That is the factor that actually fascinates me, as a result of we by no means actually know, particularly while you watch guys in faculty. It actually frustrates me to observe faculty tape as a result of after I was watching Cam, what I stated was 90% of his throws went to his first man, or it was a scramble. There wasn’t a complete lot else you’ll see. You would not see him go growth, growth and work by means of these items.Â
I believe that was the case with various these guys. Most guys ought to be capable of make these throws, however I did not see the processing and dealing by means of issues. That is the place that is so arduous for me. In case you battle to do this on the NFL stage, I do not assume any of those guys have that further to beat it.
Klatt: What’s your tackle Shedeur Sanders?
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Warner: Shedeur could throw the most effective ball, and what I imply by that’s the most catchable and correct of all these guys. I really like that he can tempo the ball. Whether or not it is due to arm power or no matter, he by no means throws it arduous. He by no means has to throw it by means of you. I really like that side of issues. I like guys that perceive how you can make completely different throws. He is obtained nice contact. I believe he throws a extremely good deep ball.Â
I watched a few of his [tape] from the start of the yr and I watched the final 4 video games of all these quarterbacks. You talked about the offensive line. Once I break down quarterbacks, I attempt to remove what has occurred all yr lengthy. I strive to take a look at it play from play … did you do the precise factor on this play?
I felt within the final 4 video games, Shedeur was very uneasy within the pocket. Like, very seldom did I see him robust within the pocket, get again and set, and browse and ship the ball. It was like he was at all times uneasy again there. You talked in regards to the sacks and points they’d upfront. Possibly that led to, “OK, these final 4 video games, I’m simply not straightforward as a result of I’ve gotten hit a lot.”
That was the factor that involved me. He very seldom went by means of the method. It was form of like he would return, see the primary man after which get uneasy, attempting to create a throw versus simply enjoying the sport. That’s a priority for me. Is that one thing solely due to the scenario right here and due to the offensive line?Â
I appreciated the throws. I appreciated a number of the completely different throws and ideas he needed to play by means of as a result of that’s thrilling for me. Once I watched Bo Nix final yr, I had the identical questions on throwing the ball down the sector. However what I beloved was that he had probably the most intensive playbook of anyone in faculty soccer final yr. … I felt that he did that extraordinarily effectively and why I felt he might translate to the NFL stage.Â
Shedeur needed to do a few of that. Shedeur needed to run some extra pro-style offense there. I like that a part of it, and also you’ve been uncovered to that.Â
Joel Klatt is FOX Sports activities’ lead faculty soccer recreation analyst and the host of the podcast “The Joel Klatt Present.” Observe him at @joelklatt and subscribe to the “Joel Klatt Present” on YouTube.
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