"Against Alabama in the Orange Bowl and completed 34-46-369-4.
Poor build. Very skinny and narrow. Ended the '99 season weighing 195 pounds and still looks like a rail at 211. Looks a little frail and lacks great physical stature and strength. Can get pushed down more easily than you'd like. Lacks mobility and ability to avoid the rush. Lacks a really strong arm. Can't drive the ball down the field and does not throw a really tight spiral. System-type player who can get exposed if he must ad-lib and do things on his own.
Summary: Is not what you're looking for in terms of physical stature, strength, arm strength and mobilityPoor build. Very skinny and narrow. Ended the '99 season weighing 195 pounds and still looks like a rail at 211. Looks a little frail and lacks great physical stature and strength. Can get pushed down more easily than you'd like. Lacks mobility and ability to avoid the rush. Lacks a really strong arm. Can't drive the ball down the field and does not throw a really tight spiral. System-type player who can get exposed if he must ad-lib and do things on his own.
Summary: Is not what you're looking for in terms of physical stature, strength, arm strength and mobility"
+1 It was due to the "experts" being wrong. Imagine that :-)
To be fair, part of what made Brady "Brady" was the snubb by the NFL teams that all passed on him in the early/mid rounds. He might well have been a bust if he went to Chicago or NY or another team in the first 1-3 rounds b/c his motivation wouldn't have been the same.
The "experts" seem to get it wrong a lot. I just tossed out TBs scouting report, but you can read them all over the past 10 years and see how the "experts" got it wrong both ways. Some are over valued players in the draft, and some are under valued. There seems to be a trend to value "measurables" and heavily weight that stuff. We laugh about arm length and hand size and we ooh and ahh over 40-times and all the stuff like that.
But sometimes I think it is better to just see what these kids DO in games. I'm not just talking about the Watson kid here. But he's a good example. He faced some incredible defenses including the championship games, and performed well under some tough conditions (he took some highlight reel hits) and yet he delivered bigtime. And he has over his entire career. Heck, before that he led his high school team to the championship multiple times and won 1 of those games too.
But fans will read some negatives on a scouting report and clutch that like it's gospel truth. It may be. But it may not be.
Deshaun Watson had a great game but as another poster stated let’s not make one great game sway our decision on whether or not Watson can be “Our Guy” at QB. Watson was a big reason for the Clemson victory, but at the same time we shouldn’t let his overall performance blur the stats and realities that project to the NFL. The fact is, at the end of the day, the biggest knock on him remains unchanged after the big win – he’s a good passer but not great. The biggest knock on Watson coming into the title game is that he is too inconsistent, makes too many bad decisions, and is not that accurate – and all those still remain true. Reading the scouting reports many believe he cannot be a good pocket passer. Yes he can create plays with his feet and is very mobile, yes is has a very strong arm, but when you combine those with inaccurate throws and bad decisions you do not get success at the next level. It’s funny how one good game has many believing that he’s now the top QB in the draft when before so many people were questioning whether or not he’s a legit 1st rounder. On the other hand, just think if he would have went out there and thrown 3 pics and cost them the game? Most would be screaming “Don’t pick him before the 4th round” totally disregarding the rest of his body of work. Remember this is a guy who threw 17 interceptions this year. I am skeptical on his game translating to the NFL. After re-watching the game, I found that MANY of his throws were off target but his receivers were constantly bailing him out and there were some overthrows that were tipped and lucky to not be picked. In fact the placement of many of his throws would receive harsh criticism from many posters on this board if those passes would have come from the arms of Cutler or Barkley. Watson’s receivers Renfrow and Leggett both made a number of tough catches from bad throws and Mike Williams made some un-fricking-believable catches which takes me to my next subject: Mike Williams. I have seen several threads and ads on “Who’s stock rose the most after the Title game” and I can’t believe how many exclude Williams. He was already considered the #1 receiver by many but my goodness those catches he made! Those are the types of catches that are expected from elite NFL receivers. With the lack of top WR free agents this year I think Williams stock rose the most. After performing like that in the biggest game of his life, the NFL teams needing a top WR are on notice and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go in the top 5. In fact I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see someone trade up that high to grab him. Top level WR’s are few and far between and it seems like he is as close to a sure shot as you can get. Another player who stood out to me was Bouleware, the LB from Clemson. This dude was in Beast Mode all game. He was constantly around the ball, had great play anticipation, and he is a hard hitter. My only question on him is his ability to pass cover. Another poster had commented that he will be a nobody in the NFL. I asked why they thought that and never saw a response so I’m still curious as to why that statement was made because based on this game the guy would be a good MLB in a 4-3 defense. My last thoughts are on Jonathan Allen. After re-watching I found that he did have more tackles than I thought and was key in stopping the run – but where is the pass rush? Many of the pass rush situations had him one on one and he did nothing with it. It’s only one game but I expected him to stand out in a big game in all phases. He did have 10 sacks this year so maybe it was just a bad game or maybe he had assignments but I was thinking I’d see a lot of Allen chasing down Watson in the backfield and that didn’t happen.
I think most didn't mention Williams because as you said, he is the number 1 receiver in this draft. He will be a top 10 pick. As for Watson...I'm not sure I understand your criticism. He put balls in places his receivers could catch them...away from defenders...and thats a problem? You realize this happens all the time in the NFL...right? As for his accuracy...I mean good lord we're nit picking here. The best completion percentage for a QB since 1956 belongs to Colt Brennan at 70.39%...you want him on your team? From 1956 on Watson ranks 23rd all time in completion percentage. 23rd ALL TIME!
Here are the players who DeShaun Watson is more accurate then, based on completion percentage(and there are a lot more): Derek Carr, Andrew Luck, Mariota, Winston, Big Ben, Steve Young, Philip Rivers, Dak, PEYTON MANNING. So can we please with the "he's too inaccurate"...there are flaws to his game for sure, but we don't have to make them up. Does he need to improve on the deep ball? Sure, is he "wildly inaccurate"? No.
My word not good enough? Here is a scouting report on him from prior to this upcoming season: Mental Make Up "Entering just his third season at Clemson but is battle tested for a younger player (23 games played/20 starts through two seasons). Played some of his best football against top defensive competition; in 2015 he faced 11 opponents that ranked in the top-51 nationally in scoring defense, including four in the top-15. He's a sound decision maker that rarely forces the issue. Confidence continues to grow with more game experience. Works in an up-tempo shotgun based spread offense with a lot of 'check with me' pre-snap reads. Offense also features a high-percentage of half-field reads, although Watson does flash the ability to quickly go through full field progressions. Flashes above average toughness in the face of pressure but at times gets impatient. Occasionally will lock onto primary target."
Accuracy "Pounds the strike zone on short to intermediate throws when he keeps on-balance and transfers his weight properly. Good deep-ball touch but ball placement can improve (unusually high percentage of missed deep balls have been overthrows). Effective throwing on the run to both sides but better when rolling to his right. Better throwing to his right." "Watson is a dynamic playmaker at the quarterback position. He is a pocket passer who also possesses the mobility to stress defenses by extending broken plays. Watson made strides in 2015 and played his best football down the stretch, particularly in Clemson's loss to Alabama (45-40) in the College Football Playoff Championship."
My last thoughts are on Jonathan Allen. After re-watching I found that he did have more tackles than I thought and was key in stopping the run – but where is the pass rush? Many of the pass rush situations had him one on one and he did nothing with it. It’s only one game but I expected him to stand out in a big game in all phases. He did have 10 sacks this year so maybe it was just a bad game or maybe he had assignments but I was thinking I’d see a lot of Allen chasing down Watson in the backfield and that didn’t happen.
I don't have expectations that Allen will be the next JJ Watt and will get 57 sacks in his first 4 seasons. Remember, many didn't expect JJ to become JJ. I will try to rewatch the championship game again tonight or something. I want to see Allen's hype more for myself. I would like to know who he was mainly matched up on, how good is that player, and how did Clemson scheme against Allen.
Again goes to show you how much work ethic towards your craft, and going into the right system matters.
You can go back on pretty much any QB in the past 10 years and see the negatives in scouting reports. Every draft in recent memory seems to be touted as a "bad draft year" and fans accept this as gospel truth.
Watson may be a bust. I don't know. It will be interesting to see how this QB class performs in the NFL. My gut feeling is that the "experts" will be proven wrong once again, and a few of these kids will turn out to be solid NFL players. At least a couple.
I remember Polian saying they watched every one of Peytons throws and Leafs throws. Every one of them. Then they watched their last seasons in college. He said from a pure SCOUTING standpoint, you would have taken Leaf in a heartbeat. He said as they got into the analysis there were scouting perceptions out there that just weren't true. He said the SCOUTS said Manning had a weak arm, but when Polian watched EVERY SINGLE ONE of Mannings throws he determined that that was not true, Manning didn't have a weak arm. Polian said all the initial reports on Manning were dead wrong. So forgive me if I don't give a crap what initial scouting reports say on Watson. I know what my eyes have seen in two years of watching him, and I have no doubt what people will see once they sit down and WATCH EVERY SINGLE ONE OF HIS THROWS, and then watch EVERY SINGLE ONE of his games.
After re-watching the game, I found that MANY of his throws were off target but his receivers were constantly bailing him out and there were some overthrows that were tipped and lucky to not be picked.
+1 I agree totally. And some big plays were made when his WR's highpointed passes. But in fairness, this was a blistering defense facing Clemson. This was a defense that held 7 nationally ranked teams to some pretty low scores (they held a decent LSU team to 0-points)... although Ole Miss and Arkansas scored well against them.
And maybe this guy isn't the QB we need. I just hope we find a good QB, whether it is this guy or somebody else.
After re-watching the game, I found that MANY of his throws were off target but his receivers were constantly bailing him out and there were some overthrows that were tipped and lucky to not be picked.
+1 I agree totally. And some big plays were made when his WR's highpointed passes. But in fairness, this was a blistering defense facing Clemson. This was a defense that held 7 nationally ranked teams to some pretty low scores (they held a decent LSU team to 0-points)... although Ole Miss and Arkansas scored well against them.
And maybe this guy isn't the QB we need. I just hope we find a good QB, whether it is this guy or somebody else.
He's my favorite, for now. The Senior Bowl is in 17 days. Maybe I'll have a new fave then.
+1 I agree totally. And some big plays were made when his WR's highpointed passes. But in fairness, this was a blistering defense facing Clemson. This was a defense that held 7 nationally ranked teams to some pretty low scores (they held a decent LSU team to 0-points)... although Ole Miss and Arkansas scored well against them.
And maybe this guy isn't the QB we need. I just hope we find a good QB, whether it is this guy or somebody else.
He's my favorite, for now. The Senior Bowl is in 17 days. Maybe I'll have a new fave then.
