Make no mistake, the Alamo Bowl between Baylor and Washington (9 p.m., ESPN) is the Robert Griffin III Show.
Baylor vs. Washington; Alamo Bowl NFL Draft watch notes
Will he enter the 2012 NFL Draft, making this his final game of his college career? Reports of late indicate that’s the case and Griffin will likely be a top five pick in April. It’s an overwrought statement to say a player has rare tools. But it’s true with Griffin. Except for maybe Michael Vick, there is no quarterback in the NFL with his athleticism.
One of the knocks generally associated with Griffin is his size. He’s listed at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds. That’s the same height as Aaron Rodgers and Matt Stafford, though Griffin isn’t quite as bulky. When a quarterback is that height, it’s all about analyzing the release point. Griffin’s release looks to be a little lower than Rodgers’, which is something to monitor.
Griffin has been the beneficiary of wide receiver Kendall Wright. He has 1,572 yards and 13 touchdowns receiving coming into tonight's game. He's a speed receiver who can easily get behind defensive backs.
Baylor has one of the better "big" running backs in the nation with senior Terrance Ganaway. His speed will lower his draft stock, but if a team needs a short yardage back, Ganaway would be a good choice. Ganaway likes to run behind power center Philip Blake. The unheralded senior is best when he can stay in the phone booth and hold off defensive tackles.
Baylor nose tackle Nicolas Jean-Baptiste has been inconsistent this year and it will hurt is draft positioning. He's a stout player, but hasn't been much else at times this season.
Washington defensive tackle Alameda Ta'amu has been inconsistent as well, but less so than Jean-Baptiste. Most remember Ta'amu being dominated in the Stanford game this year, but he's a better player than that. He's got nice athleticism for his size and is naturally strong.
If Washington wants to keep Griffin out of the game, Huskies running back Chris Polk will need 25 carries or more. He's the team's best player on offense and should be one of the first running backs drafted next year. That, of course, is assuming Polk is coming out. But after three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season, it's likely tonight is his last game for Washington.
In this game last season: Oklahoma State overmatched Arizona, winning 36-10, giving a glimpse of greatness that would come this season.
2013 NFL Draft watch: Washington is one of the worst pass defenses in the nation, but it's not because of junior cornerback Desmond Trufant. He hasn't had the season some expected, but his frame and athleticism give enough hope for him being a top 100 pick in 2013.
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