Ryan Mallett NFL Draft Scouting Report
6’6, 238 pounds | Quarterback | Arkansas
Accuracy: For all the talk about Mallett's inconsistent footwork he throws a catchable football. The majority of underneath passes arrive out in front of the target allowing them to gain yardage after the catch. With that being said, there were a handful of throws that could have been placed better but overall Mallett has an accurate short passing game. Mallett's intermediate accuracy is aided by his arm strength. He is able to get the ball to his target on a line with good placement. I did notice several balls sailing on him which is no doubt a result of his tendency to throw flat footed. The ability to connect on the long ball is an area where Mallett excels. He has great touch and control when dropping a bucket pass into a streaking wide receiver. An important note is that Mallett isn't afraid to push the ball down the field which is an area where some college quarterbacks struggle. Throwing on the move is anything but a strong point of Mallet's game but it is not a major concern. He has shown the ability to deliver an accurate pass when forced out of the pocket. However, the concern again is surrounding his struggles to set his feet and body towards the target. Overall, I really feel that Mallett has good accuracy that will only improve with coaching.
Arm strength: Mallett spins a clean football with a tremendous amount of zip. His arm is arguably the strongest in this draft and will be among the tops in the NFL the day he is drafted. I was impressed to see how much power he generated on his throws even with suspect footwork. On both the sideline and intermediate routes, Mallett was able to deliver the ball quickly and on a line. Mallett loves to push the ball down the field and his arm strength allows him to make all the downfield throws. NFL decision makers love a strong arm and this fact will help Mallett's stock come April.
Decision making: People are going to quickly reference Mallett's tendency to throw into coverage and while that is an issue, it doesn't mean he has poor football IQ. Mallett has gained a reputation for making poor decisions in big games but his total body of work shows an understanding of the game. Identifying potential blitzers is not something that Mallet struggles with as he routinely finds his hot route. Mallett was comfortable going across the field with his progressions but didn't reset his feet. Again this may be a result of the tightness in his hips. Head Coach Bobby Petrino is a great offensive football coach and has passed on a lot of knowledge to Mallett.
Field vision: The Arkansas offensive system has allowed Mallett to pick up the ins and outs of reading a defense. However, there are times when he underestimates or doesn't account for the safety. During the pre-snap, Mallett scans the field and properly pinpoints potential blitzers. He also shows the ability to identify coverages and potential weaknesses in the defense. Mallett deciphers post snap information quickly and is able to go across the field with his progressions. The biggest concern is tendency to force the ball in to double coverage. I believe this is more of Mallett trusting his arm rather than not being able to identify coverages. Mallett trusts his receivers and often releases the football prior to their break. His anticipation and arm power limit the read time for defensive backs. Overall, Mallett does a solid job reading defenses but there is always a transition period when making the jump to the NFL.
Mechanics: Arkansas's offensive system allowed Mallett to take significant snaps from under center. After receiving the snap, Mallett had slow but balanced steps while scanning the field for open targets. Mallet will need to develop a quicker drop back because he will have less time to throw in the NFL. There are a lot of inconsistencies when it comes to avoiding wasted motion with the football. At times, he allows the ball to get away from his chest and below his breast plate. This adds wasted motion to his throwing motion as he must bring the ball in and up before his release. This problem combined with his slow drop all impact his ability to get the football out on time. I also noticed that Mallett doesn't possess a natural bend while standing in the pocket. He has an unbalanced stance which allows rushers to knock him off balance easily. Mallett's footwork leaves much to be desired as it's his biggest question mark. Mallett has a tendency to throw off his back foot with his feet and body not set towards his target; these incorrect mechanics directly impact Mallett's accuracy. Overall the major problem is the consistency of Mallett's technique which impacts the result of many plays. The skills and ability are present for Mallett to make adjustments and correct his sloppy footwork. However, concerns will arise about a time frame for the improvement. Coach Petrino is known for his ability to mentor young quarterbacks which begs the question, is Mallett open to coaching?
Pocket awareness: Mallett lacks the athletic ability to outrun rushing defenders but he does possess good pocket savvy. He did a nice job of side stepping the rush and buying himself some extra time. Normally he kept his eyes down the field looking for open targets but if he faced pressure consistently throughout the game he would start eyeing the rushers. For Mallett to be successful he needs to have a solid offensive line in front of him giving him time to push the ball down the field.
Games Viewed: Mississippi State, Alabama, Auburn, Ohio State, Alabama ‘09
Final word: Mallett has seen his stock drop in the past several months but I am still a believer in his skills. His big arm and football IQ give him a good chance to succeed in the NFL. There are legitimate concerns over his footwork but with hard work that can improve. The real question is going to be, is he open to coaching? From what I have witnessed, he shows that he is engaged during the game and open for discussion with the coaching staff. There is a lot of talk about his foot speed and athletic ability but he possesses enough pocket savvy to extend plays. I have him and Gabbert on top of the quarterback class with both needing work but tons up potential. Mallett is a 1st round quarterback talent but character and technique concerns could facilitate a drop. I feel he has the tools and ability to be an impact player in the NFL.
