NFL Draft analyst thinks poorly of Oklahoma QB Landry Jones

In May, I noted Jones as being a quarterback who could challenge Andrew Luck as being the best quarterback prospect for the 2012 NFL Draft. Pauline’s opinion seems to be the total opposite.

On DraftInsider, Pauline wrote that Jones also lacked “classic size.” If there’s a more overwrought cliché in draft writing, I’m not sure what it is. Anyway, Jones is listed by Oklahoma at 6-foot-4, 229 pounds. If that’s not classical size, what is off, an inch? Or if Oklahoma exaggerate’s Jones’ height, he’s probably no shorter than 6-foot-2.

Forget the beaten-to-death line about Drew Brees being the champion of undersized quarterbacks. Just look at current Super Bowl winner Aaron Rodgers. He’s “only” 6-foot-2 himself. So if Jones isn’t “classically” the right height, it doesn’t really matter. It’s not like he’s Doug Flutie.

On SI.com, Pauline also refer’s to Jones as having “average arm strength and poor skills throwing in motion.” Arm strength is pretty subjective, but also overblown. Often arm strength to a quarterback is to the 40-yard dash for a linebacker. There are times a quarterback has to throw the ball deep, but it’s not as often as draft analysts like to stress about.

Jones excels in the short-to-middle passing game. He frequently completes the same kind of throws he’ll have to make in the NFL.

But with those perceived insufficiencies in mind, Pauline says that Jones doesn’t translate into a first-round prospect. In fact, at DraftInsider, Pauline rates Jones as a fourth-round pick.