While no actual football is played at Lucas Oil Stadium during the NFL Scouting Combine, players will be asked to perform drills specific to their respective positions. In the case of quarterbacks, that means throwing routes to unfamiliar receivers in front of a cavalcade of team scouts.
NFL Combine 2015: Quarterback drills
The top signal callers may not participate, but there will be some well-regarded prospects that throw on Saturday.
The significance of the combine position drills has taken a hit in recent years as an increasing number of top players have elected not to participate. Instead, many choose to run those drills at their pro days, school-run mini-combines that allow the player additional control over the proceedings. This is especially prevalent among elite-level quarterback prospects who prefer to throw passes to receivers they’re familiar with.
The drills themselves are fairly straightforward. Players are asked to showcase their three-, five- and seven-step drop backs and make throws. Their pass catchers are designated to run either a slant, out, in, corner or go route before the snap. Scouts look to see how well the quarterbacks time their passes relative to their footwork and the receivers’ movements. They also monitor how a particular prospect’s throwing mechanics change based on the drop back and what route they’re throwing to.
The combine quarterback drills won’t confuse anyone for live-action throwing, but they’re the closest thing football fans will get for several months.
Player to watch
Brett Hundley: With neither Jameis Winston nor Marcus Mariota locks to throw, Hundley becomes the top passer of the likely participants. Based on talent, he can hang with anyone in the class, but he struggles with the non-physical aspects of the position. He won’t be able to resolve those issues with a simple throwing session, but teams will be paying close attention to how he performs throughout the combine.
Bryce Petty: Unlike many quarterback prospects, Petty can actually prove something to teams during the throwing sessions. He dealt with back issues throughout his final season at Baylor, and showing teams that he can move fluidly and make throws on the move would quell some of the concerns about his health.
Garrett Grayson: Few view Grayson as a starting prospect. However, he’s potentially the second coming of Drew Stanton, a high-end backup quarterback that coaches love to have in their locker rooms. Grayson has an odd throwing motion not unlike Winston’s, but it’s quick enough that it shouldn’t hold him back in the NFL.
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