Just listened to a long pod with Chris Sims who get roasted here because of his Brady takes, But to me comes across as a very knowledgeable source on QB's. He thinks Lance is NOT a first round pick. He is not a natural thrower and has just too few reps in an offense that is as far from what he will see in the NFL as it can get. He is likely a 2 year project for the team that picks him and he could end up being a great pick....but not in the first round. If II were Chris Simms how would you counter?
That being said Simms discussed another project guy who isn;'t getting a lot of ink in the QB discussion and who Simms thinks is a better prospect because he IS a natural thrower and has had 4 years of increasing production in college. Kellen Mond is the guy he was talking about. What do you think. Is he the guy who could last until the 2nd round and is he as good as Simms thinks he is?
I'm assuming you're asking how I'd counter Simms?
Very easily
First things first. Simms is very knowledgeable, a lot more than me. He could teach me X&O's for days. Unfortunately that doesn't make one great at prospect evaluation.
1)Simms seems to be forgetting that he had Josh Allen as QB1 a few years ago. A two year project with more than a few issues. Also Lance threw for more passes than Allen did in their final years. They both played weak comp but Lance put up a 66% comp rating (10 points higher than Allen) & a 28/0! TD/INT ratio.
So Simms is simply contradicting himself here and looks way off.
2)Lance isn't a "natural thrower"? Nonsense, absolute trash. What do you want to see? Touch, placement, velocity? Mechanics, footwork, pocket presence? Ability to work from under center? How about them all?
Not a "natural thrower"? Let's leave opinion out of this shall we?
I'll post a few more clips but the idea that Lance isn't a natural passer or a pocket passer and a very good one is wrong.
His mechanics are as good as anyone in the class. They can get a little messy at times but everyone does at times but consistently he's really good. And a big worker in this area. Feet are firing, usually always balanced putting him in a good spot. Front shoulder stays tight for the most part. Moves a little but he's always working on it.
Poise, feel and pocket presence are as good as it gets. He looks like a teach tape for movement with his feet and base moving him around and keeping him balanced. Really nice feel and all around vision to step up, slide, manipulate a pocket or just create a new platform. Never panics.
Arm talent is as good as anyone in the class. Probably the strongest. At times nice touch, placement and accuracy. Far hash, deep corner/post, touch on short stuff has all been displayed. He needs to work on timing and anticipation a little but he's 20. I mean at some point that has to really be brought up again. He's not close to his final form.
Play making ability is crazy Ken. Scrambling, designed runs, power-the kid is a pick-up truck at 6'3 225. He's built for today's game but can absolutely beat you in the pocket and prefers to. He wants to win that way. Short, intermediate, deep, he can work all areas.
His toughness and leadership can't be overstated. The past year he's been working with Q Avery who's been working with Watson and other QB's to get better. You hear him speak today and he talks about treating others right. He's been working out with his Dad since he was a kid. Always had that competition with his younger bro who will be starting at Bama next year.
He absolutely has to work on some things and clean them up but let's not pretend that Lawrence doesn't either. Lance has started as many games as Mac Jones. Has more pass attempts than Josh Allen and played as weak comp as Zach Wilson yet you don't really hear those things brought up about them?
For instance I've been talking about how Wilson & Lance have to work on progressing through the MOF and working certain concepts in that area for months. I've only heard maybe one person from the media bring that up and their still somewhat of an amateur & like 21 (follow Ben Solak). So while Simms and others know their stuff pertaining to certain aspects of the game sometimes their just wrong and looking for attention. The concerns are there with Lance, like they are with Lawrence, Wilson, Jones, & Fields but he's wrong in the above analysis.
I have a 3rd on Mond. I wouldn't mind him in the 3rd or 4th. His biggest issues going forward are pocket presence and in 4 years and it hasn't really improved. Slow coming off his reads. Can't find his hot route or really figure it out under pressure. Really nice arm talent. At times nice accuracy and placement but inconsistent. I think he could be a good back up but who knows.
