Zac Dysert?

I read this scouting report on OBR by Mike Krupka: OBR Prospect Profile: Zac Dysert and was surprised.  Krupka rates Dysert's upside above almost everybody else's, including EJ Manuel's.  I find that hard to believe, but this guy has done a whole lot more homework than I have, and really seems to know his stuff.

I'm embarrassed, because I got caught up in all the hype about some of the other guys, and have completely ignored Dysert.  But thanks to Krupka, I now think he could be on the Browns' radar--and he should go after Manuel, Barkley, and maybe even a couple other guys.

My negligent ignorance and Zac's apparantly lowly draft status is partly because he was mediocre overall in the Senior Bowl (threw late on timing patterns and into coverage and stuff).  (I went all ga-ga over Manuel, who just murdered everybody.)

It's also partly because some of the scouting reports on him were (I now feel, thanks to Mike) overly negative.

Finally, it's because he played in the MAC (Miami of Ohio) against lesser competition.  Like Big Ben.

He does have several faults.  He threw most of his passes to his first and second reads, and Krupka feels he generally read half the field.  He sometimes leaves the pocket before he needs to.  His shorter passes sometimes "sail" (although dumpoffs to running backs are fine).  He locks onto recievers and doesn't use his eyes or pump-fakes to sucker safeties and zone corners.

This is about everything that's wrong with him.

So what are Chud and Norv thinking?

Well, it mostly depends on the kid's brain.  The sad fact is that some quarterbacks are never able to read the entire field.  They won't consider Dysert unless they believe that he can be coached to do this.  But as for the eyes, pump-fakes, sailing, and timing--all of these are correctable for sure, provided Dysert has the discipline and work ethic to practice.

By the way, I'm not saying that some quarterbacks are too dumb to make 3-4 reads while scanning the whole field.  That's not what it's about.  The guy could be a Rhodes scholar and still lack this ability.  I don't know why.  Probably, Dysert was just running his offense the way he was supposed to, and can do all the reads and check-downs with practice and repetition.

Anyway, I got most excited when Krupka said that he could throw with power and accuracy on the run.  That's really rare.  He doesn't have to reset his feet, like Weeden should and Brady and most of the rest do.  It takes superior balance, coordination, and arm-strength to throw on the run.

Krupka itemized pinpoint accurate passes that traveled 60 yards in the air, and cited great touch and accuracy at every level.

He's not as fast as Smith or Manuel, but scouts knocking his footspeed are full of crap.  He excells on rollouts and can run for yardage.

He's a very solid, muscular 231 lbs., and, like Big Ben, makes throws with defensive linemen dripping off him.  (Don't get confused, though--he's built much better and is much better-looking than Ben, and so far hasn't been accused of rape).

Dysert's skill-set definitely fits Turner's offense.  While it is based on timing, and he'd have to consistantly throw more quickly (PS Krupka said that in the Senior Bowl this could have been due to the fact that he wasn't used to the recievers...most draft-guide scouts are too lazy to consider these factors).  His dumpoffs are fine, the "sailing" tendancy is correctable, and anyway in this offense both of the short recievers are 6'5" now.  And in this scheme the "short" recievers are at least eight yards deep.

While the Browns have a really good pass-protecting o-line with backs who can block, the weakness of Turner's offense is that the deeper passes take more time.  His escapability and strength would be a nice benefit.  Oh--and he's fearless and tough.

Further, Krupka said that in reality, Dysert is comfortable under center as well as in the shotgun.  He also said that he's adept at taking a shotgun snap, pivoting, and immediately getting rid of it.  He was describing a pistol.

Now, Chud introduced the read-option in order to help Cam Newton function as a rookie, and it doesn't mean that's "his" system at all.  But with Dysert he could sprinkle it in here and there.  That's just a bonus.

I'm being pragmatic here: As I described earlier, while the local chicken littles think the sky is still falling, this team is already loaded and could go .500 or better this season, and draft in the bottom half of each round from here on out.  

Weeden could very well emerge as a very good quarterback in this system, and for all we know Campbell could be another Gannon.  But they're 30 and 32 respectively, and if the braintrust sees a potential eventual franchise quarterback in this draft, they have to take him.

I still love Manuel, but the reality is that he could be gone before pick 20.  The Browns might not get a shot at him, no matter how much they can wheel and deal.  But they could nab Dysert.

One thing most scouts are right about is that Dysert needs to be developed.  There would be no controversy about adding him to the roster, since it's understood that he's here strictly to learn as a rookie, and perhaps through a second season.

I think Krupka rates his potential above Manuel and company's because of his arm, accuracy, and ability to extend plays (not going down easily).  He also notes that he doesn't get flustered, and will take shots to deliver the ball-which is another thing that can't be taught.

I was sort of encouraged when, on NFL Radio, Kirwin and Ryan mock drafted two trade-downs for the Browns, giving them two more high third round picks, and drafting Trufant in the first.  Good deal!

Then Kirwin has them trading all three third rounders to get back into the first round to draft Jarvis Jones.  Yuk.  Bad 40 or no, Jones looks good, but not that good.  Nor is there a big need there, in the real world.

Well, Pat/Tim can't be expected to know anything about the two other OLB candidates to go with Sheard and Kruger.  Nobody can research every NFL team in that detail, and these guys unfortunately rely on local beat-writers a lot.  Ours are oblivious to half this roster.  So they still think that OLB is a big need.

But the encouraging part was the two trade-downs.  They had Miami trading all the way up to number three to draft an offensive tackle, though, and I gotta tell you, that would be pretty stupid when here are three of these, and one is probably still there at six.

If the Browns got to 11 or 12, somebody could be wanting to trade up for Warmack, Manuel, or whoever.  I mean, remember we already got Haden?  Does it now have to be Rhodes instead of Trufant?  C'mon!  "Settle for" a slightly less studly cornerback and get more picks!  There are four or even five corners in this draft who could be in the Pro Bowl in year 2!  USE it!

And if you trade up, trade up for the future franchise quarterback, or the great safety--not a fifth OLB!  (Note: No problem drafting another one.  Just don't blow three picks to do it jeez.)

For that matter, I'd trade Sheard or Rubin for a second rounder in a heartbeat.  Nothing personal/really like him but it's binniss ya know?

In conclusion, trade down and maybe nab Dysert.