QB Casey Keenum of Houston ~ 6.1/210
"Keenum has been one of the most highly productive quarterbacks in college football history, setting the record for overall pass yardage in a career. If numbers were pure projections to the next level, Keenum would be the undisputed top pick. Unfortunately for him, his height might limit him as he moves to the next level.
It's obvious that Keenum is an accurate and prolific passer working from inside the pocket. How that production translates to the NFL is the big question.
***
Strengths: Keenum had an ungodly amount of production while at Houston. He is a good, mechanical thrower who makes quick decisions within the scheme. He understands how to read defenses and pick his spots in zones. He is an accurate thrower who puts good touch on his throws to lead his receivers. He is good to extend the play and work outside the pocket.
Weaknesses: Keenum is an undersized prospect, which hurts his value. Like Russell Wilson, he will need to show he can throw effectively from the pocket. He also could be considered the product of an effective, high-octane collegiate spread offense."
It's obvious that Keenum is an accurate and prolific passer working from inside the pocket. How that production translates to the NFL is the big question.
***
"Keenum leaves Houston as the most productive passer in NCAA history and the the Cougars' all-time winningest quarterback (37-14 record as a starter). Though his collegiate accomplishments are staggering, they'll mean nothing when Keenum is asked to complete passes against NFL defenses.
Undersized and possessing an average (at best) arm, Keenum will have to rely on his anticipation and determination to overcome physical limitations to achieve success in the NFL.
Keenum can be successful in a quick-hitting, rhythm passing attack in the NFL but ultimately may lack the arm strength to keep defenders from feasting on underneath passes.
***
Positives: Good short to intermediate accuracy. Makes quick decisions with the football, getting it out of his hands before defenders can get to him. Intelligent passer who makes good pre-snap reads. Efficient, over the top release. Good vision to locate passing lanes. Gutty and determined.
Shows some feel in the pocket and is athletic enough to move about and/or escape the pocket while keeping his eyes downfield. Is a coach's son and has all of the intangibles every team is looking for in a franchise quarterback.
Negatives: Slight frame with limited room for additional growth. Possesses an average arm (at best) that forces him to wind up to drive the ball longer than 15 yards. Had his statistics inflated based on a spread offense in which most of his attempts were not NFL-caliber throws.
Took virtually all of his snaps out of the shotgun and made most of his decisions prior to receiving the ball. Struggled when the pocket collapsed and he was forced to come off of his initial read. Suffered a torn ACL against UCLA in 2010, ending his season after just three starts."
--Rob Rang
Undersized and possessing an average (at best) arm, Keenum will have to rely on his anticipation and determination to overcome physical limitations to achieve success in the NFL.
Keenum can be successful in a quick-hitting, rhythm passing attack in the NFL but ultimately may lack the arm strength to keep defenders from feasting on underneath passes.
***
Positives: Good short to intermediate accuracy. Makes quick decisions with the football, getting it out of his hands before defenders can get to him. Intelligent passer who makes good pre-snap reads. Efficient, over the top release. Good vision to locate passing lanes. Gutty and determined.
Shows some feel in the pocket and is athletic enough to move about and/or escape the pocket while keeping his eyes downfield. Is a coach's son and has all of the intangibles every team is looking for in a franchise quarterback.
Negatives: Slight frame with limited room for additional growth. Possesses an average arm (at best) that forces him to wind up to drive the ball longer than 15 yards. Had his statistics inflated based on a spread offense in which most of his attempts were not NFL-caliber throws.
Took virtually all of his snaps out of the shotgun and made most of his decisions prior to receiving the ball. Struggled when the pocket collapsed and he was forced to come off of his initial read. Suffered a torn ACL against UCLA in 2010, ending his season after just three starts."
--Rob Rang
"Keenum possesses an average build, he isn't the tallest of options, but looks a bit thicker as a senior through the mid-section in order to hold up vs. the pounding at the NFL level. He has been extremely productive in the Houston offense during his career and is coming off a knee injury in 2010, but was granted a 6th year of eligibility in 2011.
He's a solid athlete for the position who can buy time outside the pocket, throw well on the move and maintain accuracy underneath with a quick delivery of the football. He gets the ball out quickly, showcases natural anticipation skills and good ball location when forced to throw receivers open.
He quickly squares himself up from the gun and has done a much better job in 2011 being more accurate with the football in the bubble/smoke screen game.
He improved his overall footwork and widened his base more from the pocket in 2011. In 2009 and 2010 he stood much more upright, almost bouncing in the pocket in order to try staying in rhythm and with the flick of the wrist, he got the football out of his hands.
Keenum rarely generated any kind of torque from his lower half and more or less just flung his back leg around toward his target instead of really transferring his weight.
In 2011, he played with much better bend in the knees, looked stronger/more balanced in the pocket and didn't need to hitch into throws consistently in order to get the football out of his hands.
Plus, there were a couple of throws down the field he made with plenty of arm strength where he did a better job transferring his weight off his back foot and his velocity improved because of it.
However, he still possesses a very average NFL arm even with his improved football. The deep bucket throws will hang on him and he needs to be on time with throws at the second level, as he fails to simply put balls on a rope.
Keenum will also need to learn to take snaps from under center and, despite his improved footwork, he's still getting comfortable moving around in the pocket with his lower base while trying to stay in balance. At times, he will caught with his weight more on his front foot while in the act of throwing and toss an occasional pass into the ground.
He's a good kid, teammates really seem to rally around him, and has battled adversity, bounced back from the injury and still put up monster numbers as a senior.
Impression: Is a little more physically gifted than Graham Harrell coming out, but looks maxed out as a prospect physically. Is more of a reserve only at the next level, but is one you should be able to trust."
He's a solid athlete for the position who can buy time outside the pocket, throw well on the move and maintain accuracy underneath with a quick delivery of the football. He gets the ball out quickly, showcases natural anticipation skills and good ball location when forced to throw receivers open.
He quickly squares himself up from the gun and has done a much better job in 2011 being more accurate with the football in the bubble/smoke screen game.
He improved his overall footwork and widened his base more from the pocket in 2011. In 2009 and 2010 he stood much more upright, almost bouncing in the pocket in order to try staying in rhythm and with the flick of the wrist, he got the football out of his hands.
Keenum rarely generated any kind of torque from his lower half and more or less just flung his back leg around toward his target instead of really transferring his weight.
In 2011, he played with much better bend in the knees, looked stronger/more balanced in the pocket and didn't need to hitch into throws consistently in order to get the football out of his hands.
Plus, there were a couple of throws down the field he made with plenty of arm strength where he did a better job transferring his weight off his back foot and his velocity improved because of it.
However, he still possesses a very average NFL arm even with his improved football. The deep bucket throws will hang on him and he needs to be on time with throws at the second level, as he fails to simply put balls on a rope.
Keenum will also need to learn to take snaps from under center and, despite his improved footwork, he's still getting comfortable moving around in the pocket with his lower base while trying to stay in balance. At times, he will caught with his weight more on his front foot while in the act of throwing and toss an occasional pass into the ground.
He's a good kid, teammates really seem to rally around him, and has battled adversity, bounced back from the injury and still put up monster numbers as a senior.
Impression: Is a little more physically gifted than Graham Harrell coming out, but looks maxed out as a prospect physically. Is more of a reserve only at the next level, but is one you should be able to trust."
"Strengths: Keenum has put up some gaudy numbers at Houston. Has a ton of starting experience. His accuracy is above-average and throws with very good touch. He is a surprisingly good athlete that is capable of extending plays with his feet.
Weaknesses: Lacks the arm strength to make all the NFL throws. Plays exclusively out of the shotgun at Houston and is the definition of system quarterback. Very rarely progresses through reads and doesn’t have experience reading defenses under center.
Bottom Line: Keenum’s experience is a major plus but he lacks the physical tools to be a starter in the NFL. He played exclusively in the shotgun atHouston in a pass happy offense that was built for big numbers.
Draft Projection: Keenum’s productivity in college may make a team take a flier on him in the 7th round of April’s draft."
Weaknesses: Lacks the arm strength to make all the NFL throws. Plays exclusively out of the shotgun at Houston and is the definition of system quarterback. Very rarely progresses through reads and doesn’t have experience reading defenses under center.
Bottom Line: Keenum’s experience is a major plus but he lacks the physical tools to be a starter in the NFL. He played exclusively in the shotgun atHouston in a pass happy offense that was built for big numbers.
Draft Projection: Keenum’s productivity in college may make a team take a flier on him in the 7th round of April’s draft."
"Diminutive, non-durable shotgun passer who benefited from a spread offense featuring many simple, one-read, predetermined throws that juiced his statistics.
Prior to injury, he showed the ability to move around the pocket and make plays.
He is very accurate short and has good work habits.
However, his limited arm strength will handcuff NFL offenses, and he always will struggle to stay healthy."
Prior to injury, he showed the ability to move around the pocket and make plays.
He is very accurate short and has good work habits.
However, his limited arm strength will handcuff NFL offenses, and he always will struggle to stay healthy."
"Gunslinger was granted a 6th year of eligibility after tearing an ACL trying to make a tackle in the third game of the season; prolific passer has already thrown for over 13,000 yards in his career; just second passer in NCAA history with two 5,000 yard passing seasons (for the record, the other is former Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell who spent last year on the Green Bay practice squad after a year as a back-up in the CFL); also has a completed close to 70% of his passes in his career, but many completions are within a few yards of the line of scrimmage;
Lacks a big arm, but can make all the throws; has a quick release and throws a catchable ball; also has decent mobility; but doesn’t read the field that well, has questionable footwork and forces too many passes into coverage; in fact, has thrown 41 picks in his career; also tends to get down on himself when things don’t go well; not all that big or thick, but will stand in the pocket; faces tough transition to NFL because he’s played exclusively out of a shotgun."
Lacks a big arm, but can make all the throws; has a quick release and throws a catchable ball; also has decent mobility; but doesn’t read the field that well, has questionable footwork and forces too many passes into coverage; in fact, has thrown 41 picks in his career; also tends to get down on himself when things don’t go well; not all that big or thick, but will stand in the pocket; faces tough transition to NFL because he’s played exclusively out of a shotgun."
"Positives -- Very accurate on his short to intermediate throws, completes a high percentage of his passes and puts his receivers in a position to get yards after the catch... Unbelievable production, set multiple NCAA records over the course of his career at Houston... Has three 5,000 yard passing seasons...
Does a good job of buying time in the pocket with his feet, isn't fast, but moves well within the pocket... Throws a very catchable ball, very good with his touch throws... Good decision maker who rarely turns the ball over... Only threw five interceptions this year in 534 pass attempts (through the regular season)... True leader of the Houston offense and commands respect from his teammates.
Negatives -- Below-average arm strength, doesn't have a cannon and lacks zip on his throws... Has an awkward three-quarters throwing motion that will need some tweaking... Overall mechanics with his motion and feet are not very good and will need to be coached up... Is not much of a threat to run with the ball, below-average athleticism... Has a rather weak frame and is shorter than ideal... Plays in a spread offense where he operates out of the shotgun almost at all times, has little to no experience working under center... The Houston offense is tailor-made for quarterbacks to succeed, similar to the way Mike Leach's offenses operated at Texas Tech for years... Appears to be a product of the system more than legit NFL prospect... His college offense required him to make one read on most occasions and didn't ask him to go through many progressions... Has some injury concerns, received a sixth year of eligibility after tearing his ACL in 2010... Will be a 24-year-old rookie."
Does a good job of buying time in the pocket with his feet, isn't fast, but moves well within the pocket... Throws a very catchable ball, very good with his touch throws... Good decision maker who rarely turns the ball over... Only threw five interceptions this year in 534 pass attempts (through the regular season)... True leader of the Houston offense and commands respect from his teammates.
Negatives -- Below-average arm strength, doesn't have a cannon and lacks zip on his throws... Has an awkward three-quarters throwing motion that will need some tweaking... Overall mechanics with his motion and feet are not very good and will need to be coached up... Is not much of a threat to run with the ball, below-average athleticism... Has a rather weak frame and is shorter than ideal... Plays in a spread offense where he operates out of the shotgun almost at all times, has little to no experience working under center... The Houston offense is tailor-made for quarterbacks to succeed, similar to the way Mike Leach's offenses operated at Texas Tech for years... Appears to be a product of the system more than legit NFL prospect... His college offense required him to make one read on most occasions and didn't ask him to go through many progressions... Has some injury concerns, received a sixth year of eligibility after tearing his ACL in 2010... Will be a 24-year-old rookie."
"Overview: Keenum is a career star at Houston. An unfortunate ACL tear has severely affected his draftability in 2011. Recent news indicates that he has requested another year of eligibiity.
Strengths: Versatile QB with some scrambling ability. Properly lead an NFL-style offense. Has a career QB Rating of over 150.0. Extremely prolific numbers, putting up 88 TD's in 2 seasons.
Weaknesses: Suffered a serious ACL injury back in September. Has made a career of smoking sub-par athletes. Questions surrounding the accuracy of his listed height.
Projection: Slipping down to the 4th or 5th round due to a major ACL injury. If productivity and success were the only measures, he'd be a 1st round pick."
Strengths: Versatile QB with some scrambling ability. Properly lead an NFL-style offense. Has a career QB Rating of over 150.0. Extremely prolific numbers, putting up 88 TD's in 2 seasons.
Weaknesses: Suffered a serious ACL injury back in September. Has made a career of smoking sub-par athletes. Questions surrounding the accuracy of his listed height.
Projection: Slipping down to the 4th or 5th round due to a major ACL injury. If productivity and success were the only measures, he'd be a 1st round pick."
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