The Levis NFL Draft hype

[VaxxedObamaCat]

I admit that Levis is the best QB we've had since Couch. But I do not understand all of this speculation of him being a top 5 pick in the NFL Draft. I just don't see it. I don't see anything to suggest that he is a franchise player. I'd love to be wrong but I don't see it. I don't know what else everyone is seeing. He throws so many interceptions. Yeah, he's got a big arm but I don't think this guy is someone to take with a first round pick. If you need someone as a backup to groom then yeah, give him a shot but I don't see this guy being able to lead an NFL franchise next year.

No way he goes top 5 with Stroud and Young in the draft and all of the defensive talent out there. I'm sure someone gambles on him in the middle to late first round but I think it's a mistake.

I'm sure this will be treated with hostility but curious on your thoughts.

 

[catsjets]

He has everything that cannot be taught size arm strength heart and work ethic

 

[ukalum1988]

He definitely has the skill set to be an NFL QB but I just don’t see him as a top five pick. I hope he has a great career……. Time will tell.

 

[TOMCATS1990]

Watch the basketball ball team every year they draft on intangible’s and potential not so much on the field performance. Wait till the NFL Combine the scouts eat that crap up also.

 

[BlueRaider22]

He has everything that cannot be taught size arm strength heart and work ethic

Exactly. He's tough, he's personable, he has a lot of leadership qualities, etc.

Now, this does not mean that he'll be super successful in the NFL. I think a good way to look at Levis is to someone like Jordan Love.

Jordan Love Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com

All Combine and Draft-Related Analysis, News, Video, and Biographical Information for Jordan Love

www.nfl.com

Jordan had all the intangible traits you want in a QB, but perhaps needs some time to develop. Soo, he's been sitting behind Aaron Rodgers for a few yrs.

 

[phunterd]

I admit that Levis is the best QB we've had since Couch.

As a college QB, Woodson >>>> Levis and it isn’t close.

 

[VaxxedObamaCat]

As a college QB, Woodson >>>> Levis and it isn’t close.

Forgot about Woodson. I liked Woodson. His release was slow but I trusted him to be clutch.

He was projected as a first round pick and then the Senior Bowl happened and it fell apart.

 

[Johnfarrel]

He should ace the Wonderlic Test. Pros seen to put a lot of stock in that.

 

[K_TIME]

I agree on Levis...love him a ton. I do think Scang messed his game up...warts and all...he was a weapon with Coen.
But a year of watching him stare down sacks, a bit slow to read the field, and his accuracy underneath is still very up and down in a game. I get the NFL can teach things, etc... but man is this why we see high picks bottom out all the time in Zach Wilson, Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen, Geno Smith, Brock Osweiler, Drew Locke, Jake Locker, Blaine Gabbert, Mitch Tribiskey, RGIII, Marcus Marriota, Baker Mayfield, etc...

 

[gamecockcat]

Even more than the college game, the NFL requires a QB who has a ton of football IQ and can read defenses very, very quickly in order to get the ball out quickly to the right receiver. Levis, for all of his strengths, has not shown this ability - yet. He is a hard worker and genuinely seems like a great kid. Time will tell if he's capable of processing information at NFL speeds. If not, he may hang around several years as a backup but that will be his ceiling.

 

[Titpwhami2014]

NFL really is a different game. Levis checks all the boxes minus the decision making. But was that because our system was too complex, and our line was poor? Time will tell.

I love Young BTW. Not sure if he’ll hold up physically but he’s accurate and he’s a gamer.

Never have been sold on Stroud. Very accurate but Ohio State’s system (and WR talent) gives me pause. Doesn’t really run well either. I think he’s a clear #3 in this class.

 

[cmallory4121]

Good coaches can make bad players look good and bad coaches can make good players look bad

 

[bigblueinsanity]

Even more than the college game, the NFL requires a QB who has a ton of football IQ and can read defenses very, very quickly in order to get the ball out quickly to the right receiver. Levis, for all of his strengths, has not shown this ability - yet. He is a hard worker and genuinely seems like a great kid. Time will tell if he's capable of processing information at NFL speeds. If not, he may hang around several years as a backup but that will be his ceiling.

For reference, I saw a stat during a bears game that Justin fields held the ball the longest of any NFL QB and it was just at 3 seconds. On nearly every sack this season (and last), Levis had this long to get rid of the ball. Coupled with his injury and his very inconsistent pocket presence, and you get tons of negative plays that constantly hurt our offense this season.

Has all the things you can't teach and has them in spades. If he can speed up his reads, he will be great.

Taking stroud is a big risk imo. No idea how he will be able to operate an NFL offense or perform when he doesn't have a talent disparity in his favor

 

[westerncat]

I think he is a 1st round pick due to all I have read about him from the NFL Scouts . He may not be top 5 but he will be right up there close.

 

[creeksman]

Here's why he's still high on draft boards



Plus, he is going to absolutely destroy the combine and interviews.

 

[NoDef]

Scang was a terrible play caller and NFL scouts even alluded to Scang being part of the problem for his poor play. That coupled with poor line play made him look worse than what he should of been.

 

[KMKAT]

Do you think Levis is as good as Zach Wilson? This guy is struggling in the pros for reasons he might be in control of and no one saw any warning signs on Wilson?

I can see Levis possibly heading at 4 to Seattle or Carolina at 5 if he is considered in the top 3. And what does this say about the judgement of James Franklin?

 

[Tubbyfan78]

A lot of pro scouts on this board apparently.

 

[Littlefeller]

A lot of pro scouts on this board apparently.

Unemployed scouts since they r on the free board

 

[coachcombs57]

His traits and stats compare favorably to Josh allen. Pretty easy to see why scouts are excited about him

 

[ManitouDan]

I've watched him live 2 years , has a lot of positives , but field vision is atrocious . How do you teach that ?

 

[Tubbyfan78]

I've watched him live 2 years , has a lot of positives , but field vision is atrocious . How do you teach that ?

See stats above under pressure and against the blitz. Sure seems like your field vision is struggling a lot more than his.

 

[nerdcat]

Some pro scouts are obsessed with ”arm talent” alone. Sometimes it works out, more often than not, it doesn’t.

 

[sefus12]

Some of you should reach out to the numerous scouts who have him so high on their boards. They obviously don’t know as much as random posters on CatsIllustrated.

 

[azubuikefan]

He's got the size and the arm. He's also played hurt all year and the scouts know this.

 

[NavyCat88]

Levis is a first rounder on the wings of his raw skills.

• His season in the Coen system (last year) showed a lot of promise.
• The general consensus is he was undercut by the OC this year and confirmation of that was Scang's quick dismissal from his post after the regular season.
• How early in the first round for Levis will come down to combine performance, pro-days, interviews, etc.

I suspect he will do well at the combine and move toward the top half of the first round, but top five is in doubt IMO.

Either way, I am a big fan and wish him every success.

GBB!

 

[VaxxedObamaCat]

A lot of pro scouts on this board apparently.

Um plenty of pro scouts talk up busts. The QB busts are legendary and all of those guys fooled the people with the right credentials.

 

[VaxxedObamaCat]

Some of you should reach out to the numerous scouts who have him so high on their boards. They obviously don’t know as much as random posters on CatsIllustrated.

Will do. Can you get me the number of the scouts who were high on Akili Smith, Ryan Leaf, Jamarcus Russell, Cade McNown, Andre Ware, Joey Harrington, EJ Manuel, and a ton of others?

 

[ManitouDan]

See stats above under pressure and against the blitz. Sure seems like your field vision is struggling a lot more than his.

No my vision is fine , except for a few beers at the tailgate . I'm telling you Tubby , I've watched him live for 2 years .. his vision is not just poor , its terrible . His other measurable's are great .. but he doesnt mover from read to read to maybe a 3rd read .. ever . I mean never . He locks in and hopes it works . And no he's not under pressure every pass attempt . But he has no pocket feel too slide right or left to buy that crucial additional 1 second . Can he learn it ? I have no clue .. but seeing Vaxxed' post above shows the scouts batting average isnt 750 .

 

[ManitouDan]

Will do. Can you get me the number of the scouts who were high on Akili Smith, Ryan Leaf, Jamarcus Russell, Cade McNown, Andre Ware, Joey Harrington, EJ Manuel, and a ton of others?

EXACTLY !!! lol , I mean the " scouts " are never wrong ... just LMAO .

 

[Kingseve1]

Levis over Woodson when both are healthy and they are letting Will run the ball

 

[WyleECoyote]

Levis is a first rounder on the wings of his raw skills.

• His season in the Coen system (last year) showed a lot of promise.
• The general consensus is he was undercut by the OC this year and confirmation of that was Scang's quick dismissal from his post after the regular season.
• How early in the first round for Levis will come down to combine performance, pro-days, interviews, etc.

I suspect he will do well at the combine and move toward the top half of the first round, but top five is in doubt IMO.

Either way, I am a big fan and wish him every success.

GBB!

Right now he's sitting at QB 3 on most "experts'" draft boards, and in all online mocks he's going between 5 and 14. Once the Combine hits, his numbers will jump off the page, and it wouldn't surprise me to see him jump Young and Stroud in projections after the Combine and interviews because NFL front offices will love his intangibles, size, and measurables. It happens every year, somebody streaks to the top of the Board over the big name college guys that win.

 

[The-Hack]

But he has no pocket feel too slide right or left to buy that crucial additional 1 second .

You nailed it. He had huge runs in ‘21 . . . all of them (as I recall) basically in the A gaps on either side of the center.

Along with a reluctance to run and injuries, DC’s adjusted to bring most pressure from the interior of the defense, instead of blitzing outside of the tackle box. Clog holes directly in front of Levis, and he does not move laterally to avoid sacks or escape the pocket. Pull up films of LBJ in ‘19. He would run right or left, surrender a few yards, then gain yardage when he got outside of the pressure.

Like Jared Lorenzen, open the defense directly in front of Levis, and he has the speed and guts to take off like a bull. But not laterally.

 

[Tubbyfan78]

Here's why he's still high on draft boards

View embedded media

Plus, he is going to absolutely destroy the combine and interviews.

No my vision is fine , except for a few beers at the tailgate . I'm telling you Tubby , I've watched him live for 2 years .. his vision is not just poor , its terrible . His other measurable's are great .. but he doesnt mover from read to read to maybe a 3rd read .. ever . I mean never . He locks in and hopes it works . And no he's not under pressure every pass attempt . But he has no pocket feel too slide right or left to buy that crucial additional 1 second . Can he learn it ? I have no clue .. but seeing Vaxxed' post above shows the scouts batting average isnt 750 .

Obviously its not fine/

 

[WyleECoyote]

Obviously its not fine/

Hahahaha, a guy with the name Tubbyfan questioning someone's vision.

 

[ManitouDan]

Hell the sound of Tubby seems awesome compared to poor old Cal . ... I know Will will go high , he has the physical tools teams hoper to hit the jackpot with . But I dont see it . Hope he does great .

 

[K_TIME]

Some of you should reach out to the numerous scouts who have him so high on their boards. They obviously don’t know as much as random posters on CatsIllustrated.

I get your point

But these same experts draft Zach Wilson, Drew Rosen, Sam Bradford, Baker Mayfield, Johny Manziel, Duane Haskins, Marcus Mariotta, etc...so message posters aren't so dumb in that light.