Luke Falk and Drew Brees: A Comparison
I have been working on this for quite some time, and wasn’t planning on sharing it until the off-season kicked off, but I’m simply too eager. Before I begin, allow me to state that this is in no way a reflection of how I feel about Ryan Tannehill; I fully support him as the franchise and hope his return is graceful. However, there is still reason to pursue a quarterback in the 2018 NFL draft.
A.
The longevity of Ryan’s knee must undoubtedly be called into question after two ACL and MCL injuries. While I am hopeful that he remains a capable football player, this is absolutely no guarantee--these kinds of injuries have derailed many careers. As such, it is important to err on the side of caution. This is a quarterback-driven league, after all, and we need to swing for the fences until we hit a homerun.
B.
Luke Falk, currently a 2nd-3rd round prospect, is an unpassable option at that juncture if my analysis holds true-to-life, and especially if Ryan’s knee is going to remain chronically unhealthy. At worst, Ryan struggles in his comeback to the league, is consequently let go due to his performance/salary ratio, and is replaced by Luke. At best, Miami sees a quarterback competition down the road that features two capable franchise players (a good problem to have).
C.
Miami fans have long dreamt of what
could have been had Brees donned the aqua and orange. Now, Miami has a chance to press the reset button.
Below, you will find that I have provided scouting reports and statistics related to collegiate-level Brees and Falk. Consider the eerie similarities of their strengths, supposed weaknesses, statistics, and play-styles, and decide for yourself if Luke Falk is the next Drew Brees.
Drew Brees: Collegiate Scouting Report
Positives: “Touch passer with the ability to read and diagnose defensive coverages...Confident leader who knows how to take command in the huddle...Very tough and mobile moving around in the pocket...Has a quick setup and is very effective throwing on the move... Throws across his body with great consistency...Hits receivers in stride and improvises his throws in order to make a completion...Puts good zip behind the short and mid-range passes...Shows good judgement and keen field vision...Has a take-charge attitude and is very cool under pressure...Hits receivers in motion with impressive velocity...Has superb pocket presence and uses all of his offensive weapons in order to move the chains...Has solid body mechanics and quickness moving away from center...Elusive scrambler with the body control to avoid the rush.”
Negatives: “Plays in the spread offense, taking the bulk of his snaps from the shotgun...Tends to side-arm his passes going deep...Lacks accuracy and touch on his long throws...Seems more comfortable in the short/intermediate passing attack...Does not possess the ideal height you look for in a pro passer, though his ability to scan the field helps him compensate in this area...Will improvise and run when the passing lanes are clogged, but tends to run through defenders rather than trying to avoid them to prevent unnecessary punishment.”
Statistics: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/drew-brees-1.html
Luke Falk: Collegiate Scouting Report
Positives: Falk operates with excellent poise. He never looks flustered and he shows a complete command of coach Mike Leach's offensive system. While much will be mentioned about the lack of production for some of the top QBs in the country, Falk doesn't have that issue. His career stats are eye-popping. Falk operates in the shotgun and he is quick to scan and throw with anticipation. Although he plays in an Air Raid offense, he does read the entire field. He has a very quiet lower body (calm, firm base) and a smooth release. He has tremendous touch at all three levels. Leach gives him a lot of responsibility in the offense and he has handled it extremely well.
Negatives: Falk doesn't possess a huge arm. It hasn't been a big issue for Falk because he is so adept at throwing with anticipation. However, he does need to add some RPMs to his throws and it has been reported that he's added weight/strength during the offseason. He's a functional athlete, capable of avoiding the free rusher, but he isn't much of a threat as a ball carrier. Fair or unfair, he will have to answer questions about the lack of success Air Raid QBs have had at the next level. I think he'll be given more responsibility to make calls at the line of scrimmage this season and that should ease some of those concerns.
Statistics: https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/luke-falk-1.html
These highlights provide a glimpse of his capability as a passer:
,
Lastly, this interview provides an in-depth look at Falk as a person:
Perhaps my favorite things about Falk are his absurd pass accuracy and his dynamic, success-driven personality. Similar to Brees, Falk is a tremendous touch-passer, has excellent short-medium range accuracy, is capable of scanning the entire field and commanding an offense, is calm and poised in the pocket, and is a functional athlete on the run. He also has questions surrounding him in regard to the collegiate offense he played in and how it will translate to the NFL, his overall arm-strength/size, and whether or not he is too reliant on the short-medium passing game--all consistent with Brees' critiques coming out of college. And yet, to me, it is Falk's immense maturity that truly sets him apart from the rest of the draft class as a sure-fire franchise quarterback. There is no doubt in my mind that this Washington State Cougar will find success in the NFL; I just hope it’s with the Miami Dolphins.
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