NFL world is all abuzz about Eastern Illinois QB Garoppolo

NaboCane · Jan 22, 2014

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/2510...buzz-about-eastern-illinois-qb-garoppolo.html

The NFL world is gushing over Garoppolo, who, in the last several weeks, has gone from an unknown to a potential late-round pick to a possible second- or third-round selection, in the opinions of some NFL evaluators. His model mechanics, quick release and overall potential are the buzz of the offseason.
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Anyone seen this guy play?

ckparrothead · Jan 22, 2014

Yes, I have. I've spoken about him a lot. I'll just dig up archives rather than re-writing.

ckparrothead said:

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo of Eastern Illinois reminds me of a combination between Matt Moore and Trent Green.

You want to talk about quick and nimble feet for a quarterback, Garoppolo's got them. That's where he reminds me of Green. He's got a boxer's feet, punches that ball out quick. Very nimble back there, execution-wise. Just the total foot-to-fingertip weight transfer process on him, extremely quick and very impressive. If he's consistent with that it could lead to consistent accuracy which is what makes a pro quarterback happen.

His stature and the quality of the ball he throws reminds me of Matt Moore. He's not throwing the football in a manner that's going to really impress you as far as velocity, trajectory or spin. The accuracy is good though.
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ckparrothead said:

Wow.

This kid's good. He's running one of the fastest hurry-ups I've ever seen right away against San Diego State, whom they beat in a huge upset. Eastern Illinois the FCS team beats San Diego State. And you know who else they very nearly beat? Northern Illinois, who beat Iowa and is undefeated and went to the Orange Bowl last year. Came within 3 points. Garoppolo threw 6 TDs in that game.

Getting back to the San Diego State game, I just timed 5 seconds came off the game clock from a 2nd down run which moved the sticks, into the next 1st down run play. Now, they had to pause the clock to move the sticks of course, but that's still fast. Perhaps more impressive is from whistle-to-snap on that 1st down run to a 2nd down deep touchdown pass, only 11 seconds passed on the game clock. There was no moving the sticks or anything so that means literally 11 seconds passed from the time the runner was on the ground and the whistle blew to the time everyone's lined up and snapping the ball. And since everyone has to be set for 1 second before you can snap it, that means it took them 10 seconds.

That's blinding speed. Can't do that if you've got a dummy at quarterback.

You've got to see this. Not a great play but an interesting one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4zrAfoBuiw&feature=player_detailpage#t=1316

Offense is going with some gimmicky 3-OL look in the middle with one more OL on each wing. Garoppolo wants the little shovel pass against the depleted box but actually decides against it, because he sees a defensive end bearing down on the player ready to pulverize him. Makes a quick decision to pull the ball back in, eludes pressure long enough to avoid the sack and throw the ball away. Pretty keen.
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ckparrothead said:

Wouldn't be shocked if the top three QBs in this draft are Teddy Bridgewater, Blake Bortles and Jimmy Garoppolo.
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ckparrothead said:

I tell you what. I had absolutely no intention of watching Towson play last night. I fast forwarded through their offense most of the time. But even just on limited viewing, that tailback of their Terrance West impressed me a LOT.

...

Oh and Jimmy Garoppolo was pretty good too. Add another 300+ yards and 4 TD game to his resume. The thing he did that intrigued me is he provided some counter-points to the criticism about him handling pressure in the pocket. He showed a lot more savvy and natural instincts for getting out of that pressure. You always knew he had such incredible feet that he would HAVE to be elusive in the pocket if he started developing a better feel for how to work the pocket. But he needs development. He showed flashes of that potential last night.

It just wasn't enough because Terrance West absolutely OBLITERATED the East Illinois defense. It was a one man show. Towson threw only 14 passes and ran West 39 times.
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ckparrothead said:

Don’t sleep on Jimmy Garoppolo of Eastern Illinois. He punches the football out of his hands with the consistent foot quickness and control of a welterweight boxing champion, and his accuracy fits the consistency of his technique that way. Easily has the quickest release and throwing motion in the draft. He makes very quick decisions, and operates probably the fastest offense I’ve seen in college football this year outside of Gus Malzahn’s offense at Auburn. That speaks extremely well to his ability to grasp multiple plays, communicate and read the defense.

He has that physically underwhelming look that you see on guys that should be backups, that John Beck look. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the years it’s that sometimes you get that guy in a new environment, packs on a little man meat, gets into a different huddle with a different camera angle, suddenly you’re thinking oh he looks like he belongs after all. One thing that is intriguing about him is that he’s only just learning to use those boxer feet of his to be elusive in the backfield and to do more damage scrambling. That’s an area of upside. He’s starting to get it more that way and the very last game I saw him play in the FCS playoffs, he really hurt the Towson defense with those feet of his.
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