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Draft Talk: Tennessee QB Josh Dobbs

sjnyfan : 2/9/2017 4:46 pm
The name has been out there for some time. 2013 recruit that has started since his freshman year for the Vols. The Draft speculation has been all over the place ever since. Throughout his career there has been a lot of inconsistency but it was late in 2016 when I started to take more notice of his game.

Over the last 5 games Dobbs had a 4-1 record, an 84% completion percentage, averaging over 250 ypg with 12 passing TDs and only 1 INT. He also rushed for another 508 yards and 7 TDs. I liked what I saw on the field.

As we know by now it's not easy being a school not named Alabama in the SEC. I think this played a factor in his inconsistency during his college career. In fact, 7 of the 12 teams the Volunteers faced were ranked in the top 30 in Total Defense last season. Dobbs has good offensive weapons in RB Alvin Kamara and WR Josh Malone, both who I expect to be gone in the first two rounds. He didn't have a great pass blocking line though which I believe caused some of the rushed throws, incompletions and turnovers. But I saw a lot of poise in the pocket while keeping his eyes downfield. He can break contain and throw on the run too. Even though it's a spread offense you could see Dobbs go through his progressions and despite his athletic ability and gaudy rushing numbers, he's a pass first QB. He also has a strong accurate arm that can make all of the NFL throws with a nice touch going downfield.

Down at the Senior Bowl he got better each day under respected offensive mind Hue Jackson and it showed in that game, going 12-15 and 104 yards. He did throw a pick but was hit by his own lineman as he threw.

Many consider Dobbs to be a Day 3 pick but I wouldn't be surprised if he starts getting more buzz during and right after the combine. It's a weak class, he has experience in the toughest conference in college, which he led in yards and QB rating this past season and he will absolutely ace the interview process. All accounts is that he's a natural leader and incredibly smart. He had a 3.6 GPA as an Aerospace Engineering major and is in the Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honor society, same as another famous Volunteer QB, Peyton Manning. I don't think he'll have any problems picking up an NFL playbook.

One comparison I'm afraid of but is almost inevitable is Dak Prescott. SEC QB overcoming a tough conference to lead his overachieving team to a winning record with leadership, intelligence and athleticism. It's coming. Prescott is a draft unicorn that just so happened to wind up on a team with a strong line and weapons. Not to discount his accomplishments, especially since it looks like he'll have a long, successful career that unfortunately has to be in Dallas. But that's too much to put on an incoming rookie. And I selfishly don't want him moving up too high.

As JR said it's time to start looking at Eli's successor. He'll be 39 when his contract is up and if the Giants do draft a QB after day 1 in April he'll be 40 after the rookie's contract is up, if he's even playing at that point. Dobbs is someone I'd be very happy with. Give him a few years with an NFL offense, quality coaches and a succession plan and I think he could be a mid round steal. The only Prescott correlation I'll make is that I hope he's still around in the 4th. If so, snatch him and I think we'd potentially have our QB of the future.
He stinks  
Rflairr : 2/9/2017 4:49 pm : link
.
Vols Fan here  
yupbjac27 : 2/9/2017 4:59 pm : link
I appreciate everything Josh has from an "ATH" perspective but he has severe deficiencies when it comes to accuracy and arm strength. He won games for the VOLS but often was unable to in the big time spots. Also, he didn't start all four years but did play in all 4.

Higher end SEC squads (BAMA/A&M) all challenged him to make throws on them and he often was unable to meet the challenge. He is a great runner with the football and can make wide open throws against less talented rush/secondaries of the SEC.

He is smart as all hell and that will likely make him a reliable 2nd/3rd stringer for a few years until he decides he can make it happen in the real world. Keep an eye out for this kid, just not as a QB or potentially not on the playing field.
No thank  
BigBlueDownTheShore : 2/9/2017 5:05 pm : link
you
one word:  
Ned In Atlanta : 2/9/2017 5:10 pm : link
NO
Athleticism in a QB is nice, but not the most important thing.  
Victor in CT : 2/9/2017 5:23 pm : link
in the NFL, the most important thing is: Can you consistently throw the 15 yard out from the pocket with zip on it? If he can't , no go.
RE: Vols Fan here  
sjnyfan : 2/9/2017 5:26 pm : link
In comment 13355775 yupbjac27 said:
Quote:
I appreciate everything Josh has from an "ATH" perspective but he has severe deficiencies when it comes to accuracy and arm strength. He won games for the VOLS but often was unable to in the big time spots. Also, he didn't start all four years but did play in all 4.

Higher end SEC squads (BAMA/A&M) all challenged him to make throws on them and he often was unable to meet the challenge. He is a great runner with the football and can make wide open throws against less talented rush/secondaries of the SEC.

He is smart as all hell and that will likely make him a reliable 2nd/3rd stringer for a few years until he decides he can make it happen in the real world. Keep an eye out for this kid, just not as a QB or potentially not on the playing field.


As a Vols fan how much would you attribute that to the O line? Weren't they among the worst in the SEC, so much so that the OL coach and Butch Jones went their separate ways this week? Wouldn't that have an effect on any QB?
RE: Athleticism in a QB is nice, but not the most important thing.  
sjnyfan : 2/9/2017 5:27 pm : link
In comment 13355795 Victor in CT said:
Quote:
in the NFL, the most important thing is: Can you consistently throw the 15 yard out from the pocket with zip on it? If he can't , no go.


I think he can and with a tight spiral.
Will Giants go with athletic style QB to replace Eli?  
Deadass NYG : 2/9/2017 6:01 pm : link
As much as I would love for the Giants to have a semi-athletic quarterback who can scramble out of the pocket to make plays, I don't think it fits the scheme in New York. A big part in drafting a QB in a later round is having them ride the bench and be mentored by the starter, in the Giants' case, Eli Manning. I think if this style of QB were to be under the wing of Eli, he would never be able to reach his full potential as an athlete because Eli doesn't have a similar style of play. This would make the teaching and mentoring process tougher. Not to mention years of him on the bench and not being trained in his running style will end in him losing these abilities.
Tennessee Fan here and  
Koffman : 2/9/2017 6:49 pm : link
I agree with most everything Yup said above. He is very atheletic and smart, He is studying to be a rocket scientist. I have seen him make a few good throws, but for the most part he just has never been very accurate. He makes a lot of plays with his legs and would probably make a decent back-up until he decides to work for NASA. Also seems like a high quality character guy.
RE: Will Giants go with athletic style QB to replace Eli?  
sjnyfan : 2/9/2017 8:25 pm : link
In comment 13355815 Deadass NYG said:
Quote:
As much as I would love for the Giants to have a semi-athletic quarterback who can scramble out of the pocket to make plays, I don't think it fits the scheme in New York. A big part in drafting a QB in a later round is having them ride the bench and be mentored by the starter, in the Giants' case, Eli Manning. I think if this style of QB were to be under the wing of Eli, he would never be able to reach his full potential as an athlete because Eli doesn't have a similar style of play. This would make the teaching and mentoring process tougher. Not to mention years of him on the bench and not being trained in his running style will end in him losing these abilities.


Sorry but don't agree with this at all. Dobbs first went to the Manning Academy when he was in the 8th grade. Plus as you can imagine going to Tennessee, he saw and got a lot of advice from Peyton.

And--trained in his running style?
RE: Tennessee Fan here and  
sjnyfan : 2/9/2017 8:27 pm : link
In comment 13355845 Koffman said:
Quote:
I agree with most everything Yup said above. He is very atheletic and smart, He is studying to be a rocket scientist. I have seen him make a few good throws, but for the most part he just has never been very accurate. He makes a lot of plays with his legs and would probably make a decent back-up until he decides to work for NASA. Also seems like a high quality character guy.


Haha, well if we get a decent backup who eventually works for NASA it'll make a good 30 for 30. Seriously though I think he's underrated.
Yeah. No thanks.  
B in ALB : 2/9/2017 8:41 pm : link
Hardly even camp fodder in the NFL.

CFL backup for this kid. He's not good.
I think Dobbs would benefit from professional coaching  
ktinsc : 2/10/2017 12:09 am : link
as well as watching Eli up close for a few years. He did show improvement throughout his carreer as a Vol. I don't think the coaching staff got all there was to get out of Josh. I would love to see him get a chance to develop in blue. Fourth round would be a good gamble/investment.

He appears to be a great kid. He went to Gatlinburg to visit victims of the fires.
The Giants need to hire Peyton as a QB consultant  
Ivan15 : 2/10/2017 10:06 am : link
So he can suggest who should be Eli's successor.

I bet 80 percent of the pro prospects have attended the Manning Academy.
No  
Bluesbreaker : 2/10/2017 9:41 pm : link
The Next QB we Draft has to be Eli's Successor we wasted
two picks on Nassib and a few other bums .
Not Sure When but it will be soon.
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