[h=1]Marshall isn't NFL QB material[/h][h=3]Dominant at the college level, Auburn QB's skills don't translate to pros\[/h]
By [FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Kevin Weidl[/FONT] | ESPN Insider
Auburn Tigers quarterback Nick Marshall has done a tremendous job of orchestrating head coach Gus Malzahn's up-tempo offensive attack over the past two seasons, including spurring the Tigers' run to the national championship game last season. It has been a perfect marriage between Marshall's skill set and Malzahn's scheme, and one that wouldn't have happened were it not for Marshall being dismissed in February of 2012 for an off-field incident from Georgia, where he played defensive back.
So how is it that Marshall -- who has continued to rip to shreds SEC defenses with his dual passing and running ability this season, and will go up against the LSU Tigers defense on Saturday night (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) -- isn't being mentioned as a possible NFL prospect?
Let's take a look at why he's unlikely to be drafted in the NFL -- at least as a quarterback -- by examining what makes him so dangerous in Malzahn's offense, and the areas in which he falls short of other NFL prospects at the position.
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Marshall's tremendous athleticism and his dual-threat capabilities make him an ideal fit at QB within Auburn's scheme. He brings an element to the Tigers' rushing attack that wouldn't be there with many other quarterbacks behind center. While he doesn't have elite lateral agility, Marshall is a shifty runner who has excellent acceleration to exploit creases, and he also flashes an extra gear to take it the distance when reaching the second level. He is arguably Auburn's most dangerous big-play threat on the ground, along with RBs Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant.
The athleticism and mobility of Marshall can create problems for defenses in the passing game as well. Marshall has the ability to put stress on a defense by evading pressure and extending plays with his feet. In addition, he has shown quality awareness to keep his eyes downfield, to look for the big play when gaining the perimeter.
After watching two coaches-copy tapes from this year, it's clear to me that Marshall has made improvements in a few areas. First, he has a stronger grasp of the offense in his second year in Malzahn's system. He is making quicker decisions both in the rushing attack with zone-read runs and as a passer. In particular, he has shown better awareness for his hot reads and site adjustments to beat the blitz.
Are those improvements enough to capture the attention of NFL scouts? Probably not, and here's why:
Marshall has completed just 55 percent of his throws for his career. Statistics don't always tell the whole story, as there are many variables that can play a factor, such as pass protection and drops by receivers (and Auburn's WRs have had their share of drops this season). However, Marshall far too often either misses the strike zone and/or forces his receivers to adjust to the football on throws that NFL-caliber quarterbacks need to be able to make.
Even more concerning is that Auburn's scheme consistently manufactures simple reads and large throwing windows by utilizing play-action off of their run game. Defenses are consistently loading up the box with seven, eight and sometimes nine defenders in an attempt to stop the run, often leaving a single-high safety or no safeties in the middle of the field. This won't be the case at the next level, where coverages are more complex and throwing windows are tighter and close much quicker.
The NFL has recently infused more spread concepts and has trended toward more mobile and athletic quarterbacks such as Colin Kaepernick, Cam Newton andRussell Wilson. However, one thing that remains tried and true with regard to quarterbacks sustaining success at the NFL level is the ability to function from the pocket as a passer. From an evaluation standpoint, Marshall has a long ways to go in this area, and may never get to the level necessary for the position.
Marshall's best chance as an NFL prospect may come with a position change. This would likely come as a defensive back and/or potentially as a returner on special teams. Scouts will likely be intrigued with his athleticism, speed and experience at his former position while at Georgia, which might be enough for a team to take a flyer on him as a developmental prospect.
None of this is to take away from what Marshall has done at QB for the Tigers, and the LSU defense will have a really tough task Saturday night trying to slow down the Auburn offense. But in terms of his NFL potential, Marshall hasn't yet shown he can measure up at the quarterback position.
By [FONT=Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif]Kevin Weidl[/FONT] | ESPN Insider
Auburn Tigers quarterback Nick Marshall has done a tremendous job of orchestrating head coach Gus Malzahn's up-tempo offensive attack over the past two seasons, including spurring the Tigers' run to the national championship game last season. It has been a perfect marriage between Marshall's skill set and Malzahn's scheme, and one that wouldn't have happened were it not for Marshall being dismissed in February of 2012 for an off-field incident from Georgia, where he played defensive back.
So how is it that Marshall -- who has continued to rip to shreds SEC defenses with his dual passing and running ability this season, and will go up against the LSU Tigers defense on Saturday night (7 p.m. ET, ESPN) -- isn't being mentioned as a possible NFL prospect?
Let's take a look at why he's unlikely to be drafted in the NFL -- at least as a quarterback -- by examining what makes him so dangerous in Malzahn's offense, and the areas in which he falls short of other NFL prospects at the position.
[h=3]Why he's a perfect fit for Auburn[/h]Under Malzahn, the Tigers' offense has been a tough riddle for opposing defenses to solve. What's interesting in studying their tape is that while they have a perception of being a complex offense, they actually run only a handful of core plays. What makes the offense confusing for defenses is how they combine multiple personnel groupings and formations with pre-snap shifts and/or motions; all of it is executed at a lightning-fast pace.<offer></offer>
Marshall's tremendous athleticism and his dual-threat capabilities make him an ideal fit at QB within Auburn's scheme. He brings an element to the Tigers' rushing attack that wouldn't be there with many other quarterbacks behind center. While he doesn't have elite lateral agility, Marshall is a shifty runner who has excellent acceleration to exploit creases, and he also flashes an extra gear to take it the distance when reaching the second level. He is arguably Auburn's most dangerous big-play threat on the ground, along with RBs Cameron Artis-Payne and Corey Grant.
The athleticism and mobility of Marshall can create problems for defenses in the passing game as well. Marshall has the ability to put stress on a defense by evading pressure and extending plays with his feet. In addition, he has shown quality awareness to keep his eyes downfield, to look for the big play when gaining the perimeter.
After watching two coaches-copy tapes from this year, it's clear to me that Marshall has made improvements in a few areas. First, he has a stronger grasp of the offense in his second year in Malzahn's system. He is making quicker decisions both in the rushing attack with zone-read runs and as a passer. In particular, he has shown better awareness for his hot reads and site adjustments to beat the blitz.
Are those improvements enough to capture the attention of NFL scouts? Probably not, and here's why:
[h=3]Why he's an NFL long shot[/h]Based off of his tape, I'm having a hard time seeing Marshall emerge as a legitimate NFL prospect at QB. He does have a quick release and above-average arm strength to make all the necessary throws. He has also shown improvement with his mechanics this year, and is throwing with better balance while also stepping to his targets and transferring his weight with more consistency. At 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, Marshall lacks prototypical size for the position, but that isn't necessarily a huge concern. What worries me about Marshall's game is his lack of natural accuracy, touch and anticipation as a thrower.Marshall has completed just 55 percent of his throws for his career. Statistics don't always tell the whole story, as there are many variables that can play a factor, such as pass protection and drops by receivers (and Auburn's WRs have had their share of drops this season). However, Marshall far too often either misses the strike zone and/or forces his receivers to adjust to the football on throws that NFL-caliber quarterbacks need to be able to make.
Even more concerning is that Auburn's scheme consistently manufactures simple reads and large throwing windows by utilizing play-action off of their run game. Defenses are consistently loading up the box with seven, eight and sometimes nine defenders in an attempt to stop the run, often leaving a single-high safety or no safeties in the middle of the field. This won't be the case at the next level, where coverages are more complex and throwing windows are tighter and close much quicker.
The NFL has recently infused more spread concepts and has trended toward more mobile and athletic quarterbacks such as Colin Kaepernick, Cam Newton andRussell Wilson. However, one thing that remains tried and true with regard to quarterbacks sustaining success at the NFL level is the ability to function from the pocket as a passer. From an evaluation standpoint, Marshall has a long ways to go in this area, and may never get to the level necessary for the position.
Marshall's best chance as an NFL prospect may come with a position change. This would likely come as a defensive back and/or potentially as a returner on special teams. Scouts will likely be intrigued with his athleticism, speed and experience at his former position while at Georgia, which might be enough for a team to take a flyer on him as a developmental prospect.
None of this is to take away from what Marshall has done at QB for the Tigers, and the LSU defense will have a really tough task Saturday night trying to slow down the Auburn offense. But in terms of his NFL potential, Marshall hasn't yet shown he can measure up at the quarterback position.
