As the draft gets closer, it is becoming more and more likely that the Texans will forsake the quarterback position with the first overall pick and draft the best player on their board. The Texans, though, will certainly look to pick up a possible franchise QB in this draft, and if they're not going to do it in the first round, Jimmy Garoppolo might be their guy. Garoppolo, in many ways, is very similar to Teddy Bridgewater. His accuracy on short-to-intermediate routes is stellar, he moves well in the pocket and he has been lauded for his intelligence. His touch is excellent and he's great at leading his receivers. He's also extremely tough and is more than willing to take a big hit in order to get the ball off. Most noticeable about Garoppolo, though, is his exceptionally quick release. The ball literally flies out of his arm, and his release is certainly more efficient than both Bridgewater's and Bortles'. The main knocks on Garoppolo are that he struggles with accuracy on deep throws and played in a very weak conference. His lack of real competition is definitely worrisome, but if the Texans were to draft him, they would not be forced to start him right away. He could likely sit the bench for an entire season (if O'Brien deems that to be appropriate) and become comfortable with the game at its highest level. There isn't much full game tape of him available on YouTube, but his performance at the Shrine Game was pretty impressive. He comes in at the 6:05 mark. <iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/8bW04zeLsJA?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Also, here is NFL.com's analysis of him. Spoiler STRENGTHS: Has a very quick trigger and good wrist snap that translates to a smooth throwing motion and clean, compact delivery (no windup). Lightning release quickness. Urgent decision maker. Sells play-action. Athletic enough to slide in the pocket and buy time with his feet while keeping his eyes downfield. Good anticipation -- throws his receivers open. Can change ball speeds and drop it in a bucket. Does not take unnecessary sacks and will dump the ball. Will deliver the ball looking down the barrell of a gun. Tough-minded and poised in the pocket -- can withstand a hit and pop back up. Highly competitive. Smart, respected, vocal team leader. Very durable, experienced, four-year starter. Good football intelligence. WEAKNESSES: Is a tad undersized with small hands and short arms. Uses a three-quarters delivery that could lead to batted balls. Works heavily out of the shotgun in a spread offense and footwork could require adjustment to working from under center. Does not always feel pressure in the pocket. Does not rip the deep out or drive the ball with high RPMs. Undershoots and often hangs the deep ball. Makes receivers work for the ball downfield and deep accuracy could stand to improve. Makes a lot of simple, one-look reads and was not heavily challenged by consistent pressure or complex looks in the Ohio Valley Conference. BOTTOM LINE: A decorated, FCS passer, Garoppolo could excite quarterback coaches with his quick delivery, mental make-up and work habits, yet he still needs to prove he can fit the ball into tight windows and do more than carve up soft shells the way he regularly did on his way to a record-breaking performance in college. Possesses the physical tools to eventually earn an NFL starting job in a rhythm passing game with continued refinement, but is more of a caretaker than a game changer and will require some patience adapting to the NFL game.
Let's be honest. Whoever winds up commenting on him in this thread hasn't seen him play or even heard of him until 2 months ago.
Really? I started hearing about him about 6 months ago or so but knew him as "That kid out of Eastern Illinois". There was tons of talk about him....but I didn't really learn his name or look into him more until about 3 or 4 months ago.
Well I knew about Jimmy because Dino Babers took over as his head coach I like Jimmy. Always have but in this draft with so many high calibre none QB postions that will be available I don't think O'Brien will spend a 2nd round pick on a QB especially when he's saying things like there isn't much separation between the group.
He also has a small frame and tiny hands like Bridgewater (only he's capable of throwing without gloves). Jimmy G is a project QB, just like every other QB in this class.
9 1/4 inch hands aren't particularly small Kaepernick has 9 inch hands, Tannehill's hands are smaller
Yeah they really are....9 inches is seen as the absolute bare minimum, and Teddy B has shown even with slightly over 9 inch hands he can't properly grip a football without gloves.
I'm not sure what you are trying to say really, you just listed 3 QB's well known to have large hands so....
Sometimes they use them, sure...but none of them HAVE to use gloves because they have small hands. Peyton might have to use them now because of the nerve damage, but for the bulk of his career that wasn't the case. In fact, when it comes to Rivers, he doesn't usually wear a glove on his throwing hand even when he has one on. The same is true for Ben As to Manning, the bulk of his career, he went without them
Didn't someone post a article (with videos) about him a couple of weeks ago showing him having a bad case of Schaub-itis, where he anticipates pressure (even when there is none) and goes into the standing fetal position? EDIT: Here it is. http://mattwaldmanrsp.com/2014/03/05/qb-jimmy-garoppolo-knockout/
bridgewater has the same handsize as aaron rodgers, a guy you claimed had huge hands. he obviously has no problem gripping a football, if you cant grip a football properly you couldnt make any of the throws he made at his pro day.. he already said he wears the gloves in kentucky because the cold weather "made the ball feel like a brick." he never wore gloves in miami.. then you look at a guy like bortles whose hands are only an 1/8th of an inch bigger than bridgewaters.. if the gloves improve velocity with a firmer grip than so be it, you guys keep wanting to make an issue out of it when the kid has tons of video of him throwing a ball around with and without gloves, in cold and rainy weather... here is bridgewater "not being able to grip a football." <iframe src="//www.youtube.com/embed/53UMp-cKzEU" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560"></iframe>
