NFL Draft News and Notes: Just How Good is Ryan Tannehill

Matthew Waldman of the Rookie Scouting Porftolio breaks down Texas A and M Quarterback Ryan Tannehill in a series he titles “managing the pocket” This is part one and part two.

I believe there’s a subtle, but important difference between playing out of control and knowing how to play when the situation is chaotic. Scrambling quarterbacks might be the easy target of critics, but I actually think there are just as many pocket passers that cannot manage chaos well enough to achieve the highest level of success in the NFL. It has less to do with having the gift of great athleticism as a ball carrier than people think.

When I study college quarterbacks I place a lot of value on decision-making and pocket presence. First and foremost, a quarterback is a manager. There are two broad extremes of managers in this world: micro-managing, task-oriented administrators that do a great job of what is demanded of them in a predictable environment and creative, visionary leaders with the skills to produce under pressure and stay ahead of an ever-changing landscape. The best quarterbacks, like the best managers in any organization, learn to draw from both sides without going to extremes.

National Football Post’s Wes Bunting takes a look at some Late round sleeper types

Here’s just one example:

ILB Shawn Loiseau: Merrimack (6-0, 241)
Displays an explosive element to his game vs. the run game. Has the first step to close vs. the pass, is stiff when trying to turn and run, but has the speed to track the football. Should be able to fight his way onto special teams as a rookie.

Stanford Cardinal WR Chris Owsusu has been cleared by at least one N.F.L. doctor to play football.

According to at least one doctor within the NFL’s Head, Neck and Spine Committee, Stanford wide receiver Chris Owusu is “perfectly normal” and able to “play football now.”

Prior to every NFL team’s doctors checking out Owusu, the assertion that the former Cardinal receiver is fine has to be taken with a grain of salt. For one, Owusu has had three concussions over the past two seasons, the last of which of which ended his 2011 season on November 5. The concussion (suffered against Oregon State) kept Owusu out of several big games, including Stanford’s January 2 Fiesta Bowl matchup against Oklahoma State.

have also been in contact with Caric regarding Owusu’s recovery from the concussions. Not surprisingly, Caric is confident that his client is going to turn heads in Indianapolis.

Via email, Caric explained that: “There is a lot of false information and perception out there on [Owusu’s] health.  We have already begun correcting that, and it will be reinforced when every team examines him at the Combine and he proves to be 100% healthy up close.”

This is good news for Owusu a  player who has suffered from multiple concussions in his career, but a guy who is a terrific athlete with pretty good size and a good deal of upside.

Here’s a look at some 2012 NFL draft misconceptions:

There’s a zero percent chance that St. Louis would select Griffin with the second overall pick. The Rams have already made a sizable financial commitment to Sam Bradford and they can’t afford to have that much money wrapped up in two quarterbacks. What hurts the Rams even more is that Minnesota owns the third-overall pick and they are committed to 2011 first-round pick Christian Ponder. If the Rams ask for too much compensation for their second-overall pick, teams can simply call up Vikings general manager Rick Spielman and negotiate for a more fair price to get their guy.

Charlie Bernstein also like myself believes that Blackmon is not a top five pick, be sure to check it out.