April 04, 2015 - Greg Gabriel
NFP Prospect Focus: Bryce Petty and Shane Carden
Bryce Petty – Baylor
Petty has been a very productive two-year starter at Baylor. In the last two seasons, he has thrown for over 8,000 yards and 60 touchdowns while throwing only 17 interceptions.
At 6’3 – 230, Petty has good size. His Combine results show what kind of athlete he is. While he ran in the high 4.8’s, which is average for a QB, his change of direction drills and jumps were outstanding. He has quick feet and the ability to extend and make plays with his feet.
He played in a fast paced spread offense and almost never took snaps from under center. The Baylor offense is mostly a quick read, half-field offense and Petty did an excellent job running it. He has fairly good mechanics, a strong arm and a quick release. He can spin the ball well and throws a very catchable pass. He showed very good accuracy and ball placement on the shorter throws, but like many spread QB’s, his accuracy and ball placement fell off on deeper throws.
In the Baylor offense, the QB seldom gets past the second read. When Petty gets to the NFL, he will need to go a three and four receiver progression. This will take time for him to adjust to. Right now, he is a system quarterback, which made him look better than he is. We have seen the problems RGIII has had coming from that offense, and Petty will have some of the same problems.
I like Petty's intangibles. Because of them, I feel he has a strong chance to develop into a quality NFL quarterback. The game is important to him and he wants to be a great player. He is not ready to step in and play and he will need time, patience, and coaching to make the proper adjustments to the NFL game. If he is not forced into action and is given the time to develop, by his third year, he should become a good starter.
Shane Carden – East Carolina
Carden has been a three year starter for East Carolina. He is slightly undersized at just under 6’2 – 218. He is just an average athlete, having run 4.94 and 5.01 at Indy. He has fairly quick feet, and that was verified with his good times in the agility drills. He looks and plays a bit faster than he times.
Carden has had excellent production since he has been a starter. In each of the last two seasons, he threw for well over 4000 yards. He has also thrown 63 touchdown passes in that time.
As for mechanics, he winds up some with his release but still gets the ball out of his hand quickly. His arm strength is slightly above average. While he lacks great zip on the ball, he does spin it nicely.
He is a smart player with top instincts and is a good decision maker. He seldom forces throws and shows good accuracy and ball placement skills. His leadership on the field is evident, and he is said to be a top worker and leader off the field.
Overall, I see Carden as a very good college player who lacks the top traits needed to be a starter at the NFL level. He is smart, instinctive, and a leader. He just lacks the necessary physical traits. He can become a very good backup who will win some games if needed. If he becomes a starter, he will be a guy you are looking to replace. He is a good third day selection.
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