Cleveland Browns

Cleveland Browns: Week 6 college QB tracker

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 3:36 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Taking a look at the quarterbacks the Cleveland Browns could target in the 2017 NFL Draft. This week’s QB in focus is Miami’s Brad Kaaya.

Cody Kessler has put together two solid starts for the Cleveland Browns in the past two weeks of play. The rookie quarterback has showcased his football IQ and his pinpoint accuracy, which he was praised for pre-draft.

Reports out of Berea indicate that Kessler is always the first guy in the building and the last to leave. This is a true sign Kessler understands what it takes to be an NFL quarterback. This is much different from a previous Browns quarterback I won’t name.

Kessler has been impressive with his knowledge of the Browns offense and decision making. I believe Kessler has shown enough in his first two starts where the Browns should allow him to start the remainder of the season to continue to evaluate him and let him develop as a quarterback.

Despite the strong impression Kessler has made thus far, he lacks elite physical tools to make the organization think he can be the long-term answer at the position. However, I do believe Kessler has a promising role on this team and in the quarterback room. That is why this weekly feature was started to track and analyze the play of top quarterbacks in the country, to become familiar with perhaps the new face of the franchise come April 2017. This week will feature a scouting report on Miami Hurricanes quarterback Brad Kaaya.

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Height: 6-foot-4; Weight: 209 pounds; Age: 21; Class: Junior 

Brad Kaaya has been the Miami Hurricanes’ starting quarterback since his freshman year. In 2014, he won the starting job in training camp as a true freshman and hasn’t looked back. Kaaya went on to win the ACC Freshman of the Year award, leading the conference in touchdown passes and passing efficiency.

This season he has led Miami to a 4-0 start, throwing for 935 yards, eight touchdowns and three interceptions. Kaaya is already on the top of the list for many scouts, but with a productive season he will receive more national attention. A huge positive is that Kaaya has already started 29 games for the Hurricanes with much of this season still to play. There is a lot of game tape on Kaaya and scouts will be able to dissect his progress from season to season.

Strengths: First off the biggest thing I liked about Kaaya was his experience. Too many quarterbacks enter the draft with just a handful of college starts and don’t have the game experience to make a successful transition to the NFL. Hall of Fame head coach Bill Parcells had four criteria requirements a college quarterback must meet in order to draft them. One of them being, “He must be a three-year starter, because you want to make sure his success wasn’t a fluke and to know that he has been “the guy” for a significant period of time.”

Kaaya checks this requirement off as he has been the unquestioned leader for the Hurricanes and has played at a high level. The junior quarterback runs a spread attack offense at Miami and operates with many quick decisions. Kaaya  throws quickly and accurately and is best working from a quick three-step rhythm. He has above average arm talent, being able to make throws to all levels of the field.

Needs to Improve: When Kaaya is pressured, his smooth release and good accuracy goes by the way side. He struggles with his accuracy when being blitzed and doesn’t follow through on his throws. Kaaya also needs improve on his deep ball accuracy, as many throws get away from him. One of his biggest flaws was his footwork. However, under new head coach Mark Richt, his footwork has seen improvement.

Early Player Comparison: Teddy Bridgewater, Minnesota Vikings 

Kaaya compares similarly to Bridgewater in the fact they have similar body frames. Like Bridgewater, Kaaya is tall and skinny and would benefit from gaining muscle and weight for a more physical NFL game. Kaaya, also excels when making quick decisions and doing the majority of his work from the pocket much like Bridgewater. They both have solid arms to make all the throws required but won’t “wow” you with their arm talent.

It has been reported that there are numerous NFL teams that have higher draft grades on Kaaya than Clemson’s Deshaun Watson. Teams believe he is more pro ready.

Film: This clip from last season 2015 against Virginia Tech showcases his strengths. Kaaya is best when he’s working in rhythm on a quick three-step drop. He has a quick delivery and is decisive throwing the ball. He makes a strong accurate throw into a tight spot where his receiver can make a play in the end zone.

We now continue our look at the other prospects the Browns should keep an eye on.

Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports

Deshone Kizer, Notre Dame

Kizer and the Fighting Irish got back on track this past week with a big win over Syracuse. Kizer had a huge performance, throwing for 471 yards and three touchdowns. He showcased his arm strength and natural passing ability in the much needed win for Notre Dame.

Scouts covet Kizer’s physical frame and natural passing ability. Despite not having the starting experience some would want, Kizer has impressed each week. With his skill set, it would be expected he is one of the first quarterbacks selected next April if he declares for the draft.

This week, Bleacher Report’s lead draft writer Matt Miller slated Kizer going first overall in his latest mock draft to no other than your Cleveland Browns. Miller had high praise for the redshirt sophomore in his mock draft:

Joshua S. Kelly-USA TODAY Sports

Deshaun Watson, Clemson

In one of the biggest games on the schedule this season, Watson delivered leading Clemson over Louisville in a battle of No. 3 vs No. 5. Watson threw for 301 yards and five touchdowns, but had three interceptions. However, when Clemson trailed late in the game, Watson was clutch and led the offense to multiple late scoring drives. Watson has all the physical tools that make up a successful NFL quarterback.

The most frustrating aspect of Watson is that he is inconsistent, having good and bad stretches. This was seen Saturday when throwing three interceptions and throwing inaccurately on numerous passes. But when the game was on the line, the junior quarterback raised his game and shined to lead the Tigers to a huge home win over Heisman front-runner Lamar Jackson and Louisville.

Next: Next week's featured QB

Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Mitch Trubisky, North Carolina 

Next week the film study will be centered around North Carolina quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Trubisky is a native of Northeast Ohio, attending Mentor High School. As a high school senior in 2012, he won Mr. Football honors, given to the best high school player in the state of Ohio.

Trubisky, a redshirt junior, is in his first season of being the starting quarterback for the Tarheels. Through the first five games this season, Trubisky has began to generate national buzz as he has led the Tarheels to a 4-1 record, throwing for 1711 yards, 13 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. The hometown kid has put his name on the top of scouts’ list with his strong play and has emerged as a contender in the Heisman race. The only question becomes if he can keep up the terrific start to his starting quarterback acumen.

We will analyze Trubisky much more in next week’s college QB tracker. For now, here are some highlights of the former Mentor quarterback.

It may be too early to begin the speculation, but it would be nice to have another homegrown talent lead the Browns back to greatness.

More from Dawg Pound Daily

This article originally appeared on

share

Get more from Cleveland Browns Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

Cleveland Browns

National Football League