Pro Football Draft Network | 2012 Pro Football Draft Analysis

PFDN evaluates the performance of the more promising senior and eligible underclassmen prospects for the next draft:

QB Robert Griffin III, Baylor, Redshirt Junior: Griffin had a Heisman Trophy worthy performance against the Sooners. He completed 21 passes in 34 attempts (62%) for 479 yards (14.1 yards per attempt) with 4 touchdowns and no turnovers.  He also ran for 72 yards on 18 carries (4.0 per).  Griffin’s 34-yard touchdown pass with 8 seconds left in the game gave the Bears their first-ever win over the Sooners.  Griffin used his legs and arm to march his team right down the field on the decisive drive.

It remains to be seen whether the redshirt junior will declare for the 2012 NFL Draft.  If he does then he put on quite a performance against Oklahoma to convince NFL evaluators that he has a bright future in pro football.  No one doubts Griffin’s athletic ability, but he has taken his quarterback skills to another level this season.  Oklahoma’s defense hit the Baylor quarterback hard and often at the beginning of the game.  Griffin stood firm in the pocket and did not flinch.   He displayed a strong right arm to zip passes to the outside and get the ball downfield.  Griffin operates out of the spread, but possesses the arm strength and touch to hurt defenses with downfield throws. 

He made smart decisions all game.  Griffin did not force the ball to his favorite target (Kendall Wright) and picked his spots when to run.  He clearly has learned that he can do more damage with his arm than his legs.  His best throw of the game occurred in the 3^rd quarter.  He effortlessly rifled a downfield throw into a tight window where only his receiver could catch the pass.  The play would have gone for a long touchdown, but his receiver could not maintain control of the pass and dropped it.  Griffin executed play-fakes well and threw only a couple of poor passes.  His throwing motion is slightly sidearm and is not a classic delivery.  However, he can get rid of the ball quickly and beat the blitz.  Robert Griffin looked like Randall Cunningham at his best against Oklahoma.  He is an exciting quarterback prospect who can make the big play.   

WR Kendall Wright, Baylor, Senior: Wright had another big game with 8 receptions for 208 yards (26.0 per) and 1 touchdown.  Wright’s skill-set was on full display when he caught a slant pass in the 2^nd quarter and turned it into a 55-yard big play.  His quickness, speed, balance, vision and surprising strength were impressive on this play.  Wright broke the tackle of Oklahoma defensive end, Ronnell Lewis, and ran with determination after catching the pass.  Wright is explosive coming out of his breaks and has a well-developed lower body.  This is a receiver who is not shy about going over the middle.  Some will call his 87-yard touchdown catch off of a deflected pass as just lucky.  However, it was also a very alert play on his part and a credit to his non-stop hustle.  Wright caught the ball well (low and high throws) and knows where the first down marker is.  He even broke up a potential interception by quickly reacting like a defensive back and swatting at the ball.

QB Landry Jones, Oklahoma, Redshirt Junior: Robert Griffin upstaged Landry Jones who nevertheless carved-up Baylor’s porous defense.  Jones completed 36 passes in 51 attempts (71%) for 447 yards (8.8 yards per attempt) with 1 interception.  Jones frequently had a clean pocket to survey the field.  His best throw came early in the 3^rd quarter when he hit his tight end with a perfect seam pass for a 54-yard touchdown.  Jones fit the ball into tight spots to complete a pass on a couple of occasions. 

The Sooners had a lot of success running the ball near the goal line with Blake Bell replacing Jones at quarterback.  Jones threw a bad interception in the 4^th quarter.  The intermediate pass was thrown to a well-covered receiver and to the wrong spot for an easy interception.  The Oklahoma quarterback was not pressured on the play.  Jones did lead his team down the field to tie the game at 38 late in the 4^th quarter.  It would have been nice to see if Jones could have delivered the tying touchdown late, but Bell was brought in and easily ran the ball for the tying score.  Landry Jones has the size and arm that teams seek in a quarterback.  However, he does not improvise well and he will make some costly mistakes.  Baylor’s defense is really soft and it was no surprise that Jones threw for a lot of yards.  Landry Jones will be a high 1^st round pick should he enter the 2012 NFL Draft, but the jury is out that he is a franchise quarterback.

LB Travis Lewis, Oklahoma, Senior: The swift outside linebacker had a decent game with 6 tackles.  He overran and missed a couple of tackles, but was fairly active.  Lewis can be effective in pass coverage.  He might have had an interception, but Kendall Wright did a good job of preventing the pick.  He also made a sure tackle of Wright in coverage to prevent a 1^st down.  Lewis did not make any big plays, but the Sooners’ secondary was the biggest problem.

DE Frank Alexander, Oklahoma, Senior: Alexander had a strong game with 5 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack.  He started the game like a house of fire and led the early assault on RG3.  Alexander plays hard and chases well.  He used his hands well to disengage, but lacks explosive power and speed for the next level.  PFDN does not consider Alexander to be a top prospect.  His size (6’ 3” and 255 lbs) and speed (4.81 Forty) do not stand out.  He is having a fine season and played well against Baylor.  He does not look like enough of a natural athlete to be converted into an outside linebacker.

DE Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma, Junior: The talented underclassman sprained a knee in the 2^nd quarter trying to tackle Kendall Wright.  Lewis had 1 tackle and half a tackle for loss prior to departing.  His sprained MCL may be healed in time for a bowl game.