Does Skelton Move Up?

[Lehigh Football Nation]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AnpDiyYuXOjj_cNANoabIBs5nYcB?slug=jc-directsnap022210&prov=yhoo&type=lgns


DOES SKELTON MOVE UP?

The quarterbacks in the draft getting the most attention are well known, but all come with some significant question. Oklahoma’s Sam Bradford has the shoulder injury. Likewise, Colt McCoy has to show he has recovered from the dead arm he suffered in the Rose Bowl. Jimmy Clausen has a toe injury, and Tim Tebow has to change his throwing motion.

That means that some guys in the next group could get a long look. Among them is Fordham’s John Skelton, a 6-foot-5, 244-pound guy with a cannon arm and some distant resemblance to Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco(notes).

Aside from arm strength, much of that has to do with the fact that both played in the Patriot League, which is not a major Division I conference.

“Joe kind of paved the way for guys in our league,” Skelton said after a two-hour workout at Brett Fischer Sports Physical Therapy in Phoenix.

xlmaox xlmaox xlmaox xlmaox


Rather than having to overcome the reputation of playing in a small program, Skelton has to overcome what many feel is a bad rap. As Skelton was practicing for the East-West Shrine Game in Orlando last month, ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay had some serious criticism of Skelton’s work habits.

“I have no idea where that came from,” Skelton said. “I didn’t even hear it, but my family did and they were pretty upset.”

Fischer, who trains with the likes of Donovan McNabb(notes), pitcher Kerry Wood and numerous other top athletes, was equally bewildered: “I saw that and I was thinking, ‘Are you kidding me? Are you just trying to fill time?’ “

The criticism also seems odd to NFL personnel men. Three from teams that will be interested in taking quarterbacks said last week that while Skelton’s work ethic isn’t perfect, it’s not poor.

“I’d say mediocre is a good term, but that’s because he wasn’t challenged,” an NFC personnel executive said. “In that environment, there weren’t too many guys on his level. On that team, he was all they really had. They didn’t have anybody to help him.”

Said another NFC personnel man: “The leadership didn’t come naturally to him, but I don’t think he runs from it. I think he needs somebody to point him in the right direction and he’ll be OK. It’ll just be a matter if he can become a player.”

xrolleyesx xrolleyesx xrolleyesx xrolleyesx

I'm not sure if this piece hit every stereotype of FCS people who want to turn pro, but it hits **** close.

[Fordham83]

4) John Skelton/Fordham/6053/243 - Having seen him throw live in person twice, I knew Skelton had a big-time arm. Nothing that I saw during the throwing session changed that. He clearly has the strongest arm of any of the quarterbacks that worked out here, and perhaps any available for this year's draft. Skelton can make any throw and he can make it look easy. In fact, he made some throws that most others couldn't make. But what he needs to improve on is his sense of timing. That's one thing that you normally see with small school quarterbacks--they don't get the ball out quick enough. He also needs to do a better job of putting the ball where only his intended receiver can get it. Big-armed passers here generally overthrow a bit here--that's what happened on more than one occasion with him. Still, this was a strong session for Skelton. The fact that he could get in front of many of the high-ranking decision makers can only help his draft value.


http://min.scout.com/2/950150.html

[smallcollegefbfan]

4) John Skelton/Fordham/6053/243 - Having seen him throw live in person twice, I knew Skelton had a big-time arm. Nothing that I saw during the throwing session changed that. He clearly has the strongest arm of any of the quarterbacks that worked out here, and perhaps any available for this year's draft. Skelton can make any throw and he can make it look easy. In fact, he made some throws that most others couldn't make. But what he needs to improve on is his sense of timing. That's one thing that you normally see with small school quarterbacks--they don't get the ball out quick enough. He also needs to do a better job of putting the ball where only his intended receiver can get it. Big-armed passers here generally overthrow a bit here--that's what happened on more than one occasion with him. Still, this was a strong session for Skelton. The fact that he could get in front of many of the high-ranking decision makers can only help his draft value.


http://min.scout.com/2/950150.html

I think he ends up in the 5th or 6th round based on what I have seen so far. Sad thing is that if you put the skills that Devlin has on Skelton then Skelton would be, at the very least, a second round pick.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

I think he ends up in the 5th or 6th round based on what I have seen so far. Sad thing is that if you put the skills that Devlin has on Skelton then Skelton would be, at the very least, a second round pick.

Someone's going to take a chance, I think, on this kid's arm in the draft - hopefully higher than 5th or 6th, but I think you're right, probably in that range.