Josh Dobbs-Breakdown

[Shawn]

So, I wanted to breakdown some game film from the Tennessee/Nebraska game. I seen some things of concern and I also seen some things that give me hope for this pick.

Pros from this game:

I believe Dobbs has an above average arm with solid pre-snap read skills. He is able to make all the throws but doesn't possess a natural whip. With that said, he is able to deliver with enough velocity to thread some needles. From this game, some of the criticism about his accuracy is a bit overblown. Yes, during this game he had a propensity to high ball WRs but he also hit several with pinpoint accuracy. His athleticism is above average and shows terrific ability to sense the pocket and escape danger. I didn't see him throw a single ball all game he shouldn't have thrown. He showed solid decision making. I really like his quick release.

Negatives:

Dobbs doesn't have elite arm strength and some of his passes just hang and drift. He isn't consistently delivering tight spirals into the numbers. He was not going through progressions at all through the game. He looked at primary receiver, if covered looked to dump to the RB, if covered he ran. He consistently did this same thing nearly every play. Unfortunately, there are a many college QBs who never became starters because of their inability to progress through reads. His footwork is suspect at best. He doesn't appear to come off his pre-snap reads. He knows where he is going before the snap rather than reacting to the play as it unfolds. It makes me question his ability to react to changing situations and Ds who will try to confuse him pre-snap at the next level.

Overall: I counted 5 drops, one of them was a deep ball for a TD. Dobbs was not helped by the talent around him. But, Dobbs is a classic one read and run QB. He doesn't possess any elite trait or any eye popping athleticism. My understanding is that he is intelligent and a quick learner...eager to be coached. IF he can learn to resist running and progress through reads he has a chance to be a serviceable starter in the NFL.

Comparison: A slightly better passing version of Terrell Pryor.

[williar]

I don't understand all of the negativity surrounding the J. Dobbs pick. Granted - I never get excited about drafting the "non-sexy" picks either such as; OL, long snappers, punters, backup QB's, kickers, etc... but in the scheme of things, you need them eventually. Newsflash- Ben is not going to play forever! And with him starting this retirement talk, going full-on drama-queen-mode. I might prefer him go sooner than later!

All I am saying is, can we give a guy a chance whose name is not, Roethlisberger? No. I am not a professional talent scout and no one this board had identified himself as one, either. What I see from the Dobbs highlights is he looks to have considerable developmental talent and has a better resume than Mitchell Tribisky who went number 2.
Honestly - did you (Shawn) think Dak Prescott would have had the success he has had from your evaluations?

[SteelCrazy]

I think he Kordell Stewart's love child.... Plays exactly the same.

[Cinnjerm3000]

Liked most of what I saw in this video. To my estimation, he only made two throws I would consider questionable and he showed an ability to push the ball down the field. I like his pocket presence as well as his vision when he runs (though I hope he'll have fewer designed run plays when he plays for us). I think his talents will suit us nicely in the red zone.

[Chucktownsteeler]

Arguably I didn't watch the entire clip, but is he a 100% shotgun QB? Can he/ has he operated under center?

[SteelCrazy]

Arguably I didn't watch the entire clip, but is he a 100% shotgun QB? Can he/ has he operated under center?

Apparent he has the iq of a Martian and is extremely athletic, so I'd hope so

[Steel Maniac]

He's smart and the position is played 80% above the neck. With good physical tools too. Let's put him on a wait and see status.

[SidSmythe]

All I can say is if the Steelers fix the mechanics and give him the opportunity they gave Jones he should be a good QB.

Lets hope Ben plays at least 2 (preferably 3 or 4) more years giving the Steelers ample time to develop him (or at least know what they have before betting the future on him).

[BradshawsHairdresser]

I think he Kordell Stewart's love child.... Plays exactly the same.

Hopefully, he's better at improving his game than Kordell was.

[SteelCrazy]

Hopefully, he's better at improving his game than Kordell was.

I was thinking the same thing....Kordell wasn't stupid, but not an overachiever either... Josh could become something special if he can grasp progressions and outlets...

[Shawn]

I don't understand all of the negativity surrounding the J. Dobbs pick. Granted - I never get excited about drafting the "non-sexy" picks either such as; OL, long snappers, punters, backup QB's, kickers, etc... but in the scheme of things, you need them eventually. Newsflash- Ben is not going to play forever! And with him starting this retirement talk, going full-on drama-queen-mode. I might prefer him go sooner than later!

All I am saying is, can we give a guy a chance whose name is not, Roethlisberger? No. I am not a professional talent scout and no one this board had identified himself as one, either. What I see from the Dobbs highlights is he looks to have considerable developmental talent and has a better resume than Mitchell Tribisky who went number 2.
Honestly - did you (Shawn) think Dak Prescott would have had the success he has had from your evaluations?

did you take my honest break down of this game as negativity? As you know I was advocating for a QB. I don't claim to be a professional scout nor am I stellar at picking QBs. With that said, I think my assessment is accurate. I liked some things and disliked some things. I watched Pryor in HS and every game in college. They are similar QBs but Pryor was more of a physical specimen. Pryor is bigger and faster. But what gives me hope is that Dobbs throws a nicer ball, he does show some touch. He is also said to be very sharp and a willing student. As he sits right now Pryor is a solid comparison but that isn't his ceiling. With good coaching, I believe he can be a serviceable starter in the NFL. I don't see superstar but anything can happen.

As for Prescott I didn't evaluate him so I had no opinion on him. But I will say that many a scout missed on him.

[Shawn]

I was thinking the same thing....Kordell wasn't stupid, but not an overachiever either... Josh could become something special if he can grasp progressions and outlets...

that's the big key. Can he learn to sit in the pocket and progress through his reads. If he can, he certainly has some tools to work with. Nothing jumps off the page but he is above average in the main traits you look for in a QB.

[Steel Maniac]

He's an engineering major so he has the intelligence to grasp reading defenses. And he has a good arm to make all the throws. So the sky is the limit. What's not to like?

[Shawn]

He's an engineering major so he has the intelligence to grasp reading defenses. And he has a good arm to make all the throws. So the sky is the limit. What's not to like?

I think there is some things not to like such as an inability to get past his primary WR. I mean I would love to homerize this but the guy has some work to do.

[Iron City Inc.]

I'll start out with qb for me is the hardest position to evaluate. Dobbs has some issues with his footwork. When he checks to flairs or fans in the video he can get away with just flicking it out there. However if the hot read on a blitz is the Y in the seam well there lies your issues. You need a cannon to throw that off balance and like Shawn has stated his arm is good but not great. That is coaching n reps and can be improved and will need to be improved because some of the accuracy or lack of accuracy is tied to lower body on Dobbs. He to me has good vision and in his read and desire to get the ball out quick he lacks some mechanics like getting his shoulders around to help him drive the ball better but that is coaching and correctable. He shows his ability to feel the rush while still looking down field and that is a necessary skill that to me is difficult to coach so you better have it and Dobbs does.
Improved footwork will lead to more accurate passes and that means more yack yards and that will be stressed by the coaching staff. Since I've never been a big Landry Jones fan I'm hoping Dobbs progresses and I'll keep a close eye on him at Latrobe.