LSU 2014 NFL Draft Profiles: Zach Mettenberger

Zach Mettenberger

Position: Quarterback
Combine Height/Weight: 6-5, 224 pounds
LSU Listed Height/Weight: 6-5, 235
Hand Size: 9 3/4 inches
Arm Length: 32 3/8 inches
40-Yard Dash Time: DNP
Bench-Press Reps (of 225 pounds): DNP
Vertical Jump: DNP
Short/Long Shuttle: DNP
3-Cone Drill: DNP
Broad Jump: DNP

Strengths

Tall, well-built, prototypical pocket passer...has a strong arm that can really power the ball outside of the hashes and allows him to throw from multiple platforms...tremendous sense of anticipation and timing on throws and an ability to look off a safety before delivering a ball with good placement in coverage...good judgment and decision making, rarely seemed confused by defensive coverage and reacts quickly to safety reads...one tough son of a bitch, that will stare down a pass rush to unload the ball...doesn't panic in the pocket and rush a pass that could create a turnover...really blossomed under Cam Cameron's tutelage and developed a professional work ethic.

Weaknesses

Can be rather awkward and gangly with the football and on the move...Mettenberger's arm deals with pressure well, but his footwork can become inconsistent...never going to be confused for mobile, although he improved throwing on the run as a senior...for all his development as a senior, he showed a strong tendency to lock on his top-two targets and press for the big play, when a check-down or third option might be open -- could also lead to taking a lot of sacks in the NFL...ended his season with a torn ACL, rehabilitation will have to be monitored.

Verdict

Mettenberger has to be an intriguing because he's very much the NFL prototype. Plus, despite five years of college, you could easily argue that his best football is ahead of him. He's a big-armed kid that bounced from Georgia to junior college to LSU, and before that, he was something of a late-bloomer out of high school. So he's very much still growing into his body and talents. He adopted to pro-style coaching incredibly well under Cameron, and showed an impressive mastery of LSU's offense last season. That said, there are still some rough edges to his game in need of smoothing out, and when you factor in the knee injury, he's probably better off as a developmental prospect given time to grow instead of thrown out on the field. It's hard to believe he'll get out of the top three rounds, and if there's a run on quarterbacks he might even sneak into the back of the first round, though I doubt it.