2013 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Ryan Nassib, QB, Syracuse

Once he develops chemistry and timing within the offense, Nassib can quickly become a capable NFL starter, with the football IQ, short-area athleticism, footwork, and steady college improvement to develop into a Pro Bowl level passer.

His composure, consistency, and decisiveness throughout his game is what makes him a 1st round talent as a quarterback, and though he's not as either physically gifted or completely polished as Top 10 valued quarterbacks are, he certainly could reach that level in an ideal offensive fit early and time to progress as a passer in the NFL.

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BACKGROUND
A three year starter for Doug Marrone, Nassib was a surprise choice to beat out Cameron Dantley in 2009, but shortly thereafter was benched (and played limitedly throughout the season) for one-year starter transfer Greg Paulus. Since 2010, however, he's started every game for Syracuse, 38 in all. His father played football at the University of Delaware, and his cousin, Joe Nassib, plays on the football team as a cornerback. A finance major, he has been named Big-East All-Academic the last four years. Nassib ranks in the Top 5 in every major Syracuse quarterback record in his time there. Both his head coach (Doug Marrone) and QB coach/offensive coordinator (Nathaniel Hackett) have coached in the NFL on the offensive side of the ball, and both are in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills currently. Considered a consistent, through-action leader by teammate Justin Pugh, Nassib showed confidence and composure this season after dealing with 35+ drops from receivers this year and taking multiple hits, despite sack numbers declining each year as a starter.

ATHLETICISM
Not a "burner" athlete nor one to be relied upon to carry the ball as a rusher, Nassib has shown through his zone-read experience, his mobility in and getting out of the pocket, and the limited run-first snaps he's gotten in his career that he is an above average athlete for a pocket-first passer in college. Balanced to his drops, he stays consistently in athletic position, swinging his hips and adjusting his feet well after his initial drop steps. Showcasing subtle open field moves to make the first defender miss, Nassib controls his upper half well in the open field to adjust to avoid major hits as well as evade for extra yardage as he works upfield to a slide/dive. His situational running ability and nimbleness as a runner flash the ability to run more of a run-oriented offense than he did in college, but his polish in his drops and in rollouts likely puts the best offense to utilize his short-area athleticism to be a west coast offense.

PASSING-ABILITY
Possessing a naturally strong arm, Nassib utilizes his footwork and tight to his body mechanics to generate force through his motion, and drives the ball in the short and mid-range area well. He spins the ball cleanly out of his release on short-intermediate range throws, but mechanical issues lead to inconsistencies when working vertically and on bucket throws outside of the hashes. Not a elite open field athlete, Nassib possess decisive footwork when working outside the pocket, getting adequate depth, staying tight to his arc on rollouts, and able to get upfield as  a runner, including making a defender miss in the open field. His touch working the seam improved this season, showing better velocity control in that area while in the pocket, but his deep balls' said due to mechanical issues, and he still has velocity control issues when forced to move outside the pocket. His ball placement working on shorter routes, especially timing/inward breaking routes, is very impressive, as he recognizes and drives the ball well and places in front of receiver and away from defensive back.

PASSING-TECHNIQUE
One of more polished quarterbacks footwork-wise in recent years after Andrew Luck, Nassib adjusts in the pocket well. Getting to his 5 and 7 step drops with quickness, balanced lower half, and fluidity to adjust. He climbs the pocket very well, smoothly adjusting while keeping eye level upfield. Nassib finishes throws through contact well, but could anticipate rushes working outside-in more effectively. His footwork and balance can be improved on the move slightly, as he does tend to lean forward, causing his upper half to adjust and causing his passes to said. His compact, high release point allows for ample velocity, but can sink low a times through his arm circle. He also needs to improve adjusting his mechanics vertically, as he tends to dip his shoulder and float deep passes outside the hashes. Controlled and decisive steps inside the pocket and when working to the outside, his footwork remained consistent all year, and his been more of a technician in that area than in 2011. His mechanics need to be cleaned up vertically, but he's already NFL-polished in his short-intermediate and timing routes mechanically and with his footwork.

PASSING-INSTINCTS
Working within a Pro-Style read offense, Nassib progressed this year in his pre-snap read and initial eye movement off the snap. Showcasing great timing his drops in his route timing, and showed great decisiveness and ample velocity when progressing intermediate to shorter routes. He seemed to struggle a bit diagnosing blitzes, especially in the A-gap, but that responsibility may not fall him. Still, his vision of the field and ability to progress decisively and with great understanding on timing through two, three reads on a consistent basis was impressive throughout 2012. His decision making, especially after his initial drop, wasn't ideal at all points in the season, but partially were due to too much velocity down the field or being late on 3rd read. Staying poised in the pocket in multiple games despite drops and poor offensive play was noticeable in his work in 2012, and continues to stand tall and remain decisive and aggressive in his reads from the drop back and shotgun sets.

SUMMARY
Decisiveness stems throughout Ryan Nassib's scouting report at almost all levels of his quarterbacking ability. His footwork, where he's developed most over his career, is smooth, allowing him to get to his drops quickly, cleanly, in an athletic position, and allow for ample arm strength from the legs up. His release, though a bit forced over the top, which causes his deep bucket throws to suffer at times, is consistent and allows for ample and on time velocity in short to intermediate routes consistently. As a passer, he progresses well between levels, and is decisive and utilizes his quick, high release point to stick throws on time, in the seam and beyond the hashes within 20 yards. His ball placement is consistent throughout the 5-25 yard range, and has improved his seam throws and level's touch in 2012, forcing defenses to not jump on shorter, rhythmic throws as consistently. While not a great athlete as a runner, his decisive steps in his drops, when working outside the pocket, and situationally as an open field runner are better-than-expected for a pocket-focused college quarterback, and likely could adapt to utilize more mobile pockets, zone read concepts, and more of the like. His velocity downfield and occasionally on the move is still developing, mostly stemming from mechanics that need work, but both are correctable and can likely be eased through his early NFL career. A rhythmic, timing passer in college, his velocity is good enough to be effective on timing routes but not at a level that can make-up for late decisions across the middle. Once he develops chemistry and timing within the offense, Nassib can quickly become a capable NFL starter, with the football IQ, short-area athleticism, footwork, and steady college improvement to develop into a Pro Bowl level passer. His composure, consistency, and decisiveness throughout his game is what makes him a 1st round talent as a quarterback, and though he's not as either physically gifted or completely polished as Top 10 valued quarterbacks are, he certainly could reach that level in an ideal offensive fit early and time to progress as a passer in the NFL.