Ryan Lindley NFL Draft prospect notes

by Dan Kadar on Jun 5, 2011 2:00 PM EDT in 2012 NFL Draft

Ryan Lindley
6'4, 215 pounds | Quarterback | San Diego State

First word: Lindley considered entering the 2011 NFL Draft following his junior season but wisely chose to return to San Diego State. He should help his draft standing as the Aztecs move to a pro-style offense. Lindley has been the beneficiary of having a good wide receiving corps with Damarco Sampson and Vincent Brown. With both off the NFL, the 2011 season will be a showing one for Lindley. He's improved every season in college and needs to do so again in 2011.

Bold statement: Lindley's NFL Draft standing is solely dependent on how he plays this season.

Games viewed: (All 2010) Missouri, TCU, Utah, Navy

Ryan Lindley
6'4, 215 pounds | Quarterback | San Diego State

Notes:

• May have questionable arm strength. Really struggles at times working the ball near the sidelines.

• Doesn't always get good placement when he has to zip the ball into a tight window. Is much better when receivers have a cushion and he can float the ball in.

• Because of the previous two notes, Lindley has developed accuracy issues. In his best season last year, he completed only 57.7 percent of his passes. He's also thrown a combined 39 interceptions in three seasons, compared to 67 touchdowns.

• Will be a four-year starter at San Diego State. There, he played in a spread system his first three years, but the team is moving to a pro-style offense in 2011.

• Excels at hitting his receivers in stride when they're working the middle parts of the field.

• Gets away from under center and into his set with good pace. Needs to plant his feet better so he doesn't nuder throw as many passes.

• Throws with a nice, compact motion that shouldn't need refinement.

• Has good size and length for a quarterback, but will need to add some strength to his frame.

• Does better than most college quarterbacks at reading defenses.

• Although he's not a running quarterback by any means, Lindley has good enough agility and athleticism to move around in the pocket on play action and called roll outs.

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Comments

I'm more interested in Ronnie Hillman, RB from San Diego State

He has been a beast and if he keeps it up he’s going to be an early round prospect

by Scott Bundren on Jun 5, 2011 2:43 PM EDT reply actions

Hillman is a great player

however he needs to bulk up significantly to be an early round prospect.

by Grey Suit on Jun 9, 2011 11:47 AM EDT up reply actions

Lindley

I’ve watched very little tape on Lindley, but from what I’ve seen I can agree on your notes, and especially your bold statement.

Moving into the pro-style with a guy like Sampson will really improve Lindley’s draft stock, but only if he can add velocity to his throws, which in turn will help him become more accurate a long in the sidelines, and limit his interceptions.

by Matthew Gaul on Jun 5, 2011 3:01 PM EDT reply actions

I am not very high on Lindley

I don’t think he has nearly enough arm strength to start in the NFL but if he can improve that he still would not be that good. When you have accuracy and arm strength issues it is a huge problem. However, I do think both of the problems can be fixed with good coaching. Right now he is a 3rd round prospect IMO.

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by seton hall and steelers on Jun 5, 2011 4:09 PM EDT reply actions

I can't put too much stock into this analysis

Considering I don’t think SDSU has EVER run a spread offense and definitely anytime in the last decade.

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by Sam (sdsuaztec4) on Jun 5, 2011 6:23 PM EDT reply actions

I’d say given how many multiple wide receiver, shotgun, slant routes they use, it’s a spread. I know they run a lot more plays from under center than traditional spread offenses, and they might not even call it that, but it’s a spread principle.

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by Dan Kadar on Jun 5, 2011 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions

It's the same basic offense as the Chargers

Is that a spread offense now too? LOL.

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by Wonko on Jun 5, 2011 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes, it sort of is. The coaches or media don’t have to say its a spread for it to be a spread. I’m not sure what’s funny about that, though.

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by Dan Kadar on Jun 5, 2011 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions

You realize that the Aztecs spent probably 50-60% of their offensive snaps in a two back set with one TE and two receivers right?

and that they ran the ball (439 carries) more than they passed the ball (426 attempts) last season right?

Also Long hired Ludwig because he is going to implement the same offense that the team has ran over the past 2 season.

by Grey Suit on Jun 9, 2011 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions

yes all things that include more than two receivers on the field at any time is not considered the spread!

by Grey Suit on Jun 9, 2011 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions

Well they did run it a bit under the coach that shall not be named...

by Grey Suit on Jun 9, 2011 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions

I keep thinking of Andy Dalton when i watch Lindley, is that accurate?

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by 4QB on Jun 6, 2011 1:25 AM EDT reply actions

Dan, do some research please.

This is one of the most poorly written assessments on Ryan Lindley I’ve ever read. “Now that he’s in a pro-style offense?” LOL Are you kidding me? You lost all credibility with that one. He’s been in one since his sophomore season. A simple Google search could’ve led you to Al Borges his previous OC the last two years. What offense does Borges run?

Also a lack of arm strength? Really? He has one of the strongest arms in the nation. Another simple google search on what scouts saw or actually watching those games would help. His deep ball is arguable the best in the nation. The main reason why he’s so high on NFL scouts’s lists is because of that arm strength.

Lindley’s issues have to do with his mid and short ball accuracy. His footwork is not NFL ready yet, and it shows with his accuracy. His comp % stats will always be down compared to spread QBs because he doesn’t have the benefit of inflated QB stats spread QBs have. Another issue is mental meltdowns. Something else you missed. He used to have a ton of those in the past. He had two vs. Missouri and Utah last year.

by Aztecstoner on Jun 7, 2011 4:42 PM EDT reply actions

Few things, mostly building on what Aztecstoner said

1. Lindley never considered leaving after his junior year, he was asked about it in the Poinsettia Bowl press conference and was pretty much shocked by the question like he had never even considered it.

2. Lindley is known for his strong arm, his accuracy issues come on short to mid range passes because he has not yet developed any touch on his passes everything is a 100 mph rocket.

3 Lindley is known for being one of the few college QB’s that is able to throw 10 yard outs to the opposite sideline, it’s probably one of his best throws.

4. When Hoke took over, Lindley’s Sophomore year, he brought in Al Bogres as the OC who ran a pro-style offense.

5. Lindley does have a bit of accuracy issues but his lower completion % also has to do with the style of offense the Aztecs ran over the last two seasons. They take a lot of shots down the field and went after the lower percentage type throws since Lindley has the arm to make them and they had two of the best receivers in the Mountain West. With both Sampson and Brown in the NFL and the Aztecs having no real home run threat at WR (Ruffin may become one though) I would imagine that the Aztecs may be a bit more conservative with their passing game this season.

by Grey Suit on Jun 9, 2011 11:46 AM EDT reply actions

No way you actually watched the games

A lot of the things you say are just completely off and prove you didn’t watch the game, or prove you have no business evaluating prospects.

Lindley has an exceptional arm. His ball placement and accuracy fall a little off sometimes because his footwork is erratic. He is very similar to Mark Sanchez, except with a strong arm and better build.

In the Wyoming game (doubt you have tape of it though), all his strengths and weaknesses were fully on display that game. At one point, he made an incredible throw on an out pass 15 Yards, dropping it between three defenders along the sideline. Amazing throw, and arguably the best I saw all of last season. However, he did have a few bad passes, like a 1st Quarter Interception where he completely airmailed the ball.

Lindley has one of the best arms in college football and played in a Pro Offense. To say what SDSU does is a spread is completely illogical and proves you either don’t watch the games or don’t know football.

by DaCaptain on Jun 12, 2011 7:24 PM EDT reply actions