Tag: fromm

Instant analysis: QB competition? Bills take Jake Fromm at 2020 draft

In a bit of a surprise, the Buffalo Bills ended the long anticipated wait for Georgia QB Jake Fromm taking the former Bulldog in Round 5 at pick No. 167 in the 2020 NFL Draft. 

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In a bit of a surprise, the Buffalo Bills ended the long-anticipated wait for Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm, taking the former Bulldog in Round 5 at pick No. 167 at the 2020 NFL Draft.

This is beyond intriguing, to say the least.

For starters, Fromm is the complete opposite of Josh Allen as a quarterback in so many aspects. Fromm relies on anticipation and rhythm, not the fastball, big arm and dual-threat skills. Fromm is careful and a heady game-manager with great processing, recognition and scans the entire field. He enters the NFL from a perennial national contending program in the SEC, not the Mountain West. While the differences are striking, the marriage may be a perfect blend in the QB room with Allen helping Fromm and Fromm helping to prepare Allen. He’s not going to push Allen for playing time right away, rather…

Matt Barkley, take notice…

For many reasons, you quickly understand the selection from the Bills’ perspective for many reasons.

Ultimately Fromm signifies a developmental player and security blanket in case Allen were to miss a significant amount of time. Due to Allen’s aggressive playing style, Buffalo general manager Brandon Beane wanted insurance and was likely to bring another QB in the fold anyway this offseason.  The value this late in the draft justifies the selection as well. Did head coach Sean McDermott and Beane also want to keep another QB heading to the Patriots?

Fromm was a durable leader throughout his collegiate career and leaves behind a legacy of one of the winningest quarterbacks to ever play for Georgia. He finished fourth in school history in passing yards (8,224), second in touchdowns (78), fourth in completions (621), and fifth in attempts (982). His career completion percentage of 63.2 percent ranks third in school history.

A high-character quarterback, Fromm lacks raw skills but possesses all the intangibles that you would want in a backup.

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Kirk Herbstreit on Georgia football QB Jake Fromm: ‘I’m a huge fan of his’

Kirk Herbstreit has high praise of Georgia football QB Jake Fromm ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Georgia football quarterback Jake Fromm is a guy who has been overlooked all offseason regarding his NFL Draft value.

Prior to the 2019 college football season, he was projected as an early first round draft choice, with some mocks having him as a top-five pick last summer. After a drop-off in production during his junior year, Fromm watched as his draft stock continued to dip.

Now, projected anywhere between a second and fifth round pick, ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit, a big Fromm fan, delivered a message to NFL scouts and general managers regarding Fromm’s draft stock.

“Anybody who has heard me talk about Jake Fromm over the past couple years knows I’m a huge fan of his,” Herbstreit said during an NFL Draft conference call. “He’s just an old soul. He’s a guy who isn’t going to go to the combine and blow everybody away with arm strength, but he’s a guy kind of like Gardner Minshew. He didn’t check every box, but next thing you know you draft him, he’s smart and picked up the system and after an injury, he’s in there and playing. Executing.

“Jake Fromm reminds me of that kind of guy. I’m interested in where he goes and what system. Whoever gets him is getting a gym rat.”

Herbstreit nailed it when discussing Fromm’s work-ethic and smarts. The Georgia signal caller recorded the second highest score in the Wonderlic test among draft-eligible quarterbacks and has often been praised for his pre-game preparation and film study.

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Which Georgia football alumni are most affected by pro day cancellation

For several recently departed Bulldogs, it’s going to be a bit more difficult finding opportunities to prove what they want to prove.

This week, the SEC cancelled all remaining spring competitions amid COVID-19 concerns. In their official announcement, the plans to halt play include abandoning spring football scrimmages and each school’s pro day.

Pro days are the last setting in which college football standouts perform drills before a plethora of NFL coaches and scouts prior to the NFL Draft.

If a player wasn’t invited to the NFL scouting combine or performed less-than-ideally at the combine, this is typically their last chance to turn heads and earn a drafted rookie contract instead of going undrafted and having a lower-dollar contract with far fewer guarantees.

For several recently departed Georgia Bulldogs, it’s going to be a bit more difficult finding opportunities to prove what they want to prove.

Tyler Clark, defensive tackle:

Clark has been projected as a late-round pick on some of the many mock drafts floating around the internet. The recent graduate out of Americus considered declaring for last year’s NFL draft but chose to return to Athens following a lower-than-preferred draft grade. In his senior season, he recorded a career high in tackles for loss and tied his career high in sacks.

Former Georgia defensive tackle and NFL veteran Toby Johnson took to twitter to voice his displeasure over Clark’s omission from the NFL Combine.

Tyler Clark will certainly show up on a professional roster at some point before the ensuing NFL season, but the cancellation of pro day isn’t doing his career any long-term favors.

Jake Fromm, quarterback:

Georgia’s golden boy is one of three quarterbacks to go undefeated against Florida in more than three starts (including John Rauch, Buck Belue), but many Georgia faithful were surprised he chose not to go for a perfect 4-0 record against the reptiles. Fromm delved into what went behind that decision in the days preceding his performance the NFL Combine.

The problem for Fromm was that the aforementioned performance ended up being pedestrian.

Taking reps after former teammate Jacob Eason, an eventual Washington transfer for whom he took over in the 2017 season opener following an Eason leg injury, Fromm was decidedly the less impressive quarterback (at least in that specific day’s drills) between the two.

Fromm’s last season in Athens was the least productive of his three total campaigns. The judgment to declare early made sense as his draft stock has still been high and it’s easy to see his final collegiate season as a statistical outlier under a new quarterbacks coach.

Looking forward to a league that places value on quarterbacks ahead of almost every other positions, the cerebral Jake Fromm is sure to end up on a roster and still projects as draft pick. If he had received the opportunity to participate in a pro day, however, he could solidify himself as a second-day pick (draft rounds two through four) as opposed to a third-day selection (rounds five through seven) or even as an undrafted free agent.

Tae Crowder, inside linebacker:

Tae Crowder’s path to the University of Georgia was a meandering one.

Crowder was a last-minute addition to the Dawgs’ 2015 signing class, receiving his scholarship offer the morning before National Signing Day. He hadn’t taken an official visit. He spent no time in personal meetings with Georgia coaches. Yet he committed on the spot.

“It was always my dream to play at the University of Georgia,” Crowder told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2015.

As Harris County’s offensive player of the year during his senior season, Crowder came to Athens as a dual receiver and running back.

He was quickly moved to inside linebacker, and, after redshirting his first year in Athens, spent another year fine-tuning his linebacking skills before spending three years starting, recording 122 tackles, and grabbing two takeaways along the way(s).

Considering his history of position changes and a lack of invitation to the NFL Combine, Crowder loses a lot of face time prior to the draft.

Twitter users predict Patriots to draft Georgia football QB Jake Fromm

Twitter users predict that New England Patriots draft former Georgia football QB Jake Fromm now that Tom Brady is exploring NFL Free Agency.

With Tom Brady’s announcement that he is leaving the Patriots and exploring NFL Free Agency, that left football fans wondering who will be the next quarterback in New England.

With the dominos starting to fall, Patriot-style quarterbacks are not widely available in this year’s free agency, so I’d expect New England to take a quarterback in this draft. It’s just a matter of whether or not to take an immediate starter early in the draft, or wait it out a little and get a guy who can be groomed for the future – like a Fromm.

Related: Will Patriots target Georgia football QB Jake Fromm in NFL Draft?

If the Patriots do opt to go with Fromm later in the draft (they hold the No. 23, No. 87, No. 98 and No. 100 picks), it would make perfect sense.

For starters, Belichick loves Georgia players, a fact that he’s alluded to multiple times. He likes the way that Kirby Smart runs his program and prepares players for the league both mentally and physically.

We’ve seen that with his recent draft picks of Sony Michel and Isaiah Wynn, plus Mark Richt guys David Andrews and Malcolm Mitchell a few years earlier.

But there is one glaring issue — Simply put, Fromm was not very good last season. However, as inconsistent as his arm was in 2019, his mindset and preparation never wavered. Also, the play calling was horrendous…and I’m sure Belichick knows that.

Fromm really is the perfect fit for a Belichick offense, though. A drama-free, hard working leader who puts the team above anything else.

Following the news of Brady’s departure, Twitter users quickly went to the app to predict that Fromm winds in New England.

The excitement over the prediction varies, however.

 

Will Patriots target Georgia football QB Jake Fromm in NFL Draft?

With Tom Brady leaving the New England Patriots, could Bill Belichick target Georgia football QB Jake Fromm in the 2020 NFL Draft?

After a 20 year career with the New England Patriots, legendary quarterback Tom Brady announced that he would be leaving the team that he won six Super Bowl rings with.

I don’t need to tell you this, but that leaves an obvious hole at quarterback in New England.

With that being said, could the Patriots look to former Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm in the NFL Draft?

They have the No. 23 pick in the 2020 draft, one that they likely will not be using on Fromm, who is viewed as a third round prospect in April’s draft.

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But the Pats also hold the 87th overall pick, and that’s where things could get interesting if Bill Belichick wants Fromm on his team.

Whether or not he’ll be available that late into the draft is hard to tell. I’ve seen him go anywhere from the second to fifth round. But if New England wants Fromm badly enough, it will do what it takes to get the Warner Robins native.

But that also raised the question –  does Belichick even want Fromm? Based off what we have seen in the past, I’ll go ahead and guess that he’d be thrilled to have a guy like Fromm in his quarterback room.

For starters, Belichick loves Georgia players, a fact that he’s alluded to multiple times. He likes the way that Kirby Smart runs his program and prepares players for the league both mentally and physically.

In the past fews years alone, we’ve seen New England select former Georgia players Malcolm Mitchell, David Andrews, Sony Michel and Isaiah Wynn.

If you add Fromm to that offense, one that no longer includes Mitchell, that would be a Georgia fan’s dream.

But there is one glaring issue — Simply put, Fromm was not very good last season. However, as inconsistent as his arm was in 2019, his mindset and preparation never wavered. Also, the play calling was horrendous…and I’m sure Belichick knows that.

Fromm really is the perfect fit for a Belichick offense, though. A drama-free, hard working leader who puts the team above anything else.

Quarterbacks are not widely available in this year’s free agency, so I’d expect New England to take a quarterback in this draft. It’s just a matter of whether or not to take an immediate starter early in the draft, or wait it out a little and get a guy who can be groomed for the future – like a Fromm.

Former Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham, who the Pats used a fourth-round pick on in 2019, is currently sitting atop the depth chart now that Brady is gone. I have not seen Stidham throw an NFL pass yet, but I can tell you right now, he’s not the long-term answer in New England.

ESPN’s Todd McShay on Georgia’s Jake Fromm: ‘He’s a day 2 pick’

ESPN’s Todd McShay gives his evaluation of where he thinks former Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm will land in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Former Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm did not have the most impressive showing at the 2020 NFL scouting combine.

Fromm was the slowest of the 13 quarterbacks that participated in the 40-yard-dash, clocking in at 5.01 seconds.

ESPN’s Todd McShay did not hold back when discussing Fromm and where he projected him to land after his collegiate career and combine performance.

“With Fromm, he comes out as a freshman and gets that job because of the injury and never relinquishes and has 5-stars transferring (Jacob Eason to Washington, Justin Fields to Ohio State) because he just turns into the guy,” McShay said Tuesday during a teleconference after the combine. “The past couple years, he had no receivers. With 3 injuries up front, protection was inconsistent, but you go back and study the tape when he had (talent at Georgia) on offense and he made plays. Watch him at the combine, his balls are floating. He’s a brutal evaluation.”

“I would argue he’s as smart football intelligence wise as any quarterback in this class,” said McShay, continuing. “You talk to anyone at Georgia about his work ethic and the length he goes to have success and you can see how he was able to overcome the lack of elite physical tools, but some of his throws aren’t going to work in the NFL. Eason, who he beat out, has a much better arm. Tua is such a natural. The ball just pops out. Burrow doesn’t have elite arm strength, but he can make all the throws.”

McShay gave his honest evaluation of Fromm but let’s not forget this is a quarterback who has dealt with adversity and has performed well on college football’s biggest stages these past three years.

Fromm was one play away from winning a National Championship, won a Rose Bowl and a Sugar Bowl.  There aren’t that many quarterbacks in the college football era that have a resume quite like his.

Jake Fromm would embrace chance to reunite with Georgia teammates on Bears

Former Georgia football QB Jake Fromm would embrace the opportunity to play with his former UGA teammates on the Chicago Bears

It’s been tough to get a read on what NFL general managers think of former Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm, a guy who was once considered an early first round NFL Draft pick.

He struggled in the 2019 season, causing his draft stock to slide, but the success he had in his three years at Georgia should not be overlooked.

He broke multiple records, cemented himself as one of the greatest in UGA history, won three straight division titles and led his team to the national championship as a freshman.

Despite his inconsistent junior season, he’s still viewed as a passer who could go in the second or third round, sit for a few years and then eventually get his shot as a starter.

One NFL general manager who has an affinity for Georgia prospects, Ryan Pace of the Chicago Bears, is someone who could take a chance on Fromm with one of the Bears two second round picks.

There’s a lot of question marks surrounding the quarterback position that the Bears must address this offseason. Chicago is looking to add a veteran quarterback in free agency to give starter Mitchell Trubisky an extra push, but there’s also a strong chance that Pace turns to the draft to find a young, promising passer.

The Bears offense already has two Georgia wide receivers who once caught balls from Fromm — Riley Ridley and Javon Wims.

Regarding joining Ridley and Wims in Chicago, Fromm told NBC Sports Chicago:

“What more could you ask for? To play with those guys, especially two of the guys I’ve thrown the ball to. I’ve gone up against Roquan every single practice. It would kind of be like home away from home.”

Fromm met with the Bears while at the NFL Combine, so the interest is certainly there. Additionally, Fromm would be joining former Georgia linebackers Leonard Floyd and Roquan Smith, who make up half of the Bears punishing linebacker group.

Charlie Woerner praises Georgia football teammates at NFL Combine

Charlie Woerner, nephew of legendary Georgia Bulldogs safety Scott Woerner, is just happy to be here. “I definitely don’t feel like I have enough tape out there catching balls. So it’s definitely something to go out and prove that I can do.” The …

Charlie Woerner, nephew of legendary Georgia Bulldogs safety Scott Woerner, is just happy to be here.

“I definitely don’t feel like I have enough tape out there catching balls. So it’s definitely something to go out and prove that I can do.”

The tight end is one of ten former Dawgs invited to appear before NFL scouts prior to the league’s 2020 draft.

Answering media members at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Woerner spent a near majority of his public interview singing the praises of his fellow Bulldogs invited to the combine.

First mentioned was tailback D’Andre Swift:

“D’Andre is a great player. I think he’s going to do really well in the NFL. He had a really good three years at Georgia. I wish all the best for him.”

Next, offensive tackle Andrew Thomas:

“I saw Andrew grow a ton, man. When he came in as a freshman, I’d never seen a freshman more ready to play and help out a team.”

Thomas, projected by some as the top offensive tackle prospect in this year’s NFL Draft, received a glowing review from his former teammate.

“As a freshman and to his junior year, he grew a ton. He got stronger and he really understood the game more. It was fun to play with him, that’s for sure.”

Woerner continued:

“To put Andrew out there [as starting left tackle] as a freshman and for him to do what he did in three years at Georgia…we trusted Andrew.”

Woerner’s former collegiate quarterbacks and fellow combine invitees Jake Fromm and Jacob Eason, both of whom declared early for 2020’s NFL Draft, are right-handed. Referring to protecting a righty quarterback’s blindside, he noted that “left tackle is one of the most important positions on the offense.”

On Jake Fromm:

“Jake’s a competitor, man. He’s going to do whatever it takes to win a football game. He’s going to be one of the hardest working guys on the team for sure. He’s going to push everyone around him to be the best.”

Woerner will participate in drills at the NFL Combine on Thursday, February 27 alongside all invited tight ends, wide receivers and quarterbacks, including fellow Georgia alumni Jake Fromm and Lawrence Cager.

Former Georgia football QB Jake Fromm on why he declared early

It was a surprising decision to some, but one that made a good deal of sense for Fromm both from an outsider’s perspective and his own.

In his first appearance before media members at the NFL Scouting Combine, quarterback prospect Jake Fromm fielded questions regarding his decision to leave the University of Georgia and declare for the NFL Draft with a year of eligibility remaining.

It was a surprising decision to some of Dawg Nation, but ultimately one that made a good deal of sense for Fromm both from an outsider’s perspective and his own.

“That was a tough one for me. I’ve never prayed about any decision more than that decision.”

Though it was certainly his and only his decision to make, he didn’t reach his conclusion on his own. The projected draft pick out of Houston County spoke of the many people in his corner who provided him guidance along the way.

“I really spoke to friends, family, mentors, people who, I really respect their opinion. But it was in my heart to come here and do this, to want to be a professional. It was a dream of mine since I was a kid. Now I’m here trying to make dreams come true.”

When asked if the loss of several offensive coaching staff members affected his decision to forego his senior season in Athens, Fromm, cautiously and intelligently didn’t give too much away.

“I didn’t have every clue. There were some things that we kind of knew about and some things we didn’t, but that’s part of college football. Things are constantly kind of ‘merry-go-round.'”

Fromm will appear alongside a slew of other NFL-caliber gunslingers in drills and skills assessments on Thursday, February 27, along with tight ends and wide receivers. Appearing confident in his decision, he’s eager to get going.

ESPN analyst has Georgia football QB Jake Fromm moving up in NFL draft

ESPN analyst Todd McShay has Georgia football QB Jake Fromm moving up in the NFL Draft.

Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm, who elected to skip his senior year and test the NFL draft, has one influential football analyst predicting Fromm made the right decision to move on.

ESPN analyst Todd McShay has Fromm rated as the 28th overall player and the fourth best quarterback in the draft. Fromm was 35-7 as UGA’s starter and 13-7 against Top 25 teams during his three years in Athens.

“There’s a reason talented quarterbacks such as Justin Fields and Jacob Eason kept transferring out of Georgia,” McShay wrote on Wednesday.

“Though he is the least physically gifted of the top five quarterbacks in the class, Fromm is the type of QB who will always find a way to win and excel with high-end football intelligence.”

In Yahoo Sports mock draft, they have Fromm selected by Chicago in the second round, 43rd overall, but the Bears first pick. USA Today has Fromm going to the Las Vegas Raiders (sounds a bit strange) in the third round with the 91st overall pick.

The 2020 NFL Draft will be the 85th annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible players. The draft is scheduled to be held from April 23–25, 2020 in Las Vegas.