A couple of months ago I was watching tape of Cal wide receiver Chad Hansen and the more I watched, the more impressed I became with him. When I came back a few days later to watch more tape on Hansen I realized it was also his quarterback who was making him look good and that person is Davis Webb.
Davis Webb is the successor to Jared Goff who was drafted first in last year’s draft. Goff had three years behind center and in his senior year produced a 64.5% completion rate, 4,714 yards passing with 43 TDs and 13 INTs and a 161.2 passer rating. Those stats got Goff selected first overall in the 2016 draft. Davis Webb had one year behind center at Cal — 35 games total between Cal and Texas Tech — with a 61.6 % completion rate, 4,395 yards passing, 37 TDs and 12 INTs his senior year.Although WR Chand Hansen only played 7 games in 2015 with Jared Goff compared to 10 games with Webb in 2016, his numbers were lights-out-better with Webb. 249 yards receiving with Goff and 1,249 with Webb. 1 TD with Goff and 11 TDs with Webb. 13.1 yards per reception with Goff and 13.6 with Webb. Also, Hansen’s 1,249 yards receiving in 2016, with Davis Webb pitching him the ball, was first in the Pac-12.
Arm Strength
You may recall an article written by John Cooney of PASS2Win.com called, “Ball Velocity: Exposing the Power Quarterback” in which he reveals that Patrick Mahomes II could throw the ball 50 MPH while Davis Webb was at 49 MPH… only one MPH behind him. Webb had 44 TDs while he was at Texas Tech which was 7th all-time. Then along came Patrick Mahomes II… and Webb sought a different college where he could eventually be the starter.
Following is a line-up of videos which are 20 seconds or less. Enjoy.
Hitting the Out Route Hard
What most coaches want to know up front is whether or not a QB prospect can make the hard down-and-out pass to the sideline. Here, Davis Webb shows he’s capable of making that throw.
The Deep Whip
The next throw that caught my eye was a throw Davis Webb made from the San Diego St. 42-yard line which ended up 3-yards deep in the end zone. However, it was Webb’s quick whip of the ball paired with where it ended up which impressed me.
A Davis Webb Weakness
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com says one of Davis Webb’s weaknesses is his, “Decision on where to go with ball seems predetermined despite coverages. Needs to get better at manipulating safeties with his eyes.” While I’m sure Zierlein has watched more tape on Webb I found that he looks the Safety off regularly and pump-fakes more than any of the other QBs in this draft. Here are a couple of plays where he does just that.
Here’s another vid of Webb looking off the WR then ripping it in there.
While I am comfortable with most of the throws that Davis Webb can make, I’m not sure he zips it hard enough during every opportunity that he should be pitching it hard. Is it because he is being too careful while trying to fit the ball in? I don’t know, but I’d like to see him throw it harder at times especially when he’s turning and hitting a WR in the flat. It’s as if he likes to put a gentle touch on those passes when what is needed is for the ball to get there as soon as possible.
Ability to Scramble
Davis Webb can escape pressure but doesn’t run “instead” of passing such as Deshaun Watson might do. Webb lost a total of 110 yards rushing the ball in 4 years of college while Tyler Bray lost 207. We can assume those lost yards are due to being sacked so, -110 yards in four years is not bad.
Davis Webb’s Touch Throws
Although putting too much “touch” on the ball on throws that don;t need it may be Davis Webb’s weakness, putting that gentle touch on the ball is also a strength because those types of passes are a skillful part of his bag of tricks.
Reading the Field
I’m convinced that Davis Webb has the ability to read the field and does that when he drops back. Lance Zierlein thinks Webb locks onto a WR and predetermines who will get the ball before the play begins. That has to be a judgment call on Zierlein’s part because I see Webb looking across the field on a regular basis.
Holding Fast at Number Five
Mike Mayock of NFL.com ranks Davis Webb as the 5th best QB in this draft class and so does CBSSports.com and does DraftTek. With CBS Sports ranking Webb at #85 overall and DraftTek ranking him at #83 Webb may be available to the Chiefs in the third round at pick #91. Here’s a recent mock I did that shows Davis Webb could be drafted there.
- 27: R1p27 RB Dalvin Cook Florida State
- 59: R2p27 LB Raekwon McMillan Ohio State
- 91: R3p27 CB Sidney Jones Washington
- 104: R3p40 QB Davis Webb California
- 132: R4p25 OC Ethan Pocic LSU
- 170: R5p26 CB Damontae Kazee San Diego State
- 180: R5p36 LB Connor Harris Lindenwood
- 216: R6p32 OG Aviante Collins TCU
- 218: R6p34 TE Blake Jarwin Oklahoma State
- 245: R7p27 SS Montae Nicholson Michigan State
I see Webb as a quarterback prospect with more finesse than Tyler Bray and could offer the opportunity for the team to develop a QB who could develop enough skills to take over in two years. Davis Webb is a gym rat as well as a film nut, someone who comes in at 7:00 AM and leaves at 11:00 at night and his Football Intelligence (FBI) rates as high or higher than most of the four QB prospects ranked ahead of him. In the “Leadership” department Davis Webb appears to be one-of-the-guys more than a boss-type (and I prefer a QB to be one-of-the-guys). He can command an offense… but is less of a commander. Webb is highly competitive, has a quick release, is accurate downfield with good velocity on his deep ball… so, what’s not to like? I like him a lot and think his personality would be a good fit in K.C.
At 6-foot-5 inches and 230 lbs. he can withstand a pass rush physically and doesn’t normally attempt to throw because he’s hurried. His demeanor is poised and I’ve never seen him panic which is a huge plus for a young QB. I don’t know why he isn’t ranked higher. I like him better than Jared Goff. Of course, I liked Carson Wentz better than Goff too. In fact, I liked Paxton Lynch best in that draft class and he may yet prove to be the best of that lot… much to the displeasure of Chiefs fans everywhere.
What do you think Chiefs fans? Would you be unhappy if JARD makes Davis Web one of their draft picks ten days from now?