September 12, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Cody Kessler (6) throws against the Idaho Vandals during the first half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
The NFL scouting world puts way too much of a premium on size and arm strength when scouting quarterbacks. So they don’t hold USC Trojans quarterback Cody Kessler in the highest of regard. But he does everything you want an NFL quarterback to do, playing in the West Coast Offense.
He throws with timing and anticipation, accuracy and he has enough arm strength to get the ball where it needs to go. And from his pro style offensive background came he skill of reading defenses and changing protections. He even knows who to read pro defenses as many of the Pac-12 schools use them.
But most of the draft experts have him as the No. 7-rated quarterback prospect and projected into the second round. I have him at No. 2 while the experts hold his 6’1″, 2015-pound size and lack of an ability to throw a football through a brick wall against him. Joe Montana is 6’1″ and only 205 while Drew Brees is only 6’0″ and neither one of them have a cannon.
No, I’m not camparing Kessler to the two legends, I’m just saying 6’1″ with a good-not-great arm isn’t going to stop him. It certainly wasn’t his fault his defense didn’t come with him in a loss to the Stanford Cardinal Saturday night. Kessler completed 78 percent of his passes for 272 yards, two TDs and didn’t throw any interceptions.
On the year, Kessler has completed 79 percent of his passes for 922 yards, nine TDs and no INTs in three games this season. I can understand why California Golden Bear Jared Goff is ahead of him with the height, the big arm and lighting it up himself this year so far. But there really isn’t a better quarterback prospect than Kessler outside of him at this time.
Perhaps the draft experts will see it that way soon.
Kessler is doing his part!