Analysis - Ryan FitzpatrickOne of the most skilled quarterbacks in the NCAA Division 1-AA ranks, Ryan is the type of player capable of taking over a game on offense. He is a tough competitor with quick feet, a strong arm and very good accuracy passing in the short area. … A three-sport (football, basketball and track) star at Highland Gilbert (Az.) High School, Ryan was a second-team Class 5A All-State selection, adding Arizona High School All-Star team, Fiesta Region first-team and Fiesta Region MVP honors as a senior. He set twelve school records and one state mark (throwing a 99-yard touchdown pass) while leading the team to the state playoffs from 1998-2000 and to the 1999 Fiesta Region title. He graduated in the top one-percent of his class and received the Presidential Award of Excellence. … Ryan served as a very capable backup to record-setting QB Neil Rose during his first two years with the Crimson, excelling in five starting assignments during the 2001-02 seasons when Rose was injured...
Alex SmithNegatives: Shows very good accuracy in the short to intermediate areas, but does not have a cannon for an arm to be a "home run threat" on his deep throws. … While reviewing film, I noticed that when he lines up under center, he has the foot speed to get back, but shows some difficulty setting his feet (will slide out from under him at times) and is prone to throwing off his back foot, more so than when he takes the shotgun snap. … Used to have "happy feet" at the first sign of pressure, but improved considerably in this area last season, though he is still apt to run with the ball if he spots a free lane. … It is very rare that he will make a bad throw, but there are times when he is caught in the backfield because he held on to the ball too long (seven of his thirteen sacks led to fumbles). … Shows good accuracy when on the run, but does lose some velocity behind his deep tosses when rolling out. … He needs to secure the ball better, as he has had a rash of fumbles due to arm tackles. … On long tosses, Smith has adequate strength, but tends to throw too close to the defender rather than to the sideline side of his target. … Operating mostly out of the shotgun is a concern, as I am not much of a fan of his footwork driving back from center.
NFL and Wonderlic50 - Ryan Fitzpatrick, Harvard
50 - Pat McInally, Harvard (punter)
42 - Drew Henson, Michigan
40 - Alex Smith, Utah
39 - Eli Manning, Ole Miss
39 - Brian Grise, Michigan
37 - Drew Bledsoe, Washington State
33 - Tom Brady, Michigan
33 - Steve Young, BYU
30 - John Elway, Stanford
30 - Quincy Carter, Georgia
30 - Philip Rivers, N.C. State
29 - Troy Aikman, UCLA
25 - Ben Roethlisberger, Miami (Ohio)
22 - Chris Simms, Texas
22 - Brett Favre, Southern Miss
17 - Aaron Brooks, Virginia
16 - Dan Marino, Pittsburgh
16 - Heath Shuler, Tennessee
15 - Steve McNair, Alcorn State
14 - Wayne Madkin, Miss. State
13 - Neil O'Donnell, Maryland
12 - Donovan McNabb, Syracuse
11 - Romaro Miller, Ole Miss
11 - Tee Martin, Tennessee
10 - Jeff George, Illinois
"Observations --
Quarterbacks from Michigan do really, really well on the Wonderlic (besides Elvis Grbac, who made a 15); Quarterbacks from Mississippi do really, really poorly on the Wonderlic (unless you are from the Manning family, or are Brett Favre); scores aren't that accurate of a predictor of success."