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Dan LeFevour: NFL Draft Profile

Posted on 17. Mar, 2010 by Brandon LaClair in NFL Draft Player Profiles, Quarterback

We’ll take a look at Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour as he enters the 2010 NFL Draft.  We will examine his strengths/weaknesses, college career and our expectations for his upcoming NFL career.

Strengths

• Pocket awareness: LeFevour always had the innate ability to sense the rush nearing, therefore allowing him to elude would-be sacks.
• Accuracy: Thanks to playing out of the shotgun in a spread offense, LeFevour completed 66% of his passes over the duration of his college career.  He was able to throw the ball into tight windows as well as possessing impressive timing on slant passes
• Mechanics: His over-the-top throwing motion will be perfect in the league.  He squares his shoulders well before releasing the ball on the move, and makes it a point to get the ball out fast.  His footwork needs improvement, but that’s a problem that will be fixed with time
• Mobility: LeFevour could scramble as well as any quarterback in college football during his career as he ran for 2,948 yards and 47 touchdowns during his career.

Weaknesses

• Arm Strength: When LeFevour tries to throw the ball hard, it tends to float, which will be a defensive back’s dream scenario in the league.  The inability to throw the ball with power cannot be taught, so it will take a crafty offensive coordinator to make this kid successful in the pro game if his arm strength does not improve
• Footwork: While the rest of LeFevour’s mechanics are solid, his footwork does need some work.  He has “happy feet” and tends to take off running before going through all of his progressions.  This must change if he is going to be successful at the next level because it’s unlikely that the elusiveness that he displayed in college will transfer over to the league

(All statistical information obtained from Wikipedia.com and ESPN.com)

LeFevour had a tremendous college career from the start.  Every season produced 21 or more touchdowns and after his first two seasons in which he threw 10 or more interceptions in both seasons, he threw for seven or less in his last two seasons in college.

Each season, LeFevour’s completion percentage rose as he went from 63.7 in his freshman season to 69.6 in his senior season.

His sophomore year was the year where he showed his versatility as he became only the second player in NCAA history to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards (Vince Young).

LeFevour holds several Mid American Conference records including total touchdowns (149) completions (1,171), attempts (1,763), passing yards (12,905) and total offensive yards (15,853).

LeFevour is also the only quarterback in NCAA history that has eclipsed 12,000 yards and 2,500 rushing yards.

In a draft class that is lacking the sure-fire franchise quarterback, the nation needs to stop and take a hard look at Dan LeFevour.  The Central Michigan prospect has all of the tools and intangibles to be a huge success at the next level.

He needs to develop a stronger arm, but he could very well have a successful NFL career despite the arm strength (i.e. Chad Pennington).

His ability to throw on the run could get him into trouble in the NFL, but if his arm strength is continually developed, then it will be a huge weapon similar to that of Aaron Rodgers.  In order to have success in that aspect of his game, it is necessary to have a good offensive line because past quarterbacks with mobility such as LeFevour have been hit so much that it eventually eliminated that part of their game.

He will have to learn how to take snaps under center as he has been spoiled with the shotgun formation throughout college.  As with any quarterback, he will make incessant strides in improving that part of his game, but it will take time.

Unfortunately for LeFevour, the NFL draft has become a popularity contest with names such as Tim Tebow dominating the headlines, when it is glaringly obvious that LeFevour is the better quarterback.

You probably won’t see LeFevour’s name called until the 3^rd round, but five years down the road, he will be the best quarterback out of the 2010 NFL Draft class.

Related posts:

1. Tim Tebow: NFL Draft Profile
2. Mardy Gilyard: NFL Draft Profile
3. Jimmy Clausen: NFL Draft Profile
4. Derrick Morgan: NFL Draft Profile
5. Brandon LaFell: NFL Draft Profile

Tags: 2010 NFL Draft, Dan LeFevour, Fantasy Football, Featured, NFL, NFL Draft Player Profiles, Quarterback, Rookie