PFW's scouting report on Kyle Orton

wiscbearsfan · Joined: 06 May 2006 Posts: 5968 Location: WI

I really think this is a solid scouting report on Kyle Orton. I think it's pretty fair in identifying the things Orton has improved on to become a much better QB, yet it also identifies several things that have limited him and very well mauy continue to limit him in his career.

Keep in mind, the Bears are one of 2 teams in the NFL who do not have a completion of 30 or more yards through the air. They have attempted deep passes on a number of occasions but the vast majority of those passes have been off target.

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Features/NFL+Features/2008/scouts121708.htm

madmike44 · Posted: Mon Dec 22, 2008 11:57 am Post subject:

Accurate scouting report with the positives, but I think they were a little off on the negatives. He's not as heavy footed as they make him out to be...he was scrambling and moving around in the pocket a lot in the beginning of the year before he got injured. Plus I've rarely seen him throw off his back foot. He's not as immobile as a guy like Bledsoe was, and that's what they are making him out to be.

He definetely can improve on his deep balls. His intermediate throws are accurate and fast. I think he needs to work on his deep throws a lot this offseason.
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Superman(DH23) · Joined: 03 Jan 2008 Posts: 6823

dauphin217 · Joined: 14 Feb 2007 Posts: 59

I'm a big Orton fan and I'd say that's pretty accurate. He's a big, tough, heady QB who has learned to make better decisions and throw with good accuracy. He really isn't that mobile or athletic and he seems to lack good pocket awareness. Kyle also stares down his targets quite often. He has the potential to be a less mobile, but smarter version of Delhomme and at the very least a Kerry Collins type (decent starter/excellent backup). I seriously wouldn't sign him for more than 5 mil a year at this point and load it up with incentives. But Orton has been the most stable QB we've had in awhile and he knows our plays backwards and forwards. Not to mention he's a tough, fiery competitor who can lift a team with his leadership. He would be our starter next year, but we definitely to draft a QB early (2nd or 3rd). Orton isn't a franchise signal-caller and will never be one. I do think the bears have very solid, if not inconsistent, talent on this team and we can build around it with the right pieces. Orton is another piece, just not the biggest one as other QBs are.

bearsaddict · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 1821

Actually Wisc they do have a completion through the air of more than 30, but it didn't come until the Jacksonville game sadly enough.
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wiscbearsfan · Joined: 06 May 2006 Posts: 5968 Location: WI

bearsaddict · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 1821

Then they are wrong. The Bears threw a pass to Hester for 33 yards in the air against jacksonville. I know because I knew about that stat so I was watching for it. Go back and watch that game if you can and you will see it.
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Jerry Angelo- the biggest thing keeping the Bears from the Superbowl.

51to54 · Joined: 29 Jun 2008 Posts: 1022

Agree a lot with the positives, but I think that the negatives are misstated and do not reflect the lack of offensive tools that Orton has to work with this season.

I think that Orton's game has fallen off a bit as the season wore on due to other teams adjusting their defenses to treat Olson as a WR and Orton's ankle injury. Add in that his pass protection doesn't seem as solid as it was early on. Note I'm admitting up front that Orton's game has fallen off a bit.

Hester is improving and becoming a legit NFL receiver, but this season is almost over and Hester is not nearly skilled enough yet to be a number one and he has NO legit WR next to him. I've been tracking other games over the last few weeks and Orton's targets rarely have the separation that other NFL QB's routinely have for their targets. In one series with the Panthers last week I saw three straight open receivers for Delhomme. If most of Orton's throws have to be to a contested or short receiver than no wonder he's pressing a bit by staring down some receivers.

I'll agree that Orton isn't the type of QB to scramble around for 10 seconds until someone pops open or one that runs for 20 yards whenever the defense doesn't account for him. He shouldn't have to be and few super bowl teams require one. Elway lost super bowls as a great scrambler and then won two as an good QB with a great running game.

Orton is not a top two or three type QB, but he's shown in many ways that he can be a top 10 QB and one that's better than many QB's that have made it to the Super bowl. He's shown great intangibles and leadership and more than adequate passing and pocket skills. We've got so many other glaring holes in our offense that the QB position doesn't even make my radar.