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Introduction
I have largely ignored the QB class this year, mainly because I think Geno showed enough in year one to warrant us not taking a QB high. Obviously if one fell into our laps that offered great value, it would be a mistake to just ignore it completely. Saying that, a wise man once said that you draft a QB every single year. So with the Jets low on QB competition for Geno Smith, selecting a QB may not be a terrible idea.
I was really impressed with Fales at the Senior Bowl, he was 6-7 for 104 yards with a touchdown and interception. David Fales began his career my enrolling at Nevada before moving to a JUCO college, a quick stop in Wyoming before finally settling at San Jose state, in their QB friendly pistol offence. Fales draft stock will fluctuate depending on the team, for a team like ourselves with a west coast offence, I think he'll be quite high...the reasons for that will become clear when we get to analysing his tape.
Measurables
Height: 6"2
Weight: 220lb's
Class: Senior
Projected 40: 4.9-5.0
Statistics
| Year | Completed | Attempted | Percentage | Yards | Average | Touchdowns | Interceptions | Long |
| 2013 | 312 | 487 | 64.1 | 4189 | 8.6 | 33 | 13 | 83 |
| 2012 | 327 | 451 | 72.5 | 4193 | 9.3 | 33 | 9 | 78 |
Positives
- Pocket Awareness: One of the main aspects of Fales game that you have to love is his ability to feel in the pocket. He knows where the pressure is coming from and he steps up and out of trouble with ease. That kind of recognition is great to see in a college QB.
- Field Vision: He always seems to know where he wants to go with the football, he finds the open receiver and always keeps his eyes down field. He moves through his reads well and often finds his 2nd or 3rd options.
- Accuracy: The offence he plays in will help inflate these stats. However it is an offence that is suited to him moving to the West Coast offence. Lots of reads, lots of quick releases, spreading the ball around and getting it into the hands of the playmakers.
- Touch: He throws a very good looking football with excellent touch and spiral. Makes it easy for receivers to catch the football, places it in the right locations to ensure the receiver has a chance and the defensive back doesn't.
- Toughness: One of the toughest QB's in college for my money, you see him get hit...he'll bounce right back up and he'll carry on. He never loses focus, and he doesn't get intimidated. His ability to stand in the pocket with pressure all around really reminds me of Big Ben.
- Footwork: This does hand in hand with his pocket awareness, he has very clean footwork which enables him to slide side-to-side up or away from pressure. He's not going to take off and run on a regular basis, but he has enough in him to pick up some important first downs.
- Arm Strength: A west coast offence suits him because he doesn't possess the arm strength to consistently challenge downfield. He's not got a noodle arm, but anything over 20 yards and the accuracy drops and that's where the problems are going to come. Floats the ball too much on deep patterns.
- Lacks elite size: 6"2 isn't short by any means and with the success of players like Brees and Wilson, this is becoming less important to scouts, but he doesn't have that ideal QB size that you would look for.
- Thrill-Seeker: I get annoyed with Fales, because he'll be moving the ball cleanly and successfully, but then for some reason he will challenge the defensive backs on deep patterns.He'll throw it into double coverage, trying to fit the ball through a gap that just isn't there.
- Experience: Because he moved from Nevada, then went to JUCO, and then a brief stop in Wyoming...he'll only have two years of experience at the FBS level when he enters the draft, even as a senior.
- Locking On: Another annoyance, he can and does work through his progressions really well, but at times he just locks on to his receiver, stares him down and delivers the ball. He can work through his progressions, he just needs to make sure he is doing this every single time.