Eight prospective quarterbacks will try to improve their draft stock at this week's Reese's Senior Bowl. How does head coach Bill O'Brien evaluate quarterbacks throughout the week in Mobile, Alabama?
"I just look initially for simple things: how do they operate with the cadence, how are they throwing in the wind here in Mobile, you know, the bad weather," O'Brien said in an interview with Texans TV. "Can they handle that? Mechanics, footwork, simple things that try to get me a little picture of them right off the bat."
The Senior Bowl North team consists of quarterbacks Carson Wentz (North Dakota State), Kevin Hogan (Stanford), Jeff Driskel ( Louisiana Tech), and Cody Kessler (USC). The South team roster includes Jake Coker (Alabama), Jacoby Brissett (North Carolina State), Brandon Allen (Arkansas), and Dak Prescott (Mississippi State).
With 110 players on the Senior Bowl roster, O'Brien will be watching more than just the quarterbacks this week. The Texans head coach said his strategy during practice is usually to just focus on two position groups at a time and perhaps just two or three players that "may be good fits" for the Texans.
"I would say this is my first research into the draft because when the season ends, you take a deep breath and regroup," O'Brien said. "So now this is kind of your first official act as it relates to evaluation. We're just beginning this and it's always good to see them on grass, see how they operate, and then obviously, in the interviews at night, you're able to get to know these guys and it's a good experience."
Watch the complete interview with O'Brien on "Texans 360," airing Saturday night 11 p.m. CT on ABC-13.
Check out some snapshots from Day 3 of Senior Bowl practice in Mobile, Alabama. Images courtesy of AP.