Chicago Bears 2015 Position Preview: QB
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
#3 QB
David Fales:
Fales lacks exciting physical tools; he’s a little short (6’2), has small hands (9 1/4″), lacks foot speed (4.99), and doesn’t have a big arm. What Fales does have is precision accuracy within 20 yards, the ability to read defenses and progress through reads, and the intangibles and leadership ability to motivate teammates. Fales is basically the opposite of Cutler.
The Bears new brass didn’t select Fales so they won’t have a problem cutting him loose if they don’t like what they see. His upside is limited due to his lack of arm strength, but in an offense based on short to mid range passes Fales could excel. We still don’t know what OC Adam Gase’s offense will look like but if it’s similar to what he ran in Denver then Fales could make a legitimate push for the #2 job.
Fales is very accurate on throws under 20 yards and with new additions to the receiving core who can catch a short pass and make something happen (White, Royal), I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bears new offensive scheme relies more on short-to-intermediate range passes than the low percentage heaves the Bears counted on last year.
Few people are talking about Fales due to a #2 QB already re-signed by the new regime (Jimmy Clausen), a rookie undrafted QB who most people thought would be drafted (Shane Carden) and Fales’ uninspiring physical tools, but Fales has the ability to be an NFL QB. I’m not the only one who thinks so as the New England Patriots made a bid to sign Fales off the Bears practice squad last season. He’s a long shot to make the roster, but if the Bears new offensive scheme fits his skill set Fales could surprise and earn the #2 QB job by the end of the 2015 season.
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
Shane Carden:
NFL.com and most other draft sites had Shane Carden graded as the top QB prospect to not be drafted, I had him as the 2nd best undrafted QB prospect behind South Alabama’s Brandon Bridge who I think had more long-term upside. At the beginning of draft season I had Carden graded as high as a late 3rd rounder and I wasn’t alone, as many draftniks had Carden in the group of 5-6 QBs vying for the #3 QB slot in the draft. Unfortunately for Carden, he didn’t have a strong combine or Senior Bowl which dropped him to the bottom of the 2nd tier QBs.
The reason I was originally high on Carden had nothing to do with his physical measurements, it was based on his game tape. Carden was one of the toughest QBs in this year’s draft with the rare ability to step into and complete throws despite a man twice his size bearing down on him. If you want some evidence, watch Carden in ECU’s upset of then #17 Virginia Tech when he threw for 427 yards, 3 TDs, and added a game winning rushing TD with 0:16 seconds left in the game. It was the type of toughness and leadership that the former 2-star recruit showed throughout his career with the Pirates.
Carden has a some NFL traits besides just toughness and intangibles, he shows good poise in the pocket, was very accurate throughout his college career (67% completion rate), has shown a high football IQ and the ability to progress through reads, has nice touch on his fade routes, and excels at throwing receivers open. He also has some negative traits like his lack of ideal height (6’2) and 3 quarters arm slot that will lead to some deflected passes. Carden isn’t very mobile and lacks average NFL arm strength.
Carden and David Fales are actually very similar prospects; both have elite intangibles and accuracy on short-to-mid range throws, but lack mobility and NFL arm strength. Barring any unforeseen free agent signings or trades, the 3rd QB spot will likely come down to a battle between Fales and Carden. Neither guy has a high NFL upside, but both have the football IQ to be solid backups and enough intangibles to be surprisingly effective at the NFL level.