Chicago Bears Draft Watch: Could The Bears Select Myles Jack?
By Grizz.
Christian Hackenberg
Nov 7, 2015; Evanston, IL, USA; Penn State Nittany Lions quarterback Christian Hackenberg (14) drops back to pass during the second half of the game against the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field. Mandatory Credit: Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
Game: Penn State At Michigan State – Saturday, November 28th – 2:30 P.M. CT – ESPN
Position: Quarterback
College: Penn State
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 235
Pro Player Comparison: Carson Palmer
There is so much to be said about Penn State’s Christian Hackenberg.
On particular days Hackenberg looks as if he’s the second coming of Andrew Luck. On other days he looks like Tim Tebow coming out of Florida.
I am going to guess that the truth of what Hackenberg truly is lies somewhere in the middle.
Hackenberg has elite arm strength and utilizes it at will, and can be seen consistently fitting balls into tight windows. This allows for Hackenberg to take over games at will.
This can be a double-edged sword as Hackenberg at times trusts his arm a bit too much, which gets him into trouble.
Another area that Hackenberg excels in is his ability to stay clean in the pocket. Having a pocket presence that allows Hackenberg to be elusive, while keeping his eyes down field is key to his success.
The problem has been that the past few years, due to a deprivation of talent on the Penn State offense, Hackenberg has been playing school yard football – Fighting to stay upright while in the pocket.
The first few years under now Houston Texans Head Coach Bill O’Brien, Hackenberg played his best college ball. Hackenberg ran a pro style offense which lead to him making pre-snap calls, and going through progressions. Hackenberg thrived, which is a positive for him, as many college quarterbacks come to the NFL never making a pre-snap read.
The latest knock on Hackenberg is that he is inconsistent as a passer. My personal take is that he is trying to do too much when the ball is in his hands. I see him trying to carry a bad offense that lacks talent and any sort of help.
With Hackenberg not having the ideal season prior to entering the draft, one might think that he will fall out of the first round. With that being said, the Bears could draft the signal caller in the second, allowing for him to develop behind Jay Cutler for a year or two – Which is ideal for any young passer.
Make sure to checkout Hackenberg and Penn State as they take on Big Ten foe Michigan State this Saturday.
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