Path to the Combine: Ryan Nassib

            Love and marriage, love and marriage, goes together like a horse and carriage. Some may say the Bills have married Syracuse University with the recent hires of head coach Doug Marrone and Offensive Coordinator Nathaniel Hackett. Some may also says it’s inevitable that the Buffalo Bills will select Ryan Nassib with their first pick of the 2013 draft. Although widely considered a reach, that connotation does not necessarily denote a bad pick.

            Nassib is an interesting pick to say the least. It’s hard to get a full gauge on Nassib and his ability due to a sub-par supporting cast. What we do know is that Nassib is a knuckleballer. Like Jay Cutler before him, Nassib can drive a bullet like it’s nobodies business. Many of Nassibs throws are timing routes in which he throws his receiver open rather than waiting on a route to develop. His biggest attribute may also be his biggest downfall. He can be very impatient in the pocket and try to force a window open, rather than using touch to drop it in.

            Nassibs pocket presence also leaves something to be desired, not to say he doesn’t have a feel for the surroundings. Like Cutler, Nassibs fundamentals and mechanics may break down when pressured causing throws from awkward arm angles. When the pressure does barrel down on Nassib, he uses his deceptively elusive and strong physique to escape arm tackles and move out of the pocket. Nassib is a great thrower on the run, losing virtually no velocity on his balls when rolling out. Nassib, like current quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has ultimate trust in his arm, but unlike Fitzpatrick Nassib has the ability to back up the trust.

            Nassib, like Tyler Wilson whom I already broke down, is a very tough and hard-nosed player. Nassib has taken his fair share of bumps and bruises and continually popped back up. Nassib and Wilson are very similar players, but when it comes down to system Nassib perhaps makes the most sense in the Marrone era. Both possess toughness and leadership, with Nassib being extremely competitive and assuming the role of director well. Depending on his combine performance, Ryan Nassib may shoot up many teams’ boards.