2011 NFL Draft: 49ers Getting A Look At Iowa's Ricky Stanzi

by James Brady on Mar 29, 2011 12:00 PM PDT in NFL Draft

Thanks to these3words for the linkage, it appears as though the 49ers are continuing their trend of scouting quarterbacks set to be drafted after the first round. According to a Maiocco tweet, the 49ers will have representatives attending Iowa's second pro day, to get a good look at the players, namely quarterback Ricky Stanzi. Many believe that the 49ers will not be grabbing one of the top two quarterbacks in the draft in Cameron Newton or Blaine Gabbert, but will instead look to rounds two, three or four to find one of the many developmental guys to run Jim Harbaugh's West Coast Offense.

There's been buzz lately of the 49ers trading up back into the first round to get one of the other top quarterbacks, namely Christian Ponder. While that's still a possibility, the recent trend of pro day attendances and private workouts suggest that San Francisco will be looking to the later rounds, be it the second or third, paying significant attention to guys like Ryan Mallett and Colin Kapernick.

Ricky Stanzi is a guy who I think will go in the middle of the third round, but a good pro day could send him up a little higher. He's got a lot of natural talent, with good short accuracy and excellent timing for a WCO. His pocket presence and delivery are top-notch, but he struggles on deep and intermediate passes and his decision-making is most certainly not the best.

The best thing I can say about Stanzi is that he progressively got better over time. Each year, he corrected some aspect of his game, and thus is a solid developmental guy for the 49ers. Footwork, decision-making, accuracy and other intangibles all steadily improved over time. The kind of quarterback Jim Harbaugh can use is the kind that can absorb everything he has to teach, and to me, Stanzi can do that. I've always said that San Francisco should draft multiple quarterbacks, and if they were to get someone like Kapernick, Mallett or Jake Locker in the second round, I can easily see them going for Stanzi on top of that if he's around in the fourth. Nothing like some good ol' quarterback controversy in San Francisco, providing it's of the "theyre both so good!" kind.

Here's a link to National Football Post's scouting report on Stanzi.

Poll

So ... Ricky Stanzi?

Yes, but only in the fourth round or later

344 votes

Yes, relatively early, love the kid

231 votes

Nope, I just don't see it

121 votes

696 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Keep seeing Locker's name

Harbaugh saw enough of him over four years. Doubt he’s in the picture as he failed to elevate each year. If this lockout drags on, Niners will be looking ahead to 2012 draft.

by oldfoggy on Mar 29, 2011 12:13 PM PDT reply actions

he saw locker as he was kicking locker's teams arse

"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin

by HUNGRY HUNTER on Mar 29, 2011 12:14 PM PDT up reply actions

You can’t disqualify a guy that was once considered to be the consensus first overall pick for any team with even a slight quarterback need. You will continue to see his name, even though I agree with the fact that Locker has less of a chance of coming to San Francisco than some of the other names we’re seeing.

And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it.
SaberCats Examiner | SB Nation Bay Area | Niners Nation | Twitter

by James Brady on Mar 29, 2011 12:17 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree two rookie qbs.

two of these players and I would be excited

dalton, ponder, kapernick, mallett, stanzi, even mcelroy in late rounds

"You know whats funny? I always thought uhm dogs lay eggs and I learned something new today" Peter Griffin

by HUNGRY HUNTER on Mar 29, 2011 12:17 PM PDT reply actions

I'm fairly sure we're not looking at Stanzi

They have two defensive lineman who are ranked high that might be able to translate to becoming a 3-4 LE. They also have a safety in Tyler Sash that always seems to be in the right position to make a play.

1.QB Ryan Mallett 2.G Ben Ijalana 3.CB Jalil Brown 4.NT Kendrick Ellis 4.CB Kendric Burney 5.S Tyler Sash 6.WR Lester Jean 6.RB Chad Spann 7.OLB Jamari Lattimore 7.Kicker 7.CB Richard Sherman

by supraman on Mar 29, 2011 12:18 PM PDT reply actions

Forgot to add the reason we're not looking at Stanzi

He’s a slow decision maker and he’s inaccurate. Probably not the best combination for the west coast offense.

1.QB Ryan Mallett 2.G Ben Ijalana 3.CB Jalil Brown 4.NT Kendrick Ellis 4.CB Kendric Burney 5.S Tyler Sash 6.WR Lester Jean 6.RB Chad Spann 7.OLB Jamari Lattimore 7.Kicker 7.CB Richard Sherman

by supraman on Mar 29, 2011 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions

But his accuracy has improved over time. That’s why he’s a fourth round guy, he’s incredibly developmental. His short accuracy is there, but the deep ball isn’t yet.

And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it.
SaberCats Examiner | SB Nation Bay Area | Niners Nation | Twitter

by James Brady on Mar 29, 2011 12:21 PM PDT up reply actions

His wide receivers, stout OL, and RB

Has people fooled into thinking Stanzi actually contributed to that team.

1.QB Ryan Mallett 2.G Ben Ijalana 3.CB Jalil Brown 4.NT Kendrick Ellis 4.CB Kendric Burney 5.S Tyler Sash 6.WR Lester Jean 6.RB Chad Spann 7.OLB Jamari Lattimore 7.Kicker 7.CB Richard Sherman

by supraman on Mar 29, 2011 12:23 PM PDT up reply actions

Ah, I see where you’re going. Good players around him means he sucks, gotcha. Well … I don’t particularly think he’s amazing or anything, but I paid a lot of attention to him and watched him get better every year he played. Good enough for me in the fourth round.

And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it.
SaberCats Examiner | SB Nation Bay Area | Niners Nation | Twitter

by James Brady on Mar 29, 2011 12:25 PM PDT up reply actions

he has good footwork in his drop, great short accuracy, pocket presence, film/gym rat

he has a sufficient if not spectacular arm…what’s not to like in the third round or later?

Draft EVERYONE!
Tvittah

by Tre9er on Mar 29, 2011 12:26 PM PDT up reply actions

who were his receivers and what rounds are they projected to go in the draft?

which OL’s did he play with his Senior year?

His best two OL’s left in 2009. WR DJ Koulianos is a late-round-UDFA prospect and Marvin McNutt is a converted QB who runs a 4.6 40. The RB’s this year kept getting seriously injured, ending with a freshman.

Draft EVERYONE!
Tvittah

by Tre9er on Mar 29, 2011 12:30 PM PDT up reply actions

DJ is only getting drafted so late because his house was raided for drugs

McNutt is amazing! His projected 40-time does not hinder him from being a great playmaker.

Adam Robison and Marcus Coker are two very good young running backs. When Robinson couldn’t play in the bowl game, Coker ran for 200+ yards.

Iowa OL is very well coached. Captain Kirk keeps that a constant. Riley Reiff is going to be a top ten selection when he comes out.

Stanzi not only is inaccurate down field, but his receivers get him out of trouble, especially when he makes bad decisions and just throws the ball up for grabs.

1.QB Ryan Mallett 2.G Ben Ijalana 3.CB Jalil Brown 4.NT Kendrick Ellis 4.CB Kendric Burney 5.S Tyler Sash 6.WR Lester Jean 6.RB Chad Spann 7.OLB Jamari Lattimore 7.Kicker 7.CB Richard Sherman

by supraman on Mar 29, 2011 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions

DJK and McNutt are good receivers, but within the realm of Iowa only

DJK would have been a 4th round pick at best before the drug charges. McNutt is a playmaker but not a great athlete. I agree the OL is and has always been pretty good, but my argument is that this isn’t a guy surrounded by All Americans.

I admit I’m an Iowa fan, but I’ve never touted an Iowa QB in the draft before. Stanzi has delivered in some big moments over his career, and also missed a few. What I like most about him are the things I said above, pro-style offense, good footwork in drop, familiar with all the play action/boots/rollout stuff, good pocket presence, and good short range accuracy. He’s also a gamer and a leader. Harbaugh will like all of his positive qualities. He’s his type of guy.

Draft EVERYONE!
Tvittah

by Tre9er on Mar 29, 2011 12:46 PM PDT up reply actions

This is going to sound contradictory

good pocket presence

He steps up into the pocket well, but he doesn’t handle duress well. I’ve seen times where Stanzi just floats the ball out there in the fear of taking a sack. Going from junior to senior year, I don’t think Stanzi has improved, but Kirk has figured out a way to hide him in the offense. The opposite effect happened with Locker. I was never a fan of Locker; even after his so called great junior year. Then after his atrocious senior year everyone now thinks he regressed. In my opinion, it’s the same with Locker, they stayed constant, but one was exposed.

And you don’t take a QB with a few good qualities, with small hopes he’ll develop. If that were the case, Jevan Snead would at the very least would be on a team’s practice squad. I also don’t see Stanzi being taken until the 6-7th rounds(If that) .

1.QB Ryan Mallett 2.G Ben Ijalana 3.CB Jalil Brown 4.NT Kendrick Ellis 4.CB Kendric Burney 5.S Tyler Sash 6.WR Lester Jean 6.RB Chad Spann 7.OLB Jamari Lattimore 7.Kicker 7.CB Richard Sherman

by supraman on Mar 29, 2011 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm not a Stanzi guy - Except for his "America, love it or leave it!" postgame quote

I’m sure that would go over great in SF lol

But at the Combine… He was the only guy doing the proper thing on the deep ball drill. He was throwing it to the cone nearly out of bounds every time while everybody else was trying to complete the pass

Maybe Harbaugh liked that he was doing what he was supposed to do – throwing to a spot instead of to the man

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 29, 2011 3:38 PM PDT up reply actions

America, love it or leave it...

"The year we beat Miami in the Super Bowl, ... do you know how many defensive linemen were in our rotation? Nine, and we used them all quite a bit. We just wore the Dolphins out."
Bill Walsh quote

by Iupati_like_its_1999 on Mar 29, 2011 5:46 PM PDT up reply actions

What makes you think they’re not considering Stanzi? He projects well into a WCO of any type. Just because there are other players there doesn’t really mean anything, and Maiocco’s tweet mentions Stanzi by name. I’d say he heard that Stanzi was obviously one reason for said scouts to attend.

And then God created Saturn ... and he liked it, so he put a ring on it.
SaberCats Examiner | SB Nation Bay Area | Niners Nation | Twitter

by James Brady on Mar 29, 2011 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions

Just looked at past draft '97

top QB available: Drunkenmiller!
If you have a bad year and need a QB, you’re toast.
Hopefully this isn’t that year. Here’s link:
http://www.sportsxchange.com/DS97/Charts/QBchart.htm

by oldfoggy on Mar 29, 2011 12:23 PM PDT reply actions

should've gone with Plummer . . .

the Smith vs. Rogers prequel

by reedkrase on Mar 29, 2011 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Stanzi is Wes Bunting's 6th rated QB

Year Games ATT / COMP / % YDS YPG TD INT Sacks RUSH YDS YPG TD

2010 13 345 / 221 / 64.1% 3004 231.1 25 6 19 48 -6 -0.5 2

over 60% completion and 25/6 TD/INT ratio…he made some questionable decisions but I think his stats speak to his decision making on the whole

Draft EVERYONE!
Tvittah

by Tre9er on Mar 29, 2011 12:33 PM PDT reply actions

also, system-wise Iowa runs one of the most pro-style offenses in CFB

Watch the tape. Power O, play action, rollouts, slants, crosses, sidelines, lots of TE stuff, all under center. Can’t be discounted.

Draft EVERYONE!
Tvittah

by Tre9er on Mar 29, 2011 12:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Yates

Iowa sucks. Go Nittany Lions!

Harbaugh will find a QB and he will succeed.

by goatfather on Mar 29, 2011 6:37 PM PDT up reply actions

4th or later

I don’t mind him as a developmental guy, and I wouldn’t even complain if he was the 2nd QB we drafted this year.

Problem is, I can see us getting a much better QB next year, so I don’t see him getting the time to even play for a future job. With one of the higher ranked guys (Keapernick, Dalton, Locker) they might be given an extra year or two and that pick might pay off in time. With Stanzi as our “future,” I can’t see the Niners passing on a Barkley, Luck, Jones or even a 2nd tier QB next year, so that 4th could be spent on a prospect who might get a chance to start full time; like a NT, CB/FS or WR.

by 9thevolution on Mar 29, 2011 12:40 PM PDT reply actions

i like Stanzi

but i had to vote 4th or later only.

too many needs on defense.

We don't need 8 in the box. We have 52 in the box.

by these3words on Mar 29, 2011 12:51 PM PDT reply actions

For me it depends on if we get a guy before the late-2nd/early 3rd.

If all the guys we’re talking about in the 2nd round are gone or we take defensive players and still have no QB by the 3rd round…I think Stanzi is the guy you want there.

Draft EVERYONE!
Tvittah

by Tre9er on Mar 29, 2011 1:18 PM PDT reply actions

"Forget about the curveball Ricky, give 'im the heater"

I’ve always wanted to post that in a thread. But seriously, I think Stanzi has some developmental potential. It all depends on which round we can get him in.

Some of us will do our jobs well and some will not, but we will be judged by only one thing -- the result. -Lombardi

by Drew Kerr on Mar 29, 2011 1:50 PM PDT reply actions

I haven't watched that much of him...

Just some youtube “Iowa O vs BlahBlah D” tape.

But he did impress me some. His footwork needs some coaching, but I think I could say that about every single QB in this draft since Luck stayed out.

One play that really impressed me was a 3rd read. It looked like his first and second reads were to the right side of the field but were covered. I was sure the play was going to end up in a sack, but he took a quick step up to avoid the rush and connected on a crossing route that was covered.. I mean.. the window for that pass was very small but it was a perfect throw.

I won’t say this is a good representation of his skills, it’s just one play. But it did make me think that discounting him completely may be a mistake.

Robinson impressed the hell out of me. I’d definitely be looking for him next year.

by Ougadas on Mar 29, 2011 1:58 PM PDT reply actions