BJ Coleman - Difference Maker
“I want to be a starting quarterback in the NFL, and I want to play in and win a Super Bowl.”
Although this quote might be something that you’d expect to hear from a top quarterback prospect or likely first round draft pick, like Robert Griffin III or Andrew Luck, these words, from his scouting combine press session, are straight from the mouth of an FCS player from Tennessee Chattanooga. And, if you’d expect a small school signal caller with only nine touchdowns in his senior season to simply be hoping to get drafted and given the opportunity to play in the NFL, then you’ve never met B J Coleman. As one of the most positive, upbeat players in college football, there wasn’t a trace of ****iness in him, as he put everyone on notice that he isn’t just looking for the opportunity to make plays, he’s dead set on making a difference.
At just over 6’3” and 233 pounds, Coleman, who is long and lean, possesses good NFL size and big hands (10.5”), which aid in all facets of ball handling. Though only exhibiting average overall athletic ability, minimal burst and change of direction skills, and movements that are more mechanical than fluid, Coleman has the agility and good enough footwork to buy extra time in the pocket, get to the edge on roll-outs, and, when flushed, can extend plays with his legs, though he lacks the speed to challenge defenses downfield.
Coleman exhibits above average, but not elite, arm strength, and can make all the necessary throws. He displays excellent velocity in the short and intermediate zones, and, although he won’t throw a forty yard strike on a rope, and his deep ball tends to flutter, he has more than enough arm to challenge secondaries in the deep third. Coleman comfortably pushes the ball from the opposite hash to the far sideline, and can fit stick throws into tight windows.
Overall, Coleman demonstrates solid upper body mechanics, featuring a smooth, compact, consistently repeatable delivery with a quick release, from an overhead slot. He does a good job keeping the ball high and tight during his backpedal and read progressions, and the pedal is balanced. However, his footwork tends to be choppy, with steps of inconsistent length, and he doesn’t always get good, or the same, depth with his drop. When set, Coleman displays a solid, wide throwing base, and delivers with good balance, with the notable exception being three-step throws to the left, where he tends to rush himself and falls away laterally upon release. When not facing pocket pressure, he forcefully steps into throws, and follows through completely, transferring weight to the front foot, and snapping his hips into the throw. However, when pressured, or forced to move off his spot, he rushes his delivery, usually getting the upper-body ahead of the lower, with the result being balls that sail or a loss of accuracy. Coleman particularly struggles with pressure up the middle, where he’ll throw off his back foot, or even while falling away; here, it’s virtually an entire upper-body throw. And, he has difficulty quickly re-setting his feet and hips, when moving from one read to the next, or when forced to move in the pocket. In these situations, he often won’t square his shoulders, and, again the upper and lower body are disconnected.
