Wisconsin Football: Joel Stave’s Combine Goals
By Jim Oxley
What Wisconsin football quarterback Joel Stave needs to do at the combine
The 2016 NFL Combine continues on Wednesday with the second group of players arriving in Indianapolis and undergoing their orientation and initial medical examinations and interviews. Among those arriving on Day 2 is Wisconsin football quarterback Joel Stave.
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Stave is one of 18 quarterbacks to be invited to the combine, and one of five Big Ten quarterbacks showing off for NFL scouts.
He’s an intriguing NFL prospect, likely destined to fight for a backup position in training camp, but a prospect who NFL coaches will covet for his physical skills alone.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com quoted an unnamed NFL executive as saying, “He’s got the physical tools that are going to get him drafted and give him a shot with a team. Coaches who are just seeing him are going to be more excited about him than the scouts who know him.”
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That right there shows the No. 1 rule in any sport, whether it be football, basketball, baseball or any other sport: you can’t teach body type, and Joel Stave has the prototypical body to be an NFL quarterback.
Teams will take a chance on his deficiencies as his upside could be worth a lot in the long run.
Speaking of those deficiencies, Stave will need to work on a few regardless of his size. He’s going to have to be very accurate in the passing drills, because if he can’t be accurate without defenders, teams won’t trust his accuracy in game situations.
Stave has a tendency to under throw deep balls and not lead receivers well in other routes, and will need to show improvement in those categories.
His other major deficiency as a quarterback, his decision-making, won’t really come into play too much, as he will be throwing single routes in the combine.
As a quarterback, the psychological testing will also be big for Stave. Teams will want to know he can be a leader and won’t get down on himself when he makes a mistake, so the psychological tests will carry some weight.
Stave will reportedly be throwing at the combine, a workout many of the top quarterbacks skip.
Josh Woodrum has been designated as 1 of 3 throwing QBs at the NFL Combine. Oregon's Vernon Adams and Wisconsin's Joel Stave, the others.
— A Sea of Red (@ASeaofRed) February 19, 2016
That means Stave will likely go through all the drills, from the 40-yard dash and cone drills to the throwing drills. Here’s a look at what that entails, as highlighted by former Badgers QB Russell Wilson.
Stave will arrive in Indianapolis on Wednesday, and will undergo his orientation, initial medical exams and X-rays, and initial interviews.
More from Football
- Wisconsin Football flips 3-star defensive tackle from Northwestern
- Former Wisconsin Football stars to be featured on the next Wheaties box
- Believe it or not, Wisconsin Football has never played these FBS teams
- Four-star running back Darrion Dupree commits to Wisconsin Football
- Wisconsin Football wide receiver enters the transfer portal
On Thursday, Stave will have his official measurements and medical examinations and will have media and team interviews. Friday brings more interviews, the NFLPA meeting, psycholigical evaluations and the bench press.
Saturday is Stave’s big day for on-the-field drills, including passing drills and the regular agility drills – 40 yard dash, cone drills, broad/vertical, etc.
Stave will be looking to boost his draft stock, and will start that process Wednesday.
Next: NFL Combine Schedule and TV Information
Stay tuned to Badger of Honor for more coverage of Joel Stave and other Wisconsin football players at the NFL Combine.