Will Levis
Levis is a difficult evaluation. Not many QBs can say their situation might get better as they go to the pro's. I think that is the case with both Levis and AR.
Levis had a better 2021 than 2022. He had a young team around him this season, freshmen receivers and very young linemen. He also was dealing with three injuries including a turf toe which hurt his scrambling and perhaps his throwing mechanics. People have suggested his age is a detriment compared to a 21 Stroud and a 21 AR, but the age isn’t something I’m worried about, he is 23 when he will be drafted its still ok.
Lets take a look at Levis because there is a good chance he could be the QB chosen soon. Levis started at Penn St and he was more the gimmicky running QB there, he did not win the starting job. He finished his degree and decided to go to Kentucky for grad school and to start. People ask why he didn’t start at Penn St because the starter isn’t great, and I don’t know. But I will say it isn’t always about who is the best QB, sometimes its about other things, internal politics, boosters. There can be other reasons. Levis graduates from Penn St in two years with a degree in finance and near 4.0. He decides to transfer to UK for grad school and playing time.
Before going to UK, Levis took the opportunity to go up to Canada and work with the biometrics team up there. He worked on his throwing motion and specifically using his hips when throwing. I think it made a noticeable difference because he now has a whip like motion from his hips when throwing and it definitely affected the speed of his release and power.
Levis gets to Kentucky and Liam Coen is the OC there, the WR coach from the Rams. He has a pro-style system that comes from the McVey coaching tree. He has pro prospects protecting him on the line and several receivers who will be drafted. Levis completed 66.0 percent of his passes that season for 2,827 yards, 24 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 13 games; he rushed for 376 rushing yards and a team-high nine touchdowns. He played a key role in Kentucky’s fourth 10-win season in program history. They win 10 games go to a pro game, are one of the best offenses in the SEC, Levis is a first round pick and the first QB taken if he goes pro. Instead he decides to come back for another year even though he could be one of the top QB’s drafted in 2022.
Coen goes back to the Rams for 2022, but at UK the Wildcats hire Rich Scangarello from the 49’ers. The terminology mainly stays the same but the offense is a different pro-style offense with different base packages. More emphasis on TE’s and and RB’s. Levis has to learn his third offense in three years, while still maintaining a 4.0 in grad school. Uk also has a rebuilt oline and freshmen receivers. Things don’t go well. Levis is constantly under pressure, he gets hurt with a turf toe, shoulder and finger injuries. He can’t practice very well, he has trouble planting his foot and being explosive. He also has some mechanics issues called pigeon toeing where he doesn’t point his foot at the target. Fans will remember this from the Wentz days. Although some of this could be due to his turf toe. The season ends up being a disappointment, Levis graduates and enters the draft at 23 years old.
Levis opted out of his bowl game (and UK didn’t even score in it) and went to work with one of the best QB coaches around. People criticized him for not improving much. But at the combine Levis did look noticeably improved especially throwing to his left which he struggled with during the year. I think he can improve his mechanics with work.
What he does well
Levis got a 93% reportedly on the S2, he is smart with a relentless work ethic reflected in his grades and learning three different pro-style systems. He has a big powerful arm with a quick release. A top athlete he has the physical tools to be compared to Josh Allen. He would normally be the strongest armed QB but Richardson is in the draft and might be slightly stronger. Still he can make every throw on the field and will be able to throw the entire route tree. He also has such a quick release, it allows him to hold the ball a split second more to study the defense because the window for his throw stays open longer due to that arm strength. While so many college offenses rely on tempo and short play calls from sideline poster boards, Levis’ play calls in the huddle were 15-20 words, and he went to the line with three checks on every play. He can also run when necessary and had a high number of runs called for him with the Coen system, but is not as elusive as say a Richardson or Jackson. He reminds me a bit of Luck in his running. He is not afraid of taking a hit and is a tough runner. He could learn to slide a bit more. His running attempts dropped this season because of his injuries.
There are a couple analytics why people like him
This is the % of passes deemed uncatchable when a QB is under pressure vs when a QB is kept clean. Top right is where you want to be. This is the premiere Levis stat and what sold a lot of teams. QBs are always under pressure and this shows how they perform when under that pressure.
According to his former OC Coen:
“Man, you could see the talent,” Coen said. “He killed it because he outworked everybody. He was named captain after eight days of practice, and he wasn’t even the starting quarterback yet. Blood, sweat, tears, he’s going to compete, study film. The kid works his tail off, and he’s an extremely intelligent person
“He works at everything he does,” Coen told The Athletic. “When you get him in the building in a competitive and supportive atmosphere and let him go, I think his best football is ahead of him.”
What he doesn’t do well
Levis had a penchant for turnovers last season, some said he was trying to compensate for the bad team around him and he was trying to do too much. He also has poor feel in the pocket. He seems the anti-Bryce Young at times. He took a lot of hits the past two seasons and I think this is partly where some of the Wentz comps come from. Although he did get blindsided a lot because his line just could not hold up. But his feel in the pocket doesn’t seem very good. Levis will have to speed up his read and release in the pros. Also when he takes off to run, too often he closes down the option to throw and doesn’t continue to look for receivers when on the move.
His Fit
There has been some debate on what team Levis would be a best fit. I personally think Steichen can build around anyone. He molds around his personnel. I would see a similar system that he utilized with Herbert. Play action with deep passes. Levis does a great job with dig routes and a short game, and some Colts podcasters have said he is a better fit with a New England or Vegas system. But I think you want to take advantage of his big arm and ability to run. Herbert had one of the best rookie seasons ever under Steichen. Something Levis mentioned in his Manning camp video, he talked about how Peyton did a great job with the play action and was such a master at it, he even watched an old video of Peyton teaching it when he was young. Which tells me he is a student of the game and other QBs.
More quotes from Coen:.
“If you can have a really good run game, limit the amount of straight dropbacks other than naturally third-down, gotta-have-it, red zone (situations),” Coen said. “There are going to be some straight dropback that you’re going to have to compete in an NFL game. But if you can limit the amount of straight dropback that he has, that’s for any young quarterback. You don’t want them standing in the pocket just seeing a million different things and having a bunch of guys breathing down your neck. That’s not an ideal place for a young quarterback, especially a young quarterback who doesn’t have a ton of true quarterback, pocket experience.
“But if you get him in an offense where you run the football, get him on the perimeter with bootlegs and nakeds and movement, then max-protect play-pass, he can make every throw. I’m not saying what they should do. That’s what I would do — try to limit the amount of dropbacks, (do some) quick-game, RPOs, get him on the run a little bit with lead blockers like they do with Josh Allen and Daniel Jones. Because he likes to get hit. He likes to run and play the game. He was just limited last year with an injury.
“The guy’s superpower is play-action, pushing the ball downfield, making every throw on the field. That’s his superpower. That’s what he’s great at.”
I think a deep passing play action game would work well with him. His ability to run and quick release would allow him to buy more time reading the defense in the backfield.
Final Conclusion
Levis is still a work in progress. A athletic QB who had a down injury plagued year. He has a high ceiling if he can address his mechanics issues. I think he has a sky high ceiling, its just been not as talked about because Richardson’s ceiling is higher. But there is a lot to like there. Experience with two pro-style systems. Calling from the huddle, making reads and adjusting. He is smart and maintained a 4.0 through school. But one of the things I like the most is his dedication to the game and his work ethic. That was always the thing that separated Peyton from everyone, it was his work ethic. I think Levis has a similar drive, and with so many guys seemingly playing video games or have other interests, its nice to know that this guy will be a dedicated pro from day one.