After​ ​a​ ​record​ ​setting​ ​college​ ​career​ ​where​ ​McCarron​ ​threw​ ​for​ ​over​ ​9,000​ ​yards​ ​with​ ​77 touchdowns​ ​to​ ​only​ ​15​ ​interceptions​ ​while​ ​leading​ ​the​ ​Crimson​ ​to​ ​two​ ​BCS​ ​national​ ​titles​ ​he​ ​was selected​ ​in​ ​the​ ​5th​ ​round​ ​by​ ​the​ ​Bengals.​ ​The​ ​book​ ​on​ ​McCarron​ ​coming​ ​out​ ​of​ ​college​ ​was filled​ ​with​ ​a​ ​certain​ ​degree​ ​of​ ​skepticism​ ​in​ ​terms​ ​of​ ​just​ ​how​ ​he​ ​would​ ​transition​ ​to​ ​pro​ ​game.​ ​In just​ ​three​ ​short​ ​years​ ​McCarron​ ​has​ ​proven​ ​his​ ​doubters​ ​wrong​ ​by​ ​performing​ ​at​ ​a​ ​high​ ​level when​ ​given​ ​the​ ​opportunity​ ​to​ ​play​ ​as​ ​a​ ​pro.​ ​McCarron​ ​is​ ​entering​ ​his​ ​4th​ ​year​ ​in​ ​the​ ​league​ ​and is​ ​viewed​ ​throughout​ ​the​ ​league​ ​as​ ​a​ ​starting​ ​caliber​ ​quarterback.

Analysis

A.J​ ​McCarron​ ​is​ ​a​ ​refined​ ​thrower​ ​of​ ​the​ ​football.​ ​What​ ​stands​ ​out​ ​from​ ​his​ ​2015​ ​tape​ ​is​ ​his ability​ ​to​ ​be​ ​decisive​ ​as​ ​a​ ​decision​ ​maker​ ​on​ ​a​ ​variety​ ​of​ ​throws​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as​ ​his​ ​somewhat​ ​rare ability​ ​to​ ​anticipate​ ​windows​ ​with​ ​the​ ​needed​ ​ball​ ​trajectory​ ​-​ ​Meaning​ ​he​ ​has​ ​an​ ​intuitive​ ​almost instinctive​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​manipulate​ ​ball​ ​trajectory​ ​to​ ​ensure​ ​completion​ ​and​ ​he​ ​is​ ​able​ ​to​ ​do​ ​this​ ​while throwing​ ​with​ ​anticipation.​ ​McCarron​ ​is​ ​very​ ​sound​ ​mechanically​ ​and​ ​throws​ ​with​ ​a​ ​very​ ​clean delivery.​ ​There​ ​is​ ​a​ ​smoothness​ ​to​ ​his​ ​release​ ​and​ ​at​ ​times​ ​his​ ​motion​ ​can​ ​become​ ​a​ ​bit elongated.​ ​He​ ​shows​ ​solid​ ​ball​ ​placement​ ​and​ ​touch​ ​and​ ​is​ ​able​ ​to​ ​push​ ​the​ ​ball​ ​down​ ​the​ ​field. His​ ​average​ ​arm​ ​strength​ ​can​ ​be​ ​an​ ​issue​ ​during​ ​times​ ​of​ ​duress​ ​but​ ​often​ ​is​ ​mitigated​ ​due​ ​to his​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​make​ ​quick​ ​decisions​ ​and​ ​get​ ​the​ ​ball​ ​out​ ​of​ ​his​ ​hand.​ ​His​ ​career​ ​path​ ​up​ ​until​ ​this

point​ ​has​ ​been​ ​similar​ ​to​ ​Jimmy​ ​Garoppolo​ ​as​ ​they​ ​are​ ​both​ ​viewed​ ​as​ ​young​ ​quarterbacks​ ​with starter​ ​potential.​ ​We​ ​consider​ ​McCarron​ ​to​ ​be​ ​a​ ​notch​ ​below​ ​Garoppolo.

2017​ ​Prediction

​McCarron’s​ ​role​ ​is​ ​already​ ​set​ ​heading​ ​into​ ​the​ ​year​ ​as​ ​he​ ​will​ ​be​ ​the​ ​backup​ ​to​ ​Dalton​ ​once again.​ ​He​ ​has​ ​a​ ​bright​ ​future​ ​whether​ ​that​ ​ends​ ​up​ ​being​ ​with​ ​the​ ​Bengals​ ​or​ ​elsewhere.​ ​If things​ ​get​ ​shaky​ ​with​ ​Dalton​ ​this​ ​year​ ​the​ ​team​ ​may​ ​turn​ ​to​ ​McCarron​ ​at​ ​some​ ​point.