Name: Alex Snyder
College: Tufts
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 226
Q: If you could describe your style of play in 3 words, what would they be?
Alex: Competitive, Cerebral, Confident.
Q: How are you going to train/prepare this offseason in preparation for the draft or other pro opportunities?
Alex: I have been training with former NFL quarterback Tim Jenkins and the Jenkins Elite team, which includes three former NFL players, in Denver, CO since early January. I am training alongside Austin Apodaca of the University of New Mexico and PJ Walker from Temple University. Our Training consists of weight training that begins at 6:00 am, followed by NFL install meetings wherein we go over NFL pass concepts, protection, and run game before being quizzed on the whiteboard. Following our whiteboard sessions, we work on combine prep at Elite Speed in Centennial, CO. The staff and facility there is great. From speed training, we head to the field where we work on the routes and concepts that we installed earlier in the day. The afternoons consist of recovery, arm care, reviewing the film of our throwing sessions from earlier in the day, New England Patriots film, as well as Wonderlic testing. I attended the NFL regional combine in Seattle, and will now be preparing for my pro-day.
Q: If you could compare yourself to one current or former NFL player who would it be and why?
Alex: I am nowhere close to as football smart as Tom Brady yet, but I have always tried to replicate my game after his, so he is definitely one of the QB’s I look up to. I can still remember in 2005, I was in 5th grade and the Patriots were playing the Pittsburgh Steelers, immediately following the game my older brother and I went outside and I tried to replicate Tom Brady’s throwing motion as best that I could. Even now, twelve years later, I watch film of him once a week. I am currently working on popping my back hip and turning my back foot like he does. In addition, Tom Brady knows the game and defenses so well, and that will be an emphasis of my training from here on out. I think Tom Brady is such a great QB because he figured out long ago what is important when it comes to playing the quarterback position, and he was right. It’s not about tremendous arm strength, running ability, stats, or speed. Instead, the quarterback position is about being situationally aware, cerebral, and accurate. I think young QB’s like myself should pay attention to that.
Q: When you are studying film, what do you focus on or look for?
Alex: When I watch film of NFL defenses, I focus a lot on fronts and blitzes. Coverages are obviously important to know and dissect, but being able to identify fronts, DL stunts, dogs, and blitzes will be imperative at the next level. When I watch NFL QB’s, I focus on footwork and their eyes. My footwork has been the most important part of my training due to the fact that I played out of the gun more often than not in college. I think the great QB’s use their eyes very effectively in order to manipulate defenses. You see #12 up north and #12 in the northeast do it all the time on film and it’s part of what differentiates them.
Q: What separates you from other players at your position?
Alex: There are a lot of great QB’s in this year’s class and they all possess good traits and characteristics. I am fortunate and blessed to have the height and size that I do, and it certainly helps being a big quarterback. More importantly however, I think that what separates me is that I have a great perspective on what is important for a QB to work on and emphasize in their training in order to succeed. I think a lot of young QB’s get caught up in the “hoopla” that is the read option, spread option, and RPO offenses. There is a reason that Tom Brady, by and large, runs similar concepts that Joe Montana ran. Defensive coverages have the same vulnerabilities against certain pro concepts. And that is coming from a guy who played in a “spread option, read option, and RPO system” for four seasons in college. At the next level things are different, and I am excited to get a chance to be coached, and to play in a Pro system because it will undoubtedly fit my game better. I can’t wait to see how much my game will improve, and how quickly it will improve, with that type of coaching.
Q: What kind of abilities would you bring to a team that will stand out both on and off the field?
Alex: I have a leadership style that exudes confidence and a fiery competitiveness on the field mixed with responsibility off the field. Off the field I have always tried to set a great example of how to act and to do the right thing. I have never been in trouble and I won’t be in the future. Just call my college coaches or my teammates and they will tell you the exact same thing.
Q: What is your final pitch/sell to NFL and other pro league scouts?
Alex: I just want to win. Not that interested in the fame and recognition that comes alongside playing the quarterback position or even the contracts that make headline news, call me crazy. I’ve been around those types of QB’s and to be honest, I can’t stand them. I will commit myself to doing everything that I’m responsible for to win games. If a team is not interested in that, then I’m not sure what they are looking for.
[…] Quarterback Malcolm Bell – North Carolina Central Dakota Conwell – West Liberty Justin Lane – Central Washington Cooper Rush – Central Michigan Alex Snyder – Tufts […]