You can learn a lot about what you need to know about a player from studying his tape but there is a limit to the information that can be gained using that avenue. The measurements and the drills get the most attention during every NFL Combine but it’s the in-person meetings that can make or break a prospect’s chances of being selected at the top of the board.

If the Bengals had any doubt regarding Joe Burrow’s status entering the 2020 NFL Combine, those questions appear to have been answered during Cincinnati’s meeting with the reigning Heisman Trophy winner on Wednesday.

In a recent interview with the team website, Cincinnati offensive coordinator Brian Callahan admitted he was impressed with not only Burrow but Tua Tagovailoa and former Oregon signal-caller Justin Herbert.

“It’s one thing to hear what you hear, see what you see,” Callahan said. “But to get face-to-face and ask questions about the scheme, those are things we like to get a feel for.”

All the team’s meetings may have gone well but when it came to Burrow’s knowledge of the game, Callahan noted he sees some of the same characteristics he saw in Peyton Manning and Matthew Stafford during their careers. Callahan worked with Manning in Denver and with Stafford in Detriot.

“Mentally,” Callahan added. “Based on what I’ve seen and everything I’ve heard about (Burrow), it’s just their mental makeup. Very similar. They don’t put themselves in that position without being wired the right way. Their preparation habits. Peyton was notoriously one of the best ever at preparation and Stafford quietly is right there with him.

When it comes to making plays on the field, the thing that separates Burrow from the rest of the draft hopefuls is his awareness and ability to move in the pocket. Time and time again, Burrow’s ability to extend plays proved to be the difference for the Tigers last season and that’s something Callahan seemed to appreciate more than anything else.

“Either they have the feel or they don’t and Joe’s got it in spades. A great natural feel in the pocket,” Callahan concluded. “Guys I’ve been around, some have really great feel, some have OK feel. There are some things you can do to get better. You can drill it. But really, at the end of the day, it’s such a feel–based thing for quarterbacks. The guys that are the best at it keep their eyes downfield. They move and slide while getting the ball to different receivers. Those are the guys you can’t teach that.”