OM Draft Guide - The Orange Mane

ICON · 03-14-2007, 01:04 PM

1 Gaines Adams, Clemson 6046 258 4.64 -- 1.58 2.71 35 9-11 4.36 -- 7.17 --
BRS (Gollin) - Some consider him the best pass rusher among this year's DE crop and is currently everyone's favorite mock selection for the Cardinals at #5. We're not sure if (a) we need another DE or (b) our new regime (like Mac and Vince did with Simeon Rice) is smitten by this year's hot pass rusher.

nflscouts.com - There hasn't been a defensive end with a better combination of size, athleticism and production in 2006 than Adams...virtually unstoppable as a senior...At 6-5, 260 pounds, Adams has the size the NFL is looking for in a pass rushing defensive end.... not only shows the speed off the edge to be an instant sack artist, but contributes in other ways. First Clemson defensive lineman in 30 years to lead the team in pass breakups with nine last year. Though his height and speed off the edge are his most impressive features, Adams has become a more disciplined run defender as well. Upside Tall, athletic build with the room for additional muscle mass without the loss of quickness. Good burst off the edge. Rare first step for a player of his size and can beat the offensive tackle with his initial move. Short area quickness and can explode into his tackles. Good speed in pursuit. Can track down the ball carrier and tackle from behind. Strong hands to control the offensive tackle and can disengage when the ball is coming toward him. Athleticism to spare. A standout based on just his size and athletic ability. Could prove to be a true difference-maker at the next level with improved technique and more consistent effort. Has made a considerable jump in sack production as a senior. Wasn't considered a high motor player early in his career, but has matured and is now considered a team leader. Downside Previously had a reputation for getting by on just his athletic ability. Plays low at the snap, but rises as the action goes on, eventually giving up leverage....lacks the stout frame to handle double-teams at the point of attack. Still learning how to recognize blocking schemes and can disappear for long stretches. Can get frustrated if held in check for a long period and will overcompensate on his rush. Will lose contain by rushing too far outside, opening up big holes for patient running attacks. Some concern that his play could level off once he isn't playing for the big money contract.

Sporting News War Room - Had a strong '06 season to separate himself from the other senior defensive ends. Fantastic athlete and should be an NFL starter as a rookie. Much better against the pass than the run but should improve in that area with experience. Has the versatility to play end in a 4-3 scheme or outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Upside Rare athleticism. Has fantastic speed and pass-rush skills. Excels at shedding blocks. Shows nice footwork. Never stops working, and makes plays in pursuit all over the field. Is explosive. Downside A bit undersized. Can be pushed around in the running game. Must add some weight to take on NFL linemen. Struggles against big and quick linemen who swallow up his bag of moves. Will have the occasional mental lapse. Can be over-aggressive and miss tackles. Falls in love with his spin move, becoming much easier to block.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ
2 Jamaal Anderson, Arkansas (UC) 6053 288 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --
BRS (Gollin) - Well regarded - played LDE, has nice size and is less likely to be considered a weakside edge rusher than most DE's in this draft. Various pundits rate him anywhere from #1 to #4 among DE prospects. We'd like some more measured info on him.

nflscouts.com - His combination of size and athleticism and spectacular production against the ultra-talented SEC speaks of his upside. He led the team with 26 quarterback hurries and finished a half-sack short of tying the Razorbacks' single-season record of 14 held by Henry Ford and Steven Conley. Nutt called Anderson "an excellent student-athlete and an excellent role model." Upside Rare size for the position. Still growing into his frame and is not yet a finished product despite leading the SEC in both sacks and tackles for loss in 2006. Good initial burst off the LOS . Attacks the LOS with speed and is often past the offensive tackle and creating pressure on the quarterback before the play has time to develop. Size and strength to be a standout defender against the run with more development. Performed well against the best competition. Downside Despite monster numbers, he's far from a finished product. Has good speed to get across the offensive tackle's face, but if he doesn't make it, he struggles to break free from blocks. Doesn't use his hands well and doesn't always keep his feet moving. Many of his big plays have come from stunts... plays with strength and can hold up at the POA when he plays low and with leverage. Too often, however, he gets too high out of his stance and is blown off the LOS . Also, often loops wide in his pass rush, leaving gaping holes for the draw and screen. Predominately rushed from the left defensive end position but will likely be moved to the right end position at the NFL level to take advantage of his pass rush potential (and problems against the run).

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ
3 Adam Carriker, Nebraska (DT) 6060 296 4.72 33 1.60 2.81 33.5 9-2 4.18 -- 7.06 --

BRS (Gollin) - Reminds me of Ken Wakefield - only quicker around the corner. Versatile - Can play practically all techniques except perhaps the zero (due to his height and higher COG at the point). But we like him best as a run stopping, pass rushing outside force against the strong side or as a 3- 4 DE.

nflscouts.com - Though not the flashiest pass rusher, there are NFL scouts who feel Carriker will prove to be a better pro than collegiate defensive end -- a scary thought considering Carriker will enter the NFL coming off consecutive all conference efforts. One of the few true defensive ends of recent years to be big and athletic enough to draw the interest of NFL teams using both the 4-3 and 3-4 alignments. Upside Tall, long armed player with an even build. Surprising quickness for such a large man. High effort, high intensity player. Can beat offensive tackle with his initial quickness, but also has some pass rush moves and plays to the whistle. Keeps his hands working to break free from blocks. At his best holding up at the POA against the run. Rare size at end and plays with terrific overall strength and technique. Good short area burst to make the play when the opportunity presents itself. Pursues well, showing surprising straight line speed. Downside Bulked up to 285 pounds, adding 10 pounds of muscle this past off-season, but did lose some of his burst. Great size, but doesn't use his height and long arms to his advantage enough to deflect passes at the LOS . Lacks the burst off the snap to be a classic pass rusher at defensive end. Could play the left end position in the 4-3, but seems better suited to the 3-4 end position where he'll be asked to take up blockers rather than make plays on his own.

Senior Bowl Notes (fr War Room) - Had another strong day, playing mostly at end. He used his hands well to take on and defeat run blocks and easily beat Ryan Harris in scrimmage with good pass-rush moves at the point of contact.

Sporting News War Room - Tough prospect to grade because he is tackle/end 'tweener. Not a good athlete and does not produce at a high level. He has the size and strength to be a solid two-gap tackle in a 4-3 scheme or end in a 3-4 defense, but he is not going to make many impact plays. Upside Is tough and competitive and productive. Plays with knees bent, and uses hands to lock onto offensive linemen, get arm extension and hold his ground at the POA. Has the speed to chase down running backs when unblocked on the backside. Shows the effort and desire to make tackles downfield. Has quick hands to beat offensive linemen with arm-over move. Has ideal size for a strongside defensive end. Downside A limited athlete. Lacks explosiveness and speed to threaten the corner as a speed rusher. Does not change directions quickly, hindering ability to move through traffic. Does not use his hands well to protect legs from cut blocks. Is so tall it hinders ability to get low and shed blocks. Bites on play-action fakes away, allowing quarterbacks to roll around him and throw to the tight end.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ
4 Baraka Atkins, Miami (FL) DT 6044 271 4.69 22 1.56 2.77 33 9-4 4.67 -- 7.02 --
BRS (Gollin) - Versatile - Quick enough to play DE; strong enough to play the Under DT position. Sound techniques, but pass rushing production fell off last year.

East-West Notes (fr War Room) - Stood out as the best defensive linemen on the East, clearly at an athletic level above the other linemen. While NFL types are still trying to figure out if he fits best at end or tackle, he showed that he has the quick feet, quick hands and agility to beat offensive tackles when rushing the passer from the edge. ...had another great day and has gone a long way toward showing that he can play either end or tackle in the NFL...very polished in his pass-rush moves and consistently beat offensive tackles in one-on-one drills, inside and around the corner with equal frequency. While many still believe that Atkins can play anywhere along the defensive line, his play at DE really helped his draft status. He clearly does not have the explosiveness to threaten the corner, but he showed the quick hands/feet and polished pass-rush

nflscouts.com -Has the size, athletic ability and experience the NFL is looking for. Concern: He may be more of a 'tweener than versatile asset at the NFL level. Upside Long-armed, lean upper body, with thicker, more powerful lower. Good initial quickness off the snap. Can usually gain enough of the edge to provide at least some threat of a pass rush when at defensive end. Rare agility and balance for a player of his size. Has even been used as a linebacker in the zone blitz, showing surprising quickness and instincts for the position. Sniffs out screens and draws quickly and rarely loses contain. Good strength as a run defender while playing defensive end. Holds up at the POA and can shed blockers on his way to making the play. As a defensive tackle, Atkins shows the quickness to gain an instant advantage, especially when slipping through the gaps. Adequate strength at the POA while playing inside. Good use of hands to disengage from blockers as both an end and tackle. Very good pursuit down the line as either an end or tackle. More fast than quick. Plays hard. Downside Considered by some to be a 'tweener. Lacks explosiveness off the edge and isn't a natural pass rusher who has to be accounted for on every snap. Lacks the bulk for the interior defensive line position. Struggles against the double team despite being an active, hard-working player.Lack of consistent production led to Atkins being benched early in his senior season.

Sporting News War Room - Sleek, penetrating versatile lineman who can play end or tackle and will be a first-round pick. Once coaches get a good look at him in pre-draft workouts, he should shoot up the draft boards. With his kind of burst to consistently blow up plays in the backfield, he is headed toward a solid NFL career. Upside - Great coordination, body control and balance. Excels at using hands and penetrating. Is strong and explodes at the point of attack. Produces well against the run and pass. Is durable. Has the body to play end or tackle. Shows first-step quickness to make blockers whiff. Runs smoothly. Can change directions and accelerate to blow up plays in the backfield. Downside Sack production in college isn't top notch; consistency has slipped since '04. Makes a few mental mistakes.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ
5 Anthony Spencer, Purdue 6027 261 4.70 30 1.64 2.74 32.5 9-4 4.43 7.14 -- --
BRS (Gollin) - Not as fast as his estimated 4.61, but still considered by some to be the best pure edge rusher of this year's draft. Being considered for OLB but feels more comfortable down (and seems to lack the COD needed to play off the line). Will also be tried out at OLB. Mayock rates him as his #5 DE. Good functional strength.

nflscouts.com - Since Joe Tiller took over the program ten years ago, Purdue has sent the likes of Chike Okeafor (1999), Rosevelt Colvin (1999), Akin Ayodele (2003), Shaun Phillips (2004) and Ray Edwards (2006) to the NFL. When he is in position to make a play, Spencer is among the country's best at not just tackling the ball carrier, but exploding into him and forcing the potentially game-changing turnover. Upside Thick upper body. A little short, but rock solid 265-pounder. Good straight line speed (4.65) and overall athleticism. Good initial quickness off the snap. Good use of hands to slap away the offensive tackle's initial hand punch. Keeps his hands in a constant state of motion to make it difficult for pass blockers to slow his progress. Locates the ball quickly and works hard to get in position to make a play on the ball. Good lateral pursuit and effort. Good short-area quickness and is able to capitalize when the ball is near. Surprising strength at POA. Knows how to stack at the LOS , using his own natural leverage advantage and upper body strength to disrupt the running game. Has steadily improved his pass rush skills throughout his career. Downside Lacks prototypical size at POA. Uses his hands well to hinder offensive tackle's efforts to latch on to him, but is prone to getting velcro'd.. Strong enough to hold up to double teams in the running game at this level, but lack of size will cause him problems at the NFL level. Great timed speed, but not necessarily pursuit speed. Questions about his motor were an early concern.

Sporting News War Room - Bottom line: Not an exciting prospect, but he grows on you. In the games we graded him, Spencer was involved in a play for every 6.7 snaps (excellent for a DE). Tough and polished and probably drafted slightly higher than we rate him. Can become a solid NFL starter but never a dominant, explosive pass rusher. If drafted by a 3-4 team, he could shift to OLB but will need work in coverage. Upside Quick, smart and instinctive. First defensive lineman moving at the snap. Uses hands well to move offensive tackles. Does a great job of checking for fakes/rollouts before pursuing the ball. Can chase down ballcarriers from the backside. Takes on run blocks with good leverage, and uses hands well to string along outside runs and force the runner back inside. When he can't reach the quarterback, he gets hands up into the passing lanes. Great technique. Downside Looks more like a linebacker. Lacks explosion to consistently beat offensive tackles around the corner. Lacks strength. Struggles to shed blockers once they lock on. Gets chopped to the ground too often, and does not always move through traffic well. Makes few impact plays.

ICON · 03-14-2007, 01:05 PM

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ
6 Charles Johnson, Georgia (UC) 6022 270 4.84 33 1.63 2.77 34 9-10 -- -- 7.50 --
BRS (Gollin) - More solid and consistent than flashy. Short but still gets his hands up. Projected solely as a weakside pass rusher, but 4.84 isn't particularly impressive in this respect.

nflscouts.com - Especially intriguing is his performance in big games. Johnson ended his career at Georgia on a high note with his huge game, one that will garner him even more attention from pro scouts. Upside Squatty, powerful frame with thick limbs. Good quickness off the snap. Generates good speed off his pass rush, forcing the offensive tackle to get wide quickly. Good overall strength. Limited arsenal of pass rush moves at this point, but varies them effectively and can produce with each of them. Bull rush, spin back to inside, swim and rip moves. Disciplined defender. Effective stunt defender. Often asked to take an inside rush, forcing the tackle to follow him, and opening up an outside lane for other defenders to rush the passer. Good balance and vision as a run defender. Not blown off the line despite obvious size limitations. Keeps his feet moving laterally and in pursuit. Protects his knees well, rarely being blocked effectively by cuts. One of key characteristics is his consistent ability to deflect passes. Led team in passes broken up (nine). Only 6-2, but times his jumps well and uses his arms to shrink passing lanes. Good wrap-up tackler. Downside Lack of height means he'll likely have to play right defensive end in NFL. Not an explosive athlete. Makes plays because of hustle and determination, rather than jaw-dropping athleticism. Plays with good overall strength versus the run, but struggles versus double-teams. Only one season as a starter. Took advantage of early focus on Moses, with four games with multi-tackles for loss coming in the first half of the season and only one (Virginia Tech) in the second half. Flashy big-play defender, but lack of tackle assists (eight) reflects of a lack of pursuit.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ
7 Jarvis Moss, Florida (UC) 6064 250 4.70 16 1.59 2.68 30..5 10-0 -- -- -- --
BRS (Gollin) - Tall & very slender. Starts out primarily as an edge-rusher only, but there's no reason why he can't add 20 pounds, get stronger and become better vs. the run. There's no indication that the resemblance to Simeon goes beyond the physical.

nflscouts.com - Compares to Simeon Rice. Some experts compare him to Jevon Kearse, but while Moss has Kearse-like quickness he lacks the bulk and upper body strength to defeat face-up blockers. Could possible move to outside linebacker in a 3-4, but at least brings instant value in third-down passing situations. Regarded as one of the premier high school defensive ends in the country, but pelvic bone injury suffered during his senior year at Ryan High School kept him off the field for most of his first two seasons and literally kept him off his feet. Upside: Tall, lanky frame with broad shoulders, tight waist and good bubble...Moves very well coming off the edge and will bring immediate value in third-down passing situations...above average balance and flexibility on the move with explosive acceleration in backside pursuit...Fluid and flexible athlete with very crisp COD agility...Makes quick reads and reacts with good urgency once he locates the ball...Despite limited reps until 2006, it is rare to see him get faked out...Learns with normal reps and is a self-starter who puts in the extra hours after practice...Plays with good aggression, but is best when he avoids or slips past blocks rather than trying to engage the offensive lineman (lacks the bulk and strength to control)...Moves well off the line, getting his best production when he beats the OT coming out of his stance...outstanding burst off the snap...initial step lets him beat the offensive tackle to the spot and he has that extra gear to run by them...High energy type who closes on the ball with good pad level...Defeats blocks with quickness rather than power...When he gets a free lane, can knife through and penetrate the line...very good lateral movement in pursuit - explosive form tackler when closing on the quarterback...Has the speed to give chase along the perimeter and can sift out the ball in a pile (four forced fumbles in 2006)...very good hip snap and adequate wrap-up technique, using his long reach to make good arm tackles...What he does best is explode off the edge and generate pressure on the pocket...If not accounted for, he will sack the quarterback due to his speed and pad level (has excellent hip wiggle and shake to juke). Downside: Still trying to recover the strength and bulk he lost while battling his pelvis injury...must add at least another 20 pounds to his frame ...Must keep his hands active, especially vs. low blocks, as he tends to get taken off his feet too much trying to slip through trash ...Plays too high on the move and this causes him to struggle in attempts to squeeze down the rush lane, and will get washed out when he tries to split double teams...More effective playing off the edge, since he lacks the raw power to defeat blocks when lining head up on an opponent...Struggles to disengage when working over the middle & easily defeated vs. face-up blockers...good flexibility, but his hips sink and his feet die when blockers get their hands into his body...Lacks the hand strength to jerk and pull down the offensive linemen (must improve his rip and club moves, but has an efficient swim move)...Pelvic problem must be monitored....Why was he suspended for the 2006 Western Carolina game.

Sporting News War Room - Two sacks in the 41-14 victory against Ohio State.
Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ
8 Antwan Applewhite, S Diego St 6027 250 4.73 25 1.62 2.78 35 9-7 4.36 -- 7.50 --

BRS (Gollin) - Came out a year early. Playmaker and tackling machine at his level of play.

nflscouts.com - A fleet-footed athlete who can make plays all over the field ... Returning sack leader who also recovered three fumbles and was second on the squad in tackles for loss in `05

Sporting News War Room - The feedback (about where he might be drafted) was, apparently it was good enough to make him skip his senior year. Applewhite led the team with seven sacks in 2006 and with 5 1/2 sacks in 2005. He had no sacks in the first six games of 2006 but at least one in each of his last six games.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ
9 Jay Moore, Nebraska 6046 274 4.74 26 1.59 2.81 34 9-10 4.35 -- 7.19 --
BRS (Gollin) - Underrated. Carriker gets most of the ink. OK against the run, but can get rolled at POA. \May lack the explosion required of a premier pass rusher. 4.92 won't make scouts jump up and do a dance. Had good Senior Bowl week.

Senior Bowl Notes - #44 racked up 2 sacks and flashed talent in other ways.-

nflscouts.com - Half of an impressive starting end tandem (with Adam Carriker) for the Husker defense. While Carriker has received more accolades, Moore has quietly produced outstanding seasons each of the past two years. Entered fall practice atop the depth chart at open end. At 6-4 and 280 pounds, he has the size and strength to defend the run, as well as the athletic ability to pressure the quarterback.

Sporting News War Room - Bottom line: Will a team draft him too high because of his smarts, instincts, competitiveness and intangibles or too low because he looks more like a linebacker on film? He will post good numbers in pre-draft workouts. Most teams will view him as an end in a 4-3 scheme, but he might be able to be a big rush linebacker in a 3-4 defense. No matter the position or scheme, he never will be an elite, game-changing sort of player. But he could turn out to be a solid starter who makes more plays than you expect and raises the effort and intensity of teammates because of his warrior-type effort and toughness. Upside Smart, with good instincts. Makes plays against the run and pass. Quick footwork, and consistently is the first defensive lineman moving at the snap. Versatile pass rusher with a good bull rush and quick inside pass-rush moves. Adept at shooting gaps inside of offensive tackles to blow up run plays in the backfield. On running plays away from him, is great at reading the play and maintaining his corner before pursuing the ball. Good special teams player. Downside Looks smaller than his measured size. Struggles to shed offensive linemen once they get their hands on him. Lacks an explosive burst to beat offensive tackles around the corner. Doesn't get consistent leverage on run blocks, and struggles to hold his ground at the point of attack. Doesn't always finish the play. Gets cut to the ground too easily.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP
10 LaMarr Woodley, Michigan 6014 266 4.85 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
BRS (Gollin) - Fireplug LB/DE tweener. who makes big plays. Shawn Merriman Lite. Except that Merriman is taller. Need more measurables on this guy.

nflscouts.com - At 6-1, he lacked the height preferred at defensive end. At 270 pounds, he appears too heavy for outside linebacker. Upside Impressive build. Thick and defined from head to toe. Short, but certainly not small. Good, though not great quickness off the snap. Not a classic speed rusher off the edge. Uses his hands well to disengage from blockers. Active defender who reads the action and pursues with passion. Best asset might be his tackling ability. Both as a defensive end and as an outside linebacker, Woodley shows excellent form and simply doesn't miss. Can be a big hitter and will explode through his tackles, resulting in seven forced fumbles over the past two seasons. Has some warts, but kid plays the way the game is meant to be played. Seems to make big plays when his team needs them the most. Could be a force as a rush linebacker in the 3-4. Downside Size is a concern. ..."tweener in that he isn't big or physical enough to hold up on the edge versus the double team as a classic defensive end. Good straight line speed, but lacks agility in coverage. Not a classic speed rusher off the edge. Plays so hard that he might be maxed out already. Some concern, as well, that he is surrounded by so much talent -- especially in junior defensive tackle Alan Branch -- that he is being freed up to make plays here that won't be available at the next level.

Sporting News War Room - E/OLB ‘tweener similar to Shawne Merriman minus the explosive pass-rush skills. Strong at the POA and pressures the quarterback more often than expected. Should become a good NFL strong side defensive end in a 4-3 scheme but has the versatility to be a linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Upside Strong, with great fundamentals. Consistently plays with good leverage at the POA, and uses hands well to shed blocks. Surprisingly explosive burst to the ball. Carries out his assignments, and never abandons his post when protecting the backside of a play. Watches for cutback runs, and comes down the line quickly to make tackles in pursuit once he determines it is not a misdirection play. Pressures the quarterback mostly through effort and determination. Downside A bit short. Struggles to shed big linemen once they get their hands on him. Lacks the explosiveness off the snap to be an edge rusher.

ICON · 03-14-2007, 01:08 PM

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
1 Amobi Okoye, Louisville 6020 302 5.07 29 1.65 2.87 30 9-3 -- -- 7.46 --
BRS (Gollin) - It's pretty much Okoye and Branch duking it out for top draft position among DT's, with Okoye shooting up the charts and Branch dropping into the second five.. But the tendency is to overhype Senior Bowl and Combine results only to return to sanity after re- reviewing the tape they have on a kid.. Gruden loves him.

Senior Bowl Notes (BRS) - Best lineman in drills.. Super strong and also seems to have most of the moves down. (fr the War Room) - Showed the combination of athleticism and strength to beat offensive linemen with speed, power and quickness. He was a consistent disruptive force, beating up on blockers.

nflscouts.com - A young talent exuding upside...will be among the first defensive tackles selected...signed with Louisville and was playing at defensive tackle at only 16 years old, making him the youngest player in the country. Upside - Short, stocky frame with obvious potential for the nose guard position. Still a little soft in the middle, but thick legs and chest with room for additional growth. Good initial quickness off the snap. Can surprise his opponent and disrupt the play before it has a chance to begin. Can handle double-teams at the POA. is one of his greatest attributes. Plays with good technique and impressive natural strength. Good pad level, use of hands and balance. Can make tackles in the backfield. Good motor - will pursue down the line to make the play. Good overall quickness and surprising straight line speed. Intelligent, hard working and a team leader. Despite age, maturity is not a concern. Will enter the draft at only 19 and is only going to get bigger, stronger and faster. Downside - Simply isn't the 6-4, 320-pounder 4-3 teams are looking for. Can struggle a bit when his initial burst is handled. Obvious upside, but isn't all the way there yet. Showed flashes early on, but took a year and half to begin earning starting time, and will be making a huge jump in competition from the Big East to the NFL. Still developing pass rush moves.

Sporting News War Room - The most amazing story of the 2007 draft class -- he entered Louisville at the age of 15 and graduated in four years with a degree is psychology. Not as polished or productive as other defensive tackles in this draft, but no doubt has the most upside. Keeps improving, too. In games we graded during his junior year, he was involved in one of every 11.8 snaps, which is good for a defensive tackle. As a senior, he was involved in one of every 8.6 snaps. Not the best defensive tackle today but certainly could be in a couple years. Has the talent to produce in any scheme but is best suited as a one-gap player in a 4-3 defense. Upside - Has rare strength and speed to make plays all over the field.Top athlete with the explosive quickness to shoot gaps in a flash. Has the quickness, agility and long arms to beat one-on-one pass blocks easily. Explosive closing burst to the quarterback. As a bull rusher, can jolt offensive linemen upright and drive them into the quarterback's lap. Adept at holding his ground against one-on-one run blocks; can shed offensive linemen to make the tackle on runs directly at him. Gets off the snap quickly, and shows the speed and burst to make tackles in backside pursuit. Downside - Does not always keep his knees bent and play with good leverage, hindering his ability to shed blocks. Not always aggressive. Does not use hands well to protect legs from cut blocks. Lacks the instincts to sense "side" blocks coming, and can be driven down the line. Occasionally,\ will misread a play and get caught standing still.
Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
2 Alan Branch, Michigan (UC) 6056 324 5.07 33 1.68 2.92 27.5 8-11 -- -- -- --
BRS (Gollin) - Space eater who appears to be a larger, more determined version of Gabe Watson. Whether Cards would be interested depends on how Clancy P's defense will evolve (or not evolve) under Whisenhunt. The noises coming out of Camp Cardinal are that they'd like to be bigger and tougher on the D-line. Branch could provide that.

nflscouts.com - Spectacular size at 6-6, 330 pounds...simply engulfs his opponent at the POA and still has the quickness to pressure quarterbacks up the middle. Lacks the burst up the middle of smaller tackles and will never be a big stat producer. Upside - Rare size and raw power for the position unmatched by any defensive tackle in this draft. Can handle the double-team and open opportunities for teammates. Good initial quickness off the snap and can split the double-team to make the play behind the line of scrimmage. Thirty percent of his career tackles were for loss. Creates a pile, even when not playing with leverage, forcing teams to consider abandoning interior running plays. Willing to pursue down the line, but loses speed quickly. Hard worker whose tenacity and consistency stood out opposite Gabe Watson. Downside - Struggles to play with leverage due to his rare height. Doesn't always use his hands well to defeat blocks. Plays high and gives up his knees to low blocks too easily. Relies on a bull rush or a quick burst off the snap as his pass rush assortment. Lacks the athleticism to be a consistent big-play defender. Limited to two-gap scheme.

Sporting News War Room - Uncommon strength, athleticism and competitiveness. Sure to be a high draft pick, but will not fit every type of defense.Can be a rock of two-gap defensive tackle who clogs up the middle. Ideal as a nose tackle in 4-3 schemes, but would not be as effective on a defense that asks its defensive tackles to shoot gaps. Upside - Massive with the size and strength to be a huge force at the POA when playing with good leverage and aggressiveness. Has long arms to control blockers. Can jolt offensive linemen with a hard hand punch, driving them backward into the pocket to disrupt pass plays. Bats down a lot of passes. Gets underneath "reach" blocks nicely, keeping the blocker on his shoulder while chasing down the ball carrier between the hash marks. Jolts offensive linemen upright on runs directly at him. Adept at shedding blocks to make the tackle or at least freeing up one arm to take down the ball carrier. Downside - Not explosive off the snap or quick enough to shoot gaps and get backfield penetration. Not a quick and fast pass rusher Bad habit of popping up and playing upright, limiting his ability to shed the block quickly. Can be ridden down the line by "side" blocks. Does not use hands well to protect his legs from cut blocks.
Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
3 Tank Tyler, NC State 6022 306 5.30 42 1.78 3.06 28.5 -- -- -- --
BRS (Gollin) - Led all Combine invitees with 42 BP reps. Off the field issues along with hot and cold performances from game to game prevent him from being up there with Okoye and Branch. Nevertheless, there's a lot to work with here.

Senior Bowl Notes - CBSportsline - "Entering the week I expected Tyler to emerge as the South's top defensive lineman. It hasn't happened. Tyler was arguably the biggest disappointment of the day Tuesday, showing little in terms of quickness, lateral agility, pass rush or even strength at the point of attack. He was considerably better Wednesday, surprising interior offensive linemen with his improved play, but his lack of day to day inconsistency is a red flag."

nflscouts.com - NFL scouts love Tyler's upside. His quickness off the snap might be unmatched by any defensive tackle in the country. His maturity both on and off the field, however, could lead to his falling down the draft board. Upside - Short, squat frame. Big bubble, thick legs and arms. Superb quickness off the snap. Consistently able to disrupt the play from the interior because of his quickness. Often places himself in position to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. Could be a consistent interior threat in a one-gap scheme at the next level. Good strength at the POA and can hold up reasonably well against the double team. Athleticism to pursue down the line, with good balance and recognition to keep his feet through the trash. Has improved his pass rush technique over the past two years, with a swim, bull rush and rip move. Downside - Maturity in question (arrested in July 2005 for assaulting a police officer and ejected from the Southern Miss contest this season for spitting close to an official). Physically, on the field, Tyler is a bit of a one-trick pony - though he shows good strength at the POA and is learning how to disengage, his quickness off the snap is by far his greatest asset. Still relies too much on this quickness.

Sporting News War Room - Interesting prospect because he improved more between his junior and senior seasons than any player we can remember. As a senior, he was involved in one of every 7.8 snaps, which is excellent for a defensive tackle. He will need a season or two to adjust to the NFL but will become a good starting DT. Upside - Great athlete with the speed to consistently chase down plays from the backside. Quick footwork and great technique. Consistently is the first defensive lineman moving at the snap, getting on top of offensive linemen in a flash. Blows up plays in the backfield. Great strength to jolt offensive linemen backward with hand punch; Effective with bull rush or with quick pass-rush moves. Explosive closing burst to finish sack. A rock at POA. Holds his ground and sheds the blocker to make the tackle. Learns well from coaching, and improved a lot between junior and senior seasons. Downside - Was inconsistent as a junior, which raises concerns about his ability to maintain the level of production he showed as a senior. Occasionally pops upright, and thus gets pushed around. Does not use hands well to protect legs from cut blocks. Has not proven his long-term durability.
Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
4 Clifton Ryan, Michigan St. 6026 310 5.07 25 1.69 2.91 26.5 8-6 4.69 -- 7.50 --
BRS (Gollin) - Apparently more of a gamer than practice guy. A bit light and not particularly blazing quick.

East-West Notes (fr War Room) - After an up-and-down week of practice, he showed up and had a great game...was able to consistently get off the ball quickly and get his hands on offensive linemen. ..got through gaps to disrupt plays in backfield and showed the speed to chase down ball-carriers in backside pursuit....showed he is definitely a good athlete with fine strength, but did not use his hands well and allowed blockers to get into chest and tie him up. Didn't shed quickly enough to make tackles on running plays toward him.

nflscouts.com - Earned 35 career starting assignments, including the last 28 games in a row...Recorded 118 career tackles, with 20 going for losses (96 yards) and 10.5 sacks (62). Led the Spartans in sacks (4 for 31 yards) for the second-straight year...Also led the team with 19 quarterback pressures..

Sporting News War Room - A prospect who grows on you. Production increased significantly during senior season, becoming the team's most disruptive force despite constantly changing positions. Much more suited to play defensive tackle in the NFL, though. Is moving up draft boards in weak company. Upside - Big and athletic. Versatile and productive despite moving around on the line...quick with the speed to chase down ballcarriers on runs away from him between the tackles....strong enough to hold his ground at the point of attack, shed the block and make the tackle...powerful bull rusher, easily driving offensive linemen backward...agile enough finish a rush with a sack. Hustles on every snap. Downside - Somewhat of an end/tackle 'tweener. Lacks explosiveness to shoot gaps and blow up plays in the backfield. Limited pass-rush repertoire. Doesn't consistently shed run blocks.
Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
5 Matt Toeaina, Oregon 6020 307 5.05 26 -- -- -- -- -- --
BRS (Gollin) - High character guy who needs technique work.

nflscouts.com - Valuable commodity who can play either inside or outside along the defensive line. Unquestionably the leader of the defensive line and one of team’s spokesmen. Very consistent work habits; understands what it will take to succeed at next level. Assumes ownership and pride with not only how well he plays but the level of performance of the entire defensive line. Can quickly shed blocks by utilizing his hands to gain leverage over his opponents, and seldom gets knocked off his feet. Has paid his dues in the weight room over the years. Originally recruited to Oregon as a fullback, displaying tremendous athletic ability.

Sporting News War Room - Overshadowed for two years by Haloti Ngata. A solid prospect who should be a nice surprise. Can play in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme. Eventually will become a solid NFL starter. Upside -Versatile enough to play end or tackle in all systems.Good tackle/productive. Disrupts the pocket, and makes quarterbacks uncomfortable. Has the strength and pass-rush skills to play immediately. Can fight through double-teams as a pass rusher. Downside - Makes few plays against the run. Lacks elite quickness and could struggle against the NFL's most athletic offensive linemen. Must improve his use of hand punch and become more consistent.

ICON · 03-14-2007, 01:10 PM

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
6 Justin Harrell, Tennessee 6043 300 5.04 24 1.67 2.91 30.5 9-0 4.76 -- 7.63 --
BRS (Gollin) - Tough. Underrated. Durability a concern. Good run stopper. Not so great a penetrator.

nflscouts.com - Played final game despite bicep injury. Fellow lineman Turk McBride explained, "He put himself at risk to play one more game for us. It's one of the more amazing things I've seen an individual do to pick up a team. To see him out there was amazing for me." Scouts will have to check Harrell's rehabilitation from the bicep surgery. Previous to the injury, he was considered one of the better run stuffing defensive tackle prospects in the country. Upside - Naturally big man, with evenly proportioned weight. At his best stuffing the run. Good size and even better overall strength at POA. Takes up blockers and is tough to move. Good initial quickness off the snap. Flashes true explosiveness, which is rare at his size. Dedicated to the team. Plays to the whistle. Pursues laterally and down the field. Not flashy, just consistent. Blue collar worker type in the middle. Voted a team captain in 2006. Downside - Rehab from torn bicep has to be cleared. Flashes explosiveness off the snap, but is a limited pass rusher. Only 4.0 sacks in 25 starts. Plays hard but sometimes seems satisfied with the knowledge that he is taking up blocks to open up opportunities for teammates, rather than looking to make the play himself. Durability might be somewhat of a concern (also missed five games of his freshman season with broken ankle).

Sporting News War Room - NFL potential will depend on the style of defense he is asked to play. Athletic enough for a 3-4 scheme but must get good penetration. Would fit best in a 4-3 defense, taking up running lanes and getting off blocks to make tackles at the line of scrimmage. It will take him time to reach his potential because he must get stronger. He will be a quality backup, and his team will love his toughness. Upside - Plays hard every down. Makes plays by taking up a lot of space with size and toughness. Hustles; chases ball carriers down from behind despite average speed. Understands responsibilities. Impresses by playing when not at 100 percent. Is strong against opponent when facing solo blocking. Downside - Can be pushed around on combination blocks. Must do a better job shooting gaps. Isn’t fast off the snap. Lacks explosiveness. Tackles well but must improve at wrapping up ball carrier. Doesn’t penetrate well.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
7 Brandon Mebane, Cal 6011 309 5.15 24 1.71 2.98 24 8-10 4.65 -- 7.94 --

BRS (Gollin) - Liked what we saw during Senior Bowl week.

Senior Bowl Notes (fr War Room) - Showed the athleticism, quickness and strength to defeat pass blocks by shooting gaps over centers' shoulders and by driving them back on bull rushes.

nflscouts.com - Has the size and strength to be the interior run plugger every NFL team is looking for. While his 14.5 career sacks are an impressive statistic, he is not a natural pass rusher, which limits his upside for the next level. Still, his solid play stands out among a weak senior crop of defensive tackles. Upside - Short, squat, powerful frame for the position. Good initial quickness off the snap. Uses his natural leverage advantage to disrupt the blocker and can effectively ruin the offensive play with his initial surge. Best attribute is his strength at the POA. Tough to move, even when pitted against the double team. Has improved his hand usage over his career, including marked improvement as a senior. Has improved as a statistically productive tackler as a senior. Capable of fighting off blocks and getting to the ball carrier. Good effort in pursuit. Steady improvement over his three years as the starter. Downside - Good quickness off the snap but only marginal overall athleticism for the position. Lacks foot quickness and balance when moving laterally in pursuit. Productive as a pass rusher but lacks agility and counters to get free from the blocker. Struggles to disengage, and until his senior season was better at taking up blockers than actually making the play on his own.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
8 Marcus Thomas, Florida 6026 314 4.90 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
BRS (Gollin) - Durability and off-the-field concerns have cost this young man lots and lots of money. But if a team can get through to him, they'll have something special. If.

nflscouts.com - Physically speaking, Thomas is the best senior defensive tackle in this draft. Has a 6-3, 290-pound frame and surprising quickness, Averaged 45 tackles a season and saw his tackles for loss and sacks rise each of his three full seasons of play. Suspended for three games early in 2006 for repeatedly failing drug tests (weed) and then kicked off the team for failing to attend a drug-education pgm. Upside - Rare athleticism for a defensive lineman. Good initial quickness off the snap and recognizes the action quickly. Not only gains early penetration, he often makes the play in the backfield. Potential is as a nose tackle should he learn to play with better leverage and strength, but might be better suited to the underneath three technique where his quickness upfield can help him make more plays. Good lateral quickness, motor and feel for avoiding the trash when pursuing down the line. Downside - Drug use and suspensions are an immediate and significant red flag. On the field, Thomas has been able to get away with just his athletic ability and doesn't use his hands and natural strength effectively enough. Struggles to get off blocks and despite his size, Too often ineffective in neutralizing double teams, especially when he tires and begins to play tall, losing all leverage. Underwent back surgery following the 2004 season (always a red flag to scouts).

Sporting News War Room - Would have been a first-round pick before his off-field troubles. Now, he'll have to shine during the interview process and during pre-draft workouts to still be a Day 1 pick. Won't be attention-grabbing sack artist but can control the interior LOS. Projects as a good NFL starter best suited to play a two-gap scheme, but his success in the NFL is completely dependent on his ability to do the right thing off the field. Upside - Good athlete with the quickness to be a consistently disruptive force. Gets on top of offensive linemen in a blink. Has the hand punch and strength to jolt and drive linemen back into the quarterback's lap. Effective bull rush. With space, quick enough to defeat one-on-one pass blocks. Clogs up the middle against inside runs, and frees arms to make tackles. Excels at getting underneath reach blocks on runs away from him. Keeps blockers on his back while chasing down ballcarriers from behind. Downside - Character risk A bit thin, which will cause him some trouble against mammoth NFL offensive linemen.Limited pass-rush repertoire. Isn't a flashy playmaker. Doesn't use hands well to protect legs from cut blocks.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
9 Jeremy Clark, Alabama 6024 309 5.02 29 1.64 2.84 29 8-8 4.82 -- 7.78 --

BRS (Gollin) - Large, strong guy who can dominate at a lower level but apparently lacks what it takes to become a successful pro DT.

nflscouts.com - NA

East-West notes (fr War Room) - Excelled, taking advantage of a mediocre group of interior offensive linemen. Quick off ball to beat those linemen with a gap rush and combined his quickness with explosiveness, strength and competitiveness to jolt linemen and drive them backward into the quarterback.
Sporting News War Room - Frustrating prospect. Clearly has the athletic ability, size and strength to be an NFL starter but was not productive enough in college. Will be drafted higher than we have rated him and could become an NFL starter but will not last long because of his inconsistent production. Mostly will be a backup who consistently teases coaches. Upside - Good athlete, with the speed to chase down plays in pursuit. Moves through traffic well, and gets off the ground in a flash if cut. Good strength, and plays with good leverage and base. Can stack the POA against the run. When bull rushing aggressively, can jolt guards backwards and drive him into quarterback's lap. Downside - Must be more aggressive. Does not bend knees well and play with consistent leverage; when upright, is a non-factor. Must improve use of hands to shed blockers and protect legs from cut blocks. Lacks quickness off the snap, and rarely penetrates into the backfield.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
10 David Patterson, Ohio St. 6021 285 5.10 21 1.73 2.90 32.5 9-10 4.43 -- 7.47 --
BRS - Looked terrific in Senior Bowl

nflscouts.com - Patterson is a nice option for the later rounds due to his experience and athleticism. He isn't an overly explosive player and has limited upside. His best attribute might be his versatility.
Positives: Good size and athleticism for the position. Versatile and capable of playing inside in the 4-3 or outside in the 3-4. Can create interior pressure on the quarterback due to his burst off the snap and plays hard. Good strength at the point of attack and can create a pile in run defense.

Negatives: Not explosive. Looks athletic at times, but struggles to consistently make plays. Has the strength to hold his position, but lacks explosiveness with his hands and struggles to disengage and make the tackle. Was one of the more ineffective defensive line prospects throughout the week of Senior Bowl practices.

ICON · 03-14-2007, 01:15 PM

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ
1 Brandon Meriweather, Mi (FL) (CB) 5105 195 4.47 11 1.53 2.61 35 9-3 4.33 11.84 7.06 --

BRS (Gollin) - 4.47 Combine forty is an improvement over his estimated 4.45. We're rating him #1 more from what we've seen of him and Landry than what we've heard. We like the way Brandon gets in receivers' faces and feel he might be versatile enough to double as a corner. Our only nagging concern has to do with his off-the-field hijinx.

nflscouts.com - Considered one of the more versatile defensive backs in the country.Will likely be the first defender drafted from "The U." Despite being a team captain, there are concerns regarding his maturity. Made headlines before the season when he pulled a gun from his pants and (legally) shot three times at an assailant....suspended for one game for trying to stomp on several Florida International players. Upside - Lean and athletic frame with room for additional growth. Long-arms. Rare timed speed for the safety position and is even faster on the field due to his instincts and break on the ball. Favorably compared to Ed Reed for his instincts and game-changing big plays. Quick feet. Smooth hip turn. Explosive hitter despite lack prototypical size. Reliable open-field tackler. Natural receiving skills and will compete for the ball. Started at both safety positions & left, right and nickel CB. Reads run quickly and is quick to support. Good overall physicality. Team captain in 2006 and considered one of team's strongest leaders. Wrote a letter of apology after the UM-FIU brawl, the only player to do so. Downside - Lacks prototypical size for the position. Came to Miami at only 160 pounds. Lacks weight room strength as well. Would rather run around blocks than take them on. First-round talent, but size and behavior concerns are significant enough to drop him down.

Senior Bowl Notes (fr War Room) - Showed top athleticism, excelling at covering receivers tightly man-to-man during one-on-one drills. All the safeties were required to cover wideouts on Tuesday and only Meriweather showed the athleticism to cover them as well as the cornerbacks... started off the week strong.... was all over the field Monday, showing his athleticism, instincts and consistent ability to make plays against the run and pass.

Sporting News War Room - Bottom line: Highly productive and a better technician than athlete. Always is in the right spot at the right time against the run and pass. Can start at either safety spot in the NFL and be a nickel back. Should be a first-round pick if the character investigations turn out OK. Upside - Excellent instincts in zone coverage with the range to make plays along the sideline. Plays faster than his time. Can cover slot receivers in nickel coverage. Makes key tackles and big plays. Outstanding open-field tackler.Ballhawk who reads quarterbacks well. Hands to make tough interceptions. Takes good angles to the ball in run support. Competitive. Downside - Only an average build, and is not a big hitter....raw,with only average athletic ability. Questionable speed. Struggles to shed blocks at times. Key instigator in the big Miami-Florida International brawl.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
2 LaRon Landry, LSU 6006 213 4.35 -- 1.47 2.52 37.5 10-3 -- -- -- --
BRS (Gollin) - 4.35 Combine time an improvement over 4.45 prior estimate. Consensus pick for Top Dawg as a safety; but we watched a couple of late LSU games and came away less impressed. Landry tended to always be in position to be the "last obstacle" between the ball carrier and paydirt, but seldom if ever came up and stuck anybody vs. the run nor broke on the ball as quickly as hoped providing deep help defending against the pass.

nflscouts.com - Upside - Evenly proportioned athlete with prototype size for the position. Four-year starter on a very talented LSU defense. Missed no games due to injury. Intelligent, experienced safety. Understands his role as the last line of defense and takes proper angles to the ball. Reliable open-field tackler and has the ability to be a punishing hitter in the middle. Good speed and quickness in man coverage. Has the size to play aggressively with tight ends and the athleticism to keep tight coverage with slot receivers. Might be at his best in zone coverage due to his heady play and ability to drive on the ball. Good hands and is a natural runner with the ball in his hands. Aggressive yet disciplined in supporting against the run. Willing to take on blocks and can defeat due to his athleticism. High character player. Downside - Statistics have dropped a bit as a senior, though this is more a sign of respect from opposing offenses. Athletic and intelligent enough to likely enjoy success at either cornerback or strong safety at the next level.

Sporting News War Room - Has elite physical tools to go along with great instincts, toughness and competitiveness.Will be drafted high in the first round and will become a great NFL safety - one who can make an impact against the run and the pass. Should be a great asset on special teams. Upside - Explosive athlete who always is around the ball. Makes strong, violent tackles routinely. Attacks the LOS against the run. Avoids blocks easily, and closes on ball in a flash. Does not hesitate to dive into the pile. Great instincts...fast enough to make plays along the sideline in two-deep coverage. Reads routes well, and reacts quickly to passes in front of him. Fast enough to cover tight ends man-to-man. Great tackler in the open field. Has a good build. Great focus. Downside - Desire to make hard hits/tackles on every play leads to occasional missed tackles because he launches himself at ball carrier and falls off after making initial contact.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
3 Reggie Nelson, Florida (UC) 5113 198 4.35 -- 1.46 2.61 35 10-6 4.15 -- 6.76 --
BRS (Gollin) - Playmaker. 4.48 Combine forty results were good enough to maintain his ranking and his 4.35 Pro Day time was off the charts.

nflscouts.com - Compares to Brian Dawkins - Dawkins is bigger and more powerful than Nelson, but both are playmakers who rely on their explosive quickness to close on the ball. Nelson has natural hands to make the interception and outstanding elevation in his leaps. While he might struggle with a complicated playbook, he has the field smarts to compensate for his academic struggles. No Troy Polamalu when it comes to exploding behind his tackles, but will get physical. Stellar performances throughout 2006 was one of the major reasons Florida captured the national championship. Upside: Lean but well-defined physique with good chest thickness, developed arm muscles, V-shaped torso, good bubble and knotted calves...very good timed speed and sudden quickness to close on the ball...excellent agility and balance on the move with the hip flexibility to redirect and change direction suddenly... natural explosion allows him to stay tight on the hip of the receivers in the deep secondary and he will deliver his hits with good pop...more field smart than academically proficient...Physical hitter who loves contact...Hard worker in the training room, the type who pushes other players...often around the ball, playing with reckless abandon...Has the foot speed and steady acceleration to close on the ball in a hurry... adept at distributing his weight throughout his backpedal...Pedals with ease and shows the body control flexibility to quickly redirect...Usually in good position to make the hit, keeping the plays in front of him...Plays alert in the zone and shows good route awareness...Consistently attacks the ball and shows steady acceleration and timing in his leaps...Has the valid foot speed to play the two-deep and the burst needed to run the field...Makes plays on the ball in the air due to his big vertical jump and natural hands ...adept at attacking the gaps in run support and good urgency to close, taking proper angles...explosive hitter...Works his way through blocks and will meet the ball carrier with good force at the line of scrimmage...Collision type of a tackler who likes to run through people, but will miss a few hits when he fails to wrap...Can press and shadow well in the short area, allowing little separation on vertical routes...Breaks from his backpedal with no wasted motion...Short strider who runs hard to accelerate...OK at cutting off the lead blockers angles on perimeter runs...explosive break to the ball, even on three-step throws...Has the burst and elevation in his leaps to excel as a kick blocker. Downside - Had academic difficulties and might struggle trying to digest a complicated playbook...needs to improve his overall strength to prevent getting washed out by the bigger blockers working through trash...better served making plays on the ball rather than neutralizing the receiver ...good urgency to close, but must be more diligent of making the wrap tackle rather than colliding into his opponent (fails to reach out, grab and drag the ball carrier down)...Would like to see him attack the receiver to separate the ball carrier from the ball rather than try to make the big interception.

Sporting News War Room - A junior who is no doubt ready to play in the NFL.Has rare size, strength, explosiveness, speed and instincts. Amazingly productive for a safety, being involved in one of every eight snaps in the games we graded. Type of player whose energy and aggressiveness is infectious, helping to raise the level of play for an entire defense. Upside -Great athlete who consistently makes a lot of plays against the run and pass... rare safety who is aggressive in all areas, and makes big plays in critical situations. Flies upfield in run support, avoids blockers nicely and blows up big running backs without hesitation. Reads the quarterback well, closes quickly on quick slant routes and delivers a hard hit immediately after the catch. Has the instincts, quickness and speed to make plays on deep sideline routes. Downside - Gets over-aggressive at times, and thus will have to dive at the ballcarrier and miss some tackles. Does not always take good angles to the sideline in deep, outside coverage.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
4 Aaron Rouse, Va. Tech 6040 223 4.58 16 1.53 2.61 35 -- -- -- --
Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - Terrific size but original sick forty speed est. didn't hold up.

nflscouts.com - Physically imposing player whose combination of size and speed is as impressive as any prospect in the country. Runs like a wide receiver but looks like a linebacker.Started college carrer at linebacker before making the transition to strong safety as a sophomore. On a team loaded with athletes, Rouse has played in every game over the past four years...better athlete than football player . Not a finished product - team selecting him may have to accept some growing pains.Upside is undeniable and will result with a high draft selection. Upside - Exceptional size/speed numbers. Explosive speed translates well onto the gridiron. Speed to run with receivers and tight ends in coverage. Good quickness to break on ball. Recognizes run quickly and attacks the LOS . Explosive hitter. Downside - Still a better athlete than football player. Doesn't always trust his reads and will lose his athletic advantage. Great speed and good quickness but only adequate hips, causing him to lose some ground in transition. More of an in-the-box safety than true pass defender, despite five interceptions over past two seasons. Struggled with untimely penalties in 2006, including personal fouls. Struggled with consistency in 2006 after a breakout 2005 season.

Sporting News War Room - The type of player every team needs because of his willingness to sacrifice for the good of the team. Some scouts compare Rouse to ex-Florida State safety Pat Watkins, but Rouse is a better athlete and is drastically more productive. Extremely valuable because he is productive in all areas -- chasing down running backs, covering tight ends man-to-man, breaking up and intercepting passes in zone coverage and as a coverage man on special teams. He will be a good NFL safety who brings just as much to the locker room as he does to the field. Upside -Huge. Has the size of a linebacker and the athleticism and explosiveness of a defensive back. Reads plays quickly, and starts toward the ball instantaneously. Has the speed to make plays sideline-to-sideline. Moves through traffic easily, and shows an explosive closing burst to chase down running plays. Makes solid open-field tackles. Is fast enough to reach the sidelines from two-deep coverage. Closes quickly on passes in front of him. Great hands to make tough interceptions. Is surprisingly good in zone coverage when aligned near the LOS . Downside - Tall and does not change directions as quickly as smaller DB's. Not always aggressive. Does not always fight through blockers. Tends to stand too upright when making a tackle -- reaching and grabbing and looking awkward. Does not deliver big hits or intimidate receivers.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
5 Michael Griffin, Texas 5116 202 4.45 16 1.49 2.57 36 10-0 4.10 -- 6.60 --
BRS (Gollin) - As the late Joel Buchsbaum used to say: "He can make your draft or break your heart." We're rating him a bit higher because of his big-game/big program experience in the Texas secondary. In addition, we're always confusing Ross and Griffin, but we seem to remember that it would be Ross who'd fail to make the big play and Griffin who'd magically appear to save the day.

nflscouts.com - The Longhorns have had eight defensive backs selected over the past 10 years. In strong safety Michael Griffin, Texas might have its best yet. Upside - Well developed overall musculature. Impressive overall athleticism. Plays strong safety here, but athleticism, size and recognition appear better suited to free safety role at the next level. Reads the action quickly. Rarely out of position against the pass. Can cover ground quickly, with pure speed and a quick hip swivel. Can plant and drive on the ball. Effective tackler in space. Understands his role as one of the last lines of defense and takes proper angles to the ball. Rare leaping ability as shown in his UT record eight blocked punts. Good hands to make the interception. Uses his size and leaping ability well to compete for the ball. Downside - Not the classic run supporting in-the-box safety. Flashes as a striker, but doesn't punish receivers across the middle. Considered reliable, but not an intimidator. Plays strong safety here, but seems much better suited to free safety at next level due to his strength being pass defense, weakness being against the run. Might lack the versatility some teams are looking for in a safety.

Sporting News War Room - Will be drafted higher than he should because of his size and athletic agility. Sure to wow scouts and coaches in pre-draft workouts. Will start early in his NFL career because of his rare athleticism, toughness, size and strength, but he is sure to disappoint because he never will be consistently productive. Upside - Has the size and bulk to be a big-time hitter. Can play close to the LOS , take on linemen and blitz. Athletic and good in coverage. Better athlete than football player. Good coordination, and moves smoothly and fluidly. Is good in man-to-man coverage because of good him movements and footwork. tough. & willing to fill the hole and make big hits in run support. Downside - Struggles with the mental part of the game. Lacks good instincts. Loses sight of the ball too often. Misses too many tackles. Misreads too many pass routes.

ICON · 03-14-2007, 01:17 PM

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
6 Eric Weddle, Utah 5112 203 4.48 11 1.43 2.56 33.5 9-5 4.12 -- 6.78 --
Player to Watch

BRS (Gollin) - CB/S tweener. We like his production on the field and his versatility. We rate him higher because we need a FS more than we do a SS (with Adrian Wilson already holding down the fort there) and because multi-receiver sets require more quality depth at CB and Weddle can fill both roles..

nflscouts.com - Scouts remain divided on Weddle's prospects. Most feel he'll end up at safety, as his instincts and athleticism project nicely there. H'e'd prefer cornerback and was only moved from that spot by his Utah coaches because teams were electing to throw away from him. In 2005, Weddle held Calvin Johnson to two catches for 19 yards. Upside - Evenly proportioned muscle definition throughout his body. Lean, athletic frame. Versatility and instincts are Weddle's strengths. Has seen action at all defensive back positions, QB, RB, WR, PR, P, and was the holder on kicks. Instinctive defender, capable of lining up at either safety position confidently. Good initial quickness. Can line up in man coverage. Smooth back pedal and a seamless hip turn transition. Good downfield speed, though more quick than fast. Good recognition and discipline in zone coverage. Good break on the ball. Competes well for the ball and is a natural receiver. Aggressive in run support and a reliable open field tackler. Team leader. Downside - 'Tweener?" Lacks the traditional bulk for the safety position and is not an intimidating striker over the middle. Adequate deep speed and acceleration in man coverage leaves questions as to if he can hold up at cornerback. Better football player than athlete, which is cause for concern among some who see Weddle as a player with limited untapped potential.

Sporting News War Room - Bottom line: One of our favorite prospects. Doesn't look that great but always seems to make a game-changing play every week. One of the most versatile players in the draft, and he reminds us of the Bears' Mike Brown. Can play cornerback or safety in the NFL but fits best at strong safety. He also will be effective on special teams. Upside - Great ballhawk who jumps off the film. Is versatile, performing well at cornerback and safety in college. Quick to react when the ball is thrown his way -- makes a play on the ball or keeps the receiver in front of him and makes a solid tackle. Tough, willing tackler. Smart, and reads plays quickly to make big plays. Also can return kicks. Downside - Lacks ideal size, and is not a punishing tackler. Will struggle to cover big NFL receivers. Lacks elite speed, and can be beaten deep if over-aggressive.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
7 John Wndling, Wyoming 6012 222 4.48 22 1.51 2.56 38.5 10-9 4.16 -- 6.96 --
Player to Watch

BRS (Gollin) - Very athletic and agile. Not as fast as his 4.38 prelim est. indicated, but fast enough at 222 lbs. Probably best suited to play FS or become a big corner.

nflscouts.com - More than just a track star. Came through with another strong campaign. In his first season at the strong safety position. Listed as a free safety, but has the combination of size, athleticism and tackling ability to play either position at the next level. Upside - Lean, athletic frame with long arms. Looks the part, with impressive overall musculature. Instinctive player who is rarely out of position. Understands his role as the last line of defense and takes good angles when in pursuit. Very good overall speed that translates well onto the gridiron. Smooth back pedal and hip turn in transition for man to man scheme. Asked to come up and play man to man as a free safety in the past, showing legitimate man to man footwork. Cognizant and disciplined in zone coverage, as well. Good break on the ball and an effective tackler. Recognizes run quickly and is a reliable open field tackler. Led the team in tackles two of the past three years. Versatile. Highly intelligent on and off the field. Team captain. Recruited by Harvard, Princeton and Stanford, among others. Downside - Moved to strong safety as a senior, but might lack the physicality to remain at this position in the NFL. Standout athleticism, but isn't viewed as particularly physical. Relies on his athleticism to evade blockers. Must improve his hand usage in discarding blocks. Misses tackles, at times, when gearing up for the big hit. Level of competition is a concern.

Sporting News War Room - Bottom line: Exciting prospect with the size and speed to play cornerback in the NFL. Coordination, body control, size and speed are similar to Jason Sehorn. Good hitter and tackler but no John Lynch. Figures to begin his NFL career at cornerback in a cover-2 scheme or bump-and-run defense and perhaps shift to free safety once he develops better instincts. Upside - Big defender with verified height, weight and speed. Has the speed and agility to cover NFL receivers man-to-man. Rangy, and can make plays on the ball from man-to-man and zone coverage. Solid tackler. Productive. Downside - Good instincts at safety but not quite in the Sean Taylor or Ed Reed category. Only average instincts. Looks awkward during backpedal.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
8 Michael Johnson, Arizona 6025 205 4.62 15 1.52 2.68 33 9-6 4.32 -- 7.04 --
BRS (Gollin) - Sounds the part and, despite not having blazing speed, has decent numbers.

nflscouts.com - Regarded as one of the elite strong safeties in the collegiate ranks, his range and quickness could see him shift to free safety at the pro level. Upside - Well-built frame with room for at least another 15 pounds of additional growth, broad shoulders, thick chest, tight waist and abdomen, good bubble and tapered thighs and calves...loose hips and good COD agility...adept at keeping plays in front of him, but might be better suited for the free safety position, since he has the quickness to close and range to recover...Once he locates the ball, he is quick to accelerate to the action...Understands route progression well and takes proper angles to close...good acceleration in and out of his breaks with good press technique, but is better covering the tight ends and slot receivers than covering the opponent in deep routes...range lets him close with good urgency, playing with better consistency in the deep centerfield...Much more active in the short zone because of his ability to read the action in front of him...loose hips to quickly redirect, smooth foot movement in his backpedal and it is rare to see him get up on his heels or get his weight back...good COD to make plays along the perimeter and can flip his hips, turn and close with good urgency...Drives to the ball with good urgency and has the hand strength to drag down runners along the perimeter or reroute tight ends and slot receivers in the short area...good hands and timing to compete for the ball at its high point...good plant-and-drive agility is evident when closing...Might lack explosion coming out of his breaks, but he has the fluid stride and hand placement skills to mirror tight ends in the short area...Takes proper angles to shorten the field and stays in control closing on the ball (rare to see him over-pursue)...Has natural hands, above average leaping ability and good timing to compete for jump balls...Can look the pass in over his outside shoulder and his timing lets him consistently get to the pass at its high point...adept at extending and plucking the ball away from his frame...Confident using his hand strength in press coverage...no hesitation hurling his body around to make plays along the line...Tough to contain once he gets a head of steam going and alert to pullers, staying low in his pads to cut them down...Worked hard in the off-season, taking a better approach in his pursuit angles...Close to 53 percent of his plays (72-of-136) have been made in run support since enrolling at Arizona...When he stays low in his pads, Johnson hits with good aggression and improved wrap-up technique. Downside - Quicker than fast, lacking that sudden burst to explode into the backfield, but runs with a normal stride and builds to top speed nicely...Best when anticipating plays in front of him, but will bite some on play action...Likes contact working near the pile, but needs to improve his upper body strength in order to "blow up" opponents at the next level...Tends to leave too much cushion when playing in deep man coverage...When he gets too high in his pedal, he will shuffle and bail at times, preventing him from generating explosion out of his breaks...Can close ground well, but must develop a second gear, as he will struggle at times to catch up from behind (speed levels off going long distances, but that could be a byproduct of his thigh, quadriceps and hamstring injuries in 2006)...Knows how to use his hands to slip off blocks and generate pocket pressure...When he gets too high in his stance, he will miss and fail to recover...won't punish opponents, because he sometimes leaves his feet, but is effective at cutting down ball carriers along the perimeter.

Sporting News War Room - Makes plays against the run and pass. A good athlete with good instincts. Could be an NFL starter for a long time, perhaps as soon as 2007. Upside - Rangy and instinctive ballhawk. ...quick and athletic to change directions. Makes plays sideline-to-sideline. A sure tackler who is good in run support. Very productive. Good man-to-man coverage skills. Competitive. Good hands. Downside - Not a big hitter in the mold of Dallas' Roy Williams. Suspect downfield speed, and explosiveness.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
9 Daniel Goldson, Washington 6020 205 4.60 12 1.53 2.72 34.5 9-7 4.46 -- 7.37 --

BRS (Gollin) - Physical, aware, athletic. Nice numbers.

nflscouts.com - Moved from safety to corner during 2006 spring. Upside - Good size for the position. Legitimate athlete who stood out as a free safety in 2004-05 and was expected to be moved to cornerback as a senior. Off-season ankle injury and injuries to other defensive backs limited his time at cornerback to only a handful of games. Practiced exclusively at cornerback at the East-West Shrine Game and helped his cause. Best in man coverage, where he can allow his size and pure athleticism to take over. Good read and reaction skills. Reliable open-field tackler. Quick to support the run. Downside - May lack the pure speed to remain at cornerback, thus our ranking him at free safety. Lacks the elite catch-up acceleration. Effective open-field tackler, but not a punisher. Reliable in coverage, but isn't considered a playmaker. Intercepted four passes and forced one fumble in 32 career games. Should be able to shed blockers better after spending most of his career at safety, but looks to beat them with just his athleticism rather than technique.

East-West Notes (fr War Room) - Stood out as the best defensive back on either squad...showed terrific athleticism, including great hips and good closing quickness. The CB/S 'tweener also proved to have good ball awareness and instincts, which combined with that closing quickness, let him break up a number of passes. His toughness and competitiveness was further reflected in how hit receivers right after catches. Although not as consistent as the day before, he stood out Tuesday with the hit of the day in the afternoon practice.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
10 Kevin Payne, Louisiana-Monroe 6002 220 4.60 20 1.54 2.65 35 8-10 4.30 -- 7.00 --
BRS (Gollin) - So so speed. Decent athleticism.

nflscouts.com - One of the most versatile athletes in the collegiate ranks. While the casual football fan might not be aware of Payne's exploits, NFL scouting organizations are well aware. Few athletes in the collegiate ranks have had the success that Kevin has had at whatever task the coaching staff asks from him.

Sporting News War Room - Despite his small-school pedigree, jumped out in his evaluation because he kept making plays on defense and special teams. Although he lacks premier athleticism and speed, his nose for the ball and range are outstanding, giving him a chance to have an immediate impact as a strong safety and an ace on coverage units. Upside - Smart and versatile. Very productive against the run, pass and on special teams. Instinctive; sniffs out plays quickly and gets started toward the ball fast. Accelerates to full speed quickly and has the range to make plays from sideline to sideline. Explosive closing burst to finish plays. Excels at moving through traffic. Is consistently around the ball and makes sound tackles. Reads quarterbacks well. Breaks quickly on passes. Makes hard hits after the catch. Great hands - if he gets his hands on the ball, it's going to be intercepted. Covers well on special teams. Solid return man. Downside - Not an aggressive tackler against the run; tends to stop feet and wait for backs to get to him and catches ballcarriers, which leads to him getting knocked backward at the POA. Sometimes stays upright in pursuit and overruns some would-be tackles. Doesn't consistently break up passes. Lacks the elite playing speed to catch fast players in pursuit. Will struggle covering NFL slot receivers in tight man-to-man.

ICON · 03-14-2007, 01:21 PM

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
1 Paul Posluszny, Penn State 6015 238 4.70 22 1.56 2.73 37 9-8 4.20 -- 6.94 --

Player to Watch

BRS (Gollin) - At one time considered a Top 5 player, but slipped some in post season. 4.70 time a bit slow compared to earlier estimate, but then again, he's added about 15 pounds. CW says: Don't worry about the numbers; kid can play football.

Senior Bowl Notes (fr War Room) - Lined up primarily at weakside linebacker on the first day of practice...showed good instincts reading and reacting to the plays quickly and displayed an explosive closing burst to the ballcarrier and delivered violent hits. (BRS – Had trouble jamming receivers at LOS).

nflscouts.com - Not his typical self during the early portion of the 2006 season. As the season has progressed, however, his trademark speed and explosiveness returned. When at 100 percent he is arguably the nation's best defender. Jack Ham characterized Posluszny as "the best linebacker ever to play at Penn State." Upside - Thick, well proportioned frame. Broad shoulders, thick lower body. Athleticism and instincts simply jump off the film. Instinctive. Always around the ball. Physical and tough at the POA. Willing to take on the lead blocker and can shed to make the play. Very good speed to the outside and has the short area burst to make the play. Explosive hitter and reliable in the open field. Breaks down as well as any linebacker in the country and simply doesn't allow the ballcarrier to get past him. Rare athleticism is shown in his coverage ability. Smooth turning motion and active hands to disrupt the receiver attempting to make the catch. Athletic and opportunistic as a pass rusher. Character and intelligence is even more impressive than his physical gifts. Elected team captain as a junior. Asked for a shot to numb the pain so he could return to the field after partially tearing ligaments in his knee in last year's Orange Bowl. Downside - Must prove that he is 100 percent recovered from the knee injury. Physical at the POA and can fight through the lead block, but sometimes creates a hole in the defense when he gets over-aggressive and tries to make the big play instead of just sticking with his gap responsibility. No high ranking Penn State defender since Shane Conlan was drafted has met his pro expectations.
Sporting News War Room - Production consistently has improved from game to game in his senior season and his knee is at or close to 100 percent.. Would have been a first-round pick in the '06 draft. Sure to be a high first-round pick in 2007. Few linebackers are as equally adept against the run and pass...one of the few prospects that live up to the hype...similar to the Packers' A.J. Hawk in his playing demeanor, instincts and consistent ability to chase down plays, but he's not as big or strong as Hawk. Upside - Has the athleticism and speed to chase down plays all over the field. Smarts and instincts to consistently get a jump on the snap and play faster than his timed speed. Plays bigger than size would suggest. Fills the hole aggressively, and blows up plays in the backfield...great closing burst...good strength taking on lead blockers...solid tackler...smooth and fluid when dropping into coverage, and reads plays well and reacts in a blink. Is productive in every aspect of defense. Downside - Slightly smaller than ideal. Does not use hands well to shed blockers. Struggles to move cleanly and quickly through traffic.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
2 Jon Beason, Miami (UC) 6002 237 4.72 19 1.60 2.74 9-3 -- -- -- --

BRS (Gollin) - Short stumpy quick guy most suited for SAM or MIKE. Mayock rates him his top LB prospect.

nflscouts.com - Might lack the height scouts prefer, but he plays with great speed and is an explosive hitter. While he needs to continue to work on his hand usage, his ability to read and instantly react allows him to avoid blocks and make plays. Upside - Shorter than ideal, but strong, thick frame for the position. Rare quickness and agility for the position. Very good straight-line speed and lateral quickness. Beats running backs to the edge and is an explosive hitter. Reliable tackler in the open field. Pursues well and shows a late burst to catch up. Good athleticism as a pass defender. Good jam and re-route at the LOS. Can run with backs and tight ends in coverage. Quickness, speed and COD ability in coverage is among his best characteristics. Team captain in 2006. Downside - Shorter than ideal and though strong, he doesn't use his strength well to fight through blocks when engaged. Looks to avoid blocks with his athleticism rather than physically take them on. Obvious athleticism in coverage, but struggles to locate the ball and will give up the reception despite being in position. Some durability concerns.

Sporting News War Room News -Beason led UM with 91 tackles last season, including 10 for losses, despite missing one game and nearly all of another game with a sprained right knee. Believes he must prove to teams that his height is not a negative. "Being 6-0 and change instead of 6-2 is the difference between a few million dollars," he said. "You look at guys like Zach Thomas having a Pro Bowl season. It's not about their size."

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
32 Lawrence Timmons, FSU 6007 234 4.66 25 1.50 2.68 35 10-3 4.32 -- 6.92 --
6007 234 4.66 2.68 1.50 25 35 10'3" 4.32 6.92
Player to Watch

BRS (Gollin) - Has what it takes athletically. Proved playmaker. Still raw and lacks discipline. Made most of being next to Buster Davis.

nflscouts.com - Though he could have improved his standing with a stronger senior season, his athleticism, steady improvement and penchant for the big play (three touchdowns on returns in 2006) is unmatched among the outside linebackers of the 2007 draft. Upside - Superb overall athleticism. Good quickness off the initial snap. Flows easily from sideline to sideline to make plays. Excellent pursuit player with the speed to catch the ball carrier from behind. Instincts noticeably improved as season went on. Quick enough to meet and shed blocks at POA. Runs downfield toward the LOS and can explode through line to make the play. Athleticism evident in coverage, as well. Rare downfield speed to keep up with running backs and tight ends in coverage and shows the COD and balance to stick closely. Good speed off the edge as a blitzer. Natural blitzer, with the agility to avoid blockers. Good closing speed. Makes the play when the opportunity presents itself. Has the "uncoachables" you are looking for. High upside. Downside - Better athlete than football player. Learning to play better with his hands. Can be washed out despite prototypical size due to poor hand usage, lack of overall strength. Aggressive defender who will sometimes overrun the play and lose contain. Played next to a legitimate NFL caliber inside linebacker in Buster Davis, who covered up some of Timmons' mistakes.

Sporting News War Room - News: Timmons, who won't turn 21 until after the draft, led FSU with 18 tackles for losses this season and scored three touchdowns, including one on a 25-yard run with a blocked punt in FSU's 44-27 victory over UCLA.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
4 Rory Johnson, Ole Miss (UC) 6001 232 4.59 19 1.53 2.71 38 9-8 4.07 -- -- --

BRS (Gollin) - Has the athletic ability. A bit raw. May have benefited from having Willis next to him.

nflscouts.com - Parlayed one strong season at the D-I level into early admittance into the 2007 draft. Academic struggles forced him to play his first two seasons of collegiate football at Hinds Community College. Considered by some to be the top prep prospect in the state of Mississippi, it didn't take long for Johnson to be recognized as one of the better JUCO prospects in the entire country. Upside - Legitimate NFL size and athleticism. Speed in pursuit helped him make a name for himself with Patrick Willis gobbling up most of the interior tackles. Can be an explosive hitter. Rarely used on the edge as a blitzer, where his athletic ability might have helped him rack up significantly better sack numbers. Steadily improved as he gained experience, registering 10-plus tackles in six of his final seven games. Downside - Raw. Tends to over-pursue and too often goes for the big play opportunity rather than make the solid tackle. Academic struggles. Productive here, but some question how much the presence of Willis had to do with Johnson's production as a first-year starter.

Sporting News War Room - News: He finished the season second on the team with 94 tackles despite seeing limited action at the start of the year.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
5 Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma 6007 228 4.79 25 1.64 2.75 35 9-9 4.30 -- 7.06 --

BRS (Gollin) - Lacks prototypical height but is an explosive hitter. Must play with more discipline. More suited to play WILL than SAM. Slower than original 4.60 forty est.

Senior Bowl Notes (fr War Room) - Showed the burst to react very quickly to plays once he read them, which also he did quickly...also showed an explosive closing burst to make violent hits and tackles.

nflscouts.com - Has the speed and instincts to continue his playmaking ways at the NFL level....viewed as one of the safer Oklahoma linebacker prospects of recent years because of his rare athleticism - Upside - Good overall body musculature, especially in his upper arms. Long limbed athletic frame. Overall athleticism required for weak-side position. Good quickness at the snap, lateral speed to the flanks & aggression to stop the interior running plays. Athletic enough to sneak around blockers. Reliable tackler in the open field. Good agility and understanding as a pass defender. Has the foot quickness, balance and overall speed to keep up with running backs and tight ends in coverage. Will compete for the pass and shows burst. Asked to blitz in this scheme and has developed in this area. Natural close ability and uses his athleticism well to get past the blocker. Adequate instincts for the position. Plays hard and is a respected leader of the defense. Downside - Lack of prototype size for the position. Lacks the sand in his pants for every scheme. Can be overwhelmed by size and power. Only marginal overall physicality in taking on blocks and bringing down the ball carrier. Only adequate use of hands to disengage from blocks when engaged. Doesn't quit on the play, but some of his tackles are drag downs from behind, not smash-mouths at the LOS.

Sporting News War Room - Certainly lacks height, but he has the athleticism, violent hitting ability and production to make GMs take notice. Some short linebackers have become good NFL players, but most prospects his size struggle to stick in the league. We believe Alexander will buck the odds and become a good NFL WLB, where he has a little more space to operate and does not have to deal with blockers as often. He also should be an impact player on special teams from the git-go. Upside - Good athlete who consistently reads plays quickly and reacts. Has the speed to chase down the ball...explosive hitter; bends knees and snaps hips to drive up and make violent tackles. Has quickness and agility to avoid blocks in the open field...solid open-field tackler. Makes plays near the sideline against the run and pass. Reads the quarterback well, and closes quickly on passes in front of him. Can cover running backs man-to-man. Downside - Short, and could struggle to maintain the same level of production in the NFL. Must learn to play with better leverage. Does not consistently take on blockers with leverage or use hands well to shed them. Draws way too many late-hit penalties.

ICON · 03-14-2007, 01:23 PM

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
6 Juwan Simpson, Alabama 6023 225 4.55 15 1.52 2.56 34.5 10-3 4.42 -- 7.22 --

BRS (Gollin) - Thin. Waist bender. Could use a year with John Lott. But has most of the other attributes. Could be more instinctive.
nflscouts.com - Upside: Prototype combination of size and speed for the position. Good athlete. Clear upside as he isn't yet a finished product. Speed to the flanks and quickness in coverage are two of his greatest assets. Good balance and body control when breaking down in space. Can make the sure tackle against quicker athletes. Downside: Only adequate in his diagnosis and reaction to plays. Good burst once he recognizes the play, but is a step slow in reading the action. Lacks strength and explosiveness to his game overall. Struggles taking on blockers and can be washed out of the play. Makes too many of his tackles in pursuit. Struggles to get a good jam on the tight end.

Sporting News War Room -Pleasant surprise to evaluate because he is versatile and makes plays in all facets of the game. Thin but has all the physical tools (smarts, instincts and competitiveness) to become a good NFL linebacker. Versatile enough to stay on the field for all three downs but is best suited to play on the weak side. Also should be productive on special teams. Upside - Good athlete with the quickness and speed to chase down plays sideline-to-sideline. Explodes off the snap when blitzing, and show a great closing burst. Is smooth dropping into the flat in zone coverage. Reads and reacts quickly to screen passes. Great in man-to-man coverage, even downfield. Is strong enough to standup fullbacks in the hole, shed them and make the tackle. Smart, and consistently carries out assignments. Reads plays quickly, and does not make mental errors. Will lower shoulder and take on low blocks. Downside - Thin - must improve lower-body strength. Struggles to defeat offensive linemen, and is ridden out of the play too easily. Does not consistently bend knees and tackle with good leverage; sometimes dragged for extra yardage. Not always aggressive at the POA. Some durability issues.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
7 Tim Shaw, Penn State 6014 236 4.51 26 1.59 2.62 36.5 9-8 4.12 -- 7.01 --

BRS (Gollin) - Went out and improved his 4.70 to 4.51 at the Combine. Versatile and unselfish. War Room questions his toughness against run (and lilkes him as a safety). nflscouts.com likes his run stopping skill and feels he's most suited to play Mike.

nflscouts.com - Classic case of a blue chip prospect with a blue-collar work ethic. Called by Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis, "the Lions' most important player." Upside - Compact, solid frame with good upper body development, broad shoulders, thick chest, good bubble, tapered thighs and thick hamstrings...good straight-line quickness and the arm extension to shed blocks...excellent straight-line speed, showing suddenness in his initial move off the ball and gets to top speed quickly effective short area pass defender because of his foot speed to stay with most receivers through their routes...Won't take poor angles in pursuit, with the closing burst needed to neutralize the cutback lanes...Can play MLB, ROLB and DE and never complained about the moves...Attacks the ball with good urgency due to his ability to quickly break down plays in front of him...Very quick coming off the snap, staying low in his pads while generating quick lateral movements to string the plays wide... natural ability to anticipate the flow of the ball... hand strength to shed blocks quickly, doing a nice job of extending to keep blockers from attacking his body, but must do this with more consistency...Stays at a proper pad level to extend, wrap and secure as a tackler and consistently keeps his legs moving on contact, doing a nice job of driving the ball carrier back ...explosive acceleration when closing and has a natural flow in his backpedal...good strength to jolt and redirect tight ends in pass routes and plays bigger than his size indicates, demonstrating good physicality in his game...Demonstrates that ease of movement getting to the ball when working in space and the leg drive and strength to get the ball carrier on the ground instantly...adept at coming downhill, using his hands to shed when working near the line of scrimmage, which allows him to fill the rush lane...Plays with good leverage taking on blocks coming off the edge...speed and burst to head off ball carriers along the corners...acceleration and power lets him get a strong push off the blocker...Must stay active with his hands to prevent getting absorbed working inside, but he gives good effort as a blitzer, especially when attacking from the back side, making him a better fit for inside linebacker. Downside - Some stiffness in his hips but is very combative in attempts to slip off blocks and string plays wide...played out of position on the DL and might be shorter than ideal, but could be a nice fit at MIKE, as he compensates with good explosion coming off the ball and above average power behind his hits...Does not have the bulk to prevent from being engulfed by the larger offensive tackles ...Not used much in pass coverage and must show he can locate the ball when working in the deeper areas of the zone...more than enough functional strength to take on blocks and shed, but must be more alert to low blocks to protect his body from double teams...COD skills might not let him cover large portions of the field, but he runs to the ball well and has the hand usage to slip off passive blocks.

Sporting News War Room - LB/S ‘tweener who will not become an NFL starter. Lacks the athletic ability to move to safety, but also the size and strength to be effective at linebacker. Could make an NFL roster as a special teams player, but his NFL career doesn’t figure to last long. Upside - Good instincts to read and react quickly. Smart. Plays faster than 40. Makes solid, fundamental tackles in the open field. Is a surprisingly effective blitzer who avoids blockers and hits the quarterback. Downside - Thin - looks more like a safety than a linebacker. Is not aggressive taking on blockers, and can be ridden out of the play. Struggles to shed blockers. Lacks the speed to cover tight ends and running backs man-to-man and the acceleration and speed to make plays near the sideline.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
8 Sabby Piscatelli, Oregon St. (S) 6026 224 4.47 19 1.49 2.54 34.5 10-2 3.90 -- 6.84 --
Player to Watch

BRS (Gollin) - Had the fastest 20 yard shuttle time of anyone we can recall this year. That speaks to his agility. Orginal est time was 4.70 , but he improved it to 4.47 at the Combine. That's a safety's time - some do list him as a safety. We saw him in Senior Bowl drills and liked his toughness, instincts, intelligence and athleticism. War Room is kind of down on him for his lack of athleticism, but nflscouts.com gives him rave reviews (and our eyeballs tend to confirm this).

nflscouts.com - Compares to Adam Archuleta - .Piscitelli is faster and has much better range than Archuleta, but both do an excellent job of keeping plays in front of them. Piscitelli has natural hands for the interception and can play either safety position. With his effectiveness vs. the run, he could also see action as a linebacker in a Cover-2 scheme. Unquestioned leader of the Beavers' defense, and one of the premier safeties in the collegiate ranks. Boasts incredible range and closing speed and has proven equally effective playing deep in zone coverage or inside the box as a run stuffer. With his uncanny ability to always be around the ball, opposing offensive coordinators game-plan with the intention of keeping the play away from his territory. Upside - Has a defined, angular frame with the growth potential to add more bulk without any decrease in his impressive quickness...V-shaped torso with a well-defined upper body, good bubble, developed calves and good chest thickness...loose hips and sudden burst to close on the ball in a hurry and good body control in transition...nimble feet and excellent hand/eye coordination, and leaping ability...Smart and instinctive enough to make the calls and handle the assignments in the secondary...Needs only minimal reps to retain ... quickness and ability to take proper angles allow him to close on the ball and string plays wide in run support...vision to make plays with his back to the ball, doing a nice job of looking the pass in over his shoulders...quick feet to match up with almost any opponent and looks very natural turning and running to the ball...speed allows him to cut off routes and stays in proper position by keeping his eyes on his assignment ...excellent quickness and body control to keep tight on the receiver's hip...Keeps his feet under him and his body in control throughout transition breaks and has a low, smooth pedal...When he stays low in his pads, he is quick to get into position to make the play...good grasp of taking angles to close and explosive acceleration coming out of his breaks...Will frustrate a quarterback with the way he can anticipate the throw and his plant-and-drive agility is exceptional...so quick in transition that he doesn't even need to accelerate much to stay tight with the receiver on deep routes...For a player of his size, it is very impressive the way he can keep the plays in front of him, but it is mostly due to his quickness while maintaining body control...knows how to ride up the receiver and use his arms to either deflect or catch the ball in flight...can match up with the split ends and flankers on deep routes or out-muscle tight ends and backs going for the ball underneath...Has the hip swerve to adjust to the ball on the move and does a nice job of getting into position to make the play...effective at interrupting the route's progression...good feel for the cutback lanes and has no problems taking down the runner once he locks on to the opponent. Downside - Only average-sized hands...Knows how to keep plays in front of him, but should have been utilized more as a blitzer......Has the size to take on the lead blockers, but must be more alert to chop blocks...Still must develop a better feel for double teams...Gets into trouble when he dives or tries to make grab tackles...With his weight room strength, he should be more of a collision-type tackler.

Sporting News War Room -Looks like a linebacker but has the temperament of a safety. Probably isn't worth a draft pick but would be a good free-agent signing because of his athleticism, smarts and instincts. He has what it takes to stick in the NFL as a backup linebacker, emergency safety and primarily a special teams gunner. Upside - Good athlete who can make plays sideline-to-sideline. Competitive, and hustles to the whistle. Good instincts to read and react quickly to plays ;fast to get outside against screen passes. Can cover tight ends and running backs man-to-man on short routes. When maintaining good balance, he's a solid open-field tackler. Great gunner on the punt coverage unit; gets downfield quickly and delivers hard hits. Downside - A college safety who must move to linebacker in the NFL. Lacks aggression in run support. More of a straight-line athlete who struggles to adjust on the move to make a tackle -- lunges at the ballcarrier too often. Thin, and struggles to shed blocks. Lacks the burst to get outside from deep coverage in safety alignment, and lacks the coverage skills to handle any wide receiver man-to-man.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
9 Zach Catanese, Arizona St. 6-2 221 4.69 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

BRS (Gollin) - Listed as a FS by nflscouts.com. Undersized lunchpail type who, like Piscatelli is a LB/S tweener. Not real instinctive.
nflscouts.com - Versatile and tenacious athlete who, in his first year on campus, was one of ASU's most sturdy defenders...combines elite size and athleticism and is a threat to line-up in the box in run support as well as drop back into pass coverage...for the second consecutive year, he was recognized as a Hard Hat Player for his work in the team's winter strength and conditioning program.

Sporting News War Room - Bottom line: Productive and physical safety, but his best shot in the NFL will be as a WLB. where he can play more aggressively without having to worry about making mistakes in deep pass coverage. As a linebacker, he can cover running backs all over the field and tight ends on short pass routes. Upside -Tough and competitive. Always gives a good effort chasing the ball. Has the speed to chase down ballcarriers sideline-to-sideline. Can make violent tackles when under control. Is smart, and reads the quarterback well in zone coverage. Plants, drives and closes quickly to make good hits immediately after the catch. Good hands, and closes quickly to cut in front of receivers to make tough interceptions. Good special teams coverage man. Downside - S/OLB 'tweener -- lacking the speed and closing burst to play safety, but undersized for a linebacker, often struggling to deal with blockers. Must be more aggressive and consistent. Tends to slow up before making contact on tackles, allowing ballcarriers to dictate the play and thus miss tackles.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
10 Sam Olajubutu, Arkansas 5086 227 4.77 24 1.62 2.68 34.5 9-10 4.34 7.33 -- --

BRS (Gollin) - Lack of height a key problem and he lacks straight line speed.

nflscouts.com - Heart and soul of the Razorback defense, he burst onto the national scene last season and established himself as one of the best linebackers in the country. Dominated in talented conference.

Sporting News War Room - At first glance, you'd expect Olajubutu to lack the athleticism, toughness and production to make the jump to the NFL, but within the first quarter of evaluating him, it becomes clear he has what it takes. Some teams will drop him off their boards because of his lack of height, but those whose defenses are based on speed and athleticism and willing to overlook height will definitely have interest. In time he will develop into an elite special teams player and maybe a weakside starter. Upside - Great athlete; accelerates to full speed quickly and consistently chases down plays. Very quick and active; moves through traffic and avoids blocks easily. When getting close to plays, has the explosive closing bursts to finish them off. Reads and reacts quickly. Fills hole fast and aggressively; blows up blockers at point of contact and makes play in backfields. Gets outside to break up screen passes fast and can cover backs and tight ends all over the field in tight man-to-man coverage. Downside - Is very undersized; (not many linebackers his size have ever been able to translate their college success to the NFL). When he does not attack and play aggressively, blockers get a lock on him too easily and can ride him out of plays. Doesn't always play up to his capable speed in pursuit. Lack of height makes it a struggle to consistently break up passes.

ICON · 03-14-2007, 01:26 PM

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ
1 Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma (UC) 6014 217 4.40 -- 1.53 2.58 38.5 10.7 4.40 -- 7.09 --
BRS (Gollin) - Before his injury, he was considered a top-3 talent. Great Combine results verify this.

ESPN (Scouts Inc.) Resembles Shaun Alexander - Punishing upright runner with soft hands, excellent vision along with ideal balance and body control. Not overly elusive. Durability a major concern.

Sporting News War Room - Big, thick-bodied back with the power and strength to be a dominant inside runner when aggressive and keeping shoulders low to the ground. Has all the tools to be a very good NFL starter on power-running team. But could struggle to reach his potential due to durability issues. A first-round prospect in terms of physical talent but injury history may hurt his rating. Upside: Great build with excellent natural strength. Combination of strength, balance and agility helps him stay on his feet against hard hits. Consistently gains yardage after contact. Can lower shoulders to become a smaller target. Can deliver a violent blow to would-be tacklers. Nice, strong stiff-arm. Can move the pile in short-yardage situations. Agile and quick enough to make would-be tacklers miss in the open field. Once at full speed, is deceptively fast. As a receiver, adjusts well to make tough catches on the move. Has improved at picking his feet up in traffic to avoid getting tripped by low, grab tackles. Downside: Runs upright, especially in traffic, and takes a lot of hard hits. (Has struggled to stay healthy). A bit of a straight-line runner, and struggles to make sharp cuts to hit hole. Lacks explosive burst through the hole or to reach the corner. Lacks elite speed. Liability as a pass blocker because of poor effort and technique. Has improved ball protection but still carries the ball away from body too often and will fumble because of it.

nflscouts.com - Blessed with a perfect blend of size, speed, strength and field vision. Upside: For a player of his size, Peterson is blessed with rare speed and quickness. Can get to top speed in an instant and has no problems attacking the holes with legs churning and pads low. Can push and clear the LOS producing 71% of his yardage after initial contact. ... Has the pull-away burst to beat defenders turning the corner...can drop his pads and shift gears quickly, maintaining that burst through his cuts. Quick to attack the inside holes and has the acceleration to separate once he clears the trash. .. Outstanding vision and good savvy as an open field runner. Is more apt to try and side-step his defender now, reducing his fumbles considerably...has natural feel for the holes...has patience to set up and use his blockers. Quick to see threats and while he usually plays the hand he is dealt, it is very easy for him to change direction...made marked improvement getting his hands placed to sustain blocks. Has the size and strength to occupy an opponent. Strength is evident when he sticks his hat into the defender/has also developed into a decent cut blocker and effective to face up and stone when working in space. Downside: Despite his speed, he will try to overpower the opponent rather that elude him ... not used much as a route runner/was limited to screens, pitch-outs and dump-offs. Lets the ball get into his body too much and will double catch it. Looks like just an adequate safety valve working underneath. ... needs route refinement. Though he has the quickness to separate underneath, it's rare to see him run intermediate or long patterns. ...Much more conscious of securing the ball in traffic, but needs to do a better job of eyeing the ball on pitch-outs.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
2 Kenny Irons, Auburn 5105 203 4.45 -- 1.50 2.56 38 10-3 4.17 11.47 7.00 --

BRS (Gollin) - Compact, durable smallish efficient RB in the Curtis Martin mold - does nothing spectacularly but a lot of things very well. 4.45 forty reflects enough straight ahead speed to turn a solid all around RB into a very good one.

Senior Bowl Notes (fr War Room) - Stood out and impressed everyone catching the ball....did not catch a ton of passes during last season and did not always look comfortable when asked to do it...showed the hands to pluck passes out of the air and was able to twist and catch slightly off-target passes.

ESPN (Scouts Inc.) Resembles Cadillac Williams - Shifty downhill runner with enough burst to get through the hole. Enough speed to reach the corner. Reads blocks well. Has second gear. But runs a bit high at times and will need to become bigger and stronger to shoulder a full-time load. Must become a more consistent route runner and pass catcher.

nflscouts.com -
Compares to Jerious Norwood, Irons' explosive initial quickness lets him gain instant leverage on any defender. Both are not considered power runners, but because of their burst and low pad level, they have been able to gain valid yardage between tackles. When either of these runners turn the corner, that second gear takes over and their foot race is easily won. Upside: Much quicker than fast, but shows very good explosion and burst coming out of his stance...Attacks the holes with good pad level and forward body lean... Has ease-of-movement agility to change direction and locate the cutback lanes without having to throttle down...has crisp plant and drive agility to get to top speed in an instant and has good up field cutting ability...Intense competitor who will not hesitate to bang it up the middle of the line, despite concerns about his overall strength...Accelerates instantly/very sudden with the loose hips, wiggle and head fakes to simply fool a lethargic defender...Quick through the holes, staying low in his pads while generating the forward body lean to generate valid positive yardage, even in tight areas...Can also rock the defenders back on their heels with his stop-and-go action....Alert to cutback lanes and works hard to set plays up...It is rare to see him go down on first contact......Because he plays at that low pad level, he consistently gets leverage and is fluid in his pick and slide...Won't be easily tripped up because of his above average balance...Too slippery to be neutralized by arm tackles or from defenders trying to take out his legs...While his pick and slide ability is effective, he is just better using cutback lanes than trying to out-run his blocking to get past tacklers...Knows his second gear is much more effective at eluding tacklers rather than trying to juke or wiggle away from them...Darting runner who doesn't have the leg drive to power through tacklers, but is tough to bring down in isolated coverage...The thing you notice on film is his ability to out-run angles and squeeze through holes without having to throttle down...Fast-twitched in his route progression and has the quick pitter-patter steps to ride up on a defender and gobble the cushion. Downside: Developing better overall muscle tone, but is not as strong as recent Auburn runners...will probably fill out only to 215 pounds before seeing the additional weight affect his quickness...might struggle a bit with a complicated playbook... must read blocks in spacebetter...Will sometimes fail to run behind his pads and get stymied straight-up...must improve ball security....would rather catch in a small window than pluck for the ball...adequate on screens...struggles some when asked to operate on crossers or attack the deep seam)...Explodes into his routes to gobble up the cushion, but lacks recognition skills to know when to work back to the ball...Gets run over too much trying to pick up the blitz or bull rush...his marginal hand placement technique sees that opponent easily slip off his blocking attempt.

Sporting News War Room - Irons burst onto the scene halfway through his junior season...competitive, athletic with decent strength and great balance but does not consistently break tackles...figures to be an ideal backup early while he adds the necessary bulk. Ultimately, Irons will be a dangerous, big-play back. Upside: Great athlete. Accelerates to full speed in a blink, and has the agility to make would-be tacklers miss. Great vision and instincts to find holes. Runs hard on every snap, and keeps feet moving to run through arm tackles. As a receiver, shows good hands and is dangerous after the catch. In pass protection, is smart and productive; consistently identifies the blitz, picks out his man and stops him. Downside: A bit thin/ must add another 10-15 pounds...Durability is a bigger question...Lacks elite explosiveness through the hole to break long runs. Does not always run with good body lean, limiting his ability to gain yardage after contact. Lacks the size and strength to break tackles.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
3 Antonio Pittman, Ohio St. (UC) 5106 207 4.40 16 1.52 2.53 35.2 10-3 4.16 -- 6.84 --
BRS (Gollin) - Comes from a strong program. Very few negatives. If his forty speed holds up, he'll remain a first round talent.

ESPN (Scouts Inc.) Resembles Julius Jones - Gritty runner who hits the hole quickly with power for size. Decent balance. Good COD. Lacks bulk. Lacks wiggle. Must become a more polished receiver.

nflscouts.com - Returning starter at tailback ...strong inside runner who can make first defender miss and the speed to go the distance ...hits the hole quickly and is a tough, physical runner who fights for extra yardage ...

Sporting News War Room - Shockingly good because of his uncommon athletic ability to make would-be tacklers miss, burst to make sharp cuts and strength to consistently gain yardage after contact. Will not be drafted as highly due to his thin frame and deceptive strength, but he will become a good all-around back in the NFL. His only area needing improvement is pass blocking. Upside: Great athlete with rare quickness, explosiveness and speed. Changes directions in a flash to make would-be tacklers miss. Bounces runs outside when the middle is clogged, and shows the burst to the corner. Highly competitive. Consistently keeps legs churning, and fights for every yard. Has strength and balance to absorb hard hits and stay afoot. Pulls free from arm tackles. Good instincts to find the hole and the burst to hit it. Aggressive with stiff-arm to jolt would-be tacklers. Is smart. Has patience to follow blockers, and sets up blocks nicely. Wraps up the ball in traffic. Good hands as a receiver. Downside: Lacks ideal size. Thin backs usually struggle to stay healthy in the NFL. raw pass-blocking technique/ struggles to eliminate his man.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
4 Lorenzo Booker, Florida St. 5103 191 4.46 26 1.46 2.58 35.5 10-1 -- -- -- --

BRS (Gollin) - We've elevated his stock based on what our eyes tell us. We like the way he can explode to separate in the hole or to run away from defenders off a cutback. Reminds us of a more productive version of JJ Arrington. (Note - his 26 bench press reps suggests he's stronger than JJ too.

Senior Bowl Notes (fr War Room) - Continued to show the explosiveness, quick footwork, agility and hands to make up for his lacking size...caught the ball well and made some sharp cuts to avoid contact after the catch....showed explosive quickness, agility and cutting ability...caught the ball well out of the backfield and consistently made sharp cuts to make initial would-be tacklers miss. He showed the burst to break runs outside once he got through inside holes. Booker also showed he can outrun would-be tacklers around the corner. Had a fine day both carrying and catching the ball. Despite being clearly undersized...is well built and muscular for his size. With his quick feet, he showed the explosive cutting ability to change directions in a blur and burst through holes in a flash. Additionally, Booker showed great hands in all the receiving drills. (BRS - We like the way he can explode to separate in the hole or to run away from defenders off a cutback).

ESPN (Scouts Inc.) Resembles Warrick Dunn - Has the speed and elusive to become a good 3rd down back. Great burst. Extremely elusive. Technically sound pass catcher. Not very big or strong. Goes down to easily. Can get pushed around at POA. Size creates durability concerns.

nflscouts.com -Compares to Derrick Blaylock. Like Blaylock, Booker's quickness and cutting agility make him a fine change-of-pace back and he has the natural hands to be an effective short area receiver. However, he lacks the consistency of a Warrick Dunn and the strength to move the pile. In the open field, his explosive running style is an asset, but between the tackles, he will struggle to break free...Regarded as one of the elite tailbacks coming out despite sharing RB duties.. Upside: Undersized, but shows adequate overall muscle tone and has room on his frame to carry at least another ten pounds of bulk…Has valid speed and explosion coming out of his stance to get on the edge and pick up good yardage past the second level…precise cutting agility and loose hips to attack the cutback lanes…Has the plant-&-drive agility to get in and out of his breaks without needing to throttle down…Natural hands and extension to pluck the ball away from his frame…Good field instincts and is patience…Very sudden…His lateral agility and change of direction skills make him a dangerous threat along the perimeter and his solid receiving skills could see him utilized in the slot or lined wide in passing situations…good feel for the crease and knows how to keep his pads down to redirect…Good at lowering his pads and executing cuts to slip off tackles…Elusive open field runner with the valid speed to take the ball to the house…Second gear allows him to beat angles and slip off tackles racing through the second level…Gets good separation after the catch and it is rare to see him gather in his patterns. Downside: Frame appears narrow, and additional bulk could effect his quickness and suddenness…Has very good speed, but sometimes runs into spots on the field, lacking the leg drive and power to break the initial tackle…Will take several plays off after taking on a physical hit and may lack the overall strength and durability to carry the brunt of the rushing load at the next level...Lacks the bulk to push the pile and unless he slips off tackles, he can be taken down vs. the initial hit…Can be pushed back through the rush lane, especially when he fails to lower his shoulders…Natural hands as a pass catcher, but has been used mostly on controlled routes...struggles tracking the ball over his outside shoulder on long throws…Willing blocker, but too often gets pushed back into the pocket or leaves his feeth…Takes poor angles in the open and is more of an ankle biter when trying to cut block in the second level…Ducks his head on contact and takes only passive arm swipes in attempts to sustain.

Sporting News War Room - Still must prove he can handle a 25-carry load week in, week out. One of the nation's most dangerous players because is a touchdown threat on every carry or catch. Fast and elusive and a valuable receiver, which makes him an ideal NFL third-down back Upside: A dazzling athlete. Excels at changing directions, and has the moves to consistently get out of trouble. Plays hard, and is willing to share carries to help his team win. Never stops moving. Can attack the corners of a defense and stretch the field. Shows better patience as senior waiting for holes to open and for blockers to make blocks. Downside: Lacks ideal size/durability always will be a question. Lacks the body to attack the heart of a defense. Tends to run a little upright and gets slowed down because of it.An average blocker, at best.

ICON · 03-14-2007, 01:30 PM

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ
5 Marshawn Lynch, Cal (UC) 5111 215 4.46 20 1.53 2.60 35.5 10-5 4.58 11.80 7.09 --
BRS (Gollin) - Better size than Irons or Pittman. But we're not crazy about RB's who dance in the hole or run with a high pad level, however.

ESPN (Scouts Inc.) Resembles Clinton Portis - Has big play potential - Explosive with great combo of size and straight line speed. Tough inside runner. Runs with good pad level. Excellent speed to outside and second gear in open field. Above average hands. Experienced pass blocker. A bit straight-lined. Needs work on route running. Minor durability concerns.

nflscouts.com - Compares to Joeseph Addai Slippery as an inside runner and, like Addai, patient with the second gear needed to break away from the pack. Has the acceleration to separate from defenders in the open, excellent arm strength for the option pass and natural hands as a receiver coming out of the backfield. Upside: Solid build with good upper-body muscle definition, big bubble, thick thighs, high calves, broad shoulders, good chest thickness...Can generate a second gear to separate in the open and the nimble feet needed to make precise lateral cuts..loose hips and COD agility helps him avoid traffic...Keeps his feet after contact and pick-and-slide agility to elude when running in-line...Runs with a normal stride, but is very crisp redirecting on the move...good understanding of offense and blocking schemes...vision to locate the soft areas in the zone and no hesitation redirecting when rush lanes are clogged...Effective blocker and a tough inside runner who loves to challenge the defender in one-on-one situations...Will aggressively take on a tackler and will sacrifice his body to compete for the pass over the middle...Mentally tough character who won't let mistakes take him out of his game...Highly respected by his teammates and staff, bringing a good attitude into the locker room with his work ethic and ability to keep the players "loose."...good in-stride quickness/can clear the line of scrimmage in an instant when he keeps his pad level down...quick burst out of his stance /steady acceleration on his long runs...has loose hips to redirect and separate in the open...Excels at finding cutback lanes...Can bounce off the tackle and make the initial defender miss...Patient runner/ it is rare to see him run into traffic...Downhill runner with the slippery moves and COD agility to get through trash...Very good stop-and-go runner whose precise cutting agility will generally cause the initial tackler overrun and overpursue...Compensates for a lack of sudden sustained speed with very good lateral slide and veering moves to avoid...Good balance. Soft, natural hands/catches away from body...vision to look the ball in over his outside shoulder and can separate after the catch...Willing blocker with a good eye for picking up the blitz...Shows good intent and aggression chipping on edge rushers and gives the quarterback enough room to operate when protecting the pocket. Downside: Not explosive runner around the corner...sometimes gets too high in his stance when attempting to race into the second level...needs to improve his leg drive/won't move the pile...Will sometimes get too fancy and dance in front of the hole...Protects the ball better running through traffic than when bouncing outside, but also struggled some when handling a pitch or toss.\

Sporting News War Room - Helped his draft stock by battling through a lingering ankle injury in '06 and still producing at a high level. One-dimensional backs, however, struggle in the NFL. Has the talent to be a top running back, but his NFL team will have to spend a ton of time trying to refine his receiving and pass-blocking skills. Upside: Good athlete. Can be a strong and physical inside runner, and makes would-be tacklers miss outside. Has quickness, agility and balance to change direction, make sharp cuts and make would-be tacklers miss. Natural running instinct. Finds the hole, and quickly gets through it. Follows blockers well; will sit on their hip, and make sharp cuts off blocks. Is competitive and tough. Keeps legs churning to fight for yardage. Strong enough to run through arm tackles. Has the balance to absorb hard hits and keep on going. Downside: More quick than fast. Lacks elite explosiveness and speed to run away from defenses. Won’t score long touchdowns. Must improve as a receiver & seldom used in this capacity. Must be more consistent at lowering his shoulders and running with good pad level. Tends to run too upright. Must work on pass blocking (not aggressive or tenacious).

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
6 Michael Bush, Louisville (UC) 6013 243 4.65 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
BRS (Gollin) - It all depends on how far and how fast he can come back from his leg injury. Could be an option for Cardinals as a big back if they fail to sign Marcel Shipp

ESPN (Scouts Inc.) Resembles Larry Johnson - Has unmatched speed and versatility for a big back. Can blow thru defenders when running at the right pad level. Outstanding receiver and route runner. Durability a major concern missed 2006 due to broken leg and some of 2005 due to foot injury. Runs too high, making him a magnet for tacklers and prone to future injury.

nflscouts.com -
Compares to Greg Jones. Bush is not as well-built or strong as Jones, but when both are healthy they are capable of moving the chains with their deceptive speed, stutter-step running style and natural hands as a catcher out of the backfield. Both have also had injury issues - .only three minutes into the second half of the Kentucky clash, Bush suffered a right leg fracture. Upside: Very good foot agility and balance for size...Takes short, pitter-patter steps and has the loose hips to change direction and come out of his breaks with an explosive up field burst...Very crisp planting and driving in his route cuts and has the feel for the crease and vision to locate the cutback lane...Intense competitor...it's very rare to see him run out of bounds...has deceptive burst that allows him to surprise a lethargic defender...nice job of changing angles, but can also build up to top speed quickly when operating deep in the backfield...won't run away from defenders on pure speed, but can change gears, lower his pads and redirect smoothly to get past the second level. Patient waiting for holes to develop, but it is his ability to see the cutback lanes that has brought about most of his long runs... Bush is capable of sinking his hips and keeping his pad level low...good success through the cutback lanes or bouncing outside to get big yardage...Has the loose hips to redirect and is quite nimble in the open for a player of his size...despite being a good downhill runner, his lateral bounce is more effectively used running outside... smooth stride moving laterally to make the initial tackler miss...Can either juke the defender or slide step to elude...Sets up his cuts nicely when sliding and has the feet to take the ball long distances...capable third-down receiver, with the natural hands and arm extension to catch away from his frame ...Catches the ball cleanly and does a good job extending for off-target throws...Deceptively quick to get open underneath and good at adjusting and settling in the soft areas. Downside: Has a thick frame that can carry additional bulk, but needs to add overall muscle definition...soft gutted, big bubble, good lower frame thickness, but only adequate strength...mediocre Wonderlic score (12) might set off some red flags but can read holes and recognize coverages...Must improve his overall strength though he does use his size and leg drive efficiently to break tackles...weight has been a problem and his lack of overall muscle tone is the result of his dislike for lifting weights. Still has that mentality that he would much rather avoid and elude defenders than run over them...Despite his mass, he is not a pile mover and must get stronger. Lost three lost fumbles vs. Cincy 2 years ago...Willing in-line blocker who uses his body well to occupy the smaller defenders at the line of scrimmage, but lack of ideal power is evident when facing up to down linemen...Tries to square up, but lacks the strong hand punch to lock on and sustain.

Sporting News War Room - Bush is unique. He has the size and strength of a big back but the agility, balance and instincts of a smaller guy. Scouts don't like running backs who lack explosiveness and speed but Bush grows on you. Similar to Rod Bernstine. Can be a good NFL starter but durability is a big question mark -- especially after breaking his leg in Louisville's season opener. Upside: Is big and strong. Keeps his feet moving to absorb hard hits and keep on going. Breaks a lot of tackles. Shows good instincts to follow blockers and cut off them correctly. Surprisingly quick and agile. Can stop and start quickly enough to avoid tacklers in the open field. Good hands to make tough catches. Is as good a pass blocker as he wants to be -- always picks the right man, but does not always use good technique. Downside: Has struggled to stay healthy. Lacks the explosive burst and speed to be a big-play threat. Lacks the burst to be as effective on cutback runs in the NFL. Runs upright too often. When there is no hole, tends to slow up and become tentative.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ SH 60S 3C WN
7 Darius Walker, N. Dame (UC) 5100 206 4.55 19 1.54 2.62 40.5 1-3 4.39 -- 7.18 --
5100 206 4.55 2.62 1.54 19 40 1/2 10'3" 4.39 7.18
BRS (Gollin) - The Notre Dame connection can break 2 ways: (1) Is Walker a product of Notre Dame hype? Or (2) Does being a RB in the Notre Dame system under Charley Weis make him a better player and also a pretty good one who earned Weis' respect?

ESPN (Scouts Inc.) Resembles Chester Taylor - Terrific vision. Quick and shifty. Slippery. Protects his body well. Reliable receiver. Physically not really outstanding in any area - adequate speed and size, not real elusive, struggles to reach the corner, as a blocker he gets manhandled by bigger LB's.

nflscouts.com - Upside: Good initial quickness to and through the hole. Can make defenders miss with deceptive speed to the outside. Lacks the size preferred in an interior and short-yardage runner, but has proven quite successful in this aspect of the game. Consistent and durable runner who never missed a collegiate game due to injury despite concerns about his size. Excellent receiver out of the backfield. Downside: Lacks true breakaway speed and is considered a bit of a product of coach Charlie Weis' system. Lacks bulk or power in his running. Is limited in the type of scheme in which he can be effective.

Sporting News War Room -
Walker's decision to go pro caught many by surprise. Coach Charlie Weis said he was informed of Walker's decision Jan. 9. "He guaranteed me that he would graduate from Notre Dame in the near future. Although disappointed, we wish him nothing but the best."

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
8 Tony Hunt, Penn State 6015 233 4.55 24 -- -- -- -- -- --
BRS (Gollin) - Reminded us of Marcus Allen. Allen was a well-rounded back who didn't excel at any one thing, but became good enough at a variety of things to develop into a Pro Bowl star. But most guys who profile like this tend to never ratchet up all the aspects of their game high enough to avoid falling by the wayside. Question with Hunt will be whether or not he has the spark inside he'll need to raise his game. This is a guy whose agility and pass catching drill performance at the Combine will help or hurt him.

ESPN (Scouts Inc.) Resembles Rudi Johnson - Tough, powerful, durable. Could evolve into decent starter on a power running team. Rarely drops a catchable pass and is an effective pass blocker. But doesn't stand out in any single area.

nflscouts.com -Compares to Kevan Barlow Hunt is a big, physical power runner who quietly goes about his business. He was much more productive in 2006 than Barlow, but both rely on power and balance to gain the tough yardage between the tackles. Hunt is a decent short area receiver with the strength to consistently break tackles, but his timed speed is not going to see him win many foot races in the open. If you are looking for a breakaway threat, look elsewhere. If you are looking for a physical chain mover, Hunt is that type. Upside: Has a solid build with a muscular lower body frame, good thickness in his thighs and calves, good bubble, broad shoulders, tight waist and room on his frame to add at least another 10 pounds of bulk...Doesn't have the breakaway speed to pull away from the pile, but his balance and strength let him run over and through the initial tackle when he keeps his pads down...Good field vision and awareness running with the ball/quick to locate the cutback lanes..Will lower his head to get extra yardage after contact rather than run out of bounds...Comes out of his stance with decent initial quickness, but it is his balance and body control, rather than explosion, that helps him build to top speed through the holes...When he keeps his pad level low, he has good forward body lean through the rush lanes...Effective at varying his speed and setting up defenders with his moves rather than generating suddenness off the snap...Has the vision to quickly recognize coverages, good feel for the defender and the power to run through his opponent...Not real nimble, but has the leg drive to gain valid yardage on the move..Good at lowering his shoulders, leaning forward and driving with his legs to break the initial tackle...Can anticipate defender's moves and runs with good forward lean and strength to gain valid yardage after initial contact...Won't win long distance races, but has enough of a functional initial burst to at least move the chains consistently. Good reach and extension to catch away from his frame...Good vision awareness and arm flexibility to grab off-target throws (it's rare to see him use his body as a crutch to field the ball.)..Will not hesitate to face up when blocking in-line and generates a strong hand punch and solid placement to sustain...Coming out of his stance, he keeps his pads down, getting the tough yardage through trash...Has a natural feel for cutback lanes and the instincts to know when to redirect and bounce outside. Downside: When he tends to get erect and high in his stance, he can be pushed back through the rush lanes...lacks the sustained speed to threaten in the deep secondary...lacks the wiggle and shake to elude...problems arise when he gets too high in his stance...just adequate taking the ball long distances...functional lateral quickness, but it is rare to see him juke and disappear from the pile turning the corner...The only time he gets turned back is when he runs too tall through the creases or tries to get fancy by juking a defender along the perimeter...6 fumbles...Must run sharper routes to be considered more than a safety valve receiver and must generate better hip snap to get in and out of his breaks cleanly than he has displayed.

Sporting News War Room - Frustrating prospect because he has good physical tools -- especially strength and balance -- but lacks the aggressiveness to take advantage. Gets tackled too easily. With improvement, he could be an adequate NFL starter; however, rarely do players greatly improve their aggressiveness or receiving skills. Projects as a backup who might not last long. Upside: Quick and surprisingly smooth and fluid. Good instincts to find the hole, plus quickness to get through it fast. Can bounce runs outside when the middle is clogged up. Strong enough to absorb hits and run through arm tackles. Can knock would-be tacklers backwards when he is aggressive and lowers shoulders. Follows blockers well. Downside: Does not consistently run aggressively... Lacks pure speed and explosiveness. Doesn't wrap up the ball well in traffic. Doesn’t make many would-be tacklers miss. Is not a polished receiver, and needs a lot of work in pass protection.

ICON · 03-14-2007, 01:30 PM

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
9 Romonce Taylor, Texas Coll 5101 195 4.50 -- 1.56 2.62 34 10-5 4.23 -- 6.98 --
BRS (Gollin) - Are we looking at the next LaDanian Tomlinson or the next Maurice Clarett? We loved the kid from the day he stepped onto the field as a freshman. Taylor can either mature and still make something out of himself or remain a stoner who will either represent a high maintenance problem child on some team's roster or drop below the horizon altogether. We'll leave him up here purely on athletic potential, but he does represent a risk.

ESPN (Scouts Inc.) Resembles Maurice Morris - Versatile, with the speed and athleticism to become an excellent 3rd down back/slot receiver. Good COD. Reads blocks well. Experienced receiver who explodes out of cuts. Home run RAC potential. Sentenced to 60 days for possession of marijuana and was forced to transfer from Texas U to Texas College.

nflscouts.com - Charged with felony drug possession after police found five pounds of marijuana in the trunk of his car. Taylor then missed a whole year at Texas College due to academic eligibility. Off field concerns aside, Taylor is an outstanding running back. Would have been in the running back rotation with Jamaal Charles had he straightened out the academic problems. He accounted for 778 yards rushing and receiving with 15 touchdowns in Texas' championship season. When asked about the situation, head coach Mack Brown said, "At this time we will not consider reinstating him to the team." Hasn't played in nearly 14 months, but NFL teams are not short on impressive game film of him. "If he would have stayed in school and done the things he had done, he would have gone in the first or second round," said C.O. Brocato, national coordinator of college scouting for the Tennessee Titans. "I'm not saying he's going to get drafted early, but I think he will get drafted. He could even go the first day." Has been working hard and, after running a pair of 4.33-second 40-yard dashes last week, he expects to run well here. "He's a motivated kid," said Selvin Young, "I feel like he's an extraordinary athlete, and he's going to be a steal for anybody who picks him."

Sporting News War Room
Was suspended from after scoring 15 touchdowns during Texas' national title season in 2005. Sentenced to 60 days in jail after pleading guilty to a marijuana possession charge Taylor transferred to Texas College, an NAIA school, in Tyler where he sat out this season because he was academically ineligible.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
10 Chris Henry, Arizona 5112 230 4.40 26 1.56 2.56 36 10-7 4.16 11.51 6.96 --

BRS (Gollin) - Combine numbers blew everyone away and will cause his ratings to rise, but there was little in his college body of work that excited us. We'll follow the herd and upgrade him, but we'd like to learn more.

ESPN (Scouts Inc.) Resembles Anthony Thomas - Big strong powerful RB with lots of mileage left on legs. Good initial quickness and burst. Can push the pile and bounce off tacklers. Soft hands. Never carried full load. Impatient runner. A bit straight-lined. Takes to many body shots and must learn to run with lower pad level.

nflscouts.com - True diamond in the rough prospect for the later rounds...blessed with a prototype combination of size, power and athleticism, he looks the part of a standout lead back. Despite obvious physical tools, however, Henry struggled to remain on the field for a Wildcat team that hasn't been to a bowl game since 1998. Upside: Physically imposing player with good overall musculature and size. Looks more like a linebacker than running back. Runs with good forward lean and power with surprising quickness and speed. Has improved throughout his career despite limited playing time. No fumbles this season after coughing up three in his initial 11 attempts in 2005. Good hands when given the opportunity. Raw athleticism that can be molded at the next level. Downside: Better athlete than football player flashing speed, power and agility, but rarely shows all three consistently enough to be effective. Questionable instincts and vision for a running back, though he clearly has the physical tools for the next level. Never proven himself consistent enough to be the full-time starter.

Sporting News War Room - Henry told media outlets last month that he felt burned by a lack of playing time early in the season, and said he was not sure Arizona's new "Air Raid" offense was a good fit. Henry ran for 380 of his team-high 581 rushing yards in the final four games of the season.

ICON · 03-14-2007, 01:36 PM

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ
1 Ted Ginn Jr., Ohio St. (UC) 5112 178 4.30 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Player Worth Watching

BRS (Gollin) - the addition of a gamebreaking burner who can separate and beat you long in addition to having Hester-like potential as a returner could make Q, Fitz and Co. super scary as a receiving unit. Not fully recovered from ankle injury to compete at the Combine. Pro Day may be where he confirms what most people feel about his blazing speed and tremendous athleticism.

ESPN (Scouts Inc.) - Resembles Santana Moss - World class speed and exceptional initial burst. Great RAC threat. Needs more bulk and strength. Not very physical. Gets jammed too easily. Will drop catchable balls. Is so fast that he must slow down to make cuts.

nflscouts.com - ... a threat to score any time he touches the ball ... has Olympic speed and dazzling quickness ... an electrifying football player ...terrific hands/ catches everything that comes his way ... especially dangerous when he turns the corner and shifts into passing gear

Sporting News War Room -
Superstar in high school and a star in college - game-changing player in whose hands teams want to get the ball. But he must focus on improving his skills to become an elite NFL player. That will take time...With work and discipline, he will develop into a playmaking pro & should become an explosive receiver similar to Steve Smith and Santana Moss. Upside: Explosive and a legitimate TD threat every time he touches the ball. Uses quickness to get separation in routes. Has the speed to stretch the field and get deep. Good hands. When focused, can adjust to poor passes and make great catches. Excellent in the open field. Uses speed and instincts, follows blockers well and doesn’t go down easily on contact. Is a threat as a return man. Downside: Has thin legs, raising durability concerns.Raw for an elite player. Must polish technique. Runs sloppy routes; tends to round them off. Lacks great focus; will drop passes and punts because of it. Doesn’t give great effort as a blocker.

...
Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
2 Calvin Johnson*, Ga Tech (UC) 6050 239 4.35 -- 1.52 2.53 -- -- -- --
BRS (Gollin) - Reminds us physically of David Boston. Cards needs tilt toward blazing speed and explosion. Johnson is one of the new breed of receivers who combine the size of a TE with good speed, incredible hands, leaping ability and ball skills. But the past 2 or 3 years is rife with big receivers (i.e. the "Detroit experiment") who just didn't click because they couldn't separate from man coverage. War Room questions his explosiveness. nflscouts feels Johnson has the separation speed.

ESPN (Scouts Inc.) - Resembles Randy Moss - Exceptional athletic tools - well built and strong with rare speed. Big hands. King of jump balls. Remarkable balance and body control. Runs before he secures ball. Will disappear at times. Some durability concern (knee).

nflscouts.com - Compares to Larry Fitzgerald -Johnson is actually bigger and faster. While Fitzgerald has trouble separating deep, Johnson could become the complete package. Where Johnson falls short of Fitzgerald is in his concentration in jump-ball situations. Regarded by many as the premier receiver in college football...has that rare blend of size, strength and quickness. Upside: Tall, thick frame, with long arms, large hands, thick thighs and calves and a big bubble...His long legs let him ride up on the defender quickly while looking effortless in his stride...Good closing speed running under sideline throws and the quickness to get into his routes without being impeded...Good power receiver on crossers and side-line throws, using his strength and size to shield the ball from defenders...strong hands (no fumbles) and the second gear to turn a short pass into a long gainer...Very physical in his initial step off the ball, but also has the quickness to immediately defeat the press...Best when operating along the sidelines where he can build to top speed and maintain it throughout his route...Knows how to use his body and has a knack for finding the open spots in the zone...In man coverage, he is very adept at using his burst to separate consistently...Has the long arms and body control to go over people to get to the ball...Knows how to get open and understands sticks and boundaries....Big target who can't be rerouted by a strong hand push - learning how to use his long arms to go over defenders ...Can be very explosive in his rise and shows natural hand extension to reach and pluck away from the frame...Generates a strong jolt to defeat the press and works hard with his hands to sustain when blocking in-line...not a body catcher...Terrific load to bring down after the catch...Strong open field runner who will drag defenders when fighting for extra yardage... not a lot of shake in his hips and a bit of a long strider, but does run with the power needed to break tackles consistently...Uses his hands with force to lock on and sustain and can generate devastating cut blocks in the open...Can dominate smaller defensive backs and shows good angles getting out to neutralize second level defenders...Stays low in his pads and shows good intent when delivering his hand punch vs. the bull rush. Downside: Sometimes does not play up to his timed speed...timing is on jumps sometimes off...has also left quite a few passes on the field, perhaps due to poor passing precision from the quarterback position...has caught only 127 of 271 passes thrown to him...( it is hard to imagine the smaller cornerbacks having success in batting away 21 of those passes thrown to him)...tends to lose sight of the ball over his head...some hip stiffness when trying to change direction and this will sometimes prevent him from making sharp cuts...must show better hip sink on his cuts...Tends to lose concentration working in a crowd (hears defender's footsteps)...Gets his feet down properly when working along the side-lines, but must be more alert to the quarterback scramble.

Sporting News War Room -
Has the size and strength and remarkable hands to be a dominant player. Catches every pass thrown in his direction; senses the arrival of the ball and can twist his body to make great catches routinely. Only thing that will limit him is his lack of explosiveness because he will not be able to get consistent separation in tight man-to-man coverage, but he has the smarts and strength to compensate. Upside: A giant with the height, strength and athletic ability that virtually is impossible to find. Great hands/can consistently catch off-target passes. Fights through jams easily because of quick footwork and strong hands. Uses body well to shield defenders. Tough enough to catch passes in traffic, absorbing violent hits and holding onto the ball. A surprisingly elusive runner, who is big enough to run through some would-be tacklers. Downside: Lacks elite explosiveness and speed to consistently burst away from defender, especially on downfield routes -- will struggle even more to separate from NFL cornerbacks. Does not consistently work hard as a run blocker. Does not always run aggressively after the catch.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
3 Aundrae Allison, E. Carolina 6002 198 4.39 -- 1.43 2.46 37 10-7 -- -- -- --

Player Worth Watching

Senior Bowl Notes (fr War Room) - Had another terrific day...ran very sharp routes and used his body well to shield defenders. He especially excelled at catching passes in end zone and made highlight-reel catches with cornerbacks all over him. Even though he finally dropped a few passes on Wednesday, he clearly stood out with a strong outing. Had a strong day on Tuesday....ran his traditionally sharp routes and consistently got separation from defensive backs to catch the ball well...also showed he could twist and adjust his body to make tough catches on off-target throws.
BRS (Gollin) - Reminds us of a poor man's Paul Warfield. If he can run under a 4.45, he fits the burner profile of a receiver who could help us/

ESPN (Scouts Inc.) - Resembles Lee Evans - Very sudden and "quick twitch." Compact style. Reaches top gear in a hurry. Good route skills. Can throw. Somewhat raw. Will take some plays off. Sometimes will try too hard after the catch. Lacks mean streak. Could use more bulk.

nflscouts.com - Compares to Santonio Holmes - Like Holmes, Allison is very capable of surprising a defender with his explosive burst. Simply a playmaker who is a threat anytime or anyway he touches the ball. Like Holmes, he's a big distraction for a defense, as he is perfectly capable of taking a handoff and either running with the ball or pulling up to unleash a perfectly-timed pass. Upside: Good bubble, split high, with long legs, high calves with that explosive playing burst to easily separate after the catch…above average lateral agility and balance when changing direction, doing an excellent job of extending for the ball and keeping his feet inbounds when working along the sidelines…loose hips and good feet to get in and out of his cuts. Quick first step lets him explode off the line…Also has the hip wiggle and head fakes to elude defenders after the catch…Even when his speed fails to elude the defensive back, he has the hip wiggle and shake needed to prevent from being rerouted…Might not look physical enough to fight off the jam, but knows how to use his arm-over action to separate when the defender attempts to press…Has the quickness to separate along the perimeter and the "make you miss" burst to get down field…vertical speed is evident by how he can consistently stretch the field and make good body adjustments to the ball. Can uncover and free up from his man working in the short area. can sink his hips and go low to grab the ball on shallow crossing routes…burst to get under the ball and make the over-the-shoulder grab look routine…quick to gobble up the cushion, especially when working in the zone…Very quick off the line and has the suddenness to get to top speed instantly…You notice on film his ability to drop his weight, sink his hips and maintain body control in and out of his cuts when separating…By staying at a low pad level, he is very effective at rapidly accelerating to get under the ball…can keep his eyes on the ball, even when knowing the defender is about to deliver a viscous hit…good feel for the sticks and chains and makes good body adjustments on the move to uncover…Excels at keeping his feet in-bounds working along the sidelines and slipping through tight coverage…good working relationship with his quarterback to stay in sync and come back when the pocket collapses. Looks like a gazelle in the open field, with a smooth stride that quickly gobbles up the cushion… uses his COD, quickness, hands and planting agility to elude the lethargic defender…twists, turns and spins to slide away from contact and can use the defender's body well to push off and gain separation…Effective open field cutter because of his ability to attack the defender low and use his hands to mirror and sustain. Downside: Must improve upper body muscle definition…still has not developed good weight room habits, but is improving - if he receives patient coaching, he will develop those traits…Lacks the brute strength to out-muscle the more physical defenders, but compensates with his long arms, good ball concentration and leaping ability to get to the balls thrown into a crowd.

Sporting News War Room - Does not look like he runs fast but rarely gets chased down. Will move way up draft boards because he will run a great 40-yard dash in pre-draft workouts. However, he is not an elite receiver worthy of a first-round pick. Fits best in the second round. Should develop into a good No. 2 receiver who catches the ball consistently and can stretch the field. Upside: Great athlete, with good size. Quick to get off the snap and into routes. Closes cushion on cornerbacks in a blink, and gets separation on downfield routes. Smooth and fluid athlete who never gets out of control or looks awkward. Great hands to pluck high passes out of the air, and consistently makes tough over-the-shoulder catches. Surprisingly effective after the catch -- gets downfield quickly, and shows the strength and balance to absorb hard hits and keep going. Can make would-be tacklers miss in the open field. Can be a solid return man in the NFL. Downside: Could be more aggressive... Does not use hands well to negate jams. Not a natural pass catcher; tends to jump to use body to catch passes easily within reach. Will run nonchalant routes.

ICON · 03-14-2007, 01:37 PM

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
4 Dwayne Bowe, LSU 6022 221 4.51 -- 1.53 2.65 33 10-5 4.35 -- 6.81 --

BRS (Gollin) -- Impressed us the most of any receiver in post season. If he times far better than the 4.55 early listing, his stock bears watching.

Senior Bowl Notes (fr War Room) - Had another strong day Thursday, making big catches in all the drills. He especially showed his stuff in plucking high passes on slant routes across the middle and winning jump-ball battles in the end zone. Best wide receiver of the day. Not only does he have great size, quickness and speed, but he also runs sharp routes. He uses his hands well to fight through physical press coverage and get open. He showed great hands, including getting up and catching high passes. Impressed everyone with his good build. On Monday, he caught the ball well and showed natural hands plucking the ball out of the air. (BRS – (BRS - Loved his sharp routes. Was consistently beating the jam, using his body to avoid coverage and catching everything in site)

ESPN (Scouts Inc.) - Resembles Andre Johnson - Gifted smooth athlete with outstanding size and adequate speed. Late bloomer with high ceiling. Weapon on jump balls, fades and red zone patterns. Raw - didn't play FB til his junior year in HS. Lacks recognition skills. Must learn to run better routes, sharpen his cuts and focus on caching the ball (drops too many easy ones).

nflscouts.com - Compares to Arnaz Battle - Like Battle, Bowe doesn't explode off the line of scrimmage, but he uses his strength to avoid the jam and get into his route progression. Upside: Well-built physique with long arms, large hands, good bubble and thick chest muscles...frame that can carry at least another 10 pounds of bulk with no drop-off in speed...Physical player who uses his long arms and power to defeat the jam and get into his route progression...Best when working underneath in attempts to gain separation...Long strider who runs crisp routes and does a good job of shifting his weight in and out of his cuts...Too strong for defensive backs to attempt to reroute...Knows how to find the seams and keeping his feet in bounds working along the sidelines...More of a tackle-breaker than a receiver who can elude in the open, but it is very rare to see him get neutralized in one-on-one situations...Not afraid to go over the middle and compete for the ball in traffic...large, natural hands/knows how to extend and pluck away from his frame...very good timing getting to the ball and is alert enough to locate the zone's soft areas...no flinch to him in attempts to extend and get vertical for the ball when working underneath...Even with his long stride, he has enough acceleration to get under the deep throws...body control and balance to go up for the ball in a crowd, but more effective in the short-to-intermediate areas than when going deep...lower body power to break tackles...Aggressive up field blocker who attacks and neutralizes second level defenders consistently. Downside: Has good timed speed, but because of his long stride, needs room to build acceleration...Lacks the suddenness to explode off the line, but gets to the receiving point once he gets into gear...can drop his weight, but will struggle a bit to get to the low throws...must rely on his power and forward body lean to gain separation rather than elude...natural hands, but looks to run with the ball before securing it, leading to costly drops or the ball bouncing off his frame for an interception...Better on short-to-intermediate routes, (needs too much time in attempts to gobble up the cushion and separate on deep routes)...must learn how to look the long ball in over his outside shoulder (will get turned around some and lose sight of the ball).

Sporting News War Room - Surprises with his quickness, athleticism and playing speed. Should be a productive possession receiver and valuable red-zone receiver. Despite his quickness and playing speed he is not going to be a deep threat. He will fit better as a possession receiver. Upside: Tall, well built. Has strength and balance to keep his feet after hard hits and arm tackles. Can break tackles for gains after contact. Fights for yards until the whistle. Runs good routes. Quickness and burst out of cuts; gets consistent separation. Can get away on deep routes.Tough enough to make catches over the middle. Good hands; can snag high and off-target passes.Excellent jump-ball receiver. Downside: Must eliminate back-foot false step to maintain quickness off the snap. Must catch the ball more consistently with his hands (body snatcher). Must be more consistent at breaking tackles. Solid, but not a game breaker.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
5 Jason Hill, Wash. St. 6004 204 4.32 -- 1.49 2.50 37 10-3 4.22 -- 7.02 --

BRS (Gollin) -The 4.32 was a vast improvement over his previously estimated time. Impressed us in Senior Bowl drills.

Senior Bowl Notes (fr War Room) - Caught the ball nicely on Day 1. He consistently plucked the ball with his hands and made three great catches on high passes. He ran sharp and precise routes but lacked explosiveness off the snap. (BRS - Impressed us)

ESPN (Scouts Inc.) - Resembles Travis Taylor - Instinctive, physical receiver who's adept at using his body to shield the ball from the defender. Big hands. Times jumps well. Sluggish top end speed (Hey! That's what they said). Tops out too quickly running downfield. Inconsistent breaks and line releases. Will drop a catchable ball. Rounds off cuts.

nflscouts.com - Compares to Reggie Wayne - Wayne, Chad Johnson and Hill don't need to rely on blazing speed to be dangerous threats - they all do it with a physical running strike and loose hips to weave through traffic, making them players that must be accounted for every second they are on the field. Hill gets little respect from the media, but his big play potential and ability to regularly find the end zone has given more than a few opponents nightmares. Upside: Angular frame with smooth muscle tone, developed chest, long arms, good bubble and tapered thighs and calves…Superb hand/eye coordination to get to the ball at its high point and the size and body control to time his leaps and contort his body to get to the tough throws in a crowd…Excellent balance adjusting to downfield passes and knows how to sink his hips and drop his weight to elude after the catch…Very good sideline vision, keeping his balance and feet in bounds/ fearless going for the ball in a crowd and very combative with his hands, whether to escape the jam or to lock on to a defender when blocking…very good ball concentration going up for the jump ball and never flinches, even when kamikaze defenders try to attack his legs…good initial thrust off the line, using his hands with force to defeat the jam…quicker than fast, but glides to top acceleration nicely… Uses his size well to slip through tight areas and has enough burst to gobble up the cushion…adept at adjusting to the coverage and even though he frequently catches in a crowd, he shows the fluid stride to not have to throttle down coming out of his breaks…Runs crisp routes and drops his hips and sinks his weight to separate out of his cuts…Very good settling underneath, making him a nice target in the short area. Balance and good feet let him operate in tight spaces…great atweaving through a crowd with the power to leverage defenders to gain separation…very good hip sinking agility and good job at getting depth in all of his routes…Uses his hands very effectively to gain separation after the catch, with the loose hips, head fake and strong leg drive to break the initial tackle…Takes no wasted steps with his acceleration out of transition cuts and does a fine job on come-back routes…Does a good job of looking the ball in over his shoulder and can get open and settle in the soft spot of the zone…Can weave through traffic with the best of them…Will go for the ball with determination on crossing routes and shows outstanding concentration to get to the pigskin over the middle…Times his leaps well and will not hesitate to sacrifice his body to get to the ball in a crowd…Has the body control, balance and jumping skills to reach and pluck the ball away from his frame and at the high point…can play the ball over his shoulder and make body adjustments to track the ball in flight…Attacks with aggression and stays with the play until the finish when blocking in the second level…very effective at getting low to chop down linebackers and safeties at their legs in run support…Played on all the special teams (punt return/coverage, kickoff return/coverage) and is also a proficient kick blocker.Downside: Only adequate weight room strength, but plays stronger on the field and uses his hands well to escape the jam…Lacks sudden explosion, but shows the savvy and hand usage to gain good separation coming off the snap….While he lacks a sudden burst, he stays square in his routes, especially when coming back to the ball. Not the type to explode up the field after the catch, but he is a strong runner who powers through the initial tackle and is a load to bring down...Mus improve his overall strength to prevent from being pushed back into the pocket when working in-line though…Has the hand usage to sustain when he is able to lock on, but doesn't have the brute power to drag the defensive linemen down.

Sporting News War Room -
One of the more athletic receivers coming out, with the size, strength and hands to become a solid NFL possession receiver. Figures to be drafted higher than he warrants because of his college productivity and ability to catch passes in traffic. Upside: Great athleticism to catch the ball in any condition. Great hand/eye coordination and body control on jump balls and along the sideline. Is smooth and fluid. Runs sharp routes. Good instincts to consistently find open spots in zones. Gets head turned quickly to catch hard throws. Has the strength to be a good blocker. Downside: Loses focus too often and run sloppy routes. Lacks intensity as a blocker, and rarely finishes off his man. Lacks the speed to run by NFL cornerbacks and explosiveness to get separation out of cuts. Must learn to better use hands to negate jams.

ICON · 03-14-2007, 01:39 PM

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ
6 Anthny Gonzalez, Ohio State (UC) 6000 193 4.44 -- 1.48 2.58 38 10-3 4.08 -- 6.54 --
BRS (Gollin) - Lost in Ginn's shadow. Buzz around the scouting community is that (a) he could surprise everyone with a fast forty time and, if he does, he could move way up the charts toward Ginn territory.

ESPN (Scouts Inc.) - Resembles Torry Holt - Great route runner with the makings of a fine possession receiver. Great technique in all aspects of game - route running, jump balls, reading coverages etc. Unproven in #1 role. Needs to do better job at escaping press coverage. Lacks second gear and not much of a home run threat.

nflscouts.com - nflscouts.com - Sure handed, speedy receiver who specializes in clutch catches ... teamed with Santonio Holmes and Ted Ginn last year to give the Buckeyes three big-play receivers on what was one of the most explosive offenses in the country... will line up at split end when the Buckeyes employ two wideouts, and in the slot when they go to a third receiver ... excellent hands, runs pure routes and is deceptively fast ... also a fine blocker ... will be used to return punts when the Buckeyes go with two return men.

Sporting News War Room - Deep threat and the second-leading receiver for Ohio State. Gonzalez is a philosophy major who is one of the most popular players on the roster. He is as well known for sleeping in an oxygen-depletion tent and his knack for cooking Cuban food as he is for his play on the field.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
7 David Clowney, Va. Tech 6002 188 4.36 -- 1.52 2.53 32.5 10-3 4.15 -- 7.00 --

BRS (Gollin) - Looks taller than he actually is because of his slender build. We didn't think his COD, explosiveness and cutting skills were as good as the write ups suggest.

Senior Bowl Notes (fr War Room) - Continued working his way back from his bad first day. He ran great routes and showed a burst to consistently get a step of separation...made a number of great catches on passes that few players would have caught, able to lay out and pluck off-target passes that were either behind him or low. Clowney also good fade routes, plucking balls right inside the back of the end zone. Did not make a good impression Monday. He caught nearly every pass thrown his way (eight out of nine), but the stats are misleading. He consistently used his body to catch them, allowing the ball to get into his chest and thus fighting the ball too often. He did, however, show good hands plucking high passes when unable to use his body to trap the ball. BRS - We thought he looked good avoiding jams and using his body and leverage to get position on his defender).

ESPN (Scouts Inc.) - Resembles Terry Glenn - Lightning fast. Explodes off line and gets to top speed in a hurry. Has burst that can burn defenders on vertical routes. Has marginal bulk and can get pushed around. Needs to read zone coverages better.

nflscouts.com - Compares to Kevin Curtis - Has few peers when it comes to gaining separation on deep routes. Might not have the bulk to be a physical type working underneath, but when he makes those over-the-shoulder grabs, he is almost certain to beat his man, thanks to his hard planting agility that lets him slide past the opponent to pick up positive yardage. Upside: Elusiveness and second gear to escape the initial tackler and separate in the open field…Fluid COD agility and despite his slight frame, utilizes his explosion to defeat the jam…good at gearing down and dropping his weight when working through a crowd… plant-&-drive agility coming out of his breaks to get under the deep pass…explosion to instantly gobble up the cushion and will win most foot races in the open…Stays in control getting in and out of his break point…Has the quick vertical burst and lateral agility to come back for the poorly thrown pass…good awareness for locating the soft spots in the zone, dropping his weight to settle underneath…Can generate that second gear needed to make the over-the-shoulder grabs. Uncovers and finds space when working in the short area and can drive off on the slant due to his quickness…large, natural hands with proper technique extending to catch outside his frame…does not hesitate going for the ball in a crowd (but lacks the size and strength to dominate)…steady stride and burst throughout his route progression…Even with his blazing speed, he knows how to regulate so he does not outrun the deep throws…Hard planting agility lets him separate from the crowd after the catch…Adequate cut blocker who uses his hands well vs. second level defenders. Downside: Slight frame with a small bubble, smooth skin, marginal chest thickness and little room for additional growth…Capable of retaining plays, but needs several reps to do so…Lacks the bulk to face up to defenders when blocking in-line...Must get a clean release off the line to avoid getting rerouted…Can get in and out of his break point, but then starts to coast too often, which lets the defensive back recover…Can outrun most defenders, but once the opponent latches on to him, the battle is over…sometimes will get a little lazy in his stride, losing some of his elusiveness.

Sporting News War Room -
Explosive receiver with the speed to run away from coverage downfield. Despite his physical tools, does not make many of the catches other elite receivers would make. Much less productive as a senior than expected. Should develop into a good NFL starter who can change games with big plays...must become more aggressive against physical coverage and must fight harder for jump balls. Upside: Good athlete with the hands to make difficult catches. Aggressive going after the ball. Changes directions swiftly to avoid jams. Bursts past cornerbacks and separates quickly. Accelerates well after the catch, and can elude would-be tacklers. Speed to turn short routes into touchdowns; once he gets a step, doesn't get caught from behind. Runs routes with good bend and flexibility to make quick cuts. As a blocker, consistently works hard. Is tough and a fast healer, returning from appendectomy surgery quickly during '06 season. Downside: Thin, leading to long-term durability issues. Did not have a big senior season. Just an adequate first step. Struggles to stay on his route against physical cornerbacks. Inconsistent fighting for jump balls. Trouble on deep routes; struggling to come back and fight through cornerbacks to catch underthrown passes. Runs upright too often, struggling to get out of cuts quickly.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
8 Craig Davis, LSU 5102 181 4.50 -- 1.53 2.61 35.5 9-7 4.14 -- 6.66 --
BRS (Gollin) - Impressed us in Senior Bowl but (according to write ups) could be more physicall. Very agile.

ESPN (Scouts Inc.) - Resembles Reggie Wayne - Terrific first gear. Potential draft day steal. Intriguing blend of size and speed. Unafraid to go over middle. Can stretch the field vertically. Raw route runner who lacks savvy setting up defenders, Questionable durability. Needs to be coached up.

nflscouts.com - Compares to: Robert Ferguson - When Davis' head is in the game, big things can happen. He just needs to run consistent routes and be more alert when his quarterback is flushed out of the pocket, (it is rare to see him come back for the ball). Must also show better courage going for the ball in a crowd. A well-built target who runs precise routes, and some consider him to have the best hands of any receiver in the SEC. Tireless worker (spent part of the 2006 summer running routes and catching passes from Peyton and Eli Manning). Upside: Added needed upper body muscle tone during the last off-season...very quick open-field runner who gets under the ball instantly, making good body adjustments to be in position to make the catch...Aggressive blocker who does a nice job of locating and stalking second level defenders...Plays with good lower body strength and explosion to break tackles and separate...Uses his arms well to get a clean release off the line and has the lateral agility to slip past and avoid the jam...Utilizes an effective swim move in his release and a stutter-step to shake off the cornerback...Explodes coming out of his breaks and knows how to use his burst to ride up on a defensive back in attempts to gobble up the cushion...Knows how to set the defender up with his head fakes and COD agility...Does a good job of making body adjustments when working in the red zone...Uses his size well to shield defenders from the ball...Very effective at getting low for the underneath throws and has the ability to pluck the ball away from his frame...Can easily separate from a lethargic cornerback when running into the deep secondary to get under the ball...His leg drives lets him consistently break tackles and he has the loose hips and juking moves to make the initial tackler miss...Once he finds the crease, he can gain valid yardage with the ball...Effective position blocker with the ability to sustain, rather than just get in the way and pester. Downside: Still developing his frame and has a small bubble with adequate calf muscle definition... seems hesitant at times to work in a crowd and compete for jump balls...must be more alert on the field...doesn't demonstrate a quick thrust coming off the line to challenge the defensive back...tends to make soft angle cuts and is slow to regain his acceleration when he has to stop, catch and then run with the ball...Natural hands but will struggle some with his timing and elevation going for high throws...poor effort, keeping his arms short and lets the ball come into his body when working through a crowd ...Will throttle down and take plays off when he is not involved in the action.

Sporting News War Room - Potential sleeper and will be drafted lower than he deserves, but he will be a productive pro and a touchdown threat. LSU’s depth limited Davis’ production in college, but he is capable of better results....good separation against man coverage, and his combination of size, playing speed, explosiveness and hands make him a big deep threat. Upside: Quick feet, explosiveness and elite playing speed to stretch the field and make big plays. Elusive runner with burst and hip movement to make tacklers miss. Strength and balance to keep feet after hits and low tackles. Runs sharp, precise routes. Consistent burst out of cuts to get separation. Can set up and turn around defender. Very good hands. Can pluck down high passes without slowing, adjust to poor throws and make tough catches. Can be a return man. Downside: Doesn’t have great college totals. Doesn’t attack tacklers or break tackles. Occasionally goes down immediately on contact. Can be nonchalant at times, especially on low passes. Looks shorter and lighter than his measured size.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
9 Robert Meacham, Tenn 6020 214 4.39 -- 1.51 2.49 37.5 10-1 4.31 -- 6.97 --
BRS (Gollin) - Higher profile (and enjoying a better ranking) than this rating would suggest. Certainly has the size. Let's see how he times. Well, now. Hmmmm. 4.39. Not bad - certainly helps his rating.

ESPN (Scouts Inc.) - Resembles Roy Williams -Playmaker who has outstanding combo of wheels, size and athleticism. Strong enough to break arm tackles from smaller DB's. Must refine route running skills (rounds off cuts, struggles to read coverages, tentative over the middle, will drop some passes).

nflscouts.com - Not since the days when Carl Pickens (1989-91) and Alvin Harper (1987-90) terrorized opposing defenses have the Volunteers had a player at the receiver position that can change the tide of the game better than Meachem. Upside: Rangy athlete with good arm and leg length and a frame built for speed... tight abdomen and waist with good calf and thigh thickness... great size and initial explosion for this position, with the flexibility to get in and out of his cuts instantly in attempts to separate...speed and arm extension are his best qualities, but his leg strength is evident by the way he generates RAC...Shows the COD agility to go along with his speed to be a breakaway threat with the ball in his hands...very good field awareness to settle in the zone's soft spot and can adjust to situations in attempts to make the play...Can out-distance himself from the crowd or press with his strength and quickness...Gets off the snap cleanly and uses his hands with force to prevent from being rerouted...Can threaten the deep secondary immediately, especially vs. off coverage and has no problems getting a clean release vs. the jam...Has the breakaway speed and loose hips to separate and elude...Physical type with the ability to maintain his stride through his route progression...Hard to knock off his patterns and shows smooth body adjustments to catch the ball in stride...you would expect Meachem to look lanky in his routes, but he has the short pitter-patter steps and burst to look effortless through route progression...Has the balance and feet, along with explosive acceleration and excellent body control out of his cuts to gain valid yardage after the catch...can leverage, plant and cut...Very good at staying in stride after the catch and is very effective at making the tough grabs outside the frame, whether the pass is high, low or behind...Gets very good lift and rise going for the jump balls and shows good ball adjustment skills and balance to make the tough grabs and keep his feet in bounds when working along the sidelines. Downside: Must improve his slide in the open zone, since he will sometimes get too narrow when accelerating out of transition cuts...You hope he would get more deep ball opportunities than he has, but he demonstrates excellent hand/eye coordination...Will misjudge the ball occasionally, but has the skills to adjust to the ball when working underneath....Physical blocker when working in-line, but needs to get lower in his pads in attempts to sustain...Demonstrates good effort and a strong hand punch to jolt, but when he gets high in his pads, he can be pushed back into the pocket.

Sporting News War Room - Meachem's size and playmaking ability were cited as reasons for his high status. Set UT's single-season record for receiving yards with 1,298 on 71 catches last season. First Vol receiver to be named all-American since Carl Pickens in 1991.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
10 Steve Breaston, Michigan 6003 193 4.46 -- 1.49 2.56 33 10-4 4.29 -- 6.90 --
BRS (Gollin) - Concerns involve slender build and fall off in production since he started his collegiate career. But he did show scouts more in post season. If he can run faster than a 4.50, he could be considered a sleeper who might even edge into the first day. (Note - He ran a 4.41/better than his earlier estimated time of 4.55).

East-West (fr War Room) - Had a very disappointing senior season and had fallen way down NFL draft boards, but he shined this week and played like he did in 2005. Ran excellent routes all week...was able to get separation from defenders consistently and caught the ball extremely well. Could adjust and make great catches on off-target passes. Helped himself enough to move back up into third- or fourth-round consideration...star of the day, without question...caught many passes without any drops, including four deep passes that would have been touchdowns. Ran excellent routes and showed the burst to get separation and the speed to stretch the separation and run away from cornerbacks deep...continued a strong week of catching the ball by making a number of good grabs. Did his best work catching passes along the sideline and tapping his feet down in bounds. His play was more reminiscent of his dynamic 2005 than his disappointing '06. As a returner, he muffed a punt..

ESPN (Scouts Inc.) - Resembles Eric Parker - Home run hitting playmaker with great vision, initial burst and second gear. Has slight frame and can get pushed around. Can't block. Disappears from games. Lacks recognition skills. Drops too many balls. Makes too few plays in traffic.

nflscouts.com - Compares to Bobby Wade - Good athletic ability and timed speed. While he has potential, he has failed to live up to expectations as a receiver. Too much of a body catcher and needs to show better urgency getting to the ball in a crowd, as he tends to shy away from contact....can't be considered a go-to type, especially with his lean-looking frame. Best chance for success at the next level could come on special teams. After a stellar freshman season, Wolverine fans viewed Breaston as the next Michigan Heisman Trophy winner, but for his next two seasons, he was not a focal point of the offense. Upside: Good, darting agility and can adjust on the move and has the quickness in his change-of-direction agility to redirect...Can track the ball well over his outside shoulder and has a good short-area burst...functional long speed to be effective up the seam...loose hips to separate after the catch and runs good straight-line patterns, with the timed speed to take the ball up the seam...Alert to sticks and good at keeping his feet working along the sidelines...good at settling underneath and at side-stepping over trash...Very good with ball security, especially on returns and runs, with the ball close to his chest and held at the chest...much better ball concentration and hand-eye coordination fielding returnsl than he does as a receiver...much better at catching the ball in stride and turning up field as a senior than in the past...foot quickness to make second-level defenders miss...effort in his cut blocks - takes good angles and attacks linebackers low to take them off their feet...good hand-eye coordination...As a returner: Patient runner who waits for his wedge to develop on kickoffs with a good straight-line burst to take it up the seam on punt returns...Has the loose hips to redirect in his stride and plays much faster returning the ball than when having to separate after the catch. Downside: Lanky -- lean, smooth-skinned, little bubble, slender legs and marginal muscle thickness...body snatcher...still goes through stretches where he will run into spots on the field rather than elude...lack of HS experience as a receiver...Seems to shy away from contact and several drops of easy throws due to concentration lapses...Despite a solid senior season as a receiver, he has never stood out on offense or demonstrated the ability to be a take-charge, go-to type...Shies away from the physical aspect and only makes passive hits as a blocker...must make better body adjustments on the move (more crisper and sudden runner on returns than as a receiver)...Not a quick-twitch type who can suddenly separate/ more of a fluid runner who needs room to build up his stride...More of a one-speed cut runner, needing to do a better job of dropping his pads to accelerate out of his breaks quicker... Must be more alert to coverage, as he tends to run into spots rather than avoid the defender in the open field...Prefers to catch the ball in stride rather than reaching for it...Will generally go down from the initial hit...When blocking in-line, he doesn't have the hand placement or punch to finish and needs to be more physical when taking on edge rushers.

ICON · 03-14-2007, 01:43 PM

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ
1 Joe Thomas, Wis. 6065 311 4.92 28 1.75 2.87 33 9-2 4.88 -- 7.95 --
BRS (Gollin) - Ran in the high 4.9's at the Combine and looked good during position drills and presented well at media interviews. Only knock on him is that his arms are somewhat short; however his hand placement is flawless.

nflscouts.com -Compares to Jordan Gross - Thomas is similar to Gross in that they use a great combination of quickness, field awareness and athletic agility to dominate on second level. Gross struggled a bit at left tackle, but Thomas is athletic enough to have great success one-on-one vs. edge rushers and blitzers. Regarded by many as the best offensive lineman in college football. Upside: Developing frame that could carry at least another 20 pounds of bulk with no loss in quickness...thick upper body with broad shoulders, adequate muscle development, good arm length and strong hands...classic natural knee bend with good hip snap to redirect and mirror the edge rushers...Nimble moving his feet in his pass set-up, retreating fluidly while maintaining body control...good urgency and leg drive coming off the snap, with the knee bend to drop his weight well pass protection...can locate and neutralize edge rushers...will have no problems digesting a complicated playbook...Quick off the snap, gaining position and generating movement to sustain...very good in-line body control and agility, quick kick slide in pass protection...Stays low in his pads, dropping his weight to maintain balance and adept at opening rush lanes on pulls and traps... consistently covers defenders up... no problems getting his body low enough to attain leverage..Plays well on his feet with the lateral agility and quickness to adjust and sustain blocks on the move...Quick and agile enough to generate solid second level blocks/works hard to maintain the rushing crease (193 of his 311 knockdown blocks came in run support)...Runs his feet well and has a good base with a very good understanding of taking proper angles when working along the perimeter...exceptional knee bend and hip flexibility in his retreat and good patience waiting for the defender to attack...lateral slide lets him reach his cutoff point and readjust when working on the edge...pass drop quickness lets him generate the depth needed to anchor...has the footwork and balance to stay on his feet, move around and handle switch-offs...Takes good angles to cut off at the second level and has the flexibility to adjust and pickup coverages working down the field...Has sudden burst off the line and quickness to reach the second level... Explosive hip roller with the upper body strength to push and wall off...vastly improved hand placement to jolt and control the defender...Plays on his feet and is an aggressive finisher... takes good angles to cut off the second level defenders...Very effective when used on long pulls due to his speed and hip snap...Has the balance and agility to quickly slide and get to his reach point. Downside: Improved consistency with his hands...learning to use his reach to press and keep the defender at bay...Has a strong punch to shock and jolt his opponent, but must do it with more consistency...Must bring his arms up quicker when punching.

Sporting News War Room -Not as flashy as the Jets’ D’Brickashaw Ferguson but is just as productive. Has rare height and long arms and athleticism. When he gets his hands on a defensive end, he consistently eliminates him. Has all the tools to be an outstanding NFL left tackle. As he matures, he will add 15 or so pounds to give him the additional bulk to consistently play strong at the POA. Upside: Tall with the athletic ability and flexibility to bend knees and pass block with a wide base. Shuffles and slides well with pass rushers. Has the smarts, instincts and footwork to work well with linemates to adjust in pass protection. Can pull and block outside linebackers in the open field. Can lead block on outside runs and reach the second level quickly. Gets his body around defensive linemen to make positional run blocks. Consistently ties up and neutralizes his man. Downside: Must be more aggressive with hand punch in pass protection and in the running game. Must add 10-15 pounds. Long-term durability risk after injuring his right knee a year ago.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
2 Levi Brown, Penn State 6054 323 5.40 31 1.84 3.09 25.5 8-1 4.89 -- 7.87 --

BRS (Gollin) - Not as clean nor consistent in his techniques as Thomas but has longer arms and a greater upside. War Room seemed to give him a redeeming evaluation after the Senior Bowl, comparing his inconsistency to that of Marcus McNeill a year ago.

Senior Bowl Notes (fr the War Room) - Continued to show that he has all the physical tools to be a dominant left tackle in the NFL, but it is all dependent on the effort he gives. The more you see him in practice, the more his inconsistent play reminds me of how Chargers rookie Marcus McNeill played as a senior at Auburn. McNeill went on to have a fine debut season blocking for Philip Rivers and LaDainian Tomlinson.

nflscouts.com - Compares to Chad Clifton - Like Clifton, Brown has a punishing hand punch to shock and jolt the defender.generates good explosion and pop off the snap. Nimble for his size in his kick slide to mirror. Sruggled with the snap count iand will get lazy at times maintaining position, but shows good patience letting the defender come to him and has the short area balance to defeat spin and counter moves. Upside: Big upper frame, with broad shoulders, long arms, big hands and good chest thickness, along with a big bubble, wide hips, thick thighs and ankles, plus a frame that has the potential to carry more bulk with no loss in quickness...Very light on his feet for a player of his size... excellent explosion off the snap...Uses his feet well to slide out and adjust on the edge rushers and knows how to shoot his hands in attempts to lock on and sustain...Has the quickness to recover when beaten and his feet allow him to redirect with ease to neutralize backside plays...Aggressive drive blocker...Finds ways to get the job done on the field and will not back down from a confrontation...Can dominate once he fits on a defender, demonstrating the quickness to reach and make cutoffs...as the loose hips to redirect and shows good control changing direction...Even when he gets high in his stance, he has the knee bend to slide laterally...When his head is in the game, Brown shuffles his feet and gets in front of the defender with good urgency...does a great job of neutralizing the defender...easily contains edge rushers once he locks on to his target...If he connects, he will generally control his opponent until the whistle...The thing you see on film is his ability to roll his hips and explode off the line...good hip and knee bend to deliver good lower body power off the ball...Very good at caving defenders once he lets his body go and he is quite effective at turning and sealing...Has the upper body power to combat stunts and blitzes...Edge rushers are quickly neutralized once Brown gets his paws on them...very good patience, especially in his anchor, letting the defender come to him rather than overextend (will lunge some working into the second level, though)...Good at extending his arms...Has that long wingspan to lock out, gain placement and sustain...Can change directions to counter throughout the play, doing a nice job of getting out on the edge...Finds the games up front and does a nice job working in combination with his guards to pick up the blitz or switch off on stunts. Downside: Will get too high in his stance moving to the second level, but shows good knee bend when changing direction...will lose concentration and jump the snap count, ...Classic mauler type who plays with a mean streak, but is also known to take several plays off.....Takes well to hard coaching, but must monitor his weight and improve his overall ball concentration ability...Can be very explosive coming off the snap, but must do it with better consistency...Later in games, will be more apt to be late off the ball and when this happens, he tends to lean rather than lock on and secure...must do a better job of opening his hips and moving down the line...good patience in pass protection, and adept at sinking and sliding, but is prone to getting sloppy and lunging when he gets his base too narrow on the move.

Sporting News War Room - Brown either will become a rock at left tackle or get his quarterback killed; it all depends on his willingness to work hard on every snap. Clearly is a good athlete with rare quickness and speed. Never will be a mauler who attacks and pancakes his man, but can use his athleticism to dominate in pass protection and be an efficient run blocker. Will be drafted higher than his production warrants because of his size and physical skills. But GM's should be wary of using high draft picks on linemen whose biggest question is aggressiveness. He'll need a drill instructor-type of line coach to succeed. Upside: Good athlete with quick footwork. When getting good leverage and a solid base, can slide quickly to adjust to pass rushers. Has long arms to jolt defensive ends with a hand punch. Once locked on his man, can ride him out of the play. Can knock defensive linemen on their backs. Can pull and block in the hole well, and reaches the second level quickly to seal linebackers. Is a good positional run blocker. Downside: Doesn't always fight to the whistle. Tends to pass block upright with straight legs. Does not use hand punch enough, allowing pass rushers to get to his chest easily. Doesn't adjust quickly to quick pass-rush moves. Is not a physical or aggressive run blocker, and can be pushed backwards at the POA. Tends to stop moving his feet after making contact, and then leans, reaches and over-extends to try and maintain the block.
Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
3 Joe Staley, Central Mich. 6057 306 4.78 -- -- -- -- -- -- --

Prospect Worth Watching

BRS (Gollin) - Our gut says to rate him this high. Mixed reviews. Read nflscouts.com and you'll rate him just below Joe Thomas. Read the War Room and you'll feel he belongs somewhere in the middle of the pack. We like his physical profile (i.e. tall, room to add weight, former TE with very quick, nimble feet).

nflscouts.com - Compares to Ross Verba - Staley's foot speed can rival that of Robert Gallery, but he plays with much better aggression. Like Verba, Staley shows great fire and aggressiveness in his play....has the vision and alertness to pick up stunts and the foot speed to easily neutralize edge rushers. Like Verba, he needs to add more bulk to play left tackle at the next level, but his strength and speed are great assets that will make him ideal protecting the quarterback's blind side. Arrived as a 225-pound TE. He's not only matured physically, but has developed into one of the elite offensive tackles in the collegiate game. Blessed with incredible quickness, Staley has that long wingspan and strong hands to consistently neutralize his opponent. Known for his drive blocking ability, he helped the team produce three 1,000-yard rushers during his career. Upside: The first thing you notice on film is his ability to explode off the snap...excellent initial quickness, off a strong base with the suddenness to get his hands into the defender in an instant...tall, angular frame with developing muscles, long arms, large hands and minimal body fat (11.4 percent)...wide hips, thick thighs and a frame that can carry at least another 25 pounds with no loss in quickness...excellent athletic agility and loose hips, lower body flexibility and valid quickness of a tight end...Quick to get out on the edge and very fluid knee and ankle bend when changing direction...Adds a good blend of strength, especially in his hand jolt...Moves well in the open, doing a nice job of locating and neutralizing linebackers...outstanding acceleration on pulls and traps, running with short pitter-patter steps with the plant-and-drive agility to redirect...Smart enough to call blocking assignments...Makes quick adjustments on the move and will have no problems dealing with the mental aspect of the game...Plays with a high motor, knowing that his athletic ability will let him beat even the speedier pass rushers along the edge... Very light on his feet for a player of his size, showing quick reactions to combat any defensive movement...Does a solid job executing reach blocks and maintaining position when working in-line...Could use more bulk to clear out and maintain the rush lanes, but has quick feet in his kick slide...Can fire off the ball on run blocks, showing very good hip roll in this area...Quick to get his hands into the defender to lock on and control...good forward body lean to maintain the rush lane and can move the pile when he uses his legs to drive hard and gain leverage...With added bulk, he could be exceptional as a drive blocker...Worked mostly from the spread and shotgun offense, but with his foot speed he was very effective at sliding out to neutralize the edge rushers...Could use more bulk to anchor, but he has the feet, balance and body control to ride his man out of the play...Fluid with his shuffle/slide and stays square and balanced attacking the defender...Has the flexibility and reach to adjust to second-level defenders...Will smother linebackers and move on to another target when he plays at a good pad level...Has the foot quickness to make the reach blocks and is fluid in his kick slide...Loops well and is quick to change direction, reacting quickly moving side to side... Shows good vision to combat twists and has the balance to recover when caught out of position. Downside: Can slide well in either direction and pulls well along the line, but tends to lose some hand placement attacking on the move.....Has a strong hand punch, but needs to be more active using those hands in attempts to sustain...seems to struggle getting low in his stance ...will tend to lean and use his body more than gain proper hand placement (is not punching the defensive end often in pass protection)...Athletic and smooth in his movements with the body control to execute blocks in space, but needs to maintain proper pad level working in the second level (will get too tall in his stance, causing his base to narrow...good job of executing pancake blocks when he stays on his feet, but must stay low in his pads in order to make contact on open-field blocks...Can extend, jolt and shock the opponent when he gets his hands on them, but needs to do it with more consistency...Strong on top, but still learning the proper technique for grabbing.

Senior Bowl Notes (fr the War Room) - Struggled in pass protection Wednesday because he does not use his hands aggressively or keep moving...allows defensive ends to get into his chest and jolt him backward, and against edge rushers, he stops shuffling at the point of contact, crosses over and ends up chasing his man around corner. (fr CBSportsline) - Despite dramatically stepping up his level of competition, Staley has held up well this week, especially in pass protection. Staley has good quickness out of his stance and keeps his feet moving. His balance and overall athleticism keep him in front of defenders. While he uses his hands well, Staley will have to continue to get stronger to reach his potential, but he solidified his position this week among the draft's better left tackle prospects.

Sporting News War Room - Tested well in spring before his junior season. Productive in a mid-major conference. We don’t doubt his physical gifts, and he should test out well and move up draft boards. But a team drafting him must be prepared to work with him a couple of years to make him a starter. Upside: Quick feet, agility and athletic ability. Slides well to cut off speed rushers. Can re-direct and change direction quickly to adjust and recover in pass protection. Uses quickness off the snap to evade linemen and make reach blocks. Maintains blocks in the open field; uses good speed to block linebackers and pull on sweeps. Has good awareness to work with linemates to counter loops and stunts. Downside: Must bend at knees to gain better leverage...not an aggressive blocker; opponents get into his chest too easily and can be driven backward. Struggles to get movement on straight-ahead blocks. Lacks ideal bulk. Must get bigger and stronger. Hasn’t played against elite competition.

ICON · 03-14-2007, 01:43 PM

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
4 Ryan Harris, Notre Dame 6044 305 5.09 25 1.75 2.96 25.5 8-4 4.52 -- 7.78 --

BRS (Gollin) - Wasn't all that impressive in Senior Bowl practices.

Senior Bowl Notes (fr War Room) - Showed that he is a fine athlete with the quick feet and agility to block the edge as an NFL left tackle. However, he hasn't been aggressive with his hands and did not keep moving after making initial contact on Tuesday, which allowed pass rushers to beat him with moves at the point of contact.

nflscouts.com - Weis feels that Harris has what it takes to remain at LT at the NFL level. "There aren't too many guys playing left tackle that are really left tackles in the eyes of pro guys." Left tackles are the guys that (need) the athleticism to handle an edge rusher by themselves, which is normally the blind side of a right-handed quarterback. There are guys playing left tackle (in college), but as soon as they get to the NFL, they go over to right tackle because they're more slug-it-out type of guys. Ryan Harris has the athleticism to play left tackle." His consistency is another matter. Harris sometimes relies too much on his quick feet, not using his hands or upper body strength to punish defenders. There are still deficiencies to his game that should be ironed out with experience. Seems to have all of the tools needed to become a standout, but some scouts question why his play hasn't leveled out yet and feel he's best suited to guard at the next level. Upside: Looks the part. Broad shouldered...Good initial quickness off the snap. Eases out of his stance into pass protection. Good overall foot quickness and balance and use of hand punch to initially stun the defender and sustain blocks. Good lateral quickness when pulling and can hit the moving target when blocking on the run. Athleticism, especially in this area, is one of the key reasons some scouts view Harris as a potential left guard. Durable. Downside: Only marginal overall explosion or physicality. Can be walked back to the quarterback when overpowered. Average straight-ahead run blocker. Has struggled in pass protection vs. speed rushers with legitimate rush moves.
Sporting News War Room - Bottom line: Harris frustrates scouts because he does not consistently play up to his talent level, and it definitely has hurt his draft stock. He is a first-round athlete but must block with more aggression and consistency to become a first-round pick. His big weakness is a lack of competitive fire, and that rarely improves with coaching -- it's in a prospect or it's not. Harris always will struggle to become consistent, but he could develop into a good left tackle. Upside: Good athlete who can be a dominant left tackle when maintaining good technique -- knees bent, aggressive and persistent. Has the quickness to slide quickly to cutoff edge pass rushers. Can re-direct and slide back inside to negate quick pass-rush moves. In the running game, reaches linebackers in a flash. Is adept at blocking linebackers by standing up or cut-blocking them in the open field. When playing with good technique and aggressiveness, can drive defensive ends down the line of scrimmage and set the corner. Downside: Lacks ideal height and bulk. Inconsistent technique and aggressiveness. Allow the defensive end to dictate play. Tends to block straight-legged and upright -- neutralizing much of his natural strength -- and not get movement on straight-ahead run blocks and be jolted and driven backwards by bull rushers. Does not work to the whistle, stopping his feet after making contact and then leaning and reaching to maintain the block. Does not fire off the snap on in-line run blocks, and does not use his hand punch consistently in pass protection.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
5 Tony Ugoh, Arkansas 6052 301 5.06 32 1.71 2.90 32.5 9-9 -- -- -- --

BRS (Gollin) - Pulled up lame at end of forty yard dash, but still did long jump and other drills. Liked the way he bent his knees and kept his butt down in position drills, but needs to keep his feet going more consistently.

Senior Bowl Notes (fr the War Room) - Struggled Wednesday and much of it was because of inconsistent technique and aggressiveness...does not get his hands on pass rushers quickly and tends to stop his feet when he makes contact, which allow defensive ends to beat him with quick moves at the point of contact. (BRS - Mayock suggests that he may be drafted earlier despite his rawness due to his tremendous athletic upside) (CBSportsline) - Ugoh has performed well in run blocking drills, but is still a work in progress as a pass blocker. Ugoh's initial kick step isn't always deep enough, allowing defenders a quick advantage. Ugoh's use of his arms is also too inconsistent. When he gets a good initial hand punch on the defender, he can often control. At other times, he shoots his hands too high, slips off and loses balance trying to recover. Ugoh has talent, but struggled a bit with speed rushers capable of slapping away his initial punch.

nflscouts.com - Compares to Marcus Johnson - Impressive-looking athlete, but needs to add more bulk to his frame. Like Johnson, he can maintain the rush lane and has decent lateral agility for the ground attack, but lacks the knee bend and kick slide to neutralize the edge rush... not an overpowering blocker, but does have a strong hand punch and can create movement off the snap. Just looks too stationary trying to mirror the pass rushers and looks too slow and clumsy when moving forward, doing a better job in his lateral moves or when retreating. If a team bulks him up and puts him inside at guard, he will be more productive. There has to be a "buyer beware" tag with Ugoh, though, as he did not show much desire to play the game until his senior year, preferring track-and-field. Upside: Even-proportioned frame with long arms and legs, broad shoulders, good chest thickness, wide waist and hips, quick feet and a powerful hand punch…short-area burst to get back and neutralize the edge rush…High-cut, but comes off the line with his hands extended, delivering a strong punch to drive the defender off the ball… Smart athlete who makes good game adjustments and is rarely caught out of position… Plays with good balance and is quick to recoil and rest his hands in pass protection, showing the lateral agility to slide and mirror…Has the upper body strength to defeat the bull rush and even though he is sometimes late out of his stance, he can compensate with his hand placement and upper body strength…When he keeps his pads down, he uses that strength to move off the line and gain advantage…Plays with too much waist bend, but will overpower and edge rusher with his hand punch and size…Has a frame that can carry at least another 20 pounds of bulk with no loss in quickness…Lacks explosive hips, but does generate pop with his hands…Can drill a linebacker with his upper body power to kill the blitz…What he does best is to use his long reach and upper body strength to put the defender on the ground consistently…That asset and his ability to widen and maintain the rush lane makes him more ideally suited for guard than tackle…Gets proper position on reaches and scoops and stays up on his blocks, thanks to good balance…Won't maul an opponent, but is good at creating movement and getting out in front on traps…Needs to finish better, but is strong on the move when redirecting in-line…Lacks sustained speed, but takes good angles to neutralize second level defenders…power when he connects with a block and has adequate change of direction agility…Gets too rigid in his pass protection stance, but uses his frame decently to push the defender around (will struggle vs. speed moves, though)…Hands are strong enough that when he catches, he is still able to steer the defender away…Lacks the kick slide and base to neutralize the edge rush, but has better footwork on running plays, where he can change direction to counter throughout the play. Downside: Showed more desire in his play as a senior, but preferred to compete in track rather than football most of his career..must play with more aggression and seems to go through the motions at times …Struggles vs. the quick edge moves, as he lacks the knee bend and pad level to fire out of his stance and gets too tall and narrow in his stance, making him susceptible to being pushed back into the pocket by the bull rush…Too lethargic picking up stunts, as he bends at the waist and fails to shoot his hands with consistency…Crosses his feet too much when trying to pull and spends too much time on the ground when trying to cut block…feet tend to die from under him when he has to get out on the edge, and he needs to be more patient waiting for the play to come to him …must add more bulk to play tackle and gets beaten too often on the edge to be considered a valid pro offensive tackle (better fit at guard, where his lack of knee bend won't be exposed)…Not a hard worker in the off-season and needs hard coaching to produce…Lacks aggression in his play and will give up on plays when beaten rather than try to stick with the action.
Sporting News War Room - A frustrating prospect. Improved as a senior but still rarely plays up to his potential. Could become an ideal NFL left tackle if he learns to play with consistent aggression.Will become an NFL starter because of his ability to play at an elite level, but he will struggle to be consistent and maximize his potential. Upside: Ideal athleticism, footwork and long arms. Can slide outside to cutoff edge pass rushers, and is adept at leaning on them and riding them into the ground. Strong and heavy hand punch to jolt defensive ends upright and backward. Strength to torque a defensive end off his feet and to the ground. On outside runs, can work around head-up defensive ends and seal them inside. Has the size and strength to drive defensive linemen down the line on down blocks. Reaches the second level quickly to block linebackers. Downside: Inconsistent. Must be more aggressive on every snap. Does not fire off the snap on run blocks, and tends to be an upright, catch blocker at the POA. Can get jolted upright by and driven backward by defensive linemen. Does not use hand punch consistently in pass protection. Too often stops his feet after contact with edge rushers, and thus gets beaten by secondary pass-rush moves.

ICON · 03-14-2007, 01:47 PM

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ
6 Arron Sears, Tennessee 6032 319 5.40 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
BRS (Gollin) - - Overachiever who had a pretty productive Senior Bowl week. Some like him better at guard. If his combine numbers are impressive, he'll shoot up the board. Even now, some project him to squeak into the bottom of the first round.

Senior Bowl Notes (fr CBSportsline)) - Sears plays with impressive overall power as both a run and pass blocker. Opponents struggled to maintain their position against him in run blocking, with Sears routinely pushing them off the line. In pass blocking, Sears' upper body strength and physical hand play often stymied defensive tackles to the point of frustration.

nflscouts.com - Compares to Shawn Andrews - Like Andrews, Sears has great explosion and pop on contact. Dominant straight-line blocker, but has marginal balance on the move. Will struggle vs. edge rushers at the next level and will have better success playing inside at guard, where his POA deficiencies can be covered up better. Unquestioned leader of the Vols' offensive unit. Not only a model of consistency in 2006, but had one of the finest seasons of any Tennessee offensive lineman ever. Received winning grades for blocking consistency in every game last season, and earned four perfect scores from the coaching staff. Upside: Wide frame with a big chest, broad shoulders, long arms, big thighs and calves, adequate-sized hands and good bubble...Compensates for marginal quickness and POA agility with very good field vision and awareness...Rarely fooled by line games and does a very good job of neutralizing blitzers and picking up stunts.. smart enough to call blocking assignments and might be a good fit at guard due to his ability to work in unison with the other linemen on combo blocks...Quiet field leader, a self-starter with a good work ethic and takes well to hard coaching...will mentor the younger players and do the little extras in training to improve his overall strength...Might lack good timed speed, but he is quick out of his stance, firing off the snap with good urgency...Uses his hand placement to lock on and sustain and knows how to utilize his body mass to occupy space and gain advantage...Does a very good job of sitting down his pads at the LOS...will use his size to occupy and position, but will struggle when the defender gets outside his frame...explosive burst off the ball and good pop on contact...Uses hand placement and size to hit with impact, but lacks explosion when having to work in space... good hand strength in his surge off the ball and has the leg drive to push the pile...Might lack ideal hip roll, but his lower body power lets him drive people off the ball and he knows how to use his frame to occupy and wall off the defender...Has the hand strength and explosion to finish consistently when allowed to stay at the line of scrimmage...Physical drive blocker with the reach to keep defenders off his body....With his punishing hand punch, consistently shocks and jolts the pass rusher coming off the snap...Uses his strength and size to lock on, steer and wall off the opponent...Did a very good job of showing patience, letting the defender attack him rather than try to lunge into the blocks ...Keeps his hands active to defeat counter moves... Hits with authority coming on the rise and always seems to get proper hand placement...Throws his hands quickly to punch and extends well to prevent defenders from getting inside his jersey. Downside: Could stand to lose some additional bulk around his midsection to help him generate better balance and POA agility...might be a better fit for an interior line position...oo much of a waist bender and limited by his marginal timed speed ... good upper body strength to lock on and sustain, but struggles when asked to change direction, lacking flexibility in his hips to smoothly redirect...More of a slow-twitched type who waits for the defender to come into his body rather than fire off the snap to generate contact...Uses size well to cover up the defender working on the line, but is not quick enough to pull or be effective working in space...will take false steps and get behind, but is a patient sort at the LOS who will wait for an overeager defender to make the first move, while he keeps his hands active to counter...Uses his hands well to mirror, but quicker edge rushers will instantly find they can beat him off the corner with quick spin moves...too erect in his running stride and too tight in his hips to open them and redirect - struggles to adjust to moving targets working away from the line...lacks balance and foot speed to be effective leading blocks into the second level...prone to taking false steps and crossing his feet on the move, causing him to lose balance.

Sporting News War Room - Holds his own, and often dominates, against top competition. Must improve his technique to fulfill his promise. His run blocking is pro caliber, but he’ll need coaching and time to improve in pass protection. Best suited for right tackle but will become a starter. Upside: Great size and strength and very quick off the snap. Great run-blocking skills; Surprisingly good on reach blocks because of his speed....tenacious. Uses hands and arms well to fend off opponents and keep them outside. Blocks well in open field. Downside: Struggles with footwork and pass protection technique; tends to rely too heavily on his arm-hand work and strength. Must focus on leverage and balance. Has trouble with speed rushers. Is not a great athlete.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
7 Charles Harris, Wash. St. 6-5 323 5.20 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
BRS (Gollin) - Not listed as Combine invitee nor listed on nflscouts,com list. Write-ups say he's inconsistent and plays down to the level of his competition. But when he brings his "A" game, he operates at a pretty high level.
nflscouts.com - NA

Sporting News War Room -Disappointing prospect because he gets beaten way too often by inferior players. When blocking with a solid base and leverage and using his hands aggressively, though, he can be a dominant blocker. Probably will struggle to find a home early because of inconsistent play, but he does have the tools to eventually be an NFL starter. More likely, he'll improve his technique some but will never become good enough to be more than a backup. Upside: Good athlete with quick footwork. Has the flexibility to bend knees and block with good leverage. Can slide outside to cutoff speed rushers. Strong enough to torque defensive ends off their feet and to the ground. Quick enough to reach the second level and seal linebackers. Can pull around the tight end to open holes for the running backs. Very long arms, and when using them aggressively can lock up and eliminate his man on all types of blocks. Downside: Raw and undisciplined. Must improve his footwork and be more aggressive. Struggles to maintain leverage in pass protection; usually slides outside upright and with straight legs. Bad habit of stopping feet after contact in pass protection and ends up crossing over and chasing the end around the corner. When straight-legged, cannot re-direct and slide inside to cutoff secondary pass-rush moves. Is not an aggressive run blocker, and is more of a positional run blocker who cannot get movement.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
7 Mike Otto, Purdue 6054 308 5.20 20 1.78 2.96 26.5 8-9 4.67 -- 7.62 --
BRS (Gollin) - Liked what we saw at the Combine.

nflscouts.com - Big-boned athlete with broad shoulders, good bubble, long arms and thick thighs and calves. Has the frame to carry at least another 20-25 pounds of bulk with no loss in quickness. Quick feet and good hip flexibility, moving well in the open to make the cut blocks at the second level. Otto displays very good balance, doing a nice job retreating in pass protection.... a competitive athlete with a mean streak and looks to finish off his opponent on every play. Never takes a play off and hustles until the whistle .Will have no problem taking the play from the board to the field. Good functional strength and an explosive hand punch that could be even more effective with more bulk and muscle tone. A model of consistency with very good quickness off the ball to gain advantage, especially when reaching and sealing seven-techs. Seldom beaten off the edge due to his long reach and balance. Quickness is evident when working in space - shows good urgency on pulls and traps. Also very effective generating the foot speed on the backside to scoop and cut off edge rushers. When he brings his hands up, he shows good weight distribution to put good force behind his punch, consistently shocking defenders with his initial blow. Can get under the pads and dominate on drive blocks. Also flashes the hip movement to make down blocks, as he moves his feet and swings his hips to wall off and sustain....has the base and balance that makes it hard for bull rushers to rock him back on his heels. Plays under control, especially when working his hips to force the chase route. Stays square with good lateral movement and recovery ability and his hip agility on the lateral move could see him play some guard early in his pro career. Plays with good balance. His base allows him to easily defeat twists and stunts. Wide base type who knows how to keep his feet under him on the move. Takes good angles, showing ease with cut blocks in the second level. The thing you notice on film is his ability to smother and neutralize linebackers, then move on to his next target. As a drive blocker, he generates enough functional strength to move the pile and can drive back with leverage, despite lacking ideal bulk. With added meat on his frame, he could be exceptional in run blocking. Very good with the reach and scoop blocks, quickly gaining advantage to seal off, and gets good movement on the double team. Gets a good, consistent push at the POA with enough power to maul when working in-line. Above average leg drive and a good pad level on incline blocks with the hand power to move out level-one defenders. Very effective at keeping his shoulders square with base blocks and also blocks with a good flat back....capable of making solid contact when pulling. Looks fluid with good feet moving in the open and adept at locating and landing in space. Will need more bulk to anchor in pass protection at the next level, but has the feet, balance and control to run over defenders. Even when he oversets, he has the knee bend and mirroring skills to quickly recover. He shows fluid feet in his kick slide and very good hand usage. Effective when trying to punch and recoil. Keeps his base wide vs. the hard charge so he can anchor and redirect as needed. Might get a little straight-legged, but his base and anchor help him compensate. His balance and knee bend are effective weapons vs. a strong club move.... uses his hands diligently to control and pick up stunts. Places his hands properly and will consistently follow through and finish. Has enough hand force to knock defenders off balance with his punch and has nimble feet to slide, pull into the open and pick up the blitz on defensive line stunts. It is very rare to see a defender turn him since he knows how to move his feet to mirror. Upside: Good chest thickness, long limbs and quickness...frame that can carry at least another 20-25 pounds with no loss in quickness...very good initial quickness to gain instant advantage coming off the snap...Can generate above average pop and explosion and can get under a defender's pads and jolt the opponent with his hand punch...can consistently sustain, and despite lacking ideal bulk, he sinks his hips and bends his knees properly to move the pile and drive block with good leverage (& could be exceptional with added bulk)...Looks fluid with his feet on the move and makes solid contact in the open...adept at smothering linebackers when working in the second level, then moving off a defender to attack another opponent...Could use more bulk to anchor, but has the quick feet, balance, loose hips and body control to run defenders off the line...Hand punch is quite effective at knocking defenders off balance and he consistently follows through and finishes...Has the nimble feet needed to slide or pull into the open and also is fluid getting back to pick up blitzes and defensive line stunts. Downside: Must dedicate time in the weight room to improve his strength and add needed bulk to his frame...Will overset at times in pass protection, but is quick to recover...Consistent at getting a functional push at POA, but could be dominant if he is able to add another 20 pounds...Gets a little straight-legged at times, but is athletic enough to land and sustain...good awareness reacting to stunts and blitzes, but must combo quicker at times.

Sporting News War Room - If Otto continues to play at this level, he will stick as an NFL backup. However, if he becomes more competitive and aggressive, he could become a good NFL starter because he can make all the blocks. In the end, he probably never will reach his potential and will tease teams by playing well as a spot starter who can't maintain that level of production. Upside: Has ideal height, long arms and athletic ability. Has quickness and speed to pull and lead outside runs. Can block linebackers on the second level. Gets off the snap quickly to make reach blocks, and works well with the guard on co-op blocks. Sets up quickly in pass protection. Slides out quickly to cutoff speed rushers, and re-directs and slides well back inside to cutoff underneath pass-rush moves. Communicates well with others to negate stunts and blitzes. Is tough, and will fight through pain to stay in the game. Downside: Thin; looks more like a 280-pounder in his arms and legs than a 310-pounder. Inconsistent technique...must be more aggressive. Does not use hand punch much in pass protection, allowing pass rushers to get into his chest and jolt him backwards; instead of punching, will grab outside the defensive end's shoulders. Does not fire off the snap on in-line runs, and can't move the pile consistently. Bad habit of stopping feet after making contact on blocks in the open field, causing him to reach and grab to maintain the block and ultimately will fall off the block prematurely.

ICON · 03-14-2007, 01:48 PM

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
8 Julius Wilson, UAB 6043 327 5.43 27 1.95 3.21 27 8-7 5.00 -- 8.33 --
BRS (Gollin) - Lacks agility but has something NFL coaches can work with.

nflscouts.com - Viewed as one of the better offensive linemen in Conference USA before a troublesome knee hampered his senior campaign. Wilson has talent, but might be better served moving to the inside. Upside: Good size for the position and initial quickness. Hass athleticism as both a pass and run blocker. Uses his hands well to initially jolt the defender. Settles into his stance and can slide laterally to keep his shoulders square to the pass rusher. Can get movement as a run blocker. Good quickness and mobility to get to the second level. Downside: Lacks strength at the POA and can be walked back to the quarterback because he fails to play with leverage. Quick on the pull, but lacks accuracy in his blocking on the move. Hampered with a knee injury throughout his senior season. Lacks strength and hand position to sustain blocks.

Sporting News War Room - Bottom line: Smart and instinctive...shows an aggressive blocking attitude that is hard to find. Has the size, strength and athleticism to be an effective NFL tackle, but some teams might try him at guard. NFL coaches will push him to be aggressive on every snap. Look for Wilson to be a second-day pick and develop into a starter, at either tackle or guard depending on the team that drafts him. Upside: A good athlete who is surprisingly light on his feet. Uses quick feet to cut off speed/edge rushers and can tie them up and ride them past the pocket...good base/leverage, which combines with his foot agility to let him re-direct pass rushers and slide back inside to handle quick underneath moves. Is a dominant down/side blocker who collapses defensive tackles and drives his man down the line. Can pull and get outside easily. Can get to linebackers quickly. Adjusts and blocks well in the open field. Can jolt and drive defensive linemen backwards when firing off the ball aggressively on straight ahead run blocks. Downside: Looks more like a guard than a tackle. Appears to have short arms and lacks ideal height. Must become more consistent as an aggressive blocker. Tends to be a "catch" blocker; who can be jolted backwards when he does. Gets too aggressive at times on angle blocks and will overextend and struggle to finish blocks. Does not punch in pass protection.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
9 Herbert Taylor, TCU 6037 296 5.19 26 1.81 3.03 27 8-4 4.64 -- 7.78 --
BRS (Gollin) - Workout warrior. A finesse guy best suited for an Alex Gibbs zone blocking system, but who may not fit into a Russ Grimm smashmouth set up. But does have enough basic skill for coaches to work with.

East-West Notes (fr War Room) - Good athleticism, hand usage and technique when pass blocking in one-on-one drills. Good job of setting up quickly, getting hands on defensive ends and staying on blocks to eliminate his man. Also showed the footwork and athleticism to redirect and slide to adjust to quick change-of-direction pass-rush moves.

nflscouts.com - Technician who likely will be moved inside to guard at the next level. While he lacks dominant size or athleticism for the position, he was arguably the most impressive pass blocker during the week of practices at the East-West Shrine Game. Upside: Technically sound with good initial quickness off the snap. Good use of hands in his initial hand punch and to sustain blocks. Keeps his feet moving and has good balance. Has the mobility to get out of his stance to block on the move. Can adjust to moving linebackers and finish with accuracy. Four-year starter at right tackle with no missed games due to injury. Showed surprising fluidity as a left tackle during East-West Shrine Game despite no experience there. Downside: Lacks prototype size for the position. Gets the job done due to his technique, but may struggle against better, stronger athletes of the NFL. Not explosive or dominating in any way. Will likely have to move to the inside.

Sporting News War Room - Teams will love how Taylor tests., but they will see he isn't physical and must be more competitive to make it as a pro. He must bulk up (he can carry 300 pounds on his frame), and also get stronger. Would fit best in a Denver or Indianapolis scheme that doesn't require linemen to be behemoths. If a team can develop a mean streak in him, Taylor will become a starting tackle. Upside: A top athlete. Can make every finesse block in the book. Fast and a good position blocker. Excellent knee bend, foot agility and foot quickness. Also has topnotch body control; stays on feet while adjusting to block fast. Uses hands and can mirror and front against athletic pass rushers. Downside: Not tough; tends to play on defenders' edges.A one-hit blocker who doesn't jolt defenders with his jabs. Must add bulk; struggles to anchor against bigger defenders. Doesn't sustain blocks; tends to turn shoulders. Lacks ideal height. Also lacks strength and aggressive blocking style to play guard.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
10 Brandon Frye, Va. Tech 6041 301 5.08 34 1.75 2.93 32.5 8-7 4.40 -- 7.50 --
BRS (Gollin) - Somewhat of an underachiever and a bit finessy.

Senior Bowl Notes - CBSportsline) - Fry played with surprising strength at the POA, but gave up interior pressures to Johnson and a rejuvenated Tank Tyler.

nflscouts.com - Opened some eyes with an outstanding performance in the Gator Bowl when he was pressed into starting duty for injured senior Jimmy Martin ... Picked up a big boost in confidence and carried it over to spring practice ... Showed continued improvement in run blocking ... Is athletic enough to be a good pass protector ...

Sporting News War Room - One of the most frustrating prospects in the 2007 class. Good athlete who will test well in pre-draft workouts, but he rarely plays up to his ability. He might fit best at guard in the NFL because of his thick lower body and ability to pull. Plus, it would better hide his inability to slide and adjust to explosive pass rushers. That said, he does have rare athleticism and is a worthy gamble. Upside: Good athlete with quick footwork and speed. Can pull and lead outside runs. Can reach the second level quickly, and is a good open-field blocker when he bends knees and maintains good balance. Has a thick lower body and strength to turn and seal defensive linemen on in-line runs. Can drive defensive linemen down the line of scrimmage on down blocks. Shows continued improvement. Downside: Raw, but does not play up to his natural athletic ability. Does not slide and shuffle consistently with pass rushers. Does not always block with good leverage. Often is a beat late moving at the snap. Is not aggressive, and usually allows defensive linemen to dictate the action. In the open field, tends to stop feet after making contact and thus lunge and fall off the block.

ICON · 03-14-2007, 01:52 PM

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ
1 Justin Blalock, Texas 6032 320 5.10 40 1.73 2.96 28.5 8-5 4.72 7.75 -- --

BRS (Gollin) - Benched 40 at the Combine, leading all offensive players. Although he's being projected at guard, he did play a lot of tackle for the Longhorns and you have to wonder whether he might be an excellent starter/swingman who can play any of four O-line positions.

nflscouts.com - Compares to Jammal Brown - Brown is taller than Blalock, but both combine nimble feet, great lateral range and excellent upper body power to generate consistent movement off the snap. Blalock has the loose A model of durability, consistency and versatility... A big, strong, powerful drive blocker...move to RG from RG could become permanent at the pro level, as he proved to be a punishing drive blocker with the quickness to lead the way on sweeps. Upside: Very thick frame, especially in his hips and bubble... good initial quickness and lower body strength to clear the rush lanes blocking in-line at guard...very good balance, agility and foot quickness... good knee bend and kick slide to mirror - adept at adjusting and taking proper angles on pulls and traps...Maintains body control when changing direction and has quick hands to lock on and sustain...Comes out of his stance at a proper pad level and is quick to recover working in-line...Seemed to be more effective as a drive blocker working inside, taking advantage of his power and hand punch to clear the rush lanes...Self-starter who is usually the first in and the last one to leave the weight room...great job of surprising the defender with his quick burst off the snap...Stays low in his pads with arms properly extended to gain advantage and comes off the line with strong leg drive...The thing you notice on film is his nimble feet and stride to gain position and get to his reach point in pass protection...Has the lateral range to slide down the line and the COD agility to get out in front on pulls and traps...Stays square in his base and moves from side to side with very good footwork and agility...Has the upper body strength, hand placement and punch to lock on and control the defender...good retreat-and-slide agility to mirror edge rushers and gets his mitts on his man with force to jolt or drag down...can unlock his hips and explode into the defender at RG more often than he did at tackle...Generates very good hip roll coming off the snap...Uses his leg drive and strong hands to push the pile and has that sudden first step to gain control of his opponent...Comes off the snap with his pads down and arms active to lock on and control...Has the power and leg drive to gain leverage and uses his huge mass to gain movement on drive blocks...Moves his feet well to sustain, demonstrating proper knee bend to mirror and is quick in his kick slide to neutralize backside pursuit...quick moves to the outside and shows flexibility and body control in his anchor...Extends his arms and keeps his hands active to gain proper placement in attempts to lock on and steer...Can stab and punch with force, using his hands effectively to gain inside position...Has the lateral movement and agility to slide and recover when changing direction and the hips and leg drive to flush the defender out of the rush lanes and shows a quick kick slide and hand placement to mirror in pass protection. Downside: Soft midsection, adequate muscle definition and high-cut calves...Lacks ideal arm reach for an offensive tackle...will struggle with some locating schemes when blocking in-line at guard... When he gets high in his stance, he can be walked back into the pocket, but that only happens when his feet cross over...Will sometimes over-extend working towards the edge as a guard (did not do this at tackle)... Had better success getting into the second level to neutralize the linebackers when he lined up at tackle rather than guard, as he struggled a bit to get through trash past the LOS when working in-line.

Senior Bowl Notes (fr the War Room) - Inconsistent as a run blocker because he stayed upright and allowed quick defensive linemen to get into gaps too easily. However, in pass protection he did a good job at both guard and tackle. He looks more like a guard than a tackle. (CBSportsline) - Blalock split time at guard and tackle Wednesday, and looked most impressive while at guard. Blalock struggled a bit with speed rushers, but has good strength at the POA and consistently won battles when he was able to latch onto his opponent. The perception among scouts I spoke to is that he could be a good pro tackle, but an even better guard.
Sporting News War Room - A tackle most of his college career, Blalock slid inside to play guard during 2006. Guard is the position he'll be best suited for in the NFL. Outstanding athlete but will need a ton of fundamental work. A first-round prospect who must go to a team with a very good offensive line coach who is adept at teaching fundamentals and technique and has a lot of patience. Upside: Plays with passion. Explodes off the snap. Has the strength to dominate at POA when blocking with leverage and good technique. Excellent foot quickness. Gets out of stance and into block set very fast. Can slide and mirror very well in pass protection. Punches aggressively in pass set; follows with a very strong counterpunch. Jolts linemen upright and stops them cold. Is fast and quick enough to pull and lead block effectively on outside runs. Can step through to block linebackers. Downside: Relies upon his physical tools too much. Has not developed his footwork and blocking technique. Takes false steps in pass protection. Shows poor foot placement, which hinders ability to maintain block. Also hinders ability to play up to his natural strength. Shoddy fundaments raise questions about whether he takes coaching well.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
2 Ben Grubbs, Auburn 6026 311 5.18 29 1.80 2.96 26.5 8-7 4.72 -- 7.99 --

BRS (Gollin) - One of those unspectacular kind of guys who is a stabilizing force on some team's offensive line for 10 - 12 years.

nflscouts.com - One of the most unheralded players in the collegiate ranks...has that old school mauler's mentality combined with the new school athleticism, filling the leadership void on the Auburn front wall. Not since the days of Alan Faneca has a SEC guard displayed that perfect blend of power, intensity and athletic ability. Upside: Very tough and works until the whistle to finish off blocks. Has a solid hand punch and very good explosion on contact...quick to get out in front on pulls and traps and adept at locating second level defenders on the move. Has shown marked improvement sliding his feet, but needs to be conscious of not getting too narrow in his base or high in his stance, since he lacks the loose hips to redirect instantly. Hand punch can shock a lethargic opponent and he does a fine job of picking up stunts and games. Downside: Will sometimes fall off blocks late when he fails to bend at the knees, but has the body control to recover. ... When he fails to sink his hips, he'll overextend a bit, but he is quick to recoil and get back on his assignment. ... When he gets too narrow in his stance, he will lose his base at the X's. ... Does have some inconsistency finishing blocks in the past, but shows great pop on contact and is learning to keep his base wider in order to prevent the defender from shedding. ... When he gets too high in his stance, he can be walked back.

Senior Bowl Notes (fr the War Room) - Showed the athleticism to pass block with good leverage and was able to lock up on defensive tackles and eliminate them from plays. (fr CBSportsline) - Grubbs may have been the most consistent interior pass blocker in drills Wednesday. Scouts nearby were pointing out his consistency when he surprisingly was beaten off the snap by Mississippi State's Antonio Johnson for an easy pressure. I (as well as the silenced scouts) was especially curious to see how he'd respond the play after. True to form, Grubbs stoned Johnson on the next snap, absorbing the big defensive tackle's initial rush, latching onto the interior of his pads and ultimately knocking him to the ground.

Sporting News War Room - Grubbs doesn’t wow anyone on first glance, but his sustained production and athleticism eventually wins out. He gets by in college because of his superior athleticism but must crank up his aggression in the NFL. Grubbs could slide down draft boards because of his physique and inconsistent technique, but he should develop into an NFL starter within a year or two. His quickness, speed and strength give him the tools to play in a variety of NFL schemes. He also is smart and athletic enough to move to center.
Upside: Is a good athlete with rare quickness for a 300-pound man. Consistently reaches the second level to block linebackers, even after first chipping defensive tackles. Has the speed to pull and lead outside runs. Pulls and traps well inside. Gets set quickly in pass protection. Bends knees and sinks hips well to hold his ground against bull rushers. Slides and shuffles quickly to stymie stunts and blitzes. Is smart. Downside: Must get into better shape. Is not aggressive enough. Does not fire off the snap, and is much more of a positional run blocker. Shows inconsistent technique. Must improve hand punch in pass protection; too often allows defensive tackles to get into his chest and jolt him backwards. Must do a better job of bending knees to maintain balance and sustain blocks in the open field.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
3 Josh Beekman, Boston Coll. 6015 313 5.36 24 1.81 3.06 25.5 7-9 4.81 -- 8.24 --
BRS (Gollin) - Built like a giant fireplug. Sounds like our kind of guy, If (1) he lasted til our pick in the second round and (2) Cardinal scouts feel he'd make a terrific center or could quickly work his way into a role as starting guard, he'd be an intriguing pick for us due to his talent and work ethic. Not 100% consistent at what he does, but his upside is more gaudy than Grubbs' for example. Lack of nimbleness a bit of a concern.

nflscouts.com - Compares to Jason Brown - Like Brown, Beekman generates an explosive punch to shock and jolt the defender. Has very good initial quickness off the snap and the lower body strength to push the pile, but lacks the timed speed and balance to be consistent attacking second-level defenders. Very good at driving the defender off the line and his low COG and quick hands could see him eventually slide to center at the pro level.One of the most decorated offensive linemen to wear a Boston College uniform in recent years, he established himself as one of the most explosive drive blockers in the collegiate ranks. Upside: Stout, compact frame with very good upper body muscle thickness, broad shoulders, thick neck, thighs and calves, good bubble and tree-trunk like legs...Has the loose hips to change direction and flow down the line, with classic knee bend and plant-and-drive agility to redirect...good balance and a strong base to neutralize the bull rush...When stationary at the POA, he does an excellent job of using his hands to defeat counter moves...Naturally strong player who has demonstrated an exceptional hand punch to shock and jolt the defender...Moves athletically retreating to protect the pocket and shows good explosion on contact...will immediately break down game films of the opponents once those tapes arrive at the football office... Plays with a high motor and wears his emotions on his sleeve...Mauler type who works hard to finish and will never back down from a fight...Few drive blockers can match his initial quickness...Comes out of his stance with good urgency, getting into his blocks with hands properly extended, legs wide in his base and his pad level low...Especially effective at gaining advantage on scoop and reach blocks...Excels sliding from side-to-side when working in the short area...master at staying on his blocks and riding his man out...In his last three years, he never allowed a quarterback sack...You will never see him bend at the waist or lean to make contact...Quick getting his hands into the opponent's jersey to lock on and jerk down...Comes off the snap with his hands on the rise, and is very effective at locking on and walling off the defender...Hits with tremendous force and is very good at clubbing the defender in the head or chop blocking to take the opponents off their feet...Road grader who consistently plays with leverage...Keeps his feet moving upon initial contact and is very good at using his hands to move the pile...Has the brute strength to overpower and controls the action with his quick first step and low pad level to maintain position with a strong base...With his quick kick slide, he does a very good job of neutralizing pocket pressure...Has the strength and wide base to hold ground firmly at the POA and keeps his hands active to defeat counter moves...Demonstrates keen vision to quickly locate and pick up stunts and flashes good pass set, knee bend and anchor to beat even the quicker defensive tackles...Explodes with force when he hits a defender with his hands...Hits the defender with good force in pass protection and keeps his feet under him to beat the bull rush...Consistent at getting proper hand placement in attempts to lock on and sustain. Downside: Shorter than ideal and might be a better fit at center...Meticulous sort who tends to overanalyze things and will let bad plays linger in his thoughts...Will struggle a bit to maintain balance working in space (gets narrow with his base and crosses his feet on the move)...Does not have the speed to neutralize second-level defenders and will try to compensate by overextending and lunging...acks the ideal speed to stay on the play long once it gets into the second level..must keep his feet underneath him better when working in space and is better served working in the short area, since he does struggle to locate and land on defenders in space.

Sporting News War Room - Good prospect who must improve his flexibility to become a great NFL player. Has a nasty streak but plays a clean game. Should be a solid NFL starter for a long time. Upside: Strong and durable. Never quits on a play. Powerful run and pass blocker. Never stops feet, and always is in the right position. Built low to the ground, and is quick to gain leverage. Hard worker, and is consistent. Gets set quickly in pass protection. Downside: A little stiff at the waist, and will struggle to pull. Tends to stand up when trapping, allowing defenders to gain leverage and push him back into the backfield.

ICON · 03-14-2007, 01:53 PM

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
4 Tala Esera, Hawaii 6032 312 5.20 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
BRS (Gollin) - Another potential swingman who brings tenacity to the field every time he sets foot on it.

nflscouts.com - Compares to Dan Buenning - Looks like a perfect candidate to shift inside to guard. Lacks the ideal size for a left tackle, but is very effective shooting his hands and generating movement off the snap. Has very good upper body strength to counter double moves and does a good job of logging from the back side, where he has the hand punch to battle in traffic. Has gradually grown into one of the more technically sound back-side tackles in college football, and took his game to another level in 2006. Always known for his mistake-free performances, he seemed to go through the motions during his first three seasons on offense. But he showed tremendous desire and urgency in his game during his final year. Upside: Developing frame with growth potential to carry at least another 20 pounds of bulk, smooth upper body muscle development, long arms, large hands, wide waist and a thick chest...Runs with a normal stride and builds his acceleration nicely when moving into the second level...Plays with good field vision and alertness, easily locating and combating the backside pursuit...Meticulous in his approach to the game plan and thrives to play mistake-free football...In 2006, he demonstrated much better consistency dealing with the X's and showed a very good understanding of the technical part of the game...good quickness coming out of his stance, with proper hand placement and punch to lock on and control the defender...very good pop in his explosion off the ball and shows the leg drive needed to work and finish in pass protection...Very aggressive attacking the defender, using his hands effectively to combat arm cross-over action...Made great strides in firing off the snap to gain position and sustain blocks...hand strength to lock on and does a good job of dropping his pads in attempts to wall off and screen...When he keeps his back flat and knees bent, he can do an effective job of mauling defenders at the line...Stays on his feet and firmly anchors vs. the rush, doing a nice job with his hands to combat double moves... Generates a strong base in pass protection and consistently holds ground at the point of attack...Became a dominant pass protector in 2006 because of his improved hand usage and stronger punch...When he gets his hands into the opponent's chest, he is quick to redirect or sustain...good recoil and recovery quickness, especially when he keeps his hands inside the framework of the defensive tackle to lock out on blocks...Athletic in his kick slide and retreat to neutralize edge rushers...decent knee bend and foot quickness...Can shift his weight and explode into defenders on contact...May overextend on the move, but when working in-line, he is quick to recoil...Has also improved his overall footwork, doing a nice job of mirroring on stunts. Downside: Needs further lower body development...Shorter than ideal for a left tackle, making him a possible guard due to his good hand placement, quickness and kick slide...good quickness coming out of his stance, but a little stiff in his hips when attempting to change direction...Has the initial step to gain advantage, but needs to be more consistent maintaining his speed to pull and get out and move...Has the balance and feet to slide and shuffle with effectiveness in pass protection, but gets too narrow in his base when having to redirect...adept at picking up stunts, but needs to be more fluid changing direction, as he is a bit slow seeking out secondary targets on the move...Doesn't always roll his hips on contact, causing him to be inconsistent when asked to trap block, but he knows how to stay low to get movement... tends to drop his head a bit on the move, losing sight of secondary targets...Just adequate in attempts to control and finish when he gets too tall in his stance, but when he sinks his hips, he will land on his target with good violence...Has the timed speed to get to the second level, but must show better consistency taking angles...Fails to adjust to counter moves when working in space, struggling to adjust to moving targets.

War Room East West notes Esera showed good flexibility and athleticism pass blocking in one-on-one drills. He blocked with good leverage and balance, putting two defensive linemen on their backs with aggressiveness and strength. Good flexibility and athleticism pass blocking in one-on-one drills.Blocked with good leverage and balance, putting two defensive linemen on their backs with aggressiveness and strength.

Sporting News War Room - Esera is undersized to play outside but has the toughness and tenacity to play inside. He deserves a shot to play left tackle in the NFL because 300-pound athletes are quite rare. If he fails, then he definitely could start at guard. If Esera were 6-foot-4, he'd be a first-round lock. Upside: Elite athleticism and mobility. Near the top in every agility category. Fast to reach the second level and block linebackers in the open field. Plays with aggressiveness, instincts and toughness. Finishes blocks. Can make every block. Shows good leadership skills. Downside: Short. Will grab and hold if beaten. Is susceptible to double moves. Must learn to better use his hands.
Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
5 Mike Jones, Iowa 6050 309 5.46 28 1.80 3.07 25.5 8-2 4.88 -- 7.84 --
BRS (Gollin) - Another in a deep pool of Hutchison type players in a talented draft class for guards - but not as athletic or talented.

nflscouts.com - Lacks the flashy athleticism and big name, but his strength and technique make him one of the more consistent guards in the draft. He'll compete for playing time early in his career. Updside: Good size for the position. Powerful and technically sound at the POA. Uses his hands well to engage and sustain blocks. Good hip snap and leg drive, especially in short-yardage situations. Lacks the foot quickness for offensive tackle, but has good short-area quickness. Plays with some nastiness and steps up his game against top competition. Downside: Lacks top-flight athleticism. Saw action at both tackle positions at Iowa and lacks the foot quickness to play in space. Can get the job done, but not in his element when blocking on the move. Had one-game suspension for an undisclosed violation of team rules.

Sporting News War Room - Jones is the type of guard who often gets overlooked and slides down draft boards because of his limited athleticism. Jones is similar to the Buccaneers' Dan Buenning but not quite as good. Jones won't be a star but should be a productive NFL starter for a long time. Upside: Tough and competitive. Does whatever it takes. Smart. Has the flexibility to bend knees and sink hips to block with base and leverage. Holds his ground against bull rushers. Slides and shuffles well in a small area to adjust to quick pass-rush moves. Is adept at picking up stunts and blitzes. Gets hands on defensive tackles quickly on straight-ahead run blocks, and shows the strength to turn out defensive tackles consistently. Drives defenders down the line on down blocks. Reaches the second level when uncovered to seal off linebackers. Downside: Limited athlete. Lacks quickness, agility and speed to block effectively in the open field. Struggles to get through traffic. Lacks the speed to pull and lead on outside runs. Struggles to adjust to defenders while on the move. Does not consistently keep feet under him when blocking and will end up bending at the waist and leaning and over-extending. Needs to add 10-15 pounds of bulk.

ICON · 03-14-2007, 01:55 PM

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ
6 Marshall Yanda, Iowa 6037 307 5.06 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
BRS (Gollin) - Another swing man. Developmental type.

nflscouts.com -Compares to Brian Waters- Yanda has the same work ethic, good quickness off the snap and tireless work ethic to improve like Waters has. He doesn't have the raw power to consistently punish defenders, but does manage to do an effective job due to his quickness off the snap and active hands that consistently tie up his opponent. He must add more bulk, but is better suited to play inside, as it won't expose his inability to redirect and sink his hips in attempts to mirror edge rushers. Kirk Ferentz said Yanda was one of the finest offensive linemen to suit up for the program in recent years. He not only provided stellar pass protection and opened huge holes for the ground game, but his ability to play multiple positions proved invaluable when injuries hit the Iowa front wall. Yanda made Ferentz look good by following up the praise with a strong senior season. Upside: Has room to carry at least another 25 pounds with no loss in his quickness...above average initial quickness and good foot speed for his position...adequate muscle thickness, but shows good chest width, broad shoulders, good bubble a improved lower body strength...Determined athlete who plays until the whistle and takes it personally when he is beaten by an opponent...Very light on his feet, showing the agility to block on the second level and gain position on the defender...speed allows him to mirror his opponent and sustain while taking proper angles...Locates and adjusts to the linebackers while on the move and works hard to screen off the defenders, as he improved his knee bend and no longer stands erect when trying to redirect...Still needs to sink his pads better, especially in pass protection, but has improved his change of direction agility in attempts to recover...Keeps his hands active, doing a good job of adjusting and positioning them to lock on and drive the defender off the ball...Gets good movement when he comes off the snap, as he generates the punch to shock his opponent on contact (will lock on rather than catch in pass protection)...Works hard to sustain his blocks long enough for the runner to get through the holes...will probably shift inside to take advantage of his rare quickness...Plays on his feet and battles to completion, using his body well to push and gain position...Gets good fits on linebackers in the short area...improved knee bend lets him get better leverage, Should be an effective guard prospect due to his ability to come out on the pull, adjust and turn it up inside...good concept for taking angles and is quick to locate second level defenders...His improved leg drive lets him widen the rush lanes and he has the lateral agility to be effective on traps...Uses his arms well to ride the defender away from the pocket (very effective with grabbing and locking on)...Still developing his body strength and adding bulk, but battles throughout the play and adjusts well to stunts and blitzes, sliding and readjusting to pick up in-line action... When he is quick to gain position, he can effectively wall off his man, thanks to improved quickness in his slide...When he stays low in his pads, he can move the pile and finish with authority...Has the reach to keep defenders off his body...Quick to see games up front and adjust to movement. Negatives: More of a finesse-type blocker, but has good pop to jolt on contact...must develop more lower leg strength and improve upon rolling his hips through blocks...Does not shoot his hands up to deliver the proper punch that he should coming off the snap all the time...Sometimes tends to "short arm" rather than extend into the defender...Better guard prospect, as he doesn't yet have the bulk to play tackle and struggles with the quicker pass rushers & gets too tall in his stance when having to mirror on the edge & tends to lean into the opponent and lose leverage...Loses his balance and base when he bends at the waist...Lacks the bulk to prevent the bigger bull rushers from walking him back into the pocket (will defeat them if he shoots his hands first).

Sporting News War Room - Showed great improvement as a senior. Not worthy of a high draft pick because he must add weight and strength and become more aggressive to become an NFL starter. Projects as a Day 2 pick who will need a year or two before challenging for a starting job. Will be a dominant player but should be a solid starter in time. Upside: Good quickness, and consistently gets out of his stance and set up quickly. Natural flexibility to bend knees and sink hips to maintain good leverage. Long arms. When maintaining good balance, slides and adjusts well in a small area to eliminate linebackers. Effective on down blocks and seal blocks. Make quick cut blocks, and shows the speed to pull and lead outside runs. Downside - DG/T 'tweener -- lacks the height and athleticism to pass protect outside, and lacks the size and strength to play inside. Must use hand punch more aggressively to keep pass rushers out of his chest -- gets jolted back too easily. Tends to stop moving his feet after making contact on in-line run blocks. Lacks the strength to get movement on straight-ahead run blocks or hold his ground against aggressive bull rushers.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
7 Brian Daniels, Colorado 6037 305 5.26 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
BRS (Gollin) - We're now in that part of the draft where you see a lot of "effort guys" who aren't quite as athetic as the upper rung. But - particularly at the guard position - there are a lot of these guys earning good money in the NFL.
nflscouts.com - (2005 - Starting tight side guard, he received some preseason mention for top honors as he should be one of the Big 12 Conference’s top offensive linemen).

Sporting News War Room - Interesting prospect but is not athletic enough to warrant a high draft pick. Looks bigger than his measured height and definitely plays bigger. The type who slides further down draft boards than his on-field play would merit. Ideally would be a backup guard in the NFL, but he could do a solid job if forced into the lineup because of injuries Upside: Tough. Stays after blocks, and consistently eliminates his man. Has the flexibility to bend knees and block with good leverage at the POA. Productive in pass protection with short sets and a hard hand punch. Consistently holds his ground against bull rushers. Has the quickness and speed to pull and lead on outside runs, and is a good blocker on when defender is on his track. Smart with good instincts. Works well with other linemen to neutralize stunts and blitzes. Downside: A limited athlete. Lacks the agility and hip flexibility to adjust to line slants. Struggles to negate quick pass-rush moves. Is not always aggressive, hindering ability to get movement on straight-ahead run blocks.Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
8 Erik Robertson, Cal 6-2 311 5.30 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
BRS (Gollin) - Not listed as Combine invitee nor listed on nflscouts,com list. Lunchpail type worth a late round shot.

nflscouts.com - NA

Sporting News War Room - Bottom line: Type of guard who often gets written off quickly because he is not a good athlete and can look bad in the open field, but he is tough, strong and surprisingly productive. A better football player than athlete and will slide on draft day, but he should make a team and could develop into a starting guard down the road. Will not succeed on teams like Denver and Atlanta, who seek only quick, athletic linemen. However, he could make it with a team that seeks big, power-blocking guards. Upside: Tough and competitive. Consistently finds a way to eliminate his man through effort and hustle. Built well, and has the strength to hold his ground against bull rushers. Can turn out defensive tackles on inside runs. Fires off the snap aggressively on down blocks, and drives his man way down the line. Is surprisingly effective at pulling and leading on linebackers in the hole. Slides and adjusts well in pass protection in tight spaces, and usually stuffs his man at the line one he locks up on him. Helps out linemates well when he does not have a man to pass block. Downside: A limited athlete. Lacks the quickness and agility to change directions and slide. Does not use hand punch consistently in pass protection; can be jolted backwards by bull rushers. Lacks the speed to pull and lead on outside runs. Lacks the agility to adjust and make blocks on the move. Gets over-aggressive at times on in-line run blocks, and thus will stop moving feet and lunge at his man.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
9 Derrick Markray, Bowl. Green 6-4 365 5.50 -- -- -- -- -- -- --
Player to Watch

BRS (Gollin) - Not listed as Combine invitee nor listed on nflscouts,com list. Although there's a growing trend toward stretch plays and zone blocking schemes which favor smaller, more mobile offensive linemen, teams who emphasize the so-called "power running game" do so behind huge road-grader linemen who can root out their man in smashmouth fashion. Whiz is described by the media as a "power running" advocate. If so, a guy like Markray might be too tempting to resist in the mid to late rounds. How can you ignore 365 lbs?

nflscouts.com - NA

Sporting News War Room - A big man with a big upside for NFL teams that prefer huge offensive linemen, such as Arizona and Baltimore. A road-grader who can overpower defenders with his bulk and strength but shows enough agility to execute finesse blocks. Type of guard who often slips to the bottom of the draft, but in time he should develop into a solid NFL starter. Upside: Big with rare strength and power. Great explosion and above-average lateral quickness and agility in pass protection. Uses hands well to control defenders. Is intense, and works hard. Is an above-average athlete with decent footwork. Makes few errors. Bends knees well to maintain good leverage. Downside: Slow. Struggles to block in the open field and handle quick interior linemen. Sometimes gets himself into bad positions, which is correctable. Needs to lose a few pounds.

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
10 Allen Barbre, Missouri So. 6040 300 4.84 28 1.65 2.81 32 8-9 4.63 -- 7.40 --
6040 300 4.84 2.81 1.65 28 32 8'9" 4.63 7.40
BRS (Gollin) - Raw guy from a small school. Fastest forty time of all Combine offensive linemen. (There aren't too many 300 lb linemen who can run in the 4.6's). Worth drafting by a team who can afford to wait a year or two while he learns his craft. Appears to have considerable "wanna."

nflscouts.com - Compares to Joe Berger - A developing talent with outstanding quickness and good strength. Has the balance and nimble feet to fire out on the pulls and traps and shows a punishing hand jolt to impede the pass rusher's forward progress. He seems to lack that split-second decision making process and will get fooled on stunts, blitzes and twists, making him more suited for guard than tackle. Could use some more bulk on his frame and must learn to play with better control. When he fails to locate the second-level defenders, he starts throwing his hands around wildly, looking for something to hit. Needs to break down open working in space and while he showed improvement with his hand placement, he is prone to getting them outside his frame too much. Must also play at a lower pad level and use his knee bend better....must work on the mental aspect of the game. Opposing defensive ends, defensive coordinators and professional scouts were well aware of his outstanding quickness and blocking skills. He not only matched up and contained the opposition's best pass rusher each week, but he was also an outstanding gunner on special teams, Positives: Developing frame with room to add at least another 15 pounds of bulk with no loss in his impressive quickness…thick upper body, with broad shoulders, thick calves, solid midsection, long arms, large hands, big bubble and natural strength…Comes out of his stance with outstanding explosion to shock a lethargic defender…loose hips to change direction and plays…good force behind his hand punch…Hard worker who might need several extra reps to retain plays, but spends extra hours in the film room and in the weight room improving his overall strength…Can get to the second level quickly to cut or wall off, but needs to break down better and play under control…When he gets his hands into an opponent, he has the raw power to pull, jerk, lock on and drag down…Rolls his hips well to put more force behind his blocks working in-line…Is quick to react to movement and does a good job of shuffling his feet to mirror…Takes the defensive lineman where he wants to go and uses that momentum to wash out his opponent (needs to stop waist bending, though)…Plays with a strong base and solid effort, showing good foot movement in his pass set…Does a better job landing when pulling or on screens, but needs to play with better control working in the second level…When he slides his feet in pass protection, he plays with a wide base, but must be more conscious of keeping his pads down (gets too high in his stance at times)...much better hand placement in 2006, sustaining his blocks longer once he learned to keep his hands inside the frame…Can beat a defender off the edge with his explosive initial step…Generally takes good angles on the short pull and has the lateral mobility to work down the line…adept at communicating with his guard on double teams. Negatives: Just a marginal student and needs more than several reps to retain plays…Fires off the ball with good urgency, but will get out of control and start taking wild whiffs when he shoots his hands outside the frame…Can simply flatten opponents when he keeps his pads down, but he will get too tall in his stance and bend at the waist (has good knee bend, but doesn't do it consistently)…When he fails to open his hips properly, he will fall off some blocks in space…Needs to get better fits on the ground game (bad pad level), for despite his upper body power, he will revert to positioning and turning the defender rather than driving through…Must play with better control in the second level, as he fails to break down plays quickly…Has the natural slide agility, but will get pushed back by a strong bull rush when he gets too tall in his stance…When he over-sets with his hands, he struggles to recover (will also cross over with his feet at the Xs).

Sporting News War Room - Bottom line: From small school, but has NFL-caliber athleticism and physical tools. But he must greatly improve his technique, aggressiveness and competitiveness. Best suited to play guard because he gets beaten around the corner too often. Could get drafted because he is sure to post good postseason workouts, but his on-field production doesn’t justify a pick. Ideal practice-squad candidate with a chance to develop into a starting offensive lineman if things break his way. Upside: Great athlete with quick footwork. Quick enough to chip defensive tackles and still reach linebackers. Can deliver violent blocks to linebackers. Can pull and lead outside runs. Has the flexibility to bend knees and pass block with good leverage. Holds his ground well against bull rushers. Has the athleticism and instincts to adjust to stunts and blitzes. Downside: Raw and undisciplined. Inconsistent. Will bend at the waist too often, over-extending upper body and then falling off blocks. Doesn’t play with good leverage on straight-ahead run blocks; can get tossed to the ground. Does not always use hand punch to stymie defensive linemen in pass protection; can get pushed back into the pocket. Does not always block to the whistle.

orangefan · 03-14-2007, 02:48 PM

Icon, Thanks for taking the time to put this together and post. It is much appreciated!

Houshyamama · 03-14-2007, 03:10 PM

Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN
9 Herbert Taylor, TCU 6037 296 5.19 26 1.81 3.03 27 8-4 4.64 -- 7.78 --
BRS (Gollin) - Workout warrior. A finesse guy best suited for an Alex Gibbs zone blocking system, but who may not fit into a Russ Grimm smashmouth set up. But does have enough basic skill for coaches to work with.

I love being able to pull O-linemen late in the draft that fit perfectly in our system. It's a great advantage in the draft.

Billy Clyde Puckett · 03-14-2007, 03:20 PM

Thanks ICON

Rohirrim · 03-14-2007, 03:49 PM

Thanks, Icon. I still say Mike Otto is the perfect Olineman for the Broncos.

03-14-2007, 01:47 PM	#17
ICON \|^\|Punter of Gnomes\|^\| Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..Snap! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,607 Adopt-a-Bronco: Nate Irving	Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ 6 Arron Sears, Tennessee 6032 319 5.40 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- BRS (Gollin) - - Overachiever who had a pretty productive Senior Bowl week. Some like him better at guard. If his combine numbers are impressive, he'll shoot up the board. Even now, some project him to squeak into the bottom of the first round. Senior Bowl Notes (fr CBSportsline)) - Sears plays with impressive overall power as both a run and pass blocker. Opponents struggled to maintain their position against him in run blocking, with Sears routinely pushing them off the line. In pass blocking, Sears' upper body strength and physical hand play often stymied defensive tackles to the point of frustration. nflscouts.com - Compares to Shawn Andrews - Like Andrews, Sears has great explosion and pop on contact. Dominant straight-line blocker, but has marginal balance on the move. Will struggle vs. edge rushers at the next level and will have better success playing inside at guard, where his POA deficiencies can be covered up better. Unquestioned leader of the Vols' offensive unit. Not only a model of consistency in 2006, but had one of the finest seasons of any Tennessee offensive lineman ever. Received winning grades for blocking consistency in every game last season, and earned four perfect scores from the coaching staff. Upside: Wide frame with a big chest, broad shoulders, long arms, big thighs and calves, adequate-sized hands and good bubble...Compensates for marginal quickness and POA agility with very good field vision and awareness...Rarely fooled by line games and does a very good job of neutralizing blitzers and picking up stunts.. smart enough to call blocking assignments and might be a good fit at guard due to his ability to work in unison with the other linemen on combo blocks...Quiet field leader, a self-starter with a good work ethic and takes well to hard coaching...will mentor the younger players and do the little extras in training to improve his overall strength...Might lack good timed speed, but he is quick out of his stance, firing off the snap with good urgency...Uses his hand placement to lock on and sustain and knows how to utilize his body mass to occupy space and gain advantage...Does a very good job of sitting down his pads at the LOS...will use his size to occupy and position, but will struggle when the defender gets outside his frame...explosive burst off the ball and good pop on contact...Uses hand placement and size to hit with impact, but lacks explosion when having to work in space... good hand strength in his surge off the ball and has the leg drive to push the pile...Might lack ideal hip roll, but his lower body power lets him drive people off the ball and he knows how to use his frame to occupy and wall off the defender...Has the hand strength and explosion to finish consistently when allowed to stay at the line of scrimmage...Physical drive blocker with the reach to keep defenders off his body....With his punishing hand punch, consistently shocks and jolts the pass rusher coming off the snap...Uses his strength and size to lock on, steer and wall off the opponent...Did a very good job of showing patience, letting the defender attack him rather than try to lunge into the blocks ...Keeps his hands active to defeat counter moves... Hits with authority coming on the rise and always seems to get proper hand placement...Throws his hands quickly to punch and extends well to prevent defenders from getting inside his jersey. Downside: Could stand to lose some additional bulk around his midsection to help him generate better balance and POA agility...might be a better fit for an interior line position...oo much of a waist bender and limited by his marginal timed speed ... good upper body strength to lock on and sustain, but struggles when asked to change direction, lacking flexibility in his hips to smoothly redirect...More of a slow-twitched type who waits for the defender to come into his body rather than fire off the snap to generate contact...Uses size well to cover up the defender working on the line, but is not quick enough to pull or be effective working in space...will take false steps and get behind, but is a patient sort at the LOS who will wait for an overeager defender to make the first move, while he keeps his hands active to counter...Uses his hands well to mirror, but quicker edge rushers will instantly find they can beat him off the corner with quick spin moves...too erect in his running stride and too tight in his hips to open them and redirect - struggles to adjust to moving targets working away from the line...lacks balance and foot speed to be effective leading blocks into the second level...prone to taking false steps and crossing his feet on the move, causing him to lose balance. Sporting News War Room - Holds his own, and often dominates, against top competition. Must improve his technique to fulfill his promise. His run blocking is pro caliber, but he’ll need coaching and time to improve in pass protection. Best suited for right tackle but will become a starter. Upside: Great size and strength and very quick off the snap. Great run-blocking skills; Surprisingly good on reach blocks because of his speed....tenacious. Uses hands and arms well to fend off opponents and keep them outside. Blocks well in open field. Downside: Struggles with footwork and pass protection technique; tends to rely too heavily on his arm-hand work and strength. Must focus on leverage and balance. Has trouble with speed rushers. Is not a great athlete. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 7 Charles Harris, Wash. St. 6-5 323 5.20 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- BRS (Gollin) - Not listed as Combine invitee nor listed on nflscouts,com list. Write-ups say he's inconsistent and plays down to the level of his competition. But when he brings his "A" game, he operates at a pretty high level. nflscouts.com - NA Sporting News War Room -Disappointing prospect because he gets beaten way too often by inferior players. When blocking with a solid base and leverage and using his hands aggressively, though, he can be a dominant blocker. Probably will struggle to find a home early because of inconsistent play, but he does have the tools to eventually be an NFL starter. More likely, he'll improve his technique some but will never become good enough to be more than a backup. Upside: Good athlete with quick footwork. Has the flexibility to bend knees and block with good leverage. Can slide outside to cutoff speed rushers. Strong enough to torque defensive ends off their feet and to the ground. Quick enough to reach the second level and seal linebackers. Can pull around the tight end to open holes for the running backs. Very long arms, and when using them aggressively can lock up and eliminate his man on all types of blocks. Downside: Raw and undisciplined. Must improve his footwork and be more aggressive. Struggles to maintain leverage in pass protection; usually slides outside upright and with straight legs. Bad habit of stopping feet after contact in pass protection and ends up crossing over and chasing the end around the corner. When straight-legged, cannot re-direct and slide inside to cutoff secondary pass-rush moves. Is not an aggressive run blocker, and is more of a positional run blocker who cannot get movement. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 7 Mike Otto, Purdue 6054 308 5.20 20 1.78 2.96 26.5 8-9 4.67 -- 7.62 -- BRS (Gollin) - Liked what we saw at the Combine. nflscouts.com - Big-boned athlete with broad shoulders, good bubble, long arms and thick thighs and calves. Has the frame to carry at least another 20-25 pounds of bulk with no loss in quickness. Quick feet and good hip flexibility, moving well in the open to make the cut blocks at the second level. Otto displays very good balance, doing a nice job retreating in pass protection.... a competitive athlete with a mean streak and looks to finish off his opponent on every play. Never takes a play off and hustles until the whistle .Will have no problem taking the play from the board to the field. Good functional strength and an explosive hand punch that could be even more effective with more bulk and muscle tone. A model of consistency with very good quickness off the ball to gain advantage, especially when reaching and sealing seven-techs. Seldom beaten off the edge due to his long reach and balance. Quickness is evident when working in space - shows good urgency on pulls and traps. Also very effective generating the foot speed on the backside to scoop and cut off edge rushers. When he brings his hands up, he shows good weight distribution to put good force behind his punch, consistently shocking defenders with his initial blow. Can get under the pads and dominate on drive blocks. Also flashes the hip movement to make down blocks, as he moves his feet and swings his hips to wall off and sustain....has the base and balance that makes it hard for bull rushers to rock him back on his heels. Plays under control, especially when working his hips to force the chase route. Stays square with good lateral movement and recovery ability and his hip agility on the lateral move could see him play some guard early in his pro career. Plays with good balance. His base allows him to easily defeat twists and stunts. Wide base type who knows how to keep his feet under him on the move. Takes good angles, showing ease with cut blocks in the second level. The thing you notice on film is his ability to smother and neutralize linebackers, then move on to his next target. As a drive blocker, he generates enough functional strength to move the pile and can drive back with leverage, despite lacking ideal bulk. With added meat on his frame, he could be exceptional in run blocking. Very good with the reach and scoop blocks, quickly gaining advantage to seal off, and gets good movement on the double team. Gets a good, consistent push at the POA with enough power to maul when working in-line. Above average leg drive and a good pad level on incline blocks with the hand power to move out level-one defenders. Very effective at keeping his shoulders square with base blocks and also blocks with a good flat back....capable of making solid contact when pulling. Looks fluid with good feet moving in the open and adept at locating and landing in space. Will need more bulk to anchor in pass protection at the next level, but has the feet, balance and control to run over defenders. Even when he oversets, he has the knee bend and mirroring skills to quickly recover. He shows fluid feet in his kick slide and very good hand usage. Effective when trying to punch and recoil. Keeps his base wide vs. the hard charge so he can anchor and redirect as needed. Might get a little straight-legged, but his base and anchor help him compensate. His balance and knee bend are effective weapons vs. a strong club move.... uses his hands diligently to control and pick up stunts. Places his hands properly and will consistently follow through and finish. Has enough hand force to knock defenders off balance with his punch and has nimble feet to slide, pull into the open and pick up the blitz on defensive line stunts. It is very rare to see a defender turn him since he knows how to move his feet to mirror. Upside: Good chest thickness, long limbs and quickness...frame that can carry at least another 20-25 pounds with no loss in quickness...very good initial quickness to gain instant advantage coming off the snap...Can generate above average pop and explosion and can get under a defender's pads and jolt the opponent with his hand punch...can consistently sustain, and despite lacking ideal bulk, he sinks his hips and bends his knees properly to move the pile and drive block with good leverage (& could be exceptional with added bulk)...Looks fluid with his feet on the move and makes solid contact in the open...adept at smothering linebackers when working in the second level, then moving off a defender to attack another opponent...Could use more bulk to anchor, but has the quick feet, balance, loose hips and body control to run defenders off the line...Hand punch is quite effective at knocking defenders off balance and he consistently follows through and finishes...Has the nimble feet needed to slide or pull into the open and also is fluid getting back to pick up blitzes and defensive line stunts. Downside: Must dedicate time in the weight room to improve his strength and add needed bulk to his frame...Will overset at times in pass protection, but is quick to recover...Consistent at getting a functional push at POA, but could be dominant if he is able to add another 20 pounds...Gets a little straight-legged at times, but is athletic enough to land and sustain...good awareness reacting to stunts and blitzes, but must combo quicker at times. Sporting News War Room - If Otto continues to play at this level, he will stick as an NFL backup. However, if he becomes more competitive and aggressive, he could become a good NFL starter because he can make all the blocks. In the end, he probably never will reach his potential and will tease teams by playing well as a spot starter who can't maintain that level of production. Upside: Has ideal height, long arms and athletic ability. Has quickness and speed to pull and lead outside runs. Can block linebackers on the second level. Gets off the snap quickly to make reach blocks, and works well with the guard on co-op blocks. Sets up quickly in pass protection. Slides out quickly to cutoff speed rushers, and re-directs and slides well back inside to cutoff underneath pass-rush moves. Communicates well with others to negate stunts and blitzes. Is tough, and will fight through pain to stay in the game. Downside: Thin; looks more like a 280-pounder in his arms and legs than a 310-pounder. Inconsistent technique...must be more aggressive. Does not use hand punch much in pass protection, allowing pass rushers to get into his chest and jolt him backwards; instead of punching, will grab outside the defensive end's shoulders. Does not fire off the snap on in-line runs, and can't move the pile consistently. Bad habit of stopping feet after making contact on blocks in the open field, causing him to reach and grab to maintain the block and ultimately will fall off the block prematurely. Last edited by ICON; 03-14-2007 at 04:48 PM..

03-14-2007, 01:55 PM	#21
ICON \|^\|Punter of Gnomes\|^\| Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..Snap! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,607 Adopt-a-Bronco: Nate Irving	Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ 6 Marshall Yanda, Iowa 6037 307 5.06 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- BRS (Gollin) - Another swing man. Developmental type. nflscouts.com -Compares to Brian Waters- Yanda has the same work ethic, good quickness off the snap and tireless work ethic to improve like Waters has. He doesn't have the raw power to consistently punish defenders, but does manage to do an effective job due to his quickness off the snap and active hands that consistently tie up his opponent. He must add more bulk, but is better suited to play inside, as it won't expose his inability to redirect and sink his hips in attempts to mirror edge rushers. Kirk Ferentz said Yanda was one of the finest offensive linemen to suit up for the program in recent years. He not only provided stellar pass protection and opened huge holes for the ground game, but his ability to play multiple positions proved invaluable when injuries hit the Iowa front wall. Yanda made Ferentz look good by following up the praise with a strong senior season. Upside: Has room to carry at least another 25 pounds with no loss in his quickness...above average initial quickness and good foot speed for his position...adequate muscle thickness, but shows good chest width, broad shoulders, good bubble a improved lower body strength...Determined athlete who plays until the whistle and takes it personally when he is beaten by an opponent...Very light on his feet, showing the agility to block on the second level and gain position on the defender...speed allows him to mirror his opponent and sustain while taking proper angles...Locates and adjusts to the linebackers while on the move and works hard to screen off the defenders, as he improved his knee bend and no longer stands erect when trying to redirect...Still needs to sink his pads better, especially in pass protection, but has improved his change of direction agility in attempts to recover...Keeps his hands active, doing a good job of adjusting and positioning them to lock on and drive the defender off the ball...Gets good movement when he comes off the snap, as he generates the punch to shock his opponent on contact (will lock on rather than catch in pass protection)...Works hard to sustain his blocks long enough for the runner to get through the holes...will probably shift inside to take advantage of his rare quickness...Plays on his feet and battles to completion, using his body well to push and gain position...Gets good fits on linebackers in the short area...improved knee bend lets him get better leverage, Should be an effective guard prospect due to his ability to come out on the pull, adjust and turn it up inside...good concept for taking angles and is quick to locate second level defenders...His improved leg drive lets him widen the rush lanes and he has the lateral agility to be effective on traps...Uses his arms well to ride the defender away from the pocket (very effective with grabbing and locking on)...Still developing his body strength and adding bulk, but battles throughout the play and adjusts well to stunts and blitzes, sliding and readjusting to pick up in-line action... When he is quick to gain position, he can effectively wall off his man, thanks to improved quickness in his slide...When he stays low in his pads, he can move the pile and finish with authority...Has the reach to keep defenders off his body...Quick to see games up front and adjust to movement. Negatives: More of a finesse-type blocker, but has good pop to jolt on contact...must develop more lower leg strength and improve upon rolling his hips through blocks...Does not shoot his hands up to deliver the proper punch that he should coming off the snap all the time...Sometimes tends to "short arm" rather than extend into the defender...Better guard prospect, as he doesn't yet have the bulk to play tackle and struggles with the quicker pass rushers & gets too tall in his stance when having to mirror on the edge & tends to lean into the opponent and lose leverage...Loses his balance and base when he bends at the waist...Lacks the bulk to prevent the bigger bull rushers from walking him back into the pocket (will defeat them if he shoots his hands first). Sporting News War Room - Showed great improvement as a senior. Not worthy of a high draft pick because he must add weight and strength and become more aggressive to become an NFL starter. Projects as a Day 2 pick who will need a year or two before challenging for a starting job. Will be a dominant player but should be a solid starter in time. Upside: Good quickness, and consistently gets out of his stance and set up quickly. Natural flexibility to bend knees and sink hips to maintain good leverage. Long arms. When maintaining good balance, slides and adjusts well in a small area to eliminate linebackers. Effective on down blocks and seal blocks. Make quick cut blocks, and shows the speed to pull and lead outside runs. Downside - DG/T 'tweener -- lacks the height and athleticism to pass protect outside, and lacks the size and strength to play inside. Must use hand punch more aggressively to keep pass rushers out of his chest -- gets jolted back too easily. Tends to stop moving his feet after making contact on in-line run blocks. Lacks the strength to get movement on straight-ahead run blocks or hold his ground against aggressive bull rushers. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 7 Brian Daniels, Colorado 6037 305 5.26 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- BRS (Gollin) - We're now in that part of the draft where you see a lot of "effort guys" who aren't quite as athetic as the upper rung. But - particularly at the guard position - there are a lot of these guys earning good money in the NFL. nflscouts.com - (2005 - Starting tight side guard, he received some preseason mention for top honors as he should be one of the Big 12 Conference’s top offensive linemen). Sporting News War Room - Interesting prospect but is not athletic enough to warrant a high draft pick. Looks bigger than his measured height and definitely plays bigger. The type who slides further down draft boards than his on-field play would merit. Ideally would be a backup guard in the NFL, but he could do a solid job if forced into the lineup because of injuries Upside: Tough. Stays after blocks, and consistently eliminates his man. Has the flexibility to bend knees and block with good leverage at the POA. Productive in pass protection with short sets and a hard hand punch. Consistently holds his ground against bull rushers. Has the quickness and speed to pull and lead on outside runs, and is a good blocker on when defender is on his track. Smart with good instincts. Works well with other linemen to neutralize stunts and blitzes. Downside: A limited athlete. Lacks the agility and hip flexibility to adjust to line slants. Struggles to negate quick pass-rush moves. Is not always aggressive, hindering ability to get movement on straight-ahead run blocks.Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 8 Erik Robertson, Cal 6-2 311 5.30 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- BRS (Gollin) - Not listed as Combine invitee nor listed on nflscouts,com list. Lunchpail type worth a late round shot. nflscouts.com - NA Sporting News War Room - Bottom line: Type of guard who often gets written off quickly because he is not a good athlete and can look bad in the open field, but he is tough, strong and surprisingly productive. A better football player than athlete and will slide on draft day, but he should make a team and could develop into a starting guard down the road. Will not succeed on teams like Denver and Atlanta, who seek only quick, athletic linemen. However, he could make it with a team that seeks big, power-blocking guards. Upside: Tough and competitive. Consistently finds a way to eliminate his man through effort and hustle. Built well, and has the strength to hold his ground against bull rushers. Can turn out defensive tackles on inside runs. Fires off the snap aggressively on down blocks, and drives his man way down the line. Is surprisingly effective at pulling and leading on linebackers in the hole. Slides and adjusts well in pass protection in tight spaces, and usually stuffs his man at the line one he locks up on him. Helps out linemates well when he does not have a man to pass block. Downside: A limited athlete. Lacks the quickness and agility to change directions and slide. Does not use hand punch consistently in pass protection; can be jolted backwards by bull rushers. Lacks the speed to pull and lead on outside runs. Lacks the agility to adjust and make blocks on the move. Gets over-aggressive at times on in-line run blocks, and thus will stop moving feet and lunge at his man. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 9 Derrick Markray, Bowl. Green 6-4 365 5.50 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Player to Watch BRS (Gollin) - Not listed as Combine invitee nor listed on nflscouts,com list. Although there's a growing trend toward stretch plays and zone blocking schemes which favor smaller, more mobile offensive linemen, teams who emphasize the so-called "power running game" do so behind huge road-grader linemen who can root out their man in smashmouth fashion. Whiz is described by the media as a "power running" advocate. If so, a guy like Markray might be too tempting to resist in the mid to late rounds. How can you ignore 365 lbs? nflscouts.com - NA Sporting News War Room - A big man with a big upside for NFL teams that prefer huge offensive linemen, such as Arizona and Baltimore. A road-grader who can overpower defenders with his bulk and strength but shows enough agility to execute finesse blocks. Type of guard who often slips to the bottom of the draft, but in time he should develop into a solid NFL starter. Upside: Big with rare strength and power. Great explosion and above-average lateral quickness and agility in pass protection. Uses hands well to control defenders. Is intense, and works hard. Is an above-average athlete with decent footwork. Makes few errors. Bends knees well to maintain good leverage. Downside: Slow. Struggles to block in the open field and handle quick interior linemen. Sometimes gets himself into bad positions, which is correctable. Needs to lose a few pounds. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 10 Allen Barbre, Missouri So. 6040 300 4.84 28 1.65 2.81 32 8-9 4.63 -- 7.40 -- 6040 300 4.84 2.81 1.65 28 32 8'9" 4.63 7.40 BRS (Gollin) - Raw guy from a small school. Fastest forty time of all Combine offensive linemen. (There aren't too many 300 lb linemen who can run in the 4.6's). Worth drafting by a team who can afford to wait a year or two while he learns his craft. Appears to have considerable "wanna." nflscouts.com - Compares to Joe Berger - A developing talent with outstanding quickness and good strength. Has the balance and nimble feet to fire out on the pulls and traps and shows a punishing hand jolt to impede the pass rusher's forward progress. He seems to lack that split-second decision making process and will get fooled on stunts, blitzes and twists, making him more suited for guard than tackle. Could use some more bulk on his frame and must learn to play with better control. When he fails to locate the second-level defenders, he starts throwing his hands around wildly, looking for something to hit. Needs to break down open working in space and while he showed improvement with his hand placement, he is prone to getting them outside his frame too much. Must also play at a lower pad level and use his knee bend better....must work on the mental aspect of the game. Opposing defensive ends, defensive coordinators and professional scouts were well aware of his outstanding quickness and blocking skills. He not only matched up and contained the opposition's best pass rusher each week, but he was also an outstanding gunner on special teams, Positives: Developing frame with room to add at least another 15 pounds of bulk with no loss in his impressive quickness…thick upper body, with broad shoulders, thick calves, solid midsection, long arms, large hands, big bubble and natural strength…Comes out of his stance with outstanding explosion to shock a lethargic defender…loose hips to change direction and plays…good force behind his hand punch…Hard worker who might need several extra reps to retain plays, but spends extra hours in the film room and in the weight room improving his overall strength…Can get to the second level quickly to cut or wall off, but needs to break down better and play under control…When he gets his hands into an opponent, he has the raw power to pull, jerk, lock on and drag down…Rolls his hips well to put more force behind his blocks working in-line…Is quick to react to movement and does a good job of shuffling his feet to mirror…Takes the defensive lineman where he wants to go and uses that momentum to wash out his opponent (needs to stop waist bending, though)…Plays with a strong base and solid effort, showing good foot movement in his pass set…Does a better job landing when pulling or on screens, but needs to play with better control working in the second level…When he slides his feet in pass protection, he plays with a wide base, but must be more conscious of keeping his pads down (gets too high in his stance at times)...much better hand placement in 2006, sustaining his blocks longer once he learned to keep his hands inside the frame…Can beat a defender off the edge with his explosive initial step…Generally takes good angles on the short pull and has the lateral mobility to work down the line…adept at communicating with his guard on double teams. Negatives: Just a marginal student and needs more than several reps to retain plays…Fires off the ball with good urgency, but will get out of control and start taking wild whiffs when he shoots his hands outside the frame…Can simply flatten opponents when he keeps his pads down, but he will get too tall in his stance and bend at the waist (has good knee bend, but doesn't do it consistently)…When he fails to open his hips properly, he will fall off some blocks in space…Needs to get better fits on the ground game (bad pad level), for despite his upper body power, he will revert to positioning and turning the defender rather than driving through…Must play with better control in the second level, as he fails to break down plays quickly…Has the natural slide agility, but will get pushed back by a strong bull rush when he gets too tall in his stance…When he over-sets with his hands, he struggles to recover (will also cross over with his feet at the Xs). Sporting News War Room - Bottom line: From small school, but has NFL-caliber athleticism and physical tools. But he must greatly improve his technique, aggressiveness and competitiveness. Best suited to play guard because he gets beaten around the corner too often. Could get drafted because he is sure to post good postseason workouts, but his on-field production doesn’t justify a pick. Ideal practice-squad candidate with a chance to develop into a starting offensive lineman if things break his way. Upside: Great athlete with quick footwork. Quick enough to chip defensive tackles and still reach linebackers. Can deliver violent blocks to linebackers. Can pull and lead outside runs. Has the flexibility to bend knees and pass block with good leverage. Holds his ground well against bull rushers. Has the athleticism and instincts to adjust to stunts and blitzes. Downside: Raw and undisciplined. Inconsistent. Will bend at the waist too often, over-extending upper body and then falling off blocks. Doesn’t play with good leverage on straight-ahead run blocks; can get tossed to the ground. Does not always use hand punch to stymie defensive linemen in pass protection; can get pushed back into the pocket. Does not always block to the whistle. Last edited by ICON; 03-14-2007 at 04:45 PM..

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03-14-2007, 01:04 PM	#1
ICON \|^\|Punter of Gnomes\|^\| Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..Snap! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,607 Adopt-a-Bronco: Nate Irving	OM Draft Guide 1 Gaines Adams, Clemson 6046 258 4.64 -- 1.58 2.71 35 9-11 4.36 -- 7.17 -- BRS (Gollin) - Some consider him the best pass rusher among this year's DE crop and is currently everyone's favorite mock selection for the Cardinals at #5. We're not sure if (a) we need another DE or (b) our new regime (like Mac and Vince did with Simeon Rice) is smitten by this year's hot pass rusher. nflscouts.com - There hasn't been a defensive end with a better combination of size, athleticism and production in 2006 than Adams...virtually unstoppable as a senior...At 6-5, 260 pounds, Adams has the size the NFL is looking for in a pass rushing defensive end.... not only shows the speed off the edge to be an instant sack artist, but contributes in other ways. First Clemson defensive lineman in 30 years to lead the team in pass breakups with nine last year. Though his height and speed off the edge are his most impressive features, Adams has become a more disciplined run defender as well. Upside Tall, athletic build with the room for additional muscle mass without the loss of quickness. Good burst off the edge. Rare first step for a player of his size and can beat the offensive tackle with his initial move. Short area quickness and can explode into his tackles. Good speed in pursuit. Can track down the ball carrier and tackle from behind. Strong hands to control the offensive tackle and can disengage when the ball is coming toward him. Athleticism to spare. A standout based on just his size and athletic ability. Could prove to be a true difference-maker at the next level with improved technique and more consistent effort. Has made a considerable jump in sack production as a senior. Wasn't considered a high motor player early in his career, but has matured and is now considered a team leader. Downside Previously had a reputation for getting by on just his athletic ability. Plays low at the snap, but rises as the action goes on, eventually giving up leverage....lacks the stout frame to handle double-teams at the point of attack. Still learning how to recognize blocking schemes and can disappear for long stretches. Can get frustrated if held in check for a long period and will overcompensate on his rush. Will lose contain by rushing too far outside, opening up big holes for patient running attacks. Some concern that his play could level off once he isn't playing for the big money contract. Sporting News War Room - Had a strong '06 season to separate himself from the other senior defensive ends. Fantastic athlete and should be an NFL starter as a rookie. Much better against the pass than the run but should improve in that area with experience. Has the versatility to play end in a 4-3 scheme or outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Upside Rare athleticism. Has fantastic speed and pass-rush skills. Excels at shedding blocks. Shows nice footwork. Never stops working, and makes plays in pursuit all over the field. Is explosive. Downside A bit undersized. Can be pushed around in the running game. Must add some weight to take on NFL linemen. Struggles against big and quick linemen who swallow up his bag of moves. Will have the occasional mental lapse. Can be over-aggressive and miss tackles. Falls in love with his spin move, becoming much easier to block. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 2 Jamaal Anderson, Arkansas (UC) 6053 288 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- BRS (Gollin) - Well regarded - played LDE, has nice size and is less likely to be considered a weakside edge rusher than most DE's in this draft. Various pundits rate him anywhere from #1 to #4 among DE prospects. We'd like some more measured info on him. nflscouts.com - His combination of size and athleticism and spectacular production against the ultra-talented SEC speaks of his upside. He led the team with 26 quarterback hurries and finished a half-sack short of tying the Razorbacks' single-season record of 14 held by Henry Ford and Steven Conley. Nutt called Anderson "an excellent student-athlete and an excellent role model." Upside Rare size for the position. Still growing into his frame and is not yet a finished product despite leading the SEC in both sacks and tackles for loss in 2006. Good initial burst off the LOS . Attacks the LOS with speed and is often past the offensive tackle and creating pressure on the quarterback before the play has time to develop. Size and strength to be a standout defender against the run with more development. Performed well against the best competition. Downside Despite monster numbers, he's far from a finished product. Has good speed to get across the offensive tackle's face, but if he doesn't make it, he struggles to break free from blocks. Doesn't use his hands well and doesn't always keep his feet moving. Many of his big plays have come from stunts... plays with strength and can hold up at the POA when he plays low and with leverage. Too often, however, he gets too high out of his stance and is blown off the LOS . Also, often loops wide in his pass rush, leaving gaping holes for the draw and screen. Predominately rushed from the left defensive end position but will likely be moved to the right end position at the NFL level to take advantage of his pass rush potential (and problems against the run). Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 3 Adam Carriker, Nebraska (DT) 6060 296 4.72 33 1.60 2.81 33.5 9-2 4.18 -- 7.06 -- BRS (Gollin) - Reminds me of Ken Wakefield - only quicker around the corner. Versatile - Can play practically all techniques except perhaps the zero (due to his height and higher COG at the point). But we like him best as a run stopping, pass rushing outside force against the strong side or as a 3- 4 DE. nflscouts.com - Though not the flashiest pass rusher, there are NFL scouts who feel Carriker will prove to be a better pro than collegiate defensive end -- a scary thought considering Carriker will enter the NFL coming off consecutive all conference efforts. One of the few true defensive ends of recent years to be big and athletic enough to draw the interest of NFL teams using both the 4-3 and 3-4 alignments. Upside Tall, long armed player with an even build. Surprising quickness for such a large man. High effort, high intensity player. Can beat offensive tackle with his initial quickness, but also has some pass rush moves and plays to the whistle. Keeps his hands working to break free from blocks. At his best holding up at the POA against the run. Rare size at end and plays with terrific overall strength and technique. Good short area burst to make the play when the opportunity presents itself. Pursues well, showing surprising straight line speed. Downside Bulked up to 285 pounds, adding 10 pounds of muscle this past off-season, but did lose some of his burst. Great size, but doesn't use his height and long arms to his advantage enough to deflect passes at the LOS . Lacks the burst off the snap to be a classic pass rusher at defensive end. Could play the left end position in the 4-3, but seems better suited to the 3-4 end position where he'll be asked to take up blockers rather than make plays on his own. Senior Bowl Notes (fr War Room) - Had another strong day, playing mostly at end. He used his hands well to take on and defeat run blocks and easily beat Ryan Harris in scrimmage with good pass-rush moves at the point of contact. Sporting News War Room - Tough prospect to grade because he is tackle/end 'tweener. Not a good athlete and does not produce at a high level. He has the size and strength to be a solid two-gap tackle in a 4-3 scheme or end in a 3-4 defense, but he is not going to make many impact plays. Upside Is tough and competitive and productive. Plays with knees bent, and uses hands to lock onto offensive linemen, get arm extension and hold his ground at the POA. Has the speed to chase down running backs when unblocked on the backside. Shows the effort and desire to make tackles downfield. Has quick hands to beat offensive linemen with arm-over move. Has ideal size for a strongside defensive end. Downside A limited athlete. Lacks explosiveness and speed to threaten the corner as a speed rusher. Does not change directions quickly, hindering ability to move through traffic. Does not use his hands well to protect legs from cut blocks. Is so tall it hinders ability to get low and shed blocks. Bites on play-action fakes away, allowing quarterbacks to roll around him and throw to the tight end. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 4 Baraka Atkins, Miami (FL) DT 6044 271 4.69 22 1.56 2.77 33 9-4 4.67 -- 7.02 -- BRS (Gollin) - Versatile - Quick enough to play DE; strong enough to play the Under DT position. Sound techniques, but pass rushing production fell off last year. East-West Notes (fr War Room) - Stood out as the best defensive linemen on the East, clearly at an athletic level above the other linemen. While NFL types are still trying to figure out if he fits best at end or tackle, he showed that he has the quick feet, quick hands and agility to beat offensive tackles when rushing the passer from the edge. ...had another great day and has gone a long way toward showing that he can play either end or tackle in the NFL...very polished in his pass-rush moves and consistently beat offensive tackles in one-on-one drills, inside and around the corner with equal frequency. While many still believe that Atkins can play anywhere along the defensive line, his play at DE really helped his draft status. He clearly does not have the explosiveness to threaten the corner, but he showed the quick hands/feet and polished pass-rush nflscouts.com -Has the size, athletic ability and experience the NFL is looking for. Concern: He may be more of a 'tweener than versatile asset at the NFL level. Upside Long-armed, lean upper body, with thicker, more powerful lower. Good initial quickness off the snap. Can usually gain enough of the edge to provide at least some threat of a pass rush when at defensive end. Rare agility and balance for a player of his size. Has even been used as a linebacker in the zone blitz, showing surprising quickness and instincts for the position. Sniffs out screens and draws quickly and rarely loses contain. Good strength as a run defender while playing defensive end. Holds up at the POA and can shed blockers on his way to making the play. As a defensive tackle, Atkins shows the quickness to gain an instant advantage, especially when slipping through the gaps. Adequate strength at the POA while playing inside. Good use of hands to disengage from blockers as both an end and tackle. Very good pursuit down the line as either an end or tackle. More fast than quick. Plays hard. Downside Considered by some to be a 'tweener. Lacks explosiveness off the edge and isn't a natural pass rusher who has to be accounted for on every snap. Lacks the bulk for the interior defensive line position. Struggles against the double team despite being an active, hard-working player.Lack of consistent production led to Atkins being benched early in his senior season. Sporting News War Room - Sleek, penetrating versatile lineman who can play end or tackle and will be a first-round pick. Once coaches get a good look at him in pre-draft workouts, he should shoot up the draft boards. With his kind of burst to consistently blow up plays in the backfield, he is headed toward a solid NFL career. Upside - Great coordination, body control and balance. Excels at using hands and penetrating. Is strong and explodes at the point of attack. Produces well against the run and pass. Is durable. Has the body to play end or tackle. Shows first-step quickness to make blockers whiff. Runs smoothly. Can change directions and accelerate to blow up plays in the backfield. Downside Sack production in college isn't top notch; consistency has slipped since '04. Makes a few mental mistakes. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 5 Anthony Spencer, Purdue 6027 261 4.70 30 1.64 2.74 32.5 9-4 4.43 7.14 -- -- BRS (Gollin) - Not as fast as his estimated 4.61, but still considered by some to be the best pure edge rusher of this year's draft. Being considered for OLB but feels more comfortable down (and seems to lack the COD needed to play off the line). Will also be tried out at OLB. Mayock rates him as his #5 DE. Good functional strength. nflscouts.com - Since Joe Tiller took over the program ten years ago, Purdue has sent the likes of Chike Okeafor (1999), Rosevelt Colvin (1999), Akin Ayodele (2003), Shaun Phillips (2004) and Ray Edwards (2006) to the NFL. When he is in position to make a play, Spencer is among the country's best at not just tackling the ball carrier, but exploding into him and forcing the potentially game-changing turnover. Upside Thick upper body. A little short, but rock solid 265-pounder. Good straight line speed (4.65) and overall athleticism. Good initial quickness off the snap. Good use of hands to slap away the offensive tackle's initial hand punch. Keeps his hands in a constant state of motion to make it difficult for pass blockers to slow his progress. Locates the ball quickly and works hard to get in position to make a play on the ball. Good lateral pursuit and effort. Good short-area quickness and is able to capitalize when the ball is near. Surprising strength at POA. Knows how to stack at the LOS , using his own natural leverage advantage and upper body strength to disrupt the running game. Has steadily improved his pass rush skills throughout his career. Downside Lacks prototypical size at POA. Uses his hands well to hinder offensive tackle's efforts to latch on to him, but is prone to getting velcro'd.. Strong enough to hold up to double teams in the running game at this level, but lack of size will cause him problems at the NFL level. Great timed speed, but not necessarily pursuit speed. Questions about his motor were an early concern. Sporting News War Room - Bottom line: Not an exciting prospect, but he grows on you. In the games we graded him, Spencer was involved in a play for every 6.7 snaps (excellent for a DE). Tough and polished and probably drafted slightly higher than we rate him. Can become a solid NFL starter but never a dominant, explosive pass rusher. If drafted by a 3-4 team, he could shift to OLB but will need work in coverage. Upside Quick, smart and instinctive. First defensive lineman moving at the snap. Uses hands well to move offensive tackles. Does a great job of checking for fakes/rollouts before pursuing the ball. Can chase down ballcarriers from the backside. Takes on run blocks with good leverage, and uses hands well to string along outside runs and force the runner back inside. When he can't reach the quarterback, he gets hands up into the passing lanes. Great technique. Downside Looks more like a linebacker. Lacks explosion to consistently beat offensive tackles around the corner. Lacks strength. Struggles to shed blockers once they lock on. Gets chopped to the ground too often, and does not always move through traffic well. Makes few impact plays.

03-14-2007, 01:05 PM	#2
ICON \|^\|Punter of Gnomes\|^\| Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..Snap! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,607 Adopt-a-Bronco: Nate Irving	Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 6 Charles Johnson, Georgia (UC) 6022 270 4.84 33 1.63 2.77 34 9-10 -- -- 7.50 -- BRS (Gollin) - More solid and consistent than flashy. Short but still gets his hands up. Projected solely as a weakside pass rusher, but 4.84 isn't particularly impressive in this respect. nflscouts.com - Especially intriguing is his performance in big games. Johnson ended his career at Georgia on a high note with his huge game, one that will garner him even more attention from pro scouts. Upside Squatty, powerful frame with thick limbs. Good quickness off the snap. Generates good speed off his pass rush, forcing the offensive tackle to get wide quickly. Good overall strength. Limited arsenal of pass rush moves at this point, but varies them effectively and can produce with each of them. Bull rush, spin back to inside, swim and rip moves. Disciplined defender. Effective stunt defender. Often asked to take an inside rush, forcing the tackle to follow him, and opening up an outside lane for other defenders to rush the passer. Good balance and vision as a run defender. Not blown off the line despite obvious size limitations. Keeps his feet moving laterally and in pursuit. Protects his knees well, rarely being blocked effectively by cuts. One of key characteristics is his consistent ability to deflect passes. Led team in passes broken up (nine). Only 6-2, but times his jumps well and uses his arms to shrink passing lanes. Good wrap-up tackler. Downside Lack of height means he'll likely have to play right defensive end in NFL. Not an explosive athlete. Makes plays because of hustle and determination, rather than jaw-dropping athleticism. Plays with good overall strength versus the run, but struggles versus double-teams. Only one season as a starter. Took advantage of early focus on Moses, with four games with multi-tackles for loss coming in the first half of the season and only one (Virginia Tech) in the second half. Flashy big-play defender, but lack of tackle assists (eight) reflects of a lack of pursuit. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 7 Jarvis Moss, Florida (UC) 6064 250 4.70 16 1.59 2.68 30..5 10-0 -- -- -- -- BRS (Gollin) - Tall & very slender. Starts out primarily as an edge-rusher only, but there's no reason why he can't add 20 pounds, get stronger and become better vs. the run. There's no indication that the resemblance to Simeon goes beyond the physical. nflscouts.com - Compares to Simeon Rice. Some experts compare him to Jevon Kearse, but while Moss has Kearse-like quickness he lacks the bulk and upper body strength to defeat face-up blockers. Could possible move to outside linebacker in a 3-4, but at least brings instant value in third-down passing situations. Regarded as one of the premier high school defensive ends in the country, but pelvic bone injury suffered during his senior year at Ryan High School kept him off the field for most of his first two seasons and literally kept him off his feet. Upside: Tall, lanky frame with broad shoulders, tight waist and good bubble...Moves very well coming off the edge and will bring immediate value in third-down passing situations...above average balance and flexibility on the move with explosive acceleration in backside pursuit...Fluid and flexible athlete with very crisp COD agility...Makes quick reads and reacts with good urgency once he locates the ball...Despite limited reps until 2006, it is rare to see him get faked out...Learns with normal reps and is a self-starter who puts in the extra hours after practice...Plays with good aggression, but is best when he avoids or slips past blocks rather than trying to engage the offensive lineman (lacks the bulk and strength to control)...Moves well off the line, getting his best production when he beats the OT coming out of his stance...outstanding burst off the snap...initial step lets him beat the offensive tackle to the spot and he has that extra gear to run by them...High energy type who closes on the ball with good pad level...Defeats blocks with quickness rather than power...When he gets a free lane, can knife through and penetrate the line...very good lateral movement in pursuit - explosive form tackler when closing on the quarterback...Has the speed to give chase along the perimeter and can sift out the ball in a pile (four forced fumbles in 2006)...very good hip snap and adequate wrap-up technique, using his long reach to make good arm tackles...What he does best is explode off the edge and generate pressure on the pocket...If not accounted for, he will sack the quarterback due to his speed and pad level (has excellent hip wiggle and shake to juke). Downside: Still trying to recover the strength and bulk he lost while battling his pelvis injury...must add at least another 20 pounds to his frame ...Must keep his hands active, especially vs. low blocks, as he tends to get taken off his feet too much trying to slip through trash ...Plays too high on the move and this causes him to struggle in attempts to squeeze down the rush lane, and will get washed out when he tries to split double teams...More effective playing off the edge, since he lacks the raw power to defeat blocks when lining head up on an opponent...Struggles to disengage when working over the middle & easily defeated vs. face-up blockers...good flexibility, but his hips sink and his feet die when blockers get their hands into his body...Lacks the hand strength to jerk and pull down the offensive linemen (must improve his rip and club moves, but has an efficient swim move)...Pelvic problem must be monitored....Why was he suspended for the 2006 Western Carolina game. Sporting News War Room - Two sacks in the 41-14 victory against Ohio State. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 8 Antwan Applewhite, S Diego St 6027 250 4.73 25 1.62 2.78 35 9-7 4.36 -- 7.50 -- BRS (Gollin) - Came out a year early. Playmaker and tackling machine at his level of play. nflscouts.com - A fleet-footed athlete who can make plays all over the field ... Returning sack leader who also recovered three fumbles and was second on the squad in tackles for loss in `05 Sporting News War Room - The feedback (about where he might be drafted) was, apparently it was good enough to make him skip his senior year. Applewhite led the team with seven sacks in 2006 and with 5 1/2 sacks in 2005. He had no sacks in the first six games of 2006 but at least one in each of his last six games. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 9 Jay Moore, Nebraska 6046 274 4.74 26 1.59 2.81 34 9-10 4.35 -- 7.19 -- BRS (Gollin) - Underrated. Carriker gets most of the ink. OK against the run, but can get rolled at POA. \May lack the explosion required of a premier pass rusher. 4.92 won't make scouts jump up and do a dance. Had good Senior Bowl week. Senior Bowl Notes - #44 racked up 2 sacks and flashed talent in other ways.- nflscouts.com - Half of an impressive starting end tandem (with Adam Carriker) for the Husker defense. While Carriker has received more accolades, Moore has quietly produced outstanding seasons each of the past two years. Entered fall practice atop the depth chart at open end. At 6-4 and 280 pounds, he has the size and strength to defend the run, as well as the athletic ability to pressure the quarterback. Sporting News War Room - Bottom line: Will a team draft him too high because of his smarts, instincts, competitiveness and intangibles or too low because he looks more like a linebacker on film? He will post good numbers in pre-draft workouts. Most teams will view him as an end in a 4-3 scheme, but he might be able to be a big rush linebacker in a 3-4 defense. No matter the position or scheme, he never will be an elite, game-changing sort of player. But he could turn out to be a solid starter who makes more plays than you expect and raises the effort and intensity of teammates because of his warrior-type effort and toughness. Upside Smart, with good instincts. Makes plays against the run and pass. Quick footwork, and consistently is the first defensive lineman moving at the snap. Versatile pass rusher with a good bull rush and quick inside pass-rush moves. Adept at shooting gaps inside of offensive tackles to blow up run plays in the backfield. On running plays away from him, is great at reading the play and maintaining his corner before pursuing the ball. Good special teams player. Downside Looks smaller than his measured size. Struggles to shed offensive linemen once they get their hands on him. Lacks an explosive burst to beat offensive tackles around the corner. Doesn't get consistent leverage on run blocks, and struggles to hold his ground at the point of attack. Doesn't always finish the play. Gets cut to the ground too easily. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 LaMarr Woodley, Michigan 6014 266 4.85 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- BRS (Gollin) - Fireplug LB/DE tweener. who makes big plays. Shawn Merriman Lite. Except that Merriman is taller. Need more measurables on this guy. nflscouts.com - At 6-1, he lacked the height preferred at defensive end. At 270 pounds, he appears too heavy for outside linebacker. Upside Impressive build. Thick and defined from head to toe. Short, but certainly not small. Good, though not great quickness off the snap. Not a classic speed rusher off the edge. Uses his hands well to disengage from blockers. Active defender who reads the action and pursues with passion. Best asset might be his tackling ability. Both as a defensive end and as an outside linebacker, Woodley shows excellent form and simply doesn't miss. Can be a big hitter and will explode through his tackles, resulting in seven forced fumbles over the past two seasons. Has some warts, but kid plays the way the game is meant to be played. Seems to make big plays when his team needs them the most. Could be a force as a rush linebacker in the 3-4. Downside Size is a concern. ..."tweener in that he isn't big or physical enough to hold up on the edge versus the double team as a classic defensive end. Good straight line speed, but lacks agility in coverage. Not a classic speed rusher off the edge. Plays so hard that he might be maxed out already. Some concern, as well, that he is surrounded by so much talent -- especially in junior defensive tackle Alan Branch -- that he is being freed up to make plays here that won't be available at the next level. Sporting News War Room - E/OLB ‘tweener similar to Shawne Merriman minus the explosive pass-rush skills. Strong at the POA and pressures the quarterback more often than expected. Should become a good NFL strong side defensive end in a 4-3 scheme but has the versatility to be a linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Upside Strong, with great fundamentals. Consistently plays with good leverage at the POA, and uses hands well to shed blocks. Surprisingly explosive burst to the ball. Carries out his assignments, and never abandons his post when protecting the backside of a play. Watches for cutback runs, and comes down the line quickly to make tackles in pursuit once he determines it is not a misdirection play. Pressures the quarterback mostly through effort and determination. Downside A bit short. Struggles to shed big linemen once they get their hands on him. Lacks the explosiveness off the snap to be an edge rusher.

03-14-2007, 01:08 PM	#3
ICON \|^\|Punter of Gnomes\|^\| Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..Snap! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,607 Adopt-a-Bronco: Nate Irving	Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 1 Amobi Okoye, Louisville 6020 302 5.07 29 1.65 2.87 30 9-3 -- -- 7.46 -- BRS (Gollin) - It's pretty much Okoye and Branch duking it out for top draft position among DT's, with Okoye shooting up the charts and Branch dropping into the second five.. But the tendency is to overhype Senior Bowl and Combine results only to return to sanity after re- reviewing the tape they have on a kid.. Gruden loves him. Senior Bowl Notes (BRS) - Best lineman in drills.. Super strong and also seems to have most of the moves down. (fr the War Room) - Showed the combination of athleticism and strength to beat offensive linemen with speed, power and quickness. He was a consistent disruptive force, beating up on blockers. nflscouts.com - A young talent exuding upside...will be among the first defensive tackles selected...signed with Louisville and was playing at defensive tackle at only 16 years old, making him the youngest player in the country. Upside - Short, stocky frame with obvious potential for the nose guard position. Still a little soft in the middle, but thick legs and chest with room for additional growth. Good initial quickness off the snap. Can surprise his opponent and disrupt the play before it has a chance to begin. Can handle double-teams at the POA. is one of his greatest attributes. Plays with good technique and impressive natural strength. Good pad level, use of hands and balance. Can make tackles in the backfield. Good motor - will pursue down the line to make the play. Good overall quickness and surprising straight line speed. Intelligent, hard working and a team leader. Despite age, maturity is not a concern. Will enter the draft at only 19 and is only going to get bigger, stronger and faster. Downside - Simply isn't the 6-4, 320-pounder 4-3 teams are looking for. Can struggle a bit when his initial burst is handled. Obvious upside, but isn't all the way there yet. Showed flashes early on, but took a year and half to begin earning starting time, and will be making a huge jump in competition from the Big East to the NFL. Still developing pass rush moves. Sporting News War Room - The most amazing story of the 2007 draft class -- he entered Louisville at the age of 15 and graduated in four years with a degree is psychology. Not as polished or productive as other defensive tackles in this draft, but no doubt has the most upside. Keeps improving, too. In games we graded during his junior year, he was involved in one of every 11.8 snaps, which is good for a defensive tackle. As a senior, he was involved in one of every 8.6 snaps. Not the best defensive tackle today but certainly could be in a couple years. Has the talent to produce in any scheme but is best suited as a one-gap player in a 4-3 defense. Upside - Has rare strength and speed to make plays all over the field.Top athlete with the explosive quickness to shoot gaps in a flash. Has the quickness, agility and long arms to beat one-on-one pass blocks easily. Explosive closing burst to the quarterback. As a bull rusher, can jolt offensive linemen upright and drive them into the quarterback's lap. Adept at holding his ground against one-on-one run blocks; can shed offensive linemen to make the tackle on runs directly at him. Gets off the snap quickly, and shows the speed and burst to make tackles in backside pursuit. Downside - Does not always keep his knees bent and play with good leverage, hindering his ability to shed blocks. Not always aggressive. Does not use hands well to protect legs from cut blocks. Lacks the instincts to sense "side" blocks coming, and can be driven down the line. Occasionally,\ will misread a play and get caught standing still. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 2 Alan Branch, Michigan (UC) 6056 324 5.07 33 1.68 2.92 27.5 8-11 -- -- -- -- BRS (Gollin) - Space eater who appears to be a larger, more determined version of Gabe Watson. Whether Cards would be interested depends on how Clancy P's defense will evolve (or not evolve) under Whisenhunt. The noises coming out of Camp Cardinal are that they'd like to be bigger and tougher on the D-line. Branch could provide that. nflscouts.com - Spectacular size at 6-6, 330 pounds...simply engulfs his opponent at the POA and still has the quickness to pressure quarterbacks up the middle. Lacks the burst up the middle of smaller tackles and will never be a big stat producer. Upside - Rare size and raw power for the position unmatched by any defensive tackle in this draft. Can handle the double-team and open opportunities for teammates. Good initial quickness off the snap and can split the double-team to make the play behind the line of scrimmage. Thirty percent of his career tackles were for loss. Creates a pile, even when not playing with leverage, forcing teams to consider abandoning interior running plays. Willing to pursue down the line, but loses speed quickly. Hard worker whose tenacity and consistency stood out opposite Gabe Watson. Downside - Struggles to play with leverage due to his rare height. Doesn't always use his hands well to defeat blocks. Plays high and gives up his knees to low blocks too easily. Relies on a bull rush or a quick burst off the snap as his pass rush assortment. Lacks the athleticism to be a consistent big-play defender. Limited to two-gap scheme. Sporting News War Room - Uncommon strength, athleticism and competitiveness. Sure to be a high draft pick, but will not fit every type of defense.Can be a rock of two-gap defensive tackle who clogs up the middle. Ideal as a nose tackle in 4-3 schemes, but would not be as effective on a defense that asks its defensive tackles to shoot gaps. Upside - Massive with the size and strength to be a huge force at the POA when playing with good leverage and aggressiveness. Has long arms to control blockers. Can jolt offensive linemen with a hard hand punch, driving them backward into the pocket to disrupt pass plays. Bats down a lot of passes. Gets underneath "reach" blocks nicely, keeping the blocker on his shoulder while chasing down the ball carrier between the hash marks. Jolts offensive linemen upright on runs directly at him. Adept at shedding blocks to make the tackle or at least freeing up one arm to take down the ball carrier. Downside - Not explosive off the snap or quick enough to shoot gaps and get backfield penetration. Not a quick and fast pass rusher Bad habit of popping up and playing upright, limiting his ability to shed the block quickly. Can be ridden down the line by "side" blocks. Does not use hands well to protect his legs from cut blocks. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 3 Tank Tyler, NC State 6022 306 5.30 42 1.78 3.06 28.5 -- -- -- -- BRS (Gollin) - Led all Combine invitees with 42 BP reps. Off the field issues along with hot and cold performances from game to game prevent him from being up there with Okoye and Branch. Nevertheless, there's a lot to work with here. Senior Bowl Notes - CBSportsline - "Entering the week I expected Tyler to emerge as the South's top defensive lineman. It hasn't happened. Tyler was arguably the biggest disappointment of the day Tuesday, showing little in terms of quickness, lateral agility, pass rush or even strength at the point of attack. He was considerably better Wednesday, surprising interior offensive linemen with his improved play, but his lack of day to day inconsistency is a red flag." nflscouts.com - NFL scouts love Tyler's upside. His quickness off the snap might be unmatched by any defensive tackle in the country. His maturity both on and off the field, however, could lead to his falling down the draft board. Upside - Short, squat frame. Big bubble, thick legs and arms. Superb quickness off the snap. Consistently able to disrupt the play from the interior because of his quickness. Often places himself in position to make plays behind the line of scrimmage. Could be a consistent interior threat in a one-gap scheme at the next level. Good strength at the POA and can hold up reasonably well against the double team. Athleticism to pursue down the line, with good balance and recognition to keep his feet through the trash. Has improved his pass rush technique over the past two years, with a swim, bull rush and rip move. Downside - Maturity in question (arrested in July 2005 for assaulting a police officer and ejected from the Southern Miss contest this season for spitting close to an official). Physically, on the field, Tyler is a bit of a one-trick pony - though he shows good strength at the POA and is learning how to disengage, his quickness off the snap is by far his greatest asset. Still relies too much on this quickness. Sporting News War Room - Interesting prospect because he improved more between his junior and senior seasons than any player we can remember. As a senior, he was involved in one of every 7.8 snaps, which is excellent for a defensive tackle. He will need a season or two to adjust to the NFL but will become a good starting DT. Upside - Great athlete with the speed to consistently chase down plays from the backside. Quick footwork and great technique. Consistently is the first defensive lineman moving at the snap, getting on top of offensive linemen in a flash. Blows up plays in the backfield. Great strength to jolt offensive linemen backward with hand punch; Effective with bull rush or with quick pass-rush moves. Explosive closing burst to finish sack. A rock at POA. Holds his ground and sheds the blocker to make the tackle. Learns well from coaching, and improved a lot between junior and senior seasons. Downside - Was inconsistent as a junior, which raises concerns about his ability to maintain the level of production he showed as a senior. Occasionally pops upright, and thus gets pushed around. Does not use hands well to protect legs from cut blocks. Has not proven his long-term durability. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 4 Clifton Ryan, Michigan St. 6026 310 5.07 25 1.69 2.91 26.5 8-6 4.69 -- 7.50 -- BRS (Gollin) - Apparently more of a gamer than practice guy. A bit light and not particularly blazing quick. East-West Notes (fr War Room) - After an up-and-down week of practice, he showed up and had a great game...was able to consistently get off the ball quickly and get his hands on offensive linemen. ..got through gaps to disrupt plays in backfield and showed the speed to chase down ball-carriers in backside pursuit....showed he is definitely a good athlete with fine strength, but did not use his hands well and allowed blockers to get into chest and tie him up. Didn't shed quickly enough to make tackles on running plays toward him. nflscouts.com - Earned 35 career starting assignments, including the last 28 games in a row...Recorded 118 career tackles, with 20 going for losses (96 yards) and 10.5 sacks (62). Led the Spartans in sacks (4 for 31 yards) for the second-straight year...Also led the team with 19 quarterback pressures.. Sporting News War Room - A prospect who grows on you. Production increased significantly during senior season, becoming the team's most disruptive force despite constantly changing positions. Much more suited to play defensive tackle in the NFL, though. Is moving up draft boards in weak company. Upside - Big and athletic. Versatile and productive despite moving around on the line...quick with the speed to chase down ballcarriers on runs away from him between the tackles....strong enough to hold his ground at the point of attack, shed the block and make the tackle...powerful bull rusher, easily driving offensive linemen backward...agile enough finish a rush with a sack. Hustles on every snap. Downside - Somewhat of an end/tackle 'tweener. Lacks explosiveness to shoot gaps and blow up plays in the backfield. Limited pass-rush repertoire. Doesn't consistently shed run blocks. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 5 Matt Toeaina, Oregon 6020 307 5.05 26 -- -- -- -- -- -- BRS (Gollin) - High character guy who needs technique work. nflscouts.com - Valuable commodity who can play either inside or outside along the defensive line. Unquestionably the leader of the defensive line and one of team’s spokesmen. Very consistent work habits; understands what it will take to succeed at next level. Assumes ownership and pride with not only how well he plays but the level of performance of the entire defensive line. Can quickly shed blocks by utilizing his hands to gain leverage over his opponents, and seldom gets knocked off his feet. Has paid his dues in the weight room over the years. Originally recruited to Oregon as a fullback, displaying tremendous athletic ability. Sporting News War Room - Overshadowed for two years by Haloti Ngata. A solid prospect who should be a nice surprise. Can play in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme. Eventually will become a solid NFL starter. Upside -Versatile enough to play end or tackle in all systems.Good tackle/productive. Disrupts the pocket, and makes quarterbacks uncomfortable. Has the strength and pass-rush skills to play immediately. Can fight through double-teams as a pass rusher. Downside - Makes few plays against the run. Lacks elite quickness and could struggle against the NFL's most athletic offensive linemen. Must improve his use of hand punch and become more consistent.

03-14-2007, 01:10 PM	#4
ICON \|^\|Punter of Gnomes\|^\| Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..Snap! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,607 Adopt-a-Bronco: Nate Irving	Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 6 Justin Harrell, Tennessee 6043 300 5.04 24 1.67 2.91 30.5 9-0 4.76 -- 7.63 -- BRS (Gollin) - Tough. Underrated. Durability a concern. Good run stopper. Not so great a penetrator. nflscouts.com - Played final game despite bicep injury. Fellow lineman Turk McBride explained, "He put himself at risk to play one more game for us. It's one of the more amazing things I've seen an individual do to pick up a team. To see him out there was amazing for me." Scouts will have to check Harrell's rehabilitation from the bicep surgery. Previous to the injury, he was considered one of the better run stuffing defensive tackle prospects in the country. Upside - Naturally big man, with evenly proportioned weight. At his best stuffing the run. Good size and even better overall strength at POA. Takes up blockers and is tough to move. Good initial quickness off the snap. Flashes true explosiveness, which is rare at his size. Dedicated to the team. Plays to the whistle. Pursues laterally and down the field. Not flashy, just consistent. Blue collar worker type in the middle. Voted a team captain in 2006. Downside - Rehab from torn bicep has to be cleared. Flashes explosiveness off the snap, but is a limited pass rusher. Only 4.0 sacks in 25 starts. Plays hard but sometimes seems satisfied with the knowledge that he is taking up blocks to open up opportunities for teammates, rather than looking to make the play himself. Durability might be somewhat of a concern (also missed five games of his freshman season with broken ankle). Sporting News War Room - NFL potential will depend on the style of defense he is asked to play. Athletic enough for a 3-4 scheme but must get good penetration. Would fit best in a 4-3 defense, taking up running lanes and getting off blocks to make tackles at the line of scrimmage. It will take him time to reach his potential because he must get stronger. He will be a quality backup, and his team will love his toughness. Upside - Plays hard every down. Makes plays by taking up a lot of space with size and toughness. Hustles; chases ball carriers down from behind despite average speed. Understands responsibilities. Impresses by playing when not at 100 percent. Is strong against opponent when facing solo blocking. Downside - Can be pushed around on combination blocks. Must do a better job shooting gaps. Isn’t fast off the snap. Lacks explosiveness. Tackles well but must improve at wrapping up ball carrier. Doesn’t penetrate well. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 7 Brandon Mebane, Cal 6011 309 5.15 24 1.71 2.98 24 8-10 4.65 -- 7.94 -- BRS (Gollin) - Liked what we saw during Senior Bowl week. Senior Bowl Notes (fr War Room) - Showed the athleticism, quickness and strength to defeat pass blocks by shooting gaps over centers' shoulders and by driving them back on bull rushes. nflscouts.com - Has the size and strength to be the interior run plugger every NFL team is looking for. While his 14.5 career sacks are an impressive statistic, he is not a natural pass rusher, which limits his upside for the next level. Still, his solid play stands out among a weak senior crop of defensive tackles. Upside - Short, squat, powerful frame for the position. Good initial quickness off the snap. Uses his natural leverage advantage to disrupt the blocker and can effectively ruin the offensive play with his initial surge. Best attribute is his strength at the POA. Tough to move, even when pitted against the double team. Has improved his hand usage over his career, including marked improvement as a senior. Has improved as a statistically productive tackler as a senior. Capable of fighting off blocks and getting to the ball carrier. Good effort in pursuit. Steady improvement over his three years as the starter. Downside - Good quickness off the snap but only marginal overall athleticism for the position. Lacks foot quickness and balance when moving laterally in pursuit. Productive as a pass rusher but lacks agility and counters to get free from the blocker. Struggles to disengage, and until his senior season was better at taking up blockers than actually making the play on his own. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 8 Marcus Thomas, Florida 6026 314 4.90 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- BRS (Gollin) - Durability and off-the-field concerns have cost this young man lots and lots of money. But if a team can get through to him, they'll have something special. If. nflscouts.com - Physically speaking, Thomas is the best senior defensive tackle in this draft. Has a 6-3, 290-pound frame and surprising quickness, Averaged 45 tackles a season and saw his tackles for loss and sacks rise each of his three full seasons of play. Suspended for three games early in 2006 for repeatedly failing drug tests (weed) and then kicked off the team for failing to attend a drug-education pgm. Upside - Rare athleticism for a defensive lineman. Good initial quickness off the snap and recognizes the action quickly. Not only gains early penetration, he often makes the play in the backfield. Potential is as a nose tackle should he learn to play with better leverage and strength, but might be better suited to the underneath three technique where his quickness upfield can help him make more plays. Good lateral quickness, motor and feel for avoiding the trash when pursuing down the line. Downside - Drug use and suspensions are an immediate and significant red flag. On the field, Thomas has been able to get away with just his athletic ability and doesn't use his hands and natural strength effectively enough. Struggles to get off blocks and despite his size, Too often ineffective in neutralizing double teams, especially when he tires and begins to play tall, losing all leverage. Underwent back surgery following the 2004 season (always a red flag to scouts). Sporting News War Room - Would have been a first-round pick before his off-field troubles. Now, he'll have to shine during the interview process and during pre-draft workouts to still be a Day 1 pick. Won't be attention-grabbing sack artist but can control the interior LOS. Projects as a good NFL starter best suited to play a two-gap scheme, but his success in the NFL is completely dependent on his ability to do the right thing off the field. Upside - Good athlete with the quickness to be a consistently disruptive force. Gets on top of offensive linemen in a blink. Has the hand punch and strength to jolt and drive linemen back into the quarterback's lap. Effective bull rush. With space, quick enough to defeat one-on-one pass blocks. Clogs up the middle against inside runs, and frees arms to make tackles. Excels at getting underneath reach blocks on runs away from him. Keeps blockers on his back while chasing down ballcarriers from behind. Downside - Character risk A bit thin, which will cause him some trouble against mammoth NFL offensive linemen.Limited pass-rush repertoire. Isn't a flashy playmaker. Doesn't use hands well to protect legs from cut blocks. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 9 Jeremy Clark, Alabama 6024 309 5.02 29 1.64 2.84 29 8-8 4.82 -- 7.78 -- BRS (Gollin) - Large, strong guy who can dominate at a lower level but apparently lacks what it takes to become a successful pro DT. nflscouts.com - NA East-West notes (fr War Room) - Excelled, taking advantage of a mediocre group of interior offensive linemen. Quick off ball to beat those linemen with a gap rush and combined his quickness with explosiveness, strength and competitiveness to jolt linemen and drive them backward into the quarterback. Sporting News War Room - Frustrating prospect. Clearly has the athletic ability, size and strength to be an NFL starter but was not productive enough in college. Will be drafted higher than we have rated him and could become an NFL starter but will not last long because of his inconsistent production. Mostly will be a backup who consistently teases coaches. Upside - Good athlete, with the speed to chase down plays in pursuit. Moves through traffic well, and gets off the ground in a flash if cut. Good strength, and plays with good leverage and base. Can stack the POA against the run. When bull rushing aggressively, can jolt guards backwards and drive him into quarterback's lap. Downside - Must be more aggressive. Does not bend knees well and play with consistent leverage; when upright, is a non-factor. Must improve use of hands to shed blockers and protect legs from cut blocks. Lacks quickness off the snap, and rarely penetrates into the backfield. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 10 David Patterson, Ohio St. 6021 285 5.10 21 1.73 2.90 32.5 9-10 4.43 -- 7.47 -- BRS - Looked terrific in Senior Bowl nflscouts.com - Patterson is a nice option for the later rounds due to his experience and athleticism. He isn't an overly explosive player and has limited upside. His best attribute might be his versatility. Positives: Good size and athleticism for the position. Versatile and capable of playing inside in the 4-3 or outside in the 3-4. Can create interior pressure on the quarterback due to his burst off the snap and plays hard. Good strength at the point of attack and can create a pile in run defense. Negatives: Not explosive. Looks athletic at times, but struggles to consistently make plays. Has the strength to hold his position, but lacks explosiveness with his hands and struggles to disengage and make the tackle. Was one of the more ineffective defensive line prospects throughout the week of Senior Bowl practices.

03-14-2007, 01:15 PM	#5
ICON \|^\|Punter of Gnomes\|^\| Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..Snap! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,607 Adopt-a-Bronco: Nate Irving	Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ 1 Brandon Meriweather, Mi (FL) (CB) 5105 195 4.47 11 1.53 2.61 35 9-3 4.33 11.84 7.06 -- BRS (Gollin) - 4.47 Combine forty is an improvement over his estimated 4.45. We're rating him #1 more from what we've seen of him and Landry than what we've heard. We like the way Brandon gets in receivers' faces and feel he might be versatile enough to double as a corner. Our only nagging concern has to do with his off-the-field hijinx. nflscouts.com - Considered one of the more versatile defensive backs in the country.Will likely be the first defender drafted from "The U." Despite being a team captain, there are concerns regarding his maturity. Made headlines before the season when he pulled a gun from his pants and (legally) shot three times at an assailant....suspended for one game for trying to stomp on several Florida International players. Upside - Lean and athletic frame with room for additional growth. Long-arms. Rare timed speed for the safety position and is even faster on the field due to his instincts and break on the ball. Favorably compared to Ed Reed for his instincts and game-changing big plays. Quick feet. Smooth hip turn. Explosive hitter despite lack prototypical size. Reliable open-field tackler. Natural receiving skills and will compete for the ball. Started at both safety positions & left, right and nickel CB. Reads run quickly and is quick to support. Good overall physicality. Team captain in 2006 and considered one of team's strongest leaders. Wrote a letter of apology after the UM-FIU brawl, the only player to do so. Downside - Lacks prototypical size for the position. Came to Miami at only 160 pounds. Lacks weight room strength as well. Would rather run around blocks than take them on. First-round talent, but size and behavior concerns are significant enough to drop him down. Senior Bowl Notes (fr War Room) - Showed top athleticism, excelling at covering receivers tightly man-to-man during one-on-one drills. All the safeties were required to cover wideouts on Tuesday and only Meriweather showed the athleticism to cover them as well as the cornerbacks... started off the week strong.... was all over the field Monday, showing his athleticism, instincts and consistent ability to make plays against the run and pass. Sporting News War Room - Bottom line: Highly productive and a better technician than athlete. Always is in the right spot at the right time against the run and pass. Can start at either safety spot in the NFL and be a nickel back. Should be a first-round pick if the character investigations turn out OK. Upside - Excellent instincts in zone coverage with the range to make plays along the sideline. Plays faster than his time. Can cover slot receivers in nickel coverage. Makes key tackles and big plays. Outstanding open-field tackler.Ballhawk who reads quarterbacks well. Hands to make tough interceptions. Takes good angles to the ball in run support. Competitive. Downside - Only an average build, and is not a big hitter....raw,with only average athletic ability. Questionable speed. Struggles to shed blocks at times. Key instigator in the big Miami-Florida International brawl. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 2 LaRon Landry, LSU 6006 213 4.35 -- 1.47 2.52 37.5 10-3 -- -- -- -- BRS (Gollin) - 4.35 Combine time an improvement over 4.45 prior estimate. Consensus pick for Top Dawg as a safety; but we watched a couple of late LSU games and came away less impressed. Landry tended to always be in position to be the "last obstacle" between the ball carrier and paydirt, but seldom if ever came up and stuck anybody vs. the run nor broke on the ball as quickly as hoped providing deep help defending against the pass. nflscouts.com - Upside - Evenly proportioned athlete with prototype size for the position. Four-year starter on a very talented LSU defense. Missed no games due to injury. Intelligent, experienced safety. Understands his role as the last line of defense and takes proper angles to the ball. Reliable open-field tackler and has the ability to be a punishing hitter in the middle. Good speed and quickness in man coverage. Has the size to play aggressively with tight ends and the athleticism to keep tight coverage with slot receivers. Might be at his best in zone coverage due to his heady play and ability to drive on the ball. Good hands and is a natural runner with the ball in his hands. Aggressive yet disciplined in supporting against the run. Willing to take on blocks and can defeat due to his athleticism. High character player. Downside - Statistics have dropped a bit as a senior, though this is more a sign of respect from opposing offenses. Athletic and intelligent enough to likely enjoy success at either cornerback or strong safety at the next level. Sporting News War Room - Has elite physical tools to go along with great instincts, toughness and competitiveness.Will be drafted high in the first round and will become a great NFL safety - one who can make an impact against the run and the pass. Should be a great asset on special teams. Upside - Explosive athlete who always is around the ball. Makes strong, violent tackles routinely. Attacks the LOS against the run. Avoids blocks easily, and closes on ball in a flash. Does not hesitate to dive into the pile. Great instincts...fast enough to make plays along the sideline in two-deep coverage. Reads routes well, and reacts quickly to passes in front of him. Fast enough to cover tight ends man-to-man. Great tackler in the open field. Has a good build. Great focus. Downside - Desire to make hard hits/tackles on every play leads to occasional missed tackles because he launches himself at ball carrier and falls off after making initial contact. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 3 Reggie Nelson, Florida (UC) 5113 198 4.35 -- 1.46 2.61 35 10-6 4.15 -- 6.76 -- BRS (Gollin) - Playmaker. 4.48 Combine forty results were good enough to maintain his ranking and his 4.35 Pro Day time was off the charts. nflscouts.com - Compares to Brian Dawkins - Dawkins is bigger and more powerful than Nelson, but both are playmakers who rely on their explosive quickness to close on the ball. Nelson has natural hands to make the interception and outstanding elevation in his leaps. While he might struggle with a complicated playbook, he has the field smarts to compensate for his academic struggles. No Troy Polamalu when it comes to exploding behind his tackles, but will get physical. Stellar performances throughout 2006 was one of the major reasons Florida captured the national championship. Upside: Lean but well-defined physique with good chest thickness, developed arm muscles, V-shaped torso, good bubble and knotted calves...very good timed speed and sudden quickness to close on the ball...excellent agility and balance on the move with the hip flexibility to redirect and change direction suddenly... natural explosion allows him to stay tight on the hip of the receivers in the deep secondary and he will deliver his hits with good pop...more field smart than academically proficient...Physical hitter who loves contact...Hard worker in the training room, the type who pushes other players...often around the ball, playing with reckless abandon...Has the foot speed and steady acceleration to close on the ball in a hurry... adept at distributing his weight throughout his backpedal...Pedals with ease and shows the body control flexibility to quickly redirect...Usually in good position to make the hit, keeping the plays in front of him...Plays alert in the zone and shows good route awareness...Consistently attacks the ball and shows steady acceleration and timing in his leaps...Has the valid foot speed to play the two-deep and the burst needed to run the field...Makes plays on the ball in the air due to his big vertical jump and natural hands ...adept at attacking the gaps in run support and good urgency to close, taking proper angles...explosive hitter...Works his way through blocks and will meet the ball carrier with good force at the line of scrimmage...Collision type of a tackler who likes to run through people, but will miss a few hits when he fails to wrap...Can press and shadow well in the short area, allowing little separation on vertical routes...Breaks from his backpedal with no wasted motion...Short strider who runs hard to accelerate...OK at cutting off the lead blockers angles on perimeter runs...explosive break to the ball, even on three-step throws...Has the burst and elevation in his leaps to excel as a kick blocker. Downside - Had academic difficulties and might struggle trying to digest a complicated playbook...needs to improve his overall strength to prevent getting washed out by the bigger blockers working through trash...better served making plays on the ball rather than neutralizing the receiver ...good urgency to close, but must be more diligent of making the wrap tackle rather than colliding into his opponent (fails to reach out, grab and drag the ball carrier down)...Would like to see him attack the receiver to separate the ball carrier from the ball rather than try to make the big interception. Sporting News War Room - A junior who is no doubt ready to play in the NFL.Has rare size, strength, explosiveness, speed and instincts. Amazingly productive for a safety, being involved in one of every eight snaps in the games we graded. Type of player whose energy and aggressiveness is infectious, helping to raise the level of play for an entire defense. Upside -Great athlete who consistently makes a lot of plays against the run and pass... rare safety who is aggressive in all areas, and makes big plays in critical situations. Flies upfield in run support, avoids blockers nicely and blows up big running backs without hesitation. Reads the quarterback well, closes quickly on quick slant routes and delivers a hard hit immediately after the catch. Has the instincts, quickness and speed to make plays on deep sideline routes. Downside - Gets over-aggressive at times, and thus will have to dive at the ballcarrier and miss some tackles. Does not always take good angles to the sideline in deep, outside coverage. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 4 Aaron Rouse, Va. Tech 6040 223 4.58 16 1.53 2.61 35 -- -- -- -- Big Red Sheet (Gollin) - Terrific size but original sick forty speed est. didn't hold up. nflscouts.com - Physically imposing player whose combination of size and speed is as impressive as any prospect in the country. Runs like a wide receiver but looks like a linebacker.Started college carrer at linebacker before making the transition to strong safety as a sophomore. On a team loaded with athletes, Rouse has played in every game over the past four years...better athlete than football player . Not a finished product - team selecting him may have to accept some growing pains.Upside is undeniable and will result with a high draft selection. Upside - Exceptional size/speed numbers. Explosive speed translates well onto the gridiron. Speed to run with receivers and tight ends in coverage. Good quickness to break on ball. Recognizes run quickly and attacks the LOS . Explosive hitter. Downside - Still a better athlete than football player. Doesn't always trust his reads and will lose his athletic advantage. Great speed and good quickness but only adequate hips, causing him to lose some ground in transition. More of an in-the-box safety than true pass defender, despite five interceptions over past two seasons. Struggled with untimely penalties in 2006, including personal fouls. Struggled with consistency in 2006 after a breakout 2005 season. Sporting News War Room - The type of player every team needs because of his willingness to sacrifice for the good of the team. Some scouts compare Rouse to ex-Florida State safety Pat Watkins, but Rouse is a better athlete and is drastically more productive. Extremely valuable because he is productive in all areas -- chasing down running backs, covering tight ends man-to-man, breaking up and intercepting passes in zone coverage and as a coverage man on special teams. He will be a good NFL safety who brings just as much to the locker room as he does to the field. Upside -Huge. Has the size of a linebacker and the athleticism and explosiveness of a defensive back. Reads plays quickly, and starts toward the ball instantaneously. Has the speed to make plays sideline-to-sideline. Moves through traffic easily, and shows an explosive closing burst to chase down running plays. Makes solid open-field tackles. Is fast enough to reach the sidelines from two-deep coverage. Closes quickly on passes in front of him. Great hands to make tough interceptions. Is surprisingly good in zone coverage when aligned near the LOS . Downside - Tall and does not change directions as quickly as smaller DB's. Not always aggressive. Does not always fight through blockers. Tends to stand too upright when making a tackle -- reaching and grabbing and looking awkward. Does not deliver big hits or intimidate receivers. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 5 Michael Griffin, Texas 5116 202 4.45 16 1.49 2.57 36 10-0 4.10 -- 6.60 -- BRS (Gollin) - As the late Joel Buchsbaum used to say: "He can make your draft or break your heart." We're rating him a bit higher because of his big-game/big program experience in the Texas secondary. In addition, we're always confusing Ross and Griffin, but we seem to remember that it would be Ross who'd fail to make the big play and Griffin who'd magically appear to save the day. nflscouts.com - The Longhorns have had eight defensive backs selected over the past 10 years. In strong safety Michael Griffin, Texas might have its best yet. Upside - Well developed overall musculature. Impressive overall athleticism. Plays strong safety here, but athleticism, size and recognition appear better suited to free safety role at the next level. Reads the action quickly. Rarely out of position against the pass. Can cover ground quickly, with pure speed and a quick hip swivel. Can plant and drive on the ball. Effective tackler in space. Understands his role as one of the last lines of defense and takes proper angles to the ball. Rare leaping ability as shown in his UT record eight blocked punts. Good hands to make the interception. Uses his size and leaping ability well to compete for the ball. Downside - Not the classic run supporting in-the-box safety. Flashes as a striker, but doesn't punish receivers across the middle. Considered reliable, but not an intimidator. Plays strong safety here, but seems much better suited to free safety at next level due to his strength being pass defense, weakness being against the run. Might lack the versatility some teams are looking for in a safety. Sporting News War Room - Will be drafted higher than he should because of his size and athletic agility. Sure to wow scouts and coaches in pre-draft workouts. Will start early in his NFL career because of his rare athleticism, toughness, size and strength, but he is sure to disappoint because he never will be consistently productive. Upside - Has the size and bulk to be a big-time hitter. Can play close to the LOS , take on linemen and blitz. Athletic and good in coverage. Better athlete than football player. Good coordination, and moves smoothly and fluidly. Is good in man-to-man coverage because of good him movements and footwork. tough. & willing to fill the hole and make big hits in run support. Downside - Struggles with the mental part of the game. Lacks good instincts. Loses sight of the ball too often. Misses too many tackles. Misreads too many pass routes.

03-14-2007, 01:17 PM	#6
ICON \|^\|Punter of Gnomes\|^\| Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..Snap! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,607 Adopt-a-Bronco: Nate Irving	Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 6 Eric Weddle, Utah 5112 203 4.48 11 1.43 2.56 33.5 9-5 4.12 -- 6.78 -- Player to Watch BRS (Gollin) - CB/S tweener. We like his production on the field and his versatility. We rate him higher because we need a FS more than we do a SS (with Adrian Wilson already holding down the fort there) and because multi-receiver sets require more quality depth at CB and Weddle can fill both roles.. nflscouts.com - Scouts remain divided on Weddle's prospects. Most feel he'll end up at safety, as his instincts and athleticism project nicely there. H'e'd prefer cornerback and was only moved from that spot by his Utah coaches because teams were electing to throw away from him. In 2005, Weddle held Calvin Johnson to two catches for 19 yards. Upside - Evenly proportioned muscle definition throughout his body. Lean, athletic frame. Versatility and instincts are Weddle's strengths. Has seen action at all defensive back positions, QB, RB, WR, PR, P, and was the holder on kicks. Instinctive defender, capable of lining up at either safety position confidently. Good initial quickness. Can line up in man coverage. Smooth back pedal and a seamless hip turn transition. Good downfield speed, though more quick than fast. Good recognition and discipline in zone coverage. Good break on the ball. Competes well for the ball and is a natural receiver. Aggressive in run support and a reliable open field tackler. Team leader. Downside - 'Tweener?" Lacks the traditional bulk for the safety position and is not an intimidating striker over the middle. Adequate deep speed and acceleration in man coverage leaves questions as to if he can hold up at cornerback. Better football player than athlete, which is cause for concern among some who see Weddle as a player with limited untapped potential. Sporting News War Room - Bottom line: One of our favorite prospects. Doesn't look that great but always seems to make a game-changing play every week. One of the most versatile players in the draft, and he reminds us of the Bears' Mike Brown. Can play cornerback or safety in the NFL but fits best at strong safety. He also will be effective on special teams. Upside - Great ballhawk who jumps off the film. Is versatile, performing well at cornerback and safety in college. Quick to react when the ball is thrown his way -- makes a play on the ball or keeps the receiver in front of him and makes a solid tackle. Tough, willing tackler. Smart, and reads plays quickly to make big plays. Also can return kicks. Downside - Lacks ideal size, and is not a punishing tackler. Will struggle to cover big NFL receivers. Lacks elite speed, and can be beaten deep if over-aggressive. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 7 John Wndling, Wyoming 6012 222 4.48 22 1.51 2.56 38.5 10-9 4.16 -- 6.96 -- Player to Watch BRS (Gollin) - Very athletic and agile. Not as fast as his 4.38 prelim est. indicated, but fast enough at 222 lbs. Probably best suited to play FS or become a big corner. nflscouts.com - More than just a track star. Came through with another strong campaign. In his first season at the strong safety position. Listed as a free safety, but has the combination of size, athleticism and tackling ability to play either position at the next level. Upside - Lean, athletic frame with long arms. Looks the part, with impressive overall musculature. Instinctive player who is rarely out of position. Understands his role as the last line of defense and takes good angles when in pursuit. Very good overall speed that translates well onto the gridiron. Smooth back pedal and hip turn in transition for man to man scheme. Asked to come up and play man to man as a free safety in the past, showing legitimate man to man footwork. Cognizant and disciplined in zone coverage, as well. Good break on the ball and an effective tackler. Recognizes run quickly and is a reliable open field tackler. Led the team in tackles two of the past three years. Versatile. Highly intelligent on and off the field. Team captain. Recruited by Harvard, Princeton and Stanford, among others. Downside - Moved to strong safety as a senior, but might lack the physicality to remain at this position in the NFL. Standout athleticism, but isn't viewed as particularly physical. Relies on his athleticism to evade blockers. Must improve his hand usage in discarding blocks. Misses tackles, at times, when gearing up for the big hit. Level of competition is a concern. Sporting News War Room - Bottom line: Exciting prospect with the size and speed to play cornerback in the NFL. Coordination, body control, size and speed are similar to Jason Sehorn. Good hitter and tackler but no John Lynch. Figures to begin his NFL career at cornerback in a cover-2 scheme or bump-and-run defense and perhaps shift to free safety once he develops better instincts. Upside - Big defender with verified height, weight and speed. Has the speed and agility to cover NFL receivers man-to-man. Rangy, and can make plays on the ball from man-to-man and zone coverage. Solid tackler. Productive. Downside - Good instincts at safety but not quite in the Sean Taylor or Ed Reed category. Only average instincts. Looks awkward during backpedal. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 8 Michael Johnson, Arizona 6025 205 4.62 15 1.52 2.68 33 9-6 4.32 -- 7.04 -- BRS (Gollin) - Sounds the part and, despite not having blazing speed, has decent numbers. nflscouts.com - Regarded as one of the elite strong safeties in the collegiate ranks, his range and quickness could see him shift to free safety at the pro level. Upside - Well-built frame with room for at least another 15 pounds of additional growth, broad shoulders, thick chest, tight waist and abdomen, good bubble and tapered thighs and calves...loose hips and good COD agility...adept at keeping plays in front of him, but might be better suited for the free safety position, since he has the quickness to close and range to recover...Once he locates the ball, he is quick to accelerate to the action...Understands route progression well and takes proper angles to close...good acceleration in and out of his breaks with good press technique, but is better covering the tight ends and slot receivers than covering the opponent in deep routes...range lets him close with good urgency, playing with better consistency in the deep centerfield...Much more active in the short zone because of his ability to read the action in front of him...loose hips to quickly redirect, smooth foot movement in his backpedal and it is rare to see him get up on his heels or get his weight back...good COD to make plays along the perimeter and can flip his hips, turn and close with good urgency...Drives to the ball with good urgency and has the hand strength to drag down runners along the perimeter or reroute tight ends and slot receivers in the short area...good hands and timing to compete for the ball at its high point...good plant-and-drive agility is evident when closing...Might lack explosion coming out of his breaks, but he has the fluid stride and hand placement skills to mirror tight ends in the short area...Takes proper angles to shorten the field and stays in control closing on the ball (rare to see him over-pursue)...Has natural hands, above average leaping ability and good timing to compete for jump balls...Can look the pass in over his outside shoulder and his timing lets him consistently get to the pass at its high point...adept at extending and plucking the ball away from his frame...Confident using his hand strength in press coverage...no hesitation hurling his body around to make plays along the line...Tough to contain once he gets a head of steam going and alert to pullers, staying low in his pads to cut them down...Worked hard in the off-season, taking a better approach in his pursuit angles...Close to 53 percent of his plays (72-of-136) have been made in run support since enrolling at Arizona...When he stays low in his pads, Johnson hits with good aggression and improved wrap-up technique. Downside - Quicker than fast, lacking that sudden burst to explode into the backfield, but runs with a normal stride and builds to top speed nicely...Best when anticipating plays in front of him, but will bite some on play action...Likes contact working near the pile, but needs to improve his upper body strength in order to "blow up" opponents at the next level...Tends to leave too much cushion when playing in deep man coverage...When he gets too high in his pedal, he will shuffle and bail at times, preventing him from generating explosion out of his breaks...Can close ground well, but must develop a second gear, as he will struggle at times to catch up from behind (speed levels off going long distances, but that could be a byproduct of his thigh, quadriceps and hamstring injuries in 2006)...Knows how to use his hands to slip off blocks and generate pocket pressure...When he gets too high in his stance, he will miss and fail to recover...won't punish opponents, because he sometimes leaves his feet, but is effective at cutting down ball carriers along the perimeter. Sporting News War Room - Makes plays against the run and pass. A good athlete with good instincts. Could be an NFL starter for a long time, perhaps as soon as 2007. Upside - Rangy and instinctive ballhawk. ...quick and athletic to change directions. Makes plays sideline-to-sideline. A sure tackler who is good in run support. Very productive. Good man-to-man coverage skills. Competitive. Good hands. Downside - Not a big hitter in the mold of Dallas' Roy Williams. Suspect downfield speed, and explosiveness. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 9 Daniel Goldson, Washington 6020 205 4.60 12 1.53 2.72 34.5 9-7 4.46 -- 7.37 -- BRS (Gollin) - Physical, aware, athletic. Nice numbers. nflscouts.com - Moved from safety to corner during 2006 spring. Upside - Good size for the position. Legitimate athlete who stood out as a free safety in 2004-05 and was expected to be moved to cornerback as a senior. Off-season ankle injury and injuries to other defensive backs limited his time at cornerback to only a handful of games. Practiced exclusively at cornerback at the East-West Shrine Game and helped his cause. Best in man coverage, where he can allow his size and pure athleticism to take over. Good read and reaction skills. Reliable open-field tackler. Quick to support the run. Downside - May lack the pure speed to remain at cornerback, thus our ranking him at free safety. Lacks the elite catch-up acceleration. Effective open-field tackler, but not a punisher. Reliable in coverage, but isn't considered a playmaker. Intercepted four passes and forced one fumble in 32 career games. Should be able to shed blockers better after spending most of his career at safety, but looks to beat them with just his athleticism rather than technique. East-West Notes (fr War Room) - Stood out as the best defensive back on either squad...showed terrific athleticism, including great hips and good closing quickness. The CB/S 'tweener also proved to have good ball awareness and instincts, which combined with that closing quickness, let him break up a number of passes. His toughness and competitiveness was further reflected in how hit receivers right after catches. Although not as consistent as the day before, he stood out Tuesday with the hit of the day in the afternoon practice. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 10 Kevin Payne, Louisiana-Monroe 6002 220 4.60 20 1.54 2.65 35 8-10 4.30 -- 7.00 -- BRS (Gollin) - So so speed. Decent athleticism. nflscouts.com - One of the most versatile athletes in the collegiate ranks. While the casual football fan might not be aware of Payne's exploits, NFL scouting organizations are well aware. Few athletes in the collegiate ranks have had the success that Kevin has had at whatever task the coaching staff asks from him. Sporting News War Room - Despite his small-school pedigree, jumped out in his evaluation because he kept making plays on defense and special teams. Although he lacks premier athleticism and speed, his nose for the ball and range are outstanding, giving him a chance to have an immediate impact as a strong safety and an ace on coverage units. Upside - Smart and versatile. Very productive against the run, pass and on special teams. Instinctive; sniffs out plays quickly and gets started toward the ball fast. Accelerates to full speed quickly and has the range to make plays from sideline to sideline. Explosive closing burst to finish plays. Excels at moving through traffic. Is consistently around the ball and makes sound tackles. Reads quarterbacks well. Breaks quickly on passes. Makes hard hits after the catch. Great hands - if he gets his hands on the ball, it's going to be intercepted. Covers well on special teams. Solid return man. Downside - Not an aggressive tackler against the run; tends to stop feet and wait for backs to get to him and catches ballcarriers, which leads to him getting knocked backward at the POA. Sometimes stays upright in pursuit and overruns some would-be tackles. Doesn't consistently break up passes. Lacks the elite playing speed to catch fast players in pursuit. Will struggle covering NFL slot receivers in tight man-to-man.

03-14-2007, 01:21 PM	#7
ICON \|^\|Punter of Gnomes\|^\| Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..Snap! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,607 Adopt-a-Bronco: Nate Irving	Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 1 Paul Posluszny, Penn State 6015 238 4.70 22 1.56 2.73 37 9-8 4.20 -- 6.94 -- Player to Watch BRS (Gollin) - At one time considered a Top 5 player, but slipped some in post season. 4.70 time a bit slow compared to earlier estimate, but then again, he's added about 15 pounds. CW says: Don't worry about the numbers; kid can play football. Senior Bowl Notes (fr War Room) - Lined up primarily at weakside linebacker on the first day of practice...showed good instincts reading and reacting to the plays quickly and displayed an explosive closing burst to the ballcarrier and delivered violent hits. (BRS – Had trouble jamming receivers at LOS). nflscouts.com - Not his typical self during the early portion of the 2006 season. As the season has progressed, however, his trademark speed and explosiveness returned. When at 100 percent he is arguably the nation's best defender. Jack Ham characterized Posluszny as "the best linebacker ever to play at Penn State." Upside - Thick, well proportioned frame. Broad shoulders, thick lower body. Athleticism and instincts simply jump off the film. Instinctive. Always around the ball. Physical and tough at the POA. Willing to take on the lead blocker and can shed to make the play. Very good speed to the outside and has the short area burst to make the play. Explosive hitter and reliable in the open field. Breaks down as well as any linebacker in the country and simply doesn't allow the ballcarrier to get past him. Rare athleticism is shown in his coverage ability. Smooth turning motion and active hands to disrupt the receiver attempting to make the catch. Athletic and opportunistic as a pass rusher. Character and intelligence is even more impressive than his physical gifts. Elected team captain as a junior. Asked for a shot to numb the pain so he could return to the field after partially tearing ligaments in his knee in last year's Orange Bowl. Downside - Must prove that he is 100 percent recovered from the knee injury. Physical at the POA and can fight through the lead block, but sometimes creates a hole in the defense when he gets over-aggressive and tries to make the big play instead of just sticking with his gap responsibility. No high ranking Penn State defender since Shane Conlan was drafted has met his pro expectations. Sporting News War Room - Production consistently has improved from game to game in his senior season and his knee is at or close to 100 percent.. Would have been a first-round pick in the '06 draft. Sure to be a high first-round pick in 2007. Few linebackers are as equally adept against the run and pass...one of the few prospects that live up to the hype...similar to the Packers' A.J. Hawk in his playing demeanor, instincts and consistent ability to chase down plays, but he's not as big or strong as Hawk. Upside - Has the athleticism and speed to chase down plays all over the field. Smarts and instincts to consistently get a jump on the snap and play faster than his timed speed. Plays bigger than size would suggest. Fills the hole aggressively, and blows up plays in the backfield...great closing burst...good strength taking on lead blockers...solid tackler...smooth and fluid when dropping into coverage, and reads plays well and reacts in a blink. Is productive in every aspect of defense. Downside - Slightly smaller than ideal. Does not use hands well to shed blockers. Struggles to move cleanly and quickly through traffic. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 2 Jon Beason, Miami (UC) 6002 237 4.72 19 1.60 2.74 9-3 -- -- -- -- BRS (Gollin) - Short stumpy quick guy most suited for SAM or MIKE. Mayock rates him his top LB prospect. nflscouts.com - Might lack the height scouts prefer, but he plays with great speed and is an explosive hitter. While he needs to continue to work on his hand usage, his ability to read and instantly react allows him to avoid blocks and make plays. Upside - Shorter than ideal, but strong, thick frame for the position. Rare quickness and agility for the position. Very good straight-line speed and lateral quickness. Beats running backs to the edge and is an explosive hitter. Reliable tackler in the open field. Pursues well and shows a late burst to catch up. Good athleticism as a pass defender. Good jam and re-route at the LOS. Can run with backs and tight ends in coverage. Quickness, speed and COD ability in coverage is among his best characteristics. Team captain in 2006. Downside - Shorter than ideal and though strong, he doesn't use his strength well to fight through blocks when engaged. Looks to avoid blocks with his athleticism rather than physically take them on. Obvious athleticism in coverage, but struggles to locate the ball and will give up the reception despite being in position. Some durability concerns. Sporting News War Room News -Beason led UM with 91 tackles last season, including 10 for losses, despite missing one game and nearly all of another game with a sprained right knee. Believes he must prove to teams that his height is not a negative. "Being 6-0 and change instead of 6-2 is the difference between a few million dollars," he said. "You look at guys like Zach Thomas having a Pro Bowl season. It's not about their size." Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 32 Lawrence Timmons, FSU 6007 234 4.66 25 1.50 2.68 35 10-3 4.32 -- 6.92 -- 6007 234 4.66 2.68 1.50 25 35 10'3" 4.32 6.92 Player to Watch BRS (Gollin) - Has what it takes athletically. Proved playmaker. Still raw and lacks discipline. Made most of being next to Buster Davis. nflscouts.com - Though he could have improved his standing with a stronger senior season, his athleticism, steady improvement and penchant for the big play (three touchdowns on returns in 2006) is unmatched among the outside linebackers of the 2007 draft. Upside - Superb overall athleticism. Good quickness off the initial snap. Flows easily from sideline to sideline to make plays. Excellent pursuit player with the speed to catch the ball carrier from behind. Instincts noticeably improved as season went on. Quick enough to meet and shed blocks at POA. Runs downfield toward the LOS and can explode through line to make the play. Athleticism evident in coverage, as well. Rare downfield speed to keep up with running backs and tight ends in coverage and shows the COD and balance to stick closely. Good speed off the edge as a blitzer. Natural blitzer, with the agility to avoid blockers. Good closing speed. Makes the play when the opportunity presents itself. Has the "uncoachables" you are looking for. High upside. Downside - Better athlete than football player. Learning to play better with his hands. Can be washed out despite prototypical size due to poor hand usage, lack of overall strength. Aggressive defender who will sometimes overrun the play and lose contain. Played next to a legitimate NFL caliber inside linebacker in Buster Davis, who covered up some of Timmons' mistakes. Sporting News War Room - News: Timmons, who won't turn 21 until after the draft, led FSU with 18 tackles for losses this season and scored three touchdowns, including one on a 25-yard run with a blocked punt in FSU's 44-27 victory over UCLA. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 4 Rory Johnson, Ole Miss (UC) 6001 232 4.59 19 1.53 2.71 38 9-8 4.07 -- -- -- BRS (Gollin) - Has the athletic ability. A bit raw. May have benefited from having Willis next to him. nflscouts.com - Parlayed one strong season at the D-I level into early admittance into the 2007 draft. Academic struggles forced him to play his first two seasons of collegiate football at Hinds Community College. Considered by some to be the top prep prospect in the state of Mississippi, it didn't take long for Johnson to be recognized as one of the better JUCO prospects in the entire country. Upside - Legitimate NFL size and athleticism. Speed in pursuit helped him make a name for himself with Patrick Willis gobbling up most of the interior tackles. Can be an explosive hitter. Rarely used on the edge as a blitzer, where his athletic ability might have helped him rack up significantly better sack numbers. Steadily improved as he gained experience, registering 10-plus tackles in six of his final seven games. Downside - Raw. Tends to over-pursue and too often goes for the big play opportunity rather than make the solid tackle. Academic struggles. Productive here, but some question how much the presence of Willis had to do with Johnson's production as a first-year starter. Sporting News War Room - News: He finished the season second on the team with 94 tackles despite seeing limited action at the start of the year. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 5 Rufus Alexander, Oklahoma 6007 228 4.79 25 1.64 2.75 35 9-9 4.30 -- 7.06 -- BRS (Gollin) - Lacks prototypical height but is an explosive hitter. Must play with more discipline. More suited to play WILL than SAM. Slower than original 4.60 forty est. Senior Bowl Notes (fr War Room) - Showed the burst to react very quickly to plays once he read them, which also he did quickly...also showed an explosive closing burst to make violent hits and tackles. nflscouts.com - Has the speed and instincts to continue his playmaking ways at the NFL level....viewed as one of the safer Oklahoma linebacker prospects of recent years because of his rare athleticism - Upside - Good overall body musculature, especially in his upper arms. Long limbed athletic frame. Overall athleticism required for weak-side position. Good quickness at the snap, lateral speed to the flanks & aggression to stop the interior running plays. Athletic enough to sneak around blockers. Reliable tackler in the open field. Good agility and understanding as a pass defender. Has the foot quickness, balance and overall speed to keep up with running backs and tight ends in coverage. Will compete for the pass and shows burst. Asked to blitz in this scheme and has developed in this area. Natural close ability and uses his athleticism well to get past the blocker. Adequate instincts for the position. Plays hard and is a respected leader of the defense. Downside - Lack of prototype size for the position. Lacks the sand in his pants for every scheme. Can be overwhelmed by size and power. Only marginal overall physicality in taking on blocks and bringing down the ball carrier. Only adequate use of hands to disengage from blocks when engaged. Doesn't quit on the play, but some of his tackles are drag downs from behind, not smash-mouths at the LOS. Sporting News War Room - Certainly lacks height, but he has the athleticism, violent hitting ability and production to make GMs take notice. Some short linebackers have become good NFL players, but most prospects his size struggle to stick in the league. We believe Alexander will buck the odds and become a good NFL WLB, where he has a little more space to operate and does not have to deal with blockers as often. He also should be an impact player on special teams from the git-go. Upside - Good athlete who consistently reads plays quickly and reacts. Has the speed to chase down the ball...explosive hitter; bends knees and snaps hips to drive up and make violent tackles. Has quickness and agility to avoid blocks in the open field...solid open-field tackler. Makes plays near the sideline against the run and pass. Reads the quarterback well, and closes quickly on passes in front of him. Can cover running backs man-to-man. Downside - Short, and could struggle to maintain the same level of production in the NFL. Must learn to play with better leverage. Does not consistently take on blockers with leverage or use hands well to shed them. Draws way too many late-hit penalties.

03-14-2007, 01:23 PM	#8
ICON \|^\|Punter of Gnomes\|^\| Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..Snap! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,607 Adopt-a-Bronco: Nate Irving	Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 6 Juwan Simpson, Alabama 6023 225 4.55 15 1.52 2.56 34.5 10-3 4.42 -- 7.22 -- BRS (Gollin) - Thin. Waist bender. Could use a year with John Lott. But has most of the other attributes. Could be more instinctive. nflscouts.com - Upside: Prototype combination of size and speed for the position. Good athlete. Clear upside as he isn't yet a finished product. Speed to the flanks and quickness in coverage are two of his greatest assets. Good balance and body control when breaking down in space. Can make the sure tackle against quicker athletes. Downside: Only adequate in his diagnosis and reaction to plays. Good burst once he recognizes the play, but is a step slow in reading the action. Lacks strength and explosiveness to his game overall. Struggles taking on blockers and can be washed out of the play. Makes too many of his tackles in pursuit. Struggles to get a good jam on the tight end. Sporting News War Room -Pleasant surprise to evaluate because he is versatile and makes plays in all facets of the game. Thin but has all the physical tools (smarts, instincts and competitiveness) to become a good NFL linebacker. Versatile enough to stay on the field for all three downs but is best suited to play on the weak side. Also should be productive on special teams. Upside - Good athlete with the quickness and speed to chase down plays sideline-to-sideline. Explodes off the snap when blitzing, and show a great closing burst. Is smooth dropping into the flat in zone coverage. Reads and reacts quickly to screen passes. Great in man-to-man coverage, even downfield. Is strong enough to standup fullbacks in the hole, shed them and make the tackle. Smart, and consistently carries out assignments. Reads plays quickly, and does not make mental errors. Will lower shoulder and take on low blocks. Downside - Thin - must improve lower-body strength. Struggles to defeat offensive linemen, and is ridden out of the play too easily. Does not consistently bend knees and tackle with good leverage; sometimes dragged for extra yardage. Not always aggressive at the POA. Some durability issues. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 7 Tim Shaw, Penn State 6014 236 4.51 26 1.59 2.62 36.5 9-8 4.12 -- 7.01 -- BRS (Gollin) - Went out and improved his 4.70 to 4.51 at the Combine. Versatile and unselfish. War Room questions his toughness against run (and lilkes him as a safety). nflscouts.com likes his run stopping skill and feels he's most suited to play Mike. nflscouts.com - Classic case of a blue chip prospect with a blue-collar work ethic. Called by Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis, "the Lions' most important player." Upside - Compact, solid frame with good upper body development, broad shoulders, thick chest, good bubble, tapered thighs and thick hamstrings...good straight-line quickness and the arm extension to shed blocks...excellent straight-line speed, showing suddenness in his initial move off the ball and gets to top speed quickly effective short area pass defender because of his foot speed to stay with most receivers through their routes...Won't take poor angles in pursuit, with the closing burst needed to neutralize the cutback lanes...Can play MLB, ROLB and DE and never complained about the moves...Attacks the ball with good urgency due to his ability to quickly break down plays in front of him...Very quick coming off the snap, staying low in his pads while generating quick lateral movements to string the plays wide... natural ability to anticipate the flow of the ball... hand strength to shed blocks quickly, doing a nice job of extending to keep blockers from attacking his body, but must do this with more consistency...Stays at a proper pad level to extend, wrap and secure as a tackler and consistently keeps his legs moving on contact, doing a nice job of driving the ball carrier back ...explosive acceleration when closing and has a natural flow in his backpedal...good strength to jolt and redirect tight ends in pass routes and plays bigger than his size indicates, demonstrating good physicality in his game...Demonstrates that ease of movement getting to the ball when working in space and the leg drive and strength to get the ball carrier on the ground instantly...adept at coming downhill, using his hands to shed when working near the line of scrimmage, which allows him to fill the rush lane...Plays with good leverage taking on blocks coming off the edge...speed and burst to head off ball carriers along the corners...acceleration and power lets him get a strong push off the blocker...Must stay active with his hands to prevent getting absorbed working inside, but he gives good effort as a blitzer, especially when attacking from the back side, making him a better fit for inside linebacker. Downside - Some stiffness in his hips but is very combative in attempts to slip off blocks and string plays wide...played out of position on the DL and might be shorter than ideal, but could be a nice fit at MIKE, as he compensates with good explosion coming off the ball and above average power behind his hits...Does not have the bulk to prevent from being engulfed by the larger offensive tackles ...Not used much in pass coverage and must show he can locate the ball when working in the deeper areas of the zone...more than enough functional strength to take on blocks and shed, but must be more alert to low blocks to protect his body from double teams...COD skills might not let him cover large portions of the field, but he runs to the ball well and has the hand usage to slip off passive blocks. Sporting News War Room - LB/S ‘tweener who will not become an NFL starter. Lacks the athletic ability to move to safety, but also the size and strength to be effective at linebacker. Could make an NFL roster as a special teams player, but his NFL career doesn’t figure to last long. Upside - Good instincts to read and react quickly. Smart. Plays faster than 40. Makes solid, fundamental tackles in the open field. Is a surprisingly effective blitzer who avoids blockers and hits the quarterback. Downside - Thin - looks more like a safety than a linebacker. Is not aggressive taking on blockers, and can be ridden out of the play. Struggles to shed blockers. Lacks the speed to cover tight ends and running backs man-to-man and the acceleration and speed to make plays near the sideline. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 8 Sabby Piscatelli, Oregon St. (S) 6026 224 4.47 19 1.49 2.54 34.5 10-2 3.90 -- 6.84 -- Player to Watch BRS (Gollin) - Had the fastest 20 yard shuttle time of anyone we can recall this year. That speaks to his agility. Orginal est time was 4.70 , but he improved it to 4.47 at the Combine. That's a safety's time - some do list him as a safety. We saw him in Senior Bowl drills and liked his toughness, instincts, intelligence and athleticism. War Room is kind of down on him for his lack of athleticism, but nflscouts.com gives him rave reviews (and our eyeballs tend to confirm this). nflscouts.com - Compares to Adam Archuleta - .Piscitelli is faster and has much better range than Archuleta, but both do an excellent job of keeping plays in front of them. Piscitelli has natural hands for the interception and can play either safety position. With his effectiveness vs. the run, he could also see action as a linebacker in a Cover-2 scheme. Unquestioned leader of the Beavers' defense, and one of the premier safeties in the collegiate ranks. Boasts incredible range and closing speed and has proven equally effective playing deep in zone coverage or inside the box as a run stuffer. With his uncanny ability to always be around the ball, opposing offensive coordinators game-plan with the intention of keeping the play away from his territory. Upside - Has a defined, angular frame with the growth potential to add more bulk without any decrease in his impressive quickness...V-shaped torso with a well-defined upper body, good bubble, developed calves and good chest thickness...loose hips and sudden burst to close on the ball in a hurry and good body control in transition...nimble feet and excellent hand/eye coordination, and leaping ability...Smart and instinctive enough to make the calls and handle the assignments in the secondary...Needs only minimal reps to retain ... quickness and ability to take proper angles allow him to close on the ball and string plays wide in run support...vision to make plays with his back to the ball, doing a nice job of looking the pass in over his shoulders...quick feet to match up with almost any opponent and looks very natural turning and running to the ball...speed allows him to cut off routes and stays in proper position by keeping his eyes on his assignment ...excellent quickness and body control to keep tight on the receiver's hip...Keeps his feet under him and his body in control throughout transition breaks and has a low, smooth pedal...When he stays low in his pads, he is quick to get into position to make the play...good grasp of taking angles to close and explosive acceleration coming out of his breaks...Will frustrate a quarterback with the way he can anticipate the throw and his plant-and-drive agility is exceptional...so quick in transition that he doesn't even need to accelerate much to stay tight with the receiver on deep routes...For a player of his size, it is very impressive the way he can keep the plays in front of him, but it is mostly due to his quickness while maintaining body control...knows how to ride up the receiver and use his arms to either deflect or catch the ball in flight...can match up with the split ends and flankers on deep routes or out-muscle tight ends and backs going for the ball underneath...Has the hip swerve to adjust to the ball on the move and does a nice job of getting into position to make the play...effective at interrupting the route's progression...good feel for the cutback lanes and has no problems taking down the runner once he locks on to the opponent. Downside - Only average-sized hands...Knows how to keep plays in front of him, but should have been utilized more as a blitzer......Has the size to take on the lead blockers, but must be more alert to chop blocks...Still must develop a better feel for double teams...Gets into trouble when he dives or tries to make grab tackles...With his weight room strength, he should be more of a collision-type tackler. Sporting News War Room -Looks like a linebacker but has the temperament of a safety. Probably isn't worth a draft pick but would be a good free-agent signing because of his athleticism, smarts and instincts. He has what it takes to stick in the NFL as a backup linebacker, emergency safety and primarily a special teams gunner. Upside - Good athlete who can make plays sideline-to-sideline. Competitive, and hustles to the whistle. Good instincts to read and react quickly to plays ;fast to get outside against screen passes. Can cover tight ends and running backs man-to-man on short routes. When maintaining good balance, he's a solid open-field tackler. Great gunner on the punt coverage unit; gets downfield quickly and delivers hard hits. Downside - A college safety who must move to linebacker in the NFL. Lacks aggression in run support. More of a straight-line athlete who struggles to adjust on the move to make a tackle -- lunges at the ballcarrier too often. Thin, and struggles to shed blocks. Lacks the burst to get outside from deep coverage in safety alignment, and lacks the coverage skills to handle any wide receiver man-to-man. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 9 Zach Catanese, Arizona St. 6-2 221 4.69 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- BRS (Gollin) - Listed as a FS by nflscouts.com. Undersized lunchpail type who, like Piscatelli is a LB/S tweener. Not real instinctive. nflscouts.com - Versatile and tenacious athlete who, in his first year on campus, was one of ASU's most sturdy defenders...combines elite size and athleticism and is a threat to line-up in the box in run support as well as drop back into pass coverage...for the second consecutive year, he was recognized as a Hard Hat Player for his work in the team's winter strength and conditioning program. Sporting News War Room - Bottom line: Productive and physical safety, but his best shot in the NFL will be as a WLB. where he can play more aggressively without having to worry about making mistakes in deep pass coverage. As a linebacker, he can cover running backs all over the field and tight ends on short pass routes. Upside -Tough and competitive. Always gives a good effort chasing the ball. Has the speed to chase down ballcarriers sideline-to-sideline. Can make violent tackles when under control. Is smart, and reads the quarterback well in zone coverage. Plants, drives and closes quickly to make good hits immediately after the catch. Good hands, and closes quickly to cut in front of receivers to make tough interceptions. Good special teams coverage man. Downside - S/OLB 'tweener -- lacking the speed and closing burst to play safety, but undersized for a linebacker, often struggling to deal with blockers. Must be more aggressive and consistent. Tends to slow up before making contact on tackles, allowing ballcarriers to dictate the play and thus miss tackles. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 10 Sam Olajubutu, Arkansas 5086 227 4.77 24 1.62 2.68 34.5 9-10 4.34 7.33 -- -- BRS (Gollin) - Lack of height a key problem and he lacks straight line speed. nflscouts.com - Heart and soul of the Razorback defense, he burst onto the national scene last season and established himself as one of the best linebackers in the country. Dominated in talented conference. Sporting News War Room - At first glance, you'd expect Olajubutu to lack the athleticism, toughness and production to make the jump to the NFL, but within the first quarter of evaluating him, it becomes clear he has what it takes. Some teams will drop him off their boards because of his lack of height, but those whose defenses are based on speed and athleticism and willing to overlook height will definitely have interest. In time he will develop into an elite special teams player and maybe a weakside starter. Upside - Great athlete; accelerates to full speed quickly and consistently chases down plays. Very quick and active; moves through traffic and avoids blocks easily. When getting close to plays, has the explosive closing bursts to finish them off. Reads and reacts quickly. Fills hole fast and aggressively; blows up blockers at point of contact and makes play in backfields. Gets outside to break up screen passes fast and can cover backs and tight ends all over the field in tight man-to-man coverage. Downside - Is very undersized; (not many linebackers his size have ever been able to translate their college success to the NFL). When he does not attack and play aggressively, blockers get a lock on him too easily and can ride him out of plays. Doesn't always play up to his capable speed in pursuit. Lack of height makes it a struggle to consistently break up passes.

03-14-2007, 01:26 PM	#9
ICON \|^\|Punter of Gnomes\|^\| Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..Snap! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,607 Adopt-a-Bronco: Nate Irving	Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ 1 Adrian Peterson, Oklahoma (UC) 6014 217 4.40 -- 1.53 2.58 38.5 10.7 4.40 -- 7.09 -- BRS (Gollin) - Before his injury, he was considered a top-3 talent. Great Combine results verify this. ESPN (Scouts Inc.) Resembles Shaun Alexander - Punishing upright runner with soft hands, excellent vision along with ideal balance and body control. Not overly elusive. Durability a major concern. Sporting News War Room - Big, thick-bodied back with the power and strength to be a dominant inside runner when aggressive and keeping shoulders low to the ground. Has all the tools to be a very good NFL starter on power-running team. But could struggle to reach his potential due to durability issues. A first-round prospect in terms of physical talent but injury history may hurt his rating. Upside: Great build with excellent natural strength. Combination of strength, balance and agility helps him stay on his feet against hard hits. Consistently gains yardage after contact. Can lower shoulders to become a smaller target. Can deliver a violent blow to would-be tacklers. Nice, strong stiff-arm. Can move the pile in short-yardage situations. Agile and quick enough to make would-be tacklers miss in the open field. Once at full speed, is deceptively fast. As a receiver, adjusts well to make tough catches on the move. Has improved at picking his feet up in traffic to avoid getting tripped by low, grab tackles. Downside: Runs upright, especially in traffic, and takes a lot of hard hits. (Has struggled to stay healthy). A bit of a straight-line runner, and struggles to make sharp cuts to hit hole. Lacks explosive burst through the hole or to reach the corner. Lacks elite speed. Liability as a pass blocker because of poor effort and technique. Has improved ball protection but still carries the ball away from body too often and will fumble because of it. nflscouts.com - Blessed with a perfect blend of size, speed, strength and field vision. Upside: For a player of his size, Peterson is blessed with rare speed and quickness. Can get to top speed in an instant and has no problems attacking the holes with legs churning and pads low. Can push and clear the LOS producing 71% of his yardage after initial contact. ... Has the pull-away burst to beat defenders turning the corner...can drop his pads and shift gears quickly, maintaining that burst through his cuts. Quick to attack the inside holes and has the acceleration to separate once he clears the trash. .. Outstanding vision and good savvy as an open field runner. Is more apt to try and side-step his defender now, reducing his fumbles considerably...has natural feel for the holes...has patience to set up and use his blockers. Quick to see threats and while he usually plays the hand he is dealt, it is very easy for him to change direction...made marked improvement getting his hands placed to sustain blocks. Has the size and strength to occupy an opponent. Strength is evident when he sticks his hat into the defender/has also developed into a decent cut blocker and effective to face up and stone when working in space. Downside: Despite his speed, he will try to overpower the opponent rather that elude him ... not used much as a route runner/was limited to screens, pitch-outs and dump-offs. Lets the ball get into his body too much and will double catch it. Looks like just an adequate safety valve working underneath. ... needs route refinement. Though he has the quickness to separate underneath, it's rare to see him run intermediate or long patterns. ...Much more conscious of securing the ball in traffic, but needs to do a better job of eyeing the ball on pitch-outs. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 2 Kenny Irons, Auburn 5105 203 4.45 -- 1.50 2.56 38 10-3 4.17 11.47 7.00 -- BRS (Gollin) - Compact, durable smallish efficient RB in the Curtis Martin mold - does nothing spectacularly but a lot of things very well. 4.45 forty reflects enough straight ahead speed to turn a solid all around RB into a very good one. Senior Bowl Notes (fr War Room) - Stood out and impressed everyone catching the ball....did not catch a ton of passes during last season and did not always look comfortable when asked to do it...showed the hands to pluck passes out of the air and was able to twist and catch slightly off-target passes. ESPN (Scouts Inc.) Resembles Cadillac Williams - Shifty downhill runner with enough burst to get through the hole. Enough speed to reach the corner. Reads blocks well. Has second gear. But runs a bit high at times and will need to become bigger and stronger to shoulder a full-time load. Must become a more consistent route runner and pass catcher. nflscouts.com - Compares to Jerious Norwood, Irons' explosive initial quickness lets him gain instant leverage on any defender. Both are not considered power runners, but because of their burst and low pad level, they have been able to gain valid yardage between tackles. When either of these runners turn the corner, that second gear takes over and their foot race is easily won. Upside: Much quicker than fast, but shows very good explosion and burst coming out of his stance...Attacks the holes with good pad level and forward body lean... Has ease-of-movement agility to change direction and locate the cutback lanes without having to throttle down...has crisp plant and drive agility to get to top speed in an instant and has good up field cutting ability...Intense competitor who will not hesitate to bang it up the middle of the line, despite concerns about his overall strength...Accelerates instantly/very sudden with the loose hips, wiggle and head fakes to simply fool a lethargic defender...Quick through the holes, staying low in his pads while generating the forward body lean to generate valid positive yardage, even in tight areas...Can also rock the defenders back on their heels with his stop-and-go action....Alert to cutback lanes and works hard to set plays up...It is rare to see him go down on first contact......Because he plays at that low pad level, he consistently gets leverage and is fluid in his pick and slide...Won't be easily tripped up because of his above average balance...Too slippery to be neutralized by arm tackles or from defenders trying to take out his legs...While his pick and slide ability is effective, he is just better using cutback lanes than trying to out-run his blocking to get past tacklers...Knows his second gear is much more effective at eluding tacklers rather than trying to juke or wiggle away from them...Darting runner who doesn't have the leg drive to power through tacklers, but is tough to bring down in isolated coverage...The thing you notice on film is his ability to out-run angles and squeeze through holes without having to throttle down...Fast-twitched in his route progression and has the quick pitter-patter steps to ride up on a defender and gobble the cushion. Downside: Developing better overall muscle tone, but is not as strong as recent Auburn runners...will probably fill out only to 215 pounds before seeing the additional weight affect his quickness...might struggle a bit with a complicated playbook... must read blocks in spacebetter...Will sometimes fail to run behind his pads and get stymied straight-up...must improve ball security....would rather catch in a small window than pluck for the ball...adequate on screens...struggles some when asked to operate on crossers or attack the deep seam)...Explodes into his routes to gobble up the cushion, but lacks recognition skills to know when to work back to the ball...Gets run over too much trying to pick up the blitz or bull rush...his marginal hand placement technique sees that opponent easily slip off his blocking attempt. Sporting News War Room - Irons burst onto the scene halfway through his junior season...competitive, athletic with decent strength and great balance but does not consistently break tackles...figures to be an ideal backup early while he adds the necessary bulk. Ultimately, Irons will be a dangerous, big-play back. Upside: Great athlete. Accelerates to full speed in a blink, and has the agility to make would-be tacklers miss. Great vision and instincts to find holes. Runs hard on every snap, and keeps feet moving to run through arm tackles. As a receiver, shows good hands and is dangerous after the catch. In pass protection, is smart and productive; consistently identifies the blitz, picks out his man and stops him. Downside: A bit thin/ must add another 10-15 pounds...Durability is a bigger question...Lacks elite explosiveness through the hole to break long runs. Does not always run with good body lean, limiting his ability to gain yardage after contact. Lacks the size and strength to break tackles. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 3 Antonio Pittman, Ohio St. (UC) 5106 207 4.40 16 1.52 2.53 35.2 10-3 4.16 -- 6.84 -- BRS (Gollin) - Comes from a strong program. Very few negatives. If his forty speed holds up, he'll remain a first round talent. ESPN (Scouts Inc.) Resembles Julius Jones - Gritty runner who hits the hole quickly with power for size. Decent balance. Good COD. Lacks bulk. Lacks wiggle. Must become a more polished receiver. nflscouts.com - Returning starter at tailback ...strong inside runner who can make first defender miss and the speed to go the distance ...hits the hole quickly and is a tough, physical runner who fights for extra yardage ... Sporting News War Room - Shockingly good because of his uncommon athletic ability to make would-be tacklers miss, burst to make sharp cuts and strength to consistently gain yardage after contact. Will not be drafted as highly due to his thin frame and deceptive strength, but he will become a good all-around back in the NFL. His only area needing improvement is pass blocking. Upside: Great athlete with rare quickness, explosiveness and speed. Changes directions in a flash to make would-be tacklers miss. Bounces runs outside when the middle is clogged, and shows the burst to the corner. Highly competitive. Consistently keeps legs churning, and fights for every yard. Has strength and balance to absorb hard hits and stay afoot. Pulls free from arm tackles. Good instincts to find the hole and the burst to hit it. Aggressive with stiff-arm to jolt would-be tacklers. Is smart. Has patience to follow blockers, and sets up blocks nicely. Wraps up the ball in traffic. Good hands as a receiver. Downside: Lacks ideal size. Thin backs usually struggle to stay healthy in the NFL. raw pass-blocking technique/ struggles to eliminate his man. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 4 Lorenzo Booker, Florida St. 5103 191 4.46 26 1.46 2.58 35.5 10-1 -- -- -- -- BRS (Gollin) - We've elevated his stock based on what our eyes tell us. We like the way he can explode to separate in the hole or to run away from defenders off a cutback. Reminds us of a more productive version of JJ Arrington. (Note - his 26 bench press reps suggests he's stronger than JJ too. Senior Bowl Notes (fr War Room) - Continued to show the explosiveness, quick footwork, agility and hands to make up for his lacking size...caught the ball well and made some sharp cuts to avoid contact after the catch....showed explosive quickness, agility and cutting ability...caught the ball well out of the backfield and consistently made sharp cuts to make initial would-be tacklers miss. He showed the burst to break runs outside once he got through inside holes. Booker also showed he can outrun would-be tacklers around the corner. Had a fine day both carrying and catching the ball. Despite being clearly undersized...is well built and muscular for his size. With his quick feet, he showed the explosive cutting ability to change directions in a blur and burst through holes in a flash. Additionally, Booker showed great hands in all the receiving drills. (BRS - We like the way he can explode to separate in the hole or to run away from defenders off a cutback). ESPN (Scouts Inc.) Resembles Warrick Dunn - Has the speed and elusive to become a good 3rd down back. Great burst. Extremely elusive. Technically sound pass catcher. Not very big or strong. Goes down to easily. Can get pushed around at POA. Size creates durability concerns. nflscouts.com -Compares to Derrick Blaylock. Like Blaylock, Booker's quickness and cutting agility make him a fine change-of-pace back and he has the natural hands to be an effective short area receiver. However, he lacks the consistency of a Warrick Dunn and the strength to move the pile. In the open field, his explosive running style is an asset, but between the tackles, he will struggle to break free...Regarded as one of the elite tailbacks coming out despite sharing RB duties.. Upside: Undersized, but shows adequate overall muscle tone and has room on his frame to carry at least another ten pounds of bulk…Has valid speed and explosion coming out of his stance to get on the edge and pick up good yardage past the second level…precise cutting agility and loose hips to attack the cutback lanes…Has the plant-&-drive agility to get in and out of his breaks without needing to throttle down…Natural hands and extension to pluck the ball away from his frame…Good field instincts and is patience…Very sudden…His lateral agility and change of direction skills make him a dangerous threat along the perimeter and his solid receiving skills could see him utilized in the slot or lined wide in passing situations…good feel for the crease and knows how to keep his pads down to redirect…Good at lowering his pads and executing cuts to slip off tackles…Elusive open field runner with the valid speed to take the ball to the house…Second gear allows him to beat angles and slip off tackles racing through the second level…Gets good separation after the catch and it is rare to see him gather in his patterns. Downside: Frame appears narrow, and additional bulk could effect his quickness and suddenness…Has very good speed, but sometimes runs into spots on the field, lacking the leg drive and power to break the initial tackle…Will take several plays off after taking on a physical hit and may lack the overall strength and durability to carry the brunt of the rushing load at the next level...Lacks the bulk to push the pile and unless he slips off tackles, he can be taken down vs. the initial hit…Can be pushed back through the rush lane, especially when he fails to lower his shoulders…Natural hands as a pass catcher, but has been used mostly on controlled routes...struggles tracking the ball over his outside shoulder on long throws…Willing blocker, but too often gets pushed back into the pocket or leaves his feeth…Takes poor angles in the open and is more of an ankle biter when trying to cut block in the second level…Ducks his head on contact and takes only passive arm swipes in attempts to sustain. Sporting News War Room - Still must prove he can handle a 25-carry load week in, week out. One of the nation's most dangerous players because is a touchdown threat on every carry or catch. Fast and elusive and a valuable receiver, which makes him an ideal NFL third-down back Upside: A dazzling athlete. Excels at changing directions, and has the moves to consistently get out of trouble. Plays hard, and is willing to share carries to help his team win. Never stops moving. Can attack the corners of a defense and stretch the field. Shows better patience as senior waiting for holes to open and for blockers to make blocks. Downside: Lacks ideal size/durability always will be a question. Lacks the body to attack the heart of a defense. Tends to run a little upright and gets slowed down because of it.An average blocker, at best.

03-14-2007, 01:30 PM	#10
ICON \|^\|Punter of Gnomes\|^\| Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..Snap! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,607 Adopt-a-Bronco: Nate Irving	Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ 5 Marshawn Lynch, Cal (UC) 5111 215 4.46 20 1.53 2.60 35.5 10-5 4.58 11.80 7.09 -- BRS (Gollin) - Better size than Irons or Pittman. But we're not crazy about RB's who dance in the hole or run with a high pad level, however. ESPN (Scouts Inc.) Resembles Clinton Portis - Has big play potential - Explosive with great combo of size and straight line speed. Tough inside runner. Runs with good pad level. Excellent speed to outside and second gear in open field. Above average hands. Experienced pass blocker. A bit straight-lined. Needs work on route running. Minor durability concerns. nflscouts.com - Compares to Joeseph Addai Slippery as an inside runner and, like Addai, patient with the second gear needed to break away from the pack. Has the acceleration to separate from defenders in the open, excellent arm strength for the option pass and natural hands as a receiver coming out of the backfield. Upside: Solid build with good upper-body muscle definition, big bubble, thick thighs, high calves, broad shoulders, good chest thickness...Can generate a second gear to separate in the open and the nimble feet needed to make precise lateral cuts..loose hips and COD agility helps him avoid traffic...Keeps his feet after contact and pick-and-slide agility to elude when running in-line...Runs with a normal stride, but is very crisp redirecting on the move...good understanding of offense and blocking schemes...vision to locate the soft areas in the zone and no hesitation redirecting when rush lanes are clogged...Effective blocker and a tough inside runner who loves to challenge the defender in one-on-one situations...Will aggressively take on a tackler and will sacrifice his body to compete for the pass over the middle...Mentally tough character who won't let mistakes take him out of his game...Highly respected by his teammates and staff, bringing a good attitude into the locker room with his work ethic and ability to keep the players "loose."...good in-stride quickness/can clear the line of scrimmage in an instant when he keeps his pad level down...quick burst out of his stance /steady acceleration on his long runs...has loose hips to redirect and separate in the open...Excels at finding cutback lanes...Can bounce off the tackle and make the initial defender miss...Patient runner/ it is rare to see him run into traffic...Downhill runner with the slippery moves and COD agility to get through trash...Very good stop-and-go runner whose precise cutting agility will generally cause the initial tackler overrun and overpursue...Compensates for a lack of sudden sustained speed with very good lateral slide and veering moves to avoid...Good balance. Soft, natural hands/catches away from body...vision to look the ball in over his outside shoulder and can separate after the catch...Willing blocker with a good eye for picking up the blitz...Shows good intent and aggression chipping on edge rushers and gives the quarterback enough room to operate when protecting the pocket. Downside: Not explosive runner around the corner...sometimes gets too high in his stance when attempting to race into the second level...needs to improve his leg drive/won't move the pile...Will sometimes get too fancy and dance in front of the hole...Protects the ball better running through traffic than when bouncing outside, but also struggled some when handling a pitch or toss.\ Sporting News War Room - Helped his draft stock by battling through a lingering ankle injury in '06 and still producing at a high level. One-dimensional backs, however, struggle in the NFL. Has the talent to be a top running back, but his NFL team will have to spend a ton of time trying to refine his receiving and pass-blocking skills. Upside: Good athlete. Can be a strong and physical inside runner, and makes would-be tacklers miss outside. Has quickness, agility and balance to change direction, make sharp cuts and make would-be tacklers miss. Natural running instinct. Finds the hole, and quickly gets through it. Follows blockers well; will sit on their hip, and make sharp cuts off blocks. Is competitive and tough. Keeps legs churning to fight for yardage. Strong enough to run through arm tackles. Has the balance to absorb hard hits and keep on going. Downside: More quick than fast. Lacks elite explosiveness and speed to run away from defenses. Won’t score long touchdowns. Must improve as a receiver & seldom used in this capacity. Must be more consistent at lowering his shoulders and running with good pad level. Tends to run too upright. Must work on pass blocking (not aggressive or tenacious). Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 6 Michael Bush, Louisville (UC) 6013 243 4.65 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- BRS (Gollin) - It all depends on how far and how fast he can come back from his leg injury. Could be an option for Cardinals as a big back if they fail to sign Marcel Shipp ESPN (Scouts Inc.) Resembles Larry Johnson - Has unmatched speed and versatility for a big back. Can blow thru defenders when running at the right pad level. Outstanding receiver and route runner. Durability a major concern missed 2006 due to broken leg and some of 2005 due to foot injury. Runs too high, making him a magnet for tacklers and prone to future injury. nflscouts.com - Compares to Greg Jones. Bush is not as well-built or strong as Jones, but when both are healthy they are capable of moving the chains with their deceptive speed, stutter-step running style and natural hands as a catcher out of the backfield. Both have also had injury issues - .only three minutes into the second half of the Kentucky clash, Bush suffered a right leg fracture. Upside: Very good foot agility and balance for size...Takes short, pitter-patter steps and has the loose hips to change direction and come out of his breaks with an explosive up field burst...Very crisp planting and driving in his route cuts and has the feel for the crease and vision to locate the cutback lane...Intense competitor...it's very rare to see him run out of bounds...has deceptive burst that allows him to surprise a lethargic defender...nice job of changing angles, but can also build up to top speed quickly when operating deep in the backfield...won't run away from defenders on pure speed, but can change gears, lower his pads and redirect smoothly to get past the second level. Patient waiting for holes to develop, but it is his ability to see the cutback lanes that has brought about most of his long runs... Bush is capable of sinking his hips and keeping his pad level low...good success through the cutback lanes or bouncing outside to get big yardage...Has the loose hips to redirect and is quite nimble in the open for a player of his size...despite being a good downhill runner, his lateral bounce is more effectively used running outside... smooth stride moving laterally to make the initial tackler miss...Can either juke the defender or slide step to elude...Sets up his cuts nicely when sliding and has the feet to take the ball long distances...capable third-down receiver, with the natural hands and arm extension to catch away from his frame ...Catches the ball cleanly and does a good job extending for off-target throws...Deceptively quick to get open underneath and good at adjusting and settling in the soft areas. Downside: Has a thick frame that can carry additional bulk, but needs to add overall muscle definition...soft gutted, big bubble, good lower frame thickness, but only adequate strength...mediocre Wonderlic score (12) might set off some red flags but can read holes and recognize coverages...Must improve his overall strength though he does use his size and leg drive efficiently to break tackles...weight has been a problem and his lack of overall muscle tone is the result of his dislike for lifting weights. Still has that mentality that he would much rather avoid and elude defenders than run over them...Despite his mass, he is not a pile mover and must get stronger. Lost three lost fumbles vs. Cincy 2 years ago...Willing in-line blocker who uses his body well to occupy the smaller defenders at the line of scrimmage, but lack of ideal power is evident when facing up to down linemen...Tries to square up, but lacks the strong hand punch to lock on and sustain. Sporting News War Room - Bush is unique. He has the size and strength of a big back but the agility, balance and instincts of a smaller guy. Scouts don't like running backs who lack explosiveness and speed but Bush grows on you. Similar to Rod Bernstine. Can be a good NFL starter but durability is a big question mark -- especially after breaking his leg in Louisville's season opener. Upside: Is big and strong. Keeps his feet moving to absorb hard hits and keep on going. Breaks a lot of tackles. Shows good instincts to follow blockers and cut off them correctly. Surprisingly quick and agile. Can stop and start quickly enough to avoid tacklers in the open field. Good hands to make tough catches. Is as good a pass blocker as he wants to be -- always picks the right man, but does not always use good technique. Downside: Has struggled to stay healthy. Lacks the explosive burst and speed to be a big-play threat. Lacks the burst to be as effective on cutback runs in the NFL. Runs upright too often. When there is no hole, tends to slow up and become tentative. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ SH 60S 3C WN 7 Darius Walker, N. Dame (UC) 5100 206 4.55 19 1.54 2.62 40.5 1-3 4.39 -- 7.18 -- 5100 206 4.55 2.62 1.54 19 40 1/2 10'3" 4.39 7.18 BRS (Gollin) - The Notre Dame connection can break 2 ways: (1) Is Walker a product of Notre Dame hype? Or (2) Does being a RB in the Notre Dame system under Charley Weis make him a better player and also a pretty good one who earned Weis' respect? ESPN (Scouts Inc.) Resembles Chester Taylor - Terrific vision. Quick and shifty. Slippery. Protects his body well. Reliable receiver. Physically not really outstanding in any area - adequate speed and size, not real elusive, struggles to reach the corner, as a blocker he gets manhandled by bigger LB's. nflscouts.com - Upside: Good initial quickness to and through the hole. Can make defenders miss with deceptive speed to the outside. Lacks the size preferred in an interior and short-yardage runner, but has proven quite successful in this aspect of the game. Consistent and durable runner who never missed a collegiate game due to injury despite concerns about his size. Excellent receiver out of the backfield. Downside: Lacks true breakaway speed and is considered a bit of a product of coach Charlie Weis' system. Lacks bulk or power in his running. Is limited in the type of scheme in which he can be effective. Sporting News War Room - Walker's decision to go pro caught many by surprise. Coach Charlie Weis said he was informed of Walker's decision Jan. 9. "He guaranteed me that he would graduate from Notre Dame in the near future. Although disappointed, we wish him nothing but the best." Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 8 Tony Hunt, Penn State 6015 233 4.55 24 -- -- -- -- -- -- BRS (Gollin) - Reminded us of Marcus Allen. Allen was a well-rounded back who didn't excel at any one thing, but became good enough at a variety of things to develop into a Pro Bowl star. But most guys who profile like this tend to never ratchet up all the aspects of their game high enough to avoid falling by the wayside. Question with Hunt will be whether or not he has the spark inside he'll need to raise his game. This is a guy whose agility and pass catching drill performance at the Combine will help or hurt him. ESPN (Scouts Inc.) Resembles Rudi Johnson - Tough, powerful, durable. Could evolve into decent starter on a power running team. Rarely drops a catchable pass and is an effective pass blocker. But doesn't stand out in any single area. nflscouts.com -Compares to Kevan Barlow Hunt is a big, physical power runner who quietly goes about his business. He was much more productive in 2006 than Barlow, but both rely on power and balance to gain the tough yardage between the tackles. Hunt is a decent short area receiver with the strength to consistently break tackles, but his timed speed is not going to see him win many foot races in the open. If you are looking for a breakaway threat, look elsewhere. If you are looking for a physical chain mover, Hunt is that type. Upside: Has a solid build with a muscular lower body frame, good thickness in his thighs and calves, good bubble, broad shoulders, tight waist and room on his frame to add at least another 10 pounds of bulk...Doesn't have the breakaway speed to pull away from the pile, but his balance and strength let him run over and through the initial tackle when he keeps his pads down...Good field vision and awareness running with the ball/quick to locate the cutback lanes..Will lower his head to get extra yardage after contact rather than run out of bounds...Comes out of his stance with decent initial quickness, but it is his balance and body control, rather than explosion, that helps him build to top speed through the holes...When he keeps his pad level low, he has good forward body lean through the rush lanes...Effective at varying his speed and setting up defenders with his moves rather than generating suddenness off the snap...Has the vision to quickly recognize coverages, good feel for the defender and the power to run through his opponent...Not real nimble, but has the leg drive to gain valid yardage on the move..Good at lowering his shoulders, leaning forward and driving with his legs to break the initial tackle...Can anticipate defender's moves and runs with good forward lean and strength to gain valid yardage after initial contact...Won't win long distance races, but has enough of a functional initial burst to at least move the chains consistently. Good reach and extension to catch away from his frame...Good vision awareness and arm flexibility to grab off-target throws (it's rare to see him use his body as a crutch to field the ball.)..Will not hesitate to face up when blocking in-line and generates a strong hand punch and solid placement to sustain...Coming out of his stance, he keeps his pads down, getting the tough yardage through trash...Has a natural feel for cutback lanes and the instincts to know when to redirect and bounce outside. Downside: When he tends to get erect and high in his stance, he can be pushed back through the rush lanes...lacks the sustained speed to threaten in the deep secondary...lacks the wiggle and shake to elude...problems arise when he gets too high in his stance...just adequate taking the ball long distances...functional lateral quickness, but it is rare to see him juke and disappear from the pile turning the corner...The only time he gets turned back is when he runs too tall through the creases or tries to get fancy by juking a defender along the perimeter...6 fumbles...Must run sharper routes to be considered more than a safety valve receiver and must generate better hip snap to get in and out of his breaks cleanly than he has displayed. Sporting News War Room - Frustrating prospect because he has good physical tools -- especially strength and balance -- but lacks the aggressiveness to take advantage. Gets tackled too easily. With improvement, he could be an adequate NFL starter; however, rarely do players greatly improve their aggressiveness or receiving skills. Projects as a backup who might not last long. Upside: Quick and surprisingly smooth and fluid. Good instincts to find the hole, plus quickness to get through it fast. Can bounce runs outside when the middle is clogged up. Strong enough to absorb hits and run through arm tackles. Can knock would-be tacklers backwards when he is aggressive and lowers shoulders. Follows blockers well. Downside: Does not consistently run aggressively... Lacks pure speed and explosiveness. Doesn't wrap up the ball well in traffic. Doesn’t make many would-be tacklers miss. Is not a polished receiver, and needs a lot of work in pass protection.

03-14-2007, 01:36 PM	#12
ICON \|^\|Punter of Gnomes\|^\| Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..Snap! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,607 Adopt-a-Bronco: Nate Irving	Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ 1 Ted Ginn Jr., Ohio St. (UC) 5112 178 4.30 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Player Worth Watching BRS (Gollin) - the addition of a gamebreaking burner who can separate and beat you long in addition to having Hester-like potential as a returner could make Q, Fitz and Co. super scary as a receiving unit. Not fully recovered from ankle injury to compete at the Combine. Pro Day may be where he confirms what most people feel about his blazing speed and tremendous athleticism. ESPN (Scouts Inc.) - Resembles Santana Moss - World class speed and exceptional initial burst. Great RAC threat. Needs more bulk and strength. Not very physical. Gets jammed too easily. Will drop catchable balls. Is so fast that he must slow down to make cuts. nflscouts.com - ... a threat to score any time he touches the ball ... has Olympic speed and dazzling quickness ... an electrifying football player ...terrific hands/ catches everything that comes his way ... especially dangerous when he turns the corner and shifts into passing gear Sporting News War Room - Superstar in high school and a star in college - game-changing player in whose hands teams want to get the ball. But he must focus on improving his skills to become an elite NFL player. That will take time...With work and discipline, he will develop into a playmaking pro & should become an explosive receiver similar to Steve Smith and Santana Moss. Upside: Explosive and a legitimate TD threat every time he touches the ball. Uses quickness to get separation in routes. Has the speed to stretch the field and get deep. Good hands. When focused, can adjust to poor passes and make great catches. Excellent in the open field. Uses speed and instincts, follows blockers well and doesn’t go down easily on contact. Is a threat as a return man. Downside: Has thin legs, raising durability concerns.Raw for an elite player. Must polish technique. Runs sloppy routes; tends to round them off. Lacks great focus; will drop passes and punts because of it. Doesn’t give great effort as a blocker. ... Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 2 Calvin Johnson*, Ga Tech (UC) 6050 239 4.35 -- 1.52 2.53 -- -- -- -- BRS (Gollin) - Reminds us physically of David Boston. Cards needs tilt toward blazing speed and explosion. Johnson is one of the new breed of receivers who combine the size of a TE with good speed, incredible hands, leaping ability and ball skills. But the past 2 or 3 years is rife with big receivers (i.e. the "Detroit experiment") who just didn't click because they couldn't separate from man coverage. War Room questions his explosiveness. nflscouts feels Johnson has the separation speed. ESPN (Scouts Inc.) - Resembles Randy Moss - Exceptional athletic tools - well built and strong with rare speed. Big hands. King of jump balls. Remarkable balance and body control. Runs before he secures ball. Will disappear at times. Some durability concern (knee). nflscouts.com - Compares to Larry Fitzgerald -Johnson is actually bigger and faster. While Fitzgerald has trouble separating deep, Johnson could become the complete package. Where Johnson falls short of Fitzgerald is in his concentration in jump-ball situations. Regarded by many as the premier receiver in college football...has that rare blend of size, strength and quickness. Upside: Tall, thick frame, with long arms, large hands, thick thighs and calves and a big bubble...His long legs let him ride up on the defender quickly while looking effortless in his stride...Good closing speed running under sideline throws and the quickness to get into his routes without being impeded...Good power receiver on crossers and side-line throws, using his strength and size to shield the ball from defenders...strong hands (no fumbles) and the second gear to turn a short pass into a long gainer...Very physical in his initial step off the ball, but also has the quickness to immediately defeat the press...Best when operating along the sidelines where he can build to top speed and maintain it throughout his route...Knows how to use his body and has a knack for finding the open spots in the zone...In man coverage, he is very adept at using his burst to separate consistently...Has the long arms and body control to go over people to get to the ball...Knows how to get open and understands sticks and boundaries....Big target who can't be rerouted by a strong hand push - learning how to use his long arms to go over defenders ...Can be very explosive in his rise and shows natural hand extension to reach and pluck away from the frame...Generates a strong jolt to defeat the press and works hard with his hands to sustain when blocking in-line...not a body catcher...Terrific load to bring down after the catch...Strong open field runner who will drag defenders when fighting for extra yardage... not a lot of shake in his hips and a bit of a long strider, but does run with the power needed to break tackles consistently...Uses his hands with force to lock on and sustain and can generate devastating cut blocks in the open...Can dominate smaller defensive backs and shows good angles getting out to neutralize second level defenders...Stays low in his pads and shows good intent when delivering his hand punch vs. the bull rush. Downside: Sometimes does not play up to his timed speed...timing is on jumps sometimes off...has also left quite a few passes on the field, perhaps due to poor passing precision from the quarterback position...has caught only 127 of 271 passes thrown to him...( it is hard to imagine the smaller cornerbacks having success in batting away 21 of those passes thrown to him)...tends to lose sight of the ball over his head...some hip stiffness when trying to change direction and this will sometimes prevent him from making sharp cuts...must show better hip sink on his cuts...Tends to lose concentration working in a crowd (hears defender's footsteps)...Gets his feet down properly when working along the side-lines, but must be more alert to the quarterback scramble. Sporting News War Room - Has the size and strength and remarkable hands to be a dominant player. Catches every pass thrown in his direction; senses the arrival of the ball and can twist his body to make great catches routinely. Only thing that will limit him is his lack of explosiveness because he will not be able to get consistent separation in tight man-to-man coverage, but he has the smarts and strength to compensate. Upside: A giant with the height, strength and athletic ability that virtually is impossible to find. Great hands/can consistently catch off-target passes. Fights through jams easily because of quick footwork and strong hands. Uses body well to shield defenders. Tough enough to catch passes in traffic, absorbing violent hits and holding onto the ball. A surprisingly elusive runner, who is big enough to run through some would-be tacklers. Downside: Lacks elite explosiveness and speed to consistently burst away from defender, especially on downfield routes -- will struggle even more to separate from NFL cornerbacks. Does not consistently work hard as a run blocker. Does not always run aggressively after the catch. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 3 Aundrae Allison, E. Carolina 6002 198 4.39 -- 1.43 2.46 37 10-7 -- -- -- -- Player Worth Watching Senior Bowl Notes (fr War Room) - Had another terrific day...ran very sharp routes and used his body well to shield defenders. He especially excelled at catching passes in end zone and made highlight-reel catches with cornerbacks all over him. Even though he finally dropped a few passes on Wednesday, he clearly stood out with a strong outing. Had a strong day on Tuesday....ran his traditionally sharp routes and consistently got separation from defensive backs to catch the ball well...also showed he could twist and adjust his body to make tough catches on off-target throws. BRS (Gollin) - Reminds us of a poor man's Paul Warfield. If he can run under a 4.45, he fits the burner profile of a receiver who could help us/ ESPN (Scouts Inc.) - Resembles Lee Evans - Very sudden and "quick twitch." Compact style. Reaches top gear in a hurry. Good route skills. Can throw. Somewhat raw. Will take some plays off. Sometimes will try too hard after the catch. Lacks mean streak. Could use more bulk. nflscouts.com - Compares to Santonio Holmes - Like Holmes, Allison is very capable of surprising a defender with his explosive burst. Simply a playmaker who is a threat anytime or anyway he touches the ball. Like Holmes, he's a big distraction for a defense, as he is perfectly capable of taking a handoff and either running with the ball or pulling up to unleash a perfectly-timed pass. Upside: Good bubble, split high, with long legs, high calves with that explosive playing burst to easily separate after the catch…above average lateral agility and balance when changing direction, doing an excellent job of extending for the ball and keeping his feet inbounds when working along the sidelines…loose hips and good feet to get in and out of his cuts. Quick first step lets him explode off the line…Also has the hip wiggle and head fakes to elude defenders after the catch…Even when his speed fails to elude the defensive back, he has the hip wiggle and shake needed to prevent from being rerouted…Might not look physical enough to fight off the jam, but knows how to use his arm-over action to separate when the defender attempts to press…Has the quickness to separate along the perimeter and the "make you miss" burst to get down field…vertical speed is evident by how he can consistently stretch the field and make good body adjustments to the ball. Can uncover and free up from his man working in the short area. can sink his hips and go low to grab the ball on shallow crossing routes…burst to get under the ball and make the over-the-shoulder grab look routine…quick to gobble up the cushion, especially when working in the zone…Very quick off the line and has the suddenness to get to top speed instantly…You notice on film his ability to drop his weight, sink his hips and maintain body control in and out of his cuts when separating…By staying at a low pad level, he is very effective at rapidly accelerating to get under the ball…can keep his eyes on the ball, even when knowing the defender is about to deliver a viscous hit…good feel for the sticks and chains and makes good body adjustments on the move to uncover…Excels at keeping his feet in-bounds working along the sidelines and slipping through tight coverage…good working relationship with his quarterback to stay in sync and come back when the pocket collapses. Looks like a gazelle in the open field, with a smooth stride that quickly gobbles up the cushion… uses his COD, quickness, hands and planting agility to elude the lethargic defender…twists, turns and spins to slide away from contact and can use the defender's body well to push off and gain separation…Effective open field cutter because of his ability to attack the defender low and use his hands to mirror and sustain. Downside: Must improve upper body muscle definition…still has not developed good weight room habits, but is improving - if he receives patient coaching, he will develop those traits…Lacks the brute strength to out-muscle the more physical defenders, but compensates with his long arms, good ball concentration and leaping ability to get to the balls thrown into a crowd. Sporting News War Room - Does not look like he runs fast but rarely gets chased down. Will move way up draft boards because he will run a great 40-yard dash in pre-draft workouts. However, he is not an elite receiver worthy of a first-round pick. Fits best in the second round. Should develop into a good No. 2 receiver who catches the ball consistently and can stretch the field. Upside: Great athlete, with good size. Quick to get off the snap and into routes. Closes cushion on cornerbacks in a blink, and gets separation on downfield routes. Smooth and fluid athlete who never gets out of control or looks awkward. Great hands to pluck high passes out of the air, and consistently makes tough over-the-shoulder catches. Surprisingly effective after the catch -- gets downfield quickly, and shows the strength and balance to absorb hard hits and keep going. Can make would-be tacklers miss in the open field. Can be a solid return man in the NFL. Downside: Could be more aggressive... Does not use hands well to negate jams. Not a natural pass catcher; tends to jump to use body to catch passes easily within reach. Will run nonchalant routes.

03-14-2007, 01:37 PM	#13
ICON \|^\|Punter of Gnomes\|^\| Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..Snap! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,607 Adopt-a-Bronco: Nate Irving	Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 4 Dwayne Bowe, LSU 6022 221 4.51 -- 1.53 2.65 33 10-5 4.35 -- 6.81 -- BRS (Gollin) -- Impressed us the most of any receiver in post season. If he times far better than the 4.55 early listing, his stock bears watching. Senior Bowl Notes (fr War Room) - Had another strong day Thursday, making big catches in all the drills. He especially showed his stuff in plucking high passes on slant routes across the middle and winning jump-ball battles in the end zone. Best wide receiver of the day. Not only does he have great size, quickness and speed, but he also runs sharp routes. He uses his hands well to fight through physical press coverage and get open. He showed great hands, including getting up and catching high passes. Impressed everyone with his good build. On Monday, he caught the ball well and showed natural hands plucking the ball out of the air. (BRS – (BRS - Loved his sharp routes. Was consistently beating the jam, using his body to avoid coverage and catching everything in site) ESPN (Scouts Inc.) - Resembles Andre Johnson - Gifted smooth athlete with outstanding size and adequate speed. Late bloomer with high ceiling. Weapon on jump balls, fades and red zone patterns. Raw - didn't play FB til his junior year in HS. Lacks recognition skills. Must learn to run better routes, sharpen his cuts and focus on caching the ball (drops too many easy ones). nflscouts.com - Compares to Arnaz Battle - Like Battle, Bowe doesn't explode off the line of scrimmage, but he uses his strength to avoid the jam and get into his route progression. Upside: Well-built physique with long arms, large hands, good bubble and thick chest muscles...frame that can carry at least another 10 pounds of bulk with no drop-off in speed...Physical player who uses his long arms and power to defeat the jam and get into his route progression...Best when working underneath in attempts to gain separation...Long strider who runs crisp routes and does a good job of shifting his weight in and out of his cuts...Too strong for defensive backs to attempt to reroute...Knows how to find the seams and keeping his feet in bounds working along the sidelines...More of a tackle-breaker than a receiver who can elude in the open, but it is very rare to see him get neutralized in one-on-one situations...Not afraid to go over the middle and compete for the ball in traffic...large, natural hands/knows how to extend and pluck away from his frame...very good timing getting to the ball and is alert enough to locate the zone's soft areas...no flinch to him in attempts to extend and get vertical for the ball when working underneath...Even with his long stride, he has enough acceleration to get under the deep throws...body control and balance to go up for the ball in a crowd, but more effective in the short-to-intermediate areas than when going deep...lower body power to break tackles...Aggressive up field blocker who attacks and neutralizes second level defenders consistently. Downside: Has good timed speed, but because of his long stride, needs room to build acceleration...Lacks the suddenness to explode off the line, but gets to the receiving point once he gets into gear...can drop his weight, but will struggle a bit to get to the low throws...must rely on his power and forward body lean to gain separation rather than elude...natural hands, but looks to run with the ball before securing it, leading to costly drops or the ball bouncing off his frame for an interception...Better on short-to-intermediate routes, (needs too much time in attempts to gobble up the cushion and separate on deep routes)...must learn how to look the long ball in over his outside shoulder (will get turned around some and lose sight of the ball). Sporting News War Room - Surprises with his quickness, athleticism and playing speed. Should be a productive possession receiver and valuable red-zone receiver. Despite his quickness and playing speed he is not going to be a deep threat. He will fit better as a possession receiver. Upside: Tall, well built. Has strength and balance to keep his feet after hard hits and arm tackles. Can break tackles for gains after contact. Fights for yards until the whistle. Runs good routes. Quickness and burst out of cuts; gets consistent separation. Can get away on deep routes.Tough enough to make catches over the middle. Good hands; can snag high and off-target passes.Excellent jump-ball receiver. Downside: Must eliminate back-foot false step to maintain quickness off the snap. Must catch the ball more consistently with his hands (body snatcher). Must be more consistent at breaking tackles. Solid, but not a game breaker. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 5 Jason Hill, Wash. St. 6004 204 4.32 -- 1.49 2.50 37 10-3 4.22 -- 7.02 -- BRS (Gollin) -The 4.32 was a vast improvement over his previously estimated time. Impressed us in Senior Bowl drills. Senior Bowl Notes (fr War Room) - Caught the ball nicely on Day 1. He consistently plucked the ball with his hands and made three great catches on high passes. He ran sharp and precise routes but lacked explosiveness off the snap. (BRS - Impressed us) ESPN (Scouts Inc.) - Resembles Travis Taylor - Instinctive, physical receiver who's adept at using his body to shield the ball from the defender. Big hands. Times jumps well. Sluggish top end speed (Hey! That's what they said). Tops out too quickly running downfield. Inconsistent breaks and line releases. Will drop a catchable ball. Rounds off cuts. nflscouts.com - Compares to Reggie Wayne - Wayne, Chad Johnson and Hill don't need to rely on blazing speed to be dangerous threats - they all do it with a physical running strike and loose hips to weave through traffic, making them players that must be accounted for every second they are on the field. Hill gets little respect from the media, but his big play potential and ability to regularly find the end zone has given more than a few opponents nightmares. Upside: Angular frame with smooth muscle tone, developed chest, long arms, good bubble and tapered thighs and calves…Superb hand/eye coordination to get to the ball at its high point and the size and body control to time his leaps and contort his body to get to the tough throws in a crowd…Excellent balance adjusting to downfield passes and knows how to sink his hips and drop his weight to elude after the catch…Very good sideline vision, keeping his balance and feet in bounds/ fearless going for the ball in a crowd and very combative with his hands, whether to escape the jam or to lock on to a defender when blocking…very good ball concentration going up for the jump ball and never flinches, even when kamikaze defenders try to attack his legs…good initial thrust off the line, using his hands with force to defeat the jam…quicker than fast, but glides to top acceleration nicely… Uses his size well to slip through tight areas and has enough burst to gobble up the cushion…adept at adjusting to the coverage and even though he frequently catches in a crowd, he shows the fluid stride to not have to throttle down coming out of his breaks…Runs crisp routes and drops his hips and sinks his weight to separate out of his cuts…Very good settling underneath, making him a nice target in the short area. Balance and good feet let him operate in tight spaces…great atweaving through a crowd with the power to leverage defenders to gain separation…very good hip sinking agility and good job at getting depth in all of his routes…Uses his hands very effectively to gain separation after the catch, with the loose hips, head fake and strong leg drive to break the initial tackle…Takes no wasted steps with his acceleration out of transition cuts and does a fine job on come-back routes…Does a good job of looking the ball in over his shoulder and can get open and settle in the soft spot of the zone…Can weave through traffic with the best of them…Will go for the ball with determination on crossing routes and shows outstanding concentration to get to the pigskin over the middle…Times his leaps well and will not hesitate to sacrifice his body to get to the ball in a crowd…Has the body control, balance and jumping skills to reach and pluck the ball away from his frame and at the high point…can play the ball over his shoulder and make body adjustments to track the ball in flight…Attacks with aggression and stays with the play until the finish when blocking in the second level…very effective at getting low to chop down linebackers and safeties at their legs in run support…Played on all the special teams (punt return/coverage, kickoff return/coverage) and is also a proficient kick blocker.Downside: Only adequate weight room strength, but plays stronger on the field and uses his hands well to escape the jam…Lacks sudden explosion, but shows the savvy and hand usage to gain good separation coming off the snap….While he lacks a sudden burst, he stays square in his routes, especially when coming back to the ball. Not the type to explode up the field after the catch, but he is a strong runner who powers through the initial tackle and is a load to bring down...Mus improve his overall strength to prevent from being pushed back into the pocket when working in-line though…Has the hand usage to sustain when he is able to lock on, but doesn't have the brute power to drag the defensive linemen down. Sporting News War Room - One of the more athletic receivers coming out, with the size, strength and hands to become a solid NFL possession receiver. Figures to be drafted higher than he warrants because of his college productivity and ability to catch passes in traffic. Upside: Great athleticism to catch the ball in any condition. Great hand/eye coordination and body control on jump balls and along the sideline. Is smooth and fluid. Runs sharp routes. Good instincts to consistently find open spots in zones. Gets head turned quickly to catch hard throws. Has the strength to be a good blocker. Downside: Loses focus too often and run sloppy routes. Lacks intensity as a blocker, and rarely finishes off his man. Lacks the speed to run by NFL cornerbacks and explosiveness to get separation out of cuts. Must learn to better use hands to negate jams.

03-14-2007, 01:39 PM	#14
ICON \|^\|Punter of Gnomes\|^\| Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..Snap! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,607 Adopt-a-Bronco: Nate Irving	Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ 6 Anthny Gonzalez, Ohio State (UC) 6000 193 4.44 -- 1.48 2.58 38 10-3 4.08 -- 6.54 -- BRS (Gollin) - Lost in Ginn's shadow. Buzz around the scouting community is that (a) he could surprise everyone with a fast forty time and, if he does, he could move way up the charts toward Ginn territory. ESPN (Scouts Inc.) - Resembles Torry Holt - Great route runner with the makings of a fine possession receiver. Great technique in all aspects of game - route running, jump balls, reading coverages etc. Unproven in #1 role. Needs to do better job at escaping press coverage. Lacks second gear and not much of a home run threat. nflscouts.com - nflscouts.com - Sure handed, speedy receiver who specializes in clutch catches ... teamed with Santonio Holmes and Ted Ginn last year to give the Buckeyes three big-play receivers on what was one of the most explosive offenses in the country... will line up at split end when the Buckeyes employ two wideouts, and in the slot when they go to a third receiver ... excellent hands, runs pure routes and is deceptively fast ... also a fine blocker ... will be used to return punts when the Buckeyes go with two return men. Sporting News War Room - Deep threat and the second-leading receiver for Ohio State. Gonzalez is a philosophy major who is one of the most popular players on the roster. He is as well known for sleeping in an oxygen-depletion tent and his knack for cooking Cuban food as he is for his play on the field. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 7 David Clowney, Va. Tech 6002 188 4.36 -- 1.52 2.53 32.5 10-3 4.15 -- 7.00 -- BRS (Gollin) - Looks taller than he actually is because of his slender build. We didn't think his COD, explosiveness and cutting skills were as good as the write ups suggest. Senior Bowl Notes (fr War Room) - Continued working his way back from his bad first day. He ran great routes and showed a burst to consistently get a step of separation...made a number of great catches on passes that few players would have caught, able to lay out and pluck off-target passes that were either behind him or low. Clowney also good fade routes, plucking balls right inside the back of the end zone. Did not make a good impression Monday. He caught nearly every pass thrown his way (eight out of nine), but the stats are misleading. He consistently used his body to catch them, allowing the ball to get into his chest and thus fighting the ball too often. He did, however, show good hands plucking high passes when unable to use his body to trap the ball. BRS - We thought he looked good avoiding jams and using his body and leverage to get position on his defender). ESPN (Scouts Inc.) - Resembles Terry Glenn - Lightning fast. Explodes off line and gets to top speed in a hurry. Has burst that can burn defenders on vertical routes. Has marginal bulk and can get pushed around. Needs to read zone coverages better. nflscouts.com - Compares to Kevin Curtis - Has few peers when it comes to gaining separation on deep routes. Might not have the bulk to be a physical type working underneath, but when he makes those over-the-shoulder grabs, he is almost certain to beat his man, thanks to his hard planting agility that lets him slide past the opponent to pick up positive yardage. Upside: Elusiveness and second gear to escape the initial tackler and separate in the open field…Fluid COD agility and despite his slight frame, utilizes his explosion to defeat the jam…good at gearing down and dropping his weight when working through a crowd… plant-&-drive agility coming out of his breaks to get under the deep pass…explosion to instantly gobble up the cushion and will win most foot races in the open…Stays in control getting in and out of his break point…Has the quick vertical burst and lateral agility to come back for the poorly thrown pass…good awareness for locating the soft spots in the zone, dropping his weight to settle underneath…Can generate that second gear needed to make the over-the-shoulder grabs. Uncovers and finds space when working in the short area and can drive off on the slant due to his quickness…large, natural hands with proper technique extending to catch outside his frame…does not hesitate going for the ball in a crowd (but lacks the size and strength to dominate)…steady stride and burst throughout his route progression…Even with his blazing speed, he knows how to regulate so he does not outrun the deep throws…Hard planting agility lets him separate from the crowd after the catch…Adequate cut blocker who uses his hands well vs. second level defenders. Downside: Slight frame with a small bubble, smooth skin, marginal chest thickness and little room for additional growth…Capable of retaining plays, but needs several reps to do so…Lacks the bulk to face up to defenders when blocking in-line...Must get a clean release off the line to avoid getting rerouted…Can get in and out of his break point, but then starts to coast too often, which lets the defensive back recover…Can outrun most defenders, but once the opponent latches on to him, the battle is over…sometimes will get a little lazy in his stride, losing some of his elusiveness. Sporting News War Room - Explosive receiver with the speed to run away from coverage downfield. Despite his physical tools, does not make many of the catches other elite receivers would make. Much less productive as a senior than expected. Should develop into a good NFL starter who can change games with big plays...must become more aggressive against physical coverage and must fight harder for jump balls. Upside: Good athlete with the hands to make difficult catches. Aggressive going after the ball. Changes directions swiftly to avoid jams. Bursts past cornerbacks and separates quickly. Accelerates well after the catch, and can elude would-be tacklers. Speed to turn short routes into touchdowns; once he gets a step, doesn't get caught from behind. Runs routes with good bend and flexibility to make quick cuts. As a blocker, consistently works hard. Is tough and a fast healer, returning from appendectomy surgery quickly during '06 season. Downside: Thin, leading to long-term durability issues. Did not have a big senior season. Just an adequate first step. Struggles to stay on his route against physical cornerbacks. Inconsistent fighting for jump balls. Trouble on deep routes; struggling to come back and fight through cornerbacks to catch underthrown passes. Runs upright too often, struggling to get out of cuts quickly. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 8 Craig Davis, LSU 5102 181 4.50 -- 1.53 2.61 35.5 9-7 4.14 -- 6.66 -- BRS (Gollin) - Impressed us in Senior Bowl but (according to write ups) could be more physicall. Very agile. ESPN (Scouts Inc.) - Resembles Reggie Wayne - Terrific first gear. Potential draft day steal. Intriguing blend of size and speed. Unafraid to go over middle. Can stretch the field vertically. Raw route runner who lacks savvy setting up defenders, Questionable durability. Needs to be coached up. nflscouts.com - Compares to: Robert Ferguson - When Davis' head is in the game, big things can happen. He just needs to run consistent routes and be more alert when his quarterback is flushed out of the pocket, (it is rare to see him come back for the ball). Must also show better courage going for the ball in a crowd. A well-built target who runs precise routes, and some consider him to have the best hands of any receiver in the SEC. Tireless worker (spent part of the 2006 summer running routes and catching passes from Peyton and Eli Manning). Upside: Added needed upper body muscle tone during the last off-season...very quick open-field runner who gets under the ball instantly, making good body adjustments to be in position to make the catch...Aggressive blocker who does a nice job of locating and stalking second level defenders...Plays with good lower body strength and explosion to break tackles and separate...Uses his arms well to get a clean release off the line and has the lateral agility to slip past and avoid the jam...Utilizes an effective swim move in his release and a stutter-step to shake off the cornerback...Explodes coming out of his breaks and knows how to use his burst to ride up on a defensive back in attempts to gobble up the cushion...Knows how to set the defender up with his head fakes and COD agility...Does a good job of making body adjustments when working in the red zone...Uses his size well to shield defenders from the ball...Very effective at getting low for the underneath throws and has the ability to pluck the ball away from his frame...Can easily separate from a lethargic cornerback when running into the deep secondary to get under the ball...His leg drives lets him consistently break tackles and he has the loose hips and juking moves to make the initial tackler miss...Once he finds the crease, he can gain valid yardage with the ball...Effective position blocker with the ability to sustain, rather than just get in the way and pester. Downside: Still developing his frame and has a small bubble with adequate calf muscle definition... seems hesitant at times to work in a crowd and compete for jump balls...must be more alert on the field...doesn't demonstrate a quick thrust coming off the line to challenge the defensive back...tends to make soft angle cuts and is slow to regain his acceleration when he has to stop, catch and then run with the ball...Natural hands but will struggle some with his timing and elevation going for high throws...poor effort, keeping his arms short and lets the ball come into his body when working through a crowd ...Will throttle down and take plays off when he is not involved in the action. Sporting News War Room - Potential sleeper and will be drafted lower than he deserves, but he will be a productive pro and a touchdown threat. LSU’s depth limited Davis’ production in college, but he is capable of better results....good separation against man coverage, and his combination of size, playing speed, explosiveness and hands make him a big deep threat. Upside: Quick feet, explosiveness and elite playing speed to stretch the field and make big plays. Elusive runner with burst and hip movement to make tacklers miss. Strength and balance to keep feet after hits and low tackles. Runs sharp, precise routes. Consistent burst out of cuts to get separation. Can set up and turn around defender. Very good hands. Can pluck down high passes without slowing, adjust to poor throws and make tough catches. Can be a return man. Downside: Doesn’t have great college totals. Doesn’t attack tacklers or break tackles. Occasionally goes down immediately on contact. Can be nonchalant at times, especially on low passes. Looks shorter and lighter than his measured size. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 9 Robert Meacham, Tenn 6020 214 4.39 -- 1.51 2.49 37.5 10-1 4.31 -- 6.97 -- BRS (Gollin) - Higher profile (and enjoying a better ranking) than this rating would suggest. Certainly has the size. Let's see how he times. Well, now. Hmmmm. 4.39. Not bad - certainly helps his rating. ESPN (Scouts Inc.) - Resembles Roy Williams -Playmaker who has outstanding combo of wheels, size and athleticism. Strong enough to break arm tackles from smaller DB's. Must refine route running skills (rounds off cuts, struggles to read coverages, tentative over the middle, will drop some passes). nflscouts.com - Not since the days when Carl Pickens (1989-91) and Alvin Harper (1987-90) terrorized opposing defenses have the Volunteers had a player at the receiver position that can change the tide of the game better than Meachem. Upside: Rangy athlete with good arm and leg length and a frame built for speed... tight abdomen and waist with good calf and thigh thickness... great size and initial explosion for this position, with the flexibility to get in and out of his cuts instantly in attempts to separate...speed and arm extension are his best qualities, but his leg strength is evident by the way he generates RAC...Shows the COD agility to go along with his speed to be a breakaway threat with the ball in his hands...very good field awareness to settle in the zone's soft spot and can adjust to situations in attempts to make the play...Can out-distance himself from the crowd or press with his strength and quickness...Gets off the snap cleanly and uses his hands with force to prevent from being rerouted...Can threaten the deep secondary immediately, especially vs. off coverage and has no problems getting a clean release vs. the jam...Has the breakaway speed and loose hips to separate and elude...Physical type with the ability to maintain his stride through his route progression...Hard to knock off his patterns and shows smooth body adjustments to catch the ball in stride...you would expect Meachem to look lanky in his routes, but he has the short pitter-patter steps and burst to look effortless through route progression...Has the balance and feet, along with explosive acceleration and excellent body control out of his cuts to gain valid yardage after the catch...can leverage, plant and cut...Very good at staying in stride after the catch and is very effective at making the tough grabs outside the frame, whether the pass is high, low or behind...Gets very good lift and rise going for the jump balls and shows good ball adjustment skills and balance to make the tough grabs and keep his feet in bounds when working along the sidelines. Downside: Must improve his slide in the open zone, since he will sometimes get too narrow when accelerating out of transition cuts...You hope he would get more deep ball opportunities than he has, but he demonstrates excellent hand/eye coordination...Will misjudge the ball occasionally, but has the skills to adjust to the ball when working underneath....Physical blocker when working in-line, but needs to get lower in his pads in attempts to sustain...Demonstrates good effort and a strong hand punch to jolt, but when he gets high in his pads, he can be pushed back into the pocket. Sporting News War Room - Meachem's size and playmaking ability were cited as reasons for his high status. Set UT's single-season record for receiving yards with 1,298 on 71 catches last season. First Vol receiver to be named all-American since Carl Pickens in 1991. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 10 Steve Breaston, Michigan 6003 193 4.46 -- 1.49 2.56 33 10-4 4.29 -- 6.90 -- BRS (Gollin) - Concerns involve slender build and fall off in production since he started his collegiate career. But he did show scouts more in post season. If he can run faster than a 4.50, he could be considered a sleeper who might even edge into the first day. (Note - He ran a 4.41/better than his earlier estimated time of 4.55). East-West (fr War Room) - Had a very disappointing senior season and had fallen way down NFL draft boards, but he shined this week and played like he did in 2005. Ran excellent routes all week...was able to get separation from defenders consistently and caught the ball extremely well. Could adjust and make great catches on off-target passes. Helped himself enough to move back up into third- or fourth-round consideration...star of the day, without question...caught many passes without any drops, including four deep passes that would have been touchdowns. Ran excellent routes and showed the burst to get separation and the speed to stretch the separation and run away from cornerbacks deep...continued a strong week of catching the ball by making a number of good grabs. Did his best work catching passes along the sideline and tapping his feet down in bounds. His play was more reminiscent of his dynamic 2005 than his disappointing '06. As a returner, he muffed a punt.. ESPN (Scouts Inc.) - Resembles Eric Parker - Home run hitting playmaker with great vision, initial burst and second gear. Has slight frame and can get pushed around. Can't block. Disappears from games. Lacks recognition skills. Drops too many balls. Makes too few plays in traffic. nflscouts.com - Compares to Bobby Wade - Good athletic ability and timed speed. While he has potential, he has failed to live up to expectations as a receiver. Too much of a body catcher and needs to show better urgency getting to the ball in a crowd, as he tends to shy away from contact....can't be considered a go-to type, especially with his lean-looking frame. Best chance for success at the next level could come on special teams. After a stellar freshman season, Wolverine fans viewed Breaston as the next Michigan Heisman Trophy winner, but for his next two seasons, he was not a focal point of the offense. Upside: Good, darting agility and can adjust on the move and has the quickness in his change-of-direction agility to redirect...Can track the ball well over his outside shoulder and has a good short-area burst...functional long speed to be effective up the seam...loose hips to separate after the catch and runs good straight-line patterns, with the timed speed to take the ball up the seam...Alert to sticks and good at keeping his feet working along the sidelines...good at settling underneath and at side-stepping over trash...Very good with ball security, especially on returns and runs, with the ball close to his chest and held at the chest...much better ball concentration and hand-eye coordination fielding returnsl than he does as a receiver...much better at catching the ball in stride and turning up field as a senior than in the past...foot quickness to make second-level defenders miss...effort in his cut blocks - takes good angles and attacks linebackers low to take them off their feet...good hand-eye coordination...As a returner: Patient runner who waits for his wedge to develop on kickoffs with a good straight-line burst to take it up the seam on punt returns...Has the loose hips to redirect in his stride and plays much faster returning the ball than when having to separate after the catch. Downside: Lanky -- lean, smooth-skinned, little bubble, slender legs and marginal muscle thickness...body snatcher...still goes through stretches where he will run into spots on the field rather than elude...lack of HS experience as a receiver...Seems to shy away from contact and several drops of easy throws due to concentration lapses...Despite a solid senior season as a receiver, he has never stood out on offense or demonstrated the ability to be a take-charge, go-to type...Shies away from the physical aspect and only makes passive hits as a blocker...must make better body adjustments on the move (more crisper and sudden runner on returns than as a receiver)...Not a quick-twitch type who can suddenly separate/ more of a fluid runner who needs room to build up his stride...More of a one-speed cut runner, needing to do a better job of dropping his pads to accelerate out of his breaks quicker... Must be more alert to coverage, as he tends to run into spots rather than avoid the defender in the open field...Prefers to catch the ball in stride rather than reaching for it...Will generally go down from the initial hit...When blocking in-line, he doesn't have the hand placement or punch to finish and needs to be more physical when taking on edge rushers.

03-14-2007, 01:43 PM	#15
ICON \|^\|Punter of Gnomes\|^\| Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..Snap! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,607 Adopt-a-Bronco: Nate Irving	Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ 1 Joe Thomas, Wis. 6065 311 4.92 28 1.75 2.87 33 9-2 4.88 -- 7.95 -- BRS (Gollin) - Ran in the high 4.9's at the Combine and looked good during position drills and presented well at media interviews. Only knock on him is that his arms are somewhat short; however his hand placement is flawless. nflscouts.com -Compares to Jordan Gross - Thomas is similar to Gross in that they use a great combination of quickness, field awareness and athletic agility to dominate on second level. Gross struggled a bit at left tackle, but Thomas is athletic enough to have great success one-on-one vs. edge rushers and blitzers. Regarded by many as the best offensive lineman in college football. Upside: Developing frame that could carry at least another 20 pounds of bulk with no loss in quickness...thick upper body with broad shoulders, adequate muscle development, good arm length and strong hands...classic natural knee bend with good hip snap to redirect and mirror the edge rushers...Nimble moving his feet in his pass set-up, retreating fluidly while maintaining body control...good urgency and leg drive coming off the snap, with the knee bend to drop his weight well pass protection...can locate and neutralize edge rushers...will have no problems digesting a complicated playbook...Quick off the snap, gaining position and generating movement to sustain...very good in-line body control and agility, quick kick slide in pass protection...Stays low in his pads, dropping his weight to maintain balance and adept at opening rush lanes on pulls and traps... consistently covers defenders up... no problems getting his body low enough to attain leverage..Plays well on his feet with the lateral agility and quickness to adjust and sustain blocks on the move...Quick and agile enough to generate solid second level blocks/works hard to maintain the rushing crease (193 of his 311 knockdown blocks came in run support)...Runs his feet well and has a good base with a very good understanding of taking proper angles when working along the perimeter...exceptional knee bend and hip flexibility in his retreat and good patience waiting for the defender to attack...lateral slide lets him reach his cutoff point and readjust when working on the edge...pass drop quickness lets him generate the depth needed to anchor...has the footwork and balance to stay on his feet, move around and handle switch-offs...Takes good angles to cut off at the second level and has the flexibility to adjust and pickup coverages working down the field...Has sudden burst off the line and quickness to reach the second level... Explosive hip roller with the upper body strength to push and wall off...vastly improved hand placement to jolt and control the defender...Plays on his feet and is an aggressive finisher... takes good angles to cut off the second level defenders...Very effective when used on long pulls due to his speed and hip snap...Has the balance and agility to quickly slide and get to his reach point. Downside: Improved consistency with his hands...learning to use his reach to press and keep the defender at bay...Has a strong punch to shock and jolt his opponent, but must do it with more consistency...Must bring his arms up quicker when punching. Sporting News War Room -Not as flashy as the Jets’ D’Brickashaw Ferguson but is just as productive. Has rare height and long arms and athleticism. When he gets his hands on a defensive end, he consistently eliminates him. Has all the tools to be an outstanding NFL left tackle. As he matures, he will add 15 or so pounds to give him the additional bulk to consistently play strong at the POA. Upside: Tall with the athletic ability and flexibility to bend knees and pass block with a wide base. Shuffles and slides well with pass rushers. Has the smarts, instincts and footwork to work well with linemates to adjust in pass protection. Can pull and block outside linebackers in the open field. Can lead block on outside runs and reach the second level quickly. Gets his body around defensive linemen to make positional run blocks. Consistently ties up and neutralizes his man. Downside: Must be more aggressive with hand punch in pass protection and in the running game. Must add 10-15 pounds. Long-term durability risk after injuring his right knee a year ago. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 2 Levi Brown, Penn State 6054 323 5.40 31 1.84 3.09 25.5 8-1 4.89 -- 7.87 -- BRS (Gollin) - Not as clean nor consistent in his techniques as Thomas but has longer arms and a greater upside. War Room seemed to give him a redeeming evaluation after the Senior Bowl, comparing his inconsistency to that of Marcus McNeill a year ago. Senior Bowl Notes (fr the War Room) - Continued to show that he has all the physical tools to be a dominant left tackle in the NFL, but it is all dependent on the effort he gives. The more you see him in practice, the more his inconsistent play reminds me of how Chargers rookie Marcus McNeill played as a senior at Auburn. McNeill went on to have a fine debut season blocking for Philip Rivers and LaDainian Tomlinson. nflscouts.com - Compares to Chad Clifton - Like Clifton, Brown has a punishing hand punch to shock and jolt the defender.generates good explosion and pop off the snap. Nimble for his size in his kick slide to mirror. Sruggled with the snap count iand will get lazy at times maintaining position, but shows good patience letting the defender come to him and has the short area balance to defeat spin and counter moves. Upside: Big upper frame, with broad shoulders, long arms, big hands and good chest thickness, along with a big bubble, wide hips, thick thighs and ankles, plus a frame that has the potential to carry more bulk with no loss in quickness...Very light on his feet for a player of his size... excellent explosion off the snap...Uses his feet well to slide out and adjust on the edge rushers and knows how to shoot his hands in attempts to lock on and sustain...Has the quickness to recover when beaten and his feet allow him to redirect with ease to neutralize backside plays...Aggressive drive blocker...Finds ways to get the job done on the field and will not back down from a confrontation...Can dominate once he fits on a defender, demonstrating the quickness to reach and make cutoffs...as the loose hips to redirect and shows good control changing direction...Even when he gets high in his stance, he has the knee bend to slide laterally...When his head is in the game, Brown shuffles his feet and gets in front of the defender with good urgency...does a great job of neutralizing the defender...easily contains edge rushers once he locks on to his target...If he connects, he will generally control his opponent until the whistle...The thing you see on film is his ability to roll his hips and explode off the line...good hip and knee bend to deliver good lower body power off the ball...Very good at caving defenders once he lets his body go and he is quite effective at turning and sealing...Has the upper body power to combat stunts and blitzes...Edge rushers are quickly neutralized once Brown gets his paws on them...very good patience, especially in his anchor, letting the defender come to him rather than overextend (will lunge some working into the second level, though)...Good at extending his arms...Has that long wingspan to lock out, gain placement and sustain...Can change directions to counter throughout the play, doing a nice job of getting out on the edge...Finds the games up front and does a nice job working in combination with his guards to pick up the blitz or switch off on stunts. Downside: Will get too high in his stance moving to the second level, but shows good knee bend when changing direction...will lose concentration and jump the snap count, ...Classic mauler type who plays with a mean streak, but is also known to take several plays off.....Takes well to hard coaching, but must monitor his weight and improve his overall ball concentration ability...Can be very explosive coming off the snap, but must do it with better consistency...Later in games, will be more apt to be late off the ball and when this happens, he tends to lean rather than lock on and secure...must do a better job of opening his hips and moving down the line...good patience in pass protection, and adept at sinking and sliding, but is prone to getting sloppy and lunging when he gets his base too narrow on the move. Sporting News War Room - Brown either will become a rock at left tackle or get his quarterback killed; it all depends on his willingness to work hard on every snap. Clearly is a good athlete with rare quickness and speed. Never will be a mauler who attacks and pancakes his man, but can use his athleticism to dominate in pass protection and be an efficient run blocker. Will be drafted higher than his production warrants because of his size and physical skills. But GM's should be wary of using high draft picks on linemen whose biggest question is aggressiveness. He'll need a drill instructor-type of line coach to succeed. Upside: Good athlete with quick footwork. When getting good leverage and a solid base, can slide quickly to adjust to pass rushers. Has long arms to jolt defensive ends with a hand punch. Once locked on his man, can ride him out of the play. Can knock defensive linemen on their backs. Can pull and block in the hole well, and reaches the second level quickly to seal linebackers. Is a good positional run blocker. Downside: Doesn't always fight to the whistle. Tends to pass block upright with straight legs. Does not use hand punch enough, allowing pass rushers to get to his chest easily. Doesn't adjust quickly to quick pass-rush moves. Is not a physical or aggressive run blocker, and can be pushed backwards at the POA. Tends to stop moving his feet after making contact, and then leans, reaches and over-extends to try and maintain the block. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 3 Joe Staley, Central Mich. 6057 306 4.78 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Prospect Worth Watching BRS (Gollin) - Our gut says to rate him this high. Mixed reviews. Read nflscouts.com and you'll rate him just below Joe Thomas. Read the War Room and you'll feel he belongs somewhere in the middle of the pack. We like his physical profile (i.e. tall, room to add weight, former TE with very quick, nimble feet). nflscouts.com - Compares to Ross Verba - Staley's foot speed can rival that of Robert Gallery, but he plays with much better aggression. Like Verba, Staley shows great fire and aggressiveness in his play....has the vision and alertness to pick up stunts and the foot speed to easily neutralize edge rushers. Like Verba, he needs to add more bulk to play left tackle at the next level, but his strength and speed are great assets that will make him ideal protecting the quarterback's blind side. Arrived as a 225-pound TE. He's not only matured physically, but has developed into one of the elite offensive tackles in the collegiate game. Blessed with incredible quickness, Staley has that long wingspan and strong hands to consistently neutralize his opponent. Known for his drive blocking ability, he helped the team produce three 1,000-yard rushers during his career. Upside: The first thing you notice on film is his ability to explode off the snap...excellent initial quickness, off a strong base with the suddenness to get his hands into the defender in an instant...tall, angular frame with developing muscles, long arms, large hands and minimal body fat (11.4 percent)...wide hips, thick thighs and a frame that can carry at least another 25 pounds with no loss in quickness...excellent athletic agility and loose hips, lower body flexibility and valid quickness of a tight end...Quick to get out on the edge and very fluid knee and ankle bend when changing direction...Adds a good blend of strength, especially in his hand jolt...Moves well in the open, doing a nice job of locating and neutralizing linebackers...outstanding acceleration on pulls and traps, running with short pitter-patter steps with the plant-and-drive agility to redirect...Smart enough to call blocking assignments...Makes quick adjustments on the move and will have no problems dealing with the mental aspect of the game...Plays with a high motor, knowing that his athletic ability will let him beat even the speedier pass rushers along the edge... Very light on his feet for a player of his size, showing quick reactions to combat any defensive movement...Does a solid job executing reach blocks and maintaining position when working in-line...Could use more bulk to clear out and maintain the rush lanes, but has quick feet in his kick slide...Can fire off the ball on run blocks, showing very good hip roll in this area...Quick to get his hands into the defender to lock on and control...good forward body lean to maintain the rush lane and can move the pile when he uses his legs to drive hard and gain leverage...With added bulk, he could be exceptional as a drive blocker...Worked mostly from the spread and shotgun offense, but with his foot speed he was very effective at sliding out to neutralize the edge rushers...Could use more bulk to anchor, but he has the feet, balance and body control to ride his man out of the play...Fluid with his shuffle/slide and stays square and balanced attacking the defender...Has the flexibility and reach to adjust to second-level defenders...Will smother linebackers and move on to another target when he plays at a good pad level...Has the foot quickness to make the reach blocks and is fluid in his kick slide...Loops well and is quick to change direction, reacting quickly moving side to side... Shows good vision to combat twists and has the balance to recover when caught out of position. Downside: Can slide well in either direction and pulls well along the line, but tends to lose some hand placement attacking on the move.....Has a strong hand punch, but needs to be more active using those hands in attempts to sustain...seems to struggle getting low in his stance ...will tend to lean and use his body more than gain proper hand placement (is not punching the defensive end often in pass protection)...Athletic and smooth in his movements with the body control to execute blocks in space, but needs to maintain proper pad level working in the second level (will get too tall in his stance, causing his base to narrow...good job of executing pancake blocks when he stays on his feet, but must stay low in his pads in order to make contact on open-field blocks...Can extend, jolt and shock the opponent when he gets his hands on them, but needs to do it with more consistency...Strong on top, but still learning the proper technique for grabbing. Senior Bowl Notes (fr the War Room) - Struggled in pass protection Wednesday because he does not use his hands aggressively or keep moving...allows defensive ends to get into his chest and jolt him backward, and against edge rushers, he stops shuffling at the point of contact, crosses over and ends up chasing his man around corner. (fr CBSportsline) - Despite dramatically stepping up his level of competition, Staley has held up well this week, especially in pass protection. Staley has good quickness out of his stance and keeps his feet moving. His balance and overall athleticism keep him in front of defenders. While he uses his hands well, Staley will have to continue to get stronger to reach his potential, but he solidified his position this week among the draft's better left tackle prospects. Sporting News War Room - Tested well in spring before his junior season. Productive in a mid-major conference. We don’t doubt his physical gifts, and he should test out well and move up draft boards. But a team drafting him must be prepared to work with him a couple of years to make him a starter. Upside: Quick feet, agility and athletic ability. Slides well to cut off speed rushers. Can re-direct and change direction quickly to adjust and recover in pass protection. Uses quickness off the snap to evade linemen and make reach blocks. Maintains blocks in the open field; uses good speed to block linebackers and pull on sweeps. Has good awareness to work with linemates to counter loops and stunts. Downside: Must bend at knees to gain better leverage...not an aggressive blocker; opponents get into his chest too easily and can be driven backward. Struggles to get movement on straight-ahead blocks. Lacks ideal bulk. Must get bigger and stronger. Hasn’t played against elite competition.

03-14-2007, 01:48 PM	#18
ICON \|^\|Punter of Gnomes\|^\| Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..Snap! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,607 Adopt-a-Bronco: Nate Irving	Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 8 Julius Wilson, UAB 6043 327 5.43 27 1.95 3.21 27 8-7 5.00 -- 8.33 -- BRS (Gollin) - Lacks agility but has something NFL coaches can work with. nflscouts.com - Viewed as one of the better offensive linemen in Conference USA before a troublesome knee hampered his senior campaign. Wilson has talent, but might be better served moving to the inside. Upside: Good size for the position and initial quickness. Hass athleticism as both a pass and run blocker. Uses his hands well to initially jolt the defender. Settles into his stance and can slide laterally to keep his shoulders square to the pass rusher. Can get movement as a run blocker. Good quickness and mobility to get to the second level. Downside: Lacks strength at the POA and can be walked back to the quarterback because he fails to play with leverage. Quick on the pull, but lacks accuracy in his blocking on the move. Hampered with a knee injury throughout his senior season. Lacks strength and hand position to sustain blocks. Sporting News War Room - Bottom line: Smart and instinctive...shows an aggressive blocking attitude that is hard to find. Has the size, strength and athleticism to be an effective NFL tackle, but some teams might try him at guard. NFL coaches will push him to be aggressive on every snap. Look for Wilson to be a second-day pick and develop into a starter, at either tackle or guard depending on the team that drafts him. Upside: A good athlete who is surprisingly light on his feet. Uses quick feet to cut off speed/edge rushers and can tie them up and ride them past the pocket...good base/leverage, which combines with his foot agility to let him re-direct pass rushers and slide back inside to handle quick underneath moves. Is a dominant down/side blocker who collapses defensive tackles and drives his man down the line. Can pull and get outside easily. Can get to linebackers quickly. Adjusts and blocks well in the open field. Can jolt and drive defensive linemen backwards when firing off the ball aggressively on straight ahead run blocks. Downside: Looks more like a guard than a tackle. Appears to have short arms and lacks ideal height. Must become more consistent as an aggressive blocker. Tends to be a "catch" blocker; who can be jolted backwards when he does. Gets too aggressive at times on angle blocks and will overextend and struggle to finish blocks. Does not punch in pass protection. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 9 Herbert Taylor, TCU 6037 296 5.19 26 1.81 3.03 27 8-4 4.64 -- 7.78 -- BRS (Gollin) - Workout warrior. A finesse guy best suited for an Alex Gibbs zone blocking system, but who may not fit into a Russ Grimm smashmouth set up. But does have enough basic skill for coaches to work with. East-West Notes (fr War Room) - Good athleticism, hand usage and technique when pass blocking in one-on-one drills. Good job of setting up quickly, getting hands on defensive ends and staying on blocks to eliminate his man. Also showed the footwork and athleticism to redirect and slide to adjust to quick change-of-direction pass-rush moves. nflscouts.com - Technician who likely will be moved inside to guard at the next level. While he lacks dominant size or athleticism for the position, he was arguably the most impressive pass blocker during the week of practices at the East-West Shrine Game. Upside: Technically sound with good initial quickness off the snap. Good use of hands in his initial hand punch and to sustain blocks. Keeps his feet moving and has good balance. Has the mobility to get out of his stance to block on the move. Can adjust to moving linebackers and finish with accuracy. Four-year starter at right tackle with no missed games due to injury. Showed surprising fluidity as a left tackle during East-West Shrine Game despite no experience there. Downside: Lacks prototype size for the position. Gets the job done due to his technique, but may struggle against better, stronger athletes of the NFL. Not explosive or dominating in any way. Will likely have to move to the inside. Sporting News War Room - Teams will love how Taylor tests., but they will see he isn't physical and must be more competitive to make it as a pro. He must bulk up (he can carry 300 pounds on his frame), and also get stronger. Would fit best in a Denver or Indianapolis scheme that doesn't require linemen to be behemoths. If a team can develop a mean streak in him, Taylor will become a starting tackle. Upside: A top athlete. Can make every finesse block in the book. Fast and a good position blocker. Excellent knee bend, foot agility and foot quickness. Also has topnotch body control; stays on feet while adjusting to block fast. Uses hands and can mirror and front against athletic pass rushers. Downside: Not tough; tends to play on defenders' edges.A one-hit blocker who doesn't jolt defenders with his jabs. Must add bulk; struggles to anchor against bigger defenders. Doesn't sustain blocks; tends to turn shoulders. Lacks ideal height. Also lacks strength and aggressive blocking style to play guard. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 10 Brandon Frye, Va. Tech 6041 301 5.08 34 1.75 2.93 32.5 8-7 4.40 -- 7.50 -- BRS (Gollin) - Somewhat of an underachiever and a bit finessy. Senior Bowl Notes - CBSportsline) - Fry played with surprising strength at the POA, but gave up interior pressures to Johnson and a rejuvenated Tank Tyler. nflscouts.com - Opened some eyes with an outstanding performance in the Gator Bowl when he was pressed into starting duty for injured senior Jimmy Martin ... Picked up a big boost in confidence and carried it over to spring practice ... Showed continued improvement in run blocking ... Is athletic enough to be a good pass protector ... Sporting News War Room - One of the most frustrating prospects in the 2007 class. Good athlete who will test well in pre-draft workouts, but he rarely plays up to his ability. He might fit best at guard in the NFL because of his thick lower body and ability to pull. Plus, it would better hide his inability to slide and adjust to explosive pass rushers. That said, he does have rare athleticism and is a worthy gamble. Upside: Good athlete with quick footwork and speed. Can pull and lead outside runs. Can reach the second level quickly, and is a good open-field blocker when he bends knees and maintains good balance. Has a thick lower body and strength to turn and seal defensive linemen on in-line runs. Can drive defensive linemen down the line of scrimmage on down blocks. Shows continued improvement. Downside: Raw, but does not play up to his natural athletic ability. Does not slide and shuffle consistently with pass rushers. Does not always block with good leverage. Often is a beat late moving at the snap. Is not aggressive, and usually allows defensive linemen to dictate the action. In the open field, tends to stop feet after making contact and thus lunge and fall off the block.

03-14-2007, 01:52 PM	#19
ICON \|^\|Punter of Gnomes\|^\| Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..Snap! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,607 Adopt-a-Bronco: Nate Irving	Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ 1 Justin Blalock, Texas 6032 320 5.10 40 1.73 2.96 28.5 8-5 4.72 7.75 -- -- BRS (Gollin) - Benched 40 at the Combine, leading all offensive players. Although he's being projected at guard, he did play a lot of tackle for the Longhorns and you have to wonder whether he might be an excellent starter/swingman who can play any of four O-line positions. nflscouts.com - Compares to Jammal Brown - Brown is taller than Blalock, but both combine nimble feet, great lateral range and excellent upper body power to generate consistent movement off the snap. Blalock has the loose A model of durability, consistency and versatility... A big, strong, powerful drive blocker...move to RG from RG could become permanent at the pro level, as he proved to be a punishing drive blocker with the quickness to lead the way on sweeps. Upside: Very thick frame, especially in his hips and bubble... good initial quickness and lower body strength to clear the rush lanes blocking in-line at guard...very good balance, agility and foot quickness... good knee bend and kick slide to mirror - adept at adjusting and taking proper angles on pulls and traps...Maintains body control when changing direction and has quick hands to lock on and sustain...Comes out of his stance at a proper pad level and is quick to recover working in-line...Seemed to be more effective as a drive blocker working inside, taking advantage of his power and hand punch to clear the rush lanes...Self-starter who is usually the first in and the last one to leave the weight room...great job of surprising the defender with his quick burst off the snap...Stays low in his pads with arms properly extended to gain advantage and comes off the line with strong leg drive...The thing you notice on film is his nimble feet and stride to gain position and get to his reach point in pass protection...Has the lateral range to slide down the line and the COD agility to get out in front on pulls and traps...Stays square in his base and moves from side to side with very good footwork and agility...Has the upper body strength, hand placement and punch to lock on and control the defender...good retreat-and-slide agility to mirror edge rushers and gets his mitts on his man with force to jolt or drag down...can unlock his hips and explode into the defender at RG more often than he did at tackle...Generates very good hip roll coming off the snap...Uses his leg drive and strong hands to push the pile and has that sudden first step to gain control of his opponent...Comes off the snap with his pads down and arms active to lock on and control...Has the power and leg drive to gain leverage and uses his huge mass to gain movement on drive blocks...Moves his feet well to sustain, demonstrating proper knee bend to mirror and is quick in his kick slide to neutralize backside pursuit...quick moves to the outside and shows flexibility and body control in his anchor...Extends his arms and keeps his hands active to gain proper placement in attempts to lock on and steer...Can stab and punch with force, using his hands effectively to gain inside position...Has the lateral movement and agility to slide and recover when changing direction and the hips and leg drive to flush the defender out of the rush lanes and shows a quick kick slide and hand placement to mirror in pass protection. Downside: Soft midsection, adequate muscle definition and high-cut calves...Lacks ideal arm reach for an offensive tackle...will struggle with some locating schemes when blocking in-line at guard... When he gets high in his stance, he can be walked back into the pocket, but that only happens when his feet cross over...Will sometimes over-extend working towards the edge as a guard (did not do this at tackle)... Had better success getting into the second level to neutralize the linebackers when he lined up at tackle rather than guard, as he struggled a bit to get through trash past the LOS when working in-line. Senior Bowl Notes (fr the War Room) - Inconsistent as a run blocker because he stayed upright and allowed quick defensive linemen to get into gaps too easily. However, in pass protection he did a good job at both guard and tackle. He looks more like a guard than a tackle. (CBSportsline) - Blalock split time at guard and tackle Wednesday, and looked most impressive while at guard. Blalock struggled a bit with speed rushers, but has good strength at the POA and consistently won battles when he was able to latch onto his opponent. The perception among scouts I spoke to is that he could be a good pro tackle, but an even better guard. Sporting News War Room - A tackle most of his college career, Blalock slid inside to play guard during 2006. Guard is the position he'll be best suited for in the NFL. Outstanding athlete but will need a ton of fundamental work. A first-round prospect who must go to a team with a very good offensive line coach who is adept at teaching fundamentals and technique and has a lot of patience. Upside: Plays with passion. Explodes off the snap. Has the strength to dominate at POA when blocking with leverage and good technique. Excellent foot quickness. Gets out of stance and into block set very fast. Can slide and mirror very well in pass protection. Punches aggressively in pass set; follows with a very strong counterpunch. Jolts linemen upright and stops them cold. Is fast and quick enough to pull and lead block effectively on outside runs. Can step through to block linebackers. Downside: Relies upon his physical tools too much. Has not developed his footwork and blocking technique. Takes false steps in pass protection. Shows poor foot placement, which hinders ability to maintain block. Also hinders ability to play up to his natural strength. Shoddy fundaments raise questions about whether he takes coaching well. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 2 Ben Grubbs, Auburn 6026 311 5.18 29 1.80 2.96 26.5 8-7 4.72 -- 7.99 -- BRS (Gollin) - One of those unspectacular kind of guys who is a stabilizing force on some team's offensive line for 10 - 12 years. nflscouts.com - One of the most unheralded players in the collegiate ranks...has that old school mauler's mentality combined with the new school athleticism, filling the leadership void on the Auburn front wall. Not since the days of Alan Faneca has a SEC guard displayed that perfect blend of power, intensity and athletic ability. Upside: Very tough and works until the whistle to finish off blocks. Has a solid hand punch and very good explosion on contact...quick to get out in front on pulls and traps and adept at locating second level defenders on the move. Has shown marked improvement sliding his feet, but needs to be conscious of not getting too narrow in his base or high in his stance, since he lacks the loose hips to redirect instantly. Hand punch can shock a lethargic opponent and he does a fine job of picking up stunts and games. Downside: Will sometimes fall off blocks late when he fails to bend at the knees, but has the body control to recover. ... When he fails to sink his hips, he'll overextend a bit, but he is quick to recoil and get back on his assignment. ... When he gets too narrow in his stance, he will lose his base at the X's. ... Does have some inconsistency finishing blocks in the past, but shows great pop on contact and is learning to keep his base wider in order to prevent the defender from shedding. ... When he gets too high in his stance, he can be walked back. Senior Bowl Notes (fr the War Room) - Showed the athleticism to pass block with good leverage and was able to lock up on defensive tackles and eliminate them from plays. (fr CBSportsline) - Grubbs may have been the most consistent interior pass blocker in drills Wednesday. Scouts nearby were pointing out his consistency when he surprisingly was beaten off the snap by Mississippi State's Antonio Johnson for an easy pressure. I (as well as the silenced scouts) was especially curious to see how he'd respond the play after. True to form, Grubbs stoned Johnson on the next snap, absorbing the big defensive tackle's initial rush, latching onto the interior of his pads and ultimately knocking him to the ground. Sporting News War Room - Grubbs doesn’t wow anyone on first glance, but his sustained production and athleticism eventually wins out. He gets by in college because of his superior athleticism but must crank up his aggression in the NFL. Grubbs could slide down draft boards because of his physique and inconsistent technique, but he should develop into an NFL starter within a year or two. His quickness, speed and strength give him the tools to play in a variety of NFL schemes. He also is smart and athletic enough to move to center. Upside: Is a good athlete with rare quickness for a 300-pound man. Consistently reaches the second level to block linebackers, even after first chipping defensive tackles. Has the speed to pull and lead outside runs. Pulls and traps well inside. Gets set quickly in pass protection. Bends knees and sinks hips well to hold his ground against bull rushers. Slides and shuffles quickly to stymie stunts and blitzes. Is smart. Downside: Must get into better shape. Is not aggressive enough. Does not fire off the snap, and is much more of a positional run blocker. Shows inconsistent technique. Must improve hand punch in pass protection; too often allows defensive tackles to get into his chest and jolt him backwards. Must do a better job of bending knees to maintain balance and sustain blocks in the open field. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 3 Josh Beekman, Boston Coll. 6015 313 5.36 24 1.81 3.06 25.5 7-9 4.81 -- 8.24 -- BRS (Gollin) - Built like a giant fireplug. Sounds like our kind of guy, If (1) he lasted til our pick in the second round and (2) Cardinal scouts feel he'd make a terrific center or could quickly work his way into a role as starting guard, he'd be an intriguing pick for us due to his talent and work ethic. Not 100% consistent at what he does, but his upside is more gaudy than Grubbs' for example. Lack of nimbleness a bit of a concern. nflscouts.com - Compares to Jason Brown - Like Brown, Beekman generates an explosive punch to shock and jolt the defender. Has very good initial quickness off the snap and the lower body strength to push the pile, but lacks the timed speed and balance to be consistent attacking second-level defenders. Very good at driving the defender off the line and his low COG and quick hands could see him eventually slide to center at the pro level.One of the most decorated offensive linemen to wear a Boston College uniform in recent years, he established himself as one of the most explosive drive blockers in the collegiate ranks. Upside: Stout, compact frame with very good upper body muscle thickness, broad shoulders, thick neck, thighs and calves, good bubble and tree-trunk like legs...Has the loose hips to change direction and flow down the line, with classic knee bend and plant-and-drive agility to redirect...good balance and a strong base to neutralize the bull rush...When stationary at the POA, he does an excellent job of using his hands to defeat counter moves...Naturally strong player who has demonstrated an exceptional hand punch to shock and jolt the defender...Moves athletically retreating to protect the pocket and shows good explosion on contact...will immediately break down game films of the opponents once those tapes arrive at the football office... Plays with a high motor and wears his emotions on his sleeve...Mauler type who works hard to finish and will never back down from a fight...Few drive blockers can match his initial quickness...Comes out of his stance with good urgency, getting into his blocks with hands properly extended, legs wide in his base and his pad level low...Especially effective at gaining advantage on scoop and reach blocks...Excels sliding from side-to-side when working in the short area...master at staying on his blocks and riding his man out...In his last three years, he never allowed a quarterback sack...You will never see him bend at the waist or lean to make contact...Quick getting his hands into the opponent's jersey to lock on and jerk down...Comes off the snap with his hands on the rise, and is very effective at locking on and walling off the defender...Hits with tremendous force and is very good at clubbing the defender in the head or chop blocking to take the opponents off their feet...Road grader who consistently plays with leverage...Keeps his feet moving upon initial contact and is very good at using his hands to move the pile...Has the brute strength to overpower and controls the action with his quick first step and low pad level to maintain position with a strong base...With his quick kick slide, he does a very good job of neutralizing pocket pressure...Has the strength and wide base to hold ground firmly at the POA and keeps his hands active to defeat counter moves...Demonstrates keen vision to quickly locate and pick up stunts and flashes good pass set, knee bend and anchor to beat even the quicker defensive tackles...Explodes with force when he hits a defender with his hands...Hits the defender with good force in pass protection and keeps his feet under him to beat the bull rush...Consistent at getting proper hand placement in attempts to lock on and sustain. Downside: Shorter than ideal and might be a better fit at center...Meticulous sort who tends to overanalyze things and will let bad plays linger in his thoughts...Will struggle a bit to maintain balance working in space (gets narrow with his base and crosses his feet on the move)...Does not have the speed to neutralize second-level defenders and will try to compensate by overextending and lunging...acks the ideal speed to stay on the play long once it gets into the second level..must keep his feet underneath him better when working in space and is better served working in the short area, since he does struggle to locate and land on defenders in space. Sporting News War Room - Good prospect who must improve his flexibility to become a great NFL player. Has a nasty streak but plays a clean game. Should be a solid NFL starter for a long time. Upside: Strong and durable. Never quits on a play. Powerful run and pass blocker. Never stops feet, and always is in the right position. Built low to the ground, and is quick to gain leverage. Hard worker, and is consistent. Gets set quickly in pass protection. Downside: A little stiff at the waist, and will struggle to pull. Tends to stand up when trapping, allowing defenders to gain leverage and push him back into the backfield.

03-14-2007, 01:53 PM	#20
ICON \|^\|Punter of Gnomes\|^\| Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..Snap! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Long Beach Posts: 2,607 Adopt-a-Bronco: Nate Irving	Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 4 Tala Esera, Hawaii 6032 312 5.20 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- BRS (Gollin) - Another potential swingman who brings tenacity to the field every time he sets foot on it. nflscouts.com - Compares to Dan Buenning - Looks like a perfect candidate to shift inside to guard. Lacks the ideal size for a left tackle, but is very effective shooting his hands and generating movement off the snap. Has very good upper body strength to counter double moves and does a good job of logging from the back side, where he has the hand punch to battle in traffic. Has gradually grown into one of the more technically sound back-side tackles in college football, and took his game to another level in 2006. Always known for his mistake-free performances, he seemed to go through the motions during his first three seasons on offense. But he showed tremendous desire and urgency in his game during his final year. Upside: Developing frame with growth potential to carry at least another 20 pounds of bulk, smooth upper body muscle development, long arms, large hands, wide waist and a thick chest...Runs with a normal stride and builds his acceleration nicely when moving into the second level...Plays with good field vision and alertness, easily locating and combating the backside pursuit...Meticulous in his approach to the game plan and thrives to play mistake-free football...In 2006, he demonstrated much better consistency dealing with the X's and showed a very good understanding of the technical part of the game...good quickness coming out of his stance, with proper hand placement and punch to lock on and control the defender...very good pop in his explosion off the ball and shows the leg drive needed to work and finish in pass protection...Very aggressive attacking the defender, using his hands effectively to combat arm cross-over action...Made great strides in firing off the snap to gain position and sustain blocks...hand strength to lock on and does a good job of dropping his pads in attempts to wall off and screen...When he keeps his back flat and knees bent, he can do an effective job of mauling defenders at the line...Stays on his feet and firmly anchors vs. the rush, doing a nice job with his hands to combat double moves... Generates a strong base in pass protection and consistently holds ground at the point of attack...Became a dominant pass protector in 2006 because of his improved hand usage and stronger punch...When he gets his hands into the opponent's chest, he is quick to redirect or sustain...good recoil and recovery quickness, especially when he keeps his hands inside the framework of the defensive tackle to lock out on blocks...Athletic in his kick slide and retreat to neutralize edge rushers...decent knee bend and foot quickness...Can shift his weight and explode into defenders on contact...May overextend on the move, but when working in-line, he is quick to recoil...Has also improved his overall footwork, doing a nice job of mirroring on stunts. Downside: Needs further lower body development...Shorter than ideal for a left tackle, making him a possible guard due to his good hand placement, quickness and kick slide...good quickness coming out of his stance, but a little stiff in his hips when attempting to change direction...Has the initial step to gain advantage, but needs to be more consistent maintaining his speed to pull and get out and move...Has the balance and feet to slide and shuffle with effectiveness in pass protection, but gets too narrow in his base when having to redirect...adept at picking up stunts, but needs to be more fluid changing direction, as he is a bit slow seeking out secondary targets on the move...Doesn't always roll his hips on contact, causing him to be inconsistent when asked to trap block, but he knows how to stay low to get movement... tends to drop his head a bit on the move, losing sight of secondary targets...Just adequate in attempts to control and finish when he gets too tall in his stance, but when he sinks his hips, he will land on his target with good violence...Has the timed speed to get to the second level, but must show better consistency taking angles...Fails to adjust to counter moves when working in space, struggling to adjust to moving targets. War Room East West notes Esera showed good flexibility and athleticism pass blocking in one-on-one drills. He blocked with good leverage and balance, putting two defensive linemen on their backs with aggressiveness and strength. Good flexibility and athleticism pass blocking in one-on-one drills.Blocked with good leverage and balance, putting two defensive linemen on their backs with aggressiveness and strength. Sporting News War Room - Esera is undersized to play outside but has the toughness and tenacity to play inside. He deserves a shot to play left tackle in the NFL because 300-pound athletes are quite rare. If he fails, then he definitely could start at guard. If Esera were 6-foot-4, he'd be a first-round lock. Upside: Elite athleticism and mobility. Near the top in every agility category. Fast to reach the second level and block linebackers in the open field. Plays with aggressiveness, instincts and toughness. Finishes blocks. Can make every block. Shows good leadership skills. Downside: Short. Will grab and hold if beaten. Is susceptible to double moves. Must learn to better use his hands. Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 5 Mike Jones, Iowa 6050 309 5.46 28 1.80 3.07 25.5 8-2 4.88 -- 7.84 -- BRS (Gollin) - Another in a deep pool of Hutchison type players in a talented draft class for guards - but not as athletic or talented. nflscouts.com - Lacks the flashy athleticism and big name, but his strength and technique make him one of the more consistent guards in the draft. He'll compete for playing time early in his career. Updside: Good size for the position. Powerful and technically sound at the POA. Uses his hands well to engage and sustain blocks. Good hip snap and leg drive, especially in short-yardage situations. Lacks the foot quickness for offensive tackle, but has good short-area quickness. Plays with some nastiness and steps up his game against top competition. Downside: Lacks top-flight athleticism. Saw action at both tackle positions at Iowa and lacks the foot quickness to play in space. Can get the job done, but not in his element when blocking on the move. Had one-game suspension for an undisclosed violation of team rules. Sporting News War Room - Jones is the type of guard who often gets overlooked and slides down draft boards because of his limited athleticism. Jones is similar to the Buccaneers' Dan Buenning but not quite as good. Jones won't be a star but should be a productive NFL starter for a long time. Upside: Tough and competitive. Does whatever it takes. Smart. Has the flexibility to bend knees and sink hips to block with base and leverage. Holds his ground against bull rushers. Slides and shuffles well in a small area to adjust to quick pass-rush moves. Is adept at picking up stunts and blitzes. Gets hands on defensive tackles quickly on straight-ahead run blocks, and shows the strength to turn out defensive tackles consistently. Drives defenders down the line on down blocks. Reaches the second level when uncovered to seal off linebackers. Downside: Limited athlete. Lacks quickness, agility and speed to block effectively in the open field. Struggles to get through traffic. Lacks the speed to pull and lead on outside runs. Struggles to adjust to defenders while on the move. Does not consistently keep feet under him when blocking and will end up bending at the waist and leaning and over-extending. Needs to add 10-15 pounds of bulk.

03-14-2007, 02:48 PM	#22
orangefan Solid Starter Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Branson, Mo. Posts: 153	Icon, Thanks for taking the time to put this together and post. It is much appreciated!

03-14-2007, 03:10 PM	#23
Houshyamama I Make The Weather Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Diego Posts: 3,914 Adopt-a-Bronco: Brock Osweiler	Rnk Name/School Ht Wt 40 BP 10 20 VJ LJ 20S 60S 3C WN 9 Herbert Taylor, TCU 6037 296 5.19 26 1.81 3.03 27 8-4 4.64 -- 7.78 -- BRS (Gollin) - Workout warrior. A finesse guy best suited for an Alex Gibbs zone blocking system, but who may not fit into a Russ Grimm smashmouth set up. But does have enough basic skill for coaches to work with. I love being able to pull O-linemen late in the draft that fit perfectly in our system. It's a great advantage in the draft.

03-14-2007, 03:20 PM	#24
Billy Clyde Puckett Billy=Semi Tough Big Guy Looking down on KC, SD and Oakland Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: between 5,000 and 10,000 feet elevation Posts: 12,665 Adopt-a-Bronco: John Elway	Thanks ICON

03-14-2007, 03:49 PM	#25
Rohirrim Partisan Human Cannonball Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Twixt Hell & Highwater Posts: 49,100	Thanks, Icon. I still say Mike Otto is the perfect Olineman for the Broncos.