Examining 2013 Free Agency: Safety

I made a commitment a few weeks ago to start looking ahead to the offseason, and I’m sticking to it. That will start in the next paragraph. Sunday’s thrilling and cathartic victory over the Buccaneers was extra sweet because, like douches, they celebrated the Super Bowl team that broke our hearts nearly ten years ago. It was good to have that (forgotten) winning feeling again, and I hope it proves to be a taste of what Nick Foles can do as a starting quarterback in this league. Two or three years from now, maybe we’ll fondly look back on this game as when we first got a glimpse.

By now you’ve read about Foles’ performance, both negative and positive — but mostly positive. I don’t want to minimize that he missed some throws and should’ve been intercepted to end the game right before brilliantly concocting the fourth down play to Jason Avant. I just want to emphasize that the natural attributes Foles did show were highly impressive and indicative of the type of quarterback who has classically dominated the position. His pocket presence was sharp and subtle mobility Brady-esque, all the way down to slowly but smartly scrambling for crucial yards. Foles’ football IQ, game awareness and general feel for the position are unlike what we, as Eagles fans, are used to seeing. Let’s just say I’m somewhere between cautiously and enthusiastically optimistic. Tonight’s game against the tough Bengals defense will be a key litmus test of his progression. After the stones — moxie, savvy, poise, HUGE BALLS — Foles showed on Sunday, I can barely suppress my glee and am thisclose to anointing him the real deal. Do you realize he did something that no other Eagles quarterback had achieved since the Elias Sports Bureau started keeping records in 1970 by throwing the winning touchdown pass on the game’s final play? If you don’t believe me, take it up with Merrill Reese.

Anyway, after last week’s article, taking a look at the upcoming free agent class seems like the next step. Just remember, Eagles fans, as you know full well free agency can be a minefield of fool’s gold. This first installment will feature the position you figure the team will target first and foremost, safety. There’s a nice crop slated to become available, but I’m skeptical any of the best candidates will reach market due to getting re-signed or slapped with the franchise tag. Here are the top names (minus Ed Reed and Ronde Barber for obvious reasons):

Jairus Byrd - FS - Buffalo Bills - 5’10” / 203

One of the league’s most dangerous game-changers on defense, Byrd would bring much-needed stability and playmaking ability to a flaccid Eagles secondary. His level of consistent excellence as a pro has been marvelous, and given the fact that he turns 27 next season, it’s reasonable to think he still has at least four or five elite seasons remaining. Understandably, the Bills have already reached out with the intent to re-sign Byrd. They’ll have to pay him as the top safety in football because his numbers warrant it. At worst the Bills will be forced to franchise Byrd, so I don’t see him being on the market.

Dashon Goldson - FS - San Francisco 49ers - 6’2” / 200

First established himself in 2009 and, as far as the numbers go, has been producing well ever since. Pro Football focus harpooned his 2011 season and labeled him a “seemingly average player.” I haven’t intently watched enough 49ers games (aside from seeing their offense thanks to the glorious NFL RedZone Channel) to accurately assess Goldson this season, so I’ll leave that up to the readers who can. Somehow I get the feeling he’ll be commanding a sizable contract. Turns 29 next season, not worth big money to me.

William Moore - SS - Atlanta Falcons - 6’0” / 221

He just might be the most underrated safety in the league. I really liked Moore in the 2009 draft coming out of Missouri; the Falcons selected him in the second round, a few picks after the Eagles took LeSean McCoy. Yeah, can’t say I would’ve wanted it to happen differently. Another player who will stay with his current team one way or another.

Under the radar options:

Louis Delmas - FS - Detroit Lions - 5’11” / 202

Like Moore, Delmas was a top-rated safety (of the free variety) in the 2009 draft. Like Moore, Delmas is a player of whom I thought highly. After making an immediate impact and looking like a potential All-Pro his first two seasons in the league, Delmas has been hit hard by injuries and seen his performance drop off. If the Lions don’t retain him, he represents an intriguing low risk/high reward investment. One I’d endorse, for the right price.

Kerry Rhodes - FS - Arizona Cardinals - 6’3” / 212

Got two of his four interceptions against former teammate and all-around jag Mark Sanchez, so I’m not sure if we should count those (half joking). What sticks out to me most about Rhodes, however, is his high number of solo tackles. You might also remember him for causing this. Solid player overall but turns 31 next season and isn’t worth breaking the bank. On a short-term deal, you  talk me into it.

Others: Kenny Phillips, LaRon Landry, Sean Considine (just kidding)

Ready for dessert? I think I’ll finish with another mock draft, because, well, why not — it’s a chance to introduce a new fleet of prospects. Plus, today’s version includes something that so many fans are suggesting. I’m about to tickle the fuck out of my fancy with a fantastical trade down in the first round to acquire an extra pick (or two).

Trade (based on current draft order): #4 overall (1800 points) to San Diego for #9 (1350 points) and #41 (490 points). Points are based on the draft pick value chart.

* = underclassman

1 (9, via SD): *Taylor Lewan - OT - Michigan - 6061 / 310 - 4.98

Assuming he declares, Lewan has ideal measurables and is around the Luke Joeckel level athletically. Good length and a better run blocker than pass blocker; plays with a certain toughness and nastiness that would appeal to all of us who long for Jon Runyan, but the style is a double-edged sword. In the past Lewan was prone to instances of undisciplined play and letting his emotions get the best of him, which resulted in personal foul penalties that hurt his team. However, it seems as though the maturation process has paid dividends and caught up with his natural ability. After some early struggles, Lewan bounced back to have a quality (redshirt) junior season for the Wolverines and was voted the Big Ten Conference Offensive Lineman of the year.

I need to watch more tape (only seen a few Michigan games this season), but to be honest, Taylor Lewan is likely going to make or break his pro potential to me with how he performs in the Outback Bowl against Jadeveon Clowney, the projected first overall pick in 2014. That will be the lasting impression in forming my opinion. I feel safe saying I’d kinda adore the knucklehead from a personality standpoint. For your own amusement, check out the “Personal life” section of Lewan’s Wikipedia page.

If the Eagles want to trade down even further in the first round and get a king’s ransom for their pick, they should target Texas A&M OT Jake Matthews (Joeckel’s bookend partner and son of Hall-of-Famer Bruce), Central Michigan OT Eric Fisher, or Oklahoma OT Lane Johnson. All of them should end up going in the 10-25 range.

2 (36): *Justin Hunter - WR - Tennessee - 6035 / 200 - 4.49

Like fellow Volunteers wide receiver Cordarelle Patterson, I’m skeptical Hunter, if he declares (which appears imminent), would even last this long since I expect him to kill it at the Combine. Former track star who has everything you look for in a number one wide receiver and is the big, dynamic weapon the Eagles need to complete the offensive arsenal. Hunter has a long, wiry frame and is a fluid, freakish athlete with deft body control and mid-air adjustment capabilities; length creates a huge catching radius and propensity for high-pointing the ball, while he’s shown ability to pluck passes out of the air with ease. An advanced route runner who can create separation with his speed, acceleration and ability to sink hips without decelerating, Hunter is a game-breaker who can make defenders miss and rack up yards after the catch. Sometimes loses focus and drops passes because he doesn’t look ball into his hands (already has head turned upfield) or lets it get into his chest. Slender build and needs to get stronger, but that should come with continued maturation and NFL weight training. Superstar potential if mental component catches up with elite physical talents.

Justin Hunter would likely be a surefire top-15 pick in 2014 and steal at the top of the second round in 2013. Ah, I’m deluding myself, once the predraft process is over he’ll probably be a top-20 pick in April.

Note: Hunter tore his ACL in the third game of 2011 season, and I wonder what kind of effect the injury had on his 2012 season. Profiles as a candidate to break out as an NFL rookie in 2013, when he’ll be two years removed from injury.

2 (41): *Matt Elam - S - Florida - 5102 / 202 - 4.53

Here’s what I wrote about Elam back in early October:

On defense, Matt Elam reminds me of Brian Dawkins (*drool*). A complete safety with elite instincts, he covers ground, excels playing center field and in coverage matching up with tight ends and running backs. Elam is good against the run, a physical tackler who flies to the football and blows up ball carriers, while also showing flashes of being a dangerous blitzer and disruptive force in the backfield. Plays violently and toes the line, but can sometimes let emotions get the best of him. To that extent, my only real concern about Elam at the next level is his size and whether he’ll be able to sustain his current style of play. A scheme-flexible hybrid who could play probably both safety spots in the NFL, he has all the makings of a stud difference-maker at the next level. Capped with a dominant performance in Gator Bowl win over Ohio State (6 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack), Elam was the best player on Florida’s defense last year — what I loved most is that he actually led the Gators in tackles for loss with 11 — and remains so now. Seriously, Brian Dawkins-level unique skill set for the position, leadership intangible included. I want Matt Elam on my football team, but we might have to talk about wearing a bigger jersey. This isn’t the 1980’s.

Future note: In one of these mocks I’ll address the potential (likely?) scenario that neither DRC nor Nnamdi will be back with the Eagles in 2013 and therefore spend two of the first three picks on cornerbacks.

3 (68): Chase Thomas - OLB - Stanford - 6036 / 248 - 4.74

Has the size, strength, skill set and rugged, physical style of a throwback era linebacker. Thomas is my favorite player on what’s a ferocious, pro-caliber and highly enjoyable to watch Stanford defense. He’s instinctive, always around the ball and a tremendous tackler. Quick and anticipatory as opposed to fast. A little stiff and most effective down near the line of scrimmage instead of in space, Thomas developed pass rush skills as an outside linebacker in Stanford’s 3-4. While an average athlete at best, he should be able to play on his feet just fine in a 4-3.

As we saw in the Bucs game, Mychal Kendricks is best suited to play weakside linebacker, where he can utilize his elite speed (to close on the ball) and special athleticism (in coverage). With DeMeco Ryans in the middle and Chase Thomas ready to step in immediately, this selection would truly solidify the starting linebacker corps. I can’t even express to you how ecstatic I’d be if the Eagles draft him.

4: Jordan Poyer - CB - Oregon State - 5111 / 190 - 4.49

Well-rounded player who impressed me with each successive viewing. Showcases the kind of versatility that appeals to NFL teams and lined up all over the place on the Oregon State defense. Poyer has experience covering outside wide receivers, slot receivers and tight ends. Great athlete with elite awareness and innate feel for both man and zone coverage. Unafraid, always in attack mode. Ball skills are tremendous (7 interceptions this season and 13 for his career), perhaps best among cornerback prospects in this draft. What sticks out to me most, however, is how well Poyer’s able to turn and locate the ball while running with a receiver, so that even if he can’t necessarily make a play, he’s not face-guarding the receiver and committing pass interference. Not the prettiest tackler, but it’s not for lack of effort or desire; size just prevents him from being anythig more than average in this area, and getting off blocks will be an issue. Poyer can be outmuscled by bigger wide receivers and must get stronger, but he has the undeniable skill set of a top-notch NFL corner.

Unfortunately, Poyer was robbed of a chance to match up with Keenan Allen when the latter was sidelined with an injury for Oregon State/California, as I was looking forward to seeing how he would fair against one of the nation’s top wide receiver prospects.

Based on talent alone, another CB I’d want at this spot is Georgia’s Sanders Commings (6012 / 216), but I can’t in good conscience advocate selecting him. He was suspended for the first two games of the season and has a troubling history of domestic violent complaints.

5: Brandon Williams - DT - Missouri Southern - 6016 / 328 - 5.09

Williams might hail from Division II Missouri Southern, but he has everything you look for in a prospect and profiles as a player whose talent transcends that lower level of competition. In addition to being an unstoppable force, Williams’ size, strength, quickness and versatility (played all along the defensive line) will appeal to NFL teams. So too will his character and personality. The thought of pairing Williams with Fletcher Cox has my salivary glands going haywire.

6: Larry Webster - DE - Bloomsburg - 6062 / 240 - 4.74

Second Division II player in a row. Webster popped up on my radar about a month ago while I was putting together a scourting report on Maryland DE/DT Joe Vellano, a personal favorite of mine. At the time, Vellano was ranked one spot behind Webster by NFL Draft Scout. A defensive end who’s 6’6”, 240 pounds and runs a 4.74? Well, with such enticing physical attributes he passes the eye test with flying colors, so I had to know more. Turns out Webster is the son of former 11-year NFL veteran defensive tackle Larry Webster, so put a check under favorable bloodlines. The junior Larry, a four-year starting center for the Bloomsburg basketball team, hadn’t played football competitively since high school until this season. His length, athleticism, raw ability and seamless reintegration to the sport — where he was immediately dominant, even recording a sack and interception in the season opener — drew the attention of pro scouts. One of those “pieces of clay” who could be molded into something special with the right coaching. Very high ceiling, the type of talent you take a chance on at this point in the draft.

Another consideration here is Marquis Jackson (DE - Portland State - 6032 / 260 - 4.87). He’s a former USC recruit and Texas Southern transfer who brings a ton of raw ability to the table. With the size and talent to be an NFL defensive end, Jackson is a project who could blossom in the right situation.

7: Adam Smith - OG - Western Kentucky - 6045 / 325 - 5.46

This Adam Smith might not be the father of modern economics, but he is a player whose sheer mammothness (not a word) caught my eye. A classic road grader-type; limited athlete who relies on simply engulfing and overpowering opponents. I imagine I’d learn everything I need to know about Adam Smith’s NFL potential by watching the Alabama game (as an aside, this is when  teammate Quanterrus Smith sent his draft stock soaring with a three-sack performance), which is a tape I’ve been meaning to get my hands on.

7 (via DEN, Brodrick Bunkley trade): Drew Frey - SS - Cincinnati - 6026 / 212 - 4.58

Obligatory Cincinnati pick. Frey is a try-hard thumper in the classic SS mold who’s effective down near the line of scrimmage and a liability in coverage. Athletic limitations and one-dimensional nature confine him to being a backup safety, but a player I envision earning his keep on special teams.

How do you like that Missouri Southern-Bloomsburg-Western Kentucky trifecta in rounds five, six and seven? God, I love the draft.

Finally, here’s to tonight’s game perpetuating the happy and hopeful feelings for the future. Here’s to Folesmania continuing.

The Undrafted Free Agent Class of 2011

Seven rounds. 254 players selected. Still, the work is not done… only temporarily halted, thanks to the precarious lockout. Every year there are undrafted free agents who play valuable roles for their teams and leave people wondering, How did this guy NOT get drafted?! Some of the most notable undrafted free agents from 2010 include LaGarrette Blount (Tampa Bay), Frank Zombo (Green Bay), Chris Ivory (New Orleans), Seyi Ajirotutu (San Diego), Javarris James (Indianapolis), and Sam Shields (Green Bay). I’m sure I’m forgetting some, but you get the point. I think about Eagles teams of the recent past and the number of undrafted free agents that populated the roster — many actually ended up playing key roles. Chad Lewis. David Akers. Hank Fraley. Jamaal Jackson. Quintin Mikell. Now Antonio Dixon, a guy I’ve said before has definite Pro Bowl potential. The list goes on. Finding those gems that slipped through the cracks is how scouts really make their money. Now it’s time to explore some of the more intriguing players in this year’s crop of undrafted free agents.

Quarterback

Taylor Potts — Texas Tech — 6041 / 218

He might be downgraded because of the stigma associated with Texas Tech signal callers, which is understandable, but his physical tools are undeniable and probably the best of any quarterback prospect to come from that program. Potts has the ideal build to play the position, is accurate with the football, and makes plays that indicate an intuitive feel for the game. Interestingly enough, the game that really made me buy into Potts as a next level talent was when he came off the bench and outdueled Blaine Gabbert in leading the Red Raiders back from an early 14-point deficit, en route to an eventual 24-17 victory. There’s a smoothness to his game that really appeals to me. He also seems to have a certain presence about him and commands the attention and respect of his teammates; the fact that Potts been lauded for his leadership ability is definitely another positive. Intriguing potential as a developmental prospect.

Stats / Player Page

Pat Devlin — Delaware — 6033 / 225

A transfer from Penn State, Devlin was at one point considered to be a mid-round pick. I’m not going to pretend I’ve ever watched a Blue Hens football game, but the school does boast Rich Gannon and Joe Flacco as alumni. Good enough for me. If a team believes in Devlin and wants to give him a shot, he’s now a low-risk (high reward?) signing after going undrafted. I will tell you one thing, though, I really like the kind of stats he put up (especially completion percentage) at Delaware, regardless of the whole level of competition detraction. If you’re actually good, it doesn’t matter where you played collegiately.

Post-draft update: Would have been taken in the UFL draft but declined to sign a contract.

Stats / Player Page

Scott Tolzien — Wisconsin — 6020 / 212

A smart player with fantastic accuracy and a soft touch, if pedestrian physical and athletic traits (sort of like Greg McElroy in that respect). He fits the bill as a classic “game manager” type of quarterback. I think Tolzien will carve out a spot as a solid backup who can start in a pinch and fill in admirably in case of injury.

Stats / Player Page

Running Back

Derrick Locke — Kentucky — 5082 / 188

Pre-Senior Bowl: I mentioned Derrick Locke as a possible draft pick in my article about how to fix the Washington Redskins. His build likely precludes him from being a feature back in the NFL and raises concerns about his durability, but I think he can immediately step into a pro offense as a scat back and receiving threat. Locke has blazing speed — I expect him to run in the 4.2/4.3 range (edit: he ran a 4.4 at the Combine) — and exhibits great cutback ability once he sees a hole. He’s a blur in the open field, where his elusiveness and agility are on full display as he leaves would-be tacklers grasping at air. Alright, so he’ll probably have trouble blocking NFL defenders… but that’s not why he’d be in the game.

Perhaps 15-20 years ago Locke would have been pigeonholed as a return specialist (a role in which he can and will excel, by the way) and never gotten a second look as a running back that could fill a substantial role in an offense. However, with a majority of teams trending toward a two-back system nowadays, some coach is going to value what he brings to the table and find a way to get him involved in the offense. Basically, just get Derrick Locke the ball in space and let him do his thing; the guy is a home-run hitter and can take it to the house any time he touches the rock.

Post-Senior Bowl: I wrote about Derrick Locke in my previous Senior Bowl article, and he did not disappoint upon getting a chance to play in the game itself. In addition to what I already wrote about him, I was impressed with how physical he was while running the football, especially between the tackles. Locke didn’t shy away from getting hit and actually initiated contact with would-be tacklers as he attempted to fight for extra yards. Couple that kind of physicality and determination with the vision, explosion, athleticism, and shiftiness he displayed whenever he touched the ball, and I came away even more confident in my opinion that Locke will be a player at the next level. He also caught the eyes of the announcers, who sang his praises on more than one occasion. Will Derrick Locke be a workhorse running back who can carry the ball 20-25 times per game? Again, no. But he’ll be perfect as a change-of-pace back and big play threat — as both a runner and receiver — who can put the fear of God into a defense.

Post-draft update: I’m really surprised Locke went undrafted, especially after his impressive performance at the Senior Bowl. I guess his size (5-8, 188 pounds) and durability/injury history scared teams off. Nonetheless, I think Locke’s going to be a good player in the NFL — provided he can stay healthy, of course.

Stats / Player Page 

Mario Fannan — Auburn — 5103 / 231

This player, who had scouts and player personnel executives at the Combine doing a double take when looking at their stopwatches, was Auburn’s fourth-leading rusher this past season — registering 61 carries for 395 yards (6.5 yards per carry) and five touchdowns. He also added 17 receptions for 173 yards and two scores. Fannin was so integral to the Tigers’ success that he had zero carries and one reception (for 16 yards) in the BCS National Championship Game. So, how does a guy who’s 5-10, 231 pounds, and runs a 4.37 get used so sparingly? It probably has something to do with him being more of an impressive athlete than pure running back. According to scouting reports, Fannin’s size/weight/speed ratio (or “speed score” rating) is about the only thing he has going for him, as he lacks instincts and vision, doesn’t run with good pad level, and has a propensity for fumbling. But one thing is for certain: He is built like a bowling ball, runs under a 4.4, and has some serious big play ability. I have to think Fannin can fit with a team somewhere and be utilized effectively in certain offensive schemes.

Stats / Player Page 

Donald Buckram — Texas-El Paso — 5092 / 194

After a breakout junior year (1500+ yards rushing/2000+ total yards/21 total TD), Buckram entered 2010 as an under-the-radar player to watch. Unfortunately, he suffered foot and knee injuries and was only able to play sporadically. Buckram finished the season with just 81 carries for 335 yards. When healthy, he runs a 4.4 flat and is an excellent receiver out of the backfield with soft hands. While Buckram sports a slight upper body, he’s deceptively strong in his lower half and will break arm tackles — the guy’s tough and a lot harder to take down than one might think at first glance. Overall, he isn’t suited for full-time duty at the next level, but he’d be a perfect scat-back and change-of-pace guy. One of the things that really stood out to me while watching Buckram was how smooth a runner he is. He has a slash-and-dash style, and there’s a suddenness and quickness to his game that allows him to stop and start on a dime. Combine that with his speed and athleticism, and Buckram is very dangerous in the open field. He’s an explosive runner and has the kind of agility and elusiveness that allows him to navigate tight areas and make defenders miss in close. It’s to the point where I’m actually surprised when he doesn’t make the first guy miss. Perhaps what’s most impressive about Buckram, though, is how comfortable and effective he is running between the tackles. Buckram’s patient, trusts his blockers, and looks for holes at the line of scrimmage, whereas a lot of other backs his size will try to outrace a defender to the outside. He has the vision to see cutback lanes and is a decisive runner who doesn’t dance around and keeps his pad level low. And, to my surprise, he’s actually a solid blocker, even if most of the time that only consists of launching himself at the legs of a defender to cut him down. He’s going to have understand the kind of players he’ll go up against in the pros and find a way to adequately protect himself, but I like his game a lot and think he has a chance to be a contributor at the next level.

Player Page / Stats

Fullback

Henry Hynoski — Pittsburgh — 6003 / 257

Might be the best blocker of the fullback class and fits the traditional profile for the position. He’s basically an extra offensive lineman — all the way down to his 5.06 speed — that lines up in the backfield. Hynoski paved the way for Dion Lewis the past two seasons and would be perfect for a pro team that plays a smash-mouth brand of football on offense. He also has soft hands and is a capable receiver.

Stats / Player Page

Wide Receiver

Jeff Maehl — Oregon — 6007 / 190

One of my favorite players in all of college football this past season. He’s this year’s Blair White, but better.

Maehl won’t wow you with speed or athleticism (although he’s a better athlete than some would give him credit for), but he’s as pure a receiver as you’ll find in the draft. He’s tough as nails, isn’t afraid to go into the high-traffic areas to make plays, catches everything thrown his way, and always seems to get yards after the catch. The guy is just a good football player, period. I’ve even had a former NFL player personnel executive tell me that Maehl will play in the league for a long time and could immediately step into an offense like that of the Colts or Patriots and catch 100 balls (pretty solid endorsement right there). He’ll also become an instant fan favorite the second he steps on the field at training camp. That’s a guarantee for wherever he ends up. Honestly, I thought Jeff Maehl was worth a mid-round selection.

Post-BCS National Championship Game: Easily my favorite player on either team… I’ve actually written about him before. He was superb on Monday and clearly the best player on Oregon’s offense, as he accounted for nine rceptions and 133 yards. Need a big play to get out of the shadow of your own endzone? Throw it to The Maehl Man. Need a crucial third down conversion? Loft the ball in Maehl’s direction, he’ll catch it. Need to make plays through the air because your preferred method of offense — running the ball — is being totally stifled? Give it to the cool white dude with the shaggy hair and soft hands. An interesting thing about Maehl is that he’s a converted safety, so he has a tremendous advantage due his an innate understanding of defenses.

Stats / Player Page

Ricardo Lockette — Fort Valley State — 6021 / 211

Post-Combine report: Read the blurb I wrote about him in the “Players to Watch at the Combine” article. Predictably, Lockette ran in the 4.3 range and “opened a lot of eyes” in Indianapolis, according to Gil Brandt, NFL.com analyst and former VP of Player Personnel for the Dallas Cowboys for nearly 30 years. Then again, if professional scouts didn’t really know about him before the Combine, they should all lose their jobs. Lockette’s very much a sprinter trying to learn how to be a wide receiver and is as raw a talent as you’ll find. Still, you can’t teach speed and explosion, and he has both in spades. So, he’s going to be an Oakland Raider, right? (Edit: Hey, he still could be.)

Player Page (stats included)

Josue Paul — Central Connecticut State — 5111 / 223

Really intriguing player — I didn’t even know he existed until a week before the draft — and I’m willing to wager that no other draftnik/analyst/writer even so much as typed his name. First, I’ve never seen Paul play. However, when I look at the measurables and production, I see a guy who has an excellent chance to contribute in some capacity at the next level. Paul played all over the field in college and beefed up from 190 to 223 pounds by the end of his senior season. I’m a little confused about his position in the pros. Whatever, doesn’t really mater, someone will figure out a way to utilize his skills. Even after adding those 30 extra pounds, Paul still has 4.5 speed to go along with elite receiving skills and impressive upper body strength (28 reps). He runs like a running back, and, just for good measure, also excels as a kick returner. Josue Paul likely is better suited as a WR/RB/H-back hybrid in the NFL, one of those guys you just want to get on the field. For some reason, I get a suspiciously good feeling about him. 

Stats / Player Page

Dane Sanzenbacher — Ohio State — 5113 / 182

Aside from having a totally awesome name, he’s a pretty good football player, too. It’s tough for smaller guys who lack elite speed (he ran a 4.56) to get scouts to buy into their pro potential, especially when they play wide receiver. However, Sanzenbacher is similar to Jeff Maehl in the sense that he understands how to play the position, finds openings in the defense, possesses elite ball skills, and is a natural when it comes to catching the football. In fact, I can’t recall ever seeing him drop a pass. Sanzenbacher is undersized and not the smoothest out of his breaks, but he’s an excellent route runner who goes into high-traffic areas to make plays, isn’t afraid to get hit, and has an uncanny ability to adjust to the ball in the air. While he doesn’t appear to be much of an athlete at first glance, Sanzenbacher has sneaky agility and the requisite body control to make difficult catches. He won’t break tackles or outrun anyone after the catch, but he has quick feet (think Wes Welker) and can make the first defender miss in close. One of the most endearing parts about Sanzenbacher’s game that I noticed while watching Ohio State the past few years is that he never gives up on a play and will work his way back to the ball to give his quarterback a target when things break down.

Sanzenbacher is intensely competitive, works his ass off, gives 110% in all facets of the game (including run blocking), and plays with a chip on his shoulder. A high character individual who draws unanimous praise and admiration from coaches and teammates. He’s one of those tough, scrappy, resourceful players who leaves everything on the field. You can’t not root for him to succeed — well, unless you’re a Michigan fan, I guess.

Stats / Player Page

Center

Zane Taylor — Utah — 6024 / 309

From the Combine preview:

He’s been the anchor of a very good offensive line at Utah over the past few seasons, during which the team was a fixture in the Top 25 rankings. Taylor possesses ideal size for the position, and what he lacks in natural athleticism, he makes up for by displaying the nastiness you love to see from a lineman. 

Taylor has great size for a center, tremendous upper body strength (33 reps at the Combine and 41 at his pro day), displayed quick feet in positional drills, and always finishes his blocks. He’s started every game over the past three years (at center or guard), was selected team captain as a senior in 2010, and earned First Team All-MWC honors. Taylor is also a four-time Academic All-MWC.

Player Page

Defensive End

Marc Schiechl — Colorado School of Mines — 6022 / 252

Yes, there’s a Colorado School of Mines. Yes, the school has a football team, and its nickname is the Orediggers. Now that that’s out of the way, let me introduce you to Marc Schiechl, Division II’s all-time career sack leader (with a total of 46). Those 70.5 career tackles for loss also stand out. Not only did he utterly dominate the competition in Division II, but he also wowed NFL scouts at the Air Force pro day, running a 4.65, putting up a remarkable 38 (!) reps on the bench, and excelling in the agility drills. Most impressively, however, Schiechl looked fluid and comfortable when subjected to a battery of linebacker drills. He’s not going to play defensive end with his hand on the ground in the NFL, but there’s serious potential for him as a 3-4 outside linebacker/edge rusher. I took to YouTube to watch some of Schiechl’s highlights, and it was immediately obvious the kind of explosion and athleticism he possessed. A former standout high school wrestler — and one of the best in the state of Colorado — he understands how to play with leverage and uses his hands surprisingly well. From purely a measurables standpoint, Schiechl can stack up with any prospect out there. He’s highly intelligent (graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering), and his raw talent is such that he’s a very intriguing developmental type of player who will garner significant interest once teams can sign undrafted free agents. If nothing else, I expect Schiechl to emerge as a special teams demon.

Stats (2010) / Player Page

Antoine Carter — Auburn — 6033 / 259

The following writeup is excerpted from my article entitled “College Football Season is Over. Finally.”:

The lesser known name on Auburn’s defensive line, Antoine Carter made arguably the biggest play of the Tigers’ season against Alabama in the 2010 Iron Bowl. Don’t remember it? With Alabama leading 21-0 early in the second quarter, Mark Ingram caught the ball around his own 40, broke a tackle, and started sprinting downfield with almost no defenders between him and the endzone. Carter chased him for literally 40 yards before lunging for the tackle from behind and brilliantly punching the ball out of Ingram’s grasp. The ball shot out with rocket propulsion force (pictured below) and flew nearly 20 yards in the air before landing in the Tigers’ endzone… and then rolled another ten yards out the back. Had Ingram scored to make it 28-0, the game would have been over, torpedoing Auburn’s national title hopes in the process. Instead, the turnover shifted the momentum in Auburn’s favor ever so slightly that the guys on the sidelines started to think they still had a chance. If you ask me, Antoine Carter made the play that propelled his team to victory. He was no less noticeable in the national championship game, as he made numerous impressive plays — a number of which came without the assistance of the unblockable Nick Fairley.

 

When you look at Carter’s numbers on the season, nothing really jumps off the page. Yeah, he recorded six sacks, but three of those came in the first game of the season against Arkansas State. Nevertheless, there just seems to be something about him that gives me a good feeling regarding his pro potential. Plays like the one he made against Alabama tell you a lot about a prospect. On most draft websites, Carter isn’t even projected to be picked at all. Some astute team is going to be rewarded for taking a chance on him later in the draft or as an undrafted free agent.

Update: He’d likely have to switch to outside linebacker in a 3-4.

Stats / Player Page

Inside Linebacker

Mario Harvey — Marshall — 5107 / 257

Harvey, of Combine snub lore and perhaps a little miffed at the aforementioned slight, ran an incredible time, posting a 4.46 (not a misprint) at the Marshall pro day in mid March. Not too shabby for a guy whose previous clocked time was listed as being in the 4.7-4.8 range by NFLDraftScout.com. In fact, that would’ve been the best time of any linebacker at the Combine (Martez Wilson ran a 4.49). Harvey was also highly impressive in the positional drills and had scouts buzzing. At a shade under 5-11 and a solid 260 pounds, he’s built like a brick shithouse — and I honestly mean that in the most complimentary way. Combine that body type with sub-4.5 speed, and you have yourself, from a purely physical standpoint, a very enticing player. Harvey adds to the intrigue by having put together a stellar college career. I’ve already given you my scouting report on him, and here’s what legendary NFL player personnel executive (and current NFL.com analyst) Gil Brandt wrote:

Marshall Pro day: When Mario Harvey found out he was not among the invitees to last month’s NFL Scouting Combine, Marshall’s pro day emerged as this fiery linebacker’s key chance to show NFL teams what Marshall fans have raved about for ages. Of the 12 Marshall players and one small-schooler who worked out for NFL personnel on March 16, it was Harvey who made the most of his opportunity. The 5-foot-10 7/8, 250-pound fireplug registered a stirring 4.46 40-yard dash and put on a strong positional workout for onlookers, including a New England Patriots scout who took particular interest in the Thundering Herd defender. Harvey also logged a 32-inch vertical and 9-5 broad jump, with a 4.19-second short shuttle and 7.13 three-cone drill result. Harvey is an aggressive, energetic, play-making defender — some NFL team will take a chance on him for his special-teams promise and potential on defense.” (Here’s Harvey’s full player page, which is where this quote was found).

According to Eagles historian and Hall of Fame football writer Ray Didinger, with whom I exchanged e-mails last week, scouts think Harvey’s too small and will get swallowed up by NFL offensive linemen. Ah, the classic “too small” label, even though the guy is damn near 260 pounds, absolutely yoked in his lower half, put up 27 reps on the bench, and ran a 4.46. Didinger did, however, opine that Harvey’s measurables and eye-popping production can’t be ignored and warranted a late-round selection. Works for me. All I know is he’ll make an NFL roster and initially earn his keep on special teams. Mario Harvey’s going to be a good NFL player. An eventual starter, too.

Stats / Player Page

Nick Bellore — Central Michigan — 6010 / 245

Mentioned him very briefly in my Combine preview, and here’s what I wrote: 

He’s going to make some team that runs a 3-4 defense very happy.

I guess I should expand on that a bit. Bellore was hampered by an ankle injury throughout 2010, and there’s no doubt it affected both his performance and draft stock. He’s a tackling machine who has good size and strength for the position and can shed blocks, which helps him overcome his relative lack of athleticism. A classic meat-and-potatoes/lunchpail kind of player who’s tough, resilient, and never takes a play off — should fit very nicely as a 3-4 inside linebacker in the pros. Bellore’s not a sideline-to-sideline player (speed is average, at best), but he displays superior instincts against the run and is relentless in pursuit; read-and-react ability is top notch, which enables him to get a quick break on the ball and make plays in the backfield (32.5 career tackles for loss) before blockers can pick him up. Sometimes Bellore will get a little too aggressive and overrun plays, thus leaving his gap vacant and giving the ball carrier a cut-back lane (I refer to this as Jeremiah Trotter Syndrome). Struggles in coverage and isn’t fast or fluid enough to cover backs in the flat, but he did manage to record five interceptions over the course of his career (to go along with five forced fumbles and five sacks). A three-time team captain and two-time defensive MVP.

Stats / Player Page

Outside Linebacker

Mark Herzlich — Boston College — 6040 / 244

Mark Herzlich’s story is truly incredible, and he’s the kind of player whom you want to see get a chance in the NFL. The 2010 season was his first since beating cancer, and it’s obvious he wasn’t the same player. However, that does not mean Herzlich can’t regain some of his old form as he plays more football and gets fully reacclimated with the rigors of the game. I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention he’s also a local Philly guy from Wayne.

Stats / Player Page

Free Safety

Deunta Williams — North Carolina — 6016 / 205

It’s been a tough year for Deunta Williams. Coming into 2010 he was ranked as one of the top prospects at the free safety position, but things immediately took an unfortunate turn. Williams was suspended the first four games of the season for NCAA rules violations, which, when you read about what actually happened, reinforces what a draconian farce the NCAA is. The suspension seemed to affect his entire season, and although his tackle numbers remained solid, he didn’t record a single interception after snagging six the year before (and 12 total up to that point in his career). Then, to cap everything off, Williams suffered a broken right fibula in the Music City Bowl against Tennessee and wasn’t able to partake in any of the pre-draft workout programs. Just some really shitty luck overall for an otherwise model student-athlete who stayed out of trouble and was one of the Tar Heels’ most active community service members. By all accounts, Williams was a very well-liked and respected member of both the football team and university.

Williams has ideal height, weight, and speed (4.53) for the free safety position. He’s aggressive and opportunistic, which can be both a blessing and curse. Williams loves to read the eyes of the quarterback and get an early jump on the ball, but this habit also leaves him susceptible to eye-manipulation and double moves. He tracks the ball well in the air, takes good angles, and has the speed and burst to close on receivers. Excellent athlete with soft hands and the ability to make difficult interceptions. Williams has much better instincts against the pass than the run and isn’t particularly effective down near the line of scrimmage. Fine as a tackler, but hardly intimidating. 

Stats / Player Page

Strong  Safety

Mana Silva — Hawaii — 6006 / 206

I only saw two of Hawaii’s games in 2010 (vs. USC and at Boise State), and both were among Silva’s best performances of the season. An excellent combination of height, weight, and speed (4.44) for the position, he’s also a solid wrap-up tackler in the open field, which is reflected by his high number of solo tackles. On the negative side, however, sometimes he’ll get a little undisciplined and go for the big hit instead of the sure tackle (as he did against Tulsa in the Hawaii Bowl, which cost his team a touchdown).

I didn’t hear much buzz about Silva — Scouts Inc. didn’t even have a scouting report on him — until he wowed scouts at Hawaii’s pro day in early April. He’s fast, athletic, and strong (23 reps), with a 40” vertical that allows him to go up and fight with receivers for the ball. A true sideline-to-sideline player who locates the football well and is in constant attack mode, he continuously darts all over the field and takes good angles in pursuit of the ball carrier. Silva’s better against the run than the pass, but you can’t say he doesn’t make plays on the ball when the opportunity presents itself. He was second in the nation with eight interceptions (two of which came against Kellen Moore, and another against Colin Kaepernick) this past season and had six the year before that, so you know he has good hands. You need a play-maker on defense, someone with the invaluable ability to force turnovers. That’s Mana Silva. Oh, he can blitz, too, and do so effectively. It’s weird, Hawaii’s pass defense was among the worst in the FBS (D-IA), yet Silva didn’t look completely lost in coverage. He can read the quarterback’s eyes and gets a good break on the ball. I’d be lying if I said his style didn’t make me think of Troy Polamalu a few times. Silva should get a shot with some team, and he’ll stick.

Stats / Player Page

Jeron Johnson — Boise State — 5102 / 212

A four-year starter and unquestioned leader of the Broncos’ defense, Johnson is a highly productive player (325 career tackles) who led the team in tackles the past three seasons and has solid ball skills (eight career interceptions). He’s thickly built and has excellent upper body strength (23 reps), good speed for the position (4.51), and earned First Team All-WAC honors in 2010. Jeron’s not the most gifted athlete, but he makes up for it by being an instinctive player who reads and reacts well; he nary misses an assignment nor gets beat deep. I also like the fact that he had his two best games of the season against Viriginia Tech and Nevada. Plays the game hard and loves to deliver big, momentum-changing hits. Johnson’s a good football player, and I see him as a potential starter at the next level.

Stats / Player Page

J.C. Sherritt — Eastern Washington — 5095 / 220

Mentioned in one of my very first articles, Sherritt doesn’t have the speed nor range to play safety in the NFL and is too small to play linebacker. However, he’s a smart player and a tackling machine (2010: 158 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss) who’s always around the ball and put up some ridiculous numbers over the course of his college career. Look beyond the underwhelming measurables and you’ll see that Sherritt just makes plays and has very underrated ball skills. Also, I’m always a proponent of bringing in a player who has won the Buck Buchanan Award (as well as the Walter Payton Award). Sherritt actually was the runner up for the award in 2009 before capturing it this past season. Now, is this method for selecting a player foolproof? No, of course not, but it has turned me on to future Pro Bowlers like Rashean Mathis and Jared Allen, as well as relatively unknown yet effective players such as Arthur Moats and Kroy Biermann. Unfortunately, Chris Gocong didn’t work out for my Eagles (of course), but I digress. Other past winners who played in college before I started following the draft and went on to be impact players at the NFL level include Dexter Coakley (twice), a three-time Pro Bowler for the Dallas Cowboys, and Edgerton Hartwell, who had the look of a rising star playing next to Ray Lewis in Baltimore before signing a big contract with Atlanta and subsequently succumbing to injuries that ended his career.

Sherritt, as expected, was not drafted, but he’s the kind of player you want on your roster, even if only as a special teamer (which is where he’ll have to earn his way in the pros).

Player Page


Philadelphia Eagles Draft Recap

And just like that, football is over. Well, except for the protracted court battle, which will now become the focus of our football-obsessed society. Hopefully the owners and players can get their shit together and work out a new collective bargaining agreement in time for training camp. For now, though, it’s time to look back at the weekend that was for my Philadelphia Eagles, and what the franchise did in its quest to build a Super Bowl-caliber roster moving forward.

Round (Overall)

1 (23): Danny Watkins — Guard — Baylor — 6033 / 310

No, this isn’t a sexy pick at a skill position, and I’m sure the announcement didn’t evoke excited responses from many Eagles fans. However, in my opinion, the team came into this draft with two very pressing needs: protecting Michael Vick and pressuring the opposing quarterback (cornerback was third). Andy Reid and Howie Roseman addressed the former with Danny Watkins and got an immediate starter at, presumably, right guard. Reid dragged Howard Mudd out of retirement to coach the offensive line, and this draft has Mudd’s fingerprints all over it (more on that later). I just wish the draft had Jim Washburn’s fingerprints on it as well.

Final report on Watkins:

Overager who will turn 27 in November. Watkins doesn’t have the wear and tear on his body because of the fact that he only just started playing football at the age of 22. Instead, he grew up in British Columbia playing ice hockey and rugby (and worked as a firefighter before coming to the States in 2007). Scouts fell in love with him at the Senior Bowl when he was moved from tackle inside to guard and took to the position instantaneously. Plays with an edge and snarl that you love to see in an offensive lineman. Agile, strong, nasty, and technically sound, Watkins should start immediately. Check that, because of his age, he must start immediately. Still, at 26 going on 27, you have to wonder just how much upside he has. What if you only get five years out of him? You know something, least it will be a damn good five years.

From my Senior Bowl article:

He’s been a revelation so far at the practices and is drawing unanimously rave reviews, which is pretty impressive when you consider he only started playing football upon arriving in the states four ago from his native Canada. Very rarely is an interior lineman the talk of the Senior Bowl, but that’s exactly what Watkins has become. Suffice to say he’s flying up the draft boards. The one major downside: Watkins is already 26 and will turn 27 during the 2011 season.

Ah, my Eagles, making the solid, not sexy pick. I’m fine with this (and the more I think about it, dare I say I actually love it), Watkins definitely has that snarl and blue collar work ethic Philly loves. He’ll ingratiate himself immediately and start from the first day of training camp, whereupon he should help solidify an offensive line that nearly got Michael Vick killed numerous times last season (or will we keep Kolb and have him step in when Vick inevitably gets injured?). I’m also excited Watkins gets to be coached by Howard Mudd. As for a potential domino effect: Perhaps this is a precursor to moving Todd Herremans to right tackle to protect Vick’s blind side if the team is no longer confident in Winston Justice.

Player Page

2 (54): Jaiquawn Jarrett — Safety — Temple — 5117 / 198

I reacted to the Jarrett pick right when it was announced:

Like Jets first round pick Muhammad Wilkerson, Jarrett played right in the Eagles’ backyard. There were reports after Temple’s pro day that the team was very interested in him. Solid player with high character and exhibits traits the Eagles love, all the way down to being undersized and compensating for it with his motor and instincts. Jarrett is known as a fierce hitter who’s smart, physical, tough, fundamentally sound, and plays a very cerebral game, which, in college (see: not the NFL), helped make up for his 4.62 speed and the fact that he’s not an explosive athlete. But what if that 4.62 indicates he’s a step slow? Whereas it wasn’t a death knell in college, that could spell his demise in the pros. Something tells me Andy Reid will refer to him as a “battler” on more than one occasion. I just hope Jarett can reward the team’s faith. The question now is, how do the Eagles see him? If it’s as a free safety, that would seem to speak volumes about their concern regarding the severity of the injury Nate Allen suffered when he ruptured his patellar tendon against the Giants late in the season. Jon Gruden — who feigned prophetic prognostication powers as he let everyone know this would be the pick moments before it was announced — thinks Jarrett can also play strong safety at the next level (so, is he Quintin Mikell’s replacement?).  I hope he’s right. I like the way Jarrett plays the game and think he can be a fine NFL player, I’m just not sure what position will give him the best chance to succeed in the pros. Perhaps the team sees him as a Brian Dawkins type of player in the free safety/strong safety hybrid mold. I’m less optimistic, though interested to see where he plays.

You might look at Jarrett’s measurables and automatically dismiss him, but to do so for that reason is to ignore the one edict that scouts live by, which is to judge the player predominantly based on his game tape. I watched Temple a few times this season because I wanted to get a look at Muhammad Wilkerson. I couldn’t help but notice Jaiquawn Jarrett, as he always seemed to put himself in the right position to make a play. He’ll straight lay guys out, relishes the chance to make a bone-jarring hit that fires up both his teammates and the crowd, and sets the tone for the defense. Jarrett’s character, dedication, and leadership all draw unanimous praise, too, from peers, coaches, and professors alike. Perhaps nothing flashy really stands out about him, but he’s a solid player who thinks the game as well as anyone. I just hope his physical and athletic limitations don’t mitigate his feel for the game in the pros. Also, Jarrett currently has a very thin build; he needs to add some bulk and get stronger if he wants to play in the pros the same way he did in college.

Stats / Player Page

3 (90): Curtis Marsh — Cornerback — Utah State — 6004 / 197

Curtis Marsh headlined my list of underrated cornerback prospects, and it looks like the Eagles were equally taken with his skill set and potential. Hopefully we’re right. Either way, I like this pick.

From the Senior Bowl preview:

If you’ve been watching the NFL playoffs, odds are you’re familiar with Green Bay’s rookie cornerback Sam Shields, especially after his breakout performance in the NFC Championship Game. After being bypassed by every team in last spring’s draft, Shields signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent with (understandably) little fanfare. Despite posting impressive measurables — 5-11, 184 lbs, 4.32 40-yard dash — he was seen as a developmental prospect who’d need a few years of coaching before being ready to contribute. You see, Shields was recruited by the University of Miami (FL) as a wide receiver — which explains his great hands — and wasn’t switched to cornerback until his senior season. That means this is only his second year playing the position, which makes his rapid ascent all the more remarkable. 

Curtis Marsh followed a similar path, as he was originally recruited by Utah State to play running back before being switched to cornerback going into his junior year. After two seasons, his athleticism and instincts have allowed him to make a seamless transition; Marsh has improved by leaps and bounds and looks like a natural at the position. Unfortunately, he suffered a hamstring injury early in the week and has been sidelined since, so NFL teams haven’t gotten a chance to evaluate him on the practice field. As such, Marsh will have to prove his worth during individual workouts. Still, if you look at the stats, you can see this guy has potential, as he ranked second in the WAC and sixth in the FBS (D-IA) in passes defended with 1.25 per game — for a total of 15 — to go along with two interceptions.

Go ahead, ask Titus Young and Austin Pettis if Marsh can play. He’s big, long, fast, supremely athletic, and a quick study. Don’t be surprised if, despite Marsh’s inexperience, he immediately contributes this season in certain packages and is a starter within two or three years.

Stats / Player Page

4 (116): Casey Matthews — Inside Linebacker — Oregon — 6007 / 231

Casey might be Clay’s younger brother, but he’s neither the athlete nor player. Sorry, Eagles fans. That does not mean he’s automatically doomed to fail, though. You just should scale down your expectations, if you have any. I think Matthews will be a solid contributor on special teams, but I have my doubts about him developing into a starter. Casey is a tough, instinctive player, but he’s undersized and lacks the strength to get off blocks (which was only reemphasized when he put up a mere 13 reps on the bench, although it should be noted he was recovering from a shoulder injury at the time). If Matthews had trouble shedding blockers (including tight ends) at the collegiate level, he’s going to struggle mightily in the pros. His speed isn’t anything to write home about, which is even more concerning given his size. Matthews is a high motor player who’s relentless in pursuit, but he doesn’t have the burst to close on ball-carriers. Furthermore, while he appears comfortable dropping into space, I think he will have trouble matching up against athletic tight ends and running backs in coverage. Supposedly the Eagles see Matthews as a weakside linebacker in their 4-3 scheme, so we’ll see if/how it works out. I’m more skeptical, so I hope I’m wrong.

From the BCS National Championship game recap:

As far as instincts and intelligence go, Casey Matthews is a natural on the football field. While he’s not as gifted as his older brother from a physical or athletic standpoint, Casey leads by example and gives 110% effort every snap — two characteristics you can’t help but admire. His speed leaves a little to be desired, but the kid’s motor is always running. Casey’s tackling was disappointingly inconsistent, and he noticeably missed a few in the national championship game (despite forcing a critical fumble). Still, as a student of the game, tackling is something he’ll work on until he has it perfected — I just wonder if he’s strong enough to maintain proper technique and hold up at the point of attack. Still, he knows how to diagnose plays, find the football, and shoots the correct gaps against the run (again, instincts). I have some concerns about his ability in coverage, and it wasn’t uncommon for him to come off the field on passing downs. Rhetoric aside, Casey Matthews is simply a football player, and his natural instincts should help camouflage some of the shortcomings in his game. I think he’ll be a fine player at the next level, I just don’t see him as a starter.

Stats / Player Page

4 (120): Alex Henery — Kicker — Nebraska — 6014 / 177

Well, that’ll do it for the David Akers era in Philadelphia. It’s an abrupt end for the best kicker in franchise history, but I guess he sealed his fate when he refused to sign the transition tag. I wish Akers success elsewhere… preferably not in the NFC East, but whatever. Jaiquawn Jarrett seemingly was drafted to be Quntin Mikell’s replacement, and now the same is true with Henery and Akers. Just like that, the only two remaining players from the 2004 team that lost the Super Bowl are no longer Philadelphia Eagles. A symbolic end to this current management regime’s first act, if nothing else. 

As for Henery, the team certainly chose a worthy candidate to be Akers’ succssor. He’s one of the most accurate kickers in college football history, converting at a remarkable 89.5% clip (68 for 76) over the course of his career and is virtually automatic inside of 50 yards (as evidenced by his ridiculous 96.7% conversion rate on such kicks). On kicks beyond 50 yards, though, Henery sits at 45.5% (5 for 11). At least he’ll make the kicks he’s supposed to make. He can also punt, and do it well.

Stats / Player Page

5 (149): Dion Lewis — Running Back — Pittsburgh — 5065 / 193

I wanted Jacquizz Rodgers, but he went four picks earlier to Atlanta. Instead we get one of the draft’s other diminutive running backs, Dion Lewis, who was LeSean McCoy’s successor at Pittsburgh. If the Eagles were going to go this route with a running back, I think I’d have preferred Derrick Locke (who went undrafted, by the way, but was taken in the UFL draft). He blends speed, acceleration, quickness, and shiftiness better than any other back in this draft. Combine that with his superior receiving skills and Locke is the prototypical scat-back for the NFL. Anyway, Lewis should fit in the Eagles’ offense as a change-of-pace option. He’s a slippery runner with excellent balance and the vision to recognize open cut-back lanes. Sometimes Lewis will dance around too much instead of being decisive with his cuts, but he has some burst to his game and appears comfortable maneuvering in close quarters. While he lacks the speed that will allow him to consistently run away from defenders, his lateral quickness, acceleration, and agility are elite. Lewis has the sudden stop-and-start ability that leaves defenders flat-footed and can make people miss in the open field (watch out for his spin move). Made great use of the stiff arm in college, but will it be as effective in the pros? Not a good pass blocker and needs to refine how he carries the football in order to avoid the fumbling issues he had this past season. Lewis is also a capable receiver out of the backfield.

Stats /  Player Page

5 (161): Julian Vandervelde — Guard — Iowa — 6017 / 301

A curious pick, until you remember that Howard Mudd is now coaching the offensive line. Vandervelde is Mudd’s kind of player. He likes his charges to be agile and light on their feet, able to pull and get out in space. The team’s next pick, Jason Kelce, also fits that profile. Anyway, Vandervelde is undersized by traditional standards but has a stout build. He can get pushed around by bigger defensive linemen, but what he lacks in size he makes up for with intelligence (four-time academic all-Big Ten), guile, and technique. He’s got some nasty to his game, as well. Yeah, Howard Mudd definitely handpicked this guy. Vandervelde will battle for playing time in camp, but I’m not expecting him to be anything more than a backup. I could, however, see him beating out the other backups for the starter’s role if McGlynn doesn’t work out at guard or has to move to center should Jamaal Jackson suffer yet another injury.

Player Page

6 (191): Jason Kelce — Center — Cincinnati — 6025 / 280

As I mentioned in the previous paragraph, this is another Howard Mudd pick. Perhaps he sees some Jeff Saturday (his center in Indy) in Kelce. That’d certainly be nice, especially since I’ve never watched him play. Kelce blew away the competition at the Combine when it came to the speed and agility drills — placing first in the 40-yard dash, 3-cone drill, 20-yard shuttle, and broad jump — so it’s obvious he has the athleticism and quickness to get out on the move and work in space. He needs all the athleticism he can muster to compensate for the fact that he’s really undersized. Now, if Kelce could add about 15 pounds without losing his nimbleness and mobility, he could very well develop into a good starter. Again, this is Mudd’s guy, and if he sees something in him, that’s good enough for me. We need to groom another center anyway with Jamaal Jackson getting up there in age and being injury-prone. If nothing else, at least the Eagles have had success drafting guys from Cincinnati (Trent Cole, Brent Celek).

Player Page

6 (193): Brian Rolle — Outside Linebacker — Ohio State — 5095 / 229

I like this pick, especially in the sixth round. Obviously, the knock on Rolle is that he’s undersized, which is true; not only does he measure under 5-10, but he’s just 229 pounds. Then again, the Eagles love those small, fast, athletic linebackers. Rolle certainly fits all the criteria and ran a 4.53 at the Combine. He’s one hell of a physical specimen and easily among the finest athletes in the linebacker class. Despite his size, Rolle has a strong upper body (28 reps) and doesn’t shy away from bigger blockers. He utilizes a low center of gravity to his advantage and can be difficult to knock off balance. There’s a certain edge to his game that meshes well with the balls-to-the-wall style, and he plays with that proverbial chip on his shoulder after years of being told he’s too small to play linebacker. Still, it’s only natural that Rolle’s going to struggle against and/or get engulfed by the mammoth human beings that will be blocking him at the next level. Ohio State is always on TV, so I’ve been able to watch plenty of Rolle’s games over the course of his college career. I always enjoyed how he flew around the field and was in constant attack mode, like a guided missile. Rolle also shows the ability to stay with running backs and tight ends in coverage. Perhaps he’ll be utilized as a rover type of safety/linebacker hybrid (much in the way Kennan Clayton was used at times last season). Ray Didinger went as far as writing that Rolle reminded him of five-time Pro Bowler Sam Mills. Perhaps that’s a little hyperbolic, but I trust his opinion more than my own.

Stats / Player Page

7 (237): Greg Lloyd — Inside Linebacker — Connecticut — 6011 / 246

The son of five-time Pro Bowl linebacker Greg Lloyd, he shares only a name and genetics with his father; the two have no relationship, and it has been that way since the elder Lloyd allegedly stuck a gun in his son’s mouth in 2001. Anyway, the junior Lloyd is much better down near the line of scrimmage where he can blow up plays than he is in space or going sideline-to-sideline. He’s a big hitter who’s strong, fights through blocks, and leaves everything on the field. However, Lloyd is not an every-down linebacker, in that he struggles against the pass and is best suited to play against the run. He wasn’t a gifted athlete before tearing his ACL and MCL late in 2009, and he really seemed a step slower this past season. Then again, athletes say they don’t feel back to normal until the second season back from that kind of injury. Regardless of his heath, Lloyd’s still not a guy you want out there in coverage.

Personally, at this point of the draft, if I’m a general manager I’m taking a chance on a superior athlete at a position with the raw skills to potentially develop into something special. That said, I would have preferred Mario Harvey (who, like the previously mentioned Derrick Locke, went undrafted) to be the pick here… but, hey, what do I know, right? 

Stats / Player Page

7 (240): Stanley Havili — Fullback — Southern California — 6002 / 227

From the running back and fullback portion of the draft preview:

A unique breed of fullback, which is to say he doesn’t really fit as a fullback at all. A classic tweener, he’s not particularly big and isn’t a strong blocker (doesn’t seem to put as much effort into it as he does other parts of his game), but he’s a capable runner and fantastic receiver. You don’t really want Havili doing any lead blocking because that’s not the way to utilize his skills; rather, he’s perfect as a short yardage option and receiving threat out of the backfield. In summation, he’s probably better suited as a complementary running back — a role which he’d almost surely embrace more anyway — than taking up a roster spot as a fullback.

Stats / Player Page

FINAL GRADE: B-

A solid, if unspectacular, draft for the Eagles. They definitely did some reaching but also got three or four players who will be counted on to make immediate impacts. Danny Watkins has all the makings of a Pro Bowl guard, Jaiquawn Jarrett looks like he’ll succeed Quintin Mikell’s at strong safety, Alex Henery will replace David Akers, and I really like the Curtis Marsh pick. In fact, based on raw talent alone, I feel Marsh has a good chance to end up being the most pleasant surprise of the entire class.

The only reason I gave the draft a B- instead of a B is because Howie Roseman, Andy Reid, and friends didn’t select a single defensive lineman in what was a historically deep draft for both the defensive end and defensive tackle positions. Maybe they — and Jim Washburn, in particular — feel there’s already enough talent along the defensive line, but I don’t. At defensive end opposite Trent Cole, Brandon Graham is coming back from ACL surgery (and I’m still not convinced he’s an every-down player), Juqua Thomas is at best a situational pass rusher, and… uh, Victor Abiamiri? Maybe if he’s ever healthy he could end up being that guy (but as we’ve seen since the moment he was drafted, that’s a gigantic “if”). Darryl Tapp? Daniel Te’o-Nesheim? CFL import Phillip Hunt? As you can see, it’s a pu pu platter of players that don’t inspire much confidence. If nothing else, I would have liked to see the team take a flyer on a guy like Greg Romeus, who went to the Saints in the seventh round. 

I was also hoping the team would draft a dynamic defensive tackle to pair inside with Antonio Dixon (who will be a Pro Bowler this upcoming season, by the way). Broderick Bunkley has secured his “bust” label (can Washburn save his career?), and Mike Patterson is an average player. Can Trevor Laws build on the significant progress he made last season? If so, that would be huge for this defense. Maybe the plan is to explore the free agent route for defensive line help. At least I hope it is because I’ll be furious if that area isn’t upgraded before the season starts.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled courtroom proceedings.

Oh, come the fuck on! Holy shit, Roger, how do you NOT know how to pronounce Natrone Means’s name? Did you watch football during the mid-90s? Have you ever even heard of Natrone Means? I was 10 the last time Means did anything of note in the NFL, and even I know his name is “NAY-tron,” not “Na-TRAIN” (?!?!?) or “Na-TRON.” I’m sorry, but this really pisses me off. Seriously, how do you, the fucking COMMISSIONER of the NFL, get something this simple so excruciatingly wrong? He’s Natrone Means Business! What an embarrassment. If you were unsure, why not just ask him how to pronounce his name before going up on stage and making a total ass out of yourself for approximately the 3000th time this offseason? Yeah, Roger, you’re right, you blew it. Again. Means is spot on… boo, BOO this guy! The incompetence is truly staggering.

NFL Draft Update: Safeties

Free Safety

Jaiquawn Jarrett — Temple — 5117 / 198

Like Jets first round pick Muhammad Wilkerson, Jarrett played right in the Eagles’ backyard. There were reports after Temple’s pro day that the team was very interested in him. Solid player with high character and exhibits traits the Eagles love, all the way down to being undersized and compensating for it with his motor and instincts. Jarrett is known as a fierce hitter who’s smart, physical, tough, fundamentally sound, and plays a very cerebral game, which, in college (see: not the NFL), helped make up for his 4.62 speed and the fact that he’s not an explosive athlete. But what if that 4.62 indicates he’s a step slow? Whereas it wasn’t a death knell in college, that could spell his demise in the pros. Something tells me Andy Reid will refer to him as a “battler” on more than one occasion. I just hope Jarett can reward the team’s faith. The question now is, how do the Eagles see him? If it’s as a free safety, that would seem to speak volumes about their concern regarding the severity of the injury Nate Allen suffered when he ruptured his patellar tendon against the Giants late in the season. Jon Gruden — who feigned prophetic prognostication powers as he let everyone know this would be the pick moments before it was announced — thinks Jarrett can also play strong safety at the next level (so, is he Quintin Mikell’s replacement?). I hope he’s right. I like the way Jarrett plays the game and think he can be a fine NFL player, I’m just not sure what position will give him the best chance to succeed in the pros. Perhaps the team sees him as a Brian Dawkins type of player in the free safety/strong safety hybrid mold. I’m less optimistic, though interested to see where he plays.

Stats / Player Page

Underrated/Flying under the radar:

Mark Legree — Appalachian State — 5114 / 210

First off, Legree finished his college career with 22 interceptions and leaves Appalachian State as the active leader in all of Division I (includes both the D-IA/FBS and D-IAA/FCS). So I’d say he has pretty good ball skills. Personally, I don’t care where you play or who you play against — if you pick off 22 passes over the course of your career, you’re doing something right, and I’m going to take notice. A nominee this past season for the Buck Buchanan Award (D-IAA/FCS Defensive Player of the Year), Legree ran a 4.49 at the Combine, has good size, quarterbacked the Mountaineers’ defense for the past three seasons, and is praised for his smarts, instincts, and awareness. All of which, especially when combined, make him a dangerous center fielder patrolling the secondary and deep half of the field (even more so because he has the speed to close on receivers while the ball’s in the air). Legree’s forte is playing the pass, but he’s an underrated tackler and has been known to deliver some big hits (for that reason I will feature a photo of him laying someone out). Nevertheless, he’s a true free safety in the sense that he’s the member of the tandem primarily responsible for defending against the pass and will never be mistaken for someone who can or should play in the box. Sometimes Legree can let his eagerness to make the interception adversely affect his play and will get caught trying to read the quarterback when he should be tracking the receiver. Still, you have to love his opportunistic style of play and ability to cause turnovers, even when teams purposely stay away from him (as they did this past season).

Here are his stats as a starter:

2010: 42 TT, 1 TFL, 5 INT, 6 PBU … 2009: 70 TT, 2 TFL, 7 INT, 6 PBU … 2008: 53 TT, 3 TFL, 1 Sack, 10 INT, 7  PBU

Player Page 

Strong  Safety

Shiloh Keo — Idaho — 5112 / 219

Instinctive, intelligent, intense, and hits like a fucking mack truck. Keo makes up for his lack of straight line speed by diagnosing routes and getting a good jump on the ball. He has a powerful build and is an underrated athlete; placed first among safeties at the Combine in the bench press and short shuttle. Excels as an in-the-box defender but is no slouch against the pass either and has great ball skills and soft hands (11 career interceptions). Just don’t expect him to stick with a receiver one-on-one down the field (which shouldn’t be his responsibility anyway). Keo is versatile and could play safety or linebacker, depending on the defensive package — he’ll likely often be featured as a rover in the strong safety/linebacker hybrid mold. If nothing else, he’ll be an elite special teamer who goes balls to the wall on every play and earns the respect and admiration of his coaches and teammates. 

Stats / Player Page

Underrated:

Jeron Johnson — Boise State — 5102 / 212

A four-year starter and unquestioned leader of the Broncos’ defense, Johnson is a highly productive player (325 career tackles) who led the team in tackles the past three seasons and has solid ball skills (eight career interceptions). He’s thickly built and has excellent upper body strength (23 reps), good speed for the position (4.51), and earned First Team All-WAC honors in 2010. Jeron’s not the most gifted athlete, but he makes up for it by being an instinctive player who reads and reacts well; he nary misses an assignment nor gets beat deep. I also like the fact that he had his two best games of the season against Viriginia Tech and Nevada. Plays the game hard and loves to deliver big, momentum-changing hits. Johnson’s a good football player, and I see him as a potential starter at the next level.

Stats / Player Page

Might as well sign him as a free agent:

J.C. Sherritt — Eastern Washington — 5095 / 220

Mentioned in one of my very first articles, Sherritt doesn’t have the speed nor range to play safety in the NFL and is too small to play linebacker. However, he’s a smart player and a tackling machine (2010: 158 total tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss) who’s always around the ball and put up some ridiculous numbers over the course of his college career. Look beyond the underwhelming measurables and you’ll see that Sherritt just makes plays and has very underrated ball skills. Also, I’m always a proponent of bringing in a player who has won the Buck Buchanan Award (as well as the Walter Payton Award). Sherritt actually was the runner up for the award in 2009 before capturing it this past season. Now, is this method for selecting a player foolproof? No, of course not, but it has turned me on to future Pro Bowlers like Rashean Mathis and Jared Allen, as well as relatively unknown yet effective players such as Arthur Moats and Kroy Biermann. Unfortunately, Chris Gocong didn’t work out for my Eagles (of course), but I digress. Other past winners who played in college before I started following the draft and went on to be impact players at the NFL level include Dexter Coakley (twice), a three-time Pro Bowler for the Dallas Cowboys, and Edgerton Hartwell, who had the look of a rising star playing next to Ray Lewis in Baltimore before signing a big contract with Atlanta and subsequently succumbing to injuries that ended his career.

Sherritt likely won’t get drafted, but he’s the kind of player you want on your roster, even if only as a special teamer (which is where he’ll have to earn his way in the pros).

Player Page

NFL Draft Update: Linebackers

Inside Linebacker

Mason Foster — Washington — 6012 / 245

From the Senior Bowl recap:

Mason Foster projects more as a traditional 4-3 weakside linebacker at the next level, despite the fact that he emerged as an effective pass rusher with seven sacks for the Huskies this season (to go along with an obscene 162 tackles, second most in the nation). Unlike an edge-rushing outside linebacker prospect like Von Miller — who’s cementing his status as a top-15 pick in the draft by dominating the week of practice at the Senior Bowl — Foster doesn’t have the good fortune of possessing the long arms necessary to gain leverage against opposing offensive tackles and probably wouldn’t be a fit on the outside for teams that run the 3-4. That said, he could probably play inside in a 3-4 scheme.

Where Foster does excel, however, is when it comes to the more intuitive parts of the game that cannot be taught; he has elite football instincts and understands how to read what the offense is doing and then react to it at the same time. Foster was a highly productive collegiate player (very opportunistic too, accounting for six forced fumbles and three interceptions during his junior year) who flows to the football and exhibits excellent technique as a tackler. He’s a sideline-to-sideline guy who flies all over the field and plays with an endearing brand of tenacity. Perhaps what sticks out most, however, is how comfortable he looks in space when asked to drop into coverage. Foster is a superb athlete who possesses fluid hips and changes direction with ease. I watched him play on three separate occasions this season (@ USC, @ Oregon, Holiday Bowl vs. Nebraska) and came away impressed each time. There is no question in my mind that Mason Foster can be a reliable, every-down linebacker at the next level. I expect he will have no trouble earning immediate playing time for whatever team drafts him. Honestly, I think Foster has the makings of a future Pro Bowler.

Reports out of the Senior Bowl indicate that Mason Foster is garnering a lot of attention from NFL teams and will likely see his draft stock rise in the coming months. This shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who has watched him over the course of his college career.

Projected Round: 2nd/3rd

Edit: Can play either inside or outside linebacker. Some analysts seem to think he’d be a better fit inside in a 3-4, but I think he’d be equally as good as the middle or weakside linebacker in a 4-3. The guy is just a pure football player in every sense of the word and will be a fixture for some team’s defense for years to come.

Stats / Player Page

Martez Wilson — Illinois — 6036 / 250

Ran the fastest 40-yard dash of any linebacker at 4.49, which would have been an impressive time for a running back or wide receiver, let alone a linebacker who measures nearly 6-4 and weighs 250 pounds. That’s just beastly. Wilson might be the only player at his position to get drafted in the first round after finally putting all his physical talents together and posting an eye-opening senior season. Still, in order for me to be sold on a player, I prefer to see a track record of solid production, and that’s something missing from Wilson’s resume (even though he recorded 73 tackles as a sophomore in 2008). Even so, you can’t deny his awesome athletic skills.

Stats / Player Page

Underrated/Flying under the radar:

Mario Harvey — Marshall — 5107 / 257

Harvey, of Combine snub lore and perhaps a tad miffed at the aforementioned slight, did end up running a good time. An incredible time, actually. He posted a 4.46 (not a misprint) at the Marshall pro day in mid March, which isn’t too shabby for a guy whose previous clocked time was listed as being in the 4.7-4.8 range. In fact, that would’ve been the best time of any linebacker at the Combine (Martez Wilson ran a 4.49). Harvey was also highly impressive in the positional drills and had scouts buzzing. At a shade under 5-11 and a solid 260 pounds, he’s built like a brick shithouse — and I honestly mean that in the most complimentary way. Combine that body type with sub-4.5 speed, and you have yourself, from a purely physical standpoint, a very enticing player. Harvey adds to the intrigue by having put together a stellar college career. I’ve already given you my scouting report on him, and here’s what legendary NFL player personnel executive (and current NFL.com analyst) Gil Brandt wrote:

Marshall Pro day: When Mario Harvey found out he was not among the invitees to last month’s NFL Scouting Combine, Marshall’s pro day emerged as this fiery linebacker’s key chance to show NFL teams what Marshall fans have raved about for ages. Of the 12 Marshall players and one small-schooler who worked out for NFL personnel on March 16, it was Harvey who made the most of his opportunity. The 5-foot-10 7/8, 250-pound fireplug registered a stirring 4.46 40-yard dash and put on a strong positional workout for onlookers, including a New England Patriots scout who took particular interest in the Thundering Herd defender. Harvey also logged a 32-inch vertical and 9-5 broad jump, with a 4.19-second short shuttle and 7.13 three-cone drill result. Harvey is an aggressive, energetic, play-making defender — some NFL team will take a chance on him for his special-teams promise and potential on defense.” (Here’s Harvey’s full player page, which is where this quote was found).

According to Eagles historian and Hall of Fame football writer Ray Didinger, with whom I exchanged e-mails last week, scouts think Harvey’s too small and will get swallowed up by NFL offensive linemen. Ah, the classic “too small” label, even though the guy is damn near 260 pounds, absolutely yoked in his lower half, put up 27 reps on the bench, and ran a fucking 4.46. Didinger did, however, opine that Harvey’s measurables and eye-popping production can’t be ignored and warrant a late-round selection. Works for me. All I know is he’ll make an NFL roster and initially earn his keep on special teams. Mario Harvey’s going to be a good NFL player. An eventual starter, too.

Stats / Player Page

Outside Linebacker

Von Miller — Texas A&M — 6025 / 246

From the Senior Bowl recap:

Wow. That’s the word that most often comes to mind when you watch Von Miller play. A 3-4 pass rushing outside linebacker, he’s a freakish athlete with unparalleled explosiveness, and his speed off the edge is breathtaking (he should run in the 4.5 range). Offensive tackles literally don’t stand a chance. If you’re thinking about raising concerns over his height and weight, don’t waste your time; Miller’s 34” arms and 80 2/8” wingspan allow him to gain considerable leverage against would-be blockers. I’m not going to bog you down with a long-winded analysis and superlatives about his ability as a football player because I don’t feel like typing that much. Just know that this guy can do it all and will be one of the game’s elite sack artists in no time. He also has no issue dropping into coverage and playing in space. As if his dominance on the field wasn’t enough, Miller was equally impressive away from the gridiron, with a number of executives remarking that he was among the most pleasant young men they’d ever met. I don’t think I’ve heard a single negative about him, in any capacity. Von Miller is going to be a top-10 pick, and deservedly so. I wouldn’t even be surprised to see him make the Pro Bowl as a rookie. In fact, I’m kind of expecting it.

Stats / Player Page

Brooks Reed — Arizona — 6024 / 263

From the Senior Bowl recap:

I’m a big fan of this guy. I’ve known about him for a while but rarely got a chance to see him play. The long, flowing locks of blonde hair flapping in the wind will have people doing a double take and wondering if it’s Clay Matthews coming around the edge. Reed played defensive end at Arizona, but he’ll almost definitely be switched to 3-4 outside linebacker in the pros. He had a great week of practice at the Senior Bowl, flashing an impressive array of pass rush moves while at times simply dominating opposing offensive tackles that dared try to block him. What’s more, he didn’t look out of place when asked to drop into coverage and play in space. In the game itself, I particularly noticed the way Reed used his hands and the balance he showed when executing a spin move. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention his relentless effort (or “motor,” in NFL lingo) — just constant hustle until the whistle each and every play. On more than one occasion, it really did look like Clay Matthews had taken time off from preparing for the Super Bowl to participate in the game.

Brooks Reed’s intriguing combination of size, strength, and athleticism will make him an increasingly hot commodity as the draft approaches. I think the legendary exercise routine he cultivated at Arizona will translate very nicely to the combine, where I expect him to achieve “workout warrior” status and leave scouts and player personnel executives drooling. As of right now Reed is probably a mid-round pick, but he could end up going as early as the second round if he separates himself at the combine and during individual workouts/interviews.

One side note: Turns 24 at the end of February.

Further reading: http://tucsoncitizen.com/wildcatreport/2011/01/28/ex-wildcat-brooks-reed-earns-good-reviews-at-senior-bowl/

Stats / Player Page

Chris Carter — Fresno State — 6011 / 248

From the post-Combine report:

Ran the second-fastest time (4.62) of any outside linebacker and was one of the nation’s most productive pass rushers in 2010, notching 11 sacks, 16.5 tackles for loss, and four forced fumbles. Although he played along the defensive line in college, Carter will be converted to a 3-4 edge rusher (he actually came to Fresno State as a linebacker before being switched to defensive end). Love his size/weight/speed combination, even if he’s undersized, and explosion off the line. What stuck out to me most when watching Carter play was how effectively he dipped his shoulder and maintained balance, which allowed him to slip by blockers. He’s going to need to develop more sophisticated pass rush moves and learn how to use his hands to complement his raw ability because he won’t be able to just get around offensive tackles in the pros like he did in college. Still, from an athletic standpoint, Chris Carter has everything you want from a 3-4 outside linebacker/edge rusher and could be a steal in the middle rounds.

Stats / Player Page

NFL Draft Update: Cornerbacks

There is a consensus top three here, with Patrick Peterson the consensus number one, followed by Prince Amukamara and Jimmy Smith. There’s a bit of a drop-off after them, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be good talent available later on in the draft.

Patrick Peterson — Louisiana State — 6002 / 219

Complete and total stud, a future perennial Pro Bowler at a pivotal position where elite talent is scarce. Believe the hype, Peterson’s a rare blend of size, weight, speed, and athleticism who can match up with any wide receiver. He has supreme confidence in his abilities, plays with an unmistakable swagger, and will never be intimidated. A ferocious competitor who brings it on every play, Peterson is simply a complete player for the position, possessing both superior ball skills and excellent tackling ability. The cherry on top: He’s going to be a dangerous weapon in the return game.

Stats / Player Page

Prince Amukamara — Nebraska — 6000 / 206

Here, I’ll let KC Joyner break down the Prince. If you don’t have ESPN Insider, you should buy it — well worth whatever money I pay for it each year.

Stats / Player Page

Jimmy Smith — Colorado — 6022 / 211

I had him ranked second behind Peterson. If there’s any environment that can help Smith harness his immense talents while also letting him retain some of that arrogance and edge, it’s in Baltimore with the Ravens. Guys like Ray Lewis, Terrell Suggs, and Ed Reed won’t put up with any shit that could potentially get in the way of winning football games. Smith is a big, strong (24 reps!), fast, and physical cornerback who shows a knack for playing the run in addition to blanketing receivers, even if not forcing turnovers (teams didn’t throw at him as much last season, but you want to see at least one interception, so you have to wonder about his ability to create turnovers). Lots of potential with the newest Jimmy Smith in the league, and Baltimore has a really good track record in the draft. This is where Ozzie Newsome and Eric DeCosta excel, and you’d probably be wise to trust their judgment.

Stats / Player Page

Flying under the radar:

Ras-I Dowling — Virginia — 6013 / 198

Going into the season Dowling was right up there with Patrick Peterson as the top cornerback prospect and a lock for the first half of round one. Then injuries ruined his senior season. Big, fast, physical, strong, smart, a complete cornerback who takes pride in playing the run as much as he does covering receivers. He can match up with anyone and has all the makings to be a long-time starter at the NFL level.

Edit: Of course the Pats took him. Dowling and McCourty is a scary duo.

Stats / Player Page

Underrated:

Curtis Marsh — Utah State — 6004 / 197

From the Senior Bowl preview:

If you’ve been watching the NFL playoffs, odds are you’re familiar with Green Bay’s rookie cornerback Sam Shields, especially after his breakout performance in the NFC Championship Game. After being bypassed by every team in last spring’s draft, Shields signed with the Packers as an undrafted free agent with (understandably) little fanfare. Despite posting impressive measurables — 5-11, 184 lbs, 4.32 40-yard dash — he was seen as a developmental prospect who’d need a few years of coaching before being ready to contribute. You see, Shields was recruited by the University of Miami (FL) as a wide receiver — which explains his great hands — and wasn’t switched to cornerback until his senior season. That means this is only his second year playing the position, which makes his rapid ascent all the more remarkable. 

Curtis Marsh followed a similar path, as he was originally recruited by Utah State to play running back before being switched to cornerback going into his junior year. After two seasons, his athleticism and instincts have allowed him to make a seamless transition; Marsh has improved by leaps and bounds and looks like a natural at the position. Unfortunately, he suffered a hamstring injury early in the week and has been sidelined since, so NFL teams haven’t gotten a chance to evaluate him on the practice field. As such, Marsh will have to prove his worth during individual workouts. Still, if you look at the stats, you can see this guy has potential, as he ranked second in the WAC and sixth in the FBS (D-IA) in passes defended with 1.25 per game — for a total of 15 — to go along with two interceptions.

Stats / Player Page

Cortez Allen — The Citadel — 6012 / 197

From the Combine preview:

Cotez Allen is an intriguing combination of size and speed who could probably play either cornerback or safety at the next level, so check off versatility as an attractive characteristic. He’s a long athlete with good ball skills and isn’t afraid to get up on receivers and jam them at the line of scrimmage. That physicality also serves him well as a tackler. After a breakout 2009 season (57 tackles, 3 passes broken up, 3 interceptions), teams decided it would be an exercise in futility to frequently test Allen and hardly bothered to throw to his side of the field in 2010 (22 tackles, 5 passes broken up, 2 interceptions). Naturally, the main knock on Allen is going to be his low level of competition, but one thing you can’t teach is size and speed. We’re not talking about a first round pick — he’s going to go later in the draft (if he’s selected at all), at a point where it’s appropriate to take a risk on a player based solely on measurables and raw ability. We’ll see what Allen runs at the combine (4.4 range is the guess), where his performance will go a long way in determining if he hears his name called on draft day. Cornerbacks close to 6-2 and 200 pounds with speed in the 4.4 or 4.5 range are normally intriguing enough as physical specimens, at the very least, to get drafted.

During the East-West Shrine game a few weeks ago, Allen showcased his athleticism and physical play against opposing receivers and impressed NFL scouts enough to warrant an invite to the Combine. He’ll look to join the Cardinals’ Andre Roberts, a third round pick in 2010, in the NFL, where they would be the first pair of players drafted from The Citadel in successive years since 1959 and 1960.

Player Page

NFL Draft Update: Offensive Line

Offensive Tackle

Tyron Smith — Southern California — 6050 / 307

Passes the eye-ball test, for sure. Incredibly athletic and agile with long arms and weighed in at a chiseled 307 pounds, just a jaw-dropping physical specimen. Only a two-year starter and very young (age 20), Smith will probably need to add some more bulk/strength and the kind of pro coaching that will help him harness his remarkable talents. The sky’s the limit for him. So, I guess Smith is the guy who’s supposed to protect Tony Romo’s blind side for the foreseeable future. He certainly has the raw ability, and I’ll get to see whether the guy can play at the NFL level at least twice a year when he goes against Trent Cole.

Player Page

Nate Solder — Colorado — 6082 / 319

A phenomenal physical specimen; you simply do not find guys his size with this kind of athleticism. Solder used to be a tight end and has those quick feet, but he’s still learning the position. Needs to add strength and bulk and has the frame to do so without sacrificing quickness and agility. If Solder pans out, he’ll be a Pro Bowl left tackle.

Player Page

Benjamin Ijalana — Villanova — 6035 / 317

I wrote about Ijalana back in December when I was previewing draft prospects on teams still playing deep into the FCS/D-IAA playoffs and have not wavered from my belief that he has the ability to become a 10-year starter at left tackle in the pros. And even if he doesn’t work out at tackle, he could seamlessly transition to guard and be a long-time starter there. Here’s my initial report on him:

There’s a lot of talk about Ijalana, and with good reason. He’s as talented an athlete as you’ll find when it comes to offensive linemen (the way he moves for a 6-4, 320 pound guy shouldn’t be physically possible), and his long arms should alleviate any concerns over his height and whether he can play tackle at the next level. In fact, I think Ijalana’s going to be one of the better linemen to come out of this draft and can be a Pro Bowler at either guard or tackle. There’s even a chance he might sneak into the end of the first round. 

Edit: My initial observation that I thought Ijalana had long arms (based on what I had seen of him in action) and could therefore play tackle at the next level despite being undersized was bolstered by the fact that his arms measured 36”, which is a much more important characteristic than his height. Games I personally watched were Villianova’s first of the season, against Temple, and last, against Eastern Washington in the FCS/D-IAA National Semifinals. Unfortunately, Ijalana couldn’t perform at the Senior Bowl because of a sports hernia injury, so NFL personnel people couldn’t see how he matched up against superior competition. I’ll tell you one thing: he was matched up against Muhammad Wilkerson a bunch of times in the Villanova/Temple game and more than held his own. Main concern I’ve read is about his mental makeup. Scouts feel he’s too passive out on the field, although I didn’t see that in the games I watched. If true, perhaps it’s just a matter of Ijalana being bored with lesser competition, but it could also be reflective of his personality and approach to the game. Then again, Greg Gabriel, the former Director of College Scouting for the Bears with 29 years of experience in the league, commented that he liked “the nasty attitude [Ijalana] plays with,”, so go figure. The talent isn’t in question, it’s just all about what’s going on upstairs. As one scout relayed to Wes Bunting of the National Football Post, “[Ijalana’s] an interesting character.” I didn’t come away with questions about Ijalana’s intensity nor concerns about the way he played the game, but I don’t have access to the wealth of tape that scouts do. Who knows, maybe it’s all misinformation and gamesmanship, which is ubiquitous at this stage of the draft process. All I know is I liked what I saw when I watched Ijalana play.

Gabe Carimi — Wisconsin — 6070 / 314

Big, physical, smart, strong, nasty — a classic mauler. What he lacks in athleticism, Carimi makes up for in every other category, most notably as a technician. He’s Jewish — something that, from a personal standpoint, I’m obviously going to mention — and actually takes his faith pretty seriously, which I respect. If Wikipedia is to be trusted, Carimi’s nicknames include “The Jewish Hammer” and “The Bear Jew.” Awesome. I watched him at Wisconsin and was instantly reminded of Jon Runyan, which should be considered one hell of a compliment for any right tackle. Carimi won the 2010 Outland Trophy and is a safe pick who projects as a steady, solid starter at the next level. Wisconsin also has a tendency to produce NFL-caliber offensive linemen, which shouldn’t be discounted.

Player Page

James Carpenter — Alabama — 6043 / 321

Here, instead of writing something about Carpenter, I’ll just show you this video clip of the incredulous — and hilarious — reaction from his college coach, Nick Saban, when the pick was announced:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynvbg3QzpDM

For those of you who have trouble reading lips: “James Carpenter went in the first round??” Yeah, maybe that’s not such good news if you’re Seattle. At least it provided a moment of high comedy for us viewers.

Player Page

Underrated:

Jah Reid — Central Florida — 6071 / 327

From the post-Combine report:

Yet another prospect I mentioned in my “Players to Watch at the Combine” article. Listen, I’m not going to pretend I watched a bunch of Central Florida games (I haven’t seen any), or that I know how to evaluate offensive tackles in the technical way that pro scouts do. What I can tell you, however, is that I like Jah Reid’s story. He arrived at Central Florida weighing 370 pounds before transforming his body and turning into an imposing physical specimen. Reid, who played right tackle, went on to anchor a Knights’ offensive line that paved the way for one of the nation’s best rushing attacks in 2010, earning First Team All-Conference USA honors for the second straight season in the process. And, if his performance in the agility drills at the Combine is any indication, this guy is one hell of an athlete for a man his size, too. If for no other reason than that, Jah Reid is worth drafting.

Offensive Guard

Danny Watkins — Baylor — 6033 / 310

Overager who will turn 27 in November. Watkins doesn’t have the wear and tear on his body because of the fact that he only just started playing football at the age of 22. Instead, he grew up in British Columbia playing ice hockey and rugby (and worked as a firefighter before coming to the States in 2007). Scouts fell in love with him at the Senior Bowl when he was moved from tackle inside to guard and took to the position instantaneously. Plays with an edge and snarl that you love to see in an offensive lineman. Agile, strong, nasty, and technically sound, Watkins should start immediately. Check that, because of his age, he must start immediately. Still, at 26 going on 27, you have to wonder just how much upside he has. What if you only get five years out of him? You know something, at least it will be a damn good five years.

From my Senior Bowl article:

He’s been a revelation so far at the practices and is drawing unanimously rave reviews, which is pretty impressive when you consider he only started playing football upon arriving in the states four ago from his native Canada. Very rarely is an interior lineman the talk of the Senior Bowl, but that’s exactly what Watkins has become. Suffice to say he’s flying up the draft boards. The one major downside: Watkins is already 26 and will turn 27 during the 2011 season.

Edit: Ah, my Eagles, making the solid, not sexy pick. I’m fine with this (and the more I think about it, dare I say I actually love it), Watkins definitely has that snarl and blue collar work ethic Philly loves. He’ll ingratiate himself immediately and start from the first day of training camp, whereupon he should help solidify an offensive line that nearly got Michael Vick killed numerous times last season (or will we keep Kolb and have him step in when Vick inevitably gets injured?). I’m also excited Watkins gets to be coached by Howard Mudd. As for a potential domino effect: Perhaps this is a precursor to moving Todd Herremans to right tackle to protect Vick’s blind side if the team is no longer confident in Winston Justice.

Player Page

Center

Stefen Wisniewski — Penn State — 6030 / 313

For my money, Wisniewski’s the best center in this class — one of the best five offensive linemen, period, actually — and will be a starter from the first day of training camp. I was actually privy to a little bit of inside information about his high school days, namely that he crushed advanced calculus as a junior and was second in his class academically (or something like that). I know this because my roommate, Ben Keegan, was a year older than Wisniewski’s while both attended Central Catholic, a famed football powerhouse in Pittsburgh whose alumni include Dan Marino and Marc Bulger. The anecdote about Wisniewski’s performance in the classroom doesn’t come as a surprise to me because his superior level of intelligence translates to his play on the football field. Suffice to say that this guy’s mental aptitude is off the charts, and he will have no problem being the brains of an NFL offensive line and making all the necessary pre-snap calls and adjustments. In addition, he’s strong, durable, technically sound, versatile (played both center and guard), and started 37 of 38 games played in college. The favorable bloodlines and pedigree don’t hurt Wisniewski’s case, either. His father played in the NFL, and his uncle, Steve, a former All-Pro guard for the Raiders, now coaches the team’s offensive line. Dear Eagles: Please draft him.

Edit: I guess it was pretty obvious that Oakland was going to take him. That’s the second good draft in a row for the Raiders, which means someone other than Al Davis must be getting more say on personnel decisions. Speaking of the Raiders, they traded their 2012 second round pick to the Pats for a third and fourth in this draft. Between this and the Richard Seymour trade, why doesn’t some team other than the Pats take advantage of the Raiders? Now the Pats, for the second season in a row, will have two picks in each of the first two rounds. Asset management, people. Asset management.

Player Page


NFL Draft Update: Defensive Line

This might end up being one of the best drafts for defensive linemen to come around in, well, ever.

Defensive End

Robert Quinn — North Carolina — 6040 / 265

If you were to draw up what the perfect defensive end would look like as a physical specimen, it’d probably be Robert Quinn. His freakish athleticism and tremendous size/weight/speed combination are perfect for rushing the passer. For sure, the measurables are certainly sexy and Quinn passes the “eye test” with flying colors. I’m not denying his awesome potential, I’m just wary of the hype surrounding a guy who played just two full seasons of college football and, in his breakout year, racked up 10 of his 11 sacks against unequivocally shitty teams (check the stats link below). It’s easy to annihilate the little sisters of the poor and fatten up your stats that way, but things won’t be as accommodating in the pros. How can I not be concerned by the fact that Quinn underwhelmed against legitimate ACC competition? And it’s not like the ACC is the football force it once was, either. Yet here he is, the top defensive end on pretty much every draft website. Then again, what do I know, right?

Stats / Player Page

J.J. Watt — Wisconsin — 6053 / 290

A former tight end and gifted athlete for the position, Watt is a rare combination of size, length, and speed/quickness. Strong, powerful, and relentless, he’s a classic 3-4 defensive end who’s superb against the run and uses his hands really effectively to shed blocks. Sifts through traffic to find the ball carrier and can chase him down. Watt gives maximum effort on every play, has elite instincts, and gets his hands in passing lanes better than any other end in this class (and perhaps better than any other defensive player I’ve ever seen, period) — he’s the tallest DE in the draft at 6’5.3”, recorded the highest vertical jump for his position at 37”, and that’s before he puts his arms in the air, so you do the math. Watt played his best against top competition and will team with Mario Williams in Houston to terrorize quarterbacks for the foreseeable future. Unique, special package of physical traits and talent.

Stats / Player Page

Ryan Kerrigan — Purdue — 6037 / 267

From the post-Combine report:

After being pigeonholed as a relatively unathletic player who made up for his deficiencies by displaying a relentless motor, Kerrigan came into Indianapolis and totally crushed the Combine drills. He ran a 4.67 (third among defensive ends), put up 31 reps on the bench (second), had a 33” vertical (fourth), and broad jumped 10’2” (first). At the very least, Kerrigan seems to be more than just a “blah” athlete and should fit as either a 4-3 defensive end or 3-4 edge pass rusher. So much for not testing well at the Combine, right? Given his performance in Indy and robust production as a Boilermaker, I expect Kerrigan will see his stock rise as the draft nears. I had a friend, someone whose opinion I value, tell me back in early October that he really liked what he saw out of Kerrigan (and on a somewhat unrelated note, thought the uber-hyped Allen Bailey was a bum). Based on this recommendation, I tuned in for Purdue’s games against Ohio State, Michigan, and Michigan State, just so I could watch Kerrigan. I too was impressed by his play — the guy was everywhere; in the backfield blowing up plays and terrorizing the quarterback, going sideline to sideline, running down ball carriers — and have been a fan ever since. He’s a good one.

Edit: Wait a second, are the Redskins actually turning a corner here with regard to how to effectively build a football team? They traded down to acquire an extra second round pick (#49 overall) and still were able to draft an edge rusher to pair with Brian Orakpo?! Hell hasn’t frozen over just yet, so let’s see what the Skins do today and tomorrow.

Stats / Player Page

Da’Quan Bowers — Clemson — 6033 / 280

I watched Bowers absolutely murder Maryland last year. He was completely unblockable and looked faster than 4.92 on tape. Bowers was, for lack of a better word, destructive and had at least one sack in 10 of Clemson’s 12 games (10 of 11 if you discount Presbyterian, when be barely played). Teams are petrified about his surgically-repaired right knee, however, and that’s never a concern to dismiss. The rumblings are that it’s a degenerative condition. On the list of things that will scare NFL teams away from drafting a player, “degenerative knee condition” is probably up there with “mass murderer.” Still, Bowers’s talent and ferocity are evident, as is his length and athleticism. He’s also not strictly a pass rusher and holds his own against the run. Who knows what will happen with that much-maligned knee, but I know what I’ve seen in game action, and it was impressive.

Stats / Player Page

Cameron Heyward — Ohio State — 6045 / 294

Cameron Heyward is a solid, blue-collar kind of player, a four-year starter with NFL bloodlines — his father, the late Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, played 11 years in the league — who’s versatile and can play anywhere on the line. It’s not surprising that he ended up getting picked by the Steelers, who know a thing or two about drafting defensive linemen in the first round, as his style and personality fit with what they look for in a player. Heyward isn’t dominant in any one facet of the game and was inconsistent at times this past season, but there’s no question he should benefit from playing in that Steelers defense.

Stats / Player Page

Overrated:

Cameron Jordan — California — 6041 / 287

At one point this past season, Jordan was projected as the possible first overall selection. Better against the run than the pass, but he’s solid overall. Plays hard, always gives maximum effort for four quarters, and can fit anywhere along the line. What concerns me most is that virtually all of his sacks throughout his college career came against teams that would never have been mistaken for legitimate contenders. Then when he went up against a top talent like Tyron Smith of USC, he didn’t have much of an impact on the game. I will tell you this, though: His best fit is at end in a 3-4 defense.

Stats / Player Page

Underrated/Flying under the radar:

Greg Romeus — Pittsburgh — 6047 / 264

I actually mentioned him in my “How to Fix the Washington Redskins” article. It happens every year: A talented and productive player who was once a highly rated prospect gets injured and sees his stock drop precipitously. Enter Greg Romeus, from Pittsburgh, who would have almost surely been a first round pick had he declared for the 2010 draft after his junior season. Once mentioned among the top prospects at his position, Romeus lost his senior season to two separate injuries that required surgery (first on a herniated disc in his back, and then to repair a torn ACL in his right knee). Who knows if he will ever regain the form that made him an elite college player at his position, but in the late middle rounds I think he constitutes a risk definitely worth taking. Romeus was a consistent force on Pittsburgh’s defensive line for three seasons and is a prototypical 4-3 defensive end with good size, speed (at least before the injuries), and strength. However, what might be most enticing is his exceptional length (7’ wingspan), which is a major advantage both in terms of combating offensive tackles and getting his arms/hands up to knock down passes. I watched Pitt more than a few times when Romeus was a sophomore and junior, and he was always noticeable. If he can get healthy and return to form (namely regain that quickness and explosion), he could end up being a real steal for whatever team takes a chance on him. The guy who played opposite Romeus on the other end of the line, Jabaal Sheard, is a pretty good prospect in his own right and won the Big East Defensive Player of the Year Award this season.

Stats / Player Page

Might as well sign him as an undrafted free agent:

Tom McCarthy — Yale — 6055 / 265

Yes, Yale. Excellent physical specimen for the position with ideal height and bulk; possesses impressive speed (4.72) and explosiveness, to boot. Excelled as a baseball pitcher in high school. Team captain and All-Ivy League First Team selection in 2010.

Defensive Tackle

I know that Marcell Dareus and Nick Fairley are the consensus best players at this position and two of the top prospects overall, and it’s with good reason. I have Dareus first — he’s awesome, a real force in the middle; then again, the history of defensive tackles being picked in the top five isn’t exactly, uh, stellar — and Fairley second (Edit: Fairley next to Suh?! Well done, Detroit). Even after those two, the defensive line depth in this draft is as stacked as it’s been in recent memory.

Muhammad Wilkerson — Temple — 6041 / 315

I’ve already written about Muhammad Wilkerson at length; he’s raw but has upside as high as any prospect in the draft because of his size, athleticism, and fluidity.

Pre-Combine: One of my favorite defensive prospects in the entire draft (first mentioned in the “How to Fix the Washington Redskins” article from a few months ago). Wilkerson emerged onto the college football scene as a sophomore and only continued to improve as a junior in 2010. He’ll be a fit at either defensive tackle in a 4-3 or end in a 3-4, as his versatility allows him to play anywhere along the line. I was able to watch two of his games this season (@ Penn State, @ Miami-OH) and came away highly impressed each time. Wilkerson displays keen awareness, a great burst off the line, and fluid athleticism for a guy his size (was a standout basketball star in high school), which, especially when coupled with his brute strength, makes him a terror for opposing offensive linemen to block. He uses his hands (well, at least tries to — he’s still pretty raw when it comes to technique) and is a heady player with a nose for finding the football. I also noticed his ability to get leverage and shed blockers and am interested to see what length his arms are once all the measurements are done at the Combine (that’s when we’ll find out his official height and weight, too).

This past season Wilkerson put up pretty gaudy statistics for a defensive tackle, notching 70 tackles (13.5 for loss) and 9.5 sacks (according to Temple’s official athletics site; the ESPN.com player page for him says 68 tackles and 10 sacks). As you can tell from his sack totals, he’s quite the disruptive presence when teams decide to pass and consistently gets penetration into the backfield. Also keep in mind all that production came while Wilkerson was being double-teamed because he was the one player along the Temple defensive line that offenses KNEW they had to stop him in order to have success. Detractors can say he played in the MAC and therefore won’t be as effective against NFL competition, but I’m not buying that argument because I think his natural ability will more than make up for the significantly increased talent level he’ll face in the pros. Plus, Wilkerson totally dominated that lower level of competition, which is what you look for when evaluating a player from a less noted school. I actually think the challenge of going up against NFL-caliber players everyday will only make him better.

Right now Wilkerson looks to be a second round pick with first round talent. If he has a big Combine, don’t be surprised to see him sneak into the first.

Post-Combine: Already mentioned a few times on this blog, Wilkerson put forth a good performance at the Combine and continued to impress teams as both a player and person. If anything, he should now be considered a probable first round pick. This draft is rich with defensive line talent, and Wilkerson is an example of a guy who’s being overshadowed by more hyped prospects. Teams love his size, athleticism, and versatility, and he has the look of a player who will succeed as a pro. I know the Eagles selected Brandon Graham in the first round last year and a defensive tackle to pair with Antonio Dixon isn’t the highest priority, but if Wilkerson is there at #23, I think they’d be smart to take him. You still win in this league by dominating up front and getting pressure on the quarterback; a fearsome front four is something the Eagles have lacked for quite some time now. Also, Wilkerson’s ability to play defensive end would help alleviate whatever adverse effects might hamper Graham in his first season back from ACL surgery (and you know how players say it normally takes a full year to really get back to normal). If Graham is healthy and proves himself worthy of starting (which he will — if healthy — with Jim Washburn as his position coach), then Wilkerson can play tackle full time and rotate with Dixon and Mike Patterson (and Broderick Bunkley, if he’s still on the team). Whatever the case, we’ll be boasting a shit ton of talent on the defensive line. Besides, Andy Reid obviously felt the defensive line needed to get better because he hired Washburn, generally regarded as the best in the business at his profession. Now give him some more talent with which to work so we can get after the fucking quarterback.

Edit: Great selection by the Jets, both in terms of the player and value for the spot at which they picked him. I’m not surprised that Rex Ryan liked Wilkerson. He’ll play end in their 3-4, which is probably a better position for him than defensive tackle in a 4-3. Wilkerson makes an already elite defense that much more formidable.

Stats / Player Page

Phil Taylor — Baylor — 6032 / 334

Well, he’ll play nose tackle in a 3-4 and immediately improve your run defense by leaps and bounds. Phil Taylor is fucking HUGE. Significant questions regarding whether he’ll be able to keep his weight under control or end up eating his way out of the league.

Stats / Player Page

Kenrick Ellis — Hampton — 6047 / 346

Ellis, a transfer from South Carolina, is a player I really like in the second or third round. Here’s what I wrote about him in the Combine preview:

This dude was born to play nose tackle in a 3-4. He sports a figure that blocks out the sun and throws opposing blockers around like rag dolls. After a dominant week of practice down in San Antonio during the NFLPA Bowl festivities, Ellis is generating a lot of buzz in draft circles. Character and effort are the two main red flags (transferred from South Carolina after being suspended multiple times for off-the-field incidents) that could hurt his draft stock, but his talent level will never be in question.

To amend the above: those character questions are no longer a concern. In fact, it’s been reported that he’s interviewed very well and is a mature and accountable individual who has grown from his mistakes. Remember, this is a guy who was recruited to play college football at an SEC school, so it’s not like he came out of nowhere or lacks top tier talent. I’m not too concerned about the lower level of competition because he so completely dominated it and then did so again against Division IA talent at the NFLPA Bowl. Hampton already has a successful alumnus playing in the league in Kendall Langford (third round pick in 2008), who has emerged as a key cog along the Dolphins’ defensive line. Ellis hopes to follow suit — and he will.

Player Page

NFL Draft Update: Tight Ends

This article won’t be as expansive, mainly because I want to make sure I get to all the other positions before the draft starts at 8 PM Thursday night. That said, here we go…

Note: I lied (inadvertently), it’s expansive.

Kyle Rudolph — Notre Dame — 6061 / 259

You won’t find many tight ends with the kind of build Kyle Rudolph sports. A chiseled 6-6 and nearly 260 pounds, he’s a smooth, natural pass catcher with amazing athleticism for a guy his size — he was a star basketball player in high school — and the ability to adjust to the ball while it’s in the air. Rudolph isn’t fast (4.83), but he runs crisp routes and finds the soft spots in the defense. High character individual with an exceptional work ethic. He uses his body well to get position on defenders, wins more than his fair share of jump balls, and will be a popular red zone target. While Rudolph was often flexed out like a wide receiver, as opposed to setting up next to the offensive tackle on the line, he was a willing and effective blocker in both the running and passing game. He’s a physical, tough, intense competitor, and always finishes the play strong. Wes Bunting of the National Football Post compares Rudolph to the Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski. What’s of major concern to NFL teams is his injury history and relative lack of production (see stats below) for being so talented. Rudolph underwent shoulder surgery after the 2009 season and then played in only six games in 2010 before going down with a season-ending hamstring injury. His talent isn’t in question, just his ability to stay healthy.

Stats / Player Page

Lance Kendricks — Wisconsin — 6027 / 243

Kendricks is undersized both in height and bulk, but he runs well and can be especially dangerous down the seam; will probably be used primarily as a “Y” receiver and get split wide because he’s at his best when in motion before the snap. Good athlete with above average speed for the position (4.65) and plays faster on tape because of his quickness and ability to separate from linebackers. Despite his speed and ability to get down the field, Kendricks isn’t much of a threat after the catch. He also won’t overpower defenders as a blocker and really shouldn’t be used in that capacity often. Despite having some issues with drops and ball security earlier in his career, Kendricks improved as a player and gradually put everything together, culminating with an impressive 2010 season that earned him recognition as a finalist for the John Mackey Award. I was privy to watching three of those games — against Iowa, Michigan, and Northwestern; only one of which came against a good team (Iowa), and he wasn’t impressive. Kendricks also matured over the course of his college career, going from two arrests for underage drinking (one of which included operating a moped under the influence) during his freshman and sophomore years to team captain as as senior. I’d say Kendricks fits mostly in the “tweener” category and isn’t a traditional tight end, but he’s definitely a weapon in the passing game and can be lined up all over the place.

Stats / Player Page

Rob Housler — Florida Atlantic — 6053 / 248 

Pre-Combine: This is going to be an interesting weigh-in at the Combine. I’ve seen a whole range of listed weights for Housler: ESPN.com lists it at 215, NFLdraftscout.com at 249, and CBSSports.com’s Rob Rang (founder of NFLDraftscout.com) at 228. I’ll go with the latter number, but we won’t know for sure until two weeks from now. As for Housler’s skill set, he makes for a very intriguing prospect because of his size and ability to get down the seam. He supposedly has 4.5-range speed (again, something that will be settled at the Combine), which would make for a tremendously dangerous 6-5 receiving target in the middle of the field. Not too many linebackers can match up on a 6-5 tight end with that kind of speed, so there are obvious matchup problems a guy like Housler can pose when he gets on the field. Is he a good blocker? No, but if a team drafts him with the intention of asking him to block a lot, it’s wasting what could otherwise be a valuable asset. Watch the YouTube link below and tell me Rob Housler looks like a traditional tight end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHbOuF2vTZs

All that considered, I don’t think Housler will transition into being a tight end at the next level. Whatever team drafts him will probably figure out some sort of wide receiver/flex tight end/H-back hybrid position for him to play… and it could definitely work. I feel Housler’s the kind of player whose game, more so than that of any other prospect, would tremendously profit from getting elite quarterback play. Trust me, if an NFL offensive coordinator can figure out a way to get a 6-5 receiver matched up on a smaller cornerback when the opposition’s nickel or dime package defense is on the field, it’s going to happen. Is he going to be an 80-catch or 1000-yard receiver? Highly unlikely, but it’s certainly not out of the realm of possibility that he’d put up comparable stats to what he did in college. If I’m running a team’s draft, I’d probably put a fourth round grade on him. I think Rob Housler’s going to be a pretty useful player in the pros.

Post-Combine: As far as tight ends go, Nevada’s Virgil Green stole the show in Indianapolis. Still, it was hard to ignore Rob Housler’s performance. There’s no way he is a traditional tight end at the next level, but when you have an athlete this good that can create significant matchup problems, it doesn’t really matter what position he plays. Housler ran the fastest 40-yard dash (4.55 according to the “official” results) and placed at or near the top in every other drill (including a 37” vertical). He might not be the smoothest of receivers, but he has a ton of potential and some team is going to figure out how to utilize his skills.

Edit: NFLdraftscout.com has Housler at 4.46; remember, he’s running that time at 6-5 and nearly 250 pounds (!), which makes him even more appealing as a WR/TE hybrid option and matchup nightmare. His coach at Florida Atlantic, Howard Schellenberger (perhaps you’ve heard of him), thinks he’s an NFL player, and I agree. Again, I don’t care how you do it, just get this guy on the field and give him a chance to make plays.

Stats / Player Page

Virgil Green — Nevada — 6033 / 249

Quite simply a superior athlete for the position. His 42” vertical jump is an incredible asset and a full five inches better than the next best prospect. Both the 4.54 and explosion he showed in the position drills were equally impressive to NFL scouts. Add all that to Green’s great hands and athleticism, and there’s a ton of potential. It’ll all depend on how he develops as he continues to learn the position at the pro level. Now, his stats aren’t all too impressive, but you also have to remember that he’s played in an option offense his entire college career that was heavily predicated on the run. In fact, last season Nevada ran the ball roughly 64% of the time, which doesn’t exactly bode well for a tight end’s statistics.

Stats / Player Page

Lee Smith — Marshall — 6056 / 266

Let’s put it this way: If you’re a team that likes to run the the ball down the defense’s throat and uses a lot of power formations or packages with an unbalanced line, Lee Smith is your guy. I’m not exaggerating when I say he’s pretty much an extra offensive lineman — he’s really an exceptional, dominant blocker who plays with a mean streak, takes it to the defender, and personifies the “mauler” label. He finishes his blocks with authority and is always looking to hit somebody. Smith will never be mistaken for a dynamic tight end with the ability to make plays down the field, but his prowess as a blocker does overshadow the fact that he’s an underrated pass catcher (best used in short yardage situations). He won’t make anyone miss after the catch, but it’s going to take more than one guy to tackle him. The guy plays HARD and will become an instant favorite among coaches and fans at the next level. A solid, reliable second tight end and a perfect complementary player. Smith transferred from Tennessee after a DUI arrest on campus got him dismissed from the team before ever playing a game, but it seems as though his character is not an issue; he was elected team captain each of the past two seasons and is married with two children.

Stats / Player Page

Overrated (Exhibit 1A):

Luke Stocker — Tennessee — 6046 / 258

Impressive measurables, but none of it really ever translated to his performance on the field. I’ll let my friend, Ilan Gluck, a devoted Volunteers fan — and now informal contributor to this site — take it from here, as he’s much more qualified to weigh in on Stocker than I am:

“Unbelievable build with great hands and enormous potential. Injury problems and, honestly, seems like kind of a pussy. Not sure he’s very mentally strong.”

Well, then.

And when the subject of Stocker’s pro potential came up: “Hard to say [if he’ll be good] because he really didn’t play at [Tennessee] because he was always injured. But tight ends are so important now and he can catch, so he’ll fit in somewhere.”

So there you have it.

Which Volunteer does Ilan like as an NFL prospect? Denarius Moore.

Stats / Player Page

Overrated (Exhibit 1B):

Jordan Cameron — Southern California — 6052 / 254

Classic basketball-turned-football player with superb athleticism for the position. He’s getting a lot of hype, but, personally, based on what I read I like Julius Thomas as the better prospect in that category. 

Stats / Player Page

Underrated:

D.J. Williams — Arkansas — 6021 / 245

From “It’s Senior Bowl Week”:

Williams doesn’t really have the kind of size teams look for in a modern-day tight end. That said, he’s a reliable pass catcher with deceptive speed who does the dirty work and gets those tough yards. Ryan Mallett always seemed to look to him whenever the offense needed to make a play, which is probably the best compliment you can bestow upon a player. I think Williams projects as more of a H-Back at the next level — either way, there’s a spot for him in the league, and some team will figure out a way to properly utilize him (I could definitely see him lining up at fullback in certain packages). Is D.J. Williams going to channel his inner Antonio Gates and take over a game as he explodes for 10 catches and 100+ yards? Unlikely. He’s not the kind of player who will make the sexy plays deep down the field, but you want Williams out there if you’re facing a 3rd and 6 because he isn’t afraid to go into high traffic areas and won’t be stopped until he gets to the sticks. His route running is precise, and he might have the best hands of any tight end in the draft.

Now, while D.J. Williams doesn’t have the kind of build that would suggest he can be an effective blocker at the next level, it certainly won’t be for a lack of effort. He excelled as a run blocker in college because he was technically sound with his hand placement and in getting proper leverage as he consistently overpowered linebackers and safeties. Williams won’t be able to dominate in the blocking game against NFL-caliber linebackers, but I don’t think he’ll be a total liability, either.

Edit: Ran a 4.59… makes me like his game even more.

Stats / Player Page

Flying under the radar:

Julius Thomas — Portland State — 6045 / 246

From my Combine preview article: One of those token college basketball players who always draw interest during the draft process. Thomas only played one year of football for Portland State, but he showed enough to make NFL scouts consider him an intriguing prospect.

Post-Combine: The Combine was very good to Julius Thomas, and that’s after his performance at the East-West Shrine Game practices had scouts invoking Jermichael Finley comparisons. Here are two worthwhile reads about his pro potential.

Stats / Player Page… and, just for fun, here are his college basketball stats (played for four years and was actually fairly good).

Flying way under the radar:

Stephen Skelton — Fordham — 6045 / 252

I don’t even think I have to tell you that I’ve never watched a Fordham football game. Unlikely to be drafted like his brother John, a quarterback, was last year by the Arizona Cardinals in the fifth round. Nevertheless, he’s got good size and athleticism and will certainly get a look at the next level.

Stats / Player Page

Obligatory mention:

Will Yeatman — Maryland — 6063 / 270

Wes Bunting is your source for this guy. I might not agree with all of his opinions, but he did his research and makes a good argument. That’s something I respect. Yeatman’s lacrosse background is definitely interesting and appealing. I just hope Bunting is right and he potentially pans out as an offensive tackle (and maybe a goal line tight end, too).

Stats / Player Page