Defensive Ends
It's either an uncanny year for defensive ends or the scouts have gone
off the rails. Perhaps they will be the Gods who walk the Earth with men
as the scouts suggest or perhaps they'll just be a very solid group.
Either way the position looks deep.
Brad Fusina Va
Tech |
|
|
Adrian Arroyo Notre Dame (Junior) Fumble recoveries: 6, 1 TD Tackles: 140 Sacks: 55 Hall of Fame member Pros: Nearly as good an athlete as top DE prospect Brad Fusina and a bit smarter to boot. Put up solid numbers in three seasons at Notre Dame. Cons: Could have more impact plays, but at least he scored some points for his team. A tick behind Fusina in many respects. Conclusion: Arroyo looks like a lock to be taken in the first half of the first round. Had he stayed in school another year he might have surpassed Fusina's statistics. Just how he fits in with the top players will be a matter for the invites. |
|
|
Pete Mcdonald Tennessee Fumble recoveries: 1, 1 TD Tackles: 196 Sacks: 87, 1 safety Hall of Fame member Pros: A boatload of sacks and tackles. Put points on the board for his team. In most respects he's at the head of the defensive line class. His top power and agility may make him a monster in the middle. Cons: Lacks elite burst and speed, but that's really all you can fault him for. It didn't keep him from being sixth in career sacks in NPLCAA. Conclusion: Lack of burst didn't keep him from leveling opposing quarterbacks. Looks a bit more like a tackle than an end from the scouts, but you can't question that production. The scouts say he's a first rounder, and that's a real possibility. |
|
|
Rob Kehayas Notre Dame Punt Returns: 3 returns, 3 yards, 2 longest, 1 TD Fumble recoveries: 5 Tackles: 171 Sacks: 64, 1 safety Hall of Fame member Pros: The second Notre Dame defensive end seems to have blocked a few punts among his many positives. Keyhas has pretty much everything you could want in a top end prospect. Cons: His mental game is a little off the pace of the top DEs this season. He isn't the interception artist Brad Fusina appears to be. And that's not exactly going to sink him as a top DE prospect. Conclusion: Kehayas could go before McDonald. The scouts see him in the first half of the first round. I see him in the late first or second. |
|
|
Michael King Nebraska Interceptions: 1 for 27 return yards, 27 longest, 1 TD Punt Returns: 1 return, 0 yards, 0 longest Fumble recoveries: 6 Tackles: 160 Sacks: 38, 2 safeties Pros: Has nearly everything you want in an elite athlete. Nearly. Cons: Not a power player from the end slot. Where are the sacks? Send in the sacks. There ought to be sacks. Well, maybe next year. Conclusion: I say late second for King, and invite him to see if his apparent under-productivity rushing the passer was a fluke. |
|
|
Dark-Horse Pick: Troy Opara Oregon |
|
Defensive Tackles
|
|
|
William Collins Washington Punt Returns: 1 return, 0 yards, 0 longest Tackles: 194 Sacks: 48, 3 safeties Pros: Fast and athletic, Collins appears to have the goods to keep from getting swallowed up in the middle. Fine student of the game who plays within the system. Cons: Collins comes up a bit short in the power and conditioning departments--though he's as strong as any of this year's top candidates and his endurance is among the best. He made lots of tackles, but he didn't have all that many sacks compared to past top prospects. Conclusion: The scouts see him as a top five player. Unless a team feels a real need at the position, I see him more as a middle or late first rounder. |
|
|
Paul Nickerson San Diego State Punt Returns: 1 return, 0 yards, 0 longest, 1 TD Tackles: 150 Sacks: 40, 2 safeties Pros: There's a lot the scouts like about his athleticism. Could have been an academic all-American. He won't make many mistakes. Quicker than most players in the middle. Cons: For a first-round prospect his production wasn't all that impressive. Serious lack of power. Questionable conditioning. Conclusion: The scouts say late first rounder. I think he probably slips into the second round unless shows a lot more power in invites than the scouts think he has. |
|
|
Brian Cox Stanford Fumble recoveries: 1 Tackles: 184 Sacks: 56, 1 safety Pros: Cox has just about everything you want in a top defensive tackle candidate, including productivity that ranks at the top of this year's elites. Cons: The elephant in the room is Cox's tendencies to draw penalties and to play outside the scheme. If you read this and think that he has a knack for tacking exciting chances that result in big plays, it may not be too much of a negative. Conclusion: Cox projects as a late first rounder and the third tackle taken. There's an argument for him to be the first tackle off the board, and I think he has a chance to go right about where the scouts project. Certainly he won't last past the first half of the second round. |
|
|
Zenon Lamb Michigan State Interceptions: 1 for 1 return yard, 1 longest Fumble recoveries: 3 Tackles: 162 Sacks: 55, 2 safeties Pros: His production is up there with the best. He has a great deal of athletic ability, and a solid mental game. Cons: Conditioning is a major concern. Power is a somewhat lesser concern, but it's still a concern. Conclusion: Lamb projects to the bottom of the second, which seems about right. |
|
|
Chris Allen Notre Dame Fumble recoveries: 1 Tackles: 55 Sacks: 18, 1 safety Pros: Yet another defensive lineman from the Fighting Irish. Fast and quick enough. Student of the game. Cons: Little production. Lacks elite athletic ability, and power. Conclusion: Allen projects to the top of the third round, but I think I could hold off until the fourth. |
|
|
Dark-Horse Pick: Tim Hudson Washington State The leading sack artist among this year's defensive tackles |
|
Linebackers
This is group with a clear-cut standout. If you're really hurting for
linebacker help, you need to position yourself to select Shaz Baltz.
There are other productive 'backers in the group, but Baltz is head and
shoulders above the rest in the scouts' eyes. This group is unusual in
that it's rated pretty much best to worst in production. It's also
unusal in that nearly all look like Rhodes Scholars.
|
|
|
Shaz Baltz Florida State Interceptions: 7 for 125 return yards, 31 longest Fumble recoveries: 4, 1 TD Tackles: 366 Sacks: 43, 2 safeties Pros: Outstanding production in every phase of the game. A fast, powerful linebacker with elite quickness, understanding of his role, and willingness to play that role. Cons: Baltz is the best of this year's bunch, but he's not one for the ages. Conditioning could be better, and his hands look like a concern--though it didn't stop him from getting picks. Conclusion: This isn't last year's first overall pick, LB Wayne Robinson. Baltz projects to the middle of the first round. If you get him later than that, count it as a steal. |
|
|
Rahim Nelson Colorado Interceptions: 6 for 173 return yards, 73 longest, 1 TD Fumble recoveries: 3, 1 TD Tackles: 303 Sacks: 37, 1 safety Pros: Elite quickness and athleticism. Plenty of speed and soft hands as evidenced by his success in defending the pass. Elite mental game. Cons: Conditioning and power are question marks. It's possible that conditioning hindered his production, which is good but not eye-popping. Conclusion: The scouts project Nelson near the end of the first round. Late first or early second seems like the right neighborhood. |
|
|
Ivi Reaves San Diego State Interceptions: 5 for 56 return yards, 20 longest Fumble recoveries: 7, 2 TD Tackles: 299 Sacks: 39, 1 safety Pros: Superior conditioning and elite mental game. An above-average athlete, but not elite. Cons: A bit less productive than the higher-rated linebackers. Light hitter. Conclusion: He projects to the middle third of the second round. That's about right, though he could go a bit later since so many offensive positions seem to have been underrated. |
|
|
Chesley Evans Ohio State Interceptions: 6 for 81 return yards, 26 longest Fumble recoveries: 1 Tackles: 259 Sacks: 34 Pros: Elite speed with near-elite quickness and athleticisim. Elite mental game. Cons: Productive, but put no points on the board for his team. Very light hitter who could be better conditioned. Conclusion: The scouts peg him as a late third-rounder. Who am I to argue? unless someone becomes convinced that he's a speed player I don't see him going much earlier. |
|
|
Tarnaka Joerg Colorado Interceptions: 1 for 26 return yards, 26 longest Fumble recoveries: 10, 2 TD Tackles: 303 Sacks: 32, 1 safety Pros: Made a few impact plays. Fairly productive overall. Good power compared to most of this group. Cons: Slow and not that quick. You may need to give him a limited area to cover to help him succeed. Conclusion: A plugger. My rankings say late third, which seems about right, though I could see him falling into the fourth. |
|
|
Dark-Horse Pick: Duane Johnson Florida State Do you smell what the Rock is cooking? |
|
Cornerbacks
The scouts weren't particularly kind to the cornerbacks this year. It's
also pretty difficult to guage the talent from statistics. For instance,
the corner may only get a tackle when he allows a completion. Invites
may be in order for these guys, but there is at least one clear
first-round talent.
|
|
|
D Hart Stanford Interceptions: 4 for 121 return yards, 81 longest, 1 TD Fumble recoveries: 2 Tackles: 194 Sacks: 4 Pros: One of the fastest corners and an elite athlete. Had a very nice long return and took it to the house. Cons: A risk-taker who may give up some big plays. Hands are acceptabale but could be softer. Conclusion: Hart is a legitimate first-round prospect. Unless his invites are impressive, he could go near the end of the round. |
|
|
Barry Barber Ohio State Interceptions: 2 for 123 return yards, 97 longest, 1 TD KO Returns: 1 return, 3 yards, 3 longest Fumble recoveries: 1 Tackles: 207 Sacks: 4 Pros: Has the quickness to close and swivel to stay with his man in coverage. Superior conditioning. Cons: He did not intercept many passes, and he only picked up one fumble. Barber doesn't look like a game changer unless he's keeping quarterbacks from throwing his way. Lacks elite speed, though he got an impressive 97-yard return, and top mental game. Conclusion: Barber projects around the middle of the second round. |
|
|
Marc Gildon Penn State Interceptions: 5 for 56 return yards, 34 longest, 1 TD Fumble recoveries: 1 Tackles: 199 Sacks: 5 Pros: Above average in all respects but not an elite prospect. Productivity in line with the better players in this draft. Cons: Could be faster. Man coverage skills are a tick below the best prospects. Conditioning is a real concern. Conclusion: Gildon projects to the bottom of the second round. Need could push him higher, but I think this is about right. |
|
|
Keith Rashid North Carolina (Junior) Interceptions: 9 for 149 return yards, 39 longest, 1 TD Fumble recoveries: 1 Tackles: 204 Pros: Very productive in creating turnovers. Elite speed and man coverage skills. Cons: Lacks the quickness to close on the reciever in coverage. May fall for fakes and draw the occasional penalty. Conclusion: Rashid projects to the bottom of the second round. If someone likes those pick totals, he could go higher, but I think this is about right. |
|
|
Jermaine Zow Miami Interceptions: 3 for 67 return yards, 33 longest, 1 TD Fumble recoveries: 1 Tackles: 232 Pros: Made a lot of tackles. Is that a plus or an indicataion that he was allowing a lot of completed passes? Plays within the scheme. Near-elite quickness and man coverage ability. Cons: Lacks top speed and hands. Could be conditioned better. Conclusion: Zow represents a big dropoff from the top four. Get him in the late third or early fourth round. |
|
|
Dark-Horse Pick: Mike Blair Arizona State |
|
Safeties
We have a tie for the top safety in this year's draft. None of these
players appear to be elite, and the talent takes a steep drop after the
top two.
|
|
|
Kailee McClanahan Texas Interceptions: 7 for 107 return yards, 25 longest KO Returns: 1 return, 2 yards, 2 longest Fumble recoveries: 1 Tackles: 303 Sacks: 2 Pros: Good interception total. As fast as any safety in this year's draft. Cons: Lacks elite man coverage skills and elite overall ability. Conclusion: Football smarts and staying within the scheme are McClanahan's advantages over Wilson Lewis. Early second round prospect. |
|
|
Wilson Lewis Oregon Interceptions: 4 for 47 return yards, 16 longest KO Returns: 1 return, 2 yards, 2 longest Fumble recoveries: 5 Tackles: 314 Sacks: 1 Pros: As fast as any safety in this year's draft, and above-average in all respects. Cons: Lacks elite overall ability Conclusion: Athleticism and man coverage ability are Lewis' advantages over McClanahan. Early second round prospect. |
|
|
Edward Mcnair Va Tech Interceptions: 3 for 50 return yards, 40 longest KO Returns: 2 returns, 6 yards, 4 longest Fumble recoveries: 5 Tackles: 296 Sacks: 14, 2 safeties Pros: Great hands and above average overall. Loads of football smarts. Cons: Did not translate his hands into top interception totals. Light hitter. Conclusion: Another above average player who is not elite. Take him in the late second round. |
|
|
Eric Hanson Oklahoma Interceptions: 5 for 39 return yards, 16 longest Fumble recoveries: 1 Tackles: 330 Sacks: 2, 1 safety Pros: Good hands and mental game. productive player. Above average in most respects. Cons: Lacks top speed and is very slow off the snap. Conclusion: Middle third round is a bout right for Hanson. |
|
|
John Harris Boston College Interceptions: 2 for 25 return yards, 14 longest Fumble recoveries: 2 Tackles: 166 Sacks: 2 Pros: Great quickness and enough speed. Good hands and a sharp mental game. Cons: Not outstanding production. Not especially well-suited to man coverage. Conclusion: Middle third round is a bout right for Harris. |
|
|
Dark-Horse Pick: W Demuru Colorado |
|
Kickers
|
|
|
Kicker Germaine Strickland Notre Dame Rushing: 2 carries, -13 yards, -5 longest Field goals: 111 for 143, 78%, 50 longest Extra Points: 96 for 101, 95% Tackles: 19 |
|
|
Joe Wright Arkansas Rushing: 1 carry, -6 yards, -6 longest Field goals: 92 for 123, 75%, 51 longest Extra Points: 41 for 41, 100% Tackles: 9 |
|
|
Joel Anderson San Diego State Rushing: 1 carry, -7 yards, -7 longest Field goals: 67 for 104, 64%, 51 longest Extra Points: 34 for 37, 92% Tackles: 13 |
|
|
|
|
Punters
|
|
|
Punter Trung Johnson Colorado Passing: 0.0 rating, 0-3, 0.0%, 0 yds, 0 lg 6 sacks-55 yds Punting: 45.1 gross avg/40.7 net avg, 638 punts-28,762 yds, 67 lg Tackles: 1 |
|
|
Aaron O'Laughlin Washington Passing: 0.0 rating, 0-3, 0.0%, 0 yds, 0 lg 3 sacks-27 yds Rushing: 1 carry, 0 yards, 0 longest Punting: 46.8 gross avg/42.3 net avg, 612 punts-28,636 yds, 66 lg, 1 blk Tackles: 2 |
|
|
|