ESPN Draft Blog....

I'll update this constantly through to April's draft.


Campus visits critical for NFL scouts

August, 12, 2010Aug 121:15PM ETEmail Print Comments By Kevin WeidlIf Alabama coach Nick Saban's decision to ban NFL scouts from campus catches on with other schools, it could seriously affect NFL teams' ability to gather information about pro prospects.

Yes, scouts and front offices learn a lot about players based on film study, and campus visits used to be where scouts watched the bulk of a prospect's game tape. However, advances in technology have given scouts the ability to watch hours of film on their laptop computers, and you can't draft a player based on film alone. You have to know what kind of person he is, and campus visits may have become the best way to assess a prospect's character.

Area scouts drive hundreds of miles from school to school in an effort to get to know players and build relationships. They talk to the coaching staff about a player's skills, strength coaches about a his work ethic in the weight room, trainers about his injury history and willingness to play through pain and to academic advisers about his smarts and work ethic in the classroom.

Campus visits are also an opportunity for scouts to observe how a player interacts with his teammates in the weight room and during practice, how he treats people outside the team and/or program and how he interacts with the media. They also provide a time to learn about a player's background and family situation.

Finally, scouts can get an up-close look at a player's body type. How thick is his lower body? Does he have the sand in his rear to anchor along the line of scrimmage? Does he have a lean frame, and how is his upper body put together? Does he have a sloppy build, or is he chiseled? These are things that can't always be deduced from game video, and with the character observations mentioned above, they form the foundation of the evaluation process.

Many NFL prospects are multimillion-dollar investments, and teams have to know what kind of people they're getting, especially given the emphasis that commissioner Roger Goodell and the league office put on character. Area scouts put in hard work and long hours to build relationships, often while spending weeks away from their homes and families, and their information is invaluable to NFL franchises. Restricting their access to information would make the scouting process even tougher.

And don't forget about the travel schedules that are set weeks and months in advance and have to be shuffled. Scouts we talked to have had to make all kinds of adjustments in the wake of Alabama's decision.

Make no mistake, teams would eventually gather the information that area scouts provide, but taking it away would create a major hurdle for every team in the league. Still, Saban's crackdown on scouts might have an unintended, beneficial side effect.

Some of the motivation for the ban is surely an abundance of caution given all the problems that big-time schools are having with agents on campus. Perhaps prohibiting scouts from being on campus and affecting how teams go about building their rosters will turn up the pressure on the league and the NFL Players Association to deal with the problem of agents working too closely with college athletes.

The NFL is a business, after all. Teams want all the information they can get to run their businesses successfully, and the union surely wants to look out for its future members.

Whether this kind of restricted access expands to other schools remains to be seen, but for now, at least, it shines a light on the valuable contributions that area scouts make to NFL front offices and the potential problems that a wider ban might present.

2011 QB class looking strong

By Steve Muench


How do this year's offensive position groups compare to last year's? Here's a brief comparison:


Quarterbacks
This year's class is considerably stronger than last year's, when Oklahoma's Sam Bradford was the only player to receive a first-round grade from Scouts Inc. We gave Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen and Texas' Colt McCoy second-round grades, and while Florida's Tim Tebow ended up being selected in the first, there is serious debate about whether he will ever become a starter in the NFL.

This year's group is much more top-heavy with Washington's Jake Locker, Stanford's Andrew Luck and Arkansas' Ryan Mallett all being projected first-rounders. Each appears to have the skills to develop into a quality starter and the face of a franchise.

Florida State's Christian Ponder and Delaware's Pat Devlin are intriguing second-round prospects who could make waves with strong senior seasons. One of them could even move into the first, especially if Luck decides to stay in school after his redshirt sophomore season.

Running backs
At least three running backs have come off the board in the first round in five of the last six drafts, including last year. This year's class could buck that trend. The only two running backs to receive first-round grades this year are Alabama's Mark Ingram and Virginia Tech's Ryan Williams, and both are underclassmen.

However, while there may not be as much talent at the top this year, there's a lot to like about the depth. Undersized Jacquizz Rodgers (Oregon State) and Victor Anderson (Louisville) are both tailor-made for third-down roles in the NFL, while Anthony Allen (Georgia Tech) and Mario Fannin (Auburn) possess an above-average blend of size and speed. All four project as middle-round picks.

Wide receivers/tight ends
Our top three wideouts, and four of the top five, are underclassmen, so the landscape at the top could change quickly come January. Georgia's A.J. Green is head and shoulders above the rest of the class. The most interesting storyline, though, is arguably Alabama's Julio Jones, who has the size/speed to bounce back from last year's sophomore slump and solidify himself as a first-round pick. This class also has the potential to be deep if some talented underclassmen enter the draft.

There's not nearly as much to be optimistic about when it comes to the tight end class. Notre Dame's Kyle Rudolph is our top prospect but is just a fringe first-rounder at this point. In addition, the NCAA is looking into possible rules violations by our only second-round tight end, South Carolina's Weslye Saunders.


Offensive line
Florida State's Rodney Hudson leads the way at center, receiving the only first-round grade. Hudson masks his lack of ideal size and power with technique and toughness. Florida's Mike Pouncey received an early second-round grade and could join him in the first with a strong season.

The tackle and guard classes, on the other hand, aren't nearly as strong at the top. While we gave four offensive tackles first-round grades, Colorado's Nate Solder is the only one who projects as a top-10 pick. Compare that to last year, when three offensive tackles came off the board in the top 11. Our top-ranked guard is Georgia's Clint Boling, and he received an early-third-round grade.

TE Kyle Rudolph looks like a first-rounder

By Kevin Weidl


Former Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis brought pro-style schemes with him to South Bend when he arrived in 2005 and many expected Weis would begin bringing in big-time recruits and churning out top NFL prospects.

However, despite great facilities, national exposure and some measure of prestige, neither occurred with much frequency.

Many factors work against Notre Dame's recruiting efforts, including academic standards, the weather and relative isolation in South Bend, and the fact that many recruits simply don't think of the Irish as a national power.

Players like Jimmy Clausen and Manti Te'o have been brought in, but on the whole fewer elite recruits to work with makes it harder to produce quality NFL players no matter what the scheme is.

Clausen, Brady Quinn, Golden Tate, John Carlson and Trevor Laws have all been picked in the first two rounds after playing for Weis but none has yet become a standout NFL player (granted, Tate and Clausen have yet to play a down in the league).

Will this year's prospects fare any better under new head coach Brian Kelly, who brings a spread offense with him from Cincinnati? Here's a look at the three current Notre Dame players who get draftable grades from Scouts Inc. and how things could play out for them in advance of the 2011 draft.

TE Kyle Rudolph | Scouts Inc. grade: 90
Rudolph exploited a lot of defenses down the middle last season because Tate and fellow WR Michael Floyd demanded that teams provide a lot of safety help to the outside.

That won't be the case as often in Kelly's offense, but Kelly will find ways to get Rudolph into open areas against defenses that are spread horizontally, including flexing him out into the slot area. Rudolph is not a great blocker but has great ball skills and is a competitive player who should remain in the first-round discussion.

WR Michael Floyd | Grade: 87
Currently a high second-round prospect, Floyd will have to adjust to Kelly's offense. Floyd is a big receiver who's at his best running downfield routes and playing the ball with his size and hands, but Kelly's offense is predicated on slants and other quick-hitting underneath routes that require receivers to make plays and pick up yards after the catch.

Floyd is not a create-after-the-catch wideout like former Cincinnati WR Mardy Gilyard, but Kelly knows how to identify mismatches and will work them repeatedly, so expect Floyd to get his touches and maintain a high draft grade.

DT Ian Williams | Grade: 61
Williams is a stout run-stopper who should fit nicely as a nose tackle in new defensive coordinator Bob Diaco's 3-4 scheme. Williams is not much of a pass rusher but has the tools to become a solid backup in the NFL and should come off the board early on Day 3 of the draft.

Nate Potter, Kenrick Ellis have upside

By Steve Muench


Most people know about the big-name players at the top of Scouts Inc.'s draft board, but what about prospects from smaller, non-automatic-qualifying schools who could make noise this season and during the pre-draft process in early 2011?

Here's a breakdown of three non-AQ prospects Scouts Inc. will watch closely during the next few months:

Boise State offensive tackle Nate Potter
Potter and Boise State take on Virginia Tech in the most anticipated Week 1 matchup in college football, giving Potter a chance to make an early splash among scouts, media and college football fans. The expectation is that he will play well because the Hokies have two new starters at defensive end, but Potter will be challenged.

Potter shows good awareness on video, but Hokies defensive coordinator Bud Foster is one of the best in the game and excels at keeping offensive lines off balance with his schemes. In particular, pay attention to how Potter fares on short-yardage runs and how well he picks up the blitz, because his lack of power as a run-blocker and ability to anchor at the top of his pass set are his two biggest weaknesses. Potter projects as a late-second- or early-third-round pick, but the redshirt junior can improve his stock a lot with a strong 2010 season.

Hampton DT Kenrick Ellis
Ellis spent three seasons at South Carolina before transferring to Hampton, so he already has shown he can compete at the highest level. At 336 pounds, he has the bulk to develop into an effective nose tackle for a base 3-4 front. And although he plays a little too high to consistently anchor against double-teams, he has the initial burst and power to get into the backfield in most one-on-one situations. As such, he fits best at defensive tackle in a base four-man front like the one he plays in at Hampton. He would be an excellent fit for a team like the Minnesota Vikings because of his ability to keep blockers off linebackers.

So why is Ellis at Hampton? Because the Gamecocks suspended him for three games in 2008 and dismissed him from the team in the spring of 2009. His character concerns aren't the only issue, either; worries about his weight and work ethic also exist. This could cause NFL teams to shy away, especially if they think they would get the next Albert Haynesworth. Ellis is a late-second-round or early-third-round prospect right now but has the skills to go much higher if he plays well and shows teams that his troubles are behind him.

Tulsa H-back Charles Clay
Clay doesn't excel in any specific area or have as much upside as Potter and Ellis, but he can help a team in several ways. He is an effective lead blocker, a tough runner and a reliable receiver who can line up at running back, fullback, H-back, tight end, wide receiver and quarterback in the Wildcat package.

And if that's not versatile enough, Tulsa head coach Todd Graham is expected to line Clay up at defensive end in certain situations this season. Clay also has some upside as a cover man on special teams. Don't be surprised to see him come off the board in the middle rounds of the 2011 draft.

Jerrod Johnson has room to improve

By Todd McShay


Everyone knows Texas A&M QB Jerrod Johnson has prototypical size, a pretty quick release and the arm to make all the NFL throws. Johnson is also a good athlete who can get outside the pocket and make throws on the run.

However, he gets a mid-to-late round grade in terms of the NFL draft because his game comes up short in two key areas.

First, Johnson must improve his decision-making if he is to boost his NFL draft stock during the 2010 college season. He tends to look on to receivers too much and often gets himself in trouble by trying to improve too much.

Secondly, his accuracy must get better, and whether it does will depend in large part on how much Johnson has improved his footwork during the offseason. He simply makes too many off-balance throws that miss the mark.

If Johnson shows progress in those two areas his stock could rise, but for now he rates as a developmental prospect.


Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert
Of the nearly 250 prospects who received complete preseason evaluations from Scouts Inc., Gabbert was perhaps the most surprising based on what we thought of him after casual observations last season.

There will always be questions about quarterbacks who come from spread systems like the one at Missouri, but Gabbert's accuracy, arm strength and pocket presence are all above-average to very good.

He sometimes trusts his arm too much, and we would like to see him cut down on the risks he takes by forcing the ball into tight spots, but that can improve as he gets more game experience and learns to trust his reads and checkdowns more.

Gabbert is an underclassman and has just one year as a starter under his belt, but he currently has a high-second round grade; assuming he improves, Gabbert could be the fourth quarterback off the board this year behind Jake Locker, Andrew Luck and Ryan Mallett.


Colorado OT Nate Solder
Solder carries a first-round grade into the season, but because Colorado has struggled recently he has flown under the radar a bit. In our opinion, though, he might be the most complete tackle in college football.

Solder has good length, light feet and a good anchor as a pass-blocker, and generates surprising leverage in the running game for a player who stands 6-foot-8. Overall, he plays under control and shows natural athleticism in everything he does.

We would like to see more of a mean streak, though. Solder could finish more blocks and play with a bit more of an edge. For a player who's already a first-round prospect that's almost nitpicking, but improving that mean streak and getting a bit stronger could cement him as the top tackle on the board for 2011.


Nebraska WR Niles Paul
Paul has good size and runs well, and we like his natural hands. He is willing to go over the middle and make catches in traffic, fights for extra yards after the catch and gives good effort as a run-blocker.

To maximize his draft potential -- which we believe could rise as high as the second round -- Paul must first become a better route-runner. He is not quite as savvy as he should be in terms of setting defenders up and finding soft spots in zone coverage, and he must be more crisp in his routes and round off fewer cuts and breaks.

Paul must also clean up his life off the field. He has been involved in two alcohol-related incidents at Nebraska and already has a red flag attached to his profile, so he cannot afford another off-the-field incident if he hopes to reach his full draft potential.


Texas CB Aaron Williams
An underclassman with a lot of potential, Williams has a good size-speed combination (6-1, 195 pounds; mid-4.4s in the 40) and is a smooth cover corner.

He is very aggressive, and we like the way he attacks the ball (8 INT, 3 PBU last season), but Williams needs to be more calculating when taking risks. He is confident in his ability but will get burned at times when gambling and guessing.

Williams also needs to become a more consistent open-field tackler. He is very willing in run support but could take better angles and wrap up better in space. He currently gets an early-second round grade but could move into the first round with a strong junior season.

Dion Lewis has some size limitations

By Steve Muench and Kevin Weidl

The Big East has plenty of talented running backs, but in terms of NFL potential there are three who stand out.


Pittsburgh's Dion Lewis
Lewis is undersized at 195 pounds but has the lateral quickness, vision and patience to cut back against the grain or bounce outside after starting inside. He also has above-average balance and runs tougher than his size suggests. Lewis also has the benefit of having played in a pro-style offense. It will be interesting to see if he can duplicate last year's production behind new starters at quarterback and in three spots along the offensive line.

Overall, Lewis grades out in the third round because his size will likely prevent him from becoming a featured back in the NFL. He has the skills, though, to become an excellent change-of-pace back at the next level.


West Virginia's Noel Devine
Devine is even smaller than Lewis (177 pounds), doesn't have great power and is also unlikely to become an every-down back in the NFL. However, he's been productive because he has the burst and vision to take advantage of a West Virginia scheme that spreads defenses horizontally. But like Lewis, Devine is in the third-round area because of his size limitations.


Louisville's Victor Anderson
Yet another undersized prospect, Anderson has had durability issues but can turn heads if he remains healthy. He plays in a scheme designed to get playmakers into space and Anderson can change direction and reach top speed in a flash. If he avoids the injury bug, Anderson could join Lewis and Devine in the third round and provide an NFL team with an excellent No. 2 running back.



Pittsburgh prospects

Scouts Inc. took in Pittsburgh's first fall practice intrasquad scrimmage and came away with the following observations on the Panthers' top NFL prospects:


WR Jonathan Baldwin
Baldwin passes the eyeball test with flying colors. Nearly 6-foot-5 and 224 pounds, he is at his best getting down the field and using his size and soft hands to make plays on the ball. Only A.J. Green of Georgia is better in terms of tracking and bringing in the deep ball. Just look at last year's South Florida or Notre Dame games if you want evidence.

However, Baldwin is unpolished as a route-runner. Offseason film study showed an inability to run the complete route tree and what we saw during his limited snaps in the scrimmage reinforced that. Baldwin is tight in the hips at times and struggles to drop his weight and transition smoothly on comebacks and similar routes. He will clearly be most effective running nine routes, deep crosses and other routes that take advantage of his size and speed.

We would also like to see more consistent effort as a run blocker, but Baldwin's freakish physical gifts are enough to get him a second-round grade should he enter the draft after this season.


DE Greg Romeus
Romeus did not take part in the scrimmage because of an ankle injury and back spasms, but he looks the part of a top DE prospect. He could get thicker in the lower half but is stout and has long arms, a combination that allows him to play the run well. We would like to see him finish more often as a pass rusher but he is a great athlete, and because he did not begin playing football until his senior year in high school he has a lot of upside and a ton of good football ahead of him. Romeus joins Baldwin in the early-second round at this point.

RB Dion Lewis
As mentioned above, Lewis is undersized but his vision and lateral quickness allow him to get in and out of traffic near the line of scrimmage and make defenders miss. He is also one of the best backs we've seen on film when it comes to setting up and utilizing blocks. Lewis also runs hard and shows a good stiff arm.

However, while he has good short-area burst through the hole Lewis seems to lack an extra gear in the open field and at times makes one too many cuts. He needs to be more decisive and simply get vertical and pick up as many yards as possible.


OT Jason Pinkston
A good athlete with great feet, Pinkston does not appear to have very long arms and that lack of length might make him a better fit at guard in the NFL. He moves well in space, though, and at one point in the scrimmage he did a great job getting around the edge on a toss play, finding a defender and putting him on the ground.

The problem with Pinkston is that his body is a bit frumpy and there are questions about his dedication in the weight room. He has been labeled as somewhat of an underachiever and is prone to penalties -- consecutive false starts followed by a holding penalty in the scrimmage -- and he is inconsistent. Pinkston grades out in the late second round but cold move up if he addresses some of those questions.


DE Jabaal Sheard
Sheard has a solid lower body and is very strong in the upper body. He is violent, powerful and tough at the point of attack and comes off the ball hard with the ability to rock blockers back and use power-to-speed moves to get to the quarterback.

He also has a high motor and is instinctive against the run. At one point Sheard controlled a blocker on a toss play, using a strong punch to discard him and then stuffing the running back for a loss.

Sheard is a bit stiff in space and will have some coverage limitations at the next level, but overall he appears ready to make the transition to a 3-4 outside linebacker in the NFL. He has to overcome an offseason fight outside a Pittsburgh bar and prove that it was an aberration, and if he can do that Sheard could significantly improve his fourth-round grade.

Robert Sands leads rising defenders

By Kevin Weidl

With the first college football games of the season just days away Scouts Inc. is taking another quick look at NFL prospects, and three defensive players have jumped out at me after a second look at the film.

The players below are not necessarily household names but I believe they will impress scouts in 2010 and make moves up the draft board.


West Virginia S Robert Sands (6-foot-4⅞, 221 pounds) | Scouts Inc. grade: 87
Sands has impressive size and great instincts down the middle. His not as put-together as former USC S Taylor Mays, but Sands is a violent striker like Mays and shows better hips and range to make plays in coverage.

Throw on last year's Florida State film and you see Sands recognizing run and filling downhill quickly, showing efficiency as an open-field tackler on his way to double-digit stops. Then take a look at the Pittsburgh film for a display of sideline-to-sideline range and ball skills in coverage. Sands did not start until the fifth game in 2009 but still came downwith five interceptions and broke up eight passes, and he ended the year with 65 total tackles.

We give Sands a mid-second round grade at this point but absolutely expect him to improve his standing with a strong 2010 season and get into the first-round discussion.


LSU DT Drake Nevis (6-0½, 289) | Grade: 76
Nevis is a first-time starter in 2010 but his play as a backup has been impressive. He is a bit undersized but fires off the ball low, plays with great leverage and uses his hands well to control and shed blockers on the interior.

Nevis does not have an elite anchor and can be rooted off the ball at times by double teams, but with his quickness, hands and leverage he has the tools to excel as a one-gap penetrator playing the 3-technique in a four-man front. He came up with 10 tackles for loss and four sacks last year, and with an impressive showing this season Nevis can move from his current mid-third round grade solidly into the second round.


Colorado CB Jimmy Smith (6-2, 203) | Grade: 78
Smith is a big corner in the mold of 2010 second-rounder Chris Cook, and an impressive blend of size and athleticism allow Smith to contribute in all areas.

Smith is a physical corner who can jam receivers at the line of scrimmage and disrupt their routes, and while he is a bit tight in the hips he does show the ability to turn and run with receivers. Most importantly, his two interceptions and 10 pass breakups in 2009 show that he has the ability to locate and play the ball.

In addition to that good overall range Smith also plays the run well. He fills hard and came up with 70 total tackles last season. Virginia's Ras-I Dowling is the premier big corner in this year's class with a high-first round grade, but we like Smith to use his physical tools to improve his third-round grade and cement himself as second-round pick.

Big Ten boasts impressive DE class

By Steve Muench


Three of the top five defensive ends on our board play in the Big Ten and each brings something different to the table, but they all share one trait: Each has the ability to make an early impact in the NFL and could hear his name called on Day 1 of the 2011 draft.


Ohio State's Cameron Heyward
Heyward uses a powerful punch to knock offensive tackles off-balance when lined up at end, and though he lacks elite size for a defensive tackle at 278 pounds, Heyward can slide inside in certain situations. He gets away with his lack of size because he plays low and is quick enough to beat interior offensive linemen to the point of attack.

Heyward can line up anywhere along the defensive line with the exception of nose tackle in a base three-man front. However, his best fit is at 5-technique in a base 3-4. At 6-foot-5 he's tall enough to locate the ball once he locks out the offensive tackle, and he can slide inside when the defense walks an outside linebacker up to the line of scrimmage.


Iowa's Adrian Clayborn
Teams don't have much success running at Clayborn, who is almost impossible to move off the ball with one blocker. He plays a bit high, but at 6-3 he's shorter than most offensive tackles and he weighs 285 pounds, making it hard for blockers to get under him and drive him back. It's not just size and natural leverage, either. Clayborn's excellent arm strength and active hands are what truly make it so difficult to block him both as a run-stuffer and pass-rusher.

Clayborn is stout enough to line up at 5-technique in a three-man front, but he's not a great fit in every 3-4 scheme. While teams like Green Bay start ends who are under 6-4, teams like Baltimore and Pittsburgh prefer taller ends. Clayborn doesn't have ideal closing speed for a right defensive end in a base four-man front, either. However, he is a prototypical power or left end in a base four-man front.


Purdue's Ryan Kerrigan
Kerrigan compares favorably to former Purdue defensive end and 2007 Dallas Cowboys first-round pick Anthony Spencer. Like Spencer, Kerrigan's greatest strength is disrupting plays in the backfield, and both have above-average initial quickness on film. They also show excellent closing speed and above-average motors when chasing ball carriers and quarterbacks.

Kerrigan will have to get comfortable dropping into coverage if he's to follow in Spencer's footsteps and make the jump to outside linebacker for a base three-man front. He appears athletic enough to do so, and he doesn't have to take that path to succeed at the NFL level. He has the size and strength to develop into an effective right defensive end in a base four-man front.

USC Trojans lacking top NFL prospects

By Steve Muench


Few college programs in the nation have been as successful as USC in recent years when it comes to turning out NFL players. The Trojans have produced 14 first-round picks since 2003, including four in 2008 and three in 2009. None heard his name called in the first round in 2010, though, and as the Lane Kiffin era kicks off with a trip to Hawaii in Week 1, no USC player grades out higher than the second round in 2011.

The top three NFL prospects at USC are underclassmen who could boost their stock significantly with two more good seasons, but with no senior grading out higher than the fourth round, there's a different feel when watching film of the Trojans. Here's how Scouts Inc. evaluates the eight USC players with draftable grades. Underclassmen are denoted with an asterisk.


DT Jurrell Casey* -- He's currently a second-round prospect, but a strong junior season could get Casey into the first round. His greatest strength is his ability to stop the run. A 6-foot player with a relatively low center of gravity and a strong lower body, Casey is difficult to move off the ball. He doesn't have great initial quickness, so it's important that he's more consistent with his hands as a pass-rusher. He fits best at nose tackle in a base four-man front and is capable of pushing for early playing time should he come out after this season.


TE Blake Ayles* -- Injuries have slowed the talented Ayles, who hasn't played in every game in any of his collegiate seasons or even recorded a start. On the other hand, he's shown the skill set necessary to develop into an effective starter at the NFL level when he has been on the field. If he stays healthy and starts to realize his potential, he could be one of the first tight ends off the board in 2011. If he struggles and/or continues to have problems staying healthy, he'll likely drop to the middle rounds.


ILB Chris Galippo* -- Galippo has to improve his tackling and show scouts that he can be more than a two-down linebacker at the next level if he's to raise his late-third/early-fourth-round grade. There's a lot to like about his upside as an interior run-stuffer, though. He is a brawler who locates the ball quickly and flies downhill.


CB Shareece Wright -- Much like Ayles, Wright is a relatively inexperienced developmental prospect. He was academically ineligible last season, and a neck injury ended his 2008 season after just two games. There is a broad range of opinion on his draft grade, and much will depend on his senior season. There is no question he has the tools to play in the NFL, however. Wright is quick, is fluid and can run with receivers, and we currently rate him in the fourth round.


WR Ronald Johnson -- There's room for improvement when it comes to his route running and two injuries over the course of the past year raise a red flag, so why does Johnson project as a late-third- or early-fourth-round pick? Because he's capable of developing into an effective sub-package receiver and kickoff return man at the NFL level, thanks to a blend of speed and ability to make the first defender, which makes him dangerous after the catch.


C Kris O'Dowd -- Yet another Trojan with durability concerns, O'Dowd has missed substantial time with knee and shoulder injuries. He's not a dominant drive-blocker, either, but he is a technician who rarely takes false steps or misses an assignment. He's capable of providing quality depth for a zone blocking team, which is why he projects as a middle-round pick.


FB Stanley Havili -- Havili has to be more aggressive and generate more movement as a lead blocker if he's to move up draft boards. Look for a team to take a chance on him in the middle rounds either way, though, because of his versatility. He is an above-average runner for a fullback and one of the best receiving backs in the country.


RB Allen Bradford -- Bradford is a relatively one-dimensional power back with below-average top-end speed, and he might never develop into an effective receiver. However, he received a late-round grade because he has the size and power to become an effective short-yardage back.

Colorado OT Nate Solder
Solder carries a first-round grade into the season, but because Colorado has struggled recently he has flown under the radar a bit. In our opinion, though, he might be the most complete tackle in college football.

Solder has good length, light feet and a good anchor as a pass-blocker, and generates surprising leverage in the running game for a player who stands 6-foot-8. Overall, he plays under control and shows natural athleticism in everything he does.

We would like to see more of a mean streak, though. Solder could finish more blocks and play with a bit more of an edge. For a player who's already a first-round prospect that's almost nitpicking, but improving that mean streak and getting a bit stronger could cement him as the top tackle on the board for 2011.

Keep reading...

I know we don't have a shot at this guy, but this is the kind of talent we need.

Barron, Hightower impress for Alabama

By Kevin Weidl


I was in Tuscaloosa over the weekend for Alabama's impressive 24-3 win over Penn State and the atmosphere was incredible. If you want to see what college football is all about then head to Tuscaloosa for a game. Scouts from at least 10 NFL teams were in attendance, too, and here's what they saw from the top prospects in the game.


Alabama S Mark Barron
It is hard to find a Penn State drive that was not affected by Barron in some way. He consistently showed great instincts and range in coverage and came up with an impressive interception in the fourth quarter. I was most impressed, though, with Barron's improvement as a run defender. He answered all the questions we had about that area of his game, getting downhill quickly and taking good angles to the ball and also making some big hits, including a solid shot on Penn State RB Evan Royster up the middle in the second quarter. Barron is solidly in the middle of the second round.


Alabama WR Julio Jones
Jones is a physical freak with impressive size and strength. He has a prototypical NFL wide receiver body and he can line up wide or in the slot, and Jones uses his frame to his advantage. Against Penn State he did a good job getting over the top of a linebacker over the middle in coverage before turning the route inside and then using his body to shield the defender and make the catch. He also showed versatility, working as a gunner on punt coverage and tracking and catching the ball well as a punt returner.

Jones also looked a bit more polished in his routes against the Nittany Lions, but the inconsistency that has plagued him during his career showed up again. Jones dropped a pass in space, turning upfield before securing the ball and costing himself a chance to make a play in a one-on-one situation. His physical gifts give Jones a lot of upside and earn him a late first-round grade, but at this point his inconsistencies when catching the ball and running routes hold him back a bit compared with other top wide receiver prospects.


Alabama LB Don't'a Hightower
Penn State's first play from scrimmage was blown up when Hightower read an off-tackle play quickly and got downhill to make a heavy hit on Evan Royster, setting the tone for the Alabama defense. Hightower was strong at the point of attack and also showed the ability to time blitzes, run through blocks and get to the quarterback when he hit Nittany Lions QB Robert Bolden and forced a bad throw that turned into a first-quarter interception.

Hightower is a bit tight in the hips and will be a liability in man coverage, but he can hold up in underneath zone and made a good read on a screen play at one point. He could play in the middle of a 4-3 defense but his size and power and ability to take on blocks make Hightower a perfect fit as a strongside inside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. Overall he played an excellent game and did nothing to hurt his third-round stock.


Alabama OT James Carpenter
He does not have the strength and power of an NFL right tackle but Carpenter has the feet and agility to hold up on the left side. He did a good job getting into his pass sets quickly, shuffling and mirroring pass-rushers and riding them past the pocket, and he also showed the quickness to recover against inside moves.

And while he did not show a powerful base as a run-blocker we were impressed with the way he played in space. Carpenter climbed to the second level and covered up linebackers, and on outside run plays he showed the body control to adjust to moving targets in space and worked to finish blocks once he locked on. Carpenter carries a middle-round grade at this point but could move up some boards if he continues to show off his athletic ability.


Alabama QB Greg McElroy
He does not have great size or a rifle arm but McElroy makes up for those shortcomings with his intelligence. He anticipated passing windows well and his pocket presence is impressive. He is calm and savvy and stepped up nicely when he felt pressure coming from the outside, and that patience led to some nice intermediate throws throughout the game.

McElroy showed good touch and accuracy as well, threading the needle on a touchdown pass to Kevin Norwood. While McElroy is a late-round developmental prospect because of his lack of size and arm strength, he is clearly the the leader Alabama needs and the Crimson Tide will be hard to beat if he continues to play this well.


Alabama RB Trent Richardson
He is not eligible for the 2011 draft but Richardson is definitely on the radar of NFL scouts. His body is thick and ripped and he runs with a low center of gravity, and Richardson showed impressive power running through Penn State defenders all night. His vision has improved as well, and he reminds me of a young Jamal Lewis at Tennessee. Richardson's lateral quickness is just a notch below that of teammate Mark Ingram and he does not boast impressive long speed, but Richardson bounces off tacklers and drags defenders for extra yards, and he is a violent runner on the boundary who lowers his shoulder and delivers blows rather than absorbing them.

Richardson has turned heads with Ingram out of the lineup and it will be interesting to see how the two are used when Ingram returns to the lineup. However, look for Richardson to be one of the top-rated draft-eligible backs in the country in 2011 no matter what.


Penn State RB Evan Royster
The concerns we had about Royster in preseason film study continued to show up against Alabama. He is a one-speed runner who was not fast enough to get the corner against the Crimson Tide, and while he did show some savvy and balance as an inside runner Royster's lack of burst is a turnoff for NFL scouts. He does show some ability to catch the ball out of the backfield and we like his feet and balance, but his stock is dropping after a sluggish start to the season and his current third-round grade is likely to slip.


Penn State G Stefen Wisniewski
He showed a better anchor than expected and at one point got some surge on a third-and-short play, but Wisniewski has short arms and his lack of athleticism showed up in pass pro. He struggled to slide and mirror and was caught off balance at times when trying to recover. Wisniewski did not have a great game and is likely to see his middle-round grade fall to the late rounds.


Penn State DE Jack Crawford
He was quieted by Carpenter and did not show much juice or variety as a pass-rusher. Crawford was unable to turn the corner and lacks speed and change-of-direction skills, and he does not appear to have the athletic ability to convert to a 3-4 outside linebacker. He is undersized, tight and mechanical and Crawford is a mid-to-late round prospect at this point.


Penn State WR Derek Moye
His size and hands are impressive and Moye showed off both on a nice catch on a fade route in the first quarter. He also showed the ability to get off press coverage on a second-quarter slant route, using his hands to get inside the defender and getting upfield after the catch. Moye is a shifty long strider who can exploit a seam after the catch, and his hustle and attitude are impressive as well.

Moye tracked down an Alabama defender after a second-quarter fumble, stripping the ball after an 80-plus-yard return and getting it back for his team. That is the kind of attitude play that gets the attention of scouts and Moye is turning some heads early in his junior season. He does not yet have a draft grade from Scouts Inc. but should continue to make noise as the season continues.

Penn State G Stefen Wisniewski
He showed a better anchor than expected and at one point got some surge on a third-and-short play, but Wisniewski has short arms and his lack of athleticism showed up in pass pro. He struggled to slide and mirror and was caught off balance at times when trying to recover. Wisniewski did not have a great game and is likely to see his middle-round grade fall to the late rounds.

Keep reading...

Maybe that's it, we need another polish dude on the offensive line.

Mark Stepknowski was a good C for us in the 90's.

Robinson has gifts but faces obstacles

By Steve Muench


The Denver Broncos selected former Florida QB Tim Tebow in the first round last year, and the Miami Dolphins took former West Virginia QB Pat White in the second round in 2009. Both played in read-option-heavy schemes at the college level, just like current Michigan sophomore QB Denard Robinson.

Robinson has taken the college football world by storm in 2010 with his versatility, speed and better-than-expected passing skills. Although he's a year from being draft-eligible, plenty of people are wondering how he compares to White and Tebow in terms of NFL potential.

Here's how we see the positives and negatives thus far in Robinson's brief career:


Positives

Leadership: Tebow and White both won over NFL teams with their intangibles. It's a little early to put Robinson in the same category, but he's off to a strong start. He leapfrogged incumbent starter Tate Forcier during the offseason when Forcier's work habits came into question, and Robinson has carried the team to a 2-0 start that was desperately needed in order to take some heat off coach Rich Rodriguez after two subpar seasons. Robinson also orchestrated an impressive winning drive at Notre Dame last week, scoring the go-ahead touchdown himself with just 27 seconds left on the clock.

Mobility: This positive is obvious to anyone who has seen him play or watched college football highlights during the past two weeks. Robinson is quick, shows excellent vision, makes defenders miss and shifts into another gear when he gets a seam. Robinson also can avoid pressure and buy himself time to find receivers downfield. His pocket mobility is similar to White's and better than Tebow's at the same point in their careers. However, it's unclear whether Robinson has White's above-average pocket presence and feel for the rush, and he doesn't have the power Tebow showed when making throws with defenders draped around his legs.

Arm strength: Robinson's arm strength appears to be a notch below elite but still above-average, and he certainly can make all the NFL throws. He has shown the ability to zip the ball into tight spaces and put good velocity on passes when throwing on the move. His arm strength is most comparable to Tebow's.


Negatives

Scheme: Like White and Tebow, Robinson will have to convince teams he can make a successful transition to a pro-style offense after piloting a spread scheme at the college level. The routes, reads and throws are much different. He likely will need time to develop as passer and could line up at quarterback in a team's Wildcat package early in his career, just like White and Tebow. However, White was cut by the Dolphins this year and is now playing minor league baseball, and Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels has said publicly that Tebow will play in special packages as a rookie but not push starter Kyle Orton. We at Scouts Inc. question whether Tebow will ever develop into a starter in the NFL. Robinson obviously has a lot to overcome when you consider the overall lack of success that college spread quarterbacks have had at the next level.

Size: Robinson is listed at 6 feet tall on the Michigan roster, although we'll wait for official measurements before writing that down in ink. No matter his actual height, he will have a difficult time scanning the field from within the pocket, and we've already seen some of his passes get knocked down this season.

The bigger question, though, is whether his 193-pound frame can stand up to the pounding he is going to take in college, then withstand the rigors of a much longer and more physical NFL season. Robinson has shown a great deal of toughness in racking up 57 carries during the first two weeks of this season, and each player is different in terms of pain threshold, but teams certainly will be wary of a player of his size who has taken a lot of punishment before even reaching the NFL. Tebow did not face the same question because he checked in at 6-3 and 236 pounds, but Robinson is roughly the same size as White, who played under Rodriguez at West Virginia and had trouble staying healthy while averaging 13.1 carries per game in his four seasons there.

Experience: Given the hype surrounding Robinson's performance so far this season, it's easy to forget he attempted just 31 passes while filling in for Forcier last season. It's also worth noting that he has torched a Connecticut team that had one of the worst pass defenses in the nation last season and a Notre Dame run defense that was one of the worst in the nation in 2009. However, Robinson should have a chance to grow a little during the next three weeks against UMass, Bowling Green and Indiana, and he has positioned himself to become as important to his college team as White and Tebow were to theirs.

We still want to see how Robinson performs as a runner and passer against the meat of the Big Ten schedule and whether he can hold up under the pounding he will take from the likes of Michigan State, Penn State, Iowa, Wisconsin and Ohio State. And although he's shown good accuracy and timing to this point, the sample size is simply not big enough to make a solid judgment on his overall passing skills from an NFL scouting standpoint.

We need to see Robinson against the best defenses in the conference before putting a finer point on his pro potential. He will always face questions about the scheme he plays in, but he's certainly off to a good start if he hopes to get to where White or Tebow ended up.

Can Jake Locker engineer an upset?

By Todd McShay


The top three quarterbacks on our board are facing different challenges in Week 3 and I'm looking forward to seeing how they handle things.

Washington QB Jake Locker is our top-rated quarterback and, right or wrong, he's faced the most scrutiny so far this season. He'll face a tough Nebraska defense that can generate a consistent pass rush with just its front four, and his receivers have struggled to gain separation when defenses drop seven men into coverage.

I'm not as concerned as others about Lockers win-loss record, but I am looking for two things in particular. First, does he make good decisions when things break down and he's on the run? Second, if the Huskies can hang around and stay in the game into the fourth quarter, can Locker step up and make the plays he failed to make in the season-opening loss to BYU, when Washington did not finish three fourth-quarter drives.

Locker has all the physical tools but those two areas are coming into question and he needs to prove to NFL scouts he has what it takes in those areas.

Ryan Mallett, Arkansas -- His stats have been a little better than his performance on tape so far this season and I'll have and eye on his decision-making against a Georgia defense that is very much a work in progress. We want to know where he is in terms of football smarts.

We know Mallett has a smooth delivery and a strong arm that allow him to pick defenses apart when he has time to throw, but there always seems to be one or two questionable decisions per game that leave you scratching your head. He has to get off to a good start against a lower-level SEC defense and avoid the mental lapses that showed up last year in his first year as the starter.

Andrew Luck, Stanford -- When Luck is in rhythm and things are going his way he can be deadly accurate. However, there are certain games -- including last year's California game and last week's win over UCLA -- in which he just never seems to find the strike zone.

He'll face a Wake Forest defense that is in rebuilding mode and got torched last week by an underrated Duke passing attack, and if Luck can get into rhythm and get the ball to an improved receiving corps he will go a long way toward gaining some confidence as the Pac-10 season approaches.


Fast starts

Florida QB Janoris Jenkins -- Gators S Ahmad Black leads Jenkins in interceptions (2 to 3) so far, but Jenkins has been Florida's most dominant defender through two games. After watching the film of the win over USF we were impressed by how smooth he is in coverage and how he locks receivers down when left on an island.

It should also be noted that Jenkins has been very good in run support and in recognizing screen plays and providing outside help. He entered the season as a mid-to-late first round prospect and has already started elevating his stock a bit.

Ohio State DE Cameron Heyward -- He more than held his own last week when matched up against Miami's potential first-round OT Orlando Franklin and Heyward dominated when playing on the opposite side. We've always known Heyward is big, quick and powerful, but this season he appears more instinctive and has improved his overall technique.

His long interception return is the most memorable play from the Miami game but scouts are more impressed with the little things he did against the run and collapsing the pocket as a pass rusher. Scouts we talk to rate Heyward anywhere from the first to the third round, so it's important he build on this performance and continue to win over his critics.

Tennessee RB Tauren Poole -- A junior who was not really on the radar coming into the season, Poole was impressive during a 23 carry, 162-yard performance against Oregon. He is not the most elusive back and lacks elite top-end speed but Poole runs with good balance and pad level, and he attacked the line of scrimmage like a man possessed against the Ducks. We'll continue to monitor Poole, most likely for the 2012 draft, and are interested to see how he progresses.


Struggling RBs

Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech -- Williams has only 131 yards on 40 carries through two games, and while he did not play that well himself against Boise State it appears the Hokies' offensive line is struggling on the left side where Williams gained most of his yards last season. Williams has created many of his yards on his own this year and he will need some help if he is to maximize his standing as a draft-eligible sophomore.

Evan Royster, Penn State -- He runs low and hard and picks up what is available but Royster just does not create yards on his own. He lacks lateral quickness and is very much a one-speed runner. There is very little explosiveness in his game and we will not be surprised if he falls to the later rounds because of that.

Jacquizz Rodgers, Oregon State -- A very good TCU defense held Rodgers to just 75 yards in the opener, the third straight game dating back to last season in which he failed to reach the 100-yard mark. Oregon State lost all three of those games and Rodgers needs to get back on track this week against a questionable Louisville defense.

Rodgers has talent but is undersized and in order to maximize his stock -- which could top out in the second round area -- he has to build some momentum heading into the Pac-10 schedule.

2011 tight ends a diverse group

By Steve Muench


San Francisco 49ers TE Vernon Davis made news recently with a new five-year, $37-million contract extension that makes him the highest-paid tight end in NFL history, and based on his overall skill set its hard to argue against the deal.

There is not a tight end prospect in the 2011 draft class who compares to the total package Davis brings to the table, but that doesn't mean the class lacks talent. Here's how Scouts Inc. rates the top prospects at the position this season. (Underclassmen are denoted with an asterisk.)

Kyle Rudolph*, Notre Dame
There's no question Rudolph is a big-play threat. If safeties get caught out of position, he can get behind the defense in a hurry, and he's difficult to catch from behind, as he showed on a 95-yard touchdown catch against Michigan. There's also a lot to like about the burst and power he shows after the catch.

Rudolph isn't a dominant in-line blocker and would benefit from adding some bulk to his 6-foot-5 frame, but he is effective in this area. He gets into sound initial position and fights to sustain once locked on. He is clearly the best NFL prospect in this class at this point, and he could come off the board late in the first round.

Weslye Saunders, South Carolina
The 6-5, 268-pound Saunders has excellent upside as a receiver. He is a fluid athlete capable of developing into a crisp route runner who can separate from most linebackers, and he can find pockets in zone looks. Saunders isn't just a short-to-intermediate target, either. Like Rudolph, he has the second gear to make plays downfield and produce after the catch.

However, South Carolina dismissed Saunders from the team earlier this week after suspending him during the offseason for unspecified violations of team policy; he was also at the center of an NCAA investigation regarding contact with an agent. Saunders could have pushed Rudolph for the No. 1 spot if he showed improvement as a blocker and his receiving numbers continued to improve as they had over the past three years. He still has a chance to come off the board early on Day 2, but given the red flags surrounding his character, it will take an excellent offseason leading up to the draft for that to happen.

Luke Stocker, Tennessee
Stocker's ceiling isn't as high as the players ahead of him. He can make the occasional play down the seam, but Stocker isn't as explosive as Rudolph and Saunders. The reason he ranks third on this list is because he has the potential to develop into an above-average No. 2 tight end in the NFL thanks to his aggressive blocking and reliability as a short-to-intermediate receiver.

His ability to box out defenders and snatch the ball out of the air should also make him an effective weapon when defenses try to take away the run or bracket receivers on the outside in the red zone. It may not be flashy, but it's enough to make him a good value on Day 2.

Blake Ayles*, USC
Ayles' inexperience makes him the biggest question mark on this list. Expected to compete for the starting job vacated by Anthony McCoy, Ayles instead missed most of spring ball with injuries and now sits third on the Trojans' depth chart. He may get more reps this week against Minnesota with No. 2 TE Jordan Cameron out of the lineup with a concussion, but Ayles would be better served returning for his senior year if he doesn't start playing a bigger role. However, we believe he has the natural ability to contribute at the NFL level. Ayles possesses a good size/speed combination he flashes the nasty disposition necessary to develop into an effective in-line blocker.

D.J. Williams, Arkansas
Williams doesn't have the frame to develop into an effective in-line blocker, but he is willing in that area and would fit well at H-back, and he could make the transition to fullback at the next level. He is a shifty runner with adequate power, but at 6-2 he doesn't have the size to consistently come down with jump balls and doesn't explode out of his breaks.

His strengths outweigh his weaknesses, however. He is fluid enough to improve his route running, excels at locating seams in zone looks, and produces after the catch. More importantly, he doesn't drop many balls he gets his hands on. At this point, Williams projects as a late Day 2 or early Day 3 pick.

Weslye Saunders, South Carolina
The 6-5, 268-pound Saunders has excellent upside as a receiver. He is a fluid athlete capable of developing into a crisp route runner who can separate from most linebackers, and he can find pockets in zone looks. Saunders isn't just a short-to-intermediate target, either. Like Rudolph, he has the second gear to make plays downfield and produce after the catch.

However, South Carolina dismissed Saunders from the team earlier this week after suspending him during the offseason for unspecified violations of team policy; he was also at the center of an NCAA investigation regarding contact with an agent. Saunders could have pushed Rudolph for the No. 1 spot if he showed improvement as a blocker and his receiving numbers continued to improve as they had over the past three years. He still has a chance to come off the board early on Day 2, but given the red flags surrounding his character, it will take an excellent offseason leading up to the draft for that to happen.

Keep reading...

This guy is talented, looks like another Martellus Bennett type player. Except Saunders has trouble blocking.

Texas CBs best group in nation

By Kevin Weidl


Plenty of NFL scouts will have their eyes on the Texas-Texas Tech matchup this weekend, and one of the things they'll be watching closely is the performance of Texas CBs Aaron Williams, Curtis Brown and Chykie Brown.

The three make up the best cornerback group in the country and one of the deepest overall position groups in the nation, and Longhorns defensive coordinator Will Muschamp will lean on them heavily against the Red Raiders' spread attack. Texas will line up in plenty of man coverage in order to help get maximum pressure on Tech QB Taylor Potts and the Texas corners will have a chance to show off their considerable skills.

Williams (6-0½, 192 pounds) is the highest-rated player in the group, and while he is a bit tight in the hips at times he has great athleticism and instincts and plays a physical game. He does a good job getting his hands on receivers when lined up in press coverage and is excellent when it comes to mirroring receivers and staying with them through their routes. He also does not allow receivers to cross his face and come back inside. That skill set allows Williams to easily slide inside and cover the slot receiver, something that gives Muschamp all kinds of flexibility in coverage.

Williams is also the best run defender of the group. He takes good angles to the ball and is a reliable tackler, and he is also a special-teams standout who has blocked four kicks during his career and shown the ability to contribute as a punt returner. Williams is a high-second-round prospect at this point and could get into the first-round conversation with a strong junior season.

Curtis Brown (6 feet, 182) is the most fluid of the Longhorns cornerbacks, a quick-twitch athlete who can open his hips and run with receivers and has the change-of-direction skills to recover against double moves. He also shows good recovery skills against the deep ball and knows how to position himself to make plays down the field. He plays bigger than his listed size and is adequate in run support, and definitely has the chance to improve his mid-to-late second-round grade.

Chykie Brown (5-11½, 187) is the fastest of the three in terms of straight-line speed. His recovery speed when the ball is in the air is incredible and he shows very good ball skills. However, he is very tight in the hips and struggles to stay low and change directions, especially when he is asked to turn and run against quick slants. That tightness and questionable overall instincts mean he is often late breaking on balls and he is a disinterested run defender who drops his head and misses a lot of tackles. There's no questioning his speed, but Chykie must improve in other areas if he is to boost his mid-round stock.


Cincinnati-NC State review

I was in Winston-Salem on Thursday night for the Cincinnati-NC State game and came away with some thoughts on a trio of mid-round prospects.

NC State ILB Nate Irving: Irving nearly lost his life in a car accident before the 2009 season and it's good to see him back in action and seemingly at full strength. He has prototypical size (6-1, 231) for an inside linebacker and his instincts are impressive. He did a good job against the Bearcats of finding and reacting to the ball, staying disciplined against misdirection and showing the range to chase ball carriers down from behind. Irving also looked good defending screen passes, staying patient well and arriving to meet the receiver almost simultaneously with the ball, and he timed blitzes well when pressuring the quarterback.

However, we do question Irving's point-of-attack skills. At times he was engulfed by offensive linemen in phone-booth situations, most notably when he stepped up to meet a pulling guard in the hole. However, Irving has shown determination coming back from the injuries he suffered and has the tools to boost his stock.

Cincinnati WR Armon Binns: Binns (6-2½, 210) has a great build and certainly passed the eyeball test in warm-ups, but overall it was a disappointing night for him. He did not seem to have much juice in his game and lacked suddenness in his routes, and at one point he mistimed his jump on a fade route in the red zone that would have helped Cincinnati get back into the game. Binns did a good job plucking balls on underneath routes but did not look nearly as good as when we saw him live against Pittsburgh last season. Many thought Binns would fill the shoes of the departed Mardy Gilyard but he did not live up to expectations in this game.

NC State WR Jarvis Williams: Williams (6-3½, 218) did most of his damage from the slot against the Wolfpack, making a nice play in traffic down the seam in the first quarter and a fully extended grab while taking a hit down the seam in the second quarter. He also tracked a poorly thrown corner route at one point, adjusting twice and making the catch near his feet. However, we did see a dropped ball early in the second half, and that reinforces questions about Williams' consistency.

Ryan Mallett more clutch than you think

By Kevin Weidl


Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett has faced criticism for failing to win big games on the road in the SEC, and Mallett finally overcame that obstacle in Week 3 by throwing a touchdown pass with 15 seconds remaining to lead the Razorbacks to a 31-24 win at Georgia.

Mallett showed composure and remained even-keeled after a three-and-out possession just prior to the game-winning drive, reaffirming what we saw when we watched film of Arkansas' close losses to Florida and LSU last season. Based on that game tape and his showing against the Bulldogs, the criticisms Mallett faced were a bit unfair.

Arkansas and Florida were tied at 20 midway through the fourth quarter last season when Mallett went 3-for-4 during a nine-play, 54-yard drive that led to a potential game-winning field goal with just over three minutes remaining. The kick was missed and Florida marched the other way for the field goal. Mallett can't kick or play defense and he did everything he could to take down the No. 1 team in the nation in a hostile environment.

It was more of the same for Arkansas in the regular-season finale at No. 15 LSU. The Razorbacks trailed 30-23 in the fourth quarter before Mallett engineered a 13-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a go-ahead touchdown pass with less than two minutes remaining. But the defense again failed to hold and LSU took the ensuing possession down for a game-tying field goal.

The Tigers opened the overtime session with a field goal that gave them a 33-30 lead, and the game then ended on another missed Arkansas field goal. Another case of the defense and kicking game letting Mallett down after he put the team in position to win.

Mallett is a limited overall athlete, but during those games and this year's win over Georgia he showed composure by taking what the defense gave him and using his arm to drive the ball into tight downfield windows when necessary.

He won't run away from defenses but Mallett has the poise to slide in the pocket and avoid pressure, and at times he can get outside the pocket to evade the rush and deliver strong throws on the run. Add to that a release that is perhaps the best in college football and you have an impressive package.

And while rumors of immaturity followed Mallett to Arkansas after he transferred from Michigan, he seems to have grown as a leader and teammate and put to rest any questions about his demeanor and character.

It's too early to say whether Mallett can challenge the top two quarterbacks on our board -- Washington's Jake Locker and Stanford's Andrew Luck -- but Mallett is continuing to progress and solidifying his first-round grade.


Clemson and Auburn defenders impress

I took a second look at Auburn's 27-24 overtime win against Clemson and was even more amazed by what a hard-hitting, physical game it was. Four defenders in particular stood out to me.

Clemson DE Da'Quan Bowers -- Bowers has impressive size (6-foot-4, 280 pounds) and strength off the edge, showing the upper-body power to control and shed blockers while finding the ball. He is also a good pass rusher, getting underneath and rocking back Auburn OT A.J. Greene at one point before ripping back inside to get to Tigers QB Cameron Newton. Throw in the versatility to reduce inside and play defensive tackle and Bowers could improve his early-second round grade and play his way into the first round.

Clemson S DeAndre McDaniel -- An intelligent player who clearly studies his opponents, McDaniel spent a lot of time near the box against Auburn and was consistently in position to make plays. His second-quarter interception was a perfect example.

McDaniel read Newton's play fake and then took a good angle to the pass Newton floated down the sideline, high-pointing the ball perfectly and making the pick look easy. He also took good angles for the most part in run support.

However, I saw some tightness in his hips at times and that led to some problems in the open field. McDaniel struggled to open his hips and recover after taking a bad angle in run support, and he also came in high on some tackles. He'll be limited in terms of man-coverage skills against NFL slot receivers, but McDaniel is a mid-to-late second-round prospect who could be productive in a zone-heavy scheme that uses him as a short robber in underneath coverage.

Auburn MLB Josh Bynes -- Bynes is a big (6-2, 235), physical linebacker who takes on blocks with the proper shoulder and can control and shed blockers at the point of attack. He is also a downhill thumper who delivered several big licks on Clemson running backs when meeting them in the hole.

Bynes can also hold up in coverage. He did a good job recognizing play-action and getting good depth on a zone drop against the Tigers, allowing him to disrupt a passing lane. Scouts Inc. did not do a full evaluation on Bynes heading into the season but at this point he looks like a possible contributor in a 4-3 scheme that protects him and allows him to get to the ball carrier.

Auburn DT Nick Fairley -- A big, strong defensive tackle with impressive hands, Fairley has a quick first step and knows how to get leverage on an offensive lineman and finish his pass rush. And while he is not a great anchor guy in the middle Auburn uses a lot of slants that take advantage of Fairley's quickness. He also shows good range and it's tough to find a series that he does not affect. Fairley is a junior but has the makings of a good 3-technique in a 4-3 scheme. We'll keep our eye on him as the season progresses.

Daniel Thomas has impressive size, speed

By Steve Muench


It's early in the season and most teams have yet to get into the meat of their schedules, but the first three games have provided some early insight into several groups of prospects.

Here is a look at the top three big running backs (more than 220 pounds) on our board and how they have fared thus far in 2010.

Daniel Thomas, Kansas State (6-foot-2, 228 pounds) | Scouts Inc. grade: 86
Thomas is a workhorse who gets behind his pads and runs downhill and gets behind his pads. He can wear down defenses over the course of a game and is averaging close to 28 carries per game so far, but he isn't a one-dimensional, between-the-tackles runner. Thomas lacks the second gear to outrun NFL defenses but is deceptively fast and shows above-average vision in the open field. He broke a run of more than 40 yards in each of his first two games and he is a long strider who covers more ground with each step than many other backs.

Thomas may never develop into an upper-echelon receiver out of the backfield but catches the ball fairly well and is a willing blocker in pass protection. He is also a former high school quarterback who threw for 450 yards in junior college and can run the Wildcat package. Thomas projects as a Day 2 pick at this point and could move into first-round consideration with a big season.

John Clay, Wisconsin (6-1, 248) | Grade: 80
Clay is so thick in the lower body that he can keep moving forward even when a defender gets a clean shot at him. Take a first-and-10 run on Wisconsin's opening drive last week against Arizona State, for example. With the ball at the Wisconsin 35-yard line, Clay ran left and followed his blocks, but Sun Devils S Eddie Elder flew upfield and puts his shoulder pad right on Clay's thigh. Clay had a substantial size advantage but Elder had a head of steam, and Clay absorbed the contact before spinning away and picking up an additional four yards. Not many backs can take on a defender flying at them at full speed and keep moving forward.

Clay is also quick enough to turn the corner and he continues to show above-average vision, but he doesn't have the same lateral mobility as Thomas and runs with too much forward lean at times. Clay almost always falls forward but will stumble at times. In addition, he has never played a big role in the passing game and has yet to catch a pass in 2010, so there are concerns about his ability to contribute in that area at the NFL level. Clay projects as a late-Day 2 or early-Day 3 pick.

Roy Helu, Nebraska (5-11½, 223) | Grade: 67
Helu isn't getting nearly as much work he got last year, when he carried the ball 58 times over the course of the first three games. In fact, Nebraska QB Taylor Martinez and RB Rex Burkhead both have more carries than Helu at this point. However, Helu has made the most of his touches and helped his stock. He reaches top speed quickly and is fast enough to rip off a big gain when he gets a seam. Anyone who saw his 65-yard touchdown run against Washington can attest to that.

However, while Helu is reading blocks well and making crisp cuts, he hasn't shown enough between the tackles to erase concerns about his power. He runs hard but didn't always drive his legs after contact during our evaluation of his 2009 film. This year he's benefiting from Martinez sucking defenders inside on option fakes and creating space for him on the outside. Helu also needs to progress as a receiver and pass blocker, and as it stands he gets a mid-round grade.

Accuracy is a problem for Jake Locker

By Todd McShay


The struggles of Washington QB Jake Locker have been one of the hottest topics in scouting circles this week, and a look at the film from his 4-for-20 performance against Nebraska shows a quarterback who has regressed a bit.

Eight of Locker's 16 incompletions last week were unavoidable due to poor pass protection and/or receivers not separating from coverage, but the other eight were his fault, and two things stood out in particular when breaking down Locker's bad throws.

First, he is pressing and trying to make too many things happen by himself. Locker seems to have lost his rhythm when getting back in his drops, making reads and delivering the ball on time. His footwork has begun to fail because of that, which leads to the second problem.

Locker's accuracy has been questionable so far. There were a few occasions against the Cornhuskers when he did get adequate protection and his receivers found open areas, but Locker simply missed the mark. That is a direct result of his footwork problems.

Finally, it should also be noted that Locker did not come through in the clutch in Washington's season-opening loss to BYU, failing to finish a trio of fourth-quarter drives that could have given the Huskies the lead. That leads to further questions about poise and composure.

Locker remains supremely talented and he made big strides last season in his first year under head coach Steve Sarkisian, a renowned quarterback developer, so the hope is that he uses this week's open date to take a deep breath and self-evaluate in order to get back to doing the little things that were part of his improvement last season.

However, until that happens, the questions will remain and Locker's stock will slip a bit. Scouts Inc. will release its position-by-position rankings later this week but here is a sneak peek at our updated quarterback rankings:

1. Andrew Luck, Stanford
2. Jake Locker, Washington
3. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas
4. Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
5. Christian Ponder, Florida State