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By Russ Lande
Sporting News
Sporting News draft expert Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts identify the players whose stock is rising and falling for the 2011 NFL draft:
On the rise
1. Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
As the '10 college season nears its end, Castonzo has met scouts' expectations and definitely has moved from a possible first-rounder to a definite first-rounder now to a possible top-10 pick. He plays with uncommon flexibility, bending knees and pass blocking with a base few tall linemen can do. He also displays a strong hand punch in pass protection, a lost art the last decade. Castonzo is not the elite athlete like the Broncos' Ryan Clady but is a solid athlete with great technique, consistency and aggressive style of play.
2. Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
Kerrigan improved his draft stock significantly as a senior. He had been viewed as a solid 3-4 end who was more of a two-gap plugger than a playmaker. In '10, he showed better quickness and athleticism without losing any strength, hand usage or competitiveness. He now is a dominant player, someone who has moved from a mid-round prospect and now will be drafted in the first round by a 3-4 team. If drafted by a 4-3 team, he could play strongside end. Kerrigan never will be the explosive pass rusher coaches drool over, but he will be a great run defender and solid pass rusher.
3. Vai Taua, RB, Nevada
Taua (5-9, 220) is not a big back but has improved his stock in '10, from someone who well might've gone undrafted to now a mid-round pick. With the success of shorter NFL backs this season, Taua's value is up. He has the quickness, agility and burst to make would-be tacklers miss. He also was helped by so many personnel men grinding a lot Nevada film to see his quarterback, Colin Kaepernick. Taua is unlikely to ever be an NFL feature back but could be valuable in a versatile role like the Patriots' Danny Woodhead.
On the decline
1. Marcel Dareus, DE/DT, Alabama (junior)
Dareus received a ton of hype after knocking Texas QB Colt McCoy out of the BCS championship game last January. But as personnel men grind tape in the chance he leaves school early and enters the '11 draft, his inconsistent effort and production is apparent. He no doubt is a good athlete with the thick build and strength to be a force at the point of attack, but he rarely dominates play. He shifts between end and tackle at Alabama and has not proven yet to be an NFL- quality starter at either spot. He lacks the explosiveness as an edge rusher and lacks a variety of pass-rush moves beyond bull rush. Against the run, he far too often gets high and loses leverage. He now projects as a second- or third-rounder based on potential but is unlikely capable of moving past the many elite defensive linemen likely to enter the '11 draft.
2. Ben Ijalana, OT, Villanova
In the summer, scouts were excited to see Ijalana but he has failed to live up to expectations and now could go undrafted. He showed only minor improvement instead of the big leap expected in his four year playing left tackle. He has not shown the quickness or athleticism to play left tackle in the NFL and now must prove he is strong enough and plays with enough leverage to slide inside to play guard. Ijalana must have great pre-draft workouts to move back onto teams' draft boards.
3. Keith Browner, DE/OLB, Cal
Browner is an end/linebacker 'tweener who lacks the explosiveness, athleticism or consistent pass-rush skills to play end in a 4-3 scheme or linebacker in a 3-4. He also lacks the size and strength to be a full-time end in a 4-3 scheme and or the athleticism to be effective in coverage as a linebacker. Browner likely will go undrafted and will have to become a special teams star to earn a roster spot.
Sporting News
Sporting News draft expert Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts identify the players whose stock is rising and falling for the 2011 NFL draft:
On the rise
1. Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College
As the '10 college season nears its end, Castonzo has met scouts' expectations and definitely has moved from a possible first-rounder to a definite first-rounder now to a possible top-10 pick. He plays with uncommon flexibility, bending knees and pass blocking with a base few tall linemen can do. He also displays a strong hand punch in pass protection, a lost art the last decade. Castonzo is not the elite athlete like the Broncos' Ryan Clady but is a solid athlete with great technique, consistency and aggressive style of play.
2. Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue
Kerrigan improved his draft stock significantly as a senior. He had been viewed as a solid 3-4 end who was more of a two-gap plugger than a playmaker. In '10, he showed better quickness and athleticism without losing any strength, hand usage or competitiveness. He now is a dominant player, someone who has moved from a mid-round prospect and now will be drafted in the first round by a 3-4 team. If drafted by a 4-3 team, he could play strongside end. Kerrigan never will be the explosive pass rusher coaches drool over, but he will be a great run defender and solid pass rusher.
3. Vai Taua, RB, Nevada
Taua (5-9, 220) is not a big back but has improved his stock in '10, from someone who well might've gone undrafted to now a mid-round pick. With the success of shorter NFL backs this season, Taua's value is up. He has the quickness, agility and burst to make would-be tacklers miss. He also was helped by so many personnel men grinding a lot Nevada film to see his quarterback, Colin Kaepernick. Taua is unlikely to ever be an NFL feature back but could be valuable in a versatile role like the Patriots' Danny Woodhead.
On the decline
1. Marcel Dareus, DE/DT, Alabama (junior)
Dareus received a ton of hype after knocking Texas QB Colt McCoy out of the BCS championship game last January. But as personnel men grind tape in the chance he leaves school early and enters the '11 draft, his inconsistent effort and production is apparent. He no doubt is a good athlete with the thick build and strength to be a force at the point of attack, but he rarely dominates play. He shifts between end and tackle at Alabama and has not proven yet to be an NFL- quality starter at either spot. He lacks the explosiveness as an edge rusher and lacks a variety of pass-rush moves beyond bull rush. Against the run, he far too often gets high and loses leverage. He now projects as a second- or third-rounder based on potential but is unlikely capable of moving past the many elite defensive linemen likely to enter the '11 draft.
2. Ben Ijalana, OT, Villanova
In the summer, scouts were excited to see Ijalana but he has failed to live up to expectations and now could go undrafted. He showed only minor improvement instead of the big leap expected in his four year playing left tackle. He has not shown the quickness or athleticism to play left tackle in the NFL and now must prove he is strong enough and plays with enough leverage to slide inside to play guard. Ijalana must have great pre-draft workouts to move back onto teams' draft boards.
3. Keith Browner, DE/OLB, Cal
Browner is an end/linebacker 'tweener who lacks the explosiveness, athleticism or consistent pass-rush skills to play end in a 4-3 scheme or linebacker in a 3-4. He also lacks the size and strength to be a full-time end in a 4-3 scheme and or the athleticism to be effective in coverage as a linebacker. Browner likely will go undrafted and will have to become a special teams star to earn a roster spot.