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By Russ Lande
Sporting News
A quick look at hot topics in NFL personnel departments surrounding prospects for the 2011 draft:
After his odd comments when discussing the firing of Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt and whether he would leave school early and enter the 2011 draft, Pitt junior wide receiver Jon Baldwin ignited the debate about his draft stock.
Some analysts say he would be the No. 2 receiver drafted in '11, perhaps even in the top 10 overall. After breaking down more film of his junior season, though, we have him rated as the No. 6 receiver who is more likely to go in the late first round or early second.
Baldwin's film does not blow anyone away, and numerous scouts for NFL teams support our opinion that he is not an elite prospect.
Baldwin (6-4 3/4, 230) has excellent size and strength and the skills to make great catches, but there are real questions about whether he has the quickness, burst and speed to consistently separate from NFL cornerbacks.
He also has shown an unwillingness to work hard as a blocker, lacks toughness and doesn't always make mature decisions off the field, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him fall as far as the third round. To maximize his draft stock, he should return to Pitt, answer these questions and prove he's an elite player and instead enter the 2012 draft.
- Every scout who has evaluated LSU defensive tackle Drake Nevis has been impressed by his ability to be consistently disruptive vs. the run and pass, but the debate is about where he fits best.
Scouts for teams that use a two-gap 3-4 scheme, such as the Patriots and Chiefs, are trying to figure out if Nevis (6-0 1/2, 285) has the necessary size and strength to move outside to end, a la former LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey has with the Chiefs. Scouts for teams that use a speed 3-4 scheme, such as San Diego and Dallas, are fine with him at end. Scouts for teams that use a 4-3 scheme, however, are trying to figure out if he has the size and strength to be effective inside at tackle vs. NFL guards.
Based on Nevis' college production, he merits a top-20 pick. However, when personnel men take into account his lack of height, arm length and bulk, they say he very well could slide into the second round and perhaps even the third.
We, however, believe Nevis will become a highly productive NFL player in any scheme and ultimately will make a lot of general managers sorry for passing on him.
- No one questions whether Texas defensive end Sam Acho is a good athlete with outstanding intangibles and intelligence, but scouts have concerns about his ability to become a productive NFL starter.
Despite his physical talent, Acho (6-3, 260) was not consistently disruptive in college and must become a more productive player. He lacks the explosiveness off the snap and elite speed to consistently threaten the corner as an edge rusher and tends to pass rush upright.
Not only has his production been inconsistent, but he is viewed as an end/linebacker 'tweener who must prove to NFL coaches where he fits best at the postseason all-star games and the NFL Scouting Combine.
- Colorado offensive tackle Nate Solder was expected to rocket up draft boards and become a top-10 pick because he was viewed as an elite athlete who really was coming on after moving over from tight end. However, his senior season did not start out well as his lack of experience was obvious. He was blocking upright, straight-legged and ended up on the ground way too often, causing his draft stock instead to fall.
Since the middle of this season, Solder's play has improved dramatically. Solder (6-8, 303) is not as consistent as NFL personnel men would prefer in a high pick, but he played with better technique down the stretch and now looks capable of being an NFL starter.
With a dominant week at the Senior Bowl, Solder could well challenge to be the first tackle selected.
Sporting News
A quick look at hot topics in NFL personnel departments surrounding prospects for the 2011 draft:
After his odd comments when discussing the firing of Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt and whether he would leave school early and enter the 2011 draft, Pitt junior wide receiver Jon Baldwin ignited the debate about his draft stock.
Some analysts say he would be the No. 2 receiver drafted in '11, perhaps even in the top 10 overall. After breaking down more film of his junior season, though, we have him rated as the No. 6 receiver who is more likely to go in the late first round or early second.
Baldwin's film does not blow anyone away, and numerous scouts for NFL teams support our opinion that he is not an elite prospect.
Baldwin (6-4 3/4, 230) has excellent size and strength and the skills to make great catches, but there are real questions about whether he has the quickness, burst and speed to consistently separate from NFL cornerbacks.
He also has shown an unwillingness to work hard as a blocker, lacks toughness and doesn't always make mature decisions off the field, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him fall as far as the third round. To maximize his draft stock, he should return to Pitt, answer these questions and prove he's an elite player and instead enter the 2012 draft.
- Every scout who has evaluated LSU defensive tackle Drake Nevis has been impressed by his ability to be consistently disruptive vs. the run and pass, but the debate is about where he fits best.
Scouts for teams that use a two-gap 3-4 scheme, such as the Patriots and Chiefs, are trying to figure out if Nevis (6-0 1/2, 285) has the necessary size and strength to move outside to end, a la former LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey has with the Chiefs. Scouts for teams that use a speed 3-4 scheme, such as San Diego and Dallas, are fine with him at end. Scouts for teams that use a 4-3 scheme, however, are trying to figure out if he has the size and strength to be effective inside at tackle vs. NFL guards.
Based on Nevis' college production, he merits a top-20 pick. However, when personnel men take into account his lack of height, arm length and bulk, they say he very well could slide into the second round and perhaps even the third.
We, however, believe Nevis will become a highly productive NFL player in any scheme and ultimately will make a lot of general managers sorry for passing on him.
- No one questions whether Texas defensive end Sam Acho is a good athlete with outstanding intangibles and intelligence, but scouts have concerns about his ability to become a productive NFL starter.
Despite his physical talent, Acho (6-3, 260) was not consistently disruptive in college and must become a more productive player. He lacks the explosiveness off the snap and elite speed to consistently threaten the corner as an edge rusher and tends to pass rush upright.
Not only has his production been inconsistent, but he is viewed as an end/linebacker 'tweener who must prove to NFL coaches where he fits best at the postseason all-star games and the NFL Scouting Combine.
- Colorado offensive tackle Nate Solder was expected to rocket up draft boards and become a top-10 pick because he was viewed as an elite athlete who really was coming on after moving over from tight end. However, his senior season did not start out well as his lack of experience was obvious. He was blocking upright, straight-legged and ended up on the ground way too often, causing his draft stock instead to fall.
Since the middle of this season, Solder's play has improved dramatically. Solder (6-8, 303) is not as consistent as NFL personnel men would prefer in a high pick, but he played with better technique down the stretch and now looks capable of being an NFL starter.
With a dominant week at the Senior Bowl, Solder could well challenge to be the first tackle selected.