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Russ Lande
Sporting News
Here’s a look at some players whose draft ratings are being hotly debated as teams attend pro days and continue their pre-draft meetings.
— Most of the quarterback attention is focusing on Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert, Jake Locker and Ryan Mallett, but keep an eye on Florida State’s Christian Ponder. He is being scrutinized by NFL teams, and there is much debate over where he fits in the draft and his upside.
Everyone agrees Ponder has outstanding intangibles and won’t fail because of his smarts, instincts and character. The debate focuses on whether Ponder will get back to his pre-injury form of 2009 or whether he’ll be limited by the injuries he sustained in 2010.
He injured the bursa sac on his throwing arm in the middle of last season and battled the problem the rest of the way. He underwent minor elbow surgery, and his arm strength and accuracy were definitely affected by the injury.
When the regular season ended, Ponder had a second surgery on his elbow and returned in time for Florida State’s bowl game. But he ended up getting knocked out of that game with a concussion.
Because Ponder threw the ball better at the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine, it raised hopes he is 100 percent and almost back to pre-injury form. It’s possible a team could take a gamble on him in the late first or early second round.
— When Illinois LB Martez Wilson declared early for the draft, he immediately began receiving hype as a potential first-round pick. But as teams have broken down his film, they are having a tough time figuring out exactly where he fits in the NFL.
Wilson’s best trait is his ability to pressure the QB from an outside alignment. However, he is stiff and lacks good all-around athleticism, which could limit his ability to play off the ball as an outside linebacker. If he plays inside, his stiffness could hinder his ability to bend his knees to take on offensive linemen.
After Wilson ran much faster than expected at the Combine (4.42 40), many teams are back to thinking he has the athleticism to play outside. Our concern is that he’s a ’tweener: His size (6-3 3/4, 250) and athleticism are better suited for an inside role, but his best attribute is rushing the QB from the outside.
For Wilson to get drafted in the second round (which we think is the best he can hope for), he’ll need to show at Illinois’ pro day next week that he can fit into any defensive scheme.
— Entering the Combine, Georgia DE/OLB Justin Houston was viewed as one of the real intriguing prospects because on film he displayed elite explosiveness and natural athleticism as a pass rusher. However, he also looked small for an end and did not compete hard on every snap.
At the Combine, he weighed 271 pounds and displayed good quickness and athleticism to climb up draft boards. The big issue is his lack of consistent passion and aggressiveness. That lack of intensity limited his college production and could lead to a short NFL career unless he plays with more energy.
— Oklahoma State DE Ugo Chinasa isn’t a well-known prospect, but we think he has good upside. Though he isn’t a big, thick-bodied end with the strength to dominate tackles with a bull rush, he has shown the ability to use his hands to keep tackles off him and get to the quarterback.
Chinasa (6-5, 264) helped himself with an athletic showing at the Combine but still is viewed with some skepticism because of his thin frame. We expect Chinasa to be a fourth- or fifth-round pick who will contribute more as a designated pass rusher as a rookie than many of the ends drafted higher than him.
— Hawaii WR Greg Salas was invited to the Senior Bowl and Combine, but he didn’t wow anybody and made us wonder why he had been selected for these events instead of teammate and fellow WR Kealoha Pilares, who was a better college receiver. There is little doubt that Salas (6-1, 210) looks the part of a tall, solidly built wideout, but Pilares is a quicker, more athletic receiver who has the tools to be a productive NFL slot receiver.
Pilares (5-10, 205) is thickly built and does a good job of getting yards after the catch. He also has the quickness to get separation and the hands to make tough catches. Look for him to be drafted late.
Sporting News
Here’s a look at some players whose draft ratings are being hotly debated as teams attend pro days and continue their pre-draft meetings.
— Most of the quarterback attention is focusing on Cam Newton, Blaine Gabbert, Jake Locker and Ryan Mallett, but keep an eye on Florida State’s Christian Ponder. He is being scrutinized by NFL teams, and there is much debate over where he fits in the draft and his upside.
Everyone agrees Ponder has outstanding intangibles and won’t fail because of his smarts, instincts and character. The debate focuses on whether Ponder will get back to his pre-injury form of 2009 or whether he’ll be limited by the injuries he sustained in 2010.
He injured the bursa sac on his throwing arm in the middle of last season and battled the problem the rest of the way. He underwent minor elbow surgery, and his arm strength and accuracy were definitely affected by the injury.
When the regular season ended, Ponder had a second surgery on his elbow and returned in time for Florida State’s bowl game. But he ended up getting knocked out of that game with a concussion.
Because Ponder threw the ball better at the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine, it raised hopes he is 100 percent and almost back to pre-injury form. It’s possible a team could take a gamble on him in the late first or early second round.
— When Illinois LB Martez Wilson declared early for the draft, he immediately began receiving hype as a potential first-round pick. But as teams have broken down his film, they are having a tough time figuring out exactly where he fits in the NFL.
Wilson’s best trait is his ability to pressure the QB from an outside alignment. However, he is stiff and lacks good all-around athleticism, which could limit his ability to play off the ball as an outside linebacker. If he plays inside, his stiffness could hinder his ability to bend his knees to take on offensive linemen.
After Wilson ran much faster than expected at the Combine (4.42 40), many teams are back to thinking he has the athleticism to play outside. Our concern is that he’s a ’tweener: His size (6-3 3/4, 250) and athleticism are better suited for an inside role, but his best attribute is rushing the QB from the outside.
For Wilson to get drafted in the second round (which we think is the best he can hope for), he’ll need to show at Illinois’ pro day next week that he can fit into any defensive scheme.
— Entering the Combine, Georgia DE/OLB Justin Houston was viewed as one of the real intriguing prospects because on film he displayed elite explosiveness and natural athleticism as a pass rusher. However, he also looked small for an end and did not compete hard on every snap.
At the Combine, he weighed 271 pounds and displayed good quickness and athleticism to climb up draft boards. The big issue is his lack of consistent passion and aggressiveness. That lack of intensity limited his college production and could lead to a short NFL career unless he plays with more energy.
— Oklahoma State DE Ugo Chinasa isn’t a well-known prospect, but we think he has good upside. Though he isn’t a big, thick-bodied end with the strength to dominate tackles with a bull rush, he has shown the ability to use his hands to keep tackles off him and get to the quarterback.
Chinasa (6-5, 264) helped himself with an athletic showing at the Combine but still is viewed with some skepticism because of his thin frame. We expect Chinasa to be a fourth- or fifth-round pick who will contribute more as a designated pass rusher as a rookie than many of the ends drafted higher than him.
— Hawaii WR Greg Salas was invited to the Senior Bowl and Combine, but he didn’t wow anybody and made us wonder why he had been selected for these events instead of teammate and fellow WR Kealoha Pilares, who was a better college receiver. There is little doubt that Salas (6-1, 210) looks the part of a tall, solidly built wideout, but Pilares is a quicker, more athletic receiver who has the tools to be a productive NFL slot receiver.
Pilares (5-10, 205) is thickly built and does a good job of getting yards after the catch. He also has the quickness to get separation and the hands to make tough catches. Look for him to be drafted late.