Tag Archive for Christian Ballard

2011 3-4 DE Rankings

These rankings are as of April 4, 2011. They are not projections! They are basically my grades and order from best to worst in my opinion, from what I’ve seen of them.

Click for scouting report, if one is available.

Rank Player College Height Weight 10 Time
1 Marcell Dareus Alabama 6’3 319 1.68
2 Nick Fairley Auburn 6’4 297 1.72
3 J.J. Watt Wisconsin 6’5 290 1.64
4 Cameron Jordan California 6’4 286 1.64
5 Muhammad Wilkerson Temple 6’4 308 1.73
6 Cameron Heyward Ohio State 6’5 295
7 Jarvis Jenkins Clemson 6’4 310 1.78
8 Pernell McPhee Mississippi State 6’3 278 1.78
9 Christian Ballard Iowa 6’4 286 1.65
10 Lawrence Guy Arizona State 6’5 304 1.75
11 David Carter UCLA 6’5 297
12 Cedric Thornton Southern Arkansas 6’3 309 1.82
13 Lazarius Levingston LSU 6’4 286 1.81
14 Corbin Bryant Northwestern 6’3 297
15 Frank Kearse Alabama A&M 6’4 315

Christian Ballard Scouting Report

Christian Ballard

Height: 6’4
Weight: 283
College: Iowa
40 Time: 4.75
Class: Senior
Stock: Down
Projected: 3rd-4th Round

Stats

2010 – 42 tackles, 5.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks
2009 – 54 tackles, 9.0 TFL, 5.5 sacks
2008 – 41 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1.0 sack
2007 – 15 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks

Overview:

Christian Ballard has heard his name mentioned as a possible surprise 1st round pick. I actually thought he could be one as well. However, after watching some tape of him it would be a mistake for any team to take him so early. He lacks strength and hes very weak at the point of attack. He gets pushed around inside too often and he is inconsistent getting off blocks. I really question where he’ll be able to play. He wouldn’t fit well as a 4-3 end because he not a good pass-rusher. He doesn’t really fit at 3-4 end either because he’s weak and he’ll be constantly over matched especially if the scheme calls for him to occupy blockers. I don’t know where he fits and he’s too big of a question mark to select early in the draft.

Scouting Report:

Positives

- Great size, ideal for 3-4 scheme
- 3 year starter
- Pretty athletic, especially when playing inside against slower guards
- Moves well in space
- Shows the ability to shed blocks with his hands
- Good at penetrating and making stops in the back field
- Has flashed a swim and spin move
- Good tackler inside
- Has played all over the line at Iowa
- Versatile
- Team player

Negatives

- Lacks strength
- Weak at the point of attack
- Struggles mightily against double teams
- Doesn’t use his hand well to disengage and needs to be more consistent doing so
- Plays too high
- Lacks a great first step
- Offers very little as a pass-rusher
- Has no counter pass-rush moves
- Loses track of the ball on some plays
- Tweener with no true position
- May not be a perfect fit anywhere on the line

Skills:
1-poor, 2-weak, 3-above average, 4-very good, 5-elite

Strength: 2.5
Quickness: 2.5
Pass Rush: 2.0
Point Of Attack: 2.0
Recognition: 2.5
Motor: 2.5
Pro Potential: 2.0

Senior Bowl Roster

Here is a list of players that have received invites to play in the 2011 Senior Bowl.

Click the players name for a scouting report, if I have one up yet.

Last Updated: January 21, 2011

QB – Jake Locker – Washington
QB – Ricky Stanzi – Iowa
QB – Christian Ponder – Florida State
QB – Greg McElroy – Alabama
QB – Colin Kaepernick – Nevada
QB – Andy Dalton – TCU

RB – Noel Devine – West Virginia
RB – Roy Helu Jr. – Nebraska
RB – Bilal Powell – Louisville
RB – Anthony Allen – Georgia Tech
RB – Kendall Hunter – Oklahoma State
RB – Derrick Locke – Kentucky
RB – DeMarco Murray – Oklahoma
RB – Daniel Thomas – Kansas State
FB – Owen Marecic – Stanford

WR – Ronald Johnson – USC
WR – Titus Young – Boise State
WR – Austin Pettis – Boise State
WR – Greg Salas – Hawaii
WR – Niles Paul – Nebraska
WR – Jeremy Kerley – TCU
WR – Leonard Hankerson – Miami
WR – Terrence Toliver – LSU
WR – Edmund Gates – Abilene Christian

TE – Luke Stocker – Tennessee
TE – D.J. Williams – Arkansas
TE – Lance Kendricks – Wisconsin
TE – Mike McNeill – Nebraska
TE – Preston Dial – Alabama

OT – Anthony Castanzo – Boston College
OT – Nate Solder – Colorado
OT – Gabe Carimi – Wisconsin
OT – Derek Sherrod – Mississippi State
OT – DeMarcus Love – Arkansas
OT – Lee Ziemba – Auburn
OT – Marcus Gilbert – Florida
OT – Jason Pinkston – Pittsburgh
OT – James Brewer – Indiana

OT/OG – Clint Boling – Georgia
OG – John Moffitt – Wisconsin
OG –  Steve Schiling – Michigan
OG – Rodney Hudson – Florida State
OG – Danny Watkins – Baylor
OG – James Carpenter – Alabama

C/OG – Mike Pouncey – Florida
C – Kris O’Dowd – USC
C – Brandon Fusco – Slippery Rock
LS – Danny Aiken – Virginia
LS – Christian Yount – UCLA

DE – Ryan Kerrigan – Purdue
DE – Adrian Clayborn – Iowa
DE – Allen Bailey – Miami
DE – Sam Acho – Texas
DE – Pierre Allen – Nebraska
DE – Cameron Jordan – California
DE – Pernell McPhee – Mississippi State
DE – Brooks Reed – Arizona
DE – Jeremy Beal – Oklahoma

DT – Stephen Paea – Oregon State
DT – Christian Ballard – Iowa
DT – Phil Taylor – Baylor
DT – Sione Fua – Stanford
DT – Jarvis Jenkins – Clemson
DT – Chris Neild – West Virginia
DT – Drake Nevis – LSU
DT – Cedric Thornton – Southern Arkansas

LB – Mason Foster – Washington
LB – Mark Herzlich – Boston College
LB – Josh Bynes – Auburn
LB – Ross Homan – Ohio State
LB – Nate Irving – North Carolina State
LB – Greg Jones – Michigan State
LB – Casey Matthews – Oregon
LB – Colin McCarthy – Miami
LB – Von Miller – Texas A&M
LB – Kelvin Shepperd – LSU
LB – Quan Sturdivant – North Carolina
LB – Chris White – Mississippi State
LB – Lawrence Wilson – Connecticut
LB – K.J. Wright – Mississippi State

CB – Jalil Brown – Colorado
CB – Johnny Patrick – Louisville
CB – Davon House – New Mexico State
CB – Rashad Carmichael – Virginia Tech
CB – Curtis Marsh – Utah State
CB – Shareece Wright – USC
CB – Curtis Brown – Texas
CB – Kendric Burney – North Carolina
CB – Ras-I Dowling – Virginia
CB – Marcus Gilchrist – Clemson
CB – Chris L. Rucker – Michigan State

S – Ahmad Black – Florida
S – Quinton Carter – Oklahoma
S – Zac Etheridge – Auburn
S – Joseph Lefeged – Rutgers
S – DeAndre McDaniel – Clemson
S – Da’Norris  Searcy – North Carolina
S – Jaiquawn Jarrett – Temple

P – Chas Henry – Florida
P – Alex Henery – Nebraska
K – Josh Jasper – LSU
K – Kai Forbath – UCLA