Tag Archive for Tackle

Ben Ijalana Scouting Report

January 8, 2011 No comments

Ben Ijalana

Height: 6’4
Weight: 320
College: Villanova
40 Time: 5.35
Class: Senior
Stock: Up
Projected: 2nd Round

Overview:

Ben Ijalana might be this years best small school player. He has absolutely dominated at Villanova and has a lot of potential. He has great footwork and can mirror pass-rushers on the edge. He’s got a good, natural knee bend as well. He gets a great push in the run game because he’s strong and drives his feet. He still needs to work on his overall technique and there are some questions about where he will play in the NFL. He has the potential to play LT, so that alone puts him pretty high on teams draft boards.

Scouting Report:

Positives

- Good size
- Experienced player, started all 4 years
- Displays a natural knee bend
- Good athlete
- Moves his feet well
- Great lateral agility
- Looks good moving in space
- Nice initial punch
- Strong
- Plays with good leverage
- Drives his feet when run blocking
- Versatile, can play inside as well
- Good upside

Negatives

- Strength of competition is a big concern
- Below average height
- Plays with poor leverage at times
- Lacks a mean streak
- Needs to work on his technique a bit more

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

Strength: 3.5
Pass Blocking: 3.5
Run Blocking: 4.0
Footwork: 3.5
Technique: 3.0
Mobility: 3.0
Mean Streak: 2.0
Pro Potential: 4.0

NFL Draft, Scouting Reports , , , , , , , , ,

D.J. Young Scouting Report

January 7, 2011 No comments

D.J. Young

Height: 6’5
Weight: 298
College: Michigan State
40 Time: 5.35
Class: Senior
Stock:
Projected: 7th-FA

Overview:

D.J. Young isn’t much more than a developmental prospect, and he could be worth a flier in the late rounds because of that. He has only played on the OL for 2 years as he was a former NT at  Bowling Green. He has good size and is a decent run blocker because he plays low and has an outstanding motor. He isn’t as good in pass protection where his heavy feet hurt him and he takes a while to take away the edge rush. He will have severe problems with quicker guys at the next level. He could improve if he gets coached up and could be a decent reserve in the NFL.

Scouting Report:

Positives

- Good size
- Good lateral agility
- Does a good job of sticking with counter moves
- Plays with good leverage
- Not very strong but moves people with his relentless effort
- Decent run blocker
- Tremendous motor
- Will try to hit anyone in sight
- Still learning position, has some potential

Negatives

- Has only played OL for 2 years, converted NT
- Waist bender
- Struggles to sustain his blocks
- Lumbers in pass protection
- Heavy feet
- Doesn’t look good in space
- Needs to get stronger
- Hand placement is a problem, tends to hold defenders too much
- Lacks a good initial punch
- Very raw

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

Strength: 2.5
Pass Blocking: 2.0
Run Blocking: 2.5
Footwork: 2.0
Technique: 2.0
Mobility: 2.0
Mean Streak: 4.0
Pro Potential: 2.5

NFL Draft, Scouting Reports , , , , ,

Nate Solder Scouting Report

December 27, 2010 One comment

Nate Solder

Height: 6’8
Weight: 315
College: Colorado
40 Time: 4.90
Class: Senior
Stock: Down
Projected: 3rd Round

Overview:

Nate Solder is widely regarded as one of the best OT’s in college football. He has shot up draft boards and some draft sites have him rated as a 1st rounder. I must be out of the loop because when I turn on the tape of Solder, he really doesn’t impress me. He is athletic but he struggles to play with a good pad level because he is 6’8. He is outmatched by speed-rushers who easily blow by him and turn the corner. I can’t even imagine what NFL players would do to him. I can’t grade him any higher than a 3rd rounder, because right now he is nothing more than a developmental prospect that could start down the road.

Scouting Report:

Positives

- Great size
- Outstanding athlete
- Gets into his stance quickly
- Good run blocker
- Moves well in space
- Does a good job of getting to the 2nd level
- Can hit people in space because of his athleticism
- Doesn’t bend at the waist
- Seals the edge and is also a good down blocker
- Good potential

Negatives

- Needs to get stronger
- Doesn’t have quick feet to stick with speed-rushers
- Will get to deep and is susceptible to counter/inside moves that he struggles with
- Plays with poor leverage
- Gets bull-rushed too much because of his pad level and lack of strength
- Lacks a mean punch
- Poor use of his hands and struggles to stay engaged at times
- Will get called for holding quite a bit
- May be best suited as a RT only

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

Strength: 2.0
Pass Blocking: 2.5
Run Blocking: 3.0
Footwork: 2.5
Technique: 2.5
Mobility: 4.0
Mean Streak: 3.0
Pro Potential: 3.5

NFL Draft, Scouting Reports , , , , ,

Matt Reynolds Scouting Report

December 22, 2010 No comments

Matt Reynolds

Height: 6’6
Weight: 322
College: BYU
40 Time: 5.15
Class: Junior
Stock:
Projected: 6th – Undrafted

Overview:

Matt Reynolds is regarded as one of the top junior OT’s in the nation. It’s almost a given he will declare for the draft because he is older than most prospects. This is because at BYU Matt Reynolds had to spend some time in Germany on a church mission. Having watched him I think he is very overrated and honestly the best move for him would be to come back for another year. It’s not the best move for him because he would be 25 when he enters the NFL and that could hurt his stock, but he definitely needs to improve his game. With the skill set he currently has, he is not worthy of a draft pick. However, based on his size and how some times gauge his potential, he could sneak into the middle rounds.

Scouting Report:

Positives

- Big frame
- Prototypical size
- Strong upper and lower body
- Will not get pushed back
- Decent run blocker
- Gets a decent push because of his size and strength
- Seals the edge nicely
- Aware and helps with double teams if there is no one to block
- Great character

Negatives

- Too much of a waist bender
- Poor agility
- Struggles to move laterally and doesn’t look good in space
- Heavy feet
- Doesn’t sustain blocks
- Lumbering feet and struggles to mirror speed rushers
- Will not be able to play LT in the NFL
- Has a hard time getting contact at the 2nd level because of how bad he is in space
- Struggles to stick with pass-rushers on counter moves
- Looks overweight
- Bad athlete
- Poor technique overall, relies too much on his size and strength

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

Strength: 3.5
Pass Blocking: 1.5
Run Blocking: 2.5
Footwork: 2.0
Technique: 1.0
Mobility: 2.0
Mean Streak: 2.5
Pro Potential: 2.5

NFL Draft, Scouting Reports , , , , , ,

Gabe Carimi Scouting Report

December 20, 2010 No comments

Gabe Carimi

Height: 6’7
Weight: 322
College: Wisconsin
40 Time: 5.15
Class: Senior
Stock:
Projected: 2nd Round

Overview:

Gabe Carimi entered the season as the #1 rated OT but has seen his stock slide. This is in part because people have realized he may not be able to play LT in the NFL. He is really talented and at the very worst he’ll be a good RT in the NFL. However he’ll struggle with speed rushers in the NFL that can beat him with speed to the outside and counter moves. He is a great run blocker though, and he has great size. Some have said he may have to move inside at Guard and while that is a possibility, I think he is capable of playing RT successfully.

Scouting Report:

Positives

- Great size
- Very experienced
- Highly decorated athlete
- Good athleticism for his size
- Strong upper and lower body
- Good initial punch
- Gets a good push in the run game
- Great leverage as a run blocker
- Quick first step
- Takes good angles
- Moves well laterally to mirror pass rushers
- Does a good job of getting to the second level
- Looks good when working in space
- Great work ethic

Negatives

- Bends at the waist too much
- Finds himself on the ground a lot
- Struggles to sustain blocks at times
- Has some lapses in pass protection where he doesn’t move his feet well
- Lets defenders get leverage on him in pass protection sometimes
- Susceptible to inside moves because he leans into the defender and loses his balance
- Will struggle with speed rushers in the NFL
- Doesn’t have much of a “mean streak”
- Has had some minor injuries throughout his career

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

Strength: 4.0
Pass Blocking: 3.0
Run Blocking: 4.0
Footwork: 3.5
Technique: 3.0
Mobility: 3.5
Mean Streak: 2.5
Pro Potential: 4.0

NFL Draft, Scouting Reports , , , , ,
  Recent Entries »