Author: rlande.tsn

Sporting News’ Pro Football War Room has hundreds of player evaluations in preparation for the 2010 NFL draft. Here is a capsule look at prospect Derrick Morgan.

NFL position: DE

Derrick Morgan is likened to Julius Peppers of the Chicago Bears.

Height: 6-3
Weight: 266
40 time: 4.78
Current projection: First-round pick
NFL comparison: Julius Peppers, Bears

Against the run: Is excellent against the run. Does an excellent job taking on run blocks with good leverage. Gets hands on run blockers quickly; can lock out blocker, hold g round , shed and make tackle on runs at him. Does a good job of tying up and stringing out the play on outside runs to his side. Keeps play inside of him when that is his responsibility and can disengage and make the tackle. Flashes strength and power to jolt run blockers backward. Can defeat blocks, get inside his opponent and burst to finish the tackle in the backfield. Grade: 9.0

Pass rush: Is productive. Has the quickness, explosiveness and anticipation to burst off the snap and beat tackles. Often can outrun tackles around the corner but must improve his dip technique so he can turn the corner sharply when he doesn’t beat the tackle. Has the hand and foot quickness and agility to beat one-on-one pass blocks with a quick move inside or out. Has a good spin move, as well as slap and arm-over moves. Has an explosive closing burst to the QB to finish sacks. Shows the strength and athleticism to drive through double-team blocks and get pressure on the pocket. Has a combination of strength, hand use and aggressiveness to drive his opponent into the quarterback’s lap on bull-rushes. Grade: 8.0

Initial quickness: His burst, instincts and snap anticipation enable him to consistently be the first lineman moving at the snap. Gets his hands on his opponent quickly, which helps him control and defeat him. Grade: 8.5

Instincts: Is a naturally instinctive defender, which helps him sniff out the play and get started toward the ball quickly. Does not get fooled by trick or misdirection plays and does an excellent job of carrying out his assignment. Shows awareness dropping into coverage and does a good job of adjusting based on where he senses the pass is going. Grade: 9.0

Pursuit/tackling: Does a good job of maintaining backside containment responsibility before coming down the line on running plays away. Once he’s sure the play is not coming back to him, he accelerates down the line quickly, moves through traffic easily and has the speed and explosive closing burst to consistently finish plays in pursuit. Flashes the athleticism to hurdle over low blocks and traffic without losing speed and closes quickly on ballcarrier to make hard, physical tackles in pursuit. Has a combination of strength, athleticism and competitiveness to get the ballcarrier to the ground when he gets his hands on him. Grade: 8.5

Bottom line: Though he entered the draft early, Morgan is ready to contribute as a rookie. He is athletic with a rare combination of quickness, explosiveness, speed, size and strength. He could be effective as an end in a 4-3 or 3-4, or as a rush linebacker in a 3-4. Morgan will be a top-15 pick and will become a productive defender and potentially a Pro Bowler.

For more than 600 player scouting reports from Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts — plus updated mock draft, Super 99 rankings and more — go to warroom.sportingnews.com.

Sporting News’ Pro Football War Room has hundreds of player evaluations in preparation for the 2010 NFL draft. Here is a capsule look at prospect Sergio Kindle.

With a little more size, Kindle could play with his hand on the ground.

NFL position: OLB/DE
Height: 6-2 7/8
Weight: 250
40 time: 4.70
Current projection: First-round pick
NFL comparison: Brian Cushing, Texans

Against inside run: Is an instinctive defender who sniffs out inside runs and has a knack for being around the ball. Moves easily through traffic because of quickness, agility and balance. Shows the strength to take on and defeat tight end blocks and burst inside to make the tackle. Flashes the strength to take on offensive line run blocks at the point of attack, but struggles to consistently shed those blockers. Having played mostly defensive end, lacks experience from an upright position. Grade: 7.5

Against outside run: Is productive playing perimeter runs, and will be better playing from linebacker alignment. Shows good instincts and smarts to carry out containment responsibilities; can make the open-field tackle even if the play does come back to him. Is strong and productive taking on tight end run blocks, maintaining outside position, defeating the block and making tackle. On runs away, stays at home and then shows the acceleration and speed to chase down ballcarriers. Grade: 8.5

Blitz/coverage: Is an explosive pass rusher from defensive end alignment with the explosiveness off the snap to turn the corner and close quickly to the QB. Shows the athleticism and strength to be even more dangerous from upright alignment. Is quick and smooth dropping into pass coverage, can flip hips to change directions easily and has a burst to close on receivers to deliver hard hits. Reaches the flat quickly to blow up screen passes. Lacks experience in man-to-man coverage, but shows the athleticism and speed to produce with experience. Grade: 8.0

Instincts: Is a natural who consistently reads plays quickly and correctly to play faster than timed speed would suggest. Does not get fooled by misdirection or trick plays or play-action passes. Always carries out containment assignments/responsibilities. Consistently anticipates the snap count to be first defender moving. Grade: 8.0

Pursuit/tackling: Shows the instincts, athleticism, speed and closing ability to make big plays in pursuit. On runs away, maintains backside responsibilities and then attacks full speed. Bends knees and drives up into ball carriers to make good open-field tackles. Stays under control, and does not miss tackles. Grade: 8.5

Bottom line: Kindle is a tremendous athlete who makes game-changing plays. He fits best as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, but he also shows the natural explosiveness, speed and pass-rush skills to be a good defensive end in a 4-3 scheme if able to bulk up 15 to 20 pounds. He also could play outside linebacker in a 4-3 scheme, a la the Redskins’ Brian Orakpo. Kindle’s athleticism, competitiveness and violent hitting ability remind us a lot of the Texans’ Brian Cushing.

For more than 550 player scouting reports from Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts — plus updated mock draft, Super 99 rankings and more — go to warroom.sportingnews.com.

Sporting News’ Pro Football War Room has hundreds of player evaluations in preparation for the 2010 NFL draft. Here is a capsule look at prospect Donald Butler.

Our experts see Donald Butler as a consistent playmaker.

NFL position: ILB
Height: 6-1 1/8
Weight: 245
40 time: 4.72
Current projection: First-round pick
NFL comparison: Jerod Mayo, Patriots

Athletic ability: Is very athletic, which has enabled him to be highly productive. Is very smooth and agile in pass drops; can flip hips to adjust easily and has good burst to the receiver. Flashes athleticism to reach in front of the receiver to break up the pass or cut in front of the receiver to try for an interception. Accelerates to full speed in a flash and has the speed to chase down backs in pursuit. Is naturally flexible, which enables him to bend knees and sink hips to take on lead blockers very strong at the point of attack and make strong, fundamentally sound tackles. Displays very good quickness, agility and burst. Grade: 8.0

Against the inside run: Reads and reacts quickly to the inside run. Fills the hole to take on the blocker strong at the line. Can shed and make tackles in the hole. Is so quick to fill at times that he gets into the backfield before the blocker can get to him; blows up the play in the hole. Lacks ideal height and can be engulfed by linemen at the second level. If a lineman locks up on him, he struggles to get free in time to make plays. Does a good job of reading run, can sift through traffic and has a good burst to the ballcarrier to finish tackles. Grade: 7.5

Against the outside run: Combines ability to read the play quickly, very good speed and explosive closing burst to consistently chase down ballcarriers in backside pursuit. Does a good job of using his hands to keep blockers from getting a hold of him on the move. Has the speed and burst to make tackles on outside runs before the ballcarrier can turn the corner. Does not use his hands well against cut blocks and can be taken to the ground too easily. Grade: 8.0

Blitz/coverage: Combines athleticism and intelligence to be productive in coverage. Is quick, smooth and fluid on pass drops. Reads the QB well, closes very quickly and can get in front of receivers to break up passes. Can flip hips to change directions easily in coverage. Does a good job of covering backs and tight ends in man coverage. Has the athleticism to stay on his man’s hip. Did not do a lot of blitzing in college but shows the ability to beat backs with quick pass-rush moves. Grade: 8.0

Run-pass recognition/instincts: Consistently reads and reacts quickly to plays. Because of great instincts, is able to play significantly faster than his 40 time. Does not get fooled by play-action fakes or misdirection plays. Maintains good position and carries out his responsibility. Grade: 8.0

Pursuit/tackling: Gets started toward the ball quickly and has top-notch acceleration, speed and burst to consistently chase down ballcarriers in backside pursuit. Does a good job of moving through traffic, avoids blocks well and has the speed to track down plays from behind. Needs to improve his hand use to protect his legs from cut blocks. Can be a very good tackler when he keeps his knees bent and remains under control. Breaks down and tackles well even when he tries to make the strong, physical hit. Grade: 8.0

Bottom line: Butler is a tough, instinctive, highly productive defender who is consistently around the ball making plays. Though he lacks ideal height, he is strong at the point of attack in taking on lead blockers. Butler is very consistent and makes plays all over the field. He really shined at the Senior Bowl, where he was clearly the best linebacker. Butler probably won’t be drafted as highly as we have him rated, but in time he will become a very good starting linebacker.

For more than 550 player scouting reports from Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts — plus updated mock draft, Super 99 rankings and more — go to warroom.sportingnews.com.

The NFL Draft’s first three rounds get almost all of the attention, but the teams that win consistently do a good job of finding starters in later rounds. Here are 10 likely late-round picks or undrafted free agents who could eventually become quality starters.

Offensive prospects

Levi Brown, QB, Troy
An athletic quarterback who played in a wide-open spread attack, Brown must adjust to playing under center. He has a strong arm and can make every NFL throw with zip and accuracy when his footwork is sound. He is poised under pressure and will not force throws into bad spots to avoid sacks.

He has a very quick release with good zip — even when there is pressure in his face and he can’t stride into his throws. Brown is a bit raw and will need a season or two as a backup to develop, but he should become a good starting quarterback.

Chris Campbell, T, Eastern Illinois
Campbell has the talent to become a good starting left tackle, but he has a lot of work to do first. He is a tall, well-built prospect with the long arms, quickness and athleticism to slide out and block edge pass rushers. He also has the agility to move outside and block effectively in space.

Despite these positives, Campbell won’t be a high pick because his technique is very raw and he gets beaten too often. He won’t be able to contribute any time soon, which is why he’ll most likely be a seventh-round pick or a free agent.

Otis Hudson, T, Eastern Illinois
Not only does Hudson have good size and athletic ability, but he has adjusted well to a position change after beginning his career as a defensive lineman at Minnesota. He is a thickly built prospect, with good athleticism and natural strength. Though his technique needs much improvement, he is a very competitive blocker who is able to control his man if he can lock up on him.

Hudson won’t be drafted before the seventh round, but he has the talent and competitiveness to become a quality starter after a season or two on the practice squad.

Defensive prospects

Travis Ivey, NT, Maryland
Ivey is a big, thick-bodied prospect who has the natural strength to be dominant at the point of attack. He can hold his ground against double-teams, clogging the inside and allowing linebackers to make plays. But he did not always play with passion and intensity at Maryland and was ridden out of plays too often.

Ivey will likely be a sixth- or seventh-round pick who may get cut once or twice if his intensity doesn’t improve. If the light goes on, however, he has the talent to be a good starting nose tackle in the NFL.

Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, DE, Washington
Because Te’o-Nesheim lacks the explosiveness be a top edge rusher, it’s easy to overlook him. But he has quick feet and good speed, which enable him to consistently chase down running plays in pursuit. Though he can’t blow by offensive tackles as a pass rusher, his quickness, hand use and excellent intensity allow him to be effective.

He isn’t likely to be chosen before the sixth round, but he has the ability to develop into a starter if he can bulk up to 270 pounds. At that weight, he could be a solid strongside end in a 4-3 scheme. If he can bulk up to 290, he could become a good starting end in a 3-4.

Want more? We’ve posted an expanded file on late-round prospects who could become starters. Click here and read it in the War Room Draft Dish.

For more than 660 player scouting reports from Lande and his team of former NFL scouts — plus updated Mock Draft, Super 99 rankings and more — go to warroom.sportingnews.com.

In every draft, many players lack ideal height for their position. Many undersized prospects lack the talent to compensate, but these nine mighty mites should make an impact in the NFL:

1. Brandon Graham, DE/OLB, Michigan. Graham (6-1 3/8, 268) was a super productive college end, and he should have an impact as an NFL end in a 4-3 scheme or outside linebacker in a 3-4 system. He has long arms, good strength and great technique and hand usage to defeat offensive tackles. He is surprisingly strong at the point of attack, too. He’s the rare undersized player whose draft stock isn’t impacted by his size. Projection: Top 20.

Dexter McCluster won’t be an every-down back, but his versatility and athleticism should make him an asset in the NFL.

2. Geno Atkins, DT, Georgia. Atkins (6-1 3/8, 293) is quick and explosive and shows the snap anticipation to split gaps and blow up plays in the backfield. He consistently beats one-on-one pass blocks with quick hands and explosive burst to the quarterback. On outside runs, shows the acceleration and elite speed to chase down ballcarriers. He also is shockingly effective at the point of attack. He won’t fit in some schemes but has the instincts and athleticism to be a highly productive one-gap defensive tackle. Projection: Second round.

3. Dexter McCluster, RB/WR, Ole Miss. McCluster (5-8 3/4, 172) is well built and has the elite athleticism to make a big play on every touch. He won’t be a 20-carry back but should make an impact with 12-15 touches per game as a third-down back, slot receiver and return man. McCluster also shows the character and intangibles NFL coaches covet. He should have a similar impact as the Chargers’ Darren Sproles. Projection: Second or third round.

4. Eric Norwood, OLB/ILB, South Carolina. Norwood (6-0 7/8, 245) primarily played end in college but has experience at inside and outside linebacker. He produced at a first-round level at South Carolina but lacks the elite speed to be a pass-rush threat as an NFL undersized end, a la the Colts’ Dwight Freeney. Norwood does have good instincts and delivers hard hits all over the field. He fits best as a linebacker in a 3-4 scheme because of his versatility, competitiveness and instincts. Projection: Third round.

5. Jacoby Ford, WR, Clemson. Ford (5-8 7/8, 186) was mid-to-late-round prospect until a great Senior Bowl and then running a 4.24-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. He is a big-play return man who proved at the Senior Bowl that he could run sharp routes. He should be a dynamic slot receiver and return man in the NFL. He would fit best in Chicago because new coordinator Mike Martz would know how to take full advantage of his skills. Projection: Third round.

6. Rennie Curran, OLB, Georgia. Curran (5-10 5/8, 235) shows great instincts to read plays correctly and react in a blink and shows the elite speed to chase down ballcarriers all over the field. He also looks natural in pass coverage, staying with any tight end man-to-man and reacting quickly in zones. He won’t be able to play in a 3-4 scheme but fits best in a cover-2 4-3 scheme like Chicago, Detroit or Tampa Bay. Projection: Third or fourth round.

7. Brandon Banks, WR, Kansas State. Banks (5-6 3/4, 149) is short and thin but makes big plays, especially as a return man. He will have some limitations as a receiver and his coordinator will have to script plays for him, but he can be a game-changer. He should be an elite punt and kickoff return man as a rookie who helps his team win the field position battle. Projection: Sixth or seventh round.

8. Damaso Munoz, OLB, Rutgers. Munoz (5-10 5/8, 221) speed and explosiveness jump off the film. He looks more like a safety but is much better playing close to the line. He is smooth dropping into short zone coverage, reading the quarterback and closing quickly to deliver hard hits. He still was an NFL afterthought until he ran the 40-yard dashes in 4.49 and 4.50 seconds at Rutgers’ pro day and shined in all the tests and positional drills. Projection: Seventh round.

9. Tim Brown, WR, Rutgers. Brown (5-6 3/4, 151) is the same size as Banks, but lacked Banks’ college production as a return man. Brown did most of his damage in college on downfield routes — not on quick-hit passes like most short receivers — and averaged 20.9 yards per catch his last two seasons in college. He could go undrafted because of his lack of experience as a return man. Projection: Undrafted.

For more than 640 player scouting reports from Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts — plus an updated mock draft, Super 99 rankings and more — go to warroom.sportingnews.com.

Just like any draft, this one has many overrated players. Below are the prospects we believe will be drafted higher than they deserve to be. These players won’t necessarily be busts, but they won’t be as productive as their draft spot suggests.

Eric Berry, S, Tennessee

Terrence Cody, DT, Alabama

He will likely be drafted in the second or third round by a team desperate for a nose tackle, but we think he will always have weight issues and will never develop into the elite nose tackle he has the size and strength to be.

 

Carlos Dunlap, DE, Florida

Dunlap reminds us of Jets bust Vernon Gholston. He is well-built, with the quickness, explosive burst and raw power that few ends have. That said, he was outperformed in almost every game last season by Jermaine Cunningham, who played on the opposite side and does not have anywhere close to the same athleticism.

 

Dunlap does not explode off the snap and often pops straight up and makes no impact. Far too often, he isn’t even noticeable. But on a few snaps each game — sometimes as many as five — he shows the strength, power, explosiveness and hand use to jolt and defeat tackles easily and close on the quarterback in a flash.

 

Dunlap shined at Florida’s pro day, where he looked like a rare athlete and convinced many doubters he is worth a gamble in the first round. In the end, though, we think Dunlap will struggle mightily to become the productive, impact starter first-round picks are expected to be. Look for him to be in and out of the starting lineup because of his inability to consistently make plays and impact games.

Sporting News’ Pro Football War Room has hundreds of player evaluations in preparation for the 2010 NFL draft. Here is a capsule look at prospect Russell Okung.

Russell Okung has great mobility but needs to work on his run blocking.

NFL position: LT
Height: 6-5 1/4
Weight: 307
40 time: 5.22
Current projection: First-round pick

Run blocking: Must improve in this area. Gets out of stance quickly, enabling him to lock and seal defensive linemen when maintaining good balance. Is not a fire-off-the-snap sort of run blocker; is more of a "catch blocker" who can be driven backward—it’s especially noticeable in short-yardage situations. Does not slide or use hands well to neutralize defenders who crash inside of him. Is an impressive open-field blocker with the athleticism to maintain balance and adjust to moving targets. Grade: 5.5

Pass blocking: Is an elite pass blocker. Easily slides outside to cut off explosive edge rushers. Once locked up on pass rushers, eliminates them. Bends knees well and sinks hips to pass block with good leverage. Shows the quickness and agility to easily re-direct and adjust to double moves. Has long arms and when using hand punch aggressively can stop pass rusher in his tracks, but is inconsistent. Grade: 8.5

Initial quickness: Anticipates the snap well to get out of stance quickly. Shows the initial quickness, speed and athleticism to pull and lead perimeter runs. Grade: 8.0

Strength: Shows good natural strength, but doesn’t always use it effectively. No doubt has the natural strength to physically dominate his man when using good technique, blocking aggressively and working to the whistle. Grade: 7.0

Mobility: Shows the elite athleticism and mobility that make NFL coaches drool. Can lead on perimeter runs or get through the line of scrimmage to block linebackers on the second level. In pass protection, can handle speed rushers and negate quick double-moves. Grade: 9.0

Bottom line: Okung is an elite athlete with the height, long arms and pass-blocking skill rare for a left tackle. He is far from a polished prospect—he especially needs technique work as a run blocker—but he is a surefire top-10 pick. He reminds us of Broncos All-Pro LT Ryan Clady.

For more than 200 player scouting reports from Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts — plus updated mock draft, Super 99 rankings and more — go to warroom.sportingnews.com.