A scouts perspective

A scouts perspective

Sunday, April 30, 2017

2017 NFL Draft - How Did The Cowboys Do?

The 2017 NFL Draft is a wrap.  It is time to break down who the Dallas Cowboys selected and how they fit into the team this season.

The Cowboys came into the draft needing help on defense wherever they could find it.  The priority was to upgrade the pass rush and then upgrade the secondary that lost four contributors in free agency.

Dallas addressed the pass rush in the opening round selecting Taco Charlton from Michigan.  He projects best to be a plus strong side edge rusher capable of getting 8 sacks per season.  I compared him to former Cowboy Greg Ellis.

You can find my article breaking down Charlton's game here. Where does Taco Charlton fit in Dallas.

They addressed their secondary in the second round selecting Chidobe Awuzie from Colorado.



Awuzie has a compact frame who is one of the most physical corners in the draft.  He is not afraid of contact nor mixing it up with receivers.  He is a good tackler which is rare for a corner, able to blitz when lined up in the slot and providing solid coverage.  He is comfortable playing on the line of scrimmage attacking the receiving or off the line in man coverage.  He will look to make a play on the ball but he is not a playmaker who gets turnovers though totaling just three INTs during his career.

I project Awuzie to be a starter at cornerback on the outside week one and could slide inside to play nickel on passing situations.  He was a weapon in college blitzing from the slot and causing impact plays behind the line of scrimmage. Defensive Coordinator Rod Marinelli would be wise to use him the same way in the NFL.

The Cowboys added another corner in the third round selecting Jourdan Lewis from Michigan.

Lewis is a smaller corner than Awuzie measuring just 5'10" and 188 pounds at the combine.  He has plenty of talent to be a starting corner in the NFL who is one of the best in the country knocking passes away from the receiver.  However he needs to improve his technique and keep his hands off the receiving downfield.

Below are some examples of what I mean.


Lewis is matched up against fellow third round pick Chris Godwin from Penn State at the bottom of the screen.  He is matched up right on the nose of Godwin, he tries to get his hands on him but Godwin just easily gets a clean release and open on a crossing route.

In the NFL, Lewis has got to become more physical and use better press technique when he needs to prevent a clean release for the receiver like that.  Remember the NFC East is home to some of the biggest and most physical receivers in the league.


He is again lined up on the nose of the receiver but allows a clean release to the inside on a go route.  The throw hangs in the air and allows him to recover to get his hand in there to prevent the catch. However if he prevents the clean release at the line, the QB doesn't even look his way. In the NFL, a receiver with a step is open for a QB and they can fit in the ball in that space.

I project Lewis to be the third corner on the depth chart able to line up on the inside and perhaps on the outside assuming he improves his technique.

Dallas went away from the defense and selected wide receiver from North Carolina Ryan Switzer in the fourth round.

Basically, Switzer is a Cole Beasley clone.  He measured just 5'8" and 181 at the combine which is just 7 pounds more than Beasley.

On film, the two are almost identical. Switzer is that quick slot receiver type who runs good routes, able to beat any defender in man coverage and has excellent hands. I like Switzer's long speed better as he was able to beat defenses up the seam and downfield with regularity in school.  However the reason he was drafted was his value as a punt returner with 7 career TDs in college.

Dak Prescott's ability to convert 3rd downs (10th best in the NFL) was partly due to Beasley being a consistent option in the middle of the field. Now they have another option that can beat any defender in man coverage underneath and return punts effectively.

Jerry Jones and Co. returned to the defensive side of the ball in the 6th round trading away their 2018 5th round pick to select Xavier Woods, safety from Louisiana Tech.  Dallas brought in Woods prior to the draft and reportedly would of been their selection had Switzer not been available in the 4th round.

Woods is a versatile safety who lined up all over the place at Louisiana Tech.  He has the size of a corner at 5'11" and 197 pounds but he was used in a variety roles.  He played down in the box as an extra run defender on early downs and then moving out to cover slot receivers on passing downs or trusted to man the middle of the field in obvious passing situations.

Bottom line, Xavier Woods is a playmaker at safety.  He caused fumbles (6), caught INTs (14) and returned 2 of them for scores during his college career.

He is not without flaws though, he lacks long speed and cannot be left in man coverage in the NFL against any receiver with speed. Receivers were able to get over the top of him too often on film and that will be exposed in the NFL. His lack of size presents challenges whether he can continue to cause impact plays in the box against the run. He isn't a polished tackler, he needs to break down better in space and bring down players without just diving for their feet.

I project Woods to compete for a starting job next to Byron Jones at safety by seasons end but at the very least, he will see plenty of snaps in nickel and dime defense at deep safety to patrol the middle of the field.  Keep in mind that Dallas likes to use Jones to eliminate the offenses best 3rd down receiving threat and Woods could allow them to be more aggressive on 3rd downs to get the opponent off the field.

Their next selection was Marquez White, cornerback from Florida State.  This is a classic example during the later stages of the draft, you ignore the flaws of a prospect and instead focus on what they can do.  Marquez White has good athleticism, fluid hips and able to transition from the backpedal to run downfield with ease. He can cover NFL receivers in man coverage next year.  But his technique is poor, he is not physical with receivers and that will be a problem in this division.  In addition, White simply wants nothing to do with run support, he is not aggressive in the least trying to bring down backs or receivers that aren't his man.  They might have something if he takes to coaching, improves that technique and becomes just an average tackler willing to support his teammates in bringing down the ballcarrier.

In the 7th round, Dallas took Joey Ivie (IV) from Florida who is a puzzling prospect.  Following the 2015 season, Ivie had the look of a top 100 selection who could play either tackle position with good quickness, strength and upside as a pass rusher.

This was week II of the 2015 season against East Carolina.  He wears #91.


However now he has lost all that athleticism and lacks the strength to make any plays in the NFL.  He was asked to gain weight at the cost of what made him a prospect following his junior season.


I think the kid needs to cut 20 pounds to get down to the 285 he played at as a junior to see if he can regain that athleticism and Dallas might have something here.  Its worth a shot.

Dallas returned to the wide receiver position selecting Noah Brown from Ohio State mid way through the 7th round.  Brown declared for the draft after his sophomore season leaving 2 years of eligibility on the table.  He should have returned to school to improve his draft stock but he is a big physical receiver who has some upside who can make plays on the underneath and intermediate routes.  He will struggle to create separation but he likes to make the difficult catch especially in the redzone.

With their final pick, Dallas returned to Colorado to add another defensive lineman, this time selecting Jordan Carrell.  He is a big bodied interior tackle who might flash as a run stuffing one technique but his film was unimpressive.  I did not see quickness, strength nor a capable bull rush to suggest he is a prospect.

Dallas' goal was to update the pass rush and their secondary.  I think they came away with 3 starters (Charlton, Awuzie, Lewis) and 2 key rotational players (Switzer and Woods).

Mission accomplished.

Saturday, April 29, 2017

The Houston Texans select Carlos Watkins, DT, Clemson

Carlos Watkins, Clemson, #94

Game Film Evaluated:
Virginia Tech (2016)
Troy (2016)
Ohio State (2016)


Summary: Very powerful lineman, controls his gap with ease. Not overly quick or explosive, definitely not a 3 technique tackle. He can keep his feet moving toward the pocket and very strong hands. He is relentless in his pursuit to the ball and QB. He is able to knock lineman on their heels and work his way to the ball. He is not polished in his technique at all, very raw and has no feel for pass rush moves to getting off blocks. He is not overly explosive on tape who can burst off the snap. He finds a way to the QB and gets the job done despite lack of proper technique and consistent use of pass rush moves. 

Carlos Watkins is a solid prospect and will be a starter in the NFL but has a limited ceiling in my opinion. He can maintain his effective performance on the field with improved technique but the lack of quickness and burst off the line will limit the sacks at the next level. I project Watkins to a one technique in a penetrating scheme that wants upfield attackers as a late 2nd round player.

The Houston Texans select Julien Davenport, OT, Bucknell

Julien Davenport, Bucknell, #70

Game Film Evaluated:
VMI (2016)


Summary: Julien Davenport has the look of a professional tackle. He has good quickness and the potential footwork to play the position at the next level. He has a long way to go with technique, proper hand placement and keep the feet moving. He shows excellent ability to stick in pass protection, stay upright, doesn’t get caught reaching or bending at the waist. He has got to add more fire to his game, doesn’t block to the whistle and fairly limited effort in plays once it leaves his area. He can get to the next level and needs to keep the feet moving to round out his game. He will get a eye opening experience at the senior bowl but the ability is there, he will struggle on day one but the key is whether he improves throughout the week. If he does, I would most definitely take a flyer on him. 

Julien Davenport is a late round to priority free agent type prospect but he would jump into the 5th round depending on the amount of improvement he shows in Mobile.

The Dallas Cowboys select Ryan Switzer, WR, North Carolina

Ryan Switzer, North Carolina, #3

Game Film Evaluated:
Pittsburgh (2016)
Florida State (2016)
North Carolina State (2016)


Summary: Quick and fast slot receiver type. He can get in and out of breaks with top speed. He can make plays downfield and bust up the middle of a defense. He played exclusively out of the slot on the games observed. He has long speed and he can adjust to make the difficult catch. Very good hands who can haul it in away from his body. 

Ryan Switzer is a plus slot receiver prospect who can make plays underneath and also take advantage of defenders jumping his underneath stuff to bust the seams of a defense. He can recognize coverage and shows ability to run option routes. He is not physical in blocking nor someone who can handle defenders who try to muscle him off his routes. He only played in the slot in college but he might be able to line up on the outside and use his quickness to shake defenders. At worst he is a solid slot receiver who can make become a 3rd down machine to keep the chains moving. 4th round grade.

2017 NFL Draft - Best Available for Day III

Day III is the scouts day.

Anyone can have an opinion on the first round prospects and even guys taken on day II.  However all the hard work of the scouts is going to make or break a team's draft today.

Whether or not a team can withstand injuries will be determined today.

Whether or not a team will have to overpay other teams free agents to address depth issues will be determined today.

This is point in the draft when the reward exceeds the risk for every prospect.

It is all about what a player can do instead of worrying what they can't do.

Impact players at every position will be selected today, even the most rare gems of all, a QB as Dak Prescott proved last year.

It is on the scouts and general managers to find them.


Here are the players I think can be impact players in the NFL as day III selections.

You can find a QB who can start in the NFL and outperform guys taken in the first round.  Nathan Peterman from Pittsburgh doesn't have the elite arm but he has more than enough to make all the throws.  I think he would be a perfect successor for Drew Brees in New Orleans and starts in this league by year 3.

You can find starting RBs who bring speed and power to any teams backfield.  T.J. Logan from North Carolina, Jeremy McNichols from Boise State and Corey Clement from Wisconsin.

You can find a more than solid possession receiver to compliment a speedster in Isaiah Ford from Virginia Tech.  You can also find one of the most productive receivers in college last year in Chad Hansen from California.  A productive receiver with character concerns in Dede Westbrook at Oklahoma.  Every team looks for that super quick slot receiver and you can find Ryan Switzer from North Carolina.

Need a tight end, there are several to choose from.  Jordan Leggett from Clemson, Michael Roberts from Toledo and Jake Butt from Michigan.

Need a swing tackle who can play either position on game days?  Conor McDermott from UCLA.

There are lots of guards available who can start as rookies.  Isaac Asiata from Utah. Dorian Johnson from Pittsburgh, Jermaine Eluemunor from Texas A&M and Damien Mama from USC.

Need a pass rusher, there are a lot to choose from.  Carl Lawson from Auburn, Al-Quadin Muhammad formerly from Miami, Ejuan Price from Pittsburgh, Josh Caraway from TCU, Devonte Fields from Louisville and Joe Mathis from Washington.

The defensive tackle position has tons of talent available with Carlos Watkins from Clemson, Ryan Glasgow from Michigan, Jake Replogle from Purdue and Jaleel Johnson from Iowa.

There are three starting corners just sitting out there.  Howard Wilson from Houston who is a plus zone corner.  Both Damontae Kazee from San Diego State and William Likely from Maryland are amongst the best nickel corners in the draft and those guys play as much as anyone on defense.


There are four safeties who can challenge for a starting job this year.  Tedric Thompson from Colorado, Rayshawn Jenkins from the U, Jadar Johnson from Clemson and Desmond King who needs to convert from corner at Iowa.

That's over 30 prospects who can make an impact next year still available at every position.

Friday, April 28, 2017

2017 NFL Draft - Day II Morning After

The opening round is exciting to get the draft started but the value of every draft comes in the first 100 picks.  Every selection made except for QB in the first 3 rounds should contend for a starting job as a rookie period.

That is the bar every top 100 selection should be judged to determine whether someone used their opening round momentum and carried into Day II or recovered from missing in the first round to add some affordable and talented rookie starters.

Teams that hit on their top 100 picks are able to stay ahead of their salary cap, avoid paying expensive free agent players from other teams and quickly transform their starting lineups with good young players.

Playoff teams over value their rosters thinking their previous season's record will simply repeat itself and they can afford to take more chances with these picks.  This combined with the harder schedule is why I feel there is roughly a 50% turnover in playoff teams year after year.

Lets see who made the most of their second and third round selections.


Cincinnati recovered nicely after a disastrous selection of John Ross in round one.  They brought in Joe Mixon and Jordan Willis who are both starting caliber players on the field. Ofcourse Joe Mixon brings baggage but this is nothing new for the Bengals. They have consistently had no problem taking players with character concerns. Josh Shaw, Vontaze Burfict, Chris Henry to name a few. Joe Mixon the player is the best running back in the draft and they get him at pick #48 overall. He joins a crowded backfield with Giovanni Bernard and Jeremy Hill but Mixon is a better back than both of them. He won't have the job handed to him and the message is clear, his behavior impacted his money in the NFL and that is unfortunately the only lesson our current system allowed him to learn.  The other guy Jordan Willis was a poor workout guy but top production player on film at Kansas State. He plays big and athletic to get after the QB from the edge and I think he surprises people as a rookie as a top rotational guy who can press for a starting job by season's end.

The best GM in the NFL is Ozzie Newsome and he owned Day II of the draft.  He gets the best athlete in the draft behind Myles Garrett in Tyrus Bowser from Houston.  He can line up anywhere, terror as a blitzer, cover anyone in space and rush the passer.  Now he's raw for sure but the ability to make an impact is there without question.  Chris Wormley is a solid interior lineman who can play both positions and be a top rotational player.  Then he hit it out of the park in the 3rd round with Tim Williams from Alabama.  He is an elite speed rushing terror on the outside who will terrorize QBs.  Now he was available in the 3rd round because passing the drug test will be a challenge for him but the risk was far worth the potential value.  Landing an elite first round talent pass rusher in the mid 3rd round is potentially a home run.

The Arizona Cardinals are set on defense with 2 studs in Haason Reddick and Bubba Baker who are both versatile day one starters. Reddick is a plus weapon in coverage, can blitz from anywhere and blow up plays in the backfield. Baker is undersized but he is a playmaker and a terror near the line of scrimmage.  Not every team could handle these type of prospects and incorporate them into an NFL defense properly but the Cardinals are one of those teams.  They simply want athletes on their defense, speed and aggressiveness to attack offenses.  Check those boxes for Reddick and Baker.

The Buffalo Bills did a good job with two 2nd round picks, acquiring Zay Jones and Dion Dawkins. Jones surprised teams at the combine running an impressive 4.45, he was projected as a 4.6 guy based on his tape. I still think Jones is primarily an underneath and intermediate type receiver in the NFL who runs good routes and able to make the difficult catch in traffic.  Dion Dawkins could play tackle but I like him much better as a guard. Good players and day one starters.

Dallas addressed their defensive issues on Day II acquiring solid cornerback talent in Chidobe Awuzi and Jourdan Lewis. Awuzi was a very good selection at the end of the second round who can play inside and outside with physical style of play and not afraid to tackle receivers. Lewis brings good ball skills to the position which was desperately needed who is also one of the most physical corners as well though a bit smaller than Awuzi.

The Chargers addressed the interior of the offensive line with excellent guards on each side. Forrest Lamp is a plus starter and Dan Feeney is more than capable himself though not as talented as Lamp. They added a playmaker at receiver with Mike Williams from Clemson and have the makings of a solid offensive line.  Teams that control the line of scrimmage are contenders and they took a step to ensure they can do that this year.

The Patriots hit on their 2 third round picks in Derek Rivers and Antonio Garcia.  Rivers is a top sleeper from Youngstown State but he more than held his own at the Senior Bowl and lit up the combine showing he can get it done as a speed weak side rusher.  Antonio Garcia from Troy is another sleeper with excellent potential as a tackle who can start in this league.

Pittsburgh is one of the most well run organizations in football.  They know who they are and do not play games when it comes to the draft. They don't trade, they just take the best players that fall to them. It happens every year and they hit more times than they miss. TJ Watt as an ideal speed rushing threat, JuJu Smith-Schuster as a good receiving option, Cameron Sutton as a solid cornerback and James Conner as a perfect power back staying home in Pittsburgh.  They stay ahead of the salary cap because they draft well and their depth is ready to deal with injuries so they keep contending for the playoffs every year.

Washington has solidified their defense with a stud pass rushing tackle in Jonathan Allen, a plus outside linebacker threat in Ryan Anderson from Alabama and a perfect physical corner in Fabian Moreau from UCLA. They noticed how the Giants attacked the Cowboys and now might have the tools to execute the same plan this year.


Cleveland killed their momentum from the first round with Deshone Kizer and Larry Ogunjobi on Day II. Kizer hurt himself prior to the draft with his comments about his preparation and overstating his physical abilities. His poor game performances where he lost his starting job certainly do not help his case. Then he goes to a team that has perhaps the worst QB situation in the league.  He was going to need to go a team that had a solid foundation and not really need him to play anytime soon, neither of which is true in Cleveland.  Ogunjobi is one of the top sleepers in the draft but he was a reach in the first pick in the 3rd round. He was a inconsistent player, motor that didn't run all the time and poor technique which is a bad combination.

The New York Giants are having the worst draft of any team through 3 rounds.  They reached for a receiving only tight end who can't block and isn't an explosive receiving threat either in the same class as Vernon Davis, Kellen Winslow, Antonio Gates or Jimmy Graham. It looked like someone who was dead set on a tight end regardless and even so they passed on a better prospect David Njoku. They took Dalvin Tomlinson who isn't a bad player but you don't spend a premium pick in the 2nd round for an asset you can get much later.  Run stuffing defensive tackles can be found late in the draft but again they were dead set on replacing Hankins using the same asset they used to acquire him. Their disaster was complete wasting a top 100 selection on an undrafted graded QB in Davis Webb from California.

San Francisco hurt the momentum they built off an A+ opening round taking a talented but wildly inconsistent corner. Then a QB that was so far off the radar made you wonder if you had the name right in CJ Beathard from Iowa.

The Dallas Cowboys select Jourdan Lewis, CB, Michigan

Jourdan Lewis, Michigan, #26

Game Film Evaluated:
Penn State (2016)
Wisconsin (2016)
Florida State (2016)
Ohio State (2016)


Summary: Good long speed, has some quickness. Sloppy with technique, grabs too much and not good at the LOS getting a press on the receiver. Struggles in transition to turn and run downfield. Poor tackler. He has good catch up speed but burners will go past him. 

Jourdan Lewis has the tools to be an effective corner but he has to clean up a lot to his game. He needs to improve his technique, work hard to improve his transition, reset his feet to turn and run without losing speed. He needs to get better with his hands at the LOS and especially downfield, he’s a grabber and will get a lot of flags thrown his way. The ball skills are there but doesn’t display them consistently, he tries to knock the pass away instead of picking it off. The INT against Wisconsin will always be on his highlight heel but that is not a accurate description of his game, just one play. He projects to be a secondary corner who should be a good match up outside or might make a good living inside if he can refine his technique. He leaves a bit of his talent just waiting to be found. Just outside the top 100, 4th round grade.

The Houston Texans select D'Onta Foreman, RB, Texas

D’Onta Foreman, Texas, #33

Game Film Evaluated:
West Virginia (2016)
TCU (2016)
Kansas State (2016)


Summary: Bigger physical inside runner. He has a burst in the open field but it takes him a bit to get to full speed. He can run away from defenders if he gets some space. He runs up the back of his lineman, not someone who is comfortable to bounce the run outside and able to turn the corner effectively. He is a volume runner, needs a lot of carries and eventually will have a longer run but play in and out there is not a lot of quality runs. Average pass protector and he can catch the ball but will drop passes at times. Not someone who can make the difficult catch. He has to be a one cut and decisive runner, he will be taken down for losses if he dances in the backfield too much. 

D’Onta Foreman is a quality inside physical runner. He has a good extra gear to run away from defenders if he gets some space. He is not a dynamic runner who can bounce it outside and shake defenders at the next level. He lacks the vision to run to daylight, too often he runs up the backs of his lineman. He needs to improve his pass protection, keep his head on a swivel to find the blitzer to not get his QB killed. He can be a second string runner who brings good size and speed who can be a solid inside runner. 5th round grade.

The Dallas Cowboys select Chidobe Awuzi, CB, Colorado

Chidobe Awuzie, Colorado, #4

Game Film Evaluated:
USC (2016)
Stanford (2016)
Washington (2016)
Michigan (2016)


Summary: Physical tackler, he will not back down from trying to make a tackle. He plays special teams coverage units. Physical in coverage, gets his hands on the receiver at the line and downfield. Comfortable playing in off man and press man coverage. He looks to make a play on the ball and play the man to knock it away. Held his own athletically vs John Ross at Washington who is a first round prospect. 

Chidobe Awuzie is a plus solid corner who is one of the best man cover corners in the draft who is also a plus tackler. He is not the biggest corner in the class but he will not get out muscled for a ball. He is not a playmaker though in coverage, often the ball went elsewhere in college. He is comfortable lining up and outside as well as inside and doing a good job. He may never be a plus starter but definitely a starter in the NFL and able to get the job done effectively against any type of receiver.  It is rare to find a corner that isn’t afraid nor have trouble bringing down receivers after the catch. Early 2nd round grade.

Houston Texans select Zach Cunningham, LB, Vanderbilt

Zach Cunningham, Vanderbilt, #41

Game Film Evaluated:
Georgia (2016)
Missouri (2016)
South Carolina (2016)


Summary: He can really run and impressive length, ideal frame for the mike position. He can take on blockers and get off blocks effectively. He can convert speed to power and give a good pop on contact with blockers in the hole. He really attacks the action, will be out of position and needs to play a bit more under control. He will take a few false steps and come up with nothing, he runs himself out of position and will miss the tackle as the result. He can really explode into the backfield and absolutely stuff a runner right in his tracks and go no further. He has more than enough speed to keep up with backs and has the height to match up with tight ends as well. 

Zach Cunningham is a rare complete middle linebacker who has the size to handle blockers inside, athleticism to run and chase down plays in both the run and passing game. He is a high potential player but he has some red flags with his average awareness on the field to find the ball and misses too many tackles but he will make a lot of impact plays behind the LOS and not require protection inside from the tackles. 1st round grade but he needs to work hard in the film room and improve his tackling to meet his potential.

2017 NFL Draft: Where does Taco Charlton fit in Dallas?

The Dallas Cowboys selected Taco Charlton from Michigan with their first round pick Thursday night.

The defensive end now joins a cast of characters that finished 26th in pass defense last year but did finish middle of the road in sacks.

Where does Taco Charlton fit in Rod Marinelli's defense?

He played primarily strong side defensive end in a 4-3 front.  Now what does that mean?

The strong side of the formation is whichever side the tight end is lined up on, the stronger side of the offensive formation.  The 4-3 front means four lineman and three linebackers.

So this means Charlton should slide into the same position in Dallas but what happens to the current Cowboys?

2016 breakout player David Irving started the strong side defensive end position in the playoff game against Green Bay.  Irving became an impact player on the defensive line down the stretch against the run and the pass.

Are you willing to move an impact and breakout player from a position he was most effective in?

I didn't think so, what to do with Charlton?

Perhaps he can play on the opposite side as a weak side defensive end.

Taco measured in at the combine at 6'5" and 277 pounds running 4.92 second forty yard dash.  He is significantly less explosive an athlete than the other 2 pass rushers selected in the first round such as Myles Garrett, Derek Barnett and Charles Harris.

Bottom line, Charlton is not talented enough to be a weak side rusher in the NFL.  What does the film say?

I evaluated four games of Taco Charlton during his 2016 report with his performances against Ohio State and Wisconsin pulled for analysis here.

Charlton had his best performance of the year against Ohio State without question and he went up against legit competition at Wisconsin in Ryan Ramczyk who was the Saint's first round selection.

Here is the premier match up with Charlton, wears #33, is lined up over Ramczyk, wears #65.  Without a doubt, his favorite move is the spin move that Dwight Freeney made famous with the Colts.  Impressive play.


Those combine numbers suggest he is not an explosive quick edge rusher who can turn the corner with speed at the next level when he goes against the best pass protectors in the world. The film supports those numbers unfortunately for him.


Ohio State is a pro football factory churning out top prospects year after year on both sides of the ball. Pat Elflein, wears #65, is the top center prospect in the draft and on this play he pulls out to line up against Charlton. The athletic pass rusher does exactly what he should do against a center in space. I like his use of hands to get off the block quickly and finish the play to the QB.


Fans of the combine always flock to the 40 yard dash as the premier event. However it is the first 10 yards that really counts when consider quickness from the snap.  Taco Charlton ran the 40 yard dash in 4.92 seconds which is slow but his 10 yard time was 1.70. But how fast is that?  Lets go to those explosive rushers mentioned earlier and compare.  Garrett was 1.63, Barnett was 1.70 and Harris was 1.65.  This means Charlton has solid, not elite level burst off the snap.  However you can see here that he can shoot the gaps and make plays behind the line.


3rd down is the money down for both an offense and defense.  If you are a pass rusher, you must be able to generate pressure on 3rd downs or your defense is destined to be torn apart.  His strong hands to get under the hands of the tackle and force his way to the pocket with good balance and burst.


He is not an elite quick twitch or someone who can really bend low to the ground to turn the corner with elite speed like Von Miller, Demarcus Ware or Myles Garrett.  He is able to use his hands well and enough athleticism to make it work on the outside.


I argue that Charlton is an adequate weak side rusher but would be best to move to the strong side or inside on passing downs, slide David Irving to tackle and bring in a smaller guy such as Benson Mayowa to the weak side.


I wrote in my report that he reminds me of former North Carolina Tar Heel and Cowboy Greg Ellis who was a solid pass rusher but never an elite guy.  The media reported Taco comparisons to another former Cowboy Tony Tolbert which is a good match as well.

Bottom line, Dallas got a good, not elite player who will help their defense next year without question.

2017 NFL Draft - First Round Morning After

The opening round of the 2017 NFL Draft was billed as one of the most unpredictable drafts in recent memory.  It turned out to be exactly that and more.


The most puzzling move involved the Chicago Bears moving up just one spot to #2 overall to acquire QB Mitchell Trubisky from North Carolina.

Rookie 49ers General Manager John Lynch acquired 2 thirds and a fourth round pick to drop one spot and still get their impact defensive player in Solomon Thomas.  It is important to have as many picks in the top 100 to build your team and congrats to Lynch for adding 2 picks in the top 100 and still get their guy.

Not to be outdone the 49ers moved back into the first round giving up just their 2nd and 4th pick to do it to land another impact defensive player in Reuben Foster from Alabama.  He is an ideal inside backer in a 3-4 that lines up on the weak side to just attack the gaps and get into the backfield.  They were able to land Solomon Thomas and Reuben Foster in the opening round and gain 2 top 100 picks.

The Bears move is puzzling as they paid a ton to acquire Mike Glennon in the offseason, 3 years for $45 million dollars and $18 million guaranteed. However the deal is set up where he could be released after one year costing just $4.5 million in dead money.

However if Mitchell Trubisky becomes the QB that earned him a first round grade, no one will care as he leads the rebuild in Chicago.

The worst pick of the opening round belongs to the Cincinnati Bengals at #9 who reached badly to select WR John Ross from Washington.  He can absolutely fly but the rest of his game has a lot to be desired.  He isn't close to ready to contribute on offense as a reliable weapon.

The Houston Texans made a bold swing for the fences trading away their 2018 first round pick and pick #25 to take Clemson QB DeShaun Watson at #12.  I would of taken Nate Peterman from Pittsburgh instead but I like Watson.  He is a proven winner with back to back national championship appearances and although his game needs work, you can't deny when the clock hits zero, he seems to come out on top.


The most underrated move of the night is Washington quietly taking an impact defensive player in Jonathan Allen from Alabama.  He was a no doubt first round grade and fell due to concerns about his shoulder. Washington had a need replacing Chris Baker, remember they passed on USC's Leonard Williams last year, and decided to simply add the best player available in Allen who will instantly improve that pass rush as a rookie.

While public opinion supports the Giants move to take Evan Engram, TE from Ole Miss, I am not a fan of that selection.  This is an example of being too cute.  Engram had a 4th round grade because he can't block nor is he athletic enough a receiver to justify the move.  He is a good receiver but he isn't an explosive athlete like Kellen Winslow or Vernon Davis who can beat corners and safeties in coverage. Bad move Giants.

Someone was going to take a chance on Jabril Peppers and sure enough the Browns pulled the trigger with one of their 3 first round picks.  I am not a fan of Peppers, he doesn't make enough impact plays on defense to feel he will be a starter as a rookie.  He is a legit returner but I see a backup safety in the NFL and that isn't worth a first round selection.  They finished up by selecting Miami TE David Njoku who should have been the Giants selection six spots earlier, their careers will be compared to each other to see if the Giants made the right choice.

Day 2 gets underway with the Packers now on the clock.

Thursday, April 27, 2017

2017 Houston Texans First Round Pick - DeShaun Watson, QB, Clemson

DeShaun Watson, Clemson, #4

Game Film Evaluated:
Alabama (2016)
Ohio State (2016)
Louisville (2016)


Summary: Excellent footwork. Poor accuracy which is rare when his footwork is so good. He just misses badly despite having good mechanics. A one read type QB who is someone who can progress on his reads. He tucks the ball and runs with it too often when he should buy time and beat teams more with his arm. He has got to be careful to know when to run with it and when to throw it away. Kid really responds well to adversity, he played poorly vs Louisville with multiple turnovers and responded with clutch throws to secure a win. Looked off safeties vs Ohio State. Throws the ball with anticipation before the receiver has turned for the ball. Comfortable throwing the ball into tight areas. He is vulnerable to be blitzed, he will take his eyes off the receivers and on the pressure. He has got to understand to recognize blitz presnap and focus on beating the blitz. He takes a lot of hard hits which he cannot keep doing at the next level. DeShaun Watson is a puzzling prospect, he is the QB that led his team to back to back national championship games where his performance gave his team chances to win. He has no experience working under center but his mechanics and footwork are already pro ready. However he needs to recognize the defense presnap and be more comfortable facing the blitz or else he will get blitzed a majority of the time until he beats it.  He seems to be a groove quarterback, once he gets settled into the game he can’t be stopped which is what happened against Alabama. However the performance against Louisville is most impressive as he played poorly throwing INTs but responded to adversity when he didn’t play well to still make the clutch throws late to win the game. He reminds me of Donovan McNabb but prefers to run a lot more than he ever did at Syracuse or in Philly. There is a lot to like with Watson and although he may not win the competition in workouts or combine, the kid finds a way to win in the games.  Second round grade with a significant learning curve.

2017 NFL Draft Reports - Safeties

SAFETIES

Malik Hooker, Ohio State, #24

Game Film Evaluated:
Penn State (2016)
Clemson (2016)
Wisconsin (2016)

Summary: Very talented safety who is a natural playmaker in the secondary. He looks to make a play on the ball and not just play the ball,  he wants the ball. He attacks the action, not a passive conservative player. He is a striker and looks to make a big hit. He is a tremendous player coming down to fill in the box coming from the secondary. He can turn and run with ease, has fluid hips to help in transition. He is so aggressive, he is vulnerable making false steps. He has a problem taking proper angles consistently, he is way too athletic to be out of position as often as it happens on tape. Average tackler who will miss just throwing the shoulder at someone. Not a good matchup in man coverage, he is best suited in zone and centerfield role. Malik Hooker is a rare complete safety who can fill hard against the run, blitz and make plays behind the line, attack the ball in coverage in either deep half or centerfield. He would be a perfect compliment to a free safety that can match up in man coverage to allow Hooker to attack the run and make plays in centerfield without fear. He is not without flaws due to the poor recognition skills and not taking proper angles to the ball will cause him to give up a big play on occasion. He is a late 1st round grade.

Rayshawn Jenkins, Miami (FL), #26

Game Film Evaluated:
Florida State (2016)
North Carolina (2016)

Summary: Very physical hard hitting safety. He can crash down effectively into the box and fill vs the run. He times blitzes well and will finish to the ball or QB. Solid tackler but he can miss a few especially if he takes a bad angle. He can take a few too many false steps in deep coverage and he likes to guess more than play it safe. He definitely plays the ball and wants to the attack the action, not a conservative player. He did not demonstrate ball skills during the games observed but he attacks the action consistently. He is comfortable in deep coverage or center field and can get to the perimeter. Very solid safety who may not be a playmaker in coverage but he is as solid as it gets and can solidify the position. He can match up well in coverage but will get exposed vs super quick slot receivers or tight ends. Rayshawn Jenkins is a solid strong safety who is not limited or someone would have to be protected on the field. He can handle himself in the box, blitzing and in deep coverage. Second round grade.

Obi Melifonwu, UConn, #20

Game Film Evaluated:
Virginia (2016)
Cincinnati (2016)
Houston (2016)

Summary: Strong safety prospect, good back pedal and has some coverage ability. He is comfortable playing downhill, filling hard against the run and making plays in the box. He closes with good burst. He is not someone to trust in downfield coverage, he fails to locate and make a play on the ball. He doesn’t have the hips to be a plus defender in man coverage. He is capable in deep half coverage and he can get to the perimeter however he fails to locate the ball and make a play on it.  He prefers to just blow up the receiver instead of playing the ball. He is vulnerable to counter routes and play action. Obi Melifonwu is an ideal strong safety prospect who fills well against the run and playing in the box, he should be at least average as a cover 2 type safety but needs to learn to read the play quickly to avoid beaten on playaction and double moves. He is a solid tackler and deliver a big hit.  Struggles to get off blocks once engaged which he needs to improve to become a threat when blitzing and inside the box.  4th round grade who could carve out a niche role as a big nickel backer early on.

Justin Evans, Texas A&M, #14

Game Film Evaluated:
Alabama (2016)
LSU (2016)
UCLA (2016)

Summary: A tease in the simplest terms.  The athleticism and production on the field do not match in the slighest.  He is athletic who can crash down into the box with a burst.  He can lay the big hit and has plus speed. However he takes poor angles, late to react, does not break down effectively to make the open field tackle nor able to stick in man coverage.  He takes false steps too often.  He projects as a strong safety but has the look of a free safety however he cannot be trusted in deep coverage. He misses way too many tackles and just does not make the plays he should when in position. The athleticism is there for him to a solid strong safety who can crash the box to stuff the run and play deep half coverage effectively but isn’t him at this point. He will have to work hard to learn when to take risks and how to play within the scheme to match the athleticism he can bring to the position. He might turn into something in a few years but he will have to work at it while making a team as a special teams contributor. 4th round grade.

Jabrill Peppers, Michigan, #5

Game Film Evaluated:
Ohio State (2016)
Wisconsin (2016)
Penn State (2016)

Summary: Elite change of direction ability, he can stop on a dime and explode to full speed right away. Quick short stride. He plays a rover type position at Michigan, lines up at safety who comes down in the box and looks to blitz and just go to the ball without a defined zone or person to cover. He really struggles to get off blocks when coming into the box and cannot beat a offensive lineman. Questionable long speed. He has very good ball skills who can make the difficult catch. He is very aggressive in coverage and looks to jump routes but highly vulnerable to beat deep. He is not someone who can trust as the back safety on an island. Jabrill Peppers is a tremendous college player but he will struggle to become a mainstay on defense in the NFL. Likely a nickel linebacker player and top notch returner. I don’t like his play on defense to cover receivers or even tight ends effectively, can’t crash down and fill vs the run as a strong safety nor he is explosive enough an athlete to play corner in the NFL. Fourth round grade who should be an impact returner and backup in base defense.

Jamal Adams, LSU, #33

Game Film Evaluated:
Alabama (2016)
Texas A&M (2016)
Auburn (2016)
Wisconsin (2016)

Summary: Very talented safety. He has elite burst and can crash down into the box with blistering speed. He can deliver a big hit against a crossing receiver or back in the hole. He is capable of making a difficult INT on the ball. He has some range in coverage to get to the perimeter. He misses way too many tackles and has some stiffness in his hips.  He will get targeted in man coverage if left on an island at the next level even against tight ends. Jamal Adams has tremendous athleticism but there is a lot of talent that has yet to make it onto the field in games.  He is a strong safety that is a coverage liability and misses far too many tackles when in position. If he can improve his technique in tackling and become at least average in coverage he can earn a job at the next level.  If he plays like he did in 2015, he is a impact game changing type strong safety.  If he plays like he did in 2016, he is in position to make plays but fails to do so and exposed in coverage.  Boom or bust type prospect. Second round grade.

Bubba Baker, Washington, #32

Game Film Evaluated:
USC (2016)
Stanford (2016)
Arizona (2016)

Summary: Undersized player but plays physical. Attacks the ball, does not play conservative at all. His lack of height hurts him when taking on blockers, making a play on the ball and squaring up to make tackles, he has to go low or comes up empty. He is comfortable in coverage and should be an adequate match up in man coverage and covers a lot of ground in deep coverage as a safety. Bubba Baker is a good college player who is limited at the next level but he can carve out a nice role as a nickel corner, free safety or nickel safety when teams are in obvious passing situations. He gives tremendous effort on the field and brings an aggressive style of play. The kind of guy who doesn’t look physically like a player but he might surprise some people when he makes a team as a back up player and continues to improve as a professional. I like him best as a nickel corner or free safety, especially a corner that likes to blitz and want their corners to be aggressive tacklers. 3rd round grade.

Marcus Williams, Utah, #20

Game Film Evaluated:
Arizona State (2016)
BYU (2016)

Summary: Smooth smart safety, good form tackler. Has good range and can cover the deep half. Struggles to locate the ball and make a play on it. Most comfortable in zone coverage and making plays in front of him. Breaks down well in space and can make the tackle in space one on one. Struggles to turn and run downfield in man coverage, has tightness in his hips. He is very strong when he tackles, he can strike violently. Takes poor angles to the ball. Marcus Williams is a solid safety prospect, not as talented as some but he does a lot of things well that translate well to the next level. He locates the ball quickly and finds himself in good position consistently and will finish the play. He is not comfortable in man coverage and will struggle to make plays on the ball. He projects to be a quality strong safety matched up next to a good free safety. Good player with flaws but 3rd round grade.

Marcus Maye, Florida, #20

Game Film Evaluated:
Vanderbilt (2016)
ECU (2015)
South Carolina (2015)

Summary: Sits on a lot of underneath routes, over aggressive. Athletic safety who can close with good speed. He can crash down from deep coverage into the box effectively. He is athletic to be able to stick in coverage but technique is poor. He doesn’t display good ball skills on tape. Not a striker but he can bring the player down effectively. Marcus Maye is an athletic safety who has the potential to be a starting safety but he hasn’t shown it on the field consistently. He is over aggressive sitting on underneath routes which makes him vulnerable to counter moves. He doesn’t attack the ball effectively despite the plus athleticism. He plays a passive game but the ability is there to be something more. He has the ability to crash into the box against the run, cover tight ends effectively in man coverage and be adequate in deep coverage. However that player has yet to show up on the field enough. The question is whether or not it will ever show up. 4th round grade with good potential.

Jadar Johnson, Clemson, #18

Game Film Evaluated:
Virginia Tech (2016)
Troy (2016)
Ohio State (2016)

Summary: Comfortable in coverage, he can handle himself in man coverage. Excellent speed and he can keep up with fast receivers. Athletically gifted to be able to run with any receiver downfield, has some flexibility to translate into man coverage. He has good straight line speed but he had difficulty getting to the sideline in deep half coverage. He is adequate tackler and can take proper angles to the ball. Jadar Johnson is a interesting prospect, he projects to a free safety type prospect who is not a ballhawk type but he can cover effectively to prevent the pass from being thrown. He can match up well against most receivers in coverage, undersized quick receivers will give him trouble. He is a 4th round grade and someone who would be a ideal safety to bring onto the field in nickel in obvious passing situations in place of the run stuffing strong safety.

Tedric Thompson, Colorado, #9

Game Film Evaluated:
Michigan (2016)
Utah (2016)
UCLA (2016)
Stanford (2016)
Washington (2016)

Summary: Impressive ball skills, he looks to jump routes and make a play on the ball.  Not a conservative type safety at all. Good range and will get his hands on passes. He has very impressive burst who can get to the sideline when in deep half coverage and he anticipates well to get into proper position. He will drop INTs on occassion, his hands are average but he gets more opportunities than most safeties and corners. He had difficulty locating the ball vs Washington. Tedric Thompson is a supremely talented cover safety who is a playmaker when the ball is in the air. He looks to attack the ball and although he will come up empty at times, he will create game changing plays which are highly coveted. He is an adequate tackler and not overly physical in the run game. He is capable of playing man coverage on occasion but he is at his best in center field and in deep half. 2nd round grade.

Desmond King, Iowa, #14

Game Film Evaluated:
Penn State (2016)
Purdue (2016)
Nebraska (2016)


Summary: Short compact frame who lacks long deep speed. He has quick feet and is comfortable on underneath, playing zone and off man coverage. He struggles to turn and run effectively or flipping his hips to run downfield. He is a good returner but not overly dynamic. He is not a playmaker and he will drop the INT more often than he catches one. Desmond King needs to make a position change to make it in the NFL or go to a zone heavy scheme primarily in cover 2. However he is not enough physical enough at the line to redirect receivers nor aggressive enough in run support. I think he needs to change to safety to earn a job in the NFL but even as a safety, I don’t see a playmaker or someone who can effectively transition quickly. I think he is an average safety in the NFL and would be a below average corner. He needs to improve his tackling, become more comfortable attacking the ball in the air and hauling in the INT when in position. 4th round grade.