The college football season is nearing an end, but Luke Irwin is in mid-season form giving us his look at the weekend. Read the rest of this entry »
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Rookie Report: Week 7
On October - 30 - 2009 ADD COMMENTS
With the half-way mark of the season almost here, David Syvertsen breaks down the play of the top rookies from Week 7. Read the rest of this entry »
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Greg Hardy Scouting Report
On October - 28 - 2009 ADD COMMENTS
Defensive End Greg Hardy- #86 Ole Miss
Pass Rush/Closing ability/Moves and counter moves: An above average quickness and first step, but not as elite as some are reporting. Has better acceleration than burst. Has the strength to drive the blocker and collapse the pocket. Good upper-body strength that results in a very powerful bull rush. Doesn’t show many moves to the outside (no spins). Fails to set up the tackle. Could benefit from NFL coaching. Quick hands. Has a good slap.
Pursuit/Lateral movement and agility: Has improved during the 2009 season and looks to be his formally aggressive self. Will run down the ball and has the speed to make plays in space. Tenacious. A very good athlete for his size and the position. Fits the new breed of athletic ends with great size and strength. Reminds you of Mario Williams in this regard. Has played wide receiver some during his college career (3 TD catches).
Quickness/Explosion: An incredible ability to collapse the pocket. Hardy has a great first step- very quick, strong and aggressive. Appears to have regained the burst he showed before an injury all but ended his ‘08 season. Looks to be full-strength again.
Run defend/Recognition: Can beat the tackle outside the ball. Gets to the sideline and forces the ball back to the middle. Shows very good effort in down field pursuit. Has the strength to anchor against the off-tackle run. Can hold up and control the tackle. Will see the cut block coming and avoid it. Closes from behind well with good speed. Can make plays on runs where the ball is away.Reads and reacts well. This is an underrated aspect of Hardy. Most will comment on his strength and pass-rushing ability, but he does a great job of recognizing the draw and play action. Is a disciplined player who sticks to the assignment.
Size/Length/Hand size: Hardy is underrated in terms of strength. Has great full-body strength to anchor, bull rush, hold his ground and make tackles in traffic.
Strength/Ability to shed blocks: Is better at using his speed and agility to out-maneuver defenders. Does not have the strength to bull rush or over-power tackles. Does a great job of keeping outside contain and can fight off blocks with his hands. Is a fighter with his arms and hands.
Tackling: Can be an explosive tackler in the open field. Comes down on QBs with a vengeance. Will accelerate to and through the tackle. Has great range and will run down the ball. Has the strength to make one-armed tackles.
Technique/Hand use/Leverage: Has clean technique in all aspects of the game. His first step is quick and strong, but could be faster. He anchors well, gaining leverage on the tackle at the point of attack. Could do a better job setting up the tackle to the inside and countering with an outside move. Doesn’t show many moves as a pass rusher, but those will come. Great use of his hands. Gets good leverage at the point of attack. Has the required upper and lower-body strength to hold his ground. Gets lower than the blocker and uses his arms to push and drive the tackle back.
Versatility: Will fit best as a right end in an aggressive 4-3 scheme. He could be used on the left side, but will be a force as a right end. Could bump down the under tackle in passing situations if needed.
Final Word: Has battled injuries throughout his career. Durability might be an issue. Didn’t start during the 2008 season after surgery on his left foot. Has been bothered by this surgery. Missed the end of the ‘09 season with a broken wrist. Has never completed a full season. If Hardy can remain healthy, he has the potential to be an elite pass rusher in the 3-4 or 4-3 defense.
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New Era Radio: Tonight!
On October - 28 - 2009 ADD COMMENTS
Get a break down of the hottest college football and NFL Draft news from the last week with Matt Miller and Eric Loomis! Read the rest of this entry »
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What Went Wrong: JaMarcus Russell
On October - 26 - 2009 ADD COMMENTS
With the benching of JaMarcus Russell in favor of Bruce Gradkowski against the New York Jets following Russell’s three first half turnovers, lets take a look back at what went wrong with the number one overall selection of the 2007 NFL Draft.
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2010 Round One Mock Updated
On October - 26 - 2009 ADD COMMENTS
Rookie Report: Week 6
On October - 23 - 2009 ADD COMMENTS
QB: None.
RB: Javon Ringer – Tennessee Titans
One advantage to losing a game 59-0 is the opportunity to let your young guys play in a situation where true heart and determination comes out. Being down by so many points, on the road, in the middle of a snow storm is not the easiest environment for a player to buckle up the chin strap and give forth with a strong effort. Ringer received the bulk of the late game carries and despite little to no room in front of him, he put his head down and ran. He had a run of 32 yards in the fourth quarter in which he diagnosed the lane, burst through it, and broke an open field tackle. While he won’t be getting a ton of carries with Chris Johnson and Lendale White in front of him, Ringer is showing he has the ability to make the plays in this league should an injury occur to one of those two backs.
Honorable Mention: Knowshon Moreno – Denver Broncos
WR: Hakeem Nicks – New York Giants
There was very little to be happy about in when it came to the Giants loss in New Orleans. The lone bright spot was the playmaking ability that Hakeem Nicks showed in a very dangerous New York passing attack. The wide receiver position for the Giants is without a true ace, or number one guy, but there is more talent there than most know. It is a very crowded spot for a rookie to step in to but Nicks is proving he may be the team’s best option as the weeks go on. He caught 5 passes for 114 yards which included a 37 yard touchdown and 58 yard reception in which he showed some outstanding open field speed. While he may not impress with a sub 4.4 forty time, Nicks is displaying the kind of game speed that could make him a big time force in New York. He is getting behind the defensive backs on deep routes consistently and is running away from defenders when he gets the ball in his hands. He is a versatile threat that can put points on the board in a variety of ways and the Giants are bringing him along nicely.
Honorable Mention: Sammie Stroughter – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
TE: Shawn Nelson – Buffalo Bills
Nelson really looks like a wide receiver playing the tight end position when you consider his athleticism. He gets off the line with such ease and his breaks in routes seem so effortless. He hauled in two catches, one of which was a poorly thrown ball by Ryan Fitzpatrick in which Nelson had to adjust to make a fantastic reception for 25 yards. He is light on his feet and runs in space with great balance, getting the most out of every step. He was drawing a lot of attention from linebackers and safeties as the matchup problems he proposes are significant. While he lacks the push as a run blocker, his technique has come a long way and with a year or two of NFL weight training, Nelson could evolve into one of the top tight ends in the league very fast.
OL: Jamon Meredith – Buffalo Bills
After being cut by the Green Bay Packers, a team in need of as much offensive line help as any in the league, the 2009 season was not looking too bright for Meredith. However he made his first start in New York against one of the league’s most difficult front sevens to block and performed better than every first day pick offensive lineman. His athleticism had already been there but the technique coming into the NFL was not game ready just a couple months ago. On Sunday, Meredith constantly got his hands inside while maintaining proper position with his feet. Despite the complex blitz packages thrown his way, Meredith was part of an offensive line performance that allowed just one sack on the day.
Honorable Mention: Eugene Monroe – Jacksonville Jaguars
DL: Terrance Knighton – Jacksonville Jaguars
When evaluating a defensive tackle, the last thing I look at is the box score. The impact a good player can have in the trenches does not translate to the stat sheet and Knighton’s performance on Sunday against the Rams is a prime example. While he finished with just one tackle, the role he had in holding Steve Jackson to just 50 yards on 17 carries was enormous. He consistently won the initial punch battle, pushing blockers into the backfield which forced Jackson to adjust his running lanes prior to reaching to point where he looked to make a cut. The players around Knighton are benefitting from his ability to demand those double teams and anytime a player has that kind of presence in the middle, everyone becomes a better player.
Honorable Mention: Myron Pryor – New England Patriots
LB: Brian Cushing – Houston Texans
Playing in Cincinnati against one of the toughest backs of the 2009 season in Cedric Benson, Brian Cushing led the Houston defensive surge. His presence in the box was consistent all day as he was shedding blocks and putting himself into position. His struggles at USC to keep an open shoulder while engaged with a blocker carried over into his early NFL career, but the improvement in that area was blatant on Sunday. He finished the run stuffing performance with 9 tackles to go along with two forced fumbles and an interception. Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer tried to lead yet another performance filled with late game heroics but Cushing stepped it up when the team needed him most, forcing two turnovers in the fourth quarter.
Honorable Mention: Clay Matthews – Green Bay Packers
CB: Derek Cox – Jacksonville Jaguars
One of the most vital aspects to a cornerback’s game is the ability to have a short memory. All of them get burned here and there, but the good ones forget about it and don’t let it impact their game from there on. Cox was beat on the first drive on the game for a 17 yard touchdown by Donnie Avery, but he played his best football of the young season following that drive. He played with a physical presence all afternoon and seems to be catching on fast when it comes to diagnosing routes and passing lanes. His footwork in comparison to where it was week one against the Colts is almost black and white, and the sky is the limit for him as he shows flashes of Rashean Mathis in that Cover 2 scheme.
Honorable Mention: Darius Butler – New England Patriots
S: Jairus Byrd – Buffalo Bills
Jairus Byrd had one job on Sunday. Provide over the top help against the Jets newest downfield threat Braylon Edwards. How did he fare? Two interceptions that helped pave the way for the Buffalo Bills gutsy win in the Meadowlands. The ball skills that Byrd displayed in college (17 career interceptions) as a cornerback were reason enough to get him on the field early this season for the stingy Buffalo defense. While he is still learning to play the free safety position, it is not difficult to notice his tremendous nose for the throwing lanes. He made quick breaks on the ball and was always around the ball when Mark Sanchez was attempting to get the ball to Edwards.
Honorable Mention: Victor Harris – Philadelphia Eagles
David Syvertsen gives us his run down of how the best rookies faired this past weekend, position-by-position. Read the rest of this entry »
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Luke Irwin’s Week 8 College Football Preview
On October - 21 - 2009 ADD COMMENTS
Luke Irwin is back off another week long pilgrimage. Which games should you be watching, and how does Coach Luke get his guys fired up for the Big Game? Read the rest of this entry »
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New Era Radio: Week Three
On October - 21 - 2009 ADD COMMENTS
Listen live as Matt Miller and Eric Loomis break down the NFL trade deadline, college football rivalry week and the top runners in the 2010 NFL Draft. Read the rest of this entry »
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New Era Radio: Week Two
On October - 13 - 2009 ADD COMMENTS
Listen live as Matt Miller and Eric Loomis break down the top quarterbacks in college football, the NFL trade deadline and more! Read the rest of this entry »
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