New Era Scouting

We take a look at the best draft class for each NFL team during the past decade. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 2% [?]

We take a look at the best player drafted at each position, every year from 2000-2009. Enjoy- and Happy New Year.

Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 2% [?]

Anthony Davis – OT – Rutgers

Scout: David Syvertsen

Height/Weight: 6’6 – 325

Pro Potential: Chris Samuels – Washington Redskins

Position Traits

Awareness/Reaction: Will lose focus once he commits to the inside block. Stunts to his outside shoulder have given him trouble since being move to left tackle.

Balance: Has a strong base that keeps him upright when engaged. Feet are constantly moving which enables him to maintain balance throughout.

Initial Quickness: Fires out of his stance and his on top of the defender in a blink. Has as good a first two steps going forward as any lineman in the country.

Movement/Space: When he gets going downfield, his momentum alone can take a defender out of a play. He has outstanding athleticism for a 325 pounder and appears to be comfortable and balance when in space.

Pass Blocking: Very powerful as a pass blocker. Locks up defenders and completely stifles them upon contact. Feet get him to the edge quick enough. Will bend at the waist at times, leaving him prone to the double move if he can’t lock on initially. Excellent recovery blocker that can still win the battle if he is beat at the point of attack.

Pulling/Trapping: Did play his first season at guard, so he does have more experience pulling than your normal tackle. Moves much better going straight ahead than moving down the line laterally. Will stand straight up when pulling which slows him down and decreases the power he exerts.

Run Blocking: Top tier run blocker. Looks to push his man not to the ground, but through it. Very aggressive drive blocker that plays through the whistle. Can completely take a defender out of the play when his technique and balance are there. Very powerful punch that gives him that intiail advantage that he consistently takes advantage of. Excellent arm extension.

Size/Length/Hand Size: Has the ideal body for an offensive tackle and he holds 325 pounds very well. Does not have a lot of loose fat on him. Long arms and big, powerful hands.

Strength/Explosion/Pop: Wins at the point of attack with his initial punch alone at times. Very strong upper body, looked like a man among boys against some teams. Fires out with power and stands the defender up.

Technique: The most inconsistent aspect of his game. Will bend at the waist, especially late in games when he begins to fatigue. Footwork is consistent however. Keeps them chopping and wide enough to maintain balance.

Final Word: Anthony Davis has a very good shot at being the first tackle taken this April. He certainly looks the part at 6’6/325 pounds, but he is more than just a sexy prospect from the naked eye. He is one of the more powerful linemen in this class and that should get him on the field right away. He has more than enough athleticism to get by and with some good coaching, his technique will evolve the point where he can be a Pro-Bowl caliber left tackle. He has battled some minor weight issues and been benched on two separate occasions for violating team rules, so there will need to be some investigating in to his character and work ethic.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Dan Williams – Tennessee

Scout: David Syvertsen

Height/Weight: 6’3/327

Pro Potential: Jason Ferguson – Miami Dolphins

Position Traits

Pass Rush/Closing Ability/Moves and Counter Moves: Totaled just 6.5 sacks over his four year career, not much of a finisher in the pocket. However he is very disruptive on deep dropbacks, hard guy to keep at bay. Closes in on the ball carrier very well, moves well in space. Uses his hands well to get off blocks, limited repertoire of moves.

Pursuit/Lateral Movement/Agility: Perhaps the most surprising part of his game. Chases well sideline to sideline, makes a lot of tackles outside the box. Does not adjust well to the late cut block, can get heavy feet in the trenches.

Quickness/Explosion: The hustle off the snap is not always there, seems to tire easily. Can get in to the blocker’s face right away with his anticipation. Not necessarily quick in to the backfield but he has the powerful explosion that will show up on occasion.

Run Defend/Recognition: Constantly double teamed but still makes an impact on tackles. Gets in on a lot of hits. Covers a lot of ground from his nose tackle spot and gets moving in the right direction off the bat. Reads blocks and gets himself in position to make the tackle or alter the running lane.

Size/Length/Hand Size: Has the ideal lower half for a defensive tackle. Huge rear with thick legs gives him the power to hold ground against double teams and get a push against a single blocker. Carries his 320+ pounds comfortably. Has longer arms than a normal 6’3 player has and he knows how to use them to keep blockers at bay.

Strength/Ability to Shed Blocks: Can bench press almost 500 pounds, a very stout defender. Seems to be on another level strength wise from head to toe than his opponents. Difficult to keep blocked for long because of his active hands and sheer power. Looked like a man among boys on some weeks.

Tackling: Improved in this area since his earlier years. Had over sixty tackles from the nose tackle position, an impressive number. Does get juked in space because his feet get heavy in pursuit. When in position, he completely swallows the ball carrier with his arms and does not let them escape. Strong tackler.

Technique/Hand Use/Leverage: Plays low from his rear on up, hands are constantly attacking the blocker’s numbers. Strong hands prevent him from getting locked on to. Overall technique is picture perfect when he is not fatigued. Cuts corners and loses out on the leverage battle when he is on the field for more than six straight plays.

Versatility: Can play in any scheme on the inside. Has the girth and strength to be double teamed inside as a 3-4 nose tackle, but can also shoot the A gaps in the 4-3. His versatility will boost his grade as any team looking for interior defensive line help will have him high on their board.

Final Word: Williams has arguably given a bigger boost to his stock than any senior in the country this season. In a strong class of defensive tackles, Williams could break his way in to the first round because of his NFL-ready ability to stuff the run. The impact that Terrance Knighton has had on the Jaguars defensive line will only help Williams here. While his motor can be questioned, it is obvious he has put in a lot of time to molding his body in to ideal shape for a run stuffer. If he can be put in to a healthy rotation up front, his impact will be felt early and often.

Popularity: 8% [?]

Taylor Mays – Southern California

Scout: David Syvertsen

Height/Weight: 6’3/235

Pro Potential: Adrian Wilson – Arizona Cardinals

Position Traits

Agility/Hips: Very tight hips. Does not have the quick twitch that the good cover safeties have in space. Does not seem to do well in short area, too stiff.

Ball Skills: Intercepted three passes his freshman year, but totaled just two in the next three seasons combined. Does not get challenged a lot deep but at the same time, he does not ge this hands on a lot of balls. Has to slow down a significant amount when tracking the ball. Loses balance when looking up.

Body Control: When moving down hill, he remains balanced and powerful which gets the most out of each hit he exerts. Does not maintain that balance when running deep while tracking the ball. The longer he strides, the lesser he controls his body.

Instincts/Recognition: Likes to play it safe, which causes late reaction in the passing game. Diagnoses routes over the middle well and gets himself in position to break up the pass or blow up the receiver. When playing in or near the box, he reads running lanes and gets in to them very quick.

Pass Coverage: Speed allows him to play a true centerfield where he is at his best. A weapon in zone coverage that can be relied upon against the short, intermediate, and deep route trees. Struggles in man coverage, gives a huge cushion because of his lack of ability to change direction. Loses focus on the quarterback and can easily be fooled on a double move.

Pursuit: Takes outstanding angles from the deep safety position. Knows his speed and consistently meets the ball carrier at a spot that results in the least amount of yardage gained. Has the speed to make up for mistakes that he or his teammates make.

Run Support: Plays the run better than most linebackers. Flies in to the box with massive force, strength, and aggression. Can make hits that send running backs to the sideline for good. Is usually good about wrapping up but will occasionally go for the big hit, keeping his arms at bay.

Speed: Has reportedly been timed under 4.4, but his game speed does not match that. While he does really get going when running deep, his acceleration rate is average. Is a long strider that has true sideline-to-sideline range.

Tackling: Is consistently near or at the top of the USC box score when it comes to tackles. Plays well in the box and gets in on a lot of action. When the motivation is there, he can be part of the takedown process on almost every play. Technique is not always sound, simply tries to shoulder a ball carrier in to the ground at times.

Final Word: One look at Taylor Mays in a uniform, it is easy to fall in love with him. He is a man among boys in the college game but the issue is that his performance does not always match his ability. The work ethic is there but the motor runs hot and cold on the field. He is a bit of an underachiever when one considers his tool set. He will need to be in a very specific role at the next level in order to avoid him getting burned in man coverage. At almost 240 pounds, his ability to cover a receiver or an athletic tight end in space will not cut it. But if he can be dropped in and out of the box with simple zone coverage responsibilities, he could thrive.

Popularity: 7% [?]

Jimmy Clausen-QB-#7-Notre Dame

Projected Round: 1st-Top 10

Height: 6’3

Weight: 223

Pro Comparison: Drew Brees.

Accuracy: Clausen is the most accurate QB in this year’s class. He is a tremendously polished QB who does not miss receivers. Has the ability to put it anywhere it needs to be. Leads his receivers well. Not afraid to throw into a tight window.

Arm Strength: Clausen’s arm is well above average though it is not elite. Does posses the ability to make all the throws. Short and intermediate routes have great zip on them and get on the receiver in a hurry. Deep ball has a tendency to float at times, but he does have the power to get it 65-70 yards downfield.

Decision Making: Has matured greatly in his decision making. Very seldom tries to force a throw that isn’t there. Needs to make his reads faster post snap. Reads the coverage well pre-snap to identify his primary route. Has a great feel for where to throw. Very adept at when to throw the ball away.

Field Vision: Clausen makes his own reads pre-snap and identifies the coverages at the line, a rarity in today’s college game. He sees the field well and easily identifies when to take his check down receiver. Does not miss a receiver breaking open.

Mechanics: Clausen is very technically and fundamentally sound. Posses a short, compact release that gets the ball out of his hand in a hurry. Throwing motion fluid and releases the ball high, preventing batted balls. Very sound and fluid in his drop backs.

Mobility: Clausen will never be confused for a running QB. Foot speed is well below average. Does possess a good ability to escape the rush and move in the pocket but is not a threat to run for any big gains. Solid at throwing on the run.

Pocket Awareness: Perhaps the biggest improvement Clausen has made in his time at Notre Dame is his ability to feel the rush. Moves well in the pocket and understands when it is time to take off. Good at avoiding the rush and still getting the throw off. Not afraid to stand in and take the hit to make the play.

Agility: Solid lateral agility while moving in the pocket for a QB that is not a running threat. Not a danger to make anyone miss in the open field, but uses what he has well in sliding in the pocket and moving side to side to make a throw.

Final Word: Clausen is a big game QB with a ton of moxie and confidence. His ability to lead late game comebacks and his calmness under fire will excite a lot of NFL teams. He may not be a naturally vocal leader, but his toughness and willingness to play through injuries will earn him the respect of his teammates. He possesses an NFL and elite accuracy that could make him a multiple Pro Bowl player in the NFL if he is allowed to develop slowly and learn in his first few NFL seasons.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Gerald McCoy

6′4, 295 pounds | Oklahoma | Defensive tackle

Pass rush: McCoy is a very good pass rusher for a defensive tackle. His impact on the pass game isn’t always evident in the stats, though. McCoy is relied upon in the Oklahoma defense to push the pocket back, opening gaps for linebackers to shoot. Gets off his blocks as good as any defensive tackle in the country. Has developed a nice counter move that helps him separate after initial contact.

Pursuit: Backside pursuit is decent but not quite as good as you’d like. McCoy will sometimes take a bad angle against shifty running backs and will get top heavy in his pursuit. Has an impressive burst in the short area to get to quarterbacks. At his best working in the box. McCoy’s play recognition instincts are very good, but he doesn’t make a lot of plays away from the line.

Quickness: McCoy gets off the snap as fast as any interior lineman in the nation. Routinely gets across the face of offensive linemen. Has good hips that he can flip quickly to move laterally down the line.

Run defend: Although McCoy doesn’t really have the size to be a traditional two-gap defensive tackle, he consistently makes plays against the run. His strength allows him to maintain position in the middle.

Size: McCoy has good size, but it looks like his frame could handle another 10-15 pounds of mass. Frame is very lanky. Appears to have long arms.

Strength: McCoy might not have the natural brute strength a lot of defensive tackles possess. He makes up for it in his leverage and aggression.

Tackling: A disciplined tackler who shows good technique. Plays with a lot of effort, and it shows in his takedown ability. Doesn’t go for the highlight reel hit, opting instead for the sure tackle.

Technique: Actively uses his hands immediately off the snap to shed blockers. Keeps low and aggressively drives his legs. Does an above-average job of protecting his feet.

Versatility: McCoy is almost strictly a 4-3 defensive tackle. His skill set would not suit a 3-4 nose tackle. He may be able to hold up as a 3-4 end, but that position wouldn’t best utilize his skills.

Popularity: 5% [?]

David Syvertsen breaks down South Florida’s electric pass rusher George Selvie. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 4% [?]

Oklahoma DT Gerald McCoy and Illinois WR Arrelious Benn make the 2010 class much more exciting. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 2% [?]

David Syvertsen gives us his look at the top needs for each team in the NFC heading in to the 2010 off-season! Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 23% [?]