Devon Still – DT, Penn State

Still is one of the best defensive tackle prospects in the 2012 draft. He has the size and athleticism to be used in either a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme. Still has a good burst with a combination of quickness and power, which allows him to get pressure against the pass and be a disruptive force against the run. Still’s biggest weakness is his inconsistency, especially against good offensive lines. At the Senior Bowl he needs to prove that he can be successful against good interior offensive linemen. He must show up consistently at both Senior Bowl practices and the game itself. He projects as a mid to late first round pick.  With a good performance at the Senior Bowl, Still could move into the top half of the first round. In a weak class of defensive linemen, Still could see his stock rise fast.

Nick Foles – QB, Arizona

With Matt Barkley and Landry Jones returning to school, the 2012 draft class is in need of a player to step up and fill the void as the third quarterback in the draft. Foles has the ability to be that quarterback. He has great size at 6’5” and 240 lbs and displays a strong arm. He is very accurate on short routes, which are featured in the Arizona offense. Foles needs to show that he can produce outside of the spread and prove that he is not simply a system quarterback. He must display the ability to take snaps from under center and read defenses. He also has questions about his pocket presence and ability to deliver the ball under pressure. Foles has the ability to really climb boards as the draft approaches. There are several quarterback needy teams that will examine his Senior Bowl performance closely. With good performances in the Senior Bowl and at his pro day, Foles could cement himself as the third quarterback taken in April.

DeVier Posey – WR, Ohio State

Posey lost most of the 2011 season as a result of the suspensions from the Ohio State memorabilia scandal. Although scouts have a decent volume of tape from 2009 and 2010, he was not able to separate himself this year and improve on previous seasons. Posey has average size and good athletic ability. He is very good at reading coverages and finding the hole in zones. He is an effective route runner and creates separation for himself with a good release and crisp cuts in and out of his breaks. He struggles with drops because of his small hands and inconsistency in catching the ball away from his body. Of all receivers, Posey might have the biggest opportunity to climb draft boards between now and April. A good showing at the Senior Bowl would go a long way in showing that he is a reliable option at the next level.

Quinton Coples – DE, North Carolina

Coples has a lot to prove at the Senior Bowl. While he stout against the run, there are questions concerning his pass rushing abilities. He has a solid burst with both good quickness and strength, but lacks the speed and agility to consistently pressure the passer on the edge. Coples has a big offseason ahead of him in which he could move up or down draft boards. Senior Bowl will be important for Coples as he will be showcased against good offensive tackles.

Kuechly isn’t a great athlete, nor is he a flashy personality. What he does is make plays between the numbers, racking up unheard of tackle numbers on his way to All-American honors in 2011. Kuechly is a hard-nosed throwback to simpler times. But novelty has little place in today’s innovative and specialized game.

The Luke Kuechly Profile

6’2″ | 237 lbs | Boston College

2011 stats: 183 tackles (110 solo)

Position Specific Traits

Disengage Blockers: 5.0

Routinely driven off the ball when engaged, Kuechly doesn’t show the strength to fight off blockers. He would benefit greatly from using his hands to break free, but rarely does he try. This may work in college, where Kuechly can route the blocker to the run, but in the NFL he will be controlled at the point of attack and driven off the ball.

Man Coverage: 4.0

Kuechly, in three games viewed, was not asked to cover a tight end or back in man coverage. His overall lack of speed and flexibility when dropping into zone coverage indicates a poor skill set to handle man duties.

Pass Rush: 4.5

Kuechly rarely blitzes, instead taking a two or three yard drop at the snap to read. He will then flow to the ball or drop into an intermediate cloud coverage. Kuechly doesn’t show the burst to be an effective pass rusher up the middle—nor does he have the strength to fight through the A gap.

Read & React: 7.5

The best trait in Kuechly’s game is his ability to see where the ball is going. He seems to always be in the right place at the right time, which isn’t all coincidence. His film study pays off, and he does a nice job directing traffic and recognizing what the offense is doing.

One issue is that Kuechly takes too many false steps. You even notice he will take a drop on run plays, which means he’s failing to read his keys (either the guards or nearest back). He’s brilliant when clean, but not as sound when blocked.

Run Defense: 6.5

Expectations were high in this area, but Kuechly disappointed.

No player makes more tackles, but rarely are these clean tackles where Kuechly read the play and made a dynamite pursuit and form tackle. He makes a lot of tackles in a pile, which aren’t really tackles and are more pile-ups like a traffic accident.

Kuechly is blown off the ball consistently—by guards, fullbacks and tight ends. He’s easy to wall off due to false steps taken away from the play. Florida State consistently ran at Kuechly, and throughout the game just one “plus” play was charted.

The bottom line: Kuechly makes too many tackles after the runner has gained 5-8 yards.

Tackling: 8.0

Kuechly isn’t always a wrap-up tackler, but he has the strength to pull down runners from various angles and grips. Takes his self out of the play at times, but has the vision to recover and get back in on the action downfield. Is always around the ball and will rack up high numbers and impressive stats.

Zone Coverage: 5.0

Kuechly showed good balance and light movement in his drops. This is an area of surprise. Kuechly did come out high in his stance, but this is easily correctable. Can play over the tight end and did a nice job getting depth in his drops. Flows to the ball well coming from behind the play.

Athletic Traits

Agility: 5.5

Average agility for the position. Stands up too often and plays tall. Doesn’t show the lateral agility or flexible hips to be a factor in man coverage or as a pass rusher. Is stiff from the waist down.

Speed: 6.5

Kuechly has enough recovery speed and good pursuit, but he’s not fast enough to run down backs or receivers from behind—which is where he is too often after making false reads and getting driven off the ball.

Strength: 6.0

An area where more was expected. Kuechly is strong at the point of attack, but doesn’t work off blockers well or hold his ground. Don’t expect him to control gaps.

Overall: 6.5

Kuechly is being touted by some as a Top 15 player. It doesn’t show up on film. Instead, the All-American looks like a third-rounder. And that’s on a good day.

Kuechly does nothing particularly well, other than rack up tackles credited to him by a University employee who has everything to gain by giving the tackles to the one marquee player on the defense—a rampant issue in every stadium across the country.

Take away the gaudy tackle numbers and what’s left? Not much, honestly. Kuechly is an average athlete with good vision, but poor strength and no ability to work off blockers.

Best Fit: 4-3 MIKE

Kuechly’s success in the NFL will be based solely on how well the defensive line in front of him plays. NFL guards, fullbacks and tight ends will dominate Kuechly at the point of attack. He is not the type of downhill linebacker who will crash the gaps and make plays at the line of scrimmage. Instead, he’ll fade back and make plays three, five or seven yards down field.

NFL Comparison: James Laurinaitis, St. Louis Rams

Unlike Laurinaitis, Kuechly doesn’t show the strength to be an every down player in the NFL. Both players left college with loads of hype, but talent evaluators correctly saw that Laurinaitis was limited athletically and would need considerable help from his defensive line if he were to ever become even serviceable at the position.
2012 NFL Draft Grade: Third Round

Many are ready to elevate Tannehill to the first round based on this need at the position, but does his play actually warrant a first-round selection? 

AGILITY: 8.5

A former wide receiver, Tannehill brings athleticism to the position that few quarterbacks possess. This can be a positive and a negative, though.

Tannehill does have quick feet, which will aid in him making the transition to a drop-back quarterback once in the NFL, but he’s also relying too often on his athleticism instead of his mechanics.

Tannehill will see comparisons to Tim Tebow as he’s an able runner who made big plays as a designed runner in the Aggies’ offense. 

ACCURACY: 6.0

Tannehill is able to accurately deliver the football on intermediate, crossing and short routes to the flats. He throws a very catchable pass that has good placement with the receiver running both left and right. What I didn’t see, at all, was deep accuracy.

Tannehill doesn’t push the ball upfield often, and when he did the ball was underthrown with poor accuracy leading the receiver to the boundary. This will be an area that is scrutinized when scouts can dictate which throws Tannehill is making. 

ARM STRENGTH: 6.5

Tannehill showed good arm strength—better than I expected. He’s able to get the ball to the sideline from midfield, but he’s also not throwing the ball deep often at all. While we didn’t see the deep ball, Tannehill’s velocity is good. The ball pops out with good spin and nice trajectory.

Tannehill will need a full work-up at the Senior Bowl to see just how strong his arm is vertically. There is a delayed hitch in his motion (shown below) that if cleaned up could improve his arm strength down field. 

DECISION MAKING: 5.5

Film study:

Overall: Check down. Check down. Check down. Sideline into coverage.

This is commonplace in the A&M offense. Only Landry Jones threw more checkdowns in a three-game charting this season. Tannehill doesn’t look deep, he’s not asked to make reads and he’s not ready to step up to the line in the NFL and decipher where to put the football.

Anyone expecting this player to be a rookie starter needs to take a long look at what he actually does in this offense. 

FIELD VISION: 5.5

In three games I saw Tannehill check off the No. 1 read five times. He comes out of center, looks at the free safety, finds his read and throws the ball. The A&M offense may be asking him to make one read (free safety) and deliver the ball from where he’s lining up, and if so this is a very remedial offense.

Tannehill will need work—as most young quarterbacks do—at reading the defense. Unlike other quarterbacks in this class, Tannehill has half the time devoted to the position that they do. His learning curve will be high. 

MECHANICS: 6.5

You will hear mention many times to the fact that Tannehill formerly played wide receiver. Many people mention this as a positive, but to me it’s a current problem. Tannehill has just 1.5 seasons as a quarterback under his belt, and his mechanics show this.

Tannehill has a wasted motion in his throw, which I’ll break down here.

See how his elbow is dropped down below his breast-line in this image? That’s not where you want an elbow or the angle you want a shoulder at for throwing a football.

Same play, this is the next motion from Tannehill. He’s dropping his elbow and then bringing it back up. This causes not only a delay that NFL cornerbacks will jump on, but added stress on the shoulder. This has to be fixed quickly in the NFL. 

POCKET PRESENCE: 7.0

When you hear a mobile quarterback you automatically think someone who will tuck and run at the first sign of trouble, but that’s not the case with Tannehill. He stands tall in the pocket and moves his feet very well coming out of center and shotgun sets.

He isn’t pressured much as A&M moves him around on designed waggles and bootlegs. Through three games I found very little evidence of him handling pressure in his face. This play was encouraging because Tannehill felt the pressure bending around him and made a good move to step up in the pocket and give himself a run-pass opportunity. This is what scouts will need to see. 

OVERALL: 6.5

Tannehill doesn’t live up to the hype some are handing him on my report. I see him more as a late second-rounder who could move up with a great showing at the Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine.

Tannehill does many things well, but he doesn’t do any one thing perfect and is more a product of the system and routes around him than anything else. In three games I didn’t see Tannehill break outside the system to make a play. He makes his predetermined reads and executes. This isn’t a bad thing, necessarily, but NFL coaches want players who can think for themselves on the field. 

NFL Comparison: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buffalo Bills

Jim Rogash/Getty Images

Tannehill will utlimately grade out as more athletic than Fitzpatrick, but the two are very similar. Both work in an offense built on timing and zone routes, and they do well in this system. Neither player has great arm strength, but gets by with catchable passes and an ability to execute under pressure.

Like Fitzpatrick, Tannehill will need time to develop into an NFL starter and will need exceptional talent around him at wide receiver. If his receivers cannot get open and sit down in zones, Tannehill is not the type of quarterback to throw his receivers open or push the ball vertically.

Blackmon and Jeffery both carry Top 10 grades from me at this time, and are likely early selections in the 2012 NFL draft. But where does Floyd, the top senior wide receiver, rank and how does his game translate to the NFL?

MICHAEL FLOYD – WIDE RECEIVER- NOTRE DAME

6’3″, 224 lbs, 4.54 speed (projected)

2011 season: 100 catches, 1,147 yards, 9 touchdowns
Acceleration: 7.0

Overall: One area that didn’t show up on film was Floyd’s ability to catch and accelerate away from defenders. You will notice in each clip below that Floyd makes the majority of his catches in traffic. This does show off his exceptional concentration and good catching ability, but it poses new questions about his ability to separate from defenses.

Agility: 7.5

Film Study: There are two things to watch here. First, watch as Floyd uses a move to get open from tight coverage. He then has the presence of mind and agility to reverse field, accelerate and pick up extra yards on a key play in the game.

Overall: Floyd does show good agility, but it’s not great. He looked faster and more athletic in 2011, but I worry about his flexibility and his burst in the open field. These are two areas to monitor during Senior Bowl week.

Blocking: 8.5

Film Study: I played wide receiver and coached the position—and this is textbook. Floyd drives off the snap and sells his route. Until he breaks down and inside on the cornerback, we’re not sure if he’s blocking or running a slant.

Floyd positions himself so the defender has to come through him to make the tackle. This is what separates his ability and effort from the other receivers in this class. This is a very small thing, but it’s a key to success in the NFL.

Overall: One thing I loved about Julio Jones last season was his ability and effort as a blocker. Michael Floyd is similar. He’s willing, which is rare in the diva era of wide receivers, and does more than run off coverage. He’s engaged and ready to get his hands dirty.

Hands: 9.0

Film Study: Catching the football is all about concentration. There were a good number of clips that would show Floyd’s ability to catch the football cleanly, but I enjoyed this catch the most.

The route here is also good, as Floyd positions himself away from the cornerback with a crisp cut, but watch his concentration. He never worries about the cornerback jumping the route because he has blocked him out with his back. Floyd looks the ball in, secures it and then reaches across the goal line for a touchdown.

Overall: I did see a few drops on Floyd’s 2010 film, but he’s much improved in this area during the 2011 season. The few drops I did chart could be chalked up to bad timing or poor throws.

Release: 8.0

Overall: I had planned to show cut-ups of this, but in four games evaluated, Floyd was never pressed at the line of scrimmage. Every college team chose to play him with off coverage—the cornerback at least seven yards off the ball. This is a testament to the respect Floyd demands from college corners.

Route Running: 8.5

Film Study: I like to show NFL-style routes in this area, and that’s what we see from Floyd. This is a simple out-route, but it’s a cornerstone of many offenses today.

Watch as Floyd drills his inside (right) foot into the ground and changes direction. The poor cornerback never has a chance to recover and make up ground.

I’m going to be very picky here and tell you that Floyd did round off this route, meaning there’s too much curve in his change from running vertical to horizontal. This route will work in college, but not in the NFL. If there is one area that bothers me most about Floyd, this is it. I need to see crisper transitions.

Overall: Floyd has a good understanding of routes and how to get in and out of his breaks. I like the fact that he doesn’t kick his feet out too far away from his body when changing direction. Instead he keeps his feet and legs in line, which limits the amount of time it will take him to cut and accelerate in a new direction.

Size: 9.0

Film Study: Check out the clip here. You notice two things; 1) Floyd is head-and-shoulders taller than the cornerback. That’s an easy plus. 2) Floyd does a great job high-pointing the ball—which means he goes up to catch the football at its highest point. He doesn’t wait on the football, he attacks it. That’s an NFL skill.

Overall: Floyd has ideal NFL size; he easily passes the eyeball test. A little-known fact is that he actually dropped weight before the 2011 season to add some acceleration.

Speed: 8.0

Overall: Floyd has good speed, but not great. You won’t find him running away from defenders after the catch. In fact, one thing that jumps off the film to me is that Floyd is constantly making receptions in traffic. This indicates that he’s not separating from defenders, which can show a lack of speed.

Floyd’s speed and short-area agility will be something I watch closely at the Senior Bowl.

NFL Comparison: Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers

Jordy Nelson may have Floyd beat in a foot race, but it’s close. They are very similar in size, and even in what they do best on the field.

Like Nelson, Floyd is best when working across the coverage. He excels when asked to run horizontal across the field, moving through traffic and through coverages to find openings. This is a route every NFL team runs in some form, and Floyd is a master at catching on the run and securing the football while moving.

Nelson may be a better athlete, but Floyd has the potential to be a similar player in the NFL.

Overall: 8.0

This scouting report began with me stating Floyd might be the safest pick among all the wide receivers in the 2012 draft class, and I believe that.

Floyd’s abilities and potential are scheme-less. While Alshon Jeffery is a great deep threat, that talent is reliant upon a quarterback who can throw deep with good accuracy. Justin Blackmon is a solid all-around receiver, but what does he do that’s exceptional?

Floyd doesn’t jump off the film like Blackmon or Jeffery can in one play, but his consistent body of work is just as impressive—and in some cases more impressive—than the two wide receivers ranked ahead of him.

Is this four-year starter worthy of being selected in the first round? Has he shown scouts and GMs that his undersized body will not be an issue at the next level? Let’s take a closer look at the Baylor product.

Acceleration: 9.0

Film Study: This clip is a perfect example of how Wright’s instant acceleration makes him so dangerous after the catch. He makes his first cut hard to the left and is already at full speed, so the defense has no chance to recover. This is the kind of play that gets you excited about this kid.

Overall: Wright’s acceleration is a tremendous asset. He has the ability to get to full speed almost instantly. He routinely shows that his elite acceleration in and out of breaks creates separation from the defender, both before and after the catch. After bursting off the line of scrimmage, he is at full speed within a few steps, and eating up the initial cushion created by the defender.

Agility: 9.0

Film Study: The balance and agility it takes to make the play in this clip is remarkable. One obviously astounding part is the tight rope act he performs down the sideline, but the whole play shows his amazing agility. First he is able to get open by making a quick swim move to get inside the defender, and then he adjusts to a high throw. Wright then is able to make two defenders miss tackles in the open field because of his agility and balance. After that, his skills are on full display as he is able to tight rope for nearly 20 yards.

Overall: Wright has an ability to utilize his agility and balance with or without the ball. He gets in and out of his breaks smoothly and with fluidity. This attribute is a big reason why he is so explosive in the open field. He is able to make sudden cuts and breaks while maintaining balance and speed. This is an elite element of Wright’s game.

Blocking: 7.5

Overall: This is an area of Wright’s game that may have some question marks. I am not saying he can’t block, but unfortunately Baylor didn’t ask him to block a lot in college, so there isn’t much film on that aspect of his game. He is slightly undersized, but a fiery competitor. He is willing and that is half of the battle with young wide receivers. He will require some work in this area at the NFL level.

Hands: 8.5

Film Study: This clip shows the ability of Wright to make a spectacular catch using just his hands. The deep ball is overthrown and he must dive in order to just get his hands on it, much less make the catch. Obviously in order to make this play there are a lot of other skills involved, but if you just focus on the use of his hands and the coordination it takes to complete the process of a catch like that, it’s pretty amazing.

Overall: Wright routinely makes catches in traffic with his hands, aggressively plucking the ball out of the air amongst defenders. He makes difficult catches when passes are both too high and too low. He makes some drops that are concerning where he lets the ball get into his body instead of using his hands to catch the pass. The drops were mostly over the middle on crossing routes.

Release: 8.0

Film Study: This clip shows the fear that Wright instills in his opposing defenders. The cornerback is nearly 10 yards off and still gets beat deep. Corners even played off coverage 10 yards from their own endzone this shows ultimate respect. The consistent off coverage opened up a lot of different screen routes that were very effective.

Overall: In all the film I watched on Wright, I never saw press coverage against him. I am interested to see how he will handle it in the NFL; he will undoubtedly see press at the next level. If his aggressiveness and physicality in traffic gives any indication he will be just fine.

Route Running: 8.0
Overall: Wright relies on his athletic ability to create the separation. As I mentioned, his suddenness gives him an advantage in running the routes that are asked of him. He can run a lot of different routes and has a lot of repetition with screens, reverses, and sweeps. As one can imagine, his deep speed allows him to run a lot of double moves and stops. These routes were very effective for him in college. His footwork is balanced and consistent with a variety of routes.

Size: 8.0
Overall: Size is a very important aspect when scouting a WR. But receivers can sometimes use athletic ability to play bigger than their size; This is definitely the case with Wright. He is listed as 5’10” 190 lbs., but he expands his catching radius with a tremendous leaping ability (42 inch vertical leap) and long arms. He has a strong solid frame and will likely add a few pounds.

Speed: 9.5

Film Study: Watch this clip here. Wright makes the catch, the cornerback falls down, and then the safety comes to make the tackle. Even though the safety has a great angle to make the tackle, Wright’s speed immobilizes the great angle, and the safety fails to make the tackle.

Overall: Wright is projected to run a 4.3-4.4, 40 at the combine. That is an elite speed. More importantly than that, he plays very fast in pads and separates himself from defenders with ease.

NFL Comparison: Greg Jennings, Green Bay Packers
There are a lot of comparisons between Wright and Carolina Panthers WR Steve Smith due to similarity in size and speed measurable along with aggressive ability to go get the ball in traffic. I see that comparison, but I see more of Greg Jennings in Wright’s game. Some of you may be surprised to know that Jennings in only 5’11”. When comparing the games of Jennings and Wright, what I see is the ability to get behind the defense and make long touchdown plays. They both track the deep ball beautifully making it almost impossible to overthrow them deep. Wright is more explosive in the open field but Jennings has a little better hands than Wright.

Overall: 8.5
Wright is a very dangerous prospect, and is worthy of being one of the rare first-round selections of a WR under six feet tall, especially with new developments of some underclassmen deciding to stay in school.

He has the production and experience that you like to see from a wide receiver. He has played through some mild injuries and is a tough competitor. He is versatile having played both outside and in the slot.

Wright would be a very valuable weapon for any team. He will bring an ability to get behind the defense and blow the top off of coverages a lot, similar to what Titus Young has accomplished this year with the Lions. He has the mental toughness along with the ability to make an immediate impact at a position that usually requires time to develop.

A starter of 47 games at the college level, Dietrich quickly impressed in the NAFL and CFL.

A team MVP, Captain and All-American for the London Silverbacks of the NAFL, Dietrich did well in an open tryout and was quickly signed by the BC Lions of the CFL for the 2010 season. He has done well enough in one season on the practice squad with the Lions to see a call up to the IFL and the Slaughter.

A long snapper, center and guard; Dietrich brings immediate value to the Chicago offensive line. In the IFL flexibility on the line is paramount, and finding a player with the ability to snap or play guard is a great steal for the Slaughter.

Dietrich will be represented in the USA by Simms & Shaw Sports Management Group.

The Dietrich File
6’2″, 310lbs
Birthdate: 12/2/1984
College: Wilfrid Laurier University

Its nuts to see how much NFL talent will be on the field tonight.

ALABAMA

*#3 Trent Richardson – RB – 5’11/224

1st Team All American in 2011. Appears he will leave for the NFL this year. Was NFL ready before his sophomore season. Came to Alabama with elite speed, but has really bulked up and turned himself in to more of a power back. Has a Michael Turner-type ability in that he is a guy that can carry the ball a bunch of times and grind down a defense. Consistently gets the tough, often unnoticed yards because of the ability to break tackles. Will contribute right away in the NFL, just not sure he is worth a high draft pick. He lacks the big play speed, won’t run away from most defensive backs. Solid, but unspectacular player in the NFL.

#4 Marquis Maze – WR – 5’9/184

2nd Team All SEC in 2011. Maze is one of my favorite receivers in this class, believe it or not. Considering the value of where he is projected to be drafted, he presents great value.  He runs crisp, efficient, explosive routes throughout the entire tree. He has legit 4.4 speed. Very strong pair of hands that make the tough catches consistently. Also a top tier punt returner, has an obvious ability to read blocks and find the seams before they are appear. 4th/5th rounder because of his size, but I think he will be worth every penny.

#73 William Vlachos – C – 6’1/295

1st team All SEC in 2011, 2nd Team in 2010. Engineer of a very smart offensive line. A guy that has been given a ton of responsibility, essentially a coach on the field. Has more power/pop off the snap than you think. Struggles to sustain blocks though, does not have a pair of heavy hands. Will be drafted after round 4 or 5, maybe a starter down the road.

#52 Alfred McCullough – G – 6’2/312

Low, squatty, powerful guard that gets overlooked. Short arms hurt him, but McCullough is a reliable player that played very well this season. Not the most mobile guy in space, but he gets to the second level quickly. Late rounder that could make a nice backup because of his NFL ready strength and technique inside.

#41 Courtney Upshaw – OLB – 6’2/265

1st Team All SEC in 2011. One of my favorite players in the entire draft class. Has NFL level strength from head to toe, a nice combination of natural strength/girth and weight room power. His game is based on an explosive first gear and good old thick, country strength. Best projected as an outside linebacker in a 3-4, although some teams can view him as a defensive end in a four man front. Reminds me a ton of Lamarr Wodley of the Steelers. Should be a top 15 pick, will be a contributor right away.

#4 Mark Barron – S – 6’2/220

1st Team All SEC in 2011, 2010, 2009. 1st Team All American in 2011 and 2010. May very well be the first ‘Bama player taken in the draft. Will likely work out very well before the draft. A do it all safety that excels in every area, really have a hard time finding holes in his game. Will fly in to the box and deliver bone-jarring hits. Can man up a wide receiver and follow him all over the field. Plays back deep and up with the linebackers. Great blitzer, avoids blocks and a top notch form tackler. Watch an Alabama game and you will see #4 involved in almost every play.

*#21 Dre Kirkpatrick – 6’2/193

2nd Team All SEC in 2011. Probably should go back for his senior season, as I think he could end up as an eventual top 5 selection 2013. But if he does come out this year, he is going to be a wildcard. Based on his combinatio n of performance in 2011 and prior, he may not be the sure thing that teams want in a top 15 pick. But his upside is as high as any cornerback in this class. Very long, lanky frame but he has fluid hips. Excellent press corner that can just obliterate receivers at the point of attack. May be the best run defending corner in the country, loves to be physical and aggressive. Will be a very hard guy to beat deep because of his long stride, deep speed.

*#30 Dont’a Hightower – 6’4/260

1st Team All American. Will likely come out this year, as this is his fourth year at Alabama but he received a medical redshirt in 2009 for a torn ACL. Will likely be considered the top inside linebacker in the draft, and rightfully so. Very similar player to former ‘Bama linebacker Rolando McClain. Absolutely dominant against the inside run, in a league of his own in that respect. Only issue here though is that he may be a bit too heavy for the NFL right now. The way the offenses are spreading things out and making linebackers drop back 40-50 times per game, I think the risk of keeping Hightower on the field is a bit high. He is very athletic in short space, can be light on his feet. But when you ask him to play sideline to sideline, or drop 15-20 yards in to coverage, or follow a tight end around the seam, he looks very average. Will be a tough decision for a team that is looking at him in round 1. When all is said and done, I believe he is worth a top 20 pick. One of the smartest defenders Saban has ever coached, the kind of guy that can think his way into hindering the physical shortcomings.

#99 Josh Chapman – DT – 6’1/190

2nd Team All SEC on 2011. A guy that surprised a lot of people this year. The unsung hero of the nation’s top run defense. Does not fill the stat sheet but the impact he can have on a running game enormous. Takes on the double teams, keeping linebackers free for that extra second. Very smart player as well, can read blocks and move blockers towards a designated running lane. Could end up being a 1st round pick, put some very nice tape together this year for teams that struggle against the inside run.

#5 Jerrell Harris – LB – 6’2/242

Very interesting prospect here. There are some players that clearly benefit from stardom all around them. However there are also some that don’t get the looks because of that unit’s stardom. Harris is a guy that one awards for being a top defensive player on Bama’s scout team. He now gets a lot of playing time on the starting defense and he shows glimpses of NFL ability. Plays the position with a ton of power, and showed better lateral range that Hightower. One of those guys that can deliver a different kind of sound when he gets everything behind a hit. The earliest I see him going is round 6, but I think he is a guy that has his best football way ahead of him.

#24 DeQuan Menzie – 5’11/198

Versatile defensive back that may be best suited for safety. May be their best zone defender in a talented secondary. Anticipates well, does his best work with the action in front of him. 5-6th round kind of prospect that I need to study more.

LSU

*#17 Morris Claiborne – CB – 6’0/185

1st Team All American, Jim Thorpe Award Winner, and SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2011. I think Claiborne is the best cover corner to come out of college in a long, long time. Will grade out just as high, if note higher than Patrick Peterson of thr Arizona Cardinals. Long, lanky, but strong frame with flexible and fluid hips. Has better ball skills than any defensive back I can remember scouting, ever. Can track the ball well and explode after the ball with complete balance and efficiency. Shows minimal wasted steps as a cover corner in a man scheme. Won’t be burnt by many, if any, receivers. Will need to work on handwork with his jam, but nothing that will hold him back. The one thing I don’t like is his lack of presence against the run. Poor tackler, constantly tries to trip up a ball carrier. Zero physical presence when trying to tackle. Will be a top 10 pick, possibly even the first defender selected.

*#2 Rueben Randle – WR – 6’3/208

1st Team All SEC in 2011. Really turned it on this year and put together a few game tapes that made him look like a first rounder. There are a few whispers he will come out for financial reasons, although he could really use another year. Is a raw talent with superb deep ball skills. Tracks a ball well with balance and can catch the ball with ease among traffic. Doesn’t have that extra gear to run away from defenders though. A tough kid that can create a lot of yards after the catch. Would likely grade out as a 3rd rounder that could sneak in to round 2.

#18 Brandon Taylor – S – 6’0/201

Nothing overly spectacular about Taylor physically, but he going to play at the next level. Wears the #18 jersey, given to the player that works the hardest in the offseason. Has a lot of experience, productive player across the board. Very good form tackler that adds some extra pop to his hits. Very aggressive, downhill type. Not a liability in coverage, but also not a guy that can play the centerfield role. Also struggles when matched up against a wide receiver. 5-6th rounder.

#60 Will Blackwell – G – 6’4/295

1st Team All SEC. Nothing special about Blackwell. Lacks a true power game, doesn’t move a lot of defenders. An effective second level blocker that simply gets himself between the defender and ball carrier. I don’t see NFL power in him though so at the very least he is a future backup. Undrafted type.

#19 Deangelo Peterson – TE – 6’3/238

Will need to scout Peterson a bit more. I’ve been told by a few guys that he is name that pops up among scouts more than one would think. From what I’ve seen, he does not create mismatches, nor does he compete much as a blocker. Undrafted type that some see big upside in.

#94 Kendrick Adams – DE – 6’4/258

Rotational player that intrigued me a few times this year. He has a long, lanky but muscular frame that has plenty of room for growth. He has showed some nice initial explosion as an edge rusher, just a bit raw when it comes to hand work. Does not have a steady flow of moves inside or out. I would consider him late or in free agency because of the upside and how raw he is, being at LSU for just two seasons.

#22 Ryan Baker – LB – 6’0/236

2nd Team All SEC in 2011. Considered to be the leader of the LSU defense. Very low, powerful athlete that packs a punch. Has an interesting role within the defense. Will play on the weak side, but used as a blitzing linebacker on most passing downs. Hard guy to block, can be disruotive because of his natural leverage advantage and strong first step. A guy that always plays with balance, giving him maximum power. I really like guys like Baker I think he will come in, earn an important role as a special teams player, and build his way on to the linebacker depth chart. He is one of those late round linebackers that will earn his way in to playing time early on. Nothing sexy about it, just a very good football player

* This was the final copy before changes were made the week of the draft. Unfortunately, thanks to spammers, that version was lost in our site change-over. This was an April 19 version.

2011 NFL Draft Guide

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