New Era Scouting

Arizona Cardinals:
Lost LB Karlos Dansby (MIA), S Antrel Rolle (NYG),
Traded for S Kerry Rhodes (NYJ- 2010 4th RD, 2011 7th RD)
Traded WR Anquan Boldin (BAL- 2010 3rd and 4th RD) 

Atlanta Falcons:
Signed CB Dunta Robinson
Re-signed CB Brian Williams, WR Brian Finneran

Baltimore Ravens:
Signed WR Donte Stallworth
Re-signed DT Lamar Divens
Traded for WR Anquan Boldin (ARZ- 2010 3rd and 4th RD)
Lost DE Justin Bannan (DEN)

Buffalo Bills:
Re-signed OLB Bryan Scott
Retired: OT Brad Butler

Carolina Panthers:
Lost QB AJ Feeley (STL), DE Julius Peppers (CHI)
Cut QB Jake Delhomme

Chicago Bears:
Signed DE Julius Peppers (CAR), TE Brandon Manumaleuna (SD), RB Chester Taylor (MIN)
Cut OT Orlando Pace

Cincinnati Bengals:
Cut WR Laveranues Coles

Cleveland Browns:
Signed OT Tony Pashos and LB Scott Fujita
Cut OC Hank Fraley
Retired OG Ryan Tucker

Dallas Cowboys:
Re-signed CB Cletis Gordon

Denver Broncos:
Signed DE Justin Bannan (BAL), SS Nate Jones (MIA)
Re-signed OG Russ Hochstein, WR Brandon Lloyd

Detroit Lions:
Signed WR Nate Burleson (SEA), DE Kyle Vanden Bosch (TEN)
Re-signed OT Jon Jansen
Cut DT Grady Jackson, CB Phillip Buchanon
Traded for DT Corey Williams (CLE- 2010 5th RD)

Daryl Washington
6′1 3/4, 230 pounds | Outside linebacker | TCU

Coverage: Showed he’s solid dropping back into zone and covering an area. Possesses the hip flexibility and speed to man cover on running backs and tight ends.

Instincts: Although Washington only started one season for TCU, he displays very good football intelligence. He can quickly diagnose a play and figure out where it’s going. Rarely got fooled by play action plays. Very good pre-snap awareness. Blocked four punts in his career.

Pass rush: When Washington gets a gap, he’s a very good pass rusher. Works well to the inside despite his lack of strength. Can out-quick running backs to close on the quarterback. Finished his career with five and a half sacks.

Pursuit: Very smooth in his pursuit and fluid moving in space. Has the speed to track down ball carriers. But where Washington needs to improve here is in the angles he takes. Would make more plays if he was more disciplined in his pursuit.

Quickness: Washingotn might be the quickest linebacker prospect in this year’s draft. He’s always playing on his toes and can cut on a dime. Changes direction with ease and doesn’t lose speed or quickness when doing so.

Run defense: Moves around with ease thanks to his speed and agility. A true sideline-to-sideline player. Has the range to stop the run from all sides of the field. Uses his speed to recover when he takes poor angles.

Size: Washington has good height and length, but he doesn’t have a lot of bulk. Undersized build for an NFL linebacker. While he has the frame to get bigger, it may affect his agility – which is his best asset.

Strength: Not the best strength. Doesn’t have the functional take-on strength to be a force in the running game. Has the speed and instincts to overcome his strength limitations.

Tackling: Not much of a power tackler. Typically has to drag down stronger running backs and tight ends. Needs to increase his take-on strength. Can be shrugged off when he doesn’t use proper tackling fundamentals.

Versatility: Played inside in TCU’s 4-2-5 scheme. Has the instincts to hold the middle, just not the size. Because of that, he should only be considered an outside linebacker. Played a lot on special teams, which is an added bonus.

Final word: Although Washington played in 51 games, he only started one season for the Horned Frogs. He is incredibly athletic and fast, which makes him a real talent on special teams.

Washington may have to start there in the pros while he bulks up and learns a more standard NFL defensive scheme.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Kyle Wilson – Boise State

Scout: David Syvertsen

Height/Weight: 5’10/194

40 Time:

Pro Potential: Asante Samuel – Philadelphia Eagles

Position Traits

Agility/Hips: Very quick and fluid hips. Shows a lot of flexibility when swinging to either side. Remains balanced throughout. Light on his feet and changes direction with ease at a high speed.

Ball Skills: Reacts to the ball better than most receivers. Can adjust his body to any angle in order to ensure he comes down with the ball. Positions his body well and times his breaks with consistent precision. Has the hands of a receiver.

Body Control: Plays with complete balance from head to toe, constantly upright and in position to explode in a break.

Instincts/Recognition: Very smart player that anticipates throws. Gets himself moving towards the action before the ball is even thrown. Does trust his instincts too much at times, can be fooled and caught gambling. Gets caught peeking in to the backfield, will lose track of what is behind him in zone coverage.

Man Coverage/Turning Ability/Press Skill: Loves this part of the game. Likes to be physical at the point of attack and has abused receivers trying to get off his jam. Has the speed and quick step to shadow a receiver all over the field. Fluid as he turns and runs, maintains acceleration while keeping track of the ball.

Pursuit: Likes to fly around and pursues plays on the other side of the field. A true hustler that knows his speed, takes proper angles.

Speed: Reaches top speed fat, but may lack the top tier deep speed. Does not seem to trust himself against a fast receiver, will give a lot of cushion if he does not have the over-the-top help.

Tackling/Run Support: Very physical, shows zero hesitation in throwing his body in to the action. Can blitz with the best of them, and he knows how to finish. Wraps up more than the average cornerback but will get caught diving at the ankles.

Zone Coverage: Can use his reading ability and explosion well with the action transpiring in front of him. Does not do well when moving backwards in zone coverage, loses track of the action behind him.

Final Word: Because Wilson played a lower level of Division I football, it was important for him to go down to Mobile and perform at the Senior Bowl. He was, without a doubt, the top cornerback there and he cemented himself as a first round caliber talent. His ball skills are top notch (10 career INTs – 27 pass breakups) and his ability to read a quarterback and time his breaks are NFL ready. He can play man coverage in any NFL scheme right away because of the quickness and his physical nature. His intangibles are top notch and the option he brings to the table as a solid return specialist will only increase his value, possibly in to the top 20. With the NFL constantly looking for athlete that can fulfill multiple roles each week, Wilson is going to catch the eye of a lot of evaluators.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Mardy Gilyard – Cincinnati

Scout: David Syvertsen

Height/Weight: 6’0/187

40 Time:

Pro Potential: Nate Burleson – Seattle Seahawks

Position Traits

Acceleration/Burst/Quickness: High effort with his early steps. Can stop and go well, can reach top speed with his first few steps. Appears to be faster than he is because of how quick he moves on the field.

Agility/Leaping Ability: Incredibly agile, very loose from the hips on down. Can adjust his body with ease when leaping for the ball. Appears to struggle with body control at times but he makes plays with his body in awkward positions with consistency.

Blocking: Does not get a strong push and defensive backs can get off him easily. But the effort downfield to throw that extra block to spring a back free in to the open field is always there. Team player.

Body Control/Body Adjustment: His ability to adjust at the very last second to the placement of the ball is perhaps the most impressive part of his game. Fully capable of turning his body 180 degrees at full speed and keeping his feet. Nimble body never seems to be fully balanced, but he somehow keeps his feet under him.

Concentration/Hands: Sees the ball in every time. Does not always catch the ball with his hands, likes to trap it with his body too often. Has shown the tendency to drop easy passes. Likes to start moving before he has control of the ball. Eyes remain on an even keel when moving at full speed.

Release: Uses his quickness to avoid the jam. But if a good press corner can get their hands on him, Gilyard will have to fight for too long to free himself up. Can make himself small and slippery.

Route Running: Did not consistently run a diverse route tree at Cincinnati, but he showed he can get open with his ability to cut on a dime. Tricks defensive backs with his head fakes and double moves. Loose lower half allows him to really sell a fake.

Separation: Can free himself from a lone defender with ease. Very good change of direction and sells his fakes well. Struggles to get open downfield because of a lack of top end speed. Could turn out to be a move-the-chains target.

Size/Length/Hand Size: Very thin frame, especially his lower half. Average length and hand size. Does not need to add a lot of weight, but he could use some more strength coming from his base.

Speed: Does not have the extra gear in space, can be caught from behind by defensive backs. Does play fast when he needs to though. Can set a cover man up by adjusting his speed downfield. Deceptive.

Vision/Run After the Catch: Can see lanes and blocks transpire before they occur. Outstanding with the ball in his hands. Breaks a lot of tackles not based on power, but the ability to alter his body at the last second. Can make himself small and slippery to tacklers.

Final Word: After a troubled past and a rough start to his career at Cincinnati that started off as a defensive back and suspension due to academic shortfalls, Gilyard broke out in 2008 as a dynamic playmaker that could do it all with the ball in his hands. His reputation coming in to the league will revolve around his ability to return kicks and punts to the house (5 TDs over the past 2 seasons) but unlike many other return specialists, Gilyard’s promise as a receiver is very high. Despite the lack of top end speed, Gilyard is a threat down the field because of his ability to make the difficult catch with a cover man draped all over him. He will do most of his damage as a short and intermediate receiving option because he can find the tight windows and make those tough catches. Once he has the ball in his hands, all bets are off as he will prove to be a threat to score every time. He has an awkward running motion and will need to strengthen his lower half before he is fully ready to contribute every down, but the intangibles are there and he is a free spirit that loves the game. He will likely be a 2nd-3rd rounder that pays immediate dividends as a returner and offers the upside as a complimentary receiver in the future.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Tim Tebow will not be throwing at the 2010 Scouting Combine, but we were able to get a small look at his new throwing motion. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 2% [?]

The coins have been flipped and the first round order for the 2010 NFL Draft is set. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 2% [?]

Results are in from the offensive line weigh-in. We’ve got them here. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 4% [?]

Geno Atkins – Georgia

Scout: David Syvertsen

Height/Weight: 6’1 – 286

40 Time:

Pro Potential: Mike Patterson – Philadelphia Eagles

Position Traits

Pass Rush/Closing Ability/Moves and Counter Moves: Penetrator that uses a nice array of swim and rip moves to slice through the line. Gets off the snap well and sets himself up well for the double move inside.

Pursuit/Lateral Movement/Agility: Very athletic for an interior defensive lineman. Can run with balance and change direction on a dime. Low center of gravity allows him to fit in to tight spaces and explode towards the action.

Quickness/Explosion: Is capable of being a consistent penetrator. Because of his low center of gravity and powerful base, Atkins can fire out of his stance and blow by the blocker. Gives himself the initial positional advantage with his quickness.

Run Defend/Recognition: Does not focus on the action. Does not read blocks well and can be ridden out easily by a smart blocker. Can get reckless at the point of attack and lose track of the action. Does make a lot of tackles for loss, 33 over his career.

Size/Length/Hand Size: Has a short, stout, muscular build. Tree trunk legs with enormous calves. Has the kind of build that is perfect for his style of play.

Strength/Ability to Shed Blocks: Can be neutralized by a strong straight ahead blocker with ease. However with his ability to fire out low and quick, he can get the initial positional advantage and once he has that, he uses his arms well to free himself up. Hard guy to stay on for an entire play.

Tackling: Shows good form in space against a ball carrier. Remains low and can deliver a pop. Will lunge too early, preventing full force contact.

Technique/Hand Use/Leverage: Plays low and small, making him difficult to control. Exerts tremendous power from his base. Plays to his body well. Hands are not always used well, might be a result of having such short arms. Active upper body throughout engagement.

Versatility: Has experience all over the Georgia defensive front. Ideal position is the three-technique. Can be the penetrating nose tackle type in certain packages. May not be the fit as a 3-4 end because of his struggles to handle the double team and maintain gap control.

Final Word: After a strong sophomore season where it appeared that he would be the next big thing in the SEC, Atkins totaled less than half the sacks from 2007 in his junior and senior years combined. While he played within a system that favored rotations, Atkins never took his performance to the next level. There were several effort and motor concerns with him at Georgia, and without the top tier physical package, that will be an issue in the NFL. However without any prior knowledge of him, one would think he could be a second round player after watching his performance at the Senior Bowl, as he was the one defensive lineman that gave Idaho guard Mike Iupati a fit on the field. His ability to penetrate a gap and free himself up in the backfield is something every defense wants. He will not get much bigger physically and his role at the next level will be limited, but he can be important piece to a strong unit if he remains focused. He will likely be a middle round option and especially attractive to the Tampa-2 defenses.

Popularity: 2% [?]

As the most vital weekend throughout the pre-draft process approaches, over three-hundred NFL hopefuls will enter the confines of Lucas Oil Stadium and display their athletic ability and come face to face with NFL coaches, scouts, and general managers in an effort to increase their draft grade. Most, if not all, of these players have been training for the combine in various locations across the country. Just one tenth of a second shaven off a forty time could be the road block that stands between a player and millions of dollars. These future NFL stars look to the best and brightest when it comes to the combine training, and a name that has been rising up the boards when it comes to credibility and results is Travelle Gaines, founder and director of Performance Gaines based out of Los Angeles. He has been working with some of the best prospects in the 2010 NFL Draft class to aid their quest to climb up to the top of draft boards across the league. Names like defensive tackle Brian Price (UCLA) , safety Reshad Jones (Georgia), defensive tackle Lamarr Houston (Texas), running back Ryan Mathews (Fresno State), cornerback Donovan Warren (Michigan), cornerback Perrish Cox (Oklahoma State), cornerback Domonique Franks (Oklahoma) are some of Gaines’ twenty-four clients from the 2010 class. Gaines has been on the fast track to the top of the training sector, as he is under 30 years old and has a client list that includes some of the most explosive athletes in the league.

Gaines played his college football at San Jose State University, earning three degrees during his tenure there.

“My first real job was with the LSU Tigers” Gaines said, “…I was there when guys like Joseph Addai, Laron Landry, Tyson Jackson, Dwayne Bowe, Craig Davis, Glenn Dorsey were playing. It was just athlete after athlete.”

All of those names listed above were first round picks in their respective draft years, three of which in the top ten. His tenure at LSU was short-lived, but it is obvious his impact in the process of making a good athlete great, and a great athlete special, was felt at LSU. He went in to private practice following the departure from LSU, and it ended up being perfect timing for one of the top cornerbacks in the game, Marcus Trufant of the Seattle Seahawks.

“He had a poor year in 2006, but after training with us he had something like 95 tackles, 7 interceptions, 1 returned for a touchdown. He was a first team all-pro and earned himself a big contract” Gaines proudly explained.

Following that success of Trufant, names like Reggie Bush of the New Orleans Saints and Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans have used Gaines as an offseason workout asset. While those two players were already well known for their top tier athletic ability, it really says something that they would seek Gaines to maintain and improve their ability to shine on the football field.

What makes Gaines and his staff so special? I asked if he used any unique or special tactics in his training process.

“I can give someone the training program to take home, but what people need to understand is you have to have the staff in place” he answered. “You have to have the ‘it’ factor when watching a guy run. I can look at a guy and know right away what I can help him with. It’s the little things”.

Gaines provides an outstanding support staff for the players, as they are working on much more than just their speed and agility. Position coaches are provided across the board, most notably Joe Montana working with the quarterbacks and Marvel Smith working with the offensive linemen. The players also meet with a nutritionist once a week and they are provided with all their meals that are created by a professional culinary staff using organic food and supplements that throw more fuel in to the fire.

“We use all electronic timing systems and we provide performance coaches. We keep the guys in small groups, eight to ten per group, so there is a lot of personal attention. We film everything we do, just providing everything for the players” Gaines explained.

This is an entirely new approach to the daily life for these players. No more classes, no more practices. They are free from the NCAA rules, but the responsibility and importance of making the right decisions to better their futures has become even more vital. Gaines is often contacted by coaches, general managers, and area scouts in their effort to get a greater feel for the players off the field habits.

“I do get calls, asking me questions like ‘how does this kid work, what’s he like in the locker room, how does he adapt’. They were all stars at their schools, now they’re just another guy. They want to know how they react to the competition and the different environment.”

As you can see, Gaines is very much a part of the draft process as he trains the future of the NFL and has a voice within the war rooms across the league. His success rate speaks for itself, as 25% of his clients start in their rookie year. To put that in perspective, less than 10% of rookies start for their respective team in year one. He creates a specific program for each player, rather than having them workout under a template set for everyone.

“Every morning, our staff sits down and talks about every guy. We go over their different wants and needs, we go over their physical evaluations and past injuries. Everyone has their own goals and we set their training program around those”.

As the conversation with Travelle wrapped up, I had to ask him whom he thought was going to really put on a show at the combine. He listed:

“Ryan Mathews (Fresno State), Brian Price (UCLA), Lamarr Houston (Texas), and Reshad Jones (Georgia) are all going to put on a show at the combine” he answered. “Oh and one more guy, Emmanuel Sanders (SMU) is going to tear it up at the combine” he added.

Gaines is on the fast track to becoming one of the top trainers for professional athletes in the country, if he is not already there. The results speak for themselves and this year will prove to be no different. While the combine will not make or break a player’s final grade, it does make a significant difference in the athletic evaluation. Trainers like Travelle Gaines have proven to be the ladder that players use to bring their games to the next level.

A big Thank You to Travelle for taking to the time from his busy schedule to provide some inside information on the prospects we have been scouting for the past six months.

Popularity: 2% [?]

You were part of a strong Senior Bowl class down in Mobile. What did you take from that experience?

To really enjoy playing what you are doing. I had a great time at the Senior
Bowl. It was cool meeting all the players from across the country and being
able to go out and play and practice with them.

What is one part of your game that you feel needs to be worked on the most before you are ready to contribute to an NFL team?

I feel like anchoring the bullrush and finishing blocks.

What part of your game do you feel sets you apart from other offensive tackles in this draft class?

I feel like my athletic ability and my competitive nature.

When did becoming an NFL player become a reality for you?

I would say when I started at right tackle for Virginia Tech. Just getting out there and playing for a high caliber team like that made me feel like I had a shot.

Who is the toughest player you have ever gone up against?

I have played against a bunch of tough players, but I would say Everette Brown
was one of the toughest.

You have played tight end, right tackle, and left tackle in college. Where do you feel your future lies at the next level?

I see myself at left tackle.

Your strength numbers at Virginia Tech have been very impressive. How do you feel that strength translates on to the field?

I feel like it is very important. Everyone out there is very strong so you have
to be strong as well to be able to compete with them.

You have the prototypical body for the left tackle position in the NFL,  how does that help your game?

I feel like it helps a lot because I can move pretty well. I think its a big
advantage to have the weight and arms and be able to move to be able to play
left tackle.

Describe your work ethic, leadership, and intangibles that you displayed at Virginia Tech.

I work very hard. I have always worked very hard, even when I was a child. I
definitely lead by example. I speak up at times, but I left my actions speak
for me. I feel like being a good person is the most important thing that I
have. I always try to do the right thing even when there is no one looking.
Coach Beamer always told us that if you do the little things right that the big
things will come and I truly believe that.

How do you feel your career at Virginia Tech prepared you for the NFL? Are there any abilities that you were not able to display there because of position/scheme/coaching?

I feel like Virginia Tech prepared me as best as possible and I would not trade
it to be at any other school. We have a great program and they utilized all my
abilities. We ran a pro style offense and that helps a lot compared to other
teams who ran only spread or triple option. I feel like Tech has a quality
program and the players they produce every year speaks for itself.

Popularity: 2% [?]