Coverage/Zone Defense Skills: For as freaskishly athletic as Carter is, you’d expect him to be a much better pass defender. However, his zone coverage is lacking and he’s late to react when the ball is in the air. He has the agility and foot speed to cover tight ends, but needs to get a better understanding of routes. Is a real terror against screen passes. Against them, Carter can show off his combination of athleticism and speed.

Instincts/Recognition: Returning for his senior year, Carter should only show more improvement in this area. He has been questionable at times in the past on reading plays pre-snap and making adjustments. Has to use his speed and quickness to make up for being a step late at times breaking on the ball. If Carter doesn’t improve in this area as a senior, it may lead some teams to question his work ethic in the film room.

Pass Rush: Carter is somewhat miscast at North Carolina in that he’s too frequently asked to drop back in coverage. If he played in a defensive scheme that called for more pressure from the linebackers, the opinion of Carter might be higher here. But as it is, he’s somewhat green in the pass rush. He clearly has the tools to be an excellent pass rusher but doesn’t get to show it often. With his struggles to shed blocks and the extra attention he’ll get in 2010, don’t look for Carter to show a lot of tangible improvement in this area.

Pursuit/Lateral Movement and Agility: Carter is incredible in pursuit. He can change direction instantly and gets up to his top speed quickly. He takes proper angles toward the ball carrier and can be a violent hitter. He shows fluid hips which helps his change-of-direction ability and stop on a dime in the open field. As aggressive of a player as Carter is, he maintains good balance in his movement. Ran a reported 4.39 40-yard dash.

Quickness/Explosion: Displays plus quickness, especially at the snap. Really fires out of his stance to get around the corner and at the ball carrier. Gets to show his explosion on field goals and extra points. Blocked five kicks last year because he knows how to properly time the snap and fire out of the blocks.

Strength/Ability to Shed Blocks: Strictly on a play-to-play basis, this is where Carter needs to show the most improvement. Carter has plenty of raw strength – his bench press is 440 pounds and he has a 374-pound power clean. But that strength doesn’t always translate when shedding blocks. Has said he’s up to 240 pounds but plays at 230. If he Carter is put on a 3-4 team, he may have to play at about 250.

Versatility: For now, Carter should be first considered a weak-side linebacker in a 4-3 scheme. His pass rush skills haven’t matured quite as much as maybe they should have. But with proper coaching, Carter has the athletic talents to move into a 3-4 OLB role if he can add some strength to shed blocks better.

Final Word: At the moment, Carter is as much of an athlete as he is a football player. His athletic skill is unquestioned. He’s fast, agile and strong. But he hasn’t put it all together on the field yet. In 2009, he had 7.5 tackles for loss, four quarterback hurries and two sacks – hardly impressive stats.

Carter returned to school to get his degree. What that extra year of college football should do for him could be invaluable.

Scout: David Syvertsen

Height/Weight: 6’1/241

40 Time: 4.71

Pro Potential: Tully Banta-Cain – New England Patriots

Position Traits

Coverage/Zone Defense Skills: Does not have the hot feet and fluid hips to stay with a receiver in coverage. Struggles mightily to shadow a tight end in space. Spends a lot of time using recovery steps from his false direction. Lacks the experience most outside linebackers already have coming in to the league as a cover man. Just 7 career pass breakups with zero interceptions.

Instincts/Recognition: High football IQ that has experience as a defensive end and linebacker. Has played the MIKE and SAM positions at the second level. Quick thinker that studies film and knows his opponent inside-out going in to gameday.

Pass Rush: All time career sack leader at South Carolina, notching 29 over his four year career. Spent time as a defensive end before being moved to linebacker, but played plenty of snaps with his hand in the dirt after the move. Has a great first two steps that can set the edge. Uses a low center of gravity to get under blocks while maintaining power and balance. Relentless pass rusher that can recover well after being initially beat. Wide array of moves.

Pursuit/Lateral Movement and Agility: Does not move well laterally, struggles to stick with average tight ends when it comes to athleticism. Can be exposed in space, works best in tight space. High effort player however that is consistently found near the action. Very tight hips that may be playing at a weight too high for his body.

Quickness/Explosion: Heavy feet when he isn’t moving downhill. Looks uncomfortable and slow when he is reading plays as a zone defender. Can play with top tier explosion when he is rushing off the edge however, so the ability is there. Great quickness in a phone booth, but slows down drastically when he is further off the line in space.

Strength/Ability to Shed Blocks: Can get off a block when rushing the passer with ease, using proper hand placement and a low center of gravity. However when he is playing the traditional linebacker position and he is reading the run, the blocker can easily push him back and lock on. He stands too far upright when diagnosing lanes and blocks, leaving his numbers completely exposed. Once a lineman locks on to him in space, he takes too long to free himself.

Tackling: Inconsistent wrap-up technique that causes him to miss tackles in space. Does not always send a strong pop to the ball carrier. Does not use his lower body to explode through the body, tends to wait and grab. Does adjust well in traffic, also the career record holder in tackles for loss. Much more aggressive when moving downhill.

Versatility: Has played along the defensive front, has experience inside and outside at the second level. His best fit is clearly on the strong side where his pass rushing ability can be used. Does not bring anything to the table as a cover linebacker may be a two down player in a 4-3 front.

Final Word: While Eric Norwood did not impress as a traditional 4-3 SAM at the Senior Bowl, he will not be on the board for long because of his proven track record when it comes to rushing the passer. He was a First Team All-American and three time All-SEC performer, something that should not be taken lightly. He was not given a fair evaluation in Mobile because he was unable to display what he is best at, and that is getting to the passer. He is uncomfortable and unreliable the further out in space he gets, thus he will not be an option on some draft boards. However a team that does not ask a lot responsibility-wise out of their SAM will be intrigued by the skill set here. Norwood does not have the ideal body for an outside linebacker in a 3-4, but he can perform in that spot if he is in the right situation. Players with this kind of production at the highest level of Division-1A football find a way to succeed at the next level and Norwood will be no different. He will be a 2nd or 3rd round pick on that notion alone, and could prove to be one of the best bargains in this class.

6’2 1/8, 236 pounds | Linebacker | Penn State

Coverage: Looked much better in pass coverage as a senior than he did previously in his career. Seems to know routes so he can properly read and react. Solid covering the underneath zone, even though he’s lacking agility.

Instincts: Like many Penn State linebackers before him, Lee has very good instincts. Seems to know where a play is going before the ball is even snapped. Gets himself in good position thanks to his instincts. Rarely gets fazed by fakes or draws.

Pass Rush: Used more earlier in his career as a standup outside pass rusher. Times the snap impressively. Knows how to use his hands to disengage. Really doesn’t have any pass rush moves.

Pursuit: Lee gives a lot of effort in pursuit but he doesn’t have the best later agility. He can’t change direction in an instant. However, Lee uses his burst to close on the ball in a hurry.
Run defense: Is much better as an interior run defender than as a outside run defender. Following an ACL injury in 2008, Lee didn’t look as laterally fluid working the edges. But he’s a terror on the inside. He can quickly shed blocks and get to the ball carrier. Shows a good burst to close.

Strength: Displays good but not great strength. Will get out-muscled by tight ends when he’s dropped in coverage.

Tackling: He may not be the most imposing tackler, but Lee shows great ability as a tackler. Wraps up on a consistent basis. Shows the technique to break down in the open field and take on ball carriers in the open field.

Versatility: Played outside linebacker early in his career but held the middle as a senior. Can probably play either at the next level. But his intelligence leads you to believe he’s better-suited for the middle.

Final word: Lee profiles a lot like former Penn State linebackers Paul Posluszny and Dan Connor. He’s a heady player with solid strength and athleticism. He’ll probably never be a spectacular player, but he’s very solid.

He had to sit out the 2008 season after tearing his right ACL. The injury knocked him out for 15 months and has somewhat limited his lateral agility.

Scout: David Syvertsen

Height/Weight: 6’4/246

40 Time: 4.71

Pro Potential: Stewart Bradley – Philadelphia Eagles

Position Traits

Coverage/Zone Defense Skills: Reads the quarterback and receiver simultaneously with ease. Can move his body along with the quarterback’s eyes. Very comfortable in space, spent a lot of time out wide with a lot of ground to cover against athletic tight ends and slot receivers. Can turn and run with an athletic tight end.

Instincts/Recognition: Very coachable player because of his natural feel for the game. Easily flows to the action and is always headed in the right direction. Minimal wasted motion and steps, keys in on his reads.

Pass Rush: Just two career sacks, was not used as an edge rusher in Iowa’s defense. Spent most of his time off the line out in space rather than up in the trenches. Has a quick burst but does not play with a low center of gravity when rushing the passer.

Pursuit/Lateral Movement and Agility: Has tremendous fluidity in his hips, especially considering his frame. May lack the top tier speed when moving sideline-to-sideline but he is constantly near the action and can get himself to the ball carrier consistently with his proper angles and productive first few steps.

Quickness/Explosion: Can fly in to a gap when moving downhill. A decisive linebacker that can fill quickly with power. Happy feet that get going right away, can stick with a target in space.

Strength/Ability to Shed Blocks: Does a nice job of keeping his arms extended in front of him, preventing blockers from locking on. Plays low enough to dip his shoulder beneath the hands of oncoming blockers. Keeps his base low enough to maintain strength throughout an engagement.

Tackling: Always in or near the action. Can deliver a pop when he is low, but lacks the brute power than sends a jolt to the ball carrier. Uses his long arms to engulf his target, wraps up well and is reliable in the open field. Overshadowed statistically by teammate MLB Pat Angerer, but Edds Is a more reliable defender against the oncoming ball carrier.

Versatility: Played outside linebacker his entire career at Iowa, mainly on the strong side. Has the tools and anticipation skills to play inside. Can play like a lightweight out in space against athletic tight ends, but also has the power to play in between the tackles and bang pads with the offensive line.

Final Word: AJ Edds, in many ways, is similar to former Hawkeye and Vikings starting weak side linebacker Chad Greenway. He has the size and frame of a run stuffer, but more than enough athletic ability to cover tight ends and running backs. He is a smart player that the Iowa coaching staff raves about when it comes to being a complete football player on and off the field. He may never be a superstar in the NFL, but he is a guy that does everything well and will be a reliable starter in the league for years. He needs to add bulk to his lower half however, as he is noticeably thin down there in comparison to most 240+ pound linebackers in the NFL. I see him as an outstanding strong side linebacker that has the potential to be a presence inside down the road. He will likely be taken in the 3rd-4th round region.

Coverage: Muckelroy is a rangy athlete who can change direction on a dime. He can handle covering tight ends fairly well. Where Muckelroy really looks good in pass defense is timing his breaks. he closes quickly and can make a play on the ball better than most linebackers.

Instincts: Displays good recognition skills. Rarely got beaten by misdirection plays. Closes quickly and without hesitation. Diagnoses play reads incredibly quickly, which helped him move from the outside to inside with ease.

Pass Rush: Used some on the middle rush in 2009, but not a lot. Had only five and a half sacks on his career. He’s more of a gap plugger on blitzes, which allows the outside rushers to gain penetration. His struggles to get off blocks hurts him in this area.

Quickness: Muckelroy has very good quickness, which he has to utilize since his speed is average to below-average. Uses his quicks to close in the short area. On screen passes, he does really well shortening the field with his quickness and forcing the ball carrier toward the sideline.

Run defense: Shows good lateral agility to move sideline-to-sideline. However, his lack of pursuit speed gets him in trouble. Fast running backs can fly right past him if he’s not in good position.

Size: Has solid size for a linebacker and bulked up for the combine. Average arm length and hand size. Could maybe be better conditioned and stronger.

Strength: For a linebacker, Muckelroy has average strength. Needs to add power to his entire frame. This will help him shed blocks and tackle better. He can get caught up in blocks and be completely taken out of a play.

Tackling: Is a sound form tackler who can sink his hips and singularly take on the ball carrier. Can strike fairly hard. If Muckelroy can add some strength, his tackling will become much better. Too often he’ll drag a player down, particularly tight ends in the open field.

Versatility: Played inside and outside at Texas but has the most value as a weak-side linebacker.

Final word: Muckelroy is arguably the most heady linebacker in this year’s class. He always gets himself in good position and rarely misses an assignment.

Although he’s not the fastest or most athletic linebacker, his football intelligence makes up for it. Some are knocking him for his average showings at the Senior Bowl and combine. But just watch a Texas game and you’ll be hard pressed to not see Muckelroy in on almost every play.

He topped 100 tackles in his final two seasons in Austin. A starter in 29 of 40 games played, Muckelroy was named the to Big 12 all-conference team twice. He’s good against the pass when he drops back and has a minimal injury history. Absolutely no character flaws to speak of.

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.

Scout: David Syvertsen

Height/Weight: 6’1/263

40 Time:

Pro Potential: LaMarr Woodley – Pittsburgh Steelers

Position Traits

Pass Rush/Closing Ability/Moves and Counter Moves: Tremendous pass rusher that gets the most out of himself. Very strong when attacking the inside shoulder of the offensive tackle. Top tier closing ability because of his short area explosion. Can chase within the pocket as quick as any defensive lineman in the country. Does not excel as a pure edge rusher, lacks that second gear to get around a good pass blocker.

Pursuit/Lateral Movement/Agility: Moves down the line very well, attacks the inside gaps with plenty of power while maintaining the balance to get to the ball carrier. Is not as stiff as one would think considering how stout of a build he has.

Quickness/Explosion: Fires out low and fast, gets in to the blocker right away. Can jump a snap with consistency, giving him the initial position advantage.

Run Defend/Recognition: Makes a lot of tackles near or behind the line of scrimmage. Does a nice job of keeping a shoulder open and gravitating towards the ball carrier. Has the quickness, strength, and technique to beat single and double teams against the run with consistency. Totaled 45 tackles for loss over the past two seasons.

Size/Length/Hand Size: Lacks the height and length that the ideal defensive end prospect has. Very stout, powerful body that holds 260+ pounds comfortably.

Strength/Ability to Shed Blocks: Can get off a single blocker with ease. His natural leverage advantage and his low center of gravity when engaged makes him incredibly difficult for a blocker to lock on to.

Tackling: Powerful tackler that wraps up well. Sends a violent jolt to the ball carrier and usually brings him down right away. Lunges at the right time and gets the maximum power out of his body.

Technique/Hand Use/Leverage: Overcomes the lack of top notch physical tools with impeccable technique. Has the best hands among the defensive ends in this class, very strong grip that controls blockers. Has the natural leverage advantage as a result of being 6’1, but plays even lower. Really makes the blocker get low, giving Graham the strength advantage. Low base with a flat back and arms moving upward.

Versatility: Has played left and right defensive end, equally effective at both positions. Does not have enough experience standing up to say he can play outside linebacker at the next level. May not have the fluidity in space to play anything other than defensive end in a 4-3.

Final Word: It is almost scary to line up all of the similarities to former Wolverin LaMarr Woodley when breaking down Graham’s game. Woodley tutored Graham when the two were teammates and it appears that Graham really took in what was being preached to him. He lacks the long arms and top tier speed that most scouts look for in a pass rusher, but Graham may very well be the best defensive end in this class when all is said and done. Players like him are hard to look past because of the consistency and reliability when it comes to wrecking havoc in the opposing backfield. Graham’s 45 tackles for loss and 19.5 sacks over the past two years despite seeing several double teams because of a lack of talent around him speaks volumes about him as a football player. He is an overachiever that will produce at the next level, as he will be one of the safest selections in the draft. His fit in the 3-4 scheme as an outside linebacker may not be there as it is with Woodley, but Graham has proven those that doubt his ability wrong over and over again.