With the 2010 NFL draft behind us, it’s time to look at 2011—but from a different perspective. Here’s what the top 25 prospects need to improve on this fall to increase their draft stock (asterisk denotes a rising junior).
A better completion percentage could cause Ryan Mallet’s stock to rise even more.
Quarterback
Ryan Mallett, Arkansas*: I really believe much of Mallett’s accuracy problems—he completed just 55.8 percent of his passes last year—are maturity based. The more games he plays, the more defenses he sees, the more decisions he makes, the sharper he becomes. Imagine that from a guy who had a TD-to-INT ratio of 30-7 last year.
Jake Locker, Washington: Every scout is in love with Locker, but if he puts up another sub-60 percent completion season, he will be dissected almost as much as Tim Tebow was. Don’t know that I’ve ever seen a quarterback this unfinished with so little criticism from scouts.
Running back
Mark Ingram, Alabama*: Doesn’t have top-end speed, but then again, neither did Emmitt Smith. The more carries TB Trent Richardson gets this fall, the more obvious it will become that Richardson is the Tide’s best back.
Daniel Thomas, Kansas State: Great size and 4.5 40 speed—and better than average hands. But he has to show he can be more of a force in games that matter. His only 100-yard games in Big 12 play came against Colorado and Kansas—two of the league’s worst defenses in 2010.
Wide receiver
A.J. Green, Georgia*: Development was hurt last year by poor play from the quarterback position, and there will be more uncertainty at that position this fall. Clearly has the best skill set of any receiver in the game—in 2009 and 2010.
Michael Floyd, Notre Dame*: Not a speed guy like Green, but has plenty of juice, and the NFL will love his frame, ability to shield defenders and adjustments with the ball in the air. Has to show he can catch tough balls over the middle.
Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma*: Does everything well but needs to show he can take over a game. Can he be a guy defenses have to game-plan against, have to double-team?
Offensive line
Anthony Castonzo, Boston College: The best lineman in the game—and the most complete left tackle. Needs to add bulk this offseason but has more than enough upper-body strength.
Rodney Hudson, Florida State: His technique is terrific, but he needs to be more of a mauler.
Jason Pinkston, Pitt: Good size/frame for an NFL tackle, but lacks concentration at times. Athletic skill set a plus.
Mike Pouncey, Florida: Twin brother Maurkice paved the way in this draft, and Mike also will be a first-round pick if he has a seamless transition to the center spot.
Marvin Austin has excellent athletic ability, but he must show more desire.
Defensive tackle
Marcell Dareus, Alabama*: He’s playing end this fall, but at 300 pounds, he’s a true tackle. His stock will soar—top five—if he shows consistent pass-rush skills.
Jared Crick, Nebraska*: Can be as dominant as Ndamukong Suh at times but needs to show he can be a consistent interior run stuffer without Suh by his side.
Cameron Heyward, Ohio State: Can play end or tackle, but for the sake of draft argument, we’ll put him on the interior. A disruptive pass rusher, he needs to strengthen his run-stuffing resume.
Marvin Austin, North Carolina: On athletic talent alone, should be the No. 1 interior lineman in the draft. Has to play with more consistency and nasty desire. The reality: DE Robert Quinn is the best lineman at UNC—not Austin.
Defensive end
Adrian Clayborn, Iowa: Probably would’ve been a top-15 pick had he left after last season. Rare that you see an end who is as dominant against the run as the pass. The only issue: doing it every game.
Allen Bailey, Miami: Injury and position change have stunted his growth—and so has the muscle weight he continues to add. The big question: inside or outside? He might be better suited to inside at the next level.
Robert Quinn, North Carolina*: Look at these huge (and key) numbers: 11 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles. That’s domination. Needs to show he can anchor at end and stop the run.
Linebacker
Bruce Carter, North Carolina: Speed, speed and more speed. But can he use it wisely? Overruns plays at times and needs to prove he can take on lead blockers and still make plays.
Greg Jones, Michigan State: He’s not the fastest linebacker, but he’s fast enough and a true football guy—much like Brandon Spikes of Florida. Needs to improve pass drops and coverage.
Von Miller, Texas A&M: Strictly a rush end, and the best in the game last season. He’ll play outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense in the NFL and must show he can drop and cover. That, or gain 35 pounds to become a true rush end.
Cornerback
Patrick Peterson, LSU*: Might be the best player in the game this fall. Sleek skill set and an NFL frame to match. Must prove he can stay healthy for an entire season.
Prince Amukamara, Nebraska: He and Miami’s Brandon Harris should go back and forth all season for the No. 2 corner behind Peterson. Physical in man but needs to show better off-man cover skills.
Safety
Deunta Williams, North Carolina: The back end of UNC’s physical, athletic defense. Terrific ball skills (6 INT, 8 passes defended), but has to show he can stick his nose in a pile and tackle. No way a safety should have only 47 tackles
Will Hill, Florida*: Shared time the last two seasons with Major Wright and Ahmad Black but is clearly Florida’s best safety. Big hitter must show better reaction in coverage. Gaining that skill, though, could be as simple as getting more repetitions.
Sponsored link: Notre Dame football tickets available
Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News and is an analyst for the NFL Network. Tune in to Total Access weeknights. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.
With the 2010 NFL draft behind us, it’s time to look at 2011—but from a different perspective. Here’s what the top 25 prospects need to improve on this fall to increase their draft stock (asterisk denotes a rising junior).
A better completion percentage could cause Ryan Mallet’s stock to rise even more.
Quarterback
Ryan Mallett, Arkansas*: I really believe much of Mallett’s accuracy problems—he completed just 55.8 percent of his passes last year—are maturity based. The more games he plays, the more defenses he sees, the more decisions he makes, the sharper he becomes. Imagine that from a guy who had a TD-to-INT ratio of 30-7 last year.
Jake Locker, Washington: Every scout is in love with Locker, but if he puts up another sub-60 percent completion season, he will be dissected almost as much as Tim Tebow was. Don’t know that I’ve ever seen a quarterback this unfinished with so little criticism from scouts.
Running back
Mark Ingram, Alabama*: Doesn’t have top-end speed, but then again, neither did Emmitt Smith. The more carries TB Trent Richardson gets this fall, the more obvious it will become that Richardson is the Tide’s best back.
Daniel Thomas, Kansas State: Great size and 4.5 40 speed—and better than average hands. But he has to show he can be more of a force in games that matter. His only 100-yard games in Big 12 play came against Colorado and Kansas—two of the league’s worst defenses in 2010.
Wide receiver
A.J. Green, Georgia*: Development was hurt last year by poor play from the quarterback position, and there will be more uncertainty at that position this fall. Clearly has the best skill set of any receiver in the game—in 2009 and 2010.
Michael Floyd, Notre Dame*: Not a speed guy like Green, but has plenty of juice, and the NFL will love his frame, ability to shield defenders and adjustments with the ball in the air. Has to show he can catch tough balls over the middle.
Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma*: Does everything well but needs to show he can take over a game. Can he be a guy defenses have to game-plan against, have to double-team?
Offensive line
Anthony Castonzo, Boston College: The best lineman in the game—and the most complete left tackle. Needs to add bulk this offseason but has more than enough upper-body strength.
Rodney Hudson, Florida State: His technique is terrific, but he needs to be more of a mauler.
Jason Pinkston, Pitt: Good size/frame for an NFL tackle, but lacks concentration at times. Athletic skill set a plus.
Mike Pouncey, Florida: Twin brother Maurkice paved the way in this draft, and Mike also will be a first-round pick if he has a seamless transition to the center spot.
Marvin Austin has excellent athletic ability, but he must show more desire.
Defensive tackle
Marcell Dareus, Alabama*: He’s playing end this fall, but at 300 pounds, he’s a true tackle. His stock will soar—top five—if he shows consistent pass-rush skills.
Jared Crick, Nebraska*: Can be as dominant as Ndamukong Suh at times but needs to show he can be a consistent interior run stuffer without Suh by his side.
Cameron Heyward, Ohio State: Can play end or tackle, but for the sake of draft argument, we’ll put him on the interior. A disruptive pass rusher, he needs to strengthen his run-stuffing resume.
Marvin Austin, North Carolina: On athletic talent alone, should be the No. 1 interior lineman in the draft. Has to play with more consistency and nasty desire. The reality: DE Robert Quinn is the best lineman at UNC—not Austin.
Defensive end
Adrian Clayborn, Iowa: Probably would’ve been a top-15 pick had he left after last season. Rare that you see an end who is as dominant against the run as the pass. The only issue: doing it every game.
Allen Bailey, Miami: Injury and position change have stunted his growth—and so has the muscle weight he continues to add. The big question: inside or outside? He might be better suited to inside at the next level.
Robert Quinn, North Carolina*: Look at these huge (and key) numbers: 11 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, six forced fumbles. That’s domination. Needs to show he can anchor at end and stop the run.
Linebacker
Bruce Carter, North Carolina: Speed, speed and more speed. But can he use it wisely? Overruns plays at times and needs to prove he can take on lead blockers and still make plays.
Greg Jones, Michigan State: He’s not the fastest linebacker, but he’s fast enough and a true football guy—much like Brandon Spikes of Florida. Needs to improve pass drops and coverage.
Von Miller, Texas A&M: Strictly a rush end, and the best in the game last season. He’ll play outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense in the NFL and must show he can drop and cover. That, or gain 35 pounds to become a true rush end.
Cornerback
Patrick Peterson, LSU*: Might be the best player in the game this fall. Sleek skill set and an NFL frame to match. Must prove he can stay healthy for an entire season.
Prince Amukamara, Nebraska: He and Miami’s Brandon Harris should go back and forth all season for the No. 2 corner behind Peterson. Physical in man but needs to show better off-man cover skills.
Safety
Deunta Williams, North Carolina: The back end of UNC’s physical, athletic defense. Terrific ball skills (6 INT, 8 passes defended), but has to show he can stick his nose in a pile and tackle. No way a safety should have only 47 tackles
Will Hill, Florida*: Shared time the last two seasons with Major Wright and Ahmad Black but is clearly Florida’s best safety. Big hitter must show better reaction in coverage. Gaining that skill, though, could be as simple as getting more repetitions.
Sponsored link: Notre Dame football tickets available
Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News and is an analyst for the NFL Network. Tune in to Total Access weeknights. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The theatrics and circus atmosphere were long over, and the player who changed the face of college football finally was back in his element.
A man and his mission.
"Football is just a way to bring me closer to what’s important for me," Tim Tebow said.
So there was Tebow, minutes after putting on a show for NFL teams during Wednesday’s pro day workout at Florida, throwing a football with wheelchair-bound Alex Ross, a 17-year-old from nearby Jacksonville who was shot in the head in January and lost the use of the left side of his body.
Ross threw a football to Tebow, who caught the ball and summed up the day’s events: "Let’s see (them) come over here and critique that."
Yes, everyone, Timmy Terrific is taking this NFL thing serious. A little advice for the doubters: Don’t bet against him.
Less than two months ago at the Senior Bowl, Tebow was criticized for his poor mechanics and looping throwing motion. He struggled to take snaps from under center and had fumbling issues the entire week of practice.
So he hired former longtime NFL assistant and quarterbacks guru Zeke Bratkowski to help him change his mechanics and throwing motion. He also spoke or worked with former NFL coaches Sam Wyche, Marc Trestman and Jon Gruden in preparation for this very day — this very test.
After working out for a little more than 30 minutes in front of scouts — and a handful of head coaches — from all 32 NFL teams, we have this:
"From the Senior Bowl to now, the improvement is ridiculous," NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said. "I was blown away."
Or this from Panthers coach John Fox: "He had a very good workout. I saw some adjustments he made and thought he executed very well."
Nothing like a little hard work for Tebow to chase the critics away. Or has he?
The greatest player in college football history is now the most scrutinized player in NFL draft history. And wouldn’t you know it, as quickly as he won over some, he had others still wondering where it all ends.
The most perplexing factor of all in the Tebow Question: No one really knows what kind of quarterback he’ll be in the NFL until he’s under center and the proverbial bullets are flying.
Asked if Tebow could be successful in the league, Browns president Mike Holmgren — a guy who has coached legendary NFL stars Joe Montana, Steve Young and Brett Favre — said, "I’m going to steer clear of that one now. I think Tim Tebow is one of those guys that you root for. If he’s on your team, you have a better team. I’ll leave it at that."
But minutes later, after breaking down the specifics of playing the position, Holmgren offered up this: "If you look hard enough at anybody, you can be really picky about stuff. Be careful about losing sight of the big picture and what kind of a player (Tebow) is and winner he is. There’s a lot of good about this young man."
And a lot that has changed. Gone are the looping throwing motion (the ball starts at his ear instead of his waist), the shotgun snaps (his footwork was flawless under center on drops and releases) and the long stride when throwing (he showed a short stride and more compact delivery).
"He didn’t revert to any of his old habits today; he really had a nice day," Bratkowski said. "People are talking about other positions with him. He’s a quarterback. He’s where he should be right now."
Long after a few thousand fans who watched the workout had left Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, after Tebow signed more autographs and shook more hands and spoke with the NFL Network (yep, they were live on site), Tebow stood in a packed room in the bowels of the stadium and talked about his dream of playing in the NFL.
He has five team-specific workouts in the coming weeks — with the Bufalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins — and another five weeks to continue honing his new mechanics before the draft.
"I don’t know if when I dreamed of this process, that I dreamed of this," Tebow said.
That may be the most accurate critique of all.
This story appears in March 18’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today.
Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News and is an analyst for the NFL Network. Tune in to Total Access weeknights. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The theatrics and circus atmosphere were long over, and the player who changed the face of college football finally was back in his element.
A man and his mission.
"Football is just a way to bring me closer to what’s important for me," Tim Tebow said.
So there was Tebow, minutes after putting on a show for NFL teams during Wednesday’s pro day workout at Florida, throwing a football with wheelchair-bound Alex Ross, a 17-year-old from nearby Jacksonville who was shot in the head in January and lost the use of the left side of his body.
Ross threw a football to Tebow, who caught the ball and summed up the day’s events: "Let’s see (them) come over here and critique that."
Yes, everyone, Timmy Terrific is taking this NFL thing serious. A little advice for the doubters: Don’t bet against him.
Less than two months ago at the Senior Bowl, Tebow was criticized for his poor mechanics and looping throwing motion. He struggled to take snaps from under center and had fumbling issues the entire week of practice.
So he hired former longtime NFL assistant and quarterbacks guru Zeke Bratkowski to help him change his mechanics and throwing motion. He also spoke or worked with former NFL coaches Sam Wyche, Marc Trestman and Jon Gruden in preparation for this very day — this very test.
After working out for a little more than 30 minutes in front of scouts — and a handful of head coaches — from all 32 NFL teams, we have this:
"From the Senior Bowl to now, the improvement is ridiculous," NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock said. "I was blown away."
Or this from Panthers coach John Fox: "He had a very good workout. I saw some adjustments he made and thought he executed very well."
Nothing like a little hard work for Tebow to chase the critics away. Or has he?
The greatest player in college football history is now the most scrutinized player in NFL draft history. And wouldn’t you know it, as quickly as he won over some, he had others still wondering where it all ends.
The most perplexing factor of all in the Tebow Question: No one really knows what kind of quarterback he’ll be in the NFL until he’s under center and the proverbial bullets are flying.
Asked if Tebow could be successful in the league, Browns president Mike Holmgren — a guy who has coached legendary NFL stars Joe Montana, Steve Young and Brett Favre — said, "I’m going to steer clear of that one now. I think Tim Tebow is one of those guys that you root for. If he’s on your team, you have a better team. I’ll leave it at that."
But minutes later, after breaking down the specifics of playing the position, Holmgren offered up this: "If you look hard enough at anybody, you can be really picky about stuff. Be careful about losing sight of the big picture and what kind of a player (Tebow) is and winner he is. There’s a lot of good about this young man."
And a lot that has changed. Gone are the looping throwing motion (the ball starts at his ear instead of his waist), the shotgun snaps (his footwork was flawless under center on drops and releases) and the long stride when throwing (he showed a short stride and more compact delivery).
"He didn’t revert to any of his old habits today; he really had a nice day," Bratkowski said. "People are talking about other positions with him. He’s a quarterback. He’s where he should be right now."
Long after a few thousand fans who watched the workout had left Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, after Tebow signed more autographs and shook more hands and spoke with the NFL Network (yep, they were live on site), Tebow stood in a packed room in the bowels of the stadium and talked about his dream of playing in the NFL.
He has five team-specific workouts in the coming weeks — with the Bufalo Bills, Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins — and another five weeks to continue honing his new mechanics before the draft.
"I don’t know if when I dreamed of this process, that I dreamed of this," Tebow said.
That may be the most accurate critique of all.
This story appears in March 18’s edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today.
Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News and is an analyst for the NFL Network. Tune in to Total Access weeknights. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.
We like to think these NFL personnel guys have it all figured out, poring over game tape and statistics and numbers, and finding gems in the annual NFL draft.
Then we’re reminded of JaMarcus Russell. Or Vernon Gholston. Or Charles Rogers. Or, yes, Ryan Leaf.
Look for former Tennessee running back Montario Hardesty to outperform expectations.
Three years ago, when everyone was gaga over Russell and his freakish physical nature, I tried to point out that one factor superseded all others: Russell was 7-4 as a starter in games against ranked teams, with 13 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions in those games.
You and I aren’t breaking down tape, but we can certainly watch players and see that Gholston has one move and doesn’t go hard every play. Or that Russell has a tendency to make bad decisions. Or that a guy with the off-field problems Rogers had at Michigan State eventually would have off-field problems as an NFL player.
The NFL Combine begins later this month, and in the spirit of the most overvalued event in all of sports, here’s my annual overrated/underrated list of draft prospects.
Quarterback
Overrated: Jonathan Crompton, Tennessee. He was lost in all of 2008 and the first month of 2009, yet now is the No. 2 quarterback on Sporting News’ War Room list. Crompton had as many touchdowns as interceptions (nine) prior to this season, and he has never completed better than 58 percent of his passes.
Underrated: Colt McCoy, Texas. The negatives: spent his career in shotgun offense. The positives: can make all the throws, is ridiculously accurate and is a winner.
Running back
Overrated: Jahvid Best. California. I get it — the NFL loves speed. But while Best was a terrific college tailback, he’s 5-9 and weighs less than 200 pounds. He’ll get pinballed weekly in the NFL.
Underrated: Montario Hardesty, Tennessee. He’s a big, bruising back who has developed nice cutback ability. NFL criticism: He’s quick, not fast. Seriously, what in the world does that mean?
Wide receiver
Overrated: Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech. Reason No. 2,145 why the draft isn’t the science they’d like you to believe: McCoy and Tim Tebow and others are knocked for playing in a "system," but Thomas is a top 10 pick despite the fact he ran two routes — curl, go — in Tech’s option offense.
Underrated: Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas. It’s always about speed at this position, when it should be all about getting separation. Briscoe will be a terrific pro because he gets open and is physical after the catch.
Tight end
Overrated: Rob Gronkowski, Arizona. Only in the NFL: Gronkowski, a good guy dealt a bad hand, has a history of back problems and missed all of 2009. Let me say that again: back problems.
Underrated: Ed Dickson, Oregon. He has wide receiver ability at the tight end position but has been criticized for his inability to sustain blocks. Is Dallas Clark the best blocker in the NFL? He sure can catch the ball.
Offensive line
Overrated: Anthony Davis, Rutgers. This is based purely on the NFL’s computer measurables: a workout warrior who fits the mold but doesn’t necessarily show up every play.
Underrated: Mike Johnson, Alabama. He’s a physical, nasty grinder. Too often, the NFL looks for weight room freaks they can "mold" into football players. More times than not, it doesn’t work.
Defensive line
Overrated: Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida. One season in Division I football resulted in 45 tackles and 6.5 sacks. And he could be the first end taken because he runs a 4.6 40 and has "upside." See the lunacy yet?
Underrated: Linval Joseph, East Carolina. He had a back injury in the spring of 2008 because of excess weight (375 pounds), but instead of gaining more weight from inactivity, he lost 70 pounds. That shows commitment. Game tape, meanwhile, shows a dominating interior lineman.
Linebacker
Overrated: Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri. He’s a terrific athlete who ran around and made plays — but never dominated games. Weatherspoon never had to be specifically accounted for. That’s a red flag.
USC’s Taylor Mays never developed pass coverage skills.
Underrated: Reggie Carter, UCLA. He doesn’t fit the computer mold (he’s barely 6-feet tall) but played at a high level (against the run and pass) for four years in a pro-style league.
Cornerback
Overrated: Patrick Robinson, Florida State. When I watch cornerbacks, I look for two things: break on the ball and the ability to limit yards after the catch. When the NFL watches, it looks for one thing: speed.
Underrated: Kyle Wilson, Boise State. The NFL likes to talk about the ability to chase and closing speed and fluid hips. No one in this draft breaks on the ball better than Wilson.
Safety
Overrated: Taylor Mays, USC. The draft’s elite physical specimen got too caught up in big hits the past two seasons and never developed in pass coverage.
Underrated: Earl Thomas, Texas. Weight (195 pounds) is a big concern, but he hits like a linebacker and does something many better athletes don’t: wraps up on tackles.
Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News and is an analyst for the NFL Network. Tune in to Total Access weeknights. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.
We like to think these NFL personnel guys have it all figured out, poring over game tape and statistics and numbers, and finding gems in the annual NFL draft.
Then we’re reminded of JaMarcus Russell. Or Vernon Gholston. Or Charles Rogers. Or, yes, Ryan Leaf.
Look for former Tennessee running back Montario Hardesty to outperform expectations.
Three years ago, when everyone was gaga over Russell and his freakish physical nature, I tried to point out that one factor superseded all others: Russell was 7-4 as a starter in games against ranked teams, with 13 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions in those games.
You and I aren’t breaking down tape, but we can certainly watch players and see that Gholston has one move and doesn’t go hard every play. Or that Russell has a tendency to make bad decisions. Or that a guy with the off-field problems Rogers had at Michigan State eventually would have off-field problems as an NFL player.
The NFL Combine begins later this month, and in the spirit of the most overvalued event in all of sports, here’s my annual overrated/underrated list of draft prospects.
Quarterback
Overrated: Jonathan Crompton, Tennessee. He was lost in all of 2008 and the first month of 2009, yet now is the No. 2 quarterback on Sporting News’ War Room list. Crompton had as many touchdowns as interceptions (nine) prior to this season, and he has never completed better than 58 percent of his passes.
Underrated: Colt McCoy, Texas. The negatives: spent his career in shotgun offense. The positives: can make all the throws, is ridiculously accurate and is a winner.
Running back
Overrated: Jahvid Best. California. I get it — the NFL loves speed. But while Best was a terrific college tailback, he’s 5-9 and weighs less than 200 pounds. He’ll get pinballed weekly in the NFL.
Underrated: Montario Hardesty, Tennessee. He’s a big, bruising back who has developed nice cutback ability. NFL criticism: He’s quick, not fast. Seriously, what in the world does that mean?
Wide receiver
Overrated: Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech. Reason No. 2,145 why the draft isn’t the science they’d like you to believe: McCoy and Tim Tebow and others are knocked for playing in a "system," but Thomas is a top 10 pick despite the fact he ran two routes — curl, go — in Tech’s option offense.
Underrated: Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas. It’s always about speed at this position, when it should be all about getting separation. Briscoe will be a terrific pro because he gets open and is physical after the catch.
Tight end
Overrated: Rob Gronkowski, Arizona. Only in the NFL: Gronkowski, a good guy dealt a bad hand, has a history of back problems and missed all of 2009. Let me say that again: back problems.
Underrated: Ed Dickson, Oregon. He has wide receiver ability at the tight end position but has been criticized for his inability to sustain blocks. Is Dallas Clark the best blocker in the NFL? He sure can catch the ball.
Offensive line
Overrated: Anthony Davis, Rutgers. This is based purely on the NFL’s computer measurables: a workout warrior who fits the mold but doesn’t necessarily show up every play.
Underrated: Mike Johnson, Alabama. He’s a physical, nasty grinder. Too often, the NFL looks for weight room freaks they can "mold" into football players. More times than not, it doesn’t work.
Defensive line
Overrated: Jason Pierre-Paul, South Florida. One season in Division I football resulted in 45 tackles and 6.5 sacks. And he could be the first end taken because he runs a 4.6 40 and has "upside." See the lunacy yet?
Underrated: Linval Joseph, East Carolina. He had a back injury in the spring of 2008 because of excess weight (375 pounds), but instead of gaining more weight from inactivity, he lost 70 pounds. That shows commitment. Game tape, meanwhile, shows a dominating interior lineman.
Linebacker
Overrated: Sean Weatherspoon, Missouri. He’s a terrific athlete who ran around and made plays — but never dominated games. Weatherspoon never had to be specifically accounted for. That’s a red flag.
USC’s Taylor Mays never developed pass coverage skills.
Underrated: Reggie Carter, UCLA. He doesn’t fit the computer mold (he’s barely 6-feet tall) but played at a high level (against the run and pass) for four years in a pro-style league.
Cornerback
Overrated: Patrick Robinson, Florida State. When I watch cornerbacks, I look for two things: break on the ball and the ability to limit yards after the catch. When the NFL watches, it looks for one thing: speed.
Underrated: Kyle Wilson, Boise State. The NFL likes to talk about the ability to chase and closing speed and fluid hips. No one in this draft breaks on the ball better than Wilson.
Safety
Overrated: Taylor Mays, USC. The draft’s elite physical specimen got too caught up in big hits the past two seasons and never developed in pass coverage.
Underrated: Earl Thomas, Texas. Weight (195 pounds) is a big concern, but he hits like a linebacker and does something many better athletes don’t: wraps up on tackles.
Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News and is an analyst for the NFL Network. Tune in to Total Access weeknights. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.
Pete Carroll has reportedly agreed to terms to become the new coach of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and leave the monster of a program he built at USC. Sporting News’ Matt Hayes addresses three burning questions the move raises:
1. Can he succeed? No. His 33-31 regular-season record (1-2 in the postseason) with the Jets and Patriots in the 1990s is much more the norm than exception in the coach-eating league. The NFL is set up for parity; the Pac-10 was set up for USC to dominate.
2. Will USC disappear? No. But the program won’t be nearly as dominant without Carroll’s dynamic personality wooing elite recruits. That unique campus and those magnificent facilities (that’s sarcasm) weren’t landing recruits.
3. Who’s best suited for the USC job? If one NFL washout works, why not another? Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio, a USC alum, is treading water in Jacksonville. A defense-first, charismatic coach — haven’t we seen this before?
Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.
This story will appear in the January 10 edition of Sporting News Today. If you are not receiving Sporting News Today, the only daily digital sports newspaper, sign up today for free.
Pete Carroll has reportedly agreed to terms to become the new coach of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and leave the monster of a program he built at USC. Sporting News’ Matt Hayes addresses three burning questions the move raises:
1. Can he succeed? No. His 33-31 regular-season record (1-2 in the postseason) with the Jets and Patriots in the 1990s is much more the norm than exception in the coach-eating league. The NFL is set up for parity; the Pac-10 was set up for USC to dominate.
2. Will USC disappear? No. But the program won’t be nearly as dominant without Carroll’s dynamic personality wooing elite recruits. That unique campus and those magnificent facilities (that’s sarcasm) weren’t landing recruits.
3. Who’s best suited for the USC job? If one NFL washout works, why not another? Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio, a USC alum, is treading water in Jacksonville. A defense-first, charismatic coach — haven’t we seen this before?
Matt Hayes covers college football for Sporting News. E-mail him at mhayes@sportingnews.com.
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Marvin Austin has excellent athletic ability, but he must show more desire.
