Scouting Reports

Mike Adams (OT) Ohio State

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 18:50:10 -0800

Mike Adams came to Ohio State, as a five star recruit, with a bevy of press clippings and expectations; however, he has bookended his college career with red flag incidents, first getting suspended two games in 2009 for violation of team rules, then having to serve an five game suspension, 2011, for his role in the "tattoos for memorabilia" scandal. In between, Adams was an extremely productive player, a three year starter whose presence was sorely missed at the beginning of this past season, when OSU's sacks allowed per game numbers skyrocketed from last year's totals. Adams has displayed a new sense of maturity this season, first choosing to fulfill his four year commitment to OSU, then winning the Jim Parker Award, presented to OSU's most outstanding lineman, and finally, at the combine, taking responsibility for past actions, stating "I've let these things build my character, rather than break it down." He still has questions to answer concerning work ethic and practice effort, but Adams isn't dodging NFL teams, admitting that, for him, the interview process was "the most important part of the combine." Unfortunately, as he later admitted and apologized for, during that interview process, he lied to teams concerning marijuana use while at OSU (Adams tested positive at the combine). As a show of good faith, Adams has vowed to delay his signing bonus for any team willing to take a chance on him. It remains to be seen how far this latest indiscretion will push Adams down in the draft.
At just over 6'7" and 323 pounds, Adams is a huge lineman, with the frame to add additional mass, without adversely affecting his game. He possesses long arms (34") and massive hands (10.8"), which he utilizes adroitly in both run and pass blocking. Adams had a rather pedestrian showing at the scouting combine, where his 40 yard dash (5.40 sec.), shuttle (4.95 sec.), and cone (7.94 sec.) times were all in the bottom 20% for offensive tackles tested. And, his 19 reps in the bench press (which he improved to 21 at OSU's pro day) was the fourth lowest among players at his position; although his long arms can be partly attributed for his poor showing in the bench, it evidences a definite lack of upper body strength, which surely will be noted by NFL personnel reps. However, on the field, Adams' physical ability is more apparent than in the workout room. Here, he displays good overall athleticism, quick feet, and impressive lateral agility. He's extremely coordinated for such a tall player, and demonstrates a genuine short area burst as a run blocker. Though a little stiff in his upper body, he flashes fluid hips and smooth side to side movement when required to slide his feet. And Adams capped off his career with a strong showing at the Senior Bowl, as well as at his pro day, where he showcased his athleticism in one on one drills squaring off against opponents in space.
For a 6'7" player, Adams sits well in his stance, with suitable knee flex, and a low fire-off point in the running game. He flashes a good first step and short area burst, and gets a solid initial pop on the opponent, generally keeping good pad level, with a definite suddenness upon contact. However, if he fails to make a solid first hit, he tends to lose balance forward, sacrificing leverage. Adams has the lower body power to drive linemen off the ball, more like a bulldozer clearing the way than an engulfer of opponents. He does a good job setting the edge, using agility to position the seal and raw power to crash back inside, with the ability to cave-in the line. At times, he can struggle to stay under a defender's pads, especially in short yardage situations. In pass protection, he gets his hands on opponents quickly, using a jarring jolt and full arm extension. Here, he has the upper body power to knock back most defenders with the initial punch, and keeps his hands inside well, something that he struggled with early in his career. He does play with questionable intensity, running hot and cold from play to play, only at times flashing an aggressive attacking mentality.
In general, Adams displays balance and solid footwork as a pass protector, a run blocker in the trenches, or in the open field. In the passing game, he's quick to set his feet coming out of a two point stance, and only slightly slower with his hand in the dirt. He gets a good jump at the snap, and engages immediately and solidly, with the exception being versus speed rushers off the corner; here, he tends to rush himself, and ends up lunging with mostly upper body, without getting his feet set under him. Typically, he demonstrates a sound slide step, fluid agility, and the ability to mirror opponents. He has a quick shuffle and doesn't cross his feet, but his steps have inconsistent width, and he has a tendency to stop short and reach. Adams can re-direct laterally, but, at times, he gets disconnected, and doesn't stay compact enough; however, he is quick to cut off inside rush lanes and establish position. In space, Adams is balanced and fluid, with the agility to easily get to second level defenders. He's nimble enough to get downfield on screens, and isn't just a shield blocker in the open field, demonstrating the athleticism to sink his hips and deliver a blow in space. In the run game, Adams is a fluid mover when asked to pull, able to smoothly get to the corner and lead block around the edge, and he does a sound job sustaining blocks on the move.
As a whole, Adams is an effective blocker due more to size and athleticism than sound, polished technique. Despite the height, he gets decent bend in the knees, though he looks more comfortable coming out of the two point stance. He establishes a wide base and uses reach to keep defenders off his frame, and, though he may not stop a rusher in his tracks, he re-routes opponents well, moving them around the pocket. He can anchor versus the bullrush, again using his wingspan to fend off rushers before they get into his body, but he's less effective against stronger powerful ends. At times, Adams bends too much at the waist, and is inconsistent with hand placement, tending to get them too wide. He also needs to improve versus two-way rushers. Here, he's strong against the initial move, but his footwork gets sloppy when the opponent counters; his feet get locked in place, and he compensates with all upper body, often overextending and losing balance. Also, Adams lacks patience, gambles on opponent's moves, and if not engaged immediately, has difficulty recognizing assignments, and too often blocks nobody.
Mike Adams was a highly decorated, productive performer for the Buckeyes, who started for three years at the line's most difficult position, going against some of the best pass rushers in the nation, including Whitney Mercilus, JJ Watt, Adrian Clayborn, and Ryan Kerrigan. Along the way, he encountered several bumps in the road, mostly self inflicted wounds, which NFL clubs will have to analyze closely, in assessing his character, work ethic, attitude, and coachability. Adams is a physically imposing player, who possesses not only an ideal NFL-ready body, but also exceptional footwork, quickness, and agility for his size. However, he lacks raw upper body strength, which, considering how much he relies on initial pop and arm extension, will need to be improved significantly. In the running game, Adams employs a better than average first step, explosive initial pop, solid pad level, and sustained leg drive to be an effective man-on-man hole opener, though, occasionally, he gets his tall frame too upright, mostly in goal line-like situations, and can struggle with leverage. He utilizes quick feet and agility to get around the corner and seal the edge, and to engage downfield defenders. As a pass protector, Adams anchors solidly with his lower half, and fires his huge hands and long arms into the opponent's chest plate, creating more of an impact than his "weight room" strength would suggest. Here, he does an admirable job keeping the rushing lineman at a distance; however, against powerful opponents, Adams struggles defending the bullrush, and additional strength will be required to withstand NFL caliber defensive ends. And, though he's quick to set his feet, and does an admirable job sliding laterally and mirroring, he has trouble staying connected when forced to change direction, and can struggle versus corner speed rushers, where he overextends, sacrificing balance and lateral agility. Overall, Adams is a talented player, who looks the part, and possesses the required athleticism to be a starting caliber NFL left tackle; however, largely due to a lack of technique, he may struggle to consistently protect the passer, especially versus speed rushers. His flaws are certainly correctable, and it may serve him best to begin his career as a right tackle, until his game is more refined. The question with Adams is how much "want to" does he have; is he willing to put in the required time and work? He didn't consistently produce like a first round talent at OSU, but his ceiling is high, and it's likely that an NFL club will bet that, in the right setting, he'll blossom. As such, he should be a late round one pick, unless his positive drug test at the combine pushes him further down teams’ draft boards.

Vinny Curry (DE) Marshall

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 18:11:57 -0800

Growing up in a tough neighborhood, in the swamps of Jersey, Vinny Curry was tempted to run with the wrong crowd. Instead, the former prop 48 casualty walked out of Marshall University this past December not only with a college degree, including minors in criminal justice and sociology, but also with the respect of his coaches, like Fred Tate, who described Curry as "the finest kid I've ever coached." By all accounts, Curry is a model student athlete, as a unanimous team captain and mentor to younger players, who never missed a workout. He passed up the opportunity to leap to the NFL after the 2010 season to try to help Marshall win a conference championship, and because he wanted his mother, who was battling cancer to see him become only the second person in his family to earn a college diploma. Sadly, his mother passed away during the 2011 season. Curry, looking for a way to honor her memory, dedicated the game against Rice, played only one day after the funeral, to her, vowing to record a sack on the game's first drive. Curry not only kept his promise, but finished the game with 9 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 4 tackles for loss, 1 recovered fumble, and 1 forced fumble that set up the game winning touchdown.
At 6'3" 266 pounds, Curry is slightly undersized for a defensive end, but he possesses a muscular, athletic body, with a frame that could carry an additional 15-20 pounds. His wingspan and hand size are middle of the pack for the top twenty-five college defensive ends, and, although Curry looks the part of an elite athlete, he merely has above average physical tools, and lacks top level speed, agility, and stamina. At the scouting combine, Curry couldn't take part in the bench press, due to an injured wrist, but his other test scores were disappointing to say the least. His 40 time of 4.98 seconds placed him in the bottom 25% of defensive ends, many of whom were carrying 20-35 pounds of additional weight. In tests designed to measure explosive ability, like the vertical leap and broad jump, Curry scored in the bottom 40%. And, as a guage of quickness and change of direction talents, his 4.40 second shuttle time was beaten by 65% of defensive ends at the combine. To his credit, in game film, Curry appears to have more impressive physical skills than his raw workout numbers would suggest. He's quick both in space, and as an edge rusher. He displays better than average closing speed when tracking a ballcarrier or quarterback. And he utilizes flexibility and balance, staying low, when working around an offensive tackle. It may be that, unlike many young players, Curry gets the most out of his talent, maximizing his abilities. He is neither a workout warrior nor an elite specimen; however, sometimes raw numbers are not a completely accurate measurement of one's athletic potential.
Although, at times, it may appear that Curry lacks explosiveness off the ball, in fact, what he struggles with is snap anticipation and initiating movement. Curry is often the last lineman, on either team, to move; however, once he gets his body in motion, he displays genuine burst and short area quickness. On occasions when Curry gets off the ball on time, he attacks the opponent aggressively, and is significantly more effective. Diagnosing plays is also not one of his strengths, as he is not always able to locate the ball, and, as such, will often take steps in the wrong direction, before having to re-direct. Versus the pass, he doesn't sense screens intuitively, and, when stunting to the inside, he can have trouble finding a rush lane or the quarterback. His below average recognition skills would make a switch from DE to OLB difficult. Curry does display excellent range, making tackles at all three levels, as evidenced by his 94 tackles in 2010, an truly impressive number for a lineman. Curry's best attribute may be his relentlessness. His passion for the game translates on the field, where he refuses to be left out of a play, often pursuing a ballcarrier 40 yards downfield. In 2011, he forced an incredible 7 fumbles, many by chasing down a faster player, and stripping him from behind. Though, at times his aggressiveness causes him to overpursue, he makes far more big plays than he surrenders.
Versus the run, Curry displays inconsistent leverage, initially exhibiting power and drive. However, the longer he remains engaged with the opponent, the more his pad level rises, and the more ground he loses, though, at times, he is a disruptive, penetrating attacker, able to extend his arms, shed the block, and drive through into the backfield. As a pass rusher, he maintains a lower pad level, exhibiting impressive upper body flexibility, and the capacity to really bend, as he fluidly dips his shoulder and flattens out moving around the corner. However, he often gets so low that the offensive lineman can simply drive him straight down into the turf. Curry also employs solid leverage with a bullrush, often able to drive much girthier opponents back into the QB. His other pet move is the speed rush, coupled with an occasional counter back inside. Here, he's moderately successful, lacking the pure speed to really challenge the corner, and often rushing too far upfield, taking himself out of the play. Lesser used weapons also in the arsenal include a jam, followed by the arm over, and an efficient swim move. In addition, Curry did show promise when moved inside on some passing downs, utilizing quickness and agility versus less athletic offensive guards. As a tackler, he can deliver a punishing blow, though, generally, he's content to make a sure takedown, which he rarely fails to do. In particular, he is extremely proficient at making plays when a dive or lay-out is required. Here, Curry takes a good angle, launches himself, and makes the tackle virtually every time.
At only 266 pounds, Curry lacks the mass to be a powerful force at the point of attack; however, he displays good strength for his size, able to occasionally drive opponents back, and rarely gets completely washed out of plays. He looks to deliver an initial pop, then use his hands to shed the blocker. In this area, he's somewhat a finesse player, more adept at eluding blocks than stacking and shedding. Though he struggles with cut blocks, generally he's able to work his way through traffic to get to the ball. In particular, he skillfully slides down the line in pursuit, chasing plays down from behind; he's the type of player that teams want to run at, rather than away from. In addition, chip blocks from running backs often leave him as easy fodder for offensive tackles, and he almost never makes it to the quarterback after encountering that two pronged blocking attack. As could be expected, Curry also struggles versus the doubleteam, lacking the substantial foundation to withstand the force of two linemen. Adding 10 to 15 pounds could significantly help here, but the gain wouldn't be worth the loss, if quickness and/or agility were diminished as a result.
In the end, Vinny Curry is a well respected, highly decorated, proud college graduate, who has the potential to transition from small conference college star to productive NFL player. He plays the game with an unyielding motor and an innate aggressiveness that allow him to be not only a dynamic player, but also a disruptive force on both sides of the line of scrimmage, producing an impressive number of sacks, forced fumbles, and tackles for loss over the course of his career. Perhaps Curry's biggest weakness is snap anticipation, where he consistently is slow to react to the initial movement of the ball. On plays where Curry gets off the ball on time, he produces a positive play for his team on most occasions; however, when he's sluggish at the snap, his success rates drops exponentially. In both instances, he displays good burst, but, when the offensive lineman gets a prohibitive head start, Curry cannot overcome the advantage. As such, he needs to devote a good deal of attention to that area of his game. If he can develop even average snap anticipation and "get off," he would consistently flash that explosiveness that is only visible occasionally right now. As such, and coupled with his work ethic and coachability, a veteran NFL line coach could certainly have something to work with in Curry. Another area of needed improvement is stamina. Curry tended to wear down in the second halfs of games, and as a result, his pad level discipline waned, and he showed a noticeable drop in overall production. In his defense, Curry, as the only star on a mediocre unit, was routinely asked to play 80 or more snaps in some games. In any case, though some players have enough pure talent to be productive while giving 75% effort, Curry needs to be firing on all cylinders to be a difference maker. He will need to develop more stamina if he wants to avoid being just a situational player at the next level. Following his productive senior season, Curry has seen his draft stock go up and down. He had a big Senior Bowl, where he could have been named MVP after posting 2 sacks, a deflected pass, and a QB hurry that resulted in an interception. However, his less than impressive showing at the Scouting Combine took some of the shine off that Senior Bowl performance. On film, Curry is certainly more athletic than those skills tests showed, and it is partly because of this that some have suggested that he could end up as 3-4 OLB in the NFL. But Curry has no experience in coverage, and there are more run/pass reads to be made at OLB than DE, where he already displays questionable play diagnostic abilities. As such, Curry is a better fit as a 4-3 DE, and, assuming he can add some girth and strength, develop a more complete pass rush arsenal, and fine tune his snap anticipation, he has the potential to be a solid NFL starter.

Fletcher Cox (DT) Mississippi State

Tue, 29 Jan 2013 18:26:10 -0800

Cox is a well-grounded, mature player, who is a role model in his community, with firmly entrenched local roots. As a four star HS recruit, he had scholarship offers from austere programs such as Alabama, LSU, and Auburn, but Cox chose to eschew the limelight and stay close to home in Mississippi. Being described by coaches as a tireless worker, Cox came to Starkville as a 240 lb DE before dedicating himself in the weight room, adding 60 lbs in only three years. Cox is also humble, refusing to take credit for his development, choosing rather to credit MSU alum, NE Patriot Kyle Love for mentoring him. After working with two defensive coordinators in three years, Cox suffered more adversity when he was one of five players suspended for the first game of 2011for a minor violation of team rules. As a team leader, who lets his actions speak for him, Cox was disappointed in himself, and looked at it as "something you just have to learn from." To his credit, after the game, he phoned teammates to congratulate them and offer support. As evidence of his re-dedication to the program, Cox, unlike most NFL prospects, remains in school, working towards his degree. He trained for the NFL combine during time between classes, making his strong showing that much more impressive.
At 6'4" 298 pounds, Cox possesses a solid, muscular frame, capable of carrying 10-15 more pounds, ideally as lower body girth added to enhance anchoring and leg drive. He owns big, strong hands (10.5") and long arms (34.5") that he uses to keep himself clean and make tackles outside his frame. He has top level athleticism, for a 300 lb. defensive line prospect, showcasing excellent balance, above average agility, and impressive change of direction skills, as evidenced by his strong showing during the physical skills portion of the scouting combine, where Cox had the fastest time, among all defensive tackles, in the cone drill, which tests agility and the ability to quickly change direction. Though only possessing average lateral acceleration, Cox flashes impressive speed when able to turn his hips and run. His 4.79 second forty yard dash time at the combine, again, was tops in the defensive tackle category, and in fact, was faster than ten of the linebackers. His straightline speed is not only impressive in front of the stopwatch, but also on display in games, when he closes on a quarterback or chases plays downfield. Cox displays good bend in the knees, but lacks flexibility in the upper torso, most noticeably when edge rushing from the DE position, where he can't really lower that inside shoulder, to get under the opponent's pads, while maintaining acceleration. However, he's an excellent all-around athlete, effectively manning all line positions at Miss State, and playing on multiple special teams' units, where he blocked five kicks over his career.
Though he exhibits only average snap anticipation, Cox compensates with impressive initial burst. He may not be the first player moving, but he is often the first to make contact, even on running plays, where he seems to beat the offensive lineman to the spot, then kicks into an even higher gear. Utilizing first rate short area quickness, he can fluidly cross the face of the defender or simply knife into the line's gaps, causing the opposing player to overextend, possibly losing balance or leverage, and drawing an inordinate number of holding calls. Cox locates the ballcarrier quickly, and does an admirable job not only of reading screens, but also of stopping his rush and getting his hands up to disrupt the three step passing game. His attacking style makes reading draws difficult, and, as such, he can aggressively overrun plays. On the edge, he plays his assignment with discipline, notably staying at home versus read options. Cox's agility and athleticism give him excellent range, and he can adroitly pursue down the line and make plays on the back side. He also looks comfortable dropping into coverage on zone blitzes. Cox will keep battling all day till the whistle, and, often that extra effort is rewarded with a hit on a QB who holds the ball too long. And, with sustained aggression, he consistently plays on the other side of the line of scrimmage, piling up tackles for loss.
Cox sits comfortably in his stance, with a flat back pre-snap, and a good knee bend, setting him in an attacking position. Versus the run, he generally keeps good pad level, and is able to get the initial shot on the opponent. However, at times, he gets too upright, sacrificing leverage, and can be stopped in his tracks, or even bent back at the waist. Against the run, Cox is a slashing, one gap penetrator, not looking to engage and shed; rather, he effectively slices into the backfield, avoiding as much interference as possible. He splits defenders, rarely engaging them head-on, often, skillfully angling his body to minimize potential surface area for an opponent to attack or latch onto. Cox extends his hands and arms quickly, aggressively fighting off the defender, essentially defeating the block before it starts. Versus the pass, Cox regularly gets too upright, often almost standing up after the snap, exposing too much of his frame, and losing the leverage battle. To his credit, he still generates a substantial rush, due to his athleticism and aggressive approach; however, to be successful in the NFL, he'll have to couple that raw talent with better technique. Cox is a linear rusher, whose primary, and most successful move is the arm under. He lacks the power to win with the bullrush, but does flash an impressive spin move, usually with good results. However, he only employs the spin when the initial assault is rebuffed. It should be in his arsenal as a weapon, not just a last resort. As a tackler, Cox is as solid as they come, rarely letting any ballcarrier get away. He's not an explosive hitter, who'll sink his hips and fire through a runner (he only forced 2 fumbles at Miss State); rather, he's a sure, wrap-up, old school defender, who gets the job done virtually every time.
Though Cox displays a suddenness off the ball, and the ability to explode into a gap, he doesn't possess the lower body strength for a sustained push. He's a hit and run driver, delivering a quick blow, then firing past the lineman into the backfield. When required to anchor and hold his ground, he struggles significantly, especially in short yardage and goalline situations, where he can get completely swallowed in the wash. In addition, though his explosiveness often demands that two blockers be assigned to him, he's weak versus the doubleteam, and lacks the strength to anchor on the edge against the run. Here, he understands his containment responsibilities, but can be overwhelmed by bigger linemen. As a two gap player, or hole clogger, he will be ineffective unless he adds substantial lower body strength. Cox does play fluidly in space, and moves exceptionally well for a 300 pound lineman, with the ability and drive to chase plays all over the field. To stay clean, Cox employs quick hands and maximizes his armlength to keep blockers at a distance, skillfully defeating low blocks or fending off slide-down block attempts. However, when he doesn't read a trap block, he can be sealed off, and if an opposing player gets into Cox's frame, he lacks the strength to separate, and often is forced to spin out to disengage.
Overall, Fletcher Cox has been a steadily improving, productive, sometimes dominant defensive lineman at the college level, and has the potential to produce a similar, or more impressive, professional career. As a person, Cox is well grounded, with an established work ethic, and the desire not only to lead, but also to be a role model. For a player of his size, he displays rare athleticism, manifested in speed, burst, agility, and change of directions skills, each of which he employs to consistently make plays in all phases of the game. Versus both the run and the pass, Cox exhibits solid recognition skills, impressive short area quickness, a relentless motor, and unyielding aggression. Likewise, in both areas of the game, he's a disrupting force, looking to attack the opponent on every snap, and defeat the play on the other side of the line of scrimmage. He skillfully shoots gaps, avoiding blocks using a combination of aggressive hands, body positioning, and acceleration. As a pass rusher, he's still a work in progress, but shows genuine potential. Despite the fact that, as a rusher, he plays with a consistently poor pad level, Cox repeatedly, through effort and athleticism, puts pressure on the quarterback. And, though he deploys an effective arm under move, he needs to both utilize his spin move more often, and develop a more complete arsenal of pass rush techniques. The fact that Cox is a coachable player, who has consistently improved over his three years at Mississippi State, bodes well for his growth under the tutelage of NFL coaches. Another area of needed attention is lower core strength. Though Cox is highly capable of defeating blockers when given space, if he is forced to engage chest to chest, he is unable to hold his position, and can be driven off the line. Make no mistake, Cox is not a two gap, blocker-eater, who can plug holes and keep linebackers clean behind him. Rather, he is a one gap penetrator, looking to attack the offense, and to create negative plays, mistakes, and possibly turnovers. Cox is suited to play five technique defensive end in a 3-4, but he has a versatile enough skill set to succeed as a gap penetrating three technique defensive tackle in a 4-3. In addition, with an improved pass rushing repertoire, Cox could see occasional duty as a defensive end in a 4-3, at times moving inside on likely passing downs to use his athletic ability to defeat offensive guards. Because of his character, productivity, potential, and versatility, Cox should be a first round selection, likely between picks 6 and 10. And, when all is said and done, he could be the best defensive player to come out of this class.

Cyrus Gray (RB) Texas A&M

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 17:47:17 -0700

At 5’10” 195, Gray is a decent sized, physically well put together back, with noticeable foot quickness, elite lateral agility, and good body control. He displays natural bend in the knees in traffic, or when changing direction in the open field, allowing him to make sudden cuts at full speed. Gray is not blessed with first rate speed (probably a high 4.5 guy), or plus burst, though he will effectively bounce runs to the outside and get to the second level. He’s quick rather than fast, starting and stopping without losing momentum, sinking his hip level to accelerate out of breaks. Typically, he keeps a good pad level, though, at times, he can get too upright at the line of scrimmage. At the line, he can be tentative, too often looking for the big play, not content to just hit the hole aggressively and take the two yard gain that’s there. When he does break through to the secondary, he’s elusive in space, though his lack of a homerun gear allows him to be caught from behind downfield.
Though not a pile driver, Gray exhibits solid leg drive and generally runs with a good forward lean, displaying a nice combination of power and balance to step through arm tackles. He won’t rack up a ton of yards after contact, move the pile, or be a standout goal line back at the next level; however, he does tend to get stronger throughout the game, often gaining most of his yards in the second half.
The strongest part of Gray’s game is missability, or the ability to elude defenders. Here, he fluidly breaks laterally, without losing speed, able to stick his foot in the ground and redirect his motion across the face of the defender, or across the entire formation. Gray is creative in the open field, and is highly elusive in traffic, able to make defenders consistently miss in tight areas. He occasionally uses the jump stop, and shows solid ability to set up opponents, getting them leaning, then breaking the arm tackle.
As for vision, Gray displays average skill pre-snap or when approaching the line of scrimmage, and often hesitates, looking for the big hole or cutback lane. He seems to see the field better as the play progresses. When able to break through the line, Gray quickly visually dissects the defense, identifying cutback lanes and defender locations. Here, he seems to see the whole field, and is able to pick his way through traffic by anticipating defender moves and using lateral agility and good short area acceleration to counter them. His style truly embodies the old Tom Landry axiom “run to daylight.”
As a receiver, Gray is solid, but not stand-out, typically making the easy catches, usually on screens, outs, and swing routes. He gets his head around quickly to locate the ball and displays coordination and body control, but isn’t a downfield threat or a weapon to be used split out as a wide receiver. In blitz pickup, he exhibits a solid frame and toughness. When he uses good leverage and positioning, he’s effective and sticks with the defender through impact though this part of his game could use refinement and added consistency.
Overall, Jimmy really likes Cyrus Gray, and thinks that he’s one of the most underrated players in the 2012 draft. He’s not flashy or explosive, and he missed the end of the season, bowl game, and Senior Bowl due to injury. As such, he’s fallen out of discussion when comparing the top running backs of the class, but this is a mistake. Gray does everything well, and his ability to make people miss is top notch, and will allow him to be highly productive at the next level. He’s more than just a running back by committee chess piece; he can handle twenty carries per game and, though not a punishing runner, he gets better as the game goes on. Gray has legitimate second round talent, but will probably still be available in round four. The team that selects him will get more than they expect, as he will be among the top running back performers from the 2012 class throughout his entire career.

PJ Grade: 6.7

Chandler Jones (DE) Syracuse

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 09:32:08 -0700

Chandler Jones is a young, raw, athletic edge pass rusher, with a big wingspan and good agility for a 6’5” 265 pound player. Jones coils in his stance like a sprinter and displays solid off the line burst, quickly engaging offensive lineman, and using that some acceleration to close on ballcarriers or quarterbacks in the pocket. He’s long and relatively lean, especially in the upper body, but has the frame to add mass and strength (could carry 280 lbs. comfortably), which I forsee happening in his future. Not possessing overly fluid hips, Jones does show good speed when he gets his shoulders square to the target, allowing him to effectively chase plays down the line or downfield.
Versus the pass, Jones gets of the ball on time, using his long arms to keep offensive linemen off his body, typically utilizing speed and jump to get around the edge. When he keeps his pad level down, he turns the corner repeatedly, and can drive the opposing player back on his heels with a solid bullrush; however, often his first move out of his stance is to stand straight up. In these instances, leverage is sacrificed and his pass rush is easily neutralized. At times, he will employ a club or spin move, but, for the most part, Jones relies on the speed rush or arm-under move. As a rusher, Jones is raw, but effective, often collapsing the pocket and displaying plus closing burst when the quarterback is within range. With better, consistent leverage, and some added rush moves to his bag of tricks, he could develop into a first rate pass rusher at the next level.
Against the run, Jones vacillates between ineffective and inconsistent. Again, he can get too vertical, allowing offensive linemen to get under his pads, and either neutralize his advance or turn him out of the hole. At times, he uses his reach to his advantage, quickly getting his strong hands on the opponent and shedding the block, but this skill needs to be further developed; he did improve in this area over the course of his career at Syracuse. He also needs to get stronger to hold his ground better at the point of attack, and to keep from getting washed out of plays. He’s an aggressive pursuer of the ball, though sometimes this is used against him, as he loses outside containment, crashing down the line, and abandoning edge responsibilities. He will chase plays down, using good pursuit speed and extensive range, even 20-30 yards downfield. Jones does make plays on the backside and all areas of the field, even getting back into the action after being initially blocked, displaying the athletic ability to tackle in open space.
Ultimately, Jimmy likes the potential of Chandler Jones as a 4-3 defensive end. Right now, he’s not strong enough or consistent enough with technique to be a solid run defender, but he show flashes of potential. As a situational pass rusher, he can contribute immediately, though without improved pad level, he will be handled easily, by NFL level offensive tackles. Jones has the athletic ability to play some outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, providing an edge rush and occasionally dropping into coverage; however, in a standing initial position, leverage problems may be exacerbated. I project Jones developing into a solid all around defensive end, a serviceable run-stopper, who’s counted on to repeatedly bring the heat to the signal caller. Expect him to be a consistent starter after three or four years, with maybe a season or two worthy of pro bowl consideration.

PJ Grade: 6.9