- Joined
- Oct 13, 2011
- Messages
- 20,487
For those of you who remember the Pro Football Weekly draft preview, the same guy now does scouting reports for NFL.com. Some of it is his opinion, and some he gets straight from his old buddies in the scouting community. I think he did a pretty accurate job with our guys:
Seantrel Henderson (Rounds 2 or 3)
STRENGTHS Looks every bit the part with a rare-sized body that will make offensive line coaches drool -- broad-shouldered, big-boned, well-proportioned and thickly built. Athletic bender. Light-footed kick slide. Is a day trip to get around -- long arms aid recovery and enable him to push rushers wide of the pocket. Thwarts rushers with a heavy punch and sturdy base. Locks on and controls. Walls off and seals. Widens the hole. Gets to the second level with ease. Passes off stunts.
WEAKNESSES Weight-room strength is not special given his size. Needs to strengthen his core -- affects body control, contact balance, sustain and finish. Spends too much time on the ground. Technique lapses -- needs to play with more consistent bend and leverage. Gets in trouble when his feet stall and is slow to shift his weight. Labors to execute reach blocks and is stressed by quick inside moves -- occasionally lets defenders cross his face. Struggles adjusting to moving targets in space. Should be more powerful than he is. Uneven performance. Underachiever traits. Suspect maturity, dependability and decision-making -- is easily led astray and was suspended multiple times.
BOTTOM LINE Massive, strong-bodied, long-armed specimen with the physical gifts to be a dominant NFL right tackle in a power or slide-protection blocking scheme. However, he failed to live up to expectations in Coral Cables thanks to a tumultuous career marred by tragedy, suspensions, injuries and benchings. High-risk, high-reward, high-maintenance wild card who must convince decision-makers he’s worth gambling on. Interview process will go a long way in determining his trustworthiness.
Stephen Morris (Rounds 4 or 5)
STRENGTHS Very good arm strength and athletic ability. Can move around the pocket and buy a second chance. Throws with velocity and can rifle the ball into tight spots. Can drill back-shoulder throws. Can adapt his arm and throwing platform and release it from a variety of angles under duress with ease. Has natural leadership traits.
WEAKNESSES Average overall size with a relatively thin build. Sporadic accuracy. Sprays the ball and struggles to hit receivers in stride (best with stationary targets). Does not throw his receivers open. Marginal timing, anticipation and rhythm. Struggles to handle pressure and presses to create plays -- eyes drop to the rush very quickly and vacates the pocket prematurely. Makes too many head-scratching decisions. Birddogs his primary target and will force the ball. Career 57.7 completion percentage is indicative of accuracy at all layers even with a clean pocket. Makes his receivers consistently work for the ball.
BOTTOM LINE Will tease evaluators with his arm and athletic talent, but has yet to prove he can throw with the precision needed to sustain a starting job in the pros. Has clear starting-caliber traits, but is still learning what it takes to direct an offense and make good decisions and is still very much a work in progress. Has talent worth molding in a backup role and will pique the interest of QB coaches who work him out in the spring and view his raw tools. Will require a strong offensive line and a full supporting cast of weapons to function in a starting role.
Brandon Linder (Rounds 4 or 5)
STRENGTHS Terrific size. Engages with urgency and works to gain positioning. Can lean and seal. Good hand placement. Functional anchor when his base and posture are technically sound. Ideal makeup to battle in the trenches. Plays with his head on a swivel -- alert to threats. Nasty finisher. Outstanding personal and football
character. Smart vocal leader. Tough, durable and experienced (42 career starts).
WEAKNESSES Adequate athlete. Limited explosion -- cannot overpower defenders. Plays short-armed (average sustain). Tends to lunge and slip off blocks. Body control and contact balance wane in space and on the move. Is late to cut off linebackers and struggles the farther he has to go.
BOTTOM LINE Big, experienced, highly competitive, short-area base blocker at his best in a phone booth. Lacks ideal power and athleticism, but has football intelligence, leadership traits and a bulldog’s mentality. Should earn a spot as an interior backup initially, but brings grit to the line and has the makeup to outplay his draft position.
Allen Hurns (Rounds 6 or 7)
STRENGTHS Good length and competitive speed. Runs hard after the catch. Adjusted well to frequent errant throws.
WEAKNESSES Narrow-framed and non-physical. Struggles to separate against tight man coverage. Lacks polish and precision in his routes. Average burst out of his breaks. Is not a burner -- limited long speed. Soft blocker.
BOTTOM LINE An underneath, zone receiver, Hurns emerged as the Hurricanes' top go-to receiver as a senior. Runs a lot of simple, stationary, short-to-intermediate routes and could have a more difficult time shaking NFL cornerbacks.
Pat O’Donnell (UDFA)
STRENGTHS Very good leg strength to drive the ball. Experienced four-year starter. Handles kickoffs and served as the holder on PATs. Dedicated to his craft and the game is important to him.
WEAKNESSES Inconsistent hang time. Can improve placement and accuracy. Average athlete. Overly analytical and outthinks the game. Could stand to hone his mental toughness and learn to handle pressure.
BOTTOM LINE Outstanding-sized, right-footed, two-step punter transferred from Cincinnati upon graduation to be closer to home and hone his own technique. Has the leg strength to compete for a job, but must continue to hone his control and improve his directional punting.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/tracker/by-name#dt-by-name-input:h
Seantrel Henderson (Rounds 2 or 3)
STRENGTHS Looks every bit the part with a rare-sized body that will make offensive line coaches drool -- broad-shouldered, big-boned, well-proportioned and thickly built. Athletic bender. Light-footed kick slide. Is a day trip to get around -- long arms aid recovery and enable him to push rushers wide of the pocket. Thwarts rushers with a heavy punch and sturdy base. Locks on and controls. Walls off and seals. Widens the hole. Gets to the second level with ease. Passes off stunts.
WEAKNESSES Weight-room strength is not special given his size. Needs to strengthen his core -- affects body control, contact balance, sustain and finish. Spends too much time on the ground. Technique lapses -- needs to play with more consistent bend and leverage. Gets in trouble when his feet stall and is slow to shift his weight. Labors to execute reach blocks and is stressed by quick inside moves -- occasionally lets defenders cross his face. Struggles adjusting to moving targets in space. Should be more powerful than he is. Uneven performance. Underachiever traits. Suspect maturity, dependability and decision-making -- is easily led astray and was suspended multiple times.
BOTTOM LINE Massive, strong-bodied, long-armed specimen with the physical gifts to be a dominant NFL right tackle in a power or slide-protection blocking scheme. However, he failed to live up to expectations in Coral Cables thanks to a tumultuous career marred by tragedy, suspensions, injuries and benchings. High-risk, high-reward, high-maintenance wild card who must convince decision-makers he’s worth gambling on. Interview process will go a long way in determining his trustworthiness.
Stephen Morris (Rounds 4 or 5)
STRENGTHS Very good arm strength and athletic ability. Can move around the pocket and buy a second chance. Throws with velocity and can rifle the ball into tight spots. Can drill back-shoulder throws. Can adapt his arm and throwing platform and release it from a variety of angles under duress with ease. Has natural leadership traits.
WEAKNESSES Average overall size with a relatively thin build. Sporadic accuracy. Sprays the ball and struggles to hit receivers in stride (best with stationary targets). Does not throw his receivers open. Marginal timing, anticipation and rhythm. Struggles to handle pressure and presses to create plays -- eyes drop to the rush very quickly and vacates the pocket prematurely. Makes too many head-scratching decisions. Birddogs his primary target and will force the ball. Career 57.7 completion percentage is indicative of accuracy at all layers even with a clean pocket. Makes his receivers consistently work for the ball.
BOTTOM LINE Will tease evaluators with his arm and athletic talent, but has yet to prove he can throw with the precision needed to sustain a starting job in the pros. Has clear starting-caliber traits, but is still learning what it takes to direct an offense and make good decisions and is still very much a work in progress. Has talent worth molding in a backup role and will pique the interest of QB coaches who work him out in the spring and view his raw tools. Will require a strong offensive line and a full supporting cast of weapons to function in a starting role.
Brandon Linder (Rounds 4 or 5)
STRENGTHS Terrific size. Engages with urgency and works to gain positioning. Can lean and seal. Good hand placement. Functional anchor when his base and posture are technically sound. Ideal makeup to battle in the trenches. Plays with his head on a swivel -- alert to threats. Nasty finisher. Outstanding personal and football
character. Smart vocal leader. Tough, durable and experienced (42 career starts).
WEAKNESSES Adequate athlete. Limited explosion -- cannot overpower defenders. Plays short-armed (average sustain). Tends to lunge and slip off blocks. Body control and contact balance wane in space and on the move. Is late to cut off linebackers and struggles the farther he has to go.
BOTTOM LINE Big, experienced, highly competitive, short-area base blocker at his best in a phone booth. Lacks ideal power and athleticism, but has football intelligence, leadership traits and a bulldog’s mentality. Should earn a spot as an interior backup initially, but brings grit to the line and has the makeup to outplay his draft position.
Allen Hurns (Rounds 6 or 7)
STRENGTHS Good length and competitive speed. Runs hard after the catch. Adjusted well to frequent errant throws.
WEAKNESSES Narrow-framed and non-physical. Struggles to separate against tight man coverage. Lacks polish and precision in his routes. Average burst out of his breaks. Is not a burner -- limited long speed. Soft blocker.
BOTTOM LINE An underneath, zone receiver, Hurns emerged as the Hurricanes' top go-to receiver as a senior. Runs a lot of simple, stationary, short-to-intermediate routes and could have a more difficult time shaking NFL cornerbacks.
Pat O’Donnell (UDFA)
STRENGTHS Very good leg strength to drive the ball. Experienced four-year starter. Handles kickoffs and served as the holder on PATs. Dedicated to his craft and the game is important to him.
WEAKNESSES Inconsistent hang time. Can improve placement and accuracy. Average athlete. Overly analytical and outthinks the game. Could stand to hone his mental toughness and learn to handle pressure.
BOTTOM LINE Outstanding-sized, right-footed, two-step punter transferred from Cincinnati upon graduation to be closer to home and hone his own technique. Has the leg strength to compete for a job, but must continue to hone his control and improve his directional punting.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2014/tracker/by-name#dt-by-name-input:h
