I figured we should have a thread for people to just post their own scouting reports in -- try to keep the discussion to a minimum (or maybe we could have a separate thread that discusses the reports?) Hopefully this will be a reference for people to check in on their favorite prospect:
Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
Positives: Prototypical height/build. Good mechanics inside the pocket with a high release which will prevent batted balls. Runs a pro style offense, and will have to make fewer adjustments to the NFL game. Great mobility outside of the pocket, combined with exceptional movement within the pocket, has a feel to find the open zone. Maintains amazing accuracy while throwing on the run (best I've ever seen in this category). Can maintain accuracy when situation forces poor mechanics. Knows how to threaten the run as a method to open up passing lanes. Doesn't panic in the face of pressure, and effectively finds the hot route. Big and physical, and can stand up to the pounding of the NFL. High floor, there's really no attribute where you would say he's “below average”.
Negatives: Arm strength only slightly above average, can't fit the ball into tight spaces. Doesn't have that intuition to float a ball over a defender. Often doesn't set his feet even when he has the chance. Doesn't take the sack when he should, will try to make the play that isn't there instead. Despite his frame, is not particularly difficult to bring down when a defender gets hands on him (a la Roethlisberger, Culpepper, McNabb).
Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor
Positives: Great athlete, can make plays with his legs when the play breaks down, but stays in the pocket and keeps his eyes downfield. Will find the receiver who is open (breaking through coverage), and can destroy defenses which let a receiver get deep. Knows how to put some air under the ball to beat a defender. Throws a very pretty deep ball – can spin it. Very smart leader, quick snaps if defense not set, in Oklahoma game, threw ball away correctly after bad snap. Maintains accuracy in the face of pressure, and will stand in the pocket against the blitz. Can really sell the play-action, and does all the little things to misdirect defenses. Hits receivers in stride on short routes, and throws a really catchable ball.
Negatives: Very unorthodox mechanics, which are unlikely to improve in the NFL (think Tim Tebow). Low arm angle + short stature translates to tips at the line. He throws a great deep-ball, and a very accurate short ball, but he doesn't have any “plus” throws in the intermediate game. Seems like his game would get eaten alive by the Cover 2 Zone which is prevalent in the NFL, as he doesn't have the intermediate timing routes which can beat it. Michael Vick comparisons are out of bounds, while he's a great running QB, he doesn't have moves that will break NFL LB's ankles. Shotgun scheme and often throws to very open receivers, doesn't often thread it in against good defenses. Due to playing style he is going to take hits, does he have the body type to stay healthy?
Landry Jones, QB, Texas A&M
Positives: Great Accuracy/Arm Strength Combination. Can fit the ball into tight windows. Quick Release, and gets the ball out of his hands quickly, and in rhythm. Excellent timing and knows when receivers will get open. Throws to the holes in zones. Solid footwork on three/five step drops which gets him into throwing position quickly. Footwork is technically sound, so long as it's a “practiced” motion. Able to throw the deep ball, and shows trust in his receivers to make plays. Deadly when he can step up into the pocket. While many have argued for a regression this year, I see him looking deeper to reads (with mixed results).
Negatives: Stares down first option and throws to first option regularly (partially due to offensive systems). Very rarely looks deeper into reads. Accuracy (and footwork) suffers when forced to throw to secondary targets. Not elusive inside or (especially) outside the pocket. Doesn't have the footwork of a Manning or Brady to move around inside the pocket. Cannot improvise when the play breaks down. Will try to fit the ball in windows he shouldn't (locking onto first read). Doesn't make good reads in live action, and sometimes makes baffling throws to the first read in multiple-coverage. Will fall for traps from good NFL safeties. How much of his effectiveness is due to the Oklahoma system (and the fact that their athletes are more talented than competition)? He gets much better pass blocking at Oklahoma than he will ever see in the NFL.
Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma St.
Positives: Physical runner after the catch, with the power/speed to beat defenses. Can adjust routes through the middle to get open and shows a good feel for the holes in zone coverage. Very shifty - has a knack for getting himself into open space, and uses his body well to beat the defender to the spot.
Negatives: Hands are average and he shows a tendency to for drops – especially when the ball hits his hands on the run. Can show an attitude if he's not receiving the ball. Does not tuck the ball well after the catch (showboating?), leading to a disaster and a near disaster in the Texas A&M game. Exerts almost no effort in the run blocking game, which is particularly disappointing because he has the size/strength to be dominant in this regard, but he has a tendency to turn and watch.
Matt Kalil, OT, USC
Positives: Has the strength/quickness you look for in a prototypical left tackle. Exceptional footwork, above almost all LT prospects except Ferguson. Natural knee bender. Though he's primarily thought of as a pass protector, he is an underrated run blocker who gets a lot of push on the first level, and has the footwork to engage at the second. Very effective at sealing off the outside. Has great footwork to recover if beat. Can make most of the blocks look effortless.
Negatives: Seems to let himself get beat by inside moves consistently (Stanford game, at least 3 times). Doesn't always show great recognition to make the second block, especially necessary chips in the passing game. Might not have the have the long arms of your prototypical blue-chip LT candidate. More of a technique blocker, and doesn't play with a great mean streak. Doesn't lock on quickly as a zone blocker. Tends to rely on his help almost a little too much (if he knows there will be an RB blocking on the outside for instance). Does not consistently lock on in the screen pass game – gets out into position effectively, but whiffs on the block quite a bit. Much more valuable in a man blocking scheme than in zone.
David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
Positives: The most physically dominant interior offensive player to come out in a decade. Overpowering at the point of attack, with above average (though not excellent) speed to get to the second level. Rarely appears lost on the play, and will find somebody to hit. Can pull and then move directly into pass protection on the outside, allowing the offense very convincing play-action opportunities. Has good hip rotation, can recover when he's initially beat off of the ball. Keeps blocking until the whistle, and has the legs to stay with a running back 20 yards downfield. Shows ability to stay keep feet moving and stay standing in the pile. It's telling that every short yard run goes directly behind DeCastro.
Negatives: Doesn't show the vicious mean streak you may expect from interior OL-men. Recognition of the open blitzer isn't the best, will often block air if in zone pass protection, and doesn't necessarily show good mirroring ability. OG isn't really a premium position.
Jerel Worthy, DT, Michigan State
Positives: Very strong first step which gives him a lot of penetration in the running/passing game, he requires an initial double team to prevent penetration into the backfield. The first step is very quick, and slowing down game footage, you notice that he is the first MSU DL to react to the snap about 80% of the time. Can be very disruptive in the backfield during the run game.
Negatives: Once he's stood up by the double team, he loses a lot of his power, and lacks the secondary move to fight past the blocker. The normal technique seems to be to stand him up with a double team, and then one blocker can move off elsewhere. Does not stop well once he gets moving forward, can be beat by the offensive linemen allowing him to push himself out of the play. Has a hard time getting off the block to make the tackle. Due to quick first step, is susceptible to being pulled offsides. One-gap 4-3 DT, does not fit into the 3-4 scheme. Can collapse the pocket as a pass rusher, but shows limited moves to get to the QB, and is not a true threat inside.
