DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2013 NFL Season NFL Draft (2013) Scouting Reports on the top Off. Players

Found this site that has scouting reports for some of the top Offensive players, at each position, available for the 2012 NFL Draft.

http://nflsfuture.com/category/2012-nfl-draft-scouting-reports/

Jester was asking for a scouting report on Darron Thomas in another thread so I thought I would post it here.

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A guy that I cannot find a scouting report on is Darren Thomas Oregon. I would be interested in what people have to say about him. I only saw parts of the Oregon-USC and Oregon -Stanford games. And I wasn't in scouting mode. He seems to have good passing stats. What round is he projected? How does he compare to RGIII? Both seem like guys who can sling the ball and create with their legs only Thomas is a fair bit bigger. What makes RGIII such the better prospect?

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His stats are posted but not sure how to transpose that. Darron Thomas This is the scouting report page for Oregon junior quarterback Darron Thomas. Check out all of our scouting reports here at NFL Mocks.

Measurables:

6’3& 215 pounds



Scouting Report

Thomas is a great athlete with solid size, but he looks a little lanky for his listed measurables. He is slightly fragile because of that lack of overall muscle build, so it will be interesting to see if he decides to add 10-15 pounds of muscle in the offseason as his frame will allow it without him losing speed or quickness. Quick release on the ball and is pretty accurate, but that is certainly an area of his game he should look to develop as he is completing only about 61 percent of his passes over the last two years.



Strong arm and can make any throw, and obviously a dual-threat guy who can make plays with his legs when called upon. It will be interesting to see if he can play wide receiver and/or return some kicks/punts in the NFL with his speed and playmaking ability. 42 touchdowns compared to only 14 interceptions over the last two seasons as of 11/19/11. Makes good decisions with the football, got a great personality and a lot of swagger/confidence. Leader of the offense and productive really early in his career.

PROS: Speed, size potential, strong arm, can make all the throws, good decisions, protects the football, dual-threat, versatility, field general, good vision, like his potential as a slash on the offensive side of the ball.

CONS: Needs to add muscle to his frame, can he be a QB long term?, translating success in the spread option to the NFL, not playing in a QB friendly offense

Thanks Loyal. Funny that you put your reply in this thread because I had actually typed it out here then posted in the RGIII thread because I was worried that I would turn this into yet another Qb thread. I am still not clear as to why he is a 3rd/4th/5th round Qb yet RGIII is a top 3 overall pick?

They seem like players with the same strengths and weaknesses from what I am reading.

Nice site.

Maybe I am missing something, but is there a way to navigate by position or name?? As I am doing it, scrolling page to page isn't a very useful way.

Tell me I am missing something....I'll go look again.

If there is i haven't been able to find it.

At least the players are grouped by position.

Hmm, I didn't see a whole lot of Oregon but I didn't find him to be very accurate when I watched. I saw a game earlier in the year and the did a whole profile on him about how he was a good kid and how he kind of accidentally ended up playing QB in high school and how he was a team first guy, but then in the game he wasn't particularly impressive.

Analysis Ryan Tannehill

Accuracy: Very good accuracy in the short passing game, puts ball on the numbers or in a place where receiver can make a play after the catch, even when throwing off his back foot. Quite accurate making plays on the run, squares his shoulders throwing in either direction, has deft touch but also puts some zip on shorter to intermediate throws and places the ball to the outside. Hits open receivers in stride downfield. Generally throws a nice fade to the outside, will underthrow when trying to put too much air under the pass. Makes intermediate throws to the short side of the field, but too often sails throws over the middle or to the sideline from the pocket.

Arm Strength: Possesses an NFL arm. Gets the ball from one hash to the opposite sideline in a hurry. Has the zip to hit tight windows on short and intermediate throws. Tight spiral aids velocity. Flips the ball 20-30 yards downfield on the run.

Setup/Release: Inconsistent release, at times flipping the ball out quickly like Philip Rivers and winding up on other throws. Height and tall, balanced posture in pocket makes it easy to survey the field. Splits time between shotgun and coming out from under center. Takes extra steps in his drop at times. Feels interior pressure too quickly, throws off back foot when unnecessary (though it's still accurate). Pats ball to keep rhythm. Delivery gets a bit sidearm, allows linemen to knock down throws. Not practiced stepping up into the pocket to find room to throw.

Reading Defenses: Sees the field very well when the play breaks down and occasionally changes plays at the line, but needs work recognizing coverages. Will throw his man into a defender, resulting in big hits. Also needs to be cognizant of blitzes and outside pressure, puts himself (and the ball) in danger too often by failing to see late comers and secondary rush. Sells play fake and is patient enough to look to one side of the field before going to primary option on misdirection plays. Stares down receivers too often, NFL-caliber defenders close on his passes to create turnovers.

On the Move: Excellent mobility for his size, not surprising given his success at receiver. Regularly used on bootlegs (with good urgency on play fake) to either side of the formation take advantage of his athleticism. Presses the line running to his left, puts himself into the arms of defenders. Good touch on underneath throws when plays break down. Won't get the corner as easily against NFL defenders, but has the quickness to get chunks of yardage on naked bootlegs and when lanes open in man coverage. Watches the pressure and flushes a bit early, but once in the open he looks for downfield targets. Tough player, but takes too many hits downfield on zone-read plays and scrambles, must learn to slide. Height and slight build bring durability concerns.

Intangibles: Intelligent prospect who is very good student, a regular on first-team Academic All-Big 12 squad who hopes to one day become an orthopedic surgeon. Team player who reveled in the chance to compete on the field at receiver instead of transferring once losing the quarterback battle. Father played quarterback at Texas Tech. Occasional pooch punter.

--Chad Reuter web page


Analysis Robert Griffin III

Accuracy: A natural passer with very good accuracy and ball placement, especially on the run. Very impressive career completion percentage (67.1%) in college. Has very good downfield touch with beautiful deep ball accuracy. Impressive feel on bucket and long throws. His accuracy dips on throws inside the pocket and looks most comfortable when he can get outside the hashmarks.

Arm Strength: An effortless passer with above average arm strength. Can make all the throws and drives the ball downfield, not shy about unleashing his cannon of an arm.

Setup/Release: Has a quick release and does a nice job with play fakes. Gutsy and fearless, standing tall in the pocket even when he knows the hit is coming. Has inconsistent lower body mechanics with messy footwork, throwing of his back foot far too often. Has a three-quarters delivery and unconventional throwing motion with low delivery and release point. Operated out of a shotgun spread offense with various zone and option schemes at Baylor, but hardly a complicated playbook ? doesn?t have experience taking snaps from under center.

Reading Defenses: Sees the entire field and works through his progressions, manipulating the pocket and keeping his eyes downfield. Holds the ball too long and needs to improve his pocket awareness, abandoning his reads too easily. Streaky internal clock and looks to get outside of the pocket too soon. Has questionable vision as a passer, staring down defenders and making puzzling decisions at times. Still makes too many mental mistakes and needs to polish the mental aspect of his game. Forces throws and doesn?t look off defenders ? throws across his body too much and doesn?t anticipate defenders as well as he needs to yet. Needs to develop better pre-snap awareness to see the blitz and recognize what the defense is doing.

On the Move: An elite athlete with quick feet and superior speed ? smooth, flexible and leggy. Has magic escapability and adds an extra dimension with his legs. Makes something out of nothing, keeping defenders off balance and forcing poor angles because of his jets. Very good patience, vision and instincts as a runner with football toughness ? more than simply a track athlete. Has a lean frame and only adequate height. Not frail, but doesn?t have the body type to withstand a consistent beating. Has more straight-line speed than shifty burst and has added 20+ pounds since his peak as a track star. Has some ball security questions as a runner with several fumbles on his r?sum?. Holds the ball too long and takes unnecessary hits, getting beat up physically ? strong durability concerns and suffered a serious knee injury in 2009.

Intangibles: Exudes the natural leadership and confidence on the field that teammates respond to and follow. Very tough-minded and not afraid to take chances. Never allows himself to get too high or too low and the situation never seems too much. A determined passer ? thrower first and runner second. Very smart in the classroom and his intelligence translates well to the field ? graduated from Baylor in Dec. 2010 with a degree in political science and is currently working on his master?s degree. He possesses ?wow? playmaking ability with a clutch gene. Plays poised and in control late in games and is comfortable in the ?big? moment. Griffin is a team-first guy and is highly competitive. Winner and leads by example. Has off-the-chart intangibles and coaches rave about his work ethic, practice habits and overall character. Has very good starting experience as a three-year starter (40 career starts) and was the youngest starting quarterback in college football in 2008. Highly productive at the college level and set or tied 54 school records at Baylor and several other NCAA marks ? one of only three players in college football history to throw for 10,000+ passing yds and rush for 2,000+ yds in his career (Dan LeFevour, Colin Kaepernick). In 2011, Griffin led the Bears to their first bowl win since 1992 and was the first Heisman Trophy winner from Baylor since 1963. He set several records in track ? in both high school and college. Is he fully committed to football? (Olympics, track, academics)

-- Dane Brugler web page

Analysis Andrew Luck

Accuracy: Possesses extraordinary accuracy to all levels of the field. Consistently throws his receivers open, leading his receivers to where the defenders are least likely to be able to impact the reception or stop the receiver from gaining additional yardage. Zips the deep out low and outside. Excellent touch down the seam to fit the ball between the linebacker and safety over the top. Leads his backs on swing passes and receivers on slants/crossers so that they do not have to break stride. Rare accuracy extends to the deep ball, as well, as he throws a tight spiral with good trajectory that makes his passes easy to track over the shoulder. Trusts his accuracy too much, at times, showing a willingness to throw too often into coverage. In his two multiple INT games of his young career (Oregon 2010, Arizona State 2010) all four of his interceptions were thrown into double coverage.

Arm Strength: Doesn't boast a Matt Stafford-like howitzer, but has plenty of arm strength to make every NFL throw. Fires the deep out from the opposite hash without having to wind up. Confident in the pocket despite pressure around him, as he's shown the ability to make 50+ yard throws even with defenders pulling him down (Arizona State).

Setup/Release: Takes virtually all of his snaps from under center. Quick-footed and balanced in dropping back, scanning the field. Clearly is comfortable in the pocket, stepping up, sliding left or right and dipping his shoulder to avoid contact while setting up to throw. Rarely retreats or takes his way away from the secondary to look at the rush. Boasts a textbook throwing motion. Has an efficient over-the-top release, stepping into the throw and ending with a clean follow-through. The ball doesn't explode out of his hand as it does some passers with greater arm strength, but the fluid motion -- like a smooth golf swing -- generates plenty of torque.

Reading Defenses: Put simply, it is Luck's recognition of defenses so early in his college career that might be his most extraordinary accomplishment. Was given full freedom to call audibles at the line of scrimmage as a redshirt sophomore and takes advantage of his recognition to improve the offense's chance at a successful play, including often switching from passing plays to handoffs and bootlegs. Often will look one way and throw the other, leaving defenders with very little time to react. As mentioned previously, he does need to improve his decision-making, at times, as he will occasionally take unnecessary risks throwing the ball into double coverage.

On The Move: Perhaps the most underrated element of his game. Possesses very good straight-line speed for the quarterback position, as well as vision, enough mobility to evade defenders in the open field (not in tight quarters, however) and good strength. Doesn't take unnecessary hits and looks to slide or run out of bounds when he scrambles, but isn't afraid of lowering his shoulder to get the first down or score.

Intangibles: A winner. Has quarterbacked Stanford to a 20-5 record in his two seasons, including a 5-1 record against teams in the Top 25. Only loss was at Oregon, which came last in 2010 and was Stanford's only loss on the season. Highly intelligent. Was the valedictorian at Statford High. Majoring in Architectural Design at Stanford. Elected to return for his fourth year at Stanford in large part due to the fact that he wanted to finish his degree. Turned down being the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 draft. Jerry Richardson, owner of the Carolina Panthers who had the top pick, confirmed that Luck would have been his team's choice … Father, Oliver Luck, is a former West Virginia and Houston Oiler quarterback who now serves as the Athletic Director at his alma mater …

--Rob Rang web page

RBs

Analysis Trent Richardson

Inside: Powerful runner well suited to running inside the tackles. Quickly presses the line of scrimmage, attacking the hole when it is there. Shows the patience to allow the hole to develop, however, and has the vision and burst to bounce outside should there be a better opportunity available there. Possesses an exciting combination of acceleration and agility to elude defenders. Seems to relish physical contact, lowering his shoulder into would-be tacklers and running through many of them. Rarely goes down with initial contact, showing a stiff-arm and the leg drive to bowl over defenders. Wraps the ball securely in tight quarters and has only one fumble (LSU, 2010) in 321 career touches (entering 2011 season).

Outside: Significantly faster than his relatively short, thick-frame would lead you to believe. Beats the linebackers to the edge and can plant either foot in the ground and spring forward quickly, showing surprising acceleration. Possesses very good vision for cutback lanes, showing a willingness to cut back against the grain inside or break it outside depending on where he sees the defense leaning. Has the speed to pull away from defenders when he enters the open field. Switches the ball to his outside arm to help protect it as he nears the sideline.

Breaking tackles: Probably Richardson's most impressive trait. Often he is the one initiating the contact rather than the defenders, providing them little to target than his helmet, shoulder and knee pads. Keeps his legs driving through contact and literally runs over some opponents. Features a terrific stiff-arm, as well as a spin off of contact and the ability to leap over defenders attempting to cut his legs out from under him.

Blocking: Physical blocker whose intensity and power make him a potentially lethal weapon in the blocking game. Can be confused by exotic blitzes, sometimes technically picking up the wrong defender, but is willing to lay out to meet his assignment in the hole. Gets low and explodes into the defender, making the emphatic block. Would like to see him remain on his feet and square so as to protect his quarterback (and his own body) longer.

Receiving: Possesses soft, generally reliable hands out of the backfield. Is comfortable catching the ball outside of his frame, extending to pluck it and secure it quickly before worrying about oncoming defenders. Used on a variety of routes in this offense, showing the speed and fluidity to get open on wheel and quick screens, as well as traditional swing passes. Muffed a punt against Duke (2010) on a kickoff return, only to recover it and run 91 yards for a touchdown …

Intangibles: Signed with Alabama as a consensus five-star recruit and rated by some scouting services among the elite prospects at any position in the entire country. Possesses an almost unheard combination of size, strength and speed. Boasts a power clean of 365 pounds, a 600 pound squat and a bench press of 475 pounds. Has reportedly been timed by the Alabama coaching staff in the 4.4s in the 40-yard dash. His work ethic in the weight-room has been characterized as "legendary." Underwent surgery following his sophomore season in high school to repair torn ligaments in his ankle … Has two daughters (Taliyah, age four and Elevera, age three) …

--By Rob Rang web page

Analysis Lamar Miller

Inside: Balanced athlete with dynamic start/stop ability and smooth change-of-direction skills to stay patient before bursting upfield. Has very good vision and cutback ability, doing a nice job finding the run lanes. Follows his blocks and stays patient behind the line of scrimmage. Not overly explosive and goes down too easily, struggling to create on his own. Too patient at times and looks indecisive ? questionable feel and instincts between the tackles. Freelances a lot and needs to allow the designed play to develop. Relies too much on the big play and needs to learn to be content with positive gains.

Outside: Accelerates and gets to top speed quickly when he sees daylight. Has nimble feet to make defenders miss and shows an extra gear to run away from them as well. Very good at forcing defenders to take poor angles with his lateral quickness and natural burst. Fast through the hole and a home run threat. Looks most comfortable on the outside and in space.

Breaking tackles: An upright runner with a narrow frame ? won?t break many tackles. Has improved body strength and stays coordinated through contact ? runs hard and fights for every yard. Lacks much strength to power through tackles and doesn?t have the body type to withstand a heavy beating. Suspect ball security and tends to wear down over the course of a game.

Blocking: Wasn?t asked to stay in the pocket much as a pass protector and needs extensive technique work in this area.

Receiving: Effective pass catcher with good ballskills and body control to make tough grabs. Had only 28 catches over his collegiate career and has limited experience in this area.

Intangibles: Has experience as a return man on kickoffs with 15 returns for 376 yards (25.1 average) and 1 touchdown in his career. Had good production in his two seasons at the college level with the third-best single season rushing total in school history in 2011 (1,272 yards) ? nine career 100+ yd performances. Has suspect durability, playing most of the past season with a shoulder issue and will struggle with injuries. Was part of a two-back system at Miami (only two games in his career of 25+ carries) and lacks the size to be a bell-cow back ? started the 2011 season with five straight 100+ yd games, but finished with just two in the final seven games. Still growing at the position and is not yet a finished product ? will he put in the necessary work to reach his potential?

-- Dane Brugler web page

Analysis David Wilson

Inside: Tough guy to bring down and almost always gets positive yardage when he lowers his pads and gets north/south. Still very raw as an inside runner, running too indecisive and struggling to find running room at the LOS ? wavers and hesitates too much when the clear opening isn?t there and ends up going east/west for a loss. Lacks natural instincts with questionable vision and awareness to feel blocks and press the hole. Will slow down prior to contact and leave yardage on the field.

Outside: A smooth, explosive athlete who accelerates quickly downfield with a rare extra gear that he can reach in a hurry ? can really turn on the jets. Shows the flexibility and balance to bend and stay on his feet while avoiding tackles. He has a strong plant foot with some shiftiness to catch defenders off balance and routinely gets to the second level ? squirmy and tough.

Breaking tackles: Has a strong, compact build with good muscle mass on his body ? generates power from his frame. He is physical with the strength to run through contact, keeping his legs churning and carrying defenders. Won?t go down easy and picks up a lot of yardage after initial contact.

Blocking: Limited experience as a pass protector and needs extensive work on his technique.

Receiving: Has only average ballskills out of the backfield and wasn?t used a lot as a receiver in college. At his best on bubble screens to get him on the outside with a head of steam.

Intangibles: Runs at full speed on every play with full effort and determination ? high energy player and doesn?t cheat himself. Has suspect ball security with several fumbles over his career, holding the ball too loose. Has some coachability issues, openly questioning the play-calling at times ? butted heads with the coaching staff more than a few times for not enough carries. Has only one season as the full-time starter. Participated in both football and track for his first two seasons at Virginia Tech and finished second in the ACC in the triple jump in 2010, qualifying for Nationals. Offers value on special teams as kick returner, tallying 59 returns for 1,285 (21.8) and 2 TDs over his career. Extremely productive as the full-time starter in 2011, setting several school records including single season rush yds (1,709) and consecutive games with 100+ rush yds (7) ? 10 total 100+ rushing yd performances in 2011 (ties ACC record).

-- Dane Brugler web page

Receivers

Analysis Alshon Jeffery

Release: Uses his size, good strength and a very effective jab step to quickly gain clearance against press corners. Doesn't possess elite straight-line speed, but can lull defenders asleep with his long-strides and sneak behind the coverage for the long ball.

Hands: Possesses a rare combination of hand-eye coordination, body control and hand strength. Can make the circus grab look easy and already has compiled an impressive number of dazzling one-handed grabs (Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky). Good flexibility to extend and pluck the ball high and wide, as well as behind him. Tracks the ball well over either shoulder. Does have a tendency to let passes get into his chest too often and will drop more balls than he should due to the fact that he's trying to elude defenders before he has the pass secured. This appears to be simply a concentration issue as Jeffery has already demonstrated the natural pass-catching skills usually reserved for Pro Bowl receivers.

Route running: If there is an area of concern for scouts, this would be it. Many of Jeffery's routes in South Carolina's offense are relatively simple quick screens, slants, crossers and fades. He does not possess the elite speed, which may allow NFL cornerbacks to squat on underneath routes. He runs with good balance and is a developing route-runner, but isn't always capable of shaking off cornerbacks to gain real separation due to the fact that he lacks true explosiveness out of his cuts. When he is asked to run double moves, Jeffery often rounds off his cuts, gaining freedom more due to a series of shoulder fakes and adjusting his speeds, rather than exploding out of his breaks. To Jeffery's credit, his size and body control make him open even when he is effectively covered. He understands how to position himself in front of the defender and is remarkably effective in plucking the ball out of the air in jump-ball situations even when pitted against some of the top cornerbacks in the country (Alabama, Florida).

After the catch: A nightmare for most collegiate cornerbacks to handle once he gets the ball in his hands. While perhaps lacking in top-end speed, Jeffery has good acceleration for a receiver of his size and can expose cracks in the defense because of it. He has above average elusiveness when in the open field, as well. Where he'll make his money in the NFL, however, is because of his strength and balance. Jeffery often spins by, runs through or simply bounces his way out of prospective tackles and fights for additional yardage. He possesses a stiff arm that some running backs could take pointers from. At times when doing so, however, he allows the ball outside of his frame, exposing it for defenders to rip away from him (Florida State).

Blocking: A bit inconsistent in this area. Uses his size and strength to shield off defenders, helping his teammates with some big plays. Considering his physical tools, however, he isn't (yet) the dominator in this regard that he someday could be …

Intangibles: Originally committed to a different USC -- Southern California -- out of high school before switching back to his local Gamecocks. Was a key member of a Calhoun County high school basketball team that won four consecutive state titles.

--Rob Rang web page

Analysis

Release: Physical player able to get off press coverage to release up the sideline or position himself inside the cornerback on slants and crossing routes. Does not have elite speed to separate after his release but uses strength to get a half-step on defensive backs.

Hands: Has strong hands any NFL receivers coach and quarterback would covet for their team. Tracks the deep ball over either shoulder and brings in passes fluidly without breaking stride down the field. Fights for the ball in the air, has good vertical explosiveness and strong hands to bring it down in traffic. Does not always use his hands to secure deep throws, allowing the ball into his pads and chest. Had a few drops in 2010, losing concentration when trying to make a move or feeling a hit coming.

Route running: Typically lines up outside, but will be in the slot at times to use his physicality to move the chains. Best when using his size to get inside position for slants and post patterns. Often used on deep routes, getting separation down the sideline or over the middle on crossing routes by extending his arms rather than pure speed. Flashes the feet and balance to excel on comeback routes, but only occasionally runs that route in OSU's offense. Will come back to help his quarterback when coverage breaks down.

After the catch: Strong runner with the ball with enough agility to make defenders miss in the open field. Used on quick screens despite his size because he can head-fake linebackers and stiff-arm smaller defenders. Aware of the sideline, gets two feet inbounds and can quickly turn upfield to get additional yardage. Does not have exceptional straight-line speed but takes advantage of open seams when his quarterback is on target. Combines his strength and fair acceleration to turn short passes into long gains when defenders are in his midst.

Blocking: Has enough upper-body strength and tenacity to be very effective as a downfield blocker. Is not shy about taking on his man, provides some pop and will open a running lane for his back at the next level. Inconsistent hitting his target or sustaining, however, allowing his man to get into the play.

Intangibles: Scouts have character concerns about Blackmon. Arrested for misdemeanor DUI in October 2010 and suspended for one game. Suffered a high left ankle sprain in 2010 against Kansas. Young player who was a full-time starter for only one season. web page

Analysis Kendall Wright

Release: An impressive athlete with very quick acceleration to reach his top speed quickly and stretch the field. Very good body control and smooth movements. Plays fast and explosive. Short and lacks an imposing frame. Smaller target and didn?t see a lot of press coverage in the Big 12.

Hands: A savvy, natural hands-catcher with reliable hands and very good focus. A natural plucker who snatches the ball out of the air and shows the concentration to make acrobatic catches look easy. Does a nice job locating and tracking deep passes and is a legitimate vertical threat. Will go up and attack the ball, catching the ball in stride and quickly getting downfield ? looks to score every time he touches the ball. Has smallish hands and will have some drops.

Route running: Has a knack for getting open and is a quarterbacks? best fiend ? passers just need to toss the ball in his area and he?ll come down with it. A versatile weapon, proving to be effective inside in the slot and outside on the perimeter. Makes plays at all levels of the field. Still improving as a route runner and needs to do a better job selling his path ? needs to sell slants and in-cuts better.

After the catch: Has elite balance tight-roping the sideline and in-and-out of his breaks, showing excellent start/stop ability and burst ? slippery runner with elusive footwork. Has little-to-no wasted movements between the reception and burst upfield ? dangerous after the catch with solid build and toughness to break tackles. Has good body strength to squirm out of tackles with the coordination to maneuver his frame between defenders. Shifty and elusive in the open field with very good vision. Creative with the ball in his hands and shows impressive feel for where he is on the field and the defenders around him.

Blocking: Wright has good playing strength for his frame and takes pride in his blocking. Very physical and aggressive.

Intangibles: Fearless over the middle and does a lot of his damage between the hashmarks. Wants the ball more than anyone else on the field. Confident and tough, playing through several injuries over his career. There is a lot to love about his effort and drive ? a top competitor who gives full effort on every snap. A fiery leader who plays with football intensity and determination ? type of player who will run through a wall for his team. Smart and shows elite feel and focus for the position. Has very good starting experience (42 starts), leading Baylor in receiving all four years of his college career. A versatile weapon (former high school quarterback) with 2 career passing touchdowns, 2 rushing scores and experience as a returner on special teams. Extremely productive over his college career, holding almost every school receiving record and finishing his time at Baylor with 302 catches, 4,004 yards (13.3), 30 receiving touchdowns and 19 career 100+ yd receiving performances ? had at least two catches in every game Baylor played the past four years (50 games). Has some durability concerns, battling through ankle, shoulder and knee injuries as a senior. Has received penalties in the past for excessive celebration and needs to keep his emotions under control. Played in a high-tempo, spread offense with the Heisman Trophy winner as his quarterback so his statistics might be inflated a tad.

NFL Comparison: Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers

-- Dane Brugler web page



Analysis Michael Floyd

Release: Does not explode off the line of scrimmage and runs with long strides. His size and strength make him tough to press, however, and he is capable of separating with physicality -- but not pure speed.

Hands: Has strong hands, but scouts have questions about his consistency as a receiver. Excellent vertical and ability to adjust to high throws, also snatches wide throws near the sideline or over the middle. Tracks the ball well over his shoulder (or head), though he will lose sideline awareness in some cases. Needs to extend his hands in front of him on straight-on throws instead of letting the ball hit his chest. Loses concentration when playing against physical corners or trying to make a play after the catch.

Route running: Needs to tighten up his routes, but has the quick feet and balance to cut or come back to the ball. Should excel in a West Coast or timing-type of offense. Lines up at every receiver position to take advantage of the best matchup. Solid threat on slants, shallow crosses and in the red zone, presents nice target to his quarterback. Takes hits over the middle and hangs on. Takes advantage of his frame to create separation after his cuts, though he tends to round them. Inconsistent coming back to the quarterback if the play extends.

After the catch: More of a bull than a cheetah. Will not outrun NFL defensive backs, but has more than enough speed to turn short passes into long gains when his quarterback leads him. Can make a quick inside move on out route to get additional yardage, but won't outrun NFL defenders from a standstill. Looks best when plowing over corners one-on-one in space or carrying multiple defenders down the middle. Used on quick screens because of his strength against smaller cornerbacks, shows a bit of a burst once past his man in those situations.

Blocking: Has the size to handle defensive backs, but needs to be more consistent here to give backs a chance to break off big runs. When ready to go on screens and run plays to his side, he is capable of a strong punch and sustaining the block. Often misses his target or fails to sustain by not giving full effort if the play is designed to go away from him.

Intangibles: Arrested three times on alcohol-related charges while at Notre Dame: cited for underage consumption in two incidents in Minnesota (May 2009, January 2010) and for drunken driving in March 2011 on campus. Missed most of 2009 with a broken left collarbone and the final two regular-season contests of 2008 with a left knee injury.

--Chad Reuter web page



Analysis Mohamed Sanu

Release: Too big and strong for most defenders at this level to test him in press coverage. Good hand placement and upper body strength to fight off the jam when he gets it and is a threat to beat the defender over the top due to good acceleration and better straight-line speed than he's often credited with possessing. Eats up the cushion, showing better agility and precision as a route-runner than most receivers with his bulk.

Hands: Sanu has several outstanding qualities but none more impressive than his natural receiving skills. Possesses very reliable hands and a wide catch radius due to his long arms, impressive flexibility, and hand-eye coordination. Extends and plucks the ball away from his frame when he senses the defender near. Quickly secures the ball and carries it tight to his frame. Very good jump-ball candidate due to strong leaping skills, long arms and timing.

Route running: Quick burst off the line of scrimmage perhaps masking a lack of elite straight-line speed. Has enough speed to challenge vertically. Throttles down quickly, sinks his hips and has good burst left and right to generate separation on underneath routes. Used from a variety of positions, lining up inside in the slot, outside and put in motion. Courageous over the middle, often pulling away on drag routes and quick posts.

After the catch: Exciting blend of size, strength and speed once the ball is in his hands. Strong receiver capable of ripping free of arm tackles and shucking off defenders with a stiff-arm. Lacks elite lateral agility to make defenders miss in tight quarters, but has good flexibility, balance and vision to weave through the defense. Rushed for 653 yards and nine touchdowns over his career and isn't opposed to cutting back inside amidst the big bodies if he sees a lane. Some question about his true timed speed but has an explosive burst to accelerate through gaps and separate.

Blocking: Takes his role as a blocker seriously. Shows good strength and very good effort blocking downfield, locking up the corner and working to seal his opponent from the action. Often sent in motion so he can provide a crack back block on an unsuspecting defensive end and looks to peel back and knock out the trailing defender when a teammate has a chance for a big play.

Intangibles: A selfless player who head coach Greg Schiano raved about when Sanu announced that he was leaving early. ?He?s meant a ton to this program,? Schiano said. ?He?s the guy who does everything. He?ll be very hard to replace. I don?t know if you ever replace him. You?ll just have to have a few guys do his thing.? Played all three years he was at Rutgers but will turn 23 early in his rookie season due to the fact that he turned 19 a week before his senior season of high school football began and he was ruled ineligible …

--Rob Rang

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Of the receivers i have been pimping Sanu for a while....I like him. I also like we can get him a bit later in round 1.

There aren't many receivers who I would take in the top 10...and Blackmon isn't one of them. Something makes me think of Roy Williams.

Work a trade at 4, (Wash.?) Take Richardson. Move up from 22 (it will be necessary) and get Tannehill. Best WR or OT with 37! Simple!

yes you have been. made me go and watch a Rutgers game. and, I am glad that you did. he looks good.

hopefully he lasts until #37, but he's likely one of the WRs that goes in the 20s.

Why would Washington trade with us? They won't trade up unless it is for RGIII and he is going #2.

that's a little more personal info than I needed to hear.

"who...does....number.....two.....work....for!!!"

Quote:

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I can see RG3 being hyped to the point where Indy takes him #1 over Andrew Luck.

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May be the average Indy fan or Irsay would listen to that. But the guys picking these players are General Managers. They don't get hired into their position without the credentials, track record, and praise from their co-workers

Their job isn't to buy into the hype of players, it's to make honest quality evaluations