#180 - 6th Round - Green Bay, Mike Montgomery, DT, TEXAS A&M

[Hostile]

From Oakland

Packers select...Mike Montgomery
DT | (6'4", 276, 4.97) | TEXAS A&M

[Juke99]

Strengths: Is tall and has the frame to get bigger. Has extremely long arms and very big hands. Does a very good job of keeping separation and can neutralize a double team. Is quick and agile. Is a one-gap penetrating DT prospect with experience at DE, as well. Is at his best when on the move and freed up to pursue. He has good initial quickness, shows burst through the LOS and has above average speed for a DT. Can change directions quickly and does a very good job of pursuing once he has gotten into the backfield. Is a big-time playmaker. Has good instincts and awareness. Finds the ball carrier quickly and pursues with a high motor. Is a good open field tackler.

Weaknesses: Is a bit of a 'tweener DE/DT. Lacks ideal bulk and base to hold up as an every-down player at DT in the NFL. Also lacks the speed to turn the corner as a pass rusher at the DE position. He may never be anything more than a situational inside pass-rusher. He has below average overall strength. Plays too high at times. Gets washed out too easily when OL get into his pads and he needs to be on the move to be successful. Needs to improve his pass rush moves and show more creativity. Long-term health and durability are concerns as a result of a heart ailment that required surgery in the summer prior to his junior season in 2003. Mental capacity a concern; scored a nine on Wonderlic Test.

Overall: Montgomery spent two seasons at Navarro College (TX) from 2001-'-'02 before transferring to Texas A&M. He played in 10 games in his first season at A&M in 2003 and finished with 45 tackles, seven tackles for loss and one sack. As a senior in 2004, Montgomery finished second on his team with 78 total tackles and also had 12 TFL and six sacks. Montgomery is a bit of a late-bloomer. He emerged as one of the biggest playmaking defensive linemen in the Big 12 as a senior in 2004 and he carried that momentum over to the combine, where he had an impressive overall workout and showed a lot of quickness and agility. Montgomery is a 'tweener DE/DT that has played both positions at the collegiate level. In our opinion, Montgomery would fit best as a three-technique DT in a one-gap scheme in the NFL. There are concerns, however, that he doesn't have the size to hold up fulltime inside or the speed to make an impact on the perimeter. Furthermore, Montgomery also will slip on draft day as a result of a heart ailment that required surgery prior to the 2003 season.

* Player biographies are provided by Scouts Inc.