Staxxxx
Member
- Messages
- 293
- Reaction score
- 19
Bob McGinn does this piece every year on the potential first round prospects and as usual it's a great read. Full Article
Here's a few may interest interest some around here.
Sheldon Richardson*, DT, Missouri: 6-2½, 294. Played in junior college for two years before starting two seasons for Tigers. "He's an athlete playing D-tackle," one scout said. "He's really quick. He's a pass rusher and plays the run pretty well. He's got a little edge to him. He got a lot better this year." Finished with six sacks in 24 games (13 starts). "He plays D-tackle and they stand him up at linebacker sometimes, but he's got to be a D-end," another scout said. "Kind of an undersized athletic move guy. Just kind of a finesse athlete. Big-time character questions."
Sharrif Floyd*, DT, Florida: 6-2½, 297. "He's the best (defensive tackle) of the bunch," one scout said. "All he does is make plays." Played three years, finishing with 4½ sacks in 37 games (26 starts). "He could be a five-technique, a three-technique or line up on the shade (nose tackle)," another scout said. "He can rush the passer and play the run. Good all-around player."
Johnathan Hankins*, DT, Ohio State: 6-3, 320. Well-rounded inside player. "Naturally strong," one scout said. "(Sheldon) Richardson is a better player but I'd trust Hankins more. He's got a chance for the top 20." Two-year starter with five sacks. "I don't see him getting off blocks," one scout said. "I don't see him controlling blockers in the run game. Overrated."
Lane Johnson, T, Oklahoma: 6-6, 303. Former prep QB (says he could throw a football 70 yards) and TE. "Basically only a two-year player," one scout said. "He's pretty good but he's still raw." Never started a game until 2011. "He's an intriguing player," another scout said. "He kind of got better as the season went along. His stock is really starting to rise. The more film you watch, the more you like this kid. He's a second-round talent but there are shockers every year like (Philadelphia guard) Danny Watkins in the first (in 2011)."
Chance Warmack, G, Alabama: 6-2, 317. Some scouts say he's better than Steelers G David DeCastro from a year ago. "He's one of those guys like Will Shields that will just sit in there and play until they retire him," one scout said. "Country boy from Georgia. Just a tough guy. Loves football. Kind of a road-grader in the run game and a fire hydrant in the passing game." Had to be given IVs often because of his excessive sweating. "He scares the hell out of me," another scout said. "They tell you he can't play more than one position and you have to be careful in games what kind of adjustments you make. Not a real bright kid. He kind of reminds me of (Seattle's James) Carpenter. You see stuff that's impressive, then later in the game he starts to fade. For me, a guard has to be perfect to take in the first round. Because how much difference is there in that guy and a guy you take in the fourth?"
D.J. Fluker*, T, Alabama: 6-5, 339. Brawling RT often compared to Bills LT Cordy Glenn and Vikings RT Phil Loadholt. "He's an Aaron Gibson type," one scout said. "Very flexible. He's massive. Real long arms (36¾ inches) and a big, broad back. The quickness thing will get to him. That's my concern about him. He'll have some problems with speed rushers but I like his demeanor." Three-year starter. Vocal leader, constantly challenges teammates. "His (expletive) is bigger than a coffee table," another scout said. "He's got huge legs. He doesn't have much fat on him at all and he's got some nastiness to him. He's a high-energy player. He's jumping around when people score. You love to see that out of a big man."
Jonathan Cooper, G, North Carolina: 6-2, 311. Compared by one scout to Guy McIntyre, a great 49ers guard who finished with Green Bay in 1994. "Great athlete," one scout said. "Can make all the blocks. Problem is the guy played at 280, 285 pounds. He has played bigger. You watch him move, especially for a zone team, he'll be right up their alley."
Travis Frederick*, C-G, Wisconsin: 6-4, 312. Grew up in Sharon, Wis., and played at Big Foot High School. "If people don't like him they're crazy," one scout said. "He's better than (Kevin) Zeitler and way better than (Peter) Konz. Waaay better. He'll be a better guard than center but he can play center. He's a bull. Smart. When he played against Oregon State he looked very ordinary but then they got rid of the coach (O-line coach Mike Markuson). He's better than (David) DeCastro." Another scout described him as a third-round talent. "When you take a guy in the first round you're hoping for better (than Frederick)," he said. "Ideally, he is more suited to a power-scheme offense than a zone scheme."
Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah, DE, Brigham Young: 6-5, 271. Track athlete from Ghana who also tried basketball at BYU. Played three years of football for Cougars but never really got on the field until 2012 (13 games, nine starts). "He could be a difference-maker," one scout said. "He makes more plays than 'JPP' (Jason Pierre-Paul) did (at South Florida). He's a freak. You can put him wherever you want." Had big week at the Senior Bowl. "He will blow out the combine and get overdrafted," another scout said. "Everybody will compare him to Jason Pierre-Paul because he didn't play and all that stuff, but they're reaching. This guy never even played football. If he goes in the top 10, two years from now he won't be doing anything. You'll see. He has no idea how to play. He can run fast but that's about it."
Datone Jones, DE, UCLA: 6-4, 283. Made himself a ton of money rushing the passer in one-on-ones at the Senior Bowl. "More of a second-round guy," one scout said. "I don't know if he can be a five-technique." Fifth-year senior who sat out 2010 with a broken foot. Had 13½ sacks in 51 games (43 starts).
Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas: 6-1, 218. It's a very good year for safeties but no one can predict which one will be selected first. "He is different than most Texas guys," one scout said. "He's tough and physical. He will hit you, but he's got cover ability, too. I don't think he will run great. It will be good enough. Maybe the lack of 40 time keeps him out of the first." Had just five picks in 50 games. "They played him in the slot," another scout said. "He's a safety cover guy, not a corner cover guy even though he plays on the slot."
Eric Reid*, S, Louisiana State: 6-2, 212. Two-year starter with six interceptions. "He's probably the best," one scout said. "Big and instinctive. He's got a little stiffness to him." Several personnel men questioned the physical nature of his play. "I don't think he's a big hitter," said one. "I'm not sure if he has deep safety awareness. I don't expect him to be great in man (coverage) but in zone people get behind him all the time. He bothers me, he really does. But he looks the part."
Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International: 6-0, 209. Started 45 of 50 games and registered seven picks. Moved up significantly after impressive week at the Senior Bowl. "I had him in the fourth on the school call," one scout said. "You can't jump a guy to the second round but somebody will. He's probably going to run pretty well. He's a terrific kid. He will hit you."
Phillip Thomas, S, Fresno State: 6-1, 210. Started all 25 games in 2010 and '12 but sat out '11 with an ankle injury. "He's got really good ball skills," one scout said. "He's very athletic. He's a fine football player." Picked off 13 passes. "He's a tough guy," another scout said.
Here's a few may interest interest some around here.
Sheldon Richardson*, DT, Missouri: 6-2½, 294. Played in junior college for two years before starting two seasons for Tigers. "He's an athlete playing D-tackle," one scout said. "He's really quick. He's a pass rusher and plays the run pretty well. He's got a little edge to him. He got a lot better this year." Finished with six sacks in 24 games (13 starts). "He plays D-tackle and they stand him up at linebacker sometimes, but he's got to be a D-end," another scout said. "Kind of an undersized athletic move guy. Just kind of a finesse athlete. Big-time character questions."
Sharrif Floyd*, DT, Florida: 6-2½, 297. "He's the best (defensive tackle) of the bunch," one scout said. "All he does is make plays." Played three years, finishing with 4½ sacks in 37 games (26 starts). "He could be a five-technique, a three-technique or line up on the shade (nose tackle)," another scout said. "He can rush the passer and play the run. Good all-around player."
Johnathan Hankins*, DT, Ohio State: 6-3, 320. Well-rounded inside player. "Naturally strong," one scout said. "(Sheldon) Richardson is a better player but I'd trust Hankins more. He's got a chance for the top 20." Two-year starter with five sacks. "I don't see him getting off blocks," one scout said. "I don't see him controlling blockers in the run game. Overrated."
Lane Johnson, T, Oklahoma: 6-6, 303. Former prep QB (says he could throw a football 70 yards) and TE. "Basically only a two-year player," one scout said. "He's pretty good but he's still raw." Never started a game until 2011. "He's an intriguing player," another scout said. "He kind of got better as the season went along. His stock is really starting to rise. The more film you watch, the more you like this kid. He's a second-round talent but there are shockers every year like (Philadelphia guard) Danny Watkins in the first (in 2011)."
Chance Warmack, G, Alabama: 6-2, 317. Some scouts say he's better than Steelers G David DeCastro from a year ago. "He's one of those guys like Will Shields that will just sit in there and play until they retire him," one scout said. "Country boy from Georgia. Just a tough guy. Loves football. Kind of a road-grader in the run game and a fire hydrant in the passing game." Had to be given IVs often because of his excessive sweating. "He scares the hell out of me," another scout said. "They tell you he can't play more than one position and you have to be careful in games what kind of adjustments you make. Not a real bright kid. He kind of reminds me of (Seattle's James) Carpenter. You see stuff that's impressive, then later in the game he starts to fade. For me, a guard has to be perfect to take in the first round. Because how much difference is there in that guy and a guy you take in the fourth?"
D.J. Fluker*, T, Alabama: 6-5, 339. Brawling RT often compared to Bills LT Cordy Glenn and Vikings RT Phil Loadholt. "He's an Aaron Gibson type," one scout said. "Very flexible. He's massive. Real long arms (36¾ inches) and a big, broad back. The quickness thing will get to him. That's my concern about him. He'll have some problems with speed rushers but I like his demeanor." Three-year starter. Vocal leader, constantly challenges teammates. "His (expletive) is bigger than a coffee table," another scout said. "He's got huge legs. He doesn't have much fat on him at all and he's got some nastiness to him. He's a high-energy player. He's jumping around when people score. You love to see that out of a big man."
Jonathan Cooper, G, North Carolina: 6-2, 311. Compared by one scout to Guy McIntyre, a great 49ers guard who finished with Green Bay in 1994. "Great athlete," one scout said. "Can make all the blocks. Problem is the guy played at 280, 285 pounds. He has played bigger. You watch him move, especially for a zone team, he'll be right up their alley."
Travis Frederick*, C-G, Wisconsin: 6-4, 312. Grew up in Sharon, Wis., and played at Big Foot High School. "If people don't like him they're crazy," one scout said. "He's better than (Kevin) Zeitler and way better than (Peter) Konz. Waaay better. He'll be a better guard than center but he can play center. He's a bull. Smart. When he played against Oregon State he looked very ordinary but then they got rid of the coach (O-line coach Mike Markuson). He's better than (David) DeCastro." Another scout described him as a third-round talent. "When you take a guy in the first round you're hoping for better (than Frederick)," he said. "Ideally, he is more suited to a power-scheme offense than a zone scheme."
Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah, DE, Brigham Young: 6-5, 271. Track athlete from Ghana who also tried basketball at BYU. Played three years of football for Cougars but never really got on the field until 2012 (13 games, nine starts). "He could be a difference-maker," one scout said. "He makes more plays than 'JPP' (Jason Pierre-Paul) did (at South Florida). He's a freak. You can put him wherever you want." Had big week at the Senior Bowl. "He will blow out the combine and get overdrafted," another scout said. "Everybody will compare him to Jason Pierre-Paul because he didn't play and all that stuff, but they're reaching. This guy never even played football. If he goes in the top 10, two years from now he won't be doing anything. You'll see. He has no idea how to play. He can run fast but that's about it."
Datone Jones, DE, UCLA: 6-4, 283. Made himself a ton of money rushing the passer in one-on-ones at the Senior Bowl. "More of a second-round guy," one scout said. "I don't know if he can be a five-technique." Fifth-year senior who sat out 2010 with a broken foot. Had 13½ sacks in 51 games (43 starts).
Kenny Vaccaro, S, Texas: 6-1, 218. It's a very good year for safeties but no one can predict which one will be selected first. "He is different than most Texas guys," one scout said. "He's tough and physical. He will hit you, but he's got cover ability, too. I don't think he will run great. It will be good enough. Maybe the lack of 40 time keeps him out of the first." Had just five picks in 50 games. "They played him in the slot," another scout said. "He's a safety cover guy, not a corner cover guy even though he plays on the slot."
Eric Reid*, S, Louisiana State: 6-2, 212. Two-year starter with six interceptions. "He's probably the best," one scout said. "Big and instinctive. He's got a little stiffness to him." Several personnel men questioned the physical nature of his play. "I don't think he's a big hitter," said one. "I'm not sure if he has deep safety awareness. I don't expect him to be great in man (coverage) but in zone people get behind him all the time. He bothers me, he really does. But he looks the part."
Jonathan Cyprien, S, Florida International: 6-0, 209. Started 45 of 50 games and registered seven picks. Moved up significantly after impressive week at the Senior Bowl. "I had him in the fourth on the school call," one scout said. "You can't jump a guy to the second round but somebody will. He's probably going to run pretty well. He's a terrific kid. He will hit you."
Phillip Thomas, S, Fresno State: 6-1, 210. Started all 25 games in 2010 and '12 but sat out '11 with an ankle injury. "He's got really good ball skills," one scout said. "He's very athletic. He's a fine football player." Picked off 13 passes. "He's a tough guy," another scout said.
