cowboyjoe
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http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Scouts-notebook-defense-3008.html
Mislead on paper
At 6-4, 297 pounds, Auburn defensive tackle Mike Blanc has been coming up a lot in draft circles as a guy who potentially has the ability to make the move to a five-technique position in he NFL. And from a pure frame standpoint I would have to agree. He’s a tall, long-armed kid with a thick lower half and looks to have the ability to anchor and fend on blocks on the outside in the NFL. However, that assessment is made more so purely from paper than from actual tape. Because when watching the play of the guy you will quickly learn that he possesses no real explosive element to his game. He doesn’t have a great first step, routinely fires off the ball too high and struggles to anchor on contact, allowing himself to be easily turned away from the football when run at. There is really no violence or suddenness to his play when asked to shed and because of his high pad level he can too easily be driven off the football. Again, it’s easy to be mislead on paper because of his size numbers, but the guy just lacks the overall physicality/explosion to his game to warrant a roster spot at the next level in my view.
Thinking outside the box
Coming into the season I thought West Virginia CB Brandon Hogan had the makings of developing into one of the nation’s top cornerback prospects. However, after missing some time early in the year due to a suspension over a DUI, Hogan has yet to really take that next step and develop into the lockdown corner I thought he possibly could.
He’s an explosive athlete, with good balance and fluidity when asked to turn and run. He also displays the ability to make plays on the football and tackle in the run game. However, he lacks ideal awareness when asked to turn and locate the football down the field and his given up his fair share of completions this year even when he has put himself in position to make a play. But, the guy does have pretty good ball skills when he does locate the football and has some savvy to his game, breaking off his man in the pass game to make a play on the football. Therefore, he might be ideally suited to play as a cover two-type corner who could really make a living for himself reading routes and jumping passes in the slot, much like Bears CB D.J. Moore is doing right now. But, I also think he’s one of the few corners in this year’s draft who could make a living as a potential free safety prospect in the NFL as well. Like I said, he plays the ball well when it’s in front of him, he’s clean and explosive out of his breaks, possesses good range and showcases a willingness to tackle. Overall, I think the guy is still one of the better defensive back prospects in the country and if he’s willing to clean up his act off the field and put in the work needed on, I think he’s one of the few playmaking type DB’s — either at corner or safety — in the entire senior class.
Follow me on twitter: @WesBunting
.
Mislead on paper
At 6-4, 297 pounds, Auburn defensive tackle Mike Blanc has been coming up a lot in draft circles as a guy who potentially has the ability to make the move to a five-technique position in he NFL. And from a pure frame standpoint I would have to agree. He’s a tall, long-armed kid with a thick lower half and looks to have the ability to anchor and fend on blocks on the outside in the NFL. However, that assessment is made more so purely from paper than from actual tape. Because when watching the play of the guy you will quickly learn that he possesses no real explosive element to his game. He doesn’t have a great first step, routinely fires off the ball too high and struggles to anchor on contact, allowing himself to be easily turned away from the football when run at. There is really no violence or suddenness to his play when asked to shed and because of his high pad level he can too easily be driven off the football. Again, it’s easy to be mislead on paper because of his size numbers, but the guy just lacks the overall physicality/explosion to his game to warrant a roster spot at the next level in my view.
Thinking outside the box
Coming into the season I thought West Virginia CB Brandon Hogan had the makings of developing into one of the nation’s top cornerback prospects. However, after missing some time early in the year due to a suspension over a DUI, Hogan has yet to really take that next step and develop into the lockdown corner I thought he possibly could.
He’s an explosive athlete, with good balance and fluidity when asked to turn and run. He also displays the ability to make plays on the football and tackle in the run game. However, he lacks ideal awareness when asked to turn and locate the football down the field and his given up his fair share of completions this year even when he has put himself in position to make a play. But, the guy does have pretty good ball skills when he does locate the football and has some savvy to his game, breaking off his man in the pass game to make a play on the football. Therefore, he might be ideally suited to play as a cover two-type corner who could really make a living for himself reading routes and jumping passes in the slot, much like Bears CB D.J. Moore is doing right now. But, I also think he’s one of the few corners in this year’s draft who could make a living as a potential free safety prospect in the NFL as well. Like I said, he plays the ball well when it’s in front of him, he’s clean and explosive out of his breaks, possesses good range and showcases a willingness to tackle. Overall, I think the guy is still one of the better defensive back prospects in the country and if he’s willing to clean up his act off the field and put in the work needed on, I think he’s one of the few playmaking type DB’s — either at corner or safety — in the entire senior class.
Follow me on twitter: @WesBunting
.
DAL @ GB
