silverbear
Semi-Official Loose Cannon
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I've just spent the last coupla hours looking up what info I could find on the undrafted rookie free agents the Boys have signed, and found some things on a half-dozen of them... the following analyses are listed in the order of what I think their chances of making the team are... warning, this is a pretty long post:
Darrell Robertson
Height: 6-37/8 | Weight: 255 | 40-Time: 4.75
Official Bio
Strengths:
A smooth athlete...Is explosive and quick...Plays faster than he times...Great pass rusher off the edge...Has a rangy frame..Is active and aggressive with a non-stop motor...Excellent in pursuit with a burst to close...Fluid and has some potential in coverage...Offers some versatility..Smart and a hard worker with solid intangibles.
Weaknesses:
Undersized and lacks the ideal bulk you look for...Has trouble shedding blocks...Is not stout at the point of attack and can be run at...Needs to get stronger...On the ground too much...Limited repertoire of pass rush moves...Can be manhandled by massive offensive linemen...He was not all that productive prior to his senior year.
Notes:
'Tweener who will either need to add weight or make a position change..Could be either a situational pass rusher or outside linebacker depending on scheme...Best fit at the next level will probably be with a team that primarily runs a 3-4 defense.
Career Statistics
Year GP TKL TFL SACK
2004 12 5 1.0 1.0
2005 12 15 1.0 1.0
2006 14 54 7.0 3.0
2007 13 36 16.0 6.5
Totals 51 110 25.0 11.5
Darrell Robertson
DE | (6'3 ", 255, 4.75) | GEORGIA TECH
Darrell Robertson (DE)
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 245
College: Georgia Tech
Conference: ACC
Hometown: Jonesboro, GA
High School: Jonesboro
View Combine Page >>
Positives: Can carry another 10 pounds of bulk without the additional weight impacting his impressive timed speed...Has a tall, linear frame with good overall muscle tone, a tight abdomen, and good thickness in his thighs and calves...Demonstrates great explosion coming off the snap and gets most of his backside success due to his speed, as he will generally surprise a lethargic offensive tackle...Carries his weight well, showing good balance and body control working his way down the line and has the second gear to generate long pursuit...When playing on the edge, he keeps his pads down and head on a swivel, as he compensates for a lack of ideal bulk with very active hands to deliver counter moves and slip off blocks...Very shifty on the move, with the stop-and-go agility to quickly change direction...Shows good intelligence, great vision and solid alertness to the action around him...Has a good feel for blocking pressure and is quick to digest the playbook...His ability to close on the ball is the result of his decisive moves when flashing into the backfield...Takes a "search and destroy" attitude into the trenches and he is a disciplined player who won't get reckless and take himself out of the play...Might lack the bulk and strength to face up to bigger offensive linemen, but with his hand technique, placement and array of moves, he will generally make the play and not get washed out at the line of scrimmage...Self-made type, adding over 40 pounds of muscle to his frame since arriving on campus as a 205-pound freshman...Vocal type on the field and when he wants to get his point across, his teammates immediately listen...Gets a lot of his success penetrating the backfield with his sudden burst off the snap...Generates the acceleration to take a wide loop around the corner and still pressure the pocket...Stays low in his pads and has the loose hips to redirect, also displaying the second gear needed to excel in long pursuit (see 2007 Notre Dame, Boston College and Army and 2006 Virginia, Duke and Wake Forest games)...Much better playing on the move than when working in-line, making him a better fit as a strong-side linebacker in a 3-4 alignment than by playing in a down position...Compensates for his lack of bulk by using his hands and long reach to keep blockers from getting into his body...Athletic runner with the savvy to avoid trash and while he might get stuck on the bigger people up front, he uses his hands effectively to keep separation... Has the hand punch to shock and push back the lead blocker when trying to clog the rush lanes (allowed just one first down on 76 running plays) and while he is a solid wrap-up tackler, once he grabs a receiver in pass coverage, he locks on and does a good job of rerouting his opponent. His hands are very effective for him keeping separation on the run...Looks very fluid playing down the line. He has that sudden burst to close and pressure the pocket and is quick to get a shoulder on a lethargic blocker...Effective closing on the ball in long pursuit, showing the cat-quick moves you expect from a linebacker...Very good at running down plays along the perimeter and opponents have averaged just 0.33 yards per rushing attempt vs. him throughout his career...Classic wrap-up tackler with enough hand strength to lock on and drag the ball carrier down in the open field...Hits with good thud upon contact and shows very good balance making plays on the move...His body control lets him stay low in his pads and his loose hips are evident by the way he fluidly changes direction...Has become a good leverage player whose read-and-pursuit skills make him relentless getting to the ball...Comes off the edge with a sudden burst and when asked to shoot the gaps, blockers are often surprised by his explosion through the holes (see 2007 Notre Dame, Boston College and Army and 2006 Duke and Wake Forest games)...The thing you see on film since his junior year is that he combines his speed with efficient inside counter moves to pressure the pocket... Stays in control when closing (when he takes aim on the QB, he will get there in an instant)...Shows very good athletic agility when he flexes and bends his knees to get down the line of scrimmage...Quick to react and diagnose the play and shows suddenness tracking down the ball after locating it.
Negatives: Has an ideal frame you look for in a strong-side linebacker or rush end, but will need to add more bulk if a team plans to play him as a down lineman at the next level...As a down lineman, he is too light to combat offensive tackles on a regular basis and must compensate with his quick hands and feet in attempts to escape...The bigger blockers have had good success executing reach blocks on him and he is not effective at splitting double-team activity (must hold his ground longer at the point of attack).
Compares To: JASON TAYLOR-Miami...Some teams feel that Robertson lacks the bulk to face up to the bigger offensive tackles at the next level, but, like Taylor, Robertson is blessed with excellent quickness, good balance and body control and very active hands to counter. He is best playing on the move, as his bulk issues do come into play when trying to combat double teams, but he has that lateral agility and closing burst to get serious consideration as a strong-side linebacker or edge rusher. Those experts that might question his ability to stuff the run need to digest this fact -- in 101 running plays, the opponents have gained only 33 yards and one first down against him.
Injury Report
2002: Suffered a right wrist fracture as a junior in high school.
2004: Undwerwent minor surgery on both feet in March to clean out "debris."
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Mark Bradford
Height: 6-03/4 | Weight: 211 | 40-Time: 4.68
Official Bio
Strengths:
Very good size and bulk with a solid frame...Good athleticism and quickness...Has terrific hands...Excellent route runner...Tough and fearless...Very smart with great instincts and awareness...Decent blocker..Hard worker with top-notch intangibles.
Weaknesses:
Timed speed is well below average...Is not very explosive and lacks a burst...Not a deep threat and won't stretch the field vertically...Does not offer much after the catch...Wasn't real productive...Has some health and durability concerns...Upside?
Notes:
Was a backup point guard on Stanford's nationally-ranked men's basketball team from 2003-05...Redshirted in 2005 after suffering a foot injury..His lack of speed is a huge concern but he definitely has some physical tools to work with and he also does all the little things...Not a star but may be able to compete for a roster spot.
Career Statistics
Year GP Rec Yds YPC TD
2003 11 37 587 15.9 3
2004 11 34 482 14.2 1
2005 10 37 609 16.5 6
2006 2 10 111 11.1 1
2007 12 51 642 12.6 3
Totals 46 169 2,431 14.4 14
Mark Bradford
WR | (6'0 ", 211, 4.549) | STANFORD
Overall: Bradford appeared in 34 games (30 starts) in his first four seasons at Stanford (2003-'06), hauling in 118 receptions for 1,789 yards (15.2 average) and 11 touchdowns. He suffered a season-ending foot injury in the Cardinal's second game in 2006 and received a medical redshirt. In 2007, he played all 12 games and grabbed 51 receptions for 642 yards and three touchdowns. He also had a career seven rushing attempts for 57 yards. Bradford was also a member of Stanford's basketball team in 2003-'04 and left the squad shortly after the next season began to concentrate on football. Bradford was a two-sport athlete early in his career at Stanford, playing point guard for the basketball team for two seasons before electing to concentrate on football fulltime in December of 2004. He is a smooth athlete with good route-running skills and he finished strong down the stretch last year.
Mark Bradford (WR)
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 211
College: Stanford
Conference: Pac 10
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
High School: Fremont
View Combine Page >>
Positives: Has a strong-looking body, with very long arms, large, soft hands, thick calves, wide back, broad shoulders and minimal body fat (8 percent)...Does not play up to his timed speed, but shows good effort competing for the ball in traffic...Former Stanford basketball player with very good leaping ability, but needs to improve his timing trying to high point the pass...Has improved his work habits greatly since his first few years on campus...Best when he runs with a short stride, as he tends to drift and take soft angle cuts when he tries to get vertical and stretch the field...Uses subtle moves and changes pace to effectively release off the line, but must be more aggressive with his hands to defeat the jam when defenders get into his jersey...Does a good job of setting up defenders by making sharp cuts in his short-area routes...Good at finding windows vs. zone coverage and possesses the size, hands and toughness to be an effective short-area receiver...Can snatch and secure the ball in a crowd and shows the ability to pluck the ball while running at full speed...A competitive player who will sacrifice his body to battle for contested balls...Makes tough catches all over the field, displaying good ability to track the ball in-stride and to adjust his body with his feet off the ground (just needs to time his leaps better)...Has a quick first step after the catch and shows good elusiveness in the open field vs. second-level defenders...Has the sure hands to catch the ball in stride without having to throttle down...Makes good adjustments to secure off-target throws and shows good balance keeping his feet in bounds along the sidelines...Lacks the hip snap to elude defenders, but has the functional power to challenge and run over defensive backs (second-level defenders have better success in taking him down right after the catch)...More of a finesse blocker who does not have the technique to anchor and sustain at the line, but takes good angles and shows good ability going low to take out the linebacker's feet cut blocking in the second level...Lacks hip shake to separate after the catch, but shows savvy moves and fakes to slip past some defenders...Catches the ball cleanly and extends well to secure the ball away from his frame.
Negatives: Despite recent good clocking in the speed department, he is built more for power rather than quickness...Negates his timed speed, as he takes false steps coming off the line and fails to generate an explosion coming out of his breaks...Wiling, but is more of a finesse-type blocker who will take good angles to cut block in the second level, but does not generate the hand punch or use his long reach to latch on to a defender's jersey while blocking in-line...Not sudden in and out of his cuts and needs to refine his long patterns, as he gets too high in his stance to come out of breaks cleanly and tends to take soft angle cuts, more so on deep patterns than in the short area...Needs to do a better job of locating soft areas on the field to settle under, as he spends too much time running right into defenders rather than trying to elude or separate...Can be rerouted vs. a strong press, as he lacks aggression or good use with his hands to defeat the jam...With his big, strong looking frame, you would expect him to drive through tackles better, but he can generally be taken down vs. the initial hit...The stopwatch indicates quick feet, but he is not the type ho can vertically stretch the field...Has had right foot and ankle issues and further medical review might be warranted.
Compares To: TRAVIS WILSON-Cleveland...Wilson's size and timed speed impressed the Browns when they drafted him, but they soon found out that he could not carry his equipment well on the field, thus negating what the stopwatch said. The NFL Combine is a better indication of Wilson's lack of explosiveness off the line, and not the impressive sub-4.5 clocking he put on the boards recently. He is better served on controlled routes, as he is not the type who can stretch the field. For a team needing a big, physical receiver, they will get big here, but he does not use his long reach or hands well to defeat the press vs. smaller defenders and will never be confused for Lance Alworth (former San Diego great, regarded as the best cut blocker among wide receivers) when it comes to blocking skills.
Injury Report
2005: Sat out the Southern California game (10/29) with a right ankle sprain.
2006: Suffered torn ligaments in his right foot in the first quarter of the team's second game vs. San Jose State (9/09), missing the rest of the season.
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Defensive End | Senior | Hampton
Marcus Dixon
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 292 | 40-Time: 5.27
Official Bio
Strengths:
Has excellent size and bulk with a huge frame...Very strong and powerful....Stout at the point of attack...Does a terrific job against the run...Good bull rusher...Real active with a good motor...Very smart...A hard worker and good leader...Versatile.
Weaknesses:
Has had some off-the-field troubles...Might be a bit of a 'tweener...Timed speed is well below average...Not very explosive and lacks a burst..Plays with inconsistent leverage and needs to work on his technique....Marginal instincts and awareness.
Notes:
Was slated to attend Vanderbilt out of high school but was sent to prison for 15 months for having sexual relations with a minor, although the conviction was later overturned when the Georgia Supreme Court ruled the sex was consensual...His case attracted extensive media attention and was featured on programs such as Oprah and HBO's Real Sports...Could realistically play defensive end in either a 4-3 or a 3-4 scheme and could even move inside..Interesting developmental prospect.
Career Statistics
Year GP TKL TFL SACK
2004 12 38 9.0 3.0
2005 10 33 7.0 2.5
2006 11 25 5.5 4.0
2007 11 58 16.0 6.0
Totals 44 154 37.5 15.5
Marcus Dixon
DE | (6'4", 292, 5.32) | HAMPTON
Overall: Dixon arrived at Hampton in 2004 and proved to be an immediate force, playing both defensive end and defensive tackle for the Pirates. He appeared in 33 games (26 starts) in his first three seasons ('04-'06), logging 96 tackles (21.5 for losses) and 9.5 sacks. As a senior, he played all 11 games and turned in 58 tackles (16 for losses), six sacks, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick. Dixon planned to accept a scholarship to Vanderbilt out of high school, before he was arrested and jailed following a conviction for aggravated child molestation and statutory rape. The controversial case eventually was overturned, but not until Dixon had already spent 15 months in jail and Vanderbilt had rescinded its offer.
Marcus Dixon (DE)
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 284
College: Hampton
Conference: MEAC
Hometown: Rome, GA
High School: Pepperell
View Combine Page >>
Positives: Naturally large frame with wide shoulders and hips. ... Room for additional growth. ... Flashes good initial quickness off the snap. ... Can gain an advantage off the edge with his quickness and turn the guard when playing inside. ... Good strength at the point of attack. ... High effort player who pursues well. ... Characterized as the hardest working player on the field by coaches. ... Team leader. ... National Honor Society with a 3.96 GPA in high school.
Negatives: Character red-flag requires obvious investigation. ... Bit of a 'tweener between defensive end and tackle. ... Lacks great burst off the edge and close on the ball. ... Struggles with his pad level, limiting his power. ... Very small hands (7 7/8"). ... Raw. ... Marginal football instincts. ... Struggles to locate the ball. ... Good player here based strictly on size and athletic ability as he plays with very little technique. ... Struggles in his hand play and has little variety as a pass rusher. ... Obvious questions about his level of competition.
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Wide Receiver | Senior | Texas Tech
Danny Amendola
Height: 5-101/2 | Weight: 183 | 40-Time: 4.63
Official Bio
Strengths:
More quick than fast...Elusive...Has reliable hands...A decent route runner...Tough and fearless...Excellent motor...Smart with great awareness...A hard worker with top-notch intangibles...Superb production...Could also contribute as a return man.
Weaknesses:
Size and bulk are merely average...Doesn't have very good timed speed...Is not a great natural athlete...Not a big play threat and won't stretch the field...A sub par blocker...Isn't very strong...Limited upside...Stats inflated by a wide-open offense.
Notes:
Is coming off a great senior campaign...Lacks elite physical tools but is successful because he does all the little things..The comparisons to Wes Welker are obvious, particularly since they both played at Texas Tech, but he is the exception and not the rule...You might be able to get away with being small or slow but it is rare for someone to make it at the NFL level when they have both strikes working against them...A long-shot who at most will be a #4 or #5 receiver and a return specialist.
Career Statistics
Year GP Rec Yds YPC TD
2004 12 13 119 9.2 1
2005 12 34 395 11.6 3
2006 13 48 487 10.1 5
2007 12 103 1,177 11.4 5
Totals 49 198 2,178 11.0 14
Daniel Amendola
WR | (5'10 ", 183, 4.7) | TEXAS TECH
Overall: Amendola was an instant contributor when he arrived at Texas Tech. In his first three seasons (2004-'06), he appeared in 37 games (10 starts) and delivered 95 receptions for 1,001 yards (10.5 average) and nine touchdowns, plus 102 punt returns for 1,061 yards (10.4 average) and a score. He played and started in all 13 games in 2007, posting 8.4 receptions per game (fourth in the nation) and finishing with totals of 109 catches for 1,245 yards (11.4 average) and six TDs. Amendola also averaged 16.7 yards on 13 punt returns (217 total yards) as a senior, a figure that would have ranked seventh in the country if he hadn't fallen just short of qualifying. Amendola is a prototypical slot receiver who possesses adequate quickness, runs crisp routes and can return kicks.
Danny Amendola (WR)
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 179
College: Texas Tech
Conference: Big 12
Hometown: The Woodlands, TX
High School: The Woodlands HS
View Combine Page >>
Positives: Good short-area quickness. ... Catches balls with his hands in most instances. ... Able to quickly stop and get out of his route, often leaving his corner reeling backwards as he makes the catch on a square-in or similar pattern. ... Tightropes the sidelines when necessary. ... Excelled in Tech's offense as a slot receiver finding holes in zones, where he'll likely make his money in the NFL. ... Solid punt returner with good hands and limits mental errors.
Negatives: Looks more like a kicker than a receiver with a thin build, short arms and small hands. ... Can lose concentration over the middle if in the presence of physical safeties. ... Won't worry many corners or safeties with his blocking, although he gives good effort. ... Lacks the upper body strength to sustain those blocks or get off press coverage. ... Is not explosive with the ball in his hands, getting a quick burst but lacking a second gear after the reception or on punt returns.
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Andrew Atchison
TE | (6'5 ", 247, 4.78) | WILLIAM & MARY
Overall: Atchison played baseball in his first year at Williams & Mary (2004). He joined the football team in 2005, playing in four games and contributing just one special teams tackle. In 2006, he appeared in all 11 games (five starts) and grabbed 12 receptions for 183 yards (15.2 average) and two touchdowns. As a senior last season, he started all 11 games and had 34 receptions for 475 yards (14.0 average) and six touchdowns. Atchison is going to have problems separating from man coverage and he's a raw blocker at this point so he projects as a seventh round pick or rookie free agent. However, he has a great deal of upside because he has the frame to get bigger, he is athletic and he's got adequate top-end speed.
Bear’s Note—the Boys gave Atchison the largest signing bonus in this year’s group of undrafted rookie free agents, so they must like him…
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Keon Lattimore
RB | (5'10 ", 228, 4.589) | MARYLAND
Overall: Lattimore played in 12 games (two starts) in his first two seasons at Maryland (2004-'05), picking up a combined 196 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 65 carries (3.0 average) and five receptions for two yards. He appeared in 13 games (two starts) in 2006, rushing for 784 yards and three scores on 160 carries (4.6 average) and adding 20 receptions for 210 yards (10.5 average). In 12 games (nine starts) as a senior, he had 869 yards and 13 TDs on 213 carries (3.8 average), plus 21 receptions for 95 yards (4.5 average). Lattimore missed five games in 2004 because of a dislocated shoulder and sat out three games in 2005 after a recurrence of the injury. He also missed a game in 2007 because of a hamstring injury. Lattimore's blend of size and quick feet could make him a valuable reserve
Darrell Robertson
Height: 6-37/8 | Weight: 255 | 40-Time: 4.75
Official Bio
Strengths:
A smooth athlete...Is explosive and quick...Plays faster than he times...Great pass rusher off the edge...Has a rangy frame..Is active and aggressive with a non-stop motor...Excellent in pursuit with a burst to close...Fluid and has some potential in coverage...Offers some versatility..Smart and a hard worker with solid intangibles.
Weaknesses:
Undersized and lacks the ideal bulk you look for...Has trouble shedding blocks...Is not stout at the point of attack and can be run at...Needs to get stronger...On the ground too much...Limited repertoire of pass rush moves...Can be manhandled by massive offensive linemen...He was not all that productive prior to his senior year.
Notes:
'Tweener who will either need to add weight or make a position change..Could be either a situational pass rusher or outside linebacker depending on scheme...Best fit at the next level will probably be with a team that primarily runs a 3-4 defense.
Career Statistics
Year GP TKL TFL SACK
2004 12 5 1.0 1.0
2005 12 15 1.0 1.0
2006 14 54 7.0 3.0
2007 13 36 16.0 6.5
Totals 51 110 25.0 11.5
Darrell Robertson
DE | (6'3 ", 255, 4.75) | GEORGIA TECH
Darrell Robertson (DE)
Height: 6'5"
Weight: 245
College: Georgia Tech
Conference: ACC
Hometown: Jonesboro, GA
High School: Jonesboro
View Combine Page >>
Positives: Can carry another 10 pounds of bulk without the additional weight impacting his impressive timed speed...Has a tall, linear frame with good overall muscle tone, a tight abdomen, and good thickness in his thighs and calves...Demonstrates great explosion coming off the snap and gets most of his backside success due to his speed, as he will generally surprise a lethargic offensive tackle...Carries his weight well, showing good balance and body control working his way down the line and has the second gear to generate long pursuit...When playing on the edge, he keeps his pads down and head on a swivel, as he compensates for a lack of ideal bulk with very active hands to deliver counter moves and slip off blocks...Very shifty on the move, with the stop-and-go agility to quickly change direction...Shows good intelligence, great vision and solid alertness to the action around him...Has a good feel for blocking pressure and is quick to digest the playbook...His ability to close on the ball is the result of his decisive moves when flashing into the backfield...Takes a "search and destroy" attitude into the trenches and he is a disciplined player who won't get reckless and take himself out of the play...Might lack the bulk and strength to face up to bigger offensive linemen, but with his hand technique, placement and array of moves, he will generally make the play and not get washed out at the line of scrimmage...Self-made type, adding over 40 pounds of muscle to his frame since arriving on campus as a 205-pound freshman...Vocal type on the field and when he wants to get his point across, his teammates immediately listen...Gets a lot of his success penetrating the backfield with his sudden burst off the snap...Generates the acceleration to take a wide loop around the corner and still pressure the pocket...Stays low in his pads and has the loose hips to redirect, also displaying the second gear needed to excel in long pursuit (see 2007 Notre Dame, Boston College and Army and 2006 Virginia, Duke and Wake Forest games)...Much better playing on the move than when working in-line, making him a better fit as a strong-side linebacker in a 3-4 alignment than by playing in a down position...Compensates for his lack of bulk by using his hands and long reach to keep blockers from getting into his body...Athletic runner with the savvy to avoid trash and while he might get stuck on the bigger people up front, he uses his hands effectively to keep separation... Has the hand punch to shock and push back the lead blocker when trying to clog the rush lanes (allowed just one first down on 76 running plays) and while he is a solid wrap-up tackler, once he grabs a receiver in pass coverage, he locks on and does a good job of rerouting his opponent. His hands are very effective for him keeping separation on the run...Looks very fluid playing down the line. He has that sudden burst to close and pressure the pocket and is quick to get a shoulder on a lethargic blocker...Effective closing on the ball in long pursuit, showing the cat-quick moves you expect from a linebacker...Very good at running down plays along the perimeter and opponents have averaged just 0.33 yards per rushing attempt vs. him throughout his career...Classic wrap-up tackler with enough hand strength to lock on and drag the ball carrier down in the open field...Hits with good thud upon contact and shows very good balance making plays on the move...His body control lets him stay low in his pads and his loose hips are evident by the way he fluidly changes direction...Has become a good leverage player whose read-and-pursuit skills make him relentless getting to the ball...Comes off the edge with a sudden burst and when asked to shoot the gaps, blockers are often surprised by his explosion through the holes (see 2007 Notre Dame, Boston College and Army and 2006 Duke and Wake Forest games)...The thing you see on film since his junior year is that he combines his speed with efficient inside counter moves to pressure the pocket... Stays in control when closing (when he takes aim on the QB, he will get there in an instant)...Shows very good athletic agility when he flexes and bends his knees to get down the line of scrimmage...Quick to react and diagnose the play and shows suddenness tracking down the ball after locating it.
Negatives: Has an ideal frame you look for in a strong-side linebacker or rush end, but will need to add more bulk if a team plans to play him as a down lineman at the next level...As a down lineman, he is too light to combat offensive tackles on a regular basis and must compensate with his quick hands and feet in attempts to escape...The bigger blockers have had good success executing reach blocks on him and he is not effective at splitting double-team activity (must hold his ground longer at the point of attack).
Compares To: JASON TAYLOR-Miami...Some teams feel that Robertson lacks the bulk to face up to the bigger offensive tackles at the next level, but, like Taylor, Robertson is blessed with excellent quickness, good balance and body control and very active hands to counter. He is best playing on the move, as his bulk issues do come into play when trying to combat double teams, but he has that lateral agility and closing burst to get serious consideration as a strong-side linebacker or edge rusher. Those experts that might question his ability to stuff the run need to digest this fact -- in 101 running plays, the opponents have gained only 33 yards and one first down against him.
Injury Report
2002: Suffered a right wrist fracture as a junior in high school.
2004: Undwerwent minor surgery on both feet in March to clean out "debris."
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ________________________
Mark Bradford
Height: 6-03/4 | Weight: 211 | 40-Time: 4.68
Official Bio
Strengths:
Very good size and bulk with a solid frame...Good athleticism and quickness...Has terrific hands...Excellent route runner...Tough and fearless...Very smart with great instincts and awareness...Decent blocker..Hard worker with top-notch intangibles.
Weaknesses:
Timed speed is well below average...Is not very explosive and lacks a burst...Not a deep threat and won't stretch the field vertically...Does not offer much after the catch...Wasn't real productive...Has some health and durability concerns...Upside?
Notes:
Was a backup point guard on Stanford's nationally-ranked men's basketball team from 2003-05...Redshirted in 2005 after suffering a foot injury..His lack of speed is a huge concern but he definitely has some physical tools to work with and he also does all the little things...Not a star but may be able to compete for a roster spot.
Career Statistics
Year GP Rec Yds YPC TD
2003 11 37 587 15.9 3
2004 11 34 482 14.2 1
2005 10 37 609 16.5 6
2006 2 10 111 11.1 1
2007 12 51 642 12.6 3
Totals 46 169 2,431 14.4 14
Mark Bradford
WR | (6'0 ", 211, 4.549) | STANFORD
Overall: Bradford appeared in 34 games (30 starts) in his first four seasons at Stanford (2003-'06), hauling in 118 receptions for 1,789 yards (15.2 average) and 11 touchdowns. He suffered a season-ending foot injury in the Cardinal's second game in 2006 and received a medical redshirt. In 2007, he played all 12 games and grabbed 51 receptions for 642 yards and three touchdowns. He also had a career seven rushing attempts for 57 yards. Bradford was also a member of Stanford's basketball team in 2003-'04 and left the squad shortly after the next season began to concentrate on football. Bradford was a two-sport athlete early in his career at Stanford, playing point guard for the basketball team for two seasons before electing to concentrate on football fulltime in December of 2004. He is a smooth athlete with good route-running skills and he finished strong down the stretch last year.
Mark Bradford (WR)
Height: 6'1"
Weight: 211
College: Stanford
Conference: Pac 10
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
High School: Fremont
View Combine Page >>
Positives: Has a strong-looking body, with very long arms, large, soft hands, thick calves, wide back, broad shoulders and minimal body fat (8 percent)...Does not play up to his timed speed, but shows good effort competing for the ball in traffic...Former Stanford basketball player with very good leaping ability, but needs to improve his timing trying to high point the pass...Has improved his work habits greatly since his first few years on campus...Best when he runs with a short stride, as he tends to drift and take soft angle cuts when he tries to get vertical and stretch the field...Uses subtle moves and changes pace to effectively release off the line, but must be more aggressive with his hands to defeat the jam when defenders get into his jersey...Does a good job of setting up defenders by making sharp cuts in his short-area routes...Good at finding windows vs. zone coverage and possesses the size, hands and toughness to be an effective short-area receiver...Can snatch and secure the ball in a crowd and shows the ability to pluck the ball while running at full speed...A competitive player who will sacrifice his body to battle for contested balls...Makes tough catches all over the field, displaying good ability to track the ball in-stride and to adjust his body with his feet off the ground (just needs to time his leaps better)...Has a quick first step after the catch and shows good elusiveness in the open field vs. second-level defenders...Has the sure hands to catch the ball in stride without having to throttle down...Makes good adjustments to secure off-target throws and shows good balance keeping his feet in bounds along the sidelines...Lacks the hip snap to elude defenders, but has the functional power to challenge and run over defensive backs (second-level defenders have better success in taking him down right after the catch)...More of a finesse blocker who does not have the technique to anchor and sustain at the line, but takes good angles and shows good ability going low to take out the linebacker's feet cut blocking in the second level...Lacks hip shake to separate after the catch, but shows savvy moves and fakes to slip past some defenders...Catches the ball cleanly and extends well to secure the ball away from his frame.
Negatives: Despite recent good clocking in the speed department, he is built more for power rather than quickness...Negates his timed speed, as he takes false steps coming off the line and fails to generate an explosion coming out of his breaks...Wiling, but is more of a finesse-type blocker who will take good angles to cut block in the second level, but does not generate the hand punch or use his long reach to latch on to a defender's jersey while blocking in-line...Not sudden in and out of his cuts and needs to refine his long patterns, as he gets too high in his stance to come out of breaks cleanly and tends to take soft angle cuts, more so on deep patterns than in the short area...Needs to do a better job of locating soft areas on the field to settle under, as he spends too much time running right into defenders rather than trying to elude or separate...Can be rerouted vs. a strong press, as he lacks aggression or good use with his hands to defeat the jam...With his big, strong looking frame, you would expect him to drive through tackles better, but he can generally be taken down vs. the initial hit...The stopwatch indicates quick feet, but he is not the type ho can vertically stretch the field...Has had right foot and ankle issues and further medical review might be warranted.
Compares To: TRAVIS WILSON-Cleveland...Wilson's size and timed speed impressed the Browns when they drafted him, but they soon found out that he could not carry his equipment well on the field, thus negating what the stopwatch said. The NFL Combine is a better indication of Wilson's lack of explosiveness off the line, and not the impressive sub-4.5 clocking he put on the boards recently. He is better served on controlled routes, as he is not the type who can stretch the field. For a team needing a big, physical receiver, they will get big here, but he does not use his long reach or hands well to defeat the press vs. smaller defenders and will never be confused for Lance Alworth (former San Diego great, regarded as the best cut blocker among wide receivers) when it comes to blocking skills.
Injury Report
2005: Sat out the Southern California game (10/29) with a right ankle sprain.
2006: Suffered torn ligaments in his right foot in the first quarter of the team's second game vs. San Jose State (9/09), missing the rest of the season.
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Defensive End | Senior | Hampton
Marcus Dixon
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 292 | 40-Time: 5.27
Official Bio
Strengths:
Has excellent size and bulk with a huge frame...Very strong and powerful....Stout at the point of attack...Does a terrific job against the run...Good bull rusher...Real active with a good motor...Very smart...A hard worker and good leader...Versatile.
Weaknesses:
Has had some off-the-field troubles...Might be a bit of a 'tweener...Timed speed is well below average...Not very explosive and lacks a burst..Plays with inconsistent leverage and needs to work on his technique....Marginal instincts and awareness.
Notes:
Was slated to attend Vanderbilt out of high school but was sent to prison for 15 months for having sexual relations with a minor, although the conviction was later overturned when the Georgia Supreme Court ruled the sex was consensual...His case attracted extensive media attention and was featured on programs such as Oprah and HBO's Real Sports...Could realistically play defensive end in either a 4-3 or a 3-4 scheme and could even move inside..Interesting developmental prospect.
Career Statistics
Year GP TKL TFL SACK
2004 12 38 9.0 3.0
2005 10 33 7.0 2.5
2006 11 25 5.5 4.0
2007 11 58 16.0 6.0
Totals 44 154 37.5 15.5
Marcus Dixon
DE | (6'4", 292, 5.32) | HAMPTON
Overall: Dixon arrived at Hampton in 2004 and proved to be an immediate force, playing both defensive end and defensive tackle for the Pirates. He appeared in 33 games (26 starts) in his first three seasons ('04-'06), logging 96 tackles (21.5 for losses) and 9.5 sacks. As a senior, he played all 11 games and turned in 58 tackles (16 for losses), six sacks, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick. Dixon planned to accept a scholarship to Vanderbilt out of high school, before he was arrested and jailed following a conviction for aggravated child molestation and statutory rape. The controversial case eventually was overturned, but not until Dixon had already spent 15 months in jail and Vanderbilt had rescinded its offer.
Marcus Dixon (DE)
Height: 6'4"
Weight: 284
College: Hampton
Conference: MEAC
Hometown: Rome, GA
High School: Pepperell
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Positives: Naturally large frame with wide shoulders and hips. ... Room for additional growth. ... Flashes good initial quickness off the snap. ... Can gain an advantage off the edge with his quickness and turn the guard when playing inside. ... Good strength at the point of attack. ... High effort player who pursues well. ... Characterized as the hardest working player on the field by coaches. ... Team leader. ... National Honor Society with a 3.96 GPA in high school.
Negatives: Character red-flag requires obvious investigation. ... Bit of a 'tweener between defensive end and tackle. ... Lacks great burst off the edge and close on the ball. ... Struggles with his pad level, limiting his power. ... Very small hands (7 7/8"). ... Raw. ... Marginal football instincts. ... Struggles to locate the ball. ... Good player here based strictly on size and athletic ability as he plays with very little technique. ... Struggles in his hand play and has little variety as a pass rusher. ... Obvious questions about his level of competition.
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Wide Receiver | Senior | Texas Tech
Danny Amendola
Height: 5-101/2 | Weight: 183 | 40-Time: 4.63
Official Bio
Strengths:
More quick than fast...Elusive...Has reliable hands...A decent route runner...Tough and fearless...Excellent motor...Smart with great awareness...A hard worker with top-notch intangibles...Superb production...Could also contribute as a return man.
Weaknesses:
Size and bulk are merely average...Doesn't have very good timed speed...Is not a great natural athlete...Not a big play threat and won't stretch the field...A sub par blocker...Isn't very strong...Limited upside...Stats inflated by a wide-open offense.
Notes:
Is coming off a great senior campaign...Lacks elite physical tools but is successful because he does all the little things..The comparisons to Wes Welker are obvious, particularly since they both played at Texas Tech, but he is the exception and not the rule...You might be able to get away with being small or slow but it is rare for someone to make it at the NFL level when they have both strikes working against them...A long-shot who at most will be a #4 or #5 receiver and a return specialist.
Career Statistics
Year GP Rec Yds YPC TD
2004 12 13 119 9.2 1
2005 12 34 395 11.6 3
2006 13 48 487 10.1 5
2007 12 103 1,177 11.4 5
Totals 49 198 2,178 11.0 14
Daniel Amendola
WR | (5'10 ", 183, 4.7) | TEXAS TECH
Overall: Amendola was an instant contributor when he arrived at Texas Tech. In his first three seasons (2004-'06), he appeared in 37 games (10 starts) and delivered 95 receptions for 1,001 yards (10.5 average) and nine touchdowns, plus 102 punt returns for 1,061 yards (10.4 average) and a score. He played and started in all 13 games in 2007, posting 8.4 receptions per game (fourth in the nation) and finishing with totals of 109 catches for 1,245 yards (11.4 average) and six TDs. Amendola also averaged 16.7 yards on 13 punt returns (217 total yards) as a senior, a figure that would have ranked seventh in the country if he hadn't fallen just short of qualifying. Amendola is a prototypical slot receiver who possesses adequate quickness, runs crisp routes and can return kicks.
Danny Amendola (WR)
Height: 5'11"
Weight: 179
College: Texas Tech
Conference: Big 12
Hometown: The Woodlands, TX
High School: The Woodlands HS
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Positives: Good short-area quickness. ... Catches balls with his hands in most instances. ... Able to quickly stop and get out of his route, often leaving his corner reeling backwards as he makes the catch on a square-in or similar pattern. ... Tightropes the sidelines when necessary. ... Excelled in Tech's offense as a slot receiver finding holes in zones, where he'll likely make his money in the NFL. ... Solid punt returner with good hands and limits mental errors.
Negatives: Looks more like a kicker than a receiver with a thin build, short arms and small hands. ... Can lose concentration over the middle if in the presence of physical safeties. ... Won't worry many corners or safeties with his blocking, although he gives good effort. ... Lacks the upper body strength to sustain those blocks or get off press coverage. ... Is not explosive with the ball in his hands, getting a quick burst but lacking a second gear after the reception or on punt returns.
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Andrew Atchison
TE | (6'5 ", 247, 4.78) | WILLIAM & MARY
Overall: Atchison played baseball in his first year at Williams & Mary (2004). He joined the football team in 2005, playing in four games and contributing just one special teams tackle. In 2006, he appeared in all 11 games (five starts) and grabbed 12 receptions for 183 yards (15.2 average) and two touchdowns. As a senior last season, he started all 11 games and had 34 receptions for 475 yards (14.0 average) and six touchdowns. Atchison is going to have problems separating from man coverage and he's a raw blocker at this point so he projects as a seventh round pick or rookie free agent. However, he has a great deal of upside because he has the frame to get bigger, he is athletic and he's got adequate top-end speed.
Bear’s Note—the Boys gave Atchison the largest signing bonus in this year’s group of undrafted rookie free agents, so they must like him…
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Keon Lattimore
RB | (5'10 ", 228, 4.589) | MARYLAND
Overall: Lattimore played in 12 games (two starts) in his first two seasons at Maryland (2004-'05), picking up a combined 196 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 65 carries (3.0 average) and five receptions for two yards. He appeared in 13 games (two starts) in 2006, rushing for 784 yards and three scores on 160 carries (4.6 average) and adding 20 receptions for 210 yards (10.5 average). In 12 games (nine starts) as a senior, he had 869 yards and 13 TDs on 213 carries (3.8 average), plus 21 receptions for 95 yards (4.5 average). Lattimore missed five games in 2004 because of a dislocated shoulder and sat out three games in 2005 after a recurrence of the injury. He also missed a game in 2007 because of a hamstring injury. Lattimore's blend of size and quick feet could make him a valuable reserve
