NCAA College Football Articles Opinion & Fantasy – Football Diner

NCAA Scouting
NFL Draft Prospect Tracker – Week 4
by Paul Emery
September 28th 2012
 
   
 
The big game this week lived up to expectations, with Florida State pulling away in the fourth quarter for the win. It’s a first look of the season at EJ Manuel, but it was two running backs who really impressed.
 
Baylor at Louisiana Monroe
 
Baylor
 
Terrance Williams WR Williams wasn’t thrown to a great deal, but he still managed to make a huge impact on the game with 4 receptions for 84 yards and 2 TD’s. He was targeted only once before his first catch, a 48 yard TD where he just out ran the angle of the safety coming over in Cover-2 zone coverage. He made a nice over the shoulder catch for the score. His second TD really iced the game for the Bears, a 22 yarder just a little head fake to the corner and then a sharp cut to the post and got separation easily for a low diving catch. He did drop a pass, thrown behind him he should still have been able to come up with the catch. A little difficult to judge, but like all prospects it forms part of the puzzle.
 
Cyril Richardson* – OG I’m not sure if Richardson will come out early as there is a very deep senior guard class this year and I’m not sure he’s better than some of the prospects already discussed in weeks 1-3 plus North Carolina’s Jonathan Cooper (who I saw against Elon in week 1 and looked very good). Richardson is listed at 335 lbs and he has some power. He can move defenders in the run game and can anchor nicely in pass protection. He sits in his stance nicely in pass protection and has good hand placement. At times he gets a bit lazy with his feet and so he has some negative plays where he has to over extend in pass protection or struggles to get movement in the run game. We’ll see if he joins a crowded guard field, but it might be best for him to stay in school if he can afford to do so financially.
 
Louisiana-Monroe
 
Brent Leonard WR no top prospects for ULM with Leonard being rated as a free agent. He had 8 catches for 72 yards, but doesn’t look like a guy who will run a fast 40 time at his pro day. Having said that, he runs very nice routes he’s a possession type receiver who will get 8 on 3rd and 7. He cuts nicely to gain separation and although he juggled and dropped one, his hands look solid. Listed at 185 lbs he could do with getting a little bigger to hold up better against press man coverage.
 
Virginia at TCU
 
Virginia
 
Oday Aboushi OT when watching Aboushi against Penn State I was worried about his foot speed and the fact his hands were low when setting up in pass protection. Once again both concerns were on show, but overall though he had a good game. TCU didn’t have a Jerry Hughes type coming off the edge at him though, so he still wasn’t tested. When he drops his hands while setting up in pass protection at times when he brings them up, they come from the outside in and at times his hand placement is thus too far outside. He was called for holding once and perhaps could have been more often. His footwork was mixed at times he looked a little heavy footed, but then others he mirrored really well and looked light on his feet. He certainly has strength and a nasty streak twice he buried a DB in the open field and he can move people in the run game. I think he’s going to be a right tackle as a pro, but will leave the final conclusion until I’ve seen him tested against speed.
 
Steve Greer ILB Greer is a very good read and react linebacker. On a number of plays he reacted on the snap, so he clearly studies the game and can read his keys. He’s not the best athlete in the world, but gets away with it to a large degree because of his reading of the game. In coverage one time against RB Matthew Tucker in the slot, he just couldn’t get there fast enough and missed a despairing diving tackle attempt. He might get away with things in a 3-4, but at 230 lbs he won’t fit every such system and will still be a question mark in coverage. But a guy as smart as him might just be hard to cut come camp time…
 
TCU
 
Casey Pachall* – QB right off the bat, I’ll say I hope Pachall comes back for his senior year. He’s had some off the field issues and while he has a big arm and made some nice throws, he will really benefit from an extra year in terms of decision making. He threw a 40 yard post on a rope to Dawson late in the game, so the arm is clearly of NFL calibre. But he made a poor decision on his interception and his accuracy was a little off at times. I’d also like to see him develop his touch pass a little more. A tough runner finished one run like a 230 lb RB and has tools, but needs a little work.
 
Josh Boyce* – WR 4 catches for 22 yards and a TD. His TD was a short slant where he got in front of the CB easily for the score. Got deep early in the game, but was just hit early by the CB and pass interference was called. However, I would have liked to have seen him come down with the catch, which was worth more yardage than the 15 penalty yards. Also dropped a shallow crossing route. Another who I think would benefit from the extra year.
 
Skye Dawson WR a Jeremy Kerley type in more ways than one. Kerley has made some nice plays for the Jets but also some bad ones and Dawson was much the same in this one. He’s slightly light than Kerley at 176 lbs but looks dangerous returning punts and after the catch. He perhaps tried to do a little too much a couple of times, once almost giving up a first down and the second dancing around after a deep post catch but fumbling the ball out the back of the end zone for a touchback. I don’t think he’s as good as Kerley, so a late rounder/free agent type for me.
 
Blaize Foltz OG Foltz came into the year with a late round grade and I think that’s about right. He had some good moments, but his technique is a bit rough and he needs to get a little stronger. His pass protection technique is not the best. At times his feet go back and out so he struggles to anchor and others he’s almost bolt upright. In the run game he over extended a little too much and so ended up missing some blocks and getting a face full of grass. Has decent size at 6’4 310 lbs, but doesn’t necessarily play with the pop you would expect from that bulk.
 
Clemson at Florida State
 
Clemson
 
Andre Ellington RB only had 14 carries as the Tigers played catchup in the fourth quarter, but still managed to make an impact on the game with 2 TD’s. Finished with 14 carries for 55 yards and a TD plus 4 catches for 87 yards and a TD. When he gets the ball in space he looks extremely dangerous. Made Terrence Brooks miss on his TD catch a little fake to the outside and then cut back inside to make the safety completely miss. Listed at 190 lbs, might not be an old school every down back but he can catch and he’s electric. I really like him and think you can start to think about him in the second round region. He has had durability concerns throughout his career, so that may turn him into a third rounder in the same way T.Y. Hilton was because of his health concerns (and how typical Hilton scored his first NFL TD this week against my Jaguars…).
 
Malliciah Goodman DE came into the season with a mid round grading. Did show flashes last year, but this is my second watch of him this year and he’s struggled to make any kind of impact on both games. He doesn’t have Andre Branch opposite him to take away attention and he just doesn’t seem to be good enough to take over games without a bookend. Got turned out and up the field on a FSU rushing TD and failed to cause any problems rushing the passer. Made a nice play reading the HB sneaking out into the flat and causing an incompletion, but hasn’t stepped up and his stock is falling.
 
Florida State
 
EJ Manuel QB threw for 380 yards, yet only three of his completions travelled over 10 yards in the air! Very much like watching Matt Barkley lots of swing passes and screens then letting his athletes do the work. Checked down a lot, thus avoiding any interceptions but when they needed to get the ball down the field later in the game he pulled out his best pass of the night a 29 yard TD. Earlier in the game he looked heavy on a touch pass, but this one was laid in perfectly for Rodney Smith. Still needs to work on reading defenses got fooled by a CB blitz the play was a pump fake and he just didn’t see or feel the blitzer and really needed to get the ball out to a check down. Tended to make one read down the field, then look to check it down can run, but his decision making as to when to take off was sound. His footwork needs to be cleaned up a bit, gets a bit wide with his base after the shotgun snap, a couple of balls sailed on his as a result. Has a snappy release, but does look a little tight in the shoulders, could do with a little more flexibility work. Very talented modern day college QB from the Cam Newton mould. A very talented athlete, has some areas to work on, but the way Newton and then RG3 have impacted the league early in their careers suggests he can to. But whether this type of QB can win a Super Bowl without learning to read defenses better we’ll find out in the next few years…
 
Chris Thompson RB rated as a late rounder coming into the year, but looks much better than that. Broke his back last year and this may have been the primary reason for his low rating. If he can stay healthy he’ll have a big chance to go much higher (as long as the back checks out medically). He destroyed Wake Forest last week and added 103 yards from 15 carries in this one. Made Clemson CB Xavier Brewer completely miss on one run doesn’t have to slow to cut. Slightly shorter than Ellington, but about the same weight and has many of the same plusses and minuses as the Clemson man. He runs with good lean and can break tackles as well as make people miss. A rising player and fingers crossed he stays healthy as like Ellington he’s fun to watch.
 
Rodney Smith WR two catches for 48 yards, but one was a big play a 29 yard TD, a nice over the shoulder reception. Sat down in the zone for his other catch with a decent gain after the play. His production suggests a late rounder, but he has size and might be an interesting red zone weapon.
 
Cornellius Carradine DE with Brandon Jenkins out for the year with injury, Carradine is getting his big chance to shine and he took every advantage. Has long arms and did a nice job of using them to his advantage. Showed he can stack and shed, plus showed good lateral movement stretching wider plays out and getting in on some plays. Almost had a sack, but couldn’t bring down Boyd used a nice swim move on the play though. Tried to dip his inside shoulder and turn the corner, but wasn’t quite low enough but did show he can rip. I think he’s got potential as a top 100 pick though.
 
Bjoern Werner* – DE not really his best day, but I’m not about to drop him. The commentators did mention he add been ill in the build up to the game, not sure if this was a factor or not. Was under control much of the time rushing the passer, took a couple of slow steps off the line just to make sure Boyd wasn’t running. Did at times fly up the field and indeed almost had a sack with a nice dip and rip move, but like his bookend couldn’t bring Boyd down. Gave up the edge on an Ellington run early in the game, where he just got too far upfield needed better backside discipline. But did show he can string plays out. Clearly from his body of work to date he’s a better prospect than this one game showed.
 
Xavier Rhodes* – CB wasn’t tested a great deal, but struggled a bit at the line with DeAndre Hopkins. He gave up the inside too easily twice to the Clemson man despite being bigger than him. Did get lucky on one play as the pass was behind Hopkins and he was able to get a hand in to break it up. Missed a tackle on Ellington’s TD run. Need to see him again always difficult to judge a CB when not much is thrown his way.
 
Dustin Hopkins PK missed both of his field goals on the night. The first from the right hash stayed right the second he probably over compensated and dragged it wide left. Showed a nice leg on kick-offs though. I wonder if he’s going to have a year like Blair Walsh last year…
 
Oregon State at UCLA
 
Oregon State
 
Markus Wheaton WR had a big game with 9 catches for 150 yards and a TD. Gave the two senior UCLA CB’s major problems in man coverage. He’s only 178 lbs, but did well against physical coverage, holding up well down the sideline on one play to make a 33 yard catch. Beat Price on his TD reception, was 2 yards behind, but had to wait for the ball a bit but held on when hit. Did a nice job getting separation and was too much for man coverage. Had 8 catches last week, so if off to a fast start. His weight may limit his stock a little, but he looks talented.
 
Jordan Poyer CB Poyer is another with not the biggest frame at 5’11 190 lbs, but he plays much bigger than his size. On running plays and passes in front of him he showed the ability to get downhill and tackle. One form tackle drew high praise from Chris Spielman, which is a real honour! He had a couple of short routes caught in front of him, but that was the nature of the coverage he was playing 8-10 yards off at times. In the nickel he was over the slot receiver, which was occasionally TE Fauria but he didn’t back down. He did have a couple of negative plays in zone he was looking at the QB and stopped his feet, I think he was getting ready to break and make a big play. So he needs a little work, but for a Cover-2 team he will be an ideal click and close CB.
 
UCLA
 

Johnathan Franklin RB never quite got on track with 12 carries for 45 yards, the first time in four games this year he’s not run for 100 yards. He helped out in pass protection and looked good doing so, staying on his feet even against a DE. He had one catch for 11 yards, but did drop a swing pass where he seemed to fight the ball. Even with limited carries, he still showed the ability to find a crease with a nice side-step move and also good vision to cut back against the grain. He runs with good lean and has more power than you would expect from a 195 lb back. Almost broke a long run, but was just tackled by the safety. Clearly not his best game, but flashes of his ability. Downed a punt at the three yard line, good to see a star RB on special teams.
 
Joseph Fauria TE the Notre Dame transfer has shown flashes in his UCLA career, but has yet to really break out. He does have 11 catches on the season so far, but only 2 came in this one. The commentary team mentioned he has been struggling with a bad back, so this may have slowed him down. At 6’7 252 lbs he’s a mismatch in the slot, but he struggled to make any real impact on the game. A high cut prospect (long legs) he needs to bend better than he does as a blocker, but often he was up against a CB, so he could get away with less than ideal technique. I thought he might break out this year and he still could, but didn’t look that good.
 
Jeff Baca OG out with a head injury.
 
Datone Jones DE the Bruins new 3-4 defense is a Pittsburgh Steeler system so primarily a one gap scheme, with some occasional two gap. Jones is therefore given license to shoot the gap and disrupt he flashed the ability to do so, but didn’t seem to manage it when a play was at him. A number of times he got penetration, but the plays were away from him and he struggled to make a big impact on the game. He flashed the ability to two gap he looks to have a long frame and with added weight could do this at the next level. He was one of two DT’s rushing the passer and used a rip move a fair bit, he got push a couple of times but didn’t live up to ESPN’s billing as an impact player.
 
Jeff Locke P Locke was busy with 8 punts and had a good game. He averaged 44 yards per kick and downed 4 inside the 20, with only the one touchback (which was a 58 yard punt). He got good height on his kicks, which meant the dangerous Poyer fair caught all but one (the first and only a 5 yard return). Looked like he is going to be worth a Draft pick.
 
Connecticut at Western Michigan
 
Connecticut
 
Ryan Griffin TE 3 catches for 40 yards and a TD. Looks a bit one paced though and certainly lacks that extra gear to be a high pick. Showed he can box his man out with the TD catch, which was a square in route, he didn’t get great separation but was able to hang on when hit. Plays square as a blocker. Was used in motion and led a few running plays through. Got some movement, but did play a little high. Plays on the punt coverage unit and will need to do well here to stick at the next level.
 
Trevardo Williams DE 233 lb prospect plays DE, clearly undersized for the position as a pro. Might also be too light for many 3-4 teams at OLB. Did flash some pass rush ability, but didn’t really start to show up until later in the game. Showed he can dip his inside shoulder and turn the corner. Had a sack against Dann O’Neill who is the Broncos second ranked senior prospect. But overall too quiet.
 
Sio Moore OLB listed at 229 lbs, but looks bigger. Has thick thighs and his upper body looks solid. Lined up in various different spots, including as a strongside LB, on the weakside and also over the slot receiver. Doesn’t look super explosive in space could it be he’s added some bulk in the off season and is not carrying it well? Struggled to get off blocks, even against a TE. Did look solid in coverage tipped away one pass in zone coverage and was all over a TE in man coverage on a jerk route (in and then out). Came into the season with a mid round ranking, but that might be slightly high.
 
Blidi Wreh-Wilson CB looked very comfortable in man coverage when up at the line. Gets a solid jam in and can turn and run down the field smoothly. Has loose hips and was able to stay with a WR on a sharp 15 yard out cut. Uses the sideline to his advantage looked back to the ball and leaned into the WR who ran out of real estate. Broke up a similar pass, got his head around for the ball nicely and made the play on the ball. Doesn’t look as comfortable in off man coverage doesn’t transition up to routes in front of him quickly enough and he had two passes caught in front of him. Will help in run support. Might not be for everyone, but will interest man heavy teams.
 
Western Michigan
 
Alex Carder QB hit his hand against a helmet following through on a throw in the third quarter and didn’t return. Prior to that was 18 from 34 for 237 yards with a TD and no picks. Listed at 6’2, but doesn’t look that tall. Doesn’t have a huge arm tends to put touch on throws down the field when he attempted to drive a 20 yard skinny post, the ball just died on him and he short hopped his man. Has a nice feel for pressure from the pocket. I mentioned EJ Manuel not feeling a blitz, Carder is miles ahead of him in terms of that and gets the ball out before pressure gets to him. Uses the whole field, showed he can look off the safety and go to second and third reads although primarily the system is a quick passing spread system. When he moves to his second option, he calmly resets his feet in the pocket. Holds the ball high and has a quick release. Will drop down to a sidearm delivery at times. Ball placement was a little off on a couple of crossing routes, his man had to slow and reach back. Very crisp on anything under 20 yards in the air, but noticeably not as good on throws of over 20+ yards (1 out of 7 on the day). Has some similarities to Southern Mississippi’s Austin Davis who I liked last year and made the Rams roster as a undrafted free agent.
 
Dann O’Neill OT – 6’7 308 lb right tackle prospect had some problems speed wise against Trevardo Williams, giving up a sack and struggling a few other times. Doesn’t look to be the most flexible guy, plays too high in pass protection. He does try and get his hands placed nicely though and with a little more knee bend he would be far more effective. Got some movement in the run game, did show he can bend on one play really driving a LB way down the line to leave a big hole. Size free agent for me.