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NCAA Scouting
2011 Draft Review – NFC West
by Paul Emery
May 3rd 2011
 
Arizona Cardinals
 
1. Patrick Peterson CB LSU. Peterson would have been pushing for the top spot on most Draft boards. He’s a great athlete who still has upside but right now is good enough to step in and start. The Cardinals snapped him up when he fell to the fifth pick. He will start right away he’s a great press CB and has the added value of being dynamic in the return game. I wondered who the Cardinals would go for and this is a very good pick for me.
 
2. Ryan Williams RB Virginia Tech. Williams burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman coming in for the injured Darren Evans. However, this past season he had hamstring problems missing some time and not being 100% when he did play. He only flashed that top ability, but it didn’t cost him hugely as he was the second RB off the board. It’s a very interesting pick so soon after spending a first round pick on Beanie Wells and also having the solid Tim Hightower in the backfield. Williams offers the breakaway threat that they don’t have though and thus the pick. The big question for Williams is if he can stay healthy if he can, then he should be a breakaway threat.
 
3. Rob Housler TE/HB Florida Atlantic. Housler redshirted in 2009 in a crowded FAU TE field, he figured he would get more opportunities in 2010 and this proved to be the right strategy as he is a third round draft pick. Housler is a fine athlete at 6’5 248 lbs he ran his Combine 40 time in the mid 4.4’s faster than WR’s 40 lbs lighter. From tape I think this is probably a couple of rounds too early his hands aren’t the best and he is limited as a blocker. However, he does have considerable upside as an athlete and should create some mismatches in the secondary. The third big play draft pick.
 
4. Sam Acho OLB Texas. Sam Acho slipped a little as he was widely regarded as a day two pick. He played DE at Texas, but projects outside to OLB in the Cardinals 3-4. This is the way the Steelers bring in their OLB’s in a couple of years he may well be starting and everyone will be wondering where he came from. On tape he was mixed. Texas struggled some this year and without much help on the defensive line he drew a lot of attention. He flashed pass rush ability but by no means was consistent. He’s one of the safest picks in terms of character this year, so should work hard to develop and I think down the road this will prove to be a solid pick.
 
5. Anthony Sherman FB Connecticut. Sherman was my top rated FB he’s a short armed kid, but looked dangerous with the ball in his hands an added bonus for your FB. He’s a very physical blocker who I really enjoyed watching. A reliable receiver out of the backfield and also is a very good special teams player, where he will contribute right away. This is a very solid pick and will help out whoever lines up behind him at tailback.
 
6a. Quan Sturdivant ILB North Carolina. On tape alone Sturdivant is a top 100 player. He played faster than he timed at his Pro Day and looked to be a really good read and react LB a little overshadowed by Bruce Carter, but still a really good player. The reason for his fall to the sixth round appear to be off the field. He was arrested for possession of marijuana and reports from his Pro Day were that he looked disinterested and had to be pushed to take part in the drills. If the Cardinals can light a fire under him and get him motivated this will be a steal, but the pick is a boom or bust type so there is no guarantee with it. However, I feel it’s worth a 6th rounder.
 
6b. David Carter DE UCLA. Carter was a first year starter in 2009 and is the brother of Fresno State OLB Chris (5th round Steelers). Carter had a good week of practice at the Shrine Game and has the length required for the 5 technique position. Although there are questions as to why he didn’t start until his Senior year, he does have upside in the Cardinals system.
 
7. DeMarco Sampson WR San Diego State. Sampson was overshadowed by Vincent Brown (3rd round Chargers), but was productive in his own right and indeed I like Sampson, although not to the extent I do Brown. Sampson has decent size and was one of the faster WR’s at the Combine so finishing a Draft in which the Cardinals upgraded their team speed significantly, this is a good pick.
 
Overall Very Good
 
The Cardinals clearly wanted to upgrade their overall team speed as they drafted a number of prospects who run very well even the FB they drafted is a good athlete! Overall, I like the Draft there is generally solid value although I feel Housler was a round or two early. Acho could develop down the road and Sturdivant has the talent to become a starter.
 
San Francisco 49ers
 
1. Aldon Smith OLB Missouri. The 49ers had the chance to take Blaine Gabbert, but passed instead taking the Missouri man to give them a pass rush. From tape study I was very high on Smith, but talked myself out of rating him super high after an only average Combine performance. He played DE in college and there is some doubt about him dropping in coverage, but with Manny Lawson opposite the 49ers can primarily send Smith upfield. He has very good hand usage for a young man (redshirt sophomore entry) and overall I like the pick.
 
2. Colin Kaepernick QB Nevada. The 49ers were trying to move up into the end of the first round for a QB, but had to wait until Denver to make a deal but still got their man. Kaepernick has all the tools he has a strong arm, can throw with touch and is a fine athlete. However, he is still very raw and has yet to put it all together. In the Idaho game given time in the pocket he was able to demonstrate touch but in other games he often went with his fastball. His release point is inconsistent often dropping down to a sidearm delivery. He will be able to run some Wildcat looks as a rookie, which will help his development he’s somewhat of a project but the way the QB’s were going off the board they had no choice but to move up to get him. Not great value conventionally, but within the context of this Draft they were boxed into a corner.
 
3. Chris Culliver CB/FS South Carolina. Culliver’s stock went down as Senior yet he was able to recover it at the Combine by running a 4.3 40 time. He has experience at CB and Free Safety but with that 40 time he could be tried out first at Corner. At Safety he showed on tape he has the range, but he wasn’t super active. Culliver had some problems staying healthy and there were rumblings he wasn’t getting on with the coaching staff at South Carolina, but I’m sure the 49ers checked this out.
 
4. Kendall Hunter RB Oklahoma. Hunter is a short back at 5’7, but runs bigger than his size. He flashes ability to make some nice cuts and is a dangerous receiver out of the backfield. He has limitations due to his size in pass protection, but as shown at the Senior Bowl he’s not afraid to stick his nose in there. On the negative side I thought at times he seemed to disappear from games too many short runs. He’s not going to carry the load, but I like him as a situational back who can also help in the return game.
 
5. Daniel Kilgore OG Appalachian State. Kilgore is a self made kid who has worked very hard to add bulk and it must be very rewarding for a young man like him particularly to be drafted. Kilgore played Left Tackle for App State, but he’s only 6’3 so projects to pro Guard or even Center. He’s a tough kid who gets after it and with his work ethic evident from college, you wouldn’t bet against him.
 
6a. Ronald Johnson WR USC. I liked Johnson from tape he stood out as he plays fast. He gets off the line quickly and that was backed up with one of the better 10 yard split times at the Combine. His production went down as the season progressed and therein lies the reason he was still on the board in the sixth round. He can help as a Punt Returner and should push for time in the slot. There’s something about this young man that I like despite that production falling off.
 
6b. Colin Jones SS TCU. Colin Jones is the type of pick that the Raiders usually make! Jones ran his 40 in the mid 4.3’s at his Pro Day and immediately became a draftable prospect. The looks to be someone who can be a very effective punt coverage gunner with the raw athletic ability to push for playing time down the road.
 
7a. Bruce Miller OLB Central Florida. Miller played DE in college, where he was very productive. However, he didn’t work out super well at the Combine, so he was still available in the seventh round. He also has short arms, which didn’t help his stock. However, he has the knack of making big plays at key moments in games and that has me thinking that despite athletic limitations he could well make it.
 
7b. Michael Person OT Montana State. Person is an undersized athletic zone blocking scheme type. I must admit when I watched him in the playoffs, I didn’t come away super impressed with him. I think he needs a fair bit of work before he can push for playing time but he has some raw tools that make the pick worthwhile.
 
7c. Curtis Holcomb CB Florida A&M.; This pick was a surprise. I must admit I haven’t seen him play, so can’t really comment but his Pro Day 40 time was only average (4.47) so I will have to trust the 49ers have seen something.
 
Overall Above Average
 
This whole Draft class doesn’t really light my fire. I like Smith at the top but there are too many prospects here who I’m not real high on. Culliver is interesting because of his athletic numbers, but on the field didn’t always match those. Kaepernick has a ton of potential and I do like him but really he’s the key to this Draft as the 49ers clearly need a QB. Quite whether they will regret passing on Blaine Gabbert only time will tell.
 
Seattle Seahawks
 

1. James Carpenter OT/G Alabama. There’s not too much more to say about this pick that I didn’t say in my first round review. I had Carpenter as a fourth or fifth round talent who only moved up boards after playing better at the Senior Bowl and also being a Nick Saban coached kid. I don’t think he’s ready to come in and start from day one and he seems to switch off too many times and this could end up getting whoever lines up under Center for Seattle taking a few too many hits. I think I’m going to struggle to find a pick in the Draft that I dislike more.
 
3. John Moffitt OG Wisconsin. Moffitt was an interesting pick at this stage. From his tape I would say the pick works. However, he ran a very slow 40 time at the Combine (including a very slow 10 yard split which is really the one to look at for lineman) and conventional value would have Moffitt off the board a couple of rounds later. On balance though I really like the pick. I think he can start right away and although his athletic limitations might mean he always has problems with super quick DT’s but certainly against big 3-4 NT’s (Arizona and San Francisco in division) there’s no problem and he should start at Center or Guard for 10+ years which makes the value good for me.
 
4a. K.J. Wright OLB Mississippi State. Wright slipped just a little as he was projected as a second/third rounder. He has a great frame with long arms and indeed because of those long arms it was thought some 3-4 teams might see him as a OLB. He’s more of a flash player in that he would show up in most games with a few nice plays but wasn’t consistent. I don’t know he’s the best natural read and react guy when he does see it then it’s great but it doesn’t seem he does all the time in the same way as many other prospects. He has upside because of his frame, but isn’t the best athlete in the LB class so I guess all in all this is about the right landing spot for him.
 
4b. Kris Durham WR Georgia. I thought the WR class was pretty deep this year in that I felt I could get help at any point in the Draft. So escalating Durham on the back of his fine Pro Day doesn’t seem to be the way forward particularly with some other prospects still on the board who I thought were far better. Durham did impress in the first 4 games of the season with A.J. Green suspended, but drafting a kid with only 64 receptions in his college career is nonsense.
 
5a. Richard Sherman CB Stanford. Sherman was a late call up to the Senior Bowl and had a good showing pushing his stock up to this level. He’s a former WR who is still learning the CB position and thus still has a fair amount of upside. He has good size but doesn’t have blazing deep speed, so will always be a question deep. Overall, he’s a better player than athlete this was a poor CB class for me and with so many already off the board, then in the context of the class I think this value is good enough.
 
5b. Mark Legree FS Appalachian State. Legree missed the chance to push his stock up when he missed the Florida game with injury. He was very productive in college, but I must admit I wasn’t impressed with him in the Villanova game where in man coverage against Matt Szczur he was beaten for a long TD. He had a good Combine workout though and does have upside but with Earl Thomas at FS, it wouldn’t appear he will ever be a starter in Seattle and although he adds depth and special teams potential it is a little bit of an odd pick.
 
6. Byron Maxwell CB Clemson. Talking of special teams, Maxwell will upgrade the special teams coverage units instantly as he’s one of the better prospects in that regard. At CB he had his problems, but just about has the speed deep. He missed some time with a turf toe problem in 2010, but I’m sure the Seahawks are happy about him medically. This is a sound pick.
 
7a. Lazarius Livingston – DT LSU. Livingston looks like a tweener to me. He’s only 292 lbs, but doesn’t show a quick first step. He does play bigger than his size, but in reality he’s going to struggle to hold up at the point of attack at his weight. Again, I don’t like this pick.
 
7b. Malcolm Smith OLB USC. Smith will be well known to Coach Carroll and is a role player. He will be a nickel LB and special teams coverage type. He’s only 226 lbs so unless he can bulk up and retain his speed, he’ll be limited but in the pass happy NFL I can live with a nickel LB at this stage in the Draft clearly the Seahawks know what they are getting with this pick.
 
Overall Poor
 
You can’t get away from a shocking first round pick it drags the grade down. Although things recovered with Moffitt and Wright, I don’t like their other picks particularly and after what I thought was a superb Draft last year, this quite simply isn’t. The only area of this Draft I really like is the upgrade in special teams coverage.
 
St. Louis Rams
 
1. Robert Quinn DE North Carolina. Quinn didn’t play in 2010, but despite that he still landed up here, which doesn’t send the best message out to college players who are offered something from an agent. Quinn also has medical concerns, he has a benign brain tumour which has to be checked every year and there is some risk that the cancer could become an issue at any point down the road, although no matter one’s opinion of the kid and the pick I’m sure we can all agree we hope this isn’t the case. Quinn right now might only be a situational pass rusher he flashed top ability off the edge in 2009 but crucially against better opposition he struggled more. He gets washed upfield a little too easily in the run game and will need to get stronger at the point of attack. However, he does have the potential to be a 10+ sacks a year kind of guy and that’s why the Rams pulled the trigger. He can see time rushing the passer right away and may have some success with his natural speed, but does need work and thus there is risk he could be another Derrick Harvey.
 
2. Lance Kendricks TE Wisconsin. Kendricks was someone who was one of the more interesting guys to lookout for on Draft day. He’s only 243 lbs, so is limited size wise as a blocker although he does give good effort. In past years I think he would have been a third day pick but with the NFL shifting to more spread type looks, the two way TE is tough to find. The Rams have Billy Bajema as a blocker, so can get away with Kendricks as a HB. I know some will pan the value, but I like it Kendricks is a very good receiver and I think will give Sam Bradford a fine weapon.
 
3. Austin Pettis WR Boise State. Talking of interesting types, here’s another in Pettis who ran a 4.5 40 at the Combine and thus you would think would be a fifth round pick at best. However, here he is in the third round, so again value will be questioned by some. I thought Pettis was poor against Nevada this year and that clouded my opinion. When I wrote my final WR rankings, I stepped back to see the bigger picture and saw someone who was generally reliable with his hands. He ran the best shuttle time at the Combine and coupled with his ability running routes (he actually comes back for the ball which in itself creates separation) I think he has enough to become a very good possession receiver.
 
4. Greg Salas WR Hawaii. Salas was very productive in Hawaii’s pass first offense. The offense requires the WR’s to read coverages and run their routes off of that so he’s actually ahead of others in that regard. Like Pettis he’s not the best athlete in the world, but he has very good hands and I really like him as a slot receiver. Salas also ran a 4.5 40 time at the Combine, so again value may be criticised by some but he just has a certain something about him and I think he’ll be a fine slot WR.
 
5. Jermale Hines SS Ohio State. Hines played FS in college, but a lack of speed and struggles in man coverage, mean he’s an in the box pro Safety. Overall, despite his limitations, I like Hines as a prospect and I think the value at this point is sound. He’s a good tackler and has a nose for the ball he’ll certainly help on special teams coverage units, but I think he can be more down the road.
 
7a. Mikail Baker CB Baylor. Baker is a raw CB who is basically a speed pick after running a fast 40 time at his Pro Day (low 4.4’s). He has experience returning kicks, which adds to his value but did miss two years due to injury, so is a medical risk. He’s a converted WR who only played CB for one season so right now has much to learn and unless he looks good returning kicks, I think will struggle to make the final roster.
 
7b. Jabara Williams OLB Stephen F. Austin. Williams is a small school MLB who at 228 lbs project to a nickel LB role. From my tape study I found even at a lower level he struggled to get off blocks and fooled on misdirection plays. However, he has good speed and will upgrade special teams coverage units and is actually a similar pick to the Seahawks Malcolm Smith although in comparison I prefer Smith.
 
7. Jonathan Nelson CB/S Oklahoma. Nelson has experience at CB and Safety but his mid 4.5 40 time at his Pro Day means he’s more of a pro Safety prospect. He had some negative plays this year struggling in man coverage and at times not wrapping. However, on the plus side he was fairly active at Safety and like Williams should upgrade things on special teams.
 
Overall – Good
 
The Rams missed out on A.J. Green or Julio Jones but they still came away with some nice new weapons to help Sam Bradford. I’m not the biggest fan of the three seventh round picks though they upgrade special teams, but there were still better players on the board for me this is the thing that drags the grade down a little. I’m sure the class will be panned as lacking any kind of value by traditional Draft analysts but it’s full of players I like, so simply put comes out with a good grade.