Mat'hir Uth Gan
11-15-2005, 01:37 PM
Full Name: Rufus Alexander School: Oklahoma
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 220 40: 4.63 Yr: 4Jr
Pos: Speedy linebacker who stands out in pursuit. Immediately diagnoses the action, displays quickness in all areas of the game and makes a lot of plays laterally. Tough in run defense and flashes on the scene. Slips blocks and covers a tremendous amount of area on the field. Solid backpedal in coverage.
Neg: Handled at the point and does a lot of running around blocks rather than meeting opponents head-on.
Analysis: A solid weak side defender for the next level, Alexander is a high revving, intense linebacker. Always working to make positive plays, he's best suited for a system which allows him to freely flow to the action.
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Full Name: Jon Alston School: Stanford
Ht: 6-0.5 Wt: 215 40: 4.65 Yr: 4Sr
Pos: Outstanding athlete who plays with great explosion and speed. Fast off the edge, quickly changes direction and loses no momentum altering his angle of attack. Easily runs with tight ends or backs in coverage. Outstanding in pursuit and covers a great amount of area on the field. Deceptively strong and holds his ground against blocks.
Neg: Not instinctive or decisive. Does not always play with great balance or body control. Smothered at the point by large opponents.
Analysis: A linebacker in a strong safety's body, Alston is a terrific athlete slowly progressing on the field. May be limited to the number of schemes he’ll be effective in at the next level but the speed and explosion are enticing.
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Full Name: Brandon Archer School: Kansas State
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 223 40: 4.71 Yr: 4Jr
Pos: Undersized yet explosive linebacker outstanding in pursuit. Tenacious, quickly fills gaps up the field and fast to the sidelines. Breaks down well, effective in space and rarely off his feet. Solid job reading and diagnosing the action.
Neg: Not efficient and over pursues the action. Small and slow shedding blocks.
Analysis: A developing NFL prospect, Archer offers a lot of speed and explosion for the next level. Size limitations reduce the number of schemes he would be effective in yet has starting potential in the right system.
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Full Name: H.B. Blades School: Pittsburgh
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 238 40: 4.68 Yr: 3Jr
Pos: Fluid linebacker with a good feel for the game. Diagnoses the action, stays with assignments and disciplined throughout the play. Scrapes laterally making plays out to the sidelines and gets depth on drops. Possesses a good feel for coverage. Quickly fills gaps and tough in run defense.
Neg: Not a flashy or sudden defender. Suffering with minor injuries this year.
Analysis: Possessing solid size, instincts and football bloodlines, Blades is a good prospect at weak side linebacker.
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Full Name: Bobby Carpenter School: Ohio State
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 254 40: 4.61 Yr: 4Sr
Pos: Athletic defender with outstanding size\speed numbers. Instinctive, diagnoses the action and quick to key the play. Efficient, takes proper angles and works to get involved. Constantly puts himself in a position to make plays on the ball. Gets adequate depth in coverage.
Neg: Does not always play to his timed speed. Must develop more moves shedding blocks.
Analysis: Possessing first-round computer numbers, Carpenter is beginning to improve his production on the football field and meet the expectations placed upon him. Offers great upside for the next level and has the ability to develop into an NFL starter.
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Full Name: Will Derting School: Washington State
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 230 40: 4.68 Yr: 5Sr
Pos: Versatile defender who can be used at a variety of linebacker positions. Quick diagnosing the action, displays a good head for the ball and scrapes laterally to make the tackle. Works to get off blocks and slides off opponents. Effective in pursuit and gets depth on drops. Good speed to the sidelines and cuts off the flanks from running backs.
Neg: Undersized and slowed through the trash. Not strong at the point and has trouble bringing opponents down on initial contact.
Analysis: A high motor player who gives top effort, size limitations will push Derting into the late rounds next April. Has possibilities as an inside linebacker in a 34 defense or could be used on the weak side in a conventional system.
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Full Name: Omar Gaither School: Tennessee
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 235 40: 4.78 Yr: 4Sr
Pos: Athletic linebacker who makes plays sideline-to-sideline. Quick to the flanks, runs with tight ends in coverage and displays excellent range. Does a fine job slipping potential blocks on his way to the action.
Neg: Not strong at the point and slow to shed once engaged at the point.
Analysis: Showing good promise last season as a junior, Gaither has adequate size\speed numbers for the next level yet must polish his game.
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Full Name: Chad Greenway School: Iowa
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 243 40: 4.50 Yr: 5Sr
Pos: Productive four-year starter with an outstanding head for the game. Disciplined, quick to diagnose and displays a sixth sense on the football field. Effectively uses hand technique to defeat blocks, collapses from the outside defending the run and gets depth on pass drops. Plays with good pad level and consistently puts himself in a position to make a play on the ball. Efficient, takes good angles to the action and wraps up ball handlers. Effectively placed over slot receivers and does a solid job in coverage.
Neg: Lacks great speed to the flanks. Does not always play under control.
Analysis: Combining outstanding size\speed numbers and football instincts, Greenway offers terrific potential at a number of linebacker spots. Plays with a good motor and will be an asset to any team in the NFL.
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Full Name: Spencer Havner School: UCLA
Ht: 6-3.5 Wt: 235 40: 4.65 Yr: 5Sr
Pos: Athletic prospect with top size\speed numbers. Aggressive in run defense, displays a good head for the ball and constantly around the play. Squares and wraps up tackling. Diagnoses plays as they unfold and takes good angles to the action. Scrapes well to the sidelines. Plays with forward lean and tough knock off his feet.
Neg: Does not always play to his computer numbers. Struggles in coverage, marginal skills in pursuit and does not show speed to the flanks. Has a history of injuries.
Analysis: A smart linebacker, Havner sometimes looks better than he plays. Must pull the pieces together and become the complete package to have any shot of developing into a starter at the next level.
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Full Name: A.J. Hawk School: Ohio State
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 243 40: 4.51 Yr: 4Sr
Pos: Explosive linebacker who plays with the a great degree of suddenness. Aggressive, always working to get involved in the action and goes for the knockout blow. Creates havoc firing up the field on the blitz. Intense and never stops. Squares and wraps up at the point of attack. Sacrifices his body in order to make the tackle. Outstanding first step quickness. Instinctive, diagnoses the action and constantly around the ball. Effective playing over tight ends in coverage. Slides outside\in defending the run or scrapes in the box and gets to the ball handler. Adequate hands making the interception.
Neg: Lacks great body control and does not immediately alter his angle of attack. Marginal height, which may pose a problem at the next level.
Analysis: Possessing outstanding intensity, work ethic and football instincts, Hawk would be effective in a variety of defensive schemes in the NFL. Needs to polish the rough edges of his game yet a first round choice who should produce as a rookie.
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Full Name: Thomas Howard School: UTEP
Ht: 6-2.5 Wt: 230 40: 4.48 Yr: 5Sr
Pos: Undersized linebacker outstanding in pursuit or coverage. Displays a burst of speed, excellent range and easily runs downfield with fast tight ends. Quick footed moving laterally, effective in space and flashes on the scene. Immediately changes direction or alters his angle of attack.
Neg: Easily removed from the action by opposing tight ends. Not strong and has tackles broken. Does not always play with a great degree of efficiency.
Analysis: A solid weak side linebacker for the next level, Howard is a terrific athlete that can be used in a variety of systems. Needs to brush off the rough edges of his game yet a first day pick next April.
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 220 40: 4.63 Yr: 4Jr
Pos: Speedy linebacker who stands out in pursuit. Immediately diagnoses the action, displays quickness in all areas of the game and makes a lot of plays laterally. Tough in run defense and flashes on the scene. Slips blocks and covers a tremendous amount of area on the field. Solid backpedal in coverage.
Neg: Handled at the point and does a lot of running around blocks rather than meeting opponents head-on.
Analysis: A solid weak side defender for the next level, Alexander is a high revving, intense linebacker. Always working to make positive plays, he's best suited for a system which allows him to freely flow to the action.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Full Name: Jon Alston School: Stanford
Ht: 6-0.5 Wt: 215 40: 4.65 Yr: 4Sr
Pos: Outstanding athlete who plays with great explosion and speed. Fast off the edge, quickly changes direction and loses no momentum altering his angle of attack. Easily runs with tight ends or backs in coverage. Outstanding in pursuit and covers a great amount of area on the field. Deceptively strong and holds his ground against blocks.
Neg: Not instinctive or decisive. Does not always play with great balance or body control. Smothered at the point by large opponents.
Analysis: A linebacker in a strong safety's body, Alston is a terrific athlete slowly progressing on the field. May be limited to the number of schemes he’ll be effective in at the next level but the speed and explosion are enticing.
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Full Name: Brandon Archer School: Kansas State
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 223 40: 4.71 Yr: 4Jr
Pos: Undersized yet explosive linebacker outstanding in pursuit. Tenacious, quickly fills gaps up the field and fast to the sidelines. Breaks down well, effective in space and rarely off his feet. Solid job reading and diagnosing the action.
Neg: Not efficient and over pursues the action. Small and slow shedding blocks.
Analysis: A developing NFL prospect, Archer offers a lot of speed and explosion for the next level. Size limitations reduce the number of schemes he would be effective in yet has starting potential in the right system.
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Full Name: H.B. Blades School: Pittsburgh
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 238 40: 4.68 Yr: 3Jr
Pos: Fluid linebacker with a good feel for the game. Diagnoses the action, stays with assignments and disciplined throughout the play. Scrapes laterally making plays out to the sidelines and gets depth on drops. Possesses a good feel for coverage. Quickly fills gaps and tough in run defense.
Neg: Not a flashy or sudden defender. Suffering with minor injuries this year.
Analysis: Possessing solid size, instincts and football bloodlines, Blades is a good prospect at weak side linebacker.
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Full Name: Bobby Carpenter School: Ohio State
Ht: 6-3 Wt: 254 40: 4.61 Yr: 4Sr
Pos: Athletic defender with outstanding size\speed numbers. Instinctive, diagnoses the action and quick to key the play. Efficient, takes proper angles and works to get involved. Constantly puts himself in a position to make plays on the ball. Gets adequate depth in coverage.
Neg: Does not always play to his timed speed. Must develop more moves shedding blocks.
Analysis: Possessing first-round computer numbers, Carpenter is beginning to improve his production on the football field and meet the expectations placed upon him. Offers great upside for the next level and has the ability to develop into an NFL starter.
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Full Name: Will Derting School: Washington State
Ht: 6-0 Wt: 230 40: 4.68 Yr: 5Sr
Pos: Versatile defender who can be used at a variety of linebacker positions. Quick diagnosing the action, displays a good head for the ball and scrapes laterally to make the tackle. Works to get off blocks and slides off opponents. Effective in pursuit and gets depth on drops. Good speed to the sidelines and cuts off the flanks from running backs.
Neg: Undersized and slowed through the trash. Not strong at the point and has trouble bringing opponents down on initial contact.
Analysis: A high motor player who gives top effort, size limitations will push Derting into the late rounds next April. Has possibilities as an inside linebacker in a 34 defense or could be used on the weak side in a conventional system.
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Full Name: Omar Gaither School: Tennessee
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 235 40: 4.78 Yr: 4Sr
Pos: Athletic linebacker who makes plays sideline-to-sideline. Quick to the flanks, runs with tight ends in coverage and displays excellent range. Does a fine job slipping potential blocks on his way to the action.
Neg: Not strong at the point and slow to shed once engaged at the point.
Analysis: Showing good promise last season as a junior, Gaither has adequate size\speed numbers for the next level yet must polish his game.
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Full Name: Chad Greenway School: Iowa
Ht: 6-2 Wt: 243 40: 4.50 Yr: 5Sr
Pos: Productive four-year starter with an outstanding head for the game. Disciplined, quick to diagnose and displays a sixth sense on the football field. Effectively uses hand technique to defeat blocks, collapses from the outside defending the run and gets depth on pass drops. Plays with good pad level and consistently puts himself in a position to make a play on the ball. Efficient, takes good angles to the action and wraps up ball handlers. Effectively placed over slot receivers and does a solid job in coverage.
Neg: Lacks great speed to the flanks. Does not always play under control.
Analysis: Combining outstanding size\speed numbers and football instincts, Greenway offers terrific potential at a number of linebacker spots. Plays with a good motor and will be an asset to any team in the NFL.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Full Name: Spencer Havner School: UCLA
Ht: 6-3.5 Wt: 235 40: 4.65 Yr: 5Sr
Pos: Athletic prospect with top size\speed numbers. Aggressive in run defense, displays a good head for the ball and constantly around the play. Squares and wraps up tackling. Diagnoses plays as they unfold and takes good angles to the action. Scrapes well to the sidelines. Plays with forward lean and tough knock off his feet.
Neg: Does not always play to his computer numbers. Struggles in coverage, marginal skills in pursuit and does not show speed to the flanks. Has a history of injuries.
Analysis: A smart linebacker, Havner sometimes looks better than he plays. Must pull the pieces together and become the complete package to have any shot of developing into a starter at the next level.
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Full Name: A.J. Hawk School: Ohio State
Ht: 6-1 Wt: 243 40: 4.51 Yr: 4Sr
Pos: Explosive linebacker who plays with the a great degree of suddenness. Aggressive, always working to get involved in the action and goes for the knockout blow. Creates havoc firing up the field on the blitz. Intense and never stops. Squares and wraps up at the point of attack. Sacrifices his body in order to make the tackle. Outstanding first step quickness. Instinctive, diagnoses the action and constantly around the ball. Effective playing over tight ends in coverage. Slides outside\in defending the run or scrapes in the box and gets to the ball handler. Adequate hands making the interception.
Neg: Lacks great body control and does not immediately alter his angle of attack. Marginal height, which may pose a problem at the next level.
Analysis: Possessing outstanding intensity, work ethic and football instincts, Hawk would be effective in a variety of defensive schemes in the NFL. Needs to polish the rough edges of his game yet a first round choice who should produce as a rookie.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Full Name: Thomas Howard School: UTEP
Ht: 6-2.5 Wt: 230 40: 4.48 Yr: 5Sr
Pos: Undersized linebacker outstanding in pursuit or coverage. Displays a burst of speed, excellent range and easily runs downfield with fast tight ends. Quick footed moving laterally, effective in space and flashes on the scene. Immediately changes direction or alters his angle of attack.
Neg: Easily removed from the action by opposing tight ends. Not strong and has tackles broken. Does not always play with a great degree of efficiency.
Analysis: A solid weak side linebacker for the next level, Howard is a terrific athlete that can be used in a variety of systems. Needs to brush off the rough edges of his game yet a first day pick next April.