Defensive Tackle/3-4 Defensive End

Texas

6-3 305

40 time: 4.85

Draft board overall prospect rank: #46

Draft board 3-4 defensive end rank: #8

Overall rating: 78*

            4/8/10: LaMarr Houston burst onto the scene this year as the best defender on Texas’ underrated defense. Colt McCoy and Texas’ offense was the flash, but their defense has several unknown and underrated defenders and, unbeknownst to the common football fan, will be solid starters at the next level and Houston leads that pack. He was known mostly as a run stopper before this year, playing that 4-3 nose tackle position for the Longhorns, but he stepped up in a huge way with the pass rush this year with 7 sacks, though you have to wonder about the whole one year wonder thing. Houston fits that mold and I like to see players who have at all too good years before I would feel extremely comfortable using a 2^nd rounder or higher on them. Houston’s physicality and fitness show that he should be able to keep this up, but I’m not sure if he’ll ever be an elite pass rusher at the next level. His agility and pass rushing moves do not suggest that he will be, though the numbers in his past say otherwise. His leverage is good, but his hand usage needs improve as does his bull rush. He doesn’t have long arms and might not fit perfectly into a 3-4 because he’s a bit undersized height wise. He plays out of control sometimes and is not a great fundamental tackler. If you take away the 7 sacks he had this year, he might not get drafted, which worries me, but even if he’s not an elite pass rusher at the next level, his strength and physicality against the run should keep him alive as a starter in the NFL. I’d say he’s worth a 2^nd rounder.

NFL Comparison: Marcus Spears

*=For a breakdown of what this means, click here

 

Running Back

Miami

5-11 212

Draft board overall prospect rank: #59

Draft board overall running back rank: #4

Overall rating: 74 (3^rd round)

40 time: 4.38

Games watched: Ohio State/Miami, Miami/Virginia Tech, Miami/Virginia, Miami/Florida State, Miami/Duke, Miami/South Florida

Positives

·         Incredibly fast

·         Excellent 40 (4.38)

·         Incredibly explosive

·         Deadly in space

·         Elite homerun hitter speed

·         Good patience

·         Shifty and breaks tackles

·         Solid size (5-11 212)

·         Strong 2011 season (227 yards for 1272 yards and 9 touchdowns)

·         Tough – played through injury in 2011

·         Very athletic

·         Still young (turns 21 the day before the draft)

·         Some kickoff return experience

·         Minimal tread on tires (335 carries)

Negatives

·         Not a great between the tackles runner

·         Not a great short yardage runner

·         Doesn’t play as big as his size

·         Runs a little upright

·         Unrefined as a pass catcher and pass blocker (only 17 catches this season)

·         Struggles early in games (often would split carries evenly with the inferior Mike James for a quarter or two)

·         Inexperienced (one year starter and a redshirt sophomore)

·         Still very raw

·         Inconsistent

·         Durability?

·         Struggled down the stretch (under 100 yards in 5 of last 7)

·         Lack of positional value

NFL Comparison: Felix Jones

Lamar Miller is one of the youngest players in this draft class. He won’t turn 21 until April 25^th, the day before the first day of the NFL Draft. He’s also one of the most inexperienced. He only had 335 carries at Miami and was only a starter for one season. The minimal tread on his tires can be seen as a good thing in NFL draft circles, given how short running backs’ shelf lives can be, but there’s a point where a player is too inexperienced. Miller, just a redshirt sophomore, is very raw, but still very raw and inexperienced.

He definitely flashes on tape and he’s deadly in space. He’s incredibly explosive and shifty with great vision and straight line speed (his 4.38 40 was one of the best at The Combine). However, he’s still unrefined as a between the tackles runner and had a couple “clunker” games last season (16/29 against North Carolina, 20/50 against South Florida). He’s also very raw as a pass catcher and pass protector, catching just 17 balls this season and struggling on the rare occasion he’s been asked to block. He needs to become a more powerful runner as well and he doesn’t play as big as his size.

As an NFL prospect, I compare him to Felix Jones. He and Jones have similar size and speed (5-10 207 4.47) and similar games. Jones went in the first round and while Miller may have been given a first round grade by the NFL Draft advisory board, he probably won’t go there. He said he wouldn’t declare unless he was given a first round grade, but he may have changed his mind and declared anyway. Those grades are supposed to be private and no one knows what he was given.

Jones was given a chance to be the lead back in Dallas on several occasions, but never took advantage. He’s going into 2012 as a part of a tandem with DeMarco Murray, which is his best fit. Likewise, Miller will be best as part of a tandem at the next level. He’s explosive, but I have concerns about his power, durability, and blocking. He’ll probably be a 2^nd round pick.

Miller is going to be compared with David Wilson often during the draft process. Both look like 2^nd round picks and both ACC backs have similar games and backgrounds. Both are explosive, open field backs with one year of starting experience and trouble running between the tackles. I have Wilson higher because he was more productive this season, he runs harder, and he’s a better pass catcher/blocker. Miller is bigger though and should be more durable at the next level. He also didn’t have as many fumbles as Wilson did this year and he’s younger and probably has more upside.

Still, I like Wilson barely over Miller. Both are borderline 2^nd/3^rd round prospects in my book, given the low value of the running back position. Miller will come off the board at any point after Richardson, Martin, and Wilson. Richardson and Martin are the 3 down backs, Wilson and Miller the explosive tandem backs, and Chris Polk (who is think is underrated), is the unspectacular back who I think can be a 3 down back at the next level. Interested teams for Miller will include St. Louis, NY Jets, Detroit, Denver, San Diego, Cincinnati, and Cleveland. 

 

 

LT comes to the Jets to replace Thomas Jones, begging the question, was this necessary? Thomas Jones was the 3^rd leading rusher in the league last year and he only one year older than LT and he got paid 5 million over 2 years to go to the Chiefs after the Jets cut him. Now the Jets pay roughly the same amount, slightly more, to LT who averaged 3.3 YPC last year. Granted, he was running behind a horrible offensive line, but why would the Jets sign a worse and only slightly younger running back to replace Jones, who they could have had for the same price if not cheaper. LT could turn around him career behind a drastically better line in New York, but I doubt he’ll be anything like what Jones could have been. The only possible reason I could think of LT being better than Jones for the Jets is if Jones refused to take a secondary role to Shonn Greene and LT was fine with this. I do find that a bit hard to believe though, considering LT said himself that he still considers himself a feature back.

Grade: C

 

Cornerback 

Boise State

5-10 194

40 time: 4.43

Draft board overall prospect rank: #27

Draft board cornerback rank: #2

Overall rating: 84*

 3/2/10: He didn’t run, but he didn’t need to. First he benched 25 reps of 225 pounds at 5-10 194. Then he ended his day by being, by far, the most impressive cornerback in the drills. If his 40 time is under 4.5 at his Pro Day, which it should be, he could be a first round pick lock.

1/30/10: Another impressive cornerback, Wilson has shown once again why, before his disappointing senior year, he was a possible 1st round pick. He has probably brought himself back into 2nd round contention with his good Senior Bowl week.  

1/23/10: He had a bit of a down year this year which hurts because his athleticism at 5-10 185 doesn’t jump off the page and that could drop him to the 3^rd round in a strong cornerback class. However, he projects as a nice nickel back with the potential to be a #2 corner at the next level. He also is a good punt returner.

            9/7/09: Kyle Wilson is a top cornerback prospect heading into the 2010 NFL draft and one of the best examples of the type of great athletes and great football players that once small name Boise State has recruited over the past few years. He’s excellent in man coverage and is always around the ball, making big plays. He had 5 picks and 10 pass deflections last season, but he also showed his quickness and agility as one of college football’s elite punt returners. He’ll be a two-in-one package for NFL teams who draft him. He’s faster than his 40 time indicates and always seems to make a big play. He doesn’t play against as weak of competition as you would think. Yes, he plays in the WAC, which is a good, though admittedly not great conference, but Boise State is becoming a marquee matchup for BCS conference teams so in non-conference play, Wilson faces a lot of high level teams and his dominance in the defensive backfield against these teams shows that he is able to translate to the cornerback position in the NFL. He’s not a hard tackler and is a liability against the run. He doesn’t have elite high, hops, or arm length, so he’s not going to win a ton of jump ball matchups, which hurts. Even if you are great in man coverage if you’re losing those one-on-one matchups which hurts a little. That being, said 5-10 is not short. Plenty of cornerbacks have made in the NFL without mad hops or height. His strength is in his deceptiveness and his ability to confuse wide receivers. He may never be a star cornerback, but he’s a very solid player who should be a starter for many years, in addition to his ability as a punt returner.

NFL Comparison: Cortland Finnegan

*=For a breakdown of what this means, click here

 

Kyle Williams is the best nose tackle in the league. He might even be the best defensive tackle period. He’s scheme versatile. He can move outside and play end. He plays every down. He’s an absolute beast against the run  and grades out as the best run stuffer in the league by far last season. He still contributed 5.5 sacks and 29 quarterback pressures as a nose tackle. 6 years 39 million with 17 million guaranteed is an absolute bargain for him.

Grade: A

 

Vanden Bosch only had 7.5 sacks over the last two years, but he’s thrived in Jim Schwartz’ system before when the current Lions head man was a D-Coordinator in Tennessee. He had 12 sacks under him in 2007. 26 million dollars seems like a lot over 4 years for a 31 year old defensive end, but he has a huge motor and he’s a perfect fit for the scheme. I like how the Lions are building in the trenches this offseason (Schwartz definitely following the Titans’ mold) adding Vanden Bosch and Williams to a D-Line that already had Sammie Lee Hill and Cliff Avril. I can’t hate this deal too much.

Grade: B

 

Tight End

Notre Dame

6-6 258

Draft board overall prospect rank: #41

Draft board overall tight end rank: #1

Overall rating: 79 (early 2^nd)

40 time: 4.75

4/11/11: Kyle Rudolph is a first round talent with 7^th round durability. Athletically he is an elite tight end prospect and he certainly flashes on tape, but there’s not a ton of tape on him because of how often he is hurt. Missing 3 games with a shoulder injury as a sophomore, he caught 33 passes for 364 yards and 3 touchdowns. He missed 7 games this year with a hamstring problem and caught 28 passes for 328 yards and 3 touchdowns.

He’s a strong route runner with good mobility and excellent size. He has soft hands and guys tend to get out of his way when he has a head of steam in the open field. His blocking needs to get a little better, but he has the size and strength to be a good blocker. His problem is technique. He’s a vertical threat as well and a very good end zone threat. He’s close to the complete package at tight end, but he needs to stay healthy.

If teams weren’t scared by his injury problems, he’d probably go in the first round. However, even though he proved he is over his recent hamstring injury at his Pro Day, teams are still afraid of his injury red flags. If a guy can’t stay healthy when he’s this young, it doesn’t bode well for his future. He’ll probably go off the board in the top half of the 2^nd round, sometime in the first 50 or so picks.

NFL Comparison: Rob Gronkowski

 

 

Kosier turns 33 this season and he dealt with some injuries last year, but the Cowboys almost needed to do this. After cutting Leonard Davis (a necessary cap cutting move) they were very thin at guard and they got Kosier at a cheap rate, 3 million per year for 3 years. As long as he doesn’t get badly injured, I can’t see this contract going badly or anything.

Grade: A

 

 

Offensive Tackle

Iowa

6-6 323

40 time: 5.51

Draft board overall prospect rank: #98

Draft board offensive tackle rank: #11

Overall rating: 70*

            3/29/10: Bryan Bulaga is the most talked about Iowa offensive tackle, but let’s not forget about his talented bookend right tackle, Kyle Calloway. The whole idea that he has character issues I think is wrong. Yes, he did get a DUI last March, but I think that was one isolated stupid incident, plus it was on a moped. Though I do not condone drunk driver (or mopeding), as a count, I can’t really count that against him. On the field, and when it’s football time, he’s as high character as they come, and, for a scout, that is the more important thing. He is not extremely naturally athletic, but he’s a very good self made athlete with a strong work ethic. His motor is always running as a player and he’s a very strong, dominant, powerful mauling run blocker. He is a nasty run blocker and loves to knock defensive linemen on their ass. He is a scary guy to have to face because of his size, his attitude, and the intensity he plays with. He has played left guard before, as well as left tackle, but I can’t see him on the left side at the next level because he’s not that good of a pass protector. He can play a bit out of control and unbalanced as a pass blocker and he doesn’t have good lateral agility or athleticism to keep up with much faster defensive linemen. I think, at worst, he’s a starting guard at the next level, but I could see him being a solid starting right tackle in the league, as a high motor, football loving, mauling right tackle.

NFL Comparison: Kevin Schaffer

*=For a breakdown of what this means, click here

 

With a large chunk of the Green Bay Packers’ defense lost to season-ending injuries (eight players now on IR) or game-to-game unavailability, the abilities of defensive coordinator Dom Capers have certainly been put to the test. Perhaps, as he even alludes, more than ever in his 25-year career in the NFL. 

The fact that his defense was able to do what it did against the ViQueens last Sunday night is a testament to Capers and his assistants. When you look at who he had available to play the defensive line, as well as all the other make-dos he’s had to make do with through the first seven games of the season, well, Capers seems to be holding the Packers “D” together in a very MacGyver-esque fashion. How long he can keep it working remains to be seen. With most of the key injuries on the defensive side of the roster, the fact remains that it has primarily been the misfirings of the Packers’ offense and special teams, more so than the patchwork defense, that has led to the Pack’s three losses.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has a great article about Capers and the defensive challenges he’s facing. It’s a great read for any fan of the Pack and, for that matter, any fan of football. Check it out.

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