Combine Winners

Ndamukong Suh (NFL.com)

Bruce Campbell

Just a dominant overall performance by Campbell.  He looked fantastic in every drill on Saturday.  Did his workout catch the eye of Al Davis and the offensive tackle-hungry Oakland Raiders?

Ndamukong Suh

Talk about nimble…. Suh was like a dancing bear. It was absolutely evident that he was prepared to compete at the Combine.  32 reps on the bench could be a key factor in separating himself from Gerald McCoy who only had 23 reps.

Taylor Mays

NFL scouts in attendance said that Mays’ actual clocked time in the 40 was closer to the 4.24 than his official time of 4.43.  He was nearly as fast as advertised.

Jerry Hughes

Strength still a concern for Hughes, but there will be no questions about his athleticism and ability to transition to 3-4 OLB at the next level after putting on a display in agility during drills.

Eric Berry

Came in bigger and stronger than expected. His drills were very clean, and he ran a fast 4.47  in the 40, coupled with an amazing 43 inch vertical.

Trent Williams

Superb speed (4.88 sec) and fantastic footwork firmly plants Williams within the top 10 of the Draft.  The doubts concerning his height were squashed, too.  He is a solid 6′4” plus change.

Sam Bradford

Bradford has to be on this list, even though he didn’t work out.  He checked out medically, which means he is again a serious contender for the #1 overall pick.

Jahvid Best

Best ran the fastest 40 time of all the running backs (4.35 sec).  That is always a momentum shifter.

Jacoby Ford

Fastest man at the combine (4.28 sec) will catch the eye of evaluators.  Speed causes teams to overlook a multitude of flaws.

Dorin Dickerson

The Pittsburgh prospect was better than Jared Cook last year. Dickerson was the top tight end performer in the 40-yard dash (4.40 sec), broad jump (10′10”) and vertical leap (43 inch). He also posted great marks in the bench press ( 24 reps), 3-cone drill, and 20-yard shuttle.  Teams will be very intrigued by his athleticism.

Devin McCourty

Of all the defensive backs, McCourty looked the smoothest in drills. His strong suit is fluidity in his transition and breaks on the ball.  He made himself some money on Tuesday.

Ryan Matthews

An very good overall, especially for a big running back (6′0,” 218 lbs.) workout might have been enough to push Matthews into the 1st round.  He ran a fast 4.45 in the 40, and was a top performer in the vertical leap, 20-yard shuttle, and bench press.

Combine Losers

Joe Haden (NFL.com)

Joe Haden

His slow 40 time (somewhere around 4.58-4.62) shocked me.  His tape is fantastic, but he has to answer the speed questions to maintain top corner status.

Rolando McClain

Was the pulled hamstring a ploy?  Probably not, but I wanted to see McClain answer questions I have about his speed.

Carlos Dunlap

This was supposed to be his time to shine. But his workout was very average. He looked clumsy when moving laterally, and his straight line speed wasn’t near what was expected.

Dez Bryant

I want to know why he didn’t work out.

Anthony Davis

Concerns about his work ethic were confirmed by his lack of preparation.  Apparently, he looked soft in the middle, and his 23 bench press reps were not impressive for a man of his size.

Donovan Warren

An unofficial 4.58 sec in the 40 isn’t great for a cornerback. Warren wasn’t a top performer in any category.

Brandon Spikes

Another one of those guys who didn’t run for one reason or another.  This raises a red flag regarding his timed speed.  We know he is a great football player, but we wanted to see how good an athlete he is.

Dan LeFevour

No good reason given for not throwing.  Thes4e quarterbacks don’t seem to understand that scouts only want to see their footwork and delivery. Accuracy really doesn’t matter at the combine.

Rich Eisen

Good ol’ Rich…. I thought maybe this would be the year he broke 6.0 in the 40. Guess we will have to wait until next year. Hopefull, he will wear better exercise clothes than a suit next time.

Related posts:

1. 2010 NFL Combine Recap: Saturday
2. 2010 NFL Combine Preview

Bruce Campbell running 40-yard dash (NFL.com)

Saturday marked the beginning of position workouts for the 2010 NFL Combine. The first day is dedicated to the offensive linemen and tight ends, who undergo a series of positional drills in addition to the standard athletic tests (40 yard dash, bench press, etc).  Although there were over 50 players working out, all eyes were on a Bruce Campbell, OT from the University of Maryland.

His workout numbers:

Mike Mayock went on record as saying Campbell is “the best looking offensive tackle [he has] ever seen in person in [his] life.” At the weigh-in, he was 6′6 and was a svelte 314 pounds.

Not only did he look the part in the standard drills, but Bruce shined in positional work as well.  In the kick slide drill, which is used to test the player’s ability to slide in pass protection, Campbell looked very smooth and explosive out of his stance. And in the mirror drill, he also showed off his good reaction skills and lateral movement.

If you missed his workout, watch the recap here.

Other Notable Performers

Besides Campbell, several other players stood out-some for good reasons, others for bad.  Oklahoma Sooner Trent Williams showed he can run with the best of them, putting up a 4.88 sec 40 yard dash. He also looked very capable in the position drills.  Unfortunately, he failed to live up to expectations on the bench press ( 23 reps).

Pittsburgh TE Dorin Dickerson ran a blazing 4.40 in the 40 yard dash, and leaped an amazing 43 inches in the vertical.

Texas Tech OG Brandon Carter looked very out of place today. He showed up out of shape, and looked very awkward in all the drills.  His lack of lateral mobility was exposed several times, and was caught lunging from the waist in the kick slide drill.

Iowa OL Kyle Calloway also didn’t look good.  He was all-around sluggish and couldn’t move well.

Idaho OG Mike Iupati struggled in agility drills. He did nothing to convince teams that he can play tackle at the next level.

Related posts:

1. 2010 NFL Combine Final Results
2. NFL Combine Results: February 23

Although there is no change at the top of the draft, there are some surprises including a top player getting pushed out of the top 10.

So feel free to check it out and let me know what me know what you think!

Click here to view David’s Draft Scenarios/Mock Draft

Also, make sure to watch the Combine coverage, which starts tomorrow at 9 AM eastern time.  Watch it live for free on NFL.com.

Related posts:

1. NFL Combine Coverage
2. Mock Draft Updated

Last year I previewed 10 different players who I thought would have strong performances at the NFL Combine.  It was lots of fun doing that list, so I felt it would be good to carry on the tradition this year. But I want to go a step further, and will prognosticate 5 players who should underwhelm scouts this week.

On an administrative note, I should have another mock draft coming out soon. So, please check back again to see when it’s up.

Top 10 Players To Watch at NFL Combine

NFL Combine (NFL.com)

10) Chad Jones

At 6′3 and 230 pounds, the two-sport star for LSU is the unhyped equivalent of Taylor Mays. I expect him to have a very well balanced performance, impressing scouts with his strength, speed, and explosion.

9) Bruce Campbell

The most impressive offensive line specimen is certainly Bruce Campbell from Maryland. Measuring 6′7 and 310 pounds, Campbell will leave scouts talking about his physique, quick feet, and noteworthy strength on the bench press. With a solid performance, he will be able to distinguish himself as the best OT in the second tier (behind the big four) and a sure-fire 1st round pick.

8 ) Carlos Dunlap

Expected to run in the 4.6 range, Dunlap is as blessed physically(6′6/290 lbs) as any defensive end to come out in the last decade.  The only reason he isn’t ranked higher is that he could really struggle in interviews, which could kill any momentum he might gain in Indy.

7) Sergio Kindle

The Texas star is a fantastic athlete. He takes after his former teammate, Brian Orakpo, except that he is faster, but not as strong.  Don’t be surprised if he runs a low 4.5 40 yard dash.

6) Jason Pierre-Paul

barring a disaster Wonderlic test and interview (which could happen), Jason Pierre-Paul is the athlete on the edge that NFL teams demand. 6′6, 265 lbs, and super long arms will have the scouts salivating. He should run around a 4.6 40 yard dash, and will jump a very high vertical, but will struggle on the bench press because of his long arms.

5) Joe Haden

Basically the defensive version of Percy Harvin,  Joe Haden should post top marks in nearly every category. He is just a freakishly gifted corner. Look out for an especially strong performance in position drills.

4) Brandon Graham

Another Mike Barwis product, Graham has outstanding strength and explosion.  After his performance in Indy, teams will be comparing him to Dwight Freeney, who also dominated at the combine.  I predict 30+  bench reps, and Graham has said he wants to run in the 4.5 range.  His only obstacle might come in linebacker drills.

3) Taylor Mays

Probably the most hyped athlete/football player of the last couple years, Mays will shine in this venue. He will be a top performer in all but the agility drills.

2) Ndamukong Suh

Super strong man Suh will have fantastic interviews, in addition to his expected triumphs on the bench press and in agility drills.  Anything less than 35 reps will surprise me.

1) C.J. Spiller

No player should have more momentum going into the draft if Spiller runs the sub 4.3 40 time that some expect from him. After this week, he will be compared to the young Chris Johnson, who ran a blazing 4.24 two years ago.

Top 5 Players Who Will Underwhelm

5) Rolando McClain

Alabama prospects haven’t done well recently at the Combine.  McClain will have to answer questions about his strength, burst, and range.  A slow time in the 40 will silence talk of him going early in the 1st round.

4) Derrick Morgan

Productivity doesn’t mean a thing at the combine.  Morgan lacks burst, and could be just an average performer.

3) Jimmy Clausen

The weigh-in will make ore break Clausen’s draft chances.  If he measures around 6′1, instead of his listed 6′3, then he could fall  a lot in April.

2) Brandon Spikes

Despite being very strong, Spikes is expected to run around the 5.0 mark in the 40. I don’t need to tell you how much that can hurt his chances of being a 1st round pick.

1) Terrence Cody

After the shirtless fiasco in Mobile, Cody will have done nothing to the change the perception that his is a two-down player.  His long arms will hurt his bench press, and really the only way he could help himself is if he does all the drills to dismiss comparisons to his former teammate Andre Smith.

Take this invitation to post your predictions below. I would love to hear what you have to say!

Related posts:

1. 2010 NFL Combine Final Results
2. 2010 NFL Combine Recap: Saturday

• Height: 5-11
  
• Weight: 190
  
• CB
• Florida

NFL.com

Attribute	Rating
Speed/Acceleration
Ball Skills
Pass Coverage
Run Defense
Agility
Football I.Q
Tackling
Durability

Scouting Report

Joe Haden is the top cornerback prospect of the 2010 NFL Draft. What you get with Haden is an outstanding athlete, and a spunky tackling machine who is unafraid to tangle with much larger opponents. He may not tally 8 INT’s in a season, but his pure coverage skills will help shut down one side of the field.

Expected value: 1st round, Top 15

Speed/Acceleration: Speedy enough to blanket receivers deep.  Drives very hard on the ball and can close in a heartbeat. Shows the excellent recovery speed expected of a #1 corner.

Ball Skills: Haden shows exceptional leaping ability and has keen kinesthetic/body awareness.  Has been very productive using his hands to deflect passes, but hasn’t shown the ability to make the interception away from his body.

Pass Coverage: Because of his athleticism and physical style of play, Haden should be in a scheme that utilizes man coverage, as opposed to the zone.  He lacks the instincts and route recognition skills to jump routes and make plays within the zone.  He can be a bit slow to read and react. Consequently, he loses the step often necessary to intercept the ball. Also, he needs to improve against inside moves, especially in press coverage. Additionally, he must work on rerouting receivers. Can’t afford to come out of his backpedal so quickly.

Run Defense: Contrary to the norm for his position, Haden relishes the chance to throw his weight around in the run game.  He plays with a nasty attitude, although he sometimes gets in over his head and can be bullied by larger receivers.

Agility: Fluid hips, and can change directions with great precision, even among a defensive back’s standards.

Football I.Q:  Lacks elite ball-hawking instincts. Relatively inexperienced as a cornerback since he was a quarterback and receiver in high school. Still learning the finer points of the position. Has upside in this respect.

Tackling: A willing and able tackler, throws his body around in run support, and will try to lay a big hit on the ball carrier. Sometimes gets in over his head and tries to blow up tight ends and will get end up on the ground.

Durability:  Missed only one game due to injury during his career.  Very durable prospect.

Videos for you to watch:

Joe Haden career highlights (made by jadekaipitt1)

Related posts:

1. Player Profile-Rolando McClain
2. Player Profile-Eric Berry

• Height: 6-4
  
• Weight: 258
  
• LB
• Alabama

NFL.com

Attribute	Rating
Speed/Acceleration
Pass Coverage
Run Defense
Strength
Agility
Football I.Q
Tackling
Durability

Scouting Report

As the reigning Butkus Award winner, Rolando McClain is this year’s primo linebacker prospect. He has prototypical size and length for a middle linebacker (and for 3-4 OLB), and his outstanding football intelligence will endear him to any NFL team looking for a leader for their defense. He is a battle-tested prospect, having played for a championship team in the SEC, and offers a low bust factor.

Expected value: mid 1st-round, somewhere between 10 and 20.

Speed/Acceleration: Decent top end speed, but doesn’t have the extra gear to be a true sideline-to-sideline player. Good initial burst off the edge.

Pass Coverage: As a read and react type, he naturally relies on his ability to read the QB’s eyes. Displays clean footwork, and doesn’t have many wasted steps. Athletic enough to cover most tight ends, but should be best in zone coverage, where his instincts are most valued. In terms of pass rushing, McClain has several things going for him.  He times his blitzes well, offers pretty good versatility (can line up inside and out), and he institutes a solid bull rush. His great length allows him to bat down passes at the line of scrimmage.  However, he has limited potential as a 3-4 OLB because he lacks pass rush moves, and doesn’t seem to have that hunter’s mentality desired in pass rushers.

Run Defense: Strong against the run, doesn’t get moved off the ball very easily.  Can stand up against big linemen when he attacks the line.  Elite diagnosis skills in run game, and reacts quickly to all but misdirection plays. Doesn’t take on and shed blockers consistently enough.  Lacks the nasty football demeanor of a true middle linebacker in the NFL, and seldom violently charges with the intention of blowing up a play. Since he shows a tendency to watch the backfield, he can get surprised by oncoming blockers. Needs  to do a better job protecting feet, and can be easily taken out with cut blocks.   Lackluster in pursuit and won’t give full effort when chasing from behind.

Strength: Plays with good leverage, and seems to be strong in both lower and upper body.

Agility:  Usually pretty smooth changing directions, but not an elite athlete in space.

Football I.Q:  Well-versed in a complex college defense run by Nick Saban. Diagnoses plays before the snap, and is more than capable of making pre-snap adjustments.  A cerebral player/ film-room junkie.  Sniffs out screens and reverses. McClain’s ability to read and react gives him a jump on most plays, which makes up for his average speed.  Naturally, should be a defensive captain at the next level.

Tackling:  Adept tackler in space and in closed-quarters. Flashes the ability to deliver a pop and will drive through his hits when he gets a full head of steam. Because of his long arms, once he wraps up, it is difficult to get away from him. Can be caught lunging with a lazy arm tackle.  Not a consistently explosive hitter.

Durability:  Excellent stamina, plays every down on defense.  Managed to stay healthy throughout his college career.

Videos for you to watch:

(Video thanks to CkParrotHead at Universaldraft.com)

Universal Draft Presents LB Rolando McClain of Alabama – Part 2 of 2

Related posts:

1. Player Profile-Eric Berry
2. Player Profile- Joe Haden

Day 1 was a time for players to weigh in, to talk a bit with the media, and to get a little time on the practice field.  Here are the major happenings from Monday:

-Overall, Idaho OL Mike Iupati’s measurables were the most impressive of all the big men (6-5, 325 lbs, 35 inch arm length, and just under 10.5 inch hands). His arm length stood out as longest of any player in attendance.

-Alabama DT Terrence Cody hurt himself by confirming suspicions regarding his weight issues. Although he has the biggest mits of anyone there (11.25 inch), his weight of 370 lbs. will linger in the minds of scouts as cause for serious concern.

-Florida State S  Myron Rolle, after returning from his adventure as a Rhodes Scholar looked in the best shape of virtually any player at the Senior Bowl.

-In the first practice, Wisconsin’s O’Brien Schofield tore his ACL. This is a terrible shame.

- QB Tim Tebow unsurprisingly had difficulty handling snaps under center, and he looked uncomfortable in his drop backs. To consider this week a success, he will have to demonstrate great coachability.

-For unknown reasons, Jerry Hughes, Trent Williams, Brandon LaFell, and Charles Brown did not arrive in Mobile.

For more up-to-date information, I recommend reading NFL.com (they have some videos up) DraftCountdown, Draft Daddy, and Walterfootball.

No related posts.

What most people may not realize is just how little separates these two, a race that may not be concluded until negotiation time, just days before the Draft begins.

So, let’s take a closer look, shall we?

Ndamukong Suh’s rise to the top has been meteoric, to say the least. In August, all but the most astute were aware of the lineman from Nebraska. Seven months later, he is a household name, and the people’s choice for number 1 overall to the St. Louis Rams. His well-deserved reputation in most circles is such that it is quite uncommon to hear someone try to find holes in his game.  I mean think about it, the guy finished the season with 12.5 sacks, and led his team in tackles…as a defensive tackle, for crying out loud! All this led to him earning consensus 1st team All-American honors as well as being invited to the Heisman Trophy award ceremony, which hasn’t honored a defensive lineman this way since Warren Sapp. In addition to this high honor, Suh came away with virtually every other award imaginable: the Lombardi Trophy, Outland Trophy, Bednarik Award, and the distinguished Nagurski Trophy for defensive player of the year.

All the buzz and awards seem to point to the obvious fact that Ndamukong Suh will be the number #1 pick of the draft. The majority of draft sites, including high profile sites like ESPN, NFLdraftscout, and Scout.com consider Suh to be the best defensive lineman available in this draft. But in NFL circles, another name is thought to be more deserving of that spot.

Pro Football Weekly’s draft writer Nolan Nawrocki recently published his evaluation of the top underclassmen in the draft. And although I don’t endorse the order of some of his picks, his reasoning regarding one player in particular is quite intriguing:

1. Oklahoma DT Gerald McCoy — A strong, disruptive, explosive inside rusher who has been dominating the college football scene since he stepped onto the field, McCoy has warranted higher grades from NFL evaluators than Nebraska’s Ndamukong Suh and stands a legitimate chance to be the first overall pick in the NFL draft.

Gerald McCoy earned the respect of scouts early on in his career, to a point where he could have declared for the draft as a redshirt sophomore and still would have been considered a top 15 pick. However, he came back to school to earn his degree, and to improve his abilities for one more year. His production was more modest than Suh’s, recording 6 sacks and 32 tackles this season. He was a finalist for the Lombardi Award and earned 1st or 2nd team All-American depending on which source you look at.

This begs the question, how can Gerald McCoy still be considered a better pro prospect by NFL scouts than Ndamukong Suh? The answer is concealed within the game tape.

First of all, McCoy is viewed as a very polished, true 3-technique penetrator. He is very violent and extremely disruptive, slipping off blocks like water on rock.  He has solid character, works extremely hard, and is surprisingly durable.  And at 6′4, 295 (with a frame to hold more weight) he possesses the wide girth necessary to hold up in the interior. Most importantly, even though he doesn’t always make the big play himself, McCoy affects plays with frightening regularity, which is perhaps the number one reason why scouts love him.

In comparison, Suh is an extremely powerful player with great quickness and superior balance. He has been unblockable at times, even against double teams. Nevertheless, he is viewed as a somewhat raw prospect compared to McCoy because his form of dominance in the college game may not work nearly as well in the pros. His natural abilities are so great that he has been dominant at the college level without having to develop much of a pass rush repertoire. He relies too heavily on his strength, which could cause some problems when trying to acclimate to the pro game. In the NFL, strength alone is almost never enough to make a player great unless you’re a revolutionary player (which Suh could be). The offensive linemen are simply too powerful for a one-trick pony to beat consistently, especially one who weighs less than 300 pounds (and could very well weigh in around 285-290 at the Scouting Combine).  At best, he is going to need some coaching at the next level to learn how to beat linemen in other ways. In the worst case, he might be asked to make a position change to end, where he probably could be a dominant force just like Richard Seymour. If teams believe he can successfully make that position switch, thus playing at a level not unlike Richard Seymour, then his awesome value remains in tact.

I just can’t get that Big 12 Championship game out of my head. Gerald McCoy never was able to single handedly control a game like that.

Suh absolutely took over that game in a way that I have never seen before from an interior lineman. That is the tantalizing upside to which I previously referred.  My only question about that game is whether he can do such a thing consistently at the next level, because those Texas interior linemen had been a weakness for the Longhorns all season.

Ultimately, we have to factor circumstances into why McCoy may be selected over Suh. The first four teams in this draft (St. Louis, Detroit, Tampa Bay, and Washington) all run 4-3 defenses, which seems to favor McCoy. And now that we know the powers that be believe that Gerald McCoy has better realized ability than Ndamukong Suh as a defensive tackle prospect, it seems all is working in his favor right now. Suh’s potential may be greater, but his NFL readiness isn’t near that of McCoy.  And like it or not, that matters in this league. But can a team justifiably pass on potentially the can’t miss player of the decade?  Because that carries some weight, too.

Based on your experience, who is the better  pro prospect and why?

Related posts:

1. Player Profile-Gerald McCoy
2. Draft Scenarios

• Height: 6-4
• Weight: 272
  
• DE
• Georgia Tech

NFL.com

Attribute	Rating
Explosiveness
Pass Rush
Run Defense
Strength
Agility
Football I.Q
Tackling
Durability

Scouting Report

Not an overly impressive athlete, yet he still managed to register 12.5 sacks on his way to earning AP 1st-team All-American honors this season, a testament to his work ethic and team-first mentality. His overall skill set and physique are comparable to Lawrence Jackson, defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks.

Explosiveness: First to fire off the line,  but lacks the speed to consistently beat opposing tackles to the outside. Struggles in pursuit because of questionable top end speed. Doesn’t fire off the line well when standing up. Good motor, and hustles from beginning to end.

Pass Rush: Considered to be one of this year’s most polished pass rush technicians, Morgan brings a nice balance of pass rush moves, flashing the rip, club, spin, and bull rush.  Prefers to line up in a 4 -point stance like Philadelphia Eagles’ DE Trent Cole. Displays ideal pad level, and uses good leverage. Gets his hands in the air to bat down passes at the line. Teams roll protection to his side, and often draws double teams and chip blocks.

Due to his questionable speed, he might never be considered an elite edge rusher in the NFL.  He relies on inside moves too frequently, thus limiting his overall effectiveness.

Run Defense: Understands his role against the run by funneling ball carriers back inside.  Too often lets mauling tackles lock onto him, and push him off the ball. Has the potential to do so, but he needs to get better at disengaging in the run game. Iowa’s TE Tony Moeaki was able to reliably handle Morgan when running the ball to his side. Can be slow to diagnose run plays.

Strength: Very good initial punch, but lacks the strength to continue to press the pocket once blocker decides to anchor. Questionable core strength combined with average speed limits his ability to dip, and he is too often on the ground because of balance issues. I counted at least 7 times during the Bowl game against Iowa where Morgan was taken off his feet because of poor balance. Frame looks close to maxed out.

Agility:  Looks out of his element when playing in space. Doesn’t break down particularly well, and is limited by relatively stiff hips.

Football I.Q: Can be slow to diagnose run plays. However, he shows enough awareness to correct in-game errors. Won’t often make repeat his mistakes.

Tackling: Takes good angles to the football. Wrap-up type of tackler. Only needs one arm to take down ball carrier.

Durability: Very durable player, with good toughness and stamina. Started every game for the last 2 seasons. Doesn’t take many plays off during the game. No major issues thus far.

Listed below are a few Youtube video links of Derrick Morgan for you to study:

Derrick Morgan Highlights/Lowlights 2009 (created by Prodraftparty )

Related posts:

1. Player Profile- Joe Haden
2. Player Profile-Gerald McCoy

• Height: 6-4
• Weight: 297
  
• DT
• Oklahoma

Soonersports.com

Attribute	Rating
Explosiveness
Pass Rush
Run Defense
Strength
Agility
Football I.Q
Tackling
Durability

Scouting Report

After his redshirt sophomore season, Gerald McCoy was considered to be a top 15 pick for the 2009 NFL Draft. Instead of declaring, he returned to Oklahoma to improve his skills and to earn his college degree.  His senior campaign only reinforced his reputation as a disruptive force on the defensive interior. In my opinion, he is a better pass rush technician than Ndamukong Suh. McCoy just isn’t blessed with the same kind of raw athleticism that Suh possesses.

Explosiveness: Very quick off the snap.  His violent and relentless  movements make him difficult for all but the most athletic linemen to contain.Splits through the line with frightening regularity.

Pass Rush: Extremely active hands, and a great motor are his strongest assets. Relies on finesse moves (mainly the rip and swim) to beat his blocker and get to the quarterback.  This is also his main weakness. Lacks power moves and will require more strength to succeed against NFL guards and tackles. However, he has shown flashes of potential with the bull rush, and can pancake linemen when he gets them off balance. Gets skinny to slip between double teams.

Run Defense: Not always stout at the point of attack. Moved outside in goal line situations. Instead, McCoy is able to affect the run game by slicing into the backfield and redirecting the running back.  He is able to shed blockers with ease, but is also capable of filling his gap to funnel plays to the linebackers. Not regularly asked to anchor against the run, but does a decent job of it. Attacks the line sometimes blindly, causing him to lose track of the ball carrier, in addition to making himself vulnerable to cut blocks.

Strength: Good, even great lower body muscle mass, but could definitely use some additional strength in his upper body.

Agility: Shows enough lateral movement to play outside at end in a 3-4 defensive front.

Football I.Q: Team captain with excellent character and work ethic.

Tackling:  Tallied 32 tackles during his 2009 campaign.  Not a forceful hitter, but wraps up well. Shows good effort and hustles down the line in pursuit. Needs to take better tackling angles when bursting through the line of scrimmage.

Durability: Healthy as a horse- McCoy has not missed a game in his 3 years as a starter.

Listed below are a few Youtube video links of Gerald McCoy for you to study:

2008 Gerald McCoy Highlights (created by prodraftparty)

Gerald McCoy vs. Florida, National Championship game (created by Alodraft)

Related posts:

1. Suh Versus McCoy: War in the Trenches
2. Player Profile-Brandon Graham