Excluded from this list is the mock of Mike Mayock because I couldn’t find his final predictions (if anyone has that info, I would love to add it in).

Name	# of Correct Picks
Pro Football Weekly (Nolan Nawrocki)	10
**NFL Draft Blogger** (David Maziasz)	8
Sports Illustrated (Peter King)	8
Move The Sticks (Daniel Jeremiah)	6
NFL Draft Scout (Chad Reuter)	6
ESPN (Mel Kiper)	6
ESPN (Todd McShay)	5
Scout.com (Chris Steuber)	5
Walter Football (Matt McGuire)	5
NFL Draft Countdown (Scott Wright)	4

For simplicity, the results are based on number of selections which correctly predicted the player, team, and position.

Also, thanks to GhostWriter for sending me the results for Kiper and McShay.

Congratulations to all the mock drafters here. But especially Mr. Nawrocki, who produced the most accurate mock draft I could find. Every year, his predictions are very well-documented, and are an outstanding read for any draft fan.

I am also very pleased with how my mock fared as well. This year’s product appears to be among the most accurate of any mock draft found on the internet. I am just super excited that all my hard work paid off

Related posts:

1. The Worth of Preseason Mock Drafts
2. NFL Draft: Initial Reactions

Here they are:

1. St Louis Rams- QB Sam Bradford,  DT Gerald McCoy, DT Ndamukong Suh

2. Detroit Lions- DT Ndamukong Suh, DT Gerald McCoy, OT Trent Williams, OT Russell Okung

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- DT Gerald McCoy, DT Ndamukong Suh, DB Eric Berry

4. Redskins- OT Trent Williams, OT Russell Okung

5. Kansas City Chiefs- OT Bryan Bulaga, OT Russell Okung, DB Eric Berry

6. Seattle Seahawks- OT Russell Okung, OT Bryan Bulaga, OT Trent Williams

7. Cleveland Browns- DB Eric Berry, QB Jimmy Clausen, WR Dez Bryant

8. Oakland Raiders- OT Trent Williams, OT Anthony Davis, OT Bruce Campbell, QB Jimmy Clausen

9. Buffalo Bills- OT Bryan Bulaga, QB Jimmy Clausen, RB C.J. Spiller

10. Jacksonville Jaguars- DB Eric Berry, DB Earl Thomas, RB C.J. Spiller, CB Joe Haden, DE Derrick Morgan

11. Denver Broncos- WR Dez Bryant, CB Joe Haden, ILB Rolando McClain

12. Miami Dolphins- DE Derrick Morgan, OLB Sergio Kindle, DB Earl Thomas

13. San Francisco 49ers- RB C.J. Spiller, CB Joe Haden,

14. Seattle Seahawks- RB C.J. Spiller, WR Dez Bryant, DE Derrick Morgan, WR Demaryius Thomas

15. New York Giants- ILB Rolando McClain, TE Jermaine Gresham,

16. Tennessee Titans- DE Jason Pierre-Paul, CB Joe Haden, C Maurkice Pouncey

17. San Francisco 49ers- CB Joe Haden, DE Brandon Graham

18. Pittsburgh Steelers-  C Maurkice Pouncey, ILB Rolando McClain, OG Mike Iupati, DE Jared Odrick

19. Atlanta Falcons- LB Sean Weatherspoon, DE Jerry Hughes

20. Houston Texans- DE Jason Pierre-Paul, CB Joe Haden

21. Cincinnati Bengals- TE Jermaine Gresham, DE Everson Griffen

22. New England Patriots- DE Jared Odrick, RB Ryan Matthews

23. Green Bay Packers- DE Jerry Hughes, CB Kyle Wilson

24. Philadelphia Eagles- OG Mike Iupati, CB

25. Baltimore Ravens- DT Dan Williams, CB Kareem Jackson, TE Rob Gronkowski, WR Demaryius Thomas,

26. Arizona Cardinals- NT Dan Williams, DE Jerry Hughes, OLB Sergio Kindle, TE Rob Gronkowski, NT Terrence Cody

27. Dallas Cowboys- OG Mike Iupati,  S Taylor Mays, OT Vladimir Ducasse

28. San Diego Chargers- RB Ryan Matthews, NT Terrence Cody

29. New York Jets- LB Sean Weatherspoon, WR Demaryius Thomas

30. Minnesota Vikings- CB, Kareem Jackson, CB Devin McCourty

31. Indianapolis Colts- LT Charles Brown, DT Brian Price

32. New Orleans Saints- DE Everson Griffen

Related posts:

1. 2010 Final Mock Draft
2. NFL Free Agency Report

Follow the link to find out who could be the top offensive tackle selected. It’s not who you think.

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

Related posts:

1. Mock Draft Updated
2. Mock Draft Landing Page

Besides the NFL Combine, Free Agency is the other major event in the pre-draft schedule. It is a time for teams to turn over their roster in an attempt to find that perfect locker room chemistry needed to be successful. Winning franchises re-sign key players, and bolster their depth for another championship run. Poor teams will either try to coax good players with overpriced contracts and promises of future success or have to search the bottom barrel for stop gap players. All the while fans for are eagerly awaiting that one big-time signee who will save their beloved franchise from the depths of despair.

Welcome to Free Agency 2010.

As a draft nut, I can’t help but wonder how these signings in the first week of free agency will affect a team’s direction heading into the Draft.

For simplicity, I’ll discuss teams based on their draft order, starting with teams selecting in the top 10.

Let’s get to it.

Detroit Lions

Does Detroit Still Like Suh? (NFL.com)

Contrary to recent years, the Lions were very active from the start of free agency,  plugging holes with starting caliber athletes at DE, DT, WR, and CB.

Does the signing of pass-rushing 3-technique Corey Williams mean that Detroit wants to bypass the top two DT prospects (Gerald McCoy and Ndamukong Suh), and go in a different direction? Vanden Bosch and Corey Williams will be paid around $15 million for next year. Does the team want to invest a #2 pick in another D-lineman who will command an even larger contract?

Although the franchise has made it known that they wish to trade out of the #2 pick, they may have no other choice than to select the best player available, which is definitely one of the two DT’s.

Washington Redskins

Mike Shanahan continued his purge of old blood with the cutting of several long-time veterans. Losing  LG Randy Thomas and LT Chris Samuels leaves a giant void on the left side of the offensive line.  If Sam Bradford is gone (which is almost definite), I don’t see Washington having any other choice than to get a player like Russell Okung.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Desperate for pass rushers, Jacksonville went out and got themselves one of the best on the market, Aaron Kampman. I doubt they will invest another first-round pick in a DE after this move. Furthermore, they can look to address some other position of need…a game-breaking running threat, or a ball-hawking safety to counter the pass-happy offenses in the AFC South, perhaps?

Denver Broncos

Letting Brandon Marshall walk makes the signing of a number 1 receiver a priority in this Draft.  But on the bright side, signing NT Jamal Williams and DE Jarvis Green fill huge holes along the D-line. Many believed those were two of the prime target positions for this Draft. That is no longer the case.

Miami Dolphins

Signing Karlos Dansby nixes any possibility of the Dolphins going after Alabama ILB Rolando McClain. However, the team cut Jason Taylor and Joey Porter. So, it seems that they want to get an OLB early, maybe as soon as round 1. Possibilities include Brandon Graham, Sergio Kindle, or maybe someone like Ricky Sapp a bit later on.

By the way, the experiment with S Gibril Wilson failed miserably. Targeting a safety is not out of the question.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans have 6 key players/leaders to replace: C Kevin Mawae, DE’s Kyle Vande Bosch and Jevon Kearse, CB’s Rod Hood and Nick Harper, and veteran OLB Keith Bulluck. The loss of those two DE’s reinforces the need for more pass rushers. They are still in good position to draft a very good DE in round 1.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Thoughts of the Steelers drafting a safety early on likely were ended with the re-signing of Ryan Clark and the addition of Will Allen for depth.

Atlanta Falcons/Houston Texans

Picking up Dunta Robinson was a big-time move for a team desperate for help in the secondary. However, the Texans need to find a new shutdown cornerback through the draft.  Kyle Wilson, Devin McCourty, or even Joe Haden could be enticing at pick #20.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Bengals’ poor passing attack was exposed in the playoffs this season. So, they made it a priority to bolster that part of the offense with a player like Antonio Bryant. They still could use some more help from a guy like Jermaine Gresham. But the need is not nearly as great anymore.

Baltimore Ravens

Making a splash in free agency isn’t usually the way of Ozzie Newsome. Yet, the chance to upgrade a mediocre passing attack with a premiere receiver was too good to pass up. Anquan Boldin and Donte Stallworth could make the Ravens offense special. I expect them to turn their attention back to adding youth to the defense, where the team’s identity truly lies.

Arizona Cardinals

It seems like Arizona dumped half of their team in free agency. Neil Rackers, Karlos Dansby, Chike Okeafor, Antrell Rolle, plus a great deal of depth players were all dropped, presumably in a youth movement. They managed to stop the bleeding with the signing of Kerry Rhodes. But they have their work cut out for them in the draft and free agency. With so many holes, they could go in any number of directions, including TE, LB, S, OT, or CB.

San Diego Chargers

In order for a 3-4 defense to be effective, it needs a dominant NT, like the one they once had in Jamal Williams. Guys like Dan Williams or Terrence Cody will be prime targets.

New York Jets

Earl Thomas (NFL.com)

Kerry Rhodes was a good, but not elite player for the Jets.  I could definitely see them eying a guy like Earl Thomas from Texas, if he falls that far. Or, what if they made another quantum leap into the top 10 and selected Eric Berry? I know it’s unlikely, but it’s just a thought.

New Orleans Saints

We all know the Saints are strong on offense. They lost some starters on defense (Darren Sharper, Scott Fujita, Charles Grant). They should bolster that side of the ball if there is value.  Maybe a Daryll Washington from TCU would be a good option for them.

No related posts.

• 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. Mock Draft Discourse

• 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. Player Profile-Brandon Graham
2. Player Profile-Derrick Morgan