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Football Notes
** NFL notes are posted below **
by Tommy Lawlor
contact us at: scoutsnotebook@gmail.com
Great source for Pro Day info: http://blogs.nfl.com/category/pro-days/
3-12-10
* Brandon Graham is a player we all love. The question is how good
he'll be in the NFL. Brandon was great for Michigan this year and then
looked dominant at the Senior Bowl. One concern I have is that he
played in a system that allowed him to be on the move a lot. He slanted
to the inside more than most DEs. That worked great for him, but NFL
teams won't always let their guys just attack upfield. I do have
concerns about whether he is best suited for LB or DE. He's more fast
than quick. He makes a ton of hustle plays. He lacks ideal height or
long arms. That all sounds like a LB.
4-3
teams have to really be thinking hard about Graham. He's such a good
player that you don't want to overthink this and get lost in the
measurables. The bottom line is that when you put on the Michigan tape
you'll see #55 playing in the backfield a lot of the game. That is the
most important thing. I hope wherever Graham goes that he plays for a
creative defensive coordinator who will adjust to Brandon's skill set.
He's not a standard player. Either in results or style.
*
Miami LT Jason Fox is a guy that I haven't talked about in a while. He
was hurt and missed some time at the end of the season. I've gone back
and forth on him as a prospect. Fox will be very impressive at times,
but I'm not sold that he can play LT in the NFL. Fox is 6'7, which is
about ideal height for a LT. He has 34 inch arms. That gives him
excellent reach. The problem is his feet. I don't think he moves like a
natural pass protector. He looks very forced when trying to block edge
rushers on pass plays. Once Fox gets his hands on the guy things are
fine. Getting to that point is tricky.
I do like Jason as a
run blocker. He's tough and physical. He's only 302 pounds and could
stand to add bulk to his frame. He plays with good pad level for a tall
guy. He gets a wide base and bends at the knee. Good run blocker.
Really gets into his targets and works to sustain his blocks.
A
good comparison for him is Tyson Clabo the RT for Atlanta. Jason looks
more athletic than him and might have a shot at LT, but I definitely
think he can play on the right side. His knee injury will affect his
draft value.
* Oklahoma CB Brian Jackson ran a pedestrian
40 at the Combine. He ran in the 4.6 range. On tape you see a good
player, but you can tell he's not a speedster. Jackson loves to press
and be physical. Some Cover 2 teams may give him a chance at CB despite
the slow 40 times. If not, he could slide inside to Safety. Put on the
Miami game and you'll see a play that makes him look like FS material.
Jackson
picked off an underthrow in the game. Receiver went downfield and Brian
was in zone coverage. He read the play and got over to the receiver.
Ball was short and Brian was in perfect position. He went up high and
plucked the ball. Good catch. He showed good awareness and vision. Not
a lot of range was required, but he did get into good position,
something that some DBs will struggle with.
* I continue
to stumble across Ohio State S Kurt Coleman as I watch tape. This guy
always seems to be making a big play, whether a pick, PBU, or key
tackle. He's not the biggest or fastest, but Coleman looks like an NFL
player to me. His tape is infinitely better than his postseason showing.
__________________________________
3-10-10
* Missouri WR Danario Alexander is a really intriguing player. I keep going back and forth on him. He has good size at 6'5, 215. He was incredibly productive this year, finishing 1st in receiving yards per game and 2nd in receptions per game nationally. He was 113-1781-14. Those are terrific numbers, even in the spread offense.
Alexander has very good hands. He plucks the ball away from his body and makes it look easy. He aggressively goes after the ball. You love that trait, especially in a big receiver. Alexander plays up to his size. He knows he's a big receiver. Some 6'4 guys still think they are Marvin Harrison for some reason. Alexander has good RAC ability. He will run through arm tackles. He lacks explosive speed, but runs hard and is a long strider. He can really eat up some ground when he gets going.
There are some issues. Alexander was limited in 2008 because of a torn ACL. Prior to '09 Alexander only showed flashes of his potential. He had just 78 catches in 3 years. Alexander injured his knee while practicing for the Senior Bowl. He missed the game and the Combine. Even when 100% Alexander isn't a great prospect. He is too upright in his routes. That hurts his COD ability. There are times when he looks like a tractor trailer trying to maneuver through tight downtown streets in a big city. He doesn't have the kind of quickness you like in a receiver. Alexander won't run a crisp out route and scare off the CB.
Put on the Mizzou/Okla State game and watch him. At times he will look like Marques Colston, a big receiver with terrific hands and RAC ability. There are other times when you see him lumbering in a pass route and he definitely looks like UDFA material. Alexander has NFL potential, but he won't fit every team. I won't be shocked if this young man turns out to be a good pro or gets cut by August 1st.
* I've gotten some questions about the Top 100. That's a work in progress. Here is the Top 35 as of now. Injuries and character are factored in some what. For example, Dez Bryant clearly is better than just 17th overall, but his issues lower his value. I did leave out Jimmy Clausen. I'm still trying to figure out exactly where I value him. Jimmy could be #14 or #41. Odd, odd player. This list will change as guys have their Pro Days and as I continue to watch tape and study prospects.
1-10
DT Ndamukong Suh
FS Eric Berry
ILB Rolando McClain
DT Gerald McCoy
RB/RS C.J. Spiller
QB Sam Bradford
DE Derrick Morgan
OT Bryan Bulaga
OT Trent Williams
OT Russell Okung
11-20
LB/DE Sergio Kindle
DE/LB Jason Pierre-Paul
OG Mike Iupati
DT Dan Williams
FS Earl Thomas
CB Joe Haden
WR Dez Bryant
TE Jermaine Gresham
RB Ryan Mathews
WR Arrelious Benn
21-30
DE/LB Jerry Hughes
DT Jared Odrick
DE/LB Brandon Graham
LB Darryl Washington
OT Anthony Davis
WR Golden Tate
CB Kyle Wilson
DT Brian Price
ILB Brandon Spikes
TE Rob Gronkowski
31-35
CB Devin McCourty
OT Vlad Ducasse
QB Colt McCoy
LB Sean Weatherspoon
C/G Maurkice Pouncey
___________________________________
3-9-10
* I watched some TCU tape recently. LB Darryl Washington played ILB in the 4-2-5 scheme run by the Horned Frogs. He's tough enough to play inside, but lacks good size at only 6'2, 226. Washington uses his hands well to fend off blockers at the college level. Whether he'll be able to do that against NFL blockers is another story. Put this guy out in space and he's as good as anyone. Washington has terrific agility and athleticism. I remember watching a TCU highlight at some point and seeing #41 make an INT. I made a mental note to look up that Safety and see if he was a Senior. Turned out to be Washington. He got great depth on his pass drop and looked so fluid on the move that I figured it had to be a Safety. Washington can cover backs or TEs man-to-man. He also is adept at zone coverage.
Washington should be an outstanding WLB in the NFL. He could maybe play MLB in the Tampa 2, but his best best is WLB. That allows him to play more in space and use his athletic ability. Darryl has the kind of playmaking skills that teams want in a WLB. He had 11 TFLs, 3 INTs, and a pair of sacks this year. The amazing thing is that 2009 was his only year as a full time starter. TCU had such good LB depth that a potential 1st rounder rode the bench for 2 full seasons and then became a role player as a Junior.
I've gone back and forth with Washington and Sean Weatherspoon as to who is the better prospect. I'm sticking with Darryl for now. He's my #1 OLB. I'm not sure any pure 4-3 OLB will go in the 1st round, but Washington could be the first LB off the board.
* DE Jerry Hughes seems to be a bit overlooked. Maybe part of that is his own fault for skipping the Senior Bowl. Hughes is getting listed at 3-4 LB by most people, but I absolutely think he can play DE. Hughes has a skill set that should translate well to the NFL. He plays LDE for TCU. He lacks ideal size. Jerry is just under 6'2 and weighs 255 pounds. That's big enough for teams that want a pass rusher...and that's what Jerry is. Anyone wanting a stout run defender can take Corey Wootton or Alex Carrington or some other big DE. Hughes job is to be disruptive and get to the QB.
The thing I love about Hughes is how he plays. Jerry gets in a 4-point stance and squats down. He comes off the ball slow and reads the play. If pass, he turns on the jets and tries to be the OT around the edge. If run, he finds the ball and then chases after it, unless it comes his way of course. Most DEs line up wide and fly upfield on every snap. Jerry does this on 3rd down and other known passing situations. Hughes has the burst to beat OTs off the ball. He has the agility to turn the corner and flatten out. He racked up 26.5 sacks in the last 2 years (also 8 FFs). He knows how to get to the QB.
3-4 teams will like Hughes as a LB prospect. He had a good workout at the Combine and looked very natural on the move. He did have a 3 INTs in his career at TCU. Hughes may not get picked in the 1st round, but I really like him and think someone will get a heckuva football player.
* I know many of you guys are interested in what Comp picks your team will get. AdamJT13 has put out his predictions. Adam does a brilliant job of this every year. Here is a link to his blog, which has the info.
http://adamjt13.blogspot.com/
* Oklahoma State prospects Dez Bryant and Perrish Cox are not helping themselves. Bryant didn't workout at the Combine. Now he's back and forth about whether he'll do anything at the OSU Pro Day or on his own. This is not the way to sell yourself to the NFL. Cox was banned from taking part in the Pro Day. That's not a good sign for NFL teams. College coaches normally love all the stars being there on Pro Day so that recruits hear and read about that stuff. It makes great sales material for kids who one day want to be NFL prospects.
___________________________________
3-7-10
Combine Workouts - Day 4
I'm now wrapping up my Combine notes. Sorry for the delay. Free agency was a major distraction for a few days. Let's talk about the DBs and what went on in Indy.
* The big topic is clearly Joe Haden. He ran a poor 40 that was timed in the 4.55 to 4.60 range. Not good, by a longshot. I had questions about his deep speed prior to Indy. I noticed him getting beat deep when doing some tape study last summer. I certainly didn't expect times like that, though. The poor 40 affected the rest of Haden's workout. He struggled for most of the day. You could almost see it in his face. Haden is still a terrific player, but the poor workout and results will affect his value. He will need a great Pro Day to have any chance of going in the Top 10.
* AJ Jefferson had a very good workout. He's big, fast, and athletic. If only his game tape was as good as the workout. Jefferson had one of the great verticals of all time, 44 inches. He showed good quickness and agility with a 3-cone time of 6.72. I'm definitely going to have to re-watch some Fresno State action to get a better feel for him.
* Let's talk about a couple of Junior Safeties. I was very impressed with Chad Jones of LSU. You could really see his athletic ability. He had okay speed and his hips were pretty fluid. He showed good ball skills.
Reshad Jones is a player that I like a lot, but he wasn't as good in Indy. You could see his athletic limitations. He wasn't as fluid or smooth, something you do like in a DB. I still like Reshad, but I do want to watch more of him in coverage and on the move. He did show excellent strength, with a vertical of 39.5" and 24 reps on the bench.
* I was impressed by CB Dominique Franks. He is a player I'm still figuring out, but I liked his athletic ability. He got low in the drills, which many guys did not. Franks had a smooth backpedal. He showed good speed and quickness. Franks didn't post special numbers in the athletic tests.
* Let's talk about the big 3 at safety. Eric Berry, Taylor Mays, and Earl Thomas all worked out. Berry looked very good. He passed every test, from the weigh-in to the athletic tests to the drills. I still think he's the best S and a Top 10 pick. Mays ran very well. The timing was off, but it was somewhere in the 4.3 range. That is crazy for a guy that is 6'3, 231. I wasn't impressed by him in the drills. He didn't show me anything that made me think he'll suddenly become a big time playmaker in the NFL. Thomas showed up at 208 pounds, which shocked everyone. He claims that he played at over 200 pounds during the year. I really find that hard to believe. He just didn't look that big. Earl looked terrific in Indy. You could see his athletic ability and skills. Thomas will definitely be a 1st round pick. I don't see him going Top 10 like Berry, but he won't last past 20.
* Brandon Ghee ran the fastest official time of any CB at 4.45. He had a broad jump of 10'7". He had a 3-cone time of 6.75. He's big at 6'0, 192 and has long arms. I thought he had a solid showing in the drills. Ghee caught the ball well in a couple of drills. He did have one drop. That is important for him because of how few career INTs he had.
* David Pender of Purdue had a real good workout. He's a big CB that caught my eye a few times this year. He's 6'0, 180. He ran 4.47 and had a vertical of 39". I thought he looked good in the drills. Pender had quick feet and fluid hips.
* DB Akwasi Owusu-Ansah certainly helped himself. He measured in at 6'0, 207. That's excellent size. He ran 4.47. He looked pretty good in the drills. He was pretty fluid on the move. Owusu-Ansah didn't look like a D2 prospect. He looked like an NFL DB.
* I was disappointed with Patrick Robinson. I thought he looked slow in some of the drills. He was also sloppy at times. He did show excellent ball skills. Robinson was slower in the 40 than expected.
___________________________________
3-5-10
* Ndamukong Suh looked great. Rarely does a DT have such a good showing in a pair of shorts and in setting that stresses athletic ability. Suh is no normal DT. That's why I'm so surprised to see so many people ranking Gerald McCoy ahead of him. That's a real head scratcher to me. Suh is bigger. He's stronger. He ran right about the same time. I thought Suh looked better in the drills. Suh was more dominant this season. He single-handedly took over games at times, right Colt McCoy? Gerald McCoy is a very good prospect, but I do not understand how he's rated by Mayock and some others as the top dog.
I also wonder how NFL teams can have Rich Eisen ranked above Terrence Cody. Terrence is bigger and faster, as the NFL Network showed when they put up video of the two guys running at the same time. Hilarious stuff. Makes you appreciate how athletic even the big guys are when you see Cody pull away from Eisen. Great clip. Go find it at NFL.com if you haven't seen it.
* Carlos Dunlap looked terrible. This kid is driving the bus off the cliff. He did run well, but only weighed in at 277 pounds. Finding a guy that size who can run isn't impossible. Then Dunlap struggled in the drills. He didn't show good agility or balance. He didn't look athletic. God only knows how his interviews went. I guarantee you that this kid will not be on all 32 draft boards. Dunlap had an up and down season. He then had the DUI prior to the SEC title game and was suspended for that. Dunlap then comes to the Combine light and has a bad workout. The guy that I watched last summer showed a ton of potential. Where the heck did that guy go to? I won't be shocked if Dunlap takes a major tumble on Draft Weekend.
* Koa Misi is a player on the rise. He had a good year. He played well at the Senior Bowl, mostly as a LB. He then had a good workout in Indy. Misi looked athletic and natural on the move. He has good agility and COD ability. Misi had a 38" vertical and a 3-cone time of 7.07. 4-3 teams have to be really interested in him as a SAM and situational rusher.
* Clifton Geathers made a mistake by coming out early. He doesn't have great game tape and didn't look good in the drills. He is huge at 6'7, 299. That alone will get him drafted. I was hoping that he would catch my eye. I love his size, but Geathers is a developmental prospect to be sure. He looked stiff and awkward in the drills. He didn't show agility or balance. He looked confused in one drill.
* Thad Gibson is definitely a LB. He's got that size at 6'2, 243, but also plays like a LB. I thought he was pretty impressive in the drills. He didn't stand out the way he might have liked, but he did well enough to secure a spot in the 2nd or 3rd round. Gibson had a great 3-cone time of 6.84. He also did 32 reps. That is a good combination of strength, quickness, and agility. Can he overcome the Vern Gholston comparison?
* Does Greg Hardy get drafted? He was very unimpressive. That guy was so good a couple of years ago.
* Jerry Hughes had a great workout. He ran well. He had a 3-cone time of 6.99, which is outstanding for a 255-pound guy. I thought he looked really good in the DL drills as well as the LB conversion drills. I know most people see him as a LB, but I still think Jerry could play 4-3 DE.
* Austen Lane looked okay. He was great at Murray State, but hasn't stood out at the Senior Bowl or Combine. He now looks like a 3rd or 4th round pick. I was hoping that Austen would look more athletic than he did. He's not a total stiff or anything close to that. He's just more football player than athlete. That's okay when a guy is coming out of Texas, Penn State, or Georgia, but makes you nervous when we're talking about the Murray State Racers.
* East Carolina DT Linval Joseph did pretty well. I have yet to watch tape of him. He is massive at 6'4, 328. He did 39 reps, which is what you want from such a big guy. I thought he moved okay in the drills, but he did look slow. I'm intrigued.
* Albert McClellan looked good in some of the LB drills. He was a DE at Marshall, but measured in at just 6'1, 247. He caught the ball well a couple of times. Add that in to his INT-TD from the Texas vs The Nation AS game and you've got an interesting LB prospect.
* Sergio Kindle is an odd player. He was terrific in 2008 as a situational rusher and blitzing LB. This year he got his wish and moved to DE. He wasn't nearly as productive, but did show good toughness as a run defender. I figured the Combine would show Kindle as an elite athlete. Nope. He looked good, but not great. Kindle ran a 4.71. That's okay for a 6'3, 250 guy. He had a 36.5 vertical. That shows good power. As for the drills...Kindle was fast, but not smooth. He went 100mph. The problem is that you want top shelf guys like him to show great body control and the ability to start/stop instantly. I was disappointed by what I saw. He looked more like a high motor guy than a special athlete.
* Daniel Te'o-Nesheim is a guy that continues to impress me. He did surprisingly well in the athletic tests. I thought he looked very good in the drills. He's not the most fluid guy, but is quick and fast. He showed good power and body control in the pass rush drills.
* Jason Pierre-Paul had a solid showing. He is a bit gangly at times, but that is to be expected from a guy with really long arms and legs. He looked okay in the LB drills.
* Cameron Sheffield has some serious guns on him. His arms say DE, but the rest of him says LB. He moved well laterally in the Stack 'n Shed drill. He looked pretty good in the LB drills. Might be a heck of a prospect if he was a bit more athletic.
* Jason Worilds impressed me as a future LB. He has good feet. He's an agile player that looks good on the move. Might be a bit tight in the hips. At 6'1, 254 he'll be someone that appeals to 3-4 teams that are okay with smaller LBs. His workout numbers were excellent: 4.72 in the 40, 38" vertical, 6.95 in the 3-cone.
* A word about the LB group. The drills were very, very sloppy.
* Sean Lee is a guy I've watched for several years. He is definitely more football player than athlete. That showed in Indy. Lee was trying to move as fast as possible and was out of control in a couple of drills. He settled down as things moved along and you could then see his ability. Sean is much better in pads than shorts.
* Micah Johnson looks scary. He is 6'1, 258, but looks at least 7 feet tall and 500 pounds. That is one thick, muscular dude. I'd hate to have to tell him he was cut. He ran in the 5.00 range, which wasn't unexpected. I love his size and strength, but I do wonder if he's fast enough for the NFL.
* AJ Edds stood out all year playing in space and covering WRs, RBs, and TEs. It should be no surprise that he looked great in the movement drills. Edds has excellent feet and is just natural on the move.
* Do not buy the hype on Josh Hull. Mike Mayock was praising him quite a bit. I hate to be negative, especially with a guy like Hull who is a high character overachiever. The bottom line is that we're evaluating guys for the NFL. He simply isn't meant to play on that level. Hull missed a ton of tackles at Penn State. Grinders like him can't afford to struggle with basics like that. I hope he proves me wrong and is able to have an NFL career, but I would not tell my team to bring this kid into camp, let alone spend a pick on him. Honestly, I'm shocked he was at the Combine.
* One Big Ten LB that did get my attention was Nathan Triplett. He measured in at 6'3, 250. He ran in the 4.7 range. Nathan then showed fluid hips and good COD ability in the drills. This is a guy I've got to watch more tape on. I'm certainly intrigued.
* Brandon Spikes didn't really help or hurt himself. He had a great season in 2008, but seemed to be a bit off this year. I was hoping he'd have a terrific workout to solidify a 1st round grade.
* Darryl Sharpton didn't impress me very much. I was hoping for a better showing from him.
* Same for Phillip Dillard. He looked a bit lost running around out there in shorts. Put some pads on that guy.
* Sean Weatherspoon had a pretty good showing. He did 34 reps, 2nd among LBs. He then ran a 4.68 which is good. It is always a positive sign when LBs have speed and strength. He also had a 40" vertical. Impressive stuff. I thought he looked good in the drills. I was turned off when he waved at the camera after completing a rep. The flamboyant attitude didn't seem to affect his performance, but it just isn't my cup of tea.
* Kyle Bosworth got my attention with his workout. He had a great 3-cone time of 6.67. I thought he showed good feet, moved well, and looked good in the LB drills.
I'll finish with the DBs tomorrow.
__________________________________
3-1-10
Let's talk about RBs. The group had a very good showing.
* CJ Spiller is the top dog. All he did today was run the 40. Spiller, 5'11, 196, clocked in at 4.37. Some thought he might run sub 4.3, but his time is still outstanding.
* Ryan Mathews is my #2 RB. I thought he had a great day. Mathews measured in at 6'0, 218. He ran a 4.45. That is excellent speed for a guy his size. Mathews looked good in the drills. He caught the ball well and just looked like a fluid athlete. I definitely see him going in the 1st round.
* Jahvid Best ran the fastest 40 of the RBs at 4.35. Marshall Faulk seemed surprised by that speed, but anyone who watched him play could see that Best can really move. Best led the RBs with a 6.75 in the 3-cone. He looked pretty good in the drills. The only thing keeping him out of the 1st round is the question about him and concussions.
* Montario Hardesty had a great day. He measured in at 6'0, 225. He ran a 4.49. He led RBs with a 41" vertical and 10'4" BJ. He had a 3-cone time of 6.87. The good news is that his game tape is also impressive. If anything, I didn't expect him to be quite this athletic. Hardesty may have worked his way into the 2nd round.
* I thought Toby Gerhart had a great day. He measured in at 6'0, 231. He ran in the 4.6 range. That was good for him. He looked smooth and fluid in drills. I was impressed with the way he caught the ball. He had a 38-inch vertical. He had a terrific 3-cone time of 6.94. Some people may have considered Gerhart a pure power runner. That isn't the case. He can now be seen as a RB with good feet, speed/quickness, and the ability to catch the ball. He should go in the 2nd or 3rd round.
* LeGarrette Blount (6'0, 241) had a solid day. He ran in the 4.7 range. I was surprised to see him post a 3-cone time of 6.87. That showed more quickness and agility than I anticipated. The biggest key for Blount is how he does in the interview sessions.
* Ben Tate was another big back who had a good day. He's 5'11, 220. He ran 4.43, 3rd among RBs. That caught me off guard. He did 26 reps, 2nd among RBs. He had a VJ of 40.5 inches, 2nd among RBs. He tied for the lead with a BJ of 10'4". He also posted a good 3-cone time of 6.91. He was okay in the RB drills, but not great. I think Ben is a solid 3rd round pick.
* Jonathan Dwyer checked in at 229 pounds. That was a good start. He was too heavy this year and it affected his performance. Dwyer ran in the 4.6 range, about what you'd expect for his size. He didn't do well in the athletic tests. He also didn't stand out in the drills. Dwyer's situation is awkward. His game tape is good, but he played in a triple-option offense. You don't get to see him make the normal athletic moves of most RBs because his offense is so N-S. Dwyer could have used a really good workout.
* I was impressed with James Starks. He missed the whole season with a shoulder injury. This was our first chance to get a look at him in a long time. Starks weighed 218 pounds. He ran a 4.50. His jumps were 36" and 9'11", both good numbers. He posted a 3-cone time of 6.89. I thought Starks looked solid in the drills. The big question for him will be what the medical personnel think of his shoulder.
Quick Stuff
* Joe McKnight (5'11, 198) ran a 4.47. He had a solid showing in the drills.
* Keith Toston didn't post good numbers, but I thought he caught the ball well and looked good in the drills. He won't get drafted high, but he's got a chance to impress a team when they get him to camp.
* Charles Scott didn't run well. The other big backs all posted good times. Scott looks like a pure power runner. He did post a good 3-cone time.
* Dexter McCluster had a solid day, but he's more football player than workout warrior. He's not a great athlete. He did manage to come in at 172 pounds.
* Anthony Dixon had a solid showing. He ran well for 233 pounds.
WR
* Let's start with Arrelious Benn. I seem to be higher on him than other people. I've watched Benn play for 3 years. He is a victim of bad QB play. His lack of production really isn't his fault. His doubters had the attitude that Benn absolutely needed a strong performance at the Combine in order to be a 1st round pick. I had him as a 1st rounder, barring a nightmare showing.
Benn was up and down. He ran an unofficial 4.48 in the 40. I expected him to be a 4.5 guy. He's not a burner. Benn is a 219-pound, physical receiver. The guy I've always compared him to is Anquan Boldin. Benn looked smooth as he ran the 40. That shows good body control and balance. He looked smooth in the Gauntlet Drill. Benn did have a couple of drops on the day, but also seemed to have some off target throws. He did slip twice while running routes and that isn't something you like to see.
I still see Benn as a 1st rounder. I'm sure there are others who look at him as a 2nd rounder.
* Central Michigan WR Antonio Brown had a very good showing. He didn't light it up athletically, but looked really good in the drills. He was quick and agile. He caught the ball well in the Gauntlet Drill. He was smooth in the other receiving drills and just looked natural as a pass catcher. Brown "only" ran a 4.50, but he is one of those guys who is more quick than fast.
* Kansas Junior WR Dezmon Briscoe is not having a good Combine. He only did 9 reps. He didn't run well. He didn't look good in the drills. Rough weekend. He was incredibly productive for the Jayhawks, but there are always questions about guys coming out of the spread offense. Since Briscoe is only a Junior this is the first time NFL teams have seen him up close. Bad first impression.
* Eric Decker isn't working out. He's going to have another surgery on his foot. He might not be able to work out prior to the draft at all. Very disappointing news. I was really hoping to get a look at him in some drills and tests. I think Decker is a better athlete than many people realize.
* Donald Jones really looks the part. Muscular arms. He measured in at 6'0, 214. Jones tested well. He ran in the low 4.5s. He did 20 reps. He was second in the vertical with a jump of 41 inches. He was also solid in the drills.
* Kevin Jurovich looked good in the drills. He's quick, cuts well, and has good body control. Kevin has very good hands.
* Jacoby Ford didn't stand out in drills. He ran a great 40, but the speed didn't always show up when he had to make cuts and football moves. I thought he was okay in the Gauntlet Drill. He's more athlete than polished player, but does have excellent potential.
* Mardy Gilyard only ran in the 4.5 range. That's actually what I expected. He's never looked like a burner. He caught the ball pretty well. He did have a 39 inch vertical.
* WR Marcus Easley had a good day. He's 6'3, 210. He ran 4.46. He was slow in the Gauntlet Drill, but showed good hands. He's still a bit raw, but has a lot of potential. You might compare him to Austin Miles, who was a similar guy coming out of college.
* Preston Parker didn't help his cause. He's only 199 pounds, but still ran in the 4.6 range. He struggled in drills. You can see quickness and agility, but a guy with off-field issues can't have a day like that.
* Kerry Meier showed up at 224 pounds. He also ran in the 4.6 range, but that's okay for his size. He caught the ball pretty well. He also sported a full beard. Never mess with a WR who looks like Grizzly Adams.
* Emmanuel Sanders had a good showing. He ran a 4.41. He had a 6.60 time in the 3-cone, which is outstanding. Sanders looked solid in drills. He has really grown on me. This guy is more than just a product of an explosive passing attack.
* Jordan Shipley measured in at 5'11, 193. That's smaller than I expected. He ran a 4.57 unofficial. That's a bit slower than I anticipated. He didn't stand out in the drills either. This showing won't override his game tape, but it doesn't help him.
* Golden Tate had a good day. He ran 4.42. That is better speed than some people expected from him. He struggled mightily in the Gauntlet Drill, but fared better in other passing drills. He also had a BJ of 10 feet.
* Blair White measured in at 6'2, 209. That is bigger than I expected. He then ran a 4.50, unofficial. He arguably had the best hands of any WR I saw today. He looked very natural and caught the ball with ease. He had a terrific 3-cone time of 6.69. Very good day.
* Stephen Williams is a player that didn't impress me when I watched Toledo. He had a good showing today. He's 6'4, 210. He ran in the 4.5 range. He looked like a natural receiver in the drills. He plucked the ball smoothly.
* Carlton Mitchell, 6'3, 215, had a good day. He ran 4.49. He did 16 reps. He had a BJ of 10'2". Mitchell was okay in the receiving drills. He wasn't as smooth as I prefer, but you can see a lot of potential.
I'll post some RB thoughts later.
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2-27-10
Some Combine Notes:
* TE/H-back Dorin Dickerson measured in at 6013, 226. That is awkward size. A small TE is 6'2, 240. He would be tiny. That size would be fine for WR, but Dickerson looked lost as a WR at the Senior Bowl. Dorin had a very good showing today in his workouts. He ran 4.40 in the 40. He looked smooth and athletic in drills. He caught the ball well. He had a vertical jump of 43 inches. Dickerson did a good job on the bench press despite having long arms.
Mike Mayock said a couple of times that he thinks Dickerson goes in the 2nd round. I found that shocking. Dorin doesn't fit a traditional position. Yes, he can be a matchup problem for defenses, but do you really use a 2nd round pick on that kind of player? I'm not so sure. Not all 32 teams will value Dickerson because he's such an odd prospect. Not all 32 teams will value him because some are set at TE. There could be a few teams that like him in the 2nd, but it won't be a bunch. The Colts are the most intriguing thought. We know they will take guys they believe in and don't always care about traditional numbers and standards.
* Trent Williams looked like a better athlete than I expected. He ran 4.88 in the 40. I knew Trent was a good player, but just didn't anticipate anything like that. He had a 34 inch vertical and was 9'5" in the broad jump. Trent ran a 4.63 in the short shuttle. I think you give him a chance at LT. If he doesn't make it you slide him over to RT.
* OT Jared Veldheer had a good day. He measured in at 6'8, 312. He's only got 33 inch arms, which isn't ideal for such a tall guy. I thought he looked pretty good in the drills. He came from a Division 2 school, but didn't look overmatched at all. He ran a 7.40 in the 3-cone drill, which tied for fastest among O-linemen. Veldheer did well in all of the athletic tests. I think he's got a realistic chance to be a 3rd round pick. Forget about the fact he came from Hillsdale College. This kid is big, athletic, and has good feet.
* Abilene Christian OT Tony Washington had a solid showing. He measured in at 6'6, 311. That's very good size. He did 33 reps. He led all OL with a BJ of 9'6". His vertical was 29". I thought he looked solid in drills. He's not the smoothest player, but has NFL ability.
* Colorado State OL Shelley Smith had a very good day. He tested well, finishing first in the 40, VJ, and BJ. He has a thick, muscular build (6'3, 300). He's also an agile athlete.
* TE Jermaine Gresham didn't blow anyone away with his showing. I'm not too concerned. He's coming off injury. His game tape is great. Gresham can build off this and improve at his Pro Day.
* TE Clay Harbor had a good showing. You can see he's a talented, athletic prospect. Harbor is another small school prospect that can hang with guys from bigger schools. Harbor ran a 4.69 in the 40 and had a vertical jump of 40 inches. Those are impressive numbers.
* Big Ten TEs Tony Moeaki, Andrew Quarless, and Garrett Graham all had good showings. Moeaki is a smooth, talented athlete. Quarless ran well, but was a bit too fast in some drills. He needed to dial down the speed and play more under control. Graham isn't as big or athletic as the other guys, but might be the most polished of the prospects.
EARLY STUFF
* Bruce Campbell is the star so far. He is 314 pounds, did 34 reps, and ran in the 4.8 range. He has the size, strength, and athleticism to be an elite LT. The tape does not match up to those numbers. He looks good, with flashes of greatness.
* Sam Bradford absolutely helped himself by measuring in at 6'4, 236. He's been hitting the weights. That is NFL size. We'll have to wait for his Pro Day to see him workout, but those measurements really help him.
Adam Schefter of ESPN has gone on record as guaranteeing that the Rams will take Sam #1 overall. That certainly is possible. Sam was very good in 2007 and great in 2008. He got hurt this year. The shoulder injury and re-injury have to scare you. If he checks out medically I could see the QB-desperate Rams taking a chance on him.
* DE Carlos Dunlap weighed in at only 277. That's interesting. One of the things that always made him so intriguing was that he was listed at 290 pounds. 277 is still good, but there is a difference. Guys with that size aren't rare.
* OT Bryan Bulaga has helped himself. He measured in at 6'5, 314. His arms are 33 inches long. There was a concern that they would be shorter than that. 33 is good enough for him to remain a Top 10 pick. He looked great in the mirror drill. Bulaga is a natural pass blocker.
* Trent Williams measured in at 6'4 and a half. That means he is big enough to play LT. He just ran a blazing 40. I still see him as a Top 10 pick. His game tape is good. Tenacious run blocker and solid pass protector.
* NT Terrence Cody measured in at 354 pounds today. That is huge for him. He can be a very good player in the 350 range. He was 370 at the Senior Bowl and looked very sloppy. At 350 pounds he could be a 2nd round pick.
I'll be posting notes in the forums section as I watch the drills.
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2-23-10
* Rutgers cornerback Devin McCourty is a player I haven't written much about so far this year. I know Mike Mayock loves him. I know plenty of fans love Devin as a prospect. For one reason or another he is just a guy that didn't stand out to me as much. I watched a lot of tape of him this weekend and finally started to get a good read on him.
I was impressed. McCourty looks like a 2nd or early 3rd round type of target. McCourty is an outstanding tackler. He was Rutgers' 2nd leading tackler. Those aren't fluffed up numbers, either. Put on the tape and you'll see him around the ball constantly, whether run or pass. McCourty is a tough, aggressive player. I was impressed with his ability to be effective in man and zone coverage. Some guys need to play tight man coverage. Others are better when they can play off the receiver and then react to the pass. McCourty did both and did them well. He isn't a great athlete, but he is an outstanding football player.
McCourty is the best special teams player I've seen all year. In the games I watched over the weekend, he blocked a punt, returned a kickoff for a touchdown, downed a punt at the 1-yard line and almost chased down a kickoff returner. Although McCourty was unable to make the tackle that play showed great effort. He chased the returner down just inside the 5-yard line, but wasn't able to force him out of bounds until the player had crossed the goal line. McCourty chased him down from the other side of the field. He easily could have stopped and just let the guy score, but instead chose to give the play every ounce of effort that he could. Guys like that will win you a lot of football games.
One intriguing player from the Rutgers offense is receiver Tim Brown. He is only 5'8, 165. This is a small guy. He has very good speed and is a big-time playmaker. He caught an intermediate pass against UConn in the final minute of the game and then outran the defense for an 81-yard touchdown. Brown is a late-round pick or undrafted target because of his size, but I was impressed with him. Brown averaged 20.9 yards per catch and scored 9 TDs. He has some KOR potential as well.
* UConn WR Marcus Easley came from nowhere to have a good year. He had 4 grabs in 2008. This year he blossomed, going 48-893-8. Those aren't staggering numbers, but you have to remember that the Huskies still aren't a strong passing team. Easley has NFL size and strength. He is 6'2, 215. Easley is raw. He walked-on at UConn and didn't really get much time at WR until this season. Easley has good potential, but needs work. He struggled to get open when Devin McCourty had him in man coverage. When Rutgers went to zone Easley delivered a couple of big plays. He caught a pass on a crossing route and shrugged off a tackle attempt of a LB on his way to the end zone for a 32-yard score. Easley didn't use any special moves or sell out to break the tackle. He just ran hard and let his natural power win the battle. Easley showed good hands in the game. He's got size and speed. I'm impressed. I'm not sure about quickness, body control, and route running, but there is a lot to like. I think Marcus will take some time to develop at the NFL level.
* Nebraska has a pair of good Safeties. Larry Asante is the better prospect. He played in the Senior Bowl and showed good ability. Larry is an outstanding hitter and tackler. He is a SS at the next level. He doesn't show much in the way of ball skills or coverage instincts, but he will play the run well and tackle receivers in his area. Larry hits with good power. Nebraska plays a lot of Cover 2 so he generally is sitting back and then attacking targets in front of him. Larry won't be a target for every team, but anyone wanting a DB that will hit and tackle well should like him.
Matt O'Hanlon is the other Safety. He is a former walk-on. Matt played STs for 2 years and then became a starter for the last 2 years. Matt is good at diagnosing plays and then coming up quickly. He is a sure-tackler. He wraps up and gets his targets down. My biggest concern is his lack of pop as a hitter. Does he have the strength/power to tackle Brandon Jacobs in the open field? What about Shon Greene? Matt was very productive this year. He picked off 6 passes and broke up 5 others. He also had a couple of sacks. Matt is a late round target, but has the potential to be a good role player in the league.
Quick Stuff
* Tim Tebow has been working on his mechanics. Good. I'm not a huge fan of Tim's because of his odd style of doing things, but I give him a ton of credit for going to the Senior Bowl and now working on his issues. Tebow has the right attitude about things.
* We're hearing lots of trade rumors around the top of the draft. Detroit is the one that makes the most sense. Suh is the one player that absolutely fits them. If he's gone then moving back is the way to go. I'm just not sure Gerald McCoy is a great fit for the Lions. Gerald is a terrific prospect, but Jim Schwartz seems to prefer big DTs who can control the middle of the line. McCoy is more of a penetrate and be disruptive type.
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older notes are archived in the forums section
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Around the NFL
** Notes **
WEEK 15
* Chad Henne is not a player that I thought very highly of, but he has developed into a good starting QB. He has a winning record this year as the starter. Strong arm. Accurate. Good on sideline throws. Henne is a good fit for the Dolphins offense. That attack is built on running the ball and mixing in the passing game. There are times when Chad shows his youth. He made one horrible decision vs TEN. Under heavy pressure, Henne threw a ball toward the sideline. Nick Harper was able to pick it off. Some times you just have to eat the ball and move on to the next play or the next possession.
* The Dolphins lack a star receiver, but have developed a good group. Davonne Bess is a key weapon on 3rd downs. Brian Hartline and Greg Camarillo have some size and good skills. Ted Ginn is the speedster. Ideally you'd like Ginn to be more than a role player because of his potential, but that's all you can count on him for at this point. Hartline made a great catch late in the game that helped to send it to overtime.
* Darren Sharper had a bad game vs Dallas. He tackled poorly. He took poor angles and was slow to the ball. I know he's had an unbelievable year for the Saints as a ballhawk, but a lot of those plays have come with New Orleans sitting on a big lead. That enabled Sharper to know teams would throw and let him attack the ball. He was a liability at times in the Dallas game. There is a reason the Vikings let him go in the offseason.
* I've mentioned Falcons Safety Thomas DeCoud earlier in the year. He is a player on the rise. DeCoud had a good INT vs Jets. Batted the ball to himself. That gives him 3 picks for the year. He's also got a couple of sacks and is one of the leading tacklers on the team.
* Buffalo has had a ton of injuries and Bryan Scott is now playing LB. He played CB at Penn State. He's mostly played Safety in the NFL. Now he's part of the front seven. Scott is good in the box, but he clearly lacks the bulk and strength to fight off blocks on a regular basis. He had 10 tackles vs the Chiefs and played well, but wasn't so good last week against the Pats. Ideally, he's still a SS in the future.
* One Bills LB that is playing really well is Paul Posluszny. He leads the team in tackles, despite missing time with a broken arm. Poz had an impressive INT on a pass over the middle last week. He reached out and plucked a ball headed for Welker. He also added a big TFL on a run play. Poz definitely looks like the MLB that the Bills wanted when they took him a few years ago. Not only is he a good tackler, but he has 3 picks and 3 FFs on the season. You love a MLB that can create turnovers.
* DT Mike Wright is having a good season for the Patriots. He had 6 tackles and a sack vs BUF. Wright now has 5 sacks on the year. He makes plays more with effort than talent, but that's okay for a DT.
* Chris Long has been disappointing in his first 1.5 seasons in the NFL. I watched him last week and the Rams now have him playing at LDE. He looked much more comfortable on that side. He used a good spin move to get pressure. Almost got a sack on the play. His numbers still aren't great (4 sacks), but he passed the eyeball test. This kid is too talented and too high character not to pan out on some level. I don't know that he'll ever be "special", but I was encouraged by his performance.
* Josh Cribbs ran back 2 KOs for TDs. Amazing. If you look at recent dynamos like Devin Hester and Dante Hall they accomplished great things in a short period. Cribbs is less dynamic, but still very special. He has a return TD in 5 straight seasons. That's consistent excellence.
* Brady Quinn ran really well last week. It gave a boost to the offense. Unfortunately, he got hurt on one of the runs. His passing is still...not awesome. He was 10 of 17 for 66 yards. I'm very interested to see what Holmgren does at QB for that team.
* Jerome Harrison had a phenomenal day, running for 286 yards. I thought he'd be a good NFL role player, but 286??? I went back and re-read some notes. One interesting thing is that he had 3 games of more than 200 yards on the ground as a Senior. When he hits a seam, Harrison has the burst to turn short gains into long runs. That was certainly true last week.
* One of the few bright spots in the WAS debacle from Monday night was the play of TE Fred Davis. He caught 5 passes for 65 yards. He's starting to look like the quality receiver we saw at USC.
ROOKIE WATCH
* Titans LB Gerald McRath made his first NFL start against Miami. He finished with 10 tackles and looked okay.
* Beanie Wells has looked very good for the Cardinals in recent weeks. He had his first 100-yard game last week vs Detroit. Wells was 17-110-1. His long run was 34 yards. He also added a 23-yard TD run that put ARZ back on top in the game.
* Mark Sanchez had a rough game in cold weather last week. He threw 3 INTs, one of them a late pick. That was a bad read and bad throw. The Jets only put up 7 points, but FG problems were part of that. Huge loss for the Jets. With a veteran QB they probably win, but you have to accept growing pains when you start a rookie.
* Derrick Williams had a good KO return in the 4th Qtr vs ARZ. He took a KO 32 yards out to the 38 yard line. Looked fluid, natural on the run. The Lions goal was for Derrick to be a backup WR and the RS. He's a little behind schedule, but is starting to look like a good KOR.
* Louis Delmas has had a good rookie year. Last week he had a pick-6. Delmas picked a ball in his end zone and returned it more than 100 yards for the score. He's second on the team in tackles. He's been effective in the box and out in space. He does make some rookie mistakes, but there is a lot to like.
* CB Tony Carter got on the field for Denver last week. They've played a few rookie DBs this year. Darcel McBath and David Bruton have both seen time. The one guy I loved was Alphonso Smith, but he is firmly on the bench. He's played a little, but the team is disappointed with him.
* Rookie Tyler Polumbus is now starting at RT for the Broncos. He needs some work. He's got 6 starts on the year. He's given up 5 sacks. Polumbus has potential. He's got good feet. Biggest problem is that he must play stronger. He doesn't anchor well. I've seen a few DEs drive him backward easily.
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WEEK 14
* CB Leon Hall is playing well for Cincy. He had a real good game vs MIN. Hall had 7 tackles, a PBU and an INT. Hall is a gifted cover guy and plays the ball well. He's got 5 INTs on the season. He also has 19 PDs and 2 FFs.
* LB Tamba Hali is quietly having a good year. He played DE prior to this season, but seems to be a good fit for OLB in the 3-4. Hali has 7.5 sacks, 4 TFLs, and 4 FFs. He's not an explosive pass rusher, but he has a great motor. He's quick off the ball and plays with good leverage. That sack total may not sound great, but understand that last year the Chiefs as a team had 10 sacks. 10. Wow.
* Brandon Marshall set a new NFL record by making 21 catches vs the Colts. Denver lost, but that was still a great showing by Marshall. He only had 200 yards on the day. Marshall averages just 11.7 yards per reception for the season. That isn't due to lack of talent. Workhorse receivers are going to catch a good amount of short passes and that will affect their average.
* Brian Dawkins had 2 picks on deflected passes. He's played pretty well for the Broncos this year. Those are his only INTs on the year, but he's 2nd on the team in tackles. He also has 4 TFLs and a FF. His leadership has been important to the Broncos success.
* Darren McFadden has had a disappointing season. He's only run for 251 yards and 1 TD. I was impressed with his performance last week...as a receiver. McFadden lined up wide to the right. He ran a slant, caught the ball, and turned it into a long gain. LaRon Landry tried to cover him, but McFadden ran a good route and was wide open on the play. He later caught a pass when lined up wide left. That was a downfield catch that showed a good adjustment to the ball. For the year he averages more than 21 yards per catch. Now let's work on that running.
* Bruce Gradkowski is making a difference in Oakland. He brings confidence and energy to the offense. I hated to see him go down with a knee injury. I've liked Bruce since he was at Toledo. He took advantage of his opportunity to play this year and showed that at the very least he can be a good backup QB.
* Chris Johnson had 2 long TDs vs the Rams in the 1st Qtr. He had a 39-yard run. Chris moved around looking for the hole, saw an opening, and then exploded upfield. He also caught a short pass and took that one all the way. That was easier. He weaved through some defenders, but did so on the move and made it look easy.
* Mike Tolbert of the Chargers is a good young FB. The league is having a hard time finding good FBs these days because of the spread offense in college. That eliminates the FB from a lot of college offenses, at least as a regular position. Tolbert is a very good receiver. He is a solid blocker. He also is a key contributor on STs.
* ILB Stephen Cooper came up big for SD in their win at Dallas. He only had 3 tackles, but he broke up 2 passes and had a FF. Cooper almost picked off both of the passes. He was in good position and saw the ball, but doesn't have great hands. The FF came on a run play when he just knocked the ball away from Felix Jones. Cooper leads the Chargers in tackles for the year.
* Another Charger LB came up big in that game. Brandon Siler played well in the GL series. He was stout in the middle. Siler got to the RB and stood his ground. Made the stop on 4th/GL. Also had a TFL and sack in the game.
* One quick note about St. Louis. The Rams are arguably the worst team in the league, but they play hard, no matter what the score. That's a sign that Coach Steve Spagnuolo is doing something right. He needs to get some good player before that situation will change, but I give him a lot of credit for keeping the team motivated.
* S Dashon Goldson had a huge game for SF on Monday night. He had 6 tackles, an INT, 2 PDs, and 2 FFs. Goldson can be a sloppy tackler, but he can also be an impact hitter. If he'll focus on tackling and the subtleties of coverage he could develop into a real good Safety.
ROOKIE WATCH
* Darcel McBath had an INT off Peyton Manning. McBath has 2 picks on the year.
* Jasper Brinkley is now starting at MLB for MIN. He's a good tackler. Has some real pop. He did get burned on a run where he overran the gap and left a big void.
* Austin Collie is having a good year for the Colts. He has 53 catches and 7 TDs. Peyton seems to trust him. Collie made a key catch on drive in 4th quarter that moved the chains.
* Another pick for Jairus Byrd. Got a tipped ball on 4th down to seal the game. Smartly went down rather than trying to run the ball all the way back. Byrd now has 9 picks on the year. He almost got #10 on the final play of the game, but a teammate stole it away from him.
* Larry English used a great inside move to beat the RT and almost get Romo for a safety. He's got 2 sacks on the year and has looked pretty good.
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WEEK 13
Limited notes this week. I had family visiting and wasn't able to take in my normal amount of games.
* The Packers defense has come a long way from early on in the season. The DL is solid. The LBs are starting to make plays, which is crucial to the 3-4. Rookie Clay Matthews has 7 sacks on the year and is quickly becoming a force off the edge. He's quick and athletic. He also has a great motor. He will fight to get off blocks. Aaron Kampman is done for the year. Rookie Brad Jones is starting to get regular playing time. I liked him coming out of Colorado. Jones played LB and DE for the Buffs. He showed an ability to regularly get in the backfield and make plays. He only has 1 sack so far in the NFL, but he is a player to watch.
The secondary is all over the place. CB Tramon Williams is a walking pass interference penalty. He can cover, but has a hard time not making contact with the receiver. CB Charles Woodson is having a phenomenal year. Check out these numbers: 2nd on the team in solo tackles, 2 sacks, 5 TFLs, 4 FFs, 7 INTs, 11 PDs. That is amazing stuff from a CB. In the game he made a sensational tackle of a RB near the goal line. Charles isn't just making plays. He's making timely plays that offer big impact.
* Bills DT Kyle Williams is having a good year. He is quick off the ball. He has a great motor. He's not huge, but will battle on every snap. BUF might be really tough in the middle if Marcus Stroud was playing up to his ability. Williams is 6th on the team in tackles. He has 3 sacks, 7 TFLs, and a FF. The Bills have had a disappointing season, but they have found a few good players. Williams is key up front. S Jairus Byrd is a ballhawk. Paul Posluszny is a good MLB. Those 3 guys all play in the middle of the field. You need a defense to be sound up the middle so Bills fans should be encouraged by this. The Bills still need help at OLB and DE.
* LaRon Landry is as talented as any Safety in the NFL. He's big, fast, and has excellent ability. Landry also consistently makes me want to bang my head on a wall. He doesn't not show good situational awareness, which is important for all players, but critical for Safeties. Against the Saints he got burned for the tying TD at the end of the game. Landry bit on a pump fake. The Saints were at midfield with less than 2 minutes to go. How on earth does a S bit on a fake? The general rule of thumb for Safeties is to stay "deeper than the deepest". In other words...don't let anyone get behind you. That rule is absolute when protecting a lead at the end of a game. I have no idea what Landry was thinking. Dumb, dumb, and dumb.
QB Jason Campbell played great in the game, 30-42-367. He had 3 TDs and 1 pick. The INT was horrible. After Landry gave up the long TD to tie the game WAS got the ball back. They drove out near midfield and only needed 25 more yards to get in good FG range. NO ran a corner blitz off the left side. Campbell looked that way initially. You always want to throw where the blitz is coming from. Someone should be open. Instead he wheeled around and threw toward the right sideline. A DB was able to pick the pass and send the game to OT, where the Skins lost. Campbell can't make a critical mistake like that. It undoes all the good work of the first 59 minutes of the game.
* Subtle things can change a game and have big impact on a season. In the NYG/DAL game on Sunday there was such a small moment. LB Anthony Spencer wanted to make sure he got a good jam on the TE as he tried to release. Spencer engaged him at the snap and took a step inside to stick with the TE for an extra half second. RB Brandon Jacobs released into the flat. Spencer had him in coverage and then had to get wide on the play. Jacobs caught the ball and quickly turned upfield. Spencer wasn't able to get out there. He then did get going in pursuit. The play was also helped by the fact that ILB Bradie James took a poor pursuit angle. He should have stopped the play for a 15 or so yard gain. Instead it went 74 yards for a TD and helped the Giants save their season (for at least one week). It also gave Dallas a December loss and brought up the nagging questions about why they can't win after Thanksgiving.
ROOKIE WATCH
* QB Josh Freeman had a bad game vs CAR. Josh threw 5 INTs. Some were due to bad decisions. At least one was due to poor mechanics. Josh held the ball by his side and then overthrew a WR on dig route. The ball sailed. He must hold that ball up closer to his ear. Keeping down by your side won't work in the NFL. The elongated motion affected the throw and led to the poor accuracy.
* CB Jacob Lacey started for the Colts. He had an up and down game. Lacey picked off a pass along the sideline by jumping in front of Kenny Britt. Later, Britt beat him for a short TD.
* Falcons DE Lawrence Sidbury got his first NFL sack. He also had 3 tackles in the game.
* CB Vontae Davis had a huge INT in the end zone vs NE. The Dolphins were able to come back and win the game in part because the Pats didn't score on that drive.
* Clint Sintim got his first NFL sack. The Giants list him at LB, but played him at DE in some pass rush situations. Sintim was a force off the edge for UVA last year.
* LarDarius Webb is doing a solid job for the Ravens as both the KOR and a backup DB.
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