Category: 2022 Player Profiles

STRENGTHS
Isaiah is an athletically talented multi-dimensional player. He has good size and good speed and is a quick-twitch athlete. He is smart and understands his assignments when blocking or running routes. Isaiah has good eye/hand coordination to catch the ball down the field as good as any receiver in this draft class. Isaiah has the talent to be an excellent blocker. He has a short stride that makes it easy for him to keep his balance and strength when he makes his cuts or needs to separate from a defender. Isaiah is able to break tackles after he catches the ball or when he is used on sweeps across the line of scrimmage. The truth is Isaiah has the potential and football intelligence to be more than just an H-Back/Tight End.

CONCERNS
It’s not about Isaiah’s talents or football IQ. It’s all about trust. Do you trust him to finish his blocks every time? Do you trust him to run his routes with effort every time? Do you trust him to be consistent and play with the same effort in every game? It’s all about trust because Isaiah seems to be more impressed with himself than he is in impressing his teammates and coaches with consistency.

BOTTOM LINE: 3.78
I’ll be honest, I get pissed when I see players with this type of talent not play with consistency. I’ve seen Isaiah on film, go out to make a block, then just before he makes contact beg off. I have also seen him make that same block later in that same game and put a defender on his back springing a teammate for a touchdown. I have seen him on film run a route and then not make his break because a safety pushed him off his route, and then later in that same game, turn that same safety around and make a catch that most players are not able to make. You tell me why he plays like this because I haven’t got a clue. I will say this about Isaiah, there is no reason not to keep him busy. I would use him all over the offense like a Deebo Samuels is used by the 49ers. He has the talent and football IQ and I think if you keep him busy he just might play with more consistency. Use him out of the backfield, outside as a receiver, in the slot, and as an H-back or move receiver. I would make the other team game plan for him but I would never run my offense through him because… I just don’t trust him. He just might, when you don’t expect it, give up the block that gets a QB injured or make the QB double-clutch or throw an interception all because he didn’t give the full effort on the route or the block. Isaiah needs hard coaching and Coaches at the NFL level don’t have time for that anymore, or maybe they do!

STRENGTHS
Greg is a master at catching the football. He has those diaper-changing soft hands that make babies happy to have their diapers changed. He is smart and an excellent zone receiver. Greg has that “feel” for the soft area of zone coverages while he is running the route. He has solid speed and solid overall athleticism. Greg has the soft diaper changing hands, and the high football IQ to become an impact TE/H-back style receiver in the right system for the team that selects him.

CONCERNS
Greg’s numbers at the combine are equal to Zack Ertz when he came out and yet, Greg is not the athlete Zack is. He looks slow and very heavy-legged, clumping down the field instead of running down the field. Greg is not a “break a tackle” type of player so there will not be much run after the catch yardage for him. His athletic talent to block on the line of scrimmage or in open space is lacking and expecting him to work on blocking and getting better is a reach. Nevertheless, he has those diaper-changing soft hands, a high football IQ, and a “feel” to run routes against zone coverages.

BOTTOM LINE: 3.33
Greg is too slow, yet he runs as fast as Zack Ertz, and all his other combine numbers are equal to Zack’s when he came out. Greg can’t block but… Zack Ertz had to do a lot of work to improve as a blocker too. Zack Ertz became the impact player that he has become because of his ability to catch the football, high football IQ and he was coached by Chip Kelly. Does Greg remind me of Zack Ertz? No way…my first impression of Greg was that he did not have the athleticism to play at the next level. He looked slow, heavy-legged, couldn’t block, couldn’t get off the line, not much separation, and in general, was not going to make it at any position at the next level. Nevertheless, when I watched film of Greg, I could not understand how he got open all the time. Truthfully, I did not want to do a profile on Greg because I didn’t think he deserve a bad one from me. After all, he was productive and worked hard I just didn’t think he was a good enough athlete. So, I went back to the film because his name kept coming up. I saw a player in a system that helped Greg impact and made use of his soft diaper-changing hands and football intelligence. Then I went back to Zack Ertz’s combine numbers and saw the similarities and now I see Greg’s potential. Maybe I’m just seeing something that really isn’t there and maybe Greg, in the right system and with the right coaching can impact like Zack Ertz. I do know this, I’m a lot more interested in drafting him than I was when I first saw him play…a lot more.

STRENGTHS
Christian reminds me a lot of former Lions Calvin Johnson. He is not as big, bulk wise but has the same speed and catch radius as Calvin had. Christian shows on film the quickness to get in and out of his breaks and is a smart receiver. He showed in the Senior Bowl practices the quickness to get off the line of scrimmage against corners when line up outside. Christian is a good route runner and understands zone coverages. On film, you can see that he likes the challenge and is very competitive. With his quick feet, he does a good job adjusting to the ball in the air and making the difficult catch. Christian has the potential to be a franchise receiver for the team that selects him.

CONCERNS
Christian will have to improve the strength in his hands and until he does he will drop some contested passes. He still needs time to get stronger and learn more tricks of the route running trade. He will also have to get use, to the velocity of the ball being thrown to him on intermediate routes at the next level. Christian has a lot to learn but I think he has that competitiveness streak in him that gives him the work ethic needed.

BOTTOM LINE: 1.94
Cavin Johnson was 6’ 5”, 235 lbs, and ran a 4.3 in his forty. Christian is 6’ 4”, 208 lbs, and ran a 4.3 in his forty. When I say a player “reminds” me of another player it does not mean I think he will be as good as that player was. It just means that a player has some similar aspects or appearance or qualities to his game in general of another player. It does not mean I think one player will be as good or have as good a career as the other player. Christian has to improve the strength in his hands. Calvin had the strongest hands I ever saw in a wide receiver right out of college. That being said, Christian is aggressive in his route running and aggressive catching the ball, and on the deep ball uses his body and speed very well, as Calvin did. Because I suggest that Christian can be a “franchise” receiver does not mean he can be the franchise receiver that Calvin was. It just means I believe Christian has the POTENTIAL to be a number one receiver for the team that selects him just like a number of other franchise receivers or number one receivers. Let’s not misinterpret the word “reminds” to mean anything more than a player makes me remember another player because that’s all that it means. That being said, I do like Christian’s potential to be an excellent receiver for the team that selects him. I think he has the work ethic and talent to learn and be a lot better than he is right now.

STRENGTHS
Brian is one of the most instinctive linebackers in this draft class. He has a burst and commitment to the ball that’s as good as any linebacker in this draft class. He has good cover skills and is very smart and is a leader and playmaker on the field. Brian will chase down players, going sideline to sideline to make a tackle. He has that quick speed that allows him to line up deep in a defenses scheme, to sack a quarterback. He will overwhelm a running back trying to block him when he is used to blitz because of his speed, quickness, and ability to change directions in a phone booth. Brian can be an impact player for the team that selects him…in the right defensive scheme.

CONCERNS
In spite of Brian’s talents, he can be taken advantage of at the next level. He doesn’t have the long speed to hang with big receivers in coverage. He also doesn’t have the lower body strength, or the body type, that can add the lower body bulk needed to be effective shedding blocks and becoming a “stout against the run”, type of linebacker. He will also struggle in coverage to move players off their routes, disturbing the rhythm of a passing play.

BOTTOM LINE 3.33
Brian in the right defensive system can be an impact linebacker. Use him to attack the line of scrimmage and in matchup zone coverages and this guy will shock teams on how effective and impacting he can be. It’s simple, he is a run and chase linebacker or an in-the-box safety. He beats the angle on sweeps and screens and shuts down anything that allows him to run to the play. Just don’t ask him to be your goal line linebacker or your middle linebacker or your cover linebacker. He reminds me a lot of Giants Blake Martinez. Keep those big 2 gap defensive linemen in front of him and let him run to the play and Brian could be one of the better linebackers from this very talented linebacker class. Because Brian is a systems linebacker this will affect his draft status. The team that runs this type of defense will rate him higher than other teams. Blake Martinez is a good systems linebacker. He was selected in the 4th round of the 2016 Draft. Just saying.

STRENGTHS
David reminds me a lot of a bigger Jarvis Landry. He works out of the slot, against zone coverages and will run those quick Tight End routes to death. He has excellent hands and when you go to jump his route he is smart and uses double moves to surprise you and make you pay. David has very good hands and will catch just about anything thrown at him. He has solid run after the catch skills to move the chains and make 1st downs. In the right offensive scheme, David can be just as productive at the next level as he was at the college level.

CONCERNS
I think the biggest concern is, can David play on the outside and get separation and be productive? David is a big slot receiver and gets most of his production from that position lined up against linebackers and safeties on short quick routes and double moves. I will say this much, he runs very good routes and has a knack for getting free against zone coverages for sure, and he does a good job on those quick off-the-line, dragging routes. As far as running the whole route tree and getting free against single coverages that’s a big question mark.

BOTTOM LINE 4.01
If David is in the right offensive system with the right play-caller and the right quarterback he can be very productive. If David can prove that he can play more than one receiver position he can be more than just a productive slot receiver. He is smart enough and although he doesn’t have elite athletic talent, that should not hold him back from becoming the type of route runner who drives defensive backs crazy, magically getting separation. David just has to want to be better than he is right now and that will require a lot of hard work and attention to detail. What I see on film is a receiver who so far, has taken the easy road to success and had a coach who was smart, and a play-caller who used what talent David has to great advantage. It will be all up to David how much farther in his development he wants to go. Meanwhile, he should be a solid slot receiver for the team that selects him in this draft.

STRENGTHS
Isaiah is a good solid running back. He has good athletic talent and size. He does a good job catching the ball out of the backfield in check-down situations. Isaiah gives good effort blocking. He has solid balance and will break some tackles. Isaiah has been a very productive running back for his college team and that shows his dependability and mature leadership skills

CONCERNS
I don’t see the lateral agility and explosion out of his cuts and breaks I like to see in a running back for the next level. He lacks pass-catching skills to catch the ball down the field and his blocking, in general, is sketchy at best. Isaiah does not play to his size and lacks the power when running through the tackles. He has good speed but doesn’t play to that speed on the field.

BOTTOM LINE 4.00
Isaiah’s production at the college level is impressive but his overall game and the athletic talent that I see on film will limit his ability to be that productive at the next level. At least that’s what I see, I’m sure others see him differently. We all know that if a running back fits a system they can be much better than they have been at the college level. We have also seen many running backs who have been productive and look like potential excellent running backs, fail big time in the NFL. It’s one of the reasons the position has been considered of less value over the years. There is nothing that I have said that means Isaiah is not going to be a top running back in the NFL. It just means for me, if I were selecting a running back in this draft, Isiah would not be one I would consider selected early in this draft.

STRENGTHS
Velus is an accomplished receiver with the athletic talent and high football IQ to become a number one receiver for the team that selects him. He has good size and bulk and is an excellent route runner to go along with his 4.3 speed. Velus has that sneaky kind of speed that surprises most defensive backs. He is a very deceiving route runner changing gears, forcing defensive backs to hesitate as he goes by them. He can adjust to the ball in the air and make acrobatic catches. Velus runs the route tree and has the upper and lower body strength that makes it difficult to move him off his routes. He has the mature decision-making ability to be used on the return units for special teams. As I stated before, Velus is an accomplished, quality receiver with good size, excellent hands, and has strong run after the catch skills. Velus is an underrated receiver in a very talented receiver class.

CONCERNS
There is not much upside to Velus’s overall game and this pisses off a lot of coaches who are trying very hard to make a name for themselves in their coaching field. His 4.3 speed has brought him some attention but because he does everything well, he doesn’t stand out. How ironic is that?

BOTTOM LINE 2.39
There is a lot of Stephon Diggs in this kids’ game. He has excellent mental toughness and leadership skills. His route running is very good and strong. Add to that his smart “run after the catch” skills, not to get injured, and you wind up with a very dependable receiver who QB’s can trust to make the big play. Velus most likely, will not be selected till the later rounds but once he gets on the field he won’t come off. He’s that type of player, smart dependable, talented, and taken for granted because he does everything on the field with the ease that makes it easy not to notice him. Velus is what I call a “You Just Never Know Receiver”. You never know. He could wind up being just a number 3 receiver and help on special teams, or, he could wind up being your number 2 receiver because he is dependable and runs strong routes, or, he could wind up being your most important and impact receiver like Stephon Diggs became after he was selected in his draft in the 5th round. You just never know.

STRENGTHS
Luke has the athletic talent and high football IQ to be an excellent offensive center for the team that selects him. He has good lateral agility and quickness to help out his guards when needed and the quickness off the ball to handle a defensive nose tackle. He has enough foot speed and quickness to go out to the 2nd level and be used on sweeps and screens. Luke is smart and has played both guard and center positions although he has played more at guard than at center for his college team. He shows excellent leadership skills and is accurate in making all the snaps. I feel Luke’s impact position for the next level will be at center. His leadership, high football IQ, and athletic talent all seem to come together at that position more so, than at the guard position. He should be an excellent center for the team that selects him.

CONCERNS
Luke will need to get stronger and play with more consistent leverage when run blocking. He also needs more repetitions at the center position in general. He really has played more guard than center while in college.

BOTTOM LINE 2.44
Luke just needs to get into the pro game quickly and start to train. The Kentucky program is excellent but it’s still a college situation and Luke needs more attention to detail in his strength and conditioning and in gaining repetitions at the center position. He also needs the experience of players and coaches who have played the center position to add to his knowledge. When this happens there is a very good chance of Luke being a starting center for the team that selects him and a chance to become a pro bowl caliber center too. Look for Luke on Rob’s board to suggest what round he will be selected. He could be an offensive lineman steal in the later rounds if this profile is correct.

STRENGTHS
Troy has the size, strength, speed and overall quickness to be an outstanding linebacker for the team that selects him. He has the speed and agility to cover those big Tight Ends. Troy has an excellent burst to the play and the recovery speed when in coverage, to surprise quarterbacks into throwing interceptions. Troy has the leadership skills and high football IQ you need for your linebackers to have. He has the ability and athletic talent to adjust his play and make a play when you need it the most, to win a game. Troy will be one of the better playmaking linebackers for the team that selects him.

CONCERNS
Troy is not the type of linebacker you use to shed and make tackles at the line of scrimmage. He needs to be free to run to the play for him to show his impact. Troy has played on offense and defense through his college career so he lacks the linebacker repetitions that other linebackers have had in this draft class.

BOTTOM LINE 2.64
Troy is very talented athletically, and along with his high football IQ, he has been very impressive during Senior Bowl week. He is a perfect fit for the new 4/2/5 defenses teams are turning to in this passing league. He is also a perfect fit as an OLB in a 4/3 defensive front as long as you allow him to use his speed. Troy has the speed, quickness, and good change of direction agility to use him as a pass rusher off the line of scrimmage and blitzing from deep if need be. All Troy needs is a little time to allow him to develop his instincts and if Troy plays in the right defensive system there is no telling how impacting and good he can be.

STRENGTHS
Nick reminds me of a bigger version of Chiefs Safety Tyrann Mathieu. He has excellent athletic talent, speed, and agility to play multiple positions in your defensive backfield. Nick is a sure tackler and a very good tackler and if he gets his hands on you, in the open field he will bite your leg off to get you down if he needs to. Nick has the speed to play in a deep single safety position and still make plays on the ball, in the air, from sideline to sideline. That’s right he has the speed to go sideline to sideline not just hashmark to hashmark. Nick has solid cover skills, enough to be used in the slot on the bigger receivers. With his sure tackling skills, athletic talent, speed, and instincts, Nick could be used at more than one position all over the field, near the line of scrimmage or in deep zone coverages.

CONCERNS
Nick will need to get a little quicker with his footwork when he is used in coverage. He also needs to communicate more in the backfield.

BOTTOM LINE 1.97
Nick is not as flashy as some other safeties but he is a lot better. He can be used up near the line of scrimmage or in the backfield in a 4/2/5 defense. He can be used in a two-deep zone defense but what really scares the living crap out of quarterbacks is when Nick is used as a single deep safety. He can cover so much ground that if your favorite team doesn’t have a strong-armed quarterback throwing the ball, Nick will make them wish they did. On third and long passing downs he will make a quarterback double-clutch causing a quarterback’s rhythm be disrupted. Nick is so fast that he can intercept the ball coming from the other side of the field out of the quarterback’s vision. Nick is a multi-position and talented football player with a high football IQ and speed to burn. I would think there is not a team out there that could not use that type of talent on their defense. He has 1st round talent who most likely because of the position he plays, won’t be selected in the 1st round.

STRENGTHS
Leddie reminds me a lot of former Broncos Running back Terrell Davis. He has excellent balance and trying to tackle him is like trying to use your bare hands to catch a slippery eel. Leddie is smart and always seems to get the needed yards to move the chains or the chunk yards that gets the offense unstuck. He is a red zone, touch-down-making machine. Leddie does all the right things when he is on the field waiting for his blocks when he has to, catching the ball on those swing passes, and doesn’t fumble. He has very good vision, balance, and lateral agility. He is the type of running back you tackle at the line of scrimmage and surprise… he still gained 4 yards. Leddie is not that impressive but he is effective and I’ll take effective over impressive any day because effective is more long-lasting.

CONCERNS
Leddie is not a speed running back. He needs the carries to be effective. Leddie will have to show that he can block to stay on the field enough to get those carries.

BOTTOM LINE 2.39
My guess is that Leddie might not be selected until the later rounds or maybe not at all. Leddie is the type of running back who will struggle to make a team and will only get on the field when injuries occur to other running backs in front of him on the depth chart. Nevertheless, once he gets on the field he won’t come off because of how productive he will be and the trust the coaching staff will have in him. This happens a lot to running backs who do not show the breakaway speed that excites the coaches and the fans when draft time comes around. Terrell Davis played for Long Beach State, was 5’11” 210 lbs, and ran a 4.72 in the forty at his combine. In his college career, he gained a total of 1,919 yards. He was selected in the 6th round. Leddie is listed at 6’0” 213 lbs ran a 4.72 that was “adjusted” to 4.64 at the combine. His 2021 season stats were 223 carries, 1,065, 13 TD’s 4.8-yard Avg. His, 2020 stats, 199 carries, 1,010 yards, 5.1-yard Avg, 9 TD’s. Now, most of you know that I’m not a big stat person. I believe they don’t tell the whole story and that coming from college and interns you can’t totally rely on them. But Laddie’s stats show up on the film when I watch him and so does his talent. Like I said he might not be impressive but he sure as hell is effective.