Category: 2019 Player Profiles

STRENGTHS
Blake has the talent to be a solid linebacker in the right system. He has good size and speed and does a good job playing within the game plan of the defensive system his college team uses. He has made impact players and has shown leadership skills that are needed to be a coach on the field and that makes him more valuable. Blake has the enough change of direction skills, to be used off the line in zone coverages with the play in front of him. He does a good job recognizing and reacting and has a good burst to the play, making tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Blake in the right defensive system will make impact plays and can become a core player and a fan favorite for the team that selects him.

CONCERNS
Blake does not have the elite athleticism or size and length to make him the type of player who can be used in multiple styles of defenses. Blake also losses leverage when tackling because once he engages he stops his feet and then tries to muscle the player down to the ground. He must learn to tackle “through” the player and not “at” the player. He also has to gain better strength in his hands to make the sure tackle. Blake has to play with more passion and commitment to what he sees in front of him. His initial reaction is quick but than his follow up reaction is too careful and lacks conviction. Blake also doesn’t meet blocks and shed them and make tackles, he goes around the blocks and at the next level that will not work.

TALENT BOARD ROUND 4.39
Blake has been an impact player for his college team because he is in the right defense that keeps big bodies off of him so that he can roam free and make tackles. If he is in that system at the next level he can impact for the team that selects him too. That being said that doesn’t change Blake’s ability to make tackles with better passion and aggressiveness and form. He still has to get stronger and tackle better. He still has to get better in coverage so that he can be used in man to man coverages or, Blake will bounce around the NFL. Now profiling linebackers is very difficult for me because linebackers in most cases are what I call, “system related”. This means that player fits a certain system and when that defensive coordinator is fired, in most cases that linebacker will be let go also. When that DC gets hired, that LB will be signed once again, to run that system on the field for that DC. Blake will be that type of linebacker and that doesn’t mean he won’t succeed, it just means as long as that defense is good and that DC is on the team and Blake doesn’t carry to big a salary, he can have a very productive and long career.

STRENGTHS
Connor has the size and solid athleticism to play the guard position for the team that selects him. He has enough foot speed to be used to pull and make blocks between the tackles. He has some lateral agility to help out his line mate’s and does a solid job when pass blocking. Connor has played center and guard and that type of versatility is what will make some teams think that Connor could be used as a back up offensive lineman.

CONCERNS
Connor troubles me. He is not a powerful run blocker and as a pass blocker he does better but, his techniques are poor for a player who has started as much as he has. I could go on and on about a whole bunch of technical issues but it comes down to this. I don’t see any passion in this kid’s play to improve enough to be a starting offensive lineman in the NFL.

TALENT BOARD ROUND 6.44
I don’t draft backups. I draft players who I believe have the potential to become starting players for my team. I don’t draft special team players either, I draft starting players who, can play special teams in the hope that they can be starters for my team in the future. I don’t draft kickers or punters because you can find a good one standing in the line at a supermarket. That’s just me. I don’t expect everyone to agree with me but as a person who has been involved with the NFL draft since 1979 and has done public profiles since 2004, through my mistakes I have come up with rules that I try to adhere to. I don’t select players who don’t show enough ON FILM to be starters in ANY round. Connor has talent and enough athletic talent to be a starting guard in the NFL but I don’t see it on film in his play, enough to warrant selecting him in seven rounds. Others will think differently and for that reason I will give a talent board grade. I have no doubt that some team will select him and no doubt he will be an excellent back up. Nevertheless, I don’t draft backups. So, let’s just go with this, the gauntlet’s been dropped Connor, prove me wrong.

STRENGTHS
Emanuel is a smart receiver who reminds a lot of Rams Robert Words. He has good speed and excellent quickness to separate on just about every route he runs. Because of his quickness he is always open inside the red zone. He shows good hands to catch the deep ball and runs his routes at different speeds setting up the defense. He can play against single coverage or zone because of his high football IQ. Emanuel off the line, shows those quick feet to get his opponent turned around when he wants to go deep or when he runs those slant routes. Also because of his high football IQ you could play him at any receiver position and move him around all over your offense and that means he can become an offensive weapon as well as a receiver.

CONCERNS
Emanuel can be pushed off his routes by those physical defensive backs. He will have to get stronger and will have to learn to catch contested passes or Emanuel will not be a top receiver for the team that selects him. He also has a slight build so injuries and injury history will be a concern.

TALENT BOARD ROUND 3.44
Emanuel has to get stronger and more physical. He separates so well at the college level its hard to see him catch any contested passes but the few I’ve seen makes me believe he needs to get stronger in every aspect of his game. Against zone coverages he is not a run after the catch type of player for the next level. But because of his speed and high football IQ, Emanuel has “impact receiver qualities” and teams are always looking for impact receivers who can develop and become more than just an impact receiver. Emanuel is a bit of a sleeper in this draft that is full of hormonal receivers. The truth is, Emanuel has more natural talent then most of those and if he gains some of that hormonal juice, and gets stronger he could surpass them, or at least be included as one of the better receivers that came out in this draft in the future.

STRENGTHS
Max is a very good offensive lineman. He has the athletic talent to play right tackle or left tackle. He has good foot movement laterally, along with the size and mental stamina that makes Max very valuable to the teams selecting in this draft. Max shows leadership skills in his play on the field. He has the foot speed to go out to the second level and make his blocks and he has good hand usage to keep opponents off his body to deal with those tricky spin moves. Max looks to be on film, a quality football player who will need time to develop but looks like that time will be worth it.

CONCERNS
Max still has some issues that need to be clean up. He has good hand usage but when pass blocking, his feet hesitate and this allows speed players to get around him especial when they push him up the field and then come back underneath. He moves off the line with smooth and quick footaction but than seems to struggle once engaged, as if he is not confident of his next step.

TALENT BOARD ROUND 2.11
Max most likely will be moved to the right side at the next level but I do believe he has the potential to play on the left side given some time to develop. I have this drill for offensive line who struggle with moving their feet once engaged. I would put the offensive lineman across from another player, tell the OL, to close their eyes and put their hands on the others player shoulders (two hands or one), as the other player across is allowed to move laterally one step or two or even three steps, left or right, as many times as they need, to fool and get by the offensive lineman who must keep his eyes closed. If and when the player fools the offensive lineman and takes a step to move by him, the offensive lineman hopefully (with his hands or hand still on the player) will turn his hips and push him up the field. The offensive lineman will be able to do his job by moving his feet and not by using his hands to defeat his opponent. When you have good feet but you stop them once you’re are engaged, that is mental coordination issue and not lack of physical talent issue. This drill will help to better coordinate a player’s feet mentally without using his eyes and without thinking. You start out slow and then go as fast or use as many steps as is necessary to help the player gain confidence in his feet and balance. Try it every day in practice and you will see the improvement very quickly. There, I’m done coaching for the day.

STRENGTHS
Sean has the size, length, speed that every team is looking for in a corner back. He has those long arms to be able to trail a receiver and still make a play on the ball. He has solid change of direction skills and when he uses the side lines to his advantage he does a good job in single coverage. Sean can become a good cornerback because of his size and length but as I always say…it takes more that talent or in this case…size and length to play in the NFL.

CONCERNS
Sean is on his heals at the snap of the ball and that means physical receivers will have him off balance right away, giving them a big advantage. Sean also has his hands all over the receiver pushing and grabbing and is not reading the receiver but looking into the back field on the snap once again, giving physical receivers a big advantage and those small quick receivers, even more of an advantage. He also is not likely to rush up to the line and make tackles. In fact, he never seems to be the first to the play and his tackling is questionable because of a lack of upper body strength. He tries to be physical but overcompensates for his lack of strength resulting in penalties for the next level.

TALENT BOARD ROUND 4.39
Sean really does look the part and I know coaches are going to think they can “coach him up” But I don’t believe in coaching players up if the effort and passion and aggressiveness is not there on film. He has the talent and the size but I think waiting for his first contract to see where he is at would be a smarter move than selecting him. Then again, a good coach can turn this kid into a starting corner back and that will attract some teams to select him and think they can “Coach him up”. What can I say, I guess I’m harder to impress?

STRENGTHS
Justin has good size and has those long legs and arms that teams are looking for in cornerbacks. He has quick feet and good change of direction talent. Justin has the ability to play in single coverage and zone coverage. He is smart and does a good job communicating with his teammates when in zone coverages. Justin has the potential to be a better and more complete corner back at the next level. His size and talent alone make him valuable for many teams in the NFL because he has played in both styles of coverages and has solid overall production.

CONCERNS
Justin has to become much stronger in his upper body to compete at the next level for a 16-game schedule. He does good job tackling but is not big enough or strong enough to tackle at the next level. He does a poor job getting off blocks to make tackles because of a lack of strength. Justin also has not shown the ability to intercept the ball. Also, he can be beat deep in the middle of the field so that means he is better playing in zone coverage but is not strong enough right now.

TALENT BOARD ROUND 3.72
Justin does an excellent job in single coverage inside the red zone because of his length and long arms and legs. Because of his lack of strength, he does not fight for the ball and make interceptions. You can see how smart he is and you can see the talent to be better than he is right now but the problem is, when he plays zone you can see him struggling with his lack of upper body strength. To his credit he does make tackles but he is not a strong tackler and zone cover corners have to be strong tacklers because the key to zone coverage is to limit the yardage after the catch and punish the receivers. Justin has the potential and talent and the truth is all he needs to do is get stronger to start using that talent. Nevertheless, he will be more of a zone corner and this will eliminate some teams who don’t like to play zone to selected him.

STRENGTHS
Germaine is an athletic linebacker with the cover skills needed, to be an every down linebacker. He has the size to play more than one linebacker position in any style of defensive scheme. He is an excellent tackler using the correct form and tackling “through” his opponent. Germaine is developing the instincts to become a dominant player with play making abilities. His cover skills are better than most LB’s and Safeties in this draft. He can be used to blitz, using his long arms to his advantage against running backs, H-Backs and Tight Ends who try to block him. Germaine has the biggest upside of any linebacker in this draft and I believe in a year or two he will be considered as one of the top players, in the NFL at his position.

CONCERNS
Germaine has moved around from position to position as he has grown into his body. Right now, he is succeeding on athletic talent and will need time to continue to develop the instincts and high football IQ needed to play at the level his talents suggest that he can play at.

TALENT BOARD ROUND 2.00
In years to come there is no doubt in my mind that teams will be kicking themselves for passing on Germaine in this draft. I will be surprise if he doesn’t, somehow sneak into the back half of the first round but then again, maybe I won’t. Some are going to suggest, because he didn’t run a blistering forty time that he doesn’t belong with the other more “media known” linebackers but his explosion to the play is excellent and his ability to cover is so much better than others in this draft that it surprises me that his play on film isn’t being talked about. Germaine has played safety, inside and outside linebacker. His ability to play against the run and shed blocks to make tackles is very good. He is stout against the run when used on the outside but what Germaine brings to the table is commitment to what he sees and burst to the play, making tackles all over the field. He has to work on his leadership, communication, and understanding of down and distance and situational football. Give him time, and he will be one of the best players on the field and a defensive player who makes plays.

STRENGTHS
Austin is an underrated pass rusher with good size and length to impact at the next level. He has good explosion off the line and when it’s a passing down you can bet he will be in the backfield as quick and as fast as any other defensive lineman in this draft. Austin has those long arms and mature hand usage to defeat his opponent. He has good foot speed to run down players from behind and good change of direction to be used for stunts. Austin is underrated and it seems like, I’m the only one who knows why.

CONCERNS
First of all, Austin, has been playing this year hurt showing his mental toughness. Also, Austin is playing on a defensive line that has excellent overall talent so, he is getting lost in the shuffle… so to speak. Add to those issues, that Austin is not good at stopping the run. Most of it is because of his injury and the rest of it is because he lacks the lower body strength and, the lateral agility you would expect from a talented pass rusher like Austin.

TALENT BOARD ROUND 2.17
Austin is dropping like bird crap on windshield in this draft because he hasn’t worked out, as of this writing. This, in spite of being named Defensive MVP of the Cotton Bowl playing injured alongside all of that other talent. Think about that. It’s true that Austin will have to get better against the run but I have no doubt he will and I also, have no doubt that he will have double digit sacks. Don’t be fooled into thinking that this kid can’t play. If he wasn’t good he would not be on the field with all that other talent. I’ll give you the struggle against the run but, I’m not going for people thinking this kid shouldn’t be considered one of the top pass rushers in this draft. That just makes no sense at all when you see him on film, all year long, making plays in the back field in every game they played and playing with one arm in the Cotton Bowl and dominating. That just doesn’t make much sense to me. The team that selects Austin will be selecting one of the best pass rushers in this draft, that I know.

STRENGTHS
Tytus has good size and athleticism to play either offensive tackle position at the next level and this makes his value intriguing. When he keeps his balance, he can mirror his opponent long enough to give his quarterback time in the pocket. He has the foot speed to turn his hips and push his defensive lineman up the field to keep the pocket intact. Tytus has the long arms needed to deal with those pesky speed rushes who can turn the corner quickly. He does a good job blocking for the running game if he keeps his pads down and doesn’t lose leverage. Tytus may need some time to reach his potential, but that potential should be as a starting left or right tackle to protect your franchise quarterback.

CONCERNS
Tytus improved dramatically during Senior Bowl week and showed that with good coaching he has the ability to start very quickly for the team that selects him. He will have to watch his weight or he will eat himself right off the team. He also needs more work on just about every aspect of his game and as a rookie he will struggle with illegal procedure penalties, he is easily tricked into doing that by defensive lineman.

TALENT BOARD ROUND 3.11
Tytus will be overdrafted. He has to be because, Offensive Tackles with this type of raw talent are few and far between. He did a very good job at the Senior Bowl and showed that he can step up against talent but the Senior Bowl is very limited in what they allow in blitzing and stunts and different defensive line schemes. Tytus will struggle learning the game at the NFL level. Those are the facts, but the facts also are, that Tytus has too much talent to last very long in this draft. So, look at Rob’s board to see where he might be selected and if your team selects him…give him time to improve. It should be worth it.

STRENGTHS
LJ is one of these “weird body guys” that play’s bigger than their size because of his long arms, powerful legs, and natural strength to defeat offensive lineman off the snap. LJ is not tall enough to play outside and not big enough to play inside but he does do a good job no matter where you put him on your defensive line. He can easily, stuff the run and does a good job getting into the back field to disrupt the play. LJ Has the natural strength to change the line of scrimmage to his advantage when he is playing on the inside or on the outside. He has enough foot speed to run players down but its his effort that helps him make those plays. Teams will be confused as to how to use his talent but I think LJ is better taking a direct line to the quarterbacks on passing plays and because of his ability to be stout against the run, it would seem to me playing him at a tackle position would be the best use of his developing talents.

CONCERNS
LJ hand usage is poor and inconsistent and he is going no place at the next level unless he improves those techniques. He can be used on the outside to rush the passer but once again he will have to learn power pass rushing techniques to survive as a defensive end in a 4/3 because he lacks the agility to turn the corner, bend and sack the quarterback. Right now, his biggest problem is getting off blocks quicker and finish when rushing the passer. All of that will come from using the correct hand techniques.

TALENT BOARD ROUND 3.44
It’s hard for me to see LJ as anything but a rotation defensive lineman who can play more that one position in multiple styles of defensive fronts. The problem with that is I don’t see him being outstanding in any one position and yet there is this nagging thought, that if he gains a few pounds, he could be a quick, strong, defensive tackle, similar to Warren Sapp or Aaron Darnold. I’m not convince he has that type of quickness but this kid is powerful and if he adds some techniques, he will be very hard to handle inside and that means he has the potential to start and impact. You never know I could be right…

STRENGTHS
Devin is a big running back in a small running backs body. He came into the combine 5’ 7” 203 lbs and when you see him on film he looks 5’ 10” 220 and runs like he is that big. He has excellent balance, vision and will break tackles because of his ability to go north/south. He has this slippery way of not taking a full hit when he gets tackled and he has a high Football IQ. Devin has a good lateral burst and excellent ability to get up to his full speed, two steps after he is handed the ball. He can catch the ball down the field as good as any receiver and he is a willing blocker, coming out of the backfield, as well as pass blocking for his quarterback. He is a natural running back with natural instincts to push the line of scrimmage, setting up his blocks for his offensive lineman and then waiting for his blocks, exploding into the second level. Devin could be a very special running back for the team that selects him.

CONCERNS
The biggest concern is that his size does not come close to fitting his style of running. He doesn’t time fast but on film he has a unique burst seen only in the top running backs who play the game. Basically, Devin is a contradiction and because of his size he will not be seen as an every down back unless, somehow, he proves it at the next level.

TALENT BOARD ROUND 2.89
Like I stated, Devin is a contradiction. He’s a big back in a little body and every one including me struggles with seeing him impacting at the next level as he has been at the college level. Nevertheless, I’m not convinced he won’t impact at then next level either. I mean you talk about being on the fence! I admit it…I am. There was no one more surprised than me when Devin was measured and weighed at the combine. You have to remember I do everything by film and on film I look at Devin and see a running back who break tackles, has the quickness too reverses his field and burst past players who are at their full speed, like they are standing still. When I see Devin on film I see a big back who runs in the 4.5 to 4.6 range. Not once did I think this kid was my size and runs as fast as me and that is not fast enough. So, do I believe my eyes or do I believe the facts and those facts are, Devin is not big enough to be an every down back and not fast enough or big enough to be a third down back. Do my eyes deceive me or, is Devin an exception in spite of being a contradiction? I think selecting Devin at some point in this draft would be a smart thing because I do think he is a contradiction and an exception and I do believe my eyes. Look at Rob’s board to see what round Devin is mostly likely to be selected in because the team that selects him just might be getting a special running back.