NFL Draft 2014 Preview (47 page)

Strengths:
Good eyes, instincts and motor — is around the ball a lot. Plays with a good base and does not cross his feet. Understands run fits. Clings to receivers passing through his zone. Urgent buzzing to the flat. Very tough and durable — will play through pain. Experienced, three-and-a-half-year starter. Very strong personal and football character. Accountable. Team leader. Extremely competitive. Outstanding weight-room explosion — can power-clean nearly 400 pounds.

Weaknesses:
Very stiff-hipped and short-armed. Has short arms and pedestrian strength (18 bench-press reps). Tends to play tall, get caught up in traffic and engulfed at the point of attack. Much of production comes moving laterally down the field. Does not drive his legs through contact and tackles low. Average functional strength and explosion. Marginal playing range. Tends to overrun the ball. Limited closing speed. Gives up separation in man coverage and struggles carrying crossers or keeping stride with backs and tight ends. Late to arrive on blitz assignments and gets knocked off path. Does not play on special teams.

Future:
A disciplined, football-smart, 4-3 Mike linebacker with the toughness, discipline and determination desired in a core special-teams player. Athletic limitations could force him to earn his way as a backup.

Draft projection:
Late draftable pick.

Scout’s take:
“I love his production. What you see is what you get. He’ll show guys the way. ... He could be a teamer for a long time.”

ILB C.J. MOSLEY, #32

ALABAMA
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Grade: 6.40

Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 234 | Sp: | Arm: 33 3/8 | Hand: 10 3/4

History:
Alabama native amassed over 500 tackles in his high school career, garnering Parade All-American honors as a senior. Started all 13 games as a true freshman, starting three at “Mike” (strong inside) linebacker, and recorded 69 tackles, 1 1/2-1/2 with 10 pass breakups and two interception touchdowns. Started 6-of-11 games played at weak inside linebacker in ’11 and tallied 37-4 1/2-2 with two pass breakups and an interception. Dislocated his right elbow against Arkansas and sat out against Florida and Vanderbilt. Played all 14 games in ’12, starting nine as the Tide’s “Will” ’backer in sub-packages, and produced 107-8-4 with two pass breakups, two interceptions and a forced fumble. Suffered a dislocated hip in the BCS Championship against LSU, then had off-season shoulder surgery to repair a torn right labrum. Won the Butkus Award (nation’s top linebacker) and was the Southeastern Conference Defensive Player of the Year (coaches) in ’13 — started all 13 games at weak inside linebacker and was Alabama’s leading tackler for the second consecutive season, racking up 108-9-0 with five pass breakups and a forced fumble. Also was a finalist for the Lombardi and Nagurski awards. Team captain won a pair of national championships. Did not bench press or run the 40-yard dash at the Combine because of a right shoulder injury.

Strengths:
Exceptional instincts — triggers fast downhill. Outstanding urgency. Plays with very good knee bend, balance and base. Secure, drive-through tackler. Hits with explosion and jars ball carriers on impact. Excellent lateral agility — flows fast and ranges to the sideline. Exceptional weight-room worker with good functional play strength — plays bigger than his size. Outstanding eyes and anticipation vs. the run. Very good coverage awareness with the ball in front of him — clings to tight ends passing through zones and blankets speed backs in man coverage. Respected leadership presence — lines up his teammates and directs traffic. Film junkie. Excellent attitude, effort, field intensity and overall energy. Exceptional football and personal character. Highly competitive. Humble, selfless team player. Outstanding football IQ. Scheme-diverse and versatile. Strong special-teams coverage performer.

Weaknesses:
Has a narrow build. Has been slowed by elbow, hip and shoulder injuries throughout his career and long-term durability will require thorough inspection by medical examiners. Gets hung up on the blitz (shoulder stiffness) and must learn how to use more finesse picking a side instead of relying on bull power and striking blockers down the middle. Can learn to do a better job shooting his hands to shock defenders and disengage from blocks. Could be challenged matching up down the field with his back to the ball vs. flex TEs in the slot (man coverage). Could stand to become a more vocal leader.

Future:
Smart, instinctive, fast-flowing, every-down linebacker capable of manning any position in a “40” front or steering a defense from the weak side in a “30” front, where he starred for a national-championship defense as a junior and carried the Tide as a senior. Has the football temperament, desire and work habits to emerge as a tackling machine in the pros. Has Pro Bowl potential.

Draft projection:
First-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“He’s very easy on the eyes. He is all over the field. ...I’m not sure he has quite the foot speed or snap I was expecting. He’s not the most physical guy either. He needs to be protected. He reminds me a lot of DeMeco Ryans, who was not an elite athlete either.”

ROLB-DLE TRENT MURPHY, #93

STANFORD
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Grade: 5.65

Ht: 6-5 3/8 | Wt: 250 | Sp: 4.86 | Arm: 33 7/8 | Hand: 11 1/8

History:
High school defensive end-tight end who also played basketball and ran track as a prep in Arizona, where he won a state championship. Redshirted in 2009. Appeared in two games in ’10 and scratched two tackles, one for loss and one sack before a broken foot sidelined him. In ’11, started all 13 games at outside linebacker in the Cardinal’s 3-4, tallying 40-10-6 1/2 with a pass breakup. Started all 14 games at OLB in ’12 and totaled 56-18-10 with four pass breakups, an interception and a forced fumble. Led the nation in sacks in ’13 when he started all 14 games at OLB and registered 62-23 1/2-15 with six pass breakups, an interception touchdown, two forced fumbles and a blocked kick. Also was used with his hand in the dirt in nickel. Team captain.

Strengths:
Naturally big-boned with a good frame to add bulk if desired. Very good instincts. Above-average athlete — bends fairly well. Massive mitts (11-plus) measured bigger than any other player at the Combine. Good hand use — can jolt blockers with his punch. Controls the line of scrimmage and consistently outleverages tight ends. Very physical re-routing tight ends at the line. Outstanding motor and sack production — led the country in sacks (15) as a senior. Tough, smart and hardworking with a throwback personality. Leader vocally and by example. Will hold teammates accountable and represent the program with class.

Weaknesses:
Very average weight-room strength. Underdeveloped upper body. Can be folded and neutralized by down blocks against more physical blockers (see Notre Dame). Cannot square up and play honest vs. top power. Has coverage limitations — is tight and late to transition. More natural moving forward than in reverse. Coverage limitations show up vs. backs. Can be stressed vs. speed in the open field.

Future:
As a base end in an even front or a LOLB in an odd front, Murphy’s instincts, motor and toughness are what define his success and could allow him to eventually become a double-digit sack producer in the pros. Will require a few years to adapt to the speed of the NFL game.

Draft projection:
Second- to third-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“He is solid. He is a fourth-rounder to me. You know who he is. He is a poor man’s Jared Allen. They both had about the same sack production coming out. Jared Allen ran a 4.75. Murphy ran a little worse — he’s not as fast. Both are not superstrong but have a knack for rushing the passer. Jared only had 13 reps on the bench. This kid had 22, and is a little naturally bigger and stronger. They are very similar. Both are very productive, understand angles and can come underneath blocks. Someone might take Murphy higher as a 3-4 rush guy, a Pittsburgh or Baltimore. I am not sure he can be that guy. I think he’s going to be best as a base defensive end.”

ROLB-DRE JONATHAN NEWSOME, #11

BALL STATE
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Grade: 5.17

Ht: 6-2 5/8 | Wt: 247 | Sp: 4.73 | Arm: 33 1/4 | Hand: 9 5/8

History:
Prepped at Glenville High in Ohio, where he played for Ted Ginn Sr. Began his college career at Ohio State, where he played five games as a true freshman in 2009 (wore jersey No. 55) and recorded five tackles, zero for loss and zero sacks. Appeared in all 13 games in ’10 (one start as an injury replacement) and was credited with 15-0-0 with a blocked kick. Did not keep up academically (sat out ’11 spring practice) or climb the depth chart at OSU. Transferred and sat out ’11 per NCAA rules. Was arrested twice in August ’12 — for shoplifting male enhancement pills and for marijuana possession. Served a two-game suspension before starting all 11 games played at right defensive end and notching 52-12 1/2-8 1/2 with a batted pass. Started 11-of-12 games played in ’13, tallying 64-11 1/2-8 with a batted pass, an interception and two forced fumbles. Did not play against Army or start against North Texas (ankle).

Strengths:
Very good edge burst. Has a long second step and attacks the edges with speed and leverage. Flattens down the line — good lateral pursuit. Can get depth in coverage and spot drop. Flashes explosive striking ability as a tackler.

Weaknesses:
Strength-deficient and gets hammered in the box. Thin-legged and narrow-based. Too light to set the edge. Limited cover skills — is tight in the hips and not natural moving in reverse or coming out of breaks. Immature early in college career.

Future:
A 4-3 open-side speed rusher ideally suited for an elephant end or 3-4 Jack linebacker role. Is at his best rushing the passer and has shown improved maturity since departing Ohio State before the 2011 season.

Draft projection:
Fifth- to sixth-round pick.

WLB-SS KEVIN PIERRE-LOUIS, #24

BOSTON COLLEGE
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Grade: 5.10

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 232| Sp: 4.51 | Arm: 32 1/4 | Hand: 10 1/8

History:
Was Connecticut’s Gatorade Player of the Year. Also played basketball and lacrosse. Played the weak side his first three seasons. As a true freshman in 2010, started all 13 games and produced 93 tackles, 2 1/2 for loss and zero sacks with three pass breakups. Started all nine games played in ’11 and notched 74-6-0 with four pass breakups and a forced fumble. Missed three games while nursing a high right ankle sprain. Started all nine games played in ’12 and collected 85-4-2 with three pass breakups. Missed three games after pulling his right quad. Moved to the strong side in ’13 when he started all 13 games and registered 108-10.5-6 with an interception.

Strengths:
Tight-skinned, muscular build. Big hands. Athletic knee-bender. Flows well laterally. Protects his legs and slips blocks. Motivated and hardworking. Productive four-year starter. Combine all-star put on a show in Indianapolis — ran in the low 4.5s, pumped 28 bench-press reps, posted a 39-inch vertical, recorded a 10-foot, 8-inch broad jump, finished the short shuttle in 4.02 seconds and ran a 6.92-second 3-cone drill.

Weaknesses:
Needs to improve functional strength. Average eyes and diagnostic skills. Loses sight of the ball, gets sucked in by playaction and takes false steps. Gets knocked out of the hole at the point of attack. Stays wired to blocks. Has man-cover limitations. Has tweener traits — lacks ideal bulk for linebacker and speed for safety.

Future:
Small-framed, experienced, productive, finesse weak-side linebacker who has bulked up 15-20 pounds in the last year. Helped himself with an outstanding Combine performance, and is best-suited in a fast-flow scheme in which he can utilize his athleticism to run and hit. Has traits to be used on special teams and develop as a nickel linebacker.

Draft projection:
Late draftable pick.

ROLB-DRE RONALD POWELL, #7 (JUNIOR)

FLORIDA
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Grade: 5.35

Ht: 6-3 1/8 | Wt: 237 | Sp: 4.66 | Arm: 32 1/2 | Hand: 9 3/8

History:
Consensus No. 1 defensive end recruit in the nation coming out of California. Played all 13 games as a true freshman in 2010 (one start at strong-side linebacker) and tallied 26 tackles, three for loss and a sack with two pass breakups. Started 12 games at the “Buck” (hybrid defensive end/linebacker) in ’11 and totaled 32-9-6 with a forced fumble. Suffered an upper-body injury against LSU and sat out against Auburn. Sat out the ’12 season when he tore his left ACL twice. Started 8-of-11 games played in ’13 — six at the “Buck,” two at “Sam” — and managed 26-7-4. Did not start against Tennessee, then sprained his ankle against LSU, which kept him out of the Missouri contest and kept him out of the starting lineup against Georgia and Vanderbilt. Strained his left hamstring running the 40-yard dash at the Combine and did not participate in drills or run shuttles and the 3-cone drill.

Strengths:
Looks the part — well-proportioned, athletic, muscular build. Natural bender. Terrific agility. Can stunt and loop. Closes fast. Flashes strong hands and power potential. Loose hips to zone drop. Was deployed as a stand-up linebacker and hand-in-the-dirt rush end. Has untapped potential.

Weaknesses:
Inconsistent get-off. Average eyes and instincts — has to see it before he triggers. Shoddy edge setter. Plays short-armed, gets locked up and allows linemen to capture his outside shoulder. Aimless, unrefined pass rusher. Intensity and urgency leave something to be desired. Has coasted on natural talent. Had his tires pumped since high school — entitlement was an issue as a young player and his personality could rub some people the wrong way. Injury history.