Summary

Doug Martin is one of this class’s most complete and promising backs. Among other attributes, his combination of vision, balance, and burst stands out on film. He projects as a three down back at the next level, with the receiving and blocking ability necessary to see playing time early. Expect Martin to be the second running back off the board, potentially as early as the middle of the first round.

In the NFL, the 5’9” Doug Martin will be gaining the majority of his yards between the tackles. As a compact runner with a low center of gravity and good acceleration, he showed the ability to pick up the Keep Reading...]]>

Doug Martin   Position: RB School: Boise State Height: 5’9 1/4" Weight: 223 lbs Class: Junior 40 time: 4.55 All-Star Game: Senior Bowl Team Captain: No Draft Projection: Mid 1st/Early 2nd Round

Summary

Doug Martin is one of this class’s most complete and promising backs. Among other attributes, his combination of vision, balance, and burst stands out on film. He projects as a three down back at the next level, with the receiving and blocking ability necessary to see playing time early. Expect Martin to be the second running back off the board, potentially as early as the middle of the first round.

Inside Runner

In the NFL, the 5’9” Doug Martin will be gaining the majority of his yards between the tackles. As a compact runner with a low center of gravity and good acceleration, he showed the ability to pick up the tough yards while at Boise State. Martin is an energetic runner, fighting for every inch. His combination of vision, balance, and elusiveness in a phone booth often allows him to turn losses into short gains or big plays. Though he could be considered a rugged back, he lacks elite power.

Outside Runner

Against WAC competition, Doug Martin proved to be an effective outside runner with burst, speed, and the ability to make defenders miss in space. He utilizes excellent vision outside the tackles, finding cutback lanes and exploding through the hole. While he may lack a third gear in the open field, Martin has the speed to turn the corner and uses his blocks well.

Receiving

Martin has been productive as a receiver and shows natural hands out of the backfield. Though his height limits him in terms of adjustment to poorly thrown balls, several of the top pass-catching backs are under 5’10″. After the catch, Martin’s burst and elusiveness make him a threat. He projects as a three-down back at the next level and should prove to be an effective option in the passing game.

Ball Security

Though he holds the ball tight to his body, Martin’s ball security is something that must be improved. At Boise State, he fumbled eight times in fifty games (6 lost.) When running, he rarely shifts the ball from one hand to the other relative to defenders or the sideline.

Vision, Instincts & Awareness

Among Doug Martin’s most noteworthy qualities, tremendous vision may define his game most. He is very good decision-maker, scanning the field and finding small seams. His ability to make something out of nothing consistently impressed me while watching the Broncos. Due to his vision and lateral agility, Martin is a very effective cutback runner excelling both in and outside the tackles. Typically his patience is an asset, but he occasionally stalls in the backfield and is taken down for a loss.

Elusiveness/Tackle Breaking

Despite weighing in excess of 220 pounds, Doug Martin is among this draft class’ most elusive backs. Utilizing his great vision, he excels making defenders miss in space. He displays good stop & start ability and has some wiggle to him. On several occasions he’s even flashed a lightning quick spin move. Martin is very tough to bring down in the open field. His energy stands out on film as he runs through arm tackles and gains yards after contact. He runs with exceptional balance and a low center of gravity, rarely going down on the first hit. Occasionally, often attempting to spin through contact, he’ll turn his back on the field, losing leverage and balance. Ultimately, his ability to win one-on-one matchups with defenders in space allows him to pick up extra yardage consistently.

Pass Blocking

While there is certainly room for improvement in this area, Martin heads into the draft as one of the few backs competent in pass-protection. His performance in pass blocking drills in Mobile drew high reviews, and it did not appear to be a weakness in the games I watched.

Leg Drive

Doug Martin has a relentless running style and keeps his legs moving on contact. While he lacks exceptional power, he runs through arm tackles with energy and low pad level. With nimble feet and excellent balance, Martin often picks up yards simply due to an extra effort.

Size, Speed, Strength & Agility

In terms of size, speed, strength, and agility: there is not much to dislike about Martin. In the athletically limited WAC conference, he has proven to be a rare find. At 5’9” 223 with a physique that has inspired the nickname “Muscle Hamster,” his compact build is perfect for withstanding punishment in the NFL. On the field, his strength evidenced by his yards after contact. While he lacks true breakaway speed, Doug Martin displays impressive burst and the ability to turn the corner. His combination of light feet and acceleration allow him to change speed & direction effortlessly. Martin’s lateral agility and skill as a cutback runner have made him a dangerous player to defend against. Displaying plenty of wiggle, he avoids tacklers in space and in tight areas.

Additional Information

By all accounts, Martin possesses great football character. Through his years in Boise, he displayed a remarkable worth ethic and dedication to the game. His running style demonstrates his competitiveness and his toughness. In 2011, Martin missed the majority of two games two due an ankle injury, but he does not appear to have any long-term durability concerns. Also worth noting: he was excellent when relied upon to return kicks for the Broncos, averaging 28.4 yards per return during his college career.

Potential

There is nothing holding Doug Martin back from developing into an excellent starter at the running back position. Several names that have come up while discussing him with others include: Ray Rice, Jonathan Stewart, and Frank Gore. While there is no way to be sure Martin will reach that level, he is a prospect with few flaws and a laundry list of strengths. His upside is high as a potential three-down, workhorse back.

Disagree with our scouting report? Think we’ve left something out? Maybe you’ve seen something we just haven’t. Thanks okay! Leave your own scouting report using the comments feature at the bottom of the page. We at Draft Breakdown value your opinion and we’d love to hear it. This feature is available on all of our scouting reports, articles and blogs. Help keep Draft Breakdown a one stop shop for all your NFL Draft needs!

Summary

A big pocket passer who owns virtually every Oklahoma State passing record (both career and single season). Drafted out of high school as a pitcher, and returned to college football in 2007 after shoulder injuries ended his baseball career. Teamed up with wide receiver Justin Blackmon to form the most prolific quaterback/wide receiver duo in the country over the last two seasons. Has more work to do mechanically than you’d like for a quarterback his age (28 year-old Redshirt Senior), but the mechanical inconsistencies also indicate the potential for untapped upside in terms of arm talent and accuracy. He projects to go from the middle of round one to early round two.

Height: 6056 Weight: 281

Best fit: 3-4 DE

Potential landing spot: Dallas Cowboys (14th overall)

Breakdown:

It feels a bit weird mentioning Quinton Coples in an article about edge rushers when that’s not how he’ll be earning his money at the next level. Still, since many consider him into this conversation, it only makes sense to take a closer look at the Tar Heel.

If this were a list about the top edge re-establishers, Coples would be much more at home. He was out of position when lining up at the blindside his senior year at Chapel Hill and is just not a real sack terror – and that’s perfectly fine. His hips just aren’t made to get around the corner and at his size, it’s not a simple task getting small to slip under or around left tackles. If he couldn’t do Keep Reading...]]>

Quinton Coples, North Carolina

Height: 6056 Weight: 281

Best fit: 3-4 DE

Potential landing spot: Dallas Cowboys (14^th overall)

Breakdown:

It feels a bit weird mentioning Quinton Coples in an article about edge rushers when that’s not how he’ll be earning his money at the next level. Still, since many consider him into this conversation, it only makes sense to take a closer look at the Tar Heel.

If this were a list about the top edge re-establishers, Coples would be much more at home. He was out of position when lining up at the blindside his senior year at Chapel Hill and is just not a real sack terror – and that’s perfectly fine. His hips just aren’t made to get around the corner and at his size, it’s not a simple task getting small to slip under or around left tackles. If he couldn’t do it in the ACC, it seems unreasonable to think he can do it against NFL blockers.

The player who comes to mind when looking at Coples is Calais Campbell while at Miami. Campbell was a highly rated player entering his final year at Da U but failed to reach expectations and frankly, was also out of position. Fast-forward to the present and Campbell has been a force playing the 3-4 defensive end and is due for a very large pay-day in the near future. Between 7 and 9 sacks (like Campbell) is what one should expect from Coples, but he’ll offer additional utility by batting passes and disrupting the edge – if he’s motivated. A mean Quinton Coples like people saw at the Senior Bowl practices is hard to defend. When he has the mentality of going out there and killing people (his words) he can play like a top 10 pick, but his consistency is the only issue holding him back from that.

Courtney Upshaw, Alabama

Height: 6014 Weight: 273

Best fit: 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB

Potential landing spot: Buffalo Bills (10^th overall)

Breakdown:

Courtney Upshaw is a name that many are familiar with by now. When rushing, he extends his hands well, dips his shoulder, and has the ability to get small around the corner. One of the first things that you’ll notice is his motor and mean streak. In fact, on many occasions in Mobile he and the South offensive tackles continued to go at it after the whistle. My favorite trait about Upshaw is his initial punch. Even though he has relatively short arms for an ideal edge rusher, he’ll often use them to set the edge and win the battle early.

Still, Upshaw may never be an elite sack artist it would be nice to see him stick his hands in passing lanes a bit more often. But unreasonable as it seems to expect routine double digit sack seasons, it also seems unreasonable to drop a players stock for that when they’re so good at almost every other facet. Courtney Upshaw steps up in the big games and it’s almost a sure-thing that he’ll be in the NFL for 10+ years.

Melvin Ingram, South Carolina

Height: 6017 Weight: 276

Best fit: All over the place

Potential landing spot: New York Jets (16^th overall)

Breakdown:

Melvin Ingram is probably one of the biggest anomalies that I’ve come across this draft season. Frankly, I feel he is overrated. Much of his production came surrounded by massive talent while floating around taking advantage of overmatched offensive linemen (mainly guards). In the Georgia game, he was held in check by left tackle Cordy Glenn and even tight end Orson Charles. In the Nebraska game, he was unable to get around Jermarcus Hardrick – a senior left tackle who you probably just heard of. But the big plays (sacks, fake punt touchdowns, interceptions, onside kick recoveries) give off the misleading box score illusion that Ingram is a stud.

Don’t get me wrong, I do like Ingram. Simply put, he’s a gamer and his instincts are better than any edge rushing candidate in this draft. His ability to sniff out the screen or bootleg is linebacker-esque. Still, I see him as a 2^nd round pick who will go earlier due to the importance of getting to the quarterback. His ability to be a productive rusher at times will be entirely dependent on his first move – and if that doesn’t work then he’s done for. The fact that he’s a jack-of-all-trades and master-of-none can be seen as both a positive and a negative. If a team drafts Melvin Ingram thinking that he’s going to stay at right defensive end, get 10+ sacks, and make multiple Pro Bowls then they’re doing it wrong. But in a league where matchups can make all the difference, it’s a torturous thought wondering just what the outcome will be. My gut tells me that the reason he’s ranked so highly by many is more about what they want him to be and not quite what he is.

Nick Perry, Southern California

Height (listed): 6030 Weight: 250

Best fit: 4-3 RDE

Potential landing spot: Cleveland Browns (22^nd overall)

Breakdown:

Nick Perry was not exceeding productive for most of his career at USC but began to show signs of his overall talent this past year. He is athletic, has good hips, and a solid motor. He on several occasions flashed the ability to get to the QB but does not always capitalize. His repertoire consists of mainly a straight bull-rush or just trying to beat his blocker around the corner. There wasn’t much creativity and often as soon as the ball is snapped, you know which is coming. His hand placement can use work and I would like to see more violence in them.

Injuries hobbled the growth of Perry for much of his career at South California but the skills are clearly there. In most drafts he would likely be a 2^nd round pick but due to the relative weakness at the position and priority on getting to the QB, Perry could be off the board in the 1^st round with good offseason workouts.

Whitney Mercilus, Illinois

Height (listed): 6040 Weight: 265

Best fit: 4-3 RDE

Potential landing spot: Jacksonville Jaguars (39^th overall)

Breakdown:

Whitney Mercilus came out of relative obscurity to be the most productive defensive end in college football. As a result, I was very motivated to do more film study on the Akron, Ohio native. What I found was a bit mixed.

His technique (like pretty much every college player) can use work, as he operates a bit too upright for the NFL. As a result, he is knocked off balance by blockers rather easily, especially when contacted from the sides. He has a natural stance but can sometimes be vulnerable to getting sealed off if he doesn’t explode out of it. His instincts are a bit of a work in progress and he can have difficulty reading the flow of a play and could sometimes bite too hard on playfakes. When double teamed, Mercilus has a high amount of difficulty doing anything and can also struggle to disengage in just one on ones – especially when he lets them in on his pads (which, as a result of being upright, are much easier to grab at).

To me, Mercilus is a middle 2^nd round pick. His being a bit of a one-year wonder is worrisome but the thing to like most about him is that when he does get to the quarterback, he goes for the strip. That’s something which not many college players will do but Mercilus does with relative ease. I’ll be very interested in how he looks in workouts.

Vinny Curry, Marshall

Height: 6030 Weight: 265

Best fit: 4-3 RDE

Potential landing spot: Indianapolis Colts (65^th overall)

Breakdown:

One of the first things that I noticed about Curry is that he’s not really explosive. His get-off of the line is rather average. The hand placement/technique is sound and when Curry does get around offensive tackles, he does a great job of shielding them with his body – much like a wide receiver does when they get a step on a cornerback. His pursuit, closing speed, and change of direction are limited by his lack of elite athleticism.

After meeting Curry, he’s very humble and comes off as coachable – which would explain why his technique is rather refined for someone his age. The phrase that I would use to describe Curry is efficient. His chances of flat-out busting seem slim but his chances are superstardom are equally slim. I actually think that with an extra 15 pounds Curry may be better off as a 3-technique defensive tackle but that’s probably crazy-talk.

Cam Johnson, Virginia

Height: 6036 Weight: 267

Best fit: 3-4 OLB

Potential landing spot: Green Bay Packers (91^th overall)

Breakdown:

I had not really taken an interest in Cam Johnson until the Senior Bowl, when Senio Kelemete said that he was the best player he matched up against. He pointed to his first step and that’s the first thing that you notice about Johnson. He gets off the line in a hurry and is explosive off of the edge. His stop and go ability lends itself nicely to the 3-4 defense, which Virginia actually played last season before switching to a 4-3.

Still, there are several things with Johnson that will keep him from coming off the board early – aside from injury (or who knows, maybe some of these things are due to injury). He can get pushed around a bit, especially after letting linemen in on his pads which he can sometimes do. He doesn’t fight through blocks so well either and needs to work on lower body strength. His initial punch wasn’t showcased much so it’s tough to tell if it’s just not there or not utilized. Dropping in coverage, he could sometimes lock in on one man and lose peripheral vision. A mean streak is also something that I would like to see more of from Johnson. To me he is a 3^rd/4^th rounder but it’s so hard to judge a player through injury that it’s hard to be certain of what you’re looking at. Also, a sickle-cell condition will keep Johnson from being an every down type of player – or even an any-down type of player somewhere like Denver.

Chandler Jones, Syracuse

Height (listed): 6050 Weight: 265

Best fit: 4-3 DE

Potential landing spot: New England Patriots (63^rd overall)

Breakdown:

Chandler Jones has been an interest of mine ever since finding out that his brothers are UFC fight Jon “Bones” Jones and Ravens DT Arthur Jones. Though hamstrung by injury for much of his stay at Syracuse, you can see that the natural talent is there.

Jones is raw to say the least though. When he runs, he swings around his arms – almost to the point where it is wasted energy. At times, he can even give away an impending bull-rush by tilting his head back before making contact with the linemen. This can’t be too smart but is likely correctable. His lower body needs to add strength but he can use his long arms to both get into passing lanes and keep blockers from getting a handful of jersey. Questions about his mean streak do creep into my head and he’s much more of a wrap-up tackler than he is the normal take the ball-carrier’s head off type. While it’s tough to see just his production making him a 2^nd round pick, his potential could allow him to creep in. When all is said and done, Jones could become the steal of the draft with his Aldon Smith-like skillset, but there’s just not enough evidence to be sure at this point.

Andre Branch, Clemson

Height (listed): 6050 Weight: 260

Best fit: 3-4 OLB or situational 4-3 DE

Potential landing spot: San Diego Chargers (49^th overall)

Breakdown:

When looking at edge rushers in this draft, Andre Branch always seems to catch my eye. He played mostly at end in the 4-3 defense but would occasionally stand up at an outside linebacker spot. In the occasional drop back in coverage, he is a bit clunky and needs work in that department. Still, when rushing he does a nice job at 6’5 of dipping his shoulder under tackles and getting around the corner. He does have some inconsistence tendencies out of his stance, as the explosion isn’t always there and can sometimes studder-step rather than just getting upfield. Working on extending his hands to keep space between he and blockers will also be something to work on too.

Andre Branch carries himself with a swagger, has a mean streak, and clearly likes to hit – afterall, not many of the guys on this list will try to lack out a 300 pound offensive linemen downfield behind the play. Middle 2^nd round sounds about right for him.

Bruce Irvin, West Virginia

Height (listed): 6’3 Weight: 245

Best fit: Situation pass rusher

Potential landing spot: Chicago Bears (80^th overall)

Breakdown:

Bruuuuuuuce Irvin is probably one of the most exciting/aggravating pass rushers in this class to watch. He was drastically out of position playing the 5-technique in the West Virginia 3-3-5 but on pass rushing downs always seemed to be a menace. He has the athleticism to embarrass offensive tackles at times, with a fake bull-rush inside move being one of his favorites. Still, he’s somewhat of a one-trick pony. When he’s in the game on non-pass rushing downs, he can sometimes be manhandled and could honestly be a liability on red-zone defense. He’s also not much of a tackler but has the athleticism to stop and go to hope his teammates can clean up for him.

Irvin in the NFL might end up being someone completely different from his last season at West Virginia, which didn’t even earn him a Senior Bowl invite. With the right coaching, I would keep an eye on this Mountaineer and look for him to come off the board in the 3^rd round. Even a situational pass rusher can have a huge impact.

Summary

Tannehill is a unique prospect in that he’s a redshirt senior with only 20 games of starting experience at quarterback – due to playing wide receiver at the beginning of his collegiate career (and playing receiver at high level, no less). Moved to quarterback midway through his junior season. Overall, a fundamentally sound quarterback who needs to clean just a few things up mechanically. Rhythm passer who displays a power arm when attacking intermediate portions of the field. He projects to go in the first round.

Quick, compact ¾ delivery. Offensive system has pro-style influences – designed around isolation routes to attack the intermediate areas of the field off 5-step drops from under center Keep Reading...]]>

Ryan Tannehill   Position: QB School: Texas A&M Height: 6’4″ Weight: 222 lbs Class: RS-Senior 40 time: N/A All-Star Game: No Team Captain: Yes Draft Projection: First Round

Summary

Tannehill is a unique prospect in that he’s a redshirt senior with only 20 games of starting experience at quarterback – due to playing wide receiver at the beginning of his collegiate career (and playing receiver at high level, no less). Moved to quarterback midway through his junior season. Overall, a fundamentally sound quarterback who needs to clean just a few things up mechanically. Rhythm passer who displays a power arm when attacking intermediate portions of the field. He projects to go in the first round.

Mechanics/Release

Quick, compact ¾ delivery. Offensive system has pro-style influences – designed around isolation routes to attack the intermediate areas of the field off 5-step drops from under center and 3-step drops from shotgun sets. Footwork needs to be touched up – most notably getting more push off on his first step in the drop. 3-step tends to get choppy with no crossover. Very comfortable executing play-action from under center. Weight transfer and hip rotation on his deep balls and bucket throws is an issue and he tends to underthrow them. Much more comfortable in traditional drops and play action footwork than most prospects.

Mobility

Can throw with accuracy on the run to both the left and right. Gets his hips turned and squared to the target before throwing. Strong, fast runner with build-up speed in the open field, but isn’t overly elusive. Had some long runs on the occasional read-option. Will be very effective on bootlegs and rollouts, and has enough speed to make the backside end play him honest. Was athletic enough to play receiver at a high level early in his college career.

Arm Strength

Rhythm passer with a power arm (one of the strongest in this class, arguably the strongest in the intermediate passing game). At his most comfortable in the 5-step drop game, where he can attack the intermediate areas of the field with power throws. Displays excellent velocity throwing out-breaks to the wide side of the field – not limited whatsoever by the wide “field” side in college football (caused by wider hash marks). System calls for many NFL style throws into tight windows, especially along the perimeter, and he completes these with velocity in every game. Can throw his receivers open.

Accuracy

When Tannehill’s footwork is on, he displays excellent accuracy in the short and intermediate range passing game. As noted before, his deep ball and bucket throws tend to be underthrown because he will roll his hips up and fail to transfer his weight properly. His best routes are along the perimeter – deep outs, comebacks, deep hooks, and the wheel route to the slot receiver (very good at timing and anticipating the wheel, in particular).

Decision Making and Intangibles

This is where many people split on Tannehill.

Way more comfortable running plays off the script early in games than he is down the stretch. Has a basic feel of high/low concepts and reading the vertical planes of the field, but is still raw in this area. Too many mistakes and bad plays came from locking onto his primary target – either not feeling blindside pressure, throwing blind into backside coverage late, forcing the ball, etc. Will press and make a head-scratching throw or two in almost every game. Needs to learn to throw the ball away. The major question with him is how well can he manage a team. He gave the program a major shot in the arm when taking over the starting job as a junior, but then A&M had a number of second half collapses this past year. While he was never solely at-fault, he still made some bad decisions in pressure situations (and I’d actually argue that when I isolate him from the team, he played very well in most of those losses aside from a play or two). These are the mistakes that are bound to happen with a relatively inexperienced quarterback.

He will face the gun barrel and make a throw even when he knows a hit is coming. Will move and reset in the pocket while keeping his eyes downfield. He feels and reacts to frontside pressure well, and, displays a good internal clock on backside pressures (although he can be inconsistent in this area). Despite being raw, was allowed to make some calls and checks at the LOS (breakdown of changing WRs route to a skinny post based on what the D was showing pre-snap in Northwestern video). Willing and able to make stick throws into tight windows.

Additional Information

Set a Texas A&M freshman single-game record with 12 catches for 210 receiving yards, and was voted offensive MVP by his teammates (again, as a freshman). Made Big-12 Honorable Mention at receiver as a redshirt sophomore in 2009. Replaced Jerrod Johnson at quarterback midway through his junior season. In his first start, he set a school record with 449 passing yards.

Had surgery in January to fix a broken bone in his foot. Was not able to participate in the Senior Bowl and will not be able to work out at the NFL combine.

Production/Experience

2008: 55 receptions, 844 yards, 15.3 YPC, 5 TDs
2009: 46 receptions, 609 yards, 13.2 YPC, 4 TDs
2010: 8 games, 152-234, 65%, 1638 yards, 13 TDs, 6 INTs; 51 rushes, 75 yards, 1.5 YPC, 1 TD
2011: 13 games, 327-531, 61.6%, 3744 yards, 29 TDs, 15 INTs; 58 rushes, 5.3 YPC, 4 TDs

Academics

Majored in Biology with a 3.6 GPA. Has considered attending medical school to become an orthopedic surgeon.

Awards and Honors

2010: First Team All-Academic Big XII
2009: Honorable Mention Big-XII, All-Academic Big XII
2008: Honorable Mention Freshman All-American, Honorable Mention Big-XII

Prospect Video Clips

Disagree with our scouting report? Think we’ve left something out? Maybe you’ve seen something we just haven’t. Thanks okay! Leave your own scouting report using the comments feature at the bottom of the page. We at Draft Breakdown value your opinion and we’d love to hear it. This feature is available on all of our scouting reports, articles and blogs. Help keep Draft Breakdown a one stop shop for all your NFL Draft needs!

Riley Reiff is another in a long line of top-caliber offensive lineman from the University of Iowa. Like the others before him, Reiff is a blue-collar blocker who is fundamentally sound, hard working, and plays with the aggressiveness that most NFL scouts drool over. While there are some flaws in his game, Reiff strikes me as a day-one starter in the NFL, and should be able to man the left tackle position for a team for many years. Playing at a premium position so many teams crave, Reiff should hear his name called within the first 15 picks in the NFL Draft.

Reiff is technically solid in pass protection, using his natural Keep Reading...]]>

Riley Reiff     Position: OT School: Iowa Height: 6’6″ Weight: 300 lbs Class: RS-Junior 40 time: N/A All-Star Game: N/A Team Captain: No Draft Projection: Top Fifteen Pick

Summary

Riley Reiff is another in a long line of top-caliber offensive lineman from the University of Iowa. Like the others before him, Reiff is a blue-collar blocker who is fundamentally sound, hard working, and plays with the aggressiveness that most NFL scouts drool over. While there are some flaws in his game, Reiff strikes me as a day-one starter in the NFL, and should be able to man the left tackle position for a team for many years. Playing at a premium position so many teams crave, Reiff should hear his name called within the first 15 picks in the NFL Draft.

Pass Blocking

Reiff is technically solid in pass protection, using his natural foot quickness and lateral agility to mirror speed rushers on the edge. He has nice length and uses his arms to his advantage to gain leverage on defenders, although he does overextend at times causing a loss of balance. Reiff seems only average when anchoring against bull rushers, but at the same time he does a nice job of recovering and fighting for position even when pushed off balance.

Run Blocking

Reiff is a strong run blocker who is powerful at the point of attack and comes off the ball hard during run plays with a nice initial burst. Despite being an average athlete, Reiff is quick and light on his feet in the screen game and gets to the second level with ease. Once at the second level, he does a nice job of locating his target and maintaining his block through the duration of the play. He plays in a zone blocking scheme and is not asked to pull or trap much, so there may be a learning curve there in the NFL.

Awareness

Like most Iowa linemen, Reiff is a smart player who seems to understand his assignments in both the run and pass game. My only criticism here is at times he locks onto a single target while letting a secondary defender run free. He needs to improve his ability notice that defender and chip when necessary.

Hand Placement

Probably Reiff’s biggest area for improvement is inconsistent hand placement. He doesn’t use his hands aggressively enough at times, especially for a guy as big and powerful as he is. When he does lock on and fight for position, he is tough and almost impossible to shed. He seems to understand the importance of leverage, so he should be able to improve this aspect over time.

Mobility

Reiff is not the most athletic tackle you will see play, but he is good enough to not be considered heavy-footed. He is a natural knee bender and sits in his stance very well. He is quick enough off the snap to be strong and aggressive at the point of attack. He does at times play too upright for his height, but should improve on that with additional coaching. For as tall as he is, he is a good cut blocker who is fluid when attacking a defender low.

Footwork

Reiff seems to be strong fundamentally in his footwork, getting nice depth on his kick step in pass protection, and showing nice fluid agility in his lateral movements. He does a nice job of consistently moving his feet to maintain balance and leverage. Reiff keeps a nice wide base at most times.

Additional Information

As a freshman at Iowa was arrested for public intoxication and for leading police on a 20-minute chase on foot… South Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year as a high school senior… two-time South Dakota Elite 45 team selection… South Dakota 11B all-American as a senior… first team all-state defensive end as a sophomore and junior… first team all-state tight end as a senior… first team all-conference as a sophomore, junior and senior… Collected 261 tackles, 23 sacks and eight interceptions on defense… also caught 27 passes for 321 yards and nine touchdowns… lettered in wrestling, golf and track… three-time state wrestling champion with a career record of 121-1.

Production/Experience

2011: Played and started in all 13 games at left tackle
2010: Played and started in all 13 games at left tackle
2009: Started 11 of 13 games, with three starts at left tackle, seven at left guard and final game at right tackle
2008: Redshirt

Academics

Interdepartmental studies major.

Awards & Honors

2011: First team all-Big Ten by league coaches and media … Pro Football Weekly first-team all-american
2010: Second team all-Big Ten by league coaches and media … Hustle Team Award, Offense.
2009: Third team Freshman all-America by CollegeFootballNews.com … first team Big Ten all-Freshman team by Sporting News … Next Man In Award, Offense.
2008: None

Disagree with our scouting report? Think we’ve left something out? Maybe you’ve seen something we just haven’t. Thanks okay! Leave your own scouting report using the comments feature at the bottom of the page. We at Draft Breakdown value your opinion and we’d love to hear it. This feature is available on all of our scouting reports, articles and blogs. Help keep Draft Breakdown a one stop shop for all your NFL Draft needs!

Summary

Griffin is a redshirt junior quarterback. He has started for Baylor since his true freshman season (winning the Big-12 Conference Freshman of the Year Award), and accrued his redshirt after tearing an ACL early in his sophomore campaign. The 2011 Heisman Trophy winner is accredited with bringing the Baylor program into the national spotlight, culminating in a 10-3 record this season. Griffin is a dangerous quarterback – capable of blowing the top of the defense with uncanny deep ball accuracy. He’s a fantastic athlete with a slight frame that has not been completely filled out. Has taken huge steps forward each year in his development, even when recovering from injury. He projects to be a top Keep Reading...]]>

Robert Griffin III   Position: QB School: Baylor Height: 6’2″ Weight: 220 lbs Class: RS-Junior 40 time: N/A All-Star Game: No Team Captain: Yes Draft Projection: Top Five Pick

Summary

Griffin is a redshirt junior quarterback. He has started for Baylor since his true freshman season (winning the Big-12 Conference Freshman of the Year Award), and accrued his redshirt after tearing an ACL early in his sophomore campaign. The 2011 Heisman Trophy winner is accredited with bringing the Baylor program into the national spotlight, culminating in a 10-3 record this season. Griffin is a dangerous quarterback – capable of blowing the top of the defense with uncanny deep ball accuracy. He’s a fantastic athlete with a slight frame that has not been completely filled out. Has taken huge steps forward each year in his development, even when recovering from injury. He projects to be a top 5 pick.

Mechanics/Release

Fast, ¾ release that doesn’t quite come completely over-the-top. Combined with his height, batted balls could be a concern in the NFL – although it hasn’t been a notable problem thus far in his career. Played in a hybridized spread offense that included read-option plays in order to take advantage of his athleticism. The passing concepts Baylor ran, however, are closer to their other Big XII counterparts (like Oklahoma and OSU) than a true spread-option team like Oregon. Baylor also calls a handful of plays per game with Griffin under center – they especially love throwing play action passes out of these sets. Griffin displays good fundamentals on these plays – turning his back to the defense and showing them the ball to sell the run action. He has a fluid crossover on his dropback and gains proper depth on the first step, however he needs to speed up his drop and not be quite so deliberate. His plant and gather is robotic, however – he doesn’t drive off his back foot at the top of his drop – he’ll simply extend it and pull it back up. The positioning of his feet is correct, but there is no weight transfer, affecting arm strength.

Mobility

Very good speed and is a dangerous thrower when rolling out to his right. Capable of throwing with velocity and accuracy when rolling right even when he doesn’t have his feet set or his hips turned to the target. Has more straight line speed than elusiveness – not particularly slippery as a runner. Faced a ton of zone coverage in college with 22 eyes focused on him and, thus, didn’t have a ton of huge open-field runs escaping vertically against the defense. Can be prone to fumbling when he scrambles.

Arm Strength

Very good arm strength, but not elite. Showed the ability to make throws to the wide side from the far hash in college. Potential for his arm to get stronger in the NFL as he gets bigger and stronger, develops more core strength, and learns to properly drive and transfer his weight on throws.

Accuracy

Deep ball accuracy is superb. As stated, he doesn’t have the strongest arm, but has Philip Rivers-type ball placement on deep routes. Despite not having elite arm strength, receivers rarely have to slow up and wait on his deep ball – he consistently hits the WR in stride. Trusts his WRs and throws the 50/50 ball often and accurately – giving his WRs a chance to climb the ladder and make plays over DBs. Has a tendency to throw behind his target on timing routes to the outside and throws over the middle. Wasn’t challenged by a ton of man coverage – however Oklahoma ran predominantly man against Baylor this season and he responded with some stick throws into tight windows – both deep and over the middle.

Decision Making and Intangibles

Can play very hurried and frenetic at times, and his pocket presence is average at best. Doesn’t feel blindside pressure well, and takes a lot of hits and sacks and is prone to giving up fumbles because of backside pressure. Can be indecisive in deciding whether to scramble or find someone downfield.

However, he’s a very tough player who will make an attempt to keep his eye level downfield and stare down the gun-barrel even after getting hit a lot early in the game (see Oklahoma). Still inconsistent as an anticipation thrower, but he displays the willingness and ability to make stick throws over the middle of the field. Willingness and ability to attack deep forces defenses to cover 100 x 53.

Additional Information

Excels at track – broke many state HS track records and is the holder of the NCAA Midwest Regional 400-meter hurdles record. Participated and advanced to the semi-finals for Olympic tryouts.

Production/Experience

2008: 12 games, 160-267, 60%, 2091 yards, 7.8 YPA, 15 TDs, 3 INTs; 173 rushes, 843 yards, 13 TDs, 4.9 YPC
2009: 3 games, 45-69, 65.2%, 481 yards, 7.0 YPA, 4 TDs, 0 INTs; 27 rushes, 77 yards, 2 TDs, 2.9 YPC
2010: 13 games, 305-454, 67%, 3501 yards, 7.7 YPA, 22 TDs, 8 INTs; 139 rushes, 635 yards, 8 TDs, 4.3 YPC
2011: 13 games, 291-402, 72%, 4293 yards, 10.7 YPA, 37 TDs, 6 INTs; 179 rushes, 699 yards, 3.9 YPC, 10 TDs

Academics

Graduated with a 3.67 GPA in political science. Has considered entering law school.

Awards and Honors

2011: Heisman Trophy winner, 2011 Davey O’Brien Award winner
2010: Semifinalist for Maxwell Award, Semifinalist for Walter Campbell Player of the Year, 2010 Baylor’s Kyle Woods Inspirational Leader
2008: Sporting News and Rivals.com freshman first team All-American, Big 12 gold medalist (400m hurdles), Track & Field All-American (400m hurdles), Baylor Offensive MVP

Prospect Video Clips

Disagree with our scouting report? Think we’ve left something out? Maybe you’ve seen something we just haven’t. Thanks okay! Leave your own scouting report using the comments feature at the bottom of the page. We at Draft Breakdown value your opinion and we’d love to hear it. This feature is available on all of our scouting reports, articles and blogs. Help keep Draft Breakdown a one stop shop for all your NFL Draft needs!

Summary

Jonathan Martin is an excellent, experienced all-around left tackle who has been tasked with protecting Andrew Luck’s blindside, as well as the hopes of many moribund NFL franchises, for the past three seasons. While perhaps not quite the athlete of top-10 pick Matt Kalil, Martin is above-average physically and looks completely natural and comfortable playing left tackle. While I hate to use the term “finesse” for any offensive lineman, Martin’s game is more about agility, technique, and quickness than power. If he decides to declare, Martin should hear his name called in the top-20 picks of the NFL Draft.

Martin is solid in pass pro, using excellent anticipation and quickness off the snap to Keep Reading...]]>

Jonathan Martin   Position: OT School: Stanford Height: 6’6″ Weight: 304 lbs Class: RS-Junior 40 time: N/A All-Star Game: N/A Team Captain: No Draft Projection: 1st Round

Summary

Jonathan Martin is an excellent, experienced all-around left tackle who has been tasked with protecting Andrew Luck’s blindside, as well as the hopes of many moribund NFL franchises, for the past three seasons. While perhaps not quite the athlete of top-10 pick Matt Kalil, Martin is above-average physically and looks completely natural and comfortable playing left tackle. While I hate to use the term “finesse” for any offensive lineman, Martin’s game is more about agility, technique, and quickness than power. If he decides to declare, Martin should hear his name called in the top-20 picks of the NFL Draft.

Pass Blocking

Martin is solid in pass pro, using excellent anticipation and quickness off the snap to gain advantages on
the defender. He does a great job keeping his feet moving and maintains balance while engaged with a
defender. There are times when his initial drop-step is too shallow, and therefore he doesn’t get enough
depth when trying to ride an edge rusher around the pocket. Martin has a solid but not overpowering punch.
He possesses adequate anchor strength but has to fight to keep stronger bull rushers at bay.

Run Blocking

Martin is a good run blocker who uses excellent agility to beat defenders to the point of attack and wall off
their attempts at getting to the ball carrier. He is a natural bender who, for the most part, keeps his pad
level low and maintains leverage advantages. He plays with a bit of a nasty streak and sustains his blocks
throughout the action. Martin does a good job chipping an initial defender, then locating his second read and attacking. He seals the edge very well, even moving outside the right tackle on occasion when plays are called
to that side.

Awareness

Martin is an intelligent player who recognizes blitzes early and seems to understand his assignments in both pass protection and in the run game. He locates critical defenders well, and understands when to shed his current block and attack someone else.

Hand Placement

Martin does a good job of fighting for hand position, but needs to improve strength in this area. When engaged with a stronger defender, he can struggle to both shed the defender when needed and keep his hands in an advantageous position. He has an adequate initial punch and does a good job keeping his arms extended and engaged in pass protection. Martin uses his hand rather than catching defenders with his body.

Mobility

Martin is an above-average athlete with nice agility but only average foot speed to get down the field. While
not asked to pull a ton, when he does he is nimble and can get around the edge with ease. He does not
necessarily excel as a second level blocker, although the effort is always there. Martin has quick feet and is
lightning quick off the snap, one of his best qualities.

Footwork

Overall, Martin has good footwork, but at times his steps can get too choppy in pass protection and his
drop-step too shallow. When engaged in run blocking, he keeps his legs churning and can effectively ride his
defender out of the play. He is light on his feet and keeps a nice wide base with good balance.

Additional Information

Martin graduated from Harvard-Westlake School in North Hollywood, Calif., and was only ranked as the No. 44 offensive tackle nationally by Rivals.com as well as the No. 52 overall player in California. SuperPrep ranked him No. 95 among California/Hawaii/Nevada prospects.

Production/Experience

2011: Has played and started in all 12 games.
2010: Played and started in all 13 games.
2009: Played in all 13 games with 11 starts at LT.

Academics

Majoring in classics.

Awards & Honors

2011: Playboy Preseason All-American First Team; named to the Rotary Lombardi Award preseason watch list.
2010: All-Pac-10 First Team
2009: All-Pac-10 honorable mention; Second Team Freshman All-American by College Football News.

Disagree with our scouting report? Think we’ve left something out? Maybe you’ve seen something we just haven’t. Thanks okay! Leave your own scouting report using the comments feature at the bottom of the page. We at Draft Breakdown value your opinion and we’d love to hear it. This feature is available on all of our scouting reports, articles and blogs. Help keep Draft Breakdown a one stop shop for all your NFL Draft needs!

Summary

Luck is a redshirt junior and has been the starting quarterback for Stanford since his redshirt freshman season. One of the highest touted quarterback prospects in recent years, he would likely have gone #1 overall had he declared after last season and is a virtual lock to be the first off the board this year. A true field general, he has full command of his offense and has been praised by his head coach as essentially being an offensive coordinator on the field. A big, rugged, powerful player with nimble feet and elite instincts for the position. Has the potential to be the foundation of a team’s offense in the NFL.

Luck has a compact, Keep Reading...]]>

Andrew Luck   Position: QB School: Stanford Height: 6’4″ Weight: 235 lbs Class: RS-Junior 40 time: N/A All-Star Game: No Team Captain: Yes Draft Projection: First Overall

Summary

Luck is a redshirt junior and has been the starting quarterback for Stanford since his redshirt freshman season. One of the highest touted quarterback prospects in recent years, he would likely have gone #1 overall had he declared after last season and is a virtual lock to be the first off the board this year. A true field general, he has full command of his offense and has been praised by his head coach as essentially being an offensive coordinator on the field. A big, rugged, powerful player with nimble feet and elite instincts for the position. Has the potential to be the foundation of a team’s offense in the NFL.

Mechanics/Release

Luck has a compact, over-the-top release. Does a good job of “crushing pebbles” with his feet while he stands in the pocket scanning the field. Mechanically, he’s very sound, although he does get inconsistent from time to time with his footwork. Will occasionally get in the habit of kickstepping instead of crossing over on his straight dropbacks, and has a strange gather step out of shotgun. Major tendency to raise his back foot upon release – this has more of an effect on his velocity and ball placement than anything.

Mobility

Strong, rugged, and tough runner. Excellent footwork in the play-action game, and can run bootleg effectively to the left and right. Has the awareness to scramble vertically when he recognizes man coverage and horizontally to stretch the defense when they’re in zone. Stanford uses his mobility as the foundation of their play-action passing game.

Arm Strength

Doesn’t have a howitzer but can make all the throws. Shows the ability to crease the ball into tight windows against man coverage, as well as the ability to throw receivers open. Throws with above-average velocity on the run. Poor weight transfer at times results in too many all-arm throws where he loses RPMs on the ball. Displays a good overall understanding of when to crease a throw or when to put touch on the ball.

Decision Making and Intangibles

Two things really stick out with Luck, and they’re what make him such an elite and unique prospect. The first is that he displays an innate feel for pressure in the pocket. He can feel where it’s coming from and make subtle moves in a muddied pocket to buy himself the time for a receiver to get open – all while keeping his eye level downfield.

The second thing is that he’s one of the rare college quarterbacks that’s been taught to make decisions based off of reading coverages, as opposed to going through a pre-determined receiver progression. He also understands how to manipulate the second and third level defenders with his eyes and feet to open up throwing lanes downfield. Will stare down the gun-barrel to make throws under pressure, although he showed some flinching in the pocket and anticipation of pressure against Oregon this year.

The only real complaint I have with him is that he needs to learn that it’s okay to live to see another down. He’ll take a sack or throw blind into coverage on occasion, instead of just throwing it away.

Additional Information

Co-valedictorian of his high school class. Owns virtually every Stanford career passing record, as well as Pac-10 record for highest single-season completion percentage (70.7%, 2010).

Production/Experience

2009: 12 games, 162-288, 56.3%, 2575 yards, 8.9 YPA, 13 TDs, 4 INTs; 61 rushes, 354 yards, 5.4 YPC, 2 TDs
2010: 13 games, 263-372, 70.7%, 3338 yards, 9.0 YPA, 32 TDs, 8 INTs; 55 rushes, 453 yards, 8.2 YPC, 3 TDs
2011 (1 game remaining): 12 games, 70.0%, 3170 yards, 35 TDs, 9 INTs; 43 rushes, 153 yards, 3.6 YPC, 2 TDs

Academics

Majoring in architectural design and engineering.

Awards and Honors

2011: Maxwell Award, 2011 Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, 2011 First Team All America (AFCA, Walter Camp), Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All Pac 12, First Team Pac-12 All-Academic Team, Academic All-American of the Year(CoSIDA)
2010: Heisman Trophy Runner-up, Second Team All America, Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year, First Team All Pac-10, Second Team Pac-10 All-Academic Team, Orange Bowl MVP
2009: Freshman All-America, Honorable Mention All Pac-10, First Team Pac-10 All-Academic Team

Prospect Video Clips

Disagree with our scouting report? Think we’ve left something out? Maybe you’ve seen something we just haven’t. Thanks okay! Leave your own scouting report using the comments feature at the bottom of the page. We at Draft Breakdown value your opinion and we’d love to hear it. This feature is available on all of our scouting reports, articles and blogs. Help keep Draft Breakdown a one stop shop for all your NFL Draft needs!

DeCastro is a smart, technically sound guard who has been an integral part of Stanford’s dominant power rushing attack for three years. While not overly impressive physically, DeCastro beats his opponents consistently by being fundamentally sound, consistent with effort, and taking advantage of his natural flexibility to gain leverage advantages. He is a master at pulling and trapping, and opens holes in the running game with a seek-and-destroy attitude. One of the top guards I have watched on tape, DeCastro is worthy of top-15 consideration in the 2012 draft.  

DeCastro is solid in pass protection, helping keep all-world QB Andrew Luck safe for the past three years. While possessing only average Keep Reading...]]>

David DeCastro   Position: OG School: Stanford Height: 6’5″ Weight: 310 lbs Class: Redshirt Junior 40 time: – All-Star Game: n/a Team Captain: No Draft Projection: Top 15 Pick

Summary

DeCastro is a smart, technically sound guard who has been an integral part of Stanford’s dominant power rushing attack for three years. While not overly impressive physically, DeCastro beats his opponents consistently by being fundamentally sound, consistent with effort, and taking advantage of his natural flexibility to gain leverage advantages. He is a master at pulling and trapping, and opens holes in the running game with a seek-and-destroy attitude. One of the top guards I have watched on tape, DeCastro is worthy of top-15 consideration in the 2012 draft.
 

Pass Blocking

DeCastro is solid in pass protection, helping keep all-world QB Andrew Luck safe for the past three years. While possessing only average anchor strength, DeCastro fights for leverage with his hands and stay under the pads of his opponent consistently well. He keeps his arms extended in pass protection and does a good job keeping his feet moving and maintaining balance. Larger defenders may give him trouble on the inside at the next level. DeCastro is listed at 310 lbs. but is very lean looking and has the frame to add some weight in the NFL.

Run Blocking

DeCastro’s main area of excellence is run blocking. He easily walls off defenders in the run game, and never seems to get beat at the point of attack. He uses quick feet to pull and is as good at locating defenders at the second level as I’ve seen. DeCastro may not be a dominant drive blocker (which may come with some added bulk) but he keeps his legs churning with good effort and has the ability to move defenders off the ball. He plays RG at Stanford mainly because of the power rushing attack they use, which has him pulling on seemingly every run play. DeCastro can easily transition to LG in the NFL.

Awareness

DeCastro is an intelligent player and understand his assignments very well. He never seems to be fooled by blitzes in the pass game, and does an excellent job leaving a double-team to pick up an incoming defender. In the run game, he locates defenders extremely well and is seemingly always in the correct position.

Hand Placement

DeCastro does a good job keeping his arms extended and his hands engaged in pass protection, but he does not possess an elite initial punch and he does not usually win battles with his hands. While it may be nitpicking a bit on a player of DeCastro’s caliber, this is an area where he can improve and should be coached up on in the NFL where defenders can be violent with their hands.

Mobility

DeCastro does not possess elite athleticism or foot speed but has enough mobility to easily get to the second level, often even using a quick swim move to get around the tackle on screen plays. His ability to be a pulling guard is one of his best assets and he looks comfortable working in space. He does have nice natural flexibility that allows his to stay low and win leverage battles time after time.

Footwork

DeCastro is very light on his feet and does a beautiful job of using short, choppy steps when pulling/trapping to maintain good balance and leverage. He never stops moving his feet when engaged with a defender and maintain a proper shoulder-width base in pass protection. DeCastro is technically very sound.

Additional Information

Threw shot put in high school and was the Washington State 3A champion in 2008 with a throw of 59’3”.

Production/Experience

2011: Has played and started in all 12 games
2010: Played and started in all 13 games
2009: Played and started in all 13 games

Academics

Majoring in management, science, and engineering

Awards & Honors

2011: Phil Steele preseason All-American, Outland Trophy finalist
2010: All-Pac-10 First Team
2009: All-Pac-10 honorable mention

Prospect Video Clips

Disagree with our scouting report? Think we’ve left something out? Maybe you’ve seen something we just haven’t. Thanks okay! Leave your own scouting report using the comments feature at the bottom of the page. We at Draft Breakdown value your opinion and we’d love to hear it. This feature is available on all of our scouting reports, articles and blogs. Help keep Draft Breakdown a one stop shop for all your NFL Draft needs!

Summary

Despite starting four years at left tackle, Ijalana is viewed as a project along the offensive line. Ijalana will likely be drafted to play either right tackle or guard, and will find his success as a road grading lineman regardless of which position he plays. His strength and run blocking abilities make him one of the draft’s best power linemen. Despite not projecting to left tackle, Ijalana could be drafted as early as the 2nd round. The former Wildcat would was unable to participate, and possibly raise his stock, in both the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine due to a hernia. If he is able to improve on a few technical flaws, Ijalana could become a Keep Reading...]]>

Ben Ijalana   Position: OG School: Villanova Height: 6’3 5/8" Weight: 317 lbs Class: Senior 40 time: 5.20 All-Star Game: None Team Captain: No Draft Projection: 2nd – 3rd Round

Summary

Despite starting four years at left tackle, Ijalana is viewed as a project along the offensive line. Ijalana will likely be drafted to play either right tackle or guard, and will find his success as a road grading lineman regardless of which position he plays. His strength and run blocking abilities make him one of the draft’s best power linemen. Despite not projecting to left tackle, Ijalana could be drafted as early as the 2nd round. The former Wildcat would was unable to participate, and possibly raise his stock, in both the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine due to a hernia. If he is able to improve on a few technical flaws, Ijalana could become a dominant player along the interior line, or a very good right tackle.

Pass Blocking

Ijalana is fast in getting out of his stance and shuffling into protection. With 36” arms, he is able to keep defenders at a distance. Despite being relatively quick, Ijalana has a tendency to move backwards and collapse the pocket instead of forcing the rusher around the edge. He also tends to play too high, limiting his leverage and ability to fend the power rush. While he isn’t slow, Ijalana displays poor footwork and quick defensive ends are often able to take advantage of him off the edge.

Run Blocking

Ijalana uses his superb strength to physical dominate defensive players. He explodes off the line of scrimmage and packs a powerful punch into the chest of the defender. His long arms are helpful as he pushes the defender away. His mean streak is evident as he pushes through blocks until the play is over. He does a good job of getting to the second level and finding a defender to eliminate. While he isn’t terrible in space, he isn’t overly quick and occasionally misses his man. His pad level is a minor issue as he sometimes fails to play as low as he should, but he is strong enough to make up for the loss of leverage and power through his blocks.

Awareness

Despite his experience, Ijalana doesn’t appear to have mastered blocking schemes and may struggle with more complicated blitzes in the NFL. His difficulty in recognizing stunts and other complex defenses occasionally causes him get taken advantage of in pass protection. Ijalana does, however, do a good job in sticking with his assignment in the run game. He also seems to recognize the correct man to block when moving in the open field.

Hand Placement

Technique is the main area where Ijalana really struggles and needs to improve. He tends to let his hands run too far outside and, in the process, lose leverage. Though he does possess an extremely powerful and quick punch, his hand placement is not up to par with most offensive tackles. If Ijalana can improve his technique, he could be come a truly dominant force, especially in the run game.

Mobility

Ijalana possesses the athleticism and quickness to be decent in the second level, but his footwork is holding him back. His change of direction ability is good for a player of his size, and he does a good job adjusting to defenders. He probably isn’t the best fit for a zone blocking scheme that requires him to pull and consistently play in space, but in a power scheme he could be above average.

Footwork

IJalana’s biggest problem is his sidestep in pass protection. Instead of shuffling to the side in order to drive the rusher to the outside, Ijalana takes a step back, allowing the rusher to collapse the pocket. In the run game, he needs to take shorter steps that would help him remain balanced and finish the play in the second level. He does, however, do a great job of shuffling his feet and powering through a block when engaged in the run game.

Additional Information

Ijalana is a very tough player who ignored injuries and started in 53 games during his career. Due to his inability to perform at the Senior Bowl, Ijalana faces questions about the competition he faced and his ability to fend off speed rushers. In the NFL, he may need to get in better shape as he carries some extra bulk around his midsection. During his time at Villanova, he helped the team to 40 wins and three consecutive playoff appearances during that time. A two time FCS All-American, Ijalana was the only FCS player to be on the Outland Trophy Watch List.

Production/Experience

2010: Started in 14 games.
2009: Started in 15 games.
2008: Started in 13 games.
2007: Started in 11 games.

Academics

Ijalana is a Criminal Justice major.

Awards & Honors

2010: Consensus First Team FCS All-American, Fist Team All-CAA
2009: Consensus Fist Team FCS All-American, First Team All-CAA
2008: First Team All-CAA

Disagree with our scouting report? Think we’ve left something out? Maybe you’ve seen something we just haven’t. Thanks okay! Leave your own scouting report using the comments feature at the bottom of the page. We at Draft Breakdown value your opinion and we’d love to hear it. This feature is available on all of our scouting reports, articles and blogs. Help keep Draft Breakdown a one stop shop for all your NFL Draft needs!