NFL Draft 2014 Preview (28 page)

Strengths:
Outstanding size and arm length with good overall body thickness. Plays with fine balance and knee bend. Sits to anchor and can stop a charge. Matches up well vs. size and power. Strong run blocker — can generate some movement. Sets the protections and makes the line calls. Keeps his head on a swivel — shows awareness to switch off blocks and pick up the blitz and handle stunts. Good work ethic. Well-respected, articulate team player.

Weaknesses:
Average athletic ability. Could stand to improve sustaining and finishing blocks. Lets quick penetrators cross his face. Average recovery speed once beat. Lacks ideal foot quickness and agility to pull and cut off linebackers at the second level. Can do a better job replacing his hands (tends to grab). Can learn to keep emotions in check — ejected from Arkansas game (2013) for unsportsmanlike conduct (bumped an official).

Future:
Very good-sized mauler functions well in a phone booth. Possesses the strength and power to match up vs. big bodies. The farther he is asked to move, the more he will struggle and would be best in a man-blocking power scheme.

Draft projection:
Fourth- to fifth-round pick.

ORT SEANTREL HENDERSON, #77

MIAMI (FLA.)
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Grade: 5.62

Ht: 6-7 1/8 | Wt: 331 | Sp: 5.04 | Arm: 34 5/8 | Hand: 10 1/2

History:
Prepped at St. Paul (MN) Cretin-Derham, where he won a state championship and participated in basketball and track field. Was the first lineman to win USA Today’s High School Offensive Player of the Year. Also was Parade’s Player of the Year as well as the nation’s consensus No. 1 offensive tackle recruit, drawing offers from coast to coast. Originally signed with USC, but asked for and was granted his release after the NCAA handed down sanctions stemming from the Reggie Bush investigation. Joined Miami in July ’10, starting 9-of-12 games played at right tackle — did not start the season opener against Florida A&M, did not play against Ohio State and did not start against Pittsburgh. Also did not start the Sun Bowl against Notre Dame (stomach virus). Had off-season sciatica nerve surgery and was suspended for the ’11 opener against Maryland — on the season, started 3-of-8 games played at RT. Was suspended for the beginning of ’12 spring practice. Following a funeral, was involved in a car accident and sustained a concussion — missed the first 12 practices of fall camp and sat out the season opener against Boston College. Played 11 games, starting the final seven at RT. In ’13, started 8-of-12 games played at RT. Was suspended against Georgia Tech. Revealed at the Senior Bowl that college suspensions stemmed from failed drug tests.

Strengths:
Looks every bit the part with a rare-sized body that will make offensive line coaches drool — broad-shouldered, big-boned, well-proportioned and thickly built. Athletic bender. Light-footed kick slide. Is a day trip to get around — long arms aid recovery and enable him to push rushers wide of the pocket. Thwarts rushers with a heavy punch and sturdy base. Locks on and controls. Walls off and seals. Widens the hole. Gets to the second level with ease. Passes off stunts.

Weaknesses:
Weight-room strength is not special given his size. Needs to strengthen his core — affects body control, contact balance, sustain and finish. Spends too much time on the ground. Technique lapses — needs to play with more consistent bend and leverage. Gets in trouble when his feet stall and is slow to shift his weight. Labors to execute reach blocks and is stressed by quick inside moves — occasionally lets defenders cross his face. Struggles adjusting to moving targets in space. Should be more powerful than he is. Uneven performance. Underachiever traits. Suspect maturity, dependability and decision-making — is easily led astray and was suspended multiple times.

Future:
Monster-sized, long-armed, physical specimen with the raw talent to emerge as a dominating NFL right tackle in any type of blocking scheme. Failed to live up to expectations in college as a result of tumultuous career marred by tragedy, suspensions, injuries and benchings. High-risk, high-reward wild card who must convince decision-makers he’s worth gambling on. Has already been removed from many draft boards and must be paired with a veteran position coach nuanced in managing undisciplined, high-maintenance players.

Draft projection:
Second- to third-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“Physically, he’s a first-round talent. That is one big man with movement skills. He’s a mountain of a man. He’s similar to (Chargers 11th overall pick) D.J. Fluker, but he’s a better foot athlete. I put him in the third round because of some of his issues, but if you can get to the kid, he has a chance to be a really good right tackle. He could fall further once everyone gets done doing all of their (character) work. It’s just a lack of consistency that drives people crazy.”

OLT JAMES HURST, #68

north carolina
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Grade: 5.39

Ht: 6-5 1/4 | Wt: 296 | Sp: 5.30e | Arm: 33 3/4 | Hand: 10 1/8

History:
Highly recruited out of suburban Indianapolis — chose UNC over offers from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Ohio State and Notre Dame, among others. Enrolled early and took ownership of the left tackle position as a true freshman in 2010 — played all 13 games, starting the final 12, and graded out at 83 percent with 33 knockdowns. Started all 13 games in ’11 and graded out at 88 percent. Started all 11 games played in ’12, grading out at nearly 90 percent. Did not play against Idaho (undisclosed injury). Had off-season shoulder surgery. In ’13, started all 13 games before suffering a broken left fibula against Cincinnati in the Belk Bowl — did not work out at Combine.

Strengths:
Very good size. Smart and instinctive — understands angles. Good leg drive as a run blocker — is tough and aggressive. Competes hard and flashes some nastiness. Plays with a chip on his shoulder. Alert to see the blitz and feel stunts and switch off blocks. Experienced, four-year starter. Works hard and the game is very important to him.

Weaknesses:
Average athletic ability and agility. Tends to lunge, bend at the waist and get overextended. Is heavy-footed and struggles to adjust to quick, inside counters. Gets jarred, knocked off balance and at times collapsed and lifted off the ground by power-leverage rushers. Tends to shoot his hands wide of his target in pass protection and will give up the edge. Is late to reach the second level and connect in space. Has a fast metabolism and some trouble maintaining weight. Tied for the lightest offensive lineman at the Combine.

Future:
A wide-bodied, overachieving, college left tackle more ideally suited for the right side in the pros. Is football smart, gritty and competitive enough to eventually enter a starting lineup, but would be an ideal backup swing tackle on a strong offensive line and might even benefit from kicking inside where he’d have help on each side.

Draft projection:
Fourth- to fifth-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“I wasn’t all fired up about him. I think he is going to be a solid backup-type player. If you needed him to come in and play — he could get you through. He’s slow-footed and really struggles with speed and handling speed to power. He’s better when he has time to set. He’s an average athlete playing left tackle and it shows.”

C-OLG GABE IKARD, #64

OKLAHOMA
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Grade: 5.23

Ht: 6-3 5/8 | Wt: 304 | Sp: 5.16 | Arm: 33 1/8 | Hand: 9 5/8

History:
Last name is pronounced “EYE-curd.” High school tight end-defensive end who won five state championships (three basketball, two football) at Oklahoma prep powerhouse Bishop McGuiness. Redshirted in 2009. Played all 14 games in ’10, starting the final 12 at left guard and logging 72 knockdowns. Started all 13 games in ’11, including seven at center, six at LG. Started all 12 games played at center in ’12 — did not play against Baylor (concussion). Missed part of ’13 spring practice with a broken finger on his right hand. Started all 13 games at center in the fall when he was awarded the Wuerffel Trophy (exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement) and Lee Roy Selmon Spirit Award (academic excellence, community service) and was a finalist for the Campbell Trophy (“Academic Heisman”) and Rimington Trophy (nation’s top center).

Strengths:
Good grip strength. Uses his hands well to control and steer defenders. Highly intelligent. Plays smart. Sets the protections and makes line calls. Tough and dependable. Experienced, four-year starter. Outstanding work habits. Exceptional character. Charismatic, humble, well-grounded leader. Versatile. Produced the best 20-yard shuttle time (4.37 seconds) and 3-cone time (7.30 seconds) of any offensive lineman at the Combine.

Weaknesses:
Is on the ground a lot. Limited athlete. Average play strength. Can be overwhelmed by size and struggle to cut off speed. Could stand to do a better job finishing blocks. Only benchpressed 225 pounds 22 times at the Combine.

Future:
A functional positional blocker who lacks the foot quickness, athletic ability and strength desired in a starter, yet consistently finds a way to get the job done and overcome his physical limitations. Intelligence and intangibles are off the charts and could allow him to capture and hold onto a starting job. The sum is better than the parts.

Draft projection:
Fifth- to sixth-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“He is not very strong and I don’t like his balance. He’s smart, tough and everything you want from that standpoint, but he’ll struggle to match up physically at our level.”

ORG GABE JACKSON, #61

MISSISSIPPI STATE
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Grade: 5.85

Ht: 6-3 1/4 | Wt: 336 | Sp: 5.51 | Arm: 33 3/4 | Hand: 10

History:
Played for his father as a Mississippi prep. Redshirted in 2009. Started all 52 games of his career at left guard 2010-13. Did not give up a sack his last two seasons. Two-time captain.

Strengths:
Exceptional girth with long arms and a thick lower body. Fundamentally sound with advanced technique. Quick out of his stance. Good anchor. Strong, efficient punch (can pop and recoil). Keeps his hands inside and controls defenders. Mirrors in pass protection. Walls off running lanes. Understands positioning and angles. Athletic enough to short pull effectively — nice balance and body control for a big man. Good eyes, awareness and reactions. Smart and tough. Durable four-year starter. Professional makeup.

Weaknesses:
Lacks explosive power to shock defenders. Does not blow defenders off the ball in the run game. Average overall athletic ability and lateral agility. Is unsudden and lacks elite recovery quickness. Occasionally fails to dig his heels in and gives ground vs. strong bull rushes. Stressed to cut off fast-flowing linebackers. Recorded the slowest 20-yard split (3.28 seconds) and tied for the slowest 40-time (5.63 seconds) of any player at the Combine.

Future:
Big, thickly built, relatively nuanced blocker who brings a steadying presence to the interior offensive line. Dependability and effectiveness blocking for pass and run combined with sterling intangibles, including football intelligence, make him capable of starting as a rookie and holding down a position for years to come.

Draft projection:
Top-50 pick.

Scout’s take:
“He’s a short-area mauler. I worry about his foot speed. He’s a little bit like the Alabama kid (Chance Warmack) last year. He’s strong and powerful, but he’s going to get exposed outside a confined area at our level.”

ORT Ja’WUAN JAMES, #70

TENNESSEE
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Grade: 5.70

Ht: 6-6 | Wt: 311 | Sp: 5.34 | Arm: 35 | Hand: 9 7/8

History:
Prepped in Georgia. Enrolled in January 2010 and immediately took ownership of the right tackle position. Started all 49 games of his career (2010-13), setting a school record for career starts by an offensive lineman. Sprained his knee during Senior Bowl practice.

Strengths:
Outstanding size, girth and overall body mass. Good hand placement. Can steer and control blockers once he gets his hands on them. Very patient pass protector. Matches up very well vs. size and power (see Alabama). Battle-tested, experienced four-year starter in the SEC. Outstanding personal and football character. Very smart, mature and highly respected.

Weaknesses:
Raw footwork. Has a lot of heaviness in body and can improve sustain. Lumbers to the second level and struggles to cut off and adjust to moving targets. Does not roll off the ball with power and generate strength or movement in the run game.

Future:
Big, strong, heavy pass protector with good balance, anchor strength and hand use to handle power and speed. Does not affect the run game the same way and almost appears more destined for the left side in the pros. Has instant-starter potential.

Draft projection:
Second- to third-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“I thought he was hands-down the best offensive linemen of any in the Southeast. ... Some people have Ju’Wuan James going in the first. I don’t think he will. The issue for me is the strength and power he can generate. ... He’s (Tennessee’s) best prospect. He is the hardest worker on an underachieving line.”

OLG-C WESLEY JOHNSON, #67

VANDERBILT
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Grade: 5.26