Tag: scouting report

20Nov 2012

Uncategorized 10 comments admin

Scouting Report: Denzel Ward

Chicago (IL) Hales Franciscan offensive tackle Denzel Ward

If you want the bare bones of Chicago (IL) Hales Franciscan offensive tackle Denzel Ward’s October commitment to Michigan, you can check out his commitment post.  At that time he hadn’t released any film to evaluate, so I couldn’t really say much about him.  But now he has released his junior highlights, so let’s get down to business with this film.

Strengths: Huge body, listed at 6’9″, 295 lbs. . . . Long arms should aid in keeping defenders out of his body . . . Instinctively active feet . . . Moves feet beyond initial contact . . . Impressive knee bend for his height . . . Uses hands fairly well for such an inexperienced player . . . Very athletic . . . Runs well downfield . . . Should be effective on perimeter and at second level . . . Good attitude on finishing drive blocks

Weaknesses: Sometimes takes a false initial step before engaging defender . . . Occasionally overstrides when drive blocking . . . Can get off balance in pass protection, though long arms negate this issue slightly . . . Shows occasional tendency to be a waist bender . . . Leans a little too much in pass protection and can get feet crossed up . . . Needs to stick with pass blocks a little longer and play to the whistle

Projection: Left offensive tackle.  Ward is a prototypical left tackle, but his footwork leaves a little to be desired.  He has the athleticism to be great but is inconsistent with his technique.  That’s understandable because he didn’t start playing organized football until his junior year.  The potential is there, but it will take some refinement of his technique and some good coaching to help him reach his potential.  I could see him developing into an All-American, but the biggest question is: Will he work at it?  Some guys who start playing football late in high school don’t necessarily show the long-term commitment to the sport.  Obviously, nobody knows how much he loves the sport except him, but he could be a premier left tackle if he stays committed to his craft.

Reminds me of: Andrus Peat (freshman offensive tackle at Stanford)

TTB Rating: 86 (rating system)

1Aug 2012

Uncategorized 18 comments admin

Scouting Report: Derrick Green

Derrick Green

Name: Derrick Green
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 215 lbs.
Position: Running back
High school: Richmond (VA) Hermitage

Notes: Scouted in person back in May . . . Holds offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Boston College, Clemson, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Miami, Michigan, Mississippi, Mississippi State, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Penn State, Pitt, Purdue, Rutgers, South Carolina, Tennessee, UCLA, USC, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin . . . Claims a 4.58 forty . . . Claims a 4.08 shuttle . . . 32″ vertical . . . As a sophomore in 2010, had 800 yards and 10 touchdowns . . . As a junior in 2011, had 1,493 yards and 20 touchdowns . . . ESPN 4-star RB, 86 grade, #6 RB, #53 overall . . . Rivals 5-star RB, #1 RB, #12 overall . . . Scout 4-star RB, #7 RB . . . 247 Sports 4-star RB, 96 grade, #10 RB, #123 overall

Strengths: NFL size . . . Good strength . . . Drives legs through contact . . . Good speed for his size . . . Picks up feet at line of scrimmage to wade through trash . . . Runs with good body lean . . . Excellent acceleration . . . Sometimes too fast for his blocking . . . Can be very good pass blocker

Weaknesses: Poor downfield vision . . . Does not go side to side well or make people miss . . . Runs through head-on tackles but lacks great balance . . . Gets taken down too easily by tacklers coming from either side . . . Needs to be more patient at times and let blocking develop . . . Mediocre receiver

Projection: Running back.  As I’ve said before, any running back who picks Michigan in the next year or two will have a chance for a very good career because of the offensive line being assembled by Brady Hoke.  Green is somewhat overrated by Rivals (the #1 back and #12 player nationally), but his career could be reminiscent of the P.J. Hills and John Clays from Wisconsin in recent years.  He’s a kid who could have a very good career in the right system by running behind very good offensive lines and then punishing smaller linebackers and defensive backs.  But he’s not a dynamic runner who can carry a college team by himself.

Reminds me of: LeGarrette Blount’s running style (not his punching people style)

19Jul 2012

Uncategorized 5 comments admin

Scouting Report: Vernon Hargreaves III

Vernon Hargreaves III

Name: Vernon Hargreaves III
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 185 lbs.
Position: Cornerback
High school: Tampa (FL) Wharton

Notes: Holds offers from Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Auburn, Boise State, Cal, Clemson, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Houston, Illinois, Louisville, LSU, Miami, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Missouri, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Penn State, Purdue, South Carolina, South Florida, Stanford, Tennessee, Texas A&M, UCF, USC, Vanderbilt, Virginia, Wake Forest, Washington, and West Virginia . . . Claims a 4.41 forty time . . . As a junior in 2011, had 49 tackles and 2 interceptions, along with 11 offensive touchdowns . . . As a sophomore in 2010, had 44 tackles . . . ESPN 5-star CB, 90 grade, #1 CB, #4 overall . . . Rivals 5-star CB, #2 CB, #9 overall . . . Scout 5-star CB, #1 CB . . . 247 Sports 5-star CB, 100 grade, #1 CB, #6 overall . . . Father coaches defensive backs at South Florida

Strengths: Good leaper . . . Goes up to get ball at highest point . . . Not particularly tall, but has good length to bat down jump balls and passes thrown over his head . . . Good change-of-direction skills . . . Very good speed . . . Reacts quickly to balls in the air . . . Sneaky defender, quick enough to avoid most blockers

Weaknesses: Needs to get stronger in upper body . . . Not a physical defender . . . Dives at legs or grabs onto shirttails rather than wrapping up and using good tackling form . . . Does not look supremely confident in his own speed . . . Sometimes looks for cutback rather than turning on the jets . . . Needs to improve press man coverage, as well as footwork in backpedal

Projection: Cornerback.  Hargreaves has a lot of the raw athleticism that should turn him into a good college cornerback.  He changes directions well, tracks the ball well, has good speed, and has the leaping ability to defend taller receivers.  When it comes to pass coverage, you would be hard pressed to find many guys with more talent in any given year.  What Hargreaves really lacks is the physical/toughness aspects of the game, where he’s too much of a finesse player.  At this point in his development, he would be a liability in run support and might get pushed around by bigger receivers in college.  However, if he can get stronger and become a more physical player, he has a chance to be a high NFL draft pick down the road.

Reminds me of: Cliff Harris (Oregon)

12Jul 2012

Uncategorized 6 comments admin

Scouting Report: Leon McQuay III

Leon McQuay III

Name: Leon McQuay III
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 185 lbs.
Position: Safety
High school: Seffner (FL) Armwood

Notes: Holds offers from Alabama, Arkansas, Boston College, Cal, Clemson, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Illinois, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Florida, Stanford, Tennessee, UAB, UCF, UCLA, USC, Vanderbilt, Washington, West Virginia . . . Claims a 4.57 time in the forty . . . 4.35 time in the pro agility shuttle . . . 32″ vertical . . . ESPN 4-star S, 87 grade, #3 S, #39 overall . . . Rivals 4-star S, #3 S, #33 overall . . . Scout 4-star S, #7 S . . . 247 Sports 4-star S, 95 grade, #5 S, #41 overall . . . As a junior in 2011, had 66 tackles, 12 pass breakups, and 4 interceptions . . . Teammate of fellow Michigan offeree and wide receiver Alvin Bailey

Strengths: Tall and long with a good reach . . . Shows ability to elevate and disrupt passes . . . Very good hitter for his size . . . Should become even more intimidating with added muscle mass . . . Solid open-field tackler . . . Enough speed to track down ball carriers from behind and cover deep . . . High points the ball and shows good hands . . . Decent playmaking ability with ball in hands . . . Very competitive with ball in air . . . Works very hard not to get beat

Weaknesses: Doesn’t show particularly fluid hips . . . Occasionally mis-times leaps . . . Good speed but not a true blazer . . . Occasionally lowers head or hits ball carrier’s head, which could take some adjusting to avoid penalties at next level

Projection: Free safety.  The coaches have talked to McQuay about getting a shot at playing cornerback, but I don’t really see that being his best position.  I see him more as a free safety and he could even play strong safety well.  I would like to see him patrolling the deep middle of the field, because he has good ball skills when the ball is in the air and he can be an enforcer from that spot.  He also has plenty of speed to play sideline to sideline and fill the alley, although he’s not in the category of having elite speed.  I really enjoy the way he competes and he seems to take football seriously.  He shows the ability to come in and contribute even as a freshman, but there would be some growing pains along the way; right now he’s typically the best athlete on the field, and when big receivers come along who can jump with him, he’s going to have to perfect his coverage technique.  He has the athleticism to play in the NFL someday if he continues to add some mass and refine some technique issues.

Reminds me of: Ha’sean Clinton-Dix (Alabama)

31May 2012

Uncategorized 2 comments admin

Scouting Report: Devon Allen

Phoenix (AZ) Brophy Prep wide receiver Devon Allen

Name: Devon Allen
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 190 lbs.
Position: Wide receiver
Class: 2013
High school: Phoenix (AZ) Brophy Prep

Notes: Holds offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Colorado State, Duke, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan State, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Oregon State, Purdue, Stanford, Tennessee, UCLA, Utah, Vanderbilt, and Washington . . . Claims a 4.5 forty . . . As a junior in 2011, had 44 receptions for 844 yards and 14 touchdowns . . . ESPN 3-star WR, 74 grade, #70 WR . . . Rivals 4-star WR, #15 WR, #129 overall . . . Scout 4-star, #17 WR . . . 247 Sports 3-star WR, 86 grade, #48 WR

Strengths: Good route runner . . . Knows how to set up opposing defensive backs . . . Changes speeds well . . . Good deep speed . . . Fast enough to threaten over-the-top coverage . . . Enough burst to split safeties and force poor pursuit angles . . . Willing blocker . . . Able to catch ball in traffic

Weaknesses: Not a whole lot of wiggle . . . Lacks ability to create plays in small spaces . . . Lacks strength to break tackles and block . . . Needs to improve blocking technique, as many of his blocks could easily be holding penalties . . . Doesn’t show much leaping ability or the judgment to catch jump balls

Projection: Split end or slot receiver.  A typical spread offense would likely use Allen at slot receiver, but Michigan’s emphasis on the run suggests that a mediocre blocker like Allen would best be used out wide.  He has good straight line speed, but he can be corralled and tackled in tight spaces.  Added strength would be a huge plus for him if he can maintain his speed, because breaking one tackle could set him off to the races in single coverage.  Allen could also help out in the kickoff return game, although he likely lacks the lateral agility needed to return punts.

Reminds me of: Darryl Stonum