JTC111
Viva la resistance!!!
These are in no particular order aside from what came up first in Bing. They're not cherry-picked and I'm not endorsing anything said in them. I just thought putting a lot of info in one place might be helpful to some.
Positives
On the Hoof: Has excellent height with long arms and a wide powerbase. James has plenty of room to fill out and add weight and strength in the upper body. His frame will easily hold 320 pounds. James should physically remind fans of Florida State offensive tackle Zebrie Sanders.
Needs improvement: Right now, he is a bit light in the pants and lacks pop. He must add some upper body strength and fill out. James must become more physical while run blocking. Right now he relies on athleticism and finesse.
Most impressive: This potential giant has excellent lateral movement and looks like a basketball player playing defense. He also has tremendous growth potential and a long wing span which make him an ideal left offensive tackle at the next level.
Conclusion: Currently, he is very raw and is possibly two years away from any meaningful time at the next level. He does possess a lot of potential and natural ability and his long-term future is very bright. Look for him to be a two- to three-year starter with NFL potential.
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Jawuan-James-87259
Strengths: Extremely effective pass-protector
Great length
Huge bulk
Strong and powerful
Very athletic for a big blocker
Reliable against pass-rushers for four quarters
Showed speed in his drop
Quick feet
Gets push in the ground game
Plus recoverability
Strong hands
Quickness
Mobility to hit blocks on the perimeter
Gets to blocks on the second level
Can anchor against bull rushes
Upside
Experienced against elite competition
Scheme versatile
Strength for man scheme
Weaknesses: Could improve his bending
Can play too high
Pad level
Summary: At most colleges, James would have been a starting left tackle throughout his college career. However, the Tennessee offensive line has been phenomenal the past few years, and with Antonio "Tiny" Richardson taking the left tackle spot, James became a standout at right tackle throughout his career. Even though he played on the right side, WalterFootball.com knows sources who feel James has the skill set to potentially play left tackle in the NFL.
James broke into the starting lineup as a freshman. He was awarded many honors and got better each season. In 2012, the Volunteers' offensive line was phenomenal as it allowed only 18 sacks, and James was rock steady on the right side. He played his best in 2013, including versus South Carolina. James got some double-team help when going against Jadeveon Clowney, but James kept Clowney from recording a sack. James also performed well going against some good talent with Florida and Missouri.
James is a tough run-blocker and a reliable pass-protector. He is surprisingly athletic for his size. For the NFL, James has the quickness and athleticism to play in a zone-blocking scheme. He also has the power to play in a man scheme. James is quick to the second level and shows a nice ability to sustain his blocks.
After starting for four years in the SEC, James is ready to compete in the NFL. He could step into a starting role as a rookie at right tackle. If James isn't a starter, he should be a valuable backup. With developmental time and good coaching, James could be a good swing tackle who could play on the left or right side thanks to his versatile size and athleticism. James also could kick inside to guard if need be. In the long run, he would probably be at his best if he were a starter at right tackle.
Player Comparison: Jermon Bushrod. Bushrod (6-5, 315) and James are close to the same size. Like Bushrod, James can be effective as a pass-blocker and run-blocker. They both have some quickness and athleticism to their game. Bushrod was a fourth-round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft out of Towson. James should go a couple of rounds higher this year. I think James could turn into a quality starter like Bushrod.
NFL Matches: Seattle, Houston, Buffalo, Miami, Atlanta, New Orleans, Baltimore, New York Giants, New York Jets
There are a lot of teams that could consider taking James late in the second round. In the NFC South, New Orlenas and Atlanta could both consider adding some offensive tackle help. Sam Baker hasn't been consistent enough for the Falcons, so they could use a right tackle. The Saints re-signed Zach Strief in free agency, but landing James in the second round would be a great fit for New Orleans. If Terron Armstead struggles this coming season, the Saints could have James as depth.
Buffalo needs a new right tackle, and James would form a nice duo with Cordy Glenn. Miami has a ton of holes on its offensive line and needs a right tackle to pair with the newly signed Brandon Albert.
The Ravens lost Michael Oher in free agency, and James would be a great replacement at right tackle. He could be a nice value for Baltimore in the second round.
In New York, James could fit both teams. The Giants could use more talent on their offensive line. Drafting James would allow them to move Justin Pugh to the inside. The Jets, meanwhile, lost Austin Howard in free agency and could use some competition at right tackle.
The defending Super Bowl Champion Seahawks could consider taking James at the end of the second round to fix their hole at right tackle. He could be a steal for Seattle at pick No. 64.
The Texans could use a right tackle to compete with Derek Newton, and James would be a nice fit for the first selection of the third round. If anything happened to Duane Brown, James could provide some depth on the blind side as well.
http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2014jjames.php
http://stats.washingtonpost.com/nfldraft/players.asp?id=190220
Strengths
· Good size, Elite NFL frame
· Long arms, locks out defender and steers him out of play
· Patient pass blocker, will succeed most times
· Anchors vs power well
· Strong player, with good lower body strength
· Uses proper hand technique and placement
Weaknesses
· Slow feet, lots of heaviness to his game
· Footwork is very poor
· Doesn’t sustain kick step or extend the pocket up field
· Struggles with speed rushers
· Lunges at defenders and loses balance
· Doesn’t dominate like his measurable indicate
· More of a finesse blocker
· Lets defenders get into his chest
· Struggles to pick up linebackers at next level
· Needs to play with more aggression
Analysis:
Depending on who you talk to, Ja’Wuan James is either a right tackle or a left tackle. His finesse blocking style and patient pass blocking style have him suited to play on the blind side. His poor footwork, overall slow feet and lack of refinement to his game make him more of a right tackle. James has potential to be a starter in the NFL but he will need lots of work. I believe he projects more as a right tackle than on the left. Either way, he needs to improve his footwork and consistency on the field. James is a high character guy and will be drafted higher than this current talent dictates.
http://1450espnradio.com/content/post/scouting-report-jawuan-james
Ja'Wuan James had a better season than teammate Antonio Richardson. Early on in the process, James probably wasn't getting the attention he deserved, but it looks like the draft community has caught up on him. With Brandon Thomas' knee injury (and concerns about Cyrus Kouandjio's health) James could go in the back of the 1st round to a tackle needy team.
James is a great fit in a zone blocking scheme. He has tons of experience, having started 49 games in the SEC. He has length and clearly has a feel for positional blocking. James is a day 1 starter and will be a solid starter in the NFL.
He'll probably be gone before the Cowboys consider him, but James would definitely be in consideration if he falls to the Cowboys in round 2. James probably shouldn't play guard, but could start at RT with Free moving to RG - if that's the best lineup. He could also be groomed as the 2015 starter at RT and allow the team to save some cap space by cutting Parnell.
2013: Started 12/12 games at RT
2012: Started 12/12 games at RT
2011: Started 12/12 games at RT
2010: Started 13/13 games at RT
Honors
All-SEC (2013 2nd Team, 2010 Freshman
SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week (December 2, 2013)
Senior Bowl
Positives:
-Long arms
-Posted very good 3-Cone and short shuttle times at the Combine
-Experienced 4 year starter and enrolled early in January 2010
-Zone blocking - very good understanding of angles and positioning
-Capable second level blocker
-Awareness
-Durable - started (all) 49 straight games
Negatives:
-Lacks power to play inside at guard
-Would like him to be stronger at OT
-Had some gaffes against Missouri - speed to power guys could give him some trouble on occasion
-Had some good numbers in the 3-cone and 20 shuttle but overall athleticism is average
http://www.cowboysdraftbeat.com/ja-wuan-james-scouting-report---tennessee.html
Like Andrew Whitworth, the Volunteers’ Ja’wuan James is that rare tall offensive tackle that plays low in his pads. The NFL Draft Report chronicles his outstanding senior season and breaks down his game in this detailed scouting report.
The “glamour” position on the offensive line is at left tackle, where the Volunteers placed Antonio “Tiny” Richardson upon the five-star recruit signing at [URL="http://tennessee.scout.com/"]Tennessee. That would relegate Ja’Wuan James to the inglorious right tackle position. A lot of the preseason hype had Richardson challenging Texas A&M’s Jake Matthews for the coveted honor for being the first offensive tackle to be selected in the 2014 draft, as all were well aware that the Vols blocker would not return to school after the 2013 campaign. Plans for securing the top tackle spot saw Matthews and Richardson slide down the “pecking order” — Matthews, a little bit with Richardson dropping into the third-day draft picture — thanks to the dominating season recorded by Auburn’s Greg Robinson.
The NFL Draft Report had devised a statistical charting system for offensive linemen years ago. Based on the performances last season, James would rank third among all offensive tackles with an 87.3% grade for blocking consistency during his final campaign. Throughout the 2013 schedule, James was as dominant as ever, appearing to have secured a draft position somewhere in the second round.
The Vols recorded a total of 30 touchdowns on offense (18 rushing, 12 passing), with the right tackle producing 13 touchdown-resulting blocks. He also posted 89 knockdown blocks while defenders lining up over the senior have managed to register just two of the fifteen sacks given up by the front wall.
New head coach Butch Jones was quick to recognize the success the Volunteers had with James leading the way up front. Throughout the season, James cleared out the rush lanes, delivering seven touchdown-resulting blocks as the Vols scored 18 times on the ground. Close to 60 percent of their rushing yardage (1,334 of 2,261) came over the right side of the Tennessee line led by their senior tackle.
James had an opportunity to leave for the National Football League following his junior season, but returning to the Volunteers was just what he needed, both on the field and off.
“I wasn’t ready to leave physically or mentally,” said the team’s senior captain.
“I felt like I had a lot to build on strength-wise and growing up-wise. It definitely helps that all of us stayed together as an offensive line.” His consistency on the field is a reflection of the coaching James has received throughout his career at Tennessee. Head coach Butch Jones and his staff raised that bar considerably when they stepped in the door.
“They brought a lot of consistency in their message,” James said of the impact Jones and offensive line coach Don Mahoney have made on him. “They preach effort and working hard. A lot of coaches say it, but they live it every day. I feel like this coaching staff definitely has me playing a lot harder.”
[h=2]Ja’Wuan James[/h] University of Tennessee Volunteers
6:06.0-311
[h=2]Body Structure[/h] James has a tall, linear build that can add at least another 20-25 pounds of bulk without the weight impacting his overall quickness. He possesses an athletic frame with very long limbs (35-inch arms and 83-inch wing span), big hands, good bubble, a firm and solidly built midsection, athletic body with adequate lower frame thickness. He looks trim at just a shade over 310 pounds, but that can surprise a defensive lineman, as he has above average strength, and knows how to combine that power with a strong anchor and a long reach that consistently keeps his opponent off his body.
[h=2]Athletic Ability[/h] James has the frame to develop more bulk, but he possesses above-average strength, especially in the lower frame and appears to be stout at the point of attack, despite possessing a linear, basketball player-like physique. His athleticism and loose hips explains his flexibility moving laterally and he has good quickness on the move to attack second level defenders (see 2013 Western Kentucky, South Alabama and Georgia games). You can see on film that he has the suddenness getting out on the edge to block for the outside running game. He shows good change of direction agility, loose hips and good agility to sit and anchor. Despite his tall frame, he has become quite adept at keeping his pad level down. He might lack explosive speed, but is fairly nimble for a down lineman, displaying good body control moving down the line, as he has probably the best change of direction agility of any UT lineman in the last decade. He runs with a normal stride and shows good agility and balance in his retreat and kick slide to develop into a quality pass protector. With his body control on the move, he should have no problem at the next level, if called upon to make contact down field.
[h=2]Football Sense[/h] James is an intelligent athlete who is also a hard working student of the game. He tests well and shows solid field vision and instincts. He has no problems learning and retaining plays and hustles until the whistle. He easily takes plays from the chalkboard to the playing field. Even though he honed his skills as a right offensive tackle, you have to be impressed with his vision and ability to acclimate quickly to his move over to left tackle, thanks to the high amount of pass blocks he made during the 2013 season (six of his thirteen touchdown-resulting blocks came during passing situations). He has a very good understanding for blocking schemes, works well in unison with his right guard and tight end on combo blocks/double teams and can adjust to defensive stunts and games with ease. Since stepping into the starting lineup, he has not been called for any false starts, personal fouls or holding penalties.
[h=2]Competitiveness[/h] James is a classic warrior on the field with good work ethic in the training room. He has worked hard to bulk up since coming into the Tennessee program at 270-plus pounds in 2010, but he still needs to add more bulk to his frame, especially if he is to project to right tackle at the next level. He is a highly competitive type whose spirit and enthusiasm are evident on the field. He comes off the snap with a hard drive and has developed good aggression as a blocker, knowing when to stay in control or flash a little nastiness (see 2013 Austin Peay, South Alabama and Kentucky games). He competes with a strong hand punch and shows desire and intensity finishing his blocks.
[h=2]Initial Quickness[/h] James is aggressive blocker with surprising strength (was a weight man for the track and field team in high school, which could explain his impressive power base). On contact and when he drives with his feet, he can generate movement on the double team. He generally plays under control and showed in 2013 that he has made good strides in working his hips to wall off and force the chase route. When he gets tall in his stance, he looks a bit stiff redirection, but when he stays low in his pads, he swings his hips and runs his feet well leading on the sweep. He is usually in position of advantage, especially when asked to seal, as he has good ability to wheel and cut off the back side. You can see on film his suddenness and snap quickness to get out and lock on to his blocking assignment. He keeps his head on a swivel when moving into the second level and works hard to finish, keeping his feet churning when making plays on the move.
[h=2]Lateral Movement[/h] James flashes quick, active feet in his kick slide, as he has the lateral agility to mirror and adjust to stunts. Despite his tall frame, he does not appear to have any problems when he has to redirect, as he consistently plays at a low pad level. When he drops his weight, he has no problems adjusting to the outside blitz. He moves fluidly to challenge in one-on-one confrontations and has excellent body control playing in space, demonstrating the initial kick off the snap to surprise a slower opponent (when he drives with his legs and rolls his hips on contact, even the stronger bull rushers are contained). With his balance, he might see some action at guard at the next level, as he can get through holes quickly when asked to pull.
[h=2]Balance/Stays On Feet[/h] James displays good balance and body control on the move. He does a decent job of adjusting in space, thanks to refining his footwork in recent years (can slide and change direction well to mirror pass rushers, but if gets up on his heels too much, it could see NFL bull rushers walk him back). He handles quickness and movement better when he keeps his pads down, as he does a nice job of playing flat-footed. When he gets too tall coming off the snap, his stance prevents him from gaining leverage vs. the bull rush. Earlier in his career, he needed to improve his overall footwork, as he did not always shuffle his feet and explode off the snap to gain movement. He plays mostly in the pro-style offense, so he won’t need much time to adjust his footwork and mechanics to the pro game. He’s a good mauler in the trenches, but I think he will provide better and quicker production in his NFL career if he performs in a zone-blocking scheme. He is quick to gain initial position and on contact, he demonstrates strength, along with the ability to adjust, sustain and finish (see 2013 South Alabama and Georgia games).
[h=2]Explosion/Pop[/h] When he stays low in his pads and drives with his legs, James generates very good pop on contact, as he has learned how to play flat-footed (will get in trouble when he plays on his heels). He consistently gets proper movement coming out of his stance, and on the move, he knows how to drop a linebacker with a crunching forearm shot. He has the agility to clear out rush lanes working in-line when he stays square in his base and moves laterally. He is still developing confidence in his overall strength (would like to see him attack with his hands more often) and due to his tall frame, if he gets too upright in his stance, defenders with a low center of gravity can fire off the line, get under his jersey and walk him back into the pocket. He has a very forceful hand punch when he keeps them inside his framework and while not explosive on the move, he has developed into a quality cut blocker.
[h=2]Run Blocking[/h] James needs to add bulk to his linear frame to handle the more physical defensive ends when playing on an island at the NFL level, but his quickness off the snap allows him to get into a lethargic defender’s body before his opponent has a chance to react, though. He is good at reaching and scooping, especially when he sinks his weight to gain advantage and seal off. With his impressive and strong base, he does get good movement on drive blocks vs. smaller opponents. I like that he is consistently aggressive on the run and he has the ability to easily work on the combo block, thanks to his body control when making contact. He is a physical upper body blocker, best suited to play in a zone scheme, and he has that raw power needed to root out and move level-one defenders when working in-line. With that great wingspan, big hands and long arms, he can easily reach and scoop. He consistently gains advantage and seals off, along with showing he excels at getting movement on the double-team (see 2013 Austin Peay and Western Kentucky games).
[h=2]Pass Blocking[/h] James is quick in his pass set, thanks to working hard in improving his footwork. Even when he over-sets he has the agility to recover. Despite being 6:06, he plays with good knee bend and uses his wing span effectively to cover vs. edge rushers. He shows good movement aspects in his pass protection when he bends his knees properly (no longer shows must waist bending action). He can reach and seal with suddenness, thanks to his quick first step and long wing span. It is rare to see him beaten vs. edge rushers (the few times that defenders had success with penetrations vs. him, it came on stunts and twists). When he seals a five-tech, he flashes the ability to cut off the back side. With his recent move to right tackle, I was greatly impresses with his pass set technique, as he keeps his pads lower to generate more explosiveness coming off the snap. He sets with good quickness and has that strong base needed to anchor (see 2013 Austin Peay, South Alabama and Kentucky games), showing good hand usage and arm extension, along with the ability and effort to slide and mirror. He has proven that when he maintains balance, he has no problem handling counter moves.
[h=2]Pulling/Trapping[/h] James is effective at reaching and scooping on run blocks. He pulls with good explosion and improved his ability to land in space. He adjusts effectively on the move to hit oncoming targets. Unlike most tall offensive tackles, he does not show any hip stiffness, and it is rare to see him struggle to generate lateral movement (not used much on sweeps, but has recorded ten second level blocks in his last thirteen games). With his quick feet, he does show urgency getting out in front and is developing a good feel for angling. With his foot speed, he can do the job when needed to locate and land in space. He pulls with above average body control and keeps his head on a swivel, as this intelligent player has the ability to adjust on the move.
[h=2]Adjust on Linebacker Downfield[/h] James is still learning angle technique, but can ride into the second level in a hurry to neutralize linebackers. As his senior season progressed, I saw on game films that he was more than capable of getting out in front in order to attack the second level defenders (see 2013 Georgia, South Carolina and Kentucky games). He does a nice job of fitting up or cutting while staying in control (earlier in his career, he would over-extend or lunge at times). With his ease of movement in the open field, he is capable of walling off and forcing the chase route of a defender. He stays on his feet better on the move or in the second level than when working in-line, but has improved his overall footwork, as it is rare to see his feet tend to die when having to suddenly get into the second level (still must improve his angle concept). When he makes initial contact with a second-level defender, he will quickly throw his hands into his man and has no problems trying to cut block. I like his awareness and effort to adjusting to oncoming defenders when on the move blocking down field.
[h=2]Use of Hands/Punch[/h] James has developed above-average power in his punch. He is become a savvy player with each passing starting assignment, evident by his ability of knowing how to grab in attempts to lock out and control without being spotted by the game officials. While he has developed a strong hand punch, he is also very quick to recoil, especially when using his hands to challenge stunts. He is equally effective using his hands to control the defender and executing his punch to put his man on the ground. He also has been very conscious of keeping his hands inside his framework, as he is quick to separate when a defender gets into his chest. He has the strong hand punch to shock and jolt and when he gets his hands inside his frame, but on the rare times when he gets narrow in his base and pushed back by a physical surge, he tries to compensate by trying to out-finesse, as his hand placement skills will then get outside his framework.
[h=2]Reactions/Awareness[/h] James is still learning the “tricks of the trade,” but did show as a junior improved awareness to locate threats (as a senior, he seems even faster picking it up at right tackle than he did on the left side in 2011). He is a student of the game and very alert to action around him, as he instantly recognizes stunts, twists and games. He has enough functional speed to get out in front on traps. He might lack much experience as a starting tackle (thirteen games), but with patient coaching to further his development earlier in his NFL career, some team could unearth a quality right tackle for the next decade. When taking on twists and games, he consistently recognizes them quick enough to get into position to challenge (see 2012 Miami and 2011 Northwestern, Maryland and Miami games). He has the nimble feet and agility needed to slide and adjust on the move. He keeps good balance and body control retreating to protect the pocket and has that long reach needed to latch on and neutralize edge rushers.
[h=2]Compares To[/h] Andrew Whitworth, Cincinnati: Like Whitworth, James is that rare tall offensive tackle that plays low in his pads. His ability to come off the snap with suddenness and utilize his long reach to instantly get into a defender’s chest has seen him win a considerable amount of battles since becoming a starter in 2010 as a freshman. I still feel he is more ideally suited for a zone blocking scheme and he could serve as a protector for QB Matt Ryan (Falcons), as their blocking scheme is ideal for the talent base that James displays.
http://min.scout.com/2/1399473.html
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JaWuan James – Tackle
James is a fourth year senior and has started every game of his college career. On the hoof, he looks the part at about 6’6 – 320 with long arms. He lines up at right tackle for the Vols and flashes top talent. My concern is he is an up-and-down player. Not only from game to game but also from play to play.
He plays form both a 2-point and 3-point stance. He has good snap reaction and good initial quickness. He can have a tendency to get tall, and I don’t see him as a natural bender, but there are times when he plays with good bend. As a run blocker, he shows he can get movement when blocking an opponent head up. He can get to the block quickly and shows he can run his feet on contact. The problem is, he doesn’t consistently run his feet. There are times when he stops his feet on contact and then restarts. When making down blocks or when trying to block at the second level, he shows inconsistencies. He doesn’t always take good angles and doesn’t always get to the block on time. He can get a little lazy in his play. I looked at three tapes from this year (Florida, Missouri and Alabama), and he was inconsistent in most phases of the game against Missouri and Florida but played well against Alabama. When on the move, he can be inconsistent. He doesn’t play with good speed and can have trouble adjusting on the move to hit a moving a target.
In pass protection, he sets with adequate quickness and shows a good punch. He generally does a good job with bull rushes and is fairly good with outside speed. He struggles with counter moves. In numerous plays, an opponent starts outside and comes back across James' face, and James lacks the recovery quicks to stop the charge. He has the physical traits to be able to slide and recover. I just don’t think he anticipates that well.
James can be an enigma. He looks like a top round talent, at times, and a free agent at other times. He has the talent to be a starting right tackle or guard in the NFL, but he is going to have to play more consistently to be trusted to get the job done. I would want my line coach to spend a lot of time with this player before deciding to draft him. At this time, I see him as a mid-round player but don’t be surprised if he goes higher.
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/college_player_scouting_report.html&player=113
Power. Mediocre.
Agility. Mediocre.
Combat Skills. Mediocre.
Intangibles. Mediocre.
Seriously? James plays Too High Too Often, which tells me his Core Power and Fluidity are both suspect.
His Combat Skills are equally uninspiring. I don't like his Mechanics very much, and nothing about his Game stands out.
I feel like he doesn't exhibit the Lateral Velocity to compete with real Speed at The Next Level.
And I've got no issues with his Motor, but it doesn't blow me away, either.
JaWuan James certainly has the look of a successful Offensive Tackle. And his Stock has risen considerably, over the last month or two, which strongly suggests that Scouts ~ the guys who know infinitely more about this than I ~ are quietly talking this guy up...a strong indication that I am missing something...which'd hardly be the first time.
And I'll surely take one more look before The Draft. I'm always open to learning.
But for now? I just don't see it.http://www.fanaticalyankee.com/6/post/2014/04/jawuan-james-scouting-report-2014-nfl-draft.html
Prospect: Ja’Wuan James, OT, Tennessee
Height: 6’6⅛”
Weight: 315
Grade: 6.3 (Grading Scale)
Measurements taken from the official Senior Bowl weigh-in
Scouting Report:
Strengths: Flexible body type, bends at the knees…Adequate length with a 33⅜ inch reach…Thick in the lower half, not top heavy at all…Precise hand placement in pass sets, keeps hands inside the pads of rushers…Shows upper body strength to latch and finish with power in flashes…Effective job mirroring with lateral quickness while engaged with rushers…Smooth passing off rushers and sliding laterally to pick up others when defenses stunt or twist…Doesn’t get overaggressive and lunge into contact, patient in his pass set…Recovers well if he loses position in pass set, uses length to ride out rushers or get feet his feet reset…Rarely lets rushers get to his pads and bull rush, fine lower body strength to anchor…Impressive job generating power to create movement up front as a drive blocker…Skilled combo blocker who can slide off to the second level and square up linebackers…Tracks defenders downfield like a heat-seeking missile…Coordinated mover in space, stays under control and balanced into contact…Keeps eyes up while engaged, sees the moving parts of a defense…4 year starter for the Vols, highly experienced at a high level.
Weaknesses: Quits on plays early on occasion, lacks a nastiness to finish with aggression…Indecisive, lapses in assignment on occasion…Gaffes in blitz pick-up too often, slow reactions to what he sees…Sloppy footwork, especially in first step off the snap…Takes too many false first steps and loses position immediately…Has had issues getting depth to combat speed rushes, uncomfortable and inefficient in his kickslide…Struggled at times with rushers who convert speed to power, doesn’t meet with his hands and gets run up on…Inconsistent landing hands to lock up and control as a run blocker, defenders slide off too easily…Has a tendency to hold when he gets beat, reliant on his hands to recover…Struggles to get head across defenders and work laterally as a run blocker, can’t scoop interior defensive linemen.
Overall: Ja’Wuan James is a prospect who didn’t take the step forward that he needed to in 2013. His performances could be described as up and down. You could watch 4 games and come away thinking he has a shot at the first round or watch 4 others and project middle to late rounds. Defenses that didn’t vary fronts, just put a man across from James and let them go 1 v. 1, often had little success against James. Those that gave multiple looks, moved players around pre-snap, and played games up front gave him some fits.
That speaks to where James is at as a prospect right now. The sloppiness to footwork gets him in trouble at times. His technique still needs work, though the building blocks are definitely in place. Most importantly, James needs to be coached into a tackle that can play with more confidence and conviction. Too often it appears as if James is unsure of his assignment and doesn’t play to his top speed because of it.
The physical upside is the draw. James’ size and physical measurements all meet the criteria of an NFL tackle. His feet aren’t too heavy, and he thrives moving into space. One of the more impressive things about him is the flexibility he has. He bends at the knees, plays at his balance point consistently, and utilizes leverage. James physically looks and moves exactly like what you want in a starting tackle. The need for refinement and lack of instinctive traits could push him into the third round. If a team has a plan for James to sit a season and then succeed a veteran, he could be worth a second round selection.
Scouting Notes
Tennessee vs. Western Kentucky
Tennessee vs. Oregon
Tennessee vs. Missouri
For everything that has been inconsistent on the Tennessee Volunteers offense this season, the one constant has been their offensive line. There are plenty of people who think four or five members of this year’s group could end up playing in the NFL. The most noted of the bunch if Antonio Richardson at left tackle and center James Stone is a solid pivot prospect, but the most intriguing of the group might be their right tackle, Ja’Wuan James. James is a terrific right tackle in Knoxville, but he has more than enough ability where he would be playing left tackle for a significant number of teams in college football. As a result, Tennessee has a pair of enormous bookend tackles that are in the conversation as the best pair in the nation this year.
James has great size, strength, and athleticism to play tackle as well as a mean streak that will show up in the running game. In pass protection, James offers significant ability but will occasionally just stop his feet and give opponents an opening to work around the edge against him. James looks like a top 100 pick and it would not be a shock if he was mentioned as someone who could move to left tackle in the NFL but he makes for an extremely talented right tackle prospect as well. Inconsistency might be the only thing that prevents from going in the top 75, but he still looks like he could be a great plug and play right tackle that could potentially make the move to left tackle or at least be a backup option there.
Vitals & Build
James is listed at 6’6” 318lbs with a terrific build. It will be interesting to see just where he measures in as he is remarkably svelte for the position. He has good functional strength and terrific feet and agility. James has a pretty good motor but appears to have an extra gear when he feels challenged by the guy across from him. So much will depend on the advice he gets going forward but if he is looking to maximize his ability at right tackle, he could easily add more weight and strength without sacrificing a problematic amount of athleticism. Should he want to try to make the move to left tackle going into the NFL, he will obviously want to add strength but he might be more careful with his overall weight as he wants to maximize his feet and ability to slide.
Athleticism
James has impressive athleticism for the tackle position. Not only does he have the capability to slide and mirror with opponents well, but he is able to get up to the second level with relative ease. James is able to do these things while maintaining his balance and working from a position of strength, but will end up out of control on occasion. He might still be a better athlete than his play would suggest.
Run Blocking
James is not always consistent but he shows the ability to be a force in the running game. When he locks on, he drives his feet to push the opponent down the field and often times looks to finish and dominate his opponent, displaying a nice mean streak. There are situations when James will make multiple efforts on the same opponent and just keep pushing the player down the field.
James is also able to make multiple blocks on the same play and has the ability to get up the field and make a block at the second level. There are times when he will get lost in the woods and maybe he is tired, but he will not be blocking anyone as the play matriculates down the field.
James is able to get to the second level, but he needs to avoid lunging at opponents. For the most part, he is comfortable in space and able to contribute when he gets there. This is exacerbated when he does not take a good angle and lunges from a bad position as the miss looks far worse and more noticeable. He is also natural at kicking outside and leading toss plays. James gets out of his stance comfortably and accelerates well going forward, looking natural and fluid in the process.
Occasionally, he will have lapses where he lets someone beat him with a quick move but he is usually able to make up ground and correct the issue. When he locks on, he usually stays locked on but there are certainly times when he will fall off of blocks. He will also occasionally get caught lunging and miss.
While more strength would help him, especially going to the next level, the only real issues that stop James from being a great run blocker are consistency and occasionally wearing down and getting tired. Beyond that, he looks like a terrific asset as a run blocker at either left or right tackle.
Pass Protection
James is more than capable of being a great edge pass protector but he runs into issues with effort at times. When opponents attack inside or attack right at him, he is extremely effective and holds up well to strength and stops opponents attacking the B gap.
James certainly has the ability to protect the edge and mirror against opponents but there are times when he just stops his feet too early and more or less leans on the opponent to force them outside of the play. For the most part, he is able to get away with it but more talented pass rushers are going to take advantage and his attempts to take the easy way out will get him in trouble.
There are a few examples where James will get beaten by an opponent or faces a talented opponent and he has another gear. Stepping up to the competition, James will play at an even higher level and his feet are extremely active and he is looking to send a message to the opponent.
Occasionally, he will lunge to cut with inconsistent results. While it may work to keep the opponent honest and keep them thinking about protecting their legs, James is more than capable of just beating them without it and when he misses, it puts his quarterback at risk.
Like with his run blocking, James can take some angles that cause him problems in how he attacks a block and the position from which he can operate. He needs to get a better sense on where he needs to in terms of position and his angle to the play. For the most part, he does a good job but there are times when he makes his job harder than it needs to be.
James has the ability to be a great pass blocker and it will all come down to effort and how badly he wants to be great from week to week to even play to play. He can be great for a substantial portion of the game and have a couple bad plays that make a big impact on the game. Consistency is huge with James.
Technique
James has a pretty good punch and is not afraid to use it more than once in the running game. He is able to knock opponents backward and drive them off the ball. When he is able to lock on, he is rarely shaken off and really shuts down the opponent from there. When he stops his feet on pass protection, he is able to use his length and shove opponents outside of the play. James can continue to work on hand placement but he does a pretty good job of using his hands to win at the line of scrimmage. There are times when he gets beaten when it comes to hand fighting but not often enough to be a huge concern.
Footwork
James has the feet to be great but his footwork, but he does not always make the effort to use it, especially in the passing game. When he is motivated and fresh, he is terrific and can mirror extremely well. He is efficient with his feet in the running game when it comes to getting outside or to the second level. James is not really limited athletically for what he can do with his feet in college or the NFL, so this year could really see him put the finishing touches on a great career and propel himself to a good start to his NFL career.
The other thing that can get him in trouble at times is the angles he chooses and where he aims to make blocks. There are times when James has more than enough athletic ability to get out and make a block but will take an awkward angle and either take on a block from a bad position or miss. Some of this is a matter of getting more experience but it seems like an issue that needs to be handled when he gets to the NFL with a ground up approach.
System Fit
The most obvious fit is as a right tackle and he is strong enough and athletic enough to play in just about any scheme. In addition, he can add weight if they need him to be bigger and stronger, but he really should be an attractive fit for most any team in the market for the position. If he ends up being a right tackle, he should also be adequate enough to kick over to the left side should there be an injury.
The question with James is whether or not there will be teams who look at him as a left tackle. He appears to have the athleticism to do the job in a number of schemes, but consistency and his ability to protect the edge with proper angles has still not been there. He might be a player that is drafted to a handful of teams and he can be the team’s right tackle but if he can get to camp and show he can take the left tackle job, that is a huge bonus.
NFL Comparison
James game might end up similar to that of Michael Oher of the Baltimore Ravens. After playing left tackle for Ole Miss, the Ravens picked him and put him on the right side where he was terrific. Although they have tried to move him to left tackle a couple of times, he has not been able to make the move effectively and ultimately moved back. Oher himself says he is more comfortable at right tackle. James has the athleticism to play left tackle but might just be a great right tackle, which seems to come with more value by the year. Oher and James both had questions when it came to consistency as college players. Both showed the ability to be brilliant, but had times when they did not play up to their ability.
Draft Projection
Ja’Wuan James might end up as one of the most intriguing tackles in all of college football because he is more than capable of being a high level left tackle for most of the nation. He has terrific physical skills and a mean streak that makes him a terrific run blocker with the tools to protect the edge. For James, it is all about consistency; with his footwork, his angles, and even just his effort. Nevertheless, James projects as a top 100 pick and inconsistency might be the only thing that keeps him from going in the top 75, but he still looks like someone who could contribute right away, especially if matched with a coach who he can work with to eliminate some of his mechanical questions.
http://withthefirstpick.com/2013/10/20/2014-nfl-draft-scouting-report-jawuan-james-ot-tennessee/
[h=3]Pros[/h]
[h=3]Cons[/h]
http://thesidelineview.com/scouting-report/jawuan-james?order=position&sort=asc
Ja’Wuan James, RT, Tennessee, (HT: 6'6"; WT: 311 lbs) Positives Like teammate Antonio "Tiny" Richardson, projects with scheme and concept versatility at the NFL level having played in both predominantly man-power (2012) and zone (2013) concepts under different line coaches in consecutive collegiate years. Shows terrific hustle and drive on the back side of zone plays when asked to take angles across an inside-aligned defender's face mask. Good kick-slide with rhythmic resetting motions give the ability to generally mirror nicely in pass protection. Long 82-inch wingspan aids in strong initial punch in run game. Shows the ability to get opponents off of him and counter many hand-fighting techniques. Can pass off stunting rushers to the inside and cleanly pick up the looping outside player with great recognition. Has shown the ability to get upfield within Tennessee's 2013 zone-blocking scheme and attack the play-side half of second-level defenders with great leverage. Started every game of his college career (49 games total, a University of Tennessee record) at right tackle—even on offensive lines that featured high-level competition and talent. Ran the 10th-best short shuttle at the 2014 combine among offensive linemen. Tied for the fifth-best vertical leap of all offensive linemen in Indianapolis for NFL testing. Negatives Came into the Senior Bowl's National Scouting Weigh-in looking flabby and clearly needing to add bulk and strength. Was pulled from Senior Bowl practices after one day due to a sprained knee. Can play too high at times. Can leave his base wide open to being ripped or spun under and through by opposing pass-rushers. Shows a troublesome tendency to "lean" on opposing pass-rushers once engaged and stops ladder-drilling with his feet, which can result in giving up pressure. Hand placement in pass protection is inconsistent and needs work to avoid holding penalties at the NFL level. Can fall victim to an occasional tendency to play somewhat out of control and lose position in a variety of situations. Seems much more comfortable with zone steps in inside-zone than on the play-side of outside-zone calls, where he can be a clear liability. What starts out as a very good motor can begin to peter off through games. Much better at absorbing and handling agile defenders from a defensive position in pass protection than he is when attacking upfield on the offensive. Seems to give up on plays when the defender does, fails to finish weak opposition with the brutal punishment he is capable of. Only four players at the combine put up worse bench press numbers than James' very meager 22 reps. Finished in the bottom quarter of offensive linemen that took part in the 40-yard dash in Indianapolis. Personal Notes Hometown is Suwanee, Ga. Full name: Ju'Wuan Amir James. Born on June 3rd, 1992 in Atlanta, Ga. Parents are Nichelle James-Mickens and Burkley James. Graduated from Tennessee with a degree in Arts and Sciences. Takes martial arts classes to aid in footwork and movement skills. Overall Perhaps James' disappearance from Senior Bowl activities, coupled with his sharing the spotlight with linemate Antonio Richardson, has resulted in the NFL draft media sleeping on James' talents. James is a very large prospect who obviously has some physical development in his future, but he was a solid cog on a competitive SEC line for every contest of his college career. He has good feet and solid awareness. The issues that continually crop up in James' game seem easily fixable with NFL coaching and a professional practice regimen. Evaluating James in-depth was a pleasant surprise. Draft Projection: Late Round 3 to early Round 5 Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
http://ewallstreeter.com/ja-wuan-ja...-outlook-for-tennessee-offensive-tackle-6742/
JaWuan James – Tackle
James is a fourth year senior and has started every game of his college career. On the hoof, he looks the part at about 6’6 – 320 with long arms. He lines up at right tackle for the Vols and flashes top talent. My concern is he is an up-and-down player. Not only from game to game but also from play to play.
He plays form both a 2-point and 3-point stance. He has good snap reaction and good initial quickness. He can have a tendency to get tall, and I don’t see him as a natural bender, but there are times when he plays with good bend. As a run blocker, he shows he can get movement when blocking an opponent head up. He can get to the block quickly and shows he can run his feet on contact. The problem is, he doesn’t consistently run his feet. There are times when he stops his feet on contact and then restarts. When making down blocks or when trying to block at the second level, he shows inconsistencies. He doesn’t always take good angles and doesn’t always get to the block on time. He can get a little lazy in his play. I looked at three tapes from this year (Florida, Missouri and Alabama), and he was inconsistent in most phases of the game against Missouri and Florida but played well against Alabama. When on the move, he can be inconsistent. He doesn’t play with good speed and can have trouble adjusting on the move to hit a moving a target.
In pass protection, he sets with adequate quickness and shows a good punch. He generally does a good job with bull rushes and is fairly good with outside speed. He struggles with counter moves. In numerous plays, an opponent starts outside and comes back across James' face, and James lacks the recovery quicks to stop the charge. He has the physical traits to be able to slide and recover. I just don’t think he anticipates that well.
James can be an enigma. He looks like a top round talent, at times, and a free agent at other times. He has the talent to be a starting right tackle or guard in the NFL, but he is going to have to play more consistently to be trusted to get the job done. I would want my line coach to spend a lot of time with this player before deciding to draft him. At this time, I see him as a mid-round player but don’t be surprised if he goes higher.
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/college_big_board_scouting_reports.html&position=ot
Strengths
· Good size, Elite NFL frame
· Long arms, locks out defender and steers him out of play
· Patient pass blocker, will succeed most times
· Anchors vs power well
· Strong player, with good lower body strength
· Uses proper hand technique and placement
Weaknesses
· Slow feet, lots of heaviness to his game
· Footwork is very poor
· Doesn’t sustain kick step or extend the pocket up field
· Struggles with speed rushers
· Lunges at defenders and loses balance
· Doesn’t dominate like his measurable indicate
· More of a finesse blocker
· Lets defenders get into his chest
· Struggles to pick up linebackers at next level
· Needs to play with more aggression
Analysis:
Depending on who you talk to, Ja’Wuan James is either a right tackle or a left tackle. His finesse blocking style and patient pass blocking style have him suited to play on the blind side. His poor footwork, overall slow feet and lack of refinement to his game make him more of a right tackle. James has potential to be a starter in the NFL but he will need lots of work. I believe he projects more as a right tackle than on the left. Either way, he needs to improve his footwork and consistency on the field. James is a high character guy and will be drafted higher than this current talent dictates.http://1450espnradio.com/content/post/scouting-report-jawuan-james
Positives
- Like teammate Antonio "Tiny" Richardson, projects with scheme and concept versatility at the NFL level having played in both predominantly man-power (2012) and zone (2013) concepts under different line coaches in consecutive collegiate years.
- Shows terrific hustle and drive on the back side of zone plays when asked to take angles across an inside-aligned defender's face mask.
- Good kick-slide with rhythmic resetting motions give the ability to generally mirror nicely in pass protection.
- Long 82-inch wingspan aids in strong initial punch in run game.
- Shows the ability to get opponents off of him and counter many hand-fighting techniques.
- Can pass off stunting rushers to the inside and cleanly pick up the looping outside player with great recognition.
- Has shown the ability to get upfield within Tennessee's 2013 zone-blocking scheme and attack the play-side half of second-level defenders with great leverage.
- Started every game of his college career (49 games total, a University of Tennessee record) at right tackle—even on offensive lines that featured high-level competition and talent.
- Ran the 10th-best short shuttle at the 2014 combine among offensive linemen.
- Tied for the fifth-best vertical leap of all offensive linemen in Indianapolis for NFL testing.
- Came into the Senior Bowl's National Scouting Weigh-in looking flabby and clearly needing to add bulk and strength.
- Was pulled from Senior Bowl practices after one day due to a sprained knee.
- Can play too high at times.
- Can leave his base wide open to being ripped or spun under and through by opposing pass-rushers.
- Shows a troublesome tendency to "lean" on opposing pass-rushers once engaged and stops ladder-drilling with his feet, which can result in giving up pressure.
- Hand placement in pass protection is inconsistent and needs work to avoid holding penalties at the NFL level.
- Can fall victim to an occasional tendency to play somewhat out of control and lose position in a variety of situations.
- Seems much more comfortable with zone steps in inside-zone than on the play-side of outside-zone calls, where he can be a clear liability.
- What starts out as a very good motor can begin to peter off through games.
- Much better at absorbing and handling agile defenders from a defensive position in pass protection than he is when attacking upfield on the offensive.
- Seems to give up on plays when the defender does, fails to finish weak opposition with the brutal punishment he is capable of.
- Only four players at the combine put up worse bench press numbers than James' very meager 22 reps.
- Finished in the bottom quarter of offensive linemen that took part in the 40-yard dash in Indianapolis.
On the Hoof: Has excellent height with long arms and a wide powerbase. James has plenty of room to fill out and add weight and strength in the upper body. His frame will easily hold 320 pounds. James should physically remind fans of Florida State offensive tackle Zebrie Sanders.
Needs improvement: Right now, he is a bit light in the pants and lacks pop. He must add some upper body strength and fill out. James must become more physical while run blocking. Right now he relies on athleticism and finesse.
Most impressive: This potential giant has excellent lateral movement and looks like a basketball player playing defense. He also has tremendous growth potential and a long wing span which make him an ideal left offensive tackle at the next level.
Conclusion: Currently, he is very raw and is possibly two years away from any meaningful time at the next level. He does possess a lot of potential and natural ability and his long-term future is very bright. Look for him to be a two- to three-year starter with NFL potential.
http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/recruiting/player-Jawuan-James-87259
Strengths: Extremely effective pass-protector
Great length
Huge bulk
Strong and powerful
Very athletic for a big blocker
Reliable against pass-rushers for four quarters
Showed speed in his drop
Quick feet
Gets push in the ground game
Plus recoverability
Strong hands
Quickness
Mobility to hit blocks on the perimeter
Gets to blocks on the second level
Can anchor against bull rushes
Upside
Experienced against elite competition
Scheme versatile
Strength for man scheme
Weaknesses: Could improve his bending
Can play too high
Pad level
Summary: At most colleges, James would have been a starting left tackle throughout his college career. However, the Tennessee offensive line has been phenomenal the past few years, and with Antonio "Tiny" Richardson taking the left tackle spot, James became a standout at right tackle throughout his career. Even though he played on the right side, WalterFootball.com knows sources who feel James has the skill set to potentially play left tackle in the NFL.
James broke into the starting lineup as a freshman. He was awarded many honors and got better each season. In 2012, the Volunteers' offensive line was phenomenal as it allowed only 18 sacks, and James was rock steady on the right side. He played his best in 2013, including versus South Carolina. James got some double-team help when going against Jadeveon Clowney, but James kept Clowney from recording a sack. James also performed well going against some good talent with Florida and Missouri.
James is a tough run-blocker and a reliable pass-protector. He is surprisingly athletic for his size. For the NFL, James has the quickness and athleticism to play in a zone-blocking scheme. He also has the power to play in a man scheme. James is quick to the second level and shows a nice ability to sustain his blocks.
After starting for four years in the SEC, James is ready to compete in the NFL. He could step into a starting role as a rookie at right tackle. If James isn't a starter, he should be a valuable backup. With developmental time and good coaching, James could be a good swing tackle who could play on the left or right side thanks to his versatile size and athleticism. James also could kick inside to guard if need be. In the long run, he would probably be at his best if he were a starter at right tackle.
Player Comparison: Jermon Bushrod. Bushrod (6-5, 315) and James are close to the same size. Like Bushrod, James can be effective as a pass-blocker and run-blocker. They both have some quickness and athleticism to their game. Bushrod was a fourth-round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft out of Towson. James should go a couple of rounds higher this year. I think James could turn into a quality starter like Bushrod.
NFL Matches: Seattle, Houston, Buffalo, Miami, Atlanta, New Orleans, Baltimore, New York Giants, New York Jets
There are a lot of teams that could consider taking James late in the second round. In the NFC South, New Orlenas and Atlanta could both consider adding some offensive tackle help. Sam Baker hasn't been consistent enough for the Falcons, so they could use a right tackle. The Saints re-signed Zach Strief in free agency, but landing James in the second round would be a great fit for New Orleans. If Terron Armstead struggles this coming season, the Saints could have James as depth.
Buffalo needs a new right tackle, and James would form a nice duo with Cordy Glenn. Miami has a ton of holes on its offensive line and needs a right tackle to pair with the newly signed Brandon Albert.
The Ravens lost Michael Oher in free agency, and James would be a great replacement at right tackle. He could be a nice value for Baltimore in the second round.
In New York, James could fit both teams. The Giants could use more talent on their offensive line. Drafting James would allow them to move Justin Pugh to the inside. The Jets, meanwhile, lost Austin Howard in free agency and could use some competition at right tackle.
The defending Super Bowl Champion Seahawks could consider taking James at the end of the second round to fix their hole at right tackle. He could be a steal for Seattle at pick No. 64.
The Texans could use a right tackle to compete with Derek Newton, and James would be a nice fit for the first selection of the third round. If anything happened to Duane Brown, James could provide some depth on the blind side as well.
http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2014jjames.php
| Scouting Report |
| James heads to the NFL as one of the most experienced players in his draft class after starting all 49 games of his college career at right tackle, a Tennessee school record for an offensive lineman. Part of one of the nation's top offensive lines - which could have four or five players drafted - James helped the Volunteers run for 2,261 yards in 2013, their most since 2004. In 2012, he was part of the first Tennessee squad in 15 seasons to total 500-plus yards of offense in at least five games. James' greatest attribute, however, may simply be his four years in the nation's premier football conference as he regularly competed against future pro talent. Coaches will likely value James' adaptability, as he excelled despite playing under three different coaches in both man and zone-blocking schemes. He has a huge frame and may be shifted from right to left tackle, the domain of dominant pass blockers. James isn't quite as adept in the running game and sometimes struggles making blocks at the second level. While he didn't stand out above his fellow linemen in any particular event at the combine, he was a solid all-around performer. James has the potential to contribute right away and could be taken in the second or third round. |
Strengths
· Good size, Elite NFL frame
· Long arms, locks out defender and steers him out of play
· Patient pass blocker, will succeed most times
· Anchors vs power well
· Strong player, with good lower body strength
· Uses proper hand technique and placement
Weaknesses
· Slow feet, lots of heaviness to his game
· Footwork is very poor
· Doesn’t sustain kick step or extend the pocket up field
· Struggles with speed rushers
· Lunges at defenders and loses balance
· Doesn’t dominate like his measurable indicate
· More of a finesse blocker
· Lets defenders get into his chest
· Struggles to pick up linebackers at next level
· Needs to play with more aggression
Analysis:
Depending on who you talk to, Ja’Wuan James is either a right tackle or a left tackle. His finesse blocking style and patient pass blocking style have him suited to play on the blind side. His poor footwork, overall slow feet and lack of refinement to his game make him more of a right tackle. James has potential to be a starter in the NFL but he will need lots of work. I believe he projects more as a right tackle than on the left. Either way, he needs to improve his footwork and consistency on the field. James is a high character guy and will be drafted higher than this current talent dictates.
http://1450espnradio.com/content/post/scouting-report-jawuan-james
Ja'Wuan James had a better season than teammate Antonio Richardson. Early on in the process, James probably wasn't getting the attention he deserved, but it looks like the draft community has caught up on him. With Brandon Thomas' knee injury (and concerns about Cyrus Kouandjio's health) James could go in the back of the 1st round to a tackle needy team.
James is a great fit in a zone blocking scheme. He has tons of experience, having started 49 games in the SEC. He has length and clearly has a feel for positional blocking. James is a day 1 starter and will be a solid starter in the NFL.
He'll probably be gone before the Cowboys consider him, but James would definitely be in consideration if he falls to the Cowboys in round 2. James probably shouldn't play guard, but could start at RT with Free moving to RG - if that's the best lineup. He could also be groomed as the 2015 starter at RT and allow the team to save some cap space by cutting Parnell.
2013: Started 12/12 games at RT
2012: Started 12/12 games at RT
2011: Started 12/12 games at RT
2010: Started 13/13 games at RT
Honors
All-SEC (2013 2nd Team, 2010 Freshman
SEC Offensive Lineman of the Week (December 2, 2013)
Senior Bowl
Positives:
-Long arms
-Posted very good 3-Cone and short shuttle times at the Combine
-Experienced 4 year starter and enrolled early in January 2010
-Zone blocking - very good understanding of angles and positioning
-Capable second level blocker
-Awareness
-Durable - started (all) 49 straight games
Negatives:
-Lacks power to play inside at guard
-Would like him to be stronger at OT
-Had some gaffes against Missouri - speed to power guys could give him some trouble on occasion
-Had some good numbers in the 3-cone and 20 shuttle but overall athleticism is average
http://www.cowboysdraftbeat.com/ja-wuan-james-scouting-report---tennessee.html
Like Andrew Whitworth, the Volunteers’ Ja’wuan James is that rare tall offensive tackle that plays low in his pads. The NFL Draft Report chronicles his outstanding senior season and breaks down his game in this detailed scouting report.
The “glamour” position on the offensive line is at left tackle, where the Volunteers placed Antonio “Tiny” Richardson upon the five-star recruit signing at [URL="http://tennessee.scout.com/"]Tennessee. That would relegate Ja’Wuan James to the inglorious right tackle position. A lot of the preseason hype had Richardson challenging Texas A&M’s Jake Matthews for the coveted honor for being the first offensive tackle to be selected in the 2014 draft, as all were well aware that the Vols blocker would not return to school after the 2013 campaign. Plans for securing the top tackle spot saw Matthews and Richardson slide down the “pecking order” — Matthews, a little bit with Richardson dropping into the third-day draft picture — thanks to the dominating season recorded by Auburn’s Greg Robinson.
The NFL Draft Report had devised a statistical charting system for offensive linemen years ago. Based on the performances last season, James would rank third among all offensive tackles with an 87.3% grade for blocking consistency during his final campaign. Throughout the 2013 schedule, James was as dominant as ever, appearing to have secured a draft position somewhere in the second round.
The Vols recorded a total of 30 touchdowns on offense (18 rushing, 12 passing), with the right tackle producing 13 touchdown-resulting blocks. He also posted 89 knockdown blocks while defenders lining up over the senior have managed to register just two of the fifteen sacks given up by the front wall.
New head coach Butch Jones was quick to recognize the success the Volunteers had with James leading the way up front. Throughout the season, James cleared out the rush lanes, delivering seven touchdown-resulting blocks as the Vols scored 18 times on the ground. Close to 60 percent of their rushing yardage (1,334 of 2,261) came over the right side of the Tennessee line led by their senior tackle.
James had an opportunity to leave for the National Football League following his junior season, but returning to the Volunteers was just what he needed, both on the field and off.
“I wasn’t ready to leave physically or mentally,” said the team’s senior captain.
“I felt like I had a lot to build on strength-wise and growing up-wise. It definitely helps that all of us stayed together as an offensive line.” His consistency on the field is a reflection of the coaching James has received throughout his career at Tennessee. Head coach Butch Jones and his staff raised that bar considerably when they stepped in the door.
“They brought a lot of consistency in their message,” James said of the impact Jones and offensive line coach Don Mahoney have made on him. “They preach effort and working hard. A lot of coaches say it, but they live it every day. I feel like this coaching staff definitely has me playing a lot harder.”
[h=2]Ja’Wuan James[/h] University of Tennessee Volunteers
6:06.0-311
[h=2]Body Structure[/h] James has a tall, linear build that can add at least another 20-25 pounds of bulk without the weight impacting his overall quickness. He possesses an athletic frame with very long limbs (35-inch arms and 83-inch wing span), big hands, good bubble, a firm and solidly built midsection, athletic body with adequate lower frame thickness. He looks trim at just a shade over 310 pounds, but that can surprise a defensive lineman, as he has above average strength, and knows how to combine that power with a strong anchor and a long reach that consistently keeps his opponent off his body.
[h=2]Athletic Ability[/h] James has the frame to develop more bulk, but he possesses above-average strength, especially in the lower frame and appears to be stout at the point of attack, despite possessing a linear, basketball player-like physique. His athleticism and loose hips explains his flexibility moving laterally and he has good quickness on the move to attack second level defenders (see 2013 Western Kentucky, South Alabama and Georgia games). You can see on film that he has the suddenness getting out on the edge to block for the outside running game. He shows good change of direction agility, loose hips and good agility to sit and anchor. Despite his tall frame, he has become quite adept at keeping his pad level down. He might lack explosive speed, but is fairly nimble for a down lineman, displaying good body control moving down the line, as he has probably the best change of direction agility of any UT lineman in the last decade. He runs with a normal stride and shows good agility and balance in his retreat and kick slide to develop into a quality pass protector. With his body control on the move, he should have no problem at the next level, if called upon to make contact down field.
[h=2]Football Sense[/h] James is an intelligent athlete who is also a hard working student of the game. He tests well and shows solid field vision and instincts. He has no problems learning and retaining plays and hustles until the whistle. He easily takes plays from the chalkboard to the playing field. Even though he honed his skills as a right offensive tackle, you have to be impressed with his vision and ability to acclimate quickly to his move over to left tackle, thanks to the high amount of pass blocks he made during the 2013 season (six of his thirteen touchdown-resulting blocks came during passing situations). He has a very good understanding for blocking schemes, works well in unison with his right guard and tight end on combo blocks/double teams and can adjust to defensive stunts and games with ease. Since stepping into the starting lineup, he has not been called for any false starts, personal fouls or holding penalties.
[h=2]Competitiveness[/h] James is a classic warrior on the field with good work ethic in the training room. He has worked hard to bulk up since coming into the Tennessee program at 270-plus pounds in 2010, but he still needs to add more bulk to his frame, especially if he is to project to right tackle at the next level. He is a highly competitive type whose spirit and enthusiasm are evident on the field. He comes off the snap with a hard drive and has developed good aggression as a blocker, knowing when to stay in control or flash a little nastiness (see 2013 Austin Peay, South Alabama and Kentucky games). He competes with a strong hand punch and shows desire and intensity finishing his blocks.
[h=2]Initial Quickness[/h] James is aggressive blocker with surprising strength (was a weight man for the track and field team in high school, which could explain his impressive power base). On contact and when he drives with his feet, he can generate movement on the double team. He generally plays under control and showed in 2013 that he has made good strides in working his hips to wall off and force the chase route. When he gets tall in his stance, he looks a bit stiff redirection, but when he stays low in his pads, he swings his hips and runs his feet well leading on the sweep. He is usually in position of advantage, especially when asked to seal, as he has good ability to wheel and cut off the back side. You can see on film his suddenness and snap quickness to get out and lock on to his blocking assignment. He keeps his head on a swivel when moving into the second level and works hard to finish, keeping his feet churning when making plays on the move.
[h=2]Lateral Movement[/h] James flashes quick, active feet in his kick slide, as he has the lateral agility to mirror and adjust to stunts. Despite his tall frame, he does not appear to have any problems when he has to redirect, as he consistently plays at a low pad level. When he drops his weight, he has no problems adjusting to the outside blitz. He moves fluidly to challenge in one-on-one confrontations and has excellent body control playing in space, demonstrating the initial kick off the snap to surprise a slower opponent (when he drives with his legs and rolls his hips on contact, even the stronger bull rushers are contained). With his balance, he might see some action at guard at the next level, as he can get through holes quickly when asked to pull.
[h=2]Balance/Stays On Feet[/h] James displays good balance and body control on the move. He does a decent job of adjusting in space, thanks to refining his footwork in recent years (can slide and change direction well to mirror pass rushers, but if gets up on his heels too much, it could see NFL bull rushers walk him back). He handles quickness and movement better when he keeps his pads down, as he does a nice job of playing flat-footed. When he gets too tall coming off the snap, his stance prevents him from gaining leverage vs. the bull rush. Earlier in his career, he needed to improve his overall footwork, as he did not always shuffle his feet and explode off the snap to gain movement. He plays mostly in the pro-style offense, so he won’t need much time to adjust his footwork and mechanics to the pro game. He’s a good mauler in the trenches, but I think he will provide better and quicker production in his NFL career if he performs in a zone-blocking scheme. He is quick to gain initial position and on contact, he demonstrates strength, along with the ability to adjust, sustain and finish (see 2013 South Alabama and Georgia games).
[h=2]Explosion/Pop[/h] When he stays low in his pads and drives with his legs, James generates very good pop on contact, as he has learned how to play flat-footed (will get in trouble when he plays on his heels). He consistently gets proper movement coming out of his stance, and on the move, he knows how to drop a linebacker with a crunching forearm shot. He has the agility to clear out rush lanes working in-line when he stays square in his base and moves laterally. He is still developing confidence in his overall strength (would like to see him attack with his hands more often) and due to his tall frame, if he gets too upright in his stance, defenders with a low center of gravity can fire off the line, get under his jersey and walk him back into the pocket. He has a very forceful hand punch when he keeps them inside his framework and while not explosive on the move, he has developed into a quality cut blocker.
[h=2]Run Blocking[/h] James needs to add bulk to his linear frame to handle the more physical defensive ends when playing on an island at the NFL level, but his quickness off the snap allows him to get into a lethargic defender’s body before his opponent has a chance to react, though. He is good at reaching and scooping, especially when he sinks his weight to gain advantage and seal off. With his impressive and strong base, he does get good movement on drive blocks vs. smaller opponents. I like that he is consistently aggressive on the run and he has the ability to easily work on the combo block, thanks to his body control when making contact. He is a physical upper body blocker, best suited to play in a zone scheme, and he has that raw power needed to root out and move level-one defenders when working in-line. With that great wingspan, big hands and long arms, he can easily reach and scoop. He consistently gains advantage and seals off, along with showing he excels at getting movement on the double-team (see 2013 Austin Peay and Western Kentucky games).
[h=2]Pass Blocking[/h] James is quick in his pass set, thanks to working hard in improving his footwork. Even when he over-sets he has the agility to recover. Despite being 6:06, he plays with good knee bend and uses his wing span effectively to cover vs. edge rushers. He shows good movement aspects in his pass protection when he bends his knees properly (no longer shows must waist bending action). He can reach and seal with suddenness, thanks to his quick first step and long wing span. It is rare to see him beaten vs. edge rushers (the few times that defenders had success with penetrations vs. him, it came on stunts and twists). When he seals a five-tech, he flashes the ability to cut off the back side. With his recent move to right tackle, I was greatly impresses with his pass set technique, as he keeps his pads lower to generate more explosiveness coming off the snap. He sets with good quickness and has that strong base needed to anchor (see 2013 Austin Peay, South Alabama and Kentucky games), showing good hand usage and arm extension, along with the ability and effort to slide and mirror. He has proven that when he maintains balance, he has no problem handling counter moves.
[h=2]Pulling/Trapping[/h] James is effective at reaching and scooping on run blocks. He pulls with good explosion and improved his ability to land in space. He adjusts effectively on the move to hit oncoming targets. Unlike most tall offensive tackles, he does not show any hip stiffness, and it is rare to see him struggle to generate lateral movement (not used much on sweeps, but has recorded ten second level blocks in his last thirteen games). With his quick feet, he does show urgency getting out in front and is developing a good feel for angling. With his foot speed, he can do the job when needed to locate and land in space. He pulls with above average body control and keeps his head on a swivel, as this intelligent player has the ability to adjust on the move.
[h=2]Adjust on Linebacker Downfield[/h] James is still learning angle technique, but can ride into the second level in a hurry to neutralize linebackers. As his senior season progressed, I saw on game films that he was more than capable of getting out in front in order to attack the second level defenders (see 2013 Georgia, South Carolina and Kentucky games). He does a nice job of fitting up or cutting while staying in control (earlier in his career, he would over-extend or lunge at times). With his ease of movement in the open field, he is capable of walling off and forcing the chase route of a defender. He stays on his feet better on the move or in the second level than when working in-line, but has improved his overall footwork, as it is rare to see his feet tend to die when having to suddenly get into the second level (still must improve his angle concept). When he makes initial contact with a second-level defender, he will quickly throw his hands into his man and has no problems trying to cut block. I like his awareness and effort to adjusting to oncoming defenders when on the move blocking down field.
[h=2]Use of Hands/Punch[/h] James has developed above-average power in his punch. He is become a savvy player with each passing starting assignment, evident by his ability of knowing how to grab in attempts to lock out and control without being spotted by the game officials. While he has developed a strong hand punch, he is also very quick to recoil, especially when using his hands to challenge stunts. He is equally effective using his hands to control the defender and executing his punch to put his man on the ground. He also has been very conscious of keeping his hands inside his framework, as he is quick to separate when a defender gets into his chest. He has the strong hand punch to shock and jolt and when he gets his hands inside his frame, but on the rare times when he gets narrow in his base and pushed back by a physical surge, he tries to compensate by trying to out-finesse, as his hand placement skills will then get outside his framework.
[h=2]Reactions/Awareness[/h] James is still learning the “tricks of the trade,” but did show as a junior improved awareness to locate threats (as a senior, he seems even faster picking it up at right tackle than he did on the left side in 2011). He is a student of the game and very alert to action around him, as he instantly recognizes stunts, twists and games. He has enough functional speed to get out in front on traps. He might lack much experience as a starting tackle (thirteen games), but with patient coaching to further his development earlier in his NFL career, some team could unearth a quality right tackle for the next decade. When taking on twists and games, he consistently recognizes them quick enough to get into position to challenge (see 2012 Miami and 2011 Northwestern, Maryland and Miami games). He has the nimble feet and agility needed to slide and adjust on the move. He keeps good balance and body control retreating to protect the pocket and has that long reach needed to latch on and neutralize edge rushers.
[h=2]Compares To[/h] Andrew Whitworth, Cincinnati: Like Whitworth, James is that rare tall offensive tackle that plays low in his pads. His ability to come off the snap with suddenness and utilize his long reach to instantly get into a defender’s chest has seen him win a considerable amount of battles since becoming a starter in 2010 as a freshman. I still feel he is more ideally suited for a zone blocking scheme and he could serve as a protector for QB Matt Ryan (Falcons), as their blocking scheme is ideal for the talent base that James displays.
http://min.scout.com/2/1399473.html
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JaWuan James – Tackle
James is a fourth year senior and has started every game of his college career. On the hoof, he looks the part at about 6’6 – 320 with long arms. He lines up at right tackle for the Vols and flashes top talent. My concern is he is an up-and-down player. Not only from game to game but also from play to play.
He plays form both a 2-point and 3-point stance. He has good snap reaction and good initial quickness. He can have a tendency to get tall, and I don’t see him as a natural bender, but there are times when he plays with good bend. As a run blocker, he shows he can get movement when blocking an opponent head up. He can get to the block quickly and shows he can run his feet on contact. The problem is, he doesn’t consistently run his feet. There are times when he stops his feet on contact and then restarts. When making down blocks or when trying to block at the second level, he shows inconsistencies. He doesn’t always take good angles and doesn’t always get to the block on time. He can get a little lazy in his play. I looked at three tapes from this year (Florida, Missouri and Alabama), and he was inconsistent in most phases of the game against Missouri and Florida but played well against Alabama. When on the move, he can be inconsistent. He doesn’t play with good speed and can have trouble adjusting on the move to hit a moving a target.
In pass protection, he sets with adequate quickness and shows a good punch. He generally does a good job with bull rushes and is fairly good with outside speed. He struggles with counter moves. In numerous plays, an opponent starts outside and comes back across James' face, and James lacks the recovery quicks to stop the charge. He has the physical traits to be able to slide and recover. I just don’t think he anticipates that well.
James can be an enigma. He looks like a top round talent, at times, and a free agent at other times. He has the talent to be a starting right tackle or guard in the NFL, but he is going to have to play more consistently to be trusted to get the job done. I would want my line coach to spend a lot of time with this player before deciding to draft him. At this time, I see him as a mid-round player but don’t be surprised if he goes higher.
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/college_player_scouting_report.html&player=113
JaWuan James Scouting Report
Power. Mediocre.
Agility. Mediocre.
Combat Skills. Mediocre.
Intangibles. Mediocre.
JaWuan James Prospectus
JaWuan James, Ladies & Gentlemen: The Most Average Offensive Tackle in the Draft!!
Seriously? James plays Too High Too Often, which tells me his Core Power and Fluidity are both suspect.
His Combat Skills are equally uninspiring. I don't like his Mechanics very much, and nothing about his Game stands out.
I feel like he doesn't exhibit the Lateral Velocity to compete with real Speed at The Next Level.
And I've got no issues with his Motor, but it doesn't blow me away, either.
JaWuan James certainly has the look of a successful Offensive Tackle. And his Stock has risen considerably, over the last month or two, which strongly suggests that Scouts ~ the guys who know infinitely more about this than I ~ are quietly talking this guy up...a strong indication that I am missing something...which'd hardly be the first time.
And I'll surely take one more look before The Draft. I'm always open to learning.
But for now? I just don't see it.http://www.fanaticalyankee.com/6/post/2014/04/jawuan-james-scouting-report-2014-nfl-draft.html
Prospect: Ja’Wuan James, OT, Tennessee
Height: 6’6⅛”
Weight: 315
Grade: 6.3 (Grading Scale)
Measurements taken from the official Senior Bowl weigh-in
Scouting Report:
Strengths: Flexible body type, bends at the knees…Adequate length with a 33⅜ inch reach…Thick in the lower half, not top heavy at all…Precise hand placement in pass sets, keeps hands inside the pads of rushers…Shows upper body strength to latch and finish with power in flashes…Effective job mirroring with lateral quickness while engaged with rushers…Smooth passing off rushers and sliding laterally to pick up others when defenses stunt or twist…Doesn’t get overaggressive and lunge into contact, patient in his pass set…Recovers well if he loses position in pass set, uses length to ride out rushers or get feet his feet reset…Rarely lets rushers get to his pads and bull rush, fine lower body strength to anchor…Impressive job generating power to create movement up front as a drive blocker…Skilled combo blocker who can slide off to the second level and square up linebackers…Tracks defenders downfield like a heat-seeking missile…Coordinated mover in space, stays under control and balanced into contact…Keeps eyes up while engaged, sees the moving parts of a defense…4 year starter for the Vols, highly experienced at a high level.
Weaknesses: Quits on plays early on occasion, lacks a nastiness to finish with aggression…Indecisive, lapses in assignment on occasion…Gaffes in blitz pick-up too often, slow reactions to what he sees…Sloppy footwork, especially in first step off the snap…Takes too many false first steps and loses position immediately…Has had issues getting depth to combat speed rushes, uncomfortable and inefficient in his kickslide…Struggled at times with rushers who convert speed to power, doesn’t meet with his hands and gets run up on…Inconsistent landing hands to lock up and control as a run blocker, defenders slide off too easily…Has a tendency to hold when he gets beat, reliant on his hands to recover…Struggles to get head across defenders and work laterally as a run blocker, can’t scoop interior defensive linemen.
Overall: Ja’Wuan James is a prospect who didn’t take the step forward that he needed to in 2013. His performances could be described as up and down. You could watch 4 games and come away thinking he has a shot at the first round or watch 4 others and project middle to late rounds. Defenses that didn’t vary fronts, just put a man across from James and let them go 1 v. 1, often had little success against James. Those that gave multiple looks, moved players around pre-snap, and played games up front gave him some fits.
That speaks to where James is at as a prospect right now. The sloppiness to footwork gets him in trouble at times. His technique still needs work, though the building blocks are definitely in place. Most importantly, James needs to be coached into a tackle that can play with more confidence and conviction. Too often it appears as if James is unsure of his assignment and doesn’t play to his top speed because of it.
The physical upside is the draw. James’ size and physical measurements all meet the criteria of an NFL tackle. His feet aren’t too heavy, and he thrives moving into space. One of the more impressive things about him is the flexibility he has. He bends at the knees, plays at his balance point consistently, and utilizes leverage. James physically looks and moves exactly like what you want in a starting tackle. The need for refinement and lack of instinctive traits could push him into the third round. If a team has a plan for James to sit a season and then succeed a veteran, he could be worth a second round selection.
Scouting Notes
Tennessee vs. Western Kentucky
- Terrific combo/down block and scrapes off to a linebacker on power
- Shows good knee bend and overall coordination of movement as a pass blocker, mirrors well
- Crosses face of the defensive end and stones a safety coming into the box on a draw, impressive movement to the second level, disciplined angle as well
- Oversets to the outside and loses inside leverage a bit on a few runs to the opposite side
- Takes a great angle to the second level to wall off Andrew Jackson, but fails to drop his pads and gets driven back into the hole
- Unaffected by an attempted spin move, doesn’t allow the rusher into his body
- Doesn’t pick up his eyes and misses a blitzer who disguises it well on the edge, leads to a pressured throw an interception
Tennessee vs. Oregon
- Loses his footing and falls down on a combo block, unable to get to the second level
- Struggling to get into the chest of defenders to sustain blocks early on, defenders scraping off him
- Picks up an stunting defensive tackle well as a pass blocker, maintains balance as end crashes inside
- Cuts down a safety well at the second level on a screen pass
- Unable to cut off the backside end on an inside zone and he stuffs the play, needed a better lateral step but was always going to be a very difficult block to make
- Does well to redirect to an outside stunt and pick it up on the edge, smooth footwork
- Comes off the DE he’s helping down on to step out and pick it a delayed LB blitz, solid vision
- Drives a DE off the ball a good five yards in a 1 v. 1 situation on a draw play, impressive leg drive
Tennessee vs. Missouri
- Very measured in multiple climbs to LB’s, stays under control, fires hands in coordination w/ his feet
- Takes a lazy first step on a draw and gives up the corner, hooks the DE, gets away with a hold
- Shows indecision on multiple plays, miscommunicates with RG on a combo, both release to 2nd level and leave DT, who stuffs the run
- Continuously places hands with precision, can control defenders with ease
- More precision needed in first step to leverage and wall off
- Recovers from a lazy first step when Mike Sam accelerates on corner, turns hips with fluidity and uses length to ride him out, smooth recovery
- Slow to extend hands and deliver the blow, rusher strikes his chest with power & blows him backwards to pick up a sack
- Flashes ability to fire hands, control with power, and take a DE wherever he wants him to go
- Slow off the line again and gets beat around the corner on a draw play, heavy feet?
- Continuously struggling with the speed rush, recovers with length and fluid hips though
- Shows ability to sink hips, sit in his pass set, and extend hands while staying balanced
- Increasingly steady in pass pro as the game wears on, finds his groove in terms of footwork
- Keeps struggling to get depth in kickslide, hits a point where he wants to turn and ride out DE’s, gets away with multiple close calls in terms of holding
For everything that has been inconsistent on the Tennessee Volunteers offense this season, the one constant has been their offensive line. There are plenty of people who think four or five members of this year’s group could end up playing in the NFL. The most noted of the bunch if Antonio Richardson at left tackle and center James Stone is a solid pivot prospect, but the most intriguing of the group might be their right tackle, Ja’Wuan James. James is a terrific right tackle in Knoxville, but he has more than enough ability where he would be playing left tackle for a significant number of teams in college football. As a result, Tennessee has a pair of enormous bookend tackles that are in the conversation as the best pair in the nation this year.
James has great size, strength, and athleticism to play tackle as well as a mean streak that will show up in the running game. In pass protection, James offers significant ability but will occasionally just stop his feet and give opponents an opening to work around the edge against him. James looks like a top 100 pick and it would not be a shock if he was mentioned as someone who could move to left tackle in the NFL but he makes for an extremely talented right tackle prospect as well. Inconsistency might be the only thing that prevents from going in the top 75, but he still looks like he could be a great plug and play right tackle that could potentially make the move to left tackle or at least be a backup option there.
Vitals & Build
James is listed at 6’6” 318lbs with a terrific build. It will be interesting to see just where he measures in as he is remarkably svelte for the position. He has good functional strength and terrific feet and agility. James has a pretty good motor but appears to have an extra gear when he feels challenged by the guy across from him. So much will depend on the advice he gets going forward but if he is looking to maximize his ability at right tackle, he could easily add more weight and strength without sacrificing a problematic amount of athleticism. Should he want to try to make the move to left tackle going into the NFL, he will obviously want to add strength but he might be more careful with his overall weight as he wants to maximize his feet and ability to slide.
Athleticism
James has impressive athleticism for the tackle position. Not only does he have the capability to slide and mirror with opponents well, but he is able to get up to the second level with relative ease. James is able to do these things while maintaining his balance and working from a position of strength, but will end up out of control on occasion. He might still be a better athlete than his play would suggest.
Run Blocking
James is not always consistent but he shows the ability to be a force in the running game. When he locks on, he drives his feet to push the opponent down the field and often times looks to finish and dominate his opponent, displaying a nice mean streak. There are situations when James will make multiple efforts on the same opponent and just keep pushing the player down the field.
James is also able to make multiple blocks on the same play and has the ability to get up the field and make a block at the second level. There are times when he will get lost in the woods and maybe he is tired, but he will not be blocking anyone as the play matriculates down the field.
James is able to get to the second level, but he needs to avoid lunging at opponents. For the most part, he is comfortable in space and able to contribute when he gets there. This is exacerbated when he does not take a good angle and lunges from a bad position as the miss looks far worse and more noticeable. He is also natural at kicking outside and leading toss plays. James gets out of his stance comfortably and accelerates well going forward, looking natural and fluid in the process.
Occasionally, he will have lapses where he lets someone beat him with a quick move but he is usually able to make up ground and correct the issue. When he locks on, he usually stays locked on but there are certainly times when he will fall off of blocks. He will also occasionally get caught lunging and miss.
While more strength would help him, especially going to the next level, the only real issues that stop James from being a great run blocker are consistency and occasionally wearing down and getting tired. Beyond that, he looks like a terrific asset as a run blocker at either left or right tackle.
Pass Protection
James is more than capable of being a great edge pass protector but he runs into issues with effort at times. When opponents attack inside or attack right at him, he is extremely effective and holds up well to strength and stops opponents attacking the B gap.
James certainly has the ability to protect the edge and mirror against opponents but there are times when he just stops his feet too early and more or less leans on the opponent to force them outside of the play. For the most part, he is able to get away with it but more talented pass rushers are going to take advantage and his attempts to take the easy way out will get him in trouble.
There are a few examples where James will get beaten by an opponent or faces a talented opponent and he has another gear. Stepping up to the competition, James will play at an even higher level and his feet are extremely active and he is looking to send a message to the opponent.
Occasionally, he will lunge to cut with inconsistent results. While it may work to keep the opponent honest and keep them thinking about protecting their legs, James is more than capable of just beating them without it and when he misses, it puts his quarterback at risk.
Like with his run blocking, James can take some angles that cause him problems in how he attacks a block and the position from which he can operate. He needs to get a better sense on where he needs to in terms of position and his angle to the play. For the most part, he does a good job but there are times when he makes his job harder than it needs to be.
James has the ability to be a great pass blocker and it will all come down to effort and how badly he wants to be great from week to week to even play to play. He can be great for a substantial portion of the game and have a couple bad plays that make a big impact on the game. Consistency is huge with James.
Technique
James has a pretty good punch and is not afraid to use it more than once in the running game. He is able to knock opponents backward and drive them off the ball. When he is able to lock on, he is rarely shaken off and really shuts down the opponent from there. When he stops his feet on pass protection, he is able to use his length and shove opponents outside of the play. James can continue to work on hand placement but he does a pretty good job of using his hands to win at the line of scrimmage. There are times when he gets beaten when it comes to hand fighting but not often enough to be a huge concern.
Footwork
James has the feet to be great but his footwork, but he does not always make the effort to use it, especially in the passing game. When he is motivated and fresh, he is terrific and can mirror extremely well. He is efficient with his feet in the running game when it comes to getting outside or to the second level. James is not really limited athletically for what he can do with his feet in college or the NFL, so this year could really see him put the finishing touches on a great career and propel himself to a good start to his NFL career.
The other thing that can get him in trouble at times is the angles he chooses and where he aims to make blocks. There are times when James has more than enough athletic ability to get out and make a block but will take an awkward angle and either take on a block from a bad position or miss. Some of this is a matter of getting more experience but it seems like an issue that needs to be handled when he gets to the NFL with a ground up approach.
System Fit
The most obvious fit is as a right tackle and he is strong enough and athletic enough to play in just about any scheme. In addition, he can add weight if they need him to be bigger and stronger, but he really should be an attractive fit for most any team in the market for the position. If he ends up being a right tackle, he should also be adequate enough to kick over to the left side should there be an injury.
The question with James is whether or not there will be teams who look at him as a left tackle. He appears to have the athleticism to do the job in a number of schemes, but consistency and his ability to protect the edge with proper angles has still not been there. He might be a player that is drafted to a handful of teams and he can be the team’s right tackle but if he can get to camp and show he can take the left tackle job, that is a huge bonus.
NFL Comparison
James game might end up similar to that of Michael Oher of the Baltimore Ravens. After playing left tackle for Ole Miss, the Ravens picked him and put him on the right side where he was terrific. Although they have tried to move him to left tackle a couple of times, he has not been able to make the move effectively and ultimately moved back. Oher himself says he is more comfortable at right tackle. James has the athleticism to play left tackle but might just be a great right tackle, which seems to come with more value by the year. Oher and James both had questions when it came to consistency as college players. Both showed the ability to be brilliant, but had times when they did not play up to their ability.
Draft Projection
Ja’Wuan James might end up as one of the most intriguing tackles in all of college football because he is more than capable of being a high level left tackle for most of the nation. He has terrific physical skills and a mean streak that makes him a terrific run blocker with the tools to protect the edge. For James, it is all about consistency; with his footwork, his angles, and even just his effort. Nevertheless, James projects as a top 100 pick and inconsistency might be the only thing that keeps him from going in the top 75, but he still looks like someone who could contribute right away, especially if matched with a coach who he can work with to eliminate some of his mechanical questions.
http://withthefirstpick.com/2013/10/20/2014-nfl-draft-scouting-report-jawuan-james-ot-tennessee/
[h=3]Pros[/h]
- Can lock down pass rushers once he gets hands on them and arms extended
- Rarely oversets and has shown ability to recover against quick inside move
- Displays power in his hands upon initial contact
- Able to re-direct with necessary power
- Best suited to attack with quick-sets more often
- Rarely gets over-powered
[h=3]Cons[/h]
- Balance can be an issue
- Can get lost on the 2nd level and miss his assignments
- Feet get lazy in run game
- Pad level too high in runnin game out of snap
- Against edge rushers, fails to make up enough ground with kick step
- Stiff, heavy legs getting up to the 2nd level
http://thesidelineview.com/scouting-report/jawuan-james?order=position&sort=asc
Ja’Wuan James, RT, Tennessee, (HT: 6'6"; WT: 311 lbs) Positives Like teammate Antonio "Tiny" Richardson, projects with scheme and concept versatility at the NFL level having played in both predominantly man-power (2012) and zone (2013) concepts under different line coaches in consecutive collegiate years. Shows terrific hustle and drive on the back side of zone plays when asked to take angles across an inside-aligned defender's face mask. Good kick-slide with rhythmic resetting motions give the ability to generally mirror nicely in pass protection. Long 82-inch wingspan aids in strong initial punch in run game. Shows the ability to get opponents off of him and counter many hand-fighting techniques. Can pass off stunting rushers to the inside and cleanly pick up the looping outside player with great recognition. Has shown the ability to get upfield within Tennessee's 2013 zone-blocking scheme and attack the play-side half of second-level defenders with great leverage. Started every game of his college career (49 games total, a University of Tennessee record) at right tackle—even on offensive lines that featured high-level competition and talent. Ran the 10th-best short shuttle at the 2014 combine among offensive linemen. Tied for the fifth-best vertical leap of all offensive linemen in Indianapolis for NFL testing. Negatives Came into the Senior Bowl's National Scouting Weigh-in looking flabby and clearly needing to add bulk and strength. Was pulled from Senior Bowl practices after one day due to a sprained knee. Can play too high at times. Can leave his base wide open to being ripped or spun under and through by opposing pass-rushers. Shows a troublesome tendency to "lean" on opposing pass-rushers once engaged and stops ladder-drilling with his feet, which can result in giving up pressure. Hand placement in pass protection is inconsistent and needs work to avoid holding penalties at the NFL level. Can fall victim to an occasional tendency to play somewhat out of control and lose position in a variety of situations. Seems much more comfortable with zone steps in inside-zone than on the play-side of outside-zone calls, where he can be a clear liability. What starts out as a very good motor can begin to peter off through games. Much better at absorbing and handling agile defenders from a defensive position in pass protection than he is when attacking upfield on the offensive. Seems to give up on plays when the defender does, fails to finish weak opposition with the brutal punishment he is capable of. Only four players at the combine put up worse bench press numbers than James' very meager 22 reps. Finished in the bottom quarter of offensive linemen that took part in the 40-yard dash in Indianapolis. Personal Notes Hometown is Suwanee, Ga. Full name: Ju'Wuan Amir James. Born on June 3rd, 1992 in Atlanta, Ga. Parents are Nichelle James-Mickens and Burkley James. Graduated from Tennessee with a degree in Arts and Sciences. Takes martial arts classes to aid in footwork and movement skills. Overall Perhaps James' disappearance from Senior Bowl activities, coupled with his sharing the spotlight with linemate Antonio Richardson, has resulted in the NFL draft media sleeping on James' talents. James is a very large prospect who obviously has some physical development in his future, but he was a solid cog on a competitive SEC line for every contest of his college career. He has good feet and solid awareness. The issues that continually crop up in James' game seem easily fixable with NFL coaching and a professional practice regimen. Evaluating James in-depth was a pleasant surprise. Draft Projection: Late Round 3 to early Round 5 Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com
http://ewallstreeter.com/ja-wuan-ja...-outlook-for-tennessee-offensive-tackle-6742/
JaWuan James – Tackle
James is a fourth year senior and has started every game of his college career. On the hoof, he looks the part at about 6’6 – 320 with long arms. He lines up at right tackle for the Vols and flashes top talent. My concern is he is an up-and-down player. Not only from game to game but also from play to play.
He plays form both a 2-point and 3-point stance. He has good snap reaction and good initial quickness. He can have a tendency to get tall, and I don’t see him as a natural bender, but there are times when he plays with good bend. As a run blocker, he shows he can get movement when blocking an opponent head up. He can get to the block quickly and shows he can run his feet on contact. The problem is, he doesn’t consistently run his feet. There are times when he stops his feet on contact and then restarts. When making down blocks or when trying to block at the second level, he shows inconsistencies. He doesn’t always take good angles and doesn’t always get to the block on time. He can get a little lazy in his play. I looked at three tapes from this year (Florida, Missouri and Alabama), and he was inconsistent in most phases of the game against Missouri and Florida but played well against Alabama. When on the move, he can be inconsistent. He doesn’t play with good speed and can have trouble adjusting on the move to hit a moving a target.
In pass protection, he sets with adequate quickness and shows a good punch. He generally does a good job with bull rushes and is fairly good with outside speed. He struggles with counter moves. In numerous plays, an opponent starts outside and comes back across James' face, and James lacks the recovery quicks to stop the charge. He has the physical traits to be able to slide and recover. I just don’t think he anticipates that well.
James can be an enigma. He looks like a top round talent, at times, and a free agent at other times. He has the talent to be a starting right tackle or guard in the NFL, but he is going to have to play more consistently to be trusted to get the job done. I would want my line coach to spend a lot of time with this player before deciding to draft him. At this time, I see him as a mid-round player but don’t be surprised if he goes higher.
http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/college_big_board_scouting_reports.html&position=ot
Strengths
· Good size, Elite NFL frame
· Long arms, locks out defender and steers him out of play
· Patient pass blocker, will succeed most times
· Anchors vs power well
· Strong player, with good lower body strength
· Uses proper hand technique and placement
Weaknesses
· Slow feet, lots of heaviness to his game
· Footwork is very poor
· Doesn’t sustain kick step or extend the pocket up field
· Struggles with speed rushers
· Lunges at defenders and loses balance
· Doesn’t dominate like his measurable indicate
· More of a finesse blocker
· Lets defenders get into his chest
· Struggles to pick up linebackers at next level
· Needs to play with more aggression
Analysis:
Depending on who you talk to, Ja’Wuan James is either a right tackle or a left tackle. His finesse blocking style and patient pass blocking style have him suited to play on the blind side. His poor footwork, overall slow feet and lack of refinement to his game make him more of a right tackle. James has potential to be a starter in the NFL but he will need lots of work. I believe he projects more as a right tackle than on the left. Either way, he needs to improve his footwork and consistency on the field. James is a high character guy and will be drafted higher than this current talent dictates.http://1450espnradio.com/content/post/scouting-report-jawuan-james
