DKphin
Club Member
Read more:http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/NFP-Sunday-Blitz-4214.html[h=1]NFP Sunday Blitz[/h]
As the NFL has changed the way player with concussions are treated, many teams are changing the way they view draft prospects with concussion histories.
Those players ultimately could less value to their teams, and they subsequently are being downgraded more harshly than ever before on many draft boards.
“The sense of awareness has been heightened for concussions,” Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland told me. “So we talk about it a lot.”
Chris Owusu on the sidelines is not an unfamiliar sight.
It will be interested to see where Stanford receiver Chris Owusu is drafted. He suffered three documented concussions in 13 months, including two last season. He has been cleared to play by a neurosurgeon, but it is inconceivable that his medical file will not affect his draft stock.
Before the injuries, Owusu was an outstanding kick returner and a dynamic receiver. At 6-0, 196, ran a 4.31 40 yard dash at the combine. But his play dropped off significantly last year. One scout said something was missing in his route running and separation. Some suspect the head traumas had something to do with how he performed.
“If he was the player he was three years ago, I’d be excited,” an NFC general manager said. “This year I didn’t see it. I don’t really know who he is.”
There is a chance he could develop into a fine starting wide receiver in the NFL. But there also is a chance many NFL teams will not be willing to take a gamble on Owusu.
My Sunday Best: Small School Prospects
If we were drafting only players who went to small schools, this is the order in which they could go off the board, according to front office men I’ve spoken with. Here are my best small school prospects.
1. Janoris Jenkins, CB, North Alabama. Round: second.
The transfer from Florida is a first round talent, but some teams have crossed his name off their boards and others have downgraded him because of character concerns. Jenkins is athletic, tough and has ball skills but is considered a wildcard in the draft.
2. Trumaine Johnson, CB, Montana. Round: second.
Teams that run a zone scheme and prefer big, physical corners who can break up passes will love Johnson. He is a bit inconsistent and green, but the skill set is there.
3. Josh Norman, CB, Coastal Carolina. Round: second.
This is a tall, athletic corner who can run and play some man-to-man or zone. He helped himself at the East-West game. He might be difficult to teach, but if a coach can get through to him, Norman can be a fine pro.
4. Amini Silatolu, G, Midwestern State. Round: second.
He was a dominant left tackle at his level but is probably going to be moved inside by an NFL team. Silatolu is a little raw and needs technique work, but he is athletic and has as much potential as any guard in the draft.
5. Brian Quick, WR, Appalachian State. Round: third.
His athleticism and size bodes well for his NFL future, but he will need some time to get used to the competition. Quick never was asked to run complex routes in his team’s offense, so he has a lot to learn. One scout said, “The sky is the limit, but will he take the jump?”
6. Asa Jackson, CB, Cal Poly. Round: fourth.
One scout said he looked better during the season than he did against better competition in the Senior Bowl. But Jackson does have good quickness. He could be able to have a quick impact as a punt returner.
7. B.J. Coleman, QB, Tennessee-Chattanooga. Round: fourth.
Strictly a developmental prospect, some teams think the Tennessee transfer has to mature as a player and person. He did play impressively at times. He can throw for distance and with accuracy.
8. Tom Compton, G, South Dakota. Round: fifth.
He has come on during the postseason, in part because he performed well at the East-West game. Compton might have positional versatility to play outside or in. He has the size and athleticism it takes to develop into an NFL player.
9. Ryan Steed, Furman. Round: fifth.
He has some of the traits NFL teams look for, but scouts I spoke with are split on him. Steed needs to show he has the movement skills to match up with NFL wide receivers.
10. Janzen Jackson, S, McNeese State. Round: fifth.
This Tennessee transfer may be able to play cornerback or safety in the NFL. He has the speed, explosiveness and hitting ability to succeed at the next level. The off the field issues that were behind his transfer may prevent him from ever reaching his potential, however.
Things I Didn’t Used To Know
One of the players who has risen the most in recent weeks is South Carolina cornerback Stephon Gilmore. At one point he was considered the third cornerback behind Dre Kirkpatrick. Now he not only has passed Kirkpatrick, but he also has risen to the point where he could be a top 10 pick.
Teams looking for a physical running back in the draft will be drawn to the likes of Trent Richardson, Doug Martin and Chris Polk. But perhaps they should not discount David Wilson. Because the Virginia Tech RB is 5-9, 206, he has been considered a change of pace back or third down specialist by some. Little known fact: he had more yards after contact than any runner in the country.
A team that doesn’t get a starting caliber guard in the draft might have a nice consolation prize in Eric Steinbach. The former Browns guard missed the 2011 season after having surgery to remove a disc fragment from his spinal nerve and was cut earlier this offseason. Steinbach is expected to be ready to work out for teams in about a month or so, which could be perfect timing.
Scout Talk: Pro Day Revelations
Brandon Brooks, Miami of Ohio G. He inexplicably was not invited to the combine, and he showed what a mistake that was by lighting up his pro day workout. At 346 pounds, Brooks showed he is athletic as any guard in the draft.
Leonard Johnson, Iowa State CB. After running a 4.71 40-yard dash at the combine, Johnson was in danger of falling to the bottom of the draft, or out of the draft. But he saved himself with a 4.51 40 yard dash at his pro day.
Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech WR. He followed up an outstanding combine workout by impressing scouts and coaches in his positional drills at his pro day. This was critical for Hill because he was allowed to run pro style routes that he never had a chance to run in Georgia Tech’s triple option offense. One front office man said Hill showed an ability to get in and out of breaks that he had never seen on tape.
Whitney Mercilus, Illinois DE. By moving smoothly in linebacker drills, Mercilus opened up his market to include 3-4 teams as well as 4-3 teams. He also improved his time in the three cone by .14 seconds.
Kendall Wright, Baylor WR. He stabilized his draft stock after his speed came in question at the combine. Wright improved his 40 yard dash to 4.42 seconds at his pro day.
Jerel Worthy, Michigan State DT. With the pecking order of defensive tackles not yet clearly defined, Worthy took full advantage with a solid pro day workout. He might have even cemented a spot in the first round.
Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin G. A really strong positional workout probably locked in Zeitler as the No. 2 guard, and even gave him an outside chance of going in round one.