2015 NFL Draft Prospects

[DKphin]

DE Trey Flowers, Arkansas 6-2 266lbs.

[video=youtube;FV_L1wAmrFg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FV_L1wAmrFg[/video]

STRENGTHS: Flowers looks the part of an NFL defensive lineman with broad shoulders, long arms and good overall musculature. Average initial quickness for the position but generates good speed off the corner because of his long gait. Length and strength of his arms -- used effectively to discard blockers and lasso ball-carriers on the move ?- are his best traits.
WEAKNESSES: Junior game film did not reveal ideal flexibility, explosive quick-twitch or the straight-line speed to be a featured stand-up rusher in the NFL, but scouts will appreciate his versatility and the effort he shows in pursuit. Could boost his stock in athletic testing if he shows better burst off the edge.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1852882/trey-flowers

Strengths
High-motor power end. Uses stab move effectively and is continuing to grow as a pass rusher. Consistent with hand placement and is technically sound. Stacks and sheds in run game. Had a strong game against Texas A&M tackle Cedric Ogbuehi. Good student. Doesn't look like much athletically, but finds his way to the ball against the run.
Weaknesses
Not a quick-twitch athlete. Below-average burst off the snap and and won't win around the corner very much in pass rush. Not yet advanced enough as a pass rusher to be able to consistently pressure the passer. Nothing special about ability to close on the ball. Limited scheme fit.
NFL Comparison
Adrian Clayborn
Bottom Line
While he might have room on his frame to add more bulk, he's not as long as most 3-4 teams would like at defensive end. His aggressiveness at the point of attack is a plus, but he might have to come off the field on third downs. Limited athletic traits might affect his draft stock.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/trey-flowers?id=2552278

 

[DKphin]

OLB Davis Tull, UT Chattanooga 6-2 246lbs.

[video=youtube;DSWkozmJefM]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSWkozmJefM[/video]

Strengths
Four-year starter. Outstanding production and works as hard from snap to snap as any defensive lineman in this draft. Plays stronger than his listed weight. Stays square against the run and leverages his run gaps. Plus hand-eye coordination. Has what scouts call "snap-winning" hand usage against run or pass. Relentless in pursuit. Frenetic off snap, giving tackles darting movement inside and out. Has power and toughness to set the edge and turn plays back inside. Leverage rusher who can dip shoulder and turn corner as well as bull-rush weaker tackles. Has lightning-quick spin move but needs to sharpen technique when using it. Held his own against Tennessee this year with a sack and two tackles for loss.
Weaknesses
Marginal upfield burst by NFL standards. Needs to instill more fear around the edge to open up room for his inside moves. Short arms. Long tackles can get to his chest and divert his rush track. Racked up gaudy stats against inferior competition. Average athlete with average size. Won with great hands and effort, but athletic NFL tackles could stymie those traits. Too small to play defensive end and has limited experience standing up.
NFL Comparison
Dan Skuta
Bottom Line
Tull uses smarts, skill and toughness to dominate his level of competition. Tull has the athleticism to play outside linebacker in an odd front and his relentless nature and ability to outplay expectations could make him an NFL surprise.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/davis-tull?id=2552290

Davis Tull considered ‘Best Value' pick for draft
Former Chattanooga and Bearden High School star Davis Tull was named a "Best Value" pick during a sponsored segment of the NFL Scouting Combine's live broadcast by NFL Network draft analyst Mike Mayock because of Tull's performance in the combine Sunday.

http://www.knoxnews.com/govolsxtra/football/davis-tull-considered-best-value-pick-for-draft_78769116

 

[DKphin]

ILB Bryce Hager, Baylor 6-1 234lbs.

[video=youtube;DexBfk0rgig]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DexBfk0rgig[/video]

STRENGTHS: Rapid read-react to locate the ball. Very disciplined in reading his keys and reacting to the ball, letting the play unfold rather than let the misdirections of the offense distract him or take him off course. He quickly diagnoses the ball and gets up field with ease, sorting through the trash inside the tackle box very well. Very efficient mover with very little wasted movement, quick feet and an impressive closing burst. Excellent open field tackler due to technique and discipline. Keeps his shoulders square on contact, chops his feet, and wraps up consistently. Stacks/sheds well, showing the ability to lock out blockers and disengage quickly. He is a snap to whistle player with an impressive understanding of his position.
WEAKNESSES: Doesn't generate a lot of power on contact and lacks the sand to hold his position against bigger, stronger blockers. Occasionally misreads the depth of the ballcarrier resulting in poor angles to the ball. Unable to overcome this due to not having great speed or being an overly impressive athlete, rather a good one. Has a tendency to go around blockers instead of through them which can result in plays going by him. Struggles in space to stay with faster players, particularly in coverage as he tends to take false steps. His COD ability is inconsistent and he needs work on his coordination, particularly in situations where he is in pursuit at, or close to, full speed. Lacks the consistent body control to stop/start - quick/agile runners can give him trouble in space.
Compares to: Paul Worrilow, Atlanta Falcons -- Worrilow (6-0 232) is nearly identical in size to Hager and has a very similar skill-set. Both players are undersized and hyper-active with very good instincts, the ability to quickly diagnose plays, and tackling. Worrilow has posted 269 total tackles in two seasons after being brought into Atlanta as an undrafted free agent in 2013. Hager will likely be a late round prospect who has all the intangibles to come in and make a similar impact for a team early in his career.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1762147/bryce-hager

 

[DKphin]

CB Steven Nelson, Oregon St. 5-10 197lbs.

Steven Nelson vs Jaelen Strong
[video=dailymotion;k3U1LDg7fkOBQ7a4IjC]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/k3U1LDg7fkOBQ7a4IjC[/video]

STRENGTHS: Broad build for a cornerback and he uses his size and aggressive hands well to jam receivers at the line of scrimmage. Does not concede anything on the field. Plays like the biggest player on the field with supreme confidence and the competitive spirit that allows him to match up with anyone.
Has a second-gear to close when the ball is in the air and shows excellent hand-eye coordination to make the tough interception, turning six of his 14 passes defensed in 2013 into turnovers. In 2014, helped snap Arizona State WR Jaelen Strong's five-game streak of touchdown catches.
Nelson plays the run well also, aggressively fighting through blockers and taking on bigger ball-carriers with no hesitation. He breaks down patiently and makes ballcarriers commit before closing efficiently to make the physical wrap-up tackle.
WEAKNESSES: Lacks ideal size for the position. Too aggressive, at times, fighting with receivers as they go downfield but doesn't rely on his hands to cover due to the fact that he is a fluid athlete, who turns efficiently and accelerates smoothly.
COMPARES TO: Nickel Roby, Broncos -- Nelson is a bigger version of Robey who routinely jumped off the film.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2061065/steven-nelson

 

[I am Bane]

CB Steven Nelson, Oregon St. 5-10 197lbs.

Steven Nelson vs Jaelen Strong
[video=dailymotion;k3U1LDg7fkOBQ7a4IjC]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/k3U1LDg7fkOBQ7a4IjC[/video]

[video=dailymotion;x2i7sdq]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2i7sdq_snvsw14_sport[/video]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/2061065/steven-nelson

LOL.... I loved watching this whole match-up. Strong completely got shut-down by Steven Nelson all game long. the only time Strong did anything was when Nelson wasnt on him, and it was a short in-curl route (i believe i remember correct) and he just broke massively after the catch. No TDs for Strong this game either!!!

 

[DKphin]

LOL.... I loved watching this whole match-up. Strong completely got shut-down by Steven Nelson all game long. the only time Strong did anything was when Nelson wasnt on him, and it was a short in-curl route (i believe i remember correct) and he just broke massively after the catch. No TDs for Strong this game either!!!

Nelson is growing on me. They knock him for being aggressive, but I like that in a CB.

 

[I am Bane]

Nelson is growing on me. They knock him for being aggressive, but I like that in a CB.

oh my god... whats wrong with being aggressive... its football. just gotta learn hands off more down field a bit... but basically he covers the guy anyways with his athletic ability!!!

 

[DKphin]

FS Damarious Randall, Arizona St. 5-11 196lbs.

[video=youtube;xGvNTLe-tVk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGvNTLe-tVk[/video]

STRENGTHS: Above average speed for the position with transitional quickness and natural footwork. Highly aggressive and plays at full speed at all times. Never gives up on plays and has a knack for chasing down ballcarriers downfield from behind. Understands angles and sees things happening quickly. Decisive sideline angles with closing burst to make up ground. Good anticipation to jump routes, reading the quarterback and baiting throws.
Heady awareness and won?t fall asleep at the wheel. Adequate ballskills and knows what to do with the ball once he gains possession (six career interceptions, averaging 29.8 yards per return with two touchdowns). Plays bigger than he looks and initiates the action, seeking out contact with a violent mentality to strike through his target. Plays ticked off and sets the tempo. Unselfish team-first type with ideal training habits.
Played on special teams coverages at Arizona State with experience as a return man. Productive starter in only two seasons at the FBS level, creating 10 turnovers (six interceptions, four forced fumbles).
WEAKNESSES: Undersized and lacks ideal strength and bulk for the safety position. Willing tackler, but too often needs help to finish stops and can be taken for a ride. Too many ankle biting tackle attempts. Needs to break down better on the move and keep his feet underneath him to be more reliable in open-field opportunities. Overaggressive, leading to wasted steps and motion. Will get fooled by play fakes due to his overaggressive nature.
Needs to stay patient in his pedal and often bites too early, which will lead to disaster when lined up in man coverage. Still very unpolished with the technical side of the game. Needs to harness his hostility to avoid unnecessary contact and late hit penalties. Size and violent play style draw durability concerns as he was often dinged up in college.

 

[DKphin]

QB Connor Halliday, Washington St. 6-3 196lbs.

[video=youtube;9yhFSt-xw4E]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yhFSt-xw4E[/video]

STRENGTHS: Good frame for a drop-back passer with plenty of arm strength and while he isn't particularly elusive, he does have decent speed for his size. He typically throws in-breaking routes like slants and posts well, showing zip and good placement. At times shows very good accuracy on both intermediate and deep out-breaking routes, consistently throwing before his receivers turn. Deft touch on verticals down the sideline and when dropping passes over the defenders with their backs turned to him. Highly confident passer who performed well against top competition - including beating All-American cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu for three touchdowns in a surprisingly tight game against Oregon (38-31).
WEAKNESSES: Spread quarterback who took virtually all of snaps out of shotgun, including prior to Leach's arrival at Washington State.... Will have to learn the timing of dropping back from under center as an NFL rookie as he has not yet recovered from the ankle injury and will not be able to participate during athletic testing at the Combine. Must convince NFL doctors there that he is on the road to recovery... Possesses a very lean frame and must develop greater strength to withstand NFL punishment... At times too willing to take chances downfield (22 interceptions in 2013). Can get scatter-shot, especially when he doesn't set his feet. Played in a relatively easy offense that inflated his statistics.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1749652/connor-halliday

 

[DKphin]

WR Rashad Greene, Florida St. 5-11 182lbs.

[video=youtube;DvHdZVyvh1E]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvHdZVyvh1E[/video]

STRENGTHS: Balanced athlete with natural body control and gliding speed. Very good foot quickness at the line of scrimmage and in his breaks to release and create separation. Sharp plant foot to quickly change directions in his routes and show the quarterback his numbers. Subtle patience, footwork and burst to set up his moves in single coverage. Very good feel in his routes to catch defenders off-guard. Savvy moves before and after the catch, controlling his momentum well. Runs tough and decisive with deceiving body strength ? bounces back up after hits. Quick hands and eyes to find the ball with natural adjustments and concentration in traffic. Slippery after the catch with excellent spatial awareness and finishing speed. Knows where the sticks are and finds soft zones to work. Very smart and his development has come natural to him. Experienced lining up inside and outside at the X, Y and Z positions. Experienced punt returner with a 12.3 average and two career scores (28/468/12.3/2). Trains and prepares like a professional with mature working habits. Perfectionist and humble winner. Soft-spoken leader and consummate teammate. Mature lifestyle with an infant son born Oct. 2013. Doesn?t take plays off and wants to be the best. Highly productive and first player in school history to lead team in receiving four straight years, including back-to-back 1,000-yard receiving seasons. Finished career with 42-game streak of at least one catch. School record for career receptions (270) and receiving yards (3,830) with one 200-yard and 15 100-yard receiving games in his career.
WEAKNESSES: Average height with a string bean body type. Very lean muscled and will likely never reach 190-pounds. Below average strength and will be pushed around and overwhelmed at times by defenders. Smallish target with a limited catching radius. Will never consistently win in contested situations and struggles with 50/50 chances. Speed is good-enough, but he?ll never be the fastest player on the field. Will get locked up with his footwork and will get caught thinking too much about his feet, leading to drops. Too many body catches and doesn?t consistently attack the ball away from his body Will have the ball ripped out at and after the catch point, struggling with the physicality part of the position. Too much of a spectator as a blocker. Not a weakness, but more of a note: has a close relationship with his father who was sentenced to 30 years in prison for possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute (Jan. 2013).

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1860750/rashad-greene

 

[Fin Thirteen]

STRENGTHS: Good frame for a drop-back passer with plenty of arm strength and while he isn't particularly elusive, he does have decent speed for his size. He typically throws in-breaking routes like slants and posts well, showing zip and good placement. At times shows very good accuracy on both intermediate and deep out-breaking routes, consistently throwing before his receivers turn. Deft touch on verticals down the sideline and when dropping passes over the defenders with their backs turned to him. Highly confident passer who performed well against top competition - including beating All-American cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu for three touchdowns in a surprisingly tight game against Oregon (38-31).
WEAKNESSES: Spread quarterback who took virtually all of snaps out of shotgun, including prior to Leach's arrival at Washington State.... Will have to learn the timing of dropping back from under center as an NFL rookie as he has not yet recovered from the ankle injury and will not be able to participate during athletic testing at the Combine. Must convince NFL doctors there that he is on the road to recovery... Possesses a very lean frame and must develop greater strength to withstand NFL punishment... At times too willing to take chances downfield (22 interceptions in 2013). Can get scatter-shot, especially when he doesn't set his feet. Played in a relatively easy offense that inflated his statistics.

Halliday sorts his feet out and he's a terrific NFL prospect. I believe that Lazor is an absolute stickler for foot placement - I could see him working wonders with Halliday. Hands came in very small at the Combine, which is a concern - especially when you see so many errant throws on tape. But the talent is there - it's a question of whether you think he's worth the work of re-educating him on pro offenses and reshaping his throwing stance and dynamics. I'd take him in the 7th or UDFA and know I was getting one of the highest ceiling guys out of this QB group.

 

[DKphin]

Halliday sorts his feet out and he's a terrific NFL prospect. I believe that Lazor is an absolute stickler for foot placement - I could see him working wonders with Halliday. Hands came in very small at the Combine, which is a concern - especially when you see so many errant throws on tape. But the talent is there - it's a question of whether you think he's worth the work of re-educating him on pro offenses and reshaping his throwing stance and dynamics. I'd take him in the 7th or UDFA and know I was getting one of the highest ceiling guys out of this QB group.

I do not know. I am always leery of the QBs from Leach's teams. I am not saying he can not be good, but Leach's track record would not be in his favor, but in the 7th would be OK.

 

[DKphin]

RB Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska 5-9 205lbs.

[video=youtube;fgvektUN5Wk]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgvektUN5Wk[/video]

STRENGTHS: Much tougher than he looks and lowers his pads at the point of attack. Accelerates quickly and runs with his feet on fire, controlling his momentum well to make sharp cuts and elude in the open field.
Flexible ankles and runs low to the ground with springs in his calves to make explosive jump-cuts without losing speed. He has active feet and sees the field well to make proper reads and pick through the line of scrimmage without any hesitation and always appears two steps ahead.
Quick-thinking runner with natural ballcarrier instincts and an excellent sense of his surroundings to force poor angles with his multiple gears. Reliable hands out of the backfield and gives up his body in pass protection, despite limitations in that area.
Abdullah is a first-class person off the field as well with a well-respected, grounded personality and works his tail off in the weight room.
WEAKNESSES: Abdullah has a leaner-than-ideal upper and lower body build. Ball security has been an issue. Clearly limited as a blocker and lack of length, size and strength are exposed when attempting to sustain or do much to stop blitzers. Has difficulty recognizing where pressure is coming from and gets uprooted at the point of attack when he squares up with the rusher.
Compares to: Ahmad Bradshaw, Colts -- Coming out of Marshall, Bradshaw was measured at 5-10, 192 pounds and put on close to 20 pounds to become much more of a pile mover as a pro. Both won in college through superb vision, decisiveness, balance, effort and quickness. Abdullah has room on his frame to pack on 5-8 pounds comfortably and develop into a very similarly used player as Bradshaw has been throughout his career.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1824308/ameer-abdullah

 

[DKphin]

TE Gerald Christian, Louisville 6-3 244lbs.

[video=youtube;dq3H4TxRYZU]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dq3H4TxRYZU[/video]

STRENGTHS: Athletic body type with some room to add bulk. Smooth-muscled with adequate core strength. Physical at the point of attack in the open field and loves to pop pads as a blocker. Fluid and flexible athleticism, doing a nice job catching the ball without losing strike. Transitions weight well in his movements with a smooth release and route quickness to get downfield. Good hand use to work through jams and slip past the first line of coverage down the seam. Aggressive and tough after the catch to fight for every yard and not go down easy. Quick, reliable hands to focus and pluck away from his body. Versatile experience, lining up mostly inline or in the backfield on college tape.
WEAKNESSES: Lacks ideal size, length and growth potential for the position. Lacks elite body strength to overwhelm defenders as a blocker or ballcarrier and doesn't have the reach to keep defenders from his body. Needs to be a consistent finisher and improve his technique to better sustain. Makes good first contact, but needs to be more competitive mid-block to drive and bury his man, not just be content with winning the point of attack. Lacks a diverse arsenal of route movements and needs to better set up defenders in his patterns. His vision and creativity after the catch are areas that need improvement. Improved focus and hands, but will have some drops and his ballskills still have room for development. Needs some route concepts and playbook details spoon fed to him. Average-at-best production and never finished higher than fourth on the team in catches or receiving yards (zero career 100-yard receiving games or multi-touchdown games).

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1737150/gerald-christian

 

[DKphin]

C Mike Criste, Washington 6-5 318lbs.

[video=youtube;kwmx5Lx4iJc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwmx5Lx4iJc[/video]

The Huskies’ offensive line is anchored by center Mike Criste. He enters 2014 with 20 starts to his name, 13 of those at center, 6 at right guard, and 1 at right tackle. He was moved all over the offensive line in spot duty as a sophomore before locking down the starting center job a season ago. His size indicates a move back to guard or tackle seems likely. At 6’6” 318, he would be in the 99th percentile for height among center prospect and 95th for weight.
There are other reasons he doesn’t project as a starting center in the league as well. With his height and some inflexibility, Criste struggles with pad level. Too often opposing nose tackles were able to win leverage battles and reset him into the backfield. Generating power on initial contact is another issue that relates to his high pad level. Criste doesn’t generate movement up front as a drive blocker and plays mostly a finesse style. On top of all that, he’s rather immobile when asked to pull and lead or climb up the field to make second level blocks.
A few positives prove a silver lining with Criste. He has strong hands that can control an opponent and move them where he wants them. He also has fluid lateral movement skills and light feet. These traits project him as a valuable pass protector. His experience as a guard and tackle are also big positives. For a prospect who projects a depth offensive lineman, the ability to play multiple positions and be reliable in pass protection could be enough to get him drafted.

http://www.detroitlionsdraft.com/2014/08/washington-huskies-scouting-preview/