NFL Draft 2014 Preview (41 page)

Weaknesses:
Monotone edge rusher — not a quick-twitch athlete (average get-off quickness). Can play with more consistent leverage. Hip and shoulder stiffness shows when he attempts to bend the corner. Can do a better job shooting his hands with authority to jolt blockers. Needs to become a better hands fighter and develop pass-rush moves. Can play with more violence. Average intensity and relentlessness.

Future:
Hulking, long-armed, physically gifted defensive lineman with desirable size, strength, athleticism and versatility to appeal as a five-technique or as a defensive tackle or base end in a 4-3. Gained approximately 20 pounds as a junior and was not in peak condition, but has disruptive upside.

Draft projection:
First-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“He’s big, long and athletic. He’s exactly how you draw them up. The injuries slowed him down this year. You throw on last year’s tape and he was a beast. He just needs to get healthy. I’d love to have him.”

DLE GEORGE UKO, #90 (JUNIOR)

USC
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Grade: 5.05

Ht: 6-2 5/8 | Wt: 284 | Sp: 4.99 | Arm: 33 1/4 | Hand: 10 1/8

History:
Parade All-American as a California prep. Redshirted in 2010. Was part of the defensive line rotation in ’11, seeing action in 12 games (two starts) and recording 18 tackles, 1 1/2 tackles for loss and 1 1/2 sacks with one pass batted and two forced fumbles. Was a full-time starter in ’12, posting 31-9-5 with one pass batted and one forced fumble. Started three at defensive tackle and one at left defensive end before moving to the nose tackle spot for the final nine games. Recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown at UCLA. Made all 14 starts at right defensive end in ’13 and tallied 36-7-5 with one forced fumble. Did not perform the shuttles at the Combine because of a back injury.

Strengths:
Plays with leverage and generally stays on his feet. Flashes the ability to shoot his hands inside, extend and stack. Nice versatility, having played end and tackle.

Weaknesses:
Average foot athlete with lower-body stiffness. Exposes his frame and struggles to escape. Needs to develop counters and pass-rush moves — hands are more active than forceful. Does not dominate single blocks. Has tweener traits — lacks ideal bulk and anchor for DT and ideal speed and flexibility for DE. Disappears for stretches. Managed just 18 benchpress reps at the Combine.

Future:
Good-sized defensive lineman who shows in flashes, but not enough to justify leaving school early, as he looked very average against strong offensive lines. Could warrant late-round consideration as a developmental base end.

Draft projection:
Late draftable pick.

5T-3T BRENT URBAN, #99

VIRGINIA
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Grade:
5.32

Ht: 6-6 5/8 | Wt: 295 | Sp: 4.95e | Arm: 295 | Hand: 9 3/4

History:
Grew up in suburban Toronto. Also played basketball and hockey his first two years in high school, but committed to football as an upperclassman. Redshirted in 2009. Tore his left ACL in the spring of ’10, and saw very limited action in three games in the fall. Played all 13 games in ’11 and was credited with 15 tackles, 2 1/2 for loss and zero sacks — battled a wrist injury and had it surgically repaired after the season. Started all 12 games at defensive end in ’12, recording 20-2 1/2-2 with two passes batted and one forced fumble. Returned a fumble 16 yards for a touchdown at Virginia Tech. Dealt with a high ankle sprain in ’13, starting eight games (and missing four) and totaling 40-11 1/2-1 with an NCAA-leading nine passes batted. Was forced to withdraw from the Senior Bowl due to recurring issues with the ankle, then was a medical exclusion at the Combine (knee). Was drafted by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the second round (15th overall selection) of the 2013 CFL Draft.

Strengths:
Looks the part — has stature on the defensive line thanks to a long, well-proportioned physique with relatively little body fat. Has ideal dimensions for an odd front and has a large wingspan that enables him to disrupt passing lanes (nine PBUs in eight games as a senior). Engages quickly off the snap, jolts blockers and gains extension. Can stack and shed or press single blocking and generate push. Flashes disruptive ability. Can slide inside as a nickel rusher to cave the pocket.

Weaknesses:
Limited lower-body strength to anchor vs. double teams. Shows some stiffness through his shoulders and torso. Still developing recognition and instincts. Still learning blocking schemes and how to fight pressure. Needs to improve hand use (quickness and violence). Has to concentrate on keeping his pad level low — gets uprooted and washed when he plays too tall. Linear, vanilla pass rusher (recorded just three career sacks). Relatively inexperienced. Grew up in a Canadian hockey town and has a mellow disposition that might not sit well with some people.

Future:
Tall, angular, late-blooming five-technique prospect with the body type sought by teams employing odd fronts. Should only get bigger, stronger and more polished. If so, has potential to grow into an impact lineman. Broken foot bone suffered in freak accident prior to Senior Bowl could hinder his draft status.

Draft projection:
Third- to fourth-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“I heard some second-round grades on the kid passing through in the fall. He was under the radar. The injury won’t help him, but he could turn out to be a steal if he makes it to the fourth. I don’t see him falling any lower. We’d pluck his card if he were there.”

DRE-OLB-TE LARRY WEBSTER, #99

BLOOMSBURG
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Grade: 5.35

Ht: 6-5 3/4 | Wt: 252 | Sp: 4.58 | Arm: 33 1/2 | Hand: 10 1/8

History:
His father, Larry, was an NFL defensive lineman from 1992-2002 with the Dolphins, Browns, Ravens and Jets. The Maryland native turned to football before the 2012 season after playing four years of basketball (2008-2012) for Bloomsburg , a Division II school in Pennsylvania. Finished his hoops career averaging 11.1 points and 7.2 rebounds per game and set a school record with 175 career blocked shots. Moved to the gridiron in the fall of ’12 and had 39 tackles, 15 tackles for loss and a school-record 13 1/2 sacks with two passes batted and one forced fumble in 12 games. Also caught two passes for eight yards and two touchdowns. Had nearly identical defensive statistics in ’13, tallying 49-16-12 1/2 with two passes batted and one forced fumble in 12 games. Was a finalist for the Cliff Harris Award, given annually to the top small-school defensive player.

Strengths:
Very good size-speed ratio. Can win at the snap with his natural bend, hip flexibility and initial take-off quickness. Closes fast to the ball. Has NFL pedigree. Has seen action as a goal-line receiving threat and effortlessly adjusts to the ball. Posted the second-fastest 40-yard dash time (4.58 seconds) of any defensive lineman at the NFL Combine behind only Jadeveon Clowney and recorded a 361/2-inch vertical jump.

Weaknesses:
Underdeveloped body. Tends to play too tall and can be run at and neutralized by power. Lacks weight-room strength and explosion and has not learned how to convert speed to power. Raw hand use — is still learning how to disengage from blocks. Average eyes and instincts — often late to locate the ball. Not a strong tackler and does not show knockback body power. Must adjust to facing better competition than he saw in the Pennsylvania State Athletics Conference.

Future:
A gifted athlete with NFL pedigree and intriguing developmental tools as a speed rusher, Webster could prove to be better fit as a flex tight end in the pros, possessing more of an offensive temperament and the size, wingspan, athletic ability and coordination to create mismatches in a similar mold as Broncos TE Julius Thomas and Browns TE Jordan Cameron exiting college with limited football experience.

Draft projection:
Fourth- to fifth-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“He’s what you call a diamond in the rough. Once you polish him up, he might be a star. He stood out in the Shrine game. He has a lot of upside. I’d like to get him late.”

DLE ETHAN WESTBROOKS, #90

WEST TEXAS A&M
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Grade: 5.23

Ht: 6-3 1/2 | Wt: 267 | Sp: 4.89 | Arm: 33 1/4 | Hand: 9 5/8

History:
Has a daughter. Also threw the shot put and discus as a California prep Spent the 2009 season at San Joaquin Delta JC (Stockton, Calif.), where he played in 11 games (nine starts) and attended Cosumnes River JC in Sacramento in ’10 but didn’t play football. Was named the MVP of the Mid-Empire Conference in ’11 while playing at DE at Sacramento State. Transferred to West Texas State for the ’12 season, where he was named the Division II National Defensive Player of the Year after logging 60 tackles, 28 tackles for loss and 19 1/2 sacks with two batted passes and three forced fumbles in 15 games (14 starts) at DE. Led the nation in sacks and led the conference in tackles for loss. Led the team in ’13 in sacks and TFL after posting 43-19 1/2-7 with five batted passes and one forced fumble in 14 games (10 starts). Had two sacks in the East-West Shrine game to earn defensive MVP honors.

Strengths:
Well put together with good size and length. Stands out against Division II competition. Has natural pass-rush ability and shows tenacity hunting QBs. Explosive off the snap — bursts into blockers. Disruptive penetrating ability. Athletic and flexible. Excellent balance and body control executing pass-rush moves. Spins off blocks. Ranges and covers ground in a hurry when his fire is lit. Stood out vs. better post-season competition.

Weaknesses:
Motor runs hot and cold (disappears for stretches). Does not consistently dig in vs. the run (heart is in rushing the passer). Undisciplined eyes. Raw understanding of blocking schemes. Does not maintain rush-lane integrity. Was allowed to freelance in search of destructive plays in college and will have to adopt a more structured game in the pros. Accumulated nearly 30 penalties in two seasons at WTAMU, including 15 offsides flags.

Future:
Talented, enigmatic Division II edge rusher who marches to the beat of his own drum, but has intriguing, raw, natural ability to harass quarterbacks. Wild-card prospect with diamond-in-the-rough characteristics if a defensive line coach is able to refine the technical aspects of his game and stoke his fire.

Draft projection:
Late draftable pick.

Scout’s take:
“I’m still waiting on his tape to come in. He was highly productive last year. He struggled mentally this year. I noticed he was benched against Midwestern State and never started any playoff games. He had some production here and there. The motor and effort is where the problem was. He has some size and athletic ability to intrigue. He has some edge quickness to him, but he is really raw. I don’t know where he goes. I have heard in the sixth-seventh (round range).”

DLE-3T CHRIS WHALEY, #96

TEXAS
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Grade: 5.20

Ht: 6-3 1/8 | Wt: 269 | Sp: 4.90e | Arm: 32 | Hand: 9 1/8

History:
Has two children. Rushed for 6,174 yards and 79 touchdowns as a prep in Texas, where he also played basketball and ran track. Redshirted as a running back in 2009. Appeared in 12 games, but did not record stats in ’10. Moved to the defensive line in spring of ’11 — played in all 13 games (one start) and managed five tackles, two tackles for loss and one sack with one batted pass in the fall. Logged 22-4-0 with two batted passes and two blocked kicks (extra points vs. Wyoming and Oklahoma) in 13 games in ’12. Made seven starts at nose tackle, one at defensive end and one at defensive tackle. Had his senior season cut short after nine starts at DT with a left ACL injury against West Virginia in ’13. Recorded 25-5-2 with two batted passes and a 31-yard interception return vs. Oklahoma and had a 40-yard fumble return for a score against Kansas. Team captain. Was medically excluded from the Combine (knee).

Strengths:
Good size-speed ratio and overall athletic ability. Is fairly athletic and light on his feet to slant, stunt and shoot gaps. Flashes disruptive ability behind the line of scrimmage. Hardworking.

Weaknesses:
Marginal processing speed and reactive quickness — guesses too much and is late to find the ball. Not stout — is too easily rooted out of holes. Very green hand use — has no plan. Lacks functional playing strength to handle the double team. Inconsistent effort. Gets pinballed too easily. Modest production.

Future:
Similar to former Longhorns DT Henry Melton, Whaley is a converted running back who outgrew the position and flipped to the other side of the ball. Flashed big-time potential before suffering a season-ending ACL injury and will require some time to recover. Developmental project with intriguing upside for a patient team willing to develop him.

Draft projection:
Priority free agent.

Scout’s take:
“I didn’t hear anyone high on (Whaley) during the fall. Let me tell you though — if he comes back from the injury clean, he’s kind of interesting. We’ll monitor him.”

DLE-3T KERRY WYNN, #56

RICHMOND
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Grade: 4.85

Ht: 6-4 7/8 | Wt: 266 | Sp: 4.97 | Arm: 31 3/4 | Hand: 9 1/8

History:
The Virginia prep was a three sport athlete, lettering in football, basketball and track. Redshirted in 2009. Saw action in only three games in ’10, including a start at defensive end in his first game, due to a stinger injury. Recorded nine tackles, three tackles for loss and 1 1/2 sacks. In ’11, he had 32-7-4 with one forced fumble in eight starts — started the first three games and the final five contests. Missed three mid-season games with an arm injury. Led the Spiders in tackles for loss in ’12 after posting 45-8-4 1/2 with five batted passes and one forced fumble in 11 starts. Finished his Richmond career in ’13, logging 56-5 1/2-2 1/2 with three pass breakups in 10 starts at defensive tackle. Injured his left ankle against Gardner-Webb and missed the next two games. Team captain. Strained his hamstring running his first 40 at the Combine.