PHL Anon
These are not necessarily the best athletes at their position at the combine, but players that could greatly improve or hurt their stock, and could be guys that end up as steals out of the first round. Could some of these guys be targets for the Eagles? Here’s my list of players to watch at this year’s NFL Scouting Combine:
Christian Hackenberg
Quarterback, Penn State
By far one of the most polarizing prospects in the 2016 NFL Draft class. He has everything you look for in a Quarterback. He has size, arm strength, and has played under a pro style offense throughout his time in college. However, he has been maddeningly inconsistent in his time at Penn State. He takes a lot of sacks, and makes questionable decisions at times.
The combine will play to Hackenbergs strengths, and you will get to see him highlight his tools, and if he preforms well, he could convince a team to take him way earlier than he should go.
STRENGTHS: Ideal physical build and height for the position. Loose and live arm to rip lasers with above average velocity and zip. Effortless deep ball thrower and able to make throws other quarterbacks are physically unable to make. Toughness isn’t a question with the size to take consistent punishment and bounce back.
Quick-footed athlete for his size to easily move in the pocket or stretch his legs and throw from different platforms. Clean footwork in his three-, five- and seven-step drops. Experienced taking snaps under center with pro-style concepts. Two-year team captain (second youngest player to be elected captain in school history) and viewed as a leader in the locker room.
Well-respected on campus, especially for the way he handled adversity with the sanctions (helped keep the 2013 recruiting class together) and the struggles with the coaching change. Durable and didn’t miss a start the last three seasons (21-17 record as a starter).
WEAKNESSES: Nonexistent feel or awareness in the pocket, struggling to navigate himself around the noise. Slow to process and late reading coverages due to questionable vision. Immature eye use, staring down targets and predetermining throws, which leads to inexplicable decisions.
Wasn’t consistently asked to make whole field reads or work sideline-to-sideline in his progressions. Confidence needs rebuilt. Too relaxed and needs to show more urgency from snap to release.
Highly inconsistent ball placement and downfield touch, struggling to control his ball speeds. Upper and lower half mechanics are often on different pages, affecting his overall accuracy. Doesn’t need to drive his hips to add zip on throws, but improved follow through motion will help his precision. Methodical set-up and delivery, but often out of rhythm.
Deer in headlights when blitzed – often sees it coming, but doesn’t make the proper adjustments pre- or post-snap. Played behind a shaky offensive line (sacked 103 times in his career), but too many of those hits were of his own doing, holding the ball too long and clamming up under pressure.
Quick-footed athlete for his size, but won’t routinely evade pressures with a bad habit of retreating and getting lost. Ball security needs improved (17 career fumbles). Didn’t miss a game in college, but missed the second half of his final game in January due to a sprained right shoulder – not considered serious, but needs cleared. Completion percentage dropped each season.
OUTLOOK: A three-year starter, Hackenberg had a promising freshman campaign in 2013 under the guidance of Bill O’Brien, but his development regressed with the new coaching staff the past two seasons. He didn’t receive much help from his surroundings the past two years with questionable play-calling, inconsistent weapons and a leaky offensive line, but Hackenberg deserves plenty of blame as well.
Although he has special arm talent, the tape shows flawed decision-making, poor pocket awareness and streaky accuracy due to unstable mechanics. There is no question that Hackenberg will benefit from NFL coaching, but the game still moves at light speed for him and hasn’t shown signs of slowing down – is he already damaged goods?
Overall, the physical traits and arm strength are ideal for the NFL, but Hackenberg doesn’t show a natural feel for the game and lacks a strong grasp in three critical areas of playing the position: touch, placement and decision-making.
COMPARES TO: Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears — Players with power arms and well-built frames, Hackenberg and Cutler have similar strengths, but also similar question marks as inconsistent ball placement and pocket awareness can limit their pro ceilings.
Alex Collins
Runningback, Arkansas
This is a guy that is flying under the radar currently. The running back position has been devalued in the draft recently, and there are also elite talents in this draft at the position. This is, however, the running back we could look at years from now and say he was the best talent at the position to get drafted. He is a physical runner, had 3 straight 1,000 yard rushing seasons, and will get it done running north and south between the tackles.
Where he will be most watched and judged in this process is, can he catch the ball out of the backfield, and can he show a natural feel doing so. If he can shows those two things, you may start seeing his name projected among the top two backs, Elliott and Henry.
STRENGTHS: Solidly built and runs stronger than he is due to determination. Hungry runner and doesn’t waste time getting north-south. Won’t avoid contact and barrels into tacklers, driving his legs to finish. Quick, decisive cuts, showing patience and burst.
Resets his vision well on the move to pick his way through the heart of a defense. Quickly reaches his top speed, accelerating well at the second level to take it the distance.
Reliable as a pass-catcher and more than just a screen target, working hard to adjust his route and give his quarterback an open target. Usually does just enough in pass protection with vision and toughness to read pressures and give up his body.
Developed into a team-leader and takes well to coaching. Highly productive as both a complementary and feature back, averaging 5.7 yards rushing over his career with 36 rushing touchdowns in 14 starts – 17 career 100-yard performances. Leaves Arkansas No. 2 on the school’s all-time rushing yards list, behind only Darren McFadden.
WEAKNESSES: Will lower his pads to finish, but tends to run tall at times. Needs to do a better job at initial contact to keep his feet and break more tackles. Doesn’t have explosive twitch to immediately separate from defenders in pursuit – can be caught from behind.
Average decision-making and tends to think too much, making one too many moves at times or not enough on other runs. Needs to improve his technique in pass protection and square to his target instead of launching his shoulder.
Ball security is a concern, always fighting for more yardage, but not always covering up consistently – 16 career fumbles (called out by Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema midway through the 2015 season due to his fumbling issues).
OUTLOOK: Collins was an ideal fit for Bielema’s blueprint on offense with his light feet to make sharp cuts, but also his physical nature to welcome contact, finish forward and do most of his damage between the tackles. Collins is a physical runner, but needs to improve his pad level and ball security to be more reliable at the next level.
Although he won’t consistently create on his own, Collins has an excellent blend of quickness, patience and power to get what is blocked for him and contribute as an NFL rookie.
COMPARES TO: Chris Ivory, New York Jets- Collins is the epitome of consistency rushing for over 1,000 yards and at least 5.4 yards per carry in each of his three seasons. Vision and footwork are the catalysts for his elusiveness and he has flashed long speed. Collins is a repetitive runner lacking dynamic talent, but he’s run in gap, power and zone schemes and should be a scheme fit for most teams looking at running back.
Will Fuller
Wide Receiver, Notre Dame
Will Fuller is a guy is someone that intrigues due to his big play ability, and talent. He is not a classic WR1 prospect that can shoulder the load in the passing game, but as a complimentary player that can bring a dynamic ability to help open the passing game, there are few like him. He has speed, burst, gets separation, but can he prove to have more reliable hands than he has to this point?
Can he go up and get the 50/50 balls? Can he stop worrying about getting up field before the ball gets to him? These are important qualities in any receiver, but especially so if you are not going to be a WR1 that gets constant targets. He must capitalize on the opportunities that he does get.
If he can show technique and consistency to scouts he could greatly help himself, as there is no other WR in this draft that can make the plays over the top that he can.
STRENGTHS: Galloping acceleration to reach his top speed quickly. Takes the top off a defense vertically, stacking receivers and using multiple gears to pull away from defenders (averaged 20.3 yards per catch in 2015).
Finds the ball well in flight with above average tracking skills. Times his jumps to highpoint and rarely misjudges downfield throws. Works hard for body position to force defenders to go through him at the catch point. Achieves proper depth in his routes with the start/stop ability, change of direction skills and hesitation to create separation at the stem.
Strong plant-and-go quickness in his breaks. Very good understanding of field leverage, pressing receivers and generating space. Hits the jets quickly to erase pursuit angles on inside screens.
Won’t break tackles, but drives his legs and lowers his pads to finish. Scrappy, willing blocker. Experienced lining up outside and in the slot. Driven individual and the hard work has paid off. Highly productive the past two seasons, leaving Notre Dame No. 2 on the school’s all-time receiving touchdown list (30).
WEAKNESSES: Lean-muscled and lacks an ideal body type. Below average functional strength and can be knocked off his route. Smaller hands and prone to body catches with too many drops on his college film – equal opportunity dropper, losing focus on various types of passes. Unreliable in contested situations.
Shows some indecision as a ballcarrier and needs to get north-south quicker. Lacks the run power to pick up yards after initial contact. Bad habit of extending his arms downfield and pushing off. Willing blocker, but struggles to sustain and limited in this area. Doesn’t offers experience as a return man.
OUTLOOK: A dynamic deep threat, Fuller has the uncanny ability to create separation late in his route, using an extra gear when the ball is in the air, a burst that most cornerbacks can’t match. He is outstanding at tracking the deep ball and going and getting it, but the lapses in concentration and dropped passes are frustrating.
Although NFL teams will need to look past his average build and streaky ball-skills, Fuller is a big-time playmaker who has the speed to stretch the field and quickness to generate separation at the top of his routes, making him a borderline first-round pick.
COMPARES TO: Ted Ginn Jr., Carolina Panthers- I hear the DeSean Jackson comparison and I can’t get there. DeSean is faster, tougher (hard to believe) and more reliable than Fuller. I’m not saying Fuller can’t play, but I don’t think he’s DeSean. Ted Ginn Jr. is a much more appropriate comparison.
Jalen Ramsey
Cornerback/Safety, Florida State
This is someone, that baring a major injury, arrest or something of that nature is going to be a top-5 selection in this draft. He is someone that many people drool over when they think of a secondary prospect. He is versatile, physical, nasty, high football IQ, can play safety, can play corner, can play in the slot, and overall just brings a ton of things to the table.
He has the opportunity in the combine process to make people fall in love with him, and could be the first defensive player taken, if not the first player taken in the entire draft. Let’s hope we don’t see him get drafted to the Cowboys, as this is NOT a guy we want to see for years to come.
STRENGTHS: Tall, long-armed athlete with adequate muscle tone. Long-striding athlete with terrific range, acceleration and closing speed. Light feet and lateral agility to mirror at the line of scrimmage or stay in phase with receivers down the field.
Fluid change of direction skills, collecting himself with the natural flexibility to break down on the move. Drops his hips and goes from 0-to-60 quickly. NFL-level eyes, vision and spatial awareness, seeing the field very well with astute patience and anticipation.
Uses his length exceptionally to press, get his hands on the ball, wrap tackle and shed blocks. Effective dip and bend as an edge blitzer. Extensive special teams experience as a gunner, playing on both kickoff and punt coverages. Playmaker with the ball in his hands, averaging 23.4 yards per return (5/117/2) on turnovers.
Standout track career at Florida State, winning the ACC long jump title (26-1.5) at the 2015 outdoor and indoor championships. Also finished seventh in the 100-meters (10.61) and ran lead-off leg in 4×100 relay (39.28). Locked-in competitor with a fearless alpha-male personality. Offers versatility with starting experience at both safety, cornerback and hybrid versions of both. Very durable and didn’t miss a start in his three collegiate seasons (40 career starts).
WEAKNESSES: Room to add bulk and needs to develop his functional strength to better finish off-balance tackles and disengage blocks. Room to clean up his tackling technique, patience and pad level. Will get run over in the NFL if he doesn’t use better lower body bend.
Loves to bait throws, but will allow his eyes to spend too much time in the backfield, surrendering completions. Needs to improve his discipline and timing in coverage. Upright backpedal and lacks easy transitional movements due to his leggy athleticism.
Playmaker with the ball in his hands, but questionable hands and needs to be a better finisher at the catch point, dropping several interceptions on his game film.
OUTLOOK: If you combined a cornerback and safety into one prospect, the result would look something like Ramsey, who was blessed with the inherent instincts and intuition along with the size/athletic profile to be a difference-maker.
While versatile, his 2014 game film as a hybrid safety was better than his 2015 game film at boundary cornerback due to his long, easy strides to cover a lot of ground, but he can do everything you want in the secondary and is also an impact player on special teams coverages.
It’s rare to see defensive backs mentioned as worthy of the No. 1 overall selection in the NFL Draft, but Ramsey deserves it with his natural playmaking skills. He can play cornerback (inside or outside), but his best NFL fit is in a nickel or safety role.
COMPARES TO: Tyrann Mathieu, Arizona Cardinals – While some teams will like him better as a cornerback and others as a safety, like Mathieu, Ramsey is better categorized as a playmaking defensive back due to his rangy skill-set and versatility. He just has more size, physicality, and speed.