by Greg Cosell
Every year, I watch and evaluate more than 250 college players on film. The objective is straightforward: Project and transition them to the NFL. While the goal is clear-cut, the devil is in the details. I like to think (many might see me as delusional) I have a fairly well-honed sense of evaluation and projection based on my extensive film study of the NFL game during each season. Unfortunately, it’s never that simple and uncomplicated.
Each year, there are players I really like on film that I believe will transition well from Saturday to Sunday’s game. And others I find intriguing even though they have limitations that are readily apparent. I am not speaking about the players likely to go in the first round. I am more interested in those players who will be seen as lower-round selections. It’s the process that makes it fascinating. It’s always easy to be an expert when you have access to the result. In three years, we’ll all know about these players. That’s no fun. There’s no debate, or differences of opinion at that point.
A couple of other quick points that make the process so absorbing. One, you’re evaluating 20- and 21-year-old athletes, playing against other boys. You have to get a sense of how you feel they will play against men, and how much you feel they can develop physically once they get into an NFL weight room. Secondly, you need to have a sense when you watch a player what can be coached, and what can’t. A college player is not a finished product.
Here’s a short list:
Shea McClellin: He played both with his hand on the ground at DE, and standing up at LB in Boise State’s defense. What I liked immediately was his lateral agility and quickness. He showed the ability to get low and bend the edge as a pass rusher. He also had an instinctive feel as an inside rusher for getting skinny and getting through small cracks. He shed blocks and made plays in the run game. He was a smooth change-of-direction athlete with excellent balance and body control. My sense is he will get better in the NFL with a chance to be a dynamic edge pass rusher. He’s not as purely explosive as Clay Matthews, but I see some similarities as McClellin matures and develops.
Ben Jones: A four-year starter at center for Georgia, Jones was a very efficient player snap after snap. He played with excellent assignment discipline and execution. I loved his playing personality: He finished blocks, was competitive to the whistle, and had a bit of a nasty streak. He’s well-schooled in slide pass protection concepts, which transitions to the NFL. His limitation is his relative lack of athleticism, but that can be camouflaged based on a number of variables, including team, scheme and quarterback.
Isaiah Pead: He ran almost exclusively out of one-back shotgun sets in Cincinnati’s version of the spread. He was a decisive downhill runner with outstanding short-area burst. He went from zero to 60 in a heartbeat. Pead showed dynamic open-field instincts; he was naturally shifty and elusive with explosive change of direction. While not a big back (197 pounds), he was a tough and physical runner, just not strong and powerful. Pead was a natural catcher; he will provide alignment versatility in the passing game. I see some similarities to Jamaal Charles when he came out of the University of Texas. Charles was a third-round pick in 2008.
Miles Burris: The San Diego State linebacker was one of my favorite players to watch on tape. I loved his intense, urgent playing style. He primarily aligned outside on the right, almost always in a two-point stance, but was at times utilized as a movable chess piece all over the defense. Burris was not a quick-twitch, sudden athlete, but he played with balance, body control and play speed. He was more of a speed/power rusher than a bend-the-edge/quickness rusher. I’m struggling to transition him to a specific position in the NFL. Can he be a rush linebacker? He might be too small, and lack flexibility and burst off the edge. Is he a strong-side linebacker in a 4-3 base defense? A middle linebacker? I don’t know yet, but Burris will play in the NFL.
Ryan Lindley: The San Diego State quarterback was a compelling study. He ran a pro offense, with the focus on five- and seven-step drops, and play action. No quarterback I evaluated attempted, and made, more big-time intermediate to deeper NFL-type throws. He was very decisive as a pocket passer. The ball came out without hesitation. If you spliced together his 25 best throws from the 2011 season — and did the same for all the passers in this draft — Lindley would have the biggest “wow” factor, without question. There were issues, however. The primary red flag was erratic accuracy, both imprecise ball location and wildly scattershot throws. He also was uncomfortable in the eye of the storm; when the pocket got muddied, his efficiency and accuracy were negatively impacted. I will be fascinated to see where Lindley gets drafted. I have spoken to some coaches who see a lot to work with.
Derek Wolfe, DL, Cincinnati: Wolfe played many different positions on the Bearcats defensive line. He was an active, disruptive, high-energy player whose game was predicated on movement at the snap. He slanted, he stunted, he rarely attacked blockers head on. Wolfe was deceptively quick with excellent short area agility. He used his hands very well to create leverage and play with power. He was not an explosive pass rusher; he could not bend the edge. He was more measured and methodical in his movement yet he did show good closing burst. He will provide position and scheme versatility as he transitions to the NFL. I can’t help thinking, based solely on film study, that he’s a Bill Belichick type of player.
Winston Guy, S, Kentucky: Guy was a hybrid in Kentucky’s defense. He was listed as a safety, and there were snaps on third and long when he aligned at deep safety, but he predominantly played on the line of scrimmage. He was really a linebacker based on alignment. I loved his playing personality. He was active, aggressive with his movement, he played fast and urgent. He had terrific pursuit production, often running from one side of the field to the other to make tackles. There were snaps versus Georgia when he played man-to-man against TE Orson Charles, and he was not overmatched. He has limitations based on the games I evaluated. He was a straight line athlete who was not very smooth or decisive changing direction. The question with Guy is position. I believe he can play in dime sub-packages and be a combination safety/linebacker.
Charles Mitchell, S, Mississippi State: A 3 year starter at safety, Mitchell was asked to do a lot of things in Mississippi State’s defense. He played deep safety, he aligned in the box, he covered man-to-man, and he blitzed. What immediately stood out was his aggression and physicality attacking downhill in the run game. He showed the ability to close quickly and deliver solid hits. I don’t care what his 40 time was. What I do know watching film is that Mitchell was field fast; he covered a lot of ground. As with many college safeties, the concern is lateral quickness, change of direction and range as a single high safety. Overall, Mitchell was very good player, an athletic, tough strong safety with very solid attributes to find a place in the NFL, likely as a starter depending on team and scheme.
Chris Givens, WR, Wake Forest: I’m struggling to understand why I don’t hear more about the Wake Forest wide receiver. He’s a little bigger, and just as explosive vertically as Kendall Wright. Just as importantly, Givens played to his speed on almost every snap. He showed dynamic acceleration on vertical routes, especially with free access off the line. He was both deceptively and explosively fast. He went from zero to 60 in a heartbeat. There were a couple of negatives, of course. He wasn’t as effective as an intermediate route runner; his explosive movement did not always translate to quickness in and out of breaks. The larger issue was his hands; at times he fought the ball and struggled to make routine catches. Based on my evaluation, I don’t feel Givens should make it out of the second round.
Tyrone Crawford, DE, Boise State: The overlooked player on Boise State’s defense, I believe Crawford will get better and better once he transitions to Sunday football. The Canadian native played both DE positions, and at times moved inside at “3 technique” DT. In the NFL, he will have tremendous position and scheme versatility. He’s big enough to play “5 technique” DE in a 3-4 front, and I would not be surprised if teams that play that front are excited about him. He played with excellent leverage in the run game; he stalemated and defeated blocks. He used his hands very well as a pass rusher; they were active and at times violent. Overall, Crawford was a very good combination of strength and athleticism, with strong hands and quick feet. He has a chance to develop into a very good pass rusher in the NFL.
Every year, I watch and evaluate more than 250 college players on film. The objective is straightforward: Project and transition them to the NFL. While the goal is clear-cut, the devil is in the details. I like to think (many might see me as delusional) I have a fairly well-honed sense of evaluation and projection based on my extensive film study of the NFL game during each season. Unfortunately, it’s never that simple and uncomplicated.
Each year, there are players I really like on film that I believe will transition well from Saturday to Sunday’s game. And others I find intriguing even though they have limitations that are readily apparent. I am not speaking about the players likely to go in the first round. I am more interested in those players who will be seen as lower-round selections. It’s the process that makes it fascinating. It’s always easy to be an expert when you have access to the result. In three years, we’ll all know about these players. That’s no fun. There’s no debate, or differences of opinion at that point.
A couple of other quick points that make the process so absorbing. One, you’re evaluating 20- and 21-year-old athletes, playing against other boys. You have to get a sense of how you feel they will play against men, and how much you feel they can develop physically once they get into an NFL weight room. Secondly, you need to have a sense when you watch a player what can be coached, and what can’t. A college player is not a finished product.
Here’s a short list:
Shea McClellin: He played both with his hand on the ground at DE, and standing up at LB in Boise State’s defense. What I liked immediately was his lateral agility and quickness. He showed the ability to get low and bend the edge as a pass rusher. He also had an instinctive feel as an inside rusher for getting skinny and getting through small cracks. He shed blocks and made plays in the run game. He was a smooth change-of-direction athlete with excellent balance and body control. My sense is he will get better in the NFL with a chance to be a dynamic edge pass rusher. He’s not as purely explosive as Clay Matthews, but I see some similarities as McClellin matures and develops.
Ben Jones: A four-year starter at center for Georgia, Jones was a very efficient player snap after snap. He played with excellent assignment discipline and execution. I loved his playing personality: He finished blocks, was competitive to the whistle, and had a bit of a nasty streak. He’s well-schooled in slide pass protection concepts, which transitions to the NFL. His limitation is his relative lack of athleticism, but that can be camouflaged based on a number of variables, including team, scheme and quarterback.
Isaiah Pead: He ran almost exclusively out of one-back shotgun sets in Cincinnati’s version of the spread. He was a decisive downhill runner with outstanding short-area burst. He went from zero to 60 in a heartbeat. Pead showed dynamic open-field instincts; he was naturally shifty and elusive with explosive change of direction. While not a big back (197 pounds), he was a tough and physical runner, just not strong and powerful. Pead was a natural catcher; he will provide alignment versatility in the passing game. I see some similarities to Jamaal Charles when he came out of the University of Texas. Charles was a third-round pick in 2008.
Miles Burris: The San Diego State linebacker was one of my favorite players to watch on tape. I loved his intense, urgent playing style. He primarily aligned outside on the right, almost always in a two-point stance, but was at times utilized as a movable chess piece all over the defense. Burris was not a quick-twitch, sudden athlete, but he played with balance, body control and play speed. He was more of a speed/power rusher than a bend-the-edge/quickness rusher. I’m struggling to transition him to a specific position in the NFL. Can he be a rush linebacker? He might be too small, and lack flexibility and burst off the edge. Is he a strong-side linebacker in a 4-3 base defense? A middle linebacker? I don’t know yet, but Burris will play in the NFL.
Ryan Lindley: The San Diego State quarterback was a compelling study. He ran a pro offense, with the focus on five- and seven-step drops, and play action. No quarterback I evaluated attempted, and made, more big-time intermediate to deeper NFL-type throws. He was very decisive as a pocket passer. The ball came out without hesitation. If you spliced together his 25 best throws from the 2011 season — and did the same for all the passers in this draft — Lindley would have the biggest “wow” factor, without question. There were issues, however. The primary red flag was erratic accuracy, both imprecise ball location and wildly scattershot throws. He also was uncomfortable in the eye of the storm; when the pocket got muddied, his efficiency and accuracy were negatively impacted. I will be fascinated to see where Lindley gets drafted. I have spoken to some coaches who see a lot to work with.
Derek Wolfe, DL, Cincinnati: Wolfe played many different positions on the Bearcats defensive line. He was an active, disruptive, high-energy player whose game was predicated on movement at the snap. He slanted, he stunted, he rarely attacked blockers head on. Wolfe was deceptively quick with excellent short area agility. He used his hands very well to create leverage and play with power. He was not an explosive pass rusher; he could not bend the edge. He was more measured and methodical in his movement yet he did show good closing burst. He will provide position and scheme versatility as he transitions to the NFL. I can’t help thinking, based solely on film study, that he’s a Bill Belichick type of player.
Winston Guy, S, Kentucky: Guy was a hybrid in Kentucky’s defense. He was listed as a safety, and there were snaps on third and long when he aligned at deep safety, but he predominantly played on the line of scrimmage. He was really a linebacker based on alignment. I loved his playing personality. He was active, aggressive with his movement, he played fast and urgent. He had terrific pursuit production, often running from one side of the field to the other to make tackles. There were snaps versus Georgia when he played man-to-man against TE Orson Charles, and he was not overmatched. He has limitations based on the games I evaluated. He was a straight line athlete who was not very smooth or decisive changing direction. The question with Guy is position. I believe he can play in dime sub-packages and be a combination safety/linebacker.
Charles Mitchell, S, Mississippi State: A 3 year starter at safety, Mitchell was asked to do a lot of things in Mississippi State’s defense. He played deep safety, he aligned in the box, he covered man-to-man, and he blitzed. What immediately stood out was his aggression and physicality attacking downhill in the run game. He showed the ability to close quickly and deliver solid hits. I don’t care what his 40 time was. What I do know watching film is that Mitchell was field fast; he covered a lot of ground. As with many college safeties, the concern is lateral quickness, change of direction and range as a single high safety. Overall, Mitchell was very good player, an athletic, tough strong safety with very solid attributes to find a place in the NFL, likely as a starter depending on team and scheme.
Chris Givens, WR, Wake Forest: I’m struggling to understand why I don’t hear more about the Wake Forest wide receiver. He’s a little bigger, and just as explosive vertically as Kendall Wright. Just as importantly, Givens played to his speed on almost every snap. He showed dynamic acceleration on vertical routes, especially with free access off the line. He was both deceptively and explosively fast. He went from zero to 60 in a heartbeat. There were a couple of negatives, of course. He wasn’t as effective as an intermediate route runner; his explosive movement did not always translate to quickness in and out of breaks. The larger issue was his hands; at times he fought the ball and struggled to make routine catches. Based on my evaluation, I don’t feel Givens should make it out of the second round.
Tyrone Crawford, DE, Boise State: The overlooked player on Boise State’s defense, I believe Crawford will get better and better once he transitions to Sunday football. The Canadian native played both DE positions, and at times moved inside at “3 technique” DT. In the NFL, he will have tremendous position and scheme versatility. He’s big enough to play “5 technique” DE in a 3-4 front, and I would not be surprised if teams that play that front are excited about him. He played with excellent leverage in the run game; he stalemated and defeated blocks. He used his hands very well as a pass rusher; they were active and at times violent. Overall, Crawford was a very good combination of strength and athleticism, with strong hands and quick feet. He has a chance to develop into a very good pass rusher in the NFL.
