NFL Draft 2014 Preview (32 page)

Strengths:
Has long arms and excellent overall body mass. Outstanding run blocker with the strength and power to wash down half of the line. Creates a surge and generates power from his lower body. Good get-off and body control. Excellent reach-blocking, chipping and releasing to the second level. Very good balance in his set and is quick to cut off the rush. Can maneuver his hips, shuffle, slide and mirror. Has a strong punch and replaces his hands. Very athletic in vertical sets.

Weaknesses:
Could stand to refine his technique in pass protection and do a better job finishing blocks. At times will quit after contact and let defenders come underneath or get over the top — handwork is too passive. Developing eyes and awareness vs. the blitz — still learning how to adjust to overload pressure and could improve switching off blocks. Aggressively overextends and occasionally loses balance and falls off blocks.

Future:
Big, strong, athletic, overpowering left tackle with the raw potential to become a premiere, franchise left tackle. Is only a third-year sophomore and two-year starter and still must improve his hand use, footwork and technique. However, he is undeniably gifted and capable of walking into a starting-left-tackle job in the pros and paving the way in the run game.

Draft projection:
Top-10 pick.

Scout’s take:
“I think Robinson is a helluva run blocker — one of the best coming out in recent years. He is not overly powerful where he is going to drive a guy into the ground. But he does get push and movement more than most people do. His pass sets and pass pro is what I have a problem with. He does not have a great secondary punch. That’s why he loses the edge and why he can get beat in pass protection. It’s all technique. It’s easier to teach pass blocking than run blocking. That is why you see in my eyes later-round guys able to play tackle in the NFL.”

OT MICHAEL SCHOFIELD, #75

MICHIGAN
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Grade: 5.37

Ht: 6-6 1/2 | Wt: 301 | Sp: 5.02 | Arm: 34 | Hand: 9 5/8

History:
Prepped in suburban Chicago, where he also ran 110m hurdles his first two years in high school. Redshirted in 2009. Was a reserve/special-teams contributor in ’10, appearing in all 13 games. Started 10-of-13 games at left guard in ’11. Started all 26 games at right tackle 2012-13.

Strengths:
Good run blocker — drives his legs on contact and generates some power through his lower body. Can steer, control and lock down defenders once he gets his hands on them. Good playing demeanor — gets after it and seeks to finish. Is tough-minded and hardworking. Gritty competitor.

Weaknesses:
Not an explosive drive blocker who can clear holes with regularity. Average foot quickness. Tends to overextend and lunge in-line and on the move. Marginal reactive quickness and recovery speed for the outside. Exposed by edge speed (see Michigan State vs. Shilique Calhoun) — cannot cut off the wide rush and struggles to handle quick, inside counters. Late to reach the second level.

Future:
Quick-footed college right tackle with experience playing on the inside and offers versatility as a utility swing backup. Possesses eventual-starter potential, but could always be restricted by athletic limitations and leave teams desiring better.

Draft projection:
Third- to fourth-round pick.

ORG ANTHONY STEEN, #61

ALABAMA
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Grade: 5.24

Ht: 6-3 3/8 | Wt: 314 | Sp: 5.35e | Arm: 30 1/2 | Hand: 9 1/8

History:
Two-way lineman who also snapped as a Mississippi prep. Redshirted in 2009. Appeared in all 13 games in ’10, starting the final two games of the regular season at right guard as an injury replacement for Rams ’13 fifth-rounder Barrett Jones. Played all 13 games in ’11, starting nine at RG — sustained a concussion against Ole Miss and did not start against Tennessee or LSU, then gave way to Alfred McCullough in the final two games against Auburn and LSU. Started all 14 games at RG in ’12. Started all 11 games played in ’13 — did not play against Colorado State (concussion) and surgery to repair a partially torn left labrum knocked him out of the Sugar Bowl against Oklahoma as well as the Senior Bowl and Combine.

Strengths:
Reliable pass protector. A 500-pound bench-presser and it shows — jars defenders with his punch. Efficient run blocker. Is quick to set and gain positioning. Works up to the second level quickly and is agile enough to wall off and seal linebackers and safeties. Dominated LSU’s Anthony Johnson. Hardworking and coachable. Tough competitor. Very durable.

Weaknesses:
Does not look the part — has a deceptive, dumpy-looking frame with a lot of weight concentrated in his trunk. Can do a better job sustaining at the second level. Not a consistent finisher. Catches a lot — tends to let defenders into his body and could stand to improve extension. Possessed the smallest hands and shortest arms of any offensive linemen at the Combine.

Future:
Scrappy, competitive, try-hard, tough guy who does not always look pretty, but consistently finds a way to get the job done. An efficient zone blocker, Steen understands angles and leverage. He could be ideally suited for a zone-based ground game such as the Eagles, Seahawks or Packers.

Draft projection:
Third- to fourth-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“Steen is okay. I graded him as a middle-round guy. He belongs in the fifth. He is stiff. His 29-something last spring and it was corrected at the beginning of the year to 33. Then he shows up at the Combine and measured short again. He’s sort of a stiff guy. I think the arm length is really going to hurt him. A lot of teams won’t touch him for that reason.”

C JAMES STONE, #64

TENNESSEE
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Grade:
5.10

Ht: 6-3 5/8 | Wt: 306 | Sp: 5.18 | Arm: 33 7/8 | Hand: 10 1/8

History:
Two-way lineman as a Tennessee prep. As a true freshman in 2010, started 8-of-12 games played, including five at center, three at left guard. Started 7-of-9 games played in ’11 — first six at center, then at left guard against Alabama before he was benched in favor of freshman Marcus Jackson. Started all 24 games at center 2012-13.

Strengths:
Agile enough to slide and cut off penetrators. Good arm length for the position — able to extend. Has played some guard. Quick to the second level. Is intelligent and sets protections. Has been an experienced, durable four-year starter in the Southeastern Conference.

Weaknesses:
Deficient core strength. Limited push and power. Stiff lower body. Inconsistent leverage and contact balance — overextends, falls off blocks and gets tossed aside. Not a finisher. Only benchpressed 225 pounds 22 times at the Combine.

Future:
Stiff-legged, underpowered, bump-and-steer zone blocker who will struggle to match up against the size and power of NFL defensive tackles. Best chance to stick will be as a swing interior backup in a slide-protection scheme. Left-hander who snaps right-handed and gun-snaps left-handed.

Draft projection:
“He’s a 7-PFA for me. He has played two positions — center this year and guard last year — so he’s a dual position player. Most thought I was little high in the 7th. He’s a stick-and-sit type. He’s not powerful. He struggles to handle quickness. He’s not quick to work hands. I see him as more of a PFA.”

C-OG BRYAN STORK, #52

FLORIDA STATE
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Grade: 5.15

Ht: 6-3 7/8 | Wt: 315 | Sp: 5.30e | Arm: 32 1/4 | Hand: 10 1/8

History:
Played tight end as a Florida prep. Redshirted in 2009. Appeared in 10 games in ’10, starting four at right guard. Missed two games (mono). Started 10-of-12 games played in ’11, including eight at center, two at left guard — did not play against Boston College and did not start against Miami (migraines), then suffered a finger injury against Florida which became infected and nearly required amputation. Started all 13 games played at center in ’12. Sat out against Savannah State (neck). Was limited during ’13 fall camp while recovering from toe surgery. On the season, started all 13 games played at center for the national champs and won the Rimington Trophy as the nation’s top center. Did not play against Wake Forest (ankle). Did not participate in any physical testing at the Combine because of injuries to his left knee and both shoulders (medical exclusion).

Strengths:
Excellent size. Has shown he can handle big-bodied cloggers. Maintains good positioning and can slide, shuffle and seal off defenders. Solid anchor in pass protection. Uses his hands well to control defenders. Understands angles and leverage. Athletic enough to chip and work up a level. Good competitor. Has played guard and center and offers interior versatility. Good football intelligence. Lunchpail worker. The game is important to him.

Weaknesses:
Has short arms and stiff hips. Lumbering movement skill — can be late to reach the second level. Dips his head and grabs. Tends to play tall and can be bulled into the backfield when he rises straight up. Not explosive — cannot sink his hips and roll off the ball in the run game to move defenders. Average functional strength. Benefited from playing alongside two very talented guards that helped cover up deficiencies.

Future:
Good-sized, bump-and-steer blocker ideally suited for a zone-blocking, slide-protection scheme. Smart, tough technician capable of serving as an interior swing backup and could eventually fend for a starting job as a pivot. Will be best developed by a patient, respectful position coach.

Draft projection:
Fifth- to sixth-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“I didn’t like Stork. He is pretty good at being a fit type guy. When he has to match up against better defensive tackles with more explosiveness, they will just lock his (butt) out. He’s sort of a stiff guy – will get clashed and shoved backwards. You have to remember — he is surrounded by some pretty good players there. They have four linemen that could all come out next year and will all probably go in first three rounds of the draft.”

OLG XAVIER SU’A-FILO, #56 (JUNIOR)

UCLA
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Grade: 5.70

Ht: 6-4 1/8 | Wt: 307 | Sp: 5.04 | Arm: 33 3/8 | Hand: 9 3/8

History:
Parade All-American who won three state titles at Provo (UT) Timpview and was the state’s 4A Offensive Player of the Year as a senior. In 2009, was the first true freshman offensive player in UCLA history to start the start the season opener — started all 13 games at left tackle. Did not play the next two years while serving a two-year LDS mission in Alabama and Florida. Upon returning, started all 14 games at left guard in ’12. Started all 13 games in ’13, including seven at left guard, six at left tackle. Won the Morris Trophy, which is given to the most outstanding offensive lineman in the Pac-12 as voted on by the conference’s defensive linemen. Was also voted the Bruins’ offensive MVP. Team captain.

Strengths:
Quick out of his stance. Effective
pass blocker — can bend his knees, extend and mirror in short area. Generates movement in the run game. Can work his hips and maneuver to gain positioning. Good foot athlete. Can pull, trap, combo block and step to the second level. Durable three-year starter. Has played guard and tackle.

Weaknesses:
Lacks ideal length. Missed two years of strength training while serving a LDS mission and has a bad body. Could stand to play with better pop and power in his hands. Bends at the waist, gets overextended and falls off blocks. Heavy-legged — slow to shift his weight and adjust to stunts and quick inside moves. Gets beat across his face. Needs to play with better awareness — gets short-circuited by complicated defensive movement. Struggled mightily at left tackle.

Future:
Does not look the part and was miscast when forced to play left tackle for the Bruins, but Su’a-Filo is more effective than he is pretty. Projects best at left guard, where he has starter-caliber ability in a power scheme, though he is athletic enough to appeal to zone teams, too.

Draft projection:
Second- to third-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“He is awful at left tackle. He is playing there out of need. Watch one game of him at guard — put on the Cal game. He has one of the ugliest bodies I’ve seen this year, but if you get past his body, he can be a starter in the league. He looks like almost a reject playing left tackle. I could beat him inside with a cross-face, inside counter with two bad hips. He is bad on the edge. He is a one-position starter.”

C TRAVIS SWANSON, #64

ARKANSAS
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Grade:
5.50

Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 312 | Sp: 5.24 | Arm: 33 1/8 | Hand: 10

History:
Prepped in Texas. Redshirted in 2009. Started all 50 games at center 2010-13. First two-time captain in Razorback history.

Strengths:
Functional base in pass protection. Can work his hips and seal and execute combo blocks. Aware and alert — good in-line reactions. Durable and battle-tested — started all 50 games of his career and has experience locking horns with NFL-caliber defensive tackles. Highly respected two-time captain. Intelligent vocal leader with outstanding football character.

Weaknesses:
Needs to bulk up his frame and get stronger. Limited push, power and explosion — too often content to stalemate. Does not play with a load in his hands. Tends to bend at the waist, lean and fall off blocks. Spends too much time on the ground. Struggles to sustain on the second level. Center only. Produced the fewest reps (20) of 225 pounds of any lineman at the Combine.