Courtney Upshaw scouting report
Courtney Upshaw OLB Alabama #41 Ht: 6’2″Wt: 273 Strengths: Decent athlete for his size; well above-average mobility for a defensive end. A smart, disciplined player; isn’t overaggressive in pursuit. Stays in his zone and keeps his eyes in the backfield. Impressive change-of-direction ability for an end/linebacker. A scrappy player; very active hands – can [...]
Rob Ryan wants Cowboys to upgrade secondary
It’s no secret that the Dallas Cowboys need to upgrade their secondary, and Rob Ryan wholeheartedly agrees. Alex Dunlap of the Austin Chronicle caught up with Ryan at the Senior Bowl, and asked the Cowboys defensive coordinator who he was focused on: “I’m only looking at DBs. Nothing else. DBs.” Dunlap went on to say [...]
49ers in market for “big stature receiver”
The 49ers ended the season with three active receivers, one of which is now the least popular man in San Francisco. So it comes as no surprise that Jim Harbaugh wants to address the position this offseason. Following the season, Harbaugh spoke about the issues at receiver and lamented the failure of Braylon Edwards. He [...]
Does Michael Crabtree have a future with the 49ers?
Michael Crabtree expressed frustration after the San Francisco 49ers loss to the Giants in the NFC Championship Game. His frustration was understandable, but his comments were both out of line and delusional: All I do is run routes. When you don’t get that many opportunities, it’s hard to talk… Half the time you’re not going to [...]
Chandler Jones scouting report
Chandler Jones DE Syracuse #99 Ht: 6’5″ Wt: 265 Strengths: Prototypical build for a pass-rushing end; tall with long, strong arms. Explosive off the snap; consistently beats offensive tackles off the edge. Strong wrap-up tackler who can also deliver the big hit. Does a nice job keeping his eyes on the backfield; good all-around [...]
NFL Draft Risers and Fallers through Senior Bowl
It’s still very early in the draft process, but the East-West Shrine Game and the Senior Bowl are the first test for the top prospects. With those two all-star games behind us, we can begin to evaluate whose stock is on the rise, and whose stock is starting to fall, before we head to the [...]
How Colts defensive switch impacts draft
The Indianapolis Colts are one of the few teams that haven’t at least tinkered with the 3-4 defense in recent years. But that’s about to change. The hiring of Chuck Pagano from the Ravens means the Colts defensive philosophy will change, as Pagano has already stated he is bringing Baltimore’s hybrid 3-4/4-3 defense with him. [...]
Whitney Mercilus scouting report
Whitney Mercilus DE Illinois #85 Ht: 6’4″ Wt: 265 Strengths: Prototypical size for a 4-3 end or 3-4 outside linebacker. Uses his speed to consistently get into the backfield. Does a nice job keeping his eyes on the quarterback and getting his hands up into passing lanes. Impressive motor; saw a lot of double [...]
Melvin Ingram scouting report
Melvin Ingram DE South Carolina #6 Ht: 6’2″Wt: 276 Strengths: Impressive strength. Plays with a constant motor. Impressive speed and athleticism for his size. Speed/strength combination makes him tough to block; can lower his shoulder and get around the edge, or simply bull rush his way into the backfield. Also has a nice spin [...]
Quarterback search: Cleveland Browns
I’ll start by saying this: Colt McCoy got a raw deal in Cleveland. McCoy is perfect for the West Coast offense, and should have excelled with the Browns, but wasn’t surrounded with that talent he deserves. That said, after two disappointing and injury-plagued seasons, it’s time for the Browns to strongly consider moving on. The issue [...]