Category: Scouting Reports – 2015

Mike Davis Scouting Report

Scouting Reports - 2015
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Mike Davis RB Clemson #28
Ht: 5’9″
Wt: 223

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Size/Athleticism: Well built for his size. Impressive blend of athleticism and strength. Added weight prior to 2014 season to improve his power.

Vision: Impressive combination of vision and patience. Sees the play developing and will wait for his blockers and position himself appropriately while on the move. Only downfall in terms of vision is too much patience. Needs to keep his feet moving, but will occasionally come to stop in the backfield.

Power: More power than your typical 5’9″ runner. Strong legs and easily runs through lazy arm tackles. Capable of lowering his shoulder to initiate contact and run over defenders. Tough to bring down due to his combination of strength and his natural low center of gravity.

Speed/Agility: Does not have elite breakaway speed, but possess enough speed to be a threat in open space. Biggest asset is his balance and quick feet in tight spaces. Can run between the tackles with minimal contact, and squeeze himself through tight holes while maintaining balance and the ability to explode when he hits open space. Impressive lateral movement for a runner with his size.

Passing Game: Reliable receiver who even has experience lining up wide. Soft hands. Does a nice job adjusting to poorly thrown balls. Gives a strong effort as a blocker and knows how to use leverage to his advantage. Limited as a blocker due to his size, but effort and awareness are there.

Intangibles: Younger brother of former Clemson RB James Davis, who played briefly with Browns, Redskins. Conditioning during 2014 season has been question.

Durability: Played through ankle and rib injuries in 2013 which reportedly lingered in 2014 season.

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Mike Davis Chart

Overview: Davis didn’t post the stats of some of the other top running backs in this class, but he is among the most talented ball carriers in this class. His combination of power and agility make him an intriguing prospect and he definitely has the tools to carry the load at the next level. He’s ready for an immediate starting role and could be the type of runner who gets 20+ touches per game, even as a rookie. Questions about his effort and conditioning from his final season at South Carolina hover over his draft stock.

T.J. Yeldon Scouting Report

Scouting Reports - 2015
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T.J. Yeldon RB Alabama #4
Ht: 6’2″
Wt: 221

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Size/Athleticism: Strong but a little on the lanky side due to his height. Elite athleticism for his size.

Vision: A very patient runner with good vision. Sees the whole field and doesn’t get caught off guard by closing defenders. Knows where his lanes are but is quick to adjust.

Power: Not nearly as much power as you’d expect from a 220-pound running back. Plays with inconsistent pad level and does not do a consistent job lowering his shoulders do gain leverage. Runs too high at times.

Speed/Agility: Makes himself smaller than you’d expect running through a crowded line of scrimmage. Quick feet to maneuver through traffic. Shows nice acceleration and start-and-stop ability. Lacks a second gear to be a home run threat. Shows very good balance and hip/ankle flexibility when making subtle moves in the open field for a bigger running back. Lateral mobility is excellent.

Passing Game: A solid check down option. Hands are questionable. Traps against his body.

Intangibles: Very quiet. Coaches speak highly of him.

Durability: Missed game with hamstring and ankle injuries in 2014. Missed time in 2013 with an ankle injury. Over 600 touches in his three years at Alabama. Cited injuries as his primary motivation for turning pro early.

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TJ Yeldon Chart

Overview: Yeldon is sort of a ‘tweener but he has the potential to develop into a workhorse at the next level. His quick feet and vision give him the ability to pick up a ton of extra yards. However, he is surprisingly soft for a guy his size. If he bulks up and adds the ability to run people over to his game, the sky is the limit. At this point he is an Eddie Lacy type running back without Lacy’s elite power. Injuries also factor into the report and raise some concern, but he still looks like a top 100 pick and future starter.

Taylor Kelly Scouting Report

Scouting Reports - 2015
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Taylor Kelly QB Arizona State #10
Ht: 6’1″
Wt: 204

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Strengths: Quick release. Can put some zip on the ball on short and intermediate throws. Adequate mobility. Strong accuracy on all levels.

Weaknesses: Limited arm strength. Downfield accuracy is strong but simply lacks the strength to get it there on a rope. Trusts his arm a little too much. Tries to fit the ball into tight spaces that aren’t always there. Moves well within the pocket but not a serious threat to take off running.

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Overview: Kelly has some NFL qualities but he lacks the elite physical tools to play at a high level in the pros. He reminds me of Colt McCoy, who always had the accuracy and mental ability to handle the NFL but his arm strength held him back from being able to handle the league as a starter.

Devin Gardner Scouting Report

Scouting Reports - 2015
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Devin Gardner QB Michigan #98
Ht: 6’4″
Wt: 210

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Strengths: Combination of size and athleticism makes him dangerous when he leaves the pocket. Adequate arm strength. Accuracy is adequate when he’s standing in the pocket. Quick release.

Weaknesses: Decision making is still developing. Doesn’t look comfortable standings in the pocket going through his reads. Tends to lock on to a receiver. Does a poor job reading the defense after the snap. Struggles to react to the pocket collapsing while still keeping his eyes downfield. Made almost no meaningful development over his five years at Michigan.

As a receiver: Limited experience, but did haul in 16 receptions in 2012. Speed is modest, but he has the height to develop as a possession receiver.

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Overview: Gardner has no future as a quarterback in the NFL. In five seasons as Michigan, three as the primary stater, he made almost no development in his game despite having some workable physical tools. His future in the NFL (if he has a future) is as a receiver. He played some receiver in 2012 (16 receptions) and clearly has the height and athleticism to further develop. He will have a chance to be a late-round selection as a developmental prospect.

Chuckie Keeton Scouting Report

Scouting Reports - 2015
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Chuckie Keeton QB Utah State #16
Ht: 6’0″
Wt: 200

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Strengths: Manziel-type quarterback. An electric playmaker who can buy time in the pocket or take off running. Has experience running the read-option. Seems to have a strong grasp on the offense and makes smart decisions. Despite his running ability, he stands in the pocket and looks to make plays with his arm. Above average arm strength. Can put zip on the ball to fit it into tight windows, but knows how to take something off when needed.

Weaknesses: Lacks ideal size, especially for a scrambling quarterback. Mechanics are somewhat inconsistent. Typically has a slightly long release, but speeds it up under pressure and the inconsistency hurts his accuracy. Suffered torn ACL and MCL in left knee in October, 2013.

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Overview: Keeton is an electric playmaker and appeared to be on track toward establishing himself as one of the top prospects before a season-ending knee injury in 2013. There are some flaws in Keeton’s mechanics, but overall he reminds me of an even more athletic version of Russell Wilson. As long as he stays healthy and continues to progress during his senior year, he has a chance to develop into a special prospect.