NFL Draft 2014 Preview (40 page)

Strengths:
Nice bend, balance and body control. Good pass-rush ability and potential. Quick first step. Coordinated hands and feet. Athletic and agile — can stunt and loop. Flashes a spin move. Shows burst to close and get home. Moves well laterally. Gives effort in pursuit and ranges all over the field. Operated from 2- and 3-point stance. Solid character. Is coachable and has improved steadily.

Weaknesses:
Lacks ideal length — plays short-armed and can be locked up by larger blockers. Short initial steps. Still crafting a wider array of counters and pass-rush moves. Still learning to convert speed to power. Work in progress as a run defender. Does not set a hard edge and can do a better job using his hands to disengage quicker. Needs to become a more violent hands fighter. Limited experience playing in reverse.

Future:
A high school quarterback turned pass rusher who broke out with 14.5 sacks as a senior, Smith projects as a pass-rush specialist or 3-4 right outside linebacker in the pros. Should contribute initially on passing downs and has eventual starter potential as his game becomes more well-rounded.

Draft projection:
Third- to fourth-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“If you’re talking about pure pin-your-ears-back-and-go, he can get off the rock. I like his first two steps.”

NT-5T SHAMAR STEPHEN, #59

CONNECTICUT
>
Grade: 5.42

Ht: 6-5 | Wt: 309 | Sp: 5.26 | Arm: 33 1/8 | Hand: 10

History:
His last name is pronounced “STEF-an.” The defensive lineman also lettered in basketball as a New York prep. Redshirted in 2009. Made his college debut in ’10 and was a regular member of the defensive front all year, recording 27 tackles, four tackles for loss and two sacks in 12 games (eight starts). Appeared in all 11 games in ’11 and was 17-1-0 with one pass batted. In ’12, he sprained his right MCL during preseason drills and missed two games. After returning from the injury, he played in 10 games (nine starts) and totaled 26-2-0 with four passes batted. Underwent surgery after the season to clean up a right shoulder labrum issue. In ’13, he started all 12 games at defensive tackle and tallied 60-10-3 with one pass batted and one blocked kick. Team captain.

Strengths:
Terrific size. Very athletic for a big man. Generally plays on his feet. Occupies blocks. Flashes the ability to lock out and reestablish the line of scrimmage. Has raw tools to work with. Scheme versatile. Solid personal and football character.

Weaknesses:
Lethargic get-off. Average eyes, instincts and recognition (doesn’t sense screen). Needs to go to school on blocking schemes and learn to fight pressure. Could stand to play with more violence in his hands — feels his way through plays instead of imposing force. Linear, vanilla rusher (just five career sacks). Moved by double teams. Compete level leaves something to be desired. Disappears for stretches.

Future:
Big, athletic, raw interior defender with underachiever traits who had a fairly nondescript career at UConn, but has crude physical tools for a defensive line coach to mold. Developmental prospect who potentially fits in a 4-3 or as a 3-4 five-technique.

Draft projection:
Third- to fourth-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“I like him. I think he can play three-technique for us. I think he will wind up being a third-round guy. He is just raw. He can move. He’s very athletic. Defensive line coaches will fall in love with him. He’s huge and athletic. He’s just raw.”

5T-DLE ED STINSON, #47

ALABAMA
>
Grade: 5.65

Ht: 6-3 1/4 | Wt: 287 | Sp: 4.90e | Arm: 33 3/4 | Hand: 9 3/8

History:
Has a daughter. Redshirted in 2009. Saw his first college action in ’10, recording 14 tackles, zero for loss and zero sacks in nine games (two starts). Although he didn’t make any starts in ’11, he was a key part of the defensive line rotation for the national champions. Played in all 13 games and had 19-5-1 with one pass batted and one forced fumble. Started all 14 games in ’12, tallying 30-8 1/2-3 to help the Crimson Tide repeat as national champs. In 13 starts in ’13, he had 42-2-1 1/2 with one pass blocked. Did not participate at the Senior Bowl or Combine (groin).

Strengths:
Very good arm and body length. Outstanding strength at the point of attack. Big stout, power base and superb press strength to set the edge and walk blockers back to the quarterback. Very stout vs. the run. Possesses pop and power in his hands and jolts blockers on contact. Plays square to the line and controls blockers with ease. Physical, drive-through tackler. Extremely tough, hardworking and ultra-competitive. Very well-conditioned with outstanding endurance.

Weaknesses:
Average foot speed. Has some stiffness in his body. Plays a bit flat-footed. Not sudden to get off blocks. Limited burst and explosion to reach the outside — can secure speed backs. Will require some patience absorbing a game plan.

Future:
Long-framed, long-armed, prototype five-technique capable of kicking inside and manning the nose. Very impressive strength and power. Can play anywhere along a “30” front. An underrated cog in a defense, Stinson could play a long time in the league and may never receive his due outside the building.

Draft projection:
Second- to third-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“He’s sort of a stiffer guy. He has really good strength and can play the point and lock it down. He does a really good job there, but he’s not a true stack-and-shed guy to make plays or sudden to get off blocks and attack the ball. He’s just really good and sitting and holding down his spot. He is a great fit for a 3-4 defense. He’s hard to knock off a spot.”

DT WILL SUTTON, #90

ARIZONA STATE
>
Grade: 5.34

Ht: 6-0 1/2 | Wt: 303 | Sp: 5.36 | Arm: 31 1/4 | Hand: 10

History:
His father, Mickey, was a defensive back/punt returner with the Rams, Packers and Bills from 1986-1990. Will prepped in California. Saw action in 12 games (two starts) as a true freshman in 2009, recording 17 tackles, three tackles for loss and one sack with one forced fumble. Was academically ineligible in ’10. In his return to the gridiron in ’11, he appeared in all 13 games (12 starts) and had 33-5 1/2-2 1/2 with one pass batted. In ’12, tallied 64-23 1/2-13 with five passes batted and three forced fumbles in 12 games (11 starts). Missed one game with a toe injury. Started all 14 games in ’13 and had 48-13 1/2-4 with three passes batted and one interception. Back-to-back Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. Team captain.

Strengths:
Very good athlete. Good body control and balance. Feels blocking pressure and finds the ball quickly. Effective spin move. Shoots gaps and makes plays behind the line. Flattens down the line and can range to the sideline. Strong tackler and athletic enough to string down backs in space. Outstanding career sack production (20.5) from the interior.

Weaknesses:
Short. Questionable competitiveness and desire — motor runs hot and cold. Will disappear for stretches. Has some underachiever traits and work ethic has a lot of area for improvement. Average strength at the point of attack. Can be turned and rooted out of the hole by the double team. Can improve hand use and develop more of a pass-rush arsenal. Poor timed speed.

Future:
Bulked up and added a lot of bad weight as a senior, negating his initial burst and diminishing his production, yet still showed enough quickness off the ball. Played at a more natural weight and was noticeably a step quicker in 2012. Fits best as an under tackle in an even front and would be best playing close to 290 pounds. Would benefit tremendously from a disciplined nutrition regimen.

Draft projection:
Fourth- to fifth-round pick.

Scout’s take:
“I saw Will Sutton live last year at 285 (pounds). I was thinking he is a (warrior). When he stayed in school, I did not see him again in person until the Senior Bowl. I said to myself, ‘That is not the same guy.’ Holy (cow). He looked like he was trying to eat his way out of the league. I’m not sure what you do with him now. He could drop like a rock. ... If someone can get him playing like he was as a junior again, you could have something special. He put on too much bad weight too fast, and he’s still trying to get back to what he was.”

NT ROBERT THOMAS, #98

ARKANSAS
>
Grade: 4.75

Ht: 6-1 1/4 | Wt: 327 | Sp: 5.25e | Arm: 33 7/8 | Hand: 10

History:
The Oklahoma prep began his college career at Coffeyville (KS) Community College in 2010. Played in 11 games and recorded 51 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and five sacks with two passes batted and one forced fumble. Transferred to Arkansas in ’11 and appeared in 12 games (five starts) that fall, tallying 23-2 1/2-1. Missed one game with a leg injury. In ’12, he saw action in all 12 games (two starts) and had 18-5-2 1/2. Started the first seven games of ’13, managing 31-6-3 1/2 suffering a season-ending broken left leg against South Carolina. Had surgery in October, but was not recovered by the Combine. Team captain.

Strengths:
Has good body mass. Can keep blockers occupied, fight the double team and control gaps. Plays hard and competes. Is a respected team leader.

Weaknesses:
Round-bodied. Struggles to play off or split the double team. Limited short-area range and closing burst. Gets stuck in place and struggles to disengage blocks. Lacks power to walk back blockers or generate a push.

Future:
A heavy-bodied, short-range, effort player, Thomas did not finish the season after breaking a bone in his leg. Can fend for a role as a rotational wave backup in the pros. Practice-squad candidate.

Draft projection:
Free agent.

3T-5T KHYRI THORNTON, #98

SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI
>
Grade:
5.15

Ht: 6-2 5/8 | Wt: 304 | Sp: 5.03 | Arm: 32 1/2 | Hand: 9 1/2

History:
Played defensive tackle and fullback as a Florida prep. Attended Hargrave Military Academy in Virginia for one year. Originally committed to South Florida, but was denied entry to the school despite meeting NCAA qualifying requirements. Enrolled instead at Southern Mississippi, redshirting in 2009. Played all 13 games in ’10 and recorded 17 tackles, five tackles for loss and 2 1/2 sacks. In ’11, he appeared in 14 games, starting seven at defensive tackle, and tallied 24-9-1 1/2 with one pass batted and one forced fumble. Was Southern Miss’ primary defensive tackle in ’12, playing in 12 games (11 starts) and totaling 36-9 1/2-1 with one pass batted, one interception and one forced fumble. Started 11 games in ’13 and had 39-6 1/2-1/2. In the Golden Eagles’ home finale November 23 against Middle Tennessee, he suffered a deep bone bruise to his right leg that caused some internal bleeding and was not able to play the following week. Team captain.

Strengths:
Flashes shock in his hands. Solid anchor strength. Versatile and lines up all along the front. Flashes speed and short-area burst to flatten down the line and close to the ball. Three-year starter.

Weaknesses:
Has short arms and small hands. Could do a better job working off blocks, creating separation and protecting his legs. Tends to wear down and tire late in games and effort wanes. Needs to develop more pass-rush moves — stays blocked too long. Relies too much on his upper-body strength. Can be late to locate the ball and needs to do a better job of feeling blocking pressure and anticipating. Misses a lot of tackles. Minimal sack production.

Future:
Has the size, brute strength and enough agility to warrant interest as a developmental, rotational five-technique in an aggressive, zone-blitzing scheme such as the Jets, Ravens or Steelers. Versatility is a plus.

Draft projection:
Late draftable pick.

Scout’s take:
“He’ll pick his spots at times. They play him all over. I wish he were a little bit longer. He’s interesting though.”

5T-3T STEPHON TUITT, #7 (JUNIOR)

NOTRE DAME
>
Grade: 6.35

Ht: 6-5 1/2 | Wt: 304 | Sp: 5.05e | Arm: 34 3/4 | Hand: 10

History:
His name is pronounced “stuh-FON TOO-it.” Highly recruited out of Georgia. As a true freshman in 2011, played nine games (three starts) and collected 30 tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks with one pass batted. All Non-starts were coach’s decisions. Moved into a starting defensive end role in ’12, tallying 47-13-12 with one pass batted, three forced fumbles and one blocked kick in 13 starts. Returned a fumble 77 yards for a touchdown against Navy. Required off-season surgery to repair a hernia. Underwent hernia surgery in the offseason. In ’13, he started all 13 games and had 49-9-7 1/2 with two passes batted, one interception and one forced fumble. Picked off an errant pass in the end zone for a touchdown against Michigan. Pulled out of NFL Combine drills after a medical scan revealed a Jones fracture in his left foot, necessitating surgery.

Strengths:
Looks the part — has prototypical dimensions for a five-technique. Long-armed to play off blocks. Holds his ground at the point of attack. Can stack and shed. Has excellent movement skill for a man his size. Plays on his feet. Coordinated and in control of his body. Knee bender able to flatten or redirect efficiently. Strong wrap tackler. Scheme and position versatile — played end and tackle in even and odd fronts. Notched 20.5 sacks in 28 career starts. Disrupts passing lanes. Did 31 benchpress reps at the Combine.