Ryan McCrystal

Matt Barkley scouting report

Matt Barkley QB USC #7
Ht: 6’2″
Wt: 220
Strengths:
Adequate height; good overall size and strength. Adequate arm strength; can make all the necessary throws. Patient in the pocket; does a nice job going through is progressions. Has a nice touch on his throws; knows when to take something off and when he needs to fire it in there. Generally a good decision maker. Smooth delivery and a very quick release. Three years of experience in a pro-style offense. Team leader on the field; teammates and coaches all seem to respect his leadership.
Weaknesses:
Limited mobility; won’t make plays with his feet. Accuracy is adequate, but not elite. Arm strength is nothing special, but shouldn’t be a major concern. Does not look good throwing on the run; fundamentals break down and his accuracy is erratic. Has caused some controversies off the field (e.g. called Vontaze Burfict a dirty player); needs to learn when to keep his mouth shut when speaking to media.
Comments:
Barkley lacks the elite tools (mainly accuracy) to be in a category with Andrew Luck, but he has everything he needs to succeed as a starter at the next level. I would be surprised if he ever reached the Brady/Manning/Brees level of success, but he has what it takes to be in that next tier with guys like Cutler/Rivers. Some of his comments made off the field raise a red flag about his ego, and should cause teams to ask some tough questions of him and USC’s coaching staff to learn about who he is as a person. But assuming no further red flags are raised, this should be a minor issue that can be attributed to immaturity.
Videos:
2011 vs UCLA
2011 vs Oregon
2011 vs Arizona 
2011 vs Arizona State
2011 vs Minnesota
2011 vs California
2011 vs Washington
2011 vs Colorado
2010 vs Stanford 

 

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Ryan McCrystal in Scouting Reports - 2012 Leave a comment

Dwight Jones scouting report

Dwight Jones WR North Carolina #83
Ht: 6’4″

Wt: 207
Strengths:
Ideal height and good overall bulk. Has the strength to easily fight through press coverage at the line of scrimmage. Decent speed for his size. Does a nice job using his body to shield himself from defenders. Shows good hands when he remembers to catch the ball away from his body. Adjusts to poorly thrown balls; has bailed his quarterback out on multiple occasions. A tough runner with the football; looks to make plays after the catch and is willing and able to take a hit and keep moving. Experienced lining up wide and in slot. Runs a lot of short curl routes where he’s essentially used like a tight end, taking advantage of his size and ability to shield defenders.
Weaknesses:
Traps the ball against his body too often and it has led to some drops; needs to use his hands more. Leaping ability is mediocre, which takes away from his height advantage to an extent. Still developing as a route runner; needs to improve in this area to make up for lack of breakaway speed. Had knee surgery in 2009 and appeared in just five games that season.
Comments:
As a tall, physical, possession receiver from UNC, comparisons to Hakeem Nicks are inevitable. However, Jones lacks Nicks’ exceptional hands which have been key to his success in the NFL. Jones has the potential to be a No. 1 receiver at the next level, however, he is not a finished product. He’ll need to improve upon his fundamentals – fine-tuning his route running, catching more with his hands – before he’ll excel in the NFL. There’s a lot to like about Jones, but he’s far from a sure thing.
Videos:
2011 vs Virginia Tech
2011 vs Louisville
2011 vs Georgia Tech 
Posted on November 20, 2011 by Ryan McCrystal in Scouting Reports - 2012 Leave a comment

Quinton Coples scouting report

Quinton Coples DE North Carolina #90
Ht: 6’6″Wt: 272
Strengths:
A physical specimen. Nice combination of size and athleticism. Has all the physical tools necessary to be an elite player at the next level. Displays flashes of dominance. Has the strength and quickness that most collegiate offensive linemen can’t compete with. Quick off the snap. Has experience at tackle and end (primarily played inside in 2010, shifted outside in 2011). Some experience lining up at end in 3-4 sets. Strong lower body; has a decent bull rush. Reliable wrap-up tackler; has long arms to secure the ball carrier.
Weaknesses:
Terribly inconsistent; coming off a very disappointing and up-and-down senior year. Didn’t appear to play with the same motor in 2011 as he did as a junior in 2010. Raw athleticism doesn’t translate to the field; won’t be an elite Julius Peppers-type pass rusher at the next level as some expected from him entering senior year. Doesn’t have a wide array of pass rush moves; relies primarily on outside speed or a bull rush. Needs to play with better leverage; height works to his disadvantage at times. Academic issues in high school; forced to attend Hargrave Military Academy before enrolling at North Carolina. Investigated for potential NCAA violations in spring of 2011 but no penalties were issued.
Comments:
Coples’ ceiling is as high as just about anyone in this draft class, but I’m always wary of elite physical specimens who have a disappointing final season in college – it is often an indication of a lack of effort and desire to be great. Coples had his fair share of big plays as a senior, but too often was taken out of games by inferior offensive linemen (most notably vs Miami left tackle Brandon Washington). At times he reminds me Ray Edwards – limited pass rush, but solid three-down lineman – but Coples has a huge bust factor. He may be a top-10 talent, but isn’t worth the risk. He’s a much safer bet in the late 1st or even 2nd round.
Videos:
2011 vs Clemson
2011 vs Miami
2010 vs Tennessee (bowl game)
2010 vs Virginia Tech 
Posted on November 19, 2011 by Ryan McCrystal in Scouting Reports - 2012 Leave a comment

Zach Brown scouting report

Zach Brown LB North Carolina
Ht: 6’2″
Wt: 235		  
Strengths:
Elite athleticism. Rare speed for the linebacker position; also runs on track team. Very fluid dropping back in coverage. Plenty of experience in zone coverage; often plays four to five yards off the line of scrimmage and drops into coverage, essentially acting as an extra safety. Does a nice job keeping his eyes in the backfield and reading the quarterback. Experience lining up at inside and outside linebacker. Fairly reliable tackler. Has the speed to cause problems as a pass rusher off the edge.
Weaknesses:
Undersized; lacks ideal height and bulk. Struggles to shed blocks once he’s engaged with an offensive lineman; lacks the strength to battle at the line of scrimmage. Lacks the instincts of your typical NFL inside linebacker; easily frozen on play fakes and misdirection plays. Stats are misleading; always around the football due to his speed, but not always the first one there due to his poor instincts.
Comments:
Brown has the raw athleticism to be a starter at the next level but is far from a polished product. His speed makes him stand out, and Carolina defensive coordinator/linebackers coach Art Kaufman does an excellent job putting him position to make plays, but Brown does very little to create big plays on his own. His 2011 film vs Clemson provides a great example of his misleading statistics – Brown records two sacks in the game but is completely untouched by the Clemson offensive line on both plays. In each case it was a result of a missed assignment by Clemson, due more to inept offensive line play and great play calling by the Carolina defensive coaches than due to Brown’s ability. Teams should be cautious of falling in love with Brown’s 1st-round potential, when his performance is more of a 3rd or 4th round caliber player.
Videos:
2011 vs Clemson 
2010 vs Tennessee (bowl game)
Posted on November 18, 2011 by Ryan McCrystal in Scouting Reports - 2012 Leave a comment

Justin Blackmon scouting report

Justin Blackmon WR Oklahoma State
Ht: 6’1″

Wt: 211

  
Strengths:
Good overall size. Elite strength. A physical receiver who can easily fight through press coverage at the line of scrimmage. Big, strong hands. Shows the ability make the tough catch in the traffic. Efficient route runner; makes quick, clean cuts to gain separation. A tough runner after the catch; willing to take a hit and drag defenders with him. Has a reputation for being a hard worker off the field.
Weaknesses:
Effort and focus appears to be lacking at times; he’ll make the tough catches but then drop an easy one. Arrested and suspended for one game for a DUI charge in 2010. Speed is adequate, but lacks the burst to be consistent deep threat.
Comments:
Blackmon’s biggest obstacle will be convincing teams that his character concerns – both off-field incidents and on-field lack of focus – will not effect his performance at the next level. He has a similar skill set to former teammate Dez Bryant, and his effectiveness in the same offensive scheme is reason to believe he can take his game to the next level. In terms of his on-field transition to the next level, Blackmon will need to become more of a possession receiver. Oklahoma State’s spread offense opens up space for Blackmon which he will not be able to create at the next level. Don’t expect him to light up the NFL from day one, but given a year or two develop he should begin to show Pro Bowl caliber skills.
Videos:
2011 vs Arizona
2011 vs Texas A&M
2011 vs Kansas State
2010 vs Baylor 
Posted on November 12, 2011 by Ryan McCrystal in Scouting Reports - 2012 3 Comments

Luke Kuechly scouting report

Luke Kuechly ILB Boston College
Ht: 6’3″

Wt: 235

  
Strengths:
Good overall size and strength. Plenty of experience; starter since true freshman season. Intelligent on and off the field. Team leader on defense; will occasionally make pre-snap adjustments. Elite instincts and awareness. Looks comfortable dropping into zone coverage; does a nice job keeping his eyes in backfield and reading quarterback. Shows sideline-to-sideline playmaking ability. Not the fastest athlete, but makes up for it with impressive anticipation and by taking great angles. Very reliable, fundamental tackler.
Weaknesses:
Lacks fluid athleticism to excel in man coverage. Will struggle against most pass-catching tight ends and running backs at the next level. Strength is decent, but not enough to pose a threat as a pass rusher up the middle; if an interior lineman gets his hands on him, he struggles to disengage.
Comments:
Kuechly is a James Laurinaitis clone. Nothing about his measurables make him look like an elite NFL talent, but he more than makes up for it in preparation and instincts. He is as polished as a 20-year-old college linebacker can be and should have no issues immediately stepping into a starting lineup.
Videos:
2011 vs UCF
2011 vs Florida State
2010 vs Nevada (bowl game)
2010 vs Notre Dame
2010 vs Clemson 
Posted on November 12, 2011 by Ryan McCrystal in Scouting Reports - 2012 Leave a comment

Manti Te’o scouting report

Manti Te’o ILB Notre Dame #4
Ht: 6’2″
Wt: 255		  
Strengths:
Prototypical size and strength. Excels against the run. Reliable tackler; a hard hitter but also has great fundamentals and rarely misses an open-field tackle. Does a decent job shedding blocks to get into the backfield. Adequate speed; shows sideline-to-sideline ability. Exceptional vision; keeps eyes in the backfield and does an excellent job reacting to the ball carrier and putting himself in position to make plays. A team leader on the field.
Weaknesses:
Marginal coverage ability. Limited experience in man coverage and may lack the fluid athleticism to match up with some of the NFL’s elite pass-catching tight ends and running backs. Doesn’t have speed to stick with tight ends on deep routes; needs to be supported by a safety when asked to drop into coverage.
Comments:
Te’o is a polished run defender who has the skills to play inside or outside at the next level. He may actually be best suited to shift to strong-side linebacker in a scheme which requires more pass rushing and less dropping into coverage. His upside is limited somewhat due to average athleticism, but his fundamentals and on-field awareness have already developed to the point where he is one of the safest bets in this year’s draft class.

 

Posted on November 12, 2011 by Ryan McCrystal in Scouting Reports - 2012 Leave a comment

Jonathan Martin scouting report

Jonathan Martin OT Stanford #55
Ht: 6’6″

Wt: 304
Strengths:
Prototypical size and strength. Strong lower body gives him a good anchor against the bull rush. Physical run blocker. Does a great job staying low and using leverage to drive defenders back. Shows good awareness on the field; does a nice job recognizing and reacting to blitzes. Rarely misses a block due to being out of position. A team leader; well respected by teammates and coaches. Durable player with no significant injuries.
Weaknesses:
Athleticism is average at best. Footwork is slow in pass protection; susceptiable to the speed rush off the edge. Will struggle with elite pass rushers at the next level. May lack the ability to play left tackle in the pros.
Comments:
Martin reminds me of a smaller version of Jeff Otah or Phil Loadholt. He has the fundamentals and the strength to win any battle once he’s engaged with the defender, but elite speed rushers will be able to consistently blow past him in one-on-one matchups. I question his ability to play left tackle in the pros, especially right away, but on the right side or at guard he could be an elite lineman. He already has NFL-caliber run blocking skills, and if projected strictly as a guard, would still be a 1st-round talent.
Posted on November 9, 2011 by Ryan McCrystal in Scouting Reports - 2012 1 Comment

Matt Kalil scouting report

Matt Kalil OT USC
Ht: 6’7″

Wt: 295
Strengths:
Prototypical height. Good overall strength; has a sturdy base to go with a strong upper body. Decent athleticism; looks good pulling to the edge and blocking downfield. Great fundamentals. Quick feet in pass protection; gets into position quickly and holds his ground. Powerful, tough run blocker. NFL bloodlines; brother Ryan is offensive lineman for Panthers, father played in USFL.
Weaknesses:
Rarely finishes off his blocks in pass protection; has the ability to keep pass rushers at bay, but lacks the strength to finish them off. Athleticism is decent, but isn’t in the same class as some of the elite left tackles in the game.
Comments:
The only knock against Kalil is that he lacks elite measurables, but he is one of the top prospects in this draft class and should be starting left tackle for the next 10-12 years. He likely won’t stand out in offseason workouts, but his film speaks for itself. His fundamentals are exceptional for a collegiate lineman and he should be able to make a smooth transition to the NFL.

 

Posted on November 5, 2011 by Ryan McCrystal in Scouting Reports - 2012 2 Comments

Morris Claiborne scouting report

Morris Claiborne CB LSU
Ht: 6’0″

Wt: 185
Strengths:
Elite athleticism. A big-time playmaker; does a great job putting himself in position to make plays. Above average hands for a defensive back; started his career at wide receiver. Played a ton of man coverage in 2011, with limited help over the top from safeties; trusted by coaches to never get beat deep. Does a great job turning his head and playing the ball rather than strictly mirroring his man. Adequate to above-average speed. Surprisingly physical for his size; isn’t shy about mixing it up at the line of scrimmage.
Weaknesses:
Lacks elite size; will struggle against taller, more physical receivers at the next level. Still learning the position; survives based off of his elite athleticism and instincts. Doesn’t offer much help against the run; looks very timid and often shies away from contact. Lacks the strength and technique to be a consistent tackler.
Comments:
Claiborne entered the 2010 season as a raw prospect, but was forced to learn quickly as teams avoided Patrick Peterson on the other side. He still isn’t a finished product, and won’t be as highly rated as Peterson was in the 2011 draft, but he does have the potential to be an elite player at the next level. He may take two or three years to fully develop, as he learns the nuances of the position and bulks up a little, but he could be a special player down the road.
Posted on November 5, 2011 by Ryan McCrystal in Scouting Reports - 2012 Leave a comment
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