Chris Borland LB Wisconsin #44
Wt: 248
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[level-2014-scouting-reports]
Size/Athleticism: Vastly undersized. Lacks the height and has incredibly short arms which limits his ability to shed blocks and impacts his tackling ability. Appears to play faster than his timed speed.
Run Defense: Closes quickly. Capable of delivering the big hit and jarring the ball loose. Can take a hit and hold his ground at the point of attack. Keeps his eyes in the backfield and quick to react. Speed isn’t great and limits his range but he somewhat makes up for it with quick reactions.
Pass Rush: Explosive in short bursts and can be disruptive. Lacks the strength to consistently shed blocks. Limited arm length severely hinders his ability to keep linemen from getting into his chest and locking on to him. Shows a nice spin move.
Coverage: Smooth in back pedal when dropping into coverage. Does a nice job reading the quarterback. Will be a liability in man coverage. Lacks the height to play with almost any tight end and lacks the quickness to contain running backs.
Intangibles: Team leader who can be the quarterback of the defens.
Durability: Missed one game in 2013 with a leg injury. Missed 2013 spring game due to injury. Missed two games with hamstring injury in 2012. Suffered season ending shoulder injury in 2010.
[/level-2014-scouting-reports]
Comments: Borland does all the little things well, but can he hold up at the next level with his limited size? Not only does his size limited him on the field, but it also may be an issue in keeping him healthy. He’s missed significant time throughout his career and has seemingly battles nagging injuries throughout his time at Wisconsin. But he’s a smart player who is probably worth the risk based on the fact that he’s capable of being a reliable backup at the very worst.