Tag: Tight Ends

Tyler Kroft Scouting Report

Scouting Reports - 2015
Comments
Tyler Kroft TE Rutgers #86
Ht: 6’5″
Wt: 240

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Size/Athleticism: Very good athlete for his size with smooth movements. Gets up to full speed quickly.

Separation Skills: Lacks the speed to run away from anyone, but he has a quick release off the line of scrimmage and he’s crisp in his breaks. Does a great job working the seam down the middle. Does a nice job positioning himself as he sits down on curl routes as a check-down option.

Ball Skills: Traps the ball against his chest too often. Decent athleticism when adjusting to the ball.

Blocking: Fights hard, which helps make up for modest strength. Really improved as an in-line blocker in 2014 and has further room for growth if he adds some functional strength.

Intangibles: Played almost exclusively in the slot in 2013 but new coaching staff moved him to an in-line tight end in 2014.

Durability: No known issues.

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Tyler Kroft Chart

Overview: Kroft is a high-upside prospect who has the athleticism to be a weapon in the passing game but also has the potential as a blocker to develop into a true three-down tight end. His production took a step back in 2014 as he played a more traditional in-line tight end role under Ralph Friedgen, but he looked like a developing weapon when playing primarily in the slot in 2013.

Jesse James Scouting Report

Scouting Reports - 2015
Comments
Jesse James TE Penn State #18
Ht: 6’7″
Wt: 254

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Size/Athleticism: Elite height which gives him the ability to contribute as a receiver. Frame is on the lean side and could benefit from adding a few pounds of muscle. He’s already slow, so he might as well pack on some pounds to bolster his effectiveness as a blocker.

Separation Skills: Very slow release from the line of scrimmage. Takes awhile to build up speed and does not have the acceleration out of his breaks to create consistent separation. Relies on his size to out-muscle defenders for the ball. Routes are very mechanical and lacks the athleticism to for any subtle fakes to force false steps.

Ball Skills: Shows strong focus on catches in traffic. Does a great job adjusting to poorly placed balls. Makes a few acrobatic catches, showing off some decent athleticism.

Blocking: Does a nice job as a move blocker. Identifies his assignment and is able to lock on to defenders on the move. In-line blocking needs some work. Plays too high and lacks the strength to anchor against stronger defensive linemen. Not a finisher as a run blocker due to his marginal strength.

Intangibles: Made somewhat questionable decision to turn pro after his junior year.

Durability: No significant issues.

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Jesse James Chart

Overview: James clearly has the size to create some matchup issues for defenses as a possession receiver, but his immediate value ends there. He doesn’t show functional strength on the field, providing marginal production as a blocker. He could potentially become a low-level starter if he improves his run blocking, but he’s strictly a No. 2 option at tight end as a possession receiver at this stage of his development.

Ben Koyack Scouting Report

Scouting Reports - 2015
Comments
Ben Koyack TE Notre Dame #18
Ht: 6’5″
Wt: 254

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Size/Athleticism: Prototypical size. Solid overall build but lacks dominant strength. Athleticism is fairly ordinary. Moves very mechanically and won’t create consistent separation, but he does have decent acceleration. Not a threat after the catch.

Separation Skills: Speed is only average but his routes are crisp. Makes sharp cuts and shows good start-and-stop ability for his size. Strictly a possession receiver, but shows the ability to create separation on quick routes and use his body as a shield from defenders. Experience from the slot, in-line and h-back slots. Intermediate routes are efficient but he simply lacks the explosion to run away from man coverage.

Ball Skills: Reliable hands and shows ideal technique. Extends his arms and quickly secures the ball.

Blocking: Does not have elite strength but stays low and plays with good leverage. Not a finisher, but more of a bend-but-don’t break blocker.

Intangibles: Only one year of starting experience, having played behind Troy Niklas and Tyler Eifert. Played a lot of fullback in 2013, with Niklas at tight end.

Durability: No known issues.

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Ben Koyack Chart

Overview: Koyack only has one year of starting experience under his belt, having primarily lined up as a fullback prior to taking over for Troy Niklas in 2014. Notre Dame didn’t take full advantage of his skills as a receiver, so he’s a candidate for substantial growth at the next level. However, he lacks the elite athleticism to ever be a go-to guy in the passing game and also lacks the dominant blocking skills to stay on the field as a true three-down player. Unlike many recent Notre Dame tight ends, he’s a receiver first and a blocker second. While he can do a little bit of everything, he doesn’t really excel anywhere, which probably makes him better suited for a backup role.

Clive Walford Scouting Report

Scouting Reports - 2015
Comments
Clive Walford TE Miami FL #46
Ht: 6’4″
Wt: 254

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Size/Athleticism: Adequate height and overall size but not elite in terms of his physical tools. Moderate athleticism, which limits his ability as a route runner. Shows great balance and vision as a runner after the catch.

Separation Skills: Lacks the speed to be a serious deep threat. Does not have the explosive ability to consistently create separation, but runs crisp routes and uses his size to shielder defenders as a possession receiver. Does a great job working the middle of the field, finding soft spots in the zone and the seam to run down the middle.

Ball Skills: Hands improved dramatically as a senior after struggling with drops early in his career. Has large hands, so it’s very realistic to expect his senior year improvement to be a lasting trait. Also has long arms and is reasonably quick in tight spaces, giving him a large catch radius. Does a nice job adjusting to poorly placed ball (had plenty of practice with Miami quarterbacks). Had some bad fumbles as a senior.

Blocking: Fights hard right through the whistle. Locks on to his assignment and finishes them off. Lacks dominant strength, but is a bend-but-don’t break blocker even at his worst.

Intangibles: Didn’t play football until his senior year of high school. Described as a vocal leader in the locker room.

Durability: Extremely durable until season-ending knee injury as a senior. Returned to play in Senior Bowl, which eases concerns.

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Clive Walford Chart

Overview: Walford is a low ceiling/high floor prospect. He doesn’t have the dominant size or the elite athleticism to be viewed as a game-changing weapon, but he does everything well and should be viewed as a three-down player. He compares favorably to Dwayne Allen as a prospect.

Maxx Williams Scouting Report

Scouting Reports - 2015
Comments
Maxx Williams TE Minnesota #88
Ht: 6’4″
Wt: 250

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Size/Athleticism: Prototypical in-line tight end. Lacks speed to stretch the field but athletic enough to contribute as a receiver. Runs hard and can break tackles after the catch.

Separation Skills: Not capable of creating separation with athletic ability. Strictly a possession receiver who gets open by slipping off blocks. Sounds off his routes and needs to refine his technique to consistently break free at the next level.

Ball Skills: Great hands. Reliable on the easy ones and also makes some tough catches. Shows excellent body control along the sideline. Gets to the second level with ease and locks on to moving targets. Uses size to his advantage to box out defenders.

Blocking: Nasty in-line blocker. Works hard against bigger defensive ends. Fights through the whistle. Plays a little too hard at times and loses balance when lunging and slips off his block.

Intangibles: Father, Brian, was a first-round pick and played center for the Giants for a decade. Grandfather played quarterback at Notre Dame in the 1950s. Mother played volleyball at Minnesota.

Durability: Missed a game with a calf injury in 2014.

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Maxx Williams Chart

Overview: Looking for someone to fill the Rob Gronkowski role in your offense? Look no further than Williams. It’s unrealistic to expect him to reach Gronk’s level of production, but in terms of style, that’s the role he can play. He’s a true three-down, in-line tight end with the athleticism and reliable hands to contribute as a possession receiver. There’s a limit to the production you can expect from a receiver with his physical traits (in other words, he’s not Jimmy Graham) but there is immense value in a tight end capable of staying on the field in all situations and contributing in multiple ways.