Matty's Big Board Prospect Countdown: 2!

Hey folks, the Super Bowl is behind us and it's time to focus on the next big event and that is the all powerful and mighty draft, which has the ability to take a team from the bottom of the barrel and turn them into a playoff caliber team (ex. Dolphins and Falcons). What I plan on doing is twice a week until draft weekend, I'll be counting down my top 25 prospects, discuss their strengths, weaknesses, overall impact in the NFL and potential landing spot. So, without further delay, I bring you the player who ranked number 2... start getting excited people, only 1 prospect remains!

2. Eugene Monroe, OT Virginia Cavaliers

2008 Season Stats:
1st team All-ACC

Career Stats:
07' Honourable Mention All-ACC

Personal Stats:
6'5" 309 lbs. SR

Strengths:

Eugene Monroe is the left tackle position, as far as prototypes go, he is the base structure. He has great body size, great athleticism, incredibly long arms, he is very strong considering how long his arms are. He punches well, he controls the defensive lineman and keeps them from getting into his body, he moves well in space, makes the correct reads and seals in the run game, he can push the pile and he can get to the next level, he can pull out wide and make blocks in space. In terms of pass blocking, there is none better, his set and footwork are perfect and can beat a defensive linemen with set alone as he is patient and confident in his abilities. He is a hard worker, a team leader, a smart football who made Dean's List twice with 4.0 GPA. He is about as good as they get at the left tackle position.

Weaknesses:

Eugene Monroe has very few weaknesses as an offensive tackle, the only questions or concerns teams might have are his durability issues as he has had some knee troubles and he is not as dominant in the run game as some teams would like. That's about it.

Overall:

Monroe will be a franchise left tackle when he walks in the door, case closed, nuff' said.



Projected NFL Destination:

With the 4th pick in the NFL Draft the Seattle Seahawks select...










Be sure to tune in later this week before the NFL Draft for Prospect #1 and a run down of my top 25 just in case you forgot anyone.

Matty's Big Board Prospect Countdown: 4!

Hey folks, the Super Bowl is behind us and it's time to focus on the next big event and that is the all powerful and mighty draft, which has the ability to take a team from the bottom of the barrel and turn them into a playoff caliber team (ex. Dolphins and Falcons). What I plan on doing is twice a week until draft weekend, I'll be counting down my top 25 prospects, discuss their strengths, weaknesses, overall impact in the NFL and potential landing spot. So, without further delay, I bring you the player who ranked number 4... oh snap, into the top 5 now!

4. Jason Smith, OT Baylor Bears

2008 Season Stats:
1st team All Big-12

Career Stats:
3rd team All American

Personal Stats:
6'5" 309 lbs. SR

Strengths:

A very athletic and strong tackle who has all the athletic ability and size to be a franchise left tackle. He is very quick, has great foot work, knows how to angle block with the best of them and seals off really well at the next level. Has a great body that could still add some weight and keep his athleticism, he has long arms that keep pass rushers from getting into his body and knocking him back. He has a great first punch and solid hand placement to control opposing defenders and then has the aggressive nature to finish blocks and bury them. Is extremely aggressive and nasty when blocking, a smart player as well who won't be fooled by stunts and blitzes. He has a great work ethic and probably has the most potential of all the offensive tackles available in this draft.

Weaknesses:

Needs to work on his run game, has spent too much time in a 2 point stance and needs to acclimate himself with putting his hand in the dirt. Needs to improve his technique, footwork and leverage angles when pass and run blocking.

Overall:

I've been high on Jason Smith for awhile and my original mock had him going in the teens but he has eclipsed all expectations and is contention for the #1 overall pick and can easily be considered the top OT on some boards. I feel he is a natural LT and would be great in a zone blocking scheme since it will take him less time to get used to that then it would a power I running team. He has amazing upside and potential and when all is said and done, he could easily be an elite player year in and year out.



Projected NFL Destination:

With the 8th selection in the NFL Draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select...










There you have it folks, be sure to tune in next week for the final week of analysis including prospects #3, #2 and #1!

Matty's Big Board Prospect Countdown: 11!

Hey folks, the Super Bowl is behind us and it's time to focus on the next big event and that is the all powerful and mighty draft, which has the ability to take a team from the bottom of the barrel and turn them into a playoff caliber team (ex. Dolphins and Falcons). What I plan on doing is twice a week until draft weekend, I'll be counting down my top 25 prospects, discuss their strengths, weaknesses, overall impact in the NFL and potential landing spot. So, without further delay, I bring you the player who ranked number 11...

11. Michael Oher, OT Mississippi Rebels

2008 Season Stats:
1st team All American

Career Stats:
07 1st team All-SEC 06 2nd team All-SEC

Personal Stats:
6'4" 309 lbs. SR

Strengths:

Michael Oher has great athleticism and skill, he has a solid body type that can still add some extra weight while keeping his athletic ability, he has long arms to keep defensive lineman off his body and he has solid footwork to keep in stride with the faster ends as he has great quickness and balance. He has good game strength and is a solid pass blocker who doesn't need to give up ground to faster ends and can anchor against stronger ends as he's played against great competition in the SEC. He's solid in the run game as well, he knows how to place his hands and control defenders and plays with a nasty demeanor as he finished his blocks. He also has solid durability and still might have some untapped potential.

Weaknesses:

Oher's biggest weakness are the two I's; Inconsistency and intelligence. He has a the potential and ability to be a dominating left tackle but he doesn't always play up to his potential and allows weaker opponents to dominate him when he should be dominating them. He lacks the intelligence to process line calls and identify stunts and blitzes as he tends to get confused and allows defenders free run to the quarterback. He gets too high in his stance and needs to be better coached up on his technique as it can sloppy at times and he may require constant attention from a coach to keep him from severe mental lapses. He could also stand to improve his functional strength as well, but his 19 reps at the Combine might be due to his long arms as well.

Overall:

Oher projects as a solid RT or LT at the next level as he has the physicality, the agility and athleticism to play on the edge and handle the elite speed that NFL defensive ends will provide week in and week out. I think he will start his career off as a RT with a team with an establish LT who is nearing the end of his career or tenure with the team and once he starts adapting to the playbook, learns the calls and becomes familiar with his linemates I think he can move over to the left side but I would be afraid to put him on the left side right away because the defense's put their best athletes on that side and his tendencies to become confused would allow for QBs to be blindsides more often then not.



Projected NFL Destination:

With the 12th selection in the NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select...










There you have it folks, be sure to tune in later this week for Prospect #10!

Matty's Big Board Prospect Countdown: 14!

Hey folks, the Super Bowl is behind us and it's time to focus on the next big event and that is the all powerful and mighty draft, which has the ability to take a team from the bottom of the barrel and turn them into a playoff caliber team (ex. Dolphins and Falcons). What I plan on doing is twice a week until draft weekend, I'll be counting down my top 25 prospects, discuss their strengths, weaknesses, overall impact in the NFL and potential landing spot. So, without further delay, I bring you the player who ranked number 14...

14. Eben Britton, OT Arizona Wildcats

2008 Season Stats:
1st team All Pac-10

Career Stats:
2nd team All Pac-10

Personal Stats:
6'6" 309 lbs. JR

Strengths:

Britton's best strength is just that, his strength. He is a big and physical offensive lineman who likes to mix it up, use aggression and finish blocks. He has great strength and hand placement and when he gets his hands on you, you stayed blocked, he has decent foot work and agility in the pass protection game and he blocks very nicely in space. Getting him outside onto outside backers, corners and safeties is a mismatch considering his speed and strength as he was one of the top fastest offensive linemen at the scouting combine. I like his aggression, raw power and his willingness to put the work in at the weight room, he is also a smart fella when it comes to the ins and outs of the game.

Weaknesses:

Britton's weaknesses are his short arms and his immobility in the passing game as he tends be rather flat foot footed and heavy legged in the pass game and really wasn't a fit for the spread offense emplyed by Arizona. He also tends to get too tall when pass blocking and run blocking and this will be a big thing he has to work on because he'll find himself to often in a stalemate or getting pushed back at the next level, if he can learn to sink his hips and use his natural abilities to gain leverage on defensive linemen he should have no problems. I also feel that his work in pass protection may limit the number of teams he can go to in the NFL.

Overall:

In totality, I believe Britton to be an incredibly talented and versatile offensive lineman who could find his way into the top fifteen selections with the recent fall of Andre Smith. I think he projects as a RT in a heavily passing offense, he can also be a left tackle in a zone blocking scheme or he could even kick inside to guard in a power running scheme. I think he will add a lot of versatility to a team and I think he is probably the dark horse, sleep candidate of the offensive tackles to be taken in the first round and though I couldn't find any Arizona game tape of him, I was able to find some high school film of him where you can see his abilities on tap from three years ago.

Eben Britton - Burbank, C @ Rivals Video

Projected NFL Destination:

With the 12th selection in the NFL Draft, the Green Bay Packers select...









There you have it folks, be sure to tune in next week for Prospects #13 and #12!

Scouting Combine All Snub Team: Offense

There were a wealth of players who did not get invites to the combine and here are some of those players who's absence surprised me in light of the fact of some of the higher ranked guys (read Matt Stafford and Andre Smith) not choosing to work out... or in some cases show up would have given these guys an opportunity to shine. Without further delay, here's the All Snub Team Offense!

QB: Mike Teel, Rutgers
QB: Willie Tuitama, Arizona

RB: Devin Moore, Wyoming
RB: Aaron Brown, Texas Christian

FB: Travis McCall, Alabama

WR: Jamarko Simmons, Western Michigan
WR: Greg Carr, Florida State
WR: Casey Fitzgerald, North Texas

TE: Ryan Purvis, Boston College

OT: Sebastian Vollmer, Houston
OT: Andrew Hartline, Central Michigan
OG: Rich Ohrnberger, Penn State
OG: Ryan Stanchek, West Virginia
C: Dallas Reynold, Bringham Young