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Imperfect 10: Scouts find flaws in top picks
Visual acuity is what allows the jeweler to spot a flaw in a diamond, the tailor to see a pinhole in a new suit and the NFL scout to uncover the slightest imperfection in any football player — even if that player is expected to be a top pick in the draft.[/b]
Most stories about pending draft selections stress the players' strengths. Tucker the tackle can block out the sun and Mercury. Quinn the quarterback can make all the throws. Wilson the wide receiver has world-class speed.
This story looks at 10 top players from a different perspective: It examines their potential impediments.
The Sporting News talked to six NFL college scouting directors (three from each conference) about quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, cornerback DeAngelo Hall, defensive end Kenechi Udeze, tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. and six others ranked among the top 20 on TSN's list of Super 99 prospects. Each plays a different position. We asked the same question about each prospect: What is the one thing that could prevent him from becoming a premier player in the NFL?
The scouting directors agreed to speak candidly if they were granted anonymity.
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Miami (Ohio)
TSN Super 99 rank: 4
The one thing: Adjusting to big-time competition
Ben Roethlisberger was a hotshot college QB, but it's a big jump from the MAC to the NFL.
Associated Press
In terms of raw skills, Roethlisberger compares favorably with Eli Manning, the other elite quarterback in this year's draft. Roethlisberger has size, intelligence and a strong, accurate arm.
But here's the line of demarcation: Manning played in the Southeastern Conference (Florida, Alabama, LSU) and Roethlisberger played in the Mid-American Conference (Akron, Ball State, Ohio). Comparing the two Division I conferences is like comparing the major leagues and Class AAA. As he acclimates himself to the NFL, Roethlisberger will face a steeper learning curve than Manning.
"Instead of going against two good players on defense, he'll be going against 11 good players on defense."
The best thing that could happen to Roethlisberger would be getting drafted by a team that doesn't need him to start immediately. If he has a year or two to sit and learn, his chances of success in the NFL will be greatly enhanced.
DeAngelo Hall, CB, Virginia Tech
TSN Super 99 rank: 6
The one thing: Discipline
Hall is a superb cover corner with elite speed. The War Room compares him to Deion Sanders in terms of skill and arrogance. Hall almost always is in position to make plays. Trouble is, he doesn't always make them.
"He doesn't always finish plays. When the ball is in the air, is he going to be able to make the play? He has to show me that he can do that consistently."
Hall takes chances and relies on his speed to bail him out if he guesses wrong. Scouts think he needs to be more prepared and focused.
"He's one of those kids that has relied so heavily on his natural ability that he probably hasn't taken to the coaching like he should. He's got to learn how to prepare himself better and work at his game better — from every standpoint."
Kenechi Udeze, DE, USC
TSN Super 99 rank: 7
The one thing: Average pass-rush ability
Udeze plays with good leverage and is stout against the run, but he might never become a superior pass rusher.
At 6-3, he is shorter than many of the NFL's sack specialists, such as Jason Taylor (6-6), Julius Peppers (6-6), Michael Strahan (6-5) and Simeon Rice (6-5). He is slower off the snap than Dwight Freeney, one of the quickest defensive ends. Udeze might lack the size to beat the bigger, stronger offensive tackles and the initial quickness to beat the faster ones.
"If you were taking this guy to be your dominant pass rusher, I'm not sure I see that kind of ability. He's just not a natural pass rusher."
Then there's another quandary. Some scouts can't decide if Udeze, who was strong at the point of attack at Southern California, would be a better fit in a 4-3 or a 3-4 defense.
Tommie Harris, DT, Oklahoma
TSN Super 99 rank: 8
The one thing: Consistency
Three scouting directors say basically the same thing about Harris: Now you see him, now you don't.
If he expects to ever be compared to Warren Sapp, Harris needs to show up more on an every-down basis.
"The one thing with Tommie that scares you a little bit is that at times he's not as productive as you'd like."
"He's a flash guy. He makes great plays in flashes, but he doesn't show up consistently."
"He disappears for stretches."
To be fair, Harris was out of games for long stretches at Oklahoma because the Sooners rotated several defensive linemen. And one of the six scouting directors is not alarmed about the big play-then-disappear syndrome.
"That's the nature of the position. That can be said about every defensive tackle in the NFL."
Kellen Winslow Jr., TE, Miami
TSN Super 99 rank: 10
The one thing: Temperament
Nit-picking. Splitting hairs. Scouts use those terms when asked about flaws in Winslow, who appears to be the second coming of his father, NFL Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow Sr.
But there's one thing that could derail Winslow: his disposition. His intensity and aggressiveness sometimes reach a boiling point, and his individual battles singe his performance and detract from the focus of his teammates.
Last season, Winslow committed unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in back-to-back games, lashed out at SEC officials, compared football to war after a loss to Tennessee and was benched for the start of Miami's game against Syracuse.
"He's a tremendous competitor, but he's got to learn to keep it under control and channel it a little better."
Mike Williams, WR, USC
TSN Super 99 rank: 13
The one thing: Speed
He has size, strength and great hands. He knows how to use his body to shield defenders from the ball. In two seasons at Southern California, he caught 176 passes for 2,579 yards and 30 touchdowns.
But Williams may lack one key ingredient that separates the elite receivers from the rest of the crowd: raw speed. Many scouts regard him as a long strider who has competitive speed for his size but is not a burner.
"You need to make these corners fear you a little bit vertically, and I'm not sure he's going to be able to do that."
Because Williams declared late for the draft, he did not go to the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis in February. Scouts have studied him on tape, but the first chance they had to time him in the 40-yard dash was Thursday, when he participated in an individual workout in Tampa. That was Williams' one opportunity to change the opinions about his speed.
Looking ahead to Williams' workout, one scout said, "He just can't run a 4.75. He's got to run a 4.65."
Steven Jackson, RB, Oregon State
TSN Super 99 rank: 14
The one thing: Speed
Steven Jackson can be an every-down back in the NFL, but does he have game-breaking speed?
Jeff Gross/Getty Images
Jackson has size, power and good hands. When he gets to the sideline, he'll turn upfield and try to get extra yards instead of ducking out of bounds. He should be a steady, every-down back capable of touching the ball 25 times a game.
If he were a baseball player, he'd probably hit a lot of singles and doubles but rarely would deliver a home run. He lacks the top-end speed to run away from defenders.
"When he gets into the open field, you don't see that second gear to destroy those pursuit angles. He can make that 30-yard run — and I'll take a 30-yard run every day — but somebody is going to take an angle on the 50-yard run and cut him off before he gets to the goal line."
Jackson is like a reliable family sedan. He'll take you where you want to go, but you might not get there on time.
Jonathan Vilma, LB, Miami
TSN Super 99 rank: 16
The one thing: Size
Vilma is instinctive and makes plays. But he's undersized for an inside linebacker. His measurements at the combine (6-0 1/2, 233) had scouts wondering how he'll be able to hold up against guards and centers who outweigh him by 100 pounds or more.
"I know if we play against him, we'll run right at him."
Vilma will have to overcome his size deficit with quickness and hustle. When he's able to move around and play in space, he can be a dominating defensive player. The team that drafts him would be wise to have a couple of widebody defensive tackles who can keep offensive linemen off Vilma. If not ...
"He's going to struggle when he gets in the forest sometimes."
Sean Taylor, S, Miami
TSN Super 99 rank: 18
The one thing: Discipline
Taylor is intense and plays with passion, but he doesn't always play under control. He'll go for the SportsCenter highlight play — but it often turns into a blooper. He'll try to make a big hit but miss the tackle. He'll go for the big interception and wind up misreading the play. And that's risky when you're often the last line of defense.
"When you're a safety, you can't give up big plays."
Scouts don't question Taylor's talent — he is athletic, quick and strong — but they wonder about his commitment to the game. Will he work out in the weight room? Will he spend time watching tape? Is he willing to do the extra things to raise his game to the next level?
"It's becoming a pro. Taking his work a little more seriously and becoming a student of the game."
Shawn Andrews, T, Arkansas
TSN Super 99 rank: 20
The one thing: Weight
A good nutritionist will be as important to Andrews' success as a good line coach. We're talking about a man who reportedly weighed 400 pounds at the end of the 2003 season. That raises questions in the minds of scouts about Andrews' self-restraint.
"You don't just wake up some morning and discover all of a sudden, I'm 400 pounds."
If Andrews takes a free fall in the draft, it will be because of his weight. No matter how well he blocks, coaches are going to worry every week about how much he weighs on Friday — and then how many pounds he could gain between Friday and Sunday.
To his credit, Andrews has started fighting back in the battle of the bulge. He weighed 366 at the combine and was down to 345 at Arkansas' pro day two weeks ago. But he hasn't convinced all of the skeptics.
"I'm not so sure I would put my job status on the line for that guy." Dennis Dillon is a senior writer for Sporting News. Email him at [email protected].
Visual acuity is what allows the jeweler to spot a flaw in a diamond, the tailor to see a pinhole in a new suit and the NFL scout to uncover the slightest imperfection in any football player — even if that player is expected to be a top pick in the draft.[/b]
Most stories about pending draft selections stress the players' strengths. Tucker the tackle can block out the sun and Mercury. Quinn the quarterback can make all the throws. Wilson the wide receiver has world-class speed.
This story looks at 10 top players from a different perspective: It examines their potential impediments.
The Sporting News talked to six NFL college scouting directors (three from each conference) about quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, cornerback DeAngelo Hall, defensive end Kenechi Udeze, tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. and six others ranked among the top 20 on TSN's list of Super 99 prospects. Each plays a different position. We asked the same question about each prospect: What is the one thing that could prevent him from becoming a premier player in the NFL?
The scouting directors agreed to speak candidly if they were granted anonymity.
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Miami (Ohio)
TSN Super 99 rank: 4
The one thing: Adjusting to big-time competition
You must be registered for see images
Ben Roethlisberger was a hotshot college QB, but it's a big jump from the MAC to the NFL.
Associated Press
In terms of raw skills, Roethlisberger compares favorably with Eli Manning, the other elite quarterback in this year's draft. Roethlisberger has size, intelligence and a strong, accurate arm.
But here's the line of demarcation: Manning played in the Southeastern Conference (Florida, Alabama, LSU) and Roethlisberger played in the Mid-American Conference (Akron, Ball State, Ohio). Comparing the two Division I conferences is like comparing the major leagues and Class AAA. As he acclimates himself to the NFL, Roethlisberger will face a steeper learning curve than Manning.
"Instead of going against two good players on defense, he'll be going against 11 good players on defense."
The best thing that could happen to Roethlisberger would be getting drafted by a team that doesn't need him to start immediately. If he has a year or two to sit and learn, his chances of success in the NFL will be greatly enhanced.
DeAngelo Hall, CB, Virginia Tech
TSN Super 99 rank: 6
The one thing: Discipline
Hall is a superb cover corner with elite speed. The War Room compares him to Deion Sanders in terms of skill and arrogance. Hall almost always is in position to make plays. Trouble is, he doesn't always make them.
"He doesn't always finish plays. When the ball is in the air, is he going to be able to make the play? He has to show me that he can do that consistently."
Hall takes chances and relies on his speed to bail him out if he guesses wrong. Scouts think he needs to be more prepared and focused.
"He's one of those kids that has relied so heavily on his natural ability that he probably hasn't taken to the coaching like he should. He's got to learn how to prepare himself better and work at his game better — from every standpoint."
Kenechi Udeze, DE, USC
TSN Super 99 rank: 7
The one thing: Average pass-rush ability
Udeze plays with good leverage and is stout against the run, but he might never become a superior pass rusher.
At 6-3, he is shorter than many of the NFL's sack specialists, such as Jason Taylor (6-6), Julius Peppers (6-6), Michael Strahan (6-5) and Simeon Rice (6-5). He is slower off the snap than Dwight Freeney, one of the quickest defensive ends. Udeze might lack the size to beat the bigger, stronger offensive tackles and the initial quickness to beat the faster ones.
"If you were taking this guy to be your dominant pass rusher, I'm not sure I see that kind of ability. He's just not a natural pass rusher."
Then there's another quandary. Some scouts can't decide if Udeze, who was strong at the point of attack at Southern California, would be a better fit in a 4-3 or a 3-4 defense.
Tommie Harris, DT, Oklahoma
TSN Super 99 rank: 8
The one thing: Consistency
Three scouting directors say basically the same thing about Harris: Now you see him, now you don't.
If he expects to ever be compared to Warren Sapp, Harris needs to show up more on an every-down basis.
"The one thing with Tommie that scares you a little bit is that at times he's not as productive as you'd like."
"He's a flash guy. He makes great plays in flashes, but he doesn't show up consistently."
"He disappears for stretches."
To be fair, Harris was out of games for long stretches at Oklahoma because the Sooners rotated several defensive linemen. And one of the six scouting directors is not alarmed about the big play-then-disappear syndrome.
"That's the nature of the position. That can be said about every defensive tackle in the NFL."
Kellen Winslow Jr., TE, Miami
TSN Super 99 rank: 10
The one thing: Temperament
Nit-picking. Splitting hairs. Scouts use those terms when asked about flaws in Winslow, who appears to be the second coming of his father, NFL Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow Sr.
But there's one thing that could derail Winslow: his disposition. His intensity and aggressiveness sometimes reach a boiling point, and his individual battles singe his performance and detract from the focus of his teammates.
Last season, Winslow committed unsportsmanlike conduct penalties in back-to-back games, lashed out at SEC officials, compared football to war after a loss to Tennessee and was benched for the start of Miami's game against Syracuse.
"He's a tremendous competitor, but he's got to learn to keep it under control and channel it a little better."
Mike Williams, WR, USC
TSN Super 99 rank: 13
The one thing: Speed
He has size, strength and great hands. He knows how to use his body to shield defenders from the ball. In two seasons at Southern California, he caught 176 passes for 2,579 yards and 30 touchdowns.
But Williams may lack one key ingredient that separates the elite receivers from the rest of the crowd: raw speed. Many scouts regard him as a long strider who has competitive speed for his size but is not a burner.
"You need to make these corners fear you a little bit vertically, and I'm not sure he's going to be able to do that."
Because Williams declared late for the draft, he did not go to the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis in February. Scouts have studied him on tape, but the first chance they had to time him in the 40-yard dash was Thursday, when he participated in an individual workout in Tampa. That was Williams' one opportunity to change the opinions about his speed.
Looking ahead to Williams' workout, one scout said, "He just can't run a 4.75. He's got to run a 4.65."
Steven Jackson, RB, Oregon State
TSN Super 99 rank: 14
The one thing: Speed
You must be registered for see images
Steven Jackson can be an every-down back in the NFL, but does he have game-breaking speed?
Jeff Gross/Getty Images
Jackson has size, power and good hands. When he gets to the sideline, he'll turn upfield and try to get extra yards instead of ducking out of bounds. He should be a steady, every-down back capable of touching the ball 25 times a game.
If he were a baseball player, he'd probably hit a lot of singles and doubles but rarely would deliver a home run. He lacks the top-end speed to run away from defenders.
"When he gets into the open field, you don't see that second gear to destroy those pursuit angles. He can make that 30-yard run — and I'll take a 30-yard run every day — but somebody is going to take an angle on the 50-yard run and cut him off before he gets to the goal line."
Jackson is like a reliable family sedan. He'll take you where you want to go, but you might not get there on time.
Jonathan Vilma, LB, Miami
TSN Super 99 rank: 16
The one thing: Size
Vilma is instinctive and makes plays. But he's undersized for an inside linebacker. His measurements at the combine (6-0 1/2, 233) had scouts wondering how he'll be able to hold up against guards and centers who outweigh him by 100 pounds or more.
"I know if we play against him, we'll run right at him."
Vilma will have to overcome his size deficit with quickness and hustle. When he's able to move around and play in space, he can be a dominating defensive player. The team that drafts him would be wise to have a couple of widebody defensive tackles who can keep offensive linemen off Vilma. If not ...
"He's going to struggle when he gets in the forest sometimes."
Sean Taylor, S, Miami
TSN Super 99 rank: 18
The one thing: Discipline
Taylor is intense and plays with passion, but he doesn't always play under control. He'll go for the SportsCenter highlight play — but it often turns into a blooper. He'll try to make a big hit but miss the tackle. He'll go for the big interception and wind up misreading the play. And that's risky when you're often the last line of defense.
"When you're a safety, you can't give up big plays."
Scouts don't question Taylor's talent — he is athletic, quick and strong — but they wonder about his commitment to the game. Will he work out in the weight room? Will he spend time watching tape? Is he willing to do the extra things to raise his game to the next level?
"It's becoming a pro. Taking his work a little more seriously and becoming a student of the game."
Shawn Andrews, T, Arkansas
TSN Super 99 rank: 20
The one thing: Weight
A good nutritionist will be as important to Andrews' success as a good line coach. We're talking about a man who reportedly weighed 400 pounds at the end of the 2003 season. That raises questions in the minds of scouts about Andrews' self-restraint.
"You don't just wake up some morning and discover all of a sudden, I'm 400 pounds."
If Andrews takes a free fall in the draft, it will be because of his weight. No matter how well he blocks, coaches are going to worry every week about how much he weighs on Friday — and then how many pounds he could gain between Friday and Sunday.
To his credit, Andrews has started fighting back in the battle of the bulge. He weighed 366 at the combine and was down to 345 at Arkansas' pro day two weeks ago. But he hasn't convinced all of the skeptics.
"I'm not so sure I would put my job status on the line for that guy." Dennis Dillon is a senior writer for Sporting News. Email him at [email protected].
