Robert Woods

Robert Woods will be a perennial pro bowl talent.  He is that good.  You don't catch 111 balls, rack up nearly 1300 yards, and score 15 TD's playing for USC and not have a bright future.  What is truly scary is that he is only becoming a better player.  Alot of people wish to attribute his success to having Matt Barkley as a quarterback.  Don't fall for that crap.  Woods may have SLIGHTLY better numbers with Barkley throwing to him, but nobody complained about Blackmon/Green having NFL caliber QB's throwing to them.  Woods has elite speed, expect to see sub 4.40 times, along with great agility that allows him to make sharp cuts with ease.  His route running ability is already good and will only improve with time.  Hands...if you catch 111 passes I don't think "Hands" need to be questioned.  He has an uncanny ability to settle in the soft spots of zone coverage and make the QB's job easy.  Is a deep ball threat, showing the acceleration and top end speed necessary to beat coverage deep.  Although he is only 6'1" 180lbs, Woods plays like he is much bigger.  He is aggressive in the air and always battles for the ball.  Has surprising strength for a rather thin receiver.  Durability shouldn't be concern, nor toughness; he played 2011 with an injured right ankle he suffered before the season.

Woods isn't the largest WR in the world, and needs to continue to add muscle to his frame.  At USC he hasn't been asked to block much; that will change in the NFL.  Woods will need to improve his blocking ability, but that isn't a factor limiting his success in the NFL.  The list of negatives isn't really there for Woods.  Do you want a guy who is larger? Yeah, but he isn't going to grow any taller or weigh 200+ lbs.

Woods has all the tools to be a force in the NFL.  He has no glaring holes in his game, and will continue to get stronger as he matures.  His potential at the next level is to be a game-breaking #1 WR.  If he fails to reach that lofty status, Woods still should be, at worst, a great #2 WR or a dangerous  slot receiver.  Expect a top 5 pick if he puts up anything resembling the 2011 season.

RATINGS
SPEED: A-
AGILITY: A
HANDS: A
ROUTE RUNNING: A-
STRENGTH: C-
AWARENESS: A-
DURABILITY: A
POTENTIAL: A
OVERALL: A/A-

Marcus Lattimore

Big, bruising running backs are becoming a thing of the past. Current NFL teams seem enamored with small, quick backs who can double as receivers.  If Marcus Lattimore came around 20 years ago, teams would be drooling over the rights to draft him.  He is big, really big, weighing in around 230lbs, and carries it extremely well.  He is powerful, extremely powerful, and breaks tackles left and right using that power.  He has excellent vision and hits the hole with gusto.  When Marcus decides its time to go, there is no hesitation in his movements.  A common issue with big backs is the they all lack speed, with times around 4.6 in the 40.  Lattimore is expected to run a 4.55 at worst, with some estimates claiming a 4.5 flat and faster is attainable.  He also has unusually good agility for such a large back.  His ability to change direction is something special on a RB this size and will be a valuable asset in the NFL.  Being a 3 down back is becoming a lost art in the NFL, and Lattimore is more than capable of being one.  48 receptions and 600 yards over 18 games highlight the great receiver Lattimore has become, and will only continue to improve and put up numbers with Connor Shaw checking down to him.  The ability to pass protect is another notch in Lattimore's belt and will be a big asset in the NFL as more and more running backs are being asked to function as a pass protector.  This was already mentioned, but Lattimore is excellent at breaking tackles, and when he reaches the secondary defenders scatter.  Although he posses very good agility, Lattimore is going to run over defenders, and this will serve him well in the NFL as more and more DBs focus on coverage and ball skills while neglecting tackling.  Lattimore has all the looks of a dominating college RB and a feature back in the NFL.

Of course everything has drawbacks, and with Marcus its a big one-Injuries.  A season ending knee injury in 2011 sidelined what was becoming another monster year.  Torn ligaments and cartilage damage are not damning injuries, but they do have a lengthy recover time and can the player can have trouble returning to his previous form.  There is always a risk when taking a player that has suffered a major injury like this, but this is also the only glaring problem with Lattimore.  A criticism of Lattimore may be that he does not have elite break away speed-but who does at 230lbs+ not named Vernon Davis? Along that same line, he is not an elusive back, but doesn't need to be-it is much more effective trucking someone as opposed to dipsy-doing around them.

Marcus Lattimore has the look of a star running back in the NFL.  He has tremendous size, great power, and unlike Adrian Peterson, doesn't fumble.  His ability to be a receiver as well as a blocker means he is a 3 down back.  The biggest question about Lattimore is durability-specifically if he can return from his knee injury as the dominant RB he once was.  Lattimore looks to be a top 10 pick if he stays healthy and returns to form; the other end of the spectrum is a 3-5th round pick if questions arise about his health.  The team that drafts him isn't looking down the road, he is already a game changer and will continue to improve in the mental aspects of the game, but physically is near his max.

RATINGS
SPEED: B
AGILITY: B
POWER: A
CARRY: A-
HANDS: B+
BLOCKING: B+
VISION: A-
DURABILITY: B?
POTENTIAL: B+
OVERALL: A-

Sam Montgomery

Each year there is at least one elite pass rushing talent that takes college football by storm, and Sam Montgomery is this year's man.  As a redshirt sophomore, Montgomery put up monster numbers at LSU, earning All-American honors across the board from Rivals, SI, and FoxSports.  9 sacks, with at least 0.5 sacks in 8 games, reveals just how effective AND consistent he is.  This is not a guy who puts up big numbers in 2 to 3 games and is silent the rest of the year; he is a game changer, and is only going to be even more impressive this upcoming season.  Standing 6'4" and weighing in at 245-250 lbs, he has the look of a HIGHLY athletic DE at the next level.  Don't let the weight fool you, he has the frame to add on at least another 20-30lbs and still be a beast.  Montgomery has the ability and versatility at the next level to play either as a rush backer in a 3-4 D or continue doing what he does best and put his hand in the dirt as a DE in a 4-3 and terrorize QBs.  When you watch him on tape, the first thing you notice is elite quickness.  Put on the Oregon tape and you see him all over the field making plays-and chasing guys down.  This seems to be a new label, but he has a great motor and never gives up on a play.  He engages blockers and can use either his solid inside move or beat them on the outside using pure speed.  He has great moves for a young guy, and will only improve as he matures and continues to learn the game.  As athletic as he is, the ability to get leverage on a blocker is also evident when watching Montgomery.  Even though he is consistently outweighed 50-70lbs most weeks, Sam still drives linemen back by getting great position.

The negatives associated with Montgomery are the usual suspects with elite pass rushing talents.  He does not have brute strength, and will not ever.  He is occasionally taken out of the play simply because the blocker is that much stronger than him and is able to manhandle him.  The Alabama-LSU game was a great example of this, as Barrett Jones put on a clinic against him.  His tackling ability is average, nothing glaringly wrong, but nothing to be proud about either.  At 245-250lbs, he needs to add bulk if he wants to be a 4-3 DE at the next level, or at least improve his strength if he is looking to be a  3-4 outside linebacker.  A big issue with Montgomery, and something that will only improve with proper coaching and more reps, is his inability to fire off the line.  Watch tape on him, and you notice 60-70% of the time he is a count late off the snap.  In college he can overcome this by shear athleticism; in the NFL he will be pancaked.  Some people say he has an injury risk-he suffered a season ending knee injury in 2010, but he has not shown any propensity since then for injuries being a concern.

The overall package Sam Montgomery presents is very intriguing heading into the 2013 college football season.  He has established a reputation as an elite, if not the elite, pass rusher.  A pedestrian season will knock Sam down a few notches, but baring a season ending injury/epic collapse he is still going to be a hot commodity based solely on his potential and athleticism.  The flip side of this is that Montgomery has all the ability to put up monster numbers, and solidify himself as a top 5, maybe even top 2 pick.

RATINGS
STRENGTH: C
SPEED: B+
AGILITY: A-
PASS RUSH: A
RUN STOP: C+
TACKLING: C+
DURABILITY: B
POTENTIAL: A+
OVERALL: A-/B+

Landry Jones

Sam Bradford left some big shoes to be filled at Oklahoma, and Landry Jones has done a damn good job of filling them.  Having since taken over the QB duties at Oklahoma as a red-shirt freshman, Jones has lead the Sooners to a 30-9 record and 3 bowl victories, including the 2010 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.  Experience is a huge plus with Jones, although playing in the Big-XII is not saying much about the defenses he faces on a weekly basis.  With that said, Jones has been a proven leader during his time at Oklahoma, and 2012-13 looks to be a year he can elevate himself to top 5 status.  Arm Strength is a positive with Jones, capable of making all throws on the field, but not in the same class as an Elway.  His accuracy is better than what his numbers show, and is deadly between the hashes and has a knack for hitting receivers in perfect stride.  As mentioned above, experience is a big plus with Jones, and NFL teams will know they are getting a quarterback who has some hair on his chest (or dick if you wish).  Something Jones has that his predecessor lacked is durability; he has yet to miss a game as a starter.  He has the desired height/weight of a franchise QB, 6'4 230lbs, and looks every bit the part of a NFL quarterback.  A big plus with Jones is his ability to read the play, not necessarily his decision, but he has great vision-as do many Oklahoma QB's.  He should be great at checking down as long as he isn't overconfident and force throws.

Even though he has nearly 40 games as a starter, Jones still makes some mind boggling mistakes.  You don't throw a career high 15 INTs by being careful.  Jones has a tendency to try and force the ball into coverage, simply because he believes in his arm that much.  Coaches want to see this, but not to the extent Landry is.  His throwing mechanics are criticized by some, saying he "pushes" the ball without using his legs to get some zip on the ball.  Jones does not play under center, and although I don't personally believe this is a damning factor, but some believe this will really hinder is development.  A big drawback with Jones is the lack of pro-style offense.  At Oklahoma he runs a no huddle shotgun offense, something you NEVER see in the NFL.  For Jones to have any success at the next level he needs to make that transition immediately following the upcoming college football year.  Jones is essentially a tree in the pocket, and his lack of mobility may come to haunt him when he is consistently facing top notch defenses and NFL caliber pass rushers.

2012-13 is going to be a huge year for Jones.  He is going to be heading in regarded as a top 10 pick by some, and can solidify his place by dropping his INT total and increasing his completion percentage.  Jones is not, however, going to be thought of as the top QB in this class unless he unleashes hell upon college football, as did Bradford (50 TDs 8 INTs).  Just look above, the negatives and positives are nearly equal in length.  Whoever ends up taking Jones is getting a QB who has all the physical tools to be a great passer, but lacks the knowledge of a pro style offense.  Jones has the look of a boom or bust prospect-either he learns how to run an NFL offense and is successful, or fails to grasp the concepts and becomes another 1st round bust.






RATINGS
ACCURACY:A
ARM STRENGTH:B+
POCKET PRESENCE:B
MOBILITY:C-
DURABILITY:A
POTENTIAL:B
OVERALL:B+

Tyler Bray

Prototypical height? check.  Arm strength? check. Understanding of the game? check.  Tennessee uniform that calls for Peyton Manning comparisons? check.  Tyler Bray has all the tools to be the top pick in 2013 if Barkley regresses or Bray explodes.  Stuck at fledgling Tennessee in the NFL-AAA known as the SEC, Bray has been surrounded by mediocre talent and unable to put up those eye popping stats found with the other  potential franchise QB's of 2013. What Bray does have doing for him is experience-he was a starter as a true freshman in the big boy SEC.  Bray also has that arm strength coaches love to see  in a franchise QB; he is able to make any throw on the field with relative ease. Playing in the SEC is also a plus, as the speed of the game is faster in the SEC than it is in any other conference in college football.

On the downside, Bray has yet to play a complete season of college football-a red flag to some teams when evaluating a QB you expect to lead your franchise for the next decade.  Although standing 6'6", Bray is just over 210 lbs, and after two years of being on U Tennessee's football team still looks like a gangling HS senior.  Athletically, Bray leaves much to be desired, but this isn't a necessity for success-just ask Peyton or Brady.

Overall, the team that drafts Bray is looking at the potential QB he can become.  His mechanics and release are   better than most QB's at this point in development.  His height is ideal, although he needs to add more bulk to endure the pounding the NFL will put on him.  He has the looks/intelligence to be a leader, but has yet to have a weapon that has remained healthy for him to experiment with and lead his team to victory.  For Bray to warrant the top overall pick he must remain healthy the entire 2013 season as well as lead a Tennessee resurgence and put up impressive numbers.  If he doesn't, he is still a 1st round pick based off of his potential/mechanics/arm.


RATINGS
ACCURACY: B+
ARM STRENGTH: A
POCKET PRESENCE: A-
MOBILITY: D+
DURABILITY: C+
POTENTIAL: A
OVERALL: B+

Matt Barkley

Hey everybody-excluding Mel,

Time to start scouting the future NFL players of 2013, starting with the guy everyone seems to agree is the consensus number 1 pick overall, Matt Barkley.

First things first, this kid is really good.  Had he declared for the draft, RGIII and Barkley would have been battling it out for #2 overall, with a fair share of people clamoring for him to go #1.  A three year starter at USC, Barkley has improved drastically each year, just look at his completion percentage-60%, 62.6%, and a huge increase to 69%.   His decision making has also progressed at an alarming rate, nearly cutting his INT's in half from 2010-2011 (12 to 7).  Now having Robert Woods always helps, and playing in the weak PAC-12 may inflate his numbers a bit, but he has put together some huge games against the top competition USC has faced.  Oregon, Stanford, and Notre Dame saw Barkley put on a show, especially Stanford, going toe to toe with Andrew Luck and nearly pulling out a huge victory.  Barkley shows above average to good coverage reading ability as well as the ability to throw on the run.  His pocket presence is already good and will continue to improve.  Although he doesn't have a cannon for an arm, he can make nearly any throw on the field and should have no problem making NFL quality throws.

Detractors of Barkley cite his lack of elite size (6'2") and mobility (-41 yds on 107 carries), and that he plays in the weak PAC-12.  Also having Robert Woods, an elite WR and potential top 5 talent, seems to be another reason for Barkley to be knocked down a few pegs.  His accuracy was also questioned heading into the 2011 season, but the gaudy 69% seems to have settled that debate.

Although not on par with Andrew Luck as a projected NFL superstar QB, Barkley should develop into an upper echelon QB who could start for the majority of NFL franchises.  If Barkley goes to the right team, and is allowed to develop, he has a chance to be a Drew Brees type of QB.  The flip side of that argument is that he can become a less athletic Mark Sanchez if he is rushed and not allowed to Develop.



RATINGS
ACCURACY:A-
ARM STRENGTH:B+
POCKET PRESENCE:B+
MOBILITY:C
DURABILITY:A
POTENTIAL:A-
OVERALL:A-