Monday, May 20, 2013

Manti Te'o Scouting Report


University of Notre Dame #5
Position: Inside Linebacker
Height/Weight: 6'1/241 lbs.
Age: 22
Drafted By: San Diego Chargers (2nd Round)
Background:
            Manti Te'o has been through a rollercoaster this past season and offseason leading up to the NFL Draft.  His life completely changed within the span of a single season.  A year ago, Te'o was still deciding whether or not to stay in South Bend and play college football one more year or enter the draft.   He chose to stay, and it was a great decision.  His senior year, his name blew up all over televisions across the nation after he helped Notre Dame develop an undefeated season.  At middle linebacker, he led the defense and the whole team with his passion for the game and his actions on the field.   Making 7 interceptions and only missing two tackles the entire season, his name was being called for Heisman candidate.  Then, tragedy struck Te'o.  Before a game at Michigan State, his 72-year-old grandmother and his girlfriend, who had Leukemia, died within 6 hours of each other.  This proved as motivation for him and Te'o was all over the field, racking up 12 total tackles.  After the game, he joined a large group of supportive fans and broke down in tears.  These events made the nation fall in love with him and sealed his fate as a Heisman candidate.  Later, he would lead Notre Dame all the way to the National Championship game against No. 1 Alabama.  
                This is where everything started to unravel with Te'o.  In the spotlight, Notre Dame and Te'o failed to compete against Alabama and were obviously outmatched.  They lost 42-14 and he got embarrassed multiple times by the Alabama linemen and runningback, Eddie Lacy.  Here, people questioned his ability to play and believed he wouldn't be able to compete in the NFL if he couldn't even come to play in the biggest game of his life.   Then, the unthinkable happened. A story on Deadspin.com revealed that Manti's story about losing his girlfriend was a hoax, and, furthermore, his girlfriend never actually existed.  This article went viral and forced everyone to search for answers.  Te'o revealed in later press conferences and interviews that he never actually met his girlfriend, Lennay Kekua, and they were continuing their relationship through phone calls and online chatting.  He said he actually fell in love with this girl online, but was "catfished", which is an online fraud where a person creates a fake account in hopes of engaging in conversation with the victim.  Furthermore, this person hopes to create fake "romance" between the victim and themselves.  This whole hoax caused his draft stock to fall even further.  He was under national scrutiny and became the butt of jokes about his invisible girlfriend.  Teams were reluctant to draft him because of the media circus that followed the whole way.   Once a first round draft pick, Te'o fell all the way to the second round.  

Strengths:
            What made Manti an All-American linebacker was his exceptional ability reading plays.   Almost every play, he knew what was happening, where he was, and where his opponents were.  This is a huge trait for a linebacker because they have to decide between whether the offense is running or passing.  Te'o was great at this, which allowed him to get in the backfield so fast or make so many interceptions.  One play against USC, he read the quarterback perfectly.  The main receiver was running across the field and Te'o saw this player.  By reading the receiver's route and the quarterback's eyes, he moved into the correct spot and made a huge interception in a close game.  The NFl is a pass-happy league, so finding linebackers who are exceptional in pass coverage is crucial.  Also, Te'o is a natural leader.  At Notre Dame, he was a respected leader for the whole team.  His job was to motivate the team and he made sure the team was fired up before every game.  The defense would ride on his passion and emotions and play as hard as they possibly could, especially towards the end of close scoring games.  As a leader, he could create momentum for the team by making his big interceptions or big tackles.  San Diego had a terrible season last year and could use a player that can motivate the team to perform at their top potential. 
Weaknesses:
          Te'o is only average sized for an inside linebacker and isn't as athletic as most coaches would like.  This lack of athleticism showed when he ran a slow 4.82 40-yard dash.  In the NFL, players only get bigger, stronger, and faster.  He will have to cover and tackle tight ends that are just a big, if not bigger than him, and runningbacks who are quicker and faster than him.  His lack of speed made many question whether he will be able to play all three downs and still compete against elite opponents.  Coaches know that athleticism is not a teachable trait, which will surely give him a disadvantage.   One example of lack of athleticism was during the championship game.  Te'o read the run play from the start and was able to get into the back field before getting blocked, but he was juked out by the runningback and couldn't make the play.  This is just an example of times when reading the plays aren't enough to make a play because his opponents are just that athletic, quick, or strong.  This will definitely be a challenge in the NFL for Te'o.  
Overview:
              Te'o has gone through a lot during his senior year all the way through the draft.  With the whole fake girlfriend hoax, he has been under a microscope and anything he does will surely be followed by the media.   The media has always been a problem for players in the NFL and also causes drama on teams.  San Diego is the perfect place for him.  Usually, San Diego doesn't receive a lot of attention from the media.  Hopefully, Te'o can escape the problems the media may bring and continue to play great football.   He has the potential and the smarts to be successful in professional football, but the only setback will be his athleticism.  He will have to work hard make the transition from college to the NFL.  

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/manti-teo?id=2539277
http://www.biography.com/people/manti-teo-21105315
Games Viewed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i980UwUexpw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J_O9JiHEjc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wa7E9X-1nN0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bij34pztFEE





Posted by at No comments:

DeAndre Hopkins Scouting Report


Clemson University #6
Position: Wide Receiver
Height/Weight: 6'1/214 lbs.
Age: 20
Drafted By: Houston Texans

Background:
        NFL Prospect DeAndre Hopkins, served as the #1 receiver at Clemson University and decided to forgo his senior season and enter the NFL Draft.  Out of every prospect this year, Hopkins truly has the saddest backstory.  It is unbelievable how much he has experienced in just a short 20 years.  Throughout his life, he has been forced to overcome and mature through multiple tragedies.  To start things off, Hopkins barely knew his father, Harris Steve Hopkins, before he was killed in a car crash in 1992, when DeAndre was merely 5 months old.  According to DeAndre's mother, Sabrina Greenlee, the two were driving home on a rainy day when the car hydroplaned, crashed into an obstacle, and flipped many times before hitting the guardrail.  Greenlee survived and only suffered a concussion, but Steve was not so lucky.  He died eight days later at the young age of 25 and escaped federal charges that would give him 100 years in prison for cocaine distribution.  Then, 5 years later, police received a distress call from his uncle's home in Georgia.  Terry Smith, who set school records for Clemson and signed undrafted to the Indianapolis Colts, was reportedly attacking his wife and 2-year-old son with a knife.  When he wouldn't listen to the police's calls, they open fired, fatally killing him.  Not to mention one of his cousins died from a heart attack during a basketball game when he was 24.  
These incidents were just the beginning.  In 1999, his cousin who also played at Clemson as runningback, tried to take his own life with a .380 caliber pistol.  Instead of killing him, the bullet destroyed his right eye and damaged his left.  Little did he know before attempting suicide, he was, and still is, Hopkins' biggest role model.  Today, he helps DeAndre work out and condition during this offseason.  When he was only 10, his mother found her then-boyfriend cheating with another woman.  Still, the suffering and sadness continues for DeAndre.  To her surprise, the other woman splashed a bucket of 400˚ F bleach all over he body, searing through clothes and skin.  They took her to the nearest gas station and left her to die.  Thankfully, an ambulance was called.  She spent three weeks in a coma while the doctors fixed her burned skin.  Today, she is blind in her right eye and half blind in the other.  To conclude it all, Hopkins suffered a blow to himself.  Late to his teams' meeting before they travelled to the 2012 Orange Bowl, he crashed into a tree, but only retained a minor concussion.  He was still able to play in the big game.  Hopkins' story is extremely sad yet remarkable.  Not many get to say they have been through what he has, and he still keeps his head up.  He has been one of the greatest players in Clemson history despite all the tragedy surrounding him.  Despite the death and injury suffered everywhere around him, he keeps a positive outlook on life and still performs at a high level on the field.  Hopkins is definitely ready for anything the NFL may throw at him after everything he's been through.  His story should prove to everybody that there are no excuses whatsoever.
Strengths:
        Deandre Hopkins is perfect in running his routes.  Now, route running might not seem like an important trait in the NFL, but it can actually make or break a wide receiver.  Many throws made are "timing throws" in which the quarterback releases the ball just as the receiver makes a cut and before the receiver is even looking for the ball.  The receiver then cuts and finds the ball immediately.  Route running is extremely important for this because making the cut toe early allows defenders to react and look for the ball.  Cutting too late means the ball flies right past them for an incomplete pass.  These timing throws are short, quick and mainly remain under 15 yards.  At Clemson, those short passes were where Hopkins made his name famous.  His route running and crisp cuts made up for his lack of speed (4.57 40 yard dash) and size.  His ability to juke and change direction on a dime would create separation between him and the defender, giving him time to catch the ball and run.  This same ability to accelerate and decelerate so quickly also made him deceivingly faster.  Expecting him to cut for a short pass, defenders often cheat up.  When this happens, Hopkins is able to blow past the defender and sprint for the deep pass.  This is what makes him such a great receiver and rates him as one of the top in this draft class.
Weaknesses:
        Hopkins is not the fastest, biggest, and most athletic wide receiver in this draft.  6'1 seems very tall compared to the height of most non-football players, but for NFL hopefuls, 6'1 is average.  His 4.57 40-yard dash is definitely not impressive and slower compared to most first round draft picks.  This is a weakness because the game only gets faster transitioning from college to the NFL.  His lack of speed makes it hard to run deep routes for those splash plays that everyone loves in this game.  So, the short route and quick passes will continue to be where he makes a living.  The reason speed is so special is that it cannot be taught.  So, Hopkins will have to perfect his great route running in order to be successful in this league.  Luckily, he will be learning from one the NFL's best receiver, Andre Johnson.  With a couple years experience, he still will have a chance to be an elite route running receiver.   Another weakness of Hopkins' is his lack of physicality.  He is easily pushed around by the more physical defenders and can be shoved out of his routes.  Many times against LSU in the 2012 Orange Bowl, he was forced out of bounds during a pass play.  The rule for this means he cannot be the first receiver the touch the ball even if he reenters the field of play and completely reestablishes himself.  Being more physical in situations like these could result in staying in bounds and possibly making a big play.  In the NFL, defenders just get more physical.  So, Hopkins needs to bulk up or get stronger as he becomes an NFL receiver.
Overview:
        DeAndre Hopkins has experienced a lot during his lifetime.  Through tragedy and grief, he has learned to be tough and always stay positive.  These experiences also give him adversity ten times harder to overcome than whatever the NFL may throw at him.  At Clemson, he was a great receiver who could make plays when the team needed it most.  Speed and size may be a problem for him in professional ball, but great route running and sharp cuts can make up for it.  Also, learning from an elite receiver like Johnson will give him a huge advantage over most rookies.  While the NFL may be a great challenge for Hopkins, there is no doubt that he will work his hardest to still be successful.
Games Viewed:

Posted by at No comments:

Sharrif Floyd Scouting Report


University of Florida #73
Position: Defensive Tackle
Height/Weight: 6'3/297 lbs.
Age: 20
Drafted By: Minnesota Vikings
Background:
        Sharrif Floyd, only 20, is another prospect to enter the 2013 NFL Draft with a touching back-story.  On May 28th, 1992, Floyd was born into a life of grief and confusion in a shady neighborhood in Philadelphia.  The things he saw on those streets included things that gifted kids from Punahou would never imagine of seeing such as cold-blooded murder.  In his house, his father constantly abused him both physically and mentally, leaving his basement as his only escape.  Later in high school, it was revealed to him that this wasn't even his real father.  His biological was murdered when Floyd was barely 3 years old.  His mother was a drug addict, his "father" was in and out of jail, and, to top it all off, he was bullied for his size and weight at a young age.  He weighed 160 lbs. in only fifth grade and his dirty pants' buttons broke often.  Because of this, his pants would fall down.  Floyd's teacher even called home to report he should take a shower.  Throughout all this torment, he remained tough, never made excuses, and instead used it as motivation.  When sports entered his life, everything changed.  Basketball started it all off and eventually led to football.  The coaches accepted him and let him choose his own number, 73.  Football was his anger outlet, his source of confidence, and his passion.  It gave him purpose in life and his talent was evident as he dominated high school using his size and strength.  Many people supported him throughout high school.  When Floyd was invited to the US Army National Combine, he knew he wouldn't be able to afford the trip.  The school helped him tremendously by selling brownies and made enough money to pay fo his trip.  After this combine, Floyd was recognized as the number 1 defensive tackle prospect in the nation.  Now, he is headed to Minnesota where he will live out his dreams.  He serves as a role model to all those kids from his hometown Philadelphia who hope to one day follow the same footsteps as him.  Floyd remains a humble, down to earth prospect and has earned the respect of millions around the nation.
Strengths:
        This is yet another player from this season's draft is incredibly athletic and strong.  The way Sharrif Floyd moves shouldn't be possible for a man his size of 6'3 and almost 300 lbs. At the NFL Combine, he ran a 4.92 40 yard dash and vertical jumped 30 inches in the air.  Just to put things in perspective, OLB Jarvis Jones, who is 50 lbs. lighter than Floyd, ran the dash in the same time.  Also, at University of Florida, he played in the DE spot as well as DT, which shows how the coaches see him and his athletic ability.  Although he cannot beat the tackles and get to the quarterback using sheer speed, his burst off the snap is unbelievable.  His biggest strength he is ability to accelerate so quickly, shed blocks, and sprint towards the quarterback.  Floyd also has phenomenal strength.  Even when double-teamed, he plants his feet and drives forward, pushing the offensive linemen backwards on their heels.  This makes him a great player because he swallows the pocket where the quarterback is protected and eats up space for the runningback to run against.  There were many plays during the season where he absolutely manhandled whoever tried to block him and was in complete control.
Weaknesses:
        One knock against Sharrif Floyd is that he plays high and standing upright.  When players do this, it allows opponents to get a lower center of gravity and explode up with much more power.  Because of this, Floyd can often get pushed backwards against better competition despite his strength.  If he were to get lower, it would give him better balance and allow for the explosiveness that he can show.  Not only when engaging a blocker, but when trying to make a tackle he plays upright.  This caused him to miss a few tackles against lighter, quicker players such as quarterbacks and runningbacks.  Fortunately for him, play upright like this can be coached in the NFL.  That and the experience of playing against stronger, faster, and bigger linemen will teach him that playing low will increase his performance during the game.
Overview:
        Despite being a big and heavy man, Sharrif Floyd is able to move quickly and explosively.  This athletic ability gives him a huge advantage when stepping up to the next level of football.  But, athleticism is the only thing he should rely on.  With hard work in the weight room and coaching up his technique, Floyd can develop into the first round grade player he was projected to be.  Lucklly for him, he is able to develop under All-Pro DT Kevin Williams for a few years before he is expected to replace Williams.  Floyd has overcome great ordeals that are unheard of for many.  This great story has made him into the humble, hardworking man he is today.  It will be fun to follow this player as he develops and serves as a role model to all those wanting to follow his example toward success.



Games Viewed:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUGNnSr6vyk
Posted by at No comments:
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)