2013 NFL Draft stands out for several reasons

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Ray Hamill

As usual it will take a few years before we can issue final judgement on the 2013 version of the NFL draft, but that doesn’t mean it hasn’t already stood out for several reasons.

With three of the top four overall picks going on offensive tackles (Central Michigan’s Eric Fisher to the Chiefs No. 1; Texas A&M’s Luke Joeckel to the Jaguars No. 2; and Oklahoma’s Lane Johnson to the Eagles No. 4), the 2013 draft will be remembered for its depth on the offensive line, not to mention a distinct lack of it at some notable positions.

Take quarterback for instance, a position has gone first overall in 11 of the previous 14 years, including a year ago, when three of them were taken in the first eight picks, all solid NFL starters in 2012.

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#73 Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida

Posted on March 8, 2013 by Duke Manyweather

#73 Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida

HGT: 6-3 WGT: 297

In 3 seasons as a Florida Gator, Sharrif Floyd appeared in 36 games with 26 starts. Floyd racked up 115 career tackles, 26 TFL, 4.5 sacks, 1 pass breakup, three blocked field goals and a forced fumble. According to University of Florida’s Sports Information Department, Floyd’s three career kick/punt blocks is tied for fifth in school history. Floyd’s solid showing at the NFL Scouting Combine in February, has left plenty of scouts “buzzing” about the former Gator.

PROS:

Very Good all around athleticism. Very explosive first step. Gets a great jump on the snap count. Good lateral agility and balance, is able to work through bodies on the ground. Shows the ability to deliver a blow with his hands and consistently displays good all around hand placement. Shows good hand violence when swiping away the hands of blockers. Has a great motor and plays hard. Seems like late in games he is still chasing and pursuing, his effort never drops off, which is a testament to his conditioning. Really good short area closing speed on ball carriers. Excels at line movements and stunts by using his quickness and hands. Floyd is a very good pass rusher with an above average skill-set of pass-rush moves. Lines up as a 3-technique and 5-technique. Does a great job of maintaining half-man leverage. When lined up as the 3-tech, he use quick hands to gain control and a quick swim to beat blockers. Is most effective vs. the run when he uses quickness and is able to shoot gaps and get up field by flipping his hips to get skinny and then get vertical. Is able to work through slide pass-protection by flipping his hips and ricocheting off of blockers. When lined up at the 5-tech, shows he is most effective when uses a quick punch and a fast escape move, often uses the dip and rip to turn the corner on offensive tackles. Shows the ability to string out plays to the sideline. Seems to have natural instincts and great feel for his position, whether at the 5 or the 3. Does a good job of getting his hands up in the vision line of the quarterback.

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#54 Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Duke Manyweather

#54 Jesse Williams, DT, Alabama

HGT: 6-3 WGT: 323

Jesse Williams is one of the more recognizable former members of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Originally from Australia, Williams came to Alabama via Arizona Western Junior College in the spring of 2011. As a Junior in 2011, Williams started all 13 games and helped Alabama win a BCS title. In 2012 Williams started 12 games (missed WKU game due to injury) and earned 2nd team All-SEC honors on the way to helping the Crimson Tide win its 2^nd consecutive National Championship. Williams finished his career with 60 tackles; 7 tackles for a loss; 1.5 sacks and 7 QB hurries, in two seasons as a member of the Crimson Tide.

PROS:

Jesse Williams has ideal size for the nose tackle position. Possesses great upper strength. Has a quick and powerful get-off that he uses to penetrate in to the backfield and knock blockers back on their heels. Is able to keep pads low on initial get-off. Jolts blockers with a solid blow delivery from his heavy hands. Is able to swipe and club defenders by when they get to his shoulder. Has shown a quick swim off the line to beat blockers in the run game. Good, not great, initial short area quickness. Plays with great effort and pursues down field when he is fresh. Shows the ability to defeat the cut block with with heavy hands and doesn’t waste time on the ground when he does get cut. Solid at the point of attack against the run. Shows flashes of stalemating and splitting double teams. Is able to explode out and be disruptive in short yardage situations. Because of his strength, Williams is able to push the pocket in passing situations. Very good bull rush. Does a decent job of getting his hands up in throwing lanes when he can not reach the passer.

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#6 Desmond Trufant, CB, Washington

Posted on March 6, 2013 by Jsmith1119

HGT : 6-0 WGT: 190

YR : SR Pos: CB

Notables:

2012 First Team All Pac -12
45 Straight Starts

Pros

Good size
Natural instinct you can’t teach
Knows how to be active with his hands in coverage
Great ball skills
Knows how to get off of WR blocks
Fluid hips
Shows good awareness when in zone coverage
Good footwork
All around fundamentally sound
Very good in press coverage
Not afraid to stick his nose in and make a tackle
Rarely allows a WR to get separation
Great straight line speed

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#20 Demetrius Sumler, RB, Central Washington

Posted on February 25, 2013 by Duke Manyweather

#20 Demetrius Sumler, RB, Central Washington

(University of Colorado Transfer ’06-’09)

HGT: 5-10 WGT: 225

It is not often a College football player is able to step away from the game for 2 full seasons and come right back in and have success, but that is exactly what former University of Colorado Running Back, Demetrius Sumler, did in 2012. Sumler was a highly recruited RB coming out of high school who rushed for almost 5,700 yards and 67 touchdowns in his career at Cathedral Catholic HS in San Diego. Sumler then signed a National Letter of intent to play for Colorado. He would use the 2006 season as a redshirt year. In 2007, 2008 and 2009 he was a part time starter. Much like the state of Colorado’s program during that time Sumler’s role was all over the place and was expanded and reduced back and forth. Following the 2009 season, Sumler decided to forego his senior season of competition at Colorado and focus on graduating so that he could transfer to another school for a better opportunity to compete. After missing 2 full seasons, Sumler had completed his degree and ended up at Division II program, Central Washington University. In 2012, Sumler started 9 of 11 games for Central Washington and carried the ball 212 times for 1,108yds and 15 touchdowns. He would haul in 26 receptions for 228yds & 3 more touchdowns.

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#71 Vinston Painter, OT, Virginia Tech

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Duke Manyweather

#71 Vinston Painter, OT, Virginia Tech

HGT: 6-5 WGT: 310

Vinston Painter originally came to Virginia Tech as a defensive lineman before he was switched to offensive line in the spring of his freshman year. Painter then spent the next 3 seasons as a back-up guard, who played sparingly until this season when he registered all 13 of his career starts. In 2012, Vinston Painter started all 13 games at right tackle for Virginia Tech and graded out in the mid-80% range every week. Painter’s performance earned the 1^st year starter All-ACC honorable mention as voted on by the coaches in the conference.

PROS:

Vinston Painter has good size, with a very lean frame, I’ve heard he is under 10% body fat, this will allow him to put on even more muscle mass. Painter has nice long arms. Painter possesses very good athleticism and shows good mobility. Painter has good strength (weight room numbers 465lbs bench press; 530lbs back squat and 485lbs front squat). Painter is a natural knee-bender and is able to play with decent pad level for a guy his size. Painter maintains a good base and plays with good body control, on film is rarely off-balance or on the ground. Painter shows the quick feet and the agility to change directions which allows him to mirror defenders, all things you like to see for an offensive tackle. Very natural kick-slider in pass protection, always looks comfortable when he is kicking and has good patients. Is able to latch on to defenders and use his long arms to lock-out. Has a quick get-off in the run game and is able to engage defenders to get push and sustain blocks. Does a good job combo blocking with guard.

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#67 Larry Warford, OG, Kentucky

Posted on February 13, 2013 by Duke Manyweather

#67 Larry Warford, OG, Kentucky

HGT: 6-3 WGT: 333

Larry Warford appeared in 47 games in his career at Kentucky, with 37 starts. Warford was named to the 3^rd team All-American team by AP as a senior. Earned 2^nd team All-SEC in 2010, 2011 and 2012. In 2009 he was named to the SEC All-Freshman team. Was a Senior Bowl invite and really stood out during the entire week in Mobile.

PROS:

Warford has good size for an interior offensive lineman. Sneaky athlete, that displays good body control and shows agility. Consistently keeps a good base. Plays with all around power. Has a good get off and surge off the ball, that allows him to knock defenders off the ball. Plays with a nasty demeanor. Shows he can reach wide shaded defenders with good footwork and quick feet. Does a great job delivering a violent blow and overall hand placement. Latches to control defenders. Shows the ability to be an effective puller. Executes blocks in space. Works well with Center on combo blocks and knows when to come off on second- level defenders. Takes good angles to the 2nd level when uncovered. Looks comfortable in pass-protection. Mixes up his pass-sets based on who he is playing against. Most effective when he uses his quick set. Delivers a solid punch. Shows he can anchor against the bull rush. Does a good job taking away the inside with a solid post foot and inside hand. Is able to mirror defenders. Points out blitz/ stunts.

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#23 Johnathan Franklin, RB, UCLA

Posted on February 6, 2013 by Duke Manyweather

#23 Johnathan Franklin, RB, UCLA

HGT: 5-10 WGT: 201

2012 saw Johnathan Franklin bounce back from a 2011 season in which he failed to break the 1,000 yard rushing mark (976 yards). Franklin completed his senior season with 1,734 yards on 282 carries, while reaching the endzone 13 times, all career highs. Franklin also hauled in 33 passes for 323 yards and 2 touchdowns, also career highs for receiving. Franklin finished his career as a Bruin, carrying the ball 784 times while rushing for 4,403 yards (5.6 yard average) and 31 touchdowns. He adds to his career totals with 58 passes caught for 517 yards (8.9 yard average) and 3 touchdowns.

PROS:

Franklin shows good overall athleticism. Has good speed and shows initial quick burst. Is able to see the whole field and plays with great vision. Displays great balance. Shows he can bounce plays to get outside on the edge. Sets up and allows blocks to happened with his patients. Does a good job squaring his shoulders up once he commits on zone. Makes and effort to keep legs driving on contact. Runs with low pad level and doesn’t shy away from sticking his head down to get the tough yards. Shows the ability to make the 1^st guy miss. Does a good job carrying out play-action fakes, which sucks defenders up. Repeatedly shows he is able to stick his foot in the ground and make precised cuts. Really impressed with how he uses is off-hand, while carrying the ball, to stiff-arm and swat away would be tacklers. Legitimate threat out of the backfield to catch the ball, check releases and swings quickly in to his route, gets his head around to catch ball and is able to turn it up and burst. Not afraid to mix it up in pass-protection, does a good job of mirroring defenders and dropping hips on contact to engage and stone blitzers, showed at the Senior Bowl he can do this on a consistent basis.

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#69 Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Duke Manyweather

#69 Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma

HGT: 6-6 WGT: 302

Lane Johnson is a very intriguing prospect that has played QB, DE, TE and OT. Johnson first came to the Sooner program as a QB from Kilgore Junior College in Texas. Lane Johnson started 12 games at OT in 2011 and 11 games in 2012 at left tackle. The buzz surrounding Jonson has grown rapidly since have a good week of practice in preparation for the Senior Bowl, which was played on January 26^th in Mobile, Alabama. Looks as if Johnson has finally settled in to a position, OT.

PROS:

Lane Johnson has a very good lean frame and has great length. Has nice long arms and is able to create separation when he latches and locks out on defenders. Johnson possesses good athleticism and consistently plays with a good base. Plays with good, not great, pad level and bends well enough for a guy with his length. Shows good feet and shows the ability to dig his in-steps in the ground when driving defenders. Has experience playing right and left tackle (flip-flopped in 2011 and strictly played left tackle in 2012). Looks comfortable in pass-protection, displays good patients. Consistently shows that he can mirror and stay with defenders. Effectively takes away the inside with a solid post foot in pass-protection. Shows he can recover and re-anchor on defenders. Able to run speed rushers over the top of the pocket and pass the quarterback. Has enough instincts paired with his natural athleticism to help get him out of situations in which his technique breaks down.

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#3 Chris Harper, WR, KSU

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Jsmith1119

HGT: 6-1 WGT: 234

YR: SR Pos: WR

Notables:

2011: 40 receptions, 547 yards, 5TDs
2012: 58 receptions, 857 yards, 3TDs

Pros:

Nice stout frame
Uses his frame to get position
Tough to jam
Effective at being physical and wearing DBs down throughout the duration of the game
Uses hands effectively to get open
Gets the release he desires against press coverage
Excellent blocker in the run game
Good combination of speed and quickness for his size
Versatile (Former QB at Oregon)
Strong hands, fights threw defenders slapping at the ball and his hands when making a catch
Good hands, didn’t see too many drops
Far from tapping out his potential
If development continues he will be a steal in the draft
Continued to show improvement year after year