Scouting Reports on Guys Under the Radar

Roddrick Muckelroy OLB Texas 6' 2" 235

Overall: Muckelroy is the classic sleeper. Few fans realize that he is a good prospect that can get better with good coaching and reps.

Strengths: Muckelroy has above average awareness. He reacts quickly to the play action or screen pass. He has the speed to track down the ball and make the play. He anchors against the run reasonably well but excels in the blitz and in zone coverage against the pass. He has above average ball skills. He is willing to battle for the ball.

Weaknesses: Despite his girth, he gets caught up in the wash more often than you would like. He struggles to separate from the blocker and doesn't seem to have mastered the techniques necessary to use his hands and upper body strength to its maximum advantage. He also is less effective in man pass coverage than zone. He has the mobility to cover but seems to lack the experience.

The Bottom line: Muckelroy was under the radar until last season. But OBs that can cover are a desired commodity. Now he is ranked in the late 5th. Don't be surprised if he is drafted in the late 3rd or early 4th round. He has a significant upside and is a value pick at his level.

Donovan Waren CB 5'11" 193 Michigan

Overall: Warren is a junior that might have been better off staying in school. However he has the skills to develop into an NFL player. He is so young that that it will take him some time to develop.

Strengths: He is able to cover man to man effectively. He has decent speed and fluid hips. He handles multiple moves effectively without losing contact with the receiver. He has quick hands and is effective at knocking the ball away. He plays his best in big games.

Weaknesses: He is a decent hitter but does not jump the run. He doesn't exhibit great instincts. He doesn't have the ball skills to make pick when he has the chance. That will come with experience. As they say, there is a reason that some players are CBs and not WRs.

Bottom Line: He is totally off everyone's draft charts but could catch on as a Rookie Free Agent. Given his age, he is worth taking a chance on.

T.J. Ward SS 5' 11" 211 Oregon

Overall: Ward played well in the Rose Bowl and did OK at the combine running a 4.56. He is on some draft charts but should be on more of them.

Strengths: Any team looking for a Tampa 2 safety should check Ward out. He is solid in zone, breaks on the ball well and helps out the CBs against the long pass. He brings all 211 when he tackles. He can cover the TE man to man deep and despite his height can make a play.

Weaknesses: Despite his size, he doesn't make as many plays against the run as you would expect. He needs to spend more time in the film room. As a pro, he will.

Bottom Line: Ward is a late 3rd or early 4th round prospect in a really deep group at safety. He has the tools to be an above average SS in a Tampa 2 or primarily zone scheme.

Antonio Brown WR 5' 10" 186 Central Michigan

Overall: Brown suffers from being in a small school and being in the 20's in the WR rankings. He will be a nice pick for someone.

Strengths: Brown is one of those guys that just gets open. He runs fairly precise routes and gives good fakes to get away from the DB. He is not very big but attacks the ball. He has good hands and catches the ball crisply. He is quicker than fast which makes him a candidate for the slot receiver spot. He does not lose speed going into and coming out of his breaks. That too helps him get open.

Weaknesses: He is a size/speed combination that is not popular. At 5-10 186 most WRs run better than a 4.57 40. He is not a return guy but is willing on special teams as a gunner.

Bottom Line: Depending on how he runs at his pro day, expect him to be a late 5 or early 6th round pick.

Daryll Clark QB 6' 2" 235 Penn State

Overall: Clark had a much better junior year than senior season. He regressed in terms of TD to interception ratio. In 08 he threw 19 TDs with 6 picks and was considered the top QB in the Big 10. In 09 he threw 24 TDs but had very costly picks that cost his team games. Last year he was a prospect but this season he is considered not draftable. However, those that were around when a guy named Dan Marino had a bad senior year and fell to the Dolphins at pick 27 in the 1983 draft. Clark is not a Marino but he is better than the experts realize.

Strengths: Clark is generally accurate at the short and medium pass. He has above average arm strength but shows good touch of wheel and swing routes out of the backfield. He is tough and will stand in against the rush and throw accurately. He also can throw on the move without losing sight of the WRs down field. He is an above average runner when the pass protection breaks down.

Weaknesses: This season his decision making broke down. In the big games he tended to try to do too much and make plays that weren't there. That was the biggest single contributor to the additional picks. He is also inconsistent with his footwork but that is true of almost all college QBs. He seems to be a good student of the game and the additional time he will have in the film room will help him.

Bottom Line: Being a big name college QB should get him some attention but he is not on the radar. He could be a RFA signing that could turn out to be a good backup QB in the league.

Charles Scott RB LSU 6' 0" 238

Overall: Had Scott stayed healthy all year he might have been in the second group of RBs in the draft. But he was hurt against Alabama and did not play the rest of the year. In 08 he gained 1174 yards, averaged 5.4 per attempt, and scored 18 TDs. In 09 he got just 116 carries for 542 yards and 4 TDs.

Strengths: Scott has the strength to break tackles and enough speed to break big runs. He was not used much as a receiver but catches the ball easily and makes yards after the catch. He shows good vision and has the quickness to get to the hole. He also is a good blocker and can pick up a blitz.

Weaknesses: His speed is in question because of his injury. He is expected to run a 4.7 which is below average for a back. He does not have much experience running routes and it shows.

Bottom Line: Had he been healthy he might have been a late 2 or early 3. Now his draft position will depend on his medical evaluation and how the teams judge it. The best guess now is that if he is going to be ready for the 2010 season, he should be a 5th or 6th round pick. He could be a value there.

Keenan Clayton OLB Oklahoma 6' 1" 229

Overall: I really like this kid. He shows a lot of the skills that I look for in an OB. He is considered not-draftable but I think he would be a good RFA signing.

Strengths: Clayton is equally good against the run and the pass. He has the ability to cover RBs or TEs and has the quick hands to knock the ball away. At 4.66 he wouldn't be expected to have the speed to keep up with the receivers but he anticipates their moves and is quick in and out of a change of direction. He reads plays well and reacts quickly taking good angles to the play. He hits better than expected for a guy his size and will dislodge the ball from the runner. He is quick and alert enough to see a run coming his way and then attacks it down hill getting the tackle in the backfield.

Weaknesses: His biggest weaknesses are his size at just 229 pounds and his speed at 4.66. He doesn't have the speed to convert to S or the body frame to build into a 240 OB. But some players have succeeded at that size.

Bottom Line: His talent and ability to contribute on special teams makes him draftable. If not he should be signed as a RFA.

By Bill Smith informan1@yahoo.com