Depth Chart ~ ~ ~

it's early yet.
there will be a # of changes/additions, etc.

cheers ~ ~
:beer:

 

fyi :

Emanuel Cook
5'9, 200
S, South Carolina

War Room analysis
Strengths: Is athletic. Has been consistently productive against the run and in coverage. Comes up quickly in run support, avoids blockers well and can fight through contact to make physical tackles. Can tackle well out in space when he keeps his knees bent and stays under control. Shows good speed chasing down ballcarrier in pursuit. Has a good closing burst to finish plays. Reads the quarterback well from deep coverage and has the speed to get outside to the sideline and help the cornerback. Covers tight ends well in man coverage.

Weaknesses: Is under 6-0, which is always a concern for NFL teams. Is not athletic enough to step down and cover slot receivers consistently. Lunges as a tackler at times, which leads to him missing some tackles he should easily make.

Bottom line: Cook, a junior, definitely made the right decision coming out early, despite his lack of height. He is extremely athletic and can make plays from sideline to sideline. He plays with an aggressive attitude and is consistently around the ball making big plays vs. the run and pass. He makes a lot of violent, momentum changing hits/tackles. By his second year in the NFL, Cook should be a solid starter.

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Matt Kroul
6'4, 278
DT, Iowa

War Room analysis
Strengths: Shows good quickness moving forward and laterally, and changes directions well. Understands blocking schemes and takes good angles to stay unblocked. Slips blocks well and uses leverage to hold point of attack. Is a strong wrap-up tackler who punishes ball carriers. Wants to be in on every play, and works to ball with fury after snaps. Is a hard-nosed player who shows intelligence and toughness.

Weaknesses: Has short arms. Lacks strength and size to hold up inside in NFL. Struggles to shed blocks once opponents lock on, or to make impact once free. Is not a quick-twitch athlete. Lacks pass-rush moves to be top-flight inside rusher. Is not a great fit for NFL defensive schemes.

Bottom line: Kroul is an undersized defensive tackle who relies on his intelligence and hustle. Although he's limited at the next level, he'll make it very tough for a team to cut him and could carve out a role as a rotational player.

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Zach Potter
6'6, 278
DT, Nebraska

War Room analysis

Bottom line: Potter has been a strong force against the run since becoming a starter as a junior. He is a huge specimen who will garner interest from some NFL franchise, but a team would be best served by giving him a look as a free agent. He is limited as a pass rusher because of an inability to get off the snap quickly. He also struggles to create a secondary move to get pressure. He is more size that substance. Potter lacks the athleticism to compete at a high level in the NFL.

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Andrew Davie
6'5, 255
TE, Arkansas

War Room analysis
Strengths: Has the size and strength to drive the defender down the line of scrimmage on blocks. Has quick feet. Is smooth and fluid running routes. Shows the hands to reach out and pluck the ball. Has the size and strength to be a strong runner after the catch. Shows the ability to slide out and pass block with good leverage.

Weaknesses: Is not explosive or fast enough to make big plays as a receiver. Does not block aggressively; has a bad habit of stopping his feet after making contact on blocks, which leads to him falling off his blocks too often.

Bottom line: Davie is another older underclassman who came out early for the draft after having played minor league baseball before playing college football. While he'll never be an impact receiver, he has good hands and the strength to be a solid blocker. However, he is still raw and needs work in many areas. To make it in the NFL, he needs significant improvement in his blocking. If Davie fails to make it as a tight end, he would be an excellent candidate to switch to offensive tackle.

cont'd ~ ~

 

cont'd :

Rob Myers
6'3, 243
TE, Utah State

War Room analysis
Strengths: Is an outstanding athlete who has the speed to split the seam and get open vertically. Has very good jumping ability. Gets in and out of his breaks with purpose and quickness. Is very agile and light on his feet. Has soft, quick hands as a pass catcher.

Weaknesses: Has a significant injury history. Missed the entire 2008 season and started only four games in 2007. Lacks strength. Is not an aggressive blocker and lacks power. Is not strong at the point of attack and will get overpowered.

Bottom line: Myers is an oft-injured player who had surgery on his big toe in September 2008, limiting his playing time. He is a very solid athlete when he is healthy, but he is a career backup who'll be more of a H-back than an in-line blocking TE in the NFL. Myers has the skill set to play in the NFL, but his injury history will knock him down draft boards. Look for a team to take a flyer on him late in the hope that his injuries are behind him.

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Jamaal Westerman
6'1, 266
DE, Rutgers

War Room analysis
Strengths: Is a solid run defender who comes off the ball low and hard. Uses leverage to hold the point of attack. Is a good wrap-up tackler with strong hands. Has solid natural strength in his upper body. Will make plays down the line of scrimmage. Gives full effort. Is a leader, and tough as nails. Will play hurt.

Weaknesses: Lacks quickness and speed. Must learn pass-rush moves. Can be stiff and robotic in his movements. Can be driven off the ball and into the feet of the linebackers. Has below-average lower-body strength. Gets high as a pass rusher. Plays at one speed.

Bottom line: Westerman is a hard-nosed player who lacks the athletic ability to be a draft pick. His stock also dropped after he tore his biceps in 2008 and missed time. However, Westerman should get a training-camp invite, and he'll have a shot at sticking around because of his toughness and effort.

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Kyle Link
6'5, 305
T, McNeese State

War Room analysis
Strengths: Has good size and a nice frame to develop. Has decent feet and plays with above-average knee bend and flexibility. Flashes lateral slide and agility. Has no problem mirroring and fronting. Moves well on the second level. Has above-average athletic agility.

Weaknesses: Punches weakly and rarely uses his hands. Struggles against bull rushes and is walked back often; anchoring is a problem. Struggles with pass protection and cutting down defenders' rushing angles.

Bottom line: Link is an above-average athlete for his size, and he will likely be signed as a free agent. He has to improve his hand use, anchor and leverage to have a chance at sticking with an NFL team.

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Brannan Southerland
6'0, 242
FB, Georgia

War Room analysis
Strengths: Is a tough and competitive fullback who attacks the defender on lead blocks. Can fit through tight quarters to reach defenders, accelerating into blocks and hitting with full force. Is smart, knows his pass-blocking assignments and steps up to pick up blitzers aggressively. Shows good hands catching the ball out of the backfield and holds onto the ball after a hard hit. Is a competitive runner.

Weaknesses: Is not a premier athlete. Struggles to bend knees for low lead blocks, limiting movement. Tends to stop moving his feet after the initial blow and will fall off the block. Shows stiff hip movements, struggling to block moving targets in the open field. Is not a strong or powerful inside runner; gets tripped up by low arm tackles.

Bottom line: Southerland is coming off a second surgery in two years to repair a fracture in his left foot. Despite getting healthy and playing down the stretch for Georgia, he will have to pass the medical exams at the NFL Combine in order to be drafted. He is a tough, hard-nosed fullback who could become a solid NFL starter, but he must improve his lead blocking to be anything more than a backup.

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Tavita Thompson
6'6, 308
T, Oregon State

War Room analysis
Thompson started seven games as a junior but missed 2008's first seven games under suspension for using a banned dietary supplement. He's iffy unless a team sees something we don't.

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Ryan McKee
6'6, 295
T, Southern Mississippi

War Room analysis
Strengths: Smart, tough player who puts forth solid effort. Works to finish his blocks. Good on pull and trap blocks. Uses his length well to shield defender from ball carrier. Good initially off the snap.

Weaknesses: Lacks bulk and strength. Plays high and lacks flexibility. Not an explosive. Cannot move the defender with power.

Bottom line: McKee is a tall, lean tackle who will struggle in the NFL unless he gets stronger and gains some bulk. Lacks the foot quickness to fit in a zone blocking scheme and is too light for a power running-type offense. He is not a sudden athlete and absorbs more than he attacks. He is not explosive, and he struggles to move the defender on his blocks. Tie up-type blocker. Has some initial quickness off the snap in the run game, but this does not transfer into power or explosion. Will jump the defender off the ball and then just lean on him. Moves well in space on pulls and traps, but lacks the body control and balance to hit a moving target. In pass protection, he has enough punch to initially stun the rusher, but he plays high, exposing his chest and getting driven back. Lacks the foot speed and quickness to slide and mirror with any effectiveness. Lacks the ability to anchor versus power rushers. He does give good effort and plays smart in picking up blitzes. Not a real pretty player, but was effective enough in college. But he needs to get a lot stronger and more flexible if he expects to play in the NFL.

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Keith Fitzhugh
5'10, 210
S, Mississippi State

War Room analysis
Strengths: Is extremely physical in coverage, making his presence known when opponents go over the middle. Chases plays all over the field. Is an aggressive, in-the-box safety who attacks the line. Is an asset against the run. Shows good quickness and range.

Weaknesses: Lacks ideal size and athleticism, and may struggle to hold up playing near the line. Must improve strength and learn to wrap up on tackles. Struggles to shed blocks and move through traffic. Is something of a liability in pass coverage. Slows down when turning and running with opponents.

Bottom line: Fitzhugh had an up-and-down career with the Bulldogs; after starting 10 games his sophomore year, he was a backup for much of his junior season before bouncing back into the starting lineup. He had a strong senior campaign, but he'll likely struggle in his initial transition to the NFL because of his small frame and lack of top athleticism. He is best suited to play in a defense that relies heavily on zone coverage.

> i " borrowed " this from another site.