Grading an NFL Draft it has been said, is pretty much impossible until all of the players in question are 3 years along into their careers. Obviously some players don’t ever truly have a professional career; only staying long enough to have a cup of coffee, but others do inevitably make their mark at the next level. I don’t really pay attention to Draft Grades as really, as what are we actually grading? Didn’t we just do the same exercise leading up to the Draft itself?
Instead it might be best to sit down and decide if your team in fact drafted quality players when their chance came and went because at this stage that is all one can ask for.
In this exercise, I intend to simply provide a quick breakdown of each player selected by the Miami Dolphins in 2010.
1). (28) Jared Odrick – DT – Penn State
Odrick is a solid player, no doubt about it. And, as many of you know who have followed us throughout the pre draft process, is a player that both my two colleagues (Simon Clancy and Chris Kouffman) and I have a healthy respect for. So while I truly wanted Jerry Hughes in a Miami uniform in 2010, I don’t have any issues with the selection of Odrick.
Odrick is a typical “big man” selection for this front office, as he is tall, lean and plays with effort and desire. Odrick was the best option at defensive end in a 3-4 in my opinion, with Tyson Alualu not far behind – although obviously the Jacksonville Jaguars disagree – but he may also see time at nose tackle as his career progresses. I know that idea may seem a bit odd given the news that Randy Starks has been earmarked to play the position heading into 2010, but I really think Odrick would be a solid presence at the position. I can see Jared Odrick making the transition for several reasons; the first being the change in defensive philosophy which will likely make nose tackle more of an aggressive, up the field position.
Odrick is a rare specimen; combining agility, quickness, strength and quick hands into one package. Odrick can attack the gaps along the front either through force, rocking his man back and using his hands to shed or by deftly sidestepping and accelerating through the hole into the backfield. Odrick has a good burst off the line, although it could not be described as elite. He routinely displays the ability to side step blocks at the point of attack, although in reality he is not a fast player and does lack lateral agility. The former Nittany Lion can run down the line, but he must turn to do so as he simply does not have the ability to slide and stay square with the line of scrimmage.
Odrick’s best asset is his hands as they are powerful. He does well to utilize short quick strokes as a means to defeat his man at the point in much the same way a classic 3 technique tackle would; via a side step and swim move or arm over. Despite having 34’’ arms, Odrick does not require a good deal of space to release and use his hands. His arm movements are generally forceful, quick and compact although it would be nice to see him create some separation for himself more often by simply utilizing his long arm more effectively.
He generally plays behind his pads, getting his helmet under his opponent’s although he does not always show good extension with his arms. Instead he can play chest to chest with his blocker, which can allow his opponent to gain a foothold no his pads. This is important, as Odrick is not square when he has to slide down the line of scrimmage. More often than not he must turn his shoulders to cover the ground necessary. Combined with his propensity to play short armed means he can be turned and controlled by his man when he is asked to flow down the line. This occurs more often than not while he is still engaged and must move more than a few steps. If Odrick is allowed to operate in a confined space laterally, he can be a dominant force.
Odrick does well to stay low, using leverage, good base strength and width to stand firm at the point of attack although he does not generate a strong leg drive. He does absorb his opponent’s initial surge well, but he does not show an ability to simply overpower and walk an opponent backwards into the quarterback’s lap.
When he does get tired, or comes off the ball high, he can be moved off the ball. This is not to say that he is simply driven up the field, simply that he gives ground in a situation that he normally doesn’t. As with most Penn State players, Odrick will need to spend time in an NFL weight room before he sees his true potential, but as it stand now, he can certainly operate at the next level.
Overall, Odrick should give the Dolphins some versatility along the front as he can play either a 5 or 3 technique adequately in my opinion in the team’s revamped defensive alignment which may feature over/under fronts much like fans saw when Nick Saban was coaching.
2). (40) Koa Misi – OLB – Utah
Misi is a player that was mentioned in our roundtable linebacker discussion earlier in the offseason, but he was never mentioned as a top level talent. This is not to say that Misi is not a solid player only that in comparison to other player such as Brandon Graham and Jerry Hughes, Misi is a step below. To be honest, I had him ranked behind Jason Worrilds as an option at outside linebacker, but Misi does fit the profile in terms of height at 6’2 5/8’’, although any offseason debate on arm length may be put to rest by Misi’s 32 ½’’ arms; near much more ballyhooed prospects Jerry Hughes and Brandon Graham. While Misi may be somewhat of an unknown due to his apparent lack of ideal sack production, he is a good football player when the tape is turned on.
Misi is not a natural pass rusher in my opinion, and he doesn’t appear to show an ability to run the arc or to simply bet his man up the field on a rush. To my eye Misi does not explode off the snap and drive up the field. Rather, he comes off the ball a bit high and while he is quick enough to threaten the outside shoulder of the tackle, he does not ever really beat his man up the field through speed alone. He is quick and comes off the ball well, but I don’t think he can be described as explosive when he rushes the quarterback. Misi is more of a scheme pass rusher in my opinion. What I mean by that is Misi needs to play in a scheme where there is misdirection, overloads, stunts and slants to be truly effective. He is a player that will at this stage defeat a blocker with a variety of pass rush moves. Instead, Misi would benefit from not being the focal point of the pass rush, but rather the player that picks up what it left over. That statement may come with some form of negative connotation, but it is not meant that way. Misi may not do well on his own, but due to his activity, hand use and agility, he will keep working to make plays; and in a defensive scheme that causes confusion along the front, he will.
I just do not see Misi as a diverse pass rusher at this stage as he cannot vary from a speed rush to simply overpowering his opponent and pushing them into the backfield consistently when needed. Misi can push some offensive linemen backwards, but I do question if he can do this against a blocker who sits into his pass pro well. His hand use is not refined in terms of beating his man while maintaining his forward motion, although his hands do remain active. Instead, Misi will need for the quarterback to scramble or step up for him to reintroduce himself as a factor on the rush.
This does not mean that he allows his feet to go dead at any time; he does generally keep them pumping, even though he may not always generate movement.
Misi is not an overpowering player at the point of attack, but nor is as limp as a wet paper bag. While he cannot be described as a stack and shed type player, Misi is a willing defender who is not afraid of contact. With that being said,
he does not create a great deal of ‘pop’ on initial contact and will struggle to hold his position against bigger opponents. While he will be forced to give ground in order to disengage, he does not quit; constantly trying to work free and get back into the play. He is not stout at the point of attack, but nor is he easily swallowed up – never to be seen in the play again. Misi may be initially controlled, but it is rare that he is simply removed from the play.
Misi does a good job of staying square to the line of scrimmage when defending the run as he has good lateral agility, and his constant hand movement. However, I must point out that while Misi could be more powerful at the point of attack, he does an excellent job of looking for the ball and then reacting to it. Rarely, is he fooled or simply lost during plays, and is generally around the ball even if he does not make the tackle.
Perhaps the best element of Misi’s game is his ability to drop and move in space. While at Utah, Misi often dropped into coverage on wide receivers, tight end sand backs and acquitted himself very well. In short; Misi is an exceptionally fluid athlete. This can be displayed by the fact that he registered a 4.69 40 time, a 4.18 shuttle and 6.99 cone drill; all of which point to Misi moving well. Leading up to the draft my colleagues and I discussed the need for a strong side linebacker in Mike Nolan’s defense to drop into coverage well, and do enough at the point of attack. At this current point, Misi has the more difficult portion of the equation down well.
At this stage Misi is a somewhat underdeveloped player in my opinion. He does have a great many tools, but I do wonder how effective a pass rusher he will be at the next level. He does not have the speed to simply beat his man up the field, although he does threaten opposing tackles. His pass rush repertoire will need to be improved, although he does disengage effectively but I think he relies more on his agility and athleticism than his hand use at this stage of his development. Regardless, there is a good deal to like about Misi, as he does appear to have some room for growth, but he does the athleticism you cannot teach. He must become stronger, but with the Dolphins off season program, it is likely he will in a very short time. Once he does, his impact on the game could increase, as he will be better equipped to take on blockers at the point of attack. After all, he is already a willing participant - he only needs to become better at absorbing the initial surge.
Overall Misi is a player that may not be truly gradable until 2-3 years from now after he has gained weight and strength. I truly believe these alterations will affect his ability on the positive side, as he already can compete for Miami’s most fluid coverage player - all at 6’2 5/8’’ and 251 lbs.
3). (73) John Jerry – G – Mississippi
The Dolphins had issues at guard last season due both in part to injury and ineffectiveness. As such, guard was an option in the middle rounds, but I don’t think anyone expected the team to use the 73rd overall selection on one. Regardless, the team continued the early trend of drafting players who were at the Senior Bowl as they selected the former Running Rebel. Before I get further into my thoughts on Jerry I think it worthy of mention that he did in fact play his senior season listed near 350 lbs. At the Combine, Jerry weighed in at 328 lbs, which will affect his ability to move – of that I am certain. That weight looks much more manageable on his 6’5 1/8’’ frame to go along with his 34’’ arms.
At Mississippi, Jerry played both guard and tackle his senior year due to injuries. I don’t think that Jerry can play tackle at the next level as he simply doesn’t have the footwork or hips or agility to so. However, that in no way affects his ability at the guard spot. John Jerry is astoundingly quick out of his stance for a man his size, easily reaching the second level. He is also very effective on short, tight pulling actions as his same straight line burst allows him to turn the corner and seal the inside, creating a seam.
Despite Jerry’s good short area burst, he is not what I would call a dominant drive blocker although he does come off the ball well, creates decent ‘pop’ on initial contact and generally plays with leverage. Jerry simply does not drive defenders off the ball a great deal. With that aside. John Jerry has shown that he compete and control large bodied defenders as he is not often knocked backwards although he can struggle more in this area in pass pro. Those struggles could be correlated in his inability to sit in his stance, making him lean and play somewhat off balance.
Unfortunately, Jerry is not very adept at changing directions once he is moving forward. I do not wish to give the impression that Jerry is in any way unaware of his surroundings as he does an adequate job of recognizing players flashing into his area, although he may struggle to reach them. While he can reach the second level with ease he struggles to hit moving targets consistently. But, if he is allowed to find targets directly in front of him, he can be very effective as he can be on the defender in an instant. Much of Jerry’s struggles with moving targets can be attributed to his stiff trunk and hips. Jerry cannot open his hips freely and must turn his whole trunk in order to shift his line. As such, he simply moves too slowly in these movements to readily catch up to more nimble defenders.
Jerry can also have issues maintaining his grasp of his opponent as he will often engage defenders with his hands outside of their shoulder pads. As such, John can have trouble preventing defenders from using a push/pull or side step and swim move to beat his initial block.
Then it becomes a matter of Jerry opening his hips, dropping one leg back, and side stepping his way back in front of the advancing defender. With his athletic limitations, Jerry can struggle in this area, although he is not often just soundly beaten for a sack. Jerry may not get himself all the way back in front of his man, but he is in the area
If Jerry can work on getting his hands inside more often, his level of play will likely increase as he can control more matchups from the outset. When he has managed to get proper hand placement, Jerry has shown that he can keep his man in front of him and win the battle.
John
Jerry can slide well enough laterally that he can handle somewhat more agile players in pass protection, but if he must shift more than 2-3 steps in either direction he will begin to lose the battle. I also think that unless Jerry changes some of his habits he will have some struggles with 3 technique defenders at the next level. Jerry is very much a waist bender off of his senior tape, but some of this bad habit may be due to his heavier weight. He often wound up leaning out over his lower half, head ducked and off balance. He does show some knee bend, although he is far from being in an ideal position.
Now, I personally think some of this may have been caused by his prior weight, but how much remains to be seen. He did show better at the Senior Bowl, as he was able to move and sit down in his stance a bit better, but he is still somewhat limited. If Jerry does find himself leaning and beaten by an up the field move, he will struggle to regain position and significantly alter the defenders’ path to the quarterback.
Jerry’s weight will be something to monitor as it will directly affect his ability to move and sit in his stance. At the moment Jerry does show some knee bend, and naturally wide base in his pass pro, but he must sit better. This change could release his arms, which at 34’’ could be a weapon if he can utilize a punch. Based off his senior tape, his body positioning prevented this technique from being a component of Jerry’s game. If his weight continues to stay low, his agility and overall level of play should increase. I cannot say it enough -
Jerry does have good flexibility in his lower half as he does show keen bend. He moves his feet well in a short area, is an alert pass protector who can slide effectively enough to present himself as an adequate mirror in pass protection. Jerry must work on some technique issues, but on the whole, he is a better player than his senior tape may have shown; which wasn’t altogether that bad to begin with.
4). (119) A.J. Edds – OLB – Iowa
This may well be the pick that allows Miami to adequately handle multiple receiver and tight ends sets without requiring mass substitutions. I know that may somewhat of a grand statement, but in many ways it may end being true in the very near future. A. J. Edds is a very athletic, cerebral player who, given his responsibilities on the Iowa defense should have no trouble in pass coverage at the next level.
While at Iowa, Edds was routinely asked to handle slot coverage responsibilities as the defense did not substitute a great deal. This philosophy worked primarily because of A.J. Edds ability to jam receivers at the line or stay in front of them long enough to alter the timing of the route, allowing the safeties to gain depth and see the play develop. My first sentence is closely tied to my next. If the receiver tries to attack Edds up the field on a skinny post, slant or nine route Edds does an excellent job of first delaying, then slyly undercutting the receiver’s route, relying on his athleticism to keep himself in position and his height to knock the ball away. Edds height and experience allow him to play very instinctively in the pass game, often garnering interceptions on plays where few other linebackers would be a factor. Considering how the Dolphins defense was systematically butchered by the tight end position last year, Edds ability to handle such pass coverage responsibilities along with Karlos Dansby and Koa Misi could give the Dolphins a dynamic and effective coverage unit amongst the linebackers.
However, for all of Edds confidence and ability when he is asked to cover, he does not look nearly as aggressive at the point of attack. Edds is not a downhill linebacker by any means, nor is he a classic stack and shed type player. Edds does not often attack oncoming blockers and as such he does not generate much ‘pop’ on initial contact. Edds is alert and does find the ball, but he is not going to be the first one to the ball on running plays a majority of the time. He does engage blockers, but more often than not he is the one who will lose the battle at the point of attack. I have seen occasions where Edds has been knocked flat at the point of attack; not something you want from a linebacker at the next level.
To put it another way, Edds has been stalked blocked many times and does not readily blow up the receiver who does so. Edds does engage, but is much more passive than you would expect given his size at 6’3 5/8’’ and 246 lbs. In these situations Edds is much happier to watch for the ball to come to him than he is to go and get the ball, blowing up the smaller man as he does so.
When Edds does engage blockers, more often than not he is a rather passive component in the partnership as he does not readily activate his hands in an effort to disengage and attack the ball. Instead Edds will give ground and rely on his athleticism and movement as a means to disengage from his blocker.
Given his responsibilities in college I have to wonder how well Edds will handle reading inside action at the next level as he already does not actively attack gaps along the front against the run. He is much more of a read and react player than anything else, and that may lead him to being a step late initially, as his quarters will have shrunk and the action will be much faster. He does not routinely make plays behind the line of scrimmage, although much of that is due to his limited number of chances. However, even when the opportunity does present itself, he does not often take advantage.
Edds is a good coverage linebacker, but he will need to train on if he is to see the field in more than 3rd down situations. His approach to blockers must change, as he must become a bit more physical, which may be hard to do at this stage of his development. Edds is an intelligent player who will excel in coverage, but will struggle to handle the action at the point of attack at the next level.
5). (145) Nolan Carroll – CB – Maryland
Carroll is in my opinion a height weight and speed selection at this stage of draft. I say this as he is truly a physical specimen who can run, hit and move. The front office likes size and Carroll brings that to the table with his 5’11’’ 204 lbs frame. However, he is also oft injured over the past two seasons and must find a way to stay healthy if he is to have any chance to contribute.
Carroll can run with most receivers and has the hips necessary to mirror their movements down the field. The former Maryland Terapin can be physical with receivers at the line, regularly getting his hands on his opponent and redirecting their path, then subsequently jumping the route looking for the big play. While Carroll can in fact create a big play via
hit or through coverage, he too often looks for them and winds up taking himself out of more plays then he should. The funny thing is, that despite being supremely aggressive, he has yet to come away with an interception during his college career.
Carroll’s lack of turnovers can be attributed on some level to his inability to play the ball well while in the air in relation to the receiver. Carroll is often late to react to the ball until it has gone by him, or he simply loses track of his receiver for a moment, allowing the completion when he could have very easily prevented it. In the NFL, the opposition knows you can give up the easy completion in this manner, they will do their best to find you where ever you line up.
If Carroll can somehow improve this obvious issue, he could very well be diamond in the rough as he can contribute as a returner on special teams as well, and you can never have enough corners on your roster. The question is, will he allow too many easy completions as the ball slips past him.
Carroll’s attentiveness may also come into play in other scenarios as he routinely peeks into the backfield; making him susceptible to double moves and play action as he lets his aggression get the better of him. He takes bad angles and will at times, take himself out of position or even worse, simply whiff on some tackles. When he does in fact make the tackle, he is a physical tackler albeit not a fundamentally sound one
as he is content to simply strike his opponent instead of wrapping up.
In many ways, Carroll plays like he thinks he is much better than he is. He must learn to trust his athleticism, not rely on it in place of technique. If he ever manages to do this he could prove to be worthy selection, but that is a big ‘if’. Otherwise he could be another addition to the long line of height, weight, speed guys who never panned out.
5). (163) Reshad Jones – S – Georgia
The Dolphins have a need for safeties who can get their hands on the ball as the coupling of Yeremiah Bell and Gibril Wilson registered a grand total of 3, all of which belonged to Bell. Far too often Dolphins safeties allowed big plays over the top for touchdowns in 2009. Reshad Jones fits the mold of what the front office seems
to like with regards to the safety position; big, physical players who can run and make plays.
Jones is an explosive player, but he struggles to change direction quickly as he is somewhat tight hipped. I am not saying that Jones needs several steps to gather himself, only that he can lose ground through his transitions. He does drive on the ball well and has good closing speed, but he will give up separation when he is forced to turn and run. Jones is relatively patient, but sometimes can be too concerned with the big hit, rather than making the proper play. Not often, but sometimes, and as such he waits a little more than he should so that he can line up his prey. On the next level, that little hesitation could lead to a big play.
Jones by initial appearances looks as though he could have been drafted higher than he was as he looks the part. He was somewhat of a ball hawk in the SEC picking off 11 passes and defending 13 passes in his three year career at Georgia. Jones has the speed to cover ground but I am unsure about his instincts when the ball is in the air even though he does make plays.
I find myself asking if he made the plays he did due to his speed and leaping ability as opposed to simply getting himself into better position to make a more routine play. I do not want to say that Jones is an ineffective defender only that sometimes he could benefit from simply playing with more consistency from play to play. Regardless, Jones does get his hands on a good number of footballs.
Jones is another big hitter who readily sticks his nose into the action, although he does not always take the best angles to do so.
I am not trying to imply he is akin to Taylor Mays, only that he tends not to run the alley as well as he could, leaving backs an avenue to escape when they should be on the ground. Saying all that Jones does deliver some punishing blows that can certainly change the outcome of a game, although he has only caused 1 forced fumble during his career. That may have more to do with the fact that the receivers in his area are too afraid to catch the ball, let alone have the option of fumbling it away.
The former Georgia Bulldog needs to refine his ability to read plays, breaking on the ball more consistently and forgetting about delivering the big blow. Hard hits can be effective, but not as deterring as coming away with the interception, which he sacrifices for the big hit in my opinion. If he concentrated on the ball, he might have been even better at causing turnovers than he was.
7). (212) Chris McCoy – OLB – Middle Tennessee State
Chris McCoy is a somewhat limited player as he does not possess great long range speed, but does show initial quickness off the snap of the ball. His first step often allows him to pressure the outside shoulder of the offensive tackle. However, he is not as refined as he should be with his hands as he will struggle to readily disengage at the next level. He relied on his speed to put himself in a better position make plays rather than technique. Unfortunately, his first step is not enough to win at the next level by itself and he will need to hone some of his other skills; such as his ability to make himself small around the corner if he is to be successful.
McCoy is explosive off the snap but is not what you would call a natural bender, and he can have difficulty running the arc effectively as he tends to play rather upright. While he can attack initially, he lacks great closing speed to the quarterback. This is not to say that he cannot finish, only that the longer the play goes on, the less likely he is to track the quarterback down in my opinion. He does not have a wide variety of pas rush moves although he does flash an effective spin move. But, he will need to do more at the next level to avoid being labeled a one trick pony.
McCoy has some leg drive, but he will likely struggle to overpower many NFL caliber tackles as he simply is not an overpowering player. This does not mean he will be blown off the ball, or that he will fail to advance up the field on a rush, only that he likely won’t be able to rely on a bull rush as a secondary pass rush move. Instead, he will need to use his hands as a means to work his way to the quarterback.
One question I do have regarding McCoy switch to outside linebacker is his ability to drop, turn and run. He does appear fluid enough to drop into a decent backpedal, but in my opinion he is too much of a linear athlete to expect him to handle this responsibility right away. Once he turns he can run well enough, but it is the physical act of getting through the turn which is the issue; it simply doesn’t happen fast enough.
McCoy is an adequate run defender who uses his hands effectively enough to keep his man at bay, showing a good understanding of leverage, but he does not produce much initial surge, and can be engulfed by traffic. His hands use again can let him down as he can simply fail to disengage in a succinct manner, some of which can be blamed on a intermittent lack of arm extension; allowing his opponent into his pads and thus control of his torso . McCoy can slide well enough to set the edge, but he is hardly overpowering, and it will be interesting to see how he fares against stiffer competition.
McCoy is a try hard player who has worked his way up the depth chart in college, but he will need to show that he is more of an athlete than he appears to be if he wants to stick at the next level. He does bring enough to the table to warrant and look in camp, as you cannot teach a good first step.
7).
(252) Austin Spitler – LB – Ohio State
Spitler is a player that very much looks the part as he is thickly built yet mobile enough to handle dropping back in coverage. He sat on the bench until his senior season so his experience and production has been primarily been on special teams. He is an effort player who works to get himself into the right position although he lacks the ideal athleticism and burst to be a starter at the next level in my opinion.
Spitler has the size and willingness to take on blockers at the point of attack although he does display a wide variety of hand fighting techniques to work his way free, instead relying primarily on a push as a means to gain separation. However he is more comfortable in coverage despite his lack of ideal athleticism.
The former Buckeye has shown that he can cover well enough to not be a serious liability, although top notch backs and tight ends will simply run away from him in patterns. At times he can be fooled by play action and or misdirection, leading to large gains by the opposition as he fails to gain the necessary depth. How much of this is due to his lack of overall experience and whether it will improve with playing time is anyone’s guess.
At this stage I would have to say that Spitler is likely a special team’s candidate as he can run well enough, hit and give all our effort. While he is somewhat raw in terms of his ability to shed and handle blockers, he can drop into coverage and may provide enough to stick on special teams; an area he did very well with at Ohio State. The question now is can he bring enough to the table to unseat a veteran outside of special teams, as the unit was better than it had been in recent years.
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