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| Finally An Inside Linebacker - Blake Martinez |
Evidently the analyst at NFL.com thought third round pick outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell was actually an inside linebacker when they made this comment about Martinez, "In that base 3-4 defense, he has to an inside guy. So, now what do they do with Kyler Fackrell? Do they move Fackrell outside and play Martinez inside?"
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| Famous Matthews Family Historian Mark Dulgerian |
I guess Mr. M.B.A. doesn't know that Clay Matthews is actually the III and Junior is his father and he is being moved to outside linebacker. So much for knowing everything or in the case of the Matthews family nothing.
Here's Martinez's scouting report:
Overview
In his first year as a starter in 2014, Martinez proved worthy of honorable mention All-Pac-12 honors by leading the Cardinal with 102 tackles, seven for loss, 4.5 sacks, and three interceptions. In Year 2, he played at an All-American level (third-team Associated Press, second-team USA Today) as the Cardinal won the conference championship, stuffing plays inside and moving to either sideline to rack up 141 tackles, 6.5 for loss. The 2015 first-team All-Conference pick again made plays against the pass this year, intercepting one pass and breaking up six others.
Pro Day Results
Vertical: 34 inches
60-yard long shuttle: 11.68 seconds
Strengths
Good muscle thickness and one of the most powerful, pound-for-pound players in the program. Has desired temperament to play in the middle. Physical, productive tackler. Downhill linebacker. Business-minded machine against the run, maintaining consistent gap responsibility. Disciplined on back-side squeezing cutback lanes. Stuffs second level leg blocks and keeps gliding down the line. Uses heavy hands at the point of attack. Plays square to line of scrimmage with eyes stuck on runner. Plus balance and keeps his feet. Will dart and dodge past oncoming, second level traffic in lateral pursuit of ball carrier. Improved against the pass from 2014 to 2015. Showed some functional ability in man coverage and is quick to close out throws and limit yards after catch. Offers instant special teams value. Willing worker on "teams" and finds the ball.
Weaknesses
Slow twitch with borderline play speed. Must transition from a power mindset to a little more quickness in everything he does. Will need quicker hands to jab and separate to stay clean against NFL linemen. Below average lateral quickness. Won't win many foot races to the perimeter and has little margin for error with his angles. Not athletic enough to recover if he gets hung up on a block for too long. Too easily fooled into vacating his positioning by play-action. Doesn't have reactive athleticism to quickly recover back into his duties after biting on fakes. More of a block occupier than serious threat when blitzing. Average awareness dropping into zone coverage. Situational awareness needs work.
Draft Projection: Rounds 5 or 6
NFL Comparison: Martrell Spaight
Bottom Line
Full-time starter over the last two years who plays with the temperament and ruggedness that Stanford wants in the middle of their defense. Martinez is a muscled-up, throwback linebacker in a league that covets twitch and play speed over throwback traits. His special teams ability and overall tackle production is a big plus, but his draft stock might not match up with his elevated college production due to concerns over his quickness.
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| Dean Lowry |
Here's Lowry's scouting report:
Overview
The Chicago Tribune All-State pick decided to stay in-state to play for a Wildcats legend in head coach Pat Fitzgerald at Northwestern. Like Fitzgerald was during his time as a two-time Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Chuck Bednarik Award winner with the Wildcats, Lowry is a lunch pail player who brings effort on every snap. He's also a better athlete than most people realize, showing the agility to spin off blocks and make plays in the backfield (15 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks in 2013-2014). His senior year capped an excellent career, with a highlight being his school-record six tackles for loss against Nebraska. He finished as a second-team All-Big Ten honoree with 46 tackles, 13.5 for loss, and three sacks. Lowry could play multiple spots along the line depending on his new team's defensive scheme.
Strengths
Comes off the snap with burst and good pad level. Gives chase on the backside with great motor and good play speed. Willing to pursue the ball with consistency or effort. When pad level is good, can generate effective speed-to-power attack. Has play frame to fit classic 3-4 DE spot. Coaches praise his work ethic and team-first mentality. Does the dirty work that helps others succeed. Always active. Tackle finisher who rarely allows runners to escape. Had as many tackles and more tackles for loss than Joey Bosa.
Weaknesses
Short arms and small hands prevent him from posting higher win percentage at point of attack. Not as aware of the ball as he needs to be. Needs to unhinge from blockers earlier when runners are in his neighborhood. Gets stood straight up at contact as bull rusher. Pad level and narrow base rob him of bull-rush power when rushing from inside. Dull, straight-ahead rusher with no pass rush plan. Doesn't threaten the edges of blockers. Marginal playmaking change of direction.
Draft Projection: Round 7 or priority free agent
Bottom Line
Try-hard player with good size who is always active. While he won't be considered a pass rushing threat, Lowry's production was a function of effort and flashes of power and the aforementioned traits and qualities give him a good shot at being drafted and becoming an NFL backup.
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| Trevor Davis |
Dulgerian liked him too, but later you will find not everyone had such a high opinion of Mr. Davis: "The Packers are on to this ascending player who only started 1 year at Cal. He opened some eyes at the Combine with his speed and hands. He can help stretch the field in some of Green Bay's spread sets".
Here's Davis' scouting report:
Overview
Most people spend their lives trying to get to Hawai'i at least once, but Davis decided that two years in the Rainbow State was enough, especially after head coach Norm Chow was let go. He had started 10 times in his two years with the Warriors, racking up 45 receptions for 601 yards and five touchdowns. After sitting out a redshirt season in 2013, Davis became an all-purpose threat for the Bears, making plays as a receiver (24-399, five TD) and returner (424 kickoff return yards, 70 punt return yards) as a junior. He had 40 receptions in 2014 (one of six players hitting that mark) that covered 672 yards and two scores, and had 686 kickoff return and 45 punt return yards as well. Those sort of receiving/return numbers won't go unnoticed by NFL scouts.
Strengths
Quality return man specializing in kickoffs with two touchdowns under his belt while at Cal. Former high school long jumper and sprinter with buildup speed to challenge deep safeties from the hash. Competitive runner after the catch with ability to make defenders miss and finish his runs with some authority. Hands are adequate.
Weaknesses
Track speed doesn't translate underneath. Needs runway to get going and can't hit jets out of his breaks for separation. Needs to improve hard vertical push to clear space for comebacks and outs. One-speed, rounded routes need work. Struggles to release cleanly against quality press coverage.
Draft Projection: Rounds 6 or 7
Sources Tell Us
"He's a pretty good returner. I don't see him being drafted, but he could make a team as a return man and last receiver on the depth chart." -- NFC West scout
Bottom Line
Wiry catch-and-run specialist whose NFL value rests in his return ability. Davis could be a difficult sell because he's not an NFL-ready receiver, but a big combine could create late-round interest or elevate his stock as a priority free agent.
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| Kyle Murphy |
Having traded away the last pick in the seventh round Thompson only had one more chance to make a choice and he thought my suggestion about offensive tackles was so good he went back for more with the selection of Kyle Murphy (6-6, 305) from Stanford in the sixth round (#200). 5.2
Murphy was the 123rd ranked prospect overall and the 12th offensive tackle before the draft, but he turned out to the 15th tackle and 36th offensive lineman chosen. He actually is one of just six of the first 40 drafted offensive linemen that Mr. Dulgerian didn't make his ill-informed comments about.
Overview
Murphy played like a solid right tackle prospect as a second-team All-Pac-12 pick his junior year, his first full year as a starter. In 2015, however, the brother of former Harvard and Minnesota Vikings tackle Kevin Murphy slid to left tackle and improved greatly in pass protection while maintaining his toughness in the run game. He combined with left guard Joshua Garnett as first-team All-Conference picks on the blind side of quarterback Kevin Hogan, who reaped the benefits of their play.
Strengths
Has good feel for the position. Very aware in pass protection seeking out blitzes and twists and takes consistent angles up to the linebackers in the running game. Once he gets moving in space, is able to open up his hips and run with a relatively athletic gait. Plays with strong hands and good placement that can snatch and latch if he gets there first. Makes low pad level a priority in run game. Is usually low man and will use good leg drive or snap hips to secure the block. Adequate change direction in space. Patient second level blocker allowing the block to come to him. Outstanding work with teammate Joshua Garnett with combo blocks and double teams. Doesn't lean in pass protection and can gain decent ground with his kick slides.
Weaknesses
Feet are just average from a quickness standpoint. While he can be a little slow out of his stance and off to the races when moving laterally. Will get antsy pre-snap. Tape shows him getting some head starts that weren't called by college officials. Troubling anchor issues as pass blocker. Will get stiff legged at impact in protection, raising pad level and losing anchor leverage. Needs to play more flat-footed when shooting his punch. Speed to power rushers give him problems so may need to make inside hand placement a greater priority.
Draft Projection: Rounds 5 or 6
Sources Tell Us
"I don't think you can play him for at least a year until he gets stronger. He's a good run blocker but I don't know if he's strong enough to play on the right side or quick enough to play left." -- AFC general manager
NFL Comparison: Ty Sambrailo
Bottom Line
Interesting prospect full of juxtapositions. On one hand, he's an athletic mover in space, but his foot quickness is just average. While he plays with good bend, leg drive and low pad level as a run blocker, he tends to play too tall and lose his anchor against bull rushers. Murphy plays with good tackle instincts and shows enough potential to become an eventual starter in the NFL if he can improve his overall strength and tighten up some of his pass protection flaws.
Finally here's how the rest of the North drafted:
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| Jordan Howard was a longshot at winning the Heisman Trophy |
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| Moritz Boehringer Was The Most Talked About Player That Has No Chance To Make The Vikings Before The Draft |
Detroit: #4-111 (SS Miles Killebrew - hybrid linebacker); #5-151 (G Joe Dahl - run blocking prowess and nasty demeanor); #5-169 (LB Antwione Williams - ton of tools to work with); #6-191 (QB Jake Rudock - helped lead Michigan back to prominence); #6-202 (DT Anthony Zettel - overachiever with marginal NFL measurables); #6-210 (LS Jimmy Landes); #7-236 (RB Dwayne Washington). My analysis: (C).
OK, this is finally. In case anyone cares the Colts took ILB Antonio Morrison with the Packers #4-125 and C Austin Blythe with #7-248.
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