PFF SCOUTING REPORT

Jiggyfly

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PFF SCOUTING REPORT: JARED GOFF, QB, CAL
Steve Palazzolo and the PFF draft analysts break down the play of Cal's Jared Goff ahead of the 2016 NFL draft.


Below is the PFF draft profile for Cal’s Jared Goff, which incorporates PFF’s college grades and scouting intel from our team of analysts. To see all of PFF’s 2016 scouting reports, click here.

Position fit: Starting QB

Stats to know: Our top-ranked quarterback in 2015 after ranking eighth in the nation in 2014. Tied for second in the nation with 12 touchdowns under pressure. Tied for 12th in nation with accuracy percentage of 50.0 percent on deep passes.

What he does best:
• Makes incredible throws with defenders bearing down on him. Fearless in the pocket
• Pocket presence. Moves in the pocket to find passing lanes, keeps his eyes up while maneuvering the pocket
• Processes information quickly, zips through progressions, always keeping body in position to throw
• Will get to second and third reads on backside of field and can make accurate throws late in progression
• Shows outstanding accuracy on “bucket” throws down the field. Can drop it in with touch
• Quick release
• Shows creativity when throwing receivers open. Will lead receivers to space or throw them open with anticipation
• Led an overmatched Cal team and made them competitive in difficult Pac-12
• Showed well both under pressure and against the blitz
• Throws the anticipation post route on time and accurately

Biggest concern:
• Short area ball location is not ideal, even on completions
• May move around the pocket too much, sometimes compromising the leverage of the offensive line
• Misdiagnosed cover-2 on multiple occasions. Is either fooled pre-snap or predetermining his read without adjustment
• Was more careless with the ball in his final season, had too many turnover-worthy plays
• Has enough arm, but not a cannon. May leave a few plays on the table that can’t be zipped in there.
• Arm strength wanes when forced to reset his feet in the pocket. Will make some throws that lack velocity and float after a quick reset

Bottom line: Goff has gotten better every year at Cal and his strengths should translate into NFL success. He manages the pocket, fires through progressions, and makes big plays under duress. He helped to turn around a subpar program while dealing with poor offensive line play, elevating the level of his teammates in one of the most difficult conferences in the nation. While he has his limitations, Goff has the tools to succeed as a starting quarterback in the NFL.
 
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Jiggyfly

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PFF SCOUTING REPORT: DARIAN THOMPSON, S, BOISE STATE
Sam Monson and the PFF draft analysts break down the play of Boise State's Darian Thompson ahead of the 2016 NFL draft.


Below is the PFF draft profile for Boise State’s Darian Thompson, which incorporates PFF’s college grades and scouting intel from our team of analysts. To see all of PFF’s 2016 scouting reports, click here.

Position fit:

Scheme diverse safety

Stats to know:

Fifth-best grade in the class in 2015, and two of the players ahead of him (Su’a Cravens and Jeremy Cash) are likely NFL linebackers

What he does best:
— Has nice instincts in coverage, can diagnose plays and take good angles in coverage to the pass most of the time. Had five interceptions in 2015 as well as another five passes broken up
— Plays the run aggressively and with strength. Can set the edge against pulling linemen and make aggressive plays against running backs and blockers
— Can get to a landmark and break forward on passes underneath in a way most safeties can’t.
— Has good size at 6-2 and 208 pounds

Biggest concern:
— Comes up in the run game like a torpedo, but tackles like one too, launching himself into the ball carrier and hoping that does the job. Most of the time it does, but he missed 11 tackles in 2015 and is susceptible to a side step that leaves him just face first on the floor
— Lapses in coverage allowing players behind him without the speed to close the gap back down. Ran a 4.7 flat 40-yard dash and that shows up on tape at times
— His size is a good thing most of the time, but it leads him to playing a little too upright and struggling to change direction as well as some of the smaller safeties in the class

Pro style comparison:

Morgan Burnett, Green Bay Packers. Nobody will confuse him for Ed Reed anytime soon, but Morgan Burnett has become a pretty good safety, and has flashed the kind of ability that Thompson has in both the run and pass game. Like Burnett, Thompson may be an inconsistent player at the next level due to the holes in his game, but if he can iron those out and put it all together he has the ability to be a very good performer in the secondary.

Bottom line:

The league is not full of players that can perform well in coverage and still offer something in the run game. Thompson flashes the ability to do both, and has graded well in each area, but just can’t put it all together in a way that avoids mistakes in each facet. If he can fix those issues and the big plays they result in, he could be an excellent safety, but even with them there is a place for him in the NFL given his plus points.
 

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PFF SCOUTING REPORT: KARL JOSEPH, S, WEST VIRGINIA
Sam Monson and the PFF draft team break down the play of safety Karl Joseph ahead of the 2016 NFL draft.


Here is the PFF draft profile for West Virginia safety Karl Joseph, which incorporates PFF’s college grades and scouting intel from our team of analysts. To see all of PFF’s 2016 scouting reports, click here.

Position fit:
Versatile safety in almost any scheme (anything but single-high FS)

Stats to know:
In just four games this season, Joseph posted a grade (+12.4) that would have ranked him inside he top 20 in the draft class overall.

What he does best:
• Joseph is a powerful presence in the box, coming up quickly and delivering big shots and tackles close to the line of scrimmage. He also has no problem with taking on linemen blockers and will happily attack much bigger players. Notched 38 defensive stops in 2014, and eight across four games this season before injury.

• Reads the game well in all areas. Both in coverage and the run game, has a good ability to diagnose the play and understand what is happening and where the threat is coming from. Will comfortably react to coverage danger and keeps his eyes where they need to be throughout the play.

• Can cover pretty well in both off-man coverage and zones. Will cover receivers closely and uses his body/contact well to mitigate a potential speed disadvantage against quick receivers.

• Plays the ball well. Had five interceptions over four games this season to lead the FBS before being injured in practice, ending his season.

• Zero penalties across the past two seasons of play.

Biggest concern:
• Tore his ACL after four games last season, so will have to be medically cleared, and we may not see the best version of Joseph in his rookie season.

• Straight-line speed and range. Injury means we may not get an answer to this question in the form of a 40-yard dash time before the draft, but Joseph at times looks to struggle for outright speed, which will limit his ability to play centerfield and single-high free safety. Can make up for it at times by reading the QB and setting off early, but NFL QBs are better with their eyes than their college counterparts, and that may get him into trouble at the next level.

• Is he big enough to attack the same way he does in college at the next level? Getting into physical confrontations with offensive linemen at 205 pounds is not likely to go well in the NFL.

Pro style comparison:
Eric Weddle, Baltimore Ravens. Like Weddle, Joseph should be able to excel in all areas of the game playing safety, but also like Weddle, the one area he would not be fully at home would be the Earl Thomas-type role of a deep-lying, single-high free safety. Joseph has the ability to become an integral part of a defense at the next level.

Bottom line:
There are people out there that believe Karl Joseph is the best defensive back in the entire draft. That seems over the top, but there is little doubt that he was on track for a fantastic season before getting hurt, and shows very few flaws to his game. Safety in today’s NFL varies according to team and defensive scheme, but Joseph has the ability to excel in almost all schemes at the next level. His ACL injury and inability to answer question marks by participating in workouts, however, will likely prevent him from being drafted early.
 

Jiggyfly

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PFF SCOUTING REPORT: HASSAN RIDGEWAY, DT, TEXAS
Mike Renner and the PFF draft team break down the play of Texas' Hassan Ridgeway ahead of the 2016 NFL draft.


Below is the PFF draft profile for Texas DT Hassan Ridgeway, which incorporates PFF’s college grades and scouting intel from our team of analysts. To see all of PFF’s 2016 scouting reports, click here.

Position fit:
3-technique

Stat to know:
Fifth-best pass-rushing productivity among defensive tackles in the class.

What he does best:
• Smooth-mover on the defensive line. Balance and flexibility is superb. Has a knack for contorting himself off of blocks versus both run and pass.

• Quick block-recognition in the run game. Fifth-best “win”-rate against the run of any interior player.

• Already understands attacking blockers instead of attacking ball-carriers.

• Does well to finish plays—not a single missed tackle as a redshirt junior.

Biggest concern:
• Such a limited sample size. Only played 51 percent (463 total) of Texas’ defensive snaps last year. Rumored to have conditioning issues.

• Gives ground to make plays too often. Always wants to be the guy tackling the running back instead of being gap-sure to let someone else clean it up.

• May be position-limited in the NFL. Didn’t have the same production when lining up over tackles in the Longhorns’ scheme as he did over guards..

Player comparison:
Corey Peters, Arizona Cardinals. Peters had a rocky start before developing into a sound interior run-defender. Ridgeway may be similar in that he could have used another year in college to hone his craft, but he’ll eventually be a starter.

Bottom line:
There aren’t many flaws in Ridgeway’s game, but at the same time, he doesn’t have the top-end athletic traits that get teams excited.
 

Jiggyfly

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PFF SCOUTING REPORT: CARL NASSIB, DE, PENN STATE
Steve Palazzolo and the PFF draft analysts break down the play of PSU's Carl Nassib ahead of the 2016 NFL draft.


Below is the PFF draft profile for PSU’s Carl Nassib which incorporates PFF’s college grades and scouting intel from our team of analysts. To see all of PFF’s 2016 scouting reports, click here.

Position fit: 4-3 defensive end with the possibility of kicking inside to rush from the interior in subpackages

Stats to know: 11th graded edge player (7th pass rush, 28 run defense). 54 total pressures (16 sacks, 9 hits, 29 hurries). Led in sacks. No. 1 rush productivity rating

What he does best:
• Quick at the snap, plays low despite height, good at getting initial bull on the tackle
• Explodes into blockers, can be very disruptive in the run game
• Could be strong 6-technique (head up over tight end) on early downs against the run
• Often rushed from very wide alignment. Effective there – quick upfield and good hand swipe/rip
• Dominated at the Senior Bowl, had the highest grade and win percentage among defensive linemen during one-on-one drills

Biggest concern:
• Played exclusively against right tackles
• Low snap count, one year of production – played 42.4 percent of defensive snaps over last two seasons at Penn State. Injury issues late in the season
• Dominated some of the worst teams on the schedule (Temple, Buffalo, San Diego State, Rutgers) but poor bowl game against Georgia (-2.3) and only four snaps combined against Michigan and Michigan State
• Downblocked, moved a bit easily at times in run defense. Doesn’t shed blocks well on the move
• Can play reckless at times in run game — head down, unable to find the ball. Also gets caught upfield
• Not a great athlete, trouble changing direction vs QBs and RBs in space. Doesn’t have the bend or agility to turn the corner as a pass rusher consistently
• Eight missed tackles last season tied for 22nd among edge defenders

Bottom line:

Extremely productive college rusher and had a good senior bowl week, but not the greatest athlete. Might have trouble against stronger NFL tackles or when rushing from a more narrow alignment. Nassib’s senior year production makes him an interesting next-level prospect, but the one-year wonder element is cause for concern.
 

boozeman

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I appreciate the effort, but these PFF ratings are a joke.
 

Jiggyfly

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PFF SCOUTING REPORT: ALEX COLLINS, RB, ARKANSAS
Matt Claassen and the PFF draft analysts break down the play of Arkansas' Alex Collins head of the 2016 NFL draft.


Below is the PFF draft profile for Arkansas’ Alex Collins, which incorporates PFF’s college grades and scouting intel from our team of analysts. To see all of PFF’s 2016 scouting reports, click here.

Position fit:
Fits best as a spell player behind a lead back. Could also work in a running back-by-committee with the right pairing.

Stats to know:
• Ranked 24th in overall grade among FBS running backs in 2015, eighth among draft eligible players.
• Run grade ranked 21st in FBS, ninth in draft class.

What he does best:
• Downhill, physical runner. Continually shows the effort to fight for extra yards until he’s on the ground, but it doesn’t necessarily translate it into more yards
• Very quick acceleration to get to top speed
• Shows good change of direction behind the line of scrimmage and when not yet up to full speed
• Had success running a multitude of run concepts for Arkansas and not limited to one blocking scheme

Biggest concerns:
• Has fumbled ten times over the last two years, with nine coming on runs. 52.5 rush attempts per fumble is below average and much more often than you would like to see
• While he sees the field well when getting into the secondary or open field, he can’t always change direction as well as he wants to if already at full speed and can be indecisive at times
• Can go down too easy at times when hit below the waist
• Was not utilized much as a receiver. Had only 16 receptions for 73 yards over the past two years

Bottom line:
Collins is a high-effort runner who is at his best when running downhill. He’s more quick than fast but has shown the ability to finish long runs. He can run any scheme and shouldered a full workload in 2015. He’s unproven as a receiver and an average pass blocker, so would ideally be paired with another back that can cover that area.
 

Jiggyfly

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PFF SCOUTING REPORT: VERNON BUTLER, DE, LOUISIANA TECH
Steve Palazzolo and the PFF draft analysts break down the play of Vernon Butler ahead of the NFL draft.


Below is the PFF draft profile for Louisiana Tech’s Vernon Butler, which incorporates PFF’s college grades and scouting intel from our team of analysts. To see all of PFF’s 2016 scouting reports, click here.

Position fit:
3-4 defensive end

Stats to know:
Ranked 19th in the nation against the run in 2014 and fifth in 2015

What he does best:
• Powerful bull rush, made up 20 percent of his pressures
• Can get under blockers and blow up point of attack
• Will beat blocks with quickness, but excels using strong hands and length to keep blockers away
• Disruptive run defender when winning on first contact
• Good athleticism getting down the line of scrimmage and making plays in the run game
• Will play low when shooting gaps, can disrupt plays in the backfield

Biggest concern:
• Not always looking to anchor, can lose his gap in run game
• Struggles to shed and find ball when losing on initial contact
• Sealed by both single and double teams more often than others in the class
• Doesn’t play like his listed 325 pounds
• Only one good year of productivity as a pass rusher, may be limited at next level

Player Comparison:
Carl Davis, Baltimore Ravens. Both Davis and Butler have similar frames and both players played quite a bit of nose tackle in college. Like Davis, Butler will likely have to transition away from playing over the center into more of a 3-4 defensive end role where the expectation will be to play the run first while any pass rush will be an added bonus.

Bottom line:
Butler has the tools to be a good NFL run defender, most likely as a 3-4 defensive end. While he’s listed at 325 pounds, he doesn’t play like a prototypical nose tackle as his game is more about length disruption than anchoring down at the line of scrimmage.
 

Jiggyfly

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I appreciate the effort, but these PFF ratings are a joke.
Just something to chew on until the draft.

I don't pay attention to the rankings just try and get more takes on there strengths and weaknesses.

At least these guys look at actual video in some kind of depth.
 

Jiggyfly

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PFF SCOUTING REPORT: MYLES JACK, LB, UCLA
Gordon McGuinness and the PFF draft analysts break down the play of UCLA's Myles Jack ahead of the NFL draft.


Below is the PFF draft profile for UCLA’s Myles Jack, which incorporates PFF’s college grades and scouting intel from our team of analysts. To see all of PFF’s 2016 scouting reports, click here.

Position fit:
Off-the-ball linebacker; 910 of his 1,070 snaps in 2014 came at various spots at linebacker.

Stats to know:
Led all linebackers in the nation in 2014 with a coverage grade of +14.7.

What he does best:
• Outstanding in coverage; had the highest coverage grade at his position in 2014, and was ninth in this area again before injury in 2015.

• Can cover in the slot; high coverage grade between 2014 and 2015, spent 144 snaps in the slot in 2014, and 115 in 2015 before injury.

• Not purely a coverage linebacker. Showed the ability to use his hands and get off blocks, and had the 21st-highest grade against the run in 2014.

• Flashes pass-rushing ability, registering three hits and nine hurries on 66 pass-rushing snaps in 2014.

• Sure tackler, missing just six of the 91 he attempted over the past two seasons.

• Outstanding athlete to the point that UCLA used him as a running back, too, forcing 18 missed tackles on 30 carries and scoring four touchdowns over the past two seasons.

Biggest concerns:
• Coming off a serious knee injury. Has had time to heal and looks to be clear, but still a consideration for most teams.

• Size-wise, he’s somewhere between a typical safety and linebacker, but his ability to get off blocks should alleviate most size concerns.

• Picked up 11 penalties in 1,277 snaps over the past two seasons, leading all linebackers in 2014 and 2015 before injury.

Player production comparison:
Thomas Davis, Carolina Panthers. Jack’s ability in coverage reminds us a lot of Davis, who has ranked inside the top-five linebackers in terms of coverage grade in each of the past three seasons.

Bottom line:
Jack is one of the best players in this draft class, and will be a serious consideration for most teams early in the draft. With his ability to cover (even from the slot), and how well he gets off blocks in the running game, it would be a shock to see him fall out of the top 10 picks.
 

Jiggyfly

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PFF SCOUTING REPORT: DERRICK HENRY, RB, ALABAMA
Matt Claassen and the PFF draft analysts break down the play of Alabama's Derrick Henry ahead of the NFL draft.

Below is the PFF draft profile for Alabama’s Derrick Henry, which incorporates PFF’s college grades and scouting intel from our team of analysts. To see all of PFF’s 2016 scouting reports, click here.

Position fit:
Early-down and short-yardage running back

Stats to know:
• 12th-highest overall grade among FBS running backs in 2015, sixth among draft-eligible players.

• Forced 76 missed tackles (fourth-most in FBS), but his 5.2 rush attempts per missed tackle ranked 86th.

• Receiving grade ranked 229th out of 245 qualifying HBs in FBS, 64th out of 68 qualifying HBs in the draft class.

• 93.4 pass-blocking efficiency ranked 103rd out of 149 qualifying FBS HBs, 40th out of 55 in the draft class.

What he does best:
• Big, physical downhill runner.

• Generates significant amount of yards after contact (60 percent of his yards came after contact, 3.4 YCo/attempt ranks seventh in the draft class).

• As confirmed by his 4.54 40-yard dash time at the combine, he has enough speed to break off long runs.

• When running to the outside, he has the ability to plant outside leg and get vertical with success.

• Can beat up on smaller linebackers and secondary defenders and wear down defenses.

• Scheme-diverse; can find success in zone, power, or man-blocking schemes. Not limited as just an inside or outside runner.

Biggest concerns:
• Not much of a threat in the passing game; just 15 receptions over the last two years, with two drops.

• Despite size, he’s a below-average pass-blocker that needs considerable improvement.

• Size can be a detriment to his ability to quickly change directions in small spaces.

• Lacks the consistent ability to string together moves downfield to extend runs if he cannot just outrun defenders.

• A significant amount of his forced missed tackles came by beating up on cornerbacks and safeties who either over-pursued or were reluctant, if not unwilling, to take him on.

• Production in 2015 somewhat inflated compared to other players due to being given nearly 400 rush attempts. Henry is at or near the top of the nation in total yards, yards after contact, missed tackles, etc., but there are many players ahead of him in per-rush averages.

Player style comparison:
RB LeGarrette Blount. Blount is a big, physical back who isn’t very elusive, but still has been a solid runner in a committee role over his career. Blount doesn’t offer much in the passing game, which has limited his role, but he has shown success as a runner.

Bottom line:
Henry is a powerful runner that will get more yardage than his blocking provides by running through contact, but he doesn’t have the elusiveness that other can backs offer. His question marks in the passing game should limit his playing time and prevent him from being an every-down player, at least early in his career. However, there is a role for Henry in the NFL, and he should find success as a runner. The question is what that role will be worth when it comes time for the draft.
 

Jiggyfly

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PFF SCOUTING REPORT: ANDREW BILLINGS, DT, BAYLOR
Steve Palazzolo and the PFF draft analysts break down the play of Baylor's Andrew Billings ahead of the NFL draft.


Here is the PFF draft profile for Baylor’s Andrew Billings, which incorporates PFF’s college grades and scouting intel from our team of analysts. To see all of PFF’s 2016 scouting reports, click here.

Position fit:
Nose tackle, either in a 3-4 or a 4-3.

Stats to know:
Ranked 19th in the nation against the run in 2014 and fifth in 2015. Played 765 snaps in 2015, second-most among nose tackles.

What he does best:
• Will destroy blockers when moving forward; attacks blockers, uses his strength to move the line of scrimmage

• Can bull-rush and push the pocket in both the pass and run game. A large chunk of his pressures came on the bull rush

• Excellent two-year pass-rush grade, was disruptive on the interior

• Shows ability to attack gaps or two-gap at point of attack, though can improve his consistency in both areas

• Two years of strong production on a snap-to-snap basis

Biggest concern:
• Will drop his head and get put on skates at times in run game

• Struggled to feel and shed back/down-blocks

• Baylor scheme had him slanting quite a bit, not playing to his strengths

• Is not at his best when trying to shed blocks laterally down the line of scrimmage

• Not great as using his hands and shedding blocks; often relies on brute strength at the college level

• Allows blockers get into his pads too often, may have some ugly plays against NFL guards and centers

• Lacks an inside move as a pass-rusher, rarely beat blockers to their inside shoulder

Player Comparison:
Dontari Poe, Kansas City Chiefs. While Billings is not an athletic freak like Poe, they are similar in that neither is great at shedding blocks, and they’re both best when attacking the center from the nose tackle position and disrupting plays in the backfield. Poe also took time to develop, which Billings may need as he improves his hand usage.

Bottom line:
In the right scheme, Billings could develop into a quality nose tackle, though there are areas for him to improve upon along the way. If his technique catches up to his natural strength, he’ll be a pillar on the interior for many years.
 
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