Scout’s Eye: Crimsion Tide

We’re starting a new series here at NFLmocks called “Scout’s Eye”. I’m going to copy and paste directly from Mackenzie Pentoja’s Notebook. These are not edited at all and are just the thoughts of Mackenzie as he watched players play-when we do notes next year we’ll be more structured by including the date and the games of the notes, but Mackenzie wasn’t planning on posting them before, so they are just unfiltered thoughts.

I just thought this would be a neat view of the way in which one of our authors/scout prepares for the draft season.

You’ll note (lame pun) that there is a progression in the notes for some players, that’s because these are notes from different games and even different years-so if it starts out saying Poor route runner and then below that it says good route-runner that shows improvement from one year to the next in most cases, or between one game and a different game. These notes only aid in Mackenzie’s final scouting reports and are not the final say. Mckenzie’s notes are in italics.

Alabama Offense

Greg McElroy #12
Really doesn’t stretch the field definition of a “game manager” never throws interceptions.
-Not a lot of touchdowns
-Mediocre size not much of a rusher
-Poor speed
-Good completion percentage
-Inconsistent can be very inaccurate throw power solid but he doesn’t usually try to stretch the field or put zip on most of his passes
-Solid accuracy makes average decisions with the football
-Conservative awful accuracy on the deep ball awful in the red zone seems a little weak minded
-Below average decision maker
-Not too accurate on the deep ball will make receivers adjust to the football inconsistent improving in 2010 looks pretty good this year hasn’t lost a game since 8th grade

Bartolis Quick Thought:

McElroy lacks the elite skills of many of the quarterbacks in this class, but with the exception of Andy Dalton, and maybe Cam Newton, McElroy has “IT”. You can’t teach it. Plenty of quarterbacks have overcome a lack of Elite N.F.L. tools because of a hard work ethic and because their offense believes in them. McElroy has some work to do, but is a great investment with a third day pick.

Mark Ingram #22
Heisman winner Emmit Smith comparison very apt
-Cecent bulk slightly above average speed
-Outstanding stats carries a huge workload with an excellent yards per carry
-Powerful good receiver tough to tackle not shifty
-Really tough runner had a bad day against Arkansas
Tough runner
-Tough to tackle
-Good vision
-Solid hands doesn’t fumble very good hands plays real hard
-Tough runner excellent vision
-Very good vision
-Average change of direction skills
-Injured this year

Bartolis Quick Thought:

I’m not a Crimson Tide Fan, but I love Mark Ingram’s game. I think he is a willing and decent pass blocker (and can improve) and has Great field vision. I also think he has underrated speed, but more importantly has great acceleration so he can get to top speed fast and still outrun N.F.L. defenses. He’s my personal #5 player on my big board and reminds me so much of Maurice Jones-Drew.

Marquis Maze #4
-Very short needs bulk
-Excellent speed
-Below average numbers throughout career
-Always has been a real big play threat statistically not a lot of catches though

Bartolis Final Thought:

We’ll be paying a lot of attention to Maze this year as he has a chance to do a lot for himself. You can’t teach speed, and he has pretty good hands from what I’ve seen.

Julio Jones #8
Good physical tools similar to that of Limas Sweed
-Ideal size
-Pretty fast outstanding production as a Freshman mediocre (and a little overrated) as a Sophomore
-Extremely highly recruited top 3 prospect in high school
-Big play receiver a little overrated
-Solid run blocker
-Solid route runner for his age
-Mediocre catching technique solid speed can make a few defenders miss
-Doesn’t make a lot of catches not too physical
-Average route runner
-Doesn’t make defenders miss in the open field
-Traps balls against frame not much of a route runner
-Below average quickness in and out of breaks even with the ball in his hands
-Drops a whole lot of passes
-Very fast but a step slower than Green
-Drops a lot of passes can be lackadaisical as a blocker looks really tall on film
-Excellent bulk
-Doesn’t make many defenders miss in the open field but he has excellent vision

Bartolis Quick Thought

I really like Julio Jones too. He plays like a bigger Hakeem Nicks. He might not have the blazing time speed, but he seems much faster once he gets the ball in his hands. Nicks physical style of play and run after the catch ability has made him on the cusp of being one of the five best WR in the league (in less than  13 full games this year he had 11 touchdowns, 1052 yards receiving (80.9 yards per game), 75 catches, and 20 plays over 20 yards…all of which were top five in the league, even though he missed 3 full games and parts of others).  I think Jones has a chance to be very good in the league.

James Carpenter #77
-Decent height and decent bulk
-Poor athleticism
-Intense physical run blocker
-Inconsistent misses block assignments
-Good tenacity as a pass blocker not a lot of strength but still a solid run blocker
-Poor athleticism
-Had false start
-Solid athleticism on the field
-Good production
-Good pass blocker
-Solid run blocker doesn’t have the to drive defenders off the ball -Pretty physical pretty intense real overachiever had holding

Bartolis Quick Thought:

A solid offensive linemen who might come off the board in the third round, and will probably play guard in the N.F.L.

William Vlachos #73 poor height bulk and speed

Marcell Dareus #57
-Already has experience at 3-4 end could be end or defensive tackle at the next level
-Pretty good speed
-Good stats for such a young player playing such strong competition
-solid pass rusher for a 296lb player
-Decent run stopper
Relentless in pursuit
-Good strength
-Pretty physical
-Pretty good pass rusher for a 306lb player
-Consistent
-Hard hitter
-Very disruptive solid pass rusher
-Doesn’t play a lot below (?)
-Average instincts
-Mediocre tackler
-Very good tackler
-Good at shedding off blocks
-Uses hands well
-Character issues
-Doesn’t seem to athletic on film

Bartolis Quick Thought

I’ve always been more impressed with Dareus then I have of Fairley. But I’m always skeptical of defensive linemen’s true impact in the N.F.L. There are few guards at the college level who can handle talented defensive linemen (because even most of the players who end up playing guard in the N.F.L. played tackled at college), which makes it hard to evaluate interior defensive linemen because they are almost always much better then their competition. Still Dareus is an impressive player to me and slightly ahead of Fairley, though neither are on the same plane as Suh.

Dont’a Hightower #30
(Bartolis note: Did not declare for the 2011 N.F.L. Draft)

-Mediocre production
-A little overrated
-Good speed
-Injury issues
=Decent pass rusher
-A lot of size good height
-A lot of bulk
-Solid tackler
-Nasty knee injury
-Tough plays hard
-Inconsistent
-Solid tackler

Bartolis Quick thought:

I always thought Hightower’s speed was a little slow, and he just made up for that with good instincts. I’m going to have to pay attention to Hightower’s speed next year because that’ll be a big issue in his draft stock (much like Brandon Spikes).

Jerrell Harris #5
–Finally a starter after years of sitting behind brilliant Alabama defenders
-No stats at all
-Solid height could add bulk
-Mediocre speed
-No sacks
-Needs bulk

Mark Barron #4

-Probably should come out (Bartolis note, did not come out) -Unbelievable stats
-Good tackle numbers stats suggest he is outstanding in coverage
-Perfect hands
-Good height
-Solid bulk
-Good speed
-Hard hitter
-Solid tackler
-Fundamentally sound
-Solid instincts takes good angles for such a young player
-Relentless in pursuit
-Solid instincts somewhat aggressive
-Okay awareness in coverage
-Good awareness in coverage
-Looks good
-Physical good tackler
-Takes solid angles
-Average tackler below average at shedding off blocks
-Good speed pretty disciplined
-Can rush the passer
-Pretty talented

Bartolis quick thought

Barron will make a good safety in the N.F.L. as a strong safety, especially if he plays similarly to how the Giants used Antrel Rolle this year as a guy who helps the run and blitzes a lot. I don’t think he can be a Jarius Byrd kind of guy who can intercept 9 passes as a rookie, or Earl Thomas, but maybe Antrel Rolle or Bernard Pollard.

There you have it, the first installment of Scout’s Eye with one of the schools with the most. Let us know what team’s notes you want to see next. I have 72 pages of his notes so essentially every team is available.