NFL News and Notes: 2012 NFL Draft Is Wisconsin RB Montee Ball For Real?

Welcome back to another edition of NFL Draft News. I don’t have an exciting moniker for this segment, but I’ll bring the good stories to you from around the web.

The most interesting piece I’ve read out there today is Matthew Waldman’s breakdown of Wisconsin running back prospect Montee Ball

I’ve watched enough of Ball to believe he’s the best pro prospect at the running back position that Wisconsin has had in at least a decade. What Ball brings to the table that I think separates him from his fellow alums is something that is sometimes a challenge to see because of the strength of the Badgers offensive line.

Vision.

Waldman doesn’t consider Ball a future Hall of Famer or anything, but does believe that Ball has a place in the N.F.L. and that he’s not going to fizzle out like many of the other talented Wisconsin running backs before him.

As a runner, Ball lacks a good third gear and he is caught from behind on longer runs. ESPN/ABC commentator Brent Musberger’s characterization of Ball as “the hammer,” is also overstated. Ball has good balance and he will run through arm tackles, but he is not a great pile mover. In the NFL, I think Ball’s skills may translate more to those of Chester Taylor in his prime than a long-term feature back and this is only if Ball becomes a better player in the passing game and third down.

The Senior Bowl has invited Furman cornerback Ryan Steed.

The 5-11, 190 pound Steed was recently named to the FCS All-American team having totaled 46 tackles, four interceptions and four pass breakups this season. Steed, a three-time All-SoCon selection, finished his career at Furman with 180 tackles and 38 passes defensed. He returned three of his 14 career interceptions for touchdowns, forced four fumbles, and recovered three fumbles, returning one this season for a 48 yard touchdown against Elon. Steed also recorded a sack and blocked three kicks in his career.

Earlier in the year We made a scouting report for Steed

Wes Bunting has the results for the HBCU All Star Game Weight Ins and a list of players to watch

• Delano Johnson, an OLB from Bowie State, was the one prospect who I did absolutely no research on coming into the game, but boy will I be watching him this week. He was nealy 6-4 with a rocked up 267-pound frame and really “wowed” during the weigh-in. He looks capable of playing either with his hand on the ground or standing up based off his physical make-up.

If you want to get a jump on some of the small school players out there (Jacksonville Jagaurs fans!) be sure to follow along this week.

A couple weeks ago I told you guys to watch out for this name as the draft approaches: Utah DL Star Lotulelei. The Pac 12 had offensive linemen vote on the defensive line player of the year and Lotulelei won. Here’s our scouting report for Lotulelei, which is still a work in progress though.

The defensive winner, on the other hand, is a name that few outside of the Pac-12 will recognize. In fact, many inside of the conference likely don’t know much about Utah junior defensive tackle Star Lotulelei. The conference’s offensive linemen, however, obviously think quite highly of the 6-3, 325 pound defensive tackle.

Sideline scouting has started to ramp up there scouting reports, one of the most recent ones is DL Whitney Mercilus

Players that have recentlys aid they are returning to school:

Alabama OT D.J. Fluker, Rutgers WR Mohamed Sanu, Norte Dame Linebacker Manti Te’o, Miami Safety Ray Ray Armstrong, Gerogia Linebacker Jarvis Jones, Iowa CB Micah Hyde, North Carolina G, Jon Cooper.

Mockingthedraft is keeping an underclassman draft tracker updated pretty regularly so check it out.

New Era Scouting (founded by Matt Miller) has his Robert Griffin III scouting report done. Agree with Miller or not, he’s very in-depth and I love reading his stuff. Check it out.

Robert Griffin has made a fast climb up my pre-draft rankings, starting the season as No. 33 overall and ending the regular season as the No. 2 overall player in the country. Griffin answered doubts about his deep accuracy, his mechanics and his ability to lead.

No player in college football or in the 2012 NFL draft class has the ability to take over a game like Griffin. His threat as a run/pass option and his exceptional arm strength and deep accuracy make him as exciting a prospect as I can remember scouting.

Peter Schrager’s Pre-Bowl Games Mock draft

Some interesting picks: Justin Blackmon to the Rams at #2 overall (I think that’d be a mistake)

The Redskins taken Matt Barkley over Robert Griffin III, the Jaguars and everything their General manager stands for taking Michael Floyd at 7th overall (don’t see that happening), the Eagles taking Devon Still, and the Bills grabbing Zach Brown to play in their 34. He also has Levy Addock and LaMichael James going in the first round.

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