Monday Night Football: Pittsburgh Steelers vs Cincinnati Bengals

Players to Watch:

Pittsburgh Steelers:

Outside Linebacker- Jarvis Jones

Wide Receiver- Markus Wheaton

Cincinnati Bengals:

Tight End- Tyler Eifert

Running Back- Giovani Bernard

#95 Jarvis Jones: 6’2 245, Georgia

1^st round 17^th pick, Position- Outside Linebacker

Strength:                                         

+  Good motor. Plays until the whistle is blown.

+  Takes on blocks. Does not wait for the block to come to him.

+  Very aggressive. Will fly all over the field to make a play.

Needs Improvement:

–          Does not play the double team really well and gets pushed back to the second level.

–          Weak in pass coverage.

–          Seems to go for the pass rush, no matter what down it is. Must maintain in run support.

–          Strength and speed seems to be a question mark.

 

 

#11 Markus Wheaton: 5’11 182, Oregon State

3^rd round 79^th pick, Position- Wide Receiver

Strength:                 

+  Disguises his job so well, that a DB can not read anything off of him.

+  Coaches have taught him well on the sideline drill.

+  Shows good effort in his blocking. Does not quit on any play even if he doesn’t get the ball.

Needs Improvement:

–          Struggles to get past bump man coverage.

–          Work with his coaches on his route running.

–          Lets the pass come into his body instead of catching the ball with his hands

–          Weak in jump ball situations. Unable to time his jump and high point the ball.

#85 Tyler Eifert: 6’6 251, Notre Dame

1^st round 21^st pick, Position- Tight End

Strength:

+  Can play those one on one situations and win. He just comes up with the football, no matter the coverage.

+  Will fight for extra yards and keep two hands on the football.

+  Great job at using his hands to get off press coverage.

+  Knows how to step up the defender to create an open hole in zone defense.

Needs Improvement:

–          Not the best as an extra man in pass protection.

–          Little shy to hit as a lead blocker.

–          Must come back for the pass instead of waiting for it.

–          Lacks playmaking skills in the open field.

#25 Giovani Bernard: 5’9 208

2^nd round 37^th pick, Position- Running Back

Strength:

+  Has great hands and can be really useful in catching the ball out of the back field.

+  Very strong lower body, being able to break arm tackles and hits.

+  Small in size but is not afraid to run in between the tackle and run over a guy.

Needs Improvement:

–          Runs too far ahead of his blockers which causes him to miss out on big runs.

–          Indecisive and wills stutter steps. Slows him down, the defense will catch up to him.

–          Below average in pass blocking. Won’t be on the field on 3^rd down if you can’t block better.

Preview to the Preseason game “Cincinnati Bengals vs Atlanta Falcons

 

Cincinnati Bengals

Tyler Eifert: 6’6 251, Notre Dame

1st round 21st pick, Position- Tight End

Strength:                                                                                 Needs Improvement:

+ Can play the one on one jump           – Looks a little shy as a lead blocker. Doesn’t attack

ball situations and win. Can                     the defenders, waits for them to come to him.

really high point the ball.                     – Needs to learn how to come back for the pass

+ Will fight for extra yards. Keeps           then wait for the ball.

two hands on the ball at all times.      – Lacks the playmaking skills in the open field.

+ Does a good job with his hands

and getting off press coverage.

What to Watch for:

• Did he connect and create some chemistery with Andy Dalton
• Make major improvements in his blocking skills
• Was he a target in the red zone

Giovani Bernard: 5’8 202, North Carolina

2rd round 37th pick, Position- Running Back

Strength:                                                                                         Needs Improvements:

+ Has some great hands. Very useful in           – Below average in pass protection. Won’t be

the passing game.                                                    on the field for 3 downs if he can’t block.

+ Strong lower body and is able to break          – Too indecisive at times and will stutter

tackles and takes hits.                                              instead one step and go.

+ He is small in size but is not afraid to run       – Runs far ahead of his blockers, he miss

over a guy.                                                                  out on big runs.

What to Watch for:

• Was the offense better with him on the field
• Did he get better in pass protection
• Did the coaching staff use him in the passing game

Margus Hunt: 6’8 277, SMU

2nd round 53rd pick, Position- Defensive End

Strength:                                                                                               Needs Improvement:

+ His long arms allow him to control                – His football awareness is lacking. Teams

the blockers.                                                             use screen, draws and trick plays.

+ Great lateral quickness. Moves side to           – Has a lot of work on the practice field with

side really well and makes a lot of plays.             tackling skills. Saw too many arm tackles

+ Can bend the edge or use the bull rush          – Must take on cut blocks better. Push the

to create pressure.                                                    to the ground and stay upright.

What to Watch for:

• Has his tackling much improved
• Did he get his hands in the passing lane and disturb the quarterback
• Could he use many different pass rush moves

Shawn Williams: 6’0 213, Georgia

3rd round 84th pick, Position- Safety

Strength:                                                                                           Needs Improvement:

+ A vocal leader of his defense. He will             – Bites too hard on the play action so plays

rally your team together.                                        happen behind him.

+ High intensity player. Will chase down           – Focus will not be there all the time.

+ Drives his legs through his tackles. Won’t      – Has a temper on the field and will lose it.

allow the ball carrier to run him over.

What to Watch for:

• How much of an impact did he make on special teams
• Is he still a firey leader for his defense
• Did he make major improvements in his coverage skills

Atlanta Falcons

Desmond Trufant: 6’0 190, Washington

1st round 22nd pick, Position- Cornerback

Strength:                                                                                                   Needs Improvement:

+ Rarely misses a game. He made 45 straight        – Needs to work on using his hands.

games before missing a game in his college

career.

+ Best corner in press coverage in the 2013          – Tackling skills need some work.

NFL Draft.

+ Amazing job at breaking on the ball and knows     – Learn the NFL rules about no

how to play the ball,                                                           after 5 yards or he will get flagged

Robert Alford: 5’10 188, Southeastern Louisiana

2nd round 60th pick, Position- Cornerback

Strength:                                                                                               Needs Improvement:

+ Good job keeping outside leverage                      – Got to wrap up the ball carrier

against the run.           \                                                     instead  just hitting them

+ Knows his assignment in zone coverage             – Not the best in a blitz package.

and does not cover grass.                                               gives his assignment too early.

+ Added bonus, effective as a kick returner.           – Must adjust to the “no

                                                                                             after 5 yards” in the NFL.

What to Watch for:

• Did he work along side of first round pick Desmond Trufant
• Was he a liability in the running game
• On kick returns, how effective was he

Milliciah Goodman: 6’4 276, Clemson

4th round 127th pick, Position- Defensive End

Strength:                                                                                     Needs Improvement:

+ His long arms allow him to keep                     – A little slow off the snap and doesn’t

distance from the blockers.                                   put a lineman on their heels.

+ Good football awareness when                     – His motor is hot and cold.

recognizing screen passes.                                – For a guy his size, he must use leverage

+ Will get his big hands in the pass                     more often.

lane to deflect the football.

What to Watch for:

• Is he consistent play in, play out
• Can he bend the edge but also use a bull rush
• Does he make an impact in the game or continue to be a quiet player