Preview of Preseason game Minnesota Vikings vs San Francisco 49ers

Minnesota Vikings Rookie Scouting Report:

#29 Xavier Rhodes: 6’1 210, Florida State

1^st round 25^th pick, Position- Cornerback

Strength:

+ Knows how to use his long arms and play the receiver.

+ Amazing job at high pointing the ball. Great timing and understanding where the ball or shallow route.

+ Has good hands, doesn’t drop a lot of interceptions.

Needs Improvement:

– He is way too high when he tackles, Needs to learn how to break down the ball carrier and make a tackle.

– Work on his footwork and break on the ball.

– Lacks great speed so he gets beat a lot on a drag or shallow routes.

– He is a MAJOR liability in the run game.

What to Watch for:

1. Does his long arm cause problems for the receivers???
2. Did he play on first team defense???
3. How well did he do in man coverage???

#84 Cordarrelle Patterson: 6’2 216, Tennessee

1^st round 29^th pick, Position- Wide Receiver

Strength:

+ Great at kick returning. Moves away from the wedge to create a hole and breaks arm tackles.

+ He is a play maker. Get the ball in his hands and watch him go to work.

+ Can take on One on One coverage.

+ Even when team is losing by double digits, still goes out there and plays hard.

+ Can Snatch the ball in the air. Uses his hands well.

Needs Improvement:

– Got to work on his route running, relies too much on his speed.

– Learns when a pass is poorly thrown then he must become a defender and prevent the interceptions.

– Work on using his body against the defender and don’t use your hands to push off.

What to Watch for:

1. How much of an Impact he makes in the Return game???
2. Did he get many targets in the game???
3. Was he able to take on press man coverage???

San Francisco 49ers Rookie Scouting Report:

#35 Eric Reid: 6’1 213, LSU

1st round 18th pick, Position- Safety

Strength:

+ Knows how to break on the ball.

+ If he is part of a gang tackle then he will rip the ball out.

+ Really knows how to set the edge.

Needs Improvement:

– Takes bad angles on tackles so he will miss out on some plays.

– Does not have good football IQ and will get beat down the field.

– Doesn’t wrap up when he tackles. He is always trying to go for the big hit.

What to Watch for:

1. Did he play strong safety or free safety
2. Can he cover the Tight end in the game
3. Does he fill the shoes of Ghoston or is he overwhelmed

#11Quinton Patton: 6’0 204, Louisiana Tech

4th round 128th pick, Position- Wide Receiver

Strength:

+ Amazing in the open field. Can make a small play into a big one.

+ Have great hands. Catches everything that comes his way.

+ Can win any one on one battle. He is great for a guy his size.

Needs Improvement:

– Did play in a offense that was simple and no route progression.

– Got to add some bulk so he can absorb contact

– His blocking has to get better if he wants to help the run game.

What to Watch for:

1. Crabtree is hurt, can he step up
2. Where do the 49ers play him, slot or flank
3. Was he asked to return kicks

Preview of Preseason game New Orleans Saints vs Houston Texans

New Orleans Saints Rookie Scouting Report:

#32 Kenny Vaccaro: 6’0 214, Texas

1^st round 15^th pick, Position- Safety

Strength:                                         

+  Can really shed a block off a receiver.

+  He is a menace on the field. Hitting hard at all phase of the game.

+  His play recognition is really good. Was able to see the play action

react to the play.

Needs Improvement:

–         Will leave his feet when he makes a tackle. Must stay on his feet.

–         Miss times his jump and is ineffective in jump ball situations.

–         Needs to work with his position coach on press coverage techinique

against a receiver.

What to Watch for:

1. Was he flying all over the field, making tackles??
2. How well did he do covering the slot receiver???
3. Did he play any special teams???

#72 Terron Armstead: 6’5 306,  Arkansas Pine-Bluff

3^rd round 75^th pick, Position- Tackle

Strength:                                         

+   Amazing at getting down the field and making a block.

+  Does a nice job in his cut blocking. Goes through their legs instead of the feet.

+  Good quick inside step allows him to be effective on an inside block.

 

Needs Improvement:

–          Base will get too wide and can not create a push in his run blocking.

–          Gets way too high and needs to keep his butt down.

–          Work on his hand placement better. Hit his man in the chest

What to Watch for:

1. Does he pull or go out for screen plays???
2. Did he make a major improvement in his run blocking???
3. How did he fare against the bull rush???

#92 John Jenkins: 6’4 236, Georgia

3^rd round 97^th pick, Position- Nose Tackle

Strength:                             

+  Keeps driving his legs so he can get some push.

+  Able to get skinny and shoot the gap.

+  Shed blocking skills are above average and  go makes a tackle.

Needs Improvement:

–          Got to take on cut blocks better and stay upright.

–          Need to use leverage better. Can get too high at times.

–          Weak motor. Hot and cold in effort on the field.

What to Watch for:

1. Did he maintain his gap in run support???
2. Where did he play on the defensive line???
3. Was he able to use his hands against the blocker???

#84 Kenny Stills: 6’0 194, Oklahoma

5^th round 144 pick, Position- Wide Receiver

Strength:                             

+  Work with his position coach on the sideline drill.

+  Has impressed the coaches and Drew Brees to play on first team offense.

+  Good route runner. Not a lot of wasted footsteps

Needs Improvement:

–          Hands are a little shaky. Drops some easy passes

–          Has to do a better job of getting off press coverage

–          Seems to have a miscommunication with his quarterback.

What to Watch for:

1. Was he playing on first team offense???
2. Did they do a back shoulder fade with him???
3. How did he do against press coverage???

Houston Texans Rookie Scouting Report:

#36 D.J. Swearinger: 5’10 208, South Carolina

2^nd round 57^th pick, Position- Safety

Strength:

+  Complete understanding on how to use outside leverage

+  Quick feet and reacts really well

+  When part of a gang tackle then he stands up the ball carrier and tries to rip the ball out.

Needs Improvement:

–          Tentative against the run. Needs to attack instead of waiting for the run to come to him.

–          Covers way too much grass when he is in zone coverage.

–          He face guards which he needs to play the ball and the receiver.

What to Watch for:

1. How does he deal with all the issues of last week game???
2. Was he strong in run support???
3. Are the Texans secondary better with him on the field???

#73 Brennan Williams: 6’6 318, North Carolina

3^rd round 89^th pick, Position- Tackle

Strength:

+  Great downhill blocker, does a nice job of collapsing the defense.

+  Hands are always on the pass rusher. Never lets them out of his grasp.

+  Creates many pancake blocks with his strong upper body and taking advantage of the pass rushers momentum.

Needs Improvement:

–          Major issues against the bull rush. He gets pushed back to the quarterback. Needs to work on reachoring and reloading his hips.

–          Has problems squaring up the linebacker at the second level.

–          Slide step is a little slow and speed rushers can give him problems.

What to Watch for:

1. Does he play on first team offense???
2. How does he handle all the blitzes???
3. Did he improve in his run blocking???

#57 Sam Montgomery: 6’3 262, LSU

3^rd round 95^th pick, Position- Defensive End

Strength:

+  Knows how to get around offensive lineman with a speed rush or inside move.

+  Gets his hands in the passing lane if he doesn’t create a pass rush.

+  His long arms allow him to keep separation from the blockers.

Needs Improvement:

–          Weak motor, weak effort. Has admitted to taking plays off in college.

–          Slow off the snap which allows blockers to set up.

–          Over aggressive and can be burned with trick plays or window dressing.

What to Watch for:

1. Did he play 100% throughout the game???
2. How was he in run support???
3. Was he able to create any pass rush???

Preview of Preseason game Oakland Raiders vs New Orleans Saints

Oakland Raiders Rookie Scouting Report:

D.J. Hayden: 5’11 191, #25, Houston

1^st round 12^th pick, Position- Cornerback

Strength:                                          Needs Improvement:

+ Wow! Shows some hustle,                  – Needs to work on his tackling

running back was running for                  skills.

a touchdown and he chased                  – Can he stay healthy? Lost most

him from behind.                                        of last year and was hurt during

+ Does a great job of reading                   training camp.

the receiver and playing off

of them.

+ Sheds his block really well.

+ Good speed to stay with a

receiver in a crossing or shallow

route.

Menelik Watson: 6’5 310, #71, Florida State

2^nd round 42^nd pick, Position- Tackle

Strength:                                          Needs Improvement:

+ Does a nice job of                              – Weak kick slide. Has to improve

sustaining his blocks.                              to handle speed rushers.

Always staying in front                        – Slow footed off the snap and gets

of his man.                                                beat inside quite a bit.

+ Would be good in the                       – Hands will get caught outside the

zone blocking scheme.                             pads.

He is very good as a run

blocker.

+ Has a very smooth slide

step. Athletic and moves

side to side really well.

Sio Moore: 6’1 245, #55, UCONN

3^rd round 66^th pick, Position- Defensive End

Strength:                                          Needs Improvement:

+ Does a good job if he                             – Head will be down at times

doesn’t create a pass                                   and cause him to be late.

rush then get his hands                            – Has to work with his coaches

in the passing lane.                                       on using his hands more.

+ Takes on his blocks and                         – Struggles to stay squared and

can be effective against the                       makes him off balance.

run.

+ Reads the quarterback eyes

in zone coverage, making him

react quickly.

+ Always maintain outside leverage

and prevents big runs.

New Orleans Saints Rookie Scouting Report:

Kenny Vaccaro: 6’0 214, #32, Texas

1^st round 15^th pick, Position- Safety

Strength:                                          Needs Improvement:

+ Can really shed a block

off a receiver.

+ He is a menace on the

field. Hitting hard at all

phase of the game.

+ Play recognition is

really good. Understood

when the playaction was

happening and put himself

in the right position.

Terron Armstead: 6’5 306, #72, Arkansas Pine-Bluff

3^rd round 75^th pick, Position- Tackle

Strength:                                          Needs Improvement:

+ Amazing at getting down                     – Must stay on his block better.

field and making a block.                        – His footwork must improve,

+ Does a nice job in his                               to be a better blocker.

cut blocking.

+ Good quick inside step

allows him to be effective

on a inside block.

John Jenkins: 6’4 236, #92, Georgia

3^rd round 97^th pick, Position- Nose Tackle

Strength:                                          Needs Improvement:

+ Keeps driving his                                   – Head will get down at times

legs so he can get                                       and will get out of control.

some push.                                                – Will get a bad base and

+ Able to get skinny                                     cause him to get pushed

and shoot the gap.                                       back.

+ Shed blocking skills                                – Needs to get his hands

are above average and                               in the passing lane if he

go makes a tackle.                                       doesn’t get a pass rush.

Kenny Stills: 6’0 194, #84, Oklahoma

5^th round 144 pick, Position- Wide Receiver

Strength:                                          Needs Improvement:

+ Work with his position                          – Hand are a little shaky. Drops

coach on the sideline drill.                         some easy passes.

Preview of preseason game Kansas City Chiefs vs San Francisco 49ers

Kansas City Chiefs Rookie Scouting report:

Eric Fisher: 6’7 306, #72, Central Michigan

1^st round 1^st pick, Position- Tackle

Strength:                                          Needs Improvement:

+ Will take the                                          – Hand placement needs to

defensive lineman                                     get better.

momentum out of play.                       – Will get too high at times.

+ Athletic and can get                               Struggles to get low and

to the second level and                            drive a lineman back.

square up the linebacker.                       – Did get hurt early in his

+ No quit and does not                               career…..is it signs to

give up on a block.                                       come?

Travis Kelce: 6’5 255, #87, Cincinnati

3^rd round 63^rd pick, Position- Tight End

Strength:                                          Needs Improvement:

+ Able to be an                                          – Was not able to be a factor.

effective pass blocker.                                Does not make the tough play.

Knile Davis: 5’10 227, #34, Arkansas

3^rd round 96^th pick, Position- Running Back

Strength:                                          Needs Improvement:

+ Very useful out of the                          – Too much stutter steps and

backfield and can catch                            indecisive when he runs the ball.

the football.                                             – Not very smooth in switching

+ Special kick returner.                             football into the other side.

Another weapon you

can add on special teams.

 

 

Nice Johnson: 6’2 248, #57, Alabama

4^th round 99^th pick, Position- Linebacker

Strength:                                          Needs Improvement:

+ Nice job to communicate                    – Covers too much grass when

to his defense and put them                     he is in zone coverage.

in the right position.                               –  Needs to work on picking

+ A very sure tackler.                                  up his knees and staying

+ Does a good job in man                     – Takes poor angles on tackles.

to man coverage on a RB.

San Francisco 49ers Rookie Scouting Report:

Eric Reid: 6’1 213, #35, LSU

1st round 18th pick, Position- Safety

Strength:                                 Needs Improvement:

+ Knows how to break on                                     – Takes bad angles so he

the ball.                                                                      will miss out on tackles

+ If he is part of a gang tackle                             – Does not have good football

then he will rip the ball out.                                   IQ and will get himself beat.

+ Really knows how to set                                   – Doesn’t wrap up, Always going

the edge.                                                                  for the big hit.

What to Watch for:

1. Did he play strong safety or free      safety
2. Can he cover the Tight end in the      game
3. Does he fill the shoes of Ghoston      or is he overwhelmed

Vance McDonald: 6’4 267, #89, Rice

2nd round 55th pick, Position- Tight End

Strength:                                                      Needs Improvement:

+ Able to sustain his block                                 – Too many body catches

throughout the play.                                             and dropped passes

+ Strong lower body let him                             – A little slow out of his break

break many tackles                                             and defense can key on it.

+ Got some toughness in                                 – Hands tend to slip outside

him and likes to go hit                                        of the pads.

What to Watch for:

1. How many times does he drop the ball???
2. Was he able to get open with his route running???
3. Can he sustain his block in the NFL???

Quinton Patton: 6’0 204, #11, Louisiana Tech

4th round 128th pick, Position- Wide Receiver

Strength:                                 Needs Improvement:

+ Amazing in the open field.                               – Did play in offense that

Can make a small play into a                               is very simple and no route

big one.                                                                        progression.

+ Has great hands. Catches                                – Got to add some bulk so

everything that comes his way.                           he can absorb some contact.

+ Can win any one on one battles.                   – His blocking has to get better

He is great for a guy his size.                                 if he wants to help the run.

What to Watch for:

1. Crabtree is hurt, can he step up???
2. Where do the 49ers play him, slot or flank???
3. Was he asked to return kicks???

Preview of preseason game Cleveland Browns vs Detroit Lions

Cleveland Browns Rookie Scouting Report:

Barkevious Mingo: 6’4 241, #51, LSU

1^st round 6^th pick, Position- Defensive End

Strength:                                          Needs Improvement:

+ More effective as                                   – Needs to attack the block at

a stand up lineman                                      the point of attack.

then in a 3 point stance.                         – His motor will be hot and cold

+ For a guy his size, he                               from time to time.

made a lot of plays on                            – Will get too high at times and

special team.                                              is not at a ready position to

+ Uses his hands really                             tackle.

well when he is creating                       – Needs to get his hands up in

a pass rush.                                               the passing lane.

+ Keeps outside leverage                     – Got to take on double team

against the run.                                        better.

Garrett Gilkey: 6’6 318, #65, Chadron State

7^th round 227^th pick, Position – Guard

Strength:                                          Needs Improvement:

+ Disguises the screen                              – His blitz pick up needs some

play really well so D can                             work. Have to take the inside

not key on it.                                                guy.

+ His double team blocking                    – Tight in the hips which cause

is good fundamentally and                       him to struggle at pulling.

gets to the second level.                         – Hand placement has to be

+ Squares up his block at                           better. Too much grabbing

the second level nicely.                              outside the pads.

Able to block a linebacker.

+ Knows how to finish off

his block.

+ Shuffles his feet well

and can sustain his block.

Detroit Lions Rookie Scouting Report:

Ziggy Ansah: 6’5 271, #94, BYU

1^st round 5^th pick, Position- Defensive End

Strength:                                          Needs Improvement:

+ Explodes off the snap           – Must use his hands more

and puts the lineman on           to get a blocker off of him.

their heels.                                – Needs to stay low through

+ Does not get pushed               out the play.

back and holds strong            – Gets worn out late in the

against the run.                          game. Has to be in better

+ Will get his hands in the        condition.

passing lane if he doesn’t       – Too much ball watching

get pressure on the QB.             instead of playing his

+ Just good football                    man.

awareness.

Darius Slay: 6’0 192, #30, Mississippi State

2^nd round 36^th pick, Position- Cornerback

Strength:                                          Needs Improvement:

+ Has elite speed                       – Fly opens his hips and

so he can stay with                      causes him to be in a

any receiver either                      bad position.

flanked or slot.                           – Must shed his block

+ Takes on cut blocks                    better if he wants to

very well. Stays upright.               help out against the run.

+ Shadows the receiver             – Has to be more physical

really well. Able to match            in cover 2.

them step for step.

Larry Warford: 6’3 332, #75, Kentucky

3^rd round 65^th pick, Position- Guard

Strength:                                          Needs Improvement:

+ Can really reanchor                – Footwork has to improve

and prevent the lineman             in his pass protection.

to push him back.                       – Struggles to understand

+ Has a great punch                       blitz pick up.

and hits the D lineman              – Problems squaring up

in the chest.                                   the linebacker at second

+ Hides his assignment                level.

in the screen game well.