The BIG Uglies game: Mississippi State Bulldogs vs Texas A&M Aggies

3:30 PM ET, November 9, 2013

Kyle Field, COLLEGE STATION, TX

74^°FHigh

Partly Cloudy

Chance of rain: 0%

Wind: SSE at 6 mph

Humidity: 70%

 

 

Stats of the Day:

 

Who leads Texas A&M and Mississippi State in rushing??? Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel (96 car 564 yards) and Mississippi State quarterback Dak Prescott (95 car 568 yards)

 

 

 

Match Up to Watch:

 

Mississippi State Guard Gabe Jackson vs Texas A&M Tackle Jake Matthews:

 

Yes, we are talking about offensive lineman. My forte and we will be seeing #1 guard and #1 tackle heading into the 2014 NFL Draft. If you are a fan of a big fat guy, just mauling people then #61 Gabe Jackson will be a fun one to watch. He stays low and drives his man back. Pretty sad for Bulldog fans since the most exciting offensive player is a GUARD!

 

Jake Matthews could have been a top 10 pick in last year draft but decided to come back and play his senior year. When your father is Bruce Matthews, a legend in the NFL….there is no rush. Now, Matthews is a tough player to evaluate because of the offense of system the Aggies play. They are shotgun system and rarely ever put their hands in the dirt. He has played 3 years as a starter. He has the perfect size to be a left tackle and protect the blind side of a franchise quarterback. You ever wonder why Johnny Football never gets touched??? Matthews deserves the credit for it…..well….also Manziel is a freak athlete too.

 

 

Players to Watch:

 

Mississippi State:

Guard- Gabe Jackson

Running Back- Ladarius Perkins

 

Texas A&M:

Wide Reciever- Mike Evans

Tackle- Jake Matthews

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

#61 Gabe Jackson: 6’4 335Senior, Position- GuardGrade: 88 Early 2^nd round grade

Strength:

+  Does a nice job of moving his feet and staying in front of his block. He makes it very hard to get around him.

+  Able to reanchor and reload those hips to prevent getting pushed back.

+  Great understand of blitz pickup and taking the inside guy.

+  He is always the low man and can push the defender back on his own.

+  Really uses the defender momentum and takes them out of the play.

Needs Improvement:

–          Needs to work on his cut blocking and getting his man on the ground.

–          Work with his position coach on placement. Got to hit his man in the chest

–          Must do a better job of pulling and squaring up the linebacker at the second level.

–          Has trouble going out for a screen play and getting in front.

#27 Ladarius Perkins: 5’10 195

Senior, Position- Running Back

Grade: 87 Early 2^nd round grade

Strength:

+  Does a nice of getting yards after contact. Always keeps driving his legs for extra yards.

+  Protects the ball very well and for some who gets gang tackled.

+  Can be used in the passing game. Good footwork on his route running and hands to catch the ball.

Needs Improvement:

–          Need to switch hands when he runs down the sideline.

–          Will bounce it to the outside instead of following his blocks.

–          Too much stutter steps. Needs to one cut and go.

–          Has to gain momentum to reach his top speed.

#18 Mike Evans: 6’5 225

Sophomore, Position- Wide Receiver

Grade: 91 Late 1^st round grade

Strength:

+  For someone his size, he is very elusive. Can make a lot of plays in the open field.

+  Will block down field and help out the running game.

+  Can win one on one jump ball situations. He is a big target in the red zone

+  He was so reliable for his quarterback and made catches when he needed to.

+  Soft hands and does not let the pass into his body.

+  Very smart. Comes back for the pass instead of waiting for it.

Needs Improvement:

–          Body breaks down at times. Can he stay healthy all year???

–          Does not have elite speed to blow past anyone.

–          Needs to know where the first down marker is and get the first down.

–          Show more effort in his run blocking.

#75 Jake Matthews: 6’5 305

Senior, Position- Tackle

Grade: 98 Top 5 pick

Strength:

+  Quick short steps allow him to stay in front of his block.

+  Can collapse the defense and create big holes for the running game.

+  Great job at cutting his man down for a 3 step pass.

+  Might be the pass blocker in 2014 NFL Draft

+  Keeps his man hands down so they don’t deflect the ball at the line of scrimmage.

Needs Improvement:

–          Needs to do a better job with his hands placement. Will tend to grab outside the shoulder pads.

–          Worked in a shotgun offense and needs to practice his goal line blocking.

–          Was helped by his quarterback being mobile and everyone was playing contain.

–          Way too high. Low man always win.

–          Struggles at blocking at the second level.

 

 

 

Preview of Preseason game Tampa Buccaneers vs Miami Dolphins

Tampa Buccaneers Rookie Scouting Report:

 

#27 Johnthan Banks: 6’2 185, Mississippi State

2^nd round 43^rd pick, Position- Cornerback

Strength:                                          Needs Improvement:

+ Great awareness of                               – Must use his hands if he

route running and cuts                              to shed blocks better.

off many routes.                                       – Gives too much cushion

+ Sound tackler for a                                   in cover 3.

cornerback. Makes the                            – Add some bulk to his size

tackle when he needs to.                           so he can get even more

+ Good technique in cover                         physical with a receiver.

2 zone. Does not fly open

his hips.

+ Maintains outside

leverage against the run.

What to Watch for:

1. Does he lock down the #2 corner???
2. Can he keep up in Man to Man???
3. How was he in run support???

#97 Akeem Spence: 6’1 307,  Illinois

4^th round 100^th pick, Position- Defensive Tackle

Strength:                                          Needs Improvement:

+ Explodes off the snap                            – Weak against the double

and puts the offensive                                team. Can’t get pushed

lineman on their heels.                               back in a double team.

+ Stays low through out                           – Have to maintain his gap

the play. Doesn’t get too                            so big holes don’t open up.

high.

+ Play a lot and never                               – His stance gives away too

seem to get tired or                                      much of his assignment.

worn out.

What to Watch for:

1. How much trust does the coaching staff have in him???
2. Did he play the whole first half???
3. Was he playing on first team defense???

 

 

#92 William Gholston: 6’6 281,  Michigan State

4^th round 126^th pick, Position- Defensive End

Strength:                                          Needs Improvement:

+ His long arms allow                              – Not the best get off the snap.

him to keep separation                           – Football awareness needs to

from the blocker.                                        get better. Flies by a tackle

+ Shows a motor that                                when he gets free release.

was missing in college.                            – Will get too high to easily

+ Takes on the blocks                                 cut blocked.

really well and hits the                             – Be able to work on getting

block before the point                                his hands up in passing lane.

of impact.

What to Watch for:

1. How was his motor in the game???
2. Did he create any pass rush???
3. Was he able to get his big hands in the passing lane???

Miami Dolphins Rookie Scouting Report

#70 Dallas Thomas 6’5 300, Tennessee

3rd round 77th pick, position Offensive Tackle

Strengths:

+ Does a good job at shuffling his feet and staying in front of his block

+ Can square up the line backer and block effectively at the second level

+ Good football IQ with his blitz pick up. Does not get confused and miss on his assignment

Needs improvement:

– Struggles on the double team. Lacks the upper body strength to drive his block back to the second level

-played tackle at times and hes slide step is too slow, many speed rushers went right by him

-weak in the goal line packages because he gets driven back

What to watch for:

• Is he the answer to the dolphins prayers? Is he the man who will keep Tanderhill upright?
• In goalline situations, was he able to create a push?
• Was he able to block at the second level?

#29 Will Davis 5’11 186, Utah State

3rd round 93rd pick, Position- Cornerback

Strengths:

+ Can really get physical with a receiver at the line of scrimmage

+ Amazing job at shadowing the receiver

+ Able to keep outside leverage which prevents big runs from happening

Needs Improvement:

– Very poor tackler is way to high and makes way too many arm tackles

-needs to do a better job at playing in jump ball situations. Miss times his jumps and puts himself in bad positions

– block shedding skills are below average. must use his hands to shed the blocks

What to watch for:

• Did he improve his tackling skills during the off season?
• Is he able to make an impact on special teams?
• Does he match up against top notch wide receivers in the NFL?