2018 NFL Draft Guide

2018 NFL Draft Guide

2018 NFL Draft Guide

Centers

Full Billy Price Scouting Report

Athletic Ability is good, quick off the LOS, well balanced, shows explosive power, hips are much better than most interior lineman. Good Mental Processing, very aware of who his assignment is no matter how hard the defense tries to disguise their plan, very aware of the stunts. Good Competitive Toughness, consistent effort on every play, will play through the minor injuries. Good Play Speed, good overall movement skills that will allow him to be useful when reaching the second level. Great Play Strength, very physical player who will win most of his matchups including vs the great strength opponents. Great Pass Blocker, an anchor for the interior pass rushers, his technique is consistently sound, and it is rare to see any type of mistake, his strength will allow him to hold firm ground and even make a pancake block or two. Good Run Blocking, his ability to launch himself into his opponent creates a lot of movement for the RBs, great job working from one opponent to the next. Good Gap Blocker, nice job getting front side and then twisting his body to help create the gap, the strength helps too. Good Puller, opens of out of his stance quickly and identifies his target well.

Use of Hands could improve by working on consistent placement. His hands will be caught outside if he is going against a much faster opponent like a LB. Only area of pass blocking that showed problems was when his pad level was a little too high which would allow a bull rush. Though this only happens on rare occasions.

Overall, Price is the best Center prospect since Ryan Kelly of Alabama. Price has potential to possibly be an All-Pro in the league. He is athletic and smart enough to be utilized in a inside zone technique.

 

Full James Daniels Scouting Report

Center at Iowa, a zone blocking offense that had a lot of inside zone runs. Good height, a little underweight, arms are average length, above average lower body.

Athletic Ability is good, moves well for his size, nice footwork, shows explosive movements at times. Good Mental Processing, aware of a blitzing LB, understands how to use the opponents’ strength against them, nice job adjusting to stunts. Good Competitive Toughness, works until he hears the whistle, has some nasty in him. Good Play Speed, can reach the second level, will not have much trouble vs the elusive LBs. Good Play Strength, shows strength vs the big NT, nice lower body strength. Good Pass Blocker, has the lateral movement needed, hips stay square to the line of scrimmage. Great run blocker, creates a lot of movement, understands how to chip and move on to the next assignment. Good gap blocker, shows leverage, able to get to the front side blocks and block outward with his power. Good use of hands, hands are quick – usually the first to make contact at the POA, keeps them low and inside.

Not much experience in pulling, but when he does pull he needs to do a better job of finding his opponent. Can be a little grabby when pass blocking, especially vs the faster opponents with good bend. Balance could improve some.

Overall, Daniels is a good prospect. He should be a good starter in the league and should start very soon. He would best fit an offense that loves to run the football. His power and run blocking would be a perfect fit.

 

Full Mason Cole Scouting Report

Starting LT at Michigan, mainly a gap/man blocking scheme. Good height and weight, arms are about average length, hands are also average. More build than girth.

Athletic Ability is good, nice hips for a big man, some agility. Should work on his consistency with balance. Good Mental Processing, identifies late blitzers, never confused by his assignment, knows when to work or help with next opponent. Good Competitive Toughness, shows the fight and level of intensity no matter the score, enjoys putting his opponent to the ground. Good Play Speed, moves well, easily able to reach 2nd level and make an impact, can be useful in short screens. Great Plays strength, a force in goaline situations, unusual for him to lose a strength matchup. Great Run Blocker, creates movement at first and second level, stays engaged with his opponent, shows leverage at the POA. Good Gap Blocker, nice angle blocking, positions body well, strength helps consistently extend gaps. Good Use of Hands, hand placement is always inside and have power added to them.

Solid Pass Blocker, as a LT he would win vs the average opponents, but opponents with great speed he struggled heavily, would open his hips away from the LOS and would be beat inside. However, if he is moved inside, I believe he will have more success inside because he has lateral quickness. Solid Puller, he has whiffed on some blocks because his balance needs improvement, but he identifies his assignment most of time.

Overall, Cole is a solid prospect. I believe he would have a higher level of success if he were to move to C or RG. He would be effective as a run blocker in a gap/man blocking scheme. May need to learn the position first, so give him a season to adjust.

 

Full Frank Ragnow Scouting Report

4-year starter at Arkansas. A very tall Center, appears to be a little taller than reported, for his height he is a little underweight, long arms and legs. Legs seem to be lacking some build.

Solid Athletic Ability, has some balance issues, hips are a little stiff, overall movement is well below average. Good Mental Processing, smart enough to be used in a zone scheme, well aware of his 1st and 2nd assignment. Great Competitive Toughness, loves putting his opponents to the ground, very tough dude – including mentally, didn’t miss a snap after his father’s passing mid-season. Great Play Strength, will not have much trouble with above average opponents, rare for him to lose entirely because of strength. Great Run Blocker, his great strength helps create a lot of movement, best when attempting his angle block. Good Gap Blocker, his strength allows him to twist the DT and really open a gap, has some quickness to be a quality down blocker.

His play speed is lacking, mainly because of his large size. Struggles heavily vs the quick/elusive players out in open space, not consistent at reaching his screen assignment. He sits very high in his pass blocking technique allowing bull rushers to take advantage, does not stay parallel with the LOS. Very late at picking up blitzers. Does not get out of his stance quick enough to be considered a puller, his stiff hips make it difficult for him. His hands are powerful, but he has had bad placement and a little grabby.

Overall, Ragnow is a solid prospect. A power running scheme would be a perfect fit for him. He’s a guy who will likely be in the league a long time but may not be the best around.