Mid-summer boredom is almost behind us. It’s time for football season. NFL teams have either reported or will be reporting this week to training camp. The NFL has had lots of intriguing storylines this spring and summer, including the end of Deflategate, Johnny Manziel’s demise, and Josh Gordon’s reinstatement. However, none of these topped the best part of the off-season, the NFL Draft. The Rams traded for the number one overall pick and took Cal’s Jared Goff. In a surprising move, the Eagles traded up to the number two slot to get the pride of North Dakota State, Carson Wentz. Other headlines included the Jaguars taking Jalen Ramsey, the Cardinals taking highly scrutinized prospect Robert Nkemdiche, and Myles Jack falling into the second round.
One for the Future: The 2017 NFL Draft
Some might be thinking, “Why is the NFL Draft the most intriguing part of the off-season? I heard more about Deflategate, Johnny Manziel, and concussions than the Draft.” First of all, the second part of this statement is true. You only hear a little about the draft up until it is about two weeks away. This is because the national media does not realize the importance of the draft. But, there are lots of reasons why the draft is the most important part of the off-season.
The most important part of the draft is that it represents the next generation of pro football. These players will be the next big stars of the NFL. They will be making pro bowls, getting huge contracts, and winning the Super Bowl in no time. This draft class will be your favorite players, your idols, and your worst enemies. Most importantly, they will have the responsibility of keeping the NFL at the top of the popularity polls.
With all of this being said, I think draft coverage should start way earlier than it does. So, I am going to give the scouting reports on three draft prospects I think should be watched during this upcoming college football season.
Prospect Reports
Jovon Robinson-RB-Auburn 6-0, 219lbs
Robinson has a great combination of speed, agility, and power. He has the ability to run over most defenders and always keeps his legs moving after contact. His strongest asset is his ability to avoid tackles. He can cut almost instantaneously and always will follow his blockers. He can be a very dangerous downhill runner if he has the blocking ahead of him. Robinson ran into problems when he tried to beat defenders to the sideline. He is not going to be able to turn the corner and outpace the secondary. However, I would say he has average to above average speed for his size. He is most efficient when used on runs in the A/B gaps with blockers out in front. I did not see any examples of his pass catching ability to this point.
Wayne Gallman-RB-Clemson 6-1, 215lbs
Gallman is one of those backs that is really good at a lot of different things. He has the ability to make defenders miss but also can lower his shoulder and run the defender over. Gallman has above average speed and is sure handed out of the backfield. He showed the ability to run crisp routes and is extremely dangerous in the open field. Gallman can cut on a dime and can’t be taken down with arm tackles.
He is a solid blocker out of the backfield and at times was a very good lead blocker for Deshaun Watson. Ball protection is something the can work on. He tends to carry the ball away from his body when he gets in the open field. Although, I would not say he has a fumbling problem. Gallman runs with a low center of gravity. This makes it harder for defenders to get a good hit on him, which allows him to keep his legs moving and break tackles.
Reuben Foster-LB-Alabama 6-1, 240lbs
-Foster is a big time all-around linebacker. At 6-1 and 240 pounds, he is a perfect 4-3 “Mike” linebacker. His most visible attribute is being a hard hitter. He can change the game in an instant by causing fumbles. Along with being a heavy hitter, he is also great in pass coverage. He has the ability to find the ball and change direction when the ball is in the air. His instincts in pass coverage are NFL ready right now. He always knows where to be in zone coverage and makes adjustments when needed. This makes his ceiling incredibly high.
All being said, he really has mediocre hands at best. Foster is also a pretty good pass rusher. He has the tendency to try to put a move on the lineman instead of trying to overpower him. Foster is also a great leader. He is always on top of any adjustments and does a great job of relaying them to teammates. Although I think that he is very smart, the problems that I can see are not physical, they are mental. Foster wants to deliver a big hit every time he has a chance. This causes some missed tackles that could have been avoided if he would have just wrapped up instead of lowering his shoulder. I would like to see him have the same mindset in tackling as he does in the pass game. A change in that mindset could catapult his stock.
Main Photo:
