Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
53-John Abraham (DE/OLB, 6-4, 263, 35, 14, South Carolina)
Per Scouts Inc:
Abraham has played a lot of snaps for the Falcons in the past seven years (and that's after six years with the Jets). While he has lost a step, he still brings a solid rush coming off the edge. What he has lost in speed and acceleration, he makes up for with a solid array of counter moves and effort. He's quick to read blocking schemes, does a solid job of locating the level of the ball and taking good angles. But Abraham has been used more in pass-rush situations than on early downs over the past few years. He plays with a good pad level and does a good job of feeling pressure as he works his way to the ball. He knows how to use his hands and rarely gets stuck to blocks. He isn't a liability against the run, but it's not a strength. He will continue to be used as a situational player over the next few years.
3-Run Defense
4-Pass Rush
4-Quickness
3-Strength
5-Recognition
4-Durability
2012 Stats: 35 tackles, 10.0 sacks
Career Stats: 508 tackles, 122 sacks
Abraham not only makes our pass rush all the more threatening, he makes our offensive tackles better prepared to block the very good pass rushing DEs---which has been an issue for years, as there was no proven, bona fide edge rusher to practice against. Most of all, he gives the Cardinals a chance to be able to provide extreme pressure on the QB with a 4 man rush---which is a luxury in today's NFL that allows DCs to play larger numbers in coverage.
19-Nick Edwards (WR, 6-3, 200, 23, R, Eastern Washington)
A walk-on who burst onto the NCAA College Football Subdivision scene as a junior in 2011, where he caught 95 passes for 1,250 yards and 19 TDs (#1 in NCAA CF Subdivision). Watching his highlights---he's got excellent size, body control and hands---can really pluck the ball in mid-air and can adjust to poor throws. Plays faster than his 4.6 40 would indicate. Gets very good separation---but can he in the NFL? See his tape:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEmF3AX92-4
89-Charles Hawkins (WR, 5-8, 180, 22, R, Southern)
Speedy and elusive---the coaches have been raving about him thus far:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgNz0h2sbGg
44-Kenny Rowe (OLB, 6-3, 232, 24, 1, Oregon)
Classic pass rushing tweener. Seems like a long shot to make the team, especially since the other OLBers can slide down and play rush DE in a 4 man front.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tpqxb5OTws
1-Robby Toma (WR, 5-9, 185, 22, R, Notre Dame)
Diminutive, shifty slot WR---teammate of Michael Floyd's. Perhaps Floyd put in a good word.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK3YbP0dyMY
65-Eric Winston (T, 6-7, 302, 29, 8, Miami)
Per Scouts' Inc.:
Winston possesses good size with above-average initial quickness, agility and body control. He's a solid technician who knows how to get a quick fit with his hands and enough upper body strength to steer opponents away from the hole or the pocket. He brings a solid work ethic and hasn't missed a game since becoming a starter for the Texans in 2006. He's more of a finesse blocker than a road grader, but he shows solid base strength and the ability to hunker down and stymie the rush coming off the edge when pass blocking. He works hard to keep his feet active as he works to finish blocks off, and he plays with an aggressive attitude. He's not a natural knee-bender, so he has to work hard to keep his pad level down and tends to get upright after engaging blocks.
4-Run Blocking
5-Pass Blocking
5-Recognition
4-Mobility
3-Versatility
5-Durability
The past few years Winston has helped pave the way for big rushing seasons by Arian Foster and Jamaal Charles. His agent over-priced his value on the market---and perhaps some teams are wary of his outspoken nature. That said, this guy is a very good right tackle. Not elite or outstanding---but very good. He's about as loyal a teammate as one will find---he knows that if he helps solidify and upgrade our offensive line, he will earn a good, fair contract extension.
Here's another sampling of his outspokenness---it was in reaction to Mike Lombardi calling the Texans' o-line "finesse."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JVoYk5hmbU
Scouts' Inc. 2013 Free Agent Grades---thought you'd be interested to see what grades they had on the players we signed. I don't agree with them all, but i think they bring up good discussion points.
90-100 Elite Player
80-89 Outstanding Player
70-79 Good Starter
60-69 Average Starter
50-59 Good Backup
40-49 Special Teamers/Below Average Backups
83-Dansby
79-Cason
79-Shaughnessy
78-Winston
77-Abraham
77-Mendenhall
75-Brinkley
70-Rucker
69-Bell
64-Powers
63-Johnson, R.
63-Rachal
60-Alexander
57-McCann
52-Stanton
51-Amaya
46-Taylor
Per Scouts Inc:
Abraham has played a lot of snaps for the Falcons in the past seven years (and that's after six years with the Jets). While he has lost a step, he still brings a solid rush coming off the edge. What he has lost in speed and acceleration, he makes up for with a solid array of counter moves and effort. He's quick to read blocking schemes, does a solid job of locating the level of the ball and taking good angles. But Abraham has been used more in pass-rush situations than on early downs over the past few years. He plays with a good pad level and does a good job of feeling pressure as he works his way to the ball. He knows how to use his hands and rarely gets stuck to blocks. He isn't a liability against the run, but it's not a strength. He will continue to be used as a situational player over the next few years.
3-Run Defense
4-Pass Rush
4-Quickness
3-Strength
5-Recognition
4-Durability
2012 Stats: 35 tackles, 10.0 sacks
Career Stats: 508 tackles, 122 sacks
Abraham not only makes our pass rush all the more threatening, he makes our offensive tackles better prepared to block the very good pass rushing DEs---which has been an issue for years, as there was no proven, bona fide edge rusher to practice against. Most of all, he gives the Cardinals a chance to be able to provide extreme pressure on the QB with a 4 man rush---which is a luxury in today's NFL that allows DCs to play larger numbers in coverage.
19-Nick Edwards (WR, 6-3, 200, 23, R, Eastern Washington)
A walk-on who burst onto the NCAA College Football Subdivision scene as a junior in 2011, where he caught 95 passes for 1,250 yards and 19 TDs (#1 in NCAA CF Subdivision). Watching his highlights---he's got excellent size, body control and hands---can really pluck the ball in mid-air and can adjust to poor throws. Plays faster than his 4.6 40 would indicate. Gets very good separation---but can he in the NFL? See his tape:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEmF3AX92-4
89-Charles Hawkins (WR, 5-8, 180, 22, R, Southern)
Speedy and elusive---the coaches have been raving about him thus far:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgNz0h2sbGg
44-Kenny Rowe (OLB, 6-3, 232, 24, 1, Oregon)
Classic pass rushing tweener. Seems like a long shot to make the team, especially since the other OLBers can slide down and play rush DE in a 4 man front.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tpqxb5OTws
1-Robby Toma (WR, 5-9, 185, 22, R, Notre Dame)
Diminutive, shifty slot WR---teammate of Michael Floyd's. Perhaps Floyd put in a good word.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK3YbP0dyMY
65-Eric Winston (T, 6-7, 302, 29, 8, Miami)
Per Scouts' Inc.:
Winston possesses good size with above-average initial quickness, agility and body control. He's a solid technician who knows how to get a quick fit with his hands and enough upper body strength to steer opponents away from the hole or the pocket. He brings a solid work ethic and hasn't missed a game since becoming a starter for the Texans in 2006. He's more of a finesse blocker than a road grader, but he shows solid base strength and the ability to hunker down and stymie the rush coming off the edge when pass blocking. He works hard to keep his feet active as he works to finish blocks off, and he plays with an aggressive attitude. He's not a natural knee-bender, so he has to work hard to keep his pad level down and tends to get upright after engaging blocks.
4-Run Blocking
5-Pass Blocking
5-Recognition
4-Mobility
3-Versatility
5-Durability
The past few years Winston has helped pave the way for big rushing seasons by Arian Foster and Jamaal Charles. His agent over-priced his value on the market---and perhaps some teams are wary of his outspoken nature. That said, this guy is a very good right tackle. Not elite or outstanding---but very good. He's about as loyal a teammate as one will find---he knows that if he helps solidify and upgrade our offensive line, he will earn a good, fair contract extension.
Here's another sampling of his outspokenness---it was in reaction to Mike Lombardi calling the Texans' o-line "finesse."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JVoYk5hmbU
Scouts' Inc. 2013 Free Agent Grades---thought you'd be interested to see what grades they had on the players we signed. I don't agree with them all, but i think they bring up good discussion points.
90-100 Elite Player
80-89 Outstanding Player
70-79 Good Starter
60-69 Average Starter
50-59 Good Backup
40-49 Special Teamers/Below Average Backups
83-Dansby
79-Cason
79-Shaughnessy
78-Winston
77-Abraham
77-Mendenhall
75-Brinkley
70-Rucker
69-Bell
64-Powers
63-Johnson, R.
63-Rachal
60-Alexander
57-McCann
52-Stanton
51-Amaya
46-Taylor
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