|
By Frank Coyle
SportsLine Football Analyst
Quarterback Donovan McNabb (1, 2) may need some time, but he's
exactly what new coach Andy Reid is looking for in their West Coast-style
offense. Barry Gardner (2, 35) was a productive player at Northwestern,
but I thought he was a bit of a reach here. However, he does have
the tools to be a starter. Guard Doug Brzezenski (3, 64) has a chance
to start as rookie. He's a good player and may be the solution to
their problems on the inside.
The Picks
1st Round - 2nd Overall
Donovan McNabb, Quarterback
6'2" - 220 - Syracuse - 4.6 - Rating: 92
This athletically gifted passer finished a tremendous career as
the only four time first team All-Big East performer. Donovan is
the best athlete in this year's terrific quarterback class. He is
a solidly built passer with excellent athleticism that has made
him dangerous whether throwing or running with the ball. As a four
year starter, he has really benefited from returning for his final
season using the playing experience to refine his top skills. McNabb
has a strong arm with the ability to make all the throws, although
his development may have been hindered by playing in an option offense.
During his final season, he stepped his game up another notch and
led Syracuse to their third straight Big East title. He completed
his college playing experience with an incredible week at the Senior
bowl. During the week, he left NFL personnel men and scouts amazed
at how fast he picked up a new system. He really responded to the
coaching of the Raiders' Jon Gruden, taking in all the suggestions
and working the practices flawlessly. He looked great during workouts
and showed the ability to make all the throws with precision timing
and a nice touch. For a passer that spent his career in an option,
that performance left scouts impressed with his ability to adjust
quickly and perform at a high level. In '98, he threw for 2,134
yards with 157 completions on 251 attempts for a 62% completion
rate with 22 TDs and 5 interceptions. He is an incredible athlete
who displays rare athletic ability for the position: fine size,
strength, quick footwork, toughness and the running skills of a
tailback. As a passer, he throws in a 3/4 motion where he drops
his elbow on his delivery. He does not have extensive experience
as a pocket passer. He has excellent footwork with dangerous scrambling
ability and has proven to be a top passer on the move with the ability
to make the impossible play. His improvisational skills are amazing
and his combination of throwing arm and footwork are what NFL scouts
seek in premier pro passers. He is similar to the Steelers' Kordell
Stewart, though more advanced as a passer and a better athlete.
In '97, he completed 145 passes on 265 attempts for 2,488 yards
with 20 TDs and 6 interceptions. He also ran for 6 TDs. His delivery
needs refinement, although his accuracy improved over his senior
season. He had a recurring problem over his career fumbling the
center snap. In this year's Tennessee game, he fumbled five times
during the exchange. This propensity to fumble the snap continued
at Senior Bowl practices. He is a confidant, hard-working young
passer with a strong arm and the athletic talent to be capable of
making every throw needed to be an elite NFL QB. With some refinement,
he has the talent to be among the best in the game, but needs the
necessary time to fully develop.
[Back to Top]
2nd Round - 35th Overall
Barry Gardner, Linebacker
6'0" - 245 - Northwestern - 4.75 - Rating: 65
Productive non-stop linebacker earned first team All-Big Ten honors
as a senior, totaling 175 tackles with 122 solo stops to lead the
Big Ten for the second straight year. He has good skills, though
he does not stand out in any area. He does not always play up to
his timed speed in coverage or on the outside. At the combine, he
had a fine showing and ran a 4.76 time, did 25 reps and had a 33"
vertical jump. He is very strong for his size, and plays with good
leverage when taking on or shedding blockers. He has a solid compact
frame and shows the power and toughness to finish plays with sure
tackling. He has adequate quickness to fill the hole, but can have
problems at the point of attack against bigger linemen. He has improved
in pass coverage, showing the ability to read plays and drop quickly,
but is still a work in progress in that area. Aggressive linebacker
with the tools to challenge for a starting job in time. Tough special
teams performer with everything one looks for in that role.
[Back to Top]
3rd Round - 64th Overall
Doug Brzezinski, Guard
6'4" - 300 - Boston College - 5.3 - Rating: 92
Brzezinski completed a fine career with the Eagles as a two time
first team Big East performer as a junior and senior. He finished
his career with 46 consecutive starts, every game over his four
seasons as one of the best pure guard prospects in the nation. He
brings a street fighter mentality to the position plus the strength
and the agility that the position demands. As a four-year starter,
he displayed excellent strength, balance and agility to be a powerful
blocker within a limited area. He has also performed at a consistently
high level during his career and plays well late in games with the
outcome in the balance. He has a sturdy frame with a strong base
that allows him a powerful surge in the middle. He is quick on the
snap and plays with very good leverage, which allows him to fully
utilize his fine lower body power. He plays with sound technique
and shows the mobility to lead a runner around the corner, though
he has only marginal foot speed. He has improved while blocking
on the move, one of his only questionable areas in the trenches.
He has excellent weight room strength and uses it well combining
leverage with the toughness to finish his blocks very well. At the
combine, he did not run but lifted 28 times with the 225lbs. weight,
one of the better marks for the event. He has improved greatly over
his career especially as a pass protector. He sets up quickly and
uses sound positioning and has developed very quickly in use of
his hands to stop the initial charge. He has improved in adjusting
to secondary moves and has gotten better use of his good reach in
that area. He has a go for the throat approach and has performed
at a high level consistently over his career. At the Senior bowl
practices, he again demonstrated his tough physical approach and
was one of the better performers over the week. He also had a fine
game there, in addition to a nice effort the previous week at the
East-West game. He plays with intensity and the toughness to be
a solid starter as a pro, combining good physical skills with intangibles.
Though more a power player than finesse, he shows the footwork to
trap effectively and has developed into a sound technician who has
graded out very high throughout his career. He is the type of player
that you know exactly what you are getting and capable of being
plugged in at left guard for the next 10 years. He's a top 40 player
with a street fighter mentality and the intangibles to overcome
a few physical athletic limitations.
[Back to Top]
4th Round - 97th Overall
John Welbourn, Guard/Tackle
6'4" - 290 - California - 5.0 - Rating: 65
This rugged strong lineman completed a solid career in the Pac 10
at both guard and tackle. His stint at left tackle the past two
seasons has helped him develop his pass blocking skills against
some of the best speed rushers in the nation. He is a three-year
starter who lost time due to a knee injury that required surgery.
He has a solid base and is a sound technician who understands leverage
and blocking angles. He is a tough competitor and shows the strength
and balance to be a solid blocker in both the running and passing
game. His conversion to guard should be a smooth one after earlier
time spent on the inside. He has decent footwork for trapping but
lacks the foot speed to pull. He adjusts well after the initial
charge and resets himself quickly. He has developed a good hand
punch, which will advance him as a prospect on the inside. At the
combine, he ran a 5.08 time and did 24 reps in the lifting. He's
a tough competitor with sound technique and good intangibles.
[Back to Top]
4th Round - 128th Overall
Damon Moore, Safety
5'11" - 205 - Ohio State - 4.6 - Rating: 70
Aggressive, hard-hitting defender completed a fine career as one
of the surest tacklers in the nation. A steady performer for the
Buckeyes, playing a physical brand of football over his three starting
seasons. He is a strong, sure tackler who comes up to the line and
fills like a linebacker. He has played both safety spots and has
been productive in both. In '98, he made 81 tackles with 7 tackles
for loss, 2 sacks, 2 picks and 4 passes defensed. He did not workout
at Indy, but ran a 4.55 time at a private workout, an average speed
for the lightning quick Buckeye surface. He combines the hitting
power, sure tackling, range and toughness to be a solid pro strong
safety prospect. He possesses the strength to play over the tight
end in coverage as well as the agility and change of direction necessary
to play man-to-man, but he needs definite work in that area. He
has performed better in zone coverage where his marginal speed and
cover skills are not exploited. Physically tough defender with the
skills to start, but needs work in the important pass coverage skills.
Strong tackler, but one dimensional at this point.
[Back to Top]
4th Round - 130th Overall
Na Brown, Wide Receiver
6'0" - 185 - North Carolina - 4.5 - Rating: 80
Tough, productive wideout who was one of country's most underrated
performers in the country. Does not impress with big triangle numbers
but is a very polished receiver with soft hands and precise route
running skills to get open. Has ability to create excellent separation
from defenders, using good footwork and fakes. Solidly built wideout
quick off line and into cuts. Shows ability to get open consistently.
Very tough over middle and shows ability to adjust quickly to ball.
Will take the tough hit. Has body control and agility to consistently
make difficult catch showing very good hands. Show good speed and
running skills with the strength to break tackles and elusiveness
to make defenders miss. Marginal first day and top 100 pick and
an excellent No.2 type receiver more than a possession wideout.
Makes first downs and really moves the chains in addition to big-play
ability. Has a chance to be major middle-round steal with well-developed
receiving abilities. Excellent addition to an offense. As a senior,
caught 55 passes for 897 yards and 6 TDs and 16.3 yard average despite
the constantly changing Tar Heel QB situation. In '97, caught 55
passes for 610 yards and 4 TDs in another productive steady performance.
As a sophomore, caught 52 passes for 534 yards and 4 TDs displaying
the ability to make spectacular catches regularly.
[Back to Top]
6th Round - 172nd Overall
Cecil Martin, Fullback
6'1" - 240 - Wisconsin - 4.75 - Rating: 68
Powerful, senior fullback completed a fine career in the Badger
backfield as one of the top lead blockers in the nation. Cecil has
been instrumental in the success of tailback Ron Dayne over his
four seasons as the starting fullback. He is a powerfully built
back who caught nearly as many passes (61) as rushing attempts (64)
in his career. He lacks natural running skills but shows a strong
leg drive to get the most of every carry and averaged 4 yards per
carry over his career. As a receiver, he shows soft hands with the
ability to run precise routes and find openings in coverage. At
the Hula bowl though, he struggled catching the ball. He fights
the ball when adjusting to the play, though he has displayed reliable
hands over his career as an outlet receiver. As a blocker, he exhibited
nice power with the ability to control an opponent once he locks
on to him. However, he struggles when he has to change directions
and adjust on the move. At the point of attack, he can be a crushing
blocker, showing a strong surge with the desire to finish the play.
He has been a key performer in Ron Dayne's success as the Badger
feature runner in their run-oriented power game. Dayne totaled over
4500 yards in his three years with Cecil leading the way on most
carries. He understands his role and shows the consistency and tenacity
to get the job done on a weekly basis. Physical fullback with the
skills to become a starting NFL fullback and similar to the Giants'
Charles Way. Excellent intangibles and leadership qualities - team
player. Late steal with the physical and mental skills to be a tough
complimentary fullback.
[Back to Top]
6th Round - 201st Overall
Troy Smith, Wide Receiver
6'2" - 190 - East Carolina - 4.6 - Rating: 75
Sturdy, underrated well-built receiver who moves well and shows
natural receiving skills. Has good hands with the strength to break
tackles after the catch but is not the most elusive runner with
the ball. Shows nice adjustment to the ball with the body control
to shield defenders and work the sidelines. Played in the Blue-Gray
and Hula Bowl all-star games and made nice showing during practices
and games. Big, smooth athlete with good receiving skills but only
average speed and quickness. Late pick with the tools to surprise
but must work on his route running. Tough, possession-type wideout.
Competitive player who's tough over the middle and uses size well
in a crowd. As a senior, caught 44 passes for 719 yards and 4 TDs.
As a junior, caught 54 passes for 795 yards and 4 TDs. Also played
basketball during the 1996-97 season.
[Back to Top]
7th Round - 208th Overall
Jed Weaver, Tight End
6'4" - 245 - Oregon - 4.8 - Rating 62
Sturdy, athletic tight end started for the first time as a senior
and responded with a big effort to earn him All-Pac 10 first team
honors after catching 36 passes for 578 yards for an impressive
16.1 yard average and 4 TDs, showing well developed receiving skills
for a first year starter. He became one of QB Akili Smith's most
dependable receivers. He possesses soft hands and an understanding
of zone coverage to be a solid pro receiver in two tight end sets.
He has only average speed but gets the most of every play with his
strong running style. He was one of the most improved performers
in the nation last year. As a blocker, he provided a steady, consistent
effort that got the job done on a weekly basis. He plays with leverage
and shows good footwork but is certainly not an explosive blocker
at the point of attack. As an inline blocker, he will need strengthening
to fit into a short yardage or goal line two tight end set. His
receiving skills will be invaluable in two TE sets, showing an ability
to separate in coverage and get open consistently. He entered his
final year with only 4 career receptions, but certainly showed the
desire and dedication to contribute after making the squad as a
walk-on. He is the type of player who will step in and provide good
receiving and solid blocking if he shows the necessary improvement
in his strength and technique. Solid late pick with nice intangibles
and athletic tools to be a role player.
[Back to Top]
7th Round - 251st Overall
Pernell Davis, Defensive Tackle
6'4" - 300 - Alabama-Birmingham - 5.3
Big defensive tackle stuffs the run, but he seldom gets up the field.
[Back to Top]
Back to
1999 Draft Picks
s
|
