Give An Early Grade of the Bears 2012 Draft
Round 1- OLB/DE Shea McClellin
Notes: Also played baseball and basketball as an Idaho prep. Grayshirted in 2007. Appeared in 10 games in ’08, registering 14 tackles, one tackle for loss and one sack with three forced fumbles, and missed the final three games because of a knee injury. Saw action in 13 games, starting the final 11 contests at defensive end, and posted 36-6-3 with two passes batted down and one interception in ’09. Missed the season opener against Oregon (hamstring). Was an all-conference performer and named the team’s Defensive Lineman of the Year in ’10 after totaling 30-131⁄2-91⁄2 with one interception (36-yard touchdown return vs. Toledo) and one forced fumble in 13 starts. Recovered a fumble for touchdown against Wyoming, becoming the first Bronco to score on an interception return and a fumble return in the same season since 1999. Was the team leader in tackles for loss and sacks in ’11 after logging 50-121⁄2-7 with two interceptions, one forced fumble and a blocked kick in 13 starts at DE spot. Added 12 pounds from Senior Bowl to Combine.
Positives: Outstanding size. Has large, quick hands and uses them actively in unison with his feet — efficient mover. Good movement skills and body control. Has quick first step and can turn the corner. Effective looping and stunting. Locates the ball. Wrap tackler. Can drop into short zones. Competes and plays hard — motor always runs. Played from two- and three-point stance. Has special-teams experience and the appropriate makeup. Showed well against Georgia’s Cordy Glenn. Smart, aware and assignment-sound. Solid Senior Bowl performance. Terrific character and work habits.
Negatives: Marginal weight-room strength — managed only 19 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press at the Combine. Has tweener traits — lacks ideal bulk and strength for a defensive end and lacks ideal flexibility and explosiveness for a linebacker. Overmatched by power — pinballed by double teams. Needs to improve pass-rush variety. Average edge burst at the top of his rush.
Summary: Lean, smooth-muscled, active, instinctive, college defensive end with a relentless temperament. Functional, character football player who plays better than he tests and could warrant consideration as a stand-up, upfield 3-4 rush ’backer. Versatility and dependability increase comfort level and could drive up draft status.
Round 2- WR Alshon Jeffery
Strengths
- Very strong hands
- Powerful build (6-foot-4, 229 pounds)
- Great red zone threat with tremendous leaping ability
- Long strider with deceptive speed in short area
- Tracks the ball well over both shoulders
- Excellent body control - makes a lot of acrobatic catches
- Extremely productive in 2010 (88 receptions, 1,517 yards and nine touchdowns)
- Willing blocker and uses his size to his advantage
- Hard to tackle in the open field - strong stiff arm and respectable elusiveness
- Insane potential as a pro
Weaknesses
- Major drop-off in production from 2010 to '11 (largely due to the team's quarterback and running back woes)
- May struggle to gain separation at the next level
- Lacks quick feet off the line and top-end speed
- Major bust factor
- Drops too many passes - needs to catch more with his hands and not his body so much; could be concentration lapses
- Ejected versus Nebraska for throwing a punch
- Ran simplistic routes in college and is very raw in this area
- Unrefined as a blocker - needs to learn better technique
Round 3- S Brandon Hardin
Notes:
A track standout as a Hawaiian prep. Redshirted in 2007. Saw action in 13 games at cornerback in ’08, making 13 tackles, zero pass breakups and no interceptions with half a tackle for loss. Fractured his left hand and right wrist in early October against Utah and played the rest of the season with the injuries. Was part of a three-man rotation at cornerback in ’09 while playing in all 13 games with three starts at right cornerback and recording 29-4-1. Made all 12 starts at RCB in ’10 with 63-3-0 with 1 1⁄2 tackles for loss, one sack, three forced fumbles and one blocked extra point. Graduated in June. Missed the ’11 season after suffering a broken shoulder, which required surgery, during fall camp but returned to play in the East-West Shrine Game in January ’12.
Positives:
Excellent size and athletic ability. Has played corner and safety and has extensive experience locked in man coverage. Good balance, hip flex, change of direction and body control for his size. Can turn and run vertical. Zone-aware. Supports the run aggressively. Heavy hitter. Plays with awareness and football intelligence. Has the traits and mentality for special teams. Outstanding character and makeup.
Negatives:
Could improve press technique. Average pedal fluidity. Lacks ideal explosion and recovery burst to survive on an island. Stressed by smaller, quicker receivers (gives up separation at the top of stems). Minimal ball production. Does not always arrive under control to tackle. At times gets wired to blocks. Relatively inexperienced (only one full season as a starter).Summary:Intriguing size-speed prospect who looks like a safety and was athletic enough to play corner in college. Has desirable intangibles and at worst should be a versatile, valuable backup and core special-teams player. Has more upside than former OSU safety Sabby Piscitelli, who was overdrafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2007.
Round 4- TE/FB Evan Rodriguez
Notes:Was a quarterback and safety as a New Jersey prep, and also played basketball. Began his college career at West Virginia, where he redshirted in 2007. Had a felony assault charge reduced to a misdemeanor disturbance and trespassing charge after having an alleged physical altercation with a female residence hall advisor. Transferred to Temple in ’08 and had to sit out the season per NCAA requirement. Had hernia surgery on his right side in the spring. Was arrested for disorderly conduct in April 2009. Played in all 13 games (seven starts) in ’09 and hauled in 13 catches for 145 yards (11.2-yard average) and two touchdowns. Started 9-of-11 games in ’10 and caught 21-247-2 (11.8). Did not play against Akron (broke team rule). In ’11, started 12-of-13 games played and tallied 35-479-2 (13.7). Only non-start was because team opened in a three-WR set.
Positives:Very athletic. Flexible hips and fluid movement skills. Very good balance and body control. Catches easily and has a wide catching radius. Effective move blocker — fits on linebackers and is able to adjust to moving targets.
Negatives:Not tough or physical — could stand to get stronger and become more of a finisher. Gets outmuscled in line. Too reliant on athletic ability — not a savvy route runner. Limited elusiveness and tackle-breaking ability. Is immature and does not know what it means to be a pro. Character and dependability need to be investigated.
Summary:Athletic, finesse, high-maintenance “move” player with tweener traits and off-the-field red flags. Would benefit from the presence of a demanding father-figure presence in a city far from the East Coast, where trouble has followed him.
Round 6- CB Isaiah Frey
Positives -- Has good length and size for the position, a taller corner... Has good straight line speed and moves well for his size, can turn and run and despite his height can do it with a relatively low pad level... Can get out of his back pedal and into chase mode quickly... His ability to find the football in theair is a plus, does well in both zone and man coverage... Uses his length well when closing on the football, generally only offers a small window, doesn't give up the big play when the ball is in the air... His is aggressive and will go for the big play, but also plays smart, picks his spots wisely... Had a breakout senior season, his 21 passes defended tied for first in the nation; also recorded five picks, earned honorable mention All-American honors from Sports Illustrated... Durable, hasn't missed a game in four seasons.
Negatives -- Needs to show he can be physical when needed, he doesn't bring that part of his game on a consistent basis... Lateral movement gives him trouble in coverage and is exposed easily... Opens the gate too often, lets the receiver get to the second level with ease... Press coverage ability needs to improve, plays the technique too flat-footed which gets him in bad position... Plays very little with his hands in press coverage, makes it too easy for the offensive player... His poor footwork allows him to be knocked off balance in coverage and has trouble regaining his initial speed when this happens... When he gets too high he loses his natural bend and plays stiff, loses his burst to make the quick plays... NFL quarterbacks will make him pay for all the space he gives wide receivers to work with, was a box score player in the WAC due to poor quarterback play.
Round 7- CB Greg McCoy
Positives -- Decent size for a nickle cornerback at the next level... Plays better in off coverage, which allows him to read and react... When he sees the play develop, he has a better ability to read routes and make plays... Takes good angles to the football when reading the football... Is quick in short areas,and is able to make plays on the ball... Looks better on the inside of the formation, he has the ability to play man coverage in close quarters... His real value lies in his kick return abilities, ranked sixth in the nation with a 30.6 average per return in 2011, including two touchdowns; was named the Mountain West Conference's special teams player of the year and selected to the All-American team as a return specialist by CBS and Yahoo!... Recorded a second quarter interception in the Poinsettia Bowl and was named defensive player of the game as TCU came back to beat Louisiana Tech.
Negatives -- His size will come into question, especially when it comes to bigger wide receivers... In coverage, has a hard time flipping his hips and getting vertical with the man he is covering... Has good speed, but doesn't have that extra gear to get on top of receivers... Against faster competition, he will have to improve his technique or he will be beaten over the top with ease... Allows receivers get inside and has trouble keeping up with them after the snap of the ball... Has a hard time setting the edge in run support, and can be moved off his spot at will... His tackling is below average due to lack of strength... Was solid as the collegiate level, but bigger and faster players might prove too much in the NFL... Has to prove that he can contribute in the secondary because he won't last long at the next level as just a return specialist.
