December 23, 2012; Tampa, FL, USA; St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford (8) drops back against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second quarter at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL Draft is an incredibly in depth process of both physical and mental evaluation of potential NFL players.  Every major media outlet covers the NFL scouting combine and several of them even have their own “scouting experts” create player profiles for each future NFL player.  Of course ESPN has its own scouting department that creates fairly detailed player profiles every year, and after reviewing some of the latest profiles for the upcoming 2013 NFL Draft it got me thinking about the accuracy of these scouting reports.  That of course got me thinking about the scouting profiles of the young gunslingers in the NFC West and how accurate they appear to be given the limited evidence available.  Without even looking at the scouting reports you could probably assume that Russell Wilson’s scouting report sold him short, while some would argue that Sam Bradford’s scouting report must have been way too generous.  Since these 3 players weren’t in the same draft classes, there are some minor differences to the way their scouting profiles were done by the folks at ESPN.  The QB specific traits vary a little from year to year, with 4 distinct categories for Russell Wilson but 5 for each of the other two.  For the purposes of this comparison though it was trimmed down to 4 categories total by combining two of the categories for Bradford and Kaepernick and creating a composite score.  Here is the table with each players scouting profile, which I will follow up with some discussion on each player including comments from their scouting profiles.

Sam Bradford.  Sam was taken with the first overall choice in the 2010 NFL Draft for a reason, he is an incredibly talented QB who had some very impressive numbers while at Oklahoma.  With an overall grade of 97 from the scouting profile it is easy to see that he has the ability to become an elite player, but even with such a high grade he isn’t without some negatives.  For most draft analysts the biggest question marks surrounding Bradford were health related, and more specifically as it related to his surgically repaired shoulder.  Bradford possesses the prototypical height and weight for an NFL quarterback, with above average athleticism for the position and an above average but not elite arm.  Mentally Bradford has very high football IQ as well as toughness.  His poise under pressure and calm leadership style are also noted in the scouting report.  Bradford did come from a spread offense where audibles were called from the sideline, which was a big question mark in his scouting profile.  He also showed a lack of patience in the red zone and an unwillingness to give up on a play.  The final negative in Bradford’s scouting report was related to his mental clock and an occasional failure to sense the rush.  So far in Bradford’s NFL career it is safe to say the scouting report on him was fairly accurate, although he has proven that durability with the shoulder isn’t a concern his toughness and willingness to play hurt cost him during the 2011 season.  The constant carousel at offensive coordinator also appears to have cost him some when it comes to audibles and red zone efficiency.  His mental clock appeared to have been sped up a little bit too fast there for a while, but with the health issues that the Rams have had along the offensive line its fairly understandable.  Bradford could take a huge step forward in the 2013 season, with the same offensive coordinator in place for the first time in his NFL career his command of the offense should improve.

Colin Kaepernick.  Much like Sam Bradford, Colin Kaepernick possesses prototypical size for an NFL quarterback.  That is pretty much where the similarities end between the two of them as Kaepernick is an elite athlete for the position, having clocked a 4.53 40 yard dash time at the combine.  That speed was displayed in unforgettable fashion against the Green Bay Packers in the 2012 playoffs as Kaepernick set an NFL record for rushing yards by a quarterback.  Kaepernick also possesses elite arm strength, but his delivery mechanics dropped his grade in that category on his draft profile.  When looking at Kaepernick’s grades you pretty much see 2′s across the board for him, however in the actual scouting report he was given a 1 and a 4 that I took the liberty of combining into a 2 for the purpose of this comparison.  The 4 was largely due to the perceived difficulty he would have learning a pro style offense after having run the pistol in college, so my decision to make the combined score a 2 versus a 3 was definitely affected by his level of play in 2012.  The interesting thing about Kaepernick’s profile is that a lot of his positives come with a “but”.  His grade for pocket mobility was a 3, and even though he is an excellent athlete his grade suffered because a lack of “pocket awareness” and seemingly being too willing to tuck the ball and run.  His accuracy was also an interesting grade, the write up mostly cites his mechanics for inconsistent accuracy but also noted that short and underneath routes are the most difficult for him.  His leadership abilities and physical gifts are the highlights of his scouting profile, while questions about his ability to manage an NFL offense and refine his QB skills were the primary negatives.

Russell Wilson.  At this time last year it is very likely you had no idea who Russell Wilson was, and probably didn’t take much note when the Seattle Seahawks drafted him in the 3rd round.  Wilson’s overall rating of 69 reflects just how much stock draft analysts put into the height/weight/speed measurables when churning out grades.  In fact while giving him a 4 rating in that category the scouting profile states that there was no starting quarterback shorter than 6′.  Of course the ratings aren’t entirely focused around his height, as there were other legitimate questions regarding his abilities coming out of college.  In fact the only area where Wilson was given a 1 rating was on his production, as he was a very productive player while at both North Carolina State and Wisconsin.     He had above average marks for his pocket mobility, intangibles and mental makeup categories citing his leadership abilities and decision making as big positives.  He received an average score for both accuracy and release/arm strength which seems about right after watching him play in the NFL.  One area he seemed to struggle with in particular in the NFL is fitting the ball into receivers that aren’t wide open, something that would be affected by both accuracy and arm strength.  Of course Wilson scored a below average score for the height/weight/speed category due to his height, but he also scored below average for his durability.  In college he missed games due to concussion, shoulder injury and torn PCL in his knee.  The scouting report did state that he had remained healthy following that knee injury, but that once again his frame makes durability more of a concern.  The Seahawks were very smart about how they used Wilson in 2012 and tried to use the playbook to protect Wilson from unnecessary hits, but with an entire offseason of tape on Wilson and the Seahawks offense I wouldn’t be surprised ot see more teams getting more hits on Wilson in 2013. 

Conclusion.  When looking at these scouting profiles you have to remember that they are grading these players in terms of ability, not necessarily assigning them with “future NFL career” rating.  A players success in the NFL is dependent upon so many things, the first of all being their relative health and the second probably being their fit within a scheme.  So far Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick have found themselves in ideally suited schemes while escaping the 2012 seasons unscathed.  Sam Bradford on the other hand lost pretty much his entire sophomore season to injury, and has jumped from scheme to scheme (none of which seem to be tailored to his abilities) since entering the NFL.  Based upon each of these players NFL careers up to this point a majority of people would say that these rating systems are seriously flawed.  I personally am a big believer in Sam Bradford and his abilities and have the same belief that Jeff Fisher has that Bradford could develop into “the best QB in the NFL”.  He has all of the tools to become that type of player, and as the Rams continue their climb from most dysfunctional franchise in the NFL towards respectability he is going to play a huge part in their successes or failures.  Bradford has played slightly above average for an NFL quarterback in his first 3 NFL seasons, while leading a team stocked with mostly average or below average players.  If the Rams front office has the type of offseason success they enjoyed in 2012 then the Rams could be a perennial contender within 2-3 years right as Bradford should be hitting his prime.  The future appears bright for the St. Louis Rams, and it all starts with the Heisman Trophy winner from Oklahoma.  Thanks for reading and as always Go Rams!!!

Sep 8, 2012; Knoxville, TN, USA; Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (84) runs the ball against the Georgia State Panthers during the game at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports

The losses of veteran wide receivers Danny Amendola and Brandon Gibson was a dagger to Sam Bradfords chest. Although, with the addition of four time pro bowler left tackle Jake Long and former Titan tight end Jared Cook, Bradford will be looking forward to a solid 2013 offensive performance. Regardless of the helpful additions to the Rams offense, it’s still evident that the Rams must give Bradford more weapons. Since the Rams haven’t even put their toes into the free agency pool, it’s obvious that the Rams will be looking to solidify their receiving corps in the 2013 national draft.

For the past month, Cordarralle Patterson and Tavon Austin have been seperating themselves from the rest of the receiving corps due to their explosive performances at the combine and their pro days. Why directly compare Austin and Patterson? It’s simple, both players kick/punt return and both players are heavily involved in the passing and running game. With the NFL slowly evolving into a more slot receiving happy league, it would make sense for either player to land with the Rams – but which one?

Tavon Austin - 5 foot 9 / 178 pounds
Wide Receiver - West Virginia
Sam Bradford is missing his safety blanket in Danny Amendola, as he left for the New England Patriots for a more lucrative deal.  Outsiders looking in, would simply say “its just a slot receiver,” and you can’t argue with that. But Tiger Woods is just a golfer, he just also happens to be a damn good one and Tavon Austin is exactly that. Over the past two years, there was no question that Austin has been one of the most exciting and explosive players in college football.

Austin made a name for himself as a sophomore with eight touchdowns on 58 receptions for 787 yards in 2010. As a Junior he did not disappoint. The junior caught 101 passes for 1,186 yards and eight touchdowns.
As a Senior, Austin and Geno Smith tore apart secondaries. Austin totaled 114 receptions for 1,289 yards and 12 touchdowns this year. He also had 72 carries for 643 yards and three touchdowns. Austin was a genius in turning an average play into big yardage.
With Bradford not having the luxury to look out wide to a reliable receiver, it would make a lot sense for the Rams to snatch this dynamic slot receiver to help Bradford turn those dinky little 3 yard dump offs to short passes that go to the house.

Strengths

• Explosive
• Elite speed
• Good route runner
• Contributes as RB/Returner
• Good Hands
• Stretches the defense
• Threat to score on any possession
• Entertainer

Weaknesses

• Very undersized
• May lack the physicality to take constant hits
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Jan 26, 2013; Mobile, AL, USA; Senior Bowl north squad defensive back Jonathan Cyprien of Florida International (37) prior to kickoff of a game against the Senior Bowl south squad at Ladd-Peebles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Free agency is well into it’s process. The Miami Dolphins and Cleveland Browns have been digging deep into their pockets to collect the players they think will make them a better team. The Rams signed former Tennessee Titan tight end Jared Cook, to a five year 35 million dollar deal. ‘Experts’ have had mixed reviews about this pick up. Some suggest that it’s a great fit and that he will help benefit Sam Bradford’s young career, while others suggest that 35 million dollars is too much to throw at a player whose never caught more than 50 balls. For some reason, football fans are obsessed with new free agent signings within their football team, while many forget to care about re-signing important players that are currently on their team’s roster. The most successful teams over the years i.e. Ravens, Packers, Steelers, Giants and Patriots, have made very little splashes annually in the free agency pool. This goes to show that re-signing current players and drafting well is how teams win the Lombardi Trophy.  This is why the Rams’ re-signing of defensive linemen Jermelle Cudjo and William Hayes has been the best news of this offseason thus far, while the departures of Danny Amendola and Steven Jackson has been the worst. While it is very hard not to get excited when Rams sign new players (Jake Long, anybody?), it’s the draft which is where the Superbowl is made.

Two players will be analyzed weekly (one from defense and one from offense) based on their current form.
This isn’t a mock draft. This is simply an analysis of high valued players that will enter the 2013 NFL draft, so that readers are more knowledgeable of each high draft prospect come draft time.

OFFENSE
Kyle Long (6 foot 6, 315 pounds)
Offensive Tackle/Guard (Oregon)
Jake Long has been the talk of the town for Ram fans over the past five days. Recently it has been reported that Long has left St.Louis without a deal and many suggest that this means that the Rams are no longer on his radar. Interested teams won’t be willing to give him his 11 million dollar deal that he thinks he’s worth, due to the constant injuries he has suffered over the years. Long wouldn’t have left St.Louis without a deal to ponder about. Rams would’ve offered him a deal lower than the 11 million that he believes he’s worth and while he meets and greets other teams, he will jump on board with the team who offers him the most. Will the Rams still take on an early draft pick to fix up the offensive line if Jake Long decides to be a Ram?

Kyle Long would be a fantastic addition to the Rams team. Not only is he the brother of St.Louis Ram defensive end Chris Long, but Kyle Long brings a fierce competitive streak and is very versatile on the line. If Jake Long were to be the Rams left tackle, this would move current left tackle Roger Saffold to the right side and Kyle Long to the guard position. It has been mentioned before that if Jake Long were to be signed, Roger Saffold will either ask to be traded, or will want to test the following free agent market in 2014. Either way, this means that the Rams must find an answer at the right tackle position. Kyle Long possesses the size and strength to move defensive ends off their feet. Long has amazing flexibility for his size, which allows him to get low, twist his hips and use his long arms to pursue defenders during the play. Although Kyle Long is a physical freak, the one downfall he does have is that he lacks getting downfield to lay a solid block on linebackers.
Draft range – second/third round

Jonathan Cyprien (6 foot 0, 217 pounds)
Strong Safety (Florida International)
It will be interesting to see how the Rams solve their safety woes this offseason. The Rams held a meeting with current Detroit Lion safety Louis Delmas and was reported that he was only offered a one year deal, due to his knee issues from the past. Unless Jeff Fisher believes that either Rodney McLeod or Matt Daniels can step in and be a starter for the Rams, expect a free agency pick up. Experience is necessary for the safety positions, because if they don’t pick up a safety in the free agency, the Rams will be going into the 2013 season with either Rodney McLeod or Matt Daniels and a player from the 2013 draft, or both from the 2013 draft. None of which will have an NFL start.

When you first look at Cyprien, you instantly notice a certain thickness in his build. He looks like a weak-side linebacker, who can cover like a free safety. Cyprien can lay a massive hit on the ball carrier and can cover the slot receiver and tight end exceptionally well. He is a really intense player. He was the vocal leader of the defense and he brings an exciting and noticable passion to the field. When he lays hits, he lets you know about it. He’s the sort of guy who will get under the under offense’s skin, without drawing a penalty. The biggest concern about his game is whether or not he’ll be able to keep up with the NFL pace. Florida International to the NFL is a much bigger jump than most projected first rounders have to make. So it will be interesting to see if Cyprien can hold his own and keep up with the fast paced NFL.
Draft range – late first/mid second round

Follow @davebarber92 for more updates

Follow the links to previous Ramblin Fan Draft Previews:
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