Ramblin’ Fan 2014 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Each week leading up to the 2015 NFL Draft, we will analyze prospects about to enter the NFL this season. We will look at each player’s strengths, weaknesses and the possibility of these players fitting into the St. Louis Rams.

WR Jaelen Strong – Arizona State

Jalen Strong entered the Sun Devils program as a junior college product in 2013. In his first full season with Arizona State, he produced stellar numbers while playing injured. Strong entered the 2014 campaign with added muscle on his frame and with improved route-running. Looking more polished than ever, Strong produced 1,165 yards and 10 touchdowns during the 2014 season.

Strengths: Strong is one of the best receivers in the draft at using his size (6’4, 205 lbs) to muscle out opposing receivers. He proved to be a serious red zone threat and has fantastic ability to work the sideline. There is a real chance that Strong has the most upside of any receiver in this year’s draft. His good size and run-after-catch ability makes him the perfect fit for a short-intermediate throwing West Coast offense.

Weaknesses: If you had to pick one player in this draft to win a footrace, it certainly would not be Strong. He is far from fast and could have problems creating separating at the next level. He has good size, but it is far from eye-popping.

How he fits in St. Louis: Rams fans should be very aware of the type of player Strong could be as he is very similar to Kenny Britt. Both players are large and use quickness to create separation, but his lack of foot speed could hurt his showing at the Combine and cause a slight fall in the draft. Strong fits in what the Rams need on the outside and can learn from Britt on how to use his body at the next level, but he is a late-first or high second round pick. If St. Louis can nab him in the second or trade down in the first to grab him in the twenties, Strong could make a big impact for this team.

S Landon Collins – Alabama

Alabama and Nick Saban have proven to be one of the best schools to produce first round talent at safety, Collins will likely be the third safety taken in the first round from the Crimson Tide in the past four seasons. Saban also trains the defensive backs himself, providing much needed awareness and intellect for the pro levels once the college years are over. Collins finished the season with 103 tackles, seven passes broken up and three interceptions.

Strengths: Like previous DB’s to come out of ‘Bama, Collins is a physical and excellent run defender. He has routinely shown that he will take the proper angles and use proper tackling technique when taking on the ball carrier, plus he has had he fair share of big hits. Collins has adapted well to the pro-style defense that is run in Alabama, showing a knack for reading the quarterbacks eyes and always being prepared to make a big play.

Weaknesses: Collins is strictly a strong safety at the next level. He is not rangy and should rarely be played one-on-one against a slot receiver or tight end at the next level. When you go back and watch film from the Ole Miss game this season, Collins was burned all day long for two (should have been three but a penalty negated a third) touchdowns.

Like other Saban taught safeties, Collins will be a punishing, run-defender who will play his best football near the line of scrimmage. If his faults are hidden by the proper zone scheme, allowing him to be an eighth man in the box or covering short sections of the field, Collins will be a productive safety for years to come.

How he fits in St. Louis: Schematically, Collins could fit as a defender in the Rams defense. Gregg Williams loves to play around with safeties at the linebacking position, but St. Louis already traded for Mark Barron to play that role. The Rams are not hurting for strong safety play as much as free safety. The team has struggled to cover centerfield ever since O.J. Atogwe left the team. The safety position is always going to be diverse and filled with role-players. To invest a high first round pick on a player that could easily be matched by a late round pick with a little coaching seems like a waste.