Scouts Notebook- Florida State/Wake Forest

Our highlight of the scouting trip to North Carolina this weekend was a visit to the Wake Forest campus where the Deamon Deacons took on Florida State. Their were twenty-two players form either side to keep close watch on and here's what we saw.

  VS 

Florida State vs. Wake Forest

Winston-Salem, 11/2

Florida State

Anquan Bolden/WR/#4

• good route runner

• finds and settles into the open spot on the field

• strong hands; extends them away from his frame and pulls the ball in

• looks the pass into his hands

• decent downfield speed

• Comments: Looked good as he recovers from his knee injury.  A nice amount of upside that we feel he will eventually meet.

Michael Boulware/OLB/#58

• tremendous athlete that plays to his physical skills

• placed over the slot receiver at times, gets depth on his pass drops and displays good footwork going in reverse

• shows great adjustment and redirection to the action

• incredible range and makes plays in every direction of the field

• constantly in on the action and making positive plays

• slides off blocks, makes plays laterally and collapses from the outside defending the run

• strong at the point and packs a wallop into the ball carrier

• very, very disciplined, stays with his assignments and does not get caught out of position

• sees the field, reads and anticipates the action and quick locating the ball

• Comments: An immense prospect and one worthy of being drafted very early in the process should he decide to leave after the season.   They never asked Boulware to blitz or sent him up the field but all things considered, he would impact the game in that aspect were they to work that into the scheme.

Darnell Dockett/DT/#45

• plays with forward lean, leverage and breaks down well

• effective with his hands and uses them to keep opponents away

• fluid moving laterally to string plays to the flanks

• not strong at the point and handled or turned out

• Comments: Good athlete that had a very non-descript game, which is the way his season is going.  Reminds us of former Nole Larry Smith and like the poor choice Smith made five years' ago, it would be unwise for Dockett to enter the draft.

Talman Gardner/WR/#21

• quick releasing off the line of scrimmage

• fluid athlete that runs well and displays a burst of speed

• fast running laterally across the field

• extends and pulls the ball out of the air

• effective blocking down the field

• rounds off his routes

• does not use his big frame as an advantage boxing out or out-muscling lesser opponents

• lacks a sense of timing a feel for the position

• Comments: An enigma; with his physical skill and athletic abilities, coupled with a shaky quarterback situation for FSU you'd figure he'd be the go to guy that made a lot of plays but it did not happen.  A lot of untapped potential that quickly needs to be turned into production if he's to be selected where his physical grades warrant.

Montrae Holland/G/#61

• quick, built low to the ground and a real fireplug

• fights with his hands, extends his arms and jolts the defender at the point

• strong and turns opponents out of the play or controls them in pass protection

• somewhat effective getting out to the second level and taking on linebackers

• looks to mash people

• only average footwork and does not move well in space

• Comments: Relatively impressed with Holland's play as he seems to have turned the intensity meter up since last season.  Could go first day if he works out well before April and has  good Senior Bowl.

Alonzo Jackson/DE/#48

• fluid athlete that moves well laterally

• quick, smooth change of direction

• plays low with leverage and fights with his hands

• not quick of explosive off the snap

• Comments: Good athlete that needs to add some bulk and suddenness to his game.

Greg Jones/RB/#6

• powerful lower body and picks up a lot of yardage off initial contact

• decent burst of speed through the hole and in the open field

• patient, waits for his blocks to develop then follows them

• aggressive running style

• displays good vision

• Comments: Major right knee injury.  A lot of notes on Jones in "Locker room Notes".

Antoine Mirambeau/C/#52

• blocks with some forward lean and works to stay square

• gets tall and does not block with his legs

• late getting his hands into the opponent

• lacks the strong base

• Comments: Free agent

Robert Morgan/WR/#87

• comes back to the ball and works to help out the quarterback

• quick transitioning from catching the ball to running after the catch

• blocks downfield and gives effort

• Comments: Could be a servicable pass catcher and possibly a fifth receiver at the next level.

Kendyll Pope/OLB/#9

• tremendous range and readjusts to the action nicely

• very disciplined; does not bite on fakes or play action passes and plays assignment football

• quick to read and anticipate the action

• deceptively strong; holds his ground when blocked by bigger lineman, shedding and getting to the action.

• Comments: An excellent weak-side prospect and we'd go as far as saying better than Tommy Polley to this point in his career.

Todd Williams/T/#79

• blocks down well on opponents or outright engulfs defenders

• quick with his hands and powerful upper body

• stays square and controls opponents at the point

• moves well for such a big man and not bad in motion

• looks to help out line-mates

• Comments: Played left guard but best suited for right tackle.  Overlooked and spoken about in passing with all the talent in this program but a solid prospect that could slide into the draft's first day with good showings prior to the draft.

Brett Williams/T/#72

• intuitive with good intellect and a feel for the position

• uses good blocking angles, body position and overall a top technician

• patient blocker that does not overextend

• exceptional hand use, good initial strength at the point and stays square, keeping the opponent in front of him

• stays with the action and works hard

• not flexible or a natural knee bender'

• lacks the fluid footwork and top blocking range

• not effective on the second level

• Comments: We are still undecided as to whether or not he will be a left tackle at the next level but are positive he's a first round pick with a long future in the NFL.  The fact that FSU uses a strong-side weak-side type system with their lineman makes a move to any side of the ball seamless for him. Reminds us of a bigger, stronger and more durable version of Matt Stinchcombe.

Jeff Womble/DT/#91

• quick off the snap and plays low to the ground

• makes plays laterally defending the run

• turned out of the play by defenders

• Comments: Needs to get a little bigger and stronger but a solid prospect for the next level.

Wake Forest

Tim Bennett/G/#55

• tough, slug it out lineman

• strong with good arm punch and turns opponents out

• some footwork and the ability to shuffle and slide

• late into his blocks

• stiff and lacks adjustment

• not effective on the second level and has difficulty finishing his blocks

• Comments: Could offer depth at the next level and though he plays tackle for Wake, better off inside.

Henry Blake/G/#72

• starts exceptionally low to the ground and quick off the snap

• blocks with forward lean and works throughout the play

• good initial strength at the point of attack

• adequate strength but not dominant at the point of attack

• overextends and not effective on the second level

• Comments: Gives top effort but limited potential for the next level.  Could catch on as a practice squad player.

Ovie Mughelli/FB/#32

• terrific athlete for a big man

• patient blocking or carrying the ball and displays good vision on the field

• good speed getting through the hole or getting out front as a lead blocker

• strong at the point and turns defenders out blocking for the run

• nasty and really looks to hit someone and gets involved in the action

• displays decent footwork as a ball carrier and good receiver out of the backfield

• exceptional special teams player and first man down on punt coverage, flying around the ball

• stiff, does not break down well and plays tall

• Comments: Exceptional physical skills and attitude for the position.  Powerful and has more muscles than Mr. Universe but very stiff and needs to improve his flexibility as much as anything else.  Could make it into the late part of the first day with a good post season.

Calvin Pace/DE/#93

• terrific athlete in all aspects

• plays with forward lean, breaks down well and stays low

• smooth, fluid change of direction and makes plays in every direction of the field

• keeps his feet moving up the field, some lower body strength and holds his ground against blocks

• quick with his hands and good technique

• can play off the line in coverage

• works very hard for sixty minutes

• not sudden or explosive

• Comments: Really a solid prospect.  Needs to develop physically but has already added 50 pounds onto his frame since arriving in Winston-Salem.  Except Pace to be drafted early in round three.  

Montique Sharpe/DT/#92

• quick off the snap and plays with forward lean

• breaks down well, stays with the play and works hard

• handled at the point but to be fair about, focused and doubled by opponents

• Comments: With more teams going to a three-four defense he should find a place at the next level.

Roderick Stephen/DE/#90

• good athlete that easily moves to the flanks or strings plays out laterally

• fluid and smooth

• good playing speed and will chase or pursue form the backside and catch the ball carrier

• holds his ground blocks but very slow to shed and handled by a single blocker

• Comments: Could potentially grow into a defensive end but more of a 'tweener right now.  Based on what we saw yesterday he looks to have the speed for linebacker and a potential candidate on the strong side, regardless of what the stopwatch reads.

Ray Thomas/TE/#89

• plays smart football

• good footwork in pass protection

• gives excellent effort on punt coverage

• not quick off the snap or a big part of the offense

• Comments: Some size potential but not fast or explosive.  Could catch on as a third tight end.