Scouting the Future: Eagle Bank Bowl (1 Viewer)

[Balco]

I have decided to undertake the rather ambitious goal of scouting every bowl game. Here is the first in the series:

WAKE FOREST

OFFENSE

RILEY SKINNER, QUARTERBACK (6'1 205) JUNIOR:

Wake Forest Player Page

Season Stats: 221-352 (62.8 %), 2181 yards; 12 td's, 7 INTs (122.1 passer rating)

I would be very surprised if that 6'1 height is accurate. Does not look comfortable at all in the pocket. Stays on his first progression too long and then gets happy feet. Can escape pressure with his legs, very good scrambler. Does not have a fluid throwing motion. Sells play action well. Does not have much zip on long or intermediate passes. Does not have good arm strength.

KEVIN HARRIS, RUNNING BACK (6'1 225) JUNIOR:

Wake Forest Player Page

Season Stats: 9 carries 40 yards (4.4 ypc), 1 td

Surprise starter for Wake in this game, he put up an impressive stat line. Strictly north south runner who tries to find any crease and then go straight ahead. Good size, but was brought down several times by arm tackles. Has an upright running style. Did not show good vision. On his long reception showed great hands, caught with hands instead of body. Doesn't look like a future pro.

JOSH ADAMS, RUNNING BACK (6'0 182) SOPHOMORE:

Wake Forest Player Page

Seson Stats: 115 carries, 389 yards (3.4 ypc, 2 tds)

After a fantastic freshman year, Adams has been banged up, and it showed in this game. One thing I did notice is Adams has a nose for the end zone. He ran into what looked like nothing and turned it into 2 tds. He was on the draft map after his great 2007 season, and now 2009 will be pivotal.

D.J. BOLDIN, WIDE RECEIVER (6'0 220) SENIOR:

Wake Forest Player Page

Season Stats: 77 rec. 782 yards (10.2 avg), 3 touchdowns

Very impressed with Boldin, I see a lot of similarities between him and older brother Anquan. Like Anquan, he is built like a running back, with a strong lower body. Runs alot of underneath routes and displayed solid hands. Does not look like has has elite speed. Makes his living running the short and intermediate routes. Great body control, he can adjust to the ball in the air. Good initial pop on his blocks, but needs to sustain them. He will make his living in the NFL as a # 2 or # 3 receiver who picks up the key first downs.

JEFF GRIFFIN, OFFENSIVE GUARD (6'2 292) JUNIOR:

Wake Forest Player Page

Griffin stood out to me at offensive guard. He did a tremendous job of firing off the ball and driving his man. Keeps legs moving when blocking one on one which allows him to get movement. Made some fantastic co op blocks with the center, scraping off and blocking a linebacker. Does a good job of staying under control at the second level, and displayed good pass blocking, using his arms to keep the defender at bay. A little susceptible to the bull rush, but was able to recover. Plays to the whistle, he has several pancake blocks in the game.

DEFENSE

AARON CURRY, OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (6'3 247) SENIOR:

**2008 Lombardi Award Winner**

Wake Forest Player Page

Played most of the game on the line of scrimmage. What most stood out to me was that Curry stayed true to his assignments. On the majority of the option runs, his responsibilty was quarterback and he made sure he took that option away. A very disciplined player. Not afraid to get into it on the line, can take on, and shed blockers. When asked to, showed explosiveness off the edge, and has some nice pass rush moves, including a swim and spin. Takes great angles to the ball in pursuit and is a sure tackler. Wasn't asked to drop into coverage this game. He is going to be a solid linebacker in the pros.

CHIP VAUGHN, SAFETY (6'2 215) SENIOR:

Wake Forest Player Page

I did not come away impressed with his speed, but he is a sure tackler. Navy has an anemic passing game, so it was tough to gauge how good Vaughn is in coverage. He made some key open field tackles, but has trouble shedding blocks.

ALPHONSO SMITH, CORNERBACK (5'9 190) SENIOR:

Wake Forest Player Page

Like Vaughn it was tough to get a full read at Smith's pass coverage skills. Good recovery speed. Solid open field tackler, although he would rather run around a block than take one on. Known as a ball hawk, he added another interception this game.

NAVY

SHUN WHITE. RUNNING BACK (5'9 190) SENIOR:

Navy Player Page

White was the only player on Navy that I could see playing on Sundays. What I was most impressed with was his toughness. He already has elite speed (according to his bio clocked a 4.36 40), and that was evident on several runs. Also lowered his shoulder and delivered some punishment (he really stuck Chip Vaughn on one play). He looked good on his kick return, and could definitely contribute in that capacity in the NFL.

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Outside of Curry not much to scout here. Skinner better hope the Arena League stays afloat.

 

[Balco]

Outside of Curry not much to scout here. Skinner better hope the Arena League stays afloat.

I think Boldin has a shot at the next level to carve out a role with a team, but yes, other than Boldin and Curry, there were not alot of NFL prospects on the field.

 

[Jiggyonthehut]

Great thread. I was looking for something like this.

My thoughts:

*Agree completely on Curry. As the season winds down, I'm feeling more strongly that there are only going to be 2-3 elite (compared to the rest of the class) prospects, and Curry is definitely on that list. Stayed with his assignments, showed great discipline. Had a great play in the middle of the second where he shed the TE block, slipped by the guard and dropped the back for a loss. (draw play). Excellent closing speed and great instincts, even though he was forced to put them aside today in favor of a specific assignment. This guy is a monster and is always around the ball. I did notice him overpursue a few plays- perhaps due to his assignment. Though it wasn't on display today, he is a bit stiff in coverage. I'm not sure he'd be best utilized covering a back or TE downfield. He value is a disruptor in the backfield. My #3 player overall in the draft.

*I came away fairly impressed with Chip Vaughn. First time I've been able to see him, and again the OP is right, we weren't able to see him in coverage. But he sure knows how to tackle. Did a good job getting through traffic to make the tackle too. He's not aggressive enough for a guy as jacked as he is, but he has impressive technique and generates a good deal of his leverage from his lower body. Stats from 2007 show he's definitely a beast in coverage- tied with Smith with 15 PD- but after former Wake FS Josh Gattis flopped out of the league (5th round 2007), I lost some faith. I friggin loved him as a prospect. So I'm skeptical for sure. But I like this guy's skillset. If he's playing close to the line he can have a nice impact. He's one guy I'll be watching closely in the Senior Bowl. He's going to test well in the combine IMO, but if he shows off some range, I like him as a top-5 SS and a Day 1 prospect.

*The trio of Wake defenders are heading to the senior bowl, so Bloom and company, keep an eye out!

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

CHIP VAUGHN, SAFETY (6'2 215) SENIOR:

Wake Forest Player Page

I did not come away impressed with his speed, but he is a sure tackler. Navy has an anemic passing game, so it was tough to gauge how good Vaughn is in coverage. He made some key open field tackles, but has trouble shedding blocks.

They are 8th in Div 1-A out of 120 in yards per attempt. I wouldn't exactly call that anemic. Just because they don't throw it often does not mean they aren't successful when they do throw it. Just saying....

 

[PlasmaDogPlasma]

The only question I really have about Curry is whether he's very good or Patrick Willis good.

They are 8th in Div 1-A out of 120 in yards per attempt. I wouldn't exactly call that anemic. Just because they don't throw it often does not mean they aren't successful when they do throw it. Just saying....

Much like Tech they don't have a sophisticated passing game or great receivers, but they get decent results because defenses are so twisted up trying to stop the option. Whether you want to apply the word "anemic" or not, it wasn't a real good game to evaluate the WF DBs.

 

[Ramblin Wreck]

The only question I really have about Curry is whether he's very good or Patrick Willis good.

They are 8th in Div 1-A out of 120 in yards per attempt. I wouldn't exactly call that anemic. Just because they don't throw it often does not mean they aren't successful when they do throw it. Just saying....

Much like Tech they don't have a sophisticated passing game or great receivers, but they get decent results because defenses are so twisted up trying to stop the option. Whether you want to apply the word "anemic" or not, it wasn't a real good game to evaluate the WF DBs.

Agree with that except DeMaryius Thomas will play on Sundays, IMO.

 

[Jiggyonthehut]

The only question I really have about Curry is whether he's very good or Patrick Willis good.

I don't think Curry is going to play inside in the NFL. JMO. Anyway, Curry may possess talents similar to Willis, in that he wraps up well, weaves through traffic well and has tremendous instincts. But Patrick Willis has better lateral and flat-out speed and hits with way more authority. I don't think there's any doubt in my mind that Willis is the best 4-3 prospect in quite some time and I think his full potential has yet to be realized, and wont be until the niners switch schemes. He's still a beast as a 3-4 ILB and Curry has a chance to put up similar numbers in the same role while not being as good a prospect. We've seen this to some extent with david harris. But as a 4-3 LB prospect, there's no question Willis is as good as we've seen.That said, I think Curry ends up outside in a 4-3.

 

[Balco]

I don't think Curry is going to be a flashy player in the pros, he is going to be a solid starter on championship caliber defenses. I think of a guy like Antonio Pierce of the Giants. And that definitely warrants a first round grade.