College: Mississippi
Conference: Southeastern
Columnist: Jeff West
Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class Game Notes
Mike Espy #11 600.0 195 N/A WR 2006 - Espy was the only offensive skill player to have any real positive impact on the game. He finished with seven receptions and could've had more had he not dropped a couple. He runs very good routes and, while he doesn't have the breakaway speed that you'd look for in a smallish WR, he does get open. Once he has the ball, he's a nifty-shifty runner and can get positive YAC. He's also an able and willing blocker and he returns kicks and punts, albeit not that impressively against the Tigers despite numerous KR chances. (SLIGHTLY POSITIVE)
Tre' Stallings #70 604.0 315 5.18 OT 2006 - This is the second time I've seen him this year and he impressed me again. While the LSU defensive line had their way with the Ole Miss offensive line, Stallings held his own against Melvin Oliver and some backups. Stallings is solid in pass defense, getting locked onto the player and then dropping anchor. In run defense, he displays decent footwork and has enough quicks to get to the second level. The one drawback is that sometimes Stallings leaves his first assignment too early at times. (POSITIVE)
Jayme Mitchell #77 606.0 285 5.01 DE 2006 - I was very impressed with Mitchell. He is a very effective run stopper, shedding blocks fairly easily to get to the ball-carrier. He was also able to get some penetration and laid a big hit on JaMarcus Russell (not an easy feat with Russell's size) in the second half. Mitchell also made sure he was around the ball, recovering a fumble at one point. Mitchell is not terribly strong for his size and sometimes relies too much on being able to out-quick the OT. I focused in on him a couple times on passing plays and watched him stand (nearly still) and try to handfight the offensive lineman which proved to be fruitless. It looked like he was taking those plays to rest a bit. He definitely should be drafted with his size and ability, but an NFL team is going to have to get him on a serious strength-training regimen and will have to get him in better shape. (POSITIVE)
Travis Johnson #9 601.0 191 4.55 CB 2006 - Johnson started the game well with excellent coverage and a great pass breakup against the big Dwayne Bowe. However he injured his ankle in the first half (not bad enough to keep him out of the game) and was slowed by it the rest of the game. As a result, he was burned a few times in the second half. (NEUTRAL because of injury)
Kelvin Robinson #38 601.0 215 N/A LB 2006 - Robinson is a former safety who has made a nice transition to the Will LB position. Robinson is a speedy player who is able to make plays all over the field. He is a solid tackler who can also make the big hit when it's available to him. He was active against LSU, frequently being the first player to make contact with the LSU RB after the RB cleared the first level. Robinson has been playing himself into a possible second-day draft selection. (SLIGHTLY POSITIVE)
Others to watch:
McKinley Boykin (Senior DT) - Boykin gets good penetration for a man his size, using a quick start off the ball and a good understanding of leverage and positioning. He can be very disruptive to the opposing team, but will also need to be less disruptive to his own team (after an emotional meltdown the previous week). He appeared to be under control this week and kept coming, even after spending long periods of time on the field. He was only credited with one tackle (for loss), but played a very solid game.
Michael Bozeman (Senior DT) - Bozeman is very stout along the line. He's a force in run defense, forcing the play outside as he takes up a couple blockers inside. Bozeman is also able to get off his blocks and make tackles, as he did more than a few times against LSU. With the depth at defensive tackle in the draft, both he and Boykin could find themselves left out come April, but I wouldn't be surprised to see either (or both) signed to a contract and in someone's camp next summer.
Patrick Willis (Junior ILB) - Willis should definitely be one of the top ILBs in the country in 2006. He's always in position to make plays, he fills the hole well, and can pursue the ballcarrier to both sidelines. He had one of the best tackles I've seen in some time. The LSU offensive line opened up a big hole in the middle and the RB scooted through, only to be met by Willis who wrapped both the ballcarrier's legs, lifted him off the ground, and drove him backwards onto his back. Willis also appears to be comfortable dropping into pass coverage. In the first half, when the game was still within reach for the Rebels, Willis saved a TD by deflecting a ball that would have otherwise been a TD catch for the receiver.
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College: Louisiana State
Conference: Southeastern
Columnist: Jeff West
Name # Ht Wt Speed Pos Class Game Notes
JaMarcus Russell #4 605.5 250 4.82 QB 2007 - Russell has improved noticeably from the beginning of the season. He can still make all the throws, but now he knows when to attempt them and when not to. He is patient in the pocket and goes through all of his progressions. If there's nothing available, he's willing to throw the ball away or make positive yardage by scrambling himself if he sees a lane. Russell knows when to fire a laser or when to use a soft touch and float a pass to the receiver. Russell is outrageously strong and is a load to bring down either in the pocket or as a ballcarrier. Russell knows the importance of selling a play fake and does it well. Russell did throw a pick, but the ball was thrown well and just went off the receivers fingertips. (VERY POSITIVE)
Joseph Addai #10 600.0 210 4.44 HB 2006 - Addai is clearly a fantastic back, but his nagging ankle injury is troubling me. Once again he was forced to the sidelines a couple times, but did return. He appeared a step slower tonight, but was still quick enough to average five yards a touch. Addai not only uses blockers well, showing patience while the blocks develop, but is also an accomplished blocker himself. He was able to pick up the blitz and give Russell time to complete a pass on a few occasions. (POSITIVE)
Justin Vincent #25 510.0 219 4.42 HB 2007 - Vincent is playing well of late. He's shown improved quickness and power and a nice burst through the hole. He still has to learn how to run in different situations. On a goal line play that called for him to bang it into whatever crease was available, he shuffled and danced some, allowing the Rebel LBs to get through the holes and make a play in the backfield for loss. (NEUTRAL)
Skyler Green #5 510.0 195 4.42 WR 2006 - Skyler Green should sue his coach for attempting to ruin his chances at the NFL. Green only had one catch and one carry in the game. Teams are giving him lousy punts to return, so he hasn't really had a chance to shine in the return department either. (NEGATIVE)
Dwayne Bowe #80 603.0 220 4.5 WR 2007 - Bowe showed some slippery hands for the first time, dropping balls that should have been caught easily. He only had one catch in the game and wasn't the presence that he has been in the past. Of course, LSU was spreading the ball around and there wasn't as much need to rely on the passing game this week. (SLIGHTLY NEGATIVE)
Andrew Whitworth #76 607.0 325 5.24 OT 2006 - LSU just kept running the ball behind Whitworth all game and Whitworth nearly guaranteed that the ballcarrier would get to the second or third level. He drove the blocker right out of the play with regularity. He was just so much stronger than the DE and understood how to take advantage of the opponent. In pass defense, he was nearly as effective, giving Russell plenty of time to throw the ball. (VERY POSITIVE)
Nate Livings #71 605.0 313 5.58 OG 2006 - Livings played a less-than-stellar game. Jayme Mitchell and McKinley Boykin were able to get too much penetration from the right side of the line in pass defense. As a run blocker, the Tigers rarely ran to the right side, but Livings was asked to pull and did a good job of opening holes for the backs. (SLIGHTLY NEGATIVE)
Kyle Williams # 95 602.0 295 4.85 DT 2006 - Williams was nearly unstoppable once again this week. He played a monster game in the first half, consistently getting pressure on the QB and forcing poor throws and other mistakes. He opened the second half with a bang, getting off the ball outrageously quickly and getting into the backfield to throw the ballcarrier for a five-yard loss. He gave way to backups for most of the second half. (POSITIVE)
Claude Wroten #98 603.0 293 5.03 DT 2006 - As good as Williams was this week, Wroten was even better. He too gave the Ole Miss offensive line fits, especially the freshman guard (Oher) who couldn't block him to save his life. Wroten was in the backfield on nearly every play, forcing the QB to throw the ball earlier than he wanted. In the second half, Wroten got great penetration and hit the QB (Flatt) right after he let go of the ball. The hit was so hard, it nearly gave Flatt whiplash and then Flatt's head bounced off the turn when he hit the ground. He apparently suffered a concussion and didn't return the rest of the night. The announcer said that the LSU coaches felt that Wroten (not Williams or Landry) is their best defensive player. (POSITIVE)
Melvin Oliver #90 603.0 277 5.1 DE 2006 - Oliver had a very quiet night. He was unable to do much against Stallings. Oliver also lost a lot of playing time to the younger guys, even before the game was clearly in hand. Oliver is not helping his draft status. With the type of players he is playing next to, he should be having a much better year. He's going to have to say and do all the right things between now and the draft to really get consideration. (NEGATIVE)
LaRon Landry #30 602.0 187 4.48 S 2007 - Landry has outstanding speed from the FS position, allowing him to make plays in the passing game and the running game. He was effective tonight primarily in the running game. Landry was able to shoot gaps in the line or get around the tackles to make plays on the backs. He wasn't thrown at much, but didn't help matters when he got called for pass interference when he was too anxious to make a big hit on a receiver. He is definitely ready to make the jump to the pros if he wants, although he will have to learn to make better decisions in pass coverage. (SLIGHTLY POSITIVE)
Cameron Vaughn #46 603.5 235 4.56 LB 2006 - Vaughn had a relatively quiet game as very few running plays made it past the line of scrimmage and the passing game was wildly erratic. Vaughn showed good speed and range as a MLB, getting from his position to the sideline quickly to make a tackle when the back cut the play outside. (NEUTRAL)
Chris Jackson #41 511.0 159 N/A K 2007 - Jackson had one of his better games. He only attempted one FG, a 48-yarder, which he made. His kickoffs were consistently falling to the goal line. He only averaged 32 yards on three punts, but all of them were placed inside the 20 and none were returned, so the average is very deceiving. (POSITIVE)
Alley Broussard #22 600.0 230 4.5 HB 2007 - DNP - Out for season with injury.
Others to watch:
Craig "Buster" Davis (Junior WR) - He's really coming on as the season progresses. He's effectively replaced Skyler Green as one of Russell's favorite pass options. He should be a nice #2 to Bowe next season.