Comparing Prospects to Recent NFL Players

[AvengerRam]

Scouts, analysts and fans love to try to draw comparisons between prospects and recent NFL players. Sometimes the comparisons are favorable, sometimes not.

Here are a few of the "I fear that..." comparisons that I have in mind:

Andre Smith - Leonard Davis/Mike Williams
Smith is an enigma. Part of me thinks he could be a future Pro Bowl player. However, I am worried that he could be like Davis or Williams - a hugely talented college OL who really is built for the interior line rather than the OT spot.

Rey Maualuga - Lavar Arrington
Big player, big hitter, and likely will be productive. Still, like Arrington, I see a bit of freelancing in Maualuga. Not unusual for a player with that much talent. They want to make the big play on every down. The problem is, sometimes, the best thing you can do is just stay in your lane and let someone else make the play.

Michael Oher - Alex Barron
If you were building an OT from scratch, he'd probably look a lot like Oher or Barron. The problem is that players like that sometimes rest on their laurels and don't maximize their talent. Barron is the perfect example. I fear Oher could be another.

What comparisons (favorable or unfavorable) would you make and why?

[39thebeast]

Eugene Monroe- D'Brickashaw Ferguson
Great pass blockers don't really standout in the running game

Alex Mack- Jeff Faine
Great young centers really have little weakness in there games and are one of the few pure centers to get a first round grade.

Michael Crabtree- Larry Fitzgerald
I wanted first dibs on him so I'll go out on a limb and say Larry Fitzgerald. Great body control and great hands they won't time fast, but they will come up huge in games.

Nathan Brown- Jeff Garcia
Doesnt have great arm strength but is great rolling out and is a quite accurate. Nothing spectacular, but just gets it done.

[general counsel]

James Laurienitis-Chris Spielman. A tackling machine, tough as nails, fundementally solid, high character guy with no off field baggage. Not the most spectacular guy, but he will make 100 tackles per year for about 10 years.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

[Richbert88]

Jasper Brinkley ILB South Carolina ----Brian Ulracher

Ron Brace DT/NT Boston College ---- Jay Ratliff-Dal or (dare I say) Albert Haynesworth

Crabtree----Micheal Westbrook <just a bad feeling>

Graham Harrell WB Texas Tech--------Kurt Warner

Google them for scouting.

[cfh128]

Jasper Brinkley ILB South Carolina ----Brian Ulracher

Ron Brace DT/NT Boston College ---- Jay Ratliff-Dal or (dare I say) Albert Haynesworth

Crabtree----Micheal Westbrook <just a bad feeling>

Graham Harrell WB Texas Tech--------Kurt Warner

Google them for scouting.

You have given these players ridiculously large shoes to fill. I doubt it turns out that way but if your right, hats off to you!

[MauiRam]

Brian Orakpo to Vernon Gholston. Orakpo will likely set the world on fire at the combine. Brian is physically similar to Gholston, with muscles and more muscle on his muscle. Gholston didn't do much as a rookie apparently, but he may come on next year .. we'll see.

[Richbert88]

You have given these players ridiculously large shoes to fill. I doubt it turns out that way but if your right, hats off to you!

Think of it this way, coming out of college, what was thought of those listed players. Ulracher, wasn't a #1 pick was he? Warner was undrafted. Put it in that perspective and that is what I am using as a comparative. Completely my own opinion based on feeling and scouting reports though.

[Goldenfleece]

I'd agree on the Arrington-Maualuga connection. The same name came to my mind a few days ago when I was reading about his tendency to get caught out of position sometimes by being too aggressive.

Also...

Michael Crabtree - Mike Williams (WR, USC)
A big receiver who displayed great hands in college but who may not be able to get separation in the NFL. Draft websites put Crabtree's expected 40 to be in the 4.55-4.60 range, roughly comparable to Williams' 40 time. The fact that Crabtree doesn't plan on running the 40 until his pro day only re-emphasizes this concern.

James Laurinitis - Paul Posluszny
Award winning linebacker with good speed sideline to sideline, but some question whether he may already be as good as he is going to get. The "Poz" has worked out just fine so far, but reservations about him caused his stock to drop into the second round of the draft.

[iStillBelieve]

Brian Orakpo to Vernon Gholston. Orakpo will likely set the world on fire at the combine. Brian is physically similar to Gholston, with muscles and more muscle on his muscle. Gholston didn't do much as a rookie apparently, but he may come on next year .. we'll see.

yeah they seem close to identical, and i think gholston would have done much better his rookie year if he was at DE instead of 3-4 OLB

[Goldenfleece]

Think of it this way, coming out of college, what was thought of those listed players. Ulracher, wasn't a #1 pick was he?

Not #1 overall, but he was a top 10 draft pick (9th overall in the 2000 draft to be specific).

[Chase the Eagles Fan]

Andre Smith - Shawn Andrews

* Atheltic collegiate tackles with weight issues. Very good tackle prospect that might be ELITE inside.

Michael Crabtree -Braylon Edwards and DeSean Jackson

* Braylon's size, athleticism and body control with better hands with moves in the open field like DeSean Jackson just without the top end speed.

Jason Smith - Duane Brown

*Athletic, raw left tackle prospects whose strength is in their ability to pass protect. A little undersized, converted tight ends.

Sean Smith - Nnamdi Asomuga

* May be too big of shoes for Smith to fill but similar in body type and playing style. Tall, lean press cover corners. With Asomuga being such a coveted player in the league, Smith is going to get alot of looks as the draft nears...if he doesn't mess up in the Combine and runs a really slow 40 or something like that he could sneak into the first round with a team in love with Asomuga that isn't willing to pay the price tag for him in free agency.

Derrius Heyward-Bey - Dominick Hixon

* I think DHB will be better but he just reminds me of Hixon...a lean, tall receiver with good straight line speed and unexpected elusivness...DHB has better hands and is more elusive in the open field and alot faster..Dominick Hixon on Redballs.

[Weddle]

Sean Smith = Nnamdi Asmougha!?? As much as I love me some Utes, that's a hefty claim!

[HUbison]

Alex Boone = Richie Incognito



Come on.......somebody had to say it.

[Chase the Eagles Fan]

Sean Smith = Nnamdi Asmougha!?? As much as I love me some Utes, that's a hefty claim!

LOL I know...I was going more for the similarities in body type and playing style not so much the similarities are talent...

I said they were some big shoes to fill.