Player Profile: Terrence Brooks

Height:  5'11
Weight:  198
School:  Florida State
Position:  Safety
Ranking:  #6 Safety
Projection:  3rd Round

Strengths
-Experienced.  Played since freshman year.  Two year starter.
-Uses good speed (4.42) and quickness (1.54) to react to the ball in coverage
-Shows good range.  Able to cover deep center field or half in Cover 2
-Able to match up with receivers in the slot in man to man coverage
-Flies to the ball in coming up in run support. Gets there in a hurry.
-Good leaper (38" vertical leap) makes up for only being 5'11
-Good open field tackler. Especially when taking the ball head on
-Reads the QB eyes well. Able to cheat towards the ball
-Experience playing on special teams in the kickoff and punt return units
-Has a knack for making a big play. (INT, forced fumble)

Weaknesses
-Isn't a fluid athlete.  Doesn't change direction easily.
-Lack of height and length could hurt his ability to defend jump balls in the NFL.
-Struggles to disengage from blockers.  Can get hung up
-Fails to make an impact when asked to blitz
-Inconsistent with taking good angles.  Will force him to miss tackles or over run a play
-Isn't a punishing hitter. Not going to look to take your head off
-Lacks ball skills. Will drop easy interceptions. Short arms make it tough to get to

Summary
In today's NFL with more spread looks and hybrid tight ends, having good safeties is a necessity.  Brooks is a true free safety whose at his best when playing back in zone coverage.  He uses his top end speed and quickness to react and fly the the ball.  Brooks isn't a ball hawk, but he does enough to break up passes.  While he isn't a very fluid athlete, Brooks does have the ability to play man to man coverage in the slot.  He uses that same quickness to stick with receivers in short area.  Brooks is a good run defender because he isn't afraid of contact and will fly up to make a tackle.  He isn't going to lay the wood to the ball carrier, but he is a good open field tackler and as the last line of defense that is needed.  However when in the box Brooks will struggle because he doesn't offer much as a blitzer and will get swallowed up by blocks.  Look for him to go somewhere in the third round to a team needing a free safety.  He could challenge for a job right away but he'll for sure contribute on special teams where he was an ace his freshman and sophomore year at Florida State.

Player Profile: Christian Jones

Height:  6'3
Weight:  240
School:  Florida State
Position:  Outside Linebacker
Ranking: #5 Outside Linebacker
Projection:  3rd or 4th Round

Strengths
-Good size and length (33 1/2") for the position
-Battle tested.  Played 54 games played with 41 starts
-Productive. 95 tackles at WLB in 2012
-Experience playing in different schemes.  Played in both 4-3 and 3-4 in college
-Position flexibility. Can play any linebacker position in any scheme
-Plays faster than his timed speed
-Displays the ability to match up in coverage
-Uses height and quickness to drop into zone coverage
-Shows good quickness (1.60), especially when rushing off the edge
-High motor. Never gives up on play. Always looking to make the tackle
-No durability concerns.  Remarkable for playing 55 games in career

Weaknesses
-Only an average athlete. Lacks good speed and agility
-Lacks the instincts you want in a linebacker.  Bites too often on play fakes
-Average tackler. Attempts too many arm tackles
-Struggles to shed blocks. Doesn't use his hands consistently to free himself
-Not good at the point of attack.  Will get pushed back

Summary
After 95 tackles in his junior year Christian Jones was one of the top Weakside Linebackers coming into this season.  Add those numbers with his ability to drop into coverage and even match up with receivers and tight ends and there was a lot to like.  Then the Seminoles switched to the 3-4 and Jones got even better.  He was able to show off his quickness and ability to get to the QB.  Even though his sack numbers where not high he was still able to get pressure.  Teams will love his flexibility to rush the passer, cover tight ends, and play in the run game.  He can play in either the 3-4 or the 4-3 and can play multiple linebacker positions in each scheme.  A lot to like.  However the problem is Jones isn't a great athlete and lacks good instincts.  Indecision and hesitations can really hurt him and allow him to get washed out of plays.  Add in that he lacks strength which allows him to get hung up on blocks.  However he'll still be coveted by teams because he can play all three downs and contribute on special teams.  His best fit will be as a 4-3 Strongside Linebacker whose allowed to blitz on passing situations.  But he'll also be a good fit in a 3-4 because he can be moved around a lot.  He compares a lot to Texans LB Brooks Reed.  Look for him to go somewhere in the 3rd round and a team like Oakland or St. Louis.

Player Profile: Menelik Watson

Menelik Watson

Height:  6'5
Weight:  310
School:  Florida State
Position:  Offensive Tackle
Rank:  #5 Offensive Tackle
Projection:  2nd Round

Strengths
-Very athletic.  Was a former college basketball player
-Does a great job getting set up in his pass pro
-Average arm length (34")
-Does a great job of locking guys down in pass protection
-Gets to the second level and does well finding and making blocks in space
-Does an excellent job of taking away pass rushers to his outside.
-Has a strong initial punch to jar back defenders
-Uses good athletic ability to slide side to side to mirror defenders
-Able to slide off double teams and move to the next level in the run game
-Always keeps his feet moving
-Good footwork.  Shows his basketball background
-Strong Work Ethic.  Strives to improve

Weaknesses
-Inexperienced and Raw.  Only 2 years of football experience.
-Looks lost at time.  Might struggle in a complex blocking scheme
-Not overly powerful.  Relies more on athletic ability and position
-Struggles to maintain blocks in the run game.  Let's guys get off him.
-Struggles with speed rush to the inside
-Was a RT only at FSU
-Plays at too high of a pad level
-Still developing a good anchor
-Gets off balance at times
-Isn't overly aggressive or possess a mean streak

Summary
Menelik Watson is a former college basketball player who came to football after watching a Florida State game and falling in love with the sport.  He didn't see much of a future as a 6'5 post player and thought that football could be the key to a better life for his family.  Watson played one season at Saddleback Community College and then this past year at Florida State.  Watson is still very raw, but flashes a lot of skill that has already impressed scouts, coaches, and general managers.  He is a good athlete and uses that in pass protection to keep defenders in front of him and off the quarterback.  He has room to improve as a run blocker but was used in pulling to get out and attack defenders in the open field.  Watson does have a lot of areas he needs to improve on, but most of those concerns are all from inexperience and adding more strength.  Because of his lack of elite strength and good athletic ability Watson might be best suited to play in a zone  blocking scheme that can highlight those strengths.  But with some good coaching he should be able to fit into any scheme.  He has the size and athletic ability to be a left tackle in the NFL.  Watson will likely go in the second round, but don't be too surprised if some team takes a chance and picks him in the late 1st round.