Player Profile: Tyler Eifert

Tyler Eifert

Height:  6'6
Weight:  250
School:  Notre Dame
Position:  Tight End
Ranking:  #1 Tight End
Projection:  Top 40 pick

Strengths
-Great size (6'6) and length (33" arms) for the position
-Solid frame to add weight
-Good strength (22 reps)
-Can go up and get the ball (35.5" vertical leap)
-Good speed (4.68 40) to be a vertical threat in the seam
-Very athletic who uses good quickness to get in and out of breaks
-Natural pass catcher.  Makes it look easy.
-Experienced.  38 games played.
-Versatile.  Has the ability to line up end line and out in the slot.
-Knows how to use his frame to shield of defenders
-Good body control in the air

Weaknesses
-Doesn't have the big hands you'd like (9.18")
-Durability.  Former back and head injuries
-Needs to do a better job of setting up routes.  Too predictable
-Doesn't offer much after the catch
-Not a great blocker.  Get's overpowered. 

Summary
The NFL is a copy cat league and right now teams are having a lot of success with athletic tight ends.  That's a great spot to be in for somebody like Tyler Eifert.  Eifert has the size (6'6) and athletic ability to really help a teams passing attack.  Eifert runs good routes and can go up and pluck the ball out of the air.  He knows how to use his body and can sheild off defenders.  He'll be a great threat in the red zone because of his size, jumping ability, and body control.  The only real problems that Eifert has is that he isn't much of a run after the catch guy and isn't going to offer a whole lot in the blocking game.  Those aren't deal breakers especially blocking because a lot of the top tight ends aren't asked to block a whole lot.  If Eifert can learn the proper technique he can manage to get by.  Because of his ability and the desire for tight ends like him he'll be a hot commodity in the late first and early second round.  Houston and Atlanta could be options in the first rounds but don't look for him to last too long into the second.

All Americans

1st Team

QB:  Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M
RB:  Kenjon Barner, Oregon
RB:  Johnathan Franklin, UCLA
WR:  Marqise Lee, USC
WR:  Stedman Bailey, West Virginia
TE:  Joseph Fauria, UCLA
OT:  Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M
OG:  Chance Warmack, Alabama
C:  Barrett Jones, Alabama
OG:  John Cooper, North Carolina
OT:  Taylor Lewan, Michigan

DE:  Damontre Moore, Texas A&M
DT:  Stephon Tuitt, Notre Dame
DT:  Star Lotuleilei DT Utah
DE:  Bjoern Werner, Florida State
LB:  Anthony Barr, UCLA
LB:  Manti Te'o, Notre Dame
LB:  Jarvis Jones, Georgia
CB:  Jordan Poyer, Oregon State
S:  Phillip Thomas, Fresno State
S:  Matt Elam, Florida
CB:  Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregen

P:  Ryan Allen, Louisiana Tech
K:  Dustin Hopkins, Florida State
RS:  Tavon Austin, West Virginia

2nd Team

QB:  Collin Klein, Kansas State
RB:  Stepfan Taylor, Stanford
RB:  Ka'Deem Carey, Arizona
WR:  Terrance Williams, Baylor
WR:  DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson
TE:  Zach Ertz, Stanford
OT:  Lane Johnson, Oklahoma
OG:  David Yankey, Stanford
C:  Braxston Cave, Notre Dame
OG:  Xavier Su'a-Filo, UCLA
OT:  Eric Fisher, Central Michigan

DE:  Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina
DT:  Will Sutton, Arizona State
DT:  Jordan Hill, Penn State
DE:  Dion Jordan, Oregon
LB:  Khaseem Greene, Rutgers
LB:  Kevin Minter, LSU
LB:  Arthur Brown, Kansas State
CB:  Demarcus Milliner, Alabama
S:  Eric Reid, LSU
S:  Tony Jefferson, Oklahoma
CB:  Ricardo Allen, Purdue

K:  Quinn Sharp, Oklahoma State
P:  Kyle Christy, Florida
RS:  Venric Mark, Northwestern

Scouting Report: Manti Te'o LB Notre Dame

Manti Te'o

Height: 6'1
Weight: 248
Position: Inside Linebacker
School: Notre Dame
Year: Senior
Rank:  #1 ILB
Projection:  Late 1st to Early 2nd

Strengths
-Does a great job of shedding blockers
-Good range. Able to track down defenders
-Quick. Gets to where he needs to be.
-Sure Tackler.  Rarely misses tackles.
-Productive (100+ tackles in 2010, 2011 and 2012)
-Scheme flexibility (Can play in 4-3 or 3-4)
-Experience in the 3-4 defense
-Great hands for position.  7 INTs in 2012.
-Tough, physical player
-Can play in a phone booth
-Experienced. Has played a major role since his true freshman year.
-No Injury issues.
-Can contribute on special teams

Weaknesses
-Can be too aggressive and over persue.
-Needs to diagnose plays faster.
-Can be a liability in coverage.
-Can he be a an effective blitzer?

Summary
Manti Te'o is a talented linebacker who is coming off a very impressive senior season.  Te'o was the leader of a Notre Dame defense which finished in the National Title Game and was ranked in the top 5 for most of the season.  Te'o also finished second in the Heisman Race in 2012.  Te'o is very intriguing to NFL teams because he isn't locked into a specific scheme.  He can play in both the 4-3 and the 3-4.  Te'o uses his quickness and good overall range to attack the ball and make plays. Te'o is a sure tackler that rarely misses. His big weakness is how he does dropping into coverage.  He'll struggle to match up with athletic tight ends and may not be able to drop into the deep middle in a Cover 2 scheme.  His strength is coming downhill.  However Te'o is a polished prospect with only a couple of weaknesses.  But it's too bad for Te'o that the biggest news surround him now is about his non-existent girlfriend.  As it looks he wasn't in on it and is mearly a victim of a hoax and being too trusting.  Its too bad because Te'o is a very talented player that is going to have a bright future in the NFL.   As it relates to his NFL Draft stock, this doesn't matter.  Some are saying he'll drop, but he's probably always been a late 1st to early 2nd type of player.  He could go as high as the Giants at 19, but could easily fall into the second round just like Rey Maualuga and James Laurinaitis did in previous years.