| Team Needs |
| Starter |
Starter Competition |
Depth |
Projects |
| Current starter is FA next year and has no surefire understudy |
Current starter is FA next year and has understudy or current starter is inexperienced |
One or more backups are FAs next year |
May need a new starter or backup after 2012 season |
| S, FB, C, DT |
S, ILB, WR, C, DT, OLB, OG
|
S, ILB, WR, RB, TE, CB, OT
|
QB, K, OLB, DT, DE, TE
|
In case you missed it, I justified the most recent updates to the team needs list two weeks ago when I scouted the last week of the college football regular season. There's a lot of unknowns until we know the extent of some injuries and any changes in management are made, so I'm not going to say much more about that. Instead let's go to the games.
| Western Michigan |
(7-5) |
vs |
Purdue |
(6-6) |
Tuesday 12/27 1:30 PM PT |
(ESPN) |
|
Little Caesars Bowl (Detroit, MI): Western Michigan will look to spread out Purdue. They have a talented WR in Jordan While, but Purdue has two talented CBs that are up to that challenge, but the depth drops off and Broncos QB Alex Carder will look to secondary options like WR Josh Schaffer. Purdue on the other hand will look to run. Mostly because they don't trust either of their two QBs that they rotate in and out. Both QBs are mobile though and sometimes can scramble and find their WRs like Jr. Antavian Edison or ex-QB turned WR Sr, Justin Siller. Also, keep an eye on Purude's kicker Carson Wiggs who can rival any NCAA kicker in accuracy from distance.
|
| Louisville |
(7-5) |
vs |
North Carolina State |
(7-5) |
Tuesday 12/27 5:00 PM PT |
(ESPN) |
|
Belk Bowl (Charlotte, NC): From an NFL scouting perspective, the Wolfpack are definitely the more talented football team and the Cardinals may face an uphill battle. However, future NFL talent doesn't necessarily win these games since motivation is a big factor and not easily predicted. The expectation is that Louisville's run game will get bottled up by Sr. DTs Markus Kuhn and J.R. Sweezy. On the other side of the ball Louisville is an aggressive blitzing team and NC State's QB Mike Glennon will need to find his top target TE George Bryan quickly, especially on 3rd down. They should be up to task. They can also lean on their RB tandem of James Washington and Tony Creecy. Still, it may be the Wolfpack offensive line play that decides this game.
|
I'll go over the individual players after the jump.
| BFTB Scouting Targets: |
| Player |
School |
Pos. |
Class |
Height |
Weight |
| T.J. Graham |
North Carolina State |
WR |
Sr. |
5'11 |
176 lbs |
| Speed is Graham's game. He doesn't have bulk and he has less than adequate height, but he can burn by defenders. Still, track stars don't immediately translate to football players. He may take some time to learn to get off jams and get separation. He does have some ability as a kick returner and will probably find his niche there first. (3rd round) |
| Audie Cole |
North Carolina St. |
ILB |
Sr. |
6'4 |
243 lbs |
| His height definitely stands out as an ILB prospect, which isn't necessarily a good or bad thing. He's a team leader, scrapper, overacheiever. Very good at diagnosing plays, does make a lot of false moves. Experience at the strong side LB position. Not at his best when fighting through blockers. Does have some closing burst so could be a good blitzer at the next level. Has some troubles wrapping up on tackles. (4th round) |
| George Bryan |
North Carolina St. |
TE |
Sr. |
6'5 |
268 lbs |
| Bryan was on our scouting radar last year, but opted to return to school. It wasn't a great decision since he was thought to have a chance to be a 3rd round pick last year. This year he's slipped a little. He's still a big red zone target who possesses good hands. He's also an excellent blocker that provides plenty of pop. He definitely has value as a 2nd or 3rd TE who excels at the goal line. (Mid to late rounds) |
| Jordan White |
Western Michigan |
WR |
Sr. |
6'0 |
214 lbs |
| Good catch and run guy. Tucks the ball away quickly and has some good moves, stiff arm to avoid would be tacklers. Can take a hit. Has some value as a kick returner. Not a great route runner or blocker. Suffered through multiple injuries, but his senior season has him leaving with a clean bill of health. Seems mentally tough. (Mid to late rounds) |
| NFL Prospects: |
| Player |
School |
Pos. |
Class |
Height |
Weight |
| Anthony Parker |
Western Michigan |
OG |
Sr. |
6'4 |
323 lbs |
| (UDFA) |
| Carson Wiggs |
Purdue |
K |
Sr. |
6'0 |
214 lbs |
| Wows everyone with the FG distances he can make in practice. When asked to hit 50+ yard ones during games he's come through more than he hasn't. At times, he's been Purdue's best offensive weapon. (UDFA) |
| Jared Crank |
Purdue |
FB |
Sr. |
6'0 |
235 lbs |
| Solid blocker who is decent when asked to run in short yardage situations. (UDFA) |
| Albert Evans |
Purdue |
S |
Sr. |
5'11 |
205 lbs |
| (UDFA) |
| Robert Marve |
Purdue |
QB |
Sr. |
6'0 |
210 lbs |
| Highly touted prospect out of HS. Has never lived up to the promise. At Miami he was young and ineffective. At Purdue, he suffered a major knee and missed a lot of time. He's capable of playing a full game now, but splits time at QB. Is applying for a 6th year of eligibility. (UDFA) |
| Dennis Kelly |
Purdue |
OT |
Sr. |
6'8 |
304 lbs |
| (UDFA) |
| Gerald Gooden |
Purdue |
DE |
Sr. |
6'3 |
249 lbs |
| Had success as a pass rusher when playing opposite now Washington Redskin Ryan Kerrigan as well as earlier when Green Bay Packer Mike Neal was on the line. Given that most Purdue DEs seem to find roles in the NFL as 3-4 OLBs, I wouldn't be surprised to see him make an NFL roster. (UDFA) |
| Nick Mondek |
Purdue |
OT |
Sr. |
6'5 |
300 lbs |
| (UDFA) |
| Joe Holland |
6'1 |
OLB |
Sr. |
6'1 |
229 lbs |
| (UDFA) |
| Josh Chichester |
Louisville |
TE |
Sr. |
6'7 |
250 lbs |
| (UDFA) |
| Dexter Heyman |
Louisville |
ILB |
Sr. |
6'2 |
235 lbs |
| (UDFA) |
| Victor Anderson |
Louisville |
RB |
Sr. |
5'8 |
185 lbs |
| (UDFA) |
| Greg Scruggs |
Louisville |
DT |
Sr. |
6'3 |
285 lbs |
| (UDFA) |
| Josh Bellamy |
Lousiville |
WR |
Sr. |
6'0 |
202 lbs |
| (UDFA) |
| Taylor Gentry |
North Carolina St. |
FB |
Sr. |
6'1 |
257 lbs |
| (Late rounds) |
| J.R. Sweezy |
North Carolina St. |
DT |
Sr. |
6'4 |
284 lbs |
| (UDFA) |
| Dwayne Maddox |
North Carolina St. |
OLB |
Sr. |
6'2 |
233 lbs |
| (UDFA) |
| Markus Kuhn |
North Carolina St. |
DT |
Sr. |
6'4 |
294 lbs |
| (UDFA) |
| Jay Smith |
North Carolina St. |
WR |
Sr. |
6'1 |
210 lbs |
| (UDFA) |
