Chicago Bears release DE Vernon Gholston, Draft Rewind 2008

Vernon Gholston was a first round choice, the sixth pick of the New York Jets in 2008. What we said:


Gholston, Vernon Ohio State 6030 266 4.68 Junior entry. Two-year starter. Outstanding athletic ability. Still learning how to play the game. Productive big play end. Had 14 sacks and 15 1/2 tackles for loss in his 37 tackles. Had three sacks against Michigan. Can get locked up by a physical tackle that knows how to use his hands. Will throw his body at the ball carrier. Not a hell bent for leather player on ball away. Looks like he’s saving himself. Keeps his shoulders square to the line of scrimmage and generally doesn’t get turned. Is athletic enough to cover backs in the flat. Sudden upfield penetration. Gets rolled out if he gets too high. Driven back in the end zone by the LSU tight end and got his shoulders turned. Plays strong off cut and chip blocks and maintains contain responsibilities. Cushions back and folds inside on inside or plays away. Can be single blocked. Hand fights with tackle too much. When he gets pressure many times it is schemed (i.e.: twist, etc. will run around block to make play.) Will hit but no wrap. Question intensity and instincts. His game is full of inconsistencies. May be more athletic than football player. OSR:1/46. Edge speed:left 1.84, right 1.97.

Kentwan Balmer Cut at Seattle..Draft Rewind 2008

Kentwan Balmer was recently cut by Seattle after an unsuccessful run in San Francisco where he was  the 29th pick in the 1st round. He was just signed by the Carolina Panthers. What we said about Balmer in 2008:  Balmer, Kentwan North Carolina 6044 308 5.31 One-year starter that showed limited production his senior year. Projects to a 3-4 defensive end but lack of edge speed may move him back inside. Plays high. Thick butt and thighs (a good thing.) Gets some push up inside. Not hard to move because he plays high and gets leveraged. Gets tied up and is slow to disengage. Easily walled off. Inconsistent to fight pressure. Marginal use of hands. In a rotation. Does not play the whole game. Played soft against Miami. Was put on skates at times. Lacks foot quickness and hands after first step. Did not produce until his last season. Not an explosive player. More of a pusher. Fringe pursuit effort. Doesn’t appear to be a self starter. Needs technique work in his overall game. Will be over drafted because of size. Boom or bust type. OSR:37/46. Edge speed:left 1.88, right 2.19. Third/fourth round. (A-33 1/4, H-10, BP-33, 10-1.81).

Oniel Cousins cut by Ravens, Draft Rewind 2008: What We Said:

Posted by Mike Florio/Profootballtalk on August 27, 2011, 10:41 AM EDT

Teams aren’t required to cut to 80 players until Tuesday. But once teams get their third preseason games in the books, there’s no reason to keep the extra guys around.
The Ravens, who played the Redskins Thursday night, have made their cuts. The biggest name was tackle Oniel Cousins, a third-round draft choice in 2008, who appeared in every game last season — and who started the first two preseason games in 2011.

Ourlads Guide To The NFL Draft 2008:

Cousins, Oniel UTEP 6036 308 5.17
Two-year starter. Lacks the foot quickness to be a left tackle. Needs technique work. Struggles to redirect and footwork in pass protection is below average. Long arms. Needs more upper and lower body strength. Just started playing football in his sophomore year in high school. Projects from tackle to offensive guard. A work in progress. Has the frame to add positive weight to help him anchor and stop a charge. Plays with an aggressive attitude. Works to finish blocks. Lacks overall experience and is raw. Needs work on hand placement in both the pass and running game. An average athlete that has tools to work with. At this point he is a better run blocker, but will flash a punch to the breast plate at times. A developmental player with enough ability to make a team. OSR:23/42. Fifth/sixth round. (A- 35 3/8, H-9 5/8, BP-23, 10-1.81).

2011 NFL Strength Of Schedule

* Teams in the 2010 Playoffs

A look at the most difficult schedules in 2011 (based on opponents' 2010 record).

Team	Combined win-loss record	Percentage
1. Carolina Panthers	142-114-0	.555
2. Buffalo Bills	137-119-0	.535
3t. New York Jets*	133-123-0	.520
3t. Indianapolis Colts*	133-123-0	.520
3t. Jacksonville Jaguars	133-123-0	.520
3t. Kansas City Chiefs*	133-123-0	.520
3t. San Diego Chargers	133-133-0	.520
3t. Denver Broncos	133-123-0	.520
3t. Detroit Lions	133-123-0	.520
10t. Miami Dolphins	132-124-0	.516
10t. Houston Texans	132-124-0	.516
10t. Minnesota Vikings	132-124-0	.516
13t. Green Bay Packers*	130-126-0	.508
13t. New Orleans Saints*	130-126-0	.508
15t. New England Patriots*	129-127-0	.504
15t. Philadelphia Eagles*	129-127-0	.504
15t. Dallas Cowboys	129-127-0	.504
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers	127-129-0	.496
19t. Cleveland Browns	126-130-0	.492
19t. Oakland Raiders	126-130-0	.492
19t. New York Giants	126-130-0	.492
19t. Atlanta Falcons*	126-130-0	.492
23t. Tennessee Titans	125-131-0	.488
23t. Chicago Bears*	125-131-0	.488
23t. Seattle Seahawks*	125-131-0	.488
26. St. Louis Rams	122-134-0	.477
27t. Pittsburgh Steelers*	121-135-0	.473
27t. Cincinnati Bengals	121-135-0	.473
27t. Washington Redskins	121-135-0	.473
30. San Francisco 49ers	119-137-0	.465
31. Baltimore Ravens*	117-139-0	.457
32. Arizona Cardinals	113-143-0	.441

Adrian Clayborn, 20th Pick 2011 NFL Draft

Clayborn, Adrian Iowa 6025 281 4.83

Three-year starter who is explosive, disciplined, and relentless in his play. He is as good as any defensive lineman in the past several years to disengage a blocker and make a play. In short, he doesn’t stay blocked. Excellent use of hands to separate, strength to pull and jerk. Stays on his feet. Has slippery quality. Plays with power and activity in his legs. A ready built four-man front right defensive end. Strong against double teams. Plays with leverage. Sudden to read and react after controlling blocker. Gave second round draft choice, Rodger Saffold, fits in 2009. Can feel pressure and react on the move. Explosive when delivering a blow. Good power base with strength to hold his ground. Good balance and body control. His arm length is average but his hand quickness, punch, placement, and extension are unique. Closes inside with authority. Has the lateral speed and quickness to string out and pursue to the sideline. Good awareness and instincts to play a variety of blocking schemes and combination blocks. Productive versus pass or run. Doesn’t lose ground when he tackles a ball carrier. Hard hitter. Athletic through traffic. Urgent and intense. Has good take off quickness on his pass rush. Tenacious. Accelerates off blocks. Burst to close on quarterback. Works his feet and hands together. Turns speed to power. Was born with a mild case of Erbs’ palsy and had some nerve damage in his neck and right side. Did not need surgery but may be relegated to the right side only because of it. Medical and a red flag will determine his draft status. Questions are still unanswered as to why he didn’t bench at the Combine or compete at the Senior Bowl. Productive in 2009 with 70 tackles, 11 1/2 sacks, 2 PBU, and 8 1/2 TFL. 2010 stats: 52 tackles, 3 1/2 sacks, 7 TFL, 1 FF, and 1 PBU.

Robert Quinn, 14th Pick 2011 NFL Draft

Quinn, Robert North Carolina 6040 265 4.65

Junior entry. Two-year starter. Plays right defensive end in a four man front. Missed the 2010 season due to a suspension by the NCAA for accepting illegal benefits. Was the best pass rusher in the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2009. Possesses natural hand, foot, and lateral quickness. Doesn’t stay blocked despite the fact he draws several holding calls during a season. Tough to block as a pass rusher. Good flexibility to run the hoop or bend off the edge. Can slip and accelerate off a block. Fast twitch pass rusher who can explode and jolt a pass protector. An instinctive athlete who is disciplined in his contain rush and checks reverses and counters before he sprints from the backside to get in on the play. Would like to see him finish better at times by wrapping up. Good change of direction with a closing burst to the ball carrier. Jams the tight ends to avoid a free release. Needs to improve his ability to shed and stack in the run game. Has the tools, needs the technique. Was voted the ACC’s Brian Piccolo Award winner as the league’s most courageous player in 2008. As a senior in high school, a tumor was found on top of his spinal cavity. It was benign; however it caused a fluid buildup that had to be drained and is checked twice a year. Quinn was a 3-time state heavyweight wrestling champion in South Carolina. His record was 86-0. Father, James Quinn, was an Olympic caliber hurdler. 2009 stats: 52 tackles, 19 TFL, 11 sacks, 6 FF.

Ryan Kerrigan, 16th Pick 2011 NFL Draft

Kerrigan, Ryan Purdue 6037 267 4.71

Three-year starter who is very technique conscious and productive. Plays right defensive end in a four-man front. Rarely gets single blocked. Can’t be blocked with a tight end. Plays low and with good leverage. Can walk an offensive tackle back to the quarterback at times. Instinctive. Quick to read and react to pressure then gets to the ball. Right place at the right time player. Can run the hoop as a pass rusher, bending his course to the depth of the quarterback. Generally doesn’t get run out of the play. Good use of arms, hands, and leverage at the point of attack. Sudden first step. Plays on his feet. Uses a variety of pass rush moves including rip, spin, and slap and grab. Disruptive even if he doesn’t get the sack. Gets his hands up on the rush or tries to slap the ball out of the quarterback or ball carrier’s hand. Doesn’t give up on a play. Works from snap to whistle. Gets through traffic with urgency and intensity. Strong game in win over Ohio State in 2009 where he demonstrated all his tools. Knocked off the rust Senior Bowl week and impressed with his jackrabbit get off quickness. Purdue did not play in a bowl game, so it was about 8 weeks between starts for the elite pass rusher. The highly motivated competitor had 5 tackles, 3 TFL, and a sack in the game. In 2009 he led the Big-10 and was third nationally with 13 sacks. He also had 18 1/2 TFL. He led the nation with 7 FF, second most in Big-10 history. In 2010 he racked up 70 tackles, 12 1/2 sacks, 26 TFL, 5 FF, and 1 PBU. A Jared Allen clone.

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