The draft exploration process runs primarily from September to mid-April. The sporting events part of the evaluation process takes center stage as of February. What matters most, however, is how NFL draft prospects perform in actual football games. Here’s a closer look at some of the notable prospects in the LSU-Texas A&M contest and their impact on the bottom line:
OT Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M, Junior: The talented left tackle had an excellent test against quality A&M pass rushers. It happened with great success. Joeckel went mainly against Sam Montgomery and neutralized him. Joeckel showed great poise and speed to stay in front of his man. He also had no trouble managing the bull run. The use of his hands was impressive as Joeckel controlled Montgomery with short but powerful punches. His long arms and flowing kick allowed Joeckel to pass his man past the quarterback. Luke Joeckel played as an athletic coach at left tackle. He could be a more powerful mauler as a run blocker, but his pass protection skills were impressive. He’ll be a very high first-round pick in the 2013 NFL draft if he decides to declare early.
OT Jake Matthews, Texas A&M, Junior: A & M’s other talented offensive tackle also had a good day against LSU. Matthews has the power to be a right tackle in the NFL. On more than one occasion he took Barkevious Mingo off the line of scrimmage. Matthews also had the quick feet to keep up with athletic Mingo. Matthews is likely to be seen as a next-level left or right tackle candidate. He comes out of his posture hard and fast. Matthews is an aggressive blocker who plays under control. He has heavy hands and the athleticism to bend his knees and not stretch too much.
DE Damontre Moore, Texas A&M, Junior: Moore led the Aggies in defense with 10 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 break pass and a rush at quarterback. He also showed toughness when fighting a hit knee and ankle. Moore seemed natural to push his way inside and use a combination of speed and leverage to harass the quarterback. An offensive tackle must also respect your ability to use speed off the edge. Moore put in a lot of effort against the run and continued to fight against double teams. His hustle even as the ball slipped away was one of the main reasons he had so many tackles. Moore is a defensive end who can run and run to the quarterback. He should feature prominently in the 2013 draft if he decides to participate.
OLB Sean Porter, Texas A&M, Senior: Porter was active with 7 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack and 1 interrupted pass. He came screaming unlocked down the middle in a second-quarter blitz and easily captured Zach Mettenberger. Porter closes in a hurry, but it’s not Von Miller as a pass rusher. Porter is predictable as a pass rusher and relies solely on speed. He projects best as a weak-side outside linebacker in a pro-level 4-3 defense. Porter has excellent reach and looked smooth going into cover. He prefers to run around the blocks rather than face the blockers. Porter will have to stay relatively clean in the NFL because of his defensive line in order to run and chase running backs.
WR Ryan Swope, Texas A&M, Senior: A & M’s top receiver contributed 10 receptions for 81 yards (8.1 for each). Swope came out of the slot and was not afraid to work in the middle of the field. He easily catches the ball and can also take a hit and still hold. Swope varies his speed well and can perform double movements to open himself. He had a good reception on the touchline in the second quarter between two defenders that required great concentration. Swope didn’t look explosive or elusive against the caliber of athletes at LSU high school. He was frequently approached shortly after making a reception. Receiver Texas A&M also had more trouble separating on deeper routes. His ability to block was an advantage in the running game.
DE Barkevious Mingo, LSU, Junior: The extremely athletic Mingo had some trouble breaking free from Jake Matthews. Mingo finished with 3 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack, 1 fumble recovered, 1 hit pass and quarterback pressure. The talented junior was pushed a bit in career support and did not play on leverage. He jumped offside a couple of times trying to make a big jump in the middle. There is no doubt that Mingo has long arms and can really run. However, you have to learn to play with better leverage and use your hands more aggressively. His only catch came when he beat a tight end late in the game. There are shades of Jayson Taylor in his game, but also Aaron Maybin. Mingo is not a naturally powerful man for his size. The raw athletic ability is there, but he needs technical work to develop his potential as a pass-rusher.
DE Sam Montgomery, LSU, Junior: Montgomery had a hard time letting go of Luke Joeckel. The LSU defensive end made just 2 tackles, a half tackling for loss and a hit pass. Montgomery couldn’t get past Joeckel and struggled to dominate him as well. The normally disruptive defensive end did a decent job of raising his hands to distract the quarterback. Montgomery didn’t roll off the line of scrimmage like a race braking, but he had trouble disengaging.
FS Eric Reid, LSU, Junior: One of the nation’s greatest college safeties made 11 tackles and broke 1 pass. Reid is a confident and powerful tackler. He showed range and a flurry to close and limit the run after catching yards. Reid was strangely penalized for a very late hit to a receiver in the closing minutes of the game. Reid showed some toughness when playing this game despite being beaten. Reid missed an interception opportunity late in the game, but he had decent coverage. He hasn’t made that many coverage plays this season, but quarterbacks still have to be very careful with Reid in center field.
LB Kevin Minter, LSU, Junior: The mighty inside linebacker led the Tigers with 12 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 interception, 1 sack and 2 quarterback pressures. Minter played fast and downhill. He’s a fundamentally solid tackler who plays disciplined football. Minter showed excellent range and he is not exaggerating. Minter has lower body strength and good use of his hands to pick up blocks and defeat them. The LSU linebacker was alert in coverage and looked fluid falling backward. Minter was effective in the bombardment and showed a solid blast for the quarterback.
QB Zach Mettenberger, LSU, Junior: The LSU quarterback completed just 11 of 29 passes (38%) for 97 yards (3.3 yards per attempt). He didn’t flip the ball and threw a perfectly high 29-yard touchdown pass. Mettenberger toppled multiple receivers and was just not accurate. He also showed little field awareness when he threw a pass a couple of yards past the line of scrimmage. The freshman starter has a good arm and NFL size, but his precision and pocket awareness need to improve. LSU’s struggling passing attack isn’t all his fault, but Mettenberger would be wise from a draft point of view to come back the next season much better.
