FRISCO, Texas – The picks come fast and furious on Saturday during the NFL draft.
That was obvious this year, as the Cowboys made two trades and drafted a total of six players on the final day of the draft. Here are my full scouting reports for each of the players taken to finish this thing off.
Name:Ryan Switzer
Position:WR
College:North Carolina
Height:5-8
Weight:181
Report: This is one of the most competitive players you will ever see. He has a passion and love for the game. Gives everything he's got on every play. Physically and mentally tough. Outstanding football intelligence and awareness. His feet are quick and he plays with a burst. His lateral quickness and agility are his best traits. He plays with body control and balance, and he has that stop-start quickness – he can redirect in a hurry. He has the ability to read coverages on the move, and he finds space when there is none. He's consistent as a route runner, and he has the courage to catch the ball in a crowd. He is clutch in the way he goes about his job. He shows natural hands and will extend them to make the catch. Would surprise you with his catch radius. Can adjust and make the contested catch. More quickness than speed but can finish in the open field. Most of his damage is done in the slot. Gets down field to make receptions. Special as a punt returner.
Name:Xavier Woods
Position:S
College:Louisiana Tech
Height:5-11
Weight:197
Report:The type of safety that will walk down in the box. Woods is around the line of scrimmage, and he will drive forward to hit. He tends to wrap up as a tackler. You see good concentration for interceptions. He doesn't always drive through his man. There is range and awareness to knock ball away. Puts himself in position to make plays – the ball tends to find him. He will cover in the slot and he has good ball skills. For that reason, he can create turnovers. He will break on the ball. He is used on the blitz, where he showed a burst. He generally takes good angles, and he gets the ball carrier on the ground. Good range to get to the ball, and he knows how to undercut a route. This is a nice player in the open field -- sure tackler. Smart. Not fooled on plays. Loved by his coaches and teammates. Pulls his weight on special teams.
Name:Marquez White
Position:CB
College:Florida State
Height:6-0
Weight:194
Report:This is a quick-footed athlete. He plays faster than his 40 time of 4.59. I was surprised how poorly he ran at the NFL Combine. He will play press and get his hands on the receiver. He can change directions, but there are snaps where he gives up space inside. He tends to take a lot of steps when he drives on the ball, and he uses his hands down the field – which can get him in trouble. He will fight to deny the ball, and he will play both sides of the field. Used on the corner blitz but would like to have seen him get more than he did. Does a nice job of watching the eyes of the quarterback and playing the route. Knows how to put himself in position to defend the ball. Will go low on tackle attempts. Is a willing player but can be a little unreliable so will need some work here. Can be up and down as a player. Will need to develop more consistency. Has something to work with, size and length-wise.
Name:Joey Ivie
Position:DT
College:Florida
Height:6-3
Weight:300
Report:I love the way this guy competes. Physical toughness for the position despite being limited in certain areas. More short-area quickness than playing speed and burst. He's good off the ball, but when he gets stopped it's a struggle for him to get that momentum going again. When he can break free, then he has a chance. His quickness going forward is better than when he goes sideways. Ivie gives you everything he has chasing the ball, but he struggles to close it down. He's good when he can hit the gap and go. There are times where you see him hesitate, but that's more due to the scheme where they ask him to read first, then react. He has good body control and balance for the most part, but there are snaps where he gets too tall and will get knocked to the side or washed. He has strength in his upper/lower body to hold up and take on the blocks. When he can stay down he is a much better player. He will anchor down at the point, then use a swim move to free himself. He will use technique to get off blocks. He works hard not to stay blocked. There's nothing flashy in the way he plays. He has the ability to make more plays when on the move then when he has to two-gap read. Has lined up both as a one and three-technique. Liked him better as a one.
Name:Noah Brown
Position:WR
College:Ohio State
Height:6-2
Weight:222
Report:This guy looks like Dez Bryant running routes with his big body. Plays mean and physical. Plays inside and out. Catches the ball easily. Everything is out in front of him. Catch radius is big. Can adjust high or low -- it doesn't matter. Can settle his weight and come back to the ball. He will snatch it out of the air. Brown knows how to get his feet in bounds, as he is very aware of the sideline. Plays with some stop-start quickness. Comes off the line strong. Can make some clutch plays when the ball comes his way, and he has made some clutch plays in his career. There's some nice leaping ability, and he will extend for the ball. The Buckeyes used as a blocker on the edge, where he will crack down inside to seal the edge. This is more than just a "get in the way" guy. Tries to eliminate the defender as a blocker. I love the way he plays with an attitude.
Name:Jordan Carrell
Position:DT
College:Colorado
Height:6-2
Weight:290
Report:This is an inside banger. Carrell is thick in the upper and lower body. There were snaps where he was a tick late off the ball and it affected how he played. Blockers were able to get into him and it made it hard for him to disengage off the block quickly. With that power you would think that he would win more blocks one-on-one. But there is a nice physical toughness and effort. He gets his push inside with upper body strength and power. This is a straight-up-the-field rusher. He was used in the twist game but would struggle to get home when coming around the edge. Better when he can be the penetrator. There is times where he comes close but just can't finish the play. Has lined up as a one and three-technique. I could see him playing as a three in this scheme if they allow him just to rush up the field.
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