IRVING, Texas – Clemson offensive tackle Isaiah Battle announced he'd be entering the NFL's supplemental draft, generating interest around the league.
NFL teams can make supplemental draft selections by forfeiting a pick in the following year's draft. For interest, if a team were to invest a fourth-round pick to secure Battle, it would lose its fourth-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
For that reason, players often aren't selected in the supplemental draft. Though with 16 career starts for Clemson, Battle seems like a likely candidate to earn a pick.
It seems unlikely the Cowboys would spend a pick on another tackle, but I wrote up a quick scouting report all the same.
Games Studied: Florida State, South Carolina, Oklahoma
Battle is listed at 6-7, 290. He has lined up at both tackle spots, but primarily played left side later in the season. He plays with surprising initial quickness despite his long, rangy build. Playing and foot speed are solid once he gets on the second level and out on the edge in space when blocking in the running game. Did not see him have to make any blocks where he pulled but was able to make the reach and cut off block staying on his feet.[embeddedad0]
He's got good lateral range to get to the outside. Will need work on his playing strength. Lacks power in his upper and lower body. You see him get into his man, but you don't see that snap to get leverage and get movement. Gets tied up along the line of scrimmage but gives effort to finish. Doesn't hit and fall off. Didn't see strength in his hands because the majority of the time he is more placement than punch. Doesn't shock the defender. Was better with his contact balance as the season wore on – was reaching against Florida State. By the Oklahoma game, he was in a much better football position. Playing through his hips and knees. Poor body control and recovery early. Had trouble when rusher would spin on him but his technique improved.
He didn't appear to have trouble with his assignments. No major busts or mistakes. Able to pass twist stunts and handle games. Angles for down blocks were good and worked hard to finish his blocks. Was consistent in way that he played snap-to-snap. No problems blocking on the move or in space. Able to see his man, adjust his path and become engaged. Pass sets were a little top heavy because he knew that he lacked strength. Had to get to rush before he could get to him. Did not see him get beat to the corner in games I studied.
I don't know a great deal about his character while at Clemson, but there was a recent report where he was pulled over June 11th for traffic stop and the officer questioned him about a marijuana smell. Battle then handed over a black box containing three different clear bags which were believed to be the substance. If I could physically compare Battle to from this current draft in the way that he played it would have been Chaz Green out of Florida whom the Cowboys took in the third round. Very similar type of player.
