2009 NFP Scouting Series: Houston & Tulane

FROM WES BUNTING:

For the rest of the summer, the National Football Post will break down every team in the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-A) to identify players who could warrant interest from NFL teams in the 2010 draft.

In our weekend edition of the series, we take a look at a pair of Conference-USA teams that have sent their share of prospects to the NFL the past couple of seasons.

Click HERE to check out the rest of the NFP’s college breakdowns. 

Houston Offense

Case Keenum: No. 7, QB, 6-1, 212

A solid athlete who does a great job escaping pressure and buying time in the pocket. Displays good pocket awareness and does a nice job keeping his eyes down the field and improvising under pressure. Consistently keeps his composure and is able to make throws on the move and from a variety of throwing angles. Showcases good accuracy and has a quick release. However, he will get sloppy with his footwork and drop his release point at times, which causes him to lose velocity on the football. Lacks ideal arm strength and struggles driving the ball down the field, especially on throws outside the numbers. Relies on his touch and anticipation skills to drop the ball into tight spots.

Impression: An athletic, savvy quarterback who showcases good composure but is limited to a west coast offense in the NFL.

Carl Barnett: No. 57, C, 6-2, 288

An undersized center prospect who lacks ideal power and girth in his lower half. Has a tendency to overextend in order to make up for his lack of strength and gets really wide with his footwork as times, causing him to struggle shuffling laterally. Does a nice job staying on blocks and getting his hands inside, but lacks the body control to mirror defensive linemen when he is engaged.

Impression: Lacks the power, girth and footwork to hold his own 1v1 at the next level.

Houston Defense

Brandon Brinkley: No. 21, CB, 5-11, 180

Showcases good instincts and does a nice job reading routes and putting himself in position to make a play. However, he plays a bit high and isn’t real fluid in his drop. Is slow to flip his hips when asked to turn and run down the field and consistently lets receivers get behind him. Possesses decent footwork and balance when asked to click and close, but lacks any kind of burst out of his breaks. Is slow to jump routes and doesn’t possess the first step to cleanly make a play on the football, even when he’s in decent position.

Impression: Lacks ideal footwork and doesn’t have the closing speed to be much of a factor in man or zone coverage.

Matt Nicholson: No. 30, OLB, 6-3, 228

A decent lateral athlete who is comfortable in space and does a nice job getting in and out of his breaks. Possesses a smooth drop and has the body control and balance to cleanly redirect and change directions. However, he looks stiff when asked to close on the ball and lacks any kind of a first step or second gear. Plays at one speed and struggles making plays away from his frame or running sideline to sideline. Lacks power in his overall frame and doesn’t do a good job taking on blockers. Is consistently driven wide of the ball and doesn’t win battles at the point of attack.

Impression: Plays at one speed, struggles closing on the football and isn’t real physical in any area of the game.

Tulane Offense

Kevin Moore: No. 2, QB, 6-5, 230

A tall, good looking quarterback prospect who has a high, quick release and can really spin the football down the field. Has no problem seeing over the line of scrimmage and typically showcases good touch and timing on all levels of the field. Isn’t real smooth with his footwork and lumbers in his drop from under center. Struggles getting his feet and body aligned at times, which causes his accuracy to get spotty. Is slow to decipher defenses and needs to do a better job going through his progressions and not locking onto his primary target.

Impression: An intriguing underclassman who has some NFL-caliber tools, but still has a lot of maturing to do.

Andre Anderson: No. 32, RB, 6-0, 216

A thick, well-proportioned back who displays good vision and balance for his size. Has some wiggle in the open field and consistently makes the first man miss. Does a nice job stepping through would-be tacklers and possesses the first step to accelerate into daylight.

Exhibits good straight-line speed for his size and can create some big plays at the second level. Doesn’t run with a consistently low pad level and isn’t as physical at the line of scrimmage as his body would indicate. Displays good hands in the pass game and looks comfortable flaring out of the backfield.

Impression: A big, coordinated back with some natural running skills, but isn’t as physical as his frame indicates.

Tulane Defense

Reggie Scott: No. 92, DE, 6-4, 270

Possesses a thickly built frame and looks a lot bigger than his height/weight numbers would suggest. Lacks an adequate first step off the snap and struggles reaching the corner. Doesn’t play with ideal flexibility and has a tendency to get too high, which negates his natural strength. Does a nice job using his length and base strength to win at the point of attack and has some stack and shed ability. Works hard and has a real passion for the game, but lacks the closing speed to consistently make a play on the football.

Impression: Has a nice-sized frame with some natural strength, but lacks burst and is slow to close on the football.

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