NFL Combine Player Draft Profiles - Michigan Defensive Players

Follow up to the prior two posts. The NFL combine website has a draft profile for every player at the combine. Since the defensive players will complete their drills this weekend, here is how they assessed Hill, Hudson, Metellus and Uche:

Lavert Hill

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/lavert-hill?id=32194849-4c48-8310-d037-4d75095af724

Prospect grade: 5.97 - Developmental traits-based prospect

NFL comparison - Jourdan Lewis

Overview

Undersized press corner with good instincts, ball skills and coverage strength, but a concerning lack of long speed. Hill's body control and short area quickness put him in position to make plays on the football, but when forced to cover downfield, he begins to grab and pull to prevent big plays against him. He's too small to stay outside but his strength could help balance out average suddenness against shifty slots. The discipline and awareness are present to play short zone, but run support might be an issue if teams come at him from 11 personnel. Projecting a successful move inside is challenging so he gets a backup "prove it" grade until the challenge is met.

Strengths

• In-your-face press technique
• Consistent ball production as a starter
• Eyes wide open to route combos developing around him
• Patient and poised in press and catch-man techniques
• Fluid change of direction when trailing routes
• Quick recovery when shaken by press
• Reads receivers to turn and find football downfield
• Drifts into opponent to suffocate catch space downfield
• Excellent body control in his movements
• Above average feel to make his way into passing lanes
• Uses well-timed slaps to knock the ball away

Weaknesses

• Undersized as outside corner
• Missing classic lateral agility and burst as NFL nickel
• Rides high when phasing routes and overruns comebacks
• Loses ground carrying vertical speed
• Excessive downfield grabbing is an issue
• Could struggle to manage certain slot matchups
• Blockers and bad angles erase him in run support

 

Khaleke Hudson

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/khaleke-hudson?id=32194855-4444-8091-9618-834bc38fda6c

Prospect grade: 5.46 - Between Priority free agent and Chance to make end of roster or practice squad

Overview

Undersized safety turned linebacker who summons toughness and spunk to counterbalance his lack of traits. The production has been fairly impressive in two of the last three seasons, but he's quicker than fast and his range is limited. Hudson's lack of size shows up near the line of scrimmage and he's not as sticky in coverage as he needs to be. His talent for blocking punts should garner attention, but may not be enough to overcome deficiencies at linebacker or safety.

Strengths

• Robust production in 2017 included 17.5 TFLs and eight sacks
• Commendable toughness against consistently bigger foes
• Early run diagnosis triggers race to beat blockers to the spot
• Downhill flow into the gaps looking for work
• Sees gaps develop in blocking scheme and fits them downhill
• Tremendous burst out of his stance as punt blocker
• Twitchy, short-area change of direction in space
• Adequate balance in coverage
• Instant get-off in race to the punter
• Finished career with five blocked punts

Weaknesses

• Got mauled by Army's rushing attack
• His GPS sends him to heavily trafficked areas
• Frequently pinballed around by blockers
• Hip tightness and short strides prevent recoveries against bounce-wide runs
• Has to work overtime to pull away from blocks
• Lacks length and pattern anticipation for man coverage
• Needs abundance of steps to close downhill from his drops
• Average response time to what he sees in zone

 

Josh Metellus

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/josh-metellus?id=32194d45-5438-3442-2fcb-95bf95b52581

Prospect grade: 5.96 - Developmental traits-based prospect

Overview

Plays downhill in run support. Technical tackler with high finishing rate. Fits gap with quick gather-and-strike talent. May offer positional versatility on the next level. Possesses balance and hips for short-area coverage duties. Foot twitch for transitions from coverage to close-out. Aggressive clawing at catch-point. Strike to jar football loose from receivers. Early recognition and response to play-action. Gets head around to find football downfield.

Strengths

• Plays downhill in run support
• Technical tackler with high finishing rate
• Fits gap with quick gather-and-strike talent
• May offer positional versatility on the next level
• Possesses balance and hips for short-area coverage duties
• Foot twitch for transitions from coverage to close-out
• Aggressive clawing at catch-point
• Strike to jar football loose from receivers
• Early recognition and response to play-action
• Gets head around to find football downfield

Weaknesses

• Much more consistent coverage in 2018
• Had issues digesting route combinations this year
• Sluggish acceleration and lack of length limits recovery ability
• Range takes a deep hit beyond short-area throws
• Can be mismatched against speed downfield
• Would like him to feel it rather than have to see it
• Smallish to negotiate blockers near the box

 

Josh Uche

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/josh-uche?id=32195543-4841-5291-3f1b-884a013e452e

Prospect grade: 6.26 - Between "Good backup who could become starter" and "Will be starter within first two seasons"

Overview

Balancing Uche's skill set and athletic potential against his inexperience and lack of instincts makes him a challenging evaluation. He's unlikely to find sustained success as a situational rusher, but it should be in play for a team to turn loose his rush instincts and agility inside the pocket as a blitzer. He plays with closing burst, can tackle and is smoother in coverage than expected, but the difference in becoming a pro linebacker instead of a short-term, hybrid athlete will depend largely upon improving his second-level instincts and finding an eclectic defensive mind to unlock his potential.

Strengths

• Compact build with good strength and speed
• Feet are sudden and lively on second level
• Athleticism and range for the position
• Impressive burst to close as tackler
• Schooled-up with his hands at point of attack
• Diversified rush attack this past season
• Good edge speed with ability to dip and bend at the top
• Added punch-and-go to gain separation and corner
• Factored as B-gap blitzer against Wisconsin
• Can peel and cover when lined up as rusher
• Good pop and redirect on tight ends into routes

Weaknesses

• In a holding pattern between two positions as a pro prospect
• Lacks length and acumen to become full-time situational rusher
• Can be engulfed by size as edge rusher
• Feasted on lambs with much of his sack production
• Signs of confusion on second-level alignments
• Hasn't developed a linebacker's instincts yet
• Needs to learn to read keys and diagnose blocking scheme
• Could struggle in cover-man early on
• Stress fracture in foot and torn meniscus in his medical background