| Dave Lane |
07-25-2011 09:59 PM |
Depending on the timeline you're reading, it's possible that NFL teams could be allowed to negotiate contracts with undrafted free agents as early as Monday afternoon. We went into the guys we see as the best UDFAs on offense and defense, but I wanted to add a couple more detailed scouting reports.
This one is on Virginia Union offensive tackle David Mims, who has the size and strength to do things in the NFL. Of course, the difficulty in scouting players from very small schools is in isolating skill sets and setting aside the fact that their competition is rarely top-notch. In addition, position coaches are often pulling double- or triple-duty, which means that these players aren't always up on the fine points of their positions. Mims has some of these issues, but he should be intriguing to many teams looking to stock the right side offensive line with a project power tackle.
6-foot-8, 331 pounds -- 40 Yrd Dash:*5.32/20 Yrd Dash:*3.07/10 Yrd Dash:*1.90/225 Lb. Bench Reps:*29/Vertical Jump:*26/Broad Jump:*08'06"/20 Yrd Shuttle:*4.80/3-Cone Drill:*8.10
(All Pro Day — no combine)
Pass blocking: Keeps his feet active and his head on a swivel out of the stance. Good kick-step and dropback; has the feet and agility for this to be more of a strength than it is.Tends to stab and push at smaller, overmatched pass rushers instead of getting his hands on the defender and taking him back through the arc. When he does face a speed rusher with a decent turn-and-go, Mims is not always quick enough to set the edge all the way through, and he will lose sacks and pressures on the back half of the pocket.
When blocking wide, can get beaten on inside moves; doesn't always have the quickness to recover from an initial stance concept. Tends to shove his first blocker out of the way in an almost comical "college vs. high school" way and doesn't always play to the whistle as a result. Gets his arms out and avoids defenders getting into his body.
Run blocking: Keeps a good pop off the snap and is generally looking to block another defender as he's already engaging one — this is another mechanical byproduct of the fact that he simply physically overwhelms his competition. Not challenged nearly enough from a power perspective to know what will happen in the NFL when he's facing people as strong as he is or stronger.
Plays high off the snap and will lose leverage battles until he learns to explode lower. Doesn't always persist to set the edge on longer plays from cutback or misdirection runs. Doesn't always play with optimal awareness — tends to lock on to his target and seems oblivious to defenders shooting right by him, though this could very easily be the product of the blockers around him.
Pulling/Trapping: Not really asked to pull; was more a stationary blocker. Has sufficient lateral movement ability to make short tackle pulls if properly coached.
Initial quickness: Comes out of his (three-point) stance reasonably quickly for his size and has a good, wide base. Takes too long to get up to speed, though — he tends to be logey with his first few steps.
Downfield: Slightly faster when he is asked to hit the second level; Mims moves through the line aggressively and hits the target accurately.
Intangibles: No known character or injury concerns. Performed at his pro day at 331 pounds after playing at around 350 pounds most of his career. Several NFL teams showed pre-draft interest in Mims, but he is very much a "raw clay" prospect — he needs a lot of coaching starting from the base attributes needed to succeed in the NFL. Optimally a right tackle at the next level, Mims intrigues with his size and athletic potential, but he's very much a work in progress.
Pro comparison: Stephon Heyer(notes), Washington Redskins*
Related: Washington Redskins
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