ESPN Insider comments on our players.

Name: DeShaun Foster
Position: Running Back
Grade: 70 | Key
Alert: None

Comment:
Foster shows explosiveness and big play capability and the questions about his toughness and power also seem to be evaporating. When healthy and ready, he has quickness and power and has better inside running abilities and strength than a lot of people realize. He is at his best when he can run inside, bounce to the outside, and use his vision through the hole and his ability to put together double moves and find cutback lanes. He is also solid in the passing game as a receiver out of the backfield. On the negative side, Foster has had a lot of problems fumbling in the past, durability has always been a problem, and you get the feeling that when he gets tired he gets sloppy. Will lose focus and doesn't show great concentration. Also, as he gets tired, he starts to run high, he will take more hits, that's when he gets himself into problems. As a blocker he is up and down, and when fresh, he can be effective picking up the blitz, but like the other parts of his game, as fatigue sets in, his blocking skills start to diminish. As long as he stays healthy and focused and doesn't get overworked, Foster can develop into one of the more underrated backs in the NFL.

 

Name: Ricky Manning Jr.
Position: Cornerback
Grade: 71 | Key
Alert: YB

Comment:
Manning is a little feisty guy that has everything that you are looking for in cover skills with the exception of size. He has outstanding fluid hips, he has a burst in and out of his cuts, he has outstanding straight line speed and excellent overall quickness. He has rare change of direction, he plays under control, he can handle double moves and adjusts on the run without any wasted motion. He has good hands, he tracks the ball very well in the air, and he really seems to get a good jump on routes, and for a young player, his instincts are very good. He has excellent turn and run skills and he can plant and drive with the best of them. He is not ever going to match up on the perimeter against big receivers, although he will certainly try to attack, and he will try to be physical, and he is only going to be adequate vs. the run. He is a drag down type tackler and he is probably a little bit of a liability in the red zone against bigger more physical receivers that can simply muscle him and out jump him. He also has some punt return skills in his background.

 

Name: Mark Fields
Position: Linebacker
Grade: 70 | Key
Alert: ID

Comment:
Fields has been a versatile contributor for this defense. Can rush the QB, blitz effectively, and he has the range to make plays all over the field. He is what you would call a sideline chase type OLB, and is most effective when turned loose. He is an explosive edge rusher as mentioned, and has outstanding first-step quickness off the corner. Shows the ability to simply outrun offensive linemen and get by them on a pass rush, and he is a load of blitz pickup for a running back. He is a good open field tackler, he has the athleticism and speed and range to be good in coverage situations, you love his aggressiveness and ability to make big plays. However for all the things you like about him, for a veteran player, he does not always play with great discipline. He doesn't appear to be overly instinctive, he can play out of control at times, aggressiveness will take him out of some plays, you don't always see great ball awareness or the ability to get a good jump on the ball. If healthy, Fields is the one linebacker of this group that can give Carolina big plays and turnovers.

 

Name: Brad Hoover
Position: Fullback
Grade: 71 | Key
Alert: None


Hoover is a little bit of a tweener, and at times you would think that you are looking at a west coast type FB because he is not a big and powerful lead blocker, but he also does not have the speed and natural moves to be a true running back. He catches the ball well out of the backfield, he has natural hands, he is more comfortable as a receiver than you might think, he can catch the ball in stride on dump offs, and swing passes. His primary role as a blocker is the area where he excels. He shows excellent effort, he is a smart guy, he appears to have a good feel for angles, and he plays with good overall leverage. He does a nice job of finding the defender on the isolation block, although he is not a big physical fullback that will overpower defenders. He gets good position, he stays on his feet, he delivers a blow, he plays with leverage, and he has enough athletic ability and a strong enough base, that he is not caught out of position a lot, he is very effective walling off defenders and creating a hole for his running backs.

 

one more, mags fav

Branch can flat out run; you love his overall speed, athleticism, and ability to cover ground. He has corner type speed but his lack of techniques and cover skills will probably prevent him from ever playing that position. He is a little bit of a tweener type as he is not big or physical enough to play safety. While he has good range in run support, and he is a good open field tackler, he is not overly explosive, and lacks the size to play in the box. Is not tremendously effective coming up and taking on blockers. With all of his athleticism and ability to turn and run and use his speed to get the plays, he is still not yet a very good technician. He doesn't have great footwork and man to man cover skills are not as good as his athletic ability. Is a little slow in his pedal and turn, just appears to be a corner that has not quite hit his stride yet. Branch is the type of developmental player that could dramatically improve if he can get solid repetitions and playing time.

 

I hope he's right!

 

Wow. That's the first time I've ever heard or seen anyone suggest that Moose was a one dimensional vertical receiver. Hell, I still remember that one deep route he ran between 99-01.

I do think that Peppers, for his skills, should be able to fight through a block more and locate the ball. It's obvious he can, and that he can pursue. Also agree that he'd been too early to give up if the first step didn't get the sack, but teams are going to cheat out on him and I think he's done better inside now.

Reading what our LT and C can do, or rather putting it in someone else's words, makes me wonder why we don't use the stretch plays more often. A TE on the weak side, hooking the RDE, with the rest of the line influencing inside and a guy like Foster or Goings cutting back, is hard to stop. I feel like Gross and Mitchell blocking a gap inside of where they are would be hard to beat. Same for Hoover, who should probably be used for his misdirection help as much as an actual blocker.

Agree that Branch is pretty much just a developmental guy and that his ball skills/technique is bad. Wish they'd touched on his instinct a bit more. He was drafted because he had speed, and that's great, but he didn't have the experience in college and I still think it's a bit of a long shot that he becomes what his ability suggests.







What do they have on the TEs and Colbert? I guess I could read it by now but you're already there

 

Comment:
Seidman has good overall size; he has good instinct and a nice feel for the game for a young player. Does not make a lot of mental mistakes and plays with good overall efficiency. He seems to understand blocking angles he shows good overall athleticism. Will work to get position on his blocks and to wall off and he does a pretty good job of staying on his feet. He has good overall balance he uses his hands well, he is what you would call a classic position and finesse style blocker. He has good overall receiving skills, he will catch the ball away from his body, he will catch in a crowd, he is good on the short to intermediate routes, he will come over the middle, and his concentration appears to be good. He is not going to be overly effective in the run game, he will have some trouble if he is pass blocking vs. bull rushers, and he is never going be the type of TE that can be a power blocker in short yardage and goal line sets.

Name: Kris Mangum
Position: Tight End
Grade: 69 | Key
Alert: None

Comment:
Mangum runs good routes, he does a nice job of getting separation from the defender, he has solid hands, he can snatch the ball away from his body, and he has better speed and quickness than you might imagine. He is an athletic TE that can stretch the field a little bit, and he is a troublesome match up in man to man situations because of his ability to make plays down the seam. He gets a nice release off the line of scrimmage but he does it with more finesse than power. As a blocker, he is more of a finesse and position type that works very hard to keep his feet moving and stay off the ground. He plays with good leverage and although he lacks bulk and a lot of strength, he really stays with his blocks, he is tenacious, and he adjusts on the move. He is not ever going to be a power blocker from the TE position, but his combination of athleticism, and quickness plus good receiving skills make him very valuable.

Name: Michael Gaines
Position: Tight End
Grade: 30 | Key
Alert: R

Comment:
Gaines has both great bulk and strength. Has the lower-body strength to control the point of attack when playing with leverage. Shows the ability to get out to the second level and hit the moving target. Has good hands and can catch on the run. Is a big target in the passing game. He shows the ability to catch away from his frame and on the run. Is a natural runner after the catch. Is big and smooth, and is tough to bring down in the open field. Motivation, maturity, intelligence and character are all huge concerns. Takes poor angles into blocks and at times gets overextended and lunges in the open field. He does not give a good enough effort as a blocker. Is on the shorter side, and while he is a good athlete, he lacks ideal top-end speed. He needs to develop better route running skills and a better feel for finding soft spots in zone coverage.

 

Name: Keary Colbert
Position: Wide Receiver
Grade: 30 | Key
Alert: R

Comment:
Colbert lacks great size or speed, but he runs smooth and crisp routes, he understands reading defenses, he knows how to separate, and he also has exceptional hands. Has great game experience. Shows good burst off the LOS and has very good COD skills. Knows how to set DC's up with the double move and also does a fine job of finding soft spots in zone. He does a terrific job of snatching on the run. Will catch in traffic and is not afraid to go over the middle. He is tough. Has very good awareness and craftiness as a receiver. Is a willing blocker that will work to finish. He lacks elite size. He has below average top-end speed. He is not a vertical threat. He is not much of a threat after the catch. He does not show much elusiveness or a great second gear as an open field runner. Colbert doesn't have impressive size or speed, but he knows how to get open and he does all the little things right.

 

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