Its early but here are some top prospects at OT, DE, DT and Safety...

Here are some guys that I'm sure will be targetted by the FO this spring. Keep your eyes on these guys this fall and get to know these players because I'm sure they are right up our alley.

Defensive Ends...

Quentin Moses
DE | (6'4", 248, 4.77) | GEORGIA

Strengths: An athletic defensive end prospect with good height and size potential. Has room on his frame to add 10-to-15 more pounds. Displays good initial burst and top-end speed. Naturally instinctive as a pass rusher. Shows a wide array of pass rush moves and is very fluid when changing directions on double-move. He displays necessary closing burst as an edge rusher. At his best versus the run when in space. He works hard to keep off of blocks and he can be disruptive in the backfield. He displays good redirection skills and will make a lot of plays when pursuing from behind. His tackling skills are above average and he shows some power at the point of attack.

Weaknesses: Is lean and must continue to add bulk to his frame. He plays with a narrow base and does not show the lower body strength to anchor at the line of scrimmage versus the run. He will get pushed around too much by bigger offensive tackles when he lets them get into his body. He needs to improve his technique versus the run, as well. His hand-usage and footwork versus the run are below average. Lacks explosive power as a bull rusher.

Bottom Line:
Moses possesses impressive natural athleticism and he continues to improve his size, strength and technique. He played basketball for the Bulldogs early in his collegiate career but has since turned his full focus to football. Lean and athletic, Moses' best fit in the NFL may be as a rush-linebacker in a 3-4 scheme. He made huge strides as a first-year fulltime starter last season. If he gets stronger versus the run while continuing to make a tremendous impact rushing the passer as a senior in 2006, Moses should solidify a spot in the top-half of the first round in next year's NFL draft.

Gaines Adams
DE | (6'4", 261, 4.7) | CLEMSON

Strengths: Possesses adequate-to-good height, decent bulk but room on his frame to get bigger. Very agile for the position. Displays explosive first-step quickness and good top-end speed as an edge rusher. Displays very good instincts and awareness when rushing the passer. Has long arms, times his jumps well and does a great job of batting down passes at the line of scrimmage. He also has shown good fluidity when occasionally asked to drop in coverage on zone blitzes. Plays with good discipline versus the run and does a fine job of leveraging the backside. He gets upfield quickly and can be disruptive in the backfield versus the run. Also shows very good change-of-direction skills in space, which allows him to redirect and pursue as a run defender. He is a reliable tackler in space and also will make some plays when pursuing ball carriers from behind. He is a hard worker with solid all-around intangibles.

Weaknesses: Lacks ideal bulk and lower body strength. He needs to be more aggressive as a run defender at times. He absorbs too many blocks and doesn't do a consistent enough job of disengaging once reached. Needs to play with more consistent leverage versus the run. Has a tendency to come out of his stance too high and will allow linemen to get into his pads too frequently.

Bottom Line:Adams was seriously considering taking the NFL plunge but he was getting mixed signals regarding his draft value in 2006. Instead of risking disappointment, Adams made the wise decision to return to Clemson for his final season of eligibility. If he picks up where he left off during the second-half of 2005 (16 QB pressures in the Tigers' final six games), Adams should solidify a spot in the first round of the 2007 draft.

Defensive Tackles...

Marcus Thomas
DT | (6'2", 290, 4.97) | FLORIDA

Strengths: Explosive one-gap DT prospect. Possesses adequate-to-good height and the frame to continue to add bulk. Displays very good initial quickness and top-end speed for the position. Very mobile and active. Wins most battles with first-step quickness. Does a fine job of locating the ball once in the backfield. Shows outstanding change of direction skills and makes more plays in pursuit than most DT's at this level. He displays a powerful upper body. Is a productive pass rusher with even more upside in that facet of the game. Frequently employs a quick spin move when attempting to get off of blocks. He also can contribute on special teams -- he blocked one field goal attempt and one extra point attempt in 2005.

Weaknesses: Lacks ideal size. He has decent thickness in his lower body but he does not have the wide-body to consistently anchor at the line of scrimmage and he will never be a good fit in a two-gap scheme. Has some trouble getting off of blocks and must learn to do a better job with his hands. Also needs to add more pass rush moves to his repertoire. Struggles once reached as a pass rusher and also gets frustrated by the double team. Durability is somewhat of a concern after hernia surgery in April, 2006.

Bottom Line: Thomas has experience as a defensive tackle and nose tackle at the collegiate level, where he has proven to be big and strong enough to hold his ground versus the run. But we believe he is more of a three-technique prospect whose value will be higher for NFL teams employing primarily a one-gap defensive scheme. He has been a productive player at the collegiate level but he still has much room to improve. If he takes the next step as a senior, Thomas could become the first defensive tackle selected in the 2007 NFL draft.

Quinn Pitkoch
DT | (6'3", 293, 5.12) | OHIO STATE

Strengths: Has good upper body strength, plays with a mean streak and flashes the ability to shed blocks quickly. Plays with good leverage and is quick enough to beat blockers to the point of attack. Possesses good lower body strength and is capable of holding ground when plays with sound technique. Shows good lateral mobility and does a good job of scraping down the line of scrimmage. Plays with a non-stop motor and takes good pursuit angles. Wraps up upon contact and is a reliable open field tackler. Shows adequate athletic ability and flashes an effective spin move. Keeps legs driving after making contact and flashes the ability to collapse the pocket. Possesses excellent leaping ability, times jumps well and generally does a good job of getting hands up when isn't going to get to the quarterback.

Weaknesses: Lacks ideal bulk and is vulnerable to wearing down when teams consistently run at him. Doesn't always read keys well and at times has problems locating the ball carrier. Guesses too much and needs to play with better gap discipline. Doesn't always plays with a great base and occasionally loses balance. Lacks ideal range and doesn't show great closing speed. Doesn't have elite explosiveness and is a better run defender than pass rusher at this point.

Bottom Line: Pitexpetive is somewhat inconsistent and he lacks ideal range. However, he is a disciplined and stout run defender that also displays enough athletic ability to develop an arsenal of pass rush moves as an every-down defensive tackle in the NFL. In our opinion, Pitexpetive has the potential to emerge as one of the top defensive tackles in the 2007 class.

Safties...

Laron Landry
S | (6'2", 202, 4.5) | LSU

Strengths: Possesses good height and adequate bulk. Shows good fluidity and top-end speed. He is an instinctive playmaker with outstanding ball skills. Takes solid angles in coverage and times his jumps well. He consistently gets a quick break on the ball and diagnoses plays very quickly. He shows good toughness and strength in run support, especially for his size. He fills hard and shows adequate power at the point of attack. Sideline-to-sideline playmaker versus the run. He has a good mental capacity and coaches rave about his ability to pick things up quickly. He is a good leader in the secondary and does a great job of getting everyone in position. He has tremendous experience as a four-year starter at the highest collegiate level. He also has been extremely versatile in LSU's secondary throughout his career.

Weaknesses: Lacks ideal bulk and still has room on his frame to get bigger. Will not be able to match up as easily in-the-box at the NFL level as he has in college. He has good athleticism for the safety position but lacks elite speed and fluidity to play cornerback fulltime at the next level.

Bottome Line: Landry is as close to the complete package as it gets for a safety prospect coming from the collegiate ranks. He projects as a free safety in the NFL but he has the size and tackling skills to contribute as a versatile defensive back. In our opinion, Landry projects as the top senior safety in the 2007 class and he should emerge as a first round pick in next April's draft.

Brandon Meriweather
S | (6'0", 188, 4.52) | MIAMI (FLA.)

Strengths: Is a versatile safety prospect with good range versus the run and pass. He lacks ideal size but fills hard versus the run. Shows better power at the point of attack as a tackler than his size would indicate. He plays with a great motor and a mean streak. He makes his presence known over the middle of the field and will throw his body around. Very reliable tackler in the open field. He shows good instincts and initial quickness. Diagnoses plays quickly and consistently takes solid angles. He has better than average range in deep zone coverage. His ball skills are adequate. Shows very good football intelligence and is a leader in the secondary. Great experience at the highest level of collegiate competition.

Weaknesses: Lacks ideal bulk and must add weight to his frame. Fills hard versus the run and can match up in-the-box at times on the collegiate level, but he is not big enough to do the same in the NFL. His shoulder surgery in 2006 is also concerning, especially for an undersized safety.

Bottome Line: Meriweather is an experienced, instinctive and athletic safety prospect. He lacks ideal size but has room on his frame to bulk up. Durability issues could also cause him to slip in next year's draft. However, we still believe that Meriweather ranks as one of the top safety prospects in the 2007 class and he shows enough versatility to potentially play both free and/or strong safety in the NFL.

Aaron Rouse
S | (6'3", 211, 4.33) | VIRGINIA TECH

Strengths: A tall, well-built strong safety prospect with exceptional straight-line speed for his size. He continues to improve his recognition skills with more experience at the safety position. He has the size and strength to match up in-the-box in the NFL. He does a good job of sifting through traffic and he is a sideline-to-sideline run defenders. Fills hard versus the run and shows good power upon contact as a tackler. He makes his presence known over the middle in coverage. Shows good closing burst when the ball is in the air. Can hold up in deep-middle and underneath zone coverage. Also displays good instincts and ball skills. He has been a durable player and a hard worker throughout his career.

Weaknesses: Former outside linebacker with some athletic limitations. He is high-cut and shows some stiffness in his hips. He has excellent straight-line speed but will struggle to change directions in space. He does not show the quick-twitch athleticism to match up versus NFL slot receivers. He must also continue to improve his angles in run support. He can play out of control at times.

Bottom Line: Rouse is an underrated prospect in our opinion. He has an exceptional combination of size and speed, and he has emerged as a top playmaker versus the run and the pass. He projects as a strong safety in the NFL, but he has the speed and instincts to play multiple roles in the secondary. Rouse should be one of the fast-rising prospects between now and next April's draft.

Tom Zbikowski
S | (5'11", 213, 4.57) | NOTRE DAME

Strengths: A playmaking safety with exceptional instincts. Always around the football. He diagnoses plays quickly and consistently breaks on the ball early. He shows good initial quickness and fills with reckless abandon versus the run. He has a sturdy build and displays very good strength. He is a fundamentally sound tackler with adequate short-area power. He is at his best in zone coverage -- underneath or in deep halves (cover-2). Has better range than speed and athletic ability would indicate. He takes outstanding angles and times his jumps well. He has strong hands and displays excellent ball skills. Extremely productive returning punts in college. Shows the vision, hands, decision-making and toughness to serve as a reserve in that area in the NFL.

Weaknesses: Lacks ideal athleticism. Is somewhat stiff in his hips and does not change directions as quickly as a safety should. His timed speed is adequate but not good. He will struggle to cover the deep-middle in zone at the next level. He also lacks the fluidity and quick-twitch athleticism to match up versus most wide receivers in the slot. He lacks ideal height, which could affect his ability to match up versus some taller tight ends one-on-one.

Bottom Line: Zbikowski lacks ideal fluidity and quick-twitch athleticism. However, his size, power, toughness and instincts -- along with his adequate straight-line speed -- give him a chance to overcome those weaknesses at the next level. His knack for generating big plays in critical situation -- both as a safety and return specialist -- is uncanny. While he is unlikely to earn a starting job as a punt returner in the NFL, he projects as a future starting safety that can provide depth in the return game. Simply put; Zbikowski is the type of playmaker and leader that will find a way to contribute, which is why we expect him to come off the 2007 draft board as early as the second round.

Offensive Tackles...

Levi Brown
OT | (6'4", 325, 5.3) | PENN STATE

Strengths: Possesses adequate-to-good height and very good bulk. He displays outstanding quickness and body control for such a big offensive lineman. He has long, thick arms and also has a wide base. He does a good job of coming out of his stance low as a run blocker and he is big enough to engulf most defenders at the point of attack once in position. Does a good job with his first step and consistently takes good angles as a run blocker. Works hard to finish and shows enough of a mean streak. Sets quickly and rarely will get beat by speed off the edge. He displays above average lateral mobility. Also shows awareness to pick up stunts and blitzes in pass pro.

Weaknesses: Still has room to improve in terms of his overall technique. He needs to become more effective with his hand-placement and avoid getting crossed over as much in pass pro. He falls off of blocks occasionally and needs to do a better job of locking on and sustaining. He absorbs defenders at times instead of being aggressive and attacking. He will flash a mean streak occasionally but he also will look mechanical at times, which leads to him losing leverage and balance.

Bottom Line: Brown is an experienced left tackle prospect that will finish his career at Penn State as a four-year starter. He still has room to improve in terms of technique, but no senior offensive lineman prospect in the country boasts a better combination of size, agility and strength. Brown projects as a starting left tackle in the NFL and he could be the first offensive lineman selected in next April's NFL draft.

Joe Thomas
OT | (6'6", 310, 5.22) | WISCONSIN

Strengths: Possesses excellent height, long arms, big hands and adequate bulk. Still has room to add weight to his frame. He is extremely agile and athletic, especially for such a tall lineman. He displays good upper body power and a powerful hand punch. Gets set quickly in pass pro and stays very much under control. Rarely loses to speed off the edge. Stays balanced and shows the lateral mobility to work back inside versus athletic double moves. He takes solid angles as a run blocker and general gets very good positioning. He has become feistier with more experience and continues to improve his consistency when it comes to sustaining blocks.

Weaknesses: Long-term durability is the biggest concern following torn ACL in 2005 season finale (Capitol One Bowl vs. Auburn) and off-season surgery in 2006. He lacks ideal lower-body bulk and strength. Plays with a narrow base at times and is susceptible to a powerful bull rush. He's not an overpowering run blocker and he can be a bit of a "finesse" blocker at times. Still has room to improve in terms of footwork and hand-placement. He's a former defensive lineman and tight end with somewhat limited experience at offensive tackle.

Bottom Line: Thomas projected as a mid-first round pick in the 2006 draft prior to his right knee injury in the Capital One Bowl, which made the decision to return to school a no-brainer. He certainly possesses the size-potential, athleticism and upper-body power of a future perennial left tackle starter in the NFL. However, Thomas must return to form as a senior and show improved strength and aggressiveness in order to re-establish first round value.

Justin Blaylock
OT | (6'4", 330, 5.2) | TEXAS

Strengths: Plays with a mean streak, delivers a powerful initial punch and flashes the ability to knock defenders back. Possesses outstanding size, engulfs undersized defenders at the point of attack and can wear defenders down over the course of a game. Possesses good lower body strength, keeps driving legs once in position and flashes the ability to drive defenders off the ball. Has a quick first step, takes good angles to blocks and flashes the ability to get into position at the second level. Uses hands well and does a good job of passing assignments off when picking up blitzes and line stunts. Possesses good upper body strength, extends arms once in position and rides edge rushers past the pocket. Gets adequate knee bend in pass set and can hold ground working against bull rushers. Can line up at guard and is versatile.

Weaknesses: Doesn't play with great leverage and isn't an effective drive blocker when comes out of stance too high. Lacks elite range and is going to have problems turning the corner when asked to pull. Loses balance at times, has problems redirecting quickly and is vulnerable to double moves.

Bottom Line: Blalock lacks ideal athleticism, which will likely prevent him from playing left tackle in the NFL. He also needs to work on his technique and footwork. However, he is a powerful drive blocker that should be able to hold his own in pass protection as a right tackle at the next level. In our opinion, Blalock warrants late-first or early-second round consideration.

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