in regards to Forrest....
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2016/profiles/josh-forrest?id=2555167
Josh Forrest (ILB)
HT: 6'3" WT: 249LBS.
POSITION: ILB
SCHOOL: Kentucky
ARM LENGTH: 33 1/2"
HANDS: 9 1/2"
Overview
Although Forrest didn't play football until his junior year of high school, he did enough there (14 touchdowns receiving, seven interceptions -- three returned for touchdowns) to earn a scholarship from the Wildcats. After two years as a reserve, Forrest took over as a starter, leading the team in tackles in each of the past two seasons (110 in 2014, 93 in 2015). He also made plays in the passing game, intercepting two passes each year (including a 81-yard pick six against Louisville this year).
Pro Day Results
40-yard dash: 4.78 and 4.85 seconds
20-yard short shuttle: 4/22 seconds
3-cone drill: 7.48 seconds
- SELECTED BY: Rams
- ROUND: 6
- PICK (OVERALL): 15 (190)
PICK ANALYSIS:
The former WR is rangy with the athleticism and length the Rams could test off the edge. He's a solid late round addition to a team that needs depth at this position. --Mark Dulgerian
COMBINE STATS
- 40 YARD DASH: 4.91 SEC
- BENCH PRESS: 11 REPS
- VERTICAL JUMP: 30.5 INCH
- BROAD JUMP: 118.0 INCH
ANALYSIS
Strengths
Tall, long-limbed and athletic. Was used all over the field by Kentucky staff. Has 202 tackles during his two-year stint as starter. Has plus chase speed. Lateral quickness is a strength. Length and closing burst gives him extended range to make tackles. Has quick direction change to put himself in position for difficult open field finishes. Uses hand and foot quickness to sidestep and brush away blockers targeting him on second level. Frequently used as blitzer and gap shooter. Able to "get skinny" and sneak through crevices and into the backfield.
Weaknesses
Could use more strength in his lower half. Needs to add play strength to avoid being washed down against run. Physical tight ends can push him at point of attack. Too upright on downhill charges and blitzes. Gets jostled out of the play by redirect blocks. Effort runs hot and cold. As tackler, below average job of breaking down in space. Relies on catch-and-drag technique over chesting up and finishing. Had nine broken and 22 missed tackles over last two years. Slow to diagnose and gets few head starts on the play. Average awareness in pass coverage and needs to get better at squeezing targets in his zone.
Draft Projection
Rounds 5 or 6
Bottom Line
With his athleticism and length, teams may be tempted to try him out as an edge rusher, but he is a much better straight-line blitzer through the A and B gaps than he is around the edge. Forrest is a WILL linebacker with the size and range teams look for, but his combination of average instincts and wasted movement in space could be an indicator of up-and-down play in the pros.