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http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...n-player-grades-week-1-ameer-abdullah-dazzles
Wins and losses don't count in the NFL preseason -- but individual performances sure do. After each week's slate of preseason action, Bucky Brooks will shine the spotlight on one notable player from each team in the league, grading that player's performance and providing a snapshot of how he's doing in this critical dress-rehearsal phase of the 2015 campaign. The performance grading scale is as follows:
A: Masterful
B: Strong
C: Acceptable
D: Marginal
F: Unacceptable
WEST
Arizona Cardinals: Ifeanyi Momah, TE
GRADE: B
Strengths: It's hard to find 6-7, 255-pound athletes with soft hands and impressive movement skills. That's why the Cardinals are intrigued by Momah's potential as a developmental tight end prospect after signing him as a free agent following the NFL's Veteran Combine. The third-year pro catches the ball well for a big man, exhibiting strong hands and flexibility on a shoestring catch inSaturday's matchup with the Chiefs. Momah's length and athleticism should make him an intriguing chess piece for Cardinalscoach Bruce Arians to play with on the perimeter.
Weaknesses: Momah is still a work in progress as a blocker. Despite possessing the strength and power to move defenders off the ball, he struggles with his technique, and the lack of balance prevents him from consistently finishing his blocks on the edge. If he can clean up his footwork and balance, he could be a nightmare to deal with at the point of attack.
What he needs to work on: Momah's blocking prowess must improve for him to clinch a roster spot. If he can be a sticky presence on the edge, Momah could fill the role of the TE2 and enhance theCardinals' passing game as a big target over the middle of the field.
St. Louis Rams: Tavon Austin, WR
GRADE: B+
Strengths: No one has ever questioned Austin's home-run potential as a dynamic offensive weapon. The third-year pro is electric with the ball in his hands, exhibiting exceptional speed, quickness and wiggle in the open field. The Rams took advantage of his skills by getting him a touch on a "now" screen early in Friday's matchup with the Raiders, which turned into a 35-yard gain after Austin dipped and dodged multiple tacklers on the perimeter.
Weaknesses: Austin needs to continue to work on his route-running skills as a potential WR1. He has made strides over the past two seasons, but he needs to refine his stems and explosiveness out of breaks. It's hard for some speedsters to master the stop-start phase of route running, but Austin has body control and agility to execute the maneuver with diligent work.
What he needs to work on: Austin has teased scouts with his potential in the past, but he appears to be a more polished player in Year 3. He needs to show off his improved route-running skills in extended action in Week 2 to build on the momentum created by his spectacular highlight run in the preseason opener.
San Francisco 49ers: Jarryd Hayne, RB
GRADE: B-
Strengths: It is uncommon for a rugby player to transition to the NFL at a skill position, but Hayne isquickly acclimating to the pro game as a runner. He exhibits solid instincts and awareness with the ball in his hands, showcasing a nice feel for finding creases in the middle of the defense. As a kick returner, he is patient attacking the seam but shows the burst and physicality needed to churn out 30-yard gains.
Weaknesses: Hayne is a bit of a straight-line runner with limited wiggle in the open field. He stays on his tracks and rarely deviates from his assigned route. While some coaches appreciate a one-cut runner with patience, Hayne needs to show more creativity to be a successful runner as a pro.
What he needs to work on: Hayne certainly caught the attention of coaches and scouts with his 53-yard run against the Texans on Saturday, but he will need to show evaluators that he can elude and evade defenders in traffic. The 49ers feature a power-based running game that primarily operates between the tackles. Thus, Hayne will need to exhibit the toughness, physicality and wiggle to consistently produce positive gains when he is the feature back on the field.
Seattle Seahawks: Tyler Lockett, WR
GRADE: A+
Strengths: Lockett is an electric playmaker in the open field. The third-round pick has a knack for making defenders miss in space, yet he is a disciplined runner adept at gaining positive yards while taking risks. His outstanding exhibition on kickoff returnsagainst the Broncos on Friday -- including a 103-yard score and a 46-yard return -- showcased his vision, balance, body control and burst. TheSeahawks were wise to invest heavily in the two-time Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year.
Weaknesses: Lockett, who played just 10 offensive snaps and wasn't targeted once Friday, didn't get an opportunity to showcase his skills a receiver, but the slender pass catcher needs to work on escaping press coverage against physical corners. Young receivers routinely struggle against physical corners at the line; the rookie's size (5-10, 182) will hinder his ability to stay on course until he develops a series of finesse escapes that force corners to alter their approach.
What he needs to work on: It is hard to find a flaw in Lockett's return technique. He is a disciplined runner with outstanding vision, quickness and burst. He hits the hole at 100 mph, yet understands when to change tempos to attack a crease on the back side. Lockett can continue to work on ball security and situational awareness, but some guys have rare kick-returning abilities -- and he is one of them.
Wins and losses don't count in the NFL preseason -- but individual performances sure do. After each week's slate of preseason action, Bucky Brooks will shine the spotlight on one notable player from each team in the league, grading that player's performance and providing a snapshot of how he's doing in this critical dress-rehearsal phase of the 2015 campaign. The performance grading scale is as follows:
A: Masterful
B: Strong
C: Acceptable
D: Marginal
F: Unacceptable
WEST
Arizona Cardinals: Ifeanyi Momah, TE
GRADE: B
Strengths: It's hard to find 6-7, 255-pound athletes with soft hands and impressive movement skills. That's why the Cardinals are intrigued by Momah's potential as a developmental tight end prospect after signing him as a free agent following the NFL's Veteran Combine. The third-year pro catches the ball well for a big man, exhibiting strong hands and flexibility on a shoestring catch inSaturday's matchup with the Chiefs. Momah's length and athleticism should make him an intriguing chess piece for Cardinalscoach Bruce Arians to play with on the perimeter.
Weaknesses: Momah is still a work in progress as a blocker. Despite possessing the strength and power to move defenders off the ball, he struggles with his technique, and the lack of balance prevents him from consistently finishing his blocks on the edge. If he can clean up his footwork and balance, he could be a nightmare to deal with at the point of attack.
What he needs to work on: Momah's blocking prowess must improve for him to clinch a roster spot. If he can be a sticky presence on the edge, Momah could fill the role of the TE2 and enhance theCardinals' passing game as a big target over the middle of the field.
St. Louis Rams: Tavon Austin, WR
GRADE: B+
Strengths: No one has ever questioned Austin's home-run potential as a dynamic offensive weapon. The third-year pro is electric with the ball in his hands, exhibiting exceptional speed, quickness and wiggle in the open field. The Rams took advantage of his skills by getting him a touch on a "now" screen early in Friday's matchup with the Raiders, which turned into a 35-yard gain after Austin dipped and dodged multiple tacklers on the perimeter.
Weaknesses: Austin needs to continue to work on his route-running skills as a potential WR1. He has made strides over the past two seasons, but he needs to refine his stems and explosiveness out of breaks. It's hard for some speedsters to master the stop-start phase of route running, but Austin has body control and agility to execute the maneuver with diligent work.
What he needs to work on: Austin has teased scouts with his potential in the past, but he appears to be a more polished player in Year 3. He needs to show off his improved route-running skills in extended action in Week 2 to build on the momentum created by his spectacular highlight run in the preseason opener.
San Francisco 49ers: Jarryd Hayne, RB
GRADE: B-
Strengths: It is uncommon for a rugby player to transition to the NFL at a skill position, but Hayne isquickly acclimating to the pro game as a runner. He exhibits solid instincts and awareness with the ball in his hands, showcasing a nice feel for finding creases in the middle of the defense. As a kick returner, he is patient attacking the seam but shows the burst and physicality needed to churn out 30-yard gains.
Weaknesses: Hayne is a bit of a straight-line runner with limited wiggle in the open field. He stays on his tracks and rarely deviates from his assigned route. While some coaches appreciate a one-cut runner with patience, Hayne needs to show more creativity to be a successful runner as a pro.
What he needs to work on: Hayne certainly caught the attention of coaches and scouts with his 53-yard run against the Texans on Saturday, but he will need to show evaluators that he can elude and evade defenders in traffic. The 49ers feature a power-based running game that primarily operates between the tackles. Thus, Hayne will need to exhibit the toughness, physicality and wiggle to consistently produce positive gains when he is the feature back on the field.
Seattle Seahawks: Tyler Lockett, WR
GRADE: A+
Strengths: Lockett is an electric playmaker in the open field. The third-round pick has a knack for making defenders miss in space, yet he is a disciplined runner adept at gaining positive yards while taking risks. His outstanding exhibition on kickoff returnsagainst the Broncos on Friday -- including a 103-yard score and a 46-yard return -- showcased his vision, balance, body control and burst. TheSeahawks were wise to invest heavily in the two-time Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Year.
Weaknesses: Lockett, who played just 10 offensive snaps and wasn't targeted once Friday, didn't get an opportunity to showcase his skills a receiver, but the slender pass catcher needs to work on escaping press coverage against physical corners. Young receivers routinely struggle against physical corners at the line; the rookie's size (5-10, 182) will hinder his ability to stay on course until he develops a series of finesse escapes that force corners to alter their approach.
What he needs to work on: It is hard to find a flaw in Lockett's return technique. He is a disciplined runner with outstanding vision, quickness and burst. He hits the hole at 100 mph, yet understands when to change tempos to attack a crease on the back side. Lockett can continue to work on ball security and situational awareness, but some guys have rare kick-returning abilities -- and he is one of them.
