With the NFL Draft just around the corner, it made me stop and think about the line that Bill Parcells would use: “All you scouts have your Pet Cats when it comes to these players."
It was Parcells way of saying there were players we loved and we're going to do anything in our power in order to get them on the draft board to be drafted. In honor of the Hall of Famer – here are my Pet Cats for the 2021 NFL Draft.
Davis Mills, QB, Stanford - 6-foot-4, 215 pounds.
Physically, Mills looks the part. He's sturdy in the pocket. He wears a large knee brace on his left knee. I don’t know if that is preventive or there's an injury history there? Has no fear when it comes to throwing the ball, and unbelievable confidence and poise. Will move around in the pocket to buy a second chance, and has a feel for how to slide and deliver the ball. Does a nice job of keeping his eyes down the field in order to make the play, and had some receivers that made some big-time receptions for him.
His accuracy and touch are good overall, but there are also some snaps where the ball will get away from him and they will track it down. Super competitive in how he attacks the field. Some of his best throws are shots down the middle of the field. Will lay it over the top of a defender with little problem. Shows the ability to throw the ball wide and with some pace. The ball does come off his hand well. There is little effort or problem getting the ball out there.
Good touch on the swings and screens. Will give the receiver a chance to run with it. Shows touch in the red zone. Has a feel for how to put the ball far enough out front in order for the receiver to bring it down.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, S, Notre Dame - 6-foot-2, 220 pounds
Plays as an outside linebacker in the Irish scheme, but you will also see him line up in the slot and play coverage as a safety/corner. Might be a safety in the overall scheme of things in the NFL. Super impressive effort and desire to get to the ball. If he has a fault, it might be that at times he plays totally out of control.
He will come flying in to make a tackle, and instead of attempting to wrap up, he will just throw his body at the ball carrier. He'll have some success playing this way, and other times, he won't. I love the way this kid competes and can tell that the game is important to him. He'll never shy away from contact, has outstanding start/stop quickness, and change directions in a hurry. He's effective as a blitzer, and when he attacks the pocket, he can make things happen. He shows the ability to force turnovers and had a couple of big ones in the National semi-final game vs Clemson.
Can use him in coverage. Will compete to go get the ball. He's not going to let the receiver catch it on him. Can tell that he's hard on himself when he makes a mistake. Never have to worry about him not playing hard. Hair on fire every snap. He will likely be used as a safety in the league due to his physical nature and movement skills.
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Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame - 6-foot-5, 301 pounds
Starting left tackle for the Irish. Appears bigger than his listed weight. Good movement skills and ability, and he plays well on his feet. Can make all the blocks when it comes to the scheme. Can cut off/reach and pull. Plays well in space, and doesn’t labor at all when it comes to doing athletic things.
He does a nice job of staying with his man and is good when it comes to finishing his blocks. Will get his hands inside and control his man. He has a nice range on his pass set. He'll kick wide and keep his knees bent, and will strike the defender to slow down his charge. I only saw one time where he missed with his hands and it allowed a pressure to the quarterback. Has the footwork to carry his man wide if he has to.
Doesn’t labor when it comes to pass blocking. Will need a little more power and strength in the lower body to help him as a run blocker. Will hold his ground but lacks a little power to really snap his hips. He comes from a program that’s done a nice job of putting quality offensive linemen in the league.
Richie Grant, S, Central Florida - 6-foot, 192
Grant is a fearless defender. Teams can play him either up or back and you're going to get production. He's always around the ball and is a turnover machine when it comes to either playing the ball in the air or knocking it loose. I'm super impressed by how easy it is for him to knock the ball away from the ball carrier.
He understands how to play coverage and will use his off-hand in order to knock the ball away. He does a good job of playing around the defender and not through him. He does have a tendency to throw his body around as a tackler. There are times where he will wrap up, then others where he blocks tackles. He can get his man on the ground either way. He loves to attack the ball and has good movement skills and range. Can use him as a blitzer or drop him deep from the middle of the field.
He had an interception against Tulsa by covering a ton of ground. He's a good finisher and has the ball skills in order to make plays. Of all the defensive players, his uniform is always the dirtiest. A lot to like about the way he conducts himself on the field.
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Levi Onwuzurike, DT, Washington - 6-foot-3, 290 pounds
Opted out of the 2020 season due to COVID concerns. Impressive mobility skills. Does an outstanding job of attacking the blockers. Gets his hands inside quickly and is able to either hold the blocker in place or shed him to the side. He has the power to split the double team block.
Can make things happen at the point of attack or down the line of scrimmage. Is super active in the way he plays, and does a nice job of finding the ball and getting over to finish the play. Has some violence in the way he tackles and redirects easily on the play. He can get up the field, then work back quickly, retracing his steps. Has some bend to his game and looks flexible with how he moves.
He's a hard guy to fool and does a really nice job of keeping his eyes on the ball and getting in on the play. There's really not much to dislike about his game. Plays the run well and has the quickness to cause problems in the pocket as a pass rusher.
Deommodore Lenoir, CB, Oregon - 5-foot-10, 199 pounds
Short/compact player that’s not afraid to mix it up. I initially thought that he might be timid, but that’s not the case. He'll generally line up to the short side of the field. Doesn’t have to deal with much space playing to that side. Don't feel like he has a problem in coverage, especially if he can get up on his man.
Does a good job of playing in press coverage and being physical off the line of scrimmage. Is in a fight after every snap. Plays with a chip on his shoulder and I respect that. He's not afraid to deal with taller players and will use the sideline to force his guy wide. Likes to lean on his man in order to grab position. His movement and ability to run with his man are outstanding, as he can maintain position throughout the route. He is not going to let his guy get away.
Don’t often see him get challenged, but when he does, he reacts in a way that generally results in him making a play on the ball. Opponents have tried to throw screens on him and he's driven forward in order to make a play. Shows outstanding ball skills when getting his hands on passes. Made a big-time one-handed interception against USC across the middle. Plays with a big heart, but lacks height.
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Alim McNeil, DT, North Carolina State - 6-2 318
Plays as a true nose man. Is breathing the same air as the center. Looks bigger than his 318 lbs listed weight. Plays with first-step quickness off the ball. Would call him nifty for his size. Is not going to let the grass die under his feet. Plays on the move and plays well with his hands. He's always working them in order to free himself. He'll overpower his man if he has to deal with him one on one.
I was impressed by the way he was able to just bully his guy. Is not going to let you block him. Will see his share of double teams and shield blocks. Does a good job of getting down the line. Finds the ball and is able to make the play. Can stack things up inside. Can be hard to move and is used in the twist game for stunts.
Lost his balance coming around the edge a couple of times but wasn’t terrible when asked to do that. The effort to finish is really good. Like how he keeps working. Not going to have a sack/pressure number, but will be able to push the pocket from the inside and cause some problems.
Tyree Gillespie, S, Missouri - 6-foot, 200 pounds
He's an interesting player. Can play him either at the free/strong safety spot. Feel like this guy can run. Really covers some ground with his speed and gets downhill in a hurry. Not afraid to mix it up and get in the action. Like the way that this guy moves. Has some fluid skills in his game.
Have seen him used in coverage in one-on-one situations covering guys like Kyle Pitts of Florida and be able to run with him and knock balls away. Appears to have a feel for how to maintain position in route. Is one of those that jumps out on tape. He is going to find his way to the ball.
Was impressed with how physical he was as a tackler. Good wrap up and bring to the ground. He's not afraid to go with the knock-out shot either. He will line guys up and blow them up. I really do respect how hard he plays the game as he puts himself in positions to make plays. Not going to give an inch when it comes to his playing ability. Did a good job of communicating with his teammates.
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