Scouting notes: Reggie Ragland, Alabama, Off ball LB

[Superman]

Again following Dustin's format, but just early notes, subject to change. I'd really like to see his Ole Miss tape, but DB doesn't have it yet.

 

Big, physical mostly inside backer who sometimes plays edge rusher in passing situations. He has some thump, some power, some motor, some burst and some awareness. I don't think he's elite in any category. His change of direction is lacking, and of course playing ILB for Alabama, he's almost never in coverage. I had to go back to last year's Ole Miss tape to find him actually play some man, and he got ate up by speedy TE Evan Engram. He can snake through blockers and make plays, and he shows some closing speed, but he hardly opens up and runs, and he's not great to the sideline. He can stack up inside at times, but often gets washed out, and is at his best when he can get around blockers rather than go head up with him. He showed some good recognition on screen plays and jumped up and snatched a ball out of the air really quickly, so he has awareness, but he also failed to stay square on a lot of run plays or took the wrong gap and gave up yardage, including a long TD against Georgia. There are times where he plays fast, but he often looks like a plodding, 250 pound linebacker, and doesn't quite have the hair on fire mentality and presence of a guy like Chris Borland, who overcame his lack of athleticism with motor and will.

 

Size: Well, he has it. 6'2, 250+ pounds, maybe a little too much BMI for a LB, but he looks like he's well proportioned, if a bit soggy around the middle. The problem is that he's just too heavy to run 50 times a game with the way the game is played now. Typical downhill, phone booth ILB. Ideally, he'd shed 10+ pounds and be able to play faster. I don't have full measurements, including arm length, but he doesn't really stack and shed so his arm length probably doesn't matter. 3/5

 

Athleticism: He has a lot of burst for his size, and when he leans and takes off, he can cover 10 yards quickly and arrive with authority. He doesn't have speed to cut off the outside though, and his change of direction is subpar. His turn and run is lacking. He can bend the corner when playing the edge, and can close on the QB. If he's going in a straight line for a short distance, he's fine. 5/10

 

Coverage ability: Not there. In short area zone, he's sufficient, and if he's directly behind the receiver when the ball is thrown, he'll arrive with authority and has a good chance of knocking the ball away. Doesn't use his hands to contest passes. Can't mirror receivers or run with them, and with no hands he won't hang with TEs in the middle. 3/10

 

Run game ability: Comes downhill with authority, and has enough quickness and power to get his shoulders past blockers and drive to the ball with good leverage. Some decent arm press to stack and shed, but rarely used/seen. Missed some tackles in the rain, was consistently around the ball though, and got cut while tackling a few times. He usually makes the play when he's square, and has the strength to make tackles when he's not square. Knows how to find the ball carrier even in traffic, and can pop when he gets there. 7/10

 

Pass rush ability: Has a little explosiveness, and can bend the corner if he beats you, but has no moves, no secondary moves, and again, doesn't use his hands/arms to stack and shed. He can loop around in stunts and then really bear down on the QB, and can push off of either leg when coming around the corner, even when engaged with a blocker. Won't beat a double team, and can easily be thrown off balance and taken out of the play. Because he doesn't stack and shed, you can run draws right at him. This grade is weighted toward him being a Mike/Will ILB, not an off ball Sam or any kind of edge. 4/5

 

Play recognition: Misses gaps at times, which can be disastrous. Can run past him if he's trying to pass rush. But usually diagnoses well, even if he prefers to take shortcuts to the ball rather than square up with blockers. (Would be poor at gap/contain run defense because of this, but if allowed to defeat blockers with moves/speed, he'd be fine, and would probably draw a lot of holds.) Seems to react well to screen action and play action. 7/10

 

Tackling: Already touched on, usually solid, powerful, comes with power behind his pads, can wrap and take down, and does so sometimes with blockers on his hip/back. Most missed tackles came either in the rain or when the ball carrier used a move. Doesn't typically miss tackles. 8/10

 

Grade: 38/60, second round pick

 

NFL Comparison: Demario Davis, NYJ. Just thicker. Great in a phone booth, probably a liability outside the hash marks, with some pass rush value. 

 

Fit with Colts: The kind of LB I think most of us hope we move away from. Kind of a D'Qwell Jackson type of player, also, but again, bigger, and probably comes downhill a little harder. He would have a role as an early down run defender, and that kind of limited role is becoming less valuable in today's NFL. 3/5

[Track Guy]

Ragland strikes me as a big hitter on tape, but yeah I also don't like his limitations as far as coverage skills go - not for our scheme anyway.