re: NFL Analysis of LSU Invites

LB HARRY COLEMAN
OVERVIEW Coleman has good size and strength, with average athleticism for the safety position. He is a solid reactor as plays unfold and will fill the alley quickly. He is a solid open field tackler but not a "thumper." He lacks great speed, quickness and lateral agility to be a pure man-coverage defender but could play off the hash in two-deep zone schemes. The Tigers played him up in the box at times, and he could possibly transition into a nickel linebacker at the next level. Coleman is a solid football player with the size and frame to gain bulk and strength. He doesn't appear to have the tools to be a front-line starter but could contribute on special teams.

STRENGTHS Coleman possesses elite size and strength for a safety. Reacts quickly, fills fast and is a solid open-field tackler. Effective pass defender in zone coverage. Excels in special teams and looks to make a big hit. Very competitive with a team-first mentality. Named LSU's most valuable player in 2009.

WEAKNESSES Played up near the line of scrimmage in college and does not have the agility to stick in man coverage. Lacks initial burst and speed, which may limit him to special teams at the next level. Does not consistently deliver good shots when tackling.

DB CHRIS HAWKINS
OVERVIEW Hawkins was a productive two-year starter for the LSU defense. He has a good combination of size, strength and athleticism. He is faster than quick and shows good catch-up speed when out of position. He is a good athlete who has enough ability and balance to be an effective coverage defender but lacks great footwork and change-of-direction in space in transition. Hawkins is a competitive player who is a solid perimeter run support defender but isn't a physical tackler. He isn't quick reading route progressions and is inconsistent with his angles to the pile. Hawkins has the frame to add weight and the tools to develop into a productive NFL corner, but he will need to improve his technique and overall instincts.

STRENGTHS Hawkins has adequate size with a wide frame and long arms. Displays good top-end speed to close on the ball and stick with receivers on go routes. Well-balanced athlete who is very effective in off, zone coverage. Does not shy away from contact and makes tackles in run support.

WEAKNESSES A second late recognizing route progressions and struggles to consistently find the ball. Lacks adequate footwork and loses speed in transition by taking too many false steps. Does not show the ability to fight off blocks in run support and takes poor angles to the ball carrier at times.

KR TRINDON HOLLIDAY
OVERVIEW Holliday is an explosive return specialist who has the ability to take it all the way virtually every time he touches the ball. He gets a quick jump on the ball as it comes off the kicker's foot and does a good job of settling under it to make the catch. He has the kind of elusiveness that can make would-be tacklers grab air and knows how to set up his blockers. He does have a tendency to rely on his pure speed alone and needs to learn how to alter his speed and save something in reserve. With his speed and acceleration, he has a chance to be drafted late in spite of his lack of size and severe limitations as a wide receiver.

STRENGTHS Track star with blinding straight-line speed. Explosive player who only needs a little seam to break a big return. Reads the ball quickly in the air and gets underneath it fast. Waits for his blockers to engage and finds running lanes. Fluid through the hips and makes people miss in space.

WEAKNESSES Holliday is very short at under 5-feet-6 and does not have the bulk to break tackles at the next level. Starts too fast and does not show the ability to hold an extra gear for the end of the return. Lacks the awareness and route-running ability to be a factor in the passing game.

DB CHAD JONES
OVERVIEW Jones is a big strong player with above average athleticism. He has also played on the LSU baseball team and excelled in that roll. Jones is best coming down hill attacking the line of scrimmage with good fundamentals as a run support player. He is inconsistent shedding blockers but has long arms and good power to improve in this area. Jones has the size and toughness to play effectively in the box but maybe limited to combination zone coverage’s. He has decent range but again not great for the safety position. Jones has intriguing size and enough athleticism to contribute in the right scheme and his spring and combine workouts will be extremely important to where he is taken in the draft.

STRENGTHS Jones has excellent size and strength for the safety position at the next level. He’s a gritty, tough, competitive performer who loves filling the alley in run support. He’s also a smart, instinctive player despite splitting time between football and baseball at LSU. Was productive in college and has upside to get even better once focusing full-time on one sport.

WEAKNESSES Jones only possesses average pure speed. His range is only adequate as he’s more comfortable in run support or playing in the box. May have difficulty shadowing slot receivers, running backs and receiving tight ends in man coverage at the next level.