I had not studied Terrell McClain at all until both Mel Kiper and Todd McShay of ESPN selected him for the New York Giants in the third round of their most recent mock drafts. I figured I better hurry up and find out something about McClain, a defensive tackle from South Florida.
What I found is that McClain is one of those players who used his Pro Day to springboard higher into the upcoming NFL Draft. The scouting reports below offer a mixed bag, especially the one from Sideline Scouting. That one I am guessing was written some time ago.
McClain appears to have some quickness and athleticism, though his repertoire appears limited right now. I love the reports on how much he studies and the phrase "brings it on every down." You like having those kinds of players on your team.
Scouting reports after the jump.
Terrell McClain
DT, South Florida
6-foot-11/2, 297 pounds
Projection: Second-day selection
Scouting Reports
From Sideline Scouting:
Positives: Good athlete... Reasonably good quickness... Can be explosive... Very solid strength... Can get off blocks reasonably well... Can get some penetration... Holds the point reasonably well... Reasonably good balance... Does a solid job versus the run... Very solid anchor... Can be difficult to move... Solid lateral mobility... Pursues the ball... Will chase the action... Good motor... Student of the game, spends a lot of time in the film room... Nicknamed "The Dancing Bear" by coach Skip Holtz for his physical demeanor and explosiveness... Selected All-Big East first team for the 2010 season... Good fit in one gap system... Best fits at three-technique.
Negatives: Shorter than ideal arms... Doesn't extend his arms and allows blockers to get into his frame... Loses battles for leverage... Not much of an arsenal... Will over-pursue on running plays... Will miss some tackles... Plays high... Lacks range... Lacks instincts... Durability issues... Doesn't really stand out in any one area of play.
From NFL.com:
Strengths:
McClain is tall enough with very good bulk. Possesses a quick first step and the lateral agility to stunt and slant effectively. Uses quick active hands to shed and gain penetration. Has the range to make plays outside the tackle box. Tough kid with a relentless motor that fights through double teams.
Weaknesses:
Does not have the lower body strength to be a two-gap defender and consistently anchor against the run. Not an experienced pass rusher that lacks a powerful bull rush and a repertoire of counter moves. Loses leverage and balance too often. Takes poor pursuit angles at times.
Overview:
McClain is a very disruptive run defender that should be able to contribute immediately in a defensive line rotation. He gets off the ball quickly and has the foot speed to penetrate gaps on stunts. He also has fast strong hands to engage and disengage in an instant to get in running lanes and after the quarterback. He is not an experienced pass rusher at this point, but he has the potential to improve due to his quick feet and hands. McClain brings it on every down and he should not last past the second round.