2011 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Cameron Heyward

Strengths:

Prototypical size for 5-technique

Has length with strong musculature

Strong at point of attack

Sets the edge in the run game

Heavy hands

Gets terrific arm extension to control linemen

Flashes dominance

Shows ability to take on double teams

Tends to stay low to ground

Good instincts; sniffs plays out and disrupts

Tons of experience at multiple positions on DL (DT, DE, 5-tech)

Strong work ethic

Nice initial pop

Powerful

Weaknesses:

Highly inconsistent and can take some games off (not plays - whole games)

Doesn't always play as big as he is

Soft

Motor runs hot and cold

Not a fluid athlete; a little stiff

Average speed

Lacks a pass rush repertoire

Doesn't make much of an impact rushing the quarterback

Below average production

Summary: I don't think a player's stock has fallen on my board over the summer more than Heyward's. I went into the summer expecting to see a first-round pick on tape, and instead I now see a second-rounder. He gets dominated by inferior competition and should be more dominant on a more consistent basis when you factor in his size, strength and talent.

Heyward's best fit by far at the next level is the 5-technique position (3-4 DE), and I just don't see him being an impact pass rusher at 4-3 left defensive end. Heyward needs to step up in his senior year if he wants to be a top 25 pick. As I mentioned previously, Heyward is starting the 2011 season with a second-round grade on my board.

Player Comparison: Kenyon Coleman. Coleman is a strong player against the run for the Browns, but he's a little inconsistent and doesn't offer much in terms of a pass rush.

2011 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Choose Player 2011 NFL Draft Scouting Reports - Home Prince Amukamara, CB, Nebraska Marvin Austin, DT, North Carolina Akeem Ayers, OLB, UCLA Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh Allen Bailey, DE, Miami Christian Ballard, DE/DT, Iowa Joseph Barksdale, OT, LSU Jeremy Beal, DE, Oklahoma Da'Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson Gabe Carimi, OT, Wisconsin Bruce Carter, OLB, North Carolina Anthony Castonzo, OT, Boston College Adrian Clayborn, DE, Iowa Andy Dalton, QB, TCU Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama Ras-I Dowling, CB, Virginia Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn Mason Foster, OLB, Washington Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri A.J. Green, WR, Georgia Virgil Green, TE, Nevada Leonard Hankerson, WR, Miami Brandon Harris, CB, Miami Cameron Heyward, DE, Ohio State Justin Houston, DE, Georgia Rodney Hudson, G, Florida State Ben Ijalana, OT/G, Villanova Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama Greg Jones, OLB, Michigan State Julio Jones, WR, Alabama Cameron Jordan, DE, California Colin Kaepernick, QB, Nevada Ryan Kerrigan, DE, Purdue Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois Travis Lewis, OLB, Oklahoma Corey Liuget, DT, Illinois Jake Locker, QB, Washington DeMarcus Love, OT, Arkansas Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas Casey Matthews, ILB, Oregon Von Miller, DE/OLB, Texas A&M Rahim Moore, FS, UCLA DeMarco Murray, RB, Oklahoma Drake Nevis, DT, LSU Cam Newton, QB, Auburn Stephen Paea, DT, Oregon State Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU Christian Ponder, QB, Florida State Mike Pouncey, G, Florida Robert Quinn, DE, North Carolina Brooks Reed, DE/OLB, Arizona Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame Derek Sherrod, OT, Mississippi State Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri Jimmy Smith, CB, Colorado Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland Tyron Smith, OT, USC Nate Solder, OT, Colorado Ricky Stanzi, QB, Iowa Phil Taylor, NT, Baylor Danny Watkins, G, Baylor J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple Aaron Williams, CB/FS, Texas Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech Martez Wilson, ILB, Illinois Stefen Wisniewski, C, Penn State Titus Young, WR, Boise State

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