NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles

Strengths

Positives: Has a linear frame with room to carry at least another 10 pounds of bulk without having it impact his timed speed...Has a very well-defined body with a tight abdomen, broad shoulders, thick chest, good arm length, large hands and tapered thighs and calves...Has outstanding closing speed and burst and, while it does take him time to digest the plays (slower than one would like), he attacks with good strength, above-average range and good urgency, keeping his pads low while taking good angles in pursuit...Has the speed to make plays while in downhill pursuit and shows the ability to easily run with tight ends and halfbacks in the short area...Has the burst to close on the quarterback as a pass rusher, but must show better recognition skills, as he does hesitate and look slow trying to locate the ball on rare occasions that he penetrates the backfield...Aggressive player who will compete until the whistle, but must spend less time in the trainer's room (injuries impact his performance and he won't play hurt)...Has a quick first step to attack at the point, once he locates the ball (can be fooled by misdirection)...Plays low and fast, making him a force vs. the outside run, where he recovers quicker off blocks than when working inside...Needs to get more separation with his arm extension, but has enough pop on contact to shed and stack, when he stays low in his pads and uses his hands to protect himself from cut blocks...When he plays physically with his hands, he uses them well to maintain separation and shed...Has good strength to take on tight ends in attempts to reroute and to control the line of scrimmage (must use his hands and arm extension to be successful there, as he sometimes reverts to using his shoulders too much)...Shows explosion on contact to drag down ballcarriers and has the pursuit speed to generate a long chase (still runs through lanes behind the play)...When he takes good angles, he can sift through traffic better and generate a burst to close...Face-up tackler who delivers a blow on contact and hits with leverage and good wrap-up technique (needs to bring his legs with him better)...Shows the timed speed and quickness to run to landmarks in pass coverage and to get good depth in his drops (must work on tracking the ball in flight, as he fails to locate with his back to the QB)...Can flatten down the line as a pass rusher, using his hands well to get separation, but must generate better hip snap to deliver a sudden burst to close on the quarterback (strikes with leverage, but has had minimal chances to attack the backfield). Negatives: Has very good timed speed and the move to middle linebacker highlighted his downhill running ability and, while he can move to the ball working down the line, he is tight in his hips when having to change direction suddenly...Not the most instinctive player, as it takes him some time to diagnose plays...Bit of a liability in pass coverage, as he doesn't open his hips well to come out of his breaks cleanly and mirror the receiver through the route...Bites on play-action often and lacks a good feel for pocket movement...Best making tackles on the move, as he doesn't use his hands well to fend off blocks operating in tight areas...Injuries have limited his practice time and though he does well in the classroom, he does need several reps to retain plays...Not the type that will play through pain...Struggles to track the ball in flight with his back to the quarterback and must do a better job of using his hand jolt to fend off double teams, as he does get bounced around some trying to shoot the gaps...Gets stood up by the lead blocker when he fails to sink his pads vs. inside rush lanes...Makes better plays in space than in tight quarters (has ball location problems)...Good to take on the outside runs due to his speed, but fails to use weight-room strength when trying to plug the holes...Sometimes reverts to using his shoulder instead of his arm extension and hands in attempts to reroute the tight ends and slot receivers in pass coverage...Can flatten down the line on the blitz, but must be more alert to pocket movement (runs to spots after the quarterback flushes out, missing on the big play. Had only one sack for his career and just 11 tackles behind the line of scrimmage)...His hands are a liability, as he lacks the natural agility to reach and pluck the ball outside his frame (has just one interception and nine pass breakups in 49 games)...Transitions well when he keeps his pads low, but lacks that ball anticipation skills to get a good jump on the pass...Must show better toughness and rehab ability with injuries (won't play hurt). Compares To: JORDAN BECK-Denver...Like Beck, Gooden can close downhill like a rocket, but he is not the most instinctive linebacker. He has the speed to give good chase along the perimeter, but does have some hip stiffness in transition that prevents him from staying on the hip of a receiver on deeper routes. He lacks toughness off the field, as he lets minor injuries affect his play and will not play hurt. His marginal production in the opposition's backfield is a concern. He certainly looks the part with his chiseled body. Like Beck, his ability to play all three linebacker positions will provide a team with depth, but before he's regarded as a potential starter, Gooden will have to show more fortitude challenging blockers and attacking the backfield.

Grade	Title	Draft (Round)	Description
96-100	Future Hall of Famer	Top Pick	A once-in-a-generation type prospect who could change how his position is played
85-95	Immediate Starter	1st	An impact player with the ability/intangibles to become a Pro Bowl player. Expect to start immediately except in a unique situation (i.e. behind a veteran starter).
70-84	Eventual Starter	2nd-3rd	A quality player who will contribute to the team early on and is expected to develop into a starter. A reliable player who brings value to the position.
50-69	Draftable Player	4th-7th	A prospect with the ability to make team as a backup/role player. Needs to be a special teams contributor at applicable positions. Players in the high range of this category might have long-term potential.
20-49	Free Agent	UDFA	A player with solid measurables, intangibles, college achievements, or a developing skill that warrants an opportunity in an NFL camp. In the right situation, he could earn a place on a 53-man roster, but most likely will be a practice squad player or a camp body.

Tavares Gooden

OLB Miami

Grade

4.65 SEC

35.0 INCH

118.0 INCH

Overview

Analysis

Strengths