Pro Football Draft Network | 2012 Pro Football Draft Analysis

PFDN evaluates the performance of the more promising senior and eligible underclassmen prospects for the next draft:

RB Ray Graham, Pittsburgh, Junior: The latest talented Pitt running back did his part with a productive afternoon (24 carries for 165 yards (6.9 per), 1 touchdown and 2 receptions for 19 yards (9.5 per).  Graham has terrific quickness and can make a tackler miss in close quarters.  He displayed an impressive ability to jump-cut and gain positive yards at times despite penetration.  Graham can catch the ball out of the backfield and knows where the 1^st down marker is.  He is undersized (5’ 9” and at most 195 lbs), but the star runner showed willingness to block blitzing linebackers against Rutgers.  Graham’s biggest run was a 64-yard burst up the middle on a well-blocked play.  He is quicker than fast and was dragged down at the 3-yard line.  The Panthers have an unsettled quarterback situation and Graham is clearly their best offensive weapon.  It makes sense for many talented running backs to declare early for the NFL Draft.  Graham could choose to enter the upcoming draft. 

G Lucas Nix, Pittsburgh, Senior: Nix did not play due to a strained knee.  He is expected to return as the anchor of the line after rehabbing his knee.

DE Brandon Lindsey, Pittsburgh Senior: Lindsey had a very quiet game statistically and was not credited with a tackle.  Lindsey did a decent job against the weak running attack of Rutgers and held his ground.  However, he had trouble disengaging from blocks to be the first defender to meet the running back.  Pittsburgh used more stunts in the 2^nd half to help free him on the pass rush.  This helped a little, but Lindsey was always a step late in pressuring the quarterback.  Pittsburgh experimented with Lindsey being a rush linebacker in a 3-4 scheme for this season and he just was not comfortable.  He went back to being a defensive end only with more emphasis on taking on double-teams.  The new defensive scheme has not been as good a fit for his talents.

WR Mohamed Sanu, Rutgers, Junior: The Scarlet Knights’ standout receiver was held in check with only two receptions for 27 yards (13.5 per).  He also returned four punts for 34 yards (8.5 per) with a long of 18 yards.  The big wide receiver (6’ 2” and 215 lbs) demonstrated on his 18-yard punt return that he make a tackler miss and head up field in a hurry.  Sanu is attracting much more attention from defenses now after a hot start to the season.  Rutgers is trying to move him around more and he can play outside or in the slot.  He kept a couple of drives going by using his big body to go over the middle and catch the ball.  Sanu is raw as a receiver and he does not have a top quarterback delivering the football to him.  He will have much to learn at the next level about reading coverages and running precise routes.  It will be interesting to see if he decides to enter the 2012 NFL Draft.