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:

QB Andrew Luck, Stanford, Redshirt Junior: Luck was not perfect, but he led the Cardinal to a big road win.  He completed 29 passes in 40 attempts (73%) for 330 yards (8.25 yards per attempt) with 3 touchdowns and one interception.  Luck also ran for 36 yards on 4 carries (9.0 per).  He also fumbled in the 3^rd quarter while being sacked.  Stanford was able to recover the ball.  Luck’s biggest mistake was when he locked onto a receiver very late in the 4^th quarter with the game tied at 27.  Luck threw into double coverage and USC defensive back, Nickell Robey, jumped the route and returned the interception 33 yards for a touchdown.  Luck made up for his mistake by calmly leading Stanford down the field for the tying touchdown.  Stanford and Luck were fortunate that an unnecessary roughness penalty was called on USC safety, T.J. McDonald, on a critical 3^rd and 6 play to keep the drive alive.

Stanford does not have much speed at wide receiver.  The team throws frequently to their tight ends and also runs the ball to maintain a balanced attack.  Luck was able to throw deep once on a gadget play.  He showed terrific touch on the 62-yard completion.  Luck put just the right amount of loft on the pass to enable his receiver to run under the pass.  Luck floated some passes high, but generally was accurate on his intermediate passes.  He stepped up in the pocket well and hurt USC by running up the middle a couple of times.  A franchise quarterback is expected to lead his team to victory against a quality opponent on the road.  Luck did exactly that against the Trojans.  He looked like a poised leader with terrific intangibles and physical skills to take to the next level.

WR Chris Owusu, Stanford, Senior: Stanford’s leading receiver was limited to 3 receptions for only 21 yards (7.0 per).  He also returned 4 kickoffs for 79 yards (19.8 per).  Owusu did not look elusive or fast as a returner.  He had a couple of drops and struggled separating from USC’s athletic defensive backs.  Owusu dropped a Luck pass over the middle on Stanford’s game-tying drive at the end of regulation.  The drop did not matter on the important 3^rd and 6 play because a 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty was called after T.J. McDonald drilled Owusu. 

TE Coby Fleener, Stanford, Senior: Fleener was held in check and finished the game with only one catch for 21 yards.  He also caught a two-point conversion in the 3^rd overtime.  Fleener was unable to maintain control of a catch on a 5-yard pass into the end zone at the end of regulation that would have tied the game.  However, Stanford ran the ball in a couple of plays later.  Fleener is usually very good at hauling in high passes, but he just lost control of the ball at the very end of this play.  USC focused on limiting Fleener and he had trouble escaping coverage.  He is going to have to add strength and work on escaping the jam to be productive in the NFL.

RG David DeCastro, Stanford, Redshirt Junior: The physical guard lived up to his reputation.  Stanford kept hammering away with the running game and finished with 186 yards on 48 carries (3.9 per).  Most importantly, the Cardinal found success running the ball in the red zone (4 touchdowns).  DeCastro has heavy hands and was able to knock USC defensive linemen off of their feet a number of times.  He also held up well in pass protection.  Andrew Luck was able to step up in the pocket virtually all game to counter outside pressure.  DeCastro could be selected as high as the 1^st round should he decide to enter the 2012 NFL Draft.

LT Jonathan Martin, Stanford, Redshirt Junior: USC did sack Luck two times, but he enjoyed fine protection for the most part.  Martin handled the Trojans' most dangerous pass rusher, Nick Perry, very well.  He kept Perry in front of him and used his long arms to push Perry past Luck.  Martin was solid in run blocking and prevented penetration in short yardage situations.  Jonathan Martin looked like a strong left tackle prospect and likely will be a high 1^st round pick if he declares early.

OLB Chase Thomas, Stanford, Redshirt Junior: Stanford’s top defensive player tallied 3 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.  Thomas is a good fit as an outside linebacker in Stanford’s 3-4 defense.  He was unable to mount much of a pass rush against USC.  Thomas did not show an exceptional burst or the power to blow past a good offensive tackle.  Thomas has a good motor, but did not look like a difference-maker.

QB Matt Barkley, USC, Junior: The USC quarterback did his best to lead the Trojans to an upset over Stanford.  Barkley completed 28 passes in 45 attempts (62%) for 284 yards (6.3 yards per attempt) with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception.  Barkley made an early mistake when he forced a short pass to a well-covered receiver and A.J. Tarpley made the interception.  Barkley played well the rest of the game.  He got rid of the ball quickly and was on-target with the seam pass.  Barkley was slightly off on fairly deep fade passes down the sideline during the game.  The combination of some drops and Barkley throwing high when blitzed cost USC some big play opportunities.  Matt Barkley looked like a future solid pro quarterback in USC’s biggest game of the season.  He will have a difficult decision as to whether to return to USC or enter the 2012 NFL Draft.  USC will be bowl eligible next year and could have a big year if Barkley returns.

LT Matt Kalil, USC, Redshirt Junior: Kalil had the best game of all the Trojans.  The big left tackle was terrific in run blocking and helped spring Curtis McNeal for some big gains.  Kalil used his athletic ability to pull and get downfield to block Stanford linebackers.  He was effective in pass protection and made sure Matt Barkley did not have to worry about his blindside.  Kalil has the balance and quick feet to recover when a pass rusher has a step on him.  It was good to see Kalil be so aggressive with his run blocking.

DE Nick Perry, USC, Redshirt Junior : The Trojans needed a big pass rush to disrupt Andrew Luck.  Unfortunately, their best pass rusher, Nick Perry, had a quiet game.  Perry had a couple of decent outside rushes, but finished with only 3 tackles and no sacks.  He did not show much power or leverage when stunting.  Perry has a good upfield burst, but it was not enough to beat Jonathan Martin.

FS T.J. McDonald, USC, Junior: The talented junior’s unnecessary roughness penalty when he laid out Chris Owusu late in the game kept Stanford’s game-tying drive alive.  It was a hard-luck penalty for McDonald because the hit was so close to being just a physical play.  McDonald made a nice read on a Stanford screen pass and blew the play up with a tackle for a loss in the 1^st quarter.  He helped limit Coby Fleener and provided solid run support all game.  McDonald finished with 5 tackles and 1 tackle for loss.

DT DaJohn Harris, USC, Senior: USC was unable to collapse the pocket or stop Stanford in important short yardage situations (Stanford scored 4 times on the ground).  Harris was credited with only one tackle and a batted pass.  He spent too much time on the ground.  DaJohn Harris looked more like a late-round draft choice than a rising prospect.

MLB Chris Galippo, USC, Senior: The USC middle linebacker was able to get good depth when dropping into pass coverage.  Galippo made 7 tackles, but did not make any impact plays.  He was slow to disengage from blocks to stuff the run in critical situations.

RB Marc Tyler, USC, Senior: Tyler carried the ball once for 3 yards and left the game after aggravating his dislocated shoulder.