Pro Football Draft Network | 2012 Pro Football Draft Analysis

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

RB Trent Richardson, Alabama, Junior: The Heisman Trophy candidate had a workmanlike game gaining 89 yards on 23 carries (3.9 per).  He added 5 receptions for 80 yards (16 per) and even returned a kickoff for 23 yards.  Richardson’s best run occurred in the 4^th quarter when he broke 4 tackles on a determined blast up the middle.  It spoke volumes about his conditioning and will.  There was not a lot of running room against the LSU defense.  However, Alabama’s big back kept hammering away and held onto the football.  Richardson hurt LSU catching the ball out of the backfield.  He showed some wiggle in the open field.  Richardson could not adjust to a ball thrown over his wrong shoulder on a pass down the sideline late in the game.  It would have been a tough grab, but a huge play had he been able to make it.  Richardson still demonstrated that he could extend and make the routine catch.  This will help him be a three-down back at the next level.

WR Marquis Maze, Alabama, Senior: The Crimson Tide’s most dangerous receiving threat hauled in 6 passes for 61 yards (10.2 per).  He returned one kickoff for 26 yards.  Maze is best at catching wide receiver screens and then trying to make tacklers miss and turning a short pass into a big play.  Maze’s best effort on the night was when he took a screen pass and with his quickness made a couple of defenders miss.  The play went for 19-yards.  He was unable to get a foot inbounds on a sideline reception in the 3^rd quarter.  He is not a sophisticated route-runner and really is raw as a receiver.  Maze sprained his ankle and was unable to field a punt in the 4^th quarter.  The ball bounced LSU’s way and Alabama surrendered valuable field position at a critical point in the game.  Maze wanted to be in the game to make something happen as a punt returner.  His competitiveness perhaps got the better of him.  Maze did not have his usual lateral quickness and he allowed the punt to bounce and it resulted in a 73-yarder.   

TE Michael Williams, Alabama, Redshirt Junior: Williams officially had 1 reception for 1 yard.  However, he was involved in the biggest play of the game in the 4^th quarter.  Williams was so close to catching a pass from Marquis Maze near the LSU  goal line.  However, LSU safety, Eric Reid, outfought Williams for the ball and took it away from him.  Williams had two hands on the ball, but was unable to just twist his body enough to shield Reid from grabbing on.  Williams (6’ 6” and 270 lbs) is much taller and heavier than Reid.  It was like a forward in basketball being outrebounded by a smaller guard.  If Williams had made the catch then Alabama would have had 1^st and goal from the 1-yard line of LSU.  The score was tied at 6 at this point and a touchdown or even a field goal likely would have been too much for LSU to overcome.  Reid made a terrific play, but you want to see your big tight end win this type of battle.  Williams did a decent job blocking, but was not a factor in the passing game.

ILB Dont’a Hightower, Alabama, Redshirt Junior: Hightower made a big hit on a run stop up the middle right before halftime to prevent a touchdown and force LSU to kick a field goal.  He defended the inside run well with physical play.  Hightower was credited with 7 tackles.  The big inside linebacker did a fine job of covering the tight end.  However, he was not tested down the field.  LSU had some success running outside.  Hightower lacks exceptional speed to make sideline-to-sideline run stops for limited gains.   

OLB/DE Courtney Upshaw, Alabama, Senior: Alabama’s top pass rusher had 6 tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 1 sack and a couple of quarterback pressures.  LSU only attempted 17 passes.  He did not have a lot of pass rush opportunities with LSU playing a very conservative game on offense.  Upshaw used a swim move to breakthrough once.  He was effective in run support, but did have some trouble handling option runs.

FS Mark Barron, Alabama, Senior: The Alabama free safety made a big interception in the 3^rd quarter.  Barron read the pass route by the LSU receiver and was ready to pick-off Jarrett Lee’s floating pass.  It was a well-diagnosed play by the starting free safety playing the role of a centerfielder.  Alabama would have been in business at the LSU 5-yard line after Barron’s strong return.  Unfortunately, Josh Chapman was penalized for a block in the back and the Crimson Tide lost valuable field position.  Barron’s interception led to Alabama kicking a field goal and a 6-3 lead.  Barron also contributed 6 tackles with half a tackle for a loss.  Barron came up quickly in run support and was part of a defense that limited LSU to only 3.6 yards per carry.

NT Josh Chapman, Alabama, Senior: Chapman did not make any splash plays, but effectively clogged the middle.  The Alabama nose tackle had 4 tackles and half a tackle for a loss.  He collapsed the pocket and had enough quickness to grab hold of the LSU quarterback’s leg on his tackle for loss on an attempted quarterback draw.  Chapman did his job all night and he is a well-conditioned big man.

CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama, Junior: The talented junior had a good game against a passing attack that did not pose a major threat.  He was called for a holding penalty near the goal line while covering LSU’s best wide receiver, Rueben Randle.  Overall, Kirkpatrick provided tight coverage against Randle.  Kirkpatrick used his size to play physical versus the run and contributed 4 tackles.  He left the game late in the 4^th quarter with a slight concussion sustained on punt coverage.

SS Robert Lester, Alabama, Redshirt Junior: Lester helped set the tone early that LSU was not going to have much success through the air by intercepting a poorly thrown Jarrett Lee pass.  Lester read the quarterback and was waiting for Lee’s low throw over the middle that went right to him.  It was an easy interception, but Lester capitalized on it.  He also helped on some of LSU’s outside runs and finished with 3 tackles.  Lester provided solid help in coverage and overall had a decent game.

WR Rueben Randle, LSU, Junior: Randle’s size (6’ 4” and 210 lbs) did not cause problems for Alabama’s secondary.  He caught just 2 passes for only 19 yards (9.5 per).  Alabama wanted to limit Randle and were able to do so with some safety help.  Randle was unable to make a fairly difficult touchdown catch on a 5-yard pass over the middle.  The pass was high, but a top receiver should have been able to make the play.  Randle looked like a tall long-strider who is not that physical against the Tide.

CB Morris Claiborne, LSU, Junior: Claiborne looked like arguably the finest cornerback in the nation against Alabama.  His pass breakup in the end zone on a deep pass in the 1^st quarter kept the game scoreless.  Claiborne plays the ball well and the pass hung too long to beat him.   He later jumped a route to an H-back and easily intercepted an Alabama pass in the 3^rd quarter.  The pass was late and thrown behind the receiver.  The opportunistic Claiborne made the Alabama quarterback pay for his mistake with a 33-yard return.  He demonstrated terrific awareness and not just athleticism on this play.  Claiborne also contributed 3 tackles.  The NFL loves quality cover cornerbacks and Morris Claiborne certainly looks the part.  He will be a very high 1^st round pick should he decide to enter the 2012 NFL Draft.

SS Brandon Taylor, LSU, Senior: Taylor is a versatile safety and demonstrated this against Alabama.  He had 5 tackles, 1 tackle for loss and 1 pass breakup.  He showed his range by getting deep to breakup a deep pass into the end zone.  Taylor took a bad angle on a run early in the game, but made some solid tackles.  His ability to anticipate plays was evident when he knifed past blockers to drop Trent Richardson for a 6-yard loss late in the game. 

TE DeAngelo Peterson, LSU, Senior: Peterson had a rough game with 1 reception for a 2-yard loss.  His blocks were defeated several times in run support.  He has a slender build and really is a H-back candidate in the NFL.  Alabama’s secondary made Peterson look like a marginal NFL prospect.  He did not have many opportunities to catch the football, but his routes looked predictable and not sharp.