Elder – Mike Adams scouting report

Mike Adams/OT/Ohio State:
 
More of a pass protector than a run blocker, and his pass protection skills could use some help. Too often plants his feet and tries to reach/lunge. When he keeps a wide base and extends his arms, he’s generally very successful. However, his technique too often devolves into the problematic range. Appears to play without a competitive fire, and it looks to me like he just tries to do the bare minimum that he feels is required on any given play. If the play is a run to the opposite side, he’ll chip his man and then turn and watch. Sometimes that’s enough, but other times, the play doesn’t go as planned and because he’s given up on it, his man is free and able to make a tackle. Doesn’t ever impose his will on his man or get after guys. He plays like he’s rather dance with somebody than engage them and actually block them. Will get beat by speed rushers, both around the outside and through the inside. Seemed to benefit from defenses being scared of his QB’s mobility. DEs often would just play contain and not really actively pursue the QB. If you just looked at his allowed pressures, hits, and sacks per snap, it would not accurately portray his production simply because on a significant portion of plays there was no a real rush challenge. When he does get beat, he often gets completely whipped. This number of times this happened is very concerning. He did have streaks of quality play, but rarely for more than a few drives within a game. In the run game, he usually is unable to impose his will and just move people. He’s fine at guiding guys out of the play if they’re already moving in the wrong direction, but if they commit against him, the best-case scenario for him is a stalemate. Often got beat to his spot by the defender, and isn’t strong or quick enough to recover and force him out of the spot. Didn’t consistently wall off running lanes, was often caught in poor position and his man was able to fight him off and make the play. As with pass protection, there were times when he looked good in run blocking, but there were always failures to counteract his successes. Has the frame to be a franchise OT, but the technique doesn’t match. His size actually hurts him in the run game, because it’s tough for him to get low and drive. When he’s upright, he loses his leverage and is forced to try and rely on his subpar upper body strength. The issues within his game are numerous in my opinion, but he’s got enough potential that he’s worth a shot as a developmental prospect. If he is forced into the starting lineup early on though, I think it’d probably be pretty ugly. Lack of commitment in the weight room is a major issue right now, and it needs to be fixed if he’s going to be successful. Just not as strong as he needs to be, and it shows on film.
 
 
Games Watched: Michigan, Wisconsin, Penn State
 
Grade: 5.7