Christian Anthony of Grambling ~ 6.4/275
"A productive pass rusher who displays a good first step off the edge and can really create a pop with his punch on contact. Looks a lot bigger in the upper body than his frame would indicate and does a surprisingly decent job shedding blocks vs. the run game and setting the edge on the perimeter. Exhibits impressive range when asked to close on the football and has some upside both as a down defensive end in a 4-3 and as a 3-4-rush linebacker."
"Bio: Three-year starter who sat out the 2010 season after experiencing heart attack type symptoms in August camp. All-Conference selection since his freshman season and named to numerous All-American teams after his sophomore and junior campaigns. 2009 totals included 76 tackles, 8 sacks, and 5 interceptions. Sophomore totals included 55/17/8 with a pair of interceptions.
Positive: One-time dominant defensive player who surprised scouts by entering the draft after a scary medical condition. Solid athlete who breaks down well, plays with leverage, and quickly changes direction. Displays speed off the edge, can pursue from the back side, and aggressively attacks ball carriers. Solid job reading and diagnosing the action and remains disciplined with assignments. Displays good first-step quickness, easily redirects to the action, and makes plays in every area of the field. Rarely off his feet. Flashes explosiveness up the field as well as speed laterally.
Negative: Lacks the size/speed numbers to be a top prospect. Possesses more of a short burst of speed. Has serious medical red flags.
Analysis: Coming into the year Anthony was considered by many as one of the top small school prospects in the nation. His season ended before it began after his medical scare last August. If he's given a clean bill a health and is able to get back to prior playing form, Anthony has the skills to be a situational pass rusher at the next level in a four-man front."
Positive: One-time dominant defensive player who surprised scouts by entering the draft after a scary medical condition. Solid athlete who breaks down well, plays with leverage, and quickly changes direction. Displays speed off the edge, can pursue from the back side, and aggressively attacks ball carriers. Solid job reading and diagnosing the action and remains disciplined with assignments. Displays good first-step quickness, easily redirects to the action, and makes plays in every area of the field. Rarely off his feet. Flashes explosiveness up the field as well as speed laterally.
Negative: Lacks the size/speed numbers to be a top prospect. Possesses more of a short burst of speed. Has serious medical red flags.
Analysis: Coming into the year Anthony was considered by many as one of the top small school prospects in the nation. His season ended before it began after his medical scare last August. If he's given a clean bill a health and is able to get back to prior playing form, Anthony has the skills to be a situational pass rusher at the next level in a four-man front."
"Positives: Athletic... Solid pass rusher... Good first step... Uses his hands well... Does a solid job shedding blockers... Good flexibility and body control... Good closing speed... Plays the run reasonably well... Pursues the ball well... Good range... Moves well in space... Relentless... Good but inconsistent motor... Plays violently... Leader... Can make some big plays for a defense... SWAC Defensive Player of the Year with 76 tackles, 15 TFL, eight sacks, five picks and five forced fumbles in 2009... Has some upside as both 4-3 DE and 3-4 OLB... Has played reasonably well in games versus higher competition, team high 12 tackles (11 solo) versus Oklahoma State in 2009.
Negatives: Does not have much of an arsenal... Tends to run around blocks, struggles to face them head on... Seems to tire late in the game... Can take plays off... Can be pushed back by bigger linemen... A bit undisciplined, tends to gamble a lot and can give up some big plays to his side... Needs to improve maintaining containment... Needs to add a bit more bulk if he is to play DE... Has said he would like to get down to 255 pounds, and would be best fit as a 3-4 OLB, but has little experience dropping into coverage... Out indefinitely after suffering an apparent heart attack 8/13/10, was a fourth round prospect prior to heart attack... Did not play a single snap in 2010, seems unlikely the NCAA would grant a sixth year of eligibility."
Negatives: Does not have much of an arsenal... Tends to run around blocks, struggles to face them head on... Seems to tire late in the game... Can take plays off... Can be pushed back by bigger linemen... A bit undisciplined, tends to gamble a lot and can give up some big plays to his side... Needs to improve maintaining containment... Needs to add a bit more bulk if he is to play DE... Has said he would like to get down to 255 pounds, and would be best fit as a 3-4 OLB, but has little experience dropping into coverage... Out indefinitely after suffering an apparent heart attack 8/13/10, was a fourth round prospect prior to heart attack... Did not play a single snap in 2010, seems unlikely the NCAA would grant a sixth year of eligibility."
Overview: Christian Anthony was named to the 2009 Sports Network Football Championship Subdivision All-America team, was fourth in voting for the Buck Buchanan Award and was voted the 2009 SWAC Defensive Player of the Year. He led the SWAC in solo tackles with 55 as he tied for sixth in the conference with 76 tackles. Anthony also contributed 8 sacks, 15 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, three recoveries, five interceptions for 133 return yards and Anthony had a season-high of 12 tackles against then BCS Top 15 Oklahoma State, and he returned interceptions for touchdowns against non-conference FCS foe Northwestern State and two-time defending SWAC East champion Jackson State. Many have noted his performance against Northwestern State, which also included two interceptions — which led to 14 points for Grambling., Grambling’s Christian Anthony made a series of game-changing plays. Two of them led to touchdowns. Yet none was more memorable for many fans than the play since dubbed “The Tackle” on the play Anthony picked up the rusher and flung him to the ground like a ragdoll. He is the right size for the position and can be aligned on either the Strong or Weak side.
He was initially recruited out of Birmingham, Ala., by a number of larger programs like Southern Miss. Since didn’t do as a well as he’d hoped on the ACT, and was facing a year in junior college, but opted for GSU when they stayed with him.
Strengths: Anthony has qualities such as: great range, athleticism and pass rush ability that will likely lead to him climbing boards during this post season. He could carry 270+ or slim down to 245, he may be suited to play an outside backer position in a 3-4 scheme in the NFL based on his size and athletic ability to move in space. As a DE, Christian has quick-twitch burst off the snap and he suddenly shortens distance between him and the OT. From what I witnessed against Texas Southern, he was a player that was very dominant and couldn't be stopped when he decided he was going to be the player he can be. I think Anthony is a leader on defense that every one feeds off of during the game. He brings real intensity and with dominant attitude. Anthony has the athletic ability and tools to make big plays and change a game and has the potential to do the same in the NFL.
Weaknesses: As a pass rusher he tends to rely on his speed too often to beat his man around the edge and needs to add other pass rush moves. Anthony's not the most disciplined player when it comes to staying in his gaps. There have been times when he goes for the big play too much. At times he winds up giving up big yards, he needs to be a little more conscientious about staying scheme responsible. It appears he may take some plays off when his team has a comfortable lead also he can be pushed off the ball in the run game. Does not always use his hands and power well to avoid getting walled off and sealed on a perimeter runs and at times he losses containment to his side. If he is to be a DE he needs to gain more upper and lower body power, to play OLB he'll need to polish his coverage game considerably.
Projection: If he he has lackluster work outs he could fall lower or out of the draft, but I believe he could become a third or fourth round draft pick in the NFL draft in 2011.
He was initially recruited out of Birmingham, Ala., by a number of larger programs like Southern Miss. Since didn’t do as a well as he’d hoped on the ACT, and was facing a year in junior college, but opted for GSU when they stayed with him.
Strengths: Anthony has qualities such as: great range, athleticism and pass rush ability that will likely lead to him climbing boards during this post season. He could carry 270+ or slim down to 245, he may be suited to play an outside backer position in a 3-4 scheme in the NFL based on his size and athletic ability to move in space. As a DE, Christian has quick-twitch burst off the snap and he suddenly shortens distance between him and the OT. From what I witnessed against Texas Southern, he was a player that was very dominant and couldn't be stopped when he decided he was going to be the player he can be. I think Anthony is a leader on defense that every one feeds off of during the game. He brings real intensity and with dominant attitude. Anthony has the athletic ability and tools to make big plays and change a game and has the potential to do the same in the NFL.
Weaknesses: As a pass rusher he tends to rely on his speed too often to beat his man around the edge and needs to add other pass rush moves. Anthony's not the most disciplined player when it comes to staying in his gaps. There have been times when he goes for the big play too much. At times he winds up giving up big yards, he needs to be a little more conscientious about staying scheme responsible. It appears he may take some plays off when his team has a comfortable lead also he can be pushed off the ball in the run game. Does not always use his hands and power well to avoid getting walled off and sealed on a perimeter runs and at times he losses containment to his side. If he is to be a DE he needs to gain more upper and lower body power, to play OLB he'll need to polish his coverage game considerably.
Projection: If he he has lackluster work outs he could fall lower or out of the draft, but I believe he could become a third or fourth round draft pick in the NFL draft in 2011.
Fanatical FootBall Fiend on Christian Anthony
When I evaluate any prospect, 1% of it derives from my own analysis of The Tape, and 99% of it is my evaluation of the evaluators: Those guys, quoted and linked, above, whose expertise DWARFS mine.
***
Christian Anthony had an Heart Attack, last August, and there are many teams ~ perhaps all of them, for all I know ~ who will simply refuse to draft the kid. And that would be a damned shame. Because the kid has MONSTER Potential.
MIND you: there're some Red Flags: He is NOTORIOUSLY undisciplined in assignments. The interview process is particularly important with young Mister Anthony, because if I were checking him out, I'd want to question him directly about blown assignments, Free Lancing, and what his intentions are in the NFL. Ironically, it's very possible that the heart attack ~ a life changing event, if there ever was one ~ may turn out, at the end of the day, to have been a blessing in disguise, for a wake up call was certainly in order.
Christian Anthony was an absolutely spectacular player in college, and an emotional and inspiring team mate. We can only hope, first, that the heart attack was either a freak occurrence that Doctors can convincingly explain as such, or a warning to change his life style ~ IF it was behavior related ~ that he will heed, and heed well. Second, would be the hope that the process has inspired him to take inventory, as they say, and realize, among other, more celestial things, that Championship FootBall comes not from Free Lancing, but from working with 10 other men, one play at a time, which means, in the lexicon of Coach Bill Belichick: "Do Your Job."
As a prospect, Christian Anthony offers an outstanding fusion of Power, Speed, Strength, and Athleticism: He is, indeed, that rare Athlete ~ 6.5/275 ~ who can effectively Rush the Passer AND Set the Edge. He has potential as either an End in a 40 Scheme, or as a Flanker ~ OutSide Line Backer, to you Earthlings!! ~ in a 30 Scheme. Should he check out, medically, and if he has, indeed, learned, via this life threatening wake up call, the true value of playing as part of a team for the entire game, he could forge a tremendous career.
Super Sleeper!!
***
As always, the preceding thoughts were regurgitated, derivative tripe, adding no value whatsoever, while in fact obliterating intelligent thought and offending the spirit of all decent men. You are now stupider for having read it, and are encouraged, in the strongest possible language, never to expose your eyes to this Site again.
***
Christian Anthony had an Heart Attack, last August, and there are many teams ~ perhaps all of them, for all I know ~ who will simply refuse to draft the kid. And that would be a damned shame. Because the kid has MONSTER Potential.
MIND you: there're some Red Flags: He is NOTORIOUSLY undisciplined in assignments. The interview process is particularly important with young Mister Anthony, because if I were checking him out, I'd want to question him directly about blown assignments, Free Lancing, and what his intentions are in the NFL. Ironically, it's very possible that the heart attack ~ a life changing event, if there ever was one ~ may turn out, at the end of the day, to have been a blessing in disguise, for a wake up call was certainly in order.
Christian Anthony was an absolutely spectacular player in college, and an emotional and inspiring team mate. We can only hope, first, that the heart attack was either a freak occurrence that Doctors can convincingly explain as such, or a warning to change his life style ~ IF it was behavior related ~ that he will heed, and heed well. Second, would be the hope that the process has inspired him to take inventory, as they say, and realize, among other, more celestial things, that Championship FootBall comes not from Free Lancing, but from working with 10 other men, one play at a time, which means, in the lexicon of Coach Bill Belichick: "Do Your Job."
As a prospect, Christian Anthony offers an outstanding fusion of Power, Speed, Strength, and Athleticism: He is, indeed, that rare Athlete ~ 6.5/275 ~ who can effectively Rush the Passer AND Set the Edge. He has potential as either an End in a 40 Scheme, or as a Flanker ~ OutSide Line Backer, to you Earthlings!! ~ in a 30 Scheme. Should he check out, medically, and if he has, indeed, learned, via this life threatening wake up call, the true value of playing as part of a team for the entire game, he could forge a tremendous career.
Super Sleeper!!
***
As always, the preceding thoughts were regurgitated, derivative tripe, adding no value whatsoever, while in fact obliterating intelligent thought and offending the spirit of all decent men. You are now stupider for having read it, and are encouraged, in the strongest possible language, never to expose your eyes to this Site again.
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