Mike Mohamed of California ~ 6.3/245
"Carries his weight well and possesses a lean, athletic-looking frame. Exhibits natural flexibility in his lower half and does a nice job keeping his base under him and sitting into his stance prior to the snap. Displays a good first step when asked to attack downhill vs. the run game, quickly locating the football, picking his way through traffic and working until the whistle. Possesses good balance and change of direction skills in tight quarters, has the ability to slip a blocker quickly and make his way toward the football.
However, isn't real physical when asked to take on a block in the hole. Doesn't generate a real thump on contact, stops moving his feet and can be easily sealed/engulfed on contact. Also, isn't a real physical striker as a tackler either; more of a drag down guy who will overrun plays and fail to break down in pursuit. However, exhibits above-average sideline-to-sideline range and can track the football on all areas of the field.
Demonstrates good body control, balance and fluidity in and out of his breaks in coverage and has the type of range to consistently run with tight ends down the field. Looks comfortable in space, keeping his feet under him, cleanly changing directions and generating a good explosive first step for himself out of his breaks. Now, is still maturing in reading his pass keys, will take himself out of some plays on play fakes and possesses only an average feel in zone. But for the most part he routinely ends up putting himself around the play.
Impression: Missed some time as a senior and never really got his legs back under him during the 2010 season. But his junior tape is sold and at worst looks like a core special teams/nickel guy."
However, isn't real physical when asked to take on a block in the hole. Doesn't generate a real thump on contact, stops moving his feet and can be easily sealed/engulfed on contact. Also, isn't a real physical striker as a tackler either; more of a drag down guy who will overrun plays and fail to break down in pursuit. However, exhibits above-average sideline-to-sideline range and can track the football on all areas of the field.
Demonstrates good body control, balance and fluidity in and out of his breaks in coverage and has the type of range to consistently run with tight ends down the field. Looks comfortable in space, keeping his feet under him, cleanly changing directions and generating a good explosive first step for himself out of his breaks. Now, is still maturing in reading his pass keys, will take himself out of some plays on play fakes and possesses only an average feel in zone. But for the most part he routinely ends up putting himself around the play.
Impression: Missed some time as a senior and never really got his legs back under him during the 2010 season. But his junior tape is sold and at worst looks like a core special teams/nickel guy."
"Positives: Extremely smart, productive, durable and experienced. Sure tackler with a nose for the ball. Athletic with good "game speed" on the field. Can turn and run with receivers, and projects well covering tight ends in the NFL. Uses his tall frame well and makes plays on the ball in coverage. Top intangibles; very smart in the classroom. Played in a variety of formations, including inside in a 3-4 and at Mike and Will in 4-3 alignments. Actually may project best in the NFL as a 4-3 Sam.
Negatives: Somewhat high hipped, and as a result tends to play and run high and upright. Too often tackles by diving at ankles. Not a "thumper." Marginal blitzer who struggles to defeat blocks. Doesn't have a lot of "sand in his pants" and tends to get destroyed when colliding with linemen. Looks like a big safety. May need a scheme like a Tampa-2 that doesn't require a lot of collisions with linemen to succeed.
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Scheme and position fit will be important for his NFL prospects. Mohamed projects well in a scheme that requires him to run a lot, rather than engaging offensive linemen. While it's conceivable Mohamed could fit anywhere from inside/middle linebacker to strong safety in the NFL, he projects best as a one-gap type in a 4-3 that expects the outside linebackers to run and cover."
Negatives: Somewhat high hipped, and as a result tends to play and run high and upright. Too often tackles by diving at ankles. Not a "thumper." Marginal blitzer who struggles to defeat blocks. Doesn't have a lot of "sand in his pants" and tends to get destroyed when colliding with linemen. Looks like a big safety. May need a scheme like a Tampa-2 that doesn't require a lot of collisions with linemen to succeed.
***
Scheme and position fit will be important for his NFL prospects. Mohamed projects well in a scheme that requires him to run a lot, rather than engaging offensive linemen. While it's conceivable Mohamed could fit anywhere from inside/middle linebacker to strong safety in the NFL, he projects best as a one-gap type in a 4-3 that expects the outside linebackers to run and cover."
"Bio: Three-year starter awarded all-Conference honors every season since his junior campaign. Led Cal in tackles the past two years posting, 95/5/2 as a senior and 112 tackles as a junior. Sophomore numbers included 87 tackles.
Positive: Hard-nosed football player who is best stopping the run. Remains disciplined with assignments, fierce up the field, and plays hard until the whistle blows. Effectively diagnoses the action, displays good instincts, and plays with physicality. Breaks down well, effectively uses his hands to protect himself, and wraps up when tackling. Stacks well against the run and nicely redirects to ball carriers or slides off blocks to make the play.
Negative: Best in a straight line and struggles to immediately change direction without losing momentum. Not fluid or quick pedaling in reverse and struggles in coverage.
Analysis: Mohamed was a terrific college run defender who possesses the size and growth potential to be used on the inside of a 3-4 alignment in the NFL. He's a liability in coverage but has the skills to be a productive two-down defender."
Positive: Hard-nosed football player who is best stopping the run. Remains disciplined with assignments, fierce up the field, and plays hard until the whistle blows. Effectively diagnoses the action, displays good instincts, and plays with physicality. Breaks down well, effectively uses his hands to protect himself, and wraps up when tackling. Stacks well against the run and nicely redirects to ball carriers or slides off blocks to make the play.
Negative: Best in a straight line and struggles to immediately change direction without losing momentum. Not fluid or quick pedaling in reverse and struggles in coverage.
Analysis: Mohamed was a terrific college run defender who possesses the size and growth potential to be used on the inside of a 3-4 alignment in the NFL. He's a liability in coverage but has the skills to be a productive two-down defender."
"Positives: Very solid overall production in four years at Cal (315 tackles, six sacks, two forced fumbles, seven interceptions)... Good height and bulk, although could add a little muscle mass in upper body... Runs well with the football, looks a lot like a tight end after intercepting passes... Is a good wrap-up tackler, does not deliver a lot of big blows, but tackles low and usually does not miss in close quarters... Does not give up on plays, puts effort into every play and work hard to get to the ball carrier... Is a cerebral football player, does not often get out of position and understands his responsibilities on the field... Has pretty good hands, but must be in good position to make big plays in coverage... Durability is not a concern, has not experienced any major injuries and has played in 39 games for Cal... Very intelligent person and it shows on the football field, should be a heady player at the next level... Motor is not a concern, plays hard on every down.
Negatives: Appears to have very inconsistent games, recorded 14 tackles twice in 2010, but fewer than seven tackles on seven occasions... Instincts appear to be below average, is not a natural playmaker and lacks the ability to be an ultra-disruptive linebacker... Is not fast for the position (projected 4.8-40)... Is not a unique athlete, and is below average in pass coverage, plays with stiff hips and slow change-of-direction ability... Lacks strength to fight through tough blocks and traffic at the line, needs to bulk up to be an effective gap filler in the NFL... Does not drive feet very well when tackling, wraps up but tends to simply drag ball carriers to the ground instead of using legs to drive through them... Is not a pass rusher by any means, has some experience blitzing, but will be better suited as a run stopper on first and second down."
Negatives: Appears to have very inconsistent games, recorded 14 tackles twice in 2010, but fewer than seven tackles on seven occasions... Instincts appear to be below average, is not a natural playmaker and lacks the ability to be an ultra-disruptive linebacker... Is not fast for the position (projected 4.8-40)... Is not a unique athlete, and is below average in pass coverage, plays with stiff hips and slow change-of-direction ability... Lacks strength to fight through tough blocks and traffic at the line, needs to bulk up to be an effective gap filler in the NFL... Does not drive feet very well when tackling, wraps up but tends to simply drag ball carriers to the ground instead of using legs to drive through them... Is not a pass rusher by any means, has some experience blitzing, but will be better suited as a run stopper on first and second down."
"Strengths: Mohamed is a smart, instinctive football player who uses a quick first step to put himself into position to make plays. Good in play recognition. Plays under control but is not afraid to take on bigger linemen and pop them in their mouth. Adequate lateral mobility to scrape outside and is able to his vision to avoid the trash in making tackles. Good form tackler. Good motor and instincts as a pass rusher to get after the QB.
Weaknesses: Limited athleticism. Does not posses great range to make plays all over the field. Lacks the closing speed to make more tackles. His over-aggressiveness leads him to be vulnerable in play-action as well as him missing tackles. Lacks the flexibility in his hips to drop effectively into coverage with range and is a liability in man coverage because of his lack of speed and marginal athleticism.
Projection: Fifth rounder. Mohamed should be a very good special teams player a good backup who can start, if needed. Might fit best as a 3-4 inside linebacker."
Weaknesses: Limited athleticism. Does not posses great range to make plays all over the field. Lacks the closing speed to make more tackles. His over-aggressiveness leads him to be vulnerable in play-action as well as him missing tackles. Lacks the flexibility in his hips to drop effectively into coverage with range and is a liability in man coverage because of his lack of speed and marginal athleticism.
Projection: Fifth rounder. Mohamed should be a very good special teams player a good backup who can start, if needed. Might fit best as a 3-4 inside linebacker."
"Even as a redshirt freshman coming in off the bench in 2007, Mike Mohamed made a big impact on Cal. He recorded 46 tackles on the season and over half of those were in the last five games of the season. Mohamed quickly learned and was ready to make a bigger impression during his sophomore campaign. Despite being stuck behind a talented group of linebackers and only cracking the starting lineup twice, Mohamed tied for second on the team with an impressive 87 tackles. The 6-3, 245 pound Brawley, California product also started making some big plays and ended the 2008 campaign with 6.0 tackles-for-loss, 3.0 sacks, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.
By 2009 Mohamed was garnering plenty of preseason and postseason accolades and finally stepped into a full-time starting role. Mohamed tallied a conference high 112 tackles on the season and added three more interceptions to his growing resume. Through eight games in 2010, Mohamed has kept up his productivity and has totaled 50 tackles, ranking second on the team. Considering he missed one game and most of a second with a toe injury, that is quite impressive.
Mohamed may lack some of the physical skills of some other inside linebackers, but he is a smart player and has plenty of size and quickness. Few can match his instincts and Mohamed will always be around the ball no matter what level he is playing at…and he will get a good chance to play at the next level."
By 2009 Mohamed was garnering plenty of preseason and postseason accolades and finally stepped into a full-time starting role. Mohamed tallied a conference high 112 tackles on the season and added three more interceptions to his growing resume. Through eight games in 2010, Mohamed has kept up his productivity and has totaled 50 tackles, ranking second on the team. Considering he missed one game and most of a second with a toe injury, that is quite impressive.
Mohamed may lack some of the physical skills of some other inside linebackers, but he is a smart player and has plenty of size and quickness. Few can match his instincts and Mohamed will always be around the ball no matter what level he is playing at…and he will get a good chance to play at the next level."
Fanatical FootBall Fiend on Mike Mohamed
Mike Mohamed looks like a classic Late Round Roster Depth guy.
But, like all of them, he could very well carve out an execptional career for himself on Special Teams.
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.
But, like all of them, he could very well carve out an execptional career for himself on Special Teams.
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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