From now until the 2019 NFL Draft takes place, we hope to showcase as many prospects as possible and examine both their strengths and weaknesses. Most of these profiles will feature individuals that the Pittsburgh Steelers are likely to have an interest in, while a few others will be top-ranked players. If there is a player you would like us to analyze, let us know in the comments below.
#17 Andrew Van Ginkel/OLB Wisconsin – 6’3/4 241
The Good
– Long frame with room to grow into it
– High motor/effort player with good closing speed and the ability to finish
– Played a variety of roles and wore lots of hats in college, no role will be new to him
– Desire to be a playmaker and produced at a good level, looks to rip the football out, wants and is capable of making big plays
– Football IQ, identifies receivers in zone and where routes are coming, good feel for where the QB is going with the ball
– Dropped into coverage plenty, mostly zone drops as overhang defender, but routinely asked to go backwards
– Flows well versus the run, will flash and shoot down into gaps if linemen is slow to reach/wall him off
– Powerful hitter and reliable tackler
– Productive player despite limited time/starting experience with Badgers
– High energy player, tone setter
– Experience being used on blitzes and stunts
The Bad
– Leggy player, thin frame who needs to add muscle, especially to upper body
– Woefully underpowered and often stunned/overwhelmed by offensive linemen
– Struggles to work off blocks, lacks hand use and the power to shed
– Weak initial punch and poor placement, too easily controlled by blocks and prone to getting sealed and washed out of the play, leans on blockers too often
– Fails to stay square to the line of scrimmage, causes him to lose sight of the ball and not use his hands to defeat blocks
– Experience dropping in zone but looks clunky and a stiff-hipped when getting depth, tall and a bit awkward in his pedal and turn, lacks experience in man coverage
– Lacks starting experience at FBS level
Bio
– 10 career starts for the Badgers (all in 2018)
– Career: 98 tackles, 19.