College: California
Overview: Alualu appears to be a bit of a tweener (combination of height and weight) for an NFL defensive lineman. He doesn’t have the great bulk as an interior lineman in a 4-3 front or the ideal height to play end in a 3-4 scheme. Alualu shows deceptive power for his size that can push the pocket as a pass rusher as well as penetrate the line of scrimmage as a run defender. He has quick hands to control and separate from blockers as well as solid instincts to feel pad pressure and maintain leverage in his gap responsibility. Alualu has enough tools and talent to contribute giving depth to an NFL defensive line.
Strengths: Productive talent who played at a high level throughout career earning all-conference recognition. Uses his power to hold up at the point of attack and to push the pocket. Displays the pass rush ability necessary to stay on the field on third down. Exhibits impressive hand use to gain leverage and shed blockers. Is a tough, relentless player.
Weaknesses: Only possesses average size. Lacks the ideal bulk to play inside and the height of a defensive end. Average change of direction in space and doesn’t always locate the football quickly. Only has average range in pursuit and won’t chase down plays from the backside.
College: Utah
Overview: Asiata is a good sized running back with balance, strength and effort as a ball carrier. He lacks explosive quickness, initially, and holes tend to close up on him before he gets through them. He can get ahead of his blockers and needs to develop more patience as a ball carrier. He runs with good lower body strength and balance and consistently does a good job of gaining additional yardage after initial contact. He is not a real effective weapon in the passing game and will need work on both route running skills as well as catching the ball downfield.
Strengths: Powerfully built runner that gets low and delivers pops. Possesses good balance and has strong legs to fight for yards after contact. Low center of gravity and toughness make him an effective inside runner and a threat on the goal line.
Weaknesses: Lacks the speed and explosive quickness to hit holes fast and gain big yards. Has limited lateral agility and will not make many people miss. Does not have the patience or vision to consistently find running lanes. Not a threat in the passing game with raw receiving skills. Tore his ACL and missed the last eight games in 2009.
College: Idaho
Overview: Iupati is a massive guard that started three years at Idaho although he did miss some time in 2008 after dealing with offseason shoulder surgery. He is one of the more powerful blockers in the draft and once he gets his hands on opponents it’s pretty much all over. Iupati was born in American Samoa and English is not his native language which can slow down his progress when it comes to learning new schemes and the playbook. While it may take Iupati a bit longer to develop into a front line player, he could have a long and productive career once he settles in.
Strengths: Iupati has terrific size for an interior blocker. Plays with a lot of toughness and tenacity. Exhibits outstanding power in the running game and in pass protection. Has very good body control and balance. Possesses great short area quickness and really jolts defenders. Appears to have heavy hands in pass protection.
Weaknesses: Lacks adequate speed for the guard position. Must improve his instincts for the game and get better dealing with complex defensive line play. Because of sub-par speed, downfield blocking needs to get better. Struggles to get to the second level in the running game.
College: Utah
Overview: Misi has good size and strength for the linebacker position. He has played both with his hand in the dirt as well as in a stand up position. He is a tough, hard-nosed competitor that will fit best as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Misi will need some work reading route progressions and will be a liability in pure man coverage. Wright is an aggressive defender that attacks the line of scrimmage to disrupt the run as well as rush the passer effectively. Misi is a good football player that will take some time to transition into the linebacker position, but should contribute on special teams as well as a backup as a rookie.
Strengths: Misi has the look, size and strength of an outside linebacker in a 3-4. Displays the toughness needed to hold the point of attack. Is a productive, smart player who always finds ways to contribute. Has the versatility to stand up or play with his hand down. No questions about his durability.
Weaknesses: Only possesses average coverage skills and has limited experience in this area. Is more comfortable playing in a crowd, lacks some agility in space and grasps for air on occasion. Can struggle containing shifty backs on the perimeter. Is an inconsistent reactor, especially when reading in coverage.
College: Iowa
Overview: Moeaki has been a bit of a disappointment since coming to Iowa as the top-ranked high school tight end in the country. He has struggled to stay on the field as he has missed games in virtually every season of his career at Iowa. He is a good athlete but lacks a second gear to stretch the secondary down the middle and lacks a big burst coming out of his cuts to separate from defenders. He shows effort as a blocker but lacks the lower body strength to block with much power. His best shot may be as an H-back or a tight end that is generally split out and lined up off the line of scrimmage.
Strengths: Moeaki is a fluid athlete with soft hands. Athletic enough to line up wide in a two point stance. Maintains good body control and can adjust to throws away from his chest. Very coachable, has a good attitude and plays hard to the whistle.
Weaknesses: Lacks adequate height and does not have much room to add bulk. Limited top-end speed and agility prevents him from getting separation on his routes. Struggles to find holes in zone coverage. Does not have adequate power in his lower half and cannot drive defenders off the ball. Missed too many games due to injury in college.
College: Washington
Overview: Te'o-Nesheim has been a productive four-year starter for the Huskies defense. Te'o-Nesheim is an undersized defensive end that wins with toughness, effort, instincts and technique. He lacks great quickness, burst and agility as a pass rusher but does a nice job using his hands to counter effectively. Te'o-Nesheim will have a tough time anchoring effectively versus the run and doesn't possess the speed, quickness and agility to project to an outside backer in a 3-4 defensive scheme. His high motor, leadership skills, toughness and instincts gives him a chance but he clearly overachieved in college and is not likely to transition well at the next level.
Strengths: A tough competitor who was a four-year starter in the Pac-10. Gets hands inside blockers' pads and sheds effectively to get after the passer. Prepares well and tracks the ball in traffic. Relentless effort allows him to get the most of his abilities.
Weaknesses: Does not have the size to play defensive end at the next level and lacks the athleticism to play outside linebacker. Slow getting off the ball and does not have the lateral agility to get around the edge. Gets pushed around in the running game and does not have the speed to make plays from the backside.
College: BYU
College: Arizona State
College: Illinois
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