The Seahawks claimed T Jarriel King off waivers after he was dropped by the Giants this last weekend. Derek Stephens of The Blue Bird Herd forwarded me a scouting report he had done on the South Carolina product for Lindy's, so I wanted to share it with you here. Big thanks to Derek, and as usual, great stuff. Go check out his blog, he always brings great analysis.
Jarriel King
OT/OG South Carolina Gamecocks #76, HT: 6050 WT: 324 40: 5.23
North Charleston, South Carolina, North Charleston (S.C.) High School
POSITIVES
Ideal body type to play offensive tackle at the next level - long, solid frame, broad shoulders, long arms, a tight lower body. A raw athlete with upside and significant room to develop as an offensive lineman after being converted from a junior college defensive end.
When able to get off the line quickly and extend his arms, King shows "shutdown" type flashes in pass protection. Showed some versatility at South Carolina, starting two games at left guard in 2009. Possesses the athleticism to be an effective blocker in the run game with the ability to get downfield ahead of the run and engage defenders at the second level.
NEGATIVES
An alarming list of off-the-field struggles and run-ins with the law including a tresspassing conviction, a theft charge, and an assault and battery charge stemming from an altercation with a former girlfriend.
Inconsistent timing of first step off the line often leaves him beat to the edge by opposing defensive ends, resulting in poor footwork and inability to establish proper position. Has a tendency to over-anticipate and "reach" for the defender off the line rather than slide-stepping into a solid stance, extending his arms and allowing the defender to approach him. This over-pursuit often results in a bent waist and loss of balance, forcing him to have to "chase" down defenders who have beat him to the edge and are closing on his quarterback.
Absorbs too much of defender's initial punch by bending his back rather than bending his knees, forcing him to rely too heavily on arm and upper body strength for proper extension. Lack of quickness off the line leads to inconsistent hand placement inside the shoulders of opposing pass-rusher, making him vulnerable to strong initial punch and bullrush by defender. Lacks consistent footwork and slide-step technique to handle change-of-direction, fake and spin moves by pass rushers at the next level.
Struggles to get leverage against opposing d-linemen when runblocking, often coming off the line too upright and getting pushed into the backfield. Similar problems when runblocking downfield, not getting low enough to properly use his legs and drive defenders backward.
IN OUR VIEW (Lindys, not Field Gulls)
Jarriel King's versatility, athleticism and strong upside could merit late-round consideration by NFL teams. However, an array of technical flaws combined with a handful of red flags off the field may leave him off draft boards completely. Scouts may project King as a guard at the next level due to his inconsistent footwork and tendency to get beat off the edge as a tackle. Again though, the athleticism is undeniable, and if he can pull his act together, could be a late round steal.