WILLIE MIDDLEBROOKS
By: Dave-Te' Thomas

#42-WILLIE MIDDLEBROOKS University of Minnesota Gophers 6:01.3-194

ANALYSIS
Positives... Has great size, speed and leaping ability...Very effective in man coverage, mirroring the receiver's moves while maintaining position as the play develops...Very effective jamming his man in press coverage...Allows little cushion off the line of scrimmage...Very loose in his hips, turning fluidly coming out of his backpedal... Switches off fluidly in zone coverage...Will play the ball in the air, keeping eye contact on the pass and a hand on the receiver...Has the acceleration to run ball carriers down... Adjusts and jumps to the ball with no hesitation...Catches with his hands extended and outside the framework of his body...Stays low making wrapup tackles in space and uses his hands well to shed when coming off the edge.

Negatives... More of a grabber than a striker when tackling in run support...Does not get a good jump coming back to fill the running lanes...Concentration tends to wander when he is not immediately in the play...Takes some false steps coming out of his backpedal on deep routes... Can be fooled by head fakes...Despite his size, he can be overpowered by the bigger backs near the line of scrimmage...Needs to take better angles in pursuit.

CAREER NOTES
Unquestioned leader of Minnesota's secondary ever since stepping onto the field as a freshman...Three-year starter who is regarded as the best man coverage defender in the Big Ten Conference...Opted to leave school after his junior year, despite missing the last four games of the 2000 season with a fractured ankle...In 30 games, he registered 127 tackles (112 solos) with four interceptions and 30 pass deflections.

REMIND ME OF... Miami's Sam Madison.

GAZING INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL... This kid, more than anyone else at this position, has done more to help his stock since the Combines than any other. He has great hitting ability and shows the sudden movements coming out of his backpedal that teams crave for. He'd look nice at #29, if the Rams don't trade that pick.

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