Jonathan Goddard, DE/OLB, Marshall Jr 6-0, 238
By: Andy Silvester
Pop quiz, hotshot. Who led the NCAA in tackles for loss last year?
Jonathan Goddard did, with 28.5 tackles for negative yardage. There’s an awful lot of jittery offensive lineman and quarterbacks in the MAC thanks to this feller.
Positives
While not the most explosive of players, he can – and will – get a good burst on every snap. He has a five yard burst to get to the QB as witnessed by his 16 (sixteen!) sacks last year. Not only does he have speed, but his balance is exceptional and is very difficult for offensive lineman to floor. He is able to recognise plays fast enough, and “plays fast”. Above all else, though, this guy just flat out makes plays.
Negatives
Despite being projected as an OLB, he may still be too small at 238lbs. While they won’t knock him over, he takes a long time to shed off persistent blockers; who he’ll see every week in the NFL. Often, he will get engulfed at the point when coming out of the 3point stance. He has also rarely been asked to make plays the other way, and he also played at a “lower level” than what scouts ideally look for.
Pro Potential
Currently, he’s not ready to be an NFL starter. In time, though, he may well be able to use both his speed and his good technique and put it to use for an NFL team.
Best fit : Somewhere in a 3-4 defense, playing as the explosive weak-side linebacker.
