Warpath - 4th rounder....

Jerome Mathis, WR, Hampton.

Speed!

ESPN
Strengths: An absolute blazer. Is one of the fastest players in the entire 2005 draft class. Improved as a route runner and return specialist with more experience. Shows the ability to pluck on the run when he concentrates. Is a vertical threat with the initial burst and top-end speed to consistently get over the top of defensive backs in coverage. Is a huge home run threat after the catch, as well as on reverses. Also a big-time threat as a KOR specialist. Has good vision, smooth hips, good COD skills, initial explosiveness and big-league acceleration. Will win most foot races in the open field.

Weaknesses: Has character concerns. Level of competition is a concern. Lacks ideal size and strength. Will have more trouble getting off the LOS in the NFL. Lacks ideal height as a vertical receiver. Needs to improve his route running skills. Rounds off too many of his routes. Needs to learn to shift his weight better when getting in and out of breaks. Does not show a good ability to find soft spots in zone coverage. Focus and concentration is too inconsistent in terms of catching the ball. Is a below average blocker and will never get much better in that facet.

Overall: Mathis won six state track championships in high school. He was a non-qualifier because of academics in 2001. He finished with 24 receptions for 615 yards and three TD's in 2002, whjile also averaging 20.9 yards per kickoff return on 20 attempts. As a junior in 2003 he became a fulltime starter and finished with 40 receptions for 977 yards and nine TD's. He also returned 17 kickoffs for 343 yards and one punt for 42 yards. As a senior in 2004, Mathis finished with 30 receptions for 884 yards and nine TD's. He also returned 25 kickoffs for 888 yards and five TD's as a senior. Mathis ran track throughout his career at Hampton and was a three-time NCAA track All-American in the 200 meters. Mathis is a track star turned football player. He has some character concerns, lacks ideal size and needs some refinement as a route runner. However, he's one of the fastest prospects in this year's class and he improved each of the last three seasons on the gridiron. Mathis may take more time than most Day 1 prospects to develop but his versatility and speed are enticing. Mathis has the potential to develop into a vertical No. 2 or No. 3 receiver in the NFL and he also has a lot of upside as a KOR specialist at the next level, which is why it's not out of the realm of possibility for Mathis to come off the board as high as the second round.

Chris Canty, DE, Virginia

ESPN
(DE) Chris Canty - VIRGINIAStrengths: Has an exceptional combination of size, strength and athleticism. Was a playmaker as a 3-4 DE in college. Has a lot of versatility as a prospect that projects as being able to play inside and outside in the NFL. He is strong and powerful. Has long arms and does an excellent job with his hands. Will consistently keep separation, find the football and pursue. He disengages quickly and pursues hard to the football. Is a very reliable tackler for such a big player. He lacks ideal speed but is quicker than fast. Is very fluid and relentless as a pass rusher when he gets into the backfield. He also bats down a lot of passes at the LOS. His anticipation skills are good and he has adequate to good initial quickness for an interior player. He has excellent run/pass recognition skills. Is a disciplined player that knows his assignments and executes at an extremely high level.

Weaknesses: Plays too high at times and lets blockers get into his body. Has trouble splitting the double-team and gets frustrated by it. Lacks ideal top-end speed. He lacks the explosive first step of a productive NFL edge rusher. He has decent interior penetrating skills and shows a little bit, but not great closing burst. He lacks acceleration to consistently turn the corner as an edge rusher in the NFL and might be best suited to play inside on obvious passing downs.

Overall: Injuries really limited Canty's potential as a collegiate player and will wind up costing him dearly on draft day. He missed time early in his career because of shoulder problems and he also blew out his knee four games into his senior season. However, when Canty was healthy as a fulltime starter in 2003 and for the first four games of the 2004 season he was one of the most impressive end prospects in this class. Canty finished his junior season with 104 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss and four sacks. He also led his team with 30 total tackles, including seven TFL and one sack after just four games as a senior prior to his knee injury. Canty also did not help his cause when he suffered an eye injury during a bar brawl in Scottsdale, AZ, where he was training during the post-season. He showed up late for the combine because he was unable to travel via airplane and, as of the date of this report (March 19, 2005), he had not yet worked out in Charlottesville. Canty has terrific size, agility and power when healthy. He also has the potential to play either inside or outside in a 4-3 and/or 3-4 scheme at the next level. However, the former first round prospect will slip on draft day due to his inability to stay healthy and recent concerns regarding his character. If Canty can stay healthy and out of trouble he has a chance to become an impact starter in the NFL. But he has too many alerts right now to consider paying him first round money.