NFL Scouting Service Releases Draft Guide, Provides an Inside Look at Oregon Players' Draft Stock

For four years Eric Galko and Optimum Scouting have been offering scouting evaluations to draft prospects, their agents and NFL teams.  Galko has worked as a consultant for both teams and agents, and he provides some of the most in-depth and carefully researched scouting reports in the business.

Optimum Scouting recently published its 2011 NFL draft guide, and it's available to fans by emailing director of scouting Galko at EricG@OptimumScouting.com.  Their online guide includes 300 pages of inside information on nearly every eligible player in both FBS and FCS competition, plus continuous updates between now and draft day.

From the draft guide and website, here are some updates on the Oregon players who looking to play in the league:

Casey Matthews

Optimum ranks Matthews as the 7th-best available outside linebacker in the draft, right behind Mason Foster of Washington.  They project him to go in the first three rounds.  Von Miller of Texas A&M is their highest rater OLB prospect

"Has the bloodlines and motor, not an elite athlete."




Jeff Maehl

Galko lowballs Maehl, tabbing him as 28th among available receivers, four notches below Darvin Adams of Auburn.    Maehl might go in the last two rounds of the draft, or he may have to try to catch on as a free agent.  You wonder if the scouts got a chance to see the video of the USC game, or witnessed Maehl's record-setting performance in NFL Combine shuttle run.  A.J. Green of Georgia and Julio Jones of Alabama are 1-2 among receivers.

"Good blocker, needs to be a more complete receiver."



Brandon Bair

Bair falls to #22 among defensive tackles.  Listed at 6-7, 272, he's among the lightest on the list, which is headed by Auburn's Nick Fairley.   A trio of PAC-10 300-pounders crack the top 15: Lawrence Guy of ASU rates 14th, Jurrell Casey of USC, 11th, followed by Fua of Stanford.  Surprisingly, Oregon State's Stephen Paea, who benched 220 lbs. a combine record 46 times without stopping, rates 19th, just ahead of Bair.  The Ducks' Mormon strongman figures to be drafted late, or like Maehl, fall to free agent status.

"Great size, needs a perfect scheme fit to be successful"

In all 50 cornerbacks made the ratings, including one from Central Connecticut State, but Javes Lewis, who left school early in spite of the potential of a pending lockout, was not one of them. 

Spencer Paysinger and D.J. Davis didn't make the rankings at their respective positions, but they are included in the draft guide, and may get an invitation to a pro camp even if they are not drafted.

Of course, the rancorous and uncertain negotiations between the league and the NFL players make everything a question mark right now.  College football, which enjoyed a record year in 2011, could be the best game in the world in September, unless you count the fledgling UFL.


Other recent features of interest at Optimum Scouting include:

Comparing Jake Locker and Colin Kaepernick
The Cam Newton Scouting Report
The Top 250 NFL Prospects
Sleepers