STRENGTHS
James is an athletic offensive center. He is what I call a move center or a center who does well used to pull and go out to the second level and be used in a zone blocking scheme. He has good size and can make all the snaps and because of his quickness does a good job pass blocking and helping out his teammates in pass blocking. He is quick to pick up stunts and when double teaming is quick to adjust if he sees a late blitzing linebacker coming up the middle. James dose a solid job when run blocking and can be counted on to give effort on every play. He has good mental strength and physical stamina and has the respect of his teammates showing the potential needed leadership skills that all good starting offensive centers must have.

CONCERNS
James still has a lot to learn about the techniques of his position especial when run blocking. He lunges and forgets to bring his feet consistently. He also struggles with bigger players who play right over him. James also has to learn when he is pass blocking and gets beat off he snap to turn his hips and push his man up the field so that his quarterback can step up and manipulate the pocket. James is a bit stiff in the hips and struggles using this technique in spite of the fact that he is much more flexible in his workouts than he seems to be on film. That being said James has the athleticism, the mental stamina, and potential leadership skills to improve and become a starting center for the team that selects him.

BOTTOM LINE
I just think James needs time to improve along with the repetitions. He has what I would consider pro bowl talent to play the center position but at this point of his career that talent needs to mature. He needs a lot more core strength and has to gain more bulk and muscle to handle the bigger nose tackles and Defensive lineman for the next level. Most teams now use all styles of defensive fronts all during a game. A center has to be able to identify those fronts, change the blocking, and make a secure snap and then not get over powered or beat off the snap. I’m not convinced James is at that level yet but he does show the potential to get to that level. Good centers are hard to find. Those that are intellectual geniuses are the one’s that find the way to last the longest and can make their athletic talent fit the blocking scheme. Sometimes centers will go from team to team until they find the right quarterback they mesh with intellectually and once they do, most of the time they become invaluable. James has the athletic talent to become a starting center. He must continue to develop the intellectual aspect of his game as he becomes bigger and stronger and improves in all of his techniques. It’s a good bet that he can do that.

Drew Boylhart   MAR.2018