STRENGTHS
James has good size and decent overall athletic talent. He shows quickness and strength off the line that could be hard to handle for some offensive lineman at the next level. James is relentless and because he gives the effort on every play he is always around the ball. He has quick feet and understands that one of his best assets in getting into the backfield is getting off the line quickly before his opponent can be set. He fights through double teams and if you make a mistake in blocking him he will make you pay. He has been an impact player for his college team and shows leadership skills through his play on the field.
CONCERNS
James’s athletic talent borders on the nonexistence. His foot speed lacks just that, speed and his change of direction skills a little better than a subway train tied to tracks that go straight even around corners. Right now, all James will bring to the next level is the stats he acquired, at the college level and the relentlessness that he plays with on every play no matter the down or distance. One does wonder if James could be more effective on the other side of the ball as an offensive tackle. Don’t get mad, it’s just a thought.
BOTTOM LINE 4.06
James has a lot to learn if he wants to be the impact player at the next level or more than a rotational Defensive Lineman. He will have to improve on his overall techniques to gain an advantage over an opponent at the next level and he will also have to learn that impacting as a pass rusher and collecting double-digit sacks is not in his future. That doesn’t mean that James can’t or won’t be an impact player for the team that selects him. It just means that since he has less, athletic talent that most players he will go up against, to minimize those less than athletic talents, he will have to work much harder on his techniques and raise his football IQ. James can become a player very much like former Bills Defensive Lineman Kyle Williams because like Kyle was, James is relentless. That excellent effort will allow him to impact like Kyle did for years especially in the fourth quarter, when his opponents wear down and James keeps going like the energizer bunny. Because James has so much to learn to play Defensive line at a high level, switching over to the other side of the line of scrimmage is something he should think about. Then again, maybe not, if James wants it bad enough, who knows how successful he could be.
