STRENGTHS
Zaven shows on films good overall athletic skills. He is smart and shows leadership skills through his play on the field. He has a good burst to the play and has the athletic talent and size to play multiple positions in your front seven, in the right defense. Zaven has the unique skill set to be around the ball to make plays on the ball. He has the instincts you look for in a defensive player and that along with his high football IQ, makes Zaven the type of player, team’s whose base defensive scheme is the 3/4 defense, a good fit. He has the size and skillset to make an impact in that scheme. Zaven reminds me a lot of former Texans 2nd Rd pick in the 2009 draft who went on to play for the Eagles, Rams, and Giants, Connor Barwin.
CONCERNS
Because Zaven is a perfect fit for just one type of defense, his value and impact will not be the same to all 32 teams. He lacks the pure speed teams are looking for in LB’s for any style of defense. Zaven also lacks the cover skills teams are looking for in their LB’s. He can drop off the line and get into passing lanes and is very smart at hiding in zones and surprising college QB’s but as far as, change of direction and back-peddling with quickness and pure speed, he lacks that skill set.
BOTTOM LINE 2.50
Zaven is big enough and smart enough to play in a 3/4 defense on the edge. His lack of pure speed and lack of pure change of direction skills, will not be as much of an issue at that position and he can impact. In fact, he could be a pro bowl player playing on the edge in a 3/4 defense. The team that selects him must have a plan to use his unique talents or Zaven will get lost in the shuffle and hit free agency until he finds that team. Connor Barwin’s combine numbers were more than enough to suggest that he would be an outstanding player for the team that selected him and the truth is once his career was over he did play well but every time there was a change of coaching or defensive scheme, Connor had to move on because of his limited lack of change of direction skills. Simply put, Connor was a good player in the right scheme. Zaven will be a good player…but in the right defensive scheme.
