STRENGTHS
Zack Reminds me a lot of Eagles Connor Barwin and former Buffalo Bills Aaron Schobel. He is a fluid athlete with the athletic talent to play more than one position on your defense depending on the style. He can be a pure linebacker playing any one of the positions in a 4/3 defense, or as an edge rusher in a 3/4 defense. He has the quickness and straight-line fluidity to be a cover linebacker against tight ends and big receivers. Zack is stout against the run and holds the edge against bigger offensive lineman because he uses excellent techniques. Zack is a pure team player and shows leadership skills through his play on the field. He is a good enough athlete to play multiple positions on your defense as well as being a pretty good Tight End/ H-back on your offense if need be.
CONCERNS
Zack is a team player to a fault. He doesn’t allow himself to take chances and doesn’t make plays that are not assigned to him on that particular play. Zack has to learn to take more chances and unleash his athletic talents more and to make better use of them and become the playmaker his talents suggest he can become. He has the football IQ, he just needs to let it work for him more. He is a bit tight in the hips and lacks the change of direction skills going forward, but that never stopped a lot of great pass rushers and it should not stop Zac.
BOTTOM LINE 2.02
I suspect Zack’s workouts will zoom him up the boards for many teams. I also suspect his high football IQ will impress teams and his ability to lead also will impress teams but when you put on the film, even though all of these talents are evident, what’s also evident is the lack of playmaking plays that you would expect from such an athletic player with such a high football IQ. There is something to be said about being a great teammate. Sometimes it’s a gift and sometimes it’s a curse. Zack, in his need for perfection, limits his impact talents. His need to be “assignment corrects” on every play is holding him back. What I’m saying is Zack could be as good and as impacting as Rookie 49ers Nick Bosa and yet, he is not considered in the same discussion and it’s not because of a lack of size or athletic talent. So, what is the reason? It’s because Zack won’t let that Athletic talent be unleashed mentally. The team that selects him and can get him to unleash that talent might wind up with a rookie of the year player. If it’s not unleashed than that team still will have a hell of a solid football player very much like Connor and Aaron were for there teams.
