Cowboys Draft Prospects: Jake Kirkpatrick

by rabblerousr on Apr 10, 2011 6:00 PM CDT

National Football Post (Wes Bunting) 9th-rated OC; 247 overall

Possesses an average build for the center position, but negates some of his strength because of his high pad level off the snap. Allows himself to get too upright off the football and lacks the power to generate a pop on contact and move anyone off the snap as an in-line guy. However, he does do a good job quickly working his hands through the play, gaining inside position and using his lateral quickness to seal. Has the athleticism to stay on blocks through contact and works hard in order to create a crease and likes to finish his man. Did do a better job at the Senior Bowl playing with better bend and leverage and was a much more effective anchor. Has the ability to do it, just needs to show it's not consistently part of his game.

Showcases good awareness in the pass game. Works well in tandem with his guards and consistently keeps his head on a swivel, locates blitzing backers and quickly redirects in order to pick up his man. Again, doesn't generate much of a pop with his punch and can be overwhelmed on contact by strong interior linemen. However, he showcases good lateral agility through contact and in space and has enough athleticism to stick to mirror. Isn't real heavy handed and will allow defenders to fight their way through contact. But works his hands and feel in rhythm, maintaining his balance and can be tough to beat laterally.

Impression: Lacks ideal leverage and power in all areas of his game, but is an above-average athlete with quick hands and good body control when asked to mirror in space. Needs to continue to get stronger, but has the athleticism to fight his way onto a roster as a later round/free agent type kid.

Pro Football Weekly (Nolan Nawrocki) 5th-rated OC; overall unavailable (not in top 150)

Positives: Tough and competitive. Swings his hips in the hole and seals running lanes. Has shown he can handle size (see Baylor) and anchor against massive big bodies. Stays on blocks and seeks to finish. Smart, self-made, gritty, high-effort battler.

Negatives: Has a bad body with very short arms and can be outleveraged and outmaneuvered b quick three-techniques. Lacks power in his punch. Not powerful or explosive and does not generate much push in the run game. Inefficient in space trying to connect with linebackers.

Summary: Late bloomer who finished the season strong and did a solid job at the Senior Bowl. Has the smarts and competitiveness to compete for a job in the pros.

Because neither Gary Horton of ESPN nor Russ Lande of The Sporting News offer an evaluation of Kirkpatrick, there's not a lot here to go on in terms of the scouting services we have used for the series thus far. Neither guy rates Kirkpatrick highly: Lande says he's the 9th best center in the draft; Horton claims he's the 30th-ranked offensive guard. In shirt, neither seems to think the TCU product is a draftable player.

That said, the Cowboys' interest in him, his evident upside, and the positives that emerge from the evaluations we do have are enough for me to place him in the seventh round, with one of the Cowboys's two seventh-rounders. Let's say it'll be at # 251.

Next up: USC OT Tyron Smith