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GENERAL REPORT
GRADE: 5.86
Body Structure: Shaughnessy has a lean frame and needs to add more bulk, but he has good bone structure, outstanding wing span, very large hands, but just adequate quickness. He has better playing strength than in the weight room, showing better upper-body tone and thickness than in his adequate lower frame. He has slim thighs and calves.
Athletic Ability: Shaughnessy needs to increase his bulk, but is surprisingly strong for a player with a lean frame. He has good height, incredible reach and big hands to lock on and drag down ballcarriers. He has durability issues, evident by his adequate 2008 performance after suffering a right fibula fracture in preseason drills, and could be red-flagged as an injury risk. He is an inconsistent edge rusher who will flash explosion for several plays, but can disappear for extended stretches. Has all the tools to be a solid situational player, but you have to question if he has the durability to withstand NFL punishment. He shows decent straight-line speed, but struggles when having to change direction (tight hips). Because of size issues, if he does not use his hands to fend off blockers, he gets stonewalled too much when trying to work through trash. GRADE: 5.7
Football Sense: Shaughnessy has decent field vision, but despite 18.5 sacks and 22 pressures, he is better served waiting for the action to come to him. He gets bounced around quite a bit with inside gap penetration, as he fails to use his long arms to protect his legs. He is a good student and learns football easily, but you wonder why he is slow to react at times. GRADE: 5.6
Character: Shaughnessy has no known off-field issues. He is compliant, respectful and will do what coaches ask. No one will question his desire to play the game. He can take well to hard coaching. GRADE: 6.2
Competitiveness: Shaughnessy is a tough player who generally gives up considerable bulk to offensive tackles, but will combat until the whistle. If he can add more bulk and improve his lower-body strength, he has a good shot of being a nice part of a team's D-line rotation. He gives above-average effort on the field, but will be late off the snap due to a lack of a good initial burst. GRADE: 5.8
Work Habits: Shaughnessy is a hard worker with impressive recovery coming back from two serious injuries. He has good upper-body strength, but must add more bulk and increase his lower-body strength. He has the athletic ability and strength to be an effective edge rusher, but does not show the back pedal or pass coverage skills to possibly shift to linebacker. He has the frame to carry additional weight and will need to do so in order to play at the next level. If he can generate more leg drive to match his upper body strength, he could bring value as a situational edge rusher. GRADE: 6.0
ATHLETIC REPORT
GRADE: 5.70
Explosion/Pursuit: Shaughnessy has adequate quickness off the snap, but not enough to surprise a lethargic offensive tackle. He gets initial advantage due to his reach and hand placement, as he is quite effective at using those tools to get a push off the blocker. He has a better straight-line burst than most Big Ten edge rushers, but lacks the timed sped to give chase going long distances. He shows a very effective arm-over move but doesn't have the suddenness off the snap to gain advantage. GRADE: 5.3
Strength at Point: Shaughnessy might get flattened by bigger blockers when he exposes his chest or fails to use his hands, but when he capitalizes on his reach and big hands, he can get off the hook or reach block. When he gets too tall in his stance, it invites linemen to blow him off the ball. He has the strength to play with bent knees and when he stays low in his pads, he can jolt blockers backward with his bull rush. He has the quick hands to defeat the blocker with a good swim move, but lacks the lower-body power to drive through the offensive tackle. He will get a bit high working in-line and is not the type of player that will consistently hunker down. He fails to generate much action vs. double teams due to his marginal leg strength. GRADE: 6.1
Use of Hands: Shaughnessy has big mitts (10 3/4 inches) and an outstanding reach (33 7/8-inch arm length) for a player his size. He extends quickly and has effective rip and club moves to slide off pass protectors. His strong upper body helps him get off blocks. He has enough hand usage to set up arm-over moves, using his hands with leverage vs. the run. If he gets in the first hit, his hands are strong enough to control and shed blocks. GRADE: 6.5
Lateral Pursuit/Effort: Shaughnessy lacks the fluid lateral movement and hip wiggle to change direction, as he is too methodical gaining acceleration sliding down the line. He does not generate the sharp initial burst off the snap nor the speed to pursue long distances. Even when he is able to get a good angle to free up, he is not going to suddenly burst after the ballcarrier in pursuit. GRADE: 5.0
Tackling Ability: Shaughnessy has good upper-body strength, but just marginal-to-adequate leg drive. He is not the type that will drive blockers back on his heels, but does a good job to wrap up and secure when tackling on the edge. He has to have a clear shot at the target when working in space, as he looks stiff in his retreat. He gets good production when he does not leave his feet and uses his reach to wrap and his big hands to secure. GRADE: 5.8
Run Defense: Shaughnessy isn't stout for the position and tends to get very high and narrow based. He has lots of trouble fighting pressure and holding his ground when he fails to sink his pads and can be walked off the line by a more physical offensive tackle. He is better when operating on the edge than inside, but he doesn't have the speed to chase down plays at the opposite end of the field. He needs to stay square when attacking the ballcarrier, as the runner can slip off his hits when the defender reverts to taking a side. GRADE: 5.2
Pass Rush: Shaughnessy is not a big "move" guy, thanks to marginal lateral quickness, but can generate some burst when coming off the edge. When he stays down in his pads, he has good success moving blockers out. He is effective when using his arm-over move to gain advantage. He gets knocked around at the line of scrimmage vs. double teams, but when he has a clear path, he will get to the passer. He needs to develop better counter moves to go with his effective rip and swim moves, but can compensate with his long reach. GRADE: 6.0
Closing on the QB: Once he clears the line, Shaughnessy has a functional burst to get to the quarterback. He is better working on stunts or turning the corner than when trying to battle the tackles one-on-one, as he does not have the bulk to maintain position. GRADE: 5.8
Instincts/Recognition: Shaughnessy has a good feel for block pressure. He can locate once he breaks free in pursuit. He just does not seem natural or instinctive working down the line and he gets into trouble taking on bigger interior blockers in double-team situations, but does a better job working back and holding ground vs. the tight ends. If he gets a good jump off the snap, he can slant and escape, but when he fails to come off the snap with suddenness, the offensive linemen easily contain him. GRADE: 5.6
Compares To: JOHN ENGELBERGER, ex Denver -- Shaughnessy needs to be in the right system, one in which he doesn't have to worry about gap penetration and just play out on the edge. With that reach of his, combined with good leaping ability, he can create problems for shorter passers trying to get the ball over the defender's head. He needs to add more bulk and improve his lower-body strength before he can contribute as part of a defensive rotation.
OVERALL GRADE: 5.76
--Report by Dave-Te Thomas
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