Lewis is a frustrating player because there is no doubt that he has the talent to be a dominant tight end when he wants to, but he does not play aggressively or compete to the highest level on every play. He lacks explosiveness in his play and does not get off the ball and into his routes quickly. Being a beat late moving shows up when he runs his 40, which is part of why his 40 is so much slower than his playing speed. Once he gets to full speed, he can run. He is a natural receiver who can adjust with defenders all over him to make tough catches, can take the hard hit and holds onto the ball. He has the size, natural strength and balance to keep his feet vs. hard hits and gains yards after contact. As a blocker, he has the talent to be as good as he wants to be, but he must use good blocking technique and block aggressively on every play to block as well as he is capable. Overall, Lewis is being overlooked because his 40 time is not good and he is not a consistent blocker. However, with his natural athleticism, hands and receiving ability, there is confidence in Lewis' ability to be a very good receiving tight end in the NFL who can impact games with his ability to catch the ball very consistently. In time, he will develop into a solid, but not dominant, blocker.
CRITICAL FACTORS
Size
Athletic Ability
Hands
Competes
Play Speed
Blocking
6.0
6.0
7.5
6.0
6.0
5.5
STRONG POINTS
Lewis is a good athlete with the hands, body control and concentration to make very good catches consistently. He is a tough receiver who consistently has shown a willingness to go up high in traffic, catching the high pass, taking the hard hit and holding onto the ball. Once he gets to full speed, he has the playing speed to get down the seam and make big plays downfield. He has the size and natural strength to be a good in-line run blocker when he blocks with leverage and aggressively gets after his man.
WEAKNESSES
Lewis does not consistently play up to his talent level. He does not consistently react to the snap fast and is almost always a beat late moving at the snap. This will hinder his ability to get off the ball and into routes fast in the NFL. He has a tendency to lean and reach to make contact and maintain his blocks and too often he ends up over-extending and falling off his blocks. He needs to bend his knees, run lower and become sharper and more precise running routes. Right now, he gets bounced around too easily during routes.
POSITIONAL FACTORS
Grade
Category
Comments/Description
7.5
Hands
He has the outstanding hands to make great catches seem routine consistently.
5.0
Initial Quickness
He lacks explosiveness off the ball and is too often a beat late moving at the snap.
5.5
Release Off Line
Lewis lacks explosive burst, but when he is aggressive with his hands, he can beat the jam fast.
6.0
Patterns
He runs a little upright and lacks the burst out of cuts, but his routes are generally solid.
7.0
Adjustment Ablility
He can adjust to off-target passes to make hard catches look remarkably easy.
6.0
Deep Threat
He lacks explosiveness, but once he gets to full speed, he can get separation down the seam.
6.0
Run After Catch
He runs aggressively and has the strength to keep his feet vs. hard hits.
5.5
Run Block In-Line
He can be good when he stays over his feet and blocks aggressively.
6.0
Run Block Space
He generally does a solid job blocking on the second level, but will overextend at times.
4.0
Pass Blocking
His questionable effort combines with bad technique and he gets beaten often.
5.5
Play Strength
He has good natural strength, but needs to play with leverage and aggressiveness more often.
6.0
Fumbles/Error
Not a fumbler and needs to play with more aggressiveness to avoid errors.
ATHLETIC ABILITY
Section Grade: 6.0
Lewis has many of the traits of a very good athlete, but lacks top-end playing speed. He has quick feet to accelerate to full speed quickly once he gets off the ball, but he does not burst/explode off the ball into routes. He plays faster than his 40 time and once he gets going, he has the playing speed to get down the seam and can get separation from defenders deep. He has the quickness to get separation out of cuts, but he runs upright in routes and it will make it hard for him to get away from NFL defenders. He has excellent hands, which combine with his very good body control and coordination to enable him to adjust to off-target passes to make great catches seem routine.
Q.A.B.
Quick Feet
C.O.D.
Flexibility
Coordination
6.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
7.0
COMPETITIVENESS
Section Grade: 6.0
He is generally a tough football player who has consistently shown the willingness to make tough catches in traffic, takes the hard hit and holds onto the ball. On important passing plays, he has consistently shown the ability to step up and make the big catch when needed, however, as a blocker he doesn't consistently make the key block on important runs. Lewis' overall production has been very good as a receiver despite UCLA's constant offensive/quarterback struggles during his career, but as a blocker, his production is very inconsistent. He can be as good a blocker as he wants to be when he blocks aggressively and stays after and finishes his blocks. On film, he generally gives a good effort, but it frustrates me that he tends to quit on some blocks. He just stops his feet and does not even try to stay after the block and keep his man out of the play.
Toughness
Clutch Play
Production
Consistency
Team Player
Pride/Quit
6.0
5.5
6.0
5.5
6.0
5.5
MENTAL ALERTNESS
Section Grade: 5.5
Lewis' blocking technique is raw and undisciplined, so there's a possible concern about how well he learns. He shows good instincts adjusting to off-target passes and making tough catches, but his reaction time is consistently a beat late getting off the ball and into routes. He does a good job of maintaining concentration as a receiver and making tough catches, but he loses focus as a blocker and lets his man get involved in too many plays.
Learn/Retain
Instincts/Reactions
Concentration
5.5
5.5
5.5
STRENGTH/EXPLOSION
Section Grade: 5.5
Lewis has the measured height and weight that is ideal for a tight end, but he is thinner on film and needs to add bulk/weight to succeed in the NFL. He has played through some dings at UCLA, but with such a thin-looking frame and his history of getting dings, he may have trouble staying healthy in the NFL. Despite being a good athlete with good playing speed, he lacks explosiveness off the ball into his routes and out of his cuts. When he bends his knees and blocks with leverage and aggressiveness, he has the strength to control his man, but too often he blocks straight-legged and upright and lacks playing strength when he does.