Pollard is a junior who came out early for the 2006 NFL Draft, after having some issues during the 2005 season. He is without question a good athlete with tremendous natural size and strength -- a rare combination. He has the quick feet, acceleration and playing speed to chase down running plays in backside pursuit from sideline to sideline -- he has shown an explosive closing burst to finish plays once he gets close. When he comes up aggressively in run support, stays under control and stays over his feet, he can be a violent and consistent tackler out in space. He is surprisingly effective breaking and closing on passes (both in front of him and outside along the sideline) for such a big safety, and he usually gets there in time to make the hard hit right after the catch. He has shown the athleticism and play speed to be very effective covering tight ends and running backs in man-to-man coverage down the field. Overall, Pollard is going to probably be drafted near where he's rated, he should challenge for a starting job as a rookie, and he will eventually be a good all-around starting safety who can make plays vs. the run and the pass and can be a physical force.
CRITICAL FACTORS
Athletic Ability
Coverage
Tackling
Competes
Play Speed
Instincts
6.0
6.0
5.5
6.0
6.0
6.0
STRONG POINTS
Pollard is a tremendously well-built safety, who can be a real force against the run when he comes up fast in support -- he can drive into the ball carrier and knock him off his feet. He has the playing speed and closing burst to chase down running plays in pursuit, and has a closing burst to finish plays outside along the sideline. He reads and reacts to the pass well, which helps him to consistently break quickly on passes in front of him and to deep outside passes. His hips and playing speed enable him to do a good job of staying on thetight end's hip in tight man-to-man coverage.
WEAKNESSES
Pollard needs to do a better job of staying under control and playing over his feet, in order to be a more consistent tackler -- too often, he leaves his feet and lunges. He does not always come up aggressively in run support and becomes a catch defender at times. He is a little over-competitive at times, which can lead to him making some bad on-field decisions.
POSITIONAL FACTORS
Grade
Category
Comments/Description
6.0
Read & React
His quick feet and instincts enable him to consistently read and react to the play quickly.
6.0
M/M Coverage
His athleticism, playing speed and size makes him good at covering tight ends in tight man-to-man coverage.
6.0
Zone Coverage
He reads the pass quickly, breaks and closes fast, and makes hard hits after the catch consistently.
6.0
Break and Close
For a big safety, he can transition out of his pedal to break and close on the ball surprisingly well.
6.0
Hips/Turn Ability
He has surprisingly good hips to turn and run with the tight end without losing a step.
5.5
Tackling
When he stays under control and over his feet, he can break down and tackle well, but he is inconsistent
6.0
Hitting Ability
He has the size and strength to be a very violent hitter, but he does not always attack the ball carrier.
6.0
Hands - Interception
He has shown the hands to reach out and make the interception when he gets an opportunity.
5.5
Hands - Fight Blocker
He has the natural strength to toss blockers off, but he is not always aggressive fighting through blocks.
6.0
Deep Speed
For such a big safety, he has surprisingly good playing speed to stay with tight ends on deep routes.
NA
Return Ability
In the games graded, he was not a returner, and nothing indicates him being a good one.
5.0
Errors
He gets out of control and misses some tackles out in space that he should make.
ATHLETIC ABILITY
Section Grade: 6.0
Pollard is a good athlete, and that is a big part of why he was such a productive all-around safety with his tremendous natural size and build. His foot quickness combines with his instincts to let him consistently get started towards the ball quickly at the snap. He accelerates to full speed quickly, and has the playing speed and finishing burst to make plays from sideline to sideline -- vs. the run and the pass. He has the flexibility to bend his knees and tackle with good leverage, and his agility helps him to change directions quickly to adjust and tackle well out in space. He is a very coordinated athlete, who consistently has shown an ability to make tough tackles vs. sharp cut-backs, and he can adjust to cover the tight end all over the field in tight man-to-man coverage.
Q.A.B.
Quick Feet
C.O.D.
Flexibility
Coordination
6.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
6.0
COMPETITIVENESS
Section Grade: 6.0
Pollard is without question a very tough football player, whose competitiveness and toughness really show in his willingness to play through a lot of pain to stay in the lineup. His overall production and production on important downs is usually very good, but the trouble is that he is not consistent throughout games, and it hinders his ability to be consistently productive. He is an impact player in run support when he attacks the play aggressively, but for such a big, well-built safety, he does not attack the play consistently on every run. He reads the quarterback well, which helps him to break and close quickly on passes in front of him, and he bursts outside to make hard hits right after the catch on deep outside throws. He is a team player and his no-quit, all-out attitude is exactly what teams want from a safety, although one could see his competing this hard in practice being an issue for some teammates.
Toughness
Clutch Play
Production
Consistency
Team Player
Pride/Quit
6.5
6.0
6.0
5.5
6.5
6.5
MENTAL ALERTNESS
Section Grade: 5.5
Pollard is a smart kid who definitely learns football well, and it helps him to make plays vs. the run and the pass -- he has shown good tackling technique when he stays under control. He has good instincts, which allow him to consistently read the play quickly, and his foot quickness helps him to react quickly to what he reads. The big issue with Pollard's mental alertness is that he tends to lose his concentration at times, and it leads to him getting out of control and missing some tackles that he should make.
Learn/Retain
Instincts/Reactions
Concentration
6.0
6.0
5.5
STRENGTH/EXPLOSION
Section Grade: 6.5
Pollard has excellent size for a safety -- he has a tremendous build, is very well-defined and looks more like a linebacker than a safety. His toughness, competitiveness, size and strength have helped him be a durable college safety, there is no doubt he has what it takes to be a durable NFL safety. While he lacks the elite explosiveness of the Colts' Bob Sanders, he has a quick and explosive closing burst to make plays outside along the sideline. He has very good playing strength for a safety -- with his size, natural strength and aggressiveness, he can make punishing hits on big running backs and can fight through blocks much better than most safeties are able to.
