Go to Round: 1 | 1a | 2 | 2a | 3 | 3a | 4 | 5 | 5a | 7 | 7a
Analysis by Rob Baker, 49ers Clubhouse draft writer:
He’s full of potential. Played two years at Valley Forge Military Collage and recorded 40 sacks in those
two years. Has good speed, quickness and is a brilliant pass rush which the niners are in desperate need of.
He also shows a knack for playing vs the run and is dangerous behind the line of scrimmage. A good athlete
who has amazing speed over short distances. Always alert and ready. Peterson is very raw only being a
starter in his last year with the Spartans, and needs coaching to develop parts of his game and turn him into
more that a one dimensional player, such as coverage. Size limits him, needs to hit the weights to really become
big in the NFL. Can play Defensive End if needed.
Info from
Pro Football Weekly:
Positives: Very
good athlete and a natural pass rusher. Has cat-like movements and great
quickness off the ball. As fast as anyone for the first 10 yards. Can play
over and control a tight end or come off the edge. Has the athleticism
to play in pass coverage. Seems pretty instinctive and alert. Makes big
plays, disrupts offenses and sacks quarterbacks. Has done nothing but get
better. Stood out at the Senior Bowl. Much more football smart than scouts
might think.
Negatives: Somewhat
raw around the edges. Will need lots of reps. Plays best when he gets to
just play without being asked to make too many reads and adjustments. Too
skinny and small to be a right end. Needs work in coverage as a linebacker.
Summary: May have moved
into the first round with his strong showing at the Senior Bowl if he convinces
teams in individual workouts that he can master the defense they play.
Can be an impact player in the right system if he is used correctly.
Info from CBS SportsLine:
Aggressive
pass rushing linebacker completed an outstanding career with a huge effort
as a senior. Peterson earned first team Big 10 honors for a dominant performance
on the outside. For the year, he registered 74 tackles, 25 TFLs, 12 sacks,
4 FC and 9 PBUs. His tackle for loss set a new single season record for
the Spartans, and his career total of 43 TFLs was also a team record. What
is amazing about the career record, is that he did this in only two seasons,
after a junior college stay.
He came up big in critical games,
especially late in the year against Penn St. when he made 10 tackles with
3 TFLs and 2 sacks in a huge Spartan victory. As a junior in '98, he recorded
58 tackles with 10 sacks and 18 TFLs while starting only 3 games.
He combines great speed off
the edge with the footwork, hand use and toughness to become a top pro
pass rusher. He has a lightning quick first step that gives him a definite
advantage over offensive tackles, to flatten out on his way to the passer.
He has shown dominant skills the past two seasons, getting excellent use
of his long reach to separate from blockers.
Though he is a natural pass
rusher, he is a complete defender in the full sense of the word. He takes
on blockers well and shows fine diagnostic skills to locate the ball. He
plays off blockers well and has an explosive burst to the ball. He can
play over the tight end in run support and proved this again at the Senior
bowl practices.
He has excellent functional
strength to hold the point of attack and top speed to run down ball carriers
from behind. He uses his strong hands well to get linemen off balance and
combines this with good leverage and balance. Along with his very quick
first step, he can redirect back under with an array of moves.
He was one of the five best
athletes at the Senior Bowl where he again displayed the speed and power
off the corner that made him one of the nation's best pass rushers. He
answered the one concern about his game, pass coverage when as a senior
he made 9 PBUs.
At the Senior bowl practices,
he demonstrated a quick backpedal and change of direction skills to blanket
receivers stride for stride. He also did exceptionally well against tight
ends which indicates he is really for either the strong and weak side.
During the practices, he eliminated all doubts about coverage with two
interceptions plus one more during the game.
He can play in any defensive
scheme as a fulltime defender but may be best suited for a 3-4 set, though
his well rounded talent will allow him to play either side in a 4-3 set.
He is similar to the Ravens Peter Boulware as a pass rusher.
Top 15 athlete with big play
ability and the toughness and work ethic you look for in an impact defender.
Aggressive playmaker with Pro-bowl ability. Blue chip linebacker with an
early starting grade.
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War
Room Analysis
Notes:
Had 40 sacks in two years at Valley Forge Military Junior College. Instant
impact player at Michigan State in 1998. Played mostly at defensive end
and started just three games, with most of his action coming on passing
downs. Nevertheless, he had 58 tackles, 18 tackles for loss and 10 sacks.
Starting "Sam" ’backer in ’99 who would play like an end in passing downs.
Had 74 tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 12 sacks, caused four fumbles and
broke up nine passes during the regular season and also stood out in Michigan
State’s big bowl win over Florida.
