Max Mitchell

Pass Protection

Has really good initial set quickness from both 2/3 point stances. He works with efficient feet to get to his set point quickly in vertical and 45. He has excellent hand timing and placement on both inside and two-hand strikes. He assaults the Defensive Linemen with a fast shock to the chest on his two-handed strike and carefully places his inside hand to steer the defender when working with independent hands. He has only moderate latch strength though, so his outside hand can be disengaged easily. This leads to him needing to hand fight and work with crafty hands to ensure he can re-engage. He does this expertly, understands his limitations and how to overcome them. He can re-latch his outside hand when disengaged as well as chop down on DE’s arms and re-engage immediately. He’s also a strategist as a pass protector – can see him use a ghost hand and switch up his plan mid-rep.

Against outside moves he can mirror the edge rusher powerfully and deliberately, he can trace the hoop and run the arc with quicker defenders when he works an accurate and well-timed inside strike and steers with his outside hand. However if the quicker rusher also plays with good play strength, managing to disengage his inside hand, he can be turned and beaten upfield. He will also, at times, in an effort to negate the speed off the edge, come with a less than solid post foot and open the door to the inside move. Good processor – adjusts to counters, stunts, twists quickly, he has good hip fluidity and can open up quickly to twisting rushers. He also has excellent balance and body control allowing him to recover well from compromising positions. He has a solid anchor and plays with good play strength as he always plays with good leverage despite his 6’6” frame.

Run Blocking

He is similarly quick out of his stance as a run blocker on both Gap and Zone runs. He has good footwork and positions well as a Zone blocker. When on the backside of Outside Zone, he’s able to fit his hands and use his hip fluidity to get his back to the ball-carrier and make the play functional. On the frontside as a reach blocker, he isn’t as able to fit his hands, therefore not as able to finish. He is able to process quickly and locate at the second level, either in Zone blocks or as a puller, but he doesn’t always bring his feet with him on contact so can struggle to finish on savvy second level defenders.

His fitting deficiency extends to his work as Gap blocker – doesn’t recognize the strike zone and his hands land too high on the shoulder pads, so those defenders who play with bend and leverage are able to win against him. As a Gap blocker, on Drive blocks his positioning is suspect as his attack step doesn’t bring his body with him to engage. When he does position and fit on Drive blocks, he can stop his feet on contact so doesn’t finish. Good release as drive man on double teams and good as a down blocker.

SUMMARY
Likely valuable 6^th OL versatile – can play across the line, knows how to overcome limitations in pass pro, some deficiencies as a run blocker could limit him if not fixed

PRODUCTION
N/A OL
3 Year Starter at OT, mostly on the right side but also on the left INJURY: Missed Bowl game

RAVENS FIT
Toughness 3
Intelligence 4
Versatility 5
Grit 3
Scheme 2