Troy Andersen
LB Montana State 6-3 243 SR #15
GRADE: 79 OVR RANK: NR POS RANK: NR
ARM LENGTH: 32 1/8”//HAND SIZE: 9 ¼”//40YD: 4.42 (100%)//10YD: 1.49 (100%)
VJ: 36” (83%)//BJ: 10’08” (98%)//BP: ( %)//SS: 4.07 (98%)//3C: 6.77 (98%)
Projection: Developmental Sam LB in a 4-3 as long as he develops his transition mechanics or Mike if he can take on blocks at the POA with more play strength. Draft Projection: Round 3 ~ GrindingTheMocks.com
Ravens Fit: While his best fit appears to be as a Sam in a 4-3 where he can use his foot speed and length to match-up on receiving TEs, you couldn’t rule him out from developing into a Mike in the Ravens scheme given how well he processes the game. What stops me from being bullish on his potential to do that is his current weakness in taking on blocks at the point of attack. If he can develop that part of his game – he has the frame and core strength to do it – then he could work his way into being a valuable contributor for the Ravens. Hits and tackles like a Raven. Could serve as Josh Bynes’ apprentice this year
Overall Fit 
4/5
Vs Run
He diagnoses the run very well and reads run-pass quickly to get off his spot. He diagnoses Zone running plays quickly and sees vertical movement from the Offensive Line in ZBS coming from a long way off. He can then use his ability to process and sort, explosion and closing speed to get to the ball carrier and tackle the runner. Against reach blocks, he uses his play speed to blow through the front or the back door to make a play on the ball-carrier. He reads the RB at a high-level and even those who press their keys in Zone can be tracked down by him. On pre-determined Outside Zone bend reads, with designed blocking to cut-off the backside, he can be too aggressive and flow too far, allowing the cut-off block to seal him away from the runner and finish the block.
Against Base blocks at the line of scrimmage or against Space blockers with better athleticism and who are able to fit the block by keeping their hands inside his frame, he can struggle to leverage his gap. He has good hand placement when engaging the blocker but his hand timing is far too early. He hangs his arms out and loses all potential play strength he might have from his frame. There also isn’t great power or explosion in his hands to take on blockers. Against Gap runs, he can’t use his explosion as well to negate this POA deficiency because he hesitates and doesn’t shoot the gap as well as he could given his initial processing and explosion.
He is very good against the outside run. He can process and sort quickly, filter through the traffic and take good angles to the football. His play speed provides him with excellent range against the outside run. He plays with high effort and motor at all times. He has outstanding tackling technique both between the tackles and in open space. He takes a consistently good aiming point, runs through the tackle with great play strength and wraps up with good form to get all types of ball carrier to the ground.
Coverage
He has good Zone awareness in coverage, he processes quickly, can use his peripheral vision to be aware of receiving threats entering his Zone and can read the Quarterback. He has good drive mechanics and can explode to the ball when it is thrown in front of him to slants or out routes. He can pattern match and carry Tight Ends up the seam with good speed. He can sniff out screens and trick plays around the line of scrimmage and get to them quickly to tackle the receiver for no gain. He doesn’t consistently read route progressions and therefore doesn’t always maintain the proper leverage on in-breaking routes behind him. He has tightness in his hips when playing in coverage, it means he can be late to open up to in-breaking routes in Zone and can struggle to cover receiving TEs and RBs who have better lateral agility on more hard angle routes. He does explode around the field with his great foot speed but he has a major transition mechanics deficiency.
SUMMARY
High ceiling given his athletic gifts. Can process and sort and defend the outside run with range and toughness. Some deficiencies in defending Gap blocks and transition mechanics in coverage.
PRODUCTION
SR: 3 Sacks, 2 QB Hits, 144 Total Tackles, 2 INT, 5 PBUs JR: 6 Sacks, 4 QB hits, 52 Total Tackles, 1 Batted Ball, 1 FF, 1 INT, 3 PBUs
INJURY: Knee Surgery (JR)
RAVENS FIT
Athleticism 4
Intelligence 4
Versatility 3
Grit 4
Scheme 3
