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4. Evan Rodriguez, Temple (6-1, 239)
The former Denver Broncos quarterback Brian Griese, who did the telecast of a Temple game I studied, says Rodriguez reminds him of Tony Gonzalez because of the way Rodriguez moves and catches the ball. I can understand the basis for the comparison. Rodriguez is s a fluid athlete. But neither one of us is saying Rodriguez has the potential to be as good as the future Hall of Famer.
Rodriguez is regarded as a hybrid tight end because he has some downfield speed and he can catch and run with the ball. I didn’t see him make a catch against tight coverage or with impending contact. Much of this is by design. Rodriguez’s routes were all based on play-action passes where he slipped from the backfield without a jam or running a route that required a hard break or speed cut. He’s a frequent target in the screen game and crossing routes.
His intensity at run blocking is a positive. Rodriguez seems to play at 1.5 times the speed of the rest of the players on the field. He’s aggressive, comes off the line with his back flat, and delivers a punch. He has a taste for hitting and playing through the echo of the whistle.
Rodriguez looks for opportunities to hit defenders. He’s used effectively as a lead blocker in a power run game that likes to pull its linemen and wing backs to the point of attack. This is why fullback is also a consideration at the N.F.L. level. Regardless of the position, I believe Rodriguez is going to rile teammates in practices during summer camp if he demonstrates this same intensity. Coaches will probably like it.
He also demonstrates the abilty to set a wide base as a pass protector and get his body into the pads of the defender. But he’s not big enough to handle a bigger defensive end or linebacker on his own. His basic form is good enough to work with and if he adds strength, he might become more productive in this aspect of protection.
If Rodriguez can show some skill as a receiver versus impending contact, work off the jam and display enough speed to stretch the intermediate seam in the N.F.L., he could eventually contribute or start for a squad that likes to use its tight ends on the wing or the slot.
Some people are comparing him to Aaron Hernandez, and I think Rodriguez has enough athleticism for teams to consider him for this kind of role in the future. He’s not nearly as dynamic as Hernandez was at the same stage of his college career, and I am skeptical that he’ll ever develop Hernandez’s skill as a ball carrier or receiver with the ball in the air.
It’s also important to consider the team that drafts Rodriguez and where it plans to use him. If he’s prepared to be a fullback, his value drops significantly unless a team thinks he’s the next Larry Centers; the possibility of a team making this strategic move is slim.
