The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/418536
COMMITMENT PROFILE FILM EVALUATION Strengths: Dele' Harding's lateral speed stands out right away. He doesn't hesitate to break to the ball and takes good angles to make a tackle. There are very few wasted steps when he makes his breaks, and he shows no fear while running through traffic. He arrives to the ball with power and strength to make solid tackles or separate the ball. Harding's natural athletic ability shines in pass drops, and he transitions his body with ease when he needs to change directions. Areas of Improvement: There are not very many clips of Harding fighting through blocks or taking on lead blockers. He will have to prove that he can deal with 6-5, 300-pound Big Ten offensive linemen that can also move with a high level of athleticism. Big Ten offenses will also present the challenge of taking on strong lead blockers. It would be nice to see Harding shedding those kinds of blocks to make tackles. Michigan Player Comparison: Larry Foote was a shorter but athletic line- backer for the Maize and Blue from 1998-2001, and he is still playing in the NFL. Harding shows similar speed and style. Modern linebackers have to maintain a physical presence to control downhill running attacks. They must also be able to run like safeties to defend today's high-paced spread offenses. —Analysis by former All-Big Ten offensive lineman Doug Skene