Each week leading up to April’s NFL Draft, New England native Steve Muench of ESPN’s Scouts Inc. will identify prospects he feels could be a good fit for the Patriots.
Today, the focus is on the tight end spot and Southern California’s Anthony McCoy, who is projected as a second-round pick:
“A few things stand out off the field that have to be considered – injuries and the fact he was academically ineligible for their bowl game. Also, you look at his production and it doesn’t jump out at you, 46 career catches and three career touchdown catches. So that would be the downside, the health and the production not matching the ability. He didn’t have a great start to the Senior Bowl but bounced back and played really well over the last couple days, starting to look like the guy we saw on film against Ohio State and Notre Dame. When you watch him in those games, he is the most complete tight end in this class. He is not a burner and not as athletic or fast as Jermaine Gresham (of Oklahoma), but he is a far tougher blocker with good hand placement who moves his feet well laterally. He plays with an edge and is not afraid of contact. As a pass catcher, he tracks the ball well and is fast enough to make teams pay when they bite on play-action. He is a fluid athlete with a chance to develop into a good route runner. Early on in his career at USC, there were some questions about his work ethic but he is greatly improved in that area.”