Nate Potter Scouting Report

Published: 30^th Dec 11 5:50 pm

by Chris Ransom
New England Patriots and Dallas Stars Featured Columnist

1 Rant »

Troy Babbitt-US PRESSWIRE

Nate Potter Left Tackle Boise State #73 Senior Redshirt

Pros

Physical Ability: There are some questions with Potter’s physical ability. I’ve seen Potter be aggressive on the point of attack on plays when watching him on film. One example was when Potter was blocking against Georgia in the first half. Another example included Boise State’s win VS Colorado State.

Durability: Potter has started every game at left tackle since the final 8 games of his sophomore redshirt season.

Football IQ: Potter got his bachelor’s degree in May 2011. He majored in business which can be a tough course to major in.

Awareness: Nate Potter made sure quarterback Kellen Moore or running back Doug Martin could execute big plays at times in Boise State’s last two seasons.

Intangibles: Potter has excellent intangibles for an offensive line prospect. These intangibles may intrigue a team to take a flyer on him.

Pass Blocking: Nate Potter may have the best pass blocking at offensive tackle after first round prospects Matt Kalil, Jonathan Martin, and Riley Reiff.

Pass Blocking Footwork: Potter has good pass blocking footwork.

Run Blocking Footwork: Nate Potter displays good run blocking footwork for an offensive tackle prospect.

Stonewall Blocker: Potter gives quarterbacks more composure with his pass blocking. One of the reasons that Kellen Moore is so poise in the pocket is because of Nate Potter’s pass blocking.

Can Play Left Tackle: Potter has played left tackle since his redshirt freshman season.

Can Play Right Tackle: Potter may be able to move to right tackle at the NFL with his physical ability.

Can Play Left Guard: Potter can play left guard in the NFL if he needs to move inside at the next level.

Can Play Right Guard: Potter could move to right guard if you cannot plug him into a left tackle, right tackle, or left guard role.

Cons

Size: Potter is only 6 foot 6 295 pounds. Lots of people in the scouting community believe Potter should add some weight while conditioning.

Learning Rate: Potter may struggle at first because he can play a variety of positions on the offensive line. Boise State’s Nate Potter could be utilized as an offensive tackle or at guard at the next level. You do not know which position he plays yet, or what kind of role he transitions into. Potter is a sharp football player. His role on the offensive line is uncertain at this point.

Run Blocking: Potter’s main weakness besides his size is his run blocking ability. Nate Potter needs to be seasoned as a run blocker.

Zone Blocking: Potter displays average zone blocking. He shows some ability to execute cut blocks while displaying versatility. He’s not consistent enough in this area and I would like to see improvement here.

Potential: I see potential for Potter to be a great backup for depth.

My Thoughts On Nate Potter

Nate Potter may be one of the best pass blocking prospects in this draft. Potter is Boise State’s best pass blocker since Ryan Clady who ended up being a 2008 first round pick.

My biggest concern with Potter is the fact that he is slightly undersized. Potter also needs some work as a run blocker when you watch the tape.

Right now I see an NFL backup who provides depth at offensive tackle and guard. Potter is a phenomenal pass protector. Potter’s pass protection skills may win him a starting right guard job on a team like the Indianapolis Colts or the New England Patriots that put a heavy emphasis on pass protection.

There are people who believe Nate Potter is a day 2 pick. I had him graded as a 5th round prospect prior to this report. I could see Nate Potter going as early as round 3 and as late as round 5. Nate Potter should be a 4th round prospect and an early day 3 pick to keep an eye on.

Connect with Rant Sports