*Jeffrey Phillips - TE Scouting Report #3

[Warner]

Jeffrey Phillips - Scouting Report


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Introduction:
This is the third of several scouting reports that I’ll be writing on this upcoming DSFL draft class of TEs. Considering that they are a deciding factor on whether or not your offense will be able to make short or medium passing gains, and also determine whether your running game will be successful due to their blocking role, Tight Ends are an important position that every DSFL GM should be looking for on their draft board. This series of reports will be written so that DSFL GMs won’t need to look far to determine which of the TEs in the upcoming draft class will fit their needs best. Now, without further ado, here is my scouting report on the TE out of SFU, Jeffrey Phillips.

Strengths and Weaknesses:
As a Vertical Threat, Phillips is a bit different than other TEs in that he needs to prioritize agility, endurance, and hands, with a little bit of focus on strength, over his other attributes. He’ll need to be a viable option in medium or deep passing attempts, and he’ll also have to have a decent route tree as well. He has below-average strength for a Tight End, which will make it difficult him to force his way through tackles. He’ll also have a tough time avoiding big hits from Safeties when attempting to catch a pass on a route across the middle of the field. He also has average agility for a TE, meaning that running more complex routes won’t be much of a problem for him. It’ll also be a bit easier for him to shed Man-to-Man DBs with his routes due to his agility. He has average intelligence for a TE, which means he’ll be adequate at tracking balls through the air, and won’t be very confused by heavy blitzes on blocking assignments. He has above-average speed for a TE, which is great for when he’s trying to gain separation from the slower DB that’s almost guaranteed to be covering him. He has average hands for a TE, which still allows him to be a capable receiving threat in conjunction with his great speed. He has below-average pass blocking and below-average run blocking for a Tight End, which means that he should only be used as a receiving threat, and should not have many blocking duties unless absolutely necessary. Lastly, he has above-average endurance, meaning that he won’t have any trouble at all with a high amount of snaps over the course of a season.

Pro Comparison:

The best pro comparison for Jeffrey Phillips at his current level would have to be Jimmy Graham, former TE for the Green Bay Packers. During the peak of his career, Graham was known as a great vertical threat TE, with good hands and high speed that made him perfect for getting the jump on slower defense with a quick strike touchdown or long passing gain. His biggest pitfalls were that he struggled to efficiently break tackles, and that he wasn’t really good as a blocker. That’s why I’d categorize this as a low floor. His ceiling, on the other hand, is quite high. I’d say that Zach Ertz, former TE for the Philadelphia Eagles, is the best comparison for what Phillips can look like in a couple of years if he doesn’t lose his work ethic, and continues to grow as a blocker. The issues with breaking tackles is something that I believe he’ll struggle with throughout his career, as Ertz did as well. Despite this, Ertz succeeded very well at his position, and I think that Jeffrey will too. He has a low floor of Jimmy Graham, and a high ceiling of Zach Ertz.


Extras:
- Foreign prospect (Canada), meaning that he has yet to prove himself against a higher level of competition. His DSFL year is hopefully where we’ll see that happen.
- Measured in at 6’7”, which is a great height for a TE.
- Weighs in at 240 lbs, which is very light for a TE of his height, but is also probably a contributing factor towards his high speed.
- 18 years old, which is very young for a prospect. However, his official page lists him as 33 years old. This should be investigated further.
- Right-Handed.

Conclusion:
Jeffrey Phillips is a TE that is predisposed to the deep passing game, and makes him a sure choice for any GM who needs a target for his QB. He won’t be very effective in the blocking game, which is what I think is the biggest knock on his stock. He will benefit on any team with a solid QB that can sling it deep and accurately, and is a very valuable prospect in that regard. If he improves his hands, I think he’ll be able to dominate secondaries soon enough. I estimate that he’ll be the third TE off the board, but I consider both him and the assumed first TE to be around the same level skill-wise, and I look forward to seeing their development as professionals. Regardless of all of this, I’d categorize Jeffrey Phillips of having a low floor, but a relatively high ceiling, which he’ll reach if he improves his strength and blocking ability. I look forward to seeing him dominate on the field in the DSFL soon.