STRONG POINTS

Winston is a tall and athletic offensive tackle with foot quickness, agility and long arms that are ideal. When he sets short in pass protection and punches aggressively, he can stop all defensive ends in their tracks. Once he locks up with both arms in pass protection, his competitiveness usually enables him to maintain the block and eliminate his man. Can be a dominant downside blocker when he blocks aggressively -- drives his man down the line of scrimmage and can collapse his side of line. Can get through to second level easily to block the linebacker. Has the athleticism to stay over his feet and maintain the block in space.

WEAKNESSES

Winston does not play aggressively on every snap and it hinders his production. More often than not, he pass blocks straight-legged and upright and does not punch the defensive end -- lets defensive end into his chest and can be jolted and driven into quarterback's lap. When he pass blocks upright, he can't re-direct quick enough to cut off the explosive inside pass-rush move. More of a stand, grab and push run blocker that relies on effort to eliminate his man, but he does not fire off the ball and is not a movement-type run blocker. Does not consistently stay over his feet and tends to lean and reach to maintain contact, which leads to him being torqued and tossed to the ground more than he should.

POSITIONAL FACTORS

Grade Category Comments/Description 6.0 Foot Agility He has the agility to slide quickly side to side and adjust to quick pass-rush moves. 6.5 Initial Quickness Consistently gets out of his stance and sets to block quickly, but needs to improve technique at point of attack. 5.5 Play Strength He plays upright or high too often, and when he does, he struggles to hold ground in pass protection. 6.0 Run Block In-Line Can drive the defensive lineman down the line of scrimmage on downside blocks and can seal block the defensive end inside on outside runs. 6.0 Run Block Space Has the flexibility, agility and balance to stay over his feet on blocks and can maintain blocks out in space. 6.0 Pass Protection Not consistently aggressive with hands, but he usually finds a way to fight and compete to keep his man blocked. 6.5 Quick Set-Pass Protection He is at his best when he sets short and gets after the defensive end aggressively with a hard punch. 6.0 Shuffle & Slide Has quick feet and agility to shuffle and slide well to adjust in pass protection, but needs to block with his knees bent more. 5.0 Punch/Hand-Use Does not punch the defensive end aggressively in pass protection, which lets the DE into his chest and he can jolted backward. 5.5 Vs. Power Rush When he uses hands aggressively, Winston can hold his ground, but he gets pushed around and jolted backward too often. 6.0 Vs. Speed Rush Can slide out to cut off the edge rusher easily, but can't consistently adjust to inside moves. 5.5 Errors No glaring mental mistakes, but needs to do a much better job of using hands aggressively in pass protection.

ATHLETIC ABILITY	Section Grade: 6.0
Winston is a good athlete, which is a big reason why he has been a good college left tackle after switching from tight end. Has very quick feet to slide out and cut off the corner from speed rushers and can get through to the second level quickly to seal block the linebacker. Has good agility and balance for a tall offensive tackle, and it helps him to play over his feet so that he can stay on and maintain blocks out in space. Has the natural flexibility to bend his knees and pass block with a good base and leverage, but more often than not he stays upright and blocks straight-legged. When he plays with bent knees, he can re-direct and slide quickly in the other direction and adjust to the quick side-to-side pass-rush moves.
Q.A.B. Quick Feet C.O.D. Flexibility Coordination 6.0 6.5 6.0 6.0 6.0

COMPETITIVENESS	Section Grade: 6.5
Winston is an extremely tough football player who played the 2005 season less than one year after teaing ACL in left knee. Has consistently shown a knack for stepping up his level of aggressiveness on the most important plays, and when he does, he consistently eliminates his man from the play. Overall production is good, but it varies between very good and adequate due to his not playing aggressively or using good technique on every snap. Too often he pass blocks upright without leverage and does not punch in pass protection, which allows the defensive end to get into his chest, and jolt and drive him backward into the quarterback's lap. He is without question a team player who always gives a good effort, stays after his block and never quits trying to keep the opponent out of play until the whistle.
Toughness Clutch Play Production Consistency Team Player Pride/Quit 7.0 6.5 6.0 5.5 7.0 7.0

MENTAL ALERTNESS	Section Grade: 6.0
Winston is generally a smart football player because he has been able to switch from tight end to become a productive offensive tackle, but it is concerning that his blocking technique is so raw -- his use of hands and lack of consistency in playing with leverage is bothering. Has very good instincts, which usually enables him to react quickly to stunts, loops and delayed blitzes. Doesn't react that well when he ends up pass blocking straight-legged and upright. Ability to maintain his focus and concentration helps him stay after the blocks from the snap to the whistle and block his man, even when he is out of position.
Learn/Retain Instincts/Reactions Concentration 5.5 6.0 6.0

STRENGTH/EXPLOSION	Section Grade: 5.5
Winston has excellent size for an offensive tackle at over 6-foot-6 and 310 pounds -- amazingly though, he actually looks somewhat thin for his height on film. Toughness has helped him to stay in the lineup when he was just dinged, but because he injured his ACL in 2004 and still pass blocks straight-legged, there is concern about his ability to be a durable NFL offensive tackle. Despite being a good athlete with very quick feet, Winston does not display any real explosiveness in his play -- the most explosion he shows is firing down the line of scrimmage on downside blocks and can drive his man out of the play. When he blocks aggressively and uses his hands to punch the defensive end, Winston has good playing strength, but too often he blocks up high and does not block aggressively or punch the defensive end in the chest, which allows the opponent to jolt him and push him around at the point of attack.
Body Type Durability Explosion Play Strength 6.5 5.0 5.0 5.5