Game Film Exposes Noah Sewell

Oregon linebacker Noah Sewell got bad advice when he declared recently for the 2023 NFL Draft.

What he put on game film in these documented (and embedded) games during the 2022 season was some of the worst linebacker play I’ve seen in 40 years.

Sewell looked identical this season as he did on his 2021 game film when I wrote, “Former NFL Scout Calls Noah Sewell A Soft Football Player.”

Before any team in the NFL even thinks about drafting Sewell – – they need to watch these six games in these two articles.

The three main problems this Oregon linebacker put on his game film…

1. Reluctance

There’s a saying, “The game is won or lost from the neck up,” and with Sewell this is the main issue.

Sewell played some of the most uninspiring and heartless football I’ve ever seen

He looked downright disinterested most of the time. He looked like he was going through the motions.

Jogging and giving half-hearted efforts on plays were all over my scouting notes.

Point blank – – he was a liability on the field.

If you don’t believe me, watch the game film. It speaks for itself. All I did was write down what he put on his football resume.

It’s alarming.

2. Slow reactions

There were an additional number of times he was noticeably slow reacting to the play flow in pass coverage and on running plays.

I can’t even imagine how this will translate to the faster NFL level.

Against UCLA, there was a play he looked absolutely lost.

Sewell’s read and diagnosis is poor – – and that’s saying it nicely.

3. Blockers tossing him around like a rag doll

This was another HUGE issue.

Time – – and time – – and time again he was handled by blockers.

It didn’t even look like he belonged on the field (nor did it look like he wanted to be out there).

Awkward is the word that comes to mind. It looked plain awkward at times.

Sewell additionally often showed poor shedding technique “taking on blocks.”

There were a few right-place right time tackles.

Make no mistake – – Sewell got it handed to him on game film.

#1 Noah Sewell 6-foot-2, 253 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Final 2023 NFL Draft Grade: Undraftable Free Agent (I would not select him)

First Round Mock Draft Board: TBD

Bust Probability: High

Projected by 62.7% (down from 84.5% on October 5) of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of January 4, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2022 game film reviewed: UCLA, BYU, and Washington (click to view games watched to form this evaluation).

Level of competition: High

2021 stats: 114 tackles (53 solo, 61 assists), 5 passes defended, 4.0 sacks (34 pressures on 98 pass rushes duckswire.usatoday.com)

2022 stats: 55 tackles (24 solo, 31 assists), 3 passes defended, 1.5 sacks, 1 interception

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Strong thick muscular frame with rigid movement and a poor motor. Looked best in passing situations dropping into shallow zones and covering short in man-to-man coverage. Marginal in pass support as he often only ended up by the pile after the fact. Had a number of half-hearted blitzing attempts. Flashed ability to run in full speed and hit the quarterback as he was throwing once (BYU). Showed he is capable of more, but refuses often to give it his all. Not explosive and couldn’t get movement at the point of attack. Stalemated. Couldn’t beat blockers on blitzing attempts. Didn’t get movement. Hesitant and reluctant against the run too often. Can be slow to react to play flow. No real fight. Easily blocked. Struggled to take on and shed. Sometimes didn’t even try. His heart wasn’t in it.

Final words

What more can I say, that I haven’t already said?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He currently writes for Sports Illustrated New York Jets and he is the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.