Player Bio:
Looney grew up around football, as his father James played linebacker at Louisville and his older brother, Joe, played offensive line at Wake Forest and is now a part-time starter in the NFL (fourth-round pick in 2012 by San Francisco). James began his career at Wake Forest, playing in six games (three tackles, half-sack) as a true freshman in 2013. When head coach Jim Grobe was let go, Looney decided it was best to move on. He chose Cal, as brother Joe was with the Niners at the time (he's now with Dallas) and he liked the Cal coaching staff. In 2015, Looney played in 12 games (starting 11), made 35 tackles, three for loss, and a sack. He was an honorable mention All-Pac-12 selection in 2016, starting all 13 games with 54 tackles, eight for loss, and 3.5 sacks.
Analysis:
By Lance Zierlein NFL Analyst
Draft Projection: Rounds 6-7
Overview:
Looney's quickness and disruptive qualities were on full display in 2016, but he was much easier to block in 2017. He lacks the size and strength to play inside and it appears as though adding functional weight on his frame is a non-starter. Looney will likely need to improve his lean muscle mass and try to transition into a role as a base 4-3 end who might be able to reduce inside as a situational pass rusher in sub-packages.Strengths:
- Watched and learned from his brother, Joe, who was an offensive lineman drafted in the fourth round in 2012
- Known for infectious personality and hard-charging style
- Instincts are good
- Able to sync-up with lateral movements of blockers to penetrate and disrupt
- Shows ability to corner sharply and flatten to the ball after getting past blockers
- Athletic in space with ability to chase down screens or help finish as a clean-up tackler on the perimeter
- Uses quick hands and feet in union to challenge a blockers edge
- Possesses decent spin move as rusher inside
- Quick arm-over move can launch him past guards into the backfield for a quick win
- Initial quickness and loose upper body make it difficult to trap him
Weaknesses
- High-cut with thin calves for interior player
- Doesn't have frame to carry necessary mass for interior lineman
- On skates when true power comes rolling downhill against him
- Gave ground too frequently to power this season
- His 2016 tape and production was much better than 2017
- Looked out of place in Cal's 4i alignment
- Pops up too tall early in the rep
- Poor pad level makes it challenging to maintain functional balance against redirect blocks
- Hands are faster than strong
- Sets himself up to disengage from blocks, but doesn't have the strength to shed them consistently
- May not have a true position fit
Sources Tell Us
"Really disappointed by what I saw this year when I went in. I know we talked this summer about how teams would try and find a role for him because of his talent, but he just didn't play as well. He was light last year and even lighter this year." - NFC West Coast scout
Looney grew up around football, as his father James played linebacker at Louisville and his older brother, Joe, played offensive line at Wake Forest and is now a part-time starter in the NFL (fourth-round pick in 2012 by San Francisco). James began his career at Wake Forest, playing in six games (three tackles, half-sack) as a true freshman in 2013. When head coach Jim Grobe was let go, Looney decided it was best to move on. He chose Cal, as brother Joe was with the Niners at the time (he's now with Dallas) and he liked the Cal coaching staff. In 2015, Looney played in 12 games (starting 11), made 35 tackles, three for loss, and a sack. He was an honorable mention All-Pac-12 selection in 2016, starting all 13 games with 54 tackles, eight for loss, and 3.5 sacks.
Analysis
By Lance Zierlein
NFL Analyst
Draft Projection
Rounds 6-7
Overview
Looney's quickness and disruptive qualities were on full display in 2016, but he was much easier to block in 2017. He lacks the size and strength to play inside and it appears as though adding functional weight on his frame is a non-starter. Looney will likely need to improve his lean muscle mass and try to transition into a role as a base 4-3 end who might be able to reduce inside as a situational pass rusher in sub-packages.Strengths:
- Watched and learned from his brother, Joe, who was an offensive lineman drafted in the fourth round in 2012
- Known for infectious personality and hard-charging style
- Instincts are good
- Able to sync-up with lateral movements of blockers to penetrate and disrupt
- Shows ability to corner sharply and flatten to the ball after getting past blockers
- Athletic in space with ability to chase down screens or help finish as a clean-up tackler on the perimeter
- Uses quick hands and feet in union to challenge a blockers edge
- Possesses decent spin move as rusher inside
- Quick arm-over move can launch him past guards into the backfield for a quick win
- Initial quickness and loose upper body make it difficult to trap him
Weaknesses:
- High-cut with thin calves for interior player
- Doesn't have frame to carry necessary mass for interior lineman
- On skates when true power comes rolling downhill against him
- Gave ground too frequently to power this season
- His 2016 tape and production was much better than 2017
- Looked out of place in Cal's 4i alignment
- Pops up too tall early in the rep
- Poor pad level makes it challenging to maintain functional balance against redirect blocks
- Hands are faster than strong
- Sets himself up to disengage from blocks, but doesn't have the strength to shed them consistently
- May not have a true position fit
Sources Tell Us:
"Really disappointed by what I saw this year when I went in. I know we talked this summer about how teams would try and find a role for him because of his talent, but he just didn't play as well. He was light last year and even lighter this year." - NFC West Coast scout
"Really disappointed by what I saw this year when I went in. I know we talked this summer about how teams would try and find a role for him because of his talent, but he just didn't play as well. He was light last year and even lighter this year." - NFC West Coast scout
