TE, Auburn
Twitter handle: @lutzenkirchen
Rankings: 22nd-ranked tight end by Pro Football Weekly. Grade: 5.03, better than 50-50 to make a roster or practice squad.
NFLDraftScout: 24th-ranked tight end, #450 player overall, free agent grade.
Scouts Inc.: 11th-ranked tight end, #216 player overall. Grade:49, borderline-to-adequate draft prospect.
Draft Countdown: 21st-ranked tight end, late round-free agent grade.
Biography/honors:
2012: Started six games. 15 receptions for 139 yards (9.3 ypc), no TD. Holds Auburn school records for career (14) and single-season (7) TDs by a tight end.
2011: Second team all-SEC. Sports Illustrated honorable mention all-America. Played in 12 games, starting 11. 24 receptions for 238 yards (9.9 ypc) and 7 TD. Third in nation in TD receptions by a tight end.
2010: SEC Academic Honor Roll. Played in 13 games, starting five. 15 receptions for 185 yards (12.3 ypc) and 5 TD. Had career-long 39-yard catch vs. Oregon in BCS Championship game.
2009: Played in all 13 games, starting one. Five catches for 66 yards (13.2 ypc) and 2 TD.
Major: Communication.
Injuries:
2012: played in only 6 games due to torn labrum and three bone spurs in left hip. Limited in 2012 spring practice after surgery to repair torn labrum in left shoulder in February.
2011: sat out one game due to left leg/ankle injury.
2010: missed a game and a half due to unspecified injury.
NFL Combine stats: (position averages in parentheses)
4.94 40 (4.75)
1.75 10-yard split
30.5” vertical jump (33.5”)
9'4" broad jump (9'7.5")
7.15 3-cone drill (7.14)
4.35 20-yard shuttle (4.40) Did 4.27 at Auburn pro day, would have tied for 2nd at Combine.
21 bench press (18)
Positives: Has big, strong, reliable hands. Crisp route runner. Plays faster than his timed speed. Good burst out of his breaks. Hard worker. Finds the soft spot in the zone well. Finds way to get open and works well with QB under pressure. Tough to defend in red zone and in short yardage. Shields from defender well. Sells blocks well on play-action. Very good body control, makes full-extension catches and grabs difficult throws behind him. Good concentration in traffic. Plays in control. Can make the first man miss. Light-footed enough to have a good after-the-catch spin move. Runs well after first contact. Has enough speed for seam routes and enough athleticism to win jump balls. Tough, physical, no fear going over the middle. Above-average blocker with good awareness in pass pro. Picks up the blitz well. Red zone performer with a nose for the end zone. Almost 1/4 of his receptions were for TDs. Makes big plays in the clutch. Smart, works hard, great character. Lined up all over the field. Tries hard as a blocker. Poor quarterbacking held him back last season - he got open regularly but didn't get the ball. One of the better H-backs in the nation in 2010 and 2011.
Negatives: Lacks ideal height and strength. Well-below average speed. Not a deep threat and will be caught from behind. Needs to sell a little better on his breaks. Relatively short arms hurt him as a blocker, especially in space, has him leaning, lunging, slipping off of blocks. Isn't a powerful blocker. Isn't comfortable coming out of the backfield. Has had injury issues.
Compares to: Steelers TE David Johnson.
Fun Facts: The joke around Auburn was that "Lutzenkirchen" is German for "touchdown maker". Philip regularly visits child cancer patients in local hospitals. His sister Abby is on the soccer team at - gasp! - Alabama.
RamView: The Rams' third and fourth TEs, Mike McNeill and RamView favorite Cory Harkey, have not been a lot to write home about as receivers, particularly Harkey. "Lutzie" was accomplished enough as a receiver at Auburn that you'd trust him leaking wide open out of the backfield as Sam Bradford's #6 option on a play. We haven't been able to say that much about Rams' fullback/H-back types. Philip's challenges will be proving himself as a blocker and staying healthy. He's got a shot at sneaking away with a roster spot if he does those, and he looks like a strong candidate for a slot on the practice squad.
Chance of making team (main roster or practice squad): 40%.
Sources: Pro Football Weekly, CBS Sports, ESPN.com, DraftCountdown.com, Alabama Live, Opelika-Auburn News, Auburn University athletics, NBC Sports, Rotoworld.com
Photo: ESPN.com
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