It’s not hard to find praise for Sonny Styles this draft season. But Sonny Styles would also like to discuss some different parts of his game: the parts that need work.
“A lot of teams, I think they want to know, or at least I want to show them that I’m aware of what I need to get better at,” admitted Styles, holding court early on Wednesday morning at the NFL combine, speaking to a horde of reporters who came to talk with the top prospect who was now listing all the ways he needed to improve.
“I want to show them I’m an intelligent football player. Like, I’m not just a guy out there running and hitting. That’s part of the game too, but you got to be a smart football player, especially in the NFL, and then be able to talk about it.
“I think I can be a lot more effective in zone coverage as I keep working that part of my game. I think I’ve shown I can feel routes and things like that. But not a lot of ball disruption, especially this past year. And I think with my athleticism, if I keep working on that, I should be a threat.
“I think me being a taller linebacker and turn the film on certain plays, good or bad, you can see my pad level is starting to rise a little high. So it’s something I always have to be conscious and aware of, and I know it shows up when I’m watching film.”
