Positives:
- Incredible instinct for timing the snap count. HIs football IQ is extremely high and it's readily apparent on film.
- Takes great angles into tackling lanes and always knows exactly where his run fills are in the 3-4 defense.
- Brought on blitzes a lot and rarely lets the play get past him. Finds a way to impact the offense and make them adjust on the fly. Great goal-line player who makes an offense account for where he is - and will make them pay if they don't.
- Good awareness of where blocks are coming from. Doesn't get blindsided at all. Still manages to make a lot of tackles in the run game where he's only got one arm free as a result of this awareness.
- Doesn't quit on plays. As evidenced by his forced fumble against De'Anthony Thomas in this game, where he was well out of the picture when Thomas caught it.
Negatives:
- Athleticism going sideways or backwards is not great. His pass coverage is definitely not as complete as his run-stuffing. Have to wonder if his surgically repaired knee will always limit his ability to change direction as quickly as necessary.
- A little slow getting up when he hits the deck
- Gets blocked by guards pretty consistently. Not great at avoiding or blowing up their blocks. That's a big question mark at the NFL level.
Overall:
In college, Skov was used as a weapon to aggressively attack offenses and force them to adjust. He probably doesn't have the freakish kind of athleticism needed to be that kind of guy in the NFL, but he can be a force to be reckoned with when paired with an aggressive linebacking group. Right now, he's probably a 2 or 2-and-a-half down linebacker in a 3-4 defense in the NFL, which isn't the worst thing in the world, but it just limits his natural fits. However, there's not a chance an NFL defensive coordinator won't love what he's put on tape, and he might be a good fit with the Texans or Broncos. With his work ethic, intensity and motivation, he's a guy I'd bet on succeeding in the league, even if he's a 3rd round pick - where I'm sure draft experts will call him a steal.