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Marist Liufau, LB, Notre-Dame (Senior)

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Rayane M

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Strengths :

  • Strong Coverage Abilities
  • Interesting Blitzing Capability
  • Nice Handwork in Pass rush

 

Weaknesses :

  • Run stop has been a struggle
  • Slow play recognition
  • Plays Too High
  • Average Athletic Abilities
  • Needs to Work on Pursuit Angles and Tackling
  • Lacks Consistency in Effort
  • Relies Too Much on Instincts
  • Still too Raw

TTProfil

 
Marist Liufau from Notre Dame is the latest Polynesian to emerge from the independent Indiana university. At this point, it's hard to say if he'll follow in the footsteps of the illustrious Manti Teo simply because Marist is still incredibly Raw.
 
Before diving into what needs improvement with Marist, let's start with what he does well, which is his coverage skills. Liufau shows real promise in his coverage abilities, which is really good. Whether it's zone coverage or man-to-man coverage, he's able to quickly read the game, recognize the main threat, and identify classic routes without overcommitting to receivers' initial feints. Moreover, once the ball is thrown, he descends quickly and forcefully on the targeted receiver and often finds himself in a position to punish the opposing offense. This is truly Liufau's strong suit.
 
Beyond his above-average coverage ability for a linebacker, Marist is also intriguing in blitz situations. Whether the blitzes are called in standard situations or disguised through various Stunts, Marist often manages to apply pressure thanks to his excellent hand technique combined with a knack for executing the Rip Move effectively. 
These two aspects constitute the bulk of Liufau's ability to apply pressure on the opposing QB. When he decides to use them, his hands can be quick, and Marist targets the joints of offensive linemen to compensate for his lack of power. His Rip Move is also quite effective; he exhibits good explosiveness and a wide range of motion, allowing him to finish his move well and forcing blockers to let go if they don't want to risk injuring their shoulder.
 
As you can see from the size of the strengths section, I wasn't kidding when I said Marist is a player still severely Raw.
Diving into all of Liufau's weaknesses that are likely to require a significant amount of work before he can claim a spot on the field, we have to start with his ability to defend the run because where Marist excels in coverage, we can't say the same when it comes to defending on the Run stop. It's not uncommon to see him appear lost most of the time and he will have a lot of work to do to be at the pro level in this specific area due to several points we'll discuss right away.
 
Already, his reads in the box are way too slow. Everything Marist does takes too much time when facing the Run gameHis play recognition is slow, taking him a while to decipher the play, locate the ball, and get downhill. Additionally, his reads are often too static, sometimes seen hesitating or even hopping in place, which can leave him vulnerable to aggressive offensive linemen who quickly climb to the second level and engage him.
At times, Marist tends to attack his assigned gap out of uncertainty, opting for the easier route to ensure he at least fulfills his responsibility. However, this can be counterproductive, especially in situations like defending outside runs where his presence at the ball carrier is crucial rather than getting tangled up in the offensive line. This issue with play recognition is a significant concern for any linebacker, particularly one aspiring to play in the NFL.
 
Marist's issues don't end there. He often plays too high, whether it's during blitz situations or in more conventional defensive sets against the Run stop where he descends into the box and engages with the offensive line. It's not uncommon to see him beaten by blockers simply because he's too high, and as mentioned earlier, he can be overpowered at times. He absolutely needs to play lower, especially considering he's not the most physical or stout linebacker out there.
 
Another concern I have with Liufau is that while he sometimes shows decent speed, I've seen too many plays where he appears to be really slow, especially in terms of his closing speed. I'm particularly worried about this aspect, and I'm waiting to see his 40-yard dash time to determine if he gains some value in that regard. He ultimately posted an official time of 4.64 seconds in the 40-yard dash, which is decent and aligns well with what we see on tape, but it doesn't alleviate my concerns because he falls into the lower range for linebackers in his size category at the combine.
 
Another important aspect that Liufau will need to work on in his run defense is his angles of attack on the ball. Whether it's in pursuit or in tackling, Marist often makes small errors that sometimes cost him tackles or opportunities for big plays.
It's really unfortunate, especially since it's something that can be quickly improved, although it remains challenging to perfect in order to find the perfect angle. However, a slight adjustment would allow him to shine even more. This is particularly important considering, as I mentioned, he sometimes struggles with speed. With better reading and pursuit angles, he could greatly compensate for this lack of speed.
 
It's also worth noting that Marist sometimes appears to lack enthusiasm when it comes to getting into the fray. This could explain why his number of tackles is relatively low for an inside linebacker who has seen significant playing time. There are instances in his games where he could dive onto a standing player to complete the tackle, bring the player down, and halt their progress directly. Such opportunities could have allowed Marist to tally more assisted tackles while aiding the team. Instead, Liufau often lets his teammates handle these situations, allowing the ball carrier to gain an extra yard or a few inches. As Al Pacino famously said in the movie "Any Given Sunday," "Football is a game of inches." When these small increments add up, they can become decisive. I find this aspect regrettable, especially for a linebacker.
 
Finally, Marist is a player who relies heavily on instinct, which can sometimes lead him to be completely out of position. Conversely, it can also enable him to be perfectly positioned for a big play or to react more quickly to what's happening in front of him. However, if I list his instinct as a weakness, whereas in some players you might find it listed as a strength, it's because unfortunately, Marist relies too much on instinct and not enough on discipline.
It's a subtle nuance that can sometimes be difficult to determine, and it's what decides whether to consider it a positive or a negative, or sometimes not to mention it at all. Playing too much on instinct isn't good, but being too rigid and disciplined can also be a negative in my opinion. Unfortunately for Marist, he relies too much on instinct and tends to neglect the discipline required in his defensive scheme. This is once again highly coachable if he ends up with the right coach and could even become one of his strengths if he finds himself in the right environment with a coach who understands him. 
 

To conclude this scouting report on Marist Liufau, as you may have gathered, I'm not particularly excited about what Marist brings to the table. He's a real project in my eyes who will need to spend at least one full year on the bench. Additionally, while I initially considered a position change given his excellent coverage skills, which are truly outstanding, his lack of speed has particularly cooled my enthusiasm.
Furthermore, given the challenges he may face in the box to excel in situations involving Run stop, given the challenges he may face in the box to excel in situations involving, it's difficult to envision him having a future as a Middle LB. Therefore, his best fit would likely be as an Outside LB in schemes utilizing a 3 LB setup or as the Buck LB in Nickel packages (the second Inside LB) with fewer run responsibilities but more comfort in pass coverage. However, even in these roles, he may struggle against higher-caliber opponents due to his athletic abilities and issues with reading the run game.

Marist Liufau is indeed a real project who, as I write these lines, seems to have little chance of success unless a titanic amount of work is put in, in my opinion. However, his age still offers hope for development, which is why I currently see him as a 5th round prospect. If Marist were 23 or 24 years old, it's highly likely that I would have viewed him even lower.
In any case, I hope your team won't pick him before the 3rd day, and even then, I believe that selecting him in the 4th round would be a significant reach.

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