I haven't really talked about him but the reason Weston Richburg is on my list (the only center) is because of his game against Alabama. That guy could clearly play with Nick Saban's boys and even made them look foolish quite a few times. His video against Bama is on DraftBreakdown.com Also you know what I love about RT Ja'Wuan James of Tennessee? You've got to look at him against serious competition. Unfortunately I believe Jadaveon Clowney worked exclusively over Antonio Richardson in the TEN-SCAR game, but then again that was his easiest possible target too so I can see why. But watch Ja'Wuan James take on Dee Ford of Auburn, who has made some other good tackles look the fool this year. Watch James take onMichael Sam of Missouri. Superb. That's probably the most helpless I've seen Dee Ford and Michael Sam look all year. Guys that tackles have been having trouble shutting down all year, James shuts them down. James only went against Tony Washington of Oregon in pass pro three times, but James had Washington well in-hand on those snaps. Once involved a pretty clever delayed blitz, trying to get James engaged on the left end and then sneak Washington around him but James disengaged seamlessly and pounded Washington. He did let up a sack to Markus Golden of Missouri though. I like the look of Golden a LOT. He's working behind Michael Sam, but as productive as Sam is I have to question whether Golden isn't the better pro. He's very, very explosive. He's only a part-timer but he's got 10.0 TFLs, 4.5 Sacks, and an INT he returned 70 yards for a TD. He's one to keep an eye on in 2014. So explosive. He had Ja'Wuan James flying by the seat of his pants in a way that Michael Sam most definitely did not. Anyway this RIGHT tackle Ja'Wuan James is a lot better than a bunch of the LEFT tackles that are going to go above him simply by virtue of which side they play on. [video=youtube;CR0oRjADlcs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=CR0oRjADlcs[/video] Also...why the FOCK do people like Antonio Richardson? Seriously.
I like to think Jahwan Edwards is like a poor man's Michael Turner. He just tends to bounce off of tackles to keep moving. He's really solid at getting into the endzone, with 13 TDs rushing this year. I think the unfortunate thing is that if he were to come ou get overshadowed by the other "big" backs like Andrew Williams and Carlos Hyde (maybe Jeremy Hill?). Not that he's necessarily better than them, but they'll get a lot more focus than he would. He's only a junior, but he's already got a lot of carries on him, so maybe that's an impetus to come out early. In the course of writing this post, I decided to check on which RBs had the most TDs per rushing attempts, here's how the list goes for draftable RBs: 1. Lache Seastrunk (9.27 rush attempts/ TD) 2. Jeremy Hill (10.84) 3. Carlos Hyde (10.9) 4. Tre Mason (12.3) <- Hoping he comes out this year, big fan 5. Marion Grice (12.4) 6. Melvin Gordon (13) 7. Jahwan Edwards (13.4) Of course that's not accounting for attempts in the red zone (which I may explore later on), so it's not perfect - but interesting nonetheless.
More of interest to Dolphins fans, there's been some hype around OT Billy Turner from North Dakota State. He's pretty athletic, very mobile from what I've seen. I wouldn't be surprised if he were to get a nice jump after putting up great measurables like Terron Armstead last year. Tony Pauline mentioned him in one of his pieces as being a potential top 75 pick. Here's a DraftBreakdown video of him against K-State (there's a few others of him on DB too): [video=youtube_share;jm9_gSO8v6c]http://youtu.be/jm9_gSO8v6c[/video]
Nice pull, Greg. Appreciate it. That's a really good player. You know how with a player you end up liking there always seems to be one or two plays that were responsible for really catching your eye on a guy and making you think, this guy could be something? For Ole Bootstrap Bill Turner, this is that play: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jm9_gSO8v6c#t=62 And this one ain't half-bad either! http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jm9_gSO8v6c#t=143
I'm like a kid in a toy store. Look at the punch he dishes Ryan Mueller, who has 16.0 TFLs and 10.5 Sacks this year: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jm9_gSO8v6c#t=323 OMFGz I'm in love... http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jm9_gSO8v6c#t=570 LOLz he did it again!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jm9_gSO8v6c#t=633 LMFAO he blocks two guys, one on each arm, just long enough for his QB to get the ball off. This guy's a legend! http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jm9_gSO8v6c#t=767 Knocks Randy Mueller to the ground again with his punch... http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=jm9_gSO8v6c#t=829 Quite honestly that was the most impressive individual game tape of any offensive lineman I have seen this year. And I've seen some doozies from Josue Matias. This could literally be the best offensive tackle in the class. Debuting on my list as the #3 tackle in the class, pending further tape view.
I'm having a tough time gathering up the gumption to watch a full game of North Dakota State playing against...Ferris State...or University of Northern Iowa. So I decided to look through play-by-plays for the sacks and see if Bootstrap is responsible for any of them. Came across this gem: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZBjwegeHK8&feature=player_detailpage#t=1308 On the other hand, even accepting that I have no idea what the blocking scheme said, this doesn't seem flattering: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZBjwegeHK8&feature=player_detailpage#t=4178 Just ignore the links if you like...again this is for my own bookmarking so I can potentially make videos later: KNOCKOUTS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ez76W_v7M&feature=player_detailpage#t=474 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ez76W_v7M&feature=player_detailpage#t=1130 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ez76W_v7M&feature=player_detailpage#t=1900 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ez76W_v7M&feature=player_detailpage#t=3243 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ez76W_v7M&feature=player_detailpage#t=5023 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ez76W_v7M&feature=player_detailpage#t=7499 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ez76W_v7M&feature=player_detailpage#t=8165 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZBjwegeHK8&feature=player_detailpage#t=1308 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZBjwegeHK8&feature=player_detailpage#t=1839 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZBjwegeHK8&feature=player_detailpage#t=2622 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZBjwegeHK8&feature=player_detailpage#t=2982 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZBjwegeHK8&feature=player_detailpage#t=5085 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZBjwegeHK8&feature=player_detailpage#t=5290 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZBjwegeHK8&feature=player_detailpage#t=6097 GOOD http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ez76W_v7M&feature=player_detailpage#t=2559 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ez76W_v7M&feature=player_detailpage#t=4548 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ez76W_v7M&feature=player_detailpage#t=4591 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ez76W_v7M&feature=player_detailpage#t=7452 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZBjwegeHK8&feature=player_detailpage#t=832 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZBjwegeHK8&feature=player_detailpage#t=1177 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZBjwegeHK8&feature=player_detailpage#t=3626 BAD http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ez76W_v7M&feature=player_detailpage#t=3435 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ez76W_v7M&feature=player_detailpage#t=3454 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ez76W_v7M&feature=player_detailpage#t=3476 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ez76W_v7M&feature=player_detailpage#t=4636 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ez76W_v7M&feature=player_detailpage#t=5565 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91ez76W_v7M&feature=player_detailpage#t=5752 FALSE START: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZBjwegeHK8&feature=player_detailpage#t=1218 * http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZBjwegeHK8&feature=player_detailpage#t=3107 INTERVIEWS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Rg6x6Y1ex4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gP3IHFZu1QA (Don't let DJ hear his answer about his favorite foods!) Comments: I feel like I've got a better handle now on how he managed to enter the season graded by scouts as a UDFA quality player. During the SDSU game, he definitely lost focus over the 2nd and 3rd quarters. He still dominated the level of competition, generally speaking, but he looked like he had just pushed the cruise control button. That culminated even in a few negative plays, which is shocking because I've not seen many with him. He kept up this intense, amazing energy for four quarters against Kansas State in the first game of the season, but against the lower levels of competition it definitely looks like he loses focus and just cruises. It's a crystal clear pattern because you can visibly see him flip the "on" switch back in certain situations, such as when NDSU gets near the end zone. Suddenly, he's back to being Captain Amazing.
WOW. Yes please. Jesus Christ he's as nimble and coordinated as LeGarettle Blount but with the strength and stoutness of a 315 pounder. Don't see many quick twitch offensive linemen. Friggin' love the nasty he displays as well as his ability to get to the second level and lock onto defenders in space.
My favorite is when he's caught having to decide which of two Kansas State defenders he's going to block. Some guys block the inside guy because the outside guy will take longer to get to the QB. Some block the outside guy hoping for inside help. Some get so indecisive they don't block either. He blocks both. One on each hand. Gives the QB enough time to get the ball out. It remins me of when Aaron Donald played Duke and penetrated the backfield so quick both the QB and RB were still at the mesh point. He didn't know which guy to tackle so he wrapped his arms around both of them and brought them both down.
If we end up keeping this scheme, this guy is a definite fit. We love running the outside zone, and this is a guy that has the feet to get that seal block on the edge of the outside zone.
I think of him as a fit for anyone but yeah we need to start getting linemen that can run this system if we want to run this system.
See if one of these plays reminds you of anything. LMFAO at the commentary by the way. [video=youtube;2Jpb-YkYO1I]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Jpb-YkYO1I[/video]
Another day at the office for Blake Bortles. What a fantastic game he just had against Rutgers. More consistent footwork leading to better ball placement will continue to be the goals he should set before him, but the guy reminds me of Andrew Luck in a lot of ways and I'm glad Jesse Palmer called that too during the game.
LMAO! There's a text-in trivia question during this North Dakota State vs. Northern Iowa game that goes: "What is North Dakota's second leading crop?" So much wrong with that. It's like, well obviously we all know what North Dakota's first leading crop is. But text us if you know what their SECOND leading crop is... Admittedly the question was sponsored by North Dakota's Soybean Council, so I take it that might be the answer.
Damn if Will Sutton isn't a waste of space at his higher weight. Sacrificed his plus traits in order to become a weak 305 pounder. Stoopid.
I've grown smitten with PSU's DaQuan Jones. With Jordan at OLB [hopefully], I'd like to see us employ a 4-3 Under next year that utilizes a big, nasty, physically imposing 2-gap RE, and I think Jones would be perfect.
If we're looking to just replace Starks' rotational role along the interior then I'd heavily consider Ok State's Calvin Barnett. Man does he play with an impressive mean streak and really jolts linemen off the snap. Powerful with strong quick hands for a 300 pounder. Plays like he's 315. Great build. Good motor all game and solid hustle. Smothers running backs. Will occupy blockers or blow up plays to give teammates a chance to make tackles. Plays with good leverage, displays balance, and keeps his feet moving. Looks the part of a quality NFL DT. Can do a little bit of everything and even displays a spin move to get off blocks. Don't see any real holes in his game. NFLdraftScout has him as a 4-5 rounder but he looks more like a Day 2 guy to me. If the videos don't play at the timestamp, I find it easier to add an "s" [which is short for second] at the end of the link [after "t=339" in this first clip] and then hit enter or refresh. 1. awesome clothesline tackle [made me chuckle] 2. jolts the center about a yard backward [does this throughout the game] 3. swim move with some quicks into the backfield for TFL on running back 4. sheds the LG forcing the QB to run 5. keeps his feet and gets to the ball when the OL is blocking down 6. recognizes the screen and chases it to the sideline 7. another nice quick swim move on the LG 8. LOL @ Calvin chucking the RB 3 yards back on his ***
I really like UCF wideouts, including Godfrey. Rannell Hall looks nice. These are all late picks, maybe FA. UCF play similar style to Dolphins so the transition would not be difficult, they are all athletic and run routes, and can catch. I am not a fan of Bortles. Too inaccurate for my taste. Reminds me of Henne.
Todd...there's too many prospects to keep track of tonight in that Baylor vs. Oklahoma State game as it is! Seastrunk, Richardson, the Baylor receivers, Justin Gilbert. Guess I have to add Barnett to the list as well.
I'm interested to watch him. The only opportunity I've had to watch Baylor this year was their game against Oklahoma. I opted to watch the Stanford vs. Oregon game that night instead. I think the other guy I'm really interested in is Justin Gilbert. He had a huge Fiesta Bowl two season ago against Luck and Stanford and he was pretty highly rated heading into last season. Obviously he had a down enough year he felt the need to stay. He's got intriguing measurables and he's dynamic as a returner.
Here's some more of Calvin Burnett. How is he not in top 50 consideration? 1. badly defeats the LT and wrecks the RB in the backfield 2. blows up the center, pressures QB out of bounds. Then rocks back the RG on the following play for a nice tackle. 3. beats LT's cut block to stuff RB for no gain 4. sheds LG for tackle for minimal gain 5. blows up a 3rd & 2 rush attempt allowing his teammates to make the TFL 6. great penetration into the backfield but just misses the TFL 7. splits Center-Tackle double team and almost makes a big TFL 8. spinning out of a block 9. lining up off left tackle
Watching some Calvin Barnett against Mississippi State. I can see from a frame standpoint why you like him (long arms, broad shoulders, thick base) and there's some quickness there, definitely a fluid mover for that size. But honestly Gabe Jackson and the rest of the Miss St OL are making him look quite ordinary. Well, to be more accurate, the rest of the Miss St OL is making him look ordinary, while Gabe Jackson is making him look bad. Let me put it this way. I only had time to get through half of the OSU-MSU game and if I were cutting a video of Calvin Barnett I would have had four good plays and about a dozen bad ones. Two of the good plays would have been superficial, plays that seem good because of the result but aren't necessarily displaying any special ability which helped him make the play. One of them he looped from the inside all the way out to the outside and the only reason he was able to pressure the pocket as a result of it was because the QB had stepped way back and to that side. It wasn't at all bad blocking by the guard who mirrored Barnett all the way out there. The other was actually a sack, one of his two sacks on the season. On the play, he stayed at home up front while two guys mirrored him and engaged him with his hands. Eventually the QB just bucked it up right into where Barnett was and that's why he was able to sack him. On the other hand, the two initial plays I would have captured were much better. On one of them he penetrates the backfield and takes down the runner behind the line of scrimmage. On another one he lifts up from his down position at the snap and begins back pedaling into coverage and he looks mighty fluid doing that for a 300 pounder. Those are the plays that actually interest me, not the two I talk about above. But the flip side is like I said there's a dozen plays where Mississippi State OLs and even a TE once or twice just make the dude look very ordinary, and then a few plays where Gabe Jackson makes him look bad. We're not talking about double-teams here. We're talking about single blocking. He doesn't seem to be playing as well in 2013 as he did in 2012. Judging from the stats and from this game.
I'd like to take a closer look at Brendan Kay for TG4D. The video availability is not great. A couple of things that strike me about him: 1. He's got a loop in his throwing motion that makes me wary. 2. Not exactly a physical specimen on any level. 3. I really need to dig deeper into Mekale McKay. Wowzers. 4. And I'd kind of like to see some more of Shaq Washington too. What a savvy receiver.
It's a long time, but I've been checking out some mocks. Is there really no marquee running backs this year? None may go in the first round? Who is this years: Lacy, Leveon, Gio Bernard.
RBs I'd target at this point in no particular order: Carlos Hyde - Ohio State Lache Seastrunk - Baylor Karlos Williams - Florida State Melvin Gordon - Wisconsin Charles Sims - West Virignia Isaiah Crowell - Alabama State Andre Williams - Boston College Rajion Neal - Tennessee I'm more hesitant on the following: Marion Grice - Arizona State Bishop Sankey - Washington Ka'Deem Carey - Arizona De'Anthony Thomas - Oregon James Wilder - Florida State
As far as comparison to McCoy, I like Roderick McDowell from Clemson. (Andre Williams is the Leveon Bell type.) I would not target a RB in top rounds unless Todd Gurley comes out.
Melvin Gordon is the stud of the group. He's your 1st round type. I am more keenly aware than most that the mantra is running backs always fall. Regardless, Gordon is the stud. Keep in mind when you ask who the Lacy, Bell and Bernard are in this draft, keep in mind all three of those (along with Montee Ball and Christine Michael) were SECOND ROUND picks. So ou ak me who I think those guys could be in this draft and I'm gonna tell you, Melvin Gordon may rise above all of them, and then you've got Lache Seastrunk and potentially Tre Mason. Other potential guys include Carlos Hyde, Marion Grice and Storm Johnson.
Good stuff, thanks Chris. I haven't gotten around to seeing him this year outside of the other night so this is interesting stuff.... or disheartening more like it. I still like him from a physical standpoint and ability standpoint but now he'll have to go under heavier scrutiny.
I was thinking maybe BC's Andre Williams but sadly he's still nothing close to Lacy's combined level of physicality & athleticism. I'm most interested in how Isaiah Crowell is developing as a person b/c he might be the draft's most talented back on par with Gio Bernard if not better.
Melvin Gordon doesn't give me that warm fuzzy feeling. He's not the physical counterpart I personally would prefer with Miller, and I'm not sure he's an indisputable upgrade over Miller either, and that's what I'd want from a higher draft pick- a back who is either a clear upgrade or offers something Miller doesn't. I'm not sold yet, there's still time for my mind to change. I like Carey & Seastrunk better as 1a & 1b and feel they're the closest to LeSean McCoy.
He'd still interest me as a mid round possibility in that case.... but I'd rather go for you man crush Aaron Donald.
