What is interesting to me is everyone has been concerned about his concussions and seem to think he had a rash of them. According to Phillips himself in his presser he said he has only had 2. It is widely reported he has had 3 (or more). He also had a wrist injury That took two surgeries and a couple sprained ankles. I guess we will see how everything goes with him on the field and If he can stay healthy, he played at Miami last year without issue, but honestly I am not too concerned. I think he'll be fine.
The thing is, when a player is a "thumper" that attacks with that much ferocity, concussions are bound to follow. Do you tell him to stop knocking the heck out of people though? That's just who he is. Personally, I think he's a great addition to this defense and the pick has me excited. Just hoping that he can polish technique to avoid those head injuries...I would imagine that it's difficult to teach that with highly aggressive players without diminishing that killer instinct.
He can always get one of those helmets that that O lineman from San Fran had in the 90's. Padding on the outside too.
Plus a great motor. Also, doesn't coast off talent. He creates strategies on how to beat tackles with his pass rush. The more I look into him the more excited I get. He has the potential to be a hall of fame player. Just hope those concussions are behind him.
That's the thing. He is every bit as athletic as Joey Bosa. More like Joey Bosa equal. Joey Bosa vs Jaelon Phillips 40 yard dash: 4.77 vs 4.58 20 yard split: 2.75 vs 2.69 10 Yard split: 1.65 vs 1.59 Vertical Leap: 31.5 vs 36 Broad Jump: 121 vs 125 Wingpan: 79.750 vs 80.750 Weight: 269 vs 260 Height: 77.25 vs 77.5
I didn't realize how good an athlete J. Phillips is until I compared his pro day to every top 4 drafted defensive end in the draft for the last 7 years. Other than Chase Young who did not have any numbers, all J. Phillips numbers were just as good as all of them. IMO, without concussion injury, J. Phillips would have been a top 5 pick in this draft. Heck, Miami might have stayed at 3 to take him.
I can't help wonder if they were sweating bullets as pick 18 neared. I'm sure they had their intel but you never know if another team might snipe them. I also wonder what the fall back plan at 18 was if he wasn't there? A RB?
TBH I don't know if they were sweating bullets. Kind of like the CeeDee Lamb situation last year for the Cowboys, they probably didn't even think he would be there. I know draft pundits had him falling to the second round, but looking at his measurables and the fact they translated on the field they probably had him slotted to go high and was surprised he was there.
