Talking Draft Prospects - Page 8

Direckshun · 08:24 PM

We've got perhaps the biggest, most consequential draft coming up for this franchise since 2008. The Chiefs have all seven of their picks, and will certainly be picking up an additional four in compensatory picks, one of which is assuredly a 3rd rounder.

As a result, it's important to familiarize ourselves with as much of this draft class as possible. I started a thread last offseason that discussed late rounders that was generally well liked and spurred tons of great conversation on all sorts of draft picks we normally wouldn't talk about, so I'm going to duplicate that idea this year, only discussing all talents, rather than just the mid- and lower-round ones.

The OP will be continually updated to show the talent I'm reviewing by position. Keep in mind as I list these players that I am generally listing their round projections, but it is not a strict big board, as I likely won't have a big board put together until May.

Spoiler!

Direckshun · 10-12-2014, 08:18 AM

NT Danny Shelton, Washington -- As a Chiefs fan, you learn to get spoiled watching nose tackles play football. Danny Shelton is a good (albeit limited) NT, but Poe is so explosive, powerful, and athletic, that Shelton is just pathetic by comparison. Which isn't entirely fair to Shelton -- he's a lunchpail defensive lineman, reliably absorbing double-teams so that his teammates can win one-on-ones. He is not comparable to Alameda Ta'amu, the last NT the Huskies churned out, and was drafted by the Steelers. Ta'amu had some quickness to his game, Shelton does not. He is 6'2", 340 lbs of pure, squatty power, a block of granite in the middle of the line, very difficult to move off the ball. That said, he's not an elite specimen at that tool, either; his burst off the line is average, and while he has great hustle, he's useless outside of the phone booth. He will be a pure two-down NT in the NFL, as his passrushing ability is nonexistent. He can shut down the A gaps against the run, however, which is his real calling card. Teams will probably ask him to slim down some, but his additional weight doesn't detract from his effort on the field. He plays almost exclusively as a two-gapper, engaging his blocker, then shedding them as the RB approaches, and his technique is strong there. Shelton looks like a 3rd rounder to me, maybe even a 2nd rounder if I was really desperate for a two-gapping NT.

Edit (11/18): I watch Shelton all year so far and I see a monster. I think this guy has Phil Taylor potential. He is a bear in the run game, and shows sneaky athleticism in penetrating the pocket and getting to the QB. I think he looks like the best NT the Draft has seen since Dontari Poe in 2012. Definite 1st rounder.

RunKC · 10-12-2014, 10:53 AM

Looking at how much a good receiver like AJ Green helps Dalton, Megatron helps Stafford, Boldin helps Kaep and Emmanuel Sanders has helped Manning this year, I think that we should absolutely get one of these guys in the draft.

Cooper, Coates, etc. any would have helped so much.

Direckshun · 10-12-2014, 10:21 PM

I really love Cooper (I am assuming DGB is not coming out this year). I think he'd be the best addition. But unless he really surprises me at the Combine, he is just not Dorsey material.

RunKC · 10-12-2014, 11:12 PM

Dallas just raped Seattle's D by using that OL to push them around. Get a couple more OL and a first rd WR and we are looking damn good moving forward.

Direckshun · 10-13-2014, 12:54 AM

OT Spencer Drango, Baylor -- Watching Baylor pile up over 700 yards on TCU this past weekend, including over 250 yards on the ground, you'd think Drango was a freaking superhuman. Drango looked every bit the kind of elite blocker he emerged as last year before his back injury. He has powerful legs that drive straight through defensive linemen, and good enough athleticism to get to the second level and neutralize linebackers. But TCU is not exactly indicative of the talent he'll face in the NFL. While he's been an incredibly capable blocker on the blind side for three years, he does lack top end athleticism, though he is unquestionably a strong technician. While he plays with good power, NFL teams will be taking a very close look at his back to see if it can hold up against NFL linemen. Drango will almost certainly fall to the 2nd round, primarily because NFL teams have become measurables whores who don't care about how well a player has his art mastered. But that's a shame -- Drango's perfect kickslide and good (not great) athleticism should translate well as a very good RT in the NFL.

Exoter175 · 10-13-2014, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Direckshun

I really love Cooper (I am assuming DGB is not coming out this year). I think he'd be the best addition. But unless he really surprises me at the Combine, he is just not Dorsey material.

I beg to differ, he's Reid material, he just won't be available at our projected selection.

kccrow · 10-13-2014, 08:19 PM

Love to see your takes on the following Direckshun:

WR Jaelen Strong - Arizona State
WR Justin Hardy - East Carolina (I love this kid)
CB Steven Nelson - Oregon State
OG Jarvis Harrison - Texas A&M
OG Tre Jackson - Florida State
LB A.J. Johnson - Tennessee
LB Stephon Anthony - Clemson
FS Adrian Amos - Penn State (I like this kid alot too)
DT Travis Raciti - San Jose State (I think the attitude and size are there, needs strength and technique)
OT Eric Lefeld - Cincinnati (Looks to have the tools to me but needs strength and hands work)
TE Jeff Heuerman - Ohio State

OldSchool · 10-13-2014, 10:14 PM

So far from what I've seen, the draft stacks up like this:

1. 3-4 OLB prospects- Very strong (makes sense that Dorsey would take one in a relatively weak year and probably pass on one in a strong year, just like he did with ignoring the WR position)

2. OL - Strong

3. WR - above average

4. CBs - above average

5. 5-Techs/DTs- above average (mostly thanks to Williams)

6. QB - Average (Mariota is the only high 1st round lock)

7. S - average (I can see several rookie starters coming from this group. It's about the same level of talent as last year)

8. ILB - average (no one really stands out as the best of the bunch, several solid starters but no stars in the making)

9. TE - below average (weakest position whether or not you count Funchess as part of the group, be glad Dorsey took Kelce when he did)

Your thoughts?

Direckshun · 10-13-2014, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exoter175

I beg to differ, he's Reid material, he just won't be available at our projected selection.

You're probably not wrong.

He doesn't fit the mold of the WRs Dorsey's brought in, however.

Direckshun · 10-13-2014, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kccrow

Love to see your takes on the following Direckshun:

WR Jaelen Strong - Arizona State
WR Justin Hardy - East Carolina (I love this kid)
CB Steven Nelson - Oregon State
OG Jarvis Harrison - Texas A&M
OG Tre Jackson - Florida State
LB A.J. Johnson - Tennessee
LB Stephon Anthony - Clemson
FS Adrian Amos - Penn State (I like this kid alot too)
DT Travis Raciti - San Jose State (I think the attitude and size are there, needs strength and technique)
OT Eric Lefeld - Cincinnati (Looks to have the tools to me but needs strength and hands work)
TE Jeff Heuerman - Ohio State

I should have reviews of 100% of these talents by the time the Draft gets here. I think I have reviews of Strong and Raciti coming in pretty soon, actually.

Thanks for the recommendations, as always.

Direckshun · 10-13-2014, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldSchool

So far from what I've seen, the draft stacks up like this:

1. 3-4 OLB prospects- Very strong (makes sense that Dorsey would take one in a relatively weak year and probably pass on one in a strong year, just like he did with ignoring the WR position)

2. OL - Strong

3. WR - above average

4. CBs - above average

5. 5-Techs/DTs- above average (mostly thanks to Williams)

6. QB - Average (Mariota is the only high 1st round lock)

7. S - average (I can see several rookie starters coming from this group. It's about the same level of talent as last year)

8. ILB - average (no one really stands out as the best of the bunch, several solid starters but no stars in the making)

9. TE - below average (weakest position whether or not you count Funchess as part of the group, be glad Dorsey took Kelce when he did)

Your thoughts?

I'm not as high on the CB talent at this point (we're still months away), and I pretty much hate the QB talent.

Every where else, I'm pretty much in agreement.

Direckshun · 10-14-2014, 12:39 AM

WR Ty Montgomery, Stanford -- It's obviously extremely early in the process, but it would really surprise me if Ty Montgomery is not in the conversation for Chiefs fans as the next draft approaches. For my money, it'd be hard for Dorsey to pass on him: he runs incredibly fast for a 6'2", 215 lbs receiver, with every ounce of big play ability that you need. The Trees use him in bubble screens, in reverses, running deep routes, and so on. There's very little Montgomery can't do. And he's been productive with poor QB play, already having 350+ yards and three TDs in six games. Montgomery also plays with an intense passion, occasionally bordering on hostility, which should help in all the work he'll have to do in learning how to block better and to better refine his routes. He plays in Stanford's pro-style system, which is notorious for churning out reliable NFL talent. I'm just a huge fan, especially considering this is EXACTLY the kind of receiver the Chiefs need to be finding and investing in. I think he could go as high as the teens, and the Chiefs should absolutely bend over backward to bring him on board with their 1st.

Edit (11/18): Watching more Montgomery as the year wears on, and he looks a lot more like a great athlete than a great football player. He's lacking in a lot of fundamentals and will need work running routes. He reminds me of AJ Jenkins, honestly, although it would be hard to duplicate how snakebit Jenkins seems to be. I'd put a 2nd day grade on Montgomery.

Direckshun · 10-14-2014, 01:06 AM

DE/DT Eddie Goldman, Florida State -- It would be fascinating to see what becomes of Goldman if he declared this year. Goldman is finally getting a full season as a starter at DT (rather than filling in last year at DE), and has started living up to some of his gargantuan promise when he was the #1 recruit in the country in 2012. Goldman has just a humongous frame at 6'4", 320 lbs, and he is all power. He has a great explosion off the snap, which he uses to unsettle OL, which reliably empowers him to control his gap. He is next to impossible to move off the line of scrimmage, and that's where his strength largely is: absorbing space so others can make plays. He's probably the best two-gap 3-4 DE prospect in this draft, and would have an outside shot at going in the first round. Goldman does suffer from a lack of athleticism, however, and I'd grade someone like 2009's Tyson Jackson a full grade better than him due to that. There's no denying his long, powerful arms, however, and that'll give him plenty of edge over most OL as he develops his technique. Goldman should focus on losing some weight if he does declare, and working hard on his passrushing moves, which are right now fully inadequate. His upside, as of now, is probably Tyson Jackson. How valuable you view that is where Goldman should be taken -- in my opinion, his roof is the bottom of the 1st round.

Edit (11/18): Goldman is an absolute load that the line of scrimmage. He looks great against the run and he gets good push on the pocket. I think he can play anywhere on the DL in the 3-4 and would be a great NT in the 4-3. Goldman's one of my favorite DL in this draft, and I think he's going to absolutely destroy at the Combine. He could go as high as the teens.

Direckshun · 10-14-2014, 02:53 AM

OLB Shaq Thompson, Washington -- This is odd to say for a player who won't go on the 1st day of the draft, but Shaq Thompson may be one of the safest players in this draft. For three years he has played in the offense-happy Pac 10 and consistently put up numbers that reflect the full range of what he's capable of doing. He's not a big passrusher, as he's only put up 4-5 sacks over the past two years, but this kid is great in space. He has a ways to be coached up, too, which should entice some team that's obsessed with big upside in their prospects. Thompson can mark up tight ends and even some receivers well downfield. He is a form tackler -- he uses his excellent speed (he should flirt with running a 4.5) to get to the ballcarrier, and effectively breaking down for the tackler. He has excellent hands and can really go up and get a ball when QBs try to beat him over the top. He's been one of the most prolific tacklers of the past three years, and hasn't been missed time due to injury. The two biggest weaknesses in his game are both largely correctable: (a.) he could diagnose plays faster, and (b.) he's far better playing away from the LOS compared to how he plays up against it -- he can use his athleticism to beat blocks in college, but he is going to need to shed them in the NFL. I think just about any team could use him in any scheme, and I think he's a second day pick due to his athleticism and scheme versatility. As of now, he makes the most sense as a 4-3 OLB.

Edit (11/18): I love watching Thompson play. He is a true sideline-to-sideline player with passrushing ability and great coverage tools. He'll need a little work in the NFL, but Shaq Thompson looks like a late 1st round pick to the first linebacker-starved team that needs him.

Exoter175 · 10-14-2014, 05:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Direckshun

You're probably not wrong.

He doesn't fit the mold of the WRs Dorsey's brought in, however.

And how many WR's has Dorsey brought in to this organization?

Avery? Jenkins?

Prototypical size/speed for Andy Reid's offense, not a "Dorsey" size/type combinator.

I'm telling you guys, and I've been saying it for a while now, Dorsey doesn't have a "mold", he doesn't have a "prototype" of a guy for this or that position. He assesses what his positional needs are in the system in place, with the coach in place, considers contracts, future up and coming "star types" (2-3 years down the road), looks at the free agency lists for reach upcoming season and so forth, then adjust and scale to fit into a simpler approach, and then come draft day he's making decisions based on his homework, using things like Decision Lense as "validation" for his work, or simply using them when the immovable object meets the unstoppable force and he's got a decision to make on it.

In GB, he drafted very well for their system, here, he's again drafted very well for the system.

He hasn't gone out and drafted any players for us that are "Dorsey Players" that aren't also "Reid Players", and that's where some guys are getting confused on this whole "Dorsey guy" and "Decision Lense" BS when it comes to his drafting. The measurements and tangible metrics are certainly going to get you "on" the list (Decision Lense and Dorsey Player), but the decision itself comes down to so much more, and believe it or not, Reid has a hell of a lot of say in that.

09-24-2014, 02:22 AM
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4443447	Talking Draft Prospects We've got perhaps the biggest, most consequential draft coming up for this franchise since 2008. The Chiefs have all seven of their picks, and will certainly be picking up an additional four in compensatory picks, one of which is assuredly a 3rd rounder. As a result, it's important to familiarize ourselves with as much of this draft class as possible. I started a thread last offseason that discussed late rounders that was generally well liked and spurred tons of great conversation on all sorts of draft picks we normally wouldn't talk about, so I'm going to duplicate that idea this year, only discussing all talents, rather than just the mid- and lower-round ones. The OP will be continually updated to show the talent I'm reviewing by position. Keep in mind as I list these players that I am generally listing their round projections, but it is not a strict big board, as I likely won't have a big board put together until May. Spoiler! QB Marcus Mariota, Oregon Jameis Winston, Florida State Brett Hundley, UCLA Connor Cook, Michigan State RB Todd Gurley, Georgia Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska Mike Davis, South Carolina T.J. Yeldon, Alabama Tevin Coleman, Indiana Duke Johnson, Miami Jay Ajayi, Boise State FB WR Sammie Coates, Auburn Amari Cooper, Alabama Dorial Green-Beckham, Oklahoma Ty Montgomery, Stanford Kevin White, West Virginia DeVante Parker, Louisville Jaelen Strong, Arizona State Josh Harper, Fresno State Breshad Perriman, Central Florida Devin Smith, Ohio State Rashad Greene, Florida State TE Devin Funchess, Michigan Maxx Williams, Minnesota OT Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M Brandon Schwerff, Iowa Andrus Peat, Stanford La'el Collins, LSU Spencer Drango, Baylor Ereck Flowers, Miami Cameron Erving, Florida State T.J. Clemmings, Pittsburgh Ronnie Stanley, Notre Dame Ty Sambrailo, Colorado State Jake Fisher, Oregon OG La'el Collins, LSU A.J. McCann, South Carolina Cameron Erving, Florida State Ty Sambrailo, Colorado State Josue Matias, Florida State Laken Tomlinson, Duke C Cameron Erving, Florida State Reese Dismukes, Auburn NT Danny Shelton, Washington Eddie Goldman, Florida State Malcom Brown, Texas Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma 4-3 DT and/or 3-4 DE Leonard Williams, USC Michael Bennett, Ohio State Mario Edwards, Jr., Florida State Malcom Brown, Texas Arik Armstead, Oregon Carl Davis, Iowa 4-3 DE Randy Gregory, Nebraska Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State Dante Fowler, Jr., Florida Shawn Oakman, Baylor Bronson Kaufusi, BYU Alvin Dupree, Kentucky Nate Orchard, Utah Owamagbe Odighizuwa, UCLA Danielle Hunter, LSU 3-4 OLB Randy Gregory, Nebraska Vic Beasley, Clemson Dante Fowler, Jr., Florida Shayne Ray, Missouri Bronson Kaufusi, BYU Lorenzo Maudlin, Louisville Alvin Dupree, Kentucky Nate Orchard, Utah Hau'oli Kikaha, Washington Eli Harold, Virginia Danielle Hunter, LSU 4-3 OLB/WILB Vic Beasley, Clemson Shaq Thompson, Washington Paul Dawson, TCU MLB/SILB Bernardrick McKinney, Mississippi State Denzel Perryman, Miami Eric Kendricks, UCLA CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomo, Oregon P.J. Williams, Florida State Marcus Peters, Washington Trae Waynes, Michigan State Jalen Collins, LSU Alex Carter, Stanford Quentin Rollins, Miami (OH) Kevin Johnson, Wake Forest SS Landon Collins, Alabama Anthony Harris, Virginia FS Gerod Holliman, Louisville K P Last edited by Direckshun; 03-04-2015 at 08:24 PM..
Posts: 59,244

10-12-2014, 08:18 AM	#106
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4443447	NT Danny Shelton, Washington -- As a Chiefs fan, you learn to get spoiled watching nose tackles play football. Danny Shelton is a good (albeit limited) NT, but Poe is so explosive, powerful, and athletic, that Shelton is just pathetic by comparison. Which isn't entirely fair to Shelton -- he's a lunchpail defensive lineman, reliably absorbing double-teams so that his teammates can win one-on-ones. He is not comparable to Alameda Ta'amu, the last NT the Huskies churned out, and was drafted by the Steelers. Ta'amu had some quickness to his game, Shelton does not. He is 6'2", 340 lbs of pure, squatty power, a block of granite in the middle of the line, very difficult to move off the ball. That said, he's not an elite specimen at that tool, either; his burst off the line is average, and while he has great hustle, he's useless outside of the phone booth. He will be a pure two-down NT in the NFL, as his passrushing ability is nonexistent. He can shut down the A gaps against the run, however, which is his real calling card. Teams will probably ask him to slim down some, but his additional weight doesn't detract from his effort on the field. He plays almost exclusively as a two-gapper, engaging his blocker, then shedding them as the RB approaches, and his technique is strong there. Shelton looks like a 3rd rounder to me, maybe even a 2nd rounder if I was really desperate for a two-gapping NT. Edit (11/18): I watch Shelton all year so far and I see a monster. I think this guy has Phil Taylor potential. He is a bear in the run game, and shows sneaky athleticism in penetrating the pocket and getting to the QB. I think he looks like the best NT the Draft has seen since Dontari Poe in 2012. Definite 1st rounder. Last edited by Direckshun; 11-18-2014 at 01:29 PM..
Posts: 59,244

10-12-2014, 10:53 AM	#107
RunKC Andy Reid Supporter Join Date: Apr 2012 Casino cash: $2339611	Looking at how much a good receiver like AJ Green helps Dalton, Megatron helps Stafford, Boldin helps Kaep and Emmanuel Sanders has helped Manning this year, I think that we should absolutely get one of these guys in the draft. Cooper, Coates, etc. any would have helped so much. __________________ Mike Greenberg@Espngreeny I can’t fathom what it must be like to be a fan of the #Chiefs. Adopt a Chief: Noah Gray
Posts: 45,824

10-12-2014, 10:21 PM	#108
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4443447	I really love Cooper (I am assuming DGB is not coming out this year). I think he'd be the best addition. But unless he really surprises me at the Combine, he is just not Dorsey material.
Posts: 59,244

10-12-2014, 11:12 PM	#109
RunKC Andy Reid Supporter Join Date: Apr 2012 Casino cash: $2339611	Dallas just raped Seattle's D by using that OL to push them around. Get a couple more OL and a first rd WR and we are looking damn good moving forward. __________________ Mike Greenberg@Espngreeny I can’t fathom what it must be like to be a fan of the #Chiefs. Adopt a Chief: Noah Gray
Posts: 45,824

10-13-2014, 12:54 AM	#110
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4443447	OT Spencer Drango, Baylor -- Watching Baylor pile up over 700 yards on TCU this past weekend, including over 250 yards on the ground, you'd think Drango was a freaking superhuman. Drango looked every bit the kind of elite blocker he emerged as last year before his back injury. He has powerful legs that drive straight through defensive linemen, and good enough athleticism to get to the second level and neutralize linebackers. But TCU is not exactly indicative of the talent he'll face in the NFL. While he's been an incredibly capable blocker on the blind side for three years, he does lack top end athleticism, though he is unquestionably a strong technician. While he plays with good power, NFL teams will be taking a very close look at his back to see if it can hold up against NFL linemen. Drango will almost certainly fall to the 2nd round, primarily because NFL teams have become measurables whores who don't care about how well a player has his art mastered. But that's a shame -- Drango's perfect kickslide and good (not great) athleticism should translate well as a very good RT in the NFL.
Posts: 59,244

10-13-2014, 08:19 PM	#112
kccrow MVP Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Michigan Casino cash: $3327078	Love to see your takes on the following Direckshun: WR Jaelen Strong - Arizona State WR Justin Hardy - East Carolina (I love this kid) CB Steven Nelson - Oregon State OG Jarvis Harrison - Texas A&M OG Tre Jackson - Florida State LB A.J. Johnson - Tennessee LB Stephon Anthony - Clemson FS Adrian Amos - Penn State (I like this kid alot too) DT Travis Raciti - San Jose State (I think the attitude and size are there, needs strength and technique) OT Eric Lefeld - Cincinnati (Looks to have the tools to me but needs strength and hands work) TE Jeff Heuerman - Ohio State
Posts: 12,557

10-13-2014, 10:14 PM	#113
OldSchool MVP Join Date: Sep 2013 Casino cash: $10035212	So far from what I've seen, the draft stacks up like this: 1. 3-4 OLB prospects- Very strong (makes sense that Dorsey would take one in a relatively weak year and probably pass on one in a strong year, just like he did with ignoring the WR position) 2. OL - Strong 3. WR - above average 4. CBs - above average 5. 5-Techs/DTs- above average (mostly thanks to Williams) 6. QB - Average (Mariota is the only high 1st round lock) 7. S - average (I can see several rookie starters coming from this group. It's about the same level of talent as last year) 8. ILB - average (no one really stands out as the best of the bunch, several solid starters but no stars in the making) 9. TE - below average (weakest position whether or not you count Funchess as part of the group, be glad Dorsey took Kelce when he did) Your thoughts?
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10-14-2014, 12:39 AM	#117
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4443447	WR Ty Montgomery, Stanford -- It's obviously extremely early in the process, but it would really surprise me if Ty Montgomery is not in the conversation for Chiefs fans as the next draft approaches. For my money, it'd be hard for Dorsey to pass on him: he runs incredibly fast for a 6'2", 215 lbs receiver, with every ounce of big play ability that you need. The Trees use him in bubble screens, in reverses, running deep routes, and so on. There's very little Montgomery can't do. And he's been productive with poor QB play, already having 350+ yards and three TDs in six games. Montgomery also plays with an intense passion, occasionally bordering on hostility, which should help in all the work he'll have to do in learning how to block better and to better refine his routes. He plays in Stanford's pro-style system, which is notorious for churning out reliable NFL talent. I'm just a huge fan, especially considering this is EXACTLY the kind of receiver the Chiefs need to be finding and investing in. I think he could go as high as the teens, and the Chiefs should absolutely bend over backward to bring him on board with their 1st. Edit (11/18): Watching more Montgomery as the year wears on, and he looks a lot more like a great athlete than a great football player. He's lacking in a lot of fundamentals and will need work running routes. He reminds me of AJ Jenkins, honestly, although it would be hard to duplicate how snakebit Jenkins seems to be. I'd put a 2nd day grade on Montgomery. Last edited by Direckshun; 11-18-2014 at 01:26 PM..
Posts: 59,244

10-14-2014, 01:06 AM	#118
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4443447	DE/DT Eddie Goldman, Florida State -- It would be fascinating to see what becomes of Goldman if he declared this year. Goldman is finally getting a full season as a starter at DT (rather than filling in last year at DE), and has started living up to some of his gargantuan promise when he was the #1 recruit in the country in 2012. Goldman has just a humongous frame at 6'4", 320 lbs, and he is all power. He has a great explosion off the snap, which he uses to unsettle OL, which reliably empowers him to control his gap. He is next to impossible to move off the line of scrimmage, and that's where his strength largely is: absorbing space so others can make plays. He's probably the best two-gap 3-4 DE prospect in this draft, and would have an outside shot at going in the first round. Goldman does suffer from a lack of athleticism, however, and I'd grade someone like 2009's Tyson Jackson a full grade better than him due to that. There's no denying his long, powerful arms, however, and that'll give him plenty of edge over most OL as he develops his technique. Goldman should focus on losing some weight if he does declare, and working hard on his passrushing moves, which are right now fully inadequate. His upside, as of now, is probably Tyson Jackson. How valuable you view that is where Goldman should be taken -- in my opinion, his roof is the bottom of the 1st round. Edit (11/18): Goldman is an absolute load that the line of scrimmage. He looks great against the run and he gets good push on the pocket. I think he can play anywhere on the DL in the 3-4 and would be a great NT in the 4-3. Goldman's one of my favorite DL in this draft, and I think he's going to absolutely destroy at the Combine. He could go as high as the teens. Last edited by Direckshun; 11-18-2014 at 01:33 PM..
Posts: 59,244

10-14-2014, 02:53 AM	#119
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4443447	OLB Shaq Thompson, Washington -- This is odd to say for a player who won't go on the 1st day of the draft, but Shaq Thompson may be one of the safest players in this draft. For three years he has played in the offense-happy Pac 10 and consistently put up numbers that reflect the full range of what he's capable of doing. He's not a big passrusher, as he's only put up 4-5 sacks over the past two years, but this kid is great in space. He has a ways to be coached up, too, which should entice some team that's obsessed with big upside in their prospects. Thompson can mark up tight ends and even some receivers well downfield. He is a form tackler -- he uses his excellent speed (he should flirt with running a 4.5) to get to the ballcarrier, and effectively breaking down for the tackler. He has excellent hands and can really go up and get a ball when QBs try to beat him over the top. He's been one of the most prolific tacklers of the past three years, and hasn't been missed time due to injury. The two biggest weaknesses in his game are both largely correctable: (a.) he could diagnose plays faster, and (b.) he's far better playing away from the LOS compared to how he plays up against it -- he can use his athleticism to beat blocks in college, but he is going to need to shed them in the NFL. I think just about any team could use him in any scheme, and I think he's a second day pick due to his athleticism and scheme versatility. As of now, he makes the most sense as a 4-3 OLB. Edit (11/18): I love watching Thompson play. He is a true sideline-to-sideline player with passrushing ability and great coverage tools. He'll need a little work in the NFL, but Shaq Thompson looks like a late 1st round pick to the first linebacker-starved team that needs him. Last edited by Direckshun; 11-18-2014 at 01:35 PM..
Posts: 59,244