Talking Draft Prospects - Page 2

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 · 09-25-2014, 09:53 PM

OLB Randy Gregory, Nebraska -- Now that I just got done comparing Ogbuehi to Eric Fisher, now it's time for a Dee Ford clone. Randy Gregory has a little more height on him than Ford (6'6", 240 lbs to Ford's 6'3", 240), but possesses almost exactly the same kind of game. Gregory is a one-dimensional rushbacker (he stands at the LOS about 75% of the time), who transferred to Nebraska after destroying JuCo football. His explosiveness is excellent, and unlike Ford, he plays with a Hali-esque, nonstop motor. But other than speeding around the edge, Gregory does not have really any passrushing moves. He's also useless against the run, and doesn't look great in coverage (although I believe he possesses the athleticism to turn it around there). He's definitely a 3-4 OLB, and you have to argue he'll be a 1st round pick, since that's where Ford went. Gregory has a higher ceiling, so I think he goes somewhere in the teens.

Edit (11/18): No player this year has been a bigger force of nature than Randy Gregory. He has beautifully rounded out his game, and is a Top 5 player in the NFL Draft. He's like the leadership and power of Tamba Hali with the speed off the edge of Von Miller. He's fantastic.

bspence · 09-25-2014, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldSchool

His arm strength is more than adequate and he already has a superior feel in the passing game from the pocket that Kaepernick still lacks even though he's turning 27 this year. Mariota is a much better QB prospect than Kaepernick. Saying Kaepernick's ceiling is high because of his arm strength is like saying that Jamarcus Russell has a high ceiling.

All of the athleticism with a much better mind and feel for the position.

I wasn't saying his ceiling was higher solely because of the arm strength. But Kaepernick has all the tools to be the best QB in the NFL. It'll likely never happen but he has the tools. And I am also not saying Mariota isn't a better prospect because he clearly is. He has the arm strength, I was simply saying I don't think he has the same ceiling as Kaep.

If I had to bet though, Mariota will be better than Kaepernick.

Direckshun · 09-26-2014, 12:13 AM

OT Brandon Schwerff, Iowa -- Another year, another Iowa lineman. You already know all the dance steps here, don't you? A hardworking, smart, physically adequate-but-not-great, limited athleticism, near-perfect technician. Great base in his butt and legs, well coached, perfect kickslide. It's almost like we do this EVERY YEAR. Schwerff stands out, however, from Iowa lineman of years past in two ways. The first way is that Schwerff is capable of playing like a mean mother****er. He is incredibly aggressive against the run, and is downright apocalyptic when he pulls to the 2nd level. And thank goodness for that, because his passblocking film is appropriately boring -- he is cool, efficient, difficult to beat around the edge with powerful arms that guide passrushers out of harm's way. The second way Schwerff is unique amongst Iowa lineman is that he's less of a known quantity -- his tape against everybody from OSU to MSU has generally been outstanding, with one gigantic exception: he absolutely got his shit pushed in against LSU last year. LSU tortured him, primarily with large, powerful passrushers who bullrushed right through him, but he got beat everywhere. I'd like to see him play a full year at his normal level without a single relapse to that horrendous performance before I consider him a Top Ten player -- but so long as he does, he will be.

Direckshun · 09-26-2014, 02:54 AM

QB Jameis Winston, Florida State -- If you ran Cam Newton through the washing machine a few too many times, you'd get Jameis Winston. Winston has all of Cam Newton's attributes, with minor or major downgrades on each. Cam is a large, athletic QB built like a tank. Winston less so, but still stands at a great 6'4", 235 lbs. Cam's got a rocket launcher for an arm. Winston's is just as good, but loses accuracy on deep throws. Few QBs are more dangerous in the open field than both these guys, but Winston considerably less so. Cam came with numerous questions about his maturity. Multiply those by about 100, and you've got Winston. And Cam's technique, discipline, and attitude were frequently criticized as being less than ideal for a QB, yet he won a national championship immediately and won ROTY. Winston's story is the same: his technique throwing the ball is troublesome (super slow release) and he's spent zero time under center or making multiple reads, but he wills his team to victory. Unlike Newton, Winston's character flags will drop him in the 1st round. Like Newton, however, he'll be mostly fine once he gets on the field, as a middling QB who can seemingly never get over the hump once defenses figure him out. A team like the Raiders could gamble on him, but there's just no guarantee he won't make terrible mistakes off the field, and there's no guarantee that his shortcomings on the field will ever allow him to elevate above what Cam Newton's become. A Geno Smith-like slide is possible.

Direckshun · 09-26-2014, 04:53 AM

DE Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State -- Here's what I love about Shilique Calhoun, that makes him so easy to root for: for a converted tight end, he's a contagiously enthusiastic player on the football field. He has that same enjoyable intensity to his play that you'd find in an Eric Berry or Tamba Hali. He's got the makings of a player your team rallies around, which is why he's a captain this year for the Spartans. Calhoun, however, has been dramatically overrated on the field. His first sin is that he's a tweener: his 6'4", 257 lbs frame's not big enough for a 4-3 DE, but he's not athletic enough to be a true 3-4 rushbacker. His second problem is the disappointing performances against the NFL-caliber talent he's played. He's been shut out now against the Ducks, the Hawkeyes, and Stanford. While he plays very hard and already has a couple good moves in his arsenal, he's just not strong enough to beat really good tackles if they get their hands on him, and almost all the tackles in the NFL are really good. Right now, he's getting mauled in the run game. The upside is that this is essentially his second full year at DE and he's got room in his frame to add weight and strength. Personally, I wouldn't touch him with a 1st round pick, and I think I'd wait until the third before pulling the trigger.

Direckshun · 09-28-2014, 10:49 PM

OT Andrus Peat, Stanford -- Even if you didn't know who Andrus Peat is, he deserves all the benefit of the doubt that you can spare. First of all, he's started at left tackle for two years in arguably the country's most vaunted OL program. Secondly, he bumped David Yankey, arguably the best guard prospect from last year's draft, to guard so he could play LT. Thirdly, look at CBSSports.com's prospect rankings: right now, they have Leonard Williams and Shilique Calhoun listed as Top Ten prospects, and Peat has essentially blanked both of them this year. So on paper, Peat's already one of the best prospects in this year's draft. On tape, he still looks really good, and even has some room to grow. He's already a stout, maxed-out 6'7", 312 lbs, and if there was one word I could use to describe his playing style, it would be "power." He looks like a perfect LT for a power running system, but still looks pretty good at pulling to the second level, but his bread and butter is in handling DTs as well as DEs muscularly in the run game. He doesn't look like the fluid athlete Ogbuehi is, but he looks every bit as effective -- he'd be a fine LT in any system, but is absolutely prototypical for a power system.

Direckshun · 09-28-2014, 11:49 PM

WR Sammie Coates, Auburn -- There's a whole lot to love about Sammie Coates, and a whole lot to be terrified of, as well. I'm not sure the NFL has ever seen a prospect like Sammie Coates -- Percy Harvin comes close. He possesses brilliant, 4.2 speed (and trust me, it explodes on tape), a packed 6'2", 201 lbs frame, a ridiculous 44" vertical and the ability to bench 400 lbs. I'm racking my brain, but I don't think we have ever, ever seen that. His go routes are epic, and he's a fantastic deep threat -- CBs must give him 10 yards cushion, or risk getting toasted. And with the ball in his hands, he's lethal if he has space. He's a willing if inconsistent blocker at the WR position, but with some refining he should be excellent. He can be difficult to bring down even if you get your hands on him. The bad, however, is that he's 100% boom/bust. He has never seriously run routes, as Auburn uses him exclusively in three ways: pure go routes, runblocking, and bubble screens/short throws. He only has 5 receptions so far this year (!!!), partially because teams put a deep safety over him, and he has no route-running ability to get open. But his QB play is also pretty iffy -- his QB completes far less than 60% of his passes, and only completed 150 passes last year, a third of which went to Coates. With competent QB play, and a couple seasons of learning the route tree, you could end up with a weapon the NFL's rarely ever seen. But it's just as likely you end up with a one-trick pony whose trick NFL teams will easily neutralize.

Post Combine (2/24): Coates "only" ran a 4.4, but he plays with downright elite speed on the field.

Direckshun · 09-29-2014, 12:34 AM

CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon -- The question becomes, knowing what you know now, where would you have drafted Brandon Flowers in 2008? Ekpre-Olomu projects to essentially play as his twin in the NFL, except that he's exceptionally more battle-tested. Ekpre-Olomu is the same diminutive size (5'9, 190 lbs), has the same speed (looks 4.3 in short spaces, but 4.5 otherwise), plays with the same intensity and features the same enthusiasm against the run. Ekpre-Olomu spends a lot of time in the slot, but has the ability to play outside, although he is not ideal in press man. Flowers' game is more physical, but Ekpre-Olomu is in no way a soft, finesse corner. His talents clearly suit him more as an aggressive corner in a zone scheme. He may have the best ballskills in the upcoming draft class, as his ability to turn his head, block out a receiver and field the ball has notched him a handful of interceptions every year he's started, with another one already this year. The Ducks almost never send him into the backfield, so he will need developmental time as a blitzer. But this is a defensive captain in the making, so the question for NFL teams will be: will you use your prejudice against short CBs to pass on Pro Bowl talent in the 1st round, just like you did in 2008 with Flowers? I hope the Chargers' success with Flowers and Jason Verrett change that, but the way size at CB is being fetishized right now, who knows.

OldSchool · 09-29-2014, 01:37 AM

On Coates, I think I would take his teammate "Duke" Williams in the 2nd-3rd over him in the 1st. Williams has dominated at every level he's played at and can work the slot or outside. He also has good size, speed, and explosion and has been way more productive despite, as you pointed out, mediocre Qb play.

Direckshun · 09-29-2014, 01:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldSchool

On Coates, I think I would take his teammate "Duke" Williams in the 2nd-3rd over him in the 1st. Williams has dominated at every level he's played at and can work the slot or outside. He also has good size, speed, and explosion and has been way more productive despite, as you pointed out, mediocre Qb play.

Productivity isn't that big of an issue to me with this terrible of a QB, unless the numbers are extreme.

Unfortunately, Coates' numbers are extreme right now, in a bad way.

OldSchool · 09-29-2014, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Direckshun

Productivity isn't that big of an issue to me with this terrible of a QB, unless the numbers are extreme.

Unfortunately, Coates' numbers are extreme right now, in a bad way.

You can give him a bit of a pass on that due to the injury he suffered in the 1st game of the season, undisclosed leg injury. But that still doesn't really excuse why he didn't do much in that game when he did have a lot of playing time before getting injured. Elite prospects put up numbers regardless, IMO, because coaches, especially at the college level, will force the ball into the hands of their elite athletes multiple times a game.

Direckshun · 09-29-2014, 02:24 AM

SS Landon Collins, Alabama -- Alabama DBs, even highly touted ones, have struggled so much in the NFL during the Saban era that it's almost become its own meme. Robert Lester, Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick, Dee Milliner, and now HaHa Clinton-Dix have all had tremendous struggles in the NFL (though HaHa is just starting). It makes you ask why anybody would take a shot on Collins whatsoever. Fortunately, that question has an answer: because Collins is a prototypical box safety with outstanding tackling fundamentals. There is no better tackler at the safety position in this year's draft than Collins, which is a big deal in today's NFL, where the Seattle Seahawks won a championship on the backs of a brilliant secondary and quality tackling. Collins will be tempting for Seahawk copycats. His problem is the same as all the others, however: can he cover. I've seen very little to suggest he can. He's a bigger safety (6'0", 215 lbs), and looks it on the field (I bet he times at 4.7). In his worst challenge to date, late year's bowl game against OU, he was torched regularly. But that doesn't detract from his brilliant tackling -- if you need a SS, he'd be a solid investment as early as the 2nd round.

Direckshun · 09-29-2014, 03:29 AM

OLB Vic Beasley, Clemson -- As soon as the 2014 season ends, war rooms across the NFL will gather and begin discussing how to unlock the potential of Vic Beasley. In Beasley, you have one of the most electrifying passrushers in college football, with lightning speed around the edge, an absolutely gorgeous spin move, and ferocious tenacity that never takes a play off. Beasley is likely to time in the 4.5s, and flies across the field. What Beasley can't do, however, is play defensive end full time. Clemson plays Beasley with his hand in the dirt on 90% of the plays, but Beasley's slight frame of 6'3", 235 lbs is nowhere near NFL caliber for a fulltime end. Instead, Beasley will have to find a home at rushbacker or even an OLB in a 4-3 scheme much like Denver runs. Beasley is not just small, he's apparently not terribly strong: he is a finesse rusher, incapable of pushing back OTs who outweigh him by 80-90 lbs. He is terrible against the run, preferring to dodge blockers and take chances diving for the ballcarrier rather than holding up blockers and shedding them. And while he's perfectly athletic to play 4-3 OLB (which I'd argue he's physically perfect for), he has spent so little time at Clemson standing up and playing coverage. As a result, Beasley is perhaps this draft's most important project; a passrusher this brilliant needs to be unleashed, but a team needs to field him in a way that will utilize his tools without adversely affecting the team by playing him full time. I see him as a Top Ten pick, no question, he's only a little smaller than Von Miller and Barkevious Mingo who both went in the Top 5; Miller is a 4-3 OLB, Mingo is a 3-4 rushbacker.

Post Combine (2/24): Not remotely a worry that Beasley is big enough to be a full-time 3-4 OLB. He weighed in at 245, and it was CLEARLY all muscle. Incredible athlete, I think he's the best passrusher in this draft.

Direckshun · 10-01-2014, 01:45 AM

DE/DT Michael Bennett, Ohio State -- As the NFL becomes more and more obsessed with metrics and "scheme fits," the Michael Bennetts of the draft are destined to fall past where they should be taken. What I see on film watching Bennett is a slightly undersized (6'2", 288) DT who plays his ass off, is a capable one-gapper and two-gapper, who looks smaller than he is and plays bigger than he is. He's not quite the sheer specimen that Allen Bailey is, but he's close. And OSU plays him typically at nose guard, despite his size. His first step is really good; he typically comes out of his stance violently colliding with offensive lineman, and he can play anywhere on the DL and do his job. His job, of course, is shooting gaps and clogging lanes -- he's nobody's idea of a passrusher. The biggest question is, where do you put him? It could be argued that he's on the small side to play inside in the 4-3 full time. However, he does look like he could be effective as a DE in any 3-4 that doesn't require much passrushing from him. He struggles two-gapping against large, powerful OL, and the Combine will likely reveal he has short arms. While I love how he plays, and think he looks like a 2nd or 3rd rounder, it's possible he falls farther because he doesn't fit the exact specifics typically required of his position.

Direckshun · 10-01-2014, 11:42 PM

WR Amari Cooper, Alabama -- To watch Cooper at WR is to watch the sport as it's meant to be played. That sounds like overkill, but Cooper is a truly enjoyable watch on film because he is a perfect combination of athletic ability, superior technique, and wily intelligence. He reminds me of Reggie Wayne in so many ways: both players are unremarkable, size-wise (Cooper has an inch and about 5 lbs on Wayne), both have pretty good (not great) speed and athleticism (Wayne ran a 4.4 in 2001... Cooper should time similarly), both are insanely sharp route-runners that will take entire drives to set up CBs for specific moves and routes they want to capitalize on later, and so on. Cooper is extremely versatile -- he's an adept deep threat, he can rack up YACs on crossing routes, he can challenge in the red zone. He even blocks well in the run game. Cooper is the player every Super Bowl team needs. Because he lacks in elite measurables, he may fall outside of the Top 10, but he really shouldn't.

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..
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09-25-2014, 09:53 PM	#16
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4443447	OLB Randy Gregory, Nebraska -- Now that I just got done comparing Ogbuehi to Eric Fisher, now it's time for a Dee Ford clone. Randy Gregory has a little more height on him than Ford (6'6", 240 lbs to Ford's 6'3", 240), but possesses almost exactly the same kind of game. Gregory is a one-dimensional rushbacker (he stands at the LOS about 75% of the time), who transferred to Nebraska after destroying JuCo football. His explosiveness is excellent, and unlike Ford, he plays with a Hali-esque, nonstop motor. But other than speeding around the edge, Gregory does not have really any passrushing moves. He's also useless against the run, and doesn't look great in coverage (although I believe he possesses the athleticism to turn it around there). He's definitely a 3-4 OLB, and you have to argue he'll be a 1st round pick, since that's where Ford went. Gregory has a higher ceiling, so I think he goes somewhere in the teens. Edit (11/18): No player this year has been a bigger force of nature than Randy Gregory. He has beautifully rounded out his game, and is a Top 5 player in the NFL Draft. He's like the leadership and power of Tamba Hali with the speed off the edge of Von Miller. He's fantastic. Last edited by Direckshun; 11-18-2014 at 01:34 PM..
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09-26-2014, 12:13 AM	#18
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4443447	OT Brandon Schwerff, Iowa -- Another year, another Iowa lineman. You already know all the dance steps here, don't you? A hardworking, smart, physically adequate-but-not-great, limited athleticism, near-perfect technician. Great base in his butt and legs, well coached, perfect kickslide. It's almost like we do this EVERY YEAR. Schwerff stands out, however, from Iowa lineman of years past in two ways. The first way is that Schwerff is capable of playing like a mean mother***er. He is incredibly aggressive against the run, and is downright apocalyptic when he pulls to the 2nd level. And thank goodness for that, because his passblocking film is appropriately boring -- he is cool, efficient, difficult to beat around the edge with powerful arms that guide passrushers out of harm's way. The second way Schwerff is unique amongst Iowa lineman is that he's less of a known quantity -- his tape against everybody from OSU to MSU has generally been outstanding, with one gigantic exception: he absolutely got his shit pushed in against LSU last year. LSU tortured him, primarily with large, powerful passrushers who bullrushed right through him, but he got beat everywhere*. I'd like to see him play a full year at his normal level without a single relapse to that horrendous performance before I consider him a Top Ten player -- but so long as he does, he will be.
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09-26-2014, 02:54 AM	#19
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4443447	QB Jameis Winston, Florida State -- If you ran Cam Newton through the washing machine a few too many times, you'd get Jameis Winston. Winston has all of Cam Newton's attributes, with minor or major downgrades on each. Cam is a large, athletic QB built like a tank. Winston less so, but still stands at a great 6'4", 235 lbs. Cam's got a rocket launcher for an arm. Winston's is just as good, but loses accuracy on deep throws. Few QBs are more dangerous in the open field than both these guys, but Winston considerably less so. Cam came with numerous questions about his maturity. Multiply those by about 100, and you've got Winston. And Cam's technique, discipline, and attitude were frequently criticized as being less than ideal for a QB, yet he won a national championship immediately and won ROTY. Winston's story is the same: his technique throwing the ball is troublesome (super slow release) and he's spent zero time under center or making multiple reads, but he wills his team to victory. Unlike Newton, Winston's character flags will drop him in the 1st round. Like Newton, however, he'll be mostly fine once he gets on the field, as a middling QB who can seemingly never get over the hump once defenses figure him out. A team like the Raiders could gamble on him, but there's just no guarantee he won't make terrible mistakes off the field, and there's no guarantee that his shortcomings on the field will ever allow him to elevate above what Cam Newton's become. A Geno Smith-like slide is possible. Last edited by Direckshun; 09-26-2014 at 03:01 AM..
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09-26-2014, 04:53 AM	#20
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4443447	DE Shilique Calhoun, Michigan State -- Here's what I love about Shilique Calhoun, that makes him so easy to root for: for a converted tight end, he's a contagiously enthusiastic player on the football field. He has that same enjoyable intensity to his play that you'd find in an Eric Berry or Tamba Hali. He's got the makings of a player your team rallies around, which is why he's a captain this year for the Spartans. Calhoun, however, has been dramatically overrated on the field. His first sin is that he's a tweener: his 6'4", 257 lbs frame's not big enough for a 4-3 DE, but he's not athletic enough to be a true 3-4 rushbacker. His second problem is the disappointing performances against the NFL-caliber talent he's played. He's been shut out now against the Ducks, the Hawkeyes, and Stanford. While he plays very hard and already has a couple good moves in his arsenal, he's just not strong enough to beat really good tackles if they get their hands on him, and almost all the tackles in the NFL are really good. Right now, he's getting mauled in the run game. The upside is that this is essentially his second full year at DE and he's got room in his frame to add weight and strength. Personally, I wouldn't touch him with a 1st round pick, and I think I'd wait until the third before pulling the trigger.
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09-28-2014, 10:49 PM	#21
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4443447	OT Andrus Peat, Stanford -- Even if you didn't know who Andrus Peat is, he deserves all the benefit of the doubt that you can spare. First of all, he's started at left tackle for two years in arguably the country's most vaunted OL program. Secondly, he bumped David Yankey, arguably the best guard prospect from last year's draft, to guard so he could play LT. Thirdly, look at CBSSports.com's prospect rankings: right now, they have Leonard Williams and Shilique Calhoun listed as Top Ten prospects, and Peat has essentially blanked both of them this year. So on paper, Peat's already one of the best prospects in this year's draft. On tape, he still looks really good, and even has some room to grow. He's already a stout, maxed-out 6'7", 312 lbs, and if there was one word I could use to describe his playing style, it would be "power." He looks like a perfect LT for a power running system, but still looks pretty good at pulling to the second level, but his bread and butter is in handling DTs as well as DEs muscularly in the run game. He doesn't look like the fluid athlete Ogbuehi is, but he looks every bit as effective -- he'd be a fine LT in any system, but is absolutely prototypical for a power system.
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09-28-2014, 11:49 PM	#22
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4443447	WR Sammie Coates, Auburn -- There's a whole lot to love about Sammie Coates, and a whole lot to be terrified of, as well. I'm not sure the NFL has ever seen a prospect like Sammie Coates -- Percy Harvin comes close. He possesses brilliant, 4.2 speed (and trust me, it explodes on tape), a packed 6'2", 201 lbs frame, a ridiculous 44" vertical and the ability to bench 400 lbs. I'm racking my brain, but I don't think we have ever, ever seen that. His go routes are epic, and he's a fantastic deep threat -- CBs must give him 10 yards cushion, or risk getting toasted. And with the ball in his hands, he's lethal if he has space. He's a willing if inconsistent blocker at the WR position, but with some refining he should be excellent. He can be difficult to bring down even if you get your hands on him. The bad, however, is that he's 100% boom/bust. He has never seriously run routes, as Auburn uses him exclusively in three ways: pure go routes, runblocking, and bubble screens/short throws. He only has 5 receptions so far this year (!!!), partially because teams put a deep safety over him, and he has no route-running ability to get open. But his QB play is also pretty iffy -- his QB completes far less than 60% of his passes, and only completed 150 passes last year, a third of which went to Coates. With competent QB play, and a couple seasons of learning the route tree, you could end up with a weapon the NFL's rarely ever seen. But it's just as likely you end up with a one-trick pony whose trick NFL teams will easily neutralize. Post Combine (2/24): Coates "only" ran a 4.4, but he plays with downright elite speed on the field. Last edited by Direckshun; 02-24-2015 at 11:30 PM..
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09-29-2014, 12:34 AM	#23
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4443447	CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu, Oregon -- The question becomes, knowing what you know now, where would you have drafted Brandon Flowers in 2008? Ekpre-Olomu projects to essentially play as his twin in the NFL, except that he's exceptionally more battle-tested. Ekpre-Olomu is the same diminutive size (5'9, 190 lbs), has the same speed (looks 4.3 in short spaces, but 4.5 otherwise), plays with the same intensity and features the same enthusiasm against the run. Ekpre-Olomu spends a lot of time in the slot, but has the ability to play outside, although he is not ideal in press man. Flowers' game is more physical, but Ekpre-Olomu is in no way a soft, finesse corner. His talents clearly suit him more as an aggressive corner in a zone scheme. He may have the best ballskills in the upcoming draft class, as his ability to turn his head, block out a receiver and field the ball has notched him a handful of interceptions every year he's started, with another one already this year. The Ducks almost never send him into the backfield, so he will need developmental time as a blitzer. But this is a defensive captain in the making, so the question for NFL teams will be: will you use your prejudice against short CBs to pass on Pro Bowl talent in the 1st round, just like you did in 2008 with Flowers? I hope the Chargers' success with Flowers and Jason Verrett change that, but the way size at CB is being fetishized right now, who knows. Last edited by Direckshun; 09-29-2014 at 03:42 AM..
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09-29-2014, 01:37 AM	#24
OldSchool MVP Join Date: Sep 2013 Casino cash: $10035212	On Coates, I think I would take his teammate "Duke" Williams in the 2nd-3rd over him in the 1st. Williams has dominated at every level he's played at and can work the slot or outside. He also has good size, speed, and explosion and has been way more productive despite, as you pointed out, mediocre Qb play.
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09-29-2014, 02:24 AM	#27
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4443447	SS Landon Collins, Alabama -- Alabama DBs, even highly touted ones, have struggled so much in the NFL during the Saban era that it's almost become its own meme. Robert Lester, Mark Barron, Dre Kirkpatrick, Dee Milliner, and now HaHa Clinton-Dix have all had tremendous struggles in the NFL (though HaHa is just starting). It makes you ask why anybody would take a shot on Collins whatsoever. Fortunately, that question has an answer: because Collins is a prototypical box safety with outstanding tackling fundamentals. There is no better tackler at the safety position in this year's draft than Collins, which is a big deal in today's NFL, where the Seattle Seahawks won a championship on the backs of a brilliant secondary and quality tackling. Collins will be tempting for Seahawk copycats. His problem is the same as all the others, however: can he cover. I've seen very little to suggest he can. He's a bigger safety (6'0", 215 lbs), and looks it on the field (I bet he times at 4.7). In his worst challenge to date, late year's bowl game against OU, he was torched regularly. But that doesn't detract from his brilliant tackling -- if you need a SS, he'd be a solid investment as early as the 2nd round.
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09-29-2014, 03:29 AM	#28
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4443447	OLB Vic Beasley, Clemson -- As soon as the 2014 season ends, war rooms across the NFL will gather and begin discussing how to unlock the potential of Vic Beasley. In Beasley, you have one of the most electrifying passrushers in college football, with lightning speed around the edge, an absolutely gorgeous spin move, and ferocious tenacity that never takes a play off. Beasley is likely to time in the 4.5s, and flies across the field. What Beasley can't do, however, is play defensive end full time. Clemson plays Beasley with his hand in the dirt on 90% of the plays, but Beasley's slight frame of 6'3", 235 lbs is nowhere near NFL caliber for a fulltime end. Instead, Beasley will have to find a home at rushbacker or even an OLB in a 4-3 scheme much like Denver runs. Beasley is not just small, he's apparently not terribly strong: he is a finesse rusher, incapable of pushing back OTs who outweigh him by 80-90 lbs. He is terrible against the run, preferring to dodge blockers and take chances diving for the ballcarrier rather than holding up blockers and shedding them. And while he's perfectly athletic to play 4-3 OLB (which I'd argue he's physically perfect for), he has spent so little time at Clemson standing up and playing coverage. As a result, Beasley is perhaps this draft's most important project; a passrusher this brilliant needs to be unleashed, but a team needs to field him in a way that will utilize his tools without adversely affecting the team by playing him full time. I see him as a Top Ten pick, no question, he's only a little smaller than Von Miller and Barkevious Mingo who both went in the Top 5; Miller is a 4-3 OLB, Mingo is a 3-4 rushbacker. Post Combine (2/24): Not remotely a worry that Beasley is big enough to be a full-time 3-4 OLB. He weighed in at 245, and it was CLEARLY all muscle. Incredible athlete, I think he's the best passrusher in this draft. Last edited by Direckshun; 02-24-2015 at 11:34 PM..
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10-01-2014, 01:45 AM	#29
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4443447	DE/DT Michael Bennett, Ohio State -- As the NFL becomes more and more obsessed with metrics and "scheme fits," the Michael Bennetts of the draft are destined to fall past where they should be taken. What I see on film watching Bennett is a slightly undersized (6'2", 288) DT who plays his ass off, is a capable one-gapper and two-gapper, who looks smaller than he is and plays bigger than he is. He's not quite the sheer specimen that Allen Bailey is, but he's close. And OSU plays him typically at nose guard, despite his size. His first step is really good; he typically comes out of his stance violently colliding with offensive lineman, and he can play anywhere on the DL and do his job. His job, of course, is shooting gaps and clogging lanes -- he's nobody's idea of a passrusher. The biggest question is, where do you put him? It could be argued that he's on the small side to play inside in the 4-3 full time. However, he does look like he could be effective as a DE in any 3-4 that doesn't require much passrushing from him. He struggles two-gapping against large, powerful OL, and the Combine will likely reveal he has short arms. While I love how he plays, and think he looks like a 2nd or 3rd rounder, it's possible he falls farther because he doesn't fit the exact specifics typically required of his position.
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10-01-2014, 11:42 PM	#30
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4443447	WR Amari Cooper, Alabama -- To watch Cooper at WR is to watch the sport as it's meant to be played. That sounds like overkill, but Cooper is a truly enjoyable watch on film because he is a perfect combination of athletic ability, superior technique, and wily intelligence. He reminds me of Reggie Wayne in so many ways: both players are unremarkable, size-wise (Cooper has an inch and about 5 lbs on Wayne), both have pretty good (not great) speed and athleticism (Wayne ran a 4.4 in 2001... Cooper should time similarly), both are insanely sharp route-runners that will take entire drives to set up CBs for specific moves and routes they want to capitalize on later, and so on. Cooper is extremely versatile -- he's an adept deep threat, he can rack up YACs on crossing routes, he can challenge in the red zone. He even blocks well in the run game. Cooper is the player every Super Bowl team needs. Because he lacks in elite measurables, he may fall outside of the Top 10, but he really shouldn't.
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