Scouting Report: Shawn Oakman

Hey guys,
Here is a link to my article on Shawn Oakman.
http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/2014/10/scouting-report-shawn-oakman-de-baylor.html

For some reason, I am having real problems with Wordpress not allowing me to embed videos. I want them to be viewable by all, so I am still working on the bugs.

If anyone is a computer savvy person that might be able to help me figure out exactly what I am doing wrong, I sure would appreciate the help.

Thanks,
Mike

Great job. I agree with everything you say. Plus Oakman has the ability to move inside on passing downs, and to drop back on occasion.

Oakman - Wilfork - Easley - Jones would be scary good.

I think Arik Armstead is almost as athletic as Oakman. I'd be curious as to your view on how they compare.

Thanks Mayo,
That lineup would be scary. I have a lot of Oregon games on the DVR so I will give Armstead a look. I know he missed a couple games due to injury so hopefully I have some good tape on him.

Another excellent scouting report. I have to confess that I'm not as high on Oakman as the two of you. I'm intrigued certainly but, and I was thinking about this the other day, if you imagine a line with Margus Hunt at one end and Ziggy Ansah at the other, I'd grade Oakman nearer to Hunt. I used those two players because they are roughly how I see Oakman. That's not too harsh on Oakman as I was higher on Hunt than most and saw him as a borderline first rounder and that's where I'd personally grade Oakman, maybe higher if it wasn't such an outstanding pass rushing class. It will be interesting to see where Oakman ends up - he's certainly capable of going top 10.

manxman2601 said:

Another excellent scouting report. I have to confess that I'm not as high on Oakman as the two of you. I'm intrigued certainly but, and I was thinking about this the other day, if you imagine a line with Margus Hunt at one end and Ziggy Ansah at the other, I'd grade Oakman nearer to Hunt. I used those two players because they are roughly how I see Oakman. That's not too harsh on Oakman as I was higher on Hunt than most and saw him as a borderline first rounder and that's where I'd personally grade Oakman, maybe higher if it wasn't such an outstanding pass rushing class. It will be interesting to see where Oakman ends up - he's certainly capable of going top 10.

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Good comparison.

I see Oakman and Armstead as being taller, longer versions of Michael Bennett - guys with enough speed and explosiveness to play 4-3 DE, but with the advantages of great length and versatility, able to move inside or 2-gap. If that speed and explosiveness turns out to be lacking, then I think you get Margus Hunt (who has great linear speed but who is stiff as a board). I completely agree that this is a judgment call, and that either guy could end up more like Hunt. Ansah is unusually fluid for someone his size, and a rare find. I'd settle for Armstead being a more fluid version of Hunt and worth a late 1st/early 2nd pick, but I think Oakman may be at least mid-way on the spectrum between Hunt and Ansah.

I suspect that BB would be more interested in a power rusher who can set the edge and take on blockers than a speed rusher.

mayoclinic said:

I suspect that BB would be more interested in a power rusher who can set the edge and take on blockers than a speed rusher.

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I agree, I think it has been engrained into our brains that guys must be able to do multiple things for BB to consider drafting them, especially in the early rounds.

Who do you personally prefer, Oakman or Gregory?

Gregory is more of a OLB - Reminds me alot of ALdon Smith.

Pipe dream for the New England Patriots.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings

Shawn Oakman is currently ranked #7 overall by NFLDraftScout.

mayoclinic said:

Who do you personally prefer, Oakman or Gregory?

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I sort of see them the same right now, but going in different directions if that makes sense. Oakman I see adding weight so he can be a power rushing DE in either a 4-3 or 3-4.
Gregory needs to get stronger up top, but I like him with off the line as a OLB type. Gregory is a lot smoother in his lateral agility than Oakman, but Oakman's length and power moving forward are great.
I think both of these guys would be on top of BB's list over the pure speed rushers because of their ability to stop the run.

Can't I have both?

ATippett56 said:

Pipe dream for the New England Patriots.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings

Shawn Oakman is currently ranked #7 overall by NFLDraftScout.

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I think it is early in the process to definitively say he won't be a Patriot. Right now, it is more about just watching the tape on any and all prospects and getting into where they will or won't go later.

midwestpatsfan said:

I think it is early in the process to definitively say he won't be a Patriot. Right now, it is more about just watching the tape on any and all prospects and getting into where they will or won't go later.

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There exists a number of NFL teams that need defensive ends/pass rushers.

http://www.teamrankings.com/nfl/stat/sacks-per-game

Atlanta, Arizona, Oakland, Dallas, Seattle, Tampa Bay, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati

I guess I am just doing my due diligence on as many players I can. I have no idea when he will get drafted, no one does, but I like to get an idea of the top guys as well as the late round guys. You are probably right, he will probably get drafted before the Patriots pick, but that is not entirely why I do these. I will watch hundreds of guys (hopefully) and all but 7 or 8 of them will be drafted by other teams.

midwestpatsfan said:

I sort of see them the same right now, but going in different directions if that makes sense. Oakman I see adding weight so he can be a power rushing DE in either a 4-3 or 3-4.
Gregory needs to get stronger up top, but I like him with off the line as a OLB type. Gregory is a lot smoother in his lateral agility than Oakman, but Oakman's length and power moving forward are great.
I think both of these guys would be on top of BB's list over the pure speed rushers because of their ability to stop the run.

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I don't see them as remotely similar at all. I'm not quite sure what you mean, as they are very different players.

midwestpatsfan said:

I guess I am just doing my due diligence on as many players I can. I have no idea when he will get drafted, no one does, but I like to get an idea of the top guys as well as the late round guys. You are probably right, he will probably get drafted before the Patriots pick, but that is not entirely why I do these. I will watch hundreds of guys (hopefully) and all but 7 or 8 of them will be drafted by other teams.

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I appreciate the scouting report.

However, the Shawn Oakman hype reminds one of the Aaron Donald hype last year.

Might be a top 10 pick. If Oakman is on the board when New England is picking, something seriously went wrong with his interviews or combine.

MrNathanDrake said:

Might be a top 10 pick. If Oakman is on the board when New England is picking, something seriously went wrong with his interviews or combine.

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Oakman and Brandon Scherff have been my top 2 guys for the Pats since last spring, but both will likely be out of reach, even with a trade up. But at this point I feel like I have a clear #2 at each position - not coincidentally, 2 guys Manx spotted first: Bud Dupree and TJ Clemmings.

mayoclinic said:

Oakman and Brandon Scherff have been my top 2 guys for the Pats since last spring, but both will likely be out of reach, even with a trade up. But at this point I feel like I have a clear #2 at each position - not coincidentally, 2 guys Man spotted first: Bud Dupree and TJ Clemmings.

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Sign me up to those two picks in the first two rounds.

manxman2601 said:

Sign me up to those two picks in the first two rounds.

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That's the way I'm heading right now. I see Dupree as a fusion of Justin Houston, Justin Tuck, and Rob Ninkovich.

I have to compliment you. I think you have the best pure "eye" for talent since Box.

One more thought on Dupree. The guy who I think he could end up most resembling in terms of size / speed / explosiveness / athleticism / versatility is ... Ziggy Ansah.