#108 ~ RS ~ DeAndre McDaniel ~ 6.0/216
Rover Back.
I don't think it's possible for me to come across as
objective about
DeAndre McDaniel.
His Long Speed is what most analysts dog him about: 4.63 "40" at the Combine. The prevailing "wisdom", of course, is that that time speaks to limited Range, and will compromise his ability to become an effective Safety at the Pro level.
My thinking is that very few of the alleged experts who cite that alleged wisdom could quote
Rodney Harrison's "40" time.
4.82.
So much for the crippling effects of a 4.63 "40".
More to the point, DeAndre McDaniel
plays fast. I will put his Processing Speed and Diagnostic Skills up against
any Safety in this Draft Class. His raw cerebral talent is
outstanding, and his Instincts are
phenomenal, but both pale in comparison to his relentless and implacable dedication to reading Game Tape, to analyzing, to training...in short: to his pursuit of mastering this Great Game.
He has explosive Verticity ~ his ability to Turn + Burn Fast + Fluidly is
amazing. Combined with his extraordinary Diagnostic Skills and Processing Speed, he has forged an utterly
fascinating ability to anticipate where the play is headed ~ to consistently be that vital, critical, absolutely
devastating half step ahead of everyone else.
He navigates Traffic with exceptional skill, surprising Speed, and relentless
Fury: He is
terrifying, out there!!
And he arrives with all the rage of HELL: This is a guy who genuinely LOVES to blast people!! He plays this Game with a GREAT deal of Ferocity and Passion. And yet this is a guy who tackles with consistently disciplined technique: a sure, wrap up tackler. I find that combination of traits ~ Ferocity and Discipline ~ VERY rare.
And he's a tremendous team mate, as well: Very disciplined in sticking to assignments, yet this is no small minded "Not My Section" Prima Donna. Quite the opposite. The very instant that it's clear that the ball's not coming his way, he immediately heads the ball's way...and often an half second ahead of everyone else. Again: his instincts, his Diagnostic Skills, and his Processing Speed...are
astonishing.
On top of all that, he's got a Sixth Sense for the FootBall, tremendous anticipation of it trajectory, exceptional timing of his leaps, and enormous hands. It's no coincidence that he's racked up 12 Interceptions, the last two years.
This is an
exceptional young man, a guy who has worked his way forward from an
awful childhood, who made some mistakes in college...and who has emerged as an Honor Roll student, a team Captain, and an amazing, inspiring
Leader.
#129 ~ CB ~ Ryan Jones ~ 5.11/200
Ryan Jones brings an absolutely
outstanding fusion of skills to this Great Game: Terrific Long Speed, exceptional Quickness, superior Fluidity, and tremendous Verticity ~ Turn + Burn ability. He's Instinctive, he's Strong, and he's got a well established talent for sniffing out the FootBall and creating TurnOvers.
And he's an aggressive Run Defender who hits
hard and often.
He's raw and untrained, as can be expected, coming out of an obscure school, but that's nothing that can't be rapidly overcome when he gets profressional training.
This kid has #1 Corner potential written all
over him, yet he's projected to go in the Late Rounds!!
#154 ~ OT ~ Willie "Fresh Prince" Smith ~ 6.5/310
Willie Smith brings a
stunning blend of Anchoring Power, Sustainable Leverage, Fluidity, Lateral Agility, and Range to the table.
His fusion of Athleticism + Power at the Point of Attack is
astonishing.
He's raw as hell, of course.
But Willie Smith, for my money, has
multiple Pro Bowl Potential.
And he is currently projected for the 7th Round.
Let Coach Dante put this kid's explosive natural skills to work, and could become
exceptional.
#159 ~ OT ~ David Mims ~ 6.8/330
One of the most fascinating aspects of this Great Game, is how I continue to watch men ~ Professionals ~ who know, literally, THOUSANDS of times more than me about this Great Game...make UNFATHOMABLE mistakes.
Talent evaluation is
subjective, of course, and it is somewhere therein that the paradox lies.
I rank
David Mims as the #2 O Tackle
in this entire Draft Class.
And yet his current Estimated Draft Position is on the fringe of the 7th Round!!
And this...in a year where the O Tackle Draft Class is
awful.
David Mims commands an
astonishing fusion of Mastodonic Power and utterly
shocking Athleticism. On tape, last year, he displayed
obscene Fluidity + Agility for a 350 Pound man.
And on Pro Day he was down to 330.
He is raw as ALL get out: The man did not even have the benefit of a LINE Coach, much less a Strength + Conditioning Coach at Virginia Union. His Technique needs a
lot of work.
But this kid ~ mark my words ~ has
10 Pro Bowl + Hall of Fame Potential.
#169 ~ XB ~ Graig Cooper ~ 5.10/205
I am not particularly rational about
Graig Cooper.
I think he brings an
amazing Fusion of Fluidity, Lateral Velocity, Processing Speed, and flat out
Ferocity to the Game.
FEROCITY.
I'm telling ya: The man runs
angry.
If I had to, I would cement off my 53rd Roster spot for a year, in order to let him complete the healing,
but not let him get away. Would he be able to recapture his Game, if one GM or Coach was that smart??
Frankly, I think SO.
If somebody is smart, they remember that it ALWAYS takes 18 months to Take It Through The Gears and get back up to 100% Operational Capacity, following a devastating injury...and then they scoop up Cooper on Day 3, and just ROCK with him for the next decade.
#193 ~ TE ~ Will Yeatman ~ 6.6/270
Will Yeatman, in my view, has more Up Side than any classical ~ 90% Blocking/10% Receiving ~ Tight End in this
Class.
He is raw as hell, but he is the prototypical size for the job, and he commands
astonishing athleticism.
Will Yeatman is a ferocious Blocker who commands great natural dexterity ~ honed through years of playing LaCrosse!! ~ and who has only just
tasted his incipient Navigational Liquidity in running the Route Tree.
He commands nothing less than
All Pro Potential as a mauling,
crushing traditional Tight End...and with surprising Agility and Instincts as a Receiver!!
And yet he projects as a Free Agent.
God Bless America.
#204 ~ WB ~ Brett Brackett ~ 6.6/250
Brett Brackett is raw as hell, a guy who would, in fact, need to be a Wide Receiver Conversion. He's not particularly fast, either out of the Blocks or DownField, but he's an excellent Navigator, a natural Receiver, and very, very Instinctive and Savvy: As a former QuarterBack, he knows how to Work the Field.
What really excites me, though, is his
ferocity as a Blocker and his absolutely selfless dedication to his mates, so rare in a Wide Out.
His speed would seem to limit him as a vertical Wing End kind of guy, but I think he has the potential to be a
phenomenal developmental
Wing Back.
#225 ~ PB ~ Mario Fannin ~ 5.10/230
Power Back.
Oh man do I LOVE this kid:
Explosion.
Fluidity.
Lateral Velocity.
A
punishing Runner.
Not only that, but he is a
crushing Blocker, and a
deadly Receiver.
Sure, he runs too high, and his Navigational Skills need work.
He is by NO means a lock to succeed.
But, my
GOD.
Marion Fannin could end up being a
demolishing Weapon.
And he might not even get
drafted.
Here's hoping we wait late, and then
POUNCE on this kid.
