Explanation of Colors + Numbers
1 ~
Red = OverRated ~ in my OH so humble opinion!!
2 ~
Purple = Sleeper or Steal or Super Sleeper!!
3 ~
Blue = Bargain ~ Good Value.
4 ~ The first number = Market Value ~ my best guess, based on CBS, Walter, Et Cetera...
5 ~ The second number = FIENDISH Value ~ how
I grade them!!
6 ~ These will all be Cut + Pasted from yon Site, so the formats are different.
An Explanation of My Twisted ViewPoint!!
I have no intention or expectation of converting anyone to my view of things, of course. That doesn't happen, anyway: People make up their own minds in their own way...But an explanation is warranted, I think, out of respect to those of you who do me the honor of reading these Works.
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Ahh...Defensive Tackles.
I love all of FootBall...and all FootBall players...
But D Tackles lie closest to my heart.
These are the Grizzlies ~ on occasion: The Super Grizzlies!! ~ that forge Championships...and are then forgotten...
...Except by those of us who truly Love This Game.
As with O Line Grizzlies ~ who own an equally resplendent place in my Heart ~ it's all about Core Strength and Core Power, Launch Velocity and Explosion...when I'm evaluating D Grizzlies.
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Michael Brockers ~ 6.6/322 ~ 1st ~ 1st
SuperBeast!! Michael Brockers is a little raw and will probably need time to develop, but he brings a disruptive fusion of Core Strength, Core Power, and Launch Velocity to this Great Game.
This is a rare Force who should become equally devastating against the Run and against the Pass.
Most impressive, though, are his already well-refined Diagnostic Acuity and Processing Speed. Watching him on Tape, it's clear that he's watched plenty Tape, himself, and is a truly dedicated Student of the Game.
Build your Defense around this guy.
A Steal, despite the lofty Price Tag!!
Devon Still ~ 6.5/303 ~ 1st ~ 2nd
Starter!! Devon Still has "Beast" upside, and he played like a Beast as a Senior, but I sense that his High Upside is accompanied by an equally low Downside.
So in this case, a "Starter" Value is my notion of an equivalent to High Ceiling/Low Floor!!
Make no mistake: Devon Still brings considerable Strength, Power, and Athleticism to the table.
And he has been consistently productive at Penn State, peaking in this, his Senior year.
But there are some questions out there about his Passion for this Great Game.
Mind you: I'm not yet nearly good enough at this to discern with certainty that this is the case, based on Tape, alone. And I despise unfounded gossip.
But National FootBall Post's Wes Bunting has questioned it, and I place great confidence in Mister Bunting's analytical powers. He doesn't tend to express doubts unless he's been given good reason to do so.
As such, I'm assigning an High Risk Factor to young Mister Still, for the time being, and setting a 2nd Round Value. As such, I'd have to call'm
OverRated!!
Fletcher Cox ~ 6.4/298 ~ 1st ~ 2nd
Starter!! I notice that there is a tendency ~ by Scouts far more knowledgeable than me, mind you ~ to attribute consistently poor pad level to inexperience.
And to a good extent, I'm sure they're right.
But I see it, most of all, as insufficient Core Strength.
And that, of course, is ~ for me ~ the most alarming Red Flag that any Grizzly can be saddled with.
Fletcher Cox commands exceptional Athleticism. His Lateral Agility and Fluidity are both outstanding, and, indeed, his Fluidity goes a ways towards allaying my concerns about him.
And his Launch Velocity is deliciously Explosive.
But his Core Strength is an enormous hindrance to'is success, causing him to get washed out time and again.
And he also gets flagged both for Diagnostic Acuity and for Processing Speed, two attributes that are utterly vital to success at the next level.
I do believe he'll make plays and get his Sacks.
But I have grave doubts about his ability to perform consistently and well at the next level.
OverRated!!
Dontari Poe ~ 6.4/346 ~ 1st ~ 2nd
Starter!!
Potential Beast.
Potential Bust.
Dontari Poe commands ~ clearly commands ~ the most awe-inspiring fusion of Strength, Power, Size, and astonishing Athleticism of any Grizzly on either side of the ball, this year!!
The only question is: Will he harness his amazing Gifts??
That is a very big question.
He was not productive at the college level.
And yet his Market Value has
skyrocketed, in the wake of that crazy Combine.
Even so: Caveat Emptor!!
This is a classic High Ceiling/Low Floor Prospect, ladies and gentlemen!! And that talent has not yet translated onto the field. All Prospects are gambles, but this one's far too expensive for my taste.
OverRated!!
Jerel Worthy ~ 6.2/308 ~ 1st-2nd ~ 2nd-3rd
Starter!! Jerel Worthy makes plays, but I have some doubts about his ability to consistently hold his own.
He commands the Explosion, the Power, and the Speed to split Gaps, attack, and make plays.
But I'm not convinced that he has the Strength or Fluidity to consistently hold his own, shed Blocks, or sustain Gaps at the next level.
He strikes me as a guy who will make plays against weaker competition and get his numbers...but who you won't be able to count on against top competition.
As such, I'm looking at a 2nd-3rd round grade for him, which, in my view, makes him a bit
OverRated!!
Kendall Reyes ~ 6.4/300 ~ 1st-2nd ~ 1st-2nd
Starter!! Kendell Reyes commands a very impressive fusion of Explosive Burst and Core Flexibility.
His Core Strength is good and improving, and he's an intelligent Scrapper who I feel very confident is going to make the most of his not inconsiderable skills.
He's already a dangerous Attacker.
And I believe he's going to become a solid Defender.
His Stock has risen considerably, but even in the 1st to 2nd Round Range, I'd say it's warranted.
Fair Value!!
Brandon Thompson ~ 6.2/314 ~ 2nd ~ 2nd
Starter!! Brandon Thompson has a pretty impressive Burst off the Snap for a Beast of his size, and that, combined with superior Processing Speed, makes him a dangerous Attacker, against the Run and the Pass.
As a Defender, though, he's got work to do, as both his Core Strength and Fluidity are concerns.
All in all, Thompson looks like a starter at the next level, and quite possibly a good one, if he improves his Core Strength.
Fair Value!!
Mike Martin ~ 6.1/306 ~ 3rd ~ 3rd-4th
Potential Starter!! Mike Martin is Scrapper Deluxe:
Marginal Core Strength and Fluidity, but enough of both to at least compete at the next level, and a very impressive fusion of Ferocity and Processing Speed:
This is a guy who will play far above his head for his entire career, while his detractors wait...and wait...and wait...for him to come back down to Earth.
Mind you: This is also the kind of guy who scraps and scrapes his way into a starting gig, and actually does all right most of the time...but ends up getting hideously exposed against top competition.
Even so: He should be an invaluable Role Player, or a solid starter, and for a long time.
Fair Value!!