2014 Draft Prospect Thread

[mackenzie45220]

Stephon Tuitt doesn't look terrible, but he needs to do a better job of using his length to shed blocks. A well executed defensive line stunt ended with him being blocked one on one with Stepfan Taylor, and he should be able to shed that block instantly. His arms are so long that Taylor shouldn't be able to touch him, but he got no initial punch and didn't do a great job of using his strength.

 

[mackenzie45220]

David Yankey has incredible savvy. He made this play I could not believe. First of all, the Stanford O-line depth chart means almost nothing since everyone plays every position. Yankey was lined up at left guard, though he is usually at tackle. Louis Nix got a really good jump off the snap, and Yankey was already out of position. Yankey hit Nix in the stomach with his shoulder pad and then successfully performed a reach block... from his knees. Seriously, Yankey was on his knees. Nix couldn't just go around him him since Yankey's initial hit moved Nix into an overcrowded area, and Yankey held him off long enough for Taylor to get past him. Early in the second quarter. Amazing play

 

[mackenzie45220]

This draft class looks amazing. Henry Anderson is the best pure 3-4 end prospect I've ever seen. Has everything you look for in a 3-4 end. Right now, and I haven't scouted most players yet, but Jason Verrett, Johnny Manziel, Louis Nix III, and Kyle Van Noy have cemented themselves as players who would be top 10 picks in a normal draft class, at least in my mind. By the time I see everyone, I think there will be more than 10. Clowney will be added to that list as soon as I watch some South Carolina film. David Yankey, Taylor Lewan, Jake Matthews, Daniel McCullers, Cody Hoffman, and Anderson all look like borderline top 10 picks. It's going to be fun.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Just wrote a new article. A fun read more than anything
NFL vs NBA: Which sport has the better athletes? - NFL Mocks - 2013 NFL Mock Draft, Fantasy Football, NFL News, and NFL Mock Draft Databases

As ESPN noted, Nate Solder, who outweighs every player in the NBA, has a 32" vertical—four inches more than the NBA average.

 

[mackenzie45220]

As ESPN noted, Nate Solder, who outweighs every player in the NBA, has a 32" vertical—four inches more than the NBA average.

In the NBA's defense, it's not fair to use averages for them. See, 7 footers are really rare. Definitely more rare than 300lbs players. To have a chance at success at the NBA level, if you're 7'0, all you need is more strength and athleticism than 75% of people that are 7'0 tall in the world. Being more athletic than 75% of the world isn't a big deal. However, to succeed as an NFL tackle, you need to be stronger and more athletic than 99.9% of people in the world that are 6'4 or taller and 300lbs or heavier. A guy in the 99.9th percentile of his size will definitely stand out more in the weight room than a guy in the 75th percentile of his size, even if they are equally rare in sheer quantity of people. So I avoided looking at NBA players that were over 6'7, since, in general, it's not a fair comparison.

 

[mackenzie45220]

Kevin Hogan is a guy who could really be good this year. What stood out is that he's a good athlete with good throw power that makes excellent reads for a redshirt freshman and has good mechanics. However, I couldn't help but notice that he'll often string together several inaccurate passes consecutively (many of which were wobbly and high), and I studied his mechanics to see if I could figure out what was wrong. His mechanics were perfect, no different than normal. That can only mean one thing: if he gripped the football any tighter, it would pop. If I had a quarterback who's only significant flaw was tightness of grip, I'd be a giddy coach. One of the easiest things to fix. If he becomes more consistent about not having a death grip on the football, he's easily a top 10 pick. The name that comes to mind is probably Tony Romo, except there is no reason to believe Hogan collapses under big circumstances, plus he's a bit more athletic. Like Romo, Hogan has a lightning quick release and upper tier throw power

 

[s3antana5757]

This draft class looks amazing. Henry Anderson is the best pure 3-4 end prospect I've ever seen. Has everything you look for in a 3-4 end. Right now, and I haven't scouted most players yet, but Jason Verrett, Johnny Manziel, Louis Nix III, and Kyle Van Noy have cemented themselves as players who would be top 10 picks in a normal draft class, at least in my mind. By the time I see everyone, I think there will be more than 10. Clowney will be added to that list as soon as I watch some South Carolina film. David Yankey, Taylor Lewan, Jake Matthews, Daniel McCullers, Cody Hoffman, and Anderson all look like borderline top 10 picks. It's going to be fun.

This is high praise for a guy I haven't heard alot(or anything) about. Stanford runs a 3-4 if I'm not mistaken? But to call him the best, that'd mean better than guys like Seymour, Watt, Ngata, etc.

 

[mackenzie45220]

This is high praise for a guy I haven't heard alot(or anything) about. Stanford runs a 3-4 if I'm not mistaken? But to call him the best, that'd mean better than guys like Seymour, Watt, Ngata, etc.

Whoa, bear in mind, I've been a draft scout for 5 years. I didn't scout most of those guys except Watt. And, in Watt's case, he's awesome in any defense. I suppose Jadeveon Clowney is the best 3-4 5 technique I've ever scouted, but he's also the best 4-3 5 technique I've ever scouted. I see him as more of a 4-3 guy. Watt could have succeeded in both. But if a team needs a true 3-4 end, and nothing else, Anderson offers everything you look for in a 3-4 end. Great strength. The long arms necessary to be a two gap lineman and make tackles in each gap. The non-Albert Haynesworth willingness to not try to penetrate against the run. The toughness. The ability to see through blocks. The instincts. Etc. And yes, Stanford runs a 3-4.

 

[mackenzie45220]

I've gotten a look at Cyrus Kouandijo. The immediate name that comes to mind is San Francisco's Anthony Davis

 

[mackenzie45220]

Why Stanford will win the National Championship:
Why Stanford will win the 2014 National Championship - NFL Mocks - 2013 NFL Mock Draft, Fantasy Football, NFL News, and NFL Mock Draft Databases

 

[s3antana5757]

Whoa, bear in mind, I've been a draft scout for 5 years. I didn't scout most of those guys except Watt. And, in Watt's case, he's awesome in any defense. I suppose Jadeveon Clowney is the best 3-4 5 technique I've ever scouted, but he's also the best 4-3 5 technique I've ever scouted. I see him as more of a 4-3 guy. Watt could have succeeded in both. But if a team needs a true 3-4 end, and nothing else, Anderson offers everything you look for in a 3-4 end. Great strength. The long arms necessary to be a two gap lineman and make tackles in each gap. The non-Albert Haynesworth willingness to not try to penetrate against the run. The toughness. The ability to see through blocks. The instincts. Etc. And yes, Stanford runs a 3-4.

Fair enough. I'll be interested to see what other people think about him and where the hype train leads when the draft approaches. Definitely a name to store away.

Cyrus Kouandjio seems a little bit like Davis. I like that comparison. I think his pass blocking may be a little better because he seems a tad more athletic. I liked Davis coming out of Rutgers. I think in a strong draft around the 13th pick is a good spot for Cyrus. I have him behind Matthews and Lewan.

 

[mackenzie45220]

Ed Stinson is a bad fit in a 3-4, but he could dominate as a 3 technique in a 4-3

 

[mackenzie45220]

Chris Burnette looks terrific. Good athlete, plays hard, smart, strong. Only downside is his short arms. Well suited to block short 4-3 defensive tackles, even the best of them, like Geno Atkins

 

[mackenzie45220]

Adrian Hubbard looks solid. Bit like Connor Barwin, except Hubbard has an unusually powerful initial punch for a linebacker, and he's a bit more polished. Top 20 pick

 

[mackenzie45220]

Adrian Hubbard looks solid. Bit like Connor Barwin, except Hubbard has an unusually powerful initial punch for a linebacker, and he's a bit more polished. Top 20 pick

Starting to regret that comparison. Brian Orakpo minus some quickness (Hubbard is quick, Orakpo is really quick)

 

[mackenzie45220]

Trey DePriest could be a Pro Bowler if he learned to shed a block

 

[manxman2601]

Why Stanford will win the National Championship:
Why Stanford will win the 2014 National Championship - NFL Mocks - 2013 NFL Mock Draft, Fantasy Football, NFL News, and NFL Mock Draft Databases

Glad you gave a shout out to Benwikere of San Jose in your article. He impressed me a lot from limited exposure.

Two things to say:

1. Very good article on Stanford.

2. Thanks for keeping this forum moving. I'm hoping to get back in the groove shortly. Excellent work.

 

[manxman2601]

I think QB is potentially a need for us next year in the mid-late rounds in order to start getting ahead of the transition to a post-Brady world whenever that comes. I'm pretty excited by Jeff Matthews of Cornell as someone who could step right in to our offense.

Scouting Notebook: Wake Up to Cornell?s Jeff Mathews, He?s a Sleeper No More


Jeff Mathews vs Yale (2012) - YouTube


Unfortunately he's already getting some 1st round buzz on the internets (justifiably, I rate him as the second best QB I've watched behind Bridgewater). But with the high number of potentially interesting QBs from pretty big schools available, the Cornell guy might fall a round or two.

Anyway, one to watch out for in the coming year.

 

[manxman2601]

Brendan Bigelow, RB, Cal is fast!!!!


Brendan Bigelow vs Ohio State,USC,UCLA,WSU 2012 - YouTube

 

[Get it shawtaay]

Brendan Bigelow, RB, Cal is fast!!!!


Brendan Bigelow vs Ohio State,USC,UCLA,WSU 2012 - YouTube

Niiiiiiiiiiiice catch. Glad to see you back on your scouting hustle Manx. Bigelow is finally going to get used this season so we'll see what he's made of.