2014 Draft Prospect Thread

[manxman2601]

Safety is a possibility, but it's a little late for that kind of position change. How do we know he can tackle anyone?

I don't. Nor do I know whether he can take a handoff. The thing is to bring him in to camp and see what he can do (not here though).

 

[mackenzie45220]

Oh, and I know someone asked, I've gotten a look at Justin Britt. There is no way he stays at tackle, since he doesn't get out of his stance quick enough, and would need a ridiculously large split to block NFL speed rushers. His fundamentals give him a shot a guard, though.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Jordan Lynch is Eric Crouch 2.0 He was a great college player, just doesn't have the skill-set to play in the NFL.

 

[mackenzie45220]

Also, Henry Josey is too small to block anyone and currently runs terrible routes. But with the ball in his hands? He looks like Jamaal Charles.

 

[JerseyShore99]

Also, Henry Josey is too small to block anyone and currently runs terrible routes. But with the ball in his hands? He looks like Jamaal Charles.

One of my favorite RBs in this deep class, really rooting for Josey and hope my Pats can scoop him up, BB will love his speed and admire his background

 

[manxman2601]

I like Derrell Johnson of ECU as a late round linebacker that competes with Beauharnais for that big SLB/MLB backup slot. Johnson at 6-2, 264 reminds me a fair bit of Hightower if you imagine Hightower a a 3-4 OLB. Johnson is very strong, has a good bull rush and is tactically sound - rarely caught out of position.

 

[mayoclinic]

Interesting read on Darqueze Dennard:

NFL draft profile: Physical Michigan State cornerback plays with chip on shoulder - KansasCity.com

Some good quotes from OptimumScouting director Jared Counterman:

“You can probably call interference on every single play he's in,” said OptimumScouting.com NFL draft analyst Jared Counterman. “Receivers don't play him and not have bruises.”

“I was watching the tape and getting frustrated, because I was like 'This guy is committing penalties right and left and they're not getting called,'” Counterman said. “He's just mugging these receivers. Then I found out he makes it a point to talk to refs before games and establish what he can and can't do. You just don’t see that from 21- or 22-year-olds. He pushes the line and physically dominates.”

“He can be Aqib Talib-ish in a way,” Counterman said, referring to the New England star, who is regarded as one of the NFL's best corners. “Talib is a guy who loves to have his hands on the receiver, someone who can watch the quarterback and feel the wide receiver move with his hands."

 

[stelfans]

I like Derrell Johnson of ECU as a late round linebacker that competes with Beauharnais for that big SLB/MLB backup slot. Johnson at 6-2, 264 reminds me a fair bit of Hightower if you imagine Hightower a a 3-4 OLB. Johnson is very strong, has a good bull rush and is tactically sound - rarely caught out of position.

An MLB i like late in the draft is Preston Brown from Louisville. Is more like Spikes thogh.

Btw Manx have you heard about Elhadji Ndiaye? Sounds like the kind of bonky you like

 

[manxman2601]

An MLB i like late in the draft is Preston Brown from Louisville. Is more like Spikes thogh.

Btw Manx have you heard about Elhadji Ndiaye? Sounds like the kind of bonky you like

looked him up. 1:23 minutes into his highlight reel and you are right, I do. Very good burst and long arms. Would be happy with him on my UDFA/late round list.

He makes me think of Armonty Bryant from last year who I also liked and who ended up as starting RDE for the Browns last year despite a rocky start.

 

[manxman2601]

The Bills got this one right:

Bills LT Cordy Glenn was responsible for only 1.5 sacks in 2013.

NFL Network suspends Darren Sharper without pay | ProFootballTalk

 

[mackenzie45220]

Starting to like Ahmad Dixon. Always been physically talented, raw but did about as good job against Amaro in man coverage as you could expect.

You know, I saw something last year from Dixon against Oklahoma. I don't remember all the details, but he was coming in to help make a play in the middle of the second quarter, and he hit his head pretty hard. Laid on the ground for 4-5 seconds in obvious pain, near the Oklahoma sideline, and the Baylor coaches had no way of seeing it. But he didn't take himself out of the game. The next play was just painful. His teammates played zone, he played man, and Oklahoma had a 29 yard catch. I realized that I had just seen a player play through a concussion. Awful to watch.

 

[manxman2601]

So Marcus Smith of Louisville is another Jamie Collins. Why have I not watched him before? Fantastic movement skills for a guy of his size.

Edit: Now right up there as one of my favourite prospects in this draft. Just watched his three Draft Breakdown vids and have just sat there open-mouthed. On the first video I watched I thought Draft Breakdown had got it wrong because they'd highlighted a player covering the slot and flipping his hips as well as a safety.

Smith is so explosive as a pass rusher - if you leave him unblocked, your QB is going down. Louisville were lining him up all over the place, even as a nickel DT. I see him as a potentially similar weapon to Jamie Collins. And he does all this on a 250lb+ frame. Right I'm off to watch him again.

http://draftbreakdown.com/players/marcus-smith/

 

[captain stone]

Starting to like Ahmad Dixon. Always been physically talented, raw but did about as good job against Amaro in man coverage as you could expect.

You know, I saw something last year from Dixon against Oklahoma. I don't remember all the details, but he was coming in to help make a play in the middle of the second quarter, and he hit his head pretty hard. Laid on the ground for 4-5 seconds in obvious pain, near the Oklahoma sideline, and the Baylor coaches had no way of seeing it. But he didn't take himself out of the game. The next play was just painful. His teammates played zone, he played man, and Oklahoma had a 29 yard catch. I realized that I had just seen a player play through a concussion. Awful to watch.

Dixon is someone whom I would seriously consider with our 3rd-rounder (#96, I hope).

 

[Husse]

So Marcus Smith of Louisville is another Jamie Collins. Why have I not watched him before? Fantastic movement skills for a guy of his size.

Edit: Now right up there as one of my favourite prospects in this draft. Just watched his three Draft Breakdown vids and have just sat there open-mouthed. On the first video I watched I thought Draft Breakdown had got it wrong because they'd highlighted a player covering the slot and flipping his hips as well as a safety.

Smith is so explosive as a pass rusher - if you leave him unblocked, your QB is going down. Louisville were lining him up all over the place, even as a nickel DT. I see him as a potentially similar weapon to Jamie Collins. And he does all this on a 250lb+ frame. Right I'm off to watch him again.

Marcus Smith | Draft Breakdown

I really like Smith too, only thing I can find wrong is that he doesn't play all that physical in the open field. I think he will put up really good numbers at the combine.

 

[manxman2601]

I really like Smith too, only thing I can find wrong is that he doesn't play all that physical in the open field. I think he will put up really good numbers at the combine.

He went to Louisville as a QB and in three years has gone from QB wannabe to defensive player of the year in the ACC. There's a lot of Jamie Collins similarities there. And the speed with which he can get to the QB is phenomenal. I'm so impressed and whilst it's hard o envisage BB drafting yet another linebacker high, when I think what he could do with both Collins and Smith....

 

[Husse]

He went to Louisville as a QB and in three years has gone from QB wannabe to defensive player of the year in the ACC. There's a lot of Jamie Collins similarities there. And the speed with which he can get to the QB is phenomenal. I'm so impressed and whilst it's hard o envisage BB drafting yet another linebacker high, when I think what he could do with both Collins and Smith....

Yeah, Collins + Smith is truly a drool-worthy combo. Which of course means it won't happen.

But I'll keep hoping.

 

[mayoclinic]

So Marcus Smith of Louisville is another Jamie Collins. Why have I not watched him before? Fantastic movement skills for a guy of his size.

Edit: Now right up there as one of my favourite prospects in this draft. Just watched his three Draft Breakdown vids and have just sat there open-mouthed. On the first video I watched I thought Draft Breakdown had got it wrong because they'd highlighted a player covering the slot and flipping his hips as well as a safety.

Smith is so explosive as a pass rusher - if you leave him unblocked, your QB is going down. Louisville were lining him up all over the place, even as a nickel DT. I see him as a potentially similar weapon to Jamie Collins. And he does all this on a 250lb+ frame. Right I'm off to watch him again.

Marcus Smith | Draft Breakdown

He went to Louisville as a QB and in three years has gone from QB wannabe to defensive player of the year in the ACC. There's a lot of Jamie Collins similarities there. And the speed with which he can get to the QB is phenomenal. I'm so impressed and whilst it's hard o envisage BB drafting yet another linebacker high, when I think what he could do with both Collins and Smith....

Yeah, Collins + Smith is truly a drool-worthy combo. Which of course means it won't happen.

But I'll keep hoping.

Wow. Wow. I need to look more carefully at Marcus Smith.

FWIW, he's quietly gotten the attention of some draftniks. From Draftinsider:

Marcus Smith/DE-OLB/Louisville: It’s going to be interesting to see where Marcus Smith lands in the draft. This is an explosive athlete who has proven he can consistently generate pressure on the quarterback. The issue is that he’s undersized for the defensive end position. Luckily, Louisville has given Smith opportunities to drop in coverage and show evaluators that he has the athleticism to transition to outside linebacker. I’d have no problem pulling the trigger on a dynamic pass rusher like Smith in the second round. He has the potential to consistently reach the double-digit sack mark in the NFL. 2nd Round

Scouting the Russell Athletic Bowl: Miami vs. Louisville

From Matt Miller:

Productive, athletic and eye-catching when you turn on the film, Louisville's Marcus Smith has flown too far under my radar this season. With a second look at Louisville before its matchup against Miami in the Russell Athletic Bowl, I finally gave Smith the full attention he's deserved. And I was impressed.

Smith is quick off the ball and has the hand use you want to see from an edge-defender. At 6'3" and 255 pounds, he looks more like a left defensive end (LEO) or stand-up 3-4 linebacker, but Smith's quickness and range are underrated at this point. He's firmly in my top 120 prospects heading into the new year.

2014 NFL Draft: Matt Miller's Scouting Notebook for Week 17 | Bleacher Report

Definitely need to see more of him.

 

[manxman2601]

Wow. Wow. I need to look more carefully at Marcus Smith.

FWIW, he's quietly gotten the attention of some draftniks. From Draftinsider:



Scouting the Russell Athletic Bowl: Miami vs. Louisville

From Matt Miller:



2014 NFL Draft: Matt Miller's Scouting Notebook for Week 17 | Bleacher Report

Definitely need to see more of him.

I don't want to see him pigeon-holed at any position. Louisville used him all over and that's exactly how he should be used. Get him into a position where the offense don't know where he's coming from.

That discussion we were having about TE's. I'd be happy taking Smith ahead of a TE.

 

[mayoclinic]

I don't want to see him pigeon-holed at any position. Louisville used him all over and that's exactly how he should be used. Get him into a position where the offense don't know where he's coming from.

That discussion we were having about TE's. I'd be happy taking Smith ahead of a TE.

Murphy - Smith/Van Noy - Niklas would be a dream scenario for me, assuming Smith's all you say, and it sounds like he probably is. It will be interesting to see how he does at the Senior Bowl and Combine.

 

[captain stone]

The Bills got this one right:



NFL Network suspends Darren Sharper without pay | ProFootballTalk

Sorry to go off-thread, but what happened to Sharper?
(I haven't clicked PFT since You-Know-What-Gate.)