BGC 2018 DRAFT RUSH THREAD

[BaconGrundleCandy]

I'll breakdown and write about all RUSH prospects here. Esp those that are "Patriot-type Players" as I like to say.

I'll add to this as we go but here are some marks I use to describe certain attributes, traits etc

+ = Above average ++ = Great +++ = Elite.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

HERCULES MATA'AFA *PATRIOT-TYPE PLAYER* WAST ST - 6'2/250 - DL/DE - 4JR

BACKGROUND - Hometown Lahaina, Hawaii.

High School, Lahainaluna.

Played OLB in H.S. football.

Grew up wrestling with his family. 2 Brothers and 4 Sisters. 1 sister was a former state wresling champ and went on to MMA. Another played water polo in college. Ine went on become a punt/pass/kick champ, wrestles at 220 and is 3X state champ going for 4.

Hercules was a 2X St Champ Runner Up (215 lb)to Dane Pestano.

R.S. FR

R.S. Freshman played in 11. 32 TKL. 11 TFL. 7 SKS. 1 FF. 1 FR.

R.S. SOPH played in 12. 47 TKL. 13.5 TFL. 5 SKS.

Currently has 117 TKL. 20 SKS. 44.5 TFL. 3 FF.


Strengths

• Thick, proportioned body throughout ankles to shoulders & arms. Frame can handle 8-12 lbs of muscle before maxed out.
• ++SPEED RUSH/GREAT BURST that is borderline unblockable when he times the snap. Quick Twitch athlete that jumps off screen.
• Uses a variety of moves to attack the Linemen. ++Club & Slide - Gets skinny, knifes through the gap leading w/ hip & shoulder. ++ Arm over & Swim. +Club. + Punch that stuns, is usually underneath an opponents pads. As a result Mata'afa almost bounces off & stays clean. Can run the arc on the edge and get underneath his man.
• Active, Violent hands & arms that almost never stop. Understands leverage, angles ... how to use/contort his body to get through the muck (pinch points and how to get out of them).
• ++Motor. He's a chase & pursuit guy and almost never stops moving.
• Flexible, agile, naturally strong player
• Lined up everywhere along the line. 0, 3 , 5, 6. Has dropped into coverage a few occasions, mostly spying QB.
• Has improved every year, put up very good stats. No O.T.F. concerns.

Concerns

• Under sized prospect playing DLine. What do teams think about next position fit?
• Keep better eye on the ball on the the way to the QB. Has to maintain gap discipline better.
• Get stronger, develop bull/snatch, bull rush. Needs faster counter during play.

Future Outlook
Hercules is an extremely intriguing, versatile prospect that still has plenty of room to grow. He relentless attacking the QB & always in the opponents back field. He's humble and a team first guy that is about the big picture. I see him playing weakside DE and kicking inside on obvious passing downs but mainly a pass rushing specialist his first year. I have a early 2nd round grade on Hercules right now

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

HERCULES MATA'AFA - TRAITS THAT TRANSLATE

BOISE STATE 2017



1) 1:12 Lined up over R.G. - Great Burst - Arm Over/ Slide - Gets to QB, Causes T.O & TD.
2) 2:30 Lined up over R.G. outside shoulder - good not great burst - active hands & burst through middle knifing by inside shoulder w/ club & knife.
3) 3:24 Slides down over C outside shoulder - Shoots low through gap - finds RB for TFL
4) 4:11 Lined up over C - Elite burst - Club/Slide & Swim - Gets skinny for pressure
5) 5:47 Lined up over C - Arm over leading w/ hips for TFL
6) 8:48 Lined up R.G. - Fake rush - drops & spies - QB gets flushed - 50 shoots at QB for near TFL
7) 9:14 Lined up over inside shoulder T - Punch underneath - burst - TFL
8) 9:40 Lined up over R.G. drops & spies

#7

Working the edge w/ club/A.O.

Working the edge. Built in leverage but nice ability to get under his guy


#1

 

[Gabriel_p94]

I just started watching him and i like him. The one thing im looking for right now is if he can at least keep contain. Because watching cassius marsh get pushed completely out of the play and leaving lanes open drives me crazy.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

I just started watching him and i like him. The one thing im looking for right now is if he can at least keep contain. Because watching cassius marsh get pushed completely out of the play and leaving lanes open drives me crazy.

He'll prob max out around 260-264. I'm expecting just under 260 at the combine. So he'll always have trouble with certain guys but I believe he can do a good enough job in that area.

He does a great job of staying off guys, going through doubles and his motor takes care of the rest.

His hands are always active and he has built in leverage that only helps his punch stun opponents.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

DUKE EJIOFOR PATRIOT-TYPE PLAYER - WAKE FOREST - 6'4/270 - DE - RJR


BACKGROUND

• Honor Roll student at Alief Taylor High School.
• Was a speed rusher at 205lbs, Ran 4.53 40, 39-inch vert leap.High jumper in track.
• Had offers from Houston, Rice, Kansas and TCU.
• Son of Dr. Samuel and Franca Ejiofor. Born Apr. 24, 1995. Name is pronounced "EDGE-eh-for". Father says family comes from royalty in Nigeria.
• Showed up around 230 at Wake Forest and went through huge body transformation

Strengths

• Long arms, big hands. Powerful, stout body 6'4/270
• Attacks QB w/ hard work/fight, burst, power & finesse moves. -POWER - Rip, Club, Swat or combo from several. -FINESSE - Hesitation, Spin, Outside to inside crossing face, speed around arc. Will use stride length & tempo to beat his man. Violent hands. Splits doubles attacking gaps by getting skinny and knifing
• Lines up Wide 9, Both DE spots. Can rush outside/inside.
• Run Game - Maintains good gap discipline, will knife gaps, long arms help stay clean and at times can shed. Uses arm over inside.
• Improved each year as pass rusher and in the run game. Watches film (to recognize OL blocks, tells), beast in the weight room.
• ++Motor. Doesn't take plays off, sell out for stats. Good chase/pursuit

Concerns

• Inconsistent get off
• Body looks maxed out or very close
• Needs to learn to counter faster off/when first move doesnt work

FUTURE OUTLOOK

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

DUKE EJIOFOR

TRAITS THAT TRANSLATE

 

[Ochmed Jones]

View attachment 18698 DUKE EJIOFOR PATRIOT-TYPE PLAYER - WAKE FOREST - 6'4/270 - DE

I like this guy’s game a lot. He is never going to be confused with Malik Jefferson in coverage, but going forward or setting the edge, he is someone who might work for us,

 

[Gabriel_p94]

I was actually looking at mock draft today to start getting familiar with the prospects coming out this year. Surprisingly tgey had arden key falling to us with the 31st pick. Which is crazy to me because he was one of the few prospects i heard of last year and he was discussed to be a top 3 pick. I wonder what happened?

 

[Ochmed Jones]

I was actually looking at mock draft today to start getting familiar with the prospects coming out this year. Surprisingly tgey had arden key falling to us with the 31st pick. Which is crazy to me because he was one of the few prospects i heard of last year and he was discussed to be a top 3 pick. I wonder what happened?

He has not performed as expected this year. But really the expectations were ridiculous.

I think marsh has proven that 240 pound de’s do not work well in our defense.

We need the 260 plus pounders to do what we require.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

I like this guy’s game a lot. He is never going to be confused with Malik Jefferson in coverage, but going forward or setting the edge, he is someone who might work for us,

He's been a fav for a while. He's a monster in the weight room. Watches film on his own to understand what type blocks he'll be facing (huge for me), looks to have very long arms & big, violent hands.
Lines up everywhere. He gets to the QB in a variety of ways. Is very disciplined about staying in his lane and very active in the run game. He has the power to shed and length to stay clean.

He's def a P-TP imo. Hard working pass rusher. I think he'd help us a lot.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

I was actually looking at mock draft today to start getting familiar with the prospects coming out this year. Surprisingly tgey had arden key falling to us with the 31st pick. Which is crazy to me because he was one of the few prospects i heard of last year and he was discussed to be a top 3 pick. I wonder what happened?

He's been a huge mystery. Supposedly had some off the field issues that I havent heard any convo about in any mainstream forum. There's a lot of smoke and might end coming out. Who knows.

He took time off. Gained a bunch of weight, played slow and def not up to his standards but he's never really broke out so expectations (like OJ alluded to) were too high.

Just a lot going on

Recently hes been playing better and shown a few flashes.

 

[Snooky97]

I see key more of a 3-4 OLB.. I must admit though I haven't seen a lot of footage on him.

If we're going OLB for pressure..

Lorenzo Carter from Georgia. Guy is a monster!

 

[Hammer of Thor]

He's been a fav for a while. He's a monster in the weight room. Watches film on his own to understand what type blocks he'll be facing (huge for me), looks to have very long arms & big, violent hands.
Lines up everywhere. He gets to the QB in a variety of ways. Is very disciplined about staying in his lane and very active in the run game. He has the power to shed and length to stay clean.

He's def a P-TP imo. Hard working pass rusher. I think he'd help us a lot.

Reading that, he pretty much sounds like Belichick's dream come true. Hopefully he interviews well, and then BB puts him in a bubble wrap so he'll still be around in the 2nd at the spot they like.....

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Reading that, he pretty much sounds like Belichick's dream come true. Hopefully he interviews well, and then BB puts him in a bubble wrap so he'll still be around in the 2nd at the spot they like.....

Who's knows what happens but I'd love to double dip early on and get IDL/RUSH.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Just read something hours ago saying Mata'afa is playing at 230 rn.

Def doesn't look that light but who knows until combine for weight & measurables.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

MARCUS DAVENPORT - *PATRIOT-TYPE PLAYER* - UTSA (UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS SAN ANTONIO) - 6'6/250 - DE

BACKGROUND

• Went Stevens High School in San Antonio, Texas. Played football. Basketball (was defensive player of the year), Track and field/Shot Put. Area qualifier in the 1,600m relay.
• Born Sept. 4, 1996. Son of Ronnetta (5'10) and Ron Davenport (6'4 and had late grow spurt after h.s.)
• Multidisciplinary studies major. Fav class is philosophy. Writes poetry.
• Showed up at UTSA 6'5/198. Is now around 6'7/240-250.
• Recently named to the 2017 Wuerffel Trophy watch list for his active role in community volunteering.

Strengths

• Enormous frame 6'6/250 ... that might get bigger. Long, lean athlete with long arms.
• Lines up at OLB, DE, Drops in coverage.
• Very nice first step. Light mover, lomg strider.
• Knows how to use his length to get after QB. -POWER - + Long Arm, Chop, Rip and some Dip to him. Moves opponents with long arms and strong hands. Combines Long Arm w/ Rip & Dip. Chop/Rip
• Awareness. Can sniff out misdirection and if hes not touching the QB, hes getting a hand on the ball from the l.o.s.
• ++ Motor. Doesn't sell out for stats or take plays off.
• Football IQ, overall play has improved each year.

Concerns

• Huge jump from competition. How will he handle bigger, stronger, more athletic Linemen. Esp on power run plays.
• Needs to put more moves together during his rush.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

MARCUS DAVENPORT - TRAITS THAT TRANSLATE

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Davenport should be on everyones radar. Hes a classic Patriot pick if there ever was one.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Seems to be a ton of good pass rushers in this draft. Problem is only a few play the run worth a darn and even fewer can drop into coverage.

That is why I like “the duke” from wake forest. He plays all over and appears to have high courage.