Content Post Words on things I watched, read & heard II

[captain stone]

Informative thread:

Cory Trice Jr. Draft and Combine Prospect Profile | NFL.com

Cory Trice Safety Purdue | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report

Rating: 63.4 Rank: #93 Forty: 4.47 Cory Trice attended Christian County High School and was rated a 3-star prospect by 247 Sports with a scout's rating of 0.860, going unranked by ESPN. Fol...

www.nfldraftbuzz.com

The Draft Network

TDN

thedraftnetwork.com

He's been on my PTP sheet since I put it out. I wouldn't be surprised at all if he goes late 2/early 3.

I was about to type that he's one of my favorite Day 3 CB prospects, along with Riley Moss & Jakorian Bennett... Looks like I might have to prepare myself to think earlier than that...

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

You might be thinking of the Meat Curtain...

That is not the first time I have heard that.

 

[captain stone]

That is not the first time I have heard that.

Remember those Beef Curtain tee-shirts that Wilfork, Gerard Warren etc made for the 2010 or '11 season? That was a lot of Beef...

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Slater was a better athlete and stronger but Skoronski's feet, recovery and toughness are above average for NFL but it'll be a challenge for sure. If we didn't have Strange I'd be all over him bc we have a clear fallback plan at G. This would be a big move if made. Like possible "ok" from ownership type big bc you would have to have a clear plan. You don't just "make" this pick. You're on the same page with your OL coach, GM and QB coach even considering the possible shake ups. Super interested in where he'll land bc hes a great prospect.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

I was about to type that he's one of my favorite Day 3 CB prospects, along with Riley Moss & Jakorian Bennett... Looks like I might have to prepare myself to think earlier than that...

Him and Wright are two of the better press/man guys in the draft. I believe they'll go a little earlier than expected. I would mind a 3rd on him.

 

[long distance]

Just how valuable is a great LT to a winning football team? I ask this looking at the career of the Browns’ Joe Thomas who will be inducted this summer as a first ballot pro football HOFer. Lauded as one of the best at his position to ever play the game, the Browns only finished over 500 once in his 11year career averaging only 4 wins a season.

It’s hard to imagine a team having an historically great player at QB, WR, TE, CB or edge rusher only averaging 4 wins a season no matter how inept the rest of the team might be.

The last 3 SB champs lined up Orlando Brown, Andrew Whitworth and Donovan Smith at LT. None of whom will ever be lauded as one of the best ever.

What I’m thinking is while good offensive line play is essential to winning football it’s the quality and depth of the unit having a greater impact than having a red chip player at one of the positions. What I’m also thinking is with so much shotgun being run and so little deep drop pass plays, the interior line play might now be as important if not more important than the tackles.

I think the Patriots can win as many games over the next 5 with Tyler Steen playing LT as Broderick Thomas. But, they’ll win more games if they use their 1st rounder on a red chip boundary corner or tight end than a LT.

Good topic but oversimplified math.

LT is one of the most valuable assets on the team for a reason. The fact that top LTs are usually on bad teams only underlines it. There are only so many of them in a decade, they are drafted by bad teams, they dont see FA and trade cost is just insane.

I think your question has a flawed premise. Every QB, OC and prob even HC would love to have great LT. But great/winning teams have difficulty to afford it since what makes them a winning team is probably having top $ already tied to multiple other positions and mostly have QB on top $ as well.

The other problem is that LT is a part of the biggest UNIT in football. Like you said team needs at least 6-7 solid NFL starters on OL in order to properly function in Jan/Feb. So yes, one great LT is not going to make a difference on a sub average OL, but it can transform a solid OL to a dominant one sooner than anybody else. We've seen this in NE the first year Mount Brown came here.

The fact is the two top teams - KC & PHI - have both dominant OLs & have heavily invested in OL both in FA and Draft. That includes LT. And thats despite having two top paid QBs. The last time KC was not a winning team was when they were left wo starting LT (and RT) and had no valid replacement.

The real question here before FA was - how valuable is a good or even solid LT to a rebuilding team with young 1st round QB.
BBs answer was pretty much negative. They were in on Dillard and that was it it seems. Maybe he didn't like the top guys, maybe he didn't like the value, who knows. I think counting on either Brown or 2023 Draft is a mistake (and BBs rebuilding through FA has so many of them over last 3 yrs). Of course if Brown stays healthy and plays like 2018 in his contract year - all big IFs - it can still work out ok for this yr - but the future at LT remains huge ? and this is unfortunately not the Draft to bank on it.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

This but 3 cone in NFL.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

 

[Uptown]

 

[DaBruinz]

This but 3 cone in NFL.

I'm hoping they revamp some of the testing so that the guys are more willing to do the 3-cone..

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

I'm hoping they revamp some of the testing so that the guys are more willing to do the 3-cone..

I refuse to believe they can't find an efficient solution for everyone over the course of 3-5 days. I mean the bench takes up way too much time imo and it's useless unless you're a DL/OL/LB. They need to figure that out.

 

[DaBruinz]

I refuse to believe they can't find an efficient solution for everyone over the course of 3-5 days. I mean the bench takes up way too much time imo and it's useless unless you're a DL/OL/LB. They need to figure that out.

I think you hit the nail on the head. They should be tailoring the testing for the different positions.
Here are my thoughts:

Vertical / Broad - Everyone
Bench - OL/DL/LB

The area where I'm not sure how to replace is the 40. I mean, it's a good measure for OL and DL. Most people look at the 10yd split for them if they look at it at all. But the 40 is definitely helpful for WRs, DBs, RBs, and TEs.

Is there some way to combine the 40 with the 3-cone or Short Shuttle? Maybe do it on both sides of the field. Set it up where they run 15 yards, do an in-cut, then 10 yards, and a cut the opposite way up the field for 15 yards. This would test how they do going into and out of cuts, their acceleration, and overall stamina.. I'm open to other ideas..

 

[Ross12]

QB in Round 1? Pats reportedly host Will Levis for pre-draft visit

The Patriots reportedly hosted one of the top quarterback prospects in the NFL Draft on Wednesday, an eye-opening move considering the presence of Mac Jones on their roster.

www.nbcsports.com

Pats host Will Levis on a top-30 visit on the final day they are allowed to do so. Interesting. Could just be for scouting/due diligence, but I could also see them being legitimately interested. Potential to trade Mac for a 2nd and then trade up to 3rd with Arizona for Levis? I don't think it'll happen, but the utter refusal to discuss Mac Jones from BOB this week combined with this visit makes me wonder.

 

[upstater1]

QB in Round 1? Pats reportedly host Will Levis for pre-draft visit

The Patriots reportedly hosted one of the top quarterback prospects in the NFL Draft on Wednesday, an eye-opening move considering the presence of Mac Jones on their roster.

www.nbcsports.com

Pats host Will Levis on a top-30 visit on the final day they are allowed to do so. Interesting. Could just be for scouting/due diligence, but I could also see them being legitimately interested. Potential to trade Mac for a 2nd and then trade up to 3rd with Arizona for Levis? I don't think it'll happen, but the utter refusal to discuss Mac Jones from BOB this week combined with this visit makes me wonder.

In case Levis drops to 14, the team behind them might think the Patriots can potentially take him for a trade up.

It's smart for the Patriots to throw some smoke into the equation.

Levis is either going to be a huge bust or he's going to be a Dan Marino type. If you remember, Marino had a fantastic junior year, but with the talent depletion at Pitt, he looked very rough as a senior. Just like Levis. Throwing abilities were there. Marino was thought to be really inaccurate coming out of college.

He ended up being the most accurate QB in NFL history.

 

[Ross12]

In case Levis drops to 14, the team behind them might think the Patriots can potentially take him for a trade up.

It's smart for the Patriots to throw some smoke into the equation.

Levis is either going to be a huge bust or he's going to be a Dan Marino type. If you remember, Marino had a fantastic junior year, but with the talent depletion at Pitt, he looked very rough as a senior. Just like Levis. Throwing abilities were there. Marino was thought to be really inaccurate coming out of college.

He ended up being the most accurate QB in NFL history.

I tend to agree with that assessment, and it makes me think it makes sense to take him IF the team truly does feel there's not a big gap between Mac and Zappe (as reported by Breer - who knows if that's true). If you feel like Zappe can be about as good as Jones, why not just keep Zappe and take a swing on a player like Levis who has the upside to be a far better player? Let Zappe and Levis (and I guess McSorley) compete in camp. It's a somewhat new scheme anyway under O'Brien so everyone has a decently fair shake.

 

[patfanken]

this is interesting and I'm sure the anti-Mac squad will love it, BUT you can't take to seriously a stat that has Brady a 24 BEHIND guys like Nick Foles and Tyrod Taylor, and that one has Peyton Manning somewhere BELOW 83rd and JaMarcus Russell.

 

[rochrist]

this is interesting and I'm sure the anti-Mac squad will love it, BUT you can't take to seriously a stat that has Brady a 24 BEHIND guys like Nick Foles and Tyrod Taylor, and one has Peyton Manning somewhere BELOW 83rd and JaMarcus Russell.

Keep in mind that was measuring only the very start of a career. Foles is high because he had that ridiculous start throwing 27 TDs vs 2 INTs his second year. Peyton is low because his rookie year was awful.

 

[BaconGrundleCandy]

QB in Round 1? Pats reportedly host Will Levis for pre-draft visit

The Patriots reportedly hosted one of the top quarterback prospects in the NFL Draft on Wednesday, an eye-opening move considering the presence of Mac Jones on their roster.

www.nbcsports.com

Pats host Will Levis on a top-30 visit on the final day they are allowed to do so. Interesting. Could just be for scouting/due diligence, but I could also see them being legitimately interested. Potential to trade Mac for a 2nd and then trade up to 3rd with Arizona for Levis? I don't think it'll happen, but the utter refusal to discuss Mac Jones from BOB this week combined with this visit makes me wonder.

Bill got rid of Kobi - Mac's fav target and Harris - Mac's best friend on the team. It was the 4 amigos - Mac, Henry, Harris and Kobi but Henry still has $$ tied here. Not a coincidence. Now we upgraded on Smith and Kobi but a message was sent imo.

 

[Ross12]

Bill got rid of Kobi - Mac's fav target and Harris - Mac's best friend on the team. It was the 4 amigos - Mac, Henry, Harris and Kobi but Henry still has $$ tied here. Not a coincidence. Now we upgraded on Smith and Kobi but a message was sent imo.

Yep. You can see the ripple effect here. I think Henry was probably the least outspoken of the group overall, at least as far as I can remember. Bourne was also certainly pretty outspoken and is still on the roster, but I also noticed he seemed to backtrack pretty heavily towards the end of the year.