Three really good mid-rounders, and three I hate. - Page 7

Direckshun · 02-11-2014, 06:30 PM

DE/DT Brent Urban, Virginia -- Yet another one of those midrounder DEs that would fit extremely well in at 3-4 DE. Urban, however, may have the best size/athleticism combo out of all of them. At 6'6", 296 lbs, he is an imposing powerful presence that looks a lot like JJ Watt. When he's on, he drives OL back into the backfield with his ridiculous wingspan and swallows up runners. Urban missed 4 games this year, but still swatted down 9 passes (first in his league), and blew up 12.5 TFL. That's a very JJ Watt like output. Two problems, both of them serious, but potentially correctable: (1.) Urban can get push in the pocket, but he's not racking up a ton of sacks himself (only had 1 this year), and (2.) his technique does need some work, as he ends up on the ground a few times against superior linemen. Nonetheless, he's got some really interesting measurables, and could serve as a potential starter in both 1- and 2-gap systems if he responds well to coaching. He seems like a third day pick to me, but the more coaching you think he'll require, the lower the round you'll obviously be willing to spend.

Direckshun · 02-12-2014, 11:50 AM

WR Brandon Coleman, Rutgers -- Coleman is a candidate to be drafted, and there are hundreds of people breaking down his skillsets, and here I am talking about him, all for basically one reason: he's really, really big. At 6'6", 220 lbs, he's right up there with Kelvin Benjamin as the most crazyhuge receive this draft offers. And that alone is makes him draft worthy -- because he is athletically limited, with iffy hands, and will need a ton of coaching on his technique. He's got a fantastic, long frame with ridiculous arms, but the Combine will have to show me his vertical and his speed, because his tape does little to reveal either. His routes are very weak, and he almost never shakes a DB. As a result, he frequently has to make receptions in traffic, resulting in iffy hands -- he might have amazing hands, but it'll take a year or two of work on his technique. At this point, his tape is severely unflattering, but there are worse things to spend a late rounder on, I guess, than a gigantic receiver you feel you can groom. His Combine performance will be super interesting, to say the least.

Direckshun · 02-12-2014, 02:47 PM

WR Bruce Ellington, South Carolina -- Ellington is a lot of things, but first and foremost, he is an almost-too-much-to-believe athlete. Get this: Ellington has been a true two-sport athlete for the Gamecocks. He was the starting point guard and leading scorer for the university's basketball program, even though he's 5'9". On top of that, he led the Gamecocks receivers in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns -- is this kid real?? Ellington is a fantastic athlete in space on the football field (his 40 time is projected at 4.4) with really good hands, but what's really surprising considering he splits time between sports is how sharp his route running is. He gets in and out of his cuts very fast, and he even throws a gorgeous spiral as an emergency QB. Once he starts dedicating 12 months a year to football, he could be a really special contributor in the NFL. If there were ever an argument for letting Dexter McCluster walk in free agency, the fact that you can get a receiver like Ellington in the 4th round should be all you need to hear.

Direckshun · 02-12-2014, 03:54 PM

WR Tevin Reese, Baylor -- Reese is the Brandon Coleman of speed. The reason everybody and their mother is looking at this guy is because he's a speed demon. The problem, however, is with everything else. But, to me at least, speed is more valuable in a WR than height -- it's harder to cover somebody who's genuinely faster than you, and can often require two defenders, rather than just a tall guy who struggles to shake people. But it remains to be seen if Reese does in fact contain that speed -- he's a projected 4.3 guy, but 4.4 is a possibility as well. He is also undersized at just 167 lbs, though he is an acceptable 5'11". He does come with durability concerns (broke his wrist this past season). But I've saved the worst for last: Reese has really blah hands. Part of his problem is small hands. Part of it is concentration problems receiving the ball -- he's always looking towards the next juke. But mostly, he's just not an outstanding receiver. He's just really, really stupid fast. Is that enough to get him drafted?

Direckshun · 02-13-2014, 12:12 AM

WR Devin Street, Pittsburgh -- Street is a player with unknown potential. He's been stowed away at Pitt under two incompetent quarterbacks and two entirely different offensive systems. Under that adversity, however, Street has set the record for the most receptions in school history. Watching him, it's easy to see why. Despite all the adversity, Street gives 110%, working hard to make himself available for his QBs and trying like hell to reel in poor passes thrown his way. There's a lot of stuff about Street that's pretty good but doesn't blow the doors off anybody: his size at 6'3", 196 lbs; he runs hard and makes quick cuts, but isn't necessarily a burner; his routes need some work, but his slants and go routes look great... Street does have really good hands, however -- not a lot of drops on his tape, period. And I know this is not a tangible measurable, but he just looks like a winner to me. He doesn't quit, he fights through everything, and improved his game every year. So while it's hard to know what exactly you have in Street as a prospect, because his QBs were so bad, I can't help but feel like he's a gamble worth taking.

Direckshun · 02-13-2014, 11:36 AM

CB Victor Hampton, South Carolina -- I really, really like Victor Hampton. A 5'10" corner who plays with incredible competitiveness, Hampton has run with almost all the receivers he's faced this year (his 40 time is projected as 4.4-ish). What I really like about Hampton, and what the Chiefs would really like about Hampton, is his great aggressiveness that springs from his fierce competitiveness. He tracks the ball really well in the air, almost as well as receivers do. In addition to that, his ballskills are outstanding, to the point where he returned punts for the Gamecocks, a function the Chiefs may be in dire need of should they let McCluster walk in free agency. I think Hampton plays like a 2nd day talent -- we'll see if he times that way at the Combine.

Sandy Vagina · 02-13-2014, 12:38 PM

Cool thread to read through, thanks for taking the effort. I don't agree with some of your assessments.. but that's okay. I still like to get a long look at what other draftniks are thinking.

How would you currently rank a potential 3-4 DE list for KC in rds 3-6?

Direckshun · 02-13-2014, 01:01 PM

Currently:

Dominique Easley, Florida (2nd-3rd rnd)
Taylor Hart, Oregon (4th rnd)
Brent Urban, Virginia (5th)
Will Clarke, West Virginia (4th-6th)
Deandre Coleman, California (5th-6th)
Ed Stinson, Alabama (5th-6th)
George Uko, USC (6th-7th)
Josh Mauro, Stanford (7th)
Calvin Barnett, Oklahoma State (7th-UDFA)
Anthony Johnson, LSU (7th-UDFA)

Sandy Vagina · 02-13-2014, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Direckshun

Currently:

Dominique Easley, Florida (2nd-3rd rnd)
Taylor Hart, Oregon (4th rnd)
Brent Urban, Virginia (5th)
Will Clarke, West Virginia (4th-6th)
Deandre Coleman, California (5th-6th)
Ed Stinson, Alabama (5th-6th)
George Uko, USC (6th-7th)
Josh Mauro, Stanford (7th)
Calvin Barnett, Oklahoma State (7th-UDFA)
Anthony Johnson, LSU (7th-UDFA)

Wow... most looks solid enough to me.. but I would expect Calvin Barnett to get 5th round consideration, and Anthony Johnson to get 4th rd looks.

Direckshun · 02-13-2014, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy Cheeks

Wow... most looks solid enough to me.. but I would expect Calvin Barnett to get 5th round consideration, and Anthony Johnson to get 4th rd looks.

I'll admit to being forced by outside factors on Barnett. I think he's decent late round value, but he hasn't been invited to the Combine, which is damning.

I'm far more down on Johnson than just about everybody else. I think he looks soft.

O.city · 02-13-2014, 01:34 PM

Easley would be a 3rd round steal if healthy

Direckshun · 02-13-2014, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by O.city

Easley would be a 3rd round steal if healthy

Absolutely.

I'd take him even if he wasn't. He won't have to start right away, so he can take some time to get healthy if he needs it.

Just a great, fun talent to watch.

Sandy Vagina · 02-13-2014, 01:47 PM

Two torn ACLs for Easley... no one concerned?

Direckshun · 02-13-2014, 01:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy Cheeks

Two torn ACLs for Easley... no one concerned?

I'm only as concerned as teams are rumored to be.

At this point, teams are (reportedly) still looking at him as a 2nd day pick. Keep in mind, this is a guy with 1st day talent.

Now, that could be total bullshit, but I still like him too much.

O.city · 02-13-2014, 01:51 PM

You want a guy that can push the interior of the pocket in subsets and be a nasty mofo, but don't want to spend a first rounder on it, Easley is your guy.

02-11-2014, 06:30 PM	#1
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4213447	DE/DT Brent Urban, Virginia -- Yet another one of those midrounder DEs that would fit extremely well in at 3-4 DE. Urban, however, may have the best size/athleticism combo out of all of them. At 6'6", 296 lbs, he is an imposing powerful presence that looks a lot like JJ Watt. When he's on, he drives OL back into the backfield with his ridiculous wingspan and swallows up runners. Urban missed 4 games this year, but still swatted down 9 passes (first in his league), and blew up 12.5 TFL. That's a very JJ Watt like output. Two problems, both of them serious, but potentially correctable: (1.) Urban can get push in the pocket, but he's not racking up a ton of sacks himself (only had 1 this year), and (2.) his technique does need some work, as he ends up on the ground a few times against superior linemen. Nonetheless, he's got some really interesting measurables, and could serve as a potential starter in both 1- and 2-gap systems if he responds well to coaching. He seems like a third day pick to me, but the more coaching you think he'll require, the lower the round you'll obviously be willing to spend.
Posts: 59,314

02-12-2014, 11:50 AM	#2
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4213447	WR Brandon Coleman, Rutgers -- Coleman is a candidate to be drafted, and there are hundreds of people breaking down his skillsets, and here I am talking about him, all for basically one reason: he's really, really big. At 6'6", 220 lbs, he's right up there with Kelvin Benjamin as the most crazyhuge receive this draft offers. And that alone is makes him draft worthy -- because he is athletically limited, with iffy hands, and will need a ton of coaching on his technique. He's got a fantastic, long frame with ridiculous arms, but the Combine will have to show me his vertical and his speed, because his tape does little to reveal either. His routes are very weak, and he almost never shakes a DB. As a result, he frequently has to make receptions in traffic, resulting in iffy hands -- he might have amazing hands, but it'll take a year or two of work on his technique. At this point, his tape is severely unflattering, but there are worse things to spend a late rounder on, I guess, than a gigantic receiver you feel you can groom. His Combine performance will be super interesting, to say the least.
Posts: 59,314

02-12-2014, 02:47 PM	#3
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4213447	WR Bruce Ellington, South Carolina -- Ellington is a lot of things, but first and foremost, he is an almost-too-much-to-believe athlete. Get this: Ellington has been a true two-sport athlete for the Gamecocks. He was the starting point guard and leading scorer for the university's basketball program, even though he's 5'9". On top of that, he led the Gamecocks receivers in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns -- is this kid real?? Ellington is a fantastic athlete in space on the football field (his 40 time is projected at 4.4) with really good hands, but what's really surprising considering he splits time between sports is how sharp his route running is. He gets in and out of his cuts very fast, and he even throws a gorgeous spiral as an emergency QB. Once he starts dedicating 12 months a year to football, he could be a really special contributor in the NFL. If there were ever an argument for letting Dexter McCluster walk in free agency, the fact that you can get a receiver like Ellington in the 4th round should be all you need to hear.
Posts: 59,314

02-12-2014, 03:54 PM	#4
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4213447	WR Tevin Reese, Baylor -- Reese is the Brandon Coleman of speed. The reason everybody and their mother is looking at this guy is because he's a speed demon. The problem, however, is with everything else. But, to me at least, speed is more valuable in a WR than height -- it's harder to cover somebody who's genuinely faster than you, and can often require two defenders, rather than just a tall guy who struggles to shake people. But it remains to be seen if Reese does in fact contain that speed -- he's a projected 4.3 guy, but 4.4 is a possibility as well. He is also undersized at just 167 lbs, though he is an acceptable 5'11". He does come with durability concerns (broke his wrist this past season). But I've saved the worst for last: Reese has really blah hands. Part of his problem is small hands. Part of it is concentration problems receiving the ball -- he's always looking towards the next juke. But mostly, he's just not an outstanding receiver. He's just really, really stupid fast. Is that enough to get him drafted?
Posts: 59,314

02-13-2014, 12:12 AM	#5
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4213447	WR Devin Street, Pittsburgh -- Street is a player with unknown potential. He's been stowed away at Pitt under two incompetent quarterbacks and two entirely different offensive systems. Under that adversity, however, Street has set the record for the most receptions in school history. Watching him, it's easy to see why. Despite all the adversity, Street gives 110%, working hard to make himself available for his QBs and trying like hell to reel in poor passes thrown his way. There's a lot of stuff about Street that's pretty good but doesn't blow the doors off anybody: his size at 6'3", 196 lbs; he runs hard and makes quick cuts, but isn't necessarily a burner; his routes need some work, but his slants and go routes look great... Street does have really good hands, however -- not a lot of drops on his tape, period. And I know this is not a tangible measurable, but he just looks like a winner to me. He doesn't quit, he fights through everything, and improved his game every year. So while it's hard to know what exactly you have in Street as a prospect, because his QBs were so bad, I can't help but feel like he's a gamble worth taking.
Posts: 59,314

02-13-2014, 11:36 AM	#6
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4213447	CB Victor Hampton, South Carolina -- I really, really like Victor Hampton. A 5'10" corner who plays with incredible competitiveness, Hampton has run with almost all the receivers he's faced this year (his 40 time is projected as 4.4-ish). What I really like about Hampton, and what the Chiefs would really like about Hampton, is his great aggressiveness that springs from his fierce competitiveness. He tracks the ball really well in the air, almost as well as receivers do. In addition to that, his ballskills are outstanding, to the point where he returned punts for the Gamecocks, a function the Chiefs may be in dire need of should they let McCluster walk in free agency. I think Hampton plays like a 2nd day talent -- we'll see if he times that way at the Combine.
Posts: 59,314

02-13-2014, 01:01 PM	#8
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4213447	Currently: Dominique Easley, Florida (2nd-3rd rnd) Taylor Hart, Oregon (4th rnd) Brent Urban, Virginia (5th) Will Clarke, West Virginia (4th-6th) Deandre Coleman, California (5th-6th) Ed Stinson, Alabama (5th-6th) George Uko, USC (6th-7th) Josh Mauro, Stanford (7th) Calvin Barnett, Oklahoma State (7th-UDFA) Anthony Johnson, LSU (7th-UDFA)
Posts: 59,314

02-13-2014, 01:34 PM	#11
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2554064	Easley would be a 3rd round steal if healthy
Posts: 81,401

02-13-2014, 01:51 PM	#15
O.city In Search of a Life Join Date: Jul 2009 Casino cash: $2554064	You want a guy that can push the interior of the pocket in subsets and be a nasty mofo, but don't want to spend a first rounder on it, Easley is your guy.
Posts: 81,401