Three really good mid-rounders, and three I hate. - Page 11

Direckshun · 01-30-2014, 01:15 PM

Just because. Midrounders are anything from low-3rds to 5th round.

I LIKE:

OT/G Joel Bitonio, Nevada -- At this point, he's looking more like a guard, since he played there all of the Senior Bowl. However, Bitonio played extremely well at the Senior Bowl, ending up one of my Top 10 players from that week. Bitonio (6'4", 307 lbs) is a very, very athletic tackle who could crawl into the 2nd round if that athleticism translates to a sub-5.0 40 time, which I honestly think it will. He looks like a great zone blocker at guard, but I honestly think he can play tackle -- he played Anthony Barr to a standstill. Blocked for the NCAA's 2nd most rush yards, and held excellent protection at left tackle for the Wolf Pack.

DE/DT Dominique Easley, Florida -- I absolutely adore Easley. Extremely high effort, high-athleticism guy who absolutely never quits. He can push back against bigger OLs, and penetrate, penetrate, penetrate. The big question is -- where do you put him. He played everywhere in Florida's 4-3, but 280 lbs is pretty light for defensive tackle in the NFL, even at undertackle. He's a little on the short side (6'2") but powerful enough for DE in the 4-3, but he played primarily at DT for the Gators, so he's a project there. As for the 3-4... I hate him on the edge in a two-point stance. His first step is far too valuable to take him out of the three-point. So he'd have to play DE in our system, making him purely a passrush specialist. I don't know if that'd be worth the 3rd we'd have to spend to get him, but I really want him on our roster. He's 1st round talent, coming off a terrible ACL tear.

TE Xavier Grimble, USC -- I think Grimble is going to pleasantly surprise everybody. His numbers in college were hampered by the great talent he played with and the injuries he suffered, but here's what we do know: Grimble is a fast, athletic, big (6'5", 255) tight end with good hands. His performance at the Combine could endear him to a lot of people, if he holds his own in blocking drills and looks sharp getting in and out of the cuts in his routes.

I DON'T LIKE:

S Ahmad Dixon, Baylor -- Bernard Pollard 2.0. If you want big hits, he's an option. But even with those big hits, Dixon (6'0", 205) isn't that great in the run game, and he's disasterous in the passing game. He doesn't break down for tackles at all, and will throw his shoulder instead of wrapping up. His coverage will be passable on backs out of the flat, but he will struggle keeping up with NFL caliber TEs and god help him against WRs. More of a strong safety. No discipline. Had an assault charge on him over the offseason.

ILB/OLB Lamin Borrow, LSU -- Can somebody tell me why anybody thinks anything of this guy? He's consistently rated as a mid-rounder but aside from his rangey speed, I don't see why. He's not good in coverage. He can't shed blocks. He doesn't make plays behind the line of scrimmage. He's fast but not especially so. He's not especially big (6'2", 232). He's just a guy. He's not a difference maker, wasn't in college, and won't be in the NFL. Blah.

OLB Demarcus Lawrence, Boise State -- A great athlete with a good motor, but undersized. He has some experience standing up, but he really struggled against the scant NFL talent he went up against. The best player he played all year was Bitonio, and he avoided him most of the game. The few meetings these players had was soundly won by Bitonio. He's just too undersized to play in a three-point stance in a 4-3, so he'd have to occupy some Von Miller role as an OLB in that setup, but he has almost no experience in coverage. I think Lawrence will be a valuable special teamer, nothing more.

Direckshun · 02-24-2014, 11:29 PM

CB Rashaad Reynolds, Oregon State -- Reynolds is a fascinating prospect because he has so many tools you love to see in a corner, but they were rarely on display. It seems like the Beavers leave Reynolds playing WRs with at least an 8 yard cushion on something like 75% of the plays, probably due to the scheme he plays in. That seems to suggest you've got a zone corner on your hands, but Reynolds looks really promising the 25% of the time he played press man. Part of it is Reynolds speed: he's a 60m track star at OSU. Part of it is his deceptive length: he came in at 5'10" with 31" arms at the Combine, but looks (and plays) longer than that. But mostly, Reynolds can manage to stay in the hip pocket of his man, rarely fooled by double moves and using the sideline to his advantage. I think Reynolds, should he last to the midrounds, would be a really interesting guy to test out and see what you've got on the island with him. I think he could have some really high upside.

Direckshun · 02-25-2014, 03:59 PM

DT Caraun Reid, Princeton -- Quick confession: my favorite thing about watching Caraun Reid's tape in 2012 was watching future-Chief Mike Catapano wreak havoc on the edge. Good lord, Catapano looked big and fast. As for Reid, many of the same things that made folks love Catapano is what Reid has going for him. At 6'3", and just north of 300 lbs, he's an extremely nimble athlete (ran a 4.9 at the Combine) with good explosion. His 2013 tape is underwhelming, and that's a concern, suggesting that a lot of his buzz came from having Catapano draw attention to the edges, but there's no denying that he's similar to Catapano in that he's a physical specimen who will need time to be groomed. He could go as soon as the 4th round, but I think he's more of a 6th rounder.

Direckshun · 02-25-2014, 11:56 PM

OG Chris Watt, Notre Dame -- Watt seems like he has a role as a 10-year starter if he finds the right offensive system to incorporate him. Watt is not a nimble man: at 6'3", 310 lbs, he plays like he has the density of a dying star. That's not necessarily a knock on his game; he truly is athletically limited, but Notre Dame rarely asked him to pull. Instead, he seems perfectly skilled for a run-heavy offense that prefers a smashmouth, north-south run game. But his pass protection is the strongest part of his game, however, in which he lowers his base and can negate essentially any bullrush that defensive linemen attempt. He is pretty quick in small spaces, though he will still struggle with very athletic DLmen, as most OL do anyway. Ultimately, his physical limitation will leave him inside at guard, and for only a power system, meaning he may drop deep in the draft, but whatever team gets him can very easily mold him into a rock solid starter.

OldSchool · 02-26-2014, 01:34 AM

Since you like the big boys, I'm surprised you haven't covered Zach Kerr yet in this thread. As close to Wilfork as I've seen, albiet it was against inferior competition.

Direckshun · 02-26-2014, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OldSchool

Since you like the big boys, I'm surprised you haven't covered Zach Kerr yet in this thread. As close to Wilfork as I've seen, albiet it was against inferior competition.

I'll definitely put him on deck.

Direckshun · 02-26-2014, 05:05 PM

OG Jon Halapio, Florida -- Halapio has a future in the NFL as a special teams guy with spot-starting responsibilities. I struggle to think of Halapio as more than a low-end starter in the NFL due to his complete lack of mobility outside of the phone booth. He's got some really good potential though, since he plays with tremendous power. He absorbs bullrushes, plows through defensive tackles of any size, and delivers fantastic blows at the line of scrimmage with large, powerful hands. His size is prototypical for the position -- 6'3", 323 lbs at the Combine with nearly 34" arms that allow him to land the first blow on nearly any DT he'll face over the course of the season. But in space, Halapio has serious limitations. Florida rarely asked him to go to the 2nd level, and Halapio looked downright lost. The more north-south power to your run game your team has or needs, the more usage you will have with Halapio. Any teams that run a ZBS or put their linemen in space on a regular basis can pretty much remove Halapio from their boards.

Frosty · 02-26-2014, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Direckshun

CB Rashaad Reynolds, Oregon State -- Reynolds is a fascinating prospect because he has so many tools you love to see in a corner, but they were rarely on display. It seems like the Beavers leave Reynolds playing WRs with at least an 8 yard cushion on something like 75% of the plays, probably due to the scheme he plays in. That seems to suggest you've got a zone corner on your hands, but Reynolds looks really promising the 25% of the time he played press man. Part of it is Reynolds speed: he's a 60m track star at OSU. Part of it is his deceptive length: he came in at 5'10" with 31" arms at the Combine, but looks (and plays) longer than that. But mostly, Reynolds can manage to stay in the hip pocket of his man, rarely fooled by double moves and using the sideline to his advantage. I think Reynolds, should he last to the midrounds, would be a really interesting guy to test out and see what you've got on the island with him. I think he could have some really high upside.

I have a hard time with Reynolds because our secondary has been so bad. Almost all of that is due to scheme. Our DC, Banker, is a moron who wants his DBs to only play the receiver and not look for the ball. That makes them susceptible to double moves and get them a ton of PI calls. It makes it hard to evaluate them.

Direckshun · 02-26-2014, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frosty

I have a hard time with Reynolds because our secondary has been so bad. Almost all of that is due to scheme. Our DC, Banker, is a moron who wants his DBs to only play the receiver and not look for the ball. That makes them susceptible to double moves and get them a ton of PI calls. It makes it hard to evaluate them.

Completely agree.

OldSchool · 02-26-2014, 09:00 PM

I really like Iowa's Kirksay. He may be able to actually provide pass coverage against big TEs for us like Bowman does in SF and allow Berry to sit back as one of the deep safeties.

Direckshun · 02-27-2014, 07:16 PM

C Bryan Stork, Florida State -- Stork is being rated as a midrounder in this draft by most draft sites, but I can't help but think even that is dramatically overrating him. I think he's a physically limited center used in exactly the right way in Tallahassee. Watch some Florida State, and notice that they absolutely never run the ball up the gut behind him, how he usually gets plenty of help in pass protection from one of his neighboring guards, and how Florida State never puts him (or any of his teammates) in space or sends him to the second level. Stork is a vocal leader on his team, and has been a steady presence for the Seminole offensive line. But he's just no where near strong enough, and he definitely isn't athletic enough, to blow defensive lineman off the ball. He can wall off his opponents while the ball is run off tackle... That said, I think Stork would be a great investment in UDFA. He calls smart protection for his OL, and he was clearly a great presence in the FSU locker room. It's possible he lands on a team that's willing to invest in trying to round out his game.

Direckshun · 02-28-2014, 12:08 AM

TE Arthur Lynch, Georgia -- There is a lot of Anthony Fasano in Lynch's game, and truth be told, Fasano is probably Lynch's ceiling. Like Fasano, Lynch is an athletically limited tight end with pretty good hands who is a really reliable blocker. Lynch's blocking game is among the best this Draft has to offer: the Bulldogs regularly asked Lynch to block defensive ends, which is usually a tall task for tight ends. Lynch handles himself very well in the blocking game, with quick feet, a low base, and the ability to twist defenders away from the play. His game isn't perfect on that front, but it's really impressive. Lynch, however, just isn't the athlete that many of his colleagues are. He ran a 4.8 at the Combine, and he looks almost like a 5.0 guy on the field -- like Sean McGrath, really. He doesn't shake coverage effectively at all, but when the ball does get to him, he will reel it in with his great hands. The right coach might be able to show him how to use his body to shield defenders off better, but for the now, Lynch looks like a 6th rounder to me.

Direckshun · 03-03-2014, 01:29 PM

S Hakeem Smith, Louisville -- I think if there's anything to like about Hakeem Smith, it's that no safety in the draft this year has as much experience playing the coveted single-high safety position as he does. Smith occupied a valuable spot for Louisville, playing very well taking away the deep ball so that Calvin Pryor, Marcus Smith, and the rest of the Louisville defense could blow up offenses. The big mystery, of course, is how well that will translate to the NFL, where offenses are bigger and faster, and QBs can make multiple reads and look off safeties. Smith's athleticism doesn't jump out at you; he might lack the speed necessary to play that same role in the NFL. As of now, I think he's a mid-round developmental guy for a cover 2 or cover 3 scheme, but I reserve the right to upgrade him if he blows up at his Pro Day.

Direckshun · 03-04-2014, 08:29 AM

CB Phillip Gaines, Rice -- Gaines would be the absolutely perfect player for the Chiefs to take in the midrounds of this draft. As he showed at the Combine, Gaines is very fast -- one of the few players this year who ran a 4.3. He's also pretty tall -- 6'0" and 190 lbs, but it's a pretty short 6'0". He doesn't look or play as long as he is. Maybe that can be coached up... but he's got 31" arms, so. What's far more impressive about Gaines is his man coverage. The guy is a hip-pocket corner, gluing to his guy with elite recovery speed. His game is weak, however, everywhere else. So the team that takes him will need to bring him along exactly how we brought along Marcus Cooper last year. I continue my assertion that both Flowers and Smith will be cut in 2015. And while Gaines may not be a starting outside CB in the future (though I do think he projects to that eventually), he can redshirt behind three veterans (plus Parker) for a year before taking on more significant role like NCB in 2015.

Direckshun · 03-04-2014, 09:29 AM

OT?/G Michael Schofield, Michigan -- I reviewed Hakeem Smith a day ago -- a Louisville safety whose legit promise as a prospect is completely overshadowed by his safety teammate who will likely go in the 1st round. Same thing here: Schofield is a good looking guard/tackle prospect who is overlooked entirely because his teammate who played the same position is now likely to go in the top 20 selections. But don't sleep on Schofield. He has all of Taylor Lewan's technique, and like Lewan, plays with great power. He is always vulnerable against speed rushers, however, so he's moved in to guard for Draft season. That'll allow him to use his superior strength to stonewall power rushers, which he frequently did on the edge for the Wolverines. He does have (right) tackle experience, however, and also looks athletic enough to pull and get to the second level (his Combine 40 was 5.0 with a 1.71 get-off), but his technique at the 2nd level is atrocious. I think Schofield has starter potential in the NFL, but will need at least a year to work on his technique at the second level, and to potentially get stronger (he didn't lift at the Combine), since I think his best fit is in a power system. Makes sense as a 6th or 7th rounder.

Direckshun · 03-04-2014, 09:54 AM

OT?/OG/C Wesley Johnson, Vanderbilt -- Johnson is a four-year LT for the Commodores, who earned All-SEC honors this past year and set a school record for starts. He is also athletically limited, lacking strength, length, some technique and speed. But there are things that NFL teams will like in this guy: he's a two-time captain, he's got professional sports bloodlines going back two generations, and he can literally play every single spot on the line. I personally think Johnson will go undrafted, but there's a chance somebody likes his body of work enough to pluck him in the late rounds. But at a filled-out 6'5", 297, he's too tall to play center and too light to play tackle. He's going to have to make his living as a ZBS utility-man who primarily plays at guard.

01-30-2014, 01:15 PM
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4403447	Three really good mid-rounders, and three I hate. Just because. Midrounders are anything from low-3rds to 5th round. I LIKE: OT/G Joel Bitonio, Nevada -- At this point, he's looking more like a guard, since he played there all of the Senior Bowl. However, Bitonio played extremely well at the Senior Bowl, ending up one of my Top 10 players from that week. Bitonio (6'4", 307 lbs) is a very, very athletic tackle who could crawl into the 2nd round if that athleticism translates to a sub-5.0 40 time, which I honestly think it will. He looks like a great zone blocker at guard, but I honestly think he can play tackle -- he played Anthony Barr to a standstill. Blocked for the NCAA's 2nd most rush yards, and held excellent protection at left tackle for the Wolf Pack. DE/DT Dominique Easley, Florida -- I absolutely adore Easley. Extremely high effort, high-athleticism guy who absolutely never quits. He can push back against bigger OLs, and penetrate, penetrate, penetrate. The big question is -- where do you put him. He played everywhere in Florida's 4-3, but 280 lbs is pretty light for defensive tackle in the NFL, even at undertackle. He's a little on the short side (6'2") but powerful enough for DE in the 4-3, but he played primarily at DT for the Gators, so he's a project there. As for the 3-4... I hate him on the edge in a two-point stance. His first step is far too valuable to take him out of the three-point. So he'd have to play DE in our system, making him purely a passrush specialist. I don't know if that'd be worth the 3rd we'd have to spend to get him, but I really want him on our roster. He's 1st round talent, coming off a terrible ACL tear. TE Xavier Grimble, USC -- I think Grimble is going to pleasantly surprise everybody. His numbers in college were hampered by the great talent he played with and the injuries he suffered, but here's what we do know: Grimble is a fast, athletic, big (6'5", 255) tight end with good hands. His performance at the Combine could endear him to a lot of people, if he holds his own in blocking drills and looks sharp getting in and out of the cuts in his routes. I DON'T LIKE: S Ahmad Dixon, Baylor -- Bernard Pollard 2.0. If you want big hits, he's an option. But even with those big hits, Dixon (6'0", 205) isn't that great in the run game, and he's disasterous in the passing game. He doesn't break down for tackles at all, and will throw his shoulder instead of wrapping up. His coverage will be passable on backs out of the flat, but he will struggle keeping up with NFL caliber TEs and god help him against WRs. More of a strong safety. No discipline. Had an assault charge on him over the offseason. ILB/OLB Lamin Borrow, LSU -- Can somebody tell me why anybody thinks anything of this guy? He's consistently rated as a mid-rounder but aside from his rangey speed, I don't see why. He's not good in coverage. He can't shed blocks. He doesn't make plays behind the line of scrimmage. He's fast but not especially so. He's not especially big (6'2", 232). He's just a guy. He's not a difference maker, wasn't in college, and won't be in the NFL. Blah. OLB Demarcus Lawrence, Boise State -- A great athlete with a good motor, but undersized. He has some experience standing up, but he really struggled against the scant NFL talent he went up against. The best player he played all year was Bitonio, and he avoided him most of the game. The few meetings these players had was soundly won by Bitonio. He's just too undersized to play in a three-point stance in a 4-3, so he'd have to occupy some Von Miller role as an OLB in that setup, but he has almost no experience in coverage. I think Lawrence will be a valuable special teamer, nothing more.
Posts: 59,258

02-24-2014, 11:29 PM	#151
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4403447	CB Rashaad Reynolds, Oregon State -- Reynolds is a fascinating prospect because he has so many tools you love to see in a corner, but they were rarely on display. It seems like the Beavers leave Reynolds playing WRs with at least an 8 yard cushion on something like 75% of the plays, probably due to the scheme he plays in. That seems to suggest you've got a zone corner on your hands, but Reynolds looks really promising the 25% of the time he played press man. Part of it is Reynolds speed: he's a 60m track star at OSU. Part of it is his deceptive length: he came in at 5'10" with 31" arms at the Combine, but looks (and plays) longer than that. But mostly, Reynolds can manage to stay in the hip pocket of his man, rarely fooled by double moves and using the sideline to his advantage. I think Reynolds, should he last to the midrounds, would be a really interesting guy to test out and see what you've got on the island with him. I think he could have some really high upside.
Posts: 59,258

02-25-2014, 03:59 PM	#152
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4403447	DT Caraun Reid, Princeton -- Quick confession: my favorite thing about watching Caraun Reid's tape in 2012 was watching future-Chief Mike Catapano wreak havoc on the edge. Good lord, Catapano looked big and fast. As for Reid, many of the same things that made folks love Catapano is what Reid has going for him. At 6'3", and just north of 300 lbs, he's an extremely nimble athlete (ran a 4.9 at the Combine) with good explosion. His 2013 tape is underwhelming, and that's a concern, suggesting that a lot of his buzz came from having Catapano draw attention to the edges, but there's no denying that he's similar to Catapano in that he's a physical specimen who will need time to be groomed. He could go as soon as the 4th round, but I think he's more of a 6th rounder.
Posts: 59,258

02-25-2014, 11:56 PM	#153
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4403447	OG Chris Watt, Notre Dame -- Watt seems like he has a role as a 10-year starter if he finds the right offensive system to incorporate him. Watt is not a nimble man: at 6'3", 310 lbs, he plays like he has the density of a dying star. That's not necessarily a knock on his game; he truly is athletically limited, but Notre Dame rarely asked him to pull. Instead, he seems perfectly skilled for a run-heavy offense that prefers a smashmouth, north-south run game. But his pass protection is the strongest part of his game, however, in which he lowers his base and can negate essentially any bullrush that defensive linemen attempt. He is pretty quick in small spaces, though he will still struggle with very athletic DLmen, as most OL do anyway. Ultimately, his physical limitation will leave him inside at guard, and for only a power system, meaning he may drop deep in the draft, but whatever team gets him can very easily mold him into a rock solid starter.
Posts: 59,258

02-26-2014, 01:34 AM	#154
OldSchool MVP Join Date: Sep 2013 Casino cash: $10035212	Since you like the big boys, I'm surprised you haven't covered Zach Kerr yet in this thread. As close to Wilfork as I've seen, albiet it was against inferior competition.
Posts: 12,727

02-26-2014, 05:05 PM	#156
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4403447	OG Jon Halapio, Florida -- Halapio has a future in the NFL as a special teams guy with spot-starting responsibilities. I struggle to think of Halapio as more than a low-end starter in the NFL due to his complete lack of mobility outside of the phone booth. He's got some really good potential though, since he plays with tremendous power. He absorbs bullrushes, plows through defensive tackles of any size, and delivers fantastic blows at the line of scrimmage with large, powerful hands. His size is prototypical for the position -- 6'3", 323 lbs at the Combine with nearly 34" arms that allow him to land the first blow on nearly any DT he'll face over the course of the season. But in space, Halapio has serious limitations. Florida rarely asked him to go to the 2nd level, and Halapio looked downright lost. The more north-south power to your run game your team has or needs, the more usage you will have with Halapio. Any teams that run a ZBS or put their linemen in space on a regular basis can pretty much remove Halapio from their boards.
Posts: 59,258

02-26-2014, 09:00 PM	#159
OldSchool MVP Join Date: Sep 2013 Casino cash: $10035212	I really like Iowa's Kirksay. He may be able to actually provide pass coverage against big TEs for us like Bowman does in SF and allow Berry to sit back as one of the deep safeties.
Posts: 12,727

02-27-2014, 07:16 PM	#160
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4403447	C Bryan Stork, Florida State -- Stork is being rated as a midrounder in this draft by most draft sites, but I can't help but think even that is dramatically overrating him. I think he's a physically limited center used in exactly the right way in Tallahassee. Watch some Florida State, and notice that they absolutely never run the ball up the gut behind him, how he usually gets plenty of help in pass protection from one of his neighboring guards, and how Florida State never puts him (or any of his teammates) in space or sends him to the second level. Stork is a vocal leader on his team, and has been a steady presence for the Seminole offensive line. But he's just no where near strong enough, and he definitely isn't athletic enough, to blow defensive lineman off the ball. He can wall off his opponents while the ball is run off tackle... That said, I think Stork would be a great investment in UDFA. He calls smart protection for his OL, and he was clearly a great presence in the FSU locker room. It's possible he lands on a team that's willing to invest in trying to round out his game.
Posts: 59,258

02-28-2014, 12:08 AM	#161
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4403447	TE Arthur Lynch, Georgia -- There is a lot of Anthony Fasano in Lynch's game, and truth be told, Fasano is probably Lynch's ceiling. Like Fasano, Lynch is an athletically limited tight end with pretty good hands who is a really reliable blocker. Lynch's blocking game is among the best this Draft has to offer: the Bulldogs regularly asked Lynch to block defensive ends, which is usually a tall task for tight ends. Lynch handles himself very well in the blocking game, with quick feet, a low base, and the ability to twist defenders away from the play. His game isn't perfect on that front, but it's really impressive. Lynch, however, just isn't the athlete that many of his colleagues are. He ran a 4.8 at the Combine, and he looks almost like a 5.0 guy on the field -- like Sean McGrath, really. He doesn't shake coverage effectively at all, but when the ball does get to him, he will reel it in with his great hands. The right coach might be able to show him how to use his body to shield defenders off better, but for the now, Lynch looks like a 6th rounder to me.
Posts: 59,258

03-03-2014, 01:29 PM	#162
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4403447	S Hakeem Smith, Louisville -- I think if there's anything to like about Hakeem Smith, it's that no safety in the draft this year has as much experience playing the coveted single-high safety position as he does. Smith occupied a valuable spot for Louisville, playing very well taking away the deep ball so that Calvin Pryor, Marcus Smith, and the rest of the Louisville defense could blow up offenses. The big mystery, of course, is how well that will translate to the NFL, where offenses are bigger and faster, and QBs can make multiple reads and look off safeties. Smith's athleticism doesn't jump out at you; he might lack the speed necessary to play that same role in the NFL. As of now, I think he's a mid-round developmental guy for a cover 2 or cover 3 scheme, but I reserve the right to upgrade him if he blows up at his Pro Day.
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03-04-2014, 08:29 AM	#163
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4403447	CB Phillip Gaines, Rice -- Gaines would be the absolutely perfect player for the Chiefs to take in the midrounds of this draft. As he showed at the Combine, Gaines is very fast -- one of the few players this year who ran a 4.3. He's also pretty tall -- 6'0" and 190 lbs, but it's a pretty short 6'0". He doesn't look or play as long as he is. Maybe that can be coached up... but he's got 31" arms, so. What's far more impressive about Gaines is his man coverage. The guy is a hip-pocket corner, gluing to his guy with elite recovery speed. His game is weak, however, everywhere else. So the team that takes him will need to bring him along exactly how we brought along Marcus Cooper last year. I continue my assertion that both Flowers and Smith will be cut in 2015. And while Gaines may not be a starting outside CB in the future (though I do think he projects to that eventually), he can redshirt behind three veterans (plus Parker) for a year before taking on more significant role like NCB in 2015. Last edited by Direckshun; 03-04-2014 at 09:32 AM..
Posts: 59,258

03-04-2014, 09:29 AM	#164
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4403447	OT?/G Michael Schofield, Michigan -- I reviewed Hakeem Smith a day ago -- a Louisville safety whose legit promise as a prospect is completely overshadowed by his safety teammate who will likely go in the 1st round. Same thing here: Schofield is a good looking guard/tackle prospect who is overlooked entirely because his teammate who played the same position is now likely to go in the top 20 selections. But don't sleep on Schofield. He has all of Taylor Lewan's technique, and like Lewan, plays with great power. He is always vulnerable against speed rushers, however, so he's moved in to guard for Draft season. That'll allow him to use his superior strength to stonewall power rushers, which he frequently did on the edge for the Wolverines. He does have (right) tackle experience, however, and also looks athletic enough to pull and get to the second level (his Combine 40 was 5.0 with a 1.71 get-off), but his technique at the 2nd level is atrocious. I think Schofield has starter potential in the NFL, but will need at least a year to work on his technique at the second level, and to potentially get stronger (he didn't lift at the Combine), since I think his best fit is in a power system. Makes sense as a 6th or 7th rounder.
Posts: 59,258

03-04-2014, 09:54 AM	#165
Direckshun __ Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Springpatch Casino cash: $4403447	OT?/OG/C Wesley Johnson, Vanderbilt -- Johnson is a four-year LT for the Commodores, who earned All-SEC honors this past year and set a school record for starts. He is also athletically limited, lacking strength, length, some technique and speed. But there are things that NFL teams will like in this guy: he's a two-time captain, he's got professional sports bloodlines going back two generations, and he can literally play every single spot on the line. I personally think Johnson will go undrafted, but there's a chance somebody likes his body of work enough to pluck him in the late rounds. But at a filled-out 6'5", 297, he's too tall to play center and too light to play tackle. He's going to have to make his living as a ZBS utility-man who primarily plays at guard.
Posts: 59,258