Chiefs *****The Nick Bolton Thread***** - Page 61

Dante84 · 09:26 PM

More to come!

Quote:

Bolton played in all 13 games as a true freshman (22 tackles, one sack) after earning Dallas Morning News first-team all-state honors at Lone Star High School (130 tackles, 16 for loss, five interceptions). He went from promising youngster to SEC star in 2019, earning first-team all-conference honors after leading the league with 8.9 tackles per game (107 total, 7.5 for loss), intercepting two passes and breaking up eight others in 12 starts. He was named second-team Associated Press All-American, first-team All-SEC and a Butkus Award finalist in 2020, leading his defense with 95 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss (including two sacks), while breaking up five passes in 10 starts. Bolton's father, Carlos, played football at Louisiana Tech. -- by Chad Reuter

Overview
When you think about strong, forceful inside linebackers, Bolton is the type of player you might be envisioning. He's going to fall below typical NFL starter standards from a size standpoint, but his rugged frame and forceful demeanor help make up for it. Play recognition and pursuit instincts help carry him to the football and he's a message-sending striker when he gets the runner squared up. He has functional short-area burst between the tackles but will struggle to run down the outside run if he's not close enough to the action. He will need to lean heavier on his instincts to help speed him up because of size and speed limitations. Bolton plays with good field recognition when dropping into zone and has a history of making plays on the football in coverage. He's a three-down linebacker who can make an immediate contribution on special teams and has the potential to become a future starter.
Strengths

Very tough with a physical edge.
Plays with demeanor teams look for in the middle.
Field-savvy with instincts to diagnose misdirection.
Identifies and communicates.
Heavy hands with good pop to take on blocks.
Pursues ball-carrier with patience and leverage.
Fluid alterations to his pursuit angles.
Excellent feel for attack timing downhill.
Meets runners with violent collisions in the hole.
Strikes like he's trying to send a message.
Great awareness and ballhawking as spot dropper.
Has enough man-cover talent to play on all three downs.
Thrived on kick- and punt-cover teams early in his career.

Weaknesses

Average lateral quickness traps him behind climbing blocks.
Inconsistent to strike and separate from blockers.
Needs to improve angles to elude box traffic.
Might need to take a few more chances as a pro.
Top-end speed appears below average.
Loses ground when pursuit flows wide.
Below-average lateral agility as open-field tackler.
Will have to play quicker to deal with NFL slashers.

.@_nickbolton2 gets the call from One Arrowhead Drive �� pic.twitter.com/1XgaCeBy8R
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) May 1, 2021

Dunerdr · 07-21-2023, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealSNR

Man is it me or is Matt Milano massively overrated around the NFL?

I would put Warner well over him. But watching the Mahomes tear that shitbox defense apart really skews what we see.

IowaHawkeyeChief · 07-21-2023, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Urc Burry

Ehhhh. This might be the first time I’ve ever seen Bolton overrated. I would think closer to 90 until he can improve in coverage. Yes, I just took a madden ranking seriously

I completely forgot Anthony Hitchens existed until scrolling back in this thread. Man he was a bum. One of Veach’s biggest misses

Now back to homer glasses on. IF Bolton can take a step against the pass, and if George can improve off his rookie year… am I crazy to think we could have a top 7-8 defense?

Edit: I see now that was a fake madden ranking

Hitchens was a good leader and smart, he was instrumental in implementing spags defense, he wasn't great, but far from a bum...

tredadda · 07-21-2023, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IowaHawkeyeChief

Hitchens was a good leader and smart, he was instrumental in implementing spags defense, he wasn't great, but far from a bum...

Then why has no one signed him still? He was cut by Veach and no one wanted him.

Dunerdr · 07-21-2023, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tredadda

Then why has no one signed him still? He was cut by Veach and no one wanted him.

Imagine being Hitch and watching Ben Niemen get signed and you havent had a ****ing visit in two years.

ThaVirus · 07-21-2023, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunerdr

In my head I wouldnt expect him that high, then you look at the list and its kind of like yeah that makes a lot of sense.

That’s just the ‘pursuit’ rating

dlphg9 · 07-21-2023, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tredadda

Then why has no one signed him still? He was cut by Veach and no one wanted him.

I wasn't a huge Hitchens fan, but he played pretty well in our first SB run. He was big in stopping Derrick Henry in that playoff game. He wasn't horrible, but he never should have been starting over Bolton.

JohnnyHammersticks · 07-21-2023, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TRR

It’s just you. Buffalo’s defense is on a different level when Milano is on the field. He does everything very well.

Totally agree. Dude is a stud.

Kiimo · 07-21-2023, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RealSNR

Man is it me or is Matt Milano massively overrated around the NFL?

Matt Milano is awesome

Sofa King · 07-21-2023, 02:13 PM

My favorite play of Milano's is the one where he tried to cover Kelce in OT in the divisional a couple years ago.

Kiimo · 07-21-2023, 02:16 PM

The fact that he managed to be that close is kind of a miracle itself.

But we'd love that guy if he played for the Chiefs

**RealSNR** · 07-21-2023, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiimo

Matt Milano is awesome

I didn't say he wasn't awesome. I said he's overrated.

The best LB in the NFL? Really?

Kiimo · 07-21-2023, 02:34 PM

Isn't that chart ranking just for PURSUIT?

**Rain Man** · 07-21-2023, 07:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sofa King

My favorite play of Milano's is the one where he tried to cover Kelce in OT in the divisional a couple years ago.

Pursuit is great and all, but at some point you actually have to catch the guy.

Bump · 07-21-2023, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IowaHawkeyeChief

Hitchens was a good leader and smart, he was instrumental in implementing spags defense, he wasn't great, but far from a bum...

He was there, never made a big play. I don't even think once. His biggest play IMO was that monster block on a fumble or interception but it was a penalty. He's a JAG at best. With him there, our LB core was a huge weakness until Willie Gay and Nick Bolton started playing together and he was gone. Now it's our strength.

BryanBusby · 07-21-2023, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dlphg9

I wasn't a huge Hitchens fan, but he played pretty well in our first SB run. He was big in stopping Derrick Henry in that playoff game. He wasn't horrible, but he never should have been starting over Bolton.

Hitchens was horrible. It's no mistake he didn't even get a sniff after being released.

07-21-2023, 02:13 PM	#909
Sofa King Hello Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: South Dakota Casino cash: $992096 VARSITY	My favorite play of Milano's is the one where he tried to cover Kelce in OT in the divisional a couple years ago.
Posts: 23,225	2 0

07-21-2023, 02:16 PM	#910
Kiimo MVP Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Studio City, CA Casino cash: $3988742	The fact that he managed to be that close is kind of a miracle itself. But we'd love that guy if he played for the Chiefs
Posts: 12,643

07-21-2023, 02:34 PM	#912
Kiimo MVP Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Studio City, CA Casino cash: $3988742	Isn't that chart ranking just for PURSUIT?
Posts: 12,643