The phenomenon that is Chris Borland is starting to make a lot more sense to me. No wonder this guy is free to make so many tackles.
I haven't seen much on him, I do know he was blowing up the powerful Carlos Hyde this past year. I remember a goal to go he pretty much met Hyde at the LOS and Carlos went backwards.
It's funny too because now that I watch that play from Beau Allen's point of view, he occupied the blockers so strongly at the line of scrimmage that knifing into the hole to meet Carlos Hyde head-on seemed easy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO5NLcVTh20&feature=player_detailpage#t=289 The 4th & 1 on the video prior to that goal line stand is also worth watching. The plays are two right in succession. You'll live. Beau Allen is the NT #96. First he penetrates and holds two Ohio State OLs on the wrong side of the line of scrimmage which really helped stuff up the backfield. Then he stones the center on a straight up man to man drive block on 2nd & Goal, which allows Borland not only completely free access to knife right thru the hole, but he's got a free run-up to it because there's no bodies in his way. Both plays great example of everyone doing everything right and great defensive plays in unlikely scenarios resulting.
Based on what I'm seeing I have no reason to rank Louis Nix above him. I don't know where the NFL will have Beau Allen but I know whereabouts I have him, or at least which cluster of players I have him higher than. Cody Waldrop (South Carolina) is supposed to be the 2nd best Center in his class according to NFL Draft Scout. Someone should tell Cody that because he's getting ABUSED by Beau Allen in this South Carolina game. What's great about it is it's supposed to be a Chris Borland video. But you can about guarantee that wherever Borland is making a play, Beau Allen is in front of him doing his job. [video=youtube;_j4y1VNMy3I]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=_j4y1VNMy3I[/video] Here's an exercise I did earlier. Both Beau Allen and Louis Nix have videos against Purdue's offensive line. Watch both side by side. Watch a few plays of Allen then a few plays of Nix, then go back and forth. Watch them and try and tell me again why I should have Louis Nix, who is the same exact size as Allen but not nearly as explosive an athlete, not nearly as high a motor, not really any stronger and not the same pass rusher, why should I have Nix above Beau Allen? That's one of those moments where you need to question everything you THINK you know about where guys should rank. Beau Allen vs. Purdue http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oVWFAsowHM&feature=player_embedded Louis Nix vs. Purdue http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efvFdpVSzhA&feature=player_embedded
I'm sure it's true of other schools as well, I just don't see them like the Big 10, but one thing I love about Wisconsin guys seem to have heart. Not always (Mandarich), but usually.
Jack Tyler per the Parisi speed school ran a 4.6 forty with a 4.10 shuttle, 6.89 cone and 26 bench reps. If those numbers hold true they're excellent. Highly draftable player. Leading tackler on a top notch defense, particularly top notch run defense. Played middle linebacker.
Tony Pauline @TonyPauline 15 min Shayne Skov/LB/Stanford not working out at Stanford with hamstring/shoulder issues...red flags going to be raised...more later.. Saw this CK?
Give me Allen Robinson or Brandin Cooks at 19. Or Jordan Matthews at 50. I think I get more excited watching Cooks play because he is more explosive....but based off what Ive seen from Tannehill I think he would benefit more from a physical receiver like Robinson.
I saw he tweeked a hammy prior to the pro day and wasn't going to be able to work out, planned on having his workout April 21st. He's having a very puzzling run-up to the draft but it means some team is going to get a hell of a bargain.
We're going to need to talk about Stanford DE Ben Gardner at some point. He played only 9 games this year and had only 19 tackles so that's why he got snubbed from the Combine. But it's hard not to notice on tape that physically and athletically he seems to be able to do WHATEVER he wants, within the constraints of his position/role as a 3-4 DE. Unfortunately those constraints are pretty significant as he played all over the interior of the line and at 3-4 DE. What you have is essentially a Justin Smith CLONE. That's what he is. And if a team drafted him 1st round, I might be the only one not laughing. He tallied 7.5 TFLs and 4.5 Sacks in that role in the 9 games. He's out there wil'in' out at his pro day. He ran a 4.83 forty, a 6.78 cone drill (wow), 39.5 inch vertical (yikes) and 10'2" broad jump at 6'4" and 262 lbs. He's a pretty sick athlete. Looks like he lost some weight in order to gain some more impressive numbers but the numbers are pretty freaking incredible so he's trying to show teams he was only a 3-4 DE at Stanford because they needed him to be. From CK's Draft Board: [video=youtube;sa9rGXe6V7Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sa9rGXe6V7Q[/video] [video=youtube;WGtcY5YB-s4]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WGtcY5YB-s4[/video]
For those Xavier Su'a-Filo fans out there, Ben Gardner and XSF had a nice battle against one another. It was ruined a bit because they had so many problems at left tackle that they had to have XSF move out there. But part of the problem with that left tackle I think was that Ben Gardner was beating him so bad whenever he kicked out to face him. In the mean time there's a lot of individual battles between Gardner and XSF and Gardner won more than his share. When you rush the outside shoulder of a guard and the QB would be sacked if he didn't sense you and scramble forward for yards...I think that's a win for the interior rusher. Some other plays, XSF neutralized him pretty good. The true test I think is when you're watching a Shayne Skov highlight or a Trent Murphy highlight...you really think you're watching a Ben Gardner highlight.
Gardner is an interesting prospect. I noticed him while watching Su'a-Filo as well. My impression was that he doesn't have a home as a starter in base D b/c IMO he's a 4-3 end but doesn't have quite enough ability off the edge to be an asset there. But with that said, he can really work it from the interior where evidence of his lower body explosion and that crazy 6.78 cone drill really jump out on tape and are used to their fullest advantage, so I can envision him having a home as a damn fine nickel DT rusher. He's a menace in the middle. I haven't ranked them yet but I'd be inclined to rate Gardner as a top 5 nickel rusher this draft, if not top 3 or possibly even 2nd behind Aaron Donald if we're excluding Ealy and Clowney.
I personally think he's shown enough to start at end in base packages. He's quite a bit better than Olivier Vernon. He would not be a Jared Odrick as a pass rusher (i.e. totally ineffective), he's too fast and explosive to be that. On nickel downs he reduces inward and he is as you say a top notch interior nickel rusher. Essentially he's Justin Tuck. Or Justin Smith. Or Michael Bennett.
I'd probably have to go back and watch him more before making any real declarations about his potential as a 4-3 end, but I'm quite smitten with him as a nickel pressure guy. Even if he hypothetically isn't a base starting end, I don't see why he wouldn't be worth a 3rd rounder as a backup DE who moonlights as a friggin' stud nickel rusher. If Seattle can prioritize doing it with Bennett, then why not Gardner? I'd be surprised if he went in the top 64 but just like you said, I wouldn't laugh if he went in the 1st. IMO he seems very Olivier Vernon-like as a base 4-3 end.... but obviously in nickel Gardner stands atop the mountain. He doesn't look like a liability as a starter, but if it were up to me I'd rather go the jumbo end route with either a 5-tech who can also play off the edge [like Tuitt] or a true 4-3 end with potential to 2-gap it [like Ealy] because I'd badly wanna see Dion Jordan's ability and potential maximized at SAM hybrid. Regardless, I'd look for any excuse possible to get Gardner on the team. After Clowney I'd say the trio of Ealy, Donald, and Gardner are in competition for the next best interior pressure player [nickel]. unless I'm forgetting someone?
Been watching the top 4-5 CBs most of the night, I'm convinced Jason Verrett is the top guy. Maybe Gilbert would be a better zone guy due to his athleticism, but man on man? Give me Verrett please. He also is a fine tackler wich I love in a CB.
Have you been watching Kyle Fuller? I find it nearly impossible to watch him without falling completely in love. The frequency with which he makes top notch plays is just amazing. But Jason Verrett is very good. I still make sure to tell people this. I asked Stedman Bailey who the best he faced was and he didn't hesitate. He said Verrett. Of course that's constrained to guys he's faced which might not be a totally awesome list...but still.
What's interesting is this is exactly how I see Ben Gardner. He may have been down to the 260's for his pro day but he played in the high 270's at 6'4". He's a BIG boy, naturally speaking. His position was a combination of nickel DT (which could be 3-technique or even sometimes 1-technique) and a base 5-technique. What's so interesting is watching him stunt around so much and take up blockers, it's perfectly translatable into Kevin Coyle's defense because that's what Coyle has our guys doing a lot. He helped other guys be productive by stunting and slanting to where he draws the attention of up to three different blockers on the same play, while other guys are free to knife through the resulting gaps. Yet his own pressure on the quarterback was on an egg timer, regardless of how many blockers he drew on the play. He was going to get there eventually, because he's too explosive and strong for blockers to stay with indefinitely. Let me see if I can scare up the specific links of him playing end.
Just watched a few clips, I do have sort of a fascination with blue collar DB's who aren't afraid to put hands on the WR. If you have a team that can generate a solid pass rush, he fits like a glove. Oddly he and Verrett look better than Denard IMO, even though he could go before either.
5-Technique: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=sa9rGXe6V7Q#t=7 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=sa9rGXe6V7Q#t=85 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=sa9rGXe6V7Q#t=92 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=sa9rGXe6V7Q#t=109 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=sa9rGXe6V7Q#t=164 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=sa9rGXe6V7Q#t=197 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=sa9rGXe6V7Q#t=266 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=sa9rGXe6V7Q#t=348 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=sa9rGXe6V7Q#t=357 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=sa9rGXe6V7Q#t=406 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGtcY5YB-s4&feature=player_detailpage#t=36 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGtcY5YB-s4&feature=player_detailpage#t=152 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGtcY5YB-s4&feature=player_detailpage#t=193 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGtcY5YB-s4&feature=player_detailpage#t=279 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGtcY5YB-s4&feature=player_detailpage#t=334 A few things to note about this. Something you'll notice about all of those instances is that he only went out to the 5-technique in passing situations where he needed to rush the passer by running the arc. Though I think the above clips show him able to execute competent bull rushes, inside-out moves, etc. at least to the level of an Olivier Vernon and probably much better, I don't think this is necessarily his strong suit. But it's also not what we're proposing. We're proposing that he play the 5 on base downs when a run is as likely as the pass. That involves different offensive line pass sets, different timing, and different technique from Gardner. He's going to have to defend the run from that position and show power more often than speed. If you're trying to figure out how he would translate in that regard, I actually believe we should be focusing on his work as a 4-technique, which I didn't include. He did a LOT of that work and looked pretty damn good doing it. He's excellent defending the run and when he's more directly attacking an offensive lineman rather than trying to run the arc and get around him, I think he's even better getting to the passer that way. Like I said before, his game really compares well to Justin Smith's. And Justin Smith is an incredible football player, IMO.
I don't like Darqueze Dennard at all. Kyle Fuller and Jason Verrett are both far better prospects than him. Kyle Fuller is more than a blue collar DB though. He has legitimate speed and knocks down a ton of passes. According to NUGap's work, Fuller knocks down the football every 3.6 targets which is second only to Verrett's 2.8 targets. He's got good size at 6'0" and 190 lbs, runs a 4.40 with a 38.5" vert, 33" arms, 10'8" broad jump. As you say, physical as hell. Extremely good at reading wide receiver body language. Aggressive.
If Gardner played in the high 270's then really surprises me b/c he looks no bigger than 265 on film. Is there a chance he's been in the 260's all along and are inflating his playing weight to make him more appealing as a strong side end or 3-4 end? On tape he looks like an undersized strong side end to me, but if he actually played at 277 then that's all I care about b/c his weight means more to me than how big he looks. You know- the whole physics stuff of it: force = mass x acceleration, plus a lesser ability of linemen to simply toss him around. I can definitely see the parallels of what you're saying about how Gardner was used at Stanford and what Justin Smith does in San Fran. But with that said, Justin is a manimal with a freakish level of inhuman strength, so I would need more convincing by Gardner to show he can have a Justin-esque impact in the NFL b/c when you run through San Fran's highlights of Aldon Smith, Bowman, and Willis, you see Justin routinely occupying multiple blockers and doing so without losing an inch, and when offenses happen to leave him 1 on 1, he's typically plowing the hapless blocker into the locker room. It's crazy how many plays Justin's teammates make b/c of all the attention he commands. Probably close to half of Aldon's sacks came while Justin was doubled or even tripled, and I bet half of Willis & Bowman's successful blitz sacks came either through a vacated space from a double on Justin or from Justin slanting like a bulldozer to intentionally turn the A and B gap into one shredded gaping hole for his linebackers to fly through unimpeded. I see Gardner causing confusion and drawing attention by his sick ability to both stunt and slant in obvious pass downs or when not being doubled, but I don't know if he can handle either flat-out occupying NFL doubles w/o being a liability or slanting and driving 330 pound guards into the parking lot. Like I said, I can see him doing this stuff as a nickel rusher when we're spreading the front four out, but I don't know if he possesses the capacity as a 5-tech on 1st & 10 against a strong run formation where he's needed to either hold his ground against a left tackle and tight end long enough for others to make the play or to flat out defeat the double to make the play on his own. I still think he seems very similar to Vernon as a base 4-3 end, but maybe offers a slight upgrade vs the run, so in base defense I think he'd have to be used schematically like Vernon was. Now, if he gets up to 285-290 like Justin Smith and can handle that weight well like Smith, then the 2-gap stuff and ability to occupying doubles would have to seriously enter the conversation. I think we'd first have to ask ourselves if we think Gardner could play with that type of power at 285, b/c if not then we're doing the rest of his game a disservice just as that aspect of Justin's game took a hit when he gained the weight. In just 11 starts as a rookie, Justin had his highest sack, INT, and PD totals with 8.5, 2, and 3. That was when he was probably just 270 and at his most athletic and not yet ready for 5-tech duties or occupying multiple blockers. But Justin has so much goddam power that it was worth it to sacrifice some of his lighter weight ability in order to become a force as a 5-tech. Do we know that we'd want Gardner doing the same, or would Gardner be better off at between 265 and whatever his Stanford playing weight was?
I mean the big difference here is Vernon in college never sniffed the quarterback half as much as Gardner, even though they both played similar unselfish positions.
I definitely wouldn't mind insurance on Vernon's spot, especially more in the mold of what they covet for that spot. Forward looking I think Jordan's future is at either OLB or Wake's spot.
I've gotta think Gardner is better against the run, too, no? We're talking about a guy who perhaps could've been an All American had his season not been interrupted by injury aren't we? He was 2nd Team PAC 10 in back to back years before this year which started off as a preseason 1st Team PAC 10. The action he did get seemed to meet that accolade, if not exceed it. So when is your gut telling you he'll go?
Good News: LB Eddie Lackey is a warrior. He played most of the season with a torn labrum. There were times he definitely had trouble wrapping up that would normally disturb you as far as his tackling prowess goes, but this could be attributed most likely to the shoulder. Bad News: Still recovering from the torn labrum, couldn't work out at Baylor's pro day. The injury is all the more reason he may go undrafted as teams don't like taking injured players. Good News Again: I just noted that he may go undrafted. Holy free value, Batman!
He was well on his way to accolades, absolutely. If you look at the sheer number of times he had extra help blocking him from the backfield, teams who played Stanford knew all about him. San Francisco's going to get him for a song. That's just the way it goes.
Dontae Johnson of NC State may be the best perimeter support player that I've seen in this year's CB class. It's not JUST that he's 6'2" and 200 lbs but it does help as he is able to dominate receivers coming off blocks because of that length. There's a physical aggressiveness to him where he just takes the direct route to the ball and is going to get there hell or high water. I don't know that I've seen him have less than an "A" or "B" play when the ball went his direction on a screen or perimeter run and that's pretty unique. He brings that on underneath passes too. Additionally, with that length, total flexibility, hip quickness, explosiveness and speed truly constitute a unique package that I'm not sure I've seen very often. Perhaps not since Antonio Cromartie. The guy can bend and snap-to like a piece of measuring tape. The Combine numbers certainly bear out what you can see on tape there. However, considering that total package as well as his natural aggressiveness and instincts in support...the shakiness he displays in coverage is baffling. In off coverage, he doesn't know when to come out of his back pedal on deeper routes. I don't think he reads the quarterback's drop depth either, which keeps him from reacting well to route breaks. He kind of goes back and forth between opening up from his pedal too slowly and doing it too quickly then taking too long to break underneath the deep coverage. He's much better in press-man, as you'd expect. I have a few nits there, as he needs to show a bit better awareness while the ball is in the air, to relate between the receiver and the football. But that's usually true of most guys, even the good ones. I'd also like to see him try his hand at dominating with length more like a Brandon Browner. He's SO physical in support that you'd think this would come natural to him but he just might not be coached this way. I don't think you move this guy to safety. That's just me. He makes sense as a corner and not because of the length craze that is hitting the NFL today. He makes sense at corner because the guy has the speed, hips, flexibility and natural perimeter support instincts to play corner. I saw him play safety against the Florida State Seminoles and don't let the 2 interceptions fool you. One of them was more of a fumble recovery than anything else as Jameis hit an open Kelvin Benjamin who was tackled by a corner and proceeded to fumble the ball. Johnson was just kind of jogging into the area and dove for the football and scooped it up before it hit the ground. Replay probably could've gone either way on whether that was a catch and fumble by Benjamin or an interception by Johnson but either way it wasn't good coverage. Johnson was completely unimpressive at safety that day. What's mind boggling is he was even unimpressive running the alley in support, which is exactly where he's probably MOST impressive on the perimeter as a corner. He's just fish out of water playing middle field as a quarters safety. You've got to let this guy play some corner and coach him up. He's got such physicality, aggressiveness and instincts in support that it's really only a half skip to teaching him to dominate receivers physically with length a la Browner within the 5 yard zone when in man coverage. From there you just work on the off coverage and teaching him to read leverage and drops quicker, play the mental game better, etc. He's got the ability and he shows it at times, he just needs to do it more consistently. He's definitely one of the most intriguing corners I've seen from a physical standpoint. [video=youtube;cuen_WlHsd0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuen_WlHsd0&feature=player_embedded[/video] [video=youtube;AJcHyNBfOAw]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJcHyNBfOAw&feature=player_embedded[/video] Here's a bonus video from 2012, showing some of the ways I envision him being used as a corner including on the inside where I think he could excel because of his hips. Mind you, not on the inside deep like a safety. I think he's clueless there. But close to the line as a slot corner in nickel and then a perimeter corner in base, this guy has starter ability. Look at the QUALITY of this game, and look how well he plays man coverage against a guy like Jordan Matthews. [video=youtube;-3VgDSIBx9Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3VgDSIBx9Q&feature=player_embedded[/video] This is definitely the kind of guy like a Byron Maxwell that the Seattle Seahawks pick up from lower in the draft and polish up until you're thinking damn where did he come from.
LMAO at this future top 10 pick putting on a blocking demonstration at 2:07 and the subsequent play, and then again at 8:03. [video=youtube;yoUWifF0J3U]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoUWifF0J3U[/video]
If we address the offensive line in the 1st, it will more likely be either Xavier Su'a-Filo or Zack Martin. Su'a-Filo's best position is left guard, and even though Martin played mostly LT at ND, I'd not be surprised if LG is his best spot too in the NFL. I see him as similar to Logan Mankins who also played OT his entire college career. They are almost exactly the same size. Both listed as 6041 and 307/308 at the same point in the process. Mankins' arms are 33", Martin's are 32 7/8". Mankins did a little better in the agility drills, cone and shuttle, 7.54 and 4.45 respectively, compared to 7.65 and 4.59 for Martin. Mankins did not lift as well though, 21 reps compared to 29 for Martin. Mankins had a better VJ, 31.5" compared to 28" for Martin, though Martin had the better BJ at 8'10 compared to 7'11 for Mankins. The most major difference is that Mankins was rated a 3rd rounder, 89th overall, going into the draft. His being taken at the end of the 1st was considered a surprise. It would be even more of a surprise if Martin went that late. Don't know how much it matters with Philbin, but if you look at the Packers' MO for finding guards in the draft is they usually draft college tackles and move them to guard. Both their current guards, Sitton and Lang, were college tackles and moved inside. Last year they drafted J.C.Tretter, a 2 year college left tackle, converted tight end, who is currently in line to be their center this year with Evan Dietrich-Smith having left in free agency. Guess what? Dietrich-Smith was Honorable Mention All--Big Sky at left tackle as a senior at Idaho St. Remember Daryn Colledge who played guard for the Packers for several seasons before moving to Arizona as a free agent, and is currently again a free agent? He was a left tackle at Boise State. Dallas Thomas played both tackle and guard in college. So did Sam Brenner. Neither are offensive tackles at the NFL level, but should have better feet having been outside in college. I know Thomas got tried at OT last camp, and he may again, but I cannot see it. He looks like a guard to me, though I could be wrong. If Philbin follows the GB pattern and has any influence on how Hickey drafts, we won't see any pure guards drafted. We'll see guys who at least played some offensive tackle in college and then the Dolphins will move them to guard.
Good post, and I think that the criteria that you list would leave the door wide open for Brandon Thomas at OG. An exception to your criteria imo would be Weston Richburg, an interior college OL but with feet and quicks so good I don't think that he would have had a problem playing any spot on the OL in college. I'd fully expect him to be on the Dolphin's radar come draft time.
One of the sleepers I'd be glad to see the Dolphins draft or sign as a UDFA is Zach Kerr of Delaware. 6'1 and 325, built as stout as a coke machine yet can run the 40 in 5.03. That's booking for a guy of that size. He is a real load clogging up the middle. Though CK's guy, Beau Allen would be a nice get too. Check out his arms. Pretty long for a 6'1" guy, almost 33". 28 reps on the bench. [video=youtube;pvRt8IZ2Fp4]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvRt8IZ2Fp4[/video] Granted, this is a highlight tape, but when a guy is playing at a lower level of competition, you want to see him being physically dominant. Kerr does not disappoint in that regard. Has just about everything you'd want for a DT. Has some pass rush moves. Uses an arm over a lot. Stonewalls blockers, even double teams. Get's blocked and still reaches out with one hand and makes a tackle. Hustles sideline to sideline. Even see him pursuing 40 yards down field, which indicates he does not give up on plays. Kerr is a delight to watch on this video. [video=youtube;As0ACtkIgZc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As0ACtkIgZc[/video]
Steven Ross just said that they are getting a RT in the draft. I think you can find a day one starter between pick 19 to 50 whether it's at 19 or you trade back to the late 1st to early 2nd round. Around that range I can see 3 guys so far that I think can fit a zone blocking scheme and that would be Zack Martin, Morgan Moses and Brandon Thomas.
"We'll get a right tackle in the draft and then we'll see what else he have to get." Read more here: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/dolp...d-about-the-offensive-line.html#storylink=cpy
