There has been recent discussion about how Jamil Douglas fared when directly lining up against USC's Leonard Williams. In 2014, Douglas lined up at left tackle, so the two didn't quite go head-to-head, and unfortunately that 2013 tape where Douglas did play LG is proving difficult to locate.
However, Jamil's Offensive Line coach at ASU, Chris Thomsen, was recently on the Finsiders imparting his relevant knowledge on the rookie. http://www.miamidolphins.com/multimedia/audio/Research-Report-Jamil-Douglas/d66fe491-95a0-4565-90ca-d2aaa4d44bf2
Three things from the interview have really stuck with me. First, regarding intangibles, he said Douglas started 40 games for ASU, and never once came out of a game and never once missed a practice. He ate lunch with him everyday and never ate an unhealthy thing. (My personal opinion is that Douglas acts the most professional of all our draft picks.) The second, is that the coach echoed the sentiments here that Douglas is truly a better movement guard than a massive blocker, and is more suited to a zone scheme, like we have in Miami. Third? His answer when directly asked how Douglas played against Williams when lined up at LG in 2013. Contrary to popular belief, Douglas more than held his own as ASU went on to win, 62-41. Find the highlights here:
[video]http://pac-12.com/videos/highlights-arizona-state-football-races-past-usc-shootout[/video]
Albeit just a few plays, Douglas definitely shows he belongs on the same field as Williams. Actually, if you believe the press from after the game, his less heralded unit out-played the new Jet.
http://archive.azcentral.com/sports...tball-has-historic-night-in-win-over-usc.html
Edit: Here is a cut-up of ASU's Marion Grice, who had four TDs in that game. It's probably easiest to just watch Douglas #74 at LG. Otherwise, pause the play and find Williams #94; he usually lines up over the RG, but moves around often, and you'll waste a lot of time looking for him.
[video=youtube_share;-Pn5vRoTqIk]http://youtu.be/-Pn5vRoTqIk[/video]
Off the bat, Leonard Williams looks like the best player on the field. This AFC East's DLine is better than the rest of the NFL combined.
However, Jamil Douglas had a very good game. Going up against Williams ten or so times, Williams couldn't really produce anything. In fact, I didn't see Douglas give up any pressures to anyone, and had only one short-yardage fail. He is definitely not a big, powerful mauler, but he just gets the job done. I don't know what it means to be an especially, remarkably un-flashy OG, but if it means he can have two performances a year against Leonard Williams like he did in 2013 then sign me up, please.
Two things I realized. There is a big difference between nimble and fast. At the second level, Douglas is uselessly slow unless the play is coming to him. However, he is so nimble on the LOS, whether slipping through two defenders or tiptoeing behind the center. Secondly, he seems very difficult for defenders to disengage from. They may overpower him, but he's not letting go.
When asked, Coach Thomsen believed Jamil Douglas could be a rookie starter. I tend to agree. Heck, he has the potential to be our best OG as a rookie.
Opinions?
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excellent post. I have a strong feeling Jamil is going to win the job outright. He needs to clean up some things but after that sky's the limit.
btw
CashInFist likes this. -
I wonder if we have some sort of connection with ASU because I believe we brought in Finkenberg as an UDFA last offseason. That is Adam Engroff's scouting territory I believe, whom I think is the best scout we have. This could be one he banged the table for.
CashInFist, Larry Little, ASUFinFan and 2 others like this. -
- A lot of those pass-pro snaps he had no one to block, so I didn't get to see as much of him as I wanted to.
- Saw about 5 snaps vs Williams. One time, on a run play, Williams got a lot of push on him. In pass-pro Jamil seemed to do okay.
- Agree with him being nimble at the LOS. Past the LOS he seems to have trouble finding and getting to a person to lock onto at the second level.
Expectations: I don't think the staff has him starting Day One. They are more comfortable with vets, imo. Jamil probably works his way in as injuries pop up.
- Don't expect him to be as good on goalline as mid-field run plays, because he's not a bulldozing in-line blocker.
- He's probably going to be better in pass pro than Dallas Thomas is. I like how he uses his hands.
- Being between Albert and Pouncey would be perfect for a young guy like him, since they are both stable, experienced and good at their positions.
Wonder how he'd do against the Bills line?Larry Little, Fin4Ever and keithjackson like this. -
offensive line, 2015
Albert-Douglas-Pouncey-Thomas-James
the problem is resolved...
looking to an outstanding 2015 season! -
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my concern for Douglas is that all we need is average and if he is that and not all world, our fans will do that thing they do.
Pandarilla likes this. -
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ASU football notes: Why tackle Jamil Douglas is a freak
NFL.com recently published its "Most freakish athletes in college football" list, a part of their 14 for '14 series. Included: Arizona State's Jamil Douglas.
I contacted Shawn Griswold, ASU's head coach of sports performance, and asked about Douglas. He didn't hold back.
"Jamil is a 303-pound guy and with his shirt off he looks like he's 265,'' Griswold said. "And he's so big, so long, so lean, but what's impressive is the things he does with those strength numbers. To clean 385 and be that tall, that's hard to do. The only other guy I've ever seen do that – and I wasn't his coach, he was at the University of Utah when I was at Utah State – was Jordan Gross, and he was a Top 10 draft pick and played (in the NFL) forever. And for Jamil, to bench 430 with those long arms, that's a long way to press a weight."
http://www.azcentral.com/story/spor...-why-tackle-jamil-douglas-is-a-freak/9883457/Fin4Ever, Pandarilla, 77FinFan and 1 other person like this. -
Our fans do the "thing they do" when we get epically bad performances along the OL ala Jon Martin and Dallas ThomasFin4Ever likes this. -
Douglas is also conditioned to go 80 plays a game. Gonna be interesting to see how dominant he can be if he ever gets that many plays a game.Fin4Ever, Clark Kent and CashInFist like this. -
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Fin4Ever, Clark Kent and CashInFist like this.
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Am I the only one that isn't impressed? This pick is really a head-scratcher for me, particularly knowing that Douglas was the only offensive lineman Miami drafted. I get that this guy is another physical specimen but I don't see the football talent and ability to believe he'll be on the team in 5 years, let alone be a real contributor.
To me eyes, there are as many bad plays as good plays (if not more) in that footage. He's completely lost in blocking at the second level and he doesn't seem to have the strength to hold off blockers long enough to support a pocket-based NFL QB. Add to that, he's dreadfully slow getting down-field, he's blown of the line on several plays down near the goal-line and usually seems to have help when he does block well. Anytime he's stuck between the bodies, whether it's down-field or behind the LoS, he just looks lost. That's hardly what I'd like to see in a Guard. I just don't see any authority in how the guy plays so I wonder if this pick wasn't just about his physical attributes?
Since first watching this footage on draft day, I still cannot figure out why Miami drafted Douglas when the need seemed so much more pressing. Douglas is a long shot that needs a lot of refinement and work to be a legitimate NFL player and even then I'm not sure he's starter material.
I'll be really impressed if this pick works out because the bad plays scare me a lot more than the good plays make me confident. -
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Tons of folks know more than I do in scouting players so I'll choose to root for the kid based on him being a Dolphin and hope it's true what they say. I'm not a negative guy, I'm just not very fun. My goal is to get to the heart of "how do we get better?" Those aren't often positive conversations because they involve identifying weaknesses and being honest.
There's no sense in celebrating unless you've arrived at some destination worthy of celebration. Drafting a developmental OG in the 4th round isn't worthy of celebration, point blank.
Obviously I want him to be successful, no question there. -
I understand exactly where you are at and I agree with allot. Since I have been a fan since inception I have see us win a Super Bowl (2). So I desperately want some more plus I would like to see our younger fans get a Super Bowl as well. I think we have more talent now than we have had in a long time and 1 more draft and we should be solid blth first and second string. I just hope that our coach has grown in the off season and learns how to manage. time outs.Have a good one.