Fellas, I am not a Jeff Ireland fan... never was and never will be. But, I can say this he was very good at finding Undrafted Gems. After looking at the 18 UDFA we have signed in the past couple days you can tell that Dennis Hickey has done his homework as there are a couple names that pop off the board. 1. Anthony Johnson DT LSU - I was shocked when I saw that he was not drafted. Some mocks had him as a possible 2nd or 3rd round pick. Now he failed a drug test at the combine and that could've played a huge role in his fall. Either way this is a UDFA whom could not only just make the team but could make an impact in year 1. Right now our DT position has a solid 3 headed monster but we know how injuries can come into play. Regardless this is a mean mean big bodied TE. He is only 20 years old and we have one of the best DL coaches in the NFL. If Kacy Rodgers can't get him motivated I don't know what could. I expect him to make the team and to be part of the D-Line rotation. 2. Gator Hoskins H-Back Marshall - He is in the mold of Charles Clay as an undersized TE prospect and not a true FB. This guy led Marshall with 13 TD catches and with always looking for play makers Hoskins could be a backup to Clay or if taught correctly could fill our need for FB. Either way he is definitely someone to watch in camp as he could suprise with an opportunity. My prediction is for him to challenge for 53 up until season opener but eventually due to number end up on PS. 3. Damien Williams RB Oklahoma - Was booted off the OU's team this fall after having an impressive 2012 season. Still, he is an intriguing prospect as we didn't draft any RB despite the reports we would. Now expectign Williams to make a huge impact may be a little far fetched but the way I see it: Moreno 1a; Miller 1b; Then a battle between Daniel Thomas, Mike Gillislee, Marcus Thigpen, and Williams. Hopefully one of these guys can unseat Thomas. Williams isn't a power back but does have good size and speed at 220lbs and 4.45 40 yd dash. I expect Williams and Gillislee (if both given fair chance) to battle for the 3rd RB spot. Williams could be a guy whose red shirt year 1 but with RB in 2015 a ? he could be ready to go. 4. Deion Belue CB Alabama - Was not the standout at Bama as some of the past few years but he was a solid starter for the team. He battled a turf toe injury this past year but still was able to make an impact. The knock on him is his size as he is a frail guy at only 180lb. Now with any team on defense CB you need them by the dozen and behind Grimes we have an awful lot of "?". Belue coming from the SEC was challenged each week with high quality wideout so it's not like he is a DII type guy. He best projects as a slot cb due to his size but he is aggressive. He will be in competition with Taylor/Finnegan/Wilson/Davis/Aikens, etc. Don't be suprised if he is a 6th CB if he can contribute on Special Teams. 5. Brock Jensen QB ND St. - One thing is obvious, when Hickey and Co. were watching Billy Turner, their QB Brock Jensen must've stuck out to them. Well, he is a winner after 3 FCS titles in his time with the school. The guy can make the throws which is rare to see at that level translating to the NFL. Now Pat Devlin is Philbin's pet but if Jensen comes in an impresses he could unseat him at the #3 guy. Personally, I see him on the PS but either way I think he gives it a good shot.
I could see the first three making it. I can see Gator Hoskins definitely making it if the staff feels the need to a keep a FB on the team. Seems like Anthony Johnson's main competition would be A.J. Francis.
Tyler Larsen. Not sure he'll have a huge impact, but good insurance in case Pouncey gets in trouble/injured. Our center depth is lacking, so he should be kept around. Agree on Johnson. Didn't land a DT in the draft... fortunate to sign him.
I think Brock Jensen has the best chance because he has a clear path. All he has to do most likely is unseat Pat Devlin and Devlin was not Dennis Hickey's pick. He's been here 3 years and not really done much to show for it. The Dolphins chose to keep Matt Moore on a $4 million per year deal rather than go with the guy that had been here a couple of years already. Anthony Johnson has a good chance as well, due to position depletion.
I think Hoskins will make the team...I think they will keep four TEs and Im not going to be the least bit surprised if Egnew is on his way out. That or they practice squad Lynch or Hoskins...but I think Hoskins will turn some heads in camp. Remember they wanted Clay and Keller on the field at the same time...Hoskins gives them that option.
Larsen will make this team. No doubt about it. I hope Damien Williams can get on. Gillislee and Thomas have been put on notice. Those are the only two I can see on the 53-man roster. There are a few who can make the practice squad.
Larsen has to prove he can play guard also, to make the team IMO. Teams seldom keep position limited OL reserves on the active roster. He could be a practice squad candidate if he looks good in camp.
Ryan Lankford does, he's a good one too plus he could also punt very well. the dude is a burner, a legitimate home run threat.
Orleans Darkwa has a chance if they keep four running backs and someone else takes over return duties for Marcus Thigpen. Reminds me of Khiry Robinson except faster.
He averages about 39 yards on his punts. About 10 yds less than Fields. While it's cool he is such a multifaceted player, he is not an NFL quality punter on a regular basis. He may have a chance as a kick returner, and is very fast, but he weighs less than 170 and has not been very durable.
Here are the most interesting UDFAs to me, in order: 01. TE Gator Hoskins, Marshall 02. QB Brock Jensen, North Dakota State 03. RB Orleans Darkwa, Tulane 04. LB Derrell Johnson, East Carolina 05. DT Anthony Johnson, LSU 06. DE Marcus Thompson, Rutgers 07. RB Damien Williams, Oklahoma 08. LB Tariq Edwards, Virginia Tech 09. CB Deion Belue, Alabama 10. DE Tevin Mims, South Florida
Best of luck to both Francis and Johnson. Just want to say I've not seen anything from Johnson that indicates he is a better player than Francis.
The guy nobody is talking about is DE/DT Garrison Smith from Georgia. He was a multi-year starter and team captain for UGA who plays with great strength and leverage. Equally strong in run and pass support. He started the year at DE but moved to the middle due to poor play from the interior linemen, and notched 63 tackles and six sacks - very high numbers for a DL. Although more of his film is at DE, I believe a one gap DT may be his best position. Hes one of those guys where the pro day numbers (5.21 40, 23 reps) dont accurately reflect the product on the field. I believe he can compete with both Derrick Shelby and AJ Francis for spots on the team. Watch his performance vs Florida as an example. He starts out at DE in a four-man man line but doesnt make much progress - looks slow off the line. But watch what happens once he moves inside (both in 3 and 4 man fronts). Hes strong at the point of attack, sheds blockers and gets to the QB. I think he finished this game with nine tackles and two sacks. http://draftbreakdown.com/video/garrison-smith-vs-florida-2013/
Jensen is too good to not make this roster. Those youtubes of him really are impressive. I remember watching the New Orleans Bowl and thinking Darkwa had something to him. Speed to rip long runs and beat you outside...but enough size and toughness to finish inside. The kid scores from everywhere too. And our depth chart at RB isn't exactly, uh, the best competition.
As the lone Marshall fan here I'd imagine, I can share some info on Gator. Charles Clay isnt a good comparison. Clay played FB at Tulsa. Hoskins was a TE. He came in as a high school QB/athlete. He beefed up to the 245 he's listed at. He was rarely asked to be inline and block. He does a great job with YAC. He catches balls in traffic. I don't necessarily remember him going up and getting balls, but he caught some heavily trafficked balls over the middle. He's got above average hands, with an occasional drop here and there. We lined him up in the slot mostly but also as a split end and flanker. I'm excited as hell to have him. I don't know if he's Zach Ertz like some our hoping Lazor worked well with. He has some skills to work with though.
Darkwa intrigues me. He's got a little burst. His size/speed kind of reminds me of Lamar Miller. Of course, I like that a little more than I like Daniel Thomas' plodding, and he's quicker than Gillislee as well. His injury history hasn't been good... wonder if that would portend things to come. Not sure how well he breaks tackles, but even if the answer to that is: not so well, he should feel right at home in the Dolphins backfield. Anyway, I agree. Think he has a chance.
Sounds like Michael Egnew except has receiving talent. Maybe Sims and Lynch are both retained and Egnew cut, with clay splitting time at TE and FB w/Haskins as TE depth.
I see Lynch as more similar in skill set to Sims. If the light goes on completely for Egnew, he has a unique skill set, as for height, speed, leaping ability that none of our other TEs have.
I agree. I'm not sure you give up on Egnew yet. He made some strong strides from Year 1 to Year 2. Hopefully he can do the same. I'm hoping the talent of Sims shows up too. That's why, as much as I love Hoskins and would love a Marshall alum on the team, as say it will be difficult for Hoskins to crack the depth chart. He doesn't have the background that Clay did in college to help him transition into an H-Back. Frankly, he can't block a lick. He'll be like Egnew where we literally have to teach him how to block. He's a talented guy, but he doesn't have numbers that just don't jump out at you. He can play though. He really can. At this point, I don't see him taking Egnew's spot because of his talent and skills. I don't see him taking Sims because of his talent and skills. We'll see. I'm hoping for it!
If we carry 4 RB, Clay as a FB, the only FB, could we justify 4 TEs? With 9 OL, 5 WR, and 3 QB, that would be 26 offensive players. 24 for defense. 3 specialists. It is not unrealistic.
Im not sure what anyone could see in Egnew at this point. Kid is a bust. The measurables that kid has mean nothing. He's not a football player.
He showed better toughness last year. I don't think he has dropped a ball yet, eiher. With Wallace, hartline, clay, Gibson, Matthews, landry, sims, binns, egnew, hazel, Hoskins, and the rest of em, they should be able to assemble a nice crew
Ireland was the only believer in Egnew .He is now gone .Now Eggnog has to earn his playing time.My guess is that he will not be in the starting roster.I have more faith in Sims making the roster.
My top three are: Jensen: It's not difficult to imagine Moore being traded or Moore or Devlin just losing out. Darkwa: Only Moreno and Miller are likely safe. While DT and Gillislee will be ahead of him I doubt it would take much to unseat either of those. IMO Darkwa's video showed much more than Williams. Gator: Outside of Clay all of the TEs are replaceable. Like all UDFAs he'll be a longshot, but there's an opportunity there.
CK, talk about Tariq Edwards. He looks intriguing to me and a possible sleeper among all the signees.
basically....Hickey's already started the process of purging the team of Ireland's uninspiring pick ups, let's keep it going, Egnew and Daniel Thomas are next, guys like Wheeler, Thigpen, Gilleslee, Binns, and Garner will be soon to follow, maybe even a Will Davis/Brandon Gibson as well