TACKLE
12-02-2011, 03:24 PM
TACKLE on Tackles
- Riley Reiff is a Matt Light clone. The question becomes, how high do you draft a solid but unspectacular long term starter?
- Although he can probably play guard at a high level, I still see Kelechi Osemele as a RT first. Although speed rushers will be a question for him on the outside, his skills and style of play project better to RT at this point. He’s a surprisingly good straight line athlete, both moving forward and backwards. However, his biggest weakness as a football player is his lack of lateral agility which is really essential to play guard. At tackle, he makes up for it by always being in the right positional relationship to the DE, he rarely over sets and is technically sound on the outside. Maybe he can be a plug and play at guard, but I’d give him a shot as a RT first.
- As far as where they were as juniors, Matt Kalil is right there in the same class as Long and Thomas as a prospect. He has the talent to be an elite LT in the NFL.
- I don’t know why people are still so high on Jonathan Martin. Honestly, I don’t see what makes him a superior prospect to former 33rd overall pick, Roger Saffold. We see Martin’s feet get exposed whenever he lines up against a top pass rusher. Although the team’s success has peaked with Luck in his final year, from a development standpoint, I think Martin would be smart to go back to school and try to improve in his senior year.
Wide Wide Reciever Class
- Justin Blackmon is a great player but I don’t know if he has the physical upside to warrant a top 7 pick.
- And even thought this WR is incredibly deep though I don’t know if this draft produces a top tier player at the position.
- Speaking of this WR class, the #3 WR debate will be an interesting one. With Blackmon and Floyd seemingly being 1 and 2, that 3rd WR spot is in flux with Alshon's struggles this year and the emergence of some other talents. Rueben Randle is currently my horse in that race. 6’3, explosive, great hands, great body control, can set up DB’s and shows the ability to maintain speed in and out of his breaks. He’s only played WR for 3 years now and shown significant progression each year. If he even had slightly competent QB play, he would be getting first round consideration. I really believe he has the talent to potentially end up being the best WR in this draft.
- Joe Adams will be electric wherever he lands.
- It`s interesting how much appearances can affect perception....I think I`d like RG3 a lot more as a prospect if he was 6`3 225 than I do with him being 6`1 215. His low release point can be a bit of an issue for him but does an inch or two and 10lbs really separate him from being a really good QB from an average one? I don’t know the answer. I try to just focus in on projecting skill sets but build it can't help from entering the picture. Because right now, I can’t help but see a frail QB who I question how strong he will be in the pocket and I wonder if his arm can actually ‘make all the throws’ well. If he had the same skill set but was bigger, would I perceive his skill set differently. Just something I’ve been pondering lately....
- On the same note, how much will it effect people’s perception of Barkley if he comes in and measures in at 6’1 (which is also quite possible).
- The Poe vs. Ta’amu debate intrigues me. Both very talented big men who can be impact players in either a 34 or 43 defense. Both have bouts of inconsistency but those problems are more technical. There issues are almost opposites. Ta’amu can be a very power force upfield but doesn’t always hold and control his gap like you’d like to see from a NT prospect. Poe on the other hand is very disciplined in controlling his gap but thinks to much and doesn’t use his power to create plays in the backfield consistently. I like both guys a lot and think that Ta'amu may be the better player right now. But still, I’m giving a slight edge to Poe right now because of what he can be. From a purely physical standpoint, he has the most impressive size, strength athleticism combo I’ve seen since Ngata. Obviously I'm not saying he is or will ever be on Ngata's level as a football player. But like Ngata, Poe can thrive in any position in either a 34 or 43 front other than 43 DE. He's still a ways away from putting it all together but with NFL coaching, the sky is the limit for him.
Know This Name
Tramain Thomas, FS, Arkansas - 6’0 200, Sr.
I just went back and watched the Arkansas-LSU game and this guy really popped off the screen. We all saw him come up and make that big hit to force the fumble 6 early in the game but he was always around the ball and it felt like he was in on every other tackle. You could see the combination of natural athletic skills and fluidity to go along with physicality and willing to tackle. I went and checked out his numbers after the game and all this guy has done is quietly produced for the last three years in the SEC. 12 INT’s over the past three seasons including 5 this year to go along with 80+ tackles in each of the past two years. The more I watch of him and the more I learn about him, the more Thomas strikes me as a real playmaker who’s really the complete package at safety. He’s a guy I’m going to try to go back and watch as much on as possible. He’s an aggressive, fluid athlete who can be the coverage FS or the box SS. He really looks the part as one of the most well-rounded safety prospects in this draft. Keep your eye on him.
Not that this really you tells you much about him, I just thought this play was pretty coolio....
p1HFh-Byypk
- Although most drafts are usually quite strong in this area, I really don’t care for the depth at RB in this draft class.
- Although I was down on him coming into the year because he was so one-dimensional, that one dimension, pass rush ability, is what’s going to keep Bruce Irvin in the first round. He is just such an explosive athlete off the edge who can threaten the corner every snap but also sets up OT’s well for inside moves. I really like how he consistently plays with leverage which allows him to compensate for his size. The role he’s playing this year is really a terrible fit as he’s playing DE in a 3-3-5 and is lined up head up on the tackles a lot of the time. Though I guess it could be beneficial in the sense that it forces him to be more physical. He’s not quite that level of athlete though he is close, Von Miller’s success will undoubtedly help Irvin’s stock. Physically, Irvin is closely comparable to Cam Wake. He’s certainly a risky pick but if he tests like people are expecting, someone in round 1 takes a chance on that edge rush ability.
- On paper, Devon Still has everything you look for in a top DT prospect but I’m still (pun intended) having a hard time getting excited about him as a prospect. He’s just one of those guys who doesn’t pop in one particular area. Playing with better leverage would go along way to making him a better, more impactful DT play-in/play-out.
- If Janoris Jenkins goes most of pro career without getting caught too many times with the Devil’s Lettuce in his system, he can be one of the best CB’s in the league. Haden has been very good for the Browns and I felt that Jenkins was a better athlete and a better football player when they were playing opposite of each other at UF.
Obligatory Andrew Luck Mention
- Although it does get brought up, the importance of Andrew Luck’s athleticism does not get emphasized enough. His ability to move within the pocket, use his legs to extend plays outside the pocket and his ability to throw on the run is easily one of the most important elements of his game.
- Riley Reiff is a Matt Light clone. The question becomes, how high do you draft a solid but unspectacular long term starter?
- Although he can probably play guard at a high level, I still see Kelechi Osemele as a RT first. Although speed rushers will be a question for him on the outside, his skills and style of play project better to RT at this point. He’s a surprisingly good straight line athlete, both moving forward and backwards. However, his biggest weakness as a football player is his lack of lateral agility which is really essential to play guard. At tackle, he makes up for it by always being in the right positional relationship to the DE, he rarely over sets and is technically sound on the outside. Maybe he can be a plug and play at guard, but I’d give him a shot as a RT first.
- As far as where they were as juniors, Matt Kalil is right there in the same class as Long and Thomas as a prospect. He has the talent to be an elite LT in the NFL.
- I don’t know why people are still so high on Jonathan Martin. Honestly, I don’t see what makes him a superior prospect to former 33rd overall pick, Roger Saffold. We see Martin’s feet get exposed whenever he lines up against a top pass rusher. Although the team’s success has peaked with Luck in his final year, from a development standpoint, I think Martin would be smart to go back to school and try to improve in his senior year.
Wide Wide Reciever Class
- Justin Blackmon is a great player but I don’t know if he has the physical upside to warrant a top 7 pick.
- And even thought this WR is incredibly deep though I don’t know if this draft produces a top tier player at the position.
- Speaking of this WR class, the #3 WR debate will be an interesting one. With Blackmon and Floyd seemingly being 1 and 2, that 3rd WR spot is in flux with Alshon's struggles this year and the emergence of some other talents. Rueben Randle is currently my horse in that race. 6’3, explosive, great hands, great body control, can set up DB’s and shows the ability to maintain speed in and out of his breaks. He’s only played WR for 3 years now and shown significant progression each year. If he even had slightly competent QB play, he would be getting first round consideration. I really believe he has the talent to potentially end up being the best WR in this draft.
- Joe Adams will be electric wherever he lands.
- It`s interesting how much appearances can affect perception....I think I`d like RG3 a lot more as a prospect if he was 6`3 225 than I do with him being 6`1 215. His low release point can be a bit of an issue for him but does an inch or two and 10lbs really separate him from being a really good QB from an average one? I don’t know the answer. I try to just focus in on projecting skill sets but build it can't help from entering the picture. Because right now, I can’t help but see a frail QB who I question how strong he will be in the pocket and I wonder if his arm can actually ‘make all the throws’ well. If he had the same skill set but was bigger, would I perceive his skill set differently. Just something I’ve been pondering lately....
- On the same note, how much will it effect people’s perception of Barkley if he comes in and measures in at 6’1 (which is also quite possible).
- The Poe vs. Ta’amu debate intrigues me. Both very talented big men who can be impact players in either a 34 or 43 defense. Both have bouts of inconsistency but those problems are more technical. There issues are almost opposites. Ta’amu can be a very power force upfield but doesn’t always hold and control his gap like you’d like to see from a NT prospect. Poe on the other hand is very disciplined in controlling his gap but thinks to much and doesn’t use his power to create plays in the backfield consistently. I like both guys a lot and think that Ta'amu may be the better player right now. But still, I’m giving a slight edge to Poe right now because of what he can be. From a purely physical standpoint, he has the most impressive size, strength athleticism combo I’ve seen since Ngata. Obviously I'm not saying he is or will ever be on Ngata's level as a football player. But like Ngata, Poe can thrive in any position in either a 34 or 43 front other than 43 DE. He's still a ways away from putting it all together but with NFL coaching, the sky is the limit for him.
Know This Name
Tramain Thomas, FS, Arkansas - 6’0 200, Sr.
I just went back and watched the Arkansas-LSU game and this guy really popped off the screen. We all saw him come up and make that big hit to force the fumble 6 early in the game but he was always around the ball and it felt like he was in on every other tackle. You could see the combination of natural athletic skills and fluidity to go along with physicality and willing to tackle. I went and checked out his numbers after the game and all this guy has done is quietly produced for the last three years in the SEC. 12 INT’s over the past three seasons including 5 this year to go along with 80+ tackles in each of the past two years. The more I watch of him and the more I learn about him, the more Thomas strikes me as a real playmaker who’s really the complete package at safety. He’s a guy I’m going to try to go back and watch as much on as possible. He’s an aggressive, fluid athlete who can be the coverage FS or the box SS. He really looks the part as one of the most well-rounded safety prospects in this draft. Keep your eye on him.
Not that this really you tells you much about him, I just thought this play was pretty coolio....
p1HFh-Byypk
- Although most drafts are usually quite strong in this area, I really don’t care for the depth at RB in this draft class.
- Although I was down on him coming into the year because he was so one-dimensional, that one dimension, pass rush ability, is what’s going to keep Bruce Irvin in the first round. He is just such an explosive athlete off the edge who can threaten the corner every snap but also sets up OT’s well for inside moves. I really like how he consistently plays with leverage which allows him to compensate for his size. The role he’s playing this year is really a terrible fit as he’s playing DE in a 3-3-5 and is lined up head up on the tackles a lot of the time. Though I guess it could be beneficial in the sense that it forces him to be more physical. He’s not quite that level of athlete though he is close, Von Miller’s success will undoubtedly help Irvin’s stock. Physically, Irvin is closely comparable to Cam Wake. He’s certainly a risky pick but if he tests like people are expecting, someone in round 1 takes a chance on that edge rush ability.
- On paper, Devon Still has everything you look for in a top DT prospect but I’m still (pun intended) having a hard time getting excited about him as a prospect. He’s just one of those guys who doesn’t pop in one particular area. Playing with better leverage would go along way to making him a better, more impactful DT play-in/play-out.
- If Janoris Jenkins goes most of pro career without getting caught too many times with the Devil’s Lettuce in his system, he can be one of the best CB’s in the league. Haden has been very good for the Browns and I felt that Jenkins was a better athlete and a better football player when they were playing opposite of each other at UF.
Obligatory Andrew Luck Mention
- Although it does get brought up, the importance of Andrew Luck’s athleticism does not get emphasized enough. His ability to move within the pocket, use his legs to extend plays outside the pocket and his ability to throw on the run is easily one of the most important elements of his game.