DKphin
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I am with you on Devon Wylie. He looks smooth on tape. I was thinking about it the other day, what round could we get him in? I think after people look at his tape and from watching the combine he might go in the 3rd or 4th.
2012 NFL Draft Prospects
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Read entire article:http://www.gbnreport.com/
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Read entire article:http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/NFL-Combine-the-merits-of-rising-and-falling-stock.html[h=1]NFL Combine: the merits of rising and falling 'stock'[/h]
Contrary to what you may read or hear, players' “stock” doesn’t necessarily rise or fall instantly after their workout at the Combine. What happens is it becomes an alert to do further research on the player.
As I have written before, players are expected to do well in Indianapolis. Most have spent the last 6 to 8 weeks at training facilities preparing for their workout. On a daily basis they have rehearsed everything they will do at the Combine so many times that it almost becomes second nature. For example, RGIII running in the 4.4’s did not help his stock. He was expected to run that fast. When you look at his history, you will find that as a freshman, he was an All-American 110-meter high hurdler at Baylor. You don’t achieve that status unless you are indeed fast. The red flag would have been if RGIII ran in the 4.5’s or 4.6’s.
Robert Griffin III was expected to run fast, which he did, at the Combine.
Scouts go into the Combine with an opinion as to how certain players will perform. It’s when they either do better or worse than anticipated that causes scouts to re-evaluate their opinion. For instance, A.J. Jenkins, the receiver from Illinois, had a very steady career showing improvement every year. He was looked upon as a solid draft choice. When he worked out on Sunday, his numbers for every drill were consistently near the top of the receiver class showing us that he may be a better athlete than we anticipated.
DKphin
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Read entire article:http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/NFL-Combine-Breaking-down-the-DB-workouts.htmlSafeties and corners on display Tuesday.
It was a solid day for LSU CB Morris Claiborne. He ran a little slower than I thought (high 4.4 range). However, he displayed good fluidity when asked to turn and run during positional drills. And outside of getting a bit high at times, he certainly exhibited the length, quickness and balance to mature into an upper echelon corner in the NFL.ICONJenkins was impressive throughout Tuesday.
• North Alabama CB Janoris Jenkins was in my view the real winner from Tuesday. Not only did he look very balanced and flexible when asked to change directions and turn and run during positional drills. He also ran in the mid 4.4 range and posted an electric 1.47-ten yard split. That’s click and close ability at it’s finest.
• Another top tier corner who had a strong day was South Carolina’s Stephon Gilmore. The 6-1, 190-pound defensive back posted a 40 time of 4.37, showcased good range in the deep half and tracked the football well. He looks like an ideal zone type corner who can hit, range and track the football out of his breaks.
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Harrison Smith displayed the smoothness and fluidity of a cornerback in DB drills. I have to go back and watch more tape now.
Claiborne was easily the best CB in all of the drills. His hips and ball skill are absolutely elite. Just ridiculous. Only thing that didn't help him was his 40 time. Still the best defensive player in the draft on my board.
Janoris Jenkins was also terrific in DB drills, which I expected to be the case. His man-to-man cover skills are as good as any I've seen. He just has to be more disciplined with his technique and not try to break on the ball every time like he did at the Senior Bowl.
Claiborne was easily the best CB in all of the drills. His hips and ball skill are absolutely elite. Just ridiculous. Only thing that didn't help him was his 40 time. Still the best defensive player in the draft on my board.
Janoris Jenkins was also terrific in DB drills, which I expected to be the case. His man-to-man cover skills are as good as any I've seen. He just has to be more disciplined with his technique and not try to break on the ball every time like he did at the Senior Bowl.
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Now people see why I've been telling 'em what an athletic freak Fletcher Cox is since July. There's a reason why Saban tried to recruit this kid to play the 'jack' linebacker position 3 years ago. He just continues to grow into his frame and remain the same caliber of athlete, he just gets better at playing football.
Top DT on my board who can also play some 5-tech in odd fronts.
Top DT on my board who can also play some 5-tech in odd fronts.
DKphin
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I know this is from a competing site, but I feel the argument is well thought out and presents a very real possibilty-What do we do if TR is there?
Read entire article:http://finnation.com/richardson-cou...on-could-be-key-to-dolphins-draft-day-success
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Read entire article:http://www.gbnreport.com/
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Read entire article:http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/NFL-Combine-5-prospects-to-do-your-homework-on.htmlOnce the NFL Combine wraps up there is always some buzz after the workouts, position drills, 40 times, etc. And this year is no different after the numbers posted in Indianapolis. However, despite some of the true athletic ability (and size) we saw on the field this week, here are five names that scouts need to do some more homework on before the Pro Day circuit starts up.
ICONDoes Mercilus' 4.63 speed consistently show up on tape?
Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois: Mercilus came into the Combine after posting 16 sacks this past season at Illinois. Wasn’t perfect in positional drills, but displayed enough athletic ability to align as a 4-3 DE or drop into coverage as a 3-4 backer. But what you are looking for is that 4.63 speed he posted in Indy that will give you a first-round edge rusher in both fronts. Plenty of discussion that Mercilus is a one-year wonder…let the tape be the judge of that.
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Read entire article:http://rob-rang.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/13682485/35012840
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Read entire article:http://www.nationalfootballpost.com...Gilmore-the-3rd-best-corner-in-the-draft.htmlIs South Carolina’s Stephon Gilmore the 3rd best corner in the draft?
ICONGilmore worked out very well at the Combine.
A tall, solidly built corner with a physical nature to his game. Plays in mostly pres-bail/off-coverage at South Carolina and is at his best when he's near the line of scrimmage. For his size showcases impressive lateral quickness in order to mirror. Can keep his base down and under himself initially, but his base level rises the longer he's asked to sit into his drop. However, collects himself quickly and showcases a good initial burst when asked to turn and run. Uses his length well to work an arm bar toward the sideline. Is fluid in his hips, cleanly out of his backpedal and gets up to speed quickly. Exhibits good straight-line speed for his size (played like a mid 4.4 guy) and made it tough on defenders to separate vertically. Showcases some strength off the line when asked to press, has the ability to re-route because of his size, length and quickness, but needs to continue to improve his footwork in order to stay more compact/balanced.
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TE Nick Provo Syracuse 6-3 248
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Draft Winds: Three defensive linemen Dolphins will study
Read entire article:http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/spo...g/2012/03/draft_winds_three_defensive_li.html
Quinton Coples – North Carolina.
Personally Coples scares me as a prospect. He scares Simon too, although Chris is a fan. It’s the beauty of the draft. Coples doesn’t possess a great first step although he does possess good athleticism and length. In layman’s terms he doesn’t play like the dominant force one expects from such a physical marvel. He’s not what I would consider a natural pass rusher as he lacks basic refinement in terms of footwork, the flexibility required to run the arc with much consistency and a lack of true explosion. As expected, he posted some good results at the Combine:
40 times: 4.78
Height: 6’5 6/8’’
Weight: 284
Vertical: 31.5’’
Broad Jump: 9’1’’
Arm: 33 ¼’’
Coples also posted a 10 yard split of 1.63; quite good for a man his size. The problem is that this explosion is not clearly evident on film. Quinton does not threaten the outside shoulder of an average offensive tackle with great regularity and when he does he does, he doesn’t dip his shoulder, use his inside arm to fend off his opponent then drive to the quarterback. More often than not, the tackle can ride him up the field even though Coples has good lateral agility; which should allow him to redirect with more ease than he commonly displays. He has large, powerful hands, but he does not consistently activate them. He does display good hand use in spurts; showcasing solid swim and rip moves capable of putting his opponent off balance. When his hands combine with leverage, he is a powerful, disruptive defender. As a pass rusher he may be at his best when he attempts to bullrush his opponent. His length allows him to keep opponents at bay – provided he maintains solid leverage.
Coples is in my opinion a better run defender than pass rusher. His length and upper body strength allow him to keep blockers at bay. His lateral agility is displayed more often as he can slide down the line to either set the edge or funnel the play back inside to his teammates. Quinton would prove difficult to hook and seal inside; allowing the back to get to the edge of the defense. He readily disengages from blockers to make plays against ball carriers in his area and is a physical tackler. However, he continues to display bouts of inconsistency. His pad level varies from play to play, as it does when he is asked to rush the passer, making him less of a factor than he should be.
While strong in his upper body, lacks the base strength to be an interior defender on an every down basis. His ability to ‘get small’, angling his body through gaps along the front does allow him to make plays when playing inside. However, he struggles to anchor against double teams or drive blocking linemen. Combined with his inconsistent leverage, such traits make me a little reticent in asking him to man an interior line position. Inconsistencies in effort and technique aside, the former Tarheel is normally alert, locating the ball well and generally maintaining gap control. Which, when combined with his physical attributes makes me think he is better suited as a 3-4 end, rather than a 4-3 defensive end. If Coples plays in a 4-3, his best fit may be at left defensive end where his lack of elite pass rushing skills may be somewhat mitigated. It is my belief that as a 3-4 end, Coples has the tools teams covet; length, athleticism to stretch plays out, and the strength to push the pocket.
Coples does fit Jeff Ireland’s desire to find an edge player that can reduce inside and still provide some pass rush, however his inconsistencies may not sit well with the Miami GM. As Ireland noted, such versatility is hard to find.
Tyrone Crawford – Boise State.
Crawford is a player I believe can handle playing on the edge along with kicking inside and still providing some much needed production. Crawford is a JUCO transfer, playing only 2 years at Boise State; where they feature a heavy defensive line rotation. During that time he has collected 13.5 sacks, 27 TFL and 4 forced fumbles. At the Combine Crawford measured in as follows:-
40 times: 4.85
Height: 6’4 2/8’’
Weight: 275
Vertical: 33’’
Broad Jump: 9’8’’
Arm: 33 ¾’’
[video=youtube;mix0Z3M5Mug]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mix0Z3M5Mug&feature=player_embedded[/video]
Whereas Coples burst leaves a bit to be desired, Crawford’s is better, although he does not continue to build speed as he rushes. Crawford will not simply blow by many tackles at the next level and will have to rely on his leg drive and base strength to primarily get the job done. He possesses good base strength, allowing him to knock opposing players back on their heels, getting under their pads and collapsing the pocket. At this moment, he is more raw power than refined execution.
As you watch the video you will notice that Crawford lines up a bit farther away from the line of scrimmage than would be ideal and his reaction to the snap is inconsistent. At times, he is the last one to react to the movement of the ball, but for the most part, he is quick to get out his stance. Tyrone, like Coples is not what I would describe as a natural pass rusher. He lacks the ideal flexibility to run the arc with consistency, but possess the lower body strength to be successful in this endeavor. His biggest drawback as a rusher is his lack of a pass rush repertoire. I think this is more to do with faulty technique than an inability to activate his hands as he does flash better than average hand speed and placement, although he must use his length to his advantage more often. Most collegiate pass rushers do not display a wide variety of pass rush moves as they can be successful using one move repeatedly. This issue is, and has been corrected at the NFL level many times over by good coaching.
This is not to say that Crawford’s deficiencies in this area will automatically be remedied, only that through some work, they may be improved. I believe he is almost NFL ready when it comes to defending the run as he can stack and shed with regularity. Where he can have issues is when he is asked to slide laterally while engaged on the edge. In these instances, Tyrone struggles to disengage. His struggles are not due to a lack of athleticism as much as poor hand use. As when rushing the passer, Crawford shows a lack of technique when trying to disengage from his man. Ideally, you’d like to see him use his length to keep his man at bay, maintaining leverage while keeping one shoulder free. When engaged with interior linemen, he readily disengages from blockers; allowing him to make plays against ball carriers so he have instances where his hands activate with proficiency.
Given Crawford’s solid base, length and effort I think he could be a capable backup defensive end that could reduce inside and provide some solid push up the middle. He does need to improve his hand use, but his base strength in my opinion gives him a solid chance to produce sooner rather than later.
If Jeff Ireland and company are looking for more instant impact at the defensive end spot, then I wholeheartedly believe you look no further than USC’s Nick Perry. Perry is the best pass rusher in the draft in my opinion. Melvin Ingram is making noise during the pre-draft process, but as my colleague Chris Kouffman likes to say, that process hurts juniors like Nick Perry. Perry doesn’t get to go the Senior Bowl and readily display his skill set on the field.
Nick Perry - USC
Perry, IMO, is the class of the draft in terms of pass rushing ability. For some reason he’s largely flying under the radar. He’s a largely underrated run defender who possesses more strength and athleticism than many would believe. Those beliefs may be changing however as Perry posted solid numbers at the Combine:-
40 times: 4.64
Height: 6’ 2 6/8’’
Weight: 271
Vertical: 38.5’’
Broad Jump: 10’4’’
Arm: 33’’
[video=youtube;aOvG-jImORE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOvG-jImORE&feature=player_embedded[/video]
In my opinion his Combine numbers back up what the film shows; he is an explosive pass rusher. That is not to say that he has an elite first step, but he does have a darn good one. Perry routinely comes off the ball low, driving up the field, attacking the tackle’s outside shoulder. He’s a refined pass rusher, displaying lighting quick hands that allow him to readily dispose of his opponent’s hands with ease. Perry’s hand use was on full display against Stanford’s Jonathan Martin earlier this year as multiple times, his ability to knock his opponents hands down lead to direct pressuring Andrew Luck.
He has natural pass rush tendencies; showing the flexibility, refinement and base strength to run the arc effectively. He uses his inside arm to maintain leverage and subsequently get to the quarterback. Armed with multiple pass rush moves he is one of the more refined pass rushers in this draft class. Albeit, he does need to show more of an inside redirect to maximize his ability. Another area of concern is that he does not have a true ‘next gear’ to get to the quarterback. His best weapons are his first step and hands, not necessarily his ability to close the distance to quarterback. This is not to say that he lacks any closing burst, only that in comparison to his first step, it is lacking.
Nick is a natural athlete who may be scouted as an outside linebacker by some teams as he is just under 6’3’’. At USC he was used in a two point stance, dropped into coverage and forced to play in space. A former basketball player in high school, Perry showed that he is capable of operating in space, albeit in a limited sample size.
As noted, his strength is a somewhat underrated aspect of his game. The former Trojan comes off the ball low, driving his hips into contact, creating a jolt on initial impact. He uses this strength as a compliment to his speed rush, bull rushing tackles, who are off balance as they race to gain the depth necessary to stymie his up the field rush. Here, Perry shows his refinement by regularly getting his hands inside, extending his arms and pumping his legs; maintaining the leverage gained from low after the snap.
Ultimately, he’s not without fault, he can lose his leverage advantage by coming up as he drives up the field. This can allow his opponent to see more of his torso, gaining a foothold with his hands and ultimately controlling the matchup. Perry is not an overwhelming physical presence despite being muscular, with thick hips and thighs. He needs leverage to truly be effective. And as Simon pointed out last week, when he gets pushed past the QB, he paddles to get back into the play, taking too many steps to get redirected.
Nick is a solid run defender as he again displays a solid use of leverage, arm extension and base strength. He brings his hips into initial contact, regularly jolting his opponent. His athleticism allows him to flow to force outside runs inside towards help. In this area, he again shows his refinement as he generally stays low, reads the run action well and maintains his gap responsibilities. His hands stay active, working to maintain leverage, which plays an integral part in Perry’s success as a run defender. Without it, he becomes much easier to control at the point of attack.
I admit that if it were up to me I would strongly consider taking Perry with the 8th pick in April. I realize that this may be a few slots higher than he is rated by most, but given the team’s losses along the front and the switch back to a 4-3, pass rushers become all the more important. As I noted earlier, I expect the team to bring in 2 or more defensive ends this offseason in attempt to outfit the defense for the upcoming season. Obviously the best strategy would be to use both free agency and the draft to complete the process. However, the cost of a free agent defensive end combined with the possible cost associated with acquiring Matt Flynn may present too much for the Dolphins to swallow. As such, the Dolphins may be forced to use multiple picks on defensive ends in a somewhat weak class. After the first 2-3 players at the position, there is a drop off in terms of pure pass rush ability and speed off the edge. With that in mind, I would be willing to bring Perry in with the 8th pick in the draft if I couldn’t trade down a few slots and look to fill the other holes a bit later on.
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DKphin
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Read entire article:http://www.gbnreport.com/