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Cameron Wake

j-off-her-doll

j-off-her-doll

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Looking around this site, I've noticed a lot of trepidation - if not pessimism - surrounding Wake. I think he's far from a lock. Any player yet to prove himself in the NFL cannot be considered a sure thing, and even after a player has a great year in the league, there is often a feeling of "let's see if you can repeat the performance."

That said, compare him to some of the OLB's in the draft. Larry English, for example, was selected 16th overall. He had a great college career, but he never tallied more than 12 sacks in a season. In Wake's past two seasons he registered 16 and 23 sacks. This leads into my next point. The common knock on Wake is: "Let's see him do it against big-time competition." This is valid, BUT I think it's fair to say that Wake's competition was stronger up in Canada than English's competition and Norther Illinois.

Wake is also a more dynamic athlete. So, when I see - the more optimistic - posters saying that Wake is like getting an extra 3rd round draft pick, I'm a bit surprised. Of course, you could argue that the Chargers reached on English. I liked English as the 4th best potential OLB going into the draft (had him behind E. Brown). In my mind - in terms of talent and production against sub-nfl competition - Wake should be valued as a mid-1st to early-2nd round pick. I don't think the FO would disagree too strongly, considering passing on both E. Brown and C. Barwin.
 
I created a thread about how the draft reflected on our FO's opinion of Wake

it was ignored, then other threads echoed the same thing

I think pessimism is a bad word, trepidation is more fitting
 
Numbers, numbers , numbers.... Everyone sees 23 sacks and goes crazy, kind of like the love for Porter. Wake had 23 sacks in 18 games, with 8 of them coming off two games against the Hamilton Tiger Cats, who had probably the worst LT I have ever seen. There were also games where he got shut out you know. Anyways, L. English's 12 sacks in 11 games looks comparable to to Wake's 23 in 18 based on %, and lets also remember in the CFL 9/10 times it is a pass or a draw.
 
j-off-her-doll said:
Looking around this site, I've noticed a lot of trepidation - if not pessimism - surrounding Wake. I think he's far from a lock. Any player yet to prove himself in the NFL cannot be considered a sure thing, and even after a player has a great year in the league, there is often a feeling of "let's see if you can repeat the performance."

That said, compare him to some of the OLB's in the draft. Larry English, for example, was selected 16th overall. He had a great college career, but he never tallied more than 12 sacks in a season. In Wake's past two seasons he registered 16 and 23 sacks. This leads into my next point. The common knock on Wake is: "Let's see him do it against big-time competition." This is valid, BUT I think it's fair to say that Wake's competition was stronger up in Canada than English's competition and Norther Illinois.

Wake is also a more dynamic athlete. So, when I see - the more optimistic - posters saying that Wake is like getting an extra 3rd round draft pick, I'm a bit surprised. Of course, you could argue that the Chargers reached on English. I liked English as the 4th best potential OLB going into the draft (had him behind E. Brown). In my mind - in terms of talent and production against sub-nfl competition - Wake should be valued as a mid-1st to early-2nd round pick. I don't think the FO would disagree too strongly, considering passing on both E. Brown and C. Barwin.
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I like Wake. I am very glad to have him. The only caution I would take when looking at and comparing stats is remember this...in the Canadian league, alot more passes are thrown. The field is bigger, and I think it takes more yards to get a first down. So, Wake's numbers are going to be inflated just due to opportunities. On almost every play, he has a chance to get a sack.

I would value a sack in the CFL at maybe .66 in NFL #s. I would count the 16 sacks as 11 and the 23 to 15. Now you have to make adjustments on level of competition.

Bottom line, I think he can play. The Trifecta thinks he can play. The good news is, we'll know soon enough.
 
Anyways, L. English's 12 sacks in 11 games looks comparable to to Wake's 23 in 18 based on %, and lets also remember in the CFL 9/10 times it is a pass or a draw.
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And English was the 16th overall selection.
 
i guess we will wait and see.. i have high hopes on the guy tho and i am pretty optimistic about him. You also have to keep in mind that we were not the only nfl team pursuing him. This shows that he was evaluated by a number of nfl teams as a potential playmaker.
 
i guess we will wait and see.. i have high hopes on the guy tho and i am pretty optimistic about him. You also have to keep in mind that we were not the only nfl team pursuing him. This shows that he was evaluated by a number of nfl teams as a potential playmaker.
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Good points.

And, I do want to make it clear that I'm fully aware that Wake could be a flop. But, I would give him great marks as a prospect. When L. Arrington is raving about your athletic ability, that's high praise. It seems like Wake's improved his mindset a great deal since his college days. He might end the season with zero sacks, but I wouldn't be surprised to see him get somewhere between eight and ten - what you'd hope for from a highly touted rookie.
 
Wake isn't what I would call a high motor guy......he's like a rocket ship, also the guy could play 6 quarters of football. In the 4th quater when you expect him to slow down he seems to speed up.....he's a sack collector.

DeCleater.....Wake like every other D-linemen in the CFL rushed from all 4 spots on the line. He took advantage of every o-linemen in the league.

23 Sacks is impressive but look at his tackles. He also had like 80 tackles as a D-linemen in a pass happy league is pretty crazy.

Remember Mark Gastano????
 
It's understandable to say that sacks are easier to get in the CFL, but considering he had more than twice as many as the next highest player, that should tell you something.
 
Not only did Wake get a lot of sacks but he got a lot of QB knockdowns and QB pressures that resulted in bad plays for the offense and good plays for the defense. Wake was all over the field. I live in Toronto and have seen Wake plenty.

People think sacks should come easier in the CFL, but that's not true. The sack totals every year in the NFL are far higher than in the CFL, check it out over the last 10 years. This is because they send less people at a far less frequency in the CFL for blitzes.. This is because the CFL field is wider and WR's get a running start before the snap. You need cover people out there. Blitzes are too much to chance in the CFL.. All the NFL blitzes and stunts seriously help DE's and OLB's in the NFL get sacks because it confuses O-lineman and frees up lanes for them to get pressure on the QB.

So that is one factor.

Another factor is the extra yard O-lineman have seriously benefits the offense in the CFL, it doesn't help the defensive line at all... The CFL makes every rule to benefit the offense. And it's also why you see NFL offensive lines in a rainbow arc on passing downs, where the OT is a yard and a half behind the line of scrimmage. They line up like that because it helps the O-lineman. The NFL offensive tackle doesn't line up there to benefit the fast pass rushing DE/OLB

What you guys should do is watch this youtube of Chris Long in his bowl game.. He won MVP for the game but had no sacks and only 3 tackles.. But he was Very active and does the little things that greatly help a defense. And that's what you get with Wake.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC0guzCtZ7U

Wake will help the defense immensely. Because he isn't one of those players that has 2 sacks in a game and then disappears for the other 60 plays on defense hurting his defensive teammates (and team) in the process. But Wake is active throughout causing negative plays for the offense despite just getting a sack in a game.

Cam Wake reads plays instantly, even early. Wake is very smart with a high football IQ. He angles extremely well. He has the strength to shed blocks, has the speed, explosiveness and swivel hips to change direction to get to any plays on the field.

Sacks don't tell the whole story. Just like it didn't tell the whole story with Chris Long in the Gator bowl with his zero sacks and only 3 tackles. Despite his stats he still won MVP and was the best player in that game. Watch that youtube. The guy was all over the place making plays, helping his defensive teammates make plays, and causing havoc out there. Wake is of the same mold you see in that youtube of Long.

Wake is the type of player that makes things happen on the field that you cannot put on the stat sheet. Just like the commentators mention numerous times during that game Chris Long played in. That's what separates the great football players from the good football players. Stats aren't everything when determining a great player.
 
Look how far back offensive tackles in the NFL are from the line of scrimmage in passing situations. The Giants Tackle is so far back off the line that no part of his body is even in the picture !! And there is a reason NFL Tackles line up like that in passing situations, because the extra space helps them out immensely when they go up against very fast and strong pass rushing DE's/OLB's.

So the people who came on here over the past couple of months trying to tell us that the extra yard at the line of scrimmage in the CFL helped Wake get sacks, simply have no clue regarding the game of football, and don't understand the tenets and basic fundamentals of the game.

OlineGiants1-1.jpg
 
GoonBoss said:
Actually, what I've seen is mostly blind overwhelming optimism surrounding Wake.
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i agree. I live in Vancouver and watched every one of Wake's games the past 2 years either live or on TV. I will say he is one of the most impressive athletes Ive ever seen play. Like other posters have said, hes not just a one dimensional sack guy. He gives all out effort and Ive watched him chase numerous plays down from the backside that alot of other guys wouldnt even make the effort on. That being said, I said before and Ill say again. Best case scenario I see for him this year is getting on the field in obvious passing situations, most likely on 3rd down, and giving Porter the occasional play off when he needs it. I do hope Im wrong though.
 
Greyboy said:
Look how far back offensive tackles in the NFL are from the line of scrimmage in passing situations. The Giants Tackle is so far back off the line that no part of his body is even in the picture !! And there is a reason NFL Tackles line up like that in passing situations, because the extra space helps them out immensely when they go up against very fast and strong pass rushing DE's/OLB's.

So the people who came on here over the past couple of months trying to tell us that the extra yard at the line of scrimmage in the CFL helped Wake get sacks, simply have no clue regarding the game of football, and just don't understand the basic tenets game.

OlineGiants1-1.jpg
Click to expand...

I thought the NFL made a rule that the Tackles helmet had to at least be even with the waist of the guard or center? is that the rule? although ive numerous games where they are pretty lax with that. but ya, the 1 yard off the ball for the defense is even more of an advantage for the offense in the CFL.
 
I have high hopes too, but some on here already have him labeled as DMVP. Hows that?
1) Subpar 4 year college career Total of 190 tackles and 8.5 sacks hardly subpar
2) Cut by giants
3) Regardless of all the rules and this, that, and the 3rd... the CFL IS A HUGE DROP OFF IN TALENT!!!! ONCE IN A BLUE MOON DOES A MAN FROM THE CFL COME IN AND HAVE A GREAT PRO CAREER

Which brings me to hoping we sign JT, he can give Wake a few pointers and Wake can be a situational pass rusher rather then a "lock" for the starting job, and then the following year when JT retires or released or wants to be a backup, Wake can be the starter with a year under his belt learning from one of the best who ever played for the Phins. That is how i would like to see Wake start off his career. I HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR HIM TO BE A SUCCESS AS WELL, BUT IM NOT PUTTING ALL MY EGGS IN HIS BASKET, IMO HE HAS A BETTER CHANCE OF FAILING FINHEAVEN THEN SUCCEEDING.
 
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