Of course, some people can't stay awayfrom bad decisions - Detroit spent a draft pick on him. Now he's cut. He's a good kid, and all, but... He's one of many that's a testament to why you don't listento talking heads. I'd rather talk with those here than listen to the people onTV. That simple. I am with you 100%. Remember hearing what a steal this guy was and how great he could be and they didn't even offer him a practice squad spot. No accountability for the talking heads, just keep spewing shit year after year and are wrong time after time and considered "experts"
Bears scouts are at USC-Cal in Berkley. I'm watching the game right now and wondering 'why?' I kind of just hope I'm overreacting to an early season game, albeit an inner-Pac 20 conference game. Sam Darnold makes some really stupid decisions, and if Cal's QB were any good, they'd be in a deep hole. There are a ton of injuries to bigger playmakers on both sides. USC's heisman candidate RB is out, Cal's #1 WR is out. Right now it just looks bland. Nobody is particularly standing out right now. Cal's WR, Wharton is a white hype waiting to happen, but he's not fast. Cal's offensive line is winning the trenches, but are getting gassed before halftime as I'm typing this; and more importantly--their interior line is doing the damage. These tackles suck, they have to put a fat DLineman playing as a TE in a difficult match up, #99 Malik Morris helping out on passing plays. Cal is an above average team that's overachieving due to a smart, younger coach. USC is hindered by a QB making a few stupid decisions, but is in the game because Cal just isn't good enough to keep up on them 9 other times out of. Cal has a really good, 3rd down edge rusher, Alex Funchess. He's a great pass rusher and run stopper--not so much a drop into coverage guy. A 2 down player/mid round guy that's a jr. college transfer. A sack, couple pressures, and a forced fumble. Cal's defense otherwise is real good. Their tackling is appalling. USC has an okay kicker.....Otherwise, you stump me here, Pace. Who do you even like in this game?
I'm not a huge fan of Darnold on the next level right, I don't like the way he throws the ball and think he is a very long, slow release. His decision making has been extremely poor this year, might be trying to do to much because as you pointed out, USC is not really loaded with talent this season. I think he is a solid QB but nowhere near the sure thing people were painting him to be coming into this year. No idea why the Bears picked this game.
I don't know which quarterback to like right now. We heard 2018 is going to be the year of drafting a quarterback, but most have just been lack-lusting this NCAA season thus far. That edge rusher from LSU, that left tackle from the University of Washington, James Washington from Oklahoma State, and RB from Pedophile State look like the only guys so far who can be week one plug ins on an NFL team as starters. And the bears, while we expect a high pick seem just stubborn enough to be picking in the 13-20 range if they catch teams sleeping like Pittsburgh. Remember that guy from Wyoming? He cant throw it to his own team. Until last game wasn't his completion percentage 46%? His name escapes me as I Iphone this...... Darnold looks so good but so bad at the same time depending on the play. He has some stellar play-makers at USC. He's got some real fast burner smurfs that.......I don't know if their 175 lb frames hold up at the next level. Rosen looks brilliant one game, and then forgets he's playing quarterback the next. Tons of bad mistakes. His shoulder fake to throw off a safety reading/watching him is his bread and butter. He knows how to fake some highly aggressive defensive players. Browning isn't being taken seriously at all. Mason Rudolph looks slow. Like Mike Glennon slow. Luke Falk just doens't have the arm. He's another Kellen Moore. Its a Mike Leach system, the QBs have full autonomy, sometimes the WR route trees are NFL routes, but his "touch" passes that make WSU fans "ooh" and "aah" isn't going to work in the NFL. Players are too fast for that. His arm isn't. I cant tell if Lamar Jackson will change from QB or not. He's none-too-impressive as a thrower in the pocket at Louisville this year. He's got wheels though. He'd need a truly dumbed down system to try and make that happen. 4 weeks in though, I'm certain much of this will change. Not a good 2017 start. Lots of good offensive linemen I like. I mentioned Trey Adams from Washington, Mason Cole from Michigan is another. Yeah--full disclosure, I wanna see them replace Bobbie Massie. I see what the Titans have done to teams thus far this season--and that's because they own the trenches right now. I love Sitton-Long-Whitehair, I can deal with Leno most days--but I think an OT is imperative right now. And an edge rusher. And a WR. Or 4. But that's a position I'm also hesitant with watching college. Naturally WRs are better athletes than 2 decades ago, and average players have 1-2 highlight reel plays per game, but......James Washington is the guy, and he isn't going to be around if the bears are stubborn enough to "be competitive" or be picking outside the top 8. That kid from ND (St. Brown) makes a god awful quarterback look palatable with those hands--though I don't trust his speed at the NFL level--so I wanna see him win more 50-50 balls before I buy in, and my fellow football fans from Texas would know more than I--but I'm supposed to be watching a guy named Christian Kirk from Texas A&M? Know nothing about the guy, but CFB analysts think he's a 1st rounder......
I agree 100% on the QB situation right now. This class was supposed to be loaded but none have been overly impressive to me. Maybe it has to do with the high expectations that have been set but you can find some serious flaws in everyone of them watching them play this year. Like you said, it could change but not a good start for this supposed stellar class. I like Rudolph but agree that his mobility is a concern. I won't go as far as you comparing him to Glennon but I think being able to get some yards with your legs is going to be a big thing for future NFL QB's to be successful. The days of the "Stay in the pocket" statues are in the past, need a guy who can be a least a little mobile but still throw well from the pocket. There are A LOT of prototypical QB prospects in this draft which means it will be decided during the underwear Olympics to which prospect these experts like the best. I dont do that, I want to see solid play on the field which at this point, there have been flashes but nothing consistent. I am going to keep a closer eye on WR's as that will obviously be a tremendous need this year for the Bears in the draft. Also agree with you that they need an OT. I love any prospect Michigan has because I know playing for Harbaugh they will be ready for the NFL. That has been a huge issue in recent years with offensive lineman coming out, these guys are not transitioning well which has led to the epidemic of poor offensive line play. Thankfully the Bears O-Line is in decent shape so just finding 1 solid guy in this years draft could solidify it even more.
aggie what happened with the bulldogs this season? that defense is smothering after I watched that Vols game and realized Tucktard is still there, shocking. The bigger question is who do they put back in at QB now with Eason back, and Fromm playing well?
The defense is crazy good. Look like Alabama and yes, believe it or not Tucker is still there but I believe the success has more to do with Kirby's schemes than it does with Tucker. They are loaded on defense, it is legit, speed is crazy and they play really hard. Kirby brought the Alabama attitude over to Georgia, and he is one hell of a recruiter. Love his intensity and the players seem to love him. I stick with Fromm, he has that "it" factor. I wasn't impressed with Eason his Freshman year, has a big arm and good size but was extremely inaccurate and seemed to struggle with reads. The players love Fromm and he has a moxy/confidence about him that rubs off on the rest of them. You stick with the hot hand and Fromm has it. He went into Notre Dame starting his first game and won and now into Tennessee and beat the shit out of them. They look tough and their RB's are just unbelieveable. They go 4 deep and they are all legit players. Chubb and Michel will be leading the way, this team has everything you need to be a legit contender, really fun to watch.
Well we all know this must be true, Tucker couldn't scheme his way out of an empty gazebo and as for coaching the players, remember the famous Peanut Eyeroll ha? You remember that youtube vid that i think mongo put up of Tucker explaining a cover-3 defense. He actually got it wrong! Tucker, an NFL DC, couldn't accurately explain the concepts behind a basic cover-3 defense. So dumb, so bad at his job. And Emery gave him a second season. That f_ck.
As we stand with the bears' 2017 season, looking at a couple of needs here, I'm focusing on the edge position, because something alarming in college happened with the position. The favored/top Edge prospect, Arden Key out of LSU jumped from 238 lbs to 270, which has some scouts worried, an NFL.com report said yesterday. What's happening with LSU? They have a few of the best football players on their team but cant seem to get it right, especially over the past couple of years. Last year, Leonard Fournette quit on the team and sat out the rest of the season to preserve himself. Some pundits seem to think LSU stars Key, DJ Clark (WR), Derrius Guice (RB) and Kevin Toliver (DB) will follow suit this year, and possibly more stars from other schools projected to go higher in the draft to avoid injuries and maintain their stock before the underwear Olympics. On a side note, I also think Tennessee being a circus with the entire campus and state wanting Butch Jones fired/his desk cleaned out this weekend, but the AD remains attached to him. Its kinda big for SEC News, but its masking LSU's underwhelming, yet perplexing team, its politics, and that if the trend of players exiting early, even mid-season like Fournette, is the NCAA going to be pressured into changing the indentured servitude of these "student athletes." Now that I've returned from that tangent, Key coming into this year was considered a dominating edge pass rusher, the weight gain is mysterious. I've done light digging but I can only speculate--because fans I know believe he's gotten lazy and fat. He had a horrible start to the season. 1.5 sacks, not so good pressures, and was a non-factor until a win over Auburn--LSU's 7th opponent in their season. Enter Bradley Chubb, NC State. I've been watching game tapes on this guy and right now, I think he's the best pass rusher in the NCAA, and easily the best in regards to the draft right now. I understand this now turning mid-season NCAA, and there's still plenty of football left, but this kid is dominating. Some gametape against high powered offense Lousiville, with a 1st round prospect at QB in Lamar Jackson, and a couple of their offensive linemen considered early-mid specs right now. 26 seconds in, and on Louisville's offense, he's made plays. He excels in run block and uses his hands, leverage, and speed to sack Jackson in the pocket. Progressing through the ensuing plays, Louisville shifts their offense to run to the other side of this field. This guy halfed Louisville's playbook and just put tremendous pressure on a Coordinator and quarterback. He's flexible for an edge as well, he's dropped into man coverage, getting physical and smothering TEs. He lines up as a 5 tech, and still maintains high effectiveness. He's remarkable. He's added spin and club moves in his now senior year prep, I'm confident right now saying he's my guy. Although he wont be there if the bears keep this "winning" thing going.
Welp... People know who Chubb is now, and some pundits rank him top edge as we roll into the early stages of meaningful draft scouting season. As custom, the bye week is this weekend and I'll have information out of guys I've been watching/intend to watch/want to watch more.
This will be the first post of a couple, but for those curious on the bye week, the NCAA season is also half over. Bears' needs have become apparent and we've discussed that in threads. I'm going to start first with Offensive Tackle, which IMO is the 2nd biggest need behind edge. WR is 3. Edge because I think the bears need 2. We don't know if Willie Young will sustain this, Sam Acho needs to be upgraded, and while McPhee has been more noticeable these past couple of weeks, he's also been a part-time shithead player in some games. OT because Leno has been getting beat since his payday, along with a couple of solid outings. Massie is......Massie. In a perfect world, he's a swing tackle. I don't have current/2017 game tape as OLinemen are hard to find for right now. So this will be a bit dry, sorry. The NCAA crowd is trimming down. Two guys are argued to be the best depending on which pundit you feel like reading. I'm starting with Oklahoma's Orlando Brown. The RS Junior is a 31 game starter at Left Tackle. He protects the blindside for Baker Mayfield. He's a big boy, 6'8, 345 lbs of beef. He suffocates opposing pass rushers with his elite (for NCAA) hands. He's known for his pancakes, and power at the point of attack. Excellent run blocker; and while I don't have 2017 game tape available, he moves for a big man. Anybody watching this crazy shootout with Oklahoma State? He's given Baker Mayfield all day to throw, and he pulls right for end arounds. Oklahoma State linebackers have been obliterated this game. One thing he's been improving slowly at is his bend. He stands up, a lot--and while he can tear up guys who try to take him head on; this can cause him to be out of position because his legs and hips cant keep up with an speed edge. He's not a Walter Jones or Joe Thomas, but I think he can be efficient enough to give Trubisky time on left or right side--probably not all day. He will have some growing pains. Second LT I'm going to focus on is Mike McGlinchy from Notre Dame. I liked this guy last year until the hurricane game against Miami--where he and ND had tough time throwing the ball. A solid prospect, but not the best player on Notre Dame's offensive line. That's Quentin Nelson, the C/G. After a tough game one against Georgia, he's settled in. Notre Dame has a luxury with this guy in the run block. He's a mauler, but his hands could stand to get to a better level. Its not a weakness, but his hands aren't on the level Brown's are. He's far better against speed rushers in pass protection. He's got great feet, even though sometimes they're too happy. He's leading OTs in the NCAA D1 in false starts. It's been an issue his entire tenure at ND. Like Brown, he's prone to get beat from time to time by superior defensive opponents--though ND doesn't run into too many of those when they play champs like Navy, Miami (Ohio), Boston College, North Carolina, and Wake Forest. The lack of defensive talent for ND in their schedule could be to his benefit. Many regard him the best tackle prospect right now, as some scouts think Brown's best move may be inside. Third is Connor Williams from Texas The 6'6, 290 lb Williams has been a bright spot for the Texas Longhorns. A starter at LT since 2015, he's built lanky and athletic for a bigger man. He's much quicker than Brown and McGlinchy, and in the run game is fast to get to the 2nd level and take the linebacker out of the play for his running back, but with that comes the trade off, his power. His worst attribute is his lack of strength. He's gotten beaten by bull rush moves from edge rushers within 20 lbs of him. He's not just going to need weight, he's going to have to find strength. Right now most scouts/pundits/mock draft "artists" have these three graded first rounders, with McGlinchy and Brown projected 5-20 and Williams 20-30 range. The next tier can be hit/miss. Georgia's Isaiah Wynn is a proficient run blocker, but his size 6'2, his short arms arms, and his quickness aren't thought to be able to transfer to the NFL. Many think he moves to LG. I won't lie, I haven't seen too much of him (just some short reads from scouts I find reliable) but I think Aggie would know more on this guy. My personal favorite that doesn't appear likely to declare (but hope he does) is Washington OT Trey Adams. For a Pac 20 OT, he's got size at 6'7, 310 OT has also been a 3 year starter. He tore his ACL last month--but he was elite, arguably the best of the class--now it seems likely he will stay at Washington another year. Great hands, on a good day--on the same level as Brown's. He also suffocates bull rushers and uses his hands to deter opponents. He was an atrocious run blocker in 2015, but improved in 2016 into 2017. In 2016, he allowed inside pressures one in every 38 plays, outside one every 28 plays. That improved in 2017, but again, after 7 games, he (and much of Washington's team) is out for the year. Of all potential OTs for 2018--Adams and Brown have faces the best NCAA competition of pass rushers. McGlinchy not far behind. This year he's facing the toughest of competition of his years at ND, IMO. Some people really like Western Michigan's Chukuma Okorafor, whom I think gets recognition in that LT is thin after 3-4 guys right now with scouts, because there's still plenty of season left. He may get there, he may not. Taylor Moton's replacement, RT. The browns are the only team that has gone to Kalamazoo to see him live. Maybe their sabremetrics front office sees something others don't. Then again--this is the same front office that celebrated a trade and didn't call it in at the deadline.
Now onto the wide receivers. A situation that's left Pace with no choice but to address the position due to injuries, lack of talent, and a bust drafted #7 overall. I'm starting with Southern Methodist WR, Courtland Sutton. 6'4, 215 lb receiver widely thought would have been a late 1st last year but he remained at SMU. Lanky and muscular frame, he knows how to use his size to his advantage when it comes to 50/50 balls, which he wins a lot of. He knows when to elevate and create the height separation, and gets to the same height as te ball. Lacks breakaway speed, and has a slower build up speed, but when he gets to full speed he's dangerous. Dynamic and flexible in SMU's offense. He's outside and is a mismatch with most DBs and he also gets played in the slot by his coaches, which open up his teammates into one on one outside situations. NFL.com compares him to Mike Evans. PFF, a site that's hit and miss had this nugget I found quite useful. Sutton is one of the best deep threats in college football as he ranked No. 2 among draft-eligible receivers with 16 receptions on deep passes a season ago. He dropped only one of the 17 catchable deep passes thrown his way and his 574 yards ranked No. 5 in the class (a deep pass is any pass targeted 20 or more yards downfield). https://www.profootballfocus.com/ne...-sutton-can-burn-defenses-on-a-bevy-of-routes Last year he had 76 catches for 1246 yards, this year he's got 48 catches for 752 yards on the season. Projected top 20 pick right now. Moving onto Christian Kirk, WR from Texas A&M. The 5'11, 200 lb speed receiver has been considered elite from last year, and is also a first round projection. Known for his speed and grittiness to go over the middle, and the ability to sustain hits better than other WRs because he's built like a running back. Kirk is considered to have good hands. In 2016, on 88 catchable passes thrown to him, he had 6 drops. Optimists think he can be a 100 reception a year guy if healthy, doing damage primarily in the slot. His ability to separate and get open is elite, he's compared to Odell Beckham Jr. with that and YAC opportunity because of excellent vision. He also does kick/punt returns, something I'd prefer Tarik Cohen stop doing. He obviously doesn't have the height you'd prefer to have from an elite X or Z receiver. The knock most seen on him, and that may be nothing--but some scouts think its something. He likes to let the ball come to his torso, he doesn't extend arms for catches often. Some scouts think this limits his catch radius. Projected top 25 pick. Onto Calvin Ridley, the 6'2, 190 lb receiver from Alabama Widely considered the most balanced receiver in the NCAA in 2017, Ridley is a tad older, 23 for college. Great route runner with natural, smooth movements. Rarely is he not-technically sound. Physical at the line, he's not afraid to scruff with opposing DBs and block--which he does a lot for Alabama RBs and their QB who also moves--Hurts. His hands could get to another level. Pessimistic scouts don't like his lack of downfield targets as opposed to guys like Sutton or James Washington--who's next. Against one of the top DBs in college football yesterday--Kevin Toliver from LSU, he had 3 catches for 61 yards on 5 targets when his QB only had 24 passing attempts. Against 2 of the top DBs against Florida State earlier in the season, he had 7 catches on 7 targets for 82 yards against Takkarist McKinley and Derwyn James when his QB only threw 18 times. He can distinguish himself if he begins to stat-stuff more. His production wont be that of Sutton or Kirk, though, which is why he's thought to be later 1st round potential right now. Many think he can be a prototypical #1 in a pro-style offense. NFL.com comparison is Stephon Diggs. Last, we have James Washington, the 6'2, 208 lb deep threat from Oklahoma State. He's not the biggest target, nor the fastest in the draft. Physical blocker and off point of attack from press coverage DBs predominantly outside, and college football's biggest trash talker, at least at WR. Plus catch radius, above average athlete with his ceiling not being that explosive like Sutton or Ridley, but not lengthy enough from far-from body, tougher catches, much like Kirk. Knows how to shred coverage and lose DBs with his acceleration speed in stride. Washington rarely lines up in the slot at OK State. NFL.com compares him to Hines Ward and Golden Tate because of his slower starts after the ball gets snapped. His stock is probably slipping him to the end of the 1st round/early 2nd round after his high ankle sprain yesterday against Oklahoma. Another interesting PFF nugget: In 2016, Washington showed that he is a perennial deep threat as he leads the crop of returning draft-eligible wide receivers in deep receiving yards (690), yards per reception (18.8) and ranked No. 3 in receptions on passes that traveled 20 or more yards in the air with 15 https://www.profootballfocus.com/ne...-james-washington-the-drafts-best-deep-threat
Patg what are your thoughts on Braxton Berrios? I've seen a couple Miami games this year and although he's small he really impresses me with his athleticism and ability to always get open and make tough catches, particularly on third down. Reminds me of Julian Edelman. Maybe not a #1 in the traditional sense but seems like he could be a very reliable security blanket for a young QB.
I'll preface with this, full disclosure, I don't watch too many Miami games. DLine may have more opportunities to see this dude than I, so if he felt like chiming in; he'd help my initial thoughts after watching one bout of game tape. I watched some of Kaaya last year, but didn't think he was any good. Berrios has outstanding burst from LOS, but doesn't have the speed. He's strictly slot, and I question if his 5'8, 185 lb frame is going to want to avoid head on collisions with the 6'4, 250 lb Mike linebackers of the world. Like offensive linemen in my post above, mid round WRs don't have too much tape available (for 2017 games on the site I use to watch tape, draftbreakdown.com), the first one I could find is against FLorida State. 2 dominant DBs on defense, though Takkarist McKinley I don't think covers him, because the game is considered his 2017 breakout game. Good hands and route running. Florida State lets him move a lot at the LOS when the ball gets snapped and he starts to run his route. I don't watch enough Miami games, so I don't know if this is by design, but he's running a lot of flag and go routes so far on tape. I don't know if they think he can beat the nickle or linebacker in a foot race and are counting on that, but they've taken a couple of shots down field early, and FSU's DBs I give more credit to Derwyn James breaking up a pass because of the man's range. Also does punt returns, and the first one I cant tell if he was trying to do his best Marc Mariani impression or not.....he went backwards. 7 yards. Horizontal running may not be for him at the NFL level, he's not fast enough against one of the better college football defenses. And honestly, I've never seen a KR/PR facemask the guy tackling him for a 7 yard loss until I watched this game tape. He gets pinched on a couple tight routes. The nickle back covers him pretty well, but this quarterback forces a few passes he shouldn't throw in the first place. I'm not going to rip on him for that. He tries to catch the ball, he's got good hands, good vision, good footwork too. He's not afraid to go over the middle, he's fundamentally sound making catches. One thing I do like, is that while his size isn't ideal to put him in a run package and let him run block the nickel, the nickel's first step is backwards (in respect of a pass, good calls by the Miami OC to trick the D with this guy on the field thinking its a pass), and Berrios has done a great job a couple of times on run plays forcing that nickel inside and sealing the block for his runner to get to the outside (where the z/x WR loses their block and the play is over LOL). His hands are aggressive. He kind of has to be because Florida State's secondary are bigger guys and he's 5'8 and under 200 lbs. THere's a few plays he knows the "veteran move" like Ted Ginn did to Eddie Jackson on the push off in the New Orleans game that didn't get called on the play Ginn was double covered and somehow caught that 40-something yard pass in double coverage. On Berrios' 4th quarter TD he definitely does that and gets away with it. His catch radius isn't spectacular, but if we define the terms that he's a slot WR, that point is moot. I don't like how he gets undisciplined against tall DBs covering him. Like I stated above, the QB in this film forces throws he shouldn't make. Well, there's a play he gets smothered by the nickel on a go-route, the nickle has inside position on him and he blatantly pushes off. That's where his size/lack of speed hurts him--and he took a bad offensive PI call, but the QB never should have thrown that. Through 2 quarters he has 2 15-yard penalties called against him. Not a fan of that. Right now, I agree with some pundits, mid rounds pick, potential to move up. I see some Wes Welker the way some scouts do, and I also see some Marc Mariani (and no offense to Berrios, but I've had enough Marc Mariani for one lifetime). If Pace is going to load up on WRs like cleveland did taking 4-5 in the draft a year or two ago, in a perfect world, he's a 4-5 round guy. I'm still working on edge rushers.....I'll hopefully have that out sooner or later.
The FSU game was one of the games I've watched. He made big catch after big catch in critical moments. Physically, you're right, not a whole lot to get excited about in terms of size, speed and catch radius. But he can run after the catch surprisingly well, something our WRs for years have struggled to do. I'd take a guy like him any day, who can catch the ball in traffic, take a hit, run a route, with a solid pair of hands over a physical/talent stud like Kevin White. I want to address o-line in the first round and ILB in the second but if Berrios is available in the third or later the Bears should draft him. Then add a real #1 in free agency, and there will be plenty of talent available at that position (Hopkins, Watkins, Landry, Allen Robinson). We could go into the season with one of those four + Meredith at the Y and Berrios in the slot. I'll take it.
Gonna chime in real quickly, because I'm at work: Pat has it right. Berrios is a college hero, but I'm not sure he has it at the next level. Guys like Edelman thrive largely because of the system. If he's put in a system where he can use his quicks, and he's able to elevate his route running and mental game, he may be a similarly useful piece. But he doesn't have the speed or size to threaten much beyond that. I would say that the Edelman comparison isn't unfit, but it will count on Berrios making the transition to the next level. Look for him as a late 3rd-5th rounder, potentially.
I don't think any of this is wrong, but BWW made an excellent point on a recent thread. Inman had his success in San Diego (or wherever they play/are going to play) in the slot. Kendall Wright, when given opportunities--is also a slot guy. As is Berrios. Now Wright is a FA after the season and I believe Inman is also here through next year. I don't doubt under the right circumstances this kid can be a pain in the ass to opposing defenses, I think a larger, athletic target that's a definite Z or X is a necessity. If WR was round 1's target, I'd much prefer Sutton right now. Auden Tate is another guy to watch. Florida State's QB (and season) went down week one, and this guy's stats in 2017 have suffered. A tall 6'5, 221 lbs with ideal hands, awareness (rarely does he take a bad angle/be out of position on a jump ball), and route running. He can also block, win hand battles, and is known to be consistent in making catches in traffic. He should be a 1st rounder and was projected earlier in the season, but he may not come out or may be 2-4 rounder if he does because of his 26 catches for 386 yards in 2017.
Of the guys you profiled above I think I like Kirk best. Sutton to me seems like a poor man's Alshon. We all like a big target, catch radius etc. but this offense needs guys who can get open and then make a play after making the catch. This is a departure from the big, stationary targets we've relied on in the past but it's what I'd prefer. OBJ is the best WR in the NFL. Route running, jumping, hands, run after catch, no can do ALL of those things as well as he can. We don't need the biggest guy. We need the best playmaking guy, whatever his size. Thanks for taking the time to write that post.
Finally, on to the edge rush LB options shaping up right now in the 1st round. I've already done Chubb, who's going to be out of their range if they continue to win. After Chubb, there are two edges depending on who you read--is a top 10 pick. I'm starting with a guy I like better right now, Boston College edge Harold Landry. The 6'3, 255 lb Landry draws tons of comparisons to Vic Beasley out of Clemson a couple years ago due to their stockier builds. Some people prefer Arden Key (the guy I'll go into next) due to his bigger size and length. But i prefer this guy. Explosive first step off the snap, bends to different angles to put various collegiate/ACC offensive tackles, from run maulers to pass rush specialists and beats them at the point of attack. He excels changing his angles after beating the tackles and maintaining that speed and balance. Elite hands, elite speed move. Also considered an elite backside run defender in the NCAA. Some scouts knock him for not using power move enough, preferring hand fighting and speed. He's gotten better from what I've read from 2016 to 2017. If he establishes the power move, and can time it with his speed, feet, and balance; this guy will terrorize offenses And he plays for a university that sucks, hence the 2016 tape. Because nobody watches Boston College. While Boston College gets blown out in this game, Landry has a field day with a pretty decent collegiate offensive line from last year. And BC runs a hybrid 4-3/3-4. Landry will probably go to 3-4 frame specifically for the NFL, but that's a guy who gives you that flexibility. He should have come out this past year, would have been a 1st rounder. Now onto Arden Key, the 6'6, somehow still lanky 270 lb edge. Like I brought up in the Chubb write up, Key had a 30 lb weight gain, and started the year pretty sedentary. He's picked it up the 2nd half of the season. Optimists felt Key put on the weight to be more like Myles Garrett, who just came out. Elite hands and speed moves, and if he goes the route of being like Garrett, his biggest question marks coming into 2017, his power/bullrush moves are what we can conclude he wants to change/get better. The first half of the season was somewhat hard to watch until what looks like now, the finished product. Fast for a defensive linemen, gives the effort and goes after the play. Reads plays well as a backside edge, but can make a few over-aggressive plays that wont be covered up so easily in the NFL, whereas LSU's unit is one of the better defenses in the NCAA. Last season, he left people gushing. This season, he's thrown a monkey wrench in terms of his consistency. Scouts and GMs looking at him are going to have to objectively look at his dud 1st half of the 2017 season and bank 2nd half is the guy you're going to take. Now onto the mid-late 1st rounders who could rise. I'm going on next to a guy who's caught my eye of late. He's been fun to watch. Dorance Armstrong Jr. from University of Kansas. The 6'4, 250 lb edge flew under the radar with edge rushers in the NCAA in 2017. Elite speed rusher, plus power moves; increasingly better hand fighter as he's elevated grade levels. Could stand to improve his run stopping game for the next level, in the game tape he's hit and miss. He stays home and stuffs the back in the backfield, and some the OT seals him in on an off-tackle run. Takes good angles, is aware of quarterbacks throwing lanes if he's in line of sight to block or bat down a pass. In film, Texas Tech respects him. They run away from the quarterback's right half of the field. When they would get stuffed on 3rd and short, they put the C-RG-RT-TE to take out him and the NT. Kansas's unit swarms and a high powered college offense in Texas Tech, the air raid--gets stomped on a few plays. Aggressive with hands, goes for the strip. It works against TT's back a couple of times. Right now looks more like a trade down candidate unless he has a spectacular offseason, and does well in underwear olympics. Next are a duo from Clemson, starting with Clelin Ferrell, the 6'5, 260 lb edge. Has some long arms, elite at fighting off/detaching opposing linemen. He's got elite swim and power/bull rush moves. Is versatile and can drop into coverage, and is a plus run defender--not far from elite. He's not afraid to go near the pile. Arguably at his best when he rolls inside over the nose or 3 tech, is an immediate mismatch against interior offensive linemen with his power move. He's racked up stats, and like Landry, some think can also play 4-3 DE. Very few knocks, including people worried about the crazy injury he suffered in the championship game last year to his ankle. He also isn't going to beat many in a foot race--but I trust Pace not to use him that way if he were drafted. Compared by some scouts to Chandler Jones. Those of us still sour on Shame? He's the chance for Chandler Jones 2.0. Mid-late 1st round pick. And to his counterpart on the other side of the Clemson defensive front, 6'4, 265 lb Austin Bryant. Not to get lazy, but his last couple of weeks have propelled him into the 1st round. There's no direct film on him available this year--hence why we'll stick with the one from Ferrell. Ferrell is the slow, power rusher and Bryant is the perfect counterpart/viper Edge, because he can drop back into coverage more fluidly than Ferrell. He's stuffing stats this year, and his skeptics will tell you Clemson's front 7 is arguably the best in the NCAA. Uses excellent technique and speed to set edge. He's had problems with his weight being too light. Some scouts think he needs some more weight. His run defense is considered questionable on his own. I mentioned these two, but I haven't mentioned Carlos Watkins, the 5 tech who does a lot of work, typically on Bryant's side of the ball. Some skeptics think he's a product of his defense as well--which is why he's a fringe/late 1st projection right now. But he continues to trend upwards. The last guy I'm going to focus on for 1st rounders is Ohio State's Sam Hubbard. 6'5, 260 lbs Considered the complete package at edge minus elite athleticism. Plus run defender, plus pass rusher with a knowledge/variety of pass rushing moves he's above average at. Can use speed, power/bullrush, and win hand battles. Fluid, rarely stiff, and he takes good angles and makes good reads. He was a situational player for Ohio State last year as a sophomore, and this is where skeptics have issues with him. After starting strong in 2017, his stats haven't stood out. He hasn't recorded a sack since the loss to Oklahoma back in September, that's a long time. However, he's a dynamic back side run stuffer. He'll have to finish 2017 with better stats if he he wants to sniff the first round. Many scouts think that he can. Many think he needs another year of experience in college next year. Right now, too early to speculate, but Hubbard is a 2nd round candidate if the bears thought OT/WR were a 1st round priority. Edge can be deep after these 1st round candidates. USC's Porter Gustin, Louisville's James Hearns, Mizzouri's Marcell Frazier, and Georgia's Lorenzo Carter have been making their way from mid round projections to the 2-3 round range. Right now, a position of need (again, IMO the bears need 2 edges) is shaping up to be a good one to invest in early next April.
