Couldn't agree more. McCaffery was my pick. Guy had the most all-purpose yards in one season in the history of the NCAA, in the Pac-12, at Stanford, not some lower level division and he somehow is not the best player? This isn't taking anything away from Henry who is a very good football player but McCaffery was the best player in the NCAA this season. Henry carried the ball 40 times a game and while that is a tremendously impressive stamina (also why I would never draft an RB from Alabama since Saban completely wears them out) it doesn't make you the best player. What is sad to me is this award has become a popularity contest based on ESPN/National Media and who they all decide to talk about. Alabama is on TV in primetime across the country while Stanford normally played late where the East and Central didn't get to see him play. In my opinion, this award should be decided by a panel and not a bunch sports writers who have their own biases and votes are driven by what games they actually watch.
Not that I don't think Henry was a popular vote, what hurt McCafferey was his Rushing TD totals (8). Henry had 23. Also, McC had 319 carries and Henry only had 20 more than that. Over the course of the season, that's not a big difference (less than 2 per game). Freeman, Ellilott, Cook and Fournette all had a better YPC than the 2 mentioned above, and they all scored 18 TDs or more (except for Royce Freeman, he had 14). Your argument about Henry is valid, but your selection of McCafferey is suspect. However, I do agree about the "East Coast Bias", it is an actual phenomenon.
Well....... Robert Nkemdiche looks like this year's La'el Collins. Over the last few weeks looked like a bonafied top 10 pick. Narcos responded to his hotel room overnight, and he broke and then jumped out the window 15 feet and escaped with "minor cuts." http://www.cbssports.com/collegefoo...fers-cuts-after-falling-from-4th-story-window
Your argument is the reason he lost the Heisman. He is more than a "RB". He had 3250 all-purpose yards, the most in the history of football in one season. He caught 41 passes for 540 yards, and 4 other TD's. Added another TD on Kick Return. This guy is an all-purpose player and valuable at more than one position for his team. This guy was the best all-around weapon in college football this season. The ESPN hype machine drives the Heisman, it really has lost its meaning as an award in my opinion.
Yeah, this guy is a certified stud football player but I wouldn't touch him with a 10 foot pole now. Can't believe how truly stupid some of these guys are. Cost himself millions.
His "all-purpose" numbers are more significant to your argument. I'll give you that. More so, I agree with your assessment of The Total Shitbag Network.
I've started to take real looks at potential first round OLB candidates and QB's. I wanted to dislike Goff based on the name alone (knew a guy with that name. Real shitbag). I came away thinking he just might be an NFL QB. I wanted that for Cook, but instead came away unconvinced he's an NFL starter. Hard to remove him from "Kirk Cousins". Lynch's physical skill set is outstanding, but he doesn't do the things an NFL QB needs to do. He would need real developmental time. I don't know if I saw him throw to anyone but his first read. That North Dakota State guy, Wentz... I want nothing to do with him. I looked at Shilique Calhoun, and I really wanna see him at the combine. I have seen little to none of him standing up, in coverage, etc. That'll be his opportunity to show any of that. Don't know why I started with Calhoun - maybe just because I be seen the most of him during the season. Super preliminary stuff. I'll have plenty more later. Just standing in line at the post office, figured this gave me something to do...
Its Connor Cook. Paxton Lynch and Jared Goff have the power arms, but Cook makes "the throw." If any of you guys watched Iowa Michigan State Big 10 championship game, Cook did. He played hurt, and looked "meh," but the 2 big things I like most about Cook is that he can make the throw to win the game, and he did against Iowa, and he knows what he needs to do. His 3rd down passing rate conversions are tops of any college quarterback. One thing (besides the shoulder injury) that concerns me about Cook, team voted 3 times against him becoming Captain, lockerroom and team leader. It was a team vote, and his Sophmore, Junior, and now Senior years he hasn't been voted for. He's a wise ass on and off the field. Don't like the maturity.
From Iowa? I'll get cracking. I want to see if he gets some nonconference games against West Coast teams. Big 10 when it gets colder is all about the run and short pass. I want to be able to see him defend the long ball. I'll go looking and will post.
Desmond King. Iowa CB. 5'11, 200 lbs To the tape. Versus Pitt. Exactly what I'm looking for. Star CB versus star 1st round WR prospect, Tyler Boyd (Boyd is 6'3, 200 and runs a sub 4.4 40 time). Boyd finished the day with 10 catches for 131 yards and TDs. [video]https://youtu.be/VCn6C294WxA[/video] Right off the bat, Boyd beats King on a slant route, but King gets him right back the next play with an INT. Positioning inside on Boyd was perfect and put himself right in position to make the play. Likes: -2nd interception of the game he got physical and took the ball away from Boyd. -Highly intelligent on the 2nd INT in the Endzone. cut under WR's route because he knew WR had nowhere to go/couldnt go deep. Kyle Fuller would have botched that . -Dual threat as a punt and kick returner. And he's aware of his surroundings. Automatically better than Maryannie. Makes something out of nothing on a few plays. Dislikes -Boyd really makes him look like a fool on some plays. Credit where its due on a 1st round, arguably top 10 pick/prospect. But King really bites hard on a few double moves. -Tight end takes him completely out of the play on a run play and he enters the field to make a stop. -I feel slightly limited with this. Iowa already knows they have to do 2 things. Stop the run, and cover Tyler Boyd. They do both well as a unit effectively. -This one is moreso on the scheme, but I really dont like how Iowa switches up to zone a lot then they wonder why Boyd (#23) torches them. The man coverage is working and Pitt's got 2 threats, the RB, Hall and 23. The defense then looks lost when Boyd is where they aren't for 20 yards. There's also a few plays Pitt's quarterback telegraphs his move and some plays it looks like Iowa isn't ready for it and others they are, but Boyd makes them pay. Every time is when Boyd gets single coverage on one end, and double wide or trips other end with Boyd by himself. -Tackles high on a few. Definitely a facemask or two that went uncalled. You can bet that gets called at the NFL level. Overall? 2nd Rounder? Yes. There are a lot of DB prospects coming out though. He could be late 2nd early 3rd. Depends on his combine and interviewing.
Bowl season starts today. Yeah, I know its a bunch of glorified exhibition nonconference games, but outside the big ones--there are a few games I'm watching. The big one today is the holy war reborn, Utah versus BYU. 2 teams that for some reason are not in New Years day bowls......though they should be. I want to watch both defenses, because both have top 25 defenses at the NCAA levvel. Both have 2-5 round defensive prospects I'm keeping an eye on. Notably Bronson Kaufisi, 5 tech/edge and Manoa Pikua (ILB) for BYU, Paul Giovanni (OLB/SS), Jason Fanica (5 tech) and ILB Jared Norris both from Utah. On offense, Ryker Matthews (LT) and Mitch Matthews (6'6 WR) from BYU and for Utah: Devontae Booker--just to watch at RB, the bears would be nuts to take another RB, Hunter Sharp KR/PR/slot WR @ 5'10 with a 4.4 40, and QB Travis Wilson. I mentioned earlier in the thread when I posted about Taysom Hill, the now injured BYU QB that BYU has 3 star 6'4 or taller WRs. I'm watching Tevin Carter, CB/SS from Utah (6'2, 215; 5th year senior). I like larger DBs, becaues the league is getting bigger, faster, and stronger at WR. Carter looks like a 6th rounder to undrafted FA after a freaky torn groin injury in 2014. Reginald Porter is the other Utah CB. 5'11. I typically want someone bigger as I mention above, but the Junior has been above average this year. If he elects to come out, he'd be a 5th rounder. I think he's inclined to go back for a senior season, because Utah has a lot of freshmen and redshirted freshmen DBs. Porter and Carter are the only 2 CBs considered upperclassmen. I'll be switching back and forth between the Las Vegas Bowl (Utah and BYU) and the New Mexico Bowl, which pits Arizona against New Mexico. Arizona boasts defense and Scooby Wright is back from injury, and New Mexico has a high flying offense
Well..... Utah defensive prospects are going to be in high demand. They're putting an ass beating on BYU. Tevin Carter (2 INTs, one TD) and Jason Fanica are off to dridiculous starts. Its 35-0 Utah in the 1st with 3 minutes left. 4 takeaways, 3 for TDs, one to the 3 yard line and an easy RB run in after an opening drive TD.
BYU was able to fight back in the 2nd half and made it interesting for a good 20 minutes before Utah Pulled away late, but couldn't complete comeback. You cant put yourself in the big of a hole. Scooby Wright is back in the conversation for 1st round pick at ILB. With questions about his health, he silenced critics to the tune of 15 total tackles, 11 solo tackles, with 3.5 for loss, 2 sacks and a forced fumble. ILB wish list. And an update on Robert Nkemdiche, he's suspended from Ole Miss from the bowl game. Idiot.
Freaking love this guy, really wish he could have stayed healthy this season because he is a football player. Just has a nose for the ball and plays LB like you love a guy to play LB, if he ends up a Bear, I will be very happy. It looks like the Bears are back in the top 10 draft pick conversation thanks to their miserable performances these last 3 weeks. There are some good players in this draft, unfortunately none of them are top 10 worthy QB's.
Prior to seeing free agent moves, including additions and releases, would everyone here be happy if Chicago walked out of the first three rounds with an ILB and a CB/S? Add OL and DL to that, and I think you have our priorities coming into this offseason, although I would be down for adding to those positions every year. I do think we're looking at a top 10 pick, and like aggie, I don't feel like there's a QB I'd really feel secure about taking with that pick. And, if there is, there's no way he's still there for us.
Unfortunately, we do need a CB as well because Fuller is not the answer. I wouldn't take one in the top 10. I also think ILB may be our number 1 need this offseason (outside of QB but there are no quick fixes there). So if there is a player worthy of a top 10 pick that plays that position, go ahead and do it. Just don't draft a WR in the top 10 or I might just have an aneurysm and become homicidal.
Anybody else watching Bowl Season? Some really thrilling games, and some crazy ones, like snow in an El Paso Sun Bowl game. To the draftable stuff..... Paxton Lynch looks exactly like Aggie and I thought--bad. Auburn put a beating on him. He reminded me of Jay Cutler in the 7-8 sack NYG game, without the concussion. That's what happens when a cupcake team (memphis) plays a team out of their league. 16-37 for 108 yards and 2 INTs and another fumble. Jared Goff is fools gold, albeit he put up 6 TDs in a blowout. He's back in the mid-late first round range with that performance. Still dont like his west coast style run and gun, throw 60 times a game. Wisconsin, after beating USC has a lot of good upperclassmen on their defense. Joe Schoebert (ILB) and Vince Beagle (Edge) are hyper intelligent on the field. I'm guessing its because their defense is on the same page. These guys would look good in Navy and Orange as mid round picks. Schoebert looks like Chris Borland......then again, anything looks better than our ILB situation. Indiana got robbed after kicking a good field goal in OT against Duke. Anyone see that? Big games tonight. Connor Cook can be the #1 QB in the draft class with a hell of a game. Michigan State/Alabama is my national championship anyways. Sorry, Clemson and Oklahoma have no business being top 4. But Oklahoma's punk ass QB (like Phillip Rivers, talks shit to everyone on and off field) versus Clemson's defense should be fun.
You know I am, with intense interest now that the Bears are once again looking to next year. Yesterday's playoff games were terrible. The only thing I learned yesterday is I still don't like Conor Cook as an NFL QB, at least not as a 1st or 2nd round pick and that Alabama is freaking loaded with talent. I'm a big fan of Reggie Ragland. Not only a good player but seems to have those leadership qualities you look for as a MLB. Yeah, not a big fan, again a guy after the 3rd round I would look at but not to wild about him panning out as NFL QB, Ryan Mallett is who he reminds me of. Of the small schools, I like Brandon Doughty from Western Kentucky. Think he could be a solid QB, nothing spectacular but has potential in my opinion. My hope is someone in the top 5 wants this guy because I'm afraid if he falls to Pace in the 10-15 slot, the are the Bears appear destined to pick, he will take him. By all accounts, the Bears have been watching this guy closely and while I think he is decent, I don't think he is first round worthy. He has all the tools but threw way too many INT's in the big games this year for my liking and I just don't see his play translating as well to the NFL as some others think. I did and I'm not sure what that referee saw, it didn't even look that close to being a miss. Not sure why there can't be two cameras underneath the goal posts for situations like this.
