I went to school at New Mexico State, played football there. Unfortunately, that program is complete garbage and doesn't give me much to cheer for. I consider myself from Arizona although I was born in New York and moved there when I was 12. After college I returned to Arizona for a few years before I started moving all over the country for jobs. I lived in Georgia for 6 years and became a fan of that team because it was hard not to get caught up in the passion of the fans down there for football. I follow a lot of college teams but Georgia is my favorite of all of them. One thing has not changed though, I have always been a Bears fan. What is funny about that is I have lived in a lot of places but never Chicago.
Bill O'Brien left and their offensive line went to complete sh*t. The program was talent depleted after the scholarships were stripped and Hackenburg has taken a beating for the last 2 years behind that line and in an offensive scheme that doesn't fit his skill set. The guy has all the tools and size to be your prototypical NFL QB but you have to worry about him being shell shocked from the beating he has took. He has also been wildly inconsistent since that strong freshman season. I blame that on Tony Franklin forcing a square peg into a round hole and also to the horribe offensive line. The tough thing to decide as a scout or someone who is drafting him is which guy is he? The one from his Freshman season or the one from the last two seasons. I would take a chance on him but not until the second round, he will need a year or two to develop but in my opinion, in this draft, he has the chance to be the best QB. Just going to be tough to tell until you get him in camp and see how well he can get used to a prostyle system again. My guess is after the combine and predraft workouts, this guy will rise up boards and end up in the first round which is too big of risk in my opinion for a guy who hasn't played tremendously well for 2 straight seasons.
And do you kind of keep an eye on the NFL teams there as well? Falcons? Maybe pulling for the Cardinals in the playoffs? So im not the only one, great! I don't really have a big college team. I keep an eye on Florida State a bit cos one of my best friends in the US is from Tallahasse and over the years he's sent me a jersey, a hoodie and even a Seminoles helmet. He's always been way more into college football than the pros and i know a few people like that. Strange. When i lived over there i quite liked Georgia, but it was mostly cos Champ Bailey was so impressive being able to play both ways. My housemate was a huge Syracuse fan and kept telling me Donovan McNabb was going 1st overall. Didn't quite happen heh. Thats right, Penn State and the big scandal. Should Hackenburg have transferred? Kids do that sometimes don't they. It seems like he stayed with the sinking ship and it ended up hurting his development big time.
Not really the Falcons, but I do have a soft spot for the Cardinals. They moved to Arizona the same year I did but never gave you much to cheer for until recent years. I love Arians as is well known in here and wanted him as coach when we hired Juice Box. They are a fun team to watch, aggressive on both offense and defense, basically the polar opposite of the Bears. I'm a huge Cardinal fan this weekend but if they lose to the Packers, they are dead to me. College football in the Southeast is absolutely crazy, it is like a religion. The atmosphere at the games is second to none as is the tailgating. The passion is just awesome, they sucked me in and as usual, I remain loyal through thick and thin. Yeah they do and in hindsight, he should have. The loyalty did not benefit him in anyway. Could have went anywhere but would have had to sit out a year and I guess he figured he it was his quicker path to the NFL. Still think he has potential, and think if he finds the right coach, he can be a very good NFL QB.
2 important games to kick off the scouting season. There's the East West Shrine game and the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, both this upcoming Saturday. I dont know what the fuck the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl is, but apparently it started in 2012. It came of note this year because instead of nobodies as coaches and Division 2 ball players, they got Mike Holmgren and Mike Martz to take on HC roles, and practices times are longer than the traditional 1 week before the Senior Bowl and EW Shrine game, and they've gotten some decent D-1 schools and players, including Trevone Boykin from TCU. Note, neither game here boasts 1-2 round prospects, these are your 3rd round and beyond guys. Boykin had a shot, then decided to start a bar fight and try to punch a cop. Boykin of course in a Terrelle Pryor or Dennard Robinson like situation where he's a "quarterback" at the NCAA level, but has to change or go to Canada. He's not an NFL QB, and needs to put on some weight at RB or transfer to WR. From the EW Shrine game I'm watching TE's, edge rushers, interior OL, and ILB, though ILB isn't strong in either game. First guy that comes to mind is Steven Scheu, TE from Vanderbilt. This is a 5-6 round prospect that belongs in the 2nd round at TE. Vandy's starting QB situation was all kinds of bad, 3 starters in 2015 and none of them got to 50% completion or averaged more than 5 yards per pass. Scheu is a 2 way blocker and pass catcher, which never was seen this year who projects to be a solid starter. Definitely a better option than Khari Lee. Second is Bob Kugler from Purdue at Center. Top 5 finalist for the Rimington (College Football's best Center) and probably the only bright spot on Purdue's crappy 2 win team. Dean Lowry from Northwestern. Their best pass rusher and 5 tech. This is my guy. Looks a lot better, healthier, and more athletic than former NU 5 tech and career Charger Luis Castillo. So is Nick VanHoose at CB, but its unknown if he'll start after going down with a concussion and broken hand against the Illini back in November at Soldier Field (where I froze my ass off.) Also want to see Antwoine Williams, the big edge and OLB from Georgia Southern. Bit of a poor man's Jaylon Smith. Not a stat machine, but a guy who kept opposing offenses honest and faced double teams often. Finally is David Onyematta from University of Manitoba, who's been working out a lot with Izzy Idonije (U of M graduate). Thing is, the guy is 6'4, 300 lbs and projects to be a 5 tech.
EW Shrine Game Rosters http://www.shrinegame.com/Teams/WestRoster http://www.shrinegame.com/Teams/EastRoster NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Rosters http://collegiate.nflpa.com/2016-game-rosters/ If anybody sees a guy they like, let me know so I can go look for some tape of him.
Personally, I really have come to like Reggie Ragland the more I watch tape on him. But for Forrest, I just began watching tape of him against Florida this year. [video]https://youtu.be/Jbv2OO_EwFw[/video] My first thoughts are a mixed bag. He hits. Hard. And he doesn't even look like a thumper of an ILB. He's quite lanky for 6'3 and 240 lbs. He's not subtle at all when he shows blitz. He really must like Troy Polumalu, where he jumps offsides a lot guessing snap count. He does it a few times and doesn't get called. He also telegraphs his assignments. You can tell he's left mid zone on a lot of plays, because before the snap he's running there. Cant have that against Aaron Rodgers. I dont like how on one play, he's like a shark who smells blood on a off tackle stretch run, but the next, he makes no attempt to shake off an OG with poor footwork in pass protection on a blitz. During Florida's TD drive at the end of the 2nd, they run right at him 4 straight plays, including a 4th down conversion and a TD and he cant disengage from the same guard with crappy footwork. #64 on Florida. I really like how he seems extra violent when Florida runs a bubble screen. Like he hates them more than everybody on this board combined. He's got another tape against Louisville I'll get to next.
[video]https://youtu.be/3kAfKIz5nCM[/video] A lot more positives in this game. He's around the ball, granted Louisville has no OLine and went to a true freshman quarterback halfway through the 1st quarter. He's still having trouble disengaging the guard on pulls, pass rushes, and runs up the middle by Louisville. He gets lucky a few plays because Louisville's running back looks like he's 5'8, 175 lbs. Very good in zone coverage. Gets a pick 6 and minimizes gains. And he knows where his zone is, unlike Shame and Jones. Gets left on an island a couple times. Somebody on UK's sideline should have noticed man coverage against their speedy slot WR and audibled or called a time out. A good collegiate QB would have turned that into a 50 yard gain. Louisville's freshman quarterback got himself a good 5 and out route. Misses finishing a few tackles on Louisville's speedy quarterback. How do you run into your own guy in zone Cover 3? Towards the end of the 3rd quarter, I feel not just Forrest, but the other ILB as well should have noticed the only momentum Louisville is getting is the read-option keep. It fools them a few times. He's not doing it as much this game as the Florida game, but he's still doing his best Troy Polumalu jump line impression. I felt if he did that in the NFL, he'd get flagged every time whereas Polumalu was "star status." He also telegraphs blitz and zone assignments, not as much as against Florida, but its obvious. Again, that's not good when your goal is to be better in the standings than Aaron Rodgers. I would think if I can correctly call when he blitzes, Rodgers definitely can. Granted, I'm with a birds eye view and Rodgers will be looking at him. When Louisville scored to put up 38, Forrest completely gives up on chasing Jackson, Louisville's quarterback and stopping him short of the goal line. Dislike. Not so much on the player, but Kentucky is a poorly coached defense against Louisville. The quarterback is either running it off of a read option or launching it 20+ yards downfield.
Final thoughts on the guy? 4-6 rounder who can up his stock with the senior bowl, which he got an invite to. I would really like to see a good LB coach work with him, because he's not 1 dimensional like Timu. He can play the run and pass effectively. But he makes a lot of junior mistakes that baffle even me. I feel a lot can be fixed by coaching and repetition. I also feel 3rd round is a reach for him, which may be where he goes. I also think if the bears dont go ILB rounds 1-3 Pace should be shot. There is only 1-2 good ILB FA out there available, and both are on the wrong side of 33. Derrick Johnson and Zach Brown.
Thanks man. I actually watched him live a few times this year. Once against Missourri and again against Auburn. He stood out on few plays in both. Looked the part of a MLB. Those weren't his best games. Not his worst either. I think he'll go late 3rd / early 4- especially if he knocks a few 10ths off his 40 time at the combine.
I dont think Trevathan will make it past initial re-sign phase. The Broncos will have an estimated 11 million in cap space and major contributors Malik Jackson, Derek Wolfe, David Bruton, Von Miller, and Trevathan to lock up. Peyton Manning has indicated this is his last year, and will free up over 19 million more. They can also cut Demarcus Ware and save another 11 million with a sub-1 million cap penalty if they think Von Miller and Shane Ray are good enough starters on their own. I think one of Wolfe and Jackson will make it to FA. I'll be shocked if Trevathan makes it. I expect Von Miller to get franchise tagged. As for the Jets, they'll have about 13-14 in cap space estimated. Have Fitzpatrick to resign if they like him, and Mohamed Wilkerson as well--who I have to assume is a priority. Demario Davis and Calvin Pace as well. Davis may make it to FA. Cant say I've watched too much of the jets this year. Not quite sure what kind of year he had. I'm not guaranteeing anything, and you never know who may slip through the cracks. But I dont want to pull a Chicitysports and think guys like Von Miller, Bruce Irvin, and all these other big names will come here.
Wolfe just signed a new deal unfortunately so he's out. Good points, but remember Osweiler is a FA as well. No way they both go so if Manning walks then they have to resign Osweiler and that'll cost them some coin. If it did pan out that way the Broncos would still be ahead CAP wise, but not miles ahead. Ware outplayed Ray last season. Ray has potential to grow, but i can't believe the Broncos trust him enough to cut Ware and go that way full time just yet. Not with Wade Phillips running that D. On the other hand tho $11.6mil isn't cheap is it. I wonder if the Broncs try to extend slightly and restructure Ware's contract. If would stop a hole being formed and create a bit more room CAP wise.
Rather dull games both ways.......not too much to report. If the bears are looking for a kicker and pondering parting with longtimer Robbie Gould, in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, Mizzou Kicker Andrew Baggett went 6 for 7 with a long of 54. The game ended 18-17. He also hit from 50, 44, 42, 39, and the game winner of 27 for team Mike Martz. He won the game. Trevone Boykin at QB was garbage. 3 completions. But he went 1-3 passing. He threw 2 to the other team. The NFLPA Collegiate Bowl was "the other brother" game. Christian McCaffrey, son of Eddy and Stanford star has brother named Max and he's a slow possession WR that probably cant make it in the NFL unless he is like a Bryan Finneran or Austin Collie pre-7 concussions where he can jump over everybody and his bad speed doesn't matter. He is taller than Christian at 6'4. I forget how tall Eddie was. He caught 2 passes, one a big jump ball. Oh, and apparently Phillip Rivers has a little brother who's a quarterback and somehow talks more shit than him. He got decked a few times and instigated a scuffle, but made some very nice plays including a TD drive for Team Holmgren. Northwestern State (Louisiana) QB. Insert apple far from tree euphemism. I would like to have a front row seat to that family thanksgiving. The East West Shrine Game had more substance and rises from players, including a few I was keeping my eye on. That write up is coming later. A couple overrated performances by guys I don't trust either.
Patg, I don't know if you have been watching the coverage of the Senior Bowl practices or not but I am absolutely amazed of the meteoric rise of Carson Wentz. Now, I liked Carson Wentz and we have talked about him before but I was thinking a 3rd round or higher pick. NOW they are talking about this guy as a top 10 pick? When did this happen? I like the guy but he needs a lot of work. I like his athletic ability, size and arm strength but no freaking way I'm taking him anywhere in the first round. I am absolutely shocked at how quickly some of these QB's shoot up the board based on what people hope to see instead of what they actually see. Still don't think any of these QB's are worthy of the number 11 pick. Second round? Yes but no way with the 11th pick. That being said, if you mute the TV and don't have to hear Mayock and crew slobber over certain players, it's great to see these guys practice.
Where does everyone here watch their Senior Bowl footage? In years past, I was able to find it on YouTube, or on NFL.com, but I remember I couldn't find anything last year, and I'm struggling to find anything this year. I may just be missing it. But I love footage from the Senior Bowl and Combine, and wouldn't want to miss out on that component of my evaluations. I've got initial impressions of the QB's, a handful of OLB's (or guys who could play that position), and some CB's. Senior Bowl and Combine footage helps me clarify what I see on tape, and whether there are a few guys I should go back and watch due to their performances.
It happened because some "analysts" out there continue to be unimpressed by Goff's regular season, Cook's injury and poor games against Iowa and Alabama, and Paxton Lynch tripping himself up over his bowl game suckage. Perhaps also the Cam Newton factor. Both are similarly built and possess similar qualities like athleticism and the inability to go down easy. And god awful throwing mechanics. Flavor of the month? It is still January, and I feel come late February/early March the "flavor of the month" trend will stop because teams will talk to these kids and know where they belong. Nothing Wentz has shown me screams that he's a 1st rounder, or 2nd for that matter. If he is, then I'm clearly missing something. Or cute backstory? They said he was a big recruit but stayed home in ND to be closer to his family? Some people gush over shit like that. I saw Wentz's fap fest thread over on the CCS boards, I didn't even bother to read it.
I get it from NFL network, or go looking at other sites to rewatch. Usually I use NFLDraftbreakdown. I've gotten mixed impressions from many positions. But I want to see more TEs, OL, and 5 techs. The senior bowl boasts a lot of those. I'll be watching Jason Fanaika from Utah, Shawn Oakman from Baylor, Carl Nassib from Penn State. Both interior OL on north and south look solid. And admittedly so, I want to watch little little little little Gronk.
I hope 3 QB's go off the board in front of the Bears, I don't want any of them with the 11th pick and it would mean we would end up with a top 10 player because none of the QB's in this draft are even close to the top 10 in my opinion. It is early in the process and guys rise and fall but Wentz is completely benefiting from Cam's success because in a copycat league, he is the only player who has anywhere near a similar size and skill set as Cam. If this guy goes in the top 10 it will be a perfect example of why QB's fail in the NFL. Teams reach for QB's like no other position and drafting any of these QB's in the top 10 is a complete reach in my opinion. Excited for the Senior Bowl today, it is my favorite part of this seemingly never ending process. Seeing the guys on the field. Reggie Ragland is playing today, someone I am very interested in.
