I guess i need to clarify because i wouldn't compare any of the guys you mentioned to Watson. The difference to me is that without Watson, i don't think Clemson even sniffs the playoff let alone the NC game. He makes his team better, is not the product of a "system" like some of the others you mentioned. Being a winner is just one of the many qualities i like about Watson. You mentioned the other things i like about him as well. He has an NFL arm and loved the patience he showed in the NC game despite taking a beating. I wouldn't rave about a player unless i thought he had what it takes on every level and i think Watson does. I love watching the guy play and the fact that he knows how to win makes him even better in my opinion. I agree Patg he is an enigma. ND had a garbage year and while he played well at times, really didn't at others. I started to really like him as I watched him play Texas early in the season. Made great strong throws and solid reads, if he played the entire game instead of splitting time with Zaire, they win that game. He really could use another year which is why i don't like him that much although you can clearly see the talent is there. Maybe once away from Kelly his potential will be reached and that would make him a great pick. Too many unknowns.
EW Shrine game this Saturday, so not much to really talk about until then. Senior bowl is a week later on the 28th with the bears coaches against the browns. Until then, CBS released its top 50 big board, sour on quarterbacks. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/...rd-1-0-defense-rules-in-a-top-10-with-no-qbs/ As did Bleacher Report's Matt Miller: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ig-board-matt-millers-updated-rankings/page/2 Interesting CBS is putting Dalvin Cook above Fournette. And Pat Mahomes cracks CBS's top 50?
According to Walterfootball, this week after EW Shrine Game practices, the bears held private meets/interviews with Northwestern Receiver Austin Carr, Texas A&M's OT Avery Gennessey, and Tennessee State's RB I'Tavious Mathers. I've watched Carr at NU, he's got the speed and playmaking ability. He needs to get stronger and more physical. I'm a Northwestern guy, but this guy is later rounds potential. Mathers, don't know much about him, other than he transferred away from Ole' Miss to MT. From some initial footage youtubing the guy, he looks like a power back. No breakaway speed. He hits the hole hard, but when he has that 2nd level opened up, you're expecting him to turn on the jets and they don't come. He's listed at 5'11, 205. He'll need another 25+ pounds if the bears are thinking a Marcel Reece type-back that Seattle has......I'd like that kind of player, but if this is to cycle out Carey or Langford, hell even that Addison kid they brought in weeks 15 & 16,--from the 2-3 clips of MT I've seen--I wouldn't do that. Gennessey played LT at Texas A&M. I usually don't get too much of a chance to see most Texas teams besides Texas-Austin (by popularity) and Houston (probably because they were ranked most of 2016). I'll have to look at film, maybe Aggie knows more. He's in a good year to come out for OTs. Weak tackle class.
Yeah. There is something to be said about any player who plays his best game against the best opposition and Watson clearly has done that. He does have warts as in too many interceptions but I think he is maybe the most coachable prospect out there. We will see.
In terms of the INTs for Watson, Aggie and I discussed in recent pages. A lot of his INTs are 2nd half INTs where he's gotten lazy and Clemson already ran the other team out of the house. If the National Championship showed me anything in correlation to that, when the game is close, he doesn't get lazy, make a throw he shouldn't, while still putting the ball downfield. He didn't shell up with 3 yard slot WR out-passes, he threw the ball up for his big WR, Mike Williams and Williams showed why he's going to be a top 5 pick. He beat out a couple really good Alabama DBs...... I think retaining Jeffery would be critical if Watson is in Pace's plans to take at 3. You give him a comfortable, big, physical weapon in an offense, and I think its a smooth transition because he has a weapon day one, in a comfort zone like he's been used to at Clemson. But if the game plan is drop Jay, go with someone else like Kaaya or Kizer, and let Hoyer bridge the gap--Jeffery is as good as gone. He and Hoyer weren't on the same page nor are they likely to be going forward. Jeffery likes a jump ball downfield, Hoyer cant throw that. Neither can Barkley. Watson and Jay can. But if Jeffery walks, I don't know about Aggie, but I really like John Ross from Washington or Isaiah Ford from Virginia Tech round 2 at WR.
I don't care about the INT's quite honestly. Look at his stats and performances against NFL talent filled rosters like Louisville, Alabama (twice) and Florida St. (twice). His decision making and reads in the Alabama game were spot on, patient and impressed me, someone who has been a big proponent of his all along. Any team in need of a QB in that top 10 that passes on him is going to regret it, lets hope the Bears aren't that team because God knows we have been for basically the last 30 years. I love Mike Williams. My feelings about WR's being drafted in the top 10 are well documented but put the film on this guy next to Kevin White (in college) and you will I still to this day cannot figure out how Ryan Pace thought he was worth a top 10 pick. Mike Williams is a freak athlete with speed, going to be a stud in the NFL. I would offer Jeffery a fair contract, not too much. WR's are the most overrated position in the NFL and are icing on the cake, not a crucial piece to building a winner. Don't think Jeffery deserves top tier WR money and if that is what he wants... bye bye. One thing college football is pumping out is good WR's and since the Bears still need a lot of pieces, I would focus on those before worrying a top tier WR. I have seen a lot of John Ross, I am big fan of his. Will be honest, because of the lack of importance I put on the position, I haven't studied much film but I can comment on players I have seen play a lot and living in Arizona, I have seen plenty of John Ross to like. I am a huge fan of PJ Fleck and Western Michigan has a WR in my opinion that could be a top notch NFL WR and that is Corey Davis. Not many now about him because he played at Western Michigan but has great size, quickness and play making skills. Think he will end up going in the 1st round to someone but if he does drop, another one to look at in the second.
If you're Jeffery, you want top dollar. And I think this will be a rare time we see a player get franchised a 2nd time. I don't think Jeffery will take 10 mil a year, which is what he's worth right now in a perfect world. He wants Demaryius Thomas money, that;s 5 years, 88 with 40+ guaranteed. I'm inclined to agree, but at the same time, while college is pumping out WRs, there are a lot of needs.......WR in the 2nd round can be a good argument, so can OT, 5 tech (if not taken at 3), TE, S (if not taken at 3), QB (if not taken at 3), or CB. There are some modest WR bargains in FA. Baltimore cant afford Kamar Aiken. There's also Pierre Garcon, who would excite me more if he wasn't about to turn 31 or 32 (keep forgetting he's been around a while). He may be the 2nd WR taken. JuJu Smith-Scheuster from USC didn't finish the season strong, 23 yards against Notre Dame, 10 against Oregon, 41 against Washington albeit a stronger finish with the Rose Bowl........Davis I've seen compared to Terrell Owens, not for the mouth, but a big, physical receiver.
Franchising Jeffery again if you need to so you don't have to use a pick in the first three rounds on a receiver makes the most sense.
Unless you're prepared to make him one of the highest paid WR's in the league then don't bother offering a contract at all, cos there isn't a chance in hell he takes what we consider a fair contract. But Jeffery isn't going anywhere. They simply can't afford to lose him, one look at the WR depth chart tells you that. Pace has no choice but to franchise him.
I'm sure Patg will give his breakdown as well but I watched the East-West Shrine game and I don't recommend anyone else doing it because it was a snooze fest. I came away with a few players I need to watch more video on but overall it was a very boring game if you were looking for offensive talent. Here are the players I came away intrigued with: - Fabian Moreau - CB - UCLA - Great size, very athletic and while there wasn't much to cover in terms of WR in this game, he looked very solid. Don't know much about him but they were raving about his performance at practice all week which is big in these games. Have to see how he does in the pre-draft Underwear Olympics to see his measurables but looks like a player. - Trey Hendrickson - DE - FAU - Another guy they were saying stood out all week in practice and he also stood out in the game. I know very little about him but after watching him makes plays all over the field, definitely want to see more. I like guys that stand out in practice and then do the same in these games. Curious to watch some more film on this guy. - Nate Hairston - CB - Temple - This guy stood out to me in the game, made a couple of nice plays and always had tight coverage on his man. Liked the way he played the ball. We need CB's so I am trying to find any I can to mention in this pre-draft process, this kid seemed worthy of a closer look. - Kermit Whitfield - WR/RB - Florida St - I think the Bears need a dynamic return man as well as a dynamic playmaker on offense in line with Tyreek Hill KC and this guy fits the bill. One stat that impressed me is he is the Florida High School State Record holder in the 100m. Now we know the athletes the state of Florida pumps out so that is impressive. He also had the ball thrown to him a lot by the QB's which tells me they thought he could make plays. Need to see more but could be an interesting one to watch. - Michael Roberts - TE - Toledo - He had one catch and run that made me want to see more. Very impressive and some of the game clips they showed during the game on him were impressive as well. Definitely want to see more but he has a huge frame and looked very athletic. Sounds like he needs to work on run blocking but definitely contributed at Toledo in the pass game which is harder to teach. The knock seemed to be speed but looked pretty decent to me, I guess we will see what the pre-draft process says. - D'Angelo Brown - DT - Louisville - This guy was in the backfield multiple times and was wearing out offensive lineman. Not sure where he falls right now in the draft but had an impressive game and obviously played against top notch competition at Louisville in the ACC so he should have some good film to watch. One position I can tell you this game did not reveal any winners was QB. I wouldn't draft a single one of them and don't think any should be drafted. Gunner Kiel was in this game and I know has been mentioned in pre-draft talk but he looked terrible. The rest were just terrible, none of them took shots down the field or did anything but check down out of fear of making mistakes. Let it freaking fly, you need to stand out, any moron can throw to the wide open check down, at least try and show you can fit it into small windows. Just terrible.
Well done. There are better options than Kermit at the scat back/all-purpose player I'm talking about but he was the best in this game. Senior Bowl is where the players are. Bears coaches are getting a first hand look so hopefully Fangio sees something he likes because I don't have faith in the other two. Cody Whitehair did stand out in this game last year, so you can find some real gems in this game, a lot more so than the East-West Shrine game.
Does Deshaun Watson help or hurt his draft stock by not participating in the Senior Bowl? Will the Bears coaches/Pace disregard him because he's not participating and only target the guys they will see first hand in the game? The more I read/see I'm starting to think it would be a big mistake to pass him up if he's there at #3.
Help. Hes one of the top quarterbacks. He doesn't need the Senior Bowl, and a shitty performance at the Senior Bowl hurts him pretty badly. Its more risk than reward. Now if Clemson was middle-of-the-road, won a pointless bowl game, and Watson was a 4th round spec, he'd be in. But now, he's a 1st round pick which beat an NFL talent defense in the National Championship. He'll just put on his own pro-day going forward at this point, and do individual team private workouts/meetings, and short of a DUI, injury, weed, or beating his girlfriend--he's a 1st rounder.
So Aggie made a prettier write up on the EW Shrine Game that I was going to. It was the Fabian Moreau (DB from UCLA) and defensive linemen show (especially Brown from Louisville.) Quarterbacks, Wrs, OLinemen, and everybody else looked like a brick in the wall. Senior Bowl is Saturday. Chris Emma from CBS Chicago says bears actively watching and meeting with their side (North). Nate Peterman, QB from Pitt, his left tackle Anthony Bisnowatty too. Peterman to me......is worse than Tom Savage, who he replaced (now with the Texans). Peterman has already met multiple times personally with Dowell Loggains, according to 670 the score. Not sure if this is good or not.....
I've only watched one game from him and came away unimpressed. Why most of throws are the dink and dunk high percentage throws yet his percentage is only 60%. He also seems to be a one read QB, because he tunnels these targets. I sure hope they are spending time with him because they are coaching him, and not because they are interested in him because he sure doesn't seem to have a very strong arm nor is he very accurate. Here's the NC game [video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyvybbG5Vwo[/video] Here's another game when Pitt beat Clemson Checked the box score on this game 3-12 on 3rd down, 22-38, 308 5TD no int 1 fumble. Watson was 12-18 on 3rd down 52-70 580 3TD 3 int [video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Akb3XWfW-4Q[/video]
I am baffled at the lack of love Deshaun Watson is getting. I don't know how you watch film on Jarred F*cking Goff and come away thinking he is a better QB than Deshaun Watson. No way, just ridiculous. Vince Young? Jamarcus Russell? This kid has competed at the highest level, played in 2 NC games when there was a playoff and beat down one of the top defenses Nick Saban has ever put on the field and put an ass whooping on another NFL covered roster in Ohio State. That's not good enough for the NFL scouts who want the prototype. Somebody tell me what the prototype was on Jared Goff ? He weighed 200 lbs soaking wet, his college career reeked of mediocrity yet a team gave up multiple picks to draft this guy and people are saying Deshaun Watson MAY or MAY NOT be a 1st rounder? What about Robert Griffin? Tell me what made him a better NFL prospect than Watson? I think some of the scouts have lost their mind. 36 college starts in the ACC. Played Alabama and Florida St mulitiple times and played extremely well against them and those teams rosters are covered with NFL caliber players. He is not a pocket passer is a knock. Watch the NC game against Alabama and tell me he can't throw from the pocket. He is a running QB Yeah, mobility hurts you. He can throw, watch him play, the mobility makes him more dangerous. He doesn't have good size Yeah Russell Wilson is a monster, so is Drew Brees. THe number 1 pick last year had the body of a kid in High School. He took a beating in the game against Alabama yet never got happy feet and looked very comfortable standing in there, making reads and making plays. I don't get it, I will go on record as saying anyone who passes on this kid that needs a QB starting with the number 1 pick in this draft will regret it. He is an NFL QB and will be a good one. Elite? I don't know but he will be a quality NFL QB and getting set at that position is the most important thing you can do as an NFL team. Throw this in my face if I'm wrong but this is not a kid you want to pass on if you need a QB. As for passing on the Senior Bowl, it was a no-brainer in my opinion and anyone who criticizes him or holds it against him is a complete moron. If as a scout, you can't watch 36 games that he has on film in a major college football conference and make a determination if he has what it takes to be an NFL QB, you should find another job.
Have to look at him more. Don't really have a strong opinion on him either way yet. I really think the Bears are drafting too high not to give a thorough look at Watson, Kizer and Trubisky. QB is King and if you think any of those 3 have the chance to be a good/great NFL starter, you pick them or trade up to get them if you can.
I'm with you on the Senior Bowl, I love it and think the Bears have a great opportunity this week. We both liked David Johnson after the week of practice and then the game and look how he turned out. The Bears have drafted Cody Whitehair and Kyle Long, both players who played in this game. This week is huge for some guys to really take a step forward and show themselves as NFL worthy against NFL prospects. From some reports, Fox is getting ripped for running a very lazy first day of practice. Seemingly spending 45 minutes on stretching and warming up followed up by very loose, easy going sessions of practice. Glad he is taking this seriously. Can't wait for the game, was watching some of the practice today but only saw the Browns side.
Didn't hear that, but good. Heard yesterday on Bernstein & Goff that Fox is being very bears-like (especially earlier in week in practices), I.E. giving media limited access and teams' scouts limited access as well. Its genius. Fox keeps the info mostly to himself, and the league hasn't told him he cant do it. Not sure how this matters or where said "scouts." Watson and Aaron Rodgers are the same size. 6'2 height, but Rodgers is at 225 lbs, Watson listed at 210. I think naturally getting ready for draft Watson will put on 10 easy. As for "being a running quarterback," I've noticed many runners who make it these days out of college as a quarterback aren't running so much. I think Michael Vick will forever be this exception to the rule. I can see exactly why Cleveland takes Myles Garrett. Very good chance he's another Von Miller/Khalil Mack/DeMarcus Ware/Aldon Smith type.
