As I said, this game will be a little more worthwhile watching, the Senior Bowl. These are your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd rounders. There are far too many individual names, so I'll generalize it by positions. First I'm watching the lines, offensive and defensive. Lots of good beef on both sides of the ball. Hroniss Grasu, Reese Dismiukes, Ty Sambroylo, Jake Fisher. Grasu and Dismiukes the top 2 OC, projected late 1st/early 2nd rounders. Sambroylo and Fisher are OT, projected 2-3 rounders. On the defensive side of the ball, Nate Orchard (Utah), Za'Daraeus Smith (again), and Bud Dupree (Both from Kentucky) are the 3 DE/pass rushers I want to see. All are in the conversation for 1st rounders. Owa Odighzua (UCLA) too.......Danny Shelton and Michael Bennett (Ohio State) are the DTs I want to see. If the Bears do commit to the 3-4, Danny Shelton is a 2nd round NT projected pick from U of Washington. Next, popularly--the secondary. Josh Shaw (USC) returns from a dominant EW Shrine game. No cupcake talent this week though with incompetent QBs. SO I do want to see the progressions. Otherwise not too many names I'm familiar with. In terms of Safeties--Kurtis Drummund (MSU) and my guy Ibraheim Campbell (Northwestern), along with Jaquisky Tartt (Samford) and Cody Prewitt (Ole Miss) are all highly rated, like 2-3 rounders. Quarterbacks look better this week. Garret Grayson, Shane Carden, Shawn Manion, and Bryce Petty. I've seen many mocks projecting one of these guys to the bears rounds 3-4. The linebackers......are a little skewed. Yes, Denzel Perryman (Miami) is there, but a lot of unknown places. If you're looking for real linebackers, not 3-4 'rush' LBs.......it appears slim. Perryman as I said, Mike Hull (Penn State), and Lorenzo Mauldin (Louisville are your guys). Lots of 3-4 'rush backers'
Perryman can stick, but can he cover? Did he develop enough this year? [video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NZbhgf33sg[/video]
No. I will blame the defensive coordinator for much of that, but even when the defense opened up a bit, Perryman didn't show NFL coverage skills. I'll give him the benefit of the combine, but tape says that he's not your coverage LB.
If you are sticking. Kendricks is the guy for the 4-3, if that is what we are looking for. Scheme is wide open right now.
The more I look at Perryman, the more I see Jon Bostic. I don't want one of those in the first 2-3 rounds. Kendricks does do it all, and is a perfect blend for either scheme. If you trade down to like......before Green Bay and Miami (Also in need of a LB) Kendricks is a genius pick. He isn't falling past green bay.
I wouldn't argue with that comparison. And I agree with the analysis that Kendricks should be a target. Looking at it from this far out, I'm optimistic that a top DL will be there for Chicago's pick. Would be hard to turn that down. Edit: This is all speaking prior to knowing what the scheme is, of course. That could change things drastically, and like Scotty points out, they could really go anywhere in that regard.
With a half decent Senior Bowl game and no injury, Danny Shelton can catapult himself into the top 10. He's already moved from projected late 1st to mid 1st. I'll be watching/giving updates this afternoon. I'm not optimistic Leonard Williams or Randy Gregory will be there at 7. If you run a 3-4, you need a NT. The bears don't have one. Unless Jay Ratliff can turn back time. A soon to be 34 year old isn't my idea of a full time NT. Its not Ego Ferguson. Its also not Will Sutton. Nice 5 tech combo though. At this point, go any linemen on either side of the ball and I'll be happy.
http://walterfootball.com/ProspectMeetings/ByTeam Fantastic website, Walterfootball. Has draft prospect meetings by teams and how they met (EW Shrine, Senior Bowl, personal workout, etc.) Bears have been reported to have spent a long time talking to/scouting Danny Shelton, NT from Washington. ESPN also reported the Cleveland Browns and Chicago Bears had long extended time this Senior Bowl week with QBs Bryce Petty and Sean Mannion.
I know you are not a fan Patg, but I like Petty. He has been known as a very good leader down here in Texas. I think he may end up slightly undervalued because of RGIII's failure to adjust to the pro game. I like to look at QB as individuals and hate when they are lumped in with other QB's who played in the same system. He is a great competitor playing injured a lot. I'm not saying I would go for him in the 1st round, I wouldn't, but I would take a hard look in the second and definitely in the 3rd. He is not ready to start day 1 but think he will put the work in necessary to improve. Again, just basing my opinion on watching him play down here and reading about the leadership things. I liked Mannion a lot coming into this season but really didn't like how he played this season. Very disappointing to me because he has all the measurables and arm strength you look for in a prototypical NFL QB. Maybe in the 4th or later but wouldn't risk a high round pick.
I don't hate him. Most of what I've read on him compare him to Byron Leftwich. Leftwich was 6'5, 250 and Petty is 6'3, 240. Similar build and arm. Leftwich never made it over the hump, but had a few decent years. I got him 4th on my list of QBs behind Mariota, Winston, and Grayson. He and RG3 are different animals in terms of who they are as players. Most leadership stuff I read on Petty is decent. I have him as a late 3rd rounder value wise, but it is very likely he will go ahead of where he should go. He smells like an early 3rd round pick, maybe 2nd round with a terrific performance today. Though its only been twice, when I watched Mannion, he looks like he's like a cannon needing to be loaded, cooled, gun powdered and then fired. His wind up is insanely slow. That wont translate well without some changing. But if he gets the time to set, ready, then fire--he's accurate and dangerous. I see a poor man's Joe Flacco. Statuesque guy with a powerful, accurate deep ball with time to spare.
First half of the senior bowl done. Offensive Linemen, running backs, and a couple others stealing the show. This back from Northern Iowa is a monster. Garrett Grayson the only decent quarterback right now--not playing conservative and checking down either. Blake Sims isn't an NFL QB and he's garbage, Sean Mannion has mastered the 5 yard and out route--but not time management (fucked up pre-halftime drive), and Bryce Petty is really inaccurate. Did his receivers at Baylor always catch passes thrown behind them? If so, it explains a lot about Terrence Williams and Kendall Wright. Steve Nelson from Oregon State playing really big for a 5'10 CB. This TE from Deleware is a fantastic two way player. Gets open and blocks. Game is on mute. Mayock is talking again.
This game was opposite of East-West Shrine game, offensive line play was very solid. The Northern Iowa kid, Johnson, looked good as did Cobb from Minnesota and Abdullah from Nebraska at RB. Really liked how hard Cobb ran through the hole. Artis-Payne from Auburn didn't look bad either. None of the QB's were stellar. Mannion reminds me of Derrick Anderson, no thanks. The Varga kid from Yale was impressive, not sure where I would pick him but he reminds me of that type of guy the Patriots love, can do a lot of things well and play different postions. On defense, the guy from Iowa Davis was impressive, kept getting in the backfield. Nate Orchard got some good penetration. Miami Ohio Rollins CB made a few nice plays and had a nice INT. None of the inside LB's impressed me much at all and the Safety's didn't really get too many chances in this game.
Not sure where that comparison comes from, Petty is a lot more mobile and has a quicker release than Leftwich who used to wind up when he threw. Leftwich was also a statue in the pocket, Petty can scramble. None of the QB's really excite me in this draft, but I like Petty's potential.
Not sure where that comparison comes from. Leftwich was a statue in the pocket with a long winding delivery. Petty is a lot more mobile and has a quicker release. I don't love any of the QB's but do like Petty's potential.
Then yesterday must have been an outlier. When Petty got mobile/moved in the pocket, he looked like a statue. I remember him trying to roll out and didn't get very far. Leftwich's sample size of rushing was small, but he did do it, especially as a starter in Jacksonville. 03-06 he rushed 25 times or more per season. Also had 2+ rushing TDs in each of those four seasons. Perhaps a stupid question, but are sacks included in rushing yards for a QB? I believe it is. That's in effect too. Leftwich was no Vick. But he was mobile. He was also made of glass. Dont think he ever played 16 games in a season. I think his first year he got 14.
The RBs were great. Cobb and Johnson stood out most to me. I'd kill for David Johnson round 3. Didn't shy away from contact. The first TD for 20 yards he ran for was a tour-de-force. http://www.giants.com/videos/videos...down-run/c8c08fea-b699-43af-ab04-10145ebc0d61 I'm trying not to be biased, but DAMN do I want to see this kid in a bears uniform. Abdullah had a great game, but I heard some disheartening stats. Small hands and 26 fumbles as a 3 year starter in 12-14. Red Flag. Red flag. Carl Davis impressed me too......but didn't he have a really boneheaded 'unsportsmanlike conduct' penalty called against him for a late hit? I'll spend a weekend alone reviewing tape soon. He's on my 'watch' list. He was disruptive, one of the few DLinemen who was yesterday. Varga was fantastic. Canadian kid too. Bigtime speed for a fullback. Fantastic blocker. Didn't shy away from anyone, and had a little pop in his speed. Nate Orchard looks committed as a 3-4 'rush' linebacker instead of a down linemen. Most of his better plays came from him standing up yesterday. Some people think he's a late 1st. Does he merit the 7th pick of the 2nd round? That's a discussion based on the 1st round selection. Ali Marpet. Hobart College. Division 3 kid who stuck Washington's Danny Shelton, the 330 lb NT and put him on his ass twice. He took him on head on and beat him. Coaches and tape raved and showed his confidence, footwork, and intelligence. Late round Center prospect alert. La'el Collins was solid too, the LT--most likely transitioned to OG from LSU. He wants to stay at LT (understandable, more value there) and while his footwork and blocking were average to above average, his reaction and recovery moves were fantastic, near elite for the position. I get that's not something you want to hear--but many times when he was bull rushed and pushed back, he rebounded, recovered, and kept his man away from the QB. 3rd round tackle, better guard. Reese Dismiukes and Cameron Irving, the Center and RG from Auburn and Florida State were a big reason Artis-Payne looked good. Both are 2nd round interior OL prospects.
I completely agree but man is that guy electric when he touches the ball, I have seen him play a few times but his quickness reminds me of Darren Sproles. Dude is small but built like a brick house. I really want to see more of him as well. The late hit penalty was probably because his motor never stopped, he played hard every single play and had the ablity to get in the backfield against offensive lineman who were doing a damn good job against the other defensive guys. What impressed me the most is he is not used to this level of competition and yet stood out and excelled. May be my favorite player so far, I will definitely be watching him at the combine and where he ends up. This is the type of guy Fangio could do some things with. If he is there at #7 in the second round, be tough to pass on him.
So....one of the big websites I use to review gametape of players is http://draftbreakdown.com/players/?draft_class=2015&position=DL You can look up almost any player and film on them from 2012, 13, and 14. I've begun my film watching on some defensive players, mainly linemen. Since Fangio is here, and though it is unconfirmed--I'm looking into 3-4 defensive pieces, starting with the Nose Tackle, arguably the most important piece of the 3-4 scheme. I'm watching film on Danny Shelton. The bears typically don't release much information about players they talk to......but multiple news sources including NFL Network and Walterfootball both reported the bears spent an extended amount of time with Danny Shelton, NT from Hawaii and projected top NT of the 2015 draft. The first Hawaii game. He plays 3 tech, 5 tech, and 2 gap NT in Washington's different schemes. This guy is getting blown out of the water by no named guards. Getting constantly pushed back by one guy, sometimes two. I get the NT job in a 3-4 is to soak up 2 offensive linemen, but to get manhandled like this? For all those who do not watch College Football, Hawaii is far from a good team. Hawaii is the school midwest schools, Northeast schools, and cold weather schools schedule in November and December as an out of conference away game for a free trip--and usually win--to Hawaii. http://draftbreakdown.com/video/danny-shelton-vs-hawaii-2014/ Perhaps an outlier, he's slightly better in the game at Soldier Field against U of I...... http://draftbreakdown.com/video/danny-shelton-vs-illinois-2013/ Better penetration, better motor. But still a red flag to me as he's primarily the 2 gap NT, a 5 tech on a couple plays (also a 4-3 schemed 3 tech) was that a single OG is pushing him backwards. Third game against Oregon, he's still struggling to get out of the gate fast. Seen again, a lot as a 2 gap NT. He blows up a few shotgun draw plays, cutting off the lanes to the half back on Oregon. But Oregon's line did a relatively decent job of keeping him checked. Still, again, a cuople plays a guard or center engages him and pushes him back. Not something I like about a potential NT. http://draftbreakdown.com/video/danny-shelton-vs-oregon-2013/ For a 3-4 NT, I get the job is often ugly. You need to take 2 pairs of hands out of the play. Then linebackers have an open lane at the quarterback or running back. There are a couple other NT this draft, including Malcolm Brown from Texas and Eddie Goldman from Florida State projected to go top 2 rounds.
