- May 29, 2003
- 765
- 63
How far does Jack drop before teams see value in picking him?
THE OFFICIAL 2024 - 2025 DALLAS COWBOYS SEASON THREAD || 3-6 Next Game 11/18 vs. Texans Monday Night Football
- Thread in 'Sports & Training' Thread starter Started by T0INE,
- Start date
- Aug 1, 2009
- 5,544
- 655
**** it. Let's get Jack.
Mr.Guy
formerly timidtebow
- Jul 3, 2013
- 23,944
- 8,608
No Jack. We have legit needs. What happens if dude can't play??
- Aug 2, 2008
- 37,548
- 13,048
Jack should hope for the La'el Collins. If he's not drafted Round 2. Just wait until after the draft sign as an UDFA and get Round2 money.
- Jan 27, 2012
- 16,006
- 4,734
We gotta go Spence or Ogbah at #34 (no reason to trade up two spots with the Browns IMO, if we do it better be for nothing more than one of our 6th round picks) .. but if Jack is still sitting there early round 3 then I wouldn't mind taking the risk.
We would still be in a good position to draft a DB and QB in the 4th.
We would still be in a good position to draft a DB and QB in the 4th.
- Aug 2, 2008
- 37,548
- 13,048
I think we take Ogbah. I wouldnt mind Spence at all but i think they may be a little scared off by how things went with Gregory and the drug concerns
Jack's knee is scary
"Noah Spence sent his last 20 drug tests to every NFL team"
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/eye-on...sent-his-last-20-drug-tests-to-every-nfl-team
I mean at least he's serious
Last edited:
- Aug 2, 2008
- 37,548
- 13,048
Reading Cowboys writers it seems like it is probably Ogbah at 34. Spence question marks means he's likely not under consideration.
- Aug 2, 2008
- 37,548
- 13,048
UPDATE FOR DAY 2
Connor Cook - Improved and added new elements every year as 4 year starter. High Level of confidence and efficiency. Worked under center, and good foot quickness in his drops. Good anticipation for developing windows, and effective with timing routes. Can scan and re-scan through targets when on the move. Reads safeties early. Rarely takes shots downfield that Safeties can disrupt. Comfortable on the move. Throws very well when rolling right. Plus arm strength, quick release. Can stand and take a hit when throwing deep in man coverage. Can hit the corners in the endzone. Most battle tested QB in draft
Weakness - Can throw short passes with too much force behind it. Accuracy is a big concern. Can end up flat footed in the pocket, and not have proper transfer of feet to make balanced throw. Can see windows open up, but is hesitant to throw it. Can struggle when first option isn't open. Doesn't always adjust protection pre-snap. When in shotgun, does not see blitzers sneaking forward. When blitz comes, too readily goes up top for homerun than taking easy short completion. Little effort on play fakes. Scouts question his leadership in adverse times.
Dak Prescott - Muscular frame. Can take a beating. Natural arm strength and hip snap to get throws into small windows. Stays tall, give tight spiral. Very little windup, and gets the ball out in a hurry. With clean pocket, can deliver the ball anywhere on the field. Improved vision and too better care of ball in 2015, Eliminated stupid throws that were INTs in 2014. Still a big work in progress, but showed consistent growth. Threat with his legs. 37 rush TDs, 94 rushes of 10+ yards in 3 years. Goal line rush option. Willing to extend play outside of pocket with legs, but wants to finish it with arm. Can carry heavy offensive burden. In protection can challenge deep with great accuracy & touch.
Weakness - Got really beat up due to poor protection. If not sacked, was hit really hard. Rushing was down in 2015. Could be taking a toll on him. Completion numbers went way up due to 122 more short check down completions. Accuracy on intermediate and deep throws drops a lot. Always aware of pressure, but doesn't have ability to slide or find a place to make throw. Concern over pressure hurts ability to get through progression. Needs to speed pace of reads. Footwork is a problem. Tries to muscle balls with upper body, rather than getting legs into it, hurts accuracy. Throws at target, rather than leading them. Too respectful of underneath coverage. Has to learn to challenge defense.
Christian Hackenberg - Prototypical size for Pocket QB. Durable and tough. Can hang in and take hit, if he thinks he can get a completion. Played in pro-style offense. Able to work through progressions when protected. Pro velocity on throws, drives hips through release for extra power. Can make all throws, and arm talent to take shots all over the field. Underrated in touch throws. Can float throws over top of defenders. Decent athlete to climb pocket while keeping his eyes downfield. Can recognize late blitz movements. Able to avoid most baiting attempts. Drastically dropped interception total. Leadership qualities.
Weakness - Really bad accuracy 51.5% adjusted completion total (throws beyond LOS). Receivers have to become goalies, and protect him from INTs. Simple throws can become a coin flip in accuracy. Release point can vary greatly, and still needs to have technique on footwork, and mechanics. Can throw perfect spiral followed by woobler. A lot of ball patting, and wind up slow release and screw up timing. Extra time in air for deep passes, and mediocre timing allows safeties to get in play. Takes a lot of sacks, rather than getting the ball out. Accuracy and ball placement falls drastically when defense sends pressure. 44.2% when 5 rushers. 41.9% with six rushers. Pocket feel needs work.
Jacoby Brissett - Big QB with NFL arm. Frame and lower body strength to shake off sacks and extend plays. Very competitive and high character. Can alter speed on throws. Can drive ball in tight windows with plus accuracy or soft touch when needed. Plays pro-style scheme. Can play under center or bootleg. Good decisions on combo routes. Generally accurate, excels on intermediate throws. Has arm and confidence to make deep out throws. Able to leave pocket and challenge defense with his legs. Completed 60% of passes when forced to throw on the move.
Weakness - Over the top throwing allows some throws to sink with how his arm comes down. Faced a lot of pressure in past 2 seasons, and has created some bad habits. Drops eyes when feels pressure and throws off back foot. Still has happy feet when defenders close in. Carries ball low and away from body when scrambling. Sometimes oblivious to obvious pre-snap tells on blitz. Struggles on deep ball only 23.1% on 21yds + passes. Several deep ball overthrows on easy man coverage down sideline. Fails to recognize open receivers down the seam. Sometimes locked into what he wants to do and issues with flexibility
Cardale Jones - Good size to see over Oline. Bulk to take NFL hits. Pocket passer with plenty of arm. Can get good velocity even without feet set. Gets the ball in tight spaces. Willing and able to challenge DBs and Safeties over the top. 11% of passes were 20+ yard completions. 59% on intermediate throws. 41% on deep throws. Touch and placement on long ball is pro ready. Can lay it in on fade routes. Size, athleticism and toughness to run, and will move chains as scrambler. Interceptions are not poor decision making, moreso overthrows and off timing. Decent progression ability.
Weakness - Was given starting job, and lost it. Accuracy issues on slants. Overthrows receivers too often. Eyes receivers too long, and can lead good instinct LBs & DBs right to the pass. Has trouble reading underneath zone coverage. Doesn't deceive Safeties with eyes. Has trouble on the run, percentage of completion dropped over 30 points. Leaves touchdowns on field in red zone with overthrows. Below average pocket feel and misses pick up on blitzes too often. Defensive coordinators didn't have much trouble out game planning him.
Kevin Hogan - Consistent and tough. Teammates and coaches easily put trust in him and his competitiveness. NFL size. Played in pro-style offense. Adequate mobility. Unafraid to pull ball down and get a few yards. High IQ. Finds ways to gut it out to make winning plays in difficult situations. Understands strengths and weaknesses, and doesn't take many low percentage change. Led Pac 12 as Short Yardage passer 76.7%
Weakness - Mechanics and footwork are bad. Throws with wide base, more like a pitcher's stride. Ball rarely leaves hand cleanly. Plays flat footed in the pocket with little bounce as he reads field. Poor job resetting and getting good balance on throw. Below average arm strength. Struggles with consistent and catachable throws to field side. Average at reading D. Prevents him from getting ball out on time. Needs to improve poise and picket awareness. Has trouble sliding in pocket. Drops eyes and panics when pressure comes. Takes sacks that he shouldn't take. Lacks touch and accuracy on deep ball.
Brandon Allen - Showed huge growth as field leader and play maker. Comfortable under center, and effective on bootlegs and roll outs. Completion % jumped 10% to 66%. 64% on intermediate throws. Good catch and run placement on crossing routes. Sneaky good arm. Can pump fake, reset, and throw with accuracy. Can get ball out in rhythm in roll outs. Quality velocity through rotating hip. Arm can make NFL throws, and can challenge tight windows in middle of field. Able to extend play outside of pocket and find a throw or scramble for first downs.
Weakness- Small frame takes hard hits when he runs. Benefitted from play action based attack. Rarely looked to take deep shots on man cov. Wasn't asked to get through many progressions. And stares too long bringing safeties into throws. Does not use eyes to move defense. Drops eyes and runs immediately after sensing pressure. Really small hands. When he does take chances, really pays for it.
Jeff Driskel - Prototypical build and athleticism. Quick feet, rapid setup in pocket. Active, bouncing on feet while scanning targets. Has arm strength to challenge playmaking DBs in man and instinctive LBs in zone. Gets ball out quickly with flick of wrist. Good fundamentals, good footwork to balance himself before throwing with good weight transfer. Dangerous runner out of pocket. Good open field speed, and ability to run zone-read. Willing to throw the ball away rather than take unnecessary sack. Accurate and confident in short game.
Weakness - Struggles leading receivers. Forces receivers to break stride and adjust to throws. Leaves easy yards on the table. Can short arm passes on the run. Accuracy drops substantially when throwing down field. Overthrows rob of big plays that WR has a steps on. Happy feet with pocket pressure, and occasionally feel pressure that isn't there.
Weakness - Can throw short passes with too much force behind it. Accuracy is a big concern. Can end up flat footed in the pocket, and not have proper transfer of feet to make balanced throw. Can see windows open up, but is hesitant to throw it. Can struggle when first option isn't open. Doesn't always adjust protection pre-snap. When in shotgun, does not see blitzers sneaking forward. When blitz comes, too readily goes up top for homerun than taking easy short completion. Little effort on play fakes. Scouts question his leadership in adverse times.
Dak Prescott - Muscular frame. Can take a beating. Natural arm strength and hip snap to get throws into small windows. Stays tall, give tight spiral. Very little windup, and gets the ball out in a hurry. With clean pocket, can deliver the ball anywhere on the field. Improved vision and too better care of ball in 2015, Eliminated stupid throws that were INTs in 2014. Still a big work in progress, but showed consistent growth. Threat with his legs. 37 rush TDs, 94 rushes of 10+ yards in 3 years. Goal line rush option. Willing to extend play outside of pocket with legs, but wants to finish it with arm. Can carry heavy offensive burden. In protection can challenge deep with great accuracy & touch.
Weakness - Got really beat up due to poor protection. If not sacked, was hit really hard. Rushing was down in 2015. Could be taking a toll on him. Completion numbers went way up due to 122 more short check down completions. Accuracy on intermediate and deep throws drops a lot. Always aware of pressure, but doesn't have ability to slide or find a place to make throw. Concern over pressure hurts ability to get through progression. Needs to speed pace of reads. Footwork is a problem. Tries to muscle balls with upper body, rather than getting legs into it, hurts accuracy. Throws at target, rather than leading them. Too respectful of underneath coverage. Has to learn to challenge defense.
Christian Hackenberg - Prototypical size for Pocket QB. Durable and tough. Can hang in and take hit, if he thinks he can get a completion. Played in pro-style offense. Able to work through progressions when protected. Pro velocity on throws, drives hips through release for extra power. Can make all throws, and arm talent to take shots all over the field. Underrated in touch throws. Can float throws over top of defenders. Decent athlete to climb pocket while keeping his eyes downfield. Can recognize late blitz movements. Able to avoid most baiting attempts. Drastically dropped interception total. Leadership qualities.
Weakness - Really bad accuracy 51.5% adjusted completion total (throws beyond LOS). Receivers have to become goalies, and protect him from INTs. Simple throws can become a coin flip in accuracy. Release point can vary greatly, and still needs to have technique on footwork, and mechanics. Can throw perfect spiral followed by woobler. A lot of ball patting, and wind up slow release and screw up timing. Extra time in air for deep passes, and mediocre timing allows safeties to get in play. Takes a lot of sacks, rather than getting the ball out. Accuracy and ball placement falls drastically when defense sends pressure. 44.2% when 5 rushers. 41.9% with six rushers. Pocket feel needs work.
Jacoby Brissett - Big QB with NFL arm. Frame and lower body strength to shake off sacks and extend plays. Very competitive and high character. Can alter speed on throws. Can drive ball in tight windows with plus accuracy or soft touch when needed. Plays pro-style scheme. Can play under center or bootleg. Good decisions on combo routes. Generally accurate, excels on intermediate throws. Has arm and confidence to make deep out throws. Able to leave pocket and challenge defense with his legs. Completed 60% of passes when forced to throw on the move.
Weakness - Over the top throwing allows some throws to sink with how his arm comes down. Faced a lot of pressure in past 2 seasons, and has created some bad habits. Drops eyes when feels pressure and throws off back foot. Still has happy feet when defenders close in. Carries ball low and away from body when scrambling. Sometimes oblivious to obvious pre-snap tells on blitz. Struggles on deep ball only 23.1% on 21yds + passes. Several deep ball overthrows on easy man coverage down sideline. Fails to recognize open receivers down the seam. Sometimes locked into what he wants to do and issues with flexibility
Cardale Jones - Good size to see over Oline. Bulk to take NFL hits. Pocket passer with plenty of arm. Can get good velocity even without feet set. Gets the ball in tight spaces. Willing and able to challenge DBs and Safeties over the top. 11% of passes were 20+ yard completions. 59% on intermediate throws. 41% on deep throws. Touch and placement on long ball is pro ready. Can lay it in on fade routes. Size, athleticism and toughness to run, and will move chains as scrambler. Interceptions are not poor decision making, moreso overthrows and off timing. Decent progression ability.
Weakness - Was given starting job, and lost it. Accuracy issues on slants. Overthrows receivers too often. Eyes receivers too long, and can lead good instinct LBs & DBs right to the pass. Has trouble reading underneath zone coverage. Doesn't deceive Safeties with eyes. Has trouble on the run, percentage of completion dropped over 30 points. Leaves touchdowns on field in red zone with overthrows. Below average pocket feel and misses pick up on blitzes too often. Defensive coordinators didn't have much trouble out game planning him.
Kevin Hogan - Consistent and tough. Teammates and coaches easily put trust in him and his competitiveness. NFL size. Played in pro-style offense. Adequate mobility. Unafraid to pull ball down and get a few yards. High IQ. Finds ways to gut it out to make winning plays in difficult situations. Understands strengths and weaknesses, and doesn't take many low percentage change. Led Pac 12 as Short Yardage passer 76.7%
Weakness - Mechanics and footwork are bad. Throws with wide base, more like a pitcher's stride. Ball rarely leaves hand cleanly. Plays flat footed in the pocket with little bounce as he reads field. Poor job resetting and getting good balance on throw. Below average arm strength. Struggles with consistent and catachable throws to field side. Average at reading D. Prevents him from getting ball out on time. Needs to improve poise and picket awareness. Has trouble sliding in pocket. Drops eyes and panics when pressure comes. Takes sacks that he shouldn't take. Lacks touch and accuracy on deep ball.
Brandon Allen - Showed huge growth as field leader and play maker. Comfortable under center, and effective on bootlegs and roll outs. Completion % jumped 10% to 66%. 64% on intermediate throws. Good catch and run placement on crossing routes. Sneaky good arm. Can pump fake, reset, and throw with accuracy. Can get ball out in rhythm in roll outs. Quality velocity through rotating hip. Arm can make NFL throws, and can challenge tight windows in middle of field. Able to extend play outside of pocket and find a throw or scramble for first downs.
Weakness- Small frame takes hard hits when he runs. Benefitted from play action based attack. Rarely looked to take deep shots on man cov. Wasn't asked to get through many progressions. And stares too long bringing safeties into throws. Does not use eyes to move defense. Drops eyes and runs immediately after sensing pressure. Really small hands. When he does take chances, really pays for it.
Jeff Driskel - Prototypical build and athleticism. Quick feet, rapid setup in pocket. Active, bouncing on feet while scanning targets. Has arm strength to challenge playmaking DBs in man and instinctive LBs in zone. Gets ball out quickly with flick of wrist. Good fundamentals, good footwork to balance himself before throwing with good weight transfer. Dangerous runner out of pocket. Good open field speed, and ability to run zone-read. Willing to throw the ball away rather than take unnecessary sack. Accurate and confident in short game.
Weakness - Struggles leading receivers. Forces receivers to break stride and adjust to throws. Leaves easy yards on the table. Can short arm passes on the run. Accuracy drops substantially when throwing down field. Overthrows rob of big plays that WR has a steps on. Happy feet with pocket pressure, and occasionally feel pressure that isn't there.
Noah Spence - Big motor. Tremendous endurance. Can stay at game speed. Good initial upfield burst. Can play standing or in ground. Doesn't give up leverage by engaging to quick in pass rush. Solid speed to the edge. Strong rip move. Takes good angles. Quick lateral side to close up running lanes. Will do everything to make a play if ball comes his way. Can elude lead blocker, and cut blocks. Seen has high IQ on and off the field. High sense of accountability, high character.
Weakness- Not as long as tall as prototype DE. Needs to develop more power at edge of attack. Needs to vary pass rush. Average speed to power. Has to stay lower, or good OT will swallow him up. Need underneath counter. Good athlete, but has trouble with quick twitch, sudden change. Has a lot on record negatively. Banned from BigTen for 2 failed drug tests. Treated for Drug Addiction.
Emmanuel Ogbah - Powerful frame, broad shoulders. Undersized as freshman, grew into frame, and learned to play with it. Can take contact, and keep going. OL have trouble redirecting, and kills TEs against Run. Power hand slaps are among best. Can brush away weak block easily. Can use power to get edge over speed. Really good power & rip to get around corner. Plus speed to power for initial bull rush. Power to win Point of attack, and win the neutral zone, and still make plays. Sack in 16 of last 21 games. 17.5 tackles for loss. An end, but can move inside.
Weakness- Can be stiff in hips. Not an elite athlete. Has moments of great awareness, and then plays where he looks lost. Can react quickly, but then lose awareness of the developing play. After winning point of attack, can get swallowed up when he turns shoulders to disengage. Small stride hurts upfield burst. One speed pass rusher. Unable to burn the edge quickly. Trouble disengaging quickly on bull rush. Needs to find 2nd & 3rd gear on motor. Also needs to be willing to not quit on pursuit.
Jonathan Bullard- Quick instincts off the snap. Can sense where the ball is going. Good at getting to zone plays. Uses hands and inside shoulder to brace against blockers presents cross face block. Can get out of the stance keeps his pad level correctly, gets good burst. Attacks gaps tremendously. 17.5 tackles for loss. High effort, high motor. Above average change of direction. Has versatility 4-3/3-4. Second gear to get to ball carriers in pursuit. Solid hands, but could be better. Able to generate bull rush.
Weakness- Pad level is good initially, but as play continues, he gets taller and taller. Sometimes too much in a hurry. Can overrun the ball. Doesn't have much quick-twitch. Average explosiveness and prone to rising pad level means it needs a lot of change. Double teams completely take him out of plays. If initial pass rush fails, he sits on the play, and tries to bat ball down instead.
Kevin Dodd - Relentless. NFL Ready Frame. Always working, keeps OL a chore all game. Wants to get in and make plays. Doesn't quit when blocked, improves position after contact with footwork and strength. Eyes stay on ball location. Can get off block, and make play when ball comes near him. Great instincts, easy to coach. Can diagnose screens, bootlegs. Very good keeping contain. Production spiked. 3 to 46 QB pressures. Athletic upfield burst. Good bend, and hip flex to get around edge. Length & leverage to develop speed to power rush.
Weakness - Only 1 year of full-time experience. Still needs work on hand use. Too willing to take on blocks with lowered helmet. Can lead to blocks in his frame, rather than controlling how he gets blocked. Needs more diversity to how he gets free. Has limited moves. Lunges too often in space, rather than getting a better hit from a more balanced base. Is his production a result from playing opposite of Lawson?
Shilique Calhoun - Very Athletic. Above average pass rush production. 128 QB Pressures 26.5 sacks in 3 years. Rush with good forward lean, good knee bend. Keeps running after contact to push OL back. Improved shoulder dip to turn corner to get after QB. Flashes above average burst when he feels he can get sack. Good play recognition and awareness in run game. Good chase speed on backside run. Can change direction when needed. Has potential for complex pass rush attack with several moves and angles.
Weakness - Needs more aggression. Needs to be tougher at point of attack. Can give respect on block as opposed to running through them aggressively. Can get caught up slapping at blockers rather than using hand strength. Needs to develop feel for when to use power or finesse. Can be drawn offside. Could be stronger for his frame. Gives up when he faces double team.
Carl Nassib- Works tail off every play. Relentless pursuit. Told by Bill O'Brien to forget about playing pro. Gave him scholarship 6 months later. Big hands and comes off ball with good upfield bursts. Straight line speed. Excellent feel navigating around pass rush. Uses hands and body lean to turn the corner. Good pad level off ball. Uses hips to get max strength. Doesn't over extend arms. Good vision, times shedding of blocks well to get RB in gaps. Smart, high IQ. Good instinct defender, can diagnose plays quickly. Led Nation in sacks. Forced 6 fumbles.
Weakness - One year of production. Not physical at point of attack. Mauled by power. Thin legs, needs mass on frame for base and to play with strength. Not fast twitch athlete. Average change of direction. Often out of position on tackles. Lacks agility. Ends up on ground too often. Tackles with hands to drag player down, no using body. Missed 10 tackles, only 4 run stuffs in 2015. Motor leads to fatigue in spots. Lacks speed to power rush. Needs counter moves. High upside, but really inexperienced.
Jihad Ward - Can play LDE & RDE, and fill inside at DT. Can add more muscle to good frame. Great effort, always plays through whistle. Length and quickness down the line gives him expanded playmaking range. Huge closing burst to get to the ball. Hard hitter. Keeps feet moving and active in pass rush. Can set quality edge setter. TEs have a lot of trouble with him. Has traits, but needs patience on development.
Weakness- Could be better at setting edge, even with current tools. Takes too long to get off blocks. Long legs keep him stalled at LOS on occasion. Below average against cut blocks. Instincts WIP. Needs to be tougher / nastier at point of attack. Counter moves are weak if initial rush is stopped. Won't always accelerate into contact limiting power on pass rush. Needs a good line coach that can get him motivated, get him to play angry, and build on strength.
Charles Tapper - Good size and build. Natural power at point of attack. Shows ability to fight and not lose ground. Has traits for good rush, but flawed technique. Can be great in bull-rush if keeps his pads down. Can play end on 3-4 or 4-3. Has straight line speed to close on QB in space. Heavy tackler, can take out runners. Shows flashes of potential. Raw with plenty of room to develop.
Weakness- Natural power & strength negated by horrible pad level often. Useless on thirds downs. Plays with very little dynamic movement as pass rusher, and just tries to move full speed ahead with no plan. Needs work on hands. Doesn't use hands effectively to control point of attack. Or improve position in pass rush. Instincts and awareness are lacking where they need to be. Slow recognizing plays developing. Slow disengaging from blocks to make tackles near LOS.
Stephen Weatherly - Long-limbed. Very strong, can add much more muscle. Was rotational DE, but moved to part-time 3-4 OLB starter. Became team leader from 2013 redshirt. Can play hand down or standing up. Played A-Gap blitzer at times, and easily snuck through line. Can use height to keep eye on ball at the line. Closes edge quickly, and powerful when unblocked. Long legs give him bigger range. Also close ground against indecisive backs.
Weakness - Lacked upfield burst. Too often hesitant on first move. Would be much better if he just cut lose. If he had a better bend and leverage, could use strength at point of attack. Doesn't take advantage of length with effective punch. Stays glued too blocks for too long. Development prospect, needs work and time to be better at pass rush and off the edge. Could be backup Strongside OLB in 3-4. BUT has size to be a DE if he can get everything together.
Matt Judon - Massive production. 20 sacks, 23.5 tackles for loss. 3 FF, 3 FR. Great body for DE. Natural power in compact frame with long arms. Swallowed up and disposed of OT he faced. Pass rush with plan. Rip move to get around edge, and has a counter to get back inside. Eyes stay on the ball.
Weakness - OTs with good feet and strength can keep him contained out of pocket. Misses some tackles due to lower body stiffness. Needs to improve use of hands. Tore ACL 2 years ago. Tweaked meniscus last year. Plays small school. Big Fish in Small Pond?
Bronson Kaufusi - Plays with high motor. Good hand work, and can redirect blockers. Good coverage on backside run. Comes out of stance and into pass rush with good pad level and lean. Never gives up on plays. Will pursue all the way down the field. Long frame that could put on more muscle.
Weakness - Can be swallowed up when blocked on angles. Tries to get low, but pads end up higher than normal because of height. Needs stronger legs, loses base when hit with power. Tight hipped makes corner turn to QB longer. Sacks came due to extended plays with effort, not necessarily skill. Does not get consistent penetration into gaps. Tests well in combine, and predicted that he will be drafted way higher than he should because of it.
Ronald Blair - Some polish. Fires into blocker with good knee bend and pad level. Leverage and power to rock offensive lineman who get too high. Able to set strong edge. Leader. Works hard in film room. Can attack double team blocks with power from legs. Drives legs through tackles making a clean hard hit. Good moves. Good length and hands. Generates good bull rush.
Weaknesses- Short for an end. Lacks speed, agility and athleticism. Really heavy. Thought is if he loses weight it will hurt power that makes him an effective rusher. Lack of speed makes it hard to set pass rush edge. Unlikely to win one-on-one as pass rusher in NFL. Pad level gets too high at times, and can get knocked off balanced. Rotational 4-3 base end at best.
Weakness- Not as long as tall as prototype DE. Needs to develop more power at edge of attack. Needs to vary pass rush. Average speed to power. Has to stay lower, or good OT will swallow him up. Need underneath counter. Good athlete, but has trouble with quick twitch, sudden change. Has a lot on record negatively. Banned from BigTen for 2 failed drug tests. Treated for Drug Addiction.
Emmanuel Ogbah - Powerful frame, broad shoulders. Undersized as freshman, grew into frame, and learned to play with it. Can take contact, and keep going. OL have trouble redirecting, and kills TEs against Run. Power hand slaps are among best. Can brush away weak block easily. Can use power to get edge over speed. Really good power & rip to get around corner. Plus speed to power for initial bull rush. Power to win Point of attack, and win the neutral zone, and still make plays. Sack in 16 of last 21 games. 17.5 tackles for loss. An end, but can move inside.
Weakness- Can be stiff in hips. Not an elite athlete. Has moments of great awareness, and then plays where he looks lost. Can react quickly, but then lose awareness of the developing play. After winning point of attack, can get swallowed up when he turns shoulders to disengage. Small stride hurts upfield burst. One speed pass rusher. Unable to burn the edge quickly. Trouble disengaging quickly on bull rush. Needs to find 2nd & 3rd gear on motor. Also needs to be willing to not quit on pursuit.
Jonathan Bullard- Quick instincts off the snap. Can sense where the ball is going. Good at getting to zone plays. Uses hands and inside shoulder to brace against blockers presents cross face block. Can get out of the stance keeps his pad level correctly, gets good burst. Attacks gaps tremendously. 17.5 tackles for loss. High effort, high motor. Above average change of direction. Has versatility 4-3/3-4. Second gear to get to ball carriers in pursuit. Solid hands, but could be better. Able to generate bull rush.
Weakness- Pad level is good initially, but as play continues, he gets taller and taller. Sometimes too much in a hurry. Can overrun the ball. Doesn't have much quick-twitch. Average explosiveness and prone to rising pad level means it needs a lot of change. Double teams completely take him out of plays. If initial pass rush fails, he sits on the play, and tries to bat ball down instead.
Kevin Dodd - Relentless. NFL Ready Frame. Always working, keeps OL a chore all game. Wants to get in and make plays. Doesn't quit when blocked, improves position after contact with footwork and strength. Eyes stay on ball location. Can get off block, and make play when ball comes near him. Great instincts, easy to coach. Can diagnose screens, bootlegs. Very good keeping contain. Production spiked. 3 to 46 QB pressures. Athletic upfield burst. Good bend, and hip flex to get around edge. Length & leverage to develop speed to power rush.
Weakness - Only 1 year of full-time experience. Still needs work on hand use. Too willing to take on blocks with lowered helmet. Can lead to blocks in his frame, rather than controlling how he gets blocked. Needs more diversity to how he gets free. Has limited moves. Lunges too often in space, rather than getting a better hit from a more balanced base. Is his production a result from playing opposite of Lawson?
Shilique Calhoun - Very Athletic. Above average pass rush production. 128 QB Pressures 26.5 sacks in 3 years. Rush with good forward lean, good knee bend. Keeps running after contact to push OL back. Improved shoulder dip to turn corner to get after QB. Flashes above average burst when he feels he can get sack. Good play recognition and awareness in run game. Good chase speed on backside run. Can change direction when needed. Has potential for complex pass rush attack with several moves and angles.
Weakness - Needs more aggression. Needs to be tougher at point of attack. Can give respect on block as opposed to running through them aggressively. Can get caught up slapping at blockers rather than using hand strength. Needs to develop feel for when to use power or finesse. Can be drawn offside. Could be stronger for his frame. Gives up when he faces double team.
Carl Nassib- Works tail off every play. Relentless pursuit. Told by Bill O'Brien to forget about playing pro. Gave him scholarship 6 months later. Big hands and comes off ball with good upfield bursts. Straight line speed. Excellent feel navigating around pass rush. Uses hands and body lean to turn the corner. Good pad level off ball. Uses hips to get max strength. Doesn't over extend arms. Good vision, times shedding of blocks well to get RB in gaps. Smart, high IQ. Good instinct defender, can diagnose plays quickly. Led Nation in sacks. Forced 6 fumbles.
Weakness - One year of production. Not physical at point of attack. Mauled by power. Thin legs, needs mass on frame for base and to play with strength. Not fast twitch athlete. Average change of direction. Often out of position on tackles. Lacks agility. Ends up on ground too often. Tackles with hands to drag player down, no using body. Missed 10 tackles, only 4 run stuffs in 2015. Motor leads to fatigue in spots. Lacks speed to power rush. Needs counter moves. High upside, but really inexperienced.
Jihad Ward - Can play LDE & RDE, and fill inside at DT. Can add more muscle to good frame. Great effort, always plays through whistle. Length and quickness down the line gives him expanded playmaking range. Huge closing burst to get to the ball. Hard hitter. Keeps feet moving and active in pass rush. Can set quality edge setter. TEs have a lot of trouble with him. Has traits, but needs patience on development.
Weakness- Could be better at setting edge, even with current tools. Takes too long to get off blocks. Long legs keep him stalled at LOS on occasion. Below average against cut blocks. Instincts WIP. Needs to be tougher / nastier at point of attack. Counter moves are weak if initial rush is stopped. Won't always accelerate into contact limiting power on pass rush. Needs a good line coach that can get him motivated, get him to play angry, and build on strength.
Charles Tapper - Good size and build. Natural power at point of attack. Shows ability to fight and not lose ground. Has traits for good rush, but flawed technique. Can be great in bull-rush if keeps his pads down. Can play end on 3-4 or 4-3. Has straight line speed to close on QB in space. Heavy tackler, can take out runners. Shows flashes of potential. Raw with plenty of room to develop.
Weakness- Natural power & strength negated by horrible pad level often. Useless on thirds downs. Plays with very little dynamic movement as pass rusher, and just tries to move full speed ahead with no plan. Needs work on hands. Doesn't use hands effectively to control point of attack. Or improve position in pass rush. Instincts and awareness are lacking where they need to be. Slow recognizing plays developing. Slow disengaging from blocks to make tackles near LOS.
Stephen Weatherly - Long-limbed. Very strong, can add much more muscle. Was rotational DE, but moved to part-time 3-4 OLB starter. Became team leader from 2013 redshirt. Can play hand down or standing up. Played A-Gap blitzer at times, and easily snuck through line. Can use height to keep eye on ball at the line. Closes edge quickly, and powerful when unblocked. Long legs give him bigger range. Also close ground against indecisive backs.
Weakness - Lacked upfield burst. Too often hesitant on first move. Would be much better if he just cut lose. If he had a better bend and leverage, could use strength at point of attack. Doesn't take advantage of length with effective punch. Stays glued too blocks for too long. Development prospect, needs work and time to be better at pass rush and off the edge. Could be backup Strongside OLB in 3-4. BUT has size to be a DE if he can get everything together.
Matt Judon - Massive production. 20 sacks, 23.5 tackles for loss. 3 FF, 3 FR. Great body for DE. Natural power in compact frame with long arms. Swallowed up and disposed of OT he faced. Pass rush with plan. Rip move to get around edge, and has a counter to get back inside. Eyes stay on the ball.
Weakness - OTs with good feet and strength can keep him contained out of pocket. Misses some tackles due to lower body stiffness. Needs to improve use of hands. Tore ACL 2 years ago. Tweaked meniscus last year. Plays small school. Big Fish in Small Pond?
Bronson Kaufusi - Plays with high motor. Good hand work, and can redirect blockers. Good coverage on backside run. Comes out of stance and into pass rush with good pad level and lean. Never gives up on plays. Will pursue all the way down the field. Long frame that could put on more muscle.
Weakness - Can be swallowed up when blocked on angles. Tries to get low, but pads end up higher than normal because of height. Needs stronger legs, loses base when hit with power. Tight hipped makes corner turn to QB longer. Sacks came due to extended plays with effort, not necessarily skill. Does not get consistent penetration into gaps. Tests well in combine, and predicted that he will be drafted way higher than he should because of it.
Ronald Blair - Some polish. Fires into blocker with good knee bend and pad level. Leverage and power to rock offensive lineman who get too high. Able to set strong edge. Leader. Works hard in film room. Can attack double team blocks with power from legs. Drives legs through tackles making a clean hard hit. Good moves. Good length and hands. Generates good bull rush.
Weaknesses- Short for an end. Lacks speed, agility and athleticism. Really heavy. Thought is if he loses weight it will hurt power that makes him an effective rusher. Lack of speed makes it hard to set pass rush edge. Unlikely to win one-on-one as pass rusher in NFL. Pad level gets too high at times, and can get knocked off balanced. Rotational 4-3 base end at best.
A'Shawn Robinson - Great build for DT. Powerful, thick legs that make him tough to move from spot. Strong punch and can move guards and centers who wait for him to make first contact. Power to toss aside a 1-on-1 block. Athletic enough to give decent chase on ball. Uses length to stuff cut blocks. Frame and length to eat blocks and allow LBs to get into backfield. Good tackler, almost always finishes when locked on target. Provides pocket push when he is in pass rush. Good leader, holds teammates accountable. Can match NFL power immediately.
Weakness - Pad levels raise, too upright when he is on the move. Has flexibility to drop pads, but doesn't do it enough. Inconsistent against double teams. Doesn't impose will as much as he could. Lacks go to move or effective counter to be great pass rusher. Straight line rush. Needs wider base to improve balance. Can get upfield as edge rusher, but rarely turns corner. Content to lay off blocks when rush stalls rather than spun underneath or use a club move. Doesn't play with quickness or forward lean to threaten edges and win in gaps.
Jarran Reed - Packs plenty of strength into frame. Plays with bend, leverage and plus power. Two-gap DT. Eats blocks with ease. Rarely beaten at point of attack on single blocks. Gets in running lanes from developing in gaps. Huge hands to dislodge blocks. Arms are short, but hand quickness gets into blockers frame, and easy arm extension makes arm length irrelevant. Great vision and instincts to find ball quickly. Reads RB lane choice and gets off of block with great timing. Great at run downs. 108 tackles in two years only playing 55% of snaps. No broken or missed tackles in 2015.
Weakness - Ineffective pass rusher. Subbed out on passing downs. Straight line rusher, and can't turn the corner to generate pressure in the pocket. No bull rush. Average foot quickness and upfield explosion out of stance. Makes him difficult in 1-gap formation. Average hand work as a pass rusher. Makes him difficult in 1-gap formation. Average hand work as a pass rusher.
Chris Jones - Tremendous natural power. Strength in his hands and upper body to shed blockers without much effort. Can stop downhill rushing attacks. Can battle through wash-down blocks and work his way back into a tackle. Sneaky lateral foot quickness. Quick feet and shoulder turn to leverage him into gaps for disruption. Flashes some quick win hand work as pass rusher. Talent and strength to do what he wants at times. Generate pocket push when he gets good knee bend. Great tackler with vision and agility to clean up runners anywhere on the line.
Weakness - Upright play style to limit his leverage and balance against down blocks. Motor runs out of gas if he's forced to chase a lot. Average ball instincts. Change of directions is inconsistent because of pad level. Flashes pass rush talent, but too content to lay off blocks.
Andrew Billings - Elite power, muscle and strength. Generate insane power from hip explosion when he has the leverage. Can be menacing for blockers. Moved from OL to DL, and improved each year. Drops pad level when splitting double teams and charging through gaps. Violent powerful swats and slaps to free himself from OL hands. Instant reaction time makes it difficult to cross his face. Gets arm extension into blockers and stays untangled to pursue laterally. Great closing burst to sideline. Dominates single blocks and sure tackler when he gets his hands on back. Improved as pass rusher with a bull rush.
Weakness - Top heavy. Short stature, bigger Guards & Centers may use height to get length and leverage. Has trouble changing directions, has to slow drastically to allow it. Athleticism recovery is average. Great initial effort, and falls rapidly in secondary motor. Raw as pass rusher relies on power over plan. Very young, needs a good locker room to guide him. Is a NT, unlikely to move to one gap.
Hassan Ridgeway - Dense, powerful lower half with good upper body. Experience in multiple spots along the line. Explodes out of stance and into downhill charge. Some twitch in change of direction. Sets hard edge with good punch and arm extension to deny blockers. Worked against a lot of double teams, and fights hard through it. Defeats most single blocks. Has play power to step through blocker's edge. Plays with good recognition. Talented interior pass rusher. Coordinated attack with violent active hands, and light feet.
Weakness - Conditioning issues. Plays hard, but gasses easily, so you need rotational help. Despite athleticism, has limited range as playmaker. Can lose track of ball when trying to beat blocker. Nagging injuries in 2015 (back issues and shoulder). Production didn't always match talent.
Austin Johnson - Exceptional size, good base. Doesn't carry much bad weight. Moves well for a big man. Excellent hustle and pursuit. Rare tackle production for interior guy. Doesn't give in to double teams. Plants outside leg and fights to hold ground and maintain integrity of his gap. Fights through secure blocks and gets back onto play side. Plus instincts and awareness. Against shotgun runs, sets early edge. Also nose for sniffing out screen. Bull rush can drive center deep into pocket.
Weakness - 2 technique, doesn't fit Dallas scheme. Hand usage isn't high enough priority in his attack. Allows blockers into frame making it more difficult to get loose. Has to be more concern with winning at point of attack, not just holding ground. Might not have length for traditional NT. Can be knocked off balance early when pad level isn't right. Not a penetrating pass rusher.
Javon Hargrave - Thick lower body. Compact frame allows hip to play low and dip around corner when playing in gaps. Dominated level of competition he was playing with. Surprising foot quickness with adequate spin move. Quick burst upfield and into blockers. Plus motor and effort, and pursue around the field. Good upper body power. Inconsistent with his hands, but effective when he uses them. Raw, but has potential for playmaking ability.
Weakness - Short arms and small hannds. Very raw as a pass rusher, and relies on athleticism, not techniques or moves. Lacks instincts and feel for position. Doesn't anticipate down blocks and can be knocked around. Lack of length could hurt if he doesn't play with elite quickness.
Maliek Collins - Explosive get-off with good pad level. Exceptional lateral movement and overall athleticism for DT. Played all over line as a rusher. Good hand/feet coordination. Strong club move inside is go-to rush. Has impressive ceiling when he has it going. Initial quickness allows for disruption. Plus motor and active hand.
Weakness - May not have scheme or position flexibility and stuck at 3 technique. Ends up on the ground a lot. Impact on field doesn't match athletic ability and talent. Square rusher missing swivel and upper body turn to improve penetration. Doesn't have counterattack when he flies in on pass rush. Cannot stack and anchor double teams. Doesn't have play strength to fight against redirect blocks.
Sheldon Day - Experience at end & tackle. Outstanding quickness off snap into gaps instantly. Quicker than guards who try to block him when rushing from inside. Rusher with a plan and a quality counter moves. Quick hands and wastes no time shedding single blocks. Works to get arm extension. Never ending motor. Good lateral quickness.
Weakness – Frame is lacking bulk to make it as DT, and lacks length to be consistent pass rusher on the edge. Might be caught between positions. Double team can overwhelm. Lacks power for consistent bull¬-rush. Pass rush production was average. Likely lacks a position, and will need to be flexible to be on field.
Weakness - Pad levels raise, too upright when he is on the move. Has flexibility to drop pads, but doesn't do it enough. Inconsistent against double teams. Doesn't impose will as much as he could. Lacks go to move or effective counter to be great pass rusher. Straight line rush. Needs wider base to improve balance. Can get upfield as edge rusher, but rarely turns corner. Content to lay off blocks when rush stalls rather than spun underneath or use a club move. Doesn't play with quickness or forward lean to threaten edges and win in gaps.
Jarran Reed - Packs plenty of strength into frame. Plays with bend, leverage and plus power. Two-gap DT. Eats blocks with ease. Rarely beaten at point of attack on single blocks. Gets in running lanes from developing in gaps. Huge hands to dislodge blocks. Arms are short, but hand quickness gets into blockers frame, and easy arm extension makes arm length irrelevant. Great vision and instincts to find ball quickly. Reads RB lane choice and gets off of block with great timing. Great at run downs. 108 tackles in two years only playing 55% of snaps. No broken or missed tackles in 2015.
Weakness - Ineffective pass rusher. Subbed out on passing downs. Straight line rusher, and can't turn the corner to generate pressure in the pocket. No bull rush. Average foot quickness and upfield explosion out of stance. Makes him difficult in 1-gap formation. Average hand work as a pass rusher. Makes him difficult in 1-gap formation. Average hand work as a pass rusher.
Chris Jones - Tremendous natural power. Strength in his hands and upper body to shed blockers without much effort. Can stop downhill rushing attacks. Can battle through wash-down blocks and work his way back into a tackle. Sneaky lateral foot quickness. Quick feet and shoulder turn to leverage him into gaps for disruption. Flashes some quick win hand work as pass rusher. Talent and strength to do what he wants at times. Generate pocket push when he gets good knee bend. Great tackler with vision and agility to clean up runners anywhere on the line.
Weakness - Upright play style to limit his leverage and balance against down blocks. Motor runs out of gas if he's forced to chase a lot. Average ball instincts. Change of directions is inconsistent because of pad level. Flashes pass rush talent, but too content to lay off blocks.
Andrew Billings - Elite power, muscle and strength. Generate insane power from hip explosion when he has the leverage. Can be menacing for blockers. Moved from OL to DL, and improved each year. Drops pad level when splitting double teams and charging through gaps. Violent powerful swats and slaps to free himself from OL hands. Instant reaction time makes it difficult to cross his face. Gets arm extension into blockers and stays untangled to pursue laterally. Great closing burst to sideline. Dominates single blocks and sure tackler when he gets his hands on back. Improved as pass rusher with a bull rush.
Weakness - Top heavy. Short stature, bigger Guards & Centers may use height to get length and leverage. Has trouble changing directions, has to slow drastically to allow it. Athleticism recovery is average. Great initial effort, and falls rapidly in secondary motor. Raw as pass rusher relies on power over plan. Very young, needs a good locker room to guide him. Is a NT, unlikely to move to one gap.
Hassan Ridgeway - Dense, powerful lower half with good upper body. Experience in multiple spots along the line. Explodes out of stance and into downhill charge. Some twitch in change of direction. Sets hard edge with good punch and arm extension to deny blockers. Worked against a lot of double teams, and fights hard through it. Defeats most single blocks. Has play power to step through blocker's edge. Plays with good recognition. Talented interior pass rusher. Coordinated attack with violent active hands, and light feet.
Weakness - Conditioning issues. Plays hard, but gasses easily, so you need rotational help. Despite athleticism, has limited range as playmaker. Can lose track of ball when trying to beat blocker. Nagging injuries in 2015 (back issues and shoulder). Production didn't always match talent.
Austin Johnson - Exceptional size, good base. Doesn't carry much bad weight. Moves well for a big man. Excellent hustle and pursuit. Rare tackle production for interior guy. Doesn't give in to double teams. Plants outside leg and fights to hold ground and maintain integrity of his gap. Fights through secure blocks and gets back onto play side. Plus instincts and awareness. Against shotgun runs, sets early edge. Also nose for sniffing out screen. Bull rush can drive center deep into pocket.
Weakness - 2 technique, doesn't fit Dallas scheme. Hand usage isn't high enough priority in his attack. Allows blockers into frame making it more difficult to get loose. Has to be more concern with winning at point of attack, not just holding ground. Might not have length for traditional NT. Can be knocked off balance early when pad level isn't right. Not a penetrating pass rusher.
Javon Hargrave - Thick lower body. Compact frame allows hip to play low and dip around corner when playing in gaps. Dominated level of competition he was playing with. Surprising foot quickness with adequate spin move. Quick burst upfield and into blockers. Plus motor and effort, and pursue around the field. Good upper body power. Inconsistent with his hands, but effective when he uses them. Raw, but has potential for playmaking ability.
Weakness - Short arms and small hannds. Very raw as a pass rusher, and relies on athleticism, not techniques or moves. Lacks instincts and feel for position. Doesn't anticipate down blocks and can be knocked around. Lack of length could hurt if he doesn't play with elite quickness.
Maliek Collins - Explosive get-off with good pad level. Exceptional lateral movement and overall athleticism for DT. Played all over line as a rusher. Good hand/feet coordination. Strong club move inside is go-to rush. Has impressive ceiling when he has it going. Initial quickness allows for disruption. Plus motor and active hand.
Weakness - May not have scheme or position flexibility and stuck at 3 technique. Ends up on the ground a lot. Impact on field doesn't match athletic ability and talent. Square rusher missing swivel and upper body turn to improve penetration. Doesn't have counterattack when he flies in on pass rush. Cannot stack and anchor double teams. Doesn't have play strength to fight against redirect blocks.
Sheldon Day - Experience at end & tackle. Outstanding quickness off snap into gaps instantly. Quicker than guards who try to block him when rushing from inside. Rusher with a plan and a quality counter moves. Quick hands and wastes no time shedding single blocks. Works to get arm extension. Never ending motor. Good lateral quickness.
Weakness – Frame is lacking bulk to make it as DT, and lacks length to be consistent pass rusher on the edge. Might be caught between positions. Double team can overwhelm. Lacks power for consistent bull¬-rush. Pass rush production was average. Likely lacks a position, and will need to be flexible to be on field.
Kendall Fuller - Very confident. Tries to pick apart QBs not paying attention. Feet and twitch to make a run when he reads QBs intentions. Direct path to the ball. Ball hawk on short and intermediate passes. Savvy and trusts his instincts. Good coordination from press coverage. Gets into chest of receivers when running downfield. Willing tackler, who rarely misses.
Weakness - Lacks desired size and length for outside. Lacks recovery speed to take chances. Lacks discipline. Weakness Gambles too much and gets beat by double moves and pump fakes. 16.7 yards per completion in 2014. Loses ball when beaten over the top. Play style can lead to a lot of penalties. Torn meniscus in 2015. Would fit in Tampa 2 offense that wants physical, zone corners.
Mackensie Alexander - Fierce competitor. Very confident in ability, and has shown up when he faced better competition. Only allowed 29.6% completions with no TDs. Smaller, but well built. Able to read wide receivers and figure out their plans. Always in film room. Reacts well and quickly to what he sees. Good recovery quickness in first 10 yards to close any separation. Plays stronger than size. On-field leader by example.
Weakness - Below prototypical size for outside corner. Will have trouble with NFL WRs on the outside. When bailing on coverage, can get too detached to still be able to make a play on WR. Sometimes more focused on trash talking than playing. Production numbers are low. Relies too much on reactive quickness as opposed to good footwork. Too out of control when opening up from press, a smart receiver will take advantage to get open.
Sean Davis - Big body, muscular frame. Mentally tough. Followed bad games with great games. Has size to line up on TEs. Aggressive challenge on 50/50 throws. Always around the ball, and making plays. Willing in run support. Tries to really take out WRs and make them think twice against him. Forced 5 fumbles. Has flex ability at safety.
Weakness - Can be really bad in Man Coverage. Slow upright backpedal and wastes a lot of motion when opening up to run. Trying to lay in big thumping hit leads to missed tackles. Too much separation and can't close on throws to make up for it.
Xavien Howard - Has feet to impede and crowd WRs from press. Accelerates quickly in short space to close on slants and crosses. Hip swivel allows him to open for easy turn and run. Can be island corner. Instinctive ball skills. Well-timed head turn to find ball and react. Will do anything at the catch point to interrupt the WR. Physical in coverage.
Weakness - Quicker than fast with questionable long distance speed. Gets very handsy if he feels he could get beat. Speed falls when truning to find ball. Loses feel for receivers.
Will Redmond - Plus athleticism for position. Plays with foot quickness and twitch. Physical tools to pay tight man coverage and mirror receivers. Burst to close out throws and challenge pass/catch. Aggressive and works hard in run support. Will get downhill to challenge the run near LOS.
Weakness - Average size for perimeter. Physical play downfield could be challenging for a while. Aggressive chances pull him out of position. Torn ACL in 2015, may linger into this season. Mediocre open field tackling. Tries to hit stick ball carrier rather than wrap them up. Does not have much of a track record. Suspended freshman year, did not play much due to depth in Sophomore year. Good junior year, tore ACL senior year. Ceiling as NFL starter, but floor is really low.
KeiVarae Russell - Experienced player. Athletic build, plays fast. Smooth hips and light feet allow him to open up from press. Plus route recognition. Anticipates and mirrors routes in space, able to stay with receiver. Good in zone and off coverage. Shows ability to recover with speed. Good tackle technique. Wraps up.
Weakness - Can be closed out by size. Backpedal is flat-footed, slows ability to plant foot and close on pass. Can get off balance when he changes directions. Needs to work on ball skills. More focused on man than he is on finding ball and making a play. Broken fibula in 2015. Missed 2014 due to academic dishonesty.
D.J. White – Team captain, 3 year starter. Patient in press, and stays on balance. Can disrupt receivers with good jabs. Works to stay in WR pocket. Good short area quickness to close on throws, and disrupt pass. Good leaper to get to the ball at the high point with good instincts. Attacks catch point rather than man. Should fit multiple schemes
Weakness – Needs to get his head around earlier to look at the ball. A little trouble shifting directions quickly. Average recovery speed. Needs to improve play strength. On short passes, too often waits on receiver, giving up valuable yards. Finishes with arm tackles. Head duck on run support.
Jalen Mills - Seen as more of a Safety, but has slot cover ability. Loose hips to open and mirror receivers from press coverage. Crisp footwork to keep speed out of transition. Locates deep pass and can turn to make plays on ball. Very aware of zone and handles his area. Good blitzer from slot. Solid in man coverage.
Weakness - Thin frame. Takes bad angles at times on the ball. Isn't very committed in run support. Not a good tackler near LOS. May be stuck between Slot Corner and Free Safety. Lacks speed to stay with vertical threats. Can get fooled on combo routes.
Cyrus Jones - Press corner with good build and strong lower half. Plus strength. Confident and tough. Can reroute receivers and still maintain position between him and ball. Off coverage, uses good timing to wait before he turns and runs. Will mix it up with WRs, and test them early to intimidate them. Very physical in run game. Well liked in locker room. Excellent as a return man. Press corner, comfortable in man coverage, but will likely end up in Nickel DB in a Tampa 2.
Weakness - Lacks height and length for outside. In press coverage, his run support ability falls rapidly. Lacks pure man-coverage speed. Lacks recovery quickness that you want. Inconsistent finding ball in man coverage. Needs to be better aware of receivers who enter his area in zone coverage. Liability in red zone as big WRs can go up and over him.
Ryan Smith - Solid pop in his initial contact with WR at LOS. Very smooth backpedal and turn, can read receiver's tells within route. Great footwork to mirror WR and stick to their hip. Good ball skills and will turn to find ball from man. In zone, reads QB's eyes exceptionally and restricts passing windows. Not fooled by combo routes.
Weakness - Needs better instincts to take chances in coverage because his closing burst is mediocre. Average long speed. Can be outmuscled on go routes making it difficult to play the ball. Small hands and arms. Trouble accelerating out of change of direction. Will be challenged by size. Tackles legs instead of body. Likely a cover corner in the slot.
Weakness - Lacks desired size and length for outside. Lacks recovery speed to take chances. Lacks discipline. Weakness Gambles too much and gets beat by double moves and pump fakes. 16.7 yards per completion in 2014. Loses ball when beaten over the top. Play style can lead to a lot of penalties. Torn meniscus in 2015. Would fit in Tampa 2 offense that wants physical, zone corners.
Mackensie Alexander - Fierce competitor. Very confident in ability, and has shown up when he faced better competition. Only allowed 29.6% completions with no TDs. Smaller, but well built. Able to read wide receivers and figure out their plans. Always in film room. Reacts well and quickly to what he sees. Good recovery quickness in first 10 yards to close any separation. Plays stronger than size. On-field leader by example.
Weakness - Below prototypical size for outside corner. Will have trouble with NFL WRs on the outside. When bailing on coverage, can get too detached to still be able to make a play on WR. Sometimes more focused on trash talking than playing. Production numbers are low. Relies too much on reactive quickness as opposed to good footwork. Too out of control when opening up from press, a smart receiver will take advantage to get open.
Sean Davis - Big body, muscular frame. Mentally tough. Followed bad games with great games. Has size to line up on TEs. Aggressive challenge on 50/50 throws. Always around the ball, and making plays. Willing in run support. Tries to really take out WRs and make them think twice against him. Forced 5 fumbles. Has flex ability at safety.
Weakness - Can be really bad in Man Coverage. Slow upright backpedal and wastes a lot of motion when opening up to run. Trying to lay in big thumping hit leads to missed tackles. Too much separation and can't close on throws to make up for it.
Xavien Howard - Has feet to impede and crowd WRs from press. Accelerates quickly in short space to close on slants and crosses. Hip swivel allows him to open for easy turn and run. Can be island corner. Instinctive ball skills. Well-timed head turn to find ball and react. Will do anything at the catch point to interrupt the WR. Physical in coverage.
Weakness - Quicker than fast with questionable long distance speed. Gets very handsy if he feels he could get beat. Speed falls when truning to find ball. Loses feel for receivers.
Will Redmond - Plus athleticism for position. Plays with foot quickness and twitch. Physical tools to pay tight man coverage and mirror receivers. Burst to close out throws and challenge pass/catch. Aggressive and works hard in run support. Will get downhill to challenge the run near LOS.
Weakness - Average size for perimeter. Physical play downfield could be challenging for a while. Aggressive chances pull him out of position. Torn ACL in 2015, may linger into this season. Mediocre open field tackling. Tries to hit stick ball carrier rather than wrap them up. Does not have much of a track record. Suspended freshman year, did not play much due to depth in Sophomore year. Good junior year, tore ACL senior year. Ceiling as NFL starter, but floor is really low.
KeiVarae Russell - Experienced player. Athletic build, plays fast. Smooth hips and light feet allow him to open up from press. Plus route recognition. Anticipates and mirrors routes in space, able to stay with receiver. Good in zone and off coverage. Shows ability to recover with speed. Good tackle technique. Wraps up.
Weakness - Can be closed out by size. Backpedal is flat-footed, slows ability to plant foot and close on pass. Can get off balance when he changes directions. Needs to work on ball skills. More focused on man than he is on finding ball and making a play. Broken fibula in 2015. Missed 2014 due to academic dishonesty.
D.J. White – Team captain, 3 year starter. Patient in press, and stays on balance. Can disrupt receivers with good jabs. Works to stay in WR pocket. Good short area quickness to close on throws, and disrupt pass. Good leaper to get to the ball at the high point with good instincts. Attacks catch point rather than man. Should fit multiple schemes
Weakness – Needs to get his head around earlier to look at the ball. A little trouble shifting directions quickly. Average recovery speed. Needs to improve play strength. On short passes, too often waits on receiver, giving up valuable yards. Finishes with arm tackles. Head duck on run support.
Jalen Mills - Seen as more of a Safety, but has slot cover ability. Loose hips to open and mirror receivers from press coverage. Crisp footwork to keep speed out of transition. Locates deep pass and can turn to make plays on ball. Very aware of zone and handles his area. Good blitzer from slot. Solid in man coverage.
Weakness - Thin frame. Takes bad angles at times on the ball. Isn't very committed in run support. Not a good tackler near LOS. May be stuck between Slot Corner and Free Safety. Lacks speed to stay with vertical threats. Can get fooled on combo routes.
Cyrus Jones - Press corner with good build and strong lower half. Plus strength. Confident and tough. Can reroute receivers and still maintain position between him and ball. Off coverage, uses good timing to wait before he turns and runs. Will mix it up with WRs, and test them early to intimidate them. Very physical in run game. Well liked in locker room. Excellent as a return man. Press corner, comfortable in man coverage, but will likely end up in Nickel DB in a Tampa 2.
Weakness - Lacks height and length for outside. In press coverage, his run support ability falls rapidly. Lacks pure man-coverage speed. Lacks recovery quickness that you want. Inconsistent finding ball in man coverage. Needs to be better aware of receivers who enter his area in zone coverage. Liability in red zone as big WRs can go up and over him.
Ryan Smith - Solid pop in his initial contact with WR at LOS. Very smooth backpedal and turn, can read receiver's tells within route. Great footwork to mirror WR and stick to their hip. Good ball skills and will turn to find ball from man. In zone, reads QB's eyes exceptionally and restricts passing windows. Not fooled by combo routes.
Weakness - Needs better instincts to take chances in coverage because his closing burst is mediocre. Average long speed. Can be outmuscled on go routes making it difficult to play the ball. Small hands and arms. Trouble accelerating out of change of direction. Will be challenged by size. Tackles legs instead of body. Likely a cover corner in the slot.
T.J. Green - WR turned Safety. Very fast. Able to chase down runners who are sprinting free for TD. Exciting cover range potential. Man Coverage ability with length, speed & ball skills. Was asked to support run inside the box at times. Extremely quick blitzer off the slot.
Weakness - Trouble with open field tackles. Too many shoulder hits, as opposed to wrapping up. 17 missed/broken tackles in 2015. Hesitates to get downhill on run or catch, gives away valuable yards. Needs better instincts. Keeps him from taking smart chances.
DeAndre Houston-Carson - Team Captain. Nose for the ball, high motor. Can get through traffic to get to the ball. Good balance, and can withstand contact from blocker. Good tackler, with some explosion behind pads. Former DB with background in Man Coverage. Twitch and acceleration to match Slot Receivers on breaks. Good awareness of man & ball in zone coverage. Special teams Gunner. Good at getting to Kicker / Punter.
Weakness- Level of competition questions. Better hitter than tackler. Sometimes focuses too much on thud, not tackle. Can over-pursue at times, leaving other teammates vulnerable, creating cut back lanes for RB. Could struggle against stronger explosive athletes and double moves
Vonn Bell - Tried to control every WR on his side of the field. Talent in Man Coverage, good instincts & reaction time. Trusts his eyes, and is able to move in a hurry when reads throw. Can meet ball at the catch point better than most safeties. Good feel for responsibility in space. Not fooled by route combinations, and always gets to his guy. Rarely out of position. Coordinated, and has smooth lower body quickness and hip action to transition without wasted motion. Stays on balance in coverage. Tough when taking blocks and attack on the run.
Weakness - Play speed looks average. Not intimidating physical presence. Needs better technique on run, too many drag down tackles. Waits for ball carrier to come to him, ends up on heels. Leads to being run over too often. Can get turned around in coverage, and has trouble making plays when back is to LOS. Not a playmaker after INT. Surgically repaired MCL. Bottom Line - Good in coverage, but not a guy who plays inside the box.
Justin Simmons - Can process layered routes in front of him. Consistent in coverage, reads play development quickly. DB experience, and can handle Man on TEs, and bigger slots. Good range in Center Field position, using length and hands for optimal ball skills and making plays. Gets low as soon as he sees run. Tackling improved from 2014 to 2016. Quality tackler, doesn't engage too quickly, few broken tackles. Can play gunner.
Weakness - Frame is thin and lanky, doesn't have much bulk potential. Hip tightness creates some clunkiness when forced to change direction quickly. Gives up on play if he think he can't get to deep balls outside numbers. As single high safety can be fooled by QB into over-committing on the side with false looks.
Tyvis Powell - Long, rangy. Good blend of size, speed and athleticism. Tempo-setter on defense. Tries to keep teammates focused. Excels playing deep, aggressive on run support. Plus traits lead to quality ball skills. Range speed allows him to get from opposite hash and challenge deep ball. Good leaper. Twitch to break on in-cutting routes. Excellent hands. Can track down runners turning the corner.
Weakness - Great size, but doesn't get much into hits. Bends at waist and ducks head into tackles. Waits for RB to get to him, rather than attacking first. Runners fall forward on him. Misses a lot of tackles. Needs to trust IQ and instincts better. Often too focused on QB, and loses deep ball responsibility.
Darian Thompson - Tall build for position. Huge INT numbers (19). Soft hands, and can make difficult INTs. Willing to take chances to undercut throws, runs through receivers to disrupt catch. Ready hitter, and demeanor to play near LOS. Sacrifices body to cave the edge. Can move through traffic, and pick lane to attack running back. Tackle for loss increased every year.
Weakness - Instincts and awareness in coverage scare away coaches. Allowed WRs to get behind him too often. Undisciplined. Losses track of targets around him, and can be baited to leave responsibility with crossing routes in front of him. Needs more technique, less making it up as he goes along. Hip tightness hinders ability to fly open and run to close separation.
Weakness - Trouble with open field tackles. Too many shoulder hits, as opposed to wrapping up. 17 missed/broken tackles in 2015. Hesitates to get downhill on run or catch, gives away valuable yards. Needs better instincts. Keeps him from taking smart chances.
DeAndre Houston-Carson - Team Captain. Nose for the ball, high motor. Can get through traffic to get to the ball. Good balance, and can withstand contact from blocker. Good tackler, with some explosion behind pads. Former DB with background in Man Coverage. Twitch and acceleration to match Slot Receivers on breaks. Good awareness of man & ball in zone coverage. Special teams Gunner. Good at getting to Kicker / Punter.
Weakness- Level of competition questions. Better hitter than tackler. Sometimes focuses too much on thud, not tackle. Can over-pursue at times, leaving other teammates vulnerable, creating cut back lanes for RB. Could struggle against stronger explosive athletes and double moves
Vonn Bell - Tried to control every WR on his side of the field. Talent in Man Coverage, good instincts & reaction time. Trusts his eyes, and is able to move in a hurry when reads throw. Can meet ball at the catch point better than most safeties. Good feel for responsibility in space. Not fooled by route combinations, and always gets to his guy. Rarely out of position. Coordinated, and has smooth lower body quickness and hip action to transition without wasted motion. Stays on balance in coverage. Tough when taking blocks and attack on the run.
Weakness - Play speed looks average. Not intimidating physical presence. Needs better technique on run, too many drag down tackles. Waits for ball carrier to come to him, ends up on heels. Leads to being run over too often. Can get turned around in coverage, and has trouble making plays when back is to LOS. Not a playmaker after INT. Surgically repaired MCL. Bottom Line - Good in coverage, but not a guy who plays inside the box.
Justin Simmons - Can process layered routes in front of him. Consistent in coverage, reads play development quickly. DB experience, and can handle Man on TEs, and bigger slots. Good range in Center Field position, using length and hands for optimal ball skills and making plays. Gets low as soon as he sees run. Tackling improved from 2014 to 2016. Quality tackler, doesn't engage too quickly, few broken tackles. Can play gunner.
Weakness - Frame is thin and lanky, doesn't have much bulk potential. Hip tightness creates some clunkiness when forced to change direction quickly. Gives up on play if he think he can't get to deep balls outside numbers. As single high safety can be fooled by QB into over-committing on the side with false looks.
Tyvis Powell - Long, rangy. Good blend of size, speed and athleticism. Tempo-setter on defense. Tries to keep teammates focused. Excels playing deep, aggressive on run support. Plus traits lead to quality ball skills. Range speed allows him to get from opposite hash and challenge deep ball. Good leaper. Twitch to break on in-cutting routes. Excellent hands. Can track down runners turning the corner.
Weakness - Great size, but doesn't get much into hits. Bends at waist and ducks head into tackles. Waits for RB to get to him, rather than attacking first. Runners fall forward on him. Misses a lot of tackles. Needs to trust IQ and instincts better. Often too focused on QB, and loses deep ball responsibility.
Darian Thompson - Tall build for position. Huge INT numbers (19). Soft hands, and can make difficult INTs. Willing to take chances to undercut throws, runs through receivers to disrupt catch. Ready hitter, and demeanor to play near LOS. Sacrifices body to cave the edge. Can move through traffic, and pick lane to attack running back. Tackle for loss increased every year.
Weakness - Instincts and awareness in coverage scare away coaches. Allowed WRs to get behind him too often. Undisciplined. Losses track of targets around him, and can be baited to leave responsibility with crossing routes in front of him. Needs more technique, less making it up as he goes along. Hip tightness hinders ability to fly open and run to close separation.
- Aug 2, 2008
- 37,548
- 13,048
Welp it's not Ogbah...
Hope it's Spence...
But probably not
Hope it's Spence...
But probably not
- Aug 2, 2008
- 37,548
- 13,048
@dpbrugler 2m2 minutes ago
Ogbah was the Cowboys target. Now Dallas trying to trade back from 34.
Sigh
Ogbah was the Cowboys target. Now Dallas trying to trade back from 34.
Sigh
- Jan 27, 2012
- 16,006
- 4,734
I like the pick but we probably needed someone to come in and play right now.
However, if we would've traded up to get Lynch, he would've sat behind Romo this year too .. I'm much happier with Smith than Lynch.
I wanted Ogbah or Spence but oh well, let's see what we do in the 3rd.
However, if we would've traded up to get Lynch, he would've sat behind Romo this year too .. I'm much happier with Smith than Lynch.
I wanted Ogbah or Spence but oh well, let's see what we do in the 3rd.
- Jul 30, 2013
- 22,094
- 9,980
dont like the pick. we need d for this year.
- Aug 2, 2008
- 37,548
- 13,048
Meh pick... They really need to get back into the 3rd..
Elliot : B-
Smith: C (Potential for A+, he's that good if he can get healthy)
Collins: C (Although CBS who has hammered our first 2 picks gave us an A for him)
Elliot : B-
Smith: C (Potential for A+, he's that good if he can get healthy)
Collins: C (Although CBS who has hammered our first 2 picks gave us an A for him)
- Aug 2, 2008
- 37,548
- 13,048
Maliek Collins -
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- Aug 2, 2008
- 37,548
- 13,048
Brissett & Kessler picked in span of 3 picks.
Nobody needs a QB between 94 and when we pick at 101. So unless someone trades up with the Browns.
Gotta be near 100% likelihood we draft Dak Prescott or Connor Cook.
I prefer Prescott, but Cook isn't bad value in the 4th
Nobody needs a QB between 94 and when we pick at 101. So unless someone trades up with the Browns.
Gotta be near 100% likelihood we draft Dak Prescott or Connor Cook.
I prefer Prescott, but Cook isn't bad value in the 4th
- Jan 27, 2012
- 16,006
- 4,734
Hopefully we can grab Billings or Blair in the 4th.
- Aug 2, 2008
- 37,548
- 13,048
Wasn't much of a reach.. Also the fact that NE wanted him, makes me even more encouraged.
I'm starting to be fine with our draft... Could it have been better? For Round 1-2? Absolutely.
But Zeke will make an impact Day 1. That's a guarantee.
And Jaylon Smith was drafted on potential, which is the point of the draft anyway. He has early 1st Round potential. It sucks because we need talent now, but if he hits, we got a steal. If he doesn't hit, it'll be like half of the picks made in the 1st half of the 2nd Round.
Also I must have missed something on Maliek Collins because everyone has been grading the pick highly.
Finally, Dallas tried to get an extra pick in the 2nd & 3rd and couldn't do it. I'm assuming because they wouldn't sacrifice the 4th, which makes sense.
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- Aug 2, 2008
- 37,548
- 13,048
I'm going Dak or Cook with the 3rd Pick. Have to.. The board blessed us there.
Then trying everything to get back in with a Top 10 pick in the Round.
Billings would be fine. Great value at least. But there's apparently a knee issues and scheme fit is out of wack for us. If he's the pick, no complaints though.
I'd rather go Hassan Ridgeway, who has a lot of position flex which is up Rod Marinelli's alley
- Sep 1, 2004
- 25,508
- 667
We drafting like a team that's not in win now mode tho.
Cook is hot trash
Cook is hot trash
- Aug 2, 2008
- 37,548
- 13,048
- Dec 6, 2006
- 5,504
- 3,655
Cowboys front office is terrible. I can't believe they sat up and saw how and why we lost most of those games last year and make the picks they did.
- Dec 19, 2013
- 17,270
- 24,246
So you mean you wanted a QB? Because Weeden and Cassell is the main reason they lost all those games
- Aug 2, 2008
- 37,548
- 13,048
Cowboys having a decent draft despite my initial hot takes.
Dak was a great pick there.
Dak was a great pick there.
- May 7, 2005
- 8,044
- 5,894
I'm happy with our draft so far..
One guaranteed thing in zeke..
High risk high reward with smith...
Filled in some other holes...
All in all, I'm pleased...can't wait to see how it ends..
One guaranteed thing in zeke..
High risk high reward with smith...
Filled in some other holes...
All in all, I'm pleased...can't wait to see how it ends..
- Aug 2, 2008
- 37,548
- 13,048
Unless Charone Peake is there in the 6th... Don't think we need to go WR at all.
There's so many pass catching options out of the backfield. On top of TE. That WR isn't a need at all.
Still hoping DeAndre Houston-Carson and Stephen Weatherly are there in the 6th. Weatherly is probably a good bet to last there.
There's so many pass catching options out of the backfield. On top of TE. That WR isn't a need at all.
Still hoping DeAndre Houston-Carson and Stephen Weatherly are there in the 6th. Weatherly is probably a good bet to last there.
