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AgamemnonParticipantBut a 90 mph fastball is almost below average in MLB. More likely a 95 mph fastball.
98 is more like 60 in football terms. imo Last season, the average fastball reached 92.0 mph. Ok, I will call 57mph equal to 92 mph.
AgamemnonParticipantI want to hire Martz to find us a QB. Maybe he could fix Foles?
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Agamemnon.
March 3, 2016 at 10:05 pm in reply to: Rams & qbs in free agency (from RG3 to possibly Fitzpatrick) #39932
AgamemnonParticipantMarch 3, 2016 at 1:47 am in reply to: 2016 mocks & rankings & general draft commentaries, thread 2 #39902
AgamemnonParticipanthttp://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/19-important-takeaways-from-the-nfl-combine-030216
19 important takeaways from the NFL CombineSee what NFL scouts are saying about Laremy Tunsil, Joey Bosa, Carson Wentz and more.
By Bruce Feldman @brucefeldmancfb
Mar 2, 2016 at 5:35p ETINDIANAPOLIS — It was an interesting week in Indy at the NFL Combine. Here are 19 takeaways from my conversations and observations:
1. My hunch right now is that Ole Miss left tackle Laremy Tunsil is the best bet to go No. 1 overall. “He is a franchise left tackle,” one scout told me over the weekend. “He’s everything you’re looking for, and his footwork is so much better than a lot of tackles that have gone in the top 10 the past few years. It’s not even close. And, I think he’s going to keep getting better and better.”
2. I’m not sure anyone made more money in Indy last week than Darron Lee. The Ohio State linebacker who was an unheralded recruit when he arrived in Columbus and, I’m told, weighed only a little over 190 pounds on his official visit blossomed into a star for Urban Meyer. He may have been the best defensive player on the field when the Buckeyes won the title after the 2014 season, beating Oregon.
In Indy, Lee weighed 232 pounds and left jaws on the floor with his 4.43 40-yard dash (fastest by a linebacker in nine years since New Mexico’s Quincy Black went 4.42). Lee also had an 11-foot, 1-inch broad jump. He enters the NFL at an ideal time for someone with his size and skill set given that the pro game has evolved with so much more of it in space. (Thats one reason former Buckeye star Ryan Shazier is thriving.) One NFL personnel guy told me he thinks Lee will prove to be the best NFL player among the 14 Buckeyes in Indy.
Said another scout: “He also is extremely smart. His interview stuff was impressive. Has high football intelligence. I just wish he was bigger.”
3. Another linebacker people are sky high on is former UCLA two-way guy Myles Jack, who said his right leg feels 100 percent following knee surgery and that he expects to be cleared by doctors on March 11.
“I love his play-making ability, and you just don’t see linebackers who can cover like he can,” one veteran NFL personnel guy said. “He’s confident with a high level of football knowledge. I was a little skeptical of him before the Combine, but he was a great kid to be around.
“He’s special. I really like Darron Lee. I love Myles Jack. He will strike you. He is a way more complete linebacker. He’s played nickel and safety, and I’ve seen him 14 yards deep in the post and make plays.”
The 6-1, 245-pound Jack also doesn’t turn 21 until September.
4. Jalen Ramsey is a legit Freak. Most of the guys from our annual Freaks list back up when they get to Indy. A few don’t. Ramsey, the former ACC long jump champ, probably should’ve been even higher on our list. The 6-foot-1, 209-pounder produced an 11-foot, 3-inch broad jump, a 41 1/2-inch vertical leap and also ran a 4.41 40-yard dash. He’s a rare athlete and may be too tough for teams to bypass in the top five come draft day.
“He’s taller, longer and has better top-end speed and is so much more explosive than all the other top DBs,” a scout said.
There are a couple of stud DBs coming out of the state of Florida — as often is the case. The other big one is Florida’s Vernon Hargreaves III. The word I kept hearing when I brought up his name to NFL people was impressive.
They loved his demeanor, his football knowledge, his change of direction and how smooth he is. “I just wished he ran a bit faster (in the 40, where he clocked a 4.50), but I think he’s just so solid,” one said.
5. I’ve seen some mock drafts that have had former Ohio State star Joey Bosa being taken with the No. 1 overall pick. Last month, his coach at Ohio State, Urban Meyer, came on The Audible and essentially said the D-lineman is the best college player he’s ever coached. Bosa is very athletic and very technically skilled, so I’d expect him to be a very good NFL player. Some in the media drew comparisons to another former Big Ten D-lineman, the great J.J. Watt, since their testing numbers in Indy were similar — although Watt was 20 pounds heavier than the 269-pound Bosa.
One scout who was around him last week joked that Bosa reminded him of Spicoli from “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”. “He’s a meathead, but he’s a football meathead,” he said, adding that he wasn’t sure if he sees first-pick-of-the-draft talent. “I do like him. He’s very good. He doesn’t have a lot of juice coming off the edge. Everything is power, hands. He’s really good against the run.
Asked whether there are any character concerns with Bosa given that he was suspended for the first game of the season, the scout said there are but that he’s heard those issues stemmed from Bosa hanging around with some of the wrong people and that he’s since separated himself from them. And the scout added, “I really do believe he loves football more than anything else.”
6. The quarterback draft board will be interesting to watch unfold. The top two guys, North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz and Cal’s Jared Goff, both did well in Indy.
One NFL QB coach told FOX Sports he prefers Goff to Wentz because he’s “played more football, is a better passer and more of a ready-made guy.”
As for the 6-6, 235-pound FCS star from North Dakota, the coach liked him, too. “He’s someone who you’d think was wrestling bears when he was 12 years old. He’s big, tall, big hands. He just has that kind of persona. On the field he moves around like an athletic 6-2 guy, not like he’s 6-6. He does everything physically that you can ask for, but the negatives with him is that he just didn’t play a lot of football. To me, that lack of exposure is bigger than the level of play.”
The coach had more hesitation regarding former Memphis QB Paxton Lynch. “He was kind of an odd interview,” he said. “I’m not sure if he gets it.
“I know he can throw the fastball. Can he make the different types of throws he’ll need to in this league? He also has a lot of stuff to clean with his footwork.”
7. Michigan State’s Connor Cook was another hot topic around Indy, especially due to rumblings about his leadership. The NFL personnel guy I spoke to on Wednesday morning said he thought Cook was solid.
“He ran well, but I don’t think he had a great day throwing,” he said. “He skipped some balls off the turf, and I know he was throwing to new receivers, but his timing wasn’t as good with these receivers as some of the other QBs. I do like him, though. He has a quick release, and I think he has a short memory. You’ll see him march ’em down the field after he’s thrown a bad pick. I think he has a ‘Don’t give a [expletive]’ mindset. When we’ve talked to him, he wasn’t a [expletive]. He was loose and relaxed. I think he’s a second-round pick.”
8. Small school D-lineman to keep an eye on: Grand Valley State’s Matt Judon. He’s 6-3, 275 and was dominant at the D-II level — as he would need to be to catch scouts’ eyes — piling up 20 sacks, 23.5 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles in 2015. In Indy, Judon didn’t disappoint, running 4.73, vertical jumping 35 inches and benching 225 pounds 30 times. Judon, a Michigan native, actually was in the same recruiting class in that state as former Michigan State DL William Gholston, who has already been in the NFL three seasons. Lots of NFL folks in Indy I spoke with are very intrigued by Judon. “He’s stiff, but he’s strong and he does have some tools to work with.”
9. Former Ohio State defensive end Noah Spence, whose battle back from drug addiction we chronicled last October, didn’t have such a good week in Indy. While his jumping ability and explosiveness was as expected (35-inch vertical and 10-1 broad jump), his 40 time was disappointing at 4.80 and I’m told he looked very average in field drills. Worse still, coaches from one team I spoke with were very down on Spence after meeting with him.
10. I always thought Houston cornerback William Jackson has been underrated, but after this week in Indy, the word is out. He’s got good length at about 6-foot, 1/2-inch, and anyone questioning his speed, should feel better after seeing him run a 4.37. By the way, Jackson had high praise for Tom Herman, the rookie head coach who spurred UH to a 13-1 season. I asked Jackson how Herman toughened up the Cougars and whether he had an example of how he ramped up their competitive edge.
“You had to earn everything,” Jackson told me. “Like with our tickets. If you don’t go hard, you don’t get tickets to the game.”
11. Favorite bio nugget: Clemson’s massive defensive tackle D.J. Reader, a former pitcher on the Tigers baseball team, told me the fastest he’s ever been clocked at throwing a baseball was 94 mph. And said he did it while weighing 321 pounds in high school. Reader also was very impressive in his individual meeting, one NFL coach told me in Indy.
“The more and more our guys were around him, the more we liked him,” said one scout.
12. Josh Doctson wasn’t expected to be anywhere near as explosive as he was in Indy. The 6-2, 202-pound TCU standout — who despite injuries still had 79 catches for 1,327 yards in 2015 while displaying terrific ball skills — clocked a 4.52 40 and an eye-popping 41-inch vertical, best among all wideouts.
“We had a low first-round/high second-round grade on him,” said an NFL personnel guy. “He did very well, and this is really not a great wide receiver class.”
13. Former Michigan State star defensive end Shilique Calhoun quietly had a very strong week in Indy, I’m told. As expected, he wasn’t going to wow people with his size. He measured 6-4, 251, but people really liked what they saw from him.
“He can be a 3-4 outside linebacker or a 7-technique in a 4-3,” said an NFC scout. “He’s not a 3-4 WILL, but he definitely showed some athleticism (35-inch vertical and was among the top D-linemen in the agility drills). He was a very nice surprise. He showed that he is athletic enough to drop (into coverage).”
14. One NFL coach I spoke with loved — LOOOOVVVVED — Baylor’s Corey Coleman in his private interview session. Coleman isn’t the biggest receiver, but no one was better in college football in 2015. He’s explosive (40.5 vertical and 10-9 in the broad jump) and extremely strong despite being only 5-11. I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t go in the top 40 picks.
15. Southern Utah safety Miles Killebrew is an interesting prospect. Engineering major. No offers out of high school. Killebrew told me he was a 180-pound running back whose parents wouldn’t let him lift weights, so he never lifted till college. Huge hitter, which is why at 6-2, 217, he was drawing comparisons to former Washington State enforcer Deone Bucannon. NFL teams also had a verified 40 time in the low 4.4s for him from last year.
Killebrew, who had 132 tackles this fall, jumped well with a 10-7 broad jump and 38-inch vertical but had a subpar 4.65 40. “Seeing that was extremely disappointing,” said one scout on Wednesday.
16. Louisiana Tech defensive lineman Vernon Butler is an interesting prospect who a lot of college football fans probably haven’t heard much about. He is very athletic for a 320-pounder. Butler told me he had four different defensive coordinators and three different defensive line coaches.
17. I wouldn’t be shocked if next year at this time, Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett is creating a lot of buzz in Indy. I know he’s only going to be a junior in 2016, but we’ll see how he develops. Lord knows he has the athleticism. I asked his teammate, Aggies cornerback DeVante Harris, what’s the most amazing thing he’s seen Garrett do.
Harris thought for about 30 seconds and talked about some jumping contest they got into in the weight room one day and then came back with another example: when the 260-pound Garrett ran a team-best 3.90 shuttle. That would rank as the best in the last 10 years by any D-lineman. Florida’s 239-pound Alex McCallister’s 4.00 ranks as the top time in that span. In fact, among all the players at this year’s Combine, only Boston College safety Justin Simmons (3.85) clocked a faster time than what Harris says Garrett did last year.
18. Auburn wide receiver Duke Williams, who was very hyped coming into the 2015 season but was booted off the Tigers team for a myriad of off-field issues, admitted he let his teammates and coaches down, lamenting that he didn’t learn even after coach Gus Malzahn had given him chance after chance.
“I cried night after night,” he said. “I stayed up overthinking and now it’s just moving forward.”
The 6-2, 229-pound wideout said he’s done that, but from what I’m told by several NFL folks he’s seen as untouchable by some teams because of those character issues. Williams also didn’t help himself by clocking a 4.72 40.
19. Favorite quote in Indy: Alabama defensive lineman A’Shawn Robinson asked whether he shaves his head and grows his beard for intimidation: “It wasn’t an intimidation thing. I was going bald.”
Second favorite quote: “I’m shocked that he’s only 20. He looks older than most of the guys on our team.”
March 2, 2016 at 6:55 pm in reply to: Wagoner: Rams working to keep more than just this year's free agents #39894March 2, 2016 at 4:30 pm in reply to: 2016 mocks & rankings & general draft commentaries, thread 2 #39889
AgamemnonParticipantMarch 2, 2016 at 4:28 pm in reply to: Wagoner: Rams working to keep more than just this year's free agents #39888
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AgamemnonParticipantHelped himself: Keith Marshall, Georgia
Caught between Todd Gurley and Nick Chubb on the Bulldogs’ depth chart, Marshall needed a terrific effort at the combine to generate some buzz for himself. The 5-foot-11, 219 pounder did precisely that, virtually guaranteeing that he’ll at least get drafted by clocking in at 4.31 seconds in the 40-yard dash — fastest among all skill position players tested this year.
He is almost as fast as Trung Candidate. 😉
March 2, 2016 at 7:39 am in reply to: 2016 mocks & rankings & general draft commentaries, thread 2 #39872
AgamemnonParticipanthttp://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/25500204/nfl-mock-draft-bears-snag-speedy-lb-nkdemiche-falls-to-broncos
NFLDraftScout.com
2016 NFL Mock Draft: Bears snag speedy LB, Nkdemiche falls to Broncos
By Dane Brugler | NFLDraftScout.com Senior Analyst
February 29, 2016 9:48 pm ETAs they continues the transition to a 3-4 scheme, Chicago needs to add impact players with speed, which is exactly how some scouts describe Ohio State linebacker Darron Lee. A former high school quarterback, Lee is still learning the position, but has the versatile athleticism and aggressive nature that makes him an instant contributor.
Lee was one of the winners of the NFL combine with a 4.47 40-yard dash and other positive numbers that backs up the film. Although still young in quarterback years, he has the attacking mindset and competitive drive that fit what the Bears need.
Darron Lee is the kind of versatile defender Chicago desperately needs. (USATSI)
1. Tennessee Titans: Laremy Tunsil, OT, Ole Miss
Priority number one for the Titans should be to protect Marcus Mariota, something they have struggled to do consistently in 2015. Tunsil is arguably the most talented player in this year’s draft class and able to contribute from day one, pushing Taylor Lewan over to right tackle.2. Cleveland Browns: Carson Wentz, QB, North Dakota State
Hue Jackson has made it clear that the most important task for the Browns this off-season is to find a quarterback. And although Wentz lacks ideal experience coming from the FCS-level, he is the total package in terms of traits. With Josh McCown under contract for the 2016 season, Wentz won’t be pressed onto the field from day one.3. San Diego Chargers: DeForest Buckner, DE, Oregon
San Diego ranked near the bottom of the league in pass rush production in 2015 and need to address the position in the draft. Buckner has steadily improved each year and isn’t yet at his football ceiling, fitting the Chargers’ 3-4 base.4. Dallas Cowboys: Joey Bosa, DE, Ohio State
The Cowboys need to address the defensive line this off-season and if Bosa is still available at pick No. 4, I don’t think he’ll still be around at pick No. 5. Bosa would be an ideal fit at left end in Rod Marinelli’s scheme and gives the Cowboys much-needed depth, especially with Randy Gregory’s troubles.5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jalen Ramsey, CB, Florida State
The Jaguars have been searching for cornerback help for quite some time, but haven’t drafted the position in the first round since 1999. Ramsey has experience at safety and corner, but is better categorized as a versatile ballhawk.Jalen Ramsey is a freak who can play all over the field. (USATSI)
6. Baltimore Ravens: Ronnie Stanley, OT, Notre Dame
Baltimore inked Eugene Monroe to a lucrative extension, but he hasn’t been able to stay healthy, making it tough for the Ravens to rely on him to start 16 games in 2016. Stanley not only adds instant depth, but gives Baltimore a long-term plan at a position of need.7. San Francisco 49ers: Jared Goff, QB, California
Many assume Chip Kelly desires a mobile quarterback, but the most important trait to run his offense is quick mental processor, which fits Goff, who also happens to be a native of the Bay area.8. Miami Dolphins: Myles Jack, LB, UCLA
The Dolphins have a pressing need at middle linebacker and Jack has the versatility to fit any of the linebacker spots. As long as the medical staff signs off on his knee, Jack is an impact player from day one.9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Florida
Tampa will address the cornerback position next off-season, either in free agency or the draft, possibly both. Hargreaves is a tough-minded, instinctive cover man who is ready to start from day one in the NFL.10. New York Giants: Shaq Lawson, DE, Clemson
The Giants built their Super Bowl-winning teams with strong defensive lines, especially on the edges. Lawson will give New York a building block as they rebuild the defense.11. Chicago Bears: Darron Lee, LB, Ohio State
Lee is a versatile run-and-hit linebacker who fits today’s NFL and transcends scheme, fitting the Bears’ 3-4 base defense.12. New Orleans Saints: A’Shawn Robinson, DT, Alabama
The Saints have several holes that need plugging on the defensive side of the ball, including up front on the defensive line. Robinson lacks dynamic production, but his traits fit the mold of a high-end NFL starter.13. Philadelphia Eagles: Jack Conklin, OT, Michigan State
The Eagles need to upgrade the offensive line this off-season and Conklin fits in the first round. He is a tackle by trade, but can begin his NFL career inside at guard, giving Philadelphia a long-term option on the edges.14. Oakland Raiders: Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
The most pressing need for the Raiders this off-season is arguably in the secondary at cornerback. Although he is still young at the position, Apple has the size, speed and athletic traits to develop into a No. 1 corner.15. Los Angeles Rams: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
As the Rams move out west, they need a fresh face at quarterback who can be groomed as the starter. Lynch is very young in quarterback years, but all the skills are there for him to develop into a winner in the NFL.16. Detroit Lions: Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
If Calvin Johnson follows through on his retirement, wide receiver jumps near the top of the needs list for the Lions. Treadwell is one of the best skill players in this draft due to his ballskills and play strength at only 20 years old.17. Atlanta Falcons: Reggie Ragland, LB, Alabama
The Falcons need to make upgrades at linebacker and Ragland is the top run defending linebacker in this draft class. The former Crimson Tide linebacker can step in and impact the defense from day one.18. Indianapolis Colts: Taylor Decker, OT, Ohio State
Indianapolis needs to make changes in the trenches and keep Andrew Luck healthy so adding a talent like Decker, who can start at tackle or guard, would make sense.19. Buffalo Bills: Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
The vaunted Buffalo defense looked mediocre at times this season with many claiming that Rex Ryan’s “scheme” was the issue. Rankins has ability that transcends schemes with his ability to stop the run and rush the passer.20. New York Jets: Noah Spence, LB, Ohio State
One of the wildcards of this year’s draft, Spence has top-10 talent as the best pure pass rusher in this class. However, his heavy baggage will drop him down draft boards where a team like the Jets could find a steal.21. Washington Redskins: Mackensie Alexander, CB, Clemson
The Redskins have had good luck drafting cornerbacks out of Clemson (Bashaud Breeland) and if Alexander falls to No. 21, I don’t think he’ll be around at pick No. 22.22. Houston Texans: Ezekiel Elliott, RB, Ohio State
Houston needs to find a quarterback, but with no passer worth this selection, Elliott is the next best choice. He would be a great fit in the Texans’ scheme and add another dimension to Bill O’Brien’s offense.23. Minnesota Vikings: Cody Whitehair, OG, Kansas State
With glaring needs on the offensive line, is it too early to draft a guard? Not if the pick is Whitehair, who is this year’s version of Zack Martin and ready to start in the NFL today.24. Cincinnati Bengals: Will Fuller, WR, Notre Dame
With Marvin Jones and Mohamed Sanu set to hit free agency, the Bengals could have a need at receiver this off-season. The drops are frustrating, but Fuller has the speed and deep skills to stretch out a defense.25. Pittsburgh Steelers: William Jackson, CB, Houston
All 32 teams need cornerback help, but maybe none more than the Steelers. Jackson was somewhere in the top-40 mix prior to the Combine, but after his impressive performance in Indianapolis, he has a great chance to go first round.William Jackson III boosts his draft stock with a huge combine. (USATSI)
26. Seattle Seahawks: Jason Spriggs, OT, Indiana
Seattle has several question marks on the offensive line, including the future of Russell Okung who is in a contract year. Spriggs has core strength issues, but his frame and athleticism will be extremely appealing for teams with needs on the offensive line.27. Green Bay Packers: Jarran Reed, DT, Alabama
Even with Mike Daniels locked up long-term, Reed is worthy of this pick with his versatility that fits Green Bay’s odd front.28. Kansas City Chiefs: Vernon Butler, DT, Louisiana Tech
If the Chiefs are unable to re-sign Jaye Howard and Mike Devito then defensive line shoots to the top of the team’s needs list. Butler has an intriguing blend of quickness and power with the experience playing all over the defensive line.New England Patriots: forfeited selection
29. Arizona Cardinals: Leonard Floyd, DE/LB, Georgia
Arizona needs to address the front-seven this off-season, especially their needs at pass rusher. Floyd doesn’t offer much power, but has the flexible bend and burst to threaten the corner.30. Carolina Panthers: Kevin Dodd, DE, Clemson
The Panthers need to upgrade the pass rush and add more talent on the edges this off-season. Dodd is still raw in areas, but routinely threatened the pocket this past season using athleticism and hustle.31. Denver Broncos: Robert Nkemdiche, DT, Ole Miss
With Malik Jackson hitting free agency this offseason, the Broncos will be looking for new beef at the grocery store. Nkemdiche has his red flags, but he is one of the best talents in this draft class.14. Oakland Raiders: Eli Apple, CB, Ohio State
The most pressing need for the Raiders this off-season is arguably in the secondary at cornerback. Although he is still young at the position, Apple has the size, speed and athletic traits to develop into a No. 1 corner.
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15. Los Angeles Rams: Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
As the Rams move out west, they need a fresh face at quarterback who can be groomed as the starter. Lynch is very young in quarterback years, but all the skills are there for him to develop into a winner in the NFL.
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16. Detroit Lions: Laquon Treadwell, WR, Ole Miss
If Calvin Johnson follows through on his retirement, wide receiver jumps near the top of the needs list for the Lions. Treadwell is one of the best skill players in this draft due to his ballskills and play strength at only 20 years old.
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19. Buffalo Bills: Sheldon Rankins, DT, Louisville
The vaunted Buffalo defense looked mediocre at times this season with many claiming that Rex Ryan’s “scheme” was the issue. Rankins has ability that transcends schemes with his ability to stop the run and rush the passer.I think the Rams could draft any of these guys and be fine.
AgamemnonParticipantLynch is big, at 6-foot-7, and athletic. He is described by some draft analysts as not yet polished as a passer and perhaps not yet ready to play immediately as a rookie.
“I didn’t really throw the ball at all in high school because we were a wing-T offense,” he said. “When I got to Memphis, that’s the first time I actually started throwing the ball in general. We kind of tested a few things out. When I first came in, I was just kind of a big, skinny, lanky guy. So they didn’t really know what I could and couldn’t do. They just kind of started trying things out, moving me in the pocket and stuff like that. I’m confident in my abilities and what I can and can’t do.”
I am fine with drafting Lynch, but he is raw, almost Greg Robinson raw.
AgamemnonParticipant
AgamemnonParticipantFor some reason this year feels like we are going through a rebuilding phase. We are starting at a higher level, but it still feels like a reset restart redo thing. We did some pruning. We are deciding who is important. Then we build from that. Of course, every year, in a sense, is a rebuild year.
March 1, 2016 at 5:16 pm in reply to: Should Rams re-sign Janoris Jenkins or Trumaine Johnson? #39843
AgamemnonParticipantAg, you are right about a great many things, but…
Yeah, I blew that. Good thing I didn’t bet on it. 😉
March 1, 2016 at 11:16 am in reply to: Should Rams re-sign Janoris Jenkins or Trumaine Johnson? #39841
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AgamemnonParticipanthttps://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/02/29/draft-3-major-takeaways-from-the-combines-defensive-back-workouts/
3 major takeaways from the combine’s DB workoutsSteve Palazzolo shares his evaluation from the final day of the NFL scouting combine.
Day 4 of the NFL combine concludes with the defensive backs — always a position where athleticism can blind evaluators during the process. It certainly helps to see quality 40 times and change of direction skills from the defensive backs, but corners still have to play with great technique and safeties are useless unless they read the play and take proper angles.
Perhaps most important, just like any position, we’d like to see players that “play fast” on tape also run fast on the track. A number of players did just that. Here are the top takeaways from the defensive back workouts:
William Jackson III is a first-round caliber playerJust as we highlighted earlier, Jackson III may be the best cornerback in the entire draft, and we felt that way before he ran a 4.37 40 at six-foot, 189 pounds. We expected him to run well as the big corner has fantastic movement skills on film, whether in a straight line or when changing direction. He posted the second-highest coverage grade in the draft class last season at +17.3, and perhaps most impressive, there is room to grow to his game. He’s inconsistent in press, from both a physicality and technique standpoint, so he hasn’t yet reached his potential. Given Jackson’s current production, combined with his size and athleticism, he may just develop into the best corner in the draft a few years down the road.
Jalen Ramsey has all of the necessary tools to be the best player in the draftJackson has to answer to Ramsey, however, who proved his worth as a top-five caliber pick. He ran the seventh-fastest 40 at 4.41 to go with the top vertical and broad jumps among defensive backs. This backs up what we’ve seen from Ramsey the last few years as he has the deep speed to play outside cornerback, but also the lower body explosion and length to compress the field as a short zone player. Given this all-around skillset, Ramsey could develop into the draft’s best player if he can continue to take advantage of a size/speed combination that allows for growth in man coverage. I still think his best fit is as a versatile chess piece in a diverse defensive scheme, allowing the defense to take advantage of all Ramsey has to offer.
Eli Apple also helped himself, now he just has to find the ballWith a 40 time at 4.40 at 6-1, Apple also showed the size and speed that the NFL is looking for in their press man corners. He may be the best in the class from a press standpoint, playing sticky coverage but still surrendering catches as he doesn’t always find the ball in the air and has proven susceptible to back-shoulder throws. While it may be anecdotal, this is the same issue that Buffalo Bills rookie CB Ronald Darby had coming out of Florida State last year, and he went on to improve in this area on his way to PFF Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. The inability to find the ball, along with shoddy open-field tackling, was a big reason Apple posted only the 24th-best coverage grades in the draft class, though he may excel if given an opportunity to play pure press man coverage in the right system.
AgamemnonParticipantFebruary 29, 2016 at 2:14 pm in reply to: Jenkins fires his agent…but? (4/8) …may stay with Rams? #39807
AgamemnonParticipantI would rather use franchise type money on guys who have already performed at an all pro level, that are the best players on the team. Guys like Quinn, Donald, and Gurley. You have to get value for your cap money, not just keeping every player you would like to keep. The Rams don’t low ball players, they make value judgements, cause they always spend to the cap. imo
Since we have a good idea of how Demoff structures contracts, we can assume that a 5 year 45 million dollar contract will have a certain ideal form. I think the contract that closely matches that is Byron Maxwell’s. Jenkins’ free agency is starting to match that of Maxwell as well. If the Rams don’t keep Jenkins, they will spend the money somewhere else and get some kind of comp pick to boot. The Rams are good at finding and developing DBs, in the draft and as udfas and we already have some depth at the position.

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AgamemnonParticipantJoe Marino’s Scouting Combine Notes: Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
Written by Joe Marino on February 27, 2016
Joe Marino’s Scouting Combine Notes: Quarterbacks, Wide Receivers and Tight Ends
You can see all the testing results on our Combine Results Tracker. The focus of this recap article will be to analyze highlights/lowlights that you cannot simply read off the chart.
Quarterbacks
Michigan State QB Connor Cook’s release and throwing motion really stood out today. It is efficient and compact; ideal for getting the ball out quickly.
On the contrary, TCU QB Trevone Boykin’s release is elongated and he “cocks” the football.
Cal QB Jared Goff’s ball placement, as he displayed on tape, was outstanding all day. Coupled with his terrific footwork and you see why he is my top rated QB in this class.
Penn State QB Christian Hackenberg was erratic with the football in drills. Several passes got away from him and sailed over his intended target.
Louisiana Tech QB Jeff Driskel’s ball loses notable velocity as it approaches his target and will even nose dive before reaching his target.
It was apparent at the Senior Bowl and again in drills today that North Dakota State QB Carson Wentz takes command and control of every situation; one of my favorite things about him. His arm talent is obvious.
USC QB Cody Kessler’s throwing ability was a notch below the rest of the field today. There was too much arc on short outs and couldn’t drive the ball vertically with any accuracy.
Memphis QB Paxton Lynch looked uncomfortable which was somewhat to be expected. His college system was 100% shotgun so taking drops from under center is a new thing for him. With that said, it was apparent and everything looked calculated with his feet and timing in his drops.Wide Receivers
Pitt’s Tyler Boyd and TCU’s Josh Doctson displayed the most natural, soft hands of any receivers today. These docston insideguys can catch footballs in their sleep. Both have exceptional body control.
Not far behind Boyd and Doctston is Cal’s Kenny Lawler and Colorado State’s Rashard Higgins. They are effortless hands catchers and the ball sticks to their hands.
Notre Dame’s Will Fuller came into today’s drills with numerous drops in games and small hands. With that said, he had a clean day catching the football. That was important for him to show.
UMass WR Tajae Sharpe showed his ability to adjust to the football and had a strong day catching the football. He was locked in and performed well.
Oklahoma WR Sterling Shepard was as good as his tape advertised. After turning in excellent test results, he showed good route-running skills, burst and hands.
Clemson’s Charone Peake and UCLA’s Jordan Payton both had better timed speed than I anticipated. In a class of “slower” receivers, this will boost their stock.
Cincinnati WR Chris Moore tested extremely well today and showed good ball skills. Never waiting for the ball to come to him, he showed the ability to “got get it”.
I had a mild liking for Mississippi State WR Da’Runnya Wilson but his performance was dreadful today. His tests across-the-board were poor and he looked clunky running around. Not ideal for a NFL receiver in any way.Tight Ends
South Carolina TE Jerell Adams was the fastest tight end today and displayed a massive catch radius.
Ohio State’s Nick Vannett was the most natural hands catcher in the group. He was clean in the gauntlet drill and the ball was securely squeezed away from his body. He ran excellent routes with good change of direction skills and timing.
Montana State’s Beau Sandland struggled catching the football today. The ball was on top of him quickly and he was unable to adjust and secure the ball in the gauntlet. He had several drops.
Stanford’s Austin Hooper who is an intriguing move-piece, ran good routes and confirmed his play speed.February 28, 2016 at 8:58 pm in reply to: Jenkins fires his agent…but? (4/8) …may stay with Rams? #39770
AgamemnonParticipantTotal disrespect when u held down one side all 4 years and force the ball the other way.. #ThanksButNoThanks
— Mr.Pix6Sh*t/Clamps (@JjenkzLockdown) February 29, 2016
February 28, 2016 at 6:21 pm in reply to: Jenkins fires his agent…but? (4/8) …may stay with Rams? #39763
AgamemnonParticipant
AgamemnonParticipantFebruary 28, 2016 at 4:33 pm in reply to: Jenkins fires his agent…but? (4/8) …may stay with Rams? #39752
AgamemnonParticipant
AgamemnonParticipant
AgamemnonParticipantjosh doctson killed the combine.
6’2″ 200 lbs 4.5 40 4.08 ss 6.9 3 cone 41″ vert 10’11” broad 9 7/8″ hands.
also killed the wr drills.
We 👀 you, Josh Doctson. #NFLCombine https://t.co/7DrlPu4UgL
— NFL (@NFL) February 27, 2016
.@JDoc_son (@TCUFootball) toe-drag swag from @chackenberg1 (@PennStateFball)! #NFLCombine https://t.co/u7RLBDJ74P
— NFL (@NFL) February 27, 2016
Josh Doctson just dominated the Gauntlet. #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/HTkBRnAx32
— Jamie Plunkett (@TheDSportsRant) February 27, 2016
AgamemnonParticipant
I like Treadwell, Doctson, and Boyd. I can get one of them in the 2cd round. imo
Go here and do your own draft.
http://fanspeak.com/ontheclock/
AgamemnonParticipant -
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