canadaram wrote:

PA Ram wrote:

Special teams were a disaster. I really wish Cooper would just stay in the endzone more.

free range

*Free rein*

I think that I was confusing him with a chicken.

Jesus H. Fuck. That’s all I can muster right now.

Niners gain all the momentum early after a strip/sack on Goff and never look back. Hyde goes for 147 yards and 2 tds.

Niners 24
Rams 13

I expect a young team with a young coach and a young QB to struggle on the road during a short week. I expect Hyde to have a big day for the Niners.

Ryan Kerrigan will give Havenstein fits and as a result Goff will have trouble setting up in the pocket. The Rams runnng game continues to fizzle. Washington’s offense gets rolling.

Washington 31
Rams 10

Colts – 24
Rams – 13

Clearly they’re not entering training camp with only two QBs whose starting experience totals single digits. That’s gotta be addressed at some point, no?

Given game day roster limits, Sullivan’s backup should also be able play guard if needed. Blythe played guard for Indianapolis, but not very well from what I’ve read. Not sure who else currently on the roster is going to be able to fill that role.

Ourlads on Toth

FWIW, they had him as their 3rd ranked C.

Four-year starter from Indianapolis, IN. Left-handed snapper in a zone blocking spread offensive scheme. Demonstrates the ability to move his feet and keep a good base in both pass protection and as a run blocker. Has a solid combination of foot quickness and ease of movement. Gets good hand placement inside the frame. Good zone run blocker when on the move. Gains a quick position and runs his feet on contact. Occupies his assignment. Locks on and pushes defender past the hole. Plays on his feet. Rarely on the ground. Picks up blitzing linebackers and pushes them up the field. Uses his eyes as a searchlight to see stunts. Taller than ideal for a center but may get away with it because he can bend. Quick enough to cut linebackers on the second level. Works to finish his blocks, especially against any type of penetration. A solid backup type who will need more strength. Senior Bowl notes: An alert center who keeps his head on a swivel. Takes good angles to the second level. Good use of hands. Mirror and slide in pass pro. Need to work on his anchor versus a bull rush.
OSR: 35/42. Fourth/fifth round. (A-33 1/8, H-10, BP-21, 10-1.87).

Brugler on Justin Davis

JUSTIN DAVIS | USC
6005|208 lbs|4SR
Stockton, Calif. (Lincoln) 11/11/1995 (age 21) #22

BACKGROUND: A four-star running back recruit out of high school, Davis narrowed his college choice to USC, Cal and Washington, signing with the Trojans. He found himself buried on the depth chart as a true freshman and received only 54 offensive touches, but finished second on the team with six rushing scores. He was the primary back-up to Buck Allen as a sophomore and posted 595 yards and four touchdowns in 2014. With Allen off to the NFL, Davis became the starter (eight starts) and set career-bests with 169 carries for 902 yards and seven scores, adding 18 receptions for 189 yards to earn All-Pac 12 Honorable Mention honors. He was primed for a productive senior season, but injuries limited him to 110 carries for 607 yards and two touchdowns. Davis was invited to the 2017 East-West Shrine Game, but was unable to participate due to injury.

STRENGTHS: Strong jump cut runner, transferring his momentum with ease…most effective off tackle, using his run judgment to decipher angles and quick feet to make defenders miss…speeds through the line of scrimmage and attacks the second level…not a powerful runner, but gutsy and tough, making tackle attempts a chore for the defender…determined runner, forcing his way through arm tackles…big play potential with his footwork and balance…elusive open-field runner, showing this best in the screen game…commendable effort in blitz pick-up, reading pressures and throwing his body into the midsection of the defender to buy the quarterback time…some experience as a kick returner, averaging 19.2 yards per return (11/211/0)…mature individual and well-liked in the building…rushed for nearly 2,500 yards in his career, averaging 5.3 yards over 43 games.

WEAKNESSES: Undersized and lacks ideal mass for the position…limited power through the hole and too easily slowed as an inside runner…late to read developing lanes and runs up the back of his blockers…focus issues as a pass-catcher, not consistently snaring throws away from his body…unreliable ball security with one fumble every 56.3 offensive touches…never led the team in rushing yards in any of his four seasons…not a proven workhorse and surpassed 20 carries only once in 43 career games…struggled to stay healthy at USC, including a high right ankle sprain (Oct. 2016) that sidelined him for three games and parts of others – also missed playing time due to a rib injury (Aug. 2015), hamstring issue (Aug. 2015) and broken right ankle (Oct. 2013), which required surgery and prematurely ended his true freshman season.
SUMMARY: A two-year starter at USC, one could make the argument that Davis was never the best running back on the Trojans’ roster at any point during his career, but he was productive when on the field, averaging 5.3 yards per carry and finding the end zone 21 times. He darts around the field like a crazed taxi driver and his decisive moves and quick cuts allow him to pick his way through the defense. Always in attack mode as a runner, Davis is slippery and determined, making him tough to wrap up, but his average body type limits his power, especially between the tackles. Based just on ability, he has talent to possibly secure a reserve role on a NFL roster, but Davis doesn’t have the durability that creates much confidence in his pro future.

Admittedly I don’t know how well Harkey’s skill set, such that it is, translates into McVay’s system. Always liked him though. I have a soft spot for UDFAs who make the roster.

wv wrote:

Im having trouble makin sense of post-modern football.

…and there was an orangutan making picks for the Colts at one point, the Seahawks used a scuba diver to present one of their picks. I wonder what Vince Lombardi would have thought about the 2017 draft?

From Drew Boylhart

http://www.thehuddlereport.com/archive/2017profiles/Ejuan.Price.htm

Ejuan Price ER/LB Pittsburgh
TALENT
ROUND 5
STRENGTHS
Ejuan is pound for pound one of the best and complete defensive Edge Rushers in this draft and the chances of him getting selected in the seven rounds of this draft are slim to none. He is quick and powerful off the line with excellent hand fighting techniques. He is the quickest at shedding blocks and making tackles and changes the line of scrimmage to his benefit on every snap. He requires a double team and I have even seen some teams at times double team him with two big offensive linemen and then triple team him using a running back to chip block him. Ejuan has more tackles behind the line of scrimmage then just about any defensive lineman in this draft. He is strong against the run, holding up when double teamed allowing his teammates to make tackles. Ejuan has talent and production that is equal (if not better) than any Edge Rushing defensive lineman in this draft and the truth is if Ejuan was 4 inches taller…he might be the 1st player selected in this draft or at least a 1st Round draft pick but… he isn’t 4 inches taller and reality is reality.

CONCERNS
Ejuan numbers at the combine are 5’ 11”, 241 lbs. on top of that Ejuan ran a 4.84 in the forty but he did show his quickness running 1.66 in 10 yards. The fact is, to think Ejuan can be as impacting and competitive as an edge rusher in the NFL at his stature is a stretch. He will have to change positions and until he learns and proves that he can handle a new position (LB) I suspect that Ejuan will just be considered as a special teams player and a priority undrafted free agent for special teams after the draft.

BOTTOM LINE
Ejuan is an excellent college player and an impacting college player but until he gets play in NFL game conditions there is no way to evaluate if that impact can be carried over to the NFL. London Fletcher was an undrafted free agent who played linebacker in college who was the same size as Ejuan. The big difference is, London played Middle linebacker his entire football career and Ejuan plays as a hand on the ground defensive end. London Fletcher in spite of his size holds the record in the NFL for 215 Consecutive games STARTED at his position and was a core player for three team’s defenses at the MLB position. When I see Ejuan on the field all I can think of is London Fletcher. Same size, same athletic talent, same leadership skills same heart and passion, although London never had the technical skills to rush the passer that Ejuan has. I really believe that Ejuan has a special talent and I think he’s the type of player who could be used in a Clay Mathews like situation moving him around your defense to gain matchups in his favor that will allow him to become an impact pass rushing menace. Nevertheless, I would suspect that he will be considered a very late round pick or by most teams… a priority free agent after the draft is over. I’ll be honest, that’s how I would have to list him also. I mean truthfully how many 5’11’’ edge rushes are in the NFL? Could Ejuan be the exception? The answer is yes… he could be the exception if he ever gets on the field in a game to show it. The problem in the NFL is, once you get labeled it’s hard to find a coach that will rip off that label to see if there is another label underneath.

Drew Boylhart APR.2017

Brugler

EJUAN PRICE | Pittsburgh
5113|241 lbs|6SR Rankin, Pa. (Woodland Hills) 1/30/1993 (age 24) #5

Grade: 5th-6th round

BACKGROUND: A three-star linebacker recruit out of high school, Price originally committed to Ohio State as part of the 2011 recruiting class, but requested to be released from his letter of intent following Jim Tressel’s resignation in May 2011. He decided to stay close to home and signed with Pitt, starting five games as a true freshman and posting 27 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 4.0 sacks. After sitting out the 2012 season due to injury, Price returned in 2013 and recorded 4.0 tackles for loss over four starts before a different injury sidelined him for the rest of the season. He rehabbed and returned to the field, but another injury forced him to miss the entire 2014 season. Price stayed healthy in 2015 and started all 13 games, leading the team with 19.5 tackles for loss and 11.5 sacks to earn First Team All-ACC honors. He was granted a medical hardship waiver and returned to Pitt for the sixth season in 2016, setting career-bests with 23.0 tackles for loss, 13.0 sacks and three forced fumbles to earn First Team All-ACC and multiple All-American honors. Price accepted his invitation to the 2017 East-West Shrine Game, but missed most of the week due to injury.
STRENGTHS: Naturally low pad level to gain leverage and get underneath blockers…fires out of his stance to run the arc or knife through gaps…lateral quickness and body control to shake blockers in space…explosive off the edge to dip and win the corner, forcing the quarterback to move from his spot…sharp cutting ability to make 90-degree turns without slowing down…eyes are always trained on the ball…recognition skills to sniff out plays and not fooled by much…powerful hands to fight off jabs and keep himself free…hunting motor doesn’t have an off switch and wastes little time attacking the pocket…competes with the same fight each snap despite rarely coming off the field the past two seasons…graduated with a degree in communications (May 2015)…voted a senior captain…elite production the past two seasons, ranking No. 2 in the FBS with 23.0 tackles for loss in 2016…blocked two PATs.

WEAKNESSES: Tweener frame with below average measurements…lacks the arm length to get free once blockers swallow him up…too easily stonewalled when blockers keep him square…lacks the field range to move to an off-ball linebacker role full-time…only average pursuit speed…overaggressive and loses control on tackle attempts…pass rush based more on persistence than planning…older prospect and already 24-years old…bright red flags with his medical history, missing almost three full seasons due to injury – shelved for the 2012 season due to a right pectoral injury (April 2012); missed most of the 2013 season after injuring his back (Oct. 2013); missed all of the 2014 season after surgery on his left pectoral (July 2014).

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Pittsburgh, Price lined up primarily in a three-point stance at left and right defensive end in Pitt’s 4-3 base defense and was one of the most productive pass rushers in college football the past two seasons – tied with Aaron Donald for fourth on the school’s all-time sacks list (29.5). With his initial quickness, explosive hands and unforgiving motor, he lived in the backfield in college (51.1% of his tackles in 2016 were behind the line of scrimmage), but his size dimensions lead to NFL transition and fit concerns. Although he lacks the skill-set to be an every-down player at the next level, Price has the pass rush ability to be a productive subpackage edge rusher and poor man’s Elvis Dumervil – strong bet to be under-drafted.

My big take away from the Rogers pick is that is a place in this world called Mechanicsville. Next time my car breaks down, I hope I’m driving through Mechanicsville.