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znModeratorPFF Ranking the top 50 undrafted free agents
With all seven rounds of the draft in the books, PFF looks at the list of the top undrafted free agents.
https://www.profootballfocus.com/draft-ranking-the-top-50-undrafted-free-agents/
4. Jon Toth, C, Kentucky
Toth brings good size to the position, and he ran Kentucky’s offense well, grading among the nation’s top centers for three straight years. He took a slight step back in 2016, allowing 10 pressures and ranking 30th in the draft class in pass-blocking efficiency, but he’s a solid option in a downhill run scheme.
znModeratorMay 13, 2017
Joe Curley @vcsjoecurley
Sam Rogers had fun “flying around” this weekend
Rookie pass rusher Ejuan Price says he and Aaron Donald “do the same stuff,” just one @Pitt_FB product is better
Price working at Will right now. Will try to show his versatility coming up.
Price says Donald is one of the hardest workers he’s ever seen. Says he knew he would be great.
Price says Aaron Donald “hit me up” right after the Rams drafted him. Hasn’t want to bug him since. But he’ll see him Monday.
Ejuan Price says just call him Juan. Only his mother calls him Ejuan. – at California Lutheran University
McVay says he’s not sure how Tavon Austin was injured. “Either way he sustained it and we got it fixed.”
McVay calls Cory Harkey a great leader. Says he’s a valuable and versatile player. “But those decisions will be made at a later date.”
“We’re expecting some of these guys to contribute They need to earn it.” – McVay on the draft picks
Rich Hammond @Rich_Hammond
Sean McVay made it sound like Super Cooper Kupp was the MVP of the Rams’ two-day rookie camp. Also praised other draft picks.
Interesting that McVay noted Jake Eldrenkamp would have a chance to compete for center job. You hear McVay stressing competition a lot.
znModeratorTrump’s war with Comey intensifies
http://thehill.com/policy/national-security/333217-trumps-war-with-comey-intensifies
President Trump is escalating his public feud with former FBI director James Comey.
Under siege in the media and on Capitol Hill, Trump on Friday morning lobbed a direct threat at the former director, tweeting that Comey “better hope that there are no ‘tapes’ of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!”
For days, the FBI’s J. Edgar Hoover building has been a sieve of leaks contradicting the president’s account of his decision to fire Comey, painting Trump as paranoid and vindictive. In a New York Times story Thursday night, allies of Comey said the president had summoned him to the White House for dinner and demanded that he vow political loyalty — but was rebuffed.
Trump in an interview with Fox News’s Jeanine Pirro denied demanding Comey’s loyalty, though he added, “I don’t think it would be a bad question to ask.”
The president has also said that Comey asked for the meeting and that during dinner, Comey told him he was not the subject of an investigation. The claim has been met with incredulity, as it would represent a major breach of ethics for the former FBI director.
Comey, meanwhile, has stayed staunchly silent, forcing Trump to shadow box with his opponent. The only glimpse of the towering former director has been paparazzi shots taken through his back fence in McLean, Va.
Trump has gotten little support as he has ramped up the fight.
On Capitol Hill, even Republican lawmakers have shifted in their seats, calling his dismissal of Comey “disturbing.” Democrats have labeled his actions “Nixonian.”
Former and current FBI officials have stood by Comey, even as the White House has scrambled to back up the president’s shifting account of the firing.
Former national intelligence director James Clapper on Friday afternoon corroborated the Times account of Comey’s January dinner with the president.
“He had mentioned that he had been invited to the White House to have dinner with the president and that he was uneasy with that because of compromising even the optics, the appearance of independence, not only of him but of the FBI,” Clapper told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell.
Associates reportedly say it’s highly unlikely that Comey — who was concerned with appearing too chummy with the White House even under former President Barack Obama — would ask for a meeting with Trump.
That he would discuss an ongoing investigation that implicates the president’s own associates, they say, defies belief.
“He tried to stay away from it,” a former official, who worked closely with Comey and stays in touch with him, told NBC News. “He would say, ‘Look sir, I really can’t get into it, and you don’t want me to.’ ”
Trump’s “hyper-reactive and thin-skinned response on almost an hourly basis” hasn’t helped him win support in the feud with Comey, said Kevin Madden, a GOP strategist and former public affairs official in George W. Bush’s Justice Department.
“The effect has been is to lionize Comey and put the president in the difficult position of being defensive,” Madden said. “That just puts him at a disadvantage when it comes to how the public judges whether what took place was the right thing or the wrong thing.”
Comey was widely liked and respected within the FBI, contradicting a claim from the White House that he had lost the faith of the rank-and-file over his handling of the Hillary Clinton email probe.
The man who has temporarily taken over Comey’s job, deputy director Andrew McCabe, on Thursday morning gave testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee that included a hearty show of support for his former boss.
“Director Comey enjoyed broad support within the FBI and still does to this day,” McCabe told the Senate Intelligence Committee, calling it the “greatest privilege” of his professional career to work with him.
The president’s relationship with his independent-minded FBI director had been steadily and publicly deteriorating since Trump took office on Jan. 20.
Although Trump had praised Comey during the election for pursuing the Clinton email investigation, the relationship quickly soured as news reports about the bureau’s investigation into Russian interference in the election trickled out.
In February, he blasted the bureau for being “totally unable to stop the national security ‘leakers,’ ” following reports that officials refused to dispute a New York Times story that said agents had uncovered contact between Russian officials and his campaign.
And Trump was reportedly incensed by Comey’s refusal to defend his accusation that Obama wiretapped Trump Tower before the presidential election.
Comey testified in March that the Justice Department had “no information” to support Trump’s wiretapping allegation — the same hearing at which he made public that the FBI was investigating possible coordination between Trump campaign officials and Russia.
Some say the dismissal was likely inevitable, given the inherent tension between Comey’s independent streak and a president who values loyalty above all else.
“I think we probably should have seen this coming,” Madden said with a chuckle. “The culture of law enforcement and the celebrity culture that the president comes out of are very different.”
Trump’s tweet on Friday was widely perceived as an attempt to intimidate Comey into silence. But longtime Comey-watchers think there’s a good chance he will emerge to tell his side of the story.
He has declined — at least for the time being — an invitation to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee to testify behind closed doors on Tuesday.
But Comey rarely shied away from media appearances when he felt it was in the public interest to speak — something some critics say was his critical failing. It has long been bureau practice for directors to stay out of the limelight, but Comey is now a household name.
“One thing I learned at DOJ about Comey: he leaves a protective paper trail whenever he deems something inappropriate happened,” former Obama Justice Department spokesman Matthew Miller tweeted Thursday night about the White House dinner.
“Stay tuned.”
znModeratorA lot of this has to do with how discussion gets framed.
We lefties often act like we’re surrounded by non-listening, bad argument types from among righties and liberals. We then have this huffy “can you believe THIS” response to that.
That doesn’t work when it turns out we disagree among ourselves.
Fact is, there is no one simple dogmatic “true answer” to the Nader thing. It is entirely possible for people on the left to disagree about his impact, and whether or not a dem was preferable in those years. If you conduct that conversation like we do with righties, it just doesn’t acknowledge that there will be diversity among left responses.
My thing is that Nader did no good and that a dem was preferable in those years. That’s a vote (ie. an informal poll vote in a discussion), not an announcement of indisputable dogma.
Probably the better response would be, I vote differently on that issue, I don’t see it that way. A manner which begins with the premise that there’s no such thing as a pure position on that on the left, just different positions.
And so yeah I acknowledge the “time to get out of the dem/repub same-same routine and promote alternatives.” I acknowledge it, and respect it, and don’t share it. To me that’s an entirely pragmatic, case by case thing.
And btw that right there–acknowledge differences–is one of the reasons I am to my core a leftie. So we may just have to agree to disagree.
.
znModeratorAnd Buchanon got 449,000, and the Libertarian candidate got over 384,000. Which candidate were those votes taken from?
And beyond Florida, New Mexico, Oregon, Iowa, and Wisconsin were all decided by less than half a percent, New Mexico by less than a tenth of a percent.
I would figure, republicans.
My thing is though that we would have been better off with a dem in those years. So that’s all that really interests me. In fact with Gore in office, there’s a real chance they would have figured out 9/11 before it happened (that is if, which is likely, they continued agency intel sharing policies that were in use under Clinton and which Bush cancelled.)
.
znModeratorn 2000, barely half the electorate showed up. Roughly 100 MILLION voters stayed home — or had their votes suppressed. Nader’s total, nationwide, was roughly 2.8 million. How on earth is it Nader’s fault when 100 million voters stayed home, and an additional 50 million voted for Bush?
Because of those who DID turnout, as your own math shows, Nader leaked votes from the dem total.
When someone does “what ifs,” they can’t just stop where it pleases them, to make their point. That’s just cherry-picking, when people do that. It’s kinda like this:
You put out the word to all Rams fans, from all 50 states, that you need a certain number to respond in order to qualify for a venue to house a huge gathering. The response is mixed, and you fall short by a few hundred. But you have this particular dislike for Rams fans from Vermont. They really tick you off, cuz they’re all, like, DFH and shit. So, you make sure to spread it far and wide that the Vermont Rams fans, and they alone, were responsible for killing the gathering.
This, even though all kinds of Rams fans, from all the other states, didn’t bother to respond either.
Not sure how that’s a response, really. I just looked at numbers. Among those who turned out, Nader took votes from dems.
znModeratorn 2000, barely half the electorate showed up. Roughly 100 MILLION voters stayed home — or had their votes suppressed. Nader’s total, nationwide, was roughly 2.8 million. How on earth is it Nader’s fault when 100 million voters stayed home, and an additional 50 million voted for Bush?
Because of those who DID turnout, as your own math shows, Nader leaked votes from the dem total.
znModeratorGroy and Toth
…
RYAN GROY
6’5″
316LBSSTRENGTHS Terrific size. Very football smart. Plays with awareness. Has enough strength to hold his ground. Can lean and seal when he has an angle. Surprisingly effective pulling and working to the second level. Competes and gives consistent effort. Three-year starter. Respected by teammates and coaches — solid work ethic and character.
WEAKNESSES Needs to develop better hip snap. Average initial quickness, athletic ability and pop on contact. Has heavy legs and tends to bend at the waist. Needs to improve punch and grip strength. Struggles adjusting to and fitting on moving targets.
DRAFT PROJECTION Rounds 3-4
BOTTOM LINE Big, durable, blue-collar guard who is generally effective despite lacking exceptional physical traits. As a starter, is the type you look to replace, but could be serviceable backup in a slide-protection scheme given his size, intelligence and functional anchor.…
JON TOTH
6’5″
307LBSANALYSIS
STRENGTHS Four-year starter in competitive SEC. Good size and bulk. Understands his physical limitations and plays to his strengths. Fits into blocks with good body control and at a leveraged strike position. Unlocks hips at contact on down blocks to pin defender and present a running lane. Generates power from his lower half. Held his own against formidable Alabama defensive front. Utilizes efficient, compact punch. Has good hand strength to snatch and engage. Operates with plus hand placement, and willing to re-set hands to improve positioning when necessary. Able to control shoulder and steer opponent away from the hole. Good arm length for a center. Looks for work in pass protection and has enough anchor to thwart a bull rush.
WEAKNESSES Marginal athlete. Plays with heavy feet and below-average lateral quickness. Could struggle with sudden redirects inside to catch blitzers and twisters. Struggles to mirror athletic, interior rushers in pass pro. Labors to recover once beaten. Snap-to-step quickness is very average. Effectiveness wanes beyond line of scrimmage. Has some hip stiffness which causes him to rely on leaning over bending. A little slow in his climb to second level.
DRAFT PROJECTION Rounds 6-7
BOTTOM LINE Toth is a tough, four-year starter. Will appeal to teams looking for centers who can operate in a power-based rushing scheme. While he’s better in a phone booth than on the move, he understands his limitations and does a good job of staying within himself. He’s not the best athlete at the position but his size, arm length, strength and consistency should outweigh that on the next level. Toth has the traits and ability to be an eventual starter in the NFL.May 13, 2017 at 10:47 am in reply to: On Goff in 2017 (OTAs & post-draft articles etc) updated through 5/14 #68746znModeratorRams QB Jared Goff ‘wants to be great’ and is putting in the work
Alden Gonzalez
http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles-rams/post/_/id/33793/rams-qb-jared-goff-is-putting-in-the-work
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — The Los Angeles Rams’ weight room is located on the east end of their facility and opens up to their two practice fields on the Cal Lutheran University campus. Jared Goff stood there for most of Friday morning, stationed beneath a blue overhang while watching 51 rookies — some drafted, some undrafted, some merely taking up space — navigate through a practice of little importance to a franchise quarterback.
Goff, coming off a catastrophic rookie season, has been exceedingly present this spring. Every weekday since the start of the team’s offseason program April 10, the 2016 No. 1 overall pick has been at Rams headquarters, studying film, learning verbiage, slinging footballs and familiarizing himself with teammates, even the rookies who won’t make it past this weekend.
“He wants to be great,” new offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur said Friday, the start of the Rams’ two-day rookie minicamp. “He’s doing everything that we’ve asked him to do, and then some. He’s working hard every day. I think he’s getting better every day.”
Goff struggled mightily in the seven games he played last season, all of them losses. He completed 54.6 percent of his passes, averaged 5.3 yards per attempt, threw five touchdowns to seven interceptions and finished it all with a 22.2 Total QBR, the NFL’s second-worst mark from Weeks 11 to 17.
NFL rules didn’t allow Goff to communicate with the new staff for the first three months of the ensuing offseason, so with the blessing of LaFleur and rookie head coach Sean McVay, he worked with noted quarterback guru Tom House in Los Angeles. And over the past five weeks, he has immersed himself into the Rams, more present and available than any other returning player.
“He’s coming in early and staying late,” LaFleur said. “He’s really grasped the offense surprisingly fast, especially for a new guy. When you get a new guy in an offense, there is a transition period with that, but he’s doing a nice job of picking it up at a surprisingly quick pace.”
LaFleur, 37, was the quarterbacks coach when Robert Griffin III was Offensive Rookie of the Year with the Redskins in 2012 and when Matt Ryan was the MVP with the Falcons in 2016. He traveled west and found Goff to be particularly eager. LaFleur called him “a sponge” and said it has been “a joy to work with him thus far.”
Rookie slot receiver Cooper Kupp, a third-round pick out of Eastern Washington, said he’s seen Goff everywhere.
“I worked out with him during this draft process, and it was very clear the tenacity he has and the desire he has to win,” Kupp, who shares an agent with Goff, said Friday. “That’s going to show. It just so happens that there’s people here to see it, but that’s something that’s going to be going on when there’s no cameras here. These are off days, and he’s going to be at the facility.”
Goff will be 22 for another five months. He’s still one of the youngest players in the league, but he is being groomed to be the face of this franchise. And now, unlike last year, his starting job is solidified from the onset.
LaFleur sees Goff “really trying to take that step and be the leader we need him to be.”
“I think that encourages those guys that are coming in,” LaFleur said. “I love it that he’s around. I don’t think, if you go around the league, you’re going to find too many teams where the starting quarterback is sitting there watching these rookies in their rookie minicamp. I know he’s excited about some of the pieces we’ve added.”
znModerator2017 NFL Draft Rankings
https://www.seccountry.com/kentucky/jon-toth-5-things-to-know-about-the-2017-nfl-draft-prospect
1. Tyler Orlosky
2. Patrick Elflein
3. Jon Toth/6’5″ 310
4. Mason Cole
5. Cameron TomHere are 5 things to know about Toth.
1. Jon Toth ended his college career with a nation-high 47 consecutive starts
Toth saw immediate playing time at Kentucky, and that translated into quite the run. He started 47 of his 48 games for the Wildcats, ending with 47 consecutive starts. Toth was named second team All-SEC after his senior season.2. Jon Toth graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering
His smarts were one of the things Toth was best known for at Kentucky. He graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering and was named to the SEC academic honor roll three times. He was a nominee for the National Football Foundation’s Scholar-Athlete Award.3. Jon Toth’s offensive line sprung two 1,000-yard rushers in 2016
Kentucky featured a pair of 1,000-yard rushers in Boom Williams and Benny Snell. Toth’s offensive line deserves partial credit for the effort. The Wildcats averaged 241 yards per game on the ground — the best mark in school history. Williams averaged more than 7 yards per carry and Snell broke the Kentucky freshman rushing record.4. Jon Toth wasn’t a high-profile prospect out of high school
Toth was the 14th-ranked commitment in Kentucky’s 2012 signing class, but he quickly outperformed his fellow classmates. Toth, from Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory in Indianapolis, was ranked the 65th guard in the 2012 class and No. 24 prospect from Indiana.5. Jon Toth was recently named ‘Mr. Wildcat’
The honors of Mr. and Miss. Wildcat are given every year at the CATSPYs — Kentucky’s annual athletics awards show. Toth was named Mr. Wildcat, “given for all-around excellence in athletics, academics, character and service.”znModeratorCould've sworn I was going to go first overall. @NFL
— Jon Toth (@Jtoeth) April 28, 2017
znModeratorSome Notes
Alden Gonzalez
ESPN Staff Writerhttp://www.espn.com/nfl/team/_/name/lar/los-angeles-rams
Mark Barron has played a hybrid linebacker/safety position in the past, but will strictly be a linebacker for Wade Phillips. “He’s really instinctive,” Phillips said. “He’s got great speed, and we can utilize his coverage ability at linebacker. It gives you more options as far as things you want to do defensively. If you get a guy like that who can cover people, then we’re going to utilize that.”
Willowy rookie receiver Josh Reynolds says he’s at 193 pounds and wants to get somewhere between 200 and 205. “I think that’ll be a great weight for me to still be able to move the way I can and then for me to have more strength.”
New offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur, on his impressions of Jared Goff: “I’ll be honest with you, I think he’s a little more accurate than I anticipated. That got me excited.”
New defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, on working with Sean McVay: “He has a clear purpose of how he wants to handle the team, what he wants to do with them.” …
Rams rookie OLB Samson Ebukam, on his first impressions of defensive coordinator Wade Phillips: “I thought he was going to be a hard ass. Because he’s an old dude, you know what I’m saying? He’s an old dude, and I thought he was just going to be one of those hard-ass dudes that’s just like, ‘Do this, do this, do this.’ But he’s chill, man.”
TE Gerald Everett, the 44th overall pick, on his first day: “It’s a change of pace, but I feel like I handled it extremely well and cut it loose today.”
The Rams want Tavon Austin to be more of a downfield threat, so I asked Sean McVay if he’s seen anything on tape to indicate that he can become that. Here’s what he said …
Rams coach Sean McVay, on rookie camp standouts: “I thought Cooper Kupp showed why we like him so much. Savvy, he’s a polished route runner, good aggressive hands.”
Rams rookie safety John Johnson, a third-round pick out of Boston College: “I didn’t think the weather was going to be like this, but it’s not too hot, not too cold. It’s beautiful.” It really is.
May 13, 2017 at 12:22 am in reply to: McVay, Everett, LaFleur, Kupp, Johnson, Reynolds (5/12) … transcripts + vids #68735znModeratorQB Jared Goff watched the first minicamp practice this morning. WR Cooper Kupp was asked about that and here’s what he said. pic.twitter.com/57dQeGE6ed
— Myles Simmons (@MylesASimmons) May 12, 2017
znModeratorRams have 50 players at their rookie minicamp, which consists of two practices Friday and another one on Saturday. List includes their eight draft picks, 12 college free agents and 24 rookie tryouts. Aaron Green, Paul McRoberts and Cassanova McKinzy, among others who were on the team last year, will also take part.
Alden Gonzalez, ESPN Staff Writer
http://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=21-0654737882551949456-4===
One tryout guy who opened my eyes in the first session? Shakeir Ryan, a 5-8, 160 WR from Northwestern State. Quick in space. Flying around. pic.twitter.com/UThLSq211E
— Joe Curley (@vcsjoecurley) May 12, 2017
May 13, 2017 at 12:16 am in reply to: McVay, Everett, LaFleur, Kupp, Johnson, Reynolds (5/12) … transcripts + vids #68733znModeratorVIDEO: TE Gerald Everett on Coach McVay asking rookies to not think yet, just go out and play @CVRamsClub @DowntownRams @lightningstrk12 pic.twitter.com/XYWT7lGUAy
— Joe Curley (@vcsjoecurley) May 12, 2017
znModeratorWR Cooper Kupp impresses at Rams rookie camp
By Joe Curley
If there was one aspect of the opening day of the Rams rookie camp that will stick in the mind over the summer, it was Cooper Kupp catching pass after pass.
It’s easy to see how the third-round pick out of Eastern Washington became the FCS’ all-time leading receiver.
“It was a lot of fun,” Kupp said “It’s been a while since being able to strap back up. …There’s nothing like football. Nothing like it.”
It didn’t matter which of the three quarterbacks the Rams invited for a weekend tryout — Matt Davis, a rookie out of Southern Methodist; Bryan Scott, a rookie out of Occidental; or Dylan Thompson, who was with the Rams last offseason — was delivering the ball, Kupp found himself on the receiving end.
“He’s still being Coop,” said linebacker Samson Ebukam, who played with Kupp in college. “He’s still catching balls and making people look silly, so I’m not really surprised at all. That’s just what he does.”
Kupp caught so many passes that he showed some wear. A ring finger was wrapped up as he fielded questions from reporters.
“It’s nothing,” Kupp said.
Head coach Sean McVay said that, considering the offensive systems haven’t been installed, he didn’t want his skill players thinking much over the weekend. Kupp seemed to have trouble turning his brain off on the field.
“For me, I want to know what’s the guy next to me got?” Kupp said. “What’s the back doing? Because that gives me a better idea of what I’m going to see defensively and be able to make my route adjustments off of that.”
“The first thing you know about Cooper is, he’s a pro,” offensive coordinator Matt Lafleur said. “You can see that. He came in here not like most rookies do. He’s an extremely polished runner. He’s got great hands. He’s a precise route runner. You can tell that he works at his craft, each and every day. He does a great job.”
Kupp was the first name out of McVay’s mouth when he was asked for standouts from the morning’s first of two practices.
“I think it was always good to see some of those guys that we drafted that we’re counting on to be contributors show up,” McVay said. “I thought Cooper Kupp showed why we like him so much. (He’s) savvy. He’s a polished route runner (with) good aggressive hands.”
FULL ROSTER
Under Jeff Fisher a year ago, the Rams had 26 players into Oxnard for the rookie camp at River Ridge fields, notable as Jared Goff’s first days in a Rams horned helmet.
That number nearly doubled this weekend, when 51 rookies and young free agents came to Thousand Oaks looking to make a good impression.
That number includes eight draft picks, 15 undrafted free agents and 24 players on camp on a tryout basis.
znModeratorFrom above.
znModeratorI see you have a Palantír.
It’s useful sometimes.
Looking up the weather, finding pics to post, making shopping lists.
May 12, 2017 at 11:00 pm in reply to: Wade Phillips Rookie Minicamp Press Conference (vid, transcript) #68728znModeratorRams Defensive Coordinator Wade Phillips – May 12, 2017
(On what he’s looking for in players during rookie minicamp)
“We’re looking for football players first. We’re looking to see athletic skills, how they can correlate to what we’re looking for. These guys are running around like crazy, but that’s a good thing. They’re enthusiastic – some of them are tryouts, trying to make the team, other ones are draft choices, and other ones are guys that we’ve signed already. I’m pleased with all of them. Their effort is really good. They’re running around like a chicken with its head cut-off some, but that’s a good thing. That’s what we want, that kind of movement.”(On what saw from OLB Samson Ebukam and if he can contribute right away)
“We drafted (OLB) Samson (Ebukam) because we think he’s a football player. We think he’s a good player. What shows pretty quickly is he’s a physical player and he’s tremendously fast. He’s got a couple of skills that we really like.”(On how it’s been working with Head Coach Sean McVay)
“It’s been great. He’s got a clear purpose of how he wants to handle the team, what he wants to do with them. He’s teaching them, trying to change the culture. He’s got a way that he wants it done and he also has ways that can help him get it done. I think you can talk to the players – I know I’ve been impressed with him, I know they have too.”(On if Coach McVay has called on him for advice)
“He already knows what he wants. I’m there, obviously, for him I do have experience obviously. Most of my experiences were bad things, so I know if he does anything wrong, I can tell him, ‘Hey, I did that and it didn’t work.’”(On his impressions of the veterans on the roster after getting to work with them this offseason)
“The veterans, we couldn’t be more pleased with. Their intention, they really want to, it’s a group that really wants to do well. They listen really well. We had a minicamp and I couldn’t be more impressed. We did things just like that (snaps fingers). From the classroom to the field, they really picked it up well. Now, we’ve got more things to put in. We’ve got maybe 70 percent of our defense in right now, but I was really pleased with where they are.”(On how he sees LB Mark Barron fitting in this defense)
“I see any good football player fitting in, and (LB) Mark Barron is a good football player. He made plays as a linebacker before, so I expect him to make plays with us too.”(On if he sees Barron playing safety at all)
“No, I think he’s a linebacker. He’s really instinctive, of course he’s got great speed. And we can utilize his coverage ability at linebacker, which gives you more options as far as things you want to do defensively if you get a guy like that that can cover people, then we’re going to utilize that.”(On the talent level currently on the Rams roster)
“I really like the group. I think we’ve got a lot of good players. Again, we’ve got to utilize their talent, but I think we have enough talent to do some really good things. They had a good defense last year, I think they were ninth, but they were 23rd in points given up, so we’ve got to shore that down some. But, I think we have an opportunity to do that with the personnel we have.”(On his expectation on how long it takes to implement his system)
“It’s just like any coach – it’s what have you done for me lately? We’re going to try to do something right now. We’ve been successful of doing that over the years. We think our teaching progression is very good. Even one year when we went to the Texans, we didn’t even have an offseason because of the strike, and we put in our defense and we did really well – they were 30th the year before and I think we ended up second. We expect to do things well, quickly.”(On how much pride he takes in quick improvements in the first year of his defense being implemented)
“I’ve had a lot of good players. But, I attribute some of it to the way that we teach them, we don’t make many mistakes. We make sure we don’t make many mental mistakes, as far as alignment and assignment. Then, we work really hard on fundamentals and techniques and try to improve each player.”(On his book, Son of Bum)
“My book is out there. Son of Bum is out there, you can get it on Amazon, since we’re on TV and media here.”(On the experience of releasing the book and doing signings)
“It was really a labor of love for me because it’s talking about my experiences with my dad. He was my hero, he was my high school coach, my college coach and I worked with him and for him for 10 years. He really shaped (not only) my football life, but my life general. It was something that I wanted to write really for my family. I think people will like it, but I did it more for my family.”(On where his inspiration to do Son of Bum now came from)
“We’d been working on it for about a year and a half, so it took a little while to get it done because coaches don’t have much time off, especially during the year. During the offseason Vic Carucci and I worked on it. I think it came out well, at least it got over what I wanted to get over, which is how great my dad was and how he influenced a lot of positive things in me and a lot of people. It’s a great Father’s Day present.”znModeratorVincent Bonsignore @DailyNewsVinny
Almost forgot. Spoke to Robert Quinn today. Told me got as low as 225 early in offseason but added 20 since off-season program. Looks great
1. Quinn told me a coach asked the D-Line room who was the oldest guy in the room “i looked all over, behind me, then slowly raised my hand”
2. “Seems like only yesterday I was one of these rookies. Now? Where does the time go?”
Cooper Kupp looks and conducts himself the part of an #NFL WR. He’s a legit 6-2, too
May 12, 2017 at 10:45 pm in reply to: McVay, Everett, LaFleur, Kupp, Johnson, Reynolds (5/12) … transcripts + vids #68726znModeratorJosh Reynolds Rookie Minicamp Press Conference
Rams WR Josh Reynolds meets with the media during the start of Rams Rookie Minicamp.
znModeratorSmall-schoolers Everett, Kupp could be big catches for Rams
From AP
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) — Tight end Gerald Everett played at two junior colleges and a university that dropped its football program before finishing up at a school that had never produced a drafted NFL player before him.
Cooper Kupp set a barrel of NCAA receiving records, but he did it far away from the national spotlight at Eastern Washington.
These two products of smaller schools have been united by the Los Angeles Rams, who hope they’ll grow up to become major targets for Jared Goff.
Everett and Kupp went through their first workouts Friday in the opening session of rookie minicamp with the Rams, who used their top two draft picks on pass-catchers with plenty to prove at the highest level of football.
“There’s nothing like football, nothing like it,” said Kupp, whose finger was already heavily bandaged after a minor injury. “These are the kinds of things I live for.”
Despite their small-school backgrounds leading to the usual pre-draft questions about their achievements relative to their level of competition, Everett was chosen in the second round by the Rams, and Kupp was taken in the third. Along with free-agent receiver Robert Woods, the youngsters are the most important skill-position additions to the roster that produced the NFL’s worst offensive numbers last season.
“You don’t want to mess up,” Everett said. “You want to move 100 miles an hour and do the right things every play. But it happens, especially being in rookie minicamp and the first day out here. So I think I had a couple of errors, but not too many for my first day. Tomorrow I’ll be better.”
Goff was in the Rams’ training complex while his new teammates worked out under Sean McVay and the rest of Los Angeles’ new coaching staff. McVay also put the players through 90 minutes of meetings before two-a-day workouts.
“Cooper Kupp showed why we like him so much,” McVay said. “(He’s) savvy. He’s a polished route runner. Good, aggressive hands.”
Everett is used to learning new offenses after the lengthy collegiate road that led him to South Alabama, but the size and scope of McVay’s scheme have left him expecting to spend plenty of time studying in the next few months.
“I came into a completely new offense, so it’s a change of pace,” Everett said. “But I felt like I handled it extremely well and cut it loose today. I caught some deep balls, and I felt like I was moving pretty well.”
Everett and Kupp both overcame questions about their pedigrees with strong performances at the draft combine and private workouts. Both players are eager to show they’ve got the football sense to compensate for any physical shortcomings.
“Anytime you come out there and you try to ‘prove something,’ you’re trying to be more than you are,” Kupp said. “If you’re trying to prove something, you’ve got a weight on your chest. There’s no room for error. I’m just going to come out and be who I am. I’m just going to play football. I know I’m a great player, so I’m going to come out and just let that show, and that’s going to be enough.”
Kupp is 17 months older than Goff, who went 0-7 in his first season as the Rams’ starter. The rookie already knows his new quarterback from offseason workouts because they are represented by the same group of agents.
The Rams are hoping Goff grows up along with Everett and Kupp during the long weeks and months of workouts ahead of September’s season opener.
“It was very clear, the tenacity (Goff) has, and the desire he has to win,” Kupp said. “That’s going to show. That’s something that’s been going on with no cameras here. That’s been going on during off days. He’s going to be putting this team in the best position to win.”
NOTES: Former UCLA CB Ishmael Adams was expected to join the Rams as an undrafted free agent, but they waived him Friday after he failed a physical. … Los Angeles also waived former Auburn G Alex Kozan due to a non-football injury. … The Rams added former Utah DB Dominique Hatfield to their rookie group. The Los Angeles native played at Crenshaw High School.
znModeratorRams rookies quickly warm to ‘old dude’ coordinator Wade Phillips
RICH HAMMOND
THOUSAND OAKS — Rams defensive coordinator Wade Phillips, who is old enough to be the grandfather of the rookies he met this week, quickly bridged the generation gap.
“I thought he was going to be kind of a hard (personality),” linebacker Samson Ebukam said Friday. “Because he’s an old dude; you know what I’m saying? He’s an old dude, and I thought he was going to be one of those hard-ass dudes, who was like, ‘Do this, do this, do this.’ But he’s chill. He’s just right there trying to get you better, and that’s what I like about him. He’s just trying to get us better.”
Don’t blame the rookies for being intimidated by the spectre of Phillips. He’s 69 years old with a recently minted Super Bowl ring, and he’s been coaching in the NFL since the mid-1970s, which must seem like the dark ages to a 22-year-old player such as Ebukam, and his peers.
Old and young seem to have melded together. The Rams on Friday opened their two-day rookie mini-camp for players recently drafted and signed, and while much of the recent focus has been on the Rams’ well-regarded offensive prospects, Phillips brings the potential for immediate defensive improvement.
Phillips now has his first chance to work with Ebukam, a fourth-round draft pick of the Rams last month, safety John Johnson (a third-round pick) and many other undrafted free agents.
“I’m pleased with all of them,” Phillips said. “Their effort is really good. They’re running around like chickens with their heads cut off, but that’s a good thing. That’s what we want, that kind of mood.”
Rams rookies certainly knew Phillips by reputation, and thus far, he seems to be a good complement to first-year coach Sean McVay and his nonstop energy. Phillips is far from lethargic, but he speaks slowly, with a Texas drawl and plenty of dry wit. Then there’s the resume.
Phillips won the Super Bowl two years ago as Denver’s defensive coordinator, and he’s known as something of a turnaround artist. That’s good news for the Rams’ defense, which is talented but underachieved last season.
Phillips, who worked with Rams veterans at a mini-camp last month, said he has been impressed with their work ethic. Phillips estimated that he already has installed 70 percent of his defense.
“Like any coach, it’s, ‘What have you done for me lately?’” Phillips said. “We’re going to try to do something right now. We’ve been successful doing that over the years.”
Phillips already seems to be growing on the youngest Rams. Johnson said Phillips reminded him of his former college defensive coordinator, and players seemed pleasantly surprised by Phillips’ relatability.
“So I’m kind of comfortable with him already,” Johnson said, “but I’ll grow with him and we’ll become a family.”
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Asked to identify players who impressed him during the first rookie-camp session, McVay named four of this year’s draft picks: third-round receiver Cooper Kupp, fourth-round receiver Josh Reynolds, second-round tight end Gerald Everett and Johnson.
McVay said his goal for the camp was not to overwhelm players with systems information, but to get them to react naturally on the field and “not think.”
“We just want to see their ability to say, ‘OK, I’m going to go out, compete, run routes, get into coverage positions, work some of the fundamentals and techniques,’” McVay said. “That’s kind of the intent and the goal of this weekend, as far as our evaluation is concerned.”
DIDN’T MAKE IT
Former UCLA defensive back Ishmael Adams had been expected to join the Rams as an undrafted free agent, but Adams did not pass a physical examination and got released. The Rams also cut offensive lineman Alex Kozan (Auburn).
May 12, 2017 at 10:10 pm in reply to: McVay, Everett, LaFleur, Kupp, Johnson, Reynolds (5/12) … transcripts + vids #68721znModeratorMatt LaFleur Rookie Minicamp Press Conference
Offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur meets with the media during the start of Rams Rookie Minicamp.
==
Rams Offensive Coordinator Matt LaFleur, May 12, 2017
(On what he saw specifically at practice that he liked and he’s looking for from players that are trying to make the team)
“I think number one, great effort out there and I saw a lot of good things from our rookies – the guys that we drafted. It got us pretty excited about that.”(On how it’s been for him transitioning into his role with the Rams and working with Head Coach Sean McVay)
“It’s been an awesome transition. Number one, we’ve got a great staff, a lot of good guys. Obviously, Sean and I have worked together before, so I think our philosophies align. It’s been a very good transition.”(On his impressions of QB Jared Goff and the strides he’s made so far)
“Goff’s been awesome. He wants to be great and he’s doing everything that we’ve asked him to do and then some. He’s working hard every day. I think he’s getting better every day and he’s done a great job.”(On what he means when he says, ‘Jared Goff wants to be great’)
“It means he’s doing the little things day in and day out. He’s coming in early. He’s staying late. He’s really grasped the offense surprisingly fast, especially for a new guy. When you get a new guy in an offense, there is a transition period with that, but he’s done a nice job at picking it up at a surprisingly quick pace.”(On if there’s anything else that has surprised him while working with Goff)
“I’ll be honest with you, I think he’s a little more accurate than I anticipated, so that got me excited. Obviously, he’s got a big arm. Until you work with a guy you don’t really know. Obviously, I studied him coming out in the draft and knew that he had some of the characteristics that you look for. He’s a natural thrower. He’s tough and he’s throwing the ball with, like I said before, surprisingly with really good accuracy.”(On his assessment of the team’s offensive line and what areas can they show improvement)
“Well, I think it’s always a work in progress, especially when you add a couple new pieces to the line. It takes time for them to gel as a unit, but (Offensive Line) Coach (Aaron) Kromer and the other guys have done a great job with that transition and those guys. You see improvement every day and it gets a little bit easier for them every day and obviously the goal is to get a little bit better each and every day as we move into OTAs.”(On what made him look at OL Jake Eldrenkamp as a center and what about his skillset makes him think he can play center)
“Coach Kromer did more of the evaluation with the offensive line, but he’s got the movement skills that we look for in a center and he’s a big guy. He had very, very limited team reps today, but we’ll get a chance to look at the film afterwards and have a better assessment of him.”(On what excites him about WR Cooper Kupp)
“I think the first thing you know about Cooper is he’s a pro and you can see that. He came in here not like most rookies do. He’s an extremely polished route runner, got great hands, is a precise route-runner. You can tell he works at his craft each and every day. He does a great job.”(On Goff watching today’s rookie minicamp and what that means from a leadership standpoint)
“I think you said it, he’s really trying to take that step and be the leader that we need him to be. I think that encourages those young guys that are coming in. I love it when he’s around, the fact that he’s around today. If you go around the league, I don’t think you’re going to find too many teams where the starting quarterback is sitting here watching these rookies in their rookie minicamp. So, I know he’s excited about some of the pieces that we’ve added. I think it’s great for us as an organization.”(On his first impressions of TE Gerald Everett)
“We got a chance to work him out so we felt like we knew him pretty well. Obviously, he’s got the movement skills that we’re looking for. He is extremely fluid. He can get in and out of breaks and the other thing that you notice from him, he’s got great hands. His catch transition, getting up the field is, what we felt, was as good as anyone in the draft.”(On WR Josh Reynolds)
“Josh did some great things. I think today you saw in some of the 1-on-1s, you can see his range. He is a rangy target and quite frankly, he’s bigger than a lot of the other guys we have in our receiving corps. So I think he brings an element of, not only a big rangy target, but he did show some very good speed down the field. He caught a post and then he caught a ‘go-ball’ out there today, and so it was pretty encouraging to see him.”(On his impressions of RB Todd Gurley and what he’s seen from him)
“You can tell why Todd was picked where he was picked. He is a big man that can run fast. What I’ve been most impressed with him is just how he’s approached it on a daily basis. He’s really come out here and worked his tail off…Obviously, you want your star players to set the tone for you and he’s done a great job with that.”(On if he’s seen anything from WR Tavon Austin that indicates he could be a downfield threat)
“We only had him for a limited time before he had the surgery, but you could definitely see and feel his speed. When you look at what Washington was able to do and what Atlanta was able to do and the explosive plays, it all starts with having speed at that receiver position, which is something he possesses. Great guy, is attentive each day, so we’re excited to give him those opportunities.”(On if Austin’s height could make it difficult to become a legitimate deep threat)
“I personally don’t think so because if you’ve got the speed to get open and you’ve got the separation skills to get open, he’s got great hands. When we judge receivers it’s more about their ability to separate. The size is not as big of a concern. I know last year in Atlanta, they used (Falcons WR) Taylor Gabriel and he’s not the tallest guy, but he could get open and he was electric with the ball in his hands. So hopefully we can get Tavon going the same way.”(On transitioning working from a Matt Ryan in Atlanta to a young quarterback in Goff and if that requires him to make adjustments in the way he relays information)
“I think any time you’re dealing with a young quarterback, you never assume anything. What’s been so much fun for me is he is a sponge and he is soaking up everything that you tell him. It’s been a joy to work with him thus far, so hopefully we keep on chopping wood and get a little bit better every day.”May 12, 2017 at 10:07 pm in reply to: On Goff in 2017 (OTAs & post-draft articles etc) updated through 5/14 #68720znModeratorLaFleur Impressed with Goff’s Accuracy, Leadership
By Myles Simmons
This weekend’s practices are for the rookies and tryout players, but there was one observing veteran who made an impression.
A year ago quarterback Jared Goff was participating in rookie minicamp. Today he stood outside the team’s weight room during the morning session, watching all that was happening on the field.
It was a sign of leadership that Goff’s coaches and newest teammates certainly noticed.
“I think that encourages those guys that are coming in,” offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur said. “I love it, that he’s around. I don’t think, if you go around the league, you’re going to find too many teams where the starting quarterback is sitting there watching these rookies in their rookie minicamp. I know he’s excited about some of the pieces we’ve added. I think it’s great for us, as an organization.”
“This isn’t the first time I’ve seen Jared around,” wide receiver Cooper Kupp said. “I worked out with him in during this draft process. And it was very clear the tenacity he has, and the desire he has to win. And that’s going to show. It just so happens that there’s people here to see it, but that’s something that’s going to be going on when there’s no cameras here.”
But more than that, LaFleur said he’s been impressed with how quickly Goff has picked up the new scheme since the start of the offseason program.
“Goff has been awesome, man,” LaFleur said. “When you get a new guy in an offense, there is a transition period with that. But he’s doing a nice job of picking it up at a surprisingly quick pace.”
After spending the last two years as Atlanta’s quarterbacks coach, LaFleur noted there is an adjustment from working with a seasoned veteran like Matt Ryan to a second-year QB in Goff. But Goff’s attitude in striving to improve has made it that much easier.
“I think anytime you’re dealing with a young quarterback, you never assume anything,” LaFleur said. “What’s been so much fun for me is, he’s a sponge and he is soaking up everything that you tell him. It’s been a joy to work with him thus far. Hopefully we keep chopping wood and get a little better every day.”
And on the field, Goff has apparently excelled from the voluntary veteran minicamp through the on-field Phase II workouts.
“I’ll be honest with you — I think he’s a little more accurate than I anticipated. That got me excited,” LaFleur said. “Obviously, he’s got a big arm. Until you work with a guy, you don’t really know. Obviously I studied him coming out in the draft, and I knew he had some of the characteristics that you look for. He is a natural thrower. He’s tough and he’s throwing the ball with surprisingly, really good accuracy.”
It’s those qualities that have rookies like Kupp excited to get on the field with Goff.
“I can’t wait,” Kupp said. “Going through this, learning the offense, and making sure these next few days I’m getting everything down as best I can so when the quarterback steps out on the field, I’ve got things dialed and ready to go because I know he’s going to be ready to roll.”
znModeratorwell i believe that 1999 rams championship team had warner, fletcher, farr, and jenkins – all undrafted and all major contributors to that team. i’m sure there were more than that.
rams need to hit on a couple in order to get an edge on the other teams.
I don’t count Warner as a UDFA because he was already Green Bay’s UDFA in 94. I see him more as a low-market FA. That includes also Gruttadauria, Nutten, and McCollum.
But your point of course is a good one.
Calculated my way, with the Warner caveat,, it’s actually Jenkins, Fletcher, Farr, and Horne.
znModeratorBrugler on Toth
JON TOTH | Kentucky 6047|307 lbs|5SR Indianapolis, Ind. (Brebeuf Jesuit) 2/11/1994 (age 23)
GRADE 6th Round
BACKGROUND: A two-star offensive tackle recruit out of high school, Jonathan “Jon” Toth was an all-state lineman at Brefeuf Jesuit and received a scholarship offer from Kentucky after his performance at a football camp. He committed to the Wildcats, who were his only offer from a non-MAC program. After redshirting in 2012, Toth practiced at left tackle as a true freshman before moving inside to center in the second game of the year, starting the final 11 games of the 2013 season and earning SEC All-Freshman honors. He started all 24 games at center during his sophomore and junior seasons. Toth had his best year as a senior in 2016, starting all 13 games at center and earning Second Team All-SEC honors. He accepted his invitation to the 2017 Senior Bowl.
STRENGTHS: Passes the eye test with his frame, girth and arm length…fires his hands with proper timing and placement to dictate the point of attack…powerful upper body and can steer and control once he locks onto his target…efficient on combo blocks to seal run lanes…anchors when he bends at his knees…very aware of his surroundings to pick up and pass off pressures…great job balancing football and school – three-time Academic All-SEC and graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering (Dec. 2016)…named a senior captain…keeps his nose to the grindstone with the work habits needed to be a professional…durable four-year starter and finished his career with 48 straight starts – the longest active streak at the FBS-level.
WEAKNESSES: Weak base and too easily bullied when he doesn’t drop his hips…stiff lower body and limited athleticism shows in space…heavy mover and lumbers when pulling or advancing to the linebacker level…doesn’t block with twitch and lacks the recovery quickness to easily counter…tall pass-sets and inconsistent vs. moving targets…doesn’t maximize leverage as a run blocker, struggling to create movement at contact…not an overpowering snatcher…all of his career starts were at center, lacking functional experience at other positions on the offensive line.
SUMMARY: A four-year starter at Kentucky, Toth was a model of consistency for the Wildcats, starting every game at center over the last 48 contests. He looks the part and checks boxes with his size, power and intangibles, taking it personally when an interior pressure finds his way to the quarterback. Toth is a sticky blocker, using his heavy hands and punch timing to tie up blockers off the snap. However, he is too reliant on his upper half and doesn’t play with the base strength or lower body athleticism desired for the position. Overall, Toth is a battle-tested blocker with the intelligence and play strength to survive as a quality back-up in the NFL.
znModerator–
Jon Toth grades highest on South Senior Bowl team
Jon Toth improved his stock in Mobile, Alabama this week.http://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/jon-toth-grades-highest-on-south-senior-bowl-team/
Kentucky offensive lineman Jon Toth was the highest graded offensive player on the Reese’s Senior Bowl’s winning South team according to Pro Football Focus. He received a grade of 81.8 on a scale to 100.
"C Jon Toth capped a fine career at Kentucky will a brilliant display in his postseason All Star game." #SeniorBowl
— PFF College Football (@PFF_College) January 29, 2017
Toth played center and offensive guard during the 16-15 victory. Most reports indicate that he improved throughout the week of practices. He is currently considered a mid-round pick by most outlets.
—
Walters
Jon Toth, C, Kentucky
Height: 6-4. Weight: 308. Arm: 33.13. Hand: 10.
40 Time: 5.51.
Projected Round (2017): 3-5.
Rank: 2
4/25/17: Toth had a fine senior season and career at Kentucky. He started 47 straight games and was a big part of the Wildcats having a team average of 5.5 yards per carry in 2016. Toth has good size to be a center in the NFL and enough athleticism. He turned in a decent week at the Senior Bowl. Toth has strength in his base and developed technique.http://walterfootball.com/draft2017C.php#SIdKrB27kVW9wryC.99
—
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospectrankings/2017/C
CBS: ranked 6th
—
https://www.si.com/2017-nfl-draft-rankings-centers
SI: 5th
===
PFF: 4th
https://www.profootballfocus.com/nfl-draft-center-rankings/
The PFF analysis team breaks down the prospects of Kentucky’s Jon Toth ahead of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Stats to know: Graded better in 2015 than 2016. Allowed a sack, two QB hits and seven QB hurries in 2016. Finished with his lowest pass-blocking grade in 2016.
What he does best:
Stout, powerful frame.
High ceiling, somewhat raw and unrefined.
Shows good blocking demeanor on most blocks (looks the part).
Executed Kentucky’s inside zone scheme well.
Posted the top run-blocking grade among interior offensive linemen during both Senior Bowl practice and in the game.
Committed only two penalties in all of 2016 and only nine over the last three years.
Biggest concern:Will lose on initial contact and gets steered by the defensive tackle in the run game.
Gets overextended a bit much and loses balance.
Comes to a stop to hit at 2L. Is this coaching or lack of skill?
Wasn’t asked to extend himself much within Kentucky’s scheme. Raises questions about versatility at the next level.
Grading took a step back in 2016 after two strong seasons in 2014 and 2015.
Bottom line: Toth was not challenged in Kentucky’s scheme, but he executed it well, even with a step back in his grading in 2016. He has the power and frame to be a solid run-blocker, though he may be limited to more of a downhill scheme rather than one that heavily feature outside zone. He has potential to develop into a starter.—
znModeratorfrom alyoshamucci
[Initially] I was surprised they didn’t go after Toth or Orlovsky.
Toth was tied with Rouiller for me …
Big kid, heavy hands. I’m a fan of letting him, Mcmeans, and Eldrenkamp battle it out for the backup and groom spot
znModeratorJon Toth, C from Kentucky. Rookie tryout.
6’5″
307LBS.Toth (pronounced TOETH) is a bit of Renaissance Man, a mechanical engineering major and fluent Spanish-speaker who just happens to have been one of the top centers in college football the past couple of seasons. He redshirted in his first year in Lexington, played as a back-up in the first game of his freshman season, and then started the next 48 games in the pivot over the next four years. Toth was a SEC All-Freshman squad selection in 2013, and capped his career with a first-team all-conference effort in 2016, helping the Wildcats get to their first bowl game since 2010.
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS Four-year starter in competitive SEC. Good size and bulk. Understands his physical limitations and plays to his strengths. Fits into blocks with good body control and at a leveraged strike position. Unlocks hips at contact on down blocks to pin defender and present a running lane. Generates power from his lower half. Held his own against formidable Alabama defensive front. Utilizes efficient, compact punch. Has good hand strength to snatch and engage. Operates with plus hand placement, and willing to re-set hands to improve positioning when necessary. Able to control shoulder and steer opponent away from the hole. Good arm length for a center. Looks for work in pass protection and has enough anchor to thwart a bull rush.
WEAKNESSES Marginal athlete. Plays with heavy feet and below-average lateral quickness. Could struggle with sudden redirects inside to catch blitzers and twisters. Struggles to mirror athletic, interior rushers in pass pro. Labors to recover once beaten. Snap-to-step quickness is very average. Effectiveness wanes beyond line of scrimmage. Has some hip stiffness which causes him to rely on leaning over bending. A little slow in his climb to second level.
DRAFT PROJECTION Rounds 6-7
BOTTOM LINE Toth is a tough, four-year starter. Will appeal to teams looking for centers who can operate in a power-based rushing scheme. While he’s better in a phone booth than on the move, he understands his limitations and does a good job of staying within himself. He’s not the best athlete at the position but his size, arm length, strength and consistency should outweigh that on the next level. Toth has the traits and ability to be an eventual starter in the NFL.
-Lance Zierlein
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2017/profiles/jon-toth?id=2557849 -
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