I always watch Big Ten Football and I am a Buckeye fan but I also notice talent on the other rosters and I love T.J. Edwards and believe he could much more than a ST's player kind of like Avery, if we were to draft him I would be a happy camper
John 3:16 Jesus said "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
For a day 3 pick, I've been looking more at LB Tre Watson of Maryland. I'd post a youtube link, but don't want to get suspended for the music with the video.
Guy has good instincts, he can hit hard, and isn't a liability in coverage as some others are.
Also wanted to comment on TJ Edwards... I just think he is too slow. He'd be a liability in coverage, and could only play zone. If I were an offensive coordinator, I'd have my QB pick on him all day by getting speed to come his way. Hard to say this because I do love his tape, but I'm gonna pass.
Seeing how John Dorsey has done things since he's been here I'm sure he has a list of potential players in each round he would like to draft. I have faith he will get the right guys for our positions of need.
For a day 3 pick, I've been looking more at LB Tre Watson of Maryland. I'd post a youtube link, but don't want to get suspended for the music with the video.
Guy has good instincts, he can hit hard, and isn't a liability in coverage as some others are.
I'm not sure I entirely agree with you on his instincts, but I do like the way he plays/his attitude on the field.
My initial thought on "instincts" is he kind of strikes me as a guy who could benefit from not being in school from a football standpoint. Not having to worry about classes and being able to hone in on film study could let him flourish.
He does have a pretty good feel in coverage in space and within MD's scheme, but his recognition of what opponents are doing seems to be lacking at times.
He is interesting. I need to see more.
You mess with the "Bull," you get the horns. Fiercely Independent.
For a day 3 pick, I've been looking more at LB Tre Watson of Maryland. I'd post a youtube link, but don't want to get suspended for the music with the video.
Guy has good instincts, he can hit hard, and isn't a liability in coverage as some others are.
I'm not sure I entirely agree with you on his instincts, but I do like the way he plays/his attitude on the field.
My initial thought on "instincts" is he kind of strikes me as a guy who could benefit from not being in school from a football standpoint. Not having to worry about classes and being able to hone in on film study could let him flourish.
He does have a pretty good feel in coverage in space and within MD's scheme, but his recognition of what opponents are doing seems to be lacking at times.
Seeing how John Dorsey has done things since he's been here I'm sure he has a list of potential players in each round he would like to draft. I have faith he will get the right guys for our positions of need.
It is still okay to speculate bro, even if another team selects players we might be high on ... It is still of interest to see if they play as projected.
2019 NFL Draft: Why Devin White is like Myles Jack, Devin Bush is like Jaylon Smith and other LB comparisons
Plus the former Washington star with similarities to Eric Kendricks and more on 2019's top LB prospects
Chris Trapasso
This year's linebacker class doesn't stack up to what the 2018 class provided: three first-round studs and the eventual Defensive Rookie of the Year in Round 2. Most of value at this position resides later in the draft -- early on Day 3 -- when somewhat raw but talented eventual starters will be available, and it's time to give the top linebacker prospects an NFL comparison.
It's important to remember NFL comparisons for draftees don't intend to guarantee a prospect will have the exact same career as his professional counterpart. In this series, I'll go through the top prospects at every position and give NFL comparisons -- some current players, some former. These comparisons are not based on size. They're almost solely stylistic.
(Prospects are listed in the order they appear in my draft rankings.)
Ben Burr-Kirven, Washington NFL comparison: Eric Kendricks Kendricks was my top off-ball linebacker in the 2015 class for three reasons. His smooth athleticism, coverage skills, and polished ability to avoid and beat blocks en route to the ball carrier. When watching BBK, I see a similar, NFL-ready linebacker, and he tested better than Kendricks at the combine. Neither are big for the linebacker spot, but the modern-day player at the position shouldn't be much more than 230 pounds anyway. Yes, there are times when gigantic blockers engulf both Kendricks and BBK, but there are more instances in which their polish, awareness, and athleticism create big plays for the defense against the run and pass.
Devin White, LSU NFL comparison: Myles Jack Like Jack, White is a create-a-player type of linebacker, a chiseled 240-pounder with incendiary athleticism, hard-hitting tendencies, and scary, sideline-to-sideline speed. Both are better at delivering a major jolt to offensive linemen scraping to the second level than they are efficiently shedding them, but the physicality and aggression aspects of their games stand out in every contest. White's tackling and coverage skills improved in 2018 but, like Jack, at times, his engine is revving so much that he arrives on the scene out of control which leads to some misses in space.
Devin Bush, Michigan NFL comparison: Jaylon Smith Before his devastating knee injury in his final college game at Notre Dame, Smith was a missile on the football field. Whether it was chasing down an outside run or crashing a shallow cross, speed was Smith's greatest attribute as a linebacker. After a long rehab process, Smith finally recaptured that speed in 2018 for the Cowboys, and it led to a breakout season. Bush is the same type of linebacker, a player predicated on speed, speed, and more speed. Neither are excellent block-shedders. Most of the time it doesn't matter because they get to the ball-carrier before blockers can carry out their assignment. Because of their natural ability to simply run extremely fast, both Smith and Bush are assets in coverage too.
Terrill Hanks, New Mexico State NFL comparison: Zach Brown Hanks is the enigma of this linebacker class. Playing at New Mexico State, there weren't a lot of eyeballs on him -- relative to some of the other top players at his position. And while he looks exceptionally fast on film ... he ran 4.98 at the combine. He is a space linebacker with plenty of experience fighting through traffic on quick screens to the outside and is a no-nonsense gap-filler too. Hanks will add an intimidating presence to any linebacker room at 6-foot-2 and 242 pounds with a wingspan just over 80 inches. Like Brown, Hanks is mostly a linear rocket than anything else but has the athleticism and instincts to create high-level flashes in all areas at the next level.
Drue Tranquill, Notre Dame NFL comparison: Shaq Thompson I landed on this comparison because Thompson entered the NFL as a first-round pick in 2015 a little undersized and with a specialty in coverage thanks in large part to time spent as a safety early in his college career. All of that applies to Tranquill, who, had he entered the NFL about a decade ago would've likely be labeled as a strong safety. But as we're seeing today, the NFL is becoming more positionless. Off-ball linebackers are essentially strong safeties and vice versa. Tranquill doesn't have the strength or polish beating blocks to flourish against the run. He is a stellar coverage linebacker thanks to his route-recognition skills, twitch, and overall athletic talents.
Dakota Allen, Texas Tech NFL comparison: Alex Anzalone I have "quicker than fast" written in my notes for Allen, and that aligned with his combine workout. His three cone and short shuttle times were in the 86th and 94th percentile respectively. His 4.77 time in the 40 was in the 29th percentile. Like Anzalone when he came out of Florida, Allen is incredibly comfortable in space because of his ability to rapidly change directions en route to the football. Neither Anzalone nor Allen are squeaky clean block-shedders. They rely on their athleticism to avoid blocks to make plays against the run. Allen doesn't have the speed to cover tight ends down the seam but is a good matchup defender against backs and should be an asset in zone at the next level.
Vosean Joseph, Florida NFL comparison: Kwon Alexander Alexander and Joseph are fine athletes in every imaginable way. As a prospect, Alexander was relatively refined beating blocks too, just like Joseph is. To me, this is a home run comparison because of their most glaring weaknesses. Both are very inconsistent with their tackling and occasionally overrun their gaps -- the latter is usually a byproduct of their dynamic athleticism.
Germaine Pratt, NC State NFL comparison: Zach Cunningham A tall, physical, no-wasted-movement linebacker with a need to improve block-disengagement skills. That's a one-sentence scouting report on Pratt and Cunningham. Both were productive leaders of their defenses in college. When flying around in a straight line, they have the speed to be high-quality playmakers and will deliver big hits on running backs relatively often. Pratt offers a little more sideline-to-sideline range than Cunningham but both will make their money between the tackles on running plays and when a short pass is thrown. Bobby Okereke, Stanford
NFL comparison: Kiko Alonso At nearly 6-2 and with a wingspan just under 83 inches, Okereke has arguably the largest tackling radius of any linebacker in this class. Comparably to Alonso, Okereke is a game-changer against the run and as a blitzer. While they both have the athletic gifts to make the occasional play in coverage, it's not a forte. Alonso gets into trouble occasionally when he either takes an extra second to diagnose or has to guess where the ball is going. Okereke has the same issues. Like Alonso, Okereke should be a good albeit unspectacular starter for a long time in the NFL.
Mack Wilson, Alabama NFL comparison: Alec Ogletree With a sleek frame for the linebacker position, good on-field athleticism, yet a general dislike of contact, Ogletree went in the first round of the 2014 Draft. He and Wilson tested as similar athletes at their respective combines, and while Wilson flashed plus athletic traits in coverage during his stint at Alabama, he clearly wasn't big fan of taking on and shedding blocks against the run either. Both linebackers can make splash plays when there's a clear lane in front of them to the ball but, like Ogletree, Wilson will enter the NFL lacking aggressiveness and the refinement needed to defeat blocks.
I just want to be on record before the draft. A lot has changed since this thread was started. Our biggest need went from DT to SS to no immediate need and just adding depth. At this point addressing LB in the draft sooner than might have been anticipated is not out of the question. We have no chance at White Bush or possibly Wilson.
I think I would wait until round 3 but my pick would be Blake Cashman OLB, Minnesota. He's very hardnosed and deceptively athletic. His tape is solid and he opened some eyes with his combine results.
I don't know much about this draft, but I've watched this guy. He really struggled to get off blocks in college and it will be worse in the NFL in my opinion. Not a fan of this dude.
That's a valid concern. No prospect is perfect. I think it can be improved with coaching. He compensates for it with instincts and range, often beating blockers to spots to make plays.
That's a valid concern. No prospect is perfect. I think it can be improved with coaching. He compensates for it with instincts and range, often beating blockers to spots to make plays.
If you aren't good at getting off blocks in college, theres a very slim chance that it will change in the pros.
I'm hoping that Mack Wilson will be there. Possibly a kid that we can throw in a 5th or 6th rounder to move up a 4-5 spots and take him in that 2nd round.
I didn't add him in take a closer look in my previous post cause he is one who posters know cause of his Alabama accolades. But GM's look all over. But Wilson is a good football player and he will be there in the mid 2nd round.
jmho
Defense wins championships. Watson play your butt off! Go Browns! CHRIST HAS RISEN! GM Strong! & Stay safe everyone!
David Long, WVU and Tre Watson, MD are the two I'm liking the most at this point with value somewhat in mind. Of course, media projected rankings might be way off.
Josiah Tauaefa, UTSA is a name I came across recently. Was on one of the top 5 at the position lists at NFL.com. I wasn't that impressed against Arizona St, but he does have some flash plays. He's a converted DE, so he's pretty good with his hands, but seems to have some limitations in space. Is overaggressive at times, but I prefer that to the opposite. Could be a core special teamer.
You mess with the "Bull," you get the horns. Fiercely Independent.
I try to avoid speaking in absolutes. Yes, the player has limitations but he also has abilities. Honestly, how many players come into the league with the toolkit of Khalil Mack?. He may never be a classic stack and shed linebacker but professional coaching and focus on technique should result in improvement. It's inaccurate to say that he can't get off of blocks, he does. At this point its not the strongest part of his game. As with any prospect, you evaluate both the proficiencies and the deficiencies. I think the team will address LB. Cashman is my candidate considering the spread offense, RPO era that the NFL is in now.
Grimm I like some of those guys as well. I gravitate toward Cashman because our LB need is more on the outside. I'm aware the Watson and perhaps Long can play outside also.
What's ironic to me is I mentioned Tauaefa about a month ago as somebody I thought could add depth at MLB. Of course, the response that I got was that he was not worthy of a fifth-round pick where I suggested we look at him. LOL
Grimm I like some of those guys as well. I gravitate toward Cashman because our LB need is more on the outside. I'm aware the Watson and perhaps Long can play outside also.
What's ironic to me is I mentioned Tauaefa about a month ago as somebody I thought could add depth at MLB. Of course, the response that I got was that he was not worthy of a fifth-round pick where I suggested we look at him. LOL
I'm not a Cashman fan. He's kind of the Darrius Heyward-Bey of LBs to me. Looks great for the first 75% of the play, but there's just something lacking at the end. DHB's "short arms" show up when he gator arms passes. Cashman's show up in how he can't keep guys off his body. DHB's being more figurative.
Cashman looks good in space, but we already have Schobert. He doesn't penetrate as well as Joe, though, and gives very little in the run game between the tackles.
He has decent behind the line production, but for the most part it looked like unblocked or clean up variety. Rarely was it because he beat somebody. He does have a good motor.
He's kind of Darron Lee-lite to me. Similar athlete, but not the playmaker. I'd rather slide the Jets a later pick for the original. Cashman in the 5th, sure. 3rd or earlier, no thanks.
I'd almost use him as a big nickle rather than a "true" LB. He could be a weapon if he improved at disguising his blitzes. Might be able to overpower WRs blocks unlike guys inside.
As far as the "Flowin' Samoan" (Tauaefa), I don't think I'd use him at MLB. I'd use him like Avery as a rusher. Not leave him in coverage at all though, or at least only sparingly. Special teams is the big draw for me. He plays like his hair is on fire every snap.
You mess with the "Bull," you get the horns. Fiercely Independent.
I respect differing opinions. I don't think he's perfect but I like how he plays in space. I'm not sure how the Browns will deploy their LBs so maybe he fits or not.
I respect differing opinions. I don't think he's perfect but I like how he plays in space. I'm not sure how the Browns will deploy their LBs so maybe he fits or not.
Fair enough. I'm not sure what exactly Dorsey, Freddie, and Wilks will cook up.
You mess with the "Bull," you get the horns. Fiercely Independent.
![[Linked Image from i.ibb.co]](https://i.ibb.co/6WV79RV/Browns-Coach-Sig.png)
![[Linked Image]](http://www.dawgtalkers.net/uploads/FL_Dawg/Logo5_1.gif){kind=logo}
![[Linked Image from i.ibb.co]](https://i.ibb.co/fkjZc8B/Bull-Dawg-Sig-smaller.jpg)
