WP: No NFL team got more from 2015 draft class than Redskins, ESPN’s Mel Kiper says

[httrcirca87]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/football-insider/wp/2016/01/15/no-nfl-team-got-more-from-2015-draft-class-than-redskins-mel-kiper-says/

 

 

Washington Redskins General Manager Scot McCloughan got rave reviews for his performance in last spring’s NFL draft from ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. on Thursday.

During a conference call to discuss the upcoming NFL draft, which gets under way April 28 in Chicago, Kiper used the first question posed to him about the Redskins to note the dividends the team got from McCloughan’s acumen as a talent-evaluator.

“They got as much impact from rookies as any team in the NFL,” Kiper said of the Redskins, listing the contributions of first-round pick Brandon Scherff, who started all 16 games at right guard; second-round pick Preston Smith, who finished strong, with eight sacks, at outside linebacker; third-round pick Matt Jones, who provided a downhill change-up to veteran Alfred Morris; and fourth-round wide receiver and return specialist Jamison Crowder, who finished with 59 catches.

 

“To me, with McCloughan being a great evaluator, [the Redskins] have a chance to really step it up next year and be right there with the Cowboys in a very competitive division.”

By virtue of their 9-7 finish, the Redskins ended up with the 21st overall pick in the upcoming draft. With it, Kiper predicts the Redskins will select Clemson cornerback Mackensie Alexander (5-foot-11, 195 pounds), writing in his mock draft posted on ESPN Insider: “Alexander has a ton of upside. He’s just a hair over 5-foot-10, so he’s not a jump-ball winner, but he’s powerful, and will make plays in coverage and attack the line of scrimmage.”

 

The Redskins should have other attractive options, Kiper added on the conference call, if they want to address their secondary with their first-round pick. He cited Baltimore native Kendall Fuller (6-0, 197), a standout at Good Counsel before enrolling at Virginia Tech, where the cornerback earned first-team ACC honors as a sophomore. His junior season was cut short by knee surgery. He also cited Ohio State cornerback Eli Apple (6-1, 200), among nine Buckeyes expected to enter the draft.

Underclassmen have until Monday to declare for the draft.

“If [the Redskins] can get one of those corners, it would be a big pick for them and really help that defense,” Kiper said.

 

 

GMSM is the best thing that has happened to this franchise in two decades.

[Warhead36]

I'm curious what Kiper "graded" our draft class as after the draft last year.

 

Proves why you don't judge draft classes until the kids actually play.

[Audible_Red40]

I'm curious what Kiper "graded" our draft class as after the draft last year.

 

Proves why you don't judge draft classes until the kids actually play.

According to hogsheaven.com it was an A-

 

http://www.hogshaven.com/2015/5/3/8539053/2015-nfl-draft-grades-mel-kiper-jr-gives-the-washington-redskins-the

 

 

E$PN IN$IDER(Kiper) (A-)

Top needs:

OL, OLB, ILB, S

I don't think there was a softer team in the NFL the past season than the Redskins, especially on defense, where they simply didn't tackle. If there was a clear trend with this draft, it was a new GM drafting for toughness and attitude. Washington got a lot tougher on both sides of the ball in the first two rounds. I know there are questions about whether Brandon Scherff can stay at tackle in the NFL (he was a LT at Iowa), but even if he's a guard, while the pick value loses a little, the guy is a true mauler, a player who makes the run game better the second he steps on the field. Whether it's right tackle (makes sense) or guard, Scherff is a starter now. Preston Smith could have come off the board in Round 1, so to get him in Round 2 was minor coup. That's a clear need at OLB, and he can move around too. Matt Jones was a bit rich for me in terms of value, but it's all preference on RB at that point. Jamison Crowder is a small player, but again, a tough kid who has been hugely productive. Bill Polian threw out a Wes Welker comparison, and he doesn't typically exaggerate. Later on, they again got more physical with Arie Kouandjio and Martrell Spaight. When I went through tape with Jon Gruden, Spaight was one of his favorite players in the entire draft. I agree with Mr. McShay that everywhere you look, they got tougher. Overall, I was really impressed with this draft.

[zoony]

I'm curious what Kiper "graded" our draft class as after the draft last year.

Proves why you don't judge draft classes until the kids actually play.

I still think it's early still quite frankly

For instance, a guy like Preston Smith... What's his upside? I don't think we know yet. And I know I won't be popular for saying it but I feel like a lot of Crowders success came as a result of Jackson missing 2/3 of the season. I wouldn't be surprised to see Crowders production drop next year and Smiths to increase

You can't wait forever to evaluate because what is the point, but I do think we should allow 2 years

[Stefanskins]

I do think we should allow 2 years

Morgan Moses and Will Compton in particular

[wit33]

I still think it's early still quite frankly

For instance, a guy like Preston Smith... What's his upside? I don't think we know yet. And I know I won't be popular for saying it but I feel like a lot of Crowders success came as a result of Jackson missing 2/3 of the season. I wouldn't be surprised to see Crowders production drop next year and Smiths to increase

You can't wait forever to evaluate because what is the point, but I do think we should allow 2 years

Early, yes. But fact is last years draft picks contributed greatly to this year's team. Who knows what there upsides are, but even with similar results in future years as this year, would be of benefit to Skins. This is a positive as the alternative could be, hoping to see positive progress from those guys in future years.

[grhqofb5]

Morgan Moses and Will Compton in particular

 

I wonder if the coaching staff is as high on Compton as everyone in the local media seems to be. If so, why did they wait so long to give him a shot at starting?

[Skinsinparadise]

I wonder if the coaching staff is as high on Compton as everyone in the local media seems to be. If so, why did they wait so long to give him a shot at starting?

 

Don't know but I wonder.  Not that C. Casserly is a draft genius by any stretch but he loves picking on the Redskins MLBs as one of the team's main weaknesses.  Compton seems like a nice story but he doesn't take over a game like the better MLBs can do, ala Sean Lee. It looked like Compton was the main guy fooled in that big clutch run by Lacey.  He's also not prototypical size wise for a MLB in a 3-4.  Personally, I'd look for an upgrade.  But in Scot I trust so whatever he wants.

[carex]

I wonder if the coaching staff is as high on Compton as everyone in the local media seems to be. If so, why did they wait so long to give him a shot at starting?

 

because they were also high on Perry Riley and Keenan Robinson?

[grhqofb5]

because they were also high on Perry Riley and Keenan Robinson?

 

Well, if that was the case I would imagine that would have been returned to their starting positions after they were healthy.  I'm not criticizing Tom Compton, but I am wondering why it took so long for him to crack the starting lineup.

[Koolblue13]

Compton understands the defense and was able to run it, but he's lacking physically.

KRob is a beast, but can't run it and was injured.

[carex]

Well, if that was the case I would imagine that would have been returned to their starting positions after they were healthy.  I'm not criticizing Tom Compton, but I am wondering why it took so long for him to crack the starting lineup.

 

It's Will Compton and you don't screw with what's working to much.  Plus maybe they weren't completely healthy

[adamyesme1111]

It is rare to see so many of our picks play so much their first year.  Our first 4 picks played quite a few snaps and played well and Jarrett came in from the 6th round and played well also.  We still also have Kouandjio and Spaight to look forward to in the future though.  Not sure about Reiter (and I think its a shame we lost Mitchel), but all that together is a great draft.

[Momma There Goes That Man]

so is Kiper smart now that he said something positive about us?

Is that what we are thinking?

[The Consigliere]

I'm curious what Kiper "graded" our draft class as after the draft last year.

 

Proves why you don't judge draft classes until the kids actually play.

 

They make their grades based on perceived value and occasionally also fit. People choose to interpret the grades as this player sucks or not when it's really just perception of value at slot versus reach etc.

 

Personally my view on the draft at the time/how I'd roughly grade them now

 

1st: Scherff-D/C

I absolutely hated this pick and still do, thought it was an idiotic need pick and a huge reach, actually liked La'El Collins better, especially based on his versatility (I understand that was not remotely consensus), I thought the interior lineman available early in round 2 were much better options as was a trade down. Nothing he did this year convinced me different. They talked a big game about RT, but in the end, just as the scouts said, he needed to be moved inside, looked out of his depth as a RT. I suspect he'll turn into a solid to above average lineman, which is fine as things go, but not a top 5 pick, not remotely, thought it was a massive waste of resources, and it looks even worse now to me considering it appears that will be the last time we have a top end blue chip pick on a difference maker player, and we used it on an interior lineman, just hugely disappointing.

 

2nd: Smith-B/A

Cautiously optimistic at the time, I liked what I'd seen and read about him but worried about fit as he just seemed to be a prototype 4-3 DE, a bad match for our 3-4 (that I keep wishing we'd get rid of, we've never gotten the LB's and DL's necessary to actually build a quality defense featuring that formation, really annoying-follow the steelers model and draft front 7 guys religiously and our D would be great in no time, alas it doesnt happen). Really, really, really impressed in a guy who managed 9 sacks as a rookie while only havinga  handful of traditional starts.

 

3rd: Matt Jones-F/C-

I hated the pick at the time and he tailed off dramatically after September (how much was the interior OL issues, how much was him?), but I have a feeling he'll turn into a legit starter as soon as we fix our issues at LG and C.

 

4th: J. Crowder-B/A-

I liked the pick feeling he represented some value and had a distinct possibility of developing into a legit slot guy but didn't like it with our top 4th rounder, with Clemmings and Tre Jackson still available I wanted one of them, didn't matter which, could develop Clemmings and eventually move Scherrf to Guard, or simply slot Jackson in at Guard, regardless I liked them both a lot and didn't think Crowder was more value than either or need for that matter. He has fit that to a T. He won't ever be a #1 or #2 and people expecting him to potentially replace Jackson when he goes are probably indulging in a pipe dream, but it's hard to imagine him performing much better as a rookie.

 

Interesting sideline is that the Bears took Langford one pick later and he was a flat out stud in several spot starts for Forte, so good that the Bears are set to move on from Forte, and Kadeem Carey is well behind him. Langford at 4, would have been much better than Jones, but I admit to having no idea of that at the time, just wasnt sure Langford wasn't an AAAA kind of football player (elite college, but not quite good enough for the pros).

 

4th: Arie Kouandiji-C/C

Perfectly solid speculative value, long term investment, just unfortunate that Tre went right before this pick.

 

 

5th: Spaight-B+/Inc

Loved this pick, loved it. Still a total unknown.

 

6th: K Jarrett-D/D

I really really disliked this pick. Nothing changed my mind since.

 

6th: T. Mitchell-C-/F

Interesting prospect, one of those 4-5 star recruits that didnt deliver. We lost him the second we tried to sneak him through waivers (or whatever happened there). I didnt like the pick, I was much more interested in Shepard and Ekpre-Olomu at that point.

 

7th-A. Reiter-F/F

Some picks just reek of stupid and this pick did except for the athletic measurables.

 

7th-Evan Spencer-F/F

 

A WR that can't catch? Clearly a character pick, but character doesn't matter if talent doesn't exist, just seemed like a guy who had little shot to make the team unless we had room for a ST's specialist who can really block.

[wit33]

What could you possibly not like that Jarret provided as a 6th round pick.? His play this year would seem to guarantee himself a future with the team as a 6th rounder. Great pick and not sure how it can be viewed otherwise. I do understand he was pressed into action due to a multitude of injuries, but I thought he handled himself well, especially in coverage.

[dyst]

Jarrett was huge this year.

[Darrell Green Fan]

6th: K Jarrett-D/D

I really really disliked this pick. Nothing changed my mind since.

WHAT?????

[johnboy99]

They make their grades based on perceived value and occasionally also fit. People choose to interpret the grades as this player sucks or not when it's really just perception of value at slot versus reach etc.

 

Personally my view on the draft at the time/how I'd roughly grade them now

 

1st: Scherff-D/C

I absolutely hated ...

 

 

etc....

 

So basically - you're unhappy about the entire draft despite the fact that most of them contributed in a major way to the team's success in their rookie years.

 

LOL

 

"Extremeskins... demanding the moon on a stick since 1873"

[SkinsGuy]

So basically - you're unhappy about the entire draft despite the fact that most of them contributed in a major way to the team's success in their rookie years.

 

LOL

 

"Extremeskins... demanding the moon on a stick since 1873"

 

 

So true.

 

Five of the first six picks in the 2015 draft contributed to the season and contributed well to its success.

 

What more do people expect from a bunch of rookies? I'd say they exceeded expectations, considering many were probably forced into service a lot sooner than the team wanted them to be.

 

You know how some fans are, though. If a rookie isn't a pro-bowler day one, he sucks and is a failure. smdh

[Koolblue13]

I think Moses saved the Scherff pick. Might have been ugly if he had to play out there. Beat out nobody.

 

Smith delivered. Beat out Murphy.

 

Jones is a disappointment and will remain that way, until he proves different.

 

Jamo was great, but again, AR sucked balls and DJax was hurt. He was ahead of Grant (who is a disappointment) and Ross (who is nobody)

 

I'd say Jarrett and Smith are our only two stand out picks really.

[skinsmarydu]

Jamison Crowder will develop, and barring injury, be one of our very best picks ever.

Hail, Scot.

[wilco_holland]

I still think it's early still quite frankly

For instance, a guy like Preston Smith... What's his upside? I don't think we know yet. And I know I won't be popular for saying it but I feel like a lot of Crowders success came as a result of Jackson missing 2/3 of the season. I wouldn't be surprised to see Crowders production drop next year and Smiths to increase

You can't wait forever to evaluate because what is the point, but I do think we should allow 2 years

 

Crowder his average in games without DJax: 5 catches for around 57 yards (11 yards per catch) per game. 

 

Crowders his average in games with Djax: 2,75 catches for around 25 yards (9 yards per catch) per game. 

 

So its fair to say that Zoony is right. Crowder his production almost drops 50% when DJax is on the field. 

[wilco_holland]

2nd: Smith-B/A

Cautiously optimistic at the time, I liked what I'd seen and read about him but worried about fit as he just seemed to be a prototype 4-3 DE, a bad match for our 3-4 (that I keep wishing we'd get rid of, we've never gotten the LB's and DL's necessary to actually build a quality defense featuring that formation, really annoying-follow the steelers model and draft front 7 guys religiously and our D would be great in no time, alas it doesnt happen). Really, really, really impressed in a guy who managed 9 sacks as a rookie while only havinga  handful of traditional starts.

 

 

I think our D is beeing a hybrid with more 4-3 one gap looks then 3-4 looks. So I think you will see more does kind of players then 3-4 guys. Let's be honest Paea is also a better fit in a 4-3 then 3-4.So it looks like our plan is going to be more 4-3 then 3-4. 

[skinfan2k]

Crowder his average in games without DJax: 5 catches for around 57 yards (11 yards per catch) per game. 

 

Crowders his average in games with Djax: 2,75 catches for around 25 yards (9 yards per catch) per game. 

 

So its fair to say that Zoony is right. Crowder his production almost drops 50% when DJax is on the field. 

 

kinda makes sense because he is a slot receiver and a 3rd receiver. And also i bet Crowder stats go up if we actually find a big body receiver. It doesn't help we throw 2 speed receivers with garçon is a slow possession receiver