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2018 Comprehensive NFL Draft Thread


Going Commando

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7 minutes ago, bowhunter said:

I'm sitting at DMV now. I found a vid of 2 guys reviewing his film. Primary guy hadn't even seen the clips yet, one reviewer was called "Captain Dan." It renewed my interest in Vita, and in the 4 games watched, I never saw any laziness or taking as off either. 

 

You're probably talking about this vid:

 

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12 minutes ago, OVCChairman said:

Edit:  Just noticed when i went on to NFL.com and looked at defensive stats, it showed me POSTSEASON so my statement is not accurate.  That said, Buffalo was ranked no. 7 in YPG in the reg season and the point still stands that their DTs names aren't mainstream.  

 

This isn't a shot at you, but YPG is not a great way to judge a defense.  There are a variety of factors that can lead to a defense having a low YPG figure - a great running game for instance.  Dallas ranked 8th in YPG, and I think we can all agree that they don't have the 8th best defense in the league.  What they do have is a strong running game, which skews the defensive YPG stat since the defense is on the field less. 

 

Also, where did you see that Buffalo ranks #7 in YPG?  According to NFL.com, they ranked 26th in YPG

 

I prefer to use DVOA when ranking defenses.  I find it to be more accurate than just YPG or PPG, as it takes situation, on a play by play basis, into account.  If you look at the top 10 teams in DVOA last year, all 10 teams had at least one dominant player on their DL, sometimes multiple.  That is what I want for my team.

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4 minutes ago, HTTRDynasty said:

 

This isn't a shot at you, but YPG is not a great way to judge a defense.  There are a variety of factors that can lead to a defense having a low YPG figure - a great running game for instance.  Dallas ranked 8th in YPG, and I think we can all agree that they don't have the 8th best defense in the league.  What they do have is a strong running game, which skews the defensive YPG stat since the defense is on the field less. 

 

Also, where did you see that Buffalo ranks #7 in YPG?  According to NFL.com, they ranked 26th in YPG

 

I prefer to use DVOA when ranking defenses.  I find it to be more accurate than just YPG or PPG, as it takes situation, on a play by play basis, into account.  If you look at the top 10 teams in DVOA last year, all 10 teams had at least one dominant player on their DL, sometimes multiple.  That is what I want for my team.

BAHAHA

 

 I'm all messed up.  It was sorted as 7th WORST.  Man I was workin with some bad info there.  

 

http://www.nfl.com/stats/categorystats?seasonType=POST&offensiveStatisticCategory=null&d-447263-n=1&d-447263-o=1&d-447263-p=1&d-447263-s=TOTAL_YARDS_GAME_AVG&tabSeq=2&season=2017&role=OPP&Submit=Go&archive=false&conference=null&defensiveStatisticCategory=GAME_STATS&qualified=false

 

Originally it defaulted to 'postseason' where they gave up the fewest YPG (1 game) and I kinda ran with it.  I need to do better research!

 

And I agree, YPG is another hollow stat when looking at team rankings on both sides of the ball, so my point is debunked.  I still believe a very effective DT is one that does not ALWAYS appear to dominate the individual stat sheets.  That a lot of the better DTs are unknowns because they eat blocks and open the door for the playmakers to ... well... make plays. 

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Its a tough situation because Payne fits a unique need for the redskins.   A run stopping, 3 down tackle who can also play nose.   If it is true that he does not have early 1st round stats to back it up, he is still the highest rated player who fits the mold.   Does his unique skillset and our unique need bridge the gap to BPA?   It's a good question, I am hoping for a trade down, even if we loose a little value.    The Skins are in a tough position because of their picks.   Yes they could get one of the other prospects that fit that mold in the 2nd or 3rd,  but they could also miss out, or they might have to reach there too.  I will admit I like settle and phillips as well, and would be happy if they got them, but If Payne is a better prospect and they KNOW they can get him, you can see why they might stretch BPA a little.

One things for sure, we need a serious upgrade in talent in this exact area.

 

Vea does looks amazing on tape, he is growing on me, but at that size he is more of a specialist then Payne.   That does not mean he could not become a great 3 down player but at this point that aspect of his game is a projection more then Payne IMO.

 

I think I will be happy if the skins go Vea or Payne, 13th or trade back.  Vea is a little more risky and Payne is exactly the type of player I think we need but I will bow to Vea's upside here and be equally happy with him.   If its Settle or Phillips that will be good too, I just hope they get another 3 down DL runs stop guy in later rounds for depth and insurance.     

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14 minutes ago, CurseReversed said:

 

Vea does looks amazing on tape, he is growing on me, but at that size he is more of a specialist then Payne.   That does not mean he could not become a great 3 down player but at this point that aspect of his game is a projection more then Payne IMO.

 

I think I will be happy if the skins go Vea or Payne, 13th or trade back.  Vea is a little more risky and Payne is exactly the type of player I think we need but I will bow to Vea's upside here and be equally happy with him.   If its Settle or Phillips that will be good too, I just hope they get another 3 down DL runs stop guy in later rounds for depth and insurance.     

 

I think this point is debatable.  Even some of Payne's biggest proponents indicate that its Payne that is more of the projection guy especially when it comes to 3 downs -- bringing some pass rush.  While physically, Payne looks like the pass rush guy because he's smaller-leaner but it was Vea that was more of a pass rush guy in college and actually got his share of sacks.

 

http://www.redskins.com/news/blog/article-1/Daniel-Jeremiah-And-Bucky-Brooks-Break-Down-Vita-Vea-And-DaRon-Payne/82a332f0-95ff-4239-b3e6-fbee5ec0eb91

On a recent conference call with reporters, NFL Network draft analysts Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks teamed up to answer questions and focused on the Redskins’ potential choice with the 13th pick for one of these players.

 

On paper, Vita’s stats stand out more. As Redskins.com has chronicled through Mock Draft Madness, Vea appeared in 40 games recording 100 tackles (15 for loss), along with 9.5 sacks, six passes defensed and two fumbles forced over three years. Payne, meanwhile, appeared in 44 games and recorded 102 tackles (five for loss) along with six passes defensed, three sacks, two fumbles recovered, one forced fumble and one interception in three years.

Jeremiah, who has Vea ranked as his 11th best player and Payne as his 18th, explained some of the traits he likes about both.

 

“I was in Baltimore when we drafted Haloti Ngata, was covering the West Coast during that time,” Jeremiahs said. “And he reminds me so much of Haloti. You play him up and down the line of scrimmage, they move him all over the place. He's got a nasty hump move as a pass rusher; you can see that physical power. You watch him just stack and toss offensive linemen. The Stanford game especially was just nasty. He can really roll his hips and he's got tremendous power as a run defender. And I think he does have upside as a pass rusher. You just look at his athleticism; we talked about making a tackle on punt coverage. He's blocked a punt. I remember watching Haloti block a punt against Arizona. He reminds me of Haloti Ngata.”

 

Payne collected just one tackle for a loss last year, which has caused some trepidation about why his production hasn’t equaled what scouts see in him.

 

“The production hasn't always matched the ability but he is strong, he's athletic,” Jeremiah said. “You watch the Clemson game and see the interception, he has there, he shows that off a little bit. Really quick hands. I think he's got a little bit of stiffness in his ankles. That's one of the only knocks I had on him. But he plays hard and he's a really intriguing player. So I think he's got a little more to offer as a pass rusher as well. I think both these guys will show you more in that regard at the next level.”

Brooks agreed with Jeremiah’s assessment of Vea, referring once again to a tackle he made during a punt return in the Fiesta Bowl.

 

“He offers something that you just can't find – a big guy who's a run stopper who may be able to do more than just become a pocket pusher in the passing game,” Brooks said.

 

Despite Payne’s numbers not being as immediately impressive, Brooks thinks some of his final games of last season show the real nature of Payne’s ability and projection as a strong interior lineman.

 

 

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15 minutes ago, JamesMadisonSkins said:

Has anyone been able to find potential logistics behind the rumored 3-team trade involving NYG, Browns and Bills that would get Cleveland to 2 and Buffalo to 1? I haven't seen anything substantial explaining how that would unfold.

 

No, and I wouldn't waste my time on it if I were you:

 

 

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2 minutes ago, HTTRDynasty said:

 

No, and I wouldn't waste my time on it if I were you:

 

I thought Albright was one of the guys pushing it. But his tweet makes a lot of sense, considering I've been racking my brain to figure out how this makes any sense for Cleveland.

 

So Buffalo gets #1 from Cleveland

NY Giants get #4 from Cleveland

NY Giants get #22 from Buffalo

Cleveland gets #2 from NY Giants

Cleveland gets #12 from Buffalo

 

So something is amiss. Cleveland in that scenario is swapping #1 and #4 for #2 and #12 ... and maybe a couple 2nd rounders? Even still, that's not the return you'd want to get.

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17 minutes ago, JamesMadisonSkins said:

 

So something is amiss. Cleveland in that scenario is swapping #1 and #4 for #2 and #12 ... and maybe a couple 2nd rounders? Even still, that's not the return you'd want to get.

Just trying to play this out in my head a bit ...


Cleveland has: 1, 4, 33, 35, 64

NYG has: 2, 34

Buffalo has: 12, 22, 51, 53, 65

 

If Buffalo goes to #1 ... they could give NYG #22 and Cleveland #12, #51, #53 and #65

NYG would give Cleveland #2

Cleveland would give NYG #4

 

In this scenario ... using the NEW apparently more accurate trade-chart ... Cleveland loses 419 points (equivalent to Pick #6) .... NYG lose 149 points (equivalent to #40 in the 2nd round) and the Bills gain 100 points (3rd round pick)

 

So the trade chart obviously isn't a 0-sum game. But in this scenario, Buffalo would have to give up their 2019 1st and 2nd to Cleveland and 2020 1st to the GIants and it STILL doesn't make it a good trade for the Browns, on paper.

 

And I'm not sure I can see the Bills giving up 4 1st round picks, 3 2nd round picks and an early 3rd round pick to go to #1.

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Actually, my math was off ... here's the new trade-value chart value for the trades:

 

Before:

Cleveland: 1, 4 (1,490 points)

Buffalo: 12, 22, 51, 53, 65, 2019 1st (1,074 points)

NY Giants: 2 (717 points)

 

After:

Cleveland: 2, 12, 51, 53, 65, 2019 1st (1,539)

Buffalo: 1 (1,000 points)

NY Giants: 4, 22 (743 points)

 

So technically Browns would come out ahead by a bit ... with the 2019 1st being valued as the #1 pick in the 2nd round this year

The Giants come out just ahead

Buffalo comes out overpaying by 74 points

 

It might actually make SOME sense. And it would give Cleveland 8 (2, 12, 33, 35, 51, 53, 64, 65) of the first 65 picks AND a 2019 1st round pick.

 

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“I was in Baltimore when we drafted Haloti Ngata, was covering the West Coast during that time,” Jeremiahs said. “And he reminds me so much of Haloti. You play him up and down the line of scrimmage, they move him all over the place. He's got a nasty hump move as a pass rusher; you can see that physical power. You watch him just stack and toss offensive linemen. The Stanford game especially was just nasty. He can really roll his hips and he's got tremendous power as a run defender. And I think he does have upside as a pass rusher. You just look at his athleticism; we talked about making a tackle on punt coverage. He's blocked a punt. I remember watching Haloti block a punt against Arizona. He reminds me of Haloti Ngata.”

 

HTTR and other vita guys should watch the Stanford game.  I felt bad for #76 on Stanford’s o line.  Watch toward the end of the game when Stanford is trying to run out the clock.  Vita just throttles guys.  Maybe Vita is lazy or his poor technique gets exposed in the pros but based on the guys tape he’s worthy of a top 10 pick in my opinion.  He also does give you some pash rush for a 340 man.  Watch UCLA.  If the front office picks Payne over Vita I would demand each one submit to a drug test.

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Not Skins related --- but if you were Cleveland ---


Would you give up #1 and #4 to get back #2, #12, #51, #53, #65 and a 2019 1st?

 

Cleveland would pick @ #2 and presumably get their QB (Darnold or Allen). Then they'd have #12 ... and SIX picks between 33 and 65, AND a 1st next year.

 

Cleveland would, in theory, be able to trade #33, 51 and 64 to move up to #11. Then trade #35 and #53 to move up to #19.


So Cleveland could turn their current set of picks (1 + 4 + 33 + 35 + 64) into 2 + 11 + 12 + 19 + 65 and a 2019 1st

 

Lot of impact players for Cleveland as it stands NOW ... but throw in that trade and they either load their roster up with 8 picks through pick 3.1 and add a 1st in 2019 or they group those all back up and move into the 1st for a couple more 1st rounders.

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4 hours ago, HTTRDynasty said:

 

I'm not saying he's garbage.  Most first round NT prospects should be able to take on double teams without getting pushed back 5 yards off the LOS.  A NT's "job" is to stay stout at the point of attack when taking on double teams.  Payne does not do that in any of the clips I showed.  The very last link, from the National championship game last year, is especially pathetic.  That doesn't mean I don't think he has talent, just that he is more inconsistent in this area than any first round NT prospect I can ever remember seeing.

 

LOL, Payne is the best run defender at the DL spot in the class.  And how anyone can have watched his NC game in particular and have questions about his run defense is beyond me.  He was utterly dominant, and against a good OL and great backfield.  Every DL gets pushed back from time to time, especially when getting doubled and playing a good guard/center.  You're barking up the wrong tree with Payne by cherry picking plays where he lost to push a narrative that he's inconsistent, particularly in run defense.  He's one of the best and most consistent run defenders to come out in a while and even a cursory viewing of his cut ups makes it clear how good he is playing the run, defending at the point of attack, and anchoring against doubles.  Why not also post gifs of these plays?

 

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Those are plays I found just from the NC game.  You can find seasons of him anchoring against doubles and holding the line of scrimmage.  Many more plays like this than the ones where he gets beat.  This is what he does.

 

You're really arguing for Vea over Payne because of his contact balance and ability to anchor against doubles even though he doesn't see half as many doubles as Payne and he spends far more time on his back?  Vea is a strong run defender and powerful anchor but he does not have Payne's elite contact balance and his hands aren't as good.  He's also not as long despite being several inches taller.  And I think it's pretty obvious that Payne is a lot more explosive off the line and he plays harder.  He gives it everything on every snap and Vea dogs it a lot and he's consistently slow out of his stance.  I can accept an argument that Vea is a better prospect than Payne based on potential due to his measurables, but when you sit down and watch them side by side, it's clear he's just not as good as Payne right now.  Payne's significantly younger too.

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I am not pushing for either Vea or Payne at 13.  But if they go with one of them, I'd be more of a Vea guy.  I just stumbled on this article from the other day on ESPN.

 

http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2018/story/_/id/23113846/2018-nfl-draft-tales-vita-vea-washington-huskies-impressive-athleticism-freaky-speed

There's not really anything he can do to shock me anymore," Malloe told ESPN.com last month. "You kind of just shrug your shoulders and say, 'Yep, I'm not surprised by it.' He does things that normally people of his size should not be doing.

 

But he does it with such ease that you take it for granted. You kind of get used to him doing those types of things. He's got footwork like a linebacker or even a DB. He can backpedal with the best of them and change direction and flip his hips. In the beginning, maybe a year ago ... that's kind of when I was in awe of things, just of what he can do and that type of stuff."


Vea, a projected first-round pick in this year's NFL draft, showed during his three seasons at UW that he's much more than just an athletic marvel. He started 27 games and in 2017 was voted the Pac-12's defensive player of the year and the conference's top defensive lineman. His 9.5 career sacks are proof he possesses the pass-rush ability that can separate good defensive tackles from great ones.

 

"When you're 6-4, almost 350 pounds and you have incredible strength and you've got unbelievable quickness for your size, that is a rare combination," ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. "That's why he's drawing comparisons to Haloti Ngata. That's why I'm projecting him to go in the top part of the first round."

Kiper and ESPN's Todd McShay each had Vea going No. 13 overall to the Washington Redskins in their dueling two-round mock.

 

...So just how freaky and dominant of an athlete is Vea? From outrunning a sprinter to jumping as high as cornerbacks and more, here are some tales told by those who have coached him and those who have played with him.

 

...Malloe, on the freakiest feat of athleticism he witnessed from Vea: "Those box jumps that you see people do on YouTube, he can do them, like the highest box. That's what blew me away. He's jumping on boxes that our defensive backs are jumping on, and he shouldn't be doing it. He should be doing pretty much the lower-level ones, the ones that I can barely get on, those types of boxes. His explosiveness and just his ability to jump as high as he does and land soft on his feet, to me that was probably the most impressive thing that I've seen somebody his size do."

 

...'He's still got a huge upside'

Pete Kwiatkowski, UW's co-defensive coordinator: "For how long and how heavy he is, for him to be able to run like he does, you just don't see that very often. Everybody talks about the athletic ability, and one of the things with him, he's still got a huge upside from the standpoint of understanding that he can play lower, he can play with better leverage, he can play with better technique. So you pair that with the physical gifts, and then the ability to keep growing as a football player, the sky's the limit 

 

 

 

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Which prospect could surprisingly slide out of the top 10? (via @ThatOsCruz)

333.png&h=110&w=110&transparent=trueAlabama's Minkah Fitzpatrick could be the third defensive back off the board, behind Florida State safety Derwin James and Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward. That might put him outside the top 10. Now, if I was running a team that had a top-10 pick, I'd take Fitzpatrick. If he falls out of the top 10, some team -- how about Washington at pick 13? -- is going to get a steal.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2018/story/_/id/23187344/mel-kiper-2018-nfl-draft-mailbag-answering-best-questions-prospects-team-picks

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6 hours ago, OVCChairman said:

And from what limited film I've seen, Payne does not appear to be initiating forward push, instead it would look like his sole purpose in life is to maintain the LOS, read the ball and react.  

 

It depends.  Some plays he gets to gap shoot and he is fast and capable when asked to do this, but Bama almost never had him do it because he was so much more valuable as the anchor at the PoA because of how dependable he was.  The defense clearly worked a lot better when he two gapped at the 0 and 2 tech and soaked up the doubles.  That's why Bama had him do it almost all of the time.  He's easily the best nose they've ever had and Terrence Cody and Jesse Williams and Darren Lake were all good players.

 

And on the very rare plays where he was single blocked on a between the tackles run, you can literally see him licking his chops.  He won those battles and got into the backfield pretty easily.

 

People are sleeping on how much Payne was doubled vis a vis the other DT prospects this year.  During that Georgia game it was probably 80+% of his snaps, including all but maybe two runs that weren't misdirections/outside runs.  He was the problem that opponents had to design their blocking schemes to deal with.  Put on the Penn State vs Washington cut ups and Penn State single blocked Vea much of the game and mostly moved the ball at will.  I'd guess he got doubled maybe 45% of those snaps.  He just doesn't make you pay for single blocking him as much as Payne because he doesn't play as hard, isn't as quick, and doesn't have as good hand technique.

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2 minutes ago, stevemcqueen1 said:

 

It depends.  Some plays he gets to gap shoot and he is fast and capable when asked to do this, but Bama almost never had him do it because he was so much more valuable as the anchor at the PoA because of how dependable he was.  The defense clearly worked a lot better when he two gapped at the 0 and 2 tech and soaked up the doubles.  That's why Bama had him do it almost all of the time.  He's easily the best nose they've ever had and Terrence Cody and Jesse Williams and Darren Lake were all good players.

 

And on the very rare plays where he was single blocked on a between the tackles run, you can literally see him licking his chops.  He won those battles and got into the backfield pretty easily.

 

People are sleeping on how much Payne was doubled vis a vis the other DT prospects this year.  During that Georgia game it was probably 80+% of his snaps, including all but maybe two runs that weren't misdirections/outside runs.  He was the problem that opponents had to design their blocking schemes to deal with.  Put on the Penn State vs Washington cut ups and Penn State single blocked Vea much of the game and mostly moved the ball at will.  I'd guess he got doubled maybe 45% of those snaps.  He just doesn't make you pay for single blocking him as much as Payne because he doesn't play as hard, isn't as quick, and doesn't have as good hand technique.

 

Sorry I didn't type that correctly, it should have had some verbage of 'the vast majority of the time' or something along those lines..  

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15 minutes ago, Skinsinparadise said:

"When you're 6-4, almost 350 pounds and you have incredible strength and you've got unbelievable quickness for your size, that is a rare combination," ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said. "That's why he's drawing comparisons to Haloti Ngata. That's why I'm projecting him to go in the top part of the first round."

 

This is what the argument for Vea over Payne hinges on.  That Ngata-body.  Romanticizing his incredible athletic traits/capabilities and, IMO, getting carried away with heady projections of his upside.

 

He is a freak athlete who will be in a very high percentile of size at the DT position even among NFL players.  But he's not as good a football player as Payne is, and Payne is younger.  I think you have to get back to the tape when comparing them because getting too far into projections based on athleticism can get you in trouble by leading you to ignore the personality and playing style that the guys demonstrate on the field.  Payne is faster.  More aggressive.  More proficient.  More consistent.  Executed harder assignments against better competition more regularly.  He was a linchpin for two of the best run defenses in CFB history.  Vea is good but he wasn't as good as that.  He's just softer and slower and not as clean or consistently impactful.  I'd rather have the more aggressive and consistent and successful player, especially when he's also faster and has longer arms.

 

I've watched more of Vea the past few days and he's improved my opinion though.  He's good and a definite first rounder IMO.  And I think he and Payne are definitely in a different class than the kids from Stanford and Florida.

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@stevemcqueen1 It's not letting me delete those gifs/vids when I try to quote you, so this'll have to do.  Some of those plays you showed were impressive, some I was definitely not impressed by.  I don't think Payne is a bad run defender, in fact, I think he is pretty damn good.  I just think he is inconsistent based on the film I have watched of him, and like I said, I have never watched a NT projected in the first round who has gotten put on skates as often as I've seen from him.

 

When it comes to who's the better run defender between him and Vea, PFF isn't the end all, be all by any means, but I'm definitely not alone in thinking Vea is better against the run:

 

VITA VEA, WASHINGTON

Miami Dolphins

With Suh’s release last week, the Dolphins lose the second-highest graded interior run defender in the league from 2017 (92.4). Vea ranked fourth at the position in this draft class in run-stop percentage (12.1) and his 92.0 run-defense grade was third-best in the class.

 

DA’RON PAYNE, ALABAMA

New York Jets

The Jets cut Muhammad Wilkerson this offseason due in large part to his sharp decline in productivity (he posted just 19 combined sacks and hits the past two seasons after putting up 35 in 2015), and they should once again be looking for inside help. Payne should be able to help immediately, not just on passing downs, but also against the run. He posted 21 run stops for Alabama last year and his 86.1 run-defense grade ranked 13th in the country.

 

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-top-prospect-fits-for-2018-nfl-draft-interior-defenders

 

 

Vea had 29 run stops if you were wondering.

 

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21 minutes ago, Skinsinparadise said:

Which prospect could surprisingly slide out of the top 10? (via @ThatOsCruz)

333.png&h=110&w=110&transparent=trueAlabama's Minkah Fitzpatrick could be the third defensive back off the board, behind Florida State safety Derwin James and Ohio State cornerback Denzel Ward. That might put him outside the top 10. Now, if I was running a team that had a top-10 pick, I'd take Fitzpatrick. If he falls out of the top 10, some team -- how about Washington at pick 13? -- is going to get a steal.

http://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2018/story/_/id/23187344/mel-kiper-2018-nfl-draft-mailbag-answering-best-questions-prospects-team-picks

 

It wouldn't surprise me TBH.  Of all the studs in the class, I think Minkah is the one likely to get nitpicked down to a later draft slot than he should probably go.  He's got some meh film that NFL types can ding him with (nevermind all of the awesome film he laid down), and he's a confusing projection to the NFL rather than having a nice, neat position to project him to.  And while he's a very good athlete, he doesn't blow you away, especially when compared to Ward and James.  Minkah is a greater than the sum of his parts McCloughan-style football player.  A lot of what makes him special is intangible, which shows up on film, but not during all of the other pre-draft stuff.  The further we get from the games, the more likely people are to cool on him.

 

Alabama DBs also tend to go a little lower than expected.  A lot of them are overachievers and carry the perception that they don't have a ton of untapped upside and don't have as much recovery athleticism as the other top prospects.

 

I think it's telling that Lance Zierlein on NFL.com is so generally positive about Minkah in his draft profile of him, and even mentions a comparison to Jamal Adams, but then gives him a surprisingly low grade of 6.19.  https://www.nfl.com/prospects/minkah-fitzpatrick?id=32462018-0002-5599-4469-725ea4e0930c

 

I would wager that some of that grade comes from team sources and that he's not graded as high as Vea/Payne/Derwin/Ward/Ridley/Roquan/Edmunds even though we tend to view him as being equal to or better than most of those guys.  A lot of different sources have said they don't see special in Minkah.

 

I think it's a mis-evaluation though.  Maybe his brilliance at the college level won't translate that well to the NFL.  But this kid was arguably the best defensive player in the country this year.  He was the best player on a ridiculously good defense and a champion.  And he was a key player on another championship team.  He's got some honey badger in him and I think he can't beat the projections.

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