Wrote this about a week before the Combine and now that it is officially over I plan on doing a Combine Review of these prospects, and few new players that caught my eye.
Players to keep an eye on at the combine and into the draft: This is an incredibly deep year for WR's and DT's as well as one of the best years ever to be drafting in the late 20-30 range, at the other end of that spectrum it's an unfortunate year to have a lottery pick as there are no clear cut franchise qb's/other cornerstone positions (sucks for you Arizona!)
A lot of people will say that we have enough talent at WR but the fact of the matter is if even one of Rice/Tate/Baldwin goes down we go from being "enough" to below average. Beyond that none of them have the ability to break a tackle and take a catch 80 yards for 6 so for those reasons I will definitely study this year’s WR class.
Something that was evident throughout the season was the lack of pressure our Defense was able to create, as a fan the easy solution to this is to simply say blitz more! But the fact of the matter is Pete Carrolls ‘under 4-3’ defense is predicated on creating pressure with the front 4. Besides that I could remind you what happened on back-to-back blitzes that contributed to the end of our season http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSSVaDH9fZU&t=1m31s with Irvin still a work in progress and Clemons recovering from the torn ACL DE will be a position to look at but I honestly am not excited by any of the prospects that will be around at 25. What does intrigue me is the DT's particularly if we could pick up any one of the handful of guys that could not only be stout against the run but also create interior pressure, flushing out the qb into the waiting arms of BRUUUUCE. This is something we have not had since the great Cortez Kennedy retired and would help take us to the upper echelon of Defenses. I'll also mention a few options for OL,OLB as well as TE and why we might take that route.
WR: Cordarralle Patterson (Tennessee) - 6-3 205 pds
This is the can't miss WR in this year’s draft, incredibly built with solid intangibles would be a mismatch nightmares for cbs with his potential 4.4 speed and can also be used in end-around runs as shown in the highlights. The one downside to him is that he is a bit raw and coming out after just one year at a D-1 college (played two years junior college) there isn't much buzz about him yet but I predict he is going to blow up at the combine and increase his stock. I doubt he is there for us at 25 but if he's there in the late teens or early 20's and if the price is right I say we make a move for him.
Keenan Allen (Cal) - 6-3 195
Similar to Cordarralle in size at 6-3 195 but they are very different in skillset as Allen is a more polished route runner vs the incredible physical attributes and jukes Patterson offers. We will definitely learn more about Allen after the combine as his speed is still questioned but the ball skills are definitely there; he definitely has the potential to be the first WR off the board.
Deandre Hopkins (Clemons) 6-1 200 - In my opinion the most complete WR in the draft in terms of hands/route running, could turn out to be an Anquan Boldin type but a few scouts have said he may not have the speed to create separation in the League so I will definitely be following him at the Combine. Instead of his season highlights I'm going to link a video of him making 33 (yeah, 33!) consecutive one-handed catches
Tavon Austin (West Virginia) 5-9 176
Pure speed-demon, think Mike Wallace-fast with Darren Sproles elusiveness. He would completely take the top off any defense, I can remember more than a few times this year when Russell overthrew his target but I believe that has more to do with the lack of speed with our current WR's. Austin would be able to let our guys operate the short+middle of the field (which they do incredibly well) and he could be brought in for go routes, screens, and out of the backfield. The obvious downside to him is the size and whether or not he could take the damage in the League. (Seriously, watch this kid turn the jets on here) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxzPryPMB74&t=1m7s
Other WR's that I am intrigued by:
Markus Wheaton (Oregon) 5-11 183
Stedmon Bailey (West Virginia) 5-10 188
Justin Hunter (Tennessee) 6-4 200
DTs
As a fan that has little to no experience scouting players to begin with, it is definitely harder to grade DT's compared to WR's so most of what you'll read here is just rehashed from what I've seen from Draft sites/Scouts on twitter. I am going to skip talking about the big 3 of Sharif Floyd (Florida), Star Lotulelei (Utah) and Sheldon Richardson (LSU) because I am convinced all will be gone by 25. Although I will say that it would probably be new Defensive Coordinator and ex-Gator coach Dan Quinn's wet dream if his star pupil Floyd managed to fall. In any case I'd be ecstatic if any of those 3 guys were to drop to us.
Datone Jones (UCLA) - Jones is an interesting player in that he's labeled as a DE/DT "tweener" has the speed to rush from the outside and the size to operate inside. The reason why he's not labeled with the guys above is that he does not have the technique i.e. spin/swim moves and ball skills to be worth the 1st round price tag but he definitely has a great burst off the ball to be disruptive. If the Hawks think they can coach him up than he would be ideal to what Jason Jones was supposed to do last year.
Other DTs that intrigue me:
Kawann Short (Purdue) 6-3 310
Jesse Williams (Alabama) 6-3 320
Players to keep an eye on at the combine and into the draft: This is an incredibly deep year for WR's and DT's as well as one of the best years ever to be drafting in the late 20-30 range, at the other end of that spectrum it's an unfortunate year to have a lottery pick as there are no clear cut franchise qb's/other cornerstone positions (sucks for you Arizona!)
A lot of people will say that we have enough talent at WR but the fact of the matter is if even one of Rice/Tate/Baldwin goes down we go from being "enough" to below average. Beyond that none of them have the ability to break a tackle and take a catch 80 yards for 6 so for those reasons I will definitely study this year’s WR class.
Something that was evident throughout the season was the lack of pressure our Defense was able to create, as a fan the easy solution to this is to simply say blitz more! But the fact of the matter is Pete Carrolls ‘under 4-3’ defense is predicated on creating pressure with the front 4. Besides that I could remind you what happened on back-to-back blitzes that contributed to the end of our season http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSSVaDH9fZU&t=1m31s with Irvin still a work in progress and Clemons recovering from the torn ACL DE will be a position to look at but I honestly am not excited by any of the prospects that will be around at 25. What does intrigue me is the DT's particularly if we could pick up any one of the handful of guys that could not only be stout against the run but also create interior pressure, flushing out the qb into the waiting arms of BRUUUUCE. This is something we have not had since the great Cortez Kennedy retired and would help take us to the upper echelon of Defenses. I'll also mention a few options for OL,OLB as well as TE and why we might take that route.
WR: Cordarralle Patterson (Tennessee) - 6-3 205 pds
This is the can't miss WR in this year’s draft, incredibly built with solid intangibles would be a mismatch nightmares for cbs with his potential 4.4 speed and can also be used in end-around runs as shown in the highlights. The one downside to him is that he is a bit raw and coming out after just one year at a D-1 college (played two years junior college) there isn't much buzz about him yet but I predict he is going to blow up at the combine and increase his stock. I doubt he is there for us at 25 but if he's there in the late teens or early 20's and if the price is right I say we make a move for him.
Keenan Allen (Cal) - 6-3 195
Similar to Cordarralle in size at 6-3 195 but they are very different in skillset as Allen is a more polished route runner vs the incredible physical attributes and jukes Patterson offers. We will definitely learn more about Allen after the combine as his speed is still questioned but the ball skills are definitely there; he definitely has the potential to be the first WR off the board.
Deandre Hopkins (Clemons) 6-1 200 - In my opinion the most complete WR in the draft in terms of hands/route running, could turn out to be an Anquan Boldin type but a few scouts have said he may not have the speed to create separation in the League so I will definitely be following him at the Combine. Instead of his season highlights I'm going to link a video of him making 33 (yeah, 33!) consecutive one-handed catches
Tavon Austin (West Virginia) 5-9 176
Pure speed-demon, think Mike Wallace-fast with Darren Sproles elusiveness. He would completely take the top off any defense, I can remember more than a few times this year when Russell overthrew his target but I believe that has more to do with the lack of speed with our current WR's. Austin would be able to let our guys operate the short+middle of the field (which they do incredibly well) and he could be brought in for go routes, screens, and out of the backfield. The obvious downside to him is the size and whether or not he could take the damage in the League. (Seriously, watch this kid turn the jets on here) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxzPryPMB74&t=1m7s
Other WR's that I am intrigued by:
Markus Wheaton (Oregon) 5-11 183
Stedmon Bailey (West Virginia) 5-10 188
Justin Hunter (Tennessee) 6-4 200
DTs
As a fan that has little to no experience scouting players to begin with, it is definitely harder to grade DT's compared to WR's so most of what you'll read here is just rehashed from what I've seen from Draft sites/Scouts on twitter. I am going to skip talking about the big 3 of Sharif Floyd (Florida), Star Lotulelei (Utah) and Sheldon Richardson (LSU) because I am convinced all will be gone by 25. Although I will say that it would probably be new Defensive Coordinator and ex-Gator coach Dan Quinn's wet dream if his star pupil Floyd managed to fall. In any case I'd be ecstatic if any of those 3 guys were to drop to us.
Datone Jones (UCLA) - Jones is an interesting player in that he's labeled as a DE/DT "tweener" has the speed to rush from the outside and the size to operate inside. The reason why he's not labeled with the guys above is that he does not have the technique i.e. spin/swim moves and ball skills to be worth the 1st round price tag but he definitely has a great burst off the ball to be disruptive. If the Hawks think they can coach him up than he would be ideal to what Jason Jones was supposed to do last year.
Other DTs that intrigue me:
Kawann Short (Purdue) 6-3 310
Jesse Williams (Alabama) 6-3 320
Sylvester Williams (North Carolina) 6-3
313
LBs
With the unlikely return of Leroy Hill after his latest run-in with the law we have a job opening at the Will LB. The Will's job is to be competent against the run, but more importantly have the IQ + speed to cover TE's and be a force in the pass rush. One thing holding me back from spending a high draft pick on LB is the fact that our Front Office has had so much success finding LB options in the later rounds (K.J. Wright - 4th Round, Malcolm Smith 7th, Bobby Wagner 2nd). And they might even think M. Smith is ready to take over, but if there's a guy there that they love I wouldn't be surprised at all if they took the leap.
Alec Ogletree (Georgia) 6-3 232: Easily the best LB prospect in the draft he has all of the physical intangibles you could ask for, Speed, Strength and does a good job of flowing to the ball I can definitely see him becoming an impact starter from Day 1. The reason why he may be there at 25 is because his character has been in question, and then just last week before the biggest job interview of his life he goes and gets a DUI. It'll be up to PC and Dan Quinn to see if he has the love of the game that they require to be a Hawk or if he's just a loose cannon that could become a poison in the locker room.
(Nice force fumble here) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFj7YAW9E4E&t=0m38s
Khaseem Greene (Rutgers) 6-1 230: Greene made the transition from Safety to OLB his junior year and went on to achieve back to back Big-East Defensive player of the year honors. While he may not have the size/strength of the Ogletree, he makes up for it with his superb coverage skills and in the last two years he’s had 10 sacks with 9 forced fumbles so he's no slouch in the pressure department either. If both Ogletree and Greene were available at 25 they may just go with Greene because he also happens to have solid character and leadership, something you could not say for the other.
(Solid interception and flashes some run-back ability as well) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9EJoH_WfHc&t=0m50s
Other LB's that intrigue me:
Arthur Brown (Kansas St) 6-1 231
Jarvis Jones (Georgia) 6-2 242
Manti T’eo (just kidding!)
OL
The Hawks have invested several high draft picks on the OL so I wouldn't say it’s a position of need, but you can never stop improving the O-Line and the 2013 group is very deep. One point I would like to make is that if you take a look at this year’s Championship both the Ravens and even more-so the 49ers were built from the trenches up and a characteristic that you see from both teams every game is the ability to dominant and dictate the line. While Okung and Unger play all-pro ball, the others leave something to be desired specifically at RG. One of the biggest fundamental assets to an OLine is continuity and by having to switch between John Moffit and JR Sweezy in the middle of the game it completely throws off the group’s chemistry. If neither is good enough to be a full time starter than it would be beneficial to find someone who is. I haven't even mention the fact that James Carpenter has yet to play more than 6 games at one position since being drafted but here's hoping the 330-pounder comes back healthy and hungry.
OG
Chance Warmack (Alabama) 6-3 320
Jonathan Cooper (North Carolina) 6-3 310
Larry Warford (Kentucky) 6-3 333
OT
Eric Fisher (Central Michigan) 6-7 305
Lane Johnson (Oklahoma) 6-7 303
D.J. Fluker (Alabama) 6-6 336
TE
And last but not least I believe that we may target a TE in rounds 2-4, while we do have Zach Miller and Anthony McCoy both are used very heavily as in-line blockers. What we are missing is an athletic TE that can create mismatches a la Aaron Hernandez, Antonio Gates, Jimmy Graham and there are a few prospects that resemble those guys.
Gavin Escobar (San Diego St.) 6-6 255 These first few highlights are exactly how we would use him in our offense i.e. jump balls, quick slants, seam routes and also show is ability to get YAC. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwQs9CP0ZI8&t=0m26s
Jordan Reed (Florida) 6-3 243 The clip that I skipped to showcases Reeds ability to make a few guys miss, definitely reminds me of former Gator Aaron Hernandez.
LBs
With the unlikely return of Leroy Hill after his latest run-in with the law we have a job opening at the Will LB. The Will's job is to be competent against the run, but more importantly have the IQ + speed to cover TE's and be a force in the pass rush. One thing holding me back from spending a high draft pick on LB is the fact that our Front Office has had so much success finding LB options in the later rounds (K.J. Wright - 4th Round, Malcolm Smith 7th, Bobby Wagner 2nd). And they might even think M. Smith is ready to take over, but if there's a guy there that they love I wouldn't be surprised at all if they took the leap.
Alec Ogletree (Georgia) 6-3 232: Easily the best LB prospect in the draft he has all of the physical intangibles you could ask for, Speed, Strength and does a good job of flowing to the ball I can definitely see him becoming an impact starter from Day 1. The reason why he may be there at 25 is because his character has been in question, and then just last week before the biggest job interview of his life he goes and gets a DUI. It'll be up to PC and Dan Quinn to see if he has the love of the game that they require to be a Hawk or if he's just a loose cannon that could become a poison in the locker room.
(Nice force fumble here) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFj7YAW9E4E&t=0m38s
Khaseem Greene (Rutgers) 6-1 230: Greene made the transition from Safety to OLB his junior year and went on to achieve back to back Big-East Defensive player of the year honors. While he may not have the size/strength of the Ogletree, he makes up for it with his superb coverage skills and in the last two years he’s had 10 sacks with 9 forced fumbles so he's no slouch in the pressure department either. If both Ogletree and Greene were available at 25 they may just go with Greene because he also happens to have solid character and leadership, something you could not say for the other.
(Solid interception and flashes some run-back ability as well) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9EJoH_WfHc&t=0m50s
Other LB's that intrigue me:
Arthur Brown (Kansas St) 6-1 231
Jarvis Jones (Georgia) 6-2 242
Manti T’eo (just kidding!)
OL
The Hawks have invested several high draft picks on the OL so I wouldn't say it’s a position of need, but you can never stop improving the O-Line and the 2013 group is very deep. One point I would like to make is that if you take a look at this year’s Championship both the Ravens and even more-so the 49ers were built from the trenches up and a characteristic that you see from both teams every game is the ability to dominant and dictate the line. While Okung and Unger play all-pro ball, the others leave something to be desired specifically at RG. One of the biggest fundamental assets to an OLine is continuity and by having to switch between John Moffit and JR Sweezy in the middle of the game it completely throws off the group’s chemistry. If neither is good enough to be a full time starter than it would be beneficial to find someone who is. I haven't even mention the fact that James Carpenter has yet to play more than 6 games at one position since being drafted but here's hoping the 330-pounder comes back healthy and hungry.
OG
Chance Warmack (Alabama) 6-3 320
Jonathan Cooper (North Carolina) 6-3 310
Larry Warford (Kentucky) 6-3 333
OT
Eric Fisher (Central Michigan) 6-7 305
Lane Johnson (Oklahoma) 6-7 303
D.J. Fluker (Alabama) 6-6 336
TE
And last but not least I believe that we may target a TE in rounds 2-4, while we do have Zach Miller and Anthony McCoy both are used very heavily as in-line blockers. What we are missing is an athletic TE that can create mismatches a la Aaron Hernandez, Antonio Gates, Jimmy Graham and there are a few prospects that resemble those guys.
Gavin Escobar (San Diego St.) 6-6 255 These first few highlights are exactly how we would use him in our offense i.e. jump balls, quick slants, seam routes and also show is ability to get YAC. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwQs9CP0ZI8&t=0m26s
Jordan Reed (Florida) 6-3 243 The clip that I skipped to showcases Reeds ability to make a few guys miss, definitely reminds me of former Gator Aaron Hernandez.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPzEqCu9gf8&t=1m14s
Dion Sims (Michigan St) 6-5 285 Sims is a bigger body but still flashes decent speed, and can pull of the occasional acrobatic catch. This first highlight shows off his brute power, and at 1:51 you can see his ability to go up and snatch the ball.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgAoHNx_6VU&t=0m9s
Dion Sims (Michigan St) 6-5 285 Sims is a bigger body but still flashes decent speed, and can pull of the occasional acrobatic catch. This first highlight shows off his brute power, and at 1:51 you can see his ability to go up and snatch the ball.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgAoHNx_6VU&t=0m9s
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