College Football and Draft Discussion 2024

[MSURacerDT55]

1 minute ago, MWil23 said:

Athletically, he's how you design the perfect LB with prototypical height, weight, and athleticism. Instinctually, he leaves a LOT of meat left on the bone for me, and surprisingly isn't as good of a tackler in space. I think he's ideally suited as a 4-3 WLB or a 3-4 OLB and should be utilized more in pass rushing situations. His success as a blitzer last year is undeniable, but I personally don't buy into him as an ILB/MLB yet.

Historically yes, but I personally think he is ascending at the right time, he has getting better each game and has been making critical plays at critical moments. I think all of his ills are coachable, but what isn't is his size and athleticism and nose for the ball

[MWil23]

3 minutes ago, MSURacerDT55 said:

Historically yes, but I personally think he is ascending at the right time, he has getting better each game and has been making critical plays at critical moments. I think all of his ills are coachable, but what isn't is his size and athleticism and nose for the ball

I LOVE his size.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE his athleticism.

I REALLY LIKE his ability to rush the passer.

I LIKE that he's getting better.

I DO NOT LIKE his ability to tackle unblocked in gaps at the point of attack.

I REALLY DO NOT LIKE his lack of ability to process misdirection, power, and playaction passing plays.

Would I be upset if we got him in the 2nd/3rd Round? Absolutely not...but he's not a top tier LB prospect either. He's a guy that you wish you could combine with Malik Harrison, who excelled at tackling in the hole, had a very high football IQ, but was stiff hipped at times and not great in coverage, albeit was serviceable.

[MSURacerDT55]

2 hours ago, MWil23 said:

I LOVE his size.

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE his athleticism.

I REALLY LIKE his ability to rush the passer.

I LIKE that he's getting better.

I DO NOT LIKE his ability to tackle unblocked in gaps at the point of attack.

I REALLY DO NOT LIKE his lack of ability to process misdirection, power, and playaction passing plays.

Would I be upset if we got him in the 2nd/3rd Round? Absolutely not...but he's not a top tier LB prospect either. He's a guy that you wish you could combine with Malik Harrison, who excelled at tackling in the hole, had a very high football IQ, but was stiff hipped at times and not great in coverage, albeit was serviceable.

Well the good thing about him is he is multi skilled and can serve multiple purposes while developing as a MLB, initially, he could be the bigger Genard Avery off the edge with his explosion, and from what I saw he is really active in pass coverage as well. 

As far as him misdiagnosing plays, tbh, I haven't seen many of those, maybe you can give some examples because he/the front 7 has been pretty lights out against the run so I cannot speak to that.

[MWil23]

10 minutes ago, MSURacerDT55 said:

As far as him misdiagnosing plays, tbh, I haven't seen many of those, maybe you can give some examples because he/the front 7 has been pretty lights out against the run so I cannot speak to that.

Rewatch the first half of the Wisconsin game last year (B1G Title), which is more of a pro style attack as well. He also struggled in the 2nd half vs. Clemson, and really struggled to tackle Lawrence in space.

[MSURacerDT55]

1 hour ago, MWil23 said:

Rewatch the first half of the Wisconsin game last year (B1G Title), which is more of a pro style attack as well. He also struggled in the 2nd half vs. Clemson, and really struggled to tackle Lawrence in space.

I was speaking on this year, he could be a totally different player from last season, as other media members have noticed. Hell, if we judged Damon Arnette based off of his previous season, we all would have thought he was an UDFA...

[AkronsWitness]

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2920905-ranking-the-5-best-fits-for-von-miller-if-released-by-the-denver-broncos-in-2021

Well well well, now wouldnt that be interesting

[MWil23]

47 minutes ago, MSURacerDT55 said:

I was speaking on this year, he could be a totally different player from last season, as other media members have noticed. Hell, if we judged Damon Arnette based off of his previous season, we all would have thought he was an UDFA...

It's hard to gauge this year good or bad for me IMO. We haven't really seen a good/balanced offense and what he can do yet based off of last year's deficiencies. IU couldn't run the ball and basically went spread downfield, and every other team they've played is lousy since PSU wasn't what they should be.

[QBIso]

4 hours ago, MSURacerDT55 said:

Baron Browning needs to be talked about more 

I don't like him at all as a prospect. He disappears too often and doesn't appear to understand how to properly scrape and take angles to avoid blockers. He gets stuck on blocks not due to a lack of power, but due to a lack of focus and understanding of gap shifts post-snap.

I think he has the ability to thump and blitz and even chase. But he looks a little stiff-hipped and ontop of that, needs major refinement. I don't usually like to use lazy same-school comparisons, but he does remind me a lot of Raekwon McMillian. Not slow, but stiff and not very astute at reading.

[MWil23]

27 minutes ago, QBIso said:

I don't like him at all as a prospect. He disappears too often and doesn't appear to understand how to properly scrape and take angles to avoid blockers. He gets stuck on blocks not due to a lack of power, but due to a lack of focus and understanding of gap shifts post-snap.

I think he has the ability to thump and blitz and even chase. But he looks a little stiff-hipped and ontop of that, needs major refinement. I don't usually like to use lazy same-school comparisons, but he does remind me a lot of Raekwon McMillian. Not slow, but stiff and not very astute at reading.

Raekwon was at least good at diagnosing plays late into his OSU playing career. He figured it out his last season at OSU, plus the last couple of games into his second to last season. Browning's inability to beat out arguably the worst athlete ever at OSU to start for 3 years in Tuf Borland is it's own indictment heading into 2020.

[MSURacerDT55]

17 hours ago, QBIso said:

I don't like him at all as a prospect. He disappears too often and doesn't appear to understand how to properly scrape and take angles to avoid blockers. He gets stuck on blocks not due to a lack of power, but due to a lack of focus and understanding of gap shifts post-snap.

I think he has the ability to thump and blitz and even chase. But he looks a little stiff-hipped and ontop of that, needs major refinement. I don't usually like to use lazy same-school comparisons, but he does remind me a lot of Raekwon McMillian. Not slow, but stiff and not very astute at reading.

 

Thats fine, we have two different opinions, I guarantee NFL scouts quietly covet this guy. He will test well, in the upper percentage of his position and coaches will feel good that his problems are all correctable, he has flaws but none fatal. And no, just because he wears #5 doesn't mean he compares to Raekwon McMillan. These clips contradict what you all have been saying of him..... yes he can do those things you said he cant, maybe slightly inconsistently but he can, and has the ceiling to get better being a plus athlete

Also:

0:05 - Picture perfect scrape to a TFL

0:12 - Ideal fill

0:20 - "diagnosed" play action, got down hill and pressued QB to throw ball out of ball

0:36 - "diagnosed" tunnel screen got to the ball and made tackle for a 2 yard gain

0:46 - Change of direction (which suggest loose hips and fluidity, as well as ankle flexibility)

0:55 -  A) secured his gap, took OUTSTANDING angle to the ball in support 

1:32 - Simple A gap fill

1:51 - Took great angle to the ball vs jet sweep

2:20 - Simple A gap fill while beating the guard to the POA and making a tackle for no gain 

2:41 - Simple A gap fill while beating the LT to make a tackle for no gain

2:49 - Simple fill, diagnosed play, made play

3:25 - Picture perfect scrape for TFL

3:37 - Perfect scrape for no gain 

3:50 - Stupendous angle and display of athleticism to make a no gain vs an elite runner 

 

Edited December 8, 2020 by MSURacerDT55

[candyman93]

I want Shaka Toney.

 

Not sure what round, but I want him in brown and orange.

[bruceb]

8 minutes ago, candyman93 said:

I want Shaka Toney.

 

Not sure what round, but I want him in brown and orange.

Maybe at LB?

[QBIso]

12 hours ago, bruceb said:

Maybe at LB?

That's probably his best fit.

[MWil23]

I'm not sure what OBJ fetches in a trade, but we need to trade him and recoup whatever we can for him. This team is playing better without him, and he's just not an ideal fit here with Baker and our offensive scheme in general. Use that free cap space to sign a quality free agent at a position of need, and then use the draft pick to load up on another quality prospect. It's a win/win/win.

OBJ gets a fresh start. He's still a good receiver even if he's not what he once was. 

We free up cap space AND get a quality free agent at a position of need.

We use that pick on another player/prospect.

[AkronsWitness]

12 minutes ago, MWil23 said:

I'm not sure what OBJ fetches in a trade, but we need to trade him and recoup whatever we can for him. This team is playing better without him, and he's just not an ideal fit here with Baker and our offensive scheme in general. Use that free cap space to sign a quality free agent at a position of need, and then use the draft pick to load up on another quality prospect. It's a win/win/win.

OBJ gets a fresh start. He's still a good receiver even if he's not what he once was. 

We free up cap space AND get a quality free agent at a position of need.

We use that pick on another player/prospect.

Agreed. I would take a 1st for him or a 2nd + a player maybe. Higgins has proved to be a legit #2 WR and Im perfectly fine with DPJ and Hodge developing in the #3/#4 role. 

Watching the Washington FB Team I was salivating at their front 7. I want that level of dominance soooo bad if the AFCN. I understand they have 4 first rounders like SF did up there but the Browns could really try to get something similar to that in this draft and Free Agency. Sign Von Miller if he gets released and go after 2 interior guys high in the draft.