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NFL, Articles, 2020, 2020, NFL Draft Recap, NFC West

2020 NFL Draft recap: NFC West

May 1, 2020 Corey Chavous Leave a comment

Arizona Cardinals	Notable Pick: The pick of Simmons has major significance because the Cardinals drafted former Temple linebacker Haason Reddick just three seasons ago. DC Vance Joseph has to move Simmons around, but will it be natural within his defensive structure?
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (8)	Isaiah Simmons	6’4 238 LB-Clemson	4/1st Round	Simmons is clearly one of the more talented defenders to come into the league in quite some time. The consensus first-team All-American seems intent on wanting to play linebacker at the next level.
3 (72)	Josh Jones	6’5 311 OT-Houston	71/2nd Round	After just an okay junior campaign, the first-team All-AAC tackle took his game to another level in 2019. It easily could have resulted in him going off the board much earlier than 72nd.
4 (114)	Leki Fotu	6’5 327 DT-Utah	46/2nd Round	Fotu’s value should not be diminished in today’s pass-happy NFL. He is still an important entity and routinely handled double teams in school.
4 (131)	Rashard Lawrence II	6’2 308 DT-LSU	274/4th Round	Lawrence is a heavy-handed player who will surprise on occasion with his snap count reactions. His balance on line games proved to be up-and-down in the film viewed.
6 (202)	Evan Weaver	6’2 237 LB-California	102/3rd Round	Arguably the most active collegiate linebacker in the country the last two years, Weaver slipped because there are questions about his ability to transition into a three-down linebacker.
7 (222)	Eno Benjamin	5’9 207 RB-Arizona State	117/3^rd Round	Benjamin can catch, run in-between the tackles bigger than his size and he’s slippery. It was a surprise that he lasted until Round 7.

Despite being lauded for his ability to hold the point of attack, new Arizona Cardinals DT Leki Fotu tallied 17 tackles for loss over the last three seasons, including 8 TFLs in 2019.

Seattle Seahawks	Notable Pick: The Seahawks have traditionally found a way to involve the tight end and Parkinson’s arrival means that trend will continue. He expands the team’s Red Zone capability while also extending the seams of the field.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (27)	Jordyn Brooks	6’1 240 LB-Texas Tech	116/3rd Round	Brooks is fast, long and generally at his best going forward. He became the team’s first All-American LB since former Red Raider and NFL Hall of Fame linebacker Zach Thomas.
2 (48)	Darrell Taylor	6’4 253 DE-OLB Alabama	185/4th Round	Taylor had a knack for punching balls loose in school (six forced fumbles) and played two-to-three different spots for the Vols. He was equally effective from a two-point or three-point stance.
3 (69)	Damien Lewis	6’2 327 OG-LSU	60/2nd Round	Lewis provides options at any of the three interior line spots. His heavy nature belies his movement skills. The former junior college All-American has to improve picking up line games.
4 (133)	Colby Parkinson	6’7 252 TE-Stanford	191/4^th Round	Parkinson (see above) finished his career averaging 13.5 yards per reception with 12 touchdowns.
4 (144)	DeeJay Dallas	5’10 217 All-purpose-Miami (Fla.)	38/2nd Round	Dallas -a former WR for the Hurricanes- averaged 17 yards per punt return in 2018. He is excellent in the screen game and has positive contact balance.
5 (148)	Alton Robinson	6’3 264 DE-Syracuse	169/4^th Round	Robinson did not match his breakout junior year with a sparkling senior campaign. Nevertheless, his ability to generate speed-to-power will make him a challenge for offensive tackles.
6 (214)	Freddie Swain	6’0 199 WR-Florida	176/4th Round	Swain carries his equipment on game day and provides savvy as a slot receiver. In addition -particularly at this point in the draft- his value comes on special teams, where he was solid as a punt returner.
7 (251)	Stephen Sullivan	6’5 245 TE-LSU	386/5th Round	Sullivan -a former four-star recruit at WR- was satisfactory at that position in school. He is a flex option either on the outside or in the slot.

Lewis’ upper body strength was a big factor in the success of LSU’s offense in 2019. He can add some punch to the Seahawks offense in what will continue to be a physical running game.

San Francisco 49ers	Notable Pick: Of the draft’s first three selections, McKivitz will be in the battle for a roster spot with the 49ers depth at tackle. He has improved as a run blocker, but his ability to slide down to guard, if necessary, will likely determine his fate. The fact that NFL teams can now have three extra offensive linemen helps his charge.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (14)	Javon Kinlaw	6’5 324 DT-South Carolina	5/1^st Round	Kinlaw was an effective player in school but it could be argued that he can give even more. His quickness is supplemented by heavy hands. His fit into the 49ers defensive line rotation should be something to monitor in 2020…and beyond.
1 (25)	Brandon Aiyuk	6’0 205 WR-Arizona State	20/2^nd Round	Aiyuk got more opportunities as a featured receiver in 2019 but it did not take away from his impact in the return game. The positive aspect of this draft pick is that he has yet to fully tap his vast upside at the receiver spot.
5 (153)	Colton McKivitz	OT-West Virginia	204/4th Round	McKivitz was a durable 47-game starter in school. He added positive play strength as he went along. He fits the profile the 49ers seek in their tackles.
6 (190)	Charlie Woerner	6’5 244 TE-Georgia	427/5th Round	One of the top recruits in the Class of 2016 when he came out of Rabun County HS (Ga.), Woerner had limited opportunities in school. He still flashed all of the skills that made him a four-star recruit at the prep level when given his opportunities. Very good blocker on the move
7 (217)	Jauan Jennings	6’3 215 WR-Tennessee	331/5th Round	Jennings dealt with injuries, suspensions and inconsistency but, when wired, he was one of the nation’s most competitive players. His run after the catch ability and field speed eases concern over average workout testing numbers.

San Francisco 49ers seventh-round pick Jauan Jennings has been a tough player to tackle since arriving in Knoxville. He averaged 16.4 yards per reception in 2019 (8 TDs).

Los Angeles Rams	Notable Pick: The Rams got to a Super Bowl on the strength of former PK Greg Zuerlein. He came from a small school and now the team will give Sloman a look late in the draft. The former Redhawk took his game to another level in 2019.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
2 (52)	Cam Akers	5’10 217 RB-FSU	58/2nd Round	The former five-star recruit out of Mississippi averaged just under five yards per carry in school but was effective as a runner, receiver and passer during his three-year run in Tallahassee. Akers is stronger than his frame suggests.
2 (57)	Van Jefferson	6’1 197 WR-Florida, Ole Miss	17/2nd Round	Jefferson was productive at two different stops in the SEC due to his combination of body control and football intelligence. Some of his press-man releases have been unorthodox, yet sudden and effective.
3 (84)	Terrell Lewis	6’5 258 OLB-Alabama	48/2nd Round	It would have been interesting to see how Lewis’ career would have gone had he not been sidelined by injury in two consecutive seasons. He uses 83 1/2-inch wingspan to pole OTs back into the lap of QBs. Can he stay healthy?
3 (104)	Terrell Burgess	6’0 202 DB-Utah	285/4th Round	Burgess’ movement skills gives the team options with him as a nickel, outside cornerback or safety. He largely was drafted off of one productive year, but his skills translate to the next level.
4 (136)	Brycen Hopkins	6’4 245 TE-Purdue	135/3rd Round	Hopkins had some issues with the occasional concentration lapse, but the Big Ten’s Kwallick-Clark TE of the Year in 2019 averaged 17 yards per reception as a junior (2018). his speed and ability to stretch the seams of the field adds yet another layer to the Rams attack.
6 (199)	Jordan Fuller	6’2 203 S-Ohio State	279/4th Round	Fuller generally played a sound game in school. His movement skills for a taller safety were substantiated by some of the tough coverage assignments Ohio State gave him early in his career.

Johnston, pictured, led the Bears with 99 tackles in 2018. Before going down to injury in 2019, he had 58 tackles, 2.5 QB sacks, 8 TFLs, one interception and 5 PBUs.

7 (234)	Clay Johnston	6’0 229 LB-Baylor	301/5th Round	Johnston’s impressive start to the 2019 season was upended by a midseason knee injury. Prior to the injury, he had already posted four double-digit tackle games.
7 (248)	Sam Sloman	5’8 207 PK-Miami (OH.)	586/7th Round	Sloman connected on 87-percent of his field goals in school, but it was his senior year uptick in range that caught the eyes of scouts. Prior to 2018 he was not as effective as a kickoff specialist. Over the last two years, he posted a 63-percent touchback percentage on kickoffs.
7 (250)	Tremayne Anchrum	6’2 314 OL-Clemson	241/4th Round	For a player who operated exclusively on the edge in school, Anchrum was fairly impressive turning out the opposition on designed runs to his side. In pass protection (either outside or inside), he will have to get better at handling inside movement.

NFL, Articles, 2020, 2020, NFL Draft Recap, AFC West

2020 NFL Draft recap: AFC West

April 30, 2020 Corey Chavous Leave a comment

Denver Broncos	Notable pick: Muti was unable to stay healthy in either of his final two seasons, but the former college LT has the footwork to demand a look during training camp.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (15)	Jerry Jeudy	6’1 193 WR-Alabama	22/2^nd Round	Jeudy’s ability to run through the reception should immediately make him a highly targeted threat in the Broncos ever-evolving offensive scheme. QB Drew Lock is very accurate on skinny posts into the middle of the field, and that is a route (along with the quick slant) that Jeudy excelled on during school.
2 (46)	K.J. Hamler	5’9 178 WR-Penn State	63/2nd Round	Hamler has a different level of speed of anyone else in the Broncos receiving corps. In an attempt to get him the ball, the Nittany Lions moved him around quite a bit, but there is no doubt that the team could use him on the outside on vertical concepts. He may have gone higher if he had been able to workout for scouts prior to the draft.
3 (77)	Michael Ojemudia	6’1 200 CB-Iowa	215/4th Round	Ojemudia certainly increased his level of play as a senior. Since his days as a high school safety, he has always been physical. In fact, the Hawkeyes matched him on different personnel in 2018 (inside) to take advantage of his size in coverage.
3 (83)	Lloyd Cushenberry	6’3 312 OC-LSU	24/2nd Round	Cushenberry should be able for a job at any of the three interior line positions. Although he was our top-ranked center, there are little doubts about his ability to transition to a guard spot.
3 (95)	McTelvin Agim	6’3 309 DT-Arkansas	159/3rd Round	Agim started his career as a multi-dimensional DE/DT for the Razorbacks but he eventually just grew into the defensive tackle spot. His quickness and ability to gain an edge on opponents should make him a good fit as a four-technique DE for the Broncos.
4 (118)	Albert Okwuegbunam	6’5 260 TE-Missouri	174/4th Round	Okwuegbunam never exactly played to his workout numbers in school, but that doesn’t mean he was not a field-stretching presence. His Red Zone productivity was evident (23 career TDs). Although he improved as a blocker, the team frequently used him more in an H-back/FB type of role within their offense. He may take targets away from Noah Fant due to his relationship with QB Drew Lock.
5 (178)	Justin Strnad	6’3 238 LB-Wake Forest	190/4th Round	Strnad was one of the more active LBs in the ACC the last two seasons and proved his worth in coverage. He may start out on special teams, but he could compete for a backup role in nickel packages at LB.
6 (181)	Netane Muti	6’3 315 OG-Fresno State	134/3rd Round	Where would Muti have gone had he been able to stay healthy in either of his final two seasons. That point is debatable, but what is not up for debate is the aggression he plays the game with down-to-down. His technical deficiencies surround a tendency to dip his head when latching.
7 (252)	Tyrie Cleveland	6’2 209 WR-Florida	249/4th Round	Cleveland flashed as a downfield threat, gunner and kickoff returner in school. His best chance to make the team will be to upend former CFL star Diontae Spencer for the KR role. It won’t be an easy task.
7 (254)	Derrick Tuszka	6’4 247 DE-OLB-North Dakota State	235/4th Round	Tuszka is effective on the move or getting out of his three-point stance. There were even times when the Bison would use him inside (DT) on third downs. His energy gives him an outside chance of making the team despite entering a crowded OLB room.

Denver Broncos first-round pick Jerry Jeudy -the 2018 Biletnikoff Award Winner- averaged 17.2 yards per reception with 26 receiving TDs in his career.

Kansas City Chiefs	Notable pick: Sneed is the type of developmental prospect that the Chiefs have traditionally loved to take over the years. His 4.37 speed will be used most effectively in man coverage. The team will need him to locate the ball down the field but his profile fits their defensive scheme.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (32)	Clyde Edwards-Helaire	5’7 207 RB-LSU	68/2^nd Round	Edwards-Helaire runs option routes, pops off of tacklers in-or-out of the box and competes in every phase of the game. The Chiefs will have a plan for his skill set.
2 (63)	Willie Gay, Jr.	6’2 243 LB-Mississippi State	21/2nd Round	Gay, Jr. was arguably the most explosive LB in this year’s draft class. A litany of suspensions and games missed in 2019 did him no favors. The fact that he remained an integral part of nearly every special teams unit, however, speaks to his football character.
3 (96)	Lucas Niang	6’6 315 OT-TCU	133/3rd Round	Niang is long, relatively light on his feet and aggressive. It can be argued that he was perhaps more impressive as a run blocker.
4 (138)	L’Jarius Sneed	6’1 192 CB-Louisiana Tech	283/4th Round	Sneed didn’t look the part consistently at safety and part of that was due to an uneven feel for the position. What he did do a very good job of was competing in man coverage, which seems to be his favorite thing to do.
5 (177)	Michael Danna	6’2 261/ DE-Michigan, CMU	345/4th Round	Danna moved in-and-out of a number of line spots for Michigan after standing out as an edge defender at CMU. His power and explosiveness stood out in the postseason.
7 (237)	Thakarius “BoPete” Keyes	6’1 202/CB-Tulane	220/4th Round	Keyes has length, patience and positive foot speed. DC Jack Curtis challenged him over a three-year period in loads of man-to-man coverage and he responded favorably.

Kansas City Chiefs fourth-round pick L’Jarius Sneed ran a 4.37 40-yd dash, had a 41″ VJ and went 10’11” in the broad jump at the 2020 NFL Combine. Sneed returned three of his eight career interceptions for touchdowns while at Louisiana Tech.

Las Vegas Raiders	Notable pick: If Robertson produces anywhere near the level of his collegiate productivity, then the Raiders will get at least a viable nickel back candidate. His toughness is exemplary, but his wrap tackling was inconsistent in school.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (12)	Henry Ruggs III	5’11 188 WR-Alabama	43/2nd Round	Ruggs was arguably one of the better kickoff and punt cover guys in the country (17 tackles in career). Aside from starring in those roles, he stood out with his field speed on downfield routes and after the catch.
1 (19)	Damon Arnette	6’0 195 CB-Ohio State	56/2^nd Round	Arnette’s physical playing style didn’t dissipate while playing with a broken hand in 2019. In fact, it could be argued that he took his game to another level. His style fits that of a classic Raiders DB.
3 (80)	Lynn Bowden, Jr.	5’11 203 All-Purpose Kentucky	118/3rd Round	Bowden will have to be located if used in a number of ways, which may in fact be the plan in Las Vegas. If there was ever a player worth hitting the jackpot on in Round 3, then the all-purpose SEC standout fits the bill.
3 (81)	Bryan Edwards	6’3 212 WR-South Carolina	61/2nd Round	While we talked about the Raiders potentially hitting the lottery in Round 3 earlier, they may have doubled down with the selection of Edwards. South Carolina’s all-time leader in receptions is smooth, fast and contains outstanding spatial awareness on the field.
3 (100)	Tanner Muse	6’2 227 S-Clemson	313/5th Round	Muse was Clemson’s Special Teams Player of the Year back in 2016 and took his game to another level each year. His speed was on display when he ran down Ohio State RB J.K. Dobbins in the 2019 CFP semifinal to save a TD.
4 (109)	John Simpson	6’4 321 OG-Clemson	101/3rd Round	Simpson has the burly build and overall wrestling-type background make him tough to get away from once latched. He was the first Clemson offensive lineman selected since 2014.
4 (139)	Amik Robertson	5’8 187 CB-Louisiana Tech	66/2nd Round	Robertson’s production speaks for itself. During his time in Ruston, the former Bulldog notched 14 INTs (265 yds, 3 TDs) and 34 PBUs. In addition, he posted 23.5 tackles for losses.

Las Vegas Raiders first-round pick Damon Arnette was an active four-year contributor for the Buckeyes at the cornerback spot, but he also saw time at nickel back in 2019.

Los Angeles Chargers	Notable pick: The Chargers already have Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson in the fold and they typically have used a running back by committee approach. If Kelley is going to penetrate the lineup, then his ability to get the grind it out yardage is the route.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (6)	Justin Herbert	6’6 238 QB-Oregon	13/1^st Round	Herbert’s physical skills often outpaced his decision-making but he began to learn how to win the tough games as a senior. Staying in school to get more repetitions proved to be the right decision for the former Duck. Can he eventually compete with the high-octane offenses developing within the division?
1 (23)	Kenneth Murray	6’1 241 LB-Oklahoma	28/2nd Round	Murray improved dramatically in Alex Grinch’s defensive scheme in 2019. His discipline improved but his activity (155 tackles in 2018) largely remained the same.
4 (112)	Joshua Kelley	5’10 214 RB-UCLA, UC-Davis	92/3^rd Round	Kelley used a strong postseason to backup his solid production while at UCLA. His vision may be his strongest asset. Although he wasn’t used much in the passing game, he displays potential as a receiving threat.
5 (151)	Joe Reed	6’0 223 All-purpose-Virginia	149/3rd Round	Reed was used in the screen game to almost serve as an extra RB in 2019. This came a year after averaging nearly 19 yards per catch. His real value comes in the return game.
6 (186)	Alohi Gilman	5’10 202 S-Notre Dame, Navy	183/4th Round	Gilman may be quicker than fast but his play speed stands out. While at Navy, he displayed tremendous timing as a blitzer. His eye speed is outstanding for the position but his effort has stood out on both the punt and kickoff cover units.
7 (220)	K.J. Hill	6’0 196 WR-Ohio State	194/4th Round	Hill had the occasional concentration lapse, but his feel for setting up defenders is without a doubt one of his better characteristics as a route runner. He is strong enough to handle the inside duty of being a slot receiver.

After arriving from the Naval Academy, Los Angeles Chargers sixth-round pick Alohi Gilman posted 94 tackles, 3 TFLs, 2 FFs, 2 INTs and 5 PBUs for the Fighting Irish in 2018.

NFL, Articles, 2020, 2020, NFL Draft Recap, NFC North

2020 NFL Draft Recap: NFC North

April 29, 2020 Peter Worilther Leave a comment

Green Bay Packers	Notable picks: Deguara showed patience setting up his routes, good hand-eye coordination and improved blocking skills in 2019. While not a burner, he plays fast and brings toughness to the table. He was a solid kickoff cover guy early in his Bearcats career.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (26)	Jordan Love	6’3 224 QB-Utah State	35/2nd Round	Love’s playing style (VIDEO) has some similarities to starting QB Aaron Rodgers. Using his eyes with more effectiveness to maneuver defenders should be on the top of his to-do list.
2 (62)	A.J. Dillon	6’1 247 RB-Boston College	64/2nd Round	Dillon’s physical prowess is defined by upper and lower body power. He is patient when following his pullers on power schemes (either inside or outside). Can he be a factor in pass protection? Will he even need to be with Aaron Jones in the mix?
3 (94)	Josiah Deguara	6’2 245 TE/H-back-Cincinnati	136/3rd Round	At the prep level, Deguara caught 24 TDs as a senior. This past season, he led the Bearcats with 7 receiving TDs as a flex/H-back option. He improved every year as an on the move blocker.
5 (175)	Kamal Martin	6’3 240 LB-Minnesota	423/5th Round	The former all-state QB makes up for a relatively high playing disposition with good feet. Eliminating some of the wasted motion gives him a better chance to earn a spot as a special team contributor/backup.
6 (208)	Jake Hanson	6’4 303 OC-Oregon	454/6th Round	Hanson -a former DL with aggression- started 48 games in school. He was an effective communicator in the pre-snap when it came to line games and potential twists. Can snap-and-pull in confined areas.
6 (209)	Simon Stepaniak	6’4 321 OG-Indiana	434/6th Round	Stepaniak-who carries 10 3/8″ hands- was a 31-game starter in school and grappler at the OG spot.
7 (236)	Vernon Scott	6’2 205 DB-TCU	N/A	Scott made a statement about his film study when he recognized a bunch formation against Oklahoma on his lone career interception returned for a score. His tackling has been hit-or-miss (see Texas ’19).

Dillon (No. 2 pictured) powered his way behind a stout offensive line for three years. Boston College finished eighth nationally in rushing yards per game in 2019.

7 (242)

Jonathan Garvin

6’4 263
DE-OLB-Miami (Fla.)

219/
4th
Round

The smooth DE gained nearly 45 pounds in school and it didn’t really rob him of much short-area burst. He slips offensive tackles and defeats blockers in the run game, but he has to generate a go-to move to win in the NFL.

Chicago Bears	Notable Pick: The selection of Kmet means the Bears can now use a number of two tight end formations with both he and free agent signee Jimmy Graham. It is a clear sign that the team is intent on attacking the middle of the field in 2020.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
2 (43)	Cole Kmet	6’6 262 TE-Notre Dame	53/2^nd Round	The former left-handed closer on the baseball team handled multiple roles for the Fighting Irish. He can be effective on the move as an H-back or in-line as a tight end.
2 (50)	Jaylon Johnson	6’0 195 CB-Utah	73/2^nd Round	Johnson finished his career with seven interceptions (165 yards, 2 TDs) and 21 pass breakups.
5 (155)	Trevis Gipson	6’3 259 DE-Tulsa	128/3rd Round	Gipson’s ability to play the run from the four-technique position often took away pass rush opportunities. In that facet (pass rushing), he has to become a better bender overall.
5 (163)	Kindle Vildor	5’10 191 CB-Georgia Southern	54/2nd Round	Vildor was a team leader and excellent tackler while at Georgia Southern. He impressed in the postseason with 4.44 speed and an 11’1″ broad jump.
5 (173)	Darnell Mooney	5’10 176 WR-Tulane	295/4th Round	Mooney has the skill-set to run routes outside the numbers or in the slot. He has very good run after the catch skill.
7 (226)	Arlington Hambright	6’4 307 OL-Colorado, Oklahoma State	161/3rd Round	Hambright impressed protecting the blindside for quarterback Steven Montez as a senior in 2019 but largely was unavailable for Oklahoma State in 2018 due to a high ankle sprain.
7 (227)	Lachavious Simmons	6’5 290 OT-Tennessee State	N/A	Simmons’ aggressiveness getting off the ball as a left guard overcame the occasional balance issue. the first-team All-OVC selection has seen time at LG, RG and LT.

Minnesota Vikings	Notable pick: The number of picks could be considered what is notable. One pick of particular interest, however, is Metullus. During the pre-draft process, he seemed to go largely undervalued and the Vikings have traditionally struck gold with late round or free agent pickups after draft.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (22)	Justin Jefferson	6’1 202 WR-LSU	32/2^nd Round	Jefferson was already a good player in 2018, but his confidence soared in 2019. He enters the NFL believing no one can guard him in one-on-one situations.
1 (31)	Jeff Gladney	5’10 191 CB-TCU	55/2nd Round	Gladney’s competitiveness made him a fiery contributor for a Gary Patterson defense that requires a lot of man coverage from its cornerbacks. The Horned Frogs led the Big 12 in pass defense in each of the last three seasons. Gladney was a big reason why.
2 (58)	Ezra Cleveland	6’6 300 OT-Boise State	88/2nd Round	Cleveland is smooth, experienced and efficient with his footwork in pass protection. Can he maintain a consistent lockout? The former high school wrestler enjoys tying up defenders, but needs to improve his initial pop as a run blocker.
3 (89)	Cameron Dantzler	6’2 188 CB-Mississippi State	90/3^rd Round	Dantzler’s workouts didn’t reflect his instincts, timing and willingness to tackle. In Minnesota, the team will challenge him to trust his technique and he should be able to earn a role in nickel and dime packages as a rookie.
4 (117)	D.J. Wonnum	6’5 258 DE-South Carolina	252/4th Round	After a breakout sophomore campaign, Wonnum’s sack production diminished in 2018 due to injury (ankle). He began to regain his form in 2019.
4 (130)	James Lynch	6’4 289 DL-Baylor	57/2nd Round	The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year played up-and-down the Bears defensive front in school. Lynch finished his career with 33.5 TFLs, 7 PBUs and three blocked kicks.
4 (132)	Troy Dye	6’3 231 LB-Baylor	129/3rd Round	Dye’s teammates voted him the team’s defensive MVP as a rookie and it was a sign of things to come. Although angular by nature, Dye has unique eye speed, flexibility and field speed.
5 (169)	Harrison Hand	5’11 197 CB-Temple, Baylor	218/4th Round	Hand has good size, toughness and footwork. Technically, he is a work in progress (see UCF ’19). With that said, he brings capability in either man or zone coverage.
5 (176)	K.J. Osborn	6’0 205 WR-Miami (Fla.), Buffalo	246/4th Round	Osborn was arguably the Bulls best receiver in 2018 despite the presence of All-MAC receiver Anthony Johnson. The narrative largely remained the same at Miami (Fla.) as a grad transfer after the disappearing act of Jeff Thomas.
6 (203)	Blake Brandel	6’6 302 OT-Oregon State	529/6th Round	Brandel -a 48-game starter in school at both tackle spots- made most of his starts on the left side of the line (39). He has 10 3/8″ hands, 33 1/4″ arms and an 80 1/8″ wingspan.
6 (205)	Josh Metullus	5’11 210 S-Michigan	153/3rd Round	Metullus -a 38-game starter in school- is smart, communicates well and can get off of the hash marks. Michigan challenges all of its defensive backs in man coverage. He has shown aggressiveness as a tackler.

Michigan State’s Kenny Willekes, pictured, finished his career with 26.5 quarterback sacks and 51 tackles for loss.

7 (225)	Kenny Willekes	6’4 264 DE-Michigan State	104/3rd Round	Willekes -the 2019 Burlsworth Trophy Award winner- was the rare dominant former walk-on. He plays low enough, handles tight ends in the run game and times his snap count reactions. Will his leverage allow him to overcome his length deficiencies?
7 (244)	Nate Stanley	6’4 231 QB-Iowa	132/3rd Round	Stanley has all of the physical tools, but his work in the pre-snap phase of the game identifying fronts often allowed him to make checks at the line of scrimmage in the run game. He may have helped himself by playing in a postseason all-star game.
7 (249)	Brian Cole II	6’2 213 S-Mississippi State, Michigan	181/4th Round	Cole II -a one-year starter- timed his blitzes (off the slot or from the edge), covered the slot and played a LB-type position for DC Bob Shoop and the Bulldogs. The former WR also returned kicks in school.
7 (253)	Kyle Hinton	6’2 296 OG-Washburn	616/7th Round	Hinton’s Pro Day performance (4.9 40-yd, 34 1/2″ VJ) subsidized a decent showing during the 2020 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl. During school, he showed the ability to get out and hit the occasional moving target.

Detroit Lions	Notable pick: The Lions have been searching for a Top 10 running back it seems like for the entire Matthew Stafford-era in Detroit. Can Swift be more than just a change of pace for Kerryon Johnson? If so, their running game could become a team strength as opposed to question mark.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (3)	Jeff Okudah	6’1 205 CB-Ohio State	11/1st Round	Okudah will be challenged in man-to-man coverage and that should fit his skill-set. The former high school safety brings an assertive nature similar to the last Lions cornerback taken in the Top 5 in the first round, Bryant Westbrook (1997 NFL Draft).
2 (35)	D’Andre Swift	5’8 212 RB-Georgia	7/1st Round	Swift has been afforded the luxury of being in a rotation during his career and this should remain the case in Detroit. An underrated receiver with outstanding peripheral vision as a runner, Swift’s only big knock was the occasional nick during school.
3 (67)	Julian Okwara	6’4 252 DE-OLB Notre Dame	186/4th Round	Okwara stood up, played both DE spots in school and even dropped into coverage effectively out of a two-point stance (see Michigan ’18). He has contributed effectively on the field goal block team.
3 (75)	Jonah Jackson	6’3 306 OG-Ohio State, Rutgers	225/4th Round	Jackson has started at right guard, center and left guard. Before arriving at Ohio State, he was a team captain at Rutgers. The criminal justice major plays with heavy hands and takes good angles in the run game, particularly on combination blocks.
4 (121)	Logan Stenberg	6’6 317 OG-Kentucky	110/4th Round	Stenberg -despite his height- latches LBs on the second level. He runs his feet on angle blocks and uses a solid skip-pull technique in confined areas. He has starting potential.
5 (166)	Quintez Cephus	6’1 202 WR-Wisconsin	130/3rd Round	Cephus overcomes small hands with confidence catching the ball, solid weight distribution and suddenness. We feel he has room to grow in either the slot or on the outside.
5 (172)	Jason Huntley	5’8 182 All-purpose-New Mexico State	385/5th Round	Electricity is the name of the game for Huntley in both the return game and as an all-purpose specialist. He can become even more effective with less touches, as he was in 2017 while playing with Larry Rose III.
6 (197)	John Penisini	6’2 318 DT-Utah	425/5th Round	Strong DL capable of slanting and spiking. The former Ute is satisfactory holding the point vs. double teams.
7 (235)	Jason Cornell	6’3 284 (E) DL-Ohio State	N/A	Cornell enjoyed a breakout season in 2019 with 4 QB sacks and 6.5 TFLs. He has played both DE and DT in school, and stood out in the 2019 CFP national semifinal.

Detroit Lions second-round pick D’Andre Swift averaged 6.6 yards per carry during his career at Georgia.

NFL, Articles, 2020, 2020, NFL Draft Recap, NFC East

2020 NFL Draft recap: NFC East

April 29, 2020 Corey Chavous Leave a comment

Dallas Cowboys	Notable picks: With the deflection of former starter Byron Jones, the team went with a player who contains similar length in Diggs. He is certainly more of a ballhawk, but can he provide the consistency in coverage that Jones gave them over a two-year period. It will be worth monitoring the development of Robinson II. His profile may actually be closer to Jones’ than Diggs.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (17)	CeeDee Lamb	6’2 198 WR-Oklahoma	11/1^st Round	Lamb has all of the requisite tools to win with both savvy and quickness as a route runner. He has a solid set of tools to be a complement within the Dallas passing game initially. We expect him to see some time in the slot.
2 (51)	Trevon Diggs	6’1 205 CB-Alabama	84/2nd Round	Diggs brings more than NFL bloodlines to the table. He is aggressive getting his hands on WRs at the line of scrimmage. Finding a balance in that aggression and bringing it to run support will ramp up his development.
3 (82)	Neville Gallimore	6’2 304 DT-Oklahoma	143/3rd Round	Gallimore had some issues with balance in school and that is probably why he lasted until this spot in the draft. For a player with his level of quickness and power, it was a bit surprising that he didn’t make more plays in school.
4 (123)	Reggie Robinson II	6’1 205 CB-Tulsa	93/3^rd Round	Robinson II didn’t get the ink of some of the other big CBs in this year’s draft and maybe that should not come as a surprise. He has always been competitive in coverage and finished better in 2019.
4 (146)	Tyler Biadasz	6’4 314 OC-Wisconsin	59/2nd Round	Biadasz was not a dominator in school but he was assignment-sound. The former prep level baseball player led an offensive line that was ravaged by graduation from 2018 and did so admirably.
5 (179)	Bradlee Anae	6’3 257 DE-Utah	100/3^rd Round	Due to sub-standard edge rusher workout times Anae fell in the draft. This came after a dominant Senior Bowl showing that showcased his feel for getting off the ball.
7 (220)	Ben DiNucci	6’2 210 QB-James Madison, Pittsburgh	555/7th Round	DiNucci’s moxie may have influenced this selection. The former Pitt Panther quietly was a couple of inches away from leading the Dukes to a national championship in 2019.

Utah’s Bradlee Anae (No. 6 pictured) forces a fumble versus Northwestern running back Isaiah Bowser (No. 25 picutred) in the fourth quarter. He finished 2018 with 51 tackles, eight quarterback sacks, 15.5 tackles for losses, two forced fumbles and three pass break-ups. The Cowboys selected Anae in the fifth round of the 2020 NFL Draft (179th overall).

New York Giants	Notable pick: The team would be satisfied if Holmes can come in and lock down a nickel role within their scheme. The team has quietly assembled enough size on the edges, so it will be imperative for him to learn the various roles of an inside position while also contributing on special teams.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (4)	Andrew Thomas	6’5 317 OT-Georgia	6/1st Round	Thomas has the occasional top-heavy look but he remains relatively consistent establishing a lockout on the perimeter. He won’t be able to get by with relatively in the NFL and his overall
2 (40)	Xavier McKinney	6’0 201 S-Alabama	41/2^nd Round	McKinney will be able to play a variety of roles for the Giants just like he did with the Crimson Tide. His best characteristic comes from his pre-snap cognitive ability in diagnosing the opposition’s intentions.
3 (71)	Matt Peart	6’5 312 OT-UConn	72/2^nd Round	Peart is by no means a finished product, but that doesn’t mean starting is out of the question. He is most comfortable at RT, but he has started on both sides of the OL in school.
4 (110)	Darnay Holmes	5’10 195 CB-UCLA	112/3^rd Round	Holmes lack of width (69-inch wingspan) hurt his cause and forced him to fall. Penalties were a bit of an issue in 2019 but he found a way to compete week-to-week.
5 (150)	Shane Lemieux	6’4 310 OG-Oregon	299/4th Round	You will not find many arguments surrounding Lemieux’s work ethic and determination. He was a consistent presence at OG for the Ducks over a four-year period. He finished his career with 52 consecutive starts.
6 (183)	Cam Brown	6’5 233 LB-Penn State	210/4th Round	Brown has been used to run up the seams with TEs, cover down over the slot and off the edge as an occasional rush artist. He seemed to be most comfortable in school filtering back inside from an overhang LB spot.

New York Giants first-round pick Andrew Thomas (No. 71 pictured) started at both right and left tackle for the ‘Dawgs during his three-year stay in Athens.

7 (218)	Carter Coughlin	6’3 236 LB-Minnesota	286/4th Round	Coughlin finished his career with 22 QB sacks and 40 TFLs. When you combine that with his 4.57 speed, then the team may have gotten a core special teams contributor. He starred on the kickoff team way back in 2016 (see Holiday Bowl).
7 (238)	Tremari “T.J.” Brunson	6’1 230 LB-South Carolina	392/5th Round	Brunson may not completely fit the bill in terms of size, but he does play bigger than his measurements. He had some lower body extremity issues in school, but he appeared in 49 games (283 tackles, 21 TFLs).
7 (247)	Chris Williamson	6’0 205 NB/S-Minnesota, Florida	421/5th Round	Williamson was often tasked with covering fast slot WRs one-on-one and held his own. Hand placement is an issue but his work as a blitzer shows promise. The former Florida Gator should compete favorably in training camp.
7 (255)	Tae Crowder	6’3 235 (E) LB-Georgia	463/6th Round	Crowder showed time-and-time again that he is capable of chasing plays down laterally. He leaves some tackle opportunities on the field because he does not always get his head across the bow of the opponent.

Philadelphia Eagles	Notable pick: Reagor has a role to fill in the team’s offense as the Wild Card type of player. If he can execute a variety of different responsibilities, then the Eagles will be able to use his elusive skill set to maximize one-on-one matchups on a down-to-down basis.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (21)	Jalen Reagor	5’11 205 All-purpose-TCU	49/2^nd Round	Reagor simply needs to find his way as a route runner to take advantage of his outstanding physical tools. He runs well after the catch, tracks the ball down the field and makes defenders miss in space.
2 (53)	Jalen Hurts	6’1 222 QB-Oklahoma, Alabama	127/3^rd Round	Hurts earned kudos at both collegiate stops for his leadership, poise and overall strength. It would not be a shock to see him involved in a number of packages as a rookie.
3 (103)	Davion Taylor	6’0 224 LB-Colorado	225/4th Round	The Pac-12 100-meter sprinter runs in the 4.4s, closes ground on routes in front of him and actually finds a way to be active week-to-week. He simply needs more repetitions. We think he has special teams core (all four teams) potential at the next level. The team will likely incorporate him into some of its nickel/dime packages.
4 (127)	K’Von Wallace	5’11 206 DB-Clemson	82/2nd Round	Wallace didn’t always finish interception opportunities in school, but he did often put himself into good position in one-on-one situations. His ability to time his entries in the run game was subsidized by consistent one-on-one coverage in the slot.
4 (145)	Jack Driscoll	6’5 307 OT-Auburn, UMass	221/4th Round	Driscoll continued to get better during school and his footwork was an area of focus. Now he needs to concentrate on gaining more core strength to handle speed-to-power in the NFL. This will be the case at either OG or OT, where he hopes to win a seventh or eighth role in 2020.
5 (168)	John Hightower	6’1 185 All-purpose- Boise State	259/4th Round	Hightower continued to improve every year in school but finally put it all together in 2019. For a team that went into the draft wanting to add speed at WR, Hightower has some capabilities.
6 (196)	Shaun Bradley	6’1 235 LB-Temple	196/4^th Round	Bradley has some footwork issues to clean up at the exchange LB spot. However, he will add plenty of speed to a defense and special teams unit that values quality backups.
6 (200)	Quez Watkins	6’0 185 WR-Southern Miss	124/3rd Round	Speed is the name of the game in the pass-happy NFL, and Watkins brings plenty of it to the table. He seemed to build to an even different top gear with the ball in his hands on quick RPO slants and posts. Now he needs to work on getting off of press coverage.

Philadelphia Eagles sixth-round pick Quez Watkins concluded his impressive three-year run at Southern Miss by averaged 18.2 yards per reception as a junior (1,145 yards, 6 TDs).

6 (210)	Prince Tega Wanogho	6’5 308 OT-Auburn	141/3rd Round	Tega Wanogho did not have a chance to show off his impressive tools in the postseason. At this point in the process, the team could afford to take a flyer on a player who may not reach his peak for another three-year period.
7 (233)	Casey Toohill	6’4 250 OLB-Stanford	260/4th Round	Toohill is a fast, athletic long LB with enough speed to play multiple spots. Coverage is a question mark, as is his ability to transfer speed-to-power as a pass rusher.

Washington Redskins	Notable pick: Although the Redskins have a number of different types of receivers on its roster, there is no one other than Cam Sims that contains Gandy-Golden’s size. If he can transition effectively to the NFL, it could open up the team’s Red Zone offense.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (2)	Chase Young	6’5 264 DE-Ohio State	2/1^st Round	The Redskins are hoping that Young turns into not only a transformational player but that he can also open up possibilities for the talented Montez Sweat and Ryan Kerrigan on the other side. He may see time at DT on third downs.
3 (66)	Antonio Gibson	6’0 223 All-Purpose-Memphis	25/2nd Round	There simply aren’t players with the size/speed quotient that Gibson brings to the table at 228 pounds. It would not be a shock to see the team use im in the backfield as a dot RB, slot WR or even outside receiver. The all-purpose dynamo produced without a lot of touches in school.
4 (108)	Saahdiq Charles	6’4 303 OT-LSU	189/4th Round	Charles bends, latches and slides effectively. What he hasn’t been able to do is stay on the field. Whether it was a suspension, injury or otherwise, the former Tiger was not dependable week-to-week. Perhaps the NFL opportunity will change his tunes.
4 (142)	Antonio Gandy-Golden	6’4 223 WR-Liberty	95/3rd Round	Gandy-Golden didn’t necessarily perform as well during the testing portion of the postseason as he did on the field. It will not come as a shock if he develops into the team’s primary Red Zone threat early in his career.
5 (156)	Keith Ismael	6’3 309 OC-San Diego State	113/3rd Round	Ismael -a junior-entry- probably would have not gone much higher in next year’s draft and that may have influenced his decision to come out early. His quickness (and experience at three positions) will add another layer to the Redskins running game.
5 (162)	Khaleke Hudson	5’11 224 S/LB-Michigan	263/4th Round	Hudson may have gotten dinged because he doesn’t really have a true position at the next level. At least, not yet. We think he can be a sub-package LB with enough zone capability to cover the flats and beyond.

Washington Redskins fifth-round draft pick Khaleke Hudson blocked five kicks during his career at Michigan.

7 (216)	Kamren Curl	6’1 206 S-Arkansas	150/3rd Round	Curl – a former cornerback- plays faster on the field than he times in T-shirts and shorts. He reacts to what he sees on the football field and plays with anticipation.
7 (226)	James Smith-Williams	6’3 265 DE-NC State	310/5th Round	Smith-Williams was probably as accomplished off the field as he was on it. A subpar senior year caused the workout warrior to slip in the draft, but injuries were probably more of the cause. However, Ron Rivera has had success with these types of DL (see Mario Addison) in the past.

NFL, Articles, 2020, 2020, NFL Draft Recap, AFC East

2020 NFL Draft recap: AFC East

April 29, 2020 Corey Chavous Leave a comment

Buffalo Bills	Notable pick: Bills HC Sean McDermott has had success with bigger defensive ends and Epenesa could add to the trend. The team needs him to produce. They lost both Jordan Phillips (Cardinals) and Shaq Lawson (Dolphins) in the offseason. The pair accounted for 16 of the team’s 44 sacks in 2019.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
2 (54)	A.J. Epenesa	6’5 275 DE-Iowa	29/2^nd Round	Epenesa’s technical prowess overcomes just okay burst off the edge. The former U.S. Army All-American brings outstanding size to the table.
3 (86)	Zack Moss	5’10 226 RB-Utah	62/2nd Round	Moss is the prototype strong runner for inclement weather in December and January. His health has always been his biggest knock.
4 (128)	Gabriel Davis	6’2 216 WR-UCF	115/3^rd Round	Davis’ deceptive gait and unorthodox style accompanies a 6-foot-2, 216-pound frame. He proved adept on double moves and boxing out the opposition in school.
5 (167)	Jake Fromm	6’2 219 QB-Georgia	111/3^rd Round	Fromm finished his career with an impressive 78:18 TD/INT ratio. If he can handle the windy conditions of Buffalo, he may be able to compete to backup incumbent starter Josh Allen. Davis Webb and Matt Barkley are also in the mix, so there are no guarantees for Fromm.
6 (188)	Tyler Bass	6’0 200 PK-Georgia Southern	380/5th Round	Game-winning kicks have been a part of Bass’ portfolio in school. He was also pretty good in rainy weather. The weather he is about to face is going to be an entirely new challenge, but his strong leg may be up to the task.
6 (207)	Isaiah Hodgins	6’4 210 WR-Oregon State	80/2nd Round	Like Davis, Hodgins isn’t necessarily flashy but efficient. The 6-foot-4 wideout is smooth getting in-and-out of patterns and can make the contested catch. To make the team, he needs to play stronger versus physical coverage.
7 (239)	Dane Jackson	6’0 187 CB-Pittsburgh	207/4th Round	Jackson is smart, tough and generally fluid. Despite weighting in the 185-pound range, he could get looks at a nickel spot if he cannot keep up with speed on the edge. The team’s coverage style gives him a chance to make the team.

Moss rushed for over 4,000 yards (4,067) and scored 41 touchdowns in school.

Miami Dolphins	Notable pick: Hunt did not get to show off his impressive physical tools in the postseason. He is a mammoth tackle with positive movement and the right temperament to surprise early in an NFL training camp.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	Nasty’ Take:
1 (5)	Tua Tagovailoa	6’0 217 QB-Alabama	37/2nd Round	This pick is as much about long-term upside as it is 2020. With Ryan Fitzpatrick back, (as well as Josh Rosen), the team does not have to rush Tagovailoa into the mix. Fans yearning to see the former Heisman finalist could speed up the process.
1 (18)	Austin Jackson	6’5 322 OT-USC	61/2nd Round	Jackson legitimately was one of the most athletic offensive or defensive lineman in this year’s draft class. Getting his technique under control will be key. If he makes a big step in training camp, it would not be a shock to see him as an opening day starter.
1 (30)	Noah Igbinoghene	5’10 198 CB/All-purpose-Auburn	157/3rd Round	One of Igbinoghene’s best characteristics -kickoff return capability- may not be needed unless KR Jakeem Grant goes down to injury (as he did late last season). Where he will be needed is in nickel defenses, where he will battle current third corner Cordrea Tankersley (also returning from injury) for playing time.
2 (39)	Robert Hunt	6’5 323 OT-Louisiana-Lafayette	103/3rd Round	Hunt has made starts at LG, LT and RT. His near 11-inch hands deliver decisive punches to the opposition. He is also capable of surprising second-level LBs with his quickness on combination blocks. He has starting capability early in his career, but his durability came into question in 2019.
2 (56)	Raekwon Davis	6’7 311 DT-Alabama	76/2nd Round	The former Crimson Tide defensive stalwart was never a slippery defender, but he did find a way to notch 8.5 QB sacks back in 2017. He is more of a stack-and-shed two-gap defender with enough strength to be an effective part of the team’s rotation in 2020.
3 (70)	Brandon Jones	5’11 198 S-Texas	123/3^rd Round	Jones was a team leader, active tackler and decent punt returner in school. He does not carry a big frame but throws his body around. The big question concerning Jones will be his ability to stay upright with his style of play.
4 (111)	Solomon Kindley	6’3 337 OG-Georgia	284/4th Round	Kindley reinforces the belief that the Dolphins will continue to commit big athletic bodies to its offensive line. The former three-star recruit is a grappler with the right mentality to send messages in the run game. He was a big factor in the ‘Dawgs physical running attack.
5 (154)	Jason Strowbridge	6’5 275 DE-North Carolina	165/3rd Round	Strowbridge’s upper body movements are well-synchronized when he times snap counts. He is more fluid than one would expect at 275 pounds, and he projects favorably in the multiple fronts the Dolphins will employ week-to-week.
5 (164)	Curtis Weaver	6’2 265 DE-Boise State	75/2nd Round	Weaver’s underwhelming physical traits may have caused a precipitous slide in the draft, but his skill at flipping his hips resulted in ascending sack production each year in school. He has to improve defending the run.
6 (185)	Blake Ferguson	6’3 229 LS-LSU	573/7th Round	Ferguson- the nation’s No. 1 long snapper coming out of high school- more than lived up to his recruiting hype. The two-time team captain is capable of speeding up his long snaps versus pressure looks.
7 (246)	Malcolm Perry	5’9 186 All-Purpose-Navy	277/4th Round	Perry rushed for over 2,000 yards as an option quarterback in 2019, but he earned plenty of repetitions for the Midshipmen as a slot back and WR during his career. Aside from averaging 21.4 yards per catch on 22 receptions, he also averaged 24.6 yards per kickoff return.

Miami Dolphins fifth-round pick Curtis Weaver finished his career as the all-time leader in sacks (34) in Mountain West Conference history.

New England Patriots	Notable pick: Jennings didn’t dominate rushing the passer in school, but he did dominate in other ways. His 18 pass breakups are an eye-opening total for an outside linebacker.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
2 (37)	Kyle Dugger	6’1 217 S-Lenoir-Rhyne	36/2nd Round	Dugger has all of the tools to develop into a multi-purpose weapon for the Patriots defense. If needed, he can play linebacker, a big nickel, off the hash safety and even return kicks. As the team continues to redefine its size in the secondary, the former Division II All-American seems like the perfect fit.
2 (60)	Josh Uche	6’1 245 LB-Michigan	70/2nd Round	For a player as talented as Uche, he didn’t play as much as one would have expected at Michigan. When he did finally hit the field full-time in 2019, the physical skills stood out.
3 (87)	Anfernee Jennings	6’2 256 OLB-Alabama	107/3rd Round	Jennings brings more versatility to the table than some anticipate and his hand-eye coordination is elite. While not a finished product as a pass rusher, he has an innate feel for rushing from multiple spots.
3 (91)	Devin Asiasi	6’3 257 TE-UCLA	197/4th Round	Asiasi averaged 104 receiving yard per game in the last three games of ihs career at UCLA. He is capable of working the seams of the field.
3 (101)	Dalton Keene	6’4 253 TE-Virginia Tech	137/3^rd Round	As Keene improved as a blocker, his receiving skills did not diminish. He has handled a number of his blocking assignments on the move. His straight-line speed and upside after the catch ranks as a positive for the Patriots.
5 (159)	Justin Rohrwasser	6’3 230 PK-Marshall	N/A	Rohrwasser’s leg strength is adequate but his accuracy (just nine missed field goals in two years) was perhaps more impressive. Most of his misses during school came in the latter portion of seasons. He is capable of placing the ball directionally on kickoffs.
6 (182)	Michael Onwenu	6’3 344 Michigan	203/4th Round	A true road-grading offensive guard with power, Onwenu’s 11-inch hands are hard to get away from once he gains grasp of the opponent. The former DL has the mindset to dominate opponents, but he has to keep his weight under control.
6 (195)	Justin Herron	6’4 308 OG-Wake Forest	151/3rd Round	Herron- a collegiate left tackle- impressed during the 2020 Senior Bowl with his work at offensive guard. He provides the team with positional flex capability due to outstanding feet.
6 (204)	Caash Maluia	6’0 248 LB-Wyoming	N/A	Maluia is thick enough to handle being uncovered, and he was a four-year contributor in a number of facets for the Cowboys.
7 (230)	Dustin Woodard	6’2 291 OC-Memphis	478/6th Round	The team has had success with smaller offensive guards and centers in the past. The reason? Mobility. Woodard was effective on the move as a puller way back in 2016, when he played guard.

New England Patriots sixth-round pick Cassh Maluia posted seven tackles for loss and intercepted two passes for the Cowboys in 2019.

New York Jets	Notable picks: Davis brings capability to the Jets in multi-dimensional nickel packages. If he can play off the hash, then the Jets will be able to move around multi-dimensional safety Jamal Adams even more down-to-down.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (11)	Mekhi Becton	6’7 364 OT-Louisville	1/1^st Round	Becton will be tasked with the huge responsibility of keeping starting QB Sam Darnold comfortable in the pocket. If he can execute the task, then he could soon be a Pro Bowler.
2 (59)	Denzel Mims	6’3 207 WR-Baylor	42/2nd Round	Mims may not have gone as high as he would have liked to go in the draft, but he now has a legitimate chance to turn into a team’s top receiving threat early in his career. He is a good alternative in the current lineup of Jets receivers.
3 (68)	Ashtyn Davis	6’1 202 S-Cal	99/3rd Round	Davis’ foot speed shined as a kickoff returner and when running down plays in pursuit. One of the best things he did at Cal was disguise coverage in a scheme that has some similarities to the Jets.
3 (79)	Jabari Zuniga	6’3 253 DE-Florida	182/4th Round	While Zuniga did move around effectively in school on a number of downs, he is going to get every opportunity to do some work from a stand-up or three-point position in Gregg Williams’ multitude of defensive looks. Staying healthy, which he didn’t do in 2019, is a big key.
4 (120)	Lamical Perine	5’11 216 RB-Florida	146/3rd Round	Perine’s tools include the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield effortlessly. Combined with his hard-charging style, he could become a nice change-up for Le’Veon Bell.
4 (125)	James Morgan	6’4 228 QB-FIU	127/3rd Round	Morgan’s mental aptitude is perhaps on par with his physical tools. His arm strength gives him a legitimate opportunity to battle David Fales for the team’s backup spot.
4 (129)	Cameron Clark	6’4 308 OT-Charlotte	126/3rd Round	The two-time team captain and 35-game starter is an impressive run blocker who is still growing as a pass protector. The 6-foot-4-inch tackle has 11-inch hands and an 83-inch wingspan. We think he can backup at least four spots on the offensive line while competing for a starting spot at guard.
5 (158)	Bryce Hall	6’1 202 CB-Virginia	105/3rd Round	Hall’s instincts as a corner are first-rate but he wasn’t able to answer the questions about recovery speed in the postseason due to still recovering from midseason surgery on a broken fibula. The effectiveness of his playing style will depend on his eye control.
6 (191)	Braden Mann	5’11 198 P-Texas A&M	335/5th Round	His spiral punts get into the 70-yard distances when he gets hold of punts and his hang times have gotten into the 4.8-second range in the film viewed. A good athlete, Mann saved a TD on a kickoff return by Alabama’s Henry Ruggs III in 2019 and posted seven tackles this past season. Mann has to get better as a directional punter.

New York Jets second-round pick Denzel Mims posted 1,000-yard receiving seasons in two of his final three seasons at Baylor.

NFL, Articles, 2020, 2020, NFL Draft Recap, NFC South

2020 NFL Draft recap: NFC South

April 28, 2020 Corey Chavous Leave a comment

Carolina Panthers	Notable pick: Gross-Matos has a chance to benefit from one-on-one opportunities as the Panthers continue to diversify its defensive front. He and 2019 first-round pick Brian Burns could become bookends on the outside edges.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (7)	Derrick Brown	6’4 326 DT-Auburn	10/1st Round	Brown won’t necessarily provide an immediate pass rush upgrade over the since-departed Gerald McCoy. He will, however, provide immediate returns as a defender who will require double teams at nearly 330 pounds. His range belies that of a player in his weight class.
2 (38)	Yetur Gross-Matos	DE-Penn State	14/2nd Round	Gross-Matos is young and probably hasn’t come close to tapping his unlimited potential. For him to do, he has to improve affecting the three-step passing game once his pass rush has been stymied.
2 (64)	Jeremy Chinn	6’3 221 DB-Southern Illinois	39/2nd Round	Chinn moved around in school but his value can come as a multi-purpose safety. He has the skills to cover tight ends. His most impressive characteristic is the ability to close from the inside-out on out-breaking patterns. At 221 pounds, he has to get better at not settling his feet in one-on-one coverage.
4 (113)	Troy Pride, Jr.	6’2 202 CB-Notre Dame	201/4th Round	Pride closes routes from the outside-in, runs extremely well and is frequently in good position. The next step involves finishing in those moments.
5 (152)	Kenny Robinson	6’2 202 S-West Virginia	N/A	Robinson is another safety with special teams value and above average range. His biggest knock at West Virginia was the occasional missed one-on-one tackle, something he largely improved as a St. Louis Battlehawk in the XFL.
6 (184)	Brayvion Roy	6’1 333 DT-Baylor	241/4th Round	Roy was often lauded by the Baylor coaching staff (now in Carolina) for his pure power. The former Bear is tough to move but his lack of length caused him to fall to Day 3 of the draft process.
7 (221)	Stantley Thomas-Oliver III	6’0 192 CB-FIU	167/3rd Round	We think Thomas-Oliver III has an outside shot of making the team because of his upside in man coverage. The former WR caught 35 passes for 486 yards in 2016 for FIU.

Atlanta Falcons	Notable picks: For the Falcons to spend a seventh-round pick on Hofrichter underscores the importance of the kicking game. Hofrichter’s strong leg can travel outside, but he tallied 72 punts of 50-plus yards in school. Can he handle kickoff duties?
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (16)	A.J. Terrell	6’1 195 CB-Clemson	34/2^nd Round	Terrell made his mark at Clemson by playing a large majority of man coverage. Although he gave up some plays, his short memory makes him a fit at the position.
2 (47)	Marlon Davidson	6’3 303 DT-Auburn	40/2nd Round	Davidson can basically play any of the four defensive line spots but may project as a legitimate three-technique on third downs. His work off the edge has been very good in the run game and pedestrian as a pass rusher.
3 (78)	Matt Hennessy	6’4 302 OC-Temple	52/2^nd Round	Hennessy has outstanding lateral agility, average pop and good range. This is a pick for the near future with Alex Mack still in the fold at center. It may give time for Hennessy to get stronger and provide depth at the three interior line spots.
4 (119)	Mykal Walker	6’3 230 OLB-Fresno State	3rd Round	Walker’s work in school was often as a Rush OLB, but he will get the opportunity to develop as an exchange LB with the hope that he can provide immediate special teams coverage value. His work in the postseason at the exchange LB spot improved his draft stock.
4 (134)	Jaylinn Hawkins	6’2 208 S-Cal	4th Round	Hawkins -a former WR- continued to improve filling as a tackler (see vs. Kelley, UCLA ’19). The ball skills show up in some downfield moments, but his angles have been inconsistent.

Atlanta Falcons first-round pick A.J. Terrell (No. 8 pictured) was frequently given man-to-man assignments in Clemson’s defense.

7 (228)

Sterling Hofrichter

5’10 196
P-Syracuse

462/6th Round

After the Falcons released longtime punter Matt Bosher during the offseason, there was an opening for a punter/kickoff specialist. Hofrichter did both well during his stay at Syracuse.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Notable pick: Vaughn’s impact at Vanderbilt goes beyond the numbers. His contact balance, receiving skills and underrated long speed could be the jolt the Buccaneers need in the running game.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (13)	Tristan Wirfs	6’5 320 OT-Iowa	8/1st Round	Wirfs has All-Pro potential as an OG or OT, but most likely projects on the edges. He was more dominant a run blocker than pass protector.
2 (45)	Antoine Winfield, Jr.	5’9 203 S-Minnesota	19/2nd Round	Winfield, Jr. was a solid nickel back earlier in his career, but injuries stopped his charge. He put it all together as a safety in 2019 and -if healthy- the best may be yet to come. He is entering a young, crowded defensive backfield that will benefit from his competitive nature.
3 (76)	Ke’Shawn Vaughn	5’10 214 RB-Vanderbilt	65/2nd Round	Vaughn’s productivity (back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons), quickness, field speed and balance were undone by nagging injury problems. He played his best against the best competition in school.
5 (161)	Tyler Johnson	6’1 206 WR-Minnesota	156/4^th Round	Johnson finished his storied career with 33 receiving TDs. There are questions about his short-striding nature and ball security, but none concerning strength.
6 (194)	Khalil Davis	6’1 308 DT-Nebraska	144/3rd Round	Davis played some at DE and DT in school, but his natural NFL position will be inside. The all-conference track & field thrower’s 4.79 speed didn’t consistently show up down-to-down, but he impressed the last two seasons.
7 (241)	Chappelle Russell	6’2 236 LB-Temple	296/4^th Round	Russell’s movement and play speed in 2019 made it seem as if his knee injuries were a thing of the past.
7 (245)	Raymond Calais	All-purpose/Louisiana-Lafayette	370/5^th Round	In 49 career games, Calais averaged nearly eight yards per carry. In addition, he was one of the draft ‘s

Tampa Bay Buccaneers first-round pick Tristan Wirfs posted the second-best all-time mark in the state of Iowa in the shot put (66-3 1/4).

New Orleans Saints	Notable Pick: Trautman has a chance to develop into a very good NFL tight end. He runs routes like a wide receiver and offers flex potential. He may have an opportunity to steal repetitions from incumbent No. 2 tight end Josh Hill.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (24)	Cesar Ruiz	6’3 307 OC-Michigan	31/2nd Round	Ruiz has all of the requisite tools to get to and complete most of his assignments. He has to finish blocks with more tenacity in order to become the player the team envisions.
3 (74)	Zack Baun	6’3 238 LB-Wisconsin	16/2^nd Round	Baun was often lauded as one of the Big Ten’s best pass rushers over the last two seasons, but the former Badger also found time to pick off two passes (TD) and showed upside in pass coverage.
3 (105)	Adam Trautman	6’5 255 TE-Dayton	128/3^rd Round	Trautman’s 6.78 3-cone time at the 2020 NFL Combine ranked as one of the more impressive testing numbers during the postseason.
4 (120)	Tommy Stevens	6’4 237 QB/All-purpose-Mississippi State	430/5th Round	If Saints fans want to envision a possible role for Stevens, look no further than how former Penn State OC and Mississippi State HC Joe Moorhead used him as a Nittany Lion. It could be his path to making the roster. He averaged 6.7 yards per carry with 8 TDs in a slash-type role in Happy Valley.

New Orleans Saints third-round pick Adam Trautman, pictured, averaged a touchdown catch every 5.74 receptions in school.

NFL, Articles, 2020, 2020, DraftNasty Throwbacks (Videos, Photos, Articles), NFL Draft Recap, AFC South

2020 NFL Draft recap: AFC South

April 27, 2020 Corey Chavous Leave a comment

Houston Texans	Notable pick: The team drafted Tytus Howard in the first round a season ago and recently re-signed Laremy Tunsil to an extension. Thus the selection of former UNC OT Charlie Heck means the team is seeking quality depth on the edges. At 6-foot-8, can he provide depth at OG?
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
2 (40) acquired from Arizona	Ross Blacklock	6’4 290 DT-TCU	47/2nd Round	Blacklock’s quickness and natural agility shined in his 2019 return from injury. The former Big 12 co-Freshman of the Year regained his form and provides the Texans with the ability to play two-to-three different positions down-to-down.
3 (90)	Jonathan Greenard	6’3 262 DE-Florida	129/3^rd Round	Greenard (VIDEO) played with his hand in the dirt or from a two-point standup position in school. This fits the scheme-diverse system the Texans employ.
4 (126)	Charlie Heck	6’7 311 OT-UNC	78/2^nd Round	Heck (VIDEO) benefited from a solid postseason and strong pre-draft workouts. The big key for Heck will be sitting in the chair.
4 (141) Acquired from Miami	John Reid	5’10 187 CB-NB- Penn State	70/2^nd round	Reid is the latest in the line of Penn State defensive backs to get an opportunity in the NFL. The former four-star recruit from St. Joseph’s Prep School (Pa.) got his hand on 33 passes during his career.
5 (171)	Isaiah Coulter	6’2 198 WR-Rhode Island	98/3^rd Round	Coulter -a junior-entry- improved his draft stock by running in the mid-4.4s at the 2020 NFL Combine. He is fluid in-and-out of routes.

Indianapolis Colts	Notable pick: In our estimation, Blackmon (VIDEO) was the Utes’ top defensive back over the course of the last two seasons. If he can recover adequately from a late season ACL tear, this pick could provide long-term dividends.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
2 (34) from Washington	Michael Pittman, Jr.	6’4 223 WR-USC	74/2^nd Round	Pittman (VIDEO) has a unique combination of size and physical skills. Quite capable of competing in either the slot or the outside lanes. Over 2,500 receiving yards and 17 tackles on special teams.
2 (41) from Cleveland	Jonathan Taylor	5’11 226 RB-Wisconsin	26/2nd Round	Taylor’s ball security issues have been well-documented but he did improve markedly as a receiver out of the backfield in 2019. One of the more impressive areas of his development was the potential he showed in the screen game.
3 (85) from Detroit through Cleveland	Julian Blackmon	6’0 187 S-Utah	106/3^rd Round	Blackmon was an All-Pac-12 caliber cornerback before making a smooth transition to the safety spot. Aside from the late season injury, he needed to do a more consistent job of monitoring his angles off the hash. Overall, a very good prospect.
4 (122)	Jacob Eason	6’5 229 QB-Washington, Georgia	69/2^nd Round	Eason’s lukewarm performance during his one year at Washington didn’t do much to extinguish the flames of those who felt he needed another year in school. He did have some success at Georgia. Learning from Philip Rivers could be the recipe for the former five-star recruit.
5 (149)	Danny Pinter	6’4 302 OG-Ball State	97/3rd Round	Pinter played well versus NC State in 2019 and those types of performances went a long way in him getting drafted here. He fits the team’s scheme.
6 (193)	Robert Windsor	6’4 290 DT-Penn State	234/4th Round	Windsor provides options as a third down pass rusher. If he can clean up some balance issues, he has a chance to make the roster.
6 (211)	Isaiah Rodgers	5’10 175 CB/All-purpose-UMass	269/4th Round	Rodgers ran in the high 4.2-to-low 4.3-range in a virtual Pro Day leading up to the draft. His work on the field reading routes and returning kicks was largely just as impressive. Needs to make weight gains.
6 (212)	Dezmon Patmon	6’4 228 WR-Washington State	184/4th Round	Patmon is a physical wide receiver with a big frame, solid speed and decent quickness off the line of scrimmage. Concentration lapses foiled him at times. 12 career starts.

Former USC WR Michael Pittman was a terror on special teams during his time as a Trojan. In 2019, he caught 111 passes for 1,275 yards and 11 touchdowns.

6 (213)

Jordan Glasgow

6’0 220 S/LB-Michigan

429/5th Round

Glasgow’s value continued to trend in an upward manner for the Wolverines over a two-year period. His ability to blitz is complemented by excellent special teams capability.

Jacksonville Jaguars	Notable pick: The team is building a diverse set of cornerbacks, many of whom have quality size. Scott (5’9 185) -the team’s fourth-round selection- could provide options as a nickel back due to his willingness to mix it up as a tackler.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (9)	C.J. Henderson	6’1 204 CB-Florida	9/1^st Round	Henderson’s ball skills and ability to transition effectively in-and-out of his breaks made him a Top 10 pick. He has true No. 1 cornerback capability for a team that relied on Jalen Ramsey in that role for the better part of three seasons.
1 (20)	K’Lavon Chaisson	6’3 254 DE-LSU	86/2nd Round	Injury concerns aside, Chaisson can turn into a surfer off the edge with his bend. He did more than just rush the passer at LSU. Chaisson was at least adequate when dropping into coverage.
2 (42)	Laviska Shenault, Jr.	6’1 227 WR-Colorado	87/2nd Round	The Jaguars will look for Shenault, Jr. (in-game report, 10-6-18) to fill a number of roles on their football team in 2020. Much like he did at Colorado, expect to see him in the backfield, the slot and on the outside.
3 (73)	Davon Hamilton	6’4 320 DT-Ohio State	152/3rd Round	Hamilton has always shown strength at the point of attack, but he went a long way in 2019 of proving that he can perhaps develop into a competent pass rush artist. The Jaguars continue to diversify its defensive front.
4 (116)	Ben Bartch	6’6 310 OT-St. John’s (MN.)	164/3rd Round	Due to sub-standard length, Bartch will most likely get looks at an inside guard spot. The former tight end provides potential as a sixth or seventh offensive lineman on game day because he is a capable tackle.
4 (137)	Josiah Scott	5’9 185 CB-Michigan State	226/4th Round	Scott’s ability to mirror wide receivers in off-man coverage offset concerns about injury issues that surfaced in each of his first two years on campus. He started all 13 games as a junior.
4 (140)	Shaquille Quarterman	6’1 234 LB-Miami (Fla.)	51/2nd Round	Quarterman’s leadership capability has been influenced by mentor and former first-round pick Jon Beason (Panthers, Giants).
5 (157)	Daniel Thomas	5’10 215 S- Auburn	314/5th Round	Thomas plays with energy and closes ground on the field quickly; particularly when breaking forward on the action. He is strong, explosive and capable of filling a role as an eighth man in the box. Special teams production will determine if he earns a roster spot.

Former Colorado wide receiver Laviska Shenault, Jr. (pictured scoring vs. USC in 2019), rushed for seven touchdowns over the last two seasons. The Jaguars will look to get him involved in a number of ways this fall.

5 (165)	Collin Johnson	6’6 222 WR-Texas	138/3rd Round	To get a receiver with Johnson’s potential in Round 5 is a huge win for the team. If he can avoid the minor injury hiccups that seemed to stop him at times from truly becoming a dominant player, then the former Longhorn has a chance to make the roster. He is going to a team with a relatively deep receiving corps.
6 (189)	Jake Luton	6’6 224 QB-Oregon State, Idaho	232/4th Round	Luton has starting-caliber size, arm strength and toughness. The 2019 Mayo Clinic Comeback Player of the Year narrowly missed leading the Beavers to a bowl berth in 2019.
6 (206)	Tyler Davis	6’4 235 TE-Georgia Tech, UConn	N/A	Davis began his career as a big wide receiver at UConn and displayed excellent Red Zone capability as an outside receiver dating back to 2018 (see ECU ’18). He settled down at Georgia Tech in 2019.
7 (223)	Chris Claybrooks	6’0 176 CB/KR-Memphis	N/A	Despite playing in just nine games this past season, Claybrooks was explosive in the kickoff return game, averaged nearly 31 yards on 11 returns.

Tennessee Titans	Notable pick: Evans’ work ethic should not be dismissed. He shaved nearly a half-second off of his 100-meter time in high school in one year. Not only can he factor in the kickoff return game, he also is outstanding in the screen game.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (29)	Isaiah Wilson	6’6 350 OT-Georgia	96/3rd Round	Wilson served as perhaps the biggest Wildcat QB in the history of prep level football and once scored three touchdowns in a game. An improving pass blocker, he will provide immediate returns as a run blocker.
2 (61)	Kristian Fulton	6’0 201 CB-LSU	91/3rd Round	Fulton, a physical outside corner, allows the team to experiment with a number of different looks in their nickel/dime packages.
3 (93)	Darrynton Evans	5’10 203 All-purpose-Appalachian State	173/4th Round	Evans could prove to the perfect change-of-pace runner to give Derrick Henry a breather during games. He contributed over 4,600 all-purpose yards in school.
5 (174)	Larell Murchison	6’2 294 DT-NC State	44/2^nd Round	If you’re wondering why a player with a higher grade lasts this far, it is simple. Bunch production. Too much of Murchison’s productivity over a two-year period came in spots. His technique will be challenged by the Titans staff and the results could pay huge dividends. Effort is not the issue.
7 (224)	Cole McDonald	6’3 215	216/4th Round	McDonald’s inconsistency led to a benching at one point during the year. He has all of the tools a team desires in a backup and his size/athleticism closely mirrors that of Ryan Tannehill when he came out of school.
7 (243)	Chris Jackson	6’0 185 CB-Marshall	316/5th Round	Jackson’s competitiveness ranks at the top of his characteristics board. He contains a short memory after getting beaten. It doesn’t hurt that he got his hands on 52 passes during school (seven interceptions). The two-time Florida state champion hurdler enjoys man coverage.

Tennessee Titans third-round pick Darrynton Evans (No. 19 pictured in the 2016 Raycom Media Camelia Bowl, now wears No. 3) put up 20 repetitions at 225 pounds during the 2020 NFL Combine. He is a relentless worker who finished his career with 34 TDs three different ways (25 RUSH, 6 REC, 3 RET).

2020, NFL, Articles, 2020, NCAA FB, Articles, NFC North

Q&A with Chicago Bears DE Trevis Gipson: “Put in the work”

April 6, 2020 Troy Jefferson Leave a comment

Tulsa defensive end Trevis Gipson totaled 13 quarterback sacks in college and in 2019 doubled his sack production from four to eight. DraftNasty’s Corey Chavous caught up with Gipson (6’3, 259) during the 2020 Senior Bowl media day to discuss his favorite pass rush moves and the chances of improving his draft stock.

Chavous: You worked so much at the four-technique (DL) and oftentimes you play bigger than your size, what do you feel like this week offers in terms of showing you can be as an edge rusher?
Gipson: I feel like that will show my versatility to scouts and general managers that will be observing our practice. Like you said, I came in sometimes four-I (inside shade of tackle), four (head-up versus offensive tackle) or sometimes even five (outside shoulder of offensive tackle), but just being on that edge showing I can bull rush or speed rush, speed-to-power, just showing a lot of versatility in my pass rush. I feel like that will help my overall draft stock at the end of the day.

Gipson finished his Golden Hurricane career with 25.5 tackles for losses and eight forced fumbles.

Chavous: Some of our notes on you include the right-hand post from the left defensive end spot and then using that same arm to dip and make the 90-degree turn against Cincinnati this year. When you go against bigger tackles, like the guys you’ll face this week, do you feel like your long arms will allow you to get some extension away from these big tackles?
Gipson: I feel like it will. I have certain moves for certain tackles. Taller tackles I like to dip the corner or use my speed because they are longer than me. It all depends on what type of tackle I’m going against and just being able to turn that corner…wearing that down. That will open my opportunities to do the bull rush or power pass rushes overall.

Chavous: Do you think if you show here what you showed against other Power 5 teams that you could move up into the first round discussion?
Gipson: Most definitely, my confidence in myself is out of this roof. I feel like once I show them my pass rush is unstoppable in my opinion then it will help my draft stock. Overall, run-stopping, also, I feel like that will help me. Just dominating in all aspects man, that’s a part of my game plan. Of course everyone wants their draft stock to rise, but you’ve got put in the work to do it. That’s my first milestone and I’ll cross that coming this afternoon (here at the Senior Bowl).

Chavous: You kind of touched upon it, you’re a good run defender. That separates you from potentially some of the other players. Why is it such a commitment to you in terms of holding the point or being able to two-gap?
Gipson: In order to get to third down, you have to stop first and second.

Chavous: Yeah.
Gipson: I feel like I have more fun rushing the passer but I can’t do that unless I stop the run first. Of course delivering big hits….just enjoying the physicality of the game, that’s part of the reason I do it man. I love the game. You can’t take physicality or you can’t take running away from the game. Everybody is gonna run the ball. Some teams more than others…like Navy.

Chavous: Right, right.
Gipson: I didn’t get many pass rushes versus them (Navy).

Chavous: Protect your legs….(laughs).
Gipson: Ah man, I had blood coming down my shins and everything. It was crazy man. But stopping the run is a big part of getting to that third down and that’s what comes first. So I take that more serious.

Chavous: You kind of remind me of those guys who are multi-dimensional, like Za’Darius Smith or Preston Smith, the guys that play up in Green Bay. Guys who can play the run and rush the passer. Who do you pattern your game after at the next level? Maybe a guy where you say that kind of reminds me of myself a little bit. I can work on developing some of what he already has in his arsenal.
Gipson: I like to compare myself to Marcus Davenport (New Orleans Saints), he’s 6-foot-7 (6’6″). But just his story, coming out of UTSA, a small school, he was underlooked.

Chavous: He kind of rose up during this week (Senior Bowl) too, right?
Gibson: Yeah, he did and that’s my plan. Seeing him become the 14th overall pick, it just gave me nothing but hope and pride. I’m going to try and kill this week and show scouts what I can do. Overall, perform at a high level.

Chavous: Thanks a lot man, we enjoyed watching you play. Best of luck.
Gibson: Thanks a lot.

NFL, Articles, 2020

DraftNasty’s 2020 NFL Draft: Non-combine invite Big Board (TOP 300)

April 3, 2020 Tyre Gaines Leave a comment

In anticipation of Corey Chavous’ 2020 NFL Draft Guide/Free Agency recap (4/21/20), we give a sneak peek at many of the players featured in the publication. The number of prospects vying to be one of the 255 names called runs long and deep. Led by Colorado offensive lineman Arlington Hambright (No. 51 pictured), here is a list of players with draftable grades who hope to get into an NFL training camp this summer.

Rank	Player	Positions	School	Grade	Round
1	Arlington Hambright	OT-OG	Colorado, Oklahoma State	5.79	3rd Round
2	Kristian Wilkerson	WR	SE Missouri State	5.76	3rd Round
3	Xavier Jones	RB	SMU	5.67	4th Round
4	Kevin Dotson	OG	Louisiana-Lafayette	5.665	4th Round
5	Dayan Lake (Ghanwoloku)	CB-Nickel	BYU	5.65	4th Round
6	Tyler Hall	CB/All-Purpose	Wyoming	5.63	4th Round
7	Jalen McCleskey	WR	Tulane, Oklahoma State	5.61	4th Round
8	Luke Juriga	OC-OG	Western Michigan	5.605	4th Round
9	Julian Good-Jones	OC-OT	Iowa State	5.6	4th Round
10	Ben Ellefson	TE/H-back	North Dakota State	5.585	4th Round
11	Scotty Washington	WR	Wake Forest	5.57	4th Round
12	Ja’Marcus Bradley	WR	Louisiana-Lafayette	5.507	4th Round
13	Hasise Dubois	WR	Virginia	5.5	4th Round
14	Tyler Huntley	QB	Utah	5.46	4th Round
15	Jovante Moffatt	S	Middle Tennessee	5.46	4th Round
16	Dele Harding	LB	Illinois	5.44	4th Round
17	Kyahva Tezino	LB	San Diego State	5.43	4th Round
18	Brayvion Roy	DT	Baylor	5.43	4th Round
19	Josh Pearson	WR	Jacksonville State	5.42	4th Round
20	Javin White	S-LB	UNLV	5.411	4th Round
21	Chris Orr	LB	Wisconsin	5.41	4th Round
22	JoJo Ward	WR	Hawaii	5.365	4th Round
23	Joe Gaziano	DE-DT	Northwestern	5.352	4th Round
24	Patrick Nelson	S-LB	SMU	5.341	4th Round
25	Isaiah Rodgers	CB/All-Purpose	UMass	5.34	4th Round
26	Luc Barcoo	CB	San Diego State	5.332	4th Round
27	Rojesterman Farris II	CB	Hawaii	5.295	4th Round
28	Maurice Ffrench	WR	Pittsburgh	5.29	4th Round
29	Delontae Scott	DE-OLB	SMU	5.223	4th Round
30	Chris Tooley	CB-Nickel	Florida Atlantic	5.2	4th Round
31	Drew Richmond	OT	USC, Tennessee	5.19	5th Round
32	Charles Oliver	CB	Texas A&M	5.19	5th Round
33	Donell Stanley	OC-OG	South Carolina	5.19	5th Round
34	Myles Dorn	S	North Carolina	5.19	5th Round
35	Steven Gonzalez	OG	Penn State	5.185	5th Round
36	Evan Ksiezarczyk	OT	Buffalo	5.185	5th Round
37	Cam Gill	LB	Wagner	5.17	5th Round
38	Darrin Paulo	OT	Utah	5.17	5th Round
39	Chris Jackson	CB	Marshall	5.16	5th Round
40	Jared Mayden	S	Alabama	5.16	5th Round
41	Garrett Marino	DT	UAB	5.15	5th Round
42	Ron’Dell Carter	DE	James Madison	5.15	5th Round
43	Trevon McSwain	DT	Duke	5.14	5th Round
44	Daishawn Dixon	OG	San Diego State	5.134	5th Round
45	Isaiah Wright	All-Purpose	Temple	5.13	5th Round
46	Jovahn Fair	OG-OC	Temple	5.13	5th Round
47	Jordan Steckler	OT-OG	Northern Illinois	5.12	5th Round
48	Tyler Higby	OG-OC-OT	Michigan State	5.12	5th Round
49	Austin Edwards	DE	Ferris State	5.12	5th Round
50	Reggie Corbin	RB	Illinois	5.105	5th Round
51	Marcel Spears, Jr.	LB	Iowa State	5.1	5th Round
52	Jeremiah Dinson	S	Auburn	5.093	5th Round
53	Isiah Swann	CB	Dartmouth	5.09	5th Round
54	Jonah Williams	DE-DT	Weber State	5.085	5th Round
55	Mason Fine	QB	North Texas	5.08	5th Round
56	Jamal Parker	CB/All-Purpose	Kent State	5.08	5th Round
57	John Phillips	OG	Boston College	5.07	5th Round
58	Bryan Wright	LB	Cincinnati	5.065	5th Round
59	Kirk Merritt	WR	Arkansas State, Oregon, Texas A&M	5.061	5th Round
60	Kendall Hinton	All-Purpose	Wake Forest	5.05	5th Round
61	Michael Danna	DE	Michigan, CMU	5.05	5th Round
62	Nick Tiano	QB	Chattanooga, Mississippi State	5.04	5th Round
63	Elijah Riley	S-CB	Army	5.04	5th Round
64	Darius Bradwell	RB	Tulane	5.032	5th Round
65	George Campbell	WR	West Virginia, FSU	5.03	5th Round
66	Cameron Scarlett	All-Purpose	Stanford	5.03	5th Round
67	Shane Zylstra	WR	Minnesota State	5.03	5th Round
68	Tavien Feaster	RB	South Carolina, Clemson	5.01	5th Round
69	Josh Love	QB	San Jose State	5.01	5th Round
70	Nick Westbrook	WR	Indiana	5.005	5th Round
71	Josh Hammond	WR	Florida	4.97	5th Round
72	Chris Rowland	All-Purpose	Tennessee State	4.96	5th Round
73	Reid Sinnett	QB	San Diego	4.951	5th Round
74	Saiosi Mariner	WR	Utah State, Utah	4.95	5th Round
75	Brady Aiello	OT	Oregon	4.95	5th Round
76	Ledarius Mack	LB	Buffalo	4.95	5th Round
77	Reid Sinnett	QB	San Diego	4.941	5th Round
78	Sam Franklin	S-Nickel	Temple	4.94	5th Round
79	Bryce Huff	DE-OLB	Memphis	4.935	5th Round
80	Mason Kinsey	WR	Berry College	4.934	5th Round
81	Daniel Brown	CB	Nevada	4.933	5th Round
82	Chris Platt	WR	Baylor	4.93	5th Round
83	Rodney Smith	All-Purpose	Minnesota	4.92	5th Round
84	Chauncy Haney	DE-OLB	North Greenville	4.909	5th Round
85	Jason Huntley	All-Purpose	New Mexico State	4.905	5th Round
86	Jake Benzinger	OT	Wake Forest	4.88	5th Round
87	Branden Bowen	OT-OG	Ohio State	4.88	5th Round
88	Bryce Perkins	QB	Virginia	4.87	5th Round
89	Travis Bruffy	OT	Texas Tech	4.87	5th Round
90	Douglas Coleman III	S-Nickel	Texas Tech	4.87	5th Round
91	Tremari “T.J.” Brunson	LB	South Carolina	4.87	5th Round
92	Artavis Pierce	RB	Oregon State	4.87	5th Round
93	Bryce Sterk	DE-OLB	Montana State	4.87	5th Round
94	Koby Quansah	LB	Duke	4.87	5th Round
95	Juwan Washington	All-Purpose	San Diego State	4.855	5th Round
96	Ahmed Wagner	WR/TE/H-back	Kentucky	4.849	5th Round
97	Nigel Warrior	S	Tennessee	4.84	5th Round
98	Austin Hall	LB-Nickel	Memphis	4.84	5th Round
99	John Houston	LB	USC	4.83	5th Round
100	Farrod Green	TE/H-back	Mississippi State	4.83	5th Round
101	David Dowell	S	Michigan State	4.83	5th Round
102	Josh Thomas	S	Appalachian State	4.83	5th Round
103	Tyler Mabry	TE/H-back	Maryland	4.82	5th Round
104	Jordan Johnson	OC-OG	UCF	4.812	5th Round
105	Lucky Jackson	WR	Western Kentucky	4.804	5th Round
106	Christian Rozeboom	LB	South Dakota State	4.8	5th Round
107	Chris Williamson	NB-Safety	Minnesota	4.8	5th Round
108	Parnell Motley	CB	Oklahoma	4.75	5th Round
109	Jordan Glasgow	LB	Michigan	4.74	5th Round
110	Tommy Stevens	QB/H-Back	Mississippi State, Penn State	4.73	5th Round
111	Tyler Clark	DT-DE	Georgia	4.723	5th Round
112	Chris Williams	DT	Wagner	4.72	5th Round
113	Jordan Fehr	LB	Appalachian State	4.72	5th Round
114	Zack Johnson	OG	North Dakota State	4.68	6th Round
115	Jericho Flowers	CB-Nickel	UNLV	4.671	6th Round
116	Victor Johnson	OT	Appalachian State	4.67	6th Round
117	Johnathon Johnson	WR	Missouri	4.66	6th Round
118	Derrick Dillon	WR	LSU	4.65	6th Round
119	Brandon Walton	OT	FAU	4.65	6th Round
120	Micah Simon	WR	BYU	4.65	6th Round
121	Kayon Whitaker	DE-OLB	Maine	4.649	6th Round
122	Justin Polu	OT	UNLV	4.64	6th Round
123	Deshaunte Jones	WR	Iowa State	4.64	6th Round
124	Blake Lynch	S-LB-Nickel	Baylor	4.64	6th Round
125	Krys Barnes	LB	UCLA	4.63	6th Round
126	Javon Hagan	S	Ohio	4.63	6th Round
127	Sam Tecklenburg	OC-OG	Baylor	4.63	6th Round
128	Jared Hilbers	OT	Washington	4.62	6th Round
129	Gerold Bright	RB	Utah State	4.62	6th Round
130	Dustin Woodard	OC	Memphis	4.62	6th Round
131	Omari Cobb	LB	Marshall	4.62	5th Round
132	Greg Liggs	CB-S-Nickel	Elon	4.62	6th Round
133	Oluwole Betiku, Jr.	DE-OLB	Illinois	4.612	6th Round
134	Dominik Eberle	PK	Utah State	4.61	6th Round
135	Sean Pollard	OC-OT	Clemson	4.6	6th Round
136	Jace Whittaker	CB-Nickel	Arizona	4.6	6th Round
137	Tae Crowder	LB	Georgia	4.591	5th Round
138	JuJu Hughes	S-Nickel	Fresno State	4.59	6th Round
139	Rashad Robinson	DE	James Madison	4.589	6th Round
140	Kurt Rawlings	QB	Yale	4.58	6th Round
141	Will Sutherland	CB	Troy	4.58	6th Round
142	Elex Woodworth	OG-OT	North Texas	4.58	6th Round
143	Amari Henderson	CB	Wake Forest	4.57	6th Round
144	Adrian Killins	All-Purpose	UCF	4.57	6th Round
145	Moe Neal	RB	Syracuse	4.565	6th Round
146	Gage Cervenka	OG-OC	Clemson	4.56	6th Round
147	Joey Banks	S	Buffalo	4.56	6th Round
148	Cody Grace	P	Arkansas State	4.56	6th Round
149	Adrian Magee	OG-OT	LSU	4.554	6th Round
150	Zach Shackelford	OC	Texas	4.55	6th Round
151	Stanley Green	S	Illinois	4.55	6th Round
152	Joseph McWilliams	CB-Nickel	Grambling State	4.55	6th Round
153	Tershawn Warton	DT-DE	Missouri S&T	4.54	6th Round
154	Tre’vour Wallace-Simms	OG	Missouri	4.54	6th Round
155	Seth Dawkins	WR	Louisville	4.54	6th Round
156	P.J. Hall	S-Nickel	Tulane	4.534	6th Round
157	Keith Washington II	CB	West Virginia, Michigan	4.53	6th Round
158	Doug Costin	DT	Miami (OH.)	4.53	6th Round
159	Jacob Knipp	QB	Northern Colorado	4.51	6th Round
160	Brendon Hayes	DT-DE	UCF	4.5	6th Round
161	Robert “BB” Landers	DT	Ohio State	4.5	6th Round
162	Kirk Livingstone	DE-DT	USF	4.493	6th Round
163	Benny Walls II	S	Temple	4.49	6th Round
164	Nathan Rourke	QB	Ohio	4.48	6th Round
165	DeMarkus Acy	CB	Missouri	4.48	6th Round
166	Cedric Byrd II	WR	Hawaii	4.48	6th Round
167	Desmond Franklin	S	Appalachian State	4.48	6th Round
168	Dalton Schoen	WR	Kansas State	4.47	6th Round
169	Kekoa Nawahine	S	Boise State	4.47	6th Round
170	Michael Jacquet III	CB	Louisiana-Lafayette	4.46	6th Round
171	Teair Tart	DT-DE	FIU	4.46	6th Round
172	Marcus Pettiford	OC-OT	North Carolina A&T	4.453	6th Round
173	Marquell Harrell	OG	Auburn	4.44	6th Round
174	Alex Turner	DT-DE	ECU	4.43	6th Round
175	Parker Houston	FB/TE/LS/H-back	San Diego State	4.424	6th Round
176	Bryce Meeker	OT	Iowa State	4.42	6th Round
177	Debione Renfro	CB	Texas A&M	4.41	6th Round
178	James Lockhart	DE-OLB	Baylor	4.41	6th Round
179	Boss Tagaloa	OC	UCLA	4.404	6th Round
180	Rashad Smith	LB	FAU	4.4	6th Round
181	Aleva Hifo	All-Purpose	BYU	4.4	6th Round
182	Adonis Davis	CB	Abilene Christian	4.4	6th Round
183	Chad Smith	LB	Clemson	4.39	6th Round
184	Julius Lewis	CB-Nickel	TCU	4.38	6th Round
185	Tucker McCann	PK-P	Missouri	4.373	6th Round
186	Noah Togiai	TE/H-back	Oregon State	4.372	6th Round
187	Dieter Eiselen	OG	Yale	4.37	6th Round
188	Leo Lewis	LB	Mississippi State	4.37	6th Round
189	Manny Patterson	CB	Maine	4.37	6th Round
190	Cole Christiansen	LB	Army	4.37	6th Round
191	Antonio Jones-Davis	LB	Northern Illinois	4.36	6th Round
192	Frederick Mauigoa	OC	Washington State	4.34	6th Round
193	Perry Young	LB	Cincinnati	4.34	6th Round
194	Gabe Sewell	LB	Nevada	4.33	6th Round
195	Javon Mosley	OT	New Mexico	4.32	6th Round
196	Brandon Kemp	OT	Valdosta State	4.31	6th Round
197	Blake Brandel	OT	Oregon State	4.31	6th Round
198	Brandon Heicklen	P	San Diego State, Boise State	4.306	6th Round
199	Jonathan Ward	RB	Central Michigan	4.29	6th Round
200	Jordan Williams	LB	Baylor	4.289	6th Round
201	Garrett Taylor	S	Penn State	4.28	6th Round
202	Nate Evans	LB	UCF	4.27	6th Round
203	Case Cookus	QB	Northern Arizona	4.27	6th Round
204	Kash Daniel	LB	Kentucky	4.267	6th Round
205	Khalil Tate	QB	Arizona	4.24	6th Round
206	Dom Maggio	P	Wake Forest	4.227	6th Round
207	John Daka	LB	James Madison	4.2	6th Round
208	Mike Panasiuk	DT	Michigan State	4.19	7th Round
209	Jake Fruhmorgen	OC-OT	Baylor, Clemson	4.19	7th Round
210	Jameson Houston	CB	Baylor	4.186	7th Round
211	Donavan Hale	WR	Indiana	4.18	7th Round
212	Marcus Keyes	OG	Oklahoma State	4.17	7th Round
213	Ray Lima	DT	Iowa State	4.164	7th Round
214	Devin Studstill	S	USF, Notre Dame	4.16	7th Round
215	Amir Watts	DT	Pittsburgh	4.16	7th Round
216	KiAnte Hardin	All-Purpose	Pittsburg State, Minnesota	4.16	7th Round
217	Jordan Cronkrite	RB	USF, Florida	4.15	7th Round
218	Ben DiNucci	QB	James Madison	4.15	7th Round
219	David Reese II	LB	Florida	4.15	7th Round
220	Morgan James	OG	Cincinnati	4.15	7th Round
221	Perry Young	LB	Cincinnati	4.15	7th Round
222	Sage Lewis	LB	FIU	4.145	7th Round
223	Ahmere Dorsey	All-Purpose	Rhode Island	4.143	7th Round
224	Riley Stapleton	WR/H-back	James Madison	4.14	7th Round
225	Lavonta Taylor	S-CB-Nickel	FSU	4.14	7th Round
226	Jaquarius Landrews	S	Mississippi State	4.13	7th Round
227	Solomon Matautia	LB	Hawaii	4.13	7th Round
228	Andre Baccellia	WR	Washington	4.12	7th Round
229	Parker Braun	OG	Texas, Georgia Tech	4.091	7th Round
230	Levi Brown	OC	Marshall	4.09	7th Round
231	Jake Brown	OC-OG	UCF	4.08	7th Round
232	Kobe Smith	DT	South Carolina	4.08	7th Round
233	Jake Nelson	OG-OT	Nevada	4.08	7th Round
234	T.J. Carter	DT-DE	Kentucky	4.08	7th Round
235	Monquavion Brinson	CB	Georgia Southern	4.08	7th Round
236	Takeke Lewis	CB	Utah	4.07	7th Round
237	Ty Phillips	DT	Georgia Southern	4.07	7th Round
238	Austin Lee	S	BYU	4.062	7th Round
239	Greg Reaves	LB	USF	4.057	7th Round
240	Devin Cates	TE/H-back	Drake	4.05	7th Round
241	Reggie Floyd	S	Virginia Tech	4.04	7th Round
242	Delrick Abrams, Jr.	CB	Colorado	4.04	7th Round
243	Jeremy Smith	CB	Arkansas State	4.04	7th Round
244	Breiden Fehoko	DT	LSU	4.02	7th Round
245	Sam Sloman	PK	Miami (OH.)	4.01	7th Round
246	Kevin Thurmon	DT-DE	Arkansas State	4.01	7th Round
247	Nicholas Kaltmeyer	OT	Kansas State	3.99	7th Round
248	Garrett Larson	OC	Boise State	3.97	7th Round
249	Jarius Morehead	S	NC State	3.96	7th Round
250	Tyrique McGhee	CB-Nickel	Georgia	3.96	7th Round
251	Allen Stallings IV	DE-OLB	Indiana	3.95	7th Round
252	Austin Capps	OG	Arkansas	3.95	7th Round
253	Adam Holtorf	OC	Kansas State	3.93	7th Round
254	Marcus Norman	OT	USF	3.926	7th Round
255	Reggie Walker	DE-OLB	Kansas State	3.9	7th Round
256	Deondre Francois	QB	Hampton, FSU	3.9	7th Round
257	Hakeem Bailey	CB	West Virginia	3.89	7th Round
258	Deshawn McClease	RB	Virginia Tech	3.89	7th Round
259	Scott Frantz	OT	Kansas State	3.89	7th Round
260	Luther Kirk	S	Illinois State	3.882	7th Round
261	Cooper Rothe	PK	Wyoming	3.87	7th Round
262	Kendall Futrell	LB	ECU	3.87	7th Round
263	Jake Hartbarger	P	Michigan State	3.845	7th Round
264	Alex Kinney	P	Colorado	3.84	7th Round
265	Romeo Finley	LB	Miami (Fla.)	3.83	7th Round
266	Johnny Wilson	OC	Oklahoma State	3.82	7th Round
267	Jonathan Wilson	DE-DT	Memphis	3.81	7th Round
268	Michael Farkas	P	Ohio	3.79	7th Round
269	Asmar Bilal	LB	Notre Dame	3.79	7th Round
270	Da’Quan Patton	LB	Kansas State	3.78	7th Round
271	Anthony McKinney	OT	TCU	3.748	7th Round
272	Ethan Aguayo	LB	San Jose State	3.73	7th Round
273	Steve Nielsen	OT	Eastern Michigan	3.72	7th Round
274	Tyler Mitchell	OG	Kansas State	3.705	7th Round
275	Mitch Brott	OT	Montana State	3.66	7th Round
276	Adam Shuler II	DT-DE	West Virginia, Florida	3.643	7th Round
277	Carter Stanley	QB	Kansas	3.64	7th Round
278	David Moa	DT-DE	Boise State	3.638	7th Round
279	Kyle Hinton	OG	Washburn	3.6	7th Round
280	Matt Ammendola	PK	Oklahoma State	3.59	7th Round
281	Jaron Bryant	CB	Fresno State	3.59	7th Round
282	Paul Nosworthy	OG	Buffalo, Grambling State	3.59	7th Round
283	Christopher Unga	DT-NG	Utah State	3.554	7th Round
284	Benning Potoa’e	DT-DE	Washington	3.54	7th Round
285	Louis Zervos	PK	Ohio	3.53	7th Round
286	Evan Adams	OG	Syracuse	3.49	Free Agent
287	Colby Gore	CB	ECU	3.49	Free Agent
288	Josh Brown	OT	College of Idaho	3.485	Free Agent
289	Darnell Salomon	WR	USF	3.48	Free Agent
290	Trey Dishon	DT	Kansas State	3.48	Free Agent
291	Michael Witherspoon	CB	ECU	3.48	Free Agent
292	Joel Whitford	P	Washington	3.475	Free Agent
293	Eric Quevedo	OG	Boise State	3.47	Free Agent
294	Jesse Osuna	LB	San Jose State	3.46	Free Agent
295	Steven “Buckshot” Calvert	QB	Liberty	3.46	Free Agent
296	Deondre Farrier	WR	ECU	3.45	Free Agent
297	Cody Creason	OG	Arizona	3.45	Free Agent
298	Myles Cheatum	DT-DE	San Diego State	3.441	Free Agent
299	Gus Lavaka	OG	Oregon State	3.44	Free Agent
300	Steven Miller	OG	Arizona State	3.43	Free Agent
301	Blake Cusick	P	Fresno State	3.41	Free Agent
302	Mike Lee	S	Kansas	3.403	Free Agent
303	DJ Williams	CB-Nickel	Utah State	3.37	Free Agent
304	Mike Horton	OG	Auburn	3.37	Free Agent
305	Jalen Price	DT-DE	ECU	3.35	Free Agent
306	Reakwon Jones	LB	Indiana	3.31	Free Agent
307	Cooper Edmiston	LB	Tulsa	3.28	Free Agent
308	Pat Bethel	DT	Miami (Fla.)	3.27	Free Agent
309	Reggie Gilliam	TE/H-back	Toledo
310	Devin King	LS	Ohio

2020, NFL, Articles, 2020, NCAA FB, Articles, AFC West

Q&A with former Utah State PK Dominik Eberle: “It’s always about the next kick”

March 31, 2020 Corey Chavous Leave a comment

Former Utah State kicker Dominick Eberle set a new Mountain West Conference all-time mark for field goals when he hit four goals versus Wyoming in 2019. He also aced a game-winning field goal against Fresno State in 2019. Despite being a Lou Groza Award finalist in 2017, he dealt with a career-defining low point in the 2017 Arizona Bowl. DraftNasty’s Corey Chavous caught up with Eberle during the week of the 2020 East-West Shrine Bowl to talk about redemption, technique and confidence.

Corey: I want to take you to a game a couple years back. The Arizona Bowl (2017). That game. What did you feel like it did for you….the learning experience? Talk about that moment and how you built from that.
Eberle: That moment is something where I truly felt like I let my teammates down. I felt like I didn’t perform to the best of my abilities and it wasn’t gonna be something that I was gonna be remembered for. That was gonna be something where it has happened, but the learning experience from that, really challenging myself to whatever accolades came before that didn’t matter, because that was the last game I had played in. So I really wanted to make sure that that bitter taste out of my mouth kinda came out of that. Because just through hard work, really focusing on what I can do better and what I can control, that was something that I learned a lot from it and wanted to just consistently improve on every single day. And those are the lessons that you need as a kicker. You need to be mentally tough, you need to be able to just focus on the next kick because what happened doesn’t matter anymore. It shapes who you are but it doesn’t matter anymore. It’s always about the next kick. And that’s kind of the mentality that I took this year as well. It doesn’t matter if I made three field goals already, the fourth one, the next one is really the one I focused on. Just taking it one kick at a time.

Utah State’s Dominik Eberle made 79-percent of his field goals in school and never missed an extra point.

Corey: I think you were like 18-of-22 (16-of-18) going into that game (2017 Arizona Bowl) or something like that. It was kind of crazy just how efficient you had been. Big reason the team was even in the bowl game, right? But did you find yourself punching at the ball in that game? What was it technically that you learned from it?
Eberle: From that game, I was wrapping around the ball a lot. If you look at the seam, I was hitting so far on the right seam where even though I had distance on it, it was just kind of shoot off your foot with a weird left rotation and spin out to the left of the upright. And that’s what I did on three of the field goals that game. And the very last one, I really just punched at it, it went right, hit the upright. That’s something where I looked at it where it was sometimes just trusting your technique isn’t enough. Sometimes you’ve gotta be really able to not revamp it, but add certain things that can help you. So what I did going into the next season (2018) was really following through straight and using my momentum, similar to Justin Tucker’s, to carry myself through the ball straight and have my hips pointing right at my target. That’s something that I worked with cone drills, just kicking the ball into the net. And that’s something where every single day I’m kinda working at that getting that consistency right through my target.

Corey: And talk a little bit about that. For placekickers, the target line is a big deal. That target line is really where you’re trying to get the ball to and in that sense, that’s really what you’re talking about from an explanation standpoint, right?
Eberle: Exactly. For us, when we’re facing our building side right between the S and T or the K and the S for Maverik Stadium (Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium, Utah State’s home field), small little gap. That’s something we’re always aiming at. It’s high up and everybody can see it and that’s my target line. So whenever I hit in that Allstate Hands (kicking net) or something, right down my target line. That’s something I always focus on in practice, whether it’s here (Tropicana Field, East-West Shrine Bowl), when I’m looking above you can kinda see the Tropicana Field. That’s something where I’m aiming at and really know if my ball is truly where I was gonna hit it.

Corey: One of the best kickers in Mountain West history. If there is one thing you feel good about translating the next level what would it be? In terms of moving forward to the next level. You’ve kicked off, are you going to be a touchback kicker in the NFL?
Eberle: I can certainly improve on kickoffs. The scheme was different this year (2019) than it was last year (2018: 64-percent touchback percentage). We tried to play the ball around a little bit more, steal a possession here or there, so my touchback percentages might of not have been near as similar…

Utah State PK Dominik Eberle, pictured, became the sixth player in NCAA history to kick three 50-yard field goals when he connected on three 51-yarders versus New Mexico State in 2018.

Corey: Sky kicks.
Eberle: Exactly. Sky kicks, little pooch kicks.

Corey: Hang times to sometimes get a fair catch?
Eberle: Exactly. So that was kinda what we were working with this year rather than just telling me to boot the ball out of the end zone. I know I can do that but I’m more of a team player. Realizing against LSU we had a little pooch kick over to about the 30-yard line where we knew the guy wasn’t experienced catching the ball and maybe steal a fumble. So we pooched the ball over and he fumbled it but he recovered it rather than us. That is where I realized that can just as much of a weapon as just kicking the ball out of the end zone.

Corey: You talked about Justin Tucker (Baltimore Ravens) earlier, who were some of the other kickers that you study at the NFL level with some of those technique we were talking about?
Eberle: Shayne Graham (15-year NFL veteran with 14 teams) would be one as well. He was really consistent. He was someone that when I first was learning to become a kicker was still playing in the league. He was with the Bengals at the time, bounced around with the Saints and everything. I was watching him and how smooth he sometimes appeared where it looked effortless. Will Lutz (New Orleans Saints) as well, he has incredible ball-striking ability. That’s something I want to learn from him. And just Adam Vinatieri (Patriots, Colts). The more you read about him or hear stories about him, he had that killer instinct in the fourth quarter. He was so in the zone that you knew he wasn’t going to miss.

Corey: Thanks a lot for your time and best of luck in the draft.
Eberle: Thanks a lot.

Draftnasty Magazine