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2019, Football, Articles

2019 NFL Draft recap, pick-by-pick: AFC South

May 3, 2019 Neverthere Leave a comment

Omenihu, the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year in 2018, has nearly 37-inch arms. He could be a fit in DC Romeo Crennel’s schemes.

Houston Texans	Notable picks: Howard and Johnson both ranked in our Top 50 and represent potential starting players in Year 1. Scharping is as technically advanced as any OL in the draft and Warring could be a factor in two tight end sets. The signing of Matt Kalil ensures the team goes into training camp with competition at the offensive tackle spot. Of the team’s Day 3 draft picks, Omenihu may be asked to adjust right away from a need perspective. Will Fuller’s injury history could leave the team depending on backups again late in the year.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (23)	Tytus Howard	OT/Alabama State	41/2nd Round	The former high school quarterback often talked about the task of gaining weight and has gotten up to the 322-pound range. His quick-footed nature could become a fit on the right side for the Texans.
2 (54)	Lonnie Johnson	CB/ Kentucky	47/2nd Round	Johnson’s occasional pass interference penalty sometimes comes from not using his length to disrupt the wide receiver’s release. When he does, it is tough for the wide receiver to get off the line. On the plus side, his tackling technique and hip flexibility make for a unique combination at 6’2, 213 pounds.
2 (55)	Max Scharping	OT/Northern Illinois	81/2nd Round	We talked about how Scharping’s NFL Combine performance alleviated some of the concerns about pure quickness heading into the draft. The Texans went into this year’s draft hoping to cure some of the ills along its offensive line and this selection continues to work in that direction.
3 (88)	Kahale Warring	TE/San Diego State	57/2nd Round	Warring uses his foot speed to get on top of opponents as a receiver. He still needs refinement in terms of sustaining blocks, but his best football is ahead of him.
5 (161)	Charles Omenihu	DE/Texas	122/3rd Round	Omenihu’s 36 1/2-inch arms continued to aid him in his development while in school. The Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year began to display increased pass rush acumen as a senior when it came to counters. He is a solid run defender and will compete with Carlos Watkins, who has largely been disappointing.
6 (195)	Xavier Crawford	CB/Central Michigan, Oregon State	300/4th Round	After missing seven games at Oregon State in 2017 due to a back injury, the first-team All-MAC corner defended 13 passes in 2018. He competes on routes outside the numbers.
7 (220)	Cullen Gillaspia	FB/Texas A&M	N/A	Texas A&M’s 12th man was a special teams stalwart and team captain. The former walk-on posted nine tackles in 2016.

Tell III (No. 7 pictured) impressed NFL personnel at the 2019 NFL Combine with a 42″vertical jump, 11’4″ broad jump, 4.01 20-yard short shuttle and a 6.63-second time in the three-cone drill.

Indianapolis Colts	Notable picks: General manager Chris Ballard continues to add positive pieces to one of the better young rosters in the NFL. Ya-Sin and Banogu have a chance to add an element of speed and toughness that the defense continues to expand. Okereke and Willis will be special teams contributors in Year 1 with the expectation that they can challenge for bigger roles early. Tell III may be asked to move to cornerback, where his smooth change of direction could perhaps shine. Campbell has the speed to stretch defenses vertically to take some of the pressure off of stud WR T.Y. Hilton, but his potential contributions in the kick return game should not be underestimated. Patterson will compete to backup all three interior line spots.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
2 (34)	Rock Ya-Sin	CB/Temple, Presbyterian	63/2nd Round	The first-team All-AAC selection has a background that includes a stint as an All-Big South corner for the Blue Hose. Watching him play puts you in the mind frame of viewing a 6-foot-2 corner (he is nearly 6’0) because he plays bigger than even his size would indicate.
2 (49)	Ben Banogu	DE-OLB/TCU	44/2nd Round	Banogu moved around so much in school and with so much effectiveness, he shouldn’t have been pigeon-holed as a Rush outside linebacker. His loose nature gives him options, but the team is expected to start him with his hand in the dirt.
2 (59)	Parris Campbell	All-Purpose/ Ohio State	39/2nd Round	Campbell’s speed was used more going sideways in school, but he did work the middle of the field on deep crossing patterns and square-ins.The team has a number of targets already efficient in those roles, so how he is incorporated will be interesting to observe. He may be a dynamo as a kickoff returner early.
3 (89)	Bobby Okereke	LB/Stanford	162/3rd Round	Okereke’s speed would seem to be a match for the type of scheme the Colts run. His size/speed/weight ratio is in line with 2018 Defensive Rookie of the Year Darius Leonard and fellow LB Anthony Walker. He will start off as a special teams contributor.
4 (109) Acquired from Oakland via Jacksonville	Khari Willis	S/Michigan State	87/3rd Round	Willis’ high football IQ and overall steady nature earned him praise through the draft process. His ability to cover tight ends at 213 pounds also adds to his value. He gives the Colts unique depth at the safety spot.
5 (144) Acquired from Cleveland via Jacksonville	Marvell Tell III	DB/USC	387/5th Round	We speculated that a team would look at Tell’s physical profile and project him to cornerback. He may in fact get an opportunity to show off his cover skills outside in training camp.
5 (164)	EJ Speed	LB/Tarleton State	N/A	Speed overcame some off the field and injury concerns to get into the draft after totaling 106 tackles, 5 QB sacks and 12.5 TFLs in 2018.
6 (199)	Gerri Green	OLB/ Mississippi State	210/4th Round	Green appeared in 52 games during school and has made starts at both DE and OLB. He will likely become an exchange linebacker, where he has been pretty good at sliding and shuffling despite weighting in the 250-pound range. Versatile performer.
7 (240)	Jackson Barton	OT/Utah	341/5th Round	Barton’s lateral kick-slide won to a spot on many occasions in pass pro. He is a decent athlete with questionable leverage. There are possibilities for him to compete with Joe Haeg and Le’Raven Clark for a backup spot outside.
7 (246) Acquired from Philadelphia via New England	Javon Patterson	OL/Ole Miss	404/5th Round	The former five-star recruit has to overcome small hands that make it difficult to latch. On the positive side, he is an effective pulling option and cuts off on angles with efficiency as a run blocker. The fact that he has started at OG and OC could him stick in Indy.

Taylor (No. 65 pictured), a former Freshman All-American, made starts at both right tackle and left tackle as a Gator.

Jacksonville Jaguars	Notable picks: It will be interesting to see DC Todd Wash intends to use Allen. He got up to around the 262-pound mark prior to the draft, but he has played in the 240-pound range in the past. He has enough flexibility to be at least serviceable in coverage, but they drafted him to rush the passer. The selection of Taylor would seem to add positive depth to an offensive line always in search of physical players. Williams and Armstead will increase the team’s speed on special teams. This was a solid, if unspectacular, draft haul that produced a number of players who fit the personality and make-up of the current roster.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (7)	Josh Allen	Kentucky	6/1st Round	Allen will get an opportunity to build on what was a breakout senior year. He finished his career with 41 tackles for losses and 11 forced fumbles. His activity in school was his biggest strength. Look for the team to make him a wild card type of player tough to identify.
2 (35)	Jawaan Taylor	OT/Florida	7/1st Round	There may have been some concerns about Taylor’s health, but he is in line with what the Jaguars want to do when it comes to running the ball. Taylor has quality footwork that shines when he is in optimum condition.
3 (69)	Josh Oliver	TE/San Jose State	107/3rd Round	Oliver’s foot speed, ball skills and ability to flex add an element perhaps missing from the team’s offense prior to the draft. He and free agent acquisition Geoff Swaim could potentially form a solid one-two punch at the position.
3 (98)	Quincy Williams	LB/Murray State	339/5th Round	Quinnen Williams’ older brother found a way to sneak into the third round due to his speed and explosiveness. The former safety was frequently walked-out in an overhang position for the Racers, and there is work to be done when it comes to key-and-diagnose from the exchange LB spot.
5 (140)	Ryquell Armstead	RB/Temple	153/3rd Round	Armstead’s downhill running style closely mirrors many of the running backs he will compete with for a roster spot. The difference? His 4.45 speed overcomes a bit of a rigid nature and he played a few snaps on defense in 2018 for the Owls.
6 (178)	Gardner Minshew	QB/ Washington State, ECU	372/5th Round	Minshew carries similar traits to current Jaguars backup Cody Kessler when it comes to hand size, height and weight. He was a bit of a gambler at ECU, but he played at a faster pace under Mike Leach while at Washington State.
7 (235) Acquired from Oakland via Seattle	Dontavius Russell	DT/Auburn	183/3rd Round	Russell kind of got lost in the shuffle in what proved to be a deep defensive tackle class. We felt he had underrated strength, particularly when aligned in an inside shade of an offensive guard or center. If he earns a roster spot, it will be to take some of the snaps off of the team’s starters.

Long (seen scooping the ball versus Utah in the 2017 Heart of Dallas Bowl) was named an AP second-team All-American and the Big 12’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2018. He finished with 111 tackles, 8 QB sacks, 19 TFLs and 4 PBUs.

Tennessee Titans	Notable picks: Simmons may not be available for action until 2020, which requires this draft class to drift into somewhat of a wait-and-see proposition. Brown, however, will have his slot evaluated early on. The same can be said for both Davis and Hooker. Hooker brings a lot of desirable traits to a defensive backfield full of capable playmakers. Walker’s inability to perform until late in the process caused him to slide, but he was at his best against the best competition. There are not many drafts that allow you to draft a conference’s Defensive Player of the Year in the sixth round, but the Titans picked one up from the Big 12 in Long, Jr.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (19)	Jeffery Simmons	DT/ Mississippi State	5/1stRound	With Brian Orakpo’s retirement, the onus falls on Harold Landry -last year’s second-round pick- to take the next step. Although Simmons may redshirt in 2019, he could become a Pro Bowler if he can return to full health after suffering an ACL tear while training for pre-draft workouts.
2 (51)	A.J. Brown	WR/Ole Miss	16/1st Round	Brown’s strong run after the catch skills make him a tough tackle for any defensive back at 226 pounds. He displayed the ability to go outside against Vanderbilt, but he primarily worked from the slot on his Pro Day.
3 (82)	Nate Davis	OG/ Charlotte	92/3rd Round	Despite playing right tackle in 2018, he was outstanding with his quick-set technique as a LG. We were most impressed with his vision, but he needs work on preventing his frame from getting overextended. He will compete for the right guard position in training camp.
4 (116)	Amani Hooker	DB/Iowa	34/2nd Round	The Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year may have been hurt by the fact that he covered the slot in school. He will have to prove that he can get off the hash in coverage, which he has done effectively on occasion. He is at his best reading and passing off underneath routes.
5 (168) Acquired from N.Y. Jets via New Orleans	D’Andre Walker	OLB/Georgia	85/2nd Round	Walker received one of final second round grades and the Titans were able to pick him up in the fifth round. We liked his ability to work from either a two-point or three-point stance effectively. This team needed more pass rushers and he can play from either side.
6 (188) Acquired from Miami	David Long, Jr.	LB/ West Virginia	115/3rd Round	Long was nicked for his size and lack of length. He was also unable to complete a full workout until late in the process. The Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year routinely attacks the action and consistently trusts what he sees in front of him. He will have to shine on special teams to earn a roster spot.

2018, Football, Articles

2018 NFL Draft recap, pick-by-pick: AFC South

May 5, 2018 Neverthere Leave a comment

AFC South

Houston Texans	Akins (No. 88 pictured) averaged 16.1 yards per catch in 2017 for the Knights. Notable picks: The team expects big returns for Reid in the third round. The Texans pass defense finished 24^th in the league a year ago. Rankin may have gone higher if he was an inch taller. Akins and Thomas both address a need for the Texans after the retirement of C.J. Fiedorowicz.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
3 (68)	Justin Reid S-6’0 207	Stanford	140 (3^rd Round)	Reid proved capable of playing multiple positions for the Cardinal. In addition, he knew the responsibilities of every position on defense. He has to improve as a one-on-one tackler.
3 (80)	Martinas Rankin C-6’4 308	Mississippi St.	86 (3^rd Round)	Rankin earned significant time at the left tackle spot in school and there is a possibility that his patient approach can succeed at an interior line spot.
3 (98)	Jordan Akins TE-6’4 249	UCF	216 (4^th Round)	Akins has the foot speed to stretch the seams of the field. In 2015, he was the Knights No. 1 wide receiver before going down to injury. His durability is a concern.
4 (103)	KeKe Coutee WR-5’10 181	Texas Tech	164 (4^th Round)	This is a sign to former Ohio State Buckeye Braxton Miller that his time may be up. Coutee will have to play stronger.
6 (177)	Duke Ejiofor DE-6’4 264	Wake Forest	116 (3^rd Round)	Ejiofor is a sleek pass rusher with enough flexibility to win from a number of spots. A good bit of his sack production came from the defensive tackle spot. He has to play bigger.
6 (211)	Jordan Thomas TE-6’4 269	Mississippi State	356 (5^th Round)	Despite weighing in the 270-pound range, Thomas started at an outside WR position late in his career. He did not embarrass himself at the WR spot during 2018 East-West Shrine practices.
6 (214)	Peter Kalambayi OLB-6’3 236	Stanford	214 (4^th Round)	Kalambayi was dinged by some scouts for his lack of flexibility. Nevertheless, he used his 80-inch wingspan to post 18 QB sacks in his career.
7 (222)	Jermaine Kelly CB-6’1 195	San Jose St., Washington	488 (6^th Round)	Kelly –a former Washington Husky- has good field speed. He won quite a bit at the gunner position for the Spartans and improved gradually in 2017 at CB.

Indianapolis Colts	Nelson (No. 56 pictured) often wins in the second phase of his run blocks. He posted 36 career starts for the Fighting Irish. Notable picks: The Colts made sure they didn’t waste time turning in the card for Nelson. The selection of Smith in the second round means the team is serious about beefing up its offensive front. Leonard’s presence adds speed to the league’s 26^th-ranked rushing defense.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (6)	Quenton Nelson OG-6’5 325	Notre Dame	7 (1^st Round)	Nelson may have been one of the highest ranked players on the Colts board in terms of value and need. He will create movement in the running game.
2 (36)	Darius Leonard LB-6’2 234	S.C. State	31 (2^nd Round)	Leonard –a two-time MEAC Defensive Player of the Year- combines a rangy style with plus instincts.
2 (37)	Braden Smith OG-6’6 315	Auburn	90 (3^rd Round)	Has the size of an OT and dabbles there on occasion. Consistent, if unspectacular.
2 (52)	Kemoko Turay OLB-6’4 252	Rutgers	122 (3^rd Round)	All the agility is in place. He has been a terror blocking kicks. Still rounding out his game as a pass rusher.
2 (64) Trade from Cleveland	Tyquan Lewis DE-6’3 265	Ohio State	108 (3^rd Round)	Burly brawler who will win with power and run over offensive linemen. Tone-setter.
4 (103)	Nyheim Hines RB/KR-5’8 198	NC State	276 (4^th Round)	Hines will be counted on to provide punch in the kickoff return game.
5 (159)	Daurice Fountain WR-6’1 210	Northern Iowa	168 (4^th Round)	In somewhat of an under the radar pick, the Colts stole the MVP of the 2018 East-West Shrine Game.
5 (169)	Jordan Wilkins RB-6’1 216	Ole Miss	178 (4^th Round)	Wilkins has a smooth style and plays faster than his 4.71 time at the 2018 NFL Combine suggests. His performance in a blowout vs. Alabama turned heads.
6 (185)	Deon Cain WR-6’2 202	Clemson	179 (4^th Round)	Like Fountain, Cain will be asked to stretch the outside lanes of the field with his 4.4 speed. Consistency will be the focus for the junior-entry.
7 (221)	Matthew Adams LB-6’1 229	Houston	207 (4^th Round)	Perhaps no player better exemplifies a downhill approach better than Adams. He is faster than quick and needs to improve his flexibility.
7 (235)	Zaire Franklin LB-6’0 239	Syracuse	153 (3^rd Round)	Much like Adams (see above), there are questions in coverage. Also like Adams, he loves to run and hit people.

Jacksonville Jaguars	Chark averaged 21.9 yards per catch for LSU in 2017. Notable picks: Bryan will be a significant rotational piece from Day 1. Richardson adds a measure of physicality to the team’s downhill run game. Chark will be asked to take the top off of defenses to open up the middle of the field for Marqise Lee.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (29)	Taven Bryan DL-6’5 291	Florida	51 (2^nd Round)	Bryan has a rare combination of strength and speed. Can he locate the ball with more consistency? Even if he doesn’t, he’ll complement the Jaguars other DL with his activity.
2 (61)	DJ Chark WR-6’3 199	LSU	70 (3^rd Round)	The departures of Allen Hurns and Allen Robinson necessitated another move to complement the re-signed Marqise Lee.
3 (93)	Ronnie Harrison S-6’2 207	Alabama	136 (3^rd Round)	Harrison brings a load in the back end with his downhill approach. While his ball skills are competent, his angles are hit-or-miss.
4 (129)	Will Richardson OT-6’5 322	NC State	131 (3^rd Round)	For a team that values run blocking, there wasn’t a better lineman on the board than the mammoth road-grading Richardson in the fourth round.
6 (203)	Tanner Lee QB-6’4 218	Nebraska, Tulane	373 (5^th Round)	Despite an inordinate number of turnovers, Lee still passed for over 3,000 yards and 23 TDs in 2017.
6 (230)	Leon Jacobs LB-6’3 246	Wisconsin	234 (4^th Round)	Jacobs never really took off for the Badgers until 2017. He has an impressive combination of 4.48 speed and power (26 reps-225 lbs.) at nearly 250 pounds.
7 (247)	Logan Cooke P-6’5 228	Mississippi State	558 (6^th Round)	He proves capable of generating hang times in the 4.6-range while kicking for distance and direction (BYU ’17).

Tennessee Titans	Notable pick: Falk could challenge incumbent Blaine Gabbert for the backup job behind Marcus Mariota. If so, the team will have two of the Pac-12’s all-time leading touchdown producers.
Round, Selection,	Player	School	DN Big Board Rank/ Grade	‘Nasty’ Take:
1 (22)	Rashaan Evans LB-6’3 232	Alabama	45 (2^nd Round)	Evans’ work off the edge was nearly as impressive as his underrated contributions on special teams. He may be long enough to man an outside linebacker spot.
2 (41)	Harold Landry OLB-6’2 252	Boston College	11 (1^st Round)	Contains underrated agility and change of direction. Forced 10 fumbles in school.
5 (152)	Dane Cruikshank DB-6’1 209	Arizona	87 (3^rd Round)	Cruikshank ventured from the junior college ranks to become one of the draft’s best-kept secrets. His 4.41 speed will be an additive to a defense full of young playmakers.
6 (199)	Luke Falk QB-6’4 215	Washington State	141 (3^rd Round)	The Pac-12’s all-time leading passer threw for 119 touchdowns while completing 68.3% of his passes in college. Will his arm strength translate to the NFL?

2012, Video, Football

Tennessee Titans WR Rishard Matthews: 2012 NFL Draft spotlight

April 14, 2012 Neverthere Leave a comment

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