SBNation.com: All Posts by Stephen Whitehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46737/sbn-fave.png2020-04-24T22:53:51-04:00https://www.sbnation.com/authors/stephen-white/rss2020-04-24T22:53:51-04:002020-04-24T22:53:51-04:00Terrell Lewis’ injury history shouldn’t overshadow his high ceiling with the Rams
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<img alt="An illustration of NFL edge prospect Terrell Lewis in a stance at Alabama, superimposed on a blue and white background with “SCOUTING” and “X”s and “O”s in aqua lettering" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9Yx3pq6vrynh8w5VjN1O-f2OOzA=/75x0:1925x1233/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66564279/terrell_lewis_scouting.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Terrell Lewis is an exciting 2020 NFL Draft prospect despite his injury history.</figcaption>
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<p>Retired defensive end Stephen White thinks Terrell Lewis might have the highest ceiling of any draft prospect in years.</p> <p id="Z2K1jA"><em>The Los Angeles Rams selected Terrell Lewis with the 84th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Here’s what Stephen White had to say about Lewis ahead of the draft.</em></p>
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<p id="aHpYWH">Former Alabama edge rusher <span>Terrell Lewis</span> missed the majority of his college career with injuries. One of those was a torn ACL, which is pretty serious. Last season, he missed two games due to injury and elected not to play in Alabama’s bowl game against Michigan. In the four games I watched for this breakdown, he didn’t record a single sack, either. His technique in all phases also needs a little bit of work.</p>
<p id="9YVD0D">How, then, can I say with a straight face that three years from now we may be debating whether Lewis or <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/25/21147976/chase-young-nfl-draft-2020-ohio-state-highlights-stats-skills-pros-cons">Ohio State’s Chase Young</a> is the best edge rusher to come out of this draft?</p>
<p id="3mbVEy"><em>I’m glad you asked!</em></p>
<p id="g01mN0">First off, let’s talk about Lewis’ size.</p>
<p id="sE5G5T">I have <em>never</em> been more thrown off by a player’s jersey number as I was while watching Lewis run around with that No. 24 on. But it wasn’t <em>just </em>that. While the guy is 6’5 and weighed in at 262 pounds at the combine, he actually <em>is</em> built like a strong safety. Well, until you see him standing beside an <em>actual </em>strong safety.</p>
<p id="YMaBcZ">Sometimes I’d miss where Lewis was on the field because my brain would just reject the notion that I was supposed to be looking for a dude wearing No. 24 rushing the passer.</p>
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<p id="vM7OhO">And just to be clear, Lewis is a hair taller and just about the same weight as Young. Lewis’ arms are actually a little longer than Young’s, as well. Needless to say, Lewis has the size to play the position, even if it’s sometimes hard to tell just looking at him. Hell, both he and Young are kinda like a Create-A-Player when it comes to their stature.</p>
<h2 id="CdWn1O">What Lewis does well: Making plays from everywhere</h2>
<p id="JbiTSN">In addition to being pretty much the <em>perfect</em> size for an edge rusher, Lewis also possesses uncommon athletic ability. That is evidenced by Alabama using him in so many different ways. He lined up on the edge and rushed the passer, and he dropped back into coverage quite a bit as well.</p>
<p id="jOWXxd">And I’m not talking about some bullshit, half-assed zone drops. He played man-to-man out of the backfield several times, and looked damn good doing it for the most part.</p>
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<p id="XBpQN8">Alabama also had him blitzing both from off the ball, and up at the line of scrimmage for the double A-gap variety. The Tide even stuck him inside as a hand-in-the-dirt three-technique a few times and he acquitted himself well there, too.</p>
<p id="XeYpNT">Lewis looked pretty much the same no matter what, and he is going to be able to make plays wherever he lines up in the NFL.</p>
<p id="icEYBR">Some people don’t think about power when they are talking about athleticism, but I believe it all goes together. Lewis may not be the strongest defensive end you have ever seen, but I watched him stand his ground against a lot of bigger dudes, so I have no worries about him being strong enough to play the position. In fact, when he really learns how to convert his speed into power on a more consistent basis, that may end up being one of the strongest parts of his game, pun intended.</p>
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<p id="uTAFIA">Then there’s Lewis’ technique. I know some of you are thinking, “Wait a minute, I thought Steve said his technique was a problem,” but that’s just because you can’t read. What I actually said was his technique “needs some work” because it does, but that’s so he can transform from a good player to potentially a great one. Remember, I’m not comparing him to some sloppy dude here. Young is one of the better pro-ready prospects I’ve ever broken down.</p>
<p id="AWhmxn">Lewis isn’t where Young is <em>now</em>, but Lewis’ jump on the next level could be astounding. One of the main reasons is because he just hasn’t played that much football in the last several years. The lack of game reps seems to be reflected in his inconsistent technique at times.</p>
<p id="TeVWeL">Most of the basic stuff he was asked to do was no problem for Lewis. He has a good get-off whether standing up or out of a three-point stance. He also comes off and gets full extension well when taking on blockers. He changes direction well after the snap and has a pretty good feel for the game. </p>
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<p id="npFxvF">It isn’t like he is a bad player as is. But I can see him being so much more.</p>
<h2 id="5xZKWz">Where Lewis can improve: Sharpening his technique</h2>
<p id="Mf4439">While Lewis takes on blockers pretty well, there were too many times when he didn’t escape off the block to make the tackle until it was too late. That’s the kind of thing you normally get better at as you get more game reps. It’s not that he couldn’t escape off of blocks, but it was more of a timing issue. And sometimes probably just laziness, trying to reach out for a tackle instead of, say, making a rip move first to clear himself from the blocker and put himself in better position to take the ball carrier down.</p>
<p id="CIe1qY">That also applies to Lewis as a pass rusher, and rushing the passer is probably where he has the most room to grow. Don’t get me wrong, I thought he showed a nice array of moves for a college edge rusher, and there is already a lot of good stuff to work with for any NFL defensive line coach. It’s just that with a <em>little</em> bit of polish, Lewis will be able to convert more of his pressures into sacks.</p>
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<p id="SUu4rU">For instance, Lewis has the makings of being dominant with his long-arm move — and that’s where having longer arms come in pretty handy. He did a really good job of coming off the ball like he was going to attempt a speed rush to get the offensive tackles bailing out, then stabbing them right in the chest with his inside hand and jolting them backward.</p>
<p id="Us3ibh">The problem would come when Lewis wouldn’t go ahead and escape off the move before the blocker could recover. He would end up stuck too long on the block, which would give the quarterback time to either throw the ball, or step up in the pocket and away from his pressure. Once he gets more consistent with using his outside hand to swipe and then finish with a rip or arm-over, offensive linemen are going to catch <em>absolute hell</em> trying to stop that move.</p>
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<p id="fuuar7">While Lewis has the athleticism to be a finesse guy, he also had plenty of success as a power rusher too. Being able to get off those power rushes just a touch quicker is going to make a huge difference in his production.</p>
<p id="gZo5zr">At the same time, Lewis is one of those guys who can win around the corner, and it seems like those kinds of pure speed rushers are in short supply these days. I did find it interesting that while Lewis had such an explosive get-off at his disposal, I didn’t see him trying to burn the edge much. A guy as fast as he is, with that level of athleticism, he should be dipping and ripping more unless and until the offensive tackles show they can stop it.</p>
<p id="RHNY2f">I also thought he could’ve used his cross chop a little more. It was almost shocking to see him use different moves because he used some of them so sparingly. As he continues to sharpen his technique, he is probably going to see a lot more success running around blockers. </p>
<h2 id="drziEh">Lewis’ NFL future: The next <span>Von Miller</span> (if healthy) </h2>
<p id="GoTqt4">You know who I kept thinking about while watching Lewis flash for four games?</p>
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<p id="vwCPky"><span>Von Miller</span>.</p>
<p id="C1gfLl">That’s who Lewis reminded me of when he would make an explosive play seemingly out of the blue. So I decided to look up Miller’s combine numbers.</p>
<p id="2nA28g">He hit a 37-inch vertical and a 126-inch broad jump. Lewis notched the same vertical and a 124-inch broad jump. But Miller weighed in at “only” 6’3 and 246 pounds.</p>
<p id="nXly8L">Take from that what you will. While I admit Miller had much better technique coming out than Lewis currently possesses, there isn’t any role Miller plays on the field that I don’t think Lewis could do, too. There is a distinct possibility that one day Lewis will be doing a lot of the same things just as good or better than Miller.</p>
<p id="1zheps">Yeah, I said it.</p>
<p id="359Qyc">Of course, the elephant in the room is the injuries. As somehow who went through his share of injuries both in college and in the NFL, I’m a little sensitive to the label “injury prone,” especially when we are talking about major injuries like Lewis suffered in college. I am unaware of any exercise or stretch that will prevent an ACL tear. Trust me, if such a thing existed <em>every</em> football player would be trying it.</p>
<p id="ESRd1W">At the same time, the truth is one of the most important abilities of any player is availability. That is the cold business side of the game, and of course it has to factor into any draft evaluation. None of us have a crystal ball, so Lewis might go out there the first play of his career and get injured again, or he might play the next decade without missing a rep. There’s no way to know for sure.</p>
<p id="KgxhYZ">Since I have <em>no</em> interest in seeing his medical records, and because I generally <em>hate</em> talking about injuries, I’m just going to assume Lewis stays healthy as a pro. If he does, the sky really is the limit with this kid. I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a college player with this much upside. I am damn near positive I’ve never done a breakdown with a guy whose ceiling was any higher.</p>
<p id="UHCeLB">I could easily spin Lewis missing so much time to injuries in college to there not being as many miles on his body. He really only played two seasons, and he’s still only 21. He already has a potent spin move to work as a counter off his speed rushes, so he’s ready to get on the field and get pressure early on his career. </p>
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<p id="Ld5GuX">That, ladies and gentlemen, gets me excited! Once you see him in the NFL, I think you will be excited too.</p>
<p id="3QuoMw">Lewis may be floating under the radar due to injuries and his mostly underwhelming statistics, but if he can just stay healthy, he could be the kind of NFL edge rusher offensive coordinators have to gameplan around. I have no idea how his injury history will affect where he’s drafted, but no matter when or where he goes, it’s all going to come down to his health.</p>
<p id="VqXgQy"><em>If </em>he can find a way to stay on the field, Lewis will be able to impact the outcome of games on an outsized level eventually. And if that happens, the barbershop debates over him and Young are going to be epic a few years down the road.</p>
<p id="pMJsQa"><em>Be sure to check out my other scouting reports on </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/25/21147976/chase-young-nfl-draft-2020-ohio-state-highlights-stats-skills-pros-cons"><em>Chase Young</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/28/21151778/jerry-jeudy-nfl-draft-2020-alabama-wide-receiver-scouting-report-highlights"><em>Jerry Jeudy</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/3/21158412/derrick-brown-nfl-draft-2020-dt-film-breakdown-highlights-auburn"><em>Derrick Brown</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/6/21162231/nfl-draft-2020-jedrick-wills-jr-alabama-offensive-tackle-guard-film-highlights"><em>Jedrick Wills Jr</em></a><em>., </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/10/21168037/aj-epenesa-nfl-draft-2020-iowa-projection-pros-cons-film-highlights"><em>A.J. Epenesa</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/13/21173000/ceedee-lamb-nfl-draft-2020-wide-receiver-comparison-highlights-film-oklahoma"><em>CeeDee Lamb</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/20/21179483/javon-kinlaw-nfl-draft-2020-defensive-tackle-film-scouting-report-highlights"><em>Javon Kinlaw</em></a><em>, and </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/24/21186279/mekhi-becton-nfl-draft-2020-offensive-tackle-projection-highlights-film"><em>Mekhi Becton</em></a><em>.</em></p>
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<p id="AUepF6"><em>For the purposes of this breakdown, I watched Lewis play against South Carolina, Arkansas, LSU, and Auburn.</em></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/27/21194600/terrell-lewis-nfl-draft-2020-injury-history-highlights-edge-rusher-von-miller-ramsStephen White2020-04-24T22:40:38-04:002020-04-24T22:40:38-04:00Cowboys DT Neville Gallimore shouldn’t be THIS fast
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<img alt="An illustration of NFL DL prospect Neville Gallimore at Oklahoma, superimposed on a blue and white background with “SCOUTING” and “X”s and “O”s in neon yellow lettering" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/U7u1FISMk4n7PzOlC6CBZqGawHM=/150x0:2000x1233/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66598746/neville_gallimore_scouting.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Oklahoma’s Neville Gallimore is an intriguing interior defensive lineman in the 2020 NFL Draft.</figcaption>
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<p>Retired defensive end Stephen White explains why Neville Gallimore can be a good trump card for the Dallas defense.</p> <p id="Ci6zTq"><em>The Dallas Cowboys selected Neville Gallimore with the 82nd overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Here’s what Stephen White had to say about Gallimore ahead of the draft.</em></p>
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<p id="3bZYM8">Speed is a funny thing.</p>
<p id="uzaemr">You have some fast guys who run so effortlessly they just seem to glide along the top of the grass.</p>
<p id="Ysqkdu">And then there’s <span>Neville Gallimore</span>.</p>
<p id="rlbgJk">Big homie looks like he is straining to get<em> every </em>ounce of speed out of those thicc legs of his on <em>every</em> play. In fairness, the guy <em>is </em>6’2 and over 300 pounds, and he could probably smoke you in the 40-yard dash without breaking a sweat.</p>
<p id="ZDR4Sm">I would’ve said he could smoke “us,” but I’d never be stupid enough to race this kid after watching him chase down plays on tape.</p>
<p id="Nw6iKa">I’m used to focusing a lot on a player’s speed when it comes to talking about wide receivers, but it’s a somewhat new experience when discussing a defensive tackle. However, his speed is pretty much Gallimore’s defining characteristic as a football player. It’s definitely the thing that jumped off the screen to me while watching his tape from Oklahoma. Gallimore’s ability to accelerate to the quarterback after coming off a block is actually better than a <em>lot </em>of edge rushers I’ve broken down over the years.</p>
<p id="V5Bvv6">Yeah, it was pretty cool to see him post a sub-4.8-second 40 time at the combine, something very rare for a 300-pounder. But I’m telling you, his game speed was even <em>more</em> impressive than that.</p>
<h2 id="zyRADV">What Gallimore does well: He hustles</h2>
<p id="CnQSFg">Combine Gallimore’s wheels with his great effort on most plays, and what you have is a player who can make plays even when things aren’t perfect.</p>
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<p id="Vt7x2F">Let’s be real, not all sacks come from a neat process of guys defeating a blocker and then taking the quarterback down. In fact, a lot of times it’s the guy who is stuck on a block initially who ends up getting the sack after his teammates who did win their one-on-one matchups flush the quarterback right to him.</p>
<p id="K3hKsU">I want to be clear that Gallimore <em>is </em>the kind of player who can get a ton of sacks just by winning his individual matchups. But with him being so fast, he’s always going to end up with a few “extra” sacks and pressures just off hustling to the ball and mashing the gas once he sees a quarterback trying to escape out of the pocket.</p>
<p id="hYJUDU">I was particularly impressed with how quickly Gallimore could loop around the edge on pass-rush games. It’s like a cheat code having a defensive tackle who can cut the corner like that. One second the quarterback is trying to avoid the edge rusher coming inside; the next thing he knows, Gallimore is coming around outside to lower the <em>boom </em>on him.</p>
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<p id="1YhCp9">They just don’t grow guys that size who are that fast on trees, and that makes him a damn good trump card for any defensive coordinator in the NFL.</p>
<h2 id="WP998a">What Gallimore does well: Creating pressure</h2>
<p id="tAdX20">In addition to that speed, Gallimore showed some strong pass-rush moves. He has a good-to-great get-off, is active and violent with his hands, and his lateral quickness was top-notch. That allowed Gallimore to get quite a bit of pressure even though he primarily lined up as a nose tackle, either head up or in a one-technique, for the four games I watched. That isn’t what I would call normal.</p>
<p id="hD5ZMp">Every once in a while he would also break out a nice spin move that would’ve probably been a lot more successful if the guys assigned to block Gallimore weren’t always getting help.</p>
<p id="UwWH9b">I don’t know about the rest of Oklahoma’s defensive line because I wasn’t focused on them, but I kept wondering how Gallimore was forcing so many double-teams and chip blocks, yet he would still seem to be about the only guy who could generate consistent pressure. Of course, Oklahoma using three-man rushes <em>way </em>too much (one time is too many) didn’t help.</p>
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<p id="aXTAuA">I mean, Gallimore was legit triple-teamed on one play, after beating the first two offensive linemen he faced with a spin move, and then a quick arm-over, respectively. He still managed to force the quarterback off the spot before the third guy could block his path, but then the quarterback took off and gained positive yards on third-and-long.</p>
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<p id="C1lTLH">Did he get a sack or pressure on that play?</p>
<p id="2Fh9GE">No.</p>
<p id="0DApyx">But if you don’t think that was still an outstanding play by him, you and I are <em>not </em>the same.</p>
<p id="vaAetk">Hell, I saw Oklahoma use Gallimore as a spy a time or two, something that is usually more reserved for edge rushers or linebackers these days. But Gallimore is fast and athletic enough to do that effectively against even some of the shiftier quarterbacks in the league.</p>
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<p id="elyIuy">With the traditional “pocket passer” just about a thing of the past, the more speed you can get on the field to match up with these newfangled dual-threat quarterbacks, the better. You also won’t have to worry about subbing a defensive tackle like Gallimore out in those passing situations, especially in two-minute situations.</p>
<h2 id="lt5nQI">Where Gallimore can improve: His technique</h2>
<p id="jiAV5J">Having said that, there <em>are</em> some issues about Gallimore’s game that I have concerns about.</p>
<p id="UzvfUT">The biggest of them all is that he plays too high <em>way</em> too often. He’s a strong guy, but the saying “low man wins” exists for a reason. When Gallimore comes off with good pad level, he is usually able to penetrate into the backfield, or at the very least hold his ground.</p>
<p id="lOa74d">When he comes off the ball trying to do an arm-over right away, however, it’s too easy for average offensive linemen to push him around. I know Gallimore can make a bunch of plays behind the line of scrimmage, but he may end up being a feast-or-famine guy who is a liability on some running plays if he doesn’t tighten that up.</p>
<p id="bkkgvN">Sometimes Gallimore exposes his chest a little too much when he is trying do an arm-over move, whether against the run or pass. I know a lot of defensive line coaches teach “long levers” and they want their charges to reach out and try to swat the offensive lineman’s shoulders. <em>I</em> don’t really agree with that unless the guy has abnormally long arms (Gallimore’s are a respectable 32.75 inches long, but nothing special) <em>and</em> is uncommonly strong (nah).</p>
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<p id="eCOBRY">My reasoning is if you <em>are</em> going to expose your chest to offensive linemen that way on a semi-regular basis, your arms had<em> better</em> be a lot longer than theirs so you can make contact with their shoulder before their punch makes contact with your chest. Also, when your club move does make it to his shoulder, you had better be heavy-handed enough to shock him with the force of the blow.</p>
<p id="miukgW">Otherwise you are going to end up going sideway involuntarily, especially against the better offensive linemen.</p>
<p id="4qHtAo">In Gallimore’s case, all too often he was getting caught in his chest when he was trying to use his club and he would end up getting knocked out of his own lane. That means not only was he off course, but he might’ve potentially gotten in one of his teammates’ way.</p>
<p id="6I61ok">I believe those issues are fixable, but it’s probably going to take some time to get him out of bad habits, and playing too high is one of the worst habits you can have as a primarily interior defensive lineman.</p>
<h2 id="X2DMxk">Where Gallimore can improve: Being more versatile</h2>
<p id="3jsPcd">I also wonder about Gallimore’s versatility. I love the thought of him as a three-technique, and I could see him pass rushing from time to time on early downs as a five-technique. On the other hand, he just didn’t strike me as the kind of sturdy run defender you’d want as a nose tackle in the NFL. If a team wants to stunt him a lot, maybe, but other than that I just don’t know how it would work out.</p>
<p id="hWd0lv">Of course,<em> every</em> team could use another good interior pass rusher, and Gallimore is definitely that, even if his pad level is inconsistent. I just don’t think he is quite as scheme adaptable as the other interior defensive linemen I’ve broken down so far, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/3/21158412/derrick-brown-nfl-draft-2020-dt-film-breakdown-highlights-auburn">Derrick Brown</a> and <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/20/21179483/javon-kinlaw-nfl-draft-2020-defensive-tackle-film-scouting-report-highlights">Javon Kinlaw</a>. I didn’t see Gallimore using very many power rush moves at all. He was always either on an edge or going laterally.</p>
<p id="pLqZmY">I don’t know if you can get away with being a finesse interior pass rusher all the time. At some point the better guards will just start jump-setting you until you prove you are strong enough to run through their chest. Which isn’t to say Gallimore couldn’t be a good power rusher, because he has the leg drive and he at least appears to have the upper-body strength to get good push. But it might be something he has to work in early on.</p>
<p id="JJyePH">Nevertheless, I can’t stress enough how much potential Gallimore has with all that athleticism. I would bet on him improving his technique as a pro, especially because he goes so hard all the time on the field. He strikes me as a guy who isn’t afraid to put the work in, so the payoff would be worth the risk, as far as I’m concerned.</p>
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<h2 id="WGUywd">Gallimore’s NFL future: First-round potential</h2>
<p id="ANLVfS">He may never be as well-rounded of a defensive lineman as Brown or Kinlaw, but I see Gallimore as different kind of player than those guys, and he will have the opportunity to dominate in his own way in the league. I mean a guy that fast, who already has some decent moves?</p>
<p id="iBPKGZ">I could see him being the most productive pass rusher out of the group three years down the road. And, let’s be honest here, we all know that’s what most fans are going to judge these picks on — sacks and pressures. Mostly sacks, no matter how wrong-headed that is in general.</p>
<p id="IzDphR">At the end of the day that’s not really what matters for teams, however. What does matter is what he can bring to their scheme. If a team is looking for a big-time two-gapping run stopper, I don’t think Gallimore is going to be their guy. But I also don’t know why you would look for a run-stopping nose tackle in the first round, anyway.</p>
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<p id="ylA8Hg">On the other hand, if a team is looking for a guy who can come in and at least provide some juice inside on third-and-long right away, most teams could do a lot worse than Gallimore. </p>
<p id="UnliiO">Let me reiterate, he <em>is </em>going to be a guy who makes a few extra plays a game just off his athleticism, whether he improves his technique or not. You simply can’t have enough players like that on your team, especially with all these athletic quarterbacks in the NFL right now. That’s why I see him going early on in the first round, maybe somewhere around the middle at the latest.</p>
<p id="FUaxAl">I can’t wait to see if at least one team agrees with my assessment.</p>
<p id="vHcWwr"><em>Be sure to check out my other scouting reports on </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/25/21147976/chase-young-nfl-draft-2020-ohio-state-highlights-stats-skills-pros-cons"><em>Chase Young</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/28/21151778/jerry-jeudy-nfl-draft-2020-alabama-wide-receiver-scouting-report-highlights"><em>Jerry Jeudy</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/3/21158412/derrick-brown-nfl-draft-2020-dt-film-breakdown-highlights-auburn"><em>Derrick Brown</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/6/21162231/nfl-draft-2020-jedrick-wills-jr-alabama-offensive-tackle-guard-film-highlights"><em>Jedrick Wills Jr</em></a><em>., </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/10/21168037/aj-epenesa-nfl-draft-2020-iowa-projection-pros-cons-film-highlights"><em>A.J. Epenesa</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/13/21173000/ceedee-lamb-nfl-draft-2020-wide-receiver-comparison-highlights-film-oklahoma"><em>CeeDee Lamb</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/20/21179483/javon-kinlaw-nfl-draft-2020-defensive-tackle-film-scouting-report-highlights"><em>Javon Kinlaw</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/24/21186279/mekhi-becton-nfl-draft-2020-offensive-tackle-projection-highlights-film"><em>Mekhi Becton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/27/21194600/terrell-lewis-nfl-draft-2020-injury-history-highlights-edge-rusher-von-miller"><em>Terrell Lewis</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/31/21198008/henry-ruggs-iii-nfl-draft-2020-speed-wide-receiver-class-highlights-strengths"><em>and Henry Ruggs III</em></a><em>.</em></p>
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<p id="cGVBpb"><em>For the purposes of this breakdown, I watched Gallimore play against Texas, Iowa State, Baylor in the Big 12 Championship Game, and LSU in the College Football Playoff semifinal.</em></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/4/3/21202467/neville-gallimore-nfl-draft-2020-cowboys-oklahoma-defensive-tackle-speedStephen White2020-04-24T21:14:32-04:002020-04-24T21:14:32-04:00Denzel Mims is the Jets’ next great big-play receiver
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<img alt="Artwork of NFL WR prospect Denzel Mims catching a TD at Baylor, superimposed on a blue background with “SCOUTING” and “X”s and “O”s in gray lettering" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/FjoaT8U40ydOypSbpY70R0cWJ1k=/78x0:1928x1233/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66649832/denzel_mims_scouting.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>WR Denzel Mims showed off his first-round potential at Baylor. </figcaption>
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<p>Retired defensive end Stephen White has been impressed with every wide receiver he’s broken down so far this year — but none more than Denzel Mims.</p> <p id="Z2K1jA"><em>The New York Jets selected Denzel Mims with the No. 59 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Here’s what Stephen White had to say about Mims ahead of the draft.</em></p>
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<p id="ZhrqYC"><span>Denzel Mims</span> is the very epitome of a “big play” receiver. And I don’t just mean a guy who can catch a deep ball or make defenders miss once the ball is in his hands. For me, a true big-play wide receiver is a dude who also shows up in crunch time. It’s cool to catch a bomb in the fourth quarter, but who is going to make a play when you need one late in the game?</p>
<p id="977ZG7"><span>Mims</span>, that’s who.</p>
<p id="RdqMxR">But before I get to his timely heroics, let me just talk about how impressive <span>Mims</span>’ tape was from his time at Baylor.</p>
<p id="2SCh8l">To me, Mims already looks like a Mini Megatron. He can run by you, jump over you, and run through you if need be. He is also the first receiver I’ve broken down this year who actually looks dominant as a blocker. He brings an attitude to blocking the same way he does when he is fighting for the football in the air, and most teams would <em>love</em> to have a tempo setter like their in receiver room.</p>
<p id="CNe77w">And that’s just scratching the surface.</p>
<h2 id="vPf769">What Mims does well: Jump up and get the ball</h2>
<p id="9ug7O2">First of all, the guy is 6’3 and 207 pounds, with body control like a ballerina. They haven’t come up with combine drill yet that can measure the level of athleticism Mims displayed while jumping up to make catches. Yeah, the 38.5-inch vertical gives you somewhat of an idea of how high he can jump from a standstill. Now imagine getting that high in the air with a running start, then pirouetting in mid-air to make the catch, while still managing to get both feet down and in bounds on the sideline.</p>
<p id="SWUuX3">Yeah, <em>two</em> feet.</p>
<p id="tYGNOE">I don’t know if he was showing off since it probably would’ve been easier for him to just get one toe down, which is all that is required in college football, but it was damn sure amazing. And those kinds of catches almost came off as routine for Mims in the four games of his I watched.</p>
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<p id="TyxNAR">Some of the back-shoulder fade catches in particular looked damn near unfair. Mims was “sonning” these dudes like he was that one guy in Little League who always had to show his birth certificate. It didn’t really even matter who the defensive backs were, or how they were trying to play him either. Off, press, bail — none of that mattered if Mims was facing man-to man-coverage. The only determining factor seemed to be whether his quarterback delivered a ball that was at least in the vicinity.</p>
<p id="3G0OBx">One thing I noticed about Mims is he goes after every jump ball like he’s <em>supposed </em>to catch it. Hell, sometimes the ball was so off target that most receivers wouldn’t have even stuck their hands up at it, but he would fight for every reception, and he came up with more than his fair share.</p>
<p id="Leqnaf">One of his most impressive catches didn’t even count because it was so off target. Even though he ended up several yards out of bounds when he came down, Mims still went up and snatched the ball out of the air like it was nothing.</p>
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<h2 id="GcxpMa">What Mims does well: He plays physical</h2>
<p id="GEx5Wo">As much as his ability to jump helped him go up and make some plays “above the rim” so to speak, Mims’ ability to create separation with subtle pushoffs were also quite remarkable. He was so quick with it that it wasn’t even noticeable unless you were really paying attention, but you can clearly see him stiff-arming defenders around the hip area a second before the quarterback delivered the football. Then all of a sudden Mims would go from being even with the defensive back, to having 3-4 yards of separation.</p>
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<p id="uz0cnR">He <em>did</em> have one long touchdown overturned because of an offensive pass interference call once in those four games, but even then it was more about the defensive back being overly dramatic and falling down. Mims looked like an NFL vet at times nudging the DB just enough so they couldn’t catch up to him. </p>
<p id="rDncAP">Mims actually reminds me of <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/30/20841107/mike-evans-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Mike Evans</a> in that respect, though <span>Evans</span> was, and still is at times, a lot more obvious than Mims was on tape. I don’t think Mims will end up getting a ton of OPI penalties like <span>Evans</span> has since coming to the league (some of those calls against <span>Evans</span> were also hot garbage).</p>
<p id="5Hu3Yn">In fact, I think the physicality of his route running is a major selling point for Mims. Even when you think you have him covered well, you don’t.</p>
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<p id="hByidX">His route running in general was pretty good. Not quite as crisp as <span>Jerry Jeudy</span>, but Mims looked plenty fluid getting in and out of his breaks. I didn’t think Baylor used him in as many of the ways as they could have, but I will get to that in a minute.</p>
<h2 id="uIDH0b">What Mims does well: He shows up when it matters most</h2>
<p id="nqk7Xu">His 40-yard time at the combine was what really cemented just how strong of a prospect Mims is, in my mind. I didn’t necessarily question Mims’ speed, but he was so good at creating separation in other ways, it never really occurred to me that he might be <em>4.38 fast. </em></p>
<p id="2XQrlf">The dude has a serious set of wheels. Just knowing he can blow by a lot of defenders with his speed, combined with all of his other attributes, and you have a receiver who is going to force defenses to roll coverage his way a lot. To be honest, I’m not even sure double coverage deep will always be effective on him, either.</p>
<p id="mdcuQt">But let me mention again the timeliness of some of the big plays Mims made. He basically put the team on his back in overtime against Texas Tech. With one hell of an effort, he got the Red Raiders to the 1-yard line before they scored a touchdown to tie a game they would eventually go on to win.</p>
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<p id="rn4OTh">Against Oklahoma in the regular season, Mims suffered a lower leg injury that had him limping. He still found a way to come back in the game and make plays, including gutting out a 21-yard gain after a 10-yard stop. I just wanted to inject it into my veins.</p>
<p id="bcsjsN">That’s the kind of stuff you really want to see from any prospect; how do they perform when the pressure is on and their team needs someone to step up and make a play? Do they shrink from the spotlight, or shine in it? Mims was straight up sparking in those situations in the games I watched.</p>
<h2 id="VHFNpA">Where Mims can improve: Ball security</h2>
<p id="HDUbCB">To be sure, there are also some things Mims can work on, too.</p>
<p id="41gvUs">Ball security is something I’d watch with him. He had one concentration drop in the games I watched, and to make matters worse, it would have been a touchdown. He also fumbled a couple of times, and even though Baylor retained possession after both plays, I never like seeing guys get ripped like that.</p>
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<p id="LzXyQr">There were also a few plays where he didn’t come down with contested catches and I wouldn’t call it a “drop” per se, but I would expect a top-tier receiver like, say, <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/30/20841614/julio-jones-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Julio Jones</a> to make those catches more often than not. </p>
<p id="MVQX63">It might help if Mims worked on strengthening his hands. After watching some of the balls he was able to haul in away from his body, it’s impossible for me to say he has “bad” hands, but that doesn’t mean he can’t improve in that area. It could be the difference between being thought of as a good receiver or as great one.</p>
<p id="nam3CA">Of course, the important thing for a lot of general managers will be that the potential for greatness is already there. It doesn’t guarantee anything, but if you trust your coaching staff, then you have to believe they will help Mims pull that greatness out of himself eventually. And if this kid really blossoms on the next level, he really might end up being the next Julio.</p>
<h2 id="j262R4">Mims’ NFL future: A star WR</h2>
<p id="sLyWFq">I know I was <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/31/21198008/henry-ruggs-iii-nfl-draft-2020-speed-wide-receiver-class-highlights-strengths">talking up Henry Ruggs III</a> not too long ago, and I stand by everything in that column. But I have a hard time seeing a way that he would be higher than Mims on my board this spring.</p>
<p id="epA8h2">Maybe the only advantage Ruggs has is he was used in more ways in Alabama’s offense than Mims was used in Baylor’s. I didn’t get to see Mims line up in the slot much, or running any end-arounds, or catching any shallow crossers. But after watching Mims move with the ball in his hands, break tackles, and make defenders miss, I feel confident he could do all those things well, too.</p>
<p id="sFJOGJ">You know what Mims also didn’t have in college? A quarterback like <span>Tua Tagovailoa</span> throwing him the football. I’m not going to say Baylor’s quarterback was trash, but he did miss Mims a couple of times on would-be big plays. There is no guarantee Mims will get drafted to a team an outstanding quarterback, but if he does, I would expect him to ball out from day one.</p>
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<p id="vblMaJ">The first receiver off the board is probably going to come down to what “kind” a team is looking for early in this draft. I can understand the argument for the smaller, probably quicker Ruggs, but I’m generally partial to the bigger, more physical receivers, especially if they are also fast. Speed kills, true enough, but when both guys are pretty fast, give me the one who can <em>also</em> create separation with his physicality.</p>
<p id="YmnIZq">Before I watched Mims’ tape, I was <em>sure</em> I would tap Ruggs as the first receiver taken in this draft. Now, I’m just as sure that I’d take Mims instead. If I watch a guy next week who blows both of them away, I will adjust again. What I can say for sure right now is that the folks who said this would be a good draft for teams that need receivers were not lying. </p>
<p id="YZKfud">History tells us that some of these receivers probably won’t pan out, but there aren’t any obvious busts out of the four guys I’ve broken down so far. I can’t wait to see what they all do once they get to the league.</p>
<p id="VOfAFw"><em>Be sure to check out my other scouting reports on </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/25/21147976/chase-young-nfl-draft-2020-ohio-state-highlights-stats-skills-pros-cons"><em>Chase Young</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/28/21151778/jerry-jeudy-nfl-draft-2020-alabama-wide-receiver-scouting-report-highlights"><em>Jerry Jeudy</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/3/21158412/derrick-brown-nfl-draft-2020-dt-film-breakdown-highlights-auburn"><em>Derrick Brown</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/6/21162231/nfl-draft-2020-jedrick-wills-jr-alabama-offensive-tackle-guard-film-highlights"><em>Jedrick Wills Jr</em></a><em>., </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/10/21168037/aj-epenesa-nfl-draft-2020-iowa-projection-pros-cons-film-highlights"><em>A.J. Epenesa</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/13/21173000/ceedee-lamb-nfl-draft-2020-wide-receiver-comparison-highlights-film-oklahoma"><em>CeeDee Lamb</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/20/21179483/javon-kinlaw-nfl-draft-2020-defensive-tackle-film-scouting-report-highlights"><em>Javon Kinlaw</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/24/21186279/mekhi-becton-nfl-draft-2020-offensive-tackle-projection-highlights-film"><em>Mekhi Becton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/27/21194600/terrell-lewis-nfl-draft-2020-injury-history-highlights-edge-rusher-von-miller"><em>Terrell Lewis</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/31/21198008/henry-ruggs-iii-nfl-draft-2020-speed-wide-receiver-class-highlights-strengths"><em>Henry Ruggs III</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/4/3/21202467/neville-gallimore-nfl-draft-2020-projection-oklahoma-defensive-tackle-speed"><em>Neville Gallimore</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/4/7/21208681/tristan-wirfs-nfl-draft-2020-offensive-tackle-iowa-film-highlights-projection"><em>Tristan Wirfs</em></a><em>, and </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/4/10/21213362/klavon-chaisson-nfl-draft-2020-lsu-defense-position-highlights-film"><em>K’Lavon Chaisson</em></a><em>.</em></p>
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<p id="OaCkTC"><em>For the purposes of this breakdown, I watched Mims play against Kansas State, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Texas.</em></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/4/14/21218097/denzel-mims-nfl-draft-2020-wide-receiver-ranking-baylor-highlights-film-jetsStephen White2020-04-24T20:51:01-04:002020-04-24T20:51:01-04:00Bills pick A.J. Epenesa has talent that isn’t debatable
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<img alt="An illustration of NFL DE prospect AJ Epenesa at Iowa, superimposed on a black and white background with “SCOUTING” and “X”s and “O”s in aqua lettering" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/57XnAyojkL2Epx1i7WgtDezCOhc=/75x0:1925x1233/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66475225/aj_epenesa_scouting.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>2020 NFL Draft prospect A.J. Epenesa has first-round talent.</figcaption>
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<p>Retired defensive end Stephen White knows there isn’t much that makes Epenesa stand out athletically — yet, the Iowa pass rusher is anything but ordinary.</p> <p id="Ci6zTq"><em>The Buffalo Bills selected A.J. Epenesa with the 54th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Here’s what Stephen White had to say about Epenesa ahead of the draft.</em></p>
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<p id="Oh5c9d">I would imagine opinions on Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa are going to vary wildly. The reason, quite frankly, is because there doesn’t appear to be anything all that “special” about him at first glance.</p>
<p id="IsX3QF">I don’t mean to sound harsh with that statement, but it’s the truth. He has <em>good</em> size at 6’4 and a listed weight of 280 pounds, but he isn’t the biggest or strongest guy you’ve ever seen. He has a <em>decent</em> get off, but nothing to write home about. His lateral quickness was<em> fine</em>, but I didn’t watch his tape and come away thinking he’d be breaking any short shuttle records at the combine.</p>
<p id="YHdPac">In fact, <a href="https://www.nfl.com/prospects/a.j.-epenesa?id=32194550-4541-5291-9369-b9d0c170a565">when I look at his combine performance overall</a>, he put up the kind of numbers I would expect from someone who possessed just above-average athleticism relative to his fellow prospects.</p>
<p id="Q2uGlz">But, the more I watched his tape, the more plays I kept seeing him make. Then, I started tallying up all the damage he’d done in four games I watched: four sacks, 10 pressures, seven <em>other</em> hits on the quarterback, eight <em>other</em> one-on-one pass rush wins, and one pass knocked down at the line of scrimmage. </p>
<p id="Ply26d">At that point, it was clear to me Epenesa is one of those prospects who you have to dig a little deeper on to really recognize their value on the next level.</p>
<h2 id="PyZLmc">What Epenesa does well: Swiper move</h2>
<p id="l9lblp">I will admit it did take me a little longer than usual to figure Epenesa out, but then it finally came to me when I changed the way I approached him as a player. Usually, I try to focus on individual traits or moves a defensive lineman uses to win on the field, and extrapolate whether those things will also work for him in the NFL. But with Epenesa, it turns out you have to look at his pass-rushing ability as a complete package.</p>
<p id="F1jlv1">Epenesa’s best edge move around the corner is his patented swiper move. He has really mastered the details of that move and can seemingly pull it out at any moment. His timing on tape with it was great, too. As soon as offensive linemen shot their hands at him, Epenesa used his swiper so violently that he was almost always able to swat those hands away <em>before </em>they could touch him. </p>
<p id="zzYNFG">He also finished those moves with a rip, which helped him to turn a tighter corner than he normally would have with just his athletic ability.</p>
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<p id="MAwu54">Those swiper moves were easily the flashiest part of Epenesa’s game. Just about every offensive lineman he faced had to have been on alert for that move, but they still caught hell when Epenesa was really humming.</p>
<p id="dRUBsJ">There is one problem with the swiper move, however. The success of that move is intrinsically tied to whether or not an offensive lineman actually shoots his punch at Epenesa. If he does, then Epenesa is likely going to able to swat the lineman’s outstretched hands away. </p>
<p id="1AJTGR">While there is still a shortage of quality offensive tackles in the NFL, Epenesa is sure to go against some who know how to switch up when they shoot their punch and will be able to throw off his swiper move. There will even be a few who understand how to keep their hands back completely when they see him going for his swiper move, and instead just try to bear hug the pass rusher after he swats air.</p>
<p id="0M4PyH">But that’s where Epenesa’s <em>second-best</em> pass rush move comes into play. </p>
<h2 id="CVi5hU">What Epenesa does well: Long-arm move and arm-over</h2>
<p id="pN7Xn2">In addition to that swiper move, Epenesa has a nice array of power rushes, and his long-arm move in particular is one of the best you will see from a college prospect. That’s important because once he gets to the NFL where tackles tend to be a little more stingy with their punch, Epenesa will need a Plan B. </p>
<p id="vnP4jb">It doesn’t get much better than countering your swiper move with a long arm.</p>
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<p id="5UnvBz">If he can continue to switch things up like that, I see no reason why Epenesa won’t be even <em>more</em> successful as a pass rusher in the pros.</p>
<p id="BAbHiT">The more I thought about it, the more sense this made to me: being able to use his power and his swiper move to keep an offensive tackle off balance could help Epenesa turn into a guy who is damn near unblockable three years down the road. I was even more convinced after I factored in the quick two-step arm-overs inside he was able to win with as a counter move, too.</p>
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<p id="lUVJW3">Those three facets of his pass-rushing plan working together will eventually make life hell for any offensive tackle assigned to block him.</p>
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<h2 id="xW2YvF">What Epenesa does OK: Defend the run</h2>
<p id="hS0RWs">I believe with Epenesa’s size, he could easily pack on another 10 pounds or so and carry it well, so playing him inside full-time could be viable option if he comes out of the gate slow as an edge rusher. At the very least, being an interior pass rusher could be a way he gets on the field early if he doesn’t earn a starting role right away.</p>
<p id="mautGl">I don’t have a lot to say about Epenesa as a run defender, but not because I think he’s bad at it. I feel like he is a guy who can hold the point at the line of scrimmage and not get driven off the ball. </p>
<p id="DJY7nk">He showed good technique coming off and using his hands well to try to control the blockers, something aided by his long arms that measured over 34 inches at the combine. That’s why his 17 bench press reps are not the same as a guy who is built like a Tyrannosaurus rex. He is definitely plenty strong enough to at least be a decent run defender in the NFL.</p>
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<p id="DEvKKQ">At the same time, I only credited him with four tackles aside from those sacks in four games. I wouldn’t be expecting him to make a ton of them in the NFL. But, just like sacks, tackles don’t always tell the tale about how well a guy plays the run.</p>
<p id="rCgH04">As far as dropping into coverage, Epenesa did do a little of that, and he was at least OK at it in the games I watched. I don’t think it’s a major selling point for him, however, aside from maybe using him as a spy inside from time to time. But with the speed this new generation of quarterbacks seems to have, I’m not sure how well he would match up with them in that role.</p>
<h2 id="EvwmSw">Where Epenesa can improve: Playing both sides</h2>
<p id="jSOA1Z">Now that I have established he has first-round talent, I can also point out some valid concerns about Epenesa’s game.</p>
<p id="HHN1cd">My biggest concern in projecting how Epenesa will do in the NFL is I only got to see him play on the right side of the defensive line. He did show some versatility by kicking inside as a three-technique pass rusher in definite passing situations quite a bit, but even then, he was always on the right side. It seems like there had to be a reason behind it, because I would have assumed at least once in four games Epenesa would’ve found a favorable matchup on the left side, at least on passing downs.</p>
<p id="aFMSNb">We don’t talk about this a lot, but there <em>are</em> pass rushers who feel a lot more comfortable on one side than the other. I know this because <em>I</em> was one of them until a few years into my NFL career. I had played almost exclusively on the right side at defensive end in college, so playing on left side at first felt like trying to sign my name left-handed.</p>
<p id="3t2xWj">Eventually I, like a lot of guys in the same situation, did get more comfortable playing on the other side, mostly because I didn’t have a choice if I wanted to stay in the league. Which is to say unless there is a physical issue preventing Epenesa from playing on the left — <a href="https://tampabay.sbnation.com/2011/4/29/2334359/2011-nfl-draft-grades-tampa-bay-bucs-and-adrian-clayborn">like the situation with another former Hawkeye defensive end</a>, <span>Adrian Clayborn</span> — Epenesa should get to that comfort level eventually. That is especially true if he is drafted high and expected to play right away. </p>
<h2 id="sTCmnj">Epenesa’s NFL future: Underrated but productive</h2>
<p id="Pi0vAC">To sum it up, I definitely believe Epenesa is worth a first-round pick, even if he isn’t the best athlete testing-wise. He has legit pass-rush moves and a plan that will work on the next level as long as he continues to improve. If he goes in the first round, it will likely be because the team that took him largely ignored the testing stuff and focused on the film, which I personally would encourage. </p>
<p id="OaKV1s">I don’t think he’s a finished product anyway, but his floor as a prospect is just too good to ignore.</p>
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<p id="PHzvDK">With the way he plays, I can see Epenesa starting off slowly until he gets a feel for the quicker speed of the game in the NFL. However, a few years down the road, I can also see him being a double-digit sack guy in the right system. That will be especially true if he is comfortable playing on the left side already and won’t have to adjust to that in the league. </p>
<p id="NUR6Bw">I will note, again, that he has excellent potential as an interior pass rusher.</p>
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<p id="LlHGfn">If a team needs a guy to come in and be a “savior” for their defensive line right away, I’d probably advise against taking Epenesa. But if there is a team with some talent up front and is just looking to add to it, then I think most could do a lot worse than drafting Epenesa this year. </p>
<p id="BCUeLv">But I do think there will be enough conflict between where different teams see his value that he <em>could </em>drop to late in the first round, or out of the first round altogether.</p>
<p id="2eKN5B">Always remember, it’s not where you start, but where you finish. Barring injury, I believe Epenesa is going to be a hell of a player no matter where he is ultimately drafted. At the same time, he may be one of those guys who is perpetually underrated because he makes a lot of plays without being that flashy. </p>
<p id="XPYExf">That’s OK, though — flash doesn’t win games, production does. And Epenesa should have plenty of the latter by the time his career is all said and done.</p>
<p id="1iyYns"><em>Be sure to check out my other scouting reports on </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/25/21147976/chase-young-nfl-draft-2020-ohio-state-highlights-stats-skills-pros-cons"><em>Chase Young</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/28/21151778/jerry-jeudy-nfl-draft-2020-alabama-wide-receiver-scouting-report-highlights"><em>Jerry Jeudy</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/3/21158412/derrick-brown-nfl-draft-2020-dt-film-breakdown-highlights-auburn"><em>Derrick Brown</em></a><em>, and </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/6/21162231/nfl-draft-2020-jedrick-wills-jr-alabama-offensive-tackle-guard-film-highlights"><em>Jedrick Wills Jr</em></a><em>.</em></p>
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<p id="3bH8zb"><em>For the purposes of this breakdown, I watched Epenesa play against Iowa State, Michigan, Purdue, and Minnesota.</em></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/10/21168037/aj-epenesa-nfl-draft-2020-iowa-projection-pros-cons-film-highlights-billsStephen White2020-04-23T22:40:29-04:002020-04-23T22:40:29-04:00K’Lavon Chaisson can be a chess piece for the Jaguars’ defense
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<img alt="An illustration of NFL edge prospect K’Lavon Chaisson running at LSU, superimposed on a red background with “SCOUTING” and “X”s and “O”s in gray lettering " src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/dAC1pUb_c0W5feL9cFWVArFE9f4=/150x0:2000x1233/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66634675/chaisson_scouting.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>K’Lavon Chaisson is one of the most versatile defenders in the 2020 NFL Draft.</figcaption>
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<p>Retired defensive end Stephen White says K’Lavon Chaisson’s position matters less than how Jacksonville uses him.</p> <p id="Ci6zTq"><em>The Jacksonville Jaguars selected K’Lavon Chaisson with the 20th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Here’s what Stephen White had to say about Chaisson ahead of the draft.</em></p>
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<p id="EPzndu"><span>K’Lavon Chaisson</span> is the first edge rusher I’ve broken down this spring who doesn’t have that prototypical NFL size to him. He isn’t small at 6’3 and 254 pounds, but a guy with <span>Chaisson</span>’s build would’ve generally earned the dreaded “tweener” label back in my day (I should know, I was one).</p>
<p id="v7ni8U">That isn’t necessarily a bad thing now, however.</p>
<p id="J6mIj7">As I watched his film from LSU, I couldn’t decide if he looked more like a true linebacker, an edge rusher, or a hand-in-the-dirt defensive end. After thinking it over, I decided the best way to view <span>Chaisson</span> is as a chess piece rather that a guy tied to any one position.</p>
<h2 id="79Leit">What <span>Chaisson</span> does well: Sets the edge</h2>
<p id="iB3IsL">If a team wants to use him strictly as an edge rusher, I think he could handle it full time. <span>Chaisson</span> is strong, powerful, and was able to hold his ground better than I anticipated a player his size being able to. He certainly doesn’t look in any way undersized when he takes on offensive linemen, and his ability to set the edge was one thing that stood out to me while watching his tape. </p>
<p id="xe3ORE"><span>Chaisson</span> didn’t just run around blocks all the time. He would get full extension with his arms and constrict the B gap inside to force the runner to try to bounce it outside, where he would be sitting there just waiting to take them down.</p>
<p id="K6raQG">Normally I’m not a fan of guys who shoot up the field on almost every play because that can open up holes inside, particularly on running plays. However, <span>Chaisson</span> was so quick to react <em>after </em>he got a couple of steps upfield that he still usually found a way to get in on the play without putting the rest of the defense at risk.</p>
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<p id="pfhI5X">His ability to escape off of blocks to get to the ball carrier was also impressive, especially when setting the edge. I see Chaisson as a very good run defender, and one who will end up making a lot of tackles behind the line of scrimmage because of his approach to playing the run. It also doesn’t hurt that he has a fantastic motor and is relentless in his pursuit of the ball.</p>
<p id="pC0ki7">In addition to all that, Chaisson is cat quick with his lateral movements. When he stunts inside, he can be as much, or even more, of a problem as he is when he shoots straight up the field. </p>
<p id="XjkZgd">Not only will he <em>not</em> be a liability against the run, I actually think people will have to account for him in the running game just like they will when he rushes the passer. I saw several teams leave Chaisson unblocked on running plays, expecting to be able to bait him into not reading his keys. It didn’t turn out well for pretty much any of them.</p>
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<p id="qKKR7R">Regardless of how tall he is, or how much he weighs, I don’t have any knocks on Chaisson as a run defender. Hell, I’d trust him on the edge more than I would many bigger guys, and I think he will only improve once he gets in the league.</p>
<h2 id="Q7tvBv">What Chaisson does well: His speed rush</h2>
<p id="bYToUW">Chaisson’s athleticism is even more on display when he rushes the passer, and it jumps right off the screen. On tape I saw a guy who can <em>definitely</em> make some noise off the edge. His get-off, speed, quickness, and ability to bend make him a major headache for any offensive tackle trying to keep Chaisson off their quarterback.</p>
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<p id="JUMHd1">The fact he can turn a tight corner while keeping his balance gives him the potential to be <em>special</em> as a speed rusher. And once he gets tackles bailing out of their stances to try to keep up with that speed, that’s when Chaisson can unleash his counter moves to use their momentum against them.</p>
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<p id="3JPfvJ">With a nice, crisp spin move in his toolbox, along with a more than decent long-arm move, Chaisson makes sure tackles can’t get comfortable just trying to set for his speed rushes. If they were a hair slow getting kicking back out their stance, he could be around them in an instant. If they overcommitted to stopping his speed rush outside, he could shoot inside of them before they could blink. </p>
<p id="x8rnSH">The crazy thing about it is Chaisson spent a lot of time dropping back into coverage, so it’s not like he had a ton of opportunities to pass rush in the four games of his I watched. Yet he still managed to flash quite a bit even in those limited instances.</p>
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<h2 id="hsAlYz">What Chaisson does well: Drop into coverage</h2>
<p id="p6x9K3">You might be asking yourself, “why would a team drop a guy like Chaisson into coverage when he looks so good putting pressure on the quarterback?” The answer goes back to him being more of a well-rounded weapon than just a regular old edge rusher.</p>
<p id="0tDTlr">Chaisson looked at least as comfortable dropping back in coverage as he did rushing the passer, if not more so. He wasn’t just dropping to the flat on zone blitzes and trying not to get embarrassed like your average defensive end prospect. I mean, he walked out on the slot at times in press coverage. You might have thought he was a member of the secondary watching his feet on those plays.</p>
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<p id="yPMBLU">He also at least appeared to be in man-to-man quite a bit against running backs and tight ends in the games I watched. When I saw him flip his hips to change directions on a few of those plays, he looked like he was born to back pedal. I was also really impressed with the way he broke up a couple of screen passes. It was a thing of beauty watching him react to the blockers, then take off like his hair was on fire to blow up the play.</p>
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<p id="2fe1do">As much as teams need pass rushers these days, they <em>also </em>need that guy who can win those one-on-one coverage matchups with tight ends who are too physical for most safeties and corners. We are in a golden age of production from the tight end position even with <span>Rob Gronkowski</span>’s recent retirement.</p>
<p id="wmXkSV">With the way he moved on the field, I believe Chaisson has the potential to be able to bang and run with the Travis Kelces and George Kittles of the world at the line of scrimmage or off of it. Maybe he can’t stay with them 30 yards down the field, but he can force the quarterback to have to make one hell of a throw over him to complete the pass. And maybe with a little bit of work, he can eventually be the kind of defender that those tight ends can’t shake deep down the field, either.</p>
<p id="yXMXhw">So the question in my mind really isn’t “where do you play him,” but rather, “how many ways can you maximize his potential within the scheme of your defense?” In that context, it matters more how Chaisson is used, rather than where he lines up.</p>
<h2 id="6kyQUj">Where Chaisson can improve: His technique</h2>
<p id="nN7eaD">I will concede that no matter where he plays, Chaisson will likely have to sharpen up his technique a little overall. </p>
<p id="Qw25lL">As a pass rusher, he could stand to get better with being precise with his hands. Just throwing your swiper move out there will win every so often just off luck. But once he gets to where he can time his opponent’s punch better, Chaisson is going to have even more success getting around the edge.</p>
<p id="tqwSes">His long-arm move would also be a lot more deadly if Chaisson learned to escape off it a little sooner. Too often he would end up stuck on the blocker peeking in the backfield, instead of just ripping outside. Those were plays where he could’ve been getting pressures rather than ending up a spectator.</p>
<p id="inr4Hu">The more he works on perfecting his long-arm move, the harder it is going to be for anybody to block that young man off the edge.</p>
<h2 id="aOy4iT">Chaisson’s NFL future: First-round talent</h2>
<p id="Isejco">There are so many ways you can use him effectively that the one place I would love to see Chaisson go is to the <a href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">Patriots</a>. I’m not saying he <em>will</em> end up in New England; there really is no way to tell how this jerry-rigged draft will go. However, Chaisson looks like the perfect guy to replace do-it-all linebacker <span>Kyle Van Noy</span> after Van Noy signed with the <a href="https://www.thephinsider.com/">Dolphins</a> in free agency this spring.</p>
<p id="KXJRKU">That is probably more wishful thinking than anything else because I know Bill Belichick could get the most out of Chaisson, but the Patriots certainly aren’t the only team that could sorely use a defender with Chaisson’s skillset. </p>
<p id="w8y4sn">It’s a little hard for me to compare him to the other edge rushers I’ve broken down so far like <span>Chase Young</span>, <span>A.J. Epenesa</span>, and <span>Terrell Lewis</span>. That’s both because of the size difference, and also the difference in how I feel those guys will fit into schemes on the next level, as opposed to Chaisson’s ideal fit. </p>
<p id="WvjTbm">Still, I see Chaisson as possessing first-round talent. He definitely gave first-round effort in the games I watched.</p>
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<p id="39vSXk">I believe Young goes the highest overall of the group, but after that it’s somewhat of a crapshoot because of the different needs they all fulfill. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Chaisson go as high as the middle of the first round, either. There are just so many ways you can potentially use him to help affect the outcome of games for me to believe more than 20 teams are going to pass on him this year.</p>
<p id="a0DfxG">But I have been wrong before, so the fun part is now waiting to see if the teams agree with me or not. Regardless of where he’s drafted, however, I expect Chaisson to be an impact player in all phases of the game on the next level. His best days are likely ahead of him, especially if he goes to the right situation.</p>
<p id="PdRvIs"><em>Be sure to check out my other scouting reports on </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/25/21147976/chase-young-nfl-draft-2020-ohio-state-highlights-stats-skills-pros-cons"><em>Chase Young</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/28/21151778/jerry-jeudy-nfl-draft-2020-alabama-wide-receiver-scouting-report-highlights"><em>Jerry Jeudy</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/3/21158412/derrick-brown-nfl-draft-2020-dt-film-breakdown-highlights-auburn"><em>Derrick Brown</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/6/21162231/nfl-draft-2020-jedrick-wills-jr-alabama-offensive-tackle-guard-film-highlights"><em>Jedrick Wills Jr</em></a><em>., </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/10/21168037/aj-epenesa-nfl-draft-2020-iowa-projection-pros-cons-film-highlights"><em>A.J. Epenesa</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/13/21173000/ceedee-lamb-nfl-draft-2020-wide-receiver-comparison-highlights-film-oklahoma"><em>CeeDee Lamb</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/20/21179483/javon-kinlaw-nfl-draft-2020-defensive-tackle-film-scouting-report-highlights"><em>Javon Kinlaw</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/24/21186279/mekhi-becton-nfl-draft-2020-offensive-tackle-projection-highlights-film"><em>Mekhi Becton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/27/21194600/terrell-lewis-nfl-draft-2020-injury-history-highlights-edge-rusher-von-miller"><em>Terrell Lewis</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/31/21198008/henry-ruggs-iii-nfl-draft-2020-speed-wide-receiver-class-highlights-strengths"><em>Henry Ruggs III</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/4/3/21202467/neville-gallimore-nfl-draft-2020-projection-oklahoma-defensive-tackle-speed"><em>Neville Gallimore</em></a><em>, and </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/4/7/21208681/tristan-wirfs-nfl-draft-2020-offensive-tackle-iowa-film-highlights-projection"><em>Tristan Wirfs</em></a><em>.</em></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="NB0hih">
<p id="40vd4G"><em>For the purposes of this breakdown, I watched Chaisson play against Texas, Florida, Auburn, and Alabama.</em></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/4/10/21213362/klavon-chaisson-nfl-draft-2020-lsu-defense-position-highlights-film-jaguarsStephen White2020-04-23T22:21:24-04:002020-04-23T22:21:24-04:00Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb might have the best career of this draft’s WRs
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<img alt="An illustration of NFL WR prospect CeeDee Lamb running with the ball at Oklahoma, superimposed on a black and white background with “SCOUTING” and “X”s and “O”s in aqua lettering" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/TvEl0ImVYMSRPjrd8ICj5GLIKRQ=/75x0:1925x1233/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66496449/ceedee_lamb_scouting.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>CeeDee Lamb should be one of the first WRs drafted in 2020.</figcaption>
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<p>Retired defensive end Stephen White shows why CeeDee Lamb has a bright future, even if the receiver isn’t a finished product.</p> <p id="Z2K1jA"><em>The Dallas Cowboys selected CeeDee Lamb with the 17th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Here’s what Stephen White had to say about Lamb ahead of the draft.</em></p>
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<p id="PpbTKf">It’s impossible for me to avoid comparing <span>CeeDee Lamb</span> to <span>Jerry Jeudy</span>. I would say that even if Jeudy hadn’t been the only receiver <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/28/21151778/jerry-jeudy-nfl-draft-2020-alabama-wide-receiver-scouting-report-highlights">I’ve done a breakdown on</a> to this point. They are two of the top receiver prospects in this year’s draft, and there are many similarities between them.</p>
<p id="Pi4o7A">Lamb and Jeudy “look” the same, with both guys measuring in at a little over 6’1 and weighing over 190 pounds. They were both used in a multitude of ways in their respective offenses — Jeudy at Alabama, Lamb at Oklahoma — this past season. I saw them both running a bunch of shallow crossers, quick outs, quick slants, jet sweeps, and a ton of screens from both out wide and in the slot. They also both showed big-play potential, although the <em>way</em> they made those big plays often diverged.</p>
<p id="tLq9pq">However, this isn’t a compare and contrast column, especially since Lamb is a big-time baller in his own right. Instead, I will just give you the lowdown on Lamb as I did with Jeudy, and then you can do the comparing and contrasting on your own.</p>
<h2 id="7kAi5b">What Lamb does well: Breaking ankles</h2>
<p id="g9FSHn">Let’s start with the fact Lamb can make you miss in a phone booth. Any young whippersnappers reading this may have to google what a phone booth is, but trust me, you’ll get it after you do. </p>
<p id="kaJ8u8">There are some guys who can just see running lanes develop down the field that almost nobody else can, and Lamb definitely falls into that category. It didn’t really matter what kind of pass he caught or where he was at on the field, if he got the ball with any space to maneuver, it was <em>showtime.</em></p>
<p id="bTd9Gz">In the four games I watched of his, I saw a bunch of dudes who might need new ankles after trying to tackle Lamb out in the open space. He has that ability to stick his foot in the ground and change directions on a dime, then give you 10 pennies back just before the defender is set to make contact. That’s something guys have or they don’t. And Lamb was <em>always</em> looking to make a guy miss.</p>
<p id="BQ7hOF">Watching Lamb dart through secondaries for big yardage actually reminded me of <span>Dante Hall</span> returning kicks back in the day. In particular, there was this play that made me stand up and holler. Lamb weaved in, out, around, and through traffic on his way to a long touchdown off a simple smoke screen.</p>
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<p id="jeyDOB">You can’t teach that. You can’t coach that. That kind of elusiveness translates well to the next level, where we are seeing more short passes and screens to take advantage on the outside. That is especially true when you are talking about a guy who was making these kinds of moves against top-notch competition.</p>
<h2 id="nHbCCG">What Lamb does well: He’s tough to bring down</h2>
<p id="vIG66H">Another big selling point on Lamb is that he is a stronger runner with the ball in his hands than he looks.</p>
<p id="SkUTIT">Part of the reason he was so good at making big plays out of short passes is that he was able to keep his balance and stay upright when defenders tried to blast him, but didn’t wrap up. He actually reminds me a lot of <a href="https://www.battleredblog.com/">Texans</a> All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins. The way Lamb keeps working through contact is going to pay <em>huge </em>dividends in the NFL.</p>
<p id="Wlsp95">I saw Lamb get blasted a few times right after making a catch, but he was always able to maintain possession while going to the ground. That, along with his strong running style, gives me plenty of confidence in him being a “tough” guy.</p>
<p id="QhltFW">While the jukes and spins are going to get the crowd going, some of those 5-yard gains on third-and-4 are likely to be a part of his hallmark in the league, as well.</p>
<p id="jlLjlz">Another plus in Lamb’s favor is that he has a great feel for how to run routes, especially against zone coverage. He knew how to navigate through traffic to get to the open windows and make himself available. When you run those shallow- to medium-depth crossing routes, there are always linebackers and safeties in that area looking to give you the business.</p>
<p id="lbaoTF">I was actually able to see Lamb work around those “hole” defenders, either avoid the contact or weather it, then find an open window to sit down in. That isn’t something you see from many college receivers.</p>
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<h2 id="Bg1Pzf">Where Lamb can improve: Making contested catches</h2>
<p id="aITVON">Watching the tape, it’s clear that Lamb is fast, as his 4.5-second 40-yard dash at the combine showed. But while Jeudy’s time was only .05 faster, their speeds on the field look much different to me. Jeudy got open deep consistently, but Lamb didn’t seem to get a lot of separation when he was targeted on downfield throws.</p>
<p id="ReEd15">This was something that was consistent in all four games. The only contested bomb Lamb caught where the ball travelled more than 20 yards in the air was against LSU.</p>
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<p id="wItXN6">He did have another long touchdown on a completely busted coverage against Houston, too. Otherwise, his targets on go routes were mostly either bad throws, balls that fell incomplete but would’ve taken an outstanding catch, or in one case a drop.</p>
<p id="CB3uSO">And that brings me to my only real concern with Lamb after watching his tape: his ability to make contested catches on 50-50 balls.</p>
<p id="QFtXl0">I already said in Jeudy’s breakdown that it wasn’t much a concern with<em> him</em> because I’d expect him to have enough downfield separation on most of those throws. With Lamb, I saw him run deep routes against corners <em>and</em> safeties, and pretty much every time when the ball arrived, the defender was right there to try to make a play on it or to distract him enough so he couldn’t catch it.</p>
<p id="X9l5GQ">I thought Lamb showed good-to-great hands in almost every <em>other</em> kind of situation over those four games. He went up high and caught several balls with his hands, and he caught several others while in traffic. However, it seemed like trying to catch those contested fades were just a different animal for him. And he’s not tall like <a href="https://dknation.draftkings.com/2019/8/30/20841107/mike-evans-fantasy-football-dfs-salary-stats-2019">Mike Evans</a>, who can just sky over a defensive back to get it.</p>
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<p id="CjKFls">I think it’s an area Lamb can improve on to be a deep threat in the league. Like I said, his hands look <em>really </em>good otherwise, so it’s probably just a matter of working on his concentration. If he gets to where he can <em>catch</em> like Hopkins in those contested situations, or even come close, Lamb is going to be hell to try to defend.</p>
<p id="Xmbjc1">I do think it’s something he can certainly do.</p>
<h2 id="B9IKIV">Lamb’s NFL future: High upside</h2>
<p id="F0prGa">I do see Lamb as a high first-round talent. However, after watching <span>DK Metcalf</span> and <span>A.J. Brown</span> last until near the end of the second round last year, I’m not sure if anybody actually knows what a first-rounder actually looks like anymore.</p>
<p id="40ysO9">I will note that like Brown and Metcalf, I didn’t see Lamb run an extensive route tree in those four games. It was mostly 5-yard breaking routes, shallow crossers, deep over routes (which seemed to be his specialty), and various versions of deep balls. </p>
<p id="uB7FUE">I will put the disclaimer that watching the TV copy means I’m usually at the mercy of whether the broadcast showed a replay angle of his route. Still, as far as I could tell, Lamb’s route tree itself was pretty basic. But, just like with Metcalf and Brown, I’ve seen enough of Lamb athletically that I don’t think teaching him how to run a deep dig or out is going to be very hard. It’s not astrophysics.</p>
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<p id="gnxgj2">With his quick feet and body control, I imagine Lamb will end up being one helluva route runner before it’s all said and done, anyway.</p>
<p id="EojyNz">Lamb is a fantastic prospect, but there are some areas he needs to improve on to develop into a Pro Bowler, which is what you are looking for when you draft a guy high. I don’t think he will have a problem adjusting in the league, but I don’t think he’s a finished product yet.</p>
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<p id="lQMkFJ">Regardless, it would take <em>a lot </em>for him to fail as a pro. There are just too many things he does well, including blocking. I could definitely see him being an 80+ reception guy in an offense that emphasizes getting the ball into his hands quickly. And as I said earlier, when he gets the ball in his hands, that’s when the party really gets started.</p>
<p id="RhibmR">What will be interesting to see if Jeudy or Lamb comes off the board first on draft day. Of course it will make for a lot of internet arguments for months and maybe years afterward, but I really believe both guys will be <em>tremendous</em> in the NFL, barring injury.</p>
<p id="w1CxKy">As an old sixth-round pick myself, I always like to remind people that it’s never where you start, but where you finish. The beauty is I think both guys can fit in just about any offensive system because of the different roles their college teams had them play. While I like Jeudy over Lamb right now today, there is no question that Lamb could overtake him in the league, and that’s the fun part for me. </p>
<p id="te4MUD">Regardless, the future should be bright for both of these outstanding young men.</p>
<p id="gFjzH4"><em>Be sure to check out my other scouting reports on </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/25/21147976/chase-young-nfl-draft-2020-ohio-state-highlights-stats-skills-pros-cons"><em>Chase Young</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/28/21151778/jerry-jeudy-nfl-draft-2020-alabama-wide-receiver-scouting-report-highlights"><em>Jerry Jeudy</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/3/21158412/derrick-brown-nfl-draft-2020-dt-film-breakdown-highlights-auburn"><em>Derrick Brown</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/6/21162231/nfl-draft-2020-jedrick-wills-jr-alabama-offensive-tackle-guard-film-highlights"><em>Jedrick Wills Jr</em></a><em>., and </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/10/21168037/aj-epenesa-nfl-draft-2020-iowa-projection-pros-cons-film-highlights"><em>A.J. Epenesa</em></a><em>.</em></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="al6fZx">
<p id="OEGioB"><em>For the purposes of this breakdown, I watched Lamb play against Houston, Kansas State, Baylor in the Big 12 Championship Game, and LSU in the College Football Playoff semifinal</em>.</p>
https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/13/21173000/ceedee-lamb-nfl-draft-2020-wide-receiver-comparison-highlights-film-oklahoma-cowboysStephen White2020-04-23T22:06:46-04:002020-04-23T22:06:46-04:00Jerry Jeudy is the kind of receiver the Broncos are lucky to have
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<img alt="Artwork of NFL WR prospect Jerry Jeudy carrying the ball at Alabama, superimposed on an aqua background with “scouting” and “X’s and O’s in neon green letters" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7RiK5FsQbGcLWiLl4LD4BZCvNjI=/84x0:1934x1233/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66398566/jerry_jeudy_scouting_report.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jerry Jeudy is one of the top WR prospects in a draft class loaded at the position.</figcaption>
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<p>Retired defensive end Stephen White believes Jerry Jeudy can put up even bigger numbers in Denver than he did at Alabama — and that’s saying something.</p> <p id="Z2K1jA"><em>The Denver Broncos selected Jerry Jeudy with the 15th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Here’s what Stephen White had to say about Jeudy ahead of the draft.</em></p>
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<p id="3lFg3M">After watching his tape, the first word that comes to mind when I think about <span>Jerry Jeudy</span> is “polished.”</p>
<p id="Bv61FM">He already looks like a professional in the way he operates on the field. Jeudy also has all the athletic traits you could possibly ask for from a wide receiver with his speed, quickness, strength to get off the jam, and hand-eye coordination to track the football in the air. More than just his physical ability, what jumped off the screen to me was that he understands <em>how</em> to actually play the position.</p>
<p id="BK058O">Just about every team in the league could use a receiver like Jeudy. He ran a complete route tree at Alabama, and was sharp and fluid getting in and out of his breaks. He also was excellent beating press coverage at the line of scrimmage. </p>
<p id="HtcyCC">Yeah, if you miss a jam on Jeudy, you might as well go ahead and fake that pulled hammy.</p>
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<p id="rCu1hb">In college, Jeudy was able to showcase the full breadth of his talents — and there really isn’t much this kid can’t do on a football field. Alabama featured him in a multitude of ways in the four games that I watched, and no matter where Jeudy lined up, he still found a way to flourish.</p>
<h2 id="lckQBz">What Jeudy does well: Embracing contact</h2>
<p id="QdG9K4">He was mostly in the slot in those four games but also spent time as an outside receiver, and it was apparent he could more than hold his own there. At 6’1 and 193 pounds, Jeudy isn’t exactly a “big” wide receiver in this era of supersized wideouts we are living in, but he definitely isn’t short and at times plays a lot bigger than his size.</p>
<p id="cbfFiT">That was especially true when he was catching balls in traffic. Not only does Jeudy not mind a little contact, he actively sought it out in the tape I watched.</p>
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<p id="uBKCpg">That was another thing that stood out to me: Jeudy <em>loved </em>to finish the play off strong when he had the ball in his hands. Part of that was his ability to accelerate after the catch, which was jaw-dropping at times. Jeudy would already be running his route fast, but when he secured the catch with green grass in front of him, he would <em>really</em> open up that V12 he has under the hood. </p>
<p id="zOMJQq">On top of his wheels, however, Jeudy would lower his shoulder on contact so he could get an extra yard or three by delivering a blow instead of just taking one at the end of his receptions. It doesn’t seem like a big deal, but extra yards tend to add up, and they can make all the difference in a tight contest. That’s how you keep moving the chains even when you can’t shake the coverage.</p>
<p id="hLqeLv">I won’t go overboard and say Jeudy has <span>Deebo Samuel</span>’s <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2019/4/10/18297990/deebo-samuel-nfl-draft-2019-san-francisco-49ers-wide-receiver-ranking-scouting-report">level of physicality</a> as a runner, but extra yards are extra yards, and I believe Jeudy’s run-after-catch style will continue to reap benefits at the next level.</p>
<h2 id="c3xj1Z">What Jeudy does well: Going deep</h2>
<p id="EYUcGR">While <span>Samuel</span> is certainly an exciting player, he wasn’t quite the deep threat in college that Jeudy was.</p>
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<p id="fe9FtS">If Jeudy were <em>only </em>able to work the underneath routes, he would still easily be a top prospect on that part of his game alone. That he <em>also</em> has an extra gear most guys don’t possess is what pushes him right up into elite wide receiver prospect status.</p>
<p id="GdDLs2">I will note that in picking these four games at random, I ended up watching two games with Alabama’s normal starting quarterback, and probable top-five pick, Tua Tagovailoa. The other two games were with backup <span>Mac Jones</span>. I could have tried to make sure all four games were when Jeudy had Tagovailoa throwing to him, but that would defeat the purpose of choosing them at random. It also would have denied me the ability to see if Jeudy could still find a way to make an impact with a backup quarterback leading the offense.</p>
<p id="WFo91i">That is important to me, because we all know that not every top draft prospect ends up going to a good situation. No matter where he is picked, there is a chance that Jeudy will be drafted by a team without a “good” starting quarterback. Nobody wants to hear excuses if a wide receiver is taken high, though. They expect him to perform no matter who is at quarterback, so watching Jeudy with Jones was an opportunity to see how that might play out.</p>
<p id="OcPS0p">Judging by how he <em>roasted </em>the Michigan secondary in the bowl game with Jones under center, I’m gonna go ahead and say I’d be comfortable as hell drafting Jeudy into <em>any</em> quarterback situation.</p>
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<h2 id="H5JL7L">Where Jeudy can improve: Drops</h2>
<p id="XqqRBM">As for any knocks on the kid, he had three drops in the games I watched, which is a little concerning. One of them was just a concentration drop; he tried to run before he had actually secured the catch. That one didn’t concern me all that much.</p>
<p id="28KJH5">The other two were both dropped touchdowns against LSU, however. Mind you, neither was an easy catch attempt, but they <em>were</em> the kind of catches I would expect a first-round prospect to make. Especially in a big game like that.</p>
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<p id="0S3y5C">One would’ve gone for 49 yards at a time when Alabama was down early and really needed that spark. Instead, it slipped right through his outstretched hands and the moment was lost. It was a deep ball that hung in the air for a long time and was thrown out in front of him, but it’s still one I’d have liked to see him make.</p>
<p id="HruM1D">I bet Nick Saban concurs.</p>
<p id="0YRKfK">The other drop was on a quick slant from the slot later in the game near the goal line. Alabama was trying to stage an improbable comeback, down 39-27, and it was third-and-2 from the LSU 5-yard line. The defender undercut the route and swiped at the ball as it went by, likely obscuring Jeudy’s view for a moment.</p>
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<p id="X2qfmr">The route itself was <em>outstanding</em>, but the ball, again, appeared to go right through his hands.</p>
<p id="jxfdgf">To his credit, Jeudy dusted himself off and ran another great route on the next play. He broke outside for a nice touchdown catch on the sideline, pulling the Crimson Tide to within one score against the eventual national champions.</p>
<p id="GLvjl3">What makes me more accepting of those drops is all the other balls I did see him catch. In particular, there were several times where Jeudy was able to catch balls that were thrown below his waist, on the run, without breaking stride. That is a lot harder than it looks, and it shows me that he has a lot of confidence in his hands because he didn’t have to slow down or stop to make those catches. He just snatched the ball out of the air like it was nothing. </p>
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<p id="A0IqCn">So I think I can live with those three drops, as long as it wasn’t a habit the rest of the season.</p>
<p id="DrPvxL">While I didn’t see Jeudy get <em>any </em>opportunities on 50-50 jump balls, I also don’t care very much about that. I saw him catch the ball with defenders bearing down on him, and I saw him maintain possession through contact enough times to be confident in his ability to make contested catches. </p>
<p id="4HM4mQ">Also, there won’t be many guys in the league who can keep up with him on a go route in the first place. If my quarterback can’t throw the ball far enough for Jeudy to go get it while running away from his defender, then dammit, I need a new quarterback!</p>
<h2 id="oi0eT4">Jeudy’s NFL future: Immediate starter</h2>
<p id="aQhRe2">In the four games I watched, Jeudy had almost half as many catches that went for 20+ yards (seven) as he had catches that went for fewer than 20 yards (16). I have to say, what hurt his production more than anything was playing at Alabama. </p>
<p id="HRAncu">After watching his tape, it’s impossible to ignore just how much talent the Crimson Tide had on offense, particularly at the skill positions. My goodness, I don’t know if I have seen a faster set of wide receivers on one squad in my life, and they rolled deep. It’s hard to complain about how few targets Jeudy was getting when the other guys, including the running backs, were tearing it up too.</p>
<p id="uwq1R4">At the same time, the way the CBA and the salary cap is set up, Jeudy will never have to worry about having to share the ball with that many talented wide receivers once he gets to the NFL. Most teams only have four or five active on gameday, and one or two of those are usually special teamers. With more targets, you should see a lot more production from Jeudy in the NFL. And that’s saying something, considering he won the Biletnikoff Award as college football’s top wide receiver two years ago as a sophomore.</p>
<p id="TmDpTz">I am writing this before the combine starts, so I have no idea what Jeudy will run in a 40-yard dash, but I do know what my eyes tell me watching his tape — this guy has that “if he’s even, he’s leaving” type of speed. I would make any corner in the league prove they can run with him before I’d even considering trying to throw him any back-shoulder fades, anyway.</p>
<p id="pmnDnQ">But that’s just me.</p>
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<p id="aN1uT9">Jeudy is a player who is ready to start right away and be whatever his offense needs him to be. I suspect how high he goes in the first round will be contingent on how he performs in the pre-draft workouts. But no matter where he gets drafted and no matter which team takes him, barring injury, Jeudy is going to put up numbers right off the bat. </p>
<p id="Kda80K">He’s the first wide receiver I’ve broken down this season, but I can’t imagine there will be many, if any, better than him. If a team needs a difference maker at wide receiver, it could certainly do a lot worse than drafting Jeudy this spring.</p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="lecIyQ">
<p id="JBqhoX"><em>For the purposes of this breakdown, I watched Jeudy play against South Carolina, LSU, Auburn, and Michigan (Citrus Bowl).</em></p>
<aside id="EeBkug"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Chase Young will be elite in the NFL, especially if he fixes 1 thing","url":"https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/25/21147976/chase-young-nfl-draft-2020-ohio-state-highlights-stats-skills-pros-cons"}]}'></div></aside>
https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/28/21151778/jerry-jeudy-nfl-draft-2020-alabama-wide-receiver-scouting-report-highlights-broncosStephen White2020-04-23T22:01:05-04:002020-04-23T22:01:05-04:00Javon Kinlaw can be every NFL offensive lineman’s worst nightmare
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<img alt="An illustration of NFL DT prospect Javon Kinlaw swatting a blocker at South Carolina, superimposed on a blue and white background with “SCOUTING” and “X”s and “O”s in red lettering" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/B1UCcbb73OADyS_FlfEvSMGN2n4=/43x0:1893x1233/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66530867/javon_kinlaw_scouting.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>South Carolina DT Javon Kinlaw is projected to be a first-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.</figcaption>
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<p>Retired defensive end Stephen White thinks Javon Kinlaw can be near unblockable as a pro, if the defensive tackle gets his motor going a little more.</p> <p id="Z2K1jA"><em>The San Francisco 49ers selected Javon Kinlaw with the 14th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Here’s what Stephen White had to say about Kinlaw ahead of the draft.</em></p>
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<p id="RBFEYs">What in <em>the </em>hell are they putting in the water these days? That’s what I gotta ask after watching tape on <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/3/21158412/derrick-brown-nfl-draft-2020-dt-film-breakdown-highlights-auburn">Auburn defensive lineman Derrick Brown</a> and now South Carolina defensive lineman <span>Javon Kinlaw</span>.</p>
<p id="NyfujH">Back when I was playing, if you had a guy who was 6’5 and 320 pounds, you were more likely to find him at offensive tackle than anywhere else. If he was going to play defense, <em>maybe </em>you stick him in there as a zero nose to just eat up space. But 6’5, 320+ pound pass rushers?!</p>
<p id="yMAM8x"><em>Where they do that at?</em></p>
<p id="6CRFTh">Evidently, the SEC.</p>
<p id="zKyK5P">All I know is being <em>that </em>big and <em>that </em>quick ought to be against the law. These two freaks of nature may usher in a new era of supersized defensive linemen who can do it all like we have never seen before.</p>
<p id="42xhw8">While both <span>Brown</span> and Kinlaw were dominant as hell in college, and they<em> are </em>close to the same height and weight, <span>Brown</span> pretty much looks the way you probably expect someone who weighs over 320 pounds to look. Kinlaw, on the other hand, has a lot of weight in his legs, so his upper body looks more linebacker-ish. </p>
<p id="Kica9Q">I would compare Kinlaw to <a href="https://www.windycitygridiron.com/">Bears</a> defensive end <span>Roy Robertson-Harris</span>, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/2019/8/22/20800848/chicago-bears-defense-roy-robertson-harris-akiem-hicks-sacks-2019">one of my breakout players from last season</a>, in terms of his build. Really, their games are pretty similar as well. However, <span>Robertson-Harris</span> didn’t even put on a lot of that weight until <em>after </em>he got to the league because he was an edge rusher at first.</p>
<p id="B3umEH">It is just shocking for me to see guys that big be so skilled and successful at rushing the passer. But there’s more to Kinlaw’s game than that.</p>
<h2 id="SJ6pK9">What Kinlaw does well: He’s powerful against the run</h2>
<p id="9w6E8Z">I don’t want to gloss over the work Kinlaw put in as a run defender. That guy has <em>explosive</em> power on the field and he has no problem making plays against the run. At that weight, you might expect Kinlaw to just be a guy who holds up blockers so the linebackers can make plays, but he is <em>so </em>much more than that.</p>
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<p id="4URp3P">With arms that stretch 35 inches long (!), he can jack up blockers when he is single-blocked, then easily toss them out of the way so he can make the play his damn self. Yeah, he can be a two-gap guy, but he can also be a penetrator back into the backfield. </p>
<p id="gaLmfy">I tell you what, it’s usually going to take more than one guy to block him, regardless. And even then, he might still make the play.</p>
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<p id="7eWl7F">I also want to point out that Kinlaw is quick as a cat stunting laterally. That was something he did quite a bit in college, and he looked like a damn wrecking ball just blowing shit up. That is going to be something that translates well to the NFL, and I expect to see him playing in people’s backfields a ton on Sundays.</p>
<h2 id="r8qNpR">What Kinlaw does well: His pass-rushing prowess</h2>
<p id="GZUDvt">Kinlaw’s technique overall wasn’t always on point, but his pass-rush moves were super crispy at times.</p>
<p id="vzyLSR">He has a lot more “wiggle” than you would expect from a guy his size, and I was impressed with the way he worked his hands, as well. Sometimes cats who are as physically commanding as Kinlaw tend to rely way too much on just their strength and athletic ability to win. But he not only has a decent array of moves in his tool box, he was also usually on top of the details of each move, even in close quarters.</p>
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<p id="HUDkNY">He still hasn’t come close to realizing his full potential, though. That’s the scary part with Kinlaw. For as dominant as he was in college, if he continues to work his ass off in the NFL, he may quickly transform into a defender not many offensive linemen in the league can block one-on-one. And I mean from tackle to tackle.</p>
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<p id="4XCFUu">Kinlaw moved around a little bit up front but he mostly played inside. I would’ve liked to have seen him out on the edge a little more. I definitely think he has the size and skills to be quite effective out there with just a little bit of work. In fact, I could see Kinlaw’s power giving offensive tackles fits once he learns how to harness it out on the edge. Unfortunately, I only saw him line up on the edge twice in four games, and on one of those, Kinlaw had a decent bull rush going but ultimately lost contain.</p>
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<p id="QV9woM">The kid showed me enough as an interior pass rusher that for now, I feel confident that he can <em>at least</em> get by with his bull rush out on the edge until he expands his repertoire as a three-technique. I have imagined the Incredible Hulk-looking joker crushing a left tackle with a long-arm move after he has perfected it, and it brought a really big smile to my face. Kinlaw is already going to be hell inside off the bat, but his development as a five-technique could <em>really</em> take his game to another level.</p>
<p id="pLdRxD">It isn’t a given that he will improve that much, but the potential is <em>certainly</em> there.</p>
<h2 id="1sc24y">Where Kinlaw can improve: More consistent effort</h2>
<p id="juTmQq">I will say that for as much as I loved about Kinlaw’s tape, the one thing I was a little disappointed in at times was his effort. I grade pretty harshly when it comes to effort, but what made it so bad to me was it was such a contrast to the plays when he <em>did</em> bust his ass.</p>
<p id="edxUpp">It’s one thing if he just didn’t know any better. But if I see you chasing a play 10 yards down the field in a full sprint, that is the bar you set for yourself with me. You might not always get up to the same speed every time, but it should be too far off of that pace.</p>
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<p id="5VxIzi"><em>And it for damn sure shouldn’t be a walk!</em></p>
<p id="kUOwnv"><em>*</em>deep breath*</p>
<p id="F5IdpW">I’m just saying that Kinlaw is <em>already</em> a monster on the field, but if he gets that motor going a little more, that dude will be pretty friggin’ close to unblockable. I don’t do hot takes, so just know that I mean that and I said what I said. </p>
<p id="6h1Hh6">As irritated as I was at some of those plays, his motor was still better than <span>Chris Jones</span>’ coming out. And we all saw what <span>Jones</span> was able to turn himself into over his first four seasons in the league.</p>
<h2 id="oFgOxJ">Where Kinlaw can improve: Playing with better pad level</h2>
<p id="jZI2Hk">Another concern of mine is that Kinlaw got a little too high every now, especially as a run defender, which caused him to catch a few more L’s than someone with his skillset should have. </p>
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<p id="NwX36k">With him already being that tall, he has to overemphasize bending his knees and staying low anyway, especially when he’s playing inside. But he just made it a little too easy for the opposition at times by trying to pass rush on early downs, only to find out it was actually a running play.</p>
<p id="EIku5j">That is something I see with plenty of college players, but for Kinlaw to truly be special, he needs to try to get that out of his system. Playing with poor pad level like that in the league will mean leaving plays out there on the field that he could’ve made. Plays that might affect the outcome of the game.</p>
<p id="LvyecL">What makes sharpening up that part of his game complicated is teams don’t practice nearly as much in pads anymore in the league. You can do all the drills you want, but nothing teaches pad level like getting your ass kicked every day because you are coming off the ball too high against NFL offensive linemen. And Kinlaw isn’t getting any shorter, so something is going to have to give.</p>
<p id="sVs1KU">I will say I’m not nearly as concerned with his occasional pad level issue as I am with some of those loafs. Kinlaw is going to be a good player as long as he picks the tempo up a little bit, no question. Playing with better pad level could be the difference between good and greatness, but improving his motor could be the difference between staying in the league and falling by the wayside. There are too many cautionary tales about guys getting the bag and then shutting it down. </p>
<p id="GvfTwz">I don’t think that will be the case with Kinlaw, but it was a major contrast going from watching Brown busting his ass every play, and Kinlaw taking a few off here or there.</p>
<h2 id="uVS19D">Kinlaw’s NFL future: Potential All-Pro</h2>
<p id="4cJhyC">All things considered, with Brown having the decided edge in hustle and a moderate edge in technique, I would have to pick him over Kinlaw if both were still on the board. I have a feeling there won’t be a long wait between those two guys getting drafted, however. Both definitely have potential to be All-Pro players within their first three years in the NFL. </p>
<p id="DxI3FU">And truth be told, while Brown is starting off as the better prospect, I can’t say for certain it won’t go the other way once they get in the league.</p>
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<p id="n7N5Jv">If he gets in the right situation, with the right coaching, Kinlaw could be <em>every</em> NFL offensive lineman’s nightmare. And I literally mean “every” because I think he could line up anywhere and not only be effective, but <em>dominant</em>. </p>
<p id="jhH7GZ">He is good enough to come in and make plays right away. But if he gets that motor of his to run a tad bit more consistently, and gets just a <em>little </em>more seasoning, you really might have to call the cops.</p>
<p id="kIz6yv">*Birdman hand rub*</p>
<p id="kV57cv"><em>Be sure to check out my other scouting reports on </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/25/21147976/chase-young-nfl-draft-2020-ohio-state-highlights-stats-skills-pros-cons"><em>Chase Young</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/28/21151778/jerry-jeudy-nfl-draft-2020-alabama-wide-receiver-scouting-report-highlights"><em>Jerry Jeudy</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/3/21158412/derrick-brown-nfl-draft-2020-dt-film-breakdown-highlights-auburn"><em>Derrick Brown</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/6/21162231/nfl-draft-2020-jedrick-wills-jr-alabama-offensive-tackle-guard-film-highlights"><em>Jedrick Wills Jr</em></a><em>., </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/10/21168037/aj-epenesa-nfl-draft-2020-iowa-projection-pros-cons-film-highlights"><em>A.J. Epenesa</em></a><em>, and </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/13/21173000/ceedee-lamb-nfl-draft-2020-wide-receiver-comparison-highlights-film-oklahoma"><em>CeeDee Lamb</em></a><em>.</em></p>
<hr class="p-entry-hr" id="HUQhWr">
<p id="K1P1Jp"><em>For the purposes of this breakdown, I watched Kinlaw play against Alabama, Missouri, Georgia, and Clemson.</em></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/20/21179483/javon-kinlaw-nfl-draft-2020-defensive-tackle-film-scouting-report-highlights-49ersStephen White2020-04-23T21:52:04-04:002020-04-23T21:52:04-04:00Bucs’ Tristan Wirfs is athletic as hell — and not just for an OT
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<img alt="An illustration of NFL OT prospect Tristan Wirfs in a stance at Iowa, superimposed on a black and white background with “SCOUTING” and “X”s and “O”s in gray lettering" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/OrjyU3hSyfbSlSz5xcbaehQrvsw=/75x0:1925x1233/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66615646/tristan_wirfs_scouting.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Iowa OT Tristan Wirfs is a likely top-10 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.</figcaption>
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<p>Retired defensive end Stephen White breaks down why Iowa’s Tristan Wirfs was worth trading up for in the draft.</p> <p id="Z2K1jA"><em>The Tampa Bay Buccaneers traded up one spot to select Tristan Wirfs with the 13th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Here’s what Stephen White had to say about Wirfs ahead of the draft.</em></p>
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<p id="lRUqgP">Sometimes I’m as guilty as anybody when it comes to putting qualifiers on a prospect’s athletic ability. I might say this guy is fast “for a defensive tackle” or that guy is strong “for a wide receiver,” just to try to be clear about how good they are without overselling it. </p>
<p id="GMKUHG">Well, <span>Tristan Wirfs</span> doesn’t need any qualifiers — that dude is an athlete <em><strong>period!</strong></em></p>
<p id="msks8I">Sure, he’s an offensive lineman and every bit of 6’5 and 320 pounds, but he looks like a small forward running around on the field. His tape at Iowa tells you everything you need to know about Wirfs’ speed, quickness, explosion, and agility. But if you had any lingering doubts, his combine performance should’ve smashed them all to smithereens.</p>
<p id="ucGjge">I bet a lot of fans have heard about him blazing a 4.85-second 40-yard dash in Indianapolis, but did you also hear about his 36.5-inch vertical? What about the 121-inch broad jump?</p>
<p id="p7r17m">If that isn’t impressive to you, try to best any of his marks. Go ahead and post it on your lil TikTok so we can<em> all </em>laugh at you pulling every muscle in your body.</p>
<p id="nYkQ9x">You won’t catch me trying, though. I know better.</p>
<h2 id="JqhkxN">What Wirfs does well: Pancake blocks</h2>
<p id="ltgXOd">As I noted last year in <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2019/4/17/18309044/nfl-draft-2019-cody-ford-buffalo-bills-oklahoma-scouting-report-offensive-tackle-ranking">Cody Ford’s breakdown</a>, it’s becoming apparent to me that right tackles are no longer stereotypical road graders. Instead, I’m starting to see a lot of “dancing bear” types who I would normally expect to see at left tackle lining up and playing well on the right side. Wirfs is just another example of that shift.</p>
<p id="REv6lS">Which isn’t to say Wirfs can’t knock people off the ball, because he did a damn good job of that in the four games of his I watched. But with a guy his size, it’s not exactly earth-shattering to see Wirfs moving people. It <em>is, </em>however, at least a little shocking when you first watch him pull outside and lead a running back 10 yards down the field looking more like a fullback than an offensive tackle.</p>
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<p id="rEsrl4">At least to <em>me</em> it was.</p>
<p id="bMtEny">Wirfs definitely has some road grader to him, though. I was super impressed with his ability to stick with defenders after contact. Once he locked on, it was almost certain he was going to take the defender on a joy ride.</p>
<p id="5nQiJU">It didn’t hurt that whenever he got the opportunity, Wirfs was always finishing dudes off. If a cat let his guard down before the whistle blew, he could easily find himself staring up at the sky contemplating life and wondering where it all went wrong.</p>
<p id="3U9SLI">Never waste an opportunity to pancake your opposition, I always say, and it appears Wirfs agrees with that sentiment.</p>
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<p id="Y7fCnT">I know for as great as his combine was overall, he didn’t exactly have an eye-popping number on bench press. But for someone with 34-inch-long arms, getting 24 reps <em>is </em>pretty good. Additionally, Wirfs tends to generate most of his power from his lower body, anyway. So don’t worry about the bench press numbers, because it’s clear from the tape that Wirfs’ power will transfer well to the next level.</p>
<h2 id="jLOi9K">What Wirfs does well: Plays under control</h2>
<p id="cm16qb">Of course, the <em>main</em> attraction for offensive tackle prospects is their ability as pass protectors these days. All those pancakes are nice, but if you are getting the quarterback killed on passing plays, you’re going to end up getting everybody fired. That’s why it’s of utmost importance in this golden age of passing that offensive linemen, and particularly offensive tackles, are able to keep that heat off the QB.</p>
<p id="UrWbR1">When Wirfs was in a racehorse stance (upright instead of with his hand in the dirt) with his outside foot staggered well back, I thought he was as outstanding of a pass blocker as I’ve seen. His feet were so quick that he never had to bail out too hard, no matter how wide, or how fast, the edge rusher was. If a guy took a chance at trying to get the edge on Wirfs, more than likely he was going to end up either getting driven 5+ yards deeper than the quarterback, or buried on the way there.</p>
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<p id="SHrDBu">At some point during their attempted pass rush, some cats would figure out they weren’t going to make it around the outside of Wirfs, but things didn’t get any easier when they tried to stick their foot in the ground and make a counter move inside. Wirfs would simply stick his foot in the ground at the same time and smother the rushers on the spot. Because he never had to panic and turn and run with a speed rusher, Wirfs hardly ever got so out of control that he couldn’t react to their change of direction.</p>
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<p id="LT8rQk">That’s not something you always see, even from offensive tackles who test well athletically. The way Wirfs almost always plays under control, while still being able to explode into defenders, was one of my favorite things about watching his tape.</p>
<p id="mdluJ7">One of my other favorite things was how aware he was on the field. I don’t think I saw Wirfs get caught slipping even once on a pass-rush game or a blitz, and that’s damn near impossible to do for most offensive linemen. A couple of those teams were throwing the kitchen sink at him. Yet, he always seemed to be able to split his focus on the edge rusher, and keeping an eye out for any funny business coming his way from inside.</p>
<p id="krjhMD">There was this play of his against USC that perfectly captures what I’m trying to say here. It isn’t a flashy play, and if you aren’t paying attention you might even miss it. A USC linebacker came on a delayed blitz to the B gap inside of Wirfs, well after Wirfs was already engaged with the edge rusher to his side and Iowa didn’t have enough blockers to pick him up. The linebacker was coming in hard as a free runner at the quarterback.</p>
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<p id="g72M2C">The edge rusher came off with a power move, so Wirfs had to deal with him first. After he had that guy locked down, at the very last — and I mean <em>very last — </em>second, and right after his quarterback had thrown the ball, Wirfs quickly turned from the edge rusher and banged that blitzer inside of him hard enough to knock the dude off course, and prevent him from blowing up Iowa’s quarterback.</p>
<p id="2My9pW">You don’t know how many times I watched that play, slowed down, with my eyes bugged out. I have no idea a) how Wirfs even saw that blitzer coming nor b) how he was able to turn <em>that</em> fast and make enough solid contact to keep his quarterback clean.</p>
<p id="LMso7Y">I’m not sure you can even coach that.</p>
<h2 id="UMYTA4">Where Wirfs can improve: His kick step</h2>
<p id="i1Zg6w">It should be obvious that I’m very high on this Wirfs kid. However, I did have one moderate concern about his play. I mentioned before that when Wirfs has that good stagger with his outside leg, he is almost unbeatable as a pass blocker. My issue comes in when he <em>doesn’t</em> have that stagger to his stance.</p>
<p id="cAimk8">When Wirfs is in a “regular” stance with his hand in the dirt, he tends to not actually kick step, or if he does kick step, a lot of times he will end up stepping wide without also stepping back. He is so athletic that usually he is able to get away with it and you won’t even notice his footwork, but he also wasn’t facing NFL talent every play at Iowa. </p>
<p id="9ChhE0">The very few times he <em>did</em> get beat — and on the only sack he gave up in those four games — was when it was a lot more obvious that his footwork was off because he stepped wide and the edge rusher made a relatively quick inside move.</p>
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<p id="vpLmWq">Since he was going laterally, rather than laterally <em>and</em> backward, Wirfs also wasn’t able to generate much power on contact on several plays where the edge rusher came off hard and ended up running down the middle of him. That forced Wirfs to end up being the nail and not the hammer, absorbing the blow rather than delivering it.</p>
<p id="X541tG">Having said that, the way Wirfs was able to recover on several of those rushes where it looked like he was in trouble initially, was <em>absolutely cuss-worthy</em>. One time I was <em>sure </em>he was at least going to get driven back into the quarterback’s lap after he gave up so much ground on contact. Next thing I know, I look up, and not only had Wirfs anchored down to stop the edge rusher’s momentum, he turned around and pancaked the dude.</p>
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<p id="OZVYI4">Let me repeated, <em>he turned around and pancaked the dude!</em></p>
<p id="5Jfjvb">Bruh ...</p>
<h2 id="5S7uDg">Wirfs’ NFL future: Potential All-Pro</h2>
<p id="8W4pB1">I’m going to let everybody in on a little secret; there is no such thing as a “perfect” prospect. No matter how good they were in college, every one of those players is going to have to improve on <em>something</em> to be the best they can be on the next level. What is important is that their flaws are fixable, and few.</p>
<p id="MRRnSK">With Wirfs, I don’t think he will have much trouble getting his kick step sharpened up when he’s in a three-point stance, and that’s really my only concern about how well his game will translate to the next level. If I were to compare him to the other offensive tackles I’ve broken down so far, Wirfs is the most ready today to go out and start an NFL game at offensive tackle.</p>
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<p id="75rvNT">And notice I didn’t say on which side, because with the way he moves on the field, I could <em>definitely </em>see Wirfs doing a great job lined up the left side in the NFL, too.</p>
<p id="oyyNdt">I think the sky's the limit <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/24/21186279/mekhi-becton-nfl-draft-2020-offensive-tackle-projection-highlights-film">for Mekhi Becton</a>, but he will more than likely have to play guard initially because of issues with his pass protection. I like <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/6/21162231/nfl-draft-2020-jedrick-wills-jr-alabama-offensive-tackle-guard-film-highlights">Jedrick Wills Jr</a>. a lot too, but his lapses in effort every now and then also gives me pause. Wirfs, however, can do <em>everything</em> you could possible want to call on an offensive tackle to do, and he’s only going to get better as he sharpens up his technique. </p>
<p id="Wzjy10">For my money, Wirfs <em>should </em>be the first offensive tackle taken off the board of the three, and considering Becton will likely be selected as a guard, I ultimately think Wirfs will be the first true tackle taken.</p>
<p id="MrGVAh">Of course, we will all find out who is right when the draft rolls around. It will take a little longer to see who is right about the evaluation, though. No matter where he goes, I see Wirfs being a Pro Bowler within his first three years in the league, and he will likely be an All-Pro before it’s all said and done. </p>
<p id="S8neso">If a team in need of a tackle near the top of the draft passes on him, it will probably live to regret it.</p>
<p id="p5Sxoc"><em>Be sure to check out my other scouting reports on </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/25/21147976/chase-young-nfl-draft-2020-ohio-state-highlights-stats-skills-pros-cons"><em>Chase Young</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/28/21151778/jerry-jeudy-nfl-draft-2020-alabama-wide-receiver-scouting-report-highlights"><em>Jerry Jeudy</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/3/21158412/derrick-brown-nfl-draft-2020-dt-film-breakdown-highlights-auburn"><em>Derrick Brown</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/6/21162231/nfl-draft-2020-jedrick-wills-jr-alabama-offensive-tackle-guard-film-highlights"><em>Jedrick Wills Jr</em></a><em>., </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/10/21168037/aj-epenesa-nfl-draft-2020-iowa-projection-pros-cons-film-highlights"><em>A.J. Epenesa</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/13/21173000/ceedee-lamb-nfl-draft-2020-wide-receiver-comparison-highlights-film-oklahoma"><em>CeeDee Lamb</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/20/21179483/javon-kinlaw-nfl-draft-2020-defensive-tackle-film-scouting-report-highlights"><em>Javon Kinlaw</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/24/21186279/mekhi-becton-nfl-draft-2020-offensive-tackle-projection-highlights-film"><em>Mekhi Becton</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/27/21194600/terrell-lewis-nfl-draft-2020-injury-history-highlights-edge-rusher-von-miller"><em>Terrell Lewis</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/31/21198008/henry-ruggs-iii-nfl-draft-2020-speed-wide-receiver-class-highlights-strengths"><em>Henry Ruggs III</em></a><em>, and </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/4/3/21202467/neville-gallimore-nfl-draft-2020-projection-oklahoma-defensive-tackle-speed"><em>Neville Gallimore</em></a><em>.</em></p>
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<p id="5XzEFn"><em>For the purposes of this breakdown, I watched Wirfs play against Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and USC (Holiday Bowl).</em></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/4/7/21208681/tristan-wirfs-nfl-draft-2020-tackle-iowa-film-highlights-projection-bucs-tom-bradyStephen White2020-04-23T21:42:59-04:002020-04-23T21:42:59-04:00Henry Ruggs III’s speed isn’t the only thing to love about him
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<img alt="An illustration of NFL WR prospect Henry Ruggs III running with the football at Alabama, superimposed on a blue and white background with “SCOUTING” and “X”s and “O”s in aqua lettering" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/wmq_qaf2KUMpeLeTaXpT4db2lGM=/150x0:2000x1233/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66580186/henry_ruggs_scouting.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Henry Ruggs III is one of two Alabama WRs expected to be drafted in the first round in 2020.</figcaption>
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<p>Retired defensive end Stephen White believes Henry Ruggs is everything the Raiders could want in a No. 1 receiver.</p> <p id="Z2K1jA"><em>The Las Vegas Raiders selected Henry Ruggs III with the 12th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Here’s what Stephen White had to say about Ruggs ahead of the draft.</em></p>
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<p id="2UkbGO">If you have heard <em>anything</em> about <span>Henry Ruggs III</span>, <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/29/21157743/henry-ruggs-iii-fast-nfl-combine-40-time-history-draft-receiver-alabama">you probably have heard he’s fast</a>.</p>
<p id="mriUjL">I mean <em>real</em> fast.</p>
<p id="0wQI2S">It’s only natural that most people would associate his name with speed at this point because my dude has some <em>serious</em> wheels. As evident as it was at the combine — where he posted a blazing 4.27 seconds in the 40-yard dash, one of the best times ever for a receiver — it was even <em>more </em>obvious on tape.</p>
<p id="jwlEUH">Ruggs knows he’s got more <em>pewnnnn</em> than the average cat, and he plays the game that way. In the four games of his I watched, I didn’t see him wasting any time chopping his feet or slowing down to try to make a juke move in the open field. Rather, he would just mash the gas and run right by them.</p>
<p id="uAcr3B">Which isn’t to say he couldn’t make guys miss in the open field. He was pretty good at that at Alabama, as well. It’s just that most of the time he was so fast he didn’t even have to break stride to get by the defender.</p>
<h2 id="JhVN45">What Ruggs does well: He’s fast *everywhere*</h2>
<p id="wpUU0O">When they say speed kills, they had guys exactly like Ruggs in mind. He has the potential to take it to the house from anywhere because angles mean nothing when you have that internal NOS button that nobody else on the field has.</p>
<p id="iR3Que">Ruggs has the kind of speed that puts defenses on alert every single play, and can potentially open things up for other players underneath. Even if you roll your coverage to him, however, that may not stop him from beating all of your guys deep. And the wild thing is he never looks like he is running that hard. He just glides down the field, and before you know it he’s <em>gone.</em></p>
<p id="l6L9U4">Even in the red zone, Ruggs can make a difference. From the 15- or 20-yard line, he can smoke anybody on a fade route who tries to press him at the line. When defenders back off, he can hit them with a quick slant so fast Ruggs will be celebrating in the end zone before the corner has even planted his foot in the ground.</p>
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<h2 id="qaAfBP">What Ruggs does well: He plays physical</h2>
<p id="6fblDT">You know what, though? Ruggs isn’t “just” a speed receiver by any means.</p>
<p id="h2OITx">First of all, he’s 5’11 and almost 190 pounds — not exactly the kind of receiver his speed is usually associated with, <span>DK Metcalf</span> excepted. Ruggs is not a small guy at all, and he plays even bigger than his measurements. In addition to all of those deep routes, he also ran a ton of shallow crossers and other short-to-intermediate routes. I also loved the way he finished off plays when he had the ball in his hands.</p>
<p id="U0hVV8">No, Ruggs won’t truck stick guys like <span>A.J. Brown</span> or <span>Deebo Samuel</span> do, but he <em>will </em>lower his shoulder on contact so he can get an extra couple yards at the end of every play. As I always say, those hidden yards can really add up over the course of a game, too.</p>
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<p id="11kNNN">Ruggs doesn’t go down too easy, either. He is a strong runner with the football in his hands, and one missed tackle can turn into six points in a hurry with him. That also means he is a good candidate to run jet sweeps and end-arounds. He did a little of that in the games I watched, but not nearly enough in my opinion. Even in those limited opportunities, I watched the guy break ankles on the way to getting around the edge.</p>
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<p id="w0JYMX">No, it wasn’t a huge gain, but that play <em>should’ve</em> gone for zero yards or a loss. You can’t imagine how frustrating it is to have the “right” defense called and still lose on a play because their guy is faster than all of yours. What are you supposed to do in that situation?</p>
<p id="i8Zj54">You better have somebody who can tackle covering him, too, because when Ruggs breaks away, you might as well strike up the band. </p>
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<h2 id="WjlojN">What Ruggs does well: He can make smart catches</h2>
<p id="JTDkdr">But wait, I’m not done.</p>
<p id="AjGIsQ">In addition to being fast and physical, Ruggs also has good hands. Technically, he was targeted 24 times combined in the four games I watched, but four of them weren’t really catchable. He caught all 20 of the ones that were.</p>
<p id="AYINt9">Oh, and seven of those 20 catches went for 20 yards or more, including two that were more than went more than 74 yards. Oh and he <em>also</em> had five total touchdowns in those four games.</p>
<p id="oqIZNj">In fairness, he didn’t have to make a lot of “tough” catches, but that’s another advantage of being so fast. You don’t have to worry about trying to make many contested catches if the defender can’t catch up to you.</p>
<p id="Jf8pxO">Regardless, no drops is no drops and that has been rare for me to see since I started doing these breakdowns. If nothing else, it shows he didn’t lose concentration on any of those (easy) catches while looking to run before he had secured it, as I’ve seen even some of the best receiver prospects do over the years.</p>
<p id="KYBfhm">There was still one more thing that impressed the hell out of me about Ruggs’ tape. It was even enough for me to put him at the top of the wide receivers I’ve broken down so far.</p>
<p id="KHYlnU">To be precise, it was two plays against Auburn that did it for me.</p>
<p id="dSdqoY">On both plays, the corner pressed Ruggs at the line (which I didn’t see often); then on the snap, the defensive back would turn and bail to try to stay in front of Ruggs and kind of ride him to the sideline to curtail his ability to get down the field. I’m sure that sounds like a smart tactic when facing a receiver who is probably faster, straight-line speed wise, than that defensive back.</p>
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<p id="GIze2M">But then Ruggs did something I wasn’t expecting. </p>
<p id="CDYhRj">He pushed down the field like he was running a go route, but then at about 10 yards he was about to quickly throttle down, swat the corner by, and catch what amounted to a back-shoulder fade that happened to be thrown more like a regular out route. Ruggs didn’t have to jump to get the ball, but functionally it worked in the same way a back-shoulder fade would. He got the DB upfield, where he couldn’t make a play on the ball then stopped, made the catch, and got a few extra yards after the catch on both plays.</p>
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<p id="F5HllT">I should note here that if Ruggs had actually <em>needed </em>to jump to catch that pass, I have no doubt that he would’ve been able to do it after watching him post a 42-inch vertical at the combine. </p>
<p id="KO25M2"><em>Who wouldn’t want that?</em></p>
<h2 id="UlL2hy">Where Ruggs needs to improve: A crisper release, I guess?</h2>
<p id="aoFTnV">Now, here is the part where I would normally go through my concerns about a prospect, but ... I just don’t really have many for Ruggs.</p>
<p id="5HF3rt">I suppose there were a few times where his release off the line of scrimmage wasn’t as crisp as it could’ve been, but I sincerely doubt that will be a problem for him in the NFL. There are just so many ways offensive coordinators can move guys around now so they don’t even have to see much press coverage. </p>
<p id="spyrgf">Combine that with the fact there aren’t many corners who are actually good at it now that you can’t contact the receiver after five yards, and I just don’t see that being an issue for him on the next level.</p>
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<p id="rSdrm4">I just don’t know what else I could nitpick, though. </p>
<h2 id="m1vAxt">Ruggs’ NFL future: No. 1 WR</h2>
<p id="6TGSXL">Ruggs can line up inside, outside, or in the backfield and make big plays from all those spots the NFL. He has the kind of talent that <em>has </em>to be accounted for every week. He also has the potential to improve whichever team takes him, not only through his own contributions, but also by making life easier for everyone else on offense, including his quarterback.</p>
<p id="fxzgOO">Just about the only way to keep Ruggs from gaining yards was to tackle him as soon as the ball got to him, as happened a few times in the games I watched. Other than that, however, he could make something happen when there didn’t seem to be much there. That’s when a guy is elite.</p>
<p id="ZKpPhK">Of course, I haven’t seen every wide receiver in this draft yet, so it’s impossible for me to say for sure that Ruggs should be the first one selected this year, but I <em>will</em> say it’s hard for me to imagine another receiver being any more worthy than his tape says he is. I was sold on both Ruggs’ <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/28/21151778/jerry-jeudy-nfl-draft-2020-alabama-wide-receiver-scouting-report-highlights">teammate, Jerry Jeudy</a>, and <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/13/21173000/ceedee-lamb-nfl-draft-2020-wide-receiver-comparison-highlights-film-oklahoma">CeeDee Lamb</a>, but Ruggs is on another level from those guys, in my book. </p>
<p id="lRwcgF">I don’t know if I would call him the “perfect” receiver prospect, but I can’t really come up with any major weaknesses in his game. He has all the characteristics <em>I’d</em> want in my No. 1 receiver. Now I get to sit back and see if NFL general managers agree with me.</p>
<p id="UW5hFb"><em>Be sure to check out my other scouting reports on </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/25/21147976/chase-young-nfl-draft-2020-ohio-state-highlights-stats-skills-pros-cons"><em>Chase Young</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/2/28/21151778/jerry-jeudy-nfl-draft-2020-alabama-wide-receiver-scouting-report-highlights"><em>Jerry Jeudy</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/3/21158412/derrick-brown-nfl-draft-2020-dt-film-breakdown-highlights-auburn"><em>Derrick Brown</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/6/21162231/nfl-draft-2020-jedrick-wills-jr-alabama-offensive-tackle-guard-film-highlights"><em>Jedrick Wills Jr</em></a><em>., </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/10/21168037/aj-epenesa-nfl-draft-2020-iowa-projection-pros-cons-film-highlights"><em>A.J. Epenesa</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/13/21173000/ceedee-lamb-nfl-draft-2020-wide-receiver-comparison-highlights-film-oklahoma"><em>CeeDee Lamb</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/20/21179483/javon-kinlaw-nfl-draft-2020-defensive-tackle-film-scouting-report-highlights"><em>Javon Kinlaw</em></a><em>, </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/24/21186279/mekhi-becton-nfl-draft-2020-offensive-tackle-projection-highlights-film"><em>Mekhi Becton</em></a><em>, and </em><a href="https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/27/21194600/terrell-lewis-nfl-draft-2020-injury-history-highlights-edge-rusher-von-miller"><em>Terrell Lewis</em></a><em>.</em></p>
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<p id="0zq9e8"><em>For the purposes of this breakdown, I watched Ruggs play against Duke, New Mexico State, South Carolina, and Auburn.</em></p>
https://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2020/3/31/21198008/henry-ruggs-iii-nfl-draft-2020-speed-wide-receiver-class-highlights-strengths-raidersStephen White