[Dynasty] 2014 Draft Prospects (2 Viewers)

[JFS171]

Right, but Michael also has injury issues a mile long. Dyer's never had injuries - that was my whole point.

Hes got big time character flags - no doubt. But I fully expect him to light up Indy and end up in the league on a short leash.

Edit - damn typos on the Kindle.

 

[EBF]

Unless he kills someone between now an August, he will play in the NFL. He's too good not to. Stock is crushed though.

If he wasn't truly committed to NCAA football (and he doesn't seem to be) he should've just entered the draft last year. Wasting his time now in Louisville.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Anyone got an idea about whether or not Jordan Lynch (NIU) and/or Keith Wenning (Ball) have the size and arm strength to play in the NFL? Neither guy seems to be highly considered, but both are out of the limelight a bit so it wouldn't be unusual for them to need the post-season prospect bowls to get some attention.

 

[Xue]

Anyone got an idea about whether or not Jordan Lynch (NIU) and/or Keith Wenning (Ball) have the size and arm strength to play in the NFL? Neither guy seems to be highly considered, but both are out of the limelight a bit so it wouldn't be unusual for them to need the post-season prospect bowls to get some attention.

Both guys are most likely UDFAs. If Keenum and McGloin can play in the NFL, these guys can too.

 

[Xue]

Ameer Abdullah 2013 game logs:

19 carries 114 yards

17 carries 114 yards

23 carries 98 yards

15 carries 139 yards

20 carries 225 yards

20 carries 126 yards

19 carries 165 yards

24 carries 127 yars

27 carries 105 yards

22 carries 123 yards

24 carries 144 yards (game not over yet)

Quite an underrated player. Very consistent and productive.

Yes, and the only RB to have 100+ yards rushing vs Michigan State last year and this year.

 

[Eminence]

I'm still geeked over Sammy Watkins. Dude glides all over the field. Looks like a compete receiver. Almost feels like a tall Percy Harvin. I'd definitely rate this guy higher than Cordarelle Patterson.

 

[Faust]

2014 NFL Draft: Ka'Deem Carey shows first-round form vs. Ducks

 

[Faust]

What we learned from Week 13 in college football

 

[Faust]

Ole Miss WR Donte Moncrief posts another 100-yard game

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Georgia senior QB Aaron Murray will undergo surgery to repair an ACL injury in his left knee.
The details of the injury are not surprising, as Murray needed plenty of help getting to the sideline and was rushed to a hospital for an MRI. This brings Murray's career at Georgia to a close, and the longtime starter will almost certainly be limited throughout the draft process. We bet he draws a third day selection.

Source: Marc Weiszer on Twitter

Fresno State senior QB Derek Carr completed 27 of 37 attempts for 527 yards and seven touchdowns in the school's 69-28 win over New Mexico.
Carr also added 26 rushing yards. The younger brother of David is dealing this season and is posting huge numbers. His game has improved as well, especially in terms of handling pressure. He will dominate during Senior Bowl week.

LSU junior WR Jarvis Landry caught four passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns in the school's 34-10 win over Texas A&M.
Landry is one of the top receiving targets in the country and is not afraid to go over the middle. We love how he wins in contested situations thanks to strong hands. Expect Landry and Odell Beckham Jr. to both declare for May's draft.

 

[Don Quixote]

Eric Ebron has announced...

Carolina Football‏@TarHeelFootball1m

BREAKING: Junior TE Eric Ebron will enter the 2014 NFL Draft. #UNCFB

 

[32 Counter Pass]

This draft looks like it is loaded with WR talent. Ebron would be great fit in GB.

 

[derek245583]

Hmmmm. I think Kevin Smith had a bunch back in his college days. I'd guess others have been close. Don't recall names off the top of my head.

Chris Perry had a bunch for Michigan against Notre Dame a few years ago. 40+ for sure

 

[derek245583]

Hmmmm. I think Kevin Smith had a bunch back in his college days. I'd guess others have been close. Don't recall names off the top of my head.

Chris Perry had a bunch for Michigan against Notre Dame a few years ago. 40+ for sure

Well, its was 51 and it was against Michigan State...so, shows how good my memory is

 

[EBF]

Good memory. 51 totes against Michigan State in 2003. http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/chris-perry-1/gamelog/2003/

Kevin Smith had some games over 40 carries, but his high was "only" 46.

Tyler Gaffney had 45 against Oregon just a couple weeks ago. I guess that's the formula to beat them. Mash them up with a strong running game.

 

[ZWK]

Kadeem Carey with 48 carries today in Arizona's dismantling of Oregon. I don't remember anyone getting 48 carries before.

No need for memory when you have sports reference. Since 2000:

Michael Turner (52), Chris Perry (51), LaDainian Tomlinson (49), Michael Bennett (48), and Tanardo Sharps (48).

 

[ConstruxBoy]

EBF does anything with Seastrunks character concern you? He hasn't always had the best attitude, was in the doghouse a bit last year. I watched him for 4 years in High School and he was in and out of trouble then too.

I honestly don't know much about it. It's a little weird that he transferred out of Oregon, but somewhat understandable given that they had LaMichael James going bonkers at the time. He also didn't open the 2012 season as the man in Baylor's backfield, which could point towards focus/work ethic issues. Certainly he was the most talented all along.

I've not heard anything about him being a big knucklehead, so I'm going to assume that any issues there are relatively minor. These kids are still really young and some of them will make mistakes as part of just being flat out immature. Didn't "Shady" McCoy get tossed from one of his recruiting visits for punching another kid? These kids will do stupid stuff. Unless it's severe or a pattern of destructive behavior, I wouldn't worry too much.

I'm also assuming that the NFL teams are going to do their homework and that whatever they uncover will be factored into his draft position. A lot of spotty character guys have been downgraded in the draft (Hernandez, Marshall, C Henry, Da'Rick, etc). Sometimes they slip through the cracks ala Pacman, but I'm going to assume that if teams rate him as a 1st round pick then they're probably not too worried about him from that standpoint. If he slides, obviously you'd start to wonder a little bit.

Rumor is that happened at PSU. There is a big 'S' on the locker room floor and there was something about not stepping on it until you're part of the team or something like that and Shady stepped on it. Pretty silly but IIRC the fight was with Michael Robinson which seems pretty damn dumb of a move by Shady given Robinson's toughness. Shady and Odrick were real close and were planning on going to school together but that "ruined" it. Anyway, one time thing really. I think a pattern of behavior is a lot more instructive.

 

[Faust]

NFL Draft Week 13 Stock Report: Don't forget Bortles

 

[BigTex]

Not quite sure what to make of Boston College RB Andre Williams yet, but he is *ahem* running away with the NCAA rushing crown. Was at 1810 yards coming into today's game. Ripped off another 263 yards in a win against Maryland. This was a fun carry:

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10024474

I'm not totally sold on him yet. I've watched a few of his games while I do believe he has some great running abilities, he gets an awful lot of carries. in one of his recent games I'm fairly certain he got over 40 carries..........ouch and I question some of the competition as well. We'll see, I still have a few more game to look at.

Tex

 

[BigTex]

Kadeem Carey with 48 carries today in Arizona's dismantling of Oregon. I don't remember anyone getting 48 carries before.

No need for memory when you have sports reference. Since 2000:

Michael Turner (52), Chris Perry (51), LaDainian Tomlinson (49), Michael Bennett (48), and Tanardo Sharps (48).

Out of the Top 40 only two actually had a good NFL career.

 

[Faust]

Risers-Sliders: Week 13

 

[EBF]

Not quite sure what to make of Boston College RB Andre Williams yet, but he is *ahem* running away with the NCAA rushing crown. Was at 1810 yards coming into today's game. Ripped off another 263 yards in a win against Maryland. This was a fun carry:

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10024474

I'm not totally sold on him yet. I've watched a few of his games while I do believe he has some great running abilities, he gets an awful lot of carries. in one of his recent games I'm fairly certain he got over 40 carries..........ouch and I question some of the competition as well. We'll see, I still have a few more game to look at.

Tex

I'm still catching up on him because he wasn't on my radar at all until about a month ago. He has kind of a deliberate running style. A little bit stiff in some ways. Not that flexible or fluid in the open field. Certainly not a great juker, but he can weave through his blocks pretty well and his speed is deceptive because of his long and powerful strides. The #1 thing that stands out to me watching him is that he has insane power/leg drive/lower body strength. Just an absolute tank of a runner. He doesn't look like much of a pass catcher and that may limit his NFL draft position and FF upside, but at times he flashes pretty special running ability. To the point where he almost looks like a first round back. If I had to guess today I would say he's a 2nd rounder. That's where Toby Gerhart, Greg Jones, Eric Shelton, and Brian Leonard went. Williams is arguably better than all of those guys. Maybe even MUCH better. He looks like a pretty good height/weight/speed guy, so I think his combine numbers will be solid. Maybe even very good. Add that to his 2000+ yard production and someone will roll the dice on him early.

 

[Xue]

Not quite sure what to make of Boston College RB Andre Williams yet, but he is *ahem* running away with the NCAA rushing crown. Was at 1810 yards coming into today's game. Ripped off another 263 yards in a win against Maryland. This was a fun carry:

http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=10024474

I'm not totally sold on him yet. I've watched a few of his games while I do believe he has some great running abilities, he gets an awful lot of carries. in one of his recent games I'm fairly certain he got over 40 carries..........ouch and I question some of the competition as well. We'll see, I still have a few more game to look at.

Tex

I'm still catching up on him because he wasn't on my radar at all until about a month ago. He has kind of a deliberate running style. A little bit stiff in some ways. Not that flexible or fluid in the open field. Certainly not a great juker, but he can weave through his blocks pretty well and his speed is deceptive because of his long and powerful strides. The #1 thing that stands out to me watching him is that he has insane power/leg drive/lower body strength. Just an absolute tank of a runner. He doesn't look like much of a pass catcher and that may limit his NFL draft position and FF upside, but at times he flashes pretty special running ability. To the point where he almost looks like a first round back. If I had to guess today I would say he's a 2nd rounder. That's where Toby Gerhart, Greg Jones, Eric Shelton, and Brian Leonard went. Williams is arguably better than all of those guys. Maybe even MUCH better. He looks like a pretty good height/weight/speed guy, so I think his combine numbers will be solid. Maybe even very good. Add that to his 2000+ yard production and someone will roll the dice on him early.

I like Williams better than Montee Ball and LeVeon Bell, both 2nd rounders last year. I think he can run a sub 4.55 with a solid broad jump and vertical. Shuttle might be poor though.

 

[EBF]

Ebron vs. Amaro. Where do you guys stand here at this time?

Going back to this for a minute, Brugler and Rang at Draft Scout both have Amaro higher. So does Pete Fiutak from College Football News.

Something to think about.

To me, Ebron clearly moves better. Then again, I'd say the same thing about Eifert and Gronkowski and that doesn't mean Eifert is better. There are other variables besides being a fluid athlete. One advantage that Amaro seems to have is more height/weight/wingspan. It can he hard to assess accurate height/weight from the games, but my hunch is that Ebron is about 6'4". Maybe even somewhere in the 6'3.X" range. That's not short, but he doesn't appear to be a towering target like Amaro or the 6'5.5" Eifert.

 

[Milkman]

It seems Amaro is more of a long strider so it looks like he is slow but he's still flying. I mean it will be interesting to see how he times at the combine. The comparisons to graham are premature imo because one of the things that sets Jimmy Graham apart is that he is an elite athlete. Ebron reminds me more of a poor mans Vernon Davis. Maybe a little more fluid the Davis but Ebron isn't going to run a 4.3 40.

 

[Milkman]

Draft Scout has the top 5 RB ranked

Melvin Gordon

Ka'Deem Carey

Lache Seastrunk

Bishop Sankey

Charles Sims

I know a couple of months ago most people considered it a pretty weak class for RB. If Gordon changes his mind (He absolutely should declare for the draft) and comes out has anybody changed their mind on this crop of RB? I like all 5 of those RB.

 

[fruity pebbles]

Draft Scout has the top 5 RB ranked

Melvin Gordon

Ka'Deem Carey

Lache Seastrunk

Bishop Sankey

Charles Sims

I know a couple of months ago most people considered it a pretty weak class for RB. If Gordon changes his mind (He absolutely should declare for the draft) and comes out has anybody changed their mind on this crop of RB? I like all 5 of those RB.

Yeah, i like the Rbs more than i did and like the top of the Wrs less. Its Watkins and everyone else for me there.

 

[ConnSKINS26]

Draft Scout has the top 5 RB ranked

Melvin Gordon

Ka'Deem Carey

Lache Seastrunk

Bishop Sankey

Charles Sims

I know a couple of months ago most people considered it a pretty weak class for RB. If Gordon changes his mind (He absolutely should declare for the draft) and comes out has anybody changed their mind on this crop of RB? I like all 5 of those RB.

Yeah, i like the Rbs more than i did and like the top of the Wrs less. Its Watkins and everyone else for me there.

I still like Watkins, Lee and maybe Robinson and maybe Evans more than almost all of last years guys (taking into account that Allen has been much better than most thought, much earlier). A lot will depend on where they land, there's some juicy spots with a stud QB just waiting for a WR1.

 

[EBF]

It seems Amaro is more of a long strider so it looks like he is slow but he's still flying. I mean it will be interesting to see how he times at the combine. The comparisons to graham are premature imo because one of the things that sets Jimmy Graham apart is that he is an elite athlete. Ebron reminds me more of a poor mans Vernon Davis. Maybe a little more fluid the Davis but Ebron isn't going to run a 4.3 40.

Amaro isn't as clean in his routes. He moves a little bit goofy. Shades of Travis Kelce from the 2013 draft, but smoother. Ebron runs and cuts like a WR.

I don't think Ebron is very similar to Vernon Davis, who's relatively short, but massively heavy and incredibly fast for his weight. Davis has always struck me as athlete first, receiver second. Meaning that for all his insane athletic ability, he was never a great pure pass catcher. Body control and hands are not his strong suit. He might be okay in those aspects of the game, but certainly not a power forward with the ball in the air like Graham or Gates. I don't recall him making a lot of great circus catches off the top of my head. I think he's effective mainly because he's one of the top freak athletes in the NFL, and less because he's highly skilled.

I would actually say Ebron is more like a poor-man's Jimmy Graham. Both of those guys run routes like a WR. Ebron isn't as physically gifted though. Not as tall. Not as strong. Probably not as fast. Ultimately, the problem with the comparison game is that no two players are exactly like. I don't see Ebron being a clone of any current NFL player, but there's enough there that I feel pretty confident in predicting that he'll be a good player when healthy. How good is the main question. I don't think I'll end up rating him above Eifert, but I like him more as a prospect than other recent top TEs like Gresham and Rudolph.

 

[EBF]

Draft Scout has the top 5 RB ranked

Melvin Gordon

Ka'Deem Carey

Lache Seastrunk

Bishop Sankey

Charles Sims

I know a couple of months ago most people considered it a pretty weak class for RB. If Gordon changes his mind (He absolutely should declare for the draft) and comes out has anybody changed their mind on this crop of RB? I like all 5 of those RB.

I think it will be a good group regardless of Gordon. I'm likely to be pretty high on Seastrunk when all is said and done.

Not so sure about Carey and Sankey. I want to see them at the combine before I pass final judgment. I think Andre Williams and Devonta Freeman are promising though. Same for Ameer Abdullah, Jeremy Hill, and Carlos Hyde. Then there are some wildcard types like Branden Oliver and Mike Dyer who could be decent.

I wouldn't say it's a weak RB class at all. There might not be a lot of high end can't-miss talent out there, but I prefer it to the 2013 class almost across the board. A few of these guys are likely to shine in the postseason and get picked high into decent spots just like last year.

As a whole, I am high on this 2014 draft class. Much much more optimistic about these players than last year's. In fact, I think last year's 1.01 (based on what I valued it in May) would only be worth about 1.05-1.06 to me in this class. I just have more confidence in this group. It might not be quite as stacked as the Luck/Richardson/Blackmon class right at the top, but the depth is great. Depending on who declares, even 2nd round picks could net some interest names.

 

[Milkman]

Draft Scout has the top 5 RB ranked

Melvin Gordon

Ka'Deem Carey

Lache Seastrunk

Bishop Sankey

Charles Sims

I know a couple of months ago most people considered it a pretty weak class for RB. If Gordon changes his mind (He absolutely should declare for the draft) and comes out has anybody changed their mind on this crop of RB? I like all 5 of those RB.

I think it will be a good group regardless of Gordon. I'm likely to be pretty high on Seastrunk when all is said and done.

Not so sure about Carey and Sankey. I want to see them at the combine before I pass final judgment. I think Andre Williams and Devonta Freeman are promising though. Same for Ameer Abdullah, Jeremy Hill, and Carlos Hyde. Then there are some wildcard types like Branden Oliver and Mike Dyer who could be decent.

I wouldn't say it's a weak RB class at all. There might not be a lot of high end can't-miss talent out there, but I prefer it to the 2013 class almost across the board. A few of these guys are likely to shine in the postseason and get picked high into decent spots just like last year.

As a whole, I am high on this 2014 draft class. Much much more optimistic about these players than last year's. In fact, I think last year's 1.01 (based on what I valued it in May) would only be worth about 1.05-1.06 to me in this class. I just have more confidence in this group. It might not be quite as stacked as the Luck/Richardson/Blackmon class right at the top, but the depth is great. Depending on who declares, even 2nd round picks could net some interest names.

I'm higher on Sankey then most. If he times good at the combine he will shoot up peoples boards. I like some of the runs inside the tackles I've seen he make. It seems like he doesn't need a lot of room to make big plays. He has that little jump cut. Makes people miss is tight quarters. Sets his blocks up good.

Check the play out at the 2:08 mark in this video. Tell me what you think. The next play after that shows some power and enough speed too. It's a nice combination.

http://draftbreakdown.com/video/bishop-sankey-vs-oregon-state-2013/

The WR class this year is pretty stacked imo too. Depending who declares there could be 5 maybe even 6 wr's picked in the first round.

It's a very good year to have multiply picks in the first round this year........

 

[Concept Coop]

I'm higher on Sankey then most. If he times good at the combine he will shoot up peoples boards. I like some of the runs inside the tackles I've seen he make. It seems like he doesn't need a lot of room to make big plays. He has that little jump cut. Makes people miss is tight quarters. Sets his blocks up good.

Sankey and Abdullah fall under the same category for me: Production, production, production. Don't look special doing it.

The combine, and - more importantly - draft status will be important for me when looking at these two.

 

[EBF]

Draft Scout has the top 5 RB ranked

Melvin Gordon

Ka'Deem Carey

Lache Seastrunk

Bishop Sankey

Charles Sims

I know a couple of months ago most people considered it a pretty weak class for RB. If Gordon changes his mind (He absolutely should declare for the draft) and comes out has anybody changed their mind on this crop of RB? I like all 5 of those RB.

I think it will be a good group regardless of Gordon. I'm likely to be pretty high on Seastrunk when all is said and done.

Not so sure about Carey and Sankey. I want to see them at the combine before I pass final judgment. I think Andre Williams and Devonta Freeman are promising though. Same for Ameer Abdullah, Jeremy Hill, and Carlos Hyde. Then there are some wildcard types like Branden Oliver and Mike Dyer who could be decent.

I wouldn't say it's a weak RB class at all. There might not be a lot of high end can't-miss talent out there, but I prefer it to the 2013 class almost across the board. A few of these guys are likely to shine in the postseason and get picked high into decent spots just like last year.

As a whole, I am high on this 2014 draft class. Much much more optimistic about these players than last year's. In fact, I think last year's 1.01 (based on what I valued it in May) would only be worth about 1.05-1.06 to me in this class. I just have more confidence in this group. It might not be quite as stacked as the Luck/Richardson/Blackmon class right at the top, but the depth is great. Depending on who declares, even 2nd round picks could net some interest names.

I'm higher on Sankey then most. If he times good at the combine he will shoot up peoples boards. I like some of the runs inside the tackles I've seen he make. It seems like he doesn't need a lot of room to make big plays. He has that little jump cut. Makes people miss is tight quarters. Sets his blocks up good.

Check the play out at the 2:08 mark in this video. Tell me what you think. The next play after that shows some power and enough speed too. It's a nice combination.

http://draftbreakdown.com/video/bishop-sankey-vs-oregon-state-2013/

The WR class this year is pretty stacked imo too. Depending who declares there could be 5 maybe even 6 wr's picked in the first round.

It's a very good year to have multiply picks in the first round this year........

If nothing else, he should be serviceable. Good enough combination of power and mobility that I think he could be effective as a stopgap guy. Whether or not he has that next level talent required to be a legitimate long term starter is less clear to me. Right now I have Seastrunk and Gordon as the two most dynamic and talented backs in the class. Then a gigantic second tier consisting of players like Freeman, Williams, Hill, Carey, and Sankey. I think I have a decent handle on what those players bring to the table, but even so the combine, draft position, and landing spot will probably dictate how I rank them to a large extent. I have my hunches, but it will be interesting to see what's under the hood and how highly the pro scouts really rate them.

 

[Faust]

Video: NFL Draft Risers-Fallers after Week 13

 

[Faust]

Scout's Take: Andre Williams reminds some of Alfred Morris

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Clemson QB Tajh Boyd ranks as ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper's No. 8 senior passer.
"Proven performer and leader with ability to make all the throws," Kiper writes. "Lacks height but moves well and has improved decision-making." This slots Boyd behind the likes of Logan Thomas and Tom Savage. If this is any indication, Boyd could be drafted much later than we originally thought. Possibly in the sixth- or seventh-round.

Source: ESPN

UCLA head coach Jim Mora Jr. compared USC junior WR Marqise Lee to Marvin Harrison.
Lee also drew a comparison to Santonio Holmes from an AFC scouting director a few weeks ago. Lee has been hobbled by injuries and poor quarterback play, but he could finish the season strong against UCLA. We wouldn't be shocked if he lasts until the later parts of the first-round.

Source: Jack Wang on Twitter

NFL.com's Gil Brandt believes a team will select Georgia senior QB Aaron Murray in the "middle-to-late rounds and find a leader of men with few weaknesses."
Murray suffered a torn ACL in his left knee against Kentucky, ending his final season with the team. This will also keep Murray from participating in the Senior Bowl and will severely limit his draft process. "I'm not in love with these comparisons, but the ones I would use with Murray are Drew Brees and Russell Wilson, and not just because of the perceived lack of height," Brandt writes. "They're smart as hell and fighters who put the necessary work in during the week."

Source: NFL.com

 

[Xue]

It seems Amaro is more of a long strider so it looks like he is slow but he's still flying. I mean it will be interesting to see how he times at the combine. The comparisons to graham are premature imo because one of the things that sets Jimmy Graham apart is that he is an elite athlete. Ebron reminds me more of a poor mans Vernon Davis. Maybe a little more fluid the Davis but Ebron isn't going to run a 4.3 40.

As much as I like Amaro, he's nowhere near Graham. His playing style is closer to someone like Dallas Clark. Amaro doesn't play "above the rim" like Graham does. He's more of a "catch and run" type.

 

[BigTex]

Draft Scout has the top 5 RB ranked

Melvin Gordon

Ka'Deem Carey

Lache Seastrunk

Bishop Sankey

Charles Sims

I know a couple of months ago most people considered it a pretty weak class for RB. If Gordon changes his mind (He absolutely should declare for the draft) and comes out has anybody changed their mind on this crop of RB? I like all 5 of those RB.

I think it will be a good group regardless of Gordon. I'm likely to be pretty high on Seastrunk when all is said and done.

Not so sure about Carey and Sankey. I want to see them at the combine before I pass final judgment. I think Andre Williams and Devonta Freeman are promising though. Same for Ameer Abdullah, Jeremy Hill, and Carlos Hyde. Then there are some wildcard types like Branden Oliver and Mike Dyer who could be decent.

I wouldn't say it's a weak RB class at all. There might not be a lot of high end can't-miss talent out there, but I prefer it to the 2013 class almost across the board. A few of these guys are likely to shine in the postseason and get picked high into decent spots just like last year.

As a whole, I am high on this 2014 draft class. Much much more optimistic about these players than last year's. In fact, I think last year's 1.01 (based on what I valued it in May) would only be worth about 1.05-1.06 to me in this class. I just have more confidence in this group. It might not be quite as stacked as the Luck/Richardson/Blackmon class right at the top, but the depth is great. Depending on who declares, even 2nd round picks could net some interest names.

Agree on everything you said. I really like this class and consider it better than last years class. I have 4 picks in the top 15, 3 of which will be devy picks so my eyes are on 2015 as well. With Seastrunk and Lee already on my roster I love were I'm sitting. Both of the next two classes will be deep with top talent.

Tex

 

[Xue]

I'm higher on Sankey then most. If he times good at the combine he will shoot up peoples boards. I like some of the runs inside the tackles I've seen he make. It seems like he doesn't need a lot of room to make big plays. He has that little jump cut. Makes people miss is tight quarters. Sets his blocks up good.

Sankey and Abdullah fall under the same category for me: Production, production, production. Don't look special doing it.

The combine, and - more importantly - draft status will be important for me when looking at these two.

Abdullah certainly is special. He's one of the hardest cutters I've seen and shows very good ability to break tackles for a 190-pounder. He also squats 500 lbs.

 

[EBF]

I'm higher on Sankey then most. If he times good at the combine he will shoot up peoples boards. I like some of the runs inside the tackles I've seen he make. It seems like he doesn't need a lot of room to make big plays. He has that little jump cut. Makes people miss is tight quarters. Sets his blocks up good.

Sankey and Abdullah fall under the same category for me: Production, production, production. Don't look special doing it.

The combine, and - more importantly - draft status will be important for me when looking at these two.

Abdullah certainly is special. He's one of the hardest cutters I've seen and shows very good ability to break tackles for a 190-pounder. He also squats 500 lbs.

When I saw that initial comment I immediately thought of this run against Georgia. Not many backs can make this cut at full speed:

http://youtu.be/9n-ChkzjOX8?t=5m31s

Abdullah is an interesting player. Very agile. Runs with the bow-legged wide base that I like. That's why I think he has such good balance and cutting ability. A bit like Trent Richardson in that regard, but thinner and more explosive. I don't know what he's going to be in the NFL because he may not have the sheer bulk that teams want in a workhorse back, but I feel pretty confident that he will carve out some kind of productive role. Even if it's only in a committee.

 

[Xue]

I'm higher on Sankey then most. If he times good at the combine he will shoot up peoples boards. I like some of the runs inside the tackles I've seen he make. It seems like he doesn't need a lot of room to make big plays. He has that little jump cut. Makes people miss is tight quarters. Sets his blocks up good.

Sankey and Abdullah fall under the same category for me: Production, production, production. Don't look special doing it.

The combine, and - more importantly - draft status will be important for me when looking at these two.

Abdullah certainly is special. He's one of the hardest cutters I've seen and shows very good ability to break tackles for a 190-pounder. He also squats 500 lbs.

When I saw that initial comment I immediately thought of this run against Georgia. Not many backs can make this cut at full speed:

http://youtu.be/9n-ChkzjOX8?t=5m31s

Abdullah is an interesting player. Very agile. Runs with the bow-legged wide base that I like. That's why I think he has such good balance and cutting ability. A bit like Trent Richardson in that regard, but thinner and more explosive. I don't know what he's going to be in the NFL because he may not have the sheer bulk that teams want in a workhorse back, but I feel pretty confident that he will carve out some kind of productive role. Even if it's only in a committee.

If he can put on 10-15 lbs, he'd basically be Ahmad Bradshaw. And he's noticeably faster than Bradshaw was in college.

 

[BigTex]

I'm higher on Sankey then most. If he times good at the combine he will shoot up peoples boards. I like some of the runs inside the tackles I've seen he make. It seems like he doesn't need a lot of room to make big plays. He has that little jump cut. Makes people miss is tight quarters. Sets his blocks up good.

Sankey and Abdullah fall under the same category for me: Production, production, production. Don't look special doing it.

The combine, and - more importantly - draft status will be important for me when looking at these two.

Abdullah certainly is special. He's one of the hardest cutters I've seen and shows very good ability to break tackles for a 190-pounder. He also squats 500 lbs.

When I saw that initial comment I immediately thought of this run against Georgia. Not many backs can make this cut at full speed:

http://youtu.be/9n-ChkzjOX8?t=5m31s

Abdullah is an interesting player. Very agile. Runs with the bow-legged wide base that I like. That's why I think he has such good balance and cutting ability. A bit like Trent Richardson in that regard, but thinner and more explosive. I don't know what he's going to be in the NFL because he may not have the sheer bulk that teams want in a workhorse back, but I feel pretty confident that he will carve out some kind of productive role. Even if it's only in a committee.

Every time I see him run he looks awkward. I don't really know if I've ever seen anyone the runs the way he does but he does seem to cut at full speed.

 

[EBF]

Every time I see him run he looks awkward. I don't really know if I've ever seen anyone the runs the way he does but he does seem to cut at full speed.

They're built a little differently, but the way he runs reminds me a bit of Trent Richardson. They're both naturally bow-legged, which seems to have some consequences for how they run. Wide base and very low to the ground. Good for balance. You're harder to tip over when you're crouched in a shortstop stance as opposed to standing upright with your feet touching. I also think it's easier to transition to a hard lateral cut when you're running with a wide foundation. A lot of good jukers like Darren Sproles and Ray Rice have a bit of this in their game. It's just more apparent with Richardson and Abdullah. Almost to the point where it looks awkward.

I think it's part of the reason why Abdullah runs with more power and balance than you'd suspect just looking at his listed dimensions. Can he be a workhorse at the next level? I don't know, but he has certainly been one this year in college. I wouldn't put it past him.

 

[Xue]

I'm higher on Sankey then most. If he times good at the combine he will shoot up peoples boards. I like some of the runs inside the tackles I've seen he make. It seems like he doesn't need a lot of room to make big plays. He has that little jump cut. Makes people miss is tight quarters. Sets his blocks up good.

Sankey and Abdullah fall under the same category for me: Production, production, production. Don't look special doing it.

The combine, and - more importantly - draft status will be important for me when looking at these two.

Abdullah certainly is special. He's one of the hardest cutters I've seen and shows very good ability to break tackles for a 190-pounder. He also squats 500 lbs.

When I saw that initial comment I immediately thought of this run against Georgia. Not many backs can make this cut at full speed:

http://youtu.be/9n-ChkzjOX8?t=5m31s

Abdullah is an interesting player. Very agile. Runs with the bow-legged wide base that I like. That's why I think he has such good balance and cutting ability. A bit like Trent Richardson in that regard, but thinner and more explosive. I don't know what he's going to be in the NFL because he may not have the sheer bulk that teams want in a workhorse back, but I feel pretty confident that he will carve out some kind of productive role. Even if it's only in a committee.

Every time I see him run he looks awkward. I don't really know if I've ever seen anyone the runs the way he does but he does seem to cut at full speed.

Being bow-legged allows him to make cuts like this: http://lifesyourcupfb.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/abdullah-cut-bend.jpg

Odell Beckham is another guy who is noticeably bow-legged and it allows him to cut with ease in his routes and on his punt returns.

 

[Rodeojones]

It seems Amaro is more of a long strider so it looks like he is slow but he's still flying. I mean it will be interesting to see how he times at the combine. The comparisons to graham are premature imo because one of the things that sets Jimmy Graham apart is that he is an elite athlete. Ebron reminds me more of a poor mans Vernon Davis. Maybe a little more fluid the Davis but Ebron isn't going to run a 4.3 40.

As much as I like Amaro, he's nowhere near Graham. His playing style is closer to someone like Dallas Clark. Amaro doesn't play "above the rim" like Graham does. He's more of a "catch and run" type.

Longhorns head coach Mack Brown sees "a bigger, thicker Jermichael Finley" when he sees Amaro (6-foot-5, 260 pounds) on tape, while defensive coordinator Greg Robinson is reminded of New England Patriots superstar Rob Gronkowski. "I know Rob very well, but he (Amaro) affects the game similarly," Robinson said. "He's a big-body guy. He's like a power forward playing basketball.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000288549/article/jace-amaro-plays-like-rob-gronkowski-texas-coach-says

 

[Xue]

It seems Amaro is more of a long strider so it looks like he is slow but he's still flying. I mean it will be interesting to see how he times at the combine. The comparisons to graham are premature imo because one of the things that sets Jimmy Graham apart is that he is an elite athlete. Ebron reminds me more of a poor mans Vernon Davis. Maybe a little more fluid the Davis but Ebron isn't going to run a 4.3 40.

As much as I like Amaro, he's nowhere near Graham. His playing style is closer to someone like Dallas Clark. Amaro doesn't play "above the rim" like Graham does. He's more of a "catch and run" type.

Longhorns head coach Mack Brown sees "a bigger, thicker Jermichael Finley" when he sees Amaro (6-foot-5, 260 pounds) on tape, while defensive coordinator Greg Robinson is reminded of New England Patriots superstar Rob Gronkowski. "I know Rob very well, but he (Amaro) affects the game similarly," Robinson said. "He's a big-body guy. He's like a power forward playing basketball.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000288549/article/jace-amaro-plays-like-rob-gronkowski-texas-coach-says

Meaningless coachspeak. Amaro's weakness is his inability to catch in traffic. Nothing close to Gronk. Finley isn't a bad comp.

If there is anyone close to a Gronkowski in this draft it's Troy Niklas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0A7jHG92r4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UC6M0SbNReM

 

[Faust]

Vanderbilt senior Jordan Matthews among top WR prospects

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Draft insider Tony Pauline reports that Colorado redshirt junior WR Paul Richardson will enter the NFL draft.

Buffalos head coach Mike MacInyre told reporters last week that he would not twist Richardson's arm to stay in Boulder next season, but it appears that the star receiver has already made up his mind to leave. Richardson, who missed last season with a knee injury, has collected 79 catches for 1,289 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2013. His slender frame (6-foot-1, 170 pounds) will ensure durability questions persist, but we like Richardson's deep speed and big-play ability.


Source: Tony Pauline on Twitter

 

[Faust]

NFL teams would be unwise to downgrade USC WR Marqise Lee

 

[Xue]

Ex-Vandy WR Chris Boyd is declaring:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000288006/article/former-vanderbilt-wr-chris-boyd-discusses-early-nfl-entry