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3rd Round (90th pick): Jonathan Greenard, OLB

zshawn10

All Pro
At pick 40, the Texans land the 29th ranked prospect in TCU DT Ross Blacklock.

At pick 90, the Texans land the 72nd ranked prospect in Florida EDGE Jonathan Greenard.

Without a 1st round pick (Tunsil), Houston had to find value picks that also filled needs. So far they are 2-2.
— Rob Kimbell (@RobKSports) April 25, 2020
I love their draft. Had a Top 20 grade on Blacklock and a 2nd round grade on Greenard.

They added two Top 50 talents and only had two selections to do it. Nailed both picks. They were BPA and need.

A+ https://t.co/xw6F9ZNkjc
— Jayson Braddock (@JaysonBraddock) April 25, 2020
 

kiwitexansfan

Hall of Fame
From the ESPN write up on this guy, makes him sound like a slow but strong effort player. Sounded like a lunch pail/good practice guy and not a guy who will scare offensive co-ordinators.

You guys seem to be more positive about him..... hope your right. Happy with another defensive pick though.
 

powda

The bridge between stupid and useless is short.
From the ESPN write up on this guy, makes him sound like a slow but strong effort player. Sounded like a lunch pail/good practice guy and not a guy who will scare offensive co-ordinators.

You guys seem to be more positive about him..... hope your right. Happy with another defensive pick though.
Hes a less disciplined Brandon scarlett with more talent. I can't fault them for trying to upgrade the position.
 

RGV82

Random guy
Good pick
Yup, I was a little upset and overreacted that we didn't go Edge with pick 40, but after looking more into Blacklock, and drafting Greenard, I think we had a solid round 2. Greenard is underrated, and easily could have gone earlier in the draft. He is probably a top 50 selection, but likely went later because teams are a little put off by his size. He is a little undersized, but I definitely think the benefits outweigh the risks.
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
BTW, Greenard may or may not have the burst. But he plays hard every down and seems to be a very disciplined guy. The type of guy I can work with and make him better, The question is, is he special?
 

RGV82

Random guy
BTW, Greenard may or may not have the burst. But he plays hard every down and seems to be a very disciplined guy. The type of guy I can work with and make him better, The question is, is he special?
I think so. He has the talent and ability to be a top 50 draft pick. His size is really the main question. He is undersized and overlooked by a lot of teams. The question is, can he compensate for that?
 

Rich Schmidt

Myopicone
BTW, Greenard may or may not have the burst. But he plays hard every down and seems to be a very disciplined guy. The type of guy I can work with and make him better, The question is, is he special?
I think he is good, and the coaching on the DL and backers has been a bright spot in the staff, he said he watches JJ's tape all the time, so I do think you have a plus athlete, lives and breathes the game and wants to get smarter, and he has role models and coaches to help him get better. Certainly a upgrade over say Scarlett, and against our division you need someone that can set the edge and be disciplined as JJ free lances etc. I don't like Martin and Duke setting the edge, but Grennard looks like a stud at that and highlights show more burst then he was given credit for. In any case, I ***** at BOB about value, but both picks were in areas of need and can be argued that Blacklock was a top 25 he got at 40, and Greenard maybe top 50 at 90. Certainly both lunch pail good teammate guys too
 

Number19

Hall of Fame
He's Mercilus.

Reach, hope I'm wrong
Mercilus? I think Scarlett is more appropriate. And Ejiofor? Isn't this the position he'll be competing for playing time? Scarlett was an UFA. I'm hoping he'll he be an upgrade. Ejiofor was a 6th rounder. And Martin is in this mix.
 

RGV82

Random guy
Some good analysis from NFL.com

Draft Projection
Rounds 3-4

NFL Comparison
Dante Fowler

Strengths
  • Worker-bee off the field and willing to play with pain
  • Plays quick, loose and reactive football
  • Explosive hips fire him upfield into his rush
  • Bends well to rip-and-run the edge under redirect blocks
  • Stutters and jukes his way from edge to edge
  • Works back under when rush stalls at the top
  • Instinctive footwork in cornering and playing off/around blocks
  • Upper body strength to punch and separate on the edge
  • Lateral agility for sudden tackles away from his gap
  • Doesn't stall out in change of direction
  • Subtle shoulder turn to slip tackles
  • Looks to tackle football and cause fumbles
Weaknesses
  • Missed 2018 with severe wrist injury, requiring a closer look
  • Seemed hesitant using heavily wrapped wrist in 2019
  • Feasted on lesser tackles for a chunk of rush production
  • Spin move lacks suddenness to beat quality tackles
  • Average closing burst to quarterback
  • Will need work improving shed against NFL tackles
  • Below-average violence and force in his hands
  • Ankle injury against Auburn slowed his momentum
 

Texansphan

Football connoisseur
Greenard is gonna surprise a lot of people.
He can strip the ball, bat down passes and rush.
Watch the hit around the 3 minute mark.
 
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CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
NFL Combine Rewind: Jonathan Greenard motivated to bring work ethic to the Texans

Pavithr Goli
9 hours ago

The Texans continued the overhaul on their defense by adding Jon Greenard to their draft class along with Ross Blacklock. Greenard played at both Louisville (for 4 years) and Florida (as a graduate transfer) and excelled in both places.

Greenard specifically showed out and performed at a very high level in Florida recording 52 total tackles and 9.5 sacks. At the NFL Combine earlier this year, Greenard made himself known through his interview which leads to a rise in his draft stock.

Attending two football powerhouses in Louisville and Florida, Greenard has definitely learned a lot from the positive influences in his career. Especially at Florida, Greenard attributed his easy transition to his teammates and how their coaches were also great. Specifically, Todd Grantham, the defensive coordinator for the Gators, was the main reason that Greenard transferred to Florida as it was a system that Greenard was both “comfortable in and let [him] showcase [his] talents.

Greenard has a very positive mindset as an underdog with a chip on his shoulder. Greenard, who was overlooked by scouts, wanted to do well at the NFL Combine as he was ready to prove those scouts wrong while showcasing his athletic ability.
This type of determination and the desire to prove others wrong is something that is valuable for not only a locker room but also for the mentality of young players as that type of thought process will encourage them to always improve and get better.

When Greenard was questioned about how he fared in the Georgia game, which is an offense that can be comparable to one in the NFL, Greenard expressed some regrets about his performance, attributing some of his deficiencies to him coming back from his wrist injury. But he remained optimistic as he reiterated that his persistence and perseverance on the field during that game (despite the nagging wrist injury) was a major positive mark as he wanted to give all he had in the tank, the type of effort that he intends on relaying when playing in the NFL.

Greenard has an admirable personality. His humility, confidence, determination, and intelligence are characteristics that make him such an attractive prospect. Not only is he moldable like a ball of clay, but he shows that he can embrace his new role to become a leader for the Texans on and off the field while also learning from the best of the best, including JJ Watt and Whitney Mercilus.

*******************************************************************

I've listened to several of his interviews..........very intelligent and well-spoken. While injured as a redshirt junior, Greenard took extra courses in order to graduate a semester early and was able to enroll at Florida in January 2019 as a graduate transfer. He pursues everything full out...........including the study of the game. Glad to have him on the team.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
***********************
Greenard, 6-foot-3, 262 pounds, takes pride in his versatility as a defensive lineman. At the Senior Bowl, the Cincinnati Bengals, the south team's coaching staff, played Greenard at SAM linebacker in addition to his position along the defensive line.

"I mean I’ve played in the 4-3, I’ve played in 3-4, I played 4-2-5, you name it. Regardless I can fit in any system. I can stand up and be a 3-4 guy, I’ve also played a true big end in a 4-3 like you said." Greenard last week about his versatility. "If you turn on film you’ll see me doing a lot of those things and being pretty comfortable at it that kind of just separates me from other guys in the class."

While Greenard didn't post the most explosive 40-yard dash at the combine (4.87 seconds), he excelled in other areas. The former Gator posted a 7.13-second three-cone and a 4.34-second 20-yard shuttle, good for second and third-best among defensive linemen at the Combine this year, respectively.
*************************
LINK
 

Mr teX

Hall of Fame
BTW, Greenard may or may not have the burst. But he plays hard every down and seems to be a very disciplined guy. The type of guy I can work with and make him better, The question is, is he special?
This guy can absolutely be the edge guy we need. He may not have that initial burst, but neither did Chandler Jones when he came out...which is someone Greenard compares VERY favorably to. It’s gonna be on Weaver to develop him to become as good as Jones has been.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Another pick with an unappealing injury history.
He had 2 injuries in his college career.................1) a dislocated right wrist where he tore ligaments, which required surgery, after which he missed the 2018 season..............2) a high ankle sprain last mid season for which he missed 2 games.

As far as the wrist injury, his last year's run defense and pass rush performance speaks for itself as to his wrist condition.

As far as the high ankle sprain, in the 5 games when he returned (although his ankle was not given enough time to heal before the season concluded), he had more sacks, TFL and pressures than in the 6 games prior to his injury.
 

SnakeEyes

Under NRG
He’s listed as an OLB, highlights show him more as an edge rusher.
He’s not really an OLB is he?
Tweener
He has the ability to stand and come off the edge which he did a lot at Florida. However, he has played with his hand in the dirt in a 4-3 and 5-2 front. I think he is more of an edge guy due to his length and explosivness. He also tracks well and can chase plays down from behind. That, to me is more of an edge rush/pass rush guy. Very strong arms and hands also, allowing him to wrap up RBs and QBs fast. He is a bit small a 6' 3 and about 250 to be a 3 down DE at this level. And I don't know if bulking is smart. I think Blacklock is our new DE/DT flex guy and he is the new "Clowney type" OLB/DE (at rare times)/blitz LB. And YES he can set the edge rather well.
 

Seegara

Guitar Picker, Dog Lover, Woodworker
He had 2 injuries in his college career.................1) a dislocated right wrist where he tore ligaments, which required surgery, after which he missed the 2018 season..............2) a high ankle sprain last mid season for which he missed 2 games.

As far as the wrist injury, his last year's run defense and pass rush performance speaks for itself as to his wrist condition.

As far as the high ankle sprain, in the 5 games when he returned (although his ankle was not given enough time to heal before the season concluded), he had more sacks, TFL and pressures than in the 6 games prior to his injury.
We care about the past only as it relates to the future. There is the implication of proneness to injury here.
 

steelbtexan

King of the W. B. Club
Contributor's Club
Tweener
He has the ability to stand and come off the edge which he did a lot at Florida. However, he has played with his hand in the dirt in a 4-3 and 5-2 front. I think he is more of an edge guy due to his length and explosivness. He also tracks well and can chase plays down from behind. That, to me is more of an edge rush/pass rush guy. Very strong arms and hands also, allowing him to wrap up RBs and QBs fast. He is a bit small a 6' 3 and about 250 to be a 3 down DE at this level. And I don't know if bulking is smart. I think Blacklock is our new DE/DT flex guy and he is the new "Clowney type" OLB/DE (at rare times)/blitz LB. And YES he can set the edge rather well.
Greenard was listed at 6'3, 263 lbs.
 

RGV82

Random guy
Definitely not small.

Long strong arms and powerful hand are his best weapons.

It's rare for a guy with long arms to be as strong as Greenard is coming out of college.
Surprised he only got 22 reps on the bench press at the combine for a guy his size.
 

RGV82

Random guy
35 inch arms makes 22 reps a very good number.

Otisbean can speak better about this than I ever could.
I would disagree with it being a good number. I agree more with Lucky's view that his wrist injury slowed him a bit. Mercilus has 34 inch arms, and banged out 27 reps. Even at 35 inch arms, without a wrist injury, he should hit over 22.
 

Mollywhopper

Facilitator
Staff member
Surprised he only got 22 reps on the bench press at the combine for a guy his size.
This is where the combine shouldn't be looked at as a definitive measure. It's there to cross-reference traits/ablilities from game film. His play strength on tape is of no concern to anyone and so an adequate, though not eye-popping, bench press number shouldn't really be of much consequence.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
We care about the past only as it relates to the future. There is the implication of proneness to injury here.
So doing so, consideration has to be made as to what performance is reached after injury. Most importantly is how do the injuries affect his future.

His wrist dislocation occurred after he was pushed out of the sidelines and landed awkwardly trying to break his fall. The high ankle sprain was suffered after his foot was stepped on. He has come back strong from both.
 
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RGV82

Random guy
This is where the combine shouldn't be looked at as a definitive measure. It's there to cross-reference traits/ablilities from game film. His play strength on tape is of no concern to anyone and so an adequate, though not eye-popping, bench press number shouldn't really be of much consequence.
My comment was a mere observation, not an assessment of his abilities.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Surprised he only got 22 reps on the bench press at the combine for a guy his size.
Could be that wrist injury forced him to cut back on his lifting.
This is where the combine shouldn't be looked at as a definitive measure. It's there to cross-reference traits/ablilities from game film. His play strength on tape is of no concern to anyone and so an adequate, though not eye-popping, bench press number shouldn't really be of much consequence.
You all do realize that his almost 35 inch arm length would have alot to do with that. Clowney with his 34 1/2 inch arm length (without a history of wrist injury) only put up 21 reps at the Combine.
 

RGV82

Random guy
You all do realize that his almost 35 inch arm length would have alot to do with that. Clowney with his 34 1/2 inch arm length (without a history of wrist injury) only put up 21 reps at the Combine.
Clowney is taller and leaner. Would not expect a higher number. Mercilus is comparable size and frame and he nailed out 27 reps. But like I say I read about his wrist injury and that’s most likely the reason for lower numbers.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Clowney is taller and leaner. Would not expect a higher number. Mercilus is comparable size and frame and he nailed out 27 reps. But like I say I read about his wrist injury and that’s most likely the reason for lower numbers.
Any weight lifter will tell you that arm length is the most limiting factor, then comes strength. But I'm glad you read about his wrist injury...........I've treated at least 200, but I guess I'll need to read more about them so that I get up to par on the subject.
 

RGV82

Random guy
Any weight lifter will tell you that arm length is the most limiting factor, then comes strength. But I'm glad you read about his wrist injury...........I've treated at least 200, but I guess I'll need to read more about them so that I get up to par on the subject.
I don’t need to consult with any weight lifter. I powerlifted for years. I’m aware of all factors. In comparison to other guys his size I found his numbers low. It was my observation. I’m not trying to start some scientific debate.
 

bah007

Hall of Fame
For a guy with his power I expected a higher bench total but later read about his wrist injury.
Max reps on the bench is a test of muscular endurance, not power. I would prefer to see the combine switch to the med ball power toss like most youth combines have done. It’s a much better measure of peak power and a far better predictor for offensive and defensive linemen.
 

RGV82

Random guy
Max reps on the bench is a test of muscular endurance, not power. I would prefer to see the combine switch to the med ball power toss like most youth combines have done. It’s a much better measure of peak power and a far better predictor for offensive and defensive linemen.
You’d think if this was effective NFL would have thought of this before youth combines.
 

bah007

Hall of Fame
You’d think if this was effective NFL would have thought of this before youth combines.
LOL yeah NIKE is really hurting for money with the testing system they tour the country with every single year.

Most of the major college programs in the country “encourage” athletes to attend one before they get an offer so they can get accurate measurements.

It’s seriously like a series of mini high school football combines.
 

CloakNNNdagger

Hall of Fame
Max reps on the bench is a test of muscular endurance, not power. I would prefer to see the combine switch to the med ball power toss like most youth combines have done. It’s a much better measure of peak power and a far better predictor for offensive and defensive linemen.
That's a great point! And as to endurance or power in the bench press relating to Greenard's previous wrist injury, if the bar, the wrist and the forearm are closely aligned the way they should be in good form (not with the wrist bent), there would be no undue stresses transferred to his repaired wrist ligament. It should be an non-issue and non-limiting.
 
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