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Greg Cosell on 2015 NFL Draft

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Hall of Fame
As he is beginning to trickle out evaluations, it's time for Cosell's draft thread.

NFL Films' senior producer Greg Cosell Raves About Jameis Winston
While he doesn't normally break down collegiate athletes until draft season, Cosell analyzed two of Jameis Winston's game films, and liked what he saw. Greg Cosell joined Colin Cowherd on ESPN Radio on Thursday and jumped right into Jameis Winston.

"I really liked what I saw," Cosell said of Jameis Winston. "I think he's the kid with the instincts of a pocket passer. He's strong in the pocket. He reads coverage. At times he's a little reckless and careless with his decision making, so you have to decide if that will carry over and what you can teach there. He's a confident thrower, so he'll throw it into windows."

"I thought what he really showed, it's so important as you transition to the NFL, is he (Winston) showed natural anticipation," Cosell said. "In two games I watched, I must have seen five or six really good anticipation throws before receivers came out of breaks. That's critical."

"In the two games I watched [on film], I thought he was rather impressive," Cosell said.

Strong compliments coming from Cosell, who is very particular about the type of quarterbacks he likes.
Cosell did explain that the two games he watched were FSU's victories over Notre Dame and Louisville. It should be noted that Jameis Winston played about as poorly a 1st half as he has his entire career in that Louisville game, yet Cosell was still very impressed.

"The skill-set is clearly there. He's got potentially high level traits and attributes to play NFL quarterback," Cosell said.
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Playoffs said:
As he is beginning to trickle out evaluations, it's time for Cosell's draft thread.

NFL Films' senior producer Greg Cosell Raves About Jameis Winston
"The skill-set is clearly there. He's got potentially high level traits and attributes to play NFL quarterback," Cosell said.
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It's hard to deny the skill set + the physical attributes. Dude looks like a 1-1, but he's only been a starter for two seasons, his second season was statistically worse than his first season, & what little we've seen... off season, off the field stuff with a target on his back is why teams should be cautious.
 
As it relates to the Texans, in addition to skill set and physical attributes, the third component of equal significance, is what he has between the ears.
 
Number19 said:
As it relates to the Texans, in addition to skill set and physical attributes, the third component of equal significance, is what he has between the ears.
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The stuff between his ears isn't really an issue either. From all accounts he maintains a solid GPA, as a student that actually participates in class. The guy was eligible to attend Stanford had he wanted. His play routinely shows a high football IQ as well.

The issue is what he's got lodged in another part of his anatomy, namely the silver utensil he's had growing up his arse. Depending on where he ends up, head coach, locker room culture, teammates, and the lessons he learns initially as a pro, will determine whether or not he'll see fit to pass this unwanted nuisance on as a sign of maturity or whether he'll continue to occasionally walk cockeyed due to it.
 
Mollywhopper said:
The stuff between his ears isn't really an issue either. From all accounts he maintains a solid GPA, as a student that actually participates in class. The guy was eligible to attend Stanford had he wanted. His play routinely shows a high football IQ as well...
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Good stuff, thanks.
 
He's was in the second throwing group at the Combine, with Winston and Mariota, and I thought he was the best 'thrower' in that group.

Now he's going to have to learn how to play QB in the NFL. He doesn't have any experience under center with 3/5/7 step drop. He's clay that has to be totally molded from scratch, you have to teach him how to play QB at the NFL level.
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Greg Cosell on Bryce Petty (radio row interview)

I really liked Randy Gregory, Dante Fowler, and Breshad Perriman on film.
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Some very interesting early impression takes from Mr. Cosell this year...

Dante Fowler > Randy Gregory > Jadeveon Clowney (what he would have been)

Doesn't love Leonard Williams... plays too high(we all saw that), not explosive, not natural pass rusher

Shane Ray -- very competitive Tasmanian devil, bends/ turns/ closes

Bud Dupree projects better to 4-3 SLB, not quick twitch, likes him but not pure pass rusher

Danielle Hunter warrants further investigation.
 
Playoffs said:
Some very interesting early impression takes from Mr. Cosell this year...

Dante Fowler > Randy Gregory > Jadeveon Clowney (what he would have been)

Doesn't love Leonard Williams... plays too high(we all saw that), not explosive, not natural pass rusher

Shane Ray -- very competitive Tasmanian devil, bends/ turns/ closes

Bud Dupree projects better to 4-3 SLB, not quick twitch, likes him but not pure pass rusher

Danielle Hunter warrants further investigation.
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I'm really looking forward to what he has to say about Hunter. I watched as many of his games as I could find and his stats don't tell the whole story. I was blown away at how strong plays. I really think once develops some technique he could be special. All his weaknesses are coachable.

His snap anticipation needs to improve, he doesn't use his hands well and he doesn't have a spin move. Still his playing strength is impressive to watch.

One guy no one is mentioning is the owengiuwa (sp). Now that guys snap anticipation is really good. Another player who's stats don't tell the whole story. Opposing QBs really had to get rid of the ball fast against that rush. They were very disruptive. If either were available in the 2nd round..........
 
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mussop said:
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One guy no one is mentioning is the owengiuwa (sp). Not that guys snap anticipation is really good. Another player who's stats don't tell the whole story. Opposing QBs really had to get rid of the ball fast against that rush. They were very disruptive. If either were available in the 2nd round..........
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Odighizuwa Oh--diggy--zoo--wah getting a lot of chatter.

Hunter is one of those guys who you just know is gonna be a better pro than he was college player.
 
Playoffs said:
Some very interesting early impression takes from Mr. Cosell this year...

Doesn't love Leonard Williams... plays too high(we all saw that), not explosive, not natural pass rusher
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He must be joking. Williams blows up o-lines like no one else in this draft. He demands double teams and makes everyone else better. Cosell is way out there on this one. If Tampa Bay didn't need a QB, Williams would be the the #1 pick in this draft.
 
Lucky said:
He must be joking. Williams blows up o-lines like no one else in this draft. He demands double teams and makes everyone else better. Cosell is way out there on this one. If Tampa Bay didn't need a QB, Williams would be the the #1 pick in this draft.
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Yep, I'm thinking Williams and Fowler will be playing in the AFC South next year if TEN or JAX doesn't trade back
 
Lucky said:
He must be joking. Williams blows up o-lines like no one else in this draft. He demands double teams and makes everyone else better. Cosell is way out there on this one. If Tampa Bay didn't need a QB, Williams would be the the #1 pick in this draft.
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When you just watch highlights you aren't getting the whole story. I felt the same as Cosell early into watching his games. There is some really poor film of him. This is how I felt after the first couple of games I watched of him.

Like I said I was cold on him at first. Thought the same thing. Too much just standing straight up and mirroring going on. If you watch enough you can see that when he has a green light to go after the QB he looks unstoppable. I think he wasn't used correctly. If you have a guy that can be that disruptive then why would you have him reading and reacting? why wouldn't you be coaching him to be better off the snap?

Of course maybe they did try and he just didn't get it. In that case, yeh he is not a top tier guy. I just can't believe that after seeing some of the explosive plays he makes. I can't wait to see what he does at the combine. Of course now that I said that he will skip it.

In a couple of his games he is really slow getting off the snap. He is the last guy to get off the snap about 90 % of the time. He then stands straight up and hand fights with the OL. Just really wasn't a factor in those games. If those are the games he initially watched then I can totally see why he feels that way.

I'll try and go back and find those games and post links when I have time.
 
Cosell on WRs, watched every target of their last year...

Cooper -- very good route runner, very refined/compact in his movement that doesn't tip his route, not explosive or a speed/vertical guy.

White -- bigger, more explosive physically, not nearly as refined of a route runner, strong hands. Powerful + fast + RAC = Terrell Owens type WR. Not quick in and out of breaks, more straight, speed cut guy. A lot to work with.

Parker -- complimentary WR at his best, not a #1. Doesn't move near as well as White, not a burst and acceleration guy, more measured route runner. Strong at point of catch, good body control. Not at the same level of Cooper/White.

Strong -- not explosive, looks bigger than Parker, struggled to seperate vs. college CBs. Needs to fix his route runner. More a size than movement WR like Parker, but more fluid. A guy you'd move inside like Colston to get matchup advantage.

DGB -- big long smooth fluid, at times looked effortless vs. college CBs. Questions competitiveness, showed on film. Sheer ability, better than Evans/Benjamin... approaching Calvin Johnson ability. Not naturally physical considering his size. Missed last year dings him a bit in draft. Can't talk to his other issues.

Perriman -- big strong well built, powerful movement strong hands, really good body control, a ton of difficult catches away from his body, movement of a smaller WR. Quick off line, not a refined route runner. Has all of the physical tools and traits you look for. Not as purely explosive as Julio Jones coming out of Alabama, but similar size and movement.

Coates -- big well built, tremendous straight line speed, inconsistent hands, wasted motion in routes. Big learning curve.

Dorsett -- a blur, incredibly fast, DJax type lifting top off coverage, instant speed, very intriguing.

Josh Harper -- sleeper, smooth fluid easy mover, works middle of field well, very interested to see his development. Can he become like an A. Brown?​

Depth of class -- pretty good, close to 2014 class. Some 3rd/4th round picks will contribute.
 
Playoffs said:
Cosell on WRs, watched every target of their last year...

Cooper -- very good route runner, very refined/compact in his movement that doesn't tip his route, not explosive or a speed/vertical guy.

White -- bigger, more explosive physically, not nearly as refined of a route runner, strong hands. Powerful + fast + RAC = Terrell Owens type WR. Not quick in and out of breaks, more straight, speed cut guy. A lot to work with.

Parker -- complimentary WR at his best, not a #1. Doesn't move near as well as White, not a burst and acceleration guy, more measured route runner. Strong at point of catch, good body control. Not at the same level of Cooper/White.

Strong -- not explosive, looks bigger than Parker, struggled to seperate vs. college CBs. Needs to fix his route runner. More a size than movement WR like Parker, but more fluid. A guy you'd move inside like Colston to get matchup advantage.

DGB -- big long smooth fluid, at times looked effortless vs. college CBs. Questions competitiveness, showed on film. Sheer ability, better than Evans/Benjamin... approaching Calvin Johnson ability. Not naturally physical considering his size. Missed last year dings him a bit in draft. Can't talk to his other issues.

Perriman -- big strong well built, powerful movement strong hands, really good body control, a ton of difficult catches away from his body, movement of a smaller WR. Quick off line, not a refined route runner. Has all of the physical tools and traits you look for. Not as purely explosive as Julio Jones coming out of Alabama, but similar size and movement.

Coates -- big well built, tremendous straight line speed, inconsistent hands, wasted motion in routes. Big learning curve.

Dorsett -- a blur, incredibly fast, DJax type lifting top off coverage, instant speed, very intriguing.

Josh Harper -- sleeper, smooth fluid easy mover, works middle of field well, very interested to see his development. Can he become like an A. Brown?​

Depth of class -- pretty good, close to 2014 class. Some 3rd/4th round picks will contribute.
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Based solely on his write ups, White and Dorsett are the guys we want. If White doesn't fall, then Perriman
 
More Cosell on WRs...
Playoffs said:
Breshad Perriman -- big strong well built, powerful movement strong hands, really good body control, a ton of difficult catches away from his body, movement of a smaller WR. Quick off line, not a refined route runner. Has all of the physical tools and traits you look for. Not as purely explosive as Julio Jones coming out of Alabama, but similar size and movement.
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I don't know the kid, don't know his work ethic... everything I saw was before whatever it was he ran at his pro day... but you saw him put his foot in the ground and take off. Just seeing him on film, I see the traits... depending on situation and development... I think he could be the best receiver in this class...​


DGB -- deceptive as vertical WR due to size, not quick, he is not Randy Moss, all about his size, Plaxico Burress, not as competitive/physical as you want, eats up ground with long strides, just from size has potential to be best WR in class if everything falls into place (not including off field concerns)

Philip Dorsett -- most explosive mover in this class, quickness/burst is ridiculous, 0-60 in an instant... is he Desean Jackson? Smaller sized, not tiny, plays at that speed, he's a blur, question is he a slot or a wideout due to his speed, ran a lot of different routes in college. Very interesting player.

Nelson Agholor -- most effective out of the slot, lean build, naturally quick, good hands, skill to run good routes, made himself viable target against both man and zone, worked middle of field really effectively making tough catches in traffic, quickness with the ball. Will be a very good player as a SlotWR.

Devin Smith -- relies on pure speed, little nuance to his game, long lanky not much body strength, will have to learn how to get off press coverage. A lot of body catches. Straight line speed guy.

Rashad Greene -- very efficient intermediate route runner, SAQ, very smooth player, knows how to run routes, knows how to set up CBs, worked middle very effectively, problem is 5'10/182, but has the look of a professional wide-out, smooth route running, beats man and zone, thin frame, complete skill set minus burner speed. Most refined routes, along with Cooper. Like him a lot, only issue is size.

Devin Funchess -- not sure what to make of him. Not explosive, can make contested catches due to size. Doesn't move as well as a Kelvin Benjamin, one speed player. Can't get great feel for this player.

Dezmin Lewis - big, better prospect than Funchess, smoother more fluid than Funchess, very good mover for size/frame, can he get open in NFL man, little refinement to his routes, Marques Colston type. Likes him.

Tre McBride -- one cut and burst guy, not a sink hips route runner, not as vertically explosive as others think, sees as a slot guy first, has positive traits to develop

Justin Hardy -- not naturally explosive traits but has quick twitch, poor man's Rashad Greene, chain-mover

Jamison Crowder -- can he be utilized like Randall Cobb, quickness guy, change of direction

Tyler Lockett -- more quick than fast, probably a slot guy, SAQ comes and goes on film, a role player
 
Short takes on OL...

Brandon Scherff -- more athleticism/better feet as run blocker than as pass protector. Could be a LT, but don't think he has all the tools for it.

Andrus Peat -- could be best LT with size/movement, similar to Lewan... not as athletic but more powerful.

DJ Humphries -- best natural athlete, not best T yet but could be. Needs coaching and refinement but has all of the traits. Great feet, long arms, great run blocking. Competes.

Jake Fisher -- athleticism better in run vs. pass...can be better pass protector, keeps his hands too low and that can be coached up. Very competitive.

La'el Collins -- does have LT feet/movement/power, but inconsistent player.

Ereck Flowers -- not great movement, like Orlando Franklin, sees as OG. Not as high on him as others. Often out of position: bad balance, hand position, body control, lunges -- Michael Oher. Competitive.

TJ Clemmings -- looks the OT physically, can see he's too in his head. (Short time playing T). Robotic/mechanical limited his athleticism but can be an LT.

Andy Gallik -- C who will start in this league even though a later pick

Hroniss Grasu -- good, not great, but doesn't get himself in trouble. Efficient, rarely on the ground. ~On par with Gallik.
 
Playoffs said:
Cosell on WRs, watched every target of their last year...

Cooper -- very good route runner, very refined/compact in his movement that doesn't tip his route, not explosive or a speed/vertical guy. = Reggie Wayne / Jordy Nelson

White -- bigger, more explosive physically, not nearly as refined of a route runner, strong hands. Powerful + fast + RAC = Terrell Owens type WR. Not quick in and out of breaks, more straight, speed cut guy. A lot to work with. = Roddy White / Pierre Garcon

Parker -- complimentary WR at his best, not a #1. Doesn't move near as well as White, not a burst and acceleration guy, more measured route runner. Strong at point of catch, good body control. Not at the same level of Cooper/White. = Plaxico Buress / AJ Green

Strong -- not explosive, looks bigger than Parker, struggled to seperate vs. college CBs. Needs to fix his route runner. More a size than movement WR like Parker, but more fluid. A guy you'd move inside like Colston to get matchup advantage. = Anquan Boldin

DGB -- big long smooth fluid, at times looked effortless vs. college CBs. Questions competitiveness, showed on film. Sheer ability, better than Evans/Benjamin... approaching Calvin Johnson ability. Not naturally physical considering his size. Missed last year dings him a bit in draft. Can't talk to his other issues. off field issues rule him out for the texans

Perriman -- big strong well built, powerful movement strong hands, really good body control, a ton of difficult catches away from his body, movement of a smaller WR. Quick off line, not a refined route runner. Has all of the physical tools and traits you look for. Not as purely explosive as Julio Jones coming out of Alabama, but similar size and movement. Cordarelle Patterson

Coates -- big well built, tremendous straight line speed, inconsistent hands, wasted motion in routes. Big learning curve. Braylon Edwards / Hakeem Nicks

Dorsett -- a blur, incredibly fast, DJax type lifting top off coverage, instant speed, very intriguing. = Santana Moss / Donnie Avery

Josh Harper -- sleeper, smooth fluid easy mover, works middle of field well, very interested to see his development. Can he become like an A. Brown? = who?​

Depth of class -- pretty good, close to 2014 class. Some 3rd/4th round picks will contribute.
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The way I see it with these guys
 
So is the offensive coaching at LSU that terrible? They clearly had NFL talent at skill positions yet were never that good.
 
"I really liked what I saw," Cosell said of Jameis Winston. "I think he's the kid with the instincts of a pocket passer. He's strong in the pocket. He reads coverage. At times he's a little reckless and careless with his decision making, so you have to decide if that will carry over and what you can teach there. He's a confident thrower, so he'll throw it into windows."

"I thought what he really showed, it's so important as you transition to the NFL, is he (Winston) showed natural anticipation," Cosell said. "In two games I watched, I must have seen five or six really good anticipation throws before receivers came out of breaks. That's critical."

"In the two games I watched [on film], I thought he was rather impressive," Cosell said.

"The skill-set is clearly there. He's got potentially high level traits and attributes to play NFL quarterback," Cosell said.
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Playoffs said:
Cosell: I prefer Mettenberger over Winston. And I've talked to NFL people who agree with me on that.
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So he likes Winston. Is impressive and has high level traits. But likes Mettenberger more? Is Mettenberger really the next Tom Brady? Or is Cosell just full of Shiite?

I think I know the answer.
 
Lucky said:
So he likes Winston. Is impressive and has high level traits. But likes Mettenberger more? Is Mettenberger really the next Tom Brady? Or is Cosell just full of Shiite?

I think I know the answer.
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I think Mettenberger is an excellent NFL prospect. If I had Mettenberger I wouldmt be looking to replace him so soon. However, if he were in the same draft with Winston I wouldnt hesitate pickimg Winston.
 
Lucky said:
So he likes Winston. Is impressive and has high level traits. But likes Mettenberger more? Is Mettenberger really the next Tom Brady? Or is Cosell just full of Shiite?

I think I know the answer.
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Cosell has gone back and forth with Winston this offseason. At first he didn't like him because of the INTs. Then he had this piece where he said he did like him a lot. Then I think he came back again and said he didn't like him.

I usually tend to agree with Cosell a lot, but he's definitely been flip flopping with Winston.
 
dtran04 said:
So is the offensive coaching at LSU that terrible? They clearly had NFL talent at skill positions yet were never that good.
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It tends to be. Not so much the coaching actually, but the philosophy. Les Miles wants the offense run a certain way, even if his preferred style doesn't mesh with the talent of the team.

Mettenberger's last year there he only threw the ball 23 times per game but averaged about 10 yards per attempt. That shows they had a pretty efficient passing game but didn't use it enough, IMO.

Miles prefers to pound the ball between the tackles relentlessly and control the clock while the defense wins field position and puts you in position to score. He also prefers a mobile QB who can operate the short passing game and escape for positive yards if nothing is there. He hates to throw deep.

He had no idea what to do with Mettenberger. That's why he brought in Cam Cameron. But he still wouldn't relinquish final control to his OC. That's why you see an offense with all that explosive talent forced to play in an excessively conservative style.
 
As someone who watches LSU games, I'll give you guys a hint: If Mettenberger had 3k yards passing with two receivers with 1k+ yards apiece, it wasn't because they didn't pass enough or because the offense was terrible. :kitten:
 
Greg Cosell's draft preview: Many good defensive prospects for interior, too

We’ve looked at the edge defenders in this draft, and it’s a deep group. There are some possible impact defenders up the middle too, at the interior line and off-the-ball linebacker positions.

I want to start with TCU inside linebacker Paul Dawson, a player who people have forgotten about because he didn’t run well at the combine, which can be a big mistake.

Dawson is a guy who you actually have to watch the film on. His play recognition, ability to trigger instantly and downhill explosion in run game as good as any linebacker in this draft class. I think he’s a more athletic and twitchier mover than both Clemson’s Stephone Anthony and Mississippi State’s Benardrick McKinney, and a better prospect as a stacked inside linebacker than both of them. In fact, I think Dawson is the best inside linebacker prospect in the class.

In addition to being used extensively in pass coverage (a big plus for NFL teams who seek three-down linebackers), he has excellent lateral quickness in the box and a downhill mentality with very good short area burst. He made a lot of plays attacking downhill and shooting gaps; it very difficult for offensive linemen to block him off double-teams at the line of scrimmage because he shot gaps and defeated concept of double teams.

But Dawson fell off the radar a bit after he ran a 4.93 40-yard dash at the combine. That might be a mistake. Dawson, while not possessing ideal size to be a 4-3 middle linebacker at 235 pounds, projects as a natural 4-3 weak-side backer. I think he will be a very nice pick.

Here are my thoughts on some other top interior linemen (including some 3-4 defensive ends – here are my extended thoughts on USC’s Leonard Williams), and off-the-ball linebackers:

DT Danny Shelton, Washington

Shelton is a huge man at 339 pounds, and I was very impressed how many snaps he played against spread, up-tempo offenses. I think he’ll play fewer snaps in the NFL, which could enhance his effectiveness. And he was very good in college.

Shelton is not just a big space eater in the middle of the defense, he also has excellent lower body movement and agility. What was most impressive was Shelton really played a quick man’s game, as he played with outstanding athleticism and movement. But he’s also relentlessly strong and powerful and methodically moved offensive linemen, at times physically manhandling them with his upper and lower body coordination.

I see some similarities to Dontari Poe or Vince Wilfork with his sheer size, and quick feet and outstanding movement ability. Shelton was a better college player than Poe, though Poe has developed into an excellent NFL player. We’ll see if Shelton can similarly develop in the NFL.

DT Malcom Brown, Texas

Brown is another big tackle, at 319 pounds. But he’s so athletic, there were times he’d align as a defensive end or standup outside linebacker as an edge pass rusher in sub packages.

Like Shelton, he also plays a quick man’s game with excellent athletic movement. He showed the bend and burst off the ball to win with quickness. He could develop into a very good interior pass rusher. He also showed the ability to engage, control and shed an offensive lineman's blocks with violent hands and explosive hips. He has excellent strength.

Brown has the skill set and attributes to be effective in both 3-4 and 4-3 fronts, which makes him a very valuable prospect.

DE Arik Armstead, Oregon

Although Armstead played a few positions for Oregon, I think he projects best as a 3-4 defensive end in the NFL. And with his side, he has a natural comparison to Arizona Cardinals end Calais Campbell.
Armstead can be really, really good. He could become one of the best players in this draft class. There are a lot of tools to work with. On Armstead’s good plays, you saw outstanding leverage, power, quick hands and ability to contact and release. He is a very fluid mover for a big man.

What I liked most was Armstead’s consistent ability to play low with good leverage, especially for a player who is 6-7. That will transition well to the NFL.

DT Eddie Goldman, Florida State

Goldman showed very good movement for a 330-pound defensive tackle, working down the line of scrimmage in the run game with effectiveness. He is a plus athlete for an interior defensive lineman, with excellent quickness off the ball. He moved his feet very well.

However, he is not an inside pass rusher at this point. He has the athletic skill set and hand usage to develop with coaching and refinement, but it’s not there yet.

At this point he is a base defense tackle due to lack of pass rush. Teams’ projection of him as a pass rusher as he develops will determine his draft status.

OLB Shaq Thompson, Washington

Thompson is a freakish athlete. The question will be where he plays, and overcoming a lack of experience at 4-3 weak-side linebacker, which I think is the only position he profiles at in the NFL.

Thompson played safety and running back in college, and there is a question if he can be a Kam Chancellor-type safety. He has good size like Chancellor, but he doesn’t really play a physical game. He did not really strike as a tackler in the box; he’s much more of a drag down tackler. Thompson at times avoided contact as a run defender when there were a lot of bodies in the box – you can’t play that way in the NFL.

There’s a lot to work with from an athletic and movement standpoint, however. If you can protect him so he can run and chase to make tackles, he has excellent play speed. He’s a very fluid change of direction athlete with loose hips and easy transition. He’s very explosive. His sheer athletic ability makes him a very interesting prospect.

ILB Benardrick McKinney, Mississippi State

McKinney has old-school middle linebacker size at 6-4, 246 pounds. And at times he ran down the vertical seam with tight ends, usually in a zone. The question, however, is if he can be a true three-down inside linebacker.

Going back to Dawson, McKinney ran well at the combine (4.66 in the 40) but on the football field he doesn’t move nearly as well as Dawson. He’s a measured and methodical mover, not sudden or fluid changing direction. He is good athlete but, not a Luke Kuechly-type of athlete. To me he’s a conventional middle linebacker-type player at his best working inside in the box, diagnosing and triggering to make tackles in the run game.

OLB Eric Kendricks, UCLA

Kendricks isn’t a huge linebacker (6-foot, 232 pounds), so I think his only NFL position will be as a 4-3 outside linebacker. Overall he is not a very physical player, and that’s a bit of a concern as you project Kendricks to the NFL. He showed a tendency to wait on blocks rather than step up and take them on, especially on gap scheme runs.

Kendricks is a high energy, high tempo player who always plays with competitiveness and urgency. He showed the ability to work through traffic and find the ball in the run game; that was a strength of his game. But he’s not purely explosive as a mover. He plays fast but he’s not a sudden quick twitch mover.

ILB Denzel Perryman, Miami

Perryman is another player who has an old-school inside linebacker build, short and stout. What’s the value of these kinds of linebackers in the NFL? That will determine Perryman’s draft status.

Perryman did match up man-to-man on backs in Miami’s man coverage concepts at times, and he has light feet for his body type. He is an aggressive, attacking stacked-box linebacker who’s very good at the point of attack in the run game, He brings physicality and toughness to the defense. He reminded me of NFL linebackers like Stephen Tulloch and D’Qwell Jackson, who are very good stacked-box players who developed over time into better coverage players.
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http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-s...ve-prospects-for-interior--too-201804461.html
 
Greg Cosell's draft preview: Dante Fowler should be Titans' pick at No. 2
Everyone has an opinion on what the Tennessee Titans should do with the second pick. Should they go with a quarterback? Or take USC defensive lineman Leonard Williams?

I'd have a different answer if I was making that pick for the Titans. I'd take Florida outside linebacker/defensive end Dante Fowler. I think Fowler is the best defensive prospect in the draft.

When I watch film of college prospects, I like to watch a couple games on a prospect, move onto other players, and a couple weeks later watch a couple more of that prospect. I don't want my first impression to carry through six or seven games in a row on a player. I'm glad I took that approach with Fowler.

Early on, I saw a few flaws. I saw a troubling tendency when he was at defensive end to play too high at the point of attack and get moved by tackles and tight ends. He was engulfed by big tackles. I wondered if he had the size and girth to play defensive end.

The more I watched, the more I liked of Fowler, to the point where I'd take him over any other defensive player in the draft. Fowler has natural athleticism and flexibility, good balance, lateral quickness with explosion, closing burst and speed – all the traits you look for in an NFL pass rusher.

He's still a projection as a pass rusher (remember, all college players are projects) but he is just scratching the surface of what he can become. But he flashed explosive traits with a quick first step and excellent closing speed; Fowler has a chance to be a multi-dimensional pass rusher who can win with quickness, power and speed. He was even deployed at times as a coverage defender, and he had the athleticism and natural movement to do that effectively. He's really a plus athlete with quick feet and fluid athleticism, and a competitive playing personality.

There are still a few questions. I don't think he can transition to an NFL defensive end; he's not big enough to even match up to tight ends in the run game. Can Fowler transition to the NFL as a weak-side linebacker in a 4-3? Can he develop into a run-and-hit linebacker? I think his best transition position will likely be 3-4 outside linebacker. Rushing the quarterback is his best skill and that’s always a priority in the NFL. I see similarities to Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Clay Matthews and Kansas City Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston when they were coming out of college.

There are a ton of tools to work with when it comes to Fowler. He has a lot of athletic and explosive traits to work with, He has a chance to be a high level NFL pass rusher – my sense is he will be a better pass rusher in the NFL than he was in college.

Here is a look at some of the other edge defenders in this draft (and there are many good ones):

Shane Ray, Missouri

Ray mostly played defensive end at Missouri, and he has the natural explosion off the ball you look for in a pass rusher. He won a number of times because he was first off the snap. He showed the initial burst to beat the outside shoulder of the offensive tackle and the body flexibility to bend the edge and close with speed. Ray is very strong and powerful for his size; he plays a violent, explosive game with tremendous passion. He is competitive with a bit of nasty edge, the kind of player that doesn’t accept getting beat.

Even though he was 245 pounds he also worked as a "3 technique" tackle in passing situations and was effective in that role too. Against guards he used excellent hand usage and technique and was often too fast for them. Still, his best NFL position is probably 3-4 outside linebacker. If he ends up at 4-3 end, the best comparison for a player his size might be the Indianapolis Colts' Robert Mathis.

Randy Gregory, Nebraska

Gregory can do a little of everything because he's so athletic. His excellent movement flexibility, loose and fluid hips reminds me of a basketball player. He also has point of attack strength to stalemate and set the edge in the run game. Gregory is a high-level athlete who can rush the quarterback or play in coverage.

To me, he's an even better prospect than Jadeveon Clowney, who went with the first pick last year. He's a better athlete with more flexibility and explosive movement traits as an edge player. I think he best projects as a 3-4 outside linebacker in a base defense, but he can align in a three-point stance at defensive end in sub packages and rush the quarterback. Gregory will need to get stronger but has the body type to gain weight without losing his outstanding athletic traits.

Vic Beasley, Clemson

Beasley can't play defensive end in a 4-3. He just doesn't have the size for it and would not hold up. Beasley isn't a point of attack player. He needs space to operate most effectively; the more room he has off the ball the more he can utilize his quickness and speed.

Beasley does have explosive closing speed as a pass rusher, and an outstanding short area acceleration. he also has a nice array of pass-rush moves for a young player. But this point he's a quickness/speed/explosion pass rusher, because he does not have the body frame or strength yet to be a speed-to-power rusher. The question is can Beasley develop into a Von Miller type of player? That comparison may be valid.

Alvin "Bud" Dupree, Kentucky

I really like Dupree. The more I watched him, the more I really liked his traits as a player and a pass rusher.

Dupree just moves differently than most guys. He's a really good athlete. Athletically a good comparison might be Jamie Collins of the New England Patriots, and I don't take that lightly because I think Collins is an exceptional athlete. Dupree is a little different than most of the players on this list because he wasn't a designated pass rusher for Kentucky. He was utilized often in coverage, even in sub packages. He was asked to fill multiple roles with a lot of different responsibilities in Kentucky's defense. Yet, if you line up Dupree and tell him to rush the quarterback, I sense he could turn into a good NFL pass rusher.

Dupree must play stronger to make an immediate impact in the NFL, as he did not play to his size and explosiveness consistently. And at this point no real moves as a pass rusher. But he showed the natural athletic movement and off-the-ball burst to develop into a quality pass rusher in the NFL, if a team wants to use him in that way.

Eli Harold, Virginia

My initial sense is Harold not quick enough to be an edge pass rusher and not strong enough to be a power rusher. He's not a true bend-the-edge pass rusher. He did not show the flexibility to get low and skim the edge. Also, at this point he is not strong at the point of attack in the run game; he did not show ability to stalemate or defeat blocks.

How does Harold project with coaching, NFL training and experience as an edge pass rusher? That will determine his draft position. What is his upside? I do not believe he should be a first day choice in the NFL draft. He's a significant projection as a pass rusher. At this point I see similarities to Erik Walden of the Colts, a base 3-4 outside linebacker who also plays in the nickel as edge rusher, but isn't a great rusher.
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http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-s...hould-be-titans--pick-at-no--2-201817261.html
 
DBs

CBs

Waynes/Peters -- at the top, Peters best press man CB, physical, athletic, dominated Jaelen Strong. Waynes > Dennard, reminds of Stephone Gilmore w/more twitch, maybe safest CB,
Collins -- great matchup vs. Amari Cooper, moves/press/off looks NFL caliber, never panics.
Johnson -- slight, very smart, best zone CB, understands route combinations, boundary corner, step down from top press man guys
Jones -- great in off coverage, holds peddle, longer routes struggles, has man ability, good in zone

Jacorey Shepherd -- WR going to college, only played 2 years, great sleeper prospect who will be good in time​

Ss

Damarious Randall -- great back end S with CB skills
Derron Smith -- similar to Randall
Landon Collins -- not even close to best safety prospect, stiff, heavy-footed, purely a box player, limited in coverage
Jaquiski Tartt -- needs weigh room work, can become an NFL starter​
 
Greg Cosell's draft preview: A third WR belongs in Cooper/White top tier

Leading up to this year’s draft, there’s a consensus that Amari Cooper and Kevin White are the top two receivers in the class, in a tier by themselves.

I agree that both of them are in a top tier. Cooper and White are both very good prospects. But I’d add a third receiver to that tier: UCF’s Breshad Perriman.

I think Cooper is the top receiver prospect this year. But if you asked me who is No. 2 among White and Perriman, that’s a tougher question. I really like Perriman. I heard an interesting comparison on Perriman from a scout the other day: Denver Broncos receiver Demaryius Thomas. I can see that. Perriman is a big powerful, explosive, fast guy. Although he and White are about the same size, on film Perriman looks like the bigger guy. I could see ranking Perriman even with or ahead of White, although I’m in the minority on that.

Since I think there are three receivers in the top tier and not just two, let’s take a look at what all three do well.

Amari Cooper, Alabama

I like Cooper and think he’s the top receiver in this draft. But let’s put it this way – if Sammy Watkins, Odell Beckham and Cooper were in the same draft, where would Cooper go? I’d say he’d be the third one taken, and I think most people would agree. Cooper is the same size as Sammy Watkins coming out of Clemson but not as naturally explosive.

But that doesn’t mean Cooper isn’t a very good prospect. Quickness and precision are the foundations of his game. As a result he can be very effective in all three areas of route running: short, intermediate and deep. He has natural quickness and fluidity as a route runner, compact movement in and out of breaks, and little wasted motion. Route quickness is a definite strength of Cooper’s game.

He has a deceptive vertical burst, and I believe he will be able to get on top of NFL corners with his understanding of route running and a deceptive second gear. An 80-yard TD touchdown against Tennessee on the first play of the game showed Cooper’s outstanding short area burst and long speed.

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Cooper also showed burst with ball in the air, which is more important than timed speed. A receiver must be able to separate late in routes and Cooper did that.

Cooper clearly was well coached by the Alabama staff, as he showed some subtleties of route running that will transition well and early to the NFL. He showed a sense of refinement and pace as a route runner, and understood the purpose of routes and how to set up corners.

Kevin White, West Virginia

It’s not hard to figure out what NFL evaluators like about White. He has a lot of tools. Watch this 68-yard touchdown against Oklahoma, and see how he gets vertical in a hurry with smooth acceleration, showing off great foot quickness and burst.

White’s size and body fits the NFL game. There’s a physical nature to his movement; he looked powerful and strong. There’s also excellent short area quickness and burst for a big receiver. He showed explosive traits as both a route runner and running after the catch, and his combination of power and speed is in some ways reminiscent of Terrell Owens. White is also a hands catcher when well-covered, not allowing the ball to get into his body – that transitions well to the NFL.

There are things he’ll need to refine. White has a tendency to run his routes a little too upright; he needs more forward lean to vertically challenge off-coverage corners. White is not quick in and out of breaks; that’s not his strength. He’s more of a straight-line route runner, a speed cut receiver with a big body. There are a lot of athletic and movement traits to work with, but how quickly can White learn the subtle nuances of playing receiver in the NFL?

Breshad Perriman, UCF

Perriman has the movement of a smaller receiver, and plus suddenness for a big receiver with his body type. He has excellent acceleration off the line of scrimmage when he had free access. He showed short-area burst and explosion on vertical routes; you can see a second gear. But what I liked about Perriman was he played big and powerful. That will transition well to the NFL.

Perriman has an NFL body with excellent height/weight/speed combination (6-foot-2, 212 pounds and a 40-yard dash time of less than 4.3 seconds) and long strides that eat up ground.

At this point Perriman is not a refined route runner, as he has a tendency to round off his routes. But there’s a lot to work with. Perriman is not as purely explosive as Julio Jones was coming out of Alabama, but he is similar in size and movement. You could make the argument that Perriman has similar size and movement traits to Dez Bryant. He has all the physical tools and traits NFL teams look for in a receiver.

- - - - - - -

NFL analyst and NFL Films senior producer Greg Cosell watches as much NFL game film as anyone. Throughout the season, Cosell will join Shutdown Corner to share his observations on the teams, schemes and personnel from around the league.
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http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-s...longs-in-cooper-white-top-tier-233216303.html
 
Re Cosell's "top tier" group of WRs, why doesn't he have Devante Parker in that group ? But anyway I like it that he's that high on Perriman.
 
Greg Cosell's draft review: Three teams whose drafts I really liked
I don't really do draft grades, because I don't know what teams' draft boards look like.

Everyone argues that this team should have drafted that position, but we don't know what their board were like when they were on the clock. All I can do is go back through my evaluations and see which teams ended up with players who I had positive evaluations for. It doesn't mean I'm right, but it's based on what I've seen on film.

With that, three teams ended up with a lot of players who I liked going into the draft:

New Orleans Saints

Based on my evaluations, I think the Saints had a very good draft. With just about every pick, they chose a prospect I was high on.

The first pick was offensive tackle Andrus Peat, who I thought was the best left tackle prospect in the draft right now. With proper development Florida's D.J. Humphries could be the best left tackle in this class, but today the best prospect is Peat.

I really like their second first-round pick, Clemson linebacker Stephone Anthony. I think he could be a terrific NFL player. He's very athletic. In college he played fast and was decisive in his movements. He trusted what he saw and turned it loose. He showed the ability to blitz and cover as well. He could be a really good linebacker.

In the second round they got Washington pass rusher Hau'oli Kikaha, who I really like. The third-round pick of quarterback Garrett Grayson (my No. 3 quarterback in the class) made sense. From the minute I started watching Grayson I thought he was a Sean Payton player. That's a great fit for him.

I liked Florida State cornerback P.J. Williams, a good pick as a press-cover corner who struggles with inconsistency, but that's why he was a third-rounder. I also really liked outside lineabacker Davis Tull of Tennessee-Chattanooga on film. I also liked Georgia cornerback Damian Swann, their other fifth-round pick.

I don't know what the Saints' draft board looked like or if their draft went according to plan. All I know is they ended up with a lot of players who I really liked in my pre-draft film study.

Jacksonville Jaguars

I wrote extensively here before the draft how I thought Florida outside linebacker Dante Fowler was the best defensive prospect in the draft. So of course I liked their first-round pick.

As it turns out, I had positive evaluations on each of their first six picks.

They took running back T.J. Yeldon in the second round, and I think his running style and mentality are well suited to the NFL, with his intuitive feel to attack downhill with conviction and his ability to work effectively between the tackles. I think he's a laterally quicker and more explosive inside runner than Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon.

I really like A.J. Cann, a guard from South Carolina and Jacksonville's third-round pick. They got Louisville safety James Sample in the fourth, and I was surprised that Florida State receiver Rashad Greene and Ohio State defensive tackle Michael Bennett fell to them in the fifth and sixth rounds, respectively. I thought there was lot to like about Bennett as a rotational defensive tackle in a four-man defensive line, and that's a good find in the sixth round. Those are great value picks.

St. Louis Rams

I liked the Rams draft more because they have a clear plan and stuck to it in the draft.

The Rams drafted with a specific purpose in mind. They want to be a power-running football team and play great defense behind that. Their entire draft followed that plan.

They drafted running back Todd Gurley (I thought he was a top-three prospect in the draft) and match him with Tre Mason, who I thought was the best back in last year's class. So they're set there. The selection of Gurley was clearly a pick where their plan and their draft board matched up. Their pick of quarterback Sean Mannion in the third round fits their plan; I think Mannion can only play in a system where the run game is the foundation relying heavily on play action. Then four of their first seven picks were offensive linemen who were all similar.

Rob Haverstein of Wisconsin might not have been a second-round pick on every team's board, but he fits what the Rams want to do. He is a a road-grading right tackle in the run game. If that’s the style you’re going to play, then he’s your guy.

Jamon Brown, at 323 pounds, was a tackle at Louisville but he'll play guard in the NFL. Iowa tackle Andrew Donnal, a 313-pound fourth-round pick, can play guard too. In the sixth round the Rams took Fresno State guard Cody Wichmann, who is not an athlete but a 315-pound mauler. He fits what they want to do.

The Rams told you in their draft how they want to play football. That's why I don't get into the criticisms like, "There were better players on the board!" Not to the Rams there weren't; their picks fit the exact style they want to play.
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Enjoyed the read. Certainly last sentence seems applicable to Texans as well. Makes me realize I get caught up in the draft process & don't possess the insight to teams roster moves. They held off signing Mercilus so as not to show their hand. Kevin Johnson was "their target" all along. Still think moving up to get Parker or moving down for Stephon Anthony the way to go, but that being said I have no doubt Kevin Johnson will make a fine Texan & who knows maybe they wind up keeping Jonathan Joseph & use all three in coverage packages.
 
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