Crootin Forum: Football Talk VI

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#11,728
#11,728
SCvol333 said:
what were their names/strengths? just curious
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In order:

Kiko Alonso, ILB, Oregon
6'3" 238

ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS Versatile inside linebacker with potential to play either middle linebacker (in a 4-3 or 3-4 base defense) or outside linebacker (in a 4-3). Attacks that blocker with the correct shoulder, and powerful hands. Moves forward quickly. Times his blitzes well. Fast enough to keep up with running backs on quick swings in the flats. Shows good awareness when asked to drop into a variety of different coverage situations. High effort player who has a motor that is constantly running. Flashes quick penetrating ability at the goal line, stays tight to the A gap and wraps up. Attacks with intensity.
WEAKNESSES Likely limited to solely an A-gap blitzer due to a lack of bend and ability to change angles. Runs into the back of defensive linemen when closing the line of scrimmage quickly rather than splitting a gap or lane. Impact to jar blockers on first contact at the second level is lacking. A bit tentative between the tackles, especially against a lead blocker. Misdirection trips him up due to lack of quick twitch change of direction. Loses sight of quarterback in coverage, turns to look at the receiver. Takes himself out of plays with wasted movement, often guessing on where the ball is going.
NFL COMPARISON Ben Leber
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Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU
6'0" 246

ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS Attacks blocks with extension and hand use. Very good feel in trash, subtle moves to weave through bodies and recognize run, gets to the ball carrier before teammates despite starting from the opposite side of the formation. not afraid to make contact with lead blocker between the tackles, keeps outside arm free to scrape off to running back. Takes very good angles and lines. Stops momentum of blockers, rolls into them with an anchor to not lose ground. Finishes off tackles very well. Fights as a blitzer, good motor, attempts to run through or get around contact. Sniffs out screens. When the play is visibly in from of him, the click and close can happen very quickly. Looks very comfortable when using hands to work through blockers. Has just enough speed to undercut blocks and make tackles for loss. Remained on the field in nickel packages.
WEAKNESSES Occasionally overruns misdirection and draw plays, gives up inside shoulder. Lacks desirable range in coverage because of lost ground when forced to open up hips, turn, and run. Fast enough in a straight line, but lateral speed may be a question. Despite good angles, likely won't win a foot race to the edge. Too flat footed on play action and misdirection, but at least that prohibits wasted steps. Does not show the quickness to get to screen as or soon after the ball arrives despite seeing it early on. Sees pass and reacts to it in coverage, but doesn't move any sooner.
NFL COMPARISON Takeo Spikes
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Jon Bostic, ILB, Florida
6'1" 245

ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS Downhill Mike linebacker attacks lanes in the run game, often running through reach-blocks to get to his target. Immediately presses with hands on contact with good pad level to create space to work. Brings power to his tackles, stopping momentum and sometimes throwing bigger ballcarriers to the ground. Stuffs fullback blocks and holds his ground to stop linemen if unable to beat their blocks. Flashes the ability to pop off or swipe away linemen with his hands to grab backs in his immediate area. Does not mind getting in on piles or cleaning them up. Fights to take care of his responsibility, working the blocks all the way to the edge. Hustles in coverage, knows responsibilities on the tight end/running back and works to limit yards after catch. Sniffs out screens and secures the stop. Has experience at inside linebacker in both a three man front and four man front. Vocal leader that moves teammates to their correct spots.
WEAKNESSES Thickly built chest and shoulders but quickness is lacking. Won't be able to makes wasted moves after first step due to lack of burst. Has difficulties consistently get off better offensive lineman blocks and can be stiff-armed by longer ballcarriers. Hits with shoulder too often against the run, allows him to get sucked into offensive lineman's block rather than being able to make a play on the football. Overrun plays at times, lacks elite change of direction ability to recover. Closing speed to the ball is average, quicker ballcarriers elude his advances through the hole and mobile quarterbacks can run away from him. Almost gallops in the open field, won't catch pro backs and receivers from behind without help. Cut blocks at the second level give him issues. His eyes move faster than his feet can in terms of diagnosing the play and reacting.
NFL COMPARISON Andra Davis
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#11,729
#11,729
Yeah, Aj Johnson doesn't belong anywhere in the same sentence as any of those three. All three are exponentially better than him
 
#11,731
#11,731
vol2013 said:
Yeah, Aj Johnson doesn't belong anywhere in the same sentence as any of those three. All three are exponentially better than him
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Not exponentially. This is the new VN way - everything is either the best ever or worst of all time.

AJ Johnson will get drafted, probably 2nd-3rd round and be a serviceable NFL inside linebacker who doesn't play all 3 downs.

He's also still a junior.
 
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#11,733
#11,733
VolinArizona said:
In order:

Kiko Alonso, ILB, Oregon
6'3" 238



Kevin Minter, ILB, LSU
6'0" 246



Jon Bostic, ILB, Florida
6'1" 245
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that is what i thought - i admit not watching a lot of kiko - but the other 2 are much better players - i just can't imagine a NFL scout saying AJ has these strengths:

Fast enough to keep up with running backs on quick swings in the flats. Shows good awareness when asked to drop into a variety of different coverage situations.


Attacks blocks with extension and hand use. Very good feel in trash, subtle moves to weave through bodies and recognize run, gets to the ball carrier before teammates despite starting from the opposite side of the formation - Takes very good angles and lines - Looks very comfortable when using hands to work through blockers

often running through reach-blocks to get to his target. Immediately presses with hands on contact with good pad level to create space to work - Flashes the ability to pop off or swipe away linemen with his hands - Fights to take care of his responsibility, working the blocks all the way to the edge. Hustles in coverage, knows responsibilities on the tight end/running back and works to limit yards after catch
 
#11,734
#11,734
VolinArizona said:
Not exponentially. This is the new VN way - everything is either the best ever or worst of all time.

AJ Johnson will get drafted, probably 2nd-3rd round and be a serviceable NFL inside linebacker who doesn't play all 3 downs.

He's also still a junior.
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I think for a while on here we have overrated our talent - on VN CP ran a 4.1 and was going top 5 - in reality it was more like 4.4 and end of 1st round

I just see no way you can draft the current AJ in the 2nd round - i think the other poster is correct on 4-5th round - and i think that would take a good combine showing

staying another year could help him attack blocks, play w/his hands better and could help him take better angles - if he could do those things then I do think he could get up to a 3rd round grade - which is a good grade - i think he speed will always keep him from going much higher than that

jmo
 
#11,735
#11,735
SCvol333 said:
I think for a while on here we have overrated our talent - on VN CP ran a 4.1 and was going top 5 - in reality it was more like 4.4 and end of 1st round

I just see no way you can draft the current AJ in the 2nd round - i think the other poster is correct on 4-5th round - and i think that would take a good combine showing

staying another year could help him attack blocks, play w/his hands better and could help him take better angles - if he could do those things then I do think he could get up to a 3rd round grade - which is a good grade - i think he speed will always keep him from going much higher than that

jmo
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Who is his position coach? Surely he is getting better coaching this year.
 
#11,736
#11,736
#1Volfaninmo said:
Who is his position coach? Surely he is getting better coaching this year.
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thigpen - Sal, while obviously not a great DC was thought of as a really good LB coach - he coached LB under Saban, so not a scrub as a position coach - sirmon was his position coach the year before - a really talented young coach - so while he has had different coaches, they have all been respected LB coaches
 
#11,739
#11,739
This thread bout to go on lock down. Who's starting the 7th crootin' forum football talk thread? Maybe it will be lucky #7 for us.
 
#11,740
#11,740
phowell23 said:
Interesting notes from game...

Tennessee

#98 DT Daniel McCullers

  • Batted a pass and caused an incompletion.
  • Coming out of his stance too high.
  • Pushes RG back a yard into the backfield, grabs RB, and brings him down to the ground for a gain of about two.
  • Not giving good effort with any consistency.
  • Looks like he has really long arms. Huge frame.
  • Rarely gives any ground in the run game. Very stout at the POA.
  • Can push the pocket when he wants too. Incredible power on bull rush.
  • Regularly seeing double teams from the center and RG.
  • Misses arm tackle on RB in space.

DEFENSIVE STATS: Three tackles (two solo)

OVERVIEW: Daniel McCullers looks like a prototypical nose tackle prospect. Although I would like to see more consistent effort from him, his talent and power when he wants to go hard are undeniable.

#74 LT Antonio “Tiny” Richardson
  • Looks like he possesses good length.
  • Knee bender. Shows very quick feet in pass protection.
  • Showing strength at the point of attack in run game.
  • DT comes outside on T/E stunt and shoots gap between Richardson and the LG. Richardson struggles to diagnose it and engage with the DT. The DT gets inside of him and through the gap between he and the LG. The DT hits QB’s arm just as he throws the ball.
  • Overextends, slightly drops his head, and gets beat to the inside. QB moved out of QB beforehand however and had no problem getting pass off before rush getting to him.
  • ROLB blitzes off edge and Richardson helps LG block the three-technique DT. OLB explodes off LOS untouched and gets in QB’s face immediately and forces a quick throw. Looked like miscommunication on OL.
  • Does a great job of helping LG inside, keeping eyes outside, and quickly sliding out in space to pick up blitzing CB.
  • Allows DT #66 inside of him on T/E stunt. Seemed that he expected the LG to block him. #66 ran right through the B-gap and forced the QB to throw the ball quickly short of the first down marker
.

OVERVIEW: Tiny Richardson showed quick feet and excellent length in this matchup. Although he got beat a couple of times on stunts, Richardson played very well in pass protection and in the run game.

#20 RB Rajion Neal

  • Fumbles on his first run of the game.
  • Receives hand off on Jet Sweep, shows some speed in space and gains about 12 yards.
  • Catches pass in flat, gains about five yards before going out of bounds.
  • On third down, catches ball in flat, makes a defender miss, and accelerates upfield for a first down.
  • Takes handoff on Jet Sweep, makes defender miss at LOS, gains about two yards.
  • Catches screen pass, makes defender miss with spin move, gains around seven yards.
  • Gains six yards on what looked like an inside zone running play on third and five.
  • Could not find much running room all game long.

RUSHING STATS: 12 carries for 42 yards and one fumble

RECEIVING STATS: Four catches for 23 yards

OVERVIEW: Rajion Neal showed some burst on a Jet Sweep for 12 yards, but aside from that, he had a tough day overall. He fumbled on his first carry of the game and could not find much running room on 11 of his 12 carries.

#45 LB A.J. Johnson
  • Reads backfield and takes his time to react (probably in case of QB pulling ball out on RO fake), pursues RB to sideline, closes in, and brings him down for a gain of about one.
  • Runs downfield to cover seam route by slot receiver but gets there just an instant late.
  • Ends up on ground after getting cut while pursuing outside zone run. Recovers quickly and combines with teammates to make the tackle after a six-yard gain.
  • Sits back to read where ball is going at first but then pursues RB up the middle and combines with teammates to bring down RB after a gain of about eight.
  • Initially follows backfield flow to left, but recognizes screen pass to right, and pursues receiver. Combines with teammates to bring down ball carrier after a gain of about eight.
DEFENSIVE STATS: Seven tackles (two solo)

OVERVIEW: Overall, A.J. Johnson looked tentative in this matchup. Oregon often chose to read him in the read option game and he was regularly a step or two late reacting to run plays. I do not believe that this game is an accurate indicator of Johnson’s skills due to the offense that Oregon runs.

#70 RT Ja’Wuan James

  • Fires out and loses balance on contact, falls to the ground.
  • Seals defender #9 inside and eventually knocks him to the turf.
  • Makes low block on quickly pursuing LB and cuts him down to open up a hole.
  • Gets driven backwards and off balance at POA, defender sheds block and makes tackle after gain of about one.
  • Badly misses cut block attempt.
  • Has a tendency to play too high.
  • Seems to possess a pretty powerful punch in pass protection.

OVERVIEW: Ja’Wuan James showed quick feet and a powerful punch in pass protection, but had some struggles in the run game. He was caught off balance and on the ground too often and also had trouble with sustaining blocks.
Click to expand...

Stole this from the FF forum. Title says NFL scout notes from the game.
 
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