Official Day 2 (Rounds 2 and 3) of the 2015 NFL Draft Thread

[Rastak]

7. DONOVAN SMITH | Penn State 6055|338 lbs|4JR Owings Mills, Md. (Owings Mills HS) 6/23/1993 (age 21) #76
GRADE 2nd-3rd Round 2012

BACKGROUND: A four-star offensive tackle recruit out of high school, Smith narrowed his college choice between Penn State, NC State and UCLA, choosing the Nittany Lions and redshirting in 2011. He earned the starting left tackle job as a redshirt freshman in 2012, earning a spot on several All-Freshman teams. Smith started 11 games at left tackle in 2013 as a junior, earning Honorable Mention All-Big Ten honors. He started 11 games as a junior left tackle in 2014, missing two games due to injury. Smith decided to skip his senior season and enter the 2015 NFL Draft. As a fourth-year junior already graduated, he was able to participate in the 2015 Senior Bowl.


STRENGTHS: Wide-bodied frame with meaty thighs and a thick bubble…good initial quickness in his kickslide to protect the edge…solid footwork in his kickslide with coordination to counter rush moves, carrying his weight well…improved vision and spatial awareness with better second level mobility than expected…uses his length to redirect defenders and win with body positioning…upper body power to overwhelm rushers with a bully mentality, punching in pass protection and driving bodies out of the play in the run game…possesses balanced girth and isn’t an easy object to move…flashes a highly competitive on-field demeanor and can be a mean son of a gun when he wants to be…graduated in three-and-a-half years with a degree in criminology…three-year starter with 31 career starts at left tackle.


WEAKNESSES: Heavy mover with some bad pounds in his midsection – weight will need monitored…prone to lunging, overextending and allowing his momentum to get off balance, ending up on the ground too much…plays too high and needs to better sink and anchor to stay off his heels…will over-set and lose inside leverage, struggling to quickly shift his energy…makes it too easy for blockers to attack his chest and tends to be wild with his hands – needs to keep his elbows inside and his limb mechanics require attention…needs to do better job using his hands and reach to meet rushers, often too content using his lower body to get in the way…too much spectating and doesn’t always play through the whistle…questionable work ethic and not considered a “go-getter” by Penn State staffers…minor durability concerns, missing two games with an ankle injury (Sept. 2012) as a freshman and two games with a concussion (Oct. 2014) as a junior.


SUMMARY: Smith played for three different head coaches and three different offensive coordinators in his four years in State College, starting 31 games at left tackle the last three seasons. He is a heavy mover and his weight needs to be checked, but he shows the short-area quickness and balance to cut off speed and hold his ground against both power and speed rushers. Smith gets physical in the run game and brings his hips with him to deliver pop at contact, but his technique and attitude run hot/cold, lacking consistent fire in his belly, especially during the week when he’s not pushed. While sloppy, Smith is also effective and gets the job done more times than not. If a team keeps him motivated, he projects as a better version of Michael Oher, ideally suited for a power scheme – top-75 prospect with starting potential at right tackle as a rookie or possibly inside at guard.

[pittstang5]

What is Goddell's problem announcing players names. he fucks up Mariota last night and now fucks up Allstott, by saying All-Stat.

[Rastak]

What is Goddell's problem announcing players names. he fucks up Mariota last night and now fucks up Allstott, by saying All-Stat.

He truly is an idiot.

[Rastak]

Fuck......same thing. Announce the goddamn picks.

[Rastak]

8. MARIO EDWARDS JR. | Florida State 6025|279 lbs|3JR Denton, Texas (Ryan HS) 4/19/1994 (age 21) #15
GRADE 3rd Round


BACKGROUND: A five-star defensive line recruit out of high school, Edwards was considered one of the best high school players in the country and made it known early in the process he intended on following in his father’s footsteps and enrolling at Florida State. He was a true freshman back-up in 2012 before earning a pair of starts in the final two games of the season when Tank Carradine was injured, recording 17 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He became a starter in 2013 as a sophomore and finished second on the team with 9.5 tackles for loss, adding 28 tackles, 3.5 sacks and one forced fumble. Edwards started 13 games in 2014 as a junior and saw action at defensive end, defensive tackle and outside linebacker with a team-best 11.0 tackles for loss and 44 tackles, 3.0 sacks and two forced fumbles, earning First Team All-ACC honors. Edwards decided to skip his final season in Tallahassee and opted for the 2015 NFL Draft.

STRENGTHS: Stout body thickness throughout with a bulky lower body and frame built for the NFL…powerful upper body to jolt, using heavy, forceful hands to work through and toss bodies – uses mitts well to obstruct passing lanes (eight career pass break-ups)…physical punch and strong wrists to control and contain the edge and finish ballcarriers…athletic movement skills for his size and shows natural bend and initial quickness…violent and explosive striker in short spaces, rolling his hips and tackling with authority…flashes an aggressive mentality and mean-spirited attitude…nice job making stops while engaged, keeping his eye level up…versatile experience playing inside, outside and on his feet at Florida State over 26 starts…NFL bloodlines – father (Mario) was a Florida State cornerback and sixth round pick in the 2000 NFL Draft, playing five seasons professionally and currently serving as an assistant coach for the Seminoles.


WEAKNESSES: Concerning weight fluctuation with bad weight on his frame and history of poor diet habits…late off the snap and needs to improve his reaction time and urgency – needs to show more of a plan…plays tight with the added weight, limiting his range…enjoys contact too much, not showing consistent hand use or desire once engaged…relies too much on his upper body strength and needs to focus on his footwork and knee bend…ineffective pass rush sequence and needs to show improved continuity and creativity in this area…undisciplined recognition skills and ball awareness, biting on fakes and misdirection and struggling with offensive moving parts…unreliable in space with inconsistent break down skills on the move…suspect conditioning and tends to wear down later in games – training habits and off-field desire are strong concerns…durability concerns after a Sept. 2014 concussion that knocked him out of the Clemson and NC State games – also missed two games in Sept. 2013 with a right hand injury that required a plate and screws…mediocre production with only 8.0 career sacks in 26 starts.


SUMMARY: Mario Edwards Sr. had Mario Jr. when he was in high school and they could become the first father-son duo to both be drafted in the 21st century – if the Dallas Cowboys draft him, tight end Jason Witten and quarterback Tony Romo will have been teammates with both Mario Sr. (2003) and Mario Jr. (2015). Edwards has scheme-diverse versatility with the size, strength and athleticism combination to wear several hats inside or outside. He has physical hands to contain, but doesn’t know how to fully use them, struggling to shed and showing little pass rush life. Edwards ballooned to 315 pounds in 2014 with an admitted diet issue, but lost weight towards the end of the season and needs to stay in the 275-285 range – does he have the dedication to maintain a functional weight? Although his underachieving traits and effort concerns are strong red flags, Edwards has early round skills when conditioned and motivated, projecting him best as a 4-3 base defensive end or five-technique defensive end in a 3-4 – top-40 talent, but questionable accountability puts his value in the third round

[red]

played at 310, showed up at 272 at his pro day

yikes

[red]

hey, they're speeding things up

[Rastak]

7. T.J. YELDON | Alabama 6012|226 lbs|3JR Daphne, Ala. (Daphne HS) 10/2/1993 (age 21) #4
GRADE 3rd Round


BACKGROUND: A five-star running back recruit out of high school, Timothy “T.J.” Yeldon was courted by every major program in the country, verbally committing to Auburn prior to his senior season. However, he switched allegiances to Alabama when Gus Malzahn left his post as Tigers’ offensive coordinator. Although he was Eddie Lacy’s back-up as a true freshman, Yeldon saw considerable playing time with 1,108 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 175 carries, earning Freshman AllAmerican honors as the only freshman in school history to eclipse 1,000-rushing yards. He became the Crimson Tide starter as a sophomore in 2013 and had his most productive season with 1,235 rushing yards and 14 rushing scores on 207 carries, earning First Team All-SEC honors. Yeldon started 10 games as a junior in 2014 and battled a few injuries, rushing for his lowest average (5.0 yards per carry) with 979 yards and 11 touchdowns on 194 carries, earning Second Team All-SEC honors. With one year left in Tuscaloosa, he decided to enter the 2015 NFL Draft.


STRENGTHS: Smooth lateral movements and makes it look easy stringing together various moves…terrific lower body burst and coordination, using elusive cuts and subtle footwork to be shifty in the open field – awesome stutter-and-go with a strong plant foot to accelerate out of cuts…always balanced with his nimble feet underneath him to stay upright through contact…patient to maneuver through traffic close to the line of scrimmage…has some deceiving power and won’t avoid contact, shaking off defenders without losing momentum or forward lean…toughs out injuries, often playing through pain…natural pass-catcher with beautiful body control, soft hands and smooth routes, often splitting out wide as a receiver…won’t shy in pass protection, squaring up with better take-on strength and blitz recognition than expected…reliable football character and work ethic with a likeable, soft-spoken personality…consistent production all three seasons in Tuscaloosa, leaving Alabama with 3,322 career rushing yards, which ranks No. 4 on the school’s all-time list.


WEAKNESSES: Taller than ideal with a lean torso and overall build, lacking an ideal body type for the position…run style is too upright and needs to improve his pad level…too reactionary and patient and needs to improve his recognition and decisiveness once he gets the ball…takes too much time reading blocks and needs to sense holes quicker to attack with authority – questionable vision and inside run instincts…not a pile mover and can be taken down by arm tackles at times…lacks elite speed and doesn’t have multiple gears to run away from defenders or consistently win the edge…squares well in pass protection, but doesn’t consistently play with the leverage, anchor or aggression necessary…improved ball security, but still has room for improvement – 10 fumbles in his three-year career (fumbled once every 62.2 offensive touches)…doesn’t have experience as a return man…has dealt with several nagging injuries, including hamstring and ankle issues in 2014.


SUMMARY: A ballcarrier with natural ability to do things most athletes can’t, Yeldon is “Mr. Smooth” with his agility and movement skills (almost like he floats), making defenders miss all over the field with his shifty feet and redirection ability. He tends to hesitate a tick too long at times and needs to be more decisive instead of waiting for plays to develop, taking too much time reading blocks and defenders – the NFL has too much speed for him to get away with this (just ask Trent Richardson). Although he is capable of running between the tackles, Yeldon is much better in space and at the second level, projecting best as a complimentary weapon on offense with his promise as a pass catcher and pass protector – well-equipped to make an immediate impact for a running back-by-committee system as a glorified third down option.

[red]

yeah, just like james starks

is he also injury prone

jesus christ, i love LT yelling at me through the tv

[Rastak]

yeah, just like james starks

is he also injury prone

jesus christ, i love LT yelling at me through the tv

That's worthy of a high #2

[red]

first obstacle to dodge on the ILB front

[red]

ok, theres one down

bears coming up soon

[Rastak]

9. DEVIN SMITH | Ohio State 6003|196 lbs|4SR Massillon, Ohio (Washington HS) 3/3/1992 (age 23) #9
GRADE 2nd-3rd Round


BACKGROUND: A three-star wide receiver recruit out of high school, Smith collected offers from Michigan, Notre Dame and other Midwest schools, but once Ohio State offered him a scholarship, it was a done deal. With Dane Sanzenbacher and DeVier Posey off to the NFL, he received early playing time as a true freshman in 2011 and despite recording only 14 catches for 294 yards, it was the only season in his career that he led the Buckeyes in receptions. Smith became a full-time starter in 2012, recording 30 catches for 618 yards and six touchdowns. He tallied a career-high 44 receptions for 660 yards and eight scores as a junior, earning All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors. Smith averaged 28.2 yards per catch as a senior with 931 receiving yards on 33 grabs, leading the Big Ten with 12 receiving touchdowns, although he was only recognized with All-Big Ten Honorable Mention honors. He earned an invitation to the 2015 Senior Bowl.


STRENGTHS: Legit vertical speed to be a “go route” tormentor – averaged one touchdown every 4.0 catches in college…gliding strides to stretch the field with take-itthe-distance acceleration…plant-and-drive burst with strong cuts and lower body explosion…tracks very well, using body angles to box out and gain correct positioning downfield…quick hands to pluck, extending his catch radius beyond others with his size…acrobatic ballskills to make highlight-reel grabs…flexible joints with the body control to make natural adjustments…excellent special teams player and often the first down the field on punt coverages – gains free release and speeds down the field with conviction…starred for three years on the Ohio State track & field team – qualified for NCAA regionals with a 7-0.25 high jump, which ranks top-five in school history…finished among the FBS leaders in 2014 with a 28.2 yards per catch average (also a single season school record) and leaves Columbus fifth in school history in career receiving yards (2,503).


WEAKNESSES: Lean body type with wiry muscle tone…field fast with light feet, but looks mechanical when asked to move laterally…doesn’t set up defenders in his routes and lacks diverse stem releases…wild footwork in his patterns and lacks control in his movements, making him most effective in a straight-line – unpolished as an underneath target and struggles to sink and separate in his breaks…inconsistent hands and drops too many easy throws with streaky focus…tracks the ball well, but late to adjust and attack if the ball doesn’t hit him in stride…will get pushed around and too easily re-routed and knocked off his path…averaged only 2.2 catches per game as a senior and his limitations kept him from being an every-down receiver.


SUMMARY: Although he’s a one-trick pony right now, Smith is really talented at that one trick, using his striding speed to stretch the field and be a difference-maker on vertical routes – Ohio high school state champion in the 100-meter dash (10.56). He is most effective on downfield routes and defenses must respect that, but is limited everywhere else on offense with shaky hands and a raw route tree, struggling to smoothly transition at the top of his patterns or set up his breaks. Although his game lacks polish, Smith brings special teams value as a gunner and he should contribute immediately as a nine route monster – time will tell if he can break through and be more than that.

[Joemailman]

Jets take Devin Smith. Speed burns.

[Joemailman]

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