Never too early 2020 NFL Draft Thread

[GB-Brandon]

I compared Cephus to Jones because of body type and ability to separate at last second and win contested 50/50 balls on the “Back Shoulder”. Cephus is more twitchy then Jones though and shows the ability to win contested catches over the middle. Cephus also played in a run heavy offense where he had to win on “Man Beater Routes”. Also remember that before the Big Ten Title game some Ohio State players said “Cephus was the best they faced all year” That’s pretty high praise coming from a team with no.1 rated corner and arguably the best defense in college football. This is why I posted “If you liked James Jones your gonna Love Quintez Cephus.”

I don’t like the comparison of Cephus to Adams. Adams is more shifty with “ankle breaker” moves and cuts. Cephus is extremely twitchy in short area spaces with elite quickness. “Some” (note how I say some) of Cephus’s body movements on tape look similar to Antonio Brown. it will be interesting to see his “3 cone” etc etc at combine.

Overall I believe Cephus is being overlooked because he played at Wisconsin and got caught up in some trouble that he was found “innocent” on. Wisconsin coaches say he is a high character type leader and meant a lot to the program.

Quintez Cephus is a 2nd round talent all day long that some team can get a steal on(hopefully the Packers) in 3rd to 5th round.

[GB-Brandon]

Go Sign Paul Richardson and Draft Cephus and this offense will be ready to roll!

https://youtu.be/SKZSUXVRpvg

[Joemailman]

Go Sign Paul Richardson and Draft Cephus and this offense will be ready to roll!

https://youtu.be/SKZSUXVRpvg

Just don't give him much guaranteed money. He's missed about half the games in his career due to injury.

[GB-Brandon]

I'm not sure what people see in Jordyn Brooks, ILB for Texas Tech
vs. Baylor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXu-gViUyIw
vs. OU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QabOT3sQaq8

He's not fast, they either spy him or have him rush vs. cover, and he's not a TFL machine either. Maybe it's the defensive scheme, but I'm not seeing much to like over what GB had last year. He just didn't do much to stand out, and after a while I had to fight not to watch other players.
Am I missing something?

Yeah. He rated out as the 58th best player in the country. He was the 5th ranked ILB in the nation and no.1 rushing the passer. He is a “3 down LB”. (According to PFF). He is expected to test extremely well at the combine so there is a lot to work with. Some of his tape is really good and then there are a couple where you wonder but that’s the case with any ILB in this draft.

Now is he gonna come in as a rookie and play better then Martinez right away? I would say probably not but i am not sure any of the LB’s that will be available would. The Last thing we need to do is “reach” for a LB at pick 30.

This is why i am in the “Sign Littleton Camp”. Then you sign Paul Richardson and roll the dice he can stay healthy . Then we can really get some help in the draft with a “BIG NASTY” to put next to Kemny Clark. The one I like Raekwon Davis. He is EXCELLENT AGAINST THE RUN and can also provide a little pass rush. “Team Northwestern” has to be dispelled quickly.

[pbmax]

Not really

I just stopped watching the first video after he fell down in the backfield on a pass rush and did not get back up.

[pbmax]

Yeah. He rated out as the 58th best player in the country. He was the 5th ranked ILB in the nation and no.1 rushing the passer. He is a “3 down LB”. (According to PFF). He is expected to test extremely well at the combine so there is a lot to work with. Some of his tape is really good and then there are a couple where you wonder but that’s the case with any ILB in this draft.

Now is he gonna come in as a rookie and play better then Martinez right away? I would say probably not but i am not sure any of the LB’s that will be available would. The Last thing we need to do is “reach” for a LB at pick 30.

This is why i am in the “Sign Littleton Camp”. Then you sign Paul Richardson and roll the dice he can stay healthy . Then we can really get some help in the draft with a “BIG NASTY” to put next to Kemny Clark. The one I like Raekwon Davis. He is EXCELLENT AGAINST THE RUN and can also provide a little pass rush. “Team Northwestern” has to be dispelled quickly.

I can't speak to his potential development; I just don't know what is possible or what to look for.

But he can't be Martinez in Pettine's base D. He isn't very good moving to the LOS.

If he is your 2nd ILB and plays 3 downs because of pass coverage, then OK. He's not afraid to be in the middle and he will clog up lanes and hold onto a guy.

He'd be a good replacement for Raven Greene.

I am looking for his sideline speed and Oklahoma hasn't run wide much. But at 3:47 he makes a good play that isn't a tackle. He bounces off on potential block, engages another and shuts down a gap (no idea if its his gap). But the DB to his outside also plays it well AND he gets off his edge block to force the RB inside.

Its good team defense as OK has blockers wide and its a disaster if that back gets out. But TT has guys inside who can tackle and they do. But the best play on that run was by the DB.

Not sure its fair to judge him on the OK tape. I think he is just a spy for Jalen Hurts. Who, by the way, might be discount Russell Wilson.

[GB-Brandon]

I can't speak to his potential development; I just don't know what is possible or what to look for.

But he can't be Martinez in Pettine's base D. He isn't very good moving to the LOS.

If he is your 2nd ILB and plays 3 downs because of pass coverage, then OK. He's not afraid to be in the middle and he will clog up lanes and hold onto a guy.

He'd be a good replacement for Raven Greene.

I am looking for his sideline speed and Oklahoma hasn't run wide much. But at 3:47 he makes a good play that isn't a tackle. He bounces off on potential block, engages another and shuts down a gap (no idea if its his gap). But the DB to his outside also plays it well AND he gets off his edge block to force the RB inside.

Its good team defense as OK has blockers wide and its a disaster if that back gets out. But TT has guys inside who can tackle and they do. But the best play on that run was by the DB.

Not sure its fair to judge him on the OK tape. I think he is just a spy for Jalen Hurts. Who, by the way, might be discount Russell Wilson.

That’s the PROBLEM. It’s becoming clear Pettine needs ELITE TALENT at almost every position to make his big exotic defense work. i don’t see a LB in the draft that can come in as a rookie and do what Pettine is asking the ILB to do. This is why I believe another top DT/DE is necessary to make things a tad easier and overcompensate for limited Lb play.

This whole thing is Starting too feel like Dom Capers all over again to a degree.

[run pMc]

Matt Waldman likes Colorado WR Laviska Shenault.

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

[pbmax]

That’s the PROBLEM. It’s becoming clear Pettine needs ELITE TALENT at almost every position to make his big exotic defense work. i don’t see a LB in the draft that can come in as a rookie and do what Pettine is asking the ILB to do. This is why I believe another top DT/DE is necessary to make things a tad easier and overcompensate for limited Lb play.

This whole thing is Starting too feel like Dom Capers all over again to a degree.

Its a fair point and I do agree a better D line versus the run make the issues better. Though there is still a lack of speed at ILB even with a better D line.

But I am not sure he needs to be elite. Martinez was OK at ILB given his draft position and role in defense. But he cannot be the coverage LB.

The problem with Martinez is that he could be paid close to elite money for production, not domination. Packers can't afford that. But they need that skill set for at least one ILB.

Packers played OK run D when they focused the sub package on it. But there isn't speed in it and it can't cover the middle. They need a swiss army knife in addition to Martinez-like sturdiness. Ideally, as you say, you get one guy to do that but seems unlikely at 30. So you have to have subs with different skills.

The sturdy guy might be something you could reasonably get in FA for a good price.

[Joemailman]

Matt Waldman likes Colorado WR Laviska Shenault.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVC_qymJOyU

I'd say about 90% of the mocks I've seen have him being drafted before 30. But if available he'd be a strong possibility for Packers pick. Had some injuries that affected him in 2019. Combine will be important for him.

[RashanGary]

Shanault intrigues me a lot. An ambitious, reliable young Josh gordon. Instant return game threat and a huge threat to run jet sweeps along with being a legit receiver threat.

[pbmax]

OK watching the Baylor video for Books again. I don't watch much Big 8 football, or whatever they are these days

But it appears that among the reads versus these spread offenses are first RB, then QB, for the ILBs. Which means if its a pass off a run fake, you get a five man pressure (assuming 4 DL). Which means he gets after the QB a fair amount and can catch them. Good speed.

But he is less adept at coverage, where he cannot cut quickly to change direction. He over runs stuff.

He is willing to stick his nose in the LOS. Not great at taking on blocks and defeating them but will shoulder them and hold them off to stay in a gap. You could do worse for a Nitro Backer.

But unless you feel his coverage will improve, its tough to envision success as the speed backer. He did need to drop a couple of times to cover in the middle but with the TV feed, its hard to judge how he did.

[GB-Brandon]

OK watching the Baylor video for Books again. I don't watch much Big 8 football, or whatever they are these days

But it appears that among the reads versus these spread offenses are first RB, then QB, for the ILBs. Which means if its a pass off a run fake, you get a five man pressure (assuming 4 DL). Which means he gets after the QB a fair amount and can catch them. Good speed.

But he is less adept at coverage, where he cannot cut quickly to change direction. He over runs stuff.

He is willing to stick his nose in the LOS. Not great at taking on blocks and defeating them but will shoulder them and hold them off to stay in a gap. You could do worse for a Nitro Backer.

But unless you feel his coverage will improve, its tough to envision success as the speed backer. He did need to drop a couple of times to cover in the middle but with the TV feed, its hard to judge how he did.

I saw him run down Kyler Murray last year. I feel good about him being able to get to the sideline as well. He is really good on back end pursuit too. At 245 he is big and can deliver a blow while holding his gap as you posted. He kinda reminds me of Denzel Perryman but faster.

I agree coverage would be something to develop without really knowing what his max ceiling will be. Assuming Martinez goes elsewhere Brooks would come in as our best LB day 1 which obviously isn’t saying much.

My dream scenario at ILB is signing Corey Littleton and drafting Brooks in 2nd. I’d like DL/DE in first(Raekwon Davis).

However, this is all contingent on getting receiver help in FA and drafting another in 3-4th. Cephus would be my guy in that range and I don’t even need to really see the combine.

[GB-Brandon]

I think the reality needs to set in that if we don’t go out and get Littleton we’re gonna be watching Oren Burks cover guys all year and that should warrant major cause for concern.

[wist43]

I'm the head cheerleader for getting rid of Martinez, and of course I've always been of the opinion that Burks is the worst football player on the planet.

Watched a little tape on Brooks - admittedly not much, but still I didn't like what I saw.