The Dallas Cowboys have had a lot of success with their mid-round picks (Rounds 3-4) in recent years, securing major contributors such as Tony Pollard (Round 4 in 2019), Michael Gallup (Round 3 in 2018) and Jourdan Lewis (Round 3 in 2017).
With two picks in the middle rounds this year (Round 3, No. 82 overall and Round 4, No. 123), the Cowboys hope to build on that success by snagging a couple of more contributors.
With that in mind, let’s study some mid-round prospects in this draft who would be great fits for Dallas. To keep things somewhat realistic, every player mentioned here is currently trending as a mid-round pick according to Grinding The Mocks, which compiles mock drafts from all over the industry to create a stock report for each prospect. It’s not perfect, but it’s as good a pre-draft approximation as we can get.
Logan Wilson, LB, Wyoming
One of the sneaky needs on the Cowboys’ roster is at SAM linebacker (strong side). They have players who can fill the position, if need be, in Sean Lee and Joe Thomas. But both players proved to be much more comfortable at the MIKE (middle) and WILL (weak side) spots last season.
Enter Wyoming’s Logan Wilson. He was one of the most productive linebackers in the nation, posting four straight seasons with 90-plus tackles and seven-plus tackles for loss. Wilson’s production also translated to pass game, totaling 10 interceptions with 14 pass breakups during his career.
When projecting a small-school prospect to the NFL, it is paramount that they show well against inferior competition. He checks that box, having been a force for Wyoming’s defense the last four years.
Listed at 6-2, 241 pounds, Wilson is an instinctual player who does an excellent job of reading and reacting to his keys in the run game. Here’s a great example:
Wilson, who is aligned as the MIKE linebacker, doesn’t make the tackle here, but his process displays his elevated ability to read and diagnose the offense. On this play, San Diego State is running a concept with a designed cutback that is supposed to take advantage of a defense’s over-pursuit.
Once the ball is snapped, Wilson initially mirrors the flow of the offensive line to maintain leverage over his primary gap, but instead of taking the cheese and immediately attacking the line of scrimmage, he remains patient and identifies the fullback veering back across the formation to set up the running back’s cutback.
Wilson quickly expands back outside while staying square to put himself in position to stop the run for little-to-no gain if his teammate didn’t make the play.
Wilson is a relatively reliable tackler who gets into trouble when he takes an overaggressive pursuit angle, making him vulnerable to cutbacks. Outside of that, he is a sound tackler who’s effective in tight quarters and in space.
Wilson also isn’t afraid to take on blockers in the run game. He’s most effective at destroying lead blockers in the hole (which is why he projects well as a SAM linebacker), playing with a considerable amount of power at the point of attack. Wilson does lack the short-area quickness to elude or bounce around blocks, so it will be important that he continues to refine his ability to take on and quickly defeat blocks.
Against the pass, Wilson proved to be an effective blitzer, posting 51 pressures on 229 career pass-rush snaps (22.3% pressure rate), according to Pro Football Focus. He isn’t the type of pass rusher who’s going to line up on the edge and beat offensive linemen one-on-one -- Wilson thrives against running backs in pass protection, where his size, violent hands and smooth movement skills enable him to find a lot of success.
Wyoming LB Logan Wilson can play. Well-rounded skill set, as he's effective against the run, when blitzing and in zone coverage. As a converted safety, Wilson was highly productive in pass coverage, posting 4 INTs and 7 PBUs in 2019. pic.twitter.com/zcTOAmCBBm
— John Owning (@JohnOwning) April 9, 2020
Wilson does some of his best work in coverage, where his football intelligence really shines. He is excellent in zone coverage, where he does a good job of gaining depth with his drops while relating to the various receivers in his zone. He’s effective at cutting underneath crossing routes and routinely makes plus-breaks on the ball. Wilson doesn’t have a lot of experience playing pure man coverage on tight ends and running backs, so there are questions as to how his coverage ability will translate when his back is to the ball. Nonetheless, he’s proven to be extremely effective when the quarterback is in his line of sight.
There’s a lot to like about the small-school linebacker, who possesses a well-rounded skill set to go with great size and notable athleticism -- he tested into the 60.8 percentile at his position at the scouting combine, according to Three Sigma Athlete.
Although he’d be a mid-round pick, Wilson can contribute immediately on special teams while helping in spots on defense as he continues to refine his skill set and becomes more comfortable against superior competition.
He has the skills to play any of the three linebacker spots in a 4-3 defense, but given Dallas’ personnel and depth at inside linebacker, Wilson’s fastest avenue to playing time would be at SAM, where his blitzing, ability to take on lead blockers and coverage ability in short-to-intermediate zones will pay dividends.
Saahdiq Charles, OT, LSU
LSU’s Saahdiq Charles is one of the most intriguing offensive tackles in this class, blessed with outstanding movement skills and a nasty demeanor that lends itself well to offensive line play. But he also comes with significant off-the-field concerns, having been suspended for six games last season, which has brought up questions of whether Charles is mature enough to survive in the NFL.
Still, Charles possesses a skill set worth developing if he can get his head on right. After playing most of the season near 290 pounds, according to The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, Charles wisely bulked up this offseason in preparation for the NFL, weighing in at an impressive 321 pounds at the combine. The big concern when a prospect puts on that much weight is how it affects his athletic ability, but Charles went on to run an outstanding 5.05 in the 40-yard dash. This indicates little about his ability to play but proves that his athleticism wasn’t hindered much by the weight gain.
The extra bulk should do him wonders, considering he was routinely knocked back on contact last season. Charles lacked the sand in his pants to routinely anchor against power rushes. He would have to strain so hard to anchor against power that it left him susceptible to push-pull and snatch moves that pull him forward off of his anchor.
This was only exacerbated by Charles’ incredibly inconsistent hand technique and lack of length. He has a tendency to lean on contact, which inhibits his balance, and his hand placement tends to be all over the place. Charles also has a nasty habit of shooting his hands wide, giving defenders free access to his chest to control and manipulate his balance.
Charles' initial hand placement tends to be wonky and all over the place, but I do think he does a good job re-fitting his hands when his initial strike fails. Does a nice job anchoring here as he refits his hands after giving ground initially pic.twitter.com/SLsctqowqc
— John Owning (@JohnOwning) April 8, 2020
Having said that, Charles’ rare ability to recover after initially being put out of position masks a lot of his concerns right now. Although his initial hand fit tends to be poor, he does a good job of refitting them to latch and control defenders in pass protection. Charles also displays promising grip strength to latch and stick to rushers.
His feet and movement skills get him out of a lot of bad positions, as his functional athleticism is incredibly impressive for his size. Charles has the movement skills to mirror pass rushers up the arc or slide inside to defend inside counters. He can also quickly react and adjust his base to spiking defensive linemen in the run game (above clip).
This was a nice rep by LSU LT Saahdiq Charles. Initiates contact with a strong base and inside hands. Rolls hips in coordination with torquing elbows, and driving off his insteps to create push on contact. Then just drives Anfernee Jennings to the ground to show off some finish. pic.twitter.com/V3fSgEFrNC
— John Owning (@JohnOwning) April 8, 2020
In the run game, Charles displays outstanding pliability in his lower half and hips, which enables him to play low and create leverage as a run blocker. He tends to use a scoop technique with his hands, bringing them underneath the defender in an effort to redirect their force upward.
When Charles is able to latch in the run game, he does an excellent job of rolling his hips and running his feet to generate displacement. He’s also a hammer on double-teams, as he often helps create displacement on interior defenders.
Charles needs to add significant refinement to his hand technique before he can be trusted in game action, but at just 20 years old, he has the footwork, athleticism, recovery ability and demeanor that makes him a worthwhile project. Teams aren’t drafting Charles for what he is today, but rather for what he could become in the next 2-5 years.
Even if it’s not Charles, don’t be surprised if the Cowboys invest in a swing tackle at some point. With Cam Fleming now in New York, their current backup tackles are 2019 undrafted free agents Brandon Knight and Mitch Hyatt. However, it’s likely that starting left guard Connor Williams would flex out to tackle if needed with the current roster.
It would make sense if Mike McCarthy and offensive line coach Joe Philbin wanted to acquire their own developmental project at offensive tackle. Charles, who would likely go in the top 75 picks if not for the off-the-field concerns, is someone the Cowboys should consider in the middle rounds.
Darrell Taylor, DE, Tennessee
If the Cowboys strike out on defensive end in Rounds 1-2, Tennessee’s Darrell Taylor could be the best option in Round 3.
The Vols defender was relatively productive the last two years, posting eight-plus sacks and 10-plus tackles for loss in each season.
Measuring in at 6-4, 267 pounds with 33-inch arms, Taylor has the size and frame the Cowboys have valued at defensive end in the past.
Plays like this are why Darrell Taylor is so intriguing. Wide alignment. Gobbles up ground with 1st 3 steps before cornering to affect the throw. Love how he sinks his weight at top of rush to turn a tight corner. Uses a reach-n-run tech to flatten/orient hips toward QB. pic.twitter.com/UnsPyJLg9q
— John Owning (@JohnOwning) April 8, 2020
Taylor has an explosive first step with impressive upfield burst that stresses pass sets and enables him to race by an offensive tackle’s outside hip. That vertical explosion leads into his Gumby-like ability to contort his body and bend around the edge to corner, flatten and attack the pocket. Taylor also closes on quarterbacks with ferocity after flattening at the apex of his rush, using a reach-and-run technique to orient his hips toward them while attacking the pocket. He is most effective when using a pure speed rush to race around offensive tackles in coordination with a strong rip move to clear hands as he corners and attacks the pocket (above clip).
Georgia RT Isaiah Wilson is viewed as 1 of the more powerful run blockers in this class but Darrell Taylor stacks him on the LOS because of inside hands & better leverage.
He doesn't always get off blocks well, but DT routinely plays with leverage when he takes on blocks square. pic.twitter.com/LURhlbkahz
— John Owning (@JohnOwning) April 8, 2020
As a run defender, Taylor plays with superior hand placement, excellent leverage (hands above eyes) and extension against drive and base blocks, which enables him to control blockers and hold his ground despite a considerable weight disadvantage.
Unfortunately, his skill set needs significant seasoning before he’s able to maximize his considerable physical gifts in the NFL.
Taylor’s below-average hand technique and diminutive pass-rush repertoire drain his effectiveness. His hands rarely work in conjunction with his feet, which causes his hand technique to lack accuracy and timing when employed during his rush. Taylor flashes a promising long-arm technique, but the absence of definitive counters and sequential hand technique cause most of his power rushes to stall after the initial knock-back. He also flashes an effective two-hand swipe (aka the side scissor) to defeat a blocker’s hands and corner, but Taylor lacks any sort of consistency with the timing and placement. He also telegraphs his spin move.
Despite Taylor’s success against drive and base blocks in the run game, he tends to struggle against double-teams and angle blocks, as he has a difficult time playing with power when he’s not able to squarely take on blocks.
Even with rough edges in his game, Taylor is a high-upside prospect worth taking a shot on in the middle rounds. His size, speed, bend and physicality give him an enticing foundation to build on, and if he gets the necessary seasoning, Taylor is someone who could significantly outplay his draft slot.
:no_upscale()/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-dmn.s3.amazonaws.com/public/WWKTBSBNI5CSRJIQLPAWIIS56Q.jpg)
:no_upscale()/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-dmn.s3.amazonaws.com/public/HJZKOHKNQQ4W5H6PVKGWHSZHDI.jpg)
Find more Cowboys stories from The Dallas Morning News here.
"middle" - Google News
April 10, 2020 at 09:04PM
https://ift.tt/2VjXJ5y
Film room: 3 draft prospects the Cowboys should consider in the middle rounds, including a high-upside pass rusher - The Dallas Morning News
"middle" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2MY042F
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
No comments:
Post a Comment