Thursday, March 22, 2012
http://www.cowboysnation.com/2012/03/bunting-either-or-decisions-down-rounds.html
Posted by Rafael at Thursday, March 22, 2012
Part Three of this week's chat with the National Football Post's Wes Bunting continues the grinding on evenly graded prospects at the same position.
Cowboys Nation: Let's move to the 2nd round. The Cowboys have shown some interest in Oklahoma's Ronnell Lewis. You've compared him to Sergio Kindle from Baltimore. You talked about his special teams skill. Let's talk about his pass rushing skill. It seems there's some projection involved, because he was a 4-3 linebacker. Did he ever rush off the edge, with his hand on the ground, the way Dont'a Hightower did for Alabama?
Wes Bunting: He's a more linear athlete. They rushed him with his hand on the ground at times. They rushed him standing up. He reminds me a little bit of a Brooks Reed-type player. He reminds me a little bit of Sergio Kindle when he came out. He can play with power and leverage. I don't see a big-time sack guy, but because of his good first step, his violence and his motor, I think he can be a good pass rusher. Not big time, but productive. And he's a heck of a special teams player who can play sideline to sideline, so I think he can develop in the run game and be a good three-down player for you.
The question with him is there are some character concerns. He struggled keeping the grades at Oklahoma, and that's a concern with some NFL teams.
CN: When you say a linear athlete, can you flesh that out for the readers? He's a 2nd round player and those guys are good but they'll have a couple of dents in their games. Is it that he can't get low? What does being linear mean?
WB: It's means he's at his best rushing in a straight line. He's a tighter hipped guy, so he's not going to change directions or counter as well. When you're tighter hipped and you're trying to get around the edge, you have to slow down and that allows guys to get under you. But in a straight line, meaning, if he's going to work the bull rush, or if he/s going to rush off the edge, or he's going to try and shoot the C-gap going inside against the tackle, he's pretty effective because he's explosive, and he's powerful.
But if he's trying to get around the edge and then re-direct inside, to counter inside, that's where he has to slow down, he gets upright and he's easier to stop.
Brooks Reed had that problem and he was productive this year. There's Jason Gildon for the Steelers. He was as tight-hipped as they come, and he can be productive. You just have to pick your spots. Would Gildon have been as effective in another scheme as he was in Pittsburgh's? Probably not.
If you're looking for a guy with a high motor who can play hard and tackle, Ronnell Lewis is an interesting player. No question about it.
CN: The Cowboys have Anthony Spencer on short time right now. Can you compare those two guys? Can Lewis play on the strong side in a 3-4?
WB: He rushed against the right tackle for Oklahoma, so he played on the strong side.
CN: Did he have his hand on the ground, when they rushed him, or did they move him around?
WB: He did it all. When I watched him against Florida State he would have his hand on the ground, but they would also let him stand up and rush inside. They used him in a number of ways.
CN: Could he handle the tight end, in your opinion?
WB: In a 3-4 I wouldn't say it's his strong suit. In the run game, he wasn't great with his hands. He's a naturally strong kid but he's still learning how to shed blocks. I'd say he would be okay and there's some good potential to his game, but he's not the run defender that Spencer is.
CN: Let's play the either-or game then, since we have two players at the same position with similar grades. Ronnell Lewis, or Shea McClellin?
WB: McClellin. Easy. I think McClellin could be a very good inside linebacker in a 4-3. I think he could be a very good inside linebacker in a 3-4. I think he could play wide-9 as a 4-3 defensive end. I think he could rush off the edge in a 3-4. I'm a big McClellin fan. I think he will be one of the most productive linebackers to come out of this draft.
CN: Looking at the guy you have between them on your board. What did Bruce Irvin do to himself this week?
WB: Oh, he didn't help himself. I'm pulling my hair out over that guy. Maybe he falls to the 4th round now, because he's being a knucklehead. I'd take Shea over him.
I still love the talent, and if the price was right, I might still take him, but he finally had some positive buzz and momentum. Things were looking good after the Combine. And this kind of stuff, it makes you scratch your head.
He's an interesting guy. I was probably his biggest supporter, and I love the talent, and think, you just had a great week...
The biggest question you can't answer, with any of these prospects, is how a 21 or 22 year old kid is going to handle getting $5 million in his pocket. And it just makes you question, what is this kid going to be like when he gets a million dollars?
CN: Let's go a little lower in the draft. Markelle Martin, or Brandon Taylor?
WB: Good question. I like Brandon Taylor, but Markelle Martin is more talented. I'd probably take him.
CN: Where does Brandon Taylor fall? Is he a 3rd or a 4th round guy?
WB: I'd say he's probably 4th - 5th. It's going to be really interesting with the safety class. If Mark Barron doesn't go until the 2nd round, I think the safety run may not begin until the 3rd. Maybe late 2nd, but 3rd is where guys like Harrison Smith, George Iloka, Trenton Robinson, Martin start to go.
CN: Looking for a mid-round tight end. DeAngelo Peterson, or Evan Rodriguez?
WB: I'd take Rodriguez because he's more flexible, he can do more and I trust him more looking at him on tape.
CN: Does he sneak into the 4th now? The top fullbacks usually go somewhere in the mid or late 4th.
WB: I'd say he's a solid 4th. Maybe he's a 5th, but I'd say he's a solid 4th.
CN: He can be that in-line Y, or the H-back and that blocking ability sets him apart from a lot of guys in this class. There are not a lot of tight ends or fullbacks with that skill combo in 2012.
WB: No, and he ran faster than a lot of wide receivers. He ran a 4.55. And he's 250 lbs. He's an interesting cat.
http://www.cowboysnation.com/2012/03/bunting-either-or-decisions-down-rounds.html
Posted by Rafael at Thursday, March 22, 2012
Part Three of this week's chat with the National Football Post's Wes Bunting continues the grinding on evenly graded prospects at the same position.
Cowboys Nation: Let's move to the 2nd round. The Cowboys have shown some interest in Oklahoma's Ronnell Lewis. You've compared him to Sergio Kindle from Baltimore. You talked about his special teams skill. Let's talk about his pass rushing skill. It seems there's some projection involved, because he was a 4-3 linebacker. Did he ever rush off the edge, with his hand on the ground, the way Dont'a Hightower did for Alabama?
Wes Bunting: He's a more linear athlete. They rushed him with his hand on the ground at times. They rushed him standing up. He reminds me a little bit of a Brooks Reed-type player. He reminds me a little bit of Sergio Kindle when he came out. He can play with power and leverage. I don't see a big-time sack guy, but because of his good first step, his violence and his motor, I think he can be a good pass rusher. Not big time, but productive. And he's a heck of a special teams player who can play sideline to sideline, so I think he can develop in the run game and be a good three-down player for you.
The question with him is there are some character concerns. He struggled keeping the grades at Oklahoma, and that's a concern with some NFL teams.
CN: When you say a linear athlete, can you flesh that out for the readers? He's a 2nd round player and those guys are good but they'll have a couple of dents in their games. Is it that he can't get low? What does being linear mean?
WB: It's means he's at his best rushing in a straight line. He's a tighter hipped guy, so he's not going to change directions or counter as well. When you're tighter hipped and you're trying to get around the edge, you have to slow down and that allows guys to get under you. But in a straight line, meaning, if he's going to work the bull rush, or if he/s going to rush off the edge, or he's going to try and shoot the C-gap going inside against the tackle, he's pretty effective because he's explosive, and he's powerful.
But if he's trying to get around the edge and then re-direct inside, to counter inside, that's where he has to slow down, he gets upright and he's easier to stop.
Brooks Reed had that problem and he was productive this year. There's Jason Gildon for the Steelers. He was as tight-hipped as they come, and he can be productive. You just have to pick your spots. Would Gildon have been as effective in another scheme as he was in Pittsburgh's? Probably not.
If you're looking for a guy with a high motor who can play hard and tackle, Ronnell Lewis is an interesting player. No question about it.
CN: The Cowboys have Anthony Spencer on short time right now. Can you compare those two guys? Can Lewis play on the strong side in a 3-4?
WB: He rushed against the right tackle for Oklahoma, so he played on the strong side.
CN: Did he have his hand on the ground, when they rushed him, or did they move him around?
WB: He did it all. When I watched him against Florida State he would have his hand on the ground, but they would also let him stand up and rush inside. They used him in a number of ways.
CN: Could he handle the tight end, in your opinion?
WB: In a 3-4 I wouldn't say it's his strong suit. In the run game, he wasn't great with his hands. He's a naturally strong kid but he's still learning how to shed blocks. I'd say he would be okay and there's some good potential to his game, but he's not the run defender that Spencer is.
CN: Let's play the either-or game then, since we have two players at the same position with similar grades. Ronnell Lewis, or Shea McClellin?
WB: McClellin. Easy. I think McClellin could be a very good inside linebacker in a 4-3. I think he could be a very good inside linebacker in a 3-4. I think he could play wide-9 as a 4-3 defensive end. I think he could rush off the edge in a 3-4. I'm a big McClellin fan. I think he will be one of the most productive linebackers to come out of this draft.
CN: Looking at the guy you have between them on your board. What did Bruce Irvin do to himself this week?
WB: Oh, he didn't help himself. I'm pulling my hair out over that guy. Maybe he falls to the 4th round now, because he's being a knucklehead. I'd take Shea over him.
I still love the talent, and if the price was right, I might still take him, but he finally had some positive buzz and momentum. Things were looking good after the Combine. And this kind of stuff, it makes you scratch your head.
He's an interesting guy. I was probably his biggest supporter, and I love the talent, and think, you just had a great week...
The biggest question you can't answer, with any of these prospects, is how a 21 or 22 year old kid is going to handle getting $5 million in his pocket. And it just makes you question, what is this kid going to be like when he gets a million dollars?
CN: Let's go a little lower in the draft. Markelle Martin, or Brandon Taylor?
WB: Good question. I like Brandon Taylor, but Markelle Martin is more talented. I'd probably take him.
CN: Where does Brandon Taylor fall? Is he a 3rd or a 4th round guy?
WB: I'd say he's probably 4th - 5th. It's going to be really interesting with the safety class. If Mark Barron doesn't go until the 2nd round, I think the safety run may not begin until the 3rd. Maybe late 2nd, but 3rd is where guys like Harrison Smith, George Iloka, Trenton Robinson, Martin start to go.
CN: Looking for a mid-round tight end. DeAngelo Peterson, or Evan Rodriguez?
WB: I'd take Rodriguez because he's more flexible, he can do more and I trust him more looking at him on tape.
CN: Does he sneak into the 4th now? The top fullbacks usually go somewhere in the mid or late 4th.
WB: I'd say he's a solid 4th. Maybe he's a 5th, but I'd say he's a solid 4th.
CN: He can be that in-line Y, or the H-back and that blocking ability sets him apart from a lot of guys in this class. There are not a lot of tight ends or fullbacks with that skill combo in 2012.
WB: No, and he ran faster than a lot of wide receivers. He ran a 4.55. And he's 250 lbs. He's an interesting cat.
