Lurker

Ed McCaffrey..

As an aside, Leigh Steinberg is his agent. That tells me a lot about the kid...and Steinberg.

Zay seems like the anti-Sills in a Bizarro world kind of way....

I'm in love with Sills and think he has a real chance (I hope that's not a kiss of death endorsement...Doh!). This kid is one of the most impressive packages of brains and "maximizing-what-talent-I-have" that I've seen in many years. His production speaks for itself. But what really gives me tingles is how smart/mature he is. As Belichick likes to show, brainpower and mental agility can take a WR a long way in this league. This interview is the best I've ever seen by a 22-year old college prospect: http://wvmetronews.com/2019/04/02/three-guys-before-the-game-sills-uphorns-down-episode-106/

Yeah, I see that in his game. But he only runs a 4.77 forty, so I'm not sure he could switch positions. He might be a good fit in some rover / specialty packages, and for sure ST. Still, he looks like another one of the plays-faster-than-he-times guys (due his recognition skills) that McBeane love so much. Interesting guy, for sure...

Those videos suck, IMO...

A coach can't take actual reps in practice. I suspect the Bills like having Anderson suited up during the week and actually showing Allen the throws, footwork, sight reads as a player would see them, not just a coach...

And I can't help but wonder if some of Jackson's biggest supporters have ever watched NFL football...

Uh...because Jackson's not that good. Nice story with the U.B. connection, but that's all it is--a story.

Man, he's really well spoken and mature for a 22 year old. Lots of intangibles with this kid...

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/tyrel-dodson?id=3219444f-4434-1460-b378-91176d704c77 26. TYREL DODSON | Texas A&M 6003 | 237 lbs. | JR. Franklin, Tenn. (Centennial) 6/25/1998 (age 20.85) #25 BACKGROUND: A three-star linebacker recruit out of high school, Tyrel Dodson was a two-way player at Centennial, starring at linebacker and running back. After posting 74 tackles and 8.0 sacks as a junior, he recorded 111 tackles, 32.0 tackles for loss, 8.0 sacks and two interceptions, adding 545 rushing yards and 15 scores on offense. Dodson earned First Team All-State honors and was runner-up for Class 5A Mr. Football Lineman of the Year, but was given the award after the finalist was charged with domestic assault. He ranked as the No. 14 inside linebacker in the 2016 recruiting class, committing to Texas A&M over Arkansas, Kentucky and Missouri. Dodson chose to skip his senior season and enter the 2019 NFL Draft. YEAR (GP/GS) TKLS TFL SACK FF PD INT NOTES 2016: (13/0) 27 1.5 0 0 0 0 2017: (13/13) 105 11.0 5.5 0 11 3 2018: (13/13) 70 7.0 0.5 0 4 1 Total: (39/26) 202 19.5 6.0 0 15 4 [169] HT WT ARM HAND WING 40-YD 20-YD 10-YD VJ BJ SS 3C BP COMBINE 6003 237 31 3/4 09 1/8 75 3/4 4.60 2.68 1.61 - 09’10” - - 24 (no vertical, shuttle or 3-cone – choice) PRO DAY - - - 35 - 4.50 7.59 - (stood on Combine runs, broad, bench) STRENGTHS: Looks the part and commits himself in the weight room…active feet to scrape down the line of scrimmage and avoid collisions…initial quickness to sidestep blockers…leverages blocks in the hole…upper body strength to give blockers all they can handle as a blitzer…peels off blocks and contains…smooth ability to turn, run and track the football…considered a first-class individual with reliable personal and football character…evolved into a team leader and was responsible for making the defensive calls as a junior…played in all 39 games the last three seasons. WEAKNESSES: Overly committed to his gap with streaky backfield vision…play anticipation isn’t always there…eye candy and motions slow his process…moves well, but not a loose athlete with limited lateral range…inconsistent take-on technique and hand placement vs. offensive linemen…strong hands as a tackler, but finishing technique is crazed and leads to broken tackles…loses targets in zone coverage and is too reactive…production declined from his sophomore to junior seasons and he never earned All-SEC honors over his career. SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Texas A&M, Dodson lined up at SAM linebacker in Mike Elko’s 4-2-5 base scheme, occasionally lining up as a pass rusher on the edge. Along with his 202 career tackles, he also scored three touchdowns over his career with a pair of interception returns and a 78-yard scoop-and-score after a blocked field goal. A moving target with strong hands, Dodson makes it tough on blockers to control him as he navigates through the weeds. He is guilty of thinking too much and needs to recognize his keys more quickly to read-and-go. Overall, Dodson is an inconsistent playmaker, but he is a well-built athlete with range, toughness and the hunting attitude that NFL coaches will appreciate having on the roster, projecting as a backup with upside to be more down the road. GRADE: 6th-7th Round 27. JOE GILES-HARRIS | Duke

Reich might be the guy to finally calm Chad down, like he did with Jimbo...

24. DAVID SILLS V | West Virginia 6032 | 211 lbs. | SR. Wilmington, Del. (Eastern Christian) 5/29/1996 (age 22.92) #13 BACKGROUND: A three-star quarterback recruit out of high school, David Sills V was considered a quarterback phenom in middle school (Red Lions Christian Academy) with his parents investing a lot of money into his development, hiring Steve Clarkson as a private quarterback coach. After Clarkson sent Lane Kiffin a highlight tape, Sills received a USC scholarship as a seventh-grader, which made national headlines. He attended Eastern Christian Academy (Md.) for high school, which was basically a football factory created by Sills’ father (David IV). After playing through a broken knuckle in 2012, he earned all-state honors as a junior in 2013, but missed most of the 2014 season due to an ankle injury. Now under Steve Sarkisian, USC planned to honor the scholarship, but with Ricky Town and Sam Darnold already part of the Trojans’ 2015 recruiting class, Sills decommitted. He was ranked as a top-25 pro-style quarterback recruit and received offers from Clemson, Michigan and Virginia Tech, but he chose West Virginia, which signed his former high school teammates Wendell Smallwood and Daikiel Shorts two years earlier. Sills started the 2015 season as the fourth-string quarterback and played wide receiver on the scout team to stay active. He initially declined a position change but made the move late in his true freshman season, catching a touchdown in his first career game. With the hope of playing quarterback, Sills transferred to El Camino College for the 2016 season where he was the starter, throwing for 15 touchdowns in 10 games. However, the offers didn’t come until Dana Holgorsen called and gave him the opportunity to return to Morgantown as a receiver. Sills accepted his invitation to the 2019 Senior Bowl. YEAR (GP/GS) REC YDS AVG TD NOTES 2015: (8/1) 7 131 18.7 2 2016: El Camino College 2017: (13/13) 60 980 16.3 18 First Team All-American; First Team All-Big 12; Led FBS in receiving TDs 2018: (12/12) 65 986 15.2 15 Second Team All-American; First Team All-Big 12; Led Big 12 in receiving TDs; Team Captain Total: (33/26) 132 2,097 15.9 35 [48] HT WT ARM HAND WING 40-YD 20-YD 10-YD VJ BJ SS 3C BP COMBINE 6032 211 32 09 72 5/8 4.57 2.67 1.58 37 1/2 09’09” 4.28 6.97 14 PRO DAY - - - - 10’00” - - - (stood on Combine runs, vertical, shuttles) STRENGTHS: Above-average height/length…long-striding acceleration makes him a legitimate deep threat…able to push the vertical stem before throttling down and working back to the ball…natural tracker, accurately judging the flight of the football to slow or accelerate…quick hands and reflexes to snare throws away from his frame…shows attention to detail in his patterns, using body leverage mid-route…initial quickness to gain free release vs. press…touchdown machine with 33 scores the past two seasons (most in FBS over that time)…blocking effort is there…senior captain…graduated with his degree in finance (December 2018). WEAKNESSES: Unimpressive body type with thin limbs and marginal build…below-average play strength and will struggle vs. physical defenders…press-man coverage in the NFL will be unlike anything he faced in the Big 12…doesn’t have the body power to break tackles or win contested situations…not much of a YAC or make-youmiss threat…limited route tree experience and tends to round out of his breaks…late to find soft spots in zone…steady focus, but has small hands and will have easy drops…limited upside as a blocker. SUMMARY: A two-year starter at West Virginia, Sills played every receiver position (X, H, Y, Z) in the Mountaineers’ offense and quickly developed chemistry with quarterback Will Grier (over the last two years, 67.5 percent of Sills’ catches resulted in a first down or touchdown). To his credit, he plays like a receiver, not a quarterback masquerading as a receiver, and he has fully bought in to his new position. Sills had elite touchdown production and his 35 touchdown grabs rank second in WVU history. Overall, Sills has concerning play strength and is still developing as a route runner, but he makes natural adjustments on the football with the athletic profile to work his way up a wide receiver depth chart, projecting similar to Los Angeles Rams receiver Josh Reynolds. GRADE: 5th Round

Sills highlights:

Absolutely! He understands the passing game as a former WR. I wonder if he's fast enough to play safety if he can't cut it at OLB...

Foggie highlights (converted to OLB from WR...you don't see that very often!)

Sounds like it: https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/patriots/patriots-seven-round-mock-draft-50-0?b#slide-18 Nick Easley, WR, Iowa Two Hawkeyes in this mock and neither plays tight end? Easley may not be linked to the Patriots quite as often as his teammates T.J. Hockenson or Noah Fant, but he looks like a fit at a position in the New England offense that is just as critical. At 5-foot-11, 203 pounds, he's a solidly-built slot -- like seventh-round receiver Julian Edelman -- and lightning quick. His 3.87-second short shuttle at Iowa's pro day was better than Edelman's (3.92 seconds) blazing time coming out of Kent State, and it approached the ridiculous number posted by Deion Branch back in 2002 (3.78 seconds). Easley's three-cone time (6.55) was also remarkable. A captain as a sophomore at Iowa Western Community College and named to Iowa's Leadership Group last year, Easley was the Outback Bowl's most valuable player after hauling in eight passes for 104 yards and two scores against No. 18 Mississippi State. Easley was also mentioned as a good match for the Patriots -- in case you needed any more evidence -- in our discussion with his strength and conditioning coach on The Next Pats Podcast.

https://dearoldgold.com/2019/04/25/iowa-football-2019-nfl-draft-preview/ Nick Easley – It’s hard to imagine that just two years ago, hardly any Iowa football fans knew who Nick Easley was when he joined as a walk-on from Iowa Western Community College. Now, he is a shining example of how hard work and perseverance pays off in a big way. At his Pro Day, he posted numbers comparable to that of another overlooked slot receiver, Super Bowl MVP Julian Edelman and it appears teams are taking notice. If Easley goes late in the 7th round it wouldn’t surprise me but I expect him to be a priority UDFA.

Is he as good as Alex Tanney?

Kelly Pegula might disagree with that...

Post of the draft, my friend....

So, we drafted Nick O'Leary II. Cool...

17. TOMMY SWEENEY | Boston College 6044 | 251 lbs. | rSR. Ramsey, N.J. (Don Bosco Prep) #89 BACKGROUND: A two-star tight end recruit out of high school, Thomas “Tommy” Sweeney was a starting tight end in football and forward in basketball at Don Bosco Prep. He was a dual threat receiver-blocker as a senior and caught 27 passes for 539 yards and five touchdowns in 2013, earning First Team All-County and Honorable Mention All-State honors. Sweeney ranked as the No. 50 recruit in New Jersey and finished with only two offers: Boston College and FCS-level Delaware. He accepted his invitation to the 2019 Senior Bowl. YEAR (GP/GS) REC YDS AVG TD NOTES 2014: Redshirted 2015: (12/9) 5 68 13.6 0 2016: (13/13) 26 353 13.6 3 2017: (13/13) 36 512 14.2 4 Third Team All-ACC 2018: (12/12) 32 348 10.9 3 First Team All-ACC Total: (50/47) 99 1,281 12.9 10 HT WT ARM HAND WING 40-YD 20-YD 10-YD VJ BJ SS 3C BP COMBINE 6044 251 32 3/4 09 3/4 78 3/8 4.83 2.82 1.68 - - - - 17 (no jumps, shuttles or 3-cone – injury) PRO DAY - - - 32 09’07” 4.31 7.17 - STRENGTHS: Adequate height, length and build…tracks the ball naturally with soft, reliable hands…extends well to secure throws away from his body…puts himself in proper position as a blocker to keep his man occupied…often the key block on outside zone plays or jet sweeps on tape…durable and played in every game for Boston College the past four seasons, logging 47 starts (40 consecutive to finish his career)…graduated with a degree in management (May 2018)…considered a team leader. WEAKNESSES: Sluggish in/out of his breaks and struggles to consistently uncover…mediocre route speed…one-gear runner and not going to fool defenders with his listless acceleration…average point-of-attack strength and won’t turn defenders as a blocker…leaky in pass protection, allowing rushers to go through his outside shoulder…tall in his sets and would benefit from better knee bend…averaged only 2.1 receptions per start over his college career. SUMMARY: A four-year starter at Boston College, Sweeney was an inline tight end in the Eagles’ pro-style offense, a scheme he was groomed in since high school. He wasn’t super productive for a player with his number of starts, but he leaves Boston College as one of only seven tight ends to reach the 1,000-yard receiving mark. With an average athletic profile, Sweeney almost always has a defender on his hip, but he catches everything thrown his way with terrific focus and sticky hands away from his frame. While competitive as a blocker, he isn’t powerful and has little margin of error with his fundamentals. Overall, Sweeney is a tough, well-rounded “Y” tight end, but nothing about his game is exceptional, projecting as an NFL reserve who will need to compete for a backup role. GRADE: 7th Round

33. DARRYL JOHNSON JR. | North Carolina A&T 6060 | 253 lbs. | rJR. Kingsland, Ga. (Camden) 4/4/1997 (age 22.07) #40 BACKGROUND: A no-star recruit out of high school, Darryl Johnson Jr. played basketball and football at Camden County, lining up at defensive end and tight end. At only 205 pounds, he wasn’t highly recruited, with a few Division-II programs offering partial scholarships. Georgia Southern, where Johnson’s father (Darryl Sr.) played running back, offered him a preferred walk-on opportunity. FCS-level North Carolina A&T swooped in and made him a late addition to their 2015 recruiting class. Johnson elected to skip his senior season and enter the 2019 NFL Draft. YEAR (GP/GS) TKLS TFL SACK FF PD INT NOTES 2015: Redshirted 2016: (12/0) 26 6.5 2.0 0 0 0 2017: (12/11) 40 15.5 6.5 4 0 0 First Team All-MEAC 2018: (12/11) 50 19.0 10.5 1 3 0 MEAC Defensive Player of the Year; First Team All-MEAC Total: (36/22) 116 41.0 19.0 5 3 0 HT WT ARM HAND WING 40-YD 20-YD 10-YD VJ BJ SS 3C BP COMBINE 6060 253 33 7/8 10 77 7/8 - - - - - - - 20 (no run, jumps or shuttle – hamstring) PRO DAY 4.80 2.78 1.65 32 1/2 09’04” 4.56 6.97 - (stood on Combine bench) STRENGTHS: Flexible athlete who can bend, dip and corner…loose-jointed movement skills, allowing him to cleanly redirect in space…moves well laterally to sidestep blockers and regain his momentum…skilled at making himself skinny through gaps…owns long arms and large hands…looks comfortable standing up and covering tight ends…puts in the “extra time and effort,” according to his coaches…excellent backfield production with 41.0 tackles for loss over 36 games played. WEAKNESSES: Lean-limbed frame and lacks ideal body armor…doesn’t have the shed strength to detach once blockers engulf him…sets a soft edge…physical defenders are able to jostle him mid-rush, easily slowing his arc momentum…below-average contact balance, not powering his way through the outside shoulder of blockers…predictable rush with little diversity to his attack plan…ends up on the ground too much…had a tough time when matched vs. better competition. SUMMARY: A two-year starter at North Carolina A&T, Johnson was the field defensive end in the Aggies’ multiple front, leading the MEAC in sacks and tackles for loss in 2018. The past two MEAC defensive players of the year both landed in the top-100 draft picks (Javon Hargrave, Darius Leonard) and Johnson is attempting to make it three in a row. He has a straight-forward pass rush plan: upfield quickness, bend and turn, which worked often vs. FCS-level competition, but it won’t be quite that easy in the NFL, struggling vs. the FBS competition (East Carolina) on the schedule. He doesn’t consistently create his own pass rush lanes and his rush stalls quickly once blockers are able to get their hands on him. Overall, Johnson is a rangy athlete with his long, flexible strides, but his lack of power and balance are obvious, projecting best to a stand-up rush linebacker role in the NFL where he can use space to his advantage. GRADE: 7th Round

Now we know what that Bills tweet a few minutes ago was about....