Originally Posted by : Overview
Speaks finished strong in his final year in Oxford, sacking the quarterback six times in the team's final six games from the defensive end position. He started all 12 games for the Rebels in 2017, posting 67 tackles, eight for loss which included seven sacks to garner second-team All-SEC by league media. The Jackson, Mississippi native and four-star recruit was a defensive tackle initially, redshirting in 2014 and then starting two of 13 games played the following year (32 tackles, 5.5 for loss, one sack, two pass breakups). Speaks played in every game again as a sophomore, starting seven, making 28 tackles, 1.5 for loss, and a sack.
Originally Posted by : Strengths
Big man with good speed and plus athletic ability
Has experience at a variety of spots along defensive line
Has size and length to play in odd or even front
Punches with good hand placement, arm extension and rolled hips when allowed to two-gap
Has attitude and edge
Flashes potential to become more proficient with hands as a weapon
Able to play ahead of move blocks and disrupt into backside gaps
Plays with plus awareness
Responds well to flow of the play
Offers a little more pass rush than expected as power end
Pairs hands and feet to help free him as interior rusher along the edge
Arm-over move has some potential
Weaknesses
Had just one season of big production
Inconsistent at leveraging gap
Plays top-heavy with high pad level
Allows blockers under his pads when attacking gaps
Hip-tightness leads to narrowing of his base
Struggles to hold ground against down blocks and can be rolled out of the gap
Has straight line speed, but lateral agility and foot quickness are average in tight quarters
Goes over the edge with emotions
Chippy hitter willing to lead with helmet when play is ending
Ejected for targeting against Kentucky and ejected against Mississippi State for two unsportsmanlike penalties
Reid says Brett Veach "wore him out" watching tape on Speaks. Watched all of his snaps from last season, says he never saw him on the ground. Compares him to Tamba Hali with size and metrics.
Originally Posted by Best22:
The Miss State LT was drafted this year. He's good
It's rare for EDGE players to get sacks. 12 sacks in 16 games is a great number. EDGE players affect in a game isn't normally felt play to play, but they can have a BIG impact in the game as long as they hold up against the run and get some pressure
I bet we see Speaks as a stand-up rusher in the middle on third downs sometimes.
Going to be exciting
Dude he was being made a non issue on running plays also not to mention he was collapsing down and not holding the edge so he was allowing the run to get to the outside. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Warrick:
All of a sudden Speaks is starting to look better to Mr. Roundup with that enlightening piece of info... now go watch the LSU game.
I think you need some help with reading comprehension. [Reply]
He flashes off and on which is about all you can hope for. He’s growing on me.
I like him more than the Tanoh Kpassagnon pick bc he isn’t as raw and should immediately play, but he’s by no means our best first pick over the years of this regime.
Not like he was straight up embarrassing lineman in front of their parents like Chris Jones did at MSU. [Reply]
Originally Posted by KChiefs1:
I still would have taken Isaiah Oliver over him.
But I’m not Veach.
Precisely you and I aren't Reid/Veach. Pete nails it in his post below. It is a school of thought in building your defense that most if not all teams strive for. Like Walsh said many years ago, the team that has the better pass rush in the 4th qrt usually wins the game(my paraphrase of course). And I will add that if you can't stop the run CBs don't matter either because TDs are scored and the clock(TOP) is dominated by the team that can run.
Originally Posted by petegz28:
Don't care how good your CB's are. If you have no pass rush, it doesn't matter.
Originally Posted by RunKC:
He flashes off and on which is about all you can hope for. He’s growing on me.
I like him more than the Tanoh Kpassagnon pick bc he isn’t as raw and should immediately play, but he’s by no means our best first pick over the years of this regime.
Not like he was straight up embarrassing lineman in front of their parents like Chris Jones did at MSU.
That's why Veach specifically mentioned the rotation of Houston, Ford and Speaks. Then added while KPass develops. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Mother****erJones:
That's why Veach specifically mentioned the rotation of Houston, Ford and Speaks. Then added while KPass develops.
And "Frankie" (Zombo) is relegated to ST only.
I thought that was an interesting comment. [Reply]
The more I watch/read about this guy, the more I love this pick. I can’t believe we got him where we did. How in the hell was he not selected sooner?!?! This dude is gonna be fun!! [Reply]
