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 RunKC:
I saw that, but he still looks slow around the edge. I get that Veach wants more power guys like Tamba/Houston compared to Ford, but Houston/Tamba were fast and slippery around the corner.
I didn’t see that from Speaks. I feel like they need to just line him up over G’s where he can succeed.
I agree.
I was trying to think of a closer comparison for an EDGE and the guy that came to mind was Pernell McPhee. McPhee could do both like they’re going to ask Speaks to do. [Reply]
The goal was obviously to get bigger and stronger in the box, which is what they did. Whether they can generate a pass rush and/or defend the pass any better will be the question. [Reply]
I’m a lot more happy with an edge guy like Speaks who can’t learn from Houston and set the edge. Bigger stronger better player than Dee Ford who is such a liability in the run game [Reply]
.@Bspeaks9 knew the #Chiefs could possibly take him after what he says was a really good visit. He explains what made him enjoy it and talks about head coach Andy Reid's comparison of the former Rebel to Tamba Hali. "That's just probably one of the best things I've ever heard." pic.twitter.com/AnSh1GJGjW
Originally Posted by Dante84:
I have to keep reminding myself that he's a 2nd round pick, not a 1st, and to not put 1st rounder expectations/hopes on him.
It's a lot harder to do that when you don't have a 1st round pick. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Mother****erJones:
I’m a lot more happy with an edge guy like Speaks who can’t learn from Houston and set the edge. Bigger stronger better player than Dee Ford who is such a liability in the run game
Thats really what this guy has to be, a replacement for Ford
Doesnt matter if Ford gets 15 sacks this year, he is good as gone, but we really have to hope the weight loss improves his explosion, because while his 40 is the same as Hali... the 3 cone, shuttle and jump are quite different [Reply]
you can see why They like Breeland's versatility EDGE/DT by maintaining and closing the B gap.
11th overall SPARQ at DL too. Speaks seems to have good enough strength and balance not get blown off the ball after the initial OL punch. Though during the Miss State video he was neutralized (outside of the fumble recovery)in the 1st half, but didn't quit and later in the 2nd half he did make some impact plays. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare:
you can see why They like Breeland's versatility EDGE/DT by maintaining and closing the B gap.
11th overall SPARQ at DL too. Speaks seems to have good enough strength and balance not get blown off the ball after the initial OL punch. Though during the Miss State video he was neutralized (outside of the fumble recovery)in the 1st half, but didn't quit and later in the 2nd half he did make some impact plays.
I just love the effort. He tries to murder the ball carrier on every play, the way Suh does. I’m not saying he is as good as Suh, but he seems to have that “nasty” element to him. [Reply]