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 Dante84:
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.
Yea, I don’t think he’s getting enough credit for his hustle and motor. He’s always running to the ball no matter how far away it is. [Reply]
The guy's a natural pass-rusher and gap penetrator. He utilizes spins, rips, swims as well as a devastating bull rush, however he isnt consistent in setting up his moves or in fact using the whole variety. He has natural instincts to shoot gaps, which at times makes him contort his body sideways which can get him in trouble. He has a broad moveset which just needs refining. Improve his technique and he will be elite imo. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Chiefnj2:
It wasn't a good move for Reid to compare him to Suggs. A top 10 pick to a mid 2nd rounder? It just increases unrealistic expectations.
Only if you’re an idiot that doesn’t realize he’s making a physical/skills comparison. [Reply]
Originally Posted by kccrow:
It's certainly not a ringing endorsement when your GM says that the new 2nd round pick will be in the rotation and that last year's 2nd round pick will continue to develop. You shouldn't be developing 2nd round players to just see the field 2 years in.
I agree. That was my biggest frustration with Dorsey. Using high picks on guys that weren't ready is frustrating as hell. That's what later round picks are for. KPass, Jones, Ford, etc... None of them were ready year one. Jones took off year 2. Ford had a good 3rd year before getting hurt. And now we're going to be moving this years 2nd round pick above Tanoh in the depth chart while he develops. I won't complain about drafting a quarterback at 10 that needed a year to develop because that one looks like a home run. But seriously, with the roster churning every year due to free agency, retirement, declining abilities, etc., you just can't be using your high picks on guys that won't be ready for 2+ years. [Reply]
I've come around to being okay with this pick. Of course, this pick wouldn't be necessary if we hadn't of used our 2nd last year on a waste of a project like Kpass. [Reply]
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
You just described Hali coming out. He only topped 10 sacks in a season 3 times but only had less than 5 twice. Forced 33 fumbles in 9 seasons.
I can't help but see Hali in Speaks, I really like this pick. Not flashy but he's a guy that's just going to keep hammering and never give up.
I agree.
Although, at some point, you've gotta hit a certain threshold of athletic ability which as we saw with Hali once it's gone, it sucks.
I think this will be a good pick. I don't know that it'll be a cornerstone defensive player pick but that's not what you always need. [Reply]
Although, at some point, you've gotta hit a certain threshold of athletic ability which as we saw with Hali once it's gone, it sucks.
I think this will be a good pick. I don't know that it'll be a cornerstone defensive player pick but that's not what you always need.
Only potential cornerstone rushers in this draft were Chubb and Landry. Chiefs weren’t getting a cornerstone player (on paper) bc they didn’t pick until 46.
We need good role players bc this defense really fell apart once our role players in the last wave left (Husain Abdullah, Tyvone Branch, Mike DeVito, Sean Smith).
I think these draft picks were made in mind to just come in and do their job well so they can replace the awful production from last year. [Reply]
Originally Posted by RunKC:
Only potential cornerstone rushers in this draft were Chubb and Landry. Chiefs weren’t getting a cornerstone player (on paper) bc they didn’t pick until 46.
We need good role players bc this defense really fell apart once our role players in the last wave left (Husain Abdullah, Tyvone Branch, Mike DeVito, Sean Smith).
I think these draft picks were made in mind to just come in and do their job well so they can replace the awful production from last year.
Which is fine and a great plan for this year.
I’d like to see us go for the homeruns with next year’s picks though. Even if that means being aggressive and trading up again. [Reply]