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 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.
His pursuit chasing plays down field is fun to watch. That’s all hustle and want to. It’s what lead to people calling Hali relentless [Reply]
Originally Posted by booger:
His pursuit chasing plays down field is fun to watch. That’s all hustle and want to. It’s what lead to people calling Hali relentless
Yup. It’s amazing how many people in this thread went back and “watched the tape” and weren’t impressed enough to even mention it either. [Reply]
Originally Posted by staylor26:
Yup. It’s amazing how many people in this thread went back and “watched the tape” and weren’t impressed enough to even mention it either.
He’s got that lead in his ass too. The great first step guys, the 250# who may even have played off the ball so people like that ability to be able to drop. But I like going with a guy with some size at the Rush end/backer spot. He should hold up in the run game better. Teach him to drop and see how he does. Love his Hali like traits and we have really missed them/him. With all the boxes he checks those guys don’t grow on trees [Reply]
Originally Posted by staylor26:
That’s kccrow for you.
He swears the only reason he isn’t an NFL scout/personnel guy is because he chose not to be.
I might have missed some posts but I think his overall point was that scouting is as much about effort and will as it is knowledge, at least at the lower levels. I don't really disagree. [Reply]
Originally Posted by NJChiefsFan: I might have missed some posts but I think his overall point was that scouting is as much about effort and will as it is knowledge, at least at the lower levels. I don't really disagree.
Originally Posted by RunKC:
I really would not be surprised if Veach traded our Rams 2nd (assuming it’s still there) for one of those top flight edge rusher or rushing DL.
There’s some elite level prospects coming out next year that shit all over this class.
Nope. If edge rushers are the strength of the class, I doubt that we get any. We didn't go after DB's in this draft or WR's in 2015 when that was the strength of that class despite having a need at the position in both draft. No, we'll be going after DB's next year. [Reply]
Originally Posted by O.city:
I would like to use that 2nd to get up higher in the first if they need to. Get an elite prospect.
If not though, 3 picks in top 50 next year will be nice.
I don't want our 2nd round pick to be in the top 50. 50 means we missed the playoffs. I would prefer it to be pick 64. And there's a good chance that the Rams pick isn't in the top 50 either. They were pretty good last year and improved their roster a lot, on paper anyway. So, our first rround pick could be the only one in the top 50. [Reply]
Originally Posted by jjchieffan:
I don't want our 2nd round pick to be in the top 50. 50 means we missed the playoffs. I would prefer it to be pick 64. And there's a good chance that the Rams pick isn't in the top 50 either. They were pretty good last year and improved their roster a lot, on paper anyway. So, our first rround pick could be the only one in the top 50.
So the Rams vs Chiefs game, if we win we could earn a couple spots highter draft pick from them. Nice [Reply]