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 Hammock Parties:
This guy needs to show up against starters. Period.
I think he flashed when he was in there. You want a 2nd round project pick to dominate starters in his first preseason game? Strange expectations. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Chiefs=Good:
I think he flashed when he was in there. You want a 2nd round project pick to dominate starters in his first preseason game? Strange expectations.
He didn't flash for shit in the first half. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Hammock Parties:
He didn't flash for shit in the first half.
Your expectations are wildly different to mine. so yeah, I'm sure he didn't 'flash' in your opinion. I'm not expecting him to wreck shit. I liked the way he held up against the run on the few plays that Ive re-watched. I like his hand- use/placement and leverage. If nothing else i think he flashed the ability to be stout against the run, he looks STRONG. Unfortunately gamepass wont let me go any further back than the 8ish minute mark, but that's my view so far. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Chiefs=Good:
Your expectations are wildly different to mine. so yeah, I'm sure he didn't 'flash' in your opinion. I'm not expecting him to wreck shit. I liked the way he held up against the run on the few plays that Ive re-watched. I like his hand- use/placement and leverage. If nothing else i think he flashed the ability to be stout against the run, he looks STRONG. Unfortunately gamepass wont let me go any further back than the 8ish minute mark, but that's my view so far.
Our whole draft made no sense the day after the draft and it still makes no sense now. We haven't even heard of a rookie flashing for even just a day during training camp. Posted via Mobile Device [Reply]
Originally Posted by -King-:
Our whole draft made no sense the day after the draft and it still makes no sense now. We haven't even heard of a rookie flashing for even just a day during training camp. Posted via Mobile Device
It’s shaping up to be that Veach prioritized bringing on “right mentality role players” throughout the draft and used them to replace certain former role players. Speaks for instance always came off to me as the Zombo “high motor/effort” guy who you could put in on rotational snaps when your main guys were hurt or injured and provide some value.
It may not be sexy or whatbyoud desire out of a 2nd pick, but I think having your expectations much higher than that will lead you to disappointment and disdain. [Reply]
He looked slower than Tamba Hali...didn't think that was possible.
Isn't that what most people were complaining about when it came to Hali?
Chiefs traded up to get this guy...I have no idea why, still don't. Never liked the pick, didn't watch him a lot in college but from stuff I've seen he looks slow as piss.
Originally Posted by CoMoChief:
He looked slower than Tamba Hali...didn't think that was possible.
Isn't that what most people were complaining about when it came to Hali?
Chiefs traded up to get this guy...I have no idea why, still don't. Never liked the pick, didn't watch him a lot in college but from stuff I've seen he looks slow as piss.
Oh but he has a mean bull rush.
BFD
Yep. I never liked the pick either and admittedly my opinion on the guy was / is negatively biased because of it. BUT, seems justified based on what I saw last night. He looked VERY slow - like he was running through Jello...And when he did get to the QB last night - he didn't wrap him up and make the tackle.
Yes - only the 1st preseason game and it usually takes D Lineman a longer time to develop, but I'll still never understand why we traded up to get this guy. Seems he would have been there later. [Reply]
