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.
Speaks last pass rush snap vs Jax 2nd string LT (3rd string LT, who is a backup RG, comes in after this). You can't lose this rep with the OT's technique, just can't. OT has his entire weight on his post foot, is bent as much as possible at the waist, and doesn't move his feet. pic.twitter.com/wxo7sEg0wE
Originally Posted by The Pest:
Not much we can do about him now. Give him an offseason and see if he loses fat/gains muscle and go from there. Oh ****ing well....
We can say with confidence that he's not a blue chip talent.
He lacks athleticism. He doesn't have a strong base and has poor balance. The LT jabs him with an arm and he's knocked on his ass. Clear evidence of a lack of balance and lower body strength.
He did influence some plays on Sunday. I expect a much, much improved Breeland Speaks next season.
If he hasn't taken significant steps forward ala Kpasso, then yeah that "bust" label will be waiting for him.
We took him in the 2nd but he looks like a 4th-5th round talent so far. [Reply]
Speaks last pass rush snap vs Jax 2nd string LT (3rd string LT, who is a backup RG, comes in after this). You can't lose this rep with the OT's technique, just can't. OT has his entire weight on his post foot, is bent as much as possible at the waist, and doesn't move his feet. pic.twitter.com/wxo7sEg0wE
Originally Posted by Detoxing:
We can say with confidence that he's not a blue chip talent.
He lacks athleticism. He doesn't have a strong base and has poor balance. The LT jabs him with an arm and he's knocked on his ass. Clear evidence of a lack of balance and lower body strength.
He did influence some plays on Sunday. I expect a much, much improved Breeland Speaks next season.
If he hasn't taken significant steps forward ala Kpasso, then yeah that "bust" label will be waiting for him.
We took him in the 2nd but he looks like a 4th-5th round talent so far.
All true. Hopefully he improves next season. Honestly.....I'd be looking to slap the transition tag on Ford after this season (as long as he can stay healthy). Let him find out what he's worth in FA and then determine if he's worth that here. [Reply]
Speaks last pass rush snap vs Jax 2nd string LT (3rd string LT, who is a backup RG, comes in after this). You can't lose this rep with the OT's technique, just can't. OT has his entire weight on his post foot, is bent as much as possible at the waist, and doesn't move his feet. pic.twitter.com/wxo7sEg0wE
FFS the guy can’t take advantage of a 3rd string LT? What was it that Veach saw in this guy?
Just saw this
#Chiefs’ rookie Breeland Speaks made his presence felt against the Jaguars, totaling seven pressures (2 QB Hits and 5 QB Hurries) on a career-high 56 defensive snaps. He played a combined 60 defensive snaps in weeks 1-4, per @PFF. pic.twitter.com/0sacM3II3B
Originally Posted by The Pest:
All true. Hopefully he improves next season. Honestly.....I'd be looking to slap the transition tag on Ford after this season (as long as he can stay healthy). Let him find out what he's worth in FA and then determine if he's worth that here.
Fuck, the Ford decision is going to be hard. The physical ability is there. It's always been there. He's flashed before.
We all pretty much figured he'd have a great season this year because Contract Year.
And despite his contract year effort and 10+ sack talent, he STILL can't stay on the field.
It's not Ford's ability that im worried about. Never has been. The man just can't stay healthy. [Reply]
#Chiefs’ rookie Breeland Speaks made his presence felt against the Jaguars, totaling seven pressures (2 QB Hits and 5 QB Hurries) on a career-high 56 defensive snaps. He played a combined 60 defensive snaps in weeks 1-4, per @PFF. pic.twitter.com/0sacM3II3B
I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt because I haven’t seen the film yet, only the live action.
I’ll look tonight. If I’m wrong I’ll happily eat my crow.
He had several pressures that i can recall. I know he influenced some throws. I didn't watch him closely, but i do know he had some influence. I don't know to what consistency though. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Detoxing:
****, the Ford decision is going to be hard. The physical ability is there. It's always been there. He's flashed before.
We all pretty much figured he'd have a great season this year because Contract Year.
And despite his contract year effort and 10+ sack talent, he STILL can't stay on the field.
It's not Ford's ability that im worried about. Never has been. The man just can't stay healthy.
Yeah, dudes putting it all together this year. He's playing thru some injuries as well, but just gets dinged a lot.
But fuck, at this point, is he up there in terms of all pro type stuff? I mean, he's been a force. [Reply]