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 Detoxing:
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.
He looked pretty good against Jacksonville. Going to need him to be even better against New England. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Halfcan:
I thought he had a pretty solid game. Not sure what you guys expect in 4 games?
It seems a lot of hate is because guys on here wanted a different player instead, and are viewing his development with jaded glasses on.
No hate at all. I've been preaching patience since the preseason.
But IMO, he's behind the curve for a 2nd round pick. He's not as athletic/developed as you'd hope.
Right now he has the look of a player that can develop into a solid starter. He doesn't show the flashes you'd see from a "star" talent. He's looking like a mid-ceiling guy right now, assuming he reaches that potential. [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
Good job planting and transitioning into a bull rush by Breeland Speaks. If he punches and extends his arms here he has a sack but the raw power is impressive. LT for Jax at this point isn't great but he's stout and powerful. pic.twitter.com/c5qdXsQV2r
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
We traded up for him. And SEVERAL guys drafted right around him are contributing at a high level.
I don't think anybody is being unreasonable considering those 2 facts.
That is a separate issue- Speaks didn't control where he was drafted. So far it looks like Veech reached a little on the pick- but people are basically writing him off as a bust in 4 games. The ones that hated the pick because they wanted their guy instead have been the most critical.
Go back and watch the Jags game- Speaks was in Bortle's head. So he took a few bad angles and looked like a rookie on some snaps- Speaks still played with a lot of energy and that fumble recovery was huge since it instantly negated the interception.
All those QB hits and pressures plus a fumble recovery was a decent game- except for Speaks- he is still called fat and slow. :-) [Reply]
The 2018 Chiefs had a VERY shitty draft. Enjoyed the Watts pick, but that was it.
Speaks and O'Daniel were very boneheaded picks by the Chiefs. I'm not sure why you'd draft 2 projects early when there are glaring holes in many areas on the team.
Arden Key, Lorenzo Carter, were available both much better OLB's than Speaks
Reid should have Speaks playing w/ his hand in the dirt, tell him to gain 10-15 lbs. [Reply]
The 2018 Chiefs had a VERY shitty draft. Enjoyed the Watts pick, but that was it.
Speaks and O'Daniel were very boneheaded picks by the Chiefs. I'm not sure why you'd draft 2 projects early when there are glaring holes in many areas on the team.
Arden Key, Lorenzo Carter, were available both much better OLB's than Speaks
Reid should have Speaks playing w/ his hand in the dirt, tell him to gain 10-15 lbs.
Derrick Nnandi has been a quality player. He was a great pick for the third rd. [Reply]
