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 Molitoth:
With the NFL rules in place on the QB, what was he really to do? He thought Brady threw the ball and he didn't want to get a roughing the passer call.
I blame the NFL and it's pussy rules.
This, all day long. That was a lose-lose situation for him there and it cost us. Next time he will stop thinking about it and put the QB down. And most likely wind up with a killer penalty and possible fine as a result. [Reply]
You morons realize he had a solid game, right? Sack, FF, FR, and a couple hits. Even if he sacks Brady at the end....ref threw the flag AS SOON AS Brady was touched. The bail out flag was thrown. [Reply]
Originally Posted by The Pest:
Was that Speaks? I must have missed it when I was screaming for someone to kill Brady when he was on the ground. Anyone have a gif?
This was a really bad fumble by Tom Brady in his own territory. Has to get rid of the ball here. pic.twitter.com/dG7oOHNoix
Originally Posted by -King-:
That was the coveragest of coverage sacks. Tom held on to the ball for 6 seconds. Posted via Mobile Device
Nobody was saying it was a spectacular play.
Doesn’t change the fact that Speaks continues to get pressure and like BCD said above me, he was damn close to having 2 sacks in his first start.
The point is, for clearly looking out of position, he really hasn’t been that bad. We need to give him a full offseason to really see what he can do. The question is, does he lose some weight and stay at OLB or bulk up and move to DE? [Reply]
Originally Posted by BigCatDaddy:
He was still a goofy play from recording 2 sacks. Ill take that every game
I get all the talk about him being fat and possibly miscast as an OLB, but the kid has tremendous natural strength and clear upside... be it as a slimmed down OLB or beefed up 43 DE
Just 6 games into a 2nd round rookies transition to the NFL, then throw a position change in for good measure?
I'm definitely seeing enough to say... Stay Calm, and Carry On [Reply]