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.
Winning the SB without him was probably the best thing that could’ve happened to him. As a 2nd round pick entering year 3 and dangerously close to being a bust, we’re at least going to get the best version of him we’ve seen thus far.
I honestly think he’ll be a pleasant surprise if for no other reason than the expectations are SO low. [Reply]
Originally Posted by staylor26:
Winning the SB without him was probably the best thing that could’ve happened to him. As a 2nd round pick entering year 3 and dangerously close to being a bust, we’re at least going to get the best version of him we’ve seen thus far.
I honestly think he’ll be a pleasant surprise if for no other reason than the expectations are SO low.
Was going to disagree, but your last sentence nailed it. Shit, at this point I'd be pleasantly surprised if he can run out on to the field without tripping. [Reply]
Originally Posted by kcclone:
He has but the numbers won’t work for the Chiefs to give it out with the cap going down and Mahomes still out there.
Shitty timing for Jones. I don’t blame him for sitting out of camp, but I’ll be shocked if he doesn’t play on the tag for $16m
Don't blame Jones. Frank Clark is making over $25 million each of the next 3 seasons, money that rightfully should have gone to Jones. It really doesn't make sense to give that money to Clark, while also leaving Jones in limbo with no long term contract and not being willing to trade him either. It's kind of a big middle finger to Jones. [Reply]
Originally Posted by OKchiefs:
Don't blame Jones. Frank Clark is making over $25 million each of the next 3 seasons, money that rightfully should have gone to Jones. It really doesn't make sense to give that money to Clark, while also leaving Jones in limbo with no long term contract and not being willing to trade him either. It's kind of a big middle finger to Jones.
Bullshit we didn’t get to the SB without him, Jones didn’t make it happen yr before and he missed a playoff game this passed season. We need both of them to be successful again [Reply]
Originally Posted by R Clark:
Bullshit we didn’t get to the SB without him, Jones didn’t make it happen yr before and he missed a playoff game this passed season. We need both of them to be successful again
We have Mahomes, we don't NEED anyone other than him. That doesn't mean we don't need a good team around Mahomes, but any other player is replaceable.
Chris Jones absolutely deserves his $20+ million a season based on the market, but how are they going to pay him and Frank Clark both close to $50 million combined? The only possible way I see it happening is if they can backload Jones' contract, because Clark can be cut with $21 million in cap savings. At that point you'd have hopefully drafted a high level DE to replace Clark. [Reply]