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.
People need to understand that you can't hit on every 2nd round pick. The Chiefs hit on Jones and did well with Morse. It would only be normal that they missed on Kpassagnon, who was a low 2nd round pick.
It was always said that he was a project he should be given two more years to prove his worth.
Some fans are so impatient. Look at a guy like Derrick Johnson, a 1st round pick, the guy was JAG until a few years into the league and he went on to have a great career. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Buckweath:
People need to understand that you can't hit on every 2nd round pick. The Chiefs hit on Jones and did well with Morse. It would only be normal that they missed on Kpassagnon, who was a low 2nd round pick.
It was always said that he was a project he should be given two more years to prove his worth.
Some fans are so impatient. Look at a guy like Derrick Johnson, a 1st round pick, the guy was JAG until a few years into the league and he went on to have a great career.
Carl Lawson would have been a nice pick instead. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Best22:
The goal for this draft was to get tougher and meaner in the front 7. A poor run defense prevented us from an AFCCG appearance on 2016. Then Veach and Reid saw KC get pushed around by Tennessee, in Arrowhead, in the playoffs, and said "Never Again."
Speaks is a backup OLB. He will play, and be an important defensive piece. He is already better than old man Hali, and is a much tougher and more physical player than Zombo. Speaks is a big tough guy who isn't gonna get knocked on his ***. Same thing can't be said for Hali or Zombo last year
well, I would say a ROTATIONAL OLB. And on passing downs will be a ROTATIONAL DE/OLB.
I think a part of our problem in recent years has been not only that we've not been a super physical-in-the-trenches-team but also that guys wear down. So Having good depth a nasty streak is crucial to being fresh in the fourth quarter. He'll play, he'll play a lot; whether he opens the game on the first possession or not doesn't matter. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Halfcan:
Definitely, this D has not had that Nasty attitude since the 90's. It is about time to build this Defense up to its former glory to stir the Arrowhead crowd up into a frenzy.
Maybe this might free up Houston from so many double teams as well?
Should. And Dorian O'Daniel should mean he won't have to be in coverage as much. [Reply]
Originally Posted by Chris Meck:
Should. And Dorian O'Daniel should mean he won't have to be in coverage as much.
If it is a passing down- Houston should be rushing the QB- Period. Hopefully, Sutton will get a clue, you don't send your best pass rusher in coverage on 3 and fucking long!! That is when you turn up the heat. :-) [Reply]
Originally Posted by Halfcan:
If it is a passing down- Houston should be rushing the QB- Period. Hopefully, Sutton will get a clue, you don't send your best pass rusher in coverage on 3 and ****ing long!! That is when you turn up the heat. :-)
That drove me fucking crazy this season. Ever since the playoff game against the Steelers. Dropping Houston into coverage, especially on 3rd & long. I might be able to see doing it on 3rd & Under 3 or 4 to take away a quick hitch or slant. But 3rd & 4 or more he needs to be rushing. [Reply]
Originally Posted by kccrow:
Personally, I never really understood the attempt to make Kpass an OLB. Get the guy up to 320 and let him go at DE. Use that length to his advantage rather than asking him to be agiler than he is.
Originally Posted by Halfcan:
If it is a passing down- Houston should be rushing the QB- Period. Hopefully, Sutton will get a clue, you don't send your best pass rusher in coverage on 3 and fucking long!! That is when you turn up the heat. :-)
Houston was wasn't that great rushing the passer last year. If he's not going to get to the QB, putting him in zone coverage isn't a bad idea. Posted via Mobile Device [Reply]
Originally Posted by -King-:
Houston was wasn't that great rushing the passer last year. If he's not going to get to the QB, putting him in zone coverage isn't a bad idea. Posted via Mobile Device
9.5 sacks is not a bad year- especially as much as he dropped back in coverage. We had shit for pass rush on the other side and Sutton only rushed 4 guys a lot, letting teams double Houston.
I expect he will have a much better year- that is if Sutton pulls his head out of his own ass and starts putting some pressure on QBS this year. [Reply]
Originally Posted by petegz28:
I thought the same but the athleticism of players today is not like it used to be.
Tamba made the switch from 275 to around 265 I thought. In the last few years he was playing at 275 and reported in 2014 at 285. I'm sure they'll have Breeland slim it down as much as his frame will allow. [Reply]
