Originally Posted by :
Bolton played in all 13 games as a true freshman (22 tackles, one sack) after earning Dallas Morning News first-team all-state honors at Lone Star High School (130 tackles, 16 for loss, five interceptions). He went from promising youngster to SEC star in 2019, earning first-team all-conference honors after leading the league with 8.9 tackles per game (107 total, 7.5 for loss), intercepting two passes and breaking up eight others in 12 starts. He was named second-team Associated Press All-American, first-team All-SEC and a Butkus Award finalist in 2020, leading his defense with 95 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss (including two sacks), while breaking up five passes in 10 starts. Bolton's father, Carlos, played football at Louisiana Tech. -- by Chad Reuter
Overview
When you think about strong, forceful inside linebackers, Bolton is the type of player you might be envisioning. He's going to fall below typical NFL starter standards from a size standpoint, but his rugged frame and forceful demeanor help make up for it. Play recognition and pursuit instincts help carry him to the football and he's a message-sending striker when he gets the runner squared up. He has functional short-area burst between the tackles but will struggle to run down the outside run if he's not close enough to the action. He will need to lean heavier on his instincts to help speed him up because of size and speed limitations. Bolton plays with good field recognition when dropping into zone and has a history of making plays on the football in coverage. He's a three-down linebacker who can make an immediate contribution on special teams and has the potential to become a future starter. Strengths
Very tough with a physical edge.
Plays with demeanor teams look for in the middle.
Field-savvy with instincts to diagnose misdirection.
Identifies and communicates.
Heavy hands with good pop to take on blocks.
Pursues ball-carrier with patience and leverage.
Fluid alterations to his pursuit angles.
Excellent feel for attack timing downhill.
Meets runners with violent collisions in the hole.
Strikes like he's trying to send a message.
Great awareness and ballhawking as spot dropper.
Has enough man-cover talent to play on all three downs.
Thrived on kick- and punt-cover teams early in his career.
Weaknesses
Average lateral quickness traps him behind climbing blocks.
Inconsistent to strike and separate from blockers.
Needs to improve angles to elude box traffic.
Might need to take a few more chances as a pro.
Top-end speed appears below average.
Loses ground when pursuit flows wide.
Below-average lateral agility as open-field tackler.
Will have to play quicker to deal with NFL slashers.
Originally Posted by Tribal Warfare:
Not bitching at all, but just want individuals to temper their expectations, because if the safe football player moniker is telling what to expect.
My expectations are already tempered. I said as much the minute he was drafted.
But there's a difference between being realistic about his upside and flat out hating the pick.
Some of the stuff being said about him isn't even remotely true. [Reply]
The Devin Bush comparison is an interesting and apt one... if you say he's Devin Bush minus the elite-elite athleticism (so about 80-85 percent of Devin Bush).
He's a smart LB who will QB the defense, defend the run well, handle short area pass defense adequately against most targets, and in general be an above-average contributor.
In all, that's a pretty good player and a solid get in the second round. [Reply]
Originally Posted by RunKC:
He’s a straight line short area speed type of player. As in you better make the right read because his lateral and side to side speed is below average
Again, can you make up your mind?
When it comes to Kaindoh, you’re all about production.
Well, Bolton was the SEC leading tackler. He’s an extremely productive guy that looks more athletic on tape, in terms of play speed, than you guys are giving him credit for.
So which is it? Do you want production or athleticism? Because you’re really contradicting yourself with your criticism of those two picks. [Reply]
Originally Posted by staylor26:
Again, can you make up your mind?
When it comes to Kaindoh, you’re all about production.
Well, Bolton was the SEC leading tackler. He’s an extremely productive guy that looks more athletic on tape, in terms of play speed, than you guys are giving him credit for.
So which is it? Do you want production or athleticism? Because you’re really contradicting yourself with your criticism of those two picks.
You ideally want both. As in what 4 of our 6 drafted players have. [Reply]
The Chiefs got their high upside freakish athleticism/size LB last year in the 2nd round. They also got a good/safe football player at edge rusher on day 3.
This year, they got a good/safe football player at LB in the 2nd, and a high upside freakish athleticism/size guy at edge rusher on day 3.
We didn’t need another Gay and Danna this year. We needed a future replacement for Hitchens that can make all of the calls and be a leader on D, along with a high upside edge rusher that could be a long term starter. [Reply]
Originally Posted by staylor26:
Yea, but you don’t get elite production AND elite athleticism outside of the 1st round.
If you want to hit a HR or you want a really good and safe football player, you aren’t getting both.
You can get good production outside of the first rd. Circumstance dictates that and Humphrey, Gray, Powell and Smith are shining examples of it [Reply]
Originally Posted by RunKC:
You can get good production outside of the first rd. Circumstance dictates that and Humphrey, Gray, Powell and Smith are shining examples of it
Yea you can get good production and good athleticism outside of the 1st round.
Originally Posted by staylor26:
Yea you can get good production and good athleticism outside of the 1st round.
Bolton has elite production.
Kaindoh has elite athleticism/size.
There’s an obvious difference.
Creed Humphrey had elite production and elite athleticism. No sacks allowed and started at OU as a Sophomore. 2X Big 12 OL of the year. 2nd team All Big 12 as a sophomore. 2X All Big 12 First team as a Jr and Sr
Cornell Powell was top 20 in yards and TD’s in all of CFB on a stacked team and he tested very well for his size.
Trey Smith was an absolute monster. 2X All SEC first team. Elite athleticism/measurables
Originally Posted by RunKC:
Creed Humphrey had elite production and elite athleticism. No sacks allowed and started at OU as a Sophomore. 2X Big 12 OL of the year. 2nd team All Big 12 as a sophomore. 2X All Big 12 First team as a Jr and Sr
Cornell Powell was top 20 in yards and TD’s in all of CFB on a stacked team and he tested very well for his size.
Trey Smith was an absolute monster. 2X All SEC first team. Elite athleticism/measurables
Humphrey and Smith are unique in that they play OL, and in particular IOL.
You can’t quantify “production” on the OL and you get those kinds of guys outside of round 1 only because of positional value (or in Smith’s case injury concerns as well).
I think it’s definitely debatable that Smith had elite production. He’s a bit more of a projection based on size and athleticism and plenty of flashes on tape. He’s not there yet though, which is why he won’t be starting until next year at least.
Humphrey might be the one guy I wouldn’t push back much on, but between a VERY deep OL class and positional value, he is absolutely the rare exception to the rule.
Powell is such a weak attempt it’s laughable. He wasn’t productive at all until the last several games of his entire career, and his measurables are absolutely not elite.
I’m not using the word elite nearly as lightly as you are. Bolton’s production and Kaindoh’s athleticism are truly elite. [Reply]
Originally Posted by htismaqe:
He was an all-SEC linebacker known for being the opposite of up and down.
Have you even watched him play? Go read some scouting reports, you'll find that what you're saying has no basis in actual reality.
Yeah, I am a Jayhawk, and I love this pick. He is just a football player. He doesn't care what his 40 time is, or his shuttle time, etc. He just makes tackles, and then makes more tackles, and then blows someone up, and goes back to making tackles.
I think he is going to be a big favorite, if not by mid-season, surely by the end of the season. In a couple of years when he is leading the team in tackles and is running the defense, people here will be claiming that they always knew he would turn out so well.
Damn veach to hell what was he thinking drafting this guy? He better pull his head out of his ass and get this draft business figured out. Bolton is going to make someone feel pretty foolish by yrs end [Reply]
