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FordFairLane draft grades

Yeah O-line depth is solid IMO. We have starting experience behind the starters.

A lot better than FS where there is a 2nd year FS conversion project, and very little else. Unless they think Edmunds can man the position in a emergency... Or another corner. Regardless that is some big question marks. Bigger than any other position where depth is questioned.Even at TE as Grimble has at least some experience in game time situations. Not that TE isn't a close second in depth concerns.
 
Sutton Smith Edge NIU

Dude might be the most productive player we have ever drafted. 56 TFL and 29 sacks the last two seasons. WOW. He is like mighty mouse out there but is a special teams stud and I feel that is where he makes his money.

Pros- Quick off the snap and gets low to turn the corner. Non stop motor and is always running hot. Very agile and has good feet movement. Outstanding special teamer and plays those snaps with same intensity.

Cons- Drastically undersized with short arms and small hands. Not sure he will even have a position.

C

Sutton Smith 6'1" 234 lbs (listed college height & weight)
Greg Lloyd 6'2" 228 lbs (listed college height & weight)

Excellent write up BTW, thanks for sharing. And I'm not saying Sutton Smith is the next Greg Lloyd or anything, but after watching a lot of this guy's tape, holy ****! This guy has an array of pass rush moves, great hands, elite pad level/bend and a non-stop motor (pretty much what you said). Do you really think he couldn't see time in some packages and maybe bulk up a little? And as James Harrison can attest to, those shorter guys can be a ***** to block sometimes. I'm pretty excited about this guy. Oh, and they both came from pretty small colleges.
 
Sutton Smith 6'1" 234 lbs (listed college height & weight)
Greg Lloyd 6'2" 228 lbs (listed college height & weight)

Excellent write up BTW, thanks for sharing. And I'm not saying Sutton Smith is the next Greg Lloyd or anything, but after watching a lot of this guy's tape, holy ****! This guy has an array of pass rush moves, great hands, elite pad level/bend and a non-stop motor (pretty much what you said). Do you really think he couldn't see time in some packages and maybe bulk up a little? And as James Harrison can attest to, those shorter guys can be a ***** to block sometimes. I'm pretty excited about this guy. Oh, and they both came from pretty small colleges.

The problem with Smith is that he has very short arms. That's a huge disadvantage for an outside pass rusher. OT's tend to have very long arms and if the pass rusher has short arms, it usually means the OT can grab him and control him.

Smith's best shot is to either become an ILB or if he stays at OLB, he better hit the weight room because he will have to be a bull rusher like Harrison. OTs always got their hands on Harrison but he was able to power through them
 
regarding the draft for need I kind of agree but not completely, 1st round? for sure #1 need no doubt. But you can see in picks like Juju WR, Washington WR, Chuck Okorafor OT, that they also draft thinking on the future. Chuck has a very high ceiling, Washington had a high floor, Juju had both, but neither of them was a Need when drafted. So they use mid round picks for depth too.
 
And I'm not saying Sutton Smith is the next Greg Lloyd or anything, but after watching a lot of this guy's tape, holy ****!

I know, right? Dude simply blows past offensive tackles as if they are cones.

No surprise that he posted a combine-best (LB'er, edge) of 6.75 in the 3-cone, measuring change of direction. His 3-cone was significantly better than Josh Allen's, Brian Burns, and better even than skill players like Noah Fant, Deebo Samuel, etc. In fact, his 3-cone would have been the best for any WR in the 2019 combine, the best for any running back, and the 4th best among cornerbacks.
 
I know, right? Dude simply blows past offensive tackles as if they are cones.

No surprise that he posted a combine-best (LB'er, edge) of 6.75 in the 3-cone, measuring change of direction. His 3-cone was significantly better than Josh Allen's, Brian Burns, and better even than skill players like Noah Fant, Deebo Samuel, etc. In fact, his 3-cone would have been the best for any WR in the 2019 combine, the best for any running back, and the 4th best among cornerbacks.

That 3-cone is phenomenal. And didn't he put up 25 reps on the BP? So he's not just pure speed & technique, this dude is pretty strong already. And are his arms that much shorter than Deebo or Greg Lloyd? Get him back in the weight room & bulk up and let's see what happens. I'm just gonna say I'm a fan and I think he can become something in this league. His height, weight, conference or short arms be damned.
 
These certain benchmarks at various positions are there for a reason. It's because if you don't have certain measurables it is much harder to succeed. It's different measurables for each position.

This time of year fans love to just throw this stuff aside. It's like playing poker. Sure, you can win the hand with a pair of 7s but it's not a good bet if there's a king sitting in the river.

Every year we hear it with the short QBs. They will bring up Drew Brees as proof that a short QB can make it. But they just ignore that hundreds of QBs his size who didn't make it.

The game has artificially changed over the last few years due to rule changes so now smaller players do have a better chance, but the fact still remains that it is harder for small people to play NFL football.
 
These certain benchmarks at various positions are there for a reason. It's because if you don't have certain measurables it is much harder to succeed. It's different measurables for each position.

This time of year fans love to just throw this stuff aside. It's like playing poker. Sure, you can win the hand with a pair of 7s but it's not a good bet if there's a king sitting in the river.

Every year we hear it with the short QBs. They will bring up Drew Brees as proof that a short QB can make it. But they just ignore that hundreds of QBs his size who didn't make it.

The game has artificially changed over the last few years due to rule changes so now smaller players do have a better chance, but the fact still remains that it is harder for small people to play NFL football.

I'm not sure there currently are any successful edge rushers in the league with Smith's body-type.

He has a lot to overcome, but he was worth a 6th round pick, given his other attributes.

He seems like the kind of player who can bring considerable value, even if it's just in a depth/special teams capacity.
 
I'm not sure there currently are any successful edge rushers in the league with Smith's body-type.

He has a lot to overcome, but he was worth a 6th round pick, given his other attributes.

He seems like the kind of player who can bring considerable value, even if it's just in a depth/special teams capacity.

If you watch his highlight reel he had a few huge special teams plays and to make the team he’s going to have display those in camp and during preseason.

My thoughts are if he can show some ability and upside he makes the practice squad. With professional weight training and diet he comes to camp in 2020 to try to Chickillo’s roster spot.


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