
Forum �bersicht Suche Login Registrieren Forums-Blog Landkarte

13	Dezember 2018

2019 NFL Draft Watch: 5 prospects to watch during Week 5

#12 West Virginia at #25 Texas Tech Detroit Lions Hats , 12:00 p.m. EST, ESPN2West Virginia QB Will Grier, 6-foot-2, 232 pounds (RS Senior)Grier is having a great start to his senior campaign, currently leading the Big 12 in passing touchdowns (14), completion percentage (74.7), yards per attempt (11.8) and passing efficiency (215.8)�he�s also top-five in the NCAA in all of these categories.Though he wasn�t much of a household name to start the year, Grier�s hot start is earning him some early Heisman buzz. He has shown the ability to throw accurately in a clean pocket, but also with a defender in his face. Grier is a solid athlete and is able to escape the pocket to make plays with his feet if needed, and he has also been praised for some of his intagibles�his leadership included.If I were a betting man�and I am�I would put a sizable amount of money on the Lions drafting a QB in the later rounds of the upcoming NFL Draft. They already have professional clipboard holders backing up Matthew Stafford, but what they need is some real, honest to god talent at the backup QB spot. Grier may be available later in the draft, and would be an immediate upgrade at throwing the ball over both Matt Cassel and Jake Rudock. Texas TechS Jah�Shawn Johnson, 5-foot-10, 185 pounds (Senior)Johnson is the heart and soul of the Texas Tech defense and you can see their struggles when they�re missing him. When the Red Raiders got him back for their matchup against Oklahoma State in Week4�after recovering from his shoulder injury�there was a noticeable improvement all across the secondary. Here�s what TTU head coach, Kliff Kingsbury, had to say about his defense following their win over OSU:Although a bit undersized, Johnson is sticky and plays the ball well in man coverage and is quick to close in zone, always making himself one of the first players to the ball on defense. The Lions are going to need help at safety with Quin possibly regressing and Tavon Wilson struggling at times. The front office will love Johnson�s ability to play the pass, the run, and even provide some value as a pass rusher. He�s as versatile as they come and would be a great addition to Patricia�s secondary.#4 Ohio State at #9 Penn State, 7:30 p.m. EST, ABCOhio StateWell Detroit Lions Womens Hoodie , we already highlighted Nick Bosa back in Week 1, and while it�s early, I feel pretty confident right now that Bosa would be long gone by the time the Lions are on the board at the end of the first round�32nd overall pick, obviously. So let�s focus on some other draft-eligible prospects from OSU.RB Mike Weber, 5-foot-10, 214 pounds (RS Junior)With the Lions possibly parting ways with Ameer Abdullah after this year and having LeGarrette Blount on a one-year rental�and the slight chance of maybe getting rid of Theo Riddick, who may be seen as a cap casualty to some�there is a possibility the Lions may have a hole at the RB position heading into next year�s draft, despite trading up for Kerryon Johnson in the second round in 2018. I have a hard time believing the Lions would snag another RB in the early rounds, but I wouldn�t be surprised should they look for one a little later on.Weber�s small stature and injury concerns could push him down into the mid-to-late rounds of the draft, and could be a solid option for the Lions if they�re looking for extra depth. Kerryon has been lights out for the Lions in all phases of the game. Whether it�s running up the middle, getting outside on a toss play, or setting up on a screen to utilize his speed in the open field, Johnson has done it all�including lining up as a receiver and in pass protection.Weber is a little more one-dimensional and is more of a pure runner. When he�s healthy, he is extremely tough to bring down. He runs with a low center of gravity and has very good contact balance, often maximizing his yardage for the Buckeyes offense. If the Lions are serious about improving the run game for years to come, and are looking to get younger at the position, Weber would be a nice addition and could possibly be had in the mid-to-later rounds of the draft.IDL Robert Landers, 6-foot-1, 283 pounds (RS Junior)Landers isn�t the type of defensive lineman that Bob Quinn or Matt Patricia have been adding recently, per se. He�s more of an explosive pass rusher, and as you can see, not quite as heavy as the types of D-linemen the Lions have been looking for. However, while he is an exciting pass rusher and has an elite first step Womens Customized Detroit Lions Jerseys , Landers is also very strong and difficult to move at the point of attack. His hand usage is above-average, and he does a nice job of staying low to gain leverage.Landers should be available for Saturday night�s game after dealing with an undisclosed injury and missing last week�s win over Tulane, despite being listed as �probable.�Penn StateCB Amani Oruwariye, 6-foot-1, 203 pounds (RS Senior)Oruwariye has seen plenty of game action for the Nittany Lions, but this is his first year starting and has already made a name for himself notching three turnovers (two interceptions, one forced fumble) in four games. He has great size for the position, decent speed, and doesn�t appear to be lacking as an athlete. Oruwariye is constantly glued to his receiver. Combine that with his impressive wingspan, superior leaping ability, and magnificent ball skills, he�s got a chance to disrupt nearly every pass thrown his way.Though his calling card appears to be his ability to shut down opposing receivers in man-coverage right now, he�s not a shy tackler by any means, and his willingness and ability to make tackles in the open field is one of Oruwariye�s many strengths. Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian spent the offseason, training camp and preseason fine-tuning an Atlanta offense that's expected to be elite in his second year.When the Falcons and Eagles open the NFL regular season Thursday night in Philadelphia, Sarkisian will be back in his role as play-caller, giving him a chance to move past some of the disappointment of eight months ago."To say that we had a fourth-and-goal at the 2 against the team that went on to the win the Super Bowl and it was a bang-bang play tells you that we're very close, and it's been this offseason of getting over that hump," Sarkisian told The Associated Press this week."So we're very hungry and looking forward to the opportunity."Sarkisian's first season wasn't exactly a bust. The offense led the NFL in third-down percentage and ranked eighth in passing as Atlanta went 10-6 and won a wild-card playoff game at the Los Angeles Rams.But the Falcons dropped from first in scoring to 15th. Quarterback Matt Ryan, the league MVP the year before, threw 18 fewer touchdowns, was intercepted five additional times and had his passer rating fall over 16 points from the NFL's best.Even worse, the offense developed a reputation for being predictable. Atlanta scored its only touchdown in the divisional playoff game after the Eagles lost a fumble at their 18-yard line. The Falcons www.lionscheapstore.com , who were favored to win, went scoreless in the second half.Yet they still had a chance to sneak away with a win before it all fell apart at the 2.With the ball on the left hash mark, the Eagles said they knew the call before the snap as soon as tight end Levine Toilolo motioned right across the formation . They had only one half of the field to defend as Ryan rolled right and came under quick pressure.Julio Jones, the star receiver and obvious target, fell down in the right side of the end zone, but got up quickly enough against cornerback Jalen Mills to turn and face the quarterback. Ryan lofted up a perfect pass. The ball went through Jones' hands .Sarkisian, a former head coach at Washington and Southern Cal, has been through similar moments before, but this was his first big test as a coordinator in the NFL. He said he did the best he could."You put together a plan throughout the week and you get into situations and things are going accordingly, you trust the plan," he said.The Falcons are hoping to improve in Sarkisian's second year the way they did in the second season of his predecessor, Kyle Shanhan, who called the plays that helped Atlanta win the 2016 NFC title.Sarkisian said he feels more comfortable this time around, and it's obvious why.Ryan and Jones and center Alex Mack are three of the league's best at their positions. Running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman are tough to defend in the open field and the receiving corps that still includes dependable veteran Mohamed Sanu and added Alabama receiver Calvin Ridley as a first-round pick.The biggest issue is getting the ball to Jones more often in the red zone. Sarkisian was heavily criticized last year for not having Jones, a two-time All-Pro, dialed in more often as Ryan's No. 1 option inside the opponents' 20."I think I'd be remiss not to say we need to get No. 11 the ball," Sarkisian said, "and we need to make sure you defend No. 11, and Julio demands coverage that way."Notes: Long snapper Josh Harris was limited in practice Tuesday after missing Monday's session with a hip injury. Coach Dan Quinn said he Harris will be a game-time decision. Two reserves, G Ben Garland and CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson, will not play, but the Falcons are otherwise healthy.