Post by Uncle on Jan 1, 2021 10:41:51 GMT -6
Here are the players/prospects I'm keeping an eye on in terms of the 2021 Draft today:
Peach Bowl
- Georgia QB JT Daniel: potential "groomer" behind Kirk if we go that route. Transfer from USC; he's getting some late buzz after he came on in 2nd half of season.
- Georgia CB Tyson Campbell: Dawgs have a talented secondary but Campbell is the only one playing (rest have opted out), and Desmond Ridder isn't exactly the most prolific passer in college. He should dominate when the ball comes his way...we'll see.
- Georgia CB/S Mark Webb: was initially a WR, but Kirby Smart transferred him to DB. With some Georgia DB's opting out of this game, this is his opportunity to put something on tape. He's a Day 3 option at safety for us.
- Georgia NT Jordan Davis: we're all hoping for Pierce to come back, but Davis is a possible Day 2 target.
- Georgia OLB/EDGE Azeez Ojulari: I think he's more a OLB in a 3-4 so I don't think he'll be on Zimmer/Patterson's radar this offseason, but we'll see. Again, Cincy's OL isn't that great so he "should" dominate if he's an early Rd target.
- Georgia DE Malik Herring/DT Devonte Wyatt: both are 4th/5th/6th Rd targets and could be a developmental prospect for Patterson to mold. Both need big games.
- Cincy QB Desmond Ridder: he's more of a late Day 2 / Day 3 draft target. Not known for accuracy, let's see if he can rise to the occasion. Let's also see how his athleticism is displayed against NFL-level defensive prospects, too. I don't think Kubiak is the type of OC to take advantage of Ridder's athleticism at the QB position (he prefers pocket passers), so I think Ridder is a possibility for someone like Sean Peyton in New Orleans (possibly the next Taysom Hill, but a better passer).
- Cincy DE/EDGE Myjai Sanders: probably the prospect I'm the most excited to watch. He's risen up draft boards all season and has been a consistent force on the edge for Cincy. At 6'5" and great athleticism with long arms, he's exactly the type of Day 2 prospect Zimmer/Patterson love. The thing is, Georgia's "A" OL isn't here so Sanders should have a good game. Let's see it.
- Cincy S James Wiggins: slightly undersized for what Zimmer likes in DB's (5'11"), but he's risen up draft boards this season. Could be an early Day 3 target. Earned All-AAC honors in 2018 before tearing ACL in 2019 and came back this season to earn 2nd team All-American honors, so he's talented for sure.
Rose Bowl:
- Notre Dame OL (mainly OG Aaron Banks): the most interesting matchup for me is ND's OL vs 'Bama's DL; the Irish OL is a power/gap scheme (not what Kubiak runs) so can they handle 'Bama's 5-star recruits? The best matchup is 'Bama DT Christian Barrmore vs ND OG Aaron Banks: Banks is the probably the only one of the ND OL prospects we'd consider (due to his size and that he's expected to be a Day 3 prospect) so let's see how he handles Barrmore. For Barrmore, the 3T draft class is weak and if he comes out, he's expected to be somewhat overdrafted in the late 1st or early 2nd. Personally I think he needs another season to develop and don't want him in the early rounds, but let's see if he can penetrate for ND's experienced OL.
- Alabama OT Alex Leatherwood: I think he projects better to OG in the NFL so let's see how he does vs ND's experienced DL. He needs to dominate vs some NFL-level prospects and put together some late-season solid tape. I want to see him hold his ground and not get bull-rushed - we need strength along the interior of our OL.
- Alabama CB Josh Jobe: 'Bama CB1 Patrick Surtain will probably go in the Top 10 (and I don't think he's that elite) so I'm more interested in the "other" 'Bama CB. Buffalo has had success developing another one of the "other" 'Bama CB's in Levi Wallace (who played 2nd fiddle to Minkah Fitzpatrick) and I think it's possible Jobe could be a solid Day 3 prospect that could develop into a decent NFL CB if developed.
Sugar Bowl:
- Ohio St OG Wyatt Davis: probably the best OG in college and the 1st OG off the board in the 2021 Draft, let's see if the hype holds up vs Clemson's DL. I don't care if he's only a OG and can't play OT or C - if he's that good, he could do wonders for our entire OL. Look at what Quentin Nelson did for Indy's OL - he solidified it.
- Ohio St LB's (mainly Pete Werner): if we bring Barr back in 2021, this is moot since we already have Dye. But if we keep Wilson instead, I do think we'll need a Day 2 LB to develop behind Kendricks/Wilson/Dye and we can't wait until Round 5 for another Kentrell Brothers/Ben Gedeon/Cameron (ie, "bust"). Let's see if any one of them stand out on the highest stage.
- Clemson OT Jackson Carman: I don't think he'll play OT in the NFL and projects more as a OG, but he could be a great one. I think he has enough athleticism to play in a zone scheme, and again, like ND's Aaron Banks and 'Bama's Alex Leatherwood, let's see if he holds his ground vs NFL-level competition. He can't get bull-rushed into the QB's lap.
Overall:
As you can see, I'm watching more Peach Bowl prospects vs those from 'Bama/Clemson/Ohio State. The reason is that prospects from 'Bama/Clemson/Ohio St tend to go way early in the process and I'm more looking at the Day 2 / Day 3 prospects and since many of Georgia's early Rd prospects opted-out of today's game, they have plenty of Day 2 / Day 3 talent out there to watch and this is the chance for Cincy's top prospects in Sanders/Ridder/Wiggins to shine on a big stage. I am excited to see Ohio St OG Wyatt Davis who really could be a pick for us in the 1st Rd - seriously, if he's nearly as good as Quenton Nelson was, he really could do wonders for our OL if he's there vs someone like Dakota Dozier so he's worth it. Also, Clemson OT Jackson Carman is someone who could solidify OG for us, too. It makes no sense to pay attention to players like Devonte Smith, Jaylon Waddle, Travis Etienne, etc - we are set at WR/RB.
Peach Bowl
- Georgia QB JT Daniel: potential "groomer" behind Kirk if we go that route. Transfer from USC; he's getting some late buzz after he came on in 2nd half of season.
- Georgia CB Tyson Campbell: Dawgs have a talented secondary but Campbell is the only one playing (rest have opted out), and Desmond Ridder isn't exactly the most prolific passer in college. He should dominate when the ball comes his way...we'll see.
- Georgia CB/S Mark Webb: was initially a WR, but Kirby Smart transferred him to DB. With some Georgia DB's opting out of this game, this is his opportunity to put something on tape. He's a Day 3 option at safety for us.
- Georgia NT Jordan Davis: we're all hoping for Pierce to come back, but Davis is a possible Day 2 target.
- Georgia OLB/EDGE Azeez Ojulari: I think he's more a OLB in a 3-4 so I don't think he'll be on Zimmer/Patterson's radar this offseason, but we'll see. Again, Cincy's OL isn't that great so he "should" dominate if he's an early Rd target.
- Georgia DE Malik Herring/DT Devonte Wyatt: both are 4th/5th/6th Rd targets and could be a developmental prospect for Patterson to mold. Both need big games.
- Cincy QB Desmond Ridder: he's more of a late Day 2 / Day 3 draft target. Not known for accuracy, let's see if he can rise to the occasion. Let's also see how his athleticism is displayed against NFL-level defensive prospects, too. I don't think Kubiak is the type of OC to take advantage of Ridder's athleticism at the QB position (he prefers pocket passers), so I think Ridder is a possibility for someone like Sean Peyton in New Orleans (possibly the next Taysom Hill, but a better passer).
- Cincy DE/EDGE Myjai Sanders: probably the prospect I'm the most excited to watch. He's risen up draft boards all season and has been a consistent force on the edge for Cincy. At 6'5" and great athleticism with long arms, he's exactly the type of Day 2 prospect Zimmer/Patterson love. The thing is, Georgia's "A" OL isn't here so Sanders should have a good game. Let's see it.
- Cincy S James Wiggins: slightly undersized for what Zimmer likes in DB's (5'11"), but he's risen up draft boards this season. Could be an early Day 3 target. Earned All-AAC honors in 2018 before tearing ACL in 2019 and came back this season to earn 2nd team All-American honors, so he's talented for sure.
Rose Bowl:
- Notre Dame OL (mainly OG Aaron Banks): the most interesting matchup for me is ND's OL vs 'Bama's DL; the Irish OL is a power/gap scheme (not what Kubiak runs) so can they handle 'Bama's 5-star recruits? The best matchup is 'Bama DT Christian Barrmore vs ND OG Aaron Banks: Banks is the probably the only one of the ND OL prospects we'd consider (due to his size and that he's expected to be a Day 3 prospect) so let's see how he handles Barrmore. For Barrmore, the 3T draft class is weak and if he comes out, he's expected to be somewhat overdrafted in the late 1st or early 2nd. Personally I think he needs another season to develop and don't want him in the early rounds, but let's see if he can penetrate for ND's experienced OL.
- Alabama OT Alex Leatherwood: I think he projects better to OG in the NFL so let's see how he does vs ND's experienced DL. He needs to dominate vs some NFL-level prospects and put together some late-season solid tape. I want to see him hold his ground and not get bull-rushed - we need strength along the interior of our OL.
- Alabama CB Josh Jobe: 'Bama CB1 Patrick Surtain will probably go in the Top 10 (and I don't think he's that elite) so I'm more interested in the "other" 'Bama CB. Buffalo has had success developing another one of the "other" 'Bama CB's in Levi Wallace (who played 2nd fiddle to Minkah Fitzpatrick) and I think it's possible Jobe could be a solid Day 3 prospect that could develop into a decent NFL CB if developed.
Sugar Bowl:
- Ohio St OG Wyatt Davis: probably the best OG in college and the 1st OG off the board in the 2021 Draft, let's see if the hype holds up vs Clemson's DL. I don't care if he's only a OG and can't play OT or C - if he's that good, he could do wonders for our entire OL. Look at what Quentin Nelson did for Indy's OL - he solidified it.
- Ohio St LB's (mainly Pete Werner): if we bring Barr back in 2021, this is moot since we already have Dye. But if we keep Wilson instead, I do think we'll need a Day 2 LB to develop behind Kendricks/Wilson/Dye and we can't wait until Round 5 for another Kentrell Brothers/Ben Gedeon/Cameron (ie, "bust"). Let's see if any one of them stand out on the highest stage.
- Clemson OT Jackson Carman: I don't think he'll play OT in the NFL and projects more as a OG, but he could be a great one. I think he has enough athleticism to play in a zone scheme, and again, like ND's Aaron Banks and 'Bama's Alex Leatherwood, let's see if he holds his ground vs NFL-level competition. He can't get bull-rushed into the QB's lap.
Overall:
As you can see, I'm watching more Peach Bowl prospects vs those from 'Bama/Clemson/Ohio State. The reason is that prospects from 'Bama/Clemson/Ohio St tend to go way early in the process and I'm more looking at the Day 2 / Day 3 prospects and since many of Georgia's early Rd prospects opted-out of today's game, they have plenty of Day 2 / Day 3 talent out there to watch and this is the chance for Cincy's top prospects in Sanders/Ridder/Wiggins to shine on a big stage. I am excited to see Ohio St OG Wyatt Davis who really could be a pick for us in the 1st Rd - seriously, if he's nearly as good as Quenton Nelson was, he really could do wonders for our OL if he's there vs someone like Dakota Dozier so he's worth it. Also, Clemson OT Jackson Carman is someone who could solidify OG for us, too. It makes no sense to pay attention to players like Devonte Smith, Jaylon Waddle, Travis Etienne, etc - we are set at WR/RB.