Center Travis Swanson ~ Arkansas
RazorBacks ~ 6042/318
RazorBacks ~ 6042/318
Regarding Centers
I consider Centers far more crucial to their Teams's Prospects that most consider them to be.
The Gutters are riddled with the Corpses of Teams that were built around so-called "skill" Players ~ teams that delighted their Fantasy FootBall Fans every Year, all the way until January...when The Only Games That Really Matter are played.
It is then, of course, that the Capacity ~ or lack thereof ~ to Move The Chains and protect the QuarterBack against PlayOff Caliber Defenses rears its ugly head. And another Team built for Fantasy FootBall bites the dust.
These are the Aspects of their Games that I place greatest emphasis on, when evaluating Offensive Centers:
Power. Above all: Core Power. Upper body Strength is important, but Core Power, from the Knees to the Ribs, is absolutely crucial. All the upper body strength in the world still fails if you can't dig in your heels. But Core Power enables a Lineman to project Power in the Running Game and to reject Power in the Passing Game. And those Players who invest the time and effort to develop superior Core Power are far likelier to enjoy sustained good Health and stay on the Field.
Agility. Lateral Velocity, Acceleration, and above all: Fluidity or Core Agility. Core Agility is even more essential to sustained good Health ~ and to sustained good FootBall ~ than Core Power. The ability to react with Serpentine smoothness is a tremendous asset in all Aspects of the Game, and certainly in the Hand to Hand Combat that characterizes Trench Warfare. All the Power in the World goes only so far if you're stiff and lumbering out there.
Combat Skills. Mechanics. Launch Velocity, Paw Power, and Technique.
Intangibles. Diagnostic Capacity, Processing Speed, and Motor. How effectively he masters Spatial Diagnostics & Angles, how rapidly he recognizes and implements Blocking Schemes based on changing Defensive Tactics, and of course: Drive. How badly he wants it. These are of course difficult things to assess, but it's crucial to at least try to.
The Gutters are riddled with the Corpses of Teams that were built around so-called "skill" Players ~ teams that delighted their Fantasy FootBall Fans every Year, all the way until January...when The Only Games That Really Matter are played.
It is then, of course, that the Capacity ~ or lack thereof ~ to Move The Chains and protect the QuarterBack against PlayOff Caliber Defenses rears its ugly head. And another Team built for Fantasy FootBall bites the dust.
These are the Aspects of their Games that I place greatest emphasis on, when evaluating Offensive Centers:
Power. Above all: Core Power. Upper body Strength is important, but Core Power, from the Knees to the Ribs, is absolutely crucial. All the upper body strength in the world still fails if you can't dig in your heels. But Core Power enables a Lineman to project Power in the Running Game and to reject Power in the Passing Game. And those Players who invest the time and effort to develop superior Core Power are far likelier to enjoy sustained good Health and stay on the Field.
Agility. Lateral Velocity, Acceleration, and above all: Fluidity or Core Agility. Core Agility is even more essential to sustained good Health ~ and to sustained good FootBall ~ than Core Power. The ability to react with Serpentine smoothness is a tremendous asset in all Aspects of the Game, and certainly in the Hand to Hand Combat that characterizes Trench Warfare. All the Power in the World goes only so far if you're stiff and lumbering out there.
Combat Skills. Mechanics. Launch Velocity, Paw Power, and Technique.
Intangibles. Diagnostic Capacity, Processing Speed, and Motor. How effectively he masters Spatial Diagnostics & Angles, how rapidly he recognizes and implements Blocking Schemes based on changing Defensive Tactics, and of course: Drive. How badly he wants it. These are of course difficult things to assess, but it's crucial to at least try to.
Travis Swanson Scouting Report
Power. Weak. Adequate upper body Strength, but weak Core Power.
Agility. Excellent. Mediocre Lateral Agility, but his Fluidity and Acceleration to the 2nd Level or Flanks is impressive.
Combat Skills. Mediocre. Inconsistent.
Intangibles. Adequate. Proficient Diagnostic Capacity, but marginal Processing Speed. Adequate Motor.
Agility. Excellent. Mediocre Lateral Agility, but his Fluidity and Acceleration to the 2nd Level or Flanks is impressive.
Combat Skills. Mediocre. Inconsistent.
Intangibles. Adequate. Proficient Diagnostic Capacity, but marginal Processing Speed. Adequate Motor.
Travis Swanson Prospectus
I've always been an enormous fan of Marquis de Pouncey, who was the very first Pick in my very first Mock Draft, but I have since come to believe that Centers taller than 6030 ought to give serious consideration to playing another Position. I believe that Centers taller than that are progressively susceptible both to a Leverage Disadvantage against their Foes and to long term Health issues from Years of exposure to it.
Indeed, the Marquis himself just missed the entire 2013 Campaign.
Travis Swanson is an exceptionally athletic Center, and I love that. But his Core Power is marginal at best, and that exacerbates what is already, in my view, a disadvantageous Height. I think he's going to have enormous problems with many of the more powerful Defensive Tackles at The Next Level. Compounded with mediocre Lateral Agility and Mechanics, despite impressive Fluidity, I really think he'd be best suited to switch to Offensive Guard.
Even there, though, the lack of Core Power, if not vigorously addressed, is going to give him huge problems. He has a Broad Anchor, though, so the Frame, at least, is there to beef up. I think his best shot would be with a Zone Blocking Scheme, where his remarkable Fluidity and Acceleration can shine.
However, I wouldn't want to bet too heavily on him becoming a stand out. His physique is top heavy, and it seems to me that that's no more likely to change than he is likely to be moved to Offensive Guard.
I expect that he's got a good shot at carving out a decent Career for'mself, but I don't foresee Greatness as likely being in'is Future, which means that I am most emphatically not in Accord with the prevailing opinion.
Thanks, as always, to the extraordinary Work by the men of Draft BreakDown!!
Indeed, the Marquis himself just missed the entire 2013 Campaign.
Travis Swanson is an exceptionally athletic Center, and I love that. But his Core Power is marginal at best, and that exacerbates what is already, in my view, a disadvantageous Height. I think he's going to have enormous problems with many of the more powerful Defensive Tackles at The Next Level. Compounded with mediocre Lateral Agility and Mechanics, despite impressive Fluidity, I really think he'd be best suited to switch to Offensive Guard.
Even there, though, the lack of Core Power, if not vigorously addressed, is going to give him huge problems. He has a Broad Anchor, though, so the Frame, at least, is there to beef up. I think his best shot would be with a Zone Blocking Scheme, where his remarkable Fluidity and Acceleration can shine.
However, I wouldn't want to bet too heavily on him becoming a stand out. His physique is top heavy, and it seems to me that that's no more likely to change than he is likely to be moved to Offensive Guard.
I expect that he's got a good shot at carving out a decent Career for'mself, but I don't foresee Greatness as likely being in'is Future, which means that I am most emphatically not in Accord with the prevailing opinion.
Thanks, as always, to the extraordinary Work by the men of Draft BreakDown!!
Yank Rank: Starter ~ Highly OverRated!!
| Perceived Market Value 1st/2nd Round | Yankee Grade 4th/5th Round |
Please Note: This and all Evaluations issued by this Site are produced by a ludicrously unqualified Amateur, privy to not even the tiniest fraction of Coach's Tape, Scouting Expertise, Face to Face Interviewing, Experience, or Inside Information enjoyed by the Professionals. As such, anything put forth is certainly misinformed, euphonious, derivative Tripe, and should be rejected out'f hand and indeed shunned by all men of Good Will!!
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