Stanford Cardinal ~ 6050/324
These are the Aspects of their Games that I place greatest emphasis on, when evaluating Offensive Tackles:
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.
Agility. Poor.
Combat Skills. Mediocre.
Intangibles. Mediocre.
In other words: When it happens now, it's not "Draftnick" Speculation.
It's the guys who actually earn their livings doing this that are driving the Price.
So that's why I can only chalk it up to inexperience and good old fashioned stupidity when I say that I'm just not seeing what warrants the recent rapid ascension in Cameron Fleming's Stock. All I'm seeing is a big guy who's a bit stiff and lumbers around a great deal. I don't see much Power, any Launch Velocity, impressive Combat Skills, or even an especially ferocious demeanor. I just see a guy who may or may not be able to hack it at Right Tackle or Guard.
I'm not saying he's deficient in any category, mind you, except, in my perception, for Agility.
He can probably compete, and perhaps earn a starting gig for several Years.
I just don't see the rationale for his Stock to be roaring and soaring as it has been.
But that's probably on me, to be perfectly frank.
I have much to learn.
Thanks, as always, to the extraordinary Work by the men of Draft BreakDown!!
Consensus Market Value 2nd/3rd Round | Yankee Grade 4th/5th Round |