Offensive Guard ~ Jarvis Harrison ~ Texas A&M Aggies ~ 6040/330
Regarding Offensive Guards
I consider Offensive Guards 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...until The Only Games That Really Matter.
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.
This is how I break things down, when I'm evaluating Offensive Guards:
Power: Above all: Core Power. Torso Power is important, but Core Power, from the Knees to the Ribs, is absolutely crucial. All the upper body Strength in the world will still fail if you simply can't dig in your heels. But Core Power enables an Offensive Lineman to project Power in the Running Game and to reject Power in the Passing Game.
Agility: Launch 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: Paw Power, Mechanics ~ Hand Speed & Positioning ~ and of course: Frame.
Intangibles: Processing Speed and Motor. Processing Speed or Diagnostic Velocity is about how quickly and effectively one Reads & Reacts to how the Rapidly Roiling Tactical LandScape effects Blocking Schemes, and Motor is about Endurance and Drive: How much Work has been put into Conditioning, and how it manifests itself.
Run Blocking: Power, Agility, Combat Skills, Processing Speed, and Motor.
Pass Blocking: Power, Agility, Combat Skills, Processing Speed, and Motor.
Broken down into SubCategories, it'd go something like this:
Power
* Core Power ~ lower body Power. Core Power trumps Torso Power. Tyrannosaurus Rex had exceptional Core Power.
* Torso Power ~ upper Body Power. Important, but not crucial. T Rex had lousy Torso Power...yet was King.
* Anchoring Strength in the Passing Game. The capacity to Stand one's Ground.
* Drive Power in the Running Game. The capacity to drive your man back.
Agility
* Fluidity, above all things: Core Agility & Flexibility makes everything possible.
* Launch Velocity ~ Speed into Contact off the Snap.
* Acceleration ~ Short Speed or Quickness.
Combat Skills
* Paw Power ~ The Power & Speed of the initial Punch.
* Paw Velocity ~ How active the Hands are.
* Paw Positioning ~ It's all about Angles & Leverage.
* Frame ~ Above all: WingSpan.
Intangibles
* Processing Speed ~ Field Vision. Reading Defensive Schemes quickly and effectively, and finding 2nd Level Targets.
* Motor ~ Intensity and Duration.
Run Blocking
* Power ~ Drive Power to project Power in the Running Game.
* Agility ~ especially Acceleration DownField or to the Flank.
* Combat Skills
* Processing Speed
* Motor
Pass Blocking
* Power ~ Anchoring Strength to reject Power in the Passing Game.
* Agility ~ especially Fluidity to Mirror the Pass Rusher.
* Combat Skills
* Processing Speed
* Motor
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...until The Only Games That Really Matter.
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.
This is how I break things down, when I'm evaluating Offensive Guards:
Power: Above all: Core Power. Torso Power is important, but Core Power, from the Knees to the Ribs, is absolutely crucial. All the upper body Strength in the world will still fail if you simply can't dig in your heels. But Core Power enables an Offensive Lineman to project Power in the Running Game and to reject Power in the Passing Game.
Agility: Launch 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: Paw Power, Mechanics ~ Hand Speed & Positioning ~ and of course: Frame.
Intangibles: Processing Speed and Motor. Processing Speed or Diagnostic Velocity is about how quickly and effectively one Reads & Reacts to how the Rapidly Roiling Tactical LandScape effects Blocking Schemes, and Motor is about Endurance and Drive: How much Work has been put into Conditioning, and how it manifests itself.
Run Blocking: Power, Agility, Combat Skills, Processing Speed, and Motor.
Pass Blocking: Power, Agility, Combat Skills, Processing Speed, and Motor.
Broken down into SubCategories, it'd go something like this:
Power
* Core Power ~ lower body Power. Core Power trumps Torso Power. Tyrannosaurus Rex had exceptional Core Power.
* Torso Power ~ upper Body Power. Important, but not crucial. T Rex had lousy Torso Power...yet was King.
* Anchoring Strength in the Passing Game. The capacity to Stand one's Ground.
* Drive Power in the Running Game. The capacity to drive your man back.
Agility
* Fluidity, above all things: Core Agility & Flexibility makes everything possible.
* Launch Velocity ~ Speed into Contact off the Snap.
* Acceleration ~ Short Speed or Quickness.
Combat Skills
* Paw Power ~ The Power & Speed of the initial Punch.
* Paw Velocity ~ How active the Hands are.
* Paw Positioning ~ It's all about Angles & Leverage.
* Frame ~ Above all: WingSpan.
Intangibles
* Processing Speed ~ Field Vision. Reading Defensive Schemes quickly and effectively, and finding 2nd Level Targets.
* Motor ~ Intensity and Duration.
Run Blocking
* Power ~ Drive Power to project Power in the Running Game.
* Agility ~ especially Acceleration DownField or to the Flank.
* Combat Skills
* Processing Speed
* Motor
Pass Blocking
* Power ~ Anchoring Strength to reject Power in the Passing Game.
* Agility ~ especially Fluidity to Mirror the Pass Rusher.
* Combat Skills
* Processing Speed
* Motor
Jarvis Harrison Scouting Report
Power: Competitive. Harrison is huge, and gives the impression of tremendous Power, but as with many Trench Warriors, I believe that he manifests considerably more Torso Power than Core Power. And I strongly suspect that Harrison and others like'm, having dominated in College, are going to be in for a Rude Awakening at the next level.
Agility: Excellent. His Launch Velocity, Fluidity, and Acceleration are all remarkable for such a Tank!!
Combat Skills: Mediocre. Inconsistent both with his Mechanics and with his Persistence.
Intangibles: Weak. I am generally loathe to buy into Rumors of Motivational Issues, but in Harrison's case the Evidence is too prevalent to dismiss. There are serious concerns about his Dedication & Drive. It should be noted, though, that there are no particular issues I could discern with his Motor on the Field, though his Conditioning is a grave concern. And where'is Processing Speed & Field Vision are concerned, he is very effective on the Field of Battle.
Run Blocking: Impressive. Harrison is bizarre in that he looks like a Power Blocker but blocks like a Zone Blocker. Frankly, his Drive Power is not impressive, but his Size, even at the next level, will in and of itself win a few Battles for'm. I expect that he'll be competitive at the Point of Attack, but won't drive many men back. Where he might very well shine, though, would be in Space, remarkably enough, where his startlingly impressive Launch Velocity and Acceleration should enable'm to project Power both UpField and to the Flanks, but only effectively if his Combat Skills improve.
Pass Blocking: Exceptional and potentially extraordinary. Mind you: I don't believe that Harrison projects anywhere near as much Power as his Frame suggests he should, and his deficient Core Power will certainly cause him big issues when he's trying to Anchor in Pass Protection, but there is, after all, something to be said for being enormous, and enormous he is. More to the point, though, is that the combination of Enormity and his remarkable Agility render'm something of a greasy Tank ~ Rocky II Reference!! ~ and if he develops his Combat Skills, he could become flat out dominant.
Agility: Excellent. His Launch Velocity, Fluidity, and Acceleration are all remarkable for such a Tank!!
Combat Skills: Mediocre. Inconsistent both with his Mechanics and with his Persistence.
Intangibles: Weak. I am generally loathe to buy into Rumors of Motivational Issues, but in Harrison's case the Evidence is too prevalent to dismiss. There are serious concerns about his Dedication & Drive. It should be noted, though, that there are no particular issues I could discern with his Motor on the Field, though his Conditioning is a grave concern. And where'is Processing Speed & Field Vision are concerned, he is very effective on the Field of Battle.
Run Blocking: Impressive. Harrison is bizarre in that he looks like a Power Blocker but blocks like a Zone Blocker. Frankly, his Drive Power is not impressive, but his Size, even at the next level, will in and of itself win a few Battles for'm. I expect that he'll be competitive at the Point of Attack, but won't drive many men back. Where he might very well shine, though, would be in Space, remarkably enough, where his startlingly impressive Launch Velocity and Acceleration should enable'm to project Power both UpField and to the Flanks, but only effectively if his Combat Skills improve.
Pass Blocking: Exceptional and potentially extraordinary. Mind you: I don't believe that Harrison projects anywhere near as much Power as his Frame suggests he should, and his deficient Core Power will certainly cause him big issues when he's trying to Anchor in Pass Protection, but there is, after all, something to be said for being enormous, and enormous he is. More to the point, though, is that the combination of Enormity and his remarkable Agility render'm something of a greasy Tank ~ Rocky II Reference!! ~ and if he develops his Combat Skills, he could become flat out dominant.
Jarvis Harrison Prospectus
I believe that "Character Issues" and the reactions to them are often exaggerated and misguided. These are kids, and it seems to me that one should expect a few bumps in the road of Emotional Development...
Especially when we're talking about Gladiators.
Without the Benefit of interviewing Young Mister Harrison, I can of course only speculate, trying to infer what I can from what I've read and from the Context wherein it was written. And I'm afraid that too much of it is disturbing to dismiss. Of most particular concern is, with all these concerns buzzing around'm, he actually showed up late for his Pro Day!!
Not a Good Look, kid.
I'm not ready to dismiss'm, though. I believe that in most of these cases, there's much more at work that what meets the eye, as with Vontaze Burfict, who tumbled all the way from being a projected 1st Rounder to going UFA, essentially because he pretty much lost his freaking Mind during the 2012 Draft process!! That didn't stop me, though!!
As a Prospect, I believe he has shaky Core Power, and that that constrains his UpSide more that most would consider, but that he has the Potential to become an exceptional Run Blocker and a tremendous Pass Blocker, just the same.
But I believe that with Harrison there's just too much Evidence to ignore, so I'm joining the rest of the Market in discounting my Grade & Rank for'm, and by two full Clicks. Both his Drive and his Conditioning are in question, in my view. Those of course go somewhat hand in hand, but we're talking about Weight Issues that could potentially destroy his Health.
Grateful Thanks, as always, for the crucial Work done by the folks at Draft BreakDown!!
Especially when we're talking about Gladiators.
Without the Benefit of interviewing Young Mister Harrison, I can of course only speculate, trying to infer what I can from what I've read and from the Context wherein it was written. And I'm afraid that too much of it is disturbing to dismiss. Of most particular concern is, with all these concerns buzzing around'm, he actually showed up late for his Pro Day!!
Not a Good Look, kid.
I'm not ready to dismiss'm, though. I believe that in most of these cases, there's much more at work that what meets the eye, as with Vontaze Burfict, who tumbled all the way from being a projected 1st Rounder to going UFA, essentially because he pretty much lost his freaking Mind during the 2012 Draft process!! That didn't stop me, though!!
As a Prospect, I believe he has shaky Core Power, and that that constrains his UpSide more that most would consider, but that he has the Potential to become an exceptional Run Blocker and a tremendous Pass Blocker, just the same.
But I believe that with Harrison there's just too much Evidence to ignore, so I'm joining the rest of the Market in discounting my Grade & Rank for'm, and by two full Clicks. Both his Drive and his Conditioning are in question, in my view. Those of course go somewhat hand in hand, but we're talking about Weight Issues that could potentially destroy his Health.
Grateful Thanks, as always, for the crucial Work done by the folks at Draft BreakDown!!
Yank Rank: Contender ~ Par Value!!
| Market Value 4th/5th Round | Yankee Grade 4th/5th Round |
Please do 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 and women of Good Will!! I'm trying to discern Power, Agility, Combat Skills, and far more abstract, esoteric Concepts such as Processing Speed and Motor, and I'm trying to do so based almost entirely on a fascinating fusion of Tape, Combine Numbers, and Pro Days, while trying to attenuate my findings based on Allowances for Competition Level, Scheme, Concept, Context, and, above all: Trajectory!!
This is not is even remotely a Complaint, mind you, but rather a Warning: Caveat Emptor!!
This is not is even remotely a Complaint, mind you, but rather a Warning: Caveat Emptor!!
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