Lion End Will Clarke ~ West Virginia
Mountaineers ~ 6060/270
Mountaineers ~ 6060/270
Regarding Lions & Dragons
One of my most distinctive ~ and most annoying ~ Traits is of course my propensity for adapting or simply inventing NomenClature to suit my perception of the LandScape, if I believe the prevalent vocabulary to be inadequate.
Such is the case with Defensive Ends. NFL Defenses have become more'r less evenly divided between "43" Teams and "34" Teams. Far more importantly, though, the line between "43" and "34" is rapidly becoming a very fuzzy one.
Teams are increasingly going with Hybrid Theory Concepts, and the result is that many "Positions" are becoming Hybrids.
Defensive Ends are at the very crux of this changing LandScape. Traditional "34" Ends are just as likely to be employed as 3 Tech Tackles, traditional "43" Ends are just as likely to be deployed as "34" Flank Defenders ~ "OutSide LineBacker", to you Earthlings ~ and both are increasingly being asked to morph between Roles.
As such, I consider the old notion of pretending that these guys all go into one "Defensive End" Category to be silly.
And I also find the idea of sub-categorizing them as "34" Ends and "43" Ends, while a step in the right direction, to be ridiculously inadequate: It ignores the fact that half these guys won't even be deployed that way, and it ignores the fact that a rapidly increasing number of Defenses are going to ask them to morph between Roles.
Lion is going to be my term for the 280 Pound Plus Defensive Ends who could project to Tackle.
Dragon is going to be my term for the 270 Pounders or less.
Within the 270's or in any unusual cases, it'll be a Judgement Call.
Lions will get drafted either to play "34" End, "43" Tackle...or both.
Dragons will get drafted either to play "34" Flanker, "43" End...or both!!
I should also add that some Prospects generally considered to be Defensive Tackles will fall under my definition of a Lion. Indeed, the way the Strategic & Tactical LandScape is evolving these days, it is of course not uncommon for an erstwhile Tackle to get kicked out to Defensive End. But of course what each Coach does with his Personnel is his Business.
My Purpose here is to try to categorize Prospects by Type, and I believe that there is substantial difference between Prospects who could play both End and Tackle and Prospects whose Skills Sets suggest that they do.
These latter are genuine Hybrids ~ Lions ~ and it is my Hope that those of you who honor my Site with your Visits will find my efforts to distinguish the one type from the other ~ wrought with Peril though it be!! ~ to be useful to your Purposes.
***
When evaluating Lions, these are the Attributes to which I pay most particular attention:
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.
Such is the case with Defensive Ends. NFL Defenses have become more'r less evenly divided between "43" Teams and "34" Teams. Far more importantly, though, the line between "43" and "34" is rapidly becoming a very fuzzy one.
Teams are increasingly going with Hybrid Theory Concepts, and the result is that many "Positions" are becoming Hybrids.
Defensive Ends are at the very crux of this changing LandScape. Traditional "34" Ends are just as likely to be employed as 3 Tech Tackles, traditional "43" Ends are just as likely to be deployed as "34" Flank Defenders ~ "OutSide LineBacker", to you Earthlings ~ and both are increasingly being asked to morph between Roles.
As such, I consider the old notion of pretending that these guys all go into one "Defensive End" Category to be silly.
And I also find the idea of sub-categorizing them as "34" Ends and "43" Ends, while a step in the right direction, to be ridiculously inadequate: It ignores the fact that half these guys won't even be deployed that way, and it ignores the fact that a rapidly increasing number of Defenses are going to ask them to morph between Roles.
Lion is going to be my term for the 280 Pound Plus Defensive Ends who could project to Tackle.
Dragon is going to be my term for the 270 Pounders or less.
Within the 270's or in any unusual cases, it'll be a Judgement Call.
Lions will get drafted either to play "34" End, "43" Tackle...or both.
Dragons will get drafted either to play "34" Flanker, "43" End...or both!!
I should also add that some Prospects generally considered to be Defensive Tackles will fall under my definition of a Lion. Indeed, the way the Strategic & Tactical LandScape is evolving these days, it is of course not uncommon for an erstwhile Tackle to get kicked out to Defensive End. But of course what each Coach does with his Personnel is his Business.
My Purpose here is to try to categorize Prospects by Type, and I believe that there is substantial difference between Prospects who could play both End and Tackle and Prospects whose Skills Sets suggest that they do.
These latter are genuine Hybrids ~ Lions ~ and it is my Hope that those of you who honor my Site with your Visits will find my efforts to distinguish the one type from the other ~ wrought with Peril though it be!! ~ to be useful to your Purposes.
***
When evaluating Lions, these are the Attributes to which I pay most particular attention:
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.
Will Clarke Scouting Report
Power. Surprisingly adept, despite a lanky Frame: Impressive Torso Power and remarkably solid Core Power.
Agility. Exceptional. Outstanding Launch Velocity off the Snap. Marginal Fluidity. Excellent Acceleration and Range.
Combat Skills. Tremendous. His Repertoire needs Work, but his Paw Power, Frequency, and Mechanics are outstanding.
Intangibles. Excellent. Field Vision is still developing, but is adequate and improving, and his Motor is tremendous.
Agility. Exceptional. Outstanding Launch Velocity off the Snap. Marginal Fluidity. Excellent Acceleration and Range.
Combat Skills. Tremendous. His Repertoire needs Work, but his Paw Power, Frequency, and Mechanics are outstanding.
Intangibles. Excellent. Field Vision is still developing, but is adequate and improving, and his Motor is tremendous.
Will Clarke Prospectus
No Disrespect to West Virginia ~ all Teams must go through periodic Transitions ~ but I can't help but wonder how lofty Will Clarke's Stock might be right now if he'd graduated with a Team that weren't as awful as the Mountaineers, last Year.
In other words: If his Defense'd given'm more help, if his 4-8 Team's Offense'd been better, and if, by and large, he'd been given more Opportunities ~ far more Opportunities ~ to display his Pass Rushing Prowess.
Clarke's Stock seems to be building Momentum, and in my view that is entirely warranted.
He definitely needs to Beef Up ~ about 15 to 20 Pounds, in my opinion ~ but his intrinsic Core Power is already far better than generally perceived, I believe, and if he packs that on wisely, his Core Power could become exceptional.
And that ~ a misperception, in my view ~ is the closest thing he's got to a Weakness.
His Agility, his Combat Skills, and his Motor are all exceptional.
And he is by all accounts a smart kid and a Natural Leader. All he needs is Time to Train, and I have very little doubt that he possesses all the Intelligence and Drive to make the most of his Ability...which I personally consider tremendous.
Thanks, as always, to the extraordinary Work by the men of Draft BreakDown!!
In other words: If his Defense'd given'm more help, if his 4-8 Team's Offense'd been better, and if, by and large, he'd been given more Opportunities ~ far more Opportunities ~ to display his Pass Rushing Prowess.
Clarke's Stock seems to be building Momentum, and in my view that is entirely warranted.
He definitely needs to Beef Up ~ about 15 to 20 Pounds, in my opinion ~ but his intrinsic Core Power is already far better than generally perceived, I believe, and if he packs that on wisely, his Core Power could become exceptional.
And that ~ a misperception, in my view ~ is the closest thing he's got to a Weakness.
His Agility, his Combat Skills, and his Motor are all exceptional.
And he is by all accounts a smart kid and a Natural Leader. All he needs is Time to Train, and I have very little doubt that he possesses all the Intelligence and Drive to make the most of his Ability...which I personally consider tremendous.
Thanks, as always, to the extraordinary Work by the men of Draft BreakDown!!
Yank Rank: Beast ~ Sleeper!!
| Consensus Market Value 3rd/4th Round | Yankee Grade 1st/2nd 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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