My WAY too early draft target

TWOK11

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Generally speaking, I don’t like drafting defensive players from the Big XII.
 

Hardline

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Generally speaking, I don’t like drafting defensive players from the Big XII.
I do if they are worth the pick at the slot we are picking at.
Despite what some people think, The Big 12 does play defense.
 

Hardline

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23. Kenneth Murray, LB (Oklahoma), Los Angeles Chargers
27. Jordyn Brooks, LB (Texas Tech), Seattle Seahawks
31. Jeff Gladney, CB (TCU), Minnesota Vikings
 

joshjwp

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Isn't the top safety in this years class from USC? I don't really watch college football much, but I feel like I read that somewhere.
 

TWOK11

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I do if they are worth the pick at the slot we are picking at.
Despite what some people think, The Big 12 does play defense.

It’s less about how good the defenses are (though when corrected for quality of competition they do have the worst net aggregate defensive ranking of all the P5 conferences and have 7 of the last 8 years) and more about how they’re coached to defend. Most defenses run a 4-2-5 (which amounts to a 4-1-6 with how they utilize the weak side linebacker, who is really a big safety) or a 3-3-5 or subtle variation of this and are very much designed to allow field goals instead of TDs.

Granted that this applies more to front 7 players, but it is worth discussing with regards to the secondary as well. Coverage safeties are not asked to do what they need to do in the NFL on a regular basis. Big XII defenses play a lot of cover 3 and cover 4 shell looks and players are given a much smaller area of the field to defend. Contrast this with Big 10 and SEC defenses which play a lot of two deep and single high looks.

The bottom line is Big XII defenders tend to come into the league underprepared and often poorly coached. And NFL scours have noticed this, commented on it and it’s reflected in how few Big XII defenders are selected each year.
 
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Hardline

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It’s less about how good the defenses are (though when corrected for quality of competition they do have the worst net aggregate defensive ranking of all the P5 conferences and have 7 of the last 8 years) and more about how they’re coached to defend. Most defenses run a 4-2-5 (which amounts to a 4-1-5 with how they utilize the weak side linebacker, who is really a big safety) or a 3-3-5 or subtle variation of this and are very much designed to allow field goals instead of TDs.

Granted that this applies more to front 7 players, but it is worth discussing with regards to the secondary as well. Coverage safeties are not asked to do what they need to do in the NFL on a regular basis. Big XII defenses play a lot of cover 3 and cover 4 shell looks and players are given a much smaller area of the field to defend. Contrast this with Big 10 and SEC defenses which play a lot of two deep and single high looks.

The bottom line is Big XII defenders tend to come into the league underprepared and often poorly coached.
I can agree with that.
 

Mr_437

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I probably shouldn't have posted this.
As it is WAY too early.
Naw... it's more about DAL refusal to draft Safeties.

It’s less about how good the defenses are (though when corrected for quality of competition they do have the worst net aggregate defensive ranking of all the P5 conferences and have 7 of the last 8 years) and more about how they’re coached to defend. Most defenses run a 4-2-5 (which amounts to a 4-1-5 with how they utilize the weak side linebacker, who is really a big safety) or a 3-3-5 or subtle variation of this and are very much designed to allow field goals instead of TDs.

Granted that this applies more to front 7 players, but it is worth discussing with regards to the secondary as well. Coverage safeties are not asked to do what they need to do in the NFL on a regular basis. Big XII defenses play a lot of cover 3 and cover 4 shell looks and players are given a much smaller area of the field to defend. Contrast this with Big 10 and SEC defenses which play a lot of two deep and single high looks.

The bottom line is Big XII defenders tend to come into the league underprepared and often poorly coached. And NFL scours have noticed this, commented on it and it’s reflected in how few Big XII defenders are selected each year.
Totally get it, but Big 12 should be putting out CBs... somebody is covering those WRs or not haha.
 

TWOK11

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With regards to Sterns specifically, first I’d like to see him come back strong after the injuries. He hasn’t been the same player since he was first hurt late in 2018 and it continued through much of last year, and IIRC he missed 3-4 games or so.
 

TWOK11

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Naw... it's more about DAL refusal to draft Safeties.


Totally get it, but Big 12 should be putting out CBs... somebody is covering those WRs or not haha.

Corner is the exception, as the Big XII has produced some good NFL corners on a consistent basis. Even then though, outside corners play more deep zone than they do in other conferences.

Don’t get me wrong, I love watching Big XII games. I root for the Texas schools and other than A&M the rest of the P5 group plays in the Big XII. They play a very entertaining brand of football, and they produce some awesome OL and skill position players (it feels like every OU OL for the last 3-4 years ends up a starter in the league). Their defensive players just tend to not translate as well.
 

TheDank

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Eh, I don’t think it’s too early. I always love having names to remember when the CFB season starts. I think it means a lot if as a prospect you can come in with high expectations already and produce even when you’re the player that was taken into account during your opponents game plan.
 
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