Andrew Gachkar - Quick All-22 review

[xwalker]

I only watched about 140 of his snaps. Even when he started, SD rotated players at that position often.

Height: 6023
Weight: 233 (240 now)
40 Yrd Dash: 4.56
20 Yrd Dash: 2.70
10 Yrd Dash: 1.60
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 18
Vertical Jump: 34
Broad Jump: 09'10"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.29
3-Cone Drill: 6.95

The term Steady Eddie comes to mind when watching him. You won’t see many Wow, how did he do that plays, but you also won’t see him looking lost or wonder what was he thinking (no Bruce Carter day dreaming but also no Bruce Carter freakish athleticism).

For comparison he is a little stronger than Durant but not quite as quick.

He is decent shedding blocks or avoiding them. Not spectacular, but NFL average.

He appears to have a good feel for zone coverage and reads the QBs eyes to have a feel for what is going on behind him.

I didn’t see him in much man coverage. The few times he was in man he looked ok. He was put in position to have to cover a WR out wide on one occasion and managed to cover him, but it was a quick throw to the other side.

His speed to get out to the flat to cover quick passed to RBs looked ok but not great.

His speed/agility measurable(s) were better than Hitchens, but he does not appear to be as quick on the field as Hitchens.

As reported, he is a top special teams player.

Summary: This seems like the type of player that Marinelli prefers. Someone that knows the scheme and is always focused but might not be the greatest physical specimen. He is the complete opposite of Bruce Carter who I believe drove Marinelli crazy with his great one play, and daydreaming the next.

I can already hear the announcers in the preseason using the colloquialisms of describing him as a high motor guy that loves to watch film.

 

[DBOY3141]

Good stuff.

 

[jazzcat22]

Thanks for the scouting report, always appreciated.

Could be a ST's replacement for Harris, as well as depth at LB.

 

[TrailBlazer]

I just wish we'd brought Durant back instead of some unknown but I will withhold judgment for now. How does Gachkar already know the system? Never played for rod before

 

[xwalker]

I just wish we'd brought Durant back instead of some unknown but I will withhold judgment for now. How does Gachkar already know the system? Never played for rod before

I'm referring to knowing the system that he was playing in as compared to Carter who struggled to know the system that he was playing in.

There is obviously the issue of Gachkar having to learn Marinelli's scheme after playing in a 3-4.

 

[DBOY3141]

I'm referring to knowing the system that he was playing in as compared to Carter who struggled to know the system that he was playing in.

There is obviously the issue of Gachkar having to learn Marinelli's scheme after playing in a 3-4.

Just read an article where he said he played for Elferbus at Mizzou and knows that version of the 4-3. If he vouches for him, then that says a lot.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

I only watched about 140 of his snaps. Even when he started, SD rotated players at that position often.

Height: 6023
Weight: 233 (240 now)
40 Yrd Dash: 4.56
20 Yrd Dash: 2.70
10 Yrd Dash: 1.60
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 18
Vertical Jump: 34
Broad Jump: 09'10"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.29
3-Cone Drill: 6.95

The term Steady Eddie comes to mind when watching him. You won’t see many Wow, how did he do that plays, but you also won’t see him looking lost or wonder what was he thinking (no Bruce Carter day dreaming but also no Bruce Carter freakish athleticism).

For comparison he is a little stronger than Durant but not quite as quick.

He is decent shedding blocks or avoiding them. Not spectacular, but NFL average.

He appears to have a good feel for zone coverage and reads the QBs eyes to have a feel for what is going on behind him.

I didn’t see him in much man coverage. The few times he was in man he looked ok. He was put in position to have to cover a WR out wide on one occasion and managed to cover him, but it was a quick throw to the other side.

His speed to get out to the flat to cover quick passed to RBs looked ok but not great.

His speed/agility measurable(s) were better than Hitchens, but he does not appear to be as quick on the field as Hitchens.

As reported, he is a top special teams player.

Summary: This seems like the type of player that Marinelli prefers. Someone that knows the scheme and is always focused but might not be the greatest physical specimen. He is the complete opposite of Bruce Carter who I believe drove Marinelli crazy with his great one play, and daydreaming the next.

I can already hear the announcers in the preseason using the colloquialisms of describing him as a high motor guy that loves to watch film.

So would you agree with my assessment that he's a top special teams guy, reliable backup, high character guy, tough kid (overcame a disease where he had to get a rib removed and still never missed an NFL game) but lacks top end athleticism and probably won't become a great starter?

 

[xwalker]

So would you agree with my assessment that he's a top special teams guy, reliable backup, high character guy, tough kid (overcame a disease where he had to get a rib removed and still never missed an NFL game) but lacks top end athleticism and probably won't become a great starter?

It's difficult to really access his athleticism. His measured athleticism is really good but he didn't "look" that fast in game footage; however, he really wasn't in a position very often in SD defense to show how much athleticism he does or doesn't have. In Marinelli's scheme he will want to keep his weight on the lower side of his weight range. I would guess that he was over the 240 listing in SD.

The Cowboys won 3 Super Bowls with some just OK LBs (Vinson Smith, Dixon Edwards, etc..).

Hopefully Lee stays healthy this season and the starters are Lee, Hitchens and somebody else that only plays in the base (non-nickel) which is about 50% of the snaps.

 

[JohnsKey19]

It's difficult to really access his athleticism. His measured athleticism is really good but he didn't "look" that fast in game footage; however, he really wasn't in a position very often in SD defense to show how much athleticism he does or doesn't have. In Marinelli's scheme he will want to keep his weight on the lower side of his weight range. I would guess that he was over the 240 listing in SD.

The Cowboys won 3 Super Bowls with some just OK LBs (Vinson Smith, Dixon Edwards, etc..).

Hopefully Lee stays healthy this season and the starters are Lee, Hitchens and somebody else that only plays in the base (non-nickel) which is about 50% of the snaps.

Yeah but those DLines were filthy in the early 90s. The DL now is probably the weakest unit on the team and currently bottom 1/3 in the league.

I agree, Lee has to remain healthy. If he and Hitchens are there 85% of the time, we should be OK. Would feel a lot better if McClain is added to the mix.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

It's difficult to really access his athleticism. His measured athleticism is really good but he didn't "look" that fast in game footage; however, he really wasn't in a position very often in SD defense to show how much athleticism he does or doesn't have. In Marinelli's scheme he will want to keep his weight on the lower side of his weight range. I would guess that he was over the 240 listing in SD.

The Cowboys won 3 Super Bowls with some just OK LBs (Vinson Smith, Dixon Edwards, etc..).

Hopefully Lee stays healthy this season and the starters are Lee, Hitchens and somebody else that only plays in the base (non-nickel) which is about 50% of the snaps.

I'd be okay with okay LBers if we had a phenomenal D-line but 1) our D-line has been one of the worst in the league for two years now, and 2) our LBers were the only above average part of our defense last year. I was imagining how good our LBers could have been this year with a healthy Lee and Hitchens to pair with McClain, Carter and Durant. I wasn't expecting all three back but I was expecting two (was expecting Carter to leave). Now it's looking like we won't have any of them. I really don't see how our D-line will be above average with where they stand right now.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I only watched about 140 of his snaps. Even when he started, SD rotated players at that position often.

Height: 6023
Weight: 233 (240 now)
40 Yrd Dash: 4.56
20 Yrd Dash: 2.70
10 Yrd Dash: 1.60
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 18
Vertical Jump: 34
Broad Jump: 09'10"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.29
3-Cone Drill: 6.95

The term Steady Eddie comes to mind when watching him. You won’t see many Wow, how did he do that plays, but you also won’t see him looking lost or wonder what was he thinking (no Bruce Carter day dreaming but also no Bruce Carter freakish athleticism).

For comparison he is a little stronger than Durant but not quite as quick.

He is decent shedding blocks or avoiding them. Not spectacular, but NFL average.

He appears to have a good feel for zone coverage and reads the QBs eyes to have a feel for what is going on behind him.

I didn’t see him in much man coverage. The few times he was in man he looked ok. He was put in position to have to cover a WR out wide on one occasion and managed to cover him, but it was a quick throw to the other side.

His speed to get out to the flat to cover quick passed to RBs looked ok but not great.

His speed/agility measurable(s) were better than Hitchens, but he does not appear to be as quick on the field as Hitchens.

As reported, he is a top special teams player.

Summary: This seems like the type of player that Marinelli prefers. Someone that knows the scheme and is always focused but might not be the greatest physical specimen. He is the complete opposite of Bruce Carter who I believe drove Marinelli crazy with his great one play, and daydreaming the next.

I can already hear the announcers in the preseason using the colloquialisms of describing him as a high motor guy that loves to watch film.

Thanks for your time X.

 

[xwalker]

Yeah but those DLines were filthy in the early 90s. The DL now is probably the weakest unit on the team and currently bottom 1/3 in the league.

Good point.

 

[speedkilz88]

That could easily change if they add Hardy and Lawrence develops.

 

[xwalker]

I'd be okay with okay LBers if we had a phenomenal D-line but 1) our D-line has been one of the worst in the league for two years now, and 2) our LBers were the only above average part of our defense last year. I was imagining how good our LBers could have been this year with a healthy Lee and Hitchens to pair with McClain, Carter and Durant. I wasn't expecting all three back but I was expecting two (was expecting Carter to leave). Now it's looking like we won't have any of them. I really don't see how our D-line will be above average with where they stand right now.

Good point about the DL. I do think that will a full off-season and training camp that Josh Brent can be a big upgrade in the base from Hayden in terms of drawing double teams and holding the point against the run. Last year Hayden didn't draw double teams which always gave the Offense an extra blocker to either get a LB or double one of the other DL. I also believe that a healthy T. McClain along with Bishop can be better than Melton was last year. Melton was really not good against the run. McClain flashed pass rushing ability but got re-injured just as he seemed to be getting healthy from his original injury. IMO, even rookie Ken Bishop showed better physical ability than Hayden, but he was obviously raw as a small college rookie.

 

[jterrell]

This guy is supposedly a pure special teams demon.
He will get a shot at LB roles and we seem to go through plenty of them but basically he knows the ST coordinator and chose here knowing that was the focus.

Left NE to get here (lots of airport time if you follow his twitter or the 100 people who retweeted it).

 

[Future]

It's difficult to really access his athleticism. His measured athleticism is really good but he didn't "look" that fast in game footage; however, he really wasn't in a position very often in SD defense to show how much athleticism he does or doesn't have.

Ah, the old Alex Albright disease.

 

[xwalker]

Ah, the old Alex Albright disease.

If he didn't have a career ending injury, I think Albright could have been a decent 3-4 ILB. He was way better in coverage than I expected based on his build and forty time.

 

[Szczepanik]

Always focused.

Something Bruce Carter lacked.

 

[ccb04]

Just read an article where he said he played for Elferbus at Mizzou and knows that version of the 4-3. If he vouches for him, then that says a lot.

Bingo. Eberflus has done a great job with the LB's...working around injuries to Lee, Durant, McClain, etc...and getting the most out of those he had available. If he likes him...that's good nuff' for me. Same with Marinelli & D-Linemen. McClay and others have done a good job as well. The guys they've drafted recently like Hitchens and DeVonte Holloman helps illustrate that. A shame Holloman was forced to give up the game.

I think Gackhar could potentially start at the SAM...or backup the MIKE. And he's an outstanding special teams player. A good amount of Chargers fans seemed to want to retain him.

 

[cowboys1981]

I like the fill ins. We'll get more value for Brinkley vs what TB will get for Carter. It's really too bad he couldn't be more consistent.