Drew Boylhart (the huddle report): Tyron Smith

[canters]

He missef some playing time at USC due to poor grades. He was thought to have issues related to concentration lapses and attention span. Maybe this is what the guy is talking about.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

/shrug It reads as though he doesn't believe at all that he can play LT and only threw out the maybe comment just in case he is wrong.

What he said seemed clear and concise to me, but I'm not going to argue his intent with you.

I have had discussions with Drew Boylhart on this player and other OT options coming out this year. He does not believe that this kid will only ever be a RT. He just believes that at this point, a team should not draft this player with the intention that he will be a LT. He thinks that the kid would probably have to start at RT and that if he developed, there could be a chance he could be a LT down the road but that at this point, he is a RT and that this is what a team should draft him as, at this point. To project him to LT is not how he believes you should go about evaluating him.


Now, I have always thought that he is a LT and that's it but Boylhart's opinion on him is different.

 

[YosemiteSam]

I have had discussions with Drew Boylhart on this player and other OT options coming out this year. He does not believe that this kid will only ever be a RT.

Well, he needs to state it more clearly because he came off as saying otherwise.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Well, he needs to state it more clearly because he came off as saying otherwise.

OK. Next time he has a chat and he's answering questions as fast as they are coming in, I'll be sure to tell him that he needs to incorporate more detail into his answers.

Really?

 

[RS12]

I think he has question as to why he did not play LT at USC. He believes he is physically the most gifted Tackle Prospect in the draft. He doesn't like the fact that He doesn't come off the ball very quickly and his slide step to his right is a bit lazy. He doesn't see him as very sudden out of his stance and I think he might attribute it to his mental ability at this point in his career. The kid has not seen a lot of time at Tackle and I think Drew probably feels as if he is uncertain in his actions. The right side is a more physical game then the left side for an Offensive Tackle. Drew feels like you have to be mentally tougher to play the left side because it is more strategy then just brute force.

He thinks that if you draft Smith, you should draft him with the intent of playing him at RT and not LT. It has more to do with the age of Smith and how Boylhart evaluates the OT position I think. That is my opinion of his evaluation.

He did not play LT at USC because Matt Kalil a future 1st rounder was already playing that position. This guys opinion is contra to the masses, and by the way I've never heard of him before.

 

[YosemiteSam]

OK. Next time he has a chat and he's answering questions as fast as they are coming in, I'll be sure to tell him that he needs to incorporate more detail into his answers.

Really?

ABQ, I not interested in arguing his intent.

 

[jobberone]

I agree with ABQ that his slide step is a tad slow. Right now he would have problems with top outside rushers. He's also a tad slow getting out of his stance. And he's by no means a dominant player. I do believe he can develop into a very good RT over time. I'm not convinced he's ready to step in at RT now. I think a healthy Colombo can beat him out unless they clearly just want to play him this year.

I would feel much better about drafting him below the nine spot. That's where his true value lies right now.

I will say I think he's the type of player Red is looking for. He's athletic enough to get into space and work well. And he's fast enough to do the same. He clearly needs work to become the player many think he already is. Whether that takes a half season or two seasons is anyone's guess. I reserve the right to be wrong about him but I think I have him pegged pretty well. JMO.

 

[burmafrd]

personnel junkie with a background as a special assistant to the governor of New York. That is all I could find on the background of Boylhart. Nothing much else. So does anyone know if this guy is worth listening to?

 

[realtick]

Just putting it out there for consumption:


"Can be in block position in an instant. Has impressive initial quickness off the snap and into his set. Explodes off the line when he kicks to the outside. … There is such an ease of movement in the way he plays. Effortless, like he is not trying hard, but he is. Is able to adjust quickly, mirror and slide to handle man."

Read more... http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

personnel junkie with a background as a special assistant to the governor of New York. That is all I could find on the background of Boylhart. Nothing much else. So does anyone know if this guy is worth listening to?

I have known him for several years. He does not evaluate players the same way a lot of people in the industry do. He relies almost exclusively on personal observation or film. I trust his judgment but I don't always agree with him, 100%. I mean, it's up to you to evaluate what you see and then what you read but I think he's OK.

 

[jobberone]

Just putting it out there for consumption:


"Can be in block position in an instant. Has impressive initial quickness off the snap and into his set. Explodes off the line when he kicks to the outside. … There is such an ease of movement in the way he plays. Effortless, like he is not trying hard, but he is. Is able to adjust quickly, mirror and slide to handle man."

Read more... http://espn.go.com/blog/dallas/cowboys/

I'm basing what I say on what I personally have observed. I have not seen all the film there is to see just several games. At times he's quick enough. At other times he's a tad slow although I'm talking about slower than a good NFL tackle. He's obviously talented. I just see some weaknesses in his game. I'm not an offensive line guru so what I think means not a lot. OTOH I've been watching NFL football for 50+ years.

 

[CATCH17]

The guy is built to play left tackle and if he can just learn how to do everything opposite of what he does now he could easily do it.



Check out this thread I started in very early September not knowing a thing about this guy

http://cowboyszone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=191058

 

[Macnalty]

Here is what the huddlereport said about doug Free in 2007
Doug Free OT/OG Northern Illinois

STRENGTHS
Doug is a big, strong, powerful kid. He shows me on film that he has good mental toughness along with some leadership skills. He has quick feet that will be an asset to him if he is drafted by a team that uses a pulling system in its run game. Doug does a good job blocking for both the running game and the passing game. His talents translate very well to the next level and he should be a solid O-lineman for the team that drafts him.

 

[burmafrd]

the question is: is he right more often then wrong?

 

[Macnalty]

He is near the top and pays homage to the dallas morning news and its mock the day before the draft, he is as good as Mel Kiper and his lot, his stick is more length to impact team. He is high on some sleepers like Chris Neild and Karl Klugg. Here is his Felix assesment:
"I am not as high as most people are on Felix. In my mind, Felix can impact on special teams and as a change-up back, but he will not impact as a starting “carry the full load of the offense” RB in the NFL. If you want to use him the way Reggie Bush is used, then that makes sense to me; however, Reggie was bigger and much further along in football intelligence than Felix is right now. As a starting RB, I just think Felix will struggle. He is very fast, but he is going to have to learn how to use that speed at the next level to be effective. Today, he does not set up blocks, cut laterally or take the ball strong into the hole. He bounces everything to the outside rather than going through the hole strong and then bounce it to the outside. Felix has not had very many touches at the college level and although he has impacted at that level, he has had the benefit of doing it with fresh legs against opponents that are tired. I do see a team in the later part of the first round drafting Felix to be used as a change-up back, but not as a starting back. For example, I can see a team like Miami in the second round being a perfect fit to be pared up with Ronnie Brown or the Ravens drafting him. You see my point. Felix will impact and I do feel that he will be an exciting player, but I believe that if he is taken in the first round by a team that expects him to be their main RB to build their offense around, they will be disappointed. We all love to watch Felix run and when he does, it is very exciting, but the truth is this kid has not grown or improved his on the field intelligence and running style from one year to the next. If that hasn’t occurred at the college level, then I don’t see him learning, changing or improving at the next level. What you see is what you get with Felix and although he is fast, I don’t believe that having speed automatically makes you a starting RB in the NFL. I like this kid, but I would not draft him thinking that he is going to be able to handle a starting RB position for an NFL team. If he does then great, but for the purpose of this draft, I just think that is asking too much of him."

 

[KingintheNorth]

so when random media guy blasts Jerry Jones, they are a hack and the media is stupid but when random media guy blasts a player you also don't like, they are suddenly credible?

Got it.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Here is what he said about Martellus Bennett.

Long, lanky, good athletic skills. Decent blocker, seems to be a good teammate. He runs his routes but the truth of it is that I don't understand why he's coming out early. He is not ready to be productive at the next level. Not sure Benett can catch the ball consistently. Doesn't run routes with authority. Blocking is solid but he's not strong enough to sustain then at the next level. Excellent at keeping his feet when he blocks. That's a big positive. No explosion in his routes, no explosion off the line, and no interest in freeing up and providing his QB with a big target. Not convinced he understands the responsibility and how it relates to the offensive concept. How important it is. I'm sure this kid is good but not sure from his play that he will ever be more then a 2nd TE in a two TE offense.

This boy is still a child in football years. I think he's rated too high. Has talent but something tells me that what I see on film is going to override whatever he does at the combine. This kid is not ready for the next level. Simple as that.

Of course I paraphrase here.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

On Olshansky:

Excellent Strength and Size. Good athlete, but is just learning the game and technique. Doesn't use hands well, doesn't have natural strength. He is a work out warrior and this will show up in a 16 game schedule.

I see this every year. Somebody lifts weights at the combine and scouts will lose there jobs over him. It takes quickness, strength, technique and brains to play DT at the next level. Igor is not quick, does not play with leverage, plays way too high and doesn't use his hands well. Use strenght to overpower at the college level but he won't be able to do that at the next level. Not quick enough to play DE and not big enough to play DT.

There is more but you get the idea.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Ratliff:

Good size and very good burst off the line. Plays within the defensive frame work of the game plan. Solid against the run and the pass. Jay has very good stamina and mental toughness. Doesn't make mistakes in games. He's a sleeper in a big program that is loaded with talent and it will be easy for him to get lost in the shuffle.

Jay is not flashy but he is very good. You have to ask him when you want him to step up. He wants to know when you want him to step it up and take chances because he will not do that unless the situation calls for it. He's too disciplined and will stay within the frame work of the game plan.

He will likely be picked on the second day but in a few years, with good coaching, he's going to develop into a heck of a DE. He will not get you double digit sacks but he will make a lot of tackles and he will create pressure. If an OT doesn't use good technique on him he will break that player down. This is how he gets sacks. He is relentless. He will become a core player the team that drafts him and a good teammate.


There are more but these are just a few. Boylhart seems to evaluate players with more emphasis on intangibles. He seems to have a good sense of how players are going to translate to the NFL. At least, that is my opinion of him over the years. He is not always right but nobody is.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

I question Smith's mental stamina, too... Guy can't even remember to eat! :

BTW, ABQ, I noticed the same thing you did about Smith -- for whatever reason, he was very slow out of his stance in many of the plays I saw.

Oh, and one more thing... How could any "scout" say Felix Jones was smaller than Reggie Bush? Dumb statement.