Initial impressions from watching minicamp videos

[Wood]

Byron Jones CB - We are going to like this kid quickly. I wasn't crazy about this pick but after watching him he is going to be good. Its just matter of how good. Good size and thing that really jumps out is his coverage skills. He is all over the WR. Will have to see how his turnover skills evolve. Comes off intelligent in interviews and would not surprise me if he is one of team leaders on defense in few years.

Randy Gregory DE - I was little worried about this pick after listening to broaddus basically saying he doesn't have any moves other than just speed to edge. What I saw was high motor, tenacious desire to get to QB. He will need to add about 20 lbs of good weight because he is light and good tackle will push him out of play. On 2nd day he showed inside move that even surprised broaddus (you could hear Marinelli cursing in background to get the **** off the ball). We have to see how he handles the mental aspect when proven NFL tackle is kicking his rear-end. Will be interesting to see how this pick shakes out.

Chaz Green OT - of all draft picks he has struggled most. Undrafted DE were working him over. His first step lacks explosiveness and he doesn't know how to punch yet. Seeing how far behind he is I think Dallas should have gone RB with this pick. But with big OL they take time and he could turn out good. He doesn't look much better than their 7th rounder.

Damion Wilson LB - looks good. Good lateral quickness and has that look like he wants to hit someone. We will have to wait for pads to go on to get better idea of what he brings.

Ryan Russell DE - big kid. Not much strength coach needs to work on with him. He showed burst and bull rush that really showed off his power. If they can get him to be nasty on field he is going to be problem for OL. Him are Gregory are total opposite types of players. Needs work on initial burst and Marinelli was hammering away at that point.

Laurence Gibson - looks like piece of **** out there. Flabby and not well conditioned. He does have some power and long hair so there is some hope. Put him on practice squad for year.

Geoff Swaim - I hated trading up for this pick on draft day. After watching some videos of him for past two days....I take it back. Great draft pick. The original reports on him were of blocking TE. I see athletic TE who has ball skills. Runs good routes, ideal size and probably just wasn't utilized in college to catch ball. I can easily see him replace Hannah as soon as this year.

Conclusion: your big upside players are: Jones & Gregory. This talent is apparent. Gregory has way to go but Jones looks almost NFL ready. Chaz Green has bust potential. If Ryan Russell gets serious Dallas has starter. Swaim will surprise you.

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

Byron Jones is really making an impression. The good thing about him is that he'll never be outsized, he'll never be outrun, and he'll never be out jumped. He's a real smart kid as well. So, add that all up and if he learns the system? Watch out, folks.

 

[Parcells4Life]

When your competition is guys who couldn't get drafted I hold off judgment. I'll get excited about Jones when he's going up at least against T Williams.

Same goes for Gibson and Green the other way. They are not expected to play until 2016 at the earliest. Let's not cut them after 2 days. They have benefit of getting their bodies right over next 365 days and learning from best OL in league what to do.

As for Swaim. He played at UT so I figured he has some ability to him. We'll see in preseason games not practices. He's brought into be Dan Campbell not Witten

 

[Idgit]

Yeah, I didn't agree with Broaddus much at all about Gregory re his college tape. Not sure what I'm seeing that he's not, because he played with good leverage and showed he can get to the QB a number of different ways.

 

[texbumthelife]

Yeah, I didn't agree with Briaddus much at all about Gregory re his college tape. Not sure what I'm seeing that he's not, because he played with good leverage and showed he can get to the QB a number of different ways.

Agreed, he has one of the best inside swim moves I have ever seen in a college player and showed his bull rush against a top-10 pick. Not sure what Broaddus has been watching.

 

[Wezsh0T]

The Chaz Green pick is looking like the redux of Jacob Rogers and James Marten. Hopefully he gets in shape.

Gregory, Russell and Jones all looked the part.

 

[AzorAhai]

Yeah, I didn't agree with Briaddus much at all about Gregory re his college tape. Not sure what I'm seeing that he's not, because he played with good leverage and showed he can get to the QB a number of different ways.

I don't agree with him at all either. He used a variety of moves to get to the QB in college. He could get the edge, bull rush and cut across the OTs body and rush from the inside. Not sure who it was against, but he burst of the line and looked like he was going to try to get the edge and as soon as the OT got off balance, Gregory planted his outside foot and cut across his body for what would have been a sack. It was impressive, pads or not.

 

[AzorAhai]

Agreed, he has one of the best inside swim moves I have ever seen in a college player and showed his bull rush against a top-10 pick. Not sure what Broaddus has been watching.

I thought he was the best pass rusher in the class this year. Very good technique to go with all the natural ability you could want. To me, he was the most refined pass rusher in the class technique wise.

 

[theogt]

If they're not wearing pads and playing in a game it's simply not worth trying to evaluate OL and DL. Even in training camp it's a waste of time.

 

[ConstantReboot]

When your competition is guys who couldn't get drafted I hold off judgment. I'll get excited about Jones when he's going up at least against T Williams.

Same goes for Gibson and Green the other way. They are not expected to play until 2016 at the earliest. Let's not cut them after 2 days. They have benefit of getting their bodies right over next 365 days and learning from best OL in league what to do.

As for Swaim. He played at UT so I figured he has some ability to him. We'll see in preseason games not practices. He's brought into be Dan Campbell not Witten

Just because someone wasn't drafted doesn't mean their a scrubs. Goodley was actually projected to be a high round pick and some say a 1st rounder. His stocked dropped because of injuries he sustained last year dropping him out of the draft.

As for Farmer he maybe the fastest guy on the team with a 4.35 in the 40. He just wasn't productive in college enough because of injuries and frankly, I don't think he was used correctly by USC staff. So these receivers that he's guarding are no scrubs by any means. I would like to see how our own Corners Mo Claiborne and even Brandon Carr would be able to handle these guys during practice. That way we can best determine how valuable a freakish athlete like Byron Jones is to the team.

 

[ConstantReboot]

Yeah, I didn't agree with Briaddus much at all about Gregory re his college tape. Not sure what I'm seeing that he's not, because he played with good leverage and showed he can get to the QB a number of different ways.

Thats what I stated also. Gregory has lots of moves even more than when D. Ware became pro. Broddus is flat out wrong.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

If they're not wearing pads and playing in a game it's simply not worth trying to evaluate OL and DL. Even in training camp it's a waste of time.

Yup. These no pads practices are a huge disservice to OL evaluation.

 

[gmoney112]

If they're not wearing pads and playing in a game it's simply not worth trying to evaluate OL and DL. Even in training camp it's a waste of time.

Haha yeah, basically. When the pads are off, you see the lower tier guys trying way too hard to make an impression, and most OL will look bad because they're at a severe disadvantage.

The only thing you can really tell in these practices as far as DL is how they use their hands.

 

[CyberB0b]

Byron Jones CB - We are going to like this kid quickly. I wasn't crazy about this pick but after watching him he is going to be good. Its just matter of how good. Good size and thing that really jumps out is his coverage skills. He is all over the WR. Will have to see how his turnover skills evolve. Comes off intelligent in interviews and would not surprise me if he is one of team leaders on defense in few years.

Who is he covering in these drills? I mean, as a first round draft pick, I would hope he could stay with future Home Depot workers of America, without pads.

 

[JBell]

I'm super excited to see Jones in training camp. Kind of hard to imagine a 1st rounder flying under the radar, but after stealing Gregory and La'El this past week, that's how things have went.

It was only a few reps, but damn he looked impressive.

 

[Beast_from_East]

Byron Jones CB - We are going to like this kid quickly. I wasn't crazy about this pick but after watching him he is going to be good. Its just matter of how good. Good size and thing that really jumps out is his coverage skills. He is all over the WR. Will have to see how his turnover skills evolve. Comes off intelligent in interviews and would not surprise me if he is one of team leaders on defense in few years.

Randy Gregory DE - I was little worried about this pick after listening to broaddus basically saying he doesn't have any moves other than just speed to edge. What I saw was high motor, tenacious desire to get to QB. He will need to add about 20 lbs of good weight because he is light and good tackle will push him out of play. On 2nd day he showed inside move that even surprised broaddus (you could hear Marinelli cursing in background to get the **** off the ball). We have to see how he handles the mental aspect when proven NFL tackle is kicking his rear-end. Will be interesting to see how this pick shakes out.

Chaz Green OT - of all draft picks he has struggled most. Undrafted DE were working him over. His first step lacks explosiveness and he doesn't know how to punch yet. Seeing how far behind he is I think Dallas should have gone RB with this pick. But with big OL they take time and he could turn out good. He doesn't look much better than their 7th rounder.

Damion Wilson LB - looks good. Good lateral quickness and has that look like he wants to hit someone. We will have to wait for pads to go on to get better idea of what he brings.

Ryan Russell DE - big kid. Not much strength coach needs to work on with him. He showed burst and bull rush that really showed off his power. If they can get him to be nasty on field he is going to be problem for OL. Him are Gregory are total opposite types of players. Needs work on initial burst and Marinelli was hammering away at that point.

Laurence Gibson - looks like piece of **** out there. Flabby and not well conditioned. He does have some power and long hair so there is some hope. Put him on practice squad for year.

Geoff Swaim - I hated trading up for this pick on draft day. After watching some videos of him for past two days....I take it back. Great draft pick. The original reports on him were of blocking TE. I see athletic TE who has ball skills. Runs good routes, ideal size and probably just wasn't utilized in college to catch ball. I can easily see him replace Hannah as soon as this year.

Conclusion: your big upside players are: Jones & Gregory. This talent is apparent. Gregory has way to go but Jones looks almost NFL ready. Chaz Green has bust potential. If Ryan Russell gets serious Dallas has starter. Swaim will surprise you.

Yea, I watched the videos and I pretty much agree with your assessment bro.

Chaz Green really worries me, to be a 3rd round pick, I was very disappointed. He was getting beat like a rented mule by undrafted DE's (Broaddus kept calling them walk-ons). I know it is a no pads mini camp, but when your 3rd round pick gives up what would have been about 4 sacks to a bunch of guys that are going to be working at Home Depot in a couple of months...........it is disturbing.

If I was Garrett, I would have walked over to the scouts and kicked them in the nads.

 

[gmoney112]

Yea, I watched the videos and I pretty much agree with your assessment bro.

Chaz Green really worries me, to be a 3rd round pick, I was very disappointed. He was getting beat like a rented mule by undrafted DE's (Broaddus kept calling them walk-ons). I know it is a no pads mini camp, but when your 3rd round pick gives up what would have been about 4 sacks to a bunch of guys that are going to be working at Home Depot in a couple of months...........it is disturbing.

If I was Garrett, I would have walked over to the scouts and kicked them in the nads.

They saw him perform during a private workout, and thought enough to spend a 3rd round pick.

I'm guessing he looks significantly better in pads and in shape.

 

[AzorAhai]

Haha yeah, basically. When the pads are off, you see the lower tier guys trying way too hard to make an impression, and most OL will look bad because they're at a severe disadvantage.

The only thing you can really tell in these practices as far as DL is how they use their hands.

OL are at a disadvantage because of the "no contact" rule. They can't get as physical as they need to be. The can't really use their punch. As far as DL, you can see more than that with these camps. Things like footwork, burst of the line, change of direction, balance. They're not the best way to evaluate, but you can at least get some idea about what their skills are.

 

[AzorAhai]

Yea, I watched the videos and I pretty much agree with your assessment bro.

Chaz Green really worries me, to be a 3rd round pick, I was very disappointed. He was getting beat like a rented mule by undrafted DE's (Broaddus kept calling them walk-ons). I know it is a no pads mini camp, but when your 3rd round pick gives up what would have been about 4 sacks to a bunch of guys that are going to be working at Home Depot in a couple of months...........it is disturbing.

If I was Garrett, I would have walked over to the scouts and kicked them in the nads.

What worried me was how late he was getting off. He wasn't even getting out of his stance before the DL was by him and into the backfield. Pads don't affect that and I can only hope his fatigue was the cause. You couldn't really evaluate his pass blocking because he was so late.

 

[waving monkey]

Green was not many's choice. Let him get ready for training camp.