Mosley's names to watch for on GAC today

[Bob Sacamano]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AheRQNNgK64

Here are some highlights and lowlights of Charles Brown.

I have to say I like the quickness he shows and his pass blocking.

Charles Brown does look pretty good on tape. And I can see why NFLDS would like to see him latch onto his man when blocking downfield.

 

[Idgit]

I don't like the name Charles Brown because I can only imagine how many people would call him Charlie Brown.

At least he's not a kicker.

 

[Chief]

I have to disagree here. We aren't a mauling unit anymore, or at least Garrett doesn't play them as such. With the draw and the freeze draw being a staple part of our O, it puts a lot of pressure on our line to hold up on their feet. Need athletic guys to do that, esp. on the edges.

BTW here's my theory on the Cowboy's interest in Charles Brown. He has the potential at LT that they just don't see in Free. But since Free is still on the team and looks like he can hold up quite well at LT. Free would be the starter until Brown gains enough strength to lock up LT for the foreseeable future. Hopefully within 2-3 years.

Good post. That may be their thinking.

At that point (after a couple of years), Free could go back to RT if Brewster turns out to be a guard. Or the other way around.

With these players (offensive linemen especially), you have to try to envision what they'll look like in two years. Brown could be 325 and much stronger. He's obviously a great athlete ... the key will be how much he wants it. Does he want to be a great player? That's the characteristic so many teams miss on.

 

[Doomsday101]

Good post. That may be their thinking.

At that point (after a couple of years), Free could go back to RT if Brewster turns out to be a guard. Or the other way around.

With these players (offensive linemen especially), you have to try to envision what they'll look like in two years. Brown could be 325 and much stronger. He's obviously a great athlete ... the key will be how much he wants it. Does he want to be a great player? That's the characteristic so many teams miss on.

Good point. Combine and game tape can show you alot what it can't show you is heart and how bad a player wants it. Guys can talk about how they want it but not all are willing to do what it takes

 

[Sasquatch]

I have to disagree here. We aren't a mauling unit anymore, or at least Garrett doesn't play them as such. With the draw and the freeze draw being a staple part of our O, it puts a lot of pressure on our line to hold up on their feet. Need athletic guys to do that, esp. on the edges.

BTW here's my theory on the Cowboy's interest in Charles Brown. He has the potential at LT that they just don't see in Free (by potential, I mean to be one of the league's best). But since Free is still on the team and looks like he can hold up quite well at LT. Free would be the starter until Brown gains enough strength to lock up LT for the foreseeable future. Hopefully within 2-3 years.

Free has already proven he can handle the RT despite being more "left tacklish." In the scenario you describe we'd have two athletic lineman on the edges to stretch the field horizontally and maximize the athleticism of our QB, RB, and WR.

Hey Mikey, he likes it.

 

[InmanRoshi]

I'm warming up to Brown, because I do think he has Pro Bowl talent, he's just really, really, really raw. He's a work in process body wise and skill wise. One thing I like about him is he does have a really long arms (35.25". Anything above 35" is considered great wingspan. Ryan Clady has 36". D'Brickshaw had 35.5"). Maybe if he had another year of eligibility left at USC to gain more weight and work on his technique he would have been a Top 10 pick next year ... but he didn't, and he wont.

But, if we had to depend on him to start next year if Free goes down (or doesn't pan out as a starter) we would really be screwed. Ideally he wouldn't see the field until his 3rd year.

 

[Woods]

I'm warming up to Brown, because I do think he has Pro Bowl talent, he's just really, really, really raw. He's a work in process body wise and skill wise. One thing I like about him is he does have a really long arms (35.25". Anything above 35" is considered great wingspan. Ryan Clady has 36". D'Brickshaw had 35.5"). Maybe if he had another year of eligibility left at USC to gain more weight and work on his technique he would have been a Top 10 pick next year ... but he didn't, and he wont.

But, if we had to depend on him to start next year if Free goes down (or doesn't pan out as a starter) we would really be screwed. Ideally he wouldn't see the field until his 3rd year.

How would you compare a guy like Brown to a player like W Justice, for example?

I also think Brown has very good athletic ability, I'm just trying to get a better idea of who in the NFL he compares to at this stage . . . .

 

[Bob Sacamano]

How would you compare a guy like Brown to a player like W Justice, for example?

I also think Brown has very good athletic ability, I'm just trying to get a better idea of who in the NFL he compares to at this stage . . . .

Charles Brown is more physical.

 

[Woods]

Charles Brown is more physical.

Brown should be able to put on another 15-20 lbs or so of quality weight over 2 years. I guess he could grow into the position.

 

[DFWJC]

After watching that, there's no questioning his athletic ability. Very light on his feet and quick. His lean physique reminds me of the Landry OTs of the 1970s (Rayfield Wright, Pat Donovan).

He looks like a better pass blocker than a run blocker. Doesn't always finish his blocks.

They were all relativley lean back in the 70s. A 300 pounder was freakish back then...now it is about 100% of them.

The agility assesment is right-on though, and that was your point.

 

[InmanRoshi]

How would you compare a guy like Brown to a player like W Justice, for example?

Justice was more of a polished product both bodywise and technique wise. Brown has only started 2 years at tackle after converting from TE, and he was reportedly playing in the 285 range during the year and bulked up for the combine. I don't know how much of that fast weight gain is maintainable good weight. I'm guessing it's hard to grow 20 lbs. of lean muscle in 2 months.

But Justice's problems have always been heart and work ethic more than anything. I don't know if Brown has those issues. The lightbulb seems to have come on Justice this last year.

 

[Woods]

Justice was more of a polished product both bodywise and technique wise. Brown has only started 2 years at tackle after converting from TE, and he was reportedly playing in the 285 range during the year and bulked up for the combine. I don't know how much of that fast weight gain is maintainable good weight. I'm guessing it's hard to grow 20 lbs. of lean muscle in 2 months.

But Justice's problems have always been heart and work ethic more than anything. I don't know if Brown has those issues. The lightbulb seems to have come on Justice this last year.

good stuff, thanks.

 

[Woods]

Justice was more of a polished product both bodywise and technique wise. Brown has only started 2 years at tackle after converting from TE, and he was reportedly playing in the 285 range during the year and bulked up for the combine. I don't know how much of that fast weight gain is maintainable good weight. I'm guessing it's hard to grow 20 lbs. of lean muscle in 2 months.

But Justice's problems have always been heart and work ethic more than anything. I don't know if Brown has those issues. The lightbulb seems to have come on Justice this last year.

Here's an interesting comparison I just ran across on Brown vs. Davis at nationalfootballpost.com . . . .

How does Southern Cal's Brown match up against Rutgers’ Davis? Wes Bunting
April 08, 2010Print This

Competition level, production, postseason workouts and character concerns all seem to play a major role every year when evaluating prospects for the NFL Draft. Today, the National Football Post takes a look at two of the nation’s top offensive tackles — Southern Cal’s Charles Brown and Rutgers’ Anthony Davis — and breaks them down to determine their potential at the next level.

The matchup

Southern Cal OT Charles Brown vs. Rutgers OT Anthony Davis

Tale of the tape

Brown: 6-6, 303, 35-1/4-inch reach, 11-3/8 hands, 5.21 40 time, 1.77 10-yard split, 21 reps, 31.5-inch vertical, 8-foot-5-inch broad jump

Davis: 6-5, 323, 34-inch reach, 10-1/8 hands, 5.36 40 time, 1.82 10-yard split, 21 reps, 33-inch vertical, 8-foot-3-inch broad jump

Preview

Charles Brown exhibits good body control and range off the edge in pass protection.
In a matchup that features two of the draft’s top offensive tackle prospects, we take a look at the seasoned senior technician in Charles Brown vs. the immature, yet vastly talented, Anthony Davis. Therefore, the key to evaluating the two prospects is answering the question: Three years from now, who is the better NFL offensive tackle? Here’s our take on the matter as we break down both prospects and shed some light on the guy we would take come draft day.

Breakdown

One of the biggest questions I have in this year’s draft is how can Oklahoma State offensive tackle Russell Okung be considered a potential top-five pick, while Southern Cal offensive tackle Charles Brown is considered a second-round prospect to many? The way I see it, there isn’t a whole lot separating the two in terms of overall talent and upside at the next level, and I think both could end up having very similar NFL careers.

Therefore, the idea that Brown isn’t consistently regarded as a top-five offensive tackle prospect in this year’s draft just blows my mind.

Brown is a tall, narrowly built athlete who showcases impressive body control and range off the edge in pass protection and does a great job of keeping his base down, extending his long arms and anchoring for a guy who only weighs 303 pounds. Now, the one concern I have with him is his overall lack of ideal power at the point of attack, as he isn’t a guy who can simply manhandle defenders on contact in either the run or pass game.

However, what makes Brown so effective is his combination of athleticism, flexibility and overall technique in all areas of the game. He does a great job maintaining his balance and keeping his base down on his initial kick-slide, plus he really looks natural extending his long arms, controlling blockers at the point and staying on opposing linemen through contact. Brown’s body control and coordination are two areas that really stand out to me in pass protection, as the guy consistently is able to move his feet through contact, mirror in space and stick to blocks through the play.

He’s also very natural in space when asked to pull and get out to the second level in the run game, and although he has a slight tendency to fall off blocks from time to time because of his lack of ideal power/strength, Brown still looks like a perfect fit as a zone- blocking left tackle in the NFL.

Anthony Davis isn’t very technically sound with his footwork.
Now, as for the 6-5, 323-pound Rutgers product, Davis has the type of size, length and overall girth to simply engulf pass rushers at the point of attack once he gets into their body. However, unlike Brown, he lacks ideal body control and patience in pass protection and has a tendency to get way too high off the snap, isn’t real clean or technically sound with his footwork and consistently gets overextended into blocks.

Plus, Davis isn’t a real explosive athlete off the snap and will struggle in the run game when asked to get out of his stance quickly and reach defenders off his frame.

However, although Davis is extremely raw and there are plenty of areas of his game that need work, he still has found a way — because of his pure physical skill set — to win most of his battles on the outside at the college level. Now, he still has a long way to go, but there is a lot of intriguing untapped potential to his game that gives Davis one of the highest ceilings of any prospect in this year’s draft, and it’s one of the main reasons why he is still considered a first-round prospect. Not because of where he is now, but where he could be with some time and development.

The wild card

How passionate is Davis about the game of football?

As you often see in comparing a redshirt senior to a true junior prospect, there is a major discrepancy in overall maturity between these two. Brown is a former tight end who not only made the move to offensive tackle while redshirting as a freshman, but has also had to battle his fair share of adversities while fighting for a starting job at USC — family and health issues. And through it all he has definitely come out ready to take his game to the next level.

Davis, on the other hand, is still learning how to handle himself at this stage, as he is only a 20-year-old kid and still has a lot of growing up to do. He came off as a very passive individual when I had a chance to talk to him earlier in the year and really seems to lack an overall passion to his play on the field. He’s a guy who doesn’t seem to consistently like to finish blocks, has struggled with his weight throughout the course of his college career and simply doesn’t seem to have the kind of killer instinct or work ethic needed to live up to his potential at the next level.

He’s very immature at this stage in his development and, much like I said when breaking down Dez Bryant, immature players struggle to handle adversity and play through any kind of tough situations. And up until this point I would say that can definitely be said about Davis.

The verdict

Not only do I have firm convictions that Brown is the better overall prospect at this stage, but I also see him being the better overall player throughout the course of his NFL career.

Now, if both players where to hit their ceiling and optimize their full potential, my pick would be Davis. However, with all the questions surrounding Davis’ work rate, technique and overall immaturity, Brown is simply too good and too safe of a player to pass up.



Brown lacks the impressive overall girth and natural power at this stage that Davis possesses, but he’s a guy who is going to get stronger with time and, in my opinion, could end up having an NFL career very similar to the one of Russell Okung — the likely No. 4 overall pick in the draft.

NFL player comparison

Anthony Davis = George Foster, Denver Broncos

Charles Brown = D’Brickashaw Ferguson, New York Jets

Follow me on Twitter: WesBunting

 

[casmith07]

NFL player comparison

Anthony Davis = George Foster, Denver Broncos

Charles Brown = D’Brickashaw Ferguson, New York Jets

Follow me on Twitter: WesBunting

If Charles Brown turned out even 1/2 as good as D'Brickashaw Ferguson, it'd be a hit pick.

I don't know - USC basically produces NFL players. Very rarely have their guys not panned out, barring the skill positions.

 

[Woods]

If Charles Brown turned out even 1/2 as good as D'Brickashaw Ferguson, it'd be a hit pick.

I don't know - USC basically produces NFL players. Very rarely have their guys not panned out, barring the skill positions.

That Rodgers pick at OT still hurts. But to be fair, he did have an injury history and a reputation for being a bit "soft".

 

[UnoDallas]

Odrick would actually be the best value if he even made it to 27. A few mocks lately have him going as high as Cleveland. And Odrick would be a future, if not immediate starter, at end. IMO, he would be better than Spears, Hatcher or Bowen, some of which are probably gone within a year.

Most of these other players are either slated to go in that area or even later.

I just saw Odrick play againest Lsu in tha tbowl game this year and heard his name once - he really did not have a impact on the game

 

[dbair1967]

That Rodgers pick at OT still hurts. But to be fair, he did have an injury history and a reputation for being a bit "soft".

Parcells overruled the scouts on Rogers though. They didnt want him, especially in the 2nd.

Supposedly our scouts really like Brown.

 

[Hoofbite]

At least he's not a kicker.

Type in "Charlie Brown" on google and click images.

Check out the picture close to 2nd on the right.

Not really sure it's appropriate here so I'll tell you where to see it, but it's funny.

 

[Woods]

Parcells overruled the scouts on Rogers though. They didnt want him, especially in the 2nd.

Supposedly our scouts really like Brown.

Yes, I remember that as well. Our scouts didn't want Rogers but BP overruled them.

 

[Fletch]

I really don't think they go with Brown. He's too much like Free, they don't need two finesse type LTs that need to bulk up and get stronger.

I don't know why there is this stigma that the Cowboys have to have the biggest guys to fit their O-line. Maybe we need to get more nimble on the line.