Tapper question

[waldoputty]

Many point to Tapper as hope. Especially his 4.59 40 speed. Yet he fell to the top of the 4th round and we nearly took Connor Cook instead. So why did he drop so much?

I get it that he was in the wrong system in college playing as a 5-tech in a 3-4 system. We can line him up in as a LEO to give him a better angle to use his top speed to rush the QB. Certainly teams like Seattle know that too well and are not stupid. You have a 270lb DE running a 4.59 and that is faster than many top 1st round picks. For example the top pick of the 2017 draft Myles Garrett is 272lb and ran a 4.62 at the combine with 33 reps. While Tapper only did 23 reps at his combine, certainly that would have changed after many months of weight training? The only DEs in the 2017 combine this year that beat Tapper's 40 is Willis who ran an insane 4.52, while McKinney matched him at 4.59 but had questionable cone and shuttle scores. Tapper's 34" broad jump score was also comparable to top prospects this year except Garrett's insane 41" score.

So the question is agility and motor. I presume motor is not an issue, so it is down to agility and bend. I think many have questioned his bend, and he did not perform the cone/shuttle agility tests at the combine.

Since then, has there been any more info on his agility? While McKinney had worse cone (7.48) /shuttle (4.62) scores than the other top DE prospects this year, how much worse could Tapper be? Is he a simple linear player?

 

[erod]

I'm an OU fan, and I have no idea. This guy is a terrific player with an excellent motor.

I didn't know about the back issue, but geez, he could play in college. I hope he's a Maliek Collins type of player this year, if not better.

 

[InDakWeTrust]

Imagin if Tapper played at Nebraska or Mizzou. He'd have enough tape to be tiered with Charles Harris and Jordan Willis.

He wasn't able to make plays being 2 gap DE. You couldn't see much explosion off the ball either, his numbers fell and he did not flash his last year in OU, which everyone here knows.

 

[jazzcat22]

I think the injuries got to him and derailed everything from there. But before I draw any conclusions, I will wait to see how TC goes this year.
However, I hope he is just not another player in the long list that just don't pan out. But the odds for a 4th round making it big, still is not great. Heck, what is it for a 2nd round draft choice to excel in the NFL, 50%.

 

[tm1119]

Definitely a straight line player from what I remember watching of him. I think he's more of a LDE despite the great 40 time. Not a knock on him because I think he could be a really good LDE that plays the run well and also provides a pass rush. As others have said, if he were to have played in a different college system he most likely would have gone at least a good full round earlier.

 

[speedkilz88]

If ucla hadn't changed to a 4-3, McKinley may be looked at the same way.

 

[thechosen1n2]

Many point to Tapper as hope. Especially his 4.59 40 speed. Yet he fell to the top of the 4th round and we nearly took Connor Cook instead. So why did he drop so much?

I get it that he was in the wrong system in college playing as a 5-tech in a 3-4 system. We can line him up in as a LEO to give him a better angle to use his top speed to rush the QB. Certainly teams like Seattle know that too well and are not stupid. You have a 270lb DE running a 4.59 and that is faster than many top 1st round picks. For example the top pick of the 2017 draft Myles Garrett is 272lb and ran a 4.62 at the combine with 33 reps. While Tapper only did 23 reps at his combine, certainly that would have changed after many months of weight training? The only DEs in the 2017 combine this year that beat Tapper's 40 is Willis who ran an insane 4.52, while McKinney matched him at 4.59 but had questionable cone and shuttle scores. Tapper's 34" broad jump score was also comparable to top prospects this year except Garrett's insane 41" score.

So the question is agility and motor. I presume motor is not an issue, so it is down to agility and bend. I think many have questioned his bend, and he did not perform the cone/shuttle agility tests at the combine.

Since then, has there been any more info on his agility? While McKinney had worse cone (7.48) /shuttle (4.62) scores than the other top DE prospects this year, how much worse could Tapper be? Is he a simple linear player?

To Me this is just a matter of falling through the cracks simply because of the scheme like you mentioned. I think with Tapper, a healthy Lawrence, Irving, and one more pick like Harris, things will start looking up quickly for our pass russ. DBs are a bigger concern to me.

 

[JoeyBoy718]

If we're so fascinated with 40 time, why don't we just draft Jordan Willis at 28? Guy has the most impressive physical attributes for an edge rusher since Von Miller. He also has solid college stats (11.5 sacks last year) in a major conference.

 

[waldoputty]

If we're so fascinated with 40 time, why don't we just draft Jordan Willis at 28? Guy has the most impressive physical attributes for an edge rusher since Von Miller. He also has solid college stats (11.5 sacks last year) in a major conference.

Jordan Willis is impressive in his agility tests also in both cone and shuttle.
It is just his game tape does not match his test scores and did not show bend in game conditions.
However, some have mentioned that is because he played LDE and did not have pass rushing moves.

So who knows.
Just curious about Tapper and he is a bird in hand and many said he could be good.
Just wanted some objective measures but does not appear anyone has any...

Imagin if Tapper played at Nebraska or Mizzou. He'd have enough tape to be tiered with Charles Harris and Jordan Willis.

He wasn't able to make plays being 2 gap DE. You couldn't see much explosion off the ball either, his numbers fell and he did not flash his last year in OU, which everyone here knows.

Willis has really good shuttle and cone scores, actually amazing

 

[waldoputty]

If ucla hadn't changed to a 4-3, McKinley may be looked at the same way.

Mckinley has some of the worse cone shuttle scores among the top prospects.
Question is if Tapper is even worse or much worse.
He did not go the agility drills in both the combine (hamstring?) and the pro days weeks later.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Many point to Tapper as hope. Especially his 4.59 40 speed. Yet he fell to the top of the 4th round and we nearly took Connor Cook instead. So why did he drop so much?

I get it that he was in the wrong system in college playing as a 5-tech in a 3-4 system. We can line him up in as a LEO to give him a better angle to use his top speed to rush the QB. Certainly teams like Seattle know that too well and are not stupid. You have a 270lb DE running a 4.59 and that is faster than many top 1st round picks. For example the top pick of the 2017 draft Myles Garrett is 272lb and ran a 4.62 at the combine with 33 reps. While Tapper only did 23 reps at his combine, certainly that would have changed after many months of weight training? The only DEs in the 2017 combine this year that beat Tapper's 40 is Willis who ran an insane 4.52, while McKinney matched him at 4.59 but had questionable cone and shuttle scores. Tapper's 34" broad jump score was also comparable to top prospects this year except Garrett's insane 41" score.

So the question is agility and motor. I presume motor is not an issue, so it is down to agility and bend. I think many have questioned his bend, and he did not perform the cone/shuttle agility tests at the combine.

Since then, has there been any more info on his agility? While McKinney had worse cone (7.48) /shuttle (4.62) scores than the other top DE prospects this year, how much worse could Tapper be? Is he a simple linear player?

Many Cowboys insiders said Tapper was the hands-on favorite to win the starting RDE job last year before the injury was diagnosed. I'm taking that and running with it.

 

[waldoputty]

Many Cowboys insiders said Tapper was the hands-on favorite to win the starting RDE job last year before the injury was diagnosed. I'm taking that and running with it.

really, when did they say that?
last year in camp or this year?

 

[LocimusPrime]

Many point to Tapper as hope. Especially his 4.59 40 speed. Yet he fell to the top of the 4th round and we nearly took Connor Cook instead. So why did he drop so much?

I get it that he was in the wrong system in college playing as a 5-tech in a 3-4 system. We can line him up in as a LEO to give him a better angle to use his top speed to rush the QB. Certainly teams like Seattle know that too well and are not stupid. You have a 270lb DE running a 4.59 and that is faster than many top 1st round picks. For example the top pick of the 2017 draft Myles Garrett is 272lb and ran a 4.62 at the combine with 33 reps. While Tapper only did 23 reps at his combine, certainly that would have changed after many months of weight training? The only DEs in the 2017 combine this year that beat Tapper's 40 is Willis who ran an insane 4.52, while McKinney matched him at 4.59 but had questionable cone and shuttle scores. Tapper's 34" broad jump score was also comparable to top prospects this year except Garrett's insane 41" score.

So the question is agility and motor. I presume motor is not an issue, so it is down to agility and bend. I think many have questioned his bend, and he did not perform the cone/shuttle agility tests at the combine.

Since then, has there been any more info on his agility? While McKinney had worse cone (7.48) /shuttle (4.62) scores than the other top DE prospects this year, how much worse could Tapper be? Is he a simple linear player?

He reminds me of a cross between Ryan Russell and Ben Gardner

 

[LocimusPrime]

really, when did they say that?
last year in camp or this year?

Many cowboys insiders had Ryan Russell a lock for a position rotating on the DL

Many cowboys insiders loved Hayden - the golden cock

 

[Zimmy Lives]

Many cowboys insiders had Ryan Russell a lock for a position rotating on the DL

Many cowboys insiders loved Hayden - the golden cock

LOL. I don't think anyone thought much of Russell. Best opinion I heard was Marinelli was paying attention to him by dog-cussing him. That's it.

Edit: No one liked Hayden except his mother.

 

[Zimmy Lives]

really, when did they say that?
last year in camp or this year?

Broaddus, Fish, Mickeroo, Tony Casillas (local Fox station), and Talking Cowboys. They all hinted Tapper looked the best at RDE before his condition was discovered in Training Camp in 2016.

 

[revospeed]

Tapper is the new Ben Bass.

 

[bayeslife]

If we're so fascinated with 40 time, why don't we just draft Jordan Willis at 28? Guy has the most impressive physical attributes for an edge rusher since Von Miller. He also has solid college stats (11.5 sacks last year) in a major conference.

Wouldn't be opposed to that at all. The more pass rushers the better

 

[LocimusPrime]

LOL. I don't think anyone thought much of Russell. Best opinion I heard was Marinelli was paying attention to him by dog-cussing him. That's it.

Edit: No one liked Hayden except his mother.

I feel ya! I didn't think much of Russell as well.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...d-by-defensive-end-ryan-russells-development/

http://sportdfw.com/2016/08/10/cowboys-ryan-russell-from-dog-house-to-big-dog/

Ryan Rusell - break out player 2016 lol
http://www.si.com/nfl/2016/06/09/breakout-players-cameron-artis-payne-terrelle-pryor

 

[waldoputty]

I feel ya! I didn't think much of Russell as well.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...d-by-defensive-end-ryan-russells-development/

http://sportdfw.com/2016/08/10/cowboys-ryan-russell-from-dog-house-to-big-dog/

Ryan Rusell - break out player 2016 lol
http://www.si.com/nfl/2016/06/09/breakout-players-cameron-artis-payne-terrelle-pryor

The ones hyping Russell and Ben Bass hurt their credibility...