TJ McDonald USC S 2nd round pick.

[Avery]

I'll consider it in the third, but not in the 2nd.

 

[ddh33]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TcjvW1yA73A

I watched the Stanford game, and he had the skillset to do anything asked of him. He played in the box, slot man, cover 2, single high. He's the only safety I've seen out of this class who even played weakside pass rush in dime 4 man sets, even running advanced pass rush techiniques like twists. I've yet to see any safety in this draft come close to displaying that kind of versatility on tape, the only one who comes close is Vaccaro.

I feel the same way about McDonald. The guy did everything asked of him, and he did it to the tune of being the defensive player I saw at USC last season, which isn't saying much. I like him. I like his familiarity, and if Kiffin wants him, I am all for it.

 

[XxTDxX]

Me too, Elam & Cyprien should be there in the 2nd. Guys like JJ Wilcox and Shaun Williams should even be there in the 3rd or 4th but all of those guys are better players than McDonald at 47.

Yup. Ill take Swearinger and both Shamarko/Phillip Thomas over him

 

[newlander]

Yup. Ill take Swearinger and both Shamarko/Phillip Thomas over him

...I'm with you but there is a VERY good and knowledgeable contingent of posters in this thread that completely disagree with us....it's cool in that the league is the same way. You'll get a few GM's that will really like this kid and a few who won't: time will tell.

 

[XxTDxX]

...I'm with you but there is a VERY good and knowledgeable contingent of posters in this thread that completely disagree with us....it's cool in that the league is the same way. You'll get a few GM's that will really like this kid and a few who won't: time will tell.

Everyone has their own opinions on all these guys and Im sure each GM/Scout/Coach has a unique prospective on each player and how they rank but I have a hard time believing that anyone could have TJ McDonald in their top 50 players.. We pick at 47.

 

[LatinMind]

He's badly undervalued by this board. His 3 cone drill (which is more important than 40 time, IMHO) is elite. Football is a game of changing directions, not on 40 yard straight lines. Jarius Byrd ran a 4.60, and he's the best S in the free agent market.

Yup TJ wont make it out of Round 3.

 

[Manwiththeplan]

He's badly undervalued by this board. His 3 cone drill (which is more important than 40 time, IMHO) is elite. Football is a game of changing directions, not on 40 yard straight lines. Jarius Byrd ran a 4.60, and he's the best S in the free agent market.

Yea, I didn't watch the combine or keep up with the numbers, but he's a guy I'd consider in round 4 or so.

 

[InmanRoshi]

...that he had a good game against the Cardinal. Problem is, he didn't have enough other good games against big competition. He's slightly above avg.

What games are you talking about? The UCLA game where he was asked to play deep zone and keep everything in front of him (which he did) and made an interception in the endzone? The Oregon game where he was basically played his assignments against the option read and blocked a punt in special teams and nearly created a fumble on a bubble screen on a borderline backwards lateral call by the ref?

I'm also kinda confused how a guy runs a great 6.89 3 cone time with overly slow and unfluid hips at the Combine, when the 3 cone drill specifically tests a players fluidity and ability to turn hips. Sure you didn't have some confirmation bias at play there?

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

It is a mistake to think that his 40 time does not matter if he is a Safety in a Tampa2.

I don't even know if I'd want him in the 4th.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

What games are you talking about? The UCLA game where he was asked to play deep zone and keep everything in front of him (which he did) and made an interception in the endzone? The Oregon game where he was basically played his assignments against the option read and blocked a punt in special teams and nearly created a fumble on a bubble screen on a borderline backwards lateral call by the ref?

I'm also kinda confused how a guy runs a great 6.89 3 cone time with overly slow and unfluid hips at the Combine, when the 3 cone drill specifically tests a players fluidity and ability to turn hips. Sure you didn't have some confirmation bias at play there?

6.89 is not really a great 3cone time. Of the 9 guys who ran the drill and are listed as FS, 4 guys ran a faster time. Heck, of the 4 who are listed at SS, 2 had better times.

Kinda not seeing what you are seeing here I think.

 

[SportsGuru80]

Heck no...

 

[IAmLegend]

If we take t.J. I'll be pissed. Too many good Safeties in this draft to take this kid.

 

[dart]

I'd rather have Lester from Ala

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

Jamar Taylor is a guy who might be in play here. Most are thinking about him as a CB and that might be the case but as good as he might be at CB, he might actually project better to Safety. He would be a guy that, if you played him at Safety, could stay on the field and cover, no problem. Or, you could take him and move him out to CB and consider using Carr at Safety.

He could be a guy that is being considered.

 

[ghst187]

Actually, I think there may still be better Safeties available in the 4th round.

and maybe the 5th and 6th too

 

[9darter]

Jamar Taylor is a guy who might be in play here. Most are thinking about him as a CB and that might be the case but as good as he might be at CB, he might actually project better to Safety. He would be a guy that, if you played him at Safety, could stay on the field and cover, no problem. Or, you could take him and move him out to CB and consider using Carr at Safety.

He could be a guy that is being considered.

I've been thinking the same thing about Taylor. Very interesting player.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Any safety that plays in this system better be an absolutely phenomenal tackler, because we're going to be playing a lot of single high and they will be quite literally on an island as the last line of defense. Any coverted CB better be a Rhonde Barber caliber tackling CBs.

 

[JonJon]

I want no parts of TJ McDonald... I'd rather have Robert Lester in the 5th. At least he creates turnovers.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

It will be interesting if he is there (whatever round) and the Cowboys decide to pass on him.

It does not truly mean that Kiffin was not that impressed with him.

But it would be interesting if something like that happened to him like it did with Taylor and Pete Caroll.

 

[Bigtommyb]

You want McDonald based on system/ size / 40 time, yet said nothing about what he does best out on the field with the skill-set he has. lol, you just described Taylor Mays & what happened there. I'd rather take Kenny Vaccaro in the 1st if he is there, he has proven he is solid in coverage & is pretty dependable with his ability to tackle, many times putting a lick on the offensive player.

Well of course we would take Vaccaro if he's there. However he probably wouldn't be? That goes without saying!!!!! As a second rounder who( for a rookie) will be ahead of the curve because of familiarity with Kiffin and defense. I agree if Reid and Elam are there by our second snatch them. I don't think they will be.