HighSeas
Sophomore
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2013
- Messages
- 4,828
High Impact
Brashard Smith - probably my favorite player in the class. As explosive, sudden and agile as it gets. Has the speed to erase angles and the power/contact balance to run through or drag tacklers. He's not only an incredible athlete but also a versatile and intuitive one. He raises his knees when defenders try to hit him from the side like an NFL RB would, he tracks the ball with ease and he's indifferent to contact when going across the middle. As a route runner he understands how to be deceptive and makes sharp cuts and breaks. My only question is whether he can handle press coverage on the outside. If he can then there's no reason to confine him to the slot. His combination of strength, ball skills and explosive speed make Tyreek Hill or Steve Smith comparisons legitimate. Line him up everywhere, let him return kicks and just get him the ball.
Romello Brinson - I was admittedly not a huge fan of his a couple years ago. He was thin and raw and reminded me too much of Dee Wiggins in a negative way. Fast forward to now and I see a prototype X receiver who's polished and ready to make an impact. He's still long and thin but wiry strong, much moreso than Wiggins. His play speed is fantastic and he makes sudden breaks despite being a lanky fast guy. He can run the deep comeback like a seasoned vet, which is scary considering how corners will have to respect his vertical threat. He's also dangerous on 2nd-reaction scramble plays, which 2019 LSU showed the value of. He plucks the ball naturally with his hands on every throw which is rare for even a college player. After the catch he's an imposing runner who's physical, strong and fights for extra yards. He even shows some nasty to him as a blocker where his length is an asset.
All in all this is a player with a high floor and ceiling, and much like Brashard Smith it will be disappointing if he's not seeing a ton of snaps in 2021.
Leonard Taylor - I think by now fans know what to expect from him. He has elite snap quickness and lateral agility for an interior guy. He routinely beats blocks without even using his hands, but the outside swim is his go-to move. He keeps his frame clean as he works outside and can bend and trim back to the QB. He does leave me wanting more, however, as I never saw him look to fight pressure or anchor against the run. He doesn't have counter moves and didn't show much of a motor in pursuit.
That leaves him with an interesting projection. It's hard to see him being more than a subpackage rush specialist right now, but a potentially elite one at that. He devastates guards 1on1 in the B gap so it will be imperative to pair him with a solid edge rusher on his side to prevent OTs from helping down on him (hint: that's where the next guy on the list comes into play). Regardless he chose the right school as Miami is one of the few schools that fit his skillset perfectly as an upfield penetrating type who isn't gonna fight through the center of blocks.
Thomas Davis - The more I watched him the more he grew on me. He's a very high-energy player between the whistle but also between plays where he loves to do "spontaneous acts of celebration" or whatever corny **** Diaz calls it. Like Taylor he has elite snap quickness/twitch for his position. What's most impressive about him is how strong and physical he is for his size. Just watch this:
He actually played 4i and 3-tech later in the 2020 season and held his own. He's stout at the point of attack and his explosion was even more difficult for HS Gs to handle. I don't worry about him dealing with blocks because he has such fluid, quick hands to disengage, and a forearm shiver he uses to clear his frame. He has major stopping power as a tackler, and explosive pursuit speed on display here:
I didn't like him as much playing off the ball at LB. He's not as sudden changing directions laterally and he's unnatural diagnosing runs and taking angles to the ball from depth. I don't care what his ht/wt dimensions are because he is the epitome of outlier. He's the perfect running mate for LT and I hope his recruitment (along with the DeAndre J addition and McCloud position change) signals a change in philosophy about undersized edge rushers. They belong on the ball not off as converts!
Moderate Impact
Jake Garcia - I admittedly wasn't sure where to tier him, but I do like him. The obvious thing that jumps out with him is how unathletic he is. He's heavy-footed with slow footwork setup in the pocket and very limited acceleration and speed as a runner. But as a passer he's impressive. I wasn't sure about his arm strength a year ago but his pace/velocity on intermediate throws is good. He throws the touch vertical beautifully with a quick release. He will climb the pocket when it's available and needed. His base widens a little much at times but that's nitpicking.
His projection is pretty straightforward to me. He has experience executing common route concepts like 4 verts, Mesh or Snag. What he needs is good surrounding context to keep him protected and provide options to distribute the ball. Kyle Trask is an easy comparison but Garcia has better arm talent. Likewise his arm is better than Mac Jones but Jones has better functional mobility. I think his addition to the QB room elevates the floor of the team post-King because he's a safe bet to be a competent player. If he wins the job he will require a scheme change to a pass-first attack with a greater variety of route concepts. The question is whether he's good enough to win a title with, or merely good enough to be on the cusp of that. I lean to the latter unless the OL play improves dramatically.
Elijah Arroyo - I know some fans think he's one of the best players in this class, but whether I agree or not I think he belongs in this tier. He's too raw and plays a position that's often not a major driver of college offense. I love his highpoint skills, catch radius and buildup speed. He's a very "natural catcher of the football" as some put it. He runs angry with the ball and has the traits to be a good blocker as he gets stronger and more experienced. I have a lot of issues with his technique though. He doesn't know how to release vs press. His routes are very raw with regard to footwork and body positioning, and that's critical for TEs who often have to create separation in tight spaces (think Witten).
I do think he has untapped route potential with his fluidity and agility, and he's accustomed to lining up all over the formation. Two names came to mind watching him: Tyler Eifert and Mike Gesicki. 2 athletic TEs who flex out of the formation and make plays down the field with the speed and ball skills. I can see Arroyo being that type of weapon by 2022.
Chase Smith - another player who grew on me. Highlights can be deceiving but 7.5 minutes of 2-way wow plays has to count for something. Length, speed, suddenness and ball skills are his standout traits. With the transition to Striker and me not having access to full game film of his he's more of a projection but I'm willing to bet on him. He has a ton of upside in that role - being used as a blitzer, a menace in passing lanes and underneath coverage with his length and playmaking ability. It's never a bad thing when you improve team speed and get a ball magnet, so it's up to the staff to develop the rest of his game. He should be a special teams ace from day one and I think he's a P5 caliber WR too. Not a sure thing to become a starter but very high upside, and capable of adding value in different ways.
Developmental
Michael McLaughlin - another guy I only saw highlights and camp film of him, but I don't think it matters in his case. I don't even think the staff is certain about how good he'll be but I like his chances. His frame and movement traits remind me of Andrew Whitworth. He has the length and feet combo to be patient with his pass sets and engulf dudes. If he masters his hand placement and punch timing he'll be a cornerstone pass protector. I'm not as keen about his upside in the run game as his upper body isn't explosive and he lacks the strong anchor/trunk to move guys as a drive blocker. Regardless if he develops into an elite pass protector and functional run blocker that's a highly coveted player at the next level.
Role Player
Deshawn Troutman - as 1-dimensional a LB as it gets. He's extremely flexible with teaching tape stance, smooth coverage drops and active eyes in zone. It all goes downhill from there. He's tiny and plays tiny in the run game. Small frame, short arms, average speed, and so he struggles with all the physical parts of the game. He routinely gets pushed around by linemen and caught in the wash, even as a run-around guy. Part of that has to do with how often he lined up 3-4 yards back from the line but still...not great. He just can't beat blocks and find the ball inside. His lack of diagnostic skills do him no favors - he was getting manipulated by Hankerson and the STA zone run game for 4 quarters, and even ran in the wrong direction attacking a bubble screen that wasn't particularly well-sold. His arm tackles and drag tackles got shrugged off as he lacks grip strength, and he lacks pop as a hitter. He doesn't trigger gaps quickly even when he sees them, which speaks to the lack of physicality to his game.
Overall this is a borderline-elite coverage backer who's awful in run defense. Hopefully he actually gets used accordingly as he can be a major upgrade on obvious pass downs. He's not fast but definitely fast enough to play special teams. The writeup probably sounds bad but I'm actually fine with take considering how badly we need an LB who can cover. I just don't trust the coaches to actually deploy personnel correctly.
Kahlil Brantley - also one of my favorite players in the class. He's built like a tank and has the versatility of a tank ("tank beats everything"). He's always balanced and square as a blocker both inline and on the perimeter. He has good movement skills but raw routes and little involvement coming from a pedestrian pass game that mostly ignored him. I like his potential to become a player like Tommy Tremble who can play H-back or inline and block, but he can also be a physical presence out wide in bunch sets. I think he has untapped potential as a receiver but that's an added bonus. Special teams is an obvious area where he can make an impact too.
Low Impact
Kam Kinchens - the slogan is "no more slow midgets" and unfortunately it looks like Miami signed another. I've honestly never seen a DB get exposed and torched as badly as IMG did to this kid. He got killed in man, got killed in zone, and struggled in run support. His eye discipline got exposed on RPOs. Even worse he made sloppy mistakes as a punt returner. It was a grotesque performance.
He lacks makeup speed in deep coverage and when he loses phase it's over for him. He's slow and tentative filling alleys and dropped his head to lunge tackle on multiple occasions. His angles have to be perfect in run support or he's getting dusted. There's no way to sugarcoat it - he looks like Knowles 2.0 in my opinion. For the self-proclaimed local recruiting gurus I'd love to hear you explain how the traits/performance shown in that game is acceptable and how he's one of the best prospects in the class. I just don't get it.
-----
Anyways feel free to send comments, questions, criticisms, even asinine dumbvotes from lurkers who are afraid to argue. I enjoy it all. Part 2 with the rest of the class probably coming in May.
Brashard Smith - probably my favorite player in the class. As explosive, sudden and agile as it gets. Has the speed to erase angles and the power/contact balance to run through or drag tacklers. He's not only an incredible athlete but also a versatile and intuitive one. He raises his knees when defenders try to hit him from the side like an NFL RB would, he tracks the ball with ease and he's indifferent to contact when going across the middle. As a route runner he understands how to be deceptive and makes sharp cuts and breaks. My only question is whether he can handle press coverage on the outside. If he can then there's no reason to confine him to the slot. His combination of strength, ball skills and explosive speed make Tyreek Hill or Steve Smith comparisons legitimate. Line him up everywhere, let him return kicks and just get him the ball.
Romello Brinson - I was admittedly not a huge fan of his a couple years ago. He was thin and raw and reminded me too much of Dee Wiggins in a negative way. Fast forward to now and I see a prototype X receiver who's polished and ready to make an impact. He's still long and thin but wiry strong, much moreso than Wiggins. His play speed is fantastic and he makes sudden breaks despite being a lanky fast guy. He can run the deep comeback like a seasoned vet, which is scary considering how corners will have to respect his vertical threat. He's also dangerous on 2nd-reaction scramble plays, which 2019 LSU showed the value of. He plucks the ball naturally with his hands on every throw which is rare for even a college player. After the catch he's an imposing runner who's physical, strong and fights for extra yards. He even shows some nasty to him as a blocker where his length is an asset.
All in all this is a player with a high floor and ceiling, and much like Brashard Smith it will be disappointing if he's not seeing a ton of snaps in 2021.
Leonard Taylor - I think by now fans know what to expect from him. He has elite snap quickness and lateral agility for an interior guy. He routinely beats blocks without even using his hands, but the outside swim is his go-to move. He keeps his frame clean as he works outside and can bend and trim back to the QB. He does leave me wanting more, however, as I never saw him look to fight pressure or anchor against the run. He doesn't have counter moves and didn't show much of a motor in pursuit.
That leaves him with an interesting projection. It's hard to see him being more than a subpackage rush specialist right now, but a potentially elite one at that. He devastates guards 1on1 in the B gap so it will be imperative to pair him with a solid edge rusher on his side to prevent OTs from helping down on him (hint: that's where the next guy on the list comes into play). Regardless he chose the right school as Miami is one of the few schools that fit his skillset perfectly as an upfield penetrating type who isn't gonna fight through the center of blocks.
Thomas Davis - The more I watched him the more he grew on me. He's a very high-energy player between the whistle but also between plays where he loves to do "spontaneous acts of celebration" or whatever corny **** Diaz calls it. Like Taylor he has elite snap quickness/twitch for his position. What's most impressive about him is how strong and physical he is for his size. Just watch this:
He actually played 4i and 3-tech later in the 2020 season and held his own. He's stout at the point of attack and his explosion was even more difficult for HS Gs to handle. I don't worry about him dealing with blocks because he has such fluid, quick hands to disengage, and a forearm shiver he uses to clear his frame. He has major stopping power as a tackler, and explosive pursuit speed on display here:
I didn't like him as much playing off the ball at LB. He's not as sudden changing directions laterally and he's unnatural diagnosing runs and taking angles to the ball from depth. I don't care what his ht/wt dimensions are because he is the epitome of outlier. He's the perfect running mate for LT and I hope his recruitment (along with the DeAndre J addition and McCloud position change) signals a change in philosophy about undersized edge rushers. They belong on the ball not off as converts!
Moderate Impact
Jake Garcia - I admittedly wasn't sure where to tier him, but I do like him. The obvious thing that jumps out with him is how unathletic he is. He's heavy-footed with slow footwork setup in the pocket and very limited acceleration and speed as a runner. But as a passer he's impressive. I wasn't sure about his arm strength a year ago but his pace/velocity on intermediate throws is good. He throws the touch vertical beautifully with a quick release. He will climb the pocket when it's available and needed. His base widens a little much at times but that's nitpicking.
His projection is pretty straightforward to me. He has experience executing common route concepts like 4 verts, Mesh or Snag. What he needs is good surrounding context to keep him protected and provide options to distribute the ball. Kyle Trask is an easy comparison but Garcia has better arm talent. Likewise his arm is better than Mac Jones but Jones has better functional mobility. I think his addition to the QB room elevates the floor of the team post-King because he's a safe bet to be a competent player. If he wins the job he will require a scheme change to a pass-first attack with a greater variety of route concepts. The question is whether he's good enough to win a title with, or merely good enough to be on the cusp of that. I lean to the latter unless the OL play improves dramatically.
Elijah Arroyo - I know some fans think he's one of the best players in this class, but whether I agree or not I think he belongs in this tier. He's too raw and plays a position that's often not a major driver of college offense. I love his highpoint skills, catch radius and buildup speed. He's a very "natural catcher of the football" as some put it. He runs angry with the ball and has the traits to be a good blocker as he gets stronger and more experienced. I have a lot of issues with his technique though. He doesn't know how to release vs press. His routes are very raw with regard to footwork and body positioning, and that's critical for TEs who often have to create separation in tight spaces (think Witten).
I do think he has untapped route potential with his fluidity and agility, and he's accustomed to lining up all over the formation. Two names came to mind watching him: Tyler Eifert and Mike Gesicki. 2 athletic TEs who flex out of the formation and make plays down the field with the speed and ball skills. I can see Arroyo being that type of weapon by 2022.
Chase Smith - another player who grew on me. Highlights can be deceiving but 7.5 minutes of 2-way wow plays has to count for something. Length, speed, suddenness and ball skills are his standout traits. With the transition to Striker and me not having access to full game film of his he's more of a projection but I'm willing to bet on him. He has a ton of upside in that role - being used as a blitzer, a menace in passing lanes and underneath coverage with his length and playmaking ability. It's never a bad thing when you improve team speed and get a ball magnet, so it's up to the staff to develop the rest of his game. He should be a special teams ace from day one and I think he's a P5 caliber WR too. Not a sure thing to become a starter but very high upside, and capable of adding value in different ways.
Developmental
Michael McLaughlin - another guy I only saw highlights and camp film of him, but I don't think it matters in his case. I don't even think the staff is certain about how good he'll be but I like his chances. His frame and movement traits remind me of Andrew Whitworth. He has the length and feet combo to be patient with his pass sets and engulf dudes. If he masters his hand placement and punch timing he'll be a cornerstone pass protector. I'm not as keen about his upside in the run game as his upper body isn't explosive and he lacks the strong anchor/trunk to move guys as a drive blocker. Regardless if he develops into an elite pass protector and functional run blocker that's a highly coveted player at the next level.
Role Player
Deshawn Troutman - as 1-dimensional a LB as it gets. He's extremely flexible with teaching tape stance, smooth coverage drops and active eyes in zone. It all goes downhill from there. He's tiny and plays tiny in the run game. Small frame, short arms, average speed, and so he struggles with all the physical parts of the game. He routinely gets pushed around by linemen and caught in the wash, even as a run-around guy. Part of that has to do with how often he lined up 3-4 yards back from the line but still...not great. He just can't beat blocks and find the ball inside. His lack of diagnostic skills do him no favors - he was getting manipulated by Hankerson and the STA zone run game for 4 quarters, and even ran in the wrong direction attacking a bubble screen that wasn't particularly well-sold. His arm tackles and drag tackles got shrugged off as he lacks grip strength, and he lacks pop as a hitter. He doesn't trigger gaps quickly even when he sees them, which speaks to the lack of physicality to his game.
Overall this is a borderline-elite coverage backer who's awful in run defense. Hopefully he actually gets used accordingly as he can be a major upgrade on obvious pass downs. He's not fast but definitely fast enough to play special teams. The writeup probably sounds bad but I'm actually fine with take considering how badly we need an LB who can cover. I just don't trust the coaches to actually deploy personnel correctly.
Kahlil Brantley - also one of my favorite players in the class. He's built like a tank and has the versatility of a tank ("tank beats everything"). He's always balanced and square as a blocker both inline and on the perimeter. He has good movement skills but raw routes and little involvement coming from a pedestrian pass game that mostly ignored him. I like his potential to become a player like Tommy Tremble who can play H-back or inline and block, but he can also be a physical presence out wide in bunch sets. I think he has untapped potential as a receiver but that's an added bonus. Special teams is an obvious area where he can make an impact too.
Low Impact
Kam Kinchens - the slogan is "no more slow midgets" and unfortunately it looks like Miami signed another. I've honestly never seen a DB get exposed and torched as badly as IMG did to this kid. He got killed in man, got killed in zone, and struggled in run support. His eye discipline got exposed on RPOs. Even worse he made sloppy mistakes as a punt returner. It was a grotesque performance.
He lacks makeup speed in deep coverage and when he loses phase it's over for him. He's slow and tentative filling alleys and dropped his head to lunge tackle on multiple occasions. His angles have to be perfect in run support or he's getting dusted. There's no way to sugarcoat it - he looks like Knowles 2.0 in my opinion. For the self-proclaimed local recruiting gurus I'd love to hear you explain how the traits/performance shown in that game is acceptable and how he's one of the best prospects in the class. I just don't get it.
-----
Anyways feel free to send comments, questions, criticisms, even asinine dumbvotes from lurkers who are afraid to argue. I enjoy it all. Part 2 with the rest of the class probably coming in May.
