Spring PODCAST: 2021 Spring Buzz - Week 2 ft. D$

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@HighSeas has climbed up on the Kam Kitchens hill, and he isn't leaving! Good thing is we have Avantae and James Williams if he doesn't pan out. I personally think he can be a solid player, as he has shown ability in other games sans the IMG game.

I still would give Thomas Davis a look at LB this spring. Just to see what we have there. I mean is he going to really break into the DE rotation with Harvey, Johnson, Williams brothers? Let him try some LB, then if he doesn't show anything there he can move back to DE for his "redshirt year".

I also would like John Campbell getting reps at both guard spots. I still think he can give us something there.

TVD and Garcia battling is great news. Stinks the TE's are banged up. Mallory and Arroyo can give defense fits.
 
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I still would give Thomas Davis a look at LB this spring. Just to see what we have there. I mean is he going to really break into the DE rotation with Harvey, Johnson, Williams brothers? Let him try some LB, then if he doesn't show anything there he can move back to DE for his "redshirt year".
This is what I wrote about Davis:

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!
Needless to say I strongly believe he's a DE. I also don't see him redshirting because he should be excellent on ST. Imo he's a more talented edge rusher than any of those guys except maybe Harvey so I wouldn't rule him out of the rotation.
 
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My evaluation is that he's poor against the run/tackling

You can see this in Chaney's long run in the scrimmage. Kinchens has a clean look at tackling Chaney and completely whiffs.

He tackled the lead blocker, took out Stephenson in the process, and didn't even make contact with Chaney.

Just one play - but man....that was ugly.
 
You can see this in Chaney's long run in the scrimmage. Kinchens has a clean look at tackling Chaney and completely whiffs.

He tackled the lead blocker, took out Stephenson in the process, and didn't even make contact with Chaney.

Just one play - but man....that was ugly.
A Safety who struggles tackling is not of great use here.
 
Starting to become optimistic about the OL. The fact Scaife is pushing Williams for RT can only be a fantastic sign. We needed 3 who could play.

Love hearing Miller is still striving. I thought he was a transfer candidate. ... I want to see Roberts this season. Davis needs to be cross-trained at MLB. Happy he's doing well at DE, but he won't be a starter there.
 
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This is what I wrote about Davis:


Needless to say I strongly believe he's a DE. I also don't see him redshirting because he should be excellent on ST. Imo he's a more talented edge rusher than any of those guys except maybe Harvey so I wouldn't rule him out of the rotation.
People here were talking lb for whatever reason but he was always a de. The staff loved him as a prospect even though he doesn’t match with what they look for with size/weight. Imo he popped on film, I was a fan immediately.
 
People here were talking lb for whatever reason but he was always a de. The staff loved him as a prospect even though he doesn’t match with what they look for with size/weight. Imo he popped on film, I was a fan immediately.
Yep it rapidly becomes obvious that he's an outlier when you watch his tape. Plays way bigger than his size and is talented beyond just raw athleticism. Glad the staff didn't take the cookie cutter approach.
 
This García buzz surprises me and excites me. I will admit, I didn’t care for García during his recruitment but hopefully he proves me wrong. If García can actually beat out TVD for 2nd string then we may have something special. I hope this trend continues.
 
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No one is saying Davis wouldn’t be a good DE, it’s just you never know unless you try him a few days in spring what he could be at Lb.

if he reps a few days there, doesn’t flash anything move him back to DE.

I do like him at DE, just wondering what he could also do at LB.
 
I would move Thomas Davis to LBer simply bc we have no talent at that position and he seems like a natural playmaker regardless of the position he plays.
 
No one is saying Davis wouldn’t be a good DE, it’s just you never know unless you try him a few days in spring what he could be at Lb.

if he reps a few days there, doesn’t flash anything move him back to DE.

I do like him at DE, just wondering what he could also do at LB.
I watched a full game of his. He played LB in the 1st half and looked out of place. He was way more impactful on DL, even as a 4i tech (lined up on B gap not Edge).

If Miami tried him at LB they'd come to the same conclusion his HS team came to - he's much better in a 3pt stance.

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.
 
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The linebacker room is already full of high school defensive ends that can’t play linebacker. Thomas Davis shouldn’t be considered for anything beside DE. If he was three inches taller it wouldn’t even be a discussion. He does everything you want your ends to do he’s just not tall. He’s not small/weak either. He’s strong enough to hold up against the run, is quick enough to beat tackles around the corner and uses his hands and tremendous upper body strength really well. He’s never gonna be 6’5” 275 but he can still be a great lineman at 6’1” 245.
 
The linebacker room is already full of high school defensive ends that can’t play linebacker. Thomas Davis shouldn’t be considered for anything beside DE. If he was three inches taller it wouldn’t even be a discussion. He does everything you want your ends to do he’s just not tall. He’s not small/weak either. He’s strong enough to hold up against the run, is quick enough to beat tackles around the corner and uses his hands and tremendous upper body strength really well. He’s never gonna be 6’5” 275 but he can still be a great lineman at 6’1” 245.
Post of the day! OTOH he can't be any worse at diagnosing a play than some of the other converted DEs.
 
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