JohnBonhamRocks

I feel like, although not a burner, Matthews is at least somewhat of a deep threat.

Apologies if posted: NFL Draft Profile OVERVIEW Cornerback-running back who also played basketball and ran track as a Missouri prep. Played in 13 games as a true freshman in 2010 and recorded 26 tackles, one pass breakup and no interceptions as a special-teams player and reserve defensive back. Took over as a starting cornerback in 2011 and tallied 69 tackles, 16 pass breakups and two INTs with three tackles for loss and one forced fumble. The combined 18 passes defended set a Mizzou record and ranked fourth in the NCAA. Returned nine punts for 98 yards (10.9-yard average) and one touchdown, a 44-yard scamper against Western Illinois. In 2012, he totaled 74 tackles, 11 pass breakups and one INT with seven tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. Scored on a 13-yard fumble recovery against Kentucky. In 2013, recorded 75 tackles, three pass breakups and five INTs with four tackles for loss. In the SEC championship game against Auburn, he had an 11-yard fumble recovery for a TD. Missed two games with a quad strain. Team captain. Bench pressed at the combine but was medically excluded otherwise (pelvis). ANALYSIS STRENGTHS Good muscularity and thin ankles. Fills aggressively and supports the run. Likes to hit. Plays with confidence and carries a swagger. Good attitude and football demeanor. Competes hard and brings energy to the field. Good eyes and route recognition. Has experience matching up with slot receivers in nickel coverage and has returned punts. Very good career production on the ball. Proven special teams coverage defender. WEAKNESSES Is short and short-armed. Plays a lot into the boundary. Shows some tightness in his hips. Average transitional quickness -- lacks ideal burst and acceleration to recover and close ground. Can do a better job disengaging from blocks. Most of interception production stemmed from tips and overthrown balls (not created). Average hands. DRAFT PROJECTION Rounds 4-5 BOTTOM LINE Strong, physical zone corner with the toughness, awareness and football IQ to function highly in short spaces. A solid tackler, Gaines plays bigger than his size and takes a professional approach. Can make an immediate impact on special teams and work his way into a lineup.

I think, if we were tanking, that McCoy and Williams would not be on the team.

I hope so, I'm just not sure there's space. (1) Watkins (2) Jones (3) Boldin (4) Holmes (5) Streater (6) Tate Still have Brown whose got coaching staff familiarity and Lewis who caught a touchdown to beat out too. With how good Streater has been during camp, would love to see Shorts show enough to warrant dropping Holmes (along with Ducasse and Davis, the latter who has been made expendable by Yarbrough). Could then be: (1) Watkins (2) Jones (3) Boldin (4) Streater (5) Tate (6) Shorts/Lewis/Brown At the very least, hope he makes our PS.

Maybe our defense can copy the offense and use him as a goal-line 'back...er.

I'm just watching to see the process. Also: - HB2, how Williams and Tolbert look back there and whether any of the rest look like they can challenge for a spot - RT, like everyone else - Groy because I wonder if he should be in the mix for RG/RT battle(s) - Boldin, like everyone else - Yarbrough because of all the positive reports - Washington to size up our DL depth - all the LBs - Poyer and Gary - Schmidt/Rehkow

Understandable re: giving Taylor options. Don't think we'll add to OT because we already traded up to draft Dawkins. Good point. Would probably need Clay to go down to warrant going harder for Barnidge though. That's my understanding. One of the reasons I've liked him for so long.

Given the positive reports on O'Leary and the addition of Boldin, who will probably be TE-ish in how he's used, this potential signing is less important than it used to be.

Say it ain't 'stro! Thanks for the great reports

Get Anquan Boldin to block for him.

Boldin has been one of my favorite non-Bill NFL players pretty much since he entered the league. Love the way he plays the game and have been beating the drum to sign him for a while. Some thoughts about the signing: - Makes sense to bring in the 2015 Walter Payton Man of the Year Award for a McDermott-run squad. - Yates, Boldin, Tolbert, DiMarco, Hodges, Johnson, Hyde, Poyer, Hauschka - not one under 26, all brought in this offseason, and all expected to make significant contributions (well, hopefully not Yates). Add to Taylor, McCoy, Clay, Glenn, Incognito, Wood, Hughes, Williams, Dareus, Alexander, and Humber... this is a veteran squad! - Unsure if posted yet, but saw a tweet that Taylor's first NFL completion was an 18 yard pass to... Anquan Boldin. - Cannot think of another receiver in the league I'd rather have the 24 y/o Watkins and 22 y/o Jones learn from. - Speaking of, this takes a little less pressure off Jones to step in and be the WR2 full-time. Holmes wasn't taking off that pressure based on camp reports. - Plus, now if any one of Watkins, Jones, or Boldin goes down, then you still have two of those guys plus Holmes/Streater as WR3/4. - Really good match with what the Dennison offense should look like. Block. Find short-to-intermediate pockets. Get 1st downs. Be productive in the red zone.

The disciplinarian similarities are there, but the article I just read laid out how McDermott brings love to coaching so tying him to a guy who used bounties for injuries seems to be off.

Anquan Boldin run blocks...

I dunno, more looking at it as Boldin in-Holmes out. Still would love to see Shorts, Powell, and/or Lewis grab a spot or two with Boldin on the roster.

Really hoping Holmes' drops show OBD why we need to pony up for Boldin.

Music to my ears. Use the guy how he was used to make him get drafted high. Just give him the ball and see what he does with a little bit of space.

Saw the Jets waived KD Cannon WR from Baylor to make room for Gragg. Leading up to the draft, I wanted us to grab Cannon in the later rounds, so would not mind looking at him now that he's available. Major deep threat who produced a lot in college.

Tough to disagree just because of new administration, but I remember liking how he played last training camp and preseason. Could see him landing as WR5 or 6 and a returner.

Thank you very much! I think Powell gets underestimated, but just glad we have a bunch of WRs competing. Hopefully Boldin to join.

Top positions I'm looking at: RT, LBs generally, S, and K/P. Want to know whether Dawkins is solidly beating out Mills. Interested in where the LBs are lining up and who shows the best mix of run stopping and coverage abilities. (Early guess: top 2 are Hodges and Ragland) While excited for Hyde, would like some evidence Poyer can be a starting S. Enjoying that Rehkow is legitimate competition for both Hauschka and Schmidt.

I think it was pointed out earlier in the thread, but he's been playing at a low speed his whole career given that he ran a 4.71. He makes it work.

While I agree he should have kept Schwartz, that would have relegated Ryan to only being a head coach and in charge of game management. Maybe only focusing on that would have improved his ability in that area, but to me he was just so poor at in-game management. Schwartz's defense can only be so good if there are 10 or 12 men on the field multiple times per game.

Would be all for that, without a doubt.

8 TDs last year was cool.

Assuming it's allowed re: colorblindness, would love to see all-reds IF the 90's red helmets are included. Red pants, red jerseys, and red helmets.