Rookie camp - Post updates here

[ganesh]

On 5/10/2025 at 4:54 AM, Mark Vader said:

3 months to Preseason.

 

Does that help?

 

 

Or a month away from Mandatory Mini Camp!

[BearNorth]

Jordan Hancock 9.82 RAS, 4.42 40, another guy with serious hops over 40" vertical. Taller, bigger, faster, more explosive than Cam and played at the highest level of CFB facing elite players [MH Jr.] every day in practice.  Suspect when Taron's time with the Bills ends, he could be the replacement, as he played slot at The Ohio State University, but also has size to play safety in a 6 DB set.

[YattaOkasan]

2 hours ago, BearNorth said:

Jordan Hancock 9.82 RAS, 4.42 40, another guy with serious hops over 40" vertical. Taller, bigger, faster, more explosive than Cam and played at the highest level of CFB facing elite players [MH Jr.] every day in practice.  Suspect when Taron's time with the Bills ends, he could be the replacement, as he played slot at The Ohio State University, but also has size to play safety in a 6 DB set.

Its also very exciting that he sorta played all over for OSU.  He seemingly didnt have a specific role and had to know the whole defense.  Very excited that were getting a supreme athlete that knows the defensive philosophy throughout.  That he didnt have the specific role to shine in was seemingly why he was available so late.  

 

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Jordan-Hancock-CB-OhioState (near the bottom says played CB, NCB, and S).

[Mikey152]

2 hours ago, YattaOkasan said:

Its also very exciting that he sorta played all over for OSU.  He seemingly didnt have a specific role and had to know the whole defense.  Very excited that were getting a supreme athlete that knows the defensive philosophy throughout.  That he didnt have the specific role to shine in was seemingly why he was available so late.  

 

https://www.nfldraftbuzz.com/Player/Jordan-Hancock-CB-OhioState (near the bottom says played CB, NCB, and S).

The Buckeyes really took off defensively when they moved him to free safety part time. Ransom was more of an in the box defender, which forced downs to play deep middle. When Ransom went down, they played Hancock deep middle and moved Downs closer to the LOS where he could make more plays. He acquitted himself nicely. They kept doing it after Ransom came back and he played a lot of safety snaps in the playoffs.

 

That said...he is more of a pass defender, IMO. More Micah, less Poyer or even Johnson.

Edited 3 hours ago by Mikey152

[BigAl2526]

4 minutes ago, Mikey152 said:

The Buckeyes really took off defensively when they moved him to free safety. Ransom was more of an in the box defender, which forced downs to play deep middle. When Ransom went down, they played Hancock deep middle and moved Downs closer to the LOS where he could make more plays. He acquitted himself nicely.

 

That said...he is more of a pass defender, IMO. More Micah, less Poyer or even Johnson.

The challenge of evaluating a guy who played in multiple spots in college is that the player had less opportunity to focus on the techniques and skill set development for any one position. It's tough to find both versatility and a highly developed skill set in one player unless it's Travis Hunter. 

[Mikey152]

8 minutes ago, BigAl2526 said:

The challenge of evaluating a guy who played in multiple spots in college is that the player had less opportunity to focus on the techniques and skill set development for any one position. It's tough to find both versatility and a highly developed skill set in one player unless it's Travis Hunter. 

Maybe. But he never really left the CB room at tOSU, he would just rotate in at safety for certain looks or to fill in for injury. He was their nickel CB. Even as a deep safety, he was mostly playing coverage. What I think had him slide was our outside CBs these past two seasons were kind of the weak spot and yet they never really moved him outside. 

 

In theory he is big and athletic enough to play out there, so it begs the question as to why they kept him at nickel.

Edited 3 hours ago by Mikey152

[YattaOkasan]

37 minutes ago, Mikey152 said:

The Buckeyes really took off defensively when they moved him to free safety part time. Ransom was more of an in the box defender, which forced downs to play deep middle. When Ransom went down, they played Hancock deep middle and moved Downs closer to the LOS where he could make more plays. He acquitted himself nicely. They kept doing it after Ransom came back and he played a lot of safety snaps in the playoffs.

 

That said...he is more of a pass defender, IMO. More Micah, less Poyer or even Johnson.

Love the rotation cause it implies understanding of the defense holistically and I believe that is what McD/Babich want.  Glad you also mentioned the free safety too because I view Bishop more in the Poyer role.  Both are plenty athletic but I think Bishop can be physical and would like a better coverage player behind him.  Rapp and Hamlin dont reallly offer that but they do obviously have mastery of the defense.  I still think Forrest might have a bit of the edge over Hancock at S but I would like either of them over Rapp/Hamlin come Sept.

[balln]

45 minutes ago, Mikey152 said:

Maybe. But he never really left the CB room at tOSU, he would just rotate in at safety for certain looks or to fill in for injury. He was their nickel CB. Even as a deep safety, he was mostly playing coverage. What I think had him slide was our outside CBs these past two seasons were kind of the weak spot and yet they never really moved him outside. 

 

In theory he is big and athletic enough to play out there, so it begs the question as to why they kept him at nickel.

Yea like - he played at the number 1-4 top program in cfb year in and year out. I’ll take my chances on players from sec and osu / mich any day of the week

[Dukestreetking]

On 5/10/2025 at 11:40 PM, transplantbillsfan said:

 

I'm guessing you've never watched Barry.

 

He's NoHo Hank and I'll never be able to get it out of my head when I see him.

 

Let's all hold hands and pray that LJ never becomes "King of Suck Balls Mountain"

 

Nota bene: I don't think he will be; it's just an obscure/funny Barry quote involving No Ho Hank

[NewEra]

7 hours ago, BearNorth said:

Jordan Hancock 9.82 RAS, 4.42 40, another guy with serious hops over 40" vertical. Taller, bigger, faster, more explosive than Cam and played at the highest level of CFB facing elite players [MH Jr.] every day in practice.  Suspect when Taron's time with the Bills ends, he could be the replacement, as he played slot at The Ohio State University, but also has size to play safety in a 6 DB set.

The more I read and watch on this guy, I start to wonder how he was even available in rd 5