01-01-2018, 11:22 AM
First and foremost, happy and healthy new year to all of you and your families too.
Looking back, this 2017 regular season exceeded almost all of our pre season expectations. We have had nine straight .500 or below seasons, including several with less than five years. Just last year (2016), we finished with a 3-13 record. Not this year. This year, we won the division with a 10-6 record. While looking back at the last two weeks causes some trepidation among many of us, the bottom line is we've had a level of success we haven't seen in a decade. But what degree of contribution did we get from our rookie class? Let's take a look.
1st round pick, 4th overall, Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU-finished the season 8th in the NFL in rushing with 1040 yards and 9 TDs, our first 1000 yard rusher since MJD in 2011. Had an impressive start, running for 100 yards in his first game against Houston, and had long runs of 90 and 75 yards, showing breakaway ability. However, wasn't the same since his ankle injury against the Rams, which caused him to miss two games midseason, and limited him in other games. Furthermore, he got suspended for another game for missing a team picture. When on his game and healthy, he is rugged and is capable of getting tough yards inside. But he has not been the most durable, and some assert the offensive approach is better when he is not in the game. For me, he was worth the pick, because his presence helped make Bortles a better QB by helping him not be in so many long yardage situations. He needs to improve his pass blocking. I think if he is healthy, he can have success on the ground against a Buffalo team ranked 29th against the run.
2nd round pick, 34th overall, Cam Robinson, T, Alabama-I had long been a fan of his, and wound up thrilled he was there for us at this point in the draft. While in the back of my mind, I had fears he would end up like the recent class of Alabama tackles, he surpassed those fears, playing solidly for most of his 15 games. As I recall, he gave up a sack to Orakpo in week 2, and had problems with the Bolts DEs, but generally speaking protected Bortles blind side well.. His body and Bama lineage suggests a dominant run blocker. I wouldn't put him in the dominant category. From what I've seen, he wouldn't collapse an entire side of a defense like Boselli. But he seals a defender off out of a hold better than most. I believe we hit on this pick and he will be our left tackle, and will be this franchise's best LT since Boselli.
3rd round pick, 68th overall, Dawaune Smoot, DE, Illinois-Not many, including myself, were thrilled with this pick immediately after it was made. But he gave some quality reps throughout the season. I've seen him chase down plays from behind, showing good pursuit and hustle. Didn't provide too much in the pass rush, as most expected. At this point, I'm still not sure if this pick would not have been better spent on an OL or TE, but I view this pick favorably after a season under his belt.
4th round pick, 110th overall, Dede Westbrook, WR, Oklahoma-Many of us had misgivings about this pick. WR was not seen as a major need going into last April's draft. Furthermore, he was a guy with considerable talent, but also considerable off field baggage. He supposedly had domestic battery incidents, and there were pre draft reports that his interviews were disastrous. Upon drafting him, Coughlin stressed that he would be on a very tight leash. He started out doing well in preseason, then went on IR with a hernia surgery (?). He was removed from IR midseason, and provided a spark to the passing game when he finally got the chance to play in a regular season game, this Tennessee game notwithstanding. He finished the season with 27 catches for 339 yards and a TD, and no negative off field reports. He appears he will be an asset for us.
5th round pick, 148th overall, Blair Brown, LB, Ohio- I knew nothing about him. Copycat (iirc) was enthusiastic about the pick, being a fan/alumnus of Ohio U. He spoke to his athletic ability, and from what I saw, he does have decent athletic ability, and seemed to play well when Telvin Smith was out. I don't know if he will remain outside or slide inside eventually, but I think he may hang around a little more.
7th round pick, 222nd overall, Jalen Myrick, CB, Minnesota-He came in as one of the fasted DBs in the draft, and while he was embarrassed in camp by Westbrook, his speed made him worth the time to develop, and he put in some quality time in the secondary. Furthermore, he blocked the extra point, in San Francisco that put us back in the game. I don't want to see Colvin leave just yet, but he may. If he does, I like the coverage Myrick provides.
7th round pick, 240th overall, Marquez Williams, FB, Miami, FL-Was beaten out by Tommy Bohanon and was cut. now with the Browns
UDFA Keelan Cole, WR, Kentucky Weslyan-was a star in training camp, and I kept hearing all of this buzz around him, but I withheld judgment until I saw him in action in a game, because of so many training camp phenoms who sizzled early then fizzled when the preseason lights came on. But he never fizzled. He showed amazing deep speed and deep threat capability but battled with some inconsistent hands. However, under Marrone's, Coughlin's, and McCardell's tutelage, he became a more reliable route runner and a more consistent catcher, and provided key impact for the team as our starters at WR went down. He finished the year with 42 catches for 748 yards (17.8 YPC) and 3 TDs only starting 6 games. Once the light came on for him-I want to say starting with the second Colts game-he started having huge impact on the offense, culminating in a 7-186 performance against Seattle. I think his and Wesbrook's development makes Marqise Lee expendable this offseason, though I certainly want Lee healthy and ready to go starting Sunday.
Final analysis-As far as impact, I think this draft class was underrated by the experts and message board hacks like myself in the immediate aftermath of the draft. We wound up getting a rugged RB in Fournette who can not only break long runs but can get the short yardage conversions that killed us so many seasons before. We wound up getting a quality LT that should fortify that spot for years. Smoot was a decent rotational guy, while Westbrook and Cole will be dangerous for us. Blair Brown should get better with experience, and Myrick's speed will be an asset for us.
Your thoughts are welcome, as always.
Looking back, this 2017 regular season exceeded almost all of our pre season expectations. We have had nine straight .500 or below seasons, including several with less than five years. Just last year (2016), we finished with a 3-13 record. Not this year. This year, we won the division with a 10-6 record. While looking back at the last two weeks causes some trepidation among many of us, the bottom line is we've had a level of success we haven't seen in a decade. But what degree of contribution did we get from our rookie class? Let's take a look.
1st round pick, 4th overall, Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU-finished the season 8th in the NFL in rushing with 1040 yards and 9 TDs, our first 1000 yard rusher since MJD in 2011. Had an impressive start, running for 100 yards in his first game against Houston, and had long runs of 90 and 75 yards, showing breakaway ability. However, wasn't the same since his ankle injury against the Rams, which caused him to miss two games midseason, and limited him in other games. Furthermore, he got suspended for another game for missing a team picture. When on his game and healthy, he is rugged and is capable of getting tough yards inside. But he has not been the most durable, and some assert the offensive approach is better when he is not in the game. For me, he was worth the pick, because his presence helped make Bortles a better QB by helping him not be in so many long yardage situations. He needs to improve his pass blocking. I think if he is healthy, he can have success on the ground against a Buffalo team ranked 29th against the run.
2nd round pick, 34th overall, Cam Robinson, T, Alabama-I had long been a fan of his, and wound up thrilled he was there for us at this point in the draft. While in the back of my mind, I had fears he would end up like the recent class of Alabama tackles, he surpassed those fears, playing solidly for most of his 15 games. As I recall, he gave up a sack to Orakpo in week 2, and had problems with the Bolts DEs, but generally speaking protected Bortles blind side well.. His body and Bama lineage suggests a dominant run blocker. I wouldn't put him in the dominant category. From what I've seen, he wouldn't collapse an entire side of a defense like Boselli. But he seals a defender off out of a hold better than most. I believe we hit on this pick and he will be our left tackle, and will be this franchise's best LT since Boselli.
3rd round pick, 68th overall, Dawaune Smoot, DE, Illinois-Not many, including myself, were thrilled with this pick immediately after it was made. But he gave some quality reps throughout the season. I've seen him chase down plays from behind, showing good pursuit and hustle. Didn't provide too much in the pass rush, as most expected. At this point, I'm still not sure if this pick would not have been better spent on an OL or TE, but I view this pick favorably after a season under his belt.
4th round pick, 110th overall, Dede Westbrook, WR, Oklahoma-Many of us had misgivings about this pick. WR was not seen as a major need going into last April's draft. Furthermore, he was a guy with considerable talent, but also considerable off field baggage. He supposedly had domestic battery incidents, and there were pre draft reports that his interviews were disastrous. Upon drafting him, Coughlin stressed that he would be on a very tight leash. He started out doing well in preseason, then went on IR with a hernia surgery (?). He was removed from IR midseason, and provided a spark to the passing game when he finally got the chance to play in a regular season game, this Tennessee game notwithstanding. He finished the season with 27 catches for 339 yards and a TD, and no negative off field reports. He appears he will be an asset for us.
5th round pick, 148th overall, Blair Brown, LB, Ohio- I knew nothing about him. Copycat (iirc) was enthusiastic about the pick, being a fan/alumnus of Ohio U. He spoke to his athletic ability, and from what I saw, he does have decent athletic ability, and seemed to play well when Telvin Smith was out. I don't know if he will remain outside or slide inside eventually, but I think he may hang around a little more.
7th round pick, 222nd overall, Jalen Myrick, CB, Minnesota-He came in as one of the fasted DBs in the draft, and while he was embarrassed in camp by Westbrook, his speed made him worth the time to develop, and he put in some quality time in the secondary. Furthermore, he blocked the extra point, in San Francisco that put us back in the game. I don't want to see Colvin leave just yet, but he may. If he does, I like the coverage Myrick provides.
7th round pick, 240th overall, Marquez Williams, FB, Miami, FL-Was beaten out by Tommy Bohanon and was cut. now with the Browns
UDFA Keelan Cole, WR, Kentucky Weslyan-was a star in training camp, and I kept hearing all of this buzz around him, but I withheld judgment until I saw him in action in a game, because of so many training camp phenoms who sizzled early then fizzled when the preseason lights came on. But he never fizzled. He showed amazing deep speed and deep threat capability but battled with some inconsistent hands. However, under Marrone's, Coughlin's, and McCardell's tutelage, he became a more reliable route runner and a more consistent catcher, and provided key impact for the team as our starters at WR went down. He finished the year with 42 catches for 748 yards (17.8 YPC) and 3 TDs only starting 6 games. Once the light came on for him-I want to say starting with the second Colts game-he started having huge impact on the offense, culminating in a 7-186 performance against Seattle. I think his and Wesbrook's development makes Marqise Lee expendable this offseason, though I certainly want Lee healthy and ready to go starting Sunday.
Final analysis-As far as impact, I think this draft class was underrated by the experts and message board hacks like myself in the immediate aftermath of the draft. We wound up getting a rugged RB in Fournette who can not only break long runs but can get the short yardage conversions that killed us so many seasons before. We wound up getting a quality LT that should fortify that spot for years. Smoot was a decent rotational guy, while Westbrook and Cole will be dangerous for us. Blair Brown should get better with experience, and Myrick's speed will be an asset for us.
Your thoughts are welcome, as always.