🏈 OJ Howard 4th overall in latest mock

[Tidestalker]

McShay's 2017 NFL Mock Draft 3.0: How high will McCaffrey go?

(McCshay - ESPN Insider)

4. OJ Howard
5. Jon Allen
9. Rueben Foster
31. Cam Robinson

Just thought that was crazy. RTR

 

[OriginalBamachris]

:bandhead: So the NFL sees his talent which Bama did not seem to exploit during his tenure.

 

[TUSKtimes]

I see great things for OJ in the NFL. He could be the next great TE along the lines of a Kellen Winslow. When he accelerates, he separates.

On a side note of the draft, I think Malon could have helped himself physically by coming back for another year of on the field training. Not an easy position to master at the pro level. And almost for the same reason Stewart may look back and wish he had stayed in school and continued to work on his technique. Takes a lot of skill to run with the big dogs.

 

[planomateo]

:bandhead: So the NFL sees his talent which Bama did not seem to exploit during his tenure.

Not like he showed up day 1 with those talents, hell it took him a while to develop some of them...

 

[UAgrad93]

Not like he showed up day 1 with those talents, hell it took him a while to develop some of them...

Yep! He was a raw route runner and blocking definitely wasn't his cup of tea!!!!
I will add that his blocking skills will likely diminish since the NFL likes to sling it around the field 45-50 snaps a game.

 

[alabama mike]

Glad to see our guys projected to do well in the draft! There will be movement all over the board before the actual draft but I love those top 3 picks. Robinson and Humphrey I am not as sold on yet.

 

[TerryP]

:bandhead: So the NFL sees his talent which Bama did not seem to exploit during his tenure.

Yep! He was a raw route runner and blocking definitely wasn't his cup of tea!!!!

Here's something overlooked. OJ had three, first year starters playing QB when he was here. Chew on that for a minute while you consider routes ran by TE's. Just taking last year with Jalen Bama had a QB who had a difficult time making it past his first read. Do fans really want a QB, one who is struggling with reads, to be attacking defenses across the middle? I don't relish the thought.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Here's something overlooked. OJ had three, first year starters playing QB when he was here. Chew on that for a minute while you consider routes ran by TE's. Just taking last year with Jalen Bama had a QB who had a difficult time making it past his first read. Do fans really want a QB, one who is struggling with reads, to be attacking defenses across the middle? I don't relish the thought.

I would give you Hurts and not argue the issue. But Coker wasn't afraid of the middle as a 5th-year senior and he saw him pretty clearly against Clemson. Even thinking about Blake Sims, I just happen to know for a fact that Kiffin had a computer chip implanted in Sims throwing shoulder that created a hardware malfunction if he even attempted chunking to anyone not named Amari Cooper.

 

[TerryP]

But Coker wasn't afraid of the middle as a 5th-year senior and he saw him pretty clearly against Clemson.

Here's the thing. Was that the staff being comfortable with Coker throwing over the middle or was that a few cases of the Clemson defense being completely out of position? Both of those TD's during that game were busted coverage. I know it was seen on film before the game so it's not like Coker was making read progressions.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Here's the thing. Was that the staff being comfortable with Coker throwing over the middle or was that a few cases of the Clemson defense being completely out of position? Both of those TD's during that game were busted coverage. I know it was seen on film before the game so it's not like Coker was making read progressions.

Clemson busted coverage, and Kiffin was actually swinging OJ out in space, making the defense account for him and they were losing him. To be completely upfront about how he was featured in that game, I just don't think Kiffin even attempts that last swing pass behind the LOS to OJ if he hadn't been getting lost by the defense and scoring TDs. He wasn't open and he sure didn't get lost by defenders. He just pulled a superman with that speed and separated and that's what everyone wanted to see more of these past 4 years. It's still the most incredible thing I saw in that game filled with incredible moments. I actually think McElwain did a better job of featuring Brad Smelley than what Kiffin did during OJ's career.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Speed and power is...NFL tight end requirements...first and foremost..
They have pricy receivers for catching the ball

 

[UAgrad93]

Here's something overlooked. OJ had three, first year starters playing QB when he was here. Chew on that for a minute while you consider routes ran by TE's. Just taking last year with Jalen Bama had a QB who had a difficult time making it past his first read. Do fans really want a QB, one who is struggling with reads, to be attacking defenses across the middle? I don't relish the thought.

He did have AJ his first year though. I threw in the route running for that year alone. His problem that I and most others had issue with was blocking.

@50+yeartidefan, Take a look at Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski. Those 2 along with Antonio Gates are known for their pass catching abilities. The need for powerful blocking TEs has virtually died with the dinosaur. NFL offenses revolve around the QB and not the run game.

 

[TerryP]

I actually think McElwain did a better job of featuring Brad Smelley than what Kiffin did during OJ's career.

I don't see that at all.

With Smelley the only receiver of note was Maze and he still had fewer receptions and yards in his SR year than OJ had in his JR and SR season (and that's with Stewart and Ridley.) If we remove the Clemson numbers from 2015, OJ's and Brad's numbers are pretty similar.

 

[TerryP]

He did have AJ his first year though. I threw in the route running for that year alone. His problem that I and most others had issue with was blocking.

I was right there with you. Everyone knew when OJ was in he was running a route. He wasn't a blocking threat.

 

[TUSKtimes]

I don't see that at all.

With Smelley the only receiver of note was Maze and he still had fewer receptions and yards in his SR year than OJ had in his JR and SR season (and that's with Stewart and Ridley.) If we remove the Clemson numbers from 2015, OJ's and Brad's numbers are pretty similar.

You sure are selective in your reply quotes. It's as if they were actually my only point of reference on the subject. You do realize that Smelley was in the same recruiting class as Julio? And he was a QB in high school coming in. And we also had Norwood, White, Bell, Hanks not to mention at TE, Underwood and Michael Williams, Colin Peeks and a few more.

Anyway, back to my real point, with someone as immensely talented as Howard, Bama fans will always wonder what if, especially if he has a great NFL career. Kind of like when we see Julio proving every week he is the best receiver in the NFL.

 

[OldPlayer]

:bandhead: So the NFL sees his talent which Bama did not seem to exploit during his tenure.

The accuracy of NFL teams picking the best player can be summed up in two words: Tom Brady

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

I was right there with you. Everyone knew when OJ was in he was running a route. He wasn't a blocking threat.

Yup.

Which is why Kiff said when he first got here that he wanted to make OJ more of an in-line player. The results were less targets Kiff's 1st year. They were working on OJ's toughness as a blocker on the line. Something he really wasn't proficient enough with until his final year.

Notice this past year we used him quite a few times with a TE delay type play where he chips the end/backer for a second or two then releases in the flat. We couldn't use those type of plays early in his career because he wasn't known as a blocker.

Not much of a disguise there.

Now, he's more of an all-purpose TE that blocks well but has exceptional hands and speed.

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

The accuracy of NFL teams picking the best player can be summed up in two words: Tom Brady

This. Late 6th rounder that will end up the GOAT.

 

[TerryP]

You sure are selective in your reply quotes. It's as if they were actually my only point of reference on the subject. You do realize that Smelley was in the same recruiting class as Julio?

Uh, yeah. Tusk, I was a family friend of the Smelley's when I was in school: worked for his father for a few years so I know Brad's situation and story pretty damn well. I know he played QB in high school but he was always known as a versatile athlete--one recruited as a TE/H-back from the start.

I'm not being selective, per se', on what I'm quoting. You and I are basically saying the same thing when it comes to OJ and the Clemson game. It's my opinion Venables didn't game plan for OJ. And, in all honesty, that swing pass wasn't what I would call a good decision. What I don't agree with is the notion that Mac used Brad better than Kiff used OJ--the numbers simply do not back up that notion. Heck, Nuss used the TE position better than Mac.

Here's what I'm looking at when it comes to the two.

Brad's numbers.
Frosh: 7 receptions, 98 yards, no TD's
Soph: 7 receptions, 50 yards, no TD's.
Junior: 6 receptions, 55 yards, no TD's.
Senior: 34 receptions, 356 yards, 4 TD's.


OJ's numbers.
Frosh: 14 receptions, 269 yards, 2 TD's. (That's under Nuss, and in one year he used OJ better than Mac did any of his TE's--2X the amount of production)
Soph: 17 receptions, 260 yards, 0 TD's. (Kiff's first season and that's with Cooper and White getting the majority of the receptions,)
Junior: 38 receptions, 602 yards, 2 TD's. (Taking Clemson out and he's still putting up better numbers sans the TD's.)
Senior: 45 receptions, 595 yards, 3 TD's.

In Smelley's entire time at Bama he didn't put up the same numbers as OJ did in one season (Junior.) If you want to say he was used better in our blocking schemes (IE: when he was with Michael Williams) I'll agree with that wholeheartedly.

 

[bradenob]

McShay's 2017 NFL Mock Draft 3.0: How high will McCaffrey go?

(McCshay - ESPN Insider)

4. OJ Howard
5. Jon Allen
9. Rueben Foster
31. Cam Robinson

Just thought that was crazy. RTR

Agreed TS. I don't put a great deal of stock in McShay, or Kiper - you or I could do as well - they are Captain Obvious #1 and #2 and you, at the least, can evaluate player tape as well as they can.

Would not be surprised if Allen is #1, but would be surprised if he falls outside the top 3. OJ isn't THAT highly coveted, although he WILL do well and WILL go in the top 15. Reuben will probably not last past 14. Would NOT be surprised if Marlon isn't taken in the 1st round - and that would be sad because if he had another year he would easily be top 10. IF most teams think Cam Rob is a better guard, or more of a right tackle, he will be end of the first round. If Williams doesn't go in the first somebody gets a bargain, but it is a deep draft for defensive players.