What about Shaquem Griffin

[jrry32]

It seems like the thing we keep hearing is that the NFL will be different for Griffin. Yea, he can shed blocks in college. Yea, he can tackle in college. But the NFL isn't college. Suddenly, his missing hand is going to be the fatal flaw. I have one question for those people: Why did that not happen in the Senior Bowl? He won Practice Player of the Week for being the best performer in practice. People claim that he won't be able to stack and shed blocks against NFL OLs? Well, what is this:

View: https://www.instagram.com/p/BeW6UCUFR-K/

That's Joseph Notebloom. He's a LT prospect that many on this board quite like. Griffin is playing as a 3-4 OLB here and holds up just fine. In fact, he stands Notebloom up and then sheds the block.

This all reminds me of 2014. There was another incredibly productive player who had an amazing Senior Bowl week that I kept pounding the table for the Rams to draft. There were quite a few people who were apprehensive about it. They kept telling me that the NFL is a different animal. 6'1" 285 pound DTs just don't hold up in the NFL. A DT that small won't be able to hack it as a run defender. College is college. NFL OLs are too talented for a guy that small to have his way with them. They told me that I should overlook his great film because he simply wasn't big enough.

Well, that guy ended up winning over the vast majority of the board by the end of the draft process. Many of us were quite stoked when the Rams drafted him. And now, we all have no doubt that a 6'1" 285 pound DT can hold his own in the NFL. Guys, you gotta trust the film. The NFL is more difficult than college, but skills don't evaporate. Griffin doesn't have any athletic limitations, and he's quite strong for his size. He's fearless, he tries to outwork everyone else on and off the field, and he has outstanding instincts. The kid has one big flaw, but that one flaw is not fatal. Sometimes, you gotta stop yourself from thinking inside the box.

 

[LACHAMP46]

bullcrap. We hear crap like this every year. A 285 pound DT can't hold up against NFL OLs. A WR with 4.6 speed can't separate against NFL CBs. A 5'11" QB can't succeed in the NFL. Year after year, those people look foolish. His missing hand is a flaw, but like any other flaw, it can be overcome. You can make all excuses you want about how the NFL is different, but it's unconvincing because I've heard that same excuse a million other times.

You'd like to compare physical limits like lack of size, speed and strength...the actual physical limits of a missing hand. OK....but most would say it's different...you don't.
AD....think he won defensive player of the year at Pitt? No...some award as a top DL...he didn't just dominate at the senior bowl...he dominated the competition everywhere....I love the AD story...he lack of height isn't a flaw because he plays with extreme leverage and power to go with top end speed for a DT. Leave those intangibles comfortably out of your argument...but AD is a beast...and always has been. It's not a shock he went in the 1st round.

A 4.6 wr does have problems separating from corners, especially good ones....oh...you didn't see the playoff game, huh?

5'11 QB....I read what you said about Russell Wilson...it was interesting....I was looking for QB's too...And happened across Russell....And the games I caught, you could see a marvelous competitor....I think he lost a couple last second games...but the way he put his team in position to win...was incredible....everyone that saw him his last season should have known he could play....I've never been a stickler on height per say.....more...I don't like slim frames...and/or weak arms....I grew up around the time out here of Warren Moon....saw him play in HS....a lil in JuCo...and I saw that dude at Washington...rocket arm...didn't care how tall he was, Warren could spin the damn ball....major difference than other short QB's of the time...Same with Rodney Pete...and hell, like I keep telling some of yall...Pat Haden could throw the deep ball...I like Jeff Rutledge too.

That is textbook OLB play. The OL most certainly does not block him into the HB. The OL is trying to drive him out of the play. Watch the OL's body as he approaches Griffin. He's trying to seal him and drive him out of the way to create a huge hole. Griffin stands him up, attacks his outside shoulder to put himself in position to contain the run, and then he throws the OL off of him to shed the block and make the tackle. That is beautiful LB play. He gets an assist from #97 who forces the HB into him, but Griffin is exactly where he should be, containing the run in case the HB tries to bounce outside.

That's what you see...and that's cool.
I see a LT....lazily approach the edge of the line and only really want to "seal" Shaq....when he feels the play, only then does his attempt at a seal turn into trying to drive/move Shaq out of the way/hole....where I see...ME...I SEE, Shaq being pushed into the RB....

Simply put, Griffin takes on blockers better than just about any LB his size. He takes on blockers better than Roquan Smith, Deion Jones, Ryan Shazier, and Telvin Smith. Yet, he still possesses the athleticism and instincts that all those guys possess. You don't care about any of that. You made your mind up on the kid when you heard he only has one hand. Ignoring the film is always a big no-no.

I didn't make up anything....I actually saw him play in a bowl game....and never noticed him....he ran around and made a few plays....nothing dominant. Nothing that projects to, long time pro...

You keep naming Roquan....Roquan...I don't think he's the top ILB....The dude from Va Tech is....again, IMO....but he's a much better prospect than Shaq....and you couldn't convince a single NFL guy he is...it sounds good tho.

I watched the senior bowl practices...watched the game...against a very weak senior bowl offensive line cast, he didn't look that good...just meh. Seemed to get engulfed in drills, and...to my original point, unable to get off blocks.

Deon Jones...Shazier...and Telvin Smith are in the pros...and are pretty successful....every one of them STARTED as rookies....

Lets see, not only where he gets drafted...but if he even plays anything besides special teams.

 

[dieterbrock]

I just hope that the Rams draft him so when @jrry32 is proven to be 100% correct, the Rams are the beneficiaries!

 

[jrry32]

A 4.6 wr does have problems separating from corners, especially good ones....oh...you didn't see the playoff game, huh?

8 catches for 69 yards and a TD. Maybe you missed the playoff game. Or you're just sticking to another of your bad evaluations like glue. How about his 5 catches for 118 yards and a TD against the Super Bowl champions? Or his 6 catches for 64 yards against Minnesota? Or his 8 catches for 116 yards against New Orleans? Oh, right, none of those teams are any good. I will await your excuses.

 

[Corbin]

This is my thought. I believe the Rams are genuine about their liking Littleton. The dude can play the run. I have concerns about him in pass coverage, but Wade has been willing to accept that in the past. My thought is that we draft Griffin to replace Barron, but he won't replace him this year. We cut Barron after 2018 to open up cap to re-sign our FAs. Griffin replaces him as the starter in 2019. That makes sense to me because Griffin might need some time to adjust to playing ILB.

What does Griffin do in 2018? He plays special teams (the dude will be a monster special teamer), and he rushes the passer in passing situations. The guy has insane speed/explosion/acceleration with the ability to bend around the edge. With our interior push, he'd feast as a situational rusher. QBs would have nowhere to go.

That's why I love the pick. He prepares us to save money in the future, he stars on special teams today, and he brings pass rushing ability in subpackages. But frankly, if we wanted Griffin to start next to Barron, I think he could. With Suh, Donald, and Brockers on the DL, our LBs aren't going to get pounded by blockers like last year. Griffin has already shown the ability to shed blocks, fearlessness when attacking downhill, and the range to run down any play anywhere on the field. He'd be a true 3-down ILB for us. Still, I think they really like Littleton in the thumper role.

Hey i could with this for sure! Make our ST's coverage even better and adding a future piece to the D? Yes please!!

Would love to see him come backside and destroy Jimmy G and make the ball come out! Lol

Im starting to think his stock has climbed a ton since the combine but im still holding out hope we might pick him up still!

 

[LACHAMP46]

8 catches for 69 yards and a TD. Maybe you missed the playoff game. Or you're just sticking to another of your bad evaluations like glue.

Nope...saw every one of those.....noticed how most were in garbage time....and had his average at less than 9 ypc....and definitely remember that td catch...benefit from a pick play....

obviously had difficulty separating.....


had a few drops too.....

I'll stick to my evals....you stick to yours....

 

[jrry32]

Nope...saw every one of those.....noticed how most were in garbage time....and had his average at less than 9 ypc....and definitely remember that td catch...benefit from a pick play....

obviously had difficulty separating.....


had a few drops too.....

I'll stick to my evals....you stick to yours....

You made that same claim with Robert Woods, and I exposed you as of being full of it. Kupp had 4 catches for 44 yards and a TD in the first half. If you think the first half is garbage time, I don't think you know what that term means. Yea, I will stick to my evaluation on the guy who had 70 catches for 938 yards and 6 TDs as a rookie WR. You can continue to try and convince us that he ain't shit. It definitely won't hurt your credibility.

 

[LACHAMP46]

You made that same claim with Robert Woods, and I exposed you as of being full of it. Kupp had 4 catches for 44 yards and a TD in the first half. If you think the first half is garbage time

I was talking about total passes thrown to him....and most were during garbage time...
Was it 14 or 13 total targets? With 6 catches....for 60+ yards....and 4 of those catches were in the 1st half....interesting. Wonder where was he in the 3rd quarter? Oh well....

yeah, I'm full of it...full of the truth.

You can continue to try and convince us that he ain't crap.

Never said he aint shit....never...he's okay too....and not at the top of okay...but barely making OK....due to drops. I also don't really appreciate his run after the catch ability....but hey, get open...in the slot...and catch the ball....that's cool...and that's an OK type player.

Fill the team up with OK players all you want to....but the real season is the playoffs...and ok players don't win playoff games usually.

And....to bring this all around....Shaq doesn't LOOK like he'll be an OK player....too many obstacles to overcome.

 

[BonifayRam]

I was talking about total passes thrown to him....and most were during garbage time...
Was it 14 or 13 total targets? With 6 catches....for 60+ yards....and 4 of those catches were in the 1st half....interesting. Wonder where was he in the 3rd quarter? Oh well....

yeah, I'm full of it...full of the truth.
Never said he aint crap....never...he's okay too....and not at the top of okay...but barely making OK....due to drops. I also don't really appreciate his run after the catch ability....but hey, get open...in the slot...and catch the ball....that's cool...and that's an OK type player.

Fill the team up with OK players all you want to....but the real season is the playoffs...and ok players don't win playoff games usually.

And....to bring this all around....Shaq doesn't LOOK like he'll be an OK player....too many obstacles to overcome.

I lean towards your position on LB'er Shaquem Griffin but he does have some special skills...he can play most of the LB'er positions in a 43 or a 34 defense that's unusual. He would be a dandy ST player too for Fassell. I would not select him any earlier than the 6th round though.

 

[LACHAMP46]

I lean towards your position on LB'er Shaquem Griffin but he does have some special skills...he can play most of the LB'er positions in a 43 or a 34 defense that's unusual. He would be a dandy ST player too for Fassell. I would not select him any earlier than the 6th round though.

Meh....I see a puffed up safety....not a true LB....and it would be OK to grab him with our LAST 6th round pick....I'll be watching him closely to see what he really turns out to be....

It breaks down like this...would I rather have Mike Thomas as a gunner....or Shaq Griffin? Right now, it's MT

 

[jrry32]

yeah, I'm full of it...full of the truth.

Absolutely. That's why we cut Kupp and kept Brian Quick.

 

[OldSchool]

Good lord that was painful to read. I think somebody has been a victim of CTE and dementia has set in. I'm sorry Champ it used to be fun and sometimes informative to read you. Now it seems you just make things up and throw stuff at the wall in an attempt to be contrary.

 

[jrry32]

Good lord that was painful to read. I think somebody has been a victim of CTE and dementia has set in. I'm sorry Champ it used to be fun and sometimes informative to read you. Now it seems you just make things up and throw stuff at the wall in an attempt to be contrary.

Agreed. I have no issue with the way Champ evaluates players. We all have our process. My issue is that Champ won't back off his evaluations even.when he's proven wrong, both about players he liked and players he didn't like. It's killing his credibility.