Brian was 89.5 last year, 76.6 two years ago, and 72.4 before that. Really think Branch could be a big want depending on his interviews.
I think Branch also fills a huge need. Would love to see him play nickel CB here as we need someone who can be physical in run support, with a lot of speed, and good ball skills.
I personally would be more than fine with him at 18.
A couple things about the RAS. I would have averaged it differently. First, I would have given points based on the round, so that a 7th round pick wouldn’t get the same amount of consideration when averaging as players taken in the previous rounds. Also, with certain positions RAS scores simply aren’t going to really tell the story. WR is my best example. If we stick to RAS, we probably don’t even consider St Brown. On the flip side one of my homer picks, Isaiah Weston, he went undrafted.
https://twitter.com/mathbomb/status/1499761478391508999?lang=en
My gut tells me Joey Porter Jr is going to interview better than Brian Branch.
I honestly feel like Joey Porter may wind up being the best fit for us as well. I’m not 100% convinced he’s the guy, but I’ve had a gut feeling he is the guy the staff will really like.
Yeah that was one thing I really noticed when I finally got to this year’s tape. I’d been warned by you and others so I kinda figured, but it was something to see. I really thought he became great at the catch point, the best guy I’ve watched.
Look for former team captains.
And he.drafts Power 5 Conference players.
Recap:
High character
High motor
Athletic freaks (for the most part)
Productive
Team leaders
High Competition
Also Brad loves finding that special trait combo in overlooked guys who happen to fit the above list. I trust his process. He does take risks (injury) but only when the player still fits within his base requirements
The next step is to start building a full list of prospects who fit this criteria. @Davicus since you clearly have the interest, patience, statistical access, and eloquence, not to mention credibility with the subject matter, I nominate you for the job.
Yes! This is the next step in the process. I’m going to compile a list of those I think fit into Brad’s previous PFF history. Then give that list a once over when RAS comes out and compare to see who gets dropped after poor-ish testing and to see if there are any RAS+ guys who maybe don’t quite fit the PFF scores, but the RAS is high enough to take them a little later like Barnes/Lucas.
That sideline INT against the Beavers was big time
Yeah that’s one that really stood out. The breakup on Nacua was great too, I really like that guy as a mid-late round option. He could fill that x spot if he runs fast enough (hit almost 21 mph GPS timed). Gonzalez had him blanketed and turned around at just the right time.
We really should invest in a WR6 late IMO. Preferably a Reynolds understudy. I haven’f watched a lot of BYU this year but it does sound like he’d fit that mold.
Calijah Kancey is gonna tick a lot of boxes. Team leader, PFF scores of 80.4 → 84.6 → 91.8. Great athlete. His RAS won’t be sky high because he’s a major size outlier for iDL at 6’, 280, but the rest of his testing will be at or near the very top. I think he’s a guy we’re gonna like a lot.
Simply put…
-HIGH AF “Grit Factor”
-Trenches first
-Talent (especially power)
-Intelligence
-Work ethic
-Mean Streak
-Good Human
Hey man , looks like you spent a lot of time and effort on this. Good work! Very professional
Look forward to chatting in the lead up to the draft
Another thing with Holmes is he seems to identify players who other teams will pass on because they don’t meet NFL measurements in one area, knowing he’ll be able to get them later in the draft and find a gem.
This seems to be the case with ARSB, Rodrigo, Houston, Lucas, Melifonwu, etc. Some were “short” for their position, like ARSB and Rodriguez. Some didn’t blow teams away in the 40 (Barnes, Melifonwu, Lucas). Houston fell through the cracks because of competition level.
Holmes seems to ID these guys and know he has an ace in his pocket, like when he told Sheila Ford he knew of a WR in the 2021 draft who he’d get.
Knowing he has guys he can get in the middle and late rounds (even if he has to take them higher than their projection) allows him to be a little more risky with high picks and take chances on injured bargains who slide, like Jameson Williams and Josh Paschal.
It always appeared the Rams’ comfort with him nailing picks in the middle and later rounds enabled them to swing for the fences in a different way, trading away high picks for veterans.
Yeah this is a good point. I was thinking about it when I mentioned Kancey earlier. He could really slip due to his size profile (similar to Rodrigo), so it wouldn’t shock me if we target him in like the mid-3rd. If he goes before then, so be it.
In.Freaking.Sane…that he was TARGETING Ra, & knew he could get him that late. Nutty. The guy is most xefinitely psychic
Holmes drafting strategy.
Pick # 1 - Safest high level pick. Preferably trenches.
Pick # 2 - Injury history, gamble based on biggest upside. Look for biggest injury value.
Pick # 3 - Roll player, potential starter. Any position
Pick # 4 - BPA at S or CB
Pick # 5 - BPA at WR or TE
Pick # 6 - Draft a stud pass rush specialist
Extra pick # 4-6 - Draft a LBer because who needs good LBers in our scheme.
Pick # 7 Who the hell cares who I draft but let’s get someone who can make the team. Take a player at our weakest depth position.