Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Just watched the Senior Bowl again and was able to look closely at our three picks---and here's a summary of what I saw:
Jamell Fleming, CB, Oklahoma:
* Started the game at RCB.
* CBs are at a disadvantage because they have to play off and they cannot press---so this needs to be taken into account.
* That said, he gave up a couple of catches to Joe Adams on short passes in front of him, but he was quick and sudden making the tackles, the second of which was so good that he stripped Adams and caused a fumble that the defense recovered.
* One one play 15 yards down field, Adams and Fleming made contact---and it looked to me like Adams pushed off, but Fleming was called for an illegal contact penalty, which was waved off because Adams had made the catch.
* No WR ever got past him deep.
* He made an outstanding play late in the game where Brandon Weeden tried to sell an underneath hitch to then throw over the top of Fleming, only Fleming did not bite and made an easy interception.
* Was very good on STs, especially as a blocker, as his blocks on two occasions helped to spring Isaiah Pead for long returns.
Comment: one could make the case that he was the best CB in the game--forcing a fumble and making a game sealing interception. The kid plays with a flair and he's quick and physical.
Senio Kelemete, LT, Washington.
* Played LT---alternating time with Mike Adams, who started the game.
* Only missed one block in the entire game---it was a designed scheme for Kelemete to cut block Quinton Coples with LG Tony Bergstrom there to pick Coples up after the cut, only Coples made his best play of the game, leaping over Kelemete, storming past Bergstrom and sacking Russell Wilson, who ran backwards instead of stepping up into the pocket, a la Kevin Kolb.
* The thing is---the coaches didn't have to resort to cut blocking Coples because Kelemete was having no problem at all locking him and Courtney Upshaw up as neither one of them ever got close to the QB.
* In the running game, Kelemete was stellar---he sealed off Malik Jackson perfectly on a good run inside that block by Isaiah Pead, and Kelemete sealed off every other run block versus Coples, Upshaw, Jackson, Ingram and a couple of very good inside seals on Texas A&M's Tony Jerod-Eddie.
* Extremely well coached---because he has a very good, quick set of counter moves---for example on one running play, he tried to influence Coples to the inside in order to seal him off inside. Coples sensed the influence and tried to swim back through to avoid the seal, so Kelemete did what all smart, well-coached offensive linemen are taught to do, he adjusted quickly to the swim, got under Coples' pads and rode him out of the play the way Coples wanted to go.
Another example---was in pass protection, Melvin Ingram, who did not start the game (position question?) and played mostly at DT when he did play, was once lined up outside and tried to run his patented fake outside storm the inside gap rush. Kelemete set up quickly to the outside, and was able to redirect quickly enough to get a enough of a hand on Ingram to push him too far inside.
Comment: Watching Mike Adams' performance in the game as comparison---Kelemete was more consistent, played with better balance, strength and body control. Having watched Kelemete stop Quinton Coples and Courtney Upshaw in their tracks on numerous occasions in pass protection, and having watched him seal off every one of his run blocks while getting off the ball with a real snap to his game, in addition to being able to counter versus unpredictable moves, I strongly believe he could be a good left tackle in the NFL. What I love about him too is he's so much in control---he never once jumped the snap---his setup is quick and balanced---he packs a punch on initial contact but instantly maintains his balance and his firm base---and he's not a grabber at all, which so many of the tackles in today's football are. I think he would make an excellent LG as well...and I was expecting to see skills that translated more that that position and was very pleasantly and unexpectedly surprised to see him put in a near flawless performance versus three of the top pass rushers in the draft (two first rounders and an early second rounder).
Ryan Lindley, QB, San Diego St.
* Was the second QB in after Brandon Weeden---Weeden struggled in the game and threw 2 interceptions and his team turned the ball over another time when Jamell Fleming stripped Joe Adams.
* Lindley's frist drive was about 65 yards---he threw two perfect passes to Juron Criner, one on an out pass on third and medium and another into the left seam for 18 yards on a 2nd and 10. The drive ended in a field goal inside the ten when Lindley narrowly missed Criner on a back shoulder fade and then when Bobby Wagner got a little piece of a skinny post pass to Criner on 3rd and goal.
* For the remainder of the game, Lindley and Criner were having miscommunication problems, as Criner seemed to be running shallower routes than what Lindley was expecting. This is often the case in All-Star games---
* The NFLN crew said that the coaches during the week felt that Lindley was the most comfortable QB of all the QBs there---that he was perhaps the best prepared for the NFL having worked under center his senior year, and that his arm strength was very good.
* Charles Davis said a couple of the coaches likened Lindley to Andy Dalton---Mike Mayock, who did not seem very high on Lindley because of his career 57% completion rate and Mayock kept harping on that. So Mayock and the crew threw out another name: Jake Locker---because of the completion percentage issues.
* Mayock was quick to praise Lindley for the absolute 110 mph rope he threw 35 yards up the left sideline that WR Jeff Fuller dropped.
Comment: I liked what I saw in this game. I've seen a lot of tape on him---and I thought his footwork (3-5 step drops) and ballhanding (exchanges and handoffs) were excellent---he hangs in the pocket nicely and he has a big arm and in this game it looked plenty accurate to me. His quick hitch passes were out very quickly and right on the money---with tight spirals as well, which isn't easy when you have to throw it that quickly. I think that with good coaching and some continuity in the system and with the WRs, this kid could be very good---
Jamell Fleming, CB, Oklahoma:
* Started the game at RCB.
* CBs are at a disadvantage because they have to play off and they cannot press---so this needs to be taken into account.
* That said, he gave up a couple of catches to Joe Adams on short passes in front of him, but he was quick and sudden making the tackles, the second of which was so good that he stripped Adams and caused a fumble that the defense recovered.
* One one play 15 yards down field, Adams and Fleming made contact---and it looked to me like Adams pushed off, but Fleming was called for an illegal contact penalty, which was waved off because Adams had made the catch.
* No WR ever got past him deep.
* He made an outstanding play late in the game where Brandon Weeden tried to sell an underneath hitch to then throw over the top of Fleming, only Fleming did not bite and made an easy interception.
* Was very good on STs, especially as a blocker, as his blocks on two occasions helped to spring Isaiah Pead for long returns.
Comment: one could make the case that he was the best CB in the game--forcing a fumble and making a game sealing interception. The kid plays with a flair and he's quick and physical.
Senio Kelemete, LT, Washington.
* Played LT---alternating time with Mike Adams, who started the game.
* Only missed one block in the entire game---it was a designed scheme for Kelemete to cut block Quinton Coples with LG Tony Bergstrom there to pick Coples up after the cut, only Coples made his best play of the game, leaping over Kelemete, storming past Bergstrom and sacking Russell Wilson, who ran backwards instead of stepping up into the pocket, a la Kevin Kolb.
* The thing is---the coaches didn't have to resort to cut blocking Coples because Kelemete was having no problem at all locking him and Courtney Upshaw up as neither one of them ever got close to the QB.
* In the running game, Kelemete was stellar---he sealed off Malik Jackson perfectly on a good run inside that block by Isaiah Pead, and Kelemete sealed off every other run block versus Coples, Upshaw, Jackson, Ingram and a couple of very good inside seals on Texas A&M's Tony Jerod-Eddie.
* Extremely well coached---because he has a very good, quick set of counter moves---for example on one running play, he tried to influence Coples to the inside in order to seal him off inside. Coples sensed the influence and tried to swim back through to avoid the seal, so Kelemete did what all smart, well-coached offensive linemen are taught to do, he adjusted quickly to the swim, got under Coples' pads and rode him out of the play the way Coples wanted to go.
Another example---was in pass protection, Melvin Ingram, who did not start the game (position question?) and played mostly at DT when he did play, was once lined up outside and tried to run his patented fake outside storm the inside gap rush. Kelemete set up quickly to the outside, and was able to redirect quickly enough to get a enough of a hand on Ingram to push him too far inside.
Comment: Watching Mike Adams' performance in the game as comparison---Kelemete was more consistent, played with better balance, strength and body control. Having watched Kelemete stop Quinton Coples and Courtney Upshaw in their tracks on numerous occasions in pass protection, and having watched him seal off every one of his run blocks while getting off the ball with a real snap to his game, in addition to being able to counter versus unpredictable moves, I strongly believe he could be a good left tackle in the NFL. What I love about him too is he's so much in control---he never once jumped the snap---his setup is quick and balanced---he packs a punch on initial contact but instantly maintains his balance and his firm base---and he's not a grabber at all, which so many of the tackles in today's football are. I think he would make an excellent LG as well...and I was expecting to see skills that translated more that that position and was very pleasantly and unexpectedly surprised to see him put in a near flawless performance versus three of the top pass rushers in the draft (two first rounders and an early second rounder).
Ryan Lindley, QB, San Diego St.
* Was the second QB in after Brandon Weeden---Weeden struggled in the game and threw 2 interceptions and his team turned the ball over another time when Jamell Fleming stripped Joe Adams.
* Lindley's frist drive was about 65 yards---he threw two perfect passes to Juron Criner, one on an out pass on third and medium and another into the left seam for 18 yards on a 2nd and 10. The drive ended in a field goal inside the ten when Lindley narrowly missed Criner on a back shoulder fade and then when Bobby Wagner got a little piece of a skinny post pass to Criner on 3rd and goal.
* For the remainder of the game, Lindley and Criner were having miscommunication problems, as Criner seemed to be running shallower routes than what Lindley was expecting. This is often the case in All-Star games---
* The NFLN crew said that the coaches during the week felt that Lindley was the most comfortable QB of all the QBs there---that he was perhaps the best prepared for the NFL having worked under center his senior year, and that his arm strength was very good.
* Charles Davis said a couple of the coaches likened Lindley to Andy Dalton---Mike Mayock, who did not seem very high on Lindley because of his career 57% completion rate and Mayock kept harping on that. So Mayock and the crew threw out another name: Jake Locker---because of the completion percentage issues.
* Mayock was quick to praise Lindley for the absolute 110 mph rope he threw 35 yards up the left sideline that WR Jeff Fuller dropped.
Comment: I liked what I saw in this game. I've seen a lot of tape on him---and I thought his footwork (3-5 step drops) and ballhanding (exchanges and handoffs) were excellent---he hangs in the pocket nicely and he has a big arm and in this game it looked plenty accurate to me. His quick hitch passes were out very quickly and right on the money---with tight spirals as well, which isn't easy when you have to throw it that quickly. I think that with good coaching and some continuity in the system and with the WRs, this kid could be very good---
