honestly i hate spending money on aything on the web but thathletic is worth every penny
Official “The Athletic” thread
- Thread starter Anerdyblackguy
- Start date
-
- Tags
- the athletic
Haven't heard anything as of yet. Just that he's 'uncertain' for the second round.
Middlekauff: Thoughts on the 49ers and Raiders’ drafts — and what NFL people are saying about them
No more mock drafts. No more guesses. No more wondering what needs will be filled when the draft ends. We now have actual information.
Of course, trying to immediately judge what happened in the NFL Draft on Thursday, Friday and Saturday is impossible and just not fair. You have to see how these selections play before we start putting grades on teams’ decisions. Until then, it is just a pointless exercise. But at least we know the guys who will be on the roster entering camp, and we can start talking about them in context.
Let’s take a look at the local teams’ drafts:
49ers
I had heard that from the moment Jimmy Garoppolo was injured early last season that the 49ers brass, including Kyle Shanahan, started to really evaluate the top draft-eligible players. They clearly fell in love with Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa. He was going to be the pick all along, as long as he didn’t go first overall.
“Bosa was the best pass rusher in the draft,” one NFL executive said. “The 49ers defensive line, adding Dee Ford to go along with Bosa is really a good offseason. (DeForest) Buckner is one of the better ascending young players in the league. They will heat up the quarterback in 2019.”
While I didn’t love Bosa as much as my NFL friends, what I consistently heard was how much better he was than Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen. Plus, Bosa is an ideal fit in the 49ers’ defensive scheme. For me, the big question will be health. He has had two major injuries in four years. The 49ers are adamant his health is not an issue. We are surely about to find out.
“(South Carolina wide receiver) Deebo Samuel is a stud with the football in his hands,” said an NFL scout of the 49ers’ second-round pick. “His main issue has been injuries. Plus, he has struggled with his weight in the past. But he should immediately be one of their better playmakers
This is simple. The 49ers staff coached Samuel at the Senior Bowl. Samuel dominated that week, so the team has no excuse to miss on this pick. Especially when you factor in that they passed on several bigger-name guys such as Ole Miss wideouts A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf. I like the pick, but Samuel is going to be asked to produce immediately.
Jalen Hurd in the third round is a fascinating pick. I loved him at Tennessee in 2015 when he played running back. After suffering a concussion in the middle of the 2016 season, he wanted to change positions. The Tennessee coaches refused, so he decided to transfer. After redshirting at Baylor in 2017, Hurd played wide receiver in 2018. He had 69 catches and four touchdowns. Not bad for a first-time receiver.
“We had a character red flag on him,” said one scout who really liked Hurd as a player.
The transfer definitely left many teams wondering about him. Hurd claimed that playing running back was just too physically demanding and that it would shorten his potential long-term career in the pros. While it makes complete sense, teams naturally will ask themselves about his motivation.
Clearly, Shanahan and John Lynch felt very comfortable about it. Talking with people in the 49ers front office, I heard that they are thrilled to have a chess piece like Hurd for Shanahan. Their plan is to use Hurd at running back and wide receiver then eventually as more of a “move” tight end. Now, will he be open to all of these positions? Only time will tell, since he has not been as open in the past. But bottom line, Hurd is really talented. And in this offense, he should flourish
I loved that the 49ers took two playmakers on Day 2. They need weapons around Garoppolo. The more options he has, the easier things should be for the young quarterback.
For the Day 3 picks, it’s really difficult for anyone to make hard judgments. None of these players are guaranteed to make the team and hitting on two out of the five would be a great success.
But the 49ers took a punter in the fourth round — Utah’s Mitch Wishnowsky — and if you draft a punter that high, he has to not only make your team, he has to be an above-average starter. For example, Johnny Hecker of the Rams, arguably the best punter in the league, was an undrafted free agent. Michael dikkson of the Seahawks, an absolute stud, was a 2018 fifth-round pick.
So if you are going to take a punter in the draft, which I have no issue with, even in the fourth round, he had better be a player. Otherwise, it’s a terrible pick
No more mock drafts. No more guesses. No more wondering what needs will be filled when the draft ends. We now have actual information.
Of course, trying to immediately judge what happened in the NFL Draft on Thursday, Friday and Saturday is impossible and just not fair. You have to see how these selections play before we start putting grades on teams’ decisions. Until then, it is just a pointless exercise. But at least we know the guys who will be on the roster entering camp, and we can start talking about them in context.
Let’s take a look at the local teams’ drafts:
49ers
I had heard that from the moment Jimmy Garoppolo was injured early last season that the 49ers brass, including Kyle Shanahan, started to really evaluate the top draft-eligible players. They clearly fell in love with Ohio State defensive end Nick Bosa. He was going to be the pick all along, as long as he didn’t go first overall.
“Bosa was the best pass rusher in the draft,” one NFL executive said. “The 49ers defensive line, adding Dee Ford to go along with Bosa is really a good offseason. (DeForest) Buckner is one of the better ascending young players in the league. They will heat up the quarterback in 2019.”
While I didn’t love Bosa as much as my NFL friends, what I consistently heard was how much better he was than Kentucky linebacker Josh Allen. Plus, Bosa is an ideal fit in the 49ers’ defensive scheme. For me, the big question will be health. He has had two major injuries in four years. The 49ers are adamant his health is not an issue. We are surely about to find out.
“(South Carolina wide receiver) Deebo Samuel is a stud with the football in his hands,” said an NFL scout of the 49ers’ second-round pick. “His main issue has been injuries. Plus, he has struggled with his weight in the past. But he should immediately be one of their better playmakers
This is simple. The 49ers staff coached Samuel at the Senior Bowl. Samuel dominated that week, so the team has no excuse to miss on this pick. Especially when you factor in that they passed on several bigger-name guys such as Ole Miss wideouts A.J. Brown and D.K. Metcalf. I like the pick, but Samuel is going to be asked to produce immediately.
Jalen Hurd in the third round is a fascinating pick. I loved him at Tennessee in 2015 when he played running back. After suffering a concussion in the middle of the 2016 season, he wanted to change positions. The Tennessee coaches refused, so he decided to transfer. After redshirting at Baylor in 2017, Hurd played wide receiver in 2018. He had 69 catches and four touchdowns. Not bad for a first-time receiver.
“We had a character red flag on him,” said one scout who really liked Hurd as a player.
The transfer definitely left many teams wondering about him. Hurd claimed that playing running back was just too physically demanding and that it would shorten his potential long-term career in the pros. While it makes complete sense, teams naturally will ask themselves about his motivation.
Clearly, Shanahan and John Lynch felt very comfortable about it. Talking with people in the 49ers front office, I heard that they are thrilled to have a chess piece like Hurd for Shanahan. Their plan is to use Hurd at running back and wide receiver then eventually as more of a “move” tight end. Now, will he be open to all of these positions? Only time will tell, since he has not been as open in the past. But bottom line, Hurd is really talented. And in this offense, he should flourish
I loved that the 49ers took two playmakers on Day 2. They need weapons around Garoppolo. The more options he has, the easier things should be for the young quarterback.
For the Day 3 picks, it’s really difficult for anyone to make hard judgments. None of these players are guaranteed to make the team and hitting on two out of the five would be a great success.
But the 49ers took a punter in the fourth round — Utah’s Mitch Wishnowsky — and if you draft a punter that high, he has to not only make your team, he has to be an above-average starter. For example, Johnny Hecker of the Rams, arguably the best punter in the league, was an undrafted free agent. Michael dikkson of the Seahawks, an absolute stud, was a 2018 fifth-round pick.
So if you are going to take a punter in the draft, which I have no issue with, even in the fourth round, he had better be a player. Otherwise, it’s a terrible pick
Part 2
Raiders
When I was talking on the phone with NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, I thought he described the Raiders’ first round perfectly.
“They left the driver in the bag. (Mike) Mayock and (Jon) Gruden just wanted to hit the fairway,” he said.
They went safe, yet still got good players. Now, before Raiders fans start calling me a hater, let me explain something. I think the Mayock-Gruden combo did a good job. Unlike last year, I felt they added a ton of good football players this time. But my issue in the first round was with the value of two of the picks.
I am a big believer in the “BPA” theory when it comes to the first round. Take the best player available when you pick. Especially in the first round. I don’t blame the Raiders for not trading back from the fourth-overall pick. It takes two to tango. You can’t trade with yourself.
But Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell was not the fourth-best player in this draft. That was easily LSU linebacker Devin White or Houston defensive lineman Ed Oliver.
Now, I get not taking Oliver. Gruden selected defensive tackle P.J. Hall in the second round last year. And Mo Hurst looks like he was a steal in the fifth round last year. But linebacker is a clear need and White was there. This team desperately needs playmakers at that position, and the Raiders could have landed pass rushers with their other two first-round picks.
Of course, the Raiders needed a starting 4-3 defensive end. Plus, as one scout told me of Ferrell,”his character is top-notch. He was the leader on the Clemson team.” I understand why Mayock and Gruden love the kid. But sometimes when you reach on character that high in the draft, it can backfire.
Passing on Allen was not crazy — he just was not a scheme fit. But Ferrell at No. 4 is pretty rich.
I also like Alabama running back Josh Jacobs. He should be the Raiders’ starting running back this fall. But why use the 24th pick on him when they could have traded back and still landed him? Once the Eagles jumped the Texans for an offensive lineman, the teams in need of a running back in the round went out the window. That’s my only problem with that pick — they invested more draft capital than they needed to. He would have been there at 35.
Mississippi State safety Johnathan Abram, taken with the 27th overall pick, is a big-time hitter. He even knocked out a teammate in the spring game two years ago.
He is a tone-setting monster in the defensive backfield, which is something this team has lacked since losing Charles Woodson a few years ago. Like the other two top picks, Abram’s football character is high end. The Raiders tried hit doubles in this first round with floor players who were team captain-type guys.
“Abram dominated (Iowa tight end) T.J. Hockenson in the bowl game,” a scout texted me when raving about Abram.
The cornerback the Raiders took in the second round is a very interesting player. Clemson’s Trayvon Mullen was a two-year starter on the best team in the country. He is a perfect fit physically in Paul Guenther’s defense — a long press corner who has a lot of big-game experience.
The knocks I’ve heard from scouts: poor ball skills and instincts. He struggles to find the ball, with only seven pass breakups in his career. Mullen did have a nice interception in the national championship game that Mayock attended. That couldn’t have hurt his stock
I don’t know much about Eastern Michigan defensive lineman Maxx Crosby, the Raiders’ fourth-round pick. But he’s hard not to like when you see the coach and general manager this excited.
A scout described their other fourth-round pick, LSU tight end Foster Moreau, as an “extremely tough and competitive player.” He is a good blocker. His problem is that his game speed in the passing game in college was not as impressive as his combine speed (4.6 40-yard dash). And that’s an area the Raiders will need to fill with Jared Cook’s departure in free agency.
It wouldn’t shock me at all if Clemson’s Hunter Renfrow, taken in the fifth round, is the Raiders’ starting slot receiver this fall. The kid is simply a player. A former walk-on, he worked over Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick in the national championship game three years ago. And he kept up that level of play as the Tigers kept winning games. Loved this pick.
When I was talking on the phone with NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, I thought he described the Raiders’ first round perfectly.
“They left the driver in the bag. (Mike) Mayock and (Jon) Gruden just wanted to hit the fairway,” he said.
They went safe, yet still got good players. Now, before Raiders fans start calling me a hater, let me explain something. I think the Mayock-Gruden combo did a good job. Unlike last year, I felt they added a ton of good football players this time. But my issue in the first round was with the value of two of the picks.
I am a big believer in the “BPA” theory when it comes to the first round. Take the best player available when you pick. Especially in the first round. I don’t blame the Raiders for not trading back from the fourth-overall pick. It takes two to tango. You can’t trade with yourself.
But Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell was not the fourth-best player in this draft. That was easily LSU linebacker Devin White or Houston defensive lineman Ed Oliver.
Now, I get not taking Oliver. Gruden selected defensive tackle P.J. Hall in the second round last year. And Mo Hurst looks like he was a steal in the fifth round last year. But linebacker is a clear need and White was there. This team desperately needs playmakers at that position, and the Raiders could have landed pass rushers with their other two first-round picks.
Of course, the Raiders needed a starting 4-3 defensive end. Plus, as one scout told me of Ferrell,”his character is top-notch. He was the leader on the Clemson team.” I understand why Mayock and Gruden love the kid. But sometimes when you reach on character that high in the draft, it can backfire.
Passing on Allen was not crazy — he just was not a scheme fit. But Ferrell at No. 4 is pretty rich.
I also like Alabama running back Josh Jacobs. He should be the Raiders’ starting running back this fall. But why use the 24th pick on him when they could have traded back and still landed him? Once the Eagles jumped the Texans for an offensive lineman, the teams in need of a running back in the round went out the window. That’s my only problem with that pick — they invested more draft capital than they needed to. He would have been there at 35.
Mississippi State safety Johnathan Abram, taken with the 27th overall pick, is a big-time hitter. He even knocked out a teammate in the spring game two years ago.
He is a tone-setting monster in the defensive backfield, which is something this team has lacked since losing Charles Woodson a few years ago. Like the other two top picks, Abram’s football character is high end. The Raiders tried hit doubles in this first round with floor players who were team captain-type guys.
“Abram dominated (Iowa tight end) T.J. Hockenson in the bowl game,” a scout texted me when raving about Abram.
The cornerback the Raiders took in the second round is a very interesting player. Clemson’s Trayvon Mullen was a two-year starter on the best team in the country. He is a perfect fit physically in Paul Guenther’s defense — a long press corner who has a lot of big-game experience.
The knocks I’ve heard from scouts: poor ball skills and instincts. He struggles to find the ball, with only seven pass breakups in his career. Mullen did have a nice interception in the national championship game that Mayock attended. That couldn’t have hurt his stock
I don’t know much about Eastern Michigan defensive lineman Maxx Crosby, the Raiders’ fourth-round pick. But he’s hard not to like when you see the coach and general manager this excited.
A scout described their other fourth-round pick, LSU tight end Foster Moreau, as an “extremely tough and competitive player.” He is a good blocker. His problem is that his game speed in the passing game in college was not as impressive as his combine speed (4.6 40-yard dash). And that’s an area the Raiders will need to fill with Jared Cook’s departure in free agency.
It wouldn’t shock me at all if Clemson’s Hunter Renfrow, taken in the fifth round, is the Raiders’ starting slot receiver this fall. The kid is simply a player. A former walk-on, he worked over Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick in the national championship game three years ago. And he kept up that level of play as the Tigers kept winning games. Loved this pick.
Last edited:
Part 1 of first article
AUBURN, Ala. — When Auburn wrapped up its seventh season of spring practice under Gus Malzahn on Saturday, there was an odd feeling about it. Practice started later, finished quicker and didn’t create too many headlines, even for a camp that featured a starting quarterback battle.
Malzahn will have Bruce Pearl and Auburn basketball’s Final Four run to thank for some of that, and the football coach was happy to be a spectator as the spring’s focus went to the hardwood. The practices themselves were devoid of much drama, outside of a few injury concerns and a sudden departure of an early enrollee due to a family situation.
But drama-free doesn’t mean development-free, and there was plenty to take away from what happened in the Tigers’ 15 practices before the long summer months. From the ongoing mystery of the quarterback competition to the continuity at safety and special teams, here’s what we saw, heard and learned from Auburn spring practices at every position — along with an updated depth chart projection.
Quarterback
This might be looked back at one day as the spring of Gatewood. The 6-foot-5 dual-threat quarterback had several bumps in the road during his first season on the Plains. But, with a chance to win the starting job, he’s flashed much more confidence in 2019. Gatewood was the star of Auburn’s first live quarterback scrimmage in three years, proving to be tough to tackle in open space while throwing some impressive deep balls that continued at A-Day.
Gatewood might have left the spring as the slight favorite for the job, but Nix did more than hold his own. The five-star newcomer worked his way into early first-team snaps. While he made some freshman mistakes in camp, his teammates say he didn’t look like a first-year player very often. Nix is the most gifted passer on the roster, and he arguably has the most room to grow as he continues to learn the playbook and adjust to the college game.
Willis had some impressive highlights of his own this spring, especially during the A-Day Game, but he didn’t get as many first-team looks as the two youngest quarterbacks. Malzahn wants to get some sort of order established heading into the summer, and Willis appears to be a clear No. 3 at the moment. Sandberg, often praised by his coaches for his maturity and professionalism, gives Auburn an older voice and some much-needed depth in a constantly changing quarterback room.
Running back
Martin looked more like the one-cut, quickly accelerating change-of-pace back who averaged more than six yards per carry during his first two seasons at Auburn. He is a fine complement to Whitlow, and he’s worked more on catching the ball out of the backfield this offseason.
D.J. Williams didn’t disappoint as an early enrollee, and Auburn fans got to see what had been said of him all spring long — he’s as tough as nails and hard to bring down. Williams had the best performance of any running back at A-Day, and it will be interesting to see how he figures into the rotation once last season’s No. 3 back, Shivers, returns from track duties.
Joiner should carry an asterisk on this projected depth chart, as he looks to be a potential factor at two different positions this season. Joiner had six carries and three catches in the A-Day Game, and it appears Auburn already has a couple of packages with him in mind — he ran a split-back set with Whitlow and the first-team offense Saturday.
Meanwhile, Miller is up to 235 pounds and looks to be an even better fit for a power-rushing role this season. On top of all this depth, Cadillac Williams will also bring in former top-100 recruit Mark-Antony Richards this summer. How Auburn sorts through all these playmakers in the backfield will be one of the most underrated storylines of the season.
Malzahn will have Bruce Pearl and Auburn basketball’s Final Four run to thank for some of that, and the football coach was happy to be a spectator as the spring’s focus went to the hardwood. The practices themselves were devoid of much drama, outside of a few injury concerns and a sudden departure of an early enrollee due to a family situation.
But drama-free doesn’t mean development-free, and there was plenty to take away from what happened in the Tigers’ 15 practices before the long summer months. From the ongoing mystery of the quarterback competition to the continuity at safety and special teams, here’s what we saw, heard and learned from Auburn spring practices at every position — along with an updated depth chart projection.
Quarterback
- Joey Gatewood (RFr.) or Bo Nix (Fr.)
- Malik Willis (Jr.)
- Cord Sandberg (RFr.)
This might be looked back at one day as the spring of Gatewood. The 6-foot-5 dual-threat quarterback had several bumps in the road during his first season on the Plains. But, with a chance to win the starting job, he’s flashed much more confidence in 2019. Gatewood was the star of Auburn’s first live quarterback scrimmage in three years, proving to be tough to tackle in open space while throwing some impressive deep balls that continued at A-Day.
Gatewood might have left the spring as the slight favorite for the job, but Nix did more than hold his own. The five-star newcomer worked his way into early first-team snaps. While he made some freshman mistakes in camp, his teammates say he didn’t look like a first-year player very often. Nix is the most gifted passer on the roster, and he arguably has the most room to grow as he continues to learn the playbook and adjust to the college game.
Willis had some impressive highlights of his own this spring, especially during the A-Day Game, but he didn’t get as many first-team looks as the two youngest quarterbacks. Malzahn wants to get some sort of order established heading into the summer, and Willis appears to be a clear No. 3 at the moment. Sandberg, often praised by his coaches for his maturity and professionalism, gives Auburn an older voice and some much-needed depth in a constantly changing quarterback room.
Running back
- JaTarvious Whitlow (So.)
- Kam Martin (Sr.)
- Shaun Shivers (So.) or D.J. Williams (Fr.)
- Harold Joiner (RFr.)
- Malik Miller (Jr.)
Martin looked more like the one-cut, quickly accelerating change-of-pace back who averaged more than six yards per carry during his first two seasons at Auburn. He is a fine complement to Whitlow, and he’s worked more on catching the ball out of the backfield this offseason.
D.J. Williams didn’t disappoint as an early enrollee, and Auburn fans got to see what had been said of him all spring long — he’s as tough as nails and hard to bring down. Williams had the best performance of any running back at A-Day, and it will be interesting to see how he figures into the rotation once last season’s No. 3 back, Shivers, returns from track duties.
Joiner should carry an asterisk on this projected depth chart, as he looks to be a potential factor at two different positions this season. Joiner had six carries and three catches in the A-Day Game, and it appears Auburn already has a couple of packages with him in mind — he ran a split-back set with Whitlow and the first-team offense Saturday.
Meanwhile, Miller is up to 235 pounds and looks to be an even better fit for a power-rushing role this season. On top of all this depth, Cadillac Williams will also bring in former top-100 recruit Mark-Antony Richards this summer. How Auburn sorts through all these playmakers in the backfield will be one of the most underrated storylines of the season.
Part 2 of first article ( this is long bro)
Wide receiver — X/9/split end
Seth Williams played some on the outside this spring but did most of his damage from his usual big slot role. Marquis McClain became the one to watch at split end in a few short weeks. Other than Gatewood and Nix, there probably wasn’t a more talked-about offensive player this spring than McClain, a fourth-year junior who has only two career catches to his name. McClain is leaner, faster and much more fluid in his route-running, and he was a fixture of the first-team offense throughout camp.
Sal Cannella will continue to work at tight end, but Auburn spent a lot of time splitting him out wide during the A-Day Game. The Tigers want to create more one-on-one opportunities for the 6-foot-5 former hoops star, and he could be a bigger fixture in goal-to-go situations in his senior season. Kolbi Fuqua, who reportedly entered the transfer portal toward the end of spring camp, is still with the team and getting looks at outside receiver.
Wide receiver — Y/5/big slot
McClain and Cannella can provide additional depth in this position, which has a chance to employ the tight end more in certain situations. Joiner got a good amount of work as a slot receiver this spring, and his 6-foot-4 frame makes him an impressive prospect here.
Wide receiver — Z/2/flanker
Stove looks destined to start, but the question will be where that exactly happens. Schwartz missed the spring to run track, and the two have similar skill sets. Stove brings experience, while Schwartz brings world-class speed. Then there’s Hastings, who might be the best safety valve receiver on the roster — and he was cleared for contact at the end of spring practice. He’s a traditional, shifty slot receiver who became a big-play threat in 2017.
Matthew Hill fits firmly in this mix as well. The redshirt freshman was Seth Williams’ best competition for A-Day offensive MVP and has been compared to a “Baby Ryan Davis” this offseason. His ability to make plays after the catch will fit right in with Schwartz and Stove’s responsibilities in the offense. Jackson didn’t make a reception on A-Day, but his willingness to be a tough blocker will get him on the field for a second straight season.
Expect these two positions to have a solid amount of rotation this fall with all the depth at Kodi Burns’ disposal. And don’t forget that four-stars Ja’Varrius Johnson and Jashawn Sheffield will also compete for playing time this fall. It’s easy to see why Auburn players are excited about the potential at receiver in 2019.
H-back/tight end
Luke Deal’s offseason injury was a tough blow, but fellow early enrollee Tyler Fromm got a chance to show his skills this spring. If he continues to develop as a blocker, he’ll add even more depth to a position that will be all about versatility after the departure of Chandler Cox. Arizona State’s Jay Jay Wilson is reportedly committed to graduate transfer, so the full story of this hybrid position won’t be told until Auburn gets much closer to the opener against Oregon.
Left tackle
Sharp is a senior backup who is a solid emergency option at left tackle in case of any injury to Wanogho. Jackson moved from defensive tackle to offensive line at the beginning of spring, and while he’s a major work in progress, he represents some much-needed depth at a tackle position that will lose three seniors after 2019. Justin Osborne, a summer enrollee, could be another reinforcement here.
Left guard
Tashawn Manning is starting to settle into his role at left guard after switching from the defensive line earlier in his Auburn career. Kameron Stutts worked at both guard and tackle this spring, and he looks to be a key piece to the future of the offensive line with his impressive blend of size and movement skills.
- Marquis McClain (Jr.)
- Sal Cannella (Sr.)
- Kolbi Fuqua (RFr.)
Seth Williams played some on the outside this spring but did most of his damage from his usual big slot role. Marquis McClain became the one to watch at split end in a few short weeks. Other than Gatewood and Nix, there probably wasn’t a more talked-about offensive player this spring than McClain, a fourth-year junior who has only two career catches to his name. McClain is leaner, faster and much more fluid in his route-running, and he was a fixture of the first-team offense throughout camp.
Sal Cannella will continue to work at tight end, but Auburn spent a lot of time splitting him out wide during the A-Day Game. The Tigers want to create more one-on-one opportunities for the 6-foot-5 former hoops star, and he could be a bigger fixture in goal-to-go situations in his senior season. Kolbi Fuqua, who reportedly entered the transfer portal toward the end of spring camp, is still with the team and getting looks at outside receiver.
Wide receiver — Y/5/big slot
- Seth Williams (So.)
- Marquis McClain (Jr.) or Sal Cannella (Sr.)
- Harold Joiner (RFr.)
McClain and Cannella can provide additional depth in this position, which has a chance to employ the tight end more in certain situations. Joiner got a good amount of work as a slot receiver this spring, and his 6-foot-4 frame makes him an impressive prospect here.
Wide receiver — Z/2/flanker
- Eli Stove (Jr.) or Anthony Schwartz (So.)
- Matthew Hill (RFr.)
- Shedrick Jackson (So.)
- Eli Stove (Jr.) or Anthony Schwartz (So.)
- Will Hastings (Sr.)
Stove looks destined to start, but the question will be where that exactly happens. Schwartz missed the spring to run track, and the two have similar skill sets. Stove brings experience, while Schwartz brings world-class speed. Then there’s Hastings, who might be the best safety valve receiver on the roster — and he was cleared for contact at the end of spring practice. He’s a traditional, shifty slot receiver who became a big-play threat in 2017.
Matthew Hill fits firmly in this mix as well. The redshirt freshman was Seth Williams’ best competition for A-Day offensive MVP and has been compared to a “Baby Ryan Davis” this offseason. His ability to make plays after the catch will fit right in with Schwartz and Stove’s responsibilities in the offense. Jackson didn’t make a reception on A-Day, but his willingness to be a tough blocker will get him on the field for a second straight season.
Expect these two positions to have a solid amount of rotation this fall with all the depth at Kodi Burns’ disposal. And don’t forget that four-stars Ja’Varrius Johnson and Jashawn Sheffield will also compete for playing time this fall. It’s easy to see why Auburn players are excited about the potential at receiver in 2019.
H-back/tight end
- John Samuel Shenker (So.)
- Spencer Nigh (Sr.)
- Tyler Fromm (Fr.)
- Luke Deal (Fr.) (injured)
Luke Deal’s offseason injury was a tough blow, but fellow early enrollee Tyler Fromm got a chance to show his skills this spring. If he continues to develop as a blocker, he’ll add even more depth to a position that will be all about versatility after the departure of Chandler Cox. Arizona State’s Jay Jay Wilson is reportedly committed to graduate transfer, so the full story of this hybrid position won’t be told until Auburn gets much closer to the opener against Oregon.
Left tackle
- Prince Tega Wanogho (Sr.)
- Bailey Sharp (Sr.)
- Alec Jackson (So.)
Sharp is a senior backup who is a solid emergency option at left tackle in case of any injury to Wanogho. Jackson moved from defensive tackle to offensive line at the beginning of spring, and while he’s a major work in progress, he represents some much-needed depth at a tackle position that will lose three seniors after 2019. Justin Osborne, a summer enrollee, could be another reinforcement here.
Left guard
- Marquel Harrell (Sr.)
- Tashawn Manning (So.)
- Kameron Stutts (RFr.)
Tashawn Manning is starting to settle into his role at left guard after switching from the defensive line earlier in his Auburn career. Kameron Stutts worked at both guard and tackle this spring, and he looks to be a key piece to the future of the offensive line with his impressive blend of size and movement skills.
Part 3 of first article
Center
Nick Brahms is the next in line at center, and he got some practice at guard during a media viewing window this spring. If an interior lineman goes down this fall, Brahms might be the most likely option to step into the starting lineup. Jalil Irvin continues to work behind the two older centers, and Kamaar Bell is set to join the group this summer.
Right guard
Brodarious Hamm has been, once again, one of the most talked-about backups along the offensive line. He looks set to step into the starting lineup in 2020, and he’ll be one to watch if Auburn can play some of its reserves in certain games this season. Auburn also seems to have big plans for Keiondre Jones, a four-star guard who caught fire late in his recruitment and will arrive on campus later this year.
Right tackle
Interestingly enough, Auburn brought out Austin Troxell for one of the player interview sessions this spring — a rarity for a non-starter on the offensive line. The Tigers clearly have a lot of faith in Troxell, who spent his spring working exclusively behind Driscoll at right tackle. He’s a future starter with some experience playing guard, and he would theoretically be in the mix if Auburn has to adjust its all-senior lineup this fall.
Buck defensive end
Moultry was consistently the first-team Buck in spring practice, and that continued in the A-Day Game. That’s a positive development for Auburn, as Moultry had something of a sophomore slump last season. Moultry should get on the field quite a bit even if Coe starts, and he was opposite the returning starter on the first third-down pass rushing package in A-Day.
Richard Jibunor might be the best pure speed rusher on Auburn’s roster who could also get heavily involved on obvious passing downs. Auburn would love to generate more sacks from its defensive ends, and Jibunor is steadily moving up the depth chart as an underclassman. Derick Hall was the first of the newcomers to stand up on the edge at A-Day, and he earned the praise of Coe this spring.
Defensive tackle
Tyrone Truesdell entered and left spring as the favorite to start next to Brown, but a bigger Coe is lurking as a possibility — he told reporters he would play some tackle on first and second downs this season.
This is a likely by-committee position, with Coynis Miller providing extra depth in the rotation. The Tigers are still waiting for Miller, a sophomore, to turn the corner and become a more reliable presence down the middle. If Daquan Newkirk can recover from yet another serious leg injury this offseason, he’ll have a chance to play a role as well with his athleticism.
Defensive end
Even if he doesn’t play higher than the second unit, Bryant has the chance to rack up some impressive stats — he’s been one of the most efficient pass rushers on the roster over the last two seasons on a per-snap basis. Wooden got on the field quickly at A-Day as an early enrollee, and Johnson has inside-out versatility heading into his redshirt freshman season.
On top of all of this, Auburn is set to add two versatile four-star defensive linemen from Mississippi — Jaren Handy and Charles Moore — over the summer. The mix-and-match capabilities for Rodney Garner and Kevin Steele are immense in 2019.
Middle linebacker
Many expected Britt and Chandler Wooten to be the starting linebacker tandem in Auburn’s defense, but Wooten spent the majority of his time working on the inside behind Britt this spring. Wooten also went down with a knee injury in the A-Day Game, which was a tough sight for the Tigers. The severity of the injury is unknown, although Britt said after the game he expected Wooten to bounce back quickly.
In more weight-related news, Michael Harris made the big jump to 240 pounds this offseason, and Auburn has him ready to roll behind the juniors at middle linebacker. Kameron Brown will most likely join this group in time for fall camp.
Outside linebacker
Owen Pappoe will figure heavily, though, even if he’s not listed as an official “starter.” His speed is among the best on the entire defense, at least on this side of Javaris Davis. Pappoe received plenty of buzz during the spring for his pass coverage, and that should make the five-star freshman a real weapon for Auburn in 2019.
Cornerback
Davis spent a lot of time at nickel over the last two seasons, but cornerback looks like his permanent home now. His track-star speed should be a big-time boost in covering receivers on an island out wide. Additionally, Auburn felt confident enough in him to let some of the younger cornerbacks get extra work in his place during the first two weeks of spring practice.
Roger McCreary could be in line to be the “third cornerback” behind Igbinoghene and Davis. His length was on full display this spring, as he made quite a few pass breakups in scrimmages. Devan Barrett has had a long road from his days as a four-star running back, but there seems to be a good deal of faith in his ability to provide depth at corner alongside Traivon Leonard, who has a solid amount of experience as a reserve. In-state player Nehemiah Pritchett should add onto that depth with his arrival later this year, and he’ll be a welcome sight after Cam’Ron Kelly’s early departure.
Nickel
If Peters can return in time for the season, he should figure into the position once again, along with his work at safety and in dime packages. Zion Puckett, another early enrollee, stepped up and got plenty of reps with a strong first-team defense in practices and scrimmages.
Free safety
Monday’s offseason shoulder surgery led to some second-team opportunities for Malcolm Askew, who had been buried deep on the depth chart early in his career. He performed well this spring, and he came up with a tackle for loss on Nix during the A-Day Game. Jamien Sherwood was the game’s leading tackler, continuing his playmaking streak from an impressive freshman campaign in 2018. If Jaylin Simpson settles here after enrolling, the safety group could have a legitimate claim as the strongest and deepest positions on the roster.
Kicker
The return game is still very much up in the air, especially with Schwartz and Shivers away from practice this spring. Igbinoghene should be the starter for a third straight season at kick returner, and his partner back deep could be anyone from Whitlow or Davis to Hill or D.J. Williams. At punt returner, Auburn sent back Davis, Hill and Tutt during the A-Day Game, and that competition should continue through fall camp.
- Kaleb Kim (Sr.)
- Nick Brahms (So.)
- Jalil Irvin (RFr.)
Nick Brahms is the next in line at center, and he got some practice at guard during a media viewing window this spring. If an interior lineman goes down this fall, Brahms might be the most likely option to step into the starting lineup. Jalil Irvin continues to work behind the two older centers, and Kamaar Bell is set to join the group this summer.
Right guard
- Mike Horton (Sr.)
- Brodarious Hamm (So.)
- Trent Kelley (So.)
Brodarious Hamm has been, once again, one of the most talked-about backups along the offensive line. He looks set to step into the starting lineup in 2020, and he’ll be one to watch if Auburn can play some of its reserves in certain games this season. Auburn also seems to have big plans for Keiondre Jones, a four-star guard who caught fire late in his recruitment and will arrive on campus later this year.
Right tackle
- Jack Driscoll (Sr.)
- Austin Troxell (So.)
- Prince Micheal Sammons (Jr.)
Interestingly enough, Auburn brought out Austin Troxell for one of the player interview sessions this spring — a rarity for a non-starter on the offensive line. The Tigers clearly have a lot of faith in Troxell, who spent his spring working exclusively behind Driscoll at right tackle. He’s a future starter with some experience playing guard, and he would theoretically be in the mix if Auburn has to adjust its all-senior lineup this fall.
Buck defensive end
- Nick Coe (Jr.) or T.D. Moultry (Jr.)
- Richard Jibunor (So.)
- Derick Hall (Fr.)
Moultry was consistently the first-team Buck in spring practice, and that continued in the A-Day Game. That’s a positive development for Auburn, as Moultry had something of a sophomore slump last season. Moultry should get on the field quite a bit even if Coe starts, and he was opposite the returning starter on the first third-down pass rushing package in A-Day.
Richard Jibunor might be the best pure speed rusher on Auburn’s roster who could also get heavily involved on obvious passing downs. Auburn would love to generate more sacks from its defensive ends, and Jibunor is steadily moving up the depth chart as an underclassman. Derick Hall was the first of the newcomers to stand up on the edge at A-Day, and he earned the praise of Coe this spring.
Defensive tackle
- Derrick Brown (Sr.)
- Daquan Newkirk (Jr.) (injured)
- Gary Walker Jr. (Sr.)
- Tyrone Truesdell (Jr.)
- Coynis Miller Jr. (So.)
Tyrone Truesdell entered and left spring as the favorite to start next to Brown, but a bigger Coe is lurking as a possibility — he told reporters he would play some tackle on first and second downs this season.
This is a likely by-committee position, with Coynis Miller providing extra depth in the rotation. The Tigers are still waiting for Miller, a sophomore, to turn the corner and become a more reliable presence down the middle. If Daquan Newkirk can recover from yet another serious leg injury this offseason, he’ll have a chance to play a role as well with his athleticism.
Defensive end
- Marlon Davidson (Sr.)
- Big Kat Bryant (Jr.)
- Colby Wooden (Fr.)
- Caleb Johnson (RFr.)
Even if he doesn’t play higher than the second unit, Bryant has the chance to rack up some impressive stats — he’s been one of the most efficient pass rushers on the roster over the last two seasons on a per-snap basis. Wooden got on the field quickly at A-Day as an early enrollee, and Johnson has inside-out versatility heading into his redshirt freshman season.
On top of all of this, Auburn is set to add two versatile four-star defensive linemen from Mississippi — Jaren Handy and Charles Moore — over the summer. The mix-and-match capabilities for Rodney Garner and Kevin Steele are immense in 2019.
Middle linebacker
- K.J. Britt (Jr.)
- Chandler Wooten (Jr.)
- Michael Harris (RFr.)
Many expected Britt and Chandler Wooten to be the starting linebacker tandem in Auburn’s defense, but Wooten spent the majority of his time working on the inside behind Britt this spring. Wooten also went down with a knee injury in the A-Day Game, which was a tough sight for the Tigers. The severity of the injury is unknown, although Britt said after the game he expected Wooten to bounce back quickly.
In more weight-related news, Michael Harris made the big jump to 240 pounds this offseason, and Auburn has him ready to roll behind the juniors at middle linebacker. Kameron Brown will most likely join this group in time for fall camp.
Outside linebacker
- Zakoby McClain (So.)
- Owen Pappoe (Fr.)
- Josh Marsh (RFr.)
Owen Pappoe will figure heavily, though, even if he’s not listed as an official “starter.” His speed is among the best on the entire defense, at least on this side of Javaris Davis. Pappoe received plenty of buzz during the spring for his pass coverage, and that should make the five-star freshman a real weapon for Auburn in 2019.
Cornerback
- Noah Igbinoghene (Jr.)
- Roger McCreary (So.)
- Traivon Leonard (Jr.)
- Javaris Davis (Sr.)
- Devan Barrett (Jr.)
Davis spent a lot of time at nickel over the last two seasons, but cornerback looks like his permanent home now. His track-star speed should be a big-time boost in covering receivers on an island out wide. Additionally, Auburn felt confident enough in him to let some of the younger cornerbacks get extra work in his place during the first two weeks of spring practice.
Roger McCreary could be in line to be the “third cornerback” behind Igbinoghene and Davis. His length was on full display this spring, as he made quite a few pass breakups in scrimmages. Devan Barrett has had a long road from his days as a four-star running back, but there seems to be a good deal of faith in his ability to provide depth at corner alongside Traivon Leonard, who has a solid amount of experience as a reserve. In-state player Nehemiah Pritchett should add onto that depth with his arrival later this year, and he’ll be a welcome sight after Cam’Ron Kelly’s early departure.
Nickel
- Christian Tutt (So.)
- Jordyn Peters (Jr.) (injured)
- Zion Puckett (Fr.)
If Peters can return in time for the season, he should figure into the position once again, along with his work at safety and in dime packages. Zion Puckett, another early enrollee, stepped up and got plenty of reps with a strong first-team defense in practices and scrimmages.
Free safety
- Jeremiah Dinson (Sr.)
- Smoke Monday (So.) (injured)
- Malcolm Askew (So.)
- Daniel Thomas (Sr.)
- Jamien Sherwood (So.)
Monday’s offseason shoulder surgery led to some second-team opportunities for Malcolm Askew, who had been buried deep on the depth chart early in his career. He performed well this spring, and he came up with a tackle for loss on Nix during the A-Day Game. Jamien Sherwood was the game’s leading tackler, continuing his playmaking streak from an impressive freshman campaign in 2018. If Jaylin Simpson settles here after enrolling, the safety group could have a legitimate claim as the strongest and deepest positions on the roster.
Kicker
- Anders Carlson (So.)
- Sage Ledbetter (Jr.)
- Arryn Siposs (Jr.)
- Sage Ledbetter (Jr.)
- Arryn Siposs (Jr.)
- Bill Taylor (So.)
The return game is still very much up in the air, especially with Schwartz and Shivers away from practice this spring. Igbinoghene should be the starter for a third straight season at kick returner, and his partner back deep could be anyone from Whitlow or Davis to Hill or D.J. Williams. At punt returner, Auburn sent back Davis, Hill and Tutt during the A-Day Game, and that competition should continue through fall camp.
Article 2
He’s like a hype man’: How fresh-faced OC Kenny Dillingham has the Auburn offense playing with passion
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Kenny Dillingham likes to play a game called “Don’t Be That Guy.”
Well, he doesn’t play it as much as his players do. During drills, Dillingham will repeatedly yell the name of the game as Auburn’s receivers catch pass after pass.
There isn’t a winner, but there is a loser. “That guy” in question is the first one who drops the ball. And nobody wants to be that guy, especially in a drill where there’s no defensive coverage.
The game, Dillingham explains, is all about raising his players’ levels. A drill that would be a mundane, routine exercise — “something you’ve done hundreds of times since Pop Warner” — becomes a higher-stakes competition.
And in the first few months of his time as Auburn’s offensive coordinator, Dillingham has been all about bringing more energy and enthusiasm to an attack that didn’t have a lot of either last season.
“He’s like a hype man, like… all the time,” receiver Eli Stove said last month. “He has some crazy speeches. He’s a loud dude, but he’s a good coach.”
Dillingham was quick to bring that noise during spring practices. The fresh-faced offensive coordinator would routinely sprint from drill to drill and bounce around among the players during stretches.
“Well, I mean, I’m 28,” Dillingham said. “I’d better be jogging around. I mean, when I’m 58, maybe I’ll get a Segway or some new technology and go around. But right now, you know, that’s kind of who I am. I mean, I’m an all-in type of guy.”
It’s a stark contrast from the more laid-back styles of former Auburn offensive coordinators Chip Lindsey and Rhett Lashlee.
When big plays happened in practice, he sometimes would celebrate more than the players on the field. He channeled his inner Gus Malzahn during the Tigers’ A-Day spring game by frantically motioning for the offense to get a play off quicker in the final minute of the first quarter.
“He pipes up the offense every day, making sure we got the energy going,” receiver Sal Cannella said. “No one’s dead. … He was explaining it to us, we’ve got to get excited for everything. When somebody makes a play, everybody better get excited. Nobody better be dead at practice. You’ve got to respect that.”
Dillingham inherited an offense that sputtered to its second-worst production under Malzahn a season ago and a quarterback situation that started with a four-wide competition.
With Malzahn back at his old play-calling role, Dillingham focused on providing a breath of fresh air to the offensive roster while working closely with the quarterbacks’ development.
“It’s not so much a new system, but just the morale of the entire offense and having more enthusiasm about being out there practicing every day,” right guard Mike Horton said.
In the eyes of Dillingham, that mission was accomplished, from an energetic opening day to a five-touchdown first half at A-Day.
“The biggest takeaway I got (from spring) was, I thought our guys had fun,” Dillingham said. “You know, when I first got here, I felt like that was kind of the downfall… (but) people were flying around and having fun. And at the end of the day, football’s a game where you’ve got to be focused, and you’ve got to be intentional with everything you do, detailed — but you’ve also got to be able to have fun.
You’ve got to fly around and be who you are. You have to play to your personality. I thought that was the fun thing for me, was to get to know the guys, get to know their personality, and then try to bring out their personality with how they play.”
But Dillingham, like any coach, knows that players have the most fun when they’re winning. So his early message was simple.
“Everything we do is winning,” Horton said. “That’s our mentality. Everything we do, we’re going to win.”
“From day one, when he stepped on campus, that’s what he said — we’re gonna win,” running back Kam Martin added. “Even if you lose a rep, think about winning. That’s what I like about Coach Dillingham.”
That’s where “Don’t Be That Guy” comes from, along with other minigames in drills. Dillingham wanted to establish that quickly, because the Tigers are about to hit a long summer period where the coach-player contact time is minimal.
He won’t be around to foster that culture of competition. It’ll have to come from the players themselves.
In the meantime, Dillingham has spent some of the post-spring schedule learning more from coaches he admires. Malzahn allows his assistants to spend three days at another school before hitting the recruiting trail, and Dillingham went to Iowa State to see Matt Campbell and his staff.
“This game… people overcomplicate it,” Dillingham said. “People talk about the Xs and the Os — ‘What are you running here? What are you running there?’ At the end of the day, you’ve got 11 people on the field, and usually, the team that wins is the team with the 11 better players that play harder. And when the 11 better players don’t win, it’s usually because the other team’s 11 play harder.
“So for me, I wanted to go up (to Iowa State) to see how they motivated kids. How do they get kids to respond? How do they do things offensively to get the best out of their players? I feel like they do a great job at that, so I wanted to kind of bathe in that and see if I could take anything away from just how to motivate and how to get guys to play harder.”
Now the West Coast native is back in the South, going out to recruit and hitting the alumni club meeting circuit.
He’ll wrap up spring exit meetings with players this week, then he and Malzahn will try to establish some sort of pecking order among the four quarterbacks.
According to Dillingham, an “ideal situation” would have two quarterbacks continuing to battle for the starting job into fall camp, but he doesn’t want to force that timeline.
“A decision is going to be made on our starting quarterback when one of the guys on our football team rises up and they make the decision,” Dillingham said. “It’s a decision the offensive coordinator and the head coach make but at the same time it’s a decision the player makes. When the player separates themselves from one another, that’s when the decision is made.”
It will be a few more months before Dillingham leads his next round of “Don’t Be That Guy” or use some of his tips and tricks from Campbell on his quarterbacks in practice.
But when that time comes, everyone in the program already knows what it’s going to get from the Tigers’ young offensive coordinator.
“I’m energetic on the field, off the field, whatever I do,” Dillingham said. “That’s kind of who I am. So when I hit the field, I’m going to be who I am. And I’ll always be that way, as long as my un-athletic knees allow me to.”
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Kenny Dillingham likes to play a game called “Don’t Be That Guy.”
Well, he doesn’t play it as much as his players do. During drills, Dillingham will repeatedly yell the name of the game as Auburn’s receivers catch pass after pass.
There isn’t a winner, but there is a loser. “That guy” in question is the first one who drops the ball. And nobody wants to be that guy, especially in a drill where there’s no defensive coverage.
The game, Dillingham explains, is all about raising his players’ levels. A drill that would be a mundane, routine exercise — “something you’ve done hundreds of times since Pop Warner” — becomes a higher-stakes competition.
And in the first few months of his time as Auburn’s offensive coordinator, Dillingham has been all about bringing more energy and enthusiasm to an attack that didn’t have a lot of either last season.
“He’s like a hype man, like… all the time,” receiver Eli Stove said last month. “He has some crazy speeches. He’s a loud dude, but he’s a good coach.”
Dillingham was quick to bring that noise during spring practices. The fresh-faced offensive coordinator would routinely sprint from drill to drill and bounce around among the players during stretches.
“Well, I mean, I’m 28,” Dillingham said. “I’d better be jogging around. I mean, when I’m 58, maybe I’ll get a Segway or some new technology and go around. But right now, you know, that’s kind of who I am. I mean, I’m an all-in type of guy.”
It’s a stark contrast from the more laid-back styles of former Auburn offensive coordinators Chip Lindsey and Rhett Lashlee.
When big plays happened in practice, he sometimes would celebrate more than the players on the field. He channeled his inner Gus Malzahn during the Tigers’ A-Day spring game by frantically motioning for the offense to get a play off quicker in the final minute of the first quarter.
“He pipes up the offense every day, making sure we got the energy going,” receiver Sal Cannella said. “No one’s dead. … He was explaining it to us, we’ve got to get excited for everything. When somebody makes a play, everybody better get excited. Nobody better be dead at practice. You’ve got to respect that.”
Dillingham inherited an offense that sputtered to its second-worst production under Malzahn a season ago and a quarterback situation that started with a four-wide competition.
With Malzahn back at his old play-calling role, Dillingham focused on providing a breath of fresh air to the offensive roster while working closely with the quarterbacks’ development.
“It’s not so much a new system, but just the morale of the entire offense and having more enthusiasm about being out there practicing every day,” right guard Mike Horton said.
In the eyes of Dillingham, that mission was accomplished, from an energetic opening day to a five-touchdown first half at A-Day.
“The biggest takeaway I got (from spring) was, I thought our guys had fun,” Dillingham said. “You know, when I first got here, I felt like that was kind of the downfall… (but) people were flying around and having fun. And at the end of the day, football’s a game where you’ve got to be focused, and you’ve got to be intentional with everything you do, detailed — but you’ve also got to be able to have fun.
You’ve got to fly around and be who you are. You have to play to your personality. I thought that was the fun thing for me, was to get to know the guys, get to know their personality, and then try to bring out their personality with how they play.”
But Dillingham, like any coach, knows that players have the most fun when they’re winning. So his early message was simple.
“Everything we do is winning,” Horton said. “That’s our mentality. Everything we do, we’re going to win.”
“From day one, when he stepped on campus, that’s what he said — we’re gonna win,” running back Kam Martin added. “Even if you lose a rep, think about winning. That’s what I like about Coach Dillingham.”
That’s where “Don’t Be That Guy” comes from, along with other minigames in drills. Dillingham wanted to establish that quickly, because the Tigers are about to hit a long summer period where the coach-player contact time is minimal.
He won’t be around to foster that culture of competition. It’ll have to come from the players themselves.
In the meantime, Dillingham has spent some of the post-spring schedule learning more from coaches he admires. Malzahn allows his assistants to spend three days at another school before hitting the recruiting trail, and Dillingham went to Iowa State to see Matt Campbell and his staff.
“This game… people overcomplicate it,” Dillingham said. “People talk about the Xs and the Os — ‘What are you running here? What are you running there?’ At the end of the day, you’ve got 11 people on the field, and usually, the team that wins is the team with the 11 better players that play harder. And when the 11 better players don’t win, it’s usually because the other team’s 11 play harder.
“So for me, I wanted to go up (to Iowa State) to see how they motivated kids. How do they get kids to respond? How do they do things offensively to get the best out of their players? I feel like they do a great job at that, so I wanted to kind of bathe in that and see if I could take anything away from just how to motivate and how to get guys to play harder.”
Now the West Coast native is back in the South, going out to recruit and hitting the alumni club meeting circuit.
He’ll wrap up spring exit meetings with players this week, then he and Malzahn will try to establish some sort of pecking order among the four quarterbacks.
According to Dillingham, an “ideal situation” would have two quarterbacks continuing to battle for the starting job into fall camp, but he doesn’t want to force that timeline.
“A decision is going to be made on our starting quarterback when one of the guys on our football team rises up and they make the decision,” Dillingham said. “It’s a decision the offensive coordinator and the head coach make but at the same time it’s a decision the player makes. When the player separates themselves from one another, that’s when the decision is made.”
It will be a few more months before Dillingham leads his next round of “Don’t Be That Guy” or use some of his tips and tricks from Campbell on his quarterbacks in practice.
But when that time comes, everyone in the program already knows what it’s going to get from the Tigers’ young offensive coordinator.
“I’m energetic on the field, off the field, whatever I do,” Dillingham said. “That’s kind of who I am. So when I hit the field, I’m going to be who I am. And I’ll always be that way, as long as my un-athletic knees allow me to.”
Article 3
AUBURN, Ala. — One day when Kerryon Johnson was in town this spring, he said something to Boobee Whitlow that stuck with him.
“Bro, I’ve been hearing good things about you on the field.”
That was high praise from Johnson, who was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2017 before becoming a second-round pick and eventual feature back of the Detroit Lions.
But the last three words stuck out to Whitlow.
“He knows, like, what I can do on the field,” Whitlow said. “But he’s more focused on off the field, know what I’m saying? Becoming a better man, being a better person, how a person looks at you, how I carry myself.”
Johnson isn’t necessarily worried about his successor’s play. As a redshirt freshman, Whitlow became Auburn’s top running back, averaging 5.25 yards per carry — more than Johnson had in any of his three seasons on the Plains — in a season that was limited by injury and an inconsistent offensive line.
“Football’s going to do its thing,” Whitlow said. “But off the field, character is what we’ve got to build. That’s what he really harps on with me when he sees me. He just wants to make sure I’ve got my character right.”
It’s not like Whitlow has been a troublemaker at Auburn. He hasn’t missed any games due to suspension, and he’s a consistent presence on the practice field.
Yet there’s always the pressure and potential pitfalls that come with the instant fame of being a breakout star on a college campus. There might be an extra amount of that for Whitlow, who is so beloved in his nearby hometown of LaFayette that the city named an entire day after him. Kids in the area look up to him. Younger teammates are watching the example he sets.
So, like others connected to the Auburn program, Johnson saw that Whitlow had some growing up to do this offseason.
He’s no longer the fun-loving freshman who quickly became a fan favorite. He’s the top name in a running back room coming off its first season without a 1,000-yard rusher in nearly a decade.
And, with two freshmen quarterbacks leading the way in a heated position battle, he’s quickly had to become a leader for Auburn’s first-choice backfield.
That’s not a natural transition for him, either.
“I ain’t ever been the type that, like, likes to lead,” Whitlow said. “That ain’t me. I ain’t ever been the type that likes to lead, but I gotta take that step now. I got to step out that comfort zone, you feel me?”
It’s been a whirlwind journey for Whitlow, who went from small school standout quarterback to last-second signee for Auburn in 2017. He changed positions quickly, moving from receiver to running back, before an ankle injury cost him his entire first season with the Tigers.
Then there he was last September, scoring the game-winning touchdown against a top-10 Washington team in front of a massive crowd in Atlanta. He posted back-to-back 100-yard games after that victory, and only his own health kept him being a consistent first-choice back for Gus Malzahn.
While Whitlow is being looked to as an offensive leader in 2019, he’s still in the process of getting fully used to his position.
“He’s more mature,” Malzahn said. “He’s more natural. … Really last year was his first time to run the football, and we thought he did some good things. But I think it’s more of just a confidence, a comfort. He’s playing a lot faster than he did last year.”
Whitlow had several long runs during Auburn’s first two closed-door scrimmages this spring, and he averaged more than six yards per touch during his limited work as the first-team running back during the A-Day finale.
His teammates don’t want to talk about his progress as a running back, though.
“The thing, honestly, that I’ve been happy with Boobee is that he’s taken the next step in maturity and growth,” right tackle Jack Driscoll said. “It’s hard as a redshirt freshman. I’ve been there before, and everyone’s been there, where there are some growing pains and you’re just getting used to it.
“Boobee is really mature, and he always practices hard now. That’s what you love to see out of him.”
Part of that progress into becoming a more mature teammate was Whitlow’s growing relationship with Driscoll at the rest of his offensive line.
At LaFayette High School, Whitlow was a one-man highlight reel. He consistently called his own number in the backfield, sometimes reversing field multiple times in one play just to avoid going down. Whitlow even did that at Auburn on one of his first carries at A-Day in 2018.
“When I’m on the field, I’m so used to just going, know what I’m saying?” Whitlow said. “Like, forget the line, I’ve got to go. I was so used to doing that. That’s why I was kind of rushing. But later on in the season — man, shyt, I kind of started slowing down, talking to the linemen. They tell me to just be patient. ‘We got you.’
“OK, you tell me you’ve got me, then I’m gonna trust you. I’m going to trust you until you give me a reason not to trust you. It was hard, but then it wasn’t hard, because they’re brothers and we’ve got that relationship.”
Whitlow mentions Auburn’s new “ride for the brand” team motto as something that clicked with him this offseason. Although he’s powered by his big dreams of becoming an NFL running back out of a tiny 2A high school, Whitlow says it’s not all about him — it’s about the “big ol’ brotherhood” on the roster.
And brothers don’t always get along, as left tackle Prince Tega Wanogho demonstrated earlier this spring.
“Tega chewed me out at practice, and I couldn’t do nothing but accept it,” Whitlow said. “They expect more of me, know what I’m saying? I’m supposed to get more. I’m supposed to ride for the brand, but I ain’t riding for the brand.”
That moment lit a fire under Whitlow, and his teammates noticed.
“He already had our respect, and he’s gaining more of our respect with how hard he’s going and taking that next step,” Driscoll said. “He knows he’s a huge part of our offense and getting going. Auburn, with having a rich history of running backs rushing over 1,000 yards… and he’s that next guy. He’s stepping up with leadership and maturity.”
That ultimately goes back to lessons he learned from Johnson.
Whitlow admires Johnson’s patient, Le’Veon Bell-like rushing style, but it’s more than just an effective way to become a 1,000-yard running back. It’s a demonstration of faith in the ones doing the dirty work in front of him.
“Just watching him, how he trusts his line and has linemen on his side — that’s what I really kind of like learned,” Whitlow said. “The way he took that leader role.”
Johnson spent a lot of time back in Auburn this spring and even took in a few practices from the sideline. But he’s now back up in the Motor City, preparing for what he hopes will be a healthy second season as a key player for the Lions.
As Whitlow prepares for his own sophomore campaign as a lead back, he stays in contact with Johnson, who is always more than willing to give him some tough love.
“He ain’t fixing to just sit here and be like, ‘Oh, you doing good here, good there,’ ” Whitlow said. “No, he’s going to critique me where I’m bad at, so I can roll over to that. It’s just a type of big brother thing, just keeping me on the right hip.
“We chop it up. He tells me what it is, what I need to do, and I just move on from that
“Bro, I’ve been hearing good things about you on the field.”
That was high praise from Johnson, who was named SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2017 before becoming a second-round pick and eventual feature back of the Detroit Lions.
But the last three words stuck out to Whitlow.
“He knows, like, what I can do on the field,” Whitlow said. “But he’s more focused on off the field, know what I’m saying? Becoming a better man, being a better person, how a person looks at you, how I carry myself.”
Johnson isn’t necessarily worried about his successor’s play. As a redshirt freshman, Whitlow became Auburn’s top running back, averaging 5.25 yards per carry — more than Johnson had in any of his three seasons on the Plains — in a season that was limited by injury and an inconsistent offensive line.
“Football’s going to do its thing,” Whitlow said. “But off the field, character is what we’ve got to build. That’s what he really harps on with me when he sees me. He just wants to make sure I’ve got my character right.”
It’s not like Whitlow has been a troublemaker at Auburn. He hasn’t missed any games due to suspension, and he’s a consistent presence on the practice field.
Yet there’s always the pressure and potential pitfalls that come with the instant fame of being a breakout star on a college campus. There might be an extra amount of that for Whitlow, who is so beloved in his nearby hometown of LaFayette that the city named an entire day after him. Kids in the area look up to him. Younger teammates are watching the example he sets.
So, like others connected to the Auburn program, Johnson saw that Whitlow had some growing up to do this offseason.
He’s no longer the fun-loving freshman who quickly became a fan favorite. He’s the top name in a running back room coming off its first season without a 1,000-yard rusher in nearly a decade.
And, with two freshmen quarterbacks leading the way in a heated position battle, he’s quickly had to become a leader for Auburn’s first-choice backfield.
That’s not a natural transition for him, either.
“I ain’t ever been the type that, like, likes to lead,” Whitlow said. “That ain’t me. I ain’t ever been the type that likes to lead, but I gotta take that step now. I got to step out that comfort zone, you feel me?”
It’s been a whirlwind journey for Whitlow, who went from small school standout quarterback to last-second signee for Auburn in 2017. He changed positions quickly, moving from receiver to running back, before an ankle injury cost him his entire first season with the Tigers.
Then there he was last September, scoring the game-winning touchdown against a top-10 Washington team in front of a massive crowd in Atlanta. He posted back-to-back 100-yard games after that victory, and only his own health kept him being a consistent first-choice back for Gus Malzahn.
While Whitlow is being looked to as an offensive leader in 2019, he’s still in the process of getting fully used to his position.
“He’s more mature,” Malzahn said. “He’s more natural. … Really last year was his first time to run the football, and we thought he did some good things. But I think it’s more of just a confidence, a comfort. He’s playing a lot faster than he did last year.”
Whitlow had several long runs during Auburn’s first two closed-door scrimmages this spring, and he averaged more than six yards per touch during his limited work as the first-team running back during the A-Day finale.
His teammates don’t want to talk about his progress as a running back, though.
“The thing, honestly, that I’ve been happy with Boobee is that he’s taken the next step in maturity and growth,” right tackle Jack Driscoll said. “It’s hard as a redshirt freshman. I’ve been there before, and everyone’s been there, where there are some growing pains and you’re just getting used to it.
“Boobee is really mature, and he always practices hard now. That’s what you love to see out of him.”
Part of that progress into becoming a more mature teammate was Whitlow’s growing relationship with Driscoll at the rest of his offensive line.
At LaFayette High School, Whitlow was a one-man highlight reel. He consistently called his own number in the backfield, sometimes reversing field multiple times in one play just to avoid going down. Whitlow even did that at Auburn on one of his first carries at A-Day in 2018.
“When I’m on the field, I’m so used to just going, know what I’m saying?” Whitlow said. “Like, forget the line, I’ve got to go. I was so used to doing that. That’s why I was kind of rushing. But later on in the season — man, shyt, I kind of started slowing down, talking to the linemen. They tell me to just be patient. ‘We got you.’
“OK, you tell me you’ve got me, then I’m gonna trust you. I’m going to trust you until you give me a reason not to trust you. It was hard, but then it wasn’t hard, because they’re brothers and we’ve got that relationship.”
Whitlow mentions Auburn’s new “ride for the brand” team motto as something that clicked with him this offseason. Although he’s powered by his big dreams of becoming an NFL running back out of a tiny 2A high school, Whitlow says it’s not all about him — it’s about the “big ol’ brotherhood” on the roster.
And brothers don’t always get along, as left tackle Prince Tega Wanogho demonstrated earlier this spring.
“Tega chewed me out at practice, and I couldn’t do nothing but accept it,” Whitlow said. “They expect more of me, know what I’m saying? I’m supposed to get more. I’m supposed to ride for the brand, but I ain’t riding for the brand.”
That moment lit a fire under Whitlow, and his teammates noticed.
“He already had our respect, and he’s gaining more of our respect with how hard he’s going and taking that next step,” Driscoll said. “He knows he’s a huge part of our offense and getting going. Auburn, with having a rich history of running backs rushing over 1,000 yards… and he’s that next guy. He’s stepping up with leadership and maturity.”
That ultimately goes back to lessons he learned from Johnson.
Whitlow admires Johnson’s patient, Le’Veon Bell-like rushing style, but it’s more than just an effective way to become a 1,000-yard running back. It’s a demonstration of faith in the ones doing the dirty work in front of him.
“Just watching him, how he trusts his line and has linemen on his side — that’s what I really kind of like learned,” Whitlow said. “The way he took that leader role.”
Johnson spent a lot of time back in Auburn this spring and even took in a few practices from the sideline. But he’s now back up in the Motor City, preparing for what he hopes will be a healthy second season as a key player for the Lions.
As Whitlow prepares for his own sophomore campaign as a lead back, he stays in contact with Johnson, who is always more than willing to give him some tough love.
“He ain’t fixing to just sit here and be like, ‘Oh, you doing good here, good there,’ ” Whitlow said. “No, he’s going to critique me where I’m bad at, so I can roll over to that. It’s just a type of big brother thing, just keeping me on the right hip.
“We chop it up. He tells me what it is, what I need to do, and I just move on from that
Paul Guenther is the happiest man in the Raiders’ building after defense dominates Mike Mayock’s first draft
Five of their first six draft picks and six of the nine Raiders’ selections overall in the NFL Draft this past weekend were defensive players.
So, yeah, defensive coordinator Paul Guenther is the happiest man in the building.
“Yeah, probably,” Guenther said in a telephone interview. “We did a lot of work on these guys and when you get some of the guys you really targeted, it feels really good.
“These guys will be welcome additions, obviously.”
The Raiders added defensive end Clelin Ferrell and safety Jonathan Abram on Thursday night, cornerback Trayvon Mullen on Friday night and defensive end Maxx Crosby, cornerback Isaiah Johnson and defensive end Quinton Bell on Saturday.
Some “experts” thought the Raiders reached for Ferrell at No. 4 overall, but general manager Mike Mayock said they had the Clemson star ranked right behind Nick Bosa as the top edge rushers in the draft. Ferrell did win the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation’s top college defensive end, and Guenther said the game film speaks for itself.
“He’s just an every-down end, compared to some of the others,” Guenther said. “We love the bundle of things you get with this guy — he plays the run, he is a good rusher, he is an athletic guy, he’s played on great teams, he’s a leader on great teams.
“It wasn’t about his 40-time or his three-cone drill or any of that bullshyt, it was about the whole package. There just aren’t a lot of guys like this. Some guys are great standing up, but you have to get down and dirty in the NFL. They are not just going to let you run up the field all day, you know what I am saying? Then you hear him talk and you’re like, ‘Damn, this guy is a pro.’”
A lot of teams were upset that Ferrell never ran a 40-yard dash at either the NFL scouting combine or his pro day, and Mayock said Saturday it was indeed a topic of contention.
“Yeah, Jon (Gruden) and I had the conversation,” he said, “and it was kind of like you know, does it bother us that he didn’t run a 40? Yeah, a little bit it does. Especially because he’s such a hard worker and everything. I finally just said listen, we got three years of tape, if we can’t figure out if this kid can rush the passer and set an edge, it’s on us, not on him.”
After the Raiders took running back Josh Jacobs with the second of their three first-round picks, they addressed the need for an impact safety. It’s been well documented that Abram was a big hitter at Mississippi State, but Guenther thinks you’re selling him short if you only think he impacts the run defense.
“People think he is just going to come up and blast you,” Guenther said. “But the guy can cover, he can play nickel, he can play in the box in the dime, he can blitz, he can play all the underneath zones and all of the deep zones and he’s really smart.”
One of the people Guenther reached out to before the draft was his old college roommate, Florida head coach Dan Mullen, who formally held the same position at Mississippi State.
“Dan told me that this kid was a football junkie and that I was going to love him,” Guenther said. “He’s been on our radar for a while.”
When it came to Trayvon Mullen (no relation), Clemson’s defensive MVP in the national title game, Guenther thought he stood out in a very talented cornerback class.
“He was just the cleanest of all of them,” Guenther said. “As far as coverage technique, size, speed, hips, tackling in the run game.
“One reason I think the corners lasted so long in the draft was that there were a lot of good ones and it just depended on what flavor you liked.”
The Raiders brought Mullen in for a visit and immediately saw that he had a similar presence as Ferrell did. They see all three of their top defensive picks being in leadership roles before long.
“We’re a young team,” Guenther said. “These guys are going to come in and play right away, and be leaders. It’s not like these guys can come in and watch and learn, and ask who are the defensive guys we can look to. Well, maybe last year’s rookies. Or, build it yourself.”
Some scouts thought that Mullen had a solid if not spectacular college career, up until that last game of course when he had a sack, forced fumble and interception.
“He didn’t get a lot of targets,” Guenther said. “The ball was just not getting thrown in his direction because his guy is covered.”
On Day 3, the Raiders added three defensive players that they need to develop a little bit.
Crosby, a defensive end from Eastern Michigan, had 18.5 sacks the last two seasons but needs to pack on more than the 247 pounds he has on his 6-foot-5 frame.
“Coming from a small school, I think he does some things in the pass rush that are natural,” Guenther said. “We just need to get him functioning a little stronger. He’ll be a guy maybe that can come in on third downs and help us out as an edge rusher. Or a guy that can walk around and do different things.
“Then, as he develops his strength, he can be an every-down kind of guy.”
Mayock said he loves that Crosby “plays every snap like his hair is on fire” and that he is about to be “connected at the hip with (strength and conditioning assistant) Deuce Gruden.”
With the second fourth-round pick, Houston cornerback Johnson, first impressions did count for a lot.
“I like him because he is 6-foot-2.5 and he runs a 4.38,” Guenther said, laughing. “Those guys are hard to find. Receivers in the NFL are getting bigger every year. This guy used to be a receiver and when you watch him he looks pretty natural at corner.
“If we can bring him in here and teach him technique, then you got a guy who can cover some of these big guys. He can run.”
Like Johnson, Mullen is also a former receiver. (Johnson played receiver for two years at Houston before switching to defense; Mullen played the position in high school.)
“It tells you that they can track the ball in the air,” Guenther said. “And they understand leverages and where the ball should go, and the depths on routes.”
Last but certainly not least is the seventh-round pick, Bell. He was a 6-4, 220-pound receiver at Prairie View A&M in 2017 and then last year, he had 7.5 sacks as a defensive end. And now he is up to 240 pounds.
We’ll let Mayock start off.
“Our scout, Teddy Atlas, did a great job,” Mayock said. “He kind of kept this guy alive in my mind, and that’s what good scouts do. At first I was like, ‘I got to hear about a wide receiver converted to defensive end and he’s from a small school? Come on, Teddy.’”
But Atlas kept bringing him up.
And one day, he told Mayock that Bell now weighed 240.
“I was like, ‘Wait a minute, he was 222 or 225 during his’ … and (Atlas) said, ‘240, and he ran a 4.4.’ That got my attention. I believe we may have been the only team at his pro day.”
Guenther was blown away when Bell first walked through the door at the Raiders facility on his pre-draft visit.
“This sucker comes walking in … and we had Ferrell, (Montez) Sweat, (Christian) Wilkins and Devin White in that same day, and this guy fit right in,” Guenther said. “We took them all out to dinner, and I am looking at this kid from Prairie View and he looks the part. Impressive, big strong guy, and I can see him getting bigger quick. He’s got a big frame.
“If we can put him in a stance and get some of his things worked on … in the seventh round, you’re just looking for redeeming qualities, and he has a lot of them.”
And Mayock knows the qualities that Guenther is looking for, as the two of them have been friends for 20 years.
“It’s been good, man,” Guenther said. “We would talk a lot this time of the year when he was doing the TV stuff. Now we’re sitting in there pulling guys off the draft board. He has done an unbelievable job. It’s like he has been doing this for years. And he knows exactly what I am looking for
Five of their first six draft picks and six of the nine Raiders’ selections overall in the NFL Draft this past weekend were defensive players.
So, yeah, defensive coordinator Paul Guenther is the happiest man in the building.
“Yeah, probably,” Guenther said in a telephone interview. “We did a lot of work on these guys and when you get some of the guys you really targeted, it feels really good.
“These guys will be welcome additions, obviously.”
The Raiders added defensive end Clelin Ferrell and safety Jonathan Abram on Thursday night, cornerback Trayvon Mullen on Friday night and defensive end Maxx Crosby, cornerback Isaiah Johnson and defensive end Quinton Bell on Saturday.
Some “experts” thought the Raiders reached for Ferrell at No. 4 overall, but general manager Mike Mayock said they had the Clemson star ranked right behind Nick Bosa as the top edge rushers in the draft. Ferrell did win the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation’s top college defensive end, and Guenther said the game film speaks for itself.
“He’s just an every-down end, compared to some of the others,” Guenther said. “We love the bundle of things you get with this guy — he plays the run, he is a good rusher, he is an athletic guy, he’s played on great teams, he’s a leader on great teams.
“It wasn’t about his 40-time or his three-cone drill or any of that bullshyt, it was about the whole package. There just aren’t a lot of guys like this. Some guys are great standing up, but you have to get down and dirty in the NFL. They are not just going to let you run up the field all day, you know what I am saying? Then you hear him talk and you’re like, ‘Damn, this guy is a pro.’”
A lot of teams were upset that Ferrell never ran a 40-yard dash at either the NFL scouting combine or his pro day, and Mayock said Saturday it was indeed a topic of contention.
“Yeah, Jon (Gruden) and I had the conversation,” he said, “and it was kind of like you know, does it bother us that he didn’t run a 40? Yeah, a little bit it does. Especially because he’s such a hard worker and everything. I finally just said listen, we got three years of tape, if we can’t figure out if this kid can rush the passer and set an edge, it’s on us, not on him.”
After the Raiders took running back Josh Jacobs with the second of their three first-round picks, they addressed the need for an impact safety. It’s been well documented that Abram was a big hitter at Mississippi State, but Guenther thinks you’re selling him short if you only think he impacts the run defense.
“People think he is just going to come up and blast you,” Guenther said. “But the guy can cover, he can play nickel, he can play in the box in the dime, he can blitz, he can play all the underneath zones and all of the deep zones and he’s really smart.”
One of the people Guenther reached out to before the draft was his old college roommate, Florida head coach Dan Mullen, who formally held the same position at Mississippi State.
“Dan told me that this kid was a football junkie and that I was going to love him,” Guenther said. “He’s been on our radar for a while.”
When it came to Trayvon Mullen (no relation), Clemson’s defensive MVP in the national title game, Guenther thought he stood out in a very talented cornerback class.
“He was just the cleanest of all of them,” Guenther said. “As far as coverage technique, size, speed, hips, tackling in the run game.
“One reason I think the corners lasted so long in the draft was that there were a lot of good ones and it just depended on what flavor you liked.”
The Raiders brought Mullen in for a visit and immediately saw that he had a similar presence as Ferrell did. They see all three of their top defensive picks being in leadership roles before long.
“We’re a young team,” Guenther said. “These guys are going to come in and play right away, and be leaders. It’s not like these guys can come in and watch and learn, and ask who are the defensive guys we can look to. Well, maybe last year’s rookies. Or, build it yourself.”
Some scouts thought that Mullen had a solid if not spectacular college career, up until that last game of course when he had a sack, forced fumble and interception.
“He didn’t get a lot of targets,” Guenther said. “The ball was just not getting thrown in his direction because his guy is covered.”
On Day 3, the Raiders added three defensive players that they need to develop a little bit.
Crosby, a defensive end from Eastern Michigan, had 18.5 sacks the last two seasons but needs to pack on more than the 247 pounds he has on his 6-foot-5 frame.
“Coming from a small school, I think he does some things in the pass rush that are natural,” Guenther said. “We just need to get him functioning a little stronger. He’ll be a guy maybe that can come in on third downs and help us out as an edge rusher. Or a guy that can walk around and do different things.
“Then, as he develops his strength, he can be an every-down kind of guy.”
Mayock said he loves that Crosby “plays every snap like his hair is on fire” and that he is about to be “connected at the hip with (strength and conditioning assistant) Deuce Gruden.”
With the second fourth-round pick, Houston cornerback Johnson, first impressions did count for a lot.
“I like him because he is 6-foot-2.5 and he runs a 4.38,” Guenther said, laughing. “Those guys are hard to find. Receivers in the NFL are getting bigger every year. This guy used to be a receiver and when you watch him he looks pretty natural at corner.
“If we can bring him in here and teach him technique, then you got a guy who can cover some of these big guys. He can run.”
Like Johnson, Mullen is also a former receiver. (Johnson played receiver for two years at Houston before switching to defense; Mullen played the position in high school.)
“It tells you that they can track the ball in the air,” Guenther said. “And they understand leverages and where the ball should go, and the depths on routes.”
Last but certainly not least is the seventh-round pick, Bell. He was a 6-4, 220-pound receiver at Prairie View A&M in 2017 and then last year, he had 7.5 sacks as a defensive end. And now he is up to 240 pounds.
We’ll let Mayock start off.
“Our scout, Teddy Atlas, did a great job,” Mayock said. “He kind of kept this guy alive in my mind, and that’s what good scouts do. At first I was like, ‘I got to hear about a wide receiver converted to defensive end and he’s from a small school? Come on, Teddy.’”
But Atlas kept bringing him up.
And one day, he told Mayock that Bell now weighed 240.
“I was like, ‘Wait a minute, he was 222 or 225 during his’ … and (Atlas) said, ‘240, and he ran a 4.4.’ That got my attention. I believe we may have been the only team at his pro day.”
Guenther was blown away when Bell first walked through the door at the Raiders facility on his pre-draft visit.
“This sucker comes walking in … and we had Ferrell, (Montez) Sweat, (Christian) Wilkins and Devin White in that same day, and this guy fit right in,” Guenther said. “We took them all out to dinner, and I am looking at this kid from Prairie View and he looks the part. Impressive, big strong guy, and I can see him getting bigger quick. He’s got a big frame.
“If we can put him in a stance and get some of his things worked on … in the seventh round, you’re just looking for redeeming qualities, and he has a lot of them.”
And Mayock knows the qualities that Guenther is looking for, as the two of them have been friends for 20 years.
“It’s been good, man,” Guenther said. “We would talk a lot this time of the year when he was doing the TV stuff. Now we’re sitting in there pulling guys off the draft board. He has done an unbelievable job. It’s like he has been doing this for years. And he knows exactly what I am looking for