Fuller, Nicolas, Maddy and Malleck invited to NFL Combine https://t.co/1Yfy9xcC26 #Hokies pic.twitter.com/fi4WvViMIg— Andy Bitter (@AndyBitterVT) February 11, 2016
Four Hokies invited to NFL combine his year. Glad to see Malleck getting a look.
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I read a review of Kendall's strengths and weaknesses and it made me want to drill through my temples. People consistently have inaccurately analyzed VT corners and have been consistently proven wrong. To quote my female peers, "I can't even right now."
edit: Also notice no Corey Marshall
Yea when I read it all I could think is that they paid absolutely no attention to how Bud uses his DB's and that they only used film from the second anOSU game for analysis.
The only analysis that matters is the scout's and they know what they are doing. That's why Kyle Fuller went first round.
Before demeaning people that scout prospects for the draft. Please go watch the 2014 VT vs. GT game, watch Fuller the whole time. And don't watch it with orange and maroon glasses on. As he has many strengths, this game will help you see what draft people discuss when referring to his weaknesses.
You must be new to tkp, non homer Hokie viewpoints get downvoted here...
Let's pump the brakes. Cornerback is my favorite position on the field and I do my best to evaluate corners accurately and without bias. Let me make myself clear that I do not think Kendall is without weaknesses, but there has been a history of improperly evaluating corners, particularly from Virginia Tech. I am strongly opposed to the idea that Kendall is a "tampa 2 corner" and would probably "do better at safety" these are ridiculous assertions. For example, Cyrus Jones, would probably fit the mold better as a "Tampa 2 corner". Physical corner who struggles keeping his hands off receivers after he fails to recover when a receiver crosses his face both inside or outside. This was on full display at the senior bowl when he was asked to play some man as opposed to the zone he often played at Alabama. I like Cyrus Jones, but he is obviously better fit to a zone based scheme. This "tampa 2 cover guy" title has been slapped on several VT corners in the past. Kendall Fuller, and other VT corners have a distinct advantage that they play a lot of inside leverage man coverage and trail technique. These are essential to play man on an island in the NFL. You can be a successful corner in the NFL in many different schemes and playing styles, but to be a true lockdown outside corner in a system that requires significant man coverage, a guy like Kendall has potential to do that. He does get off balance in coverage sometimes when leaning but given what was asked him play in and play out, and that he was thrown into the fray immediately as a freshman, has produced a lot of film where he has made these often minor mistakes. Now, some of the things people have used against him, like his high ypc in 2014, is also not taking into account that he was playing man on an island with no safety help far, far more often than the average corner being evaluated, and as such is going to give up some longer plays. A corner that plays in a zone system that is designed to keep everything in front of them is going to have a lower ypc average because of scheme. Also, Fuller has great hips. People absolutely have been misusing that film from the Ohio State game this year against him because from what I can tell by the way they described it, most of these guys were not informed he had a torn meniscus BEFORE the game, they all seem to think it happened later and then he was shut down. Also, Kendall has not been beaten consistently on double moves so that is just proof that some of these guys watched a smaller sample size.
Just because I disagree with a flawed evaluation doesn't mean I am looking through Orange and Maroon glasses. Also I am not demeaning all scouts by any means, but I have read a few evaluations that are just not accurate, particularly that one from NFL.com
If Johnny Manziel was invited to the combine, why not Michael Brewer? He can't be any worse.
Cause Brewer is a stand up guy! Not a primadonna that would even piss of Ray Charles by the way he acts.
via GIPHY
ESPN and NFL made a ton of money off this douche and now is leaving him to drown in his own struggles.
The Browns are the real losers here b/c
1. They're the browns
2. They live in Cleveland
3. They're the browns, live in cleveland, and wasted a draft pick
Unfortunately for Brown's fans, they have wasted MANY, MANY draft picks. Remember Brady Quinn?
Who can forget this amazing stud of a pick Barkevious Mingo
I do remember he was pretty good in LSU. What happened?
He plays for the Browns
This could become the defacto "why is he/she/it a failure", "plays for the Browns".
From Kendall's "analysis:"
Way to go out on a limb there, NFL.com
Would have been great if they listed Corey as well. Wrong, but funny.
Would have been better
NFL Comparison: MAMA Fuller
We should start a collection for the Fuller Fertility Facilities. FFF.
I would without a doubt up my hokie club donations if part of the money went towards breeding Fullers.
Careful there! I think Louisville basketball was trying something similar!
I appreciate the triple F's but cloning would be quicker. They can come out full grown that way!
Short sighted, IMHO. We'd be cloning the ones that take forever to produce more.
If we want to clone but stick to FFF, it'd just be the Fuller Fotocopy Facility.
Glad Malleck is getting his shot, he stays out of the limelight but he was an integral part of our offense. And I have to say for all the hate SS gets possibly putting two tight ends into the league is pretty impressive
if by SS you mean Stiney then I have to say that he's always been a valuable recruiter and position coach. Everyone has their limit. He wasn't cut out for OC but he's one hell of a good position coach. And he's probably one of the nicest guys in football, from what I've heard anyway.
Man, don't read the evaluations. Maybe I'm too much of a homer but damn, it put me in a mood. This is a good idea of my current attitude.
P***ed me off think all four they brought up strength / power concerns.
We're from the mountains of Virginia... we shouldn't be finessing anyone.
But in retrospect, they used to say the reason guys get stopped out athletically is they put on weight that doesn't carry well. So if you need to put on 10 lbs (muscle) to compete and those 10 lbs make you slower or less able to compete... you're done.
I think these guys all have a shot to stick. Just wonder if from a cultural perspective we didn't emphasize toughness, compactness, and functional strength enough??? Seems like we're gonna be doing that going forward. Crossing fingers.
Alright so Joel staave got invited and brewer didnt...that makes me sad
I keep seeing people mocking Kendall to the Panthers.
This would please me
Kendall and Josh Norman locking it down in Charlotte would be very pleasing indeed.
Yeah... get Norman and Fuller on the corners, Benwikere covering the slot, Boston and Coleman at Safety with Kuechly, Davis (if he doesn't retire... heard he might), and Shaq Thompson locking it down at LB... That would be a pretty tough defense to attack, even with the current pass rush.
Can't wait to see what the team can do with Benjamin back next year. Should be a pretty fun offense to watch. Not going to be able to double Greg Olsen all the time while doubling Benjamin, and if they do, Philly Brown or Ginn will be open all day long, and the half the time they do catch the ball, they should go for pretty big gains.
I'm not 100% sure Carolina can pay Norman. He's a free agent this year and he'll be looking for a bigger deal considering he's one of the best corners in the league. I can't say anything for sure but my buddy who lives and breathes Panthers football isn't too confident.
I'm not 100% sure either. But I think if they're serious about keeping him around, they have the means to. The thing that makes me doubt it is our GMs history of not putting too much money into DBs. He's a trench guy (and rightfully so). Plus Norman is like almost 29 or something so he's looking for that one big contract.
As I understand it, they have about 16 million in cap space and he's going to ask for at least 14 million. They can cut guys like Jared Allen and make room but like you said, if he's a trench guy that might not be his mo.
Neither Jared Allen or Charles Johnson will be retained for the current price point, which frees up a ton of money. One or both of them could restructure but Carolina has the upper hand with their contracts. But yeah like you said Norman will be expensive no matter how you look at it and they also have to worry about locking up Lotulelei and Kawann Short, which I believe they'll find much more vital.
Everything that I am hearing right now indicates that they are going to work out a contract with him, and if they can't, they're going to franchise him to continue the negotiations into next year. They have the means to pay him, and they are going to do to.
You don't just let one of the league's top defensive players walk out the door when you've spent 5 years developing him into the player he has become.
I certainly think they'll try to keep him. Unless he's really just interested in making the most money and goes to someone who will ridiculously overpay.
I think he stays unless we find ourselves in another Peppers situation, which I don't see happening with Norman. BUT I think the DT duo gets locked up first.
Which is why, worst case, they'll franchise him and work on it again next year. From what I understand, the exit interview essentially consisted of both sides showing an interest in keeping him around, and it went to 'what needs to happen to keep Josh in Charlotte'.
Agreed that locking up Star and Short are also top priorities and we're likely going to see a lot of veterans walk. It does sound like there will be plenty of cap room to get it all done, with the Panthers likely going to be around $20M under the cap after the salary cap raises, and with some guys likely being released or restructuring their deals to bring that number even better, Gettleman is going to finally have a little bit of breathing room this offseason. I'm keeping my fingers crossed on one of the better WRs looking to take a short term discount to chase a title (Alshon Jeffery, talking about you). Really hope we can see a corps of Benjamin, *insert discounted FA here*, Funchess, Ginn/Brown, and Olsen next year. That would be tough to stop.
Alshon would be awesome. I'd keep an eye out for a RB coming in somehow. The offense took a considerable nosedive anytime Stew got hurt this year, so I look for significant investment there.
Yeah, I could see that as well. if not Kendall in the first round, I could see them going with a RB (maybe Henry would be around?). That said, don't sleep on Artis-Payne. I think with another offseason to bulk up, he should hopefully easily take over as the backup from Fozzy, with the intention of getting him more carries as the season goes. I think he could be a legitimate big time guy going forward, so I wouldn't be too disappointed if they don't go with bringing in a RB this year. Plus, if we can get that big time WR, it should keep defenses spread out, which should help anyone not named Stew get yards.
I want Ezekiel, but know it's a pipe dream he is still on the board at 30. But make no mistake, if for some reason he is there I completely expect Gettleman to pounce. He preaches BPA all day.
I agree that you do everything you can to keep him but don't sell the farm for one guy. There's certainly a line between working the numbers to keeping him and screwing your team for years to do so. The Saints did that with Brees. They're so screwed with his contract.
Absolutely. The last thing you can do is bet the farm on one guy. It has to be a deal that works out for both sides, which allows the player to get paid, but the team to still be able to legitimately compete. That being said, if there's one guy who I absolutely trust to broker that kind of deal, its Gettleman. Because he will weigh options, and if he can't get the deal down to something that will work long term for the team, he'll cut bait. And its not like the guys he's cut bait on have really gone out and had a bunch of success elsewhere.
Part of me really hopes they aren't able to re-sign him because my Buccaneers need help in the secondary BADLY and can definitely afford him. But that's a pipe dream because I'd be shocked if Norman doesn't get a Franchise Tag.
Alum you changed your picture? What the hell man?
Hah, something I've been toying around with for a little while. Don't like to keep the same avi for too long, as I feel change is always good.
I'm very tempted to take your old one and spread misinformation and chaos under the guise that I am you. >=D
I am of the exact opposite opinion.
I'm a Steelers fan and would love to see Fuller go there. They need a shut down corner.
Really glad to see Malleck getting an invite. Guy has a very well rounded skill set for the NFL game.
VT pro day on campus will be March 16th.