NFL Draft 2019 is Nearly Upon Us!
Just 7 days and we will start the most anticipated non-game event in the sport universe, the NFL Player Draft! And although we won't publish the 2019 DraftTwitter Top 100 list just yet (here is the preliminary list for this year...) I've run a Film Fight for slot Wide Recievers based on the top 15 listed on Drafttek.com.
Squaring Off
The rules are simple, we take the # 14 and #15 players and watch up to 3 games for each (with one from 2017 if possible). We determine the better player based on that viewing who moves on to face the #13 player and so on until we have a final overall winner.
Round 1
Terry Godwin - Georgia #14 vs Auburn 2017, Vanderbilt 2018 and Alabama 2018
Willing and tenacious blocker. Fought through press off the line. Determination at goal line. Excellent focus going up for the ball. Nice hard pivot points on routes and doesn't go down on first contact but tries to extend plays when he could just take the yards sometimes resulting in lost yards. Guts. Relishes contact. Pretty round out routes.
Scotty Miller - Bowling Green #15 vs Michigan State 2017, Georgia Tech 2018 and Oregon 2018
Short 3 yards on a 10 yard out resulted in a pick 6 vs MSU. Sharpened up route running in 2018 and that made a big difference. He can separate. Tough kid. Took some big shots. Nice "feel" over the middle. Solid hands and concentration. Willing to block but more like, gets in the way. Kid takes on Jelks vs Oregon...not good for him. Kid has wheels.
Decision: Miller: Godwin is a more effective blocker because he is larger but Miller definitely was more electric on the field for his team.
Round 2
Diontae Johnson - Toledo #13 vs. Akron 2017, Fresno State 2018 and Miami 2018.
Some drops, some round routes. Could be a bit more assertive with blocking effort. Makes some nice plays just wish they were strung together consistently. Showed solid ability to fight off press coverage vs. Miami. 2018 was tough eval year with new QB(s).
Decision: Miller - If Johnson still had NFL QB Logan Woodside, 2018 might have been a better viewing. Miller just made more of his opportunities.
Some drops, some round routes. Could be a bit more assertive with blocking effort. Makes some nice plays just wish they were strung together consistently. Showed solid ability to fight off press coverage vs. Miami. 2018 was tough eval year with new QB(s).
Decision: Miller - If Johnson still had NFL QB Logan Woodside, 2018 might have been a better viewing. Miller just made more of his opportunities.
Round 3
Nyqwan Murray - #12 Florida State vs. Virginia Tech 2018 and Boston College 2018
Didn't find a lot of cut ups on Murray, however he clearly has to work in sharpness of cuts at the top of routes to increase separation and opportunities. Perhaps needs better coaches to reinforce blocking. Would like to see more aggressiveness in all phases. Made an outstanding grab vs. BC.
Decision: Miller - Of the games there were on Murray, they lacked evidence of any defining traits.
Round 4
Kavontae Turpin TCU - Disqualified due to Domestic Violence history.
The possibility of a repeat issue is too great to consider spending a draft pick,so Turpin will not be evaluated.
Decision: Miller by DQ.
The possibility of a repeat issue is too great to consider spending a draft pick,so Turpin will not be evaluated.
Decision: Miller by DQ.
Round 5
Jovon Durante #10 Florida Atlantic vs. North Texas 2018 and UCF 2018.
Clearly the best blocker of the group so far. Understand plays well as he actually comes off blocks to pick up free defenders when he can. Catches with the body, not the hands. Dances a bit too much, take yards they give you. More yards horizontal than vetical. Soft routes allow DBs to sneak in and get PBUs.
Decision: Miller - I like Jovon's near solid blocking and he is obviously well prepared but Miller has more solid fundamentals.
Clearly the best blocker of the group so far. Understand plays well as he actually comes off blocks to pick up free defenders when he can. Catches with the body, not the hands. Dances a bit too much, take yards they give you. More yards horizontal than vetical. Soft routes allow DBs to sneak in and get PBUs.
Decision: Miller - I like Jovon's near solid blocking and he is obviously well prepared but Miller has more solid fundamentals.
Round 6
Alex Wesley #9 Northern Colorado
I could not find a single cut-up or complete Northern Colorado game anywhere on the internet. There is one "highlights" post on YouTube and a whole lot of Lex running the 400 meters (he went to Nationals). If anyone has any game footage please let me know.
Decision: Miller due to forfeit (cannot evaluate based on highlight reels).
I could not find a single cut-up or complete Northern Colorado game anywhere on the internet. There is one "highlights" post on YouTube and a whole lot of Lex running the 400 meters (he went to Nationals). If anyone has any game footage please let me know.
Decision: Miller due to forfeit (cannot evaluate based on highlight reels).
Round 7
John Ursua #8 Hawai'i vs. Navy 2018, Colorado State 2018
Round out routes. Will give up a lot of pick 6s. Drops. Has to remember to catch with hands. Did not see much blocking demonstrated. Schemed open often.
Decision: Miller - Just more consistency.
Decision: Miller - Just more consistency.
Round 8
Greg Dortch #7 Wake Forest vs. NC State 2018, Boston College 2018 and Duke 2018.
Will need to give max effort on each snap, even when the coach calls someone else's number. Could possibly pickup more YAC if he did not focus on anticipated contact. Will enter non-aggressive blocking pacts with DBs.
Decision - Miller: I liked Scotty before, but I would never have predicted this.
Decision - Miller: I liked Scotty before, but I would never have predicted this.
Round 9
Johnnie Dixon #6 Ohio State vs. Indiana 2018, Maryland 2018 and Michigan 2018.
Consistent speed coming off the line every time. The man can run routes. Best blocker so far. Knows the playbook - understands his role each play. Goes up and gets the ball. Not a dancer,will go through a defender to get yards. Dude even took on a DL in the trenches.
Decision: Dixon - This is the guy who will sneak up on a lot of us and have a solid career.
Round 10
Hunter Renfrow #5 Clemson vs. Alabama 2017, Texas A&M 2018 and NC State 2018
Seems to be open more because of scheming than ability to separate. Really needs to work on blocking. Good hands. Would like to see him play with more aggressiveness.
Decision: Dixon - Expected Renfrow to take a few rounds but Dixon is too strong.
Round 11
Mercole Hardman #4 Georgia vs Alabama 2018, Vanderbilt 2018 and LSU 2018
Clearly and rightfully concerned about the Bama D, but that may have inhibited his usefulness. Hope that blocking was a point of focus this Pre-Draft. Far more aggressive vs Vandy but not necessarily any more effective. Rounded out routes. Seems to move quickly but not translating into production.
Decision: Dixon - Dixon in a class all his own.
Clearly and rightfully concerned about the Bama D, but that may have inhibited his usefulness. Hope that blocking was a point of focus this Pre-Draft. Far more aggressive vs Vandy but not necessarily any more effective. Rounded out routes. Seems to move quickly but not translating into production.
Decision: Dixon - Dixon in a class all his own.
Round 12
Penny Hart #3 Georgia State vs. Arkansas State 2018, Troy 2018 and NC State 2018
More quick than fast. Can run sharp routes but will definitely need to keep working to establish consistency. When he lapses, separation is a concern and DB easily rack up PBUs. Not sure if the QB was on the same page as him; there were times he was wide open yet the throw didn't come his way. Definitely would love to see what we have here but the college situation didn't show me what I had hoped.
Decision: Dixon - Hoping Hart inherits a solid situation so he can thrive but based on the games watched, JD is just more ready.
Round 13
Andy Isabella #2 UMass vs Mississippi State 2017, BYU 2018 and Georgia 2018
Good hands. Needs to get more comfortable with contact. Would like to see him value his contribution to the blocking scheme. Always in the game, doesn't seem to quit even if game out of reach. The boy is fast. Took advantage of opponents mistakes and made them pay.
Decision: Dixon - Isabella has the speed and hands but we will see how quickly he adjusts to the physicality of the pros.
Round 14
Marquise Brown #1 Oklahoma vs. Oklahoma State 2017, West Virginia 2018 and Texas 2018
Wins consistently but, surprisingly, not primarily with speed. This is the most prepared WR in this group. Forget Hollywood, his nickname should be "Art of War". Assuming his cousin taught him all those tricks to gain separation and get "lost" because his knowledge base is way beyond any other WR in this group. Truly amazing how he sets up DBs. Not a big guy but he gets in the mix and will block fearlessly. Tough. Dude took some shots and kept at it. Does not dance... doesn't need to because he sees the entire field at all times. And just when DBs tighten up to watch for a sharp route cut, he blows past them with his speed.
Decision: Brown - Clearly the best in this group and likely the best in the draft. He just knows the manipulation game so well I can't see how DBs at the next level stand a chance.
Top 5
- Marquise "Art of War" Brown
- Johnnie Dixon
- Scotty Miller
- Terry Godwin
- Dionte Johnson
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You Know You're Smarter than the Talking Heads...Prove It!
TWO DAYS LEFT!!
Voting for the 3rd Annual People's Top 100 survey is going on through the week of April 19th (the week before the 2019 Draft)!
Just leave a comment or shoot me an email to boombearfootballmail@gmail.com for an email link to the online Excel worksheet form with dropdown lists for ease of use!
No pressure, just have fun.
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