Pray for Reuben Foster to fall to us........

[*ochocincos*]

(01-10-2017, 11:58 PM)oncemoreuntothejimbreech Wrote: People questioned his speed before the combine and even afterwards his critics claimed he didn't play to his 40 time on tape. 

I'll see if I can find some critiques. 

https://www.google.com/amp/syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/1031882-luke-kuechly-2012-nfl-draft-scouting-report.amp.html?client=safari

http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2012lkuechly.php

http://www.mynfldraft.com/NFL-Draft-Profiles/2012/Luke-Kuechly

http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2012lkuechly.php

http://www.collegesportsmadness.com/article/613

https://www.imgacademy.com/media/headline/luke-kuechly-ready-showcase-new-speed

http://sportsbreakcsn.blogspot.com/2012/03/luke-kuechly-draft-profile.html

http://gcobb.com/2012/02/16/luke-kuechly-has-it-all-but-his-speed-could-be-a-problem/

I couldn't find draft profiles from some of the more well known sites.  CBS has scrubbed their profile completely.  The last article noted Mayock was worried he might run a 4.8 at the combine.

Biggest knocks on Kuechly; too small, too slow, not enough splash plays, numbers inflated by tackles downfield beyond the line of scrimmage.  

Here's the NFL.com draft profile for Kuechly.
http://www.nfl.com/combine/profiles/luke-kuechly?id=2533056

Quote:Overview
Kuechly had one of the most productive careers, in terms of tackles, in recent memory for a collegiate linebacker. Kuechly blew away the competition as the top tackler in the nation with a jaw-dropping 191 total. Many knock that most of his plays were downfield tackles and not "influential" enough, but 12 tackles for loss is a testament to his overall ability and instincts to get in the backfield and disrupt plays. He is more of an athlete than given credit for and has simply been a machine throughout his college career. Kuechly has all the tools to be an immediate starter in the NFL and shore up the middle of an entire defense.

Analysis

Strengths
Kuechly is one of the most instinctual and technically sound linebackers to enter the draft in years, and he had the tackle production throughout his career to back it up. He is able to avoid trash at his knees and is elite when it comes to shedding blockers and keeping himself free to the ball. He is excellent working over the top of tight ends to maul and delay their release, and is capable of running with them in-phase down the field. He has the sudden burst and long speed to cover a very wide range against the run and is an extremely sure-handed tackler who can bring ball carriers down a number of different ways.
Weaknesses
The major knock on Kuechly is that he had a lot of "inflated" tackle production throughout his career, the idea being that he is indeed a superb tackler but most of those tackles came 5 to 8 yards downfield in pursuit. He didn't get up into the line of scrimmage to make powerful, impactful plays much, and won't be relied upon as a pass rusher at the next level and is strictly a tackling, sideline-to-sideline backer.

One thing that stands out is that Kuechly was criticized for not having enough "impactful/influential" plays, but still had 12 TFL his senior year. TFL is kind of like a sack.
Reuben Foster had 13.0 TFL in 2016. In 2015, he had 8.0 TFL.
McMillan, on the other hand, had just 8.0 TFL in 2016 and just 4.0 TFL in 2015.
McMillan simply does not make as many "impactful/influential" plays as Foster has.
There's a reason McMillan is rated as a 2-3 round player and Foster is rated as the top ILB.
McMillan will likely be a very solid, but unspectacular player in the NFL, whereas Foster has a good chance of being a difference maker.