04-28-2018, 11:28 AM
(04-28-2018, 12:49 AM)TheBengalsMind Wrote: It's hard to hate on Sam Hubbard because he's from Cincinnati. He probably dreamed of playing for us as a kid.
He might have had the highest football IQ of any defensive player this year. He has the heart and motor.
However, having said it's hard to hate on him, that's exactly what I'm about to do.
He had 42 tackles, I believe, and 7 sacks. The only reason he came out his JR year is because next year's DE class was stronger.
If he goes to the 5-7 round next year he's not gonna make as much.
I dare anybody to look at his tape and say his play blows you away, cause it won't. It's solid.
There's only 1 reason he declined to do the bench press and 40 yards dash at the combine. He's weaker in his lower body cause he's had to add 70 pounds in 3 years switching from safety to DE, physical speaking that's not all muscle mass. He did what 16 reps at his pro day?
He can develop his body to get stronger over the years, but it's when you couple that with the reason that he had to make the switch in the first place. He's slow. He runs a 5 flat in the 40 yard dash. If he's gonna have to get bigger to get stronger, then he'll also get slower potentially.
How many successful 5.1 running 4-3 DE'S can you think of in the NFL? He's smart and takes good angles. That can make up for it to a degree, but only a degree.
I think we should of took Phillips from Stanford.
Just look at his tape, then at Sam's. Then give me your honest opinion of who is better.
While I agree about wanting Phillips and DT is a position where we only have so-so talent around Geno, I disagree with your sentiments about Hubbard. Yes, you can read that he ran a sub 5.0 second 40 time at his pro day and assume he doesn't have the fast-twitch speed to get the edge, but you would be wrong. He also ran a 6.82 in the three cone drill, one of if not the fastest times for all defensive linemen and edge rushers. He was also in the top 10% of the participants in the 20 and 60 yard shuttles. The only times that were better than his in those measures were guys that were in the 245 lb range of speed rushers that can't hold up against the rush.
Those measures are much more indicative of the skills needed to be an effective edge rusher. The rest of the crap about adding 70 lbs is just crap. Marcus Davenport added 100 lbs. Clay Matthews Junior added 90 lbs. This happens to late bloomers. AJ Hawk wasn't 250 lbs wen he left Centerville. Hubbard played Safety before moving to the line when he filled in to his body. He has all the tools to be a very effective part of the Bengals defensive line and I am glad that we added depth and competition to this group.
I could see him rotating at RDE with Lawson and Willis rotating more with Dunlap at LDE. Keep all four fresh and release the hounds.