Tag: scouting report

2021 Potential Atlanta Falcons Draft Pick: DL Christian Barmore

The Atlanta Falcons could use an upgrade along the defensive line at nose tackle, and Christian Barmore should be it.

The Atlanta Falcons could use an upgrade along the defensive line at nose tackle, and Christian Barmore should be it. Adding Barmore to the starting front three with Marlon Davidson and Grady Jarrett would give the Falcons a group that could thrive in Dean Pees’ scheme. Barmore has a perfect frame for a nose tackle and would excel in a penetrating 1-technique role.

DL Christian Barmore, University of Alabama

6-foot-5, 311 pounds

Stats and Awards

2020: 12 Games Played, 37 Tackles, 9.5 Tackles for Loss, 8.0 Sacks, 6 QB Hurries, 3 Fumbles Forced, 3 Pass Deflections, First-Team All-SEC, National Champion, National Championship Defensive MVP

2019: 12 Games Played, 26 Tackles, 6.0 Tackles for Loss, 2.0 Sacks, 5 QB Hurries, 2 Pass Deflections

2018: Redshirted

Highlights: Vs. Mississippi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L14Z7BCF-o

Strengths

Christian Barmore is a freakish athlete at the position and compares best to someone like Gerald McCoy on the field. He’s got a great first step off the line. His lateral mobility is exceptional, and he can play hash to hash with no issue. For a lineman, that exceptional athleticism will allow him to play anywhere from heads up on a center to off a tackle’s shoulder.

Barmore is exceptional as a run defender and has great power off the line. His functional strength is at a minimum excellent. He bullies his way through double teams all the time and is able to penetrate the line whenever he needs to. He’s a perfect power rusher with a bull rush that can decompress the middle of the pocket and force quarterbacks off their spot easily.

Something teams will love about Barmore is how quickly he improves from game to game. The more he plays, the more he knows and the better the angles and instincts he has. He’s extremely versatile, as he’s aligned at 3-technique, 1-technique and 5-technique during his time at Alabama. He has been equally effective in every role he played, and that will translate well.

Weaknesses

The Crimson Tide product has a lot of good traits, but he’s still extremely raw. He has issues with his hand technique not being close to there yet and would benefit from the mentoring of a guy who has great technique. While he did play for Alabama and was part of a National Championship team as a starter, Barmore needs more snaps and experience.

Leadership

Barmore’s effort is reminiscent of another Atlanta Falcon in Grady Jarrett. He goes 110 percent on every snap. While he was never a true leader at Alabama, he was a great teammate with the Crimson Tide and played well under the leadership there. He’s a hard worker on and off the field and fits in well with the NFL philosophy of working as hard off the field as you do on it.

Overview

NFL Stylistic Comparison/Best Case Scenario: Marcus Stroud

The beastly Barmore compares best to another penetrating nose tackle in Marcus Stroud. He was a good fit for the same role that Barmore would be despite it being a different scheme. He never was a 10-sack guy, but he would eat double teams, attack from the 3-technique and 1-technique as a penetrating lineman and averaged around 3.5 sacks a year with good run defense.

How Barmore would fit into the Falcons’ plans

The Falcons could take him if he somehow falls to pick No. 35 overall. If he’s there, they should sprint to the podium because he’s a mid-first round level talent. Barmore is a penetrating nose tackle that would be perfect for the Falcons’ scheme and could instantly be a great starter.

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Falcons 2021 potential draft pick profile: OL Landon Dickerson

After losing Alex Mack to the 49ers, the Atlanta Falcons could consider bringing in a center like Landon Dickerson.

After losing Alex Mack to the 49ers and releasing James Carpenter, the Atlanta Falcons could consider bringing in an interior offensive lineman like Alabama center Landon Dickerson. The Rimington Trophy winner would give the Falcons a versatile option to pair with second-year lineman Matt Hennessy, who’s capable of playing guard and center.

OL Landon Dickerson, University of Alabama

6-foot-6, 325 pounds

Stats and Awards

2020: 11 Games Started at Center, Rimington Trophy Winner, Jacobs Blocking Trophy Winner, First-team All-American, First-team All-SEC, National Champion

2019: 13 Games Started at Right Guard (4 games) or Center (9 games), Second-Team All-SEC

2018: 1 Game Started at Center

2017: 4 Games Played at multiple positions including Left Tackle, Left Guard and Right Tackle

2016: 7 Games Started at Center

Highlights: Vs. Missouri

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tACIX7r3eaI

Strengths

In the run game, Landon Dickerson shows a ton of balance and power when he’s creating lanes to run the ball. Dickerson has great pop off the snap and can drive defenders 10 yards down the field. His power is bone crushing when he hits guys at the second level. His ability to duo block and then reach out to the second level is impressive.

As a pass protector, Dickerson is the anchor in the middle of the line. In a phone booth, he’s tough to get around. When he doesn’t have someone aligned across from him, he’s more than willing to look for work and keep his quarterback clean. His punch is like a boxer’s, and his footwork allows him to keep his body centered in front of a pass rusher.

His experience is his biggest strength. He’s shown capable play at all five spots along the offensive line and has the versatility to be a super sub at worse at the next level. He’s one of the smartest players in the draft of all of the offensive line. His ability to make line calls and continue the communication on the offensive line is impressive.

Weaknesses

The biggest weakness for Dickerson is his lack of availability. He’s seen a lot of injuries throughout his time in college. Because of it, his flexibility and athleticism has taken a hit. His speed to the second level, and his overall lateral mobility is at a below-average NFL level. He barely has the requisite athleticism for guard or center.

Leadership

Dickerson only knows one way to play: angry. On top of that, he’s a vocal and emotional leader for any team he’s played for. He was a captain for both seasons he was at Alabama, and he’s universally loved by all of his teammates. When he got hurt in 2020, the entire team came out to thank him. They even carried him on the field for the final snap during the title game.

Overview

NFL Stylistic Comparison/Best Case Scenario: Alex Mack

The talented lineman from the Crimson Tide compares best to one of the best offensive linemen in history. Mack made his bones as one of the best centers of all time because of his exceptional blocking in the middle of the line. Dickerson is much like Mack in how he can snap, block and be amazing at line calls with his high level of intelligence.

How Dickerson would fit into the Falcons’ plans

If the Falcons want Dickerson, they can take him at the top of the second round. Or they can trade up into the bottom of the first to secure his services. In Atlanta, he and Matt Hennessy could compete for the starting center role, or he could slide over to left guard and earn that role as well. Atlanta would have a much better line with him on it.

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Falcons 2021 potential draft pick profile: OT Liam Eichenberg

One possibility for the Atlanta Falcons in the 2021 NFL draft would be selecting an offensive tackle like Liam Eichenberg in the second round.

One possibility for the Atlanta Falcons in the 2021 NFL draft would be selecting an offensive tackle like Liam Eichenberg in the second round. Eichenberg could be a piece that allows Jake Matthews to move inside to left guard and gives the Falcons five talented offensive linemen again. A true left tackle might not seem like a need, but the Falcons may be shifting things up front.

OT Liam Eichenberg, University of Notre Dame

6-foot-6, 302 pounds

Stats and Awards

2020: 12 Games Started at Left Tackle, Jacobs Blocking Award, First-team All-American, First-team All-ACC

2019: 13 Games Started at Left Tackle

2018: 13 Games Started at Left Tackle

2017: 5 Games Played along multiple spots

2016: Redshirted

Highlights: Vs. Georgia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1Z6tAGoAIE

 

Strengths

Eichenberg is a great pass blocker and would be an instant starter at the NFL level. He’s got an exceptional anchor against bull rushers with excellent footwork and hand technique in his pass sets. He’s able to knock back speed and power rushers with his heavy hands. Teams will love how he can neutralize almost any pass rusher in one-on-one situations.

As a run blocker, Eichenberg attacks defensive linemen like they owe him money. He’s ferocious and has exceptional power when he’s smacking around linebackers and defensive ends. His balance both at the line and the pop out of his stance are unmatched in this draft. The way he gets to the second level shows good technique in zone and man-blocking roles.

The instincts that Eichenberg has will allow him to instantly impact a team as a starting left tackle. He might be one of the best left tackles to come out in years as an all-around package that can fit into either scheme. His length allows him to project well at left tackle, and his fit on the blind side might be better than any other player in the draft.

Weaknesses

Left tackle is the only position that really fits for Eichenberg’s skill set. While he is a good fit for a lot of schemes, he’s not going to be an ideal fit on the interior for any team, and isn’t a great fit on the right side. His athleticism is good enough, but not off the charts, and that may make him less appealing to zone teams.

Leadership

Eichenberg was a captain for the Fighting Irish and would be a perfect fit in the locker room for the Falcons. He is an extremely competitive player, and it’s easy to see in his run blocking. He’s got a nastiness that most players at the college level don’t show. He fights to and even beyond the whistle and isn’t afraid to go against anyone.

Overview

NFL Stylistic Comparison/Best Case Scenario: Ronnie Stanley

Eichenberg is a perfect fit for the Falcons left tackle spot and looks to have a 10-year career ahead of him in that role. Much like Ronnie Stanley, he wins with excellent technique and utilizes his long arms. Both guys are good run blockers who can seal an edge if need be and make blocks at the second and third levels.

How Eichenberg would fit into the Falcons’ plans

If the Falcons want to get Eichenberg in the draft, they may have to trade up into the bottom of the first round to get him. However, if he’s there at pick No. 35, he would be a perfect fit. Atlanta could instantly be able to slide him in at left tackle in the offense and would have to move Pro Bowl left tackle Jake Matthews to guard, but might be upgrading both spots.

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Anthony Walker: What the Browns are getting in their new LB

Anthony Walker: What the Browns are getting in their new LB

The Cleveland Browns have an impressive new linebacker in free agent Anthony Walker. He signed a one-year deal with the Browns worth $3.5 million recently. Walker projects to start in the role B.J. Goodson — Cleveland’s leading tackler in 2020 — played for the Browns last season.

What are the Browns getting in Walker?

Walker comes to the Browns after spending his first four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. The 2017 fifth-round pick out of Northwestern was a full-time starter for the last three years in the middle of the Colts defense.

Paired with All-Pro Darius Leonard at LB, Walker averaged over 100 tackles in the last three years. His career-highs of 124 tackles and 2.5 sacks came in 2019. Walker also has 19 TFLs during that time while playing 47 of 48 games.

I went back and watched several Colts games from the last two seasons to get a better idea of the man behind the gaudy tackle stats. I also looked back at his draft profile coming out of Northwestern from several resources, including my own evaluation at the time.

His relative athletic score (RAS), which factors athletic metrics scaled for size and position, shows Walker as a shorter backer but one with speed and great short-area burst.

RAS courtesy Kent Lee Platte

Those are evident in Walker’s play with the Colts. He’s excellent at quickly closing on the play and using his compact build to stack blockers and stun runners. He’s an excellent run-and-chase tackler against the run, with range to either sideline from the middle of the field. Few backers close on their RB prey on off-tackle runs with better speed or body control.

He also uses the quick acceleration and closing speed effectively in coverage. In the games I reviewed, he’s not a linebacker who blankets in coverage but it rather one who quickly terminates the play immediately after the catch.

He has some opportunism to his coverage but don’t expect Walker to make a lot of plays on the ball. He’s rarely out of position in zone and comfortable–most of the time–in the transition areas between zones. The Colts defense did a good job using him where he excels in coverage, flowing to the shallow outside or picking up tight ends and backs after they release out.

One thing that consistently stands out: tackling. Walker hits, wraps and drops with power. If he gets a shoulder into the target, the play ends. He’s balanced and smart as a tackler.

Reading blocks and shedding off them, especially when flowing laterally, is probably Walker’s biggest area for improvement. He gets hung up on guards and tight ends out in the second level and will stay engaged to soak up the block more than he tries to shed and make the play.

Interestingly, that’s an area where the man he’s ostensibly replacing in Cleveland, B.J. Goodson, also struggled with. Walker is faster once he’s free but my sense is Goodson anticipated the blocking angles a little better.

Walker is a high-character man, something that has followed him from Northwestern to Indianapolis. He fits in with the type of off-field culture the Browns desire.

Overall, the Browns found a smart, tough replacement for Goodson. And on a one-year deal, it’s a positive addition that should help in the run defense and short-range coverage.

Falcons 2021 potential draft pick profile: OL Alijah Vera-Tucker

One of the Atlanta Falcons perfect trade down targets would be Alijah Vera-Tucker, an offensive lineman from Southern California.

One of the Atlanta Falcons perfect trade down targets would be Alijah Vera-Tucker, an offensive lineman from Southern California. He played left tackle, left guard and right guard for the Trojans and has shown that he can play any of them at a high level through the years. Teams will love his versatility, especially Atlanta.

OL Alijah Vera-Tucker, University of Southern California

6-foot-4, 308 pounds

Stats and Awards

2020: 6 Games Started at Left Tackle, First-Team All-Pac 12

2019: 13 Games Started at Left Guard, Second-Team All-Pac 12

2018: 12 Games Played at Right Guard

2017: Red-shirted

Highlights: Vs. Notre Dame

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7Ka1-j88Iw

Strengths

Alijah Vera-Tucker might be the best fit for any zone scheme as an offensive guard. He’s got the pure pass-blocking technique, power, balance, anchor and kick step to be a great interior player for a zone-blocking team. His pass protection is elite at left guard. Teams will love how he can stand up to anyone’s raw power and how he fights off quickness.

His run blocking is also excellent, and it suits a zone game well. He has the requisite power to move any defensive tackle, but he does better with a lateral step first. His mobility is amazing both laterally and when attacking the second level. Teams will fall in love with his level of athleticism after seeing the results of his pro day.

After playing both guard spots and left tackle at the college level, he’s shown that he has the versatility to play any of those spots at the next level. That being said, he’s a better guard than tackle. He also has excellent football instincts when it comes to stunts and duo blocks. His ability to get to the second level and head off the linebacker’s angles might as well be coaching film.

Weaknesses

The biggest issues that Vera-Tucker has in his game comes from his lack of flexibility on the edge of the line. He also doesn’t have the length to play left or right tackle in the NFL full-time. In a pinch, he’d be fine, but that’s not his strength and not where he’d be one of the best five linemen on a roster. His hand technique also needs a lot of work, but he should be able to learn this.

Leadership

Vera-Tucker is one of the nastiest players in the draft. However, he’s also known for being a true leader off the field  and was one of the captains for the Trojans. He’s an extremely hard worker both on and off the field. The Falcons would love another offensive lineman that could lead the unit after losing the long-time leader of the unit in Alex Mack.

Overview

NFL Stylistic Comparison/Best Case Scenario: Zack Martin

There’s a lot of comparisons popping up for him, but they all seem to be left tackles. The best position for him long term is probably at left guard. Zack Martin then springs to mind. The long-time left guard from Notre Dame fits as a perfect comp for him both in size, strength, speed comparison and overall stylistic play comparison.

How Vera-Tucker fits into the Falcons’ plans

If the Falcons want to get Vera-Tucker, they would be smart to trade down to around 11 or 12 and select him there. They could potentially pick up a future first and a 2021 second with a move down in the draft. A trade like that could set the Falcons up well for the future while also giving them the proper pieces to compete right now.

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Damion Ratley: What the Lions are getting in their new WR

Scouting report on the newest Lions WR

The Lions signed free agent wideout Damion Ratley to a one-year contract on Wednesday. Ratley joins an overhauled receiving corps that also features new additions Tyrell Williams, Kalif Raymond and Breshad Perriman.

What are the Lions getting in Ratley?

I covered Ratley with the Cleveland Browns, who drafted him in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL draft. Lions senior personnel executive John Dorsey was the Browns’ GM at the time, and his faith in Ratley remains strong.

Ratley is a downfield, outside-the-numbers threat. At 6-2 and 200 pounds, measurements which pass the eye test, he’s a long-striding speedster. The Browns used him as a vertical threat, running primarily deep outside routes flanking a slot receiver underneath (Jarvis Landry) or a flexed-out TE (David Njoku).

This route chart from Ratley’s rookie season against the Chargers is very emblematic of how he was used. The 6-catch, 82-yard output is his best career game through three years.

Ratley has proven capable of making the amazing catch. His one-handed stab while fully extended in the end zone against the Bengals in 2019 is an impressive career highlight. It’s his only career TD,

He was always a player for the Browns who hinted at being capable of more, but he wasn’t ever able to string together solid practices or games. Injuries have been a factor; while he’s never had a serious injury, he missed time in both the 2019 and 2020 training camps with leg issues that severely hindered his ability to compete for a bigger role. For a straight-line speed guy, having issues with soft tissue in the legs is problematic.

The Browns cut him prior to the 2020 season and he wound up making a small ripple with the New York Giants. He had four catches in six games but Giants fans remember him for an offensive pass interference penalty that wiped out a Sterling Shepard TD in a 3-point loss to the rival Cowboys.

He gives effort as a blocker but has never been effective at it. Despite his size, he’s not a physical player. He can make the contested catch and will go get the ball in the air, but more physical coverage and jams do impact him more than others. The Browns briefly auditioned him as a return man but that was a non-starter, as he lacks the field vision and quickness to be effective in that capacity.

In Detroit, Ratley figures to get a chance to prove he can be the No. 4/No. 5 wideout and a deep threat who can impact the coverage. He’s a more natural catcher and nuanced route runner than ex-Lions draft pick Corey Fuller, though they play the same basic role and are physically quite similar.

Falcons 2021 potential draft pick profile: OL Alex Leatherwood

The Atlanta Falcons could take a page out of the Green Bay Packers playbook here by taking Alex Leatherwood to play left guard for them.

The Atlanta Falcons could take a page out of the Green Bay Packers playbook by taking Alex Leatherwood to play left guard for them this season. The Outland Trophy winner for best offensive tackle in the country might just be the best fit in the entire 2021 NFL draft to play left guard in new head coach Arthur Smith’s offensive scheme.

OL Alex Leatherwood, University of Alabama

6-foot-6, 312 pounds

Stats and Awards

2020: 13 Games Started at Left Tackle, Outland Trophy winner, Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner, First-team All-American, First-team All-SEC, National Champion

2019: 13 Games Started at Left Tackle, First-team All-SEC

2018: 15 Games Started at Right Guard, Second-team All-SEC

2017: 7 Games Played at multiple positions, National Champion

Highlights: Vs. Mississippi State

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nuj-v2NCtg

Strengths

Alex Leatherwood combines a combination of quick feet, efficient kick steps back and smart hand usage into one of the best pass-blocking tackles in college football. His ability to ride speed rushers to the outside and anchor effectively against power rushers gives him an advantage over most linemen. His overall size, a frame that isn’t maxed out even at 312 pounds and long arms makes him an almost ideal left tackle prospect for power-based NFL schemes.

Leatherwood is also one of the best run-blocking offensive linemen in this year’s draft class. He’s able to attack not just the guy in front of him, but can handle dual blocks efficiently and get to the second level and take off a linebacker or safety’s skull with no issues. His “to the whistle” motor and overall nastiness make him a lineman every coach would want.

None of this is accomplished without Leatherwood’s high-level football intelligence and ability to process information quickly. His instincts are amazing for the pro-style scheme he comes from. On top of that, he can play any non-center spot in the NFL depending on scheme, and that’s just because there’s no record of him making line calls or snapping, otherwise it would be all five.

Weaknesses

The former Crimson Tide lineman has a lot of talent in every aspect of guard play, but he does have issues with his lateral movement being just average overall. He also has a tendency to lose his balance when he’s going to the second level or after first impact with a defender. He also gets overeager in both run and pass blocking which will lead him to be susceptible to counters.

Leadership

Leatherwood is a vocal leader from the Crimson Tide. He was voted permanent team captain with fellow lineman Landon Dickerson for the 2020 season. They led the group not just by example by being two of the best offensive linemen in college football, period, but by their words and overall leadership. Alabama had the best line in the country in 2020.

Overview

NFL Stylistic Comparison/Best Case Scenario: Brandon Scherff

Much like Scherff, Leatherwood played left tackle and guard in the college ranks. Scherff has played right guard at an All-Pro level in a zone blocking scheme for years. Leatherwood’s athleticism is off the charts for an offensive lineman, and his technique is solid as it sits now. Much like Scherff, he has experience in pro-style blocking schemes and should be a quick transition to the pros.

How Leatherwood fits into the Falcons’ plans

If the Falcons want Leatherwood, they will either have to trade up into the bottom of the first round or hope that he slips to them in the second round. Atlanta has the right mix of need and fit for this pick. Leatherwood would compete instantly for the starting left guard role and fits in perfectly as a left guard with injury-reserve status at tackle.

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Malik Jackson: What the Browns are getting in their new DT

Special thanks to Glenn Erby of Eagles Wire for offering his assessment

The Browns bolstered the defensive line in free agency by adding veteran tackle Malik Jackson. The 31-year-old Jackson agreed to sign with the Browns on a one-year deal worth a reported $4.5 million.

What are the Browns getting in Jackson?

Jackson spent the last two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles after he signed there as a prized free agent prior to the 2019 season.

His time in Philadelphia did not go as planned. Jackson suffered a foot injury in his very first game for the Eagles, one that required Lisfranc surgery. He missed all but 32 snaps of the 2019 campaign. Jackson returned for 2020 and played in 15 games, but the team around him had deteriorated and Jackson underwhelmed with just 2.5 sacks and 28 total tackles.

That was a far cry from the more dynamic interior pass rusher that Jackson showed himself to be earlier in his career. First with the Broncos–where he overlapped with Browns DC Joe Woods–and then the Jaguars, Jackson was a disruptive force as a 3T and 5T.

Jackson’s size (6-5/290) affords him the ability to play as a tackle or a heavy end. In that sense, he’s similar to new teammate Sheldon Richardson. If Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods wants to show an odd-man front, Jackson and Richardson can each move around.

He made the Pro Bowl as a Jaguar in 2017, primarily aligning on the inside shoulder of Calais Campbell, one of the best DEs in the league at the time. Jackson bagged a career-high eight sacks that year and forced four fumbles.

I asked Eagles Wire’s Glenn Erby about Jackson and what he’s got left.

“He’s not quite the pass-rushing terror at defensive tackle that he once was, but he was still tied for 22nd among 128 qualifying defensive tackles in pass-rush productivity per PFF,” Erby responded.

He continued,

“I think he’ll be more productive from a numbers standpoint in Cleveland and should be an upgrade at defensive tackle over Jordan Elliott and Andrew Billings, but you can also play at him at defensive end, so he can also vibe with Myles Garrett and Browns should be able to move around as well. As long as he can stay healthy, he’ll play the run well and rush the passer up the middle, regardless of what the final stat sheet might say. Solid signing.”

The ability to also play end, as Erby noted, is a big point. He gives the Browns the potential to play a “heavy” front, but he can also be the nose in an aggressive “NASCAR” rush package, replacing Andrew Billings over the center.

It’s a low-risk move for the Browns. As with signing Billings a year ago, Jackson is an affordable veteran who offers potential to impact the opposing offense at times and provide solid all-around play along the defensive line. He should be a valuable role player who can step up into a starting spot if required.

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Randy Bullock: What the Lions are getting in their new kicker

Special thanks to Chris Roling of Bengals Wire for his insight

The Detroit Lions have a new kicker. With Matt Prater gone to Arizona as a free agent, Detroit turned to veteran Randy Bullock, last with the Cincinnati Bengals.

What are the Lions getting in Bullock?

The 31-year-old Texas native is joining his sixth NFL team since being a fifth-round pick by his hometown Texans in the 2012 NFL draft. He had been with the Cincinnati Bengals since midway through the 2016 season when the Bengals claimed him off waivers from the rival Pittsburgh Steelers.

Statistically speaking, Bullock has been a good-not-great kicker for the Bengals. In 2020 he made 21-of-26 field goal attempts but did miss an extra point. For his career, Bullock’s FG percentage of 83.17 is 29th all-time and percentage points ahead of the man he’s replacing, Matt Prater (21-for-28 in 2020).

As for range, Bullock has a career-long of 57 yards from 2019. He hit 3-of-5 from beyond 50 yards in 2020, including a 55-yarder. His deeper accuracy has improved over the course of his career, too.

I asked Bengals Wire colleague Chris Roling for his thoughts on Bullock after watching him for the last five seasons. Here’s what Roling had to say,

Bullock was solid for the majority of his time in Cincinnati, but he got off on the wrong foot with Bengals fans right away because he bested fifth-round pick Jake Elliott for the job in 2017 (Elliott went on the Super Bowl in Philadelphia and such). He had some struggles in that first season that didn’t help before he evened out, becoming one of the most accurate kickers in team history en route to converting 84.9 percent of his kicks with the team.

Things did collapse for Bullock last year and he wound up benched in favor of Austin Seibert down the stretch, appearing in just 12 games. There was even a weird double-calf injury thing after a critical miss that cost the team a game in Week 1. He missed five of his 26 attempts last year, including two from the 30-39 range and missed an extra point.

Doesn’t sound like much, but it matters on a bad team just scraping by and he had a potential replacement breathing down his neck. He’s probably got plenty left in the tank but even a seasoned coach like Darrin Simmons was ready to explore other options.

One area where Bullock has an edge on Prater is in creating touchbacks on kickoffs. Bullock forced touchbacks on over 70 percent of his kickoffs over the last two seasons; Prater was just below 40 percent. Some of that was a focus by the old Lions coaching staff on wanting the opponent to run the ball back to try and create turnover or penalty opportunities, however.

 

Troy Hill: What the Browns are getting in their new CB

Scouting report and breakdown on new Browns slot CB, Troy Hill

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Troy Hill joins former Los Angeles Rams teammate John Johnson in the Cleveland Browns’ new-look secondary. It’s a big addition to the cornerback puzzle, with Hill signing a four-year deal worth $24 million to jump to the Browns in free agency.

What are the Browns getting in Hill?

The quick answer: one of the NFL’s most consistent slot corners over the last few years. Hill, who turns 30 in August, has found his NFL home playing both man and zone coverage in the slot with the Rams.

He’s a Youngstown native who wanted to come back home. Hill went to college at Oregon but has never lost his Northeast Ohio roots; he has a “330” tattoo proudly representing the home area code.

At 5-11 and a listed 183 that seems a little light based on his 2020 game film, Hill does have some experience playing outside. But he’s at his best in the slot and matching up against the smaller/quicker slot receivers than the bigger, speed-based outside deep threats. Hill isn’t slow, but he definitely fits the “quicker than fast” moniker.

Since moving into a more prominent role at the start of the 2018 season, Hill has proven he’s got ball skills. He’s picked off seven passes in that time. And he’s dangerous when he gets the ball in his hands; Hill led the NFL in interception return yardage in 2020 with 119, and he scored a league-high two TDs on his three picks. He has 23 total PDs in those three years, too

Playing with Jalen Ramsey, one of the best CBs in the business, forced a lot of throws Hill’s way. He handled himself nicely, thank you very much. From Pro Football Focus,

There are some drawbacks. While Hill is aware in run defense, he does miss some tackles and is more of a hitter than a wrap-and-drop guy. He did register 77 tackles in 2020, a career-high, but PFF also had him for 18 missed tackles, a very unacceptably high number.

Earlier in his Rams career (2017), Hill was suspended for two games by the NFL for a violation of the league’s substance abuse policy. He’s not been in any trouble since.

His final impression with the Rams was not a good one. Hill played arguably his worst game of the season in the team’s postseason loss to the Packers, giving up a key TD pass and being out of place on another key coverage situation.

But overall, the Browns landed one of the NFL’s best slot corners. He’s an instant upgrade over Kevin Johnson from a year ago. Hill is a twitchier defender with better lateral quickness, ball skills and no durability issues.

Give credit to our own Brad Ward, who lobbied for Hill on the All Eyez on Cleveland podcast a week ago. The other voice on the clip is my own,

The Browns are a better team today after adding Hill for a reasonable contract.