Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Washington quarterback prospect Jacob Eason
Jacob Eason | QB | Washington
Elevator Pitch
Eason is your prototypical pocket passer. Before the likes of Lamar Jackson or Patrick Mahomes, Eason would be the type of quarterback that would be the first quarterback taken in the NFL Draft. Big arm and will stand in the pocket to make the throws. Very reminiscent of Josh Allen of Buffalo. Likely will find himself in the first round as quarterback is consistently over-drafted.
Big-time arm, Eason has a howitzer for an arm. He can stand in the pocket and rip it down the field with ease. He really excels on deep shots coming off of play action. Scouts will salivate at his ability to make deep breaking routes to all areas of the field. He has plus velocity that allows him to get the ball into tight spaces despite coverages.
Eason will stand in the pocket like a statue. Despite pass rushers making a beat on him, the Huskies’ quarterback will stand his ground and chuck it down the field. His strong hands also allows him to hold onto the ball even with edge rushers ripping at the ball to create a turnover.
Despite his size, Eason does a good job of moving around in the pocket if need be. He can create big plays on the move due to his arm strength and the ability to rip it at a moment’s notice. The former Georgia quarterback isn’t a high risk quarterback as he will make sound decisions even under duress.
Weaknesses
One of the big aspects of his game that Eason needs the most work on is within the pocket. His footwork can be very sloppy at times. Eason can be a bit elongated in his dropbacks. On quicker throws, needs to hurry up his process. Often times can be flat footed, while he has the arm strength to get away with it, NFL defenders will be able to take advantage of the poor mechanics. He doesn’t handle pressure well either.
When it comes to throwing the football, Eason has one pitch. Everything that comes out of his hand is a fastball. He needs to work on having more touch on the short and intermediate throws. The other part being that he needs to see the field better, at times he goes with his presnap reads and doesn’t go through his progressions.
Everything NFL draft fans need to know about Washington tight end prospect Hunter Bryant
Hunter Bryant | TE | Washington
Elevator Pitch
Bryant is one of the top tight ends in the upcoming NFL draft class. He isn’t your grandfather’s type of tight end, but more of a big slot receiver in the body of a tight end. Bryant is an absolute weapon in the passing game, if you are looking for a pass catching threat then this Bryant is for you. Get him running up the seams and let the man work.
In today’s NFL, it is less about set roles and more about the matchups. Bryant provides the opportunity to get a favorable matchup in the passing game. He can be too powerful for smaller defensive backs to deal with and too quick for most linebackers.
Bryant possesses good hands at the position. He uses his big mitts well to pluck the ball out of the air and does a good job of catching the ball outside of his frame. Going above defensive backs poses no issue as Bryant will use every bit of his 76 1/2″ wingspan to his advantage. When matched up with smaller defenders, using his frame to “box them out” is just another way he wins.
Once Bryant gets the ball in his hands, defenders beware. One of his best qualities is the ability to get yards after the catch. His 4.74 speed will be on full display. His burst off the line and coming in and out of breaks gives him ample opportunity to create space needed for long runs after the catch. Two of his three touchdowns came on receptions of 20+ yards.
Weaknesses
Playing as an inline tight end is a big part of what Bryant needs the most work on at the next level. He really gives you nothing when asked to block and open holes in the run game. Blocking on the perimeter isn’t much better. Asking him to participate in blocking is a waste of his talent until he works on technique.
Given his size, you would expect him to be more physical. Working with strength coaches and a position coach will be crucial. Despite instances of brilliance with contested catches, Bryant needs to be more consistent. His production could be a concern, but he has shown that he can be a viable target up the seams.
Check out Draft Wire’s exclusive interview with Washington offensive line prospect Nick Harris
Experience, intelligence, athleticism. These are all traits that make a successful offensive line prospect, and things that all 32 NFL teams are looking for in this year’s draft.
They’ll find them all in Washington’s Nick Harris.
A battle-tested blocker with experience at every interior offensive line position, Harris recently spoke exclusively with Draft Wire about his ability to play multiple spots, the leadership ability of Huskies quarterback Jacob Eason, and what kind of impact he’ll have at the next level.
JM: You’re an experienced starting center, and you really were the leader of that Washington offensive line. How does that experience serve you well going forward?
NH: Experience is never a bad thing and I have a lot of it. We played against some of the best defenses in the nation and I’ve played against some of the best interior defensive linemen in the nation. It certainly gives me an edge to compete at the next level. I embraced a leadership role at Washington. That will go a long way for me as well. I have the experience teams are looking for at the next level.
JM: Speaking of those linemen, who are some of the best interior defensive linemen you’ve squared off with?
NH: The first people that come to mind are the guys that we’ve had at Washington throughout my time there. We’ve been blessed with so many quality defensive linemen. Guys like Vita Vea, Greg Gaines, Elijah Qualls and Shane Bowman. All of those guys have serious NFL talent and I had to go up against them every single day. Regarding our opponents, you had guys like Leki Fotu from Utah. I played against Derrick Brown from Auburn during my junior year. The defensive tackles at USC are so solid. We had to play against a lot of talented guys that will definitely be playing on Sunday’s.
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JM: What do you enjoy about playing center?
NH: I mostly just enjoy being in the middle of it all. It fits my personality. I’m an outgoing guy. I’m an excellent communicator. I’m not afraid to talk to anyone. I love the responsibility that comes with playing the position. I love being able to use my football I.Q. as a trait. You definitely have to have a high football I.Q. to play the position. I love the game of football and I have a great understanding of things. I love using that to my advantage as a center.
JM: You spent most of your time at center over the past few years, but you’ve played some left and right guard, as well. Do you think it makes the most sense for your pro team to keep you at center at the next level?
NH: I would say so, yes. I’m capable of playing anywhere inside though. I played my first two years at Washington at left and right guard, just like you said. There’s no telling how much better I would have gotten at guard if I had stayed there. I love playing on the interior. I’ll play anywhere that my team needs me to play for sure.
JM: Is there a scheme that you prefer or maybe that you’re more comfortable in?
NH: I would like to play in an offense that uses my play style to my advantage. I enjoy blocking on the second level. I love using my athleticism to create an advantage for myself. I enjoy the different wide zone concepts, a lot of downfield stuff. That definitely suits me best. With that said, we did a little bit of everything at Washington. I played in a multiple offense. We did everything. I’m definitely capable of playing in any kind of offense.
Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
JM: You were also at the Senior Bowl. Who were some of the best pass rushers you saw down there?
NH: I mostly went up against the interior defensive linemen down there. I thought that Davon Hamilton from Ohio State was a good defensive tackle. He’s a strong guy with powerful hands. Jason Strowbridge from North Carolina was pretty good, too. He was quick and he had really good hands. All of the guys down there were solid, but those two stuck out to me the most.
JM: What’s your favorite way to demoralize your opponent?
NH: My personal favorite way, I mean every offensive linemen loves to dominate. I actually enjoy the mental aspect of it more. I like winning the psychological battle in the trenches. That’s something I take pride in. I like chirping them, I like getting chippy. I think that takes a toll on a defensive linemen throughout the game. Everybody says that I’m a little undersized. I don’t believe I am but that’s what they say. You gotta use anything you can to gain the upper hand.
JM: Do you have a preferred pass set, and do you vary that throughout the course of a game?
NH: Yeah, I personally like pass setting different players differently. It’s important that I keep them on their toes. I don’t want them to get used to how I’m pass setting. That’s how you become predictable. If I’m up against a quicker guy, I like to set right on the ball, a quick little set. That allows me to stop their rush rather quickly. I would say the same for the bull rush guys just so they don’t get momentum right off the snap. I like switching it up though. You have to throw them off throughout the game.
Jennifer Buchanan-USA TODAY Sports
JM: What can you tell me about Jacob Eason the man, the leader, and the quarterback?
NH: He came on so strong for us this year. He definitely took on a leadership role. A lot of people don’t think that he did that but I can tell you firsthand that he did. We relied on him a lot this year. As the quarterback in our offense, he was obviously the face of our offense. Somebody had to grow into that role following the departure of Jake Browning and Jacob definitely did that. The talent is there, man. He loves football and he loves being around the guys. He was a hell of a leader for us. I enjoyed watching him grow over these past two years. The ceiling is incredibly high for him at the next level because he loves football.
JM: What kind of impact is Nick Harris going to make at the next level?
NH: I’m gonna bring a different energy to a team, an energy that people can feed off of. I’m definitely gonna embrace a leadership role. People feed off of that. I’m just gonna bring a competitive edge to the locker room. I want people to see it. I wanna compete with my teammates day in, day out. Those are the things I’m gonna bring with me to the next level.
The Tennessee Titans have question marks surrounding the quarterback position with the practically guaranteed departure of backup Marcus Mariota and the uncertainty surrounding whether or not Ryan Tannehill will return.
If Tannehill isn’t back in Nashville for the 2020 season, the team will look to free agency and the draft to find his replacement.
And if he is the Titans’ starter in the upcoming season, Tennessee will need to put someone it can be comfortable with behind him.
Former Washington Huskies quarterback Jacob Eason, who has been connected to the Titans in mock drafts, could come into play.
Here’s a complete breakdown of the signal-caller.
Pros
Eason is a solid choice for teams looking for a promising quarterback of the future in the first or second round, and certainly has the size at 6-foot-6 and 227 pounds.
The transfer from Georgia completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 3,132 yards with 23 touchdowns and low total of eight interceptions last year — so it’s clear he’s careful with the football and makes good decisions for the most part.
His arm strength is a huge plus, and he’s shown the ability to confidently place the ball where it needs to be even if his receiver isn’t wide-open right then.
After a double-double against the Sacramento Kings, Eric Paschall had high praise for Marquese Chriss.
March 1 has become the most anticipated day in the 2019-20 season for the Golden State Warriors — the target date of Stephen Curry’s return from injury. However, in the meantime, another member of the Warriors has quietly burst onto the scene.
Since the Warriors traded Willie Cauley-Stein to the Dallas Mavericks, Marquese Chriss has taken over the starting center position and hasn’t let it go.
In 11 games, Chriss is averaging 14.5 points and 6.8 rebounds in 25.7 minutes per game. The Washington Huskies product is shooting 63.4 % from the field while recording two double-doubles in that span.
Golden State’s rookie forward Eric Paschall spoke to reporters about how Chriss has proven he belongs with the Warriors.
I feel like Marquese actually proved that awhile ago. We wanted him back for a reason, and I feel like he plays his butt off and does all the right things. I feel like Marquese has definitely proved himself even before this. I’m very happy for him. I feel like he just continues to get better every day.
In the Warriors recent game against the Sacramento Kings, Chriss tallied 21 points on 8-of-10 shooting with 10 rebounds in 25 minutes. Following
Golden State’s previous game against the Kings on January 6, Chriss was waived to open a roster spot for Damion Lee. The Warriors were able to bring back Chriss on a two-way contract a week later, and now he’s on a two-year full-time deal with Golden State.
Paschall spoke about the moment Chriss was waived and how far he’s come with the Warriors.
Of course, it sucked. A guy like that who works so hard, had a real good training camp, played real well in the games and we just couldn’t keep him. But, hearing that he came back, it brought joy to everybody because we saw how good he was, we saw the potential. He was a lottery pick for a reason, and I feel like he’s showing that for sure now.
The former Phoenix Suns lottery pick has earned the starting center position for the remainder of this season. Though, if he continues to build off his solid play, Chriss could be in line for a more significant role once Curry and Klay Thompson return healthy next year.
Ex-New Orleans Saints draft pick Hau’oli Kikaha retired from the XFL despite a great start with the Dallas Renegades, but he has good reason
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Former New Orleans Saints starting linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha made a surprising decision on Tuesday, when the XFL’s Dallas Renegades announced that he was cutting his season short and entering retirement. But Kikaha later explained from his official Instagram account that he isn’t viewing his decision to part from football as the final chapter; he says that, “I have some very personal family issues that need my attention right now,” which draws higher importance than continuing his playing career. Still, he’s optimistic that he’ll get another opportunity to sack quarterbacks someday.
And that makes more sense for Kikaha than suddenly calling it quits after just three games. He worked hard to try out for NFL teams before taking a crack at the upstart XFL, and was an integral piece of the Renegades defense — in just the last two weeks, Kikaha made highlight reel-worthy plays with a stripped fumble and a big sack in back-to-back wins.
He’s a big-time player (who still ranks first in the Washington Huskies record books with 36 career sacks) that the Saints once drafted in the second round, and who the Renegades also picked highly. It’s just a shame that a series of injuries (including three torn ACL’s) cut down his career on football’s biggest stage. Here’s hoping everything levels out for Kikaha personally, and that he’ll be able to get back to what he does best.
Hau’oli Kikaha made his mark on the Washington Huskies and the Saints, but ended his career with the XFL’s Dallas Renegades on his own terms
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Things haven’t gone well for former New Orleans Saints players in the XFL, the upstart spring football league, with Super Bowl 44-winning Saints kicker Garrett Hartley suddenly medically disqualified after having signed a contract and finished his first practice with the Seattle Dragons. Now, he’s joined on the list of former XFL players by Hau’oli Kikaha, New Orleans’ 2015 second-round draft pick.
Kikaha was drafted highly by the XFL’s Dallas Renegades, along with former Saints teammate Tommyle Lewis (Lewis declined the opportunity to compete in the XFL, eventually returning to the Saints on a reserve/futures contract offer for 2020). The Washington Huskies product saw his NFL career undone by a third ACL tear, following two such injuries suffered in college. The Renegades announced Kikaha’s decision to retire on Tuesday, which was something of a surprise; he’d already notched six tackles (one for a loss of yards) as well as a sack and a forced fumble in their first three games. He was making a positive impact.
It’s disappointing to see Kikaha’s playing career flame out like this, but he has to do what’s best for his future. And given his extensive injury history (which included a season-ending high-ankle sprain in 2017), it might make more sense for him to put his playing days behind him. Kikaha was always a technically-sound pass rusher, so maybe coaching lies in his future. Whatever the case, here’s our best to one of the best names (and hairstyles) in Saints history.
See why the Tampa Bay Buccaneers should be keeping a close eye on Washington QB Jacob Eason at the NFL Scouting Combine.
While Jameis Winston competed in an epic singing battle with his son this week, it remains to be seen whether or not the quarterback will be competing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next year.
The Bucs still haven’t officially made a decision on Winston’s future yet, at least no publicly. A roller-coaster 2019 season by the former Heisman Trophy winner did little to convince the team he’s the long-term answer at the position.
While Bruce Arians has said the team is waiting to see if there’s a “better option” at QB in free agency, this week’s NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis will provide the Bucs a chance to see this year’s crop of QBs up close and personal. One quarterback in particular they should be keeping an eye on is Jacob Eason of Washington. At 6-foot-6 nearly 230 pounds, he’s a big arm QB who could thrive under Bruce Arians. This past season he threw for 3,132 yards with 23 touchdowns and eight interceptions at Washington.
“Herbert’s a big guy with a big arm, and Eason’s bigger and got a better arm. This combine thing should be good for him.”
One mock draft already has Eason going to the Bucs at the 14th spot, citing the fact that Eason has some “Carson Palmer vibes.” If Tampa Bay likes what they see in Eason, would they willing to use their top pick to grab him?
Let’s start this particular article with a disclaimer: We at Badgers Wire aren’t trying to create a “Greg Gard for Governor” political campaign. We’re not trying to tell you that Greg Gard is God or even an angel playing a harp. This is not about deification or portraying someone as a fully realized ideal. We have been honest in saying that Gard has stubborn components in his coaching style. We have noted that he sometimes exhibits cautiousness when he needs to trust players more. We have not swept his flaws under the rug this season.
Yet, we do try to emphasize — amid the faults and shortcomings — that on balance, Gard does a relatively decent job of keeping his team together through difficulties and disruptions. He isn’t a messiah or a master, but he is an above-average coach. He would get a B or B-plus on my report card. One could do better… and one could do SO much worse.
How can this point be illustrated? In many ways, to be sure, but one is to compare Gard and Wisconsin to other programs. One example: “the other UW,” which is the University of Washington. My understanding of the difference between the two UWs is that whereas Wisconsin is “U-Dubya,” Washington is “U-Dub.”
You can tell me on Facebook (at the Badgers Wire homepage) if I am correct or errant on that point, but let’s leave that topic aside for now. The larger point is that Washington basketball shows why Greg Gard has done a solid job this season in Madison.
The story of Washington is mysterious and yet not all that complicated. The Huskies were 11-4 on January 6 after crushing USC by 32 points, 72-40. Washington looked like an NCAA Tournament team, which is very impressive for a program which hasn’t been able to generate sustained success for most of its history. Washington had two really strong eight-year runs, one in the late 1940s and early ’50s, the other from 2004-2011 under then-coach Lorenzo Romar. Other than that, the Huskies haven’t done a whole lot in their history. Therefore, making back-to-back NCAA Tournaments would have been a remarkable achievement for head coach — and longtime Jim Boeheim disciple — Mike Hopkins. Washington was on track to do something very special.
Then Quade Green — a transfer from Kentucky — was ruled academically ineligible.
Guess what? Washington — heading into a game with Stanford on Thursday, Feb. 20 — has won only ONE GAME since that moment. Quade Green was very clearly the piece Washington could not afford to lose, though no one knew it at the time, a month and a half ago. Green was the stable point guard Washington and Hopkins needed, without sufficient depth at that position. Washington has the likely Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, big man Isaiah Stewart, on its roster, but without reliable guard play, the Huskies have completely collapsed.
In football, an injury to a quarterback can often be devastating. In basketball, injuries to star players can be debilitating. Yet, Green wasn’t necessarily a star; he was a very good player at an important position which lacked depth. Coaches shouldn’t be blamed for failing to find answers when crucial hinge-point players are removed from the lineup due to forces they can’t control. Hopkins and Washington received extraordinarily bad luck when Green was ruled ineligible.
The point, though, is that in a season when Wisconsin has had to play 10 games without Micah Potter and is now playing without Kobe King, Greg Gard is finding ways around those limitations. It doesn’t mean Gard is pressing all the right buttons, but it does mean he has held his team together, unlike Hopkins. This Wisconsin team hasn’t hit all the right notes, but it also has had many reasons to fold.
Greg Gard wouldn’t let it happen.
U-Dub has suffered. U-Dubya is headed for the NCAA Tournament. Garded optimism is a good outlook, as seen through the prism of Washington Huskies basketball.
Former Dallas Cowboys wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal will be joining the Seattle Seahawks as a senior assistant to Brian Schottenheimer.
#Seahawks are expected to add Sanjay Lal to the coaching staff, and he’ll assist offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer on that side of the ball in some capacity. Schotty and Sanjay worked together in Indy (WR coach, 2017). Sanjay was Dallas’ WR coach the last two years.
Former Dallas Cowboys wide receivers coach Sanjay Lal will be joining the Seattle Seahawks coaching staff for the 2020 season, according to an NFL source and first reported by Michael-Shawn Dugar of The Athletic on Thursday.
Lal had been with the Cowboys the previous two seasons and had worked with current Seahawks offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer in 2017 when they were both employed by the Colts. He has reportedly been assigned to a senior assistant role to work closely with Schottenheimer on the offensive side of the ball.
Lal is also notable for being a former player for the Washington Huskies from 1990 to 1992, winning a national championship with the team in the latter year.
The exact role given to Lal is still unclear, but he will be very closely involved with the offense as an assistant to Schottenheimer, signifying that he will be an integral component of the coaching staff next season.
