Month: September 2018 (Page 3 of 3)

CFB week one notes: Brown impresses for Auburn

September 1, 2018 /

Washington vs Auburn

This was a competitive albeit strange game. Auburn were physical, fast and tough to start. For a time it looked like they might smother Washington, the SEC again flexing its muscles against an overmatched PAC-12 opponent. To their credit Washington weathered the storm and developed into the superior team. Auburn had no answer to the deep ball and Jarrett Stidham looked flustered and average.

Even so, the Huskies couldn’t get out of their own way. They had two redzone possessions and collected zero points. They scraped ahead when really they had every opportunity to run away with the game. It cost them. This was a big opportunity missed to get a very achievable statement win.

Trey Adams (T, Washington) didn’t play due to a back problem. That’ll need to be monitored going forward. Adams had a serious knee injury a year ago and he’ll need to prove he can get back. He has legit first round potential but needs to stay healthy. The news after the game from Chris Peterson was concerning.

Greg Gaines (DT, Washington) was typically busy and physical, hammering Stidham on one play after chasing him to the sideline. Gaines will get a chance at the next level. He likely won’t go as early as Derrick Brown (DT, Auburn) however. Brown was immense here, clogging running lanes up the middle, absorbing double teams, running to the sideline and playing with power and quickness. He looks a bit bigger this year compared to 2017. Brown has a chance to be a first round pick in 2019.

Other notes

— Nick Bosa (DE, Ohio State) could be the #1 overall pick next year and he had a great start to the season. In a big win against Oregon State he had two sacks and scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery. I’ve watched the game and he was virtually unstoppable. Dre’Mont Jones (DT, Ohio State) — a favourite of some (not me based on his 2017 tape) — also started strongly with two sacks. That’s twice as many as he had last season already. On one of them he just overwhelmed the center to barge his way into the backfield. On the Bosa TD he showed great quickness to force the pressure leading to the fumble. He looked very good here and justified some of the first round talk. Jones was a bit too aggressive at times though. On one snap he conceded way too much space inside trying to rush the B gap, allowing an enormous running lane for the RB. A 42-7 scoreline at the time possibly played a part here but gap discipline is something to watch with Jones. He looked terrific as a rusher.

— Also from the Ohio State/Oregon State game — running back Artavis Pierce is one to watch this year. His combination of breakaway speed, agility and lower body strength was highly impressive. He finished with 168 yards on 11 carries and two scores.

— Ed Oliver (DT, Houston) is another contender for the top-five picks in 2019. He didn’t get a sack in a 45-27 win against Rice but he did record 3.5 TFL’s and 13 (!!!) tackles.

— Clemson’s all-star D-line also had a productive start. Clelin Ferrell and Christian Wilkins both had sacks against Furman while Dexter Lawrence shared a TFL. Tougher challenges are ahead for Clemson’s top-notch defense.

— I watched Michigan vs Notre Dame on replay specifically to focus on Rashan Gary (DE, Michigan). The former #1 overall recruit has been highly touted as a future top-10 pick but so far he’s had a fairly underwhelming college career. He looks the part for sure — he’s big, physical and explosive. However, he doesn’t make enough plays. In this game he was solid defending the edge, controlled blockers in the run game and was able to provide a level of consistent stoutness despite the high number of snaps he played. Yet as a pass rusher he was a non-factor. He had two decent rushes at the start of the second half but the Notre Dame tackles sealed off the edge and he barely troubled the QB. Even on stunts he struggled to create pressure. Gary is a fine physical talent but I’m not sure he has the quickness, variation or bull rush to compensate for a lack of great get-off/speed as an EDGE rusher. He looks solid but not a game-wrecker.

— Receivers Deebo Samuel (South Carolina) and A.J. Brown (Ole Miss) scored touchdowns in week one. Samuel had a score and 56 yards against Coastal Carolina while Brown had a 7/93/1 stat-line against Texas Tech. Samuel’s TD (see below) was particularly impressive.

— Alabama defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs might be the rest run defending end in college football. His size and power is ideally suited to early downs at the next level. Does he have the pass rush ability to be a high pick? He had a sack against Louisville. His agility and quickness testing could be crucial because there’s no doubting his physical quality.

— I’d urge everyone to watch Miami vs LSU on Sunday. There are several possible high picks involved including the brilliant Devin White (LB, LSU) plus Joe Jackson (DE, Miami) and Jaquan Johnson (S, Miami).

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