Jake Grove recently became extremely higher paid than Samson Satele, thus making him the starting Center for the Miami Dolphins. As a Virginia Tech stand-out, he was called a "Great leader who really set the pace for the rest of the offensive line...A relentless warrior on the field, Jake has everything you want a center to have."
When he was drafted in 2004 he was ranked essentially the same as Alex Mack is in 2009. But there's no doubt he's much more physical than Mack. And he has 4 seasons (or partial seasons) under his belt. So there's no question as to his ability. It's all up to chemistry and good health at this point. Below is a look into where Grove comes from and a taste of his personality as it was in 2004. He definitely looks a bit more grizzled and hardened now, what with the scars and facial hair. But he's not a trouble-maker, despite his 'nasty' reputation, which he explains in the video.
When he was drafted in 2004 he was ranked essentially the same as Alex Mack is in 2009. But there's no doubt he's much more physical than Mack. And he has 4 seasons (or partial seasons) under his belt. So there's no question as to his ability. It's all up to chemistry and good health at this point. Below is a look into where Grove comes from and a taste of his personality as it was in 2004. He definitely looks a bit more grizzled and hardened now, what with the scars and facial hair. But he's not a trouble-maker, despite his 'nasty' reputation, which he explains in the video.
Welcome to the team, Jake! (btw, this works out well for me since you know it's my ultimate goal to have as few first names as possible on the team, and now we have two jakes on the o-line)
Click here to read an interview with Grove in 2006, talking about his small town roots and his football career.
Well, I was wrong on the Satele thing due to the contract this guy got. I like the whole few first names things 2 Chad's at QB and 2 Jake's at OL. We do have to Joey's currently but they don't play the same position. You should make a mock draft with the whole purpose of adding playes with the same first name at the same position
ReplyDeletePhinatic, aren't you tired of being wrong about Satele?s lol, I saw you getting a ribbing on the SS site the other day over this.s The good news is that Satele is still a low-paid under contract guy who is the best possible back-up right now.s If he pushes both Thomas and Berger for a starting guard position I'd be pretty shocked.
ReplyDeleteTinshaker,
ReplyDeleteI'm very concerned about the NT position.s We saw what happened last year when Jason Ferguson was out, and it raised some red flags.s
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What is your take on our existing bench replacements, remaining FA's, and the draft class at this position.s I know Tuna likes the big bodies on both side of the ball.s I'd like to see us get a stud NT early in the draft, but aside from the BC guys I'm not sure who else it worth it.s
Diggs,
ReplyDeletes
That's a very good, and to be perfectly honest, hard question to answer.s The truth is that this is an especially bad year for defensive tackles altogether, let alone NTs.s We used to joke on the Sun Sentinel that Mr Bungle had a NT tree, but the truth is they don't grow on trees, and they are rarely going to be drafted, either.s
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Since most college programs run a 4-3 or at best a hybrid scheme, there aren't many nose tackles being developed on that level.s I could probably only name 3 or 4 college teams out of 115 that are currently running a true 3-4 like we do in the pros.
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That said, the initial thing you're going to want to look for is someone who is massive in girth and strong like an ox.s The rest might need to be taught.s Think Ferguson, he was not all that when he was drafted, but he had the size.s So we look for guys that are huge like Raji and Brace (both of whom played in BC's hybrid 4-3 system as DTs).s The one guy that could've saved the draft decided to stay in school and that was Terrence Cody from Alabama.s The guy Omar likes is Sammie Lee Hill from Stillman Colleges He is 6'4" 329lbs.s The problem with him is that he cannot handle the double team inside so he was put at DE his senior year.s That's why I crossed him off my list very early on.
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Right now there are two guys I'm keeping a close eye on in thhe lead up to the draft and they are Chris Baker from Hampton, and Terrence Knighton of Temple.s Knighton is a TRUE NT in every sense of the word.s He could be had for a 7th round pick, but only because he plays for Temple.s These two guys have been on my board for months, and to be honest, I had Baker as an end, which he played in College, but his size, 320lbs means he could move inside, maybe playing both positions.
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Besides these two late rounders, there is Fili Moala, Dorrell Scott, and Corey Irvin all of whom could be converted to NT.
Great analysis!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tin.
yeah, I went out on a limb. But I was only wrong in predicting that they wouldn't move to upgrade his position. Some times I get mad at the bandwagon and go against the grain.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the question.s It's inspired me to do a blog entry on the subject, coming up later today.
ReplyDeleteNothing wrong with going against the grain.s I wonder how that phrase started...I assume it has something to do with wood-working, and means 'defying conventional wisdom' but I always love hearing how sayings got started and how they became part of the linguistic culture.
ReplyDeleteTin, I'm like Phinatic, concerned about NT as well as other positions. Boo from Wake, could he play NT? You said that you saw some film on him. The guy from Clemson seems to have the frame, projected to go in the 3rd to 4th round. I would like to see us get someone at the back end of the draft or FA. Some say Lionel D. from our practice squad has some potential...
ReplyDeleteThere is a new blog up addressing this question.s Turns out Boo is not coming out this year in the draft (probably why I haven't seen any news on him lately).
ReplyDeletes
As for Dotson, he is a DE and it would take a lot of work and cheeseburgers to get him there.
Tin, Yeah Dotson is too light if he's still in the 285 lbs range, I thought I read where he put on some weight(my bad). I remember watching R. Wright play DT at Texas, he's in that 315 lbs range and DE is getting crowded. Put 5 to 10 more lbs on him.s I'm afraid T. Cody from BAMA will eat himself out of football. He looked out of shape by season's end.
ReplyDeleteI do remember the trifecta saying they thought Dotson could be a NT down the road. Remember Ferguson was not even as big as Dotson when he came out of college as a former 7th round pick. Ferguson played mostly DT in the Jets 4-3 defense his first few years before he eventually moved to NT in the 3-4. The trifecta liked his ability at the point of attack and he plays with good leverage. Like most young D-linemen, he probably needs work on using his hands and developing more moves to beat blocks.
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Kent I think Dotson is in the 290-295 range and at 6-4 he has the frame to add more weight and get stronger.s