Talk about the latest College games and players and discuss the NFL Draft here. Get reports on players, prospects, Draft Links, the latest Mock Drafts and other indepth analysis, plus the latest on the NCAA College games.
A model of consistency at South Carolina over his career, Cann started all but one game at left guard the last four seasons with a balanced mix of athleticism and power. He is a bottom line blocker (sees it, hits it) with the aggressive hand use, wide frame and power to seal off inside run lanes and hold his own in pass protection. Cann isn't a flawless prospect, but he doesn't have any glaring flaws that should keep him from starting early in his career, projecting as a long-term NFL starter at left guard.
A four-star recruit out of high school, Cann was courted by most of the ACC and SEC, deciding to stay in-state and play for the Gamecocks. After redshirting in 2010, he earned the starting left guard job, earning Freshman All-American honors from several outlets. Cann started every game except for one at the next three seasons for South Carolina, earning First Team All-SEC honors as a senior in 2014.
Consistent four-year starter for the Gamecocks. He has technique issues that need to be coached up in pass protection, but he also has the talent to improve in that area. Powerful drive-blocker who uses leverage to fire out and generate instant movement in tight spaces. He is best-suited to a power scheme. Cann has the plug-and-play traits that could make him an instant starter.
Cann is a left guard with a great attitude, a good college resumé and the experience to potentially start immediately. He could be a good second round pick for the Vikings.
Interesting, Jim. I haven't heard much about him this season but a quick search has a lot of great things to say. I'm on board. What do you say, Cooper in R1 and Cann in R2? That still leaves that pesky ILB position (and corner) to address though. Why can't we have four picks in the first two rounds?
“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.” --- Bill Shankly
dead_poet wrote:Interesting, Jim. I haven't heard much about him this season but a quick search has a lot of great things to say. I'm on board. What do you say, Cooper in R1 and Cann in R2?
That works for me! i'd be VERY happy with that start to the draft.
That still leaves that pesky ILB position (and corner) to address though. Why can't we have four picks in the first two rounds?
I'm sure Rick Spielman is working on that.
Here's a little more about Cann. I think you might enjoy reading this:
Cann, a four-year starter who was awarded permanent captaincy as a junior, seems like he'd adapt well in New England.
"I think, maybe (my) character speaks for itself," Cann said Wednesday when asked to choose his most valuable asset. "I think off the field, as a player, you can trust me. Guys (at South Carolina) never had a problem with me or any issue at all. I think I'm one of those guys you'll never have a problem with."
As for on the field?
"I play at a very low (pad) level," Cann said. "I think I'm athletic and strong. For a guard, I think I'm really athletic and quick and I can basically block anybody I put my mind to."
I like his attitude and I like what the permanent captaincy probably says about how he was viewed by the SC coaches and his teammates.
Wow....Cann sounds like a stud with a great attitude...also not a high profile guy in terms of attention and thus not subject to the expectations and speculation of 1st round types. see Kalil
ESPN's Kevin Weidl writes that Wake Forest CB Kevin Johnson "has the cleanest pure movement skills of any cornerback in the class."
"He is loose in the hips and shows excellent flexibility in his lower half that provides him with quality mirror capabilities in man coverage," Weidl wrote. "In addition, Johnson displays strong field awareness, recognizing route concepts, and flashes the anticipation skills to manufacture big plays. At 6-foot and 188 pounds, he has a lean frame and needs to continue to add bulk. However, he is willing to step up in run support, and plays with the type of confident edge you like to see at the position." The analyst believes Johnson will appeal the Saints at No. 31. Picking in the same range, New England is sure to have interest. Source: ESPN Insider
“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.” --- Bill Shankly
I'm really curious to see what we do in the draft now that we've acquired Wallace. It could be like what happened last year, where we took Barr when no one was really expecting it. That being said, our positions of need, barring any further major FA moves, seem to be G, CB, S, and DE. That means I really hope Sherff or Waynes falls to us. There is a lot of pass rushing talent at the top of the draft, but so much of it seems to be 3-4 OLBs, and I don't know if most of them could play as 4-3 OLBs or 4-3 DEs.
I'm hoping what happens if we can't get Sherff or Waynes is that we trade down and land Landon Collins. Or get good value on a 4-3 DE, assuming we don't sign Michael Johnson.
Here's a player that sounds like he could be a Mike Zimmer special: physically talented, hard-working but with a game in need of some refinement. He could be a nice pick on Day 2 or 3.
When you get the chance, take a look at Wake Forest CB Kevin Johnson. Kind of flying under the radar. I'm starting to like him more than Waynes. Watch for him if he's there at our selection in R2.
"He's a tall corner who can run," Clawson told the Charlotte Observer. "He's rangy and he can play press. He has the quickest hips of anybody I've ever seen.
"(An NFL team is) going to get a guy that loves football, works at it and is a really gifted player. He's long, he has range, he can run, he's got ball skills."
At the combine, Johnson was a top performer among defensive backs in the vertical jump, broad jump, three-cone drill and 20-yard short shuttle. Johnson did not bench press at the combine and also did not do the bench at Wake Forest's pro day, either.
Johnson did go through positional drills and looked very good doing so.
“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.” --- Bill Shankly
David Cobb - I like this guy as a part of a committee approach. He's got respectable speed(faster than Asiata to my eye) and decent power. He gets himself moving in the right direction quickly. Has some pretty good balance, saw quite a few plays where he was bouncing off tacklers or twisting out of an ankle tackles. He didn't get far afterwards, but at least he fell forward! Doesn't offer much as a blocker, saw him submarine a few guys with low blocks but he doesn't do much more than get in the way... if even that. Don't know about the hands because in the vids I watched they didn't really throw to him more than 3 times.
Chris Conley - This guy was one of the Combine stars. I could only find 2 videos for him. First off, I don't think this another Troy Williamson. This guy can catch, he actually catches the ball away from his body. Routes need cleaning up but he doesn't look hopeless in this regard. The speed he showed at the combine looks like it translates to real football speed too.
Jaelen Strong - Not impressed. Not quick or fast, doesn't create separation. Rounds off his routes.
I do too.
