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Originally posted by theninermaniac:
He chewed up Buckner a few times. That being said, I would never project him to play LT in the NFL. He's a RT at best, and may even be a just a really good guard.
If I have learned one thing in more than 30 years in the football evaluation business, it's that no two scouts or teams look at players the same way.That's why each club's draft boards are so different.
That being said, I find one player who is universally underrated by most draft analysts. That player is Michigan State offensive tackle Jack Conklin. I have heard several times in recent weeks from draft analysts that Conklin isn't the athlete that Notre Dame's Ronnie Stanley is, nor is he the athlete that Mississippi's Laremy Tunsil is. These analysts also say he isn't athletic enough to play left tackle in the NFL.
That of course is their opinion. But when you look at the testing done at the Combine to measure pure athleticism, Conklin tests out as the better athlete ... and it's not close!
In the 3-cone drill, which measures change of direction, quickness, body control and flexibility, Conklin timed 7.63 seconds while Stanley timed 8.03. Stanley came back at the Notre Dame pro day to time 7.96. Tunsil has yet to perform the drill. In that drill, four-tenths of a second is a huge difference!
Looking at the 20-yard shuttle, another quick change of direction drill that also requires balance and body control, Conklin timed 4.57 seconds which is excellent for any offensive lineman.
Stanley again was much slower, finishing the drill in 4.90, another huge difference. Stanley came back at his pro day to time 4.68, and that was with four more weeks at practicing the drill.
Tunsil has yet to perform the 20-yard shuttle. In fact, the only measurable drill he has done is the vertical jump and long jumps where he jumped 28 feet, 1/2 inch in the vertical and 9 feet, 3 inches in the long jump, which shows very good explosiveness.
For comparison's sake, Stanley has not done the vertical or standing long jumps while Conklin did not do the vertical but did leap 8 feet, 7 inches in the long jump. In the 40 yard dash, Conklin came across the line in 5.00, while Stanley ran 5.20.
When you look at size, all three are very similar. At their respective pro days, Stanley measured 6-foot-6 and 319 pounds with 35 5/8" arms and 10 5/8" hands. Conklin was 6-foot-6 and 314 pounds with 35" arms and 10 3/8" hands. Tunsil measured 6-foot-5 and 310 with 34 ¼" arms and 10" hands. In strength tests, Conklin did 25 reps of 225 pounds while Stanley did 24 reps. Tunsil was by far the best with 34 reps.
When you do a side-by-side comparison of the three from an athletic view point, Conklin compares favorably. In fact, he IS the best athlete of the three. Looking at tape, the three didn't share many common opponents. Both Stanley and Conklin played Ohio State and in watching the games back-to-back, Conklin played better as well as playing a more physical style game.
Tunsil, playing in the SEC, played in the best conference in college football. But Notre Dame plays a national schedule and annually plays some of the better teams in the nation. Michigan State plays a more regional schedule, but did play Oregon in a non-conference game, with Conklin matching up well versus DeForest Buckner.
On tape, Tunsil looks like the most athletic player, but Conklin is clearly the most physical of the three. That said, to say that Conklin can't play left tackle and isn't the equal of the other two is ridiculous. He is easily the most underrated player in this draft and if he doesn't get drafted until the teens, some lucky club got a steal.
I know there are a few teams that have Conklin rated higher than Stanley, none have him rated higher than Tunsil. Without doubt, Tunsil is impressive, but in three seasons at Ole Miss, he has yet to play a complete season. That has to be a concern.
Originally posted by eastcoast49ersfan:
Nice article. I'm pretty sure Stanley was dealing with some sort of injury at the combine, so his 40, shuttle, and 3 cone may not be a perfect representation of how athletic he is, but I do think Conklin is underrated. He's more ready to come in and start at RT than Stanley is which is why some people have been mocking him to the 49ers with Stanley still on the board. Long term, I still think Tunsil and Stanley will be better at LT, but Conklin can probably play either tackle position.
Originally posted by tatdwolf49:
Trade back get Conklin then trade back into tha 1st and get Bulter both lines are alot better ...
picked above Tonsil
The skinny: Conklin's recruiting process never took off, which led him to walk on at Michigan State. He earned a scholarship after his first season with the Spartans. Selected with the eighth overall pick by Tennessee during the spring, Conklin has performed even better than expected as a rookie. He's solidified the right tackle position and is one of the major reasons that the Titans' rejuvenated running attack has them in the thick of the playoff hunt this season.
Mike Farrell's Take: There was a question about his athleticism coming out of high school. The son of a coach, he was always smart and a leader and was another great find by Michigan State's staff. They did a great job developing him and he's made an easy transition into the NFL as a right tackle.
Originally posted by MadDog49er:A really great tribute to hard work and discipline and love of football by Conklin. Good for him. Just looking at my best board, I had him 9th best overall entering the draft, but I think he has surely outplayed that grade.
2016 NFL Draft Best Board
Pick Player School Position
1 Jalen Ramsey Florida St CB/S
2 Ezekiel Elliott Ohio St RB
3 DeForest Buckner Oregon DE/DT
4 Laremy Tunsil Mississippi OT
5 Carson Wentz North Dakota St QB
6 Joey Bosa Ohio St DE
7 Ronnie Stanley Notre Dame OT
8 Josh Doctson TCU WR
9 Jack Conklin Michigan St OT
10 Corey Coleman Baylor WR
11 Karl Joseph West Virginia S
12 Jared Goff Cal QB
13 Sterling Shepard Oklahoma WR
14 Ryan Kelly Alabama C
15 Vernon Hargreaves Florida CB
16 Leonard Floyd Georgia LB
17 Shaq Lawson Clemson DE
18 Myles Jack UCLA LB
19 Cody Whitehair Kansas St C/G
20 Jonathan Bullard Florida DE
21 Michael Thomas Ohio St WR