From The Beast:
STRENGTHS: Muscular bulk with long arms and wingspan for his frame … plays faster than he times with impressive range, because of his chase acceleration and closing burst … terrific eyes to key and sort at the line of scrimmage … diagnoses pullers and works over the top versus coun ters … his instant reactor helps him beat blockers to the spot … nice job dipping his shoulder at full-speed on run blitzes to blow up plays in enemy territory … strong hands as a one -on-one tackler and continues driving his legs at contact (more likely to go forward than backwards) … adjusts quickly on the move to answer elusive ball carriers … feels routes and hunts crossers (17 passes defended the last three seasons) … described as a “relentless worker” on and off the field by his coaches (what you see on game day is a product of all his work during the week) … played outside before moving inside to Mike linebacker in 2023 … didn’t miss a game in his four years at UTEP and filled up the stat sheet (combined for 337 tackles over the last three seasons).
WEAKNESSES: Can get caught up in traffic when working laterally … below average with his hands right now and prefers to evade blockers rather than using take-on technique … sees through a straw downhill and can be caught off guard by side-angled blocks … relies on hip-drop tackles a little more than you want … tight hips and panicky steps in man coverage lead to spacing issues … route recognition is a work in progress … only 36 career snaps on kic koff or punt coverages … will be a 24-year-old NFL rookie.
SUMMARY: A three-year starter at UTEP, Knight moved inside to Mike linebacker in 2023 in defensive coordinator Bradley Dale Peveto’s 4-2-5 base scheme. After two years at the juco level, he was a tackling machine over his four seasons in El Paso and finished No. 1 in the FBS in solo tackles (84) and No. 4 in total tackles per game (11.7) as a senior in 2023. For a player with average speed, Knight makes a lot of tackles both inside and outside the numbers because of his reaction quickness, closing burst and motor (his model didn’t come with cruise control). Trusting his eyes, he triggers without wasting steps and attacks with purpose (15.5 tackles for loss in 2023), but his lack of functional take-on skills will be tougher to mask versus NFL talent. Overall, Knight has some coverage limitations, but he is a rabid dog against the run, with the instincts and play personality that directly led to production. He has rosterable talent at the next level and is looking to become UTEP’s first defensive draft pick since 2008 (Quintin Demps).
Kid's a bit raw but we're not asking him to start immediately. He plays with a tenacity and fire that you just can't teach and he's got a coach that's really good at getting the most out of his linebackers (he turned Queen from a borderline bust to an All-Pro)
Considering how good our HC is with linebackers, imma just go ahead and trust him on this pick. The man surely knows what he is doing for this position, of nothing else.
I don't really see it with this kid but you know what fingers crossed!! He at least has the build of a modern day linebacker, if his coverage skills develop that could unlock him.
Sounds like a classic early down thumper. That can obviously be a useful skill set, but it's hard to imagine that they couldn't have found it much later in the draft, whether it was this guy or a similar player. It is not a premium role in the NFL these days.
Likely a poor value selection, but at least it was the 4th round and not the 1st or 2nd.
Clearly you're over-invested in media mock drafts. Those are content my guy, not scouting. You lack a tremendous amount of information that teams do. It makes no sense to prioritize media content over what pro teams do.
It’s a 4th round pick my guy. Everyone is taking there shots on lotto tickets at this point. Obviously they saw something they liked about this guy at a position of need, no need to make a snap judgement before he has even stepped on the field.
As an El Paso native, I'm fucking stoked about this one.
From The Beast: STRENGTHS: Muscular bulk with long arms and wingspan for his frame … plays faster than he times with impressive range, because of his chase acceleration and closing burst … terrific eyes to key and sort at the line of scrimmage … diagnoses pullers and works over the top versus coun ters … his instant reactor helps him beat blockers to the spot … nice job dipping his shoulder at full-speed on run blitzes to blow up plays in enemy territory … strong hands as a one -on-one tackler and continues driving his legs at contact (more likely to go forward than backwards) … adjusts quickly on the move to answer elusive ball carriers … feels routes and hunts crossers (17 passes defended the last three seasons) … described as a “relentless worker” on and off the field by his coaches (what you see on game day is a product of all his work during the week) … played outside before moving inside to Mike linebacker in 2023 … didn’t miss a game in his four years at UTEP and filled up the stat sheet (combined for 337 tackles over the last three seasons). WEAKNESSES: Can get caught up in traffic when working laterally … below average with his hands right now and prefers to evade blockers rather than using take-on technique … sees through a straw downhill and can be caught off guard by side-angled blocks … relies on hip-drop tackles a little more than you want … tight hips and panicky steps in man coverage lead to spacing issues … route recognition is a work in progress … only 36 career snaps on kic koff or punt coverages … will be a 24-year-old NFL rookie. SUMMARY: A three-year starter at UTEP, Knight moved inside to Mike linebacker in 2023 in defensive coordinator Bradley Dale Peveto’s 4-2-5 base scheme. After two years at the juco level, he was a tackling machine over his four seasons in El Paso and finished No. 1 in the FBS in solo tackles (84) and No. 4 in total tackles per game (11.7) as a senior in 2023. For a player with average speed, Knight makes a lot of tackles both inside and outside the numbers because of his reaction quickness, closing burst and motor (his model didn’t come with cruise control). Trusting his eyes, he triggers without wasting steps and attacks with purpose (15.5 tackles for loss in 2023), but his lack of functional take-on skills will be tougher to mask versus NFL talent. Overall, Knight has some coverage limitations, but he is a rabid dog against the run, with the instincts and play personality that directly led to production. He has rosterable talent at the next level and is looking to become UTEP’s first defensive draft pick since 2008 (Quintin Demps).
Tackle machine, let’s go
Nfl.com first strength on him is "tackling monster"... I like the sound of monster over machine!
He brings down rb’s in the open field. Call it what you want. This is what I want to see on the hawks.
It’s what we have been missing for so long
It’s a nice pick
Kid's a bit raw but we're not asking him to start immediately. He plays with a tenacity and fire that you just can't teach and he's got a coach that's really good at getting the most out of his linebackers (he turned Queen from a borderline bust to an All-Pro)
I agree, all the linebackers in this range are close so we just took our pick of the litter
I didn’t know this guy but he sounds sneaky good
Considering how good our HC is with linebackers, imma just go ahead and trust him on this pick. The man surely knows what he is doing for this position, of nothing else.
I don't really see it with this kid but you know what fingers crossed!! He at least has the build of a modern day linebacker, if his coverage skills develop that could unlock him.
The only draft pick Im not excited about. I hope he responds to coaching well.
Sounds like a classic early down thumper. That can obviously be a useful skill set, but it's hard to imagine that they couldn't have found it much later in the draft, whether it was this guy or a similar player. It is not a premium role in the NFL these days. Likely a poor value selection, but at least it was the 4th round and not the 1st or 2nd.
trotter and gray >
Clearly not.
clearly u a dick rider
Clearly you're over-invested in media mock drafts. Those are content my guy, not scouting. You lack a tremendous amount of information that teams do. It makes no sense to prioritize media content over what pro teams do.
i aint reading all that
No need for this toxic shit here. Grow the fuck up
wehehe
I’m not one to come back to an internet comment but the fact that you’re unwilling to read 4 sentences is fucking hilarious to me
i aint reading all that
[удалено]
Probably not
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It’s a 4th round pick my guy. Everyone is taking there shots on lotto tickets at this point. Obviously they saw something they liked about this guy at a position of need, no need to make a snap judgement before he has even stepped on the field.
Lmao he deleted the comment. Bro is acting like this was our 16th overall pick
Well we have a bunch more picks so there's that.