Alex the Mack
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I always take the defensive when bench pressing is used because the bench is one of my weakest areas in strength. I know it's a different level but in HS I used to throw around a ton of guys bigger and better at the bench. I got into this discussion big time when Lendale White came out and guys proclaimed him as weak based on his bench. Different position to be sure, but my point is some guys' core strength greatly supersedes their bench. The fact that Mack can only get stronger can only enhance his ability to take on the Hampton and Ngata's of the league.
Really, I don't expect anybody to throw around those kind of guys, ya just can't get caved into the backfield like Faine and Fraley and even Fowler have (hey that's 3 F's WTF?) If you're a good all around player and can stand your ground that's all you can ask for in a center, basically a guy who doesn't always have to have help doubling. Oh, and IQ can't hurt.
Great scouting report Alo.
I always take the defensive when bench pressing is used because the bench is one of my weakest areas in strength. I know it's a different level but in HS I used to throw around a ton of guys bigger and better at the bench.
Not surprised you outplayed your measurables, Russ. High character players tend to do that.
I think the same will happen with Mack, especially once he gets in an NFL weight room. I too would like to see him start out at guard, like Ryan Kalil did when the Panthers drafted him two years ago. But considering how bad Fraley was last year, I'd imagine the team wants him to start at center right away. He may struggle a little bit early on, but he should develop into a solid pro, as well as a good leader in the locker room.
Really, I don't expect anybody to throw around those kind of guys, ya just can't get caved into the backfield like Faine and Fraley and even Fowler have (hey that's 3 F's WTF?) If you're a good all around player and can stand your ground that's all you can ask for in a center, basically a guy who doesn't always have to have help doubling. Oh, and IQ can't hurt.
Good point. Inasmuch as I liked Eric Wood's ability to toss around undersized college d-linemen, he too wouldn't get any push on the Hampton, Ngata, and Gregg's of our division. So if Mack can hold his ground, all you're losing is a little added pop and gaining a lot of smarts & athleticism.
Sounds like a good trade.
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88fingerslewy said:
BTW Crow, the runner-up of the Draddy? A certain Buck-eye wide-out we drafted. Smart crop this year, no doubt.Wow.....Didn't know that either. I think I have to start expanding my horizons.
Wow.....Didn't know that either. I think I have to start expanding my horizons.
I found it in an article through PFT. It also said:Massaqoui: SEC honour roll
Veikune: Graduated with honours
Carey: offered an academic scholarship to Yale, Colgate among others.
Rookie camp's gonna look like a frickin M.E.N.S.A convention. With less pocket protectors.
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I am very pleased with the Brown's drafting highly intelligent players. My take has always been they will "anticipate" & "react" much faster due to better game knowledge, & tend to be leaders on the field. We'll see, but my opinion is that the Brown's have been significantly upgraded this off season.
Mike
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Wow.....Didn't know that either. I think I have to start expanding my horizons.
I found it in an article through PFT. It also said:Massaqoui: SEC honour roll
Veikune: Graduated with honours
Carey: offered an academic scholarship to Yale, Colgate among others.
Rookie camp's gonna look like a frickin M.E.N.S.A convention. With less pocket protectors.
88fingerslewy said:
I found it in an article through PFT. It also said:Massaqoui: SEC honour roll
Veikune: Graduated with honours
Carey: offered an academic scholarship to Yale, Colgate among others.
Rookie camp's gonna look like a frickin M.E.N.S.A convention. With less pocket protectors.
Under Mankock, character matters.
They are looking for the bright/smartest players, not just meat.
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It's a common trait in almost all the guys we drafted except for maybe davis.....all did well in the classroom.
Not to say Davis did poorly...just haven't seen academic awards tagged to him.
In the future we will know where to look when we start thinking about who we are going to draft....look for guys who do at least reasonably well in the classroom.
Dim players are going to be rare on this team.
It might be a good way to gauge who will make the team....go back and look at how some of these past players did in that area. It might not tell you who is dumb as a stump, but it will tell you who did well in school and who you might be able to pull off the potential cut list.
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Another thing I read somewhere about Mack is how he insisted on playing some guard during senior bowl week. He wanted to show some versatility to help his cause.
One of the other things Mangini said when he first got to Cleveland was that he wanted players that football matters to them. Singletary said the same thing in SF. Not paycheck collectors.
Mack is definitely a Mangini type guy
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I'm still lol at the Steelers/ratbirds/Falcons' draft room folks shaking their heads.
In the case of the Steelers, really being screwed. That is GREAT. LOL
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Yes, highlight reels are for highlights...but my concerns about Mack's strength developed based on what I saw in the USC game & at the Senior Bowl. So I thought it was interesting that he didn't have many highlight plays in that game.
Still think he could be a good to great center, but the meager 20 reps he put up at his pro day didn't dispel those doubts. That, along with being in a pissy mood, resulted in what I posted above.
Aloysius said:
Yes, highlight reels are for highlights...but my concerns about Mack's strength developed based on what I saw in the USC game & at the Senior Bowl. So I thought it was interesting that he didn't have many highlight plays in that game.Still think he could be a good to great center, but the meager 20 reps he put up at his pro day didn't dispel those doubts. That, along with being in a pissy mood, resulted in what I posted above.
To address your concerns, yes, the Cal O-line couldn't do a thing against USC's front 7, especially run-blocking. Here's the thing, though: Cal was forced to play rookie O-linemen that day due to injuries. I'm talking about guys at right guard and right tackle making their 2nd career starts. I'm talking about a walk-on at left guard. O-lines, especially, benefit from cohesion. Don't think Mack got dominated; he held his own at center. Did he get beat several times? Sure. But overall, he played well against the Trojans. Judge for yourself...
Regarding the Senior Bowl, take a look at this quote from the Sacramento Bee:
Everyone is talking about Boston College's B.J. Raji, and for good reason. Raji measured 6 ½ feet today and weighed 334 pounds. He's built like an oak stump, but he has excellent quickness for a guy that size. He typically had his way with offensive linemen today. The only guy who was able to handle Raji was Cal center Alex Mack, who was easily the best offensive linemen on the North squad and who was considerably better than Oregon's Max Unger, whom many publications have rated higher than Mack. Mack got the better of Raji during team drills, at one point standing him up and driving him backward.
http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/49ers...ves/018719.html
Mack is a leader. His work ethic is unmatched, and he is relentless. He may not be able to beat Hampton or Ngata 1-on-1 just yet, but he will attack and attack until he feels he's taken them out of the play.
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Thanks for the links & response, George.
As to the Senior Bowl, I'd agree that Mack fared best against Raji of all the North squad centers, but he wasn't great. Unger's a finesse, zone blocking center, so it wasn't a surprise that Raji & Brace destroyed him. Unfortunately, Eric Wood was on the South squad, so we didn't get to see him battle BC's big men all week in practice.
Here's an longer report on Mack's performance during Senior Bowl week:
Alex Mack OL California 6041 312 10 5/8 33 1/4
Monday Practice Notes: At center with the first unit, but then moved around some to guard as well. The pivot showed nice knee bend and a good pass set often moving well throughout the day. An area of concern was his inability to finish blocks on this day.
Tuesday Practice Notes: This pivot continues to not practice at his level of talent would indicate. He continued to be overpowered by the big North defensive tackles. Mack struggled when asked to move and block laterally. He was able to get downfield and makes a few nice blocks.
Wednesday Practice Notes: Mack asked to play to guard this week when he initially excepted his invitation, and he has gotten more comfortable at the position as the days have passed. Another prospect who has been asked to work on his hand play and gradually he has improved. The pivot mirrored well in his pass set but at times can be overwhelmed by bigger defensive linemen.
Thursday Practice Notes: Arguably his best day of the week as he has become more and more comfortable in his situation down here in Mobile. Showed a nice pass set with great knee bend. Was much better mirroring in his pass blocking against the big defensive tackles. And he successfully got to the second level on a few occasions while run blocking.
Analysis: High expectations proceeded the arrival of arguably the draft’s top center prospect. Those expectations fell somewhat flat as Mack was not the force in the middle he was deemed. Part of the problem was learning the new position of guard throughout the week which prevented any ability to build continuity. His play certainly improved during the process. He is a natural knee bender who moved well. While Mack did not play to the possible first round status some expected, his play was solid enough not to have hurt his overall standing.
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This guy's a stud in the run game.
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This guy's a stud in the run game.
nmills said:
This guy's a stud in the run game.Yeah...but
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Thanks for the links & response, George.
As to the Senior Bowl, I'd agree that Mack fared best against Raji of all the North squad centers, but he wasn't great. Unger's a finesse, zone blocking center, so it wasn't a surprise that Raji & Brace destroyed him. Unfortunately, Eric Wood was on the South squad, so we didn't get to see him battle BC's big men all week in practice.
Here's an longer report on Mack's performance during Senior Bowl week:
Alex Mack OL California 6041 312 10 5/8 33 1/4
Monday Practice Notes: At center with the first unit, but then moved around some to guard as well. The pivot showed nice knee bend and a good pass set often moving well throughout the day. An area of concern was his inability to finish blocks on this day.
Tuesday Practice Notes: This pivot continues to not practice at his level of talent would indicate. He continued to be overpowered by the big North defensive tackles. Mack struggled when asked to move and block laterally. He was able to get downfield and makes a few nice blocks.
Wednesday Practice Notes: Mack asked to play to guard this week when he initially excepted his invitation, and he has gotten more comfortable at the position as the days have passed. Another prospect who has been asked to work on his hand play and gradually he has improved. The pivot mirrored well in his pass set but at times can be overwhelmed by bigger defensive linemen.
Thursday Practice Notes: Arguably his best day of the week as he has become more and more comfortable in his situation down here in Mobile. Showed a nice pass set with great knee bend. Was much better mirroring in his pass blocking against the big defensive tackles. And he successfully got to the second level on a few occasions while run blocking.
Analysis: High expectations proceeded the arrival of arguably the draft’s top center prospect. Those expectations fell somewhat flat as Mack was not the force in the middle he was deemed. Part of the problem was learning the new position of guard throughout the week which prevented any ability to build continuity. His play certainly improved during the process. He is a natural knee bender who moved well. While Mack did not play to the possible first round status some expected, his play was solid enough not to have hurt his overall standing.
Aloysius said:
Thanks for the links & response, George.As to the Senior Bowl, I'd agree that Mack fared best against Raji of all the North squad centers, but he wasn't great. Unger's a finesse, zone blocking center, so it wasn't a surprise that Raji & Brace destroyed him. Unfortunately, Eric Wood was on the South squad, so we didn't get to see him battle BC's big men all week in practice.
Here's an longer report on Mack's performance during Senior Bowl week:
Thanks for the report, Aloysius. I see some legitimate concerns there.
Keep in mind the Senior Bowl was likely the first time Mack ever took a snap at guard, practice or game. Did he play center all his life? No. He's taken practice snaps at left tackle before at Cal, and I believe he did so for the team to get the best 5 linemen on the field. Per the report it sounds like Mack picked up the guard position pretty quickly. But he will be most valuable as a center for the Browns.
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Aloysius said:
Thanks for the links & response, George.As to the Senior Bowl, I'd agree that Mack fared best against Raji of all the North squad centers, but he wasn't great. Unger's a finesse, zone blocking center, so it wasn't a surprise that Raji & Brace destroyed him. Unfortunately, Eric Wood was on the South squad, so we didn't get to see him battle BC's big men all week in practice.
Here's an longer report on Mack's performance during Senior Bowl week:
Thanks for the report, Aloysius. I see some legitimate concerns there.
Keep in mind the Senior Bowl was likely the first time Mack ever took a snap at guard, practice or game. Did he play center all his life? No. He's taken practice snaps at left tackle before at Cal, and I believe he did so for the team to get the best 5 linemen on the field. Per the report it sounds like Mack picked up the guard position pretty quickly. But he will be most valuable as a center for the Browns.
Thanks for the report, Aloysius. I see some legitimate concerns there.
Keep in mind the Senior Bowl was likely the first time Mack ever took a snap at guard, practice or game. Did he play center all his life? No. He's taken practice snaps at left tackle before at Cal, and I believe he did so for the team to get the best 5 linemen on the field. Per the report it sounds like Mack picked up the guard position pretty quickly. But he will be most valuable as a center for the Browns.
Hey George, thanks for the reports man and feel free to stick around, I'm assuming you're a Cal fan obviously......or maybe even a coach???
Anyway, he was interviewed on local sportstalk the other day and came across just like his resume would indicate. He also sounded really up on the idea of sitting a year behind Fraley and playing RG. He wasn't just saying it either, you could tell he meant it. Fraley is considered a very cerebral center with savvy and instincts. He does well in the second level but his main issue is getting dominated at the point of attack by the big 3/4 NG's in the AFC North. This has been a problem for the Browns for years and one our last GM Savage tried to address with the signing of LeCharles Bentley. Unfortunately, his career was ended on the first play of camp and subsequent staph infections.
I believe a huge decision in camp will be whether our new admin and coach want to go with the rook at center or guard. We have an All Pro type RG in Ryan Tucker but he may go to RT. Plus, he's had trouble staying healthy. IMO I'd like to see Mack at center with Tucker at RG and the camp winner of about 5 others start at RT. This will protect the rook big time. The other option would be Hadnot at RG and Tuck at RT.
I for one am hoping they go with the kid. He may have some struggles at time but I'm not worried about his calls. Fraley will have new calls to learn also.
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Welcome to the board George.
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Thanks for the report, Aloysius. I see some legitimate concerns there.
Keep in mind the Senior Bowl was likely the first time Mack ever took a snap at guard, practice or game. Did he play center all his life? No. He's taken practice snaps at left tackle before at Cal, and I believe he did so for the team to get the best 5 linemen on the field. Per the report it sounds like Mack picked up the guard position pretty quickly. But he will be most valuable as a center for the Browns.
Hey George, thanks for the reports man and feel free to stick around, I'm assuming you're a Cal fan obviously......or maybe even a coach???
Anyway, he was interviewed on local sportstalk the other day and came across just like his resume would indicate. He also sounded really up on the idea of sitting a year behind Fraley and playing RG. He wasn't just saying it either, you could tell he meant it. Fraley is considered a very cerebral center with savvy and instincts. He does well in the second level but his main issue is getting dominated at the point of attack by the big 3/4 NG's in the AFC North. This has been a problem for the Browns for years and one our last GM Savage tried to address with the signing of LeCharles Bentley. Unfortunately, his career was ended on the first play of camp and subsequent staph infections.
I believe a huge decision in camp will be whether our new admin and coach want to go with the rook at center or guard. We have an All Pro type RG in Ryan Tucker but he may go to RT. Plus, he's had trouble staying healthy. IMO I'd like to see Mack at center with Tucker at RG and the camp winner of about 5 others start at RT. This will protect the rook big time. The other option would be Hadnot at RG and Tuck at RT.
I for one am hoping they go with the kid. He may have some struggles at time but I'm not worried about his calls. Fraley will have new calls to learn also.
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Riffer, yes, I am a Cal fan and alum; coach, no, though I'm flattered by your comment. I follow football in the Pac-10 extensively, and am familiar with Ngata and Derek Anderson, and to a lesser extent, Edwards and Quinn. I'll admit I knew little about the Browns until Mangini drafted Mack. But you guys have my full support now. I'm looking forward to Mack and Robiskie doing their thing.
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Riffer, yes, I am a Cal fan and alum; coach, no, though I'm flattered by your comment. I follow football in the Pac-10 extensively, and am familiar with Ngata and Derek Anderson, and to a lesser extent, Edwards and Quinn. I'll admit I knew little about the Browns until Mangini drafted Mack. But you guys have my full support now. I'm looking forward to Mack and Robiskie doing their thing.
Riffer, yes, I am a Cal fan and alum; coach, no, though I'm flattered by your comment. I follow football in the Pac-10 extensively, and am familiar with Ngata and Derek Anderson, and to a lesser extent, Edwards and Quinn. I'll admit I knew little about the Browns until Mangini drafted Mack. But you guys have my full support now. I'm looking forward to Mack and Robiskie doing their thing.
What's your opinion of Anderson from college to what you've seen of him in the pros?
Also, do you think Sanchez is on par with Rodgers or even potentially better?
Did you think Maualuga sliding was called for and did you see it coming?
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George, the videos you supplied were very interesting. I'd say one thing. If Mack stays low he is tough. But it seems he has a tendancy to straighten up often and then he loses leverage. Do you agree or no?
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Riffer,
1. Anderson, IIRC, threw interception after interception at Oregon State, so I'm surprised he started several games last year for you guys.
2. Sanchez has a very powerful arm and more importantly, is deadly accurate. I think he'll enjoy an excellent career w/the Jets. I'll have to see how Rodgers performs this year with games on the line. If anything, Rodgers will have a better defense to fall back on.
3. I believe character concerns, mainly, dropped Maualuga's stock. He intimidated O-linemen and running backs while at USC.
Crow,
Yes, Mack pass blocks by straightening up. I've watched pass protection drills at Cal and that's how our former coach taught our O-linemen. I wouldn't worry about Mack losing leverage; he was a high school wrestling champion, and he incorporates wrestling into his technique.
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George, you a big fan of Tyson Alualu? nfldraftscout's got him projected to be a 6th/7th round pick next year, but I think he'll go much higher than that. 3-4 teams are going to be all over a guy who's already has success playing in the scheme.
.jpg.a1a2b9a0c33008fdaf4097d8fe2cfd64.jpg "Riffer X"){kind=avatar}
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