Cyrus Kouandjio revisted

[jarhead]

This guys draft status is a mystery. He has gone from a highly rated OT to dropping off the board. Below I have quoted  from CBS Sports. What we know is he had a knee injury that raised concerns and his bench press was lacking at the combine.

 

"

 

"STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES STRENGTHS: Light on his feet, flexible, has broad shoulders and his arms are both long and strong. His weight is evenly distributed over his frame and he reportedly has just 16 percent body fat, an impressive number for any offensive lineman.

 

Quick off the snap and has the lateral agility to slide left to right. Kouandjio uses his athleticism in pass protection well but he's even more impressive as a run blocker, consistently out-quicking defenders to create lanes. Kouandjio relies on good placement, strong hands and an explosive jolt to turn and sustain defenders.

 

Perhaps most impressive is that Kouandjio plays at different speeds well. He shows very good patience in pass protection but can fire off the ball when needed. He possesses exciting quickness and mobility when blocking on the move, traits Coach Nick Saban and his staff took advantage of by asking the LT to pull and lead RBs, on occasion.

 

WEAKNESSES: Choppy sliding into pass protection and has a tendency to drop his head upon contact, although he was significantly improved as his second season as a starter progressed in 2013. Excellent run blocker, although not a true mauler.

 

COMPARES TO: Tyron Smith, OT, Dallas Cowboys - Kouandjio's lean, muscular frame and superb athleticism will remind scouts of the former USC Trojan and now-Cowboys starting left tackle, and he has at least as impressive a skill-set as his former linemate D.J. Fluker, who the Chargers took 11th overall in 2013.

 

--Rob Rang (2/5/14)

PLAYER OVERVIEW Physically speaking, Kouandjio has everything scouts are looking for in a potential Pro Bowl left tackle, which is why he universally ranked as the elite prep linemen when signing with Alabama in 2010.

 

He redshirted, then played in eight games in 2011 before a knee injury ended his first season of action in Tuscaloosa early.

 

His undeniable upside convinced Alabama to move the ultra-reliable Barrett Jones inside to center after he had earned All-SEC and the Outland Trophy at left tackle in 2011. Though he wasn't named to the all-conference team in his first season at the so-called blind-side position, Kouandjio demonstrated the talent to earn this distinction in the future.

 

Frankly, he has at least as impressive a skill-set as his former linemate D.J. Fluker, who the Chargers took 11th overall in 2013."

[Jackofalltrades]

Knee is my only concern and it's a HUGE concern for me.

[magnus]

Andrews says it's fine, and we pay him. 

 

He didn't look great this past year. I don't know if the knee bothered him, but he didn't look like a high first when I was watching him, and traditional thought has him in the 40s now. So, in the second, sure. 

[carolina-chuck]

Draft him!

[stirs]

guess it just depends on what our team docs say.

 

http://www.csnphilly.com/football-philadelphia-eagles/nfl-draft-prep-risers-and-fallers

[jtnc]

Andrews says it's fine, and we pay him.

He didn't look great this past year. I don't know if the knee bothered him, but he didn't look like a high first when I was watching him, and traditional thought has him in the 40s now. So, in the second, sure.

Andrews is the primary doctor all NFL teams use for knee injuries. He also said RG3's knee was good to go and look what happened...

[CarolinaCoolin]

I think his knee is fine and he'll show nothing is wrong on his pro day. He has always been a first round talent and the film from he's years at Alabama shows that. Hopefully we can get him in the first or second.

[jarhead]

Draft him!

Will he slide to us in the 2nd or will he warrant a 1st?

[FearTheCats]

Please don't use a first on him if we know he will be there when we draft in the 2nd.

[jarhead]

I am concerned what Mike Mayock said after the combine compare to a year ago when he said he was a solid 1st round pick.

 

 "Questions about Kouandjio

Alabama offensive tackle Cyrus Kouandjio (6-7, 322) is massive, has a high ceiling and is considered a likely first-rounder. He can be particularly dominant as a run blocker. "He's got all kinds of talent," Mayock said. But he also has what Mayock called "inconsistent tape" and didn't show all that well Saturday. He struggled in the so-called "mirror drill," and his best 40 time was a 5.59-second clocking, with his best 10-yard split an unofficial 1.87 seconds. "He ran a slow 10, and he ran a really slow 40," Mayock said, and for a potential first-rounder, "that's a red flag." Later, Mayock said, "You certainly want a starting left tackle to run better than that." There are some analysts who feel Kouandjio is a better fit on the right side in the NFL. His draft stock wasn't helped by reports Saturday that he'd failed several physicals at the combine."

 

[Kuech the Sneak]

Depends if we failed him on our physical, I'm sure we would draft him if we felt fine about the medical

[magnus]

Andrews is the primary doctor all NFL teams use for knee injuries. He also said RG3's knee was good to go and look what happened...

sure. 

and, structurally, the knee didn't fail, but it's not like RG3's lack of success last year meant suddenly Andrews is a hack.  

 

I'm just saying, it's not like we're going to know less than others on this.  

 

I'm as uneasy about his tape as anything else. He just didn't have that great a year.

[El Chingon]

I think this guy will still be available in the 2nd when we come up to pick. His medical will make or break him. 

[FoxBalld]

Otah again? The ride never ends, we will never draft a WR in the first round. The curse of Carruth lives on.