Cyrus Kouandjio revisted

[Man Strength]

http://draftbreakdown.com/video/cyrus-kouandjio-vs-auburn-2013/

 

hard to imagine any LT being much more effective than he was in this game.  just one game i know, but he looked great. just saying...

[JawnyBlaze]

If he's there in the 2nd I'm all for it.  Not the 1st though.

[Ivan The Awesome]

I doubt he will be there in the second, but I don't want him in the first. Trading back would be the best option. But getting a trade partner will not be easy.

[DaveThePanther2008]

OK so his times were slow on the 40 and 10 yd runs because his knee was bothering him.   What about the low numbers at 225?  The knee has very little to do with bench press.

 

He has the tools but unless he blows out his Pro Day I don't see us making him our #1 pick.

[Future of the Funchise]

 

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."

 

 

Even with the knee issues, he sounds like an excellent right tackle. I'm scared that he's going to turn into another Jeff Otah once he starts getting paid tho.

[carolina-chuck]

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

I dont think he'll be there at our spot in the 2nd. If hes there at 28, you have to take him.

[d-dave]

This guy is such an enigma!  I mean, on one hand - he reminds most of us of Jeff Otah.  When Otah was healthy (for what?  2 seasons or less?) he was an animal out there at RT.  Just a great player, but weight and knees did him in alas.  We've never really recovered from that loss.  Kouandjio has shown the ability to play LT, but how good could he be?

 

This is where the draft becomes a complete gamble.  Though on tape he shows one thing, his combine workout was kind of lackluster.  There are questions about his knees (even though they checked out).  On Saturdays this season he struggled against elite pass rushers.  He's going to get those every Sunday in the NFL.  

 

As far as his value on a draft board, it comes down to an individuals "feel" about the evaluation.  The mitigating circumstances (Coaching, OL play, Qb holding the ball too long, poor running by RB, other missed assignments, ect...) versus the proof (game tape and frankly his agility drills).

 

His April 8 re-40 will be an interesting non-story.  Here's a video I found of him doing positional drills:

http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2014/03/hows_the_knee_watch_for_yourse.html

 

Again, I don't know what looks good, but on his "back slide (is that the name?)" he looked pretty quick.  But good lordy, he's a massive dude...DEs might have trouble getting around him!  Those arms are LONG!

 

 

[jarhead]

The left OT is a very unique position that most teams value with a 1st round pick. Of Bleacher reports top 15 OTs all but 5 were 1st round picks. Three were 2nd round picks, one a 7th round pick, and one an UDFA.

 

For the Gman followers William Beatty of the Giants was a 2nd round pick that broke his leg in college which may have influenced his fall into the second round. He was Bleacher reports 32nd rated LOT out of 35 which is not very good.

 

While the 20 to 35 of  LOT spots; were littered with some mid rounders the odds are you better get your LT sooner rather than later.

 

As for Cyrus and Morgan Moses both are on the fringe in my opinion with neither being  close to sure thing.

 

Maybe we should have not restructured the Gross the way we did and maybe we should have bitten the bullet and back loaded a contract of one of the top FAs LTs but only time will tell.

 

 

 

[jarhead]

I dont think he'll be there at our spot in the 2nd. If hes there at 28, you have to take him.

If they feel without a doubt he or one of the others can get the job done I agree. 

[top dawg]

A 2nd round pick in this draft is just as valuable as a first for most teams outside of probably the top 10 or 15.  You can't throw 2nds around like candy.  Kouandjio's stock---and actual worth as a player---is directly tied to his sticks.  As far as I'm concerned, it would seem to me that if he's not worth taking in the 1st, then he's probably not worth taking in the 2nd. 

[TANTRIC-NINJA]

I know Todd Mcshay said he would still be a top 15 pick next season if he stayed in school if his medical is clear then I see no issue taking him. He does struggle at times but thats why he would be there at 28.

When Charles Johnson declared for the draft they saod he.would be a top 10 guy if he came back for another season..Panthers got him and he turned out pretty OK.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using CarolinaHuddle mobile app

[jarhead]

This guy is such an enigma!  I mean, on one hand - he reminds most of us of Jeff Otah.  When Otah was healthy (for what?  2 seasons or less?) he was an animal out there at RT.  Just a great player, but weight and knees did him in alas.  We've never really recovered from that loss.  Kouandjio has shown the ability to play LT, but how good could he be?

 

This is where the draft becomes a complete gamble.  Though on tape he shows one thing, his combine workout was kind of lackluster.  There are questions about his knees (even though they checked out).  On Saturdays this season he struggled against elite pass rushers.  He's going to get those every Sunday in the NFL.  

 

As far as his value on a draft board, it comes down to an individuals "feel" about the evaluation.  The mitigating circumstances (Coaching, OL play, Qb holding the ball too long, poor running by RB, other missed assignments, ect...) versus the proof (game tape and frankly his agility drills).

 

His April 8 re-40 will be an interesting non-story.  Here's a video I found of him doing positional drills:

http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/index.ssf/2014/03/hows_the_knee_watch_for_yourse.html

 

Again, I don't know what looks good, but on his "back slide (is that the name?)" he looked pretty quick.  But good lordy, he's a massive dude...DEs might have trouble getting around him!  Those arms are LONG!

All very good questions. As Mayock stated he had inconsistent film which makes me question his motor. 

[philp]

This is a big dude, 6-foot-7, 322-pounds.  I don't care if he goes undrafted, if he has knee problems, he has knee problems.  Hell, maybe he even falls to the third?

[philp]

Every year some of these guys fall way later than anticipated.  With a draft this deep, why would you waste a 1st or 2nd on a guy with health concerns?