While we haven’t had a weekend preview article all season, the fact that three major games this weekend featuring multiple future 1st round picks are on, it’s a worthwhile time to have a preview.
With Oregon and Dion Jordon travelling to play Matt Barkley and USC, the Colin Klien led Kansas State offense against the sneaky talented 24th ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys and the under rated Alabama offense and elite defense headed to Baton Rouge to face the elite defensive front 7 LSU Tigers.
Oregon @ USC (7:00 PM EST)
It’s a testament to the ability of Chip Kelly adapting his system, but in terms of 2013 NFL draft prospects, the Ducks are a bit short depth wise. They lost offensive guard Carson York and safety John Boyett early this season, both of whom were set to be mid rounders. However, they still feature the player that should provide the most intrigue this weekend in defensive end/do-it-all talent Dion Jordan. The 6’7 uniquely versatile Jordan will line up with his hand in the ground, as a standup rusher, playing the flats/hitch coverages, as well as possibly being used to disrupt the screen pass game of USC. He could be in for another big game on a very big stage. As for the Oregon offense, Kenjon Barner will be fighting with D’Anthony Thomas for attention, but Barner will need to get loose as well if they hope to utilize their speed against USC.
RELATED: The Next Set of Defensive End “Freaks” In This Year’s Draft Includes Dion Jordan
As for USC, they are (as always) loaded with next level talent. Matt Barkley has recently been compared to Colt McCoy and Chad Pennington, both of which were not necessarily meant as complements. I still think pre-snap he’s one of the most far along of any quarterback in recent years, isn’t as mediocre of an athlete as many say, and could be a Chad Pennington plus type passer (which is a Super Bowl quarterback for many teams). I’ll be interesting to see how the USC skill positions will match-up with the Oregon defensive speed. Robert Woods relies substantially on yards after catch, and we’ll see if he can get free in the 5-10 yard routes and get upfield.
Also, we’ll see if junior runner Silas Redd can remain physical and stay a focal point of the offense while he’s “complemented” by Curtis McNeal. Redd has more upside as an NFL prospect, but McNeal certainly has shown enough this year to be draft worthy if he tests well. Both will need to continue their increased role (based off recent weeks) if USC hopes to stil with the speed of Oregon. Blocking for them in the middle is Khaled Holmes, who’s been very up and down this year but certainly has the skill set and athleticism to control the interior as a pass blocker and direct upfield in the run game.
As for the USC defense, watch for JUCO and junior defensive end Morgan Breslin, who’s showcased great power and burst off the snap and has been a very pleasant surprise for USC this year. He’ll need to both remain productive as an edge rusher while also being able to pinch the inside and not let the Oregon running backs escape up the middle. Also in that defense, TJ McDonald has flashed a bit this year as a versatile safety, but he’ll be asked to do quite a bit in this game, as he’ll have to show off vision, control his aggression, form tackling, and overall range as a safety.
Oklahoma State @ Kansas State (8:00 PM EST)
Some notes provided by Alex Brown of Optimum Scouting
In maybe the game that features the least about of 2013 NFL prospects despite being a BCS Title implicating game, Kansas State’s Collin Klien will look to add to his Heisman track. The Tebow/Kaepernick like prospect has less than ideal mechanics, but has improved his footwork this year (albeit slightly) to be more consistent on the move, and his downfield touch has been utilized well. He can’t make consistent sideline throws (both vertically and in the 10-15 range), and hasn’t shown the timing or decisiveness on downfield reads.
He’ll focused on where Oklahoma State Brodrick Brown is located. The undersized yet physical and quick to react cornerback needs to work hard to overcome his 5’8 size, but he can get his hands inside well and track well with receivers in the short area. He’ll need to remain focused in run support as well in this game.
On the other side of the ball, Kansas State’s defense is led by the quick, active, and fluid linebacker Arthur Brown. Brown has been solid this season showcasing range and reaction to running backs on the edge. Also, check out Nigel Malone at cornerback for Kansas State if/when he’s matched up with receiver Tracy Moore. Also, Oklahoma State offensive guard Lane Taylor is powerful, has ideal size and strength, but lacks mobility or balance when asked to move laterally or upfield. Still, one to watch in this game
RELATED: What is the Future NFL Prognosis for Colin Klein of Kansas State
Alabama @ LSU (8:00 PM EST)
AJ McCarron is being asked to do more offensively, and has shown fantastic vision downfield, timing and footwork improvement, and overall great control and consistency as the leader of the offense, turning himself into a legit next level quarterback. He’ll also have Michael Williams at tight end as his seam and redzone target, while also having Eddie Lacy (junior) use his balance, body control, and decisive cutting ability for his size to pick up big chunks of yards.
And on the offensive line, they feature future (and possibly 2013) NFL starters on their offensive line. Barrett Jones at center may have the most limited upside of them all, but he has the versatility to play four offensive line spots and manage this offensive line unit. Junior DJ Flucker may not declare for sure this year, but certainly could make an impact in the NFL thanks to his power run physicality and sheer size/strength combination as a next level right tackle. And the leader of the group, Chance Warmack, may once again reset the standard for offensive guard prospects coming into the draft and may be a future Top 15 pick at the position.
That offensive line, however, will have its hands full against one of the most versatile and talented pass rushes in college football this year. Barkevious “Keke” Mingo is the speed edge rusher of the three, with outstanding length, versatility, and body control in space, but he’s struggled to read and react, hasn’t gotten consistent pressure, and has been neutralized at times against wider offensive linemen with ideal hand placement (like he’ll face against Alabama). Sam Montgomery is the power rusher of the two who has been much more consistent in terms of consistently collapsing the pocket, setting up blockers in his pursuit, and staying low with good leg drive to exploit openings. He’ll have a tough test in getting past the stout offensive linemen, however.
Finally, Lavar Edwards is the 3rd defensive end but at times has been the most successful. With ideal size and athleticism, Edwards complements Montgomery very well as they rotate, and it’ll be interesting to see if he can have success the way he did against Texas A&M. Also in that LSU defense, Eric Reid at free safety would be one of the best (if not the best) at his position if he did declare, and he’ll be asked to control Michael Williams in the seam, not allow big plays in the running game, and likely force a turnover to help the young LSU offense along in this game.
RELATED: Breaking Down Mingo/Montgomery vs. Joeckel/Matthews in LSU vs. Texas A&M
As for the Alabama defense, it’s simply amazing how they’ve restocked from last year. Jesse Williams in the middle has unbelievably strong lower half, holds his ground well, and drives well enough to attack after initial push back laterally. Fellow defensive linemen Damion Square also shows the ability to contain the edge as a 5-tech or 7-tech, and win one on one situations on the inside. CJ Mosely at linebacker is just a junior, but likely is the best coverage linebacker in the country while also showing the ability to find running lanes in pursuit.
Fellow inside linebacker Nico Johnson is more of the thumper, filling holes well and playing wide enough to finish tackles in the box. Senior safety Robert Lester has been a bit stiff in coverage and late to react than he was last year playing with Mark Barron, but still has the explosive hits, vision, and reaction as a safety to play at the next level. Finally, cornerback Dee Milliner is a fresh new starter, but may already be on track to pass Dre Kirkpatrick talent wise. He plays long, stays in ideal position with his receiver in the short area, breaks on the inside smoothly, and shows the ability to play in short + deep zone as well as lock up in man coverage.
RELATED: Alabama Restocks their Defense With Maybe Equal Talent as the 2012 Draft
Other Notes for the Weekend
-We’ll see two of the best 3-techniques in the country in the Missouri vs. Florida game in Sheldon Richardson and Shariff Floyd (respectively). Both are juniors, but both have very high ceilings (potentially 1st round) if they do declare.
-Mississippi State vs. Texas A&M features the match-up of Tyler Russell, impressive junior quarterback who flashed despite the loss against Alabama, against a pass rush for Texas A&M that is aggressive and versatile, led by junior DE Damontre Moore (future 1st rounder) and OLB Sean Porter (2nd-3rd rounder with upside).
–Geno Smith has proved vulnerable in recent weeks, but we’ll see if he can get on track against the rangy defense of TCU. They are at home and are healthy, so I’d expect Smith to light it up. Still, Smith isn’t invincible as a prospect, and needs to continue to improve and, maybe more importantly, show he can overcome adversity and struggles to get back on track.
-While Pittsburgh doesn’t pose much of a threat for Notre Dame at every level, we’ll see if the Irish have a let-down after impressing against Oklahoma. We’ll see how much of a leader Manti Te’o is and if he and head coach Brian Kelly can keep this team focused.
-Couple of sleeper teams to watch this weekend: Tulsa (7-1) traveling to a struggling Arkansas team, Kent State (7-1) finishing out it’s fairly easy schedule to a potential 10-1 season playing Akron this weekend, Utah State (7-2) with a home game against the upstart and surprisingly successful Texas State team, Northern Illinois (8-1) with an easy game against UMass, San Jose State (6-2) with another easy game against Idaho, and 25th ranked Louisiana Tech matched up in a probable win against UTSA. Curious to see which/how many of those teams are ranked by season’s end.
-Towson vs. Delaware is on NBC Sports Network at noon, and features Paul Worrilow (OLB) and Nihja White (WR) from Delaware as well as Romale Tucker (DE) from Towson, in case your remote stumbles there. Also from the FCS, while it won’t be on TV, look for some gaudy numbers in Southern Utah’s match-up against North Dakota, with Brad Sorensen (likely mid rounder) and Braden Hanson (660 yards last week, fringe NFL prospect, UNC transfer) at the helms at quarterback.
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