Played all over USC's defense and did not object. Can rush the passer. Will start on special teams but has a lot of upside when he can focus on one position
Analysis
Strengths
Well-proportioned, muscular build. Generally plays on his feet. Can drop into short zones. Good tackler. Has played outside linebacker, middle linebacker and defensive end. Smart and tough. Team captain with outstanding intangibles, including leadership traits and a professional approach.
Weaknesses
Lacks ideal body length and has small hands. Average athletic ability. Dull get-off. Limited explosion and power. Needs to cultivate pass-rush moves. Does not provide enough resistance against the run. Still developing instincts. Non-explosive athlete with pedestrian agility, as evidenced by poor 30-inch vertical and 7.25-second three-cone marks.
Draft Projection
Round 7-Priority free agent
Bottom Line
A well-put-together standup linebacker with NFL bloodlines, Kennard's intangibles outdistance his physical traits, as he lacks the juice to consistently heat up the edge in the pros. Devon Kennard - ( New Window )
Pendergast's 3-4 scheme in 2013, when he started all 14 games and had 60 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss and nine sacks with four pass breakups. Team captain had the top GPA on the team and was honored as USC's Most Inspirational Player and Co-Lifter of the Year.
I'm not thrilled about this pick (or the Berhe pick, though I like that one better) based on the little information I have. It seems like there were better players with more recognizable names available and thus I'm a bit perturbed. I don't know what the hell I'm talking about though, but listen to me anyway.
Front office must really think that there was something rotten on the team last year. Or super worried about the loss of some leaders -- Tuck, Diehl (?).
Maybe we should get Reese on here to answer for these picks!
A lot. Played DE, OLB and MLB at USC. As with every player we have drafted he was a captain. Had 60 tackles, 13 TFL, 9 sacks and 4 pass deflection last season.
Wtf??? Come on! This is ridiculous. The Giants blew this draft on this character/team leadership bs. It's not the case that because you are a team captain, your a great player or necessarily will be a team leader at the pro level. Michael Strahan was not seen as a team leader when drafted but became one. Last year Tuck and Eli were team captains and didn't mean a hill of beans. The Giants have passed on talent in pursuit of this character/team leadership crap that cannot be denied.
This draft was a needs draft not a BPA draft at all. It explains all the reaches they have made. Many of these picks could have been secured trading down and accumulating picks for this year or the next! No imagination on the part of management. This blows. I hope these players pan out because I'm a fan, but I'm not holding my breath.
Captain stuff too seriously. There's a lot of captains on some of these college teams. Stands to reason that an upperclassmen with NFL potential likely to get picked as captain.
Strengths
Well-proportioned, muscular build. Generally plays on his feet. Can drop into short zones. Good tackler. Has played outside linebacker, middle linebacker and defensive end. Smart and tough. Team captain with outstanding intangibles, including leadership traits and a professional approach.
Weaknesses
Lacks ideal body length and has small hands. Average athletic ability. Dull get-off. Limited explosion and power. Needs to cultivate pass-rush moves. Does not provide enough resistance against the run. Still developing instincts. Non-explosive athlete with pedestrian agility, as evidenced by poor 30-inch vertical and 7.25-second three-cone marks.
Draft Projection
Round 7-Priority free agent
Bottom Line
A well-put-together standup linebacker with NFL bloodlines, Kennard's intangibles outdistance his physical traits, as he lacks the juice to consistently heat up the edge in the pros.
Devon Kennard - ( New Window )
will you shut the fuck up
Cut the crap.
Probably fits as a SAM.
I wonder if he's pegged for whatever role JR envisioned for O'Brien Schofield.
Probably fits as a SAM.
This.
You're clueless when it comes to the draft
You nailed it! Fewer projects, more production;
Higher caliber individuals and players
In comment 11669839 Jon in NYC said:
Probably fits as a SAM.
this
Nonsense. I'm sure the beatings with a pillowcase full of nickels was much worse.
This draft was a needs draft not a BPA draft at all. It explains all the reaches they have made. Many of these picks could have been secured trading down and accumulating picks for this year or the next! No imagination on the part of management. This blows. I hope these players pan out because I'm a fan, but I'm not holding my breath.
He played with his hand down at DE in 2011 too.