I've seen a few comments about Randy Gregory dominating Ereck Flowers, specificially...
| Turned on nfl network and low and behold there was Gregory absolutely flogging Flowers like a rented Mule. |
So before the Cowboys fans, who I have seen touting Gregory as someone who whipped Flowers, and the resident goons here decry this pick, let's take a closer look at the game shall we?
Edge Protection
Gregory gets taken to the ground easily, good setup, good footwork and hand placement
https://youtu.be/th9hiGIQ0xs?t=10
Athletic Ability in the Run game.
Seal block. No he's not blocking a seal, just watch. Gregory lines up at the Wide 9, and at the snap, Flowers gets in good position and turns him inside on this TD run. A man of that size making that type of block against someone much smaller and quicker is proof of his athletic ability and ability to strike on the move. It's not a play many will see or care about, but watch how quickly Flowers is out of his stance and in position to block a guy who could have ruined this play by maintaining outside leverage.
https://youtu.be/th9hiGIQ0xs?t=61
Screen game mobility and run game technique
On the first play here, you can see Flowers ability to get out in space in the screen game, then another good setup with his feet, turns his hips and squares up to open up a running lane.
https://youtu.be/th9hiGIQ0xs?t=213
Finishing
This play is a designed to go right, Flowers opens the hole on the backside, Duke Johnson then counters once he sees pressure in his face and changes direction. Flowers stays on his block, sees Johnson coming his way and deposits the DL onto the turf so Johnson can turn a busted a play into a gain. Near the end of the play you can see Flowers still going downfield looking for someone to hit.
https://youtu.be/th9hiGIQ0xs?t=304
Gregory Sack on Flowers
Gregory doesn't beat Flowers here per se, but Flowers looks to be down blocking with his LG and the RB dives at Gregory's feet and completely misses the block. That may be on Flowers either not striking Gregory before his move inside or not knowing his assignment. #4 Gets the sack, but that's hardly beating anyone like a rented mule.
https://youtu.be/th9hiGIQ0xs?t=381
Go watch these things for yourself, watch play by play, and isolate on big #74. You will see all the things the Giants loved, size, power, agility and the ability to get to the second level and block down field. The issues regarding all of his "sloppy" technique, I just don't see enough of that, I see glimpses of it later in games but for the most part the assessments that he's so raw and flawed are just not correct.
And that is actually a bad tape for Gregory. I saw a couple of Cowboys fans try to pump up their meeting because of how the rivals got both players but that isn't one of the games Gregory supporters have previously touted before the draft.
And that is actually a bad tape for Gregory. I saw a couple of Cowboys fans try to pump up their meeting because of how the rivals got both players but that isn't one of the games Gregory supporters have previously touted before the draft.
I saw an animated .gif of one play on a Cowboys site today and all the yokels were in an uproar over how he'll own Flowers for years. Kind of a joke to base that one play.
Randy Gregory had to be moved to the other side of the field because he was getting stoned (maybe I should have used another term but WTF).
Based partly on that game:
1) I didn't want Gregory at all for the Giants.
2) Felt darn good about Flowers, before drafting him.
Joey, please tell me you have better things to do with you time than to look at Cowboys' fan sites!
I have previously sited this tape re a big + for Flowers; more than anything else because Nebraska clearly flipped Gregory to the opposite side of the DL SO THAT HE WOULDN'T GET HIS ASS BEAT INTO THE GROUND BY FLOWERS ANYMORE!
THANKS anyway for reconfirming my long held view that 'Boys fans are the dumbest sports fans on earth!
There is a hurry early on - Gregory takes a wide angle, Flowers moves his feet and Gregory cuts back directly into him, bullrushing toward the QB. Gregory gets an arm on the QB as he hurriedly throws it away (he was really a poor QB, wasn't he?). Anyway, that was a win for Gregory. I saw no other plus plays for Gregory where it was clear he was Flowers' assignment.
I saw a screen to Flowers' side and it was clear that Gregory wasn't able to be moved, and then other defenders were able to come free for the TFL, so I guess you could maybe call that a plus for Gregory. I see that as a wash.
Not sure what other plays there are that you could point to as Gregory wins.
You are, don't fret.
Because most of them latched on to D when the 'girls were winning regularly and bought into the media hype about "America's Team". Front Runners!
And even after all these years they and the media still love them - without good reason, in my opinion.
Mincey will play on 1st and 2nd down, and Gregory will come in on 3rd downs, or passing downs.
When Hardy returns Gregory will be used to spell Hardy.
Gregory's first year will be used to gain weight and get adjusted to the NFL. When Mincey and Hardy leave next year, then Gregory will be asked to be the starting DE.
Even though Gregory is a top 10 talent, he will not be asked to carry a heavy load his rookie year, unless injuries happen.
But isn't that what makes him a true cowboy? They could have Hardy tutor him on how a professional athlete is supposed to act!
Are you kidding? I saw plays where Watt was triple teamed in that game. Pugh almost always had help. That's not to speak poorly of Pugh, cause Watt is the most dominating defensive lineman in the game, just be realistic here.
– 20 scouts (one declined the request) were asked to identify which player among the top defensive linemen and rush linebackers would have the best chance to bust. Gregory was the runaway choice, drawing 11½ votes to 2½ for Shane Ray.
– Seven scouts voted for Gregory both as the No. 1 pass rusher and as the No. 1 most-likely player to bust.
– “He’s got no chance (to succeed),” an NFL personnel director said. “That (combine drug test) is just the tip of the iceberg. This guy is not a bad guy. He just has problems. I think he will (slide) if anybody’s done any kind of homework on him.”
– “We had him in,” another executive said. “This kid is a great kid talking to. He’s very articulate. Two-parent home. He’s just got some issues, has a hard time dealing with stress. He’s probably off a lot of boards. I wouldn’t take him.”
"Seal block. No he's not blocking a seal, just watch. Gregory lines up at the Wide 9, and at the snap, Flowers gets in good position and turns him inside on this TD run. A man of that size making that type of block against someone much smaller and quicker is proof of his athletic ability and ability to strike on the move. It's not a play many will see or care about, but watch how quickly Flowers is out of his stance and in position to block a guy who could have ruined this play by maintaining outside leverage."
You are dead on with this. This is one impressive play, IMO. Flowers is able to get out and turn the corner on him in a very impressive fashion. He is both quick and fluid.
The question is, why did he decide to smoke weed prior to the drug test that he knew was coming? Was it because he doesn't care? Doesn't respect the NFL's policy on the matter? Or was he so stressed out that he felt he had to self medicate?
No matter what the answer, it isn't good.
Flowers was the second best o-lineman in the draft (based on what I have read). He will be good, but we need to have patience with him. I think he starts at RT day 1. But, he will lose some matchups this first year.
He reminds me of Linvale Joseph. Good kid, gym rat, loves football, etc.
The question is, why did he decide to smoke weed prior to the drug test that he knew was coming? Was it because he doesn't care? Doesn't respect the NFL's policy on the matter? Or was he so stressed out that he felt he had to self medicate?
You also have to consider that he was 45 minutes late to one of his interviews at the combine and completely blew off another!! I really hope he turns out doing nothing for the Cowboys. So sick of hearing about it on NFLN. That damn topic bar on screen was too much to handle.
No matter what the answer, it isn't good.
Flowers was the second best o-lineman in the draft (based on what I have read). He will be good, but we need to have patience with him. I think he starts at RT day 1. But, he will lose some matchups this first year.
He reminds me of Linvale Joseph. Good kid, gym rat, loves football, etc.
He reminds me of Linvale Joseph. Good kid, gym rat, loves football, etc.
They both seem to have the man-child thing going on.