2014 UDFA Thread

[brewer229]

Can you be to big for the tackle position? Seems like at some point you would start affecting throwing lanes and visibility.

 

[wheels002]

I think you can be to big as far as movement goes. To play tackle you have to be able to stop the speed rush to the outside and he may be to pig to be able to move as fast as he may be able to.

One thing that shows how much we thought of him is a normal UDFA gets one thousand or less as a signing bonus and we gave him 20k which is the normal signing bonus for a 7th rd pick.

 

[brewer229]

I think you can be to big as far as movement goes. To play tackle you have to be able to stop the speed rush to the outside and he may be to pig to be able to move as fast as he may be able to.

One thing that shows how much we thought of him is a normal UDFA gets one thousand or less as a signing bonus and we gave him 20k which is the normal signing bonus for a 7th rd pick.

Damn we gave him 20k? Don't you only have 80k total to spend on UDFA signing bonus.

 

[tonyballs]

Damn we gave him 20k? Don't you only have 80k total to spend on UDFA signing bonus.

Yep, that's how much they like the kid.

 

[lgolfer]

Here's some more on Cornelius Lucas. Pretty interesting article. Was expected to be a mid-late round pick before breaking his foot in February.

Forget about having a chip on his shoulder, Detroit Lions free-agent tackle Cornelius Lucas says he has a boulder.

Lucas sat around all draft weekend waiting for his name to be called but it never was.

“It was just a stressful time,” Lucas told detroitlions.com after Saturday’s rookie minicamp practice. “There were 256 names and it got more and more stressful as they went by.”

A two-year starter at left tackle for Kansas State, Lucas was projected to be a mid-round pick in the draft, but a stress fracture is his left foot suffered two weeks before the NFL Scouting Combine forced him onto the operating table and to miss the next eight weeks to recover.

It was during those eight weeks that draft prospects were having pro days and individual workouts for teams.

Lucas missed all of it, and he thinks it contributed to him going undrafted.

“I definitely feel like it played a part because people didn’t know if I was going to be healthy or not,” Lucas said. “I was healthy enough to be drafted.”

In the long run, however, not being drafted, and ultimately signing with the Lions, might have been the best thing for him.

He had an “in-depth” conversation with assistant offensive line coach Bobby Johnson at the combine and felt the Lions had a real interest in him from then on.

Lucas said the Lions first contacted him in the middle of the fourth round last Saturday to remind him how interested they were. The team considered drafting him later that day, but he eventually became they’re top target in the free-agent market directly following the draft. The team reportedly gave him a $20,000 bonus to sign, which was more than what Joe Fauria and LaAdrian Waddle received following last year's draft.

“I don’t know if you guys know much about him, but this guy is 6-foot-8, 320 pounds,” Lions general manager Martin Mayhew told Sirius NFL Radio in an interview this past week. “He had 26 straight starts at Kansas State. We think he has a chance to be like a Waddle sort of guy. We’re going to try him at left and right tackle. The guy was productive (at Kansas State).”

Mayhew was referencing the route Waddle took to the NFL last year. Like Lucas, the Lions targeted him late in the draft and were able to get him signed as a free agent right after the seventh round.

“Me and Waddle have definitely had some talks already,” Lucas said. “Just about getting acclimated to the program and things like that.

“I definitely see a big opportunity here. This is definitely somewhere where I can fit in. The whole draft I was scrolling through each team’s website looking at the rosters and seeing who could pick me up at that moment. When the Lions actually contacted me, and I looked at their roster, they were short on offensive linemen and I felt it would be a good fit. I already had ties with coach (Ron) Prince and Devin Fitzsimmons from Kansas State.”

Waddle made the 53-man roster out of training camp last year and eventually won the starting right tackle spot and made eight starts as a rookie.

“He might be a guy, like Waddle, who not a lot of people were really on, but we’re excited about this kid,” Mayhew said of Lucas. “He’s not doing much right now. He’s waiting on his foot to get healthy, but he’s definitely got a chance to make our team.”

The Lions typically keep four tackles on the final roster out of training camp. Riley Reiff, Waddle and Corey Hilliard are currently the top three. Lucas will be competing with J.B. Shugarts, and A.J. Dalton for that fourth spot.

When it's all said and done, Lucas will have a great shot to become the second undrafted tackle to make the Lions roster in as many seasons.

http://www.detroitlions.com/news/li...s-roster/5a2d8833-25d3-4010-8fdc-28d7641ae2d5

 

[michiganalex]

could be a hell of a steal

 

[lgolfer]

could be a hell of a steal

It would certainly be great to get 2 UDFAs as contributing tackles (Waddle and Lucas). Great job by the scouting department.

 

[Mitchrapp]

It would certainly be great to get 2 UDFAs as contributing tackles (Waddle and Lucas). Great job by the scouting department.

Scouting department? He was a mid pick that broke a foot and we gave him 20 grand..

 

[lgolfer]

Scouting department? He was a mid pick that broke a foot and we gave him 20 grand..

I was referencing both Waddle and Lucas. Waddle went undrafted, we picked him up, and he played very well for us in 2013 and is a potential RT for the future. Someone did a good job to identify him, whether it was scouting or someone else.

And like you said about Lucas, he was projected to be a mid-round pick. So we were able to get a mid-round talent guy without using any of our draft picks. I'd say that's a win, even if he doesn't pan out. It's leaves us with one more draft pick to use on someone else, like the kicker we drafted in round 7. Also, a 7th round pick gets an average signing bonus of $37,000. We gave Lucas $20,000 because we felt like he's a good enough player that he deserved more than what UDFAs normally get.

 

[Mitchrapp]

I was referencing both Waddle and Lucas. Waddle went undrafted, we picked him up, and he played very well for us in 2013 and is a potential RT for the future. Someone did a good job to identify him, whether it was scouting or someone else.

And like you said about Lucas, he was projected to be a mid-round pick. So we were able to get a mid-round talent guy without using any of our draft picks. I'd say that's a win, even if he doesn't pan out. It's leaves us with one more draft pick to use on someone else, like the kicker we drafted in round 7. Also, a 7th round pick gets an average signing bonus of $37,000. We gave Lucas $20,000 because we felt like he's a good enough player that he deserved more than what UDFAs normally get.

If he doesn't pan out he's a wasted 20 grand. I hope he does but for him to play he would have to beat out Waddle or a couple guys needs to get injured..if he adds depth I'm all for it, for them 20 grand is like a nickel for me..let's see if he makes the team then I will get excited.

Here's hoping..

 

[lgolfer]

If he doesn't pan out he's a wasted 20 grand. I hope he does but for him to play he would have to beat out Waddle or a couple guys needs to get injured..if he adds depth I'm all for it, for them 20 grand is like a nickel for me..let's see if he makes the team then I will get excited.

Here's hoping..

I don't want him to start, but I'm just saying it'd be great if he's good enough to make the team and be solid depth for us this year. And like you said, 20 grand is nothing for them. They have 80 grand to spend on UDFAs anyway.

Right now there's nothing to talk about, so I thought I'd post an interesting article about a guy who has a chance of making the team.

 

[michiganalex]

depthis great

 

[Mitchrapp]

depthis great

Good depth is great..

Jason Fox type depth not so much..:nod:

Hopefully he's the former not the latter.

 

[michiganalex]

Good depth is great..

Jason Fox type depth not so much..:nod:

Hopefully he's the former not the latter.

if everything we've been reading is correct he is already better then fox

 

[Mitchrapp]

if everything we've been reading is correct he is already better then fox

I'm better than Fox. I'm somewhat healthy..sort of

 

[michiganalex]

I'm better than Fox. I'm somewhat healthy..sort of

so am i lol

 

[tonyballs]

I'm pretty excited about this Safety we picked up as an UDFA. Jerome Couplin III. Read a nice article on this kid and his testing and measurables were off the charts.

 

[lgolfer]

I'm pretty excited about this Safety we picked up as an UDFA. Jerome Couplin III. Read a nice article on this kid and his testing and measurables were off the charts.

Couplin definitely has all the measurables. 6'2, 215 lbs, 4.5 40 yard dash, 41.5 inch vertical, etc.
This article talks about how he has comparable measurables to Kam Chancellor. http://sidelionreport.com/2014/05/15/detroit-lions-undrafted-free-agents-jerome-couplin/

Based off of the below video, it looks like he is a good tackler and does a good job wrapping up the ball carrier. He looks like a guy who could possibly contribute on special teams this year or the Lions could place him on the practice squad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QlhjPWrlSA

 

[lgolfer]

In case anyone is interested, here's an article that does a great job explaining Cornelius Lucas' strengths and weaknesses: http://withthefirstpick.com/2013/12...uting-report-cornelius-lucas-ot-kansas-state/

He's great in pass protection, with very good feet and just engulfs most pass rushers. At the same time, he struggles to get low and drive through his opponent when run blocking.

 

[tonyballs]

In case anyone is interested, here's an article that does a great job explaining Cornelius Lucas' strengths and weaknesses: http://withthefirstpick.com/2013/12...uting-report-cornelius-lucas-ot-kansas-state/

He's great in pass protection, with very good feet and just engulfs most pass rushers. At the same time, he struggles to get low and drive through his opponent when run blocking.

That foot holds up and this pickup is highway robbery i think...