Shaq Thompson profootballfocus #8 most overrated player

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SteveInShelton

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insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2015/insider/story/_/id/12742251/trae-waynes-arik-armstead-overrated-prospects-2015-nfl-draft

8. Shaq Thompson, S/LB, Washington
People have been in love with Thompson's athleticism since he was a five-star recruit coming out of high school in Sacramento. However, all the athleticism in the world won't make up for poor instincts as a linebacker, and Thompson has yet to show he can make the necessary reads for the position. His 7.3 run-stop percentage was 41st among 58 draft-eligible starting inside linebackers, and he was an overall ineffective player against the run, outside of forcing and recovering fumbles.
Thompson's skill set translates better to safety, as he was smooth in coverage and has nickelback experience, but it's hard to feel comfortable picking a player early for a position you've never seen him play.
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He did get washed out of running plays quite a bit. It seems like his stock is slipping now after being a 1st round lock most of the pre-draft cycle. Surprised this article didn't mention his running back experience though (kidding I'm not surprised ESPN sucks).
 
He had trouble shedding p12 blockers... disappeared for large chunks of games as well. Consistently inconsistent.

I wouldn't take a 1st or 2nd round pick on him.
 
He's looking like a third rounder in most recent mocks I've seen
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That seems fair. The 1st round hype was malarkey.
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I think he still had a shot at the first round if he would have run a 4.5 or so 40. Running in the mid 4.6's told everybody "maybe he's not as explosive as the defensive TD totals suggest" and when they started looking into it they realized he wasn't that productive outside the big plays either.

All that said, I still think he could be a go to running back in the NFL, 40 time be damned. I don't think he'll be special on defense though.
 
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insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2015/insider/story/_/id/12742251/trae-waynes-arik-armstead-overrated-prospects-2015-nfl-draft

8. Shaq Thompson, S/LB, Washington
People have been in love with Thompson's athleticism since he was a five-star recruit coming out of high school in Sacramento. However, all the athleticism in the world won't make up for poor instincts as a linebacker, and Thompson has yet to show he can make the necessary reads for the position. His 7.3 run-stop percentage was 41st among 58 draft-eligible starting inside linebackers, and he was an overall ineffective player against the run, outside of forcing and recovering fumbles.
Thompson's skill set translates better to safety, as he was smooth in coverage and has nickelback experience, but it's hard to feel comfortable picking a player early for a position you've never seen him play.
Click to expand...

He did get washed out of running plays quite a bit. It seems like his stock is slipping now after being a 1st round lock most of the pre-draft cycle. Surprised this article didn't mention his running back experience though (kidding I'm not surprised ESPN sucks).
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Was he? Help me out on this one...

I remember him getting burned by a TE from ASU and a few other gaffes during his time here when he was covering WRs. He doesn't seem to have that elite safety speed to keep up with NFL WRs either (4.64 40). Still, I feel better about him at safety than LB when he's 6 foot, 228.

I think his future is brightest at RB.
 
Shaq's defensive TDs (which were mostly the result of him being in the right place at the right time) expanded his mythos, which went far beyond his actual on-field production
 
Shaq's defensive TDs (which were mostly the result of him being in the right place at the right time) expanded his mythos, which went far beyond his actual on-field production
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Also, his 50 yard scamper against Eastern was so wide open and well blocked, puppy steel could have scored on that play.
 
I thought Shaq was a year away from being truly good. He's a playmaker, you can't take that away from him. You can say, 'outside of his 4 defensive TDs', but it doesn't really make sense. Shaq was outstanding because he made things happen randomly. There's a reason why he has 4 defensive TDs and Travis Feeney didn't (or anyone else in NCAA football). It's not luck. He had a lot of DTDs while he was here.

The problem is, outside of those plays, he gets swallowed up, thinks too much and doesn't play super physical. When he knows what he's doing he's dangerous. With a ball in his hand, he's dangerous... but as a LB for us? He was consistently a B-level player with lightning strikes whenever he played all-out.

I think he could be good in the NFL if he dedicates himself to it. He just needs to turn it WAY up for that to happen. I don't enough to know if that will. A team like the Hawks could probably get that out of him, but some random team, he might wash out ASAP.
 
I thought Shaq was a year away from being truly good. He's a playmaker, you can't take that away from him. You can say, 'outside of his 4 defensive TDs', but it doesn't really make sense. Shaq was outstanding because he made things happen randomly. There's a reason why he has 4 defensive TDs and Travis Feeney didn't (or anyone else in NCAA football). It's not luck. He had a lot of DTDs while he was here.

The problem is, outside of those plays, he gets swallowed up, thinks too much and doesn't play super physical. When he knows what he's doing he's dangerous. With a ball in his hand, he's dangerous... but as a LB for us? He was consistently a B-level player with lightning strikes whenever he played all-out.

I think he could be good in the NFL if he dedicates himself to it. He just needs to turn it WAY up for that to happen. I don't enough to know if that will. A team like the Hawks could probably get that out of him, but some random team, he might wash out ASAP.
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Yup, there were for sure moments when he flashed (outside of the TD's), but for me those moments were when he was closing space on the edge. I remember several plays (one being on Vernon Adams when he was scrambling) where he would just go like a rocket on a play in space and make a play and you're like, "OK, I see it". But he never did that consistently, and it never showed up between the tackles.

I still think he should be a RB.
 
I thought Shaq was a year away from being truly good. He's a playmaker, you can't take that away from him. You can say, 'outside of his 4 defensive TDs', but it doesn't really make sense. Shaq was outstanding because he made things happen randomly. There's a reason why he has 4 defensive TDs and Travis Feeney didn't (or anyone else in NCAA football). It's not luck. He had a lot of DTDs while he was here.

The problem is, outside of those plays, he gets swallowed up, thinks too much and doesn't play super physical. When he knows what he's doing he's dangerous. With a ball in his hand, he's dangerous... but as a LB for us? He was consistently a B-level player with lightning strikes whenever he played all-out.

I think he could be good in the NFL if he dedicates himself to it. He just needs to turn it WAY up for that to happen. I don't enough to know if that will. A team like the Hawks could probably get that out of him, but some random team, he might wash out ASAP.
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You guys roasted me a while back suggesting Shaq could have used redshirt.

Edit: what he really needed was a Peteshirt
 
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He really should change his attitude and play Safety, in fact he should have stayed a year to prove he could play the position at a high level
 
Shaq's defensive TDs (which were mostly the result of him being in the right place at the right time) expanded his mythos, which went far beyond his actual on-field production
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I have a hard time with this quote.

One TD is luck. Two TD's is knowing what to do with the chance. Three TD's or more and you make special things happen.
 
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