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Second Rounders in Focus

Isn’t it fun to have football back? Sure it’s only preseason but it’s great watching a lot of new faces make plays.

For the first time ever, we’re providing grades and stats for the preseason over on the Premium Section (which costs just $26.99 for 365 days access, so if you haven’t got it already then seriously ask yourself why), and we’ve done so at no extra charge to our loyal subscribers. If you haven’t subscribed, check out what you’re missing.

We’ve already provided notes on the first 32 picks, so it’s on to the second round.

33. Jonathan Cyprien, FS, Jacksonville Jaguars

Grade: n/a

Snaps: 0

Analysis: Cyprien was on the PUP list and unavailable for Week 1.

34. Justin Hunter, Tennessee Titans

Grade: -0.9

Snaps: 23 snaps with the backups

Analysis: Hunter’s lone target saw him catch a hitch route beyond the sticks, only to see him backtrack, lose ground, and eventually get tackled short of the marker. The third-down blunder forced the Titans' to punt.

35. Zach Ertz, TE, Philadelphia Eagles

Grade: -1.7

Snaps: 22 with starters and second string

Analysis: Got the start where he would run 12 routes, with nine of those coming from the slot. Struggled with his blocking and gave up a pressure when he looked confused as to what he was supposed to be doing. Caught 2-of-3 balls thrown his way for 10 yards.

36. Darius Slay, CB, Detroit Lions

Grade: +0.4

Snaps: 29 snaps, started at RCB

Analysis: Despite seeing a fair amount of time, Slay was untested in coverage. He did notch a hurry on his only blitz and also picked up an illegal block penalty on a punt return.

37. Giovani Bernard, RB, Cincinnati Bengals

Grade: -1.6

Snaps: 31 snaps with the second string

Analysis: A nervous debut. Showed good speed to the edge but couldn’t get anything done between the tackles, averaging just 1 yard per carry after contact. Missed a blitz pick up that even his opposition didn’t expect him to miss.

38. Manti Te’o, ILB, San Diego Chargers

Grade: -0.4

Snaps: 9 snaps with starting base defense; came off the field on passing downs

Analysis: Not an action-packed game for Te’o, whose grade stems largely from running into a block on one of his four snaps against the run.

39. Geno Smith, QB, New York Jets

Grade:  +0.1

Snaps: 16 snaps with second string

Analysis: Converted a first down on his first pass, then completed a few short passes on his way to going 6-for-7 for 47 yards. His only incompletion was batted down at the line of scrimmage. Unfortunately, Smith’s night ended early with an apparent ankle injury.

40. Tank Carradine, DE, San Francisco 49ers

Grade: n/a

Snaps: 0

Analysis: Still recovering from a knee injury suffered at the end of last season.

41. Robert Woods, WR, Buffalo Bills

Grade: -0.1

Snaps: 33 with the starters, playing the entire first half barring 3 snaps

Analysis: Would run 20 routes and pick up 32 yards, including two first downs. Didn’t impress with his perimeter run blocking and dropped a pass. May be in line to start now, but has to be looking over his shoulder after the performance of Marcus Easley.

42. Menelik Watson, OT, Oakland Raiders

Grade: n/a

Snaps: 0

Analysis: Did not play due to an injured calf.

43. Johnthan Banks, CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Grade: +1.4

Snaps: 25 snaps with the starters, 17 at RCB and 8 at LCB

Analysis: Only targeted twice, allowing one completion for five yards. Banks was a sure tackler as he came up and made four total stops, evenly split between coverage and the running game.

44. Kawann Short, DT, Carolina Panthers

Grade: +2.6

Snaps: 22 snaps, mostly with second string

Analysis: Good start for Short who picked up a hit and two hurries on his 18 pass rushes while also forcing a holding call. Only four of his 22 snaps came against the run.

45. Kevin Minter, ILB, Arizona Cardinals

Grade: -0.5

Snaps: 31 snaps with the second string defense

Analysis: Not a bad start for Minter who recorded five tackles, including three stops, but his third-quarter whiff on fellow rookie Johnathan Franklin is one he’ll want back.

46. Kiko Alonso, ILB, Buffalo Bills

Grade: -0.5

Snaps:  22 snaps with starting defense

Analysis: Alonso was all over the field in the first quarter, though not always in a good way. He looked a little tentative against the run at times, but he made a nice play covering TE Coby Fleener down the seam, knocking away a potential touchdown.

47. Gavin Escobar, TE, Dallas Cowboys

Grade: -4.7 (two games)

Snaps: 60 snaps, all but four as inline tight end

Analysis: Not known as a blocker coming out of college, Escobar has had a tough time of it in the early going, grading at -5.3. He caught his only target for a 3-yard gain.

48. Le’Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Grade: n/a

Snaps: 0

Analysis: Missed game with a knee injury.

49. Johnathan Hankins, DT, New York Giants

Grade: 0.0

Snaps: 27

Analysis: Used largely as a rusher, Hankins notched a pair of pressures on his snaps but was otherwise relatively anonymous. He did show a nice bullrush taking Maurkice Pouncey back to the quarterback for one of his pressures.

50. Jon Bostic, MLB, Chicago Bears

Grade: +1.4

Snaps: 27 snaps with the starters

Analysis: Bostic had one of the plays of the game as he read quarterback Cam Newton’s eyes, jumped his pass, and took it back for a touchdown. He has some work to do in the running game as he overshot a gap and got handled at the second level a couple times, but overall, a nice first week for Bostic.

51. David Amerson, CB Washington Redskins

Grade: +3.0

Snaps: 28 snaps with the starters, 26 at RCB

Analysis: Amerson did a nice job of keeping the ball in front of him. He broke up a pass on a hitch route and made another fine stop for a 3-yard gain on 3rd-and-4. Throw in a willingness to take on blocks in the running game and it was a great start for Amerson.

52. Jamie Collins, LB, New England Patriots

Grade: -0.3

Snaps: 37 with the second string

Analysis: Still adjusting to life as a linebacker at the NFL level. Picked up a tackle for a short gain against the run but will be disappointed with his pass rushing performance. Two pressures from 10 pass rushes might seem like a good return, but both of those came unblocked and he missed a tackle on the quarterback on one of them.

53. Margus Hunt, DE, Cincinnati Bengals

Grade: -0.5

Snaps: 41 with the second stringers

Analysis: A quiet debut. Notched two pressures but one of those was unblocked. The other, a real display of his power with a big bullrush. Looked strong again at the point of attack, with Atlanta unable to get much movement on him in the run game.

54. Jamar Taylor, CB, Miami Dolphins

Grade: n/a

Snaps: 0

Analysis: Still missing time recovering from a hernia.

55. Vance McDonald, TE, San Francisco 49ers

Grade: -1.3

Snaps: 52 snaps, mostly with second and third string

Analysis: Though he got open and made some tough catches, McDonald didn’t always show sure hands and let a few slip away. He finished with 66 yards on four catches, including 27 yards after the catch. McDonald also allowed a hurry on one of his two ventures into pass protection.

56. Arthur Brown, ILB, Baltimore Ravens

Grade: -0.1

Snaps: 21 snaps with first-team nickel defense

Analysis: Spent most of his time on the field in coverage (12 of his 21 snaps), but did manage to record an unblocked pressure on a rare chance to go after the QB.

57. D.J. Swearinger, FS, Houston Texans

Grade: -0.3

Snaps: 42

Analysis: Swearinger saw a lot of time against the Vikings, coming in with the second team and staying for the remainder of the game. He made a nice hit early for a stop but his day may be remembered for missing a tackle and allowing FB Zach Line to get loose and rattle off 61 yards up the sideline for a score.

58. Montee Ball, RB, Denver Broncos

Grade: -1.0

Snaps: 11 snaps with the backups

Analysis: Ball found little room to run on his five carries as he notched only nine yards, five of which came after contact.

59. Aaron Dobson, WR, New England Patriots

Grade: -0.9

Snaps: 44 snaps throughout the game

Analysis: Not an ideal debut for a guy looking to make a splash. He wasn’t helped by some ordinary quarterback play as he hauled in just two-of-eight passes thrown his way for 35 yards. Finished the day with one dropped pass and two chain movers.

60. Robert Alford, CB, Atlanta Falcons

Grade: +2.8

Snaps: 51 as part of the second string defense

Analysis: Put forward a case for being tested by some starters. Very eager to get involved and not shy about going after ball carriers in the run game. Lost himself once in coverage but didn’t allow a reception on three targets while finishing with two pass break ups. Impressive.

61. Eddie Lacy, RB, Green Bay Packers

Grade: n/a

Snaps: 0

Analysis:  Has yet to make his preseason debut.

62. Christine Michael, RB, Seattle Seahawks

Grade: +0.7

Snaps: 28 snaps, spread throughout the entire game

Analysis: Michael did most of his damage in the second half, but he did see some time with the starters. He finished with 89 yards on 16 carries and forced two missed tackles.

 

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