2012 NFL Draft: What to make of Quinton Coples
by Matthew Fairburn on Jan 29, 2012 5:06 PM EST
in 2012 NFL Draft
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PrintFor the past week, Quinton Coples has been electric. His performance during the week at practice, and in Saturday's game, made people forget all about the inconsistency he showed throughout his senior season, and instead label him a no-brainer, top-ten pick.
After the jump, I'll take a look at why teams might want to be careful with the latest UNC pass rusher.
Pass rushers are at a premium. I get that. In order to take down Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady, a team must be able to put significant pressure on the star quarterback.
As a result, pass rushers are consistently overvalued in the NFL Draft, which is fair. But often times, teams are too anxious to grab the next big thing at defensive end. This year, Quinton Coples is the next big thing.
But is he really?
Sure, at 6-feet-5-inches tall, Quinton Coples is a physical specimen. He is also likely to run very well at the combine. The former Tar Heel has the speed and power combo to excel both inside and out on the defensive line and beat defenders with both types of moves.
In addition to his tremendous physical talent, however, Coples has the two biggest red flags a player can have; motor and passion.
Coples disappeared at times for North Carolina, and I'm not just talking about on the stat sheet, either. There were games I watched this season where Coples showed little or no effort, and it was never more evident than in his team's bowl game.
Despite all of that , scouts were drooling over him this week at the Senior Bowl, and for good reason. He played hard and was clearly one of the most talented players on the field. There is no doubt that Quinton Coples was going full speed.
But why wouldn't he? Last week was a big week in the pre-draft process. A lot of money is waiting for Coples at the end of the tunnel if he gives it his all for the next few months in the pre-draft evaluation.
While it's unfair to fault him for flipping the switch at the right time, Coples is going to need a lot more than one dominant week against spotty competition to erase an entire season's worth of inconsistent effort.
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It's the big 'Character vs Talent' dilemma
He has all the talent you could possibly ask for. He has the body, athleticism, pass rushing moves, ability to rush effectively from either side. But the knock on him is how much does he want it. Is the kid going to give up once he gets that big NFL payday?
This is exactly what the draft evaluation process is for. Different teams will make different assessments on what kind of person he is, but it only takes one team to fall in love with his talent, and talent-wise, he’s right up in the top 10-15 range.
I can think of ten "safer" picks than Coples....so probably not.
"We will not be denied." - Antrel Rolle
by BigBlueIntervention on Jan 29, 2012 5:53 PM EST reply actions
No way in hell he's a top 10
I don’t think he’s a top 15 either, and I am down enough on him to say he slides out of the top 20. Maybe he slides like Bowers did last year.
by #56 4life on Jan 29, 2012 6:16 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
Bowers had serious injury concerns and an awful combine though
No chance that happens.
GIANTS! 2011 NFC East Champs!
Bowers didn't even participate in the combine
"Number one song and a Grammy, now I'm smashing
Maserati crashing, swerving through the traffic
Wrap it 'round a pole, sell a mil off the tragedy
I defy gravity "
Didn't he run a 5+ second 40 there?
I guess I’m thinking of his pro-day.
GIANTS! 2011 NFC East Champs!
Bowers ran 4.98 despite having knee problems
by bucs86forever on Jan 30, 2012 7:20 AM EST via Android app up reply actions
His pro-day
"Number one song and a Grammy, now I'm smashing
Maserati crashing, swerving through the traffic
Wrap it 'round a pole, sell a mil off the tragedy
I defy gravity "
Coples is a top pick
If the axiom that playmakers on offense and guys with the potential to get the QB on defense is top priority are true, Coples comes off the board early. For that not to happen, he’d have to have a disastrous combine and interview’s with the various interested teams. Coples junior tape is dominanat and I suspect that the transitions/problems with staff at UNC had an effect on the kid in his senior season.
motor and passion
i dont know what that means. that he was concerned about being injured his last year? cause that’s not what the question is. the question as to, whether to draft him in the top ten is an easy yes for me. yes, he appears to me be draftable that high simply based off his size and upside. he’s not a dumb football player either, watch him try and tip the football if he’s not getting there. at the combine more people are really going start to see it this way
Winning
As a Carolina fan, no
I see a lot of comparisons to Julius Peppers, but he’s no Peppers. I think Coples has the pure talent, to be a dominant player, but I don’t think he has mental part down yet. There’s just too much risk with him in the top ten. Top fifteen, I’d take him only if I really need a pass rusher.
by LlamaKid on Jan 29, 2012 6:58 PM EST reply actions 1 recs
I’d take him only if I really need a pass rusher
as a fan of the team that has all of its surplus of pass rushers healthy, and one of the main reasons the defense came together was the health of said pass rush, I’ll go head and laugh at you thinking that there’s an “if” to needing of pass rushers
The Panthers don’t have enough pass rushers. You do need them.
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
It will be interesting to see what Dallas does if he gets to 14
Their d-line coach was the d-line coach at NC until leaving for Dallas last year. Dallas has a need at DE and has his former position coach in college during his very good junior season. If they pass at 14, that would suggest to me that there is an issue with his work ethic or character. They could be infatuated with another prospect and pass for that reason, but no one else will likely have as high of a ceiling as Coples at 14.
by HarrisburgCowboyFan on Jan 29, 2012 8:16 PM EST reply actions
he was the dline coach at UNC for a whole month during the offseason.
"The way y'all are lollygaggin around here with them picks and them shovels, you'd think it was 120 degrees...can't be more than 114."
by SouthernPanther on Jan 29, 2012 10:17 PM EST up reply actions
Stick to things you know. The Cowboys don't need a tackle.
If I had a nickel for every Super Bowl the Eagles have won, I would have zero nickels.
Dude can sleepwalk to 10 sacks at DE.
How is he NOT a top 10 pick? He can cruise and get his ten and collect his paycheck. Or he can turn it on and try for 20. He’s that good. How could you pass on him? Especially if you run a 43 base.
He definitely is a top 10 pick easily
Especially with the new salary rules for rookies. A team can take him and will not have to overspend.
I think once he gets with a good DL coach (not that the one at NC was no good) who has access to him 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, he will get motivated.
DEs his size do not come around too often. At the very least he should be very very good against the run which all teams need. 3-4 teams will be drooling to take him.
All this motor and passion stuff is meaningless. Unless you personally know him then it is a very difficult call to make about a young man.
I think he could possibly be like Calais Campbell eventually. Or he could endup like Jamaal Anderson.
Who the hell would use a top 10 pick on someone they hoped would “possibly be like Calais Campbell eventually”?
Last name Ever
First name Greatest
#PayDeSeanJackson
I didn't watch him at all this year
But this is his line:
72 tackles__8 sacks__1 int__2 ff__10 pd
Those are all-Pro type numbers for a 3-4 DE.
GIANTS! 2011 NFC East Champs!
Campbell is pretty good right now.
Lots of top 10 picks are busts or not exactly what teams were hoping. Derrick Harvey. Darius Heyward- Bey. Jason Smith. Tyson Jackson. Andre Smith. Eugene Monroe. Michael Crabtree. CJ Spiller.
You can go on and on. You take the player that you evaluated to be someone who is worth that pick.
If Coples can turn into Campbell in 3 years the team that drafts him will be very happy indeed.
You should look at some of those guys again.
Eugene Monroe had a very good season for the Jags at Left Tackle.
Andre Smith seemed to turn a corner this year for the Bengals and looked dominant at times on the right side.
Sometimes it takes a few years for players to get comfortable with the scheme of their new team, or conversely for the teams to understand how best to use the player. Spiller seems to have come on some in the last third of the 2011 season.
"I’m sorry for all the people who want us to run the ball 40 times a game, but we’re going to put the ball in No. 9’s hands and he’s going to make plays for us like he did today," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. Amen to that Jim!
I may not know him personally
but just from watching him play this season, it was obvious that the effort wasn’t there at times. That has to be a concern for some teams. Is this guy just looking for a pay check, or is he really passionate about the game? Teams will have to make that judgement, which is not an easy one to make.
mockingthedraft.com
by Matthew Fairburn on Jan 30, 2012 12:09 AM EST up reply actions
Players get passionate once they get paid
They want to get paid again. That is the motivation.
Yeah he may not have lived up to what everyone else said he should be doing but that does not make him a bad prospect.
In college, these kids are getting taken to the cleaners by the schools and conferences. They get their little stipend and a chance to earn a degree but many may not have tried to go to college anyway. So the money is the motivation. Definitely.
I would take him. Who else are you going to take over him?
All I am saying is that I cannot post something on the internet about a young man’s passion and motor if I do not know him and I can speak on it. I just do not go out like that.
He could be Campbell or Anderson.
put the right guys around him
buffalo drafts him and puts him next to Kyle Williams, Marcell dareus, and i hope Cliff Avril now Buffalo would have an amazing front 4
Most coaches are pretty confident
and they will think they can get the most out of his potential. After the combine, which I am assume he will do well, I think top 10 is a reasonable assumption and top 15 would be pretty safe.
Coples
Did everyone miss what he had to endure at Carolina the last couple of Years? I believe when Davis was fired after he stayed and did not go pro after his junior season his spirit was partially broken and he just cruised through his senior year now thinking of his pro career more than a bowl game. So top ten? Your dang strait, he now has a new lease on life and the opportunity to once again feeling part of a team. Not many with his God given talents and size come along at Defensive End. So take the chance then watch as the other teams offenses have to use an extra body on him and watch the other defensive players stats go up. He will make everyone look and play better on that defense
Coples = Carlos Dunlap
plan accordingly.
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
Carlos Dunlap had a pretty good year with the Bengals from what I heard.
ProFootballFocus regularly raved about his play. Any Bengal fans like to chime in here?
"I’m sorry for all the people who want us to run the ball 40 times a game, but we’re going to put the ball in No. 9’s hands and he’s going to make plays for us like he did today," Lions coach Jim Schwartz said. Amen to that Jim!
by NorthLeft12 on Jan 30, 2012 11:19 AM EST up reply actions
Somewhat similar
Looks like Coples is maybe more of a physical specimen while Dunlap relies on speed more.
Dunlap had a tough year this year due to a nagging hammy injury, but even if he is not getting sacks, he is always getting pressures. HUGE asset to the Bengals pass rush squad.
by steve henderson on Jan 30, 2012 1:13 PM EST up reply actions
that's what I'm saying
Dunlap coasted through his last season at UF but was considered a top 3 pick leading into that year, he also had some character concerns. Coples had almost an identical career turn.
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
He reminds more of Mario Williams
Both coming out as a junior. with freakish size Williams didnt really get #1 pick hype until he blew it up at the combine. Pretty sure i remember talk of Williams lack of passion and motor. Or at least one of those.
Too hard to find good athletes who are 6-6, 280
For me, he is 1-2 in the draft with Andrew Luck. In a lot of ways he is more impressive than Luck. Coples is a senior, but a year younger than Luck, who is a junior. For that matter Quinton is the only senior prospect who is likely top 15 pick, and he is younger than all the others except Trent Richardson, who is just a month or so younger.
The guy is a natural leader as well. Look at him and listen to him, and he could be 35, not 21. Almost LeBron James like in that respect. Better pure prospect than any of the linemen who went in the last draft.
Did you guys even watch him this year?!
He was INVISIBLE
Panther Pride 'till I die.
by mangoes52 on Jan 30, 2012 11:20 PM EST reply actions 2 recs
Can he teach me how to do that?
Because there is a lot of things I would like to do. Like fixing people shoes
And when we win, we want to dominate. We want to take guys out. We want to hurt guys. We want to win. We just want to dominate, hit them in the mouth. - Rathman
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