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Summary from NFL.com -- Oklahoma signed Samia (pronounced suh-MEE-uh) as a top 15 offensive tackle recruit nationally out of Sacramento. He started 9 of 12 games at right tackle his true freshman year. In 2016, however, after a start at right tackle in the opener, he was moved to right guard for the final 12 games to earn honorable mention All-Big 12 accolades. Samia stayed at right guard as a junior, starting 12 of 13 games played to land second-team all-conference honors. He was ejected in the Sooners' hotly-contested game against West Virginia for throwing a punch. Samia started all 14 games on the Joe Moore Award-winning Oklahoma offensive line in 2018, garnering second-team All-American notice from the Associated Press and a first-team All-Big 12 nod from league coaches.
@sportscoach and the Titsburgh Feelers are now on the clock. Personally, I hope I took who he wanted.
Sure. Why not. After all, I’m giving out picks like candy to school children.Well, if he's that upset about it, maybe you can just give away another future draft pick, like you did in your pre-draft trade, just to appease him.
I'm such an asshole.
Tennessee Titans, back at it again.
Going to keep posting pictures of our new franchise quarterback until it's all you can think about at night. Get used to it, ladies.
OK, on with the pick....
With the 82nd pick in the 2019 RCF NFL Draft, the Tennessee Titans select:
Dru Samia, Right Guard, Oklahoma University
View attachment 1982
Senior Bowl Week -
Why for the Titans? Well, we know that the offensive line on this team has been a strength for the past several seasons. That said, they had some issues on the interior in 2018 and Josh Kline and Quinton Spain are now out of the picture. Cleveland-native Rodger Saffold was brought in to lock down the LG position. However, Kevin Pamphile is currently projected as the starter at right guard and he's a replacement level player. He'd be better served as a backup.
Enter Dru Samia. This is a big, nasty man. He'll finish blocks. He'll let you know about it. He'll protect our new quarterback. He's ready to roll. If you don’t believe me, the mean streak he displayed at Senior Bowl week has me believing he could play a Batman villain. And I like my offensive linemen like I like my women, a little mean and not afraid to ride you to the ground.
This guy is a steal right here in the middle of the 3rd round. Frankly, he should've come off the board in round 2. He's an extremely skilled athlete at the guard position, and weighing in at 305 lbs at the combine put to bed a lot of concerns over his playing weight.
As a player, you're getting a guy who started 48 games in college. He's played right tackle successfully as a true freshman at Oklahoma. As talented as those teams were, this dude stepped right in and started from Day 1. He kicked into right guard as a sophomore and the rest is history. He proceeded to be a three-time all-Big 12 selection. He was a 2nd team All American as a senior, where he didn't give up a single sack. He was also Big 12 offensive lineman of the year as a senior. Think about the talented players who have come through Oklahoma the past several years--specifically on the offensive line--and remember that this guy has been starting the last 4 years. FROM THE JUMP.
It's also important to think about the size of the quarterbacks he's been protecting. Baker Mayfield, a shade under 6'1. Kyler Murray, a shade over 5'10. What do shorter quarterbacks hate? Ask Drew Brees. It's pressure up the middle. It's the pressure that comes in their face. Part of the reason Baker Mayfield was so great as a rookie for the Browns was the protection afforded to him up the middle from Bitonio, Tretter, and Zeitler. Well, Baker won the Heisman at Oklahoma and broke seemingly every NCAA passing efficiency record. Guess who was locking down the interior for him there? The same guy protecting Kyler Murray during his Heisman campaign and allowing ZERO sacks. Dru Freaking Samia. This game is still won in the trenches, brethren.
So, sure, he could stand to continue to put a little more junk in his trunk, but right now, his athleticism is extremely beneficial as a move guard. He's strong from a technical stand point, showing good footwork and the ability to bend his knees and consistently stay the low-man in his matchups despite being 6'5. He's going to fit in seamlessly at right guard in Tennessee. FROM THE JUMP.
This fills a huge area of need for Tennessee and guarantees that the strength of this team stays the strength of this team.
Expert Take from Jon Ledyard -
Pass Protection - NFL teams may have some issue with his stance at times, but it seems to work for him so well I'm not sure I would mess with it. If power rushes are the way to beat him as a smaller offensive lineman, I haven't seen it work. Anchors with a strong based and terrific core strength. Able to mirror counters with terrific movement skills and good hand placement. How many quality pass rushers did he face this year? Not many, probably even less 1v1. Pass rushers with quick, violent hands were the only ones who seemed to get around him.
POA Run Blocking - Oklahoma runs a lot of zone or counters/pin-pull concepts, so Samia is not asked to be a true vertical blocker very often. Not a mauler at the point of attack, but savvy with his technique and hand placement to gain ideal position and seal off lanes. Big 12 level of defensive line talent needs to be taken into consideration here.
Functional Strength - Not the biggest or strongest offensive lineman, and there are instances of power players moving him a bit on the interior. Despite his impressive functional strength due to technique and ability to find leverage points, I do worry about what happens against some of the big, long defensive linemen in NFL. Matchup with Raekwon Davis should tell us a lot.
Pass Pro Footwork - Quick setups to establish half-man as needed. Often uncovered, so will have to quickly move laterally to pick up twisters, showing excellent fluidity and balance. Base is strong, almost never on the ground or thrown off his base. Couple times I noticed him stop his feet and get beat by a secondary move, which may be more of an awareness issue than anything else.
Strike Timing/Placement - Attention to detail to find leverage points and displace opponents ever so savvily, without disarming power, is impressive. Under control and times his strikes well in pass protection. Despite lack of size, haven't seen him overpowered much by opposing bull rushes. Lack of size and length are concerning for landing meaningful strikes against long-levered defenders in NFL. Quick with his hands to counter and swat down his opponent's punch with a trap move.
Leverage - Plays with excellent knee bend and leveraged hands. Consistently the low man in 1v1 exchanges, allowing him to create movement that his smaller frame otherwise wouldn't be able to. Digs low on double teams to uproot his opponent, maximizing his traits by attacking leverage points.
Space Blocking - One of the best pulling offensive linemen in the country. Consistently explosive out of his stance and under control when reaching his target. Reacts beautifully to his opponent's technique, countering with ideal hand placement and body positioning to seal off rush lanes. Good balance and agility to adjust angle on the move. Rare movement skills to chase upfield-bursting edge defenders past the play when pulling. Able to work down to the second level and reach defenders, but can get a little hung up on first level contact, delaying his arrival downfield. An asset in space on the screen game.
Competitive Toughness - No issues here. Not a big-time finisher, but plays with an edge and embraces the physicality of the game. Works hard to create extra movement.
Mental Processing - Active eyes to find late blitzers or pick up twists. Consistently looked for help when uncovered. Adjusted fluidly to his target when on the move as a blocker, especially pulling. Had no issues executing his assignments, even against late shifts of the defensive front.
Athleticism/Size - Elite athlete for an offensive lineman, but his weigh-in will be a concern. If he hits 300 pounds, that's a huge win, but I'm not sure I see that in the cards for him. (Note: He weighed in at 305 lbs at the NFL combine)
BEST TRAIT - Space Blocking
WORST TRAIT - Size/Length
RED FLAGS - None
A four-year starter at Oklahoma who locked down the right tackle spot as a true freshman before moving to guard for his final three seasons, Samia is one of the smallest guards in the class, but his size is rarely an issue on tape. Highly athletic and extremely technical, Samia uses rare explosiveness and the ability to find leverage points to surprise his opponents, maneuvering them out of gaps in the run game with ease.
Of course, the NFL will provide a different level of defensive line talent than he faced in the Big 12, especially as pass rushers. Where Samia was often uncovered at the snap or had to deal primarily with bull rushes or defenders twisting inside off of a game, in the NFL he'll face more complicated rush plans and superior athletes. How he fares against Alabama in the playoffs and at the Senior Bowl will be huge, but right now Samia looks like a lock to come off the board early in day two.
Film -
Vrabel's jacked up about the pick.
AND, OF COURSE, THE LADIES REJOICE...
Tennessee's Draft Haul:
1st Rd (#19) - Traded for Matthew Stafford, QB
2nd Rd (#51) - Drafted Irv Smith Jr, TE, Alabama
3rd Rd (#82) - Drafted Dru Samia, RG, Oklahoma
@sportscoach and the Titsburgh Feelers are now on the clock. Personally, I hope I took who he wanted.
Welp, can’t unsee that now.Is it me or does Stafford look like a fat, scruffy Elon Musk?