Chase Thomas UDFA [MERGED]

[Saint Kamara]

I'll be shocked if he doesn't make it to the practice squad at the very least.

Now that I can see happening.

 

[meily]

He may lack ideal physical tools but his technique looks really polished. On top of that we need to be priming a new leader for our D and this guy could be it.

I really like his chances just based on work ethic, smarts and good fundamentals.

People forget that our linebackers are rushers and will more than likely play in space in pass defense mostly defending the short passing game and the middle linebackers covering the middle of the field with the secondary either playing man or zone...Chase Thomas...Galette or Butler (natural DE) are goung to be asjed to do the same the only player on the outside I think will excel immediately is Wilson because he's a natural linebacker with DE size (6'4 250lbs).

 

[meily]

LB Chase Thomas focuses on making New Orleans Saints roster rather than being undrafted | NOLA.com


Even Chase was confused about him going undrafted. I think he atleast makes the 53 man roster..he could be the Colston of the defense...that being a low round player who earns the trust if the coaching staff and earns snaps...even unseats sokeine by midseason becayse you couldnt keep him off the field...it could happen with this guy.

 

[TCUDan]

Haven't read the whole thread, but I'll throw this in... Chase Thomas' measurables aren't really a problem. As someone pointed out, he's right on par with Jarvis Jones. A lot of rush linebackers and DEs in the NFL are 4.8/4.9 guys and they still rush the passer well.

I think what shows up on film--and what contributed to Thomas falling down the board--is that he does not really possess that quick-twitch explosiveness that you see out of a guy like Jarvis Jones. From a production standpoint, he is able to make up for it with effort. Just a non-stop, consistent motor. But where scouts become concerned is "how does that translate to the NFL."

Saying someone is lacking in "measurables" is not always the same as saying they're lacking in physical ability. I like Thomas, and there's a reason he's projected as one of the top UDFAs that was available. But if you stop looking at the 40 times and you put on some film (or highlights, whatever), you see a lot of his plays coming from effort, which is great... but you also see that the explosiveness is not there. That short-area burst to close on a QB.

So now you ask, "How many of those 7.5 sacks would have made in the NFL?"

Again, not saying this is necessarily my feelings on him, but this is what scouts are seeing and this is the reason he fell. Whoever compared him to Ninkovich had the right idea. But remember... it took Ninkovich years of development before he finally solidified his role on an NFL defense.

In short, stop expecting him to push for a starting position. I just can't see that happening. But he does have a chance to earn a roster spot.

 

[Saint Kamara]

Well said TCUDan.

You cleared up "lack of athleticism" vs "lack of measurables".

Saints have been living on linebackers who can't quite get to the quarterback for the past 7 years. I see Chase Thomas in that same mold.

 

[TruSaint]

dont look at measurables they mean nothing, i dont care how fast ur 40 time is, if u can rush the passer u can rush the passer.

 

[El Caliente]

dont look at measurables they mean nothing, i dont care how fast ur 40 time is, if u can rush the passer u can rush the passer.

Obviously somebody is looking at them (and somebody in NFL front offices at that) because outside of his play what else would prevent him from being drafted.

To the guy that asked if I was interested in Jarvis Jones (yet he and Chase ran the same 40). Yes I did want Jones, and I am not even an SEC fan. But the difference in competition the two faced was night and day.

 

[TCUDan]

Some tweeners without the prototypical measurables turn out okay. I saw the comparison to Rob Ninkovich. If Chase Thomas can do what Nink does, we got us a nice addition via UDFA. There have been plenty of guys with an abundance of talent with no heart that fizzle out in the NFL while there are just as many guys with questionable talent and more heart that thrive.

dont look at measurables they mean nothing, i dont care how fast ur 40 time is, if u can rush the passer u can rush the passer.

Obviously somebody is looking at them (and somebody in NFL front offices at that) because outside of his play what else would prevent him from being drafted.

To the guy that asked if I was interested in Jarvis Jones (yet he and Chase ran the same 40). Yes I did want Jones, and I am not even an SEC fan. But the difference in competition the two faced was night and day.

"You can rush the passer in college" does not always mean you can rush the passer in the NFL.

Again, it's not the measurables. It's the film. The thing that makes scouting a profession is the ability to watch a player during a game and see things that the average observer doesn't. Where the casual fan says "Oh look at CT getting to the QB", the scout says "He really isn't showing much explosiveness." So you start basically assessing if the method through which he made his plays (effort and motor) makes up for his lack of quick-twitch athleticism ENOUGH to translate his college production to the NFL.

Most scouts felt it didn't.

I love effort players. I think a player can get a long way on that. But a lot of scouts look at CT and determined that he would either be neutralized or constantly a step late in getting to the QB.

An alternate example would be Junior Galette. Galette probably runs a 40 time similar to CT, but he looks like a speed rusher out there because he's so explosive. His short-area burst sets him apart.

Chase Thomas measures fine. Unfotunately his lack of explosive athleticism showed up on film and that's what kept scouts and coaches from deeming him to be a draftable player.

 

[BIG DAWG]

He ran a 4.9 40...that's why he wasnt drafted.

He is fast as ex-lax working through your system though...Dude look like a fast Urlacher. (Hard work beats Talent)!! These Vets better come ready to compete in camp all i know.

Chase Thomas
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/XWRV3AIvRBs" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/V4NWVkZRKT4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[El Caliente]

I hope he makes the team, and we find our pass rushing specialist, but its not going to be as easy as some think.

TCU, I get what your saying and I agree. There is speed, then there is football speed like Jerry Rice. I imagine his lack of football speed is what hurt his chances of being drafted.

 

[Fleur de Lies]

London Fletcher and James Harrison both went undrafted but found huge success in the NFL. This guy could very well do the same.

 

[TCUDan]

I hope he makes the team, and we find our pass rushing specialist, but its not going to be as easy as some think.

TCU, I get what your saying and I agree. There is speed, then there is football speed like Jerry Rice. I imagine his lack of football speed is what hurt his chances of being drafted.

Yea and it's not even necessarily a speed thing. I don't think he has a speed/range issue. I think it is pretty much isolated to short-area burst. That quick-twitch athleticism. He's a smooth athlete and all that, but when you're a pass rusher and that's your specialization, being able to kick it into gear for a few miliseconds is the difference between a sack/pressure and a TD. It's the difference between getting around the edge and being neutralized.

And actually, one of our draftees that I'm really high on but also kind of lacks that quick twitch is Kenny Stills. Now he's a sub 4.4 guy, but scouts don't talk about him as a deep threat because he's not a "burst" guy. Robert Meachem probably didn't break below 4.4 but he constantly popped the top off of defenses because of his burst. Stills is more of a fluid athlete, a taller Lance Moore with a slightly faster 40 time.

I still think he can be a deep threat, but he's going to get his separation off of double moves and savvy route running, rather than breaking the DBs cushion with suddenness.

But I digress. My point is the Stills/Meachem is similar to the Thomas/Galette comparison. It is about explosiveness, not speed.

London Fletcher and James Harrison both went undrafted but found huge success in the NFL. This guy could very well do the same.

Yea there is example after example of undrafted free agent who went on to have a storybook career. But for every one of them, there's 50 guys who never made an NFL roster. Only its hard to throw out those examples because no one remembers their names.

No one is saying that Chase Thomas can't make it in the NFL b/c he was a UDFA. But I'd temper down the expectations. He has a long road ahead of him just to make the roster...

 

[ironhead]

Obviously somebody is looking at them (and somebody in NFL front offices at that) because outside of his play what else would prevent him from being drafted.

To the guy that asked if I was interested in Jarvis Jones (yet he and Chase ran the same 40). Yes I did want Jones, and I am not even an SEC fan. But the difference in competition the two faced was night and day.

Meh, the SEC East was pretty underwhelming last year especially in offense:
(Outside of Georgia which was pretty good on offense)

Offensive rankings of Georgia's opponents and the points Georgia gave up:

Nebraska ranked 15th (Georgia gave up 31)
Alabama 19th (gave up 32)
Georgia Tech 22d (gave up 10)
Tennessee 35th total offense (gave up 44)
Ole Miss ranked 42d (gave up 10)
Vanderbilt 74th (gave up 3)
Florida 97th (gave up 9)
Missouri 102d (gave up 20)
Kentucky 114th (gave up 24)
Auburn ranked 117th (gave up 0)

Average offensive ranking of opponents: 63.7
Average points given up by Georgia: 18.3

Stanford's opponents on the other hand:

Oregon ranked 4th (Stanford held them to 14)
Arizona ranked 6th (gave up 48)
UCLA ranked 13th (gave up 17 then 24 in next matchup)
USC ranked 38th (gave up 14)
Oregon State 40th (gave up 23)
Wisconsin 43rd (gave up 14)
Notre Dame 48th (gave up 14 in regulation)
California 86th (gave up 3)
Washington 91th (gave up 17)
Colorado: 118th (gave up 0)

Average offensive ranking of Stanford's opponents: 48.7
Average points given up by Stanford: 17.09

 

[El Caliente]

Meh, the SEC East was pretty underwhelming last year especially in offense:
(Outside of Georgia which was pretty good on offense)

Offensive rankings of Georgia's opponents and the points Georgia gave up:

Nebraska ranked 15th (Georgia gave up 31)
Alabama 19th (gave up 32)
Georgia Tech 22d (gave up 10)
Tennessee 35th total offense (gave up 44)
Ole Miss ranked 42d (gave up 10)
Vanderbilt 74th (gave up 3)
Florida 97th (gave up 9)
Missouri 102d (gave up 20)
Kentucky 114th (gave up 24)
Auburn ranked 117th (gave up 0)

Average offensive ranking of opponents: 63.7
Average points given up by Georgia: 18.3

Stanford's opponents on the other hand:

Oregon ranked 4th (Stanford held them to 14)
Arizona ranked 6th (gave up 48)
UCLA ranked 13th (gave up 17 then 24 in next matchup)
USC ranked 38th (gave up 14)
Oregon State 40th (gave up 23)
Wisconsin 43rd (gave up 14)
Notre Dame 48th (gave up 14 in regulation)
California 86th (gave up 3)
Washington 91th (gave up 17)
Colorado: 118th (gave up 0)

Average offensive ranking of Stanford's opponents: 48.7
Average points given up by Stanford: 17.09

Interesting note here.

I was posting these same comments when I discussed with others why Manti Teo was a first rounder, and a better MLB than Kevin Minter.