D.J. Fluker, OT, Alabama - Page 3

Iamcanadian · 01-16-2013, 11:15 PM

Fluker will be drafted to play RT, he is no where near the athlete that Glenn was and completely lacks the feet for the LT position. He'll go late 1st or early second because RT's don't get drafted too early.
Could he play OG, yes, but he has little experience playing there and may take a year or 2 to reach even average production. His agent will also resist the move because OG's make less money than OT's including RT's.

CrossOfDeath · 01-17-2013, 12:05 PM

I have focused soley on pass rushers this season but many times a guy I was watching was playing Alabama. D.J. Fluker is one of the worst OTs I have watched this season. I think Bobbie Massie was better than him last year and Massie fell to the 4th. Fluker may not fall that far because this is a weaker class, but I don't think anyone is going to get a good quality starter out of him.

ph90702 · 01-17-2013, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by descendency

After watching more of Barrett Jones, I'm 99% sure he's going to fall alot father than people expect.

He struggled with the speed A&M gave him. It lead to TFL, holding penalties, and interior of the pocket was basically collapsed on numerous plays.

NFL evaluators are going to continue wondering if he has the athleticism to play in the NFL.

Jeff Saturday isn't a great athlete, and he's had a nice career. Also, Barrett Jones is very intelligent.

JohnCandy · 01-20-2013, 01:16 PM

I think you are seeing this more and more often in the NFL. I call it the Saints method of drafting big, physical nasty OTs and moving them to OG. Like Jahri Evans, Carl Nicks and Kelechi Osemele come to mind.

Fluker to me is a more battle tested, SEC, version of Kelechi Osemele who was really good for the Ravens at RT and LG and if we re-drafted would go in the 1st round.

Sometimes these guys even make it at OT, Cordy Glenn and Orlando Franklin.

JohnCandy · 01-20-2013, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrossOfDeath

I have focused soley on pass rushers this season but many times a guy I was watching was playing Alabama. D.J. Fluker is one of the worst OTs I have watched this season. I think Bobbie Massie was better than him last year and Massie fell to the 4th. Fluker may not fall that far because this is a weaker class, but I don't think anyone is going to get a good quality starter out of him.

"I thought even in pass protection this year he did a heck of a job," Kiper Jr. said. "That was the big question mark with him. Got very incredibly long arms, physical, tough player. I thought he held up a lot better in pass protection."

Kiper Jr. ranks Fluker as the No. 1 right tackle available in the 2013 NFL Draft. In his latest mock draft, he has Fluker landing with the St. Louis Rams at No. 22.

Gil Brandt of NFL.com projected Fluker to go 13th overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

http://www.al.com/alabamafootball/in..._dj_fluke.html

JRTPlaya21 · 01-20-2013, 01:22 PM

Lol Bobby Massie.

bigbuc · 01-20-2013, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRTPlaya21

Lol Bobby Massie.

The guy started to get it late in the season.

JohnCandy · 01-20-2013, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JRTPlaya21

Lol Bobby Massie.

I am guessing you are a Bama fan?

What is your opinion of Fluker?

JRTPlaya21 · 01-20-2013, 02:01 PM

Not quite as nimble on his feet as some would want in a right tackle but against most of the top speed rushers he faced this year he did quite well. I think wherever he ends up he will be a serviceable lineman for the next decade. Very effective in the run game and with the right coaching I think big Fluker could be a stud in the pass pro as well.

Ozzy · 01-20-2013, 04:53 PM

I don't see why all this hate on DJ Fluker, kid has been an NFL prospect since his redshirt freshman year. He can physically impose his will on defensive lineman and linebackers, he moves people. Sure might be so so in pass protection but has got way better since he started.

He will be a 1st round pick, no reason to think he cannot have a good pro career. And like many have said as well as myself long time ago, if tackle does not work out guard is a possibility as well.

JohnCandy · 01-21-2013, 09:57 AM

@DraftCountdown: #Alabama OT D.J. Fluker is HUGE! 6-4 7/8 and 355 pounds, 36 3/8 Arms, 10 1/4 Hands with a 87 Wingspan!!! WOW!

AntoinCD · 01-21-2013, 09:58 AM

If Fluker's calf is ok he could make some money this week. If he can show he can handle pass rushers he could go as high as mid teens

Goon61 · 01-21-2013, 05:34 PM

If I was a scout I would be drooling over Fluker right now and re watching tape. That kind of size just doesn't come around too often.

I hope no one compares him to Cordy Glenn as Glenn was a great athlete.

Also if I was a scout my team would probably draft him and then he would just totally let himself go and he would suck because he has no quickness

JohnCandy · 01-21-2013, 05:36 PM

I really hope that if he practices that he gets some reps at OG.

Monomach · 01-21-2013, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnCandy

I think you are seeing this more and more often in the NFL. I call it the Saints method of drafting big, physical nasty OTs and moving them to OG. Like Jahri Evans, Carl Nicks and Kelechi Osemele come to mind.

Fluker to me is a more battle tested, SEC, version of Kelechi Osemele who was really good for the Ravens at RT and LG and if we re-drafted would go in the 1st round.

Sometimes these guys even make it at OT, Cordy Glenn and Orlando Franklin.

I don't think you get to name it since it's been happening in the entire time that the NFL has existed. We're not seeing more and more of it. It's always been the case. Most NFL guards were big, physical tackles at some point who were converted because they didn't have the quickness or footwork for the outside. The Saints just had two success stories at the same time, so you finally noticed it. ;)

energizerbunny · 01-21-2013, 07:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Monomach

I don't think you get to name it since it's been happening in the entire time that the NFL has existed. We're not seeing more and more of it. It's always been the case. Most NFL guards were big, physical tackles at some point who were converted because they didn't have the quickness or footwork for the outside. The Saints just had two success stories at the same time, so you finally noticed it. ;)

While that may be true in some cases, the reason many guys get moved inside is more for a lack of length.

The thing that jumps off the screen when watching Fluker is how nasty he is, I would venture to say you won't find many guys that have the desire to wipe his man on the stat sheet like he does.

Technically he has his deficiencies, 1st off he does not play with the best balance, which is easily correctable especially with such a large base as he has.

His hand placement is inconsistent, but again a lot of that has to do with the balance issue.

I think you try to project him as a guard to be honest (If you value LG more than RT), he isn't the athlete Iupati is in space, but I think he is stronger at the point that him. His length and ability to brawl in a phone booth would do wonders at LG with all these hybrid 30 fronts bringing their 5 tech's in on the guards on passing situations to exploit mismatches (i.e. JJ Watt).

My last thought on him would be that is going to run better than a lot of people think, he may be a little tight in the calves and ankles but he is no slouch when it comes to movement skills, the ability is clearly there.

JohnCandy · 01-21-2013, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by energizerbunny

While that may be true in some cases, the reason many guys get moved inside is more for a lack of length.

The thing that jumps off the screen when watching Fluker is how nasty he is, I would venture to say you won't find many guys that have the desire to wipe his man on the stat sheet like he does.

Technically he has his deficiencies, 1st off he does not play with the best balance, which is easily correctable especially with such a large base as he has.

His hand placement is inconsistent, but again a lot of that has to do with the balance issue.

I think you try to project him as a guard to be honest (If you value LG more than RT), he isn't the athlete Iupati is in space, but I think he is stronger at the point that him. His length and ability to brawl in a phone booth would do wonders at LG with all these hybrid 30 fronts bringing their 5 tech's in on the guards on passing situations to exploit mismatches (i.e. JJ Watt).

My last thought on him would be that is going to run better than a lot of people think, he may be a little tight in the calves and ankles but he is no slouch when it comes to movement skills, the ability is clearly there.

I think he is going to blow up the combine.

I think he is the most powerful player we have seen in the draft process maybe ever.

In the phone booth when he does not need to re-direct, when he just has to punch, grab and sit he could be awesome.

energizerbunny · 01-21-2013, 07:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnCandy

I think he is going to blow up the combine.

I think he is the most powerful player we have seen in the draft process maybe ever.

In the phone booth when he does not need to re-direct, when he just has to punch, grab and sit he could be awesome.

Thats why I think if he can move inside he could potentially be a better Guard than Warmack. Given a power blocking scheme.

JohnCandy · 01-21-2013, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by energizerbunny

Thats why I think if he can move inside he could potentially be a better Guard than Warmack. Given a power blocking scheme.

The biggest problems OGs have is getting bull rushed and allowing the pocket to collapse.

Good luck bull rushing this guy.

Abaddon · 01-22-2013, 03:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by energizerbunny

Thats why I think if he can move inside he could potentially be a better Guard than Warmack. Given a power blocking scheme.

Slooow down there, Tex.

Iamcanadian · 01-22-2013, 10:33 AM

I think he needs to lose about 15-20lbs. I could see him dropping to late round 1 or early round 2 if teams question his committment to staying in shape.

JohnCandy · 01-22-2013, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iamcanadian

I think he needs to lose about 15-20lbs. I could see him dropping to late round 1 or early round 2 if teams question his committment to staying in shape.

Where is he losing it from?

He looks like he is in really good shape.

http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=fluker...9,r:3,s:0,i:94

Monomach · 01-22-2013, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnCandy

Where is he losing it from?

He looks like he is in really good shape.

http://www.google.ca/imgres?q=fluker...9,r:3,s:0,i:94

That's just about the healthiest-looking 355 lbs ever.

AntoinCD · 01-22-2013, 02:06 PM

Yeah if Fluker runs with his top off you aren't going to see a titty bounce like you did with Andre Smith. He is so damn solid and thick the whole way through his body.

In the right scheme Fluker could be dominant at either RT or inside at OG. Don't ask him to be a zone guy or anything like that but he could be damn nasty in a power blocking front.

Big_Pete · 01-23-2013, 05:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iamcanadian

Fluker will be drafted to play RT, he is no where near the athlete that Glenn was and completely lacks the feet for the LT position. He'll go late 1st or early second because RT's don't get drafted too early.
Could he play OG, yes, but he has little experience playing there and may take a year or 2 to reach even average production. His agent will also resist the move because OG's make less money than OT's including RT's.

I don't buy that at all

Fluker will get paid based on where he gets drafted just like any other rookie.

And Fluker will play wherever his NFL team wants him to play.

Good Right Tackles get drafted in the same kind of area as good Guard prospects. Teams will play him wherever they need him.

All this can change after 3-4 seasons when he becomes eligible for free agency, but until then neither Fluker or his agent will have much choice in his career options.