Clemson Ol Isaiah Battle Entering Supp Draft, Falcons Mentioned As Fit

[Sidecar Falcon]

Don't disagree there are times to fight, but 99% it hurts your team worse by the ejection. The other exception I can recall was Eagles pre-game about 2004? We had a backup fight one of their starters and both got ejected - advantage us. The Eagles coach surely felt that starter was selfish to get into it and get ejected though.

I don't know all the backstory of that punch -but Sweeney did not like to be congratulating him for protecting his QB in that video. Are you saying that it was justified?

Unjustified fighting is definitely has a negative impact on any team. We have witnessed on this team a lot of "non fighting" moments when we needed to. I think this is where we need to be careful to get players that fight for the right reasons, rather than fight for the sake of fighting.

Battle looks like a decent player. Throwing a 6th on him maybe worth the risk. At the absolute highest, I would go with a 5th. I honesty don't think any team would risk a fourth or higher on him.

[Oldskooler]

I don't know all the backstory of that punch -but Sweeney did not like to be congratulating him for protecting his QB in that video. Are you saying that it was justified?

I'm not saying that at all. I never saw the punch in question. I never even heard of this kid until this thread. I was just pointing out the possibility that a thrown punch is not automatically "selfish".

[JC Falcon]

This video is punch I am talking about.

http://youtu.be/Q8JXflGuacI

[Oldskooler]

This video is punch I am talking about.

Saw it, and no: not smart, not justified, not defensible. Bonehead play. However, excellent sell on the part ofthe. NC State player. He has a career as a jobber in the WWE ahead of him.

[AndySG]

What was Cleveland's record in the playoffs that year?

Houston finished 2-14. I would still take JJ Watt. What's your point?

[Draftnut57]

With this guys past, I don't see us taking a chance just for the sake of we want to win now.. To much risk .... Think about it, we only need to for sure , sure up our OL and we will have IMO the best team ever put together in Atlanta.

[GTBF54]

That list doesn't have Larmney Tunsil or Ronnie Stanley on it. There defiently the top 2 tackle prospects.

Tunsil just took a hit.....

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/06/27/potential-top-5-draft-pick-laremy-tunsil-arrested/related/

[GTBF54]

Thing is we already have two relatively young OTs starting, another rookie in Rodgers. We need a more experienced backup (not named Polumbus). Since Battle doesn't look like he would make it to the 7th round, and we are already missing our 5th...I think we need to pass.

I said and then plea it....... should have made it purple I guess........

[RandomFan]

Tunsil just took a hit.....

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/06/27/potential-top-5-draft-pick-laremy-tunsil-arrested/related/

Doubtful. If anything, standing up to his stepfather in order to protect his mother probably wins him points. Not the other way around.

[cnst]

Doubtful. If anything, standing up to his stepfather in order to protect his mother probably wins him points. Not the other way around.

Agreed. If anything, this looks good since he stood up for a woman. Don't know all the details but the step-father laid hands on his mom and that's absolute grounds for an *** whippin.

[Vandy]

What was Cleveland's record in the playoffs that year?

What was Atlanta's?

😳

[MasterBateser]

Why? So you can get one good season out of him and then watch as he gets suspended year in and year out? Oh yeah, Gordon was amazing for that 14 game stretch in 2013, but what about 2014? Oh wait, he's suspended for this whole year too? You can't count on a ****-up like that.

Because 7th rounders usually churn out 10 pro bowls, idc if it's one season HE ISN'T A 1ST ROUND PICK

[MasterBateser]

What was Cleveland's record in the playoffs that year?

Yes. It is all Gordon's fault and if we dare waste a 7th on a low floor/high ceiling lineman we too shall miss the playoffs!

[PrimitiveJN]

No forget him let's keep our 7th round picks for guys like Tyler Starr. Smh some people still stuck in that mindset. Aren't we past that era by now?

[MasterBateser]

No forget him let's keep our 7th round picks for guys like Tyler Starr. Smh some people still stuck in that mindset. Aren't we past that era by now?

Hey a 2-4 year special teamer is much better than a elite offensive lineman for 1-2 years and who knows maybe he'll get his act together and we'd have him for longer wouldn't that suck?

[GTBF54]

But wait.... there's more...

Many in the NFL scouting community were surprised when word spread that Clemson's starting left tackle, Isaiah Battle, was entering this summer's Supplemental Draft.

Battle, listed by Clemson at 6-foot-7, 290, is regarded by one of the two major NFL scouting bureaus as the second-highest ranked offensive tackle prospect behind Notre Dame's Ronnie Stanley -- a projected top-10 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft -- among the senior class. Entering this season, the scouting bureau also had Battle projected as a potential first-round pick, sliding into the back of the round.

"This news came totally out of nowhere," said one NFL scout Thursday, who called Battle a major talent. "He's actually about 6-6, 326 with 35-inch (long) arms and he can run. He's a little high-cut, but he's 6-6, not 6-3, so that's kind of expected."

Asked how tough Battle is, the scout said "he played tough as ****" in the Tigers' game he attended.

The 22-year-old Battle, a Brooklyn, N.Y., native, started 11 games for Clemson in 2014 and four games in 2013. He cited personal reasons for his decision to leave Clemson at this time.

"I have some family matters to address, with a child due this summer, and I feel it is in my best interest to enter the NFL Supplemental Draft," Battle said. "I want to thank everyone at Clemson, especially Coach (Dabo) Swinney and the assistant coaches, for what they have done for me the last three years. I also want to thank my teammates. They have all had a big impact on my career."

Battle did have several discipline issues while at Clemson. In 2013, he was suspended one game for punching an NC State defensive back during a game. Earlier this month, The Clemson Insider reported that Battle was pulled over for speeding and as a result was caught with simple possession of marijuana and given a citation.

The date of when this year's Supplemental Draft will be held is still to be determined. Last year, it was held on July 10. Any team drafting a player in the Supplemental Draft selects them and therefore gives up their pick in the corresponding round of the NFL Draft the following year. Whether Battle is worth a big gamble remains to be seen. No player has been taken in the Supplemental Draft since 2012 when the Cleveland Browns took Baylor wideout Josh Gordon in the second round.

In the next few days, folks in the NFL scouting world will be hustling to gather more intel on Battle, especially the off-the-field stuff.

http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/nfl-supplemental-draft-clemson-tigers-isaiah-battle-062515

[AndySG]

I would throw a 6th from what I hear. We obviously don't have our 5th.

[GTBF54]

I would throw a 6th from what I hear. We obviously don't have our 5th.

3rd or 4th is gonna be where he goes IMO...........

[RandomFan]

Doesn't really matter what we think. If we make a bid on him then we'll know what our coaches think.

[Lornoth]

No forget him let's keep our 7th round picks for guys like Tyler Starr. Smh some people still stuck in that mindset. Aren't we past that era by now?

Well if we get a Starr every 7'th then yeah no way I'd waste it on Battle.

[MasterBateser]

Well if we get a Starr every 7'th then yeah no way I'd waste it on Battle.

What do you see in Starr?

[Flying Falcon]

Well if we get a Starr every 7'th then yeah no way I'd waste it on Battle.

Get who?

[Lornoth]

What do you see in Starr?

Potential. He was the most athletic LB'er that attended his combine imo, so I've always just thought if he can put it together he'd be really good. His work ethic is something that I like as well. He also impressed me last preseason, though people refuse to acknowledge that because his play didn't translate to stats (for him, anyway).

[MayorWest13]

I found a scouting report on him earlier today.

In the link there are videos detailing some of the plays but I can't post that many videos so just click the link. I did copy and paste everything not related to the direct references to the specific plays in the videos.

http://in-thinair.com/2015/06/27/isaiah-battle-scouting-report/

As you’ve probably heard, Isaiah Battle is entering the 2015 supplemental draft. Before we even decide if he’s worth a pic, we need to see some tape to know what kind of talent he is. As regular commenter VonSwenson pointed out,

There’s so little info on him; I can’t see where he’s that highly rated. No Wikipedia article, Walter Football has him as the #5 tackle prospect. I know that good tackles are hard to find (where are you Lonestar?) but a second round pick is a pretty high chip to play.

Well, hopefully I can provide more info.

Good points VonSwenson. All reports have said that Battle is a top 5 tackle in 2016, but I can’t find a scouting report on him anywhere. As fans who don’t have access to All-22 film of every game, should we just trust that he would be a top 15 pick because some anonymous scouting bureau said so. In all fairness to Battle, the lack of scouting reports available on him is not his fault. He was expected to be a 2016 pick, and only a lunatic would be crazy enough to already be scouting 2016 tackles. By the way, that same lunatic hadn’t even heard of Battle at the time that article was published, and did not have him in the top 3 he was ranking.

So, I will be using my same scouting system that I used to scout Laremy Tunsil and Ronnie Stanley, and see where he grades. I will be grading him as is, so less room for Senior season upside. My rubric, with Laremy Tunsil as an example, is as follows:

• Athletic Ability: 6/10
  
• Pass Blocking Hand Placement: 10/10
  
• Pass Blocking Footwork: 5/10
  
• Run Blocking Hand Placement: 9/10
  
• Run Blocking Footwork: 5/10
  
• Character/Leadership: 7/10
  
• Durability: 5/10
  
• Strength: 10/10
  
• Size: 8/10
  
• Experience: 10/10
  

Tunsil scored a 7.5, or a second round grade by my rating, so the 1st round lock is highly overrated in my eyes. Anything above an 8 is a first rounder, and anything above a 9 is a top 10 guy. Ronnie Stanley received a 9.3 by the way.

Spoiler alert, Battle’s “Character/Leadership” grade is not going to be high.

I could only find the Georgia tape, so that is what I will be scouting him on. Keep in mind that he is going up against an NFL talent, Leonard Floyd, who I scouted here.

When it comes to blocking linebackers at the second level, Battle is a ball watcher with poor instincts. Here he halfheartedly shoves the first man, and then turns his back to the safety, watching the running back. That lack of effort is a problem. Still, the pure aggression is there for him to work on this issue.

Pros:

• Aggressive (duh)
  
• Solid Footwork pass blocking
  
• Solid hand use
  
• Underrated strength
  
• Tall, 6’7
  
• Reportedly has run in the 4.86 range
  
• Great athlete
  
• Fast on the field
  
• Lean, natural left tackle build
  
• Huge arms
  
• Plenty of experience
  
• Is a good in line run blocker, only lacks at second level
  

Cons:

• Poor second level blocker, surprising with his athleticism
  
• Obvious character concerns, between the punch and the pot arrest
  
• Lean at 290, left tackle only
  
• Effort fades as play progresses
  
• Poor at second level
  
• Needs to gain functional strength
  

Tally:

• Athletic Ability: 10/10
  
• Pass Blocking Hand Placement: 9/10
  
• Pass Blocking Footwork: 10/10
  
• Run Blocking Hand Placement: 8/10
  
• Run Blocking Footwork: 7/10
  
• Character/Leadership: 5/10
  
• Durability: 10/10
  
• Strength: 8/10
  
• Size: 9/10
  
• Experience: 9/10
  

Score: 8.5

I would put a first round grade on him for 2016. That would be if he had played a full season, and interviewed well at the combine. Given the special circumstances, I’d pay a second to get a first round caliber guy. I see him as a better left tackle than Sambrailo, who I believe would make an excellent guard. Hope this report helps in all of your assessments of Battle.

Edited June 29, 2015 by MayorWest13