Round 3: Ty'Ron Hopper

Post #21 » by **ReasonablySober** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 3:10 am

MVP2110 · Post #22 » by **MVP2110** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 3:10 am

He's undersized for a LB. He is actually fairly decent in coverage but he struggles to tackle and likely won't ever make an impact in the run game or as a pass rusher. He seems like a limited role defender and STer to me.

TroyD92 · Post #23 » by **TroyD92** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 3:11 am

Seems like a good blitzer too. If they are planning to play aggressively I could see him out there a lot on passing downs.

Post #24 » by **ReasonablySober** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 3:12 am

STRENGTHS: Rangy, athletic space player with terrific pursuit speed, especially from the backside … uses his body flexibility to avoid/slip blockers at the point … reads well at the line of scrimmage to mirror runners from gap to gap … dynamic blitzer and closes quickly downhill (49 pressures in his two seasons at Missouri) … adequate length to fight off blockers … aware in zone coverage and quickly sorts to find the tight end on crossers/screens … has the speed to carry backs and tight ends vertically … was a regular on punt coverage in 2023 and tallied 468 special-teams snaps in his career … grew up into a leadership role at Missouri and was voted a team captain in 2023 (head coach Eli Drinkwitz said there was a noticeable difference in his “personal training and lifestyle habits” during his final season).

WEAKNESSES: Lean and still growing into his frame, especially in his lower body … inconsistent take -on player, lacking the strength in his hands to sift through traffic in the box … needs to tighten his tackling form, often giving the ball carrier an opening to shake or stiff arm him … slides off ball carriers and his finishing strength as a tackler is mediocre (17 missed tackles in 2023) … will overrun his angles and create cutback opportunities for runners … doesn’t play with a natural feel for man coverage and struggles to find the ball once his back is turned … ejected from the 2021 bowl game (his final game at Florida) for t hrowing a punch (he claimed a UCF player spit at him) … missed the final three games as a senior because of a right shoulder injury (November 2023).

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Missouri, Hopper played Will linebacker in defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s 4-2-5 base scheme. After struggling to find a regular role at Florida, he transferred and averaged 5.8 tackles per game in two seasons with Missouri, earning All-SEC honors as a senior. With his initial quickness and rangy speed, Hopper aggressively responds to ball carriers and pass catchers and closes in a hurry. However, he lacks the play strength desired for an every-down role and needs to improve his block awareness. Overall, Hopper needs to be more consistent at the point of attack and as a finisher, but he is a fast-flowing athlete with the pursuit skills and blitzing talent to find a home in the NFL. He projects as a run-and-chase rotational linebacker with the skill set for special teams.

GRADE: 5th Round

Turk Nowitzki · Post #25 » by **Turk Nowitzki** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 3:15 am

I thought we'd get him tomorrow, not have to spend a top 100 pick. First one where I'd have for sure gone elsewhere but hope Gute will look smart for getting him early.

HKPackFan · Post #26 » by **HKPackFan** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 3:18 am

was a regular on punt coverage in 2023 and tallied 468 special-teams snaps in his career

high pick for a STeamer.

Post #27 » by **ReasonablySober** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 3:19 am

Payton Wilson goes a few picks later. Ugh.

Profound23 · Post #28 » by **Profound23** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 3:49 am

I will admit there were some big names that went after we drafted Hopper

TroyD92 · Post #29 » by **TroyD92** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 3:54 am

ReasonablySober wrote:Payton Wilson goes a few picks later. Ugh.

bro doesnt have an acl

Post #30 » by **ReasonablySober** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 3:55 am

TroyD92 wrote:
ReasonablySober wrote:Payton Wilson goes a few picks later. Ugh.

bro doesnt have an acl

Apparently they're not needed. Who knew!

MVP2110 · Post #31 » by **MVP2110** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 3:58 am

Cedric Gray was really the only LB left that I really liked. If my biggest complaint in the draft are the 2 3rd round picks then we're doing pretty well imo

Matches Malone · Post #32 » by **Matches Malone** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 4:13 am

LatentFrog wrote:I am not surprised we took another LB, but I dismissed Hopper early because of his what, 4.67 40 (?) at 220 lbs. Tape looks good though.

During Gute's presser, he mentioned they clocked him at 4.5's when they worked him out.

Post #33 » by **ReasonablySober** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 4:29 am

Read on Twitter

LikeABosh · Post #34 » by **LikeABosh** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 4:31 am

MVP2110 wrote:Ugh Hopper was my 198th ranked guy. As awesome as the 2nd round was the 3rd round was a big letdown

How much time do you spend on each prospect

LikeABosh · Post #35 » by **LikeABosh** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 4:35 am

HKPackFan wrote:
was a regular on punt coverage in 2023 and tallied 468 special-teams snaps in his career

high pick for a STeamer.

I was confused by the pick too, but maybe it's a product of having so many draft picks. We have as many as the rest of the NFC North combined on days 2 and 3 I think

BallinBucks420 · Post #36 » by **BallinBucks420** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 5:10 am

they obviously have Hopper rated much higher then others...havent seen him play much at all like most here, but linebacker just became a strength...Gutey doing what Gutey does..mulitple at a position and turn that group around

honestly would have preferred a corner but not sure who was there...they must believe in Stokes getting back to rookie year and really like Ballentine and he did play pretty well i thought..Still got what 7 pick to play with??

HKPackFan · Post #37 » by **HKPackFan** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 6:15 am

LikeABosh wrote:
HKPackFan wrote:
was a regular on punt coverage in 2023 and tallied 468 special-teams snaps in his career

high pick for a STeamer.

I was confused by the pick too, but maybe it's a product of having so many draft picks. We have as many as the rest of the NFC North combined on days 2 and 3 I think

Ya I'm thinking, depth doesn't hurt.

Ryan5UW · Post #38 » by **Ryan5UW** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 7:20 am

Maybe Gute clicked the wrong button when he hit draft - I accidentally did that a couple of times when I was doing mocks, it happens.

coolhandluke121 · Post #39 » by **coolhandluke121** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 12:32 pm

I think they must have really wanted a lineback who can cover. It feels very much like a "pick the best player available who does exactly what we need" pick, a la Deguara (MLF's offense needs an H-back), Dillon (we need a power back), or Amari (we need a quintessential slot receiver).

That said, at least this guy is reasonably fast for his position, unlike the aforementioned reach-for-type busts. If he really ran in the 4.5's during workouts, maybe he can even be a pseudo-safety LB.

MVP2110 · Post #40 » by **MVP2110** » Sat Apr 27, 2024 12:46 pm

LikeABosh wrote:
MVP2110 wrote:Ugh Hopper was my 198th ranked guy. As awesome as the 2nd round was the 3rd round was a big letdown

How much time do you spend on each prospect

I built a model for just over 300 prospects that factored in relevant information that correlates to NFL success(age, athleticism, consensus board ranking, positional value, etc.). From there I did a deeper dive into about 75 prospects or so(mainly R1 guys, OLinemen, LBs, & Safeties cause those were positions I knew we needed)

Hopper didn't get plus marks on any of it. He's on the older side, he's not necessarily unathletic but he's not a great athlete, & he was ranked really low on the consensus board. He's a small LB who struggles to tackle. I just don't really see how he'll ever be anything more than a depth LB who comes in on pass downs and contributes on STs. You certainly don't want him in on run downs unless he drastically improves his tackling.