Scouting Report: Dorian O'Daniel
I put together a scouting report on Olney (MD) Good Counsel running back/linebacker Dorian O'Daniel. He's a good prospect, but I have to say that I'm more impressed with a couple of Michigan's 2012 linebacker recruits, especially James Ross and Joe Bolden. O'Daniel might be a better overall athlete, but he's not as college ready as those two.
February 17th, 2012 at 8:34 AM ^
That's a pretty strong highlight reel. I looked specifically for the post-play reaction from his teammates to good plays per your criticism and I don't know... an awful lot of them cut off way too quickly to tell what happened after the play and there were definitely a few where a teammate of his would pick him up or congratulate him. So I would give him the benefit of the doubt here and let the coaches sort that out.
But when you start thinking about all the talent at that school, man I hope we develop a stronger relationship with those HS coaches so they don't just funnel all their players to Maryland a la Brown and Diggs.
February 17th, 2012 at 8:49 AM ^
There are a couple plays when teammates help him up, but the dude scores touchdowns and makes sacks, and then you see his teammates just turn around and walk the other way. I don't know. That just seems strange to me.
February 17th, 2012 at 9:07 AM ^
I just watched Kendall Fuller's junior highlights and I noticed the same thing. No one would really congradulate him after he made a great play. I then watched Stefon Diggs highlights and he would make a great catch on the sideline of his own team, and no one got excited for him. I think it is just the team overall that doesn't get excited over good plays. IDK just my opinion from my minimal observation.
Kendall Fuller: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHuWiuTDhd0
Stefon Diggs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LSaNcXYVD3w
February 17th, 2012 at 9:13 AM ^
I have noticed - and heard from multiple sources - that Fuller has attitude issues.
However, I did see people getting excited with Diggs and Brown, patting them on the butt, etc.
February 17th, 2012 at 8:34 AM ^
Interesting what you say about his teammates' reactions after he makes a play. I watched Good Counsel last year and I didnt notice that (not that you're wrong, I just wasn't watching after the play often); I'll definitely be on the lookout for it this year. You sound less impressed with his football skills than his athleticism.
Do you think his rankings by rivals/247/etc. are accurate based on his athletic potential alone?
Also, and his doesn't relate to O'Daniel, but I thought Kendall Fuller was the best player on GC last season. Would really like to get him to visit campus.
February 17th, 2012 at 8:51 AM ^
I am definitely less impressed with his skills than his athleticism. He's just kind of roaming around the field and making plays with his speed/strength. I don't really see much of a base of fundamentals anywhere.
I think the ratings are pretty accurate just based on his athleticism. Fundamentals can be taught if the kid has his head on straight and if he gets good coaching. But to rise any higher, I would think he needs to play more like a football player instead of an athlete.
February 17th, 2012 at 9:26 AM ^
If he gets good coaching applies to DPL kids, not these power house Catholic schools. He probably gets good coaching. When I saw St. Eds, Kettering Alter, etc. play, they are fundamentally sound kids, with basically college staffs and facilities. So when you see a 4 star kid from a school like this, vs. a 4 star kid from say, Cass Tech, I always believe the Cass Tech kid has the higher ceiling. That isn't a knock on the schools like Cass and Coach Wilcher, they just don't have the funds or support to run similiar programs.
That being said, this kid does run around most blocks, and why shouldn't he? There isn't enough here with him taking on blockers to know. I'm assuming our coaches have seen game film, and not just highlight clips, or at least I would hope.
February 17th, 2012 at 9:39 AM ^
Why shouldn't he run around blocks? Because it's poor fundamentals. It's a poor habit. He can chase high school kids down by running around blocks, but when he's playing against Big Ten or SEC running backs, he's not going to catch up.
February 17th, 2012 at 9:44 AM ^
But at this level he's getting away with it. He won't at the next level. But most of what I see in the tape is him running 'by' the block. You can only really assess him by seeing game film when the competition isn't a team that you build your highlight film from.
February 17th, 2012 at 9:49 AM ^
I have to admit, not running around blocks is counter-intuitive to me.If a guy wants to block me, it makes sense for me to run around him, but then again, Lawrence Taylor I ain't.
February 17th, 2012 at 9:57 AM ^
The problem with running around blocks is that you get out of position and you lose leverage. If I jump out of my gap to run around a block, suddenly I'm chasing a guy from behind who might be faster than me and I never catch up. If the fullback leads on a linebacker, and I stuff him right back in the hole, that constricts the hole for the running back. Even if I don't make the tackle because I'm busy stuffing the fullback, my teammates have more of a chance to make the play because I've constricted the hole.
February 17th, 2012 at 9:55 AM ^
Yes, but it's difficult to break bad habits. If a kid learns to be a good football player by running around blocks and not using his hands, there's at least a chance that he won't be able to consistently do so at the next level...or it might take him a few seasons to learn those fundamentals. William Campbell learned bad habits in high school, and now he's a 5-star rising senior who has yet to start a game (IIRC, unless it was a random start) because he hasn't learned to stay low and shed blocks.
February 17th, 2012 at 8:55 AM ^
It's always nice to have that guy in your system that's an athletic freak though. If you can have the fundamentally sound guys in place, you can take your time and TEACH the rest.
It's the old thing of two guys running a race. One guy has perfect form and runs a 4.4. The other has terrible form and runs a 4.6. Wouldn't you rather have the guy with terrible form and teach him the fundamentals?
February 17th, 2012 at 9:05 AM ^
I wouldn't. I would take the guy with speed and perfect form. The upside from a guy with 4.6 is not worth it if all we are doing is running.
February 17th, 2012 at 9:14 AM ^
If a kid runs a 4.4 with perfect form, I'll take him. Period.
February 17th, 2012 at 9:19 AM ^
Someone's been watching The West Wing season 5...
February 17th, 2012 at 10:27 AM ^
That you got this bassackward, but I get your point. I think what you are trying to say works, but depends too much on random chance. If you can get four athletic freaks and give them great coaching, then you have a chance at a super; if you just have one, there is maybe a one in four chance of that happeneing. Having said that, there are very few prospects who have terrible form in everything they do; it is a rare kid who isn't some good coaching and a redshirt away from being at least average at most of the responibilities.