'11 CA DE/OT Troy Niklas (Signed Notre Dame LOI)

[irishfanjho15]

If teams are willing to take lazy ass Clowney with his injury concerns on potential and freaky athleticism at the next level in the top 5, someone will pay Troy a lot of money for his incredible potential and freaky athleticism at second biggest play-making position on the offensive side of pro football. Kid knows coming from ND is basically worth a round higher with his measurements. If he ends up being a combine all pro he's going in the late second round, early third, IMHO.


P.S. INLINE BLOCKER on top of everything else!!!!!! Hello Rams, Colts, Pats, Bears, Saints, Niners, Seahawks, Giants, Ravens, Packers. And those are just teams off the top of my head that could use a TE like him, especially if he gets to third round, his potential versus the pick is off the chart. There just aren't guys like Troy, with his size and athleticism, growing on trees.

 

[T Town Tommy]

If teams are willing to take lazy ass Clowney with his injury concerns on potential and freaky athleticism at the next level in the top 5, someone will pay Troy a lot of money for his incredible potential and freaky athleticism at second biggest play-making position on the offensive side of pro football. Kid knows coming from ND is basically worth a round higher with his measurements. If he ends up being a combine all pro he's going in the late second round, early third, IMHO.

I think he goes higher than that. He is tailor made for a Patriot type offense and with their TE concerns, Troy would be worth the shot.

 

[irishfanjho15]

I think he goes higher than that. He is tailor made for a Patriot type offense and with their TE concerns, Troy would be worth the shot.

I think the Colts and Pats both seriously consider him late in the second (they'll both be between 26-32), especially if they don't see any defensive difference makers that fit them at the time. I also agree that he could go even earlier.

I think Troy is a top 100 prospect in this draft, especially in relation to actually fitting needs of teams and not just being a "better prospect".

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Why would the Colts consider Niklas? They have Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener.

 

[irishfanjho15]

Why would the Colts consider Niklas? They have Dwayne Allen and Coby Fleener.

Let's see how Allen does with handling his injuries. I don't think Fleener is very good. He has terrible hands and is a weak blocker. He is late to his spots and is quite lacking in his hand placement when he blocks. For coming from Stanford his fundamentals are seriously lacking. I think the pro game in the box is too strong and fast for him, IMHO.

The Colts continue to mold the offense towards this motion/shift based power system. They need an inline blocking TE that can create mismatches. I don't think Allen nor Fleener can block in line like you want. I also don't think the Colts waste defensive picks on reach guys, so if they don't have defensive guy on the board they love I see them looking at Niklas. They aren't going to get an Oline they want in the second round. And they don't have a round 1 pick.

 

[irishfanjho15]

Just think Colts needs are (no order):
NT/DT
CAT
FS
#1 WO
TE (old school)

How many of those spots can you fill for the #20-28 pick in round 2?

 

[IrishLion]

Just think Colts needs are (no order):
NT/DT
CAT
FS
#1 WO
TE (old school)

How many of those spots can you fill for the #20-28 pick in round 2?

I would think perhaps WR with how deep the position is in this draft. I don't disagree with Niklas' value, but I think Allen/Fleener are a good enough combo that taking a WR would be a better investment.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Yeah I'd say BK is pissed

http://m.southbendtribune.com/sport...1f8-7d13-11e3-b1e2-0019bb30f31a.html?mode=jqm

 

[dublinirish]

Yeah I'd say BK is pissed

Kelly says he's going back to calling plays for Notre Dame football team - Football - South Bend Tribune

there will be no GA position for you Hercules!

 

[Cackalacky]

Yeah I'd say BK is pissed

Kelly says he's going back to calling plays for Notre Dame football team - Football - South Bend Tribune

Did he say this about Tuitt? I do not recall. Anyway. Sounds like he is happy with handling Golson and wants a QB coach to have MZ and DK ready to go. This just makes me wonder how much attention Hendrix actually got paid in the past.

Overall seems like he is addressing a lot of our concerns from this year.

 

[IrishLax]

Did he say this about Tuitt? I do not recall. Anyway. Sounds like he is happy with handling Golson and wants a QB coach to have MZ and DK ready to go. This just makes me wonder how much attention Hendrix actually got paid in the past.

Overall seems like he is addressing a lot of our concerns from this year.

Tuitt was an EE and had an extra semester of credits. Will have no issues graduating very soon.

Nilklas made a bonehead move leaving early, and BK is calling it how it is. He now has to luck out and have a team fall in love with him to go late first/early second and could fall WAY down the draft board. Next year he would've been absolutely locked in to early 2nd at worst. Much more career security as that kind of pick.

 

[CanadalovesND]

Tuitt was an EE and had an extra semester of credits. Will have no issues graduating very soon.

Nilklas made a bonehead move leaving early, and BK is calling it how it is. He now has to luck out and have a team fall in love with him to go late first/early second and could fall WAY down the draft board. Next year he would've been absolutely locked in to early 2nd at worst. Much more career security as that kind of pick.

Tuitt was not an EE.

The EEs for the 2011 recruiting class were Aaron Lynch, Brad Carrico, Kyle Brindz, Ishaq Williams and Everett Golson.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

Did Welch already transfer? Or did he need to finish spring semester to graduate from ND?

If he's still on campus, I wouldn't be upset with the staff convincing him to stay. He was to be the #2 TE last year but got hurt. He'd almost certainly be 1A, 1B along with Koyack this year.

If he's already gone....ignore this post.

 

[md_bennett]

I think the Colts and Pats both seriously consider him late in the second (they'll both be between 26-32), especially if they don't see any defensive difference makers that fit them at the time. I also agree that he could go even earlier.

I think Troy is a top 100 prospect in this draft, especially in relation to actually fitting needs of teams and not just being a "better prospect".

Let's not forget that the Falcons are losing perhaps the greatest TE in NFL history as well. Somebody is going to take Troy earlier than the 3rd because of the growth he has shown in every element of his game. He is raw but will become a big time player with proper coaching.

 

[IrishLax]

Tuitt was not an EE.

The EEs for the 2011 recruiting class were Aaron Lynch, Brad Carrico, Kyle Brindz, Ishaq Williams and Everett Golson.

Woops. Guess I assumed he enrolled early with that whole crew of DEs. No idea how I mixed that up. Anyways, no idea on Niklas' situation, but I do know that Tuitt is confident he will be able to graduate.

 

[Cackalacky]

Woops. Guess I assumed he enrolled early with that whole crew of DEs. No idea how I mixed that up. Anyways, no idea on Niklas' situation, but I do know that Tuitt is confident he will be able to graduate.

I did not know Tuitt would graduate in the spring. Great for him. Smart move if that is the case.

 

[rtrn2glory]

i believe troy's a 4.65-4.75 40 away from going no later than the 2nd round....not a fan of the 40 by no means, but it is what it is.

 

[peoriairish]

And you guys say that ND profs don't care about ND football.........

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>My professor just said "Does anyone know where Troy Niklas is" lol</p>— Chase Hounshell (@chasehounshell) <a href="https://twitter.com/chasehounshell/statuses/423129316382085120">January 14, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[tko]

And you guys say that ND profs don't care about ND football.........

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>My professor just said "Does anyone know where Troy Niklas is" lol</p>— Chase Hounshell (@chasehounshell) <a href="https://twitter.com/chasehounshell/statuses/423129316382085120">January 14, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

LOLOLOLOL

 

[Bogtrotter07]

And you guys say that ND profs don't care about ND football.........

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>My professor just said "Does anyone know where Troy Niklas is" lol</p>— Chase Hounshell (@chasehounshell) <a href="https://twitter.com/chasehounshell/statuses/423129316382085120">January 14, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Chase has a gift in capturing life in art!

 

[ulukinatme]

Damn, was just coming to post this lol

 

[IrishLax]

I did not know Tuitt would graduate in the spring. Great for him. Smart move if that is the case.

I should clarify that I don't know if he will graduate in the spring. I just heard from someone reliable that he has a very solid plan locked in to graduate and plans to see that through. Who knows, they could be wrong. Judging by the fact that I misremembered him being an EE.... I would really, really not listen to me on this one lol. I didn't ask follow up questions at the time because it made sense to me assuming he EE'd. Clearly, I do not have all of my ducks in a row. So we'll see, I'm going to double check everything I just said when I get a chance. Sorry.

 

[wizards8507]

On tight end Troy Niklas’ decision to forgo his senior year and enter the 2014 NFL Draft, Kelly said, “When you come to Notre Dame, you don’t leave your degree on the table. … We wish him the best. Hopefully, this becomes a good business decision.”

 

[General Colon Bowel]

Alot of scouts seem to have a pretty high opinion of him.
He's getting second round grades here, as the 4th best TE in the draft. I don't think he was going to raise his stock any higher than late 1st round seeing as his ceiling as a receiver is lower than most highly drafted TEs. He may have made the best decision for himself.
NFL Draft - 2014 NFL Draft Prospects - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

 

[Cackalacky]

I should clarify that I don't know if he will graduate in the spring. I just heard from someone reliable that he has a very solid plan locked in to graduate and plans to see that through. Who knows, they could be wrong. Judging by the fact that I misremembered him being an EE.... I would really, really not listen to me on this one lol. I didn't ask follow up questions at the time because it made sense to me assuming he EE'd. Clearly, I do not have all of my ducks in a row. So we'll see, I'm going to double check everything I just said when I get a chance. Sorry.

I really don't care. I appreciate it though.

 

[CanadalovesND]

NFL Events: Combine Player Profiles - Troy Niklas

ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS
Outstanding size with a well-proportioned, muscular build. Big target over the middle and in the red zone. Athletic with flexible hips and knees to run the full tight end route tree. Bursts into routes and stretches the seam. Good hands. Has playmaking ability. Lined up flexed and in-line. Good potential as a blocker. Bends his knees, shuffles and fans rushers wide. Works well in tandem and can combo block effectively. Takes care of his body and maintains low body fat. Has NFL bloodlines.

WEAKNESSES
Work in progress as an in-line blocker -- lacks ideal base strength, grip strength and overall body power. Bends at the waist and falls off some blocks. Route running needs refinement. Is still learning to use his frame advantageously -- inconsistent traffic player. Lacks elite top-end speed. Average elusiveness and creativity after the catch. Could stand to play with more physicality and become a better finisher.

BOTTOM LINE
A converted DE/OLB who emerged from the shadow of Bengals 2013 first-rounder Tyler Eifert, Niklas is the latest in a line of NFL tight ends produced by Notre Dame. He boasts an intriguing combination of size, athleticism, receiving ability and blocking ability to develop into a bona fide, balanced, No. 1 tight end. Has played tight end for just two years and arrow is pointing up.

 

[ulukinatme]

Hercules lacks strength? Needs to block better? I expected more talk about receiving weaknesses, not a lack of strength or poor blocking.

 

[Emcee77]

Wow, that's really interesting. Surprising to read that he is considered a work-in-progress because he lacks ideal strength and body power. I think of Niklas as a freaking bull.

 

[IrishLion]

Maybe it's just lazy, assumption-based scouting? Since he's a TE from ND, he must be a freak athlete, pass-catcher first that needs to improve as a blocker, right?

And I honestly don't remember seeing Troy flexed out wide very often this past season.

 

[Kaneyoufeelit]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>Mayock on Troy Niklas: If he commits to becoming a good in-line blocker, he could become the best blocking tight end in the NFL.</p>— Eric Hansen (@hansenNDInsider) <a href="https://twitter.com/hansenNDInsider/statuses/435869880030466048">February 18, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>