R2, P39: James Daniels, C - Iowa

College football and the NFL Draft

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Daniels was a two-time honorable mention all-state pick from Warren, Ohio's Harding High School, but joined his brother, running back LeShun Daniels, Jr., to make the leap to Iowa. He saw the field immediately, playing in every game and starting two at left guard as a true freshman in 2015. The coaches moved him to center in 2016, where he started 11 games (missing two with an injury) and garnering third-team All-Big Ten honors in the process. Daniels was an honorable mention all-conference player in 2017, starting 12 games in the pivot, and then decided to take his game to the pros.

Daniels is a fluid mover with tremendous initial quickness to win positioning on most every zone block he's asked to make -- both on the first and second levels. His height, weight and arm length numbers at the Combine will be critical in either solidifying his draft slot or potentially dropping him a round. Some teams might see him as a zone-only center, but he may be strong enough to fit in with other blocking schemes. He needs to get stronger, but he's a plus run blocker and pass protector with a chance to become a Pro Bowl starter.

STRENGTHS

Elite movement talent for the position
Smooth, fluid and flexible
Good snap to step quickness
Initial contact is balanced and well-timed
Outpaces defenders laterally and reaches three-techniques all day long
Slides feet into position and swivels hips to secure the block
Easy second-level climber with agility for high connection rate
Takes smart angles
Can beat inside linebackers to the spot and get them sealed
Has reactive athleticism to open hips and redirect against slants on his backside
Snatches and mirrors for block centering and sustaining on work-up blocks
Finishes
Technically sound and works well with his guards
Pass sets with wide base and plus balance
Rarely caught lunging or over-extending against athletic rushers
Has foot quickness to stay mirrored and handle counters
Rolls hips under him for quality anchor

WEAKNESSES

Played lighter than he needs to be as a pro
Has to continue to add functional mass to his frame
Power at the point of attack is average
Bull-rushers make him work overtime to maintain his anchor
Will struggle to recover if nose guards get hands on him first
Target points can be too high in pass sets causing hands to slide up and off opponent
Gets in a hurry to climb on top of second level linebacker and will leave initial block unsecured for guard next to him
Scheme didn't allow for much drive blocking
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I like it.
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Hell yeah!
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Love the pick.
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Just allow me to get this out of my system:

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I think what I like most about this pick is that it puts Whitehair at his best spot...guard.
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mmmc_35
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By my grading he is the most athletic center in the draft. He was also graded as the best center in the draft. He moves really well, he isn't the big anchor, but holds his own. He does really well at chipping inside to open a hole and getting up field. That's why they want him.
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Great pick. We needed an OL. Moving Whitehair to LG will be fantastic. He can help Daniels acclimate to the position. Good stuff!
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Mr.Irrelevant
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I feel exactly like I did with the Whitehair pick - not thrilled. Nothing wrong with the player, just feel like we could have traded down and gotten him 10 picks later. Hopefully I'm wrong again.
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Generally like it.
He was projected higher, so it's an opportunistic grab at a position of need (although also a need that I'm skeptical needed to be created...).

The one possible concern I see is injury history. Seeing a lot of conflicting info about how many games he played/missed.

"as excited as scouts are about Daniels' perceived upside, he does come with medical red flags, missing time due to knee problems each of the last 2 seasons" Rob Rang
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Also, what does this mean for OLB?

Will they seriously roll with Floyd, Lynch, Acho, Day3 rookie?

Could Houston or Young return?
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"If the #Bears beat the #Packers in Week 1, new center James Daniels will not be able to legally celebrate with a beer. He turns 21 on Sept. 13."
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Love this pick. Love it.
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dplank wrote:I agree with Rich here
RichH55 wrote: Dplank is correct
:shocked:
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Someone tell Laurence Holmes to shut the fuck up - Whitehair is great at OG.
Holy Shit - We got Justin Fields!

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RING4CHI wrote:Just allow me to get this out of my system:

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GO HAWKS!!!
9 PLAYOFF APPEARANCES IN THE PAST 35 SEASONS

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RING4CHI
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G08 wrote:
RING4CHI wrote:Just allow me to get this out of my system:

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GO HAWKS!!!
Get off my lawn.

But in all seriousness, one Hawkeye I would like to see the Bears sign as an undrafted free agent is long snapper Tyler Kluver.
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"New #Bears center James Daniels: "All the [NFL team] doctors and trainers I talked to, they had no problems with my past knee injuries.”"
"Every team needs badasses." - Dan Hampton
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"In high school, new #Bears center James Daniels' team faced QB Mitch Trubisky in the first round of the playoffs in 2012: "He tore us apart. He had like 500 total yards against us.""
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C is never a sexy selection but I am stoked to get the best one. This solves 2 positions at once with Whitehair moving back to G. Great pic for the future of the offense.
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I love it. It’s not exciting, but he’s a 1st round caliber center who’s a real good fit athletically for this scheme. It really solidified the line. He’s a day 1 starter.
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RING4CHI wrote:
G08 wrote:
RING4CHI wrote:Just allow me to get this out of my system:

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GO HAWKS!!!
Get off my lawn.

But in all seriousness, one Hawkeye I would like to see the Bears sign as an undrafted free agent is long snapper Tyler Kluver.
I'd love Allen Lazard if he goes undrafted! hate that he is a hawk but like the pick
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One of those "just right" selections where the need and value converge at our pick. Personally, I'm even happier because choosing a C this high cements that Mark Helfrich doesn't believe he can make a lemonade starter out of Horrendous Grasu.
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VA_Mountain_Bear wrote:C is never a sexy selection but I am stoked to get the best one. This solves 2 positions at once with Whitehair moving back to G. Great pic for the future of the offense.
Exactly! Pace is handling his business. :toast:
“Never let your ego get so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego falls with it.”

- Colin Powell
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Mikefive wrote:One of those "just right" selections where the need and value converge at our pick. Personally, I'm even happier because choosing a C this high cements that Mark Helfrich doesn't believe he can make a lemonade starter out of Horrendous Grasu.
Its sad, but true. This is the death knell for Mr. Grasu.
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Daniels is without a doubt the best C in the draft, dropped out of the 1st due to medicals.
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"Ryan Pace says the plan is to start James Daniels out at left guard and keep Cody Whitehair at center for now."
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RING4CHI wrote:"Ryan Pace says the plan is to start James Daniels out at left guard and keep Cody Whitehair at center for now."
That's to placate Cody Whitehair, and not freak him out. Once they get into camp with Heistand. Cody will move to LG and Daniels will be your day 1 starting C. I would bet money on it.
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