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OVERVIEW

Murphy played like a solid right tackle prospect as a second-team All-Pac-12 pick his junior year, his first full year as a starter. In 2015, however, the brother of former Harvard and Minnesota Vikings tackle Kevin Murphy slid to left tackle and improved greatly in pass protection while maintaining his toughness in the run game. He combined with left guard Joshua Garnett as first-team All-Conference picks on the blind side of quarterback Kevin Hogan, who reaped the benefits of their play.

ANALYSIS

STRENGTHS

Has good feel for the position. Very aware in pass protection seeking out blitzes and twists and takes consistent angles up to the linebackers in the running game. Once he gets moving in space, is able to open up his hips and run with a relatively athletic gait. Plays with strong hands and good placement that can snatch and latch if he gets there first. Makes low pad level a priority in run game. Is usually low man and will use good leg drive or snap hips to secure the block. Adequate change direction in space. Patient second level blocker allowing the block to come to him. Outstanding work with teammate Joshua Garnett with combo blocks and double teams. Doesn’t lean in pass protection and can gain decent ground with his kick ­slides.

WEAKNESSES

Feet are just average from a quickness standpoint. While he can be a little slow out of his stance and off to the races when moving laterally. Will get antsy pre-­snap. Tape shows him getting some headstarts that weren’t called by college officials. Troubling anchor issues as pass blocker. Will get stiff legged at impact in protection, raising pad level and losing anchor leverage. Needs to play more flat­-footed when shooting his punch. Speed to power rushers give him problems so may need to make inside hand placement a greater priority.

DRAFT PROJECTION

Rounds 5 or 6

SOURCES TELL US

"I don't think you can play him for at least a year until he gets stronger. He's a good run blocker but I don't know if he's strong enough to play on the right side or quick enough to play left." -- AFC general manager

NFL COMPARISON

Ty Sambrailo

BOTTOM LINE

Interesting prospect full of juxtapositions. On one hand, he’s an athletic mover in space, but his foot quickness is just average. While he plays with good bend, leg drive and low pad level as a run blocker, he tends to play too tall and lose his anchor against bull­ rushers. Murphy plays with good tackle instincts and shows enough potential to become an eventual starter in the NFL if he can improve his overall strength and tighten up some of his pass protection flaws.
CBS:

PLAYER OVERVIEW

While Heisman finalist Christian McCaffrey and senior quarterback Kevin Hogan may have earned most of the attention for the Cardinal, scouts recognize that Stanford's productive offense begins up front, with Murphy a star in his own right.

 

Murphy is simply the latest in a long line of Stanford offensive linemen with bright NFL futures. He leaves with appearances in 54 games over his career, earning second team All-Pac-12 honors at right tackle as a junior and first team accolades at left tackle as a senior.

 

Despite the impressive track record Murphy opted to compete at the Senior Bowl, switching back to the right side. The switch back - and Murphy's lack of elite athleticism - left him struggling a bit during one-on-ones but ultimately faring better during the more important scrimmages and game, itself.

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

STRENGTHS: Murphy sports a prototypical build for an NFL tackle with broad shoulders, long arms and a relatively trim middle. He anticipates the snap, rather than waiting for it, often getting a slight advantage over defenders (but also risking a false-start penalty) and overall showing impressive initial quickness, including on cut-blocks.

Murphy's quick start and length make him a formidable opponent in pass protection. He slides well laterally and is alert to stunts and blitzes, getting a strong shove on one defender before switching off to another. While quick enough to get to the second level as a run blocker, Murphy can get off-balance when attempting to change direction.

He is very effective, on the other hand, as a drive blocker, showing surprising flexibility to get under the pads of opponents and impressive leg drive to consistently move the pile.

Good bloodlines. His brother, Kevin, was a standout tackle at Harvard who spent time with the Minnesota Vikings.

WEAKNESSES: While possessing good initial quickness, Murphy isn't an elite athlete and will almost certainly be asked to move back to right tackle or perhaps even inside to guard.

He's quick enough for traps but once defenders cross his face, Murphy lacks recovery speed and the flexibility to change directions quickly, resorting to reaching out and latching onto defenders.

Has a bad habit of relying on his length and strength to control opponents, failing to keep his feet sliding on contact. Too often this occurs when he's run blocking at the second level, where he shows impressive burst to get there initially only to watch linebackers slip by him.

IN OUR VIEW: There is a lot to like about Murphy's game as he's quick, powerful, durable and tough. With some of Stanford's past standouts struggling to duplicate their success in the NFL, there is reason to be cautious about Murphy, however, especially given that his best season - 2015 - came with the Outland Trophy winning Joshua Garnett flanking him at left guard, a mobile senior quarterback in Kevin Hogan and Heisman finalist Christian McCaffrey making everyone at Stanford look good.

--Rob Rang (@RobRang) (2/6/16)

Great ideas rooted in love.(R)

Last edited by Rusty
Original Post

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Another smart big ugly. Sam Seale really had it going this draft. Those x4 boys will be raising a stink about this one.

Alrighty then. Time to get back out on the road. Eliot, rustle us up some UDFAs now, would you please?

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SteveLuke posted:

Does this really mean Don Barclay will not be protecting ARod when Bulaga or Bakh inevitably get injure for a play or 2 next year?

Love it.

Yeah, GB was not messing around after what happened this past year. Murphy looks like he can be a RT or play OG.

Barclay was likely only re-signed to be a camp body for competition. Figure he'll be one of the many cuts once camp wraps up

Theme to this draft was obvious. Biggest needs for GB were up front on both sides of the ball and they spent the whole draft addressing it. 2 OL, 2 DL, 2 LB

 

Let the hate begin flowing

Thompson on Murphy: "We liked him a lot. We had several guys go out to the West Coast and Stanford. He's a big man who plays the game well. He's one of Coach Campen's favorites."
by Michael Cohen 4:51 PM

Last edited by ilcuqui
PackFoo posted:

Obviously signing Cook meant we didn't need to reach on a TE.

Bakh is going to be a FA next year, BOO-lager is getting old, Sitton getting old...need to build depth.

I like the pick.

Bulaga is 2 1/2 years older than our third-round pick.

We are not going to be able to resign all 3 line starters after this season & now we don't have to. Spriggs will replace Bak at LT & either Murphy or Bak can replace either Lang or Sitton at guard & resign the other one. 

PackFoo posted:

Obviously signing Cook meant we didn't need to reach on a TE.

Bakh is going to be a FA next year, BOO-lager is getting old, Sitton getting old...need to build depth.

I like the pick.

Old???

Jesus ****....Is 27 Old in NFL years?!?!?!!?

Dude has minimum, 5 more years left. ...minimum! 

We drafted depth today. Bulaga ain't going anywhere

Herschel posted:

I have a bad feeling Sitton will walk away from the game and someone will give Tretter a shot as a starter somewhere.

I have seen alot of dum on this forum.

This may be the top of that mountain.

The one thing Barclay has that the rooks and PS guys don't is game experience. That won't necessarily guarantee a roster spot, but it sets the bar fairly high. With that said, it's likely Barclay will never see LT again, but if one of these young guys supplants him at any position, I'll be satisfied they earned it.
Daktari's situation isn't that much different. He has consistently over-achieved each year, and his experience is invaluable. It's a huge hurdle for Spriggs to overcome, but if he does, he will be a damned good LT. 
I'd try to keep him, but he may be the one most likely to walk in FA.

Jody posted:

Does this mean the the Lane Taylor era is over?


Seriously, this brings up a good point. 
With the 2 draft picks, we have a lot of OL on the roster now. And I mean a lot if we typically keep 7 of them.
I thought that Walker played pretty well late last year, but don't recall if Taylor was the same. And I have no idea where the other reserve/PS guys stand.
But the point is, these guys will have to take the next step up in their play, or they are going to be blowing in the wind.

Herschel posted:

I have a bad feeling Sitton will walk away from the game and someone will give Tretter a shot as a starter somewhere.

If they don't pay Tretter, yes.  At this point he isn't just back up, he's the swing man.  Sitton walking away?  Not sure what gives you that inkling?  Some players do seem to be walking away earlier but I don't get that indication from Sitton.

It all depends on whose willing to pay the Packer price.  Who will take less than market value to stay.   

My my guess is that Lang and Sitton both stay on and Bahk goes after his 1st big contract.   I'd prefer Tretter over Linsley at C but I don't think the coaches see it that way.   Sprigs takes over at LT and this kid becomes the backup tackle. 

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