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Player Name: Brad Seaton
H/W: 6'7 310
Position: Offensive Tackle
School / Class: Villanova / RS Senior
Measureables: 5.37 40, 24 bench press, 26" vertical jump, 8'09" broad jump, 7.84 3 cone drill
The Tape
2016 vs South Dakota State (#79)
Strengths:
- Experience - A three year starter that has seen a lot of things from opposing defenses, even on the FCS level where Villanova resides. An All-CAA pick the past two seasons. Can execute every type of block with good success, particularly cut blocking. Entrenched himself as the man at left tackle very early on in his career and never looked back. 30 straight starts to end his career.
- Athleticism - Yeah, the 5.37 40 isn't the most nimble but 40 times for offensive linemen usually are overrated. On tape, he explodes off the snap and actively searches for secondary targets to hit on the second level. Lateral agility really surprised me. Footwork is a major plus for a guy his size. He's really good when pulling on screen plays. Light on his feet and mirrors the pass rusher. In three games that I saw of him, he didn't get beat once.
- Fundamentals - Sound fundamentals. Base is excellent. Anchors very well despite his massive frame. Run blocking is a thing of beauty. "Guides" his assignment into the wash never to be seen again. Has just enough strength and length to keep pass rushers at bay. I grade his footwork out to be that of a 3rd round tackle prospect.
Weaknesses:
- Leverage - A guy his size can be beat by being out leveraged by quicker and smaller defensive ends and linebackers. Not much he can do about genetics but technique can overcome this. Difficult for him to hunker down and get set in pass pro quickly due to size. It's an awkward thing, really. Needs to learn how to combat the leverage issue with imposing his will as a blocker.
- Consistency - I noticed that he is consistent and often repetitive in his blocking assignments / technique. Doesn't change it up very often to fool defenders. A smarter and more talented DE (i.e. most defensive ends on the NFL level) can learn his timing and repetition to beat him. Needs to develop more effective countermeasures to keep defenders guessing.
- Injuries - He was knocked out for the 2015 season after just three games due to a knee issue. One has to wonder about the knee history and how it will hold up given the weight it has to hold up.
- Versatility - Due to his size, he's kind of boxed in as a tackle only type instead of playing both guard and tackle. This will hurt him some in a competition for roster spots when it comes down to the last days of camp. It will be interesting to see if the Titans try him at guard or not, though.
Notes
Villanova has been rising up the college football ranks, going from mainly hoops school to FCS playoff contender with some Division 1 dreams. They had three draft picks in the 2017 draft. What's interesting is that Seaton wasn't invited to any of the big all star events such as the Senior Bowl or even the NFLPA game. He wasn't even invited to the Combine. Multiple teams had him in for visits, though so I don't know what happened there. A lowly ranked recruit who had only ONE scholarship offer. At first, when the pick was made, I was like, who? I guess the Tanoh Kpassagnon interest was a smokescreen to get Seaton by the Titans. A New York native who played high school ball in Connecticut.
Final Summary
Yes I like the pick. In fact, I 100% love it after watching some more stuff on Seaton. He's a steal in the seventh round that somehow slipped the cracks throughout the offseason. In the videos that I watched of him, he looks like a second round prospect with very little weaknesses. He just ragdolls the defender many times. Seaton is like the Bermuda Triangle. Virtually every defender he faces disappears like they didn't even suit up. OL coach Russ Grimm will have a ton of fun coaching him up. I think he doesn't need a redshirt year but will ultimately end up being the backup swing tackle. Understatement of the year: He's a big guy. Pro projection: A less athletic but more fundamentally sound Bryant McKinnie. I'll take that if Seaton has even half the career that McKinnie had. The tools are there to develop. Whether or not the Titans develop them into something resembling a backup tackle is the question.
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