I was thinking about what one thing I would like to see each of our 2016 and 2017 draftees improve at in 2018. I have to say, thinking on the 2016 draft class was as dispiriting as the 2017 draft class was heartening. So below is what I've got, with a brief caveat:
* Regarding VH3 and Smith, I know that Smith and our DB coaches like CBs who can backpedal, flip their hips and run;
Bail technique (seemingly due to the amount of Qs and C3Z we play). It may just be that the expectation is lack of CB physicality before the route stem. That seems crazy to me, but it may be the case. I truly don't think so, but I just wanted to put it out there.
2016
Hargreaves
Physicality and aggressiveness. I'm not just talking about where he lines up. I'm not just talking about jumping routes. I'm talking about "cheating" or what some might call "veteran savvy." In the modern NFL, all the rules are there to perpetuate the passing game. The problem is, Illegal Contact and Defensive Holding is called in such an arbitrary fashion. Teams like Seattle, New England, Pittsburgh, and Arizona have feasted on this. Their DBs routinely initiate contact and have their hands on offensive players downfield. Routinely they're using that downfield contact to impede/reroute and "maintain contact" to feel where their eligible might be going at potential route stems. VH3 seems far too reluctant to consistently get into players.
Spence
This one is really disheartening. I could cop out and say "stay out of the trainers room/be healthy", but that isn't something in his control and what is in his control concerning it (toughness) he obviously has in spades. What is disheartening is that I'm just not sure he has what it takes to be an elite edge rusher in this league at this point. He doesn't have elite get-off or short-area-quickness. He isn't an elite edge-bender. He's average in both. He does have violent hands and an elite motor, however. What I'd like to see is either (a) an effective countermove developed or (b) a better ability to convert speed to power (unfortunately though, I refer back to the non-elite get-off and quickness). If he can do either, then he may become a consistent source of 3rd down pressure.
Aguayo
Develop technology to remove his legacy from our collective memory or kidnap Von Bell and put him on our team.
Smith
See VH3 above. All corners need to learn the contact they can get away with (holding period and "illegal" contact beyond 5 yards), and he struggles with consistently maintaining contact on receiver cuts and downfield as well due to lack of physicality/aggression before the route stem.
Benenoch
He is never going to be more than depth and Tackle Eligible because his lack of balance and agility. However, let us focus on that last role, because it isn't an insignificant one. He needs dominate at the PoA on Power O and Man runs his side. He stands up and loses leverage too often. He needs to be much more consistent.
Bond
When you're a 6th round LB, you're drafted for subpackages (pass rush) and Special Teams (forgetting the lack of availability for the moment)...primarily to be a standout on the latter. Let us start with constant assignment soundness on Special Teams (how about no devastating Punt Blocks and Penalties) if not splash plays.
2017
Howard
Route running generally and dropping his hips appropriately more specifically still. OJ's one weakness technically is that he sometimes play too high (due to his size/build and the fact that he can just flat out athletically get away with it oftentimes). He improved dramatically over the course of the season in this and I expect it to improve even further.
Evans
Zone Coverage. All of it except for Single High Safety in C1M (he does a very good job there). So Quarters (probably his best Zone coverage), C3Z Deep Middle (his third best), C3Z Robber, C3Z Buzz, C3Z as the rotating Cloud, C3Z when he they're in their 3 S subpackage and he is playing Bandit/Spur underneath (see that devastating play late in the Bills game), and C2Z especially (where he gave up 3 TDs). He gave up a lot of big plays (several of which were TDs) due to either poor technique in Zone (losing leverage on a route or flat-footedness) or lack of eye discipline/eligible awareness.
Godwin
The one player where I can't really think of anywhere he really needs to improve. He does everything well as a WR (fantastic game speed, run blocking, route running, catching the ball, competing at the catch point, run-after-catch) and is a fantastic Special Teams player. The fact that he lasted until the 3rd round is such an egregious indictment on the collective NFL scouting community and/or front offices. It wasn't like this was a mystery either. His college tape looked just like his pro tape, he played (and won against) pro DBs, and he had a solid combine. This is one of the greatest mysteries I can recall.
Beckwith
Zone drops and eligible awareness in said zones.
Tu'Ikolovatu
Not enough snaps for me to have a firm opinion.
