Annual PlanetSteelers Board Mock Draft (official selection thread)

[pfelix73]

The Dolphins are on the clock trying to wheel and deal a last minute trade, but no takers!

With that said....

The Miami Dolphins Select.....


Bjoern Werner, Junior, FSU, DE

• #95 DE
• Junior
• [URL="http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/_/id/52/florida-state-seminoles"]Florida State Seminoles[/URL]

• HometownBERLIN, GER
• Height6-4
• Weight 255 lbs.

werner.jpg

[RuthlessBurgher]

The Bucs pulled off the amazing #1 in the league in run defense, but #32 in the league in pass defense. They drafted Mark Barron high last year and spent big bucks on Deshon Goldson this offseason, so they are now pretty much set at safety, but Tampa's biggest need is at corner (with Aqib Talib in New England and the unsigned Ronde Barber...who had been playing more safety than corner of late anyway...with one foot now in the retirement home). They haven't been willing to pay a king's ransom in draft picks and salary for Darrelle Revis for nothing. And if this pick ultimately goes to New York in the Revis trade, the Jets would likely want to draft a corner high to replace Revis, so this pick would still make sense in that case as well.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are proud to select:

Florida State CB Xavier Rhodes

Height 6'1", Weight 210 LBS, Arm Length 33 3/4", Hands 9"

Overview: Xavier Rhodes (pronounced "ZAY-vee-er"), a redshirt junior, started all three years he spent on the field while at Florida State, including a three-man rotation in 2011 that featured Mike Harris and Greg Reid. The Seminole is best known for his big, physical, imposing frame on the edge and willingness to press receivers in man coverage, a trait that is difficult to find at the college level. Rhodes was lucky to line up behind behind pass rushers like Brandon Jenkins, Bjoern Werner and Tank Carradine during his career, but they were equally as thankful to play with a defensive back that refused to get his opposition a sliver of separation. The imposing corner does have some injuries on record, including one to his hand after only three games in 2009 and a gruesome knee injury at the end of the 2011 that turned out to be a bad sprain.

As a redshirt freshman in 2010, Rhodes started all 14 games at the boundary corner position and registered 58 total tackles, 3.5 of which went for a loss, including two sacks. He added 12 pass breakups, including four interceptions. Rhodes was forced to play in a three-man rotation in 2011, and his numbers show it. He still went on to be credited with 43 total tackles, 1.5 went for a loss. Along with the tackle numbers, Rhodes added four pass breakups including an interception. Finally, in 2012, Rhodes regained his full-time place on the boundary side of the formation, tallying 39 total tackles, two of which went for a loss. To go along with one forced fumble, Rhodes intercepted three passes on seven pass breakups.

Strengths: Big frame and size for the position. Press corner that likes to have a hand on his opponent at all times. Consistently does get some kind of contact or jam when pressing, remains balanced without overextending. Contact is the arm mirroring the release side. Stays with quick twitch cuts and release with equally fast movements. Flashes strength to throw receiver to the side when wanting to get in on piles. Improved against the run as the season went along. Can really lay into a hit if it is lined up on the edge. Turns to find the football and adjusts well if in the hip pocket of a receiver downfield.

Weaknesses: Coming off of a knee injury in 2011. Very inconsistent on runs to the empty side, loses contain, does not react quickly enough. Misses tackles when lunging at ball carriers and when leaving his feet. Hands are by his waist at the snap instead of higher to punch more quickly. Can be disinterested when play goes to different receiver he is not responsible for in man coverage, closing speed lacks urgency. Does not have experience inside as a slot corner in nickel. Performance takes a step back in zone coverage, struggles to pass off and close on receivers entering or leaving his area. Looks sluggish or tight hipped when not asked to mirror movements. Not a blitzer when path is impeded.

NFL Comparison: Brandon Browner

Bottom Line: Rhodes thrives in physical press coverage, something very few college players can put on their resume. At time his tackling technique is questionable, but Rhodes will make his living locking up boundary receivers with a balanced and strong jam followed up by enough speed to stick in their hip pocket. Just don't ask him to play in zone, because Rhodes shows tight movements when forced to pass receivers to a separate area. His game is somewhat scheme dependent, but expect Rhodes to be selected in the first 50 picks.

[RuthlessBurgher]

The Carolina Panthers are really tempted by Cordarelle Patterson still being on the board. They have really needed a weapon opposite Steve Smith ever since the heyday of Muhsin Muhammad. They also could use right guard and right tackle, and with local product Jonathan Cooper and hulking behemoth D.J. Fluker also still available, they could be tempted to add someone to protect Cam Newton as well as open holes for DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. However, they really haven't had a presence in the middle of their d-line since the days of Kris Jenkins. Drafting the best available DT makes sense here, as they are getting solid value with this pick in the middle of round one.

The Carolina Panthers are proud to select:

Missouri DT Sheldon Richardson

Height 6'2", Weight 294 LBS, Arm Length 34 1/2", Hands 10 1/2"

Overview: Richardson could have gone anywhere to play major college football after his stint at the College of the Sequoias, as he was one of the top junior college prospects in the country even with missing all but two games of the 2010 season there because of a wrist injury. But the former star player at St. Louis' Gateway Tech High School decided to return home instead of going to Southern California, Miami (Fla.), or an SEC power.

He originally planned on signing with Missouri out of high school, after being rated the top defensive lineman in the country by several recruiting services (he had 19 sacks as a senior, also eight touchdowns as a tight end), but did not qualify academically. There were some anxious moments before the 2011 season as well, because Richardson needed to finish course work in August before the NCAA deemed he was eligible to play for the Tigers. He played through a shoulder injury (which required surgery in the offseason) and only started two games on the year, but made enough plays as a reserve (37 tackles, eight for loss, two sacks) to garner honorable mention All-Big 12 honors from league coaches.

Missouri's move to the SEC coincided with Richardson taking over one of the starting defensive tackle positions. Richardson had a standout season, earning second-team All-SEC honors as one of the lone bright spots on a Missouri team that was often overmatched against superior competition. He led all interior defensive linemen in the conference in tackles (75), adding 10.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks for good measure.

Strengths: Scouts like the light feet Richardson shows for his size, as he is able to twist inside and chase plays to the sideline with great speed. That agility, combined with his length, makes him a strong tackler in close quarters. Richardson's first step off the snap, especially when lined up over the ball, is quite impressive; he gets into the backfield in a heartbeat, beating reach-blocks and will work his way through double-teams if he sees the ball in the quarterback's hands. He plays with leverage at the point of attack at times despite his height, holding his ground and wrestling with attitude. Has enough athleticism that Missouri uses him as a standup rusher and to drop into short zone coverages over the middle of the field, where shows the ability to cover crossing receivers and tight ends in a short area

Weaknesses: Richardson can struggle to break down and his upper-body strength is not elite, which means his high pad level and failure to use his hands to shed blocks can allow him to get turned from the hole and taken to the ground once off-balance. He had surgery in the offseason to repair a shoulder injury, so he must show his strength has improved. A better player in pursuit than he is holding the point against the run, where he can struggle to anchor. Drag down lunging tackler that misses ball carriers in space.

NFL Comparison: Cullen Jenkins

Bottom Line: Richardson was forced to go the junior college route, then missed most of his sophomore year due to injury before attending his home state school in Columbia; he wasn't a starter in 2011, but showed off the athleticism (eight tackles for loss, two sacks) to make scouts think 2012 could be a break-out year. He had a superb junior campaign, and his role grew extensively with Missouri using him in a variety of roles. With Richardson's incredible athleticism, he figures to be one of the top combine performers and will likely warrant a top-20 selection.

[RuthlessBurgher]

The Saints were historically bad on defense last season. They are switching to a base 3-4 defense, and could use some versatile weapons who can rush the passer, whether it be standing up as a 3-4 OLB on early downs, or with his hand in the dirt as a rush end in nickel and dime passing situations. They cannot believe that the most intriguing, athletically gifted pass rusher is still available this late in round one, when many were projecting him to possibly come off the board in the top 10. Sure, he's a bit raw after only being introduced to American football a few short years ago, but he's shown that he is a quick study, on the basis of his slow start but strong finish during Senior Bowl week (appeared to be a fish out of water early on during practices, but later on that week he was a man amongst boys during late practices and the game itself).

The New Orleans Saints are proud to select:

Brigham Young DE/OLB Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah

Height 6'5", Weight 271 LBS, Arm Length 35 1/8", Hands 10 1/4"

Overview: When examining the kind of NFL talent BYU has produced in recent years, athleticism and potential are not buzzwords often associated with the Cougars' prospects. In fact, head coach Bronco Mendenhall and his staff would likely admit they stumbled into landing one of the senior classes top upside prospects in defensive end Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah (pronounced Ahn-saw). A native of Accra, Ghana, Ansah tried out for the basketball team in 2008 and 2009. After failing both times, he joined the track team but left at the end of the 2009 season and joined the football program in 2010 despite warnings from Mendenhall and his staff. The then-sophomore conceded to being worried of how much contact occurred in a football game and noted he always considered his body "a delicate flower."

After switching sports, Ansah worked through winter training, where he gassed out after nearly every drill. However, with a strong work ethic and added bulk to his thin frame, Ansah earned the trust of coaches and continued to practice with the special teams units through the 2011 season. In those 18 games played, Ansah accumulated a total of 10 tackles (the majority on special teams), one pass breakup, and one credited quarterback hurry. Despite still not being on scholarship entering his senior season, Ansah bulked up to nearly 270 pounds in an effort to learn two defensive roles: outside linebacker and defensive end. He earned a prominent role out of preseason camp and has lined up at defensive end in a three man front, outside linebacker in a four man front, and even some snaps at three technique or nose tackle on third downs. Finally, in his one season as a full time starter, Ansah talied 62 total tackles, 13 going for a loss, including 4.5 sacks. The versatile defensive lineman added nine pass breakups, one forced fumble, and one interception while lining up as a rush outside linebacker, defense end, and defensive tackle.

Strengths: Combination of size, length, and foot speed is nearly unparalleled. Delivers solid first contact that jolts opponent back. Continues to press and locate ball carriers in the backfield. Consistently sheds at the line of scrimmage, envelopes his target with a strong grasp and outstanding closing burst. Flashes the complete package, specifically when rushing from the edge on passing downs. When lining up inside a natural anchor shows up, helped by low pad level off the snap. Burst off of extension is counter move, gains significant ground on target. Obvious coaching on technique is absorbed and implemented.

Weaknesses: Has admitted to a lack of stamina. Fatigue is noticeable after a few plays of rushing the passer. In those circumstances, does not chase the play down from the backside, instead staying at the line of scrimmage to knock down the pass. Technique is not always there, specifically on the edge against the run. Frequently gives up the wrong arm or shoulder to blockers, takes himself out of the play. Hand fights at the line against the run rather than driving or penetrating to disrupt. A hit or miss player on the field but consistency is growing.

NFL Comparison: Justin Tuck

Bottom Line: It is amazing how far Ansah's technique has come in such a short amount of time, not to mention how much he has transformed his body to fit the role coaches want him to play. That sizable frame coupled with outstanding closing speed and natural power will captivate many, making a top-20 selection possible. Ansah is rough around the edges, but the number of height/weight/speed athletes with positional versatility selected in that area in recent years point to a rise up draft boards.

[flippy]

[URL="http://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&docid=W iR5dpAMFqyk8M&tbnid=CEroZVkXaGjQUM:&ved=&url=http% 3A%2F%2Fwww.menshealth.com%2Fliving%2Ffix-anything%2Fwhat-wood-ron-swanson-do&ei=do5tUfKqApPy9gSI7YGgBQ&bvm=bv.45175338,d.eWU &psig=AFQjCNGBnRi6znar-O9DMNFkwbhGaxLgyQ&ust=1366220790243588"][/URL]

With Jeff Fisher preparing for the real draft, St Louis has decided to go with his stunt double, Ron Swanson, to make the pick. There's a couple of young men St Louis likes at this pick, but when looking at each position, there's one player that so much better than everyone else at his position, St Louis would be remiss to pass him up given their need to improve their offense and give some weapons to Sam Bradford.

While I'm sure Sam would be giddy with excitement with a shinny new toy like Cordarelle Patterson, Jeff Fisher and Ron Swanson don't do giddy. They prefer the basics. Meat and potatoes are the staple of their diets.

The St Louis Rams select Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Well, it's now past 10:00 and the Steelers have not made a pick during the 9:00 hour (and I haven't received a PM from steelblood giving me the Steelers' preferred pick), so they can now be leapfrogged on their own board. If steelblood does not make his pick by 11:00, then the Giants will jump over them as well, and then I will make the Steelers' pick for him.

Dallas has a big need at safety, and local product Kenny Vaccaro is still on the board. However, Dallas has an even bigger need along the interior o-line, and there is an even better value available there.

The Dallas Cowboys are proud to select:

North Carolina OG Jonathan Cooper

Height 6'2", Weight 311 LBS, Arm Length 33", Hands 10 1/4"

Overview: Scouts have focused on the Tar Heels' defense, for the most part, over the past few seasons; nine UNC defenders have been selected in the last three drafts. But Cooper might be North Carolina's highest-drafted lineman since tackle Harris Barton was drafted in the first round (No. 22 overall) by the San Francisco 49ers in 1987.

He achieved a rare feat by being voted his high school conference's player of the year as a senior offensive lineman, the same year his team won North Carolina Class 4-A state title. Cooper also wrestled, which scouts always like to see because that sport teaches players how to use their hands effectively in one-on-one situations. This skill set made him a starter at left guard for 10 games (he missed three starts with an ankle injury) as a redshirt freshman, earning a place on the All-ACC Freshman team. Cooper has stayed healthy in each of the past two seasons, starting all 26 games (the 2010 opener at center and the following 25 at left guard) and earning second-team All-ACC honors as both a sophomore and junior. He had surgery on his left shoulder after the 2011 season to alleviate chronic inflammation. Cooper continued his excellent play as a senior, earning spots on the first-team All-American and All-ACC teams, as well as winning the ACC Jacobs Blocking Trophy.

Strengths: Athletic guard, but with some girth in his lower body to anchor against oncoming tackles. Tough to beat in pass protection, possesses foot quickness, bend, and arm extension to mirror. Excellent mobility behind the line, regularly pulls to the left and right. Excellent at adjusting quickly to negate moving targets on the second level. Springs out of his stance to reach linebackers in the run game or to jump inside of tackles to seal off a rushing lane. Used as a personal protector on a moving pocket. Shows good hand strength, popping his defender quickly off the snap and getting inside hand position. Flashes some attitude when challenged, maintaining contact and chasing his man out of the play. Quick recovery speed to get up after a cut block. Good pad level and surge coming out of his stance. Gets vertical movement on his man on base and double blocks. Constantly works his feet and swings his hips to get position on reach blocks. Rolls his hips through contact, and works to place his body between his man and the ball carrier.

Weaknesses: Has only average height and bulk, and is a bit long-legged for the position (though he should continue to grow in an NFL strength and conditioning program). Functional strength is only adequate; stronger tackles get a bit of push against him in pass protection. Will have occasional missed assignments in pass protection.

NFL Comparison: Ben Grubbs

Bottom Line: Cooper, an extremely athletic left guard, racked up a number of all-conference awards during his four years starting, capping it off with a first-team All-American selection as a senior. He has the athleticism to play in a number of different schemes. Due to his ability to lead the way on runs and outstanding pass protection skills, he projects to be one of the first guards selected in the draft. He showed improved on his functional strength in his senior season, but he needs to continue adding bulk and strength.

[RuthlessBurgher]

Since it's now 11:00 and still no Steeler pick, the Giants will now also move ahead of them as well. With Osi Umenyiora gone and Justin Tuck underperforming, it seems like the Giants would be looking to draft yet another pass rushing DE to play opposite JPP, since pressure from their front four has always been a staple of their defense. The Giants had Bjoern Werner in their sights until he was surprisingly taken a bit earlier than expected. With Damontre Moore's stock sliding, and not enough value taking guys like Datone Jones or Tank Carradine this early (Jarvis Jones has more of a linebacker body than a 4-3 DE body), the Giants are now re-thinking this plan.

They were able to re-sign Will Beatty as their LT, but at RT David Diehl is getting older and was ineffective last year. His backup, James Brewer is just that...a backup. There is a mauling RT prospect available at this point in the draft. Even though it is rare for the Giants to address OL this early, that's where I have them going here.

The New York Giants are proud to select:

Alabama OT D.J. Fluker

So I don't get backed up any further here at work, I'll add pictures and scouting report info at a later time.

[RuthlessBurgher]

For the Steelers, now that they've been leapfrogged twice, I'll have to go back and make a pick for them at this time before moving forward. As most folks here know, Jarvis Jones has been my guy at #17 for a while, so that would be my personal pick. It is nice to have the poll results showing that the board backs me up (for the most part) since Jones got the most votes (7) compared to 5 each for Cordarelle Patterson and Jonathan Cooper (who is now off the board to the Cowboys), 2 for Kenny Vaccaro, and none for either Desmond Trufant or Eddie Lacy. In the future, a board poll may be a better idea for the Steeler pick rather than assigning the Steelers to one poster via lottery. I may consider using this method next year.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are proud to select:

Georgia LB Jarvis Jones

[RuthlessBurgher]

Chicago's on the clock, and they are in a tough spot. They could use OL help, but the top 4 OT's and the top 2 OG's are off the board. They likely would have taken any of those 6 prospects, but don't want to reach for the 7th best o-lineman. They would have considered Notre Dame TE Tyler Eifert, but he's also off the board also. Zach Ertz would be the next best TE on the board, but they'd prefer to get him in a trade down rather than at #20. Cordarelle Patterson is certainly tempting at this point, but they already have Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffrey as big, athletic specimen types, so Patterson's skill set would be somewhat redundant (they would probably prefer a different style WR like Tavon Austin to complement Marshall and Jeffrey, but he's gone as well). Since they no longer have Nick Roach or Brian Urlacher, they could address linebacker. The best available at this point would be Alec Ogletree, who started out his college career as a safety just like Urlacher did, but they have reservations about him due to his multiple off the field issues. So, they started calling teams with extra day two picks to see if anyone was interested in trading up. Strangely enough, they receiving interest from the team picking just one slot behind them. However, Cincy does want to trade up just one spot. They want back-to-back picks in round 1.

Cincy has a big need at safety, so their defensive coaches are ecstatic that the best safety in the draft, Kenny Vaccaro, has fallen this far. The defensive coaches want him. However, they Cincy brass also noticed that Cordarelle Patterson is surprisingly still available at this point of the draft. Their offensive coaches are salivating over the thought of lining up the uber-athetic Patterson across from all-world talent A.J. Green, with Mohamad Sanu in the slot and Jermaine Gresham at TE. The offensive coaches are trying to make the case to draft Patterson over Vaccaro if both are available at #21.

The the Bears call. Hmm...perhaps the Bengals can satify both their offensive and defensive coaches with a trade up, since they have an extra second round pick from the Carson Palmer trade.

*TRADE*

Here is the deal:

Chicago gives up:

1.20 (850)
4.117 (60)

Total = 910

Cincy gives up:

2.37 (530)
2.53 (370)

Total = 900

[RuthlessBurgher]

The Cincinnati Bengals are proud to select:

Tennessee WR Cordarelle Patterson

AND

Texas FS Kenny Vaccaro

[flippy]

Well, we've got a couple needs and one thing I have to remind you, my stunt double Jeff Fisher doesn't shy away from unsavory characters. Unlike the Bengals who make bad characters worse, we're willing to gamble we can get the most out of talented kids who have their struggles as young men - see Janoris Jenkins. It's just like when my doctor said I need to eat better. you don't see me pussyfooting around eating an apple. Nope. I now wrap everything in bacon. And I only eat at carnivals where everything gets deep fried.

All that said, we're going for another steal that fills a big void on our team.

The St Louis Rams select Alec Ogletree, LB, GA. The kid fills out our LB corps and has the range to help out our coverage and lack of elite safeties. We closely considered some more picks and would have liked to have traded down from this spot because there seems to be a clump of 10-15 players that are just as good as one another. But we're also happy to get the guy we wanted who like Janoris last year is here because of some off field concerns.

[RuthlessBurgher]

The Vikings released veteran corner Antoine Winfield in a cost-cutting move, and hoped to re-sign him to a more cap-friendly deal, but he just called their bluff and signed with Seattle. When you are in a division with the likes of Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall, Alshon Jeffrey, Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, James Jones (at last the Vikes were able to sign Greg Jennings away from the Pack), you need to have corners...and lots of 'em. The top corner on the board knows what it means to play in the league since he has a couple of brothers will NFL experience and has that confident...bordering on cocky...attitude that many teams look for in a DB.

The Minnesota Vikings are proud to select:

Washington CB Desmond Trufant

[steelblood]

The Colts select ...



Damontre Moore DE Texas A&M

The colts need a new 3-4 rush linebacker to pair with Robert Mathis. Moore is an adept pass rusher with excellent short area quickness and snap anticipation. He also lead his team in tackles and is a relentless run defender. Poor workout numbers have caused Moore to plummet from the top 5 where he was once anticipated to go. However, Moore's 2012 tape is excellent. He played well against very good competition including a monster game against Florida and good showings against NFL talent tackles vs A&M and Alabama. Moore has great length and the frame to add even more mass. He is effective rushing from either side and even lines up at DT occasionally. Moore has shown good enough movement skills to cover TEs in short areas and enough athleticism to drop into and patrol zones. He should see the field immediately this season.

[RuthlessBurgher]

My first (and only) Thursday pick happens to be first thing in the morning, so I'll get it out of the way tonight, and will therefore have NOTHING to do tomorrow with this mock. After all of the picks I've made so far, it will certainly be different just to sit back tomorrow and watch. Should be fun.

After taking a corner with their initial first round pick, there are still a bunch of needs to fill. Although they signed Greg Jennings, they lost Percy Harvin, so they could still use an upgrade at wideout (and with only Austin and Patterson off the board so far, there are still plenty of viable options available...Hopkins, Allen, Hunter, etc.). They could use a starting linebacker, and supposedly have shown a lot of interest in Manti Te'o (and if they were worried about that as a distraction, there are still other options like Minter or Brown out there. Although Harrison Smith was a successful pick at safety last year, they could still use another solid safety next to him, and guys like Elam, Cyprien, and Reid are available. Those are a lot of options, all of which make sense, but I'm going to go elsewhere. Ever since Pat Williams retired and the Williams Wall went from plural to singular, the Vikings haven't found a viable replacement next to Kevin Williams at DT. The best available DT on the board just happens to also be named Williams, so we could create a Williams Wall 2.0.

The Minnesota Vikings are proud to select:

North Carolina DT Sylvester Williams

[thor75]

The Packers have several needs that could be addressed with the 26th pick.

On offense, the RB position could be upgraded to take the heat off Aaron Rogers but no RBs in this draft are first round worthy. Dietrich-Smith filled the gap at center after the Jeff Saturday experiment took a turn for the worst. He progressed well as the season went into the playoffs but the position could be upgraded with depth. (Note: only one sack vs the 49ers in the playoffs for the off. line) Jermichael Finley is often injured and could be gone in 2014, but with Tyler Eifert off the board they continue looking. Donald Driver retired and Greg Jennings leaves for the Vikings. But Thompson has some success drafting WRs in rounds 2 and 3. Off. Line in general can always be improved for the often sacked Aaron Rogers and Ted Thompson loves drafting versatile lineman. David Quessenberry is a target for the mid rounds. (Although fans state that Rodgers is sacked due to holding onto the ball too long trying to make a play……Sound Familiar?)
TT is also looking to improve the middle of the defense. Charles Woodson is gone and the safety position is thin, but the draft is deep at the safety position. BJ Raji has some injury history and has two years left on his contract, but 2014 is a voidable year. It is with this thought that the Green Bay Packers look to free up newly extended LBer Clay Matthews.
With the 26th selection of the 2013 NFL draft the Green Bay Packers select:

Jonathan Jenkins, DT, Georgia
Height 6’3”
Weight 360lbs
Bench Press 30 reps

Jenkins is a perfect zero technique NT for Dom Caper’s 3-4 defense. He is a physical presence at the line of scrimmage and is tough against the run. Athletic for his size, he has good lateral movement to pursue ballcarriers to the edge yet he will command blockers freeing the LBers to make plays essential for any 3-4 defense. Possesses a good bull rush and has active hands. Although ballooning to 370lbs for the SEC championship he still performed well and beat potential first rounder Chance Warmack for a sack against Alabama. He has since lost close to 30lbs with an emphasis on changing his diet, displaying the willingness to improve his training regimen.