Cimini - Becton

[IndianaJet]

The more and more I read about this kid, the more I like him. 
 

A lot of this article is stuff rehashed over the last couple of days, but I love some of the new quotes from his H.S. coach. Seems like a real humble kid with a good head on his shoulders. 

https://www.espn.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/83018/jets-mekhi-becton-6-7-364-pounds-when-he-walks-in-a-room-you-feel-it

 

Quote

 

Jets' Mekhi Becton (6-7, 364 pounds): 'When he walks in a room, you feel it'

---

By Rich Cimini
ESPNNewYork.com

The moment smacked of "The Blind Side." All it needed was Sandra Bullock, Tim McGraw and their freckle-faced Hollywood son, S.J., to capture it on his video recorder.

In a game last November, Louisville mammoth left tackle Mekhi Becton exploded out of his stance and staggered the man in front of him with a hand punch to his chest. One would have sufficed, but Becton stayed after him and delivered another blow. By now, the Syracuse defensive end -- Kingsley Jonathan -- was going backward as if on roller skates.

Becton finished him with one last shove at the sideline (a possible late hit), launching him into the Louisville bench area -- and out of the screen shot. The one-man demolition, which occurred on a running play in Louisville's 56-34 victory, covered more than 15 yards, from first contact to last jolt.

"We have a monster," Louisville offensive line coach Dwayne Ledford told his wife on the field after the game.

 

Now the 6-foot-7, 364-pound player is a green giant, drafted No. 11 overall by the New York Jets -- a big man with a larger-than-life reputation.

Becton tossed around so many defenders in college that he made frequent appearances in "Card Tape" -- a coach-created video that features exceptional plays from the Cardinals' practices and games. Offensive linemen aren't supposed to show up in highlight reels, but Becton transcends the norm.

Of the approximately 4,500 players who have participated the past 15 scouting combines, Becton and former LSU tackle Herman Johnson (2009) were tied for the second-heaviest, according to ESPN Stats & Information research. Former Georgia Tech defensive tackle T.J. Barnes weighed 369 in 2013. Unlike Johnson and Barnes, Becton didn't run like a super heavyweight. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash (5.11 seconds) for any player 350 pounds or more.

Becton always possessed rare athletic ability for a man his size, even in the eighth grade when he was 220 pounds and begged his coach to play tight end, but he didn't become a complete player until he developed a mean streak. There were signs at Highland Springs High School in Virginia, just outside of Richmond, but it didn't click for him until his final season at Louisville.

"The guy moves people like furniture," Jets assistant general manager Rex Hogan said.

The Jets fell in love with Becton last fall when area scout Johnathon Stigall watched him play in person and gave him a high grade in his report. It was so high that it caught the attention of general manager Joe Douglas, who punched up video of Becton's season-opening performance against Notre Dame. He was impressed. National scout Dom Green and senior football advisor Phil Savage made cross-check trips to Louisville, confirming Becton's special traits.

The Jets didn't meet him until a formal interview at the scouting combine, where team officials punched up some of his plays from last season -- including his "Blind Side" moment against Syracuse. Jets coach Adam Gase was taken aback by his mere presence. Mekhi, caramba!

"When he walks in a room," Gase said on ESPN's "Flight Deck" podcast, "you feel it."

Becton wasn't regarded as an elite prospect in 2018, when he admittedly struggled through his sophomore season. Louisville changed its coaching staff, and he connected with Ledford, who convinced him to add a little nasty to his game.

"He was a big, powerful individual, but he didn't finish [blocks]," Ledford said. "He wasn't going all the way through to the echo of the whistle. That was something I harped on him about because he's got so much power, so much strength that he could be even more dominant."

Becton improved his leverage by learning how to play out of a three-point stance, something he didn't have to do under the previous staff. He also adapted nicely to the Cardinals' wide-zone blocking scheme, one that requires the linemen to be athletic because they have to make second-level blocks and cut off backside defenders. Initially, Ledford had doubts about whether Becton was too big to get where he needed to be. Those were erased after one practice.

"We've got nothing to worry about," Ledford told Cardinals coach Scott Satterfield afterward.

Becton has weighed as much as 389, but his body fat never has exceeded 20%, according to Ledford. His mother, Semone, is a caterer, which might explain some things. Becton raves about his mother's soul food, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and collard greens. As a kid, he was so big that he had to bring his birth certificate to games because opposing parents questioned his age.

Born one month prematurely at five pounds, 11 ounces, Becton did some serious catching up. It's in his genes. His father, Jerome, a former semi-pro and Arena League lineman, is 6-foot-5. By the eighth grade, Mekhi already was 6-foot-3. That's when Highland Springs varsity football coach Loren Johnson met him for the first time.

"He walks in, tilts his head a little as he walks through the door," said Johnson, recalling that day. "He reaches his hand out to you, he shakes your hand and his hand swallows my hand. You kind of get a feel this kid is going to be pretty big when all is said and done."

Becton expressed a desire to play wide receiver or tight end.

"It was comical," Johnson said. "But also confident."

The coach made it clear: You're a lineman, son.

By his senior year, Becton had developed into a four-star recruit, a "gentle giant" (Johnson's words) known for a big smile and his "yes, ma'am; no, ma'am" manners. He dazzled the locals with his basketball skills (reverse dunks!) and grew his reputation at a summer football camp when he knocked the best defensive end to his knees with one strike.

The seminal moment in his high school career occurred in the regional championship game against rival Lloyd C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Virginia. Becton's team trailed at halftime 20-14 and he was fired up.

According to Johnson, Becton approached him on the sideline and grabbed his shirt.

"Coach, man, do you want to win?" Becton asked.

"Yeah, I want to win."

"Well, run the ball behind me the rest of the game."

They ran the ball behind Becton on about 90% of the running plays in the second half, Johnson said, and Highland Springs won 34-20. Commenting on their halftime exchange, Johnson said Becton wasn't disrespectful, just competitive. He appreciated the fire from his gentle giant.

At Louisville, Becton started at right tackle as a freshman (committed eight penalties) and wasn't satisfied with his sophomore performance. ("It was just bad film," he said at the scouting combine.) He ballooned to 389 pounds in January 2019, before refocusing and crushing a nutrition/conditioning program that resulted in a 25-pound loss. He dominated the ACC and was named the conference's best offensive lineman.

He trained for the NFL draft in Dallas, where he worked under offensive line guru Duke Manyweather, whose nutritionist introduced Becton to a 6,000-calorie-a-day diet. That's a ton of calories, but a study of his metabolism determined he wasn't eating enough to replace the calories he burned every day in workouts.

"I figured I needed to eat more," said Becton, who hopes to play in the 350-355 range. "Once I started to eat more, the weight started falling off."

Talk about incongruity.

He weighed 364 at the scouting combine, where his drug test was flagged. That prompted a "deep dive" into his background, Douglas said. His vetting of Becton included a 45-minute conversation with Johnson, who vouched for his former player's character.

For historical perspective, the heaviest player in Jets history is believed to be defensive tackle Chester McGlockton, the former Oakland Raiders star who finished his career with a listed weight of 371 pounds in 2003.

Publicly, the Jets haven't assigned a position to Becton, but the expectation is he will start at left tackle, charged with protecting quarterback Sam Darnold's blind side. The Jets believe he will make an immediate impact as a run-blocker because he's nimble enough to excel on outside-zone plays and strong enough to win on gap (man-blocking) runs. They love the way he finishes, the way he tries to punish opponents.

"I think my demeanor is real nasty," Becton said. "I like to see the man on the ground stay on the ground. When I finish him, I like to get on top."

It will take time to reach his potential as a pass-protector, mainly because the NFL's pass-rushers are so skilled and smart. Pro Football Focus, the analytics-based website, said Becton benefited from Louisville's heavy reliance on screens and play-action passes. As a result, he had 73 true pass sets -- and allowed eight pressures on those. Ledford, the Cards' line coach, disputed the stats, claiming his former pupil "never once struggled" in pass protection.

For all his size and skill, those close to Becton say his most admirable trait is his humble spirit. When he visits his old high school, he still checks in at the front office to get a visitor's pass.

"He's the biggest kid in the school and everybody knows who he is, but he doesn't do anything like, 'I'm Mekhi Becton, I can get away with it,'" Johnson said. "He does everything with the intent of doing it the right way."

No short cuts for the big man -- unless he's on the field. There, he goes wherever he wants.

 

 

[tdoublee]

"We have a monster"

[Prez33]

I love the pick. He looks like Jonathan Ogden to me. If he’s even 75% of that, we’re good. 
 

I will say this, though. Parcells once said “the kid’s a big fella at 370, but he’s one biscuit away from 400”.  Becton carries a big frame and has the unfortunate propensity to gain a lot more weight. I hope that’s not the case. I hope we have a nutritionist on his hip the first couple of years to keep him on the right path moving forward. It’s the only thing that can ruin him. 

[tdoublee]

I love the pick. He looks like Jonathan Ogden to me. If he’s even 75% of that, we’re good. 
 
I will say this, though. Parcells once said “the kid’s a big fella at 370, but he’s one biscuit away from 400”.  Becton carries a big frame and has the unfortunate propensity to gain a lot more weight. I hope that’s not the case. I hope we have a nutritionist on his hip the first couple of years to keep him on the right path moving forward. It’s the only thing that can ruin him. 

His strength coach said he carried 17% body fat last season. He has over 300lbs of lean muscle mass, which explains his 40 time among other things. The kid is just different on many levels.

[32EBoozer]

I give him a year at RT unless Fant struggles and Becton shows ability and smarts.
No reason to put him in the fire coming straight out of the ACC. If it were SEC then yeah, he had good preparation at the Pro level. 
 

If Fant struggles and Becton not ready I’d have Beachum in the bullpen warming up 
 

 

[bitonti]

32 minutes ago, IndianaJet said:

"The guy moves people like furniture," Jets assistant general manager Rex Hogan said.

This is just a fun quote 

 

32 minutes ago, IndianaJet said:

[Becton] adapted nicely to the Cardinals' wide-zone blocking scheme, one that requires the linemen to be athletic because they have to make second-level blocks and cut off backside defenders.

 

This sounds exactly like Gase's scheme. 

[nycdan]

29 minutes ago, tdoublee said:

"We have a monster"

 

[Lil O]

28 minutes ago, Prez33 said:

I love the pick. He looks like Jonathan Ogden to me. If he’s even 75% of that, we’re good. 
 

I will say this, though. Parcells once said “the kid’s a big fella at 370, but he’s one biscuit away from 400”.  Becton carries a big frame and has the unfortunate propensity to gain a lot more weight. I hope that’s not the case. I hope we have a nutritionist on his hip the first couple of years to keep him on the right path moving forward. It’s the only thing that can ruin him. 

Yeah, but even when he was his heaviest in college at 389lbs, he had only 20% body fat.  Muscle weighs more than fat.  A 389 lbs human being with 20% body fat is not just a monster....friggin super Hero!  389 with 30-40 % fat is a fatty.

[Doggin94it]

47 minutes ago, IndianaJet said:

The Jets fell in love with Becton last fall when area scout Johnathon Stigall watched him play in person and gave him a high grade in his report. It was so high that it caught the attention of general manager Joe Douglas, who punched up video of Becton's season-opening performance against Notre Dame. He was impressed. National scout Dom Green and senior football advisor Phil Savage made cross-check trips to Louisville, confirming Becton's special traits.

This part should reassure some of the folks who thought the Jets were swayed by the combine into drafting a workout warrior

[FidelioJet]

But can he pass block?

We really don't know that yet.

[HawkeyeJet]

I think the only things that will likely prevent him from becoming a top level player are potential injuries, which no one can control, and his work ethic, which he certainly does.  Obviously it's just a small window, but everything I've read about him the past 2-3 months indicate he has the desire and is not afraid to out in the work to be great.

[Philc1]

7 minutes ago, Lil O said:

Yeah, but even when he was his heaviest in college at 389lbs, he had only 20% body fat.  Muscle weighs more than fat.  A 389 lbs human being with 20% body fat is not just a monster....friggin super Hero!  389 with 30-40 % fat is a fatty.

He was 363 last weigh in.  Trent Brown is 358

[Lil O]

Just now, Philc1 said:

He was 363 last weigh in.  Trent Brown is 358

Wait until he can get in an NFL weight training program!!  He is only going to get stronger and stronger.  Man I can’t wait to see how good he gets once he reaches is potential.

[Ken Schroy]

I just had a thought about this kid with his speed and ability to get off the line. I hope Gase tries some plays perhaps in the redzone. He wanted to play TE so let him catch a ball, nobody's stopping this guy. It would be fun to watch.

[TheMo]

Like I said on zoom during draft night, my only concern for a man his size are issues that come with just being that tall and strong. Joint issues/injuries, etc. He's super athletic and not fat at all. So those should help. Outside of maintaining his already good body fat they should be trying to strengthen areas of potential injury which I hope they are doing anyway (hamstrings to protect the back/knee, etc.)

[Charlie Brown]

1 hour ago, Doggin94it said:

This part should reassure some of the folks who thought the Jets were swayed by the combine into drafting a workout warrior

Finally the Jets have a real organizational plan with a GM who seems to know what he is doing!

 

 

[More Cowbell]

It's nice that the local media likes him. 

[C Mart]

Becton improved his leverage by learning how to play out of a three-point stance, something he didn't have to do under the previous staff.

He also adapted nicely to the Cardinals' wide-zone blocking scheme, one that requires the linemen to be athletic because they have to make second-level blocks and cut off backside defenders. Initially, Ledford had doubts about whether Becton was too big to get where he needed to be. Those were erased after one practice.

"We've got nothing to worry about," Ledford told Cardinals coach Scott Satterfield afterward.

[GREENBEAN]

1 hour ago, Ken Schroy said:

I just had a thought about this kid with his speed and ability to get off the line. I hope Gase tries some plays perhaps in the redzone. He wanted to play TE so let him catch a ball, nobody's stopping this guy. It would be fun to watch.

I don't know. Seems like they would go for the legs. That;s the thing that scares me about this guy.  His legs holding up for the long haul. Id hate to see 255 lb. LB's heading straight for his knees with a head full of steam. 

[Daddy Wang Doodle]

If this guy slapped my mother all I could do is say thank you

[The Crusher]

7 hours ago, Daddy Wang Doodle said:

If this guy slapped my mother all I could do is say thank you

As long as she isn’t lining  up as a defensive anytime soon you have nothing to worry about. 

[Losmeister]

14 hours ago, Daddy Wang Doodle said:

If this guy slapped my mother all I could do is say thank you

there's all sorts could be said...    that i won't say...

 

[Daddy Wang Doodle]

2 hours ago, Losmeister said:

there's all sorts could be said...    that i won't say...

 

Then say it tough guy

[Lizard King]

Should line him up against Quinnen and have them battle it out all camp. 

[Irish Jet]

The improvement in his play last year is what stands out.

I found his earlier performances in Lamar Jackson's vids and it was pretty rough. He was getting beaten by basic moves and looking lost on some plays (Jackson didn't always help in this regard). The 2019 vids though that @RobR was posting in the draft forum are of a different player. Just an animal who's dominating his opponent from start to finish. You can see the difference in confidence - he's a guy who looks to take the initiative and attack the defence. 

I do think he'll struggle with the NFL early on and this is why the improvement is encouraging. I still have vivid memories of D'Brick being called a bust after 4 games because he couldn't handle Dwight Freeney right away. I think putting him at right tackle is a nice idea but not sure either Fant or Edoga are up to playing on the left. I wouldn't be shocked if Beachum is brought in the second we get a good look at these guys.

 

[Losmeister]

1 hour ago, Daddy Wang Doodle said:

Then say it tough guy

tough guy?      your post sounded like a straight line designed for off color jokes. thats all. 

[rangerous]

21 hours ago, Lil O said:

Wait until he can get in an NFL weight training program!!  He is only going to get stronger and stronger.  Man I can’t wait to see how good he gets once he reaches is potential.

i hope they don't make him musclebound.  they will need to condition him and improve his agility and stamina but i don't think stregth should be the prime directive.

[Lil O]

5 minutes ago, rangerous said:

i hope they don't make him musclebound.  they will need to condition him and improve his agility and stamina but i don't think stregth should be the prime directive.

I trust professional NFL Trainers to know what they are doing.  I was a personal trainer in my youth, and some of the greatest strength and conditioning trainers in the world work for the NFL.  Strength is only a “prime directive” if that is a weak point for the player and they NEED to gain weight and/or strength.  Becton’s strength is his greatest asset right now, and they will make technique his “prime directive”, but that doesn’t change the fact that most all NFL rookies get stronger after their first NFL weight training.  They will focus on his weaknesses, BUT he is going to be even stronger than he is now, because of better technique and NFL strength training.

[#27TheDominator]

18 minutes ago, rangerous said:

i hope they don't make him musclebound.  they will need to condition him and improve his agility and stamina but i don't think stregth should be the prime directive.

Musclebound?  Is it 1946?  I don't think that is really a thing now.

[rangerous]

25 minutes ago, #27TheDominator said:

Musclebound?  Is it 1946?  I don't think that is really a thing now.

yeah i guess when ed hochelee shows off his "guns" he's not trying to be musclebound.  or gholston?  it shouldn't be a thing now because the musclebound guys just aren't very good players.

[#27TheDominator]

11 minutes ago, rangerous said:

yeah i guess when ed hochelee shows off his "guns" he's not trying to be musclebound.  or gholston?  it shouldn't be a thing now because the musclebound guys just aren't very good players.

If J.J. Watt sucked you'd say he is musclebound.  I used to workout with a kicker that spent some time on NFL rosters.  He was as jacked as  you can imagine.  Most of these guys are.  Go look at some pictures of Derrick Henry, Laron Landry, Josh Gordon, almost any of these guys are jacked more than body builders from the 70's.  They can still play and still have their flexibility.

[rangerous]

20 minutes ago, #27TheDominator said:

If J.J. Watt sucked you'd say he is musclebound.  I used to workout with a kicker that spent some time on NFL rosters.  He was as jacked as  you can imagine.  Most of these guys are.  Go look at some pictures of Derrick Henry, Laron Landry, Josh Gordon, almost any of these guys are jacked more than body builders from the 70's.  They can still play and still have their flexibility.

frankly i'm thinking of the guys who want to look like arnold.

[#27TheDominator]

2 minutes ago, rangerous said:

frankly i'm thinking of the guys who want to look like arnold.

Most defensive backs look like Arnold.  Frankly I am more concerned about PED suspensions that becoming muscle bound.

[Mavericknyc1980]

As long as he sticks to his training physically he will be fine.

[Bugg]

On 5/3/2020 at 10:32 AM, Prez33 said:

I love the pick. He looks like Jonathan Ogden to me. If he’s even 75% of that, we’re good. 
 

I will say this, though. Parcells once said “the kid’s a big fella at 370, but he’s one biscuit away from 400”.  Becton carries a big frame and has the unfortunate propensity to gain a lot more weight. I hope that’s not the case. I hope we have a nutritionist on his hip the first couple of years to keep him on the right path moving forward. It’s the only thing that can ruin him. 

Looked often that under Bowles/Macagnan, there wasn't much in the way of guidance for rookies here. Think this regime has to be smarter just showing up.