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Click Here For My Main Pagewith links to my Pats Draft Blog and Player Ratings.For more Info on Pats, check out my: Patriots Draft Blog and Player Ratings. Top 67 still on the board, and beyond...1st Round ReviewForth RoundOkay, I finally finished this damn 2nd Round. UG! It took me almost a damn week, and I hate it already. I also added the Pats 4th Round pick at the end of the Mock, pick 65 in this Mock. |
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My Picks: (U)- Unofficial |
Key Needs: |
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33. 1. |
Rams |
LaMarr Houston- DT Texas
*Sam Bradford- QB Oklahoma |
Key F.A. Signings: Key F.A. Loses: Adam Carriker DT |
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The Team: I thought they needed a DT before they traded Adam Carriker. The Player: Houston is one those rare guys that out works everybody and gets better every year. Then he improved on his way to the Senior Bowl, and improved on his way the Combine. This is the kind of guy I want on my team. A pure
Three-Technique
Undertackle. Smart player, and a hustling player who really gives it his
all. Ultra-quick off the snap. Wins instantly with burst and hands. If big
O-Linemen get there mitts on him he is easily stalemated. However since
he's added the weight it is much harder to stalemate him, as he will never
stop fighting you. He can fly laterally down the line when he read outside
run. Tough prospect to judge because he is so undersized. However, he has
put on weight and looked bigger and stronger at the Senior Bowl.
Does a nice job reading the flow of the O-Line. Works hard to play with
his arms extended to blockers off his body. Has
a great swim move. Stronger inside than given credit. When
gets real low, he does a better
job
against the Double team,
but still looks best when he can split it with quickness.
A much better job than most 3-technique DTs who use quickness over
strength.
Has a reputation as a Leader, and teammates listen to him. Had a very good
season last season where he garnered 68 Tackles and 8 Sacks. He also had a
very respectable 22 TFL, 4 PBU, and recovered 2 fumbles. Does an excellent
job of using he height to his advantage, by playing and staying low. Plays
with such great natural leverage. Does a good job finding the ball in the
backfield. I was not a big a fan of his, until the Championship Game. I
thought he was spectacular in that game. Then he piggybacked that with a
Nice performance at the Senior Bowl, and an excellent Combine. Don't be
surprised to see him slip into the 1st Round. He is the second best pure
Undertackle in this Draft, behind Gerald McCoy.
The Reason: Taking Houston here would be a huge defense changing move, I think he is that good. Second Choice: Arrelious Benn WR |
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62. 30. |
Vikings |
*Jimmy Clausen- QB Notre Dame 6-3, 225 |
Key F.A. Signings:
Key Loses: Greg Lewis WR Artis Hicks OT Karl Payman CB |
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The Team: I have been trying to get Rick Spielman to draft a QB since he was with Miami. I think I am finally going to succeed! The Player: 4/12 Jimmy Clausen: Coming Back, Again. Clausen solidified his spot in the top ten with a great Throwday. The Reason: This could be a great opportunity for Clausen, who most likely will have to sit and be humbled for a year or 7, depending on how many years Favre decides to stay;-). Second choice: Terrence Cody NT |
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35. 3. |
Buccaneers |
WR Illinois 6' 7/8 220, 4.40, 37.5", 10'1", 4.32 SS,
*Gerald McCoy- DT Oklahoma |
F.A. Signings: Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: Michael Clayton, their top returning WR had a mighty 16 catches last season. They needed a 2 or 3 WRs before they lost Bryant. The
Player:
Benn is another super athlete who doesn't quite fit? However,
He is as dynamic with the ball in his hands as any player in this years
Draft. He has great hands. I am not his biggest fan, and I think a lot of
time super athletes who play the WR position are over-drafted. However, a
lot of times they don't have good hands, and Benn has great hands, but
again like a lot of these guys will lose concentration on the easy throws
and get the Dropsies? He has everything you want physically in a WR, but
he doesn't seem to have that knack for getting open. He will have to be
schemed for by the O-Coordinator to get the ball in his hands where he can
use his dynamic skills. He also has had some fumble issues. I like how he
goes after the ball most of the time. He can extend his arm up and
leap for the ball. However, the further down field he gets, the less he
seems to trust his hands, and I wonder why it seems he too often tries to
body catch the deep pass? Doesn’t get in and out of
cuts like a 1st Round Pick. Rounds his routes a little, and doesn’t seem
to have the attention to detail that the great ones have. The big WRs need
to be able to cut inside and outside like a razor, and he just does change
direction as well as I would like. Has good hands, and can really extends
his arms and snag the badly thrown ball. He had his worst season in college in 2009 when
he garnered on 38 caches for 490 yards and 2 TDs. In his first two seasons
he garnered 121 catches for 1,731 and 5 TDs. His lack of production this season
was blamed on terrible QB play, and while I agree Juice Williams is a
terrible QB, he was his on-an-off QB for most of his time at Illinois? So
I don't know about the QB being his problem. Another strange statistic
about Benn is that despite as his speed, size, and dynamic open field running,
he doesn't score Touchdowns? If he is a super athletic play maker, why did
he score only 7 TDs? I am the worst person in the world to try and judge
this guy, because every time I study him I just keeping finding more
questions marks than answers?
The Reason: They now have the worst group of WR in the NFL. If Morris wants to keep his job he has to get his young QB a lot more help. Second Choice: Jerry Hughes OLB |
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36. 4. |
Chiefs |
Golden Tate- WR Notre Dame 5-10.5, 199, 4.36(U)-4.42(O), 17 Reps, 10'0",
*Brian Bulaga- OT Iowa |
Key F.A. Signings: Key F.A. Loses:
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The Team: The Chiefs need another WR to help Cassel. The Player: Golden Tate: As Dynamic as Percy Harvin. The Reason: Do you think Golden Tate fits Charlie Weis's Defense;-). They really to get Cassel some help to see if he was a one year wonder or a legit starting QB. Second Choice: Jerry Hughes OLB |
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37. 5. |
Eagles |
Devin McCourty- CB/ST Rutgers 5-11, 190, 4.34-4.35,
Earl Thomas- FS Texas |
F.A. Signings : Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: The Eagles traded McNabb for 2nd Round pick, this one. If the Eagles pass on a D-End in the 1st they will have to one of their 2nds on a D-End. The Player: McCourty
is a smart Corner. He will understand NFL system quicker than most DBs. Nice
feet. Has nice quick steps. Transitions out of backpedal with good
explosion. He can read what the WR is doing, and jump the route. Nice
fluid hips, with good snap. Great quickness. He can make a false step at
the line, and can get back into coverage quickly. The freak ran a 4.6 at his Proday. He had 8 sacks 45 T, 9.5 TFL last season. His problems are all mental. Physically, he is a true marvel. Looked like a stud at the Combine, and was a super freak at his Proday. Some scouts clocked him running under 4.6 in the Forty, and whatever team clocked a 270 pound D-End at 4.6 is not going to have a hard time passing on him. He doesn't always play to his hardest, but he always seems to get after the QB. When you seem him playing at his hardest he is an explosive play maker who has that knack for hitting the Quarterback.
The Reason: This could be an interesting pick. Two of the Eagles top three needs are at OLB and D-End. Second Choice: Morgan Burnett SS |
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38. 6. |
Browns |
Colt McCoy- QB Texas 6-1.5, 215,
*Eric Berry - S Tennessee |
F.A. Signings: Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: They have to help for their beleaguered secondary.
The Player:
McCoy won 45 games in college, and that has to count for something.
He’s a natural leader.
Really tough kid who took a lot of big hits, and has a very accurate arm.
He has excellent foot work. A little bit of a 3-quarter release. I would
like to see him release the ball higher. Very underrated athlete, who did
a lot of scrambling at Reminds me of Drew Brees. I like him in the 2nd, just like Brees. He excels in the top four assets of a QB: winning, leadership, preparation, and accuracy. A lot of scouts question his arm strength, which could limit him to a West Coast offense. He needs to go to a team were they believe in West Coast principles. He is amazingly accurate with his throws. A four years starter in a big time program who consistently played against big time competition, and still completed 70.3% percent of his passes (amazing), for 13,253 yards, 112 TDs, and 45 INTs. He is as smart at processing football information as any QB in this Draft. He is a film room junkie, and is very tough. He has nice mobility in the pocket, and is underrated running with the ball when he has to. He has everything you want in a QB, except great height an great arm strength. I believe his arm strength is adequate, and helped out by his top shelf accuracy. The only question with Colt is what GM thinks is arm strength is good enough, because if you think his arm strength is good enough you have to take him. The Reason: They take a big chance passing on Haden to take a young QB, and get paid off in the 2nd with Jackson. Second Choice: Jerry Hughes OLB |
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39. 7. |
Raiders |
Bruce Campbell- OT Maryland 6-6 3/8, 315, 34 Reps, 36.25" Arms, 4.78!, 32", 4.69 SS,
Bruce Campbell- OT Maryland |
F.A. Signings: Richard Seymour Tag Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: Big Al has a need for speed, and I have never seen a 300 pound man run that fast before. . The Player: Bruce Campbell: To Be or Not To Be. The Reason: Campbell is the most athletic O-linemen to ever be tested at the Combine. Second Choice: Jerry Hughes DE |
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40. 8. |
Miami |
Sergio Kindle- DE/OLB Texas 6-2 5/8, 250, 4.65, 25 Reps, 36.5", 33.24" Arms, |
F.A. Signings: Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: The last time Bill Parcells was in a similar situation was back in 2005. He was the GM of the Cowboys and they really had no OLB who could play in a 3-4, so they took DeMarcus Ware with pick number 11. Don't be shocked if he does it again and takes Kindle at pick Number 12. If he doesn't think Derrick Morgan can play OLB in a 3-4, and a lot of scouts don't, then he will take Kindle. The loss of Jason Taylor has really exacerbated the situation. Word out of Miami is that he is desperately trying to trade down, which is another sign he likes Kindle. The Player: 4/21 Sergio Kindle: A Tale of Two Players. The Reason: A lot of scouts think Kindle is the top 3-4 OLB in the Draft. The lost both their starting OLB this off season. In a 3-4 defense you have to have a stout NT, and you have to have passrushing OLB. They have one young kid Cameron Wake who had 5.5 Sacks last season, otherwise the cupboard is bare. At least at NT they have Sollai at NT who is not a complete disaster. Second Choice: Derrick Morgan DE |
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41. 9. |
Bills |
QB/H-B Florida 6-3, 237, 4.72, 38.5", 4.17 SS!, 9'7",
*Dan Williams- DT/NT Tennessee |
F.A. Signings: Key F.A. Loses: Terrell Owens WR Josh Reed WR |
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The Team Word out of Buffalo is that they want Tebow, and they want him bad. And I think they want him so bad they will pass on a 1st Round OLT talent like Charles Brown here. The
Player:
Tebow's problem
is that he doesn’t have a hitch in his throw, he has a windup. He throws
the ball like a Baseball pitcher on the mound, and I don’t mean that as
a compliment. Plus his footwork is terrible. The only player you can
compare him too is Steve Young, and not just because he’s a lefty, but
because he is another super athlete who needs: top coaching, more
seasoning, and the right situation for him to succeed. Young played two years in the USFL where he threw 22 INTs and 16
TDs, and then moved to The Reason: They don't really have anything to lose here, they don't have a QB anyway. Second Choice: Charles Brown OLT |
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42. 10. |
Buccaneers |
Nate Allen- FS S. Florida 6' 207,
*Gerald McCoy- DT Oklahoma
WR Illinois |
F.A. Signings: Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: Some announcers think Sabby Piscitelli is not only the worst Safety in the game, but the worst starting player in the NFL. I think that's a little rough, but he needs to replaced. The
Player:
Allen is a prime time player who is at his best when
the game in on the line. Ball hawking Safety. Plays pretty good off
man, and be a third CB in awkward situations, but he is not a CB. He back
pedal is a little choppy. He is a smart player who does a good job of
keeping himself in good position on the field. Nice hips. Transitions out
of his backpedal with a good snap in his hips, for a Safety. Stays low,
and can hit WR right as the ball arrive. Smart player who does a nice job reading
plays. He can come off his man and make a nice open field tackle when the
ball is thrown underneath him. Great closing speed on the ball. The Reason: Bucc's have a lot of needs and could go a lot of different ways here. Second Choice: Vlad Ducasse OG/OT |
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43. 11.
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Ravens |
Jermaine Gresham- TE Oklahoma 6-5 260 4.76-4.73, 20 Reps, |
Key F.A. Signings: Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: The Ravens are in the perfect spot to capture the highest rising player in the Draft at a need position. I'm not sure Jackson will be a start, but he is one of the most Pro ready DB's in this Draft and should easily make the transition to Nickel Corner as a rookie. I had WR as their top four needs. Now after signing three WRs, they only have one left to go. The Player: Gresham is a great pass catching Tight End. His size and competitive speed are both top of the line. He catch the ball and run down field. He can get open deep and snag the ball out of the air with his hands. He is a great hand catcher. He is great running after the catch. He also a good blocker. He uses his size and strength well to hold off defenders. Is more of a hold, position, and seal blocker than a drive blocker. You would like to see him get a little low and dig more, but as far as pure pass catching Tight End's go, he is a top blocker. He also comes up big in the biggest games, “In the two biggest games of Oklahoma 2008 season he caught 13 for 152 and 3 TDs”. Show great quickness in and out of his cuts. At 6-5 256 pounds he just has the knack for getting open, and running after the catch. The Reason: A Tight End wrapped neatly in a bow for a QB, from a TE. Second Choice: Golden Tate WR |
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44. 12. |
Patriots |
DE TCU 6-4, 328, 5.05, 39 Reps, 34.5" Arms,
Jared Odrick- DE/DT Penn ST |
Key F.A. Signings: Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: Do I need to explain this pick? I don't need to explain this pick. If you don't know why the Pats need a TE, then you show stop watching the Pats;-) The Player: Joseph is super riser who has amazing size, speed, and strength athlete who is built like a prototype 3-4 D- End, some say he lacks desire. Conditioning has been an issue for him at ECU. However, some teams like him in the 3rd Round, so don't surprised if he end up as a Second Day pick. Last season he garnered 3 Sacks, 13 TFL. he has the extra long arms coaches crave in a 3-4 D-End, 34.5” Arms. Big 3-4 D-End with very long arms. He looks like a D-End. In his career at TCU he garnered 143 T, 6.5 Sacks, and 29.5 TFL. A power D-End with some grace in his movements. Doesn’t always play in balance. Mike Mayock said that he "knew he won't make it out of the 2nd Round". The Reason: Top rated player at the Pats top need position. Last season they successfully took Sebastian Vollmer with their last pick in the 2nd Round. He dropped because he had a bad back. The Pats doctors checked it out and said it was okay. If Gronkowski's back checks out he is a steal here. For more Info on Pats, check out my: Patriots Draft Blog. Forth Choice: Jahvid Best RB |
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45. 13. |
Broncos |
OC BC 6-4 3/8, 296, 5.16, 32.25" Arms, 4.62 SS
*Rolando McClain- LB Alabama
Mardy Gilyard- WR Cincinnati |
F.A. Signings: Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: The Broncos need some help along the O-line. They have to have a new starter at Left Guard and Center. With Weigmann gone, and Hochstein career may be over, they current have no viable option at OC. The O-Guard situation doesn't look much better. The
Players: I have been saying for
months now that Tennant is in one of the top three interior O-Linemen in
the Draft. He is behind Iupati, and at 6-4 300 pounds, he is equally rated
with Maukice Pouncey Most underrated player in the Draft. Absolutely
dominated at B.C. When BC played North Carolina he was the only
linemen who could block Marvin Austin one-on-one. Against USC they
stop lining up DT in front of him in the Second half on passing downs,
because he destroyed everyone they put in front of him, especially Number
44. He seems to be able to turn and seal any defender at will. e gets
out on LBs quickly and and easily, and he just kills them and knocks them
backwards consistently. Plays low and out leverages everybody. He opened
up the runs right up the middle on USC all day. he has great hands. Gets
off the snap quick, low, and always with excellent leverage. Great hand
placement. he is the best technician in this years Draft. he has quick
feet in backpedal, and he can hold his ground against anyone in Pass
Protection. he has great quickness and quick feet. He can pull all the way
outside to either sideline, and knock DBs on their butts. he keeps his
knees bent inside and has a good punch. He was so dominate against USC
that by the Second half they placed both D-Tackles at wider than I have
ever seen. they would lineup the d-tackle outside the OGs, so they won't
have to face Tennant in the passrush. Tennant's biggest concern was his
size. He was consistently listed at 6-3 280. He rose to 285 by seasons
end. He seemed to be going through some kind of odd growth spurt during
the off season;-) And at his Proday he measured out at 6-4 3/8 296
pounds. The Reason: The have to get viable replacement for Casey Wiegmann. Second Choice: Mardy Gilyard WR |
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46. 14. |
Giants |
OT USC 6-5 1/8, 297, 5.21, 35", 20 Reps, Arms, 32",
Sean Weatherspoon- LB Missouri |
Key F.A. Signings: Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: Word out of NY is that they want to move William Beaty to OLT, and replace Kareem McKenzie at ORT. The Player: Brown is a nice smooth athlete who really move well laterally. I though he looked the best of all the OTs at the Combine in the Mirror drill. Plays with excellent form. Patient in his PP. Smooooth feet. Really displayed his finesse and athleticism at the Combine. He has a good punch. He uses his log arms effectively to give passrushers a powerful two-handed shove. Doesn't sustain blockers as long as I'd like in the running game. Impact-and-shove blocker, who dips his head into defenders and shoves them. He might be more effective run blocking if he grabbed a little more shirt. Looks natural and athletic moving backwards. Needs some upper body strength, but has nice big thighs which is were he gets his power from. Plays with excellent balance and can consistently impact a defender and not only not loose balance, but is ready to strike again. Lacks nasty. He will sometimes loose balance against a strong Push-Pull move. Has a TE lined up on his left almost every down. Like to mirror D-Ends and shove with his very long arms, rather than attack them and try and grab some shirt. However, he is very effective mirroring DE. All the top OT's in this years Draft have flaws, and dancing along the LOS with a DE is his main flaw. Brown has all the tools, but lacks some aggressiveness and is too happy to stalemate the D-End, and then just releases him, before the whistle, when he thinks his job is done, and hustling D-Ends sometimes get back into the play. Needs to drive DE to the ground and/or sustain until the whistle. Does a nice job double-teaming a D-Lineman, where his mirror, shove, and don't sustain blocking habits can dominate a DL with a blocker already in his shirt, and it allows him to continue forward and Impact and Shove a LB. He would be an easy 1st Round pick if would just finish blocks, or knock someone on their butt for Butkus sake. However, his long arms, Impact-and-Shove technique, excellent balance moving laterally and smooth kickstep make him one of the top Pass Blocker in the Draft. The Reason: If they are serious about taking David Diehl out of the OLT spot, and finally moving him into the OLG spot, then they will need a viable option at ORT. Second Choice: Jon Asamoah DT |
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47. 15. |
Patriots |
*Jahvid Best- RB California 5-10, 199, 4.33-4.39,
Jared Odrick- DE/DT Penn ST
Jerry Hughes- OLB/PassR TCU |
Key F.A. Signings: Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: This could be a great situation for Best. He can take some time to add some weight. he has to get stronger. He needs to get up over 200 pounds. I like him as an All-Pro RB at 210 pounds. However, Curtis martin did it at around 204-205, which if he still weighs 186 he only needs to add 18 or 19 pounds of solid muscle. In the mean time he can be used all over the field. He can play slot receiver or even line up wide, both of which he did at Cal. He is a great receiver with great hands, and if the Pats have problems at WR, he can step up and help out there as he adds weight. However, he has that speed that makes D-Coordinator sweat, and he can take it to the house whenever he wants. Kevin Faulk, there only consistent RB is a FA. Laurence Maroney is a terrific RB, who just can't seem to get out of his own way. Just as it looks like he is going to put it all together, again, he starts fumbling? I'm an unabashed Maroney fan, and I have been telling my buddies I'm the last member of the Maroney Fan Club;-) And then he starts fumbling? WTF? I am almost ready to see him go (I'll probably rescind that statement by Draft time, once the bitterness of the fumbles wear off). Sammy Morris and Fred Taylor can't stay healthy, BenJarvus can't get on the field. Plus, to make matters worse, super impact RBs Jahvid Best, CJ Spiller, and Ryan Mathews could all be on the board when the Pats pick in the 1st, and one or two of them should still be on the board for the Pats first two picks in the 2nd, and one could still be around their third pick in the 2nd Round. The Player: Best has great speed, and he plays to his great speed. He was the best RB in college over the last half of last season and the first half of this season. Last season he garnered 15 TDs and 1,580 yards on 194 carries for a remarkable 8.1 Yards Per Carry! He also garnered 246 yards and 1 TD on 27 Catches. He is a way better pure runner than CJ Spiller. This season he garnered 12 TDs and 867 Yards on 141 carries for a very nice 6.1 YPC in 8 games. He also garnered 213 yards and 4 TDs on 22 Catches, and often was seen line outside wide on 3rd and long situations, and may have been Cal's best pure WR out wide. He has that knack for running inside despite not having elite size. He also has that great knack that can't be taught for making the Linebacker miss in the hole. amazing competitive speed, and more often than not he looks like he can't touched out in the open field. 100 Meters champion in high school. Lines up at WR in passing downs sometimes. He can use his speed running patterns to get open deep. He has great hands and can catch the deep ball. Uses blockers well. Has that knack for following and hiding behind blockers to use them to their most efficient, especially deep down field on long runs. Good blocker, who tries to help his teammates. He is not afraid to stick his nose into a Defender, but needs some technique and strength work to really become a good blocker. He has amazingly quick feet. He can stop, hop, change direction better than anyone in this Draft. Plus, he changes direction like lightning and stays low, in control, and in great balance. Plus, he can change direction while running faster than everyone else on the field. What separates him form the other speed backs is his amazing ability to make defenders miss in the hole. I have said for a while that he needs to add 20 pounds in order to be a full time starter in the NFL. The good news is that he has added over ten pounds already and seems to understand that he needs to get bigger and strong to take the horrific beating he will receive in the NFL. My top rated pure runner in the Draft. He has that shimmy-shimmy-shake make you miss quickness. Has a great hop-step to the left and right, and then explodes out of it like no one I’ve seen since Barry Sanders. Nobody in this years Draft can match his lateral motion and multiple cutting burst. In 3008 he carried the ball almost 200 times and averaged over 8 YPC. Great receiver out of the back field. Natural hands. Reminds me of Marshal Faulk in college at San Diego State, I always have said Faulk was the best college RBs I ever saw. He still needs to add about twenty pounds like Marshall did his first few years in the NFL. Best was the best RB in college football the end of the 2008 season and the first half of the 2009 season. Now, after his injury, who knows where he falls too? I watched him play in the 2008 Emerald Bowl, where he ran for 186 yards and 2 TDs and almost averaged 10 YPC. It was one of the best performances I've seen out of a RB. He continues that Marshal Faulk like excellence during this past season, playing at a spectacular and all most unprecedented level before he bashed his little head. I thought he was the best back I saw this season and he 2008, and I was a big fan of Moreno and Wells. I would have taken him over both those backs in last year's Draft. Reminds me of Marshal Faulk in college, and at San Diego State, I always have said Faulk was the best college RBs I ever saw. Best was the best RB in college football the end of the 2008 season and the first half of the 2009 season. Now, after his injury, who knows where he falls too? I watched him play in the 2008 Emerald Bowl, where he ran for 186 yards and 2 TDs and almost averaged 10 YPC. It was one of the best performances I've seen out of a RB. He continues that Marshal Faulk like excellence during this past season, playing at a spectacular and all most unprecedented level before he bashed his little head. I thought he was the best back I saw last season, and I was a big fan of Moreno and Wells. I would have taken him over both those backs in last year's Draft. The Reason: Best is a super impact big play Running Back, who needs to add some size. He has 4.3 speed, and more importantly he plays to that speed. He is also shifty, a nightmare out in space, and has that knack for juking LB in the hole. He was the best pure runner in college football this season before he hurt his head. His problem is injury, a problem that will continue if he doesn't get strong. Playing in a rotation system that limits his carries for the first couple of years he is in the league will do wonders for his career. For more Info on Pats, check out my: Patriots Draft Blog. Second Choice: Jerry Hughes OLB/PassR |
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48. 16. |
Panthers |
Damien Williams- WR USC 6'-5/8, 197, 4.53, 9'10", 38", 22 Reps, 4.25 SS |
Key F.A. Signings: Rob Petit OT Eric Moore DE Marcus Hudson CB Key F.A. Loses: A.J. Feeley QB Josh McCown QB Muhsin Mohammad WR Julius Peppers DE Damione Lewis DT Maake Kemoetu DT Na'il Diggs LB Landon Johnson LB |
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The Team: They needed a WR before they cut Mohammad. However, this team is on complete disarray so there is no telling what they will do. The Player: Williams is a big tall quick WR. I'm not the biggest fan of USC WRs, but every time I watched him play he produces. Runs good patterns, and gets open a lot of short stuff. Has deceptive speed. He is excellent in the open field, and is really spectacular with the ball in his hands. Punt returns, Kick Returns Bubble Screens, Slants just get the ball in his hands. His side-to-side quickness in the open field is fun to watch. The more I watch him the more I like him. Has excellent hands and does a nice job reaching up and can snag the deep throw out of the air. His size is a great asset on deep throws as well. He never seems to drop the ball. Smart player who understands what he is doing on the field. Plays with good deception. The Reason: They have to get someone to put across from Steve Smith if they want Moore to succeed at all.. Second Choice: Damien Williams WR |
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49. 17. |
49ers |
Roger Safford III- DT/DE UCLA 6-4 5/8, 313, 29", 9'5" 5.22, 7.42,
Joe Haden- CB Florida
Earl Thomas- FS Texas |
F.A. Signings: Aubrayo Franklin Tag Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: Even the 49ers have come out and said they want OLT prospect from this Draft. . The Player: Safford made a fortune at the Shiners game, which appears to have guaranteed him a 2nd Round pick. He put to rest all the concerns scouts had about him during practice and the games. In fact, it has been reported that some scouts felt Safford would have been the best OT at the Senior Bowl. When he plays with his knees bent and hands up in front of him, he showed he has the Quickness and athleticisms to stop speed rushers. He has excellent feet, and displayed the ability to play with good leverage. Tremendous experience. Started all four years at OLT. Played OG and OT at Shiners. Considered by scouts to be the best O-Lineman at the East-West game. NICE twist in his hips. Looks like a OLT. Long arms. Has nice machine gun feet, but can be inconsistent. Started 41 consecutive games. Most scouts seem him as an OG. The Reason: Safford made a lot of money at the East West game, and has done nothing but look better and better at every stage. He is now considered one of the top OLT prospects. Second Choice: *Jahvid Best RB |
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50. 18. |
Chiefs |
Rob Gronkowski- TE Arizona 6-4.25, 258, 4.65, 33.5", 9'11", 4.47 SS,
*Brian Bulaga- OT Iowa
Golden Tate- WR Notre Dame |
Key F.A. Signings: Key F.A. Loses:
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The Team: The Chief's still haven't overcome the Winslow trade. The
Player: Gronkowski
is a 1st Round talent who missed last
season do to injury, so he will drop. He had back surgery last year and
player with a bad back fall out of the 1st Round. He also has a rare
back ailment that cases a thinning of the spine, like Marcus
McNeil had in 2006. McNeil was one
of the top OLT prospects in the Draft, and he dropped into the 2nd Round.
Gronkowski is not a top ten talent at a super valued position. I see him
dropping to the 3rd Round. Where he goes will depend on the medical
reports. If his back is solid, like last years 2nd Round pick Sebastian
Vollmer, you could see him go in the 2nd.However, “rumors of stenosis- a
narrowing of the spine”, will cause him drop. As good as this guy might
look on film, he is just as much a risk. He garnered 75 Catches for 1,197
16 TDs in his career. He garnered 47 Catches for 672 yards and 10 TDs in
2008. He is a finesse blocker who tries to use his long arms to keep
defenders at bay, rather than drive them off the line. More of a position
and pray blocker, than a guy whose driving anywhere. He shows some
surprising speed in the open field, and can run away from people. Has a
great blend of size and speed, just as good as The Reason: The more weapons Pioli gives Cassel the better the Cassel trade looks. Second Choice: Dennis Pitta TE |
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51. 19. |
Texans |
Toby Gerhart- RB Stanford 6', 230, 4.53, 9'10", 38", 22 Reps, 4.25 SS,
Kyle Wilson- CB Boise ST |
Key F.A. Signings:
Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: They have to get a thunder to go with their lighting RB Steve Slaton. The Player: Toby Gerhart: A Victim of Racial Profiling. The Reason: How much would having a much needed power back would help them when they have leads at the end of games? Second Choice: Brandon LaFell WR |
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52. 20. |
Steelers |
Tyson Aluala- DT/DE California 6-2 3/8, 295, 24 Reps, 4.87, 4.28 SS!, 7.15 3-Cone, 33" Arms,
Mike Iupati- OG Idaho |
Key F.A. Signings: Casey Hampton Signed Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: They are getting old along the D-Line. The
Player:
He
played a little out of position. Excellent hand fighter. Gets OT off
balance with his great quickness. Does a great job using his hands in
combination with his feet. He can make OL look silly with his Slap and Rip
move. Has a excellent hand placement. He has a heavy punch. He can beat an
OL right off the snap with a heavy punch to the shoulder, and Rip past
him. Tough and mean. He can really looked nasty on a Stunt. He has great
versatility, and can play in any defense. He played a 5-technique D-End in
college, and with his quickness, hand fighting technique, and explosion
his best position in the NFL looks like a 3-Technique D-Tackle. Last season
he was First team all PAC-10, and garnered 11.5 TFL, 7.5 Sacks, and
65 T. In his career he garnered 195 T, 16 Sacks, and 26 TFL. A never say
die guy, who everybody wants on their team once they see him play.
I think he has more potential as a 3-4 D-End than given credit.
However, I like him best as an Undertackle. Super hustler. This is the
kind of guy you want on your team. Uses his hand and feet in good
combination. Plays best when he keeps his arms extended. Nice hand
fighter. Uses his hand and feet together well for explosive quickness. Has
excellent strong hands. Uses his hands and feet together well for power. Aluala has the most
value as a 3-technique DT.
However, I also think he has some value as a Passrushing 3-4 D-End. He
reminds me of Darnell Docket. Great quickness. Excellent hands. Has a nice lower
base, but really bets OL with quickness. Has a great Slap-to-Rip move,
which can devastate an O-Lineman. This guy can play in the NFL. I think he might
be the top Passrushing 3-4 DE prospect in this Draft. His combination of power and
strength, combined with his ability to run the horn is extremely
interesting. Terrific feet. Hustler. Played some 3-technique
at Cal and played it very well. Played his best football at Undertackle.
Has too much quickness for college OG, but not enough size for NFL OGs.
Might be a bit of a tweener. Good burst off the line, not great. He can
string together moves nicely, but I question where he plays. Looks like a
DE, but played his best ball between the Tackles. Has good hand violence.
Undertackle who needs to
shoot gap. High motor player, who leaves everything on the field. Played in a
3-4 front. Mayock/BB loves him. Played 3-Technique D-End in college. Plays
with his hands, and uses his hands and feet in combination with good
quickness and balance. Plays with great hustle and you can see football is
important to him. The more I watch him the more I like him. Played DT at the Senior Bowl and looked like a
3-Techinique DT. They also lined him up outside some at D-End, and
that’s when I thought he could be a DE in a 3-4. I like his feet. Looks
lighter on his feet than most 3-4 DEs.
Remember, he was mostly a 5-Technique D-End in California's 3-4, and as a
started over the past three season he garnered 145 T, 26 TFL, 6 PBU, 4 FF,
and 16 Sacks. That is pretty good production for a 3-4 D-End The Reason: They have to get a younger at D-End and maybe even N-Tackle. Second Choice: Parrish Cox CB |
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53. 21. |
Brandon Spikes- ILB Florida 6-3, 253, 5.0!,
Jared Odrick- DE/DT Penn ST
Jerry Hughes- OLB/PassR TCU
*Jahvid Best- RB California |
Key F.A. Signings: Key F.A. Loses: |
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The
Team: I have been so obsessed with
dealing with passrushers, I forgot some of the other needs. I think if the
Pats need one thing more than passrushers, it is a mean SOB. There defense
lacked nasty last year. They don’t just need leadership, they need some
nasty leadership. They need an SOB on the field can knock some offensive
snot into the dirt, and they need an SOB in the locker room who can shut
up some whiny snot;-) I think they have huge opportunity here to pick up a
couple of leaders who can do that. I think two guys who can do that are
McClain and Spikes. They will add not just leadership to any team, but
some nasty as well. If the Broncos, Giants, Titans don’t take him he
could fall to us in the 1st. I would take him at 22 if he drops. Spikes
will be there for them in the 2nd Round, and I am putting him at pick
number 53. Either one of these guys would improve not only their run
defense, but the defenses nastiness as well. I have been comparing Spikes
to Brain Cox, and that is what the D needs more than anything else, a big,
mean, and nasty Linebacker like Cox. As for passrushers, I like Graham and
Hughes because they also bring some nasty. Graham is a leader and a mean
SOB, while Hughes is a fighter who hustles all the time. I think Kindle
lacks nasty. Athletically he is a great fit, but not nearly nasty enough.
The same goes for Sapp. He has all the measurables BB wants, but he is not
even as tough as Kindle. The Player: Spikes is tough and mean, and what is better at Inside Linebacker than tough and mean. Reminds me of Brian Cox: a smart, intense, run stuffing leader who doesn't have the best speed. Has underrated intelligence, and is a football junkie who wants to learn everything about his opponent he can. Film room junkie. Has great instincts which allow him to play much faster than his forty time. A bit of Run-around Inside Backer who makes a lot of Tackles. My biggest question with him was smarts and how he takes on blockers. He improved tremendously in both areas his senior year. This guy could slip right into the Pats hands because of a single silly transgression, but he is another player I just love to watch him play football. Underrated athlete, underrated field speed, underrated football smarts, and he plays with a tenacity I like. A bit of a Runaround Inside Backer who makes a lot of Tackles, I usually think the Pats should "A-keep away from-a Runaround Sue" type LB, but not in this case. My biggest question with him was smarts and how he takes on blockers. He improved tremendously in both areas. This guy could slip right into the Pats hands because of a single silly transgression, but he is another player I just love to watch play football. Underrated athlete, underrated field speed, and plays with a tenacity I like. The Reason: The Pats lack nasty. Spikes has more than enough nasty to share;-) I have been advocating a trade down philosophy in this Draft mainly because they have no 3rd or 5th Round pick. I like Brandon Spikes with the third 2nd Round pick, not only because he is a big mean SOB, but because ILB who run a 5.0 go in the 3rd or 4th Round at best. They could trade down multiple times from 53, and pick up a 3rd and 5th or two easily. In fact, they could trade right down into the 3rd and pick up Spikes in the 3rd, and a WR like Jordan Shipley If they don’t get Golden Tate, I think Shipley is the next best WR who fits their system. There are better WR in the Draft than Shipley, but if he could come in and do what he did in the Championship Game, he could help the Pats early and often. However, he could slip into the 4th, the Eagles don’t really need another WR, and most Draftnics have him going in the 4th or later. I just think someone looking for a slot/third WR might snag him in the 3rd. If not Pats would have to take him in the 4th. For more Info on Pats, check out my: Patriots Draft Blog. Second Choice: Golden Tate WR/PR Pats Articles from my Blog: 3/9,10,11 Full Of Kraft, or why I Gar-oon-tee an NFL lockout. 3/9 Brandon Graham: Doesn't Fit Our System, or, He Can Rush the QB. 3/5 Mike Iupati: Almost John Hannah. 3/1 Ndamukong Suh: The best college football player I have ever seen. 2/19 Thank you Mike Pereira, or A Dishonorable Discharge for Bill Po-Lyin' 2/16 All’s not Quiet on the Western Front 2/12 And Now Back to our Regularly Scheduled Program, or Advise for BB 1/30 Will The Pats Sign Vince Wilfork? 3/9 2009 The Combine Matters |
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54. 22. |
Bengals |
OT/OG UMass 6-4.5, 332, 5.21, 34.75" Arms, 30 Reps (-1),
Dez Bryant- WR/PR Oklahoma ST |
Key F.A. Signings: Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: Word out of Cincinnati is that if Asamoah is available in the 2nd Round they are going to take him. however, if Ducasse slips down they cannot pass on him, as he gives them versatility at OT as well. The Player: I watch Ducasse play 3 games for UMass last season, and first off he has nice machine gun feet, and is a physical beast in the running game. Football is still new to him. He has great potential as an OG, and I think he has the feet, quickness, and long arms to eventually play OLT in the NFL. Strong lower body, but is a little light up top. Has a slightly choppy Kick-Step (which looked better at the Senior Bowl), but he still gets in good position on the edge. Nice hands, they are heavy and he use good placement. He keeps his hands inside his shoulder pads. Strong hands and can just too D-Ends aside (level of competition?). Plays a little high sometimes, and that will hurt him on the next level. Does a great job pulling to the right, finding a target, and destroying it. Needs to punch more. Tend to catch passrusher rather than punch him. Looks his best run blocking when moving to his left. When he stays and plays low he can really impact a defender with excellent violence, and does a nice job keeping his feet moving after impact. Plays a lot with a TE on his left. I see why some see him as a LB. He needs some technique work and coaching. Protects the outside passionately, and gives up a little inside as a result. In the three games I watched he gave up all his Pressure and Hurries to inside moves. However, no one came close to beating him outside. Consistently gets him big mitts on Linebacker when he pulls to second level. Will sometimes stop and look around when he can't fin someone to hit. However, when he gets aggressive bodies fly (something that showed up at the Senior Bowl as well). Teams have stopped lining up D-Ends in front of him on obvious passing downs, which is the ultimate complement to an OT. Again it has to be taken with a grain of salt because of level of competition. He can get out to the third level and crush the Safety. After he knocks a defender down he looks to knock another defender down. It is always the sign of a good smart O-Lineman, when he looks to block multiple defender on a single play. Again it might be LOC, but when he runs into somebody, D-Ends go to the ground. He can be more easily beaten inside than outside. In fact, he consistently appears to be invulnerable to the outside (something that did not hold at Senior at first, but he adjust to the speed of the top passrusher, he closed up the outside again). Senior Bowl: Still gets beat by speed. He became so worried about getting beat by speed outside at Senior Bowl that he gave up the inside too easily. Need to work on power step. Needs to keep his hands up. He tends to lower outside hand in Kickstep. I think he will to start at OG, and has good potential to move to OLT in year or two. Got burned by speed early at Senior Bowl. Smart player who recover nicely from early trouble with the increased speed of the better players. Really learned how to use his hands better, and got more-and-more effective with his punch as the week went on. Smooth kickslide. Needs to keep his hands up. Got in some OLT in Senior Bowl and looked good. Has great feet, and can dance outside and seal the DE on run play. Has a nice Kickstep. Has a great punch. He has excellent feet, and is already a road-grader, which is why many see him as an OG. Will need to work on his kickstep, and technique. Not use to facing superior athletes. When I watched him play he looked like he has the feet of a First Round pick. The Reason: They have to get some help for their interior O-Line. Ducasse has the ability to start at OLG for them next season, and could be a Rubin Brown-type OG if they keep him there. Plus, in a year or two he could be their solution at ORT as well. Second Choice: Parrish Cox CB |
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55. 23. |
Eagles |
LB TCU 6-2, 229, 4.54,
Earl Thomas- FS Texas
Emerson Griffen- DE/OLB USC |
F.A. Signings : Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: They needed an OLB before the released Will Witherspoon. This should be a very Defensive oriented Draft, as Reid did a great job last year of rebuilding the Offense. All of their OLB from last season are FA. However, I think if a fast OLB falls to them they will pounce. The Player: Washington is a Skinny linebacker who struggles to hold weight. He has good quick feet, and knows how to dance through trash. Excellent on field speed. A Will LB who should go in the 2nd Round or so. he is not a real prospect for 3-4. Played MLB at TCU. Has excellent range and covers very well. Covers a lot of ground on the field. Excellent in coverage Can read the screen and get outside in flash. He is an excellent open field tackler. Still a run around tackler, and doesn’t take on blockers well, but he is quick-quick-quick. This guy is going to make a lot of money playing Will LB in the NFL. Explosive in backpedal. Dynamic athlete. He flies all over the field. Moves through trash with the grace of a duck on water. Light and slight player who may be limited to a Tampa Two. More of a run around player than take on blockers LB. He can get lost in the middle. Great lateral movement, and when he needs to get outside he can get out there quickly. He will get stalemated if a big O-Lineman gets his mitts on him. Doesn't shed well. Needs to get strong and learn to take on blockers better. He has 34.5" Arms and should be able to use them more effectively to keep blockers off his body, because once the big-uglies get their big mitts on him, he is done. Looks smooth an natural moving backwards, and looks great in Coverage. A bit on a one hit wonder. He didn't start a game until his Junior year, and only started 2 that year. Still, over the past two seasons in only 15 starts he garnered: 174 T, 16.5 TFL,5 Sacks, 4 INTs, and 5 PBU. He is great when he can attack moving forward. Has the knack for splitting blockers. He can sometimes look like he can do anything on the field. He can look spectacular shooting a gap and attacking the ball carrier. Played mostly ILB in college, and might be able to Play MLB in a Tampa Two. He has the speed moving backwards and coverage instincts to get into the deep middle zone that is the Tampa Two, but he would need to take on blocker better. Appears better suited as a Will in a TT. The Reason: Washington is just too good to pass up. Second Choice: Brandon LaFell WR |
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56. 24. |
Packers |
Slavish Capers- OT Virginia Tech 6-5, 306, 34 3/4" Arms, 22 Reps, 5.08, 31", 8'-11' , 4.51 SS
*Ryan Mathews- RB Fresno |
Key F.A. Signings: Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: The Packers can use help all over the Secondary and the O-Line. However, I thought they needed an OLB Passrusher before they lost Kampman. The Player: Capers offers some interesting versatility for an O-Line. He played ORT all four years at VT, but played them like an OLT as he was covering Pat White's blindside. He has the feet play OLT in the NFL, but he also has the experience at ORT. He is happy to knock his man down and not look for another defender to block. Strong hands, and can throw defenders to the ground when he gets both his big mitts on them. When he plays with leverage he looks very good. He tends to stand up a little too much. Gets out quick on the D-End and gets in good position. Does a good job washing fast DE past the QB. When he stay and plays low, he can really push a D-End backwards in the running game. He is a former TE who is still growing and learning, and has bulked up into a 300 pound OT, but still has a TE's feet. He stayed on the right side as a Senior even though White was gone, so moving over to OLT might be a little more difficult than expected. He has a nice smooth kickstep. He looks stronger in the upper body every year. Has good recovery quickness when he misses a block. He can get back into the play and shove the DE when he is beat by a great move. He understands his limitations and work hard to improve them. He still struggles with inconsistency, but is getting better. NFL coaching will really help him. It looks like he has worked his way into the 2nd Round. The Reason: Not the biggest need for Green Bay, but this could a perfect situation for both teams. Capers could play the Sebastian Vollmer role from last season, where he learned early and started at both OLT and ORT. This will provide much needed depth behind their old injury prone OT. Second Choice: *Kareem Jackson CB |
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57. 25. |
Ravens |
Brandon Ghee- CB Wake Forest 6', 192, 4.37-4.39, 4.07 SS, 10'7",
Jermaine Gresham- TE Oklahoma |
Key F.A. Signings: Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: The Question is do they go TE or DB here. The Player: He is a little light in the pants and needs to add some weight and strength. However, he is an amazing athlete. Will hop, rather than step, out of backpedal sometimes, but his feet and hips are so good he gets away with it. Had a knee injury and didn’t play as well his Senior year as expected. Had a great Senior Bowl week. Nice snap in his hips. I loved the way he looked at the Senior Bowl. Super quick twitch athlete, with world class quickness. Much better athlete than I thought. Reminds me a little of Butler, who just looked faster and quicker than everyone else on the field. Reminds me of Tracy Porter who was taken with the 40th pick a few years ago. The Reason: The Ravens will be looking for a starting Right CB in this years Draft. I just can't put bad-back Gronkowski in the 2nd Round until I see him run. Second Choice: Rob Gronkowski TE |
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58. 26. |
Cardinals |
NT UNC 6-3, 325, 31 Reps, 34.75" Arms, 5.14, 26", 4.98 SS,
Sergio Kindle- DE/OLB Texas |
F.A. Trades: Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: Draft that the Cards didn't fill was NT. Plus, Both Bryan Robinson and Gabe Watson are FA. All three TE ends on the roster are FA. OLT Mike Gandy is also an UFA, and that leaves Levi Brown and the Foot challenged Herman Johnson as the only two OT on the roster. And just to make matters worse, four of the six remaining O-Linemen are also FA, including both OC, yikes! Also, just for continuity sake, both Chike Okeafor and Bert Berry are FA. The
Player: Not
very nifty, and not very pretty, but he can shove guys backwards when he
gets a bee in his bonnet. When he plays strong and low, and keeps fighting
forward, he can be as disruptive as any NT in this Draft. However, he
didn't play low and mean nearly enough in his career at UNC. He didn’t
have nearly enough production in college.
He didn’t even seem even be on the field nearly enough his senior
year. Looked good at Senior Bowl, and may himself a legit Nose Tackle
prospect to a lot of team. Not very nifty or pretty. But he plays strong and low, and keeps
fighting forward. Didn’t have much production in college.
Didn’t play a lot his senior year. Looked good at Senior Bowl,
but where was he all year at North Carolina? Interesting NT prospect, who
is not going to give a lot of finesse. Will probably go higher than he
should because of his potential as a NT. Another guy who made a lot of money on Senior Bowl week Looks like
a 2nd or 3rd round NT to me. When he plays and stays low, he is awful
tough to keep off the LOS. When he gets low he plays with vicious power.
He bulled his way to the QB for a Sack in Senior Bowl, and it was nothing
more than pure strength. power, and fight. The Reason: Card's need a NT. Second Choice: Morgan Burnett S |
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59. 27. |
Cowboys |
Morgan Burnett- FS Georgia Tech 6-1, 210, 4.46, 39.5, 11'0",
Anthony Davis- OLT Rutgers |
F.A. Signings: Key F.A. Loses:
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The Team: The top two needs left over from last year's Draft as I see it are WR and Safety. To make matters worse 3 of the 6 Safeties on the roster are RFA. The Player: Morgan Burnett looks like a SS, but has the athleticism and speed of a FS. He is an athletic well built FS, who can play SS. He is a ball hawk who really breaks on the ball well when he sees it He is a high motor guy who pushes his teammates. He is smart and a natural leader who calls the signals for the Georgia Tech Secondary. He is excellent in run support. Very productive SS with the ball skills of a FS. In three seasons at GT he has garnered 14 INTs, 19 PBU, 2 FF, and 235 T. He is a unique player in this Draft, because he is a force against the run, and he is a playmaker who causes turnovers. You can never have enough defenders who cause turnovers. He has excellent hands for a DB, and excellent ball skills. He had 7 Ints in 2008. I had him rated as a 3rd round pick when I thought he ran in the 4.5's, but he ran a 4.46 at his Proday, and in the new NFL where offenses are going crazy passing the ball, having a SS who can cover all over the field is a priceless commodity. Last season he was second team all-ACC, and garnered 85 T, 4 TFL, 4 INTs. I like his burst when he plants his foot and changes direction. He can really plant his foot and close on the ball. The Reason: The Cowboys need to get some 3-4 D-Ends to help the defense. Atkins is not the prototypical 3-4 D-End. but all he does is burst into the backfield. he could be an interesting D-End penetrater in a 3-4. Second Choice: Author Jones DT |
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60. 28. |
Seahawks |
George Selvie- DE South Florida 6-3, 249,
Trent Williams- OLT Oklahoma ST
CJ Spiller- RB/KR Clemson |
Key F.A. Signings: Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: I completely dislike their D-Ends. The Player: A favorite player of mine who dominated everyone as a Sophomore, and seemed to get worse each season since. Seems to have completely lost the ability to get to the QB. Can still be a force against the run, and if he can regain his mojo he could be a great NFL passrusher. Looked better out in space in the LB drills than I thought he would. Maybe he can convert to OLB in a 3-4. He certainly needs something to turn around the mojo of the past two seasons. The Reason: Selvie is a super boom or bust DE who got double teamed to death last season.. Second Choice: *Joe McKnight RB |
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61. 29. |
Jets |
Ricky Sapp- OLB/DE Clemson 6-4, 252, 4.61-463 (U), 23 Reps, 34.5" Arms,
*Brian Price- DT/DE UCLA |
Key F.A. Signings: Brad Smith WR Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: The Jets have to be hoping an OLB/Passrushers drops to this spot, it is really only big hole left in their roster. The Player: I am not a big Sapp fan. He is bit of a chicken-with-his-head-cut-off player. However, he looked like a 3-4 Rush LB at the Combine. Certainly looked much better in LB drills than Pierre-Paul. He looked a little heavy legged coming around the deep cones, and didn’t cut sharply when coming back for the ball. However, he did catch the badly thrown ball at the end of the drill. He was a team Captain, and he plays hard. When I watched him play against Kentucky I was more impressed with him than I had ever been He is an excellent hitter, who can really hurt the ball carrier. Likes to use herky-jerky shoulder moves out in space when Passrushing. Not a great edge setter. He looks like a terrific athlete on the field. Looks like he would be more comfortable at OLB in a 3-4. The further away he was from the OT the better he played. he looks like a skinny on the field, but added some weight and muscle for the combine. He uses his long arms well to keep off blockers his body. He has a great burst, but he doesn't use it consistently. He appears to get stuck in the middle sometimes, might be coaching. He appears confused sometimes, and will attack up field and then stop, or stop and then attack up field. He gets taken out of the game a lot, and seems to ask him to read and react rather than just attack and burst off the line. I don't like the Clemson coaching, and it appears they didn't do this kid any favors either. He is at his best when allowed to just burst off the line and attack. His biggest assets are his long arms and burst off the line, and doesn't seem to be allowed to use either. I would like to see what a great defensive coach could do with this kid. He needs development, refinement, and good coaching. Doesn't look good inside, and doesn't have a strong inside move. A pure outside rusher who needs a coach to teach him how to rush inside. Looks terrible Setting the edge, but will make a lot of tackles after it looks like the OT has taken him out. he is a good fighter, hustler, and doesn't quit. Has a good swim move, and when allowed to just rush he shows the speed and burst to get around the horn consistently. He is a clutch player who plays as hard in the 4th quarter as he does in the 1st. He made the critical tackle against Kentucky in their Bowl Game to preserve the win for Clemson. The only question with him is smarts? Is his on field confusion caused by lack of ability to read quickly, or is it confusion. he doesn't seem like a dumb kid, and it looks like coaching on the field to me. As good as he looks sometimes, his production does not match his physical skills, and as a passrushing OLB prospect he only garnered 5 Sacks as a Senior. This is troublesome, and over his four years at Clemson and 36 starts, he only has 17.5 career Sacks. For a guy with physical gifts, that is just unacceptable. However, look out Pats fans he could be a Patriot come Friday. He has all the measurables BB want in a OLB, and he was interviewed by BB himself. If the Pats don't get Brandon Graham or Jerry Hughes they could be look at Sapp in the 2nd. The Reason: A passrushing OLB could be the final piece to the puzzle. Second Choice: Jacoby Ford WR/PR |
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62. 30. |
Vikings |
SS LSU 6-2.25, 225, 4.57, 4.18 SS!, 9'7", 11 Reps,
Colt McCoy- QB Texas |
Key F.A. Signings:
Key Loses: Greg Lewis WR Artis Hicks OT Karl Payman CB |
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The Team: The Vikings take a big chance in the 1st by taking Colt McCoy and it pays off as a legit solution to their secondary needs falls to them here.. The Player: Jones in another Super athlete who played great every time I watched him play. he is ig physical Safety, but is little raw, because he played baseball. Has the potential to be a better Pro than college player. Not the smoothest backpedal. He has good hips, but lacks a little snap in his hips. Takes an extra step in transition. He plays in good balance. He has good ball skills. Excellent hitter. He can time hits to do the most damage. He can make the highlight hit on a WR who dares to come across the middle in front of him. Strong Safety type player, who is also good in coverage. He started two for two seasons at Strong Safety and last season at Free Safety. He plays centerfield better than you would think for a guy his size. He had good production for a top program in the SEC. In three seasons he garnered 33 Starts, 150 T, 5 INTs, 3 FF, 15 PBU. Like Taylor Mays, he has rare physical gifts, and despite his size he can get anywhere on the field he wants. The Reason: Chad Jones is a very interesting prospect there are not a lot of guys who can support the run as well as he does, hit as viciously as he does, and still be excellent in pass coverage. Second choice: Chris Cook CB |
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63. 31. |
Colts |
Jared Veldheer- OLT Hillsdale 6-6, 320, 5.07, 32 Reps, 33" Arms, 4.51 SS, 33.5"
*Brian Price- DT/DE UCLA |
Key F.A. Signings: Key F.A. Loses: Jim Sorgi QB Ryan Lilja OG Raheem Brock DE Tyjuan Hagler LB |
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The Team: The Colts could go just about anyway, but the biggest need they didn't address in last year's Draft is OT. Polian has been saying he wants to get younger and more athletic on the O-Line. Normally I don't believe a word that comes out of his mouth. However, he went crazy after the Super Bowl and blamed the loss on the O-Line. The Player: Veldheer looked as good as any O-Tackle working out at the Combine. This years Sebastian Vollmer? Nice quick feet. Looks smooth and natural running out in space. Looks like a smooth natural athlete. Good quick Kickslide, but will get off balance sometimes. Skinny legs. The Reason: Po-lyin' said he thought because of all the linemen going early he could see a skill player dropping to him. Which probably means he is definitely taking a lineman early. Veldheer tested as one of the more athletic O-Linemen in the Draft. Second Choice: Slavish Capers OT |
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64. 32. |
Saints |
Dennis Pitta- TE BYU 6-4.5, 245, 4.60-4.63, 4.17 SS, 27 Reps, 34", 9'5",
Lamarr Houston- DT Texas |
F.A. Signings:
Key F.A. Loses: |
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The Team: The Saints have some issues a OT. Jamal Brown is a FA, and coming off surgery. Bushrod stepped in for Brown and played well, but he is a RFA. The Player: Not given enough credit for his athleticism. Smooth athlete who is a good blocker. A finesse blocker, who uses good technique, quickness, and smart to get the job done. Smooth pass catcher. Makes catching the ball look easy. He maybe the best pure catching Tight End in the draft, with all do respect to Jermaine Gresham's knee. Just check out some of these Stats, "Receptions by a tight end in a season: 83 (2008)– Receptions by a tight end in a career: 216 (2004, 2007-09)– Career receiving yards by a tight end: 2,856 (2004, 2007-09)– Consecutive games with at least one catch: 41 (2004, 2007-09)– Needs 2 touchdown catches to become the BYU career touchdown leader for tight ends– All-time BYU career receptions leader : 216 (2004, 2007-09)" He was BYU's Captain.
He is an overaged prospect who went on a two year mission (05-06). He is,
big surprise, married, and as we all know BYU leads college football in
married players ever year;-) He has great hands, amazingly soft hands. he
doesn't so much catch the ball the ball just becomes a part of his hands.
Plays a lot in space. Very adept at finding the hole in the zone.
Excellent body control, and is a very underrated athlete. Made a catch
against Oregon ST, where the ball was thrown way behind him as he was
dragging across the field, and he somehow stopped and somehow fell
backwards and scooped the ball out of the air with one hand. He may
be the best TE in this Draft at testing the Seam. He looked unstoppable at
the East
West game. Not
the most physical blocker, but a fighter and annoyance who doesn’t stop
blocking until the whistle. Tend to try and block too high. needs to get
lower and keep his feet moving. His blocking is not a lack of effort, but
a complete lack of technique. If you watch him block you can see he will
vastly improve with some NFL teaching and technique work, like just sink
the hips and get low for Ditka-sakes! Position blocker who doesn't adjust
well when the position changes, IE RB bounces it outside. Does a great job
stretching the seam. He can catch the deep throw, and really any throw. The
more I watch him the more I like him. He really is not a good blocker.
However, he just keep getting open and making catches. Will need to be an
H-Back, as he lack of blocking power will limit him. He has the best hands
of any TE in the Draft. Runs
a nice Drag route.
He best route might be the flag route, and look unstoppable cutting to the
outside. He
can
opens his hands and make a nice catch across his body. Is not the fastest
guy but he has very underrated speed, and beats a lot of coverage right
down the Seam as Safeties don't think he can out run them, and he does. He
catches every ball thrown towards him. Just has that knack to get open.
Knows how to find the gaps in the zones. Tough guy. Can take the big hit
and still hold onto the football. Super productive TE, who catches
everything thrown his way. The Reason: If every thing works out perfectly they should be fine at OT, but things rarely work out perfectly. Capers is a still developing big guy who in a couple of years could be one of the top OTs from this Draft. Second Choice: Chad Jones SS |
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