I just wanted to ramble about next years draft a bit and wanted to start a new thread that we could chat about certain players and what not. I cannot wait to see Tyrann Mathieu this year. The kid just has "it", I love watching him play the game. I definitely think he ends up in the 1st round next year. [video=youtube;7M7t08WPZ7M]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7M7t08WPZ7M&feature=related[/video]
He isn't the best cover guy, but he makes up for it in his play-making ability. He is also a surprisingly good tackler for his size. I think he would be great at covering the slot. His instincts are just incredible.
Just remember that Jamar Fletcher was one of the best college football players of all time. He made all kinds of plays. Miami took him in the 1st round to be a slot corner and they ended up regretting it. That's my word of caution. Personally, when I evaluate him this year I'm going to flag every tackle attempt I see where he tries to tackle a bigger back or a tight end. Then I'm going to need to see how well he defends the ball down the field...because I'm evaluating him as a safety prospect, sort of a cross between Bob Sanders and Jarius Byrd.
I remember Fletcher and taking him over Brees, but I didn't follow college ball that much as a whole so I don't remember him that well at Wisconsin. From what I have seen the honey badger can breakdown and tackle larger players. At 1:13 in the clip I posted he is shown tackling TE Michael Williams who is 6'6 269. Granted it was an easy tackle, but he still made it. I guess the thing that interests me the most about him is his closing speed and instincts. If he can play within a system I think he could make a great safety. PS- He seems like someone the Ravens would target.
I think the 2013 draft should be all about getting as talented as they can on defense, specifically at the defensive end position.
Best player available. Hard to go wrong that way, unless, of course, you wrongly evaluate the best player available.
Alen1, do you think the semi long list of current, "potential" first round pass rushers will end up that way come draft time?
The abstract one. I was under the impression there are a handful of a decent pass rushers pre-pegged for this season, perhaps more so than the average year. But I wasn't sure how accurate of a belief it was/is.
I think this is the one you are referring to http://www.thephins.com/forums/showthread.php?70379-Preseason-2013-Defensive-End-Watch-List Also, I think this year was a down year for DEs especially in the first round. There weren't a lot of "great, top-notch DEs" in this years draft in my opinion. That makes next years draft look better from that fact alone. That being said, next year looks to be a great DE draft. There are 4 players that should be top 25 picks. That's just my opinion, hopefully it helps!
There's juniors in there, so I won't comment because I haven't seen them and they haven't come out. I've only watched seniors.
I know I'm a UCLA homer, but someone I'm going to be watching closely this year is UCLA RB Jonathan Franklin Last year he had 976 yards on 166 carries, averaging 5.9 yards a clip plus 5 TDs. He added 74 yards on 9 receptions with another TD but wasn't utilized much in the passing game. In the first half tonight (against Rice, so, grain of salt here) he already has 186 yards on 11 carries, at 16.9 yards/carry and 2 TDS. I am eager to see what he can do this year. EDIT: Final stats: 15 carries for 214 yards and 3 TDs. Not too shabby. See if he can match the production against better teams. also, Joe Fauria had a decent night: 3 Rec, 53 Yards, 1 TD not too many guys on the Bruins squad to watch this year but these are definitely 2
Have watched both Penn and agree. Really like both. Franklin is very underrated. However, he has a huge issue with fumbling. Has something like 19 fumbles last three years. That's AWFUL. Fauria is very raw IMO. But has a ton of upside.
How about D.J. Swearinger of SC last night? Played well. Watched many others too, including Brad Sorensen of Southern Utah. Think he'll go higher than he should come April. Questions with vision IMO.
Le'Veon Bell (Mich St) is running his *** off against Boise State right now. Dude looks great right now... creating yards after contact and finding holes. Really impressive.
Hopefully they don't drive him into the ground like they did with Javon Ringer, who got like 40 carries a couple times. Bell is at like 36 right now.
Logan Thomas' delivery sort of reminds me of Byron Leftwich. Hopefully, Thomas can speed it up in the Pros.
With Brandon Jenkins out that should be a great opportunity for both Bjoern Werner and Carradine. I don't know that they'll move Carradine out to Jenkins' position but they could do that with Werner which means more pass rush opportunities, and meanwhile I think Carradine is better than Jenkins anyway.
Well, with a combined 5 sacks over one weekend, Bjoern Werner and James Gayle are showing why they're my top two DE/Pass Rushers in the country.
I don't see it, personally. But his college game reminds me of Josh Freeman's at Kansas State. I think he has more upside than Freeman though.
To me it just seemed like a slow, wined-up type delivery. I couldn't tell if he was intentionally slowing the motion down to add touch and make it easier to catch for his WRs though.
Alec Ogletree was one of the best players I saw last season, period. His bowl game performance especially, was ridiculous. He's a stud.
He's closer to Josh Freeman as a passer, but he's more athletic than Freeman. I know the whole Cam Newton comparison is polarizing everyone, you have a bunch of people making the comparison and a bunch of people all too eager to call the people that make the comparison idiots...but the fact of the matter is, he's a similar size/athleticism/power story that does some of the same things on the football field. And also, like Cam Newton, I get this feel from him that in important moments, he takes over. There's a performance element to Logan's game that I really like. Chips down against Georgia Tech, really having a very off day as a passer against them, get to midway in the 4th quarter and suddenly he can't be stopped. I like that.
The injury to Brandon Jenkins is tough news for Brandon Jenkins...yet for everyone else involved with the Noles, it may actually work out even better with Robert Carradine. I've had him ahead of Jenkins in Draft value since the Spring game as it was clear Carradine had improved tremendously. He's cut for the position in ways that even Bjoern Werner isn't, but of course Werner is just a much better total football player. Now with Jenkins out I think they might switch the two up right and left, and with Jernigan in the middle...it's going to be ferocious. I'm not 100% sold on the guys rotating behind Carradine and Werner, but that defensive line is the New York Giants of the NCAA. Karlos Williams looks like a stud already, and that Xavier Rhodes guy isn't half-bad either. I remember last year Christian Jones kept standing out at me but he generally doesn't get a lot of love. That is one fearsome defense, if the offense can put some things together they could have an excellent team.
Yeah Savannah State might manage a way to score negative points against FSU this week and lose by over 100. Should be a bloodbath.
Yes. That's where I was going with that. Said similar on Twitter. Christian Jones was a local kid here. I watched him in HS -- took notes on my phone on his game LOL. Know people that know him quite well. Very high character guy.
And my thoughts are re-affirmed: against #17 Nebraska: Jonathan Franklin, UCLA, RB -- 26 rushes, 217 Yards, 8.3 Yds/carry, 3 Rec for 59 Yards, 1 rec TD-- total 276 yards and 1 TD-- season to date: 431 yards rushing, 10.5 yards/rush, 4 receptions for 63 yards-- 4 TDs Joseph Fauria, UCLA, TE -- 4 receptions, 43 yards, 2 TDs season to date: 7 receptions, 95 yards, 3 TDs and, not that he's draftable, but lets add redshirt freshman QB Brett Hundley to this "to watch" list: tonight: 21/31, 305 Yards, 4 TDs, 0 Ints season to date: 42/59, 71% completion, 6 TDs, 1 Int, PLUS 19 rushes for 122 yards, 1TD best yet, we upset the cornhuskers and have a soft schedule for the next few games. UCLA could possibly be on it's way back to contention!! WOOO
Joe Fauria is a guy I talked about a lot last year when I thought he might come out. Talked about him a lot in this thread: http://www.finheaven.com/forums/showthread.php?308482-TE-Joseph-Fauria-UCLA&p=1064079567
I can't wait to see Keenan Allen play against Ohio St this week. Some mocks have us with the #1 pick. If that ended up being the case what would Miami go with? I would hope trading down would be top priority.
If Miami's got a top 5-10 pick, I'd be looking at guys like David Amerson, Alex Okafor, Jonathan Banks, Bjoern Werner, and maybe Barkevious Mingo.
