Well, with the visits underway, and the Combine in the rearview mirror, I thought I'd toss up my next to last mock draft prior to the week prior final mockery of a mock: #12...Derrick Morgan..imho slated for the strongside, is still "our guy" in my view, I'd like to take a shot at Dez Bryant but the gut is saying we won't. #43...Nate Allen FS USF...poor man's Earl Thomas. #73..Dorin Dickerson..fmr Pitt Panther that I really like, nice size/speed combination and can play Te. #110..Legarette Blount..Ronnie is hurt and Ricky is 32. #173..Clifton Geathers...USC...the type of DE they like, and Phil Merling has one less excuse #174..Adrian Tracey.William and Mary..OLB double up #179..D'Anthony Smith...Nice value in a young NT #212 Jerrod Mastrud...K-State..Tall Te..Joey Haynos's competition #219..FB John Conner...KY..his name keeps popping up in connection with the Dolphins, they singled him out to play in the Senior Bowl. #252..Vonn Baker..kick returning dynamo at a HBCU..compared to Devin Hester in his heyday. UDFA's: Sean Lissemore DT William and Mary Walter Dublin..ex Arena Leaguer Matt Marcorelle.. John Starks..U of Buffalo Rb coming off of injury, would make a great practice squad player. Terrel Whitehead..fine FS prospect Now for this one, I did not follow the typical Ireland tendancy of taking Db's and Olinemen in rds 5-7, I feel that we have added enough Olinemen and more would just clog the evaluation process. AS has been pointed out though, in rds #22-#29, there are something like 5 3-4 teams drafting, chances are good not many of the top OLB guys or NT's will make it down to #43.
pretty cool list but I dont think Morgan is right for us. I know we checked him out recently but he seems to stiff for what we need. like the adrian tracy and blount picks and of course conner
I know, and I also recall all of the chatter from REALLY knowledgable draftnik types who said Brian Orakpo would never make it as a Lb in the NFL. The same things are being said about Seerrrgggiiiooooo Kindle. But imho we need a Strongside OLB first and foremost.
I don't like D'Anthony Smith as a nose. Quick off the line but doesn't play with leverage and sometimes has balance issues IMO. I think you meant James Starks of Buffalo? I like him but I'm not so sure he goes undrafted. IMO Orakpo was not good in space. However, he was a much better player against the run when in a two point stance than a three point stance, which is why I thought he could stand up but I wouldn't want to see him dropping. He spent 189 snaps in coverage and most were simple zones. Some were spot dropping. Just my two cents.
Imho they will be looking for a DT type who can passrush moreso than be stout against the run. To me, injured player at marginal school does not equal draft pick worthy. And yet he still was quite effective, that is one of the things about the predraft period, flaws are overly highlighted and positives are downgraded. A guy I'd love to land is Brandon Sharpe, straight up speed rusher who has been devalued, but A) we have shown no evidence of interest B) they like Moats and Tracey.
He doesn't play with leverage and is off balance. You can't be an effective pass rusher with those issues. He's got talent. Someone will take a risk in the late rounds. That's not true.
Depends on if he can be coached up, no different from 99% of the players in the draft. We'll see, that is what I love about the draft, sooner or later one way or another. Of course, and Jake Long is a fine Right Tackle with an odd kick slide.
He has balance issues. Good luck coaching that up. I think fans of the Draft tend to focus more on the weaknesses than strengths. I don't think draftniks go out and highlight weaknesses over strengths. Besides, I don't get why people keep going back to that Jake Long reference. NFL teams were split at the time on that just like 32 teams are divided in half about Bryan Bulaga playing LT.
I do, reading a write up on a prospect and one begins to wonder how they will make it in the UFL let alone the NFL. He is the nearest example, Orakpo is another, but Aaron Maybin was well thought of and he couldn't get onto the field.
? I rarely read other write-ups nowadays but when I used to, I didn't see that. I think they put both out there. Orakpo's not really an example IMO. His flaws were pointed out but so was his strengths, which was his snap anticipation and his strength. He had a very good bulrush and many people made that clear. When everyone talked about Maybin, they said he was a project. They said he was raw. They all mentioned his explosiveness off the edge but they all said he was raw and would take time. The reason some may feel that weaknesses are highlighted is because many fans focus on that and then try to use it against a draftnik when the draftnik is incorrect.
Indeed, we shall never agree on him so "?" it is. Callin'em like I see them Alen. Orakpo is a fine example, stiff hips couldn't play LB. Yet Orakpo was downgraded heading into draft 09, yet he was by far more productive. Which is sorta the point, the same things are being said about Kindle, does this mean he will have 12 sacks but not be as good a prospect as Jason Pierre Paul? Probably, everyone wants to "outsmart the expert" I do tend to obeserve what is said though and compare it to what I've seen out of a player. A good example is KB's dislike of Earl Thomas in run support, I've watched Thomas a bit and he is a willing tackler with an extra gear, but there will be film of him missing tackles or what have you. Which would come from a small sample of plays.
No, he's not. Some pointed out that one flaw and then the readers took it and ran with it, just like its happening right here. Downgraded by who? Those who pointed out the flaw of his stiff hips? Again, taking it and running with it but ignoring that he had a lot of potential as a pass rusher. Not exactly. He's not the pass rusher that Orakpo was.
It's a rather good example, and such things happen every draft, poor dear cannot tackle a blocking pad, Jamar Chaney..tackles to high.. Eh, we shall never agree, but I will say there should be more of an attempt to point out that player X can overcome their described weakness, but that never happens it is always: "Can run the arc, but poor player against the run" Which to me means "can rush the passer, their success depends on how quickly they learn to play the run still he should be a effective passrusher if given the opportunity" It rarely plays out like that.
Which draftnik are you reading if you don't mind me asking? Everyone here that talks draft brings up weaknesses and then says if they can further develop and improve on that aspect of the game. No disrespect, I think you're stretching to make your point but that's just my two cents.
Disagree, improvement is rarely spoken of which imho is why projecting is not done very well imho. That is where the draft gold is found, for example Dorinn Dickerson. No surprise there Alen, I think you are not really thinking about what is being written about the prospects, no disrespect meant, words mean things though. Put it this way, D'Anthony Smith does not have any issues that Brian Price doesn't have, they both have poor balance, yet one is a top 50 pick the other a 6th rd pick. Why? Which is why I enjoy Universal's reliance on film, most sites do not utilize that tool.
Brother Pad, believe we go WOLB with 12 IF we pick at that spot ... we have Wake on the SOLB side, and we can plug a '2' down SOLB later in the draft. agree that picks 1 & 2 will be focused on OLB & S ... UNLESS we trade down, pick up extra picks and then trade the late 1st to DEN for Marshall. i believe that has to be a COA, depending on how the draft falls out. I have read that we are linked to TEs and Dickenson, but i just don't see us taking one that high this year ... we were really high on Cook last year as well. I think we keep what we have, and make that assessment next year with Haynos, Nalbone & Sperry. the guy i want at 12 is Berry ... albeit, it is not likely ... all else -- Bryant, Thomas are worthy ... no one else at 12 really is that much better than anyone else that can't be had a few picks later; and i see no way we go OL, TE, or RB in rd 1. rd 1: WR, S, OLB* ... or trade to DEN for Marshall rd 2: S*, OLB rd 3: DE*, NT, S, OLB (2d one) rd 4: DE, NT*, OLB (2d one) again, still believe that we'll pick up at least 1 additional 3d rd pick when we trade down, maybe a 3 & 4 if we trade down twice. will put names after easter .... but outside of a real WR threat -- i am good with our Offense, both where it is now, and its future because its still very young. i'm not drafting any Offense in rds 1-4 unless they are true game changers -- and that would mean rd 1 ... so, outside of Bryant -- just don't see it. AND if we want to win know, it is better to trade down, get some extra picks and then trade with DEN.
The way I see it Phinanalyst is, Wake will play the weakside, recall Joey Porter's parting shot of "if you want to play Cam Wake fulltime at linebacker than good luck to you" Cam Wake was going to take Porter's job on the weakside which is what sent Peezy into a taillspin, and it sort of makes sense in that Wake is best when headed upfield rather than filling the multiple roles that the SLB has. That means we would need either A) a weakside OLB who can rotate in B) a strongside OLB who can play 2 downs for sure and can get after the Qb, imho Morgan fills that role the best of the early Rd 1 prospects. That leaves the Tracey's and Moats of the mock to fight for playing time as backups and as special teamers, keep in mind Charlie Anderson is not much of a passrusher, and we badly need someone to line up across from Wake and those two have shown they can get after the Qb in college.
i'm with you on Tracy or Moats as later picks ... i still like Edds for a SOLB in the mold of Roth, albeit, i wish he was a bit stronger. i'll stick with Wake as a passrusher from the strong side, until he proves something else ... which again puts us with JT as plan 'B' on the weak side -- his strong suit anyway ... but as such, it brings me back to needing that game changer on the weak side - so we don't have to go to the JT well again. all Parcellian game changing OLBs have been weak side guys (i believe) ... and still go with that's what we are looking for -- and to me Wake just isn't that guy, certainly not now, and may never be. which is why i don't like Morgan at 12 ... i want the fast, rangy guy in the mold of Taylor and Ware ... which isn't Graham either .... is it Kindle or Hughes - not sure to complete the circle, it brings me back to not picking at 12 - IF we didn't want Bryant or Berry or Thomas wasn't there .... unless the FO is in 'love' with someone -- we trade down.
And their target would be Erik Walden, Wake's rawness will have less of an impact via playing a Dumervil Role on the weakside, putting him on the Strongside is a waste as all the responsibilities will move him away from what he does the best...rush the passer and disrupt plays in the backfield. I like Hughes, Kindle more than most, but they don't bring the skills that Morgan does on the strongside imho. Think of it this way, Morgan could play either role, so could Brandon Graham, neither Hughes nor Kindle could imho. Draft trade downs are a dime o' dozen though, they rarely happen, and when they do, the price tends to be amazingly cheap. We are better off taking the pick of the litter as it were. "Timing is important in dancing and pipe or string music, for they are in rhythm only if timing is good. Timing and rhythm are also involved in the military arts, shooting bows and guns, and riding horses. In all skills and abilities there is timing.... There is timing in the whole life of the warrior, in his thriving and declining, in his harmony and discord. Similarly, there is timing in the Way of the merchant, in the rise and fall of capital. All things entail rising and falling timing. You must be able to discern this. In strategy there are various timing considerations. From the outset you must know the applicable timing and the inapplicable timing, and from among the large and small things and the fast and slow timings find the relevant timing, first seeing the distance timing and the background timing. This is the main thing in strategy. It is especially important to know the background timing, otherwise your strategy will become uncertain."
Pad, here is my problem with the WOLB ... i don't want a JP clone (didn't want JP) .... i would rather have a faster, stronger JT type -- quick, rangy disrupter, but one that could still hold the corner against the run. i believe Wake can be a JP clone ... whether Joey likes it or not ... I am happy right now with Wake staying a passing down rush specialist from SOLB, until he can get better and do more -- or we replace him with someone who does all we want. that's why i think we can wait til the latter rounds to get a high reward type project for SOLB, and go early for the best difference maker we can get for WOLB...
They are looking for a Taylor/McGinnest clone. Training wheels have to come off sooner or later. Morgan can also put his hand down and play DE on the nickel passrush. He offers more than Kindle does. And the timing is perfect, we will not be choosing at #12 for a long time to come, Morgan is 21, has a huge motor, and can play on either side of the formation. Literally Bro, he could be the AJ Duhe for the modern era.
Sergio Kindle is 6'4 as well. I'm warming up to Sergio K, but I think we can do better, if Morgan is off the board and he could be to Jax, that leaves a uninspired class outside of E Thomas and Dez Bryant and maybe Jermaine Gresham, to me those players could be impact players. I really don't think we should take a safe pick at #12.
