Pete Prisco CBS Sports mock 4/1/13

"jim1 wrote:

12. MIAMI DOLPHINS

(7-9) Menelik Watson, OT, Florida State: They need another tackle to step in on the right side of Jonathan Martin is going to the left side.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/fullnflmockdraft-PetePrisco

that is not a little bit of a reach AT ALL… :pity:

Honestly, and not just because the Miami pick...one of the worst mocks I've seen.

Yuck. Watson has upside, but that would be a horrible reach.

Jim Turner spent an awful lot of time with Men at. He FSU pro day, working him out alone for half an hour. And he's going to NY for the draft, so he's going higher than people think.

And he's English!!

But twelve is too high.

He may be a reach at #12, but imo he's one hell of a player with a ton of upside. If Martin is moved to the left side I'd love to get Watson in the 2nd round. Elementary, my dear Watson.

"Boomer wrote:

Jim Turner spent an awful lot of time with Men at. He FSU pro day, working him out alone for half an hour. And he's going to NY for the draft, so he's going higher than people think.

And he's English!!

But twelve is too high.

speaking of british, whats your thoughts on lawrence okoye ?

It seems fairly sensible to me till Miami's pick, then have Austin fall to 22 seems ridiculous too.

"Alex13 wrote:

speaking of british, whats your thoughts on lawrence okoye ?

Well, he's never played the game so that's an issue. But his Combine numbers are ridiculous. 6'6, 303lbs with 35 inch arms and running a 4.78???? Gil Brandt thinks he's getting drafted. Someone like the 49ers could take him and store him. Or he's a priority free agent.

"Boomer wrote:

Well, he's never played the game so that's an issue. But his Combine numbers are ridiculous. 6'6, 303lbs with 35 inch arms and running a 4.78???? Gil Brandt thinks he's getting drafted. Someone like the 49ers could take him and store him. Or he's a priority free agent.

Just started a thread on him before reading this post! Outstanding athlete who could definitely play football to a high level...but he'll take a lot of development, so a team will have to spend the time on him plus he'll have to have the patience and commitment to stick at learning the game.

I remember watching him during the Olympics and seeing a video about his preparation and his rugby background. When I saw that he'd played rugby on the wing for Wasps juniors, it did cross my mind that he'd make an excellent proposition for a switch to Football if he'd be interested. Less than a year later...

On Watson, I'd like if we drafted him...but not at #12. You don't spend the #12 pick on a RT, and definitely not one who's still raw.

If we are interested in him, and if he is going higher than expected, I wonder if we could pick him at #42 or trade back into late 1st round territory for him?

I was reading a little something about Ted Thompson's drafting philosophy to see if there would be anything I could learn about it relative to what Joe Philbin may bring as far as personnel goes. During this reading, Ted Thompson was quoted in one article saying something similar to this: "God only makes so many athletic big men."

Sounds a little bit like Parcells and the "Planet Theory" huh?

I think when you look at Thompson's drafts, you can see a similar theme to what Jeff Ireland is talking about this offseason relative to focusing on "core" positions, but also keep that comment above in the back of your mind.

Thompson's first round Picks:
2005: QB Aaron Rodgers
2006: LB AJ Hawk
2007: DT Justin Harrell
2009: DT BJ Raji and LB Clay Matthews Jr
2010: OT Bryan Bulaga
2011: OT Derek Sherrod
2012: DE Nick Perry

QB 1, OT 2, DT 2, LB 2, DE/OLB 1

Out of 8 picks, 4 were "big guys who are athletic".

If Joe Philbin also attends that philosophy, then it wouldn't surprise me if the desire to move up for Johnson is true, or if they take Menelik Watson. Menelik is raw, but there aren't many guys his size that can move the way he does. I don't think he's a pure RT either. He's got the ability to play on the weakside.

I agree that Menelik is a left tackle of the future. I just don't see the value at 12. Of the two tackles they drafted, Sherrod missed four games in four years, starting 46. Bulaga missed about eight games in four years worth of starts. I think they value experience at that spot.

Menelik Watson at 12 overall would be the definition of reaching for a need. It only makes sense on the basis of need. That's it. I don't think there's any way to come even close to justifying it on a best player available basis. It would just be straight up, we know there are players that are a lot better available, but we're taking this guy because those players don't play right tackle and this guy does.

"Boomer wrote:

I agree that Menelik is a left tackle of the future. I just don't see the value at 12. Of the two tackles they drafted, Sherrod missed four games in four years, starting 46. Bulaga missed about eight games in four years worth of starts. I think they value experience at that spot.

That is true. My point with the post was that it wouldn't surprise me if Joe Philbin actually values the big guy in the trenches more than the fans do, because it appears that the system he came from also values the big guys in the trenches.

I agree that Menelik Watson would be a reach at 12.

It wouldn't surprise me if they end up taking Sheldon Richardson though.

Nor me. Both defensive tackles are on one-year rental at the moment. That has to be just as concerning to Jeff Ireland as the hole at right tackle, if not more...because he knows he can pick up a decent right tackle in the 2nd round as the Browns did a year ago with Mitchell Schwartz.

"ckparrothead wrote:

Nor me. Both defensive tackles are on one-year rental at the moment. That has to be just as concerning to Jeff Ireland as the hole at right tackle, if not more...because he knows he can pick up a decent right tackle in the 2nd round as the Browns did a year ago with Mitchell Schwartz.

Plus, Sheldon is in Miami today for a visit.

"Boomer wrote:

I agree that Menelik is a left tackle of the future. I just don't see the value at 12. Of the two tackles they drafted, Sherrod missed four games in four years, starting 46. Bulaga missed about eight games in four years worth of starts. I think they value experience at that spot.

Possible, but I think he's where he belongs at RT. I was expecting his feet and speed to floor me based on reports, but they don't. There's no way this guy is a 4.7 - 4.8 runner as I've read, he's no Lane Johnson in speed or more importantly foot quickness. Great prospect and athlete, but kind of flat footed imo and not overly quick.

What he does have are utterly fantastic reflexes to go along with prototypical size, brute strength and a terrific hand punch. His work on the second level is remarkable, and I've seen this guy time and again effectively block not one but two players on the same play.

I just don't see ideal quickness as per LT, and for me the template for that this year is Lane Johnson, and to give props on that one CK mentioned it some time ago. At the risk of hyperbole, what I see in Watson is fantastic potential and the ability to become an All-Pro RT. If Martin is move to the left Watson is my guy for RT, first pick of the 2nd rd if he lasts that long.

"KB21 wrote:

Plus, Sheldon is in Miami today for a visit.

Does this defense need a true 0 technique player to reach its potential ?, or would we be better off with another 1 thru 4 technique player who has the versatility to flex out wide to the 5?..

I think Sheldon can do it all.

"djphinfan wrote:

Does this defense need a true 0 technique player to reach its potential ?, or would we be better off with another 1 thru 4 technique player who has the versatility to flex out wide to the 5?..

I think Sheldon can do it all.

I think Sheldon brings the interior rush presence this team needs to get. Where I think Sheldon will struggle is if he had to take on a blocker head up. He's going to play better as a 3 technique or 1 technique than as a 0 or a 2.

Watson may be their fall back plan if one of the top Tackles doesn't make it to 12 or they fail to reach an agreement to trade up. Perhaps they have a couple of potential trade down scenarios lined up where they can move down and draft him where it makes more sense from a value perspective.

What I see in Menelik Watson hasn't ever been really an incredible straight line athlete, the type that would run a 4.7 at 300+ lbs. I saw those reports and though wow that's cool but it's not necessarily what he is on the field. What I see in him is his BUILD and the way he's able to move around with that build. More about his body flexibility than it is about his speed. He can definitely move but it's not looked like Lane Johnson. With Lane Johnson you can see the speed. He does things at offensive tackle that you just don't see. He's able to use his lower body burst and speed to augment his power by being proactive, which is something D'Brickashaw Ferguson did really well, but he's also able to just reach spots that an offensive tackle shouldn't normally be able to reach.

"djphinfan wrote:

Does this defense need a true 0 technique player to reach its potential ?, or would we be better off with another 1 thru 4 technique player who has the versatility to flex out wide to the 5?..

I think Sheldon can do it all.

Having a Paul Soliai is like having a nuclear weapon. You may not end up using it much, but the offense needs to know you have it. Because if you don't, they can make things a lot easier on themselves by running all over you.

"KB21 wrote:

I think Sheldon brings the interior rush presence this team needs to get. Where I think Sheldon will struggle is if he had to take on a blocker head up. He's going to play better as a 3 technique or 1 technique than as a 0 or a 2.

Honestly I watch him play and I keep seeing a defensive end. He's built and moves like an outside linebacker.

He has edge speed. He blew past Fluker for a sack.

At his size and speed combination he can play left end. Miami has interviewed and has liked him for a while now.