Yesterday was the first time I watched him other than highlights. Wasn't that impressed. This guy will be the #1 overall pick? Seems like he may just be a product of a system. Even if we were in a position to draft him, I wouldn't want to waste a first round pick on him.
If I was forced to take one of the two, I'm taking Mariota every time. I wouldn't even consider drafting Winston until the later rounds, he is an immature piece of crap. The coaches had to talk to him every time he came off the field, and not in a way coaches normally talk to players about schemes and play calls, it seemed they had to keep his mind right and keep him focused on the game. I still can't believe how in love some of the guys in the network are with this guy. I see the arm talent but after that all I see is an immature, complete moron. I am very curious as to what his wunderlic score will be. In Mariota, I see the possibility of another Russell Wilson. He will need some work but has some crazy athletic ability, solid arm and couldn't be a better, more mature, humble kid. He is taller than Russell which makes him even more intriguing. Don't expect huge numbers but I think he can be a solid game manager who makes plays, similar to Russell Wilson, especially early in his career. I'm not 100% sold on Mariota as an NFL prospect but am closer to being convinced on him than I am on Winston.
I think your picture is doctored. This is the most recent picture found on Shea that me and Ginny thought was the most accurate:
Jordan Mills blows and there's top heavy talent on the offensive line, both at OC and OT within the first three rounds. There are 3 OT in the first round that should be top 10. One should be top 3, and he's going to fall to 5 or 6. The two top OC will be gone late round 1 or early round 2. I really want the Center from Oregon. Grasu. I think he's a 10 year anchor kind of player.
Another couple of games over the last two days I haven't gotten to, but am not hung over enough, so I can dive into depth a little more. First was Kansas State v UCLA. UCLA has a couple top 2 round draft prospects, first is Brett Hundley, then Eric Hendricks, and Owa Odighizuwa. Hundley reaffirmed why I want no part of him at quarterback. A Michael Vick kind of day where he went 12-24, 146 yards passing with a TD and 11 rushes for 96 yards and 2 TDs. Let me say again, Hundley is NOT Michael Vick. Nowhere near the same speed Vick had, elusiveness, quickness, or jaw dropping body movements that caused great defensive players to break their ankles. Once again, no poise in the pocket, makes one read then goes off to the races. http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:12113073 Perhaps not the greatest example, because of the glaring, wide open left side that leads to the TD. But you can see it--by the 5th step in his drop back, he steps forward then takes off. This is NOT NFL quarterback material. Make the reads. http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:12113283 Here's an example of K-State being ready for them. Forced Hundley to stay in the pocket, and an athletic enough 'rush' LB moved his way inside and got Hundley trying to take off. http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:12113622 I don't know if ^ is a designed run or a WR screen gone wrong. But I can tell you this--no way against an NFL defense will he gain 40 yards. ** Eric Kendricks had a nice day. Nice sack here on a blitz. Athletic LB worth keeping an eye on. I have him late 1st round, so a trade back candidate possibility. He's a little short (5'11) but reminds me a lot of a more athletic Pisa Tinoisamoa. http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:12113098 ** Owa Odighizuwa has a real nice sack here. #94 from the top of the screen. Nice 'bull rush' move inside, stymied the RT and got the QB. Unofficial (box score from KState website) 6 pressures on top of his sack. Third round pick candidate. Projects early 3rd, possibly late 2nd depending on guys like Nate Orchard, Shilique Calhoun, and Shawn Oakman and where the chips fall with them. http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:12113544 I'll get to the ECU/Florida game next.
He already announced he is NOT entering the draft, he is going back to Baylor for another year. Probably not a bad idea on his part, he could use another year in college to work on his game.
Just read. Good find. I think he's an idiot. Right now he's a late 1st round pick, like Ray Drew this time last year. There will be other DLine players projected higher (Joey Bosa from Ohio State, Daniel Hunter from LSU, Eli Harrold from Virginia). He'll need an injury or two. These three guys all look like top 20 picks right now.
East West Shrine game rosters (the game is on January 17th, a week from today) released...... http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000438219/article/2015-eastwest-shrine-game-rosters Guys and gals, these are the guys you're looking at rounds 4-7 and undrafted free agents. You likely wont find first round candidates here. You more than likely will at the Senior Bowl. That's where Dee Brown last year began his vault from a 3rd-4th rounder to a 1st. Lots of names on both rosters, I'll start with the East. Immediately Devin Gardner sticks out to me. Gardner is transitioning to 'scat back' or everything back from Quarterback, after being a QB on Michigan. Smart move, a move Tebow should have made, and former Michigan QB Dennard Robinson made. Robinson of course, is having a lot of success in Jacksonville--which I find myself laughing because who says that? Fast, needs to obviously bulk up a bit and work on blocking. Poor man's Antwan Randal-El? I wont go that far, but he's got the size Robinson never had. 6'4, 210. Needs another 10-15 lbs and work on his breakaway speed consistency. He could turn on the jets at Michigan from what I've seen--but he could get lazy on runs.......he cant do that if he wants to last longer than 1 summer. Second are a pair of OLinemen, Shane McDermott and Jonathan Feliciano, both the C and LG from the University of Miami. Their running back, Duke Johnson--averaged 6.8 yards per carry for the Hurricanes in 2014, and 2013 average of 6.5, and at 2012 another ypc average of 6.8. Every year as a 3 year starter, Duke Johnson rushed for 950 yards or more. The U is doing something right. Running the ball. With all the discussion, especially from Ryan Pace about recommitting to the run, both of these guys are options for depth or starting depending on the game plan. I will be watching Jake Ryan, LB from Michigan. I think this kid is a steal come round 3 or 4. Made a stupid mistake and stayed at Michigan, injuring himself--when prior to the 2013 draft he was a 2nd round pick. Injured 2013 season, great bounceback 2014 as a 5th year senior. With more and more speculation swirling aobut linemen early on either side of the ball--a LB rounds 2-4 is something I'll be looking more into. The West has more players I'm interested in watching. Local kid Mycole Pruitt the TE from SIU is first. NCAA 1-AA TE of the year 2013 and 2014. 6'3, 255--a balanced tight end from what I've been reading up on. Great blocker, and was the preferred Saluki red zone target. Not a stat sheet stuffer receiving yards wise, but a future #2 TE with some coaching is very possible. I'll try to be as nonbiased as I can with Brandon Vitablile (I'm a NU fan), Northwestern kid--reminds me a lot of Matt Light, except he's a C, not a LT. But the Light comparison comes from how he was/is shunned by his crappy teams and school. Vitabile was quite consistent and effective pass and run blocking for my Wildcats. Justin Jackson the RB had some great success running behind Vitabile at 5 YPC. He's a 2-3 rounder that will go in the 5th round. Future Center? Maybe. Bryce Hager, MLB from Baylor is on my list. Everyone does talk about Shawn Oakman on that defense, but Hager was the guy flying around and patrolling the middle of the field. Field General smart, good instincts, good tackling. The knock on him is his speed, he's not the fastest. Great run stuffer. Needs to get a bit lighter and either faster or smarter for a Mike at the NFL Level. In the secondary I will be looking at Josh Shaw, CB from USC. Shaw is a gigantic waste of his talent. The guy should be a late 1st rounder, but has dogged 2014--speculation says do to family/personal issues. Big CB, 6'2 200 lbs. You may know him because of a situation where he lied about being a hero saving a kid at a pool.....talented DB with size and all the tools, he just needs to put it all together. For a 6th round pick......this kid is what you want. Top talent that fell because he was an idiot, but has all the tools--just needs the coaching to see if he can succeed. He says he's taking this offseason seriously. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Sam Carter from TCU is last at SS. Knocks are his attitude, which he brings from TCU. TCU's team has an attitude about them that causes a negative stigma, which is good and bad. He's got a chip on his shoulder, he's the little brother who gets no attention. I like that. Prior to 2014, people compared him to Brandon Merriweather. Which turned me off. Hard hitting asshole idiot is the last thing we need. But in 2014--he learned how to cover, read a QB's body language, and become more Bob Sanders like--except he's bigger than Sanders. 4 picks, 20 passes broken up. Can play the box and cover. He committed himself to not being Merriweather. I like it. He's a unit guy, not a stand out. On a good unit, this guy will look great. On a shitty one, he will look pedestrian. Next weekend will be a couple big write ups. Thoughts from the EW Shrine and preps for the Senior Bowl.
One hot topic from last night has now become Cardale Jones watch. Many factors up to now suggest Jones will go pro. For those who Twitter watch--he complained often about going to class in 2014. Didn't get brought up until today. He also just had a kid........so I'm guessing a paycheck will suit his benefits. I've heard 2 comparisons all day--as I was bored at work. First was Ben Rothelesburger--due to his size and arm, and how he doesn't go down easy. The second, as many can guess--J'Marcus Russell. His coaches say he's a fast learner and listens--so there's that. In 3 games of a body of work--he's done nothing but win--people say that. I also wonder if his success is/was due to how nobody had any film on him/prepared for him? That's my belief right now. With proper preparation--he's just another athlete who thinks legs > arm at the NFL level is the ticket. He's supposed to go work out with some other collegiate QBs, working with coverage schemes. He's got this going for him--weak quarterback draft. Todd McShay projects 4th round right now. That is if you put any stock into his opinion. I've also done some reading suggesting he should go in the 2nd round........which is ludicrous. Stay away rounds 1-5 for right now.
If the offense wants to reestablish the running game, Scherff is a solid option. I am an Iowa guy, but this guy can straight maul. At LT he has an issue with speed rushers, but move him inside at RG with Long at RT and we are gonna push some people over. Long has paid his dues at RG and is an option to move to either of the tackle positions. He could move to RT or over take Bushrod and move him to RT. Not saying that is the way to go, but it is an option. Watching the blowouts, some of the commentators were saying they think we may be one lineman away from doing what the Cowboys OL did for the run game and the passing game... Maybe. IMO, two. We need a better center also. Move bitch, get out the way... [video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TS9Hq4bdFY0[/video]
Perryman has crept into late first round consideration, but he may fall in the combine. He probably won't test well. Solid 2nd round pick. Either way there should be some solid MIKE prospects when we pick in the second. I like Kendricks brother from UCLA as well. There isn't a MIKE worth a pick at #7...
Everything I've been reading about the guy is that he's very similar to former teammate Marshall Yanda, so yes--more of the OG mold--which turns me off about Scherff. Although a Scherff/Long combo on the right side of the ball would be nasty. And that motherfucker Yanda is really good. But if you go the OT route at 7, Andrus Peat--if he's still on the board would be my pick. Best 2 way OT in the draft. His technique in pass blocking against bull rushers and speed rushers has been called almost flawless--and his transition from college to the NFL is presumed to be swift. He did a hell of a job protecting Kevin Hogan's blind side. All four used Stanford running backs who had at least 65 rush attempts also averaged 5+ ypc. The problem is--I don't think he falls outside the top 6. Washington Redskins is where he projects to me unless one of the QBs, Amari Cooper, one of the top 2 pass rushers, or ND OT Ronnie Stanley drops to them. I've heard his name often too. Ereck Flowers is another name to watch out for. The U OT has been flying p draft boards. Perryman, Bryce Hager, and Jake Ryan are all running up draft boards. All Mike potential 2nd round. Kendricks wont last beyond those cocksuckers in Green Bay. Book it. Green Bay is infatuated with him and cant wait to replace the now one dimensional AJ Hawk. Hager has been impressive to many scouts at the EW Shrine game. They're distinguishing him from many other players. Again--i wrote up earlier--some don't know if he's top flight speed enough to be a 4-3 Mike, so what are his judgement calls/decision making skills like? Because he'll have to compensate with better angles, better coverage changes, etc. I don't know what it is about Perryman, but I'm not sold. He's been streaky, and then Bostic-esque where he's boom or bust on a play. I'd also like the next Mike to have some height. Benardrick McKinney is 6'5, Shaq Thompson is 6'3, Hager is 6'3, Jake Ryan is 6'3. Eric Kendricks is 6'2. Perryman is 5'11. I want someone like #54 to take away a wide open lane throwing over the middle......
Aggie agrees 100% with your analysis on Cardaele Patg. I'm leaning towards more Jamarcus with this guy than Big Ben as well. The only difference is, if you use a low round pick and give him a chance to develop with no pressure with the right situation, he could possibly be more successful than Jamarcus. He has had weight problems as well, that reeks of Jamarcus as well. I'm not all that enamored with this guy. I think what he did in the circumstances he did it was great but as for an NFL prospect, he is highlty suspect at this point.
He seems to be the prize. Strong in coverage with three way potential. Too many blitzing LBs and this guy can actually cover. I can see that. He can blitz and make monster hits in the running game. The coverage aspect has been his weakness. From what I read, he did better this year, but I have yet to watch the film. I need to. He needs to be a three down player... I know you have been high on him, but I have read he is a hybrid. MIKE? Or do you see SAM or WILL? I need to watch him as well. I usually attack the film after the Super Bowl when I need a football fix. Give me some players you like to look at initially.
I know you hate the trade down, but what are your early thoughts on it this year? I love extra 2nd and 3rd round picks if the GM takes BPA. Or knows what BPA is... You can get more depth/contributors early that way. I want depth, and this roster is starving for it...
I agree with this. If you can find a long term upgrade in the draft on either side of the line (or at least a high chance at a long term upgrade, there is still the risk of bust), you've got to go in on it if they are best player available. The lines are the backbone of the team.
Top ten picks usually lean towards line picks. If you can get a difference maker up front, you take him. But interior OL picks are tricky, you can get those guys later... #7 is prime trade down range, I want the extra picks. And we probably only need to trade down 5 picks to pick up some major mid round value. That's just me though. I like the 2nd and 3rd round picks.
