Evan Silva's Risers and Fallers

padre31 · Jan 21, 2010

5. Ole Miss DE Greg Hardy

Hardy declared for the '09 draft, then pulled out with his sights set on proving durability after an injury-plagued junior year. He fell far short of expectations. Resigned to nickel-rushing duty early on due to ankle woes, Hardy broke a bone in his wrist after eight games and had surgery. He recovered in time for the Rebels' Cotton Bowl win over Oklahoma State, but didn't record a tackle. Hardy, who had 10 sacks as a sophomore and easily would've been a first-day pick had he stayed in last year's draft, is now trying to rebuild his stock at the East-West Shrine Game. Early practice reports have him struggling against 248-pound Penn State TE Andrew Quarless and Indiana OT Rodger Saffold.

7. Kentucky CB Trevard Lindley

Much like Greg Hardy, Lindley's surprise return for a senior year after he projected as high as the first round for the 2009 draft didn't go as planned. Lindley, a four-year starter and Lindy's No. 1 cornerback in the nation entering the season, missed four games with a high ankle sprain and wasn't even acknowledged by voters for the All-SEC first, second, or honorable mention teams. A decorated high school sprinter with ideal size for an NFL corner (6'0/180), Lindley will try rehabbing his stock at the Senior Bowl later this month and February's Combine. Should he fail to impress, Lindley could find himself on a career path similar to once-heralded Cincinnati CB Mike Mickens.

8. Georgia DT Geno Atkins

Atkins looked like a future star as a sophomore at Georgia, registering 7.5 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss while starting 7-of-13 games. He took over as a full-time player in 2008, but experienced a major drop in production (no sacks, 7.5 TFL) and lost his starting job as a senior to bulkier DT Kade Weston. Atkins, a gap-shooting prospect for a 4-3 scheme at 6'1/290, came off the bench in the Dogs' Independence Bowl win over Texas A&M to earn Defensive Player of the Game honors, but NFL decision makers will still frown upon his demotion as a senior. Atkins shuffled between end and tackle in his final season, displaying an inconsistent motor even as a rotational player.

News and Notes: Interested in a good look at pre-press conference drama? Witness the University of Tennessee press-room happenings prior to Lane Kiffin's "farewell" speech after just one year at the school. ... Former Florida State SS Myron Rolle, a Rhodes Scholar, sat out the 2009 season while studying at Oxford University to become a neurosurgeon. According to well-known performance trainer Tom Shaw, Rolle is running in the low-4.4.s at 6'2/215. At 6'2/217 as a Seminole, Rolle was timed at 4.55.
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These are some of the Fallers, I find them to be better prospects simply because they lack buzz does not mean that they cannot play in the NFL, what it does mean is that they will be cheaper to acquire in the draft..

And I like the nugget about Myron Rolle improving his 40 time.

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/column.aspx?sport=NFL&columnid=60&articleid=34597

Jaj · Jan 21, 2010

I suppose you could take a flier on Hardy. What's amazing in the NFL is how money is able to control a player at times. You provide enough incentives for good behavior and you'll get a guy to play.

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