Finally getting a better look at Jeremy Williams. I haven't gotten the chance to view more than the LSU game...but so far I'm a little underwhelmed. He's a guy that looks the part, has good speed and acceleration, good hands, but in this LSU game for the most part all he was asked to execute were swing patterns from the single back position, and short little pivots from the slot, sitting in the middle of short zones. His RAC was nothing special, he generally went down on first contact. His speed was not special, on those pivots after the catch he didn't outrun the linebackers bearing down on him or do anything crazy impressive. He was making catches that you can fully imagine him making at the NFL level, but I would THINK you would want to see more from a guy that is considered to be a 1st-2nd round prospect, than to be schemed open. His run blocking was not inspiring. Not bad, but not inspiring. As a comparison, Brandon LaFell passes the eyeball test even better, gets open on deeper and more big play routes with better speed and acceleration...on the other hand, his run blocking is worse than Jeremy Williams' (it's pretty bad, IMO), and I still take issue with LaFell's hands, eyes and ability to adjust to the ball. The Tulane-LSU game was disappointing inasmuch as I was hoping to see Williams go up on Patrick Peterson and see if he could earn his lofty draft status by making plays against such a stunner, but he never went up on him. At best he faced some linebackers and safeties in coverage. At worst, he faced nobody in particular at all in coverage, just guys reacting to his getting the ball. The other receiver at Tulane, Casey Robottom, he played flanker and was covered by Peterson a lot, and he actually made some plays on Peterson.
I disagree. There's not another Cornhusker who has a bigger impact than he does. Not one. This guy came out on Saturday night and almost singlehandedly blew a hole in the great BCS dream. I don't think it was an exaggeration of Musberger or Herbstreit's when they said that the BCS would go into meltdown had Nebraska held on. That was caused by relentless double and triple teaming of Suh which he defeated over and over and over again, either with speed, power or a combination of the two. I've never seen Colt McCoy so flustered. What was so impressive was Suh's lane discipline to keep Colt in the pocket. He killed the Horns run game, he stopped the pass game and but for a ******ed kick off out of bounds, he would have nuked the BCS dream. God knows, could you have imagined the furore if TCU had gotten into the Rose Bowl? Or Cincy? Suh almost did that. And yet he does it regularly. Watch the Clemson bowl game from a year ago. Or the Oklahoma game from this season. His impact is remarkable and he is unquestionably the best and most dominant player in college football and therefore should win the Heisman. It has not a jot to do with draft ratings. Spiller is a stunning player. As is Gerhart. Neither are better than Suh.
Yes!!.Jimmy claussen declares {knew he would}...I hope someone takes him early and pushes a quality player further down..
Bryan Bulaga is having second thoughts about declaring, apparently. Central Michigan's Antonio Brown is expected to stay in school. Syracuse's Mike Williams has already started training in Pensacola. And to expand on previous reports about Ras I Dowling not being held in high regard, he has been given a lower draft grade by NFL Scouts than his teammate, Chris Cook. Dominique Franks from Oklahoma will declare and word is the Jets want him. I've said about a year and a half ago he's a first round pick if he comes out and apparently the Jets feel teh same way, as they may be ready to take him in the first round to play opposite of Revis.
Watched some more prospects over the past 24 hours. I came away with one stat in my mind from watching the first half that I missed between LSU and Ole Miss; Jevan Snead's completion percentage for the season at the start of the game was 51%. Say what you like about Colt McCoy, but when you're completion percentage is more than 20 bills higher, then something's wrong. I also watched Pitt/Cincy right the way through. Jabaal Sheard is better than Greg Romeus on that Pitt DL. Romeus is disciplined and will have a Shaun Ellis type career. Sheard has much more upside. And in a Nate Jones kind of way, Jovani Chappel had a nice game. I was very impressed with his hips and how at 5'8, his leaping ability against a 6'4 inch WR in Armon Binns wasn't an issue. Plus he's a tough son of a gun.
I think McCoy is very good but I think his completion percentage is very high because of the system they run. He knows that system inside and out. Their plays don't vary much, as they often run the same play nearly six times a game. I once recall seeing the same play five times on one drive. I don't question McCoy's talent or intelligence but I do think he's being helped by the system when it comes to having an statistical outlook of him. I really like Sheard. He's got good strength and is very quick.
Boom, or anyone, how many Qb's coming out this year have legitimate First Round grades? Adding in Jr's: Clausen Locker McCoy Bradford 4 maybe?
The fact that he knows the system shouldn't be held against him though. I just think it adds to his talent. Remember, this is a guy who was signed to be the back up to Snead at Texas, but he learned the system so quickly that Jevan finally transferred. I think the way that Texas plays means he probably completes more passes than not, but history is littered with players who played in open offenses who DIDN'T complete 73% of passes. Sheard is a stallion.
Four or 5. Clausen, Locker, Colt, Bradford and maybe......MAYBE Snead depending on what teams think. Personally I say 4.
I'm not holding it against him, I'm just saying that it's one of the reasons his completion percentage is off the charts. Didn't he set the world on fire last year with lik ea 76 completion % for the entire year? Not to mention it was an NCAA record? That's unheard of and I think the system has something to do with that.
Hmm..we are looking at picking maybe 16-26, could you ballpark how many of those 4 are likely to go #2-#15 or so? I'm trying to get a feel for value in this year's draft
I think the two MOST LIKELY to go in the first half are Clausen and Locker. McCoy and Bradford depend slightly more on two variables; the specific offensive systems of the teams drafting them - because that field will narrow down the possible destinations and thus how they're viewed within said systems - and in Bradford's case, how he stands up to the pyhsical and how frightened teams are of his slight frame. What you have to take into account is that regardless of the systems, these two played high level ball at high level schools and are both tremendously accurate passers. When all's said and done, the battle for the number one pick will be between Suh and Clausen, depending on who's picking.
Agree about Locker, he is beginning to have the "look at the tangibles" buzz going on with him this year. As for Bradford, hasn't Snyder said they wanted to draft him? Yep, concerning Clausen "He learned the pro offense from Charlie Weis so he is a more advanced blah blah blah" So far, it looks like the Top 10 picks will be in positions outside of what our perceived needs are, save for DT, Suh, Cody maybe McCoy, probably go top 15.
I was very impressed with the ILB from Alabama when they played Florida. That guy has range, speed, and size. I wish we could get him.
I was already under the impression he's 195. If he's 185, then my bad. He's still thick enough that he could probably carry 200 easily..... but you're right- you can't assume that. Posted via Mobile Device
I disagree with the setiment that Tim Tebow will not be a first round pick, iam on the record that he will, said it last year after the wildcat started flourishing..my conviction is even stronger today. I wrote a thread 2 years ago in the college forum that claussen will be a bust in the NFL, my conviction about that is even stronger today. I have some friends within the KSTATE program that say that Gerald Mcoy is an incredible football player, some said as good as Suh.. I say my friends dont know sh#@.....Mcoy could be great, Suh is from another planet.
My post came across as rude on re-reading it and it wasn't meant to be my man. I think Pitt have him listed as 195, but I believe university heights and weights about as much as I believe that spring follows autumn.
I agree DJ. If Greg Olsen can be a 1st rounder then I see no reason why Tebow can't. It's not like Olsen can come in from time to time and run the PowerCat. just bustin your chops Deej! Top of the mornin to ya, brother.
McCoy might be the second best player in the draft and he's certainly the quickest interior defensive lineman I've seen since Kevin Williams played at Oklahoma State. He will be gone by the third pick. In fact, with three second rounders I could see the Patriots, depending on where Oakland finish, dealing up to get McCoy. We'll just have to agree to disagree on Tebow. Great kid, great college athlete but he's not rectified any of the issues surrounding his game this season that make him any more of a pro prospect at QB. He still has a long, elongated wind up and slow delivery, he's still mechanically deficient, he still throws off the back foot far too often, he can still be very inaccurate, his passing is a product of the Urban Meyer system and whilst Alex Smith went first overall from the same offense, the difference is that Smith was everything technically that Tebow isn't. Yes, he was deconstructed because of his delivery, but that was about it. And if we all of a sudden think that Tebow is going to set off and rumble up the middle like he does in college, he won't. The NFL is 20% faster, the players are 20% bigger and it won't happen. What sort of offense is he going to go into? Are you intent on building an offense around a single player that 23 other people have to learn or teaching one player an offense that 23 people already know? And I don't think the proliferation of the Wildcat means anything to the Tebow debate. How many teams are actually running it? The Eagles have the prototype Wildcat QB and until Sunday the Michael Vick experiment had been a joke. Tashard Choice runs it very occasionally in Dallas. Leon Washinton ran the Seminole a couple of times a game in New York and LT runs the Wild Frog about once a game for the Chargers. And that's it. We run it, but we're not drafting Tebow. So what about the option? Well, we have the best option QB from the past decade on our roster and we've run 2 succesful option plays since he arrived and we ran a pair on Sunday that went for a combined total of -18 yards. I will happily put my hands up and say I was wrong if Tebow makes it as an NFL pocket passer - because that's what he needs to become - but I am VERY comfortable saying that he won't be a starting NFL QB with any great success. VERY comfortable.
I didn't think it was rude, Boom. I usually believe in university measurements as much as I do (ear muffs, Alen) Santa Claus..... so I was agreeing with you about him probably being closer to 185 and maybe 5'8. Only schools like Cal are honest about their players' measurables.
Very true. And Notre Dame..... don't they get like 50 lashings on the knuckles and burn in hell for lying there? Could be why Tate drops passes. Does anyone else think ND is flailing bc kharma is coming back to bite religion in the butt for trying to scare billions of people into believing they must dedicate their lives to an omniscient, invisible man in the sky? Seriously, bc if he actually existed, wouldn't ND would be playing Bama right now in the Championship game?!!...... and he'd be looking down onto the field with his Fighting Irish cap on. If he can create the plague, then I'm sure he'd have no problem allowing ND to go undefeated, right.
i would'nt necessarily agree with you that we disagree about tebow. I would put my hands up with you if he becomes a pocket passer, the flaws are evident, however, i do think that coaches are figuring out thats its not about just puttin the formation out there because everyone is doing it, its about finding the right player, and imo, he's one of those players thats fits a formation that i believe will have some longevity in this league. The other reasons are because, if his coaches ask him to play another position, he's going to do it as hard as he can, and, once he interviews, someone is gonna fall in love with that diversity executed by a Robot.. I'am one of the few that would take a Toby Ghart in the first round if i was a team looking for a running identity..I see similarities in balance and aggression for which both big men play with..Tebow can run the ball, he can play wildcat QB, he can run a little proset, he can play fullback, h-back, tightend, short yardage runner, and, he can inspire other's to play at a higher level...The overall package {including economicly} and the other obvious intangibles, make him first round grade imo. I sure wish we had a chance at one of the those Dtackles..Its gonna be a sad day when Suh gets drafted by somebody else, at least it will be with an NFC team. I agree with you about the option, that was never the reason for my excitement..The wildcat yes, Pat white enhancing that formation, yes, the spread, iam not sure.
From what I'm seeing of the two, I think I like Jake Locker better than Jimmy Clausen. I like Sam Bradford better than Clausen right now, not sure yet about Locker. Locker is super impressive when you watch him. Is Gerald McCoy definitely out? I was taking a neutral stance there because I had no idea if he was set to come out or not. If he's out that's yet another stud amongst the DTs. The Dowling thing is very curious. Smells like the Antoine Cason grade scandal. I haven't seen/heard anything about Rejus Benn. I think he might actually stay in school with his brother being offered a scholarship, and with the down year he had. Someone had better get hold of some of these late first round, second round and third round junior prospects...and let them know the rookie pay scale has nothing to do with them. Early draft board for Miami would be: WR Golden Tate TE Jermaine Gresham OG Mike Iupati RB C.J. Spiller (depending on the Ronnie situation) NT Jared Odrick NT Dan Williams LB Brandon Spikes LB Rolondo McClain DE Derrick Morgan DE Greg Romeus
I read a quote from some NFL analyst a few weeks ago saying that every win by Vince Young makes Tebow another million dollars.
A couple things I want to say about Tebow's draft stock. 1) NFL General Managers were polled on Tebow's draft slotting and they were asked to pick a selection he would go in the NFL Draft. The average came out to be 33rd. 2) Two NFL GM's have said that they would not let Tebow slip past their pick. They are anonymous and could be false print but I find it interesting. Lupati is an absolute monster. He pulls well and does a better job when he doesn't do the hop and flip his hips drill. Jon Asamoah is very good too and he fits the height/weight ratio that is present on the team.
I don't see how they don't know their sh!t but I would say they are both very, very good. McCoy is so damn good IMO. Suh is slightly better.
I saw some of him in my attempts to get a good look at Benn. He looked like he anchored pretty well to me. Strong, good base, he seemed pretty powerful and athletic. Actually he looked pretty darned good at run blocking and pass blocking- he got push in the run game and seemed to extend his arms well and lock on to his man in pass pro. I didn't really see anchoring ability as an issue. I could easily see him going in the second or third rounds.
I've seen him on some occasions where I've been led to question that anchor. All it can take sometimes are small signs. Actually Asanoah reminds me a lot of Shawn Murphy and if there was one thing about Shawn Murphy you could question a little bit coming out it was brute strength and anchor.
Interesting point, but he seems to have a solid base to me. I'd guess that he ends up more like Donald Thomas than Shawn Murphy, but who knows. In the times that I've seen him Asamoah struck me as a pretty physical player, and actually looked very good in pass pro.
I like Black. If we think he can solidify the G position, I'd have no problem with a 2nd on him. Though I would prefer a WR or LB.
Ditto on that.... but if we're talking about Oline in the 1st, then we have to list a few guys for the 2nd. I like Black's versatility. If the blob at RT ever goes down, then we've got a quick replacement, and would probably do a serviceable job at LT if we need it in a pinch.... and he'd be pretty dominant next to Jake at LG if Smiley continues to be the poster boy for prisitine health. I think I heard Obama say he was gonna make Justin the Chairman of the President's Council for Physical Fitness or something like that, so maybe Ciron never sees the interior line. Dont know.... Just sayin.
