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Topdawg13 · Apr 12, 2011

No link, directly from my inbox..................

** Alabama’s Julio Jones continues to make up ground on Georgia’s A.J. Green in the race to be the 1st WR selected in this month’s draft. Green has the better tape, but Jones dominated him at the Combine. Some scouts are also beginning to lean towards Jones because he’s perceived as more NFL-ready. A big WR who relies on physicality more than speed and route concepts, Jones’ game should translate to the NFL immediately.

** Here’s something that caught our eye: Pro Football Weekly’s Nolan Nawrocki says Iowa QB Ricky Stanzi “bears an eerily similar semblance to a young Tom Brady.” Nawrocki loves throwing out outlandish opinions, so take this for what it is. While Stanzi doesn’t impress with arm strength or accuracy, he’s a proven winner who comes from a pro-style system. He’s expected to be a mid-round pick later this month.

** Warren Moon, one of Cam Newton’s advisors, came away from a meeting with Panthers HC Ron Rivera convinced that Carolina is sold on the Auburn star. “Rivera came and watched him practice the day before his pro day as Cam was going through his routine for the pro day and said, 'I've seen all I need to see as far as him throwing a football. I'm already convinced there. We just need to talk to him more about who he is and get to know him a little bit better,’” Moon said. Of course, there are some serious character issues with Newton. But it sounds like the Panthers are ready to roll the dice on him.

** According to Sports Illustrated’s Peter King, there’s a chance Illinois RB Mikel Leshoure is selected ahead of Alabama RB Mark Ingram later this month. While scouts having growing concern about Ingram’s surgically-repaired left knee, King hears from one talent evaluator that Leshoure “is clean and fits the one-cut style that a lot of teams want to see out of their running backs.” This is getting a little ridiculous. Sure – Ingram’s measurables are mediocre, and the bum knee is a bit concerning. But this guy dominated the SEC, and his tape is super impressive. In our opinion, Ingram is well worth a top-15 pick. But there’s a real chance he falls completely out of the 1st-round.

** The National Football Post’s Wes Bunting talked to a scout who says talk of Clemson DE Da’Quan Bowers falling into the mid-1st-round is a smokescreen. The scout believes teams outside the top-10 are putting out misinformation to scare other teams off. We’re thinking that the Vikings at #12 would love to see Bowers slip to them. The pass-rush extraordinaire underwent a medical re-check last Friday, but the results have yet to be disclosed.

** Beat writer Judd Zulgad doesn’t believe the Vikings are targeting Washington QB Jake Locker with the 12th overall pick. He does concede that Locker could be an option if Minnesota is able to trade down. After a shaky Senior Bowl, a mediocre Combine, and a brilliant Pro Day, Locker’s draft stock seems to have come full circle. We’re once again expecting him to come off the board late in the 1st-round.

** Maryland’s Torrey Smith is the #3 WR in this year’s draft class according to a lot of talent evaluators. But Pro Football Weekly’s Nolan Nawrocki isn’t on board, comparing Smith to super-bust Ted Ginn. “Tape isn't there to support drafting him early,” Nawrocki said. “Hands are inconsistent. Those guys get overdrafted.” There’s some belief that Smith could go to Baltimore or Atlanta near the tail-end of Round 1, but we’re betting that he drops into the 2nd.

** ESPN’s Adam Schefter is the latest expert to predict that TCU QB Andy Dalton will come off the board in the late-1st or early-2nd-round. We wouldn’t touch Dalton until the end of Round 2, but teams are desperate for QBs and seem willing to reach. Dalton has below-average arm strength, so he’ll likely land with a team running a West Coast Offense. The 49ers might be willing to trade back into the back-end of the 1st-round to grab him.

** Notre Dame TE Kyle Rudolph ran a semi-disappointing 4.78 40-yard dash at his Pro Day last week. It’s possible that his injured hamstring still isn’t at 100% because Rudolph looks much faster than that on tape. He’s a longshot to go in the 1st-round, but whoever nabs him in the 2nd will be getting a seam-stretching vertical threat that can make an immediate impact.

** Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert was ultra-impressive during his interviews at the Combine. And the National Football Post hears that Gabbert is continuing to help his stock at his individual team visits. From a mental standpoint, Gabbert has the makings of an elite NFL QB. But there continue to be questions about his ability to play from under center and his accuracy on down-field throws.

** The St. Louis Post-Dispatch’s Jim Thomas hears from an NFL agent that the Redskins are targeting a QB or WR with the 10th overall pick. QBs Cam Newton and Blaine Gabbert are unlikely to be available there, and QB Jake Locker would be a reach. Alabama WR Julio Jones makes the most sense, especially with WR Santana Moss set to hit the free-agent market.

** Pro Football Weekly's Nolan Nawrocki reports that NFL scouts are starting to compare Florida State QB Christian Ponder to Trent Edwards. Both guys are injury-prone with below-average arm strength. Ponder underwent 3 separate surgeries on his throwing arm over the past 2 years. He’s generally viewed as the most NFL-ready QB in this year’s draft class, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he’s rated highly by scouts. There are major concerns about his durability and lack of upside.

** ESPN’s Chris Mortensen expects the Bills to pass on a QB and grab the best available defensive player with the 3rd overall pick. It’s not a bad idea considering Buffalo finished 24th in total defense and 28th in points allowed last year. Texas A&M LB Von Miller seems like their most likely target. LSU CB Patrick Peterson, Auburn DT Nick Fairley, and North Carolina LB Robert Quinn could also be in play.

** One of the biggest concerns with Nevada QB Colin Kaepernick is his unorthodox throwing motion. Check it out here. But Kaepernick says that most teams he’s talked with have told him that he won’t need to alter his throwing motion. “Almost every coach I've talked to hasn't had a problem with it,” he said. “The general consensus is that I'm still getting it out on time. It just looks different.” Kaepernick is a bit of a project, but his combination of size (6’5, 225 pounds), arm, and athleticism is certainly enticing. We’ve heard talk of Kaepernick potentially sneaking into the 1st-round, but we’re still expecting him to come off the board in the 2nd.

** Titans beat writer Jim Wyatt says Auburn DT Nick Fairley would be “almost impossible to pass up” if he drops to Tennessee at #8. Fairley’s stock has taken a hit over the past couple months, but 8th overall seems like the lowest he’d go in this month’s draft.

** Kansas State RB Daniel Thomas sat out the Combine and the Wildcats’ Pro Day with a bum hamstring. He held a private workout this past Tuesday but once again came up lame. After recording a 4.6 40-yard dash on his first try, Thomas was unable to give it another go because of a strained quad. Thomas was a durable player during his 2 seasons at K-State, but these injuries this offseason are concerning. Once viewed as a rock-solid 2nd-rounder, Thomas may now drop into the 3rd.

** The Cowboys are definitely doing a good job sending out smokescreens about their 1st-round intentions. There have been numerous reports linking them to USC OT Tyron Smith, and now the National Football Post is reporting that they’re interested in Missouri DE Aldon Smith. We still think Dallas is actually eyeing Nebraska CB Prince Amukamara.

** Colts President Bill Polian admitted that the team is interested in adding QB Peyton Manning’s successor in this year’s draft. "Quarterback's an issue, probably not a front-burner issue, but an issue nonetheless,” Polian said. “Because while Peyton's not at the end of his career, it's approaching faster than it has in the past.” Manning just turned 35 years old but should still have 3 or 4 high-end years left. That being said, the team has nothing behind him. The Colts have shown interest in Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick and TCU’s Andy Dalton. Both guys could be 2nd-round targets.

** Virginia CB Ras-I Dowling’s stock is on the rise after an impressive showing at his Pro Day. Dowling blazed a 4.36 40-yard dash and looked smooth in positional drills. He struggled through an injury-riddled senior season but has all the tools scouts look for in a CB. 25 teams were in attendance for Dowling’s workout, and NFL.com’s Gil Brandt believes he has an outside shot to be selected in the 1st-round.

** One NFC Scout tells the National Football Post that his team has Illinois’ Cory Liuget as the #2 DT in this year’s draft class – ahead of Auburn’s Nick Fairley. “He’s as good as Gerald McCoy but for some reason he’s not getting the same exposure,” the scout said. “He’s not far off from where Tommie Harris was with the Bears when he was healthy. Liuget is maybe stronger. This player is for real.” The scout doesn’t think he’s alone in his belief and thinks Liuget will go higher in the 1st-round than most people think. The Rams at #14 seem like a viable landing spot.

** The 49ers are not expected to bring free-agent RB Brian Westbrook back into the fold in 2011. And it sounds like they’ll be looking for his replacement in this month’s draft. Beat writer Matt Barrows mentions Oregon State’s Jacquizz Rodgers, Oklahoma State’s Kendall Hunter, and Eastern Washington’s Taiwan Jones as possibilities. All 3 guys are scat-back types who could excel on 3rd-downs.
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sports24/7 · Apr 13, 2011

The notion that Christian Ponder has a below average arm in extremely silly. It's not elite, but it's certainly good enough to make all the throws and if you had to label it I think most would say above average, which to many is a still a bit of a knock, but saying below average is flat out wrong IMO.

rafael · Apr 13, 2011

IMO the Ponder/Trent Edward's comparison is spot on. I like Ponder, but the league has become so QB desperate that many QBs are being elevated above what they are.

texanphinatic · Apr 13, 2011

Jones closing in on Green is just silly. I don't want to detract from Jones who is a fantastic WR prospect in his own right, but Green is leagues ahead. This is just a case of him being dominant for so long that the hype machine is manufacturing perceived challengers. I would say the same about Ingram and LeShoure.

Desides · Apr 14, 2011

rafael said:

IMO the Ponder/Trent Edward's comparison is spot on. I like Ponder, but the league has become so QB desperate that many QBs are being elevated above what they are.
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I’m not the world’s biggest Ponder fan, but I think he’s a very good prospect. Your description of QB desperation applies more to Jake Locker, Andy Dalton, and Colin Kaepernick, IMO.

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