SI's top 45 Draft prospects

The first thing I'd do is remember who the OC was the last two years. Then I'd remember that this year they know they suck and they have an all liklihood quit, just as we did last year. Factor in a probable lame duck coach, and a semi rookie in Orlovsky and I'd be willing to bet that has something to do with it. I'm not saying they have ooddles of talent up there, but I think they have more up front than we did last year.

 

I'm not buying it. Quite frankly, I think Backus is a terrible LT. I've watched quite a couple of Detroit games in the last two years and each and every time I saw Backus getting absolutely killed there. He played hard until he got his contract, then basically stopped. I like Raiola and Cherilus might develop into a nice RT for them (though I tend to have my reservations about BC linemen), but I think that they need a left tackle and at least one starting guard, quite possibly two. Not to say that we were a whole lot better last year but frankly I take Vernon Carey over any of their tackles.

 

Backus is like another Petitgout, at best.

They need an overhaul. It's broken up there. I don't think a QB is out of the question but it's got to be the right QB and Matthew Stafford has never convinced me he's the right QB. If Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford stay in school, and it appears they will, then who aside from Stafford will climb the charts and be worthy of the selection? Not seeing it.

I think they're going to want to go with a LT, either Andre Smith, Michael Oher or Eugene Monroe. I doubt they'll want to take Michael Johnson or Greg Hardy and George Selvie won't grade high enough. There probably won't be a DT that grades high enough.

 

Andre Smith...

 

The whole team stinks; they had Calvin Johnson, Roy Williams and 100+ catch guy Mike Furrey and Shaun McDonald at WR and they still couldn't beat people through the air. I think it's as much a culture of losing as it is anything else. Peterman was highly regarded by our own front office when they drafted him in Dallas; Cherilus was a 1st/2nd round RT that we all liked and Backus has played decently through a decade long career. Is he Walter Jones? No. But he can play.

 

Not sure he's good enough.

 

With the catch being that they released him after 2 years and zero starts ...

Veto. Backus played decently until he got his payday. Up, up, up went his false starts and sacks allowed.

 

He was injured which is why they released him.

 

C'mon, you don't release a player you have in high regard because he sprained his ankle. If the fact that Parcells and company tought highly enough of him to draft him in the third round is proof that he can play, then the fact that they didn't hesitate to release him after two years and a sprained ankle is at least as telling, if not more. Gotta eat your cake

 

He had a nasty high ankle sprain and Parcells notoriously doesn't like players who are injured. He shipped him out, the Lions picked him up and he's played well. I was advocating Miami to sign him as one of our free agents to pair opposite Justin Smiley before FA started.

As you can see.....I'm not hungry!

 

Where's Vontae Davis on this list? I didn't see him mentioned.

 

Yeah seems like a big name he missed

 

I know Tony believes Davis has some considerable issues.

 

Well I hope the Me first attitude doesn't run in the family

 

I certainly think that has to be an issue with scouts.

 

Davis' own coaches have indicated that they feel he is not playing as well as he did last year. He may be getting the "I'm great" thing going, and that will drop him a few slots. Someone will still take him high come draft time provided he shows he can pick em up and put em down at a high rate.

To be honest the guy that I am quite high on right now is DeAngelo Willingham from Tennessee. This guy will surprise how well he moves for a 6'0'' 200 guy. He has good hips and is very fluid - essentially the polar oppsoite of a similar sized played in Morgan Trent from Michigan.

I also like Darius Butler, he may issues with max speed and may be a little undersized, but the kid is tough. Let's not forget about Kevin Barnes and another guy in Brian Lacey who may get a look later in the draft.

 

Well hearing that this just solidifies Jenkins as the top corner. Jenkins has that "there will always be someone better than me" attitude thats Jenkins motivation. Sucks to hear that cause Davis is a great corner.

 

But to not include him in the Top 45? Wow. That's a serious fall from grace.

 

I'm hoping Barnes slides to the 4th round because of his injury. How great would it be if we got him that late and he ends up starting for us?

 

Last draft that CB from Wisconsin with the African sounding name would have been a great pick in the 5th. But we took a shot with Trent Green, such are the fortunes of luck. Antonio Cromartie sure came back strong from an ACL blowout, I think that the Wisconsin CB will, too. In other words, yeah, Barnes could end up being a good mid round pickup.

 

I believe your talking about Jack Ikegwuonu. He went in the 4th round by the way . That knee of his scared me and I believe he had pending burgulary charges as well. I dont think even he was healthy we would of taken a shot at him.

 

The injuries are different, and Barnes will probably be able to run effectively by next spring provided their are no complications. The knee meant that Ikegwuono couldn't post a time - which hurts a good deal.

Barnes may not be able to play in the Senior Bowl etc., only time will tell. But, again I think he'll be running, and his stock will rise again come draft time. Brandon Tate is a guy who will drop like a stone, but is definitely worth a shot in the later rounds. He was the leader in all purpose yardage this year when he went down.

 

Good points. 4th round it was and I wasn't aware of the burglary charges. Maybe he and Cecil Collins should go into the "home inspection" business together. If and when Cecil gets out.

 

Con - If Selvie aspirates to be a top 10 pick, he ought to get some rest and come back healthy in a few weeks. He was reportedly playing with nicks and bruises, and looked ordinary against the Pike-Gilyard show yesterday. I saw more slinking than bull rush, more relying on his first step than playing any head games. With the big boys, you need to have the ability to do what a Joey Porter did against Jason Peters on that sack in the EZ, what a Reggie White did so well, which is set up your man. Could come with time and teaching I suppose. They had him standing up, but I can't remember seeing him drop in coverage, had him slanting the A gap while the 1 tech NT hit the B gap. Released quickly and low, good hand technique and could cross the blocker's face, but didn't generate as much power as I was looking forward to. Seems to me, he belongs in the Simeon Rice designated parking spot on a Tampa 2 defense - which is what CK told me last year.

I liked Tyrone McKenzie yesterday, closes well, buzzes around the ball, a bit limited in coverage, doesn't have the inherent ability to bend, and lacks a bit of flexibility in the hips, but thought he had some Marcus Washington in him. Couldn't find Mike Mickens, as Matt Grothe was off all night long. Tony Pike was on like King Kong, playing with a broken cast, standing tall in the pocket, but I'm often wary of quarterbacks operating from the gun 80% of the time, and making reads in a pell mell spread offense such as Brian Kelly's.

 

Selvie was just thrown out there as a on the spot thing. And, mind you the situation bears watching as to whether Marianelli is brought back next year. It will be interesting to see what happens, and who ultimately gets control of the FO. The signing of Culpepper IMO means there are more issues there than Matt Millen. For Detroit I'd have a hard time picking the correct guy right now, so much to look at. But, I still can't get past a DE for them on many levels, and I don't know if Oher or Eugene warrants a #1 overall. Mind you we wondered that about last year's class and look what happened.

A QB other than reaching for Stafford, is no where near the #1. RB, is solved for them really I think, same with WR..........could Malcolm Jenkins be the pick even though the cover 2 can find corners later. I still say if they are running the cover 2 they may lean towards a DE. Who knows, #1 has a great deal to do with potential, and whose would they value more? Selvie or Michael Johnson?

 

Yep I don't disagree, just think Marinelli ought to be shown the door. Start from scratch, and rid yourself of the stench from the Millen era, much like we did here. Because of their history dealing with the position, we can probably knock Michael Crabtree off the list. Malcolm Jenkins ? When was the last time a corner went first ? Matt Stafford shouldn't go at 1. Rey Maualuga would set the rebuilding tone, but the wind up toy analogy fits like a glove. Fly me to Vegas, and I'd say in half a year, they're looking at LT with Andre Smith, Michael Oher, and NT/DT Terrance Cody (in a Russell Maryland '91 or Dan Wilkinson '94 scenario).

 

With the success some of us are having with LTs in the last 2 drafts, you have to think that position might have some value inflation. Joe Thomas and the Browns, us and Jake, Clady in Denver etc.
High value, high success rate, teams that take them do better etc. Make alot of sense, especially when your so terrible. Build inside out from the trenches.

At this point, is there really any way Marinelli stays? I think hes showed this year that hes not taking this team forward, why would they keep him? Unless there is a DL that jumps off the charts, they should definately shore up that line so Stanton or CPep can have some time to throw.

 

Just been watching this game and whilst I haven't finished yet, a few things struck me; I'm not sure you can use Selvie in any other role than a Joey Porter type where he just rushes the passer on every down. He really struggles against the run and Jeff Linkenbach was just running him way out of the run lanes. Then the FB was picking him off if Linkenbach was leaving him. Speaking of Linkenbach, he did a nice job at the left tackle spot.

Mike Mickens was typical Mike Mickens for me; a little erratic. He usually plays the ball well although Groethe's early deep ball where he was in man, then passed him off to the safety and just watched as the Rainbow dropped into the WR's arms disappointed me. I was also a little disturbed by the fact that he was chasing so hard to get back into the play because he hadn't been beaten at the LOS, he simply didn't have the footspeed. He made a nice play on the pick, especially as you just see him cheating into the edge of the screen as Groethe scrambles forwards. But its against the run that I have issues with him. He's a shoulder tackler at best and will do all he can to shy away from contact.


Best player on the field for me was Corey Smith who is too small for our system, but looks like he's going to be a tremendous LB in the Tampa 2; he can cover, changes direction really well and has a great nose for the ball and ability to knife through trash and make plays.

 

One other player I've been really impressed with that I've not mentioned before is Marlon Winn, the junior RT from Texas Tech. This is a good tackle prospect, regardless of the fact that he protects in a shotgun, timing offense

 

Larry English of NIU on ESPN2 righ tnow against Ball State for those interested. I just flipped to it on third and 6. NIU had English go on a stunt and he made a few juke moves to get to the QB but he didn't sack him. He flushed Davis out of the pocket forcing a bad throw.

 

that the game with the cardinals on the helmets?

 

Lol yeah. College Football on ESPN2. If your interested in watching, English is #51.

 

what position and uniform?

 

DE/OLB. White and black uniforms.

 

He's the manchild getting triple teamed on the entire left side of the offensive formation and he is still getting free. God dam animal out there right now.

 

Absolutely. Did you see him on the 3rd & 6? I think the fact that he has played interior defensive line and 'end, as well as OLB is great and will help his draft stock. Good motor.

Are you watching the Center from NIU? He was mentioned as one of their bright spots. He got lost on a run play up the gut. Completely missed his assignment and they were stopped short of the marker because of that.

 

who am i watching on offense here?

 

Ball St.

 

lol I mean players. Who should I watch?