Wes Bunting's All ACC Team

[mayoclinic]

The latest from Wes Bunting at the National Football Post:

NFP?s 2009 ACC all-prospect team | National Football Post

I've loved the ACC this year, and the list (draft-eligible players only) doesn't disappoint:

- RB Jonathan Dwyer, Georgia Tech
- TE Jimmy Graham, Miami
- WR Demaryius Thomas, Georgia Tech
- C Matt Tennant, Boston College
- OT Bruce Campbell, Maryland
- OLB Bruce Carter, North Carolina
- DE/OLB Ricky Sapp, Clemson
- DB Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech
- DB Ras-I Dowling, Virginia

Somehow his list is lacking DL prospects. I assume this will be fixed soon. I imagine that guys like Derrick Morgan and Marvin Austin will be on the list. Too bad sophomore Robert Quinn isn't eligible.

And one very glaring omission: I can't see how he left RB CJ Spiller from Clemson on the list. I'm not a big Spiller fan, but he's got to be on the list.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Not sure how he could have left Spiller off the list. Spiller will probably run a 4.3 at the combine and explode up the draft chart.

Ford might run a 4.3 as well, but his lack of hieght and inability to beat press coverage will limit his rise.

Interesting that he described Sapp as Sudden and explosive. It should be interesting to see his actual height and weight at the combine.

 

[dryheat44]

Hasn't he just been choosing one RB for each conference? I don't see how you could put Spiller ahead of Dwyer.

That 25.1 ypc on D Thomas is phenomenal. I'd love to have a tall, Vincent Jackson-type WR on this team.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Hasn't he just been choosing one RB for each conference? I don't see how you could put Spiller ahead of Dwyer.

That 25.1 ypc on D Thomas is phenomenal. I'd love to have a tall, Vincent Jackson-type WR on this team.

It's easy to put Spiller ahead of Dwyer, Spiller does more for a team. He runs faster, catches the ball, has been known to pick up blitzers and is a terrific returner with something like 4 TD's on returns.

Dwyer is a product of a nontraditional offense and probably has over inflated numbers because defenses see it so rarely.

With D Thomas, I think back to the ball he dropped against Georgia on fourth down. Big time players perform best in big time situations. In a big time 4th down situation he folded like a cheap suit.

 

[dryheat44]

It's easy to put Spiller ahead of Dwyer, Spiller does more for a team. He runs faster, catches the ball, has been known to pick up blitzers and is a terrific returner with something like 4 TD's on returns.

Dwyer is a product of a nontraditional offense and probably has over inflated numbers because defenses see it so rarely.

With D Thomas, I think back to the ball he dropped against Georgia on fourth down. Big time players perform best in big time situations. In a big time 4th down situation he folded like a cheap suit.

So if you're a the GM of a team, let's say Cleveland, who needs a running back, who would you rather take?

I understand the value that Spiller gives as a returner, and can give you Felix Jones-type rushing attempts, but I'll take the workhorse running back that I can hand the ball off to 25 times a game if necessary.

Dwyer played in a non-traditional offense, but in no way do I think he's the product of said offense. It's not like Georgia Tech RBs are getting historically overdrafted, like Penn St or Wisconsin.

Personally, I like both guys. But I think Bunting made the right choice.

 

[mayoclinic]

So if you're a the GM of a team, let's say Cleveland, who needs a running back, who would you rather take?

I understand the value that Spiller gives as a returner, and can give you Felix Jones-type rushing attempts, but I'll take the workhorse running back that I can hand the ball off to 25 times a game if necessary.

Dwyer played in a non-traditional offense, but in no way do I think he's the product of said offense. It's not like Georgia Tech RBs are getting historically overdrafted, like Penn St or Wisconsin.

Personally, I like both guys. But I think Bunting made the right choice.

Tough choice, and depends what you want for your team. I'd personally take Dwyer or Spiller, but I can see it both ways.

If Spiller turns out to be Chris Johnson II, then he's worth more than Dwyer ever would be. If he turns out to be Felix Jones, I'll take Dwyer.

The NFL is a copycat league, and this year the word is "speed". NO is killing people with their blazing team speed, and Chris Johnson is destroying defenses with his speed. I suspect CJ Spiller will make a killing off of that trend.

 

[bigcountry75]

The reasons I prefer spiller over dwyer are:

--> Return abilities....Since Bethel Johnson we seem to start around our own 20 yd line every return...I know some of you liked Ellis hobbs and he was decent but not near Spiller's level

--> Dwyer is a bruiser but we already have a semi-bruiser in Maroney when he wants to run the ball.....Why have 2 guys in the backfield that will punish you when you can have the punisher and the guy you throw a swing pass to that can go 50 yds for a TD.....

--> Blocking....I know dwyer didn't get many opportunities in the O that GTech ran but Spiller has proven he can step up and make a block when needed.....

--> Lastly because I want to get something we haven't had to give opposing teams something to worry about.....From when I was alive we had Robert Edwards (bruiser), Curtis Martin (More bruiser but could break long runs), Antoine Smith (more bruiser), Corey Dillon (bruiser), Kevin Faulk (Old Reliable but doesn't run a 4.3), Laurence Maroney (Tap dancer/bruiser), I may have missed someone (not on purpose) but my point is we really haven't had a speed guy that Brady can just dump the ball off to and break off huge runs....I would like to see how that would change the underneath coverages and if welker isn't getting open enough now, imagine the defenses having to gameplan for a super speed back also....As Keith Jackson would say WHOAAA NELLY!!!!

 

[Ochmed Jones]

So if you're a the GM of a team, let's say Cleveland, who needs a running back, who would you rather take?

I understand the value that Spiller gives as a returner, and can give you Felix Jones-type rushing attempts, but I'll take the workhorse running back that I can hand the ball off to 25 times a game if necessary.

Dwyer played in a non-traditional offense, but in no way do I think he's the product of said offense. It's not like Georgia Tech RBs are getting historically overdrafted, like Penn St or Wisconsin.

Personally, I like both guys. But I think Bunting made the right choice.

It is a case of the home run hitter vs. the singles hitter.

If I am Cleveland, I want a playmaker desperately. Which player is that? I do not know Cleveland's backs or O line well enough to answer that.

For us, knowing I have Maroney, I would take Spiller first in a heartbeat. Yank Maroney off of kick returns and put Spiller back there to start with and then work Spiller into the running and passing game during the course of the season.

 

[dryheat44]

It is a case of the home run hitter vs. the singles hitter.

If I am Cleveland, I want a playmaker desperately. Which player is that? I do not know Cleveland's backs or O line well enough to answer that.

For us, knowing I have Maroney, I would take Spiller first in a heartbeat. Yank Maroney off of kick returns and put Spiller back there to start with and then work Spiller into the running and passing game during the course of the season.

Yes, If I'm Belichick I'm more interested as Spiller...but it's with the notion of putting him in to return kicks and in the 3rd down package (if he can block it). I don't disagree with anything you said. Spiller will probably be a better Reggie Bush. But Dwyer's going to be somebody's workhorse...a guy like Thomas Jones or Deuce McAllister.

 

[mayoclinic]

Yes, If I'm Belichick I'm more interested as Spiller...but it's with the notion of putting him in to return kicks and in the 3rd down package (if he can block it). I don't disagree with anything you said. Spiller will probably be a better Reggie Bush. But Dwyer's going to be somebody's workhorse...a guy like Thomas Jones or Deuce McAllister.

If I'm BB I have a hard time justifying a 1st round pick on a return man and 3rd down back. I'd go with the workhorse in that case. But if you believe Spiller can be a Percy Harvin or DeSean Jackson style impact player and an integral part of the offense, then it's a totally different story.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

If I'm BB I have a hard time justifying a 1st round pick on a return man and 3rd down back. I'd go with the workhorse in that case. But if you believe Spiller can be a Percy Harvin or DeSean Jackson style impact player and an integral part of the offense, then it's a totally different story.

I do believe Spiller is going to be a huge playmaker next season, more so than Dwyer, but in a completely different style than Dwyer (unless Dwyer lands in the right system, ie: Cincy or Minny)

But at the end of the day,I do realize Spiller is not a 3 down back and thus BB will probably pass on him because of that.

 

[mayoclinic]

But at the end of the day,I do realize Spiller is not a 3 down back and thus BB will probably pass on him because of that.

"3 down player" are the words most commonly used by BB when describing what he looks for in a 1st round pick. He's used it when describing Mayo, when talking about what he looks or in a LB, when talking about Will Smith, etc.

I agree Spiller is an explosive talent. He's very intriguing. If he's another Chris Johnson, or even a Percy Harvin, then he's worth it. If he's a part-time player and return man, then he's not.

 

[Ochmed Jones]

"3 down player" are the words most commonly used by BB when describing what he looks for in a 1st round pick. He's used it when describing Mayo, when talking about what he looks or in a LB, when talking about Will Smith, etc.

I agree Spiller is an explosive talent. He's very intriguing. If he's another Chris Johnson, or even a Percy Harvin, then he's worth it. If he's a part-time player and return man, then he's not.

When I go to build my mock draft for 2010, I am take a look at all the players that could potentially be available when we draft and weed out the non-3 down players, then with what is left, try to project them into BB's offense or defense.

For example right now McClain is the best 3 down player that projects extremely well into BB's defense. But it does not look like he is going to make it past the 8 to 14 range. As much as I hate to say it, he probably won't be in my mock as a Pats pick.

 

[mayoclinic]

When I go to build my mock draft for 2010, I am take a look at all the players that could potentially be available when we draft and weed out the non-3 down players, then with what is left, try to project them into BB's offense or defense.

For example right now McClain is the best 3 down player that projects extremely well into BB's defense. But it does not look like he is going to make it past the 8 to 14 range. As much as I hate to say it, he probably won't be in my mock as a Pats pick.

Good strategy. I agree.

As BB has said, "For a player at any position, really, to be a productive player and to be picked probably in that area you would like for him to be able to play all the time. You'd like for him to be able to play on first down, second down and third down. It's hard to draft linebackers and players like that - defensive linemen, running backs, tight ends or whatever it is. It's hard to draft those players that don't contribute on every down. If they don't, then they really need to be exceptional in the area that they're in. You draft a guy in the first round that does one thing really well, but then you've got to go get somebody else to do something else, then that's a high price to pay, especially for that role, if you want to call it that. So that's kind of the battle you're fighting there."

Bill Belichick Press Conference - 12/09/2009

That's why I've been favoring guys like Greg Romeus and Austen Lane who I think could be 3-down guys at OLB over speed rushers like Von Miller, Sergio Kindle, Jerry Hughes and Ricky Sapp, who I question being 3-down LBs for us.

I still have hopes that McClain will be within trade-up range. ILB's tend to slip a bit, and I don't think McClain has blazing speed, so I doubt he'll blow away the combine the way Aaron Curry did. He's a junior so he won't get to play in the bowl games and dominate the competition. The will give a lot of workout warriors a chance to pass him up between now and the end of April.