BB tidbit nice end to read on Bama's second Pro Day

[Irish Hooligan]

Richardson among Alabama prospects to work out for NFL heavyweights - NFL, NFLDRAFT - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

This made me smile, hoped to see more about Mark Barron in this piece, however.

 

[rookBoston]

Yeah, that sounds about right. BB is the ultimate film dork.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Alabama Pro Day 2012: Updates on Trent Richardson and Top NFL Draft Prospects | Bleacher Report

Interesting to see Upshaw in a familiar environment still not impress in drills. He's instinctive and savvy but athletic wise he is not elite although he looks good in the games I watched.

 

[MrNathanDrake]

Alabama Pro Day 2012: Updates on Trent Richardson and Top NFL Draft Prospects | Bleacher Report

Interesting to see Upshaw in a familiar environment still not impress in drills. He's instinctive and savvy but athletic wise he is not elite although he looks good in the games I watched.

Upshaw reminds me of James Harrison.

Short, stocky, high motor. Not an athletic freak, but is a strong, hard worker who finds a way to make plays.


He'll be one of the 10 best players from this draft class. Hopefully he falls due to lack of height and speed, and we trade up around the late-teens/early 20's to draft him. He has a lot of experience in the 34, was coached by Saban, and fills a huge need for the Pats.... it would be a perfect pick. But something tells me we end up trading down, or picking at a position we don't need nearly as much as OLB.

As far as being "elite athletically".... well, Shawn Crable chased down running back Javon Ringer in College.. How did Crable turn out?

Athleticism isn't everything.

The fact is, Upshaws a proven player in the toughest division in College and stepped his game up against the better teams.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Upshaw reminds me of James Harrison.

Short, stocky, high motor. Not an athletic freak, but is a strong, hard worker who finds a way to make plays.


He'll be one of the 10 best players from this draft class. Hopefully he falls due to lack of height and speed, and we trade up around the late-teens/early 20's to draft him. He has a lot of experience in the 34, was coached by Saban, and fills a huge need for the Pats.... it would be a perfect pick. But something tells me we end up trading down, or picking at a position we don't need nearly as much as OLB.

As far as being "elite athletically".... well, Shawn Crable chased down running back Javon Ringer in College.. How did Crable turn out?

Athleticism isn't everything.

The fact is, Upshaws a proven player in the toughest division in College and stepped his game up against the better teams.

A lot of the critics don't draft or know how to run a 3-4. Charlie Casserly usually(maybe always)drafted for a 4-3 defense. He looks for different things than Belichick might. Not even saying one is better than the other. Just two different areas of expertise. Lombardi isn't big on him either. I wonder if that's a message from BB not to brag him up. I think he'd be ideal as our ROLB. There's usually no te over there. He has to set the edge on run plays towards him. Which everyone says he does well. And, blitz on passing plays. People are worried bigger T's will engulf him. Our de on that side is lined up on the T. He should get the h-back or G helping out. Tough to see him getting past SD. But, we can always hope.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Upshaw reminds me of James Harrison.

Short, stocky, high motor. Not an athletic freak, but is a strong, hard worker who finds a way to make plays.


He'll be one of the 10 best players from this draft class. Hopefully he falls due to lack of height and speed, and we trade up around the late-teens/early 20's to draft him. He has a lot of experience in the 34, was coached by Saban, and fills a huge need for the Pats.... it would be a perfect pick. But something tells me we end up trading down, or picking at a position we don't need nearly as much as OLB.

As far as being "elite athletically".... well, Shawn Crable chased down running back Javon Ringer in College.. How did Crable turn out?

Athleticism isn't everything.

The fact is, Upshaws a proven player in the toughest division in College and stepped his game up against the better teams.

Agreed. I like Upshaw the player and yes athleticism isnt everything. But I'm not trading up for him though. If Spikes can fall than so can Upshaw. I'm sure BB has already pondered Upshaw the player, let's see what he really thinks come draft day.

 

[WhiZa]

For what it's worth, here are the draft prospects from Alabama

Rank	Player			Pos.	P.Rank	School	Class	Ht.	Wt.	Proj. Round
6	Trent Richardson	RB	1	Alabama	Jr	5-09	228	1
17	Dre Kirkpatrick		CB	2	Alabama	Jr	6-2	186	1
21	Courtney Upshaw		OLB	2	Alabama	Sr	6-2	272	1
28	Mark Barron		SS	1	Alabama	Sr	6-1	213	1-2
39	Dont'a Hightower	ILB	2	Alabama	rJr	6-2	265	2
74	Josh ChapmanInjured	DT	8	Alabama	rSr	6-1	316	2-3
137	DeQuan Menzie		CB	18	Alabama	Sr	5-11	202	4
230	Brad Smelley		FB	4	Alabama	Sr	6-2	238	6-7
242	Marquis Maze		WR	31	Alabama	rSr	5-08	186	6-7
310	Jerrell Harris		OLB	27	Alabama	Sr	6-2	239	7-FA
336	William Vlachos		C	11	Alabama	rSr	6-1	319	––
492	Darius Hanks		WR	63	Alabama	rSr	6-0	188	––
704	Alfred McCullough	OG	38	Alabama	rSr	6-2	313	––

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Upshaw weighed in at 279 pounds and looked extremely stiff. He is looking more and more like a short armed 4-3 who can only play going forward. He ran a hand timed 4.8, not sure that is good enough for a 3-4 OLB, even if he lost 10 pounds or so.

 

[NinjaZX6R]

Upshaw weighed in at 279 pounds and looked extremely stiff. He is looking more and more like a short armed 4-3 who can only play going forward. He ran a hand timed 4.8, not sure that is good enough for a 3-4 OLB, even if he lost 10 pounds or so.

279?? seriously?

 

[ATippett56]

Upshaw weighed in at 279 pounds and looked extremely stiff. He is looking more and more like a short armed 4-3 who can only play going forward. He ran a hand timed 4.8, not sure that is good enough for a 3-4 OLB, even if he lost 10 pounds or so.

I would rather draft Dont'a Hightower, if available at #27 or #31.

 

[manxman2601]

I would rather draft Dont'a Hightower, if available at #27 or #31.

This. The more I think about it, the more I think Hightower will be the most likely OLB taken by BB in the first round, Offers versatility and will be very good setting the edge whilst having plenty of pass rush upside. In our scheme, converting an ILB to OLB probably makes more sense than converting a DE to OLB.

 

[WhiZa]

Upshaw weighed in at 279 pounds and looked extremely stiff. He is looking more and more like a short armed 4-3 who can only play going forward. He ran a hand timed 4.8, not sure that is good enough for a 3-4 OLB, even if he lost 10 pounds or so.

I would never rule out a man named Courtney

 

[Patriot Missile]

This. The more I think about it, the more I think Hightower will be the most likely OLB taken by BB in the first round, Offers versatility and will be very good setting the edge whilst having plenty of pass rush upside. In our scheme, converting an ILB to OLB probably makes more sense than converting a DE to OLB.

I love what you bring to the board but I am not understanding what screams olb to you about this kid? I'd draft McCellan at 31 to play olb before I picked Hightower. IMO Mayo is moving outside if DH is drafted.

 

[Merril Hoge's Tie Knot]

I love what you bring to the board but I am not understanding what screams olb to you about this kid? I'd draft McCellan at 31 to play olb before I picked Hightower. IMO Mayo is moving outside if DH is drafted.

Did he say Hightower screams OLB? No. Hightower did play a lot of 4-3 DE at Alabama though. He's longer, faster, and more fluid than Upshaw. He offers more upside and versatility.