32 NFL Draft Guesses

[ATippett56]

I have nothing for or against Gray but all purpose yards are misleading for obvious reasons.

He was the second best RB on the team :

Texas A&M Aggies - Statistics - College Football - Rivals.com

He had the most yards but Michael averaged 0.7 YPC more than Gray.

Which running back was the better receiver? Which running back was the better pass blocker? Which running back had more touchdowns?

 

[BelichickFan]

I'm saying you get better VALUE in the third round with a multi-faceted running back in Cyrus Gray in a running back by committee approach.

I know what you're saying, it's fairly obvious. I'm not arguing it, I'm not arguing for or against Gray nor Martin.

All I have been saying is we have the draft choices to take a luxury pick and any non QB position and still have the picks left to get the defense we need.

Is Martin THAT much better than Gray ? I don't know. But if Martin ends up being the next LeShon McCoy then it's a shot I'm willing to take. How we would use all the RB and whether it's excess is a separate debate.

 

[ATippett56]

I know what you're saying, it's fairly obvious. I'm not arguing it, I'm not arguing for or against Gray nor Martin.

All I have been saying is we have the draft choices to take a luxury pick and any non QB position and still have the picks left to get the defense we need.

Is Martin THAT much better than Gray ? I don't know. But if Martin ends up being the next LeShon McCoy then it's a shot I'm willing to take. How we would use all the RB and whether it's excess is a separate debate.

How about a hypothetical draft scenario with the #27 overall pick:

Dont'a Hightower or Doug Martin?

 

[BelichickFan]

How about a hypothetical draft scenario with the #27 overall pick:

Dont'a Hightower or Doug Martin?

Not sure if Hightower is who I'm looking for but I'm generally looking at defense. I would look for a cheap veteran RB to go with what we have.

Right now my picks are :

1a) McClellin
1b) Chandler Jones
2a) Harrison Smith
2b) Bobby Wagner
3) Derek Wolfe
4) Ron Brooks

Ooops, that's all defense.

However if Bill and Nick think Martin or Reuben Randle or whoever would be a stud for us then by all means I am up for it.

 

[ATippett56]

However if Bill and Nick think Martin or Reuben Randle or whoever would be a stud for us then by all means I am up for it.

After reading his bio, I don't want Doug Martin:

Doug Martin, Boise State, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

Blocking: Does not offer much in terms of pass protection. Often subbed out in obvious passing situations, best help for the quarterback is as an outlet receiver. Does not anchor against oncoming blitzers. Poor cut tackler, defenders easily elude him. Lacks height but possesses strength, build and attitude to improve with more coaching.

 

[captain stone]

Fun little article from a guy I like to read.

Before you rip it, the disclaimer :

"We are at 10 days and counting until the 2012 NFL Draft. That means it is the peak of mock draft season, but a mock draft can only tell so many stories. Here are 32 bold, fearless, crazy, insomnia-fueled predictions for the upcoming draft. Some do have actual basis in reality from exchanges I've had with various NFL personnel and a couple of agents. Some are fairly educated guesses where I'm reading between some lines I've read or heard. Some are the product of sleep deprivation and an overwhelming volume of draft stuff in my brain. This is meant to be as much about fun as it is informative; I'll be pleasantly surprised if more than three of these actually happen."

RealGM Football: Encroachment -


Here's a Patriots related one :

"22. Last year Detroit stunned everyone by using their 1st round pick on Nick Fairly, a player at their position of least perceived need. This year the team that pulls that stunt will be the Patriots. Last year New England drafted two running backs, Shane Vereen in the 2nd and Stevan Ridley in the 3rd. They still have Danny Woodhead. They have two solid fullbacks in Tony Fiametta and Spencer Larsen. That will not stop them from using a 1st round pick on Boise State RB Doug Martin. It also won't stop them from using a late-round pick on yet another hybrid fullback/H-back/tight end. When you have more draft picks than job openings every year, stuff like this happens..."

That woud be an abomination, and grounds for dismissal, if not a class-action lawsuit.

 

[manxman2601]

After reading his bio, I don't want Doug Martin:

Doug Martin, Boise State, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com

I saw one report that said he'd likely put up the same numbers as Trent Richardson with the right team. you want value? There's some right there.

 

[ATippett56]

I saw one report that said he'd likely put up the same numbers as Trent Richardson with the right team. you want value? There's some right there.

Ask the New Orleans Saints what value Mark Ingram provided last year as a first round draft pick? Doug Martin is no Trent Richardson, and Doug Martin did not play in the SEC.

 

[manxman2601]

Ask the New Orleans Saints what value Mark Ingram provided last year as a first round draft pick? Doug Martin is no Trent Richardson, and Doug Martin did not play in the SEC.

Don't see the relevance. They're two different players and two different teams. Do we not draft a pass rusher because Robert Quinn only had five sacks? Or a DE because Cam Jordan only had 30 tackles and one sack?

As for not playing in the SEC, why does that matter? Ray Rice played at Rutgers and LeSean McCoy at Pittsburgh. And no, he's no TR, but that's why he'll possibly be available at 27 whereas TR will be gone at four most likely. That doesn't mean Martin can't produce like TR:

f a team is seeking a breakaway runner, Martin isn’t that player unless he’s playing behind a dominant offensive line where he gets the immediate angle on third level defenders because of strong second-level blocking (think a faster Arian Foster behind the Texans line), but he’s going to have plenty of gains between 15-40 yards. Martin may not be in Trent Richardson’s class, but he’s capable of having statistical production that is as good or better depending on the team that drafts him.

Doug Martin, Second-Ranked Running Back in 2012 Draft - NYTimes.com

 

[captain stone]

Of course, we probably won't draft Martin and this discussion becomes moot.

Let's all hope so.

 

[manxman2601]

Let's all hope so.

You'd rather an average defensive player like Harrison Smith or Kendall Reyes?

 

[ATippett56]

Don't see the relevance. They're two different players and two different teams. Do we not draft a pass rusher because Robert Quinn only had five sacks? Or a DE because Cam Jordan only had 30 tackles and one sack?

As for not playing in the SEC, why does that matter? Ray Rice played at Rutgers and LeSean McCoy at Pittsburgh. And no, he's no TR, but that's why he'll possibly be available at 27 whereas TR will be gone at four most likely.

The New England Patriots already have their Doug Martin, his name is Stevan Ridley. If Bill Belichick is willing to give wide rceiver Chad Johnson another year, why can't Patriots fans with Stevan Ridley?

The only offensive player I could justify the New England Patriots drafting in the first round is offensive guard Kevin Zeitler from Wisconsin, due to the advanced age of offensive guard Brian Waters, who turned 35 years of age in February.

 

[manxman2601]

The New England Patriots already have their Doug Martin, his name is Stevan Ridley. If Bill Belichick is willing to give wide rceiver Chad Johnson another year, why can't Patriots fans with Stevan Ridley?

The only offensive player I could justify the New England Patriots drafting in the first round is offensive guard Kevin Zeitler from Wisconsin, due to the advanced age of offensive guard Brian Waters, who turned 35 years of age in February.

I like Stevan Ridley, But there's a reason the Pats are showing a lot of interest in Doug Martin. Maybe they don't think Ridley can carry the load or maybe there's another reason. When it comes down to it, I love watching good blue collar hard nosed RB play and for that reason, I'd be fine with a Doug Martin pick. I also don't think we should we should be drafting defense just for the sake of it. There's quite a bit of 2nd/3rd round talent being projected at the bottom of the first and I don't think we should be drafting such poor value.

BTW, that link I gave on Martin was from a guy, Matt Waldman, who has Marvin Jones, who we both like, as his third rated WR so I think he's got really good credibility.

 

[captain stone]

You'd rather an average defensive player like Harrison Smith or Kendall Reyes?

I'd rather the best avail. Pass-Rusher ass-uming, of course, that Barron & Cox are gone by 27.

BTW, here's more fuel for the Martin-to-Pats fire:
Draft Insiders' Digest | Premier NFL Draft and Free Agency Publication

Check out whom Frank Coyle, whose site has been in existence for at least the past 15 years,
has us taking at 27...

 

[ATippett56]

I like Stevan Ridley, But there's a reason the Pats are showing a lot of interest in Doug Martin. Maybe they don't think Ridley can carry the load or maybe there's another reason. When it comes down to it, I love watching good blue collar hard nosed RB play and for that reason, I'd be fine with a Doug Martin pick. I also don't think we should we should be drafting defense just for the sake of it. There's quite a bit of 2nd/3rd round talent being projected at the bottom of the first and I don't think we should be drafting such poor value.

BTW, that link I gave on Martin was from a guy, Matt Waldman, who has Marvin Jones, who we both like, as his third rated WR so I think he's got really good credibility.

I personally don't see the value in drafting a running back in the first round, whereby the offense is predicated upon a running back committee approach.

I do see the value of drafting an offensive lineman in the first round whereby the potential is a starting right offensive guard for the next ten years, especially considering the current starting right offensive guard is 35 years of age.

At the end of the day, we can agree to disagree about Doug Martin.