The 2013 Prospect Thread

[thodoks]

Even in my first year as a scout, as a 13 year old, I was months ahead of the media in calling Linval Joseph a second round pick.

LOL at anointing oneself a "scout," and at 13 no less. Just...LOL.

Reminder: a DVR and message board presence does not make you a scout; a paycheck signed by one of 32 NFL owners does. How often do you receive one of those, mackenzie45220?

 

[Merril Hoge's Tie Knot]

Exactly. And yet i makes no difference. They still play that badly as a unit. How would adding a 7th "pro-bowl talent" make a difference where 6 can't.

We'll find out when Talib gets here

 

[mayoclinic]

LOL at anointing oneself a "scout," and at 13 no less. Just...LOL.

Reminder: a DVR and message board presence does not make you a scout; a paycheck signed by one of 32 NFL owners does. How often do you receive one of those, mackenzie45220?

Who cares? Mackenzie contributes a ton. Others ... not so much. I don't see any reason to take shots at others.

 

[Merril Hoge's Tie Knot]

I haven't reviewed the game yet but Robert Lester looked undraftable yesterday.

 

[manxman2601]

I haven't reviewed the game yet but Robert Lester looked undraftable yesterday.

I love Alabama prospects generally, but Lester has never impressed me very much. He isn't instinctive or athletic enough to be a starting NFL safety in my view.

 

[mackenzie45220]

I watch 300 college football games a year, read coaching books during the off-season to increase my knowledge, and I write for nflmocks.com. I know what I'm watching and I do a ton of research. I consider myself and amateur scout.

Oh, and Lester did look horrible

 

[manxman2601]

So he can't be successful when he engages the tackle but only when he can run around him? Doesnt seem like a BB-type player.

We were talking generally about where Mingo should be ranked, not Patriot specifically. Although, if we were changing scheme and wanted a Von Miller type player, sign me up for Mingo if he fell that far. He is an elite athlete.

 

[manxman2601]

As much as I'd like to get Ansah at a bargain I'd be plenty willing to part with a 1st rounder to get him.

Despite my cautions against drafting defense, I would whole-heartedly subscribe to drafting Ansah in the first. People with his upside, both physically and intangibly are too rare to ignore.

 

[mackenzie45220]

I'm not crazy on Ansah (desparately needs to improve hand usage), but Hunt could be very good long term.
When evaluating raw prospects, I always ask myself one question: Does he have an excuse for being raw? Is there a good reason he doesn't know how to play the game? If the answer is no (Joseph Fauria), I would avoid taking that player until the later rounds as a project, with one exception; if the player has a tremendous work ethic and is very smart (Devin Taylor is SEC all academic and lives in the weight room. I have hope he can figure out the game, but it is waning), in which case I would take him in the 3rd our 4th round.
If the answer is yes, he has an excuse for his terrible fundamentals, I give them a mid to late second round grade depending on how much physical ability the player has. This philosophy led to me calling Jimmy Graham (4 years of FBS basketball, 1 year of FBS football) the fourth most underrated prospect of the 2010 draft, behind Antonio Brown (How was he a 6th round pick?), Alterraun Verner (most underrated corner in the NFL), and Demaryius Thomas (4th in the NFL in receiving yards) and right ahead of Sean Lee (as instinctive as Luke Kuechly, though had tons of knee problems). I enjoy bragging about those 5.
In my mind, both Hunt and Ansah, being inexperienced foreigners, have great excuses for being raw. That being said, Hunt is an absolute physical freak of nature (expected from olympians), while Ansah, although no physical slouch, isn't the freak a guy like Jason Pierre Paul was a couple years ago. Physically, Ansah reminds me of Greg Hardy, except Ansah keeps himself in shape all the time. Bottom line; both Hunt and Ansah are raw but have good excuses, but Hunt has a crapload of potential if he cleans up his fundamentals, and while Ansah could easily be a pro bowler, he doesn't have the raw strength of a guy like Hunt. So give Hunt a mid second round grade while Ansah gets a grade of late second to early third.

 

[mackenzie45220]

And let's not forget about Daniel McCullers, the 377 pounder with a body fat percentage so low that he doesn't count as obese. He may offer nothing on pass plays, but he can make hilarious arm tackles and has more stamina than you would expect.
Louis Nix III is a first round prospect as well. Draft eligible redshirt sophomore with tons of strength, and he is growing (not in weight) very quickly

 

[mackenzie45220]

I'm addicted to Zac Dysert. I'm writing a scouting report about him now. I think he's a first round prospect.

 

[mackenzie45220]

Here's the scouting report
Zac Dysert- 2013 NFL Draft Scouting Report
Oh, and Snake Eyes, I referenced your Lincecum/throw power video

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Who cares? Mackenzie contributes a ton. Others ... not so much. I don't see any reason to take shots at others.

I wouldn't care if mackenzie were actually a scout for the JEST.

Of course, given the intelligence of his posts, that's not actually possible. . . .

 

[mackenzie45220]

I wouldn't care if mackenzie were actually a scout for the JEST.

Of course, given the intelligence of his posts, that's not actually possible. . . .

With that, I'll talk about the teams who think the way I do, and the stupid teams, with regard to the draft.

Love the 49ers, Patriots, Steelers, Saints, and, to some extent, the Seahawks. First of all, with the Seahawks, give me a chance to defend myself. I think the philosophy teams should have entering draft day is not to grab the highest player on their board, but the highest player on their board who will NOT be available after their next pick. Play it safe in most cases, but, although I considered Bruce Irvin to be very underrated, they could have gotten him in the second round easily. They draft underrated guys at the wrong time. But I love guys like KJ Wright (most underrated prospect of the 2011 draft) and James Carpenter. The 49ers (Kendall Hunter, Aldon Smith), are usually my favorite team on draft day.

My two least favorite teams are the Rams and Dolphins. Whether most scouts think they are getting good value or not means nothing. I have called every player they have ever drafted overrated. Ever. Except Roger Saffold. But it's really bad.

 

[Merril Hoge's Tie Knot]

With that, I'll talk about the teams who think the way I do, and the stupid teams, with regard to the draft.

Love the 49ers, Patriots, Steelers, Saints, and, to some extent, the Seahawks. First of all, with the Seahawks, give me a chance to defend myself. I think the philosophy teams should have entering draft day is not to grab the highest player on their board, but the highest player on their board who will NOT be available after their next pick. Play it safe in most cases, but, although I considered Bruce Irvin to be very underrated, they could have gotten him in the second round easily. They draft underrated guys at the wrong time. But I love guys like KJ Wright (most underrated prospect of the 2011 draft) and James Carpenter. The 49ers (Kendall Hunter, Aldon Smith), are usually my favorite team on draft day.

My two least favorite teams are the Rams and Dolphins. Whether most scouts think they are getting good value or not means nothing. I have called every player they have ever drafted overrated. Ever. Except Roger Saffold. But it's really bad.

The Patriots drafting has been great since Caserio took over for Pioli.

I really liked what Tampa Bay did last draft. They got three of my favorite prospects.

It sounds cliche coming from a Pats fan but Jets draft the worst IMO.

 

[mayoclinic]

The Patriots drafting has been great since Caserio took over for Pioli.

I really liked what Tampa Bay did last draft. They got three of my favorite prospects.

It sounds cliche coming from a Pats fan but Jets draft the worst IMO.

Not to brag, but Doug Martin and Lavonte David were my top 2 picks for the Pats:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...2-mock-draft-thread-page114.html#post3025694 (see post #1135)

I wasn't as big a Mark Barron fan as others, and anyway he was way out of reach. Harrisom Smith has surprised me, too, with his play so far this year. But I obviously loved Tampa Bay's draft.

The Jets are a case study in how not to build a team. Huge contracts committing the team to questionable players, questionable acquisitions, poor drafting, and a circus atmosphere. It's a farce.

God forbid that Chip Kelly takes that job. I think he'd be too smart to do that.

 

[Merril Hoge's Tie Knot]

Not to brag, but Doug Martin and Lavonte David were my top 2 picks for the Pats:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...2-mock-draft-thread-page114.html#post3025694 (see post #1135)

I wasn't as big a Mark Barron fan as others, and anyway he was way out of reach. Harrisom Smith has surprised me, too, with his play so far this year. But I obviously loved Tampa Bay's draft.

The Jets are a case study in how not to build a team. Huge contracts committing the team to questionable players, questionable acquisitions, poor drafting, and a circus atmosphere. It's a farce.

God forbid that Chip Kelly takes that job. I think he'd be too smart to do that.

You're right it isn't just drafting. The Jets do everything wrong. With all the options I'm sure Kelly has I can't imagine him choosing that circus. That team has to be blown up. I'm sure he'd rather go to a team with some young building blocks. He'll also have to sever his friendship with Belichick and then play the Patriots twice a year.

I never really talked about how much I liked Martin or David because I didn't think the Pats needed a running back, and I had no idea David would last until pick 60.

 

[mackenzie45220]

Not to brag, but Doug Martin and Lavonte David were my top 2 picks for the Pats:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...2-mock-draft-thread-page114.html#post3025694 (see post #1135)

I wasn't as big a Mark Barron fan as others, and anyway he was way out of reach. Harrisom Smith has surprised me, too, with his play so far this year. But I obviously loved Tampa Bay's draft.

The Jets are a case study in how not to build a team. Huge contracts committing the team to questionable players, questionable acquisitions, poor drafting, and a circus atmosphere. It's a farce.

God forbid that Chip Kelly takes that job. I think he'd be too smart to do that.

Loved David, didn't feel strongly either way on Martin

 

[JMC00]

I've actually been thinking of Swope as a Welker replacement

Do you know what Swope's draft stock is at the moment?

After catching 11 passes for 111 yards and 1 TD against Alabama.

Rising

 

[mackenzie45220]

Swope is a second rounder right now, but, honestly, I wouldn't touch anyone from this weak wide receiver class. You can't get good value. Swope is a second rounder right now, but, in a normal year, he is a third rounder. It's just bad value everywhere you look