Mike's First Mock of the Year

[mike100915]

I must say I really don't like what I did with the Patriots pick. I was between Rivers and Groves, and just felt like Rivers might be their type of player a bit more.



1)Miami- Chris Long DE Virginia
2)St Louis- Jake Long OT Michigan
3)Atlanta- Matt Ryan QB Boston College
4)Oakland- Glenn Dorsey DT LSU
5)Kansas City- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie CB Tennessee ST
6) New York – Vernon Gholston DE Ohio State
7)New England- Keith Rivers OLB USC
8)Baltimore- Leodis McKelvin CB Troy
9)Cincinnati- Sedrick Ellis DT USC
10New Orleans- Aqib Talib CB Kansas
11)Buffalo- Quentin Groves DE Auburn
12)Denver- Darren McFadden RB Arkansas
13)Carolina- Ryan Clady OT Boise St
14)Chicago- Branden Albert OG Virginia
15) Detroit- Rashard Mendenhall RB Illinois
16) Arizona- Phillip Merling DE Clemson
17) Minnesota- Derrick Harvey DE Florida
18)Houston- Chris Williams OT Vanderbilt
19)Philadelphia- Devin Thomas Wr Michigan St
20)Tampa Bay- Mike Jenkins CB South Florida
21)Washington- Kenny Phillips S Miami
22)Dallas- DeSean Jackson Wr Cal
23)Pittsburgh- Gosder Cherlius OT Boston College
24)Tennessee- Malcolm Kelly WR Oklahoma
25)Seattle- Dustin Keller TE Purdue
26)Jacksonville- Chris Ellis DE Virginia Tech
27)San Diego- DaJuan Morgan S NC State
28)Dallas- Jonathan Stewart RB Oregon
29)San Francisco- Jeff Otah OT Pitt
30)Green Bay- Reggie Smith S/CB Oklahoma
31)New York- Tracy Porter CB Indiana

 

[DaBruinz]

Why do you feel that Rivers might be more the "Pats type of player"?

Personally, I think that Rivers isn't suited to OLB in the Pats 3-4 and that Rivers is a much better 4-3 OLB, primarily because he over-pursues and because he can't shed blockers well.

 

[BradyManny]

I was reading somebody - Reiss maybe? - who was thinking Rivers might fit as an ILB in our system.

 

[bradmahn]

I was reading somebody - Reiss maybe? - who was thinking Rivers might fit as an ILB in our system.

Rivers doesn't have the size to play on the outside in the Pats' 3-4, so anyone worth their weight in salt would project him as an ILB for the Patriots. I like Rivers but I don't know if he represents the best value at seventh overall. I think I'd rather have Groves, whose "transition" from end to OLB in the pros should be made a little quicker because he already has playing time at OLB in college and the combination of size, speed and production. I also think Groves may see the field more in passing situations this year if he were the pick.

 

[mike100915]

Why do you feel that Rivers might be more the "Pats type of player"?

Personally, I think that Rivers isn't suited to OLB in the Pats 3-4 and that Rivers is a much better 4-3 OLB, primarily because he over-pursues and because he can't shed blockers well.

Keith Rivers isn't that small he is 6'2 241. He could stand to add more weight, which he will. However, I also believe he could play all 4 linebacker positions. But, mainly at Outside. I envision him as a Mike Vrabel type. I think he is a very underrated player. He's not a quick or as good as pass rusher as Groves, but he can do everything well. Also, he is very intelligent and a hard worker. He'd be an excellent addition to the Linebacker Core.

Take a look: http://youtube.com/watch?v=AXYE-hXNN-c

 

[VJCPatriot]

Rivers at 7 is too early. I'd rather Groves or Clady or McFadden if the top of the draft shaked out that way.

 

[ALP]

at 6 the jets faced with either gholston or mcfadden, will take mcfadden (thats why they shored up their O-line for)

 

[Ochmed Jones]

Heard Dimitroff on talk radio in Atlanta, he says he isn't going to take a QB just to take a "franchise QB", he wants to take the right QB that works best in their system. I don't know if he is sending out false leads or if he truly believes that, but the interview led me to believe that if Atlanta passes on a QB or if Ryan is off the board by #3, then Atlanta will look hard at OT, J Long, and if J Long is gone, they will look at DT, Dorsey or Ellis.

 

[dryheat44]

at 6 the jets faced with either gholston or mcfadden, will take mcfadden (thats why they shored up their O-line for)

Well, if that scenario presents itself, we'll see if the Jets are a smart organization or not. Smart organizations don't draft RBs that highly. Every RB is dependent on his offensive line, and is the biggest injury/bust risk position.

For every Adrian Peterson and Barry Sanders, you can find about three Ki-Jana Carters, Tim Biakabatukas, Blair Thomases or Rashaan Salaams.

If they believe they've fixed their offensive line, then the smart play would be to draft Gholston and pick up an RB later in the draft...Felix Jones, Matt Forte, Jon Stewart, etc.

 

[mike100915]

I really think McFadden to Denver is a possibilty. He would flourish in that system. I think it makes all the sense in the world for him to land in Denver. As for the Jets, I highly doubt they pass on Gholston, because if they do they know the Patriots would take him. And would you want to pass on a guy who can get 10+ sacks a year for the next 8-10 yrs and have your divison rival have him?