2014 Draft Prospect Thread

manxman2601 said:

What the.....!

If this is even remotely true, give up all dreams for Aaron Donald.

Combine News & Notes: Friday

4.6s at 280lbs plus could put Donald comfortably in top 10 range as long as his other athletic measurements don't let him down. Have to think the Falcons or even the Rams would be a good bet.

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Color me skeptical. The DTs don't run until Monday. The rumors and predictions will probably be down to a sub-4.3 for Donald by then. :bricks:

According to NFL.com's database, Tank Johnson in 2004 is the only DT to have run an officially timed sub-4.7 40 in the past 15 years. He was recorded in 4.69. Tommy Harris is listed as running a 4.68 in 2004, but it wasn't officially timed, and he didn't run any other drills. Only 7 other DTs are listed as officially running sub-4.8 40's in those 15 years: Earl Mitchell in 2010 (4.75), Geno Atkins in 2010 (4.75), Fletcher Cox in 2012 (4.77), Dan Falcon in 1999 (4.77), Jaye Howard in 2012 (4.78), Luis Castillo in 2005 (4.79) and Justin Ernst in 1999 (4.79).

So I'm a little skeptical. High 4.6's would be historic. Anything lower would be mythical for a DT.

Regardless, I'm not going to worry much about the Aaron Donald hype train at the moment.

More Donald hype, from Greg Bedard:

Aaron Donald-Geno Atkins comparisons are legit in 2014 NFL Draft | The MMQB with Peter King

I don't know who NFL Bites are how reliable they are but I thought I'd share this tweet of theirs:

@NFLDraftBites: Antone Exum- Heard 2 sources that consensus prognosticators have him underrated. 1 saw him as a Safety & other a CB. Both see elite upside

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I personally prefer him at CB but obviously like his versatility in terms of position but also I like the versatility he can bring in terms of scheming. No need to put our shutdown Corner in Talib on a Jimmy Graham, let Exum do it and put Talib on the #1 WR.

ATippett56 said:

..... for the Green Bay Packers.

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The rumors lately are that Green Bay is looking to move away from the 330lb+ D-lineman in favor of the more athletic guys like Datone Jones who they took last year. If that is the case I think they could me much more interested in guys like Jernigan and Hageman than Nix. I'm having a really tough time pegging a spot for Nix, if Pittsburgh don't take him I think there is a pretty good chance he falls to 29, if not the early 2nd round. NT's just aren't a sought after as before and Nix won't test out well athletically to boost his stock like Dontari Poe.

Speaking of DT's, what has happened to Anothony Johnson of LSU? He was a really highly recruited player out of highschool, from memory the #1 DT. There was a lot of hype for him early at LSU and even before last years draft people where projecting him as a top 15 pick this year. After starting the season as the #1 ranked DT in this draft class he has steadily fallen perhaps to the 4th or 5th round. I don't think he has been horrible but he certainly hasn't lived up to the hype. I kind of see him like Marcus Forston without the injuries. Former top recruit that showed a lot of promise but hasn't developed into the dominant force expected of him. He could be a solid buy low candidate as a 3-tech.

Wilfork#75 said:

I'm really torn between Nix and Donald. I think there is a decent chance at least one of them is available at 29 and potentially both. I probably think Nix is more likely to be there because there aren't too many teams looking for a legitimate NT, especially in the 1st round. I've seen a lot of people mock him to the Steelers but I think they are going to have a tough time passing on Mike Evans in the 1st. If they do pass on Nix I think there is a chance he could fall into the early 2nd.

If we could some how trade Mallett to Houston for #33 and both guys are available I would have no problem taking Donald at #29 and Nix at #33. I know some will question taking two DT's but to me they are completely different positions. I'm going to be devestated when all the DT's are gone by 29 and we take Jace Amaro

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Go Donald. Don't forget Nix's stamina issues.

Snake Eyes said:

He'd be a solid upgrade from Raji?

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As a Packer fan, hell yes. Raji doesn't even play the nose. Ryan Pickett does. Raji usually plays 5 technique, is the worst run defender among 330lbs linemen in the NFL.

Another guy worth mentioning; Carl Bradford. His fundamentals are flawless.

Oh, and how about Greg Robinson's combine? Maybe the best all around measurables I have ever seen. Ideal height at 6'5, shouldn't have a problem getting low, outstanding arm length at 35 inches and still did 32 bench reps, ran a 4.92 at 330lbs. The thing about Robinson's combine is that, although the performance by a guy like Dontari Poe is impressive, he still isn't a perfect physical specimen because he was short at 6'1 and had short arms at 32 inches. Robinson has lots of everything.

mackenzie45220 said:

Oh, and how about Greg Robinson's combine? Maybe the best all around measurables I have ever seen. Ideal height at 6'5, shouldn't have a problem getting low, outstanding arm length at 35 inches and still did 32 bench reps, ran a 4.92 at 330lbs. The thing about Robinson's combine is that, although the performance by a guy like Dontari Poe is impressive, he still isn't a perfect physical specimen because he was short at 6'1 and had short arms at 32 inches. Robinson has lots of everything.

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Except pass blocking tape

mackenzie45220 said:

Oh, and how about Greg Robinson's combine? Maybe the best all around measurables I have ever seen. Ideal height at 6'5, shouldn't have a problem getting low, outstanding arm length at 35 inches and still did 32 bench reps, ran a 4.92 at 330lbs. The thing about Robinson's combine is that, although the performance by a guy like Dontari Poe is impressive, he still isn't a perfect physical specimen because he was short at 6'1 and had short arms at 32 inches. Robinson has lots of everything.

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Poe is 6034

manxman2601 said:

What the.....!

If this is even remotely true, give up all dreams for Aaron Donald.




Combine News & Notes: Friday

4.6s at 280lbs plus could put Donald comfortably in top 10 range as long as his other athletic measurements don't let him down. Have to think the Falcons or even the Rams would be a good bet.

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How important is the 40 time for a defensive lineman? For me, the keys are core strength and quickness/explosion. His tape convinces me he has that over everyone at DL in this class except Clowney. Being able to chase someone down is great, but to me is just icing on the cake.

AQPE said:

How important is the 40 time for a defensive lineman? For me, the keys are core strength and quickness/explosion. His tape convinces me he has that over everyone at DL in this class except Clowney. Being able to chase someone down is great, but to me is just icing on the cake.

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I agree but 40 times tend to reflect a general level of athleticism. A good 40 time probably means that he'll test well in other areas.

Merril Hoge's Tie Knot said:

Poe is 6034

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How'd I make that mistake? For some reason, I thought he was 6'1. But he still has really short arms.

Bob McGinn getting scouts to comment on the top prospects is always a must read for me. Here's this years crop. Pretty damning on ASJ's character.

Bob McGinn - Packers draft outlook

manxman2601 said:

I agree but 40 times tend to reflect a general level of athleticism. A good 40 time probably means that he'll test well in other areas.

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I really wish they would make some adjustments to some of the combine drills to actually give us some valuable data. With the 40 for example, I really don't know why they let the guys dictate when to start instead of having a starter or simulating a snap to go. With the exception of the QB/C, no position in the NFL dictates the snap so everyone is reactionary to it. Why not simulate a snap to help gauge reaction time as well to give us more football applicable data. I know for some positions the 10 yard spit is more important than the actual 40, but wouldn't we get a closer representation of football skill if it also included reaction time off the snap. A guy could have a 1.65 10 yard split but if he is late off the snap its really irrelevant. At the same time someone could have a 1.85 10 yard split with great reactions that even it out.

I would also like to see RB's run with footballs in their hands. I know its only a minor difference but I believe carrying a football does impact upon ones speed and it impacts some greater than others. I understand the purpose is to give us a baseline for a players athleticism but it frustrates me that they could make some adjustments to give us actual football applicable data. In the end I think the combine is more for the media and fans than it is for the teams. The most significant things that are going to happen at the combine are things we wont actually see like medicals, team interviews and team negotiations. While I don't put a whole lot of stock into the combine I'm still gonna stay up til 5am watching it because I love all of this stuff.

Wilfork#75 said:

I really wish they would make some adjustments to some of the combine drills to actually give us some valuable data. With the 40 for example, I really don't know why they let the guys dictate when to start instead of having a starter or simulating a snap to go. With the exception of the QB/C, no position in the NFL dictates the snap so everyone is reactionary to it. Why not simulate a snap to help gauge reaction time as well to give us more football applicable data. I know for some positions the 10 yard spit is more important than the actual 40, but wouldn't we get a closer representation of football skill if it also included reaction time off the snap. A guy could have a 1.65 10 yard split but if he is late off the snap its really irrelevant. At the same time someone could have a 1.85 10 yard split with great reactions that even it out.

I would also like to see RB's run with footballs in their hands. I know its only a minor difference but I believe carrying a football does impact upon ones speed and it impacts some greater than others. I understand the purpose is to give us a baseline for a players athleticism but it frustrates me that they could make some adjustments to give us actual football applicable data. In the end I think the combine is more for the media and fans than it is for the teams. The most significant things that are going to happen at the combine are things we wont actually see like medicals, team interviews and team negotiations. While I don't put a whole lot of stock into the combine I'm still gonna stay up til 5am watching it because I love all of this stuff.

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They keep it the same so that they can make comparisons to combines past. Put the ball in a runners hand and you immediately throw out every past combine as a comparison to the prospect you are currently assessing. This isn't a great example because the change is minor and can probably be compensated for but if you were to suddenly put combine participants in pads, how do you know how that big, fast wide receiver you are evaluating compares to Megatron? He, or JJ watt, or whomever, no longer serve as a benchmark.

manxman2601 said:

Bob McGinn getting scouts to comment on the top prospects is always a must read for me. Here's this years crop. Pretty damning on ASJ's character.

Bob McGinn - Packers draft outlook

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Thanks for the link, Manx. :youtheman: I've never seen this before ... don't know how I missed it. Really nice stuff.

manxman2601 said:

Bob McGinn getting scouts to comment on the top prospects is always a must read for me. Here's this years crop. Pretty damning on ASJ's character.

Bob McGinn - Packers draft outlook

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Laughed at this evaluation.

Brandin Cook. "He's quicker than fast." No, he is fast apparently.

mayoclinic said:

Thanks for the link, Manx. :youtheman: I've never seen this before ... don't know how I missed it. Really nice stuff.

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Interesting that McGinn has Tuitt in the mid first range and also the number of potential first round receivers. And again, Bridgewater gets dropped in comparison to Manziel and Bortles. Utterly perplexing to me.

manxman2601 said:

Interesting that McGinn has Tuitt in the mid first range and also the number of potential first round receivers. And again, Bridgewater gets dropped in comparison to Manziel and Bortles. Utterly perplexing to me.

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I think it's interesting as much as an insight into how much different scouts can have different views. Look at the 2 Clowney quotes from different scouts:

"I don't know where people say he didn't play hard this year," one scout said. "Not in the games I watched. They hold him. Somebody asked if he could play linebacker. He'd be a great linebacker. He stands up now sometimes."

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"I would not put my job on the line for that guy," another scout said. "Who has a profile like that that's been successful in the NFL? Lazy. Not playing hard....I think his physical talent is being overblown. At what point in his life has he had to push himself? Now you're going to give him this money and say, 'Do something you're never done in your life before. Against guys you just can't run over.' I would not do it."

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So he's either a guy who played hard or a guy who didn't. That narrows things nicely.