2015 Draft Prospect Thread

mrbean said:

After watching our o-line's disastrous performance on Sunday, I think we forum member need to collect and pool our various resources and talents to come up with a foolproof scheme to get Brandon Scherff's draft stock to plummet down to our pick. Falsifying medical reports; spreading false rumors; heck, send him out barhopping with Dennard before draft day. Yeah, it's mean and nasty, but I'm not above doing any of it to repair this sieve of an offensive line.

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Keep playing like we did against Miami and that won't be a problem.

Good point. Sounds like we need to up the stakes on my plan and get Scherff expelled or to somehow quit school altogether, and then pick him up as a walk-on before next Sunday...

ATippett56 said:

It's official, the New England Patriots are in dire need of defensive tackles and offensive guards.

Vince Wilfork - 33 years old on November 4, 2014
Sealver Siliga - severely overrated
Chris Jones - severely overrated
Joe Vellano - worthless

Dan Connolly - unrestricted free agent
Marcus Cannon - unrestricted free agent
Jordan Devey - severely overrated
Ryan Wendell - worthless

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I wouldn't mind if they took 2 guards early, and then a run stuffer kind of DT in the middle of the draft.

It would be good to have a DT that can play the 1tech and hold his ground. I'm not to high on keeping Wilfork for his salary the next year(and wasn't for this year either), and I don't see anyone else on the roster right now that can really take that job at a starting level. But I don't see that 1 tech run stuffer kind of DT as something you take too early in the draft(i.e. first or second round). We need someone who can play in the middle and not get pushed around. If last year and last game is any indication Wilfork might not be that guy any more. Siliga is better than Vellano(who isn't), but I don't see him as our future.

I want some actual young studs on the line at both sides. I love Easleys potential for our future, but he is more of a 3tech/penetrating kind of player. A complementary 1tech would be awesome. At guard I just want guys that isn't JAGs. You should not have guys like Wendell and Devey starting when your QB runs in slow motion. Take a center in the first round and plug him inside.

Right now I'm not sure what's going to happen first. Brady getting crushed by this paper blanket of an OL, or me getting a heart attack from seeing any of Wendell or Devey on the field as starters.

Marinlik said:

Right now I'm not sure what's going to happen first. Brady getting crushed by this paper blanket of an OL, or me getting a heart attack from seeing any of Wendell or Devey on the field as starters.

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Great line!!

Takes me back to that legendary Thread of YesterYear...


Some poor fellow actually thought that that name would inspire Shock & Awe!!

Off The Grid said:

Great line!!

Takes me back to that legendary Thread of YesterYear...
Some poor fellow actually thought that that name would inspire Shock & Awe!!

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The New England Patriots offensive line was in Shock and just plain Awful against the Miami Dolphins.

Ohio St. DE/OLB Noah Spence has reportedly failed another drug test and has been suspended indefinitely:

http://www.cleveland.com/osu/index.ssf/2014/09/ohio_state_noah_spence_buckeye.html

mayoclinic said:

Conversely, there's this:



http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000389066/article/sources-tell-us-what-were-hearing-about-nfl-prospects

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Speaking of dual threats? How about a triple threat? Is there anything Shaq Thompson can't do? 3 carries and a 57 yard TD last week. So take your pick, LB, Safety, RB. I think he is a top 15 pick by seasons end if he decides to declare. Maybe even top 10.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...-thompson-myles-jack-emerging-as-dual-threats

Looking at NFLDraftScout's current rankings, some guys from 20-on who currently interest me:

20. Dante Fowler, DE/OLB, Florida
24. Carl Davis, DT/DE, Iowa
31. Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor
34. Shaq Thompson, OLB/S(/RB), Washington
39. AJ Cann, OG, South Carolina
42. Erik Flowers, OL, Miami
43. Spencer Drango, OL, Baylor
45. Arik Armstead, DE/DT, Oregon
50. Josue Matias, OG, Florida St.
53. Cameron Erving, OL, Florida St.
55. Bernardick McKinney, LB, Mississippi St.
57. Christian Covington, DE/DT, Rice
59. Arie Kouandjio, OG, Alabama
62. Alvin "Bud" Dupree, DE/OLB, Kentucky
67. Erick Striker, OLB, Oklahoma
70. Danny Shelton, NT, Washington
76. Durrell Eskridge, S, Syracuse
81. Cody Prewitt, S, Mississippi
100. AJ Johnson, ILB, Tennessee
115. Ramik Wilson, ILB, Georgia
123. Laken Tomlinson, OG, Duke

Obviously rankings don't mean much. But with 4 2015 picks in the top 100 and 6 in the top 130, any of these guys could potentially help quite a bit.

I like Arie Kouandjio. From what I watched on him he seemed to be good at helping his C/T while still keeping track on delay blitzes and late stunts. Instead of some guard(like ours from time to time) who have a tendancy to help the center, but completely miss delays and stuff like that.

Watched the Buffalo game on Oakman. Some pros, some cons. He is an impressive prospect. He let the tackle get a bit to close to him sometimes and therefor get a good grip on his pads. When that happened it looked like he had some trouble batting the hands away. Might need to work on his upper body strength to get better separation from the OL.

Got to high in tackles a couple of times. He's really big, so if he doesn't bend his knees when he tackles smaller guys can slip away because he just gets their shoulders.

Bucky Brooks' stock report for last week includes an interesting name that we haven't discussed before:

DT Anthony Zettel, Penn State: Scouts love disruptive defenders along the line, particularly if they are athletic defensive tackles with strength and quickness. After notching three tackles for loss and a sack in the Nittany Lions' 13-10 win over Rutgers, Zettel should command a lot of attention in NFL circles as a versatile defensive lineman (Zettel moved from defensive end to defensive tackle in the spring after tallying 4.0 sacks in 2013). The 6-4, 275-pounder has been a dominant force at the point of attack, and his ability to play inside or on the edges could make him an attractive option down the road.

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http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...s-robinson-on-the-rise-will-gardner-declines

An interesting tidbit from Tony Pauline:

A little more than two years ago, when I wrote for another outlet, I’m proud to say I was one of the first to make mention of a track athlete turned football player who initially needed assistance putting on his equipment. Truth be told I never envisioned Ezekiel Ansah developing into a top ten draft selection at that point.

Could history be repeating itself? It seems so, though to a lesser extent.

Out west at Oregon State the buzz in the scouting community centers on a track athlete making his mark on the football field.Obum Gwacham, a high jumper with a personal best of just under 7-feet 2-inches is slowly blossoming into a terror on the defensive line. The former receiver moved to defensive end last spring and initially impressed scouts during April practice with his athleticism and pass rushing ability. He’s kept the momentum going in the early part of the season, most recently registering a pair of sacks during the Beavers victory over Hawaii.

Scouts love the upside Gawcham brings and if he continues to develop on the field they believe the former track star could end up as a second or third round pick in next year’s draft.

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http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=10016

FWIW, NFL DraftScout lists Gwacham as 6' 4 1/2" 231#.

An interesting edge defender to keep an eye on is BYU DE/OLB Bronson Kaufusi. Kaufusi, a junior, is 6'7" and played as a DE around 285-290# last year. This year he's switched to OLB and dropped down to 265-270#.

http://draftbreakdown.com/memberarticles/prospect-spotlight-byu-edge-bronson-kaufusi/

I'm not sure how fluid Kaufusi is, but he has good hand use and combat tactics to shed blockers, somewhat like Chandler Jones. He's someone who could potentially fit in a hybrid opposite Jones as a guy who has to shift between 5-tech, 7-tech and 3-4 OLB. He's a mature, smart kid (his father is the BYU defensive line coach). He's currently #38 overall in NFL DraftScout's 2015 rankings.

mayoclinic said:

An interesting edge defender to keep an eye on is BYU DE/OLB Bronson Kaufusi. Kaufusi, a junior, is 6'7" and played as a DE around 285-290# last year. This year he's switched to OLB and dropped down to 265-270#.

http://draftbreakdown.com/memberarticles/prospect-spotlight-byu-edge-bronson-kaufusi/

I'm not sure how fluid Kaufusi is, but he has good hand use and combat tactics to shed blockers, somewhat like Chandler Jones. He's someone who could potentially fit in a hybrid opposite Jones as a guy who has to shift between 5-tech, 7-tech and 3-4 OLB. He's a mature, smart kid (his father is the BYU defensive line coach). He's currently #38 overall in NFL DraftScout's 2015 rankings.

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He needs to play at 285-290 for me. I don't think he has the athleticism to star at the lighter weight. I'm interested in him as a 5-tech but not keen as a 7-tech or OLB.

From Dane Brugler:

While not all that surprising, Oregon QB Marcus Mariota (6-4 | 215 | 4.52 | #8) and DL Arik Armstead (6-7 | 296 | 4.97 | #9) are planning to enter the 2015 NFL Draft, according a source close to the program. Mariota , a redshirt junior, and Armstead , a true junior, both purchased large disability insurance policies prior to the season and plan to go pro after this season.

Mariota currently ranks as the No. 1 overall prospect for next spring's NFL Draft and is expected to be the first quarterback drafted, according to NFLDraftScout.com. Armstead isn't as well-known nationally, but he leads the Ducks with 4.0 tackles for loss so far in 2014 and has the gifted skill-set that makes him a projected first round pick.

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http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24711798/nfl-draft-week-three-stock-report

Some prospect notes from Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks:

The scoop: We're hearing a lot of Larry Fitzgerald comparisons for West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White after his hot start to the season. His build at 6-foot-3 and 210 pounds is similar to Fitzgerald's. An NFL personnel director said he's not willing to go as far as a Fitzgerald comparison for White, but he didn't knock down the comparison completely, saying he sees the reason for it.

The skinny: White is establishing himself as one of the top wide receivers in the country, and we think he's an absolute beast. He's playing with a lot of confidence right now, and he should be -- he's a big-body guy who can run and has excellent hands. He's been a monster in the early going this season, racking up 32 catches for 460 yards -- good for second in the FBS in both categories -- and two touchdowns.

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The scoop: "South Carolina has a really good guard," said an NFC scout. "A.J. Cann isn't at the same level as the first-round interior guys from the last two drafts, but he's not far behind. He's very battle-tested as a four-year starter in the SEC, and he'll be ready to start Day 1 in the NFL."

The skinny: The Gamecocks have played arguably the toughest schedule to this point (Texas A&M, East Carolina, Georgia), and with that comes exposure to players like Cann, who is gaining steam in NFL scouting circles. Over the past two years, there have been several guards taken in the first round who have done well for themselves at the next level, including Jonathan Cooper, Chance Warmack, Kyle Long and Zack Martin.

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The scoop: Oklahoma nose tackleJordan Phillips has returned after missing all but four games last season with a back injury, and he's already generating buzz within the scouting community. He's a massive presence on the interior at 6-foot-6, 334 pounds and can eat up blocks to let linebackers run free. He creates pressure up the middle vs. the pass, too. An NFC scout said he expects Phillips to be a driving force behind the success of the Oklahoma defense this season.

The skinny: The Sooners are bringing Phillips along slowly in his return from the back injury and evaluators are looking forward to him getting increased playing time. There's a good chance he'll be more of a full-time player this week in a Big 12 matchup against West Virginia. He'll be eligible for the 2015 draft if he foregoes his remaining eligibility, and don't be surprised if you hear his name a lot more as the season goes on.

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http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...tell-us-what-were-hearing-about-nfl-prospects

Manx had White in his latest mock draft. I've had Phillips in some of my early mocks.[/quote]

Of interest (at least to me) from Rob Rang's most recent big board:

5. Brandon Scherff, OL, Iowa. 6'5" 315#.
14. Dante Fowler, DE/OLB, Florida. 6'3" 266#.
15. Shilique Calhoun, DE/OLB, Michigan St. 6'4" 257#.
19. La'el Collins, OL, LSU. 6'5" 315#.
21. Ereck Flowers, OL, Miami. 6'5" 322#.
22. Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor. 6'8" 275#.
24. Spencer Drango, OL, Baylor. 6'5" 315#.
25. Shaq Thompson, LB/S, Washington. 6'2" 231#.
26. Arik Armstead, DE/DT, Oregon. 6'7" 296#.
27. Cameron Erving, OL, Florida St. 6'5" 320#.
28. Danny Shelton, NT, Washington. 6'2" 323#.
30. Josue Matias, OG, Florida St. 6'6" 331#.
32. Carl Davis, DT, Iowa. 6'4" 315#.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/...n-others-slide-because-of-character-red-flags

Pretty nice group of prospects, with nice depth at OL and DL. BYU DE Bronson Kaufusi (6'7" 268#) and Virginia S Anthony Harris (6'1" 190#) just missed the cut. Bernardrick McKinney and Cody Prewitt aren't on Rang's list.

mayoclinic said:

Of interest (at least to me) from Rob Rang's most recent big board:

5. Brandon Scherff, OL, Iowa. 6'5" 315#.
14. Dante Fowler, DE/OLB, Florida. 6'3" 266#.
15. Shilique Calhoun, DE/OLB, Michigan St. 6'4" 257#.
19. La'el Collins, OL, LSU. 6'5" 315#.
21. Ereck Flowers, OL, Miami. 6'5" 322#.
22. Shawn Oakman, DE, Baylor. 6'8" 275#.
24. Spencer Drango, OL, Baylor. 6'5" 315#.
25. Shaq Thompson, LB/S, Washington. 6'2" 231#.
26. Arik Armstead, DE/DT, Oregon. 6'7" 296#.
27. Cameron Erving, OL, Florida St. 6'5" 320#.
28. Danny Shelton, NT, Washington. 6'2" 323#.
30. Josue Matias, OG, Florida St. 6'6" 331#.
32. Carl Davis, DT, Iowa. 6'4" 315#.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/...n-others-slide-because-of-character-red-flags

Pretty nice group of prospects, with nice depth at OL and DL. BYU DE Bronson Kaufusi (6'7" 268#) and Virginia S Anthony Harris (6'1" 190#) just missed the cut. Bernardrick McKinney and Cody Prewitt aren't on Rang's list.

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I have to confess that I'm not thrilled by this draft class so far, certainly last year's appears much better. Strong with pass rushers and running backs but some of those names you listed above might not have cracked last year's first round.

manxman2601 said:

I have to confess that I'm not thrilled by this draft class so far, certainly last year's appears much better. Strong with pass rushers and running backs but some of those names you listed above might not have cracked last year's first round.

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Last year's class was unusually strong and deep, so it may be an unrealistic standard of comparison. I like the DL and OL prospects in this class.

Not sure if he's been mentioned at all yet, but Andy Gallik - C from Boston College (6'3'' 305) just won some ACC accolades for his performance in the win over USC - in which the OL performed very well.

highlight package of the game - he's jersey # 59

mayoclinic said:

Some prospect notes from Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks:

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap30...tell-us-what-were-hearing-about-nfl-prospects

Manx had White in his latest mock draft. I've had Phillips in some of my early mocks.

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Kevin White and Jordan Phillips also make Matt Miller's list of risers from week 3:

4. WR Kevin White, West Virginia

When evaluating players, I try to not let statistics influence my grade. That said, I will take notice when a player's stats are consistently great. That's what happened with Kevin White, so I turned on the game film.

White is a big (6'3", 210 lbs) receiver with long arms and a good ability to make plays in traffic. He may not be in the elite class of runners at the position, but uses his body well to get position off the ball and reel in contested or high passes.

White has to beat the stigma of West Virginia receivers struggling in the NFL, but his talent is definitely putting his name high on scout's lists.

2. DT Jordan Phillips, Oklahoma

After missing most of last season with a back injury, big Jordan Phillips is anchoring the middle of the Oklahoma defensive line. The junior has been slow to start, but he's getting more and more action each week. What he's shown in three weeks is encouraging enough to give him a move up the board as a player to watch moving forward.

Phillips (6'6", 334 lbs) is just a puppy on the field due to a lack of experience, but he's a massive space-eater and a good enough athlete to penetrate the offensive line and make plays. As he learns to play with better technique and leverage, he could be scary good.

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http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2202950-2015-nfl-draft-matt-millers-scouting-notebook-for-week-3