2015 Draft Prospect Thread

Ethan Hammerman (a Patriot fan) that I like as a good draft follow and Josh Norris who is the draft guy for Rotoworld had a Twitter discussion about Terry Williams. Hammerman compares Williams to Dontari Poe whilst Josh Norris dials back that level of excitement and goes for a Justin Ellis comparison Both think there's little difference between Williams and Malcom Brown. I agree with them about Brown and lean more towards the Poe comparison than I do the Justin Ellis one (Williams is a better athlete than Ellis).

As an aside, can anyone remember when Poe started getting hyped as a first rounder? Was it before the combine or only when he performed well there.

manxman2601 said:

Ethan Hammerman (a Patriot fan) that I like as a good draft follow and Josh Norris who is the draft guy for Rotoworld had a Twitter discussion about Terry Williams. Hammerman compares Williams to Dontari Poe whilst Josh Norris dials back that level of excitement and goes for a Justin Ellis comparison Both think there's little difference between Williams and Malcom Brown. I agree with them about Brown and lean more towards the Poe comparison than I do the Justin Ellis one (Williams is a better athlete than Ellis).

As an aside, can anyone remember when Poe started getting hyped as a first rounder? Was it before the combine or only when he performed well there.

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Grid and I both had Poe going in the 2nd in our early 2012 mocks, back in October 2011:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...ds/ye-official-2012-mock-draft-thread.829515/ (posts #2 and #4)

Poe was always expected to blow up the Combine, but he definitely took a jump there. I think he was being mocked as a late 1st/early 2nd until he blew it up, at which point he became a probable top 20 pick.

Dontari Poe is rare example of a big guy with exceptional explosiveness. Terry Williams is a lot shorter, and I wonder if he can carry 350# and still maintain his explosiveness, but if he turns out to be another Poe then more power to him, and he certainly deserves consideration at any point in the draft. I suspect Justin Ellis or Zach Kerr is more apt (and those are both good young players), but I haven't studied his 2014 film much at this point.

I think Eddie Goldman is closer to a lesser version of Ndamukong Suh. Andy Staples ranked him #5 overall on his initial Big Board, and noted:

The Seminoles can thank Goldman for the fact that they’re still undefeated. He essentially won the Clemson game for them. First, he blew up the Tigers’ center so thoroughly on a goal-line play that the center sailed a snap over quarterback DeShaun Watson’s head on the next play. A sure touchdown was erased. Later, Goldman stripped Tigers back C.J. Davidson when Clemson was driving, within field goal range, late in a tie game. Then, in overtime, Goldman dropped Watson for a four-yard loss and three plays later pushed two Clemson linemen into the gap tailback Adam Choice was supposed to run through to stuff a fourth-down play. The rest of Goldman’s season hasn’t been so dramatic, but he has been one of the nation’s best interior linemen.

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http://mmqb.si.com/2014/11/19/2015-nfl-draft-big-board-marcus-mariota/

Darren Page noted:

Has length, strength, and weight to play all the way inside on a nose or out to a 3 tech. Very quick off the snap, one of first FSU DL’s into contact frequently. Ever active with his hands to assert himself with a blocker. Shows backfield vision to locate and then shed blocks to make plays in run defense. Limited by game plan as a rusher vs UVA – often asked to drop and spy the QB for some unkownable reason. Did show power to press the pocker and quickness of his hands combined with lateral agility provides promise for rush potential.

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http://www.detroitlionsdraft.com/2014/11/3490/

I suspect he'll be out of reach, but I would put Goldman up there with Clemmings, Fowler and Dupree right now.

mayoclinic said:

Grid and I both had Poe going in the 2nd in our early 2012 mocks, back in October 2011:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...ds/ye-official-2012-mock-draft-thread.829515/ (posts #2 and #4)

Poe was always expected to blow up the Combine, but he definitely took a jump there. I think he was being mocked as a late 1st/early 2nd until he blew it up, at which point he became a probable top 20 pick.

Dontari Poe is rare example of a big guy with exceptional explosiveness. Terry Williams is a lot shorter, and I wonder if he can carry 350# and still maintain his explosiveness, but if he turns out to be another Poe then more power to him, and he certainly deserves consideration at any point in the draft. I suspect Justin Ellis or Zach Kerr is more apt (and those are both good young players), but I haven't studied his 2014 film much at this point.

I think Eddie Goldman is closer to a lesser version of Ndamukong Suh. Andy Staples ranked him #5 overall on his initial Big Board, and noted:



http://mmqb.si.com/2014/11/19/2015-nfl-draft-big-board-marcus-mariota/

Darren Page noted:



http://www.detroitlionsdraft.com/2014/11/3490/

I suspect he'll be out of reach, but I would put Goldman up there with Clemmings, Fowler and Dupree right now.

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Two inches equals "a lot shorter"? I think I'll bow out here.

manxman2601 said:

Two inches equals "a lot shorter"? I think I'll bow out here.

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Poe was measured at 6' 3 1/2" at the Combine. We don't have official measurements for Williams, but NFL DraftScout lists him as 6' 0 5/8". Big difference IMO in terms of a frame to carry 350#. I said that I'll wait to see more of him and see how he measures out, and if that he ends up being another Poe I'd be all for him. Apparently that's not enough. But I agree, this is not a productive conversation.

Think Connor Cook is making a mistake, but next year's QB class is shaping up to be nice. Hackenberg, Goff, Kiel, Cook, and maybe Kessler.

@ndtscouting is an excellent draft follow. Here's what he's been tweeting on Zach Hodges :

@NDTScouting: Taking a moment to sit back and appreciate just how good EDGE Def. Zach Hodges' spin move is; regardless of level of competition.

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@NDTScouting: Just wrapped up EDGE Hodges...his champions early on this season were pretty spot on. He's a dynamic athlete with strong fundamentals.

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@NDTScouting: Build/bulk will limit him; not a plug/play kind of prospect...I see 3-4 OLB, at his best winning in space. VERY early Day 3 guy for me.

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@NDTScouting: Hodges has outstanding hip mobility as well...had a # of reps from off ball 2 point position that I saw, very natural opening into a drop.

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https://twitter.com/ndtscouting/status/545004735326351360

That last one is relevant as to how he fits the Patriots as a Jamie Collins type linebacker.

mayoclinic said:

Grid and I both had Poe going in the 2nd in our early 2012 mocks, back in October 2011:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...ds/ye-official-2012-mock-draft-thread.829515/ (posts #2 and #4)

Poe was always expected to blow up the Combine, but he definitely took a jump there. I think he was being mocked as a late 1st/early 2nd until he blew it up, at which point he became a probable top 20 pick.

Dontari Poe is rare example of a big guy with exceptional explosiveness. Terry Williams is a lot shorter, and I wonder if he can carry 350# and still maintain his explosiveness, but if he turns out to be another Poe then more power to him, and he certainly deserves consideration at any point in the draft. I suspect Justin Ellis or Zach Kerr is more apt (and those are both good young players), but I haven't studied his 2014 film much at this point.

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The key is the ability to remain explosive and sudden in the 4th quarter. That is why we need d line depth.

Jetsfan25678 said:

Think Connor Cook is making a mistake, but next year's QB class is shaping up to be nice. Hackenberg, Goff, Kiel, Cook, and maybe Kessler.

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Screw that, he should have left solely based on injury risk, he'd be my top QB, least likely to bust this year

Rumoured torn ACL for Ifo Ekpre-Olomu suffered in training. His stock is going to plummet. Horrible for him.

manxman2601 said:

Rumoured torn ACL for Ifo Ekpre-Olomu suffered in training. His stock is going to plummet. Horrible for him.

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Ouch. CB is pretty thin this year.

One person's list of the top 100 prospects in college football (including underclassmen), FWIW:

http://www.sportsonearth.com/articl...ngs-marcus-mariota-melvin-gordon-amari-cooper

Interesting read.

manxman2601 said:

Rumoured torn ACL for Ifo Ekpre-Olomu suffered in training.

His stock is going to plummet.

Exxxxcellent.

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Fixed it for you.

From "Sources Tell Us" with Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks:

The scoop: "Best cover corner prospect I've seen in the last 14 years." -- NFC East scout on Washington CB Marcus Peters

The skinny: Going back 14 years takes us to Champ Bailey, the 12-time Pro Bowl player who retired from the NFL last month. There's no doubt Peters has talent, but off the field there are major concerns. Peters was suspended and later dismissed from the Huskies football team after multiple incidents of "arguing" with members of the Huskies coaching staff. The veteran scout said he witnessed one argument escalate into much more; Peters grabbed the assistant coach by the throat and started choking him, the scout reported. Peters will have a lot to answer for between now and the draft. Bucky Brooks wrote after the dismissal that he didn't believe character issues would be a problem for Peters.

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

Also:

The scoop: "When I watch LSU on tape, two juniors stand out to me: (DE Danielle) Hunter and (DB Jalen) Mills. Both guys have excellent length and athleticism. Big upside for them." -- NFC executive

The skinny: Some have compared Hunter to Barkevious Mingo, the sixth overall pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2013. He is a physical specimen who looks more like a tight end than a defensive end. His career sack total is low (4.5) for a pass rusher but the impact he has on the field goes well beyond quarterback takedowns. Put on the Kentucky tape from earlier this season as evidence. He knocked down three passes and was all over the field. There have been some reports he is considering going back to LSU for his senior season. Mills switched from cornerback to free safety this season, with mixed reviews. Bigger issues, however, might be off the field. He pled not guilty to a simple-battery charge, and faces a court date later next month.

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mayoclinic said:

From "Sources Tell Us" with Daniel Jeremiah and Bucky Brooks:



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

Also:

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So Marcus Peters is going to be better than Darrelle Revis then. Draft the beast!

Daniel Jeremiah is working on film study of Bud Dupree. An early perspective:

Dupree has an explosive 1st step and flashes some power to widen/bull as a pass rusher. Wish he was more stout at point of attack vs run.

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https://twitter.com/MoveTheSticks/status/545488967613698048

Draws some comparisons to Brian Orapko in the discussion, but Jeremiah thinks Dupree is much less stout against the run.

Do you guys think browner makes the cut next season? Cause if not do you guys think we should draft Marcus peters? He seems like someone who can play opposite of revis(assuming he's resigned) and really flourish.

Gabriel_p94 said:

Do you guys think browner makes the cut next season? Cause if not do you guys think we should draft Marcus peters? He seems like someone who can play opposite of revis(assuming he's resigned) and really flourish.

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I would be shocked if Browner is not on the team next year. I would probably extend him another year, personally.

mayoclinic said:

I would be shocked if Browner is not on the team next year. I would probably extend him another year, personally.

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I haven't heard any Twitter rumors regarding locker room/coach friction with Browner, so I agree that it's hard to see him getting cut at this point.

Well after reading he possibly choked a coach he has just crossed the line. I knew there was arguing but not Latrell Sprewel incidents.

Patriot Missile said:

Well after reading he possibly choked a coach he has just crossed the line. I knew there was arguing but not Latrell Sprewel incidents.

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I assume you're talking about Marcus Peters?

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlesp...eters-choked-assistant-coach-during-argument/