2015 Draft Prospect Thread

@BlackBlueReview: Duke QB Anthony Boone, after saying Jamison Crowder doesn't talk much, then says Crowder has a "Steve Smith-like" mentality.

Also:



I think Crowder has passed Greene for my WR binky, a better value. His on field play and off field attitude just screams Patriot. Grab him in that 96-101 range while all these teams fall in love with the fast giants who can't run routes or catch.

patsinthesnow said:

@BlackBlueReview: Duke QB Anthony Boone, after saying Jamison Crowder doesn't talk much, then says Crowder has a "Steve Smith-like" mentality.

Also:



I think Crowder has passed Greene for my WR binky, a better value. His on field play and off field attitude just screams Patriot. Grab him in that 96-101 range while all these teams fall in love with the fast giants who can't run routes or catch.

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That 1.70 10-split at the Combine was way out of line for what the Pats seem to like, though. That was with a 4.56 40, vs. 4.39 at his Pro Day. Haven't seen an updated 10-split.

kennyb said:

He might be. Marshall has a great arm, and great athletic ability, could play WR/CB. Might need to trade Garrapolo.

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they arent trading Garrapolo at this point, they didnt draft him just to trade him a year later

I was listening to the ESPN First Draft podcast and they had Mel Kiper and Kevin Weidl on. Weidl is, along with Todd McShay, responsible for ESPN's draft rankings. He and Kiper were doing a top 10 big board of the safest, highest floor prospects in the draft. Weidl had Cameron Erving as his #2 safest player behind only Brandon Scherff. Talked about the fact that he's positionally flexible and that the FSU OL coach talks enthusiastically about Erving's intelligence. They also had Kevin Johnson and Byron Jones in the top 10.

I'm feeling confident with having those three as my first round preferences along with Gurley, Fisher and Clemmings.

mayoclinic said:

That 1.70 10-split at the Combine was way out of line for what the Pats seem to like, though. That was with a 4.56 40, vs. 4.39 at his Pro Day. Haven't seen an updated 10-split.

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Like this kid but thst suggest he might have trouble getting out of his breaks quivk enough. Which is everything for a guy like him.

mayoclinic said:

I don't recall anyone discussing Fresno St. DT Tyeler Davison before. 6'2" 316# with 34" arms (!) and 10 3/4" hands. Former wrestler.

He had an excellent Combine: 5.18 40 (later trimmed to 5.10 at his Pro Day), 1.82 10-split, 8'9" BJ, 33" VJ, 7.53 3-Cone and 32 reps @ 225.

Lance Zierlein notes:


http://www.nfl.com/draft/2015/profiles/tyeler-davison?id=2552329

Compares him to Kyle Williams.

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I am watching and writing up Tyeler as we speak. Should hopefully be done and on the site by this afternoon (if stupid real work doesn't get in the way)

midwestpatsfan said:

I am watching and writing up Tyeler as we speak. Should hopefully be done and on the site by this afternoon (if stupid real work doesn't get in the way)

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Looking forward to it! He's on my list of the most intriguing day 3 defenders.

Well, I just added my Tyeler Davison report if you are still interested.

maybe I spoke too soon, doesn't seem to be showing up on the main page. Let's see if I can link it here.

http://www.nepatriotsdraft.com/2015/03/scouting-report-tyeler-davison-dt.html#more-33479

Ryan Booher@bootang25 is an amateur draft twitter that I've really liked this year. He's just broken down Marcus Hardison in a series of tweets:

Quick first impressions on Hardison, impressive burst off the snap, but sometimes he seems to play wild and without a plan

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Hardison's hand use really frustrating, given his length advantage I spoke of, would love to see him use that to his advantage more often

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Hardison's game definitely not power, has been on skates a few times. He wins more with the aforementioned quickness

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One area Hardison is really good in is 'getting skinny' he can really contort his body to squeeze through creases

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Sum up Hardison after snap exposure, he has incredible potential to be a disruptive force, but is really inefficient in his movements

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I hate projecting guys success, buying into what they 'might be' Hardison falls into this category, but interior pressure is a coveted asset

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mayoclinic said:

A very detailed and nice read on Marcus Hardison:

http://www.chiefsdigest.com/arizona-state-dt-marcus-hardison-blooming-at-right-time/

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I'm also a big fan of Hardison mainly because I get most of my draft information from you, Manx, and OTG (in all honesty the 3 of you are more informative and knowledgeable than 95% of the people paid to do it). That said do you think that Hardison and Easley are redundant? Or do you think he can line up at the 1-Tech in a base JetBlue Easley at the 3-Tech?

Hardison was 6'3" 307 at the combine. I can see a frame capable of handling another 10-12 pounds. He prob won't help vs the run in his rookie year. But, after a year of profession nutrition, weight trainingd and DT technique work. I can see him growing into a DT to compliment Easley.

patsinthesnow said:

@BlackBlueReview: Duke QB Anthony Boone, after saying Jamison Crowder doesn't talk much, then says Crowder has a "Steve Smith-like" mentality.

Also:



I think Crowder has passed Greene for my WR binky, a better value. His on field play and off field attitude just screams Patriot. Grab him in that 96-101 range while all these teams fall in love with the fast giants who can't run routes or catch.

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The guy's 5'9, 175lbs, which pretty much makes him smurf, he's not a white smurf which makes him less of a fit, but aren't we set with smurfs? We need a bigger receiver to work the deep and outside zones.

stelfans said:

Lets get this guy whenever he comes out please.

Reminds me so much of chandler jones with his long arms and quick first step. Except he's 6'8 or 6'9.

Watch that beast! Baylor's nº2

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A guy like that might be worth having on the roster due to his ability to block kicks alone!

OK so the more I scout this runningback crop the more I think we don't take one til round 6 at the Earliest.
Aside from Gurley there isn't a first round talent in this group.
We have alot of depth and competition already.
If we look at Dion Lewis, James White, Cadet, all these guys have potential to get meaningful snaps.
Between Blount and Gray I don't want to draft another big back unless we are enamored with trading up for Gurley.
But I don't see it.
Throw in Bolden who is the perfect special teamer and all around fill in player who performs admirably and close to a lock for a roster spot due to special teams alone.
I don't want to waste precious draft capital.
The more I think about it we will more than likely build the lines the first two rounds.
Unless we have a defensive back very highly rated and slotted as a immediate starter.
Receiver would be great but every time I look at the top prospects I don't see a perfect route runner which Brady demands. So aside from going DGB at 32 doubt he lasts by the way.
I see receiver being double dipped in the middle rounds.
Again know I sound like a broken record but I would love to offer a mid to late pick for Justin Hunter.
Just think he could be really special.

manxman2601 said:

Ryan Booher@bootang25 is an amateur draft twitter that I've really liked this year. He's just broken down Marcus Hardison in a series of tweets:

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That's very interesting, especially the part about "getting skinny":

One area Hardison is really good in is 'getting skinny' he can really contort his body to squeeze through creases

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You've compared Hardison to Sheldon Richardson, who was lauded coming out of Missouri for that very trait:

Pros: Absolutely marvelous gap penetrator with the quick-twitch speed and hand movement to upset any blocker. Has a very quick first step off the snap and propels himself through the action. Sifts through blockers well (including double-teams) when angling and trying to beat slide protection. Keeps his head up and his body balanced after initial blocking contact, allowing him to make plays after fist impact. Gets skinny off the snap when facing a single blocker -- will turn his body to get through and has an impressive rip move to reinforce it. Can maul if he gets his hands up before the blocker, though this isn't his predominant attribute. Keeps his feet moving and will wear double teams down. Keeps his eye on the play and will disengage from blockers quickly to make plays downfield. Terrific space defender for his size -- will careen from sideline to sideline more quickly than a big man should. Has the pure agility to back into defense on screen passes, and the ability to drop in zone blitzes.

Excels at multiple positions -- could be an impact player at one-tech, three-tech, and possible a five-tech role in a 3-4 defense. There isn't an NFL team that wouldn't benefit from his skill set. Redistributes to open gaps and spaces almost as a running back would -- has a tremendous sense of how to get free to disrupt. Laterally agile enough to excel in stunts and loops.

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http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-s...uri-dt-sheldon-richardson-191706350--nfl.html

Brady6 said:

I'm also a big fan of Hardison mainly because I get most of my draft information from you, Manx, and OTG (in all honesty the 3 of you are more informative and knowledgeable than 95% of the people paid to do it). That said do you think that Hardison and Easley are redundant? Or do you think he can line up at the 1-Tech in a base JetBlue Easley at the 3-Tech?

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I liken Hardison and Easley to the DL versions of Hightower and Collins. There is some redundancy, but there is more than enough difference to allow them to complement one another, and the redundancy allows you to do a lot of creative things. With 2 DLs who can line up from the 9 tech to the 0/1 tech, who have enough speed to rush from the outside or to stunt and loop and enough quickness to disrupt inside at will, but who can still set the edge or handle 2-gapping, you can do an awful lot of things, and wreck havoc with the timing of opposing offenses. Hardison needs a ton of work on his "combat skills" and footwork, but the raw material is there and can't be easily found.

@nfldraftscout: Maybe the @PFF guys have this better documented, but of the CBs I charted, Byron Jones allowed lowest passer rating.

@LRiddickESPN: B. Jones not just an athlete. Watch him "play" the CB position. Snap to finish. All disciplines & techniques. He is a good football player.

manxman2601 said:

I was listening to the ESPN First Draft podcast and they had Mel Kiper and Kevin Weidl on. Weidl is, along with Todd McShay, responsible for ESPN's draft rankings. He and Kiper were doing a top 10 big board of the safest, highest floor prospects in the draft. Weidl had Cameron Erving as his #2 safest player behind only Brandon Scherff. Talked about the fact that he's positionally flexible and that the FSU OL coach talks enthusiastically about Erving's intelligence. They also had Kevin Johnson and Byron Jones in the top 10.

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Not to be overly facetious but how is Jones (or almost any CB) a "safe" pick?

ctpatsfan77 said:

Not to be overly facetious but how is Jones (or almost any CB) a "safe" pick?

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Safest, not safe.

No draft pick is "safe".

I like this quote by Dabo Swinney of Grady Jarrett:

"If I was going to start a program right now, I’d pick Grady Jarrett first and build everything else around that guy," Swinney said. "He’s that impactful. His worth ethic, his drive, his ability to hold other people accountable and lift others up, and that chip he has on his shoulder -- he’s special."

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Also:

Jarrett isn’t flashy. He doesn’t want to be. Instead, he is focused on every minor detail, determined to get it all right. On a team that boasts nearly two dozen seniors, on a defensive front that includes eight seniors in the two-deep, that work ethic has made Jarrett the unquestioned leader.

"When he says something, everybody’s attention is drawn to Grady," said Beasley, an All-American who led the ACC in sacks last season. "He’s a very vocal leader, and he just does it by example also. He’s good in the classroom and on the field. He keeps us going. He’s that main guy on the defense that gets us hyped and keeps us going."

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The article also notes that Jarrett is a former wrestling champion and is the son of Jessie Tuggle. I didn't know either fact.

http://espn.go.com/blog/acc/post/_/id/73788/clemsons-jarrett-overlooked-no-more