Yeah, Sapp does meet the length and speed "requirements", and he definitely helped himself by showing up to the combine 10 pounds heavier. I know he has a lightning first step too. He could be the answer at WOLB. Just haven't seen enough tape on him to judge his overall game.
Right, because when you run a defensive scheme that needs OLBs with a rare combination of traits, you need to jump on them when they fall in your lap. 6'5 270lb 4.6 speed beasts with no injury or character issues don't exactly grow on trees. I think they
have to take the chance on Hardy at this point.
You pretty much summed up my exact thoughts in that other thread.
Like you said, would like to focus on Front 7 and an OL upgrade with the first 4 picks. We know we need 1 or 2 OLBs. Best options at RDE are Odrick, Wooten, Carrington, and Oghobaase. I really like Rodger Saffold because he can immediately start at RT opposite to Vollmer and play RG if (when
) Neal goes down. Jared Veldheer is a nice option at RT as well. Jon Assamoah would be a good RG prospect to develop behind Neal. I don't know much about the C prospects, but I heard Maurkice Pouncey is really good. I think the depth for WR and TE is VERY good in rounds 3-6 and would could pick some high upside guys there like Emmanuel Sanders, Andre Roberts, Marucs Easily, Carlton Mitchell, Jimmy Graham, Dennis Pitta, Scott Sicko. At RB I like Montario Hardesty because his tough running style and pass catching/pass blocking abilities would fit the Pats offense really well.
I'm thinking the same thing for Sapp. Could be the answer with his speed and size combo on the weakside.
Hardesty has been my favorite RB since early in the 09 college season. I love the way the guy plays and would love to see him in a Pats uniform. I love Carrington at DE in our 3-4 as well. At OT, I really like Bulaga and Charles Brown, and at C, I'm impressed with Pouncey.
I love Vollmer's versatility to play both LT and RT. Before Bulaga's stock was on the rise, I was on board for drafting him in the 1st to start at RT, sliding Vollmer to LT, exploring the idea of trading Light (who I'm not a big fan of), and kicking Kaczur into a backup G/T role. I know a lot of people think DL or OLB needs to be addressed in round 1, but I felt there was better value in going with a premiere OT at 22, rather than a Graham or Odrick, and picking up guys like Carrington, Sapp, Hardy, etc. in the 2nd. There are so many good guys on the defensive side of the ball in this draft that will slide into in the 2nd round that I wouldn't be shocked if the first round pick was a guy on the offensive side of the ball.
Either way, it should be very exciting to see how this all works out and I can't wait for the draft.
The thing is, there are injuries and then there are injuries. Hardy's had multiple foot surgeries, and just doesn't seem the same explosive athlete since. (He had the slowest 10-yard split of all DEs at the Combine.)
There's no doubt that there is a risk with Hardy. Will he ever re-gain his form? Can he stay on the field? etc. But I've watched him dominate over the last couple of years when he's been healthy. I do think it takes some time to get over all these injuries and get back to your normal self.
As Marqui said, he showed improvement and weight loss at his Pro Day which is very encouraging. I believe he ran a 4.75 at his pro day and improved his cone drill time and vertical leap. This shows he could be back close to previous form, and he is still working hard to rehab and get back to his dominant level.
Is this the same Hardy that showed up at the Combine at 280 lbs and ran a 4.8 forty, with pins in his wrist and foot? He is dropping like a stone. This guy is supposed to be the answer to our 'pass rush'???
Yet you completely discount Misi who is rising as an OLB, because he plays all over the field at Utah and has experience at basically everything an 'OLB' does.
As stated above, Hardy has gotten into better shape, improved his 40 time (which is overrated anyway; what do you think Vrabel's 40 time was?), and has said he wants to play 3-4 OLB in the NFL.
Before the 09 season, this guy was considered a lock as a top 10 pick and was the consensus #1 pass rusher in the draft. He's lost a tremendous amount of money and his stock has drastically fallen due to injuries and such, but that doesn't mean in the 2nd, 3rd, or 4th round he wouldn't provide tremendous value. I firmly believe Hardy could be the steal of the draft provided the amount of talent and upside the guy has.
No one is "discounting" Misi. Has anyone ever seen him play more than 5 games? I've seen him play in about 2, and I walked away unimpressed. That's definitely not enough to evaluate a player, but that's all I have to go on. It seems like everyone is falling in love with him from a few scouting reports and few guys like Box who love him and compare him to Vrabel, just like Barwin last year.
The other end of the spectrum is that some other scouting reports don't have him as all he's chalked up to be on this board. I've done some research on him, as I do with a lot of other prospects, and I've come across "draftniks" saying he too is a project, he too has trouble stacking and shedding, he too has struggled at times against the run. The point that is being made is that if he too is ultimately just another "project" who is not a seasoned and proven OLB, then why not go after a "project" who is more explosive and has a higher ceiling? From everything we've heard about Misi, he's a blue collar guy who is solid but unspectacular and has a limited ceiling.
There are other guys in this draft who are more explosive and have greater upsides. Why go after a guy that has a lower ceiling and similar concerns rather than a guy with the same concerns and a higher ceiling?
