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The 2013 Prospect Thread

One of the most underrated prospects of the draft: I have very little film on Brennan Williams. He's also coming off a bad shoulder injury, which caused him to miss most of the season. But, when I have seen him, he's looked near Joeckel level. Awesome size and amazing flexibility allows him to get phenomenal leverage as a run blocker, and I mean phenomenal. I've only seen about 30 snaps from him, but, in those 30 snaps, he looked like the best run blocking tackle I've ever seen at the college level, and a respectable pass blocker too.
 
One of the most underrated prospects of the draft: I have very little film on Brennan Williams. He's also coming off a bad shoulder injury, which caused him to miss most of the season. But, when I have seen him, he's looked near Joeckel level. Awesome size and amazing flexibility allows him to get phenomenal leverage as a run blocker, and I mean phenomenal. I've only seen about 30 snaps from him, but, in those 30 snaps, he looked like the best run blocking tackle I've ever seen at the college level, and a respectable pass blocker too.
I already have him in my latest mock draft. Brennan Williams underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum his left shoulder.

Brennan Williams | North Carolina, OT : 2013 NFL Draft Scout Player Profile

Brennan Williams could potentially provide excellent value at the end of the third round, that is if he falls that far in the 2013 NFL Draft.
 
Post Senior Bowl rankings from NFL DraftScout/CBS Sports (1/27):

27. Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio St.
28. DJ Fluker, OL, Alabama
34. Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU
35. Johnathan Banks, CB, Mississippi St.
---------------------------------------------
39. Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
43. Matt Elam, S, Florida
49. Kawann Short, DT, Purdue
50. Barrett Jones, OL, Alabama
---------------------------------------------
55. Markus Wheaton, WR, Oregon St.
59. Quinton Patton, WR, Louisiana Tech
66. Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee
78. Da'Rick Rogers, WR, Tennessee Tech.

I'd love to figure out a way to get one guy from the first group, one guy from the 2nd, and one of the WRs from the 3rd. Not sure (short of the obvious pipe dream trade) how we'd get an extra 2nd round pick. But imagine some of the following combinations:

Hankins-Jones-WR
Ansah-Jones-WR
Banks-Jones-WR
Fluker-Short-WR
Hankins-Elam-WR
Ansah-Elam-WR
Fluker-Elam-WR

Or double up on WR with Austin and then one of the guys in the 55-78 range.
 
Post Senior Bowl rankings from NFL DraftScout/CBS Sports (1/27):

27. Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio St.
28. DJ Fluker, OL, Alabama
34. Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU
35. Johnathan Banks, CB, Mississippi St.
---------------------------------------------
39. Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
43. Matt Elam, S, Florida
49. Kawann Short, DT, Purdue
50. Barrett Jones, OL, Alabama
---------------------------------------------
55. Markus Wheaton, WR, Oregon St.
59. Quinton Patton, WR, Louisiana Tech
66. Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee
78. Da'Rick Rogers, WR, Tennessee Tech.

I'd love to figure out a way to get one guy from the first group, one guy from the 2nd, and one of the WRs from the 3rd. Not sure (short of the obvious pipe dream trade) how we'd get an extra 2nd round pick. But imagine some of the following combinations:

Hankins-Jones-WR
Ansah-Jones-WR
Banks-Jones-WR
Fluker-Short-WR
Hankins-Elam-WR
Ansah-Elam-WR
Fluker-Elam-WR

Or double up on WR with Austin and then one of the guys in the 55-78 range.

If we can get Arizona's second for Mallett, it seems possible. I think Lombardi would be crazy to trade number 6 overall for him. But, stranger things have happened. Might make Arizona ready to deal knowing someone else wants him to. If Arizona came out of the draft with Fisher and Mallett. They'd have a chance to make a nice jump up next year. My preference would be Ansah, Elam and Wheaton or Patton. Draft a cb in the third. Hopefully keep our big 3 in free agents; Welker, Vollmer and Talib. Though, I doubt if we can swing it.
 
Post Senior Bowl rankings from NFL DraftScout/CBS Sports (1/27):

27. Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio St.
28. DJ Fluker, OL, Alabama
34. Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU
35. Johnathan Banks, CB, Mississippi St.
---------------------------------------------
39. Tavon Austin, WR, West Virginia
43. Matt Elam, S, Florida
49. Kawann Short, DT, Purdue
50. Barrett Jones, OL, Alabama
---------------------------------------------
55. Markus Wheaton, WR, Oregon St.
59. Quinton Patton, WR, Louisiana Tech
66. Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee
78. Da'Rick Rogers, WR, Tennessee Tech.

I'd love to figure out a way to get one guy from the first group, one guy from the 2nd, and one of the WRs from the 3rd. Not sure (short of the obvious pipe dream trade) how we'd get an extra 2nd round pick. But imagine some of the following combinations:

Hankins-Jones-WR
Ansah-Jones-WR
Banks-Jones-WR
Fluker-Short-WR
Hankins-Elam-WR
Ansah-Elam-WR
Fluker-Elam-WR

Or double up on WR with Austin and then one of the guys in the 55-78 range.

id be the happiest man on the planet if we got elam and patton
 
id be the happiest man on the planet if we got elam and patton

Nice write-up on Patton:

MOBILE, Ala. - La. Tech's Patton has the look of a complete receiver - zzz-NFL - Wire - MyrtleBeachOnline.com

Sounds like he has great intangibles, including toughness, and a chip on his shoulder:

At Louisiana Tech, he always targeted the "money games." The concept of big schools doling out large sums of money to small schools - to play them, to obliterate them - fascinated Quinton Patton. Each time, the Louisiana Tech wide receiver wanted to make opponents regret their decision. "If they pay to play us," Patton said, "they're really going to hate it."

So without hesitation, he lists off the games. Lost to Mississippi State in overtime. Beat Ole Miss, 27-7. "Whupped" Illinois, 52-24. Knocked off Virginia, 44-38. And the best of the best was a near upset of Texas A&M. Louisiana Tech overcame a 21-0 deficit before falling 59-57. That game, Patton erupted for 233 yards on 21 receptions with four touchdowns. In those five games against better competition, Patton had 614 receiving yards on 49 catches with seven touchdowns.

"You get overlooked and you have to grind every day," Patton said. "You never take anything for granted. When you get a chance to go against a big school, you want to show out. Every time. You feel like you can play any time against anybody and compete at a high level."

This week in Mobile, Patton looked like a complete receiver. His routes were crisp and he got separation. Patton was also a willing blocker in the run game and made difficult catches across the middle.

In this Senior Bowl practice setting, you could see why Patton compares himself to the Anquan Boldin. "He can get in the middle of the field and mix it up with anybody," Patton said. "He can get behind you at times. A big, strong, physical receiver. I won't go down easy."

Sounds like there's plenty to like. Tough, physical, willing blocker, goes over the middle, tough to bring down, plays with an attitude.

WR is not my position, and I wouldn't trust myself to be able to pick the "best" prospect out of a number of guys who are clustered in the same area of the draft. But I wouldn't mind getting Patton at all.
 
i love that whole make them regret paying to play us thing. I would love it if we got him seems like a great all around player and person. some people are saying hes only 6 feet but i think when you get someone as great as Patton height doesnt matter
 
Scott Pioli's top 10 underclassmen. Some surprises:

1. Luke Joeckel, T, Texas A&M. Strong candidate for the first overall pick. Three-year starter at left tackle in the Big 12 and never red-shirted. A true height-weight-speed prospect who plays with good athleticism and body control. Will play early while he develops better hip and core strength. Good teammate too.

2. Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama. One of the youngest players in the draft (20), but a very experienced corner from the best-coached DB group in the country. Milliner has the flexibility, intelligence and experience to play outside corner and also line up in the slot. Should contribute on special teams early in his career.

3. Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida. Also 20, Floyd is a strong, athletic defensive lineman who, at 6-foot-3 and 303 pounds, has position and scheme versatility. Good competitor and tough player against the run and pass. Not great sack numbers, but consistently disruptive in the pass rush, and the type of player who makes those around him better by making the offense concentrate so much on stopping him.

4. Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State. Born in Germany, Werner learned football while at a Connecticut prep school as an exchange student. Played just two prep years before signing with Florida Stats. Two-year starter at left end in FSU's base and sub packages who shows surprising natural instincts, good hand strength and athletic ability. Pretty impressive to see he had 13 sacks in the ACC in the 2012 season.

5. Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State. At 6-3 and 335, he still has the athleticism to line up at multiple positions on the line -- not just at the nose. Active and instinctive, and showed improvement from 2011. Very good player versus the run that needs to continue to improve his every-down consistency.

6. Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama. Low-mileage rusher (355 carries in three seasons with the Tide) who played behind two outstanding backs early in his career (Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson). Averaged 6.8 yards per rush in his college career behind an offensive line better than some NFL lines. Good receiving skills, and a willing blocker. He should be an every-down back in the NFL.

7. Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia. Began his college career at USC in 2009 and transferred closer to home after suffering a neck injury his true freshman year. Highly instinctive and productive college player, but at 6-3 and 241, could be a tough positional fit. Dominated certain games (Florida), disappeared in others (Alabama).

8. Keenan Allen, WR, Cal. Originally committed to Alabama out of HS, but decided to join his QB brother Zach to play together at Cal. Allen is a big (6-3, 210), savvy and highly competitive WR who has played the slot and outside. Lacks top speed, but is very natural and quick. In a WR class that appears to lack elite players, he may be the best.

9. Alec Ogletree, MLB, Georgia. Tremendously talented athlete at 6-3 and 232, and should be an every-down NFL inside 'backer or middle 'backer. Has the skill and ability to contribute immediately all defenses as well as special teams. Jumps off the tape and could have the most upside of any underclassman in the draft. But some off-the-field issues will need to be studied before giving him a final grade.

10. Gavin Escobar, TE, San Diego State. Three-year starter who was hampered this season by a knee injury that he played through. Good height-weight-speed prospect at 6-6 and 255 who right now is more receiver than blocker. I'm high on his ability to produce as an offensive tight end right now in the more wide-open NFL offenses. He's what we call an "F-type'' tight end, a receiver who can play off the line probably more productively than as a blocker right now.


Read More:

Super Bowl XLVII week -- Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick, Jim Harbaugh, John Harbaugh and more - NFL - Peter King - SI.com

It's not the first time I've seen Shariff Floyd mentioned as a high pick. Daniel Jeremiah was told buy an NFL exec. that Floyd was guaranteed to go top 10. Pioli helps to add some confirmation. And I've sensed that Eddie Lacy is starting to get some buzz. It's nice to get a glimpse at what an actual NFL GM thinks of some of the prospects in this draft.
 
Scott Pioli's top 10 underclassmen. Some surprises:

Read More:

Super Bowl XLVII week -- Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick, Jim Harbaugh, John Harbaugh and more - NFL - Peter King - SI.com

It's not the first time I've seen Shariff Floyd mentioned as a high pick. Daniel Jeremiah was told buy an NFL exec. that Floyd was guaranteed to go top 10. Pioli helps to add some confirmation. And I've sensed that Eddie Lacy is starting to get some buzz. It's nice to get a glimpse at what an actual NFL GM thinks of some of the prospects in this draft.

Guaranteed? That sounds a but much. But it wouldn't shock me to see Floyd rise up and be this year's Tyson Alualu.

Alec Ogletree clearly has the "upside" gene.

Interesting list.
 
Guaranteed? That sounds a but much. But it wouldn't shock me to see Floyd rise up and be this year's Tyson Alualu.

Alec Ogletree clearly has the "upside" gene.

Interesting list.

It gives us an insight into NFL front offices and their views on the prospects. There were a lot of players not being considered top 10 or first round worthy last year by the usual draft sites until they started to learn how NFL teams were viewing the prospects.
 
I repeat: CornerBack DJ Hayden, Baby.

And a million miles Off The Grid: Tight End/Defensive End/World Class Wrester BJ Stewart.

Did I mention Strong Safety/FlexBack/SlotBack/Gryphon JJ Wilcox, a few days ago?? Love him.
 
I repeat: CornerBack DJ Hayden, Baby.

And a million miles Off The Grid: Tight End/Defensive End/World Class Wrester BJ Stewart.

Did I mention Strong Safety/FlexBack/SlotBack/Gryphon JJ Wilcox, a few days ago?? Love him.

Here's a bit on Stewart: http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/article/20130119/SPORTS04/301190022/Raycom-All-Star-Classic-Cumberland-tight-end-brings-muscle

I posted this on Hayden, before: UH football star makes comeback after injury | News - Home

And a bit on Wilcox: J.J. Wilcox, late bloomer and NFL prospect, aims to display his potential

These guys are all in my Mock, of course, and will appear in my Grid of Death, next month!!
 
Scott Pioli's top 10 underclassmen. Some surprises:




Read More:

Super Bowl XLVII week -- Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick, Jim Harbaugh, John Harbaugh and more - NFL - Peter King - SI.com

It's not the first time I've seen Shariff Floyd mentioned as a high pick. Daniel Jeremiah was told buy an NFL exec. that Floyd was guaranteed to go top 10. Pioli helps to add some confirmation. And I've sensed that Eddie Lacy is starting to get some buzz. It's nice to get a glimpse at what an actual NFL GM thinks of some of the prospects in this draft.

As a Gator fan, I hated when we played the Bulldogs and Ogletree was one of the big reasons. That should tell you all you need to know about him.
 

More on Stewart:

RN-T.com

We are, however, talking very, very Off the Grid here.
 
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