2014 Draft Prospect Thread

[mayoclinic]

Very possibly but as Grid points out in his Swanson report, he'd be big for a center. By the way, It's a very good scouting report although I'm not sure I entirely agree. I have to confess that I don't see what he sees in USC's Martin though. I was very unimpressed and will have to revisit him in light of Grid's comments.

I mentioned a few weeks ago that Tony Pauline had reported gossip from the Senior Bowl that Martin could end up being the first center off the board.

I haven't watched a lot of tape of Martin yet, so I haven't formed an independent opinion. Part of what I like so much about Grid's scouting is his analytical clarity. He breaks down the offense and defense into well defined categories that transcend traditional designations, and describes the attributes that he believes causes a prospect to be successful at each position. From then on, it's just a matter of watching tape and trying to assess each prospect.

I think that Grid has pretty much hit the nail on the head in terms of Swanson having exceptional athleticism and agility but lacking core power, and that that lack of power combined with his height puts him at a significant disadvantage against powerful NTs. That lack of power was pretty much on display at the Senior Bowl, from what I could tell. That's my biggest concern with Swanson.

I know that Grid uses 6'3" as a cutoff, but is there really a significant difference between 6'4" Joel Bitonio and 6' 3 1/2" Weston Richburg (using their Senior Bowl weigh-in measurements)? A lot would depend on more detailed analysis of how the player bends, their functional core strength etc. I wouldn't rule it out for Bitonio.

As for Martin, I'm intrigued, and I'd certainly love to get a center late day 2 / early day 3 of the caliber that Grid describes. It sounds a bit too good to be true, and I have a feeling that he will turn out to either be not that good, or that his draft stock will catch up. But there are plenty of talents who fly under the radar, even in this information age of paralysis by over-analysis.

 

[mayoclinic]

Ziggy Ansah? He probably won't go top 5 but there's too much athleticism there to fall as far as us as I see it. Ansah, Poe, Brockers all say so. I think it's not just his athleticism , it's that in combination with absolute perfect size and complete scheme versatility. 3-4 teams won't take him off the board because he's a perfect 5-tech and 4-3 teams won't discount him because he has potential elite 3-tech athleticism. On the other hand, Jernigan and Donald might not appear on 3-4 team boards and Nix might not be on the boards of 4-3 teams.

However, if he did fall as far as us, he's one of the few players I'd consider ahead of a TE.

I think we're going to have to wait until after the Combine to see how things sort out. But if Hageman blows up the Combine like Poe and Ansah did, it will be hard to see him get past everyone before us. Both Poe and Ansah look to be turning out fairly nicely.

 

[mayoclinic]

Nice profile on Missouri DE Kony Ealy, with a comparison to Chandler Jones:

2014 NFL Draft Scouting Report - Kony Ealy, DE Missouri - With the First Pick - NFL Scouting Reports, College Football, and the 2013 NFL Draft

 

[Wilfork#75]

I'm not sure about his fit with the Pats or the value but I just love the way Jordan Zumwalt plays football. He just plays with a passion, intensity and nastiness you can't teach and it only comes from loving the game. I think he is going to be a solid NFL player no matter where he ends up.

 

[mayoclinic]

hageman is an absolute savage give me hageman marcus smith and Stanley Jean Baptiste and that would go a long way in making this defense elite.

It would indeed. Those 3 guys would solve a lot of problems.

 

[captain stone]

That probably makes me want him less. Not sure how someone so inexperienced would be an upgrade over Wendell the next couple of years.

Move Connolly to Center (his best position) and Cannon to RG (his best position too);
this is obviously ass-uming that SeaBass is good to go for TC.

 

[mayoclinic]

That probably makes me want him less. Not sure how someone so inexperienced would be an upgrade over Wendell the next couple of years.

If you think Grid likes Martin, go read what he wrote about Richburg:

Category: Weston Richburg -

 

[ctpatsfan77]

It would indeed. Those 3 guys would solve a lot of problems.

It would also likely mean waiting until day 3 to address the offense, which doesn't seem like a good idea to me.

 

[mayoclinic]

It would also likely mean waiting until day 3 to address the offense, which doesn't seem like a good idea to me.

Let's see how FA plays out. Certainly if we go into the draft with what we have now, then it's hard to see the team spending their top 3 picks on defense, though I personally think it would be well spent if they did. I recognize that I'm in the minority on this one.

 

[stelfans]

If you think Grid likes Martin, go read what he wrote about Richburg:

Category: Weston Richburg -

Great wright up...again.
Richburg is my top center and i fully agree witg OTG. His very athletic but strong enough to handle the middle. Didnt know about the brains and personality but that just makes me want him more.

As for Bitonio, i've been talking about him for months, my top guard.
I remember seeing him shove the defender and just run alongside the RB, it was great. And he plays with a purpose, to the whiste.
He has flaws like everyone else but those 2 would come a long way to fix that o-line.

 

[Kontradiction]

Some prospects I've been watching the most of at positions of need...

1. DE: Trent Murphy, Dee Ford, Marcus Smith, Kareem Martin, Brent Urban

2. DT: Louis Nix, DaQuan Jones, Tim Jernigan (1 gapping), Stephon Tuitt, Dominque Easley (1 gapping)

3. C: Travis Swanson, Bryan Stork, Tyler Lawson, Gabe Ikard, Jonnothan Harrison

4. G: David Yankey, Anthony Steen, Brandon Thomas, John Helapio

5. SS: Deone Bucannon, Calvin Pryor, Ed Reynolds

6. CB**: Darqueze Dennard, Justin Gilbert, Marcus Roberson, Louchez Purifoy (does anyone see anything similar between these prospects?)

7. TE: Eric Ebron, ASJ, Troy Niklas, Arthur Lynch

** = If Talib walks.

 

[Drake&BarmoreFTW]

Some prospects I've been watching the most of at positions of need...

1. DE: Trent Murphy, Dee Ford, Marcus Smith, Kareem Martin, Brent Urban

2. DT: Louis Nix, DaQuan Jones, Tim Jernigan (1 gapping), Stephon Tuitt, Dominque Easley (1 gapping)

3. C: Travis Swanson, Bryan Stork, Tyler Lawson, Gabe Ikard, Jonnothan Harrison

4. G: David Yankey, Anthony Steen, Brandon Thomas, John Helapio

5. SS: Deone Bucannon, Calvin Pryor, Ed Reynolds

6. CB**: Darqueze Dennard, Justin Gilbert, Marcus Roberson, Louchez Purifoy (does anyone see anything similar between these prospects?)

7. TE: Eric Ebron, ASJ, Troy Niklas, Arthur Lynch

** = If Talib walks.

No love for Aaron Donald?

 

[All22PatsFan]

Im a Big Aaron Donald fan

 

[Off The Grid]

A brilliant scouting report on Travis Swanson from Off the Grid:

Category: Travis Swanson -

I think Grid has hit the nail on the head with this one.

Part of what I like so much about Grid's scouting is his analytical clarity. He breaks down the offense and defense into well defined categories that transcend traditional designations, and describes the attributes that he believes causes a prospect to be successful at each position. From then on, it's just a matter of watching tape and trying to assess each prospect.

I think that Grid has pretty much hit the nail on the head in terms of Swanson having exceptional athleticism and agility but lacking core power, and that that lack of power combined with his height puts him at a significant disadvantage against powerful NTs. That lack of power was pretty much on display at the Senior Bowl, from what I could tell. That's my biggest concern with Swanson.

If you think Grid likes Martin, go read what he wrote about Richburg:

Category: Weston Richburg -

High Praise from The Master, himself!! Humble Thanks, Great One!! :rocker:

I am far too acutely aware of my ludicrously inadequate Knowledge of about 1000 things that go into this to ever get a swelled head, but your words are very, very encouraging, Brother Mayo. Thank ye kindly.

For the record, I got a great Day's sleep, thought it over, and decided to ease up ever so slightly on the BowPlane, with young Weston Richburg, to "Beast" and "1st Rounder". But, yeah: I'm crazy about the kid!! :rocker:

 

[JPsPats]

ASJ has to be the pick @ 29. DT in 2nd then double dip DT then look at OL

The Supreme Austin Seferian-Jenkins Highlights - YouTube

 

[everlong]

I was looking at George Uko as a potential developmental DT who can be a situational pass rusher. He's a definite liability vs the run but I really like how fast he gets off the snap and I'll be really interested in his arm length. He seems to have a great reach and uses his hands well to attack the O-Linemen. He's listed at 6'3" and 280 so not a typical Bill pick. I think he could develop into a guy who can force the center of the pocket into the QB's feet. Probably worth rolling the dice on in the 6th.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Yahoo Sports NFL ?@YahooSports_NFL Feb 4
Report: Houston Texans ‘leaning’ toward Johnny Manziel or Blake Bortles with top pick Y! SPORTS #NFL

CollegeFootball 24/7 ?@NFL_CFB Feb 4
Report: #Texans coach Bill O'Brien not sold on Johnny Manziel: Report: Texans' O'Brien not sold on Johnny Manziel's work ethic - NFL.com

The owner wants Manziel, BOB doesn't like his work ethic/prefers Bortles.

 

[Boston Boxer]

Rd1: Kony Ealy DE Miz
Rd2: Aaron Donald DT Pit
Rd3: Loucheiz Purifoy CB FL
Rd4: Ed Reynolds S Stanford
Rd5: Dontae Johnson CB NC St
Rd6: Tyler Lawson C Utah St

 

[mayoclinic]

Rd1: Kony Ealy DE Miz
Rd2: Aaron Donald DT Pit
Rd3: Loucheiz Purifoy CB FL
Rd4: Ed Reynolds S Stanford
Rd5: Dontae Johnson CB NC St
Rd6: Tyler Lawson C Utah St

We don't have a 5th right now. Aside from that, I like every single pick on your list, but what makes you think that the first 4 would be available at the end of each of those rounds?

 

[Sfpat]

Rd1: Kony Ealy DE Miz
Rd2: Aaron Donald DT Pit
Rd3: Loucheiz Purifoy CB FL
Rd4: Ed Reynolds S Stanford
Rd5: Dontae Johnson CB NC St
Rd6: Tyler Lawson C Utah St

I've seen Donald as high as #10 in some mocks. Won't be around at the end of round 2, and maybe gone long before Pats 1st pick.