2014 Draft Prospect Thread

[ATippett56]

Top 10, baby. It's all about FootBall Speed.

I have not seen the write up on this Eisen kid on your website.

 

[ATippett56]

2014 NFL Combine News and Notes by Tony Pauline: WalterFootball.com

Dallas Cowboys:

Word at the combine has the Dallas Cowboys going defensive front seven early and often in the draft. Word is Aaron Donald is a possibility for the team in round one.

 

[ATippett56]

2014 NFL Combine News and Notes by Tony Pauline: WalterFootball.com

New England Patriots:

Last night at dinner with a few scouts I learned that an FBI profiler was brought in to review the interview tapes of Aaron Hernandez from the 2010 combine. The profiler pointed out a number of signs during the interview which would've raised red flags had he seen it in 2010; body language, the way Hernandez answered questions, his body language answering questions. Bottom line is more teams will bring in profilers to review these interview tapes.

 

[manxman2601]

But wasn't the rest of his workout kinda crap?

Fairly slow 40 at 4.95 but reasonable 10 yd split at 1.65. Vert was average at 32.

 

[mayoclinic]

Nice writeup on Christian Jones:

Washington Redskins Draft Profiles: Christian Jones, ILB/OLB - Hogs Haven

I expected Jones to perform much better at the Combine, but I'm kind of pleased he wasn't a workout warrior. He plays very fast (and I'm not just referring to the included highlights).

 

[VJCPatriot]

Keith McGill and Dontae Johnson anyone? Fuller also looked good at the combine. I would love to add some more good young talent to the secondary from this year's draft.

 

[Kontradiction]

Keith McGill and Dontae Johnson anyone? Fuller also looked good at the combine. I would love to add some more good young talent to the secondary from this year's draft.

I like Johnson, but it depends on where you are slotting McGill. He has and can play safety, but I think Exum would be the better SS prospect. McGill looks like he can develop into a very solid corner, though, and give us some nice size at the position if Talib books it.

 

[mayoclinic]

Keith McGill and Dontae Johnson anyone? Fuller also looked good at the combine. I would love to add some more good young talent to the secondary from this year's draft.

I like Johnson, but it depends on where you are slotting McGill. He has and can play safety, but I think Exum would be the better SS prospect. McGill looks like he can develop into a very solid corner, though, and give us some nice size at the position if Talib books it.

1. I like Keith McGill a lot as a SS conversion, but I agree with Kontra - I like Antone Exum even more, and at least right now Exum should be available later in the draft. Also, Dion Sanders mentioned during the drills that he didn't think Exum was quite 100% recovered from his 2013 ACL injury, so the numbers that he put up may not be quite as good as what he is athletically capable of doing. But I'd be happy to get McGill.

2. Dontae Johnson has been on my watch list for the Pats for 2 years:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/13/959894-my-blueprint-pats.html (see OP)

A 6'2" 200# CB/S with 4.45 speed, a 6.82 3-cone and a 38.5" vertical is very enticing. And Johnson has played both S and CB at a high level - I thought he outplayed his more heralded teammate David Amerson in 2012. He's gotten a few Richard Sherman comparisons:

NC State’s Best NFL Draft Prospect: DB Dontae Johnson 6’2” 195 lbs.

• NFL Comparison: Seahawks’ CB Richard Sherman 6’3”, 195 lbs.

The guy wearing #25 in red and white for the Wolfpack this season looks and plays a lot like the guy wearing #25 in navy blue, action green wolf grey and white for the Seahawks. Both Dontae Johnson and Richard Sherman are scrappy players with very long frames.

Getting physical with receivers, stuffing ball-carriers in run support or draping themselves all over receivers in coverage, both these guys have the knack to make life miserable for opposing offenses.

Top NFL Draft Prospects From The ACC

Philadelphia Sports Report | The Next Richard Sherman

Johnson has also said that he watches film of Sherman and tries to pick up some of his techniques:

Young defensive backs are fans of the Legion of Boom | Seahawks | The Seattle Times

Another guy who is very interesting is Phillip Gaines. 6' 3/8" 193# with a 4.38 40, 6.62 3-cone and 36.5" vertical. Stelfans has been way ahead on this kid:

You should take a look at Phillip Gaines. He does not have the speed but what he has is a very high football iq and awareness. The kid is a pass break up machine and very physical.

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...aft-prospect-thread-page121.html#post3737286 (see post #1201)

Though apparently he does have the speed.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

2. Dontae Johnson has been on my watch list for the Pats for 2 years:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/13/959894-my-blueprint-pats.html (see OP)

A 6'2" 200# CB/S with 4.45 speed, a 6.82 3-cone and a 38.5" vertical is very enticing. And Johnson has played both S and CB at a high level - I thought he outplayed his more heralded teammate David Amerson in 2012. He's gotten a few Richard Sherman comparisons:

Besides your prediction of a trade for Talib, what I love the most about that October 2012 link is that in the first 3 rounds of the 2013 draft, 3 of your 4 mock Patriot picks actually went Top 10 (Cooper, Ansah, Austin) with the 4th "only" actually being a late 1st rounder (Williams). Very impressed by the scouting eye of you and so many in this forum (afraid to name for fear of missing someone)!

 

[mayoclinic]

Besides your prediction of a trade for Talib, what I love the most about that October 2012 link is that in the first 3 rounds of the 2013 draft, 3 of your 4 mock Patriot picks actually went Top 10 (Cooper, Ansah, Austin) with the 4th "only" actually being a late 1st rounder (Williams). Very impressed by the scouting eye of you and so many in this forum (afraid to name for fear of missing someone)!

That was one of my better ones. That mock actually had 5 1st round picks (I had Kyle Long in the 7th; the OP was too long for 1 post).

At the time that that mock was done, none of those guys was a clear 1st round projection. Ansah clearly had 1st round potential (though no one was predicting top 5 at the time) and Cooper was likely to move into the 1st round (though no one was predicting top 10 at the time). Gil Brandt went out on a limb and predicted that Kyle Long would be drafted - and he ended up as a top 20 pick and made the Pro Bowl!

And some of those guys were spotted by others on this board before I picked up on them. Manx, for example, led the charge on both Jonathan Cooper and Ziggy Ansah.

 

[stelfans]

Another guy who is very interesting is Phillip Gaines. 6' 3/8" 193# with a 4.38 40, 6.62 3-cone and 36.5" vertical. Stelfans has been way ahead on this kid:



http://www.patsfans.com/new-england...aft-prospect-thread-page121.html#post3737286 (see post #1201)

Though apparently he does have the speed.

Apparently! xD
To be honest i was going by nfldraftscout numbers and he had a 4.5+ 40. Running that well only makes it even more weird that there isnt any talk about him.

 

[Merril Hoge's Tie Knot]

Does Lord Vader still post here?

 

[Merril Hoge's Tie Knot]

Looks like Chris Boyd was injured. I knew something was up.

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20140226/SPORTS01/302260192/2080/SPORTS01

"Former Vanderbilt wide receiver Chris Boyd didn’t finish all his scheduled events at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis because of a quad injury he suffered in training.

Agent Chris Turnage said Boyd will be healthy enough to fully compete at his pro day workout next month, when he expects a much better time in the 40-yard dash as well.

Boyd, who was dismissed from the Vanderbilt football team prior to last season for his after-the-fact involvement in an alleged rape on campus, had an official time of 4.73 seconds in the 40 at the combine, according to the NFL.

Four different scouts clocked Boyd between 4.59 and 4.62, according to Turnage, who expects the 6-foot-4, 206-pounder to run between 4.48 and 4.54 when completely healthy."

 

[Merril Hoge's Tie Knot]

I ran a quick simple rating system based on this years defensive backs in an effort to deduce combine numbers in one number.

I ranked each players; height, official 40, vertical, and 3-cone then simply added them up.

1. Dontae Johnson
2. Phillip Gaines
3. Bennett Jackson
4. Jason Verrett
5. Kendall James
6. Deone Bucannon
6. Justin Gilbert
6. Kyle Fuller
9. Keith McGill
10. Mo Alexander

It doesn't mean much but I thought it was interesting enough to share.

 

[manxman2601]

@PP_Rich_Hill: So Tuitt, ASJ, and Ward all have fractures in their feet? Can the Patriots draft the fractured trifecta?

This would be about the best possible scenario for me.

 

[mayoclinic]

This would be about the best possible scenario for me.

Did you secretly touch up their X-rays? Very sneaky.

 

[manxman2601]

Did you secretly touch up their X-rays? Very sneaky.

It is quite a 'coincidence' that three of my favourite six or seven players all missed the combine with the same or very similar injuries.

 

[mayoclinic]

It is quite a 'coincidence' that three of my favourite six or seven players all missed the combine with the same or very similar injuries.

I just don't understand how Kyle Fuller was able to run. Missed that one, did we? :boink:

 

[manxman2601]

I just don't understand how Kyle Fuller was able to run. Missed that one, did we? :boink:

Feisty little beggar. Almost got to Exum though.

 

[manxman2601]

Alex Amidon, BC's surf slot receiver, is reportedly not entering the
NFL but will try to become a Seal or marine or some such.