* Ye Official 2012 Mock Draft Thread!! *

[Off The Grid]

*** Any Chance of Begging Everyone's Indulgence while I post 7 in a row?? ***

 

[Off The Grid]

Grid's 2012 Mock Draft V13.0!!

My Approach

I'm not a Needs guy or a Best Player Available guy...I describe myself as an Impact guy, as in: The Most Impact Available, specific to our team, at a given slot. And I don't necessarily mean "immediate" Impact, though that weighs heavily. This is essentially an Hybrid approach, but unlike the others, it gives great weight to players whose Impact I sense might be a disruptive one.

My Priorities

1 ~ Grizzlies!! I place enormous emphasis on the The Trenches and what happens there. I have believed, since before the dawn of time, that the closer a player's base position is to the ball, prior to it being snapped, the more disproportionate his Impact on his team's fortunes.

2 ~ Depth of Talent. I won't be satisfied until we've stuffed the roster with Pro Bowl talent all the way down to the bottom!! I may never attain this, but it's a noble pursuit, don't you think? And I consider such notions as "We can't possibly fit all those Draft Picks on the Roster." and "We have Starter X at Y position. Why would you want to draft a potential starter behind him?" to be the most craven, babbling, drivelonian nonsense. :snob: You can never have too much Depth of Talent, at any position. If you can attain that without compromising other positions, I say GO for it, baby!!

Offensive Review

QuarterBack

This is a "What would I do if I took over today?" Mock Draft, so that can include laying waste to recent moves I hated, and that means Ryan Mallett. I say trade him and take what the Market offers.

One of my Pet Notions is trolling the late rounds ~ and beyond ~ for Field Generals, and this year would be no exception. As detailed elsewhere, this is where I believe the real gems lie.

Center

I consider Center to be the 3rd most important position on the entire field, behind QuarterBack and Defensive Tackle, and it is a major priority for me, because a position of such vital importance to the Championship Quest should have at least an All Pro level Grizzly manning the position, if possible.

O Guard

A major priority for me, as well, regardless of what Brian Waters does. Frankly, I'm not worried about Waters. I think he may just be trying to weedle Coach Bill out'f another Million or two on top of his bargain basement 1.5. In any case, Waters has a long history of skipping voluntary workouts, and I suspect he is taking this approach to save everyone face, while getting his beauty sleep.

But that's no reason not to seize some serious Depth of Talent, particularly considering what a deep, talented O Guard Draft Class we have before us, this year.

I should note, by the way, that were I running things ~ again: the theme of this Mock and all my Mocks ~ Marcus Cannon would be a low priority. He is indeed very relatively athletic, but that does not convince me that his frame can hold up under the rigors of flying around all over the field every day, and I have no desire for a stationary O Guard. He might be a useful Swing Reserve between O Tackle and O Guard, but I wouldn't be interested in projecting him as anything more than that, though of course Coach Bill very well might.

O Tackle

I am ecstatic that we stole Robert Gallery from the Scrap Heap, and would be even happier if we would tie him up for a few years, before his Stock takes off. I think he's still got what it takes to be a tremendous O Tackle, and that we have just the guy ~ Donte The Great ~ to help him find his way back to Glory and Success. I have absolutely no interest in seeing him return to O Guard.

I'd also love to draft and develop an high caliber O Tackle talent from this barren, desolate Draft Class.

Flex End

Drafting a substantial, quality back up for the Gronk is a major priority of mine...I just don't see one.

Wing Back

As I've been shouting for the last couple of years, this is where I believe we can wreak HAVOC on the faster, smaller Defenses of this era ~ not with a single Wing Back, but with multiple Wing Back formations, if we can bring in the right guys for the job!! Priority!!

Split End

We are deathly short on big, tall Split Ends, and I'd really like to see us grab a couple.

Slot End

This position is an extremely low priority for me, as I am looking to reduce its roll, in favor of rolling out multiple Wing Backs, who I strongly believe offer far less predictable and thus deadlier advantages.

Flanker End

I'm pretty ecstatic at our current Depth of Talent, here, so this is not a priority at all.

O Back

If it were up to me, we'd have nothing but Flex Backs, here: O Backs who are dangerous both in the Running and Passing Games and who can lay down a Block, as well. I want to draft at least one such Flex Back to go with Shane Vereen, who I still consider, far and away, the greatest talent, here.

Defensive Review

Defensive Tackle

I'm extremely concerned about the possibility of Big Vince having sustained so much workload, the last two years, that an injury is inevitable, but with Kyle Love around to step in if needs be ~ and, preferably, to immediately contribute to a substantial reduction of Big Vince's workload ~ I can sleep.

What I'd love to see, though, is for us to make some moves to bring in some high upside Depth of Talent in terms of enormous, athletic Beasts ~ about 6.4 or so ~ who can develop as D Tackles in the "43" as well as 5 Tech Defensive Ends in the "34"...And I'd sure love to see us do some serious sniffing around for smaller, spry guys with substantial Core Strength to go with the Fluidity and Burst to split some Gaps inside and mess people's lives up.

"34" Defensive End

We've finally stabilized, here, with that brilliant signing of Jon Fanene and with Brandon Deaderick playing solidly down the stretch, last year...But that's a far cry from where I want to be at this vital position. There's absolutely no Depth of Talent, here, either. I would make it a major priority to get some raw, extremely talent Depth of Talent developing, here, and I know just who to get!!

"43" Defensive End

Having let Mark Anderson slip away for naught ~ I bet we could've extended him at the Bye for HALF of what Beefalo gave'm!! ~ we've scored a coup in stealing yet another Force from the same scrap heap whence young Anderson issued, in one Trevor Scott. Here's hoping Coach Bill doesn't let this one slip away, if he, too, starts kicking @$$ and making an Impact, early this year!!

Fanene and Deaderick are of such a size that they can do a job as "43" Defensive Ends ~ and God knows our System is far more complex and convoluted than breaking things down into simple matters of "34" and "43" would purport it to be!! ~ but I'd really like to see us draft and develop some traditionally sized "43" End talent, behind Scott and Jermaine Cunningham, who I haven't given up on, and Andre Carter, who I'm not counting on any more than I am on Cunningham.

"34" Flankers

Some overlap with the "43" Ends, of course, and I would love to see us draft and develop some Impact talent, here. As usual, we are dangerously thin at this vital position.

"43" Flankers

This is a Sub Pack level priority, but one which we ignore at our peril. Mind you: there's very little reason to even think about investing an whole roster spot in a "43" Flanker, if he can't also play at an high level as a "34" MidFielder.

MidFielders

With my boys Mayo, Spikes, and Fletcher back there, we're looking pretty strong...But I consider this an intensely vital position, and I'm the look out for a Fourth.

Safeties

As far as I'm concerned, Pat Chung ~ who I think is about to launch a MONSTER year!! ~ is the only Safety we need. I say we go with him ~ call'm a Rover Back and take'm out on obvious Passing Downs ~ and a SEA of CornerBacks. Call them what you will ~ call them Free Safeties, if you like ~ but I say cut out the middle man and just develop a deep crew of big, athletic, talented Corner Backs...and let them roam the back half!! Send out 5 at a time!! Why not??

CornerBacks

Obviously, that makes CornerBack a priority for me. However, as they are furthest away from the Ball at the time of the Snap, I'm not looking to break the bank on them. We've got a couple of All Pro Potential Talents In House. I'd like to see us draft and develop a couple more, and maybe a Moon Shot Project, too!!

 

[Off The Grid]

The Draft!!


An Explanation: Market Values or Estimated Draft Position

I'm always open to new ideas ~ in fact, I started a thread, shamelessly soliciting them!! ~ but as of now, the best evaluators of Market Value that I can find are Walter and Columbia BroadCasting. Mind you: CBS is pretty poor, before and during the year, but they tend to zone in pretty nicely on my best guess of the true Market Value of most Prospects, once the Off Season gets rolling, though they're certainly far from perfect...But then who could be?? It's all 100% speculative, after all...

For the first 5 Rounds, I'm gonna roll with Walter's latest Mock, and after that, I'm gonna hand it over to Columbia BroadCasting to estimate where Prospects likely get drafted.


Trades

There are a ton'f'm ~ 12, in all!! Is that realistic?? I don't know.

I do not that every one of them is fair, by dint of The Chart.

Whether or not I would actually find 12 motivated trading partners is another matter, and your guess is as good as mine. But I expect I would. There are probably about 10 or even 20 Trades discussed for every one that gets done, and I base that statement on absolutely nothing at all.

So, without further ado...


1 ~ Ryan Mallett ~ Fish ~ #72 + #145!!
2 ~ #27 ~ Colts ~ #33 + #97 + #208!!
3 ~ #31 ~ Miners ~ #61 + #237 ~ 2013 1st Rounder!!
4 ~ #33 ~ Bolts ~ #49 + #78 + #226!!
5 ~ #48 ~ Lions ~ #54 + #117 + #219!!
6 ~ #49 ~ Rams ~ #65 + #96 + #171!!

From my perspective, there is an enormous WasteLand from about Pick #20 to about Pick #55!!

And after that, I see an extraordinarily rich stretch of territory!!

That's based on Walter's FootBall, that is...Of course we're all just guessing!!

If I can find trade partners who see otherwise ~ and I'll bet I would!! ~ I'm Trading Down like CRAZY!!

#54 ~ OG Amini Silatolu ~ 6.4/312!!



Amini Silatolu comes from a small School, and struggles with raw Mechanics, as one would expect of him, particularly as he'll be kicking inside from O Tackle.

But his aggregate Skill Set is intensely intriguing: excellent Core Strength meets a truly intoxicating fusion of Fluidity, Lateral Agility, and Range.

There is true All Pro Potential, here.

#61 ~ DE/DF Shea McClellin ~ 6.3/260!!



Shea McClellin commands a phenomenal fusion of Core Strength, Explosion, Processing Speed, amazing Passion and Worth Ethic, and Savvy!!

He boasts an impressive Pass Rushing Repertoire, and is a Beast in the Run Game, as well.

He's even showing rapidly developing Verticity, despite being new to the concept of Pass Defending.

It is rare, indeed, to see such a combination of Power, Strength, Athleticism in all directions, together with such impressive Intelligence and relentless Work Ethic!!

Shea McLellin has risen all the way from UFA land to the Second Round ~ more's the pity!!

But I'll take'm, and thank the Gods for it!!

#62 ~ CB Jamell Fleming ~ 5.11/207!!



I really like this kid.

Jamell Fleming brings absolutely outstanding Verticity ~ Turn + Burn Acuity ~ to the table.

His Lateral Agility, his Fluidity, and his Torsion ~ Burst out of Breaks ~ are all excellent.

Mind you: His Run Defense needs work.

And there were academic issues.

But his FootBall IQ is all I care about, and he commands exceptional Diagnostic Acuity + Processing Speed, in Reading + Reacting to Routes.

Jamell Fleming commands tremendous Potential, one of the greatest Corner Values of this entire Class.

7 ~ #65 ~ Cards ~ #80 + #112!!
8 ~ #72 ~ CowBoys ~ #81 + #152!!


#78 ~ DE/DF Cam Johnson ~ 6.4/267!!



Cam Johnson isn't particularly dynamic in any aspect of the game, but he really has no weaknesses to speak of, either, and both the raw Core Strength and Athleticism, combined with impressive levels of both Savvy and Work Ethic, are there to become a stalwart starter at the next level.

And of all potential Flanker Convertibles, he showed startling Verticity when asked to Turn + Burn!!

Cam Johnson is my kind of Prospect: Under the Radar and not especially flashy, and will certainly need work, but with tremendous Savvy, Work Ethic, Attention to Detail, and underrated athleticism!!

#80 ~ OC Ben Jones ~ 6.3/304!!



Ben Jones brings superior Core Strength, excellent Torsion, and outstanding Launch Velocity to the table, and he also boasts intriguing Athleticism.

What impresses me most, however, is his extraordinary fusion of Intelligence and Passion: His Diagnostic Acuity and Processing Speed in Battle are impressive, as is the fact that he graduated high school early and started attending Georgia in January of 2008!!

To have that cerebral power housed in the same package as the guy who wins universal praise for his Toughness, his Tenacity, and his flat out Ferocity is very intriguing, indeed. And his tremendous Gym Rat Work Ethic showed in a clear improvement in his Core Strength as a Senior.

Jones is far from perfect, mind you: His Range is pretty good, but his Lateral Agility and Fluidity leave something to be desired. He can occasionally be beaten, out there.

Even so, this is not only a 4 Year Veteran, but a South East Conference battle-tested Leader who commands sufficient Athleticism, combined with an absolutely outstanding constellation of Intelligence, Passion, Strength, relentless Ferocity and an utterly unstoppable Spirit, all combined inside a perfect frame for the position, to develop into an exceptional Center at the next level.

#81 ~ SE Marvin Jones ~ 6.2/200!!



Marvin Jones commands a very impressive fusion of the kind of Skill Set that should consistently produce plays and Move The Chains at the next level: Fluidity, sharp Verticity in his Breaks, and very reliable Discipline in his Route Running.

He's not overly physical on the Line, but he's got enough Fluidity, Dexterity, and Savvy to get loose, and enough Short Burst to separate.

He's no Big Play Zoomer, but Marvin Jones is the kind of Prospect who should earn a starting gig at the next level, consistently Move The Chains, and help you win the Big Games.

9 ~ #93 + #117 ~ Falcons ~ #84 + #192!!


#84 ~ CB/FS Trumaine Johnson ~ 6.2/204!!



Trumaine Johnson brings a scintillating fusion of tremendous Verticity, explosive Torsion, and outstanding Diagnostic Acuity + Processing Speed to the Game.

As a former Receiver, he commands highly impressive Instincts for the Passing Game.

He boasts an extraordinary blend of Athleticism, Power, and Size, and while he has little experience in Press Coverage, his potential there ~ or in Zone, if you please!! ~ is immense.

I see 1st Round All Pro Potential in this kid.

Yet his Market Value, while ascending, is still, inexplicably, in the 3rd or 4th Round range!! Sold!!

10 ~ #96 ~ Panthers ~ #104 + #143!!
11 ~ #97 + #112 ~ Beefalo ~ #105 + #124 + #144!!

 

[Off The Grid]

#104 ~ WB Orson Charles ~ 6.3/252!!



Orson Charles is getting a lot of Love as a potential Aaron The Navigator II...The only problem with that popular prognosis is that Charles commands a miniscule fraction of the refinement that Hernandez commanded when he came out two years ago...currently.

Yet his future offers tremendous upside, should he take command of his considerable Gifts.

As a Blocker, he's definitely not going to blow you away with Core Strength: He should only go nose to nose as a last resort. And he's not exactly a ball of fire as a Blocker in Motion.

But he does possess excellent Core Flexibility, even if his Core Strength is lacking: A Wing Back can't be expected to develop too much beef, of course, as their greatest impact is in the Receiving Game.

His Release is the strongest part of his Receiving Game, as he offers exceptional Launch Velocity, remarkable Fluidity, and dynamic Short Burst.

While much of his Receiving Game is unrefined at this point, this does offer the potential of his making some noise out'f the Slot at an early stage.

As a Navigator, he has a long, long way to go: He carves out sloppy Routes.

Until he learns to master his Routes, he'll probably only draw spot duty, which will greatly disappoint the legions who're expecting him to replicate the rookie year of Aaron The Navigator.

Even so, he brings tremendous Fluidity to the table, and the upside is definitely there.

All in all, we're looking at a gifted athlete with undeniably tremendous upside, but one who is very raw.

I'm not thrilled about his weak Route Tree Diagnostics and what they might suggest about his Tenacity, nor am I delighted with his often FootBall-******ant Hands, which echo the same concern...

But there's no question he's got as much upside as any Wing Back in this Draft Class, and Wing Backs have the 99% untapped capacity to revolutionize this Great Game, when somebody in a position to do something about that realizes this fact.

#105 ~ OG Senio Kelemete ~ 6.4/308!!



Senio Kelemete's resume is either sketchy or intensely intriguing, depending on how you look at it: As a Freshman in 2008, he played in 8 games and started in 4...as a Defensive Tackle!!

In 2009, he switched to O Guard and won the starting gig, there...only to be asked to switch to O Tackle in 2010!! And of course he projects best to swing back to O Guard in the Majors...So his Mechanics are certainly a bit raw.

But his Cross Training is invaluable...And so is his proven ability to pick up a new position ~ or a big jump in competition ~ quickly enough to start ~ and for a major team...and no less than 3 years in a row!!

But what's really impressive about this young man is his truly amazing constellation of skills: Outstanding Core Strength, exceptional Launch Velocity, impressive Torsion when he changes directions, and tremendous Athleticism: Beautifull Fluidity, excellent Lateral Agility, and extraordinary Range.

Just an astounding aggregation of Skills, all under the command of a Scrapper with an astonishing Work Ethic and insatiable Passion for this great Game!!

There is undeniable Pro Bowl potential, here!!

12 ~ #143 + #145 ~ Steelers ~ #119!!


#119 ~ OT Matt McCants ~ 6.6/308!!



Matt McCants commands exhilarating Athleticism: His Lateral Agility, Fluidity, and Range are outstanding.

His Core Strength needs a lot of work, but the impressive Core Flexibility and the big, broad frame are there.

We're talking about Pro Bowl potential, here.

He's a bit raw, coming from a small School, but his upside is immense, and his 3rd Round Market Value is startling, considering this weak, wasted, wafer-thin O Tackle Market.


#124 ~ XB Cyrus Gray ~ 5.10/207!!



Cyrus Gray brings excellent Core Strength to the table, and employs exceptional Lateral Agility and Fluidity, and explosive Torsion to consistently hit the holes that are there, and to create, when they aren't.

He commands outstanding Diagnostic Acuity and Processing Speed, and the Patience to work with his Linemen and wait for the Blocks to develop.

He's one of the very best Navigators in this Class.

He's a ferocious, motivated Blocker, and a good one.

And he's an emerging Receiving threat.

His best attribute is his attitude, however, as all agree his is an awesome, team-first team mate with a tremendous Work Ethic.

Yeah, I'm pretty jazzed about this kid!!

#126 ~ MF/DF Vontaze Burfict ~ 6.1/248!!



Ah, the much-maligned Vontaze Burfict. The recent Top 15 Candidate has seen his Market Value collapse, and it's all his own fault.

Burfict brings a mesmerizing set of skills to the table: He commands outstanding Core Strength, phenomenal Burst off the Snap, and a Ferocity that is his, alone.

He boasts superior Fluidity and Lateral Agility, as well, though his Verticity in Pass Defense needs work.

In short, he could become a tremendous MidFielder, or perhaps a phenomenal Flanker, where his dubious Pass Defense chops will be perfectly sufficient.

The problem, of course, is that he's a lunatic.

And he took no responsibility for his awful Senior Season at the Combine, where he graded out hideously in all the Drills. I can't help but wonder if there's something unnatural going on with him, if you know what I mean and I think you do.

Caveat Emptor. Frankly, watching his Market Value collapse might turn out to be the best thing for'm ~ Wake Up Call ~ But I wouldn't want to count on it.

Yet he may quite possibly turn it all around and justify the 1st Round Value he so recently commanded.

#144 ~ DT/DE Akiem Hicks ~ 6.5/320!!



Potential Beast with a Low Floor!!

Akiem Hicks commands my Trifecta: Impressive Core Strength, Explosive Burst, and superior Fluidity.

The Long Arms are a pretty sweet bonus, too.

Raw?? Oh, HELL, yeah.

He needs a lot of work.

But so do Michael Brockers and Dontari Poe, who are looking at 1st Round Market Value.

Hicks has a dubious resume and needs to answer some questions, otherwise I'd put a 1st Rounder stamp on'm.

Even as it is, he represents one hell of a sweet roll of the dice on Day 3!!

#152 ~ DF/MF Bruce Irvin ~ 6.3/245!!



Bruce Irvin is, for my money, the most dangerous Pass Rusher in the entire 2012 Draft Class.

He commands frighteningly explosive Launch Velocity.

His Core Strength is only average, but he commands phenomenal Fluidity, Torsion, and Lateral Agility.

He's extremely new to the job, and he shows it, but he already exhibits tremendous Instincts and Diagnostic Acuity, which can only get better as he evolves.

His resume is very thin on Run Defense and Pass Defense. While his mesmerizing natural skills suggest that he could become awfully good at both, growing pains will abound in the early going.

His Past is scary as Hell, bad enough that he'll be off many Boards...But he's scraped and clawed his way out'f the darkness, and he now gets well deserved accolades for his Focus and Passion.

He was over hyped coming into his Senior year, but with his stats having returned to Earth, his Market Value has slid rather emphatically: He's actually looking at the 4th or 5th Round, at this point. If he remains that range, he could prove to be the greatest Steal of the entire Draft!!

 

[Off The Grid]

#171 ~ WB Evan Rodriguez ~ 6.2/240!!



Wow. I absolutely love this guy.

Evan Rodriguez is the best Blocking Wing Back in this Class, and it isn't even close.

He commands terrific Core Strength, he explodes off the Snap, and he's especially deadly on the move, diagnosing his target, quickly engaging, and consistently hitting hard and effectively.

He's a former Safety and a former Quarter Back. Mind you: I admit that I'm a sucker for a Cross Training Resume ~ especially if "Quarter Back" or "Point Guard" is on there!! ~ but the cerebral and athletic development that these suggest can be absolutely invaluable.

As a Receiver, he commands remarkable Navigational prowess, Fluidity, and Instincts.

Rodriguez offers a particular blend of attributes that no other player in this Class offers: a powerfull, slashing Motion Blocker and a smooth, dangerous Receiver. If somebody is smart enough to make full use of all elements of his Game, he could have an enormous impact.

#192 ~ SE Dale Moss ~ 6.3/220!!



They don't come much rawer than Dale Moss ~ he's been playing FootBall for one year!! ~ and it shows...But this guy came out of outer space to rack up 61 Catches, 949 Yards, and 6 Touch Downs in his first season ever!!!

Not shocking enough???

How about racking up a 632 in the 3 Cone and a 408 in the Short Shuttle???

If he were 5.9/175, those numbers would be phenomenal.

At 6.3/220, those numbers are preposterous.

Add a ridiculous 415 in the Vertical to that, if you please, and it's clear that ~ raw or not ~ this guy's Raw Fluidity, Lateral Agility, Core Strength and Core Power, to say nothing of his blazing Long Speed ~ that 438 in the "40" doesn't exactly break my heart!! ~ and his raw skill set offers upside beyond any Wide Out in this entire Draft.

And I repeat: 61/949/6 after dropping from the SKY.

Route Running? His words at the Pro Day make it clear that that is a place of intense focus. And let me say: 4 full years of BasketBall at College ~ plus the years of his earlier youth ~ go light years in refining the nuances of Route Running, to say nothing of shedding Corners at the Line.

Blocking?? I don't know...But that long career in BasketBall ~ he racked up impressive Rebounding Stats ~ tells me he's not exactly contact-******ant.

This is no Work Out Warrior, Ladies and Gentlemen.

This is Force of Nature.

And a focused one.

61/949/6 after dropping from the SKY...and then he produces that one-man Typhoon at his Pro Day.

Seems to me...This young man is about Business.

#208 ~ QB Kellen Moore ~ 6.0/198!!



Kellen Moore is the story of this Draft Class, as far as I'm concerned. His Diagnostic Acuity, his Processing Speed, his insatiable Work Ethic, his Vision, his Confidence, his complete and utter Command of the Huddle...his Third Eye, his Instincts, his ability to see where the play's going before it happens...are magnificent.

If I needed to drive the length of the field to score the winning Touch Down in the final two minutes of the Super Bowl, and I had only the Quarter Backs of the 2012 Draft Class to choose from, to lead my team, I would certainly choose Andrew Luck, the greatest QB prospect in the last decade or more...

...unless Kellen Moore was available.

Laugh, if you like.

But under pressure ~ when it counts most ~ it's an easy decision for me.

I laugh my ASS off when I read Reports comparing Moore to Drew Brees "except for the Arm."!!

For those who's memories don't go back 10 years ~ and that is evidently a vast majority ~ the overwhelming consensus on Drew Brees, 11 years ago, was that he was good on the Dink and Dunk stuff...but just don't ask him to sling it downfield!!

True Story!!

#219 ~ DT/DE Chigbo Anunoby ~ 6.4/328!!



Chigbo Anunoby commands utterly brutal Core Strength, surprisingly decent Fluidity, and absolutely startling Processing Speed for a Prospect coming from a small school.

Anunoby is merely one of the many gems unearthed by Wes Bunting of National FootBall Post.

He is very raw, of course, and is much better against the Run than the Pass, but there's no question that he commands remarkable upside.

#226 ~ CB/FS Desmond Marrow ~ 6.2/208!!



Desmond Marrow is hindered by awful Dexterity, raw Navigation skills, and dubious Core Strength.

But he does command rather exceptional Fluidity for his size, to which you can add nice Burst as well as impressive Diagnostics and Processing Speed.

He's raw as raw can be, but if he can ever harness his raw skills, he could not only eventually earn a starting gig at the next level, he could be a damned good one.

#237 ~ XE Matt Veldman ~ 6.6/256!!



Matt Veldman was just brought to my attention by none other than Brother Mayo, who was sniffing around the Pro Days, and made note of his intriguing numbers.

Veldman is raw as raw oysters, but in a Draft Class this is an absolutely barren and desolate WasteLand of Flex End prospects, he is one shining beacon of raw athletic Talent.

A 699 in the 3 Cone ~ at 6.6/256, mind you!! ~ tells me there is extraordinary Raw Fluidity, here.

And a 35.5 Vertical illustrates that there is remarkable raw Core Strength and Core Power to work with.

MIND you: I presume nothing.

But that's the kind of Raw Core Strength and Fluidity that ~ if harnessed and developed by a passionate, dedicated Prospect who has simply lacked the right training up to now, and is just waiting for someone to show him the way ~ could, ultimately, produce an explosive, destructive, marauding Force.

I'd say that's worth a 7th Rounder.

 

[Off The Grid]

UFA's


OC David Snow ~ 6.4/304!!



David Snow is a mystery. He brings superior Core Strength + Launch Velocity to the table, his Diagnostic Acuity + Processing Speed are exceptional, his Fluidity + Lateral Agility are commendable, and his Work Ethic + Tenacity are outstanding...

Yet he seems to be flying ten MILES under the radar in UFA Land!!! And it's not like nobody's heard of Texas!!!

I see this guy as a Starter in the NFL, and I give him a very good chance at being an exceptional one.

OG Wayne Tribue ~ 6.3/330!!



Wayne Tribue commands exceptional Core Strength, superior Launch Velocity, and extraordinary Lateral Agility!!

Furthermore, he navigates well in on the move, boasting tremendous Diagnostic Acuity and Processing Speed as he seeks out targets.

XB Michael Smith ~ 5.9/208!!



There's not much to go on with Michael Smith, mind you: He was Robert Turbin's understudy at Utah State, and all I've got to work with is the Senior Bowl, the Potato Bowl, and Wes Bunting's Scouting Report at National FootBall Post.

But, my GOD...

Outstanding Lateral Agility.

Extraordinary Fluidity.

Phenomenally explosive Burst out'f's Breaks.

I have no idea if he can Block, but his astonishing numbers at his Pro Day ~ including a 40 inch Vertical!!! ~ leave no question that he commands the Core Strength and Core Power to PANCAKE.

And he is a proven threat in the Passing Game.

Wouldn't it be remarkable if the two best O Backs in this entire Draft Class ended up being the first guy taken...and the last??

DT/DE Dominique Hamilton ~ 6.5/312!!



Dominique Hamilton projects unremarkable Core Strength, playing at Tackle as he does with Mizzou, but he displays an impressive Coil and Core Flexibility, and I have a strong feeling that he'd look far more effective ~ considering his height, which is a great disadvantage in the interior ~ if he moved out to Defensive End at the next level.

And he commands an impressive level of Athleticism.

Hamilton gets excellent reviews for his Work Ethic as well, and I believe that all he needs is the Opportunity at the next level, and he will very likely develop into a stalwart starting Defensive End!!

DE/DF Scott Smith ~ 6.7/261!!



Scott Smith is raw as hell, and has been walloped with a Year Long suspension in the past.

That cut his Texas Tech career in half, as he is also a JuCo Transfer. As a result, while he has been explosive in the two seasonal segments he's played in, he is flying miles under the radar, and with "Character" concerns.

But he commands an outstanding Burst off the Snap, excellent Core Flexibility ~ albeit raw Core Strength, at this point ~ and absolutely tremendous Work Ethic.

I get the distinct impression that we're looking at a Past that shows Bad Judgment, not Bad Character.

He's also a former BasketBall standout, which speaks volumes about his Athleticism. Cross Training, baby!!

To be sure, he's a Boom or Bust Prospect, but that's tremendous Value for...nothing!!

MF Zach Nash ~ 6.3/252!!



Zach Nash is extremely raw, but he commands a truly intriguing fusion of Core Strength, Burst, Fluidity, and ~ most impressive of all, to these eyes ~ Diagnostic Acuity and Processing Speed.

Nash is yet another tremendous Gem unearthed by the remarkable Wes Bunting of National FootBall Post!!

He has definite starter potential, this UFA.

 

[Off The Grid]

What I Was Thinking

The Method to My Madness...

Goal #1 ~ Beef Up The Defensive Front 7

I think we have taken enormous strides in that direction:

1 ~ Our "34" D Line is currently destitute. But by bringing in ~ by thieving ~ the phenomenal athletic and Beastly talents of Akiem Hicks and Chibgo Anunoby to attack and pillage on both flanks of Vince Wilork ~ 1000 Pounds of savage, unforgiving EVIL ~ I believe that we could, by the end of 2012, develop such an unprecedented amalgamation of mauling, raving Front Wall Mayhem...that we could usher in an unspeakable Reign of Darkness.

2 ~ In the "43" Sets, the introduction of Hicks and Anunoby ~ raw though they be ~ will, come the second half of the season ~ which is our strength, because Coach Bill and his crew know how to guide young players Through the Gears ~ enable Wilfork and Love to stay fresh, and, more to the point, will finally allow us to usher in a long Reign of Interior Fear: Both these young Beasts have the capacity to dominate ~ to consume Double Teams, to collapse Pockets, and to disrupt and wreak Havoc...And I believe that, by year's end, they could be doing just that.

3 ~ Keeping to the "43" Sets, Shea McClellin is precisely the kind of Animal to make an immediate Impact, and to make it all over the field. I see him as a classic Hybrid, developing into a Flanker in the "34" and an End in the "43" or our crazy-@$$ "425", and, in any case, going Balls OUT and tearing it UP, thanks to a frightening fusion of Athleticism, Power, Brains, and PASSION...And Cam Johnson is Johny Lunch Bucket: A guy who can and will do it all, and, I strongly suspect, amaze the vast majority with how extensive his expertise is, and how persistently relentless and reliable he is.

4 ~ Also, regarding the "43" Ends, I expect a tremendous recovery from the Much Maligned Jermaine Cunningham, and an explosive Impact by Trevor Scott, Dark Horse.

5 ~ And of course: McClellin, Johnson, Cunningham, and Scott would join Rob Ninkovich to form a young, talented, and deep Flanker crew in our "34" alignments. At last ~ at LONG last ~ we can boast of tremendous Depth of Talent all at every position in our Front 7, in any alignment!!

6 ~ Needless to say, both Vontaze Burfict and Bruce Irvin are Moon Shots.

And I'd be the last one to tell you they are likely or not to succeed.

But I'll say two things:

One: They are both raving lunatics...which is not always such a bad thing.

Two: IF ~ I say, again ~ IF...we are able to get an harness on these two raving lunatics...Vontaze Burfict has Hall of Fame capacity as a raging, marauding MidFielder...And Bruce Irvin has nothing short of Hall of Fame capacity as a tearing, raving, exploding Pass Rusher, Inside or Out.

Both of these young men have been pretty much written off as Lost Causes.

But as a Student of Human Behavior...I see a unique Opportunity, here...Indeed, I see two.

Both of these men are staring straight into the Abyss.

And that...if they have the Heart...might be exactly what saves them.

And if we can harness...and then unleash these guys???

Goal #2 ~ Pass Rush + The Secondary

1 ~ Bringing in brutal, mauling Beasts like Hicks and Anunoby, who should be crushing Offensive Lines and collapsing Pockets by December, should go a long way towards opening up things for the entire Defense. Rotating with Wilfork and Love on the interior, the four of them should pretty much destroy any remnant of a Comfort Zone any opposing QB might hope for, regardless of our Defensive Set.

2 ~ The Ripple Effect of this, combined with the potentially explosive influx of Burfict and Irvin, and the ascensions of Dane Fletcher and Brandon Spikes, who I expect to combine with the rising Star of Jerod Mayo to form one of the finest MidFielder crews in ALL the Land...could produce cataclysmic affects on Offenses trying to flee from our marauding Front 7!!

3 ~ If all that falls together, frankly, my Aunt, my Sister, and my Nieces could man the Back 4. Even so, with Ras I Dowling coming back to join Jamell Fleming and Trumaine Johnson, the influx of High Caliber, All Pro Potential Secondary talent would be IMMENSE. I believe that Devin McCourty is about to launch a multiple Pro Bowl career, and that Pat Chung is about to have a monster year. God HELP the Rest of the league, if we put all these moves together!!

Goal #3 ~ Beef Up the Offensive Front 7

1 ~ To give yourself the best chance of winning the Grim Games of Deep Winter ~ of winning Championships ~ the most efficient way of doing so is to not only develop great Front 7's on both sides of the ball, but to develop tremendous Depth of Talent.

Any Patriot fan who watched Super Bowl 42 should need no convincing of that.

2 ~ Dante The Great has worked miracles with Debris and Detritus for the last decade...But that's only enough to get us to The Big Game ~ not to give us the best chance of actually winning The Big Game. And with terrific talents annually available for the cheap at all O Line positions, neglecting the development of deep Depth of Talent at these critical, vital positions is such an obvious and egregious mistake that I should never have to explain it to an intelligent, thinking man.

3 ~ The moves I propose would render us 10 Deep with serious Grizzy Talent on our O Line, and by Winter ~ when we start playing for keep ~ the likes of Amini Silatolu, Senio Kelemete, Ben Jones, Robert Gallery, and Matt McCants should be ready not only to step in and compete...but to batter and bludgeon even the most dangerous of Defensive Linemen.

And that, Ladies and Gentlemen, is how you stop competing for Championships...and start winning them.

Goal #3 ~ Offensive Front 7 Continued ~ The Tight Ends

4 ~ The potential Impact of WB Evan Rodriguez ~ who I understand most've never heard of ~ could be the most devastating of them all. Honestly, I cannot name any player in this league who offers such a disruptive fusion of Lead-Blocking brutality with such a sweet, deadly touch in the Passing Game. He is Battle Ready, and prepared to wreak Havoc on the 31 teams foolish enough to pass on'm.

5 ~ WB Orson Charles is no Binky of mine, and his Navigational prowess is LIGHT Years short of what Aaron The Navigator's was, two years ago...But his natural navigational talents are a match. As a 4th Rounder, he's worth a Bet, because if we can get him trained and rocking and rolling, and send BOTH of them out there, with Gronk on the Line...my GOD.

Goal #4 ~ Playing It Forward

1 ~ I mentioned that I'm a student of Human Nature?? I have a funny feeling that San Fran ~ even though I think they are absolutely for real ~ are a strong candidate for a Sophomore Slump, this year...and that their 1st Rounder could drop to the Mid Teens. In fact...I expect that.

2 ~ If Kellen Moore works out as I expect him to, and if some team gets a big bit of bad luck in Camp ~ as I expect them to ~ there's a very strong possibility that we will be in a very good position to trade Brian Hoyer for a 2013 2nd Rounder and change in August...And I would love to see us do so, as he would walk for nothing but a Comp Pick, otherwise.

Hopes + Aspirations!!

My Game Plan was to dramatically Beef Up both the Defensive Front 7 and the Offensive Front 7 ~ because I believe that that's the best way to forge a team that will not only compete in the Grim Games of Darkest Winter, but win them ~ and I believe I have done so!! Here's hoping that Coach Bil The Mad (Genius) has a somewhat similar Game Plan, and implements it to its fullest possible success!!

 

[Off The Grid]

The 53...And Beyond

What follows is my notion of how I'd love to see the Top 53 ~ and the Taxi Squad/Shadow Roster/FoxBorough Flu Crew ~ play out, with Contingencies and Back Up Plans woven in.

Keys

Indigo ~ Starter with Pro Bowl Potential or More
Blue ~ Solid Starter
Green ~ Reserve with Pro Bowl Potential!!
Black ~ Veteran Reserve
Red ~ Rookie with Pro Bowl Potential!!

QuarterBack

1 ~ Tom Brady
2 ~ Brian Hoyer

Center

3 ~ Dan Connolly
4 ~ Ben Jones

O Guard

5 ~ Logan Makins
6 ~ Brian Waters
7 ~ Amini Silatolu
8 ~ Senio Kelemete

O Tackle

9 ~ Nate Solder
10 ~ Sebastian Vollmer
11 ~ Robert Gallery
12 ~ Matt McCants

Flex End

13 ~ Rob Gronkowski

Wing Back

14 ~ Aaron Hernandez
15 ~ Evan Rodriguez
16 ~ Orson Charles

Split End

17 ~ Marvin Jones
18 ~ Dale Moss

Slot End

19 ~ Wes Welker
20 ~ Julian Edelman

Flanker End

21 ~ Brandon Lloyd
22 ~ Donte Stallworth

Power Back

23 ~ Stevan Ridley

Flex Back

24 ~ Shane Vereen
25 ~ Cyrus Gray

Scat Back

26 ~ Danny WoodHead

Nose Tackle

27 ~ Vince Wilfork

D Tackle/Primary Reserve Nose

28 ~ Kyle Love

D Tackle/"34" End Hybrid

29 ~ Akiem Hicks
30 ~ Chigbo Anunoby

Tweener End/Under Tackle

31 ~ Jon Fanene
32 ~ Brandon Deaderick

"43" End/ "34" Flanker Hybrid

33 ~ Trevor Scott
34 ~ Jermaine Cunningham
35 ~ Shea McClellin
36 ~ Cam Johnson

Universal Flanker + Random End

37 ~ Rob Ninkovich

"43" Flanker/"34" MidFielder Hybrid

38 ~ Jerod Mayo
39 ~ Brandon Spikes
40 ~ Vontaze Burfict
41 ~ Bruce Irvin

Super MidFielder + Occasional Flanker

42 ~ Dane Fletcher

Strong Safety + Rover Back

43 ~ Pat Chung

Free Safety/CornerBack Hybrid

44 ~ Devin McCourty
45 ~ Ras I Dowling
46 ~ Trumaine Johnson
47 ~ Sterling Moore
48 ~ Desmond Marrow

CornerBack

49 ~ Kyle Arrington
50 ~ Jamell Fleming

Special Teams

51 ~ Steven GostKowksi
52 ~ Zoltan Mesko
53 ~ Danny Aiken

The Essentials

If Injury or Opportunity don't carve out a spot in the Top 53 for these guys, then stomp on their big toes and send them to the PUP for a couple months!! In any case, it's far wiser to plan for contingencies than to pray!! Some of the top 53 could fail or get hurt, and it is a virtual dead certainty that some of them will do just that. In any case: Under NO circumstances do I let these guys go!!

54 ~ QB Kellen Moore
55 ~ XB Michael Smith
56 ~ OC David Snow
57 ~ DE Scott Smith
58 ~ XE Matt Veldman

Special Teams Freaks

59 ~ Tracy White
60 ~ Matt Slater

Long Shots Who I Love

61 ~ DE Dominique Hamilton
62 ~ MF Zach Nash
63 ~ OG Wayne Tribue
64 ~ XE Kyle Fiedorowicz

Potential Shadow Roster/PUP Cats Yet Possible Top 53

65 ~ OL Marcus Cannon
66 ~ TE Daniel Fells
67 ~ FL Deion Branch
68 ~ SL Anthony Gonzalez
69 ~ DL Ron Brace
70 ~ DT Gerard Warren
71 ~ DF Markell Carter
72 ~ DF Alex Silvestro
73 ~ MF Jeff Tarpinian
74 ~ FS Steve Gregory
75 ~ DL Myron Pryor

 

[manxman2601]

Grid

OK I'm confused. What's the first mock from Brother Mayo? Is he your alter-ego or something.

Between the two mocks, you've hit on all my binkies save Barron so I really like them. I'll take the first as the more practical mock and I absolutely love your inclusion of Ronnell Lewis who I don't think is getting the consideration he should be hereabouts. Lewis has the makings of a seriously good player.

For all those Pats fans who covet Courtney Upshaw, Lewis has much better movement skills than Upshaw, and I expect him to be a better pro. Sleeper!

Absolutely right. When I watch him, I'm put in mind of Lawrence Taylor. Not that I'm suggesting he'll be anywhere near the player that LT was, but my abiding memory of LT was his ability to chase down a RB from the backside when the play was to side away from LT. Ronnell Lewis does that same thing extremely well. Funnily enough, I was looking through the scouting reports at The Huddle Report. The guy there really likes Lewis too and said he had Ray Lewis type upside. Some lofty comps there, but leaving hyperbolic comparisons aside, Ronnell Lewis has outstanding upside and as a special teams ace will have an immediate impact for the team.

 

[Patriot Missile]

Megamind would be proud of that presentation OTG.

I agree on a lot of those picks and your reasoning and explanation of the picks is enough to make me believe in some of those players even if I didn't. You sure you weren't the one that sold the parakeet with his head missing to the blind boy?

 

[Off The Grid]

Grid

OK I'm confused. What's the first mock from Brother Mayo? Is he your alter-ego or something.

Between the two mocks, you've hit on all my binkies save Barron so I really like them. I'll take the first as the more practical mock and I absolutely love your inclusion of Ronnell Lewis who I don't think is getting the consideration he should be hereabouts. Lewis has the makings of a seriously good player.




Absolutely right. When I watch him, I'm put in mind of Lawrence Taylor. Not that I'm suggesting he'll be anywhere near the player that LT was, but my abiding memory of LT was his ability to chase down a RB from the backside when the play was to side away from LT. Ronnell Lewis does that same thing extremely well. Funnily enough, I was looking through the scouting reports at The Huddle Report. The guy there really likes Lewis too and said he had Ray Lewis type upside. Some lofty comps there, but leaving hyperbolic comparisons aside, Ronnell Lewis has outstanding upside and as a special teams ace will have an immediate impact for the team.

Sorry for the confusion, Brother Manx!!

Mayo Clinic is a bit of a legendary figure in the Draft Rooms, here and at Patriots Planet, though he doesn't post much, nowadays...I correspond with him, and this was his Latest + Greatest.

 

[Off The Grid]

Megamind would be proud of that presentation OTG.

I agree on a lot of those picks and your reasoning and explanation of the picks is enough to make me believe in some of those players even if I didn't.

You sure you weren't the one that sold the parakeet with his head missing to the blind boy?

I'm sure I WAS!!

Thank you for the kind words, Brother Missile!!

That was a particularly gracious way to put it, Bro. Thanks, man.

I love the Draft FAR too much for my own good!!

 

[Merril Hoge's Tie Knot]

I guess I know what I'm reading later. :rocker:

I wish something so immense and great was it's own thread though. At least it's all on one page.

At first glance it looks like a massive success. I will comment further when I read it thoroughly.

 

[Off The Grid]

I guess I know what I'm reading later. :rocker:

I wish something so immense and great was it's own thread though. At least it's all on one page.

At first glance it looks like a massive success. I will comment further when I read it thoroughly.

Woo!! Thanks, Brother!! :rocker:

Yeah, I'm a BIG Bobby Fischer fan.

I'm ALL about trading that Queen for a Rook, 2 Knights, and a Bishop, when I can.

 

[Ron Sellers]

So, without further ado...


1 ~ Ryan Mallett ~ Fish ~ #72 + #145!!
2 ~ #27 ~ Colts ~ #33 + #97 + #208!!
3 ~ #31 ~ Miners ~ #61 + #237 ~ 2013 1st Rounder!!
4 ~ #33 ~ Bolts ~ #49 + #78 + #226!!
5 ~ #48 ~ Lions ~ #54 + #117 + #219!!
6 ~ #49 ~ Rams ~ #65 + #96 + #171!!

From my perspective, there is an enormous WasteLand from about Pick #20 to about Pick #55!!

And after that, I see an extraordinarily rich stretch of territory!!

That's based on Walter's FootBall, that is...Of course we're all just guessing!!

If I can find trade partners who see otherwise ~ and I'll bet I would!! ~ I'm Trading Down like CRAZY!!

Interesting, as I have read others that feel there's going to be a lot of good value in the 20-40, 25-50 range this year. About three years worth of time will tell I suppose.


I would love to be able to go back over a decade so of drafts and compare how various draft analysts felt about those draft classes as a whole: strong or weak at the top; in the late 1st/2nd; middle; and late rounds - and then compare it to how those draft classes turned out. That could be more telling than focusing in on whether they were right or wrong on one or two specific players.



On a separate note, I'm not sure which I am scratching my head at more: the concept of Marcus Cannon not making the 53-man roster, or the Pats drafting Vontaze Burflict. I do believe Markell Carter and Steve Gregory (among others) will survive final cuts as well. 18 rookies on the roster of a team that went to the Super Bowl the previous season?

 

[captain stone]

Somebody please give OTG an Applause gif, if only for the absolutely tremendous amount of knowledge & work put into those posts. Amazing.

I can't say though that I agree with all of your picks, or esp. all of your trades, e.g.: I just don't see Bill trading w/ Miami, Indy (even if naPolian's no longer there), SD or Beefalo.
And unfortunately, some of those late 2nd/early 3rd-rounders will likely be gone - maybe long gone - by the time #54 is on the clock, e.g.: McClellin & Trumaine Johnson.
And then there's Vontaze Burfict...

I must say Good Night for now, but you have certainly given us all some very interesting food for thought. I'll probably have dreams tonight of Flex Ends, Wing Backs, Flankers, Midfielders & Rovers.

 

[Off The Grid]

Interesting, as I have read others that feel there's going to be a lot of good value in the 20-40, 25-50 range this year. About three years worth of time will tell I suppose.


I would love to be able to go back over a decade so of drafts and compare how various draft analysts felt about those draft classes as a whole: strong or weak at the top; in the late 1st/2nd; middle; and late rounds - and then compare it to how those draft classes turned out. That could be more telling than focusing in on whether they were right or wrong on one or two specific players.



On a separate note, I'm not sure which I am scratching my head at more: the concept of Marcus Cannon not making the 53-man roster, or the Pats drafting Vontaze Burflict. I do believe Markell Carter and Steve Gregory (among others) will survive final cuts as well. 18 rookies on the roster of a team that went to the Super Bowl the previous season?

Very interesting points, Sir, and some fair Challenges.

1 ~ 18 Rookies seems like a lot to most, and I respect the fact, first off, that most folks will reject that notion out of hand, and that very few will be persuaded. But an answer is warranted, and here it is: If you review even just this very last Super Bowl year that you referred to, there's no question that we were absolutely riddled with injuries and dealt with massive roster turnover ~ certainly comfortably more than 18.

And while last year was especially chaotic ~ making our Super Bowl appearence all the more impressive ~ we can usually count on roster change, each and every year, that comes a lot closer to 18 than most people seem to think.

And if I can improve 18 roster spots with healthy young ~ and cheap!! ~ Rookies, why not do so?

And not one single Rookie of the 18 are being asked to Start.

So we would add a ridiculous infusion of Talent...without disrupting the Chemistry.

2 ~ You may very well be right about Markell Carter and Steve Gregory: I didn't say I didn't expect either to make the team ~ indeed, I'd be especially suprised if Gregory failed to ~ only that, in this "wishfull" Mock that I've created, I would hope for them to be beaten out by players I've drafted.

3 ~ Same deal with Marcus Cannon. I thnk he's a tremendous Prospect, but I simply don't care for his skill set on a team ~ this Dream Team of mine ~ that follows my philosophical influence, as he's far too big ~ despite his relatively remarkable athleticism ~ for me to have much faith in his longevity.

4 ~ Regarding Burfict, he and Bruce Irvin are two guys I would put on extremely short leashes, but whose obliterated Market Values offer phenomenal Low Risk/High Reward Opportunities, something Coach Bill has often shown himself more than willing to roll the dice on, including just this last year, with the Albert HaynesWorth move. To repeat: Short leashes. But Burfict and Irvin command nothing short of multiple Pro Bowl upsde, for Day 3 Prices. And they're going to be extemely angry at themeselves and the rest of the world...which could be extremely usefull, don't you think??

5 ~ I should highlight the fact that my perception of the weak 20-50 range in the Market is partially predicated on Walter's Mock Draft, which was the model I used to determine Market Value for most Picks in mine, and that ~ frankly ~ I expect guys like Amini Silatolu and Shea McClellin to go earlier, quite possibly even challenging for the first Round. But I didn't want to Cherry Pick Walter, otherwise: why reference it in the first place?

In any case, were those guys to move up to that degree, I'd either simply forego the Miners 2013 1st Rounder to "cover the cost", or I'd think about passing on Silatolu, and picking up an additional 2013 2nd Rounder, even while covering the cost of moving up ~ moving back less, actually ~ for McLellin...and think long and hard about going after Barrett Jones, next year.

 

[Off The Grid]

Somebody please give OTG an Applause gif, if only for the absolutely tremendous amount of knowledge & work put into those posts. Amazing.

I can't say though that I agree with all of your picks, or esp. all of your trades, e.g.: I just don't see Bill trading w/ Miami, Indy (even if naPolian's no longer there), SD or Beefalo.
And unfortunately, some of those late 2nd/early 3rd-rounders will likely be gone - maybe long gone - by the time #54 is on the clock, e.g.: McClellin & Trumaine Johnson.
And then there's Vontaze Burfict...

I must say Good Night for now, but you have certainly given us all some very interesting food for thought.

I'll probably have dreams tonight of Flex Ends, Wing Backs, Flankers, Midfielders & Rovers.

Nice!!

Thanks for the gracious words, Brother Stone.

 

[Snake Eyes]

The 53...And Beyond

What follows is my notion of how I'd love to see the Top 53 ~ and the Taxi Squad/Shadow Roster/FoxBorough Flu Crew ~ play out, with Contingencies and Back Up Plans woven in.

Keys

Indigo ~ Starter with Pro Bowl Potential or More
Blue ~ Solid Starter
Green ~ Reserve with Pro Bowl Potential!!
Black ~ Veteran Reserve
Red ~ Rookie with Pro Bowl Potential!!

QuarterBack

1 ~ Tom Brady
2 ~ Brian Hoyer

Center

3 ~ Dan Connolly
4 ~ Ben Jones

O Guard

5 ~ Logan Makins
6 ~ Brian Waters
7 ~ Amini Silatolu
8 ~ Senio Kelemete

O Tackle

9 ~ Nate Solder
10 ~ Sebastian Vollmer
11 ~ Robert Gallery
12 ~ Matt McCants

Flex End

13 ~ Rob Gronkowski

Wing Back

14 ~ Aaron Hernandez
15 ~ Evan Rodriguez
16 ~ Orson Charles

Split End

17 ~ Marvin Jones
18 ~ Dale Moss

Slot End

19 ~ Wes Welker
20 ~ Julian Edelman

Flanker End

21 ~ Brandon Lloyd
22 ~ Donte Stallworth

Power Back

23 ~ Stevan Ridley

Flex Back

24 ~ Shane Vereen
25 ~ Cyrus Gray

Scat Back

26 ~ Danny WoodHead

Nose Tackle

27 ~ Vince Wilfork

D Tackle/Primary Reserve Nose

28 ~ Kyle Love

D Tackle/"34" End Hybrid

29 ~ Akiem Hicks
30 ~ Chigbo Anunoby

Tweener End/Under Tackle

31 ~ Jon Fanene
32 ~ Brandon Deaderick

"43" End/ "34" Flanker Hybrid

33 ~ Trevor Scott
34 ~ Jermaine Cunningham
35 ~ Shea McClellin
36 ~ Cam Johnson

Universal Flanker + Random End

37 ~ Rob Ninkovich

"43" Flanker/"34" MidFielder Hybrid

38 ~ Jerod Mayo
39 ~ Brandon Spikes
40 ~ Vontaze Burfict
41 ~ Bruce Irvin

Super MidFielder + Occasional Flanker

42 ~ Dane Fletcher

Strong Safety + Rover Back

43 ~ Pat Chung

Free Safety/CornerBack Hybrid

44 ~ Devin McCourty
45 ~ Ras I Dowling
46 ~ Trumaine Johnson
47 ~ Sterling Moore
48 ~ Desmond Marrow

CornerBack

49 ~ Kyle Arrington
50 ~ Jamell Fleming

Special Teams

51 ~ Steven GostKowksi
52 ~ Zoltan Mesko
53 ~ Danny Aiken

The Essentials

If Injury or Opportunity don't carve out a spot in the Top 53 for these guys, then stomp on their big toes and send them to the PUP for a couple months!! In any case, it's far wiser to plan for contingencies than to pray!! Some of the top 53 could fail or get hurt, and it is a virtual dead certainty that some of them will do just that. In any case: Under NO circumstances do I let these guys go!!

54 ~ QB Kellen Moore
55 ~ XB Michael Smith
56 ~ OC David Snow
57 ~ DE Scott Smith
58 ~ XE Matt Veldman

Special Teams Freaks

59 ~ Tracy White
60 ~ Matt Slater

Long Shots Who I Love

61 ~ DE Dominique Hamilton
62 ~ MF Zach Nash
63 ~ OG Wayne Tribue
64 ~ XE Kyle Fiedorowicz

Potential Shadow Roster/PUP Cats Yet Possible Top 53

65 ~ OL Marcus Cannon
66 ~ TE Daniel Fells
67 ~ FL Deion Branch
68 ~ SL Anthony Gonzalez
69 ~ DL Ron Brace
70 ~ DT Gerard Warren
71 ~ DF Markell Carter
72 ~ DF Alex Silvestro
73 ~ MF Jeff Tarpinian
74 ~ FS Steve Gregory
75 ~ DL Myron Pryor

Grid, you are more machine now than man, twisted and evil.

 

[The Scrizz]

Grid, you are more machine now than man, twisted and evil.

Grid is quite possibly insane and I say that in the most positive terms possible.

Honestly OTG do you have a job or are you independently wealthy? I would get canned just for the amount of time I would have to spend reading your work nevermind conceiving it and putting it into words.

Things I love.

TE's or Flex Ends or Wingbacks or whatever they are. I would love Fleener at 31 as I am convinced that he is headed to Indy at 33 to pair with Luck.

The no safeties defense. The only flaw I see is that these guys damn well better be able to cover. I compare it to the old Nintendo Hockey circa late 80's where you had the small fast guys and the big slow guys and the later would just cream the former. Anyone who played enough came to the realization that you needed a good mix.

With Flex End becoming the next big thing in this copycat league you might need some more size out there. Can you imagine what the Gronk would do to a secondary full of CB's? He could carry 4 of them 80 yards on his back. I guess I don't like the D so much as the boldness of conception and I could see it as useful depending on match-ups.

Things I don't like.

Guys like Cannon who probably have just as much upside as some of your proposed drafties with I believe considerably lower floors.

Minimum half of your shadow roster would have jobs within a week. Cannon, Fells, Carter, Gregory, Pryor... Bring 'em all to camp and let the best man win. I have a feeling quite a few would be guys on the roster already. This was after all a Super Bowl team.

As somebody else mentioned I think that some of your trades would bring you past the guys you want to draft. I don't think you need quite so many; a more surgical approach might be more efficient.

No love for special teams. Just as all the CB's on the field would make me nervous there is a reason why guys like Slater and White make NFL rosters.

But there is no question that you are a marauding beast to match any of your DL, Flankers, or Midfielders. Your Verticity of vocabulary is unmatched on this, or I suspect, any other message board.