This Year's Brandon Albert

[12jg34]

I followed the draft closer last year than I normally do because I knew the Ravens were looking for a QB. As a result, I constantly looked at mock drafts, both professional and fan mocks. After a couple of pro days, every mock draft looked very similar. The same names constantly appear as first rounders.

However, one of Mel Kiper's latest mocks (I believe he was the first one to do this) predicted that Virginia OG Brandon Albert would be a top 10 pick. This was interesting because before this version of Mel's mock drafts, Albert wasn't even considered a top 25 pick. Then, a few weeks later, everyone's draft had Albert as a top 10 pick (based on his projection as a tackle in the NFL).

When draft day came, Albert was a first round pick, much higher than anyone was predicting a few weeks prior. My question to you, my fellow Ravens fans, is who is this year's Brandon Albert: the guy nobody is really predicting as a first rounder, but who definitely will be by draft day?



I think that player will be Utah's Sean Smith, a CB who some are predicting will become a safety in the NFL b/c of his size. I think he'll be a CB in the NFL. The Ravens just had him in for a visit. I think he'll make the jump into the first round for a couple of reasons.

One, this year, by all accounts, doesn't seem to be too deep in CB year. The top-rated CB, Malcom Jenkins, may not be fast enough to be a CB. The second-rated prospect, Vontae Davis, has questionable technique. And then there are the other prospects who are short.

Two, Smith ran a 4.4 and is 6'4". That's a CB who has similar measurables as Oakland's Nnamdi Asomugha.

I'm waiting for some scout to tell Mel Kiper or another prominent NFL draft expert that Smith is vaulting up people's draft boards.

Here's an interesting article about the three-cone drill and CBs (it also helps to explain why Malcom Jenkins is a good CB despite his slow 40 time): http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/2009/03/behind-the-times-three-cone-drill/

Who's your 2009 NFL Draft Brandon Albert?

[Jeremiah W]

He is the only Cb I want at 26. I have seen him mocked there, but mostly into the early 2nd. It is a premium position and his comparison to Asomogha and a couple of his youtube highlights could well have him jump up the board near the end.
The guy Gilbert may also be one of those guys that is just so impressive in a workout he jumps way up into the 1st out of the late 2nd range as well as almost any 2nd round rated beast line player from a smaller school Like Sidbury or workout wonder like Barwin.

[the_scarecrow3]

I think Brian Robiskie has the potential to move up the closer we get to draft day. After watching him at the combine, I still don't understand why people don't consider him one of the top 5 receivers in this years' class. A person's college statitistics can only tell you so much about how they'd translate into a pro. Yes, his production slipped last season, but if you look at the QB situation at Ohio State, you have to understand why. They were beating teams on the ground. Beanie Wells was running all over the place, and they had an inexperienced QB.

Early in his career, he was under Ted Ginn and Anthony Gonzales on the depth chart. But when you look at his skills, quick feet, soft hands, good route running, you have to predict that they're translate to the next level. He's the son of a coach, which is always good, he's 6'3, and he's got pretty good speed (4.49). I don't really know what the knock on him is. To me, he looks like Reggie Wayne or Larry Fitzgerald. He's not a flat out burner, but getting open and catching the ball shouldn't be a problem for him. I wouldn't be upset at all if we picked him up. I think he's a pretty safe choice at WR>

[jonboy79]

I think it is Larry English. Dominant, DOMINANT pass rusher.

[12jg34]

I think it is Larry English. Dominant, DOMINANT pass rusher.

I agree about English being a dominant pass rusher.

But I'm talking about guys whom nobody (or very few) is/are considering first rounders, but who NFL scouts believe are grading out to be first rounders. That was the thing about Brandon Albert last year: for the first few weeks of the NFL mock draft season, he was on nobody's radar as far as a first rounders go, then all of a sudden Kiper comes out and says he's a top ten pick. Presumably, he made the jump on Kiper's and then everyone else's mocks b/c a scout told Kiper that teams were considering Albert that high.

I think Sean Smith could make that jump to high in the first round based on on physical similarities to Nnamdi Asomugha, especially in his regard to being a big (Asomugha is 6'2" and Smith is 6'4") CB who has great feet and body control as evidenced by great 3-cone results despite being big.

[jonboy79]

I agree about English being a dominant pass rusher.

But I'm talking about guys whom nobody (or very few) is/are considering first rounders, but who NFL scouts believe are grading out to be first rounders. That was the thing about Brandon Albert last year: for the first few weeks of the NFL mock draft season, he was on nobody's radar as far as a first rounders go, then all of a sudden Kiper comes out and says he's a top ten pick. Presumably, he made the jump on Kiper's and then everyone else's mocks b/c a scout told Kiper that teams were considering Albert that high.

I think Sean Smith could make that jump to high in the first round based on on physical similarities to Nnamdi Asomugha, especially in his regard to being a big (Asomugha is 6'2" and Smith is 6'4") CB who has great feet and body control as evidenced by great 3-cone results despite being big.

I think English and Albert were in similar spots on most Mock sites coming into the bowl season, late first early second. Albert jumped(exagerrated of reality) on the Mocks to the top 10 once it was known that despite NOT playing LT in college, that many teams thought he had it to be one in the pro's. That should tell you something about Eugene Monroe...
He was then selected in the middle of the first round.
I think English ends up in the middle of the first round, which would be out of nowhere(at least before the "bowls").
Sean Smith to me had a similar grade to English before the Bowls. Maybe I'm worng, or maybe we look at different sites.

[52decleetzu]

Even if you project Smith as a corner,26 is a bit high for him.If you project him as a safety,it just way too high.I am having an issue with what position he will play in the NFL like a lot of people are.He doesnt really turn and run the way you would want a corner too when he has to flip his hips,and he is very raw overall on defense to try to learn a new position at safety.

He has very limited experience only playing corner for 2 years now,and his technique is very poor and he is pretty raw overall compared to the top corners that will go in the first round.He also played against inferior competition at Utah,where he could get by on his sheer athleticism alone if he had too.He isnt going to be able to do that on the next level against the best of the best,if he makes one false move with his footwork or where he is looking he will be toast.

In my value board database I just got done with,the earliest anyone had him ranked was 30,highest was 50.His average was about 44.2,or mid 2nd round.In order for him to be taken at 26 he would have to be the 4th DB off the board(thats about where the 4th corner usually goes) and I just cant see that happening with the quality there is at the top this year at corner.

Someone could get enamored with him though and take a shot....but it would be a big gamble.His game still needs refining and he is far from a finished product,and those guys dont usually go in the first round.

[12jg34]

Even if you project Smith as a corner,26 is a bit high for him.If you project him as a safety,it just way too high.I am having an issue with what position he will play in the NFL like a lot of people are.He doesnt really turn and run the way you would want a corner too when he has to flip his hips,and he is very raw overall on defense to try to learn a new position at safety.

He has very limited experience only playing corner for 2 years now,and his technique is very poor and he is pretty raw overall compared to the top corners that will go in the first round.He also played against inferior competition at Utah,where he could get by on his sheer athleticism alone if he had too.He isnt going to be able to do that on the next level against the best of the best,if he makes one false move with his footwork or where he is looking he will be toast.

In my value board database I just got done with,the earliest anyone had him ranked was 30,highest was 50.His average was about 44.2,or mid 2nd round.In order for him to be taken at 26 he would have to be the 4th DB off the board(thats about where the 4th corner usually goes) and I just cant see that happening with the quality there is at the top this year at corner.

Someone could get enamored with him though and take a shot....but it would be a big gamble.His game still needs refining and he is far from a finished product,and those guys dont usually go in the first round.


Sounds like you've done a fair amount work on this. That's great, as opposed to most draft "experts" who just parrot what everyone else says.

A few questions for you:

(1) Have you seen enough tape of Sean Smith to be sure of your opinion?

(2) Whom do you like for the Ravens?


These next two questions are a little :ot

(2) I like Kenny Britt better than Hakeem Nicks, but this is based only on seeing three Rutgers games and two UNC games, as well as their senior-year highlights. What about you? How many WRs are normally taken in the first round on average?

(3) What do you think the chances of the Ravens going D-line in the first round are?

[baltimore_hokie]

San Jose State DL Jarron Gilbert is "rising on many draft boards," according to Mike Lombardi of the National Football Post.
Lombardi thinks Gilbert could crack the first round. Gilbert can play end in a 3-4 or tackle in a 4-3. It's hard to imagine him not going in the top 32.


my boy jarron gilbert....not in the third round as some were saying


i prefer him to tyson jackson because he could be a pass rushing DE in a 3-4, where tyson jackson is solely a run stopper. both are beasts though.

[Jeremiah W]

San Jose State DL Jarron Gilbert is "rising on many draft boards," according to Mike Lombardi of the National Football Post.
Lombardi thinks Gilbert could crack the first round. Gilbert can play end in a 3-4 or tackle in a 4-3. It's hard to imagine him not going in the top 32.


my boy jarron gilbert....not in the third round as some were saying


i prefer him to tyson jackson because he could be a pass rushing DE in a 3-4, where tyson jackson is solely a run stopper. both are beasts though.

He is one of those guys I never heard of but clearly passes the old eye ball test. At least in workouts and controlled practice. I would have to watch him play an entire game and see what he does on every snap to have a 1st round grade, but in workouts he looks the part for sure.

[baltimore_hokie]

He is one of those guys I never heard of but clearly passes the old eye ball test. At least in workouts and controlled practice. I would have to watch him play an entire game and see what he does on every snap to have a 1st round grade, but in workouts he looks the part for sure.

yeah, the thing that's tough about him is the weak competition he faced. he had 22 tackles for a loss this season, which is huge. the competition thing can go two ways--a) he faced shitty offensive lineman so his numbers look better than he is OR b) he was never given a one-on-one matchup because teams game planned against him every game. facing double and triple-teams all year make the numbers pretty incredible. i choose to be with option b because i like the guy. no doubt he has the tools to be great and i would love to see him in purple. he has an obviously higher bust factor for a late-first round guy but he looks like a beast to me.

[Jeremiah W]

yeah, the thing that's tough about him is the weak competition he faced. he had 22 tackles for a loss this season, which is huge. the competition thing can go two ways--a) he faced shitty offensive lineman so his numbers look better than he is OR b) he was never given a one-on-one matchup because teams game planned against him every game. facing double and triple-teams all year make the numbers pretty incredible. i choose to be with option b because i like the guy. no doubt he has the tools to be great and i would love to see him in purple. he has an obviously higher bust factor for a late-first round guy but he looks like a beast to me.

I tend to trust the measurables more than most. You can teach football skills, you can not teach a guy to be that big, strong and agile, unless you send him to balco or something.

He reminds me of the guy teh Cards got off the street Swann, who before they cut him down at the knees with what is now illegal chop blocks, was the beast of all beast DTs. He was like a huge Warren Sapp or John Randle.

[baltimore_hokie]

I tend to trust the measurables more than most. You can teach football skills, you can not teach a guy to be that big, strong and agile, unless you send him to balco or something.

He reminds me of the guy teh Cards got off the street Swann, who before they cut him down at the knees with what is now illegal chop blocks, was the beast of all beast DTs. He was like a huge Warren Sapp or John Randle.

he's not a DT. he would be a chris canty type of guy. trevor pryce is really a great comparison to him also. with his explosiveness and size he could play DE and slide to DT on passing downs. i love his versatility and i think that will draw a lot of teams to him.

[baltimore_hokie]

brian robiskie out of the ohio state is another guy that the colts could snag at the end of the first. he has the bloodlines and could be a marvin harrison-type.

[Jeremiah W]

It is starting to look like DHB could be that guy. With Crabree smaller and injured, and not sure how fast he is, Nicks getting fat and injury concerns surrounding Harvin and Macklin, DHB could shoot way up the board.

I have a feeling he does not get past the Raiders at 7 if the top Ts are gone. He has everything Troy Williamson had and more size and speed, and at the Ravens workout was up to 220 pounds. He may not be all that good, but when they work him out he is going to look better than Javon Walker, and Al Davis is crazy enough to take anyone who runs that fast in the 1st round no matter what the "experts" say.

[52decleetzu]

Sounds like you've done a fair amount work on this. That's great, as opposed to most draft "experts" who just parrot what everyone else says.

A few questions for you:

(1) Have you seen enough tape of Sean Smith to be sure of your opinion?

(2) Whom do you like for the Ravens?


These next two questions are a little :ot

(2) I like Kenny Britt better than Hakeem Nicks, but this is based only on seeing three Rutgers games and two UNC games, as well as their senior-year highlights. What about you? How many WRs are normally taken in the first round on average?

(3) What do you think the chances of the Ravens going D-line in the first round are?

1.Obviously I havent seen "game" tape(other than hightlights) but I saw the combine and the position drillls,and everyone had the same opinion about Smith with his turn and run ability.The transitions he made werent really as fluid as you would like,and after that most projected him at safety.He looked a little better on his Pro day after he droppped 5 pounds,but some are still leary with him at corner.He is just a big guy for corner,and he is only gonna get bigger and put on weight as he gets older..not less.

2.For the Ravens I like either a corner or pash rusher in the first,with a corner probably being a little better value at 26.There could be a run on pash rushers before we pick,there are some good ones that I have going in the 10-20 range.If their is a run on pash rushers,we could get tremendous value with a corner.But honestly Ozzie could go a number of ways at that spot,and I am guesing that one guy will slip...whoever it might be...and we will take him.Could be Pettigrew,could be an OLB pash rusher,could be a lot of different positions.

3.I have Nicks at about 35,and Britt in the 43 range.Nicks will likely go before we pick in the 2nd (or maybe even first), I dont see any way Britt is there when we pick in the second,and he is a reach in the first.IF he is there in the second,it would be a great pick and we would be getting a steal at that spot.Unlikely though.

Here is an article I wrote last week about wide receivers I think you will be interested in..check it out.

http://www.profootball24x7.com/column_view.php?cid=74

I like both guys,but I dont think the Ravens will go wideout in the 1st.Too much bad history on guys that come off the board in the late first round.2nd if anything for a WR.

Last year was a bit of an anomoly with the WR,with the 4th WR coming off the board at 41,but then there was a run on them.Here is the data for the past few years..

2008-
1st WR-33
2nd WR-34
3rd WR-36
4th WR-41
5th WR-42
6th WR-46
7th WR-49
8th WR-51

2007-
1st WR-2
2nd WR-9
3rd WR-23
4th WR-27
5th WR-30
6th WR-32
7th WR-44
8th WR-45

2006
1st WR-25
2nd WR-36
3rd WR-44
4th WR-52
5th WR-57
6th WR-71
7th WR-82
8th WR-84

2005
1st WR-3
2nd WR-7
3rd WR-10
4th WR-21
5th WR-22
6th WR-27
7th WR-35
8th WR-39

As you can see its a bit random depending on the talent coming out.This year there is a lot of top prospects,so I think you will be seeing a year like 2007.

4.I think there is a pretty big chance they go Dline in the 1st,if the right guy is there.We need a replacement for Pryce,or a pash rusher desperately.The Pryce of 2006 is long gone and he is in the last year of his deal,I wouldnt be surprised if we took a guy like Tyson Jackson who is a good 3-4 end at 26,he is a very safe pick and would give us another guy to roll in next year.The Ravens like to have that guy in place waiting for a year like they did with Gooden,and wouldnt be surprised if that is the way they went.Jarron Gilbert is also a possibility there,another 3-4 End who people have going anywhere from the late 1st to late 2nd.I dont necessarily like him that high,but I could see it happening.

[baltimore_hokie]

4.I think there is a pretty big chance they go Dline in the 1st,if the right guy is there.We need a replacement for Pryce,or a pash rusher desperately.The Pryce of 2006 is long gone and he is in the last year of his deal,I wouldnt be surprised if we took a guy like Tyson Jackson who is a good 3-4 end at 26,he is a very safe pick and would give us another guy to roll in next year.The Ravens like to have that guy in place waiting for a year like they did with Gooden,and wouldnt be surprised if that is the way they went.Jarron Gilbert is also a possibility there,another 3-4 End who people have going anywhere from the late 1st to late 2nd.I dont necessarily like him that high,but I could see it happening.

i agree with alot of what you say here and there is one reason i think we could take jarron gilbert over tyson jackson, even if both are still available--pass rush. tyson jackson is strictly a run stopper because he's not really all that explosive. he has no problem with double teams and holds his ground, but gilbert has the edge with being versatile enough to bring the rush. either one of those guys would likely move to NT during passing downs to try to get more pressure, but gilbert is definitely better in that aspect. i have seen jackson everywhere from 12th (which won't happen) to dropping out of the first, but i know some stooler fans that are drooling over him if he drops that far. i think jackson is definitely the safer pick, but gilbert's potential is through the roof.


now, i have been high on the DL all off-season, but i am quickly falling in love with ray maualuga. he is dropping because he ran a bad 40-time at the combine, but that shit doesn't matter--see sizzle. this guy is explosive and incredibly gifted. i see him going around the 16 spot to san diego and would not mind shelling out a third rounder or something like that to hop up in front of that to snag him.

[52decleetzu]

i agree with alot of what you say here and there is one reason i think we could take jarron gilbert over tyson jackson, even if both are still available--pass rush. tyson jackson is strictly a run stopper because he's not really all that explosive. he has no problem with double teams and holds his ground, but gilbert has the edge with being versatile enough to bring the rush. either one of those guys would likely move to NT during passing downs to try to get more pressure, but gilbert is definitely better in that aspect. i have seen jackson everywhere from 12th (which won't happen) to dropping out of the first, but i know some stooler fans that are drooling over him if he drops that far. i think jackson is definitely the safer pick, but gilbert's potential is through the roof.


now, i have been high on the DL all off-season, but i am quickly falling in love with ray maualuga. he is dropping because he ran a bad 40-time at the combine, but that shit doesn't matter--see sizzle. this guy is explosive and incredibly gifted. i see him going around the 16 spot to san diego and would not mind shelling out a third rounder or something like that to hop up in front of that to snag him.

Yeah Jackson is more of the safe,solid type pick while Gilbert is a little more of a gamble but has MUCH more upside.

[Jeremiah W]

We need a bookend rusher opposite Suggs. Preferably a big guy that can pressure from the strong side through a RT into the throwing lane.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuYTduJza1c

Gilbert reminds me of Pryce and could be a good pick. I also still have hope for Barnes, McLain and Jarrett Johnson is not bad rushing the Qb from that side although he seems better facing the LT.

This does seem like the most ready roster we have had going into a draft, so it will be intersting to see how Oz plays it. As soon as all the guys came off IR, I noticed we were already close to 53 guys that should make the roster under contract.

[baltimore_hokie]

Yeah Jackson is more of the safe,solid type pick while Gilbert is a little more of a gamble but has MUCH more upside.

i wish i could get more game tape on both of these guys, but from highlight reels and videos on youtube gilbert is SCARY. i'm glad everyone's coming around on the guy, but it is obviously still a risky pick

[Jeremiah W]

Ravens To Work Out Britt
Posted by Aaron Wilson on March 26, 2009, 5:04 p.m.
Rutgers wide receiver Kenny Britt is scheduled for a private workout next week with the Baltimore Ravens.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/category/rumor-mill/

I really like this guy as well, and if Nicks and DHB are off the board, he would be the next Wr. Very productive with very solid measurables, but he did play in a prolific offense with other dynamic NFL talent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a98USWn8dG0

[baltimore_hokie]

Ravens To Work Out Britt
Posted by Aaron Wilson on March 26, 2009, 5:04 p.m.
Rutgers wide receiver Kenny Britt is scheduled for a private workout next week with the Baltimore Ravens.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/category/rumor-mill/

I really like this guy as well, and if Nicks and DHB are off the board, he would be the next Wr. Very productive with very solid measurables, but he did play in a prolific offense with other dynamic NFL talent.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a98USWn8dG0

he's good, but definitely not worth the pick at 26 overall. he's big and ahs decent speed, but is just a possession WR without bringing much of a down-field threat to speak of

[jonboy79]

There are more then a few circumstances which could lead me to be happy wiht the Ravens ending up with Britt, even as high as our current first rounder. That said, there are quite a few players I would choose over him as well. Let's hope we are not that unlucky.

[12jg34]

he's good, but definitely not worth the pick at 26 overall. he's big and ahs decent speed, but is just a possession WR without bringing much of a down-field threat to speak of

While Britt isn't a down field threat, he does provide something that the Ravens current WR corps doesn't have: a player who can actually provide yards after the catch b/c of his size. Both Clayton and Mason go down immediately after initial contact b/c of their size. Britt, on the other hand, is the same size as TO and will shed a few tacklers who don't get a good shot on him.

[Gabrosin]

He is the only Cb I want at 26. I have seen him mocked there, but mostly into the early 2nd. It is a premium position and his comparison to Asomogha and a couple of his youtube highlights could well have him jump up the board near the end.
The guy Gilbert may also be one of those guys that is just so impressive in a workout he jumps way up into the 1st out of the late 2nd range as well as almost any 2nd round rated beast line player from a smaller school Like Sidbury or workout wonder like Barwin.

I hope you're saying that while making the assumption that Vontae Davis doesn't fall to us. If Davis gets near us, I could even see the Ravens making a small move up to go get him.

[Jeremiah W]

I hope you're saying that while making the assumption that Vontae Davis doesn't fall to us. If Davis gets near us, I could even see the Ravens making a small move up to go get him.

I expect him to be the 1st one picked and would take him over any WR other than Crabtree. I have not seen him fall past 15 in most recent mocks.

The combine times were down accross the board, and almost eveyone at the skill spots ran faster last year. I heard the surface was slower than ever, and Davis really ran 4.4, and DHB was closer to 4.2 than the posted 4.3.