baltimore_hokie
01-28-2010, 02:28 PM
Has some good nuggets of info:
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/column.aspx?sport=NFL&columnid=203&articleid=34654&pg=1
I am noticing that this draft seems like it has a ton of guys at WR, CB, and DL that project as very good players to be had in the first two rounds. With these obviously being the biggest areas of need, hopefully we will find some good matches and get some value as well.
North Team
Wide Recevers/Tight Ends – I think that most of the receivers here this week have helped themselves. Ohio's Taylor Price has had the best week, showing explosion in and out of his breaks, and has shown that he's capable of making acrobatic catches. He does a terrific job of catching the ball away from his body. Price could go as high as the second or third round after this week. Clemson's Jacoby Ford has shown his quickness and speed and has also done a good job as a punt returner this week. Missouri's Danario Alexander is a very large target, and it's even more apparent when you see him in person. He has the frame and talent to develop into a fine No. 2 wideout in the NFL. Cincinnati's Mardy Gilyard has had an inconsistent week. He's dropped too many passes, but he's also displayed his terrific athleticism as a receiver down the field. I still see Gilyard as a third round pick in this year's loaded draft. At tight end, Ed Dickson of Oregon has elevated himself to being the top senior tight end and has passed USC's Anthony McCoy. Dickson has terrific athleticism and is an underrated blocker in the run game. He could go as high as the third round as well.
Defensive Line – Michigan's Brandon Graham stood out over any of the other defensive linemen. He was explosive off the ball and showed great strength at the point of attack. He's a complete defensive end whose best fit in the NFL will come as a 4-3 end or as a 3-4 outside rush linebacker. Graham is a second-round prospect who could creep into the late-first with a great Combine workout. Alex Carrington of Arkansas State has had a great week of practice and has really elevated his draft stock. I mentioned on Tuesday on my site that Carrington reminds me a little of Jason Jones of Eastern Michigan from a couple of years ago. Both players are small-school types, same size at 6-5, 280 lbs as well. Jones plays end and tackle in the Tennessee Titan's 4-3 alignment, and I could see Carrington having the same type of success there as well. At defensive tackle, North Carolina's Cam Thomas had the best week of any player at his position. His strength on the interior of the line was outstanding and he showed that he's capable of penetrating the pocket against elite competition with ease. Thomas' stock is on fire and he could be a fast riser as we approach late-April. Wisconsin's O'Brien Schofield is clearly the one player that hurt his draft stock the most. He tore his ACL on Monday on a pass rush play against Vladimir Ducasse. For a player whose greatest strength is his explosion off the edge, Schofield's reconstructed knee is going to be a major concern for teams in the NFL. What he can hope for is that a team will draft him and stash him on injured reserve and let him develop and rehab for a year, kind of like a redshirt year in college football.
econdary – No player helped themselves more this week than Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson. The stud defensive back exhibited shutdown-type of ability, mirroring opposing wide receivers in and out of their breaks as well as down the field. Wilson is at his best in press coverage, however he's also shown that he can play off and zone coverage as well. Wilson has established himself as the top senior cornerback in this year's draft and has a realistic chance of going at the end of the first round. Two other players who really helped themselves were Virginia's Chris Cook and Cal's Syd'Quan Thompson. Cook has a tall frame at 6-2 and he's a smooth athlete who is capable of playing man-to-man coverage at the line. He was a bit of an unknown coming into the week but he's really helped himself out. Thompson is a shorter corner who gets by with his physical play; he's an active player in defending the run and is very instinctive in reading the quarterback's eyes and making a play on the ball. At safety, Notre Dame's Kyle McCarthy did the best job in coverage. He's a smart, instinctive player who is always around the football. He does a good job of reading that quarterback and trying to make plays on the ball. Of all of the defensive backs, I thought that Ohio State's Kurt Coleman struggled the most. He has stiff hips and didn't offer much of a challenge in coverage. He's more of a strong safety in the NFL than he is a free safety.
South Team
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends – Among the receiver group on the South Team, The Citadel's Andre Roberts has been the most impressive. His explosion and quick-twitch play has been evident as he's raced by defensive backs all week. Roberts is a great fit as a slot receiver in the NFL and he also has the ability to return punts as well. Roberts should go in the middle of the draft in April. Tulane's Jeremy Williams has the chance to be the next productive player from the Green Wave to enter the NFL, following in the footsteps of Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte. Williams is a quicker, more agile receiver who catches everything that is thrown in his direction. He projects as a No. 2 or No. 3 receiver for his team. Joe Webb, a quarterback from UAB, has had a slow transition to the receiver position, however he's shown the talent and potential that scouts are looking for. I mentioned yesterday on Draft Headquarters that Webb could potentially develop into being the next Antwaan Randle El or Joshua Cribbs, a quarterback in college who changed positions and became a successful wide receiver/returner in the NFL. Between the two SEC receivers here, Florida's Riley Cooper has stood out more than Ole Miss' Shay Hodge. Cooper who was Tim Tebow's go-to option on the outside, projects as a possession receiver in the NFL. Hodge is a smooth athlete who runs crisp routes and has the potential to develop into a nice No. 3 or No. 4 wideout in the NFL. Hodge isn't quite on the same level as former Rebel receiver and current Pittsburgh Steeler Mike Wallce, but he isn't too far behind. At tight end, Miami (FL)'s Jimmy Graham has been one of the most impressive players in attendance and has clearly out-played USC's Anthony McCoy. Graham has the speed and agility needed to stretch the field vertically, and with his massive frame, he gives the quarterback a large target to throw to down the middle of the field.
Defensive Line – The two players who impressed me the most on the defensive line for the South squad were both teammates in college: Georgia's Geno Atkins and Jeff Owens. Atkins was an absolute stud this week and is by far one of the top pass rushing defensive tackles in this year's draft. His explosive burst off the ball along with extremely quick hands makes him a terror for an opposing offensive lineman to deal with. Atkins elevated his draft stock from the middle of the draft to as high as the late-second round. Owens is a far bigger player than Atkins is a better run-plugger than Atkins is; however, he also showed nice agility for such a big player and brought visions of a little Warren Sapp to my mind. Tennessee's Dan Williams also had a very good week on the interior of the line. He exhibited elite strength and showed that he's capable of being a fire hydrant in the one-technique. Williams should be a second round pick in April. Out at end, George Selvie of South Florida had a productive week; he had a great play today in which he bull-rushed the opposing offensive lineman and knocked him right onto his back. Selvie was tried out at linebacker, which looked like a work in progress, but he displayed the pass rushing ability that scouts were hoping to see from him this week. I was impressed by the amount of strength that he has.
Continued...
http://www.rotoworld.com/content/features/column.aspx?sport=NFL&columnid=203&articleid=34654&pg=1
I am noticing that this draft seems like it has a ton of guys at WR, CB, and DL that project as very good players to be had in the first two rounds. With these obviously being the biggest areas of need, hopefully we will find some good matches and get some value as well.
North Team
Wide Recevers/Tight Ends – I think that most of the receivers here this week have helped themselves. Ohio's Taylor Price has had the best week, showing explosion in and out of his breaks, and has shown that he's capable of making acrobatic catches. He does a terrific job of catching the ball away from his body. Price could go as high as the second or third round after this week. Clemson's Jacoby Ford has shown his quickness and speed and has also done a good job as a punt returner this week. Missouri's Danario Alexander is a very large target, and it's even more apparent when you see him in person. He has the frame and talent to develop into a fine No. 2 wideout in the NFL. Cincinnati's Mardy Gilyard has had an inconsistent week. He's dropped too many passes, but he's also displayed his terrific athleticism as a receiver down the field. I still see Gilyard as a third round pick in this year's loaded draft. At tight end, Ed Dickson of Oregon has elevated himself to being the top senior tight end and has passed USC's Anthony McCoy. Dickson has terrific athleticism and is an underrated blocker in the run game. He could go as high as the third round as well.
Defensive Line – Michigan's Brandon Graham stood out over any of the other defensive linemen. He was explosive off the ball and showed great strength at the point of attack. He's a complete defensive end whose best fit in the NFL will come as a 4-3 end or as a 3-4 outside rush linebacker. Graham is a second-round prospect who could creep into the late-first with a great Combine workout. Alex Carrington of Arkansas State has had a great week of practice and has really elevated his draft stock. I mentioned on Tuesday on my site that Carrington reminds me a little of Jason Jones of Eastern Michigan from a couple of years ago. Both players are small-school types, same size at 6-5, 280 lbs as well. Jones plays end and tackle in the Tennessee Titan's 4-3 alignment, and I could see Carrington having the same type of success there as well. At defensive tackle, North Carolina's Cam Thomas had the best week of any player at his position. His strength on the interior of the line was outstanding and he showed that he's capable of penetrating the pocket against elite competition with ease. Thomas' stock is on fire and he could be a fast riser as we approach late-April. Wisconsin's O'Brien Schofield is clearly the one player that hurt his draft stock the most. He tore his ACL on Monday on a pass rush play against Vladimir Ducasse. For a player whose greatest strength is his explosion off the edge, Schofield's reconstructed knee is going to be a major concern for teams in the NFL. What he can hope for is that a team will draft him and stash him on injured reserve and let him develop and rehab for a year, kind of like a redshirt year in college football.
econdary – No player helped themselves more this week than Boise State cornerback Kyle Wilson. The stud defensive back exhibited shutdown-type of ability, mirroring opposing wide receivers in and out of their breaks as well as down the field. Wilson is at his best in press coverage, however he's also shown that he can play off and zone coverage as well. Wilson has established himself as the top senior cornerback in this year's draft and has a realistic chance of going at the end of the first round. Two other players who really helped themselves were Virginia's Chris Cook and Cal's Syd'Quan Thompson. Cook has a tall frame at 6-2 and he's a smooth athlete who is capable of playing man-to-man coverage at the line. He was a bit of an unknown coming into the week but he's really helped himself out. Thompson is a shorter corner who gets by with his physical play; he's an active player in defending the run and is very instinctive in reading the quarterback's eyes and making a play on the ball. At safety, Notre Dame's Kyle McCarthy did the best job in coverage. He's a smart, instinctive player who is always around the football. He does a good job of reading that quarterback and trying to make plays on the ball. Of all of the defensive backs, I thought that Ohio State's Kurt Coleman struggled the most. He has stiff hips and didn't offer much of a challenge in coverage. He's more of a strong safety in the NFL than he is a free safety.
South Team
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends – Among the receiver group on the South Team, The Citadel's Andre Roberts has been the most impressive. His explosion and quick-twitch play has been evident as he's raced by defensive backs all week. Roberts is a great fit as a slot receiver in the NFL and he also has the ability to return punts as well. Roberts should go in the middle of the draft in April. Tulane's Jeremy Williams has the chance to be the next productive player from the Green Wave to enter the NFL, following in the footsteps of Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte. Williams is a quicker, more agile receiver who catches everything that is thrown in his direction. He projects as a No. 2 or No. 3 receiver for his team. Joe Webb, a quarterback from UAB, has had a slow transition to the receiver position, however he's shown the talent and potential that scouts are looking for. I mentioned yesterday on Draft Headquarters that Webb could potentially develop into being the next Antwaan Randle El or Joshua Cribbs, a quarterback in college who changed positions and became a successful wide receiver/returner in the NFL. Between the two SEC receivers here, Florida's Riley Cooper has stood out more than Ole Miss' Shay Hodge. Cooper who was Tim Tebow's go-to option on the outside, projects as a possession receiver in the NFL. Hodge is a smooth athlete who runs crisp routes and has the potential to develop into a nice No. 3 or No. 4 wideout in the NFL. Hodge isn't quite on the same level as former Rebel receiver and current Pittsburgh Steeler Mike Wallce, but he isn't too far behind. At tight end, Miami (FL)'s Jimmy Graham has been one of the most impressive players in attendance and has clearly out-played USC's Anthony McCoy. Graham has the speed and agility needed to stretch the field vertically, and with his massive frame, he gives the quarterback a large target to throw to down the middle of the field.
Defensive Line – The two players who impressed me the most on the defensive line for the South squad were both teammates in college: Georgia's Geno Atkins and Jeff Owens. Atkins was an absolute stud this week and is by far one of the top pass rushing defensive tackles in this year's draft. His explosive burst off the ball along with extremely quick hands makes him a terror for an opposing offensive lineman to deal with. Atkins elevated his draft stock from the middle of the draft to as high as the late-second round. Owens is a far bigger player than Atkins is a better run-plugger than Atkins is; however, he also showed nice agility for such a big player and brought visions of a little Warren Sapp to my mind. Tennessee's Dan Williams also had a very good week on the interior of the line. He exhibited elite strength and showed that he's capable of being a fire hydrant in the one-technique. Williams should be a second round pick in April. Out at end, George Selvie of South Florida had a productive week; he had a great play today in which he bull-rushed the opposing offensive lineman and knocked him right onto his back. Selvie was tried out at linebacker, which looked like a work in progress, but he displayed the pass rushing ability that scouts were hoping to see from him this week. I was impressed by the amount of strength that he has.
Continued...