2010 Draft Talk

[JVides]

If fans got do the drafting, half of the Rutgers team would wind up playing for the Jets.....Boston College and UConn would be well represented on the Patriots.....Every Charger would come from USC.....etc. 

Yeah, but when I wanted the 'Phins to draft Vince Wilfork over Vernon Carey, I feel like I was right (even though Carey's a very nice RT).  When I wanted Reggie Wayne over Jamar Fletcher in 2001, I think we all know that would've been nice.

When Clinton Portis came out, all anyone wanted to talk about was William Green from BC.  When Andre Johnson came out, everyone liked Charles Rodgers as the greatest WR prospect in ages...we 'Canes fans knew better.  Anyway, when it comes to UM players, they work out pretty well, so I don't feel quite as silly for openly lobbying for the Dolphins to take a 4th round chance on Jimmy Graham.

[Tenshot13]

Bad route running?  I think not.  He'll go in the 2nd or 3rd round.

I'm going off what a few websites have said about where he is projected to go.

NFLdraftscouts.com says he's projected to go in the 3rd.
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=75582&draftyear=2010&genpos=WR

Walterfootball.com says he's projected to go 5-6 round and he runs bad routes (#19 on list in link).
http://walterfootball.com/draft2010WR.php

fftoolbox.com says he'll go in 3-4 round.
http://www.fftoolbox.com/nfl_draft/profile_display.cfm?prospect_id=2275

www.nfldraftdog.com says his weakness is route running, but he is going to be the best WR in this draft class.
http://www.nfldraftdog.com/2010-nfl-draft/danario-alexander.html


So going by all of that, that's why I said he would be a mid (3rd round) to late (6 round) pick and that he runs bad routes.  I have to admit, the more I look at his body of work and skill set, the more I want to take Alexander and not Benn.  He's bigger and doesn't seem to drop the ball like Benn does, and there is a possibility to take him in the 3rd round, and use our 2nd rounder on other needs, like LB or Safety.  Hmmmm.

[StL FinFan]

^ If people think he runs bad routes, that can be taught.  You can't teach hands, size and speed.  Without him Mizzou would have sucked donkey balls this year. 

[Tenshot13]

^ If people think he runs bad routes, that can be taught.  You can't teach hands, size and speed.  Without him Mizzou would have sucked donkey balls this year. 

Yeah, I completely agree with you there.  The guy is a beast.  I would be happy to draft him.

[StL FinFan]

Yeah, I completely agree with you there.  The guy is a beast.  I would be happy to draft him.

Glad to have you on board.

[Sunstroke]

I think there are at least 3 or 4 of us already that wouldn't mind seeing Alexander sitting there for Miami in the 3rd round, where he's projected now. My only worry, and it's a big one, is that he seems like "exactly" the type of receiver who impresses the living shit out of personnel folks when they get up close and personal with him in private "show us your skills" settings. Methinks he's going to have a green up-arrow attached to his name on draft boards in the months leading up to the draft, and he might not even be available when Miami's 2nd round pick comes up.

I know, I know...pessimism is no fun, but that's just the way I see things shaking out.

[Tenshot13]

fyo was asking me in the "who stays, who goes" thread, what would be the solution if Fasano walks?

What about drafting Dennis Pitta, BYU in the 3rd round?  He has great size (6'5'' 250 lbs.), decent speed (mid 4.6 forty), and had a monster year in 2008 (82 receptions, 1,072 yards and 6 TDs) and a pretty good year in 2009 (62 receptions, 829 yards and 8 TDs).  Walterfootball.com had a new mock released today and it had us taking (to the liking of Gator fans) Aaron Hernandez, Florida in the 3rd round. 

The only thing is I really wanted to take Micah Johnson, MLB, Kentucky with this pick, but he may still be around in the 4th round.  Some scouting sites say he could be better than Spikes, and by combine time, could be a 2nd rounder. 

[JVides]

Demaryius Thomas, anyone?  Would not mind seeing that beast line up at WR for Miami...

[Tenshot13]

Demaryius Thomas, anyone?  Would not mind seeing that beast line up at WR for Miami...

Reasons I do not want to take Demaryius Thomas...

http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2010dthomas.php

[JVides]

Reasons I do not want to take Demaryius Thomas...

http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2010dthomas.php

Thanks for the link, Tenshot.  I wasn't aware of his route running issues.  I looked at him and saw Oronde Gadsden (physical blocker, huge frame, "un-pressable" at the line of scrimmage, rediculous red zone threat, etc...)

[Sunstroke]

Reasons I do not want to take Demaryius Thomas...

http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2010dthomas.php   

While I enjoy reading Walterfootball.com's mock drafts, I can't ever take their scouting reports at face value without my own corroboration. A couple of years ago, we had Matt McGuire from that site on our radio show, and he proclaimed that Andre Woodson from Kentucky would become a great NFL QB. Not a good one...a great QB. He's a free agent now, and never advanced past the practice squad after being drafted by the Giants.

Not saying that site doesn't do some good scouting, but always remember that they are not infallible, and can be prone to predispositions that affect that scouting. Always trust your own eyes before you trust someone else's.

[dolfan13]

earl thomas, assuming he comes out early from texas, is gonna be a damn good free safety in the nfl. can cover, good ball skills, speed, can hit... just a real playmaker, and would fill an immediate need in the secondary.

[Tenshot13]

While I enjoy reading Walterfootball.com's mock drafts, I can't ever take their scouting reports at face value without my own corroboration. A couple of years ago, we had Matt McGuire from that site on our radio show, and he proclaimed that Andre Woodson from Kentucky would become a great NFL QB. Not a good one...a great QB. He's a free agent now, and never advanced past the practice squad after being drafted by the Giants.

Not saying that site doesn't do some good scouting, but always remember that they are not infallible, and can be prone to predispositions that affect that scouting. Always trust your own eyes before you trust someone else's.

I completely agree with you.  Its one of my favorite sites to go to, but I don't take to heart everything they say on there.  If I see something like what he says about Demaryius Thomas, I'll research it a bit more and check out what other sites say, watch some youtube videos on the player, ect.  Most other scouting sites say the same thing about Thomas.  Another example; he has Dan Williams ahead of Terrence Cody right now, but I think Cody is going to be a more dominant DT in the NFL.  I see Walterfootball as more a jumping off point to research some prospects.

[Sunstroke]

I see Walterfootball as more a jumping off point to research some prospects.

I agree completely...I use it to point me in specific directions to look when forming my own opinion.

I do "really" like the fact that Walterfootball.com's current mock draft has my 49ers going after WR Danario Alexander in round three.

A WR duo of Crabtree-Alexander has me all a'twitch here...all we'd need then is a real QB and a RT upgrade, and we might actually have an offense that can match our rapidly-developing studly defense.

[Sunstroke]

(Posting with two sincere disclaimers. 1: Discussing "draft slotting" in January, before Combine, Pro days, personal workouts, etc, for any player outside the top 3-5 overall is like throwing darts...blindfolded...in a wind tunnel. 2: My own personal mock draft slotting system is contained solely between ear #1 and ear #2 and is prone to change at a moment's notice if new information/visual evidence is added or if general whim should take me)

OK, Random draft thought...Three players that, by my own current "mock draft slotting," are round 3 or later that I would take for either of the two teams I love to cheer for (SF and Miami) without hesitation, because I think they will turn into quality NFL players at outstanding value:

1) CB Jerome Murphy, South Florida (currently projecting in rd 3). While he is playing corner now, I look at his frame, the way he plays in space and tackles (with prejudice) in the open field, and when I squint my eyes while watching him play, I see an NFL free safety waiting to beef up and blossom. Natural ballhawk mentality. I want him, and if I could throw a preemptive third rounder and reserve him now, you bet your ass I'd do it.

2) QB Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan (currently projecting in rd 3). I'll give credit where due...if it weren't for ESPN's new college fantasy football game, I likely wouldn't have seen any Chippewas action outside Sportscenter highlights. Instead, I watched 5 of their games, and I drooled over young Mr LeFevour during all of them. Good-but-not-Roethlisbergian size (6'3" 230 lbs), solid arm that throws with a lot of accuracy on the short to medium routes, and while he puts a little too much air under it at times on the deep ball, I've seen enough deep balls on a line that I think the occasional loft can be coached out of him. Really love his pocket presence...he rarely takes a "hard" sack, and think his leadership intangibles are tops in this year's QB class. I caught both of CMU's losses this year, on the road against my Arizona Wildcats (FBS #21 ranking in total defense) and at Boston College (#23 in same). Despite both teams beating him pretty handily, there wasn't a guy on CMU's offense in either game that wasn't running full fire until the final play of the game. If he's there in round three when my 49ers come up, I would apply foot to Alex Smith's ass in the general direction of the door and usher in the new age of Boogie LeFevour in the Bay area.

3) OLB (for 3-4 scheme) Antonio Coleman, Auburn (currently projecting in rd 4). Unlike Central Michigan, I've gotten to watch a lot of Coleman during his 4 years at Auburn. I think confusion about what his natural position at the next level will be, I see a clear-cut OLB in a 3-4 scheme. Great ability to get off the ball quickly, and already has a nice array of attack moves that's allowed him to consistently get into the pocket. One tool in his shed that I feel will make him a quality NFL OLB is his ability to adjust from "pass rush" mode to "run stop" mode at full speed and get his hands on the RB before he can escape. One other thing I like is that he really seems to have gotten better every one of his three full seasons as a starter in the toughest conference in college football.



(edited for typo-mania)