Chaos Commish
Footballguy
Input is appreciated. I'm leaving out several underclassmen who may declare. I prefer seeing the seniors get bumped for discussing new names as they declare, but feel free to chime in on any draft eligible players. If you catch a serious oversight, know that I rarely comment on players I haven't seen. Mississippi State, Oklahoma State and Iowa State all have solid DTs I haven't checked out this year. A couple small schoolers are also getting some hype.
DTs - Some pretty solid talent in this class. Not real sure about the depth because I tend to get a little too excited about each class, but I like this group. This isn't a premium (fantasy) position, but solid interiors sure help those LBs and DEs. .
1. Alan Branch, Michigan, 6-6 330 - The Stud DL of this draft. Underclassmen. Will go very early (top 5 probable). Has nice IDP potential for a DT. He is disruptive and a playmaker from the interior.
2. Glenn Dorsey, 6-2 305, LSU - I'm a little befuddled at how little love he's getting (in mocks and such), but I guess once he officially declares people will start talking. This kid is MORE disruptive than Branch. He just isn't the giant physical speciman. He's this year's Brodrick Bunkley but MORE athletic. The Tommie Harris/Warren Sapp compares are valid. Dorsey added 20 pounds of muscle this season (like Bunkley a year ago) and I have no doubts about him in the NFL. I think all the bio and player card info out there listing him at 285 is responsible for him being overlooked. It was part of the problem with Bunkley last year. Soon as he weighed in his stock soared. Dorsey needs to declare and tip tumblers.
3. Quinn Pitcock, Ohio State, 6-3 300 - Very complete interior player. Flashed an unexpected pass rush this year that was just a good sign he is ready for Sundays. These top three look like can't miss NFL starters to me.
4. Marcus Thomas, 6-3 305, Florida - Vastly talented suspended pothead. You see him make a few plays and you're not overly impressed. Then you realize #44 is a DT and he's a little jaw dropping. I think he benefits from the postseason poking and prodding because his speed/strength/athleticism ratio will be very impressive, and he'll say all the right things in interviews. He failed two drug tests, owned up to smoking pot, swore to clean up, may have, may not have; but he missed a curfew and failed to complete a drug program, so Meyer dismissed him. He will be very missed in the national championship game. One measure of this kid's talent is fellow DL Ray McDonald. You'll see McDonald (a DE) in the first round of many mocks. Thomas is a much much better player than McDonald. Thomas could play NT, DT, UT, or 3-4 DE and be solid. If he falls in the draft over character concerns and you need and start DTs, this is the name to store away if you don't want to use a draft pick on one of the top 3.
5. DeMarcus Tyler, 6-1 310, NC St. - Hard nosed, very powerful, low centered, athletic two gapper. Could play NT if drafted to do so. That's a rarity lately. Not a fan of his fantasy potential, but a very nice run stuffer for your struggling LBs.
6. Brandon Mebane, Cal, 6-3 300 - Ooof. Mebane was often regarded as the top DT in this class a year ago. Now some would suggest I have him too high. I think Mebane ends the DTs with a shot at the first round (6!?), and I obviously still think Mebane is a terrific prospect. He had an inconsistent year, as did the Cal Bears, but at his best he is freakishly good. I mentioned somewhere (in some mock draft here) that USC Center Ryan Kalil had an almost perfect season. Well, Mebane makes that "an almost" because he destroyed the highly regarded Trojan center. Tedford has nothing but high praise for his DT and likes to point out that he was always doubled and often occuppied three players setting things up for his LBs. I nearly put him at #5.
7. Kareem Brown, 6-3 315, Miami FL - He does everything at a high level. Everytime I watched Miami this year this guy was heavily involved in a positive way. A first year starter, perhaps not given the credit he deserves for lack of experience and name recognition, but Brown is a player. The Canes led the ACC against the run and Brown was, imo, the primary reason.
8. Justin Harrell, Tennesee, 6-4 300 - We're forced to go on last year and his potential because of injury, but I like him enough to put him here for now and have him poised to move up a spot or three. I put him here because I sense a sizeable drop off after him or Brown, and I think this top 7 or 8 are all very capable players for the next level.
9. Amobi Okoye, Louisville, 6-1 315 - The prodigy. He gets a lot of (1st round) love in mocks. I understand he is only 20. I also understand he played well in Stanley's absence. I know he lost weight. I'm not sure if that's good. Shouldn't a 19 year old be able to add size and strength without losing speed? He needed the speed so he dieted. I read reports of him stuffing everything. That's not what I saw in the big games (Rutgers and WVirgina). He was great against weak competion and looked like a sophomore against the better teams. If he goes in the first round, I'll eat crow, but if his value is predicated on youth and not performance as I suspect, that's a huge risk. Mr. Dufresne. Your wonder boy is going up against a very solid center in the Orange Bowl. Let's watch him closely. I'll be open minded about this kid. I'm always (okay almost always) willing to defer to experts when I am outnumbered, and I do believe Okoye has NFL talent. I just don't see the very very high ratings and first round projection.
10. Jay Alford, Penn State, 6-3 295 - I could have went with a few names to make ten, but Alford deserves mention somewhere. Watching Penn State's LBs stuff and clean up everything I realized there was some serious talent on that DL. Alford is a tough customer
DTs are about the least interesting for fantasy purposes, so I did them first. I'll try to do DEs and OLBs in one post, ILBs, CBs and Ss during bowl season when many of us get a chance to check 'em out.
DTs - Some pretty solid talent in this class. Not real sure about the depth because I tend to get a little too excited about each class, but I like this group. This isn't a premium (fantasy) position, but solid interiors sure help those LBs and DEs. .
1. Alan Branch, Michigan, 6-6 330 - The Stud DL of this draft. Underclassmen. Will go very early (top 5 probable). Has nice IDP potential for a DT. He is disruptive and a playmaker from the interior.
2. Glenn Dorsey, 6-2 305, LSU - I'm a little befuddled at how little love he's getting (in mocks and such), but I guess once he officially declares people will start talking. This kid is MORE disruptive than Branch. He just isn't the giant physical speciman. He's this year's Brodrick Bunkley but MORE athletic. The Tommie Harris/Warren Sapp compares are valid. Dorsey added 20 pounds of muscle this season (like Bunkley a year ago) and I have no doubts about him in the NFL. I think all the bio and player card info out there listing him at 285 is responsible for him being overlooked. It was part of the problem with Bunkley last year. Soon as he weighed in his stock soared. Dorsey needs to declare and tip tumblers.
3. Quinn Pitcock, Ohio State, 6-3 300 - Very complete interior player. Flashed an unexpected pass rush this year that was just a good sign he is ready for Sundays. These top three look like can't miss NFL starters to me.
4. Marcus Thomas, 6-3 305, Florida - Vastly talented suspended pothead. You see him make a few plays and you're not overly impressed. Then you realize #44 is a DT and he's a little jaw dropping. I think he benefits from the postseason poking and prodding because his speed/strength/athleticism ratio will be very impressive, and he'll say all the right things in interviews. He failed two drug tests, owned up to smoking pot, swore to clean up, may have, may not have; but he missed a curfew and failed to complete a drug program, so Meyer dismissed him. He will be very missed in the national championship game. One measure of this kid's talent is fellow DL Ray McDonald. You'll see McDonald (a DE) in the first round of many mocks. Thomas is a much much better player than McDonald. Thomas could play NT, DT, UT, or 3-4 DE and be solid. If he falls in the draft over character concerns and you need and start DTs, this is the name to store away if you don't want to use a draft pick on one of the top 3.
5. DeMarcus Tyler, 6-1 310, NC St. - Hard nosed, very powerful, low centered, athletic two gapper. Could play NT if drafted to do so. That's a rarity lately. Not a fan of his fantasy potential, but a very nice run stuffer for your struggling LBs.
6. Brandon Mebane, Cal, 6-3 300 - Ooof. Mebane was often regarded as the top DT in this class a year ago. Now some would suggest I have him too high. I think Mebane ends the DTs with a shot at the first round (6!?), and I obviously still think Mebane is a terrific prospect. He had an inconsistent year, as did the Cal Bears, but at his best he is freakishly good. I mentioned somewhere (in some mock draft here) that USC Center Ryan Kalil had an almost perfect season. Well, Mebane makes that "an almost" because he destroyed the highly regarded Trojan center. Tedford has nothing but high praise for his DT and likes to point out that he was always doubled and often occuppied three players setting things up for his LBs. I nearly put him at #5.
7. Kareem Brown, 6-3 315, Miami FL - He does everything at a high level. Everytime I watched Miami this year this guy was heavily involved in a positive way. A first year starter, perhaps not given the credit he deserves for lack of experience and name recognition, but Brown is a player. The Canes led the ACC against the run and Brown was, imo, the primary reason.
8. Justin Harrell, Tennesee, 6-4 300 - We're forced to go on last year and his potential because of injury, but I like him enough to put him here for now and have him poised to move up a spot or three. I put him here because I sense a sizeable drop off after him or Brown, and I think this top 7 or 8 are all very capable players for the next level.
9. Amobi Okoye, Louisville, 6-1 315 - The prodigy. He gets a lot of (1st round) love in mocks. I understand he is only 20. I also understand he played well in Stanley's absence. I know he lost weight. I'm not sure if that's good. Shouldn't a 19 year old be able to add size and strength without losing speed? He needed the speed so he dieted. I read reports of him stuffing everything. That's not what I saw in the big games (Rutgers and WVirgina). He was great against weak competion and looked like a sophomore against the better teams. If he goes in the first round, I'll eat crow, but if his value is predicated on youth and not performance as I suspect, that's a huge risk. Mr. Dufresne. Your wonder boy is going up against a very solid center in the Orange Bowl. Let's watch him closely. I'll be open minded about this kid. I'm always (okay almost always) willing to defer to experts when I am outnumbered, and I do believe Okoye has NFL talent. I just don't see the very very high ratings and first round projection.
10. Jay Alford, Penn State, 6-3 295 - I could have went with a few names to make ten, but Alford deserves mention somewhere. Watching Penn State's LBs stuff and clean up everything I realized there was some serious talent on that DL. Alford is a tough customer
DTs are about the least interesting for fantasy purposes, so I did them first. I'll try to do DEs and OLBs in one post, ILBs, CBs and Ss during bowl season when many of us get a chance to check 'em out.
For the record, I liked Mario, Manny, Kamerion, Mathias, Anderson and Tapp better than Tamba. I also mentioned thinking Ray Edwards was as good and Adeyanju was similar. Now, those are all pretty darn good looking rookies and I don't feel like a complete idiot for pimping Anderson and Edwards, and I don't think Hali is better than Kiwi, but I sure was too critical. I don't know if it was here or elsewhere but part of my anti-Hali schtick was praise for Alford last year. Alford was top five in the Big 10 in sacks and many times chased a QB into Hali by blowing up the middle. IF he was 300+. IF PSU lineman could be trusted to do due diligence in the weightroom. Therefore, IF I didn't make the mistake of overemphasizing measureables; then I would have Alford at #7 and 7-10 reversed. So, I'm probably guilty of underrating him as I struggled to make him top 10.
For the record, I liked Mario, Manny, Kamerion, Mathias, Anderson and Tapp better than Tamba. I also mentioned thinking Ray Edwards was as good and Adeyanju was similar. Now, those are all pretty darn good looking rookies and I don't feel like a complete idiot for pimping Anderson and Edwards, and I don't think Hali is better than Kiwi, but I sure was too critical. I don't know if it was here or elsewhere but part of my anti-Hali schtick was praise for Alford last year. Alford was top five in the Big 10 in sacks and many times chased a QB into Hali by blowing up the middle. IF he was 300+. IF PSU lineman could be trusted to do due diligence in the weightroom. Therefore, IF I didn't make the mistake of overemphasizing measureables; then I would have Alford at #7 and 7-10 reversed. So, I'm probably guilty of underrating him as I struggled to make him top 10.
