[Dynasty] 2014 Draft Prospects (1 Viewer)

[EBF]

On another note, Seastrunk is looking dynamite this year. Seems like he will run away with the RB1 spot in this draft. No challenger in sight at the moment.

Melvin Gordon.

I personally have Gordon ranked #1 for 2014.

I have him #3 at the moment behind Seastrunk and Dyer. He could leapfrog Dyer eventually if Dyer doesn't become a bigger part of the Louisville offense.

So far this season Louisville has been content to pass, pass, pass teams to death. When they do run, they split carries among three backs.

I still expect Dyer to emerge as their best rusher, but if that doesn't happen then he will slide down the board a bit.

Gordon is also in a committee, but with Wisconsin having such a prolific ground game, there are a lot more yards to go around.

 

[Time Kibitzer]

Marquise Lee has plenty of speed, I don't think that'll be an issue at all. I'd be pretty surprised if he doesn't run somewhere in the 4.4s.

Couple thoughts on some WRs I think are overrated:

I'm starting to warm up to Jordan Matthews a bit, his long speed/size/production combonation is pretty great, but I still think he's very overrated right now. He's real stiff and his speed takes a while to build up. I think he might have trouble getting open in the NFL.

Donte Moncrief reminds me of a thicker Markus Wheaton in a lot of ways, which is to say he's a pretty middling prospect and not someone with enough upside for me to be interested in. His listed size is all be assuredly overstated, he looks like a 6'0/6'1 player, not a 6'2/6'3 player which is what he's listed at everywhere. And even if he is 6'3 225lbs, he certainly doesn't use that size to his advantage near as often as you'd like from someone that size.

Allen Robinson is a hard guy for me to figure out. His size, production, and YAC ability are all pretty great, and those are 3 of the chief things I look for in a WR prospect, but he just seems a step slow (for an elite NFL prospect) in everything he does. Just seems like he lacks the suddenness/quickness out of cuts that you see out of the majority of WR1s in the NFL. He also has a tendency to body catch too often.

 

[werdnoynek]

On another note, Seastrunk is looking dynamite this year. Seems like he will run away with the RB1 spot in this draft. No challenger in sight at the moment.

Melvin Gordon.

I personally have Gordon ranked #1 for 2014.

Gordon is a beast and I'd say the #2 eligible back, but I question if he'll actually declare. I love what he brings to the table, and definitely think he should declare because he's, IMO, not even the best back on the team right now...forget James White. Corey Clement is going to be a future stud and if Gordon sticks around next year Clement can and would outshine him.

Not to mention the 2015 class is full of talent at RB with Gurley, Yeldon, and Johnson.

The future is bright for Wisconsin RB's!

 

[EBF]

Allen Robinson is a hard guy for me to figure out. His size, production, and YAC ability are all pretty great, and those are 3 of the chief things I look for in a WR prospect, but he just seems a step slow (for an elite NFL prospect) in everything he does. Just seems like he lacks the suddenness/quickness out of cuts that you see out of the majority of WR1s in the NFL. He also has a tendency to body catch too often.

That was my conclusion from watching the YouTube cuts of his 2012 games. He was definitely on my radar for my dev drafts this past offseason, but I ended up passing on him because I felt he lacked dynamic speed or explosiveness. He's also a bit thin for his height.

This season he looks like he might be a little more explosive. It's early, but his yards per catch is up considerably. Here's a catch-and-run from the Syracuse game:

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

He doesn't look fast in terms of top speed, but he does look quick and economical. Here are two other big plays:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OGni7_nVhI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmF5Hb0jLVg

On the first play, he just gets lost in coverage. Nice cut after the catch, but he doesn't really run away from the defense.

On the second play, he makes a tough catch in tight coverage. You often see that with his game clips and highlights. Whereas a speedier receiver will get behind the defense and catch the ball wide open (like Beckham this past weekend), Robinson tends to be fairly well-covered on most of his 1-on-1 deep routes.

I am not quite sure what to make of him. He's got a tall frame, he's a savvy route runner, and he can make exceptional catches. As you said, he might be lacking the raw athletic qualities of a true #1 target though. He might end up as more of a Rueben Randle/Aaron Dobson type of prospect in terms of draft slot. I tentatively have him ranked as the 4th best WR in the draft, but I see his stock hinging on his pro day/combine. A good showing could propel him into the first round. A bad showing and he'll be a 2nd-3rd rounder.

It's worth pointing out that Robinson is very, very young for his class standing. He just turned 20 a couple weeks ago. He will enter the NFL as a 20 year old rookie. With that being the case, I'm a little more open to the idea that he might be able to add more size/speed after entering the league compared with the average 21-23 year old prospect.

 

[EBF]

Donte Moncrief reminds me of a thicker Markus Wheaton in a lot of ways, which is to say he's a pretty middling prospect and not someone with enough upside for me to be interested in. His listed size is all be assuredly overstated, he looks like a 6'0/6'1 player, not a 6'2/6'3 player which is what he's listed at everywhere. And even if he is 6'3 225lbs, he certainly doesn't use that size to his advantage near as often as you'd like from someone that size.

It can be tough to gauge a player's height/weight from watching them play in pads. The pads and uniform can deceive you a little bit. So can the distant camera perspective. I thought Wheaton looked bigger at Oregon State than he really was. Going back a couple years, I thought Justin Blackmon looked huge at Oklahoma State. Turns out he was only about 6'1" 205. Moncrief might end up being the opposite. Watching his 2012 games, I did not think he looked like a huge receiver. I thought he looked more like 6'1" 210 than the 6'3" 226 Ole Miss lists him at. Now I'm not so sure. Here is his TD catch from this past weekend (0:35 seconds):

http://youtu.be/VpcihHcOtyE?t=35s

He actually looks quite big/tall there. Looks taller than any of the defenders trying to catch him. I don't think he plays with overwhelming size/strength like a Demaryius Thomas or Larry Fitzgerald, but he might end up being pretty close to the height/weight he's listed at.

 

[Faust]

Rob Rang NFL Mock Draft - 9/10/2013

 

[Faust]

Aaron Murray beats South Carolina, boosting NFL stock along the way Miami QB Stephen Morris flashes in upset over Florida

 

[BigTex]

On another note, Seastrunk is looking dynamite this year. Seems like he will run away with the RB1 spot in this draft. No challenger in sight at the moment.

Agreed, injury aside his stock will only rise at his current rate of production.

 

[Faust]

Draft Prospect Notes: Week 2Josh Norris

Excerpts:

[SIZE=medium]Michigan WR Jeremy Gallon[/SIZE]

The comparisons between Gallon and Golden Tate were immediately obvious after the Wolverine’s first reception. For a compact target, Gallon does a great job of working back towards his quarterback and fighting at the catch point. He has patience in his routes to find soft areas in the defense, but can show burst to separate just as easily. Add on some after catch toughness, and Gallon looks like a third- to fourth-round prospect, despite the likely knocks on his size. He doesn’t have the same explosion as Tate, but the similarities are there.

[SIZE=medium]Wisconsin redshirt sophomore RB Melvin Gordon[/SIZE]

Gordon is a long strider once eclipsing the line of scrimmage, but short steps in the backfield allow pulling blocks or lead blocks to formulate. The Badger is not afraid to lead with a stiff hand to keep momentum going. Gordon stays close to the offensive line before bending his run outside the numbers. Add on his legit long speed, and Gordon is an absolute playmaker. The 2015 running back class is potentially loaded with prospects like T.J. Yeldon, Todd Gurley, and Duke Johnson, so Gordon might be wise to declare this season and get a jump on that group. It is early, but he would be my top prospect at the position in this class.

 

[Faust]

NFL Draft 2014 Risers/Fallers: In defense of Gamecocks’ Jadeveon Clowney

Prospect Matchup: Week 3

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Texas A&M offensive coordinator Clarence McKinney believes redshirt sophomore WR Mike Evans "has taken his game to another level."
Evans is a large target in the mold of Marques Colston, winning with length and toughness at the catch point. However, the lean receiver has shown more separation ability this season. He'll face a tough Alabama defense this week, which will obviously be a challenge.

Source: Billy Liucci on Twitter

NFL.com's Dan Greenspan believes USC coach Lane Kiffin's "self-destructive" offensive philosophy has rendered junior WR Marqise Lee "ineffective and little."
Greenspan's colleague Daniel Jeremiah tweeted during Saturday's ugly 10-7 loss to Washington State that "USC's offense is painful to watch," because "they don't throw the ball more than five yards down the field" despite possessing "two studs" at both WR and TE. Greenspan's column argues that USC's offensive strategy is simultaneously destroying Kiffin's coaching career and "neutering" Lee's ability. Kiffin is the type of arrogant leader that elicits charged, hyperbolic rhetoric from the media, and that's precisely what is happening here. You can argue with the logic of forcing elite skill-position players to remain near the line of scrimmage after the ball has been snapped, but Kiffin would likely fire back that he doesn't currently have a QB who can effectively throw down the field. This is a chicken-or-the-egg debate that's likely to end in Kiffin wiping yolk off his face as he clears out his office at some point in 2013.

Source: NFL.com

San Jose State senior QB David Fales completed 29 of 43 attempts for 216 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a 34-13 loss to Stanford.
That 5.02 yards per attempt won't quell evaluators fears of Fales being a limited passer. We really appreciate his progression work and vision to find passing lanes. He won't fit in every offense, but we wouldn't be surprised to see Fales selected on the second day next May.

 

[Faust]

2014 NFL Draft Big Board 2.0

 

[Bob Magaw]

may have been posted already...

excerpt from bruce feldman's 2013 freak list... seastrunk improbably has bettered measurables (if article is accurate) from 4.6 and 34" VJ to 4.3 and 44" VJ in two years (also has gone from 195 lbs. to 210 lbs.)... what is he going to be like in 2015 (4.0 and 54" VJ at 225 lbs.)?

http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/22278381/freaks-list-the-20-craziest-athletes-in-college-football

Lache Seastrunk, Baylor, RB: Just being the Bears resident "Freak" is saying a lot. The Bears can go four-wide with a crew of receivers who each have been clocked faster than 4.4. One of those guys, 170-pound Tevin Reese, runs 4.32 and has a 45-inch vertical jump. In fact, Baylor deserves Freak Team status this season.

After hearing some of these super-fast 40 times, I asked Bears strength coach Kaz Kazadi if these are hand-timed 40s or timed electronically, which prompted one of the best quotes I've heard this year: Lache Seastrunk averaged 9.1 yards per carry during Baylor's last four games in 2012. (USATSI)"They're all electronic," Kazadi said. "We don't hand-time anything. Hand times are for your mama. Your mama don't work here. We're not hand-timing anything around here. We encourage people to come watch our guys work. They take this seriously."

Seastrunk is a testament to that. He's up to 210 pounds after arriving in Waco at 195 a few years ago. "A lot of guys think their speed is predicated on not getting too heavy, instead of getting more power," said Kazadi. "We got to kind of wean 'em off of being too concerned about putting on pounds."

Seastrunk's vertical, which was an impressive 42.5 inches last winter, is now 44.2 inches. He also broad jumped 11-4 -- five inches more than in 2012. His 40 time: 4.36.

It's quite an improve from Seastrunk's days at Oregon when he ran a 4.63 electronic 40 and had a 34.5” vertical two winters ago.

"He's bought into training and taking care of himself," said Kazadi. "That's the No. 1 thing that we've seen with him. It's not just in his physical attributes that we've seen him really mature in. It's the accountability and the reliability. The eye-contact and his awareness --everything has improved. You know he understands what you're saying and he's paying attention."

The former five-star recruit may have been the most improved player in college football over the second half of last season. Seastrunk ran for 1,000 yards last season despite only gaining 95 yards in the Bears' first five games. But the one-time Oregon Duck was spectacular in Baylor's final four games of the season, when the Bears beat No. 1 Kansas State, Texas Tech, No. 23 Oklahoma State and No. 17 UCLA while Seastrunk ran for 637 yards on a 9.1-yard per carry average.

 

[Xue]

Jace Amaro tearing it up tonight on ESPN in case you guys aren't watching yet.

 

[Xue]

On another note, Seastrunk is looking dynamite this year. Seems like he will run away with the RB1 spot in this draft. No challenger in sight at the moment.

Melvin Gordon.

I personally have Gordon ranked #1 for 2014.

Gordon is a beast and I'd say the #2 eligible back, but I question if he'll actually declare. I love what he brings to the table, and definitely think he should declare because he's, IMO, not even the best back on the team right now...forget James White. Corey Clement is going to be a future stud and if Gordon sticks around next year Clement can and would outshine him.

Not to mention the 2015 class is full of talent at RB with Gurley, Yeldon, and Johnson.

The future is bright for Wisconsin RB's!

I like Clement, but I give Gordon the edge because of his speed. Clement is very physical between the tackles though. Reminds me a lot of Ahmad Bradshaw.

 

[werdnoynek]

On another note, Seastrunk is looking dynamite this year. Seems like he will run away with the RB1 spot in this draft. No challenger in sight at the moment.

Melvin Gordon.

I personally have Gordon ranked #1 for 2014.

Gordon is a beast and I'd say the #2 eligible back, but I question if he'll actually declare. I love what he brings to the table, and definitely think he should declare because he's, IMO, not even the best back on the team right now...forget James White. Corey Clement is going to be a future stud and if Gordon sticks around next year Clement can and would outshine him.

Not to mention the 2015 class is full of talent at RB with Gurley, Yeldon, and Johnson.

The future is bright for Wisconsin RB's!

I like Clement, but I give Gordon the edge because of his speed. Clement is very physical between the tackles though. Reminds me a lot of Ahmad Bradshaw.

Bradshaw is really selling him short. I think a bigger McCoy is a better comparison.

 

[Max Power]

No one giving credit to Ka'deem Carey? I've only seen him play once and he looked like a McCoy clone. A slow 40 time, but the kid looks like a natural at RB. Needs to bulk up a bit, but I think hes a first round fantasy pick next year.

 

[werdnoynek]

No one giving credit to Ka'deem Carey? I've only seen him play once and he looked like a McCoy clone. A slow 40 time, but the kid looks like a natural at RB. Needs to bulk up a bit, but I think hes a first round fantasy pick next year.

McCoy may be a stretch, he doesn't have the same lateral quicks in my eyes.

I like Carey and will be watching him intently this year. He looked good last week in his return.

 

[Xue]

Carey looked good, but so has Daniel Jenkins. They don't play a real team until next week.

 

[EBF]

We already know that Carey can dominate at the NCAA level.

Whether or not he can do it in the NFL, I don't know. I get kind of a "meh" vibe from his video clips.

I passed on him in my devy drafts, but he's certainly on the radar.

 

[EBF]

Little Colt Lyerla story. Could be nothing. Could be something.

He missed the game on Saturday with a "stomach virus." It seemed a little suspicious to me at the time and Helfrich's quote makes you wonder.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/story/_/id/9679020/oregon-ducks-colt-lyerla-upset-coach-mark-helfrich-ambiguous-talk

Oregon tight end Colt Lyerla said Sunday he is "really upset" at how Ducks coach Mark Helfrich described his absence from Saturday's win against Tennessee.

Lyerla told the Oregonian that he had been sick and missed practice between Tuesday and Thursday, and he was told to stay home Saturday and rest.

But when reporters asked Helfrich about Lyerla's absence from Autzen Stadium after the game, Helfrich had a one-word response: "Circumstances."

When reporters asked Helfrich to be more specific, the coach smiled and replied, "Circumstances is extremely specific. That's one word.''

Lyerla said he was not amused that his coach failed to mention he was simply ill.

"I'm really upset with the way Coach Helfrich said that after the game,'' Lyerla told the Oregonian on Sunday. "Really disappointed. I feel hurt about this. I watched a little bit of what he said, then started reading all of it, and ... it was unfair.''

Lyerla was held out of nine practices last summer for what the team called "personal issues," according to the Oregonian, and Lyerla said he thought Helfrich's response opened the door to speculation.

"I have no idea why he said that,'' Lyerla said. "It made me really upset. It's not my fault I got sick. I just felt he could have had my back a little bit more instead of throwing me under the bus.''

Helfrich declined to comment to the Oregonian early Sunday.

 

[Faust]

Draft Prospect Notes: Week 3

NFL Draft Watch: Week 4

 

[Faust]

NFL Draft Prospect Rankings - Seniors
NFL Draft Prospect Rankings - Juniors

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

NFL.com's Bucky Brooks believes Texas A&M redshirt sophomore WR Mike Evans could be a potential No. 1 target in the NFL.
The Aggie receiver "has the size and physical dimensions that NFL coaches covet... that could make him a potential No. 1 receiver at the next level," Brooks writes. "Evans still must smooth out some of the rough spots in his game to earn a spot among the top-tier receivers in the college game..." Evans will benefit from NFL rules that prohibit contact from defenders, since he has the skills to win at the catch point against tight coverage.

Source: NFL.com

Washington junior RB Bishop Sankey is "beginning to generate a great deal of buzz in the scouting community," according to CBS Sports' Rob Rang.
"He's both decisive and patient, showing the burst to zip through gaps when they are available, but also the awareness to bounce plays outside (or inside) when unexpected holes open," Rang wrote. Sankey rushed for 208 yards and a touchdown on 35 carries in Saturday's win over Illinois. He's collected 139 yards or more in six of his last seven games. "Though he's only been the starter for a little more than one season, his 349 carries over the past 15 games (23.26 per game) could push him to consider making the jump to the NFL after this season," Rang wrote.

Source: CBS Sports

NBC Sports' Shaun King said UCLA redshirt sophomore QB Brett Hundley "isn't remotely ready to be first-round worthy as a quarterback."
"Yet Kiper and McShay on my tube singing his praise," King tweeted. "Do they watch film?" Shots fired! Hundley is quickly becoming one of college football's most polarizing draft prospects. His naysayers believe Hundley tends to drop his eyes, makes too many bonehead mistakes and is an overrated athlete. Hundley advocates compare him to Colin Kaepernick; they like his size, arm strength, mobility and accuracy.

Source: Shaun King on Twitter

After the Browns traded top running back Trent Richardson to the Colts for a first-round pick, it appears they are focused on finding a quarterback early in May's draft.
NFL.com's Bucky Brooks spoke to one scout who noted "its all about quarterback in Chud's mind." This is obviously referring to Browns head coach Rob Chudzinski, who failed to efficiently utilize running backs in Carolina and in two games in Cleveland. Chud is known for his vertical passing attack, and the quarterback class has questions after Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater comes off the board. LSU's Zach Mettenberger, Miami's Stephen Morris, and Clemson's Tajh Boyd have the best vertical arms, but redshirt sophomores Marcus Mariota and Brett Hundley might be more likely early in the draft.

Source: Bucky Brooks on Twitter

Virginia Tech senior QB Logan Thomas is listed in the third tier of draft-eligible prospects at the position by ESPN's Todd McShay.
Thomas lands ahead of the fourth tier, which is designated by a "day three" tag. "From his size to his arm strength to his ability to spin the ball to his mobility, Thomas has everything you look for in terms of physical qualities," McShay explains. "But he has to show more consistency. No QB in this class produces more varied opinions -- some scouts still love him, and some have completely written him off." Thomas is currently undraftable from a passing standpoint, but we have conceded to the fact that he will be selected earlier than his play indicates.

Source: ESPN

ESPN's Todd McShay ranks Clemson senior QB Tajh Boyd in the third tier among draft-eligible prospects at the position.
The senior is listed at No. 7. "Boyd has a knack for making plays, and I love his competitiveness and toughness," McShay writes. "But from inside the pocket he needs to be more consistent in going through his progressions, making good decisions and delivering accurate throws." Boyd checks in behind Miami's Stephen Morris and ahead of Virginia Tech's Logan Thomas. We think his start to this season has been outstanding.

Source: ESPN

NFL.com's Bucky Brooks believes Alabama senior A.J. McCarron has the makings of a franchise QB.
After talking with the Crimson Tide passer this summer, Brooks notes McCarron desperately wanted to shed the game manager label. "He showed everything NFL scouts want to see" against Texas A&M, Brooks said. "Big game moxy, leadership, he showed outstanding arm talent, and made all the plays in the clutch." We still look back to week one against Virginia Tech, where McCarron was pressured in the pocket and saw his play dip. The senior has rarely felt heat between the tackles thanks to consistent offensive line play, and it is tough to gauge his evaluation because of it.

Source: NFL.com

The Star-Telegram's Charean Williams spoke with four NFL scouts that believe Texas A&M redshirt sophomore QB Johnny Manziel will be a first-round pick, with one stating "he will go in the top 10."
"I think Johnny Manziel is that good," the same scout said. "I think the guy is unique, and guys like Russell Wilson have paved the way for him." Another important note Williams added was not one of the seven scouts interviewed believe off-field concerns will affect Manziel’s draft stock. "There is a difference between being a criminal and being a knucklehead," one scout explained. "He’s a knucklehead. We have a lot of knuckleheads on our team."

Source: Star Telegram

Oregon redshirt sophomore Marcus Mariota is now listed as NFL Network draft analyst Buck Brooks' No. 1 QB.
Mariota moved up from No. 2. "It's time to give Mariota his props as one of college football's top players," Brooks writes. "He is a stat-stuffing machine with the ability to put up ridiculous numbers as a dual-threat playmaker." Texas A&M's Johnny Manziel moved up to No. 2, Louisville's Teddy Bridgewater dropped to No. 3, UCLA's Brett Hundley moved from No. 7 to No. 4, and Clemson's Tajh Boyd dropped one spot to No. 5.

Source: NFL.com

NFL.com's Charles Davis drew a comparison between UCLA redshirt sophomore QB Brett Hundley and Colin Kaepernick.
"I think he's everything NFL teams are looking for in a quarterback," Davis writes. "He's mobile, but he's very accurate throwing the ball, too... I don't see any deficiencies in Hundley's game. He has good height, and he's not skinny. His arm isn't a pop gun -- he has plenty of strength." After comparing Hundley to Kaepernick, Davis noted he believes the UCLA player is a more accomplished passer than Kaepernick was at this point of his career, but a less gifted runner. We understand the love for Hundley, but he is far from refined and made plenty of mistakes early against Nebraska. If we had to pick one redshirt sophomore quarterback, it would be Oregon's Marcus Mariota.

Source: NFL.com

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Scouts Inc.'s Steve Muench drew a comparison between Arizona junior Rb Ka'Deem Carey and Bengals rookie Gio Bernard.
Muench starts by saying there "are no cookie cutters when it comes to NFL prospects," but the two compare favorably. "Like Bernard, he’s not a powerhouse who's going to consistently drag defenders for extra yards... but Carey, too, is a hard-nosed competitor who runs hard and finishes better than you’d expect for a back with his frame," Muench writes. In terms of receiving ability, the evaluator believes Carey could be a better pass catcher in the NFL than he is in college,

Source: ESPN

USC head coach Lane Kiffin compared Utah State junior QB Chuckie Keeton to Russell Wilson.
"You can't tackle him, he runs around and makes every throw, he doesn't seem to get rattled and he plays great in big games," Kiffin said. "This is a really special player." Keeton doesn't quite have the same poise in the pocket as Wilson, especially in the face of pressure, but he certainly has mobility and a strong arm. Expect the Trojans to force Keeton to test downfield.

Source: LA Times

The MMQB's Greg Bedard believes Texas A&M redshirt sophomore QB Johnny Manziel has the skills to succeed in the pocket.
"Manziel remains tranquil in the midst of a driving storm," Bedard writes. "He never looks at the rush, his eyes are always downfield; he has a tremendous feel for what’s going on around him; and he doesn’t bolt from the pocket unless he has to. Manziel is a pocket passer. And yet, he’s probably at his best when he’s on the move." It is safe to say Manziel has improved as a passer this season, showing more poise to find lanes with subtle movements rather than large steps in the pocket. His velocity has also improved, which was obvious against Alabama. Still, we believe shorter quarterbacks must be able to throw from multiple platforms and angles, and we will keep watching Manziel in the hopes of finding this. Either way, he fits what the NFL is looking for, but it is too early to predict where he will be drafted.

Source: The MMQB

 

[ConnSKINS26]

It seems pretty obvious at this point that the #1 RB spot is a competition between Seastrunk and Gordon if he comes out, right?

 

[Faust]

Big Board: Running backs' stock keeps dropping in NFL's eyes

 

[EBF]

It seems pretty obvious at this point that the #1 RB spot is a competition between Seastrunk and Gordon if he comes out, right?

You would think so, but there's plenty of time for a curveball. Nobody had Doug Martin or Ryan Mathews as first round picks at this stage of the game. Maybe there is someone out there flying under the radar. My tentative 2014 RB rankings at the moment:

Lache Seastrunk, Baylor (2014)

Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin (2014)

Michael Dyer, Louisville (2014)

Jeremy Hill, LSU (2014)

Devonta Freeman, Florida State (2014)

David Fluellen, Toledo (2014)

Bishop Sankey, Washington (2014)

Tim Flanders, Sam Houston State (2014)

Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska (2014)

Treyvon Green, Northwestern (2014)

Jay Ajayi, Boise State (2014)

Tre Madden, USC (2014)

I don't see a way for Dyer to jump into the first round with his character risk, but he was recently moved up to #1 on Louisville's RB depth chart and figures to test pretty well at the combine. Like Christine Michael, he's a ball of muscle.

Hill is another wild card. Unlike Dyer, I don't see him as the type who will test very well, but he's got some game for sure.

I think Freeman lacks a little bit of agility based on his freshman and sophomore highlights, but he's certainly got the NFL frame and I think he's quietly a better pro prospect than teammate Wilder.

I like Fluellen, Flanders, and Sankey as round 2-4 options.

If you want a wild card with first round upside, I'd look at Treyvon Green. Green was a no-name entering the season, but if he keeps up his current pace he will be one of the top rushers in college football. I've taken a cursory look at him and he seems to have NFL potential. How high, I'm not quite sure yet. He may end up being more of a day 3 kind of guy.

 

[lardonastick]

 

[Bob Magaw]

some are sceptical of wisconsin RBs being manufactured products of system, and point to lack of NFL success (dayne)...

this came up with ball for some evaluators, though it is too early to tell, DEN is said to be high on him...

i haven't seen gordon play, is he different in some ways than his predecessors and expected to transcend these kinds of system critiques?

 

[Faust]

Top Prospect of Week Three: Washington RB Bishop Sankey

 

[Xue]

some are sceptical of wisconsin RBs being manufactured products of system, and point to lack of NFL success (dayne)...

this came up with ball for some evaluators, though it is too early to tell, DEN is said to be high on him...

i haven't seen gordon play, is he different in some ways than his predecessors and expected to transcend these kinds of system critiques?

First of all, it's a new coaching staff in Wisconsin. "System" should be applied to coaches, not schools.

Second, anyone who has seen Gordon should be able to realize he's the most talented RB that Wisconsin has ever had.

His O-line isn't completely responsible for his 12.9 YPC. I mean James White is around 6 YPC. Gordon is clearly more than just a product of his "system". Every RB is a product of a system. Adrian Peterson doesn't average 6 YPC last year without his "system".

 

[Bob Magaw]

point taken about the change... the specific concern seems to have been their tradition of size and talent on their OL (you may be familiar with it?), that is partly what i meant by system...

perhaps the new regime inherited some of the old talent on the OL (unless they drastically change the formula that worked in the past and are going with smaller OL)? so, assuming the new staff hasn't purged 100% of the incumbent OL, this question could possibly linger for a bit longer?

the way you have phrased the last point seems to be incomplete... while peterson might have gotten less YPC in other systems, it is also possible he could have gotten as high a number in other systems...

than maybe you would respond by saying he was a product of THAT sytem...

in the context of what prompted my question in the first place, some scouts have been sceptical of wisconsin RBs in the past (again, maybe they go with smaller OL going forward, in which case the stereotype will drop off the map as the incumbent OL work through the system in the next several years and are replaced by different "types"?) who enjoyed success with the advantage of hulking, NFL-size OL, only to be exposed in the pros (sounds like gordon is different)...

THAT critique, is not levelled at hundreds of other collegiate teams (if it was, obviously it would cease to have any meaning, if every team was the same in this respect)... we don't say... oh, well of course that RB suceeded, he is a product of the louisiana lafayette, or south central montana state, or alaska tech system...

wisconsin is, or was, one of the few teams i'm aware this is said about...

i've always been a proponent of looking at prospects on a case by case basis... my question was partly motivated to learn more about how other people view these "team tendency heuristics"...

alabama is another team this has been said about by some, for essentially the same reason (advantage of future NFL OL in front of RBs)... ingram hasn't exactly lit the league on fire (and not just due to usage, hasn't looked special when he was used), some think richardson has underachieved in his short time in the NFL (i fall into the camp that he will do better with colts than browns, seemingly not too controversial a belief, though some have doubts), we will see about lacy, though he was the fourth RB drafted despite reportedly being consensus top graded RB in class... yeldon looks like he is cut from a different mold than others, with different skill set.

* these kind of tendency/system observations have been observed with other schools/positions...

with a few exceptions (darrell jackson), florida at one time had a string of WR failures in NFL...

penn state has produced a lot of good LBs (LB U - sean lee and navorro bowman just in recent years, two of the best young LBs in the game)...

i think these instances would meet your criteria of system/coaching continuity to make coherent, long term observations and intelligible pattern detection (if any) commentary...

i always thought it was weird when people would make historical connections with the current iteration of the browns, to the one that predated the original version moving to baltimore... being as the modern browns were an expansion team, they have no connection to their "predecessor" (other than name and city)...

 

[BigTex]

Hill is having a good game against Auburn 166yds and 2TDs with 11.1 avg per carry.

ETA:

Make that 172yds and 3TDs but Auburn isn't the team it used to be so take it for what it is.

 

[EBF]

Not a huge Kasen Williams fan. As far as under-the-radar Pac-12 WRs go, I want to see how Ty Montgomery responds after a disappointing sophomore season. There's no doubt in my mind that he has the physical tools to play on Sundays. Good height/weight/speed. Very solid build and was a 10.X 100m sprinter in high school. He's capable of running crisp, sudden routes. The big issues are mental. I felt he lacked confidence last season. Dropped some passes and seemed timid and indecisive. Doug Baldwin had some of the same problems early in his career, but was able to turn it around. If Montgomery can do the same then he has a chance to be a top 100 draft pick. Having said that, I think he's likely to play out his four years of eligibility, so he's really more of a name to remember for 2015.

Montgomery seems to have bounced back after his sophomore slump. Already has more yards and TDs than he did all of last season with 273 yards and 4 TDs in three games. Stanford doesn't pass much, so those are pretty good numbers for the system. I still don't think he will leave school early. He's pretty raw and would probably only be a 4th-7th round pick right now. File his name away for the future though, as he will be drafted eventually. He will really shine in the combine environment. Very athletic dude. Height/weight/speed specimen.

 

[EBF]

It seems pretty obvious at this point that the #1 RB spot is a competition between Seastrunk and Gordon if he comes out, right?

You would think so, but there's plenty of time for a curveball. Nobody had Doug Martin or Ryan Mathews as first round picks at this stage of the game. Maybe there is someone out there flying under the radar. My tentative 2014 RB rankings at the moment:

Lache Seastrunk, Baylor (2014)

Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin (2014)

Michael Dyer, Louisville (2014)

Jeremy Hill, LSU (2014)

Devonta Freeman, Florida State (2014)

David Fluellen, Toledo (2014)

Bishop Sankey, Washington (2014)

Tim Flanders, Sam Houston State (2014)

Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska (2014)

Treyvon Green, Northwestern (2014)

Jay Ajayi, Boise State (2014)

Tre Madden, USC (2014)

I don't see a way for Dyer to jump into the first round with his character risk, but he was recently moved up to #1 on Louisville's RB depth chart and figures to test pretty well at the combine. Like Christine Michael, he's a ball of muscle.

Hill is another wild card. Unlike Dyer, I don't see him as the type who will test very well, but he's got some game for sure.

I think Freeman lacks a little bit of agility based on his freshman and sophomore highlights, but he's certainly got the NFL frame and I think he's quietly a better pro prospect than teammate Wilder.

I like Fluellen, Flanders, and Sankey as round 2-4 options.

If you want a wild card with first round upside, I'd look at Treyvon Green. Green was a no-name entering the season, but if he keeps up his current pace he will be one of the top rushers in college football. I've taken a cursory look at him and he seems to have NFL potential. How high, I'm not quite sure yet. He may end up being more of a day 3 kind of guy.

More of the same today from Louisville. RBBC with Dyer getting a paltry amount of carries. Kind of a disappointing season for him so far, though his YPC is solid.

Fluellen, Freeman, Sankey, and Abdullah continue to deliver. 100+ yards for all of them today.

I forgot KaDeem Carey on my list above, but he would slot in right around Sankey. As of right this moment I rate him roughly on par with someone like Montee Ball. Likely won't blow the doors off the combine in Indy, but obviously has a little something in terms of vision and quickness. Seems like a 2nd-4th round candidate.

 

[Faust]

Mixed bag from Fales in loss at Minnesota

 

[Faust]

Updated Top 50 & QB Ranks

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Alabama's A.J. McCarron remains on top of NFL.com analyst Gil Brandt's list of the best seniors QBs in college football.
"McCarron is a game manager, but when Alabama needs a play, he can execute it," Brandt writes. "I don't think he can do what Andrew Luck does -- not many can -- but he can be successful in the NFL." Miami's Stephen Morris, Clemson's Tajh Boyd, Georgia's Aaron Murray, and San Jose State's David Fales round out the top five.

Source: NFL.com
Sep 23 - 4:44 PM

 

[Faust]

2014 NFL Draft Big Board 4.0

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

NFL.com's Bucky Brooks writes that pro scouts "are smitten with the talent and potential displayed by" UNC junior TE Eric Ebron.
Ebron caught 40 passes for 625 yards and four touchdowns as a sophomore, a campaign in which he flashed brilliance but struggled with consistency. He snagged six passes for 108 yards and a touchdown in Saturday's loss to Georgia Tech. The 6-foot-4, 245-pounder "blows past linebackers and safeties down the pipe and uses his size and length to post up defenders unable to match his size and physicality over the middle of the field," writes Brooks. Ebron is so big and athletic that the Tar Heels have used him as a pass-rushing defensive end. "It's not a surprise the Tar Heel star is beginning to attract attention from NFL scouts searching for a Jimmy Graham-like playmaker between the hashes," writes Brooks.

Source: NFL.com

Oregon State junior WR Brandin Cooks has been "the best receiver in the [Pac-12] conference" this season, according to NFL.com's Bucky Brooks.
Cooks may not have the potential of other star Pac-12 wideouts such as Marqise Lee or Shaq Evans, but he's outproduced them all thus far. Cooks has collected an insane 43 receptions for 639 yards with seven touchdowns in 2013. "Cooks has shown impressive short-area quickness and running skills that make him a legitimate threat to take it the distance whenever he touches the ball in the open field," Brooks writes. An NFC scout quoted in the report said Cooks is "more dynamic than (Markus) Wheaton." The scout said Cooks "could quickly rise up the charts this season and emerge as a solid Day 2 prospect in the 2014 draft if he skips his final year of eligibility."

Source: NFL.com

NFL.com's Bucky Brooks thinks Missouri senior QB James Franklin "is working his way back onto the radar of scouts."
Franklin has amassed nearly 1,000 yards of total offense in three games, penance for his rough 2012 campaign. "As a passer, Franklin has been more decisive from the pocket and has shown improved accuracy on intermediate throws," Brooks writes. Franklin destroyed Big 12 defenses in 2011, posting a 3,000/1,000-yard campaign as a sophomore, before he limped through an injury-riddled 2012 season in the SEC. "It's very likely that a team could find him as an intriguing offensive weapon based on his size, athleticism and speed," Brooks writes. "With Denard Robinson paving the way for athletic college quarterbacks to make an NFL roster as a versatile playmaker in the backfield, Franklin is likely to get a shot to make his mark in the NFL."

Source: NFL.com

CBS Sports' Dane Brugler believes Fresno State senior QB Derek Carr is more likely to be a first-round pick than San Jose State senior QB David Fales.
Carr has a cannon and a quick release, but is being asked to focus on short to intermediate targets rather than testing downfield. We look forward to seeing how he responds to tight situations in a closing pocket. Fales, however, does not possess the same arm but has good pocket movement and vision. He won't fit every offense.

Source: Dane Brugler on Twitter

 

[Faust]

2014 NFL Draft: Week 4 Stock Report

 

[Faust]

Rob Rang NFL Mock Draft - 9/23/2013

Dane Brugler NFL Mock Draft - 9/24/2013

 

[EBF]

2014 NFL Draft Big Board 4.0

Not buying Mike Evans and DeAnthony Thomas as top 10 picks just yet. Evans looks like he might be mobility-challenged. Thomas is sooo small I just don't see a team investing such a high pick in him.

 

[Faust]

Risers-Sliders: Week Four

 

[BigTex]

2014 NFL Draft Big Board 4.0

Not buying Mike Evans and DeAnthony Thomas as top 10 picks just yet. Evans looks like he might be mobility-challenged. Thomas is sooo small I just don't see a team investing such a high pick in him.

I was thinking the EXACT same thing.

ETA: When I watch Evans play, I can see him playing TE and easily being one of the best at the next level.

 

[Faust]

Ohio State QB Kenny Guiton cracks list; keep tabs on Derek Carr

 

[Eminence]

I like Taj Boyd and Marquise Lee. Beyond that, I haven't looked much into this class yet.

 

[werdnoynek]

2014 NFL Draft Big Board 4.0

Not buying Mike Evans and DeAnthony Thomas as top 10 picks just yet. Evans looks like he might be mobility-challenged. Thomas is sooo small I just don't see a team investing such a high pick in him.

I was thinking the EXACT same thing.

ETA: When I watch Evans play, I can see him playing TE and easily being one of the best at the next level.

Agreed, not a fan of him but I could see this.

 

[Faust]

Ask 5: Who's better, Aaron Murray or Zach Mettenberger?