[Dynasty] 2014 Draft Prospects (2 Viewers)

[EBF]

Only major reservation with Evans is that he plays upright and is a bit stiff in his sideways movement. He is good on north-south routes like the streak and the comeback, but when he has to change directions he is less convincing. He is actually quick out of his plants, but his legs are so long that he doesn't offer much in terms of elusiveness. Easily wrapped up and corralled. That is the big reason why I balk at the VJax comparisons. VJax was a record-setting punt and kickoff returner in college. Part of that was probably the level of competition, but overall he moved better than Evans (he's also a bit thicker).

I'd say Evans is more like a poor man's Calvin. Calvin is a giraffe too, but he's just so fast that it doesn't matter.

There seems to be some smoke that Evans is going to be a top 10 pick based on recent mocks and I don't think it would be a huge, huge shock to see him leapfrog Watkins. He's not THAT far behind him on most Internet pundit draft boards at this point. It would just take one team with a different preference to make that a reality.

 

[Faust]

Following breakthrough seasons, Tre Mason, Greg Robinson face different questions

 

[Faust]

Chris Borland, Jared Abbrederis continue to impress at pro day

 

[Faust]

Bucky Brooks is currently looking at player comparisons in his Draft Blog utilizing NFL Insight (a statistical database developed by the NFL that examines data at the NFL Scouting Combine since 2003):

Scout's Take Blog: Draft observations by an ex-NFL player, scoutThe computer compares Sammy Watkins to Mike Williams (Bucs), Mike Wallace, and Ruben Randle.

 

[Faust]

2014 Pro Days: Sleeper WR Austin Franklin impresses at NMSU

 

[Whitney26]

Buffalo RB Branden Oliver is a player that I have liked for a few years. He had a big senior season, but did not play in any of the all-star games or even receive a combine invite. Today was Buffalo's pro day, so it was his big chance to make a case for himself. Here are the numbers I've been able to find:

40 - 4.56-4.63

Bench - 26 reps

If the 4.56 holds, that would be a decent time for him. I haven't seen any official height/weight info or jumps yet. Short as he is, I would expect a terrible broad jump. Vert could be decent. Given the lack of a combine invite, he looks strictly like a UDFA though.

Just saw that Oliver just posted a couple of full games in the coaches tape version.....

vs Kent State

vs Ohio

 

[Whitney26]

He's been discussed before, but it's no easy task locating tape of Troy WR Eric Thomas. I cut up his game last year against Arkansas State:

http://youtu.be/BXyGiUWbVek

His effort as a blocker is truly pathetic, but he's an absolute beast with the ball in his hands. By the way, his hands measured 10 5/8" at the NFLPA game. My eyes may be tricking me, but I think he'll run in the 4.4s at his pro day. If he does, I'm not going to be shocked if he's a day 2 pick.

 

[Time Kibitzer]

He's been discussed before, but it's no easy task locating tape of Troy WR Eric Thomas. I cut up his game last year against Arkansas State:

http://youtu.be/BXyGiUWbVek

His effort as a blocker is truly pathetic, but he's an absolute beast with the ball in his hands. By the way, his hands measured 10 5/8" at the NFLPA game. My eyes may be tricking me, but I think he'll run in the 4.4s at his pro day. If he does, I'm not going to be shocked if he's a day 2 pick.

Nice, thanks for the video.

He looks like a man among boys out there, that may be due to the competition but it's still nice to see. Definitely someone to keep an eye on.

 

[DAG]

Only major reservation with Evans is that he plays upright and is a bit stiff in his sideways movement. He is good on north-south routes like the streak and the comeback, but when he has to change directions he is less convincing. He is actually quick out of his plants, but his legs are so long that he doesn't offer much in terms of elusiveness.

Agreed. I'm generally pretty high on Evans, but in the end it's because I think he could put up good numbers as a jump-ball and downfield receiver given his size, hands/catch radius, and basketball background. I know he models himself after Brandon Marshall, but I don't see that kind of potential after the catch. Again, I'm not sure that will matter as he could put up great numbers by bodying people up, out-jumping them, and winning contested balls. Hopefully he'll go somewhere that is willing to chuck it up to him, which seems increasingly likely given NFL passing trends.

 

[Xue]

Ka'Deem Carey runs a 4.66 today: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24470956/pro-days-kadeem-carey-improves-his-40-yard-dash-a-bit

 

[deadlyrange0321]

Ka'Deem Carey runs a 4.66 today: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24470956/pro-days-kadeem-carey-improves-his-40-yard-dash-a-bit

I guess the bigger story would've been if his 40 time was worse at his pro day. Nice to see his vertical increase by 3inches.

Not sure what to think of him as a prospect. Seems like 'just a guy' at the next level.

 

[cstu]

Ka'Deem Carey runs a 4.66 today: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24470956/pro-days-kadeem-carey-improves-his-40-yard-dash-a-bit

Only major reservation with Evans is that he plays upright and is a bit stiff in his sideways movement. He is good on north-south routes like the streak and the comeback, but when he has to change directions he is less convincing. He is actually quick out of his plants, but his legs are so long that he doesn't offer much in terms of elusiveness.

Agreed. I'm generally pretty high on Evans, but in the end it's because I think he could put up good numbers as a jump-ball and downfield receiver given his size, hands/catch radius, and basketball background. I know he models himself after Brandon Marshall, but I don't see that kind of potential after the catch. Again, I'm not sure that will matter as he could put up great numbers by bodying people up, out-jumping them, and winning contested balls. Hopefully he'll go somewhere that is willing to chuck it up to him, which seems increasingly likely given NFL passing trends.

Marshall makes a living as a giant possession receiver - runs great routes, consistently gets open and catches the ball. Last year only 13 of his 100 catches were over 20 yards.

Evans has the potential physically to be Marshall but he has a long way to go in his route running to do it. He's only 20 (about a 1.5 years younger than Marshall when he came into the NFL) so there's time for him to develop.

 

[voiceofunreason]

Ka'Deem Carey runs a 4.66 today: http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/nfl-draft-scout/24470956/pro-days-kadeem-carey-improves-his-40-yard-dash-a-bit

That's pretty awful considering the pro-day times are a tenth or so faster than official combine times.

I thought he was a below average player before the combine, but I think some people will still grab him early. He runs hard but he looked like a product of the system he was in. I don't see how his game translates to the NFL.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

When asked to rate the QB class of 2014, NFL Films' Greg Cosell called it "average."
Cosell went on to add that, even though he has not fully studied him, Oregon's Marcus Mariota would likely have been considered a true top five pick. "Not a manufactured one," Cosell said. The well respected NFL analyst does have UCF's Blake Bortles as his top prospect at the position, but notes he needs a lot of work in multiple areas. "Size is a big factor."

Source: The Beat of Sports

San Jose State QB David Fales has "starting NFL-caliber traits," says NFL Films' Greg Cosell.
Fales' arm strength improved from his junior to senior seasons, according to Cosell, who listed "pocket command, decision-making, and ball placement" as Fales' starting-NFL qualities. "He's a rhythm player," Cosell said. "What happens if that rhythm gets disrupted?" The expert said some teams might see Andy Dalton in Fales.

Source: Ross Tucker Podcast

NFL Films' Greg Cosell says the problem with Georgia QB Aaron Murray is his size, lack of arm strength, and confinement to the pocket.
Cosell added that Murray's arm is better than AJ McCarron's. The analyst mused at one point about Murray's ability to turn into another Drew Brees. "Brees is the exception," Cosell said. "Normally, 6-foot pocket quarterbacks without great feet, who do not have big arms, do not become quality NFL starters." The 6-foot, 207-pound Murray suffered a torn ACL in November, so he's facing even greater odds than most.

Source: Ross Tucker Podcast

NFL Films' Greg Cosell believes Fresno State's Derek Carr "can make every throw."
"You do see NFL throws," said Cosell of Carr's game tape. "You do see vertical seems, you do see back shoulder throws, you do see deep posts." The analyst contends that Carr must be taught the timing of three-, five-, and seven-step drops, as he often threw on his first step in the Bulldogs' air-it-out spread scheme. Cosell is also concerned that Carr didn't face much pressure in college. He pointed to Blaine Gabbert as one example of a QB who was shielded from pressure at the collegiate level.

Source: Ross Tucker Podcast

Although LSU QB Zach Mettenberger ranks at the top of NFL Films' Greg Cosell's "second-tier QBs", the analyst is concerned by his pocket mobility.
"This would have been a concern even if he didn't tear his ACL," Cosell said. "You have to be able to move. You don't necessarily have to be able to run around and scramble, but you have to be able to move." Cosell referenced Dan Marino as a good example of "ballet-like feet" from a stone-legged signal-caller. The analyst added that Mettenberger's arm and athleticism are both below those of Joe Flacco.

Source: Ross Tucker Podcast

Alabama QB AJ McCarron's arm is "average at best," according to NFL Films' Greg Cosell.
McCarron has the physical ability of an NFL backup, according to Cosell, but could develop into a passable starter in a run-first scheme. McCarron's future is entirely dependent on the organization that pulls the trigger on him. "There's a lot for him to have to do at an exceptional level" to become an NFL starter, said the analyst.

Source: Ross Tucker Podcast

Eastern Illinois QB Jimmy Garoppolo must prove he can drop back and throw under pressure, according to Greg Cosell of NFL Films.
"He played in a true spread, so there were a lot of one-step throws," Cosell said. Garoppolo will have to prove he can simultaneously control tempo in three- and five-step drops and throw amidst debris, two things that weren't asked of him much in college. The 6-foot-2, 219-pounder makes quick decisions, gets the ball out in a flash, has sound footwork and works through his projections well. He's one of the draft's most obvious eye-of-the-beholder prospects.

Source: Stationcaster

 

[Faust]

Film study: Anthony Barr, Scott Crichton, Trent Murphy, Kyle Van Noy

Pat Kirwan

Excerpt:

A mind for the gameI spent some time with former Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray this week and was very impressed. Murray injured is knee in November but will be ready for his pro day to do everything, which should raise his draft stock. Murray was voted the toughest quarterback to face by the SEC defensive backs I interviewed at the Senior Bowl and combine. Murray is already taking his 3-5-7 step drops and throwing the ball and I expect him to make a favorable impression on his pro day and in private workouts. Wait till the coordinators and QB coaches put Murray on the board to dig into his football knowledge. We talked X's & O's and he is outstanding.

 

[Faust]

LSU QB Zach Mettenberger to throw on pro day

 

[Faust]

2014 Pro Days: Ryan Shazier, Carlos Hyde battling hamstring injuries

 

[Faust]

Pro Day or victory lap? Watkins helps Clemson teammates 'put on a show' Tajh Boyd enjoys strong pro day

 

[cstu]

Pro Day or victory lap? Watkins helps Clemson teammates 'put on a show'

Tajh Boyd enjoys strong pro day

Watkins is even better than I thought:

In his throwing session, amid ghost defenders, Boyd completed 67 of 68 passes -- including 32 of 33 from eight yards or more and five successful bombs to Watkins, receiver Martavis Bryant and running back Roderick McDowell, among others.

 

[Hankmoody]

Pro Day or victory lap? Watkins helps Clemson teammates 'put on a show'

Tajh Boyd enjoys strong pro day

Watkins is even better than I thought:

In his throwing session, amid ghost defenders, Boyd completed 67 of 68 passes -- including 32 of 33 from eight yards or more and five successful bombs to Watkins, receiver Martavis Bryant and running back Roderick McDowell, among others.

Indeed, he can even make Taj Boyd look good!

 

[msommer]

Rotoworld:

LSU QB Zach Mettenberger was ranked by at least one team as the No. 1 QB before his ACL injury, reports NFL.com's Albert Breer.

"Mettenberger is going to entice teams," tweeted Breer. Mettenberger measured in at 6-foot-5 and 224 pounds at the NFL Combine, but didn't work out because of his knee injury. Mettenberger underwent ACL surgery at the beginning of January and will take a "redshirt" season in the NFL. The first-round talk has subsided, but a team that embraces risk might choose to roll the dice on the draft's second day.

Source: Albert Breer on Twitter

He had a serious character, off field issue.

So you are saying he is an earlier developed Ben Roethlisberger?

 

[Faust]

NFL ‘who’s who’ attends Ohio State pro day

 

[Hersh]

Black Dot

 

[Archer]

NFL ‘who’s who’ attends Ohio State pro day

for PPR leagues take note:

Hyde (6-0, 234 pounds) kept everything from the combine. He pulled up with an injury when he ran the 40 at the combine and wasn’t ready to run today, but he’ll do that March 26 (location TBD). Hyde looked outstanding today in his position drills as a running back, and was especially impressive catching the ball.

 

[Faust]

Mayock: Ohio State's Hyde, Shazier solidify first-round status

By Daniel Kim NFL.com

Ohio State's pro day Friday drew more than 50 representatives from NFL teams, including GMs, owners and head coaches, giving it the look and feel of a "mini-NFL convention," according to NFL Media senior analyst Gil Brandt.

Among the 15 Buckeyes who worked out were three potential first-round picks -- running back Carlos Hyde, linebacker Ryan Shazier and cornerback Bradley Roby -- and NFL Media analyst Mike Mayock told NFL Network's "Total Access" that all three helped strengthen their cases for the draft.

Hyde, who is Mayock's No. 2-rated running back in the draft, chose not to run the 40-yard dash Friday, but Mayock said Hyde impressed a lot of teams by showing he can do more than just carry the ball.

"What's really important for a high-level tailback, if you want to be a three-down back in the NFL, you've got to catch the football," Mayock said. "What he showed today is that he's a natural catcher."

Mayock projects Hyde as a late-first-round to mid-second-round pick. NFL Media analysts Bucky Brooks and Charles Davis have Hyde going to the Cleveland Browns with the No. 26 pick in their latest mock drafts.

Shazier also caught Mayock's eye Friday despite suffering a strained left hamstring after completing his 40-yard dash. His time came up blazing fast -- 4.38 seconds, according to Mayock.

"That's crazy for a 237-pound outside linebacker, to have those kind of movement skills and explosion," Mayock said. "The thing he does well -- he's a run-and-chase linebacker. He fits today's NFL. He's great in the pass game, but he's got to do a better job disengaging from blocks."

Shazier is Mayock's No. 5-rated linebacker, and Mayock said he thinks he'll be a first-round draft pick, or possibly slide into the second round.

Roby, like Hyde, kept all of his numbers from the combine, but he did run the 3-cone drill, posting a time of 6.78 seconds, according to Brandt's pro-day report.

Mayock said Roby showed teams Friday that he could be "smooth and athletic and show a great change of direction."

"He put on a show," Mayock said, adding that he thinks Roby and Oklahoma State's Justin Gilbert are the draft's two most-athletic corners in the draft.

Mayock said he doesn't think Roby will get out of the first round, and all four NFL.com mock drafts agree with him, projecting him as high as the 20th pick of the Arizona Cardinals and as low as the 22nd pick of the Philadelphia Eagles.

One other Buckeyes prospect who impressed Mayock on pro day was OL Jack Mewhort, whom he projects as a second-round draft pick. Mayock was particularly impressed that Mewhort, who played left guard, right guard and left tackle at Ohio State, was able to work out as a center.

"It created a little buzz," Mayock said. "I could see a lot of the offensive line coaches and scouts going, 'Hey, if this kid could play center, literally, he could play all five positions on an NFL offensive line. When you only dress seven offensive linemen on Sundays, his versatility's going to help him."

Follow College Football 24/7 on Twitter @NFL_CFB.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

Scout Inc.'s Todd McShay joked that Pittsburgh QB Tom Savage "could build [a] strong malpractice suit vs. [his] supporting cast" last season.
"Pass protection (especially on the right side) is nightmare and drops everywhere!" McShay tweeted. The 6-foot-4, 228-pound quarterback with intriguing tools could be a late-round riser, especially if more evaluators excuse his so-so collegiate production by pointing to lesser talented teammates.

Source: Todd McShay on Twitter

Florida State RB Devonta Freeman reminds NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah of Darren Sproles.
"Doesn't have same top speed but his short area quickness is comparable," tweeted Jeremiah. Rotoworld's Josh Norris has compared Freeman to Ahmad Bradshaw and NFL.com's Gil Brandt called Freeman a less-complete Alfred Morris. Either way, evaluators are walking away from the Seminoles' star's game tape impressed. He's a compact runner who is slippery between the tackles and is a plus receiver out of the backfield.

Source: Daniel Jeremiah on Twitter

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

UFC's Blake Bortles slots No. 1 to the Texans in Scout Inc.'s Todd McShay's most recent mock draft.
"I still have Clowney as the No. 1 player and Bridgewater as the No. 1 QB on my board, but I consider Bortles to be the likeliest choice," wrote McShay. "He has the prototypical size and mental makeup that Houston is looking for, and my guess is that his weaknesses -- consistency and ball placement -- are things that Texans coach Bill O'Brien thinks he can fix." In addition, McShay likes the fit because new Houston coach Bill O'Brien previously coached under UCF coach George O'Leary. If O'Leary gives his old friend a strong Bortles endorsement, it might be difficult for O'Brien to pass on the prototypical dropback passer that his system prefers. "I'm sure some Texans fans will be asking about Johnny Manziel, but I don't think he really fits what O'Brien and this new regime are looking for," wrote McShay.

Source: ESPN Insider

Scouts Inc.'s Kevin Weidl says Clemson WR Martavis Bryant "flashed big upside on tape."
Bryant is an athletic freak who, at 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, ran unofficial forty times of 4.34 and 4.35 seconds at the combine (and posted a 39-inch vertical and a 10-yard split of 1.53 seconds). "He is a bit straight line and can have trouble dropping his weight and separating from underneath coverage. However, in Bryant’s defense, he was not a great fit within offensive coordinator Chad Morris' scheme at Clemson which relied heavily on quick hitting underneath throws," wrote Weidl. The analyst believes Bryant will be a nice value selection on Day 2. "Bryant has the talent to become a strong No. 2 with a few years of development," he wrote. Weidl sees some of the late Chris Henry in Bryant.

Source: ESPN.com

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

FWIW... Ka'Deem Carey may have trouble getting drafted and anything before the 3rd day would be a bit of an upset at this point. I've got his best comps as:

Justin Forsett -- #233
Vai Taua -- UDFA
Jeremiah Johnson -- UDFA
Ray Graham -- UDFA

He's more accomplished and younger than those guys, but it's not a great group to be part of.

 

[lod01]

Pro Day or victory lap? Watkins helps Clemson teammates 'put on a show'

Tajh Boyd enjoys strong pro day

Watkins is even better than I thought:

In his throwing session, amid ghost defenders, Boyd completed 67 of 68 passes -- including 32 of 33 from eight yards or more and five successful bombs to Watkins, receiver Martavis Bryant and running back Roderick McDowell, among others.

Indeed, he can even make Taj Boyd look good!

Sadly some mediocre team will now draft this guy totally forgetting how bad he sucked at the all star game and the unimpressive combine showing.

 

[lod01]

Rotoworld:

Scouts Inc.'s Kevin Weidl says Clemson WR Martavis Bryant "flashed big upside on tape."
Bryant is an athletic freak who, at 6-foot-5 and 200 pounds, ran unofficial forty times of 4.34 and 4.35 seconds at the combine (and posted a 39-inch vertical and a 10-yard split of 1.53 seconds). "He is a bit straight line and can have trouble dropping his weight and separating from underneath coverage. However, in Bryant’s defense, he was not a great fit within offensive coordinator Chad Morris' scheme at Clemson which relied heavily on quick hitting underneath throws," wrote Weidl. The analyst believes Bryant will be a nice value selection on Day 2. "Bryant has the talent to become a strong No. 2 with a few years of development," he wrote. Weidl sees some of the late Chris Henry in Bryant.

Source: ESPN.com

Exactly who I compare him to. He is Chris Henry without the off field issues.

 

[Brewtown]

It was announced today that ESPN will broadcast a new show which will follow a number of college football players as they prepare for the NFL Draft this May.

The show, titled 'Draft Academy', will feature a number of high profile draft prospects but perhaps the biggest names to be included are highly rated quarterback Blake Bortles (UCF), and monster defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (Southern Carolina).

Both players are being talked about as potential number one overall picks come May and the show will look to give fans an insight into just what it takes to prepare for the big event.

The show will debut, April 22 but some filming has already taken place with camera's having followed the young men through the Scouting Combine.

The four part series will also include footage of each athlete's pro days and the 2014 NFL Draft itself as ESPN looks to give us a never before seen insight into the process.

Other players included in the show will be USC wide receiver Marqise Lee, cornerback Pierre Desir, and University of Washington running back Bishop Sankey.

Lucky for ESPN they picked Bortles out of the top three rated quarterbacks because watching Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater watch other QB's throw at the Combine might have dragged a little don't you think?

Sounds like quite an interesting show, and should either Bortles or Clowney go on to have stellar NFL careers it will make good viewing in the year's ahead.

The four one-hour episodes will air on Tuesdays at 10 p.m. on ESPN. Most will follow airings of Jon Gruden's QB Camp, another show in which Bortles will feature. The show will debut on Tuesday, April 22 and will chronicle the players through the combine, their Pro Days and the 2014 NFL Draft.

A preview of Draft Academy will air on Sunday, March 9 at 10 a.m. on SportsCenter feature Bortles at the NFL Scouting Combine.

 

[EBF]

I'm also done with my devy drafts for the year. I built a pretty deep list of players and spent a lot of time looking for hidden gems with elite talent. I didn't ultimately come away with much besides the obvious names. I guess that shouldn't be a big surprise. First round talents are rare and most of them are known quantities like Lee, Bridgewater, and Watkins.

Leaving QBs out of the equation because I spent no time evaluating them besides Bridgewater, these are the guys that I think have first round talent:

RB Michael Dyer, Louisville

RB Todd Gurley, Georgia

RB Lache Seastrunk, Baylor

RB Thomas Tyner, Oregon

RB TJ Yeldon, Alabama

WR Amari Cooper, Alabama

WR Stefon Diggs, Maryland

WR Marqise Lee, USC

WR Sammy Watkins, Clemson

TE Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Washington

I didn't dedicate a huge amount of time to Lee, Watkins, Gurley, and Yeldon because I wasn't in position to draft any of them and I knew that I wasn't going to trade up for them.

I did spend a lot of time looking at ASJ, Tyner, and Diggs. Diggs reminds me of a pocket Dez Bryant. He's not as big, but has a similar style and may actually be faster and more fluid. He doesn't have the prototypical VJax/Fitz/Demaryius type of frame, but he's just one of those guys who screams "first round talent" from the first time you see him. He's elusive and he can make spectacular catches. I think he has a chance to be viewed in 12 months like Lee is today. Another comp would be Maclin, except Diggs is more agile and far better at catching the ball.

I took a cursory look at most of the 5 star high school RB/WR just in case anyone popped out. Tyner is the guy who really caught my eye. One of the fun things in scouting prospects is when you stumble upon a player who makes you sit up and say wow. Diggs was one of those guys and Tyner is another. I don't advocate taking high school kids in dev drafts if you can avoid it because so many of the mega hyped guys never pan out. Terrelle Pryor, Darrel Scott, and Andre Debose were supposed to be the next huge thing and all of them flopped. Last year's superstar Dorial Green-Beckham looks like he could potentially be headed for the same fate. With that in mind, I think the player really has to be a freak to justify the investment in a typical one round dev setup. Tyner qualifies for me. A true height/weight/speed outlier. He'll probably weigh about 215-225 at the combine in a few years and he's been clocked as low as 10.38 in the 100m (as a sophomore). That likely equates to a 4.3 speed. Has a bit of an upright style and isn't the most elusive in tight spaces, but other than that he's pretty much a dream RB prospect. Could end up being on a level with Richardson and Peterson when it's all said and done. I got him in the only two leagues where I had the chance and I'm excited to see what he can do at Oregon.

As for ASJ, I don't quite know what to make of him. Great production and pedigree. Huge frame. Catches everything in traffic and can simply outmuscle linebackers when the ball is in the air. On the other hand, he's not an athlete in the same sense as guys like Graham and Eifert. He's nimble and fluid, but not particularly explosive. More of a soft body like Gates. I don't expect crazy workout numbers for him. He might be a 4.7-4.8 guy. I could see his NFL output being more along the lines of someone like Kyle Rudolph or Marcedes Lewis for this reason. I still would've taken him with a top 5-6 pick in 1.5 PPR for TE leagues, but I wasn't totally bullish on the prospect of getting him. He is very good, but people compare him to Gronk and Graham. I'm not sure he's quite THAT good.

These are some other players who caught my eye in one way or another, but who don't quite seem like first tier talents to me at the moment.

RB Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska - Loved the burst, quickness, and balance. Production checks out. Small frame is the main sticking point.

RB Tim Flanders, Sam Houston State - Great feet and production. Not sure about the burst/explosiveness.

RB Devonta Freeman, Florida State - North-south runner who impressed me a lot more than teammate Wilder, who I don't like. Sturdy frame and good acceleration. Didn't see a lot of cutting ability in his highlights though. Bounces everything to the outside and struggles to change directions at full speed in the secondary. Still warrants a long look.

RB Jeremy Hill, LSU - Promising. Some questions about his lateral ability and combine athleticism. Biggest issue is the character stuff.

RB Bishop Sankey, Washington - Good player. Instinctive and has good change of direction skills. A guy who plays better than the sum of his parts. I'm not sure he's really a first round kind of athlete from a combine numbers standpoint and that was the major sticking point for me.

WR Odell Beckham, LSU - Dynamite athlete with exceptional burst and quickness. I really like him from an NFL standpoint as a complementary target and return man. From a FF standpoint, I don't know if the upside is there. He's not a huge guy and he hasn't been a dominant statistical force up to this point.

WR Brandon Coleman, Rutgers - Tall, stringy receiver. More agile than you'd expect for his height and can actually make moves and run decent routes. Long strides are problematic for defensive backs on deep routes, as he chews up ground in a hurry. Is he a Stephen Hill or a Plaxico though? Tall guys often struggle with precise route running and separation at the pro level. Production has been less than amazing through two years. There's upside, but I didn't like him enough to use a top 12 dev pick on him.

WR Cody Hoffman, BYU - No major flaws. He's tall, nimble, pretty strong, and he catches the ball well. Is he exceptional though? Not super fast from what I can tell. Not really an explosive player. He may be a a Kevin Walter type at the next level. Nice complementary player, but perhaps not a #1.

WR Donte Moncrief, Ole Miss - Said a lot about him above. He's close to being a first tier guy and I'm optimistic about his chances.

WR Sean Price, Appalachian State - Tall, but also nimble and fluid. Could be a better version of Hoffman.

WR Allen Robinson, Penn State - Has what you want in terms of height, hands, and body control. Speed, burst, and body mass are suspect. Low YPC receiver who may not have the juice to be a #1 in the NFL. Nice player though and I'll be watching his progress closely this season.

TE Eric Ebron, North Carolina - Fluid athlete who runs routes like a big WR, almost like Eifert in that regard. Actually a decent blocker considering that he looks a little thin for a TE. The biggest negative I saw in the games I was able to find was his hands. He dropped way too many easy balls. Other than that, he's certainly an NFL caliber athlete and looks like he could go anywhere from the 1st-4th round in the draft.

TE Colt Lyerla, Oregon - Modest production. Purely a workout warrior up to this point. I'm not sure he can actually play the game. Maybe, but hard to tell from limited usage. More hype than results as of right now.

There are lot more names, but these were the main guys I focused on as I tried to plan my drafts. I won't dedicate a lot of energy to ripping players that I didn't like, but I definitely had an adverse reaction to James Wilder and had a tough time buying the hype on Ka'Deem Carey and Mike Evans.

Interesting to look back on this after the season and the combine.

Mostly pleased with this analysis. Kind of had a hunch about Carey, Coleman, and Wilder. At the time everybody thought Wilder was a better prospect than Freeman. Freeman won't be a super high pick, but he will go higher than Wilder IMO.

Looks like I whiffed on Mike Evans. Whiffed on some of the calls about first round talent. Not sure Diggs, Tyner, Seastrunk, Cooper, Yeldon, and ASJ will go that high when the dust settles. Seems really unlikely for Seastrunk and relatively unlikely for ASJ based on the current pundit buzz. Dyer obviously not destined for the first round due to age/injuries/character/lack of receiving ability.

Abdullah should've come out this year if he cares about his football career at all. Stock won't be any higher in a year. He would've been the top Reggie Bush-style back in the draft this year.

 

[EBF]

Thinking out loud here about Marqise Lee. It seems to me that there are several different potential outcomes for a WR prospect:

1. Elite perennial Pro Bowl type of guy (i.e. Andre, Fitzgerald, VJax, etc).

2. Low End #1/Good #2 (i.e. Randall Cobb, Torrey Smith, Kendall Wright, TY Hilton, Eric Decker).

3. Marginally useful #2/#3 (i.e. Lance Moore, Andre Roberts, Golden Tate, Nate Burleson).

4. Outright Bust (i.e. Buster Davis, Jon Baldwin, Rashaun Woods).

Just based on the hard numbers, it seems unlikely to me that he's going to end up in group #1. There have been a couple exceptions, but in general you either have to be really big, really fast/explosive, or both to get in that group. Lee is on the shorter and lighter side of the scale for a WR (i.e. not really big). He tested very well in the vertical and the broad jump (he's explosive), but he only ran a 4.52 in the 40 (he's not super fast). Based on his overall athletic profile, I think you can either rule out the perennial Pro Bowler outcome or at least assign it a low probability.

Barring unforeseeable injury/off-field issues, I think you can also rule out bucket #4. That's a subjective call, but I've seen enough of Lee to believe that he's not going to totally flop. He was ultra productive in a difficult conference. He overshadowed and outperformed Robert Woods (himself a 2nd round NFL draft pick who looked decent as an NFL rookie). He passes the eyeball test for me and, while not super fast or big, is a very good overall athlete in terms of quickness and short-area explosiveness.

My hunch is that he's mostly a bucket #2 guy with a little bit of bucket #3 mixed in and remote possibilities of bucket #1. These numbers are highly arbitrary, but I'd say he's about 10% group 1, 60% group 2, and 30% group 3. In other words, highly likely to become a "solid" FF contributor WR2-3 type, but highly unlikely to become an outright beast or an outright bust. If you buy that analysis, what rookie pick do you think Lee is worth in a typical PPR league? In some ways he feels similar to Kendall Wright or Santonio Holmes (minus the diva issues) as a FF proposition. Wright was a mid-late 1st round rookie pick in most leagues whereas Lee comfortably took the 1.03 spot in the latest PPR polls. I like Lee, but if that ADP holds, are you a buyer at that price? If not, who are you buying instead? Seems to me that Lee might be more of a 1.05-1.10 guy in actual value due to the lack of top end freak potential. OTOH, I like the high floor and I actually don't think there's a lot of obvious top end talent in this draft (there's a huge cluster of "good" prospects but nobody who looks like a "GREAT" prospect IMO).

 

[Milkman]

To me the draft has two elite prospects in Watkins and Evans. At least that's the consensus. Both of those wr look like they will be drafted in the top ten. After that it depends on where these players land. For instance if Lee gets drafted by the Colts I'll be looking at him pretty hard @ #5 if he's still there. He's dropping though. He looks like the real deal to me on tape but with his measureables his upside is limited.

 

[Milkman]

Another aspect to consider is a couple RB that aren't projecting as 1st round picks right now like Sims or Freeman could be drafted into favorable positions where they could potentially start right away.

Ebron's another prospect, that if he's drafted in the top ten, could be a possibility @ 3.

Hyde and Hill are both backs that could be in the picture there depending where they land. If Hyde sneaks into the first round he's a possibility @ 2 overall for me. I like Evans to much though to pass on him. He's to fluid at 6'5 and if i had the #1 pick I would draft him there too.

 

[ShaHBucks]

FWIW... Ka'Deem Carey may have trouble getting drafted and anything before the 3rd day would be a bit of an upset at this point. I've got his best comps as:

Justin Forsett -- #233

Vai Taua -- UDFA

Jeremiah Johnson -- UDFA

Ray Graham -- UDFA

He's more accomplished and younger than those guys, but it's not a great group to be part of.

He was just a consensus #1-2 ranked RB. The combine doesn't matter right?

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

An NFC scout thinks Texas A&M WR Mike Evans could bulk up to 250 and become a hybrid tight end.
Evans will be a matchup nightmare wherever he lines up, and this comment speaks more to that than reality. At 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, Evans wouldn't have to gain much weight to possess TE dimensions, but he's better off on the outside where he can torment shorter CBs, navigate through less traffic on long balls, and not waste excess energy taking on larger humans as a blocker. Scout Inc.'s Todd McShay says Evans is "one of the best receivers at coming down with 50-50 balls that I've ever evaluated, and he's the most accomplished downfield receiving threat in this class."

Source: NFL.com

Alabama State RB Isaiah Crowell projects as a sixth- or seventh-round draft pick, writes Gil Brandt of NFL.com.
Crowell strangely lost more than half an inch in measurement from the combine to Alabama State's pro day, going from 5-foot-11 to 5-foot-10 3/8. He decided to keep his 4.57 forty time from the Scouting Combine, but collected a 4.51 short shuttle and a 7.25 cone drill. The former five-star Georgia recruit is interesting because he's a boom-or-bust prospect that will come at a minimal cost. Were it not for off-the-field issues, Crowell might have been a second- or even a first-rounder in May. It should be noted that Crowell earned praise from those around him at the Alabama State program.

Source: NFL.com

Ohio State RB Carlos Hyde will run another forty-yard dash on March 26 at an as-yet undisclosed location.
Hyde tweaked his left hamstring toward the end of a 4.62 forty at the Combine and then elected not to run at the Buckeyes' Pro Day last week because he's still feeling lingering affects. Hyde's non-forty work in Columbus impressed scouts, with NFL.com's Gil Brandt writing: "Hyde looked outstanding today in his position drills as a running back, and was especially impressive catching the ball." Once thought to be a second-round lock, Hyde's name has crept into the latter stages of the opening stanza. NFL Media analysts Bucky Brooks and Charles Davis both have Hyde ticketed No. 26 to the Browns.

Source: NFL.com

 

[Faust]

2014 NFL Draft prep? Alabama-Texas A&M is 2013 game tape to watch

 

[Faust]

Wake Forest's Michael Campanaro ready-made to play slot in NFL

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

FWIW... Ka'Deem Carey may have trouble getting drafted and anything before the 3rd day would be a bit of an upset at this point. I've got his best comps as:

Justin Forsett -- #233

Vai Taua -- UDFA

Jeremiah Johnson -- UDFA

Ray Graham -- UDFA

He's more accomplished and younger than those guys, but it's not a great group to be part of.

He was just a consensus #1-2 ranked RB. The combine doesn't matter right?

Well, I do think he's better than those guys -- but almost no way enough better to get drafted in the the first three rounds.

So yeah. A great example of why what you think you see on the field doesn't matter all that much until you can put some hard numbers to it. "The Tape" lies a lot.

I've been trying to make a list of what I think is important in a prospect that you can't really see in the combine and NCAA numbers. So far I've got...

1) For QBs who aren't big, strapping, immobile (pocket) QBs and who aren't (fast) running QBs, why and how are they taking sacks? Are they aware of the pressure, but scramble around or hold the ball to make plays? Are they clueless until it's too late? Are they freezing under pressure when they could get rid of the ball? That's not something that shows up in just the numbers.

2) QB arm strength. I've just found radar measurements for a lot of QB prospects going back to 2008 and it's really useful as another screen, but I think that it's still something that's worth looking at in person (off-balance, variety of throws, etc).

3) For backs with low rushing efficiency measures -- are they almost exclusively interior rushers? Guys without long speed and who don't/can't get wide at all can still be extremely effective in the pros with the right combination of measurable traits, but their NCAA yards/carry might look atrocious.

4) What kind of hands does a guy have? You can't really judge that by looking at the results of their NCAA plays since it only includes successful results and there are some catches available in college that won't be in the pros -- where you pretty much need to be able to catch with your hands without breaking speed.

5) For guys with lower catch volumes and high efficiency stats, film is great for looking at what routes they ran. Very few players can make a living in the NFL on an exclusive diet of sandlot "go-deep" routes.

So even though I'm pretty much a numbers only guy I think there's a huge role for qualitative scouting. But to use it as an near-exclusive tool is just dumb. Most of what you need to know is available in the measurables and on average the numbers will be more accurate than any single scout.

 

[Faust]

Rotoworld:

CBS Sports' Dane Brugler believes Ohio State RB Carlos Hyde is the only running back he'd consider taking in the top-60 picks.
"There is only one running back I'd consider taking in the top-60 picks this year - Ohio State RB Carlos Hyde. Plenty of quality running backs in 3rd-5th rounds," Brugler tweeted. Hyde has a good chance to be the first RB off the board in this years draft. After an impressive Pro Day, some scouts believe he could even go in the first-round. Our own Josh Norris has compared Hyde to Zac Stacy and Frank Gore and also believes he'll be the first running back off the board.

Source: Dane Brugler on Twitter

 

[Soulfly3]

Rotoworld:

CBS Sports' Dane Brugler believes Ohio State RB Carlos Hyde is the only running back he'd consider taking in the top-60 picks.
"There is only one running back I'd consider taking in the top-60 picks this year - Ohio State RB Carlos Hyde. Plenty of quality running backs in 3rd-5th rounds," Brugler tweeted. Hyde has a good chance to be the first RB off the board in this years draft. After an impressive Pro Day, some scouts believe he could even go in the first-round. Our own Josh Norris has compared Hyde to Zac Stacy and Frank Gore and also believes he'll be the first running back off the board.

Source: Dane Brugler on Twitter

I like Hyde. But Im maintaining that Sankey and Mason will have better careers in the pros...

And if I had to take one in the draft, Id go Sankey above both

 

[Leroy's Aces]

Rotoworld:

Alabama State RB Isaiah Crowell projects as a sixth- or seventh-round draft pick, writes Gil Brandt of NFL.com.
Crowell strangely lost more than half an inch in measurement from the combine to Alabama State's pro day, going from 5-foot-11 to 5-foot-10 3/8. He decided to keep his 4.57 forty time from the Scouting Combine, but collected a 4.51 short shuttle and a 7.25 cone drill. The former five-star Georgia recruit is interesting because he's a boom-or-bust prospect that will come at a minimal cost. Were it not for off-the-field issues, Crowell might have been a second- or even a first-rounder in May. It should be noted that Crowell earned praise from those around him at the Alabama State program.

Source: NFL.com

Thanks for this Faust.

Those are pretty awful agility numbers even for a 224 pounder and would have been among the worst at the combine for RBs.

 

[Time Kibitzer]

FWIW... Ka'Deem Carey may have trouble getting drafted and anything before the 3rd day would be a bit of an upset at this point. I've got his best comps as:

Justin Forsett -- #233

Vai Taua -- UDFA

Jeremiah Johnson -- UDFA

Ray Graham -- UDFA

He's more accomplished and younger than those guys, but it's not a great group to be part of.

He was just a consensus #1-2 ranked RB. The combine doesn't matter right?

Well, I do think he's better than those guys -- but almost no way enough better to get drafted in the the first three rounds.

So yeah. A great example of why what you think you see on the field doesn't matter all that much until you can put some hard numbers to it. "The Tape" lies a lot.

I wouldn't say that. Despite Carey's phenomenal stats, he wasn't exactly exhibiting great long speed 'on tape'. Heck, in his 652 carries the past 2 seasons, he only had 6 40+ yard carries; 3 of them game in one game against Colorado, and the other 3 came in games against Toledo, UNLV, and Utah. And in 2 of those carries against Colorado he's got a huge seem where 'fast' RBs get in the endzone easily, but he gets caught from behind both times, video here. And imo long speed is an unnecessary talent to have for an RB to have anyway, obviously it's much better to have it than not but it's not the end of the world if you don't have it imo. Having initial quickness is more important, and imo Carey shows that on tape, and his 10 yard split time at the combine was actually the exact same as 'combine winner' Bishop Sankey, so arguably he showed that skill at the combine as well.

I'd feel better about Carey if he was thicker and more successful as a receiver, but even now I think he can offer value in rookie drafts and the NFL draft as everyone seems to have completely given up on the kid.

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

Well kudos for being consistent!

Will be interesting to see where the former #1/#2 RB prospect (not universally, but I didn't see anyone with him outside the top few) ends up being drafted.

 

[Time Kibitzer]

Well kudos for being consistent!

Will be interesting to see where the former #1/#2 RB prospect (not universally, but I didn't see anyone with him outside the top few) ends up being drafted.

Can't tell if you're kidding in regard to consistency, but here's what I said about him in November 2012:

Ka'Deem Carey - Saw him play for the first time tonight and I was very impressed. He looks like a very smart runner with good vision. Needs to pack on another 10 pounds, but he will be a fun one to follow next season.

Yea he has a lot of things you look for. In addition to being a smart runner with good vision, as you said, he also does a great job of keeping his legs moving at all times, frequently picking up extra yards after contact; he runs with good power for someone his size. You're probably right that he needs to pack on another 10 pounds, and another worry I have about him is he looks pretty slow; he could have broke 3-4 60+ yard TD runs against Colorado if he had better speed. His one saving grace in that department is that he seems to get to full speed very very quickly.

So yes I actually have been.

Also, is where they end up getting drafted the endgame? Or is it how they actually end up doing in the NFL?

 

[Faust]

Jaguars, Seahawks keeping up with QB Connor Shaw

 

[Dinsy Ejotuz]

So yes I actually have been.

FTR... I was being serious. You liked him, but didn't love him, before the combine and a poor showing there didn't change your opinion. I disagree with you on him as a prospect, but appreciate that you didn't change your tune.

There are guys who tout "the tape" and claim the combine is irrelevant, but then suddenly see something different on the film when someone blows up or bombs in Indy.

 

[EBF]

That is like saying that because some people are bad at assessing film, there is no value in film assessment. I think certain things can be hard to assess from watching games and highlights. I think height/weight can be trickier than you'd think when the players are wearing pads and uniforms. For example, I thought Lee might be more like 200+ pounds than 192. Blackmon is another guy who seemed to look and play bigger than he really was.

For the most part though, I'd say a lot of what happens at the combine is confirmation of what people already expected. I don't think anyone who knows what they're looking at should've been surprised to see a guy like Jarvis Landry run slow and show minimal explosiveness. That is what he looks like "on tape" as well. So if people are suddenly shocked by that and it's causing them to radically adjust their rankings, I think it's an indictment of their specific ability to assess tape rather than the practice of assessing tape in general. Sort of like how a pitcher throwing a terrible fastball that leads to a home run isn't an indictment on the art of pitching, but only that pitcher and that pitch.

I don't think one side is right in the tape vs. numbers debate. Jon Baldwin and Donald Brown look like Pro Bowlers on paper. They suck on the field. Other guys like LeSean McCoy and Chad Johnson sucked on paper. They're Pro Bowlers on the field. If scouts had no ability to do their jobs, you wouldn't have seen McCoy and his unspectacular height/weight/speed/explosiveness anywhere near the second round. Carey is actually a little bit like McCoy in that his best quality is his first step quickness (which isn't going to show up in combine drills), but he's nowhere near as good and I never liked him as much. Did anyone expect him to test well though? I didn't. I'm surprised he couldn't beat a 4.7, but he never struck me as a guy who was going to shine in that environment. I posted this on February 4th:

Carey isn't much of a height/weight/speed athlete, but he can make people miss in tight spaces. So if someone is hoping for a LeSean McCoy type of back to get into space, he would offer some potential for that kind of role.

I'm surprised by just how awful his workout was, but it's not like he was ever going to be Reggie Bush in the testing. That was never his game. I think he'll still slide because his 40 time was still really bad even in the context of a guy who isn't thought to be a tremendous athletic specimen, but I don't know that evaluators are going to be shocked that he wasn't awesome in the drills. He never looked like that kind of player.

The thing about the "eyeball test" is that it's completely subjective and some people are horrible at it. I had a guy on another forum tell me before the combine that Andre Williams was a terrible athlete and that he was going to test like Stepfan Taylor. Ridiculous if you'd watched them extensively and had any ability to assess what you were looking at, but many semi-pro Internet pundits don't really have a clue what they're doing (and in fairness I've been that guy in the past). Ultimately, bad scouts aren't any more of an indictment of "eyeball test" scouting than bad pitchers are an indictment of throwing a curveball. Some people do it well and some people don't.

 

[EBF]

Rotoworld:

CBS Sports' Dane Brugler believes Ohio State RB Carlos Hyde is the only running back he'd consider taking in the top-60 picks.
"There is only one running back I'd consider taking in the top-60 picks this year - Ohio State RB Carlos Hyde. Plenty of quality running backs in 3rd-5th rounds," Brugler tweeted. Hyde has a good chance to be the first RB off the board in this years draft. After an impressive Pro Day, some scouts believe he could even go in the first-round. Our own Josh Norris has compared Hyde to Zac Stacy and Frank Gore and also believes he'll be the first running back off the board.

Source: Dane Brugler on Twitter

I like Hyde. But Im maintaining that Sankey and Mason will have better careers in the pros...

And if I had to take one in the draft, Id go Sankey above both

I have been putting in some more time lately trying to crack this RB class. Overall, I think it's a very pedestrian group. There are lots of 2nd-4th round guys, but nobody with the right stuff to warrant a 1st round pick. So if you're looking at this group trying to find that prospect, I don't think you'll have much luck. That guy isn't in the pool this year. Lots of these backs check off some of the boxes, but nobody has everything.

As far as Hyde goes, he is a fluid runner with a great frame, very good feet/hips, good hands, and good balance. The issue is that he's a one speed runner with no second gear at all. He is efficient and economical, but there's no burst. So my hunch is that he's just going to be a jack-of-all-trades grinder in the NFL whose lack of dynamic qualities prevents him from becoming an elite back on his own merits. He could still put up gaudy FF stats if fed carries and targets ala Arian Foster and LeVeon Bell, but he's not going to suddenly become Fred Taylor or Ahman Green and bust off big runs with his speed.