Staff Rookie Rankings (1 Viewer)

[Jene Bramel]

Would it be possible to get rankings with the offensive and defensive players mixed together? (I'd like to see where McClain ranks among ALL rookies, for example...)

You can check out the Bloom 100 for one look. I'm not sure there are any plans this year for the database to support that in our rankings this season, but I'll ask Doug about it.I think the general consensus is that McClain should be considered a top 15 overall linebacker prospect. In the majority of leagues, that means he's worth strong consideration after the top RB and WR prospects, somewhere in the 7-12 range.

Jene, any idea when DD will be available?

I'm not sure. I think it'll likely be soon after all five sets of offensive projections are in, so I'd expect it around June 1st. I know Bruce has been very busy writing the code for the mobile app that's about to debut, so it's possible that the DD may be delayed a little from its usual date.

 

[John 14:6]

Would it be possible to get rankings with the offensive and defensive players mixed together? (I'd like to see where McClain ranks among ALL rookies, for example...)

You can check out the Bloom 100 for one look. I'm not sure there are any plans this year for the database to support that in our rankings this season, but I'll ask Doug about it.I think the general consensus is that McClain should be considered a top 15 overall linebacker prospect. In the majority of leagues, that means he's worth strong consideration after the top RB and WR prospects, somewhere in the 7-12 range.

Jene, any idea when DD will be available?

I'm not sure. I think it'll likely be soon after all five sets of offensive projections are in, so I'd expect it around June 1st. I know Bruce has been very busy writing the code for the mobile app that's about to debut, so it's possible that the DD may be delayed a little from its usual date.

Do you know if this one will have the ability to divide up DL into DT and DE, and DB into CB and S?

 

[Jene Bramel]

Would it be possible to get rankings with the offensive and defensive players mixed together? (I'd like to see where McClain ranks among ALL rookies, for example...)

You can check out the Bloom 100 for one look. I'm not sure there are any plans this year for the database to support that in our rankings this season, but I'll ask Doug about it.I think the general consensus is that McClain should be considered a top 15 overall linebacker prospect. In the majority of leagues, that means he's worth strong consideration after the top RB and WR prospects, somewhere in the 7-12 range.

Jene, any idea when DD will be available?

I'm not sure. I think it'll likely be soon after all five sets of offensive projections are in, so I'd expect it around June 1st. I know Bruce has been very busy writing the code for the mobile app that's about to debut, so it's possible that the DD may be delayed a little from its usual date.

Do you know if this one will have the ability to divide up DL into DT and DE, and DB into CB and S?

Sorry, I don't. That'd be a question for Bruce.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

...I want to weigh in on TJ Ward --he should be higher. Compared to Taylor Mays I personally believe Ward is a better player and in an equally good situation. I also think CLE is very good about awarding tackles/assists. While Mays is the marquee name, Ward my intuition tells me is the value play. I think in his early years he could look like Tony Parrish or Mike Brown did for the Bears 10 and 7 years back. I drafted Ward over Mays and look forward to the comparisons this year.

I agree that Ward would rate higher in relation to Taylor Mays and I think he'll start from day-one and that he will end up playing in the box so he should rack up tackle stats but he only had three interceptions and he's never displayed big-play ability. The Browns coaches stated that they wanted to increase big-plays (i.e. turnovers) on defense because the Browns ranked near the bottom of the league in turnover differential in spite of the fact that they more than doubled their sack performance (40 sacks in 2009 up from 17 in 2008) but didn't bump up their turnover differential. First round pick Joe Haden probably will be in position to get lots of turnovers moreso than TJ Ward IMHO.Also the Browns defense is a true cover-two so the safeties are not broken up into 'strong' and 'free' safety positions. They just cover half the field, so if Ward had displayed big-play ability and specifically had he made interceptions in college then I think he would be a legit sleeper.If you got a chance to see his style of play he's more of a big hitter type of safety. He even said after he got drafted that he patterns his play after Jack Tatum (formerly of the Oakland Raiders who garnered the nickname 'The Assasin' long before he paralyzed Daryl Stingly of the New England Patriots). TJ is not a guy who I think will make lots of interceptions. He might force a disproportionate amount of forced fumbles and I think he'll make some highlight reel kill shots on WRs going over the middle of the field and I think that he will even have high tackle numbers but I don't see him making many interceptions.Also I'm a bit concerned about his long-term durability considering his high contact style of play.

 

[The Man With No Name]

Kareem Jackson already a starter

Rookie corner rule

 

[Bracie Smathers]

... K. Wilson is good. Real good. I think he wins job over Cromartie and pushes Cromartie to nickel. Then he will be playing across from Revis. You think K. Wilson will get ball thrown his way a lot. I do. He is probably a tier low.

Guys I would not sleep on that are missing from list.

... S. Kindle - Love his talent. Great pass rusher and good in coverage as well. Could put up double digit sack numbers regularly.

I had heard that Rex said that he felt Wilson was "the real deal" but Cromartie is a vet who had was a stud IDP performer when he had opportunities when he first came into the league and if he starts opposite Revis then he should have lots of opportunities to make plays. I'll be watching whether or not Wilson overtakes Cromartie's starting position but it seems as though the vet would get the benefit of the doubt at least early in the season. I think the long-term play is Wilson but short-term I feel Cromartie is a potential IDP stud due to the big-play ability he had shown in the past when he had opportunities to make big plays.Per Kindle.

The draft board of the Dallas Cowboys was leaked on a video tape and they had Kindle graded as a third round talent on their board.

Dallas draft board link

The Cowboys draft board (the real McCoy) here

The days and weeks leading to the NFL draft see a glut of draft boards or mock drafts from experts and non-experts alike, but we never really see an actual NFL draft board.

Until now.

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/.a/6a00d834...ed728264970b-pi

The picture above is Dallas owner-president-general manager Jerry Jones standing in front of his team's draft board on Saturday, April 24 -- the third day of the draft. Many of the names on the board are clearly visible. You can click on the picture to enlarge it.

The Cowboys have confirmed this is their actual board.

... Round 3

1. Sergio Kindle (2nd, No. 43, Balt.)

Some of the reasons listed why Sergio fell from the Baltimore Sun:... Kindle plummeted due to teams’ reservations about a knee that has been repaired surgically four times with one report suggesting that he might ultimately need microfracture surgery.

... Kindle was arrested for driving under the influence in July of 2007

Last year, he crashed into an apartment building because he said he was texting while driving. He left the scene of the accident without contacting police and went home with a mild concussion

The Ravens also addressed reports that Kindle suffers from narcolepsy, a sleeping disorder, as well as attention deficit disorder. Kindle reportedly fell asleep in meetings while playing for the Longhorns.

The DUI and texting while driving and even the narcolepsy don't concern me as much as the four surgeries on his knee but add everything up together and I can see how he fell and why he got a third round grade by the Cowboys.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

...

I want to weigh in on TJ Ward --he should be higher. Compared to Taylor Mays I personally believe Ward is a better player and in an equally good situation. I also think CLE is very good about awarding tackles/assists. While Mays is the marquee name, Ward my intuition tells me is the value play. I think in his early years he could look like Tony Parrish or Mike Brown did for the Bears 10 and 7 years back.

I drafted Ward over Mays and look forward to the comparisons this year.

I agree that Ward would rate higher in relation to Taylor Mays and I think he'll start from day-one and that he will end up playing in the box so he should rack up tackle stats but he only had three interceptions and he's never displayed big-play ability. The Browns coaches stated that they wanted to increase big-plays (i.e. turnovers) on defense because the Browns ranked near the bottom of the league in turnover differential in spite of the fact that they more than doubled their sack performance (40 sacks in 2009 up from 17 in 2008) but didn't bump up their turnover differential. First round pick Joe Haden probably will be in position to get lots of turnovers moreso than TJ Ward IMHO.Also the Browns defense is a true cover-two so the safeties are not broken up into 'strong' and 'free' safety positions. They just cover half the field, so if Ward had displayed big-play ability and specifically had he made interceptions in college then I think he would be a legit sleeper.

If you got a chance to see his style of play he's more of a big hitter type of safety. He even said after he got drafted that he patterns his play after Jack Tatum (formerly of the Oakland Raiders who garnered the nickname 'The Assasin' long before he paralyzed Daryl Stingly of the New England Patriots).

TJ is not a guy who I think will make lots of interceptions. He might force a disproportionate amount of forced fumbles and I think he'll make some highlight reel kill shots on WRs going over the middle of the field and I think that he will even have high tackle numbers but I don't see him making many interceptions.

Also I'm a bit concerned about his long-term durability considering his high contact style of play.

Sounding IDP sleeper alert on Browns safety T.J. Ward.He's the real deal folks.

Someone has already posted a YouTube highlight video and he's only played three quarters of one preseason game.

Check it out:

T.J. Ward highlight video

Smatters of flatterings from multiple writers covering the team. Go to links for full stories.

T.J. Ward story

The Browns have not had a safety so fierce he makes receivers peek over their shoulders since Eric Turner was a rookie playing for Bill Belichick 15 years ago.

That might be changing if what happened Saturday night in Green Bay is a true indication of what to expect from rookie T.J. Ward.

Ward did not play a perfect game; he was in the picture frame of each of the Packers first two touchdowns. But he did enough things right that general manager Tom Heckert Jr. had to be smiling from his cushy seat in Lambeau Field, for it was Heckert who went against the advice of draft analysts and chose Ward with the sixth pick in the second round in April.

Ward’s signature play from the Browns’ 27-24 victory over the Packers was made with 9:37 left in the second quarter and the Browns leading, 21-14.

Aaron Rodgers, who had already completed 11 of 12 passes, made it an even dozen connections on pass No. 13 when he looked to his right and snapped off a quick pass to Donald Driver on third-and-six.

Ward slammed into Driver and planted him on the Lambeau sod before Driver made a move. It was fourth-and-six, the Packers had to punt and, mercifully for the Browns, Rodgers was done for the night....

Another Ward story

Cleveland Browns' T.J. Ward promises to be a quick learner after NFL debut vs. Packers

Published: Monday, August 16, 2010, 7:06 PM Updated: Tuesday, August 17, 2010, 7:52 AM

... Ward was all over the field in his NFL preseason debut Saturday night at Lambeau Field. He made the tackle on the Browns' first two kickoffs. On his first extended defensive series, he made tackles on three plays in a row. At the end of that series, Ward was beat on a perfect touchdown throw by Aaron Rodgers to veteran 1,000-yard receiver Greg Jennings.

...

Yet another Ward story

Cleveland Browns Preseason: Rookie Safety T.J. Ward Turning Heads

In Cleveland’s first preseason game, the talk of the town wasn’t about first round selection Joe Haden, nor was the theme centered around hopeful future signal-caller Colt McCoy.

The rookie who stole the show was T.J. Ward.

Playing three quarters in his first action as a member of the Cleveland Browns, T.J. Ward racked up seven tackles, two special teams tackles, and a QB hurry.

He displayed great open-field tackling with the ability to close quickly on the ball carrier. Cleveland Browns analyst Reggie Rucker is even quoted as saying, “The guy is like a cobra. He attacks anything that moves.” ...

... Ignoring the pre-draft rankings, Cleveland stood pat and decided to draft the player they really wanted…much to the chagrin of most Browns fans...

The thing that stands out with Ward is that he not only plays up in the box but that he ATTACKS the edge life few safeties in the NFL can do.The Browns secondary play of the safties is a true cover-2 where the safeties split the field so their isn't a SS/FS designation but it easily seems to me that the plan is to use T.J. Ward to attack the edge moreso than Abe Elam who lacks that sort of speed/explosion that Ward has so I consider him a legit short and long term IDP rookie DB sleeper.

Get him cheap while you can.

 

[massraider]

Really nice stuff on Ward and Roth, Bracie.