The 2007 Draft and IDPs (1 Viewer)

[dgreen]

Now that most leagues concluded their 2006 season, 2007 Draft talk is picking up in The Shark Pool. Of course, the focus there is on the offensive side of the ball. I thought we could get things started here, focusing on IDPs. Who are the early favorites at DL, LB, and DB? How do these players compare to past draft picks? What teams are looking to fill a gap that might produce a nice rookie IDP?

 

[boubucarow]

Top prospects from Great Blue North Draft Report (hopefully the names will spark some discussion)

Middle Linebackers (* underclassmen, L/O off field issues, X injury concern)

Patrick Willis 6-1, 235 4.65 Mississippi

*Brandon Siler 6-1, 235 4.55 Florida (X)

H.B. Blades 5-11, 240 4.72 Pittsburgh

Buster Davis 5-10, 245 4.75 Florida State

David Harris 6-2, 240 4.70 Michigan

Desmond Bishop 6-2, 240 4.55 California

Anthony Waters 6-2, 240 4.55 Clemson (X)

Tony Taylor 6-0, 235 4.75 Georgia

Justin Durant 6-1, 230 4.55 Hampton

Nate Harris 6-0, 240 4.60 Louisville

Justin Warren 6-3, 245 4.85 Texas A&M

Keyonvis Bouie 6-0, 225 4.75 Florida International

Kelvin Smith 6-2, 235 4.82 Syracuse

Dedrick Harrington 6-3, 240 4.80 Missouri

Thaddeus Washington 6-0, 245 4.75 Colorado

Outside Linebackers

Paul Poluszny 6-2, 230 4.75 Penn State (X)

Earl Everett 6-2, 230 4.55 Florida

Rufus Alexander 6-0, 230 4.70 Oklahoma

Prescott Burgess 6-3, 245 4.72 Michigan

*Ali Highsmith 6-1, 225 LSU

*Keith Rivers 6-2, 225 Southern California

*Xavier Adibi 6-1, 225 4.45 Virginia Tech

Tim Shaw 6-1, 235 4.72 Penn State

Stewart Bradley 6-3, 240 4.78 Nebraska

Juwan Simpson 6-2, 230 4.65 Alabama (O)

Kevin McLee 6-1, 255 4.72 West Virginia

Stephen Nicholas 6-2, 225 4.85 South Florida

Jeremy Jones 6-1, 235 4.75 UTEP (X)

Will Herring 6-3, 220 4.70 Auburn (SS)

Sam Olajubutu 5-9, 230 4.65 Arkansas

Safeties

*Reggie Nelson 6-0, 195 Florida

Laron Landry 6-2, 205 4.52 LSU

Brandon Meriwaether 6-0, 192 4.47 Miami

Michael Griffen 6-0, 210 4.52 Texas

Tom Zbitkowski 5-11, 215 4.55 Notre Dame

John Wendling 6-1, 222 4.40 Wyoming

Aaron Rouse 6-4, 215 4.35 Virginia Tech

Eric Weddle 5-11, 200 4.55 Utah (CB)

Sabbby Piscatelli 6-3, 225 4.45 Oregon State

Josh Gattis 6-1, 215 4.50 Wake Forest

Michael Johnson 6-3, 215 4.50 Arizona

J.D. Nelson 5-11, 215 4.55 Oregon

Zack Catanese 6-2, 220 4.60 Arizona State

Rod Rogers 6-1, 185 4.45 Wisconsin

Gerald Alexander 6-0, 205 4.55 Boise State (CB)

Cornerbacks

*Darrelle Revis 5-11, 190 Pittsburgh

Leon Hall 5-11, 195 4.48 Michigan

*Antoine Cason 6-2, 182 Arizona

Marcus McCauley 6-1, 200 4.40 Fresno State

Fred Bennett 6-2, 195 4.45 South Carolina

*Eric Wright 5-10, 190 4.45 UNLV (O)

Daymeion Hughes 5-11, 185 4.55 California

Tanard Jackson 6-0, 190 4.47 Syracuse (FS)

Aaron Ross 6-0, 190 4.51 Texas

David Irons 5-10, 190 4.45 Auburn (X)

Josh Wilson 5-9, 185 4.30 Maryland

Tarell Brown 5-11, 195 4.52 Texas (O)

Deandre Jackson 5-11, 190 4.50 Iowa State

Tony Franklin 5-10, 185 4.45 Virginia (FS/O)

Marquice Cole 5-10, 185 4.40 Northwestern

Defensive End

Gaines Adams 6-5, 260 4.65 Clemson

Quentin Moses 6-5, 250 4.70 Georgia

Victor Abiamiri 6-4, 270 4.80 Notre Dame

Anthony Spencer 6-3, 265 4.65 Purdue

Lamarr Woodley 6-1, 275 4.75 Michigan

*Jarvis Moss 6-5, 255 Florida

Adam Carriker 6-6, 290 4.85 Nebraska

Ray McDonald 6-3, 275 4.95 Florida (DT/X)

*Chris Ellis 6-5, 255 Virginia Tech

*Tommy Blake 6-2, 255 TCU

*Quentin Groves 6-2, 250 Auburn

Dan Bazuin 6-3, 270 4.70 Central Michigan

Tim Crowder 6-3, 270 4.85 Texas

Mkristo Bruce 6-5, 260 4.95 Washington State

Chase Pittman 6-4, 265 4.85 LSU

C.J. Ah You 6-4, 275 4.85 Oklahoma

Baraka Atkins 6-4, 280 4.95 Miami

Jay Moore 6-4, 270 4.75 Nebraska

Justin Hickman 6-1, 265 4.80 UCLA

Turk McBride 6-4, 275 4.95 Tennessee (DT)

Defensive Tackles

Alan Branch 6-5, 330 Michigan

*Frank Okam 6-5, 315 Texas

Quinn Pitcock 6-3, 300 5.05 Ohio State

*Glenn Dorsey 6-2, 285 LSU

Marcus Thomas 6-3, 290 4.95 Florida (O)

Amobi Okoye 6-2, 312 5.00 Louisville

Justin Harrell 6-4, 305 5.12 Tennessee (X)

Tank Tyler 6-2, 310 5.25 North Carolina State

Brandon Mebane 6-1, 300 5.10 California

Louis Leonard 6-5, 325 5.20 Fresno State

Jay Alford 6-3, 285 5.05 Penn State

Derek Landri 6-3, 285 5.00 Notre Dame

Kareem Brown 6-5, 310 5.15 Miami

David Patterson 6-3, 285 5.05 Ohio State

Jeremy Clark 6-2, 310 5.10 Alabama

 

[Guapote]

Gator homer perspective, for what it's worth...

Siler is expected to stay for his senior year. Nelson was considered a lock to go so he could help with his mom's medical bills. She recently passed away, and there's some chance (probably slim) that he could return. Moss would probably have to get pretty strong feedback from the NFL to leave this year. No links for this, this is a lot of speculation from local radio, it may have a basis in fact, it may not.

Marcus Thomas could either be the steal of the draft or a complete waste of a draft pick. All depends on how dedicated he is to making an impact. For the brief time this year when he could get on the fields he looked great, both at stopping the run and getting pressure on the QB. Four sacks in five games, with a defense that more often gets pressure from the DEs, with the DTs essentially keeping the QB from being able to step up in the pocket.

I'll be shocked if Nelson isn't an immediate impact player wherever he goes. The guy is always around the ball. I've heard some concern that he's a little small to play safety in the NFL. Could be, but he regularly puts some big hits on guys a lot bigger than he is, and he's rarely the one slow to get up. He's quick enough to play corner in the SEC, might have ended up there this year if Ryan Smith (Utah transfer) hadn't performed well enough at corner, or if we had better depth at safety. He's as good at run support as he is in coverage. Sometimes he's late in run support, but that's usually only when he's playing really far off the line. The coaching staff had him lined up really deep in some of the games where UF gave up a lot of rushing yards.

 

[Weiner Dog]

NFL Draft Countdown usually has some solid mocks. Here are their projected 1st-rounders. NOTE: This mock is from 12/6/06. Obviously, the actual draft slots are "yet to be determined".

link:

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/sub/mockdraft.html

#4 (TB) - Gaines Adams / DE

#5 (GB) - Leon Hall / CB

#6 (WAS) - Alan Branch / DT

#10 (StL) - Quentin Moses / DE

#11 (SF) - Darrelle Revis / CB

#12 (MIA) - Quinn Pitcock / DT

#16 (ATL) - Reggie Nelson / S

#17 (CAR) - Patrick Nelson / ILB

#18 (PHI) - Laron Landry / S

#19 (NYG) - Marcus McCauley / CB

#23 (DEN) - Ray McDonald / DE

#24 (CIN) - DeMarcus Tyler / DT

#25 (NE) - Michael Griffin / S

#27 (NO) - Paul Posluszny / OLB

#28 (BALT) - Anthony Spencer / DE

#32 (IND) - Buster Davis / ILB

 

[coolnerd]

In terms of someone coming out with the IDP expectation of an AJ Hawk, I doubt that he exists. I think we will need to watch situation more than last. That said, in leagues with high sack to tackle points, Adams and Moses are look to be better pure pass rushers than Mario Williams.

The top safeties Nelson, Landry, and Griffin are more FS types.

 

[dgreen]

(* underclassmen, L/O off field issues, X injury concern)Paul Poluszny 6-2, 230, 4.75, Penn State (X)

What's Poluszny's injury concern?

 

[coolnerd]

(* underclassmen, L/O off field issues, X injury concern)Paul Poluszny 6-2, 230, 4.75, Penn State (X)

What's Poluszny's injury concern?

Doing this off the top my head, but seems like he was injuried during the bowl game last season. Although he should have put those concerns to rest by now.

 

[The Man With No Name]

(* underclassmen, L/O off field issues, X injury concern)

Paul Posluszny 6-2, 230, 4.75, Penn State (X)

What's Posluszny's injury concern?

Doing this off the top my head, but seems like he was injuried during the bowl game last season. Although he should have put those concerns to rest by now.

He was healthy all season.

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

Lawrence Timmons Declares

Looks like a first rounder to me, and a top 5 LB for rookie drafts next year. I wouldnt argue if you ranked him #1.

 

[JoePa]

Posluszny partially tore two ligaments in his right knee in the Orange Bowl last year. He started the season wearing a bulky knee brace and there were questions about whether he was the same player. But he was also adjusting to moving to ILB since Penn State played a lot of 3-4 this year. As the season went on, I think people stopped questioning his comeback from the injury. He's a high motor guy with good football instincts. If he has a weakness, it might be pass coverage.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

Lawrence Timmons Declares

Looks like a first rounder to me, and a top 5 LB for rookie drafts next year. I wouldnt argue if you ranked him #1.

I wasn't really impressed with him in the bowl game the other night. Yeah I know he scored that TD, but lots of players could have scored that. I thought he looked stiff and lacking in football instincts. Am I crazy? Was that a poor game for him?

 

[Chaos Commish]

Lawrence Timmons Declares

Looks like a first rounder to me, and a top 5 LB for rookie drafts next year. I wouldnt argue if you ranked him #1.

I wasn't really impressed with him in the bowl game the other night. Yeah I know he scored that TD, but lots of players could have scored that. I thought he looked stiff and lacking in football instincts. Am I crazy? Was that a poor game for him?

I laughed when he scored that TD and announced he would be going pro. Before this announcement, I said in the FFA he was considering coming out and that he was indeed motivated to play (some thought FSU would be unispired), because he was using that game to show off for scouts. No one can explain what happened to those defenses, but none of the top prospects had good games. I've seen Fluellen look unstoppable and he spent most of that game getting run over by a crappy guard. Buster Davis is a nasty hitter and he looked soft and cuddly in that game. Timmons ate the same food, obviously.

But this is a quality prospect once understood. He spends a lot of time with his hand down pass rushing from the LoS. This isn't a cover LB, but he's still wet behind the ears and the stiffness you saw is inexperience more than athletic ability. He'll measure a bit bigger and stronger than Ernie Sims but obviously not as fast. He is very quick. He reminds me of Wimbley. Explosive, freakish, raw. His testing will decide his fate, and it won't be 40 times and bench presses, but ball skills and footwork. That stiffness you saw could drop him late into the first day, but I have a hunch he's right on the cusp of round one early roundd two in this weaker class. Good move coming out, btw.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

Lawrence Timmons Declares

Looks like a first rounder to me, and a top 5 LB for rookie drafts next year. I wouldnt argue if you ranked him #1.

I wasn't really impressed with him in the bowl game the other night. Yeah I know he scored that TD, but lots of players could have scored that. I thought he looked stiff and lacking in football instincts. Am I crazy? Was that a poor game for him?

I laughed when he scored that TD and announced he would be going pro. Before this announcement, I said in the FFA he was considering coming out and that he was indeed motivated to play (some thought FSU would be unispired), because he was using that game to show off for scouts. No one can explain what happened to those defenses, but none of the top prospects had good games. I've seen Fluellen look unstoppable and he spent most of that game getting run over by a crappy guard. Buster Davis is a nasty hitter and he looked soft and cuddly in that game. Timmons ate the same food, obviously.

But this is a quality prospect once understood. He spends a lot of time with his hand down pass rushing from the LoS. This isn't a cover LB, but he's still wet behind the ears and the stiffness you saw is inexperience more than athletic ability. He'll measure a bit bigger and stronger than Ernie Sims but obviously not as fast. He is very quick. He reminds me of Wimbley. Explosive, freakish, raw. His testing will decide his fate, and it won't be 40 times and bench presses, but ball skills and footwork. That stiffness you saw could drop him late into the first day, but I have a hunch he's right on the cusp of round one early roundd two in this weaker class. Good move coming out, btw.

Thanks CC. I thought Davis looked OK, but I've watched him a couple of other times this year and thought he looked fantastic. This was the first game I was watching for Timmons.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

Just re-watching the Holiday Bowl and think that Desmond Bishop looks fantastic. Is he a possible 1st rounder, or more like a 1st day guy?

 

[coolnerd]

Just re-watching the Holiday Bowl and think that Desmond Bishop looks fantastic. Is he a possible 1st rounder, or more like a 1st day guy?

I would guess 3rd rounder at the moment. In terms of MLB/ILB types he is in the group behind Willis, Blades, Davis, Brinkley from what I can tell.

 

[ConstruxBoy]

Just re-watching the Holiday Bowl and think that Desmond Bishop looks fantastic. Is he a possible 1st rounder, or more like a 1st day guy?

I would guess 3rd rounder at the moment. In terms of MLB/ILB types he is in the group behind Willis, Blades, Davis, Brinkley from what I can tell.

Thanks coolnerd.

 

[coolnerd]

Just re-watching the Holiday Bowl and think that Desmond Bishop looks fantastic. Is he a possible 1st rounder, or more like a 1st day guy?

I would guess 3rd rounder at the moment. In terms of MLB/ILB types he is in the group behind Willis, Blades, Davis, Brinkley from what I can tell.

Thanks coolnerd.

I want to say think LBs are drafted more to system than any other position and maybe toughest to project when the guy will go. There are some smaller speed LBer that will be high on the Tampa 2 teams that won't even be on the board for a team like Dallas who like huge physical guys.

 

[BigSteelThrill]

David Harris 6-2, 240 4.70 Michigan

Jeremiah Trotter clone.

Dont sleep on him if he lands in a place with a need at MLB.

 

[DawnBTVS]

Any thoughts on the following guys? Could any of them be "sleepers" in their NFL careers? All put up good numbers in their Senior seasons... does their talent match up?

Hawaii

DE Mel Purcell: 6'5", 266 lbs. Had 15.5 TFL, 9.5 Sacks, and 16 QBH.

Eastern Michigan

DE Kevin Howe: 6'2", 250 lbs. Had 15.5 TFL, 9.5 Sacks, and 11 QBH.

Southern Methodist

DE Justin Rogers: 6'4", 265 lbs. Had 41 solos, 15 TFL, and 9.5 Sacks.

Arkansas

DT Keith Jackson: 6'0", 296 lbs. Had 43 solos, 7.5 TFL, and 16 QBH.

Missouri

DT Xzavie Jackson: 6'4", 285 lbs. Had 40 solos, 13.5 TFL, 8 Sacks, and 10 QBH.

USC

OLB/MLB Dallas Sartz: 6'5", 240 lbs. Had 41 solos, 9.5 TFL, and 7 sacks.

Western Michigan

MLB Ameer Ismail: 6'2", 230 lbs. Had 53 solos, 25.5 TFL, 17 sacks, and 2 INT.

Houston

CB Willie Gaston: 5'11", 185 lbs. Had 45 solos, 1 INT, and 19 PD.

S Will Gulley: 6'3", 220 lbs. Had 66 solos, 5 INT, and 7 PD.

Tulane

CB Israel Route: 5'9", 194 lbs. Had 56 solos, 1 INT, and 12 PD.

Louisville

CB William Gay: 5'11", 184 lbs. Had 48 solos, 5 INT, and 11 PD.

New Mexico State

CB Courtney Bryan: 5'11", 195 lbs. Had 30 solos, 4 INT, and 14 PD.

Washington State

S Eric Frampton: 6'0", 205 lbs. Had 55 solos, 5 INT, and 8 PD.

Kent State

S Andre Kirkland: 6'1", 200 lbs. Had 63 solos, 4 INT, and 11 PD.

 

[jgb95]

I've seen Gaines Adams compared to Freeney and Peppers.

Freeney's a great pas rusher but has long been known as a liability in rusn support.

Peppers is just a freak and seems to do everything well (drop into coverage, run support and pass rush)

Peppers is 6-7 283

Adams is 6-5 265

From the 4 or 5 Clemson games I've watched this year I'd have to say that he seems to compare better to Peppers (not saying he's as good). He drops into coverage smoothly, plays the run and of course is a great pass rusher.

Can anyone give me their opinion.

Thanks

 

[Sigmund Bloom]

I've seen Gaines Adams compared to Freeney and Peppers.Freeney's a great pas rusher but has long been known as a liability in rusn support.Peppers is just a freak and seems to do everything well (drop into coverage, run support and pass rush)Peppers is 6-7 283Adams is 6-5 265From the 4 or 5 Clemson games I've watched this year I'd have to say that he seems to compare better to Peppers (not saying he's as good). He drops into coverage smoothly, plays the run and of course is a great pass rusher.Can anyone give me their opinion.Thanks

I wouldnt compare him to either, but he's closer to a stretched out Freeney than Peppers. Jamaal Anderson (Arkansas junior who might come out) could have a little Peppers in him, but not Adams. He's not much in run support, and doesn't hold his ground at the LoS. He is a natural pass rusher that can turn the corner and attack the QB with the best of em, and the ability is in great demand, hence the likely top 10 pick.

 

[-OZ-]

Eastern Michigan

DE Kevin Howe: 6'2", 250 lbs. Had 15.5 TFL, 9.5 Sacks, and 11 QBH.

I'd love to say he has top flight potential, but frankly I don't think so. Might be a late pick, more likely a camp invite. I'd like to see the Lions bring him into camp, might make it on the roster, but will not be a highly sought after player.

He's done very well at EMU, but lacks measurables and only has adaquate quickness.

Still, here's hoping I'm wrong.

 

[Dave Baker]

I'll add plenty more later, but IMO it's a very weak class for top notch IDPs. I love some guys, like Laron Landry, but in general, this IDP class does not compare favorably with others.

At LB, it reminds me of the year Napoleon Harris was the best LB coming out.

 

[The Man With No Name]

Penn State LB Dan Connor is considering entering the draft. He had a great season. As a Penn State fan, I hope he stays there, but he would definately help the rookie class if he came out.