Path to the Draft, 3/9/2010

Path to the Draft – Tuesday, March 9

Notes:

* Oklahoma pro day. Gerald McCoy had breakfast with Steve Spagnuolo. His workout went very well. So did Trent Williams'. He improved his 40 and 3-cone drill times noticeably.

Jermaine Gresham did not run the 40 but will at OU's 2nd workout day. Mike Mayock described him as a faster and better receiver than last year's first TE taken, Brandon Pettigrew, but not as good a blocker.

Since the start of the Combine, Mayock has nominated about 100 players to be drafted in the first two rounds; add CB Dominique Franks (no relation) to that list, despite an underwhelming endorsement. He looks small, needs to improve his ball skills, and doesn't trust what he sees on the field. Mmm-kay.

The Sooners could have three players go in the top 10 (McCoy, Williams, Bradford). Mayock moved Williams into the top 10 and ahead of Rutgers T Anthony Davis (this was before Davis didn't show up for his pro day). His outstanding Combine and even better Pro Day have supposedly shed him of his underachiever reputation. Again, more overemphasis by NFL Network on a glorified gym class. Williams is right there with Brian Bulaga of Iowa. Bulaga has no discernable weaknesses other than his arm length is right at the limit of being shorter than you'd like to have at the position.

Lindsay Soto interviewed McCoy later. He stressed his technique and mobility while saying he's still trying to improve his bench press. So you can see where he's trying to distinguish himself from Ndamukong Suh.

* If the Rams draft DT first, should they take McCoy or Suh?
Bucky Brooks pretty much gave a non-answer. Take McCoy if he fits your scheme. Charles Davis, the analyst who makes the most sense to me so far this year, pointed out Suh's overwhelming numbers.

In case I forget to bring this up during my overdue Combine review, I'm going to do it now. Mayock actually criticized Suh's numbers during the Combine as being overinflated by the Texas game. Texas' o-line isn't really any good; nobody on it is a threat to be drafted; Suh's 4.5 sacks in the Big 12 championship game are dismissable.

Mayock got away with this without anyone ever mentioning that Oklahoma played Texas, too. So what did McCoy do against that awful Longhorn offensive line?

3 tackles, 1 sack.

Shut up, Mayock.

* Colts at 31. The first bit of news was that the Colts released G Ryan Lilja and CB Marlin Jackson. Both have injury issues, so I will cut the Rams some slack for not going after either player. (The Eagles signed Jackson Wednesday; he's coming off a knee injury that cost him last season). Michael Lombardi then did an awful job projecting players the Colts would be after. He clearly didn't do his homework. He believes they'll go after a big lineman, but then named Bulaga, who the panel just said would be a top 10 player. He also named Jared Odrick while saying he wouldn't fall to 31, either. Thanks for your hard work, Lombardi, go pick up your paycheck. Brooks was more helpful in mentioning Florida guard Maurkice Pouncey and Florida State CB Patrick Robinson.

* DT talk. Tyson Alualu of Cal's been playing 3-4 DE but Mayock projects him as a 3-techique DT. Sure looked fast enough at the Senior Bowl to be a 4-3 DE to me. Brooks pushed Tennessee's Dan Williams as a big-time run stuffer. Davis pushed Arthur Jones of Syracuse, with Mayock jumping in to call him the 101st player that will be drafted in the first two rounds. Good pursuit DT but with medical (knee) issues. Cam Thomas of North Carolina was also brought up. For reasons I cannot explain and the panel did not explain, he was not productive in college but is now getting buzz as being an ideal DT. Huh? I really do not understand these guys sometimes.

44 days till the draft.