Appearing: Paul
Burmeister, Michael Lombardi, Charles Davis, Charlie Casserly
* Team news:
Whoa, we open
with the Rams at #6. So why the
hell are they asking Brian Burwell anything? He establishes the
pecking order as Justin Blackmon, Trent Richardson, Morris Claiborne
and... Fletcher Cox. The Fletcher Cox train is really gaining steam
in St. Louis, and I have to admit, I'm getting a little afraid of it.
Barely a week before the draft, I have yet to hear anyone call
Fletcher Cox a better player than any of the “Big Six,” yet, here
he is. Wasn't Burwell at the front of the line for taking best player
available a couple of years ago? I can maybe see passing on Claiborne
for Cox, but that's about it.
Jagwires at #7:
Beat writer says Jagwires are
now looking to trade down, thinks Seattle could want to jump over
Miami for Ryan Tannehill. More and more, their draft strategy appears
to be hoping a wide receiver will fall to them. Not sure I'd want to
plan my draft around that.
Dolphins at #8:
Tannehill is a major
possibility, but the beat writer reminds us that he was barely a
first-round prospect when the draft prospect began, and Miami has
plenty of other needs, including pass rushers and receivers. Melvin
Ingram and Michael Floyd are top possibilities there, and the beat
writer doesn't rule out drafting either over
Tannehill.
I
start to wonder if the teams aren't just planting these beat writer
reports sometimes. Is Burwell trying to convince the Eagles to trade
up for Cox? Is the Dolphins beat writer trying to convince teams they
don't need to trade up for Tannehill, so they can get him at #8? What
a fun, and paranoid, time of year this is.
Texans at #26: 8
of Houston's last 9 first-round picks have been on defense. 2003 was
the last time they took a skill player! (Andre Johnson) Though
everyone else appears to be saying receiver for the Texans, beat
writer John McClain agrees with RamView that their biggest need is an
offensive lineman. They averaged 27 points a game last year while
Johnson was injured! But even though any receiver they pick would be
the #4 guy and have to work his way up, McClain thinks that'll be the
pick, Kendall Wright or Stephen Hill. But he says they'd better get
some depth on the right side of their line. Davis and Casserly, the
ex-Texans GM, agree the pick should be a WR. Reuben Randle could be
in their mix as well. Lombardi thinks they'd better pick offensive
line, though they have a good position coach who could coach up a
later pick.
* Player news:
Defensive tackle talk today:
Fletcher Cox – most complete tackle in the draft. His tape matches
his talent and he's a bona fide pass rusher. Solid, consistent
player, good size and can get bigger. Casserly calls him the safest
pick.
Lombardi says Dontari Poe has the most overall ability and wonders if
teams that pass on him won't regret it like the Eagles do from a
couple of years ago, passing over Jason Pierre-Paul to take Brandon
Graham. Doesn't make a lot of tackles but plays the man in front of
him well. Lombardi also compares Poe to Albert Haynesworth, minus the
head-stomping and moving violations, I suspect. Big, fast and has
unlimited upside once he gets pro coaching. May need a year to really
develop. Quick and explosive, holds up against double-teams, can shed
and get off blocks. Good counter moves, quickness, explosion and
finishing ability as a pass rusher. Loses track of the football
sometimes. Casserly sees no issue with his effort and says he'll be
the best pro among this year's DT prospects.
Michael Brockers – holds his ground in the middle very well, but
hasn't yet shown to be the kind of inside pass rusher teams depend
on. Coming out as a redshirt sophomore, a team would be taking him
making the gamble they can develop him into a pass rusher. He has all
the physical tools.
Jerel Worthy – really gets your attention with his quickness off
the ball, but he's inconsistent as a pass-rusher and doesn't show a
secondary move after that great burst. Has all the physical tools,
but if he doesn't win with quickness, he doesn't win.
Kendall Reyes – Flashed and was a consistently strong performer
Senior Bowl week. Outstanding, violent hands. Some question his
play-to-play consistency, but that was not an issue for him
throughout the Senior Bowl process.
Brandon Thompson – big, strong, physical nose tackle. Has some
explosion and quickness and can hold the point attack. Not a pass
rusher at all, though.
Derek Wolfe – Casserly and Lombardi (and Mel Kiper) can see the
Cincinnati DT sneaking into the first round. Can play 3-technique,
5-technique or nose, consistently plays hard. Can rush the passer and
makes plays all over the place. Under the radar though he's Big East
Defensive Player of the Year.
Nick Perry – Casserly doesn't believe there's a clear best pass
rusher in the draft this year. Perry is quick-twitch, has a good
second gear, plays with good leverage and has a good counter move.
Casserly likes how well he uses his hands the most. Doesn't appear to
like him much against the run.
Vinny Curry does not have prototype size or speed, but he did have 40
tackles-for-loss in Conference USA the last two seasons. Uses his
hands well, has good strength and a good bull rush. Good edge
quickness, range and pursuit. Plays faster than his timed speed and
looks like a natural pass rusher. Solid second-round grade.
Shea McClellin – fast from the outside, has quick moves as an
inside rusher, also a good blitzer. 6'3”, 260 with 4.6 speed. Has
had three concussions, which hasn't come up about him before on this
show.
Bruce Irvin – most explosive DE in the draft off the ball. 245 lbs
with 4.4 speed. May not have a position in the pros, too small to
hold up at DE, may not have the instincts to be a linebacker.
The show also gives us repetitive analysis of Ryan Tannehill and
Brandon Weeden from former scout Greg Gabriel. Beware QBs from simple
spread offenses! And Gabriel becomes the latest analyst I've heard
say that Matt Kalil isn't as good coming out of USC as Tyron Smith.
Clearly I don't know something here... wasn't Smith stuck at right
tackle there because he couldn't beat out Kalil for left tackle?
Gabriel is big on Whitney Mercilus, though. Rejects the one-year
wonder argument, saying that's just how college players develop. Only
a junior, he hadn't gotten a lot of time on the field until now.
Might have been a top-5 pick in the 2013 draft if he stayed in school
AND continued to develop, so the team that drafts him could be
catching him still on his way up.
Now that Brian Billick's chances of coaching in the NFL seem dormant
at best, I see he's taken the opportunity to grow a Most Interesting
Man in the World beard. Yeah, that doesn't look silly. I don't always
draft quarterbacks. But when I do, I prefer Robert Griffin. He has
Steve Young potential.
Illini o-lineman Jeff Allen is mentioned on this show for the first
time, and as a player whose stock is rising. Can play either guard or
either tackle position. Could start as a swing lineman for a team and
eventually develop up to a left tackle. Scouts believe he can play
there eventually.
-$-
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