2014 Comprehensive Nfl Draft Database

[RemoveSnyder]

I don't know how many of you watched the Houston vs Rice game, a week ago, or so.

 

I tuned in to watch one of my favorite young LBs in all of NCAA, Derrick Mathews of Houston.

 

He's a true Junior. So it's not definate that he'll make himself draft eligible, but you should avail yourself to watch some of his tape when you can.

 

Again, another one of those undersized yet highly instinctive LBs who sticks his nose in there time and again. He'll fly to the ball, has some coverage range in the pass game but most often you just see him around the ball. He had himself a tackle that game (Rice), in the second half, in which he literally tackled the RB off of his feet while simultaneously jarring loose the RB's helmet. 

 

For a guy about the size of an NFL safety, he brings the pop.

 

This game was called the battle for the Bayou Bucket. And the commentators did like to spice up the hyperbole when the teams traded blows and unleashed some devastating hits. There were some players helped off the field and you could see the intensity, however, just from personal viewing, I've seen Mathews hit like that before. That day DM had 8 tackles and 2 quarterback hurries.

 

...

 

From that game as well: 

This is the Rice kicker, Chris Boswell, who had that amazing onsides kick.

 

 

 

 

Looking at him that game, he's a tall lanky guy, generates some good torque with his kicking motion. He also has some range. He has hit a number of 50+ yarders in his career. He seems like an alright prospect.

 

He was 6 for 8 from 50+ yards last year, 2012. In his career he is currently 12 for 19 from 50+ yards, with 57 yards being his career long (2012), to date. He has already hit a 56 yarder this year, 2013.

 

stats:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1R59VwgkqU

 

...

 

The other Rice player to know about is Bryce Callahan. He's a guy with 31 career passes defensed, of which 10 are INTs, so far in his 3rd season.

[illone]

You dont worry about the kid only weighing 214?!

 

That would make him the lightest LB in the NFL by 15 lbs!

[Going Commando]

Gonna be honest right off, I'm too drunk to respond to individual posts right now. Some of you may not know it, but many of my best draft posts have come when I've been very drunk...

Anyway, I agree with Monk's sentiment that 1.) a lot of our defensive problems stem from the front seven (it's an underrepresented issue)

Derivative: 2.) we've a lack of instinctive playmakers in the front 7.

Though I'd say we absolutely have our share of issues in the secondary. Its from the group being inexperienced, chemistry issues, committing breakdowns in basic coverages--frequent problem has been passing off assignments to DBs committed elsewhere. The **** have our defensive coaches been doing?

Anyway, in general I believe we're reaping what we've sown on D. We accumulated a bunch of nice players who aren't playmakers. Kerrigan is a playmaker. Rambo, Hall, and Amerson are playmakers, though Amerson's and Rambo's playmaking talent hasn't manifested yet. No one else is a playmaker. Orakpo does not have natural playmaking instincts/playing style. London has finally gotten old, though he does still make plays in between snaps where he loses. Riley, Bowen, Cofield, Jenkins, and Wilson are not playmakers. they are competent, but they are ordinary. You'll see it if you watch a D that's actually good play.

Golston, Merling, Baker--obviously not playmakers, just bodies.

Merriweather is actually a natural playmaker that flashes on our underwhelming D, but he's a bit of a turd whose dirty style has gotten him hurt repeatedly.

Rambo and Amerson are simply happy to execute their assignments correctly at this early point in their careers, much less worry about splashing.

We have a systemic lack of playmakers that's come from our drafting style up until last year when we picked Thomas, Amerson, and Rambo.

Same deal on offense outside RGIII, the ultimate playmaker. And Trent, though you're not necissarily looking for playmakers at OT and he's been screwing up some.

We need to take some ****ing risks on some athletes that make plays. Or as Monk said, find some guys that anticipate the goddamn game.

This team BADLY needs a legitimate playmaking defensive lineman, legitimate playmaking interior defensive player, and a legitimiate playmaking pass catcher. Obviously Polumbus also blows. But he's not the one you need to finish plays. Next year, or the year after, I don't want to still be lying to myself that Stephen Bowen and Barry Cofield are some ****. I don't want to still be lying to myself that Perry Riley's absolute ceiling is anything more than an ordinary starting ILB for an acceptable D. Lying to myself that London has another year in him. Lying to myself that Josh Morgan, Santana Moss, Fred Davis, Aldrick Robinson, and Leonard Hankerson are anything special. Lying to myself that I can expect big plays from a grinder like Morris.

And our OL outside Trent is just a bunch of scrubs who we've been hoping will synergistically gel into something better than their actual backup caliber talent. Which actually isn't that bad a plan considering how worthless most OL are as early round picks.

ALL of our worthwhile talent, ALL, is concentrated at QB, LT, and OLB. Pierre Garcon and Alfred Morris are alright. And we've got some young, intriguing talent in Rambo, Amerson, and Thomas. Other than that, everyone is readily upgradeable.

[RemoveSnyder]

One of the Free Safeties that people don't seem to talk about or list high on charts is Derron Smith of Fresno State.

 

I tell 'ya, I noticed him last year when I was looking at Phillip Thomas and I ultimately came away liking the future of Smith moreso than Thomas.

 

 

2013 (Junior):

... Voted as the 2013 Mountain West Preseason Defensive Player of the Year and to the league's preseason All-Conference team

... named to the Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List, which honors college football's defensive IMPACT Player of the Year

... on the CFPA Defensive Back Trophy Watch List as well as the preseason watch lists for the Bednarik and Jim Thorpe Awards.

 

...

Another guy I've followed is Calvin Pryor of Louisville.

 

 

[illone]

Nice thread, Monk!

 

Who are the best NT out there right now?  I think the Skins could still use Cofield moving forward, but more in the DE rotation instead of the Zero.  Skins need a space eater.  Any Ngata's in this draft?  

 

Scratch the Ngata reference, Skins will need to steal a guy i guess, no 1st rounder lol. 

[RemoveSnyder]

You dont worry about the kid only weighing 214?!

 

That would make him the lightest LB in the NFL by 15 lbs!

 

I mean if you look at him he doesn't look small. He doesn't look big either, but not small. 

 

It is C-USA ... so, that's a big leap to NFL. But his body doesn't look out of place. I think he's head-scratchingly small, because you wouldn't think he's under 220 lbs.

 

Another thing is, when you do watch him, you just realize how productive he is, how the stats are verified. I did touch on Houston LBs last year, they seem to have highly productive guys with tons of stats, who end up not generating much excitement with the NFL. So in one breath I realize he's going to be overlooked, yet at the same time, I personally like LBs like Lavonte David.

 

That's what leads me to guys like Mathews and the late round to undrafted range, as I did with Phillip Steward (Houston), last year, who is now on the Rams, but on IR.

 

When picking interior LBs, I like guys who can fly to the ball. I end up really liking guys who play in a 4-2-5 scheme. In that scheme you have two interior guys who basically cover everything: charge gaps and fill, turn and run with TEs, line up on slot receivers, pursue sideline to sideline.

 

Yea it would be great to get someone at 250 to 260 pounds who can cover sideline to sideline versus run and pass, but those guys go earlier, obviously.

 

That's part of why I like Andrew Jackson, he can move, got the instincts and is deceptively large in the 250 lbs range.

 

... and pop you, Andrew Jackson:

[Going Commando]

Let's get a frigging playmaking WR who wins his snaps consistently, someone who gets separation as a rule, someone who makes catches in traffic. Someone who doesn't fumble or make dumbass situational mistakes. We've got a lousy ass bunch of WRs catching passes from the stud of all studs at QB. Though I do like Garcon and he's exempt from that comment. Nobody else. However I am comfortable waiting on Hankerson this year based on his early performances this season.

I also like Jordan Reed well enough at TE but as a first option? Eh. He's ordinary. I'm ready to move on from Fred Davis at the first expedient opportunity, the man ****ing dropped every big catch & opportunity that ever came his way. Paulsen is a useful third TE on a good team.

When our offense isn't playing absolutely pitch perfect and in sync with everyone synergistically uplifting everyone else, it ****ing blows.

We need to be honest about our offensive talent surrounding RGIII. LG-RT are ZBS jobbers we found the scrap heap. WRs, TEs, HBs are all mediocre talents Shanahan has assembled and made do with because the resources to get elite talent have been limited.

[RemoveSnyder]

The catch today by Jarvis Landry vs Georgia.

 

 

...

TD @ 0:23:

 

[illone]

Jaelen Strong out of ASU is a stud.   He is probably goner in the 1st round though.

[FrFan]

I like Andrew Jackson ILB from Western Kentucky, Cody Hoffman WR from BYU. I'm intrigued by Brandon Coleman the 6-6 receiver from Rutgers, wondering if he can be something else than just a vertical threat.

[RemoveSnyder]

Who are the best NT out there right now?  I think the Skins could still use Cofield moving forward, but more in the DE rotation instead of the Zero.  Skins need a space eater. 

 

I haven't spent much time watching games this year and I'm not too familiar with the nose tackles. I know more about general d-line and those types fit for a 5-Tech. I'll get up to speed soon enough.

 

In general my mindset right now is that we need to combo both free agency and draft in order to expedite and improve the d-line. Similar to the year we first got Cofield and doubled the efforts in the draft as well.

 

For FA:

We'll have to see how Henry Melton's injury heals, progresses or not. One might get him on the rebound for a discounted price. He could be a pass rushing 5-Tech.

 

As per Nose, I'm pretty sure Terrance Cody is an unrestricted free agent for 2014. That's a Nose.

 

There's also Linval Joseph, who I happened to like a bit when he came out. He's got size for the Nose.

 

Here are some other names on a list: http://www.spotrac.com/free-agents/nfl/2014/defensive-tackle/

 

^ From that list there's some recognizable names.

...

per college ball:

...

I'm familiar with the guy from Minnesota but I haven't tuned in this year to see his transition from DE to DT. He wears #99, last name: Hageman. 

 

.

There are however two players at Oregon who would work just fine in our 3-4. One is Wade Keliikipi and the other is Taylor Hart. Hart is a 5-Tech DE, both are basically 5-Techs, but Keliikipi will play the Zero often. Neither are dominate, however, I would say both make plays. 

.

There are probably a good large contingent of people who silently hope that Anthony Johnson has a kind-of middling season and slides in stock due to something superficial. I do, in a way. I'd love to plug him into a pass rushing 5-Tech and just develop him.

 

I mean we need to get a Brett Keisel type at the least. We'd love to have Justin Smith. We'd cream for Watt.

.

 

There does happen to be a VA Tech player I like, doesn't happen often. But whoever #98 is for their d-line, I still don't know his name. I think it's Hopkins. Anyway, he's someone that I've noticed each time I see VaTech. I mean he's probably nothing more than a camp guy, late round to undrafted but ... that's how I work. What I mean is that when I notice a guy and like his ability, I don't care where he's slated to go or what round he ultimately goes, I just try to figure out where that will be, 7th or undrafted, and go about trying to get that guy.

 

I think it's an easier approach when you identify who works, who you like based upon certain attributes, scheme fit and you stick to those guys. You know? - You then maneuver come draft day to get those guys. 

.

 

I happen to really like Will Sutton. Now, he hasn't had the best start to this season, in fact he looks "sluggish" compared to his 2012 tape, or at the least ineffective. There has to be something wrong with him, health wise, because I'd describe him as "explosive" based on his 2012 tape and he's just not showing that right now. Last year he was highly productive.

 

It only stands to reason that he would be hard pressed to repeat last season no matter what. 

 

He added some weight after last season. He was apparently in the mid to upper 280s last year (consensus). Now dependent upon who you believe he was listed as low as 270 lbs in 2012 (CBS actually wrote 267 lbs in a recent article) or maybe as high as 290 lbs. Well now he's over 300 lbs, about 305 lbs (on average, per listings).

 

Personally I feel his best weight is between 285 to 290 and perhaps just up to 300 lbs, no more. He's a squat guy, a bowling ball - that's not going to change. He's going to be a shorter guy for d-line. Yet, he needs to stay as "slim" as he can be while retaining his flexibility, but most importantly, maintaining his explosive nature & burst.

 

And even at 300 lbs, he's still got that first step, still has quickness. You can still see it. He just needs to keep working at his conditioning. He's not a solid 300 and that is something that he can work on as well. If he's going to stay at 300 he needs to get more staying power. I'd like him to trim a bit. I don't see his motor like it was last year. 

 

Now some people want to overinflate the weight issue. The rampant speculation is the basic cliche, that he added too much weight and became "slow." I don't agree with that. He gets a lot more attention this year, more double teams, X blocking and plays running away from him. 

 

But all of this doesn't concern me. I know he'll flash at some point this year. Even if he has to cut weight, he'll remind folks why he was hyped as a 1st rounder after last season. He'll show that at some point, I'm sure. To me he's still a really good prospect.

 

But the fact that his perceived stock is taking a dip is great news to me. If he lasts into the 2nd, wonderful, great, any later ... awesome, because he shouldn't be there based upon his high end ability and what he showed last year (2012).

 

He's a pass rusher, first and foremost. He always looked really comfortable at the 3-Tech, that's where he did his most damage. I don't see why he couldn't be a 3rd down specialist from the 5-Tech. Last year he was so versatile, he was basically labeled a "joker" extraordinaire.

 

Anyway, whoever gets him needs him at HIS right weight, whatever that is, not some arbitrary cookie cutter weight and likewise whoever gets him needs to feature him, because he can get after the QB.  

 

FYI, Sutton got his 1st sack of the season tonight vs USC.

 

sack: http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=espn:9741239

[Gibbs Hog Heaven]

Did someone say the Belldozer couldn't throw the football or win on the road? Not as impressive as the Tulsa outing, but he lead from the front in South Bend. 

 

But as regards ourselves, I thought the OU line did particularly well again. In particular Gabe Ikard at centre. The whole interior was real stout against ND's big ol' linemen, but Ikard in particular stood out for me. If he keeps on progressing at this rate, he could well land in the first round next Spring. Strong, athletic, quick off the snap, Good in both facets. Just a real well rounded football player.  Love to have him here. 

 

4-0. Boomer Sooner baby!

 

Hail.

[darrelgreenie]

Well most players struggle at some point. If a team finds a solid rookie SAF that fits their scheme and the dudes a gamer they're not going to struggle as you suggest.

 

 

When has it happened?

Last year? Mark Barron, Harrison Smith

[Gymratfwp]

I'm not quite sure where else to post this...I figure that this is as good a place as any...

http://deadspin.com/lane-kiffin-was-fired-in-the-most-cold-blooded-way-1421405896

While I am not a fan of UT in any capacity, as a guy who has spent several years in TN...allow me to say...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Couldn't of happened to a nicer individual.

Cold. Blooded.

[Dukes and Skins]

Maybe I'm in the minority, but I've never been impressed with Andrew Jackson as an ILB

[Voice_of_Reason]

I'm not quite sure where else to post this...I figure that this is as good a place as any...

http://deadspin.com/lane-kiffin-was-fired-in-the-most-cold-blooded-way-1421405896

While I am not a fan of UT in any capacity, as a guy who has spent several years in TN...allow me to say...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Couldn't of happened to a nicer individual.

Cold. Blooded.

 

 

If you're a **** to everybody, then when hard times hit, nobody's got your back.  

 

I wonder how he got his bag back.  

 

On a completely unrelated note, wonder if the Rams are going to use the 'Skins pick to draft Bradford's replacement.  

[The Robert Griffin Experience]

On a tablet so my responses to smq will be truncated:

Morris is a stud, what are you talking about? Even outside of the RO he's stil a 5.5 ypc a pop guy. He's just getting so few carries because our defense takes us out of games. He's one dimensional, but most Shanahan backs are. Imo he's the 3rd best back Shanny's ever had, behind TD and Denver Portis. Hankerson might be more than pedestrian and if he turns into a stud, then number 3 and 4 don't need to be more than serviceable. And Reed is going to be above average at worst. All Reed did at Florida was catch contested balls in traffic from his ****ty QBs.

I'm more concerned about our OL, seeing the ZBS kinda makes it hard to drop back and pass Brady/Manning style, but once RGIII gets healthy and we work back the movement into our offense, it'll be fine. We really need someone, anyone to emerge as an upgrade though. And as for Polumbus, **** Mara, we could have had Eric Winston if not for the cap bull****. Offensively, we'll be fine once RGIII gets healthy.

Defensively, I disagree on Cofield, he's not a true stud but he does make plays and create pressure. Bowen isn't very good anymore though. Jenkins is actually pretty good, I'd really like to wait and see. Orakpo isn't a big time playmaker, he's really the Mike Rucker of our defense.The elephant in the room of our D is the ILBs though. Fletcher, sadly, is washed up. Riley is pret good, a bit better than ordinary but Fletcher simply misses too many plays, though his instincts and leadership are still too hard to replace. I'd actually give Rob Jackson a shot at ILB. I'm not worried about Rambo though it's a real shame Thomas got hurt. And Amerson is gonna be a stud in time. Hall and Wilson are who they are.

I'm really hoping for a 40-34 shootout so Haslett can get canned. He's a joke. And I have a feeling Morris could be decent at worst. Raheem Morris has actually coached quality NFL defenses. I have a feeling Haslett is holding us back the same way Cam Cameron held the Ravens back.

[illone]

I follow ASU fairly closely.

 

Will Sutton is a great player, just having a slow start I think.  You are correct, seemed more explosive last year. 

 

That said, I think he is more of a DE in this scheme.  It will be interesting to see what the Redskins do in the off-season to improve this defense.  Can't fix all the holes in free agency, or draft for that matter.  Might be time to switch back to 43. 

[Dukes and Skins]

I follow ASU fairly closely.

 

Will Sutton is a great player, just having a slow start I think.  You are correct, seemed more explosive last year. 

 

That said, I think he is more of a DE in this scheme.  It will be interesting to see what the Redskins do in the off-season to improve this defense.  Can't fix all the holes in free agency, or draft for that matter.  Might be time to switch back to 43. 

 

Think you'll see them look to add an impact DL, as well as look to add more to the secondary. Those are the key concerns I have on D outside of ILB

[Conn]

Guys, Hankerson isn't going to develop much more, it's time to accept that. He'll make a few plays, but half the time you'll hold your breath while the ball bobbles a bit. He's pretty much the biggest WR we have, and he doesn't use his size at all. He isn't an imposing presence, he generally avoids contact like a smaller WR, and he doesn't box out defenders or have a ridiculous catch radius.

As much as we need a RT, an impact DL, DB's...Steve's right, our franchise QB needs playmakers. At least one legitimate talent. A physical freak that creates serious problems, that attacks the ball and scares a defense. We might well miss, but we have to at least take a swing.

[RemoveSnyder]

Whoever #13 is for Texas A&M, that WR is just great at leaping and plucking the ball from the air.

I like him.

 

Mike Evans

a redshirt Soph, anywhere from 6'4" to 6'5", 2012 Frosh All-SEC. He can leap and catch. He's saved Johnny M's butt a number of times on straight-up jump balls, up for grabs to anyone.

 

 

...

I also like two different TEs. One from Stanford and one from Notre Dame.

 

1. Devon Cajuste - Stanford - Cajuste is listed as a WR, but as a guy listed at 6'4" and anywhere from 228 to 230/235, he plays more like a TE. Also the Stanford alignments, as you know, are basically Jumbo sets as the standard. So his pre-snap line-up is more like a TE.

 

 

Junior wide receiver Devon Cajuste caught four passes for 115 yards for two touchdowns as Stanford demolished Washington State 55-17

 

2. Troy Niklas - ND

Notre Dame lists him at 6 foot, 6 inches and a half. Other sites list him at 6'7". He weighs somewhere between 270 and 280 lbs. And as you can see below he's chiseled, like a Gronk. And he can move well for that size.

 

[RemoveSnyder]

Troy Niklas vs Michigan 2013

...

[Laron Burgundy]

Anyone paying attention to Stanley Jean-Baptiste of Nebraska?  6'3 220 pound corner with great hands and leaping ability.  Was formerly a receiver so is still very raw, but he makes lots of plays on the ball.

[RemoveSnyder]

Melvin Gordon III

In the history of Wisconsin football, no other player has reached 1,000 yards faster than Melvin Gordan. The number of carries were 104.

 

 

Gordon is special. He has a noticeably long stride, his limbs look to have length, but that really doesn't capture him. He glides. It's a smooth and dancing type motion, as if he were bounding across the water like a Gerridae.

 

He's a redshirt Soph, so he does have NFL eligibility, however I'd guess that he stays another year in order to get full touches after James White graduates. White isn't bad himself, in fact I wouldn't mind getting him - he'll probably be available later in the draft at a discounted price. White, however, doesn't run away from people in the same fashion as Gordon.

 

As for Gordon ... watch out.

 

 

If we're talking about trying to capture some lightning in a bottle, MG III is going to be a force.

 

...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9Btwo11oeM

[RemoveSnyder]

On a sidenote, I've watched Wisconsin v. Ohio State twice now and I'm very confident in saying that Jared Abbrederis is a very good, complete and surprisingly athletic WR. People will sleep on him due to his less than elite size or measurables, but that guy is a crisp route runner, has good hands in general, can actually move pretty darn fast and plays tough, handles hand-checking from DBs very well while simultaneously tracking the ball. 

 

And to add to my likeness of Wisconsin and Gary Andersen, I think their QB, Joel Stave, throws one hell of a ball. His ball has a nice spin to it and he often hit Abbrederis right on the money, in stride, to coin the phrase: "dropped it in the bucket."

 

And a couple of times, Stave and Abbrederis combined to make that OSU CB, Roby, look foolish. All that 1st round hype for Roby looked highly unjustified when a lesser athlete in Abbrederis fooled him with stutter-steps, double moves and actually leaped to catch passes around him and all-around just played better than him on one-on-one match-ups.

 

But maybe just phrasing it another way makes more of an impact. Right now folks hype Roby in the 1st round, let's call that the "going price." Concurrently, the "going price" for Abbrederis is somewhere between the 4th or 5th. Now based on what you saw, could you sleep well knowing that your "1st rounder" got worked by a "4th to 5th rounder"? - I wouldn't. 

 

Abbrederis is better than what the consensus draft stock is showing 

 

Now, the Wisconsin offense may be a lineage of the old standard shanahan type offense - under center, bootleg rollouts, drag routes, play-action to the Deep Dig and lots of zone blocking zone-stretch runs ... but you can see the transition to the NFL for those kids. It's base package material.

 

And what's more, I'd postulate that those Wisconsin kids: Stave, Abbrederis & Gordon, go on to have more successful NFL careers than those highly touted OSU guys. OSU won the game, Urban Meyer's offense looks great in college, but I'd put my money on the "less showtime" guys from Wisconsin.