Official 2015 NFL Draft Thread

Yeah it's possible that it's more media games. The only thing I can't shake is the Alonzo Highsmith connection. Thompson trusts his scouts and if Highsmith, who is a former Cane, vouches for this kid then that could be a big factor (obviously fit and personality and everything else plays into that as well).

2 QB's staying home?

 

2 dudes that are afraid of dropping in the draft. Friggin hilarious. 

The other thing about OLBs is that the obvious pass rushers go early, so there's little chance of one of the top guys sliding to #30 and Kikaha, Orchard and Harold likely go mid-second. Waiting on a small-school guy like Davis Hull, Lynden Trail or maybe Kyle Emmanuel who may need a year or so might be the best value.

I don't understand Winston not going. He's going to Tampa, the Bucs have said as much. I guess if they got a massive trade offer for #1 they won't take him, but that's unlikely. Why not go get a free suit, be on national TV, and presumably eat all the crab legs he wants? Dum dum.

He is not sure what size suit he will need.

I'd be fine if every draft prospect stayed home. If I never watch that freckle faced **** Goodell try and give a 330lb DT a french tongue lashing then day 1 of the draft is in a better place. 

Winston isn't going to the draft because it shines an unsavory light on the shiny NFL and he'd have to answer tough questions from reporters. Better to stay home in a cocoon

 

Marriotta isn't going to the draft because he doesn't have the testicular fortitude to handle a potential drop ala Rodgers.

One thing I hate is the QB Fest draft coverage and the NFL Network become. For two years in a row now, I don't think any QBs are worth a high first (last year barely a first, period). Last year I stopped watching NFL Netwrork because it was the Johnny Rehab show with a bunch of mentions of the top-10 picks only and the other "top" QBs. There's not much there for non-AD/HD football fans any more. If they want shiny, they can kiss my shiny, white ass.  

Mock Draft

Mariota is a product of that system. As much as I hate to give the turd any props, I believe Jamei$ is a much better prospect from a tallant level.

 

But he's such a turd of a human being, I have no faith he'll have much of a career because of all the booze, parties, temptations, etc.

Tell me, Mr. Owl, how many crab legs can Jameis fit in to his pants?

Saw some of the interviews he had with talking heads, and I thought they couldn't be more fawning over him.  Ugh.... Jaws, Maylock and a few others were just sickening talking to him.  He'll be a loser as bad as johnny football.....although don't know of a rehab facility that fixes stupid AND entitled.  Ugh....  

Even if you look beyond his off-field issues, he doesn't look to be a great on-field leader.  Jimbo threatened to bench him at the end of the BCS playoff game against Oregon b/c he couldn't handle losing.  If he goes first, he'll lose more in his rookie year than he's lost in high school and college combined.  I don't think he's going to handle it well.  I could easily see him screaming at Jackson and Evans after a pick, or yelling at his o-line after a sack.  

 

Some say he's confident, I see a lot of arrogance in him.  A little humility goes a long way (just ask Johnny Football).  I'm just not sure his veteran teammates will respond well to him.  

He's a better QB than Johnny Detox. He's going to eff up with a bad decision off the field though. It's who he is. 

 

Regarding Jaws. He said Pumpernickel had all the makings of one of the NFL all time great QB's. He say's dumb things a lot. 

I definitely think it's the mental side of things that could ultimately be his downfall. He's a very talented QB though. I think he compares favorably to Ben Roethlisberger...big, strong, deceptively athletic with a strong arm. He has some accuracy issues to tighten up, but overalls I think he's one of the better QBs in recent years. Not as good as Luck, but better than Griffin, Newton, or Bortles. Winston has to grow up though or he will end up like Ryan Leaf. More likely he will get humbled in the NFL, will lose that swagger and confidence and will play scared...that's what happened to Scam Newton.

But Mariota has a totally different issue.  I think he's a good leader, although more of a leader like Eli Manning.  Eli seems half asleep whenever they show him on TV but I've read that teammates swear up and down they'd follow him anywhere.  

 

His issue is just translating to an NFL offense.  And it's not just calling plays in a huddle or taking snaps under center.  Mariota seems athletic/smart enough to handle that.  It's the throwing receivers open and reading defenses that he's never done in college.  The window in college were wide open for him.  That's not going to happen in the NFL.  That's a huge change, learning to throw to the spot that you AND your WR see, trusting he'll get open, and trusting your instincts that you've read the defense right.  Winston has done some of that; Mariota hasn't.  That's a huge risk with Mariota, one that we've seen WAY to many college QB's fail to overcome.  I don't have stats to back it up, but I'd be willing to bet that the majority of pro bowl NFL QB's right now DID NOT play in a strict spread offense in college.  

Agree GD, I think Cam is a good comparison attitude wise.  Cam certainly exceeded my expectations, but you still see the arrogance that IMO, is preventing Cam from taking that next step.  

Mariotta has the makings of a good NFL QB, but he needs the same treatment as Aaron Rodgers...3 years of sitting with a really good QB coach. He seems like a smart kid, but he can't be thrown to the fire right away. QBs that come from unique college offenses (like Oregon or in Rodgers' case the Tedford offense) need to learn how to play like an NFL QB.

Cam Newton is a perfect example.  Newton got himself kicked out of Florida. Riley Cooper and Aaron Hernandez didn't manage that.  Arrogance is something that can go either way.  Newton has been able to turn his focus to being great on the field.  That is not a prediction that Winston will do the same, but he has the ability if he can focus.

 

I will also say this, Winston has never been able to rely on just being fast.  Guys like RGIII seem to be so sold on their own abilities that they keep trying to run.  Quarterbacks who are athletic, but not necessarily super fast have spent more time earning starting time by throwing.  Rodgers, Luck, Newton... all athletic and good at running, but not to the point where it can be their first weapon.  Winston can run and he is a large body that can take the hits (and he throws well under pressure and when getting hit), but he does not take over games with his running.  The running has always been a nice tool, but he has to win by throwing.  The NFL is about throwing at the QB position.  That is what makes me think he has a strong chance of making it.  Still, he has to avoid the suspension monster.

And I wish Mariota would get 3 years but he won't.  Even 2 would be great.  People always ask why the NFL can't find 32 people in this country that can play QB at an NFL level and this is one of your answers: teams refuse to draft and develop and instead play them to appease/excite the fan base.  One of the big reasons I love TT, he'd never do anything to appease us fans.  I actually think at times he goes out of his way just to piss us off.  

Winston could be a great QB, only he will go to a ****ty franchise and be ****ty because of it

 

Honestly, I think it has more to do with gimmicky bull**** college football programs being the only source for talent.  I still believe there should be a NFL minor league.  You get your JUCO/ineligible, long shot ballers just trying to put it together for a few years actually learning pro style football.  Scrap the practice squad, build a minor league program.  Pay the kids trying to make it and center them in small/medium cities around the country to stabilize the fanbase.  Let colleges be for learnin'.

 

Never happen just because of the cash cow and the Southeast is populated by droolers but it should happen.

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Once again we find ourselves in an awkward spot at the end of r1 where the talent drop off from the top 15 is dramatic.

Being good every year will do that to a team.

What if I told you about a 35 year old All American can't miss that never got past the bus rides of the minor leagues. 

 

Chicken Hawked. The AJ Hawk Story. 

 

No no.  Jaws actually said he had all the makings to be the best to ever play the position.  I rolled my eyes at first but then thanked him for cursing the punk.

Ok. But the part about Jaw's saying lot's of dumb things is right. 

Nothing like sitting around watching @nickdapick36 film.

 

Pay attention young man. Plenty you can learn from Nick. 

During the offseason, not even the draft yet.

 

Good pick Ted.

New FanSpeak draft gang! I'm faxing this baby over to Ted priority!!

 

If GB got Johnson at 62 my erection would spring an erection. I think Johnson is gone before McKinney though. 

 

Fanspeak is an evil sanctuary of false hope. 

quote:

New FanSpeak draft gang! I'm faxing this baby over to Ted priority!!

Note that none of the picks went to Wisconsin or Iowa.

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If GB got Johnson at 62 my erection would spring an erection. I think Johnson is gone before McKinney though.

So GB gets Johnson at 30 and McKinney at 62. 

Save this post, Fedya.

See the kind of misguided evil Fanspeak spreads? It's like an STD at a nymphomaniac convention held at Pellican Bay. 

 

I think Casey Hayward is a much better outside corner than he's being given credit for. He'll be just fine outside. Smart football player being coached up by a wizard. 

For people who want to do the fanspeak thing, I'd recommend using the Matt Miller-Bleacher Report board.

I do like Matt Miller.  I haven't gone back to check how well he does in past drafts but I think he adds significantly more analysis to his articles than McShay and Kiper.  I really think McShay and Kiper are just talking heads now that put little (if any)  real analysis into their work.  He's a great twitter follow too, with heavy interaction with fans (@nfldraftscout).  

 

His mocks aren't great, but I think it's hard to balance draft analysis with also being in tune with every team's needs (although I've yet to find a mock that really understands all 32 team's needs).  

So, you admit to getting erections over johnsons? Might want to stay out of Indiana, buddy.

The guy I don't think is getting enough attention leading up to the draft is Andrus Peat of Stanford. He probably could have used one more year of experience in college, but the guy is everything you look for in a Left Tackle. I think Reggie McKenzie pulls the trigger on him if he's available, despite all the shiny receiver speculation. 

 

Part of that is pedigree/precident. Wolf, Schneider, Dorsey and Thompson haven't been investing high firsts (or really firsts at all) in rookie Wide Receivers, waiting and finding good fits in the second, third, and sometimes even later. 

Interesting.

The Green Bay Packers will host Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty for a predraft visit, a source told Packer Report on Thursday morning...

Petty, who earned his bachelor’s degree in May 2013, started the final 25 games of his Baylor career and played in 36 games in all. He completed 62.7 percent of his passes for 8,195 yards with 62 touchdowns and just 10 interceptions. Plus, he added 21 rushing touchdowns.

Among active NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision players, Petty ranks second with a pass efficiency rating of 166.03, third with an average gain of 8.23 yards per play (total offense), 12th with with 83 total touchdowns touchdowns and 13th in passing touchdowns and passing yards.

As a senior, he completed 63.1 percent of his passes for 3,855 yards and 29 touchdowns against seven interceptions. In his collegiate finale, he went 36-of-51 for a Cotton Bowl-record 550 yards and three total touchdowns against Michigan State’s excellent defense.

http://gnb.scout.com/story/153...f9e66df5a58b4607adec