The official offseason draft thread

The thing with Clowney is he's the only truly elite talent in this draft. He's a bigger, faster Jevon Kearse if he puts his mind to it. If I'm Houston I roll the dice rather than take a question mark at QB #1.

Nix ran a 5.40

The NFL refused to let his agent put a cheeseburger at the end line.

And in Houston he would be on an already talented defense.

Figuring a 4th rd comp pick;  40 time, reps

1st OLB Kyle Van Noy          4.60 sec   21

2nd WR Brandin Cook         4.33 sec

3rd DE Marcus Smith         4.68        23

4th ILB Max Bullough         4.75        30

Comp C Tyler Larsen

5th S Hakeem Smith

6th WR Cody Latimer

7th OLB Kevin Greene

Offense

We won a Super Bowl without Finley and Quarless was a pup yet.  Sign Q

Wr's have speed and are athletic with time to learn.  Jones walks

Sign Starks

Larsen backs up Trettin.  EDS gone

Defense

Van Noy adds rush behind Mathews and Perry.  Neal sign right or else gone.

Bullough is family.  Baller. 

Marcus Smith thinks he better than top 10 guys.  Should have an attitude by 3rd rd.

Sign Shields.  Get Heyward healthy.  Move Hyde to S. 

Kevin Greene, younger than the old Greene.

I suspect ROTTT will add 2-3 picks minimum to add a TE, Fat Guy DL, RB???

Uncle Ted get it dun!

I will be shocked if one of these is a Packer.

Clowney and AJ McCarron/Mettenberger/Garroppolo would be an interesting combo of picks.

I wouldn't be surprised if Khalil Mack turns out to be a better pro player than Clowney.  He may not get drafted higher but it wouldn't surprise me if he did.  I saw Mack play against Ohio State and he was a beast.  Hard to believe that he only had two scholarship offers.    Clowney seems like he could be a prima donna who may give coaches a headache.

Mack was a beast in that game and one of my favorites in this draft but if Clowney can be motivated he's just so talented/explosive that he'll be hard to match. 

Keith McKenzie

Clowney = Keith McKenzie?

Is that what you're saying, Poo?

Holy mother of ****.

Sam skipped for his 40.

No, Khalil Mack = Keith McKenzie

Calvin Pryor goes from 6'2, 209 with a 4.4 40 to 5'11, 207 and a 4.62 at the combine.

Yup, amazing how "fluid" these alleged numbers are in college as the hype machine begins to pick up speed

3 inches is some amazing shrinkage for a young man, he better get that checked out

espn this morning provided Clowney's 40 time which I believe was 4.58.  That's incredible.

Before I drafted him with a high selection, I would want to be real sure of him from a motivation standpoint.

Desmond Bishop ran something like a 4.78 or a 4.82 back in 2007, depending on who you ask.

Ra'Shede Hageman is having a strong combine IMO. 

6'6"/310 lbs.

34 1/4" arms

10 1/4" hands

5.06 40

32 reps

35.5" vertical

9'6" broad jump

7.87 sec 3-cone

This guy is a crazy athlete. Boom or bust prospect, but the ceiling is extremely high. 

Not his fault. He had just taken a cold shower.

His size and athleticism...he's rising.

Another kid who is rising, Okie St. CB Justin Gilbert

6'0/202 lbs.

33 1/8 Arms

8 5/8 hands

4.37 40

20 reps

35.5" vert

10' 6" broad

6.92 3-cone

Some say he's the best cover corner in the draft. compares to Darelle Revis from measurables standdpoint.

I could live with bringing Gilbert Island to Green Bay

You can never have enough CB's, but I think it's the most stocked position in GB.  Shields will be back to man the outside with Williams.  Heyward in the slot.. House in the dime.. Hyde hopefully transitioning to S.  We're pretty damn good back there.

I like Gilbert, but Darqueze Dennard is definitely the best CB in this draft IMO. He's had a strong combine as well. 

I like Dennard also, I think any questions about his speed have been answered. That said, I think Dennard ends up in Detroit.

New 7-round mock from BR without comp picks, FWIW:

1. Haha
2. DE Dom Easley, Florida
3. TE C.J. Fiedorowicz, Iowa
4. ILB Lamin Barrow, LSU
5. CB Rashaad Reynolds, Oregon State
6. OLB Prince Shembo, Notre Dame
7. NT Zack Kerr, Delaware

Not a big fan of the site, but I like Miller. Easley has some medical red flags and I can't see Ted touching Shembo, but would otherwise be fine with a draft like this. Probably needs at least one WR in what is supposed to be a deep draft at that spot as well.

Keep an eye on Stanford DE Josh Mauro (6'6" 285 lbs.). He's really going to be a stud in the NFL IMO. He's not a workout warrior and his combine hasn't been that good (5.21 40, 21 reps), but his play on the field is strong. I anticipate he will definitely be in play for the Packers. 

I love these Stanford defenders, I would take any one of them...DE Trent Murphy, ILB Shayne Skov, FS Ed Reynolds, etc. 

Big fan of Skov...much like Borland, he wouldn't blow you away with his 40, but he's just a great football player. I like his size better than Borland, and he's way, way smert.

If we can pick him up in round 2, I'd be pleased.

I'm totally with you guys on both Skov and Borland, but does anyone find it weird that we're drooling over slow, white LBs who just know where they're supposed to be because we're fed up with watching a slow, white LB who just knows where he's supposed to be?

Skov is mixed ethnicity.

Wouldn't mind Bullough either, but I think he's gone by where we pick in round 2.

Sure, Borland, Skov, and Bullough might make some think AJ Hawk, but I look at them and see footballers like we see with Hyde. When Hawk was coming out he looked like he should be a stud. Then he never developed much beyond his college level of play. None of the 3 mentioned above are going in the 1st round, they are 2nd rounders at best.

But your comment is spot on ILPF.

Not what I'm hearing. Hearing round 4.

Did your sources tell you that? 

Skov and Borland are different than AJ Hawk. They have truly great instincts and a feel for finding the ball, Hawk and Brad Jones are just read and react guys. Skov and Borland get to the ball quickly, Hawk and Jones are often late. Skov and Borland also don't struggle shedding blocks like Hawk/Jones do. The difference is that Skov and Borland are TRUE ILB's and Hawk/Jones are converted ILB's. Hawk/Jones are out of position IMO. 

I remember being jazzed about AJ Hawk, he was a beast in college.  He looks sooooo much slower in the NFL. 

I was hoping GD would bash Borland, Badgers Digger doesn't like tend to do better in the NFL. 

I don't know about that.  I think the jury is still out on the two guys he really hated - Seneca Wilson and JJ 'Not a fit for the 3-4' Watt.

Draft profile of Hawk from '06.

Height: 6-1

Weight: 240

40-Yard Dash: 4.55 (est)

Positives:

A.J. Hawk is fast enough that he can run down most running backs and tight ends, and athletic enough to change direction and make a play. He doesn't have a problem reading run or pass, and doesn't struggle too much with the play-action pass. He won't shy away from being hit, and is one of the toughest players in the draft. Hawk is a very smart player who won't forget his assignment on most plays. He shows good composure and is the leader of the defense. Of all the LBs in the draft, Hawk is also the best in coverage.

 

Negatives:

The biggest knock on Hawk, while not a big thing, is overrunning plays due to being overaggressive. While this isn't a big deal in college, it will take him out of many plays in the NFL. An easy problem to fix however, all he has to do is learn to slow down.

 

Is that from The Onion?

Another

Positives: Has a thick upper body with broad shoulders, tight waist, good bubble and excellent timed speed for his position … Has loose hips and above average balance, keeping his feet on the move … Shows natural knee bend and has a sudden burst coming off the edge to defeat the lethargic offensive tackle (see 2005 Texas game vs. Jonathan Scott) … Understanding blocking schemes and is quick to locate the ball … Very capable of taking his impressive weight room totals and translating it into his play on the field … Can shed blocks consistently and has the upper body power to create a pile … Tough inside force vs. the run who moves well through traffic to locate the ball … Plays at a low pad level and uses his hands effectively to reroute the tight end … Has fluid and explosive range outside the box, using his hands to sift through traffic and generates the burst needed to play on the edge … Has excellent speed to close on the ball, demonstrating the balance and body control, along with quick feet to move down the line … Big hitter who will strike with force and has the strength to explode behind his tackles … Has the athletic agility, loose hips, valid speed and a strong desire to take on receivers in man coverage … Plays with a quick, controlled backpedal, showing the looseness in his hips to open and play the ball …

 

Gets very good depth in his pass drops and does a fine job of reading the quarterback and reacting to the ball, using his leaping ability and timing to break up the pass … Does a good job of reaching and plucking the ball away from his frame … Moves forward with quickness and good urgency on the blitz and has above average flexibility to counter blocks and close on the passer.

 

Negatives: Generally alert player, but can get a little reckless in his play and over-pursue, especially on run fakes and play action … Very combative with his hands, but does not have that strong lower body power needed to hold ground at the point of attack vs. larger blockers … Attacks with good aggression, but a lack of ideal size will see him get bounced out of the rush lanes when trying to fill working in-line … Needs to play with a wider base to prevent offensive tackles from washing him out along the edge.

 

 

Hawk is a punishing open field tackler with valid speed and explosion for his position. He is a bit on the short side, but compensates with excellent acceleration and outstanding read-and-react ability. He has the strength to explode into ball carriers and takes good angles in pursuit to string plays out. He has above average upper body power, but could use more lower body strength, as he plays with a narrow base and can be washed out by the larger offensive tackles if they lock on to him coming off the edge.

 

Hawk plays at a high intensity level, showing good urgency closing on the play and pressuring the pocket. He developed more effective swim and rip moves to get an edge on the offensive tackle and the result was 9.5 sacks in 2005. He plays with true aggression and while he sometimes gets reckless in his play, he will hit with authority. His range and lateral agility is the best I've seen in a linebacker outside of Brian Urlacher and much like the Bears standout, he has the natural knee bend to deliver punishing shots when tackling.

 

Hawk has the range to work down the line and generates a very strong hand punch to push the pocket. He is effective at jamming and rerouting tight ends and runners coming out of the backfield and has enough valid speed to stay on the hip of receivers past the intermediate area.

 

Hawk is an outstanding blitzer who has the natural feet and hip explosion to constantly disrupt the backfield. He is so instinctive that he has a knack for getting into the pocket almost at will. He closes with good urgency and does a very good job of breaking down and wrap tackling when working in space. He is better on the move than when asked to take on blockers working in-line, as he does not have the size or wide base to maintain his position at the point of attack, especially vs. double teams.

 

Hawk has nice pass rush moves and charges aggressively coming off the edge. He also shows valid hand extension to reach and pluck the ball at its high point. Much like David Pollack (Bengals), he simply has a natural feel and flow for the ball. He is an excellent sideline-to-sideline player who needs to be accounted for whenever on the field. With improved lower body strength and a better base, he will be as close to a complete line-backer as one can find.

Peaked at 23.

AJ Hawk, combine warrior

I think Ted is still reading that bio on Hawk. I know I was excited when the Packers picked him but that is about the last time. I was anticipating a Butkus/Ray Nitschke clone but instead got Ray Bumpkus. I still have nightmares watching him trying to cover the RB from New Orleans the first game of the year after the Super Bowl.

When an ILB is short and black, like DJ Smith, people say he could be the next Sam Mills. When they are short and white they say he is the next Zach Thomas. Borland is closer to DJ Smith than he is Zach Thomas. Happy guys? 

Ted would convert Borland to a fullback