official 2014 nfl draft thread

[3irty1]

Ryan Shazier is also named Aaron Maybin if you jump into a time machine and go back a few years. But seriously, he's too small, and most likely will never be effective because of it (as a pass rusher). As a traditional linebacker, he might not be bad.

That comparison begins and ends with their ability to jump and have long arms. Shazier is a lot faster and changes directions much better. Even accounting for the size difference. Shazier does enough things well that a Von Miller comparison is better.

The Packers played Brad Jones at OLB in their first year as a 3-4 and he was lighter and thinner than Shazier.

[Joemailman]

That comparison begins and ends with their ability to jump and have long arms. Shazier is a lot faster and changes directions much better. Even accounting for the size difference. Shazier does enough things well that a Von Miller comparison is better.

The Packers played Brad Jones at OLB in their first year as a 3-4 and he was lighter and thinner than Shazier.

And there's a reason Jones was moved inside. He was too small to play OLB. Unless Shazier could get up to about 250, I don't think he can play outside in a 3-4.

[3irty1]

He's on the low end for sure but he wouldn't be the first to do it. James Harrison was about his size. I just think if you had an athlete like that you'd have to give them a shot to use that speed on the edge where it can do maximum damage. Is it likely he'll succeed at it? No it isn't, but then again the odds of any edge rusher hitting their potential outside of the top 10 are pretty slim. The beauty of Shazier though is that he's also a very safe choice to play inside as well where his all-around game could shine. If MM is serious about cross-training defenders in order to move them around then Shazier has a lot of value because of how easy he is to get on the field.

[mraynrand]

The beauty of Shazier though is that he's also a very safe choice to play inside as well where his all-around game could shine.

[The Shadow]

Are you old enough to remember Blackhawk?
Andre, Stamislaus, Olaf, etc?

[mraynrand]

Are you old enough to remember Blackhawk?
Andre, Stamislaus, Olaf, etc?

not really. Had a few in the comic book collection back in the day, so vaguely familiar.

[red]

at 247 pounds, hawk had a 40 inch verticle at the combine and at his pro day, some folks there clocked him running the 40 in 4.38, his official time at his pro day was still in the 4.4's

OSU, has historically run their pro days on a very, very fast track

[mraynrand]

A more likely TT pickup will be Denicos Allen from MSU. Guy played LB and hit like a hammer at 218. I was worried he was gonna bulk up to try for LB, but word is he is going the safety route. Got snubbed by the combine; will have to find pro day numbers, but his speed was around 4.5. (elsewhere listed as 4.6-8; if he's really that slow it's a no-go). Otherwise, a good SS prospect I think.

[pbmax]

Less Likely to Take Top Rated Safety

Detroit Lions (No. 10)

The moves: Signed WR Golden Tate and (reportedly) S James Ihedigbo
What it means: Calvin Johnson has his sidekick in the passing game. Because of Tate’s versatility, the Lions still could target Sammy Watkins or Mike Evans and move Tate to the slot. The odds on that are dwindling, though, given how much Detroit already has invested in its top two receivers. This team also has ample needs elsewhere on the field and just re-signed wide receivers Kris Durham (No. 2 in targets behind Johnson last season) and Kevin Ogletree.

A reach for one of the top safety prospects — Ha Ha Clinton-Dix or Calvin Pryor — stood as a long-shot backup plan. Ihedigbo’s expected arrival crosses that idea off the list, too.


Chicago Bears (No. 15) and Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 16)

The moves: Chicago signed safeties M.D. Jennings and Ryan Mundy; Pittsburgh signed S Mike Mitchell
What it means: That two landing spots for Clinton-Dix, Pryor and other safeties might no longer be on the table. Either team conceivably could still take a safety — Jennings proved in Green Bay that he’s best-suited for a part-time role, and the Steelers kept their guaranteed-money commitment to Mitchell rather low because of worries that he was a flash in the pan with Carolina. The counter-argument is that both the Bears and Steelers have way too many needs all over the field to overload at one position.


Less Likely to trade up for remaining safety

Philadelphia Eagles (No. 22)

The move: Signed S Malcolm Jenkins
What it means: The Eagles absolutely had to improve at the safety position, where Pat Chung really faltered in 2013. Jenkins may not be a perfect defensive player, but he without question makes Philadelphia better there. This had been a prime mock-draft landing spot for a safety — Louisville’s Calvin Pryor, for example. If one of the Eagles’ next moves is to re-sign Nate Allen, the safety-to-Philadelphia gameplan will be in need of revision.

New Orleans Saints (No. 27)

The move: Signed S Jairus Byrd
What it means: A few of the free-agency dominoes fell early this week, including here where the Saints rather surprisingly landed Byrd shortly after Jenkins bolted for Philly. Many of the teams on this list could consider drafting positions at which they’ve already signed players this offseason. This is not one of those situations. With Byrd joining Kenny Vaccaro at safety, the Saints are in better shape there than any team this side of Seattle.

Denver Broncos (No. 31)

The move: Signed everyone
What it means: That Denver can hone in sharply on the best player available. By signing CB Aqib Talib, S T.J. Ward and DE DeMarcus Ware, the Broncos upgraded their defense to a ridiculous degree. (They’ll also have a healthy Von Miller back for 2014.) Talib replaced one of their expected free-agent losses: CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. What Denver has yet to do is find a fill-in for WR Eric Decker, who signed with the Jets on Wednesday. Solving that problem could be the plan at No. 31.

Safeties might be falling down the board. http://nfl.si.com/2014/03/13/2014-nf...act-nfl-draft/

[call_me_ishmael]

I feel awful for Wist's wife. Sorry man.

[smuggler]

Just got done looking through all the inside linebacker prospects in the draft. not a single one looks like a good coverage option to usurp Brad Jones (well, there is maybe one guy, but read below). THAT is probably why he got paid so damn much in free agency. And yet Buffalo has Kiko Alonso... Why can't we find a coverage linebacker?

Telvin Smith of FSU is only about 220#, maybe he could sneak up toward 230#, but he would actually be a pretty advertising nickel linebacker and I bet he'd kick ass on special teams. He almost looks like a WR out there on defense. He's 6'3. Sort of a hybrid SS-LB, but without actual safety experience.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfuLAR2gDes

[Smidgeon]

Obviously TT knows they need safety help this year. Cutting McMillian because of regression and letting Jennings walk in FA means he has one starting-caliber safety on the roster, one maybe, and one project. I think he knows he needs to pick up another and this time with relative certainty of success. Even if he grabs a bargain bin safety in the fading days of free agency, I think he's targeting one in the draft. BUT, being what our draft history always seems to be, the two teams in front of the Packers will select Clinton-Dix and Pryor, leaving us scrambling.

So what to do then? Trade down? BPA? The biggest hole on the team seems to be safety. It's like a field medic, patching up all sorts of hemorrhaging holes in front of them. If the Packers don't get Clinton-Dix or Pryor, I don't think I'll have a lot of faith in the pass defense again. Of course, this is barring the unlikely: that the seventh round safety plays like a first round pick...

[mraynrand]

I feel pretty good about Richardson near the LOS. Hyde has shown some good stuff in the slot, but I'de prefer Hayward there. APRH, between Richardson, Hyde, Hayward, and Burnett, I think they can field an adequate safety rotation, but they have no depth.

[3irty1]

I feel pretty good about Richardson near the LOS. Hyde has shown some good stuff in the slot, but I'de prefer Hayward there. APRH, between Richardson, Hyde, Hayward, and Burnett, I think they can field an adequate safety rotation, but they have no depth.

That's how I feel too.

[The Shadow]

What think ye all of Max Bullough, LB?

[mraynrand]

What think ye all of Max Bullough, LB?

big and slower. 242lbs, 4.78 40 I think at pro day. Character problems! Good instincts, good tackler, good ILB. Would be adequate replacement for Hawk, but would be less agile.

[3irty1]

big and slower. 242lbs, 4.78 40 I think at pro day. Character problems! Good instincts, good tackler, good ILB. Would be adequate replacement for Hawk, but would be less agile.

Not sure I agree with character problems. He violated team rules and was held out of the rosebowl but nobody knows his side of the story. We also know that he's a two-time team captain and a good student. He doesn't strike me as a troubled kid or anything. He's from snobby wine-country Michigan.

It wouldn't surprise me if he made the top 100. He's not as physical as he should be for a guy his size and strength but he's got a good all-around game and gives good effort. Very decisive player.

[The Shadow]

What think ye all of Max Bullough, LB?

Ah.... I see the Packers are interested in him - unless it's just a smokescreen.

[run pMc]

Ah.... I see the Packers are interested in him - unless it's just a smokescreen.

The story being floated by JSO is that TT loves Bullough because he's instinctive and made the defensive calls at MSU. Also the coaches supposedly raved about his ability to pick up and run the defense at whatever draft bowl game (East-West?) he was in.
Seems productive enough, worry about sudden weight gain after the mystery suspension. Maybe he's got a mental condition and his meds weren't right. Bullough isn't saying much about the Rose Bowl suspension, but he's not making it sound like a big deal either so I don't think it's a DUI, pot, or pulling a Darren Sharper.

The other thing is I'm not sure from an athletic standpoint he's an upgrade over what's there already. Maybe the instincts, etc., can make up for that, but I'd worry about his pass coverage skills. He might be ok as Hawk's replacement, but I think a Mosley/Shazier type would be better Jones' replacement.

(Bear in mind I base this from video clips and interwebz posts. I don't have time to watch football on Saturdays.)

I think a lot of teams probably like Bullough in the middle rounds, including GB. I'm guessing he goes in R4, give or take 8 picks. Would be surprised if he were there when the Walden comp pick comes up unless the suspension details are leaked and it's bad.

[mraynrand]

The story being floated by JSO is that TT loves Bullough because he's instinctive and made the defensive calls at MSU.

he lines 'em up like the best of them! HAWK II - the sequel.