Prospects

[HarveyWallbangers]

From touted to doubted
By Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports

It was the second day of Senior Bowl week and Oklahoma linebacker Clint Ingram was trying to rip the head off of Ohio State center Nick Mangold. Haymakers flew, jerseys were yanked, players screamed – and finally Chad Greenway stepped into the middle of the chaos.

"Whoa!" Greenway yelled, jamming himself between Mangold and Ingram, who were each still swinging wildly. "Get back!"

The fracas came to an abrupt halt and the players shuffled in opposite directions thanks to Greenway, who had stayed in the middle of it all. The situation has become all too familiar for the Iowa linebacker, who has been stuck in his own fight ever since.

Once projected to be a top-10 pick by NFL scouting departments, Greenway has been trapped in the middle of dueling perceptions about his ability over the last few months. On one side, he's viewed as an elite player whose attributes simply didn't test well. On the other, he's billed as a player whose measurables and skill had been highly overrated heading into the predraft process.

Sound familiar? It should. A similar debate centered around former USC and current Seattle Seahawks linebacker Lofa Tatupu last season.

Like Tatupu, Greenway did nothing but produce in college, garnering All-American status last season while notching 13 tackles per game. Four months ago, when NFL scouts talked about "special" linebacker prospects, the conversation usually went in this order: 1A. Ohio State's A.J. Hawk; 1B. Chad Greenway.

But early draft evaluations are often built on sand. And when the scouting combine arrived for Greenway, the tide had come with it.

Only a few weeks after an impressive Senior Bowl showing, Greenway hit a workout wall at the combine in Indianapolis. After predicting a 40-yard dash time in the range of 4.5 to 4.6 seconds, Greenway ran as slow as 4.8, according to some teams. And that was only the second alarming number. He also managed only 16 repetitions in the bench press – a result considered weak for a 242-pound player.

"I could have done more but they got me for rocking," said Greenway, explaining why some of his lifts were disqualified for improper form. "… It's obviously not the showing I wanted to have."

It's just the latest knock in what has been a career full of lumps for Greenway. Growing up on a farm in tiny Mount Vernon, S.D. (population hovering around 480), Greenway's graduating class boasted a grand total of 29 people. His high school football games weren't even fit for regular 11-on-11 play. Instead, Greenway learned the game playing 9-on-9.

"It wasn't really that different," Greenway said. "It was just football as we knew it in South Dakota. If growing up playing 11-man football, [if] you thought that was normal, well, to you guys it was normal. To us, it was normal playing nine-man football."

Unfortunately for Greenway, the combination of living in South Dakota and playing a pared down version of the game didn't exactly endear him to college football recruiters. He appeared destined for a Division II career until Iowa offered him a scholarship at the last minute. Even then, it would take two full years – one redshirt campaign and a freshman season limited by a torn ACL – before Greenway flashed the star power that eventually landed him on NFL radar screens.

By the end of his sophomore year, Greenway had established himself as one of the best linebackers in the Big Ten, finishing with 132 tackles and earning second-team all-conference honors. Two seasons later, he had polished himself into one of college football's premier defensive players and was thought to be fighting with Hawk for the honor of being the draft's first defensive player off the board.

But the celebration was merely a prelude to another round of doubts. Billed as a player with all the tools and instincts, Greenway was already undergoing some nitpicking before his below-average combine performance. Scouts complained that he ran around blockers rather than shedding them and getting to the ball, and when it came to his pass-rushing skills, he was a work in progress at best.

By the time he'd gotten done with the combine, pundits were already moving him down the draft board in a deep linebacker class. The player once seen as a top-10 pick was suddenly wading into the deep end of Round 1 – somewhere between picks 20 and 32.

But as the draft draws closer, flaws typically tend to get blown out of proportion for linebackers. A year ago, Tatupu was too small and slow, Texas' Derrick Johnson couldn't shed blocks and Georgia's Odell Thurman was a character train wreck. All three watched their draft stock suffer in some respect, and all three rebounded to be top-flight rookies.

MORE IMPACT LINEBACKERS

Here are five more difference-making linebackers:

A.J. Hawk, OLB, Ohio State – Considered the best and most polished defensive player available, Hawk – some believe – could turn out to be the best player in this draft. He would have been rated one of the top defensive players last year, and another year in college only added seasoning. Depending where he lands, he could be the early favorite for defensive rookie of the year.

Ernie Sims, OLB, Florida State – Compared favorably to former FSU linebacker Derrick Brooks, Sims plays with the wild abandon that linebacker coaches love. That said, he can get too reckless at times, over-pursuing plays and running the risk of long-term concussion issues. He'll have to get slightly bigger in the NFL, but his combination of speed and aggression should make him an instant highlight.

DeMeco Ryans, OLB, Alabama – Like Greenway, Ryans has seen his draft stock take a hit despite stellar college production. Scouts want him to get a little bigger and improve his strength when shedding blockers. He also doesn't have great ball skills when playing pass defense.

Bobby Carpenter, OLB, Ohio State – He's not the super athlete like A.J. Hawk or Ernie Sims. But he moves well for being in the mold of a big, old-school linebacker who relies on instincts and taking the right angles. He can over-pursue at times, but he's considered a good, balanced all-around linebacker.

D'Qwell Jackson, ILB, Maryland – Jackson had a nice showing at the Senior Bowl. Many teams want an inside linebacker bigger than the 229 pounds he played at last season. He has good speed and instincts, but he shouldn't be expected to be a sideline-to-sideline guy. His upper body strength (19 reps on the bench press) was just average.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Survival of the fittest
By Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports

When the door closed and the New York Giants personnel people gathered around Tamba Hali two months ago, the probing nature of the NFL scouting combine evaporated. The 30-minute private interview – the one where teams often assault prospects with demanding questions about character – took on a different tone.

For the better part of their meeting, the Penn State defensive end told his life story. And in what is a rare occurrence at the combine, he left an NFL team largely speechless.

"I was just overwhelmed with not only his story, but the way he told it," Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi said. "He's such a thoughtful, intellectual, moving person. Obviously, you see these players as players, but the one thing about this interview process – even though a lot of them are coached and they're prepared for you – you still get to sit and talk to them for the first time.

"I tell you what, you could hear a pin drop in our interview room."

When reporters gathered to talk with Hali at the combine, the crowd around him began in modest fashion for a player expected to be a first-round pick. But as Hali began to talk about his flight from Liberia in the mid-1990s – at a time when the country was in the throes of civil war – the gathering began to swell. Soon, reporters from the other side of the room and the cavernous walkway in the RCA Dome added to the swell.

And as he had done with Accorsi, Hali's tale silenced what is typically a non-stop buzz in the interview room.

"A lot of the things he's told us since we've been together make my jaw drop," Penn State cornerback Alan Zemaitis said. "It's unbelievable the kind of adversity he battled to get where he's at."

Leaving his mother and sister behind, Hali and three of his siblings fled Liberia when he was a child, heading to the relative safety of the Ivory Coast. It was there that he was put in contact with his father Henry, who had moved to the U.S. when Hali was 3. Nine years had passed since Hali and his siblings had been able to reach their father, who became a chemistry professor at Farleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey.

They would be reunited in 1994, but it would come at a bittersweet price. Hali's mother couldn't make the trip.

U.S. law allowed Hali's father to sponsor his four children and bring them stateside, but because Hali's mother had remarried and was not considered a blood-relative of his father, she has had to stay in Liberia, along with her daughter from the second marriage. Hali hasn't seen his mom in 12 years – since the day she shepherded he and his three siblings to the airport and out of the country.

"It's been tough," Hali said. "First, you go through life with your mother, then you go through the second half of your 22 years without her. You deal with it and work through it. That's how life is – full of adversity."

And full of perspective. Despite becoming one of the best defensive ends in the country over the last two years and leading the Big Ten with 11 sacks in 2005, Hali displays more of a determined maturity than the arrogance or cockiness exuded by so many top prospects. While his stories of living in Liberia's upheaval as a child are captivating, Hali's unexcitable fashion when telling them can be equally mesmerizing.

He swings from one topic to another, navigating a schizophrenic line of questions – about coach Joe Paterno, about Penn State, about escaping Liberia. And sprinkled into the queries are always the morbid curiosities about the slayings he witnessed as a child.

"Sometimes it would be a lot [of killings]," Hali said. "Sometimes it would be just one. Sometimes you'd see a stack of bodies sitting on the side of the road while you're walking. … A lot of [Liberian] kids weren't educated. You have kids carrying guns. A lot of them would be running around killing people for no reason."

"[To stay alive], certain people would hide us. We'd have places to stay in little huts. You find ways to manage. You find ways to eat, cook and all of that.

"The first time we got attacked [by rebels], the plane came down [and] we were just sitting there. I remember my mother was cooking. Gunfire just started erupting all over the place. That just started happening all the time – frequently. So we went into hiding.

"My step-dad got a car and we went to a village far away from the city. We'd spend six months there and then come back out and things would cease a little bit. Then they would start again. After a couple of times of that, [his mother and step-dad] thought we should flee the country."

That eventually led Hali to the U.S., where he has found a level of stardom unimagined when he began playing the game in middle school. In the coming months, he's expected to gain his U.S. citizenship, which will in turn allow him to sponsor his mother and step-sister's departure from Liberia.

Since Hali's father sent his mom a cell phone, Hali has had the opportunity to talk with her on a weekly basis, though he's sure she still doesn't grasp the strides he's made in football.

"She has no clue what's going on," Hali said. "If it were soccer, maybe.

"It's going to be drastic [change] for her. She's going to go from living like in a hut to living in a nice home. I hope that will be able to explain [the success]."

MORE IMPACT DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Here are five more difference-making defensive linemen:

Mario Williams, DE, North Carolina State – Williams is the draft's most complete package of measurables and skill at the defensive end spot since Julius Peppers. He'll still need to add some polish and consistency to his game to become more than a one- or two-move pass rusher. But if he fulfills his potential, he could be the NFL's next dominant rusher.

Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon – He's a massive defensive tackle who will be a run-stuffing plug rather than a pass-rushing tackle in the NFL. He has good quickness for an interior lineman and is adept at shedding blockers in the hole. He can suffer from fatigue late in games and have some trouble locating the ball, though.

Brodrick Bunkley, DT/DE, Florida State – Bunkley has the strength and skill to be a tackle in a 4-3 scheme and the size to be an end in a 3-4. He has very good upper body strength and gets off the ball fast enough to beat blockers with his first move. He's still a few pounds undersized, but he has the frame to add more weight if a team needs him to play as a two-gap tackle.

Kamerion Wimbley, DE/OLB, Florida State – If he adds weight, Wimbley has the edge speed and explosion to be a pass-rushing end similar to Indianapolis Colts end Dwight Freeney. Several teams are looking at Wimbley as a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme, but Wimbley could just as well end up as a traditional end in a 4-3, cut in the mold of the NFL's lighter, faster pass rushers.

Gabe Watson, DT, Michigan – Watson has an absurd amount of athleticism and has shown he can be a dominant player when motivated. His weight and conditioning have a lot to do with his lack of consistency. On the upside, he has the talent to be Shaun Rogers. On the downside, he has the motivation of a Gerard Warren.

[HarveyWallbangers]

In for a big surprise
By Charles Robinson, Yahoo! Sports
April 10, 2006

There's always the "if" hanging over Antonio Cromartie.

If he had gone back to Florida State, he would probably be the No. 1 cornerback in the 2007 draft class. If he had held on another 12 months, he probably would have been a top-10 pick. And of course – the one that stabs at him the most – if he hadn't injured his knee in the first place, he might be fighting with North Carolina State's Mario Williams and Ohio State's A.J. Hawk to be the first defensive player selected in this month's NFL draft.

"I don't look back on it," said Cromartie at the annual scouting combine while expounding on the knee injury that robbed him of his junior season with the Seminoles. "You can go crazy. It's time for me to move on."

Move on and move up.

After raising eyebrows by declaring for the draft despite missing his entire junior season with a left knee injury, the FSU cornerback has rallied in recent months, wowing teams at the combine and the Seminoles' pro day. Now it looks like Cromartie could end up being this year's Willis McGahee – a super-talented player who overcomes an injury nightmare to become this year's surprising first-round pick.

Not that Cromartie landing in the first round would be a total shock. Even with his injury, word around the league is that he's carrying a grade of late first round to second round on NFL draft boards. The real surprise might be how high Cromartie actually goes. Considered by most to be a risky pick who likely will land with a team that has the luxury of easing him in for a year, it now appears that Cromartie could vault as high as the middle of the first round.

According to John Murphy of Next Level Scouting, Cromartie has drawn strong interest from seven teams: the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots. Two of them – the Patriots and Chargers – have had personal visits scheduled. Nearly every team in the league also was on hand for Cromartie's pro-day performance when he posted a 42-inch vertical, clocked 4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash and had an impressive showing in defensive and special teams drills.

"You put your hands over your ears with the knee and just go on what you see and you say, '[He's] at the top of anyone out there in the secondary' – without a question," said a defensive assistant in the NFC North. "But you factor in that knee, which I don't think he's totally back from, and you move him down the board because that's a huge deal.… He looks good running around, and he looks good on all of his tape before the injury. So you say, 'This kid is the real deal.' But when it comes time to make the pick, someone has to take the risk."

The last few weeks would have been impressive for any corner, but for one the size of Cromartie – 6-foot-2¼ and 203 pounds – they were downright unique. With the NFL's elite cornerbacks standing between 5-10 and 5-11 and weighing 190 pounds (like all of the starters in this year's Pro Bowl), the big corner has been largely absent – or playing safety. But few corners have displayed the athleticism and coverage ability in college that Cromartie did during his first two seasons at Florida State.

"He's a great big, physical guy," said Florida wideout Chad Jackson, who also is expected to be a first-round pick. "He's got great size and great speed. He's a tall guy, and he should be able to play the safety spot or the cornerback spot. Honestly, I was surprised to see him at the cornerback spot when I played against them."

In his first two years, Cromartie lived up to the hype as one of the nation's most coveted cornerback recruits. Despite playing in a deep and talented secondary, Cromartie played in every game as a true freshman, then earned All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team honors despite starting only one game as a sophomore.

Heading into his junior season, Cromartie was expected to vault to All-America status. That expectation was scuttled when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament, medial collateral ligament and hamstring in a voluntary offseason workout. The injuries cost Cromartie five months to surgery and rehabilitation and made his medical charts just as popular as his workout numbers at the combine.

"To me, I have to prove something to myself," Cromartie said. "I feel like I don't have any pressure on me right now – just go out and do what I've always done and that's play football."

MORE IMPACT DEFENSIVE BACKS

Here are five more difference-makers in the secondary:

Michael Huff, S, Texas – It's looking more and more like Huff is going to have to stay at safety rather than corner, but some think he's an Ed Reed type of player at safety. He struggled to catch the ball at Texas' pro day. Scouts say: He's got the explosion and range to be special.

Jimmy Williams, CB/S, Virginia Tech – Some personnel people have been turned off by his cockiness. And it's clear that some are projecting him at safety, even though he's been adamant that he wants to play cornerback. Scouts say: He's great in press and man-to-man, but he's slow to react in zone coverage and tends to guess.

Jason Allen, S/CB, Tennessee – He's fluid and fast, but his future still seems to be at safety. His ballistic numbers at the combine put to rest the short-term fears about his surgically repaired hip. Scouts say: His injured hip has tested out with about 85 percent of the strength of his healthy one, and it could be an issue as his career progresses.

Jonathan Joseph, CB, South Carolina – Joseph has drawn the "upside" label after injuries and junior college limited him to only one full season at South Carolina. Had he played two years, he might have developed into a "total package" cornerback. Scouts say: He's fast and has all the physical tools and instincts, but he still is polishing his raw coverage technique as a cornerback.

Tye Hill, CB, Clemson – If you're looking for the super-fast track athlete at corner, with amazing agility and leaping ability, Hill is at the top of the list. He has shown a good ability to find and go after the ball when it's in the air. Scouts say: His size (5-9) is going to scare off some teams because it's a liability against the run and the league's bigger wideouts.

[b bulldog]

hALI OR wATSON IN ROUND TWO WOULD BE GOOD PICKS.

[Bretsky]

hALI OR wATSON IN ROUND TWO WOULD BE GOOD PICKS.

I like Watson; he treated the Badgers well. Hali abused us.

[b bulldog]

dIDN'T PLAY ALOT IN THAT GAME DUE TO HIS UNMOTIVATED PLAY IN THE PRIOR WEEKS GAMES.

[Rastak]

If Cromartie's knee checked out OK, he'd be a very good 2nd round pick....GB could do it easily and Minnesota has the ammo to trade up in round two.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Cromartie is actually a top 10 talent, but just didn't play enough to make teams feel comfortable drafting him that high. Plus, he has injury concerns. I wouldn't be surprised if he went in the first round though. If he's there in round 2, he'd have to be a major consideration.

[Tarlam!]

Thanks for posting this stuff, Harv. I am soooooo draft weekend pumped, it's not even funny!

How long does each team have on the clock?

[MJZiggy]

15 minutes.

[Rastak]

Cromartie is actually a top 10 talent, but just didn't play enough to make teams feel comfortable drafting him that high. Plus, he has injury concerns. I wouldn't be surprised if he went in the first round though. If he's there in round 2, he'd have to be a major consideration.

He's an intriguing talent. Probably too risky at #17 for Minnesota.

[Tarlam!]

15 minutes.

Ta muchly.

[MJZiggy]

Thought this was interesting from KFFL...

Texans | R. Bush not a lock to be No. 1 draft pick?
Mon, 17 Apr 2006 17:38:45 -0700

Adam Schefter, of the NFL Network, reports there is now legitimate reason, for the first time, to think that USC RB Reggie Bush is not going to be wind up with the Houston Texans, the team that currently holds the No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick. This does not come from one source or from one team. This comes from multiple sources, from across the league, without any agenda to push. As of Monday, April 17, the Texans had not had any contract discussions with Bush and his representatives. When Bush was in Houston, a certain segment of the organization never introduced itself to the running back. The Texans know they have a dependable running back and kick return man, the two spots Bush fills. A person in the Bush camp said Monday, "Do I have a feeling that Reggie is going to Houston? No, I have a feeling that he's not."

[Rastak]

Thanks for posting this stuff, Harv. I am soooooo draft weekend pumped, it's not even funny!

How long does each team have on the clock?


I think first round is 15 minutes, and 5 thereafter if I'm not mistaken.

[HarveyWallbangers]

From Pro Football Weekly:

Through our everyday dealings with teams, PFW offers the opinions and thoughts of those who matter, which are being conveyed in the final weeks leading up to the draft. Keep in mind, a lot of smoke flies in April as teams try to conceal their intentions, and this is the time of the year that many scouts change their opinions when they are dealing with even their closest peers and, no doubt, media.

PFW does not necessarily agree with all of the statements made by evaluators below, but it nonetheless offers some of what is being said in draft meetings around the league. Whether these opinions are sincere or not, they are still NFL opinions and carry many truths:

“(Penn State CB Alan) Zemaitis reminds me of (2005 Colts first-rounder) Marlin Jackson. He’s very instinctive.”

“(Maryland TE) Vernon Davis is not dumb when you are talking to him — he just does not have a good base of football knowledge or really understand how to convert routes. … There’s a big difference between scouting and looking at numbers (production, height, weight and speed). Davis may have better numbers than (Jeremy) Shockey and (Kellen) Winslow (Jr.), but he is not nearly as refined of a pass catcher as either were coming out. Go back and watch Davis and show me one catch he makes where he does not have to stop to bring in the ball. No one can deny his physical ability, but he’s got a lot of work cut out for him.”

“I know there are some scouts who have first-round grades on (Fresno State CB) Richard Marshall, but I don’t know what they are looking at. He’s stiff. He will play, but I don’t ever see him being more than just a guy in the league. I have him graded in the third round.”

“I watched four games of (Maryland LB) D’Qwell Jackson yesterday. I love his football temperament, instincts and the way he plays the game, but I do not like his foot speed. This is not the 1980s anymore. He is a liability vs. the pass.”

“(Purdue SS) Bernard Pollard is very active. He has good instincts. He plays fast, has good man cover skills. He can mirror a quarterback and break on throws. He is a playmaker. He’s a second-round talent.”

“(Florida State FS) Pat Watkins shows some situational toughness, but he is so long and gangly. That concerns me.”

“I went back and watched more of (Florida State DT) Brodrick Bunkley. He is a mean sucker. Wow! You put on the North Carolina tape, and he is a man. I haven’t seen anyone kick the (crap) out of his opponents like he does in a long time.”

“(Ohio State S) Donte Whitner is the last guy moving. His angles are bad. He can cover on the short end but not on the top end. He’s (Patriots 2005 fourth-round pick) James Sanders. He has no instincts. He is aggressive, tough, can close to the ball. He’ll hit you and support the run, but I didn’t like his key and diagnose. He’s not a half safety. You need some special goggles to evaluate if you think he’s a half safety. He’s choppy in his movement. He can run and he’s fearless, but he’s not Bob Sanders moving at the snap. And little safeties wear down.”

“I can’t cosign on drafting (Syracuse S) Anthony Smith because he’s only 194 pounds. (Bengals 2004 second-rounder) Madieu Williams wore down at 190 pounds and has not been able to stay healthy. It’s going to be the same issue.”

“(Auburn OT) Marcus McNeil passed our physical. He never missed any time. He doesn’t tuck his tail and get in and up on (defenders) like you want him to, but he’s not a major medical risk in the eyes of our doctors.”

“(South Carolina CB) Johnathan Joseph will take several years to figure it out and he may be a bust. He’s not a good worker. He misses a lot of tackles not wrapping. He gets beat a lot. He does not like the weight room. He has a 315-pound squat and two injuries after only playing one year. He can’t hold up.”

“Does (Michigan WR) Jason Avant get drafted on the first day? I put him in the fourth round. He can’t run. A lot of receivers are going to get drafted higher than they should. This is the worst receiving class I have seen since I have begun evaluating.”

“(Minnesota RB Laurence) Maroney is a tight, erect runner. He’s not a creator. There has to be a lane there for him to clear the line. He is a system guy. And he has an odd personality. He does not know when to shut up.”

“(Ohio State CB) Ashton Youboty is very young in his thinking. He should have stayed in school. He looks terrible on tape sometimes. He’s not consistent at all.”

“(Notre Dame TE) Anthony Fasano is a lot like (Steelers 2005 first-rounder) Heath Miller was last year. He’s not as good of an athlete, but he can help your team in a lot of the same ways.”

“(Western Michigan TE) Tony Scheffler reminds me a lot of (Bengals third-rounder) Aaron Schobel. (Scheffler) runs routes like he has a rod shoved up his ass. When you watch him on tape, he looks like a guy you see in black and white cut-ups, like he came out of the 1930s. He’s not fluid at all. I'd be surprised if he went on the first day, but he could. Anything is possible with the group of guys making decisions in this league.”

“I talked to a coach the other day who had (Michigan State DT) Domata Peko graded as a first-day talent. And I couldn’t correct him, but I hope they take him there. That just means another good player will be there for us. (Peko) is a one-year starter from junior college. Those are not the guys I want to bet on coming around.”

“Vince Young has put the brakes on his slide. It’s amazing how all of these evaluations come full circle. No football has been played since January, and what you thought he was then, he still is now. I think he is still more of a thrower than a passer. He’s so big. He drops 11 yards on seven steps. His presence is so intimidating.”

“(Penn State DE) Tamba Hali cannot find the ball. He is very overrated, and when you combine the history of Penn State defensive ends — Courtney Brown, Michael Haynes — I wouldn't touch him. More mistakes are made on players at that school than any because of the way the head coach (Joe Paterno) treats scouts. Call me shortsighted, but I have never drafted one from that school, and it will take a lot of convincing before I do.”

“I like (Miami, Fla.) OT Eric Winston better than (USC OT) Winston Justice. (Winston) is a good technician with solid fundamentals.”

“(Georgia TE) Leonard Pope is a 50-50 catcher with marginal concentration. He has way too many drops. With the amount of time tight ends have to catch in traffic in the pros, I don’t want him on my team. He can’t get in and out of routes.”

“I think a lot of teams will get spooked out by Ernie Sims’ concussions. I love the way he strikes, but I don't know how long he can hold up with the way he hits. He's an assassin."

“(Boston College DE) Mathias Kiwanuka cannot transfer his speed into power. He has no power. He has few special qualities. He's manufactured. You don’t want to know where I graded him. I have him in the third round.”

“(LSU OT) Andrew Whitworth will be overdrafted like all those big, long-armed maulers are. He can’t pull and change directions well enough to help us. He cannot stop a speed charge. He’s not explosive. He has no upside. He hasn’t changed since his freshman year except getting stronger. He has no flexibility. He’s a straight-line mauler with no lateral quickness. But someone will overdraft him because he’s an overachiever.”

“(Virginia LB) Kai Parham is a dinosaur. He will never be successful in the National Football League. He would have been really good as an inside ’backer in the 3-4 back in the early ’80s.â €

[Partial]

Boy, PFW really likes to tear some players apart. Good articles Harv

[Tarlam!]

Boy, PFW really likes to tear some players apart. Good articles Harv

Well, actually, those comments weren't from PFW, they were quotes that had been gathered by scouts.

I gotta believe there's alot of manouvering going on in all this, though...

[Rastak]

Thanks Harvey, a very good read.

[billy_oliver880]

“(Minnesota RB Laurence) Maroney is a tight, erect runner. He’s not a creator. There has to be a lane there for him to clear the line. He is a system guy. And he has an odd personality. He does not know when to shut up.”

Wow thats almost glowing. They are knocking a guy cause he likes talking? WTF?

[HarveyWallbangers]

Fox's Draft Value Board:
http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5449026

[Rastak]

“(Minnesota RB Laurence) Maroney is a tight, erect runner. He’s not a creator. There has to be a lane there for him to clear the line. He is a system guy. And he has an odd personality. He does not know when to shut up.”

Wow thats almost glowing. They are knocking a guy cause he likes talking? WTF?

Yea, I didn't get that...when he walked on campus Marion Barber III didn't get along with him at all...kind of enemies actually...by the time Barber left for the NFL they were good friends. I guess he's pretty brash and makes a bad first impression. Here's a great story I heard Gopher coach Mason tell....

He's recruiting Maroney and takes him to Murry's Steakhouse....kind of expensive place....he orders them both a steak...Maroney says, didn't they have a burger on the menu? Mason calls over the waiter and says "could you throw his steak on a bun please"....after they eat Mason asks him how the food was....get this, Lawrence Maroney says "Not exactly McDonalds but it'll do". I guess it's all in what your used to.....McDonalds...sheesh....

[billy_oliver880]

“(Minnesota RB Laurence) Maroney is a tight, erect runner. He’s not a creator. There has to be a lane there for him to clear the line. He is a system guy. And he has an odd personality. He does not know when to shut up.”

Wow thats almost glowing. They are knocking a guy cause he likes talking? WTF?

Yea, I didn't get that...when he walked on campus Marion Barber III didn't get along with him at all...kind of enemies actually...by the time Barber left for the NFL they were good friends. I guess he's pretty brash and makes a bad first impression. Here's a great story I heard Gopher coach Mason tell....

He's recruiting Maroney and takes him to Murry's Steakhouse....kind of expensive place....he orders them both a steak...Maroney says, didn't they have a burger on the menu? Mason calls over the waiter and says "could you throw his steak on a bun please"....after they eat Mason asks him how the food was....get this, Lawrence Maroney says "Not exactly McDonalds but it'll do". I guess it's all in what your used to.....McDonalds...sheesh....

So what your telling me is he didn't like Murry's? :lol: :lol: So what everyone can think of someone they met or work with that they got a bad first impression of because the were brash. That doesn't mean that they wouldn't become a friend of yours.

[MJZiggy]

It also doesn't mean they can't play football. Unless he has too many of those quarter pounders!

[billy_oliver880]

It also doesn't mean they can't play football. Unless he has too many of those quarter pounders!

Haha ya it don't matter if hes not personable...just run with the damn rock dude.

[HarveyWallbangers]

The new glamour position
Infusion of talent has made drafting TEs a priority
SI.com

Top billing and the lion's share of the hype in the NFL's 2006 draft class have unsurprisingly gone to the quarterbacks and running backs, and nobody's begrudging Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush and Vince Young their time in the spotlight this spring.

But if you've been paying attention to league trends in the past decade or so, it shouldn't be an unforeseen development if it's this year's ridiculously deep tight end crop that makes the biggest rookie-season impact.

Everywhere you look in the NFL these days there are athletic, playmaking tight ends rolling up gaudy pass-catching totals and changing the way people utilize -- and defense -- the onetime hybrid position. Has there ever been a better time to be young and a tight end in pro football?

Heath Miller, Chris Cooley, Antonio Gates, Jeremy Shockey, Jerramy Stevens, Todd Heap, Dallas Clark, Randy McMichael, L.J. Smith, Ben Troupe, Jason Witten, Alge Crumpler and Erron Kinney all have entered the NFL since 2000, continuing the transformation -- seemingly begun by Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez as a rookie in 1997 -- of tight end into a featured skill position. And that's without factoring Cleveland's Kellen Winslow Jr. -- the sixth overall pick in 2004 -- into the mix, given that his first two NFL seasons were all but wiped out by injury.

And from the looks of it, there's a new infusion of tight end talent on the way this year, with the position projected to get called as many as four times in the top 40. That contingent undoubtedly will be led by Maryland's freakishly gifted Vernon Davis, who could be the first tight end drafted in the top five since Denver took Riley Odoms fifth overall in 1972.

"I feel good about being labeled the new breed of tight end,'' said Davis, who wowed scouts at the Indianapolis combine with a 4.38 time in the 40-yard dash, despite weighing in at a sculpted 254 pounds. "That's what it is, when you've got a guy who can do more than catch the ball, getting extra yardage after catching the ball and making guys miss. If you've got a tight end who can make moves like a wide receiver, when there is a linebacker on you, that's kind of a mismatch.''

Those kind of mismatches are what NFL offensive coordinators crave, and it's why tight end prospects such as Georgia's Leonard Pope, UCLA's Marcedes Lewis, USC's Dominique Byrd, Notre Dame's Anthony Fasano and Colorado's Joe Klopfenstein all are expected to be first-day picks, with all but Klopfenstein likely to go in the draft's top 50 slots.

"Nowadays it's a very needed position,'' Fasano said. "I think a lot of teams are using multiple-tight-end sets. I think teams are looking for a tight end like me that can go every play and be an all-around player.''

What teams are looking for is the next Antonio Gates, the undrafted former collegiate basketball player who has exploded into a playmaking force the past two seasons in San Diego. Gates' 89 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns led all NFL tight ends last season, but all told, 12 tight ends had at least 55 receptions, and seven of those totaled better than 750 receiving yards with five touchdowns or more.

Some believe Davis could quickly meet the new standard by which NFL tight ends are measured. That group might even include the former Terrapin himself.

"I think Antonio Gates is a good player," Davis said at the combine. "He's someone I have watched throughout my college career, and I like the way he plays. But there are some things, when I look at the guy, that he does a little better than myself, and things I do better than him as far as speed and things like that.''

Pope is the latest model in an increasingly long line of big, talented Georgia tight ends to hit the NFL. Both New England's Benjamin Watson (first round, 32nd overall in 2004) and Miami's McMichael (fourth round, 2002) were Bulldogs, and the 6-7, 258-pound Pope has leaned on both of them for a glimpse into what he can expect in the NFL.

"When you look at players like Ben and Randy and Gonzalez and Gates and Crumpler, those guys caught a lot of passes [last] year,'' said Pope, who worked out during the pre-combine phase with both Davis and Lewis. "But there are a lot of great tight ends coming out this year, too.''

February's Seattle-Pittsburgh Super Bowl was a showcase game of sorts for the importance NFL personnel men now put on the tight end position, in that it featured a pair of first-round picks in Stevens (28th overall in 2002) and Miller (30th in 2005). And what may have been the play of the 2005 postseason was turned in by Watson in New England's divisional-round loss at Denver, when he memorably sprinted the length of the field to run Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey down from behind on Bailey's 100-yard interception return.

"I'm a Georgia guy,'' Watson quipped. "We can run.''

NFL tight ends circa 2006 all seem to be able to run, and jump, and elude coverage in ways that once weren't asked of the position or even dreamed of. Depending on the team, being adept at blocking is no longer a requisite skill, although some clubs, like the Patriots (with first-round picks Daniel Graham and Watson), still demand their tight ends throw a shoulder into the less-celebrated side of their assignments.

Like Gates, Gonzalez and Detroit's Marcus Pollard, Lewis and Pope both have basketball in their background. Height seems to be the common denominator among this year's tight end prospects, with Pope measuring 6-7, Lewis 6-6, Klopfenstein 6-5 and Fasano 6-4. Davis and Byrd are the smallest of group at 6-3 and 6-2, respectively.

"Because of my size, I can outjump most of my defenders and make plays out there,'' Pope said. "The average linebacker is about 6-1 or something like that. If I'm 6-7 and I'm running down the field and it's a one-on-one, I'm going to make the play because of my height.''

Lewis, who won the John Mackey Award as the nation's best collegiate tight end last season, likens his game to a cross between Gates and Gonzalez. Which is not bad company if you can back up such a boast.

"It's just because of our background in basketball,'' Lewis said. "I'm able to position myself in the air to catch balls that other tight ends maybe couldn't. I'm long and I can run. I'm pretty athletic.''

You darn well have to be to make it as an NFL tight end these days. Only premier athletes need apply. We might be talking about the quarterbacks and running backs first and foremost in April's pre-draft days, but come the regular season, the NFL's new breed of tight ends will demand our attention.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Ohio State is the class of the draft
Dan Pompei, SportingNews.com

Reggie Bush. Matt Leinart. Winston Justice. Taitusi Lutui. LenDale White. Darnell Bing. Dominique Byrd. Fred Matua. Frostee Rucker. Scott Ware.

Southern California, the school from the city of stars, will illuminate the draft.

Bush and Leinart are expected to be among the top four overall selections. Justice could be a top 10 pick. USC could produce as many as six first-round picks, but it more likely will have four. One general manager says he expects every starter for the 2005 Trojans offense to play in the NFL.

So is the USC class of 2006 the best draft class from a school ever? It's good but not that good. In fact, it might not even be the best this year. "Some of these players are overhyped because they played at USC," one AFC scouting director says. "In some ways, the Ohio State class might be better this year. It's a group with a lot less baggage."

Justice has had some scrapes with the law. White has dropped on most draft boards because of concerns about his personality, plus he can't or won't run a 40 because of a hamstring problem. Byrd's dedication has been questioned. Lutui has had weight problems.

The Ohio State class is much cleaner by comparison. The Buckeyes' headliners are linebackers A.J. Hawk and Bobby Carpenter, wide receiver Santonio Holmes, cornerback Ashton Youboty and offensive linemen Nick Mangold and Rob Sims. All but Sims have a chance of going in Round 1.

The best ever? Probably the Miami class of 2004, with six first-rounders: Sean Taylor, Kellen Winslow, Jonathan Vilma, D.J. Williams, Vernon Carey and Vince Wilfork. You also could make a case for the Hurricanes' 2002 class, which included five first-rounders -- Bryant McKinnie, Jeremy Shockey, Phillip Buchanon, Ed Reed and Mike Rumph -- as well as Clinton Portis in the second round.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I think this guy would be a great fit for the Packers.

Greg Eslinger

Positives: Has a solidly built frame with room to add at least another 15 pounds of bulk with no loss of quickness...Has good upper body thickness, good bubble...Shows very good balance and flexibility...Keeps his head on a swivel and is very alert to stunts and games...Learns football well and does a very good job of making calls and setting the protection for the line...Passionate about football and is a tough and competitive athlete who plays with a nasty streak...Has good strength and explosive hands to lock on and sustain...Has the sudden burst off the snap to establish leverage and position...Stays square in his base and has good lateral movement...Stays centered with his balance and generates good upper body power to pop and shock defenders...Has the athletic agility to unlock his hips and explode through blocks with good lower body drive...Consistently stays on his feet and is rarely on the ground...Not massive or a road grader, but gets movement through good knee bend and leg drive...Has good arm extension into his blocks and uses his hands well...Solid pass protector with quick feet and good change of agility to adjust, and also shows good lateral recovery ability...Very alert and quick to react, anticipating the defender's moves, and works well with his guards to handle switches...Has good right-hand snap ability for the shotgun.

Negatives: Needs to add lower body bulk to improve his anchor at the point of attack... Does a good job of keeping his pad level down at the line of scrimmage, but gets narrow in his base when working through the second level...Good position-type blocker, but lacks the bulk to create a new line of scrimmage for the ground game.

Eslinger is an aggressive player who has good quickness and strength for the position, along with valid football instincts. He shows loose hips and above average knee bend to explode off the snap and the hand punch to shock defenders on the rise. He is very effective at gaining leverage and positioning defenders when he stays low in his pads.

In the running game, he has good quickness off the ball and the strength to create some movement. He will lock on and run his feet and shows good balance and agility to adjust and play on his feet. In the second level, he demonstrates good effort and will look to lock on and make the block, but needs to keep his base wider.

Eslinger is athletic enough to pull and get out in front of the backs. He is quick to gain position and has the body control to sustain. Even when facing size mismatches vs. more massive nose guards, Eslinger is capable of walling off his man because of his ability to take good angles. He is a very effective mover in space, doing a very good job of striking his target on pulls and traps.

In the passing game, Eslinger has the functional strength and anchor to handle a bull rush and looks to lock out and control. He has the feet to mirror, slide and adjust to movement. He does a good job of using his hands to create separation and has surprising power, along with good feet, and he plays aggressive. He can shotgun snap and is quick to get his hands on a defender.

Eslinger has been favorably compared to Denver's Tom Nalen, but he has more upper body power and foot agility. He has a way of overcoming mismatches and is best served in a zone-blocking scheme. His ability to take good angles on the pull makes him a very effective trap-blocker. Few centers display his range and pass protection skills, making him the most sound technician at his position in this draft.

[Partial]

10 bucks says either us or the texans take him in the 4th.

[billy_oliver880]

10 bucks says either us or the texans take him in the 4th.

Is he going to last that long?

[HarveyWallbangers]

Pat Kirwan, NFL.com Senior Analyst

Reggie Bush, RB, USC: Why a quick segment on the top pick in the NFL draft? Because he carries himself as a very humble young man that doesn't assume he's the top football player in America. I have talked with Bush many times and there are two things that jump out at me the most: his total focus to doing things the right way all day every day, and how much NFL owners who meet him are going to feel comfortable paying him a ton of money because he is a safe pick -- and a man with integrity.

Davin Joseph, G, Oklahoma: Talking with Joseph was like talking to an NFL line coach. He's played against the best, remembers everything about every opponent he faced in his four years at Oklahoma, and has an opinion about all of them. Successful NFL offensive linemen usually are some of the brightest guys on a team and Joseph will fit right into that mold. He recalled little subtleties about Oregon's Haloti Ngata from his junior year, stunts that former USC defensive tackle Shaun Cody used in the Orange Bowl two seasons ago, and what his blocking plan would be when he faces Michigan's Gabe Watson again. Any team who interviewed Joseph walked away knowing he was a sure bet to have a long NFL career.

Bobby Carpenter, LB, Ohio State: The son of New York Giants running back Rob Carpenter leans on his dad for advice and it has paid nice dividends so far in his career. I interviewed Bobby Carpenter for close to half an hour, and when I was finished I felt the same way as I did after getting to know Lofa Tatupu. Tatupu is the son of a former NFL player and it was no surprise he quickly became the leader of the Seahawks defense. He knew about pro football from a very young age and so does Carpenter. I left my time with Carpenter thinking he's got as good a chance to be a middle linebacker and lead a defense as Tatupu did coming out of college.

Owen Daniels, TE, Wisconsin: I ran into Daniels down on a beach in Florida. He was sitting with my brother, a high school coach in Illinois, and they were talking ball. Daniels is a former quarterback now finishing up a decent career as a 254-pound move tight end for Wisconsin. Talk about smart and capable of understanding option routes against coverages, I'll put Daniels' FBI (football intelligence) up against anyone in this draft. He will fit into an NFL team like Chris Cooley fits in Washington.

[Deputy Nutz]

In later rounds, where drafts are won and lost, keep an eye on Julian Jenkins. He is a defensive end out of Stanford. His measurables are 6-4, 275 pounds, and he ran a 5.00 forty.

He isn't a fabulous athlete, but he is just a good football player that is not afraid to take on blockers and hold the point of attack. He has the strength and ability to bull rush, but you really aren't going to find the quick burst up field needed in a speed rusher. He uses his hands well to defeat blockers and to push the offensive tackle back into the pocket. He is a smart football player, especially in technique, but he will have mental laspes in tackling at times, isn't extrememly aggressive towards ball carriers.

If a team is looking for a an End that has a sparkling attitude, and can play stout against the run, as well as the pass with good instincts, he might be one that slips through the cracks and will be a draft day sleeper.

[billy_oliver880]

In later rounds, where drafts are won and lost, keep an eye on Julian Jenkins. He is a defensive end out of Stanford. His measurables are 6-4, 275 pounds, and he ran a 5.00 forty.

He isn't a fabulous athlete, but he is just a good football player that is not afraid to take on blockers and hold the point of attack. He has the strength and ability to bull rush, but you really aren't going to find the quick burst up field needed in a speed rusher. He uses his hands well to defeat blockers and to push the offensive tackle back into the pocket. He is a smart football player, especially in technique, but he will have mental laspes in tackling at times, isn't extrememly aggressive towards ball carriers.

If a team is looking for a an End that has a sparkling attitude, and can play stout against the run, as well as the pass with good instincts, he might be one that slips through the cracks and will be a draft day sleeper.

So they are saying that this guy is the type that will work his butt off play in and play out? I say lets get him.

[Deputy Nutz]

I think we all can be in agreement that if the Packers had more guys like Aaron Kampman this team would be alot better. A player that might draw comparison to Kampman is Mike Kudla out of Ohio St. 6-2 260 pounds that is packed full of muscle Kudla is shooting up some draft boards, and slipping on others. Kudla prides himself on superior conditioning and strength, but also has the ability to get to the passer 9.5 times during his senior year.

Kudla will be able to stick in the NFL due to his all out, warrior type mentality. His athletic ability is only average, but makes up for it with a superior work ethic. He will be the type of kid that will burn the midnight oil breaking down game film.

Unfortunately for Kudla is that he is still only 6-2 260 pounds, he has added as much weight as possible at this stage and might not get any bigger. Bigger offensive tackles can get their hands on him and drive him off the ball if his instincts fail him. He will also allow blockers to get into his legs and cut block him, which will make for a short career if he doesn't learn to protect himself.

Kudla needs to improve his pass rushing moves and better his technique at turing the corner on offensive linemen.

The bottom line on Kudla is that he has the spirit and work ethic to stick in the NFL, but he needs to better his skills and technique to conquer his lack of height and weight if he wants to be a starter.

[Deputy Nutz]

We all like steals in the draft and this one might be the best of 2006 for a team that has a good defensive back coach and time to build a player. Cornerback Gerrick McPherson out of Maryland has all the speed you need for a corner and is one of the faster players in the 2006 draft with his 4.40 speed.

McPherson will stick his nose in the pile, and isn't afraid of going after a reciever or breaking up a pass. He has the quick and explosive speed to close in a hurry on passes in front of him. He has the speed to turn his hips and run step for step with any reciever.

McPherson will flash the ability to be a good corner, but it is just a flash at this point. His technique is well flawed and his skill set is still very raw. when he turns his back to run with recievers his instincts are lost. He doesn't feel or sense the ball coming. Stated above, he has the athletic ability to run with any reciever, but just doesn't have the skills to stop the catch.

McPherson could easily have the same problems that Ahmad Carroll has, and his instincts might never get any better, but his athletic ability is worth a second day flyer on.

[Deputy Nutz]

One more cornerback/returner to keep an eye on during draft day is Charles Gordon from Kansas. Gordon who decided to come out after his junior year, ran an unbelievable slow forty at 4.68, but scouts agree that he plays faster than his miserable forty time would indicate.

Gordon who was a freshman all-american in 2003 as a wide reciever, was then moved to corner as a sophomore and then in 2005 he played mostly wide receiver for the J-hawks. He was an all-american as a returner. Gordon has the god given ability, but he has been moved around so many times in his college career that he hasn't solidified any technique whats so ever. Gordon will provide little in terms of defensive help but my contribute as a return specialist until he can develop as a corner. His footwork can be very spotty at times and his back pedal is too upright at this point.

The bottom line with Gordon is that he is willing to do whatever is asked of him, he will come up and tackle, and he his dangerous in the open field when the ball is in his hands, which are very good. Here is a football player who hasn't had the opportunity to learn a position.

I would expect a team to use a 6th round pick on Charles Gordon.

[Deputy Nutz]

I don't know if you can call him a sleeper anymore, but the Journal had a nice write up about Chris Chester from Oklahoma who could either play Guard or Center in the NFL. I think they had him a little to high predicting that he would go in the second round.

Chester's real claim to fame is that he was a tight end up until last year, where he switched to offensive guard for the 2005 season. Chester has looked good on film and had a lot of scouts writing his name down even prior to the combine where he happened to run a 4,88 forty weighing 300 pounds.

The truth is, Chester is still a work in progress, and he is athletic enough to play guard at a superior level but he needs to get stronger, and bigger. His technique will need to get better if he would fit into a zone system.

If a team is looking for a starting center or guard in 2006, he is most likely not your selection, but if you want a project that could develop into a pro-bowl guard in 4 or 5 years, he most certainly is worth the time and effort.

[Deputy Nutz]

If the Packers are looking for a big pass catching reciever, then they should try and take a closer look in say the third or fourth round at Hank Baskett from New Mexico.

Basket who weighs over 220 pounds and stands close to 6-3, is one of the more underrated reciever prospects in this year's draft, mostly because he doesn't have elite speed.

Basket could easily be a teams third wide out and possesion reciever in 2006. He has the ability to get in and out of breaks and get seperation in the short and intermidiate routes. He is a good route runner, and has solid hands. His size makes him a threat in the red zone, and gives him the ability to gain yards after the catch. His size makes him a viable blocker.

Baskett just doesn't possess the speed to beat a corner deep, or the leaping ability to take balls out of the air at their highest point. Baskett also doesn't play as agressive as his size would indicate. He needs to learn how to use his body, and hopefully he will become a tad bit more aggressive at the next level.

[Deputy Nutz]

One of the more athletic defensive tackles that could be had later in the draft, maybe even as low as the 5th round but I wouldn't be suprised if some team takes the 6-3 305 pound Titus Adams Dt, from Nebraska.

Adams is extremely athletic and can make plays from sideline to sideline when he wants to. The biggest knock on Adams is that he turns it on and off when he wants to. He does not keep himself in tip top shape, and his play is inconsistent because of it. He will dominate the first couple of series and then tire out and be nonexistent for long stretches.

If Adams is on his game he is almost unblockable at times, and can be one of the best run stuffers in this draft, and it is that ability that teams will drool over GMs will be itching to pull the trigger on this run stuffer, but most will wait. The team that selects him will have a high boom bust rate, but could be the steal of the draft if he could produce on par with his athletic ability.

Adams can use a bull rush early in games and get some results in colapsing the pocket around the quarterback. Adams relies mostly on his athletic ability to get after the QB. Adams would be more productive if he learned and relied on technique rather than just his athletism.

[Partial]

Nuts, thats awesome. Keep it coming.

[Joemailman]

Rob Smith
Height: 6-2 5/8 | Weight: 311 | 40-Time: 5.31

Official Bio

Strengths:
An outstanding technician with great footwork...Hails from a good program...Good weight room strength and it translates to the field...Finishes his blocks and really plays with a nasty demeanor...Smart and a hard worker with good intangibles.

Weaknesses:
Does not have the size and bulk that you'd prefer...Does not get much of a push...Isn't very stout at the point...Has some durability concerns...Below average speed, quickness and athleticism...Only started two years at the college level.

Notes:
Underclassmen who came out early because his position coach moved on...Was a top recruit coming out of high school...The Vols have a strong recent history of producing pro offensive linemen and that in and of itself will get him a look late.




This could be one of those late round steals the Packers are noted for.

[Deputy Nutz]

Who wants another Nick Collins? Ok, that might be a stretch for this small school sleeper, but seems to be a fad in the NFL draft in taking small school defensive backs, and having them turn out to be solid contributors if not starters in their rookie contracts. Well here is another one for you, Antoine Bethea from Howard University. This small school safety has been timed in the low 4.4s in the forty and as low as 4.39. Bethea is about 5-11 and 190 pounds.

Bethea is a pure athlete playing in the defensive backfield, that has the ability and knack for coming up in run support and smacking the running back in the face. When Bethea trusts his instincts he can wreak havoc all over the field playing the run and the pass from sideline to sideline. He has the speed and hips to play in man to man coverage, and when his head is right he can play the deep pass extremely well for a small school player.

Bethea is a great athlete, but he might not have the elite size at safety and that is going to hurt him as much as anything come draft day. If Bethea can keep his weight at our around 200 pound plus, then he will have a legitimate shot at starting in the NFL. But if reports are true that he was playing in 2005 at 175 pounds, then he is going to have problems even making a roster. Like all smaller school kids, Bethea needs to refine his technique and not rely so much on his athletic ability. Bethea needs to improve his skills both in the passing game, and controlling his aggressive nature when making tackles. At times he is simply to out of control and will miss tackles.

The bottom line is that some team will fall in love with Bethea and take him early on the second day. Bethea has a chance to be a starter in this league if he is able to gain and keep weight on. His ability to control a game at his safety spot will be hard to ignore come early Sunday.

[Deputy Nutz]

I must really be in love with the Ohio St defense, because he is another 2nd day prospect that played for the Buckeyes. Nate Salley brings to the table almost a complete resume for a safety in the NFL. Salley is big at 6-3 and 215 pounds, but his size does have a draw back, he doesn't have the speed of the new look safeties in the NFL.

Salley may not have the speed but he is a smart football player with quick feet. Salley may not be able to run with NFL caliber WRs, but he can run step for step with tight ends, and he has the ability to come up and stick a running back in the flat.

Salley may have to come off the field in a teams nickle and dime package. He just doesn't have the speed to run with recievers, and he might never be able to get over the top in zone coverage on a consistent basis. Salley is a run support safety and would do well to play with a team that still brings and 8th man in the box. Salley likes the big hit, and that does lead to missed tackles. Salley needs to keep his focus and make reads instead of just guessing. Salley would benefit from spending more time in the film room.

Salley was a defensive leader for the Buckeyes which is saying something when you look at who else was on that team. Salley has had a remarkable college career, and can be a steal in later rounds of this draft.

[MJZiggy]

Anybody know anything about DE Brent Hawkins out of Ill State? TT just had an interview with him.

[Deputy Nutz]

Brent Hawkins, 6-2, 242 pounds

Still very raw and way to small to play defensive end in the NFL. He will most likely need to switch positions to succeed in the NFL. Otherwise he was a great edge rusher in college and logged 27.5 tackles for a loss and 16 sacks in 2005. Late round selection, most likely he is a free agent type, but his numbers can't be ignored. Transfer from Purdue where he was an academic all big ten player in 2002 as a true freshman

[Deputy Nutz]

For teams that need a blocker that brings a little bit more finesse and quickness, guard Issac Sowells from Indiana might fit that bill. Listed at 6-3 and 330 pounds, Sowell played on the outside in college at left tackle but will most likely end up moving to guard due to his lack of skill in space.

Sowells is a good athlete with quick feet. He has the ability to get into a defensive tackle, and then work up to the next level. He can also pull and work up to the next level. He has natural strength to hold at the point of attack, and hold up to the inside bull rush from defensive tackles. He has good insticts and awarness during pass protection, which helps adjusting to shifts and stunts from the defensive line.

Sowell is a good athlete but does have trouble adjusting his blocks in the open field. His technique will suffer at times and it hinders his overall play. He needs to keep his feet under him and moving during blocks. He needs to bend more at the knees instead of at the waist.

If Sowells can work at fine tuning his techique and remaining consistent, he might be considered a future starter for some team. Sowells is going to stick in the NFL mostly because of his versatility at playing either tackle or guard. At the very least he will be a valuable backup for several years.