ESPN's new mock

[RashanGary]

As far as what Thompson does, I think he'll either stay put or move back. He could move up, but teams tend to overrated the guys high on their board so usually it's easier to find a dance partner moving back, not moving up. Thompson will do whatever's best as far as aquiring the best talent is concerned, it just so happens he's working in an enviorment that it favors moving back. It's not that he tries to move back, it just sort of happens. I would guess it's likely to happen again. Thaler and Massey had that thesis on the draft. It talked about GM's overrating their opinions and causing mistakes. What impresses me most about Thompson is that he recognizes that and works in his world of what he sees as right and not the erred consensus.

Thompson has said over and over that he's true to his board. He's talked about the dangers of desperation and that he plans to avoid taking risk out of desperation.

He'll do what he does. Next year if the roster is deeper and stronger than it is this year, I could see him being less likely to trade back and more likely to trade up but right now we have so many holes accross the board that I see no reason not to add 10 more rookies to the mix. And even if the roster was a little stronger, I think you're better off playing the odds. It's always good to raise competition, even when it's already high (and I don't think it's so high right now).

[RashanGary]

From everything I heard from the Senior Bowl, the guy struggled. The guy looks big but really sort of slow looking, methodical release, slow drops.

I heard he started slow but ESPN Insider has him as one of their top 5 offensive players. I'll dig up the artical.

As far as his drops go, he's never done them so it will probably take a year working on his fundementals just to get natural with them. I think we'd be a good place for him. He'd be able to work with a good QB coach who focuses on fundementals and he wouldn't be rushed on the field.

[RashanGary]

ESPN Insiders top 5 offense and defense at the Senior Bowl by Todd McShay



Last week, I previewed the 2008 Senior Bowl by breaking down the top five offensive and defensive prospects expected to participate. Well, that turned out to be a colossal waste of time.

First, there were the bail outs. Some like QB Matt Ryan and CB Mike Jenkins skipped Mobile on their own accord while others like QB Brian Brohm and DE/OLB Quentin Groves pulled out due to lingering injuries.

Then the rankings were also affected by players who fell victim to injury like WRs Limas Sweed and Early Doucet, TE Fred Davis, DT Kentwan Balmer and CB Leodis McKelvin. Other players -- like QB Andre Woodson -- failed to live up to expectations.

So, suddenly, a week later, the lists of the top-ranked prospects in the Senior Bowl look almost nothing like the originals.





Top five offensive players
1. Chris Williams, OT, Vanderbilt
Biggest pro: Agility.
Biggest con: Explosive power.
Draft projection: First round.


2. Sam Baker, OT, Southern California
Biggest pro: Agility.
Biggest con: Bulk/strength.
Draft projection: First round.


3. Lavelle Hawkins, WR, California
Biggest pro: Precision route-runner.
Biggest con: Bulk/strength.
Draft projection: Late-first or early-second round.


4. Chad Henne, QB, Michigan
Biggest pro: Efficiency as a pocket passer.
Biggest con: Inability to make plays outside the pocket.
Draft projection: Second round.


5. Joe Flacco, QB, Delaware
Biggest pro: Prototypical size/arm.
Biggest con: Adjustment from small-school, shotgun-heavy offense.
Draft projection: Second round.



Top five defensive players

1. Sedrick Ellis, DT, Southern California
Biggest pro: Explosive quickness.
Biggest con: Durability.
Draft projection: Top-10 pick.


2. Keith Rivers, OLB, Southern California
Biggest pro: Motor and leadership.
Biggest con: Not a playmaker in passing game.
Draft projection: Mid-to-late first round.


3. Dan Connor, ILB, Penn State
Biggest pro: Toughness, instincts and tackling.
Biggest con: Lack of ideal speed.
Draft projection: Mid-to-late first round.


4. Ali Highsmith, OLB, LSU
Biggest pro: Range versus run and in coverage.
Biggest con: Undersized.
Draft projection: Late-first round.


5. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, CB, Tennessee State
Biggest pro: Size/athleticism.
Biggest con: Run support.
Draft projection: Late-first round.

[MJZiggy]

Who cares about top 5 when we're picking in the bottom 3?

[RashanGary]

It's top 5 at the senior bowl. Maybe only 10 of those guys will go in the first round. Maybe 15 but a good number of JR's and SR's who held out will go ahead of these guys.

[Deputy Nutz]

As far as what Thompson does, I think he'll either stay put or move back. He could move up, but teams tend to overrated the guys high on their board so usually it's easier to find a dance partner moving back, not moving up. Thompson will do whatever's best as far as aquiring the best talent is concerned, it just so happens he's working in an enviorment that it favors moving back. It's not that he tries to move back, it just sort of happens. I would guess it's likely to happen again. Thaler and Massey had that thesis on the draft. It talked about GM's overrating their opinions and causing mistakes. What impresses me most about Thompson is that he recognizes that and works in his world of what he sees as right and not the erred consensus.

Thompson has said over and over that he's true to his board. He's talked about the dangers of desperation and that he plans to avoid taking risk out of desperation.

He'll do what he does. Next year if the roster is deeper and stronger than it is this year, I could see him being less likely to trade back and more likely to trade up but right now we have so many holes accross the board that I see no reason not to add 10 more rookies to the mix. And even if the roster was a little stronger, I think you're better off playing the odds. It's always good to raise competition, even when it's already high (and I don't think it's so high right now).

So many holes? I wasn't happy how the season ended but it certainly wasn't because the roster had glaring weaknesses anywhere. The team is old in certain places and like any NFL roster there is a lack of depth at certain positions, but to say this team has many holes is a bit of a stretch. I recognize your list from above, and it would be nice to address all those areas, but that is a lot wants, and actually not too many needs.

Still Thompson isn't going to change his draft stratedgy too much, he is going to get as many picks as he can stick in his pocket and make a run at getting the best players, regardless of position to make this roster better as a whole.

[RashanGary]

So many holes? I wasn't happy how the season ended but it certainly wasn't because the roster had glaring weaknesses anywhere. The team is old in certain places and like any NFL roster there is a lack of depth at certain positions, but to say this team has many holes is a bit of a stretch. I recognize your list from above, and it would be nice to address all those areas, but that is a lot wants, and actually not too many needs.
.

I hear ya. I guess what i was trying to say is that we can improve across the board at every position. It's not like we can't use a good LB, DE, DT, OL, RB, WR or QB. Do we need immediate starters? Not really. Is our roster better than a lot of teams? Probably, but you can't set your standards at just better than most. I think you want to be the best you can be and I believe playing the odds in a game of unsurity is the way to become the best.

[BallHawk]

Considering how late we are picking the 1st, I'd much rather trade down and pick up maybe an early 2nd and a mid-late 3rd. TT has proven he cant strike gold with later picks and the way this draft looks there isn't going to be a dramtic drop in talent after the 1st round.

Trade down, pick up picks and let TT do the rest.

[Tarlam!]

TT likes first rounders, I think. I think there's nothing like having a #1 Uniform in your hands....Wait... that's only for guys that are at the draft. I guess our guy will be at home waiting for the cell phone call...

OK, I'm convinced. Let's trade down, or up!

BTW, how come we pick at 30? The boys had a better record than us, didn't they??

[Zool]

TT likes first rounders, I think. I think there's nothing like having a #1 Uniform in your hands....Wait... that's only for guys that are at the draft. I guess our guy will be at home waiting for the cell phone call...

OK, I'm convinced. Let's trade down, or up!

BTW, how come we pick at 30? The boys had a better record than us, didn't they??

They did, but they lost in the divisional round.

[Tarlam!]

My understanding was that only the SB teams were taken out of there original slots...

[Zool]

All playoff teams.

[Tarlam!]

Learn something new every day...

[woodbuck27]

I would prefer to see them get Keith Rivers if he's available, but I not going to complain about Rodgers-Cromartie either.

Where would you play another 225 pound linebacker? He is too small to play the strongside in this scheme. You almost have to be a defensive end. Poppinga is about 250.

His scouting notes concerning size, strength, playing style all make him sound just like Ernie Sims who was also 225lbs when he came out. You can increase a player's weight and size with appropriate training. Can you teach the already heavy enough player the necessary instincts to be a tackling monster that plays with an attitude, delivers sledgehammer type hits, and has a non-stop motor like Sims and Rivers seem to be? Not so easy to put all of the onus just on size, I think. Rivers is the same height as Hawk, Rivers has the room to gain weight without sacrificing much speed. Not saying he's perfect for us, just that you don't have to pidgeon hole a LB because of his college playing weight, they all beef up if they have to when they transition. A 6' 5" Urlacher started at 220 out of college as a safety, gradually put on 40 lbs in first few years. Draft talent, attitude, and instincts ahead of weight--in my opinion the scale is the easiest trait to influence.

Good post.

Things you can't coach ( easily) are a motor or foot speed, and attitude towords the proper application of aggression.

It's hard to teach a loser (the fella that just gives enough for another payday) to be a winner in a team concept. That falls under the heading PROPER Systems and Schemes and Directed Goal Orientation.

Weed and Feed based in objective analysis and no room for false pride. That's why it must be all about the fan.

It's impossible to coach God's rare gifts or size in terms of hands, arm length and height.

[Deputy Nutz]

I would prefer to see them get Keith Rivers if he's available, but I not going to complain about Rodgers-Cromartie either.

Where would you play another 225 pound linebacker? He is too small to play the strongside in this scheme. You almost have to be a defensive end. Poppinga is about 250.

His scouting notes concerning size, strength, playing style all make him sound just like Ernie Sims who was also 225lbs when he came out. You can increase a player's weight and size with appropriate training. Can you teach the already heavy enough player the necessary instincts to be a tackling monster that plays with an attitude, delivers sledgehammer type hits, and has a non-stop motor like Sims and Rivers seem to be? Not so easy to put all of the onus just on size, I think. Rivers is the same height as Hawk, Rivers has the room to gain weight without sacrificing much speed. Not saying he's perfect for us, just that you don't have to pidgeon hole a LB because of his college playing weight, they all beef up if they have to when they transition. A 6' 5" Urlacher started at 220 out of college as a safety, gradually put on 40 lbs in first few years. Draft talent, attitude, and instincts ahead of weight--in my opinion the scale is the easiest trait to influence.

Good post.

Things you can't coach ( easily) are a motor or foot speed, and attitude towords the proper application of aggression.

It's hard to teach a loser (the fella that just gives enough for another payday) to be a winner in a team concept. That falls under the heading PROPER Systems and Schemes and Directed Goal Orientation.

Weed and Feed based in objective analysis and no room for false pride. That's why it must be all about the fan.

It's impossible to coach God's rare gifts or size in terms of hands, arm length and height.

One of the most insane ramblings I have heard in a while.