Official 2008 NFL Draft thread Day 2

[red]

manningham to the champs

[Scott Campbell]

When do the Packers pick next?


HEY, ESPN talking to TT now!!!!!!!!!

Almost 20 picks. Probably an hour.

[Rastak]

Skins take OG Rinehart:


Strengths: Has above-average initial quickness for a guard and can get into position when technique is sound. Plays with a mean streak, delivers a violent punch and can jar defenders at the point of contact. Works from the snap until the whistle and can sustain blocks once locked on. Has adequate lower body strength and flashes the ability to drive defenders. Takes sound angles to downfield blocks and can get into position at the second level. Keeps head up and generally does a good job of sliding off combo blocks to pick up linebackers. Shows good awareness in pass protection and can adjust to line stunts and blitzes. Though bends at the waist rather than the knees, has good size and can hold ground against bull rushers. Lined up at tackle in college and is somewhat versatile. While missed three games after undergoing an appendectomy in 2004 started the last 39 games of his collegiate career and is durable.

Weaknesses: Doesn't always get hands inside the defender's frame and slides off too many blocks. Takes too many false steps and has some problems preventing penetration despite quickness as a result. Plays too high and is going to have problems driving two-gap defensive tackles off the ball. Quicker than fast and while can effectively trap is going to have problems turning the corner when asked to pull. Takes to long to get set, can struggle to slide with defenders and would likely struggle if left on an island at tackle in the NFL so should move to guard. Played at a small school and there is some concern about ability to adjust to the speed at the NFL game level.

Overall: Rinehart redshirted his first season at Northern Iowa (2003). He started the first five games of his freshman season (2004) and played as a reserve in the Panthers' final three. He played a total of 47 games (44 starts) at left tackle in his four seasons ('04-'07), starting in a consecutive 39 games to close out his career. He was named a first-team All-America selection in 2007. Rinehart missed three games in '04 after undergoing laparoscopic appendectomy. Rinehart is a small-school prospect that dominated at the Division I-AA level and has the skill set to develop into an effective starting NFL guard. However, there are still concerns about his ability to make the substantial jump to the NFL and he needs to improve his footwork as well as his hand placement so he projects as a late fourth round pick or early fifth round pick.

[texaspackerbacker]

I will never complain about a Thompson pick, but for once, he took exactly the position/exactly the guy I was hoping for.

[The Leaper]

finely's going to be unstoppable in a couple years i think

I hope so.

You whined to holy hell about Nelson, red...but his average production per GAME this year compares to Finley's seasons to this point.

76 total receptions in college, 947 yards, 5 TDs.

He certainly did not dominate consistently in college. He's got a long way to go to become an unstoppable NFL TE...although he does have some excellent physical attributes.

[Fritz]

Giants like those Michigan receivers, I guess.

The Lions' draft seems to be getting better now. Avril seems a good pick. Two defensive linemen in this round.

My guess is that Ted will now start drafting offensive and defensive linemen in round 4.

He's got all skill positions so far. Weird. Un-Tedly.

[Scott Campbell]

I will never complain about a Thompson pick, but for once, he took exactly the position/exactly the guy I was hoping for.

So what do you think of PackerRats draft coverage Tex?

[Rastak]

finely's going to be unstoppable in a couple years i think

I hope so.

You whined to holy hell about Nelson, red...but his average production per GAME this year compares to Finley's seasons to this point.

76 total receptions in college, 947 yards, 5 TDs.

He certainly did not dominate consistently in college. He's got a long way to go to become an unstoppable NFL TE...although he does have some excellent physical attributes.

Nelson pick reminds me of the Vikings Burleson pick but a bit earlier.

[Packnut]

Finley

finely's going to be unstoppable in a couple years i think

From your key-board to the NFL god's ears!


Yep, he's going to be a good one................

[Fritz]

finely's going to be unstoppable in a couple years i think

I hope so.

You whined to holy hell about Nelson, red...but his average production per GAME this year compares to Finley's seasons to this point.

76 total receptions in college, 947 yards, 5 TDs.

He certainly did not dominate consistently in college. He's got a long way to go to become an unstoppable NFL TE...although he does have some excellent physical attributes.

I think this pick's a minor gamble - you want the atheleticism and potential he has, and you hope he grows up and that McCarthy can "coach 'em up."

[Bretsky]

Wow a pick for need. Who would have thunk it? Now nobody has anything to complain about.

Well he sure isn't a blocker.

When is the last time you can think of when we had a great athlete at TE ?
I'm not sure I can think of any

[red]

finely's going to be unstoppable in a couple years i think

I hope so.

You whined to holy hell about Nelson, red...but his average production per GAME this year compares to Finley's seasons to this point.

76 total receptions in college, 947 yards, 5 TDs.

He certainly did not dominate consistently in college. He's got a long way to go to become an unstoppable NFL TE...although he does have some excellent physical attributes.

te is a need, wr is far from a need

and i only "whinned" about nelsons production becuase some said he was a proven player. i commented that one big year doesn't make a proven player

[Rastak]

Nice pick by the Bengals......Caldwell WR:


Strengths: Possesses adequate size potential and very good toughness. Displays good initial quickness. Can drive defenders off the line of scrimmage and shows the consistent ability to get open quickly. Does a solid job of finding soft spots in zone coverage. He possesses soft hands. Does a great job of adjusting to poorly thrown ball. Is able to pluck on the run and get upfield without losing much in transition. Runs hard after the catch and isn't afraid to lower his shoulder to initiate contact. He's extremely competitive and will compete for the ball in traffic. He is an aggressive receiver and stalk blocker. Gives a good effort when blocking and works to sustain. He shows good overall versatility as a receiver, including experience in the slot and split out wide, as well as on reverses. He also has experience returning kicks.

Weaknesses: Durability is a big concern due to season-ending leg injury in 2005, as well as knee and hamstring injuries in 2007. Top-end speed is good but not elite. He's quick and athletic but doesn't show good elusiveness in space. Fails to consistently make the first defender miss and doesn't shake enough tackles in the open field. He doesn't show enough creativity or explosiveness as an open-field runner. Has experience in the return game but doesn't project as an impact contributor in that facet of the NFL game.

Overall: Caldwell moved from wide receiver to quarterback as a senior in high school and led his team to a state championship. In his first four seasons at Florida (2003-'06), Caldwell appeared in 42 games (24 starts) and had 129 receptions for 1,588 yards (12.3 average) and nine touchdowns. In 2007, he had 56 catches for 761 yards (13.6 average) and seven touchdowns in 11 games (all starts). For his career, Caldwell also had 41 rushing attempts for 293 yards (7.1 average) and four TDs; two pass completions for 30 yards and a score; and 37 kickoff returns for 752 yards (20.3 average). Caldwell suffered a season-ending leg fracture in the Gators' third game of 2005 and was granted a medical redshirt. Last season he sat out two games because of a medial collateral ligament sprain in his right knee and missed much of another game because of right hamstring strain. Caldwell's brother, Reche, is a former Gator and was San Diego's second-round pick in 2002. Caldwell does not possess elite speed as a vertical route runner and he lacks ideal elusiveness as an open-field runner, which is why he's unlikely to make a huge impact in the return game. He also comes with some durability baggage. However, he knows how to get open quickly and he possesses the size, agility, hands and toughness to emerge as a very solid No. 2 or No. 3 receiver in the NFL. He projects as a second-round pick in 2008.

[GrnBay007]

I will never complain about a Thompson pick, but for once, he took exactly the position/exactly the guy I was hoping for.

So what do you think of PackerRats draft coverage Tex?

He's probably wishing PR had political threads similar to this.

[Fritz]

Wow a pick for need. Who would have thunk it? Now nobody has anything to complain about.

Well he sure isn't a blocker.

When is the last time you can think of when we had a great athlete at TE ?
I'm not sure I can think of any

David Martin?