Official 2008 NFL Draft thread Day 2

[HarveyWallbangers]

I thought this might go this route earlier this week. Never though Brohm would fall, so that makes it even better.

The QB guru, McCarthy, has a lot to work with.

[pbmax]

JSO had that as well, but its clear by now that he didn't sign it. And I think it may be off the table now.

Rastak - When did dumbass sign a contract? If TT was stupid enough to offer dumbte a deal he aint offering it now.

Mort said as reported by someone else here that he indeed was offered a contract.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Great pick up in the 7th. I like the guy for the west coast. doesn't have the strongest arm but can make all the throws. Thompson pretty much solidified the QB position, especially if he brings in a veteran to compete.

Thompson is following what Ron Wolf did in the early 90s to a "T". He went young with Favre, Brunnell, and BYU fella that I can't think of right now.

Ty Detmer. Kurt Warner was also a camp body one of those years when those 3 were on the team.

[digitaldean]

Great pick up in the 7th. I like the guy for the west coast. doesn't have the strongest arm but can make all the throws. Thompson pretty much solidified the QB position, especially if he brings in a veteran to compete.

Thompson is following what Ron Wolf did in the early 90s to a "T". He went young with Favre, Brunnell, and BYU fella that I can't think of right now.

Detmer = BYU fella

[Rastak]

Falcons take CB Fontenot:


Strengths: Displays smooth quick feet as well as natural knee bend with backpedal. Shows fluid hips and able to change directions smoothly. Displays adequate top-end speed and does a nice job of staying on the hip of receivers on go routes. Excels in zone coverage and displays an understanding of how offenses are trying to attack the coverage. Reads quarterbacks' eyes and breaks on the ball well. Does a solid job of mid-pointing the high-low routes in his zones and forces the QB to take the underneath route. Is an adequate tackler in the open field. Has adequate ball skills and flashes the ability to make plays in coverage. Has experience returning punts and can contribute on special teams.

Weaknesses: Lacks overall size and strength. He struggles to ward off blocks and does not give adequate production in run support. Struggles against bigger receivers as they are able to shield with bigger body and make reception. He lacks overall toughness and aggressiveness when competing for the ball. Allows too much separation coming out of cuts and needs to improve overall man coverage skills. Also his lack of strength does not allow him to get adequate jam on receivers at the line of scrimmage. Underwent shoulder surgery late in 2006 and missed 2007 spring practices as a result so durability is a concern.

Overall: Fontenot arrived at Arizona in 2003 and redshirted his first year. In his first three seasons (2004-'06), he amassed 134 tackles, one forced fumble, 18 pass breakups and four interceptions (including one returned for a touchdown) in 34 games. As a senior in 2007, he had 40 tackles, one interception and seven pass breakups. Fontenot started every game during his Wildcats career (46). He underwent shoulder surgery before the '07 season, but he missed no game reps as a result. Fontenot has played the shadow teammate CB Antoine Cason and his size puts a lower cap on his upside but he has the speed and instincts to develop into an adequate reserve at the next level. He projects as a seventh round pick as a result.

[pbmax]

The bio says he lacks elite size and might have to move around to find a passing lane. He is the same height as Favre. Seems like 74" worked OK for him, didn't it?

[Fosco33]

Exactly - he was offered but not signed a contract. You snooze with TT - you lose.

Also shows how incredibly lucky we've been w/ Brett at the helm - never had to seriously consider a QB controversy, at many times only needed one back-up which filled a spot elsewhere.

Now we have to chose 3 among these guys:
Babb, Bell, Brohm, Flynn, Nall, Rodgers..

Rodgers, Brohm, then Flynn in that order. But keep the other FAs in the wings as both Arod and the brama bull have injury histories... BTW, Brohm was given jersey #11... and odd # for a QB. Does he have to keep that?

[Rastak]

Jax takes RB Washington:


Strengths: A one-cut downhill runner with good size, quickness and power Displays very good vision. Runs under control. He is a shifty and slippery runner that finds ways to slip into small holes for a bigger back. Shows good initial burst and hits the hole hard. Runs with very good pad-level. Knows when to lower his shoulder and initiate contact. Picks up lots of yards after initial contact. In brief views as a receiver he does display soft hands. Caught the ball very naturally throughout week of combine. Gets upfield quickly and can run over smaller DB's when he gets the ball in space. When in position, he displays the size, strength and toughness to effectively pick up the blitz in pass pro.

Weaknesses: Lacks ideal top-end speed. He's a shifty runner but he doesn't display ideal stop-and-start quickness to consistently exploit the backside crease. Doesn't display much of a second-gear in the open-field. Will never be a homerun threat. Misses too many assignments in pass pro, which is evident on film. Will go the wrong way on play-action and will look confused on blitz pickup too frequently. Not very experienced as a receiver. Lacks ideal route-running skills and isn't much more than a reliable short-yardage option. Mental capacity and maturity are significant concerns after he failed to stay eligible during consecutive seasons in 2004 and 2005. Durability is an issue after finding out his knee injury in 2006, which initially was thought to be a sprain, was a MCL tear. Also missed two games with an ankle injury in 2003.

Overall: Washington played in 20 games in 2003 and 2006, rushing for 809 yards and nine touchdowns on 176 carries (4.6 average). He redshirted the 2004 season after being declared academically ineligible and remained ineligible in 2005. He had his finest season as a senior, delivering 969 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns on 195 carries (5.0 average), plus seven receptions for 59 yards (8.4 average) and two TDs. Washington missed six games in 2003 after suffering a right ankle sprain and sat out the 2007 season opener because of a right shoulder sprain. Washington's career at USC saw plenty of peaks and valleys. He comes with a good amount of baggage, including major academic problems, some durability issues and a couple trips to Pete Carroll's proverbial doghouse. There's no question those red flags will cause Washington to slip during draft weekend. But some team could get a steal in Washington as a mid-to-late round pick because he's far more skilled than most want to admit. Washington is an extremely talented pure runner with good vision, power and burst. He also catches the ball very naturally and has potential to contribute in the passing game and on kick returns in the NFL. If decides to work at it and keep out of trouble at the next level, Washington could emerge as one of the surprise contributors from the 2008 draft class.

[Rastak]

49ers take LB Grant:


Strengths: Has adequate size and is big enough to add bulk to frame. Plays with a mean streak, plays with adequate leverage and flashes the ability to hold ground at the point of contact. Works from the snap until the whistle, takes adequate pursuit angles and is a sideline-to-sideline player. Gets good depth and reads quarterback's eyes when asked to drop into zone coverage. Times blitz well, he flashes the ability to beat blockers in the backfield and has adequate closing speed. Capable of lining up at all three linebacker positions and is versatile. Blocked 12 punts in two years at the junior college level in 2005, blocked two kicks last year and can contribute on special teams. Made steady progress while at Ohio State and should only get better with added experience.

Weaknesses: Lacks ideal instincts, takes too long to locate the ball and is vulnerable to play action as well as misdirection. Doesn't deliver a violent punch and takes too long to shed blocks. Lacks elite explosiveness and isn't going to make as many tackles in the backfield as did at the collegiate level. Has a wide stance but base immediately narrows and loses balance at times. Doesn't show great burst coming out of cuts, lacks prototypical top-end speed and is going to have problems matching up in man coverage. Takes too long to open hips when forced to turn and run and lacks the second gear to recover once caught out of position. Lacks ideal ball skills and isn't a playmaker in coverage.

Overall: Grant attended and played for Community College of San Francisco in 2004 and 2005, amassing 175 tackles in two seasons and earning National Junior College Player of the Year honors in '05. He transferred to Ohio State in 2006, appearing in 12 games (including one start at strong-side linebacker) and turning in 18 tackles, a forced fumble and an interception. As a senior in 2007, he started all 13 games and had 51 tackles (9.5 for losses), five sacks, a forced fumble, an interception and five pass breakups. He was a special teams ace at both Ohio State (three blocked kicks) and CCSF (six blocks in '05 alone). Grant may never develop serviceable man-to-man cover skills but he can still bring a lot to a team. He's versatile enough to provide some depth at all three linebacker positions and he has the potential to develop into an excellent special teams' player.

[MadtownPacker]

Rastak - When did dumbass sign a contract? If TT was stupid enough to offer dumbte a deal he aint offering it now.

Mort said as reported by someone else here that he indeed was offered a contract.

I said SIGN hoe, not offered. You said he was the #2 like he was on the roster. Maybe now he can go back to minnesota so he can have a retirement boat party.

Suddenly the Pack has the best group of QB prospects in the NFC North.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Now we have to chose 3 among these guys:
Babb, Bell, Brohm, Flynn, Nall, Rodgers..

Camp bodies. No shot at making the team. Not even worth mentioning. Nall isn't on the roster, and he won't be in the future (unless somebody gets hurt).

[Rastak]

Ravens take WR Harper:


Strengths: Shields defenders from ball and is a big target with long arms. Has long strides and top-end speed is deceiving. Has the ability to eat up cushions quickly and run by defenders. Shows sound body control and tracks the deep ball extremely well. Possesses solid athleticism and uses his size along with leaping ability to make tough catches in traffic. Does a nice job of setting up defenders and sticking cuts. Elevates over smaller defenders and competes for jump balls. Shows good sideline awareness and generally does a good job of keeping feet in bounds. Flashes the ability to make the first defender miss and runs hard after the catch. Takes adequate angles to blocks, moves feet and can sustain once in position.

Weaknesses: Doesn't explode out of cuts and is going to have a harder time separating from man coverage at the NFL level. Doesn't use hands well, doesn't deliver a strong punch and struggles to get a clean release working against press coverage. Is faster than quick and is going to have a difficult time getting open deep when slowed down at the line of scrimmage. Let the ball get into frame too much and drops some passes that should catch.

Overall: In his first three seasons at Virginia Tech (2004-'06), Harper appeared in 37 games (three starts) and grabbed 42 receptions for 703 yards (16.7 average) and four touchdowns. He played all 14 games (eight starts) in 2007, he had 41 catches for 635 yards (15.5 average) and five touchdowns. For his career, he also had a 10-yard carry and two punt returns for 127 yards and a touchdown. Harper possesses the frame to add bulk and strength without losing too much speed and he has the tools and size to be effective at the next level with solid coaching and sound strength program. On the other hand, he is raw and is too easily neutralized by press coverage at this point so he projects as a seventh round pick.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Jax takes RB Washington:

Shoot. How about a little Cory Boyd.

[CaliforniaCheez]

Rastak - When did dumbass sign a contract? If TT was stupid enough to offer dumbte a deal he aint offering it now.

The interview was done for comic relief in the off season.

The Packer organization is just loved watching him:

-On his knees begging and crying for a job.

-licking boots and kissing rings.

-being videotaped saying how much he loves and adores the Green Bay Packers.



Then I'm sure they enjoyed kicking his behind out the door and telling him if he isn't off the property in 3 minutes they are calling the Sheriff. Then giggling and watching the tape of him begging and groveling again.

Oh that is priceless.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Posted by me earlier in the week.

Most think the draft is average at QB, but I think this will end up being a solid draft at QB--mainly because I'm higher on Ryan, Brohm, and Henne than most.

Ideal Packer picks for me: Assuming Henne or Brohm don't drop to late in the 2nd round, the best thing for me would be to get Josh Johnson in the 3rd round and possibly take another guy as a late round development pick.