draft thoughts 3/12

[ND72]

So even though I'm still in the sectional round of the 2009 boys basketball tournament, I'm starting to get draft fever. So I'm only going to touch a few things I've been reading...

Malcom Jenkins....Not buying it. Not that I don't like him, I just think there are better players at #9 than him. Teddy has proven me wrong (a lot) before, but I don't see him taking a DB in round 1.

B.J. Raji....The more I think or read on him, the more I like the pick. DT's scare me round 1 unless he is a lock sure thing, but everytime I see a high DT, all I think of is Big Daddy Wilkinson.

Brian Orakpo....Not going to lie, this is the guy I really like. I think he is high 1st round talent, but still questionable, especially switching to a 3-4 guy instead of the 4-3. Brian is my guy though.

Aaron Maybin....Also lik ehim as well, but not real sold on him. I think he brings just as much to the table as Orakpo, I just think Orakpo is a better prospect.

[Partial]

Orakpo or Raji look decent. I really don't care for Raji a great deal because he seems lazy and dumb, but at some point they need another body on the DL that is capable of being plugged in if an injury occurs.

Ideally, we had some depth through FA and add OSackPo. He will be an absolute monster when they send him after the passer play after play.

[mission]

Orakpo or Raji look decent. I really don't care for Raji a great deal because he seems lazy and dumb, but at some point they need another body on the DL that is capable of being plugged in if an injury occurs.

Ideally, we had some depth through FA and add OSackPo. He will be an absolute monster when they send him after the passer play after play.

What do you mean he *seems* lazy and dumb? Because he has a "dumb face" ? :P

[sheepshead]

Orakpo or Raji look decent. I really don't care for Raji a great deal because he seems lazy and dumb, but at some point they need another body on the DL that is capable of being plugged in if an injury occurs.

Ideally, we had some depth through FA and add OSackPo. He will be an absolute monster when they send him after the passer play after play.

Yes, how often have you seen these guys play?

[Partial]

Lazy and dumb: He was academically ineliglbe for a year in school. Not good. These guys are given every opportunity to pass by merely having a brain in the crain with all the "tutors", aka homework doers and test takers, they're given.

You've got to love his size and strength though. I don't like how he guaranteed Mayock that he'd run a certain time in an interview and then didn't hit it, though. Don't guarantee if you can't back it up.

Seen Orakpo play several times. Seen plenty of clips on the youtube as well. He's a beast. Huge, strong as an Ox, ideal size, plenty of production, etc. He could easily be a Sean Merriman when he doesn't have to worry about the run. I absolutely love his pass rush potential.

[Fritz]

Okay, I was livid when TT drafted Nick Collins in 2005. "WHO THE F___ IS THAT??" I yelled at La Guardia airport. Luckily, since it was New York, no one paid any attention to me...

So I don't know jack. I read about some guys, and I like 'em. Sometimes they're good (I liked Steve Hutchinson) and sometime they suck (that would be Odell Thurman).

This year, I like BJ Raji. Just cuz they need a big body in the middle. And I like that Jackson guy from LSU just cuz people have said he's the best 3-4 end available.

But that's not much expertise on my part. So I trust in TT.

[Freak Out]

I was thinking the same thing about most of TT's picks...but I am far from a draft expert. Is there another Barry Sanders or Randy Moss out there? Reggie White or LT? I sure as hell haven't seen them (don't really watch anything out of the PAC 10) but TT might have.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Lazy and dumb: He was academically ineliglbe for a year in school. Not good. These guys are given every opportunity to pass by merely having a brain in the crain with all the "tutors", aka homework doers and test takers, they're given.

Well, judging from your posts..you are lazy and dumb.

Raji wasn't academically ineligible because of poor grades, etc. he was ineligible because of a technicality. The dean of his school told him that he needed two classes in the summer to be eligible...when in fact he needed 3.

You are given every opportunity to read, research and actually show some thought process...yet, you continually disappoint.

[Lurker64]

Raji wasn't academically ineligible because of poor grades, etc. he was ineligible because of a technicality. The dean of his school told him that he needed two classes in the summer to be eligible...when in fact he needed 3.

Not only that, but this went unnoticed until about 4 days before the season started, when a staffer noticed the oversight and was legally bound to report it. With only a few days before the season, it was impossible for Raji to make up the class that he would have needed.

If any of this is an indictment on Raji it's "not double-checking what the Dean told him", but I think that's entirely understandable.

Also, if you actually listen to him talk he certainly comes across as above average for an NFL player in terms of intelligence and articulation. Or, at the very least, much less intelligent and articulate players are going to get drafted in the first round. Compare, for example Michael Crabtree.

[cheesner]

Lazy and dumb: He was academically ineliglbe for a year in school. Not good. These guys are given every opportunity to pass by merely having a brain in the crain with all the "tutors", aka homework doers and test takers, they're given.

Well, judging from your posts..you are lazy and dumb.

Raji wasn't academically ineligible because of poor grades, etc. he was ineligible because of a technicality. The dean of his school told him that he needed two classes in the summer to be eligible...when in fact he needed 3.

You are given every opportunity to read, research and actually show some thought process...yet, you continually disappoint.

Classic!


If true, that is.

I am just too lazy to verify Tyrone's data . . .

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Raji wasn't academically ineligible because of poor grades, etc. he was ineligible because of a technicality. The dean of his school told him that he needed two classes in the summer to be eligible...when in fact he needed 3.

Not only that, but this went unnoticed until about 4 days before the season started, when a staffer noticed the oversight and was legally bound to report it. With only a few days before the season, it was impossible for Raji to make up the class that he would have needed.

If any of this is an indictment on Raji it's "not double-checking what the Dean told him", but I think that's entirely understandable.

Also, if you actually listen to him talk he certainly comes across as above average for an NFL player in terms of intelligence and articulation. Or, at the very least, much less intelligent and articulate players are going to get drafted in the first round. Compare, for example Michael Crabtree.

The fact is that Raji had problems in the fall...so, he did ok in the spring semester and then needed those 2/3 classes in the summer. If he was really not trying or stupid..he wouldn't have made it through the spring semester.

Dean: If you can't go to the dean or other academic support people and trust them..who can you? I know when i went to the dean..it was gospel.

[The Shadow]

Okay, I was livid when TT drafted Nick Collins in 2005. "WHO THE F___ IS THAT??" I yelled at La Guardia airport. Luckily, since it was New York, no one paid any attention to me...

So I don't know jack. I read about some guys, and I like 'em. Sometimes they're good (I liked Steve Hutchinson) and sometime they suck (that would be Odell Thurman).

This year, I like BJ Raji. Just cuz they need a big body in the middle. And I like that Jackson guy from LSU just cuz people have said he's the best 3-4 end available.

But that's not much expertise on my part. So I trust in TT.

That's just about the way I feel, too.

[Partial]

Raji wasn't academically ineligible because of poor grades, etc. he was ineligible because of a technicality. The dean of his school told him that he needed two classes in the summer to be eligible...when in fact he needed 3.

Not only that, but this went unnoticed until about 4 days before the season started, when a staffer noticed the oversight and was legally bound to report it. With only a few days before the season, it was impossible for Raji to make up the class that he would have needed.

If any of this is an indictment on Raji it's "not double-checking what the Dean told him", but I think that's entirely understandable.

Also, if you actually listen to him talk he certainly comes across as above average for an NFL player in terms of intelligence and articulation. Or, at the very least, much less intelligent and articulate players are going to get drafted in the first round. Compare, for example Michael Crabtree.

The fact is that Raji had problems in the fall...so, he did ok in the spring semester and then needed those 2/3 classes in the summer. If he was really not trying or stupid..he wouldn't have made it through the spring semester.

Dean: If you can't go to the dean or other academic support people and trust them..who can you? I know when i went to the dean..it was gospel.

Now wait wait wait... He still had problems with school and had to make up some classes? Since when do people have to take specific classes to be eligble?

Did he not achieve 12 credits per semester? What is the deal? Clearly the Dean is not going to say "you have to take these classes". We've all been in college and know that is not how it works.

So what is the actual story instead of posting a half-truth? Clearly the dude had problems academically and ignoring that over a technicality is really dumb.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Raji wasn't academically ineligible because of poor grades, etc. he was ineligible because of a technicality. The dean of his school told him that he needed two classes in the summer to be eligible...when in fact he needed 3.

Not only that, but this went unnoticed until about 4 days before the season started, when a staffer noticed the oversight and was legally bound to report it. With only a few days before the season, it was impossible for Raji to make up the class that he would have needed.

If any of this is an indictment on Raji it's "not double-checking what the Dean told him", but I think that's entirely understandable.

Also, if you actually listen to him talk he certainly comes across as above average for an NFL player in terms of intelligence and articulation. Or, at the very least, much less intelligent and articulate players are going to get drafted in the first round. Compare, for example Michael Crabtree.

The fact is that Raji had problems in the fall...so, he did ok in the spring semester and then needed those 2/3 classes in the summer. If he was really not trying or stupid..he wouldn't have made it through the spring semester.

Dean: If you can't go to the dean or other academic support people and trust them..who can you? I know when i went to the dean..it was gospel.

Now wait wait wait... He still had problems with school and had to make up some classes? Since when do people have to take specific classes to be eligble?

Did he not achieve 12 credits per semester? What is the deal? Clearly the Dean is not going to say "you have to take these classes". We've all been in college and know that is not how it works.

So what is the actual story instead of posting a half-truth? Clearly the dude had problems academically and ignoring that over a technicality is really dumb.

Who said anything about making up classes? Who said anything about specific classes. He need X amount of classes.

Clearly you have no idea what happened..and now are trying desparately to not look like the fool.

http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/football/articles/2008/08/19/bc_lineman_raji_is_a_study_in_determination/

A year ago, Raji thought he was focused. He learned he was wrong before the season opener against Wake Forest when coach Jeff Jagodzinski told him he was academically ineligible - after Raji's academic adviser told him he was eligible.

The problem was not grades; it was the NCAA's "satisfactory progress" rule, which requires student-athletes to maintain a reasonable pace toward graduation. Raji went into last summer thinking he needed to take two courses to meet that requirement. Actually, he needed three, and somehow that information slipped through the academic safety net BC has in place for its athletes.

"At this time last summer, everything was fine," said Raji. "It was on the Monday of the Wake Forest game that the whole thing came up and they told me potentially I might not be able to play in the game. It wasn't a GPA issue, it was a credit issue.

"During the spring semester, I had met with my learning resources adviser, and he told me, 'B.J., I'm pretty sure you need to take three courses in the summer to be eligible in the fall.' We set up another meeting to make sure, but somehow the credits were miscounted."

The anticipation of finishing his BC career on a surge that would carry him into the NFL turned into agony the day before the Wake game when Jagodzinski pulled him off the bus heading to the hotel the team stays in before home games and told him that there was indeed a problem.

"He told me that the school would appeal, but it would take some time and he wasn't sure what would happen," said Raji, who had to go to the hotel on his own and tell his parents who had come up from New Jersey that he wouldn't be playing.

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/articles/2009/01/24/determined_raji_turning_nfl_heads/?page=2

In '06, the end of the fall semester I did mess up. I didn't finish as strong as I needed to," said Raji. "That kind of put me in a bind coming into the next semester. They put me on an academic schedule, telling me that if I did everything they asked me to do, I'd be ready for the '07 season.

"In the summer I met with the dean of my school and he told me I needed to take two classes to be eligible and in reality I needed three. My coaches were furious. I've never seen them that mad before. I guess it was a blessing in disguise. It was a tough time for me."

Everything points to him not being lazy and dumb....you, on the other hand..well the evidence keeps pointing that you are.

[wist43]

Re: draft thoughts 3/12

So even though I'm still in the sectional round of the 2009 boys basketball tournament, I'm starting to get draft fever. So I'm only going to touch a few things I've been reading...

Malcom Jenkins....Not buying it. Not that I don't like him, I just think there are better players at #9 than him. Teddy has proven me wrong (a lot) before, but I don't see him taking a DB in round 1.

B.J. Raji....The more I think or read on him, the more I like the pick. DT's scare me round 1 unless he is a lock sure thing, but everytime I see a high DT, all I think of is Big Daddy Wilkinson.

Brian Orakpo....Not going to lie, this is the guy I really like. I think he is high 1st round talent, but still questionable, especially switching to a 3-4 guy instead of the 4-3. Brian is my guy though.

Aaron Maybin....Also lik ehim as well, but not real sold on him. I think he brings just as much to the table as Orakpo, I just think Orakpo is a better prospect.

Haven't looked at Maybin yet, but I agree with you on the other 3...

I proposed Orakpo at 9 as our weakside rush LB a few weeks back, and my fellow rats thru spit balls at me... lol

Orakpo certainly looks much more like an rush OLB to me than does either Kampman or Jeremy Thompson.