The official 2009 DRAFT thread

[gbpackfan]

Did I call it or what!

[Packnut]

Crabtree

At some point guys ya gotta start drafting for need. May-be Crabby is special, may-be he ain't but we have a true bonafide stud in Jennings. Between Nelson and Jones, we have our #2 and 3 wideouts (hav'nt forgotten DD, just looking down the road).

[The Shadow]

I am a happy fellow.
I can't wait to see Mike Singletary rush on to the field, yank both Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree, and then drop his pants.

[Partial]

Malcome Jenkins is a hell of a pick at this point. Really really solid pick for the Saints.

Gunk, I've asked you countless times now. Answer da question.

[esoxx]

So... how many snaps a game do you expect out of this pick? I expect about 5. Awful awful awful pick.

Partial...

Raji can play anywhere on the line... assume they'll be in a four man line in a lot of passing situations - Raji will be lined up at one of the DT spots...

This is a very good pick... Raji is more than just a NT.

Brace on the other hand... he is strictly a NT... IMO, I doubt Raji has to come off the field much at all, except to get a blow.

Love this pick...

I'm not confident Raji can excel as a DE

He won't have to. Pickett is GONE next year. Raji will be the NT.

Why do you keep saying that? He's got more than a year left.

Because they drafted BJ Raji. Pickett is gone. They are both NT's making starters money, so one of them will be gone next year. It will be Pickett.

Do you think they're planning to keep Raji at DE?

I think they're planning to have two solid nose tackles for a couple more years, and they're admitting that Harrell is a bust. That's what I think.

I see them playing Harrell at DE. I could also see them waiving him on final cut down.

[Bretsky]

Re: Raji

This was the #1 guy on my board. I love this pick.


Raji has natural leverage
Of guys Raji's height and natural leverage, very few can carry this type of weight to anchor
Of the squatty, powerful guys that can carry the weight, even fewer can move the way Raji can


When you have a bad season, this is the exact type of rare piece that you need to add to make it worth it.

Ya'd need a forklift to move Raji out of the middle.

At the Senior Bowl you just needed a center

[rbaloha1]

Re: Raji

This was the #1 guy on my board. I love this pick.


Raji has natural leverage
Of guys Raji's height and natural leverage, very few can carry this type of weight to anchor
Of the squatty, powerful guys that can carry the weight, even fewer can move the way Raji can


When you have a bad season, this is the exact type of rare piece that you need to add to make it worth it.

Ya'd need a forklift to move Raji out of the middle.

That's exactly it. He's heavy and all of his weight is low. There are only a couple players like him in the NFL and they all happen to be on great defenses. I don't think it's a coincidence.

Well stated. TT said at the press conference both Ryan and BJ ARE 3 DOWN PLAYERS.

If Harrell stays healthy the d-line can be dominant.

[Rastak]

Saints take Malcolm Jenkins.....good pick actually.


Overall Football Traits

Production 1 Jenkins appeared in ten games of his true freshman season in 2005 and eventually became Ohio State's Nickel back that year. He finished with 37 total tackles and broke up two passes but he also missed two games with an injury (see durability) that year. Jenkins started all 13 games of the 2006 season finishing with 55 total tackles, 40 solo tackles and 4.5 tackles-for-loss. He also intercepted four passes, broke up three passes and forced a fumble. Jenkins started all 13 games of the 2007 season finishing with 47 total tackles, 27 solo tackles and five tackles for loss. He also intercepted four passes, broke up three passes and returned three punts for a total of 16 yards. 2008: Jenkins starts in all 13 games and records 57 total tackles, four TFL and one sack. He also adds three interceptions, breaks up nine passes, and forces three fumbles. Earned first team All-Big Ten honors the past three seasons (2006-'08) and first team All-American honors in 2008.

Height-Weight-Speed 2 Jenkins has prototypical height and bulk but only adequate top-end speed.

Durability 2 Jenkins missed two games because of a sprained knee in 2005. He has not had any durability issues since then, though.

Character 1 Jenkins has the football smarts to line up at safety and corner, he works hard on the field and he's an excellent student. Team captain in 2008.

Defensive Corner specific Traits

Recognition Skills/Toughness 2 As far as zone coverage goes, reads quarterbacks' eyes, shows a strong grasp of spacing when lined up at corner and can play a centerfielder-type role when lined up at safety. Shows a strong punch and can slow receivers down at the line of scrimmage. Is a physical corner. Will need to protect himself when in man-coverage in the NFL and must learn to gamble less.

Closing Burst 3 Shows above-average but not elite closing speed, breaks on the ball well and he can get to the quarterback when asked to blitz.

Fluidity 3 Opens hips well when forced to turn and run downfield and appears comfortable playing close to the line of scrimmage. However, he has limitations in this regard because he gears down and chops feet too much when forced to change directions quickly. He also does not explode out of pedal.

Ball Skills 2 Has some problems adjusting to balls thrown below waist but doesn't drop many passes that he should catch and is a dangerous open field runner.

Run Support 1 Doesn't deliver many big hits but shows good body control in space, wraps up upon contact and very rarely misses open field tackles. Plays with a mean streak, uses hands well and can shed blocks quickly. Can be a good gunner on special teams and also can block kicks.

[jmbarnes101]

I wanted one of the following players: Tyson Jackson, Jason Smith, Eugene Monroe, Aaron Curry, or B.J. Raji. Considering all of them were gone but one I'm extremely happy with this. After this I would have wanted Moreno or Oher so I'm happy we didn't take Crabapple either.

[Joemailman]

Malcome Jenkins is a hell of a pick at this point. Really really solid pick for the Saints.

Gunk, I've asked you countless times now. Answer da question.

Perfect instance of the BPA also filling a need.

[Gunakor]

So... how many snaps a game do you expect out of this pick? I expect about 5. Awful awful awful pick.

Partial...

Raji can play anywhere on the line... assume they'll be in a four man line in a lot of passing situations - Raji will be lined up at one of the DT spots...

This is a very good pick... Raji is more than just a NT.

Brace on the other hand... he is strictly a NT... IMO, I doubt Raji has to come off the field much at all, except to get a blow.

Love this pick...

I'm not confident Raji can excel as a DE

He won't have to. Pickett is GONE next year. Raji will be the NT.

Why do you keep saying that? He's got more than a year left.

Because they drafted BJ Raji. Pickett is gone. They are both NT's making starters money, so one of them will be gone next year. It will be Pickett.

Do you think they're planning to keep Raji at DE?

I think they're planning to have two solid nose tackles for a couple more years, and they're admitting that Harrell is a bust. That's what I think.

They are giving Harrell a shot at DE. Pickett can't play DE. Pickett would be that backup center only that nobody wants, only on the defense. No versatility to play anything else. So if Raji doesn't come out, Pickett doesn't play. For his salary it makes no sense.

Other than that, I don't think Pickett is going to be a solid nose tackle. I've been very vocal about that in my desire for Raji for months now.

[wist43]

So... how many snaps a game do you expect out of this pick? I expect about 5. Awful awful awful pick.

Partial...

Raji can play anywhere on the line... assume they'll be in a four man line in a lot of passing situations - Raji will be lined up at one of the DT spots...

This is a very good pick... Raji is more than just a NT.

Brace on the other hand... he is strictly a NT... IMO, I doubt Raji has to come off the field much at all, except to get a blow.

Love this pick...

I'm not confident Raji can excel as a DE

He won't have to. Pickett is GONE next year. Raji will be the NT.

Why do you keep saying that? He's got more than a year left.

Because they drafted BJ Raji. Pickett is gone. They are both NT's making starters money, so one of them will be gone next year. It will be Pickett.

Do you think they're planning to keep Raji at DE?

I think they're planning to have two solid nose tackles for a couple more years, and they're admitting that Harrell is a bust. That's what I think.

Pickett is one demensional... Raji can rush the passer.

Pickett certainly comes off the field in a four man front... Raji slides to DT.

Raji will be much closer to a full-time player than Pickett.

[retailguy]

So... how many snaps a game do you expect out of this pick? I expect about 5. Awful awful awful pick.

Partial...

Raji can play anywhere on the line... assume they'll be in a four man line in a lot of passing situations - Raji will be lined up at one of the DT spots...

This is a very good pick... Raji is more than just a NT.

Brace on the other hand... he is strictly a NT... IMO, I doubt Raji has to come off the field much at all, except to get a blow.

Love this pick...

I'm not confident Raji can excel as a DE

He won't have to. Pickett is GONE next year. Raji will be the NT.

Why do you keep saying that? He's got more than a year left.

Because they drafted BJ Raji. Pickett is gone. They are both NT's making starters money, so one of them will be gone next year. It will be Pickett.

Do you think they're planning to keep Raji at DE?

I think they're planning to have two solid nose tackles for a couple more years, and they're admitting that Harrell is a bust. That's what I think.

I see them playing Harrell at DE. I could also see them waiving him on final cut down.

My thought is that you try the guy at a different position before you give up. but you do that AFTER you give up on the position you drafted him for.

[Bretsky]

Crabtree at 10 is by far the best pick in the draft so far...

How can you be excited about Raji as a 5 snap a game player?!? Starting NT only plays 20ish snaps a game according to Waldo. Awful pick imo.

right, just because he's a monkey wearing glasses doesn't mean he is setting our depth chart

So you have Pickett, a very solid player, as a 5 snap a game player? I don't understand this logic at all.

This guy doesn't fit. We don't have a huge need at NT. We had a glaring need at DE. We've made a rich position richer, but passed on a rare talent in Crabtree.

Raji can play DE. Or is your man crush on Crabtree blind you?

You have no more evidence to suggest he can play DE than somebody who says he can not ; if you look at him physically a guy of his size is not normally a DE in the 3-4

You are arguing with "consensus". there is no original thought there.

I've never been one to follow the herd

[Packnut]

Re: Need

Ok Mr TT. Now that after all these drafts of me bitching about need, you FINALLY come around to my way of thinking................


OUTSIDE LINEBACKER

Time for you to give your dear TTT some serious MANLOVE

Oh man, I was drinking when I read this, Fuck me, tomato juice and vodka all over the keyboard. CRAP!