The official 2009 DRAFT thread

[gbpackfan]

NFL.com has NE having both our 3rd round picks. And our 2nd. OMG! What the fuck!

TT got murdered!!!!!!!!!!!

[Rastak]

Indy takes Donald Brown.....


Overall Football Traits

Production 2 2005: Connecticut red-shirts Brown. 2006: Brown starts five of the 12 games he plays in rushing for a total of 896 yards and seven touchdowns on 161 carries. He also catches 13 passes for a total of 66 yards and two touchdowns and returns nine kickoffs. 2007: Brown starts five of the 12 games he plays in rushing for a total of 821 yards and eight touchdowns on 170 carries. He also catches 14 passes for a total of 85 yards. 2008: Brown starts 12 of the 13 game he plays in rushing for a total of 2,083 yards and 18 touchdowns on 367 carries. He is the only FBS player to breach the 2,000 rushing-yard mark this year. Brown also catches 21 passes for a total of 125 yards.

Height-Weight-Speed 3 Brown has adequate height and he's built well but he lacks elite size and breakaway speed.

Durability 2 Missed 2007 Virginia game with an ankle injury.

Character 2 Lost starting job after injuring ankle midway through the 2007 season but fought back and retook starting job this year.
Running Back specific Traits
Competitiveness 2 Runs east-west too much, chops feet behind the line of scrimmage too much and needs to be more aggressive when isn't able to locate a seam. Drives legs and fights for yards after contact but doesn't appear to have ideal lower body strength and going to have problems pushing the pile in short-yardage situations. Flashes an effective stiff arm in space. Effort in pass protection is inconsistent.

Vision 2 Patient, lets blockers get into position and can bounce runs outside when defense is too quick to collapse inside. Excellent instincts and senses backside defenders closing in on him. Took eye off the ball and muffed a pitch during 2008 Louisville game. Appears to peak at front side of the play before the snap throughout the 2008 Louisville game.

Explosiveness 2 Adequate to above-average initial quickness and can turn the corner. While flashes a second gear when gets into space quicker than fast and isn't going to run away from many NFL defenders.
Balance/Change-of-Directions 2 Shows good lateral mobility when looking for a seam between the tackles and can cut back against the grain. Above-average balance and sideline awareness. Makes crisp cuts at second level and flashes the ability to make first defender miss but lacks prototypical elusiveness.

Passing Game 3 Shows adequate awareness and flashes ability to cut legs out from under rushing linebackers but is going to have hard time anchoring when doesn't go low. Rounds too many cuts off and isn't a crisp route runner at this point. Has some experience motioning out wide.

[Fosco33]

Brett Favre trade (83) used for a LBer.
TT just gave up quite a bit for this guy...

[Bretsky]

I don't like trading up, so I don't like this. I say a big screw you to all of those that have been hammering Ted Thompson for not trading up.

Trade ups are ok but this was a rather large jump.....I usually wouldn't go for that.

ditto; each deal is in it's own context

I'm more shocked at the player we traded up for than the trade up

[channtheman]

Do we still have our second? If we only traded 2 3's to move into the first with a 5th and STILL have our second, this is a great trade!

[MJZiggy]

I'm really hoping one of the solid OLB prospects are available in round 2. Could see TT trading up to get one here if they start to get picked.

Brown, Matthews, Sintim, and Barwin are all still on the board. I'd be happy with any of those guys at 9.

I have a soft spot in my heart for Ziggy. I think that he is Castillo 2.

I always knew you had a thing for me... :P

[Gunakor]

Is Clay Matthews a star ?

Maybe he is but I thought he was a solid 2nd rounder

I think he went around where he should have gone, but I don't think it was worth what we gave up for the pick. We could have really used at least one of those 3rd round picks. I'm expecting TT to trade up again for an OT or we might really be in trouble there.

[jmbarnes101]

Well at least we got somebody I think will be a player but I'm surprised as heck and I hope we got back a 3rd and not a 5th. We said we needed a cover LB as opposed to a pass-rusher correct? If that's the case he fits the bill.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Is Clay Matthews a star ?

Maybe he is but I thought he was a solid 2nd rounder

To be fair, I thought Matthews would get selected by the Pats or Falcons at 23 or 24, so I thought he'd go around here. I also thought Harvin would drop out of the 1st round and I picked Raji going to the Pack at #9, but thought that might be a longshot. As far as players, I've liked the picks. As far as trading up, I don't like to do it.

[Gunakor]

Do we still have our second? If we only traded 2 3's to move into the first with a 5th and STILL have our second, this is a great trade!

Nope, 2nd is gone too.

[Partial]

Is Clay Matthews a star ?

Maybe he is but I thought he was a solid 2nd rounder

I think he could be. Did you see him against OSU? He and Maualuga were all over the field!!!

[Rastak]

Bills take Eric Wood.........


Overall Football Traits

Production 2 2004: Louisville red-shirts Wood. 2005-'08: Wood starts 37 consecutive games during his four seasons of eligibility. Earns first-team All-Big East honors in 2007 and 2008; second-team All-Big East honors in 2006 and Freshman All-American honors in 2005.

Height-Weight-Speed 2 Is tall with adequate bulk and the frame to get even bigger if necessary. Ran the second-fastest times of the OC's participating at this year's Combine.

Durability 1 Started 49 consecutive games during his final four seasons at Louisville (2005-'08).

Character 1 Consistent, reliable player. Named team captain in 2008. No off-the-field issues to our knowledge. Is a hard worker on and off the field.

Offensive Center specific Traits

Strength/Toughness 2 Plays with a mean streak and stays in position once locked on. Shows adequate but not great lower body strength and doesn't deliver a violent initial punch.

Agility 2 He's a bit top-heavy with a barrel chest but surprisingly agile for that body type. Shows good range as a second-level run blocker. Displays good initial quickness but doesn't play with the type of athleticism he showed at this year's Combine, where he ran the second-fastest 40-time of all the participating OC's and also finished in the top-five in the vertical jump (30.5'), short shuttle (4.51 seconds) and three-cone drill (7.56 seconds).

Awareness 2 Great playing experience. Recognition skills are improving. Will still get caught out of position on occasion but did a better job in 2008 of picking up stunts and blitzes than earlier in his career. Does an outstanding job of selling screens.

Pass Protection 2 Shows sound footwork and works hard to stay in front of defender. Shows good initial quickness but lacks ideal mirror-and-slide skills. Plays a bit high at times and gives too much ground to bull rushers when he's not playing with good leverage.

Run Blocking 2 Fast enough to turn the corner when asked to pull and gets downfield quickly on screens but plays with a narrow base and loses balance at times. Rarely takes false steps, gets adequate hand placement and feet are active once in position. Displays adequate strength at the point of attack and shows mean streak to finish his blocks. Still, he doesn't deliver a violent initial punch and isn't going to drive many two-gap nose tackles off the ball.

[Bretsky]

Is Clay Matthews a star ?

Maybe he is but I thought he was a solid 2nd rounder

im going to chalk this one up to the fact that TT knows way more then me

TT must've loved the guy cause he gave up a shitload

[HarveyWallbangers]

What does the value chart say about this trade? Seems like too much because the 3rd round picks were pretty high?

[mission]

He reminds me a lot of Kevin Greene...