The official 2009 DRAFT thread

[channtheman]

Lions take Louis Delmas


Is anybody reading the crap I'm cutting and pasting..? If not I'll save myself some time.....


Lions need defense bad.

Only do it for Packers and Vikings picks after the first round.

Keep it to NFC north teams, I'm not so interested in the other teams.

[Fosco33]

Lions take Louis Delmas


Is anybody reading the crap I'm cutting and pasting..? If not I'll save myself some time.....


Lions need defense bad.

i am - thx ras

[Bretsky]

Is Everette Brown about to fall out of the 1st round!?

yup

[Lurker64]

Is Everette Brown about to fall out of the 1st round!?

yup

As is Maualuga.

[Partial]

This speaks volumes about what TT thought of Matthews. He's on record as saying that if he has several guys close, he will try to trade down.

This says to me that this guy rated very highly and that there was probably a very big drop off from this guy to the next, regardless of position, on his board. That is a reflect of either A) the quality of the draft or B) the quality of player Matthews is.

I think he is going to be a stud. I'm very excited about Matthews.

[jmbarnes101]

Absolutely.

I would have taken him at #9.

Best 3-4 LB in the draft, inside or out.

I had about #10-#12 value on him.

The spectacled monkey has spoken. Between him, TT, and the fact I liked Matthews to begin with I'm sold.

[Rastak]

Okay, North picks only



Lions take Delmas....



Overall Football Traits

Production 2 Delmas was a four-year starter and earned all-MAC honors three of those seasons. 2008: Started all 13 games and finished with 111 tackles, including 3.5 TFL. Recorded four of 12 career interceptions as a senior.

Height-Weight-Speed 4 Is a bit undersized. Adequate height and below average bulk. Straight-line speed is a little bit better than the average of all DS's in this class but still not ideal considering his size.

Durability 3 Did not miss a game as a senior. However, he missed four games due to injuries during 2006 (ankle) and 2007 (concussion) seasons combined. Also lacks ideal bulk and throws his body around, which creates some long-term concern in the NFL.

Character 1 No off-the-field issues. A natural leader. Named team captain as a senior. Plays the game with passion and displays an excellent work ethic.

Defensive Safety specific Traits


Recognition Skills/Toughness 1 Great recognition skills. Will diagnose plays faster than most young safeties. Not afraid to take on bigger blockers and ball carriers. Feisty and aggressive. Plays much bigger than measurables indicate. A natural playmaker in run support and in coverage. Great example of instincts and toughness is on 1st-and-10 play with 13:37 remaining in first quarter of 2008 Nebraska game, when he diagnoses the play quicker than any other defender and looks like he's shot out of a cannon as he flies upfield to make the tackle.

Closing Burst 2 Closing burst is adequate-to-good, but not elite. Closes quickly when coming forward. Doesn't make up as much ground when turning and running.

Fluidity 2 Displays good balance and quick feet. Shows excellent lateral agility. Lacks elite fluidity in man-to-man coverage but is smooth, quick and instinctive to match up one-on-one versus many slot WR's in the NFL. At his best playing in space as a cover-2 and cover-3 zone safety.

Ball Skills 2 Very instinctive. Times his jumps well. Knows when to go for the body and when to go for the ball. Does a good job of finding the ball over his shoulder. Shows the ability to high-point the ball.

Run Support 2 Lacks ideal size and may struggle to match up inside the box in the NFL. However, he diagnoses quickly and supports hard. Not afraid to throw his body around. Harder hitter than size indicates. Solid open-field tackler. Great range in run support. Displays an excellent motor.

[K-town]

In a perfect world, Breno Giacomini steps in for Tauscher at RT, and we get Vonnie Holliday for cheap to fill in as a wave player at DE. Waddya think?

[Partial]

Is Everette Brown about to fall out of the 1st round!?

yup

As is Maualuga.

Rey Lewis clone, but he's gonna fall a few sports further

[Bretsky]

So, with the fact that Green Bay doesn't look to be landing a DE prospect who can challenge to start (though I like Pedescleaux and Egboh a lot, they're not starters yet), how long until Ted Thompson gets Vonnie Holliday on the phone?

I'd be calling him right now, if I was Ted.

IMO good chance he makes that call soon

Vonnie is a good guy and is still sericeable and better than some of the rubbish we have on the roster now

[Gunakor]

In a perfect world, Breno Giacomini steps in for Tauscher at RT, and we get Vonnie Holliday for cheap to fill in as a wave player at DE. Waddya think?

I'd like to know where Gia's progress is in terms of his bulk. Last I heard he had a good frame but had to put more weight on to be a good player at this level. But that was last year.

[Bretsky]

When you are creating the foundation, multiple picks is the way to go.
When you believe you are solid, it's time to get the players you feel are special fits for your team.
It's funny how some folks who have whined the 'turtle' nonsense for so long, and lambasted Thompson for not moving up, now have reversed field and complain about him making a move upwards.
Personally, I love both picks, and applaud the Packers for shrewd planning and the courage to go after players they want.

such a simpleton view while ignoring what he gave up to move up

I'm fully on board to give up fair value to move up; I'm fine with Matthews and think he can move in a start right away.

If Matthews is a Pro Bowler this still turns out fine

But on paper Bellichek fleeced your hero

[Bretsky]

Clay Matthews interview on Packers.com

dude will sound great; honestly he's a perfect Packer person and it's exciting to have him coming to GB

[Guiness]

Cardinals grab Wells at 31. What Kipper would call a 'value' pick. Great combination of a need position for them - Hightower isn't a full timer, and James is about done - and a guy who was rated much higher than he went. Not long ago, he was thought to be the top RB in the draft.

[Lurker64]

In a perfect world, Breno Giacomini steps in for Tauscher at RT, and we get Vonnie Holliday for cheap to fill in as a wave player at DE. Waddya think?

That'd be fine, but we have other options at RT. Colledge, Sitton, Moll, Giacomini, and Barbre all have a shot at RT.