Who Should TT Pick In 1st Round? - Pre-Senior Bowl Edition

[Fritz]

Yeah, that combine. I wonder how much stock TT puts into that, really. Or if he watches so damn much film he already has his mind pretty well set, outside of interviewing guys or having the docs check them.

[Joemailman]

Yeah, that combine. I wonder how much stock TT puts into that, really. Or if he watches so damn much film he already has his mind pretty well set, outside of interviewing guys or having the docs check them.

I don't think TT picks guys based on the combine, but he might eliminate or downgrade guys. A FS who times slow is not what he's looking for.

[pbmax]

I don't think TT picks guys based on the combine, but he might eliminate or downgrade guys. A FS who times slow is not what he's looking for.

However a FS who times slow at the combine but runs well on tape AND at a team workout might be ideal in dropping the guy you want down to you.

[3irty1]

I think Ted uses the combine more than most. He especially seems to place a big emphasis on measurables for offensive lineman and most positions on defense, especially defensive lineman.

[Joemailman]

I don't follow the pre-draft stuff too much - would this meniscus tear drop Nix enough for the Pack to nab him in the first?

If Nix had had the kind of year in 2013 that he had in 2012, he would be a top-10 pick. But he showed up overweight in 2013 and wasn't as dominant even before the meniscus tear. Most people have Nix rated somewhere between 15-25. I think the combine will be huge for him. he could move up if some teams think they're going to get the 2012 Nix. Rob Rang at CBSSports has him 20th in his big board and their 4 mock drafts have him going 15 (Pittsburgh), 21 (Packers), 15 (Pittsburgh), and 12 (Giants).

[smuggler]

Mostly, team physicians will actually be able to poke around at his knee and the coaches and scouts will get a chance to see him in his undies.

Sure, they run some events and physical tests, but unless something truly outlandish results from one of those, the film will tell you the kind of player a guy is.

[mraynrand]

Mostly, team physicians will actually be able to poke around and see him in his undies.

Harlan?

[wist43]

Just started looking at the draft... randomly looking at some guys at positions of need, not necessarily 1st round rated guys.

Here are some guys that I've liked at a glance -

Shane Skov, LB, Stanford
Craig Loston, S, LSU
Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville (potential 1st round guy)
Aaron Donald, DE, Pitt (reminds me a little of Cullen Jenkins; would be instant starter at DE - really like this guy)

Those are the first few I've looked at... long way to go before the draft.

Donald is a legit 1st round guy... might be gone by 21. Like him the most of the guys I've looked at so far.

[pittstang5]

Just started looking at the draft... randomly looking at some guys at positions of need, not necessarily 1st round rated guys.

Here are some guys that I've liked at a glance -

Shane Skov, LB, Stanford
Craig Loston, S, LSU
Calvin Pryor, S, Louisville (potential 1st round guy)
Aaron Donald, DE, Pitt (reminds me a little of Cullen Jenkins; would be instant starter at DE - really like this guy)

Those are the first few I've looked at... long way to go before the draft.

Donald is a legit 1st round guy... might be gone by 21. Like him the most of the guys I've looked at so far.

I like Donald too, been watching him since he came to Pitt, but I don't like him in Capers Defense. I don't think Capers would use him correctly. He's more of a 4-3, rush the passer DT. He's been compared to Geno Atkins, which I think is a fair comparison. He's alot like Mike Daniels - a little shorter, explosive, gives 110% every play.

If I had more faith in Capers actually designing a front to utilize Daniels and Donald at the same time, I'd be all for getting Donald...but I don't see that happening.

I hope he doesn't go to Chicago.

[run pMc]

I hope he doesn't go to Chicago.

Yeah, I'm hoping he goes to an AFC team. I had nightmares of him ending up in SEA until the Senior Bowl. I could see a 4-3 team (DAL?) grabbing him between picks 15-25.

[Joemailman]

Yeah, I'm hoping he goes to an AFC team. I had nightmares of him ending up in SEA until the Senior Bowl. I could see a 4-3 team (DAL?) grabbing him between picks 15-25.

The 4 mock drafts at http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/mock-draft have the Cowboys taking either Jernigan or Donald. Pat Kirwan had this to say:

After watching Donald at the Senior Bowl and knowing what Rod Marinelli and Monte Kiffin want, this guy is the perfect fit.

One mock has Seattle taking him, but I don't see that happening. Donald made a lot of money at the Senior Bowl.

[wist43]

I like Donald too, been watching him since he came to Pitt, but I don't like him in Capers Defense. I don't think Capers would use him correctly. He's more of a 4-3, rush the passer DT. He's been compared to Geno Atkins, which I think is a fair comparison. He's alot like Mike Daniels - a little shorter, explosive, gives 110% every play.

If I had more faith in Capers actually designing a front to utilize Daniels and Donald at the same time, I'd be all for getting Donald...but I don't see that happening.

I hope he doesn't go to Chicago.

Not trusting Capers is an issue with every defensive player... to be sure, he's misused every front seven player he's had for the past 3 years.

Go back to the SB year though, and Capers ran a lot more base 3-4, and the way he used Jenkins made a huge difference in the effectiveness of our defensive front. Supposedly MM is going to have more input on the defensive side of the ball - I think that can only mean he is going to address what I have been complaining about these past few years. A blind man can see that Capers version of the 2-4 is junk (ayn can't, but a blind man can ) - assuming MM forces Capers to get his head out of his ass, I could see a guy like Donald being a nice piece to the puzzle.

As I've been saying - it's next to impossible to evaluate anyone in the front seven due to Capers misuse. The 2 guys I would give a grade to would Brad Jones and AJ Hawk - both get an F and need to be replaced.

The rest of the front seven guys have looked bad in the roles they've been cast, but that is Capers fault. Maybe the players aren't that good?? Perry hasn't looked very good - but again, I think he's being completely misused.

When it comes to our defense - a step backward, leading to Capers firing, would actually be 10 steps forward. As long as Capers is there, we're going to have problems.

[mraynrand]

A blind man can see that Capers version of the 2-4 is junk (ayn can't, but a blind man can ) - assuming MM forces Capers to get his head out of his ass, I could see a guy like Donald being a nice piece to the puzzle.

What I've argued is that, if Neal and Perry are 'misplaced' DEs playing OLB, then having a 2-4 with those 2 at OLB, Matthews and Hawk as ILB should work both in run downs (with Pickett and Jolly as DT) and in passing downs (with Daniels and Jones as DL). In the run scenario though you need a better SS and in the passing down you need a better FS and maybe Hayward instead of Hyde.

There are player combinations and down and distance scenarios where I agree with you that the 2-4 is a terrible alignment, but a considerable number of those may have been made necessary because of injuries and/or because the Packers insist on playing Matthews at ROLB.

[pbmax]

He started his obsession with nickel as the primary defense in the Super Bowl year. It was a response to the terrible pass defense at the end of the previous year (see Cardinals playoff game).

Speaking of Jenkins in Psycho, that is exactly what the beat writers thought of when McCarthy mentioned some alignments they went away from due to injuries.

McCarthy said he sets the goals for the defense. He has not said he will take a greater role. I think we are reading too much into what he has said. Its possible he is tired of it and will change his approach up, but his press conference isn't confirmation yet.

[wist43]

What I've argued is that, if Neal and Perry are 'misplaced' DEs playing OLB, then having a 2-4 with those 2 at OLB, Matthews and Hawk as ILB should work both in run downs (with Pickett and Jolly as DT) and in passing downs (with Daniels and Jones as DL). In the run scenario though you need a better SS and in the passing down you need a better FS and maybe Hayward instead of Hyde.

There are player combinations and down and distance scenarios where I agree with you that the 2-4 is a terrible alignment, but a considerable number of those may have been made necessary because of injuries and/or because the Packers insist on playing Matthews at ROLB.

I know the rationale... and I have shot them down using the evidence - or rather, Capers himself proved that his 'solutions' to whatever personnel problems we may, or may not have had, were no solutions at all.

I think what Capers proved is that it is hard to imagine that things could be any worse doing anything other than what he's been doing. Breakdowns in the secondary, massive gashes in the run defense, a complete lack of pressure, loose coverage everywhere, on and on...

In the past 3 years, Dom Capers has captained one of the worst defenses in the league. Perhaps an excuse could be made for '11, but TT at least attempted to bring in some talent the past 2 years, and Dom has done nothing but try to fit round pegs into square holes.