CHRIS BORLAND.....A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN OPINIONS ON HIM AS AN NFL PROSPECT

[Bretsky]

Is he going to be stellar, or will he stink ?

[Bretsky]

There seems to be huge differences of opinion on Chris Borland as a NFL player. I don't get it. When he arrived in Madison as a freshmen he was too small and too slow to play..many said. Too slow to pass rush and not strong enough to fight through blocks. he's a plugger.......of course....but then you listen to him and watch him play...........and the dude just balls it. I'm perplexed that some of the more knowledgeable posters in here think little of Chris Borland. Consider this a case study to go on record as to what you think of his chance to be a good player in the NFL. If you listen to any analyst or look at any projection....most have him going in round 2....3 at the latest...in the 45-55 range. On Path to the Draft, the analysts said the two great fits at LB for Green Bay would be Ryan Shazier and Chris Borland. But many in here don't see it that way. Curious how this vote shakes out.

[Bretsky]

Option one notes he's very worthy of the area he'll most likely get drafted in
Option two would be of the bias that he's a late round pick
as a fyi

[texaspackerbacker]

It's the classic argument: athlete v. football player, except Borland isn't that bad an athlete either, and Shazier showed at least decent instincts. Of the two, straight up, I'd rather have Shazier - pair him up with Hawk; Use him to stop running QBs; Somebody who at least should be great in coverage. The comparison is apples and oranges, however, because Shazier is an almost certain first rounder, and Borland should be there in the late second, maybe even the third. At that point in the draft, he is solid gold - a strong bet to perform better than others drafted in that area. The first name that comes to mind is London Fletcher - a short not overly fast or strong player who has had a long successful career. I hope the Packers get a Safety - ideally Clinton-Dix in the first round, and then Borland in the second or third.

[Joemailman]

There seems to be huge differences of opinion on Chris Borland as a NFL player. I don't get it. When he arrived in Madison as a freshmen he was too small and too slow to play..many said. Too slow to pass rush and not strong enough to fight through blocks. he's a plugger.......of course....but then you listen to him and watch him play...........and the dude just balls it. I'm perplexed that some of the more knowledgeable posters in here think little of Chris Borland. Consider this a case study to go on record as to what you think of his chance to be a good player in the NFL. If you listen to any analyst or look at any projection....most have him going in round 2....3 at the latest...in the 45-55 range. On Path to the Draft, the analysts said the two great fits at LB for Green Bay would be Ryan Shazier and Chris Borland. But many in here don't see it that way. Curious how this vote shakes out.

I think maybe a lot of people here don't like him because they see him as another Hawk. Solid but unspectacular. His lack of height might hurt him some when trying to cover Te's, but I'd be okay with him in the 2nd round if TT doesn't take Mosley or Shazier in the 1st.

But you know TT never drafts Badgers.

[pbmax]

So far he seems like Abdul Hodge. Perfect linebacker in college. Too slow to play anything more than two downs in the NFL. But barring injury, I think he finds a way to stick. Not worth a 2nd or 3rd round pick.

[Joemailman]

So far he seems like Abdul Hodge. Perfect linebacker in college. Too slow to play anything more than two downs in the NFL. But barring injury, I think he finds a way to stick. Not worth a 2nd or 3rd round pick.

I think he has a good chance to be better than Hodge if he doesn't have Hodge's knee problems.

[pbmax]

I think he has a good chance to be better than Hodge if he doesn't have Hodge's knee problems.

But even before the knee issue, he had trouble breaking into the lineup. He could have stuck around, but I didn't see solid starter.

[pbmax]

I think most teams see this:

SI_DougFarrar @SI_DougFarrar 15h
I've watched a lot of Chris Borland, and... I don't know if he's going to fit in the NFL. Pros want LBs who are so much more athletic.

SI_DougFarrar @SI_DougFarrar 15h
I get the whole Zach Thomas/Lofa Tatupu argument with Borland, but NFL 'backers have to play half-field at crazy speeds these days.

and that there are a few who would organize their D to keep Borland where he will be successful like Miami did with Thomas. But that kinda D is rare these days.

[Fritz]

I'm with the "he's like Hodge, or Hawk at very best, and we need speed" group, but I voted your third option because it's such a ridiculous option - unless you're a female poster.

[Zool]

I voted your third option because it's such a ridiculous option - unless you're a female poster.

Same. Pretty dumb.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I'm in the he's another Hodge camp. I liked the Hodge pick. After Hodge, I lean more towards athleticism over football player at that position.

[pbmax]

I think BORLANS will be a bust.

[MadtownPacker]

I vote that any player Bretsky endorses will never amount to anything unless drafted by a different team.

[Joemailman]

Pat Kirwan lists Borland among his Top 10 Safe Picks:

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/writer/...a-game-manager

Safe picks
The draft process to drawing to a close and there are a number of players I call "safe" -- what you see is what you get and these guys are the whole package. They have talent, technique, work ethic and look like guys who understand how to handle themselves as pros.

I have interviewed well over 100 of the top picks and watched all of them on tape. Here are my top 10 safe picks and there are no quarterbacks in the group:

Jake Matthews, OT, Texas A&M
Aaron Donald, DT, Pittsburgh
Khalil Mack, LB, Buffalo
Zack Martin OT, Notre Dame
Darqueze Dennard, CB, Michigan State
Odell Beckham, WR, LSU
Trent Murphy, DE, Stanford
Chris Borland, LB, Wisconsin
Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt
Tre Mason, RB, Auburn