Official 2019 Draft Thread

[pbmax]

We have seen it in Green Bay where college defensive ends struggle to make the transition to outside linebacker. Nick Perry never really panned out as an outside linebacker, he got paid off of one season. Datone Jones failed miserably, and he could just have been a terrible draft pick. It is not as easy as you think to make the transition from a 5 tech or a wide 9 end to a stand up linebacker even though they might be rushing the passer 75% of the time. The get off is completely different, the timing is different, and the position of attack is different. We see through the lens as a pass rusher when looking at these transition ends, but the real truth is how they can play the run as an OLB. Again very different technique.

It's not impossible, but to think it will happen over night is ridiculous.

Perry got very good against the run. His pass rush didn't take off though. If he had availability, maybe those numbers all look different, but he couldn't dominate even when he was in the game. So his best feature was ruined by his worst feature.

I suppose you have to get lucky to get two 3-4 EDGE/OLB who can do it all. But the combo of Perry's unavailability and the cliff edge of Matthews effectiveness rendered the pass rush invisible eventually.

[bobblehead]

He never stopped running zone, but its been a mixed bag of stuff. They put Power O back in and Sitton and Lang were good with it. Though even Lang wasn't quite Wahle on a pull block.

They didn't run the stretch zone in years. And as you point out...they ran multiple schemes with limited practice. What could go wrong??

[Deputy Nutz]

12: R1P12
LB DEVIN BUSH
MICHIGAN

30: R1P30
DL DEXTER LAWRENCE
CLEMSON

44: R2P12
S CHAUNCEY GARDNER-JOHNSON
FLORIDA

75: R3P11
TE IRV SMITH JR.
ALABAMA

114: R4P12
OT MAX SCHARPING
N. ILLINOIS

118: R4P16
CB KRIS BOYD
TEXAS

150: R5P12
G MITCH HYATT
CLEMSON

185: R6P12
WR JALEN HURD
BAYLOR

194: R6P21
S WILL HARRIS
BOSTON COLLEGE

226: R7P12
LB RYAN CONNELLY
WISCONSIN

This draft was pretty crazy. I wasn't excited to take Bush this high but some times the board just dictates the pick. Lawrence is a big run stuffer, that can generate some pressure up the middle. I didn't want to wait on a safety and got Johnson in the second. I think he has the most to offer in terms of coverage. Getting Irv Smith in round 3 was a huge get, I have done about 100 of these and I have only gotten one of the top three tight ends in the 3rd round twice. Picking up Sharping in the 4th is also pretty good news, as he has been moving up draft boards. He will help at guard or right tackle. Kris Boyd was maybe a pick I would like to take back after watching film on him, but it was the fourth round. Another lineman in round 5. Round six a guy a lot of people like but his lack of experience at the position may drop him in the draft is Jaylen Hurd. Tall receiver with some speed and hops. Don't like the school or offense he played in though. I took another safety in round 6 as well, Harris could be a potential starter in the NFL. He has good size and combine numbers and he wasn't all that bad on film. Getting Connelly in the 7th was a great value pick. I think he adds depth to a depleted ILB group, or he could bounce outside.

[Fritz]

12: R1P12
LB DEVIN BUSH
MICHIGAN

30: R1P30
DL DEXTER LAWRENCE
CLEMSON

44: R2P12
S CHAUNCEY GARDNER-JOHNSON
FLORIDA

75: R3P11
TE IRV SMITH JR.
ALABAMA

114: R4P12
OT MAX SCHARPING
N. ILLINOIS

118: R4P16
CB KRIS BOYD
TEXAS

150: R5P12
G MITCH HYATT
CLEMSON

185: R6P12
WR JALEN HURD
BAYLOR

194: R6P21
S WILL HARRIS
BOSTON COLLEGE

226: R7P12
LB RYAN CONNELLY
WISCONSIN

This draft was pretty crazy. I wasn't excited to take Bush this high but some times the board just dictates the pick. Lawrence is a big run stuffer, that can generate some pressure up the middle. I didn't want to wait on a safety and got Johnson in the second. I think he has the most to offer in terms of coverage. Getting Irv Smith in round 3 was a huge get, I have done about 100 of these and I have only gotten one of the top three tight ends in the 3rd round twice. Picking up Sharping in the 4th is also pretty good news, as he has been moving up draft boards. He will help at guard or right tackle. Kris Boyd was maybe a pick I would like to take back after watching film on him, but it was the fourth round. Another lineman in round 5. Round six a guy a lot of people like but his lack of experience at the position may drop him in the draft is Jaylen Hurd. Tall receiver with some speed and hops. Don't like the school or offense he played in though. I took another safety in round 6 as well, Harris could be a potential starter in the NFL. He has good size and combine numbers and he wasn't all that bad on film. Getting Connelly in the 7th was a great value pick. I think he adds depth to a depleted ILB group, or he could bounce outside.

So how does this work, Nutz? You get together with a bunch of other people representing other teams, and you just take turns picking, no trades allowed?

[Deputy Nutz]

https://fanspeak.com/ontheclock/

Simulation. You choose your team, and the computer picks the rest based on team need, and player rankings. You can choose twenty different rankings.

[RashanGary]

I definitely see what you’re saying with those two. Everyone knew coming out both were more or less 4-3 DEs. Thompson was weird with having no consideration for scheme. He just drafted whoever and expected the coaches to figure it out.

There are better types than that to convert. But I definitely see your point and will scale back the optimism that a guy can just switch smooth like butter. I definitely was leaning a little bit on the side of blind optimism there. I’m not coming all of the way back, but about half way.

[texaspackerbacker]

12: R1P12
LB DEVIN BUSH
MICHIGAN

30: R1P30
DL DEXTER LAWRENCE
CLEMSON

44: R2P12
S CHAUNCEY GARDNER-JOHNSON
FLORIDA

75: R3P11
TE IRV SMITH JR.
ALABAMA

114: R4P12
OT MAX SCHARPING
N. ILLINOIS

118: R4P16
CB KRIS BOYD
TEXAS

150: R5P12
G MITCH HYATT
CLEMSON

185: R6P12
WR JALEN HURD
BAYLOR

194: R6P21
S WILL HARRIS
BOSTON COLLEGE

226: R7P12
LB RYAN CONNELLY
WISCONSIN

This draft was pretty crazy. I wasn't excited to take Bush this high but some times the board just dictates the pick. Lawrence is a big run stuffer, that can generate some pressure up the middle. I didn't want to wait on a safety and got Johnson in the second. I think he has the most to offer in terms of coverage. Getting Irv Smith in round 3 was a huge get, I have done about 100 of these and I have only gotten one of the top three tight ends in the 3rd round twice. Picking up Sharping in the 4th is also pretty good news, as he has been moving up draft boards. He will help at guard or right tackle. Kris Boyd was maybe a pick I would like to take back after watching film on him, but it was the fourth round. Another lineman in round 5. Round six a guy a lot of people like but his lack of experience at the position may drop him in the draft is Jaylen Hurd. Tall receiver with some speed and hops. Don't like the school or offense he played in though. I took another safety in round 6 as well, Harris could be a potential starter in the NFL. He has good size and combine numbers and he wasn't all that bad on film. Getting Connelly in the 7th was a great value pick. I think he adds depth to a depleted ILB group, or he could bounce outside.

I like it. In general, I wouldn't pick a D Lineman that early or a WR at all, but Lawrence is a helluva good player to get at #30 - assuming character and attitude don't get in the way. And Hurd would be a real bargain pick at that point of the draft. And I STILL want a Kicker somewhere around the 5th or 6th round.

I doubt we are fortunate enough in the real draft to have things go this way, though.

[wist43]

https://fanspeak.com/ontheclock/

Simulation. You choose your team, and the computer picks the rest based on team need, and player rankings. You can choose twenty different rankings.

I draft on fanspeak for shits and giggles... but to compare apples to apples, you have to draft off of the same settings Those rankings are wildly different, and some haven't been updated since February.

Pick some settings, and we can all give it a shot, and compare notes.

[Deputy Nutz]

I usually go with Fanspeak's Steve, or CBS. I don't mess with any of the other ones. I could get Bush late in the first round or even in the second round like two weeks ago, no forget it. So they do a nice job of making it somewhat realistic. Same can be said for David Long CB from Michigan. I like the guy a lot in the middle rounds, a month ago I could get him in the 6th round, not as likely any more.

[Deputy Nutz]

Day 19

Jalen Hurd WR, Baylor
Film: Oklahoma St., Oklahoma

First Take: Hurd started off his career as a 4 star prospect from Tennessee. He went to Tennessee where he was a running back for 3 years and then transfered to Baylor. Baylor used him both as a receiver and a running back. Hurd is talented kid to play running back at 6-5, and play receiver. He has good hands, did not drop a ball in the two films that I watched. He seems to run quality routes, and figures out how to break the defensive zone. He did suffer a knee injury and did not work out in the combine. On of the announcer mentioned he had 4.4 speed, but to be honest he doesn't look like a 4.4 kid. He looks closer to a 4.6. My biggest negative take away is that his blocking is sub par at receiver. He will need to improve on it if he ever plans on being more than a sub package player. Hurd offers a lot in the way of position. A creative offensive coordinator will love having Hurd as part of his offense.

[Smidgeon]

Did you already do Hakeem Butler, WR from ISU?

[Deputy Nutz]

No

[Deputy Nutz]

Day 19

Hakeem Butler WR, Iowa St.
Film: Texas, Iowa

First Take: Butler is a big long kid and offers a nice target for his QB. He has huge hands. Butler is always a guy you can throw the ball at because of his size and body control. He will make the back shoulder catch and go after passes at the high point. Butler is an aggressive down field blocker that squares up on defenders. Blocking is always a plus when drafting young receivers. My issues with Bulter are his routes. His routes are sloppy, and unpolished. His take off from the snap is very slow. There is a lot to work with Butler, but he needs improvement in key areas before he will contribute consistently as a pro. He is a day 2 kid.

[SudsMcBucky]

One WR I wouldn't mind seeing the Pack taking, if they're doing this in the mid rounds, is Andy Isabella out of UMass. If we're looking for a slot guy with speed to burn to stretch the field, this would be a great pick. Ran a 4.31 at the combine. He's not tall, but he's extremely productive and lightning fast.

Nutz, if you're taking requests, I wouldn't mind seeing your mid-round write-up on this guy. What you think?

[Smidgeon]

Day 19

Hakeem Butler WR, Iowa St.
Film: Texas, Iowa

First Take: Butler is a big long kid and offers a nice target for his QB. He has huge hands. Butler is always a guy you can throw the ball at because of his size and body control. He will make the back shoulder catch and go after passes at the high point. Butler is an aggressive down field blocker that squares up on defenders. Blocking is always a plus when drafting young receivers. My issues with Bulter are his routes. His routes are sloppy, and unpolished. His take off from the snap is very slow. There is a lot to work with Butler, but he needs improvement in key areas before he will contribute consistently as a pro. He is a day 2 kid.

Thanks. I was curious since I'd seen his name mentioned in a couple of mock drafts in R1, but I couldn't figure out why I didn't like it. "Big and strong but poor routes" sounds like it hits the nail on the head.