Prospects

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Boy, PFW really likes to tear some players apart. Good articles Harv

[Tarlam!]

Boy, PFW really likes to tear some players apart. Good articles Harv

Well, actually, those comments weren't from PFW, they were quotes that had been gathered by scouts.

I gotta believe there's alot of manouvering going on in all this, though...

[Rastak]

Thanks Harvey, a very good read.

[billy_oliver880]

“(Minnesota RB Laurence) Maroney is a tight, erect runner. He’s not a creator. There has to be a lane there for him to clear the line. He is a system guy. And he has an odd personality. He does not know when to shut up.”

Wow thats almost glowing. They are knocking a guy cause he likes talking? WTF?

[HarveyWallbangers]

Fox's Draft Value Board:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5449026

[Rastak]

“(Minnesota RB Laurence) Maroney is a tight, erect runner. He’s not a creator. There has to be a lane there for him to clear the line. He is a system guy. And he has an odd personality. He does not know when to shut up.”

Wow thats almost glowing. They are knocking a guy cause he likes talking? WTF?

Yea, I didn't get that...when he walked on campus Marion Barber III didn't get along with him at all...kind of enemies actually...by the time Barber left for the NFL they were good friends. I guess he's pretty brash and makes a bad first impression. Here's a great story I heard Gopher coach Mason tell....

He's recruiting Maroney and takes him to Murry's Steakhouse....kind of expensive place....he orders them both a steak...Maroney says, didn't they have a burger on the menu? Mason calls over the waiter and says "could you throw his steak on a bun please"....after they eat Mason asks him how the food was....get this, Lawrence Maroney says "Not exactly McDonalds but it'll do". I guess it's all in what your used to.....McDonalds...sheesh....

[billy_oliver880]

“(Minnesota RB Laurence) Maroney is a tight, erect runner. He’s not a creator. There has to be a lane there for him to clear the line. He is a system guy. And he has an odd personality. He does not know when to shut up.”

Wow thats almost glowing. They are knocking a guy cause he likes talking? WTF?

Yea, I didn't get that...when he walked on campus Marion Barber III didn't get along with him at all...kind of enemies actually...by the time Barber left for the NFL they were good friends. I guess he's pretty brash and makes a bad first impression. Here's a great story I heard Gopher coach Mason tell....

He's recruiting Maroney and takes him to Murry's Steakhouse....kind of expensive place....he orders them both a steak...Maroney says, didn't they have a burger on the menu? Mason calls over the waiter and says "could you throw his steak on a bun please"....after they eat Mason asks him how the food was....get this, Lawrence Maroney says "Not exactly McDonalds but it'll do". I guess it's all in what your used to.....McDonalds...sheesh....

So what your telling me is he didn't like Murry's? So what everyone can think of someone they met or work with that they got a bad first impression of because the were brash. That doesn't mean that they wouldn't become a friend of yours.

[MJZiggy]

It also doesn't mean they can't play football. Unless he has too many of those quarter pounders!

[billy_oliver880]

It also doesn't mean they can't play football. Unless he has too many of those quarter pounders!

Haha ya it don't matter if hes not personable...just run with the damn rock dude.

[HarveyWallbangers]

The new glamour position
Infusion of talent has made drafting TEs a priority
SI.com

Top billing and the lion's share of the hype in the NFL's 2006 draft class have unsurprisingly gone to the quarterbacks and running backs, and nobody's begrudging Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush and Vince Young their time in the spotlight this spring.

But if you've been paying attention to league trends in the past decade or so, it shouldn't be an unforeseen development if it's this year's ridiculously deep tight end crop that makes the biggest rookie-season impact.

Everywhere you look in the NFL these days there are athletic, playmaking tight ends rolling up gaudy pass-catching totals and changing the way people utilize -- and defense -- the onetime hybrid position. Has there ever been a better time to be young and a tight end in pro football?

Heath Miller, Chris Cooley, Antonio Gates, Jeremy Shockey, Jerramy Stevens, Todd Heap, Dallas Clark, Randy McMichael, L.J. Smith, Ben Troupe, Jason Witten, Alge Crumpler and Erron Kinney all have entered the NFL since 2000, continuing the transformation -- seemingly begun by Kansas City's Tony Gonzalez as a rookie in 1997 -- of tight end into a featured skill position. And that's without factoring Cleveland's Kellen Winslow Jr. -- the sixth overall pick in 2004 -- into the mix, given that his first two NFL seasons were all but wiped out by injury.

And from the looks of it, there's a new infusion of tight end talent on the way this year, with the position projected to get called as many as four times in the top 40. That contingent undoubtedly will be led by Maryland's freakishly gifted Vernon Davis, who could be the first tight end drafted in the top five since Denver took Riley Odoms fifth overall in 1972.

"I feel good about being labeled the new breed of tight end,'' said Davis, who wowed scouts at the Indianapolis combine with a 4.38 time in the 40-yard dash, despite weighing in at a sculpted 254 pounds. "That's what it is, when you've got a guy who can do more than catch the ball, getting extra yardage after catching the ball and making guys miss. If you've got a tight end who can make moves like a wide receiver, when there is a linebacker on you, that's kind of a mismatch.''

Those kind of mismatches are what NFL offensive coordinators crave, and it's why tight end prospects such as Georgia's Leonard Pope, UCLA's Marcedes Lewis, USC's Dominique Byrd, Notre Dame's Anthony Fasano and Colorado's Joe Klopfenstein all are expected to be first-day picks, with all but Klopfenstein likely to go in the draft's top 50 slots.

"Nowadays it's a very needed position,'' Fasano said. "I think a lot of teams are using multiple-tight-end sets. I think teams are looking for a tight end like me that can go every play and be an all-around player.''

What teams are looking for is the next Antonio Gates, the undrafted former collegiate basketball player who has exploded into a playmaking force the past two seasons in San Diego. Gates' 89 catches for 1,101 yards and 10 touchdowns led all NFL tight ends last season, but all told, 12 tight ends had at least 55 receptions, and seven of those totaled better than 750 receiving yards with five touchdowns or more.

Some believe Davis could quickly meet the new standard by which NFL tight ends are measured. That group might even include the former Terrapin himself.

"I think Antonio Gates is a good player," Davis said at the combine. "He's someone I have watched throughout my college career, and I like the way he plays. But there are some things, when I look at the guy, that he does a little better than myself, and things I do better than him as far as speed and things like that.''

Pope is the latest model in an increasingly long line of big, talented Georgia tight ends to hit the NFL. Both New England's Benjamin Watson (first round, 32nd overall in 2004) and Miami's McMichael (fourth round, 2002) were Bulldogs, and the 6-7, 258-pound Pope has leaned on both of them for a glimpse into what he can expect in the NFL.

"When you look at players like Ben and Randy and Gonzalez and Gates and Crumpler, those guys caught a lot of passes [last] year,'' said Pope, who worked out during the pre-combine phase with both Davis and Lewis. "But there are a lot of great tight ends coming out this year, too.''

February's Seattle-Pittsburgh Super Bowl was a showcase game of sorts for the importance NFL personnel men now put on the tight end position, in that it featured a pair of first-round picks in Stevens (28th overall in 2002) and Miller (30th in 2005). And what may have been the play of the 2005 postseason was turned in by Watson in New England's divisional-round loss at Denver, when he memorably sprinted the length of the field to run Broncos cornerback Champ Bailey down from behind on Bailey's 100-yard interception return.

"I'm a Georgia guy,'' Watson quipped. "We can run.''

NFL tight ends circa 2006 all seem to be able to run, and jump, and elude coverage in ways that once weren't asked of the position or even dreamed of. Depending on the team, being adept at blocking is no longer a requisite skill, although some clubs, like the Patriots (with first-round picks Daniel Graham and Watson), still demand their tight ends throw a shoulder into the less-celebrated side of their assignments.

Like Gates, Gonzalez and Detroit's Marcus Pollard, Lewis and Pope both have basketball in their background. Height seems to be the common denominator among this year's tight end prospects, with Pope measuring 6-7, Lewis 6-6, Klopfenstein 6-5 and Fasano 6-4. Davis and Byrd are the smallest of group at 6-3 and 6-2, respectively.

"Because of my size, I can outjump most of my defenders and make plays out there,'' Pope said. "The average linebacker is about 6-1 or something like that. If I'm 6-7 and I'm running down the field and it's a one-on-one, I'm going to make the play because of my height.''

Lewis, who won the John Mackey Award as the nation's best collegiate tight end last season, likens his game to a cross between Gates and Gonzalez. Which is not bad company if you can back up such a boast.

"It's just because of our background in basketball,'' Lewis said. "I'm able to position myself in the air to catch balls that other tight ends maybe couldn't. I'm long and I can run. I'm pretty athletic.''

You darn well have to be to make it as an NFL tight end these days. Only premier athletes need apply. We might be talking about the quarterbacks and running backs first and foremost in April's pre-draft days, but come the regular season, the NFL's new breed of tight ends will demand our attention.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Ohio State is the class of the draft
Dan Pompei, SportingNews.com

Reggie Bush. Matt Leinart. Winston Justice. Taitusi Lutui. LenDale White. Darnell Bing. Dominique Byrd. Fred Matua. Frostee Rucker. Scott Ware.

Southern California, the school from the city of stars, will illuminate the draft.

Bush and Leinart are expected to be among the top four overall selections. Justice could be a top 10 pick. USC could produce as many as six first-round picks, but it more likely will have four. One general manager says he expects every starter for the 2005 Trojans offense to play in the NFL.

So is the USC class of 2006 the best draft class from a school ever? It's good but not that good. In fact, it might not even be the best this year. "Some of these players are overhyped because they played at USC," one AFC scouting director says. "In some ways, the Ohio State class might be better this year. It's a group with a lot less baggage."

Justice has had some scrapes with the law. White has dropped on most draft boards because of concerns about his personality, plus he can't or won't run a 40 because of a hamstring problem. Byrd's dedication has been questioned. Lutui has had weight problems.

The Ohio State class is much cleaner by comparison. The Buckeyes' headliners are linebackers A.J. Hawk and Bobby Carpenter, wide receiver Santonio Holmes, cornerback Ashton Youboty and offensive linemen Nick Mangold and Rob Sims. All but Sims have a chance of going in Round 1.

The best ever? Probably the Miami class of 2004, with six first-rounders: Sean Taylor, Kellen Winslow, Jonathan Vilma, D.J. Williams, Vernon Carey and Vince Wilfork. You also could make a case for the Hurricanes' 2002 class, which included five first-rounders -- Bryant McKinnie, Jeremy Shockey, Phillip Buchanon, Ed Reed and Mike Rumph -- as well as Clinton Portis in the second round.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I think this guy would be a great fit for the Packers.

Greg Eslinger

Positives: Has a solidly built frame with room to add at least another 15 pounds of bulk with no loss of quickness...Has good upper body thickness, good bubble...Shows very good balance and flexibility...Keeps his head on a swivel and is very alert to stunts and games...Learns football well and does a very good job of making calls and setting the protection for the line...Passionate about football and is a tough and competitive athlete who plays with a nasty streak...Has good strength and explosive hands to lock on and sustain...Has the sudden burst off the snap to establish leverage and position...Stays square in his base and has good lateral movement...Stays centered with his balance and generates good upper body power to pop and shock defenders...Has the athletic agility to unlock his hips and explode through blocks with good lower body drive...Consistently stays on his feet and is rarely on the ground...Not massive or a road grader, but gets movement through good knee bend and leg drive...Has good arm extension into his blocks and uses his hands well...Solid pass protector with quick feet and good change of agility to adjust, and also shows good lateral recovery ability...Very alert and quick to react, anticipating the defender's moves, and works well with his guards to handle switches...Has good right-hand snap ability for the shotgun.

Negatives: Needs to add lower body bulk to improve his anchor at the point of attack... Does a good job of keeping his pad level down at the line of scrimmage, but gets narrow in his base when working through the second level...Good position-type blocker, but lacks the bulk to create a new line of scrimmage for the ground game.

Eslinger is an aggressive player who has good quickness and strength for the position, along with valid football instincts. He shows loose hips and above average knee bend to explode off the snap and the hand punch to shock defenders on the rise. He is very effective at gaining leverage and positioning defenders when he stays low in his pads.

In the running game, he has good quickness off the ball and the strength to create some movement. He will lock on and run his feet and shows good balance and agility to adjust and play on his feet. In the second level, he demonstrates good effort and will look to lock on and make the block, but needs to keep his base wider.

Eslinger is athletic enough to pull and get out in front of the backs. He is quick to gain position and has the body control to sustain. Even when facing size mismatches vs. more massive nose guards, Eslinger is capable of walling off his man because of his ability to take good angles. He is a very effective mover in space, doing a very good job of striking his target on pulls and traps.

In the passing game, Eslinger has the functional strength and anchor to handle a bull rush and looks to lock out and control. He has the feet to mirror, slide and adjust to movement. He does a good job of using his hands to create separation and has surprising power, along with good feet, and he plays aggressive. He can shotgun snap and is quick to get his hands on a defender.

Eslinger has been favorably compared to Denver's Tom Nalen, but he has more upper body power and foot agility. He has a way of overcoming mismatches and is best served in a zone-blocking scheme. His ability to take good angles on the pull makes him a very effective trap-blocker. Few centers display his range and pass protection skills, making him the most sound technician at his position in this draft.

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10 bucks says either us or the texans take him in the 4th.

[billy_oliver880]

10 bucks says either us or the texans take him in the 4th.

Is he going to last that long?

[HarveyWallbangers]

Pat Kirwan, NFL.com Senior Analyst

Reggie Bush, RB, USC: Why a quick segment on the top pick in the NFL draft? Because he carries himself as a very humble young man that doesn't assume he's the top football player in America. I have talked with Bush many times and there are two things that jump out at me the most: his total focus to doing things the right way all day every day, and how much NFL owners who meet him are going to feel comfortable paying him a ton of money because he is a safe pick -- and a man with integrity.

Davin Joseph, G, Oklahoma: Talking with Joseph was like talking to an NFL line coach. He's played against the best, remembers everything about every opponent he faced in his four years at Oklahoma, and has an opinion about all of them. Successful NFL offensive linemen usually are some of the brightest guys on a team and Joseph will fit right into that mold. He recalled little subtleties about Oregon's Haloti Ngata from his junior year, stunts that former USC defensive tackle Shaun Cody used in the Orange Bowl two seasons ago, and what his blocking plan would be when he faces Michigan's Gabe Watson again. Any team who interviewed Joseph walked away knowing he was a sure bet to have a long NFL career.

Bobby Carpenter, LB, Ohio State: The son of New York Giants running back Rob Carpenter leans on his dad for advice and it has paid nice dividends so far in his career. I interviewed Bobby Carpenter for close to half an hour, and when I was finished I felt the same way as I did after getting to know Lofa Tatupu. Tatupu is the son of a former NFL player and it was no surprise he quickly became the leader of the Seahawks defense. He knew about pro football from a very young age and so does Carpenter. I left my time with Carpenter thinking he's got as good a chance to be a middle linebacker and lead a defense as Tatupu did coming out of college.

Owen Daniels, TE, Wisconsin: I ran into Daniels down on a beach in Florida. He was sitting with my brother, a high school coach in Illinois, and they were talking ball. Daniels is a former quarterback now finishing up a decent career as a 254-pound move tight end for Wisconsin. Talk about smart and capable of understanding option routes against coverages, I'll put Daniels' FBI (football intelligence) up against anyone in this draft. He will fit into an NFL team like Chris Cooley fits in Washington.