Latest 2 round Mock Draft fr. PFT

[Charles Woodson]

Really quick is our Defensive playbook complicated? cause yea i have read that he isnt that academicly smart, but i mean he is feild smart and makes plays

[Bretsky]

Really quick is our Defensive playbook complicated? cause yea i have read that he isnt that academicly smart, but i mean he is feild smart and makes plays

I don't think it's that complicated; but I've read that too and seeing Kurt Schottenheimer is our coach I have concerns. Nick Collins didn't take the strong step forward I was hoping for last year. IMO that was strongly related to the poor coaching.

[Charles Woodson]

Also i mean its not like players that have academicly struggled have turned out bad, look at frank gore, everyone talked about how un smart he was. Idk yes it plays a big role but i wouldnt wore to much when someone doesnt do well in school, especially when he does fine on the feild

[BallHawk]

Having an intelligent player is a big plus, though. Not only does it help them understand the game more, it keeps them out of off-field troubles.

[The Leaper]

Meachem is just a complete package. Hands, size, speed. Also, and this is more important than most people think, he is an intelligent man with a good head on his shoulders. Nelson possesses great talent, but he doesn't have a lot of brains and that is a concern. However, for the most part, it isn't I think Nelson isn't a good player, it's I think Meachem will be a better player.

Meachem is a complete package? The guy wasn't even on anyone's radar midway through this season.

He's not a physical presence...and he has a lot of learning to do. Meachem is very similar to Javon Walker in terms of size...but he is not anywhere as fast as Walker was (sub 4.4). Meachem is no better than a 4.5 guy...which is good for his size, but he is NOT an elite size/speed guy like Walker was that would earn a premium pick in the top 20 selections.

He certainly may be the second best WR prospect long term in this draft...but this draft, like last year's, is very thin on premium WR talent. Why reach for a guy like Meachem in the middle of the 1st when you can wait until the second round and still likely have a chance to nab either a Bowe, Rice, Jarrett, Jones...all guys over 6-3 with reasonable speed. There are a bunch of "good" WR prospects...and only one can't miss guy. Unless you are getting Johnson in the first round, I think you are overpaying on that WR. See Lenny P's article on ESPN...3 of the top 10 receivers last year were 7th rounders/street FAs.

Reggie Nelson is the PERFECT coverage safety for our needs. If he is there at #16...you take him and run. He's a big play guy with a great motor. The first tier safety prospects are studs...don't pass them by for WRs that have proven to be difficult to judge in the draft in recent years. There are a lot of first round flops at WR this decade. DO NOT WASTE A FIRST ROUND PICK on a "project" WR.

[Bretsky]

doublepost

[Bretsky]

FROM ESPN INSIDER

As an early entry prospect, Tennessee WR Robert Meachem couldn't strut his stuff in any of the all-star games. The 6-foot-2, 214-pound receiver made up for lost time by running the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds at the recent scouting combine. That sub-4.4 time, along with impressive results in the vertical jump (37½") and three-cone drill (6.97 seconds), should land Meachem a spot in the first round.

71 catches for about 1300yds and 11 TD's is also nothing to shake your head at

[Bretsky]

Meachem is just a complete package. Hands, size, speed. Also, and this is more important than most people think, he is an intelligent man with a good head on his shoulders. Nelson possesses great talent, but he doesn't have a lot of brains and that is a concern. However, for the most part, it isn't I think Nelson isn't a good player, it's I think Meachem will be a better player.

Meachem is a complete package? The guy wasn't even on anyone's radar midway through this season.

He's not a physical presence...and he has a lot of learning to do. Meachem is very similar to Javon Walker in terms of size...but he is not anywhere as fast as Walker was (sub 4.4). Meachem is no better than a 4.5 guy...which is good for his size, but he is NOT an elite size/speed guy like Walker was that would earn a premium pick in the top 20 selections.

He certainly may be the second best WR prospect long term in this draft...but this draft, like last year's, is very thin on premium WR talent. Why reach for a guy like Meachem in the middle of the 1st when you can wait until the second round and still likely have a chance to nab either a Bowe, Rice, Jarrett, Jones...all guys over 6-3 with reasonable speed. There are a bunch of "good" WR prospects...and only one can't miss guy. Unless you are getting Johnson in the first round, I think you are overpaying on that WR. See Lenny P's article on ESPN...3 of the top 10 receivers last year were 7th rounders/street FAs.

Reggie Nelson is the PERFECT coverage safety for our needs. If he is there at #16...you take him and run. He's a big play guy with a great motor. The first tier safety prospects are studs...don't pass them by for WRs that have proven to be difficult to judge in the draft in recent years. There are a lot of first round flops at WR this decade. DO NOT WASTE A FIRST ROUND PICK on a "project" WR.

How many of Meacham's games have you seen ? Just curious.

Midway through the season he was noted as the second best player in his conference so he was certainly on the radar.

http://cfn.scout.com/2/578093.html
Midseason Report - SEC

The reviews of the first half of the season continue with the SEC Midseason Report with Offensive Player of the Midseason, Tennessee's Erik Ainge, along with the top coach, game, disappointment and more along with predictions for each team. The rest of the conferences to be out later this week.


Offensive Player of the Midseason – Erik Ainge, QB Tennessee
Defensive Player of the Midseason – Patrick Willis, LB Ole Miss

Ten best SEC players in the first half of the season
1. Erik Ainge, QB Tennessee
2. Robert Meacham, WR Tennessee
3. Patrick Willis, LB Ole Miss
4. Chris Leak, QB Florida
5. JaMarcus Russell, QB LSU
6. Jonathan Goff, LB Vanderbilt
7. Darren McFadden, RB Arkansas
8. Andre Woodson, QB Kentucky
9. Arron Sears, OT Tennessee
10. Kenny Irons, RB Auburn

Calling him a project with the type of talent he has is harsh, but if you are going to give him that label then you also need to admit the guy has incredible upside, much greater than guys like Bowe and Jarrett. Early in his college career he had a knee injury in college that hurt his early development. He came into his own last year and excelled. He's faster than you note as everybody had reported he ran below a 4.4.

I completely agree with you on Nelson; he is a very good fit for our needs. But Meacham would fit in nicely as well. IMO it's not cut and dry by any means.


Cheers,
B

[The Leaper]

How many of Meacham's games have you seen ? Just curious.

Midway through the season he was noted as the second best player in his conference so he was certainly on the radar.

I've seen him a couple of times. He didn't impress me as that fast in pads. The guy is certainly an athlete...not sure if he is a football player. He certainly had the benefit of having a very good QB tossing him the ball, which can make a real difference at the college level.

From what I've read, he works fine as a receiver when he isn't hassled too much at the line of scrimmage. However, he can have problems with physical CBs...which he will see far more often in the NFL. I think he will take awhile to come into his own at the next level...similar to Javon Walker.

The bottom line to me is recent draft history. It has been VERY DIFFICULT to determine what WRs will become players and what WRs will become duds. There is a steady string of players with great measureables and great production that got to the NFL and were in over their heads. Many of the better WRs in the NFL right now are not first day draft picks...and 3 of the top 10 from last year were 7th rounders or street FAs.

The WR position is pretty beefy on 2nd and 3rd tier guys...a lot of very young guys with upside, but who are raw right now. Waiting until the 2nd or 3rd round can still get us a pretty solid prospect. That isn't true at safety...there are 3-4 very good talents, then a major dropoff.

[Bretsky]

How many of Meacham's games have you seen ? Just curious.

Midway through the season he was noted as the second best player in his conference so he was certainly on the radar.

I've seen him a couple of times. He didn't impress me as that fast in pads. The guy is certainly an athlete...not sure if he is a football player. He certainly had the benefit of having a very good QB tossing him the ball, which can make a real difference at the college level.

From what I've read, he works fine as a receiver when he isn't hassled too much at the line of scrimmage. However, he can have problems with physical CBs...which he will see far more often in the NFL. I think he will take awhile to come into his own at the next level...similar to Javon Walker.

The bottom line to me is recent draft history. It has been VERY DIFFICULT to determine what WRs will become players and what WRs will become duds. There is a steady string of players with great measureables and great production that got to the NFL and were in over their heads. Many of the better WRs in the NFL right now are not first day draft picks...and 3 of the top 10 from last year were 7th rounders or street FAs.

The WR position is pretty beefy on 2nd and 3rd tier guys...a lot of very young guys with upside, but who are raw right now. Waiting until the 2nd or 3rd round can still get us a pretty solid prospect. That isn't true at safety...there are 3-4 very good talents, then a major dropoff.

Those are all good point, and I can't argue with any of them. I do feel Meacham is going to be a very good Pro WR. And while some scouts have compared him to Michael Irvin, I think the Javon Walker is also fair. He does seem to have a good attitude and I think his upside is far greater than most of the other prospects.

I'm at peace with a selection of Meacham, Ginn, Nelson, or Lynch at this point. But I think Lynch gets drafted at #12.

My bet is TT needs to stay at 16 to get Nelson.

If he decides it's best to trade down then a WR or Merriweather (if he's not a bad person) would be good picks.

[Partial]

this draft is deep as hell at wideout silly sallies. Deepest in like 10 years at the WR position.

[woodbuck27]

http://www.nfl.com/draft/story/10089020

Carucci: 2007 mock draft update

By Vic Carucci
National Editor, NFL.com

(March 26, 2007) -- This mock draft will be updated weekly through the start of the 2007 draft on April 28.

Note: Changes from the third mock draft are marked with an asterisk.

1. Oakland: JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
The Raiders are starting over at quarterback -- again. They could go with Notre Dame's Brady Quinn, but Russell's off-the-charts physical skills and arm strength give him enough of an edge to rank as the No. 1 quarterback in the draft. His massive frame is a plus, but his weight at the NFL Combine (265 pounds) was about 10 pounds heavier than the Raiders or any team would prefer. Of course, given their unpredictable history, the Raiders could go with a different position. Their draft board, like that of many other teams, might very well show Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson at the top.

2. Detroit: Joe Thomas, OT, Wisconsin
The Lions will be tempted to use their first pick on yet another receiver, especially after Johnson's highly impressive showing at the Combine. General Manager Matt Millen also could give serious thought to selecting one of the top two quarterbacks available (Russell or Quinn) or Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams, another prospect who gave a strong Combine showing. But of all of their holes, the most logical for them to plug with this choice is offensive tackle. Thomas, who is a superb athlete, is the best at the position in this year's college crop and should be a fixture on the Lions' line for many years to come.


3. Cleveland: Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma
Peterson is remarkably talented, offering tremendous burst and explosiveness. He is capable of making an offense instantly better, and that is the sort of help the Browns desperately need. Peterson helped himself with an impressive performance at the Combine, but his injury history is a concern. It might be enough of a concern for the Browns to consider Quinn, an Ohio native who wants to play in Cleveland, or Johnson or perhaps the draft's best defensive tackle, Michigan's Alan Branch.

4. Tampa Bay: Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
Although the Buccaneers have multiple pressing needs, Jon Gruden pretty much has a one-track mind when it comes to identifying the best way to improve his team. In Gruden's book, that way is to acquire a dynamic playmaker on offense. Johnson fits that description perfectly. The Bucs' coach is feeling some heat to make his team significantly better, and Johnson would figure to make a great complement to the winner of the quarterback battle between free-agent Jeff Garcia and incumbent Chris Simms.

5. Arizona: Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson
Defense should be the Cardinals' focus, even though they desperately need help on their offensive line and their new coach is offensive-minded Ken Whisenhunt. Adams, who has considerable speed and athleticism, looks as if he would be the best player left on the board at this point and, therefore, impossible to ignore.

6. Washington: Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas
The Redskins need a defensive lineman that can bolster their run defense as well as rush the passer. Anderson is the most complete end in this year's college crop.

7. Minnesota: Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame
Brad Childress enters his second draft still searching for a franchise quarterback. Having played in an NFL-style offense and received NFL-level coaching at Notre Dame, Quinn figures to be ready to play as a rookie. He didn't take part in Combine drills, but threw the ball fairly well during his workout at Notre Dame's March 4 Pro Day. If the Raiders don't make Quinn the No. 1 overall pick, he should be available here.


LaRon Landry's 4.35 in the 40-yard dash at the Combine was second fastest among DBs.

8. **Atlanta: LaRon Landry, S, LSU
New coach Bobby Petrino wants to add size and strength to his offensive line, so Penn State tackle Levi Brown is a possibility. But Landry would give them the very best player at a position of need and one of the top prospects in the draft.

9. Miami: Alan Branch, DT, Michigan
The Dolphins could go a lot of ways here. Quinn's a distinct possibility if he slips this far. If not, the Dolphins likely will address their aging defense. Penn State linebacker Paul Posluszny makes sense, too, because linebacker is a crying need. But if the highly versatile Branch -- who can play end in a 4-3 scheme or nose tackle/defensive end in a 3-4 -- is available, the Dolphins would figure to grab him.

10. **Houston: Levi Brown, OT, Penn State
The Texans have who they believe is the right quarterback to run Gary Kubiak’s offense in former Falcons backup Matt Schaub. In order to get the desired production from him, they need people to keep him upright, which is something Brown should help them achieve.

11. San Francisco: Jarvis Moss, DE, Florida
Moss is an excellent athlete who has the makings of an explosive and highly productive pass rusher, just the sort of addition that Mike Nolan wants to make to his front seven.

12. Buffalo: Marshawn Lynch, RB, California
After shipping Willis McGahee to Baltimore, the Bills have a crying need at running back. If they determine they don't have a satisfactory replacement for Nate Clements, they could go with Michigan cornerback Leon Hall. The Bills also will likely consider Mississippi inside linebacker Patrick Willis to replace another free-agent loss, London Fletcher.

13. St. Louis: Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville
Despite being only 19 years old, Okoye has four years of collegiate experience. He can be the stout run-stuffing presence the Rams desperately need.

14. Carolina: Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska
For someone who stands 6-foot-6 and weighs 298 pounds, Carriker moves extremely well, as he demonstrated with an impressive showing in the 20-yard shuttle at the Combine.

15. Pittsburgh: Charles Johnson, DE, Georgia
Johnson has enough talent, to go along with an exceptional work ethic, to make him a good fit in the diversified defensive scheme of new coach Mike Tomlin.

16. Green Bay: Kenny Irons, RB, Auburn
After losing Ahman Green to Houston in free agency, the Packers need a running back. Irons is a superb athlete with excellent acceleration and elusiveness.

17. Jacksonville: Ted Ginn Jr., WR, Ohio State
The Jaguars will be thinking defense, but they would have a hard time resisting this pick if he's still on the board. Ginn didn't work out at the Combine and there is concern over the foot injury he suffered in the national championship game. Ginn still should have no problem validating the tremendous speed he showed for the Buckeyes, but his receiving skills need work. At the very least, he should make an immediate impact as a return specialist.

18. Cincinnati: Leon Hall, CB, Michigan
Hall soared to the top of his position with a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, and has great character. He should make a strong contribution immediately.

19. Tennessee: Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee
The Titans desperately want to add a receiver to Vince Young's arsenal. Meachem greatly improved his draft status by running a 4.39 40 at the Combine and putting on an impressive display in pass-catching drills.

20. N.Y. Giants: Paul Posluszny, OLB, Penn State
Although Posluszny didn't show blazing speed, he worked out better than expected at the Combine. His intelligence and versatility make him a good fit in any defensive scheme. His unselfish attitude also makes him the kind of player that Tom Coughlin loves to coach.

21. Denver: Anthony Spencer, DE, Purdue
Spencer offers tremendous quickness to go along with superb instincts and intelligence. He could be switched to outside linebacker. Either way, his athleticism is perfect for the Broncos' scheme.


The Broncos could make good use of Anthony Spencer's versatility.

22. Dallas: Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh
Revis, who also can contribute as a return specialist, shows good coverage skills and has the size and strength to help against the run. If new coach Wade Phillips can plug in Revis as a starter right away, he could move veteran cornerback Anthony Henry to free safety.

23. Kansas City: Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU
Bowe is a big, strong receiver who has the toughness to catch the ball in a crowd. His ability to run precise routes is an attribute that will likely make him a significant force as a rookie, especially if he is working with veteran quarterback Trent Green.

24. New England: Patrick Willis, ILB, Mississippi
Willis shows excellent instincts and is a superb tackler, qualities that would seem to make him right at home in a complex scheme that needs some youth and depth at inside linebacker.

25. N.Y. Jets: Greg Olsen, TE, Miami
After an impressive Combine performance, Olsen might already be off the board by this point. But his speed and athleticism would make him an excellent addition and provide an added dimension to the Jets offense.

26. Philadelphia: Aaron Ross, CB, Texas
The 6-0, 193-pound Ross has the size and strength to effectively jam receivers at the line. He also has plenty of speed to hold up well in man-to-man coverage, which should allow him to make an immediate impact.

27. New Orleans: Marcus McCauley, CB, Fresno State
McCauley has an impressive combination of good size (6-0, 200 pounds) and excellent speed, which he demonstrated by running a 4.39 40 at the Combine. He should help the Saints' efforts to cut down on giving up big plays, which happened too often in the playoffs.

28. **New England: Reggie Nelson, S, Florida
Nelson, who has good speed and athleticism, fills an obvious need for the Patriots. With some added bulk and strength, he could be an exceptional player for many years to come.

29. Baltimore: Justin Blalock, OG, Texas
The Ravens offensive line is getting old. Blalock would be a quality addition because of his power and aggressiveness, which he uses particularly well in run-blocking.

30. San Diego: Dwayne Jarrett, WR, USC
Jarrett could have problems consistently gaining separation against NFL cornerbacks, but he has been a dynamic playmaker in a program that has prepared him well for the next level.

31. Chicago: Michael Griffin, S, Texas
The Bears' lack of depth at safety was never more visible than in the Super Bowl, when Colts receiver Reggie Wayne was often left by himself on deep routes. Griffin is an outstanding athlete with plenty of agility to turn and run. He's also big (6-1-plus, 207 pounds), strong and a willing hitter near the line of scrimmage.

32. Indianapolis: Lawrence Timmons, OLB, Florida State
Timmons was a highly productive collegiate player who, if he falls this far, looks as if he would be the best choice at this point to replace Cato June, who signed with Tampa Bay.

[woodbuck27]

Tuesday, March 27, 2007


2007 DRAFT NEEDS . . . presented by PFT

So here they are. A team-by-team analysis of franchise needs for the coming NFL draft. To accomplish this 32-team task, we've enlisted the help of Matt Miller of NewEraScouting.com, who'll assist us in identifying the areas where the various teams need to add bodies.

Our goal is to add one new team per day, starting March 18 and continuing through April 20. Since the draft doesn't start until April 28, it gives us a built-in buffer of eight days, in the event we fall behind at some point in the process.

Here they are -- from No. 1 to No. 32:

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2007DraftNeeds.htm

Use above link to determine analysis:

1. Oakland Raiders (March 18, 2007).

2. Detroit Lions (March 19, 2007).

3. Cleveland Browns (March 20, 2007).

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (March 21, 2007).

5. Arizona Cardinals (March 22, 2007).

6. Washington Redskins (March 23, 2007).

7. Minnesota Vikings (March 24, 2007).

8. Houston Texans (March 25, 2007).

9. Miami Dolphins (March 26, 2007).

[woodbuck27]

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2007DraftNeeds.htm

Here they are -- from No. 1 to No. 11:

1. Oakland Raiders (March 18, 2007).

2. Detroit Lions (March 19, 2007).

3. Cleveland Browns (March 20, 2007).

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (March 21, 2007).

5. Arizona Cardinals (March 22, 2007).

6. Washington Redskins (March 23, 2007).

7. Minnesota Vikings (March 24, 2007).

8. Houston Texans (March 25, 2007).

9. Miami Dolphins (March 26, 2007).

10. Atlanta Falcons (March 27, 2007).

11. San Francisco 49ers (March 28, 2007).

[woodbuck27]

http://www.profootballtalk.com/2007DraftNeeds.htm

2007 DRAFT NEEDS

So here they are. A team-by-team analysis of franchise needs for the coming NFL draft. To accomplish this 32-team task, we've enlisted the help of Matt Miller of NewEraScouting.com, who'll assist us in identifying the areas where the various teams need to add bodies.

Our goal is to add one new team per day, starting March 18 and continuing through April 20. Since the draft doesn't start until April 28, it gives us a built-in buffer of eight days, in the event we fall behind at some point in the process.

Here they are -- from No. 1 to No. 14:

1. Oakland Raiders (March 18, 2007).

2. Detroit Lions (March 19, 2007).

3. Cleveland Browns (March 20, 2007).

4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (March 21, 2007).

5. Arizona Cardinals (March 22, 2007).

6. Washington Redskins (March 23, 2007).

7. Minnesota Vikings (March 24, 2007).

8. Houston Texans (March 25, 2007).

9. Miami Dolphins (March 26, 2007).

10. Atlanta Falcons (March 27, 2007).

11. San Francisco 49ers (March 28, 2007).

12. Buffalo Bills (March 30, 2007).

13. St. Louis Rams (March 31, 2007).

14. Carolina Panthers (April 1, 2007).