The Mel Kiper Jr. 2007 Draft Report has arrived

[gureski]

I just got it in the mail. I've been really crunched for time lately and unable to spend much time here but I'm willing to share Mel's comments on whatever players you want to hear about.

Just list the player you want info on and I'll try to paraphrase Mel's comments for you. I'd tell you what he said precisely but if you've ever seen the draft report you'll know that the explanations can get rather lengthy so that's not realistic, or legal, for me to spill his comments word for word.

Rick

[LL2]

Re: The Mel Kiper Jr. 2007 Draft Report has arrived

I'd tell you what he said precisely but if you've ever seen the draft report you'll know that the explanations can get rather lengthy so that's not realistic, or legal, for me to spill his comments word for word.

Yes, you are taking subscription revenue from his hair gel fund.

Does he have a Packer specific analysis? What does he say on Garret Wolfe from NIU? I'll start with a play that doesn't get much talk.

[BF4MVP]

Marshawn Lynch

[ND72]

Re: The Mel Kiper Jr. 2007 Draft Report has arrived

I just got it in the mail. I've been really crunched for time lately and unable to spend much time here but I'm willing to share Mel's comments on whatever players you want to hear about.

Just list the player you want info on and I'll try to paraphrase Mel's comments for you. I'd tell you what he said precisely but if you've ever seen the draft report you'll know that the explanations can get rather lengthy so that's not realistic, or legal, for me to spill his comments word for word.

Rick

it just came? I've had for almost a month! (yes, i'm sad...at least that's what my girlfriend tells me).

[BallHawk]

Ben Patrick TE
Chris Henry RB
Jason Hill WR
Kenny Irons RB

[gureski]

Kiper on Lynch

Marshawn Lynch

I'll toss these out there as soon as I can guys.... Since I did already read Lynch, ....here is that one...

Kiper has Lynch as the 2nd best RB prospect in the draft.

Kiper has the Packer selecting Lynch with the 16th pick in his 3 round mock draft.

Kiper refers to Lynch as 'arguably the toughest runner in college football' and compares him by name with Corey Dillon.

Kiper says that Lynch is a, "...tough and bruising runner, who isn't real elusive but not easy to tackle either."

Kiper has Lynch running a 4.49 (40) and measures him at 5'11" & 215lbs.

Combine notes from Kiper have Lynch running a 4.46 (40), doing 20 reps on the bench press of which I believe 225 is the weight they all lift for those, and a 35 and 1/2 inch vertical.

Kiper gave Lynch props for finishing as one of only 5 RB's in the nation with over 6 yards per carry average (in a tough Pac-10 division).

Kiper lauded Lynch for running hard and getting yards after initial contact.

Some things that stood out to me while reading about Lynch's background including high school:

He is from the Bay area and chose to stay there when selecting a college. That always says something about a guys character to me when he stays home.

Was a 3 time all-league selection coming out of high school in Oakland. Unbelievable year in 2003 when he scored 33 TD's and put up 1,700 plus yards on the ground in just 8 games.

Though Lynch has been built up as a pass receiver, his 34 pass receptions last year matched his total from the prior two seasons combined. That just tells me that he's not as experienced catching the ball as some are thinking he is. 34 balls isn't alot. Not enough for me to consider the guy a talent at catching the ball out of the backfield.

Lynch finished as Cal's 2nd all-time leading rusher and set the record for 100 yard rushing performances in a career with 17.

Oh, and he looks like a punk. Think E.James when he was coming out of college. Lynch's has a Messy hair cut, wearing a polo shirt for his official picture where-as most other guys are wearing their uniform or a suit. Cocky look on his face. It's not comforting. It's not Hawk of last year when you looked at the guy and he just said 'Football' and professionalism.

[BF4MVP]

Thanks a lot, man.

[gureski]

Kenny Irons RB

Kiper says Irons rushed for nearly 2,000 yards as a high school senior in South Carolina in 2001 (1,985 yds). Says Irons elected to stay close to home and went with South Carolina.

Irons college career started slow as he played but didn't get major carries. After 2 uneventful years with South Carolina, Irons transferred to Auburn and had to sit out the 2004 season.

Irons exploded onto the scene in 2005 as Auburn's starter in 9 of 12 games. He was a unanimous pick to the All-SEC First Team in 2005 with 1,293 yds rushing and 13 TD's (also over a 5 yd per carry avg). He put up some major performances that year going over 100 yds 8 times as a Junior and topped 200 yds once. (218yds vs LSU, 179 yds vs Georgia, 182yds vs Arkansas, & 147yds vs Ball State)

Kiper says Irons came into this past year with high expectations but ended up missing 2 games due to injury and was slowed in several others. He repeated as First Team, All-SEC but did so with only 893 yds rushing and 4 TD's. (avg per carry dropped to 4.5 yds) Irons had three 100 yd games last year including starting off the year with 183 yds vs Washington State.

Kiper says Irons is very good, when healthy. Says he runs hard and has good feet and balance. He says Irons can run either between the tackles or bounce it outside. Kiper says Irons is a willing blocker, but not a great one, and that Irons will do an okay job of catching the ball out of the backfield.

Kiper says that he felt, coming into this year, that Irons would be a mid-first round pick. Says Injuries ruined that and some team is going to get a bargain.

Kiper has Irons as the 4th best RB overall in this draft. He shows him as being 5'10 1/2" tall, 200lbs. Runs a 4.45 (40).

Combine notes have Irons running a 4.45 (40), skipping the bench press, and having a 38" vertical leap.

My own thoughts as I read:

I'm biased in that I've called for the Packers to draft Irons, hopefully in the 2nd round, but I see a kid that was held back by injuries and 2 uneventful years to start his college career. I think he's going to be a great pick up for some team in the second round.

The fact he stayed home to go to college shows some character. Continuing to believe in himself after 2 uneventful seasons in South Carolina shows character too as he then burst out in 2005 to put himself on the map.

I see that big game potential with Irons that I don't see with Lynch. Irons produced more big yardage days in his short time then Lynch did in Cal. Lynch is just more of a chain mover while I see Irons, based on his numbers, as having the ability to break a run and rack up yards in chunks while also being able to move the chains.

Almsot forgot: Kiper has Irons going to Tennessee in the 2nd round with the 50th overall pick in the draft. (18th pick in the second round, if my math is correct)

[OS PA]

While we're on this Running Back tangent could you add Michael Bush to your list?

[gureski]

Re: The Mel Kiper Jr. 2007 Draft Report has arrived

Does he have a Packer specific analysis?

Yes, and this is the gist of it:

Packers Needs:

Kiper lists the Packers needs in the following order:

1. RB
2. WR
3. Strong Safety
4. TE
5. CB
6. FB
7. O-Line depth
8. Punt/Kick Returner
9. PK

Highlights of Mel's comments on the Packers and their needs:

Kiper called Morency, "...strictly back up material." said Herron was, "...a decent all-around back....in 2006....but not a consideration as a primary ball carrier." On Pope, Kiper said, "Pope is just a roster guy."

Kiper praised Jennings and Driver and said the Packers need to find a #3 WR that can stretch the field and make some big plays. Kiper says Ruvell Martin gave the team some big plays but said the jury is still out on him.

Kiper thinks Favre and Franks have a special comfort level that will allow Franks to remain the starter for 2007. Kiper says the following about the Packers back up TE's, "I am told they like some of the raw ability they've seen in youngsers Tory Humphrey and Zac Alcorn."

Kiper says the Pack has little after Harris and Woodson. Mentions Dendy as not a liability but also not an asset. Says the jury is still out on Blackmon and wonders whether he can become anything because of the switch from CB to WR during his senior season in college. Infers the coaches changed him to WR for more reason then just team needs. Kiper mentions Frank Walker and states that he had promise early on in his career but then says that Walker was never able to, "...take the next step."

O-Line Depth: Kiper says that after Tony Moll, there aren't many positive things to say about Coston, Palmer and Walter. Kiper

Kiper points out the obvious, that the Packers need better return from their return game.

PK - this was a surprise for me to see Kiper being critical of Rayner. Kiper says Rayner had an up and down year and said that Rayner's leg was ideal in strength but that his accuracy isn't there all the time. Kiper seems confident that the Packers will bring in a veteran, a late pick, or a street free agent to truly challenge Rayner in camp.

[gureski]

Ben Patrick TE
Chris Henry RB
Jason Hill WR
Kenny Irons RB

I don't have time right now to go over Hill and Henry but both are suprisingly impressive. Henry seems like an athlete first, and a football player second. The kind of guy who looks the role but doesn't necessarily play to that potential. I'll write more on him later.

On Hill, his bio reminded me of Jennings from last year in that the guy has this impressive resume and yet he's not mentioned with the top guys when you hear people talk about the draft. Hill could be a Jennings type steal. His production in college was consistantly high calibur. I'll write more on him later.

Right now I wanted to do up the Patrick comments for everyone:

TE Ben Patrick

Per Kiper, Patrick is 6' 3&1/4" tall, weighs 256 and runs a 4.69 (40)

Kiper says Patrick has excellent hands and a 'ton of natural ability'.

Patrick played QB, TE, LB, & Punter in high school in 2001 (Savannah, GA) and was a Team MVP as a Senior and an all-city performer. Patrick led the team in passing and receiving on offense and tackles on defense as a senior. He also lettered in baseball and basketball.

Patrick went to Duke and redshirted his first season (2002). In 2003, he started 1 game and appeared in 10 games total and finished with 18 receptions for 218yds and 1 TD. This was good enough to earn ACC all-freshman honors.

In 2004, Patrick started 6 games and appeared in 11 games total. He finished with a team high 32 receptions, 311 yds receiving, and 1 TD.

In 2005, Patrick started 8 games and appeared in 10 total. He again led the team in catches (30) and put up 252 yds receiving. Highlight of the season, and possibly his Division IA career came in 2005 with a 10 reception, 100 yd performance against Clemson.

Transferred down to Division IAA after the 2005 to what Kiper called 'Division I-AA perennial powerhouse Deleware'.

Patrick earned All-American honors in 2006. Had a school record 64 receptions, and 639 yds receiving to go along with 6TD's. Patrick led his team in receiving yards. Had 1 game with 100 plus yrds receiving and 1 game with 90 plus yds receiving.

Patrick was the only Division I-AA player to be invited to the Senior Bowl and did a 'nice job' during the week of practices.

Kiper goes on to say that Patrick is, "..big, can run, and has great hands to make the catch. His concnetration however, leaves something to be desired at times, causing him to drop a catchable ball every now and then. Patrick will also have to become a more consistant and reliable blocker."

Combine Numbers: 4.74 (40), didn't lift, and had a 34 1/2" vertical leap.

Kiper has Patrick going to.....DUN DUN DUNNNNN our own Green Bay Packers in the second round, with the 47th overall pick.

My own random thoughts after reading the bio:

Anytime a player has to go down to Division Two in order to get noticed, that raises a red flag to me. The talent was there, but the kid couldn't put together the consistant performance to match his ability. He couldn't even become a full-time starter at Duke. Duke's not exactly a powerhouse football program. That's another red flag.

And why not go to another Division I school? Why the seeming panic and a move to a North East school after staying in the south for his high school and college life? It just seems like a deliberate move to try to raise his draft value. Going to a 'perennial powerhouse' Division Two team so he could lots of talent around him to help him stand out and put up nice numbers....... it just seems so manufactured. And the kid didn't dominate Division Two! He only had one 100 yd game and another in the 90's. It's not like he stood out, head and shoulders ahead of the other talent around him.

Seemed really inconsistant. A few good games dot his college resume but in the end, the kid couldn't even lock up the starting job at Duke and he was there for 4 years! (1 was a red-shirt). I'm disappointed after reading this bio. I've heard Kiper and others tout this kid as a potential sleeper player from the Division Two schools. After reading up on it, the whole situation seems manufactured.

[MJZiggy]

Tell me why my gut tells me we get Paul Williams.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I got the USA Today draft newspaper. I like it because it's not as outdated as the magazines that get printed--like the ESPN draft magazine that I bought. However, I won't be typing in the articles.

[Bretsky]

Tell me why my gut tells me we get Paul Williams.

Cause you listen to Mad ?

[gureski]

Chris Henry RB

Chris Henry

5' 11&1/4" tall, 229lbs, 4.43 (40)

Kiper says Henry is 'athletically gifted' but needs to 'become more consistant at the next level'.

Henry was a track star in high school (stockton, CA) Track team captain his Junior and Senior years. Henry gained 300 yds as a Junior playing FB. Henry lettered 3 times in baseball and 2 times in basketball.

In 2003, as a college freshman, Henry got into 2 games before injuring himself for the rest of the season. He was awarded a medical waiver (redshirt) and came back in 2004 as a second year freshman. He played in 11 games that year gaining 159 yds on the ground in 56 attempts. In 2005, as a third year sophomore, Henry became the main back up RB and gained 119 yds on 34 carries while also contributing on special teams. 2006 saw Henry play in 11 games and 581 yds rushing, 7 TD's. (3.5 yd per carry avg) He had 21 receptions for 197 yds and 1 TD too.

Mel says, "As a package, he is everything you look for in a big time back. ...outstanding upper body strength.....outstanding straight line speed...He looks like a first round pick....However, Henry was inconsistant during his brief college career....he also had some fumbling issues..."

Mel feels the kid should've stayed in college for at least another year.

Combine notes: 4.40 (40), bench press 26 reps, and a 36 vertical leap

My miscellaneous thoughts as I read the bio:

Sounds like a classic athlete playing football as opposed to a football player.

Don't see any real production from this guy. I didn't see one example of a 100 yd rushing game! Only a handful of performances that even came close to 100 yds rushing or receiving! Why is he so hyped when he has no statistical performance, dating back to high school, to show for his ability?


Mel has Henry going to Cleveland with the third pick in the third round (67 overall)