Official 2007 Live Draft Thread

[J-Rok]

Wait, have we picked a lb or wr yet? We should probably pick one more up of each.

[Jimx29]

NFL.com DraftTracker:

18 192 Green Bay (from Pittsburgh) Bishop, Desmond ILB 5-2 239 California

5-2

That is smaller than my mother

Or a typo?

Maybe it's supposed to be 5' 12"

[woodbuck27]

http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/2007/crosby_mason

Prospect Profiles

Mason Crosby

Height: 6-1 Weight: 214 Position: Kicker College: Colorado


Copyright NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange


OVERVIEW

When it comes to the art of kicking off, few players in the collegiate or professional ranks boast the leg strength Crosby has. The holder of 31 school game, season and career records, he closed out his tenure as Colorado's all-time scorer with 307 points.

While some skeptics cite the thin air in the Mile High City for the success of kickers in the Denver area, Crosby has proven time and again that he can be just as successful at sea level. With his power and follow-through, records at the professional level could soon be in jeopardy.

As a senior at Georgetown High School, Crosby earned first-team All-District 13-5A honors as a placekicker, punter and free safety, adding All-Central Texas as a kicker. Prep Star named him to its All-Midlands team, while Rivals.com ranked him as the third-best placekicker in the nation. He was first-team All-District and second-team All-Region at kicker as a junior.

During his final season, Crosby converted 7 of 11 field goals (long of 59) and 23 of 25 extra-point attempts. He owned a 39.8-yard average for 40 punts (61 long), with 10 kicks being downed inside the 20-yard line, including five inside the 5. At free safety, he recorded 78 tackles (26 solos), eight for losses, three interceptions, three passes broken up, three forced fumbles and two recoveries.

In the Cedar Park High game during his senior year, his 59-yarder was the longest field goal in Texas prep football in eight years and tied him for the third longest in state history. He also had a 61-yard punt in the game. In the Round Rock game that year, he had seven tackles and two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown and kicking the extra point following the score.

As a junior, Crosby made 8 of 10 field goals (52 long) and 17 of 20 PATs (all misses were blocked). He averaged 37.2 yards on 60 punts (64 long), with eight inside the 20. He had 58 tackles (25 solos, 10 for losses), with three interceptions, four pass deflections, three hurries and two fumble recoveries. Against Copperas Cove as a junior, he made three field goals (52, 46 and 39 yards) against a team that came in with five consecutive shutouts.

Georgetown High was 5-5 his senior year and 6-4 his junior season under coach Larry Moore. He also earned two letters in soccer (defense/midfielder), receiving All-District honors as a sophomore (14 goals) and junior (17 goals).

Crosby, a single-digit handicap golfer, has good athletic roots. His father, Jim, was a fullback at Texas-El Paso and his grandfather, Harry, ran track at Marshall. Having spent two years in the Fort Collins region as a youngster, he became an avid Colorado Buffalo fan, making his decision easy during the prep recruiting wars.

Crosby enrolled at the University of Colorado in 2003. He was only the second true freshman to handle the place-kicking chores in a CU season opener in school history, and only the fifth to see any action, period. He set a Colorado record for the most points scored by a freshman with 52 (the old record of 48 was shared by two players). The talented first-year performer connected on 31 of 37 PATs and 7 of 9 field goals. Only 10 of his 37 kickoffs were returned, with 26 being ruled touchbacks (17 of those boots sailed clear out of the end zone).

In 2004, Crosby was the unanimous first-team All-Big 12 Conference selection and a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, earning second-team All-American honors from The NFL Draft Report and Rivals.com. He led the NCAA in field goals made from 50-plus yards with six (topping Ohio State's Mike Nugent, the Groza winner, who had five), and hit on 23 of 29 overall for the season (19 of 23 during the regular season, 4 of 6 in the bowl game).

Crosby led the conference and was sixth in the nation in field goals made per game (1.77), and became just the 10th player in NCAA history to make a 60-yard or longer field goal without a tee when he nailed a 60-yarder against Iowa State, the longest in the nation in 2004. He also kicked the game-winning field goal in that game, doing so again in the Colorado State and Washington State contests.

As a junior, Crosby was runner-up for the Lou Groza Award (by just six points to Oregon State's Alexis Serna). He became the first placekicker in Colorado history to earn first-team All-American honors and was the unanimous selection for first-team All-Big 12 Conference honors, adding league Special Teams Player of the Year accolades.

Crosby put together an amazing list of accomplishments for the season, the crown jewel being a 58-yard field goal at Miami, the longest ever at sea level (seven feet) without a kicking tee in NCAA Division I-A history. He led the team in scoring with 94 points, converting all 31 PAT kicks (he has made 38 consecutive) and 21 of 28 field goals. He also led the nation in the average distance per field goal made at an astounding 41.2 yards. Only 18 of his 61 kickoffs were returned, with 33 of his 43 touchbacks going out of the end zone. Six games were decided in Colorado's favor thanks to Crosby's field goal exploits.

The nation's premier placekicker in 2006, as evidenced by Crosby earning first-team All-American honors, he was strangely relegated to semifinalist activity on the Lou Groza Award voting. One of three team captains, he became the seventh player in Colorado history to be named first-team All-Big 12 Conference three times. He connected on 19 of 28 field goals, though most of the misses were from long range; he was a solid 17 of 19 inside 50 yards, as good as anyone in the country (one of the two misses was blocked), as he finished with 74 points scored.

One of his failed field goals just missed sailing through the upright, a 65-yard attempt against Iowa State. "I was a little disappointed about it, I hit it about as good as I thought I could I just got a little too much height. You usually don't complain about height, but I needed a little more drive and a little less height. Hopefully I'll get another chance next year in the NFL."

Crosby also kicked off 43 times, with only 15 of his attempts being returned. Asked about his kickoff success and the high amount of touchbacks he produced (137 of 200 kickoffs), he matter-of-factly replied, "I don't usually think about not kicking it for a touchback but I always try to get good height. So if it doesn't go for a touchback then at least it sets up our coverage team in good position to prevent a good return."

Crosby closed out his career by becoming the first Colorado placekicker to play in the Senior Bowl, where he scored nine points in the game to help the North to a 27-0 win. He holds the school record for kickers by playing in 48 games. He is the school's all-time scorer with 307 points, connecting on 66 of 88 field goals (75.0 percent) and 109 of 117 extra-point attempts. He was successful on 19 of 25 field goals from the 40-49 yard range, 11 of 20 from 50-59 yards and made one of four tries from beyond 60 yards. He also had just 63 of 203 kickoffs returned, as 138 were ruled touchbacks and 88 went out of the end zone.


ANALYSIS

Positives:

Has a thick frame with adequate muscle development, thick thighs and calves … Shows very good agility, balance and body control in his approach to the ball … Right-footed soccer-style kicker with fluid leg action and extension … Makes good adjustments on the field and works hard at his craft … Shows very good poise in pressure situations and demonstrates the explosive leg drive to consistently launch his kickoffs into the end zone (only 62 of his 203 kickoffs were returned, as 138 were ruled touchbacks, including 88 that sailed out of the end zone) … Very consistent in his long-range field goal attempts, having connected on 30 of 45 attempts between the 40-59-yard range) … Seemed to have made some of his biggest kicks in inclement weather conditions or at sea level, disputing the fact by some that Crosby's success has been the result of the thin air in Colorado (owns the third-longest field goal in the history of football, college or professional) … Very confident in his ability to make the long-range kicks … Can also handle punting duties effectively in an emergency … Has the hands to adjust to the off-target punt snap … Drives the ball for tremendous distances and with excellent hang time (averaged 68.7 yards on his kickoffs) … His snap-to-toe range is superb, generally getting the ball off under 1.26 seconds … Gets the ball up quickly and with good rise (two blocked kicks during his career) … Gets incredible hang time on his kickoffs (4.37-4.54 second average) that has prevented the opposition from returning many of those kicks (only 26.5 percent of his kickoffs have been returned) … Excels in pressure situations, coming through with six game-winning field goals as a sophomore and junior … Extremely accurate on his intermediate field goals and placements … Has more than enough leg strength to drive his ball against the wind … Athletic enough to serve as a lead blocker on fake field goals, and while not fast he has the leg drive to break tackles carrying the ball … Likes to get down field and cover on kickoffs and will make every effort to deliver the tackle … His seven-yard approach on kickoffs (does so without a tee) allows him to generate full force of his leg strength and he has a quick approach to the ball, showing very good extension and follow-through on his two-step field goal approach.

Negatives:

Likes to get down field to cover on kickoffs, but lacks speed to be more than a space occupier … Will sometimes shank a few when he gets rushed in the backfield, resulting in low trajectory.

Compares To: Jeff Wilkins, St. Louis -- For consistency, accuracy, leg strength and excellence on kickoffs, few in the league can match Wilkins in those areas. That is, until Crosby earns a job in 2007 training camp. Don't buy into that line that he has an advantage kicking in a thin air environment. There is no one in the collegiate ranks that can match Crosby's leg strength.


INJURY REPORT

2002: Suffered a right knee meniscus tear during his senior year in high school.


AGILITY TESTS

Campus: 5.2 in the 40-yard dash … Right-footed soccer-style kicker … Right-handed … 29-inch arm length … 8½-inch hands … 25/39 Wonderlic score.


HIGH SCHOOL

Attended Georgetown (Texas) High School, playing football for head coach Larry Moore … Earned first-team All-District 13-5A honors as a placekicker, punter and free safety, adding All-Central Texas as a kicker … Prep Star named him to its All-Midlands team, while Rivals.com ranked him as the third-best placekicker in the nation … First-team All-District and second-team All-Region at kicker as a junior … During his final season, Crosby converted 7 of 11 field goals (long of 59) and 23 of 25 extra-point kicks … Owned a 39.8-yard average for 40 punts (61 long), with 10 kicks being downed inside the 20-yard line, including five inside the 5-yard line … At free safety, he recorded 78 tackles (26 solos), eight for losses, three interceptions, three passes broken up, three forced fumbles and two recoveries … In the Cedar Park High game during his senior year, he made the longest field goal in Texas prep football in eight years when he drilled a career-best 59-yarder; it tied him for the third longest in state history. He also had a 61-yard punt in the game … In the Round Rock game that year, he had seven tackles and two interceptions, returning one for a touchdown and kicking the PAT following the score … As a junior, Crosby made 8 of 10 field goals (52 long) and 17 of 20 PATs (all misses were blocked) … Averaged 37.2 yards on 60 punts (64 long), with eight inside the 20. He had 58 tackles (25 solos, 10 for losses), with three interceptions, four pass deflections, three hurries and two fumble recoveries … His best career games included vs. Copperas Cove as a junior, when he made three field goals (52, 46 and 39 yards) against a team that came in with five consecutive shutouts … The team was 5-5 his senior year and 6-4 his junior season … Also earned two letters in soccer (defense/midfielder), receiving All-District honors as both a sophomore (14 goals) and junior (17 goals).


PERSONAL

Graduated with a bachelor's degree in Communication in December 2006 … Single-digit handicap golfer. Many kickers have interesting rituals or superstitions, his is to hit at least 60 golf balls at a driving range two days before a game … Very active in his community, including local mission and church youth group work … Father, Jim, was a fullback at Texas-El Paso in the mid-1970s … Grandfather, Harry Crosby, ran track at Marshall … Born Sept. 3, 1984 in Lubbock, Texas … Resides in Georgetown, Texas.

[RashanGary]

The VT got some award for being the leader on defense for 2 years in a row. Harrell was said to be the leader of the Tennessee defense, this LB is the "pulse of Cal's D"

We're going to have a lockerroom of leaders and guys who love football. Draft day always raises my koolaid level. I'm pretty excited to see this group added to last years group of guys who fit the same description.

[Rastak]

Nice pick by the Falcons....




Doug Datish
OC | (6'4", 302, 5.13) | OHIO STATE

Scouts Grade: 64
View by: Round | Player | NCAA School | Position | NFL Team | Flag | All Ranked Players | NFL Draft History
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Strengths: A mobile technician. Shows good speed to the second-level as a blocker and stays under control in space. Displays good balance and body control. Plays with a mean streak and is physical at the point of attack. Plays with a great motor, shows adequate range and looks to throw blocks downfield. Possesses adequate size and has the frame to add even more bulk. Shows adequate lateral mobility and can be effective playing in a zone blocking scheme. Has experience lining up at tackle as well as guard and is versatile.

Weaknesses: Shows good mobility in space but doesn't have great initial quickness and is going to have problems preventing penetration working against explosive one-gap defenders. Plays too high at times and is vulnerable to powerful bull rushers. While he has quick feet, he can be overaggressive and lunges at times, making him vulnerable to double moves. Doesn't roll hips into blocks, doesn't deliver a violent initial punch and isn't going to knock many defenders back.

Overall: Datish was redshirted in 2002. He appeared in four games during the 2003 season as a backup and on special teams. In 2004, Datish received 10 starts, nine at guard, and one at center against Michigan State (11/6). He then became the Ohio State's starter at left tackle for the 2005 season. However, Datish was the team's starting center for all 13 games in the 2006 season.
Datish doesn't have great explosiveness but he has the versatility, frame, quickness and tenacity to develop into a solid starting center in the NFL. He has continued to make significant strides as a senior, which is why Datish's draft stock has improved to the third-or-fourth round range of the 2007 class. At the very least, Datish should serve as backup to multiple positions along the offensive line in the pros.



* Player biographies are provided by Scouts Inc.

[J-Rok]

Haha, 5'12?!?!? That's not so bad. One more inch and he's 6 foot tall.

[Lurker64]

Haha, 5'12?!?!? That's not so bad. One more inch and he's 6 foot tall.

The NFL site also has him at 6'2", so I'm pretty sure it's just a typo.

[J-Rok]

Haha, I was just joking around. I really doubt they'd put 5'12 up instead of just 6'0.

[woodbuck27]

http://www.newerascouting.com/index.php?c=28

Inside Linebackers

2007 Inside Linebacker Rankings

Posted on Mar 06, 2007 by Matt Miller

1. Patrick Willis, ILB, Mississippi, 6'1, 242
2. Brandon Siler*, ILB, Florida, 6'2, 241
3. David Harris, ILB, Michigan, 6'2, 243
4. H.B. Blades, ILB, Pittsburgh, 5'11, 236
5. Jon Abbate*, ILB, Wake Forest, 5'10, 231

6. Desmond Bishop, ILB, California, 6'2, 239

Note: He's listed here as 6' 2''. Here's hoping !!

Desmond Bishop, California (MLB) (6-1 7/8, 239; 4.82)

Bishop worked out at the Combine, but did not run the shuttles or jumped.

He ran 4.81 and 4.83 in the 40, 4.65 in the short shuttle, and 7.14 in the cone drill. He also had a 32¼-inch vertical jump, a 9-foot-4 long jump and did 33 lifts. He plays well against the run, but has problems in space.

He gives very good effort, but the question is whether he can play all three downs.


7. Anthony Waters, ILB, Clemson, 6'2, 245
8. Justin Durant, ILB, Hampton, 6'1, 230
9. Nate Harris, ILB, Louisville, 6'0, 230
10. Zak DeOssie, ILB, Brown, 6'4, 250
11. Thaddaeus Washington, ILB, Colorado, 5'11, 245
12. Justin Warren, ILB, Texas A&M, 6'2, 245
13. Mark Zalewski, ILB, Wisconsin, 6'1, 232

14. Korey Hall, ILB, Boise State, 6'0, 236

15. Zach Diles, ILB, Kansas State, 6'0, 240
16. George Hall, ILB, Purdue, 6'0, 240
17. Blair Phillips, ILB, Oregon, 6'1, 244
18. Dedrick Harrington, ILB, Missouri, 6'3, 248
19. Oscar Lua, ILB, Southern California, 6'1, 240
20. Quinton Culberson, ILB, Mississippi State, 6'0, 236
21. Kelvin Smith, ILB, Syracuse, 6'2, 240
22. Marvin Mitchell, ILB, Tennessee, 6'3, 249
23. Johnny Baldwin, ILB, Alabama A&M, 6'1, 232
24. Zach Latimer, ILB, Oklahoma, 6'1, 237
25. Cameron Jensen, ILB, Brigham Young, 6'2, 247
26. Matt Muncy, ILB, Ohio, 6'0, 242
27. Keyonvis Bouie, ILB, Florida International, 6'1, 224

[Rastak]

6 picks left in round 6....I think the Vikes and Pack both have two picks in the 7th....there are still some pretty good players left.....

[Lurker64]

Since nobody's posted it yet, here's something about our new LB/TE/FB extraordinaire, Korey Hall, note that he did play RB in high school so trying him out at FB isn't completely out of nowhere.

Korey Hall | Linebacker | Boise State | 6'1" - 230 lbs.

2006 SEASON
Named second-team All-America by the Sporting News...Named Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year, as well as earning first-team All-WAC honors...Named quarterfinalist for the Lott Trophy...Named the Broncos most outstanding defensive player...Moved into second in all-time tackles in the Western Athletic Conference and fourth in Boise State history...Finished the regular season with 105 tackles (one shy of career best), 6.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, a team-best six interceptions, one pass breakup and one fumble recovery...First among the nation's linebackers in career interceptions...Finished season third in the WAC in tackles (8.8 per game) and in interceptions (0.50 per game)...Named WAC Defensive Player of the Week after making eight tackles and picking off two passes against Utah...Finished with double-digit tackles four times, at New Mexico State, against Hawaii and Oregon State and at Wyoming...Had a season-high 15 tackles, a sack and an interception at New Mexico State...Finished with 12 tackles and a fumble recovery against Hawaii, had 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks at Wyoming and 10 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss with an interception against Oregon State...Had nine tackles against Louisiana Tech, Idaho (with an interception), and Utah State with 1.5 tackles for loss against the Aggies...Made seven tackles at Nevada and six tackles with a tackle for loss against Sacramento State...Finished with five tackles and an interception against Fresno State and four tackles and a sack at San Jose State...Named second-team preseason All-American by NationalChamps.net...Named to the preseason watch lists for the Rotary Lombardi Award, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and the Lott Trophy...Named WAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year in a vote of the league's media...Named the WAC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year by The Sporting News and Blue Ribbon...Named to The Sporting News and Blue Ribbon preseason All-WAC teams...Named the 10th-best inside linebacker in the country heading into the season by The Sporting News.

2005 SEASON
Named first-team All-WAC for the second consecutive season after leading the Broncos with 106 tackles, 5.0 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, two interceptions and three pass breakups...Had double-digit tackles five times for the Broncos, including a career-high 15 against Boston College in the MPC Computers Bowl....Finished with 12 tackles at Oregon State...Had 11 tackles and 1.5 sacks at Utah State...Made 10 tackles at both Fresno State and Louisiana Tech...Recorded eight tackles at Georgia and seven tackles against Hawai'i, San Jose State, New Mexico State and Idaho...Picked off passes against Nevada and Hawai'i...Named preseason honorable mention All-America and first-team All-WAC by Street & Smith's and first-team All-WAC by Athlon Sports...Named to the 2005 Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, the 2005 Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List and the 2005 Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List...Named the nation's 12th-best inside linebacker by The Sporting News.

2004 SEASON
Named first-team All-WAC after finishing second on the team with 85 tackles, first with 8.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and three interceptions...Named to the Collegefootballnews.com All-WAC team...Finished 12th in the WAC in tackles with 7.1 per game...Named the WAC Defensive Player of the Week twice...The first award came after he picked off three passes (one for a touchdown) against Oregon State, while making four tackles...The three interceptions were the second most in a single game during the season...Second player of the week award came after he had 11 tackles, two sacks, and 2.5 tackles for loss against BYU...Finished with double digit tackles three times to run his career total to five...Had a season-high 15 tackles at San Jose State, including a tackle for loss...In addition to the 11 tackles against BYU, also had 12 tackles the next week against SMU with 1.5 tackles for loss...Tallied nine tackles against Louisville in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, and had eight tackles and a sack at UTEP, while recording seven tackles against Hawai'i and six against Fresno State with 0.5 tackles for loss.

2003 SEASON
Named honorable mention All-WAC as a freshman after finishing third on the Bronco team with 92 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for a loss and 2.5 sacks...Recorded double-digit tackle games twice...Set a career-high with 10 tackles at Oregon State, with 2.5 tackles for loss, and then broke it with 11 tackles against Fresno State...Had nine tackles against UTEP, eight against Wyoming and seven against Idaho, Nevada, Hawai'i and TCU in the Broncos' 34-31 win at the PlainsCapital Fort Worth Bowl.

2002 SEASON
Redshirted during the 2002 season, his first with the Bronco program.

HIGH SCHOOL
One of the top prep players in the state of Idaho as a senior...Named the 2A Player of the Year after making 113 tackles and three quarterback sacks on defense, while rushing for 714 yards and scoring 16 touchdowns on offense...Named first-team all-conference at both linebacker and running back, received the league's Player of the Year award in 2001, and led team to the state championship game...A four-year starter at Glenns Ferry High School and team captain during senior year...Finished prep career with 359 tackles and 2,802 yards rushing...Earned first-team all-conference and second-team all-state honors on offense and defense during junior year...As a sophomore, again earned first-team all-conference honors on offense and defense...Also an outstanding wrestler placing second in state championships as a senior...A member of the National Honor Society, and was also on the Honor Roll...High school football coach was Joel Hermann.

[MadtownPacker]

Rastak - You are a sick SOB! You really love this draft shit huh?

Well, Im not feeling it like yesterday but that is likely due to my huge disappointment in not getting moss. I will now go back to hating him and hoping his career ends soon.

As for day 2 I have to say I like the depth on defense but they better become a scoring defense cuz the O needs some help.

[Tony Oday]

Dont worry we may get a 7th round TE

[Rastak]

Rastak - You are a sick SOB! You really love this draft shit huh?

Well, Im not feeling it like yesterday but that is likely due to my huge disappointment in not getting moss. I will now go back to hating him and hoping his career ends soon.

As for day 2 I have to say I like the depth on defense but they better become a scoring defense cuz the O needs some help.

Yea, the draft is cool. Hey Mad, I ain't buying it. You showed your true colors, you love Randy Moss. You gotta keep that viking in your sig, I really dig it.

[Joemailman]

Just checking in, so sorry if I'm rehashing something here, but did Ben Patrick break his leg or something?