The NFL Draft

[Dante_Lockhart]

Well it's quickly approaching, teams will be drawing up their boards and discussing combine findings and pro-day opinions, experts are getting their mock drafts in and fans are counting down the days hoping their team picks the player that they want. Hows your team looking?

Baltimore Ravens:

Round 1: No. 29

Round 2: No. 60

Round 3: No. 91

Round 4: No. 130 (compensatory)

Round 5: No. 155

Round 5: No. 169 (compensatory)

Round 6: No. 186

Round 7: No. 218

If the players we want (S.Hill, Hightower, Konz) are gone by the time our pick rolls around then I can see Ozzie trading down to maximise the value of the pick. I'm sure someone will be obliging.

I've booked the Friday off work so I can watch all of the 1st round on ESPN. Good times!

[BOF]

I'm still catching my breath after free agency :shock:

[kurtsimonw]

I know about 3 players and they'll all be long gone before the Giants are up, so I don't really have an opinion.

[leviramsey]

Current CBS mock drafts

[table]

[row][[mcol]Rob Rang[mcol]Dane Brugler (if different from Rang)

[mrow]1 - Colts[col]QB Andrew Luck

[mrow]2 - Redskins[col]QB Robert Griffin III

[mrow]3 - Vikings[col]T Matt Kalil

[mrow]4 - Browns[col]WR Justin Blackmon[col]CB Morris Claiborne

[mrow]5 - Bucs[col]RB Trent Richardson

[mrow]6 - Rams[col]CB Morris Claiborne[col]WR Justin Blackmon

[mrow]7 - Jaguars[col]DE Quinton Coples

[mrow]8 - Dolphins[col]QB Ryan Tannehill

[mrow]9 - Panthers[col]DT Dontari Poe[col]DT Fletcher Cox

[mrow]10 - Bills[col]T Riley Reiff[col]WR Michael Floyd

[mrow]11 - Chiefs[col]G David DeCastro[col]DT Dontari Poe

[mrow]12 - Seahawks[col]LB Luke Kuechly[col]LB Melvin Ingram

[mrow]13 - Cardinals[col]LB Melvin Ingram[col]G David DeCastro

[mrow]14 - Cowboys[col]DT Michael Brockers

[mrow]15 - Eagles[col]S Mark Barron[col]LB Luke Kuechly

[mrow]16 - Jets[col]WR Michael Floyd[col]LB Courtney Upshaw

[mrow]17 - Bengals[col]CB Dre Kirkpatrick[col]CB Stephon Gilmore

[mrow]18 - Chargers[col]DE Whitney Mercilus[col]G Cordy Glenn

[mrow]19 - Bears[col]WR Kendall Wright[col]DE Nick Perry

[mrow]20 - Titans[col]DT Fletcher Cox[col]CB Dre Kirkpatrick

[mrow]21 - Bengals[col]G Cordy Glenn[col]WR Kendall Wright

[mrow]22 - Browns[col]TE Coby Fleener[col]T Mike Adams

[mrow]23 - Lions[col]CB Stephen Gilmore[col]T Riley Reiff

[mrow]24 - Steelers[col]DT Jerel Worthy[col]T Jonathan Martin

[mrow]25 - Broncos[col]DT Devon Still

[mrow]26 - Texans[col]WR Rueben Randle

[mrow]27 - Patriots[col]T Jonathan Martin[col]DE Andre Branch

[mrow]28 - Packers[col]DE Andre Branch[col]DT Kendall Reyes

[mrow]29 - Ravens[col]LB Courtney Upshaw[col]C Peter Konz

[mrow]30 - 49ers[col]WR Stephen Hill[col]CB Janoris Jenkins

[mrow]31 - Patriots[col]DE Nick Perry[col]S Mark Barron

[mrow]32 - Giants[col]TE Dwayne Allen[col]G Amini Silatolu

[/table]

[BerniesElbow]

Browns have thirteen picks

http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-1/Browns-awarded-four-compensatory-picks/77bf5680-cbc5-4f76-adc7-2eb146c137ff

[Dante_Lockhart]

Anybody fancy doing a VT Mock draft? If we can get 2 or 3 people who fancy it we'll go through the first round and take it in turns making the pick.

e.g. 1st person does 1st pick, 2nd person does 2nd pick, 3rd person does 3rd pick, 1st person does 4th pick, 2nd person does 5th pick etc...

[Tegis]

Browns have thirteen picks

http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-1/Browns-awarded-four-compensatory-picks/77bf5680-cbc5-4f76-adc7-2eb146c137ff

Wide recievers and o-line?

[Dante_Lockhart]

Browns have thirteen picks

http://www.clevelandbrowns.com/news/article-1/Browns-awarded-four-compensatory-picks/77bf5680-cbc5-4f76-adc7-2eb146c137ff

Wide recievers and o-line?

4th pick - Trent Richardson - RB

22nd pick - Alshon Jeffery - WR

[kkr]

Anybody fancy doing a VT Mock draft? If we can get 2 or 3 people who fancy it we'll go through the first round and take it in turns making the pick.

e.g. 1st person does 1st pick, 2nd person does 2nd pick, 3rd person does 3rd pick, 1st person does 4th pick, 2nd person does 5th pick etc...

Count me in!

Hoping the TE from Stanford is still around at #32 for the Gmen, either that or a decent Olineman to fall. We will go BPA though regardless.

[Dante_Lockhart]

Anybody fancy doing a VT Mock draft? If we can get 2 or 3 people who fancy it we'll go through the first round and take it in turns making the pick.

e.g. 1st person does 1st pick, 2nd person does 2nd pick, 3rd person does 3rd pick, 1st person does 4th pick, 2nd person does 5th pick etc...

Count me in!

Hoping the TE from Stanford is still around at #32 for the Gmen, either that or a decent Olineman to fall. We will go BPA though regardless.

Wanna do it with just the two of us or shall we try and get a third person?

[BOF]

I suppose this goes in here.

2012 NFL Combine Top Performers

Last week we wrote about the media availability portion of the Combine, and now that the drills have been completed, we have all of the on-field results to share.

Below are the top-five performers from each position group at the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis according to NFL.com:

Quarterbacks

40-yard dash:

1) Robert Griffin III, Baylor – 4.41*

2) Russell Wilson, Wisconsin – 4.55

3) Jordan Jefferson, LSU – 4.65

4) Andrew Luck, Stanford – 4.67

5) Aaron Corp, Richmond / Jacory Harris, Miami – 4.72

*Fastest time by a quarterback since 2006

Running Backs

40-yard Dash:

1) Lamar Miller, Miami – 4.40

2) Ronnie Hillman, San Diego State / LaMichael James, Oregon / Chris Rainey, Florida – 4.45

5) Cyrus Gray, Texas A&M / Isaiah Pead, Cincinnati – 4.47

Bench Press:

1) Doug Martin, Boise State / Robert Turbine, Utah State – 28

3) Jewel Hampton, Southern Illinois – 26

4) Tauren Poole, Tennessee – 24

5) Vick Ballard, Mississippi State / Davin Meggett, Maryland – 23

Wide Receivers

40-yard Dash:

1) Travis Benjamin, Miami / Stephen Hill, Georgia Tech / Chris Owusu, Stanford – 4.36*

4) A.J. Jenkins, Illinois / Devon Wylie, Fresno State – 4.39

*Tied for second among all players at the 2012 Combine

Bench Press:

1) Jerrell Jackson, Missouri / Marvin Jones, California – 22

3) Ryan Broyles, Oklahoma / Junior Hemmingway, Michigan – 21

5) Richard Matthews, Nevada – 20

Tight Ends

40-yard Dash:

1) James Hanna, Oklahoma – 4.49

2) Ladarius Green, Louisiana-Lafayette, 4.53

3) Even Rodriguez, Temple – 4.58

4) Michael Egnew, Missouri – 4.62

5) Drake Dunsmore, Northwestern – 4.64

Bench Press:

1) Orson Charles, Georgia – 35*

2) Dwayne Allen, Clemson / Coby Fleener, Stanford – 27

4) James Hanna, Oklahoma – 24

5) Drake Dunsmore, Northwestern / Michael Egnew, Missouri / David Paulson, Oregon – 21

*Most by a tight end since at least 2006.

Offensive Linemen

40-yard Dash:

1) Donald Stephenson, Oklahoma – 4.94

2) Matt Kalil, Southern California – 4.99

3) Adam Gettis, Iowa – 5.00

4) Desmond Wynn, Rutgers – 5.05

5) Tom Compton, South Dakota – 5.11

Bench Press:

1) David Molk, Michigan – 41*

2) David DeCastro, Stanford – 34

3) Justin Anderson, Georgia / Tony Bergstrom, Utah / Ryan Miller, Colorado / Kelechi Osemele, Iowa State / Kevin Zeitler, Wisconsin – 32

*Ranked second among all players at the 2012 Combine

Defensive Linemen

40-yard Dash:

1) Bruce Irvin, West Virginia – 4.50

2) Shea McClellin, Boise State – 4.63

3) Nick Perry, Southern California – 4.64

4) Whitney Mercilus, Illinois – 4.68

5) Andre Blanch, Clemson – 4.70

Bench Press:

1) Dontari Poe, Memphis – 44*

2) Loni Fangupo, Brigham Young / Mike Martin, Michigan / Kendall Reyes, Connecticut – 36^

5) Marcus Forston, Miami / Nick Perry, Southern California / Alameda Ta’amu, Washington / Brandon Thompson, Clemson – 35

*Most by any player at the 2012 Combine

^Tied for third most at the 2012 Combine

Linebackers

40-yard Dash:

1) Mychal Kendricks, California – 4.47

2) Zach Brown, North Carolina – 4.50

3) Luke Kuechly, Boston College – 4.58

4) Demario Davis, Arkansas State – 4.61

5) Nigel Bradham, Florida State / Najee Goodie, West Virginia – 4.64

Bench Press:

1) Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma – 36*

2) Demario Davis, Arkansas State – 32

3) Mile Burris, San Diego State – 31

4) Ryan Baker, Louisiana State – 30

5) Brandon Marshall, Nevada – 28

*Most by a linebacker since at least 2006.

Cornerbacks

40-yard Dash:

1) Josh Robinson, Central Florida – 4.33*

2) Rob Brooks, Louisiana State – 4.37

3) Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina – 4.40

4) Coty Sensabaugh, Clemson – 4.42

5) Dwight Bentley, Louisiana-Lafayette

*Fastest at the 2012 Combine

Bench Press:

1) Omar Bolden, Arizona State – 24

2) Jamell Fleming, Oklahoma – 23

3) Antonio Fenelus, Wisconsin / Jeremy Jones, Wayne State – 20

5) Justin Bethel, Presbyterian / Casey Hayward, Vanderbilt / Asa Jackson, Cal Poly / Trumaine Johnson, Montana – 19

Safeties

40-yard Dash:

1) Christian Thompson, South Carolina – 4.50

2) Sean Richardson, Vanderbilt / Trent Robinson, Michigan State – 4.52

4) Kelcie McCray, Arkansas State – 4.54

5) Corey White, Samford – 4.55

Bench Press:

1) Eddie Pleasant, Oregon / Sean Richardson, Vanderbilt – 22

3) Delano Howell, Stanford – 21

4) Duke Ihenacho, San Jose State / George Iloka, Boise State / Johnny Thomas, Oklahoma State – 20

Full tracker here

[kkr]

Anybody fancy doing a VT Mock draft? If we can get 2 or 3 people who fancy it we'll go through the first round and take it in turns making the pick.

e.g. 1st person does 1st pick, 2nd person does 2nd pick, 3rd person does 3rd pick, 1st person does 4th pick, 2nd person does 5th pick etc...

Count me in!

Hoping the TE from Stanford is still around at #32 for the Gmen, either that or a decent Olineman to fall. We will go BPA though regardless.

Wanna do it with just the two of us or shall we try and get a third person?

Dont mind, see if anyone else fancies it also but if not could go with just us.

[BOF]

I wonder is there any chance at all that the Colts would draft RGIII instead

[BerniesElbow]

Jon Gruden QB Camp 2012

RG3

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-_DYkYkidA

Andrew Luck

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpAiOJ0wtoo&feature=related

part 2-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JorNgZIxjyE&feature=youtu.be

Brandon Weeden

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jFGjqRawAs&feature=relmfu

Ryan Tannehill

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOWNjphb7M0

*I would still love to have Jon Gruden be the Browns coach.

[BOF]

Getting close now

[Dante_Lockhart]

I've already booked Friday off work and I'm gonna get loads of snacks in for it

[Copey11]

don't know where to put this, but given the draft gurus we have in Dante and Bof and Kurtis, I thought this might be the place.

I was thinking about the NFL combine and all the smokescreens and draft boards, as well as moneyball cooncepts and how they can be applied to or perhaps have similar concepts being done in football.

what I like most about the combine/draft, and any moneyball concepts is this application of statistical theory to human performance. For example, the basic premise of moneyball wasn't really about the buy low sell high oakland A's, but rather the identification of certain skills that most closely correlate to wins (win shares). The combine is the NFL comparable to this (bear with me).

the combine takes a bunch of players that are very similar and tries to identify ways in which they can be differentiated. Hand size for quarterbacks, arm length for tackles, shuttle runs for cb's, etc. these are ways to help slot talent that through film study are essentially the same, or perhaps have under/overperformed due to imperfect system fit, or inferior competition.

My question is, does anyone know if there is a comparable exercise/theory being executed in football? Obviously Barca have a distinct style of play and therefore would put value on players with certain capabilities (close control, passing ability, vision/movement), and less value on perhaps size strenght (see: Zlatan). MON played a style that required pace on the wings and counterattacking over possession (perfect for Gabby, Carew, etc.).

anyway, curious to see what you guys think and if you know of any emerging philosophies.

[Dante_Lockhart]

I do have a reply to this but I'm on my phone and I can't be bothered to type out my reply! Will do later on at home

[Copey11]

cool. I think it is an interesting topic and would love to hear what you guys have to say about it.

I posted in the Barry Bannan thread about my thoughts on him that were taking into consideration some of these ideas, especially with regard to his size, applying some of the theories the NFL scouts use (NBA does the same).

[Dante_Lockhart]

Just quickly, I think with the NFL every position is unique in that they have specific duties to do. It's easier for scouts to look at the little details such as measurements and these can sway the drafting of a particular player. Where-as in football you are more of an all-round player. Everyone is expected to be able to pass, shoot, tackle etc.. obviously some more so than others dependant on position. In the NFL however you have the offensive line which blocks, they don't catch, or run with the ball, or throw the ball, they block and protect the players. Specific. The larger they are the bigger their armspan (generally) meaning they can block more area than a smaller guy so this is something scouts look at. Of course there are players who are just more talented than others, but when you get a group of players on the same level these minor details can be the difference.

They're two totally different sports with different mechanics.