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Showing posts from April, 2015

2015 NFL Draft: MY FINAL MOCK DRAFT

My mock is listed on Walter Football's Mock Draft Database along with over 300 mock drafts: http://walterfootball.com/draftdata.php First Round 1. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS JAMEIS WINSTON-QB-FSU  6-4/231  NFL Comparison: Byron Leftwich/Ben Roethlisberger  Despite issues with immaturity and off the filed allegations, it appears as though Tampa will pick the former Heisman winner. Lovie Smith is the right type of coach and role model to help Winston in his young career. However the common denominator with every top 10 QB draft bust has been immaturity issues. Ryan Leaf, Vince Young, Matt Leinart and JaMarcus Russell are all examples of this. The other concern with Winston was his regression from his 2013 Heisman season to last year. Was this due to losing key pieces on offense like Kelvin Benjamin and Devonta Freeman or was it due to him just not taking the next step as a QB? Taking Winston at #1 is a risk, but Tampa NEEDS a franchise QB in the worst way.    2. TENNESSEE TITANS

2015 NFL Draft: Top 5 Positional Rankings: Edge Pass Rushers

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4-3 Defensive Ends 1. DANTE FOWLER-FLORIDA 6-4/261  NFL Comparison: Terrell Suggs/Willie McGinist  Likely Career Role:  Starting RDE with superstar potential, OLB and Leo versatility Draft Range:  Top 5 2014 College Stats: Sacks: 8.5 Tackles For Loss: 15.5 Forced Fumbles : 2 2. BUD DUPREE-KENTUCKY 6-4/269 NFL Comparison: Everson Griffin  Likely Career Role:  Starting RDE Draft Range: 6-24 Sacks:  7.5 Tackles For Loss:  12.5 Forced Fumbles : 2 3. PRESTON SMITH-MISSISSIPPI ST.  6-5/271  NFL Comparison: Carlos Dunlap Likely Career Role:  Starting RDE Draft Range:  2nd/3rd Sacks:  9.0 Tackles For Loss:  15.0 Forced Fumbles : 2 4. OWA ODIGHIZUWA-UCLA 6-3/267 NFL Comparison: Sam Acho  Likely Career Role:  Starting RDE with 3-4 OLB versatility Draft Range:  Top 10 Sacks:  6.0 Tackles For Loss:  11.5 Forced Fumbles : 2 5. DANIELLE HUNTER-LSU 6-5/252 NFL Comparison: Olivier Vernon  Likely Career Role:  Starting RDE or pass rush specialist Draft Rang

2015 NFL Draft Top 5 Positional Rankings: Non Edge Line Backers

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Non Edge Line Backers  1. ERIC KENDRICKS-UCLA    6-0/232 NFL Comparison:  Lavonte David Likely Career Role:  Starting weak WLB in a 4-3 or 3-4, Pro Bowl potential Draft Range:  Late 1st-2nd 2. BERNARDRICK MCKINNEY-MISSISSIPPI ST.   6-4/246 NFL Comparison:  Rolando McClain/Brian Cushing Likely Career Role:  Starting 4-3 MLB or SLB or 3-4 ILB Draft Range:  Late 1st-2nd 3. STEPHONE ANTHONY-CLEMSON  6-3/243 NFL Comparison:  Justin Durant Likely Career Role:  Starting 4-3 MLB or 3-4 ILB, has enough size to play SLB in a 4-3 as well. Draft Range:  2nd 4. PAUL DAWSON-TCU 6-0/235 NFL Comparison:  Daryl Washington Likely Career Role:  Starting weak WLB in a 4-3 or 3-4, had very high college production but has major question marks about his commitment to practice and had a god awful showing at the combine. He went to TCU like Washington and both players have similar size, skill and on the field production. However Washington has had many off the field incidents since becomi

2015 NFL Draft Top 5 Positional Rankings: Defensive Backs

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Cornerbacks  1. TRAE WAYNES-MICHIGAN ST.  6-0/186 NFL Comparison: Stephon Gilmore Likely Career Role:  Starting #1 CB with Pro Bowl potential, excellent man corner but will be a liability against the run. Draft Range:  10-22 2.  KEVIN JOHNSON-WAKE FOREST 6-0/188 NFL Comparison: Sam Shields Likely Career Role:  Starting #1 CB that can fit both man and zone schemes Draft Range: 20-32 3.  MARCUS PETERS-WASHINGTON 6-0/197 NFL Comparison: Vontae Davis/Aqib Talib Likely Career Role:  Starting #1 CB with Pro Bowl potential, that can play man or zone but is probably best fit to play press man. He has major immaturity issues but if he can grow as a man and as a player he could become the best DB in this draft class. Draft Range: 15-Early 2nd 4.  BYRON JONES-UCONN  6-1/199 NFL Comparison:  Chris Culliver/Richard Sherman coming out of college Likely Career Role:  Starting CB with great length that fits best as a zone corner. Draft Range: Late 1st-2nd 5. JALEN  CO

2015 NFL Draft: Top 5 Positional Rankings: Interior Defensive Line

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3 Technique DT/5 Technique DE Terms and definitions via Pro Football Focus  for more visit:   https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/04/23/2014-defensive-prototypes-the-d-line/ The 3-technique is the pass-rushing defensive tackle in a 4-3. He is the guy tasked with bringing interior pressure and wreaking havoc in the backfield. 3-techniques are shaded outside of the guard to one side of the formation, usually isolating them one-on-one with that blocker and giving them the best chance to create pressure. NFL Prototypes: Gerald McCoy and Geno Atkins NFL Prototype Size: 6-1 to 6-4/290-310 lbs Traditionally, the 5-technique was a two-gap player.  Just like the nose tackle, 3-4 ends were needed to control the blocker lined up over them and be able to stop the run headed through either the B or C-gap to his side of the field. With the move towards one-gap systems regardless of the number of players with their hands in the dirt the 3-4 DE has become a far more flex

2015 NFL Draft: Mock 2.0: With Kevin and Matt S

I assisted the help of my brother in law (Kevin) and my roommate (Matt S) to make this next great Mock Draft 1. TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS  Mr Matt JAMEIS WINSTON-QB-FSU  6-4/231  NFL Comparison: Byron Leftwich/Ben Roethlisberger  I wouldn't take him #1, but I think he's clearly going number one. 2. TENNESSEE TITANS Matt S.  MARCUS MARIOTA-QB-OREGION 6-4/222  NFL Comparison: Nick Foles  My comment is: Jake Locker/Zach Mettenberger!!!!!!! In all seriousness he has the smarts to be a franchise QB, Tennessee's residency in the doldrums has rewarded them with the #2 pick and they are happy with Mariota. Tampa made Tennessee's decision happen. NOTE: All 3 of us feel that the Phillip Rivers trade makes the most sense for Tennessee here. 3. JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS   Kevin  DANTE FOWLER-EDGE RUSHER/DE-FLORIDA 6-4/261  NFL Comparison: Terrell Suggs/Willie McGinist  The Jags need an edge rusher in the worst way. Best pass rusher in the draft, his sack number weren&#

2015 NFL Draft: Top 5 Positional Rankings: Offensive Line

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Offensive Tackle only  1. ANDRUS PEAT-STANFORD  6-7/313 NFL Comparison: Jared Veldheer Likely Career Role: Starting LT with Pro Bowl potential Draft Range: Mid-Late 1st 2. DJ HUMPHRIES-FLORIDA  6-5/307 NFL Comparison: D'Brickashaw Ferguson Likely Career Role:  Starting LT with Pro Bowl potential Draft Range: Mid-Late 1st 3. TJ CLEMMINGS-PITTSBURGH  6-5/309 NFL Comparison: Duane Brown Likely Career Role:  Starting LT or RT   Draft Range: Late 1st-2nd 4. JAKE FISHER-OREGON 6-6/306 NFL Comparison: Lane Johnson Likely Career Role:  Starting LT that is perfect for a Zone based blocking scheme   Draft Range: 2nd 5. CEDRIC OGBUEHI-TEXAS A&M  6-5/306 NFL Comparison: Trent Williams Likely Career Role:  Starting LT with Pro Bowl potential, would be ranked higher if not for injury concerns Draft Range: Late 1st-2nd Guards/Right Tackles  1. BRANDON SCHERFF-IOWA 6-5/319 NFL Comparison: Bryan Bulaga as an OT/Zack Martin as an OG Likely Career Role: S

2015 NFL Draft: Top 5 Positional Rankings: WR and TE

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#1/Big Wide Receivers  1. AMARI COOPER-BAMA  6-1/211 NFL Comparison: Antonio Brown/Marvin Harrison Draft Range: Top 10 2014 College Stats:  124 receptions 1727 receiving yards 16 total TD 2. KEVIN WHITE-WEST VIRGINIA  6-3/215 NFL Comparison: slightly smaller Julio Jones/DeAndre Hopkins Draft Range: Top 10 2014 College Stats:  109 receptions 1447 receiving yards 10 total TD 3. DAVANTE PARKER-LOUISVILLE  6-3/209 NFL Comparison: Jordy Nelson Draft Range: 7-14 2014 College Stats:  43 receptions 855 receiving yards 5 total TD NOTE: only played in 7 games due to an injury 2013 Stats: 55 receptions 885 receiving yards 12 total TD 4. JAELEN STRONG-ARIZONA ST.  6-2/217 NFL Comparison: faster Anquan Boldin Draft Range: 12-32 2014 College Stats:  82 receptions 1165 receiving yards 10 total TD 5. DORIAL GREEN BECKHAM-OKLAHOMA  6-5/237 NFL Comparison: Plaxico Buress Draft Range: Mid 1st-3rd RD Did not play in 2014 2013 Stats:  59 recepti

2015 NFL Draft: Top 5 Positional Rankings: QB and RB

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Quarterbacks: 1. MARCUS MARIOTA-OREGION 6-4/222  NFL Comparison: Jake Plummer/Randall Cunningham Likely Career Role: Solid Starting QB Draft Range: Top 5 2014 College Stats:   68.0% Completion percentage 4454 passing yards 42 passing TD 4 Interceptions 770 rushing yards 15 rushing TD 2. JAMEIS WINSTON-FSU  6-4/231  NFL Comparison: Byron Leftwich/Ben Roethlisberger Likely Career Role: Solid Starting QB Draft Range: Likely #1 pick 2014 College Stats:   65.3% 3907 passing yards 28 passing TD 18 Interceptions 65 rushing yards 3 rushing TD 3. BRYCE PETTY-BAYLOR 6-3/230  Likely Career Role: Backup QB/low-end starter Draft Range: 2nd-4th RD 2014 College Stats:   63.1% 3855 passing yards 27 passing TD 7 Interceptions 101 rushing yards 6 rushing TD 4. BRETT HUNDLEY-UCLA 6-3/226  Likely Career Role: Backup QB/low-end starter Draft Range: 2nd-4th RD 2014 College Stats:   69.1% 3155 passing yards 22 passing TD 5 Interceptions 644 rushing ya

2015 NFL Draft: Mock 1.0 with comparison to Kiper/McShay/Walter Football Mocks

My mock is listed on Walter Football's Mock Draft Database along with over 300 mock drafts: http://walterfootball.com/draftdata.php 1.  TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS JAMEIS WINSTON-QB-FSU  6-4/231  NFL Comparison: Byron Leftwich/Ben Roethlisberger  Despite issues with immaturity and off the filed allegations, it appears as though Tampa will pick the former Heisman winner. Lovie Smith is the right type of coach and role model to help Winston in his young career. However the common denominator with every top 10 QB draft bust has been immaturity issues. Ryan Leaf, Vince Young, Matt Leinart and JaMarcus Russell are all examples of this. The other concern with Winston was his regression from his 2013 Heisman season to last year. Was this due to losing key pieces on offense like Kelvin Benjamin and Devonta Freeman or was it due to him just not taking the next step as a QB? Taking Winston at #1 is a risk, but Tampa NEEDS a franchise QB in the worst way. Kiper: Winston McShay: Winston