OL have started us off the combine workouts. 40 times are pretty irrelevant for them. Should be mentioned two OL ran under sub 5 40 and one was Gordy Glenn. I'm not going to look into this too much and neither should you, but we mine as well start right there with Glenn.
Gordy Glenn
He is about a 6'5" 350 pound guard right now. He seems to have great versatility. I think you just keep him on the right side of the line. He has honestly shocked me at this combine. He has such light feet. He bends at the waist. I think you keep him at guard, but you might be able to move him to RT. I wouldn't make that move with him.
Nate potter
OT out of Boise State. He has really impressed me. He's looked good in drills. I put the film on and took a look at him. Nate is an all around average OT prospect. He struggled making the seal block to the right. In the Georgia game he got bull rushed and got beat to the corner. He's got work to do. I think the Lions already have their understudy in Jason Fox.
Mike Adams
Is killing everything so far. He is moving up boards. Lions will definitely have to take a look at him in the first round now. Turn on the film and see his body of work with pads on and there are character issues as we've discussed earlier.
David DeCastro
As a guard this position tends to be undervalued. We saw what the Vikings did with Hutchinson. Absolutely love this guy. This is a realistic guy that could fall into the Lions lap that more than likely would be the best player available. Last I cheered for Prince to fall (it actually happened) or for Patrick Peterson to be trade upable. Right now this is the guy I'm cheering for. Sorry it's nothing personal DeCastro. He's a stud. He run blocks well, turns his butt, gets to the second level, and just sticks on them like glue. Very good pass blocker. Pulls very well. He will need to be ready to block faster when pulling and keep his eyes down field when pulling. There were times where he over ran his block and had to make an extra cut and was late getting on his guy. It's not a matter of speed. David made some very impressive open field blocks while pulling. It's those quick ones, get in the B gap and turn that guy. He gets to the outside well when pulling, it's that inside gap I'd like to see some improvement. I love his run blocking mentality and it shows on film. David wants to hit someone. He's not a guy that likes to stand around watching. He will be something special at the next level. I hope he is a Lion.
Running backs
Stick on the Boise State track. Doug Martin is really moving up draft boards. He's got good size athleticism and can catch the ball. Too me if the Lions draft a RB it needs too be someone that can block and catch the ball. Bernard Pierce and Chris Polk are guys I like. RBs should drop in this draft. Trent Richardson is probably top 10 talent, but will probably be a 16-25 pick. There are teams that might take him before that, but with the NFL the way it is RBs are a dime a dozen. I still think Mikel Leshoure was the top RB in the draft last year and will hopefully prove it this year. I think if we do in prove our OL our runing game will improve. First two RBs this year should without a doubt be Richardson 1 and David Wilson 2. Edwin Baker is someone for the Lions to look at ran a good 40 hometown boy that can be taken later in the draft that can do it all.
Quarterbacks
I don't think we care too much. We will have two in the first round and then a flurry in the third round possibly the second. Kirk Cousins is having a good combine so far.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Early NFL Draft Talk
Though technically we only had an extra week of football. We are several weeks behind were we would usually be talking about the draft. My thoughts so far by going through mock drafts.
Cornerback
Dre is a very good talent, but he's not a top 15 talent. Flat out Talent wise there are 2 guys and then the other two are late first round talents. Janoris Jenkins and Morris Claiborne have top ten talent without a doubt in my mind. Talent doesn't always mean success. Jenkins will drop due to off the field issues. Straight Talent I would give the nod to Claiborne ahead of Jenkins. Jenkins will probably be the 4th CB taken for good reasons though. There are too many teams that need a CB, so I do think they will be reaching for a couple. It's really tough to say who will drop because of that. If the Lions got any one of these guys at their pick it would a good value, but I don't believe any kind of steal unless for some reason it was Claiborne. I'd be willing to give up a first and second round pick for Claiborne but nothing more.
Linebacker
There are a ton of talented linebackers in this draft. This is probably the least need they are in too especially inside backers. 3-4 outside backers will always be in demand, they're really not for us which is nice. I think the quality of backers is so extremely high that we could live without Tulloch. It's really a crap shoot where any of the MLBs will go.
Cornerback
Dre is a very good talent, but he's not a top 15 talent. Flat out Talent wise there are 2 guys and then the other two are late first round talents. Janoris Jenkins and Morris Claiborne have top ten talent without a doubt in my mind. Talent doesn't always mean success. Jenkins will drop due to off the field issues. Straight Talent I would give the nod to Claiborne ahead of Jenkins. Jenkins will probably be the 4th CB taken for good reasons though. There are too many teams that need a CB, so I do think they will be reaching for a couple. It's really tough to say who will drop because of that. If the Lions got any one of these guys at their pick it would a good value, but I don't believe any kind of steal unless for some reason it was Claiborne. I'd be willing to give up a first and second round pick for Claiborne but nothing more.
Linebacker
There are a ton of talented linebackers in this draft. This is probably the least need they are in too especially inside backers. 3-4 outside backers will always be in demand, they're really not for us which is nice. I think the quality of backers is so extremely high that we could live without Tulloch. It's really a crap shoot where any of the MLBs will go.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Man Crush
Every year I fall in love with a player. For some reason it tends to be a linebacker. Last year I fell in love with third round pick Mason Foster. He ended starting at MLB for the Bucs. I think he would be a better strong side LB but definitely a 4-3 guy. This year another MLB. I usually don't fall in love with early first round picks. I love that value pick of a guy that can start for you in a later round. This year I'm going to have to make an exception.
Vontaze Burfict, most people have him going to the Ravens as a late first round pick. To me he is one of the best backers in this draft. I do like Donta Hightower in this draft. Most people have Luke Kuechly as the top insider backer and right around 15. I don't see him as a first round pick to me. He lacks the ability to get off blocks and elite speed to be picked there.
Why I love Vontaze the guy is crazy and for that reason is going to fall down the draft according to most people. This guy isn't flat footed too many times. He has elite speed. Most people compare him to Ray Lewis. Not even close, he has that same attitude that Ray Lewis has. Ray Lewis has the best instincts that have ever really been around. He could possibly get there if he can get the right coaches. When Vontaze tackles he wants to rip your head off. The problem is there are times he does bounce off without wrapping up. Pretty much every time he does get the guy to the ground but this is another level up. Don't get me wrong though he actually has really good form tackling.
Why I love him so much. Flat and simply his hands. Maybe I lied, I love his speed as well. I wouldn't be worried about Joe Webb running on his with him. Vontaze is very good at getting of blocks and is a great inside blitzer.
Top things for a MLB and where he rates (based on a college player)
Instinct - Above average, not outstanding
Add like to add a lit bit more to this. When he does something he is all in. He definitely lacks that initial first step. The times his first step was right the offense running game didn't stand a chance.
Speed - Elite
Tackling - Elite
He hits hard, but sometimes doesn't wrap up. What makes him elite is his tackling in the open field
Pass coverage - Average
Angle - Elite
It amazes me how far ranges to get runners.
Ability to get off blocks - Elite
Vontaze have the things you can't teach. He has the potential to be a Ray Lewis. He will need to have Ray's work ethic to get there though. Potential is just a dirty word if they don't want and I've never sat down with this guy. If he's there Vontaze would probably be my first round pick for the Lions.
Vontaze Burfict, most people have him going to the Ravens as a late first round pick. To me he is one of the best backers in this draft. I do like Donta Hightower in this draft. Most people have Luke Kuechly as the top insider backer and right around 15. I don't see him as a first round pick to me. He lacks the ability to get off blocks and elite speed to be picked there.
Why I love Vontaze the guy is crazy and for that reason is going to fall down the draft according to most people. This guy isn't flat footed too many times. He has elite speed. Most people compare him to Ray Lewis. Not even close, he has that same attitude that Ray Lewis has. Ray Lewis has the best instincts that have ever really been around. He could possibly get there if he can get the right coaches. When Vontaze tackles he wants to rip your head off. The problem is there are times he does bounce off without wrapping up. Pretty much every time he does get the guy to the ground but this is another level up. Don't get me wrong though he actually has really good form tackling.
Why I love him so much. Flat and simply his hands. Maybe I lied, I love his speed as well. I wouldn't be worried about Joe Webb running on his with him. Vontaze is very good at getting of blocks and is a great inside blitzer.
Top things for a MLB and where he rates (based on a college player)
Instinct - Above average, not outstanding
Add like to add a lit bit more to this. When he does something he is all in. He definitely lacks that initial first step. The times his first step was right the offense running game didn't stand a chance.
Speed - Elite
Tackling - Elite
He hits hard, but sometimes doesn't wrap up. What makes him elite is his tackling in the open field
Pass coverage - Average
Angle - Elite
It amazes me how far ranges to get runners.
Ability to get off blocks - Elite
Vontaze have the things you can't teach. He has the potential to be a Ray Lewis. He will need to have Ray's work ethic to get there though. Potential is just a dirty word if they don't want and I've never sat down with this guy. If he's there Vontaze would probably be my first round pick for the Lions.
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