beerlover
Hall of Fame
Focused on the players more from a scouting perspective rather than that of a GM, still I feel most players do fit nicely with the teams picks either by need, bpa or scheme in a seamless order sure to appease the most avid draftniks. As we, Texans fans head towards our 6th NFL draft just how much have we learned? we've been through alot thats for sure, my personel interest is very limited to the Texans, however following the draft year after year & learning all these wonderfully talented football players you begin to sense a much fuller understanding of the men in the NFL who play the game.
1. OAKLAND - Calvin Johnson, WR Georgia Tech. 6040 228 4.55
Should be the highest rated player in the draft by the time all the information is gathered post combine. Elite size, strength & speed Calvin is explosive in his rise and shows natural hand extension to reach and pluck away from the frame...Generates a strong jolt with cover to defeat the press and works hard with his hands to sustain when blocking in-line...It is rare to see him use his body to field the ball, as he is perfectly capable of extending for the pass at its high point...Terrific load to bring down after the catch...Strong open field runner who will drag defenders when fighting for extra yardage.
2. DETROIT - Brady Quinn, QB Notre Dame. 6040 228 4.7
I'm not a big Brady fan here just the facts & the facts are he is the most NFL ready (because of experience under Charlie Weis). Quinn has learned to put the ball where the receiver can catch it and shows good balance throwing on the move...Good student of the game, showing the field vision and intelligence to recognize coverages on his pre-snap scan of the field and in his pass drop...Shows decent foot quickness in his set-up, keeping his feet under him while maintaining balance...Can reach his throwing point with a normal stride and has the body control and agility needed to drive back from center quickly...Has keen awareness and a good grasp of the offensive system...Does a nice job scanning the field and throws with good timing and touch...Carries the ball medium/high and can flick it out either with a high three-quarter delivery or over the head...Has a compact release to unload the ball quickly and good mechanics when launching the ball long...Puts very good zip on all of his throws, especially in the intermediate area or when going long.
3. CLEVELAND - Joe Thomas, OT Wisconsin. 6070 310 5.06
Once again I'm not in the Joe Thomas camp, he lacks athletic laterial movement & watching those knees (wrapped & in braces) makes me uneasy still his technique is as good as Bosli (but lacks that mean streak attitude). Shows classic natural knee bend with good hip snap to redirect and mirror the edge rushers...Nimble moving his feet in his pass set-up, retreating fluidly while maintaining body control...Shows good urgency and leg drive coming off the snap, demonstrating the knee bend to drop his weight well pass protection...Capable of locating and neutralizing the edge rushers.
4. TAMPA BAY - Levi Brown, OT Penn State. 6040 325 5.28
I want this guy protecting my blind side, going out after work or late night parties I'm going to nickname him the Protector (anyone see the movie with Tony JAA- awesome) anyways Gruden now has him on his radar from coaching him in the Senior Bowl. big upper frame, with broad shoulders, long arms, big hands and good chest thickness, along with a big bubble, wide hips, thick thighs and ankles, along with a frame that has the potential to carry more bulk with no loss in quickness...Very light on his feet for a player of his size...Has excellent explosion coming off the snap and nimble footwork, especially in his kick slide...Uses his feet well to slide out and adjust on the edge rushers and knows how to shoot his hands in attempts to lock on and sustain...Has the quickness to recover when beaten and his feet allow him to redirect with ease to neutralize backside plays...Aggressive drive blocker with the hand punch needed to shock and jolt the defender...Finds ways to get the job done on the field and will not back down from a confrontation...Can dominate once he fits on a defender, demonstrating the quickness to reach and make cutoffs...For a big player, Brown is very nimble on his feet, as he has the loose hips to redirect and shows good control changing direction. loved when he called Thomas out this week in practice quote "The Browns, along with the rest of the NFL, would have liked a look at Wisconsin left tackle Joe Thomas this week. But the 6-6, 310-pounder pulled out of Saturday's Senior Bowl late last week, a common move for players projected at the top of the NFL draft. Though it's agents who typically steer players away from the game, for some scouts, the desire of a top player not to hurt his draft status by risking exposure raises questions about that player's competitiveness. Some of the players here agree. "It shows a little fear sometimes that maybe you have something to hide," said Penn State tackle Levi Brown. "Maybe you have something to hide." Thomas was of such high interest to the Browns because, as one member of the staff said, they are looking for an "infusion" of offensive linemen in this draft. Thomas is probably the only lineman worthy of consideration with the Browns' first pick, which will be at either No. 3 or No. 4 pending a coin flip with Tampa Bay". - Doug Lesmerises, Cleveland Plain Dealer
5. ARIZONA - Gaines Adams, DE Clemson. 6050 260 4.72
what a great looking athletic DE really enjoyed watching him play, teams always had to account for his presence. Tall, athletic build with the room for additional muscle mass without the loss of quickness. Good burst off the edge. Rare first step for a player of his size and can beat the offensive tackle with his initial move. Short area quickness and can explode into his tackles. Good speed in pursuit. Can track down the ball carrier and tackle from behind. Strong hands to control the offensive tackle and can disengage when the ball is coming toward him.
6. WASHINGTON - Amobi Okoye, DT Louisville. 6020 287 4.95
Has really helped his stock this week @ the Senior Bowl & expect him to continue to impress through the combine. Can surprise his opponent and disrupt the play before it has a chance to begin. Ability to handle double-teams at the point of attack is one of his greatest attributes. Plays with good technique and impressive natural strength. Good pad level, use of hands and balance. Ability to make tackles in the backfield when the opportunity presents itself is his biggest improvement from his junior to senior seasons. Good motor and will pursue down the line in an effort to make the play. Good overall quickness and has surprising straight line speed. Intelligent, hard working and a team leader. Despite age, maturity is not a concern. Will enter the draft at only 19 and is only going to get bigger, stronger and faster.
7. MINNESOTA - JaMarcus Russell, QB LSU. 6050 252 4.56
I prefer to compare JaMarcus Russell to Doug Williams rather than Daunte Culpepper mostly because of his ability to go vertical or throw that 20 yard slant on a rope. Has the lower-body power to break tackles...Demonstrates above-average body control and balance driving back from center and shows good accuracy firing the ball up the seams...Has a fluid throwing motion, much like the Colts' Peyton Manning...Made good strides in recognizing protections and is capable of calling audibles...Not the type that needs the glory and attention some quarterbacks relish...Determined field leader with ice water running through his veins...Will play through pain and stands tall in the pocket...Has good balance dropping back and generally moves under control, showing a nice rhythm while planting his feet through his delivery...When he sits back and scans the field, he can pick apart a zone...Makes the right decisions on long throws, thanks in part to his raw power, but needs to vary the speed on his short throws, as he has a tendency to put too much zip on some throws...His arm strength and fluid mechanics allow him get the ball out quickly once he sets his feet...Shows no wasted motion and is consistently in good position to deliver the ball on time...Has the strongest arm in football, at any level
8. HOUSTON - Adrian Peterson, RB Oklahoma. 6020 218 4.47
Here ya go Texans fans finally your franchise RB returning home to the state of Texas w/both tackles gone & hopefully Nate Clements aquired via FA Kubiak comes through by adding the playmaker. Peterson is blessed with rare speed and quickness. He can get to top speed in an instant and has no problems attacking the holes with legs churning and pads low. He has the ability to push and clear the line of scrimmage, producing 71% of his yardage after initial contact. ... Peterson has the pull-away burst to beat defenders turning the corner. He can drop his pads and shift gears quickly, maintaining that burst through his cuts. He is quick to attack the inside holes and has the acceleration to separate once he clears the trash. .. Peterson has outstanding vision. He sees the holes and cutback lanes naturally and shows good savvy as an open field runner.
9. MIAMI - Ted Ginn Jr., WR/KR Ohio State. 6000 180 4.35
With this pick I hope to get kastofsna approval (I think he has a man crush on him or something) but Capers will be fighting for his 3-4 lineman in Alan Branch with DT Keith Traylor already 37. is a threat to score any time he touches the ball ... has Olympic speed and dazzling quickness ... is an electrifying football player ... came to Ohio State as a highly touted defensive back, but was moved to offense at the start of his freshman year and has evolved into one of the premier receivers in the college game ... has terrific hands, and catches everything that comes his way ... especially dangerous when he turns the corner and shifts into passing gear
10. ATLANTA - LaRon Landry, S LSU. 6020 205 4.48
If both Levi Brown & Adrien Peterson are gone I would have no problem with the Texans taking Landry. Intelligent, experienced safety. Understands his role as the last line of defense and takes proper angles to the ball. Reliable open-field tackler and has the ability to be a punishing hitter in the middle. Good speed and quickness in man coverage. Has the size to play aggressively with tight ends and yet has the athleticism to keep tight coverage with slot receivers. Might be at his best in zone coverage due to his heady play and ability to drive on the ball. Good hands and is a natural runner with the ball in his hands. Aggressive yet disciplined in supporting against the run.
1. OAKLAND - Calvin Johnson, WR Georgia Tech. 6040 228 4.55
Should be the highest rated player in the draft by the time all the information is gathered post combine. Elite size, strength & speed Calvin is explosive in his rise and shows natural hand extension to reach and pluck away from the frame...Generates a strong jolt with cover to defeat the press and works hard with his hands to sustain when blocking in-line...It is rare to see him use his body to field the ball, as he is perfectly capable of extending for the pass at its high point...Terrific load to bring down after the catch...Strong open field runner who will drag defenders when fighting for extra yardage.
2. DETROIT - Brady Quinn, QB Notre Dame. 6040 228 4.7
I'm not a big Brady fan here just the facts & the facts are he is the most NFL ready (because of experience under Charlie Weis). Quinn has learned to put the ball where the receiver can catch it and shows good balance throwing on the move...Good student of the game, showing the field vision and intelligence to recognize coverages on his pre-snap scan of the field and in his pass drop...Shows decent foot quickness in his set-up, keeping his feet under him while maintaining balance...Can reach his throwing point with a normal stride and has the body control and agility needed to drive back from center quickly...Has keen awareness and a good grasp of the offensive system...Does a nice job scanning the field and throws with good timing and touch...Carries the ball medium/high and can flick it out either with a high three-quarter delivery or over the head...Has a compact release to unload the ball quickly and good mechanics when launching the ball long...Puts very good zip on all of his throws, especially in the intermediate area or when going long.
3. CLEVELAND - Joe Thomas, OT Wisconsin. 6070 310 5.06
Once again I'm not in the Joe Thomas camp, he lacks athletic laterial movement & watching those knees (wrapped & in braces) makes me uneasy still his technique is as good as Bosli (but lacks that mean streak attitude). Shows classic natural knee bend with good hip snap to redirect and mirror the edge rushers...Nimble moving his feet in his pass set-up, retreating fluidly while maintaining body control...Shows good urgency and leg drive coming off the snap, demonstrating the knee bend to drop his weight well pass protection...Capable of locating and neutralizing the edge rushers.
4. TAMPA BAY - Levi Brown, OT Penn State. 6040 325 5.28
I want this guy protecting my blind side, going out after work or late night parties I'm going to nickname him the Protector (anyone see the movie with Tony JAA- awesome) anyways Gruden now has him on his radar from coaching him in the Senior Bowl. big upper frame, with broad shoulders, long arms, big hands and good chest thickness, along with a big bubble, wide hips, thick thighs and ankles, along with a frame that has the potential to carry more bulk with no loss in quickness...Very light on his feet for a player of his size...Has excellent explosion coming off the snap and nimble footwork, especially in his kick slide...Uses his feet well to slide out and adjust on the edge rushers and knows how to shoot his hands in attempts to lock on and sustain...Has the quickness to recover when beaten and his feet allow him to redirect with ease to neutralize backside plays...Aggressive drive blocker with the hand punch needed to shock and jolt the defender...Finds ways to get the job done on the field and will not back down from a confrontation...Can dominate once he fits on a defender, demonstrating the quickness to reach and make cutoffs...For a big player, Brown is very nimble on his feet, as he has the loose hips to redirect and shows good control changing direction. loved when he called Thomas out this week in practice quote "The Browns, along with the rest of the NFL, would have liked a look at Wisconsin left tackle Joe Thomas this week. But the 6-6, 310-pounder pulled out of Saturday's Senior Bowl late last week, a common move for players projected at the top of the NFL draft. Though it's agents who typically steer players away from the game, for some scouts, the desire of a top player not to hurt his draft status by risking exposure raises questions about that player's competitiveness. Some of the players here agree. "It shows a little fear sometimes that maybe you have something to hide," said Penn State tackle Levi Brown. "Maybe you have something to hide." Thomas was of such high interest to the Browns because, as one member of the staff said, they are looking for an "infusion" of offensive linemen in this draft. Thomas is probably the only lineman worthy of consideration with the Browns' first pick, which will be at either No. 3 or No. 4 pending a coin flip with Tampa Bay". - Doug Lesmerises, Cleveland Plain Dealer
5. ARIZONA - Gaines Adams, DE Clemson. 6050 260 4.72
what a great looking athletic DE really enjoyed watching him play, teams always had to account for his presence. Tall, athletic build with the room for additional muscle mass without the loss of quickness. Good burst off the edge. Rare first step for a player of his size and can beat the offensive tackle with his initial move. Short area quickness and can explode into his tackles. Good speed in pursuit. Can track down the ball carrier and tackle from behind. Strong hands to control the offensive tackle and can disengage when the ball is coming toward him.
6. WASHINGTON - Amobi Okoye, DT Louisville. 6020 287 4.95
Has really helped his stock this week @ the Senior Bowl & expect him to continue to impress through the combine. Can surprise his opponent and disrupt the play before it has a chance to begin. Ability to handle double-teams at the point of attack is one of his greatest attributes. Plays with good technique and impressive natural strength. Good pad level, use of hands and balance. Ability to make tackles in the backfield when the opportunity presents itself is his biggest improvement from his junior to senior seasons. Good motor and will pursue down the line in an effort to make the play. Good overall quickness and has surprising straight line speed. Intelligent, hard working and a team leader. Despite age, maturity is not a concern. Will enter the draft at only 19 and is only going to get bigger, stronger and faster.
7. MINNESOTA - JaMarcus Russell, QB LSU. 6050 252 4.56
I prefer to compare JaMarcus Russell to Doug Williams rather than Daunte Culpepper mostly because of his ability to go vertical or throw that 20 yard slant on a rope. Has the lower-body power to break tackles...Demonstrates above-average body control and balance driving back from center and shows good accuracy firing the ball up the seams...Has a fluid throwing motion, much like the Colts' Peyton Manning...Made good strides in recognizing protections and is capable of calling audibles...Not the type that needs the glory and attention some quarterbacks relish...Determined field leader with ice water running through his veins...Will play through pain and stands tall in the pocket...Has good balance dropping back and generally moves under control, showing a nice rhythm while planting his feet through his delivery...When he sits back and scans the field, he can pick apart a zone...Makes the right decisions on long throws, thanks in part to his raw power, but needs to vary the speed on his short throws, as he has a tendency to put too much zip on some throws...His arm strength and fluid mechanics allow him get the ball out quickly once he sets his feet...Shows no wasted motion and is consistently in good position to deliver the ball on time...Has the strongest arm in football, at any level
8. HOUSTON - Adrian Peterson, RB Oklahoma. 6020 218 4.47
Here ya go Texans fans finally your franchise RB returning home to the state of Texas w/both tackles gone & hopefully Nate Clements aquired via FA Kubiak comes through by adding the playmaker. Peterson is blessed with rare speed and quickness. He can get to top speed in an instant and has no problems attacking the holes with legs churning and pads low. He has the ability to push and clear the line of scrimmage, producing 71% of his yardage after initial contact. ... Peterson has the pull-away burst to beat defenders turning the corner. He can drop his pads and shift gears quickly, maintaining that burst through his cuts. He is quick to attack the inside holes and has the acceleration to separate once he clears the trash. .. Peterson has outstanding vision. He sees the holes and cutback lanes naturally and shows good savvy as an open field runner.
9. MIAMI - Ted Ginn Jr., WR/KR Ohio State. 6000 180 4.35
With this pick I hope to get kastofsna approval (I think he has a man crush on him or something) but Capers will be fighting for his 3-4 lineman in Alan Branch with DT Keith Traylor already 37. is a threat to score any time he touches the ball ... has Olympic speed and dazzling quickness ... is an electrifying football player ... came to Ohio State as a highly touted defensive back, but was moved to offense at the start of his freshman year and has evolved into one of the premier receivers in the college game ... has terrific hands, and catches everything that comes his way ... especially dangerous when he turns the corner and shifts into passing gear
10. ATLANTA - LaRon Landry, S LSU. 6020 205 4.48
If both Levi Brown & Adrien Peterson are gone I would have no problem with the Texans taking Landry. Intelligent, experienced safety. Understands his role as the last line of defense and takes proper angles to the ball. Reliable open-field tackler and has the ability to be a punishing hitter in the middle. Good speed and quickness in man coverage. Has the size to play aggressively with tight ends and yet has the athleticism to keep tight coverage with slot receivers. Might be at his best in zone coverage due to his heady play and ability to drive on the ball. Good hands and is a natural runner with the ball in his hands. Aggressive yet disciplined in supporting against the run.