kastofsna
Hall of Fame
admittedly i just haven't been paying my same attention to scouting players this year as in previous years, but mocks are more about fitting certain players in with certain teams. i know enough, and it's 2 in the morning and i'm bored. also i've had a few beers. here's my top 10
1: Miami Dolphins - Chris Long, DE, Virginia. In Bill Parcells' career we've always seen this fascination with "Parcells Guys," the kind of players who fit Parcells' athletic mold and specific character mold and all the ties that player has to Parcells. Well, Chris Long is extremely athletically gifted, will be perfect anywhere in the front 7 of the 3-4, was coached by Parcells guy Al Groh, and fits that "Planet Theory" of athletes, which means that when there's a guy who's ridiculously fast and agile for his size, you draft him, period. Definitely a lock ahead of Dorsey right now, but we'll see how they both do at the combine (assuming both attend the combine).
2: St. Louis Rams - Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU. Miami passes him up, so obviously the Rams are there to scoop him up. They just need help on d-line, and if Miami does indeed take Dorsey they easily go with Long. Or, perhaps the other Long, Jake Long. You say Jake Long would fill a more pressing need, but regardless, Dorsey is a much more dynamic athlete and his potential easily puts Jake Long on the backburner for priorities.
3: Atlanta Falcons - Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas. They have some good talent in the backfield, and yes I know they need a QB, but this pick will instantly give Falcons a "great draft" grade from all the writers and give the fans someone to cheer for right away. They'll look QB at the top of the 2nd; Andre Woodson could be there, and that'll be a nice 1-2 SEC punch. Warrick Dunn won't be around forever, and Jerrious Norwood, while a great player, isn't a feature back in the NFL.
4: Oakland Raiders - Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State. Gholston is a freakish athlete with loads of potential and immediately sparks the Oakland defense. Also could see Oakland going corner here if Asomugha doesn't get shored up; he was a top 3 corner in the NFL last season, and he's a free agent.
5: Kansas City Chiefs - Jake Long, T, Michigan. KC knows where their offense had strength during the Priest Holmes years: up front on the o-line. They need to regain that tradition and, more importantly, the big-bodied nature of it. Long projects to RT, but eh, with some good coaching he could be decent protecting a QB's blindside. Those feet and hips need to coordinate better.
6: NY Jets - James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State. Easy pick. Keep him away from New England and, more importantly I guess, help your defense out tremendously. The Jets linebackers are decent, but they need more athleticism. What better than to pair the OSU guy with Hobson and Harris, two Michigan fellows.
7: New England Patriots - Keith Rivers, LB, USC. Who knows what's going to happen to Asante Samuel, and even if he does leave, you still have the better CB in Hobbs on the other side, so do you need CB, and what about the safeties, Rodney Harrison won't be around much longer, and they drafted Merriweather last year...hmm...the linebackers have age on 'em. Especially in the middle. Get Rivers, a great, smart, and well disciplined player.
8: Baltimore Ravens - Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College. Troy Smith can't be the future at QB, can he? Probably not. A new coach will want to have his own young guy to groom, and by the grace of God a franchise QB fell into his lap at #8.
9: Cincinnati Bengals - Dan Conner, LB, Penn State. Probably the biggest weakness on the team (quick, name a Bengals' LB), and one of the more well-rounded players in the draft. Conner should have a good showing at the combine and will most likely do really well in interviews and show good character, which wouldn't be a bad thing for the Bengals.
10: New Orleans Saints - Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas. Boom, easy pick, no questions about this one. Dreadful secondary. Quarterbacks had career days against the Saints this year. Talib had a fantastic Orange Bowl and certainly looks to make that big step to the NFL. 6'2, 200 pounds. Shut-down corner.
1: Miami Dolphins - Chris Long, DE, Virginia. In Bill Parcells' career we've always seen this fascination with "Parcells Guys," the kind of players who fit Parcells' athletic mold and specific character mold and all the ties that player has to Parcells. Well, Chris Long is extremely athletically gifted, will be perfect anywhere in the front 7 of the 3-4, was coached by Parcells guy Al Groh, and fits that "Planet Theory" of athletes, which means that when there's a guy who's ridiculously fast and agile for his size, you draft him, period. Definitely a lock ahead of Dorsey right now, but we'll see how they both do at the combine (assuming both attend the combine).
2: St. Louis Rams - Glenn Dorsey, DT, LSU. Miami passes him up, so obviously the Rams are there to scoop him up. They just need help on d-line, and if Miami does indeed take Dorsey they easily go with Long. Or, perhaps the other Long, Jake Long. You say Jake Long would fill a more pressing need, but regardless, Dorsey is a much more dynamic athlete and his potential easily puts Jake Long on the backburner for priorities.
3: Atlanta Falcons - Darren McFadden, RB, Arkansas. They have some good talent in the backfield, and yes I know they need a QB, but this pick will instantly give Falcons a "great draft" grade from all the writers and give the fans someone to cheer for right away. They'll look QB at the top of the 2nd; Andre Woodson could be there, and that'll be a nice 1-2 SEC punch. Warrick Dunn won't be around forever, and Jerrious Norwood, while a great player, isn't a feature back in the NFL.
4: Oakland Raiders - Vernon Gholston, DE, Ohio State. Gholston is a freakish athlete with loads of potential and immediately sparks the Oakland defense. Also could see Oakland going corner here if Asomugha doesn't get shored up; he was a top 3 corner in the NFL last season, and he's a free agent.
5: Kansas City Chiefs - Jake Long, T, Michigan. KC knows where their offense had strength during the Priest Holmes years: up front on the o-line. They need to regain that tradition and, more importantly, the big-bodied nature of it. Long projects to RT, but eh, with some good coaching he could be decent protecting a QB's blindside. Those feet and hips need to coordinate better.
6: NY Jets - James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State. Easy pick. Keep him away from New England and, more importantly I guess, help your defense out tremendously. The Jets linebackers are decent, but they need more athleticism. What better than to pair the OSU guy with Hobson and Harris, two Michigan fellows.
7: New England Patriots - Keith Rivers, LB, USC. Who knows what's going to happen to Asante Samuel, and even if he does leave, you still have the better CB in Hobbs on the other side, so do you need CB, and what about the safeties, Rodney Harrison won't be around much longer, and they drafted Merriweather last year...hmm...the linebackers have age on 'em. Especially in the middle. Get Rivers, a great, smart, and well disciplined player.
8: Baltimore Ravens - Matt Ryan, QB, Boston College. Troy Smith can't be the future at QB, can he? Probably not. A new coach will want to have his own young guy to groom, and by the grace of God a franchise QB fell into his lap at #8.
9: Cincinnati Bengals - Dan Conner, LB, Penn State. Probably the biggest weakness on the team (quick, name a Bengals' LB), and one of the more well-rounded players in the draft. Conner should have a good showing at the combine and will most likely do really well in interviews and show good character, which wouldn't be a bad thing for the Bengals.
10: New Orleans Saints - Aqib Talib, CB, Kansas. Boom, easy pick, no questions about this one. Dreadful secondary. Quarterbacks had career days against the Saints this year. Talib had a fantastic Orange Bowl and certainly looks to make that big step to the NFL. 6'2, 200 pounds. Shut-down corner.
