rmartin65 Pre-Combine Mock

[rmartin65]

I tried to make a mock that could be acceptable regardless of what goes down in free agency. One thing that I kept noticing was that I wanted to address a ton of positions- even though the need for starters has decreased, depth is still an issue. As such, I was not able to cover all the positions that I would like to cover. Such is the draft I guess.

Let me know what you think.

Round 1- South Carolina WR Alshon Jeffery, 6’4” 230 lbs
He may not be a popular pick, but Jeffery has arguably the most talent in the draft. He is a huge receiver with the hands to match- just look at his sophomore year, after which he was considered a potential top 5 pick. Yes, he needs to drop some weight. But the talent is undeniable- he has all-pro caliber hands, has the size and strength necessary to become a fantastic downfield blocker, and does a fantastic job boxing DBs out on jump balls. Hopefully playing and practicing next to a professional like AJ will set him straight.

Round 2- Oklahoma OLB Ronnell Lewis, 6’2” 245 lbs
I think this guy may just be the best pass rusher in this draft. He is a little raw, but has unmatched explosiveness and a knack for making plays behind the line. My biggest worry with this pick is that he may not be available this late. However, I am hoping other prospects make a splash at the combine and pro days.

Round 3- Michigan NT Mike Martin, 6’1” 305 lbs
Another man crush I have, Martin is a perfect fit for the 3-4 system the Texans ran last year. A former wrestler, Martin has an excellent sense for leverage and has violent hands, both of which he uses to both tie up blockers, and get into the backfield. Martin is also a hardworking, blue collar type player that fits the Texans’ locker room to a T.

Round 4- Oklahoma WR Ryan Broyles, 5’11” 185 lbs
Without the injury, this guy is a 2nd round pick. The injury knocks him back a couple rounds, but I have no doubt that he will return to prior form. An excellent route runner, Broyles has the uncanny ability to simply move the ball down the field. He may not be the fastest, strongest or quickest player, but he gets open time and time again. As an added bonus, Broyles brings return ability to the table.

Round 5- Virginia Tech OG Jaymes Brooks, 6’2” 310 lbs
Brooks is an athletic interior lineman that, again, projects well in the Texans’ scheme. He is a guy that wont be a starter for a couple years, but can play limited snaps early on.

Round 6- UConn OC Moe Petrus, 6’2” 300 lbs
Another regular on my mocks, Petrus has done nothing to disappoint me. A smart player with good agility, Petrus is similar to Brooks in that while he wont be a starter for a couple years, I see him being a great player down the line.

Round 7- Florida Atlantic RB Alfred Morris, 5’10” 220 lbs
I am a huge fan of Morris, have been since his sophomore year. Morris will work well in a rotation with Foster and Tate, and can be especially useful in short yardage situations, as I rarely have seen him get stuck behind the lines.

 

[TimeKiller]

Alshon Jeffry seems like a gamble but clearly one you're willing to take. I do like snagging a 1st round receiver. Lewis is a decent pick in the 2nd. Not overly thrilled by Martin in the 3rd, I guess it would depend on who else may be available. Broyles is a good add, I definitely think they'll pick up 2 WR. Really nice mock.

 

[aussie_texan]

really nice mock.

Im a fan off lewis as well. given some time has great potential to be a stud.

Stil not sold on jeffery but good explanation.

broyles will be a great steal and i think many teams know this. it will be interesting to see how far he falls. some team is going to get very lucky!

will be interesting to see morris' combine. seems like a good fit. do you know if he has special teams skills???

like the double dip of OG late.

and ill have to read up more of Martin because his a guy I'm interested in but havnt seen video footage of him yet.

overall nice mock.

 

[rmartin65]

Thanks for the feedback guys

Alshon Jeffry seems like a gamble but clearly one you're willing to take. I do like snagging a 1st round receiver. Lewis is a decent pick in the 2nd. Not overly thrilled by Martin in the 3rd, I guess it would depend on who else may be available. Broyles is a good add, I definitely think they'll pick up 2 WR. Really nice mock.

What is your concern with Martin? Maybe you saw something that I dont, or vice versa. I enjoy talking over players.

really nice mock.

Im a fan off lewis as well. given some time has great potential to be a stud.

Stil not sold on jeffery but good explanation.

broyles will be a great steal and i think many teams know this. it will be interesting to see how far he falls. some team is going to get very lucky!

will be interesting to see morris' combine. seems like a good fit. do you know if he has special teams skills???

like the double dip of OG late.

and ill have to read up more of Martin because his a guy I'm interested in but havnt seen video footage of him yet.

overall nice mock.

I knew Jeffery was not going to be wildly popular. But he has 1st round talent at a position of need, and I think that putting him under AJ's tutelage will really help him get his head on straight. Obviously if Blackmon, Wright or Floyd are available, I would prefer them. But I definitely prefer Jeffery to Sanu or Hill.

As for Morris on ST, I honestly dont know. I would imagine he would be a good special teamer, as he is athletic and is not afraid of contact. But he is not a returner, if that was part of your question.

 

[steelbtexan]

Love the rd 1-4 picks. All of them are solid players with potential to be much better.

Rd. 5-6 are nice picks. Really like Brooks he has alot of potential.

Dont know much about Morris.

This would be a successful draft. You have 4 players who should become starters and 2 that could become stars. Jeffery and Lewis.

Solid mock, IMHO

 

[aussie_texan]

As for Morris on ST, I honestly dont know. I would imagine he would be a good special teamer, as he is athletic and is not afraid of contact. But he is not a returner, if that was part of your question.

thanks mate!

 

[thunderkyss]

I tried to make a mock that could be acceptable regardless of what goes down in free agency. One thing that I kept noticing was that I wanted to address a ton of positions- even though the need for starters has decreased, depth is still an issue. As such, I was not able to cover all the positions that I would like to cover. Such is the draft I guess.

Let me know what you think.

Round 1- South Carolina WR Alshon Jeffery, 6’4” 230 lbs
He may not be a popular pick, but Jeffery has arguably the most talent in the draft. He is a huge receiver with the hands to match- just look at his sophomore year, after which he was considered a potential top 5 pick. Yes, he needs to drop some weight. But the talent is undeniable- he has all-pro caliber hands, has the size and strength necessary to become a fantastic downfield blocker, and does a fantastic job boxing DBs out on jump balls. Hopefully playing and practicing next to a professional like AJ will set him straight.

Round 2- Oklahoma OLB Ronnell Lewis, 6’2” 245 lbs
I think this guy may just be the best pass rusher in this draft. He is a little raw, but has unmatched explosiveness and a knack for making plays behind the line. My biggest worry with this pick is that he may not be available this late. However, I am hoping other prospects make a splash at the combine and pro days.

Round 3- Michigan NT Mike Martin, 6’1” 305 lbs
Another man crush I have, Martin is a perfect fit for the 3-4 system the Texans ran last year. A former wrestler, Martin has an excellent sense for leverage and has violent hands, both of which he uses to both tie up blockers, and get into the backfield. Martin is also a hardworking, blue collar type player that fits the Texans’ locker room to a T.

Round 4- Oklahoma WR Ryan Broyles, 5’11” 185 lbs
Without the injury, this guy is a 2nd round pick. The injury knocks him back a couple rounds, but I have no doubt that he will return to prior form. An excellent route runner, Broyles has the uncanny ability to simply move the ball down the field. He may not be the fastest, strongest or quickest player, but he gets open time and time again. As an added bonus, Broyles brings return ability to the table.

Round 5- Virginia Tech OG Jaymes Brooks, 6’2” 310 lbs
Brooks is an athletic interior lineman that, again, projects well in the Texans’ scheme. He is a guy that wont be a starter for a couple years, but can play limited snaps early on.

Round 6- UConn OC Moe Petrus, 6’2” 300 lbs
Another regular on my mocks, Petrus has done nothing to disappoint me. A smart player with good agility, Petrus is similar to Brooks in that while he wont be a starter for a couple years, I see him being a great player down the line.

Round 7- Florida Atlantic RB Alfred Morris, 5’10” 220 lbs
I am a huge fan of Morris, have been since his sophomore year. Morris will work well in a rotation with Foster and Tate, and can be especially useful in short yardage situations, as I rarely have seen him get stuck behind the lines.

I like your presentation. I love your descriptions & commentary.

But... I really, really, really want an OG that could start much sooner than a couple of years down the road.

I really like the two WRs... I like where you picked the OLB & NT....

Even though I want that OG, I'd be happy with this draft & pray Brooks or Pietrus exceeds your expectations.

& I liked the pictures

 

[Doppelganger]

1. I respect your thought process behind Alshon Jeffery at this point. If he shows up in good shape at the combine, I may revise, but as of this point, he is off my draft board. From what I have been able to ascertain, this guy did not get big off buffets and the award circuit, he showed up heavy for his senior season. That indicates to me rather than work hard in the gym and on the field he slacked off his senior year and thought he was the man and didn't need to do the work. If reports are true and he really is in excess of 240 and he is in the high 4.7+ 40 time then he becomes the next Mike Williams(seattle version not TB).

2. I like it. Lewis is the right size for a 3-4 OLB and should be able to make that transition. Lewis would need to work on his run defense but initially he could be a great situational pass rusher and can be groomed to be part of the OLB rotation. Great pick!

3. Not sure here. To me something just doesn't click. He was in beast mode at the Senior Bowl and was constantly in the backfield, was stopping runs, and being disruptive. He put on an absolute clinic. Yet in his 4 years at Michigan I don't recall him ever doing anything remotely like that. The Senior Bowl could be thought of as playing for contract and when it was on the line, he delivered. After he signs a contract will he revert to the solid but not dominant player at Michigan or will he continue to dominate? Too many questions here for me, so not sure.

4. Can't argue with the pick. But, I see him as an IR his first year in the league. He tore his ACL in November and had surgery at the end of November. Typically it takes around 9-10 months to recover fully. So, if that's the case, end of August-end of September would be when he is fully healed. However, by then camp is pretty much over and he wouldn't have time to work with the team. I could see him going on IR right away, fully healing, and learning the playbook. Good pick, but I think it may be a bit unrealistic to expect too much out of him next year.

5. I don't know much about him. So, I will have to defer to you here.

6. Gotta disagree here. He's a little light and didn't really do that great for Uconn. Some games he was great, others he was blown up. Struggled against your pick DT Martin. My biggest issue is his age. He turns 26 in a few days. At Uconn this 26 year old man was facing off against 20, 21, 22 year old boys and was not dominating them. As you said, he wouldn't start for a couple of years anyway, so he would be 28+ before he made a start. As a football player he is right now in his prime production years, and to be honest, I don't see a lot there. I understand its a 6th rounder, but give me someone younger with more potential.

7. Yes! I love the idea of a 7th round rb to help out Foster and Tate. Interestingly enough your guy Morris is 5'10 220. In my latest mock I had Brandon Bolden who is 5'11, 220. I would be happy with either back. Great minds certainly think a like!!!

 

[badboy]

I tried to make a mock that could be acceptable regardless of what goes down in free agency. One thing that I kept noticing was that I wanted to address a ton of positions- even though the need for starters has decreased, depth is still an issue. As such, I was not able to cover all the positions that I would like to cover. Such is the draft I guess.

Let me know what you think.

Round 1- South Carolina WR Alshon Jeffery, 6’4” 230 lbs
He may not be a popular pick, but Jeffery has arguably the most talent in the draft. He is a huge receiver with the hands to match- just look at his sophomore year, after which he was considered a potential top 5 pick. Yes, he needs to drop some weight. But the talent is undeniable- he has all-pro caliber hands, has the size and strength necessary to become a fantastic downfield blocker, and does a fantastic job boxing DBs out on jump balls. Hopefully playing and practicing next to a professional like AJ will set him straight.

Round 2- Oklahoma OLB Ronnell Lewis, 6’2” 245 lbs
I think this guy may just be the best pass rusher in this draft. He is a little raw, but has unmatched explosiveness and a knack for making plays behind the line. My biggest worry with this pick is that he may not be available this late. However, I am hoping other prospects make a splash at the combine and pro days.

Round 3- Michigan NT Mike Martin, 6’1” 305 lbs
Another man crush I have, Martin is a perfect fit for the 3-4 system the Texans ran last year. A former wrestler, Martin has an excellent sense for leverage and has violent hands, both of which he uses to both tie up blockers, and get into the backfield. Martin is also a hardworking, blue collar type player that fits the Texans’ locker room to a T.

Round 4- Oklahoma WR Ryan Broyles, 5’11” 185 lbs
Without the injury, this guy is a 2nd round pick. The injury knocks him back a couple rounds, but I have no doubt that he will return to prior form. An excellent route runner, Broyles has the uncanny ability to simply move the ball down the field. He may not be the fastest, strongest or quickest player, but he gets open time and time again. As an added bonus, Broyles brings return ability to the table.

Round 5- Virginia Tech OG Jaymes Brooks, 6’2” 310 lbs
Brooks is an athletic interior lineman that, again, projects well in the Texans’ scheme. He is a guy that wont be a starter for a couple years, but can play limited snaps early on.

Round 6- UConn OC Moe Petrus, 6’2” 300 lbs
Another regular on my mocks, Petrus has done nothing to disappoint me. A smart player with good agility, Petrus is similar to Brooks in that while he wont be a starter for a couple years, I see him being a great player down the line.

Round 7- Florida Atlantic RB Alfred Morris, 5’10” 220 lbs
I am a huge fan of Morris, have been since his sophomore year. Morris will work well in a rotation with Foster and Tate, and can be especially useful in short yardage situations, as I rarely have seen him get stuck behind the lines.

If Jeffery could get AJ type motivation and at Alshon's size run around 4.5, whoah. I sure ope I'm wrong about him. I like all the others but prob would go Chapman in 3rd rather than Martin as I've seen Chapman more. I was off him until I found about his ACL injury.

 

[TimeKiller]

What is your concern with Martin? Maybe you saw something that I dont, or vice versa. I enjoy talking over players.

Doesn't possess great size, speed or strength for a 3rd round pick. I think the pick should have at least one. Trying hard is great but you get those guys later. He's seems like an overrated 5/6th round pick to me, good at everything but not great at anything. I like your mock though.

 

[Dutchrudder]

Alshon Jeffery is pulling a Jamarcus Russel, but he's being dumber about by doing so before the draft. Drop him to a third round grade, no WR should be gaining that much weight before the draft. It just smacks of laziness and lack of dedication.

 

[beerlover]

maybe Jeffery does not fit the Texan model but in general I feel most these players will be off the board by selection time in each round. sometime you have to reach in February to hit your target in April.

 

[otisbean]

Doesn't possess great size, speed or strength for a 3rd round pick. I think the pick should have at least one. Trying hard is great but you get those guys later. He's seems like an overrated 5/6th round pick to me, good at everything but not great at anything. I like your mock though.

I think Martin could be an ideal NT for Wade's one gap system. As for strength, he has benched over 500 and squatted over 700, and he has a wrestling background giving him a good understanding of using leverage. If you watch the SB practices, he gave Brewster all he could handle and then some, and Brewster is one of the better C in the draft.

a couple quotes about Mike from his teammates:

In 2010, Michigan linebacker Craig Roh said of Martin:
"Mike Martin is just an animal out there. He's the strongest person I've ever seen in the weight room. It's really showing on the field. He's taking on double teams. (Against Massachusetts), I think the play he sacked the quarterback, he beat a double team and sacked him. Which is - stupid."[2]
Defensive end Ryan Van Bergen added, "He's so fast to get into the backfield. Credit that to his wrestling. I don't know how he can be so explosive and at the same time be moving his feet that fast. It's very unique. He's been unreal."[14]

 

[rmartin65]

1. I respect your thought process behind Alshon Jeffery at this point. If he shows up in good shape at the combine, I may revise, but as of this point, he is off my draft board. From what I have been able to ascertain, this guy did not get big off buffets and the award circuit, he showed up heavy for his senior season. That indicates to me rather than work hard in the gym and on the field he slacked off his senior year and thought he was the man and didn't need to do the work. If reports are true and he really is in excess of 240 and he is in the high 4.7+ 40 time then he becomes the next Mike Williams(seattle version not TB).


3. Not sure here. To me something just doesn't click. He was in beast mode at the Senior Bowl and was constantly in the backfield, was stopping runs, and being disruptive. He put on an absolute clinic. Yet in his 4 years at Michigan I don't recall him ever doing anything remotely like that. The Senior Bowl could be thought of as playing for contract and when it was on the line, he delivered. After he signs a contract will he revert to the solid but not dominant player at Michigan or will he continue to dominate? Too many questions here for me, so not sure.


6. Gotta disagree here. He's a little light and didn't really do that great for Uconn. Some games he was great, others he was blown up. Struggled against your pick DT Martin. My biggest issue is his age. He turns 26 in a few days. At Uconn this 26 year old man was facing off against 20, 21, 22 year old boys and was not dominating them. As you said, he wouldn't start for a couple of years anyway, so he would be 28+ before he made a start. As a football player he is right now in his prime production years, and to be honest, I don't see a lot there. I understand its a 6th rounder, but give me someone younger with more potential.

1) Obviously the combine is very important to Jeffery. If he shows up fat (240+) and runs slow, then I remove him from the board. But the kid has talent, and if he shows up in shape I am putting my eggs in the basket that AJ will teach him how to be a pro. I forgot to mention that if any of FLoyd, Blackmon or Wright are available then they are the pick. I just dont think they will be there.

3) We must have watched different games then! I live in the Big 10 region, so I have seen a lot of Michigan games the last 4 years. And it is my opinion that the guy gives 110% every game. I think his dominance at the Senior Bowl (which I did not watch, unfortunately) was a future of what is to come, and not a player working hard for a contract. I think he is starting to realize his full potential.

6) I can see this argument (age), as it is one of the reasons why I have him down here in the 6th. However, I decided that OC is one of the positions that can be played until the late 30s- that is still 10 years, a solid career. Even if he never becomes a starter, a good backup is still a good pickup for a 6th round pick.

Thank you for the comments.

If Jeffery could get AJ type motivation and at Alshon's size run around 4.5, whoah. I sure ope I'm wrong about him. I like all the others but prob would go Chapman in 3rd rather than Martin as I've seen Chapman more. I was off him until I found about his ACL injury.

That is what I am hoping man. I hope Jeffery sees how AJ does it every day, and that he gets competitive.

Fair enough. Chapman is a solid player, but since I have seen Martin more, I feel more comfortable with him.

Thank you for reading.

Doesn't possess great size, speed or strength for a 3rd round pick. I think the pick should have at least one. Trying hard is great but you get those guys later. He's seems like an overrated 5/6th round pick to me, good at everything but not great at anything. I like your mock though.

I support otis' response to your post here. I really think he is going to surprise some people at the combine with his athleticism and power. Thanks for reading the mock, it is great talking over players with people.

Alshon Jeffery is pulling a Jamarcus Russel, but he's being dumber about by doing so before the draft. Drop him to a third round grade, no WR should be gaining that much weight before the draft. It just smacks of laziness and lack of dedication.

Lets wait to see how he shows up to the combine before we write a player off. However, I would be lying if I denied that his wait did worry me. Thanks for the comment.

maybe Jeffery does not fit the Texan model but in general I feel most these players will be off the board by selection time in each round. sometime you have to reach in February to hit your target in April.

Hey man, it is too early to know that exactly. The players I picked where within the general zone of the Texans' picks. As more information comes in my board will change, which will result in changing players in the mocks.

It was good to hear your thoughts on the matter.

 

[beerlover]

Hey man, it is too early to know that exactly. The players I picked where within the general zone of the Texans' picks. As more information comes in my board will change, which will result in changing players in the mocks.

It was good to hear your thoughts on the matter.

Jeffery should be gone by #26 but this is not unreasonable even if he doesn't not fit the Texan model, like say Sanu.

You admit that Lewis will probably not be there when the Texans pick yet he is the one player who grades out around #60. Of all your picks I like him best, for value & fit. Need would depend on resigning Mario & could he also kick inside, thus strengthening LB position across the board?

Martin being a lean year for interior NG's will be selected earlier because of it. Great worker on field, would fit Texan profile but doubt he lasts this long. Instead why not kick-up Broyles to your third pick? If you already have Jeffery (big target) add the slot guy & finish the deal or you could go White instead who also gives you return ability as well.

You focus on developmental interior OL positions OG/OC which means either you don't expect or want Texans to resign one or both their priority free agents or maybe feel they will be the starters in due time when Myers & Brisel are winding down? Very futuristic long term approach if it is as both are solid players & position specific.

Please feel free to rip apart my pre-combine draft as well neither you or badboy have paid me a visit, what's up with that

 

[TimeKiller]

I support otis' response to your post here. I really think he is going to surprise some people at the combine with his athleticism and power. Thanks for reading the mock, it is great talking over players with people.

Perhaps it's just what I've read then. Doesn't seem like he stands out much to me, I'll try to find more to read and watch, clearly I'm missing something. Haven't really spent much time on DL guys anyway. Since you have such a wonderful time expounding on players I'm sure I'll see a comment in a thread other than your own soon.

A guy who has weight/dedication issues...
A guy who was asked to leave his team, had problems with grades as a big time athlete at a big time school...
A guy who won't play this year...
Some depth and a guy who probably won't make the roster if he can't beat out Ward.

Nice pictures.

 

[rmartin65]

Perhaps it's just what I've read then. Doesn't seem like he stands out much to me, I'll try to find more to read and watch, clearly I'm missing something. Haven't really spent much time on DL guys anyway. Since you have such a wonderful time expounding on players I'm sure I'll see a comment in a thread other than your own soon.

A guy who has weight/dedication issues...
A guy who was asked to leave his team, had problems with grades as a big time athlete at a big time school...
A guy who won't play this year...
Some depth and a guy who probably won't make the roster if he can't beat out Ward.

Nice pictures.

Did I say something wrong here? Or am I misreading your tone?

Mike Martin is a great prospect to play NT in any scheme. At 6'1", he has a low center of gravity, which allows him to get under offensive linemen and win battles. However, this does not mean he is a small player. At approximately 305 lbs, Martin has about 20 lbs on Mitchell and is 5-10 lbs heavier than Cody. While he is not a huge monster, he has adequate size, especially considering...

Strength. Martin has great strength for the position, he reminds me a lot of a player I liked in the draft a couple years ago, Geno Atkins (UGA, drafted by the Bengals). He also uses his hands extraordinarily well, which allows him to get inside lineman and eventually get around them.

Now, I dont really expect to much out of him as a pass rusher, but as a NT, I am not that concerned. He has a good but not great first step, which allows him to get close to QBs, but I am not expecting to see more than 3 sacks per season at the next level. He will, however, get a solid amount of pressures.

But what I like most about Martin is that he is a hard worker. Everything I read/hear about him underlines the fact that the guy is serious about football, much in the same way that Watt is.

I cant argue about Jeffery any more than I have. Yep, he was overweight last year. And if he shows up out of shape then he is off my board. I do, however, think he has the potential to be a difference maker in the NFL. Someone who can be a number 1 in the pros in the next couple years.

Yep, Lewis has had problems with school, but he has also been called one of, if not the, best DEs Oklahoma has ever seen. He exhibits everything that you want to see out of a OLB in the 3-4 on the field.

Who are you saying wont play? I think Broyles will be able to play. And if it is someone further down in the mock, then all I have to say is the Texans are no longer a bad team. Every rookie will not see playing time their first year. Look at Harris this year.

Morris is there for if/when Ward leaves. If not, then he goes to the PS for a year. Our 6th and 7th round picks in 2011 went to the PS, so it is not like it is unheard of.

 

[WolverineFan]

3. Not sure here. To me something just doesn't click. He was in beast mode at the Senior Bowl and was constantly in the backfield, was stopping runs, and being disruptive. He put on an absolute clinic. Yet in his 4 years at Michigan I don't recall him ever doing anything remotely like that. The Senior Bowl could be thought of as playing for contract and when it was on the line, he delivered. After he signs a contract will he revert to the solid but not dominant player at Michigan or will he continue to dominate? Too many questions here for me, so not sure.

No offense, but you really need to do some extra scouting here.

Martin played NT in the 3-3-5 for 3 years on one of the worst defenses in the country. Guy took double teams his entire career and was still a force every game when healthy. His impact was on the field, not in the stat book. Watch some of his film. Guy absolutely dominated 99% of the people across from him, even when double teamed. I've even seen him split a triple team and make a TFL.

Guy is an absolute beast and was a dominant player at Michigan. Ask any of their opponents who the best player on the team was and you'll get the same answer...."Mike Martin". He did at the Senior Bowl exactly what he did his entire Michigan career, which is dominate.

 

[WolverineFan]

Doesn't possess great size, speed or strength for a 3rd round pick. I think the pick should have at least one. Trying hard is great but you get those guys later. He's seems like an overrated 5/6th round pick to me, good at everything but not great at anything. I like your mock though.

Seriously? The guy doesn't have great size at 6'1, 305 but as a former wrestler he does not let that hinder him. Has a good 1st step and his strength is actually one of his biggest assets. The guy will probably be in the top 10 at the combine on the bench press.

 

[Dutchrudder]

Seriously? The guy doesn't have great size at 6'1, 305 but as a former wrestler he does not let that hinder him. Has a good 1st step and his strength is actually one of his biggest assets. The guy will probably be in the top 10 at the combine on the bench press.

Stephen Paea broke the combine record for bench press and didn't do much at all last year. Not exactly a great indicator of football potential, but it does help weed out the weaker players.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee2cWddxHdI

 

[WolverineFan]

Stephen Paea broke the combine record for bench press and didn't do much at all last year. Not exactly a great indicator of football potential, but it does help weed out the weaker players.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ee2cWddxHdI

That wasn't my point at all. Above poster criticized his strength which makes it obvious he has not scouted this guy adequately enough. Bench press doesn't make you a good football player but make sure a guy doesn't bench press 500+ and was a state champion wrestler before you criticize his 'attributes'.

 

[TimeKiller]

Seriously? The guy doesn't have great size at 6'1, 305 but as a former wrestler he does not let that hinder him. Has a good 1st step and his strength is actually one of his biggest assets. The guy will probably be in the top 10 at the combine on the bench press.

Bench press and pushing man back are two entirely different things.

Did I say something wrong here? Or am I misreading your tone? Probly not, just sending a little of that sarcasm back your way.

Mike Martin is a great prospect to play NT in any scheme. At 6'1", he has a low center of gravity, which allows him to get under offensive linemen and win battles. However, this does not mean he is a small player. At approximately 305 lbs, Martin has about 20 lbs on Mitchell and is 5-10 lbs heavier than Cody. While he is not a huge monster, he has adequate size, especially considering...

I wouldn't mind reading some of the reports you've read. I watched youtube footage of him for a while and didn't really come away impressed but that's just my take.

Yep, Lewis has had problems with school, but he has also been called one of, if not the, best DEs Oklahoma has ever seen. He exhibits everything that you want to see out of a OLB in the 3-4 on the field.

Character is definitely a concern to me when a bigtime athlete, who is probably gifted good grades if he tries even a little bit, is asked to leave as a junior by his coaches. Football is football but being able to handle yourself in a group or as part of an organization is paramount, especially if you expect anything big out of the guy. Jeffry has similar concerns, dedication to himself though instead of the organization he plays for. Broyles as well, stealing gas as a freshman. Being young and dumb is fine but when you've got to lay all your cards down those troubles are still there.

No offense, but you really need to do some extra scouting here. I've said as much.

Martin played NT in the 3-3-5 for 3 years on one of the worst defenses in the country. That's not a selling point is it? Guy took double teams his entire career and was still a force every game when healthy. His impact was on the field, not in the stat book. Watch some of his film. Guy absolutely dominated 99% of the people across from him, even when double teamed. I've even seen him split a triple team and make a TFL.

Guy is an absolute beast and was a dominant player at Michigan. Ask any of their opponents who the best player on the team was and you'll get the same answer...."Mike Martin". He did at the Senior Bowl exactly what he did his entire Michigan career, which is dominate.

Dominated his way into the 3rd round. Domination lol....

 

[mussop]

You amy get your guy Martin. Link

 

[rmartin65]

I wouldn't mind reading some of the reports you've read. I watched youtube footage of him for a while and didn't really come away impressed but that's just my take.

Character is definitely a concern to me when a bigtime athlete, who is probably gifted good grades if he tries even a little bit, is asked to leave as a junior by his coaches. Football is football but being able to handle yourself in a group or as part of an organization is paramount, especially if you expect anything big out of the guy. Jeffry has similar concerns, dedication to himself though instead of the organization he plays for. Broyles as well, stealing gas as a freshman. Being young and dumb is fine but when you've got to lay all your cards down those troubles are still there.

Sarcasm? I was not being sarcastic at all. I really do enjoy talking about prospects. I have been busier this year than in years past though, so I have not been as active in posting.

If you just google Mike Martin, you will find some reports. But honestly, most of what I am saying about Martin is just what I have observed from watching him over the last 4 years.

I do share your concerns about character. Broyles not so much (he was young, and by all accounts has matured), but Lewis does give me pause. I just feel that he is worth the gamble. But if the Texans do pass on the guy, I will understand the rationale.

 

[badboy]

I tried to make a mock that could be acceptable regardless of what goes down in free agency. One thing that I kept noticing was that I wanted to address a ton of positions- even though the need for starters has decreased, depth is still an issue. As such, I was not able to cover all the positions that I would like to cover. Such is the draft I guess.

Let me know what you think.

Round 1- South Carolina WR Alshon Jeffery, 6’4” 230 lbs
He may not be a popular pick, but Jeffery has arguably the most talent in the draft. He is a huge receiver with the hands to match- just look at his sophomore year, after which he was considered a potential top 5 pick. Yes, he needs to drop some weight. But the talent is undeniable- he has all-pro caliber hands, has the size and strength necessary to become a fantastic downfield blocker, and does a fantastic job boxing DBs out on jump balls. Hopefully playing and practicing next to a professional like AJ will set him straight.

Round 2- Oklahoma OLB Ronnell Lewis, 6’2” 245 lbs
I think this guy may just be the best pass rusher in this draft. He is a little raw, but has unmatched explosiveness and a knack for making plays behind the line. My biggest worry with this pick is that he may not be available this late. However, I am hoping other prospects make a splash at the combine and pro days.

Round 3- Michigan NT Mike Martin, 6’1” 305 lbs
Another man crush I have, Martin is a perfect fit for the 3-4 system the Texans ran last year. A former wrestler, Martin has an excellent sense for leverage and has violent hands, both of which he uses to both tie up blockers, and get into the backfield. Martin is also a hardworking, blue collar type player that fits the Texans’ locker room to a T.

Round 4- Oklahoma WR Ryan Broyles, 5’11” 185 lbs
Without the injury, this guy is a 2nd round pick. The injury knocks him back a couple rounds, but I have no doubt that he will return to prior form. An excellent route runner, Broyles has the uncanny ability to simply move the ball down the field. He may not be the fastest, strongest or quickest player, but he gets open time and time again. As an added bonus, Broyles brings return ability to the table.

Round 5- Virginia Tech OG Jaymes Brooks, 6’2” 310 lbs
Brooks is an athletic interior lineman that, again, projects well in the Texans’ scheme. He is a guy that wont be a starter for a couple years, but can play limited snaps early on.

Round 6- UConn OC Moe Petrus, 6’2” 300 lbs
Another regular on my mocks, Petrus has done nothing to disappoint me. A smart player with good agility, Petrus is similar to Brooks in that while he wont be a starter for a couple years, I see him being a great player down the line.

Round 7- Florida Atlantic RB Alfred Morris, 5’10” 220 lbs
I am a huge fan of Morris, have been since his sophomore year. Morris will work well in a rotation with Foster and Tate, and can be especially useful in short yardage situations, as I rarely have seen him get stuck behind the lines.

Interesting comment Feb 20th by radio Charlie Palillo on Jeffery "it is being said that he has lost 25 pounds. Will a team say 'you lost 25 lbs? Anyone can go on a crash diet. If we give you millions of dollars what keeps you from gaining it all back?"

 

[WolverineFan]

Bench press and pushing man back are two entirely different things.

Then you haven't watched the film. Go watch his tape vs. Nebraska this year. Or better yet, go watch his safety against Purdue and then describe to me "pushing man back". Also, I already said he was a state champ wrestler. Add that to the fact that he will be one of the strongest guys at the combine and you might be able to decipher that he knows a little something about leverage and how to use it.

As for domination, guy took double teams his whole career he's not going to put up monster numbers. Still had 64 tackles this year as a NT.

 

[TimeKiller]

Martin is an undersized nose tackle with loads of experience in a 3-4 defense. But he lacks a consistent anchor against double teams and just does not have the right frame to be an NFL starter. Because of his ability to penetrate against one-on-one blocks, Martin could be a solid rotation player in a 4-3 scheme as a three-technique tackle and move to the nose on passing downs.




Analysis




Pass rush: Provides some secondary interior pass rush, getting most penetration when playing three-technique. Possesses only adequate burst off the snap even when directly over the ball, and his initial pop leaves room to be desired. Hands could be much more violent when trying to gain control of the block. Can bull rush his way past running backs in pass protection. Preferred pass rush move is an arm-over swim move while simultaneously pulling lineman forward. Once momentum is stopped, lacks a critical counter move to progress into the backfield. Spies the quarterback if stoned at the line, but lacks the height and vertical to knock down passes.

Run defense: Uses more hustle than brute strength to stop the run. Gets skinny to split double teams, using good short-area quickness to make a play in the backfield. Runs the line very well, making plays on the ball when he beats blocks on the backside. Rarely goes to the ground, showing good balance from his high school wrestling days. Constantly moving his hands, readjusting them into proper placement. Occasionally too high (despite his short stature), and bows out his arms, hampering his ability to press and lock out. Does not hold his ground while facing a double team, first instinct is to roll away to make a play, which can create a large hole.

Explosion: Does not test offensive linemen with quickness or strong initial punch. Rarely first off the snap. Able to swim past single blockers to penetrate into the backfield. Does not attempt to split double-teams, takes a step back and waits to chase down plays.

Strength: Low center of gravity and generally low pad level allows him to play with initial strength and leverage at the point of attack. Upper-body only average, however, struggles to shed one-on-one blocks or sustain leverage once out of his stance. Pad level rises late in the game.

Look, I'm not calling him a bum but Vernon Gholston could workout like a madman too. The transition to bigger, faster, stronger is going to eat him up. He gets through now and again but mostly, he and his amazing leverage get washed out in the OL or once he get under a guy he can't get back out. I think guys who overcome physical limitations with hustle are great but can be had later or after the draft. I suppose we'll just agree to disagree.