2004 Draft main discussion

LB is quickly catching up with CB as our top need position. Fields and Morgan both have somewhat questionable futures. And Favors, Caldwell, and Allen have questionable ability.

Why does Allen feel he has to dance every time he gets in on a tackle...I mean, Vick runs for 12 yards and a first down and Allen is standing over him like he dropped him for a 6 yard loss?
I HATE that shit!

 

Agreed, but he did bring something our linebackers have sorely needed this year -- speed.

I'm starting to wonder if improving overall defensive team speed isn't going to be a significant priority this offseason. We've got Vick twice a year for the remainder of his career in Atlanta. Defensive speed is going to be the only way we'll be able to contain him.

And here's another cheerful thought -- Atlanta may have one of the top draft choices next year in a WR rich draft. They could draft a serious playmaker for Vick to throw to, and make Atlanta the best offensive attack in football for years to come. One playmaking WR and a OL upgrade could turn the Falcons into the next '99 Rams.

 

The nice thing, of course, is that despite Atlanta having the high picks, chances are whoever comes in will start over, somewhat, and need to use picks to get "his" type guys.

On the other hand, they'll probably trade down a bit now, grab a top notch young WR, and have he and Price. And Crumpler. Luckily at least, their personnel doesn't transfer to the 4-3 that well, which might mean they'll have to burn a lot on defensive linemen and at least one linebacker.

 

The skins offered a big contract to Arrington, meaning Champ will likely be available.

Not that we'll get him, but I think FA is gonna be pretty thick with CB's this year. I'd kinda rather go LB / WR in the draft.

 

WR if we're bringing Muhammad back. That's where a guy like Evans fits in.
But if not, we need a starter now. Since the team will start Young, who can't even stay active every week, over Proehl, I think they're pretty set in their ways about Ricky being off-the-bench situationally.

Certainly, at least one LB, and I'd like a young OT to learn, too.

 

another TSN paste



...for our sake I hope Michael Clayton comes out. I hear he's the best
blocker among the 1st round WR prospects.

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Draft Dish: Stay or go: Advice for the underclassmen

December 10, 2003 Print it

This is the time of year when rumors fly about the draft status of
college
juniors and third-year sophomores.

The prospects' decisions are made tougher because they often receive
conflicting advice. Agents tell players what they want to hear, that
the
players will be drafted higher than all likelihood to entice them to
leave
school early and sign with their agency. The college coaches counter
that
advice by low-balling the players' draft stock in an effort to persuade
the
star players to return to college for another season.

The NFL has addressed this issue by creating a special draft advisory
committee. The committee includes personnel men from all 32 NFL teams.
It is
set up to give an honest, unbiased evaluation of an underclassman and
where
that prospect would be drafted should he enter the draft.

At first, agents and college coaches offered great resistance to this
committee. The league office, however, seems to be policing this
committee
well, and the underclassmen now have a valuable tool to help with their
NFL/college decisions.

About 50 players figure to seek the committee's advice this year, and
those
petitions now are flooding the league office.

Below is a list of the top juniors and third-year sophomores that
already
have made a college/pro decision or are in the process of deciding
whether
to enter the '04 draft. For those on the fence, we offer our advice.

They're gone

DE Tony Hargrove, Georgia Tech. He was academically ineligible this
season.
Instead of returning to school, he will enter the '04 draft. There
still are
questions about Hargrove's speed, size, intelligence, etc. that won't
be
answered until he participates in the NFL Scouting Combine and
completes
individual workouts. On film, though, Hargrove figures to be a solid
Day 1
prospect.

RB Kevin Jones, Virginia Tech. Jones already has declared for the '04
NFL
draft. He is an explosive runner with adequate size and home-run
potential.
Jones should be a first-round selection.

DE Antwan Odom, Alabama. Odom told school officials he will not return
next
season. He might have been better off returning for his senior season
to
refine his skills, but his potential is limitless. Odom did not have a
great
junior season, and his inconsistent effort is concerning. He plays too
high
at times and noticeably wears down late in games. But Odom did improve
his
effort late in the season, and his pass-rush skills are hard to ignore.
Odom
will need to be motivated and probably will contribute only as a
situational
pass rusher as a rookie, but his upside is so great he could slip into
the
end of the first round.

FB Mark Pierce, Arkansas. Pierce might be the most talented fullback
prospect in the '04 draft, but he has a lot of off-field baggage that
could
cause him to slip to Day 2 of the draft.

FS Sean Taylor, Miami (Fla.). A Miami football source says Taylor --
and
teammates Vince Wilfork and Kellen Winslow Jr. -- will leave school
early.
Taylor has the same grade now as Roy Williams (Cowboys) did two years
ago,
and Williams now is a dominant NFL player. Taylor is big and powerful
enough
to play weakside linebacker and is athletic enough to play man-to-man
against many NFL wide receivers. He should be an early first-round
selection.

DT Vince Wilfork, Miami (Fla.). There are concerns about his ability to
keep
his weight under control once he signs a big NFL contract, but Wilfork
is a
mammoth interior presence with great quickness and agility. It would be
a
surprise if he is not a top-15 pick.

TE Kellen Winslow Jr., Miami (Fla.). Despite Winslow's immature actions
on
and off the field, he still is the No. 1 tight end in this class.
Personnel
people say they will shy away from Winslow because of his poor
attitude, but
don't believe them. He certainly will be a top-15 pick and could go
much
higher with good pre-draft workouts and interviews. He is a special
talent.


They should go

OT Shawn Andrews, Arkansas. Andrews is said to be leaning towards
leaving
school. He is the top-rated offensive lineman and could be a top-5
pick.

OG David Baas, Michigan. It's unusual for an interior lineman to leave
school early, and Baas probably will return to Michigan. If he were to
enter
the '04 draft, he would be the second guard drafted -- behind Vernon
Carey
of Miami (Fla.) -- and probably in the second round.

RB Cedric Benson, Texas. Momentum is on Benson's side. He was most
productive in the second half of the season. He is a big, strong runner
in
the mold of Stephen Davis (Panthers) and likely would be a first-round
pick.

P Dustin Colquitt, Tennessee. Colquitt probably won't leave school
early,
but he would be the first punter drafted in this class.

WR Braylon Edwards, Michigan. He told the media early in the season
that he
was returning to school but is now wavering. He is a good-sized
receiver
with exceptional playmaking ability. If he returns, his production
likely
will fall because he'll be breaking in a new quarterback. Edwards
likely
would be the third receiver drafted -- behind Pitt sophomore Larry
Fitzgerald and Texas senior Roy Williams.

WR Larry Fitzgerald, Pitt. Although only a true sophomore, Fitzgerald
figures to petition the league for early entry based on the fact he
spent a
year at a prep school between high school and college. If Fitzgerald is
available, he is certain to be a top-5 pick.

CB DeAngelo Hall, Virginia Tech. Hall is ready to play in the NFL and
is a
certain first-round pick. He is a shutdown corner with exceptional
speed,
and he also has the potential to develop into a game-breaking punt
returner.

DT Tommie Harris, Oklahoma. Harris is a man among boys on the college
level,
and it is time for him to take his game to the next level. Harris could
be
the No. 1 pick overall.

RB Steven Jackson, Oregon State. He is a complete back with power,
speed,
blocking skills and hands. He might be the first running back drafted
if he
leaves school early.

OLB Derrick Johnson, Texas. Johnson says he will return to Texas for
his
senior season, but he would be smart to do the opposite. He is an
undersized
linebacker who has thrived behind massive defensive tackles that
protected
him. One of those guys (Marcus Tubbs) won't return in '04, and it's
hard to
imagine Johnson having a better season without Tubbs. Johnson is a
first-round pick should he enter the '04 draft.

DE David Pollack, Georgia. The only knocks on Pollack are his lack of
height
(6-2) and questionable speed, but those issues won't be helped by
another
season in college. He is a playmaker, and nobody works harder. Pollack
could
slip to the late first round because he won't have impressive workout
statistics, but he will make those NFL teams pay for passing on him.

QB Ben Roethlisberger, Miami (Ohio). He is leaning towards entering the
'04
draft. He already is the best quarterback prospect in college, and the
worst-case scenario in '04 has him as the third quarterback drafted --
behind seniors Eli Manning (Ole Miss) and J.P. Losman (Tulane).

DT Randy Starks, Maryland. He is an explosive one-gap penetrator but
must
improve his technique and effort. Still, he is ready to play in the NFL
and
would go in the early-to-middle first round.

DE Kenechi Udeze, Southern Cal. Udeze, a late first-round prospect, is
leaning towards entering the '04 draft. He has stayed healthy as a
junior
and had a career season. He has terrific size and could move inside to
tackle on passing downs, where his quickness would overwhelm most
guards.

RB Carnell "Cadillac" Williams, Auburn. He has nothing left to prove on
the
college level. He is undersized and has durability concerns, but his
two
injuries were freak accidents. He proved this season that he is capable
of
carrying a full load. He likely would be a late-first round pick.

WR Reggie Williams, Washington. This is pretty much a done deal. He is
a big
receiver with terrific athleticism. If he runs well at the NFL Combine,
he
could be a mid first-round selection.

 

They should stay

RB Ronnie Brown, Auburn. Brown missed some time because of injury and
would
be the featured back at Auburn if "Cadillac" Williams, as expected,
enters
the '04 draft.

OLB Kevin Burnett, Tennessee. Burnett says he will return to Tennessee
next
season, which is the right choice. He was a bit hesitant this season
following '02 knee surgery.

WR Michael Clayton, LSU. Clayton likely would be a first-round pick if
he
entered the '04 draft, but he might be better off in the long run if he
avoided this loaded receiver class (Fitzgerald, Roy Williams, Edwards,
Reggie Williams). Clayton could be a top-5 pick in the '05 draft.

WR Devard Darling, Washington State. Darling had a good, not a great,
junior
season. With so much talent in this year's receiving class, he would
help
himself by returning to Washington State.

RB Anthony Davis, Wisconsin. He is undersized and should return to
school
and prove he can overcome the injuries that set him back as a junior.

OT Nat Dorsey, Georgia Tech. Dorsey played well but did not have a
dominating season. With such a young offense around him, Dorsey should
return for another season.

CB Chris Gamble, Ohio State. Gamble is a top-rated cornerback prospect
who
is leaning towards entering the draft. He is an explosive athlete with
tremendous upside both as a cornerback and return specialist, but his
coverage skills are raw and he got beat deep too many times this season
because of poor route-recognition skills.

WR Fred Gibson, Georgia. Gibson has first-round talent, but his effort
and
hands are inconsistent. He must prove to NFL scouts that he can stay
healthy
for a full season and give a solid effort on every play.

DT Anttaj Hawthorne, Wisconsin. He is a two-gap run stopper who had an
excellent junior season but still has room for improvement. With
Harris,
Wilfork and Starks all likely to be gone, Hawthorne would be the top
defensive tackle prospect in the '05 class.

RB Cedric Houston, Tennessee. He had another roller-coaster season
marred by
injuries. Houston should return to Tennessee for another season to
prove he
can stay healthy and carry a full load.

CB Marlin Jackson, Michigan. Jackson likely will enter the '04 draft,
but he
did nothing to help his draft stock this season. He missed time because
of
injury, and he also struggled when moved to free safety because of team
needs. Jackson is loaded with talented and likely will be a first-round
pick
in '04, but he would be best served to go back to school and play
cornerback
for a full season.

QB Andrew Walter, Arizona State. Minor injuries and a poor supporting
cast
led to a disappointing junior season. With Roethlisberger, Manning and
Losman rated ahead of him, Walter should return to Arizona State.

 

At this point I can see us parting w Moose unless he re-ups, which is unlikely, IMO.

So here is what I would like to see:

Sign a FA CB and spend some money on someone who is productive and young. No more gummers, we need guys that have a full tank. Add to that a FA LB of starter quality (maybe 2), someone speedy, young and intense.
We'll likely need to grab a decent O-lineman as a back-up and a servicable WR (with Moose gone and Dyson's furtue questionable).

Then Draft:
1st - LB or CB based on the player of higher value when we pick.
2nd - WR, big posession type guy
3rd - LB or CB, whichever we pass on in round one
4th thru 7th - Depth every where to fill FA loses

I'd almost like to see a new MLB and move Morgan to the outside, just to protect him a little more. I still like Townes, but he just doesn't have the speed we need. I like the sounds of Spoon (weak)/MLB/Morgan(strong). That and I think moving Wesley to FS would better suit him and allow us to break with Richardson and Branch.

 

You're unclear at FS. Grant stays? Wesley starts?




Meanwhile, anyone seen anything out of Brandon Kennedy tonight? I caught a piece of him last year and he's bad as his brother.

 

Grant Starts, Wesley as the back up. Then we have both Wesley and Coop (if retained, should be) as gunners. I like the sounds of that. Dump Howard and bring in a FA and draft pick to push Cousin out of the starting line-up and things look pretty good in the D-back field.

I missed most of the Memphis/North Texas Irrelevant Bowl, Kennedy was sucking wind by the time I turned the TV on. The announcers were sure talking him up though.
What about that MLB at North Texas (name excapes me). I had him on my short list of MLB's, last guy on it in fact. How'd he look to you? I didn't really see anything that stood out.

I did watch the QB's a little. The guy from Memphis looked pretty damn good, while Hall looked like crap. If it weren't for Cobbs, North T wouldn't have even been in the game...what pisses me off is I started the Bowl Season 0-1. I figured Cobbs and the usually stout NT D would prevail.

If Cobbs can duplicate this years effort and add some bulk he'll get some attention next year.