magnus
Chump-proof
- Joined
- Feb 5, 2002
- Posts
- 53,697
- Reaction score
- 2
- Points
- 38
Chances are, most everyone here looked up and learned Landry and Nelson whether they'd seen them play or not (and chances are, not). Over the past three months, it's been pretty clear that Weddle, Merriwether, and Griffin are the next three.
To a point it falls off from there - and nobody's talking about most of these guys. So let's get on that. There's no real consensus from there on, so here are a few prospects I'd expect to go around the first day and into the 4th.
John Wendling, S, Wyoming - 6'1, 222
Combine - 4.48 40, 4.16 shuttle (4th in DBs), 38.5' vert, 22 bench
first, there's this video of him clearing a 66" hurdle:
Wendling's a workout warrior from a smaller division - he hasn't shown the type instincts to be a true playmaker. His flaws are correctable, though. He isn't and won't be the Troy Polamalu type playmaker, but will be better in coverage, and be an asset. Because of his size, will be a strong safety. Isn't getting the "might have to move to OLB because of range/speed concerns" type criticism. Could theoretically do it, but if he can play at safety, should.
Marvin White, TCU - 6'1, 200
aggressive, hard working motor type player who's rising. JUCO all american with two years at TCU. Average athletically but good closing on the ball and playing the ball in the air, good tackler,
Aaron Rouse, Virginia Tech - 6'4, 220, 4.52, 16 bench
Fast straight line SS without as great of change-of-direction skills. Might fit as a nickel LB for a year while a team decides if he's a safety or a LB, which makes the pick riskier. There are a lot of comparisons here to Thomas Davis, but they're not the same player. Nonetheless, they're both guys who moved from LB to S and back, aggressive, and tweeners.
Josh Gattis, Wake Forest - 6'1, 205
4.5 40; 11.24 60-shuttle was 5th fastest; 4.27 short shuttle, 22 bench
Gattis is the hometown hero, and I tend to devalue that (see "Chris Leak needs to become a Panther" threads around the first of the year). But Gattis has athleticism greater than where he'll inevitably go, works hard, and he'll be the top S on the board at some point that's not a 220 lb behemoth. Like White, I believe he'll end up going higher than most assume, because he has more prototype size. He lacks top instincts but has good ball skills, hands, awareness, and experience in the box. Could play either S spot.
Michael Johnson, Arizona - 6'2, 205
4.6 40, bench, 15
Tall, lanky, aggressive safety with good size and versatility for either safety spot. Didn't work out as well as hoped and had some minor injuries hampering his play this year. Versatile pick to cover whatever you need, with the size other prospects don't have (or rather, height without the extra 20 lbs.)
his brother, Reggie Brown, was the guy who got paralyzed during a Lions game a few years back.
Sabby Piscatelli, Oregon St. 6'2, 220,
4.47 40, 3.9 short shuttle (#1 among DBs by .2), 19 bench
Size and outstanding timed athleticism. Decent ball skills, good at breaking up passes, aggressive (but not physical); decent in shorter zones. Hasn't shown he has the range or the playing speed up to par with his times.
To a point it falls off from there - and nobody's talking about most of these guys. So let's get on that. There's no real consensus from there on, so here are a few prospects I'd expect to go around the first day and into the 4th.
John Wendling, S, Wyoming - 6'1, 222
Combine - 4.48 40, 4.16 shuttle (4th in DBs), 38.5' vert, 22 bench
first, there's this video of him clearing a 66" hurdle:
Wendling's a workout warrior from a smaller division - he hasn't shown the type instincts to be a true playmaker. His flaws are correctable, though. He isn't and won't be the Troy Polamalu type playmaker, but will be better in coverage, and be an asset. Because of his size, will be a strong safety. Isn't getting the "might have to move to OLB because of range/speed concerns" type criticism. Could theoretically do it, but if he can play at safety, should.
Marvin White, TCU - 6'1, 200
aggressive, hard working motor type player who's rising. JUCO all american with two years at TCU. Average athletically but good closing on the ball and playing the ball in the air, good tackler,
Aaron Rouse, Virginia Tech - 6'4, 220, 4.52, 16 bench
Fast straight line SS without as great of change-of-direction skills. Might fit as a nickel LB for a year while a team decides if he's a safety or a LB, which makes the pick riskier. There are a lot of comparisons here to Thomas Davis, but they're not the same player. Nonetheless, they're both guys who moved from LB to S and back, aggressive, and tweeners.
Josh Gattis, Wake Forest - 6'1, 205
4.5 40; 11.24 60-shuttle was 5th fastest; 4.27 short shuttle, 22 bench
Gattis is the hometown hero, and I tend to devalue that (see "Chris Leak needs to become a Panther" threads around the first of the year). But Gattis has athleticism greater than where he'll inevitably go, works hard, and he'll be the top S on the board at some point that's not a 220 lb behemoth. Like White, I believe he'll end up going higher than most assume, because he has more prototype size. He lacks top instincts but has good ball skills, hands, awareness, and experience in the box. Could play either S spot.
Michael Johnson, Arizona - 6'2, 205
4.6 40, bench, 15
Tall, lanky, aggressive safety with good size and versatility for either safety spot. Didn't work out as well as hoped and had some minor injuries hampering his play this year. Versatile pick to cover whatever you need, with the size other prospects don't have (or rather, height without the extra 20 lbs.)
his brother, Reggie Brown, was the guy who got paralyzed during a Lions game a few years back.
Sabby Piscatelli, Oregon St. 6'2, 220,
4.47 40, 3.9 short shuttle (#1 among DBs by .2), 19 bench
Size and outstanding timed athleticism. Decent ball skills, good at breaking up passes, aggressive (but not physical); decent in shorter zones. Hasn't shown he has the range or the playing speed up to par with his times.
