by Tommy Lawlor  -  http://www.ScoutsNotebook.com

New Orleans Saints

1 – DE Cam Jordan – 6’4, 287 – Cal
1 – RB Mark Ingram – 5’9, 215 – Alabama
3 – LB Martez Wilson – 6’4, 250 – Illinois
3 – CB Johnny Patrick – 5’11, 191 – Louisville
7 – DE Greg Romeus – 6’5, 264 – Pitt
7 – LB Nate Bussey – 6’1, 228 – Illinois

The Saints, like most of us, were shocked when Cam Jordan was still on the board at pick 24. They snatched him up quickly. Jordan played DE in Cal’s 3-4 attack. He’ll play DE for the Saints, who shift between a 4-3 and a 3-4. His versatility is a perfect fit for Gregg Williams and his creative style of defense. Not only do the Saints like to mix things up, they love to blitz and be creative. Jordan is athletic enough to be good on stunts or he can drop back in coverage on zone blitzes. Jordan is also a smart player. Not just anyone can play for Williams. He needs players who have the versatility to execute his schemes and who are smart enough to understand a complex playbook.

Jordan had a good career at Cal. He had 34 TFLs, 4 FFs, and even deflected 5 passes. He picked off a pass back in 2008. Jordan is quick, but not explosive. He is fast. He sometimes rushed as a DT and other times as a DE. Good motor. Combine that with his speed and he was able to make pursuit plays. Good pass rusher. Able to win with his burst off the ball at times, but also skilled. Has a good swim move. Jordan went to the Senior Bowl and really put on a show. He was dominant in 1-on-1 drills. Seems like a coachable player. His father Steve was a TE for the Vikings in the late 1980s. Jordan is the kind of athletic, versatile, high character DL that all 32 teams would love to have.

The Saints traded back into the 1st round when another good player was still on the board at pick 28. They saw RB Mark Ingram and decided that he was too good to pass up. Ingram was a great college RB. He won the Heisman in 2009 and helped lead Alabama to the National Title that year. I am a huge fan of Ingram’s. He wasn’t a huge guy or great athlete. Ingram was a football player, a skilled RB. Ran for 3.261 yards and 42 TDs in his career. That was in less than 3 full seasons.

College football is filled with great RBs, but Ingram seemed like a special player to me. I loved the way he runs. He goes hard. He runs with attitude. Arm tackles won’t bring him down. He is balanced, under control, and strong. You can’t count on huge plays, but he’ll get you 4 yards a pop and keeps the sticks moving. That is what the average team should look for in a RB. Some knock him for not being “special”. Ingram has the build I want in a RB at 5’9, 215. He runs in the 4.5 range, which is plenty fast. I think the most important traits for a good RB are vision and feet. Ingram is strong in both areas.

Ingram can be elusive and make guys miss in tight spaces. He’d rather go N-S and break arm tackles, but occasionally you’ll see a spin move or something fancy from him. One of the things I love about Ingram is that he doesn’t need room to run. He’s comfortable in traffic. He loves to get into the open, but is patient enough to work through the trash at the LOS to get to daylight. Some runners bounce everything wide and then get to the NFL where that just doesn’t work. Ingram has an NFL ready running style.

Ingram is a great fit for the Saints. That offense was virtually unstoppable in 2009 when they had guys like Pierre Thomas and Mike Bell to move the chains. That opened up the passing game for Drew Brees. The run game was inconsistent in 2010. Ingram is perfect for New Orleans because he can be the workhorse runner, but he also is a good blocker and receiver. I expect him to make a smooth transition to the NFL and really be a terrific player. Love this pick.

The next Saints pick came in the 3rd round. Gregg Williams got another toy when they added LB Martez Wilson. Like Jordan, Wilson is athletic and versatile. He played ILB last year at Illinois, but Wilson is able to line up anywhere. He’s big enough for SAM. He is fast enough for WLB. He was very good last year when playing in the middle. Wilson moved around some at Illinois and didn’t get to master one scheme. Because of that he’s raw as he begins his NFL career. Wilson has 1st round size and physical ability. The question is where exactly the Saints use him and how they use him. Wilson is a good pass rusher. He finished his career with 9 sacks in 3 years. In that sense he is a perfect fit for Williams and his blitzing scheme. Wilson must show that he can master the playbook. LBs have a lot of responsibilities in the Williams system. This isn’t just lining up and attacking. The good news is that the Saints have veteran LBs in place. Wilson isn’t under pressure to perform right away. He and Williams can work together to figure out the best situation for him. Good value in the 3rd round.

New Orleans had another 3rd round pick and took one of my favorite players in the whole draft, Louisville CB Johnny Patrick. I really loved watching him play. Patrick is a good hitter and tackler. Physical player. Good STer. Loves to press and be aggressive in coverage. Not huge, but plays big and with a lot of confidence. Solid player prior to 2010, but really came alive with the new coaching staff. Had a great year. Picked off 5 passes and also had 6.5 TFLs. That should give you an idea of just what a complete CB he is. Broke up 12 more passes, had a FF, and blocked one kick. There really is only one downside. Patrick lacks ideal speed. Runs in the mid 4.5 range. That’s the cutoff for CBs, per Bill Polian. I think Patrick can play CB in the NFL. At the least, he could be a Nickelback and great STer.

Next up for the Saints was a pair of 7th round picks. They took a flyer on DE Greg Romeus. Real interesting player with a hard luck story. Romeus built himself up while at Pitt and was considered a real good prospect after his Junior year. He thought about going pro, but stayed in school. He then had a back injury that required surgery and knocked him out for about half of his Senior season. Romeus worked really hard to come back as soon as possible. In his first game back, Romeus tore his ACL and that ended his career. He went from solid prospect to late round medical risk. Harsh. Romeus has a great frame at 6’5, 260. You don’t see a ton of DEs with that kind of size anymore. Romeus isn’t an explosive rusher, but had 19.5 sacks in 3 years. He can get to the QB. Real good fit for the Saints D. Can be a DE in the 3-4 or 4-3. Big concern for Romeus is his back/knee. Must show he can stay healthy.

Finally, New Orleans added another player from Illinois, LB Nate Bussey. He is a bit undersized, but can make plays. Like Patrck, Bussey really emerged as a Senior. He was suddenly in his final year, but also had a new coordinator and scheme. Bussey finished 2nd on the team in tackles (to some guy named Wilson). Bussey had 8.5 TFLs, an INT, and a couple of pass break-ups. He showed the potential to be a good cover LB. He also blocked a kick and showed good STs ability. Projects to WLB in the NFL. Has an uphill challenge to make the roster due to the Saints depth at LB.

by Tommy Lawlor  -  http://www.ScoutsNotebook.com

Carolina Panthers

1 – QB Cam Newton – 6’5, 248 – Auburn
3 – DT Terrell McClain – 6’2, 297 – USF
3 – DT Sione Fua – 6’2, 308 – Stanford
4 – CB Brandon Hogan – 5’10, 192 – West Virginia
5 – WR Kealoha Pilares – 5’10, 199 – Hawaii
6 – LB Lawrence Wilson – 6’1, 229 – UConn
6 – OL Zach Williams – 6’3, 309 – Washington State
7 – OT Lee Ziemba – 6’6, 317 – Auburn

The Panthers had the #1 overall pick and they used that to land QB Cam Newton. I think we’re all pretty familiar with his resume. Newton led Auburn to an undefeated season and the National Title. He won the Heisman Trophy. He would have cured cancer, but Tim Tebow was already busy on that project.

Newton is a boom or bust player. He’s got rare physical skills. He did things at Auburn that I’ve never seen a QB do. It’s one thing for Vince Young to run wild in the Big 12. They don’t have the kind of defensive players the SEC does. You wonder about Tebow vs Newton. Tim had a great supporting cast. Guys like Aaron Hernandez and Percy Harvin are NFL playmakers. Heck, Riley Cooper is a promising NFL receiver. Newton had a stud Freshman RB, but other than that his skills players were just solid college players. Newton did have a good O-line, but none of them are great NFL prospects. Tebow had top NFL guys clearing the way for him. Newton also had a bad defense to work with. Auburn gave up 43 points to Arkansas. And won. By 22. I never saw Tebow or VY do something like that. Cam led one of the craziest comebacks I’ve ever seen. Alabama had total control of the Iron Bowl this year, leading 24-0. Auburn won 28-27. You don’t come back like that on ‘Bama. But Newton did.

So how about him in the NFL? We all agree Cam was a great college player. That doesn’t guarantee him anything in the NFL. He’s got the talent to be an elite player. Does he have the focus/drive? Does he have the quick mind? Newton isn’t a polished passer, but he’s sound mechanically. He’s light years ahead of VY and Tebow in this area. He played in a spread offense like those two guys and will face the same challenges they did – reading defenses, finding the open guy, and then getting him the ball. And all of that takes place in 2 to 4 seconds. To use Ron Jaworski’s favorite phrase, Newton “must be able to process information quickly”. He wasn’t challenged in that area in the Auburn offense. This will change greatly in the NFL. Newton’s not a dumb guy, but not all productive college passers can handle the speed of the NFL game.

Newton has done and said the right things since getting drafted. His head seems to be in the right place. Let’s hope it stays there. Young players are easily distracted. They have money for the first time in their life. They have access to all kinds of crazy women. There is no NCAA to deal with anymore. Players can live the good life. It’s easy to get caught up in that stuff. If that happens, it does affect on-field performance. You can’t study the playbook and game tape if you’re out having fun every night. Newton needs to dedicate himself to the game of football if he expects to have a top flight career. He’s got the potential. I hope he learns from the failures of JaMarcus Russell and Ryan Leaf.    Read the rest of this entry »

by Tommy Lawlor -  http://www.ScoutsNotebook.com

Atlanta Falcons

1 – WR Julio Jones – 6’3, 220 – Alabama
3 – LB Akeem Dent – 6’1, 242 – Georgia
5 – RB Jacquizz Rodgers – 5’6, 196 – Oregon State
6 – PK Matt Bosher – 6’1, 208 – Miami
7 – OG Andrew Jackson – 6’5, 299 – Fresno State
7 – DE Cliff Matthews – 6’4, 257 – South Carolina

Atlanta had a late 1st round pick, but made the shocking move of the whole draft by trading up into the Top 10. They got pick #6 from Cleveland and took WR Julio Jones. Let’s start by talking about the deal. The Falcons paid a steep price. They gave up:

2011 – 1st
2011 – 2nd
2011 – 4th
2012 – 1st
2012 – 4th

First thing that comes to mind is…wow. I know jaws dropped in a few war rooms around the leagues. More than a couple of teams thought the Falcons were flat out stupid for giving up that much for a WR. I have very mixed feelings. Atlanta has a lot of key pieces in place. They have a franchise QB, stud RB, and one great WR. They feel adding an elite WR prospect gives them enough firepower to seriously challenge the Packers and Eagles. I like the fact that GM Thomas Dimitroff was aggressive. He identified a player he wanted and went and got him. At the same time, that’s one hell of a price. I’m sure that economics professor would tell you the odds were better if you kept the picks and spent them all on receiver prospects.

Now to Jones. I do think he’s a special player. He certainly was great for Alabama, especially in 2010.  Jones has excellent size. He’s physical and takes advantage of his build. He made some amazing catches. He knows how to run routes. Jones wasn’t just catching WR screens left and right. He has very good hands. He’s got good RAC ability. Jones had a great workout at the Combine, but that athletic ability didn’t always show up on gameday. He was good, but never looked like a special athlete. That’s okay because of his size and style of play. Jones doesn’t need to just outrun every CB he faces. He’s able to go over DBs and catch the ball up high. He’s able to out-muscle DBs and catch the ball when tightly covered.

Jones can be a difference maker for the Falcons. Teams can’t just roll coverages to Roddy White’s side. Jones is gifted enough to beat single coverage. If teams have to keep both Safeties back, that opens up running lanes for Michael Turner. TE Tony Gonzalez will also have more room to work in the middle on his pass routes. The Falcons feel that by adding this one player the whole offense is better. Big risk, but it just might work.   Read the rest of this entry »

by Tommy Lawlor  -  http://www.ScoutsNotebook.com

San Diego Chargers

1 – DE Cory Liuget – 6’2, 298 – Illinois
2 – DB Marcus Gilchrist – 5’10, 195 – Clemson
2 – ILB Jonas Mouton – 6’1, 239 – Michigan
3 – WR Vincent Brown – 5’11, 187 – SDSU
3 – CB Shareece Wright – 5’11, 185 – USC
6 – RB Jordan Todman – 5’9, 203 – UConn
6 – OG Steve Schilling – 6’4, 308 – Michigan
7 – LB Andrew Gachkar – 6’3, 228 – Missouri

The Chargers opened things up by taking Illinois DT Corey Liuget. He will play DE in San Diego’s 3-4 defense. Liuget can slide into DT when they are in a 4-man front, which can be as much as 50-60 percent of the time these days. Liuget isn’t a natural for the 3-4, but he’s talented enough to play in any scheme.

Liuget really burst onto the scene with his performance in 2010. He was only a Junior so not much attention was focused on him early on. Anyone who watched an Illinois game came away impressed with the young man. He was a force to be reckoned with. Liuget is a good athlete, but the thing that stood out to me was his power. He’s not huge, but boy is he strong. He can take on double teams and hold his ground. OL who try to single block him aren’t going to consistently move him off the ball. Liuget will also help with his pass rush potential. He had 4.5 sacks in 2010. He showed the ability to make plays behind the LOS on a regular basis. Liuget had 12.5 TFLs. He’s quick off the ball and has good agility. The 3-4 really comes alive when it has DEs that can make plays. The NT must control the middle. OLBs must be pass rushers. If the unit has a DE who can both play the run and get after the QB, the defense can be really tough. Liuget has that kind of potential. The Chargers hope he is their starting RDE this year.

In the 2nd round the Chargers took Clemson DB Marcus Gilchrist. He played both CB and S for the Tigers. The Chargers are starting him out at CB. Gilchrist was one of my favorite players in the draft. He is a terrific hitter and tackler. Gilchrist is a fearless run defender. He’ll go down in the box and mix it up with anyone. He’s also a good athlete and cover guy. He broke up 8 passes last year. The big knock on Gilchrist is that he only had 1 INT in his career. Since the Chargers want him at CB that is not as big a deal as if he was at Safety. CBs can get away with covering tightly and breaking up passes. Safeties need to be playmakers. The Chargers are hoping Gilchrist can be their Nickelback this year, as well as a key STer. He’s tough enough to be outstanding on the cover units and was a very good KOR at Clemson. Real good player, real good pick.

The Chargers spent another 2nd round pick on ILB Jonas Mouton. He was the leading tackler on a horrible Michigan defense. Mouton impressed me when I watched the Wolverines play. The one big concern with him is speed. Mouton was terrific as an inside run defender. He is a tackling machine. He has a nose for the ball and gets through trash well. He’s not a gifted pass defender, but did pick off 4 passes in his career. He’ll make a play when he gets the chance. I do question if Mouton is fast enough to handle NFL speed. He’s not going to have a chance vs guys like Darren McFadden or Jamaal Charles. He’s got a chance to succeed in the 3-4 because the ILB isn’t required to cover as much ground. Mouton could be a real good STer. I fully expected some team to take a chance on him, but I sure didn’t expect him to go in the 2nd round.

San Diego had a pair of 3rd round picks. The first was WR Vincent Brown. He won’t have far to travel. Brown played his college ball at SDSU. He could be a good fit in the Chargers offense. Brown is a great route runner. He has excellent hands and is a polished receiver that came out of a pro style offense. He lacks ideal speed, but can be a very good possession receiver. Brown was very productive at SDSU. He caught 209 passes and 23 TDs. He had a very good showing at the Senior Bowl. While he isn’t going to outrun CBs, Brown showed he could make crisp cuts and get open. He was good value in the 3rd round and is polished enough to contribute as a rookie.

Next up was CB Shareece Wright from USC. He had a very up and down career at USC. Injuries and academic issues limited his playing time. Wright finally was healthy in 2010 and made the most of his final season with the Trojans. He was a physical CB and good run defender. Wright looks like an NFL player. He is a confident, aggressive CB. Corners must be cocky and have short memories. I’d say he fits both categories. Wright has the potential to be a good starting CB. His primary challenge is staying healthy. I don’t question his speed, athleticism, or physical skills. Solid value in the 3rd. Talented enough to play as a rookie.

The Chargers didn’t pick again until the 6th round. They may have gotten a steal in getting UConn RB Jordan Todman that late. He is a good fit for the San Diego offense. Todman was a workhorse back for the Huskies and piled up over 2,800 yards in the last 2 years. He finished 2nd in the nation in rushing in 2010. Put on the tape and you see a good player. Todman is a bit on the small side, but he’s a tough inside runner. He has good vision. He can turn a short run into a long play if he gets some space. I think Todman fell down to the 6th because he doesn’t fit any category. He’s not a great natural runner like Emmitt Smith (similar size). He’s not a dynamic speedster. He’s not a polished receiver. He’s strong for his size, but isn’t going to break a lot of tackles in the NFL. Todman thrived when UConn fed him the ball. The Chargers offense loves to feed the ball to RBs. That gives Todman a chance. He was a good KOR and could help with the loss of Darren Sproles.

Also in the 6th round the Chargers got Michigan OG Steve Schilling. He had a big time reputation in college, but the game tape didn’t back that up. Solid college player, but nothing special. Struggled at the Senior Bowl. Schilling is nothing special athletically. He’s not a great run blocker. Just a solid college player with some NFL potential. He has a nice frame. He can be an effective player in a zone blocking scheme. He was a 4-year starter for Michigan. He spent 2 years at RT before moving to LG. I think he’s meant to be a G, but it could be that the Chargers think his size makes him a better fit at RT.

San Diego’s final pick landed them Missouri LB Andrew Gachkar. He’s another player that really emerged as a Senior. Gachkar had pedestrian numbers in his first 3 years, but was very good in 2010. He had 84 tackles, 8.5 TFLs, 5 Passes Defenses, 2 FFs, 2 INTs, and 2 blocked kicks. He then had a real good showing at his Pro Day. Gachkar is a late bloomer. Sometimes those guys pan out, sometimes they don’t. Nothing wrong with spending a 7th round pick on a player like him. He is another player that could help on STs. I’ve mentioned that a few times already. You may recall that STs cost the Chargers dearly in 2010. They needed to find guys that could cover kicks and block for returns. They needed players who could run, hit and tackle. I think GM A.J. Smith did a good job of that.

by Tommy Lawlor  -  http://www.ScoutsNotebook.com

Oakland Raiders

2 – OG Stefen Wisniewski – 6’3, 313 – Penn State
3 – CB Demarcus Van Dyke – 6’1, 176 – Miami
3 – OG Joseph Barksdale – 6’5, 325 – LSU
4 – CB Chimdi Chekwa – 6’0, 191 – Ohio State
4 – RB Taiwan Jones – 6’0, 194 – Eastern Washington
5 – WR Denarius Moore – 6’0, 194 – Tennessee
6 – TE Richard Gordon – 6’3, 265 – Miami
7 – WR David Ausberry – 6’4, 235 – USC

The Raiders had no 1st round pick. They had previously dealt that to the Patriots for Richard Seymour. In the 2nd round the Raiders managed not to draft the fastest player on the board. Instead, they went for a quality interior OL and Raiders legacy, G Stefen Wisniewski. His uncle Steve played for the Silver and Black for a long time and was a terrific player. He was talented and dirty, pretty much the epitome of what the Raiders want. Stefen isn’t dirty, but that doesn’t mean Steve won’t try to teach him a trick or two.

Wisniewski is a good player. He started at both C and RG for the Nitanny Lions. He has a good build at 6’3, 310, but is still athletic enough to block on the move. He started for 3 years at Penn State and has the experience and skills to step in and challenge for a starting role right away. He can play either C or G in the NFL and has a chance to be a good starter. Good value in the 2nd round.   Read the rest of this entry »

by Tommy Lawlor  -  http://www.ScoutsNotebook.com

Kansas City Chiefs

1 – WR Jonathan Baldwin – 6’4, 220 – Pitt
2 – OL Rodney Hudson – 6’2, 299 – Florida State
3 – LB Justin Houston – 6’3, 270 – Georgia
3 – DE Allen Bailey – 6’3, 285 – Miami
4 – CB Jalil Brown – 6’1, 204 – Colorado
5 – QB Ricky Stanzi – 6’4, 223 – Iowa
5 – LB Gabe Miller – 6’3, 257 – Oregon State
6 – NT Jerrell Powe – 6’2, 335 – Ole Miss
7 – FB Shane Bannon – 6’2, 265 – Yale

Kansas City’s offense got exposed in the playoffs last year. The passing game was too easy to shut down. There was Dwayne Bowe and then…Kevin Curtis? The Chiefs had to add another WR with big time ability. They did just that in drafting Pitt WR Jonathan Baldwin. He has the ability to deliver the big plays KC needs. Dwayne Bowe is a workhorse WR. The running game is loaded. In order to keep defenses honest, the Chiefs needed a receiver that could stretch the field and put pressure on the CB and FS.

Baldwin left Pitt after his Junior year. His numbers were down a bit (53-822-5) from 2009 (57-1111-8), but that was due to breaking in a new QB. Baldwin remained a big time receiver that defenses had to account for. He’s not a blazer, but can eat up ground with his long strides. He is a good deep receiver. He locates the ball well and has good hands. Baldwin has good RAC ability for a big WR. He can be an excellent blocker when he really tries. Check out parts of the Utah game and he destroyed DBs near him. Didn’t seem like Baldwin always played like that. Baldwin has 1st round ability, but many thought he might fall due to concerns that he’s a bit of a diva. The Chiefs obviously felt like he was worth the high pick. Baldwin comes out of a pro-style offense and that should hasten his adjustment to the NFL.

Next up was OL Rodney Hudson. He was a great interior blocker for FSU during his career. Hudson got about every accolade you could want. The problem in scouting him was figuring out if he could handle the NFL. Hudson played at about 280 in college. That’s fine in the NFL for 1991, but not 2011. Hudson bulked up for the Senior Bowl. He had a good showing there and eased concerns on his size. He bulked up even more for the Combine, but had a poor workout. He’s meant to carry about 290 pounds and that’s it. Hudson is very skilled. He knows he can’t just drive guys off the ball with brute force. He must play with excellent leverage and proper technique. He knows how to block guys that are bigger, stronger, and more talented than him. He played G in college, but might move to C in the NFL. Solid value in the bottom of the 2nd.   Read the rest of this entry »

by Tommy Lawlor  -  http://www.ScoutsNotebook.com

Denver Broncos

1 – LB Von Miller – 6’3, 246 – Texas A&M
2 – FS Rahim Moore – 6’0, 202 – UCLA
2 – OL Orlando Franklin – 6’6, 316 – Miami
3 – LB Nate Irving – 6’1, 240 – NC State
4 – SS Quinton Carter – 6’1, 208 – Oklahoma
4 – TE Julius Thomas – 6’5, 246 – Portland State
6 – LB Mike Mohamed – 6’3, 239 – Cal
7 – TE Virgil Green – 6’3, 249 – Nevada
7 – DE Jeremy Beal – 6’2, 262 – Oklahoma

Denver has a new coach in John Fox and will be moving back to the 4-3 defense. Anyone who looked at the roster could see a major hole at DT and had to think Marcel Dareus was their big target. The Broncos threw us a bit of a curveball when they grabbed the best pass rusher in the draft, Von Miller from Texas A&M. Miller was a LB/DE hybrid in college and will do the same thing in the NFL. He’ll play LB in the base defense and then rush the passer in Nickel/Dime sets. Why go for a pass rusher with so little DT talent in place? That’s how Fox builds his lines. He had success with Michael Strahan in NY. He won with Julius Peppers in CAR. Fox believes in pass rushers first and foremost. You can find DTs all over the place. Pass rushers are a different story.

And Miller is a great pass rusher. He had 33 sacks in college. That total would have been higher, but he had a bum ankle for part of his Senior year. Miller has an explosive burst off the edge. He has rare “bend ability”. He can round the corner and dip his shoulder in a way that very few guys can do. That ability to get by the OT and turn into toward the QB so quickly/fluidly makes him special. Plus, he’s just a gifted athlete. High character guy who plays hard and gets the most out of his talent. Showed at the Senior Bowl that he can play in a 4-3. Comfortable in space. Good tackler. Has potential to be effective in coverage. Offenses will have their hands full when he and Elvis Dumervil are coming off the edge.

In the mid-2nd the Broncos went for Safety Rahim Moore. Mixed feelings on this pick. Moore wasn’t my cup of tea. He’s got ballhawk skills and Denver needed help at Safety, but Moore was a highly inconsistent tackler at UCLA. Some times he would be tentative when going for targets. Other times he was sloppy and would miss. There were occasions when he looked good. You can’t have a FS who misses tackles. That turns short gains into big one and big gains into TDs. Moore has excellent cover skills. Great hands. Only runs in the 4.6 range or you might think of him as a CB. Could turn out to be a real good pick if he works on tackling. You can’t pick and choose when to be physical as a Safety in the NFL.

Denver had consecutive picks in the 2nd round and next chose OL Orlando Franklin from Miami. Great fit. Franklin reminds me of a Jeff Otah type run blocker. Otah was a great player for Carolina in 2008. Injuries have slowed him since. Franklin played LG and LT for Miami. He could play OG or RT for the Broncos. They’re obviously set at LT with Ryan Clady. Franklin is a really good run blocker. He has the size and strength to drive DL off the ball. He’s good at blocking LBs. Franklin has a bully mentality and loves to pound on those guys. He isn’t a gifted pass blocker, but he is good enough to get the job done. Fox wants to build a run heavy offense and Frankin can be a big help to that cause. I did think the 2nd round was a bit early, but there were reports that more than a few teams had high grades on him.     Read the rest of this entry »

by Tommy Lawlor  -  http://www.ScoutsNotebook.com

New York Jets

1 – DL Muhammad Wilkerson – 6’4, 315 – Temple
3 – DL Kenrick Ellis – 6’5, 346 – Hampton
4 – RB Bilal Powell – 5’10, 207 – Louisville
5 – WR Jeremy Kerley – 5’10, 189 – TCU
7 – QB Greg McElroy – 6’2, 220 – Alabama
7 – WR Scotty McKnight – 5’11, 182 – Colorado

The Jets needed help on the D-line and they didn’t mess around. They took Muhammad Wilkerson from Temple in the 1st round. He should be an excellent player for them. Wilkerson is ideal for the 3-4. Temple used him at both DE and DT. They played both 3-4 and 4-3. He’s got the size to be a good run defender, but is also athletic enough to be a pass rusher. The 3-4 functions best when the DEs can rush the passer effectively. They don’t need a ton of sacks, but must get pressure. Over the last 2 years Wilkerson racked up 16 sacks. He knows how to get to the QB.

Wilkerson can play DT when the Jets go to a 4-man front. He could also see time at NT if needed. He doesn’t have the ideal build for that, but is willing to do the dirty work up front. I thought the Jets got very good value in getting Wilkerson with pick 30. There was some speculation prior to the draft that he could go in the Top 20. Wilkerson left Temple after his Junior year and that may have lowered his value (all the way to 30). Had teams studied him all year and then seen him at the Senior Bowl, I doubt Wilkerson lasts to pick 30. It is hard to find big guys that run well and can get to the QB.

The Jets didn’t have a 2nd round pick. In the 3rd round they added another DL. This time they went for a really big guy. They took Kenrick Ellis, all 6’5, 346 of him. Real interesting player. Ellis began his career at South Carolina. He was booted for failing multiple drug tests. He then ended up at Hampton. Ellis played well for them, but still had some off-field issues. He’s now in the middle of a legal situation stemming from an incident in Virginia. The Jets took a chance and we’ll see how that works out. As far as on the field, Ellis has the potential to be the long term answer at NT. He is huge. He is strong and powerful. Ellis also is nimble. He’s got a lot of potential because of his size/athleticism combo. Not many big guys move like he does. I don’t blame the Jets for taking a chance on him at all. Could become a stud NT. Has to mature on and off the field.    Read the rest of this entry »

by Tommy Lawlor  -  http://www.ScoutsNotebook.com

New England Patriots

1 – OT Nate Solder – 6’8, 319 – Colorado
2 – CB Ras-I Dowling – 6’1, 198 – Virginia
2 – RB Shane Vereen – 5’10, 210 – Cal
3 – RB Stevan Ridley – 5’11, 225 – LSU
3 – QB Ryan Mallett – 6’7, 245 – Arkansas
5 – OG Marcus Cannon – 6’5, 358 – TCU
5 – TE Lee Smith – 6’6, 266 – Marshall
6 – LB Markell Carter – 6’4, 252 – Central Arkansas
7 – DB Malcolm Williams – 5’10, 204 – TCU

You never know what to expect from Bill Belichick and the Patriots. Except for them dealing picks for future 1st rounders. The Pats love to trade for future picks. At some point in the future I expect them to control an entire round. Belichick would only trade the picks for more picks anyway so it doesn’t matter. I think we could have a movie scene where Bud Fox yells at him, “How many picks is enough, BB? How many first round picks is enough?”.

The Pats spent their first 1st round pick on OT Nate Solder. With LT Matt Light poised to leave in free agency, the Pats needed a viable replacement. Solder has great potential. He’s huge and a good athlete. He is everything you want in a LT. The former TE started his final 3 years at Colorado. He wasn’t a great college player, but could be one of those guys who is actually better in the NFL. When Solder played well, he was really impressive. He was inconsistent and that’s one of the reasons I liked Gabe Carimi and Anthony Castonzo better. Frankly, I was shocked the Pats passed on Castonzo. He seemed like an ideal fit for them.

Solder needs coaching. He got exposed at the Senior Bowl. You could see his physical gifts, but also see that he’s not a skilled blocker. He’s more athlete than offensive lineman. New England has done a good job of developing blockers over the years so Solder will have a good chance to succeed. He’s got to learn to play with better pad level. If you’re too high in the NFL, you’re dead meat. Dwight Freeney will eat you alive. While Solder isn’t polished, he is a decent run blocker. Some athletic types can be finesse, but Solder showed a tough side on run plays. He was good value at pick 17.

The Pats also had pick 28. Rather than take the best available pass rusher/DL they decided to deal it to the Saints for a 2nd rounder this year and a 1st rounder next year. The Saints then took RB Mark Ingram. The Pats didn’t have to wait long to pick again. They had the Panthers 2nd round pick from a trade last year. New England chose CB Ras-I Dowling from Virginia. Dowling had a down Senior season, mainly due to injury. That hurt his value. A good year could have put him in the mix with Prince Amukamara. Dowling is a big corner and runs pretty well. He had a terrific career up to 2010. Belichick likes big CBs. Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden were recent veteran additions with size. Dowling is more of a long term answer. He fits in well with the Patriots because he can be a playmaker in the passing game, but is also a good hitter and tackler. Dowling is also a high character guy that will fit in well in the locker room.   Read the rest of this entry »

by Tommy Lawlor  -  http://www.ScoutsNotebook.com

Miami Dolphins

1 – C Mike Pouncey – 6’5, 303 – Florida
2 – RB Daniel Thomas – 6’0, 230 – Kansas State
4 – WR Edmond Gates – 6’0, 192 – Abilene Christian
6 – TE Charles Clay – 6’3, 245 – Tulsa
7 – DE Frank Kearse – 6’4, 315 – Alabama A&M
7 – CB Jimmy Wilson – 5’10, 193 – Montana

The Dolphins decided to add the top C prospect in the whole draft and chose Mike Pouncey from Florida. His twin brother Maurkice was a rookie for Pittsburgh last year and played well for them. Miami is hoping for a similar performance from Mike. He has a very real chance to be the starting Center from day one, but Pouncey won’t be given the job with no competition. He played mostly G at Florida and there are some people who think that’s where he belongs. I think Miami projects Pouncey in the middle for now. They had Joe Berger at C in 2010, but obviously wanted to upgrade on him. If Pouncey can’t hack it at C, he could move to G.

Pouncey has a good combination of size and athletic ability. He is very good on the move. Watch him pull and block on outside runs and you’d think you’re watching NFL Films from the old days. Mike did struggle with shotgun snaps in 2010. That’s something he’s got to work on. You can’t have bad snaps in the NFL. That should be the easiest, safest part of the play. Assuming that Miami remains a run heavy offense, Pouncey should fit in well. He can be an outstanding run blocker. He was picked a bit earlier than I thought he might be, but Miami wanted the top interior lineman so they didn’t play around with moving back at all.

In the 2nd round the Dolphins landed another key piece for their running game, Kansas State RB Daniel Thomas. He will fit in nicely with whatever veteran back Miami keeps around or adds. Thomas is a big runner with excellent strength and power. He also has very good feet. Thomas played QB in Junior College, but adapted to RB almost instantly at KSU. In 2 years he ran for 2,850 yards and 30 TDs. He caught 52 passes and showed good potential as a receiver. He even was a Wildcat QB at times. Thomas didn’t just run either. He was 7-12-155 passing, with 2 TDs. If Miami wants to keep the Wildcat as a regular part of their offense, Thomas will be a great fit. As a runner, he’s the kind of workhorse back that Miami has done well with in recent years. Lex Hilliard is also in place as a power runner. The one thing Miami could use is more of a speed/shift runner. If they find that guy in free agency, the Dolphins may once again have a stacked backfield.   Read the rest of this entry »