I just rewatched the Senior Bowl, BTW it will be replayed tomorrow evening on the NFL network, and was thinking outside the box. Roy's likes to use the BPA no matter the position, and after rewatching the game what if we go DE in the 1st?

In the mock we are using Drafttek #18,

the 19th pick, which we will be flipping a coin for tomorrow morning, is Brandon Graham Michigan DE43.

Roy had him select BPA in one of his mocks and I questioned him, but now I think he might be right. Graham is unblockable and he plays the run as well as Mario. Imagine a front four of Mario, NT/Robinson/Okam/Cody, Okoye/Smith,
Graham. Those DEs would be unblockable. Now I would go with the biggest body DT that produced that I had so the other teams could not run up the gut.

Now what do I do with Barwin? How about a 3-4 on passing downs? Smith-Okoye-Williams in front of Barwin-Cushing-Ryans-Graham. Bring the chaos, flood the gaps BTW not a bad idea for a base defense if you upgrade the NT, IMO.

2nd round be back to the teams idea of BPA, I like a handful of guys at 50.

First, let me just say that I am behind the idea of a 3-man front on 3rd down. The question becomes how aggressive I am to put a 4th LB on the field or that extra DB on the back end. This is why I have no problem taking Weatherspoon in the first round.

Secondly, I didn't have Graham as my pick, it was Wooten from NorthWestern in the 2nd round at #50. Wooten is bigger and I could use him like Antonio Smith and use him as a pass-rushing DT when I brought in Barwin as a pass-rushing DE specialist. Graham and Barwin are essentially the same player-type in my estimation. Obviously, Graham is probably better against the run as he's more polished.

Now, will I have a problem taking Graham? Nope. I like pass-rushers, especially if there isn't any quality DBs available. Other than Haden, um, I don't see any "1st round" CBs in this draft. Ergo, select where the talent is. I just wouldn't go that route in the first round.

After I posted this i saw my mistake of Graham v Wooten. Even though the player was wrong, I will credit you with the position as a position not to overlook.

If you have a pass rush like Indy, the DBs do not need to elite. You can play base defense most of the game. When we took Mario that was the goal, but IMO we have played him out of position his whole career. He is the prototypical LE (guy that plays over the usually slower RT). The signing of Smith doomed Mario to playing out of position.

As for the CBs in this draft, I concur that only Haden appears to be a true first rounder.
I would not be opposed to cutting Smith if we drafted a stud RDE, or we sign Julius Peppers.

I view Julius Peppers in the same scene as I do LT, how much gas does he have in that 30 year old tank? I would be happier with someone in the draft to be coached up. We aren't going to win the big one this year, just get into the playoffs, right?

Using their draft I would go with:

20. Brian Price, DT, UCLA
51. Anthony Dixon, RB, Miss St
82. Donovan Warren, CB, Michigan
119. Dekoda Watson, OLB, Florida State
152. Linval Joseph, DT, E.C.U.
177. Robert Johnson, FS, Utah
187. Reggie Stephens, OG, Iowa St.
213. *Leigh Tiffin or best kicker available*

I think we all are going to be surprised when guys like Warren fly off the board in the 2nd, and Watson in the 3rd. The pro scouts have a whole different view on these guys then places like drafttek.

Saffold who drafttek has as a 2nd day guy, (the 4th round or high, old school) is looking more and more like a 2nd or early 3rd round guy.

As we get closer to the draft QBs and RBs tend to drop, this year I predict TEs dropping due to the depth at TE.

The CB position is always a position of need and there is a group of guys that ranked from the 2nd CB to about 10th that are pretty interchangeable. IMO we should try to grab two of those guys.

Warren could go anywhere between #50 - #94.

Drafttek has Saffold being drafted by the Steelers at #82 right in front of the Texans in the 3rd round.

The guys I see as being way underrated right now are OG John Jerry and RB Ben Tate and they are 4th round picks right now (#122 & #124).

I was conflicted about drafting Watson because we have Adibi on special teams waiting for the right opportunity and Marcus Freeman on the practice squad. But one thing I did notice last year was how OLB's fell in the draft.

While I agree with you that CB's is always a position of need and the 2nd and 10th are pretty interchangeable, this is a pretty deep class of CB's and we should find a serviceable one in the third. That definitely wasn't the case last year when the talent fell off rather quickly after the forth or fifth CB taken.

This draft also seems to be heavy on DE's, as well.

I don't have a problem with Watson, I think he is underrated. He had a very solid Senior Bowl, and has been on my list of players to follow most of the season. I think he would be a solid WILL in the NFL. IMO Adibi needs a wakeup call and Watson would be that.

BTW I am interested in seeing Freeman and what he can do.

Lastly solid take on the CBs.

DraftTek has a new mock dated 3/2. rev 20

20 Trent Williams Oklahoma OG
51 Sean Weatherspoon Missouri OLB43
81 Anthony Dixon Mississippi State RBF
115 Willie Young DE43 North Carolina State
146 D'Anthony Smith DT43Louisiana Tech
177 Robert Johnson FS Utah
187 Naaman Roosevelt WRF Buffalo
211 Dorin Dickerson FB Pittsburgh

Mixed feeling on this draft. What the hey in the 1st Graham, Pouncey, Wilson, Mathews, Mays and Tate are still on the board. 2nd round steal IMO. Strange draft.

My take with the Combine behind us

20 Brandon Graham Michigan DE43
51 Sean Weatherspoon Missouri OLB43
81 Kareem Jackson CB Alabama
115 Mitch Petrus OG Arkansas
146 Charles Scott RBF LSU
177 Robert Johnson FS Utah
187 Lonyae Miller RBF Fresno State
211 Jeff Byers USC OG

Drafttek weekly mock is up: #20 3/09/10

1 Jonathan Dwyer Georgia Tech RBF
2 Kyle Wilson Boise State CB
3 Rob Gronkowski Arizona TE
4 Austen Lane Murray State DE
5 Myron Lewis Vanderbilt FS
6a Brandon Deaderick Alabama DT
6b Marshall Newhouse TCU OG
7 Jason Harmon Florida Atlantic FB


My cherry picks
BPA for Need
1 Mike Iupati Idaho OG
2 Kyle Wilson Boise State CB
3 Joe McKnight RBC USC
4 Amari Spievey Iowa CB
5 Ted Larsen OC North Carolina State
6a Myron Rolle Florida State FS
6b Lonyae Miller Fresno State RB
7 Leigh Tiffin Alabama PK

BPA
1 Sean Weatherspoon Missouri OLB43
2 Kyle Wilson Boise State CB
3 J.D. Walton Baylor OG
4 Amari Spievey Iowa CB
5 Zane Beadles Utah OG
6a John Skelton Fordham QB
6b Lonyae Miller Fresno State RB
7 Van Eskridge East Carolina FS

1. DT Dan Williams 6'3" 325 5.17 Tennessee
2. CB Kyle Wilson 5'10" 185 4.42 Boise St
3. RB Ben Tate 5'11" 218 4.43 Auburn
4. S Darrell Stuckey 5'11" 205 4.49 Kansas
5. LB Jamar Chaney 6'1" 240 4.51 Mississippi St
6a. DT Linval Joseph 6'6" 322 5.21 East Carolina
6b. OG Marshall Newhouse 6'3" 326 5.00 TCU
7. CB AJ Jefferson 6'0" 193 4.49 Fresno St.

I almost drafted Lonyae Miller in the 7th round, but since I had Ben Tate, it seemed like too crowded in the backfield. I also have the belief that we can't have too many good corners until Fred Bennett or Antaun Molden show me something. Stuckey isn't the "cover" FS that I covet, but I just like the way he plays. I'm moving Chaney to the WILL. Getting Dan Williams improves the defense on all 3 levels.

Trade down time
San Diego is looking for a RB and Jonathan Dwyer fits their system. We swap our #20 and 81 for their #28 and 60. This gives us 3 picks in the top 60 players.

Then in the 3rd you give a 2011 2nd round pick for #75

28 Dan Williams Tennessee DT43
51 Kyle Wilson Boise State CB
60 Ryan Mathews Fresno State RBF
75 Tyson Alualu California DT43
115 Darrell Stuckey Kansas SS
146 Zane Beadles Utah OG
177 John Skelton Fordham QB
187 Marshall Newhouse TCU OG
211 Lonyae Miller RBF Fresno State

My DBs are better because I have William and Alualu, and my run defense just got better. No way Mathews last until 60 in the real draft, but he was available here, and we paired him with his old team mate Millers in the 7th. Stuckey is solid against the run and showed surprising speed, not a bad pick in the 4th.

I heard one of the players saying on the radio, not sure which one could have been Jacoby Jones, they thought DT was what the defense needed. They thought an inside push helped all the DBs and the LBs also.

I would be 100% behind this draft.

28.S Earl Thomas 5'10" 195 4.44 Texas
51.RB Ryan Matthews 5'11" 220 4.45 Fresno St.
60.CB Brandon Ghee 6'0" 191 4.45 Wake Forest
75.DT Lamarr Houston 6'3" 305 4.88 Texas
115.DT Mike Neal 6'3" 294 4.89 Purdue
146.LB Jamar Chaney 6'1" 240 4.51 Mississippi St
177.CB AJ Jefferson 6'0" 193 4.49 Fresno St.
187.OG Marshall Newhouse 6'3" 326 5.00 TCU
211.RB Lonyae Miller 5'11" 220 4.52 Fresno St.

So you must have agreed with the trade down and then trade back into the 3rd using next years 2nd rounder?

Also you and I think Wilson and Matthews are 1 st rounders, but DraftTek still has them both in the 2nd, so I took them there.

In the "Latest" revision C, Kyle Wilson is selected by the Lions at #34.

http://www.drafttek.com/WIFround22010.asp

The revision also had the Texans drafting Earl Thomas #20, so not sure if he makes it to #28. Most likely, I would have drafted Kyle Wilson at #28 in the latest version. So, with that being said, I wouldn't trade back to #28 if Earl Thomas is sitting there. At least not that far down.

Would I trade up to the 3rd round this year for next year's 2nd, most likely. Especially, when I'm looking at 2nd round talent being available NOW.

They put up a new version while i was doing my mock, changes my play.

them:
20 Earl Thomas FS Texas
51 Ryan Mathews RBF Fresno State
81 Perrish Cox CB Oklahoma State
115 Austen Lane DE43 Murray State
146 Sergio Render OG Virginia Tech
177 Brandon DeaderickDT43 Alabama
187 David Gettis WRF Baylor
211 Jeron Mastrud TE Kansas State

Me
20 Earl Thomas FS Texas in the previous mock they had us taking Dwyer, with Thomas going #18. So I traded down. This draft has Dwyer going at 28. I would also consider Weatherspoon at this slot.
51 Ryan Mathews RBF Fresno State no brainer
# 71 Brandon Ghee CB Wake Forest trade 2011 2nd
81 J.D. Walton OG/OC Baylor
115 Amari Spievey CB Iowa
146 John Skelton QB Fordham
177 Marshall Newhouse OG TCU
187 Earl Mitchell DT43 Arizona
211 Lonyae Miller RBF Fresno State

DB= Quin, Pollard, Thomas, ?Reeves/Molden/Bennett/Spievey
RB Slaton Mathews Foster Miller PS-Jeremiah Johnson
Future OL - Brown, Walton, Caldwell, Newhouse, Winston
QBs Schaub, Booty, Skelton

OK, I'll play-

1. Ryan Mathews, RB (I honestly don't think he'll last until the 2nd)
2. Lamar Houston, DT (Probably the main reason Texas had the best run defense in the nation. Drafttek has him going in the 4th, which is absurd)
3. Akwasi Owusu-Ansah, FS/CB (meet our new starting FS and KR, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWyHc-KGp6c somewhat unknown player with good skill set, benefited from a great combine)
4. Amari Spievey, CB (good value in the 4th)
5. Dennis Pitta, TE (with so much uncertainty at the position, Pitta brings sure hands and great route running)
6a. Marshall Newhouse, OL (adds depth to the offensive line)
6b. Freddie Barnes, WR (late round steal; had over 1700 yards last season)
7. Walter McFadden, CB (We finally say goodbye to Molden)

I don't know, Mathews may last because of the number of RBs in the draft that can produce. He may not last to #50 though, so I can see it if he's your "Only Guy" that you feel is head and shoulders above the rest.

Lamar is a 2nd or 3rd round guy, definitely not 4th round.

The small school, shoulder injured, hard to pronounce guy - is moving up my list. I haven't seen his medical records, but if his shoulder checks out, he'd be a nice consolation prize at FS.

Spievey is gaining momentum, probably a 3rd round guy at least.

I like Pitta the most out of all the TEs in the draft. The Colts will probably draft him.

Newhouse is like Lonyae Miller, much better than he is getting credit for in these mock drafts. That's why I keep drafting them this late. I'd love to make Newhouse our RG like Shawn Andrews did for the Eagles. That's just me though.

Freddie Barnes is going to be a good slot WR, probably better than David Anderson in 3 years. Just wonder if we take a WR in this draft. If so, Marcus Easely would be the guy I'd like from UConn.

Walter McFadden has skills, but is a project. Not bad for a 7th rounder.