Senior Bowl

[Roy P]

Ok, I watched the Sr. Bowl and would like to make a few observations. First, the Senior Bowl & the NFL Network are in cahoots in terms of Public Relations. I get that. It makes sense that this Game is important to both the NFL Network and the coverage is great for the 'Entity' that is Mobile Alabama and the group who runs the Senior Bowl. So, in order to have the most interest in this game, it is beneficial if highly rated players participate in the game. So, in my honest opinion, the broadcast took every opportunity to make it be known that Von Miller was playing in this game and we are all so happy he showed up and played. He was featured, highlighted, and mentioned whenever possible. My thought was that type of exposure and kudos might be the type of 'incentive' for next year's top draft prospects benefit. Make them more inclined to accept an invitation.

I am not going to say that Von Miller is a horrible player, but he did not perform as well as it was made out to be. He almost made a tackle for a loss on a screeen play, but totally missed the tackle. He tracked down a tall QB for a 'sack' by grabbing his shoelace. For the most part, I thought Brooks Reed & Colin McCarthy had better games, but since they are not projected as 1st round talent.....they didn't get nearly the amount of 'air time' as Von Miller. I found it interesting each time it was mentioned how well he had practiced during the week, but I thought he missed a practice due to a 'tweek' or 'slight' injury.

Cameron Jordan impressed me during the week at practice, but disappeared during the game. CB Kendric Burney showed me that he plays better than he'll measure....I call that instincts. If I wanted an OLB, I think I might just wait for Brooks Reed or Sam Acho instead of taking Von Miller at #11.

[NBT]

Would you trade up to make sure we get Von Miller? Or would you just wait and see if he falls to #11?

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by NBT

Would you trade up to make sure we get Von Miller? Or would you just wait and see if he falls to #11?

I only trade up for a CB or a Great Athlete at DE. Von Miller doesn't impress me much. I'm seeing him in mock drafts at #3 or #5 and think that is over-hype. If he is there at #11, I could understand the Texans drafting him. On the last day of January....I have him ranked #11 on my draft board...

1 CB Patrick Peterson LSU
2 CB Prince Amukamara Nebraska
3 DE Da'Quan Bowers Clemson
4 DE Robert Quinn North Carolina
5 DE Cameron Heyward Ohio St
6 OLB Justin Houston Georgia
7 OLB Aldon Smith Missouri
8 OLB Ryan Kerrigan Purdue
9 DE Cameron Jordan California
10 CB Jimmy Smith Colorado
11 OLB Von Miller Texas A&M

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Roy P

I only trade up for a CB or a Great Athlete at DE. Von Miller doesn't impress me much. I'm seeing him in mock drafts at #3 or #5 and think that is over-hype. If he is there at #11, I could understand the Texans drafting him. On the last day of January....I have him ranked #11 on my draft board...

1 CB Patrick Peterson LSU
2 CB Prince Amukamara Nebraska
3 DE Da'Quan Bowers Clemson
4 DE Robert Quinn North Carolina
5 DE Cameron Heyward Ohio St
6 OLB Justin Houston Georgia
7 OLB Aldon Smith Missouri
8 OLB Ryan Kerrigan Purdue
9 DE Cameron Jordan California
10 CB Jimmy Smith Colorado
11 OLB Von Miller Texas A&M

Do we really want to use another first-round pick on a CB ? And why would we draft a "great athlete @ DE" when DE should be one place we are set at with Mario and Antonio Smith, given all of our other defensive needs ?
And I saw some tape on Justin Houston and was really impressed but wonder why, unlike your ratings, everybody else has him behind Alton Smith, Akeem Ayers, Ryan Kerrigan in their ratings ?

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

Do we really want to use another first-round pick on a CB ? And why would we draft a "great athlete @ DE" when DE should be one place we are set at with Mario and Antonio Smith, given all of our other defensive needs ?
And I saw some tape on Justin Houston and was really impressed but wonder why, unlike your ratings, everybody else has him behind Alton Smith, Akeem Ayers, Ryan Kerrigan in their ratings ?

If you can get a great CB like Darrell Revis without having to pay him $15Million per season, you do it. The guy we selected last season wasn't the shut-down CB they thought they were getting. If the problem isn't solved, then yes, you keep trying to fix it.

Antonio Smith isn't going to be the end-all in this 3-4 defense. Also, we have to consider rotations and injury. I think Heyward is going to be special, so I go get him when I look at the rest of the draft. Cam Jordan is a possibility too, but my views have changed after the Sr. Bowl game as to how high I take him. The Combine will further move my rankings. Maybe we could 'slum' it with a Christian Ballard or Greg Romeus later in the draft.

As far as Justin Houston is concerned.....I'm a BullDawgs fan, so I am biased. So, once the Combine comes and goes and people start comparing his measurables to the other guys and look at more film, then maybe rankings will change. As for me, he's the best OLB prospect in the draft.

[NBT]

But on the other hand Darrell Revis was not even the first CB taken the year he came out. Something about he only had 4.55 or so speed. So according to that we need the personnel guy that can forsee the great ones, even though they don't look so hot coming out. Now we know RP could do it, but who on the professional level?

[Blitzwood]

Originally Posted by Roy P

CB Kendric Burney showed me that he plays better than he'll measure....I call that instincts. If I wanted an OLB, I think I might just wait for Brooks Reed or Sam Acho instead of taking Von Miller at #11.

I thought Burney would be a great slot defender, very feisty around the ball.

Von Miller, IMO, is good, not great. I'm not convinced he's an 11th pick overall, I prefer Quinn or to trade down a few spots and draft J. Houston or Kerrigan.

Miller just seems to slight, not enough "sand in his pants" to contend with NFL OT's. He had a miserable game against LSU's Barksdale in the Cotton Bowl which didn't help his case.
Acho or Reed in the second or third round respectively doesn't sound too bad, but I want a stud rusher coming off the edge. This team was horrible rushing the passer last year, I prefer taking one in the first round and another in the middle rounds. Watching Mario and Antonio try to rush the passer is about all I can handle...

[Roy P]

As far as "Professionals" go, I have always respected Phil Savage. ~Taking a trade down & being able to draft Justin Houston & CB Jimmy Smith would make me very happy. Selecting a FS like Rahim or McDaniel would be nice too. It is still way early to project who is going where...The NT's in this draft will be overvalued b/c of supply & demand.