MOCK Draft 1/8/09

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by NBT

http://www.nfldraftsite.com/
If James Laurainitis is still there at #15, and we don't take him, that would be stupid.

If you saw the Bowl game with Texas vs. OSU, how did you think Laurainitis played ? And how does he compare to the 2 USC 'backers ?
Could Laurainitis play either of the outside LB positions, or is he strictly a MLB (or ILB in a 3-4) ?

[papabear]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

If you saw the Bowl game with Texas vs. OSU, how did you think Laurainitis played ? And how does he compare to the 2 USC 'backers ?
Could Laurainitis play either of the outside LB positions, or is he strictly a MLB (or ILB in a 3-4) ?

Didn't laurinitis play outside early on...when Hawk was there maybe? Not sure if that means he could play OLB in the NFL, but I would think he could.

[NBT]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

If you saw the Bowl game with Texas vs. OSU, how did you think Laurainitis played ? And how does he compare to the 2 USC 'backers ?
Could Laurainitis play either of the outside LB positions, or is he strictly a MLB (or ILB in a 3-4) ?

This was not my personal mock, I merely posted it for edification. You are free to mock it all you want. The guy was making an opinion, albeit a distant one. As for Laurainitis, he would be better in the 4-3 than would Rey Rey, IMO.

Speed is sometimes overrated at the LB position. It is instinct rather than speed (although good functional speed is important), that is the overriding accomplishment for the position.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by NBT

Speed is sometimes overrated at the LB position. It is instinct rather than speed (although good functional speed is important), that is the overriding accomplishment for the position.

That's a good point. If I remember correctly, some draft guru's we're dissapointed with Demeco's combine time in the 40, but his football smarts and ability to diagnose what's going quickly are what make him so effective. IMO speed shouldn't be the overriding factor when making a decison on a draft pick, but if everything else is judged to be equal (football smarts, toughness, size, etc) then it can be a tie breaker.

For just about any position I think the 10 yd split, the shuttle, and the three cone are more important than the 40. The forty easy to relate too though, and I'm as guilty as anyone at falling in love with a 40 time.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by papabear

That's a good point. If I remember correctly, some draft guru's we're dissapointed with Demeco's combine time in the 40, but his football smarts and ability to diagnose what's going quickly are what make him so effective.

I would assert that putting Ryans at the MLB spot actually helps to hide his slowness. Moving him to the WILL would actually expose him more in my opinion. Being smart and being able to read his keys makes him a good player. He would be a lot better if we had a player like Kevin/Pat/Jamaal Williams in front of him. He could then attack the A-Gaps with wreckless abandon and move freely and flow to the ball.

[Bigtinylittle]

Since DeMeco has gained 15 or more pounds since he was drafted, I'm going to hazard a guess that he is even slower than he was back then.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Bigtinylittle

Since DeMeco has gained 15 or more pounds since he was drafted, I'm going to hazard a guess that he is even slower than he was back then.

many guys in the NFL are a good half second slower than when they were drafted. With the way the combine works these days every college football player turns into a track athlete in terms of training for the 3 months leading up to it. This means nearly every guy runs the 40 faster on that day then he ever did before or after (I mean fastest actual speed, not fastest recorded time since they all run hand timed 4.4s in HS and college). Not to mention nobody runs in pads.

Really all the 40 does is give an equal comparison point for guys who faced different competition with different coaching at 100+ universities. It's actual football value is limited, but the test itself (and the entire combine) reveals alot about a guy's ability to prepare and perform. If a guy can't get his act together to work hard and test well, knowing the potential rewards, then he may not be a great fit as a pro football player.

[jppaul]

You know that it is a crap mock draft when no one around here even bothers to cherry pick it.

Here is my favorite draft site, and one of the most accurate around I have found. Plus since they use a computer rather than hand selection, they can really churn the drafts out.

Currently they have us taking:

15) Taylor Mays
46) Victor Harris
77) Ricky Jean-Francois
108) Rashad Jennings
144) Shawn Nelson
17?) Kenny McKinley

Plus, you can rank your own players and team needs and use thier draft engine.

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

Another favorite of mine is http://www.hailredskins.com/MockDraft.htm because they take all the draft sites and list how many rounds, when updated, whether the draft was professional or amateur.