At The Combine

[idymoe]

He is fast. A kid named Avery is blazing fast. Chris Johnson fast. I'm sure he's too small to play in the NFL, but he is a great college back. He is under 180 pounds, but runs surprising well between the tackles. There is no contradiction. BSU's philosophy for many years has been to rotate in as many players as possible. Johnson's sophomore year where he carried the ball so much was not typical.

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Roy P

The WRs were fast, but the only late round slot/KR/PR that I'm interested in is Mike Thomas.

Funny you mention Thomas... he is big-time on my radar. Seems like an awesome slot candidate with return ability. Big hands. Terrific quickness. Short, but thick enough. He could put David Anderson out of a job here, and I'm really starting to like Anderson's future.

Originally Posted by idymoe

Brian Orakpo 6'3" 263 lbs 4.63 forty. Nice

Originally Posted by barrett

so Orakpo is bigger and faster than all of the guys that have been thrown around as possible picks the last month? Not to mention he out-played and out produced all of them.

It's amazing how the all-star/combine season can over analyze things until up is down and down is up.

I have to agree. There seems to be some Orakpo bashing, but I like him. John McClain (parroting Kubiak I presume) keeps saying that the team won't go after a smallish RDE since that's Mario's position, but I like Mario at LDE better. I would be interested in knowing the splits from last year on RDE vs. LDE for Mario if anyone knows where to find them...

Originally Posted by idymoe

Aaron Maybin 6'4" 249 lbs 4.78 forty. Not a wow.

That's faster than Terrell Suggs' forty time. Didn't seem to hurt him in the pros.

[idymoe]

Just to clarify on Johnson's college career, then I promise I'll stop.


Carries Yards Long TD's

06-07

277 1755 59 25

07-08

207 1087 72 16
Jeremy Avery
103 698 50 8

08-09

150 810 69 13
Jeremy Avery
111 639 57 4

Johnson also caught 22 passes for 229 yds and a long of 51 in 08-09.

BSU passed a lot more in 08-09 than before. They switched up their offensive starting line just about every game, trying to find the best combination. Freshman quarterback Kellen Moore had an incredible year.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Keith

Funny you mention Thomas... he is big-time on my radar. Seems like an awesome slot candidate with return ability. Big hands. Terrific quickness. Short, but thick enough. He could put David Anderson out of a job here, and I'm really starting to like Anderson's future.

Then I don't like the guy. A curse on anyone who would hinder my ability to watch the string dance in an NFL endzone.

[nunusguy]

I dunno, but Matthews was maybe the most impressive LB out of USC, and not just as a value. Mayoc & crew seemed to think he was the best pass-rushing prospect of that LB group and even mentioned he was voted top USC STs player last 2 years. Lot of versatility. Also ran in the 4.6s (official), which
was a better time than Cushing recorded.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

I dunno, but Matthews was maybe the most impressive LB out of USC, and not just as a value. Mayoc & crew seemed to think he was the best pass-rushing prospect of that LB group and even mentioned he was voted top USC STs player last 2 years. Lot of versatility. Also ran in the 4.6s (official), which
was a better time than Cushing recorded.

Clay Matthews is going on my draft board. I'm just trying to figure out if I put him in the 1st round or 2nd round. I'll have to go back and watch some tape on him, since I kind of dismissed him. I was paying too much attention to Cushing and Rey Rey.

Matthews looks to be the guy that I was thinking Maybin or Brown could be based upon his and their measurables.


edit- I even typed "Cushing" when I meant Matthews the first time I posted this. Sorry for the confusion.

[nero THE zero]

Originally Posted by Keith

I have to agree. There seems to be some Orakpo bashing, but I like him. John McClain (parroting Kubiak I presume) keeps saying that the team won't go after a smallish RDE since that's Mario's position, but I like Mario at LDE better. I would be interested in knowing the splits from last year on RDE vs. LDE for Mario if anyone knows where to find them...

I think McClain's FOS on this one.

1. Mario doesn't line up exclusively at RDE. They moved him all around the line last year. So, it's not like he will lose himself if he starts at LDE instead of RDE.

2. Mario is tailor-made for the LDE position. His pass rushing skills become that much more valuable from the LDE spot than the RDE spot. It's analogous to getting a catcher who can hit 30HR and .300. Sure, you could move him to first base, but it kind of takes away from his value being able to play behind the plate. If you keep Mario at RDE you are not taking full advantage of both his run stopping and pass rushing abilities.

3. Most importantly, we need a pass rush. Adding a(nother) LDE is simply not addressing our needs and really does not make a lick of sense.

[idymoe]

Looks like Conner Barwin had the best shuttle and cone times, as well.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by idymoe

Looks like Conner Barwin had the best shuttle and cone times, as well.

Wow, did that guy have a big day. And he earned himself some big bucks.
I remember him from the Senior Bowl (primarily the one-on-one drills during the week), but he's got a real burst and did well against some of the big OLineman in those drills.

[dalemurphy]

Originally Posted by nero THE zero

I think McClain's FOS on this one.

1. Mario doesn't line up exclusively at RDE. They moved him all around the line last year. So, it's not like he will lose himself if he starts at LDE instead of RDE.

2. Mario is tailor-made for the LDE position. His pass rushing skills become that much more valuable from the LDE spot than the RDE spot. It's analogous to getting a catcher who can hit 30HR and .300. Sure, you could move him to first base, but it kind of takes away from his value being able to play behind the plate. If you keep Mario at RDE you are not taking full advantage of both his run stopping and pass rushing abilities.
3. Most importantly, we need a pass rush. Adding a(nother) LDE is simply not addressing our needs and really does not make a lick of sense.

EXACTLY!- I just don't like to hear that stuff from McClain because he hints that he has a source inside the team. So, I remain slightly concerned that the Texans' actually are thinking that way as well. Though I think a lot of the organization now, I've still seen enough bone-headedness to stay worried: Studdard making the squad over Brandon Frye; employing Richard Smtih for a 3rd year and every defensive decision that went along with that.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by dalemurphy

EXACTLY!- I just don't like to hear that stuff from McClain because he hints that he has a source inside the team. So, I remain slightly concerned that the Texans' actually are thinking that way as well. Though I think a lot of the organization now, I've still seen enough bone-headedness to stay worried: Studdard making the squad over Brandon Frye; employing Richard Smtih for a 3rd year and every defensive decision that went along with that.

McClain also said the franchise tag was not an option for D.R. Any information that McLain gets is because the Texans WANT the information public IMO....in other words a possible smoke screen of our true intentions in the draft.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Keith

I have to agree. There seems to be some Orakpo bashing, but I like him. John McClain (parroting Kubiak I presume) keeps saying that the team won't go after a smallish RDE since that's Mario's position, but I like Mario at LDE better.

Lawrence Sidbury Jr. of Richmond is my biggest climber at the Combine. I'd be willing to use a 2nd rounder on this kid. He has the arms of a Condor and his speed is now unquestioned.

PK and I were discussing a combo of Maybin, Kruger, and Cody Brown. Now, I'm considering Matthews, Sidbury, and Gerald McGrath.

[idymoe]

I just saw highlights of Conner Barwin's day. He runs really quiet for a big man. Mariucci said he played basketball at Cin. early on and caught 53 passes at tight end. He looks very athletic and has already shown quite a bit of versitility. I'm thinking he goes before our 2nd pick, so I don't think we'll have a shot at him.

Sidbuby would have to really jump to move past our 2nd, so if you wanted to spend a 2 on him, I think he will be there.

[Roy P]

Man, I need to Orakpo's Cone and Shuttle times. I also want Sidbury's cone drill. Right now I'm wondering if I take Clay Mathews over Orakpo and then select Sidbury in the 2nd. I can't imagine a 2nd round OLB that can match Clay while Lawrence can perhaps be as good as Orakpo in terms of pass-rush.

[sinnister]

Originally Posted by Roy P

Man, I need to Orakpo's Cone and Shuttle times. I also want Sidbury's cone drill. Right now I'm wondering if I take Clay Mathews over Orakpo and then select Sidbury in the 2nd. I can't imagine a 2nd round OLB that can match Clay while Lawrence can perhaps be as good as Orakpo in terms of pass-rush.

Right now, I am really like Clay Matthews as our pick.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by Roy P

PK and I were discussing a combo of Maybin, Kruger, and Cody Brown. Now, I'm considering Matthews, Sidbury, and Gerald McGrath.

I have like Sidbuby since I saw him at the Shrine game. And like you I had him farther down the list from the guys we where talking about, I can see him as a 2nd.

Another name to watch for me is David Veikune. He is still on the late round pick up watch list.

[nunusguy]

What would we do with a Laurinitis (or a Rey-Rey) if you take the Texans reported comments that DeMecos stays in the middle as legit, unless you think he could play SAM and I think he struggle covering TEs if he's over there ?
And having a resume as a muti-year standout in the Big 10 is just not as impressive anymore as the SEC resume guys like DeMeco & Willis have.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by nunusguy

What would we do with a Laurinitis (or a Rey-Rey).

I'd let somebody else draft them.

There are only 2 LBs in this draft who are going to be low risk, high reward.

1. Aaron Curry
2. Clay Matthews

Now, others may turn out to have fine careers and be worth a 1st or 2nd round pick. Right now, I just can't think of one.

[papabear]

Originally Posted by painekiller

I have like Sidbuby since I saw him at the Shrine game.

I liked what I saw there too. Although at that time I thought he would be a much later round pick than a second. Someone we could use as a situational pass rusher early on. I'm not as confident in him as a second round pick becaue for some reason I see him as a guy that will take a little time to develop as an all around player.