http://www.freep.com/article/201001...E-Brandon-Graham-follows-LaMarr-Woodleys-path Brandon Graham just won Senior Bowl MVP. Before you start flaming me, yes I know he's a 4-3 defensive end. I also know that a lot of us are still hurting from all the Vernon Gholston sightings (or lack thereof). All of the best outside linebackers in the NFL played defensive end in college and Graham won't cost us the 6th pick in the draft like "the Ghost" did. This thread is intended to allow us to talk about what we think his pro prospects will be and if we should draft him in the 1st-2nd rounds. I think that Graham is more aware of the chances that he'll be selected by a 3-4 team than Gholston was. Whether he has the intangibles that Gholston apparently lacks I don't know for sure, but he seems to have the inspiration. [YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQfcytu6ItI[/YOUTUBE]
I don't care how his lack of measurables are going to hurt his stock, based on what I saw today their is no sane reason why he would be around for us in the late second. I would be shocked if he was there at 29 for us. But our resident draftniks think that his stock can only get so high with the lack of measurables. So as I said in another thread, 20-30 is where he is going to go on draft day.
I don't know yet how much this performance affects Graham's draft stock but yesterday he was likely a 2nd round pick. Part of the reason is that he's a bit undersized for a 4-3 defensive end. Another reason is that (partially thanks to Vernon Gholston) teams are wary now of drafting collegiate defensive ends to play linebacker in the NFL.
Well where do they plan on getting those 3-4 OLBs? Yea its an added risk to convert an end, but there are so few elite pass rushing OLBs already in place in a 3-4 system in college. But from what I have seen of Graham, he won't struggle nearly as much as Gholston has. He has a variety of pass rushing moves and seems to have a knack for getting in the backfield and harassing QBs. I havent the faintest idea if he can drop in coverage, but he should be able to help any team in passing situations from day 1.
Graham says that he can cover in the article. In fact, he played linebacker up until his college days. Sounds like the anti-Vernon Gholston to me. He even played for Michigan. :wink:
What separated Graham to me was that his diagnostic skills made him a man amongst boy's I know it was hard for defensive linemen to put on a show when you could only rush 4 but still, I loved his instincts especially against the run, the south was using all sorts of misdirection and you constantly watched guys blow their containment assignment but Graham stood his ground and really stood out
Lets all pray we can get are hands on this kid, reminds me of dwight freeney. I think hes gonna be a special player
This is one of the few guys I'd want the Jets to trade up for. I just read that he ran a 10.9 100 meter in high school. Not only is that very fast, but it also shows that he has great strength endurance. As long as he's playing hard, he won't get too tired throughout the game (this was a problem with Gholston when he started). Graham is a leader, and he can back up his words with his play. If he drops to 20-21, I wouldn't mind if the Jets say goodbye to the 2nd rounder to trade up.
Graham is a football player, with a huge motor. He isn't a workout warrior, so hopefully this is just your turrets coming out. He isn't even comparable to, VG. Graham doesn't have the crazy physical traits a lot of teams look for, but he makes up for that with his hard work and all around football skills that he does have. I would take an actual football player over a physical freak, any day of the week.
Graham showed his true skills on the field for the Senior Bowl... You know your a good caliber player when you go against the best and still do good. Him and the DE from Troy Tore it up. I dont know if he will be around that late when we pick we might have to move up to get him i think if he makes it to 20 we are going to consider moving up to get him. Also Julius Peppers said he wants to go to a 3-4 defense so its looking good right now
I thought he meant, yeah, I like Graham, as long as we don't go for another workout warrior, I'm happy. But hey, who knows what anyone really means on the internet.
