A while back, I liked Ricky Sapp. Then he stopped producing, and I got to be dead set that he wouldn't make it. I realize there was injuries and this and that, but I also had a dumb prejudice against Clemson players to fuel this thought process along. Lately, I've been revisiting Ricky Sapp as a prospect. He's got the frame at 6'4 248 to put on more weight and come into combine over 250. He and Lindsey Witten are the most fluid athletes at DE right now, excluding Greg Hardy who is probably the best with his size when he's healthy. He's also a good dude, and I do like when a prospect stays for their senior season when they could have done well in the draft as a junior. Do I think he's first round good? If he can run a 4.58 like Draftscout predicts here: http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=66339&draftyear=2010&genpos=OLB then hell yea. He might be better than Quinton Groves was a prospect, but he seems to be in that class of DE prospect. Groves isn't going to be a bad player either... So I guess I'll be taking him seriously as a 1st rounder now.
Dude's legit. I caught some flak for taking him over Graham in the 1st, but like I said in the other thread, I think Sapp will be the better pure pass rusher in the NFL.
I liked Groves in terms of physical ability, but I found him eh in terms of being a real technician at his position. Sapp could thrive in a 4-3, as long as he can get those 1on1 matchups on the outside. Start him as the weakside DE until he gets a year in the NFL. He has the look as if he could make the transition to LB if its possible.
I've been really thinking about this for the past 24 hours, and this is all I can come up with. Ricky Sapp is physically a perfect fit to play OLB in a 34. Great frame, build, long arms, strong legs and quickness... the whole deal. He's a model 34 OLB, not to mention with tremendous athletic ability. That said, if I had the choice of Sapp or any of my other rated 34 olbs, it would be a while before I picked him. What I've noticed recently is production > prototypes when it comes to this position, guys that can make plays on the QB in college can do it in the pros. And those that can't.... probably never will. Sorry Ricky.
http://http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Ricky-Sapp-to-work-out-for-Jets-Cardinals.html&team=95 Defensive end Ricky Sapp is scheduled to work out for the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals in April, the former Clemson Tiger told the National Football Post on Wednesday. In addition to the Jets and Cardinals, Sapp has already worked out for the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots. The 6’4”, 245-pounder recorded 139 tackles and 16 sacks in four years at Clemson. Many experts expect the 23-year-old Sapp to make the move to outside linebacker at the next level. Sapp tore his ACL against Virginia on November 22, 2008, but battled back and started all 14 games for the Tigers in 2009, amassing 60 stops with 15 tackles for a loss. He told us on Wednesday that he played the entire 2009 season with his knee at about 60%, but that he’s been working hard to get it back to where it needs to be. Despite the concerns about his knee, Sapp ran a 4.66 40-yard-dash at last month’s combine in Indianapolis.
Wow, that's quite the shift in 6 weeks' time. EDIT: That sounds snarky. I should add that I respect the hell out of GH and his prospect knowledge. I'm genuinely curious what made him change his mind on Sapp.
Trust me, that happens a lot. I have more radical changes of opinion than anyone on the board, which is why I get in so few heated debates. I'd prefer to hear two others argue their points than to try and impose my own beliefs. My opinion on Ricky changed when I did the research for the GM mock, I was at the time of that post where Jabba and a few others were after I made the pick. I saw a lack of production with great measurables, and I just made an assumption, without really understanding what kind of player he was. When really shifted my view was when I started seeing that a lot of my targetted guys weren't going to be on the board when my pick came up. So, I started to expand my view and try and fit different guys into the system. When I started to read about/watch Sapp I started seeing a guy that would be a great fit with the Jets. His ability as a passrusher is impressive, and his potential in that category is even better, but what stood out was his intelligence and overall game. I said above that I would take a number of other 34 OLBs ahead of him, and honestly that may be true for some teams that aren't looking for a LB like him, however for the Jets I completely take that statement back. He is still a terrific fit physically and athletically, but I think that his production was something that I overlooked. He excelled with what the Tigers asked him to do, and did it the whole time without worrying about his stats. He can play the run and the pass with equal parts aggressiveness and explosiveness, and also do everything asked of him as a linebacker. He has the potential to be a Calvin Pace type with top notch athletic ability.
^ That was a well thought out and genuine response. I appreciate it. I'll admit, I haven't watched much of Sapp. It would be great if he did fit so well into our system, since we need options at 29.
^ LOL. I can picture it now. 'The New York Jets select TE Jermaine Gresham of the University of Oklahoma", followed by a shot of the douchebag brothers shaking their heads. Actually...in their backwards world, they'd probably be celebrating if we took a TE.
One of them is so pretentious he had a Wallace Wright jersey. anyone else wearing it is a knowledgeable fan... but those two fags - its just pretentious. They'd love it if the Jets took Taylor Mays. I guarantee you those two get made fun of by everyone they know for doing what they did on national television.
I hope they do. In an otherwise perfect moment in Jets history, these d-bags are the only thing mucking it up. I was really pissed when they puts these idiots on camera.
I just wish that the folks sitting behind these guys would have some sort of sign, "I am not associated with the two douchebags presently on camera."
I wish Gresham would block. I'd have no problem drafting a 2nd tight end if they could block and they were the BPA.
Ricky Sapp is visiting with the team today. Really seems like a Rex Ryan guy. He played standing up in college so he should be able to transition well to OLB faster than most and has the athleticism and smarts to be a good cover 'backer in the NFL. Speed is his game and should be a good situational pass rusher right away. Based on production (or lack thereof) he's a bit of a sleeper in the 2nd/3rd round range. He was recovering from an ACL injury in his senior year which supposedly affected his production some. The Pats could also be interested in him so if Rex wants him Tanny could potentially trade down and draft him early in the 2nd. Personally, I think Sapp represents good value in the 2nd round with the OLBs ahead of him not exactly being sure things.
Sapp will be one of the first 2nd rounders drafted, I don't think he gets past Cleveland's 2nd rounder after they traded Kamerion Wimbley to the Raiders. If the Jets want Sapp they will either have to take him in the 1st or trade back to a pick before Cleveland's. He's an ideal 3-4 OLB prospect, was a 4-3 DE with a very quick first step that racked up a ton of QB pressures and then transitioned to OLB for his senior season. His best fit is still as a pass rusher, but he has proven to be comfortable and productive from a LB spot standing up -- essentially making 3-4 OLB his ideal fit in the pros.
