Achilles injuries are very tough to return from at all, much less at 100% http://www.emaxhealth.com/1275/2/35136/achilles-tendon-rupture-ends-many-nfl-careers.html
THIRD ROUND Deunta Williams, Safety, North Carolina, 6'2 205 Williams traveled a rough road over the past season. First, he was suspended for the first six games of the season and then he ended his season with a fracture in his leg. If he didn't break his leg at the end of the season, this kid would be the top safety in the draft. I know you guys are probably thinking two things: 1. Where's the pass rush? Their time will come. 2. Another player coming off an injury? Read on. I see greatness in this player when I watch him. I see a ballhawk that can change games every time a quarterback throws a pass. I did a little reading about his off-the-field concerns and I grew to like him even more: Williams sets up meetings with UNC's defensive backs and they review tape of their future opponents. He runs these meetings after he studies more film than a lot of quarterbacks. That impresses me a lot. I love to see players prepare for their job because they want to get better. This defense needs a safety with his kind of range and coverage ability. This is a prospect that could very well be a late-first, early-second rounder that will fall because a minor injury kept him out of post-season workouts.
I think Shaun Ellis should make this team over Kris Jenkins. That's really all I'm going to say for now.
Is that some sort of hint to another DP of yours or something? As in you don't want to answer until you make some of your other selections? I agree that Ellis should make the team, but if it comes down to a money thing between the 2 guys, I find it hard to believe that Jenks would be more expensive coming off two successive ACL's. Ellis is definately worth a few million to somebody, and that might be more than we can afford while needing to lock up our receivers and Harris.
To be honest, i kind of expected a safety, but I was thinking it might be Sands, or possibly Mcdaniel who is falling fast. that said, I love the Williams pick. I thought he was going to be a borderline 1st rounder despite his suspension, then bam he breaks his leg. The guy definately has the range be the type of guy Rex would love. Did not realize that he was that kind of leader, and that kind of studier. He should fit right in with our DB study-sessions. Obviously you don't see his leg as a major risk, other than it has prevented him from competing at offseason workouts. Also in regards to the people who will undoubtably give you shit about taking two players coming off injuries, I would like to point out that neither of these guys would be available to us without the injuries occuring. There is good reason for that, because both guys are going to be much better than their draft position will indicate. We should be pretty fired up if these are the first two guys we grab in the draft. Supposing of course that we don't pass on a top tier OLb like a Justin Houston or an Aldon Smith. But I think both will be long gone by the time we pick at 30.
Thanks for the comments, man. As for that last sentence in bold, I completely agree. I feel like those two should be our top targets in the first round, but they'll be gone by 30. I wouldn't be surprised if both were selected by teams that run a 4-3.
No problem, I enjoy reading up on as many people as possible pre-draft, I will never have the time to put into it that you and a bunch of our other draft-gurus around here do, so it's always nice to follow up on the guys you suggest, that I havent done much work on. Williams I watched quite a bit a year ago, and caught a game or two this year, he certainly has the type of ability Rex and Pettine will enjoy. Hopefully he lasts till the late 3rd... Too be honest, thanks to the combine, I really doubt any of our pass rushing prospects are really there at 30, so I think its time to start thinking outside the box, and Paea is an excellent example of that. Also even if we do manage a trade down, I don't think we will be able to come out of it with a Sheard or a Brooks Reed. This definately doesn't and shouldnt prevent a trade down, but it would just mean no Reed or Sheard in a trade down scenario. Outside the box thinking might be our only real option come draft day, and Paea and Williams would be a great tandem of picks to bring to NY. The masses would committ suicide, but hey what do we need them for anyways?
i like it so far. Paea could be interesting. I agree on the versatility factor, playing in several fronts. If the right pass rushing value is just not there, a versatile DL is another good direction. I don't know much about Williams. Getting a value S in the 3rd round is usually how i like to shore that position though, and we definitely have a need.
i really like these picks so far. Great value at each pick because of injury...Paea will be a beast, and if he adds 15 lbs he will be great and Williams is the type of safety this defense needs. I am interested to see who u have us taking as a pass rusher. I would be thrilled if these were our first two picks.
My problem with Paea is no matter how well he plays as a 3-4 NT you'd always get the feeling he could fit better in a 4-3. That said I agree we use our DL in a creative way so he could work out. One question, what do you do with Pouha if we draft Paea?
How is that a problem? Paea would get to play tackle on a four man line plenty in New York. Sione Pouha can play nose and end. I really don't think he'd have a hard time getting on the field.
Picking players with injuries are seen as high risk high reward. But what everyone needs to remember is each case is different. A meniscus injury for one player could be extremely serious, especially a back or a flanker who needs to make sharper more harsh cuts. Or it could be a meaningless injury that a player is able to get back to 100 percent. Injuries are a part of the game of football. If anyone has played football for any extended period of time, they're bound to have some injury history. A fracture, for example, is an injury in which if you give the appropriate amount of time to heal and rehab, the player should be able to come back from. It's not to say every injury should just be accepted. But considering the injuries in these cases, you pick the player with the injury over the lesser player who could easily suffer the same injury in training camp.
Getting Williams would be awesome, he should be a monster. DeAndre McDaniel also maybe available when we pick
I have one guy in mind as well, but I am starting to wonder if he might be falling a litte, because I havent heard a whole lot of talk about him lately... which makes me think he might be the guy Mr. E has in mind for tomorrow.
I think we might be thinking of the same person if he has been mentioned on this site, but only a seldom amount...
