Well, with the draft almost here, I figured I'd list positions of need filled with players that no one is talking about. Some of these guys were favorites all throughout the college football season. Now, it seems like they've dropped off the face of the earth. Some of them haven't been mentioned much at all. I guess you could call this a list of sleepers. Please, if you guys have any names you want to thrown in, feel free to do it. In no particular order, here we go... 3-4 Defensive End: Florida's Lawrence Marsh* Richmond's Martin Parker Arizona State's Lawrence Guy Clemson's Jarvis Jenkins Central Arkansas's Cedric Thornton * Marsh was once a highly touted prospect, but injuries hurt his stock a lot. I expect him to be a late round pick that makes an early impact somewhere. 3-4 Nose Tackle: Ole Miss' Jerrell Powe* South Florida's Terrell McClain Notre Dame's Ian Williams Texas Tech's Colby Whitlock Southern Mississippi's Anthony Gray *Once considered the top NT prospect, Powe's stock has plummeted mainly because of weight issues and intelligence concerns. 3-4 Outside Backers: South Carolina's Cliff Matthews Central Florida's Bruce Miller Oklahoma State's Ugo Chinasa Oklahoma's Jeremy Beal* Arizona's Ricky Elmore *The anti-workout warrior. Beal's stock was crushed by piss poor workouts and a mediocre Senior Bowl week. To me, he's just one of those gameday players - he turns it on when it matters. Someone will get a steal when they take him. Safety: Clemson's DeAndre McDaniel* Iowa's Tyler Sash Nebraska's Eric Hagg Nebraska's DeJon Gomes Georgia Tech's Jerrard Tarrant *The perfect fit in Ryan's scheme. If DMD falls to the third, we'll end up with a hell of a playmaker in the secondary. With strict coaching, he'll be a standout. FTR, this safety class isn't great overall, but some talented players will be available later on. Slot Wideout: Boise State's Austin Pettis San Diego State's Vincent Brown Southern Methodist's Aldrick Robinson Michigan State's Mark Dell Iowa's Derrell Johnson-Koulianos* * Had he not been arrested on drug charges, Johnson-Koulianos would be a relatively high draft pick. I'm not sure where his head is at, but the talent to be a productive NFL receiver is definitely there. Offensive Guard: Nebraska's Keith Williams* Nebraska's Ricky Henry* Fresno State's Andrew Jackson Arkansas' Ray Dominguez Michigan's Stephen Schilling * Bill Callahan has more information on Williams and Henry than any scout in the league. He recruited them and coached them at Nebraska. I wouldn't be surprised if we ended up with one of these guys.
Well if everyone has forgotten about them except for the Jets, we are going places Jerell Powe and McDaniel are two of my favorite prospects in the draft, I would love to have both
I have a few to add, see what ya think. 3-4 End: Adrian Taylor, Oklahoma- had too many injuries but when healthy is a really solid player. Slot WR: Jeff Maehl, Oregon - was a mid rounder in many peoples eyes but now seems like more of a later round guy, could be very effective in the NFL with time. Guard: John Moffit, Wisconson- maybe not "forgotten" per say but can be a starter but is only graded around the 4th round. Safety: Ahmad Black, Florida- has dropped in so many boards and if he gets to the 4th Id scoop him up quick
Parker was one of my favorite players at the E-W Shrine Game along with Alex Green. Green shot up the boards, Parker didn't. I've been on Schilling since the 7 Rounder, I really like him. 4 year starter, experience at tackle and guard, and highly touted out of HS. His playing strength is a question mark though, his forte' is passblocking, and plays off his shoulder as if he still was a tackle. Would fit great in a zone scheme. I've got some names, but mine are more 7th RD-UDFA sleepers...
Another OLB prospect I really like for the 7th or maybe even UDFA is Christian Anthony out of Grambling, his school and level of competition wasnt big (D2) but the production he got there while still having health issues are impressive: 76 tackles, 15 TFL, 8 sacks, five INTs (two for touchdowns) and five forced fumbles. 22 Career sacks, 188 tackles, 46 TFL, 12 forced fumbles, 7 INTs in 3 years. His frame fits a little more at 4-3 DE, 6'4 277 ( was 265) but he can IMO stand at a 3-4 OLB and use his size and athleticism to get to the QB. Now just to let you all know since I didnt just look over this he did have a heart attack and miss a whole season (2010) but has been okay ever since and has been improving. Now I dont like that but it could just be a freakish happening and I believe he can recover. He needs a few years and is probably a 3rd string, ST, or Practice Squad player. BUT IMO if there is an up and coming success story it very well could be him.
Anthony would have been seen as one of the best small school players in the draft if not for the heart attack. Obviously none of us has any idea about just how healthy he really is, but that's absolutely going to be something that keeps him from being drafted. The risk involved there is just too great, and that's not just to the team, GMs are going to be afraid to be the ones that let him put his life on the line to play.
My small list of guys: DeMarco Murray, RB OU. Please doubt him enough to fall to Rd 3. Kid's a versatile stud that just never really found his best game with the Sooners. They should have let him be Q Griffin instead of hoping he was A Peterson. Kendric Burney, CB UNC. Sure he's short and didn't run well, but there's a point (Rd 4) that I'd love to get a 3rd/nickel corner of his caliber. Ricky Stanzi, QB Iowa. The only late round QB with clear starter potential. And my super ultra forgotten player: Armon Binns, WR Cincinnati. Why the shit is this guy seen as a Rd 7/UFA player? He's big, strong, ran well, has great body control, and consistently very productive. I have no understanding on that.
the guys in bold are my favorites. I think Jenkins is going to be a beast in the NFL, would be great if we could somehow add him. Lawrence Guy just screams football player, he doesn't have those elite measurables, but he damn sure is a lunch pail guy who will be a starter in the league that just shows up does the dirty work, gets no credit for it. He doesn't have all star potential, but I really think at his worst, he will be a capable player in a rotation. Powe was the guy people were talking about maybe taking at #30 overall right after the season, since then, Taylor has jumped up boards, while Powe has fallen off the face of the earth. The kid knows how to play football, he may not be the smartest SOB, but he can play the game. Also as far as weight concerns, tanny has been known to toss in some "weight clauses" in the past, when lots of money is on the line, its amazing how many people will keep their weight below a certain point... Pettis, I can't explain it, I just love this kid. I really wish we knew what the deal with FA is. If we bring back both Holmes/Edwards, no need to draft a WR this high, a late round slot guy sure, but not in the 3-4 range. But if we feel we can't bring back both guys, I would definately draft Pettis if he is available. The guy is another one of those lunch pail guys who just flat out shows up every day gives it everything he has, and is all about the team. I think he will be at worst case, a great slot guy, someone like a brandon stokely, but I really feel he has the potential to be a solid #2 receiver in the NFL.
Mr. E and others, On another Jets site I frequent two Safety prospects were mentioned that I had never heard of or seen play. I wonder if any of you have and what your thoughts are on these two.
Colin Jones can play ST as it says. He needs work before he can be a starting safety. He's on everyone's short list for UDFAs.
Nice fucking list man- definitly some talent there. I didn't realize Powe was such a big deal- maybe a nice late round pickup. I'd like to hear why you like McDaniel. The more I look at it, the more I like the safety's slotted to go between rounds 3-5-- he's one of them. I like Iowa's Koulianos-- I'm a Penn Stater, and he's killed us for years. Dell is a nice WR too. Even if we lose one of Braylon or Holmes, Cotch can be a nice #2, Keller is a great weapon, and a true slot guy would give us 4 legit options. If we take a WR, I want a slot guy between the 4-7th rounds. The right guy might even make one of our FA WR's expendable- but that's another discussion.
my 3 favorite safties in the draft are Jarret, Mcdaniel and Deunta Williams of UNC. 1 of the three should be available at the end of the 3rd. With so many great prospects available in the second and third, I really wish we could find a way to trade down and acquire more picks... Could you imagine if with our first three picks we were able to net Sam Acho, Jarvis Jenkins and Jaiquawn Jarret? How much better would our team look with that as our first 3 selections? If only we could slide back 10-12 picks and grab a 2nd and third...
Pitt's Greg Romeus has fallen way off since last year. Major injuries will do that to a prospect. His stock is still in the mid to late rounds, but I do wonder what he can become. He'll find himself on a practice squad. I don't think he's a 3-4 guy. He's a 4-3 DE for sure. I'd like to get others thoughts on him....
McDaniel is a stud, and anyone that saw him out there as a junior would agree. He didn't have the best season this year, but I think a lot of it was closer scrutiny of his game without the big plays to make up for it. He's big, fast, and a natural playmaker, he just hasn't gotten the guidance he's really needed yet. I think a kid with his skills and the violent way he plays would fit in really well here. And Jerrell Powe was one of the best HS players in the country until grades screwed him. He can be a beast with his size and athletcism in the right system. And about E's original post, I'd love to get Lawrence Marsh. He's looking like rthis Yeats Brandon Deaderick.
How about Malcolm Smith, LB, USC. He's only 229 LBs and 6', but has 4.4 speed. I love what I see on tape. He could add 10-15 pounds and play ILB. With Rex thinking outside the box, he could drop this kid into coverage or blitz him Following is the link to video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3CbjOyXrRs
Beal is someone I would like the Jets to look at if we don't go for an OLB in the first. Romeus had the physical potential to be a great 4-3 pass rusher prior to his injuries. I liked him on the outside while he was at Pitt, guy was relentless when rushing the QB. He was strong enough to take on most tackles and he had a few moves to get around them(favored the latter over the former). His work in the running game wasn't spectacular but with a better coach than Wannstedt(setting the bar really low here) he could have improved. Sucks that he got hit with a back injury and a torn achilles in the same season. It's going to take him a bit to get back into form, or at least as close to form with both of those injuries.
extremely true, its a very sad situation since the kid just have such a vast amount of talent. Im hoping some medical reports, from a high standard doctor, come out soon clearing him to play again.
Funny, usually USC produces big safeties than are moved to OLB, not the other way around. A backup inside the box SS with some special team value is my best guess...
I haven't been nearly as in tune with this year's draft as I usually am, so I'll be cramming more this week. But what do people think of Tyrod Taylor? I always liked him at Virginia Tech. As a mid-round pick, I think he could be a very interesting quarterback if he's ever given a chance.
