My three best sleeper picks in this draft at positions we are sure to be drafting. My top BIG Man: NORTHWEST MISSISSIPPI COMMUNITY COLLEGE: MARCH 28 DT Walter Thomas of Northwest Mississippi Community College participate in Mississippi State's Pro Day, working out indoors on FieldTurf in ideal conditions. Thomas originally entered school at Oklahoma State. Player Position comments: Walter Thomas DT Thomas (6-4 3/8, 374 pounds) ran his 40s in 5.11 and 5.27. He also had a 1.73 10-yard dash, 24?-inch vertical jump, 8-foot-4 long jump, 4.84 short shuttle, 7.76 three-cone drill, 27 bench presses and 11?-inch hands. Height: 6044 Weight: 374 40 Yrd Dash: 5.11 10 Yrd Dash: 1.73 225 Lb. Bench Reps: 27 Vertical Jump: 24.5" Broad Jump: 8'4" 20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.84 3-Cone Drill: 7.76 Lets compare this kid who we could draft in the 6th round with a guy some of you want in the 1st round. Tank Tyler 6-2, 306 5.30 North Carolina State His Pro-Day work-out: Dates: 03/20/07 Height: 6022 Weight: 306 40 Yrd Dash: 5.24 10 Yrd Dash: 1.75 225 Lb. Bench Reps: Did Not Participate Vertical Jump: Did Not Participate Broad Jump: 8'1" 20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.76 3-Cone Drill: 7.47 *So at 2 inches taller and almost 70 pounds bigger I would rather take a chance in this younger kid who could be the next best thing compared to Dan Wilkinson or Pat Willians when it comes to playing the NT in a 3-4 defense. -------------------------- My #2 guy who isn't the biggest but plays with speed and intelligents. Joe Porter 5-10, 200 4.35 Rutgers "Cornerback Joe Porter turned in the fastest 40-yard dash of the Rutgers Pro-Day with a time of 4.28." Dates: 04/03/07 Height: 5101 Weight: 198 40 Yrd Dash: 4.28 & 4.33 20 Yrd Dash: 2.48 10 Yrd Dash: 1.47 225 Lb. Bench Reps: 21 Vertical Jump: 36 Broad Jump: 10'3" 20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.23 3-Cone Drill: 6.62 Lets compare Porter who we could get as a 6th-7th round or even a FA after the draft to similar and a solid CB rated by everyone as one of the top ten CBs in the draft. Jonathan Wade 5-10, 195 4.36 Tennessee Dates: 03/21/07 Height: 5100 Weight: 195 40 Yrd Dash: 4.44 20 Yrd Dash: 2.56 10 Yrd Dash: 1.48 225 Lb. Bench Reps: 08 Vertical Jump: Did Not Participate Broad Jump: 10'6" 20 Yrd Shuttle: Did Not Participate 3-Cone Drill: Did Not Participate Wade didn't compete in some of the events and what he did do was not on the same level as Porter. Only 8 reps at 225 compared to 21 for Porter, what a difference! --------------------- I like the bug guys that have potential and Mike Jones is it at OG. He stands 6'5" and could put on even more weight. Add in the fact he could play any OL position and his value goes up. He's not a top ten OG but most would have him in the top fifteen OG in the draft. We have always had success drafted OL later in the draft so why stop now. Name: Mike Jones College: Iowa Number: 76 Height: 6-5 Weight: 309 Position: OG Pos2: OT Class/Draft Year: Sr/2007 40 Time: 5.46 40 Low: 5.42 40 High: 5.47 Combine Results Height: 6050 Weight: 309 40 Yrd Dash: 5.46 20 Yrd Dash: 3.07 10 Yrd Dash: 1.80 225 Lb. Bench Reps: 28 Vertical Jump: 25 1/2 Broad Jump: 8'2" 20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.88 3-Cone Drill: 7.84 Pro Day Results Dates: 03/19/07 Height: 6050 Weight: 309 40 Yrd Dash: 5.50 20 Yrd Dash: 3.14 10 Yrd Dash: 1.78 225 Lb. Bench Reps: 26 Vertical Jump: 30 Broad Jump: 8'3" 20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.73 3-Cone Drill: 7.77 So lets compare him with an OG that is rated in the top three among draftees. Name: Arron Sears College: Tennessee Number: 76 Height: 6-3 Weight: 319 Position: OG Pos2: OT Class/Draft Year: Sr/2007 40 Time: 5.16 40 Low: 5.05 40 High: 5.26 Combine Results Pro Day Results Combine Invite? Yes Height: 6032 Weight: 319 40 Yrd Dash: Did Not Participate 20 Yrd Dash: Did Not Participate 10 Yrd Dash: Did Not Participate 225 Lb. Bench Reps: 21 Vertical Jump: Did Not Participate Broad Jump: Did Not Participate 20 Yrd Shuttle: Did Not Participate 3-Cone Drill: Did Not Participate Dates: 03/21/07 Height: 6032 Weight: 319 40 Yrd Dash: 5.09 20 Yrd Dash: 2.95 10 Yrd Dash: 1.74 225 Lb. Bench Reps: Did Not Participate Vertical Jump: 30 1/2 Broad Jump: 8'7" 20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.50 3-Cone Drill: 7.63 Other than being faster on his feet Sears has shone little to scouts. I would rather have a guys that competes each day that someone how is afraid to compete. Not to mention Sears had only 21 reps at 225 which is pathetic for an OG. ------------- Those are my sleeper picks. Two of them might not even get drafted and would be FA steals.
Sold! I wonder though, are these guys just workout warriors or do the really have the street cred to back it up?
Walter Thomas barely played any football in his career and there have been questions about whether or not he really weighs 370 (doesn't look it). Going just by workout numbers is dangerous (Drob), I'd rather have guys who proved their worth on the football field. But I guess late in the draft (or as undrafted FAs) it is sometimes good to take a flyer on guys who may have upside. We had a good long discussion on Thomas I think in the draft forum, I'll see if I can find it. ---edit--- here it is. http://forums.theganggreen.com/showthread.php?t=19901
Thomas hardly played. Porter was second string who only has 3 tackles last year. I would maybe think about Jones late but scouting reports state one of his biggest problems is picking up the blitz and the last thing we need is that.
i loved the excitement there, but the complete lack of understanding and use of the english language hurts....that intelligents joke was great btw...
Based on his weight (Walter Thomas), he should be much MUCH stronger then he is. Tyler put up 42 reps, plus your only looking at what these guys did in the workouts and such, you aren't considering their playing skills at all.
I like where you're going with this and the numbers are great but, it all boils down to instincts, play recognition and intelligence. If the cb bites on every play action or head fake then it doesn't matter how fast he is, he's going to get burned every time....etc...etc..
I saw a great interview with Thomas on TV (I think on HBO) and really liked him. He was playing college football at the ripe age of 16. He is BIG with good feet, but at the old age of 20 he is very raw. Porter has the speed and strength you love to see in CBs but he too is very raw. I'm not talking about taking a QB and making him into a safety, we did that crap. I'm talking about a CB at CB with some great coaches to bring out the kids telent. So what if he is a bust, a minimum salary guy who we paid nothing to get. No 3rd round pick wasted here, we get him for a song. Even if he just contributed on special teams. Lastly, Jones is a top 15 OG in the draft and we have seem some good sixth and seventh rounds at OL come our way in the past. Once again a minimum salary guy that could have a huge upside. People play the lottery every day add the draft is nothing more. The chances of these guys at least contributing to the team is worth the few buck we would pay. Thomas is the biggest guy in the draft and the youngest too. A good coach could make him someone special. Yes he needs more time in the gym and a strict regiment, but he is a true NT type player and they are few and far between.
High-rising prospects By John Murphy, Yahoo! Sports April 9, 2007 http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=jm-highrisers040907&prov=yhoo&type=lgns NW Mississippi CC defensive tackle Walter Thomas If you ever wanted to know how to make 100 NFL scouts raise their eyebrows, set loose an unknown, 370-plus pound defensive tackle such as Thomas in late January. Thomas was highly recruited out of high school by most schools in the Big 12, and picked Oklahoma State where he stayed for just over a year before having academic issues. Thomas ended up at the JC level and thanks to him being a native of Galveston, Texas found his way into the Texas vs. the Nation All-Star Classic. He punished opposing defenders in one-on-one drills, using sheer strength, quickness off the ball and impressive balance for an athlete of his size. Thomas was also a sponge when it came to listening and taking to the coaching he received during the week. His recent workout numbers wowed even the most hardened scout as he measured in at nearly 6-5, 373 pounds; ran between 5.11 and 5.20 in the 40; has 33 bench reps of 225 pounds; and had 11?-inch hands. Players of his size and agility just do not come along often enough for teams to pass on him once the fifth round starts in spite of his limited game film, exposure to big-time competition and raw technique. Just think about this tidbit for a moment: he ran 1.70 in the first 10 yards of his 40. In comparison, one of USC wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett's 10-yard splits was 1.65 and Thomas weighs over 150 pounds more than Jarrett. -------------------- With these recent workout numbers and his current size and weight...he could be the very NT we need to finally stop the run in our 3-4.
Joe Porter is miserable. I've seen every game he's played over the last two years, he has no NFL future whatsoever. You might be able to bring talent out of players, but there's nothing there besides a good 40 time. And it's pointless to say what's the harm in bringing in him in, because there are probably dozens of cornerbacks that won't get picked that have a better shot at making it than Porter does.
