Alvin 'Bud' Dupree. As a prospect he has everything you're looking for... Things that can't be coached up... Size, power, speed and just pure explosiveness... to go along with good character and motor. He has gotten by with pure athleticism.. His technique is nearly non-existent. Brett Kollman does a great job of breaking it down.. There's also a metric made and used by some at another forum, called the 'Waldo Formula'. It's basically a metric which determines ones 'explosive power' and is fairly accurate on depicting if one will actually succeed in the NFL.. ( low-risk to high risk ) Dupree has a 1.16.. He's literally off the charts... That's the highest score since this metric was created.. ( Save yourself the comparison.. Ghoslton was considered a 'high-risk' using this formula ) A nice write up which further elaborates upon Bud Dupree's absolute freakishness and dynamic ability.. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...her-bud-dupree-has-rare-talent-but-raw-skills
Might as well lay out the possible first 6 picks.. Tampa Bay - Winston Tennessee - Williams Jacksonville - Fowler Jr/Beasley Oakland - Cooper/White Washington - Beasley/Fowler Jr New York - Bud Dupree Mariota slides.. Geno style.. ok, maybe not that far... but he slides...
There is a lot of potential but also a lot of risk. If Dupree can't get the technique down he's not going to be an impact player in the NFL and if Gregory fails another drug test or two he could be out of the league for a year if not permanently. I don't think you take a guy at 6th overall if you aren't even sure he'll be playing for your team next year. Maybe you end up regretting it 5 years from now if they are among the best pass rushers in the league but that's not really the reason you draft a guy. You draft a guy because you think he's going to help your team win games, if you have reason to believe he won't be able to do that then don't pick him up. Now, if we traded back in the first round and they were available in the mid-to-late first round that's an entirely different story. Maybe if either of them are slipping into the late first round we can trade up from our 2nd rounder and grab one of them, even the cost of the extra picks could be worth it to walk away with Mariota/WR and Dupree/Gregory. Obviously if we go pass rusher at the 6th overall it makes no sense.
I think we have a better chance of passing on Mariota for Bobby Boucher rather than Bud Dupree. Besides I have been permanently scarred by taking project defenders out of Kentucky so high in the draft I fear I would break my TV if he's the pick. I know it's a silly metric, looking at what school a player attended, but still, my eye is twitching right now. _
I'd rather Gregory than Dupree, but honestly I think either is a waste at 6. If you trade back with Cleveland for both of their 1s, then game on.
I'd find it a tad hypocritical if folks who've dumped on taking a potential franchise QB--the most important position in all of organized sports--at 6 because he is a project would support taking a player at 6 a position that is not the most important position in all of organized sports who is just as much or more of a project. _
Dupree gets by on talent alone? Everyone in the NFL has talent. Gregory's already has one strike against him before he's even played a down. Besides, he's underweight and oft-injured. He's another Dion Jordan (Oregon-Dolphins): great athlete who wows you on one play then dissapears. Only had 2.5 sacks over his last SEVEN games at Nebraska and was flat out stoned (no pun) in the Holiday Bowl vs. USC who rotated a freshman to block him, pancaking him on one occassion: 2 tackles, 2 assists, zero sacks. If Mariota slides to #6 it's a no-brainer, he's the pick. If Mariota's taken before #6 (probably), then Cooper or Fowler. Cooper's pro ready and of all the leading OLB candidates Fowler, Gregory, Ray or Beasley, Fowler's the one with the complete package of rush, coverage and especially setting the edge (rush defense not being the other's strong suit esp. Beasley). jmo.
Former Jets draft picks from Kentucky: John Connor - RB '10 Dewayne Robertson - DT '03 Al Baker - RB '91 Bill Ransdell - QB '87 Kelly Kirchbaum - LB '79 Dick Beard - RB '70 To be fair, notables drafted by other teams: Danny Travathan - LB '12 Denver Randall Cobb - WR '11 GB Jacob Tamme - TE '08 Ind. Stevie Johnson - WR '08 Buff. Tim Couch - QB '99 Cle. Howard Schnellenberger - E '56 Wash. Also that 6'4" 285 lb QB (forgot his name) the Giants had was from Ky. Not opining one way or the other, just pointing out the Jets, historically, haven't had much luck drafting from that school.
I was mocking myself because I put NO weight in what we or any other team drafted (i) from the same school, (ii) the same position or (iii) the same draft pick. I can't stand guys saying "we can't take another TE from Penn State in the first round because Kyle Bradyyyyyyy!!!!" because if the next Jimmy Graham is sitting there at 18 next year and he's from Penn State, I'm taking him. Can't take a QB from Oregon because blahblahblah, can't take a RB from Penn State, can't take a DE and 6, nothing that happened in the past has any bearing on what is happening in the present. _
LOL If that's how that metric sees things, then I think it's utter BS. Mariota isn't going to slide. Dupree is a real project and you don't take those at #6. Players don't get by on pure natural talent for very long, if at all in the NFL, particularly at a position like OLB is so dependent on fundamentals and various rush techniques. If the Jets take Dupree at #6, I and a lot of other Jets fans will be screaming bloody murder, especially if they pass on Mariota.
I could see it happening because only the Jets could pass on a "project" QB because he's a project to draft a project OLB.
Difference being... When Dupree used his hands properly he dominated. When Mariota was put in a 'pro-style' offense he was below-average. They are not equivalent or comparable. Dupree needs to be coached on how to use his hands. Mariota has to learn an entirely new concept, which no one has seen him run consistently and/or successfully... Not even close as 'projects' are concerned. I get people want a QB.. I do to.. I just don't think Mariota is our answer at the moment. This is arguably one of the worst QB classes in a while. We shouldn't be forced to reach for a QB.
I generally agree. However, all other things being equal, choosing between two guys of the same position, I might take the trend into consideration.
I don't think Jets fans want a reach. Esp with a new GM. I mean you can hear the moans now (even though the draft is in Chicago). No more Gholstons allowed.
Flip side of the coin: http://draftbreakdown.com/video/randy-gregory-vs-usc-2014/ Observations from the 2014 Holiday Bowl By JulianLopez on Dec 30, 2014, 3:18p 2 Nebraska defensive end Randy Gregory is projected to be a top-five pick in the2015 NFL Draft but on Saturday, he was quiet as the USC offensive line did a great job of keeping Gregory from making an impact. Gregory had only two solo tackles and two assists against USC, but failed to get a sack or a tackle for a loss. The main credit has to go to both USC tackles: sophomore Zach Banner and freshman Toa Lobendahn who both kept Gregory from getting off the edge.
Dude, you are clueless if you think drafting Mariota is "reaching" for a QB. SMH Dupree needs to learn more than using his hands if he was just getting by on natural ability in college. In fact, he needs to learn a LOT more. Mariota does NOT have to learn an entirely new concept. When was Mariota below average or put in a "pro-style" offense? You have no idea what you're talking about.
it wouldn't surprise me if we draft gregory and quite frankly i'd be happy with it. he's IMO the best pass rusher and it's not super close