Official 2012 Draft Discussion Thread
 

Looks like a great crop of LBs (if Luke Kuechly, Burfict and Teo among others declare)

OLB Travis Lewis, Oklahoma
OLB Zach Brown, North Carolina
MLB Chris Galippo, USC
OLB Nigel Bradham, FSU
OLB Tank Carder, TCU
MLB Vontaze Burfict, Arizona St. Junior
MLB Manti Teo, Notre Dame Junior
MLB Luke Kuechly, Boston College Junior
OLB Nico Johnson, Alabama Junior
OLB Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma Junior
OLB Shayne Skov, Stanford Junior

Our DLine could be set for the next decade.

Might still need a stud or two in the secondary.

CB Chase Minnifield, Virginia
S Mark Barron, Alabama
S Robert Lester, Alabama Junior
CB Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama Junior
S Ray Ray Armstrong, Miami (FL) Junior
CB Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina Junior

Would like to see how our OLine can be if all are healthy, but still would like to add a Mauler for RT.

Thoughts?

You left off Shayne Skov...arguably the best LB of the bunch (Skov, Te'o and Burfict are neck and neck).

OL situation is definitely something we'll be paying close attention to. We don't know which positions will need an upgrade yet because most of our players are injury-prone or young and unproven.

We might be set at LB as well. LB is not a position where you need to spend 1st rounders without a clear need.

We might also be set at DB, lol. Talib and TJax could have clean, productive seasons and we have lots of promising young DBs to develop. Stephon Gilmore is my favorite of the bunch there. He has ideal size, can run with anyone and is a smooth cover corner that flips his hips well. He's also a great returner. Armstrong and Kirkpatrick are far from being early draft candidates. I know they were highly touted recruits and are big and athletic, but you have to show it on the field. Vaughn Telemaque is a better safety prospect than Ray Ray and I'd welcome him to replace TJax if it came down to it.

We haven't spent a high pick on a RB since Caddy and this might be the year to do it. Blount and Bradford can be the power backs but Andre Ellington would add an extra dimension of explosive, game-breaking speed to our offense. It's a luxury pick that we can afford.

Honestly never heard of Skov. I just went to cbssportsline and picked the guys I had heard of to be honest. lol

Season still has to play itself out (hopefully) before I can say for sure I am happy with our LB corps.

orly?

I know who Skov is, but never saw him as a high round possibility. Between him, Keiser, and Marecic, I didn't think he really stood out... on the other hand... Skov was a freshman or sophomore so he could become a stud.

My guys are Keuchly, Carder, and Zach Brown. I really wanted Carder to come out this season.

http://www.draftsite.com/nfl/mock-draft/2012

Has us taking Gilmore in the first. (I know it's absurdly early for this. lol)

Gilmore in the 1st and Datko in the 2nd. I know it's early but I don't see them lasting that long, but hey crazier things have happened ;). I'd be happy with Datko in the 1st.

RE: Skov

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieo_ansbJmA - vs ND
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=amQU1...eature=related - Orange Bowl

Te'o is more freakishly athletic and Kuechly is more productive but I still like Skov the best. He just has that seek and destroy mentality at LB and is the best leader and fit for us. He's great in coverage and can do everything Ruud does for us in that aspect, only he's more agile. The difference between him and Ruud is that Skov is physical, nasty and a great blitzer. He needs to work on breaking down to make tackles, but he still had a huge game against VT despite missing 4-5 sacks on Tyrod. It's rare to find a LB who shows disregard for his own body and blockers (he evades them), and then also cover a lot of ground in his pass drops with great footwork. He's my "pet prospect" for next year without a doubt.

I don't see the big deal about Carder. What makes him a better prospect than their last MLB who went to the Ravens? I think it's Jason Phillips.

Caddy let's get this tacked/pinned.

Aaaaaaaaand delete the 2 spam threads, plz. kthx

thanks for that. i was missing Mayock's voice.

Thursday nights on NFLN will be a great time if the season actually happens. Also I changed my mind big-time when it comes to this upcoming LB class.

1. Te'o - Not as freakishly athletic as Patrick Willis but he is very athletic and has a complete game. His instincts are outstanding for a true Soph and his nose for the ball and hitting remind me of Ray Lewis. He

2. Kuechly - Finally got around to watching him closely (4 different games) and his stats are backed up by legit on-field production. His footwork and range are the best this year (excluding undersized guys like Lavonte David) and he's an excellent tackler with good power. He's thin and really needs to fill out his frame, and once he does he will be a force because he can naturally strike and has a great feel for shedding blocks.

3. Skov - I still love the way he plays, but from an unbiased perspective he's below Te'o and Kuechly.

Burfict is really overrated, period.

Lets see how Mason Foster performs at MLB. If he fits in real well, then we should look for a WLB to replace Hayes. Travis Lewis and Brown will be legitimate options.

Don't forget CB, as Ronde is retiring and we still have to monitor Talibs legal situation

Lewis and Brown are inferior prospects to the MLBs I mentioned, Lewis especially. I love Foster but I love this MLB class as well. Te'o and Kuechly could play OLB in our system, as could Foster himself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgUsr...&feature=feedu

^ That's my new ideal Bucs 1st rounder. What do you guys think?

Love Ellington...remember watching him last season and saying "man he'd look good in pewter.." lol

If we look at DB as well, Alphonso Denard is the guy I want. Very physical, can play man press and zone, and is a ball hawk. Some scouts are rating him as anywhere from mid 1st to early 2nd, only because of the projected Jr CB talent. IMO, he is the BEST CB in the draft from the film I've seen.

I'll have to check him out but I doubt he's better than JJ.

I see Denard as a more physical CB than Amukamarah

Tack this!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1. Right Tackle - resigned both starters from 2010, Jeremy Trueblood and James Lee. Didn't draft a OT this year. A little upset that we brought back these two, with no one added so far in this off season to compete with them. Just saw that Jared Gaither signed with Oakland. This should be a priority next year. Have to protect Freesus.

2. Safety - resigned Corey Lynch (FS). Drafted Ahmad Black (SS). Cody Grimm (FS) should be 100% after breaking his ankle late last year. Tanard Jackson (FS) will not be eligible to be reinstated till week 4, I believe. Sean Jones (SS) and Larry Asante (SS)are both back. I would love for us to look for a stud SS in the upcoming draft. Heck, FS might get a look, too, considering T-Jax and his off field history.


3. Cornerback - resigned Elbert Mack and Ronde Barber (RCB). Drafted Anthony Gaitor. Aqib Talib (LCB) status is still unclear to me. Excited to see E.J. Biggers (nickelback) and Myron Lewis improvement after getting a full season under their belts. I don't think Mack makes it to the final 53 (54?). I don't see Ronde playing in 2012. It's on Biggers and Lewis if we look for a CB in the first 3 rounds or not.


4. OLB - resigned Quincy Black (SAM), drafted Mason Foster (MLB). Let Barrett Ruud (MLB)and Adam Hayward (SAM) walk. Tyrone McKenzie (MLB) and Foster expected to battle it out in training camp for MLB. Geno Hayes (WILL) has supposedly gained some weight this offseason, but was inconsistent as f@ck in 2010. I think the future is Black, Foster and Watson, to be honest. Really think we will have a good shot at one of the young stud LBs (Lewis, Te'O, Burfict, Skov, etc...) in the first round.


5. Full back - Erik Lorig and Rendrick Taylor are Meh. Nuff said. lol

I feel like we can really look in any direction we want next season. We are developing at every position and don't have a lot of glaring weaknesses at the moment :D

I definitely agree that we should be looking to go BPA. I like the LB, RB, CB and OT class and those seem to be positions that we could address.

Alfonzo Denard. Watch film. Great physical CB, good ball skills and excellent cover skills. Jam WRs at the line. Probably can take over Talib if he does get convicted.

Matt Kalil, OT Southern Cal
Jonathan Martin, OT Stanford (RT, IMO)
Riley Reiff, OT Iowa
Mike Adams, OT Ohio State
Bobbie Massie, OT Ole Miss (RT, IMO)
Levy Adc0ck, OT Oklahoma St.
Tanner Hawkinson, OT Kansas
Ricky Wagner, OT Wisconsin
Nate Potter, OT Boise St.

Cornerbacks:

Dre Kirkpatrick, Alabama
Jayron Hosley, Virginia Tech
Stephon Gilmore, South Carolina
Alfonzo Dennard, Nebraska
Cliff Harris, Oregon
Chase Minniefield, Virginia
Morris Claiborne, Louisana St.
Casey Hawyard, Vanderbilt
Desmond Trufant, Washington
Janoris Jenkins, North Alabama (former Gator)


Who do you like and why? I'll hang up and listen

Linebackers:

OLB Travis Lewis, Oklahoma (RS Senior) 6'2 227
41 starts/41 games
360 Total Tackles
47.5 TFLs
6 sacks
8 INTs
Interview from April 2011 per ESPN LINK

Interview for FoxSports @ Big 12 Media Days 2011 LINK

MLB Tank Carder, TCU (RS Senior) 6'3 237
26 starts/37 games
158 Total tackles
20.5 TFLs
5.5 sacks
1 FF
2 INTs

Interview with MWC.com @ MWC Media Days 2011 LINK

OLB Nigel Bradham, FSU (True Senior) 6'3 240
27 starts/40 games
220 Total tackles
12.0 TFLs
7 sacks
1 INT

OLB Zach Brown, North Carolina (True Senior) 6'2 230
11 Starts/39 games
125 Total tackles
5.5 TFLs
0 sacks
4 INTs

MLB Luke Kuechly, Boston College (True Junior) 6'3 237
25 starts/26 games
341 Total tackles
23.5 TFLs
2.5 sacks
2 FFs
4 INTs

MLB Manti Teo, Notre Dame (True Junior) 6'2 255
23 starts/25 games
196 Total tackles
15.0 TFLs
2 sacks
1 FF
0 INTs

MLB Vontaze Burfict, Arizona St. (True Junior) 6'3 252
19 starts/24 games
159 Total tackles
15.5 TFLs
2 sacks
4 FF
0 INTs

ILB Shayne Skov, Stanford (True Junior) 6'3 243
18 starts/24 games
146 Total tackles
13.5 TFLs
7.5 sacks
0 INTs

MLB Nico Johnson, Alabama (True Junior) 6'3 245
8 starts/25 games
60 Total tackles
8 TFLs
1 sack
0 INTs

OLB Ronnell Lewis, Oklahoma (True Junior) 6'2 244
5 starts/25 games
59 Total tackles
7.5 TFLs
4.5 sacks
2 FF
1 INT



EDIT: Work in progress....

Matt Hayes story on Burfict for TheSportingNews LINK

FAP FAP FAP

Not impressed at all. I see Captain Munnerlyn minus the speed. Dennard is short and stocky, slow and stiff. MAJOR pass. I have a hard time seeing him being drafted in the 1st 3 rounds.