Scott Piolli's Top 10 Underclassmen
 

According to Peter King...






I asked former Chiefs GM Scott Pioli, who was in the midst of finalizing the club's preliminary draft board when fired early this month, to examine the record 73 underclass players who declared for the draft and pick the top 10, in his mind. His view of the junior board:

First of all, Jan. 28 is a dangerous time to commit to "top players" in any category, particularly underclassmen. There is still a lot of work to do before we know who and what these players are. Sometimes players look better with less information. NFL rules don't allow teams to officially scout underclassmen during fall campus visits, and scouts can't comment publicly on them either. When scouts go into school visits in the fall, they are not allowed to ask questions about underclassmen when speaking with coaches, trainers and any other support staff. Obviously, scouts and team officials with relationships with coaches or other school officials might glean some information regarding the players prematurely, but the understanding is clear on campuses: We're there to scout the fourth-year players, not anyone younger.

So you might ask, "Well, how do you have an idea about how the underclassmen will be rated so soon after they've declared?" I'll give you an example. I went to Tallahassee this year to scout Florida State prospects. Four other Chiefs' scouts were on campus as well during the year. We all watched tape, and we watched practice. When it comes to defensive end Bjoern Werner, for instance, we obviously saw him stand out on tape and in person. So it's not difficult to understand why he's so highly regarded by NFL teams: Watching Florida State, Werner's production jumps out at you.

This draft may have a record number of underclassmen, but it may not be the quality that people are expecting. How I see the top 10 juniors now, keeping in mind the fact-finding on them will be ongoing for the next three months before the draft:

1. Luke Joeckel, T, Texas A&M. Strong candidate for the first overall pick. Three-year starter at left tackle in the Big 12 and never red-shirted. A true height-weight-speed prospect who plays with good athleticism and body control. Will play early while he develops better hip and core strength. Good teammate too.

2. Dee Milliner, CB, Alabama. One of the youngest players in the draft (20), but a very experienced corner from the best-coached DB group in the country. Milliner has the flexibility, intelligence and experience to play outside corner and also line up in the slot. Should contribute on special teams early in his career.

3. Sharrif Floyd, DT, Florida. Also 20, Floyd is a strong, athletic defensive lineman who, at 6-foot-3 and 303 pounds, has position and scheme versatility. Good competitor and tough player against the run and pass. Not great sack numbers, but consistently disruptive in the pass rush, and the type of player who makes those around him better by making the offense concentrate so much on stopping him.

4. Bjoern Werner, DE, Florida State. Born in Germany, Werner learned football while at a Connecticut prep school as an exchange student. Played just two prep years before signing with Florida Stats. Two-year starter at left end in FSU's base and sub packages who shows surprising natural instincts, good hand strength and athletic ability. Pretty impressive to see he had 13 sacks in the ACC in the 2012 season.

5. Johnathan Hankins, DT, Ohio State. At 6-3 and 335, he still has the athleticism to line up at multiple positions on the line -- not just at the nose. Active and instinctive, and showed improvement from 2011. Very good player versus the run that needs to continue to improve his every-down consistency.

6. Eddie Lacy, RB, Alabama. Low-mileage rusher (355 carries in three seasons with the Tide) who played behind two outstanding backs early in his career (Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson). Averaged 6.8 yards per rush in his college career behind an offensive line better than some NFL lines. Good receiving skills, and a willing blocker. He should be an every-down back in the NFL.

7. Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia. Began his college career at USC in 2009 and transferred closer to home after suffering a neck injury his true freshman year. Highly instinctive and productive college player, but at 6-3 and 241, could be a tough positional fit. Dominated certain games (Florida), disappeared in others (Alabama).

8. Keenan Allen, WR, Cal. Originally committed to Alabama out of HS, but decided to join his QB brother Zach to play together at Cal. Allen is a big (6-3, 210), savvy and highly competitive WR who has played the slot and outside. Lacks top speed, but is very natural and quick. In a WR class that appears to lack elite players, he may be the best.

9. Alec Ogletree, MLB, Georgia. Tremendously talented athlete at 6-3 and 232, and should be an every-down NFL inside 'backer or middle 'backer. Has the skill and ability to contribute immediately all defenses as well as special teams. Jumps off the tape and could have the most upside of any underclassman in the draft. But some off-the-field issues will need to be studied before giving him a final grade.

10. Gavin Escobar, TE, San Diego State. Three-year starter who was hampered this season by a knee injury that he played through. Good height-weight-speed prospect at 6-6 and 255 who right now is more receiver than blocker. I'm high on his ability to produce as an offensive tight end right now in the more wide-open NFL offenses. He's what we call an "F-type'' tight end, a receiver who can play off the line probably more productively than as a blocker right now.

Pioli will be doing some work for NBC Sports Network at the Super Bowl



Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl...#ixzz2JHNrynsK

It's a nice feeling to know that his list no longer means jack shit.

Is anyone surprised his top 5 contains 3 D linemen and a LT?


Thank God that cancer is gone.

We would've taken Joekel with Pioli at the helm, while letting Albert walk. Thank God that asshat is gone.

If we don't take a QB at #1, I'd much rather take Milliner at the top than Joeckel. Milliner would give us a excellent CB opposite of Flowers which is a big need!

Btw guys there is probably a strong possibility Joeckel is at the top for Dorsey also.

And no QB, big surprise.

I guess Geno, Glennon, and Wilson couldn't be included since they're seniors and this is the all-junior list, however.

Monday morning fail for me.

Do they ask Matt Millen for his top draft picks anymore? Why do they ask Pioli?

yes and yes

king rides pioli's cock more than cassel

I don't get making a list of just under-classmen. Why not include overall Top 10?

Peter King will probably quote his dumb ass until the day he dies.

BFFs for life.

I agree.:thumb:

The ONLY advice that would have any actual merit that would come from Scooter ***** is "How to Rape a Franchise 101"

Fat Scott has started his comeback tour in full force.

He is scheduled to be on Dan Patrick's radio show tomorrow which means he is probably making the media rounds during Super Bowl week.

Hopefully someone in the media will ask him about what went down in KC (namely the Arrowhead Anxiety article he has refused to comment on).

We just might see version two of "Franchise Raping" We have a couple more months to know whether or not this new regime knows anything about the modern day NFL or not.

They could totally Pioli this franchise just the same...

Why would anybody who is trying to improve their team listen to *****'s scouting report?

He's the biggest fraud in the NFL. :cuss:

I expect a big ugly upfront at #1. Either it will be LT Joeckel or a DT like Lotuleli IMO.

I bet we bring in Alex Smith and draft a QB with the 2nd pick. Probably Tyler Wilson and then groom him behind Smith for 2-3 years.

Historically both Dorsey (GB) and Reid love addressing the lines early.

This place is going to flip sh*t on here but it is the way I see how things shaking. I would love to know how many teams actually have Geno or any QB in their top 15 overall.

They have a strange way of showing it...

Really? You think Dorsey and Reid, who have both put together SB teams, don't know anything about "modern day" NFL football? But I suppose you believe that you and the other drafturbators, who have never worked for an NFL team, do?

The arrogance on this site is astounding.

Why do people think Andy Reid would bring in Alex Smith? Andy Reid is looking for a QB that can pass on first second and third downs not relying on the run game to win games. Alex Smith is a game manager QB, Andy Reid is looking for a game winner QB. He wants the QB to throw a LOT and the running game is an extention of the pass. There is nothing in Alex Smith game to suggest Andy Reid wanting to bring him here. It would be ****ing bull shit if he did.

This is not an unrealistic prediction (sadly), but the guy available at No. 34 is not going to be Tyler Wilson.

We will be running the WCO, it isn't a bomb it down the field type of offense. Get the ball to your WR's and RB's in space and let them make the YAC. Smith is actually a good fit for the WCO and we would only have him as the starter until the drafted QB is ready.

Scott Pioli is the worst evaluator at the QB position I can recall, which of course is why he no longer is a GM. He'd be a failure even if he was good at evaluating all other positions, which based on his drafts, it appears he is not.

Reality hurts for some here you are correct:thumb:

I hope Pioli is unemployed at least a season and the chiefs show a marked improvement just to show how ****ing terrible Pioli is when he tries to interview for jobs. However the nfl seems to be a good ole boys network so I'm sure he won't have any trouble landing a job.

This. I'm not saying Reid will take a qb 1st, but Alex smith relies too much on the running game to be effective in Reid's wco.

Peter King is a hack.

The only reason I would ask Pioli's opinion on draft talent/board is so that I know who to avoid when selecting.

I'm guessing Scott Pioli is held in much higher regard among East Coast media elites than he is by NFL front offices.

I'm sure you were making the same arguments when some of us dared to call Pioli incompetent in 2009.

You can continue to disregard the wisdom of crowds if you'd like, but we were right on Pioli and it's not impossible that we could be right on the next guy.

He was SPECIFICALLY asked about underclassmen. Blame the guy asking the question.

Yes and no.

Alex Smith is a very accurate and fairly mobile QB. No, he's not a downfield bomber, but if you're working sideline routes, he's an extremely smart, efficient, accurate passer.

Smith is a very very good fit for a true WCO. Reid runs a more vertical version of it, so he'd probably want someone with a little more downfield arm than Smith if he had his druthers.

That said, if he doesn't like the tape on any of the QBs and with no better options available in FA, Smith could be a guy that Reid likes and he'd simply have to tailor his offense to fit Smith's skill-set. Hell, he'll probably have to tailor it anyway, he doesn't have a true deep-threat on the roster.

I actually think Reid could like Smith and I think Smith could do well here.

Actually, yes it is.

Reid's offenses rank in the top 5 for 20+ attempts nearly every year.

It contains a RUNNING BACK.

Running backs are NEVER worth a top 10 pick. NEVER.

Unless you are Cleveland.

Based on what?

There's a reason that they're in the conversation with the Chiefs as the worst team of the last 2 decades.

I would imagine if Scott left under mutual agreement, he's not allowed to talk about his time with the Chiefs in much detail, if at all.

Not disagreeing, just making a point.

No, they don't.

Defensive line, yes.

Offensive line, absolutely not.

It doesn't hurt because it isn't ACCURATE.

Same here. ;)

What do most suppose draft boards have Joeckel going? Who is to say Dorsey is any different than them or Pioli?

Make no mistake, that was Pioli's list regardless of underclassman status.

Scooter was totally going to reach for a DE/DT again lol

Why does everyone try and point to "all the lineman" Reid took while ignoring the fact that his very first pick, at #2 overall was a QB?

It might be Smith, it might be Barkley, but make no mistake, we will be taking a QB at #1 overall.

What in his history suggests he's going to take a LT that high?

More likely than a QB I bet you.

what are Derrek Sherrod, Bryan Baluaga, Danny Watkins and Shawn Andrews then?

That wasn't the discussion. Stay on topic here.

Dorsey doesn't have a history with picking early in general but he does have a major history of taking OT's in the 1st round.

The 32nd, 23rd, 23rd, and 16th overall picks, respectively.

I don't see any top 10 picks there, let alone a #1 overall.

Well I say **** him!

Also had Brett Favre and Aaron Rodgers on the roster the whole time as well.

Exactly.

He doesn't have a history with picking early.

Therefore, EVERYTHING is a guess.

Some people here simply cannot see this in anything other than black and white.

Note that I never mentioned anything about a QB, YOU gravitated to it immediately.

But where did they draft Rodger's in the first round? They got Favre from a trade. Where GB got Rodger's is much closer to #34 than #1. He was also the BPA on there board at that time. Rodger's wasn't a pick of need either.

I bet guys like Wilson and Barkley will be there at #34.

Phil Savage (ex Browns GM, current Eagles personnel guy and runs the Senior Bowl) just said the same that Wilson will be there in the 2nd.

I still think Pioli would have drafted Glennon. We all know he had a man crush on him.

Dorsey has spent 2 top 10 picks on DL and 1 on a LB. That's the only top 10 picks he's been in on.

Reid spent his one top 5 pick on Donovan McNabb. Outside of Tre Thomas at #11 overall, he spent ALL of his top 15 picks on defensive linemen (like 6 of them in total).

So if you want to make a case they'll take a DEFENSIVE LINEMAN, I'll hear it. There's at least some evidence (even though it's a small, small sample) that they would do it.

There's absolutely ZERO evidence they value offensive linemen that highly.

Oh I agree there.... I think DL is much more likely than a QB also. Regardless #1 is going to be a guy up front.

But is it true that Dorsey and Reid DO value OL in the 1st heavily?

Making Jason Peters the highest paid LT in the league is some evidence. Perhaps not the most compelling, but evidence nontheless.

Reid's shell concept is built around his LT, QB, pass rushers and #1 CB. He absolutely places a high value on the LT position.

The most demonstrative pick made, however, was the first one Reid ever made. He knows the value of wrapping up the QB position first and building around it.

QB...







Then BPA the rest of the way.

We all know this is Reid and Dorsey's plan.

Making Jason Peters the highest paid LT in football is probably evidence that he'll get Albert locked up as soon as possible.

Given what we know about how the Eagles coveted him in the draft, I expect Albert to be our LT next year, obviating the need for some other position.

Well, obviating it for everybody except Bob, who thinks we'll tag Albert and move him to guard so we can draft Joeckel.

My god...

This guy was going to let Albert walk, draft Joeckel in the first, Glennon in the second, another DT in the third or fourth and somewhere in there trade up for another tight end.

How happy am I to have Pioli fired?

Happy as a Chiefs fan with Dorsey as GM and Geno Smith as my first round pick.

Of course they value OL in the first...

In the SECOND half of the first, not the first half...

When Reid got to Philly, Tra Thomas was already there. Reid doesn't love taking offensive lineman early. He signed Runyan to a FA deal in 2000.

He did trade for Peters, and invested a later first rounder on the 80 year old fireman, but I don't think Reid is tied into offensive lines like some here have speculated.

you really don't know much about andy reid's version of the WCO, do you? he takes the top off of the defense more than ANY other version of the WCO. his offense demands a vertical presence... if you don't have a QB with an arm good enough to do that, you aren't running his version of the offense.

God damn it. Is it April yet?

What kind of meltdown are you going to have if he's not?

This is going to be the longest 3 months of our lives.

It's gonna feel like 3 years instead of 3 months.

<SHUDDER>

Yup, that's exactly what he was going to do. Jesus, we dodged a bullet on that one, didn't we?

Pepper Johnson as head coach, Wes Welker to replace Bowe, Glennon at QB, Joeckel at LT....Mother of God.

The double-edged sword that is the #1 pick. :D

That depends. Did we pick Tyler Wilson instead? :P

Did that asshole come out and say he would have hired Pepper?

Nope. Just didn't take Geno.

What about Barkley? Isnt he #2 or #3 ?

I want Geno or Wilson.

If we don't take one of the two, I'm gonna go full reerun. :D

I'm not as high on Barkley as the other 2.

Pretty ****ing huge, to be honest.

I'm higher on Barkley than I am on Wilson.

No, that's just been my theory from the jump.

Nobody else will work for the ****stain, so it had to be a BB guy. I don't think McDaniels would've left his posh gig in NE, where he's young enough to just wait out BB's retirement and take over.

That left me with Pepper.