Draft Buzz

[redshirt32]

http://gbnreport.com/draft-buzz/

DRAFT BUZZ

Crashing the party
Posted: March 25, 2015 | No Comments
With the 2015 draft still some 5 weeks away there appears to be considerable movement of players up and down draft boards around the league. The following are a number of players who may not have been much more than third-day prospects when the draft process started, but have moved well up since and may actually have begun to get just a hint of late first-round consideration by some teams.

Clemson ILB Stephone Anthony: Thought of a productive, but somewhat limited athlete with mid-to-late round prospect for the upcoming draft, Anthony has been pushing the envelope right through the pre-draft process starting at the senior Bowl where he was all over dispelling the notion that he had primarily between the tackles range. Anthony then had an outstanding combine where he clocked a very fast time of 4.56 seconds in the 40-yard dash, the third-fastest time among all defensive front-seven players in Indianapolis this year. For good measure, Anthony also had an athletic 37-inch vertical, while his agility drill times were all among the top figures at the position. Finally, Anthony showed plenty more agility and fluidity in positional drills at both the combine and the Tigers’ pro day earlier this month. NFL teams still have some concerns about Anthony’s natral football instincts, particularly when dropping into coverage, however, because of his toughness when making the tackle and overall athletic skills, Anthony has gone from a possible 4th-5th round pick this year to a point where he is contending with the likes of Mississippi’s State Benardrick McKinney, Eric Kendricks of UCLA and Miami’s Denzel Perryman to be the first inside linebacker off the board. Indeed, there is a palpable buzz that a team like Green Bay could actually be looking at him as a possibility for their late first round pick.

Oregon OT Jake Fisher: We kind of joked early in the 2014 college season that Fisher should maybe get some Heisman consideration when the Ducks’ offense just took off after missing some time with an injury. Turns out Fisher may get the last laugh. Fisher is a former TE who has shown in pre-draft workouts that he he is a much more fluid, athletic offensive lineman than previously thought. At the combine, for example, Fisher had the second fastest 40 clocking among offensive linemen at 5.01 seconds, while he posted a 32.5-inch vertical, which also tied for second among OL, and then blew away the competition at the position in the agility drills. All that has NFL teams thinking of a Fisher as a guy who could come in and start at RT right away, but what has pushed his up boards across the league is the sense that he has the feet and work ethic to eventually play at LT at the next level, although he still needs to add some strength and clean up some technical issues, in particular his hand usage off the snap. However, at 6-6, Fisher has the frame to bulk up to the 320 pound range – he weighed 306 at the combine – and given the value team’s place on the LT position, is another player who now looks like a solid early-to-mid-second round candidate who no one would be totally shocked if some team ultimately pulls the string in the latter part of the opening round.

Central Florida WR Breshad Perriman: If UCF’s Perriman didn’t have teams thinking about him as a potential early pick prior to his pro day this week, then they almost certainly will after he reportedly ran the 40 in something in the 4.3 range. In fact, Perriman may be just what the 2015 draft needs and that’s yet another really good prospect at receiver as he has a rare combination of size (he’s 6-2, 212), track speed and leaping ability. He also plays fast with an explosive first step and the ability to make sudden cuts. Indeed, he emerged as one of college football’s most dangerous big-play receivers last fall when he averaged almost 21 yards per catch (on 50 total receptions) and scored a team-leading 9 TDs on a team that really didn’t throw the ball all that well. In the past, though, Perriman has gotten by on his pure speed and athleticism and will need to clean some things up when he gets to the pros. In particular, his routes are sloppy as he tends to round them off and his hands are average at best as he lets too many passes get into his pads. Still, you can’t teach speed and athleticism such that his physical traits and ability to hit the big play should warrant plenty of early round consideration this year. And yes for the record, he is the son of former Miami WR Brett Perriman, who had a solid 10 year NFL career.

Arizona State FS Damarious Randall: No player in the 2015 draft class has come further, faster than ASU’s Randall who wasn’t even playing football four years ago. Indeed, Randall played baseball at a community college in 2011 before transferring to Mesa Community College where he was a JC All-American in 2012 after picking off 9 passes that year. Randall then played the last two years at ASU where he evolved into one of the most productive safeties in the country as he led the team with 106 tackles last fall, including 9.5 for loss, while he picked off 3 passes and broke up 9 others. Randall isn’t all that big at just 5-11, 195, but he can really run and has great instincts and ball skills. Indeed, there are some teams that are reportedly looking at him as a possible corner, although he is probably a little stiff in the hips to hold up on an island against elite receivers. Still, Randall was only one of two safeties to run under 4.5 seconds at the combine (along with Eric Rowe of Utah), while he was in the top 2-3 prospects at the position in the other key physical tests including the agility drills. And in a year in which ball-hawking free safety types are about as rare as hen’s teeth, Randall is another guy with the potential to be off the board within the first 40 or so picks at this year’s draft.

Bonus buzz: In addition to the above players, there is something of a buzz that QBs Bryce Petty of Baylor and Colorado State’s Garrett Grayson may have passed Brett Hundley of UCLA as the #3 prospect at the position this year behind Jameis Winston of Florida State and Oregon’s Marcus Mariota. Hundley is by far the best athlete of the three, but Petty and Grayson are just better passers out of the pocket. And given that there are simply more than two teams with major QB issues heading into the draft, the question around the NFL is just how early teams that don’t get Winston or Mariota will feel the pressure to get the next best thing at the position and that could mean reaching a tad in the second round. There has also been something of a buzz around the league of late that nobody should be surprised if Georgia RB Todd Gurley is selected a lot earlier than where he is being projected in most current mock drafts. Gurley, of course, was considered to be the best player in college football last season before he tore an ACL in October that sent his stock tumbling. However, Gurley’s rehab is reportedly going well such that he may not have to wait much past the first 10-12 or so picks before he starts to come into play, that is if somebody doesn’t pull the trigger in the top 10.

Can not wait tell draft day should be exciting and good haul for KC this year !

LBs to me seem the hardest to judge/rate, and its too bad because thats a place I was wanting to find another DJ!

My big board ugh....
#35 Kendricks
#42 Anothny
#46 Mckinney
Shaq Thompson no idea where to slot this player can he be a good ILB ?
Paul Dawson?

[O.city]

If the chiefs sat in the 34 set primarily, sure.

[redshirt32]

Looks like we might move up a spot or two depending on the NFL decisions/sanctions to take draft picks away from Falcons and Browns.

March 27, 2015 - 11:58 am
Falcons, Browns bracing for sanctions … The NFL is expected to announce the sanctions against Atlanta and Cleveland early next week and both teams have already been told by the league that they will be ‘severe’. Indeed, both teams are now reportedly expecting to lose a draft pick this year. Cleveland, for example, has reportedly been working in its draft prep on the premise that they will probably lose one of their two 4th round picks this year. Cleveland is under the gun because G.M. Ray Farmer was illegally texting messages to his coaching staff during games. Farmer is also expected to be suspended for as many as four games next year. Meanwhile, Atlanta was found to be pumping noise into its stadium during games which is also a no-no. On the other hand, there still does not seem to be any timeline for resolving any sanctions against New England for the deflated football issue during the playoffs.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by Direckshun

Yeah. Fair point. Honestly, you could throw a superb athlete like him into our defense and Sutton would maximize him.

Sutton had a banner year in 2014, and spun a bunch of straw into a bunch of gold. I'm a huge fan.

I think he could make do with Thompson. I'd just angle for better talent elsewhere.

Last year at this time, Bob Sutton was being villified.
People wanted him run out of town on a rail.

A year later, he's a defensive genius.

The difference between Bob Sutton 2013 and Bob Sutton 2014.

Justin Houston's health.

[O.city]

Originally Posted by milkman

Last year at this time, Bob Sutton was being villified.
People wanted him run out of town on a rail.

A year later, he's a defensive genius.

The difference between Bob Sutton 2013 and Bob Sutton 2014.

Justin Houston's health.

I don't think that's necessarily true. He seemed to change the way his coverages were run.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by O.city

I don't think that's necessarily true. He seemed to change the way his coverages were run.

He did.

But the defense was killing it for the first 9 games of the '13 season in his that coverage scheme with Houston, and the bottom fell out when Houston was injured.

[planetdoc]

well, the chiefs now have a little insurance for this year with Dee Ford. If Houston holds out, then Dee Ford will be able to start. Having '3' pass rushing OLB insures against injury as well.

The problem arises in 2016 when Hali is a free agent, and Houston gets very expensive to franchise again.

[BossChief]

Originally Posted by milkman

Last year at this time, Bob Sutton was being villified.
People wanted him run out of town on a rail.

A year later, he's a defensive genius.

The difference between Bob Sutton 2013 and Bob Sutton 2014.

Justin Houston's health.

Bingo.

The guy is gonna be a hall of famer and is definitely the kind of guy you build a whole defense around.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by O.city

I don't think that's necessarily true. He seemed to change the way his coverages were run.

Possibly because he didn't have all of the players he needed.

[KC native]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

No, I am not.

He's a ****ing fat **** at a mere 230 lb.

What do you think he weighs when he drops the 25 lbs. of lard that he was sporting at the Combine?

And when he's a mere 230 lbs. (albeit a doughnut eating fat mother****er at 230 lbs.), the corpulent little butterball ran a 40 that competed with the best...wait for it...offensive linemen.

He's 6'0", 31.5" arms and isn't fast. (Not to mention the 28" vertical that couldn't get his fat ass over a curb.)

Oh, and in the month he had to correct the massive shitfest he dumped all over Indianapolis to his Pro Day? He ran an absolutely BLAZING 4.8. He's ****ing slow. And small. And short. And did I say ****ing slow? He's that too.

What the **** do you think he's going to do in a 34?

You are wrong.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by planetdoc

well, the chiefs now have a little insurance for this year with Dee Ford. If Houston holds out, then Dee Ford will be able to start. Having '3' pass rushing OLB insures against injury as well.

The problem arises in 2016 when Hali is a free agent, and Houston gets very expensive to franchise again.

I really wouldn't mind the Chiefs drafting Bud Dupree at #18.

There are only about four guys on the entire planet at any given time that can do what he did at the combine at his size. In the right scheme with the right coaching, he has the potential to destroy worlds.

Take him, give him the Dee Ford treatment (basically sit him for a year, run him behind Hali/Houston on second team and learn him the defense) and then decide what to do with Houston and the prodigious salary demands.

[The Franchise]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

I really wouldn't mind the Chiefs drafting Bud Dupree at #18.

There are only about four guys on the entire planet at any given time that can do what he did at the combine at his size. In the right scheme with the right coaching, he has the potential to destroy worlds.

Take him, give him the Dee Ford treatment (basically sit him for a year, run him behind Hali/Houston on second team and learn him the defense) and then decide what to do with Houston and the prodigious salary demands.

Would you take him over Collins?

[O.city]

I'd take dupree, although I'm a bit worried he's more athlete than football player.

[bricks]

Originally Posted by milkman

Last year at this time, Bob Sutton was being villified.
People wanted him run out of town on a rail.

A year later, he's a defensive genius.

The difference between Bob Sutton 2013 and Bob Sutton 2014.

Justin Houston's health.

A new starting safety tandem also helped improve our defense in 2014.

Ron Parker and Hussain Abdullah are much much better than Eric Berry and Kendrick Lewis with respect to coverage. I'm so happy especially that Kendrick Lewis is gone he was classic for exposing holes in our coverage.

[milkman]

Originally Posted by bricks

A new starting safety tandem also helped improve our defense in 2014.

Ron Parker and Hussain Abdullah are much much better than Eric Berry and Kendrick Lewis with respect to coverage. I'm so happy especially that Kendrick Lewis is gone he was classic for exposing holes in our coverage.

Yes, they are.

The liability that was Kendrick Lewis, however, still didn't stop this defense from playing at a high level before Houston was hurt in '13.

[Tribal Warfare]

Originally Posted by Dicky McElephant

Would you take him over Collins?

I would given the circumstances, and the premium of the position.