Best Kept Secrets

[kccrow]

Who do you consider the players that are the best kept secrets at their respective positions in the draft this year?


I'll give one of mine and then maybe everyone can build off of that.


Michael Campanaro - WR - Wake Forest

Height: 5'9"
Weight: 192
40 Yard: 4.46
3-Cone: 6.77
20 Yard: 4.01
Vertical: 39"
Broad: 10'2"
Bench: 20

Man, this kid is intriguing. Every year, some team, some scout, some draftnik is looking for the "next Wes Welker." If I had to pick a player that most closely resembles the skill set requisite to making the type of impact Welker makes, I think that player is Michael Campanaro. This kid is an absolute weapon in the short passing game, but he can make some deep plays. This guy is tough, gets the YAC, he runs great routes, I mean he's just a good little slot receiver. You can't ask him to line up as a split end or flanker, but he's going to be that guy on the inside that is an absolute nightmare to cover. If this draft weren't so deep at WR, he'd probably be a day two player.



Video:

[Saccopoo]

He's one of about a dozen wide receivers in this draft that are running a 4.4something with a 36" + vertical.

It's ridiculous to look at all the potential talent in this draft.

I would be a bit worried about Campanaro's broken collarbone though.

[kccrow]

That's something I was thinking about today Sac, is this draft really that loaded? I think back over all the years I've really been a draft junkie, sort of speak, and I don't se an overwhelming amount of talent that makes me scream "best ever." I think, yes, there is an abnormally high amount of talent in this draft, but it is also highly concentrated. I think that you look at WR, OT, DE, those positions are definitely loaded up with some talent. I think when you look at the rest though, it is very, very, average. I don't like the QB class. I think the TE class has 3 prospects that could be very solid and the rest is kinda crap. I do, as a whole, really like the running backs class. I think there are about 7 or 8 backs I would realistically draft so that is a bit rare. The receivers are by and far very deep this year, which doesn't happen often, but you have to expect a turn for the better there with the increased passing game in college ball now. I think that there are a half dozen left tackles that could start in this draft and an equal number of right tackles. You don't see that every year. I think the guard class is very average, and even a bit down. There are a few really nice prospects and then the bottom drops out. The center class looks incredibly bleak. The defensive tackle class, there are some concerns. If anything, I think there are a few nice under tackles, about 5 really good looking nose tackles (good year for a 3-4 team in need), and a few good looking 3-4 DE types. but nothing too overwhelming. There almost all mid-round type of guys to me. The OLB class, if you take away the speed rushers for 3-4 teams, it has a couple at the top and very much nothing else. The same goes for the inside backers, a couple at the top and then nothing. The safety classes, yeah there is some talent there, but a lot of bust potential. I think you have Pryor, Dix, Ward, Bucannon, Brooks, Loston, Ladler, and then things get really iffy. That and most of the NFL needs a starting safety in one way or another, so they'll go fast.

Sorry for rambling, but I just don't think that it is that amazing of a draft it weren't for the receiver class, which may be one of the most talent overall in a long time.

[RunKC]

It's guys like this that make me wonder if Dorsey is gonna pass on a WR in round 1 because he feels these guys can make just as much of an impact.

He did say this draft has several good skilled players, which he is right about. Just wonder what he thinks about the quality in each round.

[TambaBerry]

You know what really pisses me off. The fact that last season we seemed to be in a win now mode so we trade two 2nd round picks for a mediocre qb. We then turn around and are building our team through the draft. If we kept our 2nd round pick this year it would be a better player then our 1st overall last year. As a gm aren't you supposed to know what kind of talent next year's draft class is going to have?

[planetdoc]

Originally Posted by dingleberry

You know what really pisses me off. The fact that last season we seemed to be in a win now mode

GMs and coaches are always in a win now mode because they are at risk of losing their jobs if they do not.

[TambaBerry]

Not this off-season

[Dante84]

I don't like companaro. He has a shitty attitude when the play falls apart and quits when the ball doesn't come his way.

Originally Posted by Dante84

I just watched Michael Campanaro, WR, Wake Forest. I watched his tape against a great Clemson team, and NC State. They were night and day different. Clemson was blah, and NC State he was everywhere.

Positives:
- This guy is an athlete. He has the same bouncey-step and go move that Welker, Edelman, and Woodhead have (yes, they are all white). You'll see what I mean when you watch the NC State tape.
- He is quick AND fast. Quick first step, and then burns when he's got grass.
- He has a knack for finding the soft spot in the defense in the NC State game. He gives his QB some looks, but the QB doesn't always pull the trigger, or pull it accurately.
- He seems to catch with his hands and not his body or forearms.

Negatives:
- Do they only have him run 2 routes against Clemson? He either stays on the line of scrimmage and waits for the ball, or he runs a 5-7 yard curl. Didn't seem him get deep, or very open against tight coverage in this game.
- 2 or 3 drops against Clemson. Silly, nervous, shit-your-pants get off the field drops.
- When he realizes the ball isn't coming to him, his body language sucks and he stops playing. Drops his head and walks like he's throwing a little personal pity party.
- He seems to take an extra beat when catching and securing the ball. Some he double clutched, other times, he stares at it in his hands after the catch before snapping awake and making a football move.

[Infidel Goat]

I've watched pretty much every game of Camp's college career and would be thrilled to see him on the Chiefs (and couldn't disagree more with Dante84's assessment). He doesn't quite have the top end speed that Chris Givens had, but his 3 cone drill and 20 yard shuttle were faster. I will cry if the Broncos draft him.

I also wouldn't be concerned about his collarbone. He benched 225 lbs twenty times at the combine...

[planetdoc]

Originally Posted by kccrow

That's something I was thinking about today Sac, is this draft really that loaded?

I think this draft is :
extremely deep at WR and defensive back,
above average at running back and inside linebacker, QB (developmental)
average at offensive line, 3-4 OLB,
below average at 3-4 DE, NT

here is my short list of players I think would fit the chiefs

[OldSchool]

If he stays healthy, Brent Urban could turn out to be the best 5-tech from this draft.

[OldSchool]

Virginia DT Brent Urban "could be a sleeper," according to ESPN.com's Todd McShay.
"I'd call him a poor man's J.J. Watt right now in terms of fit and also based on his special knack for swatting passes," McShay wrote. "He's a perfect 3-4 defensive end, creating good leverage against the run despite a long, 6-7, 295-pound frame. He uses his length well, both knocking down passes at the line of scrimmage and also using his strength and long arms to shed blocks, and can also just push a blocker backward when he's not doubled. He broke his foot before the Senior Bowl, but that could help turn him into a steal on Day 2." Urban led all FBS defensive lineman with nine pass breakups last season despite playing in just eight games. McShay's colleague Steve Muench compared him favorably to 2012 San Diego second-round pick Kendall Reyes in February. Muench added that Jacksonville, Indianapolis and New England were potential Urban landing spots. Mar 31 - 10:32 PM

I would hate taking a 5-tech early in this draft but I would be fine with Urban in the 3-5th rounds.