ESPN Todd McShay: Complete 7-rd Mock...'boys picks in blue

[Angus]

Garrett Wolfe
Height: 5-7
Weight: 177
Position: Running Back/Wide Receiver
College: Northern Illinois


OVERVIEW

Wolfe is one of the most electrifying runners in the collegiate game and proof that big things do come in small packages. Built more in the lines of the team manager rather than a featured back, he has rewritten numerous school, Mid-American Conference and NCAA rushing and all-purpose yardage records in his three years on the Northern Illinois gridiron.

Wolfe missed 2006 spring drills while recovering from shoulder surgery, but was ready to go by the season opener. He was again named MAC Offensive Player of the Year and earned All-America honors while leading the nation with an average of 158.33 yards rushing and 178.92 all-purpose yards per game. He collected 1,900 yards with 18 touchdowns on 289 chances (6.6 avg.). He ranked third on the team with 26 receptions for 247 yards (9.5 avg.) and one score. Wolfe piled up 2,147 all-purpose yards and scored 116 points.

ANALYSIS

Positives: Has a strong upper-body frame with muscular arms and powerful leg drive … Few backs have the explosive burst, balance, agility and foot speed that Wolfe displays … Has that sudden change-of-direction agility that makes the initial tackler miss and outstanding flexibility to redirect to the cutback lanes … Gets to top speed in a hurry and needs little room to accelerate … Alert to coverages and shows good field vision to pick and slide through the holes … Has exceptional quickness, but also shows patience letting blocks develop … Puts in extra hours studying tapes and is a minimal rep type who can take plays from the board to the field … His initial explosion coming out of his stance allows him to race past the slower defenders into the second level, change direction and burst through the cutback lane … Has exceptional quickness in the hole and makes good decisions waiting for blocks to develop … Very crisp changing direction and has the burst to make jump cuts … Has excellent open-field acceleration and stays low in his pads, doing a fine job of planting and driving out of his cuts … Possesses that quick thrust through the hole that simply surprises the lethargic defender … When he hits the seam, his burst is sudden and he consistently separates from the pile … Has a good feel through the crease, but is especially effective bouncing outside or separating when taking the ball along the perimeter … Scans the field well and has natural run instincts, using his vision in the hole and in space to avoid … The thing you see on film is his consistency when stepping out of tackles to get up field … Knows he has that second gear needed to pull away from the crowd and has outstanding balance and quickness bouncing out to the corner … Has the feet to step out of tackles and constantly keeps his legs moving … Has the vision to see threats and the shake to make the initial tackler miss … Also shows natural run instincts, good vision and change-of-direction agility, and his ability to shift gears without throttling down makes him dangerous around the corner … Demonstrates good concentration to look the ball in and has the loose hips to make adjustments in the short-area passing game.

Negatives: Despite a lack of size and bulk, Wolfe has a well-developed frame, but not much room for additional growth … Lacks thickness in his thighs and calves to power through tackles … Has struggled academically, but is a smart kid who just needs to apply himself where books are concerned … Might have durability and size issues that will scare away more than a few teams looking for a feature back … Quick to locate the seams and keeps his pads down to drive hard, but despite his weight-room strength, he lacks the power and bulk to move the pile … Shows good urgency running between tackles, but unless he generates a burst through the seam, he can be gobbled up … Keeps his feet moving to break tackles and is able to make jump cuts at the hole, but unless he gets room to be creative he gets pushed back through the rush lane … Shows good ball security, but most of his fumbles are the result of defenders knocking the ball out from behind … Carries the ball high and tight through the holes, but when he gets whacked from behind, he will see the ball squirt out, even though this has not been a costly issue (five fumbles, with four recovered by the opposition in his last two years) … Doesn't take many head-on shots and can hit it up the seam, but he is more elusive than a runner who can drive through contact … Has the upper-body power to break arm tackles, but lacks the playing strength and bulk to push the pile … Used mostly on screens and dump-offs, as his size makes it difficult for passers to locate him in a crowd … Has a good feel for the ball in flight, maintaining balance in his short-area route progression, but takes soft angle cuts going for the ball past the second level.

Compares To: Dave Meggett, ex-New York Giants/New England Patriots -- Like Meggett, Wolfe proved to all doubters that it is not the size of the player, but the heart … Wolfe lacks the return skills that Meggett displayed, but both were much stronger than their size indicated and have those explosive moves that simply frustrate second-level defenders … Wolfe won't be a featured back at the pro level, but can be a dangerous threat on third down, whether as a change-of-pace runner or lining up in the slot as a receiver.

INJURY REPORT

2004: Sat out the Toledo game (Nov. 9) after suffering a non-football related right eye injury on campus.

2005: Limited in April camp after undergoing right shoulder surgery to remove loose debris … Sat out the Kent State, Central Michigan and Ball State games after suffering a left knee sprain vs. Eastern Michigan (Oct. 15) … Left the Silicon Valley Football Classic vs. Troy (Dec. 30) with a hip contusion in the first quarter.

2006: Missed spring drills to continue recovering from right shoulder sublixation surgery performed in January (Jan. 11) … Hampered vs. Temple and Iowa after suffering a hamstring pull vs. Western Michigan (Oct. 14).

AGILITY TESTS

Campus: 4.46 in the 40-yard dash … Bench presses 225 pounds 18 times … 385-pound back squat … 250-pound power clean … 33-inch vertical jump … 28¾-inch arm length … 9-inch hands … Right-handed. Combine: 4.08 20-yard shuttle and 6.69 three cone drill, both bests among all running backs tested.

PERSONAL

Communications/Media major … Born Aug 17, 1984 … Resides in Chicago, Ill.

http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/2007/wolfe_garrett

[L-O-Jete]

Originally Posted by cobra

If we could walk out of there with
1. Bowe or Meachem (WR)
2. Tank Tyler (NT)
3. Alan Barbre (OT)
4. Zak DeOssie (ILB)
5. Antwaan Barnes (OLB)
6. Walter Thomas (NT)
6. McClain or Anderson (FB)
7. Palmer (QB)
7. Shark (WR)
7. Myles (WR)

I'd be very happy with the draft. I can't expect much more from a draft than that.

I like your draft though I wouldn't mind Wolfe in the 6th, I'd rather not use Tnew on PR and Crayton isn't special, and use the 7th rounders on the FB (if one of those 2 is available) and a DB.

[chicago JK]

Originally Posted by cobra

.

7th.... who cares? I don't think we are going to find anyone in the 7th who makes our team. With that board, I'd definitely snag up Jordan Palmer to see if he can bring anything to the table as a 3rd QB. I'd also look at Brandon Myles and waste a pick on the Shark.

.

You might be right but I hope to continue our 7th round impressive resume we have developed in the past few years. Crayton, Ratliff and possibly McQuistan could be really nice pieces for the future. Add in another impressive stash of undrafted guys and it shows that there are still plenty of solid players left even in the 7th round.

[JonJon]

[FONT=Tahoma]I would be ok with that draft. I would prefer Meachem over Bowe in Round 1 if Ginn is off the board. I would replace round 3 Crosby with Dan Bazuin DE/OLB. I am really high on this kid, I think he will be a special player in the next level. I wouldn't consider a kicker a day-one priority. We have Gramatica and he has been pretty solid since joining the team.[/FONT]

[CrazyCowboy]

Pls let this draft be wrong........

[chicago JK]

Originally Posted by Angus

Garrett Wolfe
Height: 5-7
Weight: 177
Position: Running Back/Wide Receiver
College: Northern Illinois


OVERVIEW

Wolfe is one of the most electrifying runners in the collegiate game and proof that big things do come in small packages. Built more in the lines of the team manager rather than a featured back, he has rewritten numerous school, Mid-American Conference and NCAA rushing and all-purpose yardage records in his three years on the Northern Illinois gridiron.

[View Full Quote]Wolfe missed 2006 spring drills while recovering from shoulder surgery, but was ready to go by the season opener. He was again named MAC Offensive Player of the Year and earned All-America honors while leading the nation with an average of 158.33 yards rushing and 178.92 all-purpose yards per game. He collected 1,900 yards with 18 touchdowns on 289 chances (6.6 avg.). He ranked third on the team with 26 receptions for 247 yards (9.5 avg.) and one score. Wolfe piled up 2,147 all-purpose yards and scored 116 points.

----
http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/2007/wolfe_garrett

wolfe is interesting. He is not a Jones-Drew even though they are similar height. Drew is much more compact. Although wasn't Wolfe very solid against top competition? He isn't going to be a every down back but maybe he is the exception to the rule who proves he can play and produce in the NFL when he size says it shouldn't be done.

If he can find a niche on punt and kickoff returns and then work his way into a nickel back role then he could be an interesting second day pick.

Anyone know why the RB at Aurburn has fallen? I know their are injury concerns but I like how he runs. He runs hard and downhill. While he isn't cadillac I expected him to be a early second pick and now see him at the end of the second or third round pick. In a weak RB draft, I didn't expect him to fall so much. If he can stay healthy, some team is going to get a nice little back in the second or third round.

[peplaw06]

I think we will address OL earlier than that, probably in the 3rd instead of Crosby.

I'm OK with Wolfe, he was good against OSU, and I don't mind spending a day 2 pick on a guy like that.

And I know it's the 7th, but come on... another late round safety? With Watkins, I don't see us bringing a S in, unless it's with a Day 1 pick... a 7th rounder would just be camp fodder.

[Pabst]

Don't hate it, don't love it.

[MichaelWinicki]

A "short-bus" mock...

[JonJon]

Originally Posted by Angus

Garrett Wolfe
Height: 5-7
Weight: 177
Position: Running Back/Wide Receiver
College: Northern Illinois


OVERVIEW

Wolfe is one of the most electrifying runners in the collegiate game and proof that big things do come in small packages. Built more in the lines of the team manager rather than a featured back, he has rewritten numerous school, Mid-American Conference and NCAA rushing and all-purpose yardage records in his three years on the Northern Illinois gridiron....

Very intriguing player. Here is a video of him doing damage against then #1 Ohio St.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_N4jeoGz2M


He reminds me of a lot Warrick Dunn...very elusive and seems strong for his size. He may not be as powerful as Dunn, but is as elusive, if not more. His top speed isn't the best, but it is game breaking. His acceleration makes him seem faster because he can get to his top speed faster than anyone else. In a straight line race, he would get walked down by faster runners, but will definitely get out front first. On the football field, this means he could be in the secondary before you know it, then it's up to the DBs to bring him down. Great change of pace option; I would welcome him to the Cowboys with open arms if we were able to get him in the 5th round or later. This would probably pell the end of Tyson Thomson, though. Wolfe sot only appears to have equal speed to Thompson, but has the vision/elusiveness that Thompson lacks. Could be a dangerous third down option. He even inspired me to change my Sig.

[ethiostar]

i don't care for that draft, at all. Assuming the draft unfolds the same way, meaning the players that are avialable when dallas picks remain the same, i would much rather prefer

1st round-Reggie Nelson
2nd round-Tanard Jackson (cb) or Tank Taylor (DT)
3rd round- Paul Soliani (DT) or Quincy Black (LB)
4th round- i'm ok with Salete (C) but i can also go for H.B Blades or Zac Deossie (LBs)

I don't know much about the players after the 4th round.

[DEZBRYANT x88x]

josh wilson ran a 4.29 at the combine but he is not a second round pick oh heck no...

[rickster14]

I can't see us passing up Reggie Nelson if he is still there at #22. He fits our FS need just right.

If we were to go WR in R1, I see Bowe and Meacham as about even. Having seen both play in person (and a bunch on TV), Meacham is faster, but Bowe is more consitent. Bowe had a problem w/ drops before last season, but improved 100% in this area once he had corrective eye surgery. Meacham is a bigger threat to go all the way and is strong enough to break tackles to turn a short gain into a large one. Either one of these guys can help this team.

I agree w/ all of you who say so K in round 3. There are too many quality players out there to get Crosby.

I find this to be a hard draft to predict for Dallas. We have needs, but it never hurts to go after the BPA. I'll make my guesses in a few days.

[Muhast]

Eric Weddle > Josh Wilson

[Hostile]

Originally Posted by JakeCamp12

Mason Crosby? huh?

I will go ballistic.