Mel's Big Board 9/7/11....

[Risen Star]

I'll just post the rankings with these and leave the commentary to the link. Juniors and draft-eligible sophomores are noted with an asterisk.

1. Andrew Luck * QB Stanford
2. Quinton Coples DE North Carolina
3. Matt Barkley * QB USC
4. Matt Kalil * OT USC
5. Alshon Jeffery * WR South Carolina

6. Landry Jones * QB Oklahoma
7. Justin Blackmon * WR Oklahoma St.
8. Jonathan Martin * OT Stanford
9. Riley Reiff * OT Iowa
10. Vontaze Burfict * LB Arizona St.

11. Brandon Jenkins * DE Florida St.
12. Manti Te'o * LB Notre Dame
13. Luke Kuechly * LB Boston College
14. Donte Paige-Moss * DE North Carolina
15. Jared Crick DT Nebraska

16. Brandon Thompson DT Clemson
17. Ronnell Lewis * LB Oklahoma
18. Trent Richardson * RB Alabama
19. Jerel Worthy * DT Michigan St.
20. Dre Kirkpatrick * CB Alabama

21. Cliff Harris * CB Oregon
22. Bruce Irvin LB West Virginia
23. Stephen Gilmore * CB South Carolina
24. Courtney Upshaw LB Alabama
25. Morris Claiborne * CB LSU

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft...ames-big-board

[kevinhickey]

Two players that I like beside Luck are: ILB Vontaze Burfict and CB Dre Kirkpatrick. I'm not sure if we have James and Brookings replacements currently on the team. Kirkpatrick would be a nice replacement for Newman.

[MarionBarberThe4th]

No way do they draft a LB but Vontaze Burfict is a mini Ray Lewis.

[Risen Star]

Well, I don't know. Does anybody think Bruce Carter could transition to OLB in a 3-4? He's as tall as Spencer but he'd have to bulk up in the offseason.

Because if he can do that then another ILB would fit like a glove.

[MarionBarberThe4th]

They had a 1st round grade on Carter. Its Carter and Lee next year

Its time to get some attention paid to the secondary, DL, and OL.


Hey, Carter and Lee. Rush Hour FTW !

[kiheikiwi]

Ya know what, if either Burfect or Te'o is there when we draft - I'm taking em. Bout time we had a big ol mean an nasty ILB. Weak draft for ILB last year, monsters all over the place this year.
And there is still some other monster ILB's in this draft. The kid from Alabama and Hightower etc.

[Risen Star]

Originally Posted by kiheikiwi

Ya know what, if either Burfect or Te'o is there when we draft - I'm taking em. Bout time we had a big ol mean an nasty ILB. Weak draft for ILB last year, monsters all over the place this year.
And there is still some other monster ILB's in this draft. The kid from Alabama and Hightower etc.

Yep. I don't believe in approaching the draft like it's free agency. Take the best player and worry about fit later.

[Romo 2 Austin]

I'd like Dre Kirkpatrick.

[Dash28]

Originally Posted by MarionBarberThe4th

No way do they draft a LB but Vontaze Burfict is a mini Ray Lewis.

S/CB is the number one need imo but I wouldn't say never about LB.

I like Te'o and Burfict a lot.

[Apollo Creed]

Stephen Gilmore please.

[UnoDallas]

sorry theres no way I pass on Vontaze Burfict * LB Arizona St.

[Chris in Arizona]

IMO Burfict is exactly the type of player our defense needs. He'd had some serious maturity issues and his coach has said numerous times he has shown great improvement in that area this past year.

He is big, physical kid who has closing speed you would not expect from looking at him.

Teo is pretty close physically and probably more technically sound.

One of the reasons I didn't like the 2nd round gamble on an injured Bruce Carter is because of how ridiculously deep the 2012 draft will be at ILB.

Shayne Skov, Tank Carder, Don'ta Hightower, Courtney Upshaw, Luke Kuechly all look like high draft picks,

[kiheikiwi]

Originally Posted by Chris in Arizona

IMO Burfict is exactly the type of player our defense needs. He'd had some serious maturity issues and his coach has said numerous times he has shown great improvement in that area this past year.

He is big, physical kid who has closing speed you would not expect from looking at him.

Teo is pretty close physically and probably more technically sound.

One of the reasons I didn't like the 2nd round gamble on an injured Bruce Carter is because of how ridiculously deep the 2012 draft will be at ILB.

Shayne Skov, Tank Carder, Don'ta Hightower, Courtney Upshaw, Luke Kuechly all look like high draft picks,

Pretty much my thoughts right there. And again, not to beat a dead horse - but, we have picked ILB 2 straight years with 2nd round picks, but now when the beasts come out - the true ILBs, can we justify taking another one with our top pick ? (cause thats what it will take to get them).
Hell, if we could get Burfict or Te'o you bet I would do it. Can you imagine, we all say we're a little soft in the middle, put Burfict in there for the next 10 years and theres our Lewis. Dallas would have it's enforcer !
The only reason I wouldn't take one of the top 2 guys is if we could get the big NT form Washington in the 1st. and maybe hopefully pick up Hightower or Upshaw with a 2nd. But thats probably wishfull thinking...

[DFWJC]

Take a snapshot of that board and then see how radically it will have changed by next April.

[chip_gilkey]

Originally Posted by DFWJC

Take a snapshot of that board and then see how radically it will have changed by next April.

Exactly. Draft talk this time of the year is pointless if you're mentioning player's names. Hell we don't even know when we're picking. I'm guessing between 12 and 19