Any opinion on Gabe Watson, the big DT?

[Woods]

Would he make a good complement to Fergy as a NT in the base 3-4?

It would be nice to have a Wilfork type body in there for certain downs.

Maybe he could be had in the 2nd or 3rd round?

[Portland Fanatic]

Originally Posted by Woods

Would he make a good complement to Fergy as a NT in the base 3-4?

It would be nice to have a Wilfork type body in there for certain downs.

Maybe he could be had in the 2nd or 3rd round?

Yeah....he was an animal in the bowl game. I like this kid alot. I say a 2nd round pick...great NT. I hope we go after him somehow...especially if we lose Glover. I think he's a great fit as 3-4 NT.

[Woods]

Originally Posted by Portland Fanatic

Yeah....he was an animal in the bowl game. I like this kid alot. I say a 2nd round pick...great NT. I hope we go after him somehow...especially if we lose Glover. I think he's a great fit as 3-4 NT.

Cool. Thanks.

I think we need a real big body at NT - still.

[InmanRoshi]

He could have been a Top 20 pick if he declared last year. His stock has really dropped because he takes a lot of downs off. Not a real high-motor guy.

[Bobo]

Looked very good when I saw him, but only saw him a few times. Looked better than Ngata to me. I guess he must only play at a high level on occasion for his stock to not be high (if we are to believe what most say about him). I have read that some scouts aren't as high on Ngata as some would think.

[marchetta]

Gabe Watson DT Michigan

Strengths
Well, he’s big! No doubt about it. He’s athletic! No doubt about that. He can tackle, he could dominate and he could be the best run- stuffing DT in this draft -- IF he wanted to be.

Needs to Improve
He is extremely overweight. For a kid his size, he’s not very strong at all and he has no stamina. He doesn’t have good quickness off the line; therefore, with the exception of his ability to collapse the pocket, he is not very good as a pass rusher. He lacks quickness and strength in his lateral movement, so he cannot cover his gaps quickly enough to be a force in the run game. If he loses weight and gets into shape, all of this could change for the better -- drastically.

Bottom Line
I call him Gabe "the Stay Puff Marshmallow Man" Watson. This kid could have been one of the top DT’s in this draft, but he isn’t because of his weight. Now we all know what will happen if his team gets into a bowl game. Gabe will most likely play a great game and the scouts and pro coaches will all start to drool. The biggest problem right now is that he doesn’t play every down; he lacks stamina and he is not very strong. There is no doubt that this kid has tremendous potential to be one of the best DT’s at the next level, but his lack of work ethic and training discipline is what’s stopping him now. Right now, I see college centers moving him around one on one all game long. He has excellent athletic talent, but no heart.

- Drew Boylhart (thehuddlereport.com)

[marchetta]

Nick Mangold C/G Ohio St

Strengths
Slick Nick is the best center in this draft. He has excellent strength and balance and can handle a nose guard right in his face one on one. He has very good feet and lateral movement; he can get to his second level blocks very well. Nick can easily play guard because he has the athleticism to be used to pull. He is a leader and is an extension of the coaches on the field. There is no doubt about this kid’s mental stamina or calling plays at the line. He is the real deal.

Needs to Improve
Nick’s biggest weakness is that he is being overlooked. He is an instant starter in the NFL.

Bottom Line
Draft Nick and forget about having to worry about the center position on your team for the next ten years. Nick can handle all the blocking assignments that are required of him in both the passing and running game for either the guard or center position. Nick is the best center in this draft because he can handle by himself a 340 lb DT right in his face all day long and come out the winner. He has proven it to me. Everytime he has come up against Marshmallow Man (Gabe Watson DT Michigan), he has beat him like a drum. I have watched Nick move and control Gabe all around the field like a brother dancing with his sister at her 13th birthday party to make sure the 18 yr old boys don’t get a hold of her. He is an excellent technician and I never see him over-extending to make a block. Nick has first round talent. I believe he should be picked before some of the higher rated OT’s in this draft, but he probably won’t be. If I’m drafting in the first round and I’m a playoff team, I definitely look hard at taking an O-lineman like Nick that you can plug into your line right away. I remember last year when the Patriots took Logan (Instant) Mankins as the 32nd pick and I don’t think anyone can complain about that pick. Well, Slick Nick falls into that same category. He’s not a shiny, fancy car, but he does have four wheel drive and he’ll keep your offense from getting bogged down.

- Drew Boylhart (thehuddlereport.com)

[Nors]

Gabe Watsopn is ahead of Ngata and a top 25 player on my board. He is a load at DT and not only that but very disrutive. I have been very impressed every time I watch him.

He'd be a great rotation guy with Fergi. Do we trade down or see if he lasts to 2? That is not likely.

Coyle on Watson: 6-4 330

Massive, anchor of defense.Absorbs double teams and is a playmaker with penetration into backfield. Neg - consistency