Brodney Pool- Recipe for Disaster

[Natedawg44]

I have seen alot of Mock or people suggesting we take Brodney Pool in the second round of the draft. That prospect scares the heck out of me. There is no doubt the guy has physical tools. I couldn't believe he caught Reggie Bush from behind. He also goes 6'3" 210. That being said I think the guy has about the worst instincts I have ever seen in a Free Safety. He consistently takes bad angles every time he is in a 2 deep zone. You look at the Texas A&M, OSU and USC games and he was beaten upwards of probably 10 times deep. Since we play that the majority of the time I think it could be a monumental mistake. All of this is coming from a Sooner fan as well. I love to see Sooners drafted into the NFL, but I think there are a few others that I would like to see with the star (i.e. Thomas Davis or Josh Bullocks).

 

[ghst187]

ditto from this OU alum....

 

[fishspill]

Yeah, Brodney didn't have the type of year I thought he would, but I still think he'd be a good pick.

He was playing with a new coach's scheme (I'm guessing Bo did things differently. Hell, I'm not an expert) one different than the one he'd seen for 2 years. Bullocks did excel is Bo's system and if it's similar to Dallas' system then maybe Josh is the better choice. However, much like Brodney the new system at Nebraska this year affected Josh's numbers. Both players INT numbers plunged. Maybe a result of the difficulty in changing systems in college where practice time is so limited? Again, I'm not an expert.

Davis is a beast. He's also probably a high-to-mid first round guy. May be there at 11, may not be. Do you take him at 11? Most folks don't target him at 11 in their casual mocks, and many don't see him being there at all. We won't know till draft day on that one.

I think I'd take a chance on Pool being able to grasp 2-deep zone responsibilities (in time) along with his versatility in run support, blitzing and special teams. He's one heckuva football player that may be undervalued at this time.

I know excuses are easy, that's why I specialize in them.

By the way, this is Sooner fan #3 chiming in on this topic.

 

[nathanlt]

Yeah, Brodney Pool is not a good complement to Roy Williams. Josh Bullocks is the best complement, followed by James Butler. After that, it seems to drop off.

Thomas Davis is a shadow of Roy Williams. For teams that don't have a Roy Williams, he would be a great pick. He's not a ballhawk, according to nfldraftcountdown. A safety that excels in coverage is what Dallas needs.

 

[Gaede]

I'm telling you guys, OJ Atogwe is a perfect fit

He has experience at both positions (versatility seems to be a must for safety's in Zimmers scheme)...Loves to hit, needs a little work on his coverage...Looked awesome in the senior bowl

Tons of potential. Him and Roy switching back and forth between FS and SS

If we trade down, pick him up in 3.

 

[Portland Fanatic]

I think the best fit for FS are two guys that played CB in college...

Brandon Browner
College: Oregon St. Height: 6-4Position: CornerbackWeight: 202 Class: Junior40-Yard: 4.4SCOUTING REPORTStrengths: Has excellent size...Very good speed with great athleticism...Has been very productive and has a nose for the ball...A playmaker in the secondary...Very physical...Does a nice job in man coverage situations...Still has a ton of upside.Weaknesses: Doesn't have a lot of experience and has only played two years of college football...May be a bit of a CB / S 'tweener...Will need to run well in workouts...Raw and still needs a lot of work in terms of his technique.Notes: Has been one of the premier corners in the Pac-10 during his two seasons with the Beavers...Potentially a special player if he continues to develop...Has the type of rare size, speed and athleticism professional teams covet.


OR

Ronald Bartell
College: Howard Height: 6-2Position: CornerbackWeight: 203 Class: Senior40-Yard: 4.40SCOUTING REPORTStrengths: Excellent size and speed...Great athlete who would make an impact at any big school...Has fluid hips...Physical and aggressive...Has some upside.Weaknesses: Played against a low level of competition...Raw and has a lot to learn in terms of technique...Awareness leaves a lot to be desired...It will be a major jump in terms of the talent level and will need to show well at the postseason All-Star games.Notes: Began his career at Central Michigan before transferring...Has everything the NFL is looking for physically and is one of the top sleepers in the draft.


Maybe even Cory Webster who did not show well at the Sr. Bowl...maybe be better suited for FS in the NFL...

 

[nathanlt]

ESPN's analysis of Bartell was not good from the Senior Bowl either.

 

[nathanlt]

I'm telling you guys, OJ Atogwe is a perfect fit

He has experience at both positions (versatility seems to be a must for safety's in Zimmers scheme)...Loves to hit, needs a little work on his coverage...Looked awesome in the senior bowl

Tons of potential. Him and Roy switching back and forth between FS and SS

If we trade down, pick him up in 3.

I'm not closing my mind to any player, (and it honestly wouldn't matter if I did), but check out nfldraftcountdown's read on him. "struggles in coverage" We need someone who excels in coverage as our free safety.

 

[Gaede]

Yeah, I don't know about that

He looked great in coverage in the senior bowl

 

[BigWillie]

Little Bo Peep (Pelini) ran more cover 2 and 3 than anything in his one year at Nebraska. That's what allowed Bullocks to sit back, read the QB and become a ballhawk in zone coverage.

This year Nebraska's DC was Kevin Cosgrove and he ran the 'bend but dont break' style of defense centered around alot of man coverage. That's why Bullocks was nowhere close to the defender he was last year.

I wouldn't call this season for Bullocks a bad year either. Just take a look at the difference in Wisconsin's defense (Cosgrove is the former Badger DC) last year as compared to this year. Then take a look at Nebraska this year as compared to last and it should tell you what type of DC Cosgrove is.

Now Pelini was labeled with the Co-DC tag at Oklahoma with Brent Venables so I'm not really for sure who did the playcalling, but seeing as how Oklahoma got torched quite a bit I'm guessing it was Bo Peep.

 

[fishspill]

Josh would be great if the 'Boys could play an effective zone, seems to work for the Patriots OK. A couple of impact front seven guys and Bullocks would be a nice day one in my book.

I'm not at all against Bullocks but just thought Pool might be getting short- changed a little.

Then again Pool might just suck, but I was sufficiently impressed by the year before this last one when he looked like the best player on OU's defense. I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss him because of a mundane season capped by a team-wide fart-n'-fall.

And I know what Bill has said with regards to not going corner in round 1. I know it makes sense with the new NFL rules. But Bill also suspects they will revisit the rule soon, and this could be a great chance to get a premium corner with a top-20 pick. Newman and another good corner (Rogers, Miller, Jones, Rolle, etc.) might make a less "pure cover" safety a worthy option. Anyone know when the competition commitee meets next?

To be honest I would much prefer not getting a safety in the draft at all and finding a vet in FA. This team could use a veteran presence and safeties are cheap, right? Who's available? Do Bashir or Demps not suck so bad? Anyone got any ideas?

 

[Natedawg44]

Demps is Restricted.
Bashir has been a walking injury.

I think the best options are
Dwight Smith- he may want CB money, but the guy is a lights out FS. I think the best option out there.
Anthony Henry- This guy has more safety skills than Corey Chavious. He has always been just an OK CB but could be a great FS 10 ints as a rook prove it.

 

[fishspill]

Thanks for the quick response, Mr. Dawg.

Can't say as I had Smith at top of mind but seeing his numbers I am grokking your crazy mouth music. He looks saucy.

Wonder what his price is?

 

[BigWillie]

Even with Demps being restricted, he was undrafted so he wouldn't cost a team anything, FYI.

 

[junk]

Even with Demps being restricted, he was undrafted so he wouldn't cost a team anything, FYI.

True, but if Baltimore likes him at all, they can just give him a first round tender and it only costs them something like 1.25 million....and they have the right to match offers.

And Dwight Smith is the guy I want too. Give him more than he would make as a FS, but ask him to play there. Maybe some nickel corner as well. He is only 26, give him a five year deal. Heck, something like an $8-9 million bonus over 5 years is chump change.

 

[dallasfaniac]

I'll take the Bullock twins. Have to take them both so they don't get seperation anxiety. Over the last two years they have combined for 116 tackles, 19 INTs and 1 sack.

 

[BigWillie]

True, but if Baltimore likes him at all, they can just give him a first round tender and it only costs them something like 1.25 million....and they have the right to match offers.

The Ravens can receive no compensation for Demps whatsoever. They can make a qualifying offer of around $300k-400k, somwhere in that range that can give them the first right of refusal where they can match any contract given. But for a player selected in the 7th round or later no compensation can be given. If Demps had been selected in even the 6th round, he could be given a 1st round tender, but it isn't the case.