BTB:2011 NFL Draft: Rick Gosselin Releases His Top Five At Each Position

[cowboyjoe]

http://www.bloggingtheboys.com/

2011 NFL Draft: Rick Gosselin Releases His Top Five At Each Position
by rabblerousr on Apr 2, 2011 2:30 PM CDT in Dallas Cowboys 2011 Draft
As any of you who read my "scouting the scouts" post know, the draftnik I value most is Rick "Goose" Gosselin, the NFL beat writer for the Dallas Morning News. Each year he publishes a list of his top 100 players and, over the past decade or so, it has cohered more closely to the top 100 players actually selected than similar lists by other scouting types. The primary reason for this is that he doesn't watch film or grade players himself; rather, he has connections to every NFL war-room, and has built up a lot of trust over his many years on the job. His stuff is a synthesis of what all teams are doing, so he's unlikely to give away any one team's rankings--and, by extension, their possible draft strategy. Consequently, he gets real information from teams, with less subterfuge and smokescreen than they give other pundits.

Gosselin has just released his list of the top five players at each position (all of his stuff is subscription content). What this means is that the NFL has essentially just released its consensus list of the top five at each positions. Obviously, the players are not guaranteed to come off the board in exactly this order--some team will like the third-rated guard more than the first-rated guard, for example--but it does give us tremendous insight into how the league - and not just media scouting types - are ranking this year's class.


OFFENSIVE TACKLE
1. Tyron Smith, Southern Cal (6-5, 307)
2. Nate Solder, Colorado (6-8, 319)
3. Anthony Castonzo, Boston College (6-7, 311)
4. Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin (6-7, 314)
5. Derrick Sherrod, Mississippi State (6-5, 321)

 

[marchetta]

Thanks. Been waiting for this.

 

[johnnyd]

thanks joe.

early in the process i was turned off by watkins because of his age, But now that time has passed i like the idea of scooping this kid up in r2 if there. If our coaches and scouts think he could play straight away then the age means nothing IMO. Barring a major injury the kid gives you 6+ years of terrific play and saves us from having to dole out big bucks for big name free agent at a position of need.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Two things I look forward to most about the draft is Goose's top 100 and top 5 at each position. Anyone catch the rest please post!

 

[diehard2294]

that's some big boys right there at OT

 

[Avery]

Here's the full list:

QUARTERBACK
1. Cam Newton, Auburn (6-5, 248)
2. Blaine Gabbert, Missouri (6-4, 234)
3. Jake Locker, Washington (6-2 ½, 231)
4. Christian Ponder, Florida State (6-2, 229)
5. Ryan Mallett, Arkansas (6-6½, 253)

HALFBACK
1. Mark Ingram , Alabama (5-9, 215)
2. Ryan Williams, Fresno State (5-9, 212)
3. Daniel Thomas, Kansas State (6-0, 230)
4. Mikel Leshoure, Illinois (5-11½, 227)
5. Taiwan Jones, Eastern Washington (5-11½, 194)

FULLBACK
1. Anthony Sherman, Connecticut (5-10, 242)
2. Henry Hynoski, Pitt (6-0, 257)
3. Shaun Chapas, Georgia (6-2, 247)
4. Owen Marecic, Stanford (6-0½, 248)
5. Stanley Mavili, Southern Cal (6-0, 227)

WIDE RECEIVER
1. A.J. Green, Georgia (6-3½, 211)
2. Julio Jones, Alabama (6-2½, 220
3. Jon Baldwin, Pitt (6-4, 228)
4. Torrey Smith, Maryland (6-0½, 204)
5. Titus Young, Boise State (5-11, 174)

TIGHT END
1. Lance Kendricks, Wisconsin (6-2½, 243)
2. Luke Stocker, Tennessee (6-4½, 258)
3. Kyle Rudolph, Notre Dame (6-6, 259
4. D.J. Williams, Arkansas (6-2, 245)
5. Charles Clay, Tulsa (6-2½, 245)

OFFENSIVE TACKLE
1. Tyron Smith, Southern Cal (6-5, 307)
2. Nate Solder, Colorado (6-8, 319)
3. Anthony Castonzo, Boston College (6-7, 311)
4. Gabe Carimi, Wisconsin (6-7, 314)
5. Derrick Sherrod, Mississippi State (6-5, 321)

GUARD
1. Danny Watkins, Baylor (6-3, 310)
2. Marcus Cannon, TCU (6-5, 358)
3. William Rackley, Lehigh (6-3, 309)
4. Clint Boling, Georgia (6-4½, 308)
5. John Moffitt, Wisconsin (6-4, 319)

CENTER
1. Mike Pouncey, Florida (6-5, 303)
2. Stefen Wisniewski, Penn State (6-3, 313)
3. Rodney Hudson, Florida State (6-2, 299)
4. Brandon Fusco, Slippery Rock (6-4, 306)
5. Jason Kelce, Cincinnati (6-2½, 280)

DEFENSIVE END
1. Da’Quan Bowers, Clemson (6-3, 280)
2. Robert Quinn, North Carolina (6-4, 265)
3. J.J. Watt, Wisconsin (6-5, 290)
4. Aldon Smith, Missouri (6-4, 263)
5. Cameron Jordan, Cal (6-4, 287)

DEFENSIVE TACKLE
1. Marcell Dareus, Alabama (6-3, 319)
2. Nick Fairley, Auburn (6-3½, 291)
3. Corey Liuget, Illinois (6-2, 298)
4. Muhammad Wilkerson, Temple (6-4, 315)
5. Marvin Austin, North Carolina (6-1½, 309)

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
1. Von Miller, Texas A&M (6-2½, 246)
2. Akeem Ayers, UCLA (6-2½, 254)
3. Martez Wilson, Illinois (6-3½, 250)
4. Bruce Carter, North Carolina (6-1½, 241)
5. K.J. Wright, Mississippi State (6-3, 246)

INSIDE/MIDDLE LINEBACKER
1. Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina (6-1, 241)
2. Akeem Dent, Georgia (6-1, 242)
3. Ross Homan, Ohio State (6-0½, 240)
4. Greg Jones, Michigan State (6-0, 242)
5. Casey Matthews, Oregon (6-0½, 231)

CORNERBACK
1. Patrick Peterson, LSU (6-0, 219)
2. Prince Amukamara, Nebraska (6-0, 206)
3. Jimmy Smith, Colorado (6-2, 211)
4. Aaron Williams, Texas (5-11½, 204)
5. Ras-I Dowling, Virginia (6-1, 198)

SAFETY
1. Rahim Moore, UCLA (5-11½, 202)
2. Jaiquawn Jarrett, Temple (5-11½, 198)
3. Quinton Carter, Oklahoma (6-0½, 208)
4. Tyler Sash, Iowa (6-0, 211)
5. Chris Conte, Cal (6-2, 197)

KICKER
1. Matt Bosher, Miami-F (6-0, 193)
2. Dan Bailey, Oklahoma State (6-0½, 208)
3. Kai Forbath, UCLA (6-1½, 197)
4. Josh Jasper, LSU (5-10, 174)
5. Reid Forrest, Washington State (6-0, 189)

PUNTER
1. Chas Henry, Florida (6-3, 219)
2. Ryan Donahue, Iowa (6-1½, 193)
3. Aaron Bates, Michigan State (6-0, 200)
4. Trevor Hankins, Arizona State (6-3½, 235)
5. Derek Epperson, Baylor (6-3, 238)

DEEP SNAPPER
1. Danny Aiken, Virginia (6-4, 244)
2. Corey Adams, Kansas State (6-4, 250)
3. Andrew Schulze, Iowa (6-4 ½, 260)
4. Jake McQuaide, Ohio State (6-2½, 239)
5. Christian Yount, UCLA (6-0, 243)

 

[TheCount]

lol, imagine coming out of the draft with Tyron Smith, Stefen Wisniewski and Will Rackley. We'd be set for the next decade or so.

Interesting that he has Pouncey as a Center. If his sources are the real deal, then that means most teams do see him as being the best center in the draft, whereas he took a lot of heat for his shotgun snaps from fans.

 

[bbgun]

Bad year if you need a TE.

 

[dbair1967]

lol, imagine coming out of the draft with Tyron Smith, Stefen Wisniewski and Will Rackley. We'd be set for the next decade or so.

.

Getting Smith and 1 of the other 2 would make me pretty happy. Especially if it were Smith and Wiesniewski. Like Rackley too though and I know he's on the list of prospects they are brigning in. So he must be on the radar.

 

[burmafrd]

This is not his final list but I think sometimes teams outthink themselves later before the draft. I think I read somewhere that this top 5 he does is usually a better indicator of how good the players actually are.

 

[Gaede]

Good year for guards, IMO. No 1st round type guys, but lots of solid middle rounders.

I like Watkins, Moffitt, Boling, Cannon and Rackley a lot. Would love to come away with one of them and one of the top tackles. Anything else would be icing on the cake.

 

[TheCount]

Good year for guards, IMO. No 1st round type guys, but lots of solid middle rounders.

I like Watkins, Moffitt, Boling, Cannon and Rackley a lot. Would love to come away with one of them and one of the top tackles. Anything else would be icing on the cake.

You could throw Pinkston in that bunch as well.

 

[Gaede]

You could throw Pinkston in that bunch as well.

haha, I post on another board where Jason's brother also posts, so I left him out on purpose

 

[InmanRoshi]

thanks joe.

early in the process i was turned off by watkins because of his age, But now that time has passed i like the idea of scooping this kid up in r2 if there. If our coaches and scouts think he could play straight away then the age means nothing IMO. Barring a major injury the kid gives you 6+ years of terrific play and saves us from having to dole out big bucks for big name free agent at a position of need.

Watkins is old for a rookie, but I think he makes up for it with having really polished technique. Natural knee bender who drops his butt and explodes into his blocks using his lower body rather than bending at the back. He'll have to adapt to NFL competition, like all rookies, but you're not going to have to waste a couple of years of his rookie contract trying to teach him technique.

 

[InmanRoshi]

Bad year if you need a TE.

Or a ILB or S.

 

[cowboyjoe]

thanks joe.

early in the process i was turned off by watkins because of his age, But now that time has passed i like the idea of scooping this kid up in r2 if there. If our coaches and scouts think he could play straight away then the age means nothing IMO. Barring a major injury the kid gives you 6+ years of terrific play and saves us from having to dole out big bucks for big name free agent at a position of need.

yw zoners :starspin