Bunting: Kirkpatrick and Brockers

[RS12]

Bunting: Kirkpatrick Not Likely to Fall Very Far
Posted by Rafael at Friday, January 20, 2012

Michael Brockers
Part one of this week's chat with the National Football Post's Wes Bunting looks at two top-level underclassmen.


Cowboys Nation: What might Dre Kirkpatrick's arrest this week on marijuana possession do to his draft stock?

Wes Bunting: It doesn't help, obviously. It's no surprise. A lot of scouts know that prospects smoke weed. At the same time you like to think they would clean themselves up for the biggest job interviews of their lives. Some teams might worry now, maybe it's more of a problem than we thought. It might drop him a little bit, but I still think he goes anywhere from 7 to 15.

http://www.cowboyszone.com/2012/01/bunting-kirkpatrick-not-likely-to-fall.html

 

[JoeCorrado]

Thanks for posting. "Best defensive line prospect of the draft for a 3-4 defense."
Pretty much sums it up.

WB: He's still figuring it out, but I think he could be a much better rusher. This is a guy who can get off the football. He's got long-arms. He can overpower linemen on contact. He's got strong hands. He finds the football. If I'm a 3-4 team this is the top defensive lineman in the draft.

I think he would be more effective as a 3-4 player potentially than he would be in a 4-3.

...

CN: A lot of questions asking you to compare him to the top DEs from last year. The J.J. Watts and Cam Jordans.

WB: As a 5 prospect, I would put him up there with Marcell Dareus. I think Dareus was a cleaner prospect but I think Brockers has a bigger upside. I think he's a better prospect than J.J. Watt and I really liked J.J. Watt coming out.

 

[Woods]

I would not be surprised at all if we go DL in Round 1. In fact, if we re-sign Spencer, I think it is quite possible.

 

[burmafrd]

I hear some people claim that everyone smokes weed; which of course is BS.

What is telling about doofus Kirkpatrick is that he could not even stay away from it long enough to make sure he was clean all the way until he was drafted. Which means he is either too stupid or seriously unable to put the pipe down. Either one is not someone you want around

 

[Hailmary]

I hear some people claim that everyone smokes weed; which of course is BS.

What is telling about doofus Kirkpatrick is that he could not even stay away from it long enough to make sure he was clean all the way until he was drafted. Which means he is either too stupid or seriously unable to put the pipe down. Either one is not someone you want around

It's true that not everyone smokes weed, but a fair amount do in college. It's just part of the college culture.

I completely agree that it was stupid of him to not be able to stay clean long enough for the interview of his life. I don't think it'll hurt his stock too much. a lot of time btwn now and the draft. Now, if he's dumb enough to fail a drug test during the combines, then yea, he's too stupid to be helped...no matter how taalented he is.

 

[Flyo87]

Thanks for posting. "Best defensive line prospect of the draft for a 3-4 defense."
Pretty much sums it up.

There is no basis for that statement by Bunting. JJ Watt changed positions from TE to DE and was more impressive than Brockers and I gurantee you Brockers will not match Watt's combined numbers as well. So him calling brockers more athletic is another false statement. Dareus jumped off the screen collasping the pocket at will and required double team and could even play some nose tackle. With Brockers I just dont see it. What is game to see Brockers at his best because it definitely isnt the Georgia game and if it is I see just another guy.

 

[burmafrd]

Another factor to consider about Kirkpatrick

After the mess with Hurd being so recent; do you really think Jerruh is going to take any chance at all with anyone who could be a drug problem?

 

[JoeCorrado]

There is no basis for that statement by Bunting. JJ Watt changed positions from TE to DE and was more impressive than Brockers and I gurantee you Brockers will not match Watt's combined numbers as well. So him calling brockers more athletic is another false statement. Dareus jumped off the screen collasping the pocket at will and required double team and could even play some nose tackle. With Brockers I just dont see it. What is game to see Brockers at his best because it definitely isnt the Georgia game and if it is I see just another guy.

Welcome to the Zone!

I liked Watt coming out of college. I also like Brockers. Both are top shelf for their respective positions. I really see no value in taking shots at one or the other. If you like Watt, you should feel good about Brockers. I don't see any conflict there.

Brockers accounted for seven tackles in the LSU / Alabama game for the National Championship. You tell me who he was going against in that game. Go ahead... tell me. One of the best O-Lines in the country... I'll wait while you look it up if you have doubts.... seven tackles. Just another guy... making seven tackles in the championship game against a great O-line... gotcha.

Just so you know, an analyst earns his way by being accurate in his statements. When he hypes a player, he best be accurate or his credibility goes out the window quickly... along with his job. With that in mind, I suppose the smart move would be to take Bunting's analysis and give it a little credibility. He deserves that at the least, as do his opinions in this area. Even if those opinions do not suit your argument.

 

[Flyo87]

Welcome to the Zone!

I liked Watt coming out of college. I also like Brockers. Both are top shelf for their respective positions. I really see no value in taking shots at one or the other. If you like Watt, you should feel good about Brockers. I don't see any conflict there.

Brockers accounted for seven tackles in the LSU / Alabama game for the National Championship. You tell me who he was going against in that game. Go ahead... tell me. One of the best O-Lines in the country... I'll wait while you look it up if you have doubts.... seven tackles. Just another guy... making seven tackles in the championship game against a great O-line... gotcha.

Just so you know, an analyst earns his way by being accurate in his statements. When he hypes a player, he best be accurate or his credibility goes out the window quickly... along with his job. With that in mind, I suppose the smart move would be to take Bunting's analysis and give it a little credibility. He deserves that at the least, as do his opinions in this area. Even if those opinions do not suit your argument.

I understand your 7 tackles as an argument. If you stated the tackles for loss that would be more impressive. Tackles stat alone doesnt tell me where tackles are being made. And I know how an analyst gains credibility by what they say, but it doesnt mean they're always right or that I should listen to there word over what my own eyes see. There is no way Brockers is more athletic than Watt period and the NFL combine will prove that and Brockers didnt have anywhere close to the production that Watt had coming out. He will get drafted higher because this is an incredibly weak draft and all it takes is one team to see what you see but comparing him as a prospect to JJ Watt for me its not even close. To be honest from what I've seen I'd rather have Fletcher Cox from MSU who is a Jr. and was much more disruptive while teams were keying on him playing the exact same schedule. And was named SEC defensive lineman of the week 4 times. Just my two cents.

 

[VACowboy]

this is an incredibly weak draft

This may not be the strongest draft at certain positions, but it has very highly rated prospects at the top and quality depth way past the first coupla rounds.

 

[GroundUp]

I think Dre will be good in the league, that said, I'd also take a risk on J. Jenkins if he stays clean he could be great! Brokers is gonna get stronger and his skills will get more refined with time. I agree with Wes he could be one of the leagues best in time...could be, but could not, that's the fun in the draft. Who knows?