Well written and well thought out!
-Mark Barron: we could really use the type of physical presence he can provide, as well as his leadership skills. He also doesn't get enough credit as a pass defender. 12 career INT's and 20 PD's. For purely an "in the box" SS, he sure got his hands on a lot of balls (32) in a run-oriented conference. Add his extensive playing experience under Saban and on the big stage (2-time NC), and there are very few holes in this guy as a prospect. A plug and play mainstay in our secondary for years to come. I also get the feeling he's a very safe pick.
Great college player, but limited athlete, IMO. This pick would go against the trend away from the Roy Williams type of safety towards the Eric Berry type.
-Dre Kirkpatrick: while I don't think he's as long (30 5/8" arms) or explosive as some think/thought, he seems like a reasonable pick at 14. Great height, and I've heard he's the best tackling corner in the draft. My concern- because of his somewhat tight hips and lack of true quick twitch athleticism, he seems to fit better as a zone CB. We want to play more man. And though people are saying he'd make a great FS... he's very thin and has never played there. Who knows what kind of transition he'd make. Still, he was a standout at the highest level and has rare size/speed ratio for the position.
Good analysis. I don't get it with this player. Tight hips, short arms, 4.51 forty and only 186 lbs. Gilmore seems better across the board in agility, speed and is 6'1/2" and 190 lbs vs 6'1-1/2 and 186 lbs for Kirkpatrick. The other comparison for a big CB/FS is Trumaine Johnson who has similiar speed but is a legit 6'2", 204 lbs with 33.25 inch arms and will be there in the 2nd/3rd.
-Fletcher Cox: looks like the type of rusher that is a rare find for the 5-tech. Problem is, I do see him as a better 3-tech fit. He likes to shoot gaps and get upfield, not necessarily take on double teams. Not that I don't think he's capable of doing it if asked, but just an observation. We really lack any threat at the DE spot, so he would represent one of the bigger upgrades available over our current personel. I've read great things about his work ethic, and he scored very well in the speed drills at the Combine.
Agree. He shoots the gaps as well as any player in this draft, IMO, but I also have some concern about him playing against double teams or playing the 2-gap technique. Kendall Reyes is a similiar player, IMO. Reyes is not quite as elite at shooting the gaps, but appears to be better against double teams.
-David DeCastro: Mean SOB who puts together a terrific blend of power and technique. Make no mistake about it... his ceiling is lower than Glenn's and probably Silatolu's too. But he has prototype size and short area quickness, along with impeccable ability to find the 2nd level defender or stunter. I could care less who we signed in FA... this is the type of field-ready guy who excites me because he's ALREADY at a near Pro Bowl level. His ceiling may not be as high as Glenn's, but his floor is darn close to his ceiling.
Good analysis, but I don't see much limit to his upside, especially in the zone blocking scheme. He has elite agility and strength.
-Dontari Poe: ewww. Sorry, I just want nothing to do with him. I'm not saying I wouldn't take him at any point in the draft, but I have an impossible time believing he'll go as high as mockers are suggesting, for all the reasons already mentioned on this board 10000 times. Sure, he can be the most dominant force in this draft. But it's far more likely IMO that he turns out to be just an enormous, athletic, average DL who busts miserably.
Agree. He didn't really do anything in college against mid-level competition.
-Melvin Ingram: this is a guy who's right at the top of my wish list for a few reasons: versatility, explosiveness, and highly valued position. I'm not sure if he's ever a full time starting SOLB in our scheme, but I do know that between bringing him off the edge, blitzing him from an ILB spot, or putting his hand down as either a DE or DT... the guy can be on the field a ton and be disruptive. He adds an element that we need, and I'm a huge proponent of pass rush being chiefly important on defense.
I like this player, but too many questions to draft at #14, IMO. If the Boys are going to draft a part-time pass-rusher, then just wait and draft Bruce Irvin in the 2nd. Irvin is a much more dynamic outside pass-rusher, IMO, and could also blitz from an ILB spot. Another option is to wait to the 2nd and get a full-time SOLB by picking Shea McClellin.
-Courtney Upshaw: don't want much to do with this guy, although I wouldn't be nearly as upset as if Poe is the pick. I know people say "watch the tape," and don't want to focus on measurables... but the measurables are atrocious and I blatantly could've predicted it based on the tape. Another poster put it well when he said that the bullying game works in college but not in the NFL. He will be productive based on his strength, versatility, and relentlessness... but his ceiling is very low, and I see him as just a slight upgrade over Spencer.
Excellent analysis. All of the Alabama defenders are a little overrated with Upshaw being the most overrated, IMO. He'd make a really good FB.
-Peter Konz: really don't want him at 14, but would be happy with him in a trade down. The OL is so important, and Konz would pretty much solidify it (that would be the hope, at least). I just don't see him as a Pouncey or Mangold-like elite C. I see him as more of just a very solid, field-ready, powerful anchor C who would be a great upgrade for us, but isn't at the same level athletically as prospects at other positions. Would make for a comforting pick, but not necessarily a fist pumper.
Agree. Limited upside but safe at a position of huge need. If I had the choice of Konz in the 1st or Philip Blake in the 3rd, I'd choose Blake all day every day.
-Cordy Glenn: I'm very high on him. I actually like him almost as much as DeCastro because of his size and versatility. It can't be understated how important it MIGHT be that he can play RT; presumably at a pretty high level. Potential to dominate at OG, and at a minimum would still be an upgrade over what we have there currently. Lots of experience at different OL spots in the SEC. Dominated at the Senior Bowl... want a bold prediction? He's off the board when we pick.
In the zone blocking scheme, I think DeCastro is a much better fit than Glenn. Glenn has great straight line speed but very limited agility. Lateral agility is probably the top requirement of an OLineman in the zone blocking scheme, IMO. It would be nice to have a Guard that could function as the 4th OT. Konz or Blake might be able to be that 4th OT. I think Konz played OT at some point and Blake came to Baylor as an OT. Also, Arkin was a LT in college.
I would add Gilmore to your list of possible 1st round picks.
