Sasquatch - Mock 1.5

[Sasquatch]

1a. Gosder Cherilus, OT, BC – Flo is probably going to walk and Columbo is entering the final year of his contract. OT Is the one need position that no one is talking about. Cherilus can come in and compete right away for the starting LT spot or serve as a possible replacement for Columbo a year from now. We need to build an elite line since our fortunes are dependent on the success of Romo. Good value at this point for a critical position.


1b. Tracy Porter, CB, Illinois – Fast and athletic corner whose game is likened to Newman’s. He has been impressing at the senior bowl and is consider a potential “shut-down” corner. Started playing football relatively late in life so has plenty of upside as well. Immediate starter as 3rd cb.


2. Andre Caldwell, WR, Florida – My pick for this year’s Boldin/Colston/Bowe. Is exceptionally fast, strong, runs great routes, and has reliable hands. Considering that our WR depth consists of Owens, Crayton, Hurd, Austin, and Stanback, Caldwell shouldn’t have any problem getting some playing time the first year despite the knock on UF receivers.


3. Marcus Harrison, DT, Arkansas – Fergie will not play forever and with the impending move of Raitliff to DE (see Spears trade rumors) we are suddenly thin at the anchor position on our defensive front. Harrison is a big man (315 lbs), athletic (runs a sub 5.0), and can both hold is own against the run and harass the quarterback. May not get much PT if Fergie returns next year but could be a regular fixture on the DL rotation after a year of seasoning.


4. Terrence Wheatley, CB, Colorado – Another attempt to upgrade the talent and depth of our defensive backfield with a fast and athletic prospect who also defends well against the run.


5. Cory Boyd, RB, South Carolina – Not the flashy marquis running back that many hope we'll draft on the first day but could play a role similar to Kevin Faulk of NE as a receiver out of the backfield, a blocker, and running mate to MBIII. Gives offense versatility without any let down of intensity when substituting with MBIII as Boyd runs extremely hard himself. We'll have a punishing running duo.



6. Kevin Robinson, WR, Utah State – Is getting good press as a solid WR prospect and return man. As with CB, we need an infusion of talent in the WR corps, and Robinson may provide an upgrade over some of our backups.


7. Robbie Krutilla, C, Western Michigan – Gurode worries me with his snapping miscues and reputation for being flaky mentally. At some point, perhaps even in earlier rounds, we will need to find a backup who is capable of starting in the event that Gurode gets injured and reverts to his former play.

 

[Bigdog]

Like it but I do not think that we need to us our first pick on OT since we have Free, McQ (coaches appeared to be high on) and Marten. Like the Porter pick but also intrigued by Mckelvin from Troy. Caldwell has been impressive at the Senior Bowl according to reports. I would love to trade the pick for Roy Williams Wr from Detroit but that is pipe dream. All in all I think you did a good job.

 

[Sasquatch]

Like it but I do not think that we need to us our first pick on OT since we have Free, McQ (coaches appeared to be high on) and Marten. Like the Porter pick but also intrigued by Mckelvin from Troy. Caldwell has been impressive at the Senior Bowl according to reports. I would love to trade the pick for Roy Williams Wr from Detroit but that is pipe dream. All in all I think you did a good job.

I'm okay with the front office deciding that we are set at OT but I don't think any of us can say with certainty that we should pass on OT in the first round when we possibly stand to loose both starters in a year's time and have only 3rd, 5th, and 7th round prospects as potential replacements. If Cherilus is available when we pick, I think we'll at least give him a hard look given the importance of the position.

 

[Bigdog]

I'm okay with the front office deciding that we are set at OT but I don't think any of us can say with certainty that we should pass on OT in the first round when we possibly stand to loose both starters in a year's time and have only 3rd, 5th, and 7th round prospects as potential replacements. If Cherilus is available when we pick, I think we'll at least give him a hard look given the importance of the position.

I agree with that assessment. What about the kid from Vanderbilt?

 

[theogt]

Cherilus has had an impressive SB week, but what I saw of him playing at BC I don't get the love for the guy.

 

[Sasquatch]

Cherilus has had an impressive SB week, but what I saw of him playing at BC I don't get the love for the guy.

I wouldn't call it love as his performance this year was spotty. But he obviously has the physical and mental tools to excel at the position with the right coaching and motivation, and I think HH can provide that. I just don't think we should discount picking up another OT in the early rounds, although I will be perfectly content if we do not have to go that route, since that will mean that our young guys are coming along well.

 

[theogt]

I wouldn't call it love as his performance this year was spotty. But he obviously has the physical and mental tools to excel at the position with the right coaching and motivation, and I think HH can provide that. I just don't think we should discount picking up another OT in the early rounds, although I will be perfectly content if we do not have to go that route, since that will mean that our young guys are coming along well.

By love I mean most people have him as a 1st rounder.

 

[PosterChild]

OT in the 1st? Not a chance- I'm thinking an RB or corner. OU's Smith maybe?

Caldwell is scary fast. Not a bad pick and he'll likely be there.

No way Boyd is around in the 5th round. I think he's a mid round 3rd at the latest.

Harrison's got a little something and Ar guys always have to be looked at for obvious reasons.

Honestly the rest of the guys I'm not familiar with.

 

[Sasquatch]

OT in the 1st? Not a chance- I'm thinking an RB or corner. OU's Smith maybe?

Caldwell is scary fast. Not a bad pick and he'll likely be there.

No way Boyd is around in the 5th round. I think he's a mid round 3rd at the latest.

Harrison's got a little something and Ar guys always have to be looked at for obvious reasons.

Honestly the rest of the guys I'm not familiar with.

I like Smith but don't think he'll be there when we pick, although various mocks have him slotted all over the first round.

OT is a more important position and is more difficult to fill than RB, so given the choice, OT wins out. But if the younger guys are coming along, then RB in the first round isn't out of the question. I think a marquee RB would be nice but it's not so critical that we should close ourselves off to other possibilities.

This class is so deep at the running position that I think Boyd definitely falls to the fourth and possibly fifth round.

 

[Sasquatch]

By love I mean most people have him as a 1st rounder.

He certainly has elevated his stock this week and his slotting is certainly inflated by the importance of his position. I think he goes between our first and second picks which is why we might consider him with our first.

 

[dillinger319]

OT in the 1st? Not a chance- I'm thinking an RB or corner. OU's Smith maybe?

Caldwell is scary fast. Not a bad pick and he'll likely be there.

No way Boyd is around in the 5th round. I think he's a mid round 3rd at the latest.

Harrison's got a little something and Ar guys always have to be looked at for obvious reasons.

Honestly the rest of the guys I'm not familiar with.

There seems to be about 20 rbs that have 3rd or better talent so some of them will fall. But Boyd isnt one we should be interested in... Theres atleast 10 - 12 better.... I can name names as well...lol

 

[dillinger319]

by the way theres no way we wait that long to address the back up rb spot unless we pick someone up in FA.. I mean even when we had Emmitt in the glory days, Jerry drafted Lasik and Williams in the early rounds...

 

[Oh_Canada]

1a. Gosder Cherilus, OT, BC – Flo is probably going to walk and Columbo is entering the final year of his contract. OT Is the one need position that no one is talking about. Cherilus can come in and compete right away for the starting LT spot or serve as a possible replacement for Columbo a year from now. We need to build an elite line since our fortunes are dependent on the success of Romo. Good value at this point for a critical position.


1b. Tracy Porter, CB, Illinois – Fast and athletic corner whose game is likened to Newman’s. He has been impressing at the senior bowl and is consider a potential “shut-down” corner. Started playing football relatively late in life so has plenty of upside as well. Immediate starter as 3rd cb.



2. Andre Caldwell, WR, Florida – My pick for this year’s Boldin/Colston/Bowe. Is exceptionally fast, strong, runs great routes, and has reliable hands. Considering that our WR depth consists of Owens, Crayton, Hurd, Austin, and Stanback, Caldwell shouldn’t have any problem getting some playing time the first year despite the knock on UF receivers.


3. Marcus Harrison, DT, Arkansas – Fergie will not play forever and with the impending move of Raitliff to DE (see Spears trade rumors) we are suddenly thin at the anchor position on our defensive front. Harrison is a big man (315 lbs), athletic (runs a sub 5.0), and can both hold is own against the run and harass the quarterback. May not get much PT if Fergie returns next year but could be a regular fixture on the DL rotation after a year of seasoning.


4. Terrence Wheatley, CB, Colorado – Another attempt to upgrade the talent and depth of our defensive backfield with a fast and athletic prospect who also defends well against the run.


5. Cory Boyd, RB, South Carolina – Not the flashy marquis running back that many hope we'll draft on the first day but could play a role similar to Kevin Faulk of NE as a receiver out of the backfield, a blocker, and running mate to MBIII. Gives offense versatility without any let down of intensity when substituting with MBIII as Boyd runs extremely hard himself. We'll have a punishing running duo.



6. Kevin Robinson, WR, Utah State – Is getting good press as a solid WR prospect and return man. As with CB, we need an infusion of talent in the WR corps, and Robinson may provide an upgrade over some of our backups.


7. Robbie Krutilla, C, Western Michigan – Gurode worries me with his snapping miscues and reputation for being flaky mentally. At some point, perhaps even in earlier rounds, we will need to find a backup who is capable of starting in the event that Gurode gets injured and reverts to his former play.

I would be very happy with any draft which includes Tracy Porter, who is fast replacing Antoine Cason as my most coveted corner. Also like the choices of Caldwell, Wheatley, Robinson and Boyd....though I would rather have a rocket like Chris Johnson, Justin Forsett or Dantrell Savage instead of Boyd.

I wouldn't touch Harrison with a ten foot pole.

 

[AbeBeta]

I'm okay with the front office deciding that we are set at OT but I don't think any of us can say with certainty that we should pass on OT in the first round when we possibly stand to loose both starters in a year's time and have only 3rd, 5th, and 7th round prospects as potential replacements. If Cherilus is available when we pick, I think we'll at least give him a hard look given the importance of the position.

well, you can project that all you want but we all know with JJ in control, there is no way in hell we go OL in the first round -- Jerry never goes that way and always thinks he's smart enough to find a good one later.

 

[DaBoys4Life]

There seems to be about 20 rbs that have 3rd or better talent so some of them will fall. But Boyd isnt one we should be interested in... Theres atleast 10 - 12 better.... I can name names as well...lol

i feel the same way on bryd.

 

[Hailmary]

I say Boyd drops all the way to the 6th or 7th.

He's been suspended a number of times for "non-academic" reasons. I don't think the reasons were ever made clear, but I think I read somewhere that it was due to having been late to or missed multiple meetings which suggests that he may not be the most dedicated player in the draft.

 

[Sasquatch]

I say Boyd drops all the way to the 6th or 7th.

He's been suspended a number of times for "non-academic" reasons. I don't think the reasons were ever made clear, but I think I read somewhere that it was due to having been late to or missed multiple meetings which suggests that he may not be the most dedicated player in the draft.

It takes time for some kids to grow up. Maybe I'm gullible, but it sounds like he has matured quite a bit. Click on the video link.

Cory Boyd interview

Here's an excerpt from an article on Boyd's travails at USC:

He missed the 2005 season — Steve Spurrier’s first in Columbia — while suspended for a violation of university policy. Boyd also was involved in three incidents that drew the attention of police, although he was not charged in any of them.
Boyd said the year he was suspended, when he practiced with the scout team and was not allowed to suit up for games, afforded him ample time for soul-searching.


“It was enough to make me sit back and re-evaluate myself,” Boyd said. “Like, ‘What am I doing? I worked so hard to get out of the situation and the environment that I was in, and now I’m turning and making this environment somewhat similar to what I was fighting to get out of.’ ”


Boyd grew up in a rough section of New Jersey on the outskirts of New York City. Before his 12th birthday, Boyd had been stabbed in the side and watched a 19-year-old cousin die from a gunshot wound to the head.


He was forced to develop a tough exterior at a young age, a protective shell that grew harder midway through his USC career following the death of his mother, Crystal Boyd, in the spring of 2006.


Boyd considered transferring to a school closer to home. But having already lost a year to suspension, he decided to remain at USC, where he returned to the team for the ’06 season and “played off of frustration and anger.”


While those emotions might have helped Boyd run through would-be tacklers, the perpetual scowl he wore off the field served to further his reputation as a bad character.


“I felt as though the world owed me something, and that wasn’t the case at all,” he said. “Walking around looking evil and looking like you’ve got a chip on your shoulder, it makes you look terrible and bad in the public’s eye. My coaches started telling me about perception. Everything’s about perception.”


Running backs coach Robert Gillespie and others encouraged Boyd to go to class and try to smile more often. Always popular among the Gamecocks faithful because of his hard running style, Boyd was more engaging with media members and fans this year.


In the midst of his final season, Boyd visited a Sumter high school player who was hospitalized in Columbia with seizures caused by viral meningitis. Such hospital visits are common for teams at many bowl games across the country.
But Boyd’s 30-minute talk with Lakewood High’s Keith Cogdell was not a photo opportunity.


“He gave him a beautiful pep talk. It was just overwhelming,” said Jermecia McCoy, Cogdell’s mother. “I’m so grateful for him taking the time to visit. It really lifted his spirits and made his day.”


Boyd will play in the East-West Shrine Game on Jan. 19 in Houston, a showcase for NFL scouts. In addition to Boyd’s size and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, Gillespie said Boyd has the intangibles to get to the next level.
“There are a lot of guys that when the going gets tough, they’re going to walk away because they have a lot to fall back on,” Gillespie said. “But he wants to succeed. There isn’t much for him to go back to, so he has to keep fighting. ... I think he’s going to be special in whatever he does.”


Boyd does not plan to go back to the seven-story apartment complex in Orange where much of his family lives. His dream is to build a home for his grandmother, Joan Boyd, with enough room for the rest of his relatives.


“Some people just want to live in a big house by themselves. I had that American dream of moving my whole family out of the projects because we were all just packed amongst each other,” he said. “To spread us out would definitely shake up the family tree.”
Boyd admits he was shaken initially by the season-ending, five-game losing streak that cost the Gamecocks a bowl berth. But his time at USC has given Boyd an appreciation of the bigger picture.


“It hurt because I definitely wanted one more game with the teammates I played with this whole year,” he said. “I still look back and try to figure out, where did we go wrong? I can’t put my finger on it. But it was a nice journey.”

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