Scattershooting: Draft Day edition

[jterrell]

I am not sure anyone can convince me it's a good idea to draft Christian McCaffrey round 1, let alone top 10. He's 200 pounds after a full meal. Good players in the slot that size go round 6. He looks to me like a 3rd down/slot back. A rich man's Lance Dunbar.

Do all NFL legacies get overdrafted? TJ Watt looks like one heck of a prospect but he's got very little Edge experience and has had 2 knee surgeries already at 15-20 pounds less than he needs to carry as a pro. Exciting physical specimen though if those knees are sound.

Jabrill Peppers was arguably thee best all-around player in college football last year. But we've only got to take a look at the list of Heisman winners to see that doesn't always translate to pro success. So if you draft him you better have a plan to use the skills he has and not assume he can develop those he hasn't shown yet.

I think Dallas would love an Edge guy in round one but sitting at 28 expect that to mean taking either a redshirt guy like Takk or a positional/role change guy like Watt/Bowser.

So the meat left on the bone at 28 may well be CB. It's a really deep CB draft and at 28 you'll have some very good ones.

I don't know what Conley did or didn't do but I do know I'd be doing my homework and prepared to draft him in R1.
In an era where being petty is considered a goal I'm not passing on a guy who's never been arrested based on an accusation. But that character check better come up sparkling clean prior to that because I don't want players that find trouble and headlines. So once again we are forced to decide what it is and isn't "fake news".

End of the day Dallas has really hit on some of the least popular selections. --Travis Frederick was a head scratcher. Demarco Murray was always hurt at OU. And some of the most popular busted out. Felix Jones was suppoosed to be a RB1 and top of the league returner but he never met a fast food meal he didn't like. So while we can't avoid brain activity around the selection let's try to remember we are no Will McClay.

Rueben Foster would be a big no from me. I saw that show far too recently with a supremely talented Bama backer. Let Belichek get him cheap and keep him in line and motivated. He, alone, seems to handle those Saban bad boys.

Players I like more than most.
Pat Mahomes, Jr. Kid was all Tech had last year and played behind the worst P1 OL. He has the right mentality to go far and the best arm in this draft class with enough legs to get him moving. He is the best Brett Favre clone there's been. It'll take a bit to reign in that gunslinger mentality but of these guys when games close in Q4 he's the one I'd want in charge.
Obi Meliwhatever. Kid to me has the NFL game. He's long and athletic and can handle the back end as a safety. He's not a big hitter but few of these guys are anymore. His game just translates to me. I don't like him at 28 but at 60 he'd be hard to pass. I think he'd be a lot like Byron Jones where he is very effective without being flashy. But I'm not sure Dallas is hurting at Safety the way it appeared when Wilcox and Church both departed via FA.
Vince Biegel was the other OLB at Wisconsin. I know he doesn't have a famous last name but he was arguably better than teammate Watt. Quietly had great combine numbers and more pass rush presence (pressure and sacks per rush) than Watt but on less attempts. He's probably a great target around that bottom round 3 if you haven't gotten an Edge yet or that 4th round if you did.


Happy Football Christmas to you all.

 

[JeffG]

So while we can't avoid brain activity around the selection let's try to remember we are no Will McClay.

This.

Because I already know I'm going to be ANGRY when we pick up a CB at 28. But I'm going to squelch it and choose to trust the FO, until at least week 2 of the regular season.

 

[Idgit]

Do we know what Watt's knee sugeries actually were? All I see reported is "surgeries."

 

[Trouty]

Conley says he has video evidence that vindicates him and has been resolute in his innocence. Also has two separate witnesses that purportedly vindicate him.

I'd take him at 28 if the team has done the research and feels it's a lock he was set up.

This is the sort of adversity (falling in the draft; being falsely accused) that fires an athlete up and puts more fire in that belly.

 

[The Quest for Six]

jterrell said:
So while we can't avoid brain activity around the selection let's try to remember we are no Will McClay.

Didn't you know I personally taught Will McClay everything he knows.......lol

 

[DFWJC]

McCaffery is a lot closer to Leshon McCoy that Lance Dunbar.
But time will tell. Obviously the team he goes to makes a difference. Any of these top backs would run for 1400 yards behind Dallas' line.

 

[haleyrules]

Do we know what Watt's knee sugeries actually were? All I see reported is "surgeries."

Yeah...not too much information about his knee's. Probably a player better to stay away from at least in the first 3 rds.

 

[LandryFan]

Conley says he has video evidence that vindicates him and has been resolute in his innocence. Also has two separate witnesses that purportedly vindicate him.

I'd take him at 28 if the team has done the research and feels it's a lock he was set up.

This is the sort of adversity (falling in the draft; being falsely accused) that fires an athlete up and puts more fire in that belly.

Conley's situation reminds me of the drama surrounding our very own Zeke. Zeke also had witnesses and text evidence that reportedly absolved him of wrongdoing. What you said about the team gathering all the intel they can on the situation is the key, to me. I don't think there's any way he would fall to us if this "news" didn't come out a couple of days ago. Now, maybe it's La'el Collins part deux, to a degree.
Heck, from what I've read, he could drop a whole lot, or not at all...depends on who you believe.

 

[Idgit]

Yeah...not too much information about his knee's. Probably a player better to stay away from at least in the first 3 rds.

The knees are a primary reason guys are shying away from Watt. But "two knee surgeries" can mean a lot of materially different things. Even if it's just two ACLs, its not great, but ACLs wouldn't make me wary of him on their own.

 

[erod]

"Obi Melawhatever". LOL

I would run from Peppers, Taco, and Watt in the first round. I agree, go corner early unless somebody unlikely falls.

This first round will be wild. I don't think anybody has a clue what's going to happen, and if McShay is right about Cleveland taking Trubisky at No. 1, that throws the whole thing into a tizzy from the get-go.

And I have this sneaking suspicion that Dallas is going to trade UP. I think they're trying to pull two starters from this draft, and damn the rest.

 

[Trouty]

Conley's situation reminds me of the drama surrounding our very own Zeke. Zeke also had witnesses and text evidence that reportedly absolved him of wrongdoing. What you said about the team gathering all the intel they can on the situation is the key, to me. I don't think there's any way he would fall to us if this "news" didn't come out a couple of days ago. Now, maybe it's La'el Collins part deux, to a degree.
Heck, from what I've read, he could drop a whole lot, or not at all...depends on who you believe.

Yup, still have seen some mocks with him going in the first, Landry.

And, reportedly, one of those two witnesses was a neutral observer (a non-acquaintance) of Conley.

 

[MileyDancer]

Yup, still have seen some mocks with him going in the first, Landry.

And, reportedly, one of those two witnesses was a neutral observer (a non-acquaintance) of Conley.

I just posted the same thing, but deleted it. Lol. I heard that on The Fan yesterday driving around benching trains.

 

[robjay04]

Off topic but I don't want to start a thread...

Anyone have luck in the past watching the draft over their phone? I have the Watch ESPN app so I'm banking on that but sometimes the NFL is so stingy with the comment.

I prefer NFL Network content but I doubt that's happening. I may just watch Broaddus and company do their thing but I can't remember if they get live shots of the players reactions when they're being picked which is always fun.

 

[Trouty]

Here, judge for yourself (as much as one can without further details, obviously):

 

[LandryFan]

Yup, still have seen some mocks with him going in the first, Landry.

And, reportedly, one of those two witnesses was a neutral observer (a non-acquaintance) of Conley.

Yep. If our intel ends up saying there's no fire under that smoke, then other teams will likely know the same. That means he won't likely drop much, if any.

 

[robbieruff]

Conley says he has video evidence that vindicates him and has been resolute in his innocence. Also has two separate witnesses that purportedly vindicate him.

I'd take him at 28 if the team has done the research and feels it's a lock he was set up.

This is the sort of adversity (falling in the draft; being falsely accused) that fires an athlete up and puts more fire in that belly.

Trouty...while I am all for letting the process play out and following the facts/evidence...and if this young man is found guilty of wrong doing then the punishment should fit the crime; HOWEVER, if this video link is any indication, this young man appears to be getting victimized by a predator...indeed, he looks to be an actual target! Wasn't met INITIALLY in the elevator as originally professed and it appears the alleged victim wasn't quite getting his attention in which she was so keenly interested, as this footage pretty forcefully suggests. She is trailing behind him for apparently quite some time like a little puppy!

Sure...he appears to be guilty of poor judgement (i.e., putting himself into a situation that he should have known to avoid...that sort of savvy comes with age and/or experience) but it is shameful that this sort of thing is becoming more and more the norm. I know one could argue that the league and athletes in general brought much of this kind of focus on themselves with recent past scandals (e.g., domestic abuse, sexual misconduct, and even worse), but these sorts of incidences are not only trying to capitalize on innate suspicions created from past sins, but also do a disservice to actual future LEGITIMATE victims.

Here's the direct webpage link to the story if the direct video link doesn't work...

http://www.tmz.com/2017/04/26/gareon-conley-video-rape-accuser-bar/

 

[Trouty]

Trouty...while I am all for letting the process play out and following the facts/evidence...and if this young man is found guilty of wrong doing then the punishment should fit the crime; HOWEVER, if this video link is any indication, this young man appears to be getting victimized by a predator...indeed, he looks to be an actual target! Wasn't met INITIALLY in the elevator as originally professed and it appears the alleged victim wasn't quite getting his attention in which she was so keenly interested, as this footage pretty forcefully suggests. She is trailing behind him for apparently quite some time like a little puppy!

Sure...he appears to be guilty of poor judgement (i.e., putting himself into a situation that he should have known to avoid...that sort of savvy comes with age and/or experience) but it is shameful that this sort of thing is becoming more and more the norm. I know one could argue that the league and athletes in general brought much of this kind of focus on themselves with recent past scandals (e.g., domestic abuse, sexual misconduct, and even worse), but these sorts of incidences are not only trying to capitalize on innate suspicions created from past sins, but also do a disservice to actual future LEGITIMATE victims.

Here's the direct webpage link to the story if the direct video link doesn't work...

http://www.tmz.com/2017/04/26/gareon-conley-video-rape-accuser-bar/

Thanks for the post, Robbie. The vid is quite telling, given her explanation of the evening (initial meeting of the two).

 

[jterrell]

Do we know what Watt's knee sugeries actually were? All I see reported is "surgeries."

All we know are they were knee surgeries and during rehab he gained a lot of weight ans strength so moved to defense.
I recall hearing ACL but I am old so take that with a grain of salt.--100s of players are being discussed this time of year.
Generally universities release no real data on player surgeries.

 

[Idgit]

All we know are they were knee surgeries and during rehab he gained a lot of weight ans strength so moved to defense.
I recall hearing ACL but I am old so that with a grain of salt.
Generally universities release no real data on player surgeries.

I'd assumed ACLs, but couldn't find it when I looked. Two ACLs aren't good, obviously. But at least an ACL-repaired knee, once rehabbed can come back stronger than it was before it broke.

My worry about Watt is more the weight and the fact that WIS guys don't often get the NFL weight room bump other players can get. I do like the idea of getting a physical specimen at a discount because of his inexperience and then handing him over to Marinelli to work on his fundamentals, since that's pretty much what Marinelli does.

 

[tyke1doe]

Conley's situation reminds me of the drama surrounding our very own Zeke. Zeke also had witnesses and text evidence that reportedly absolved him of wrongdoing. What you said about the team gathering all the intel they can on the situation is the key, to me. I don't think there's any way he would fall to us if this "news" didn't come out a couple of days ago. Now, maybe it's La'el Collins part deux, to a degree.
Heck, from what I've read, he could drop a whole lot, or not at all...depends on who you believe.

Can you imagine if Dallas lands another player (whether in the first or second or lower), and he turns out to be a Pro Bowler?
Giants and Commanders and Eagles fans will end up cursing us like they did when we picked Dez, Zeke and Prescott.