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http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/sto...h-good-calls-and-bad-calls-for-early-entrants
Draft Dish: Good calls and bad calls for early entrants
PUBLISHED Saturday, Jan 15, 2011 at 7:06 pm EST
LAST UPDATED 17 hours and 29 minutes ago
Russ Lande SN Icon Sporting News
..For a complete list of early NFL draft entrants, click here.
Saturday was the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the 2011 draft, though an official list won’t be released for a few days because players have until Tuesday to rescind their declaration.
Some college players had no-brainer decisions to declare for the NFL draft, while others could have used another year in school. Russ Lande examines both types. Sporting News draft expert Russ Lande provides his opinion on whether each player made a good or bad decision to come out early:
Good call
A.J. Green, WR, Georgia. Receivers take a lot of hard hits, so Green had a lot more to lose than gain by returning to Georgia. He will be a very high pick.
Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn. Fairley is an elite prospect and could not have improved his draft status by staying for another season. It was time to go.
Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson. Bowers is the top end prospect in the country and a likely top-three pick, so it didn’t make sense for him to stay and risk injury.
Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama. He could have improved his game with another season at Alabama, but it wasn’t worth the risk considering he couldn’t have moved up more than five to 10 spots in the first round.
Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri. He’s not an elite prospect, but with a strong spring he could seize the top QB spot on the board and become a top-10 pick.
Cam Newton, QB, Auburn. Though I think Newton is the most overrated player in the draft, he had no choice but to come out because the NCAA could have suspended him for the 2011 season.
Julio Jones, WR, Alabama. Jones is a big, thick-bodied receiver with shocking quickness and athleticism. He’s a sure first-round pick, so the risk of staying in school was too high.
Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama. Though Ingram is not a premier prospect, he will become a good starting back in the NFL. Backs start losing their effectiveness at age 30, so it made sense for him to start his pro career now.
Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri. Smith is a super-tough, highly competitive pass rusher. He is finally healthy after being nicked up this season, so it was time to move on.
Shane Vereen, RB, California. There are no great backs in the draft, so Vereen's decision to come out early makes sense after he had an excellent 2010 season.
J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin. Watt is a big, strong, athletic end who had an excellent season and put himself in position to be one of the first 3-4 ends chosen.
Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois. Leshoure is a well-built back with the strength to run through contact and break tackles.
Martez Wilson, LB Illinois. Wilson is a versatile, productive linebacker who can line up all over the place and make plays.
Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech. After a great 2009 season, Williams struggled with injuries in 2010. He has top-10 talent.
Rahim Moore, S, UCLA. Though Moore may have been able to move up draft boards a little with a strong 2011, he wouldn’t have moved up enough to offset the injury risk.
Robert Sands, S, West Virginia. Sands has been highly productive the last two seasons and was unlikely to move up draft boards much with another season at WVU.
Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple. After a breakout 2010 season, Wilkerson is probably at the top of his draft value. He has really come on as a leader.
Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame. He was set back this season by a severe hamstring injury. With the lack of quality tight ends in the draft, he could still end up being the first one chosen.
Stevan Ridley, RB, LSU. Though Ridley likely could have moved up draft boards with a strong 2011, his academic status might have kept him off the field anyway.
Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State. He is an electrifying back who has the tools to be an impact situational player. At his size (5-7, 191), he was wise to come out early rather than risk injury.
Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland. Smith is not a top prospect, but a good, solid one who would have had a hard time moving up from his expected second-round selection.
.......
Bad call
Patrick Patterson, CB, LSU. I know I am in the minority, but I feel Peterson is a better athlete than player right now and his draft stock could fall this spring.
Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas. Though he has been hyped as a high first-round pick, his play needs a lot of work. His draft value could fall into the second or third round.
Akeem Ayers, LB, UCLA. Ayers is one of the most overrated players in the country. He could have moved up draft boards by staying in school and improving his play.
Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh. He is an immature receiver who could have definitely helped himself by staying in school and playing with more intensity.
Brandon Harris, CB, Miami. Though Harris is a talented prospect with big-play ability, he could have helped himself with another year at Miami.
.......
For more than 250 player scouting reports from Lande and his team of former NFL scouts plus a weekly updated Mock Draft and Super 99 player rankings, go to warroom.sportingnews.com.
Read more: http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/sto...nd-bad-calls-for-early-entrants#ixzz1BE8re5Cq
Draft Dish: Good calls and bad calls for early entrants
PUBLISHED Saturday, Jan 15, 2011 at 7:06 pm EST
LAST UPDATED 17 hours and 29 minutes ago
Russ Lande SN Icon Sporting News
..For a complete list of early NFL draft entrants, click here.
Saturday was the deadline for underclassmen to declare for the 2011 draft, though an official list won’t be released for a few days because players have until Tuesday to rescind their declaration.
Some college players had no-brainer decisions to declare for the NFL draft, while others could have used another year in school. Russ Lande examines both types. Sporting News draft expert Russ Lande provides his opinion on whether each player made a good or bad decision to come out early:
Good call
A.J. Green, WR, Georgia. Receivers take a lot of hard hits, so Green had a lot more to lose than gain by returning to Georgia. He will be a very high pick.
Nick Fairley, DT, Auburn. Fairley is an elite prospect and could not have improved his draft status by staying for another season. It was time to go.
Da’Quan Bowers, DE, Clemson. Bowers is the top end prospect in the country and a likely top-three pick, so it didn’t make sense for him to stay and risk injury.
Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama. He could have improved his game with another season at Alabama, but it wasn’t worth the risk considering he couldn’t have moved up more than five to 10 spots in the first round.
Blaine Gabbert, QB, Missouri. He’s not an elite prospect, but with a strong spring he could seize the top QB spot on the board and become a top-10 pick.
Cam Newton, QB, Auburn. Though I think Newton is the most overrated player in the draft, he had no choice but to come out because the NCAA could have suspended him for the 2011 season.
Julio Jones, WR, Alabama. Jones is a big, thick-bodied receiver with shocking quickness and athleticism. He’s a sure first-round pick, so the risk of staying in school was too high.
Mark Ingram, RB, Alabama. Though Ingram is not a premier prospect, he will become a good starting back in the NFL. Backs start losing their effectiveness at age 30, so it made sense for him to start his pro career now.
Aldon Smith, DE, Missouri. Smith is a super-tough, highly competitive pass rusher. He is finally healthy after being nicked up this season, so it was time to move on.
Shane Vereen, RB, California. There are no great backs in the draft, so Vereen's decision to come out early makes sense after he had an excellent 2010 season.
J.J. Watt, DE, Wisconsin. Watt is a big, strong, athletic end who had an excellent season and put himself in position to be one of the first 3-4 ends chosen.
Mikel Leshoure, RB, Illinois. Leshoure is a well-built back with the strength to run through contact and break tackles.
Martez Wilson, LB Illinois. Wilson is a versatile, productive linebacker who can line up all over the place and make plays.
Ryan Williams, RB, Virginia Tech. After a great 2009 season, Williams struggled with injuries in 2010. He has top-10 talent.
Rahim Moore, S, UCLA. Though Moore may have been able to move up draft boards a little with a strong 2011, he wouldn’t have moved up enough to offset the injury risk.
Robert Sands, S, West Virginia. Sands has been highly productive the last two seasons and was unlikely to move up draft boards much with another season at WVU.
Muhammad Wilkerson, DT, Temple. After a breakout 2010 season, Wilkerson is probably at the top of his draft value. He has really come on as a leader.
Kyle Rudolph, TE, Notre Dame. He was set back this season by a severe hamstring injury. With the lack of quality tight ends in the draft, he could still end up being the first one chosen.
Stevan Ridley, RB, LSU. Though Ridley likely could have moved up draft boards with a strong 2011, his academic status might have kept him off the field anyway.
Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, Oregon State. He is an electrifying back who has the tools to be an impact situational player. At his size (5-7, 191), he was wise to come out early rather than risk injury.
Torrey Smith, WR, Maryland. Smith is not a top prospect, but a good, solid one who would have had a hard time moving up from his expected second-round selection.
.......
Bad call
Patrick Patterson, CB, LSU. I know I am in the minority, but I feel Peterson is a better athlete than player right now and his draft stock could fall this spring.
Ryan Mallett, QB, Arkansas. Though he has been hyped as a high first-round pick, his play needs a lot of work. His draft value could fall into the second or third round.
Akeem Ayers, LB, UCLA. Ayers is one of the most overrated players in the country. He could have moved up draft boards by staying in school and improving his play.
Jonathan Baldwin, WR, Pittsburgh. He is an immature receiver who could have definitely helped himself by staying in school and playing with more intensity.
Brandon Harris, CB, Miami. Though Harris is a talented prospect with big-play ability, he could have helped himself with another year at Miami.
.......
For more than 250 player scouting reports from Lande and his team of former NFL scouts plus a weekly updated Mock Draft and Super 99 player rankings, go to warroom.sportingnews.com.
Read more: http://www.sportingnews.com/nfl/sto...nd-bad-calls-for-early-entrants#ixzz1BE8re5Cq
DAL @ GB
JAX 
HOU 
