RS12
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April 12th
- As the combine started in February, I posted the news several teams ranked Jonathan Cooper of North Carolina over Chance Warmack of Alabama as the top guard in the draft. Over the past few days league insiders have told me they believe its a 50-50 split of teams who prefer Cooper over Warmack, and vice versa. In conversations with one source on Thursday, a former NFL lineman still associated with the league, I was told unequivocally, if teams want the best guard in this draft they will look to Cooper. The feeling is Cooper’s skill set is much better suited for the NFL and his versatility to line-up in multiple blocking schemes is added value. According to sources the hype around Warmack centers on “the big school mentality.” It was compared to much of the hype surrounding Courtney Upshaw last year. Critics feel Warmack is “shoulder heavy” and cannot adjust on the fly while Cooper’s athleticism and movement skills set him apart. While I will still rank Warmack ahead of Cooper it would not be a surprise if the North Carolina product is drafted just ahead of the Alabama senior.
- If Warmack does start to slide I am told the New York Giants would love the opportunity to select him as they feel he’s a great fit for their system. Moving towards the draft it seems one of the Giants early targets, Warmack’s teammate DJ Fluker, will be out of reach. One late round blocker I am told the Giants like is Emmett Cleary of Boston College, who has drawn praise from the teams offensive line coach Pat Flaherty.
– Sources tell me if he remains true to his past, New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese is still compiling data and will start to put the teams draft board together next week.
– Another athletic offensive lineman receiving praise in war rooms is Vinston Painter of Virginia Tech. Painter turned in a terrific senior campaign after breaking into the starting line-up then performed brilliantly at the combine. Painter’s forty times (average of 4.96 electronic) were solid as was his ten split (fastest of 1.70 hand timed). His vertical jump in Indianapolis of 30.5-inches was bettered by just three offensive linemen. How early could Painter be selected? We presently have him rated as a potential 4th rounder in our updated rankings though I am told the third frame is not out of the question. Painter has been on visits to see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, New York Giants, Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Cincinnati Bengals.
-By all accounts teams were pleased with Luke Marquardt’s pro-day workout on Thursday. Hall of Fame lineman Jackie Slater, who coached Marquardt at Azusa Pacific, put the big blocker through a series of tackle drills on both the left and right side. I was told coaches on hand drooled over the display of size, athleticism and the way Marquardt effortlessly moved his 317-pound frame around the field. Marquardt missed the entire 2012 season after suffering a Navicular fracture in his right foot and may need another minor procedure to stabilize the bone. I am told he will be ready for training camp despite the possibility of a second procedure. Where will Marquardt be selected in the draft? Its not out of the question that a team with double digit picks rolls the dice in round three hoping to hit on Marquardt’s awesome potential.
– While there have been rave reviews about the physical and football skills of Datone Jones, his character and personality has also helped him ascend up draft boards. In a conversation with a team insider yesterday, one with absolutely no connection to Jones, the UCLA defensive lineman was described as someone who is “highly motivated”, “wants to be great” and “will work to get better”. During an interview on The Mike Dempsey Show in Jacksonville on Wednesday, Jones was a player I mentioned when asked who could be drafted much earlier than people expect.
- I am told scouts ranked yesterday’s workout by Eddie Lacy of Alabama from fair to midland and it did nothing to inspire teams in the middle of round one who may be inclined to draft a running back during the initial frame.
http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=6916
- As the combine started in February, I posted the news several teams ranked Jonathan Cooper of North Carolina over Chance Warmack of Alabama as the top guard in the draft. Over the past few days league insiders have told me they believe its a 50-50 split of teams who prefer Cooper over Warmack, and vice versa. In conversations with one source on Thursday, a former NFL lineman still associated with the league, I was told unequivocally, if teams want the best guard in this draft they will look to Cooper. The feeling is Cooper’s skill set is much better suited for the NFL and his versatility to line-up in multiple blocking schemes is added value. According to sources the hype around Warmack centers on “the big school mentality.” It was compared to much of the hype surrounding Courtney Upshaw last year. Critics feel Warmack is “shoulder heavy” and cannot adjust on the fly while Cooper’s athleticism and movement skills set him apart. While I will still rank Warmack ahead of Cooper it would not be a surprise if the North Carolina product is drafted just ahead of the Alabama senior.
- If Warmack does start to slide I am told the New York Giants would love the opportunity to select him as they feel he’s a great fit for their system. Moving towards the draft it seems one of the Giants early targets, Warmack’s teammate DJ Fluker, will be out of reach. One late round blocker I am told the Giants like is Emmett Cleary of Boston College, who has drawn praise from the teams offensive line coach Pat Flaherty.
– Sources tell me if he remains true to his past, New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese is still compiling data and will start to put the teams draft board together next week.
– Another athletic offensive lineman receiving praise in war rooms is Vinston Painter of Virginia Tech. Painter turned in a terrific senior campaign after breaking into the starting line-up then performed brilliantly at the combine. Painter’s forty times (average of 4.96 electronic) were solid as was his ten split (fastest of 1.70 hand timed). His vertical jump in Indianapolis of 30.5-inches was bettered by just three offensive linemen. How early could Painter be selected? We presently have him rated as a potential 4th rounder in our updated rankings though I am told the third frame is not out of the question. Painter has been on visits to see the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, New York Giants, Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Cincinnati Bengals.
-By all accounts teams were pleased with Luke Marquardt’s pro-day workout on Thursday. Hall of Fame lineman Jackie Slater, who coached Marquardt at Azusa Pacific, put the big blocker through a series of tackle drills on both the left and right side. I was told coaches on hand drooled over the display of size, athleticism and the way Marquardt effortlessly moved his 317-pound frame around the field. Marquardt missed the entire 2012 season after suffering a Navicular fracture in his right foot and may need another minor procedure to stabilize the bone. I am told he will be ready for training camp despite the possibility of a second procedure. Where will Marquardt be selected in the draft? Its not out of the question that a team with double digit picks rolls the dice in round three hoping to hit on Marquardt’s awesome potential.
– While there have been rave reviews about the physical and football skills of Datone Jones, his character and personality has also helped him ascend up draft boards. In a conversation with a team insider yesterday, one with absolutely no connection to Jones, the UCLA defensive lineman was described as someone who is “highly motivated”, “wants to be great” and “will work to get better”. During an interview on The Mike Dempsey Show in Jacksonville on Wednesday, Jones was a player I mentioned when asked who could be drafted much earlier than people expect.
- I am told scouts ranked yesterday’s workout by Eddie Lacy of Alabama from fair to midland and it did nothing to inspire teams in the middle of round one who may be inclined to draft a running back during the initial frame.
http://www.draftinsider.net/blog/?p=6916
