2013 NFL Draft Thread

[cmd34]

I was re-watching some Georgia games to break down Jarvis Jones and I started watching the Bulldogs offense(instead of fast forwarding) and I really like Isaiah Crowell.

I know he's a knucklehead and he was recently booted from Georgia, but he's a talent. He needs to get his act together and he will be playing against nobodies while at Alabama State, but he has the physical tools to be another Trent Richardson. Could be a sleeper pick in 2014.

Back to Jarvis Jones...

I have to wonder what the hell Pete Carroll was thinking in 2009 making Jarvis play Middle Linebacker at USC....

....He belongs on the edge. To me, he's a bigger version of Von Miller. And what the hell were the USC doctors thinking not clearing Jarvis to play? He seems to be doing just fine. (USC doctors also recently would not clear DT Armond Armstead to play and he has gotten off to great start for the CFL's Toronto Argonauts).

A lot of the draft sites have ranked LSU's duo of Sam Montgomery and Barkevious Mingo as the top pass rushers for the 2013 draft but give me Jarvis every time for the Cowboys. One, the Bulldogs play a 3-4 scheme already Two, Jarvis has shown some coverage skills, including his time at USC. Last, Jarvis has some serious closing speed. He seems to explode into quarterbacks.

Feel free to post your own takes on these players or players from your favorite schools. College football season is just over 50 days away.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I'm all for it. We need to start thinking about life without Ware. I know it's anathema to talk about, but his neck stinger really worries me. One wrong motion of the neck and he's done for.

 

[Midswat]

Justin Hunter will be incredible in the NFL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5M09m2Sd5s

 

[marionbarberthe4th]

Vontaze burfict

 

[cmd34]

Vontaze burfict

Umm?

 

[cmd34]

http://www.rotoworld.com/content/pl...ews.asp?sport=CFB&id=131270&line=20226&spln=1

Eric Reid: Reid draws comparison to top-ten pick Barron

Eric Reid - S - LSU - Jul. 13 - 4:08 pm et
NFL Network draft analyst Chad Reuter compares LSU junior S Eric Reid to recent top-ten pick Mark Barron.
Reuter calls Reid "the next SEC safety on which scouts have their eye," and possesses the size, athleticism, intelligence, and toughness to be an impact player. Oklahoma junior Tony Jefferson, Texas senior Kenny Vaccaro, USC senior T.J. McDonald, and Georgia senior Shawn Williams make up the rest of the top-five. The safety position has been weak in recent years, but this group could change that in the 2013 Draft. Jul. 13 - 4:08 pm et


full article
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...eid-tony-jefferson-among-top-college-safeties

Eric Reid, Tony Jefferson among top college safetie sBy Chad Reuter
Draft analyst
Published: July 13, 2012 at 11:40 a.m.

Featuring a combination of traits coveted in safeties, Eric Reid is a natural leader on LSU's vaunted defense.

Football season is right around the corner! Not only in the NFL, but at the college level, too. As a resident guru of the Saturday standouts, Chad Reuter provides the top draft-eligible college players at each position in a 10-part series. Today's group is the safeties.

Think about the job asked of a top-level safety. They are asked to cover a large share of the deep part of the field against elite passing offenses, line up against slot receivers and tight ends becoming more integral parts of those schemes, take on blockers in the run game, and be an efficient and powerful last line of defense. And sometimes they have to accomplish more than one of these duties in the same play.

Not an easy job description.

The required agility, speed, ball skills, and power to become a difference-maker at the position are why few safeties are picked in the early rounds of the draft. The only position aside from kicking specialists with fewer first-round and second-round selections over the past five drafts than safeties (18) are tight ends (11).

Alabama's Mark Barron rose up boards during the draft process last spring to become the third Southeastern Conference safety in the past six drafts to receive the rare elite grade at the position. Barron went seventh overall to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, joining former LSU Tiger LaRon Landry (Washington Redskins, 6th, 2007), and Tennessee Volunteer Eric Berry (Kansas City Chiefs, 5th, 2010) as SEC defensive backs picked in the top 10 picks of their respective drafts.

But despite the talent of Barron and fellow first rounder Harrison Smith of Notre Dame (Minnesota Vikings, 29th overall), the depth of last year's safety class was simply not very good. NFL scouts will be much happier with the available talent throughout the top half of the 2013 draft -- especially if all of the back-half defenders listed below meet expectations with their play this fall.

*Denotes underclassmen.

Eric Reid, 6-2, 208, LSU*
The next SEC safety on which scouts have their eye, Reid brings the size, athleticism, intelligence and toughness to become an impact player in coverage (five passes defended in 2011) as well as against the run (LSU's leading tackler last year with 76).
NFL Comparison: Mark Barron



Expectations are high for Oklahoma's Tony Jefferson despite his short stature. (Matthew Emmons/US Presswire)

Tony Jefferson, 5-10, 199, Oklahoma*
Though shorter than most scouts prefer, Jefferson's leadership skills, physicality around the line of scrimmage (14.5 tackles for loss the past two years) and nickel corner-like coverage skills (four interceptions in 2011) will entice teams despite those average measurements.
NFL Comparison: T.J. Ward

Kenny Vaccaro, 6-1, 215, Texas
Vaccaro is a confident, athletic All-Big 12 performer with first-round potential as a combo safety (14 pass break-ups the past two seasons, often playing as a nickel back) if able to prove his instincts as a last line of defense.
NFL Comparison: Michael Griffin

T.J. McDonald, 6-3, 205, USC
The son of NFL Pro Bowl safety Tim McDonald earns All-American recognition for his big hits and hands in coverage (six interceptions in 2010-2011), but needs to show better agility and instincts to be considered an elite prospect capable of handling NFL receivers in coverage.
NFL Comparison: Deon Grant

Shawn Williams, 6-1, 220, Georgia
A probable starter at strong safety in the NFL, Williams combines a thick build, fiery attitude, and very good athleticism to be an intimidator over the middle and in the run game (led Georgia with 72 tackles last season), as well as create turnovers (four interceptions in 2011).
NFL Comparison: Sean Jones

Micah Hyde, 6-1, 190, Iowa
Hyde usually lines up at cornerback for the Hawkeyes, but has played just enough safety to show he can be a physical presence and a threat to play as a centerfielder (he has seven picks over the past two seasons) to potentially make the switch, if his new team deems it necessary.
NFL Comparison: Sherrod Martin

Robert Lester, 6-2, 210, Alabama
Although Lester's overall agility might not wow scouts, he is a productive leader on a defense filled with NFL-caliber talent and possesses the ball skills (10 interceptions in 2010-2011) and toughness against the run to earn a starting role at the next level.
NFL Comparison: James Butler

Follow Chad Reuter on Twitter @ChadReuter

 

[cmd34]

http://espn.go.com/blog/sec/post/_/id/46088/ranking-the-secs-safeties

Ranking the SEC's safeties
July, 17, 2012
Jul 1711:00AM ET By Edward Aschoff and Chris Low

Now that we've ranked the SEC's secondaries, it's time to take a look at the league's top cornerbacks.

Here are our top 10 SEC safeties:


1. Eric Reid, Jr., LSU: He might be the league's best ball-hawking threat and he packs quite the punch. He had a knack for making all sorts of plays in LSU's secondary last year -- none bigger than his game-changing interception in the first game against Alabama. He tied for the team lead with 76 tackles, broke up three passes and intercepted two. Pro scouts love his ability to roam all around the field and his tremendous cover skills.

2. Bacarri Rambo, Sr., Georgia: He had a true breakout season last year and could have easily left for the NFL draft. The first-team All-American led the SEC and ranked second nationally with eight interceptions and was second in the SEC with 16 pass breakups. He takes the deep pass away, but is also very solid in defending the run and shorter passes.

3. Matt Elam, Jr., Florida: The headliner of Florida's defense, Elam found himself playing all over the field in 2011. He was second on the team with 78 tackles, but led the Gators with 11 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups and two forced fumbles. He loves contact, but also has improved his coverage skills and can line up at the nickel if needed.

4. Robert Lester, Sr., Alabama: Lester has had a solid career with the Tide so far. He notched an SEC-best eight interceptions in 2010 and flirted with leaving for the NFL after his junior season. He's moving to free safety, but has the speed and ability to play that rover position. He covers a lot of ground and can come in and play in the box as well.

5. D.J. Swearinger, Sr., South Carolina: His move from strong safety to free safety was a plus for the Gamecocks. He turned into a tremendous rover in South Carolina's defensive backfield and wasn't afraid to move closer to the line to hit people -- a lot of people. He's a proven playmaker and has no issues finding the ball, as he's registered 122 solo tackles in three seasons.

6. Charles Sawyer, Jr., Ole Miss: He led the Rebels with four interceptions last year, but he even admits that he should have had at least seven after dropping a few easy ones. Though he did breakup 13 passes. He's very quick with his movements and with the speed he possesses, he can cover a lot of ground in Ole Miss' secondary.

7. Nickoe Whitley, Jr., Mississippi State: If not for that ruptured Achilles tendon that cut his 2011 season short, Whitley would probably be higher on this list. In nine games last year, he racked up 34 tackles and four interceptions. He has that impressive ball-hawking ability that will take the deep ball away.

8. Shawn Williams, Sr., Georgia: He was a bit of an underrated talent last year because of the combination of Rambo and Brandon Boykin in Georgia's secondary, but Williams had a very solid 2011 season. He led the Dawgs with 72 tackles, forced a fumble, had two fumble recoveries, broke up six passes and had four interceptions. He's solid defending both the pass and the run.

9. Brian Randolph, So., Tennessee: Playing as a true freshman didn't seem to bother him, as he was an SEC All-Freshman selection, after playing in 12 games (eight starts) and getting time at both the nickel spot and at free safety. He enters the spring as the Vols' starting free safety and is primed to have a big second year.

10. Eric Bennett, Jr., Arkansas: The former high school quarterback hasn't had much of a problem playing defense in college. Last year, he started all 13 games at safety, after moving from cornerback during the spring, and finished the year with 74 tackles, three interceptions and three pass breakups.

 

[cmd34]

Any of players 1 thru 4 or #8 would all look very nice in our Secondary next year.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Didn't you not want Mark Barron? Reid is his exact clone!

 

[cmd34]

Didn't you not want Mark Barron? Reid is his exact clone!

I think Reid is much more fluid and athletic than Barron but that's just my opinion.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Much more? How do you even define that in qualitative terms? Sounds like just a bunch of cliche, coach-speak.

 

[cmd34]

Much more? How do you even define that in qualitative terms? Sounds like just a bunch of cliche, coach-speak.

For one, Reid plays Free and Barron played Strong. Barron seemed stiff to me. He was great coming forward but not elite back peddling. Reid appears to be more natural and plays at a controlled, high-speed going in all directions.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

For one, Reid plays Free and Barron played Strong. Barron seemed stiff to me. He was great coming forward but not elite back peddling. Reid appears to be more natural and plays at a controlled, high-speed going in all directions.

That sounds more likely.

 

[Midswat]

‏@nfldraftscout
Tyler Bray up to 220lbs per @BFeldmanCBS. Added bulk very important for lanky 6'6" frame.



Best QB in the 2013 NFL draft, right thar.

 

[cmd34]

‏@nfldraftscout
Tyler Bray up to 220lbs per @BFeldmanCBS. Added bulk very important for lanky 6'6" frame.



Best QB in the 2013 NFL draft, right thar.

Just saw him on ESPN's SEC media day coverage. He definitely looks more solid. I think Barkley is more NFL ready but Bray definitely has the potential to be the better NFL QB.

 

[dbair1967]

‏@nfldraftscout
Tyler Bray up to 220lbs per @BFeldmanCBS. Added bulk very important for lanky 6'6" frame.



Best QB in the 2013 NFL draft, right thar.

bair

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

Definitely need to come out of this upcoming draft with a pass rusher and a safety.

 

[Midswat]

Remember this past draft myself and cmd commenting repeatedly about what a good prospect Janzen Jackson could be? How we should look to him in the fourth or later?

Yeah...

‏@TomRock_Newsday
Janzen Jackson the first of the former Giants this preseason. Will be officially waived tomorrow.

 

[cmd34]

Remember this past draft myself and cmd commenting repeatedly about what a good prospect Janzen Jackson could be? How we should look to him in the fourth or later?

Yeah...

‏@TomRock_Newsday
Janzen Jackson the first of the former Giants this preseason. Will be officially waived tomorrow.

I had read he was doing decent in camp. Guess not. I thought he was special 3 years ago and hoped that would carry over. I never claimed I never miss on a player.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

DeCastro
Jackson

Not looking good for you, Chris.