One of Each
 

After the disappointing game yesterday and the red zone trouble this team has had I am looking at supersizing my OL. My biggest problem with a Gibbs OL is the smaller sized OL and the trouble that brings in short yardage and pass protection. So I am playing a what if game, will do this a a few different ways before I am done but Supersize the OL and Improve the redzone scoring threat.

Assuming the 11th pick in each round currently no trade down.

1 Jason Smith, OT Baylor 6-5 315
2 Max Unger OC Oregon 6-4 313
3 Donald Brown RB Connecticut 5-10 210
4 Rashad Jennings, RB, Liberty 6-1 232
5 Gartrell Johnson FB Colorado St 6-0 225

Smith would be a my LT, Pitts, Unger, Winston, Brown would round out the OL. Big quick group, they could be maulers or finesse types.

I would have 3 young RBs Slaton and Brown being the main guys and Jennings being no slouch.

This would change the team overnight, it would give us an OL that could win the line of scrimmage.

What about a defensive draft?

1 Brandon Spikes, ILB, Florida 6-3 245
or
1 Aaron Curry OLB Wake Forest 6-2 249
2 Matt Shaughnessy, DE, Wisconsin 6-5 250
3 Darius Butler, CB, Connecticut 5-10 185 4.37
4 Ron Brace, NT, Boston College 6-3 333
5 Otis Wiley S Michigan State 6-209

Pick your poison, Mr. Inside or Mr. Outside. Spikes allows us to move Ryans around, Curry has the size to upgrade the SAM with Adibi playing the WILL.

Butler can return kicks and has the speed to be a solid cover guy. Brace is the NT for Boston College that has been overshadowed by his teammate Raji.

Right now, according to keith, we are hanging with the 12 th pick in the Draft. There is a chance, based upon what happens when all the juniors jump in, that MLB James Laurinitis will be available. Would you take him over Spikes?

I'm agin taking an Olineman before the 4th round in this upcoming draft, we need defense so bad.

Before the combine which is when I cement my list I would rather have Spikes or Curry over Laurinitis.

BTW neither draft is how I want or think the final draft will look. But if this team wanted to make a quick change in one area of the team they could use a draft similar to one of my exaggerated drafts. So this is for entertainment only.

Curry will be a top-ten IMO. I think Spikes might make a fine ILB, but will D. Ryans translate well to the outside. I know he was drafted as an OLB, but that was a while ago, has anything changed.

I would like to spend whatever it takes to get Haynesworth in FA, now that his Pro-Bowl selection has freed him for next year. Then we are free to draft whoever we want #1. That frees up our draft chioces and TJ to back-up or fight Okoye for a starting job. That translates to an immediate upgrade for our run defense and less double and triple teaming on Mario. Win-win scenario.

3 Donald Brown RB Connecticut 5-10 210 Has decided to stay in school. :(

Dang I missed that, thanks.

Crossing fingers that he changes his mind....

I think Spikes ends up being the first linebacker taken in the draft.

PK, Would you take a LB over FS Mays or Moore? I'm beginning to really think this is the year we SHOULD get that impact safety.

If we can get Moore, that would be optimal in my opinion. Mays could also make an impact, but is a more true SS and could be a liability in pass coverage. It would also depend upon who is available at the LB position when we pick in the 1st round. Do we give up on Adibi and select Aaron Curry in the 1st round to play the WILL LB slot? There is the possibility of getting a LB like Cody Brown from UConn in the 2nd round or Zach Follett at Cal in the 3rd round. We should keep in mind that the 2nd tier S prospects could also make an impact on our defense if we aren't able to acquire Moore or Mays. I'm talking about Derek Pegues, Rashad Johnson, Patrick Chung, Michael Hamlin, Myron Rolle, Courtney Greene, or even Nic Harris.

My presumption is that we are talking about upgrading the WILL and not DeMeco's position in the middle. If you are of the belief that getting a player like James Laurinaitis or ReyMaualuga to play the MIKE would allow DeMeco to play the WILL, then that might be a different matter altogether.

I am thinking of Brandon Spikes in the middle and moving Ryans. I think think the early injuries he had this season is just a precursor of his playing the middle. I would rather have 3 studs on the field together than a sacred cow in the middle.

NBT yes I take the LBs before the FS.

Ok, first let me back track about Mays. Perhaps I don't give him enough credit in stopping the deep pass. Pete Carroll giving an interview to the Daily Breeze on 12 Dec. made a point about there not being many plays made deep while Mays has been patrolling the center field. Maybe, Mays could be as good as LaRon Landry, I just haven't seen him play enough to make that determination.

Secondly, I wouldn't necessarily be opposed to moving DeMeco to the WLB. I just don't see that as being a move that would be made by this coaching staff. Remember when Diles was the backup MLB? I would like to see the Pitt MLB Scott McKillop drafted in the 4th or 5th round to add to the LB mix. He could allow Ryans to play WLB, if the coaches were wanting to go that route.

Currently, I have not made up my mind one way or the other as to which position needs to be addressed in the 1st round.

First 5 picks for the offensive side of the ball ? I dunno PK, but you must have missed the memo theTexans' were circulating which said defense is the top priority in the '09 Draft ?

Currently, I am pushing the best player available, period. I do not care which side of the ball.


Of course the trade down get more picks is always in play.

Rashad Jennings of Liberty would be a big bruiser of a pickup if he can get that 4.64/40 down to about 4.55, or so at the combine.

Yes, I was definitely thinking DeMeco to the Will IF we took Laurainitis or Spikes. DeMeco is a great MLB, but he tends to wear down due to light in the butt for the posiotion. He could still backup the Mike, IMO.

In the Mocks it seems like it would be easier to find the LB in the second round than it would be the FS, so that is why I would like to see Moore as our first round pick, assuming he is there for the plucking when we draft.

PK, it is a given with us old time HPF'ers that everything is contingent on the Combine. the Mocks will change after the Combine, as will mine and yours, and most peoples.

I threw this together based on the current records and I guess this is as good a place as any to put this...

1 Detroit 0-15 .558 - Matt Stafford QB Georgia
2F St. Louis 2-13 .535 - Andre Smith OT Alabama
3F Kansas City 2-13 .535 - Brian Orakpo DE Texas
4 Cincinnati 3-11-1 .560 - Eugene Monroe OT Virginia
5 Seattle 4-11 .498 - Michael Crabtree WR Texas Tech
6 Oakland 4-11 .521 - Michael Oher OT Ole Miss
7 Cleveland 4-11 .573 - Malcom Jenkins DB Ohio State
8 Green Bay 5-10 .519 - Tyson Jackson DT LSU
9 Jacksonville 5-10 .535 - Brandon Spikes LB Florida
10 San Francisco 6-9 .456 - Taylor Mays S USC
11 Buffalo 7-8 .450 - Aaron Curry LB Wake Forest
12 Houston 7-8 .515 - Everett Brown DE Florida State
13 San Diego 7-8 .517 - Rey Maualuga LB USC
14 Washington 8-7 .481 - Michael Johnson DE Georgia Tech
15 New Orleans 8-7 .492 – Vontae Davis DB Illinois
16 Denver 8-7 .454 - Chris Wells RB Ohio State
17 Arizona 8-7 .490 - Knowshon Moreno RB Georgia
18 Philadelphia 8-6-1 .523 - Greg Hardy DE Ole Miss
19 New York Jets 9-6 .465 - George Selvie DE South
20 Chicago 9-6 .469 – Jason Smith OT Baylor
21 Tampa Bay 9-6 .479 - Jeremy Maclin WR Missouri
22 Detroit (from Dallas) 9-6 .498 - Duke Robinson OG Oklahoma
23 Minnesota 9-6 .508 - Sam Bradford QB Oklahoma
24 New England 10-5 .479 - William Moore S Missouri
25 Miami 10-5 .458 - BJ Raji DT Boston College
26 Atlanta 10-5 .460 - Terrance Cody DT Alabama
27 Baltimore 10-5 .519 - Darrius Heyward Bey WR Maryland
28 Philadelphia (from Carolina) 11-4 .492 - Jermaine Gresham TE Oklahoma
29 Indianapolis 11-4 .494 - Alex Mack C California
30 Pittsburgh 11-4 .523 - Ebon Britton OT Arizona
31 New York Giants 12-3 .498 - James Laurinitis LB Ohio State
32 Tennessee 13-2.452 - Percy Harvin WR Florida

Creabtree they say, is going back to school.

He lied

Hope he falls to the 2nd round.

My First MiniMock of 09

15 Donald Brown RB UConn Time to Create the two headed monster
46 Ron Brace DT Boston College
77 Zach Follett OLB Cal
108 Matt Shaughnessy DE Wisconsin
139 Eric Wood OC Louisville
170 Tyrell Sutton RB Northwestern
202 Curtis Painter QB Purdue

I know this doesn't happen because of no DBs, have to have some new blood for the ST

Our boy had one hell of a Bowl game tonight. Im officially on the trade down and get Donald Brown bandwagon.

After I finished this mock, I thought about it, and your right trade down grab another 3rd + something and then grab Brown, IMO he draftable around #23 or above.

Add some guys like to my mock:

3rd round Courtney Greene S Rutgers

5th round Sean Smith CB Utah

I was thinking a trade down with Detroit

20 B.J. Raji, NT, Boston College
33 Alex Mack, C, California
46 Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut
77 Clay Matthews, OLB, USC
thats a nice first three rounds.

Nice one solid picks all. Just remember Chris Johnson was considered a 3rd rounder at this time last year. IMO Brown should be around the 3rd back taken, unless he runs slower than thought, and I doubt it.

My draft gives us 3 backs that are similar and they should push each other to greater heights. And we where lucky this with the injury bug, might not be so lucky in the future, so stockpile solid backs, they make the OL look better than it really is.

I don't know guys, call me unconvinced. Is it just me or does this guy sound like a huge douche. Quoting his article "...I’m going to make myself available to the NFL...", not I am going to enter the NFL draft, but rather I am going to grace them with the opportunity to take me; "...but I did it to protect my team. They mean the world to me, so I’m willing to put my neck on the line for them...", really who talks like that.

I bet he refers to himself in the third person. The Donald Brown is going to allow an NFL team to pay him millions.

And I am not going to advocate for drafting a RB in the first, although I would be alright with it in the second or third.

I don't think he has first round talent anyway. Certainly not in this draft which could have upwards of 80 underclassmen declaring. If all the underclassmen backs that are likely to make the jump, actually declare... he probably grades out somewhere in the range of the 6th-10th best back in this class.... at best.

For me, I would rate these backs ahead of him:

Beanie Wells
Knowshon Moreno
LeSean McCoy
Shonn Greene
CJ Spiller

He was interviewed after the bowl game and eh seemed like a very pleasent and intellligent person to me. In fact he gave all the credit to his offensive line for his record breaking performance. They also interviewed his mother and she seemed like a really sweet lady. So i doubt he is like what you are thinking.


As far as how talented he is and where he ranks among RB's. I have watched all the top rated backs and IMO he should be the third back taken behind Moreno and Wells. Mcoy isnt coming out or I would have him dead even with him. He is perfect for our ZB scheme. He hits the hole quick and has the vision to make one cut and go. He runs with power and doesnt come down on first contact. (squats 600 lbs) He is the Matt Forte of this draft. If he were available in the second round he would be a perfect complinement to Slaton and a well spent pick IMO.

I only showed my first 3 rounds. This is the rest.

20 B.J. Raji, NT, Boston College
33 Alex Mack, C, California
46 Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut
77 Clay Matthews, OLB,DE, USC
108 Phillip Hunt, DE, Houston
139 Josh Mauga, ILB, Nevada
170 Selvish Capers, OT, West Virginia
202 Curtis Painter QB Purdue

Throw in
Leonard Pope, UFA, Arizona Cardinals
Nnamdi Asomugha, UFA, Oakland Raiders
In FA along with our FA's and I believe every weekness we have has been addressed with the exception of a ball hawking Safety.

Pope is depth at TE. Imagine if Daniels gets hurt.

My MiniMock


1. CB D. J. Moore – Vanderbilt.
2. OLB Sean Weatherspoon – Missouri.
3. OLB Cody Brown – Connecticut.
4. FS Rashad Johnson – Alabama
5. DE Robert Ayers – Tennessee or Derek Walker – Illinois
6. RB Herb Donaldson – Western Illinois
7. QB David Johnson - Tulsa

All nice picks guys. I am going on record here to say no 1st round RB. We have bigger fish to fry on the defensive side of the ball, if we want to make the playoffs this year.

I assumed that Mays wouldn't be available when we picked in the 1st round. The 2nd round is when we can get a good value, possibly Alex Mack. I just thought I'd get a player like Aaron Curry in the 2nd round. Xavier Adibi hasn't sold me that he's the difference maker to take over for Morlon Greenwood. The third round I wanted a pass-rusher who may be able to play the SAM. Players like Cushing, Hughes, Sintim, and the like probably won't be available and Follett is probably too small for the next level to put his hand in the dirt. I simply can't wait any longer for a FS, so I pulled the trigger in the 4th round. If Johnson is off the board, I could take a good look at Courtney Greene. Still the other DE on 1st and 2nd down could be played by a player like Ayers or Walker. While giving some pass rush, they also can play against the run. They are simply good value for the 5th round and may make Weaver expendable. The 6th round is when I took a look for a "big back" to convert short yardage and goal line runs. Herb Donaldson played for a small school, but at 5' 10" 222lbs, he's hard to bring down. He should run about a 4.54 or better in the 40, he finished 3rd in the Walter Payton Award voting, he rushed for 1,784 yards, and scored 21 TDs. Lastly, I'm taking a QB to replace Sage Rosenfels. Johnson completed 66% of his attempts, threw for 3,671 yards with 42 TDs vs. 13 Ints. He can also pooch punt for those odd occasions when called upon to do so.

Is this the "perfect" draft? No, because I want a big DT, a run-blocking RG, and a C. Perhaps I could bring in some FAs for that?

DT Louis Ellis - Shaw {6' 2" 312lbs 5.10 - 40}
OC John Cooper - Oklahoma {6' 2" 292lbs 5.14 - 40}
OG/OT Robert Brewster - Ball State {6' 4" 312lbs 4.98 - 40}

Just watched Wiss vs Fl St. So my new revised mock is

20 B.J. Raji, NT, Boston College
33 Alex Mack, C, California Max Unger (#60, 6-4, 305)
46 Donald Brown, RB, Connecticut
77 Clay Matthews, OLB,DE, USC CB Darius Butler (#1, 5-10, 181)
108 DE Matt Shaughnessy (#92, 6-5, 255)
139 MLB Tyrone McKenzie (#27, 6-2, 235)
170 RB Gartrell Johnson (#5, 5-11, 235) P.J. Hill (#39, 5-10, 230)
202 P/PK Graham Gano (#43, 6-1, 200).


UFA
OT Ryan Stanchek (#62,6-4, 300)
Greg Isdaner (#79, 6-3, 315)


Throw in
Leonard Pope, UFA, Arizona Cardinals
Nnamdi Asomugha, UFA, Oakland Raiders
In FA along with our FA's and I believe every weekness we have has been addressed with the exception of a ball hawking Safety.

I agree with you there, Graham Cano was as dominant as a special teamer could be in that game, it was truly an unbelievable performance. I don't think he will be available in the 7th though.

Gartell Johnson could be a really good late round selection, a poor man's Steven Jackson. I am kinda hoping that everybody just kinda forgets about him because he played in an early bowl.

Shaunessy is an impressive all around prospect that could be available in teh third or fourth.

Assuming those picks I would probably go OLB in the first, maybe move Laurnitis or grab Cushing, if Mays was gone. I like Alex Mack over Max Unger he just seems to have better feet.

I would take William Moore, who has slipped becuase of a bit of a down season, with the 46th pick.

And James Davis with the 77 pick to provide more of a power fall forward back.

So I guess mine would look like this:

20 James Laurnitis, LB, OSU
33 Alex Mack, C, California
46 William Moore, S, Missouri
77 Travis Beckum, TE, Wisconsin or Victor Harris, CB, VT
108 DE Matt Shaughnessy (#92, 6-5, 255)
139 P/PK Graham Cano
170 RB Gartrell Johnson (#5, 5-11, 235)
202 CB DeAndre Wright, New Mexico

speaking of free agent pickups, just on a personal note I would love to see us pick up Chris Ogobonoya out of Texas as a UDFA. Great receiver out of the backfield, great blocker in both the run and pass game, good in ST coverage, and a mediocre runner. Plus he's the type that does whatever the coaches ask. Recruited as a WR he switched to RB after his redshirt year, then they told him to put on 20 lbs and moved him to FB, then had him drop the weight and go back to tailback after charles left unexpectedly. And he filled every role they gave him just like they asked. He just does so many things well I think he is the type of multi-pupose guy who could stick on a roster.

(And I coached him at Strake Jesuit just a bit so I'd love to see it).

Not a bad thought, he might get drafted.

I did not know you coached at Strake, I am a ST. Thomas alum, had a lot of friends go to Strake.

Unger has better feat than Mac from what I have seen. I cant wait for the combine.

Thats a sweet mock. I like every player. It would great to get a 2way kicker (punts and kicks) with Canos ability. Next year Browns contract is up. If Canos proved worthy we could let Turk and Brown go and save some cap money.

I only coached there 3 years before moving on. Ogobonaya was a QB and then WR on the varsity during our 2 overlapping years, while I was a freshman coach and DBs assistant so its not like I really had anything to do with coaching him. Honestly at that point my biggest varsity responsibility was being the "get back" coach.

And I will point out that none of the games with St. Thomas was very close :).

Was that way also when I was there. :(