Official 2010 NFL Draft Thread

[Lebanon]

Thanks. I wish I did HJ but I'm only 19. I got really into the draft this last year. So whenever I have free time (no homework, etc) I'll put some stuff together.


Unlike most internet draftniks, I actually have access to some decent film archives (my neighbor is the quarterback coach for OSU) and create my own scouting reports. Most are morons that scrounge espn insider the month before the draft.

[lukethedrifter]

I wish I did HJ

O rly?

[JL21]

Unlike most internet draftniks, I actually have access to some decent film archives (my neighbor is the quarterback coach for OSU) and create my own scouting reports. Most are morons that scrounge espn insider the month before the draft.

Which OSU? I can never tell if people are referring to Oklahoma St., Ohio St., or I suppose Oregon St.

[JackofDiamonds]

I wish I did HJ

O rly?

Taken out of context zing!

[Lebanon]

Unlike most internet draftniks, I actually have access to some decent film archives (my neighbor is the quarterback coach for OSU) and create my own scouting reports. Most are morons that scrounge espn insider the month before the draft.

Which OSU? I can never tell if people are referring to Oklahoma St., Ohio St., or I suppose Oregon St.

tOSU.

[JackofDiamonds]

Unlike most internet draftniks, I actually have access to some decent film archives (my neighbor is the quarterback coach for OSU) and create my own scouting reports. Most are morons that scrounge espn insider the month before the draft.

Which OSU? I can never tell if people are referring to Oklahoma St., Ohio St., or I suppose Oregon St.

tOSU.

I am not entirely sure that answered anything. The OSU?

[Lebanon]

Paying homage to the douches that say "THE Ohio State University".

But I digress.

The Rams are going to have to decide if needs will be addressed or if they will go BPA. The hybrid "we're taking the best player at the biggest need" just doesn't work. That leads to Gaines Adams going ahead of Patrick Willis and Adrian Peterson.

The team is sorely lacking in talent, so much so that they don't have the luxury of targeting certain holes. The team is a hole.

If Clausen/Bradford goes #1, I'm hoping Brian Price falls to the beginning of the 2nd round. He is the 2nd most explosive penetrating DT in the draft whose only fault is a suspect motor. Cody and Williams are NTs and similar talents can be found later. This is assuming that we're trying to fill certain holes of course.

Free agency won't be a factor this offseason.

[Hungary Jack]

Well, greetings to a fellow Big Ten guy. What are your thoughts (if any) on Corey Wootton and Mike Kafka?

I am not sure Wootton has the goods to be a 4-3 DE. I see him moving inside eventually with that huge frame of his. He was really stout against the run in college, but I don't think his pass rushing translates to the NFL.

Kafka came out of nowhere to become an intriguing guy. Smart guy, accurate, arm strong enough for NFL throws, and some escapability. He's a project, but I like him better than Tim Tebow (not that it says a lot).

[Lebanon]

Well, greetings to a fellow Big Ten guy. What are your thoughts (if any) on Corey Wootton and Mike Kafka?

I am not sure Wootton has the goods to be a 4-3 DE. I see him moving inside eventually with that huge frame of his. He was really stout against the run in college, but I don't think his pass rushing translates to the NFL.

Kafka came out of nowhere to become an intriguing guy. Smart guy, accurate, arm strong enough for NFL throws, and some escapability. He's a project, but I like him better than Tim Tebow (not that it says a lot).

For a while there Kafka was going to go undrafted but most scouts now expect him to go in rounds 4-6. Though these late-round QBs have been known to go as high as the second round after impressing NFL officials in person (Tavaris Jackson for instance) and I sort of expect that from Kafka. I personally have loved that I've seen. And all it takes is an NFL scout to fall in love with him. He could go in the 3rd and I wouldn't be surprised whatsoever.

Incredible footwork that could be the best in the class and definitely puts Bradford to shame. I mean, really great footwork. He steps into the rush well and extends plays. This is an underrated skill. It demonstrates that the QB isn't fazed by pressure. Slightly unorthodox throwing motion that shouldn't need too much tinkering (unlike Tebow who will be torn down and rebuilt). His arm strength is adequate and he can make all of the throws but he has a bit of a windup on throws that require major zip, probably because he has worked in a system that only requires intermediate passing routes. The "escapability" won't be there in the pros and he'll learn that quickly, that isn't a fault though.

Good size, not plus size, but adequate. He is comparable to Clausen in that regard. As long as he reaches the minimum "6'2 210" at his pro-day, he should be ok.

He is similar to Bradford and Tebow insofar as he has never made an NFL read and most college QBs haven't...but going from one or two checkdowns to route progressions can be daunting. You can only guess with QBs if they will be able to make that jump. I think he can. As you said, he is a smart kid.

His accuracy is plus, especially on out-routes (which is huge, the windows on those throws are tiny). Like hitting .300 in baseball, NFL scouts look for a minimum 60% completion rate from college QBs. Occasionally there are exceptions (Josh Freeman to Tampa last year) but that prospect must have other traits that overwhelm scouts. As far as I know, accuracy cannot be improved. You either have it or you don't. It might be forged during younger years of development or genetics but all I know is that I have yet to see a quarterback older than 18 drastically improve his accuracy. But yes, Kafka is deadly accurate.

Seems tough enough. Being a mobile QB, he has put himself in danger multiple times.

Can't comment on "leadership" but I find most "intangible" talk to be garbage. If you hang your hat on "intangibles" you have serious issues as a prospect (Tebow).

He will be at worst a career backup but I think his future is brighter than that. At best, a Belichick gets a hold of him and makes him a quality starter.

I say this without hyperbole. If you replaced Bradford with Kafka in Oklahoma the dropoff wouldn't have been drastic...then again, I think Bradford is a 2-4 round pick.

If Kafka was an inch taller and played for USC, he would be a first round pick right now.

and I don't think he is the "project" that many are making him out to be, but I'd recommend he sit out at least one full season.


Many people will criticize me later for not holding the "system QB" against him when I'll hold it against Tebow and Bradford but I don't really find them comparable. Bradford looked legitimately lost when his checkdowns weren't there and Tebow looked suicidal after the scouts at the Senior Bowl put him under center and started forcing NFL reads on him.

___________________

Wootton is a solid prospect. In the mold of Kyle Moore or Chris Canty. A prototypical Left End anchor. The man is massive and he moves well, his 40 is going to impress. He will have to put on some weight though. His lower body has room for growth. He just has freaky athleticism. I've only seen one game and he drove through his blocker in a manner similar to Jarron Gilbert. That is probably a good comparison. Raw, athletic freak that needs to gain weight and some coaching. I can't comment on his motor but his production suggests that he could up it a notch or two. The injury concerns are just that, a concern. He produced one year, suffered an injury and quieted down a bit. His bull-rush is tops in the class but he didn't use it often. He prefers to beat his blocker around the end instead of using his hands. He seems to be on assignment on every snap instead of being set loose to attack the ball. His coaches might question his instincts or they just might run a system that requires DEs to play a role.

He won't bounce inside. At 6'6/6'7 (and a lanky one at that) he already plays tall. He wouldn't be able to collapse the pocket and would probably get destroyed trying to get under the offensive linemen. Any more than 6'4 and you start to push it. He'd have to gain 50 pounds of bulk to take the beating as a 3-4 NT and 30 to be a 4-3 NT.

He has the talent to go in the first two rounds most years and could go in the second round this year, but I suspect he falls to the third because of the class depth and a lack of elite production.

I like him in the 3-4 because of his tenacity in the gaps and ability to draw multiple blockers but he could man LE in a 4-3 without any difficulty.

I really hope he finds his way to a 5-tech.

[Transmogrified Tiger]

That's fascinating stuff Lebanon, thanks for sharing. If you don't mind, do you have opinions(however brief) on a couple guys I've seen speculated by the Chiefs, Okung, McClain, and Haden?