Where Copanut Makes a Mockery of Mock Drafts
As I’ve said before, I’m pretty much always wrong about the draft from top to bottom. Then again the experts are usually wrong too, so what the hell.
This isn’t so much a mock draft as a list of the kinds of picks I’d like to see in the first four rounds. Bear in mind that I haven’t watched tape and am going only by various descriptions I’ve seen on these prospects. Also, I’m not taking character issues into consideration because I haven’t seen a lot of insight in that regard.
- Round 1: Darqueze Dennard (CB Michigan State) or Eric Ebron (TE North Carolina)
- Round 2: Austin Seferian-Jenkins (TE Washington) or Marcus Roberson (CB Florida)
- Round 3-c: Daniel McCullers (NT Tennessee)
- Round 4: Terrence Brooks (FS Florida State)
- Round 4-c: Brandon Coleman (WR Rutgers)
- Round 4-c: Terrance West (RB Towson)
In subsequent rounds, I’d stock up on best available DL, LB, CB, and S prospects. I’d be tempted to spend one of those late round picks on a top punter.
I know the nose tackle is further down than some would like, but I think there has to be a realization that the team will have to live with its current NT situation for a year or two until someone big can be developed. McCullers is a mammoth human specimen that could be that guy in 2015. Here is his analysis from CBS Sports:
STRENGTHS: Despite his inexperience, McCullers’ size and ability to disrupt things from the middle often made him the focus of an opponent’s blocking scheme. Has been double-teamed on most snaps and has even seen triple-team blocks often. Despite the attention, McCullers’ size and strength make him tough to move in the running game. He plays with better leverage than one might expect given his frame, holding up well inside and sliding off blockers to handle two-gap responsibilities when playing the 3-4 nose guard. He was equally impressive against the run when Tennessee switched to a four-man front in 2012.
WEAKNESSES: While McCullers’ is tough against the run, he offers little in terms of a pass rush. He certainly has the strength to simply push opponents into the pocket but possesses below average foot-quickness and lateral agility.
I would also try to supplement this with a decent FS and/ or CB from free agency, if available.
There you have it. Blast away.
Copa, I’m right there with you with Darqueze Dennard. Watched him in 3 games this season and was sold on him early November as our #1 pick. I also like your West pick in the 7th round, not saying he will crack the rotation his rookie year, but like him as 2-3 year project
if i’m not mistaken mccullers checks in about 6-6 ish…thats pretty tall for a NT…he might get leveraged out too much, but he also goes about 350…
McCullers also has ridiculously long arms, even for a 6’6″ guy (35-5/8 officially measured at the Senior Bowl). It could work. It really depends on the length of his inseam as compared to his torso. Vince Wilfork is a little over 6’2″, Ta’amu is a little over 6’3″. But, proportionally they have long torsos and shorter legs and are big wide guys. It’s hard to say whether McCullers is a good NT prospect without knowing more about his proportions and these measurements are taken by scouts but not reported in a way that makes them available to us.
The larger question about McCullers is his history of problems with conditioning and weight control. Does he have a handle on it? This is not a physically gifted, athletic freak like Casey was. While strong enough to push a pocket, he’s too slow to ever be a pass rushing threat. Given his measurements, you would think that he might be better suited to be a 3-4 DE.
Yep, he’s a moose. I’ve seen him listed as tall as 6’8″, which admittedly is unusually tall for a NT. What caught my attention is the description that he routinely gobbles up double and even triple teams and is a brick in the run game. If that can be translated to the pro game, that might be just the ticket to free up linebackers and to allow the secondary to not play up too often. Also, you’d like to think somebody that tall can manage to bat down a few passes even if he’s not an agile rusher.
I’d feel a lot more comfortable spending a 4th round pick on a two down player than a top 15 pick, provided he projects to be able to do the job after some grooming. Don’t know if that’s the case here, but he seems worth a look.
McCullers’ official measurements from the Senior Bowl: height (6-6), weight (348), wingspan (85 1/2) and arm length (35 5/8) with the second-largest hands (10 5/8)
According to Dave Bryan, McCullers is actually 6’6-7/8″ tall. It makes you wonder how and why these teams are looking at him as a NT, pretty much exclusively.
All other measurements the same. I took them from Walter Football before.
Michigan State cornerback Darqueze Dennard is one of the top cornerbacks in the 2014 NFL Draft class, but there is a growing concern among the scouting community that he does not have the speed or ability to cover off-man to be a top corner at the next level.
Dennard had the opportunity to prove his doubters wrong at the Senior Bowl this week in Mobile, Alabama, but he decided not to play this week and now the questions will remain.
Mike Mayock of the NFL Network was discussing the decision by Dennard during today’s coverage of the Senior Bowl practice, when he shed some light on the concerns that are currently out there about Dennard’s game.
“I look at this kid, and I had this conversation with a general manager and a head coach this morning, and their point was, ‘Listen, we know he can press, we know he’s tough, but we need to see him off. And if he doesn’t show up, we assume he can’t do it. Not that he can do it,” Mayock said, via NFL.com.
Dennard will have the ability to answer questions about his speed at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis next month, but if his 40-yard dash time leaves a lot to be desired he could be wishing that he showed up in Mobile to show what he can do.
mccullers at those measurements i’d say is an end….not that having a stout run stuffer there is an issue….it’s needed…
i wonder if the powers that be would ask bell about dennard or if that ship sailed with rainey…
From what I’ve read, every team is evaluating him as a NT because of his ability to occupy multiple blockers. If he has that long torso, short legged build, it could definitely work.
I won’t make my predictions until I see who the Steelers bring in for a visit. The last few years those players have wound up on the team.
Clearly Copanut knows as little about football and the Steelers as Tomlin does. This team needs offense. They can pick up a couple of free agents and plug holes in the defense for a year or two.
1st, they need a big receiver. I have it on authority that the Steelers are downplaying their interest in Allen Robinson because they want to take him in the 1st round. He’s 6’3” weighs 220 lbs and can really fly.
Next, they need a tight end. Marcel Jensen from Fresno State is a big pass catcher from a small school who should be able to fly under the radar long enough to last into the 2nd round.
After that, they need to take a running back. Jeremy Hill is a big back that should be there in the 3rd round and will be an upgrade to Redman or Dwyer.
In the 4th round they should get a left tackle that Munchak can mold into a long term blindside protector. Billy Turner from North Dakota State is lighting them up at the Senior Bowl this week and should still be there.
After that, they can pick up some developmental LBs and CBs.
Dude, do you have internet access on the yacht? Cool. Party time!!
Redman?
Steveo is a genius. I miss him.