Thread: 2011 NFL DRAFT!!!!

I am ATX-PLEX, so you know I have to rep for my UT LOnghorns. I am intrigued by the draft prospects of most all of the texas players. When you play for texas i have noticed there are a couple of dynamics that seem to be consistent throughout the history of UT sports, in the Mack Brown era....I'll get to Mack another time in another thread. The consistent thing is that UT produces incredible athletes. The strength and conditioning program/facilities is what allures recruits to Texas. They become elite athletes.

I am getting at one thing though. texas recruits from such a talent pool that players get scared away because, some might be riding the bench at UT instead of starting for another team. This happens, Texas produces good NFL prospects from their Bench. They dont have the college production of some because of the sheer amount of talent around them. Texas rotates so many defensive players I dont even know their names. I know that this is the case with any big program but it seems most evident to me in Texas, where the high school football talent pool is so large.

Texas has a number of defensive prospects in this years draft that i imagine you will see drafted in the 1st-2nd-3rd round.

SAm Acho- College DE/possible 3-4 OLB conversion because of his size and athletic abitility. he is the one player who stood out when I watched texas games on defense. maybe it was the name...what a perfect name for a LB or DE. He is an academic all american who graduated with a 3.55 GPA. he also beasted the combine and has fluid movement skills. I can see a 3-4 team taking him in the late 1st for a conversion to OLB. I see him as the 4th best possible 3-4 olb behind , Vonn Miller(who might be better suited for 4-3 OLB or DE at which he excelled in college), Robert Quinn(most likely a 4-3 end although he does have the elite size/strength/speed/athleticism to play OLB in the 3-4, he is probably the perfect size for a PArcells OLB), and Aldon Smith(another college De, who seems vvery upright to me, but his upside is huge. he projects to 3-4 OLb or DE, if he were to bulk up a bit.). With those three players projected to go early in drafts watch for SAm acho to slip into the first or be a 2nd round pick.

Texas has a trio of Db's coming out for this years draft. All three have incredible all around althelticism. Texas is known to produce quality Db's. I dont really know their individual styles of play too well. To be honest texas rotates so many players in the secondary, id have to go watch the last season over again , which i dont want to do. They all bettered their combine 40 numbers at the TX pro day. NFL.com network claims that the TExas indoor track is extremely fast and the combine numbers are probably more accurate.....Michael Lombardi has ATX-PLEX. Everyone has each of these corners projected to a nickel role in the pros.

AAron Williams-Some have him pegged to go as high as the 1st round. he only ran 4.56 at the combine. he did pop out on tape because of his feisty demeanor. He seemed to play with a lot of heart. When i watched his drills he did not look nearly as fluid as Curtis brown, but Aaron is better suited for a Nickel Corner who can cover the slot and come up in run support when the offense runs on their nickel. he made alot of tackles at texas and this will serve his draft stock well.

Curtis Brown-4.53 40, he competed very favorably in the other drills though, posting one of if not the highest vertical for a db, 39 inches, and some of the highest cone drill times. Prognosis- he is a very quick athlete who has elite change of direction skills. he is only 5'9 so his height and lack of top end speed could hurt him. People are talking of a conversion to safety. he could go from the 4th 5th or 6th best corner to the one of the best safety prospects. it will be interesting to see.

Chykie Brown-4.50 combine. Tog give you an example of the Texas fast track, he ran a 4.39 40 at the Ut pro day. hey man thats why you go to texas. We have the fastest track, the fastest pool, the fastest path to insobriety....... He looks fluid and seems to be the one with the least hype. He also jumps 39 vertical inches. He could be very good.

Originally Posted by kANG

I will be working on mock 2.0 stand by for results

I have been standing by for you and Red for a month now. You better give me a proper mock you slackers. :P

Someone explain to me why Cam Newton is being considered the number 1 overall pick right now? Honestly he tanked at the combine in throwing exercises, and personally I dont put any faith in someone whos draft stock rose in the offseason with out playing a game or taking a snap under center. Its a shame that Carolina is almost going to be forced into taking him.

If Carolina is smart they will trade down to some other sucker of a team, like the Redskins, who will be glad to take Newton #1. Carolina already spent a draft pick on Clausen last year, so you want a shitty 2nd year QB AND and shitty rookie QB on your roster?

Originally Posted by DuDDy

Someone explain to me why Cam Newton is being considered the number 1 overall pick right now? Honestly he tanked at the combine in throwing exercises, and personally I dont put any faith in someone whos draft stock rose in the offseason with out playing a game or taking a snap under center. Its a shame that Carolina is almost going to be forced into taking him.

The reasoning I've heard, is because the belief is someone (in my opinion someone who is idiotic) will trade up to get him at #1, afraid if they don't Carolina will take him.


On another topic, was reading the Sporting News scouting on the QBs, and found it funny they ranked Cam as the 4th best QB in the class, behind Gabbert, Kaepernick, and Ponder. Also their opinion was Gabberts crap accuracy was due to crappy footwork then anything else.

Originally Posted by DuDDy

Someone explain to me why Cam Newton is being considered the number 1 overall pick right now? Honestly he tanked at the combine in throwing exercises, and personally I dont put any faith in someone whos draft stock rose in the offseason with out playing a game or taking a snap under center. Its a shame that Carolina is almost going to be forced into taking him.

Next JaMarcus Russell.

Originally Posted by ninja|oaklandr

Next JaMarcus Russell.

he very well could be. is he going to be addicted to codeine as well?

Liked this chart:

A quickie 10 pick mock, Its somewhat....different lets say so I wouldn't hedge any bets on it happening xD

Carolina: Cam Newton
Denver: Dareus
Buffalo: Von Miller
Cinci: A.J. Green
Arizona: Peterson
Cleveland: Robert Quinn
San Francisco: Prince Amukamara
Tennessee: Jake Locker
Dallas: Nick Fairley
Washington: Blaine Gabbert

Cleveland and San Francisco were incredibly tough to figure out, in the end went with Cleveland going after a more "sure" thing (though I don't consider Quinn a sure thing, but people seem pretty iffy on Fairley). San Fran was tough, Quinn or Peterson would be the obvious, to me, if they were still available. With them gone, its was reach for a OLB, or go for a cornerback. Don't think Prince is that good, but don't think Smith will make the top 10 (though he probably should). I think, if it goes this way, San Fran trying to trade down with say a Minnesota might be a strong idea, if they can do it (I think Minnesota would like Gabbert or Locker, and would be panicking over Washington and Tenn getting them).

The most radical is probably Locker going at 8, going off some reading about Tenn seeming to be pretty interested in getting Locker, and mentioned above, I'm sure they know either Minnesota or Washington will nab him if they wait. I wouldn't be shocked if Tenn goes a direction away from QB all together, or trades down, but really not much that jumps off the page at the 8 spot, outside of Fairley.

I can't see Fairley dropping out of the top 10, and what the hell else would Dallas draft in this situation? They could go OL, but don't have a history of liking to make 1st round OL picks. I think they will want to try to use Fairley in the NT position, not sure he would work there, but you can always try :P. I mainly see it as a BPA pick over anything else, like I said, not much else there you can BPA (outside of Gabbert). They could take a gamble on Jimmy Smith if they really want a CB badly, but not sure that is the case.

I'll try to get the rest done today, and see how badly it does tomorrow night , I'm sure one team will make a pick that pisses me off (It can be like March Madness all over again, without the whole game playing )

Well this is what I would like to see the Vikings do with this draft. In the first round take an offensive lineman. This addition helps to make our best weapon even better. And in the second round either trade up or stay where you are at and take either Jake Locker or Ryan Mallet. The value for a QB is not in the first round, and we should hold off on it in hopes of securing one of these two in the second round.