2007 Mock Draft Trends

[ExiledRaven]

http://www.northwestscouting.com/whats_new_2.html

I just noticed that, I was a bit hungover this morning. Rouse is the round 2 pick.

Past history is:
Jan 1-21: Michael Bush
Jan 22-28: Levi Brown
Jan 29-Feb4: Levi Brown
Feb5-Feb11: Justin Blalock
Feb12-Feb18: Justin Blalock
Feb19-Feb25: Justin Blalock
Feb26-Mar4: Tank Tyler
Mar5-Mar11: Justin Blalock
Mar12-mar19: Justin Blalock
Mar20-Mar25: Justin Blalock
Mar26-Apr1: Justin Blalock

Let me know if you think it's awful and I can remove it outside of my error.

I am updating the front page now.

[jonboy79]

What if Terry plays well on the right side? If that's the case, you can bring in a left tackle..

You could, but then I promise that if you want to keep Terry, you will be paying him as the Highest paid RT ever until he left. He will paid as a LT here or elsewhere. Since I believe he is already at least an average LT, it might as well be here playing the position that I feel he can be an ProBowler at, rather then one he plays well at. So we can pay him top dollar to be an animal on the Left(though a step from Ogden of course), or you can pay him top dollar to play well, at a less important position. It's how I see it, right or wrong.

A first round interior lineman outside of Kalil doesn't make sense to me, and Kalil only because then Chester gets shifted over to RG instead of playing C..

I couldn't disagree more. If there is one player I feel is even less of a fit on this team then Staley it's Kalil. It's not a know to either of them, I just DO NOT WANT them on the Raven's. I don't think they fit at all. Kalil would mean we have three undersized, weak POA young Centers, plus Flynn. Kalil is a weaker, smaller, more experienced Chester... Only Chester started a couple of NFL games, and didn't embarrass himself. To me, he did show however that RG will nto be his best position. He simply did not get enough push. Brown was underwhelming as well. Both Guys were excellent pass blockers, and did surroung Flynn, the human turnstyle. I believe they will improve at the POA, but neither is likely to ever put in a Larry Allen in his prime like performance in the Run Game. Blalock, I believe can, and that is precisely what this team is missing, IMO.

Eg. Donte Whitner "20s" and turns out 3-4 teams had him in the top 13.

I thought it was pretty cool the consensus #1 selection finally changed for the first time. It makes tracking this more interesting.

Believe it or not, by the time the draft came, I was happy with the thoguht that the Ravens would be left with Whitner at 13. I had visions of Ernie Sims and Ngata being gone, leaving Whitner as Need adjsuted BPA.

my top 13 was along the lines of:
Bush
Cutler
Leinart
Williams
Huff
Ngata
Young
Brick
Hawk
Sims
Whitner
Winston Justice
Vernon Davis


I agree that dynamic dissention among Mocks is precisely what makes them interesting. It is what makes them discussion worthy. I find it very intersting to see draft boards change in the offseason. I am certain that a teams board changes far less then Mocks do.

[ExiledRaven]

Oh, yeah, team boards probably don't change much at all. They're spending time disseminating information while fans are sitting around and trying to sort through disinformation and media hype without meat and potatoes film or numbers.

I see the point about run blocking and being physically imposing on the line.

Boil it down and it basically amounts to me being afraid of a 1 dimensional players. If there were a one-dimensional line, I'd want it to be a pass-protecting line. You can always run short outs, screens, and delayed draws. But you'll have trouble running unless the Browns don't learn how to tackle.

Difference of opinion, but your points do make sense. It's just a matter of approach. Draft day will tell a lot about the future...

[jonboy79]

.

Boil it down and it basically amounts to me being afraid of a 1 dimensional players. If there were a one-dimensional line, I'd want it to be a pass-protecting line. You can always run short outs, screens, and delayed draws. But you'll have trouble running unless the Browns don't learn how to tackle.
...

True... I don'tt hink that Blalock is one dimensional, btu he is CERTAINLY better in the run game then the pass. The other thing I'd say, is if OLINE players are rone dimmensional, it better be run right and pass left. A line of Terry-Brown-Chester-Blalock-Ugoh would certainly follow that philosophy. Terry and Brown thus far have been weak in the run game,and Blalock and Ugoh are expected to be weaker in pass -pro and Maulers. At least Stevie Mac can see the rush develop on that side. I certainly am not looking to get back to the '03 style line where they move anything in front of them, btu let stuff slip through the cracks like it's their job.
If we had Peyton or Carson I would be all over Kalil and Staley. We could have a truly elite PassPro line then. Mac can't throw the deep out, can't rifle one in the seem to Heap before the safety comes over. Well, he either can't throw it, or is afreid to. Because we can't fully attack a D though the air, we need to establish a consistent and strong run game. Last year that was not the case.

[UKRavenStockers]

Going on round 2 and just using this for general draft chat:

- Rick Neuheisel attended Trent Edwards' pro day at Stanford and reportedly came away very impressed.

Edwards I like as a project QB to sit behind McNair if we're giving up on Boller. I wouldn't expressedly 'want' to get him, but I'd not be fussed if we did pick him up.

[jonboy79]

Going on round 2 and just using this for general draft chat:

- Rick Neuheisel attended Trent Edwards' pro day at Stanford and reportedly came away very impressed.

Edwards I like as a project QB to sit behind McNair if we're giving up on Boller. I wouldn't expressedly 'want' to get him, but I'd not be fussed if we did pick him up.

I agree with your thoughts on thsi matter. I'd put him around the same area as Kolb, behind Stanton, and Beck. If Stanton drops in the 2nd that is our Best chance to get a real Franchise QB, but I think we have bigger needs then QB in the second rd. Unfortunately I doubt Stanton makes it to the 4th, so I hope we get Beck, or Edwards I guess.

[ExiledRaven]

Yes, I wouldn't be averse to Kolb, Edwards, or Beck in the 4th if that ends up happening.

We'll see. I'm very interested to see what happens of this friendly debate over o-lineman type (ie blalock-beekman type compared to grubbs-kalil-staley).

Time will tell. Be nice to get some DT/DE depth in later rounds as well.

[jonboy79]

We'll see. I'm very interested to see what happens of this friendly debate over o-lineman type (ie blalock-beekman type compared to grubbs-kalil-staley)..

I agree, as long as Oline is addressed I will be happy. Despite my ramblings, if we drafted Kalil and Staly, cringe, I would be happy, as at least it were addressed heavily early, and we would have a CLEAR picture of the team going forward. Grubbs, I think Fits right in the middle, as does Ugoh. Coincidentally I liek them both.

Time will tell. Be nice to get some DT/DE depth in later rounds as well.

I agree, btu it's not something thought of often enough. I think a FUll Size DE on day one would not be a bad idea. If we don't see an extension for Suggs before camp, I don't expect to see him next year. It may not be the worst thing in the world, as he will fetch $10m per year with more then $20m up front. He is young, jsut entering his prime, but DAMN, that's a LOT of money. I, personally would pay it, but I'm not sure Ozzie will.

[ExiledRaven]

Suggs is important, but I was thinking about a 3-4 DE that might be able to play 4-3 DT or DE....ie, someone like Pryce.

and yes, Grubb and Ugoh are in the middle. Ugoh is a big stretch at 29, Grubbs may be as well, but he's more worthy than Beekman, Sears, etc by far.

I may be the only one in the athletic motion focused offensive line club. That's ok though.

[UKRavenStockers]

I've been saying DT/DE on day one since the start and specifically remember saying a month or two back that Baraka Atkins was my main target in the draft to get in round 2. Tremendous talent and was always the man I saw doubled on Miami's line.

Any-one of Atkins, Ray McDonald (Florida) or IkaIka Aliama Francis would be ideal IMO. But it all depends upon what defensive front we're going to, 3-4 or 4-3. Not sure we've got the guys in reserve to stick with the versatility for much longer so I think we need to take the top talent now to set our stall out for what front we're sticking with.

[festivus]

But it all depends upon what defensive front we're going to, 3-4 or 4-3.

I would guess, to put the horse in front of the cart, the right front depends on the personnel. So drafting a stud DT might suggest to Rex a 4-3, rather than Rex suggesting a 4-3 so the FO hopes there's a stud DT there in round 2.

:2c:

[UKRavenStockers]

I would guess, to put the horse in front of the cart, the right front depends on the personnel. So drafting a stud DT might suggest to Rex a 4-3, rather than Rex suggesting a 4-3 so the FO hopes there's a stud DT there in round 2.

:2c:

This is very true. But with drafting Ngata and Gregg not going anywhere soon (I hope, knock on wood etc.) that we'll be going 4-3. In which case we'll need two new ends in short order (a year or two) because we have zilch behind Pryce and I'm just paranoid about how long he can kick that nasty injury habit for before he needs his fix again (this was his first injury free season for yonks) and as mentioned just above, Suggs may not be long for the Charm City, though I think a franchise tag may be headed in his direction.

[PurpleRulz]

On PFT, they have their fifth mock up and it is through two rounds. In round 1 (29), they have us taking Ryan Kalil, and in the second round, they have us taking Drew Stanton. I like the Kalil pick, but dislike the Stanton pick. I challenge the credibility of this mock, because they have Justin Blalock falling all the way to the lower second round.

[UKRavenStockers]

Just looking at that PFT mock now and my thoughts:

- Bowe at 9 is absolutely disgusting.
- Meacham at 14 would be an entirely unnecessary reach for the Panthers.
- Brown at 17 would make zero sense for the Jags when they have Barnes and just threw money at Pashos.
- Wright at 19 for the Titans would make no sense after the trouble the Titans just got into with their last high talent, zero character corner.
- Alan Branch to 21 seems unlikely, though not unreasonable.
- Carriker at 24 I can't see happening in a million years, if he fell to 20 and I were Ozzie I'd be chomping at the bit to trade up and get him.
- Chris Henry in the 2nd for the Titans seems unlikely with the fact that they're currently negotiating a contract with Michael Turner and banging out compensation with the Chargers if reports are true.
- Stanton I just wouldn't particularly like but wouldn't be especially bothered by. With Carr going to Carolina though, I now get the feeling Boller ain't going anywhere and will be the next starter after Steve McNair in Baltimore.

Seems some absolutely ridiculous picks in there..

[Art-Florida]

Those people had to have been sniffing glue or something. (is that still done these days?)

Their site worsens. Aside from the endless 'nicknames' they invent and no one cares about, the random popup ads are getting more and more obnoxious. PFT is a sophomoric site that is growing less useful daily.

[ExiledRaven]

updated.

[ExiledRaven]

updated

[festivus]

ER, thanks for keeping it updated. Could you bump down the OP, so the graphics on the right hand side don't obstruct the key to the first graph?

Thanks.

[ExiledRaven]

Sure thing.

I've got a feeling that neither blalock nor staley will be here. Time will tell.

[UKRavenStockers]

Staley I don't think will be, dude's climbing high, mobility and footwork are superb and has very good upside. Brown's mobility and footwork are limited, he could start falling? I'm hoping.

Not too bothered about Blalock really, don't value guards in the first round.

Did a quick run through of my dream mock on another site earlier, here's what I came up with:

Round 1 - Levi Brown would be ideal and could fall, but doubt he will get past the Giants or Chiefs. Saving that Ryan Kalil is my dream, locks up the centre spot for a decade.

Round 2 - Baraka Atkins - Really really like this guy, size, speed, strength. Won't see the double teams in the pros that he saw in college and could flourish backing up Trevor Pryce and succeeding him when the injury bug bites again.

4th (Comp 1) - Mike Walker - WR - UCF - Not particularly a need but I had him in my fantasy team this year and just really think he's a very good prospect from watching him a couple of times and reading up on him. Comparable to Brandon Marshall and favourably so IMO.

4th (Comp 2) - Stephon Heyer - OT - Maryland - Token Terp, extremely solid this year, wingspan of a 747, giant of a man and can be a decent stop gap at RT if we can't find anytyhing better.

5th - Rory Johnson - LB - Ole' Miss - Played next to Willis for the Rebels and looked damned good in there, may have made plays off of Willis but that'll remain to be seen, looked like a solid prospect that I saw.

5th (Comp) - Garrett Wolfe - RB - Northern Illinois - Size? Yes but he's got an awesomely fast cut and decent speed, plus he's my boy.

6th - Samson Satele - G/C - Strength at point of attack, versatility inside.

6th (Comp) - Tim Castille - FB - Alabama - 'bama connection for Ozzie, with Ovie gone we need some competition for Justin Green at FB.


EDIT - Possibly exchange Matt Moore for Samson Satele.