The 5th annual SR.COM "Official" Mock Draft 1st round: COMPLETE is on the clock...
Indianapolis (2-14)-- Andrew Luck, QB Stanford
Washington - from St. Louis (2-14)-- Robert Griffin III, QB Baylor
Minnesota (3-13)-- Matt Kalil, T USC
Cleveland (4-12)-- Trent Richardson, RB Alabama
Jacksonville (5-11) - from Tampa Bay -- Justin Blackmon, WR Oklahoma St.
St. Louis - from Washington (5-11)-- Morris Claiborne, CB LSU
Tampa Bay (4-12) - from Jacksonville -- Luke Kuechley, LB Boston College
Miami (6-10) --Ryan Tannehill, QB Texas A&M
Carolina (6-10) Quinton Coples, DE, UNC
Buffalo (6-10) Riley Reiff, OT Iowa
Kansas City (7-9) David DeCastro, OG, Stanford
Seattle (7-9) Melvin Ingram, DE, South Carolina
Arizona (8-8) Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford
Dallas (8-8) Courtney Upshaw, OLB/DE, Alabama
Philadelphia (8-8) Fletcher Cox, DE/DT MS State
New York Jets (8-8) Michael Floyd, WR ND
Cincinnati - from Oakland (8-8) Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama
San Diego (8-8) Nick Perry DE/OLB USC
Chicago (8-8) Mike Adams, OT, Ohio State University
Tennessee (9-7)Whitney Mercilus, DE, Illinois
Cincinnati* (9-7) Cordy Glenn, OG, Georgia
Cleveland - from Atlanta* (10-6) Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
Detroit* (10-6) Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina
Pittsburgh* (12-4) Dont’a Hightower, LB Alabama
Denver* (8-8) Michael Brockers, DT, LSU
Cleveland (from Houston)* (10-6)Coby Fleener, TE, Stanford
New England - from New Orleans* (13-3)Mark Barron, Safety, Alabama
Green Bay* (15-1) Dontari Poe, DT, Memphis
Baltimore* (12-4) Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech
San Francisco* (13-3) Amini Silatolu, G, Midwestern State
New England* (13-3) Devon Still, DT, Penn State
New York Giants* (9-7) Alshon Jeffery, WR South Carolina
Trades:
-Jacksonville has traded its 1st rounder (#7) and 3rd rounder (#71) for Tampa's 1st (#5) and 6th (#164).
- Houston has traded the 26th overall pick to the Cleveland Browns for their 37th overall, 118th, and 211th
Trade Value Chart:
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The real glory is being knocked to your knees and then coming back. That's real glory. That's the essence of it.
- Vince Lombardi
Rock on! Letting it be known: the Cowboys may be interested in trading down from 14. If anyone wants to get froggy when our pick is up, Jerry Jones and I will be takin calls
While the Colts FO has done its due dilligence and explored all options there are in reality only one sensible choice to make here.
Therefore.....
With the first pick of the 2012 draft Indianapolis Colts draft.
QB Andrew Luck, Stanford
After the dismal season last year and the loss of future Hall of famer Peyton Manning, Colts needs to win big in the QB lottery. With Andrew Luck we are confident that we have done just that. He is a rare combination of a quarterback who has all the physical skills as well as the all important intangibles . Leadership, (football) intelligence and last but not least a strong will to just WIN.
From CBSsports
Quote:
Accuracy: Possesses extraordinary accuracy to all levels of the field. Consistently throws his receivers open, leading his receivers to where the defenders are least likely to be able to impact the reception or stop the receiver from gaining additional yardage. Zips the deep out low and outside. Excellent touch down the seam to fit the ball between the linebacker and safety over the top. Leads his backs on swing passes and receivers on slants/crossers so that they do not have to break stride. Rare accuracy extends to the deep ball, as well, as he throws a tight spiral with good trajectory that makes his passes easy to track over the shoulder. Trusts his accuracy too much, at times, showing a willingness to throw too often into coverage. In his two multiple INT games of his young career (Oregon 2010, Arizona State 2010) all four of his interceptions were thrown into double coverage.
Arm Strength: Doesn't boast a Matt Stafford-like howitzer, but has plenty of arm strength to make every NFL throw. Fires the deep out from the opposite hash without having to wind up. Confident in the pocket despite pressure around him, as he's shown the ability to make 50+ yard throws even with defenders pulling him down (Arizona State).
Setup/Release: Takes virtually all of his snaps from under center. Quick-footed and balanced in dropping back, scanning the field. Clearly is comfortable in the pocket, stepping up, sliding left or right and dipping his shoulder to avoid contact while setting up to throw. Rarely retreats or takes his way away from the secondary to look at the rush. Boasts a textbook throwing motion. Has an efficient over-the-top release, stepping into the throw and ending with a clean follow-through. The ball doesn't explode out of his hand as it does some passers with greater arm strength, but the fluid motion -- like a smooth golf swing -- generates plenty of torque.
Reading Defenses: Put simply, it is Luck's recognition of defenses that might be his most extraordinary accomplishment. Had full freedom to call audibles at the line and takes advantage of his recognition to improve the offense's chance at a successful play, including often switching from passing plays to handoffs and bootlegs. Often will look one way and throw the other, leaving defenders with very little time to react. As mentioned previously, he does need to improve his decision-making, at times, as he will occasionally take unnecessary risks throwing the ball into double coverage.
On The Move: Perhaps the most underrated element of his game. Possesses very good straight-line speed for the quarterback position, as well as vision, enough mobility to evade defenders in the open field (not in tight quarters, however) and good strength. Doesn't take unnecessary hits and looks to slide or run out of bounds when he scrambles, but isn't afraid of lowering his shoulder to get the first down or score.
Intangibles: A winner who helped elevate the Stanford program. Highly intelligent; was the valedictorian at Stratford High. Elected to return for his fourth year at Stanford in large part due to the fact that he wanted to finish his degree. Father, Oliver Luck, is a former West Virginia and Houston Oiler quarterback who now serves as the Athletic Director at his alma mater
The Washington Redskins select: QB, Robert Griffin III, Baylor
Griffin has the arm strength and quick release to easily make any throw in the NFL including the deep out. In fact, he throws one of the best deep balls of all the passer in this year's draft. He also has phenomenal accuracy on passes to the short, intermediate, and deep part of the field. It's his potential as a dual threat, however, that makes him an intriguing and highly-coveted prospect. In short, he is the most athletic quarterback to enter the draft since Michael Vick and he is already a better passer than Vick ever was at the collegiate level.
Extremely intelligent with solid and quick decision-making abilities on the field, Griffin is already an accomplished pocket passer even if his mechanics aren't textbook. It's when he gets outside the pocket, though, that he is a nightmare to handle. As a world class hurdler, he has the natural agility and athletic ability to avoid and outrun would-be tacklers. Every time he gets outside the pocket, he could be a threat to go the distance.
Those picks were straight. No other option for either team.
Is that based on all we're hearing or is that your opinion?
Because I simply don't get this blanket assertion that this must be the way it goes. I don't buy the Andrew Luck is a slam dunk star NFL QB. I buy it more from Griffin and his cannon of an arm and deadly feet.
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Drew Brees is the best QB in the NFL.
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