With the 157th pick in the 2012 "Official" Mock Draft, the Tennessee Titans select
EMMANUEL ACHO, LB, TEXAS
With the departure of Barrett Ruud, the Titans were left with a need at the MLB position. Texas' Emmanuel Acho is a high-character, high-motor player who could come in to fill this need. He has experience playing inside for his first 3 years in a 3-4 at Texas, but shifted to the WILL last year when the Longhorns converted to a 4-3, so the question remains whether or not he'll be able to stay inside in a 4-3. Having posted a 4.73 40 at the combine, his athleticism isn't off the charts, but he is a smart, solid football player and a vocal leader.
You can't. Neither can the Raiders. Because not only do they not have a starter - they don't even have a legit backup! So they need help. They need the next Jimmy Graham...
The Raiders Select Taylor Thompson TE, SMU
Yes, that's him chasing a QB. Because he played DE in college. But NFL dudes think he can play TE and hope he can become the next Jimmy Graham. And being a Saints fan, it's easy to understand why you'd take a chance on a kid like this. Except I don't expect him to be around in the fith round come next Saturday. Word is someone could take a shot on Thompson as early as the third round.
Now normally there would be analysis of his ability as a TE right here. And we have no idea. Except he was originally recruited to play TE at SMU. He was a pretty good one in High School.
Thompson is 6-6 260, and ran a 4.56 at his pro day.
"Thompson had an outstanding workout. He caught the ball really well, moves really well, and probably went from an undrafted free agent to a bottom-third-, top-fourth-round type of guy. He’s just a really good athlete who projects in my top 100." - Gil Brandt
On a side note, much love to crosswatt for all your help and hard work.
I just KNEW that thompson or coryell judie was going to be there for my 5th round pick. They would've looked great in a bears uni. {sigh} such is life...
I've gone against BPA for my last two selections in the 3rd and 5th because i see a few guys who i have ranked as higher second and 3rd rounders still on the board. I guessed correctly that no one would pay attention to them, and they havent so far. If they are still there in the sixth i'll have no choice but to draft them. It's agonizing to see them fall.
__________________ ANTI-CAPITALIST/ANTI-AUTHORITARIAN.
"Civil government is in reality instituted for the defense of the rich against the poor. For those who have some property against those who have none at all." Adam Smith
With the 158th pick in the SR Mock Draft, the Bengals select Jaye Howard, DT, Florida.
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Strengths: Carries his weight well for his size and looks to be in much improved shape. Quick-footed with nimble agility and range to work up and down the line of scrimmage. Good get-off burst and quickness with natural explosion. Looks fluid when moving laterally and is a flexible and natural bender. Gets to plays in a hurry with smooth pursuit and penetration skills. Has very good awareness and uses his eyes well with field sense. Does a nice job getting his hands up at the line to knock down passes. Has a versatile skill-set with experience lining up at several different defensive line spots over his career.
Weaknesses: Possesses a narrow frame and lacks an ideal frame to add much more girth or bulk. Has underwhelming strength for the position and lacks raw power … too easily controlled by single blockers. Doesn't always finish and too easily gets locked up, struggling to shed. Has streaky snap anticipation and needs to develop better reaction skills. Recorded too many facemask and offsides penalties, struggling with poor discipline … easily jumps off hard counts. Lacks a wide array of pass rush moves and needs to finish after he gets his hands on ballcarriers. Was part of a defensive line rotation most of his career and was out-played by underclassmen the past few years. Battled a right ankle injury in 2010 and needs to stay conditioned.
NFL Comparison: Jarron Gilbert, Buffalo Bills-- Dane Brugler Jaye Howard, Florida, NFL Draft - CBSSports.com - NFLDraftScout.com
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Season Ticket Holder since Save our Saints!
With the 159th pick in the SR Mock Draft, the Atlanta Falcons select OT Donald Stephenson, Oklahoma Sooners.
Stephenson is rated the #10 OT in this draft class and 93rd out of the entire draft class. I would consider a steal this late in the 5th round. Real life projections have him going somewhere in the third with his stock climbing at this point in time.
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Strengths: Prototypical height and overall size. Impressive athleticism; ranked among top offensive linemen in all speed/agility drills at the combine. Definitely has the foot quickness to play left tackle. More than enough speed to get to the second level and to get downfield on screens. Nasty run blocker who plays with a mean streak. Does a nice job staying low and using leverage to anchor against the bull rush, an underrated skill for a tackle with his height. Strong upper body; can deliver a nice punch to smaller pass rusher to throw them off balance.
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Weaknesses: Suspended for entire 2009 season due to academics. Somewhat limited experience; only two years as a starter. Susceptible to double moves by more athletic pass rushers; tends to over-commit inside or outside depending on the defenders first step. Quickness off the snap is inconsistent; struggles to slide outside in time to get into position to slow down faster edge rushers.
Performance Stats
20 Yard Shuttle
4.78 seconds
3 Cone Drill
7.52 seconds
40 Yard Dash
4.94 seconds
Bench Press
19.0 reps
Broad Jump
114.0"
Vertical Jump
35.5"
Arm Length 34 7/8" Hand Size 9 7/8"
Stephenson is an intriguing prospect due to his size and athleticism. He has the raw skills necessary to play left tackle, which could allow him to come off the board earlier than his production would indicate. His best quality right now may be the intensity with which he plays. If that effort translates to a strong work ethic off the field, there’s reason to believe he could develop into a decent starter.
__________________ 2013 EXPERT Mock Draft Atlanta Falcons GM Rd 1: LB Alec Ogletree, UGA Rd 2: TE Gavin Escobar, SDSU Rd 4: DE Quanterus Smith, WKU Rd 6: CB Kip Edwards, UM Rd 6: DT Josh Boyd, MSU Rd 7: WR Marlon Brown, UGA Rd 7:OT Jason Weaver, Southern Miss Rd 7: RB Mike Gillislee, UF Rd 7: CB Micah Hyde, Iowa
The Jets have Shonn Greene and Joe McKnight, but this is pretty much a 3 back league with the best RB value coming from late round picks. Most teams these days just play a back until he hits his shelf and then let him go. Getting a solid back in the 5th round is great for the Jets.
This Texas A&M product is a solid well rounded back with great character and work ethic. His biggest knock is speed. But I wont complain when I get a slow back with 4.47 40-speed.
Here is a hard-working, hard-running, team-oriented athlete who will take on just about any assignment and probably do well at it.
A&M head coach Mike Sherman put Gray to work as a running back, slot receiver and returner and it paid big dividends. Gray started 29 games, played in 49, collected 3,298 yards and 30 touchdowns rushing; 776 yards (103 catches) and six scores receiving; and 2,349 yards and two more touchdowns on kickoff returns. That totaled 6,423 all purpose yards at that rate of 131.08 per game.
Last year he appeared in 11 games, starting five, and managed to lead the team in rushing (1,045 yards) despite missing two games with a stress fracture in his shoulder.
He has good strength (21 reps with 225 pounds on bench press coming off bad shoulder), surprising top end speed (reportedly had best of 4.40 seconds in 40 yards at scouting combine), and is an excellent blocker and receiver. Intangibles: Sherman referred to Gray as a "guy you want to marry your daughter" because of his attitude and work ethic on and off the field. Accepts whatever role he is given on the team, supports teammates who may get more touches. "We" player, deflects praise to teammates.
Overview
Gray is a well-rounded back who can block, run and catch the ball out of the backfield. He has great size and has been productive as a pass catcher throughout his career. He is highly elusive in the open field and understands the nuances of short-to-intermediate routes in the passing game. He is ideal for a screen-heavy team, as he has reliable hands and is patient when waiting for plays to develop. He likes to bounce the ball outside, sometimes too quickly, but he is effective when doing so. There are knocks on his game as an inside runner, which will keep him from getting drafted as an every-down back in the NFL. He does, however, bring value as a returner. Although not explosive, he is effective in this role. Look for him to be selected in the middle rounds. Strengths
Gray is a big and athletic back who hits the hole hard and is elusive for a man of his size. He is one of those natural runners who understands when to weave and when to run with power. He has been highly productive and his style of running with power in his legs makes him a reliable short-yardage option early in his career. Weaknesses
Gray is not a burner and can have slow feet at times. He usually picks his spots, but he can be hesitant in the backfield. Despite his size, he struggles as a pass protector at times. It takes Gray a few steps to reach full speed, and he won't be a threat to take it the distance at the next level.
__________________ 2013 JETS Mock: Rd 1 (9) - Chance Warmack, OG, AL Rd 2 (39) - Jesse Williams, NT, AL Rd 3 (83) - Travis Kelce, TE, Cinc Rd 3 (89) - Montee Ball, RB, Wisconsin Rd 5 (141) - Michael Buchanan, OLB, Illinois Rd 5 (163) - Dwayne Gratz, FS/CB, UConn Rd 7 (215) - Adrian Bushell, CB, Louisville
My Day job - HR Software
With the 160th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, the Detroit Lions select:
Asa Jackson, CB, Cal-Poly
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Draft Scout Snapshot: 2010: First-team All-Great West selection … Sports Network Third-Team All-American … Jackson recorded 55 total tackles (40 solo) along with a sack, two interceptions and nine pass breakups … returned 17 punts for 12.6 yards each. 2009: A first-team All-Great West Conference defensive back … fourth for the Mustangs with 48 total tackles (31 solo) … 3.0 tackles for lost yardage, intercepted a pair of passes and broke up six other pass plays … returned theft against South Dakota State 47 yards for a touchdown, tying the game at 14-14 just before halftime … returned 13 punts an average of 15.5 yards, a school record … missed 2010 Spring Game with a fractured wrist. 2008: As a true freshman notched 42 total tackles (35 solo), forced three fumbles, intercepted two passes (one in first career game as a Mustang at San Diego State, returning it 46 yards) and 10 pass breakups … other interception was against Southern Utah … three breakups against Wisconsin … seven tackles against UC Davis and six versus South Dakota State … named Great West Conference Freshman Player of the Year.
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More than a dozen former Warriors participated in Hawaii's Pro Day workout watched by personnel from 26 NFL teams in Carson, Calif. on Monday. The school moved its annual workout to California in recent years to make it easier for more scouts to attend. Ironically enough, arguably the the top-rated prospect at the event wasn't even a member of the Hawaii football team. Cal-Poly cornerback Asa Jackson was allowed to participate and rewarded scouts with his performance. Jackson, who fully participated in the Scouting Combine, shaved five hundredths of a second off of his 40-yard dash (4.44) from the time he posted in Indianapolis (4.49) and added three inches to his vertical jump (34.5"-37.5"). According to a source on the scene, Jackson also demonstrated very good mobility and burst during positional drills. Jackson is currently rated as the No. 25 cornerback in the 2012 draft by NFLDraftScout.com. He is amongst a strong group of so-called second and third tier prospects that make up arguably the deepest position in the draft.
With the 157th pick in the 2012 "Official" Mock Draft, the Tennessee Titans select
EMMANUEL ACHO, LB, TEXAS
With the departure of Barrett Ruud, the Titans were left with a need at the MLB position. Texas' Emmanuel Acho is a high-character, high-motor player who could come in to fill this need. He has experience playing inside for his first 3 years in a 3-4 at Texas, but shifted to the WILL last year when the Longhorns converted to a 4-3, so the question remains whether or not he'll be able to stay inside in a 4-3. Having posted a 4.73 40 at the combine, his athleticism isn't off the charts, but he is a smart, solid football player and a vocal leader.
Acho is a very nice pick. I was thinking about him a bunch the past day and I might've opted to take him a few picks back and pair him with his older brother Sam Acho.
Manny does have a high motor and is smart, but he'll need to hit the dining room to play at the next level.
The solid trio of Emmanuel Sanders, Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown might be solid this year, but next year is a different story. Mike Wallace is expected to return this season and sign his one year tender offer. Next year we anticipate him testing the market and he will demand a big contract. Sanders has also been injury prone at times missing playing time.
Junior Hemingway offers us good value in identifying a vertical threat and with his size and speed he can adjust to the ball and win most one on one battles in the air. We look forward to having him in the system and bringing him along slowly, even though we believe he could come in and produce day one. We would like to see him clean up his route running, and be more consistent making routine catches. But, there is no mistaking his big play ability and his ability to consistently get open in zone coverages.
Cleveland sent me his pick. The Browns select:
Justin Bethel, FS, Presbyterian
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The Two-time Big South Special Teams and Defensive Player of the Week was a Buck Buchanan Award finalist and a FCS College Football Performance Award DB, National DB and National Defensive Performance Award winner. He became the all-time leader in blocked kicks this season as well as the all-time leader in career solo blocks. Bethel leads the team in tackles with 87, 3.5 of which were for a loss. He has a sack to his credit and has recorded four interceptions, one of which he ran back for a touchdown against California, where he also had a blocked punt that he ran back for a score for the team's only points of the game. Bethel was a Big South Pre-season All-Conference Selection and earned the third All-Conference nod of his career and his and PC's first Defensive Player-of-the-Year award for his performance on the field this past season. Bethel was just the second defensive back to be named Big South Defensive Player of the Year and the first since 2003. Bethel was fourth in the league in tackles, third in passes defended and second in interceptions. He recorded double-digit tackles in four games, including a career-high 15 at Furman this season. Bethel is the PC career leader in tackles, as well as interceptions
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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
I have Houston's pick as well. The Texans select:
Cody Johnson, FB, Texas
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Strengths: Thickly-bodied athlete with solid girth on his frame … natural size and carries his weight well. A physical runner and tough finisher with very good leg drive to push the pile. Looks for contact, running with power and low pad level … bulldozing runner and looks to run over defenders. Seeks contact as a lead blocker and exhibits very good toughness. Was the team's leading rusher in 2010 and tallied 345 rushes over his career, seeing time as the team's primary running back at times … ran a lot of wildcat and racked up 36 career touchdowns. He is a vocal leader, uplifting his teammates on and off the field.
Weaknesses: Poor top-end speed and won't be able to run away from defenders at the next level … lacks the long speed to be anything but a short-yardage guy. Not overly explosive and is straight-linish, showing stiffness in his hips with limited change of direction ability as a runner and blocker … won't make defenders miss. Needs to improve his technique as both a run blocker and pass protector … unrefined and relies on his natural size. Tends to lunge and leave his feet when attempting to block moving targets. Doesn't have a lot of experience catching the ball out of the backfield (only 12 career catches). Scored two-thirds on his career TD total in his first two seasons and set career-lows in rushing as a senior despite nine starts (only one game with double-digit carries in 2011) … didn't fully capture opportunities to be the bell-cow runner for the Longhorns and watched his production decline.
NFL Comparison: Anthony Sherman, Arizona Cardinals
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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
I have Houston's pick as well. The Texans select:
Cody Johnson, FB, Texas
I really hoped he would continue to slide, maybe I should have taken him at 159. Top FB in the draft and I cringe when I think of the holes he will open for Foster. Pittsburgh may not have Mendenhal at the start of the season and while they have depth at RB, a top FB would have probably been a good idea. This is a solid pick.
We are at the point where we can read scary negatives about practically every player
left, (that is why they are left). Crap shoot for me from here on out, hope to get
lucky. Last year I had 2 comp picks in the 5th and took Ross Homan -cut by Vikings,
cut from TB practice squad, and Jah Reid (Ravens traded up in the 3rd to take
him...Bingo!)
This year has a similar feel 2 very late picks in the 5th and the more I read trying to
decide, the worse the players are sounding LOL.
I got sleepers I like in the 6th and 7th but the 5th is always where real gems are if
they can be found (last year Ravens took Pernell McPhee here (DE-MissSt) who
contributed 23 tackles, 6 Sacks!, 2 PD and 1 FF
Voted for the Saints pick, waiting to post if they are there in one more pick
They would've looked great in a bears uni. {sigh} such is life...
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