NFL Draft 2012

The Game Room
421

WOOT! They were good last season until key guys got injured late in the year. Mike Zimmer be working the magicka with the reclamation 1st round bust guys…I do think that the Bengals might have the most former first round picks on their defense…

Pacman, Reggie Nelson, Leon Hall, Manny Lawson, Nate Clements, Jamaal Anderson, Terrance Newman…

At any rate, I predict that the Bengals defense will once again rank in the NFL’s top 5 units…with their defensive line becoming a similar unit to that of the Giants…lots of upfront pressure and quality DB’s to halt the opponents passing game…AFCN look out!
• CBSSports.com’s Clark Judge’s Judgements

*Those footsteps you’re hearing, Baltimore and Pittsburgh, are the Cincinnati Bengals. They chose cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick with the pick they gained in the Carson Palmer deal and found guard Kevin Zeitler — a guy who had a staggering 142 knockdown blocks last season — at the 27th spot. In the past two drafts, they added A.J. Green, Andy Dalton, Kirkpatrick and Zeitler with their first four picks, one reason they’re narrowing the gap with the division frontrunners.
*

422

He set a conference record for receptions, and was athletic enough to helm their wildcat package.
All that I can do is offer this as an argument for his athletic ability.

423

So far I love:
[ul]
[li]49ers: Am I not contractually obligated to either love or hate my team’s draft? Under the theory that if you like a guy, take him, I took Jenkins myself in a mock draft. Therefore I am a genius. Just kidding. Still, imagine the points-allowed defense paired with an offense that suddenly has these two home-run hitters, plus the best of what we already had. A team that was a play or two away last year has some playmakers.[/li][li]Colts: In a complete overhaul of the offense, they picked many good players. I like the Colts, and I like Luck and especially Fleener. With the starters dwindling in the draft and still more holes to fill, they’d better take the best available DT and OL soon.[/li][li]Bengals: They got five guys I think should “hit.”[/li][li]Browns: I’m glad the 49ers got the Browns last season.[/li][li]Patriots: The defense that was a liability all last year suddenly got scary.[/li][/ul]
Hated:
[ul]
[li]Raiders: Of all the players available at the end of the night, all those guys that could be the hidden gem, the falling star, the doubted stud. The very top name on your board is… Tony Bergstrom?[/li][li]Seahawks: Over-drafted at every level. One might hit, I guess, but we were supposed to be making this division better, Petey.[/li][li]Jets: Did somebody stealthily swap your draft board with a SB Nation “2012 Draft Busts” article? Maybe a beat writer from Jonesboro?[/li][li]Saints: See Raiders commentary above. Also, “If you are a star linebacker in Canada, that just means you are a failed hockey player. Christie Allen, Val Kilmer, global warming.”[/li][/ul]

424

So John Hughes seems roughly the 500th ranked player on the draft, but the Browns needed him in round 3 when they could’ve signed him as a UDFA.

425

I remember when Aaron Rodgers fell because of his lack of athleticism

426

Really stoked about this draft so far for the Eagles. It’s one thing to get really excited and talk yourself into the players your team drafts, but this is the first time since I can remember paying attention closely that the Eagles are generally drafting all the guys the fans wanted beforehand. And not one has been a reach. I mean, I talked up Fletcher Cox and Nick Foles in the Pre-Draft thread, and damn near made a post last night about wanting Kendricks because he can play all three linebacker spots.

Vinny Curry was a mystery to me, but everything I read about him is positive. The only downside to most fans is Nick Foles, but I think he’s a future starter. And I think he’ll excel under Reid’s coaching. He isn’t just another Kolb or Kafka either. Unlike those guys he fantastic arm strength to go along with excellent accuracy. I’m really hoping he turns out, and knowing a little about him here in Tucson, I’m really confident he will. Just a fantastic draft so far.

Going into the draft I thought the Eagles had very few holes. I still think that was the case. There weren’t many spots they needed a first or second round pick to come in and immediately fill. But as the second day has passed, the Eagles now have a lot of holes to fill. There are a lot of depth spots they need 4th, 5th, and 6th rounders to take. I’d really like another CB, a backup RB, an OT, and a big possession WR.

Boykin is still on the board, I’d love to see the Eagles get him. Chris Polk is a good option for a backup RB on the board who fits the Eagles. No idea about tackles, but In Howard Mudd I Trust.

427

[quote=“garygnu, post:423, topic:618666”]

So far I love:
[LIST]
[li]49ers: Am I not contractually obligated to either love or hate my team’s draft? Under the theory that if you like a guy, take him, I took Jenkins myself in a mock draft. Therefore I am a genius. Just kidding. Still, imagine the points-allowed defense paired with an offense that suddenly has these two home-run hitters, plus the best of what we already had. A team that was a play or two away last year has some playmakers.[/li][/quote]
They drafted some college playmakers. That’s what concerns me about the 49ers draft. Jenkins and James, to me, have “great college player, won’t make it in the NFL” written all over them. AJ Jenkins was the only guy worth a crap on the Illini offense, so he got pretty much every single ball that was thrown (he had 90 catches, the next guy had 26). That helped his production, but against good defensive teams (Wisconsin, Penn State) he kinda disappeared. I like his straight line speed, but I think he’ll be shut down by physical corners. James was a great college runningback, very productive, fun to watch and root for. But at 5’8" 194, he goes down too easily. I don’t see him as anything more than a scat back in the NFL. Which is fine, but with a second round pick, I think you want more than a part time change of pace back.

I also think both picks were major reaches. I hadn’t heard of Jenkins in the first round, or James in the second at all. I know that “they grabbed the guys they liked when they had to”, but I really think they could have done better had they not had their hearts set on these guys. I think the Niners ignored some really good players to draft guys they like.

Still, time will tell.

428

Foles will need 5 All Pro Offensive linemen giving him 4 or 5 seconds to throw to really succeed in the NFL. He’s not the most athletic guy, he takes too many sacks, he played almost exclusively in the shotgun, he’s not very accurate on deeper throws, he makes a lot of dumb throws, and he doesn’t appear he can thread the needle into coverage in the NFL. Maybe Reid can take his nice physical build, his good delivery, and his strong arm and develop him into a NFL starter, but I think he’s got a lot of work to do so. Still, I don’t have much problem with a team taking a project QB in the third round, especially when they’re having an otherwise great draft.

429

[quote=“garygnu, post:423, topic:618666”]

[li]Patriots: The defense that was a liability all last year suddenly got scary.[/li][/quote]
I say this every year, but I think the Patriots are consistently overrated in their drafting. What saves them is their ability to hit home runs. Rob Gronkowski, Aaron Hernandez, Jared Mayo, and, of course Tom Brady. But I look at their history of drafting and I’m unimpressed.

2006: Lawrence Maroney, Chad Jackson, David Thomas were their first three picks.
2007: Brandon Merriweather was their only pick in the first three rounds.
2008: Jared Mayo, Terrance Wheatly, Shawn Crable.
2009: Pat Chung, Ron Brace, Darrius Butler, Sebastican Vollmer
2010: Devin McCourtey, Gronk, Jermaine Cunningham, Brandon Spikes.

All in all, I’m just not seeing the “Genius” label in their drafting.

This year, to me, is not a whole lot different. Chandler Jones and Dont’a Hightower might be good, but Tavon Wilson is a What the Fuck? pick and Jake Bequette is just a guy at best.

I think Bellicheck and the Patriots are undoubtedly great at getting the best out of the players they have and doing the X’s and O’s of coaching and innovating the game. But I think their drafting is highly overrated. Of course I say that every year, and they end up in the Super Bowl.

430

I do love what the Bengals have done in this draft. I’ve watched a couple interviews with the Zietler kid (and watched some of his game highlights) and I am really liking this pick both for Andy Dalton’s sake and the sake of our inside running game. Zeitler is an incredibly good run blocker, a real de-cleater and seems like such a nice, down-home corn-fed gee-shucks white boy.

The Bengals also found some really good value in Sanu and the two DT’s they selected. Their defensive line, already boasting emerging talents such as Geno Atkins, Pat Sims and Carlos Dunlap now looks downright scary. They should be able to generate front four pressure without relying heavily on the blitz as in years past going forward now.

Damn I can’t wait for the season to start already. The draft is such a tease.

431

Skins have only had 2 picks and RG3 was a no-brainer. I’m happy enough with that.

Their other pick was OG Josh LeRibeus, who I had never heard of until they called his name. Definitely fills a need, and obviously the team likes him and think he fits in with what they want to do, but still kind of a head-scratcher. From what I’ve read no one else was really looking at this guy, not this early at least, and there were (and still are) much higher rated players still on the board.

As for what’s left, I’m really hoping they pick up OT Zebrie Sanders. He comes from a zone-blocking scheme at Florida State and would provide further depth and potentially a new starter if Jammal Brown remains crappy (I’m certain he will).

I’m also curious why Bobby Massie is still on the board going into the 4th round. Anyone have any ideas? Perhaps a few bad numbers at the combine (only 22 bench press reps)?

432

Well I’ve calmed down a bit, but Broyles was a stupid, stupid pick , a bad reach at a position that is not a need, WTF? Other than possibly Tavon Wilson(time will tell) the stupidest of the second round.
At least the Lions did go CB third round. I don’t know much about the guy, but he is fast. And if you can’t knock the pass down, at least you can catch up and tackle the guy. Seriously, losing Eric Wright, who wasn’t even that good, left us a pile of crap sandwich on the back side. I wouldn’t mind three more DBs grabbed and maybe some cream will rise into competence.

433

Really like Russell Wilson going to Seattle. I’d love to see him succeed, and that’s a good situation for him.

Ditto Bernard Pierce in Baltimore.

I really, really like Indy’s best-2-TEs-in-the-draft. Odds are one of those guys will disappoint, so they are covering themselves. They have nothing at the position right now, so even if one is only a backup, they still have use for him. And if they both hit, then they run a lot of 2 TE formations, which is what Luck is used to anyway. Terrific.

I do not like the 49ers draft. First they make the biggest reach in the first round, then they take a small, quick RB/return man; they already have a good small back in Kendall Hunter, and they already have a premiere return man in Ted Ginn. If they wanted a RB, it would make more sense to take a power back to replace the aging Frank Gore and the already-old Brandon Jacobs.

I love, love Stephen Hill to the Jets: he’ll fit in their base offense, and in the Tebow package. The two things he does best – block and run fly patterns – are the two things they wanted most.

Like Ryan Broyles to the Lions, even if it may have been a bit early. Even if he doesn’t play this year, they are surrounding Stafford and Megatron, with complementary weapons for the next 3-5 years: Pettigrew, Best, Young, and Broyles, and a hopefully a future LT in Reiff.

Very much like the Eagles draft so far. Need depth at DB and OL, and would like a RB to back up McCoy.

Good RBs still on the board: Lamar Miller and Chris Polk.

A talent-starved 5-11 team takes a punter in the third round. It must be hard to be a Jacksonville fan. It’s like they have a strategy to lose less badly.

Notwithstanding that, ISTM that league-wide, teams are smarter about drafting, or at least there is a lot more consensus. Used to be you’d see a lot more questionable picks, with lots of guys being taken 30 or 50 picks higher than Kiper et al. had them projected. Doesn’t seem to be happening much anymore.

I love Mike Mayock as an analyst, but I’m really getting tired of him praising every single pick. And no, I won’t watch the other channel.

434

Really like Russell Wilson going to Seattle. I’d love to see him succeed, and that’s a good situation for him.

Ditto Bernard Pierce in Baltimore.

I really, really like Indy’s best-2-TEs-in-the-draft. Odds are one of those guys will disappoint, so they are covering themselves. They have nothing at the position right now, so even if one is only a backup, they still have use for him. And if they both hit, then they run a lot of 2 TE formations, which is what Luck is used to anyway. Terrific.

I do not like the 49ers draft. First they make the biggest reach in the first round, then they take a small, quick RB/return man; they already have a good small back in Kendall Hunter, and they already have a premiere return man in Ted Ginn. If they wanted a RB, it would make more sense to take a power back to replace the aging Frank Gore and the already-old Brandon Jacobs.

I love, love Stephen Hill to the Jets: he’ll fit in their base offense, and in the Tebow package. The two things he does best – block and run fly patterns – are the two things they wanted most.

Like Ryan Broyles to the Lions, even if it may have been a bit early. Even if he doesn’t play this year, they are surrounding Stafford and Megatron, with complementary weapons for the next 3-5 years: Pettigrew, Best, Young, and Broyles, and a hopefully a future LT in Reiff.

Very much like the Eagles draft so far, though I’m taking Andy’s word on it about Nick Foles. Need depth at DB and OL, and would like a RB to back up McCoy.

Good RBs still on the board: Lamar Miller and Chris Polk.

A talent-starved 5-11 team takes a punter in the third round. That’s just depressing.

Notwithstanding that, ISTM that league-wide, teams are smarter about drafting, or at least there is a lot more consensus. Used to be you’d see a lot more questionable picks, with lots of guys being taken 30 or 50 picks higher than Kiper et al. had them projected. Doesn’t seem to be happening much anymore.

I love Mike Mayock as an analyst, but I’m really getting tired of him praising every single pick. And no, I won’t watch the other channel.

435

nm

436

49ers are up. I’d like to see Bobby Massie or Ben Jones here, or Ronnell Lewis or Tarrell Manning for depth at pass rusher. Who else, maybe Jared Crick or a corner?

edit: pick traded again

437

They are both complementary players for a team that was already good. Last time I checked, pro playmakers started out as college playmakers.

I really like Jones and Hightower. They really make that team better, IMHO.

Hey look! The Redskins aren’t putting all their eggs in one RGIII.

aaaaaaaand the 49ers trade down again.

438

God almighty, Griffin is fucking doomed.

I love the kid as a person and as a player, but Mike Shanahan is just such a colossal douchebag. It’s like he’s just so fucking determined to prove he can win with shitty players.

439

Really like that Ta’Amu pick for the Steelers. They are having a stellar draft so far.

The Bears are up. OL help I hope.

440

Bear in mind that Akiem Nicks (from Elk Grove, California) was all set to play for LSU as one of their blue-chip players before there were some recruiting violations that got him in trouble with the NCAA. And at 6’5", 320, he is very much the atypical Canadian linebacker. Careful how you jerk those knees.

(I could also bring up Israel Idonije, but that’s beside the point of this pick)