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Hey guys............I need some help. I have not studied this draft very much and am very ignorant about the quality of most players.

I absolutely despise all the Mock Draft threads. I won't even read them.

What I am looking for is knowledge. I am asking for guys w/knowledge of this draft [and there are plenty of you] help educate guys like myself.

You can use your own scouting report, borrow one from one of the online sites, or combine several reports to make your case. I just want the posts to be educational.

Sound cool?

I will provide one myself as an example. I was intrigued by this guy because I watch a lot of Big 10 football. I also looked at some of his scouting reports. Here is what I came up with:

Randy Gregory---DE/OLB---Nebraska

Strengths:

--amazing burst out of his stance
--has a ton of moves. Not a one-dimensional pass rusher.
--ability to bull rush, especially after he gets guys on their heels because of quick moves.
--versatile in that he can play in both schemes.
--great speed off of the edge.
--good combo of quick feet and combative hands.
--great slasher and runs plays down from behind.
--excellent motor

Concerns:

--light weight
--had quite a few minor inguries
--some question about his interviews during Combine. I read this one and found it a bit surprising. But apparently, he didn't do too well in the interviews.
--needs to gain strength.

Summary:

I think Gregory is a pretty awesome edge rusher and that is something the Browns need. He has an array of moves and is very explosive.

I believe he is better suited as an OLBer in a 3-4 than a 4-3 DE, and in fact, would have to switch to an OLBer in that system, too. I don't think he would excel there. The guy needs to rush the passer. We need a pass rusher.

I think there are some legitimate concerns w/him. His character issues surprised me, but apparently they were there. He is light I doubt he is an every-down player.

Overall, I would seriously consider him at #19 if he is still on the board.

[Alright guys, what do you think? Can you give me stuff like that about your guys? --------I hope so, because I am counting on you guys to educate me.}

Most mocks and sites had him as a top ten pick before the combine.

After the combine, he probably dropped. The weight is a major concern..

Cameron Erving: Here's a guy that I liked as a versatile Olineman with significant potential. Many expect him to go in the first round; I'd like him with our 19th pick, but admittedly, that may be a touch high...

6'5"
HEIGHT
34 1/8"
ARM LENGTH
313LBS.
WEIGHT
10 3/8"
HANDS
OVERVIEW
Came to Florida State as an unheralded defensive tackle from Colquitt County (Ga.) and redshirted in 2010 after a back injury. In 2011, had 20 tackles and a sack as a backup defensive tackle. Switched to the offensive side of the ball to help shore up Seminoles' pass protection in 2012 and started all 14 games at left tackle, protecting future first-round QB EJ Manuel's blind side. In 2013, started all 13 games at left tackle and was named first-team All-ACC for the national champion Seminoles. Two-time winner of the Jacobs Blocking Trophy given to the ACC's top blocker. Named first-team All-ACC tackle and third-team All-ACC center after making switch inside toward the end of the 2014 season. Was very close with grandmother (Lillie Lewis), who passed away in the spring of 2014 after one-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS Keeps busy and works to secure blocks in run game. Good foot quickness into pass set. Consistently in ready position with good hand readiness in pass sets. Uses good hand placement and has natural timing with hands. Converted defensive tackle who will continue to improve in the NFL with more experience at center. Displays good snap-to-step quickness. Uses quickness to attack defender and begin his grind much earlier than when he played tackle. Competes and is a willing learner. Can get to second level and make cut-off blocks. Has athleticism to pull and offers versatility along the line.
WEAKNESSES High-cut with tapered lower body, lacking power in legs. Pops straight up in pass rush. Susceptible to bull rush. Had issues handling the edge speed of Clemson's Vic Beasley in 2014 and his days of playing tackle are likely over. Relies on lean rather than hip thrust to generate power. Taught to absorb and control as a pass protector and needs to establish more pop in punch.
SOURCES TELL US "He plays tough, but I wouldn't call him an intimidator out there. He's a work in progress, but he's going to keep getting better as he learns how to play center." -- ACC defensive line coach
NFL COMPARISON Eric Wood
BOTTOM LINE Former defensive lineman who is still learning the nuances of offensive-line play after just two seasons as a starter. Has the length and foot quickness to play tackle, but film work shows that he will have a much more successful career at center. Possesses skill set and temperament to show rapid development. Could be a Day 1 starter, but a year of seasoning would help

For those who are stat lovers, here is a matrix for Olinemen that may be usefull - (I know it is difficult to read when formatted like this)


Player School Height Weight Arm Hand 10 Yard 40 Bench Vertical Broad 3-Cone Short Shuttle
Al Bond Memphis 6'4 303 33 3/8 10 1/4 1.94 5.57 22 23.5" 7'6" 7.90 4.65
Brett Boyko UNLV 6'7 301 32 9 1.96 5.60 25" 8'7" 7.91 4.75
Jamon Brown Louisville 6'4 323 34 3/8 9 3/4
Trenton Brown Florida 6'8 355 36 10 7/8 1.87 5.29 20 23.5" 8'1" 8.23 4.78
A.J. Cann South Carolina 6'3 313 32 5/8 10 1/4 26
T.J. Clemmings Pittsburgh 6'5 309 35 1/8 10 3/8 1.84 5.14 22 32.5" 9'3" 7.68 4.54
Takoby Cofield Duke 6'4 310 34 10 1.78 5.19 23 30" 8'5" 8.09 4.79
La'el Collins LSU 6'4 305 33 1/4 10 3/8 1.86 5.12 21 27" 9' 7.70 4.63
Rob Crisp North Carolina St. 6'7 301 34 1/2 10 1.91 5.26 26 32.5" 8'11" 8.07 4.60
Reese Dismukes Auburn 6'3 296 32 1/4 8 7/8 1.81 5.31 23 27.5" 8'11" 8.14 4.70
Andrew Donnal Iowa 6'6 313 33 1/2 10 1.78 5.31 17 32" 8'5" 7.84 4.77
Jamil Douglas Arizona State 6'4 304 33 3/8 10 3/4 1.75 5.25 28 29" 8'3" 7.99 4.75
Cameron Erving Florida State 6'5 313 34 1/8 10 3/8 1.86 5.15 30 30.5" 9'4" 7.48 4.63
Tayo Fabuluje TCU 6'6 353 34 9 7/8 1.99 5.55 29.5" 4.77
Jon Feliciano Miami (FL) 6'4 323 32 3/8 9 3/4 1.86 5.33 26.5" 8'1" 4.74
B.J. Finney Kansas State 6'4 318 32 10 1.84 5.25 20 24" 8'3" 4.76
Jake Fisher Oregon 6'6 306 33 3/4 10 3/8 1.75 5.01 25 32.5" 7.25 4.33
Ereck Flowers Miami (FL) 6'6 329 34 1/2 9 7/8 1.90 5.31 37
Andy Gallik Boston College 6'2 306 32 3/4 10 1/4 1.90 5.50 29 27" 8'0" 7.66 4.58
Max Garcia Florida 6'4 309 33 1/8 10 1/4
Laurence Gibson Virginia Tech 6'6 305 35 1/8 10 3/8 1.81 5.04 24 33.5" 9'5" 7.72 4.56
Mark Glowinski West Virginia 6'4 307 33 1/8 9 3/4 1.83 5.20 31 29.5" 9'5" 7.56 4.58
Hroniss Grasu Oregon 6'3 297 32 1/8 10 1/4
Chaz Green Florida 6'5 314 33 3/8 10 7/8 1.75 5.16 21 29.5" 8'10" 8.00 4.70
Chad Hamilton Coastal Carolina 6'2 292 34 9 3/8
Jarvis Harrison Texas A&M 6'4 330 33 1/2 9 3/4 1.83 5.19 26 29.5" 8'6" 7.51 4.62
Bobby Hart Florida State 6'5 329 33 10 1/8
Rob Havenstein Wisconsin 6'7 321 33 3/4 9 7/8 1.86 5.46 16 28.5" 8'0" 8.28 4.87
Sean Hickey Syracuse 6'5 309 32 3/4 10 1/2 35
D.J. Humphries Florida 6'5 307 33 5/8 10 1.81 5.12 26 31" 8'8" 7.87 4.64
Tre Jackson Florida State 6'4 330 32 5/8 10 7/8 1.92 5.52 25" 8'0"
Arie Kouandijo Alabama 6'5 310 34 1/8 10 7/8
Greg Mancz Toledo 6'4 301 10
Ali Marpet Hobart College 6'4 307 33 3/8 10 1.81 4.98 30 30.5" 9'0" 7.33 4.47
Josue Matias Florida State 6'5 309 33 1/8 10 5.52 17.5" 7'0" 8.19 5.12
Darrian Miller Kentucky 6'5 307 33 9 3/4 1.97 5.51 25" 8'1" 7.91 4.87
John Miller Louisville 6'2 303 33 1/4 10 1/4 1.87 5.33 29 27" 8'8" 8.20 4.75
Mitch Morse Missouri 6'5 305 32 1/4 9 1/4 1.81 5.14 36 31" 9'4" 7.60 4.50
Robert Myers Tennessee State 6'5 326 33 3/4 9 1/2 1.78 5.44 27.5" 7'10" 8.10 4.91
Cedric Ogbuehi Texas A&M 6'5 306 35 7/8 10 23
Andrus Peat Stanford 6'7 313 34 3/8 10 5/8 1.82 5.18 31" 8'9" 8.01 4.62
Terry Poole San Diego State 6'5 307 33 1/4 9 1/2 1.79 5.09 25 31" 9'5" 7.90 4.66
Jeremiah Poutasi Utah 6'5 335 33 7/8 9 1/2 1.86 5.32 26 26.5" 7'11" 8/09 4.89
Corey Robinson South Carolina 6'7 324 35 5/8 10 3/4 28
Ty Sambrailo Colorado State 6'6 311 33 10 1.84 5.36 23 29" 8'1" 7.54 4.58
Brandon Scherff Iowa 6'5 319 33 3/8 11 1.78 5.05 23
Adam Shead Oklahoma 6'4 338 33 3/4 10 3/8 1.97 5.74 26
Austin Shepherd Alabama 6'4 315 32 7/8 10 1.94 5.39 17 29" 7'10" 8.04 4.70
Donovan Smith Penn State 6'6 338 34 3/8 10 5/8 1.86 5.27 26 32" 9'1" 7.95 4.79
Tyrus Thompson Oklahoma 6'5 324 34 7/8 10 1/4 29 29" 8'1" 4.92
Laken Tomlinson Duke 6'3 323 33 5/8 10 1/8 1.89 5.33 25 31.5" 8'7" 8.17 4.87
Daryl Williams Oklahoma 6'5 327 35 9 3/4 1.86 5.34 27 26" 8'1" 5.15

Great thread topic. I need the education as well.

Those two concerns above regarding Gregory don't concern me unless he was an ass at the interviews. Not everyone interviews well. And the strength thing, the team will take care of that in a year or so.

If he can contribute immediately then with strength training and experience he'll only get stronger and better.

The replies so far have been excellent. I hope they keep coming.

Davis Tull was my sleeper before he blew up the combine and pro day workout. I was hoping we could steal him in round 5. It now looks like round 3 is where we will have to grab him, and I think he will still be a steal there.


Three-time Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year (2012, 2013, 2014). First-Team FCS All-American as a senior with 10.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss. As a junior, was named First-Team FCS All-American with 9 sacks and 15 tackles for loss while posting a 4.0 GPA during the fall. In 2012, became first SoCon sophomore to be selected as SoCon Defensive Player of the Year since Dallas Cowboys 1997 third-round pick Dexter Coakley. Set single-season UTC sack record with 12.5 and was fourth in the nation with 19 tackles for loss. Made the SoCon All-Freshman team, starting all 11 games at defensive end. Former walk-on. Colleges stopped recruiting Tull after he broke his femur in the second game of his senior season and missed the rest of the year. Was an Honor Society member at Bearden High School in Knoxville, Tennessee.


PRO DAY RESULTS
40-yard dash: 4.57 seconds

ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS Four-year starter. Outstanding production and works as hard from snap to snap as any defensive lineman in this draft. Plays stronger than his listed weight. Stays square against the run and leverages his run gaps. Plus hand-eye coordination. Has what scouts call "snap-winning" hand usage against run or pass. Relentless in pursuit. Frenetic off snap, giving tackles darting movement inside and out. Has power and toughness to set the edge and turn plays back inside. Leverage rusher who can dip shoulder and turn corner as well as bull-rush weaker tackles. Has lightning-quick spin move but needs to sharpen technique when using it. Held his own against Tennessee this year with a sack and two tackles for loss.
WEAKNESSES Marginal upfield burst by NFL standards. Needs to instill more fear around the edge to open up room for his inside moves. Short arms. Long tackles can get to his chest and divert his rush track. Racked up gaudy stats against inferior competition. Average athlete with average size. Won with great hands and effort, but athletic NFL tackles could stymie those traits. Too small to play defensive end and has limited experience standing up.

NFL COMPARISON Dan Skuta

BOTTOM LINE Tull uses smarts, skill and toughness to dominate his level of competition. Tull has the athleticism to play outside linebacker in an odd front and his relentless nature and ability to outplay expectations could make him an NFL surprise.

Sorry Vers, I know this really doesn't go with your thread topic. But I guess it does follow in terms of not being educated about this draft.

This is the first time that I can remember that I have had zero interest in scouting talent in the draft. The first time I can remember not having any interest in a draft. I've simply become apathetic to it all.

I won't get into trashing the FO or anything else because it would only serve to disrupt your thread. It's actually a pattern that goes well beyond any single regime. But needless to say the way I feel about it has severely impacted a time of year I'm normally very active and anticipatory. It really sucks.

Thanks for the information, guys..........and Pit, I do understand.

I hope we get more responses. I know there are a lot of guys that really study the draft. Educate us.

Vers - Someone (Django?) suggested that we start threads for individual player evaluations. If you look back through this forum you should be able to find quite a few that have already been done. I would guess a good 15 maybe 20.

Yes, I remember that. I also thought it was a great idea.

However, those threads did NOT get a lot of attention and that disappointed me because I thought Dj had a great idea.

I've been thinking about it and I was wondering if they didn't get a lot of attention because they were spread out. Thus, I took his idea and tried to put it into one thread.

Dj was right and it was a great idea. I would just like to see more info put out than all these stupid-ass mock draft threads.

I am hoping that Dj lends his thoughts here. We don't get along, but I know he studies the draft. steve is excellent at this stuff. There are many others who have expertise. I just want a knowledge based thread about prospects rather than all the Mock Draft threads. Not saying to not do them, because people love getting their name out there. I am just saying this could be a real football thread.

Even more importantly, there are guys like me that want to learn. What's so bad about that?

Yet, I can see this is not a popular subject. I did try and take Dj's idea and adjust to promote more intelligent conversation, but it does not seem to be a popular topic.

I tried............... [shrug]

A big part of the problem is that it takes a lot of time to find and review film then summarize.

To help spur things along consider picking a prospect and asking a question about him.Whether very general like "what do you think about Vic Beasley", middle of the road like "who would you pick between Kevin White and DaVante Parker if both are available at 12?" or very specific like "how good are Sammie Coates' hands?".

Alternatively you could ask something like "which DT is the beset vs the run?".


I think this topic is so broad that once you give some direction the information will start to flow.

j/c

A question that would help myself and possibly others for this thread:

What site or sites do you use when you are doing your research and evaluations of a player? (basically same question) Which one or ones do you think give the best detailed evaluation of a player?

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft

Its the one i use most often. Rob knows his stuff and although I often disagree with him, I do have a lot of respect for him. Pete Prisco generally is pretty good on getting a feel for what teams are sniffing around what positions imho better than anyone out there.

cbs basically bought out draftscout a couple years ago, which i felt was the best out there for reports on players.

NFL Draft is powered by the sports exchange website.

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/members/index.php

I also use draft countdown

http://www.draftcountdown.com/

ourlads (which has a good FA tracker

http://www.ourlads.com/

New Era scouting

http://www.newerascouting.com/?c=17

You can also find the espn stuff at espn

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/mock/?season=2015

Anything from Mayock at NFL.com is always good. I tend to agree with him more than not, but you wont find very many detailed analyses.. and he generally does not go deeper than the top 5 players at any position.

Some of the sites above are require membership for more detailed information.

I like http://draftbreakdown.com/rankings/ to watch players and make my own judgements. They have cutups of players with the player pointed out (usually) so you can easily find and track him. You can watch all of a guys plays in 7-15 minutes. It allows you to search by player name. What I like to do is pick the game vs the best team.

Downside is that they don't have games for all the players yet and of the ones they do some only have one game from the 2015 season.

In addition to some of ChargerDawgs sites, I like http://gbnreport.com

Make sure to look at the tab for Pigskin's Paul Page
They also have a huge links page to give you other sites to checkout.

awesome, thanks guys

CBS has a draft site that includes a "player compares to" part. I realize these might not be accurate but it is fun to think about the guys that we do know when trying to decide whom to draft. It might be fun to assume these guys will end up the way they were compared and see what we would like to do in the draft. Anyway, here it is:

Leonard Williams = Gerald McCoy
Jameis Winston = Ben Rothlisberger
Dante Fowler = Terrell Suggs
Amari Cooper = Marquise Lee
Vic Beasley = Von Miller
Kevin White = Darrius Heywood Bey
Marcus Mariota = Colin Kaepernick
Randy Gregory = Aldon Smith
Shane Ray = Bruce Irvin
Brandon Scherff = Zach Martin
Danny Shelton = Vince Wilfork
Davante Parker = AJ Green
Trae Waynes = Kyle Fuller
La'el Collins = James Carpenter
Alvin Dupree = Kam Wimbley
Malcom Brown = Arthur Jones
Landon Collins = TJ Ward
Todd Gurley = Marshawn Lynch
Andrus Peat = D'Brickshaw Ferguson
Jaelen Strong = Dwayne Bowe
Ereck Flowers = Andrew Whitworth
Melvin Gordon = Reggie Bush
Dorial Green Beckham = Julio Jones
Maxx Williams = Jason Witten
Brett Hundley = Randal Cunningham

Someone on here, can't remember if it was cfrs or ThatGuy, said something that I liked... "Nobody is anybody else."

This is my second first round selection for the Browns. He can give us something in both run defense and pass rush. I think he's good enough to take a 19 but I could understand trading down to about 23 and taking him there. I think he can be a 3-4 OLB.

DraftBrowns.com Editor: Brendan Leister

Mississippi State defensive end Preston Smith is one of the most talented defensive linemen I have come across while studying prospects for the 2015 NFL Draft class. At 6’5″, 271 lbs. with 10 5/8″ hands, 34″ arms, and a broad physique, Smith has good size for the position with room to add weight. He will turn 23 during his rookie season.

The first things that stand out when watching Preston Smith are his active, violent hand usage and athleticism for his size. Smith regularly uses his long arms to keep linemen from getting their hands on him. In the run game, he shows the ability to lock out his arms to hold at the point while reading the backfield. Once the ball carrier nears Smith, he shows the ability to quickly disengage from the block and converge to make the tackle. He is a sure tackler who does not miss often. He plays the game with a chip on his shoulder and looks like he takes it personally when he does not win his individual matchup. The level of aggressiveness and enthusiasm that he plays with are impressive.

Smith is a fluid athlete who is impressive in confined areas and in space. He has experience playing everywhere on the defensive line from the zero and one-technqiues in sub-packages to the three, five, seven, and nine-technqiues along with standing up on the edge. He even has experience dropping in coverage from multiple spots.

On the inside, Smith shows violent Swim, Rip, and Push-Pull moves, which allow him to defeat blockers and make plays in the backfield. His first step is good and he does a very good job of anticipating the snap count. On the edge, Smith lacks the natural flexibility to bend and win consistently, but he makes up for it at times with his hand usage, ability to convert speed to power, and a quick inside move. He also does a good job of reading the backfield and getting his hands up to bat down the pass when he knows he cannot get to the quarterback. Smith shows a very high motor when rushing the passer and working to stop the run. He plays with a good pad level and does a very good job of using his length to defeat cut block attempts.

Overall, Preston Smith is exactly what I would want if I were a team in need of a five-technique with versatility to play the seven and also slide inside to rush the passer in sub-packages. He is stout at the point of attack and shows the ability to set the edge consistently in the run game. As a pass rusher, Smith is a mismatch on the inside due to his length, explosiveness, and array of moves. He has a talent for rushing from the interior and should be highly productive against centers and guards on passing downs. When we look back, I expect Preston Smith to be one of the better players from this draft class.

I think this player will be available for us at 43. In my opinion his has the best instincts of any LB prospect available in this draft. Consistently he is in the right place to make plays...and he makes them. He has an innate ability to slip blockers when penetrating the LOS. He has adequate short area pass coverage skills. He creates turn overs. His timed speed may keep him on the board long enough for the Browns to draft him.

Scout's Dave-Te Thomas breaks down TCU linebacker Paul Dawson.

Paul Dawson has a developing frame with good overall muscle development. He displays toned arms, tight waist, broad shoulders, thick chest, thick thighs, good bubble and knotted calves. He added fifteen pounds of bulk to his frame the last two seasons, but has just adequate timed speed and will also need to add more weight to compete in the NFL.
Dawson compensates for a lack of good speed with quick recognition skills and the agility needed to recover when beaten. He is effective taking on ball carriers and dropping back in pass coverage, adding a new “wrinkle” to his game as a developing pass rusher during his senior season. He’s a solid playmaker, evident by his 227 tackles the last two seasons for the Horned Frog, based on twenty starting assignments combined at two different positions.
Dawson is a good athlete with just fluid hip snap, and shows he has a good short area burst, agility, and a physical demeanor. He plays at a low pad level and has the wrap-up skills to stop the forward progress of a runner and enough slippery moves to get past blockers when blitzing or coming off the edge. He has just adequate strength, but is active using his hands to gain leverage and shed. He also is quite effective at using his wing span to reach out and drag down ball carriers from behind or just wrap and secure them.
The Horned Frog plays with good focus on plays in front of him though and knows what to do once he locates the ball near the line. He is a decent student and needs only normal reps to retain. He plays with good alertness in the box, doing a nice job of picking up blocking schemes.
The thing you notice on film is that Dawson does not have great strength to escape when he gets attacked in traffic. Still, despite giving up considerable bulk, he will not hesitate to combat vs. the larger offensive linemen. He just does not fit and fold well and can stone-walled by bigger blockers when playing a nine-tech. He is not the type that will maul a ball carrier, but does generate a good thud on contact. He is an efficient leverage player, tough and is not only combative, he uses his hands with force to play off blocks (has above average rip and club moves).
Dawson has a valid hand jolt to reroute tight ends and receivers, doing a nice job of directing the opponent’s release. He is the type that plays bigger than his size indicates, using good wrap-up technique to compensate for a lack of “blow ‘em up” type of power, but he will shock and opponent with an effective hand punch.
The senior uses his hands more effectively to keep blockers off his feet. He demonstrates the natural hands needed to be efficient as a pass thief, stealing four tosses while breaking up five other throws in 2014. He gets most of his success vs. the pass because he knows how to use his reach and leaping ability to high point the ball. He is also agile enough to escape blockers to work around the ball carrier in attempts to dislodge the ball from the runner.
With six sacks and twenty stops behind the line of scrimmage last season, Dawson demonstrated why he is regarded as an above average wrap-up tackler, as he is equally productive working in space and behind the line. He likes playing over the tight end and is a physical striker who brings a good thump upon impact and will jar the ball loose when he attacks the ball carrier’s body (three forced fumbles, recovering two in 2014). It is rare to see him try to take a side or get his hands outside his frame when zeroing in on a runner in the open field.
While Dawson is a quick reactor who hits with a thud, he is much more effective using his vision to locate the free lane needed in order to make plays in-line (knows that if he tries to overpower the offensive lineman too much, it will result in him failing to shed quickly). He shows good leverage on the move and when given a clear lane and can run down hill to fill.
At 4.93 speed, some teams might be concerned about his range to make the tackle on outside running plays. Even at that timed speed, his fluid hips gives him lots of chances to generate a sudden burst needed to head off the ball carriers near the sidelines. In the last two years, he has gotten much smarter and plays under control. He is a good trailer type than can not only run down plays from the back side, but he also showed that he has valid straight-line quickness to combine with his lateral agility to negate anything the stopwatch says about his speed.
Dawson seems to have good vision and timing to anticipate the flight of the ball in pass coverage. He might not have the speed to cover past the short-to-intermediate areas, but he does come out of his backpedal without having to gather in order to accelerate. He gets good depth in his pass drops and his success as a ball thief was the senior doing a nice job of keeping his head on a swivel.
Dawson also has zone awareness, building off of the receivers’ switches and getting depth in his drops. He does not eyeball the quarterback too long and has a good understanding for zone concepts, as he quickly anticipates and shows good urgency to react to the thrown ball.
Dawson gets a good push off the blocker when he uses his hands, but on the times when he just short arms, it results in him getting absorbed inside. He gives total effort coming off the edge and shows explosion when left uncontested. He seems to generate a better burst with his hand on the ground than when in a normal linebacker’s stance, thanks to his straight-ahead speed.
Paul Dawson NFL Scouting Combine measurables

6-0/235 (4.93 forty)
31 1/2-inch arm length
9 1/2-inch hands
21-reps
28-inch vertical jump
109-inch broad jump
4.49 20 yard shuttle

Liked what I read about Preston Smith so I went and watched somefilm on him.

I liked what I saw. If he puts on 10-15# he could be a very good (potentially impact) 3-4 DE. I don't see any way he could move to 3-4 OLB. He has good in-line speed but isn't agile and athletic enough for OLB.

Yeah I see where you're coming from on the OLB position change, I felt the same way initially. This is why I'm giving it consideration.

He ran a 4.74 at the combine, his 3 Cone was 7.07 and his 60 yard shuttle was 11.70. Those are three solid indicators of movement skills. I may have overstated his projection as an OLB but at multiple positions Smith can help this team.

Also there are these reports from Tony Pauline that can be found on Walterfootball...

Mississippi State
I'm learning more from the Mississippi State pro-day.

Teams came away very impressed with the versatility Preston Smith displayed. He was quick and fast off the edge in defensive line drills and also fluid in linebacker drills.

Mississippi State
Earlier I mentioned Benardrick McKinney meeting with the New York Jets. I also learned defensive lineman Preston Smith is meeting with the Cleveland Browns and four additional teams. Kaleb Eulls, who was one of the bigger combine snubs, will also be meeting with a host of teams.
Read more at http://walterfootball.com/proday.php#lfx5a7DfgvmRrbDo.99

Steve wrote the following in the "12th & 19th Pick" thread. That was closed before I could ask my question...

"For the life of me I can't figure out what to do with our 3rd round pick. I think I'm good with a combination of either Malcom Brown and Nelson Agholor or Davante Parker and Carl Davis for the first round. I think I'd even take Brown and Davis. Second round I'm pretty locked in on Clive Walford. Third round, there's no pass rusher to take there unless I'm completely forgetting someone, no corner. Maybe Mitch Morse as a swing tackle? Matias or Miller at guard? A running back like Duke Johnson or Tevin Coleman? Anthony, Kendricks, and McKinney will likely all be gone by now but if one were left I'd take him there. If we lose a draft pick I hope it would be this one or later. Fourth round I like either Gallik or Garcia at center, then probably just look for the best value of any player in the fourth. Fifth... Why the heck not, take Fowler. Sixth I'm thinking a Pirate, take Terry Williams unless I took two DL in the first then take Cam Worthy. For the other pick take a pass rusher... Tull if he's there or Rasco or Wagenmann or Emanuel. There will be options at that positon late, I think. Seventh I take Gunter if he's still around... Bad 40 time and all. He's a good player."

You mention several intriguing players in this post. Specifically about Carl Davis, I've read in more than one place, that he seems to disappear in terms of production for long stretches of games. Given his obvious talent this is both puzzling and a real concern to some personnel evaluators. Then I also read that he seems to be a very mercurial personality where you don't know what you're getting with this guy emotionally or mentally. In some pre-draft interview he supposedly stated his preference to come off the field at certain times. I can't be the only one who has read about these issues. Steve, others what are your thoughts?

I think he is a lot like Phil Taylor, in his ability to completely dominate any play that he wants to, but doesn't have the psyche or physical skillset or endurance or whatever it is to maintain it over a long period of time, or even for half the snaps in a game. He's extremely strong, has over 34" arms, and when he explodes off the ball he can drop a RB 4 yards in the backfield. Iowa played him in a LOT of snaps, but I think we have the horses to maximize his play with limited snaps.

OK, thanks. I'm not necessarily one of those who thinks a first round draft pick has to be on the field every play and dominate every snap to avoid the bust label. So given our team needs, his talent and his temperament I understand your reasoning.

Next question, different player/position. I'm fixated on Flip's conception of the "F" player. I'm not sure its what he's talking about related to replacing Cameron who is more of a flex-TE. We'll still need that too. If Marcel Reece is the archetype of the "F" then what draft prospects could do those things? I have some candidates:

Jalston Fowler
MyCole Pruitt
Gerald Christian
Dominique Brown

Thought? Other options?

At TE I really like Clive Walford. I think he is a real complete TE. I think we might be wasting some of his talent if we line him up in the slot, though, as he is a good blocker.

Honestly, with ten picks I wouldn't be upset if we took two TEs if they were both good players. If O'Leary makes it to the 4th like some of the projections are showing now I'd definitely pull the trigger on that. He reminds me a lot of Dallas Clark with how he catches the ball.

As an alternative, there are a couple potential UDFA prospects that I think are good candidates for that F role in Utah's Westlee Tonga and Chattanooga's Faysal Shafaat. Tonga I would want us to draft starting in the fifth were it not for his age... He's LDS and 27 when the season starts. Shafaat runs really good routes and can extend to make some really nice catches from the videos I've seen online.

I share your opinion on Walford.

j/c

Had some free time today so, I'll add some stuff that I posted on another board to here:

QB:
Bryce Petty: Sometimes he looks absolutely incredible with some of his throws, but I see a pattern develop. His ball placement isn't very good with his accuracy and his deep throws are always over shot just a little bit. He's always calm on the field and he really knows how to relax and not play in a panic. I like him, but he needs some work with some stuff that I'm not sure you can ever teach, he'll probably never be that franchise guy.

Garrett Grayson: The guy is a mechanical mess. Throwing off his back foot, his arm motion is weird and he takes a little too long to get rid of the ball, longer than I'd like. All that being said, he has power, accuracy, ball placement...all of it is really good. He's doesn't like it when getting chased, and likes to go down before getting hit. He needs some work on mechanics and pocket presence, but overall when throwing the ball, he's not far behind Winston, IMO.

Brandon Bridge: I am in love with this man. He played weak opponents and was hardly ever really rushed to throw, but this guy man...he's a sleeper. He has Joe Flacco type arm strength and is very mobile. He's huge and can grow into his body. He ran a 4.67 at his pro day. He has that typical strong arm QB syndrome where he fits the ball into tight windows and can get picked off. He doesn't scan the field yet, very very raw at reading a defense. Give this guy 2 or 3 years and he could become an absolute stud, has everything working for him.

I only watched one Tackle cuz...I don't want the Browns to select one early.

Erick Flowers looks good. He's strong, mobile, moves to the second level with ease. He is a lot like Schwartz, but more mobile. His a good pass protector but thrives when going man on man in the run game. He'd...be a good fit.

DT:
Danny Shelton: My favorite prospect I watched. The guy moves, maybe, 3 yards every play, but when a team tries to stupidly run up the middle, this guy takes on two at once and just owns everyone. I don't know how a guy that big can squeeze into such a tight spaces. He is Vince Wilfork, I'm telling you that right now. He has poor mobility and won't ever get more than a few sacks a year. But this man is a block eater to the max, and would keep our MLB as clean as they have ever been. He makes Phil Taylor look like a little kid. I'd take him at 12 and never look back.

Malcolm Brown: Good player, reminds me a lot of John Hughes. Absolutely not a NT unless you want to go back to the days of Rubin at NT. Good speed, good agility for a guy his size. Decent pass rusher, with surprisingly good moves. Good against the run but can be outmuscled. I'm not sure if he is strong or just a big guy to takes up space. Doesn't really move anyone or stand his ground that great. I wasn't impressed since I was looking at him as more of a NT instead of a 5-tech. If they would draft him as an end, I'd feel he would be ok.

OLB:
Bud Dupree: I really don't like him. He is listed as kind of a bigger OLB, but he sure doesn't play like it. I'm totally and wholly unimpressed with his pass rush skills. He got absolutely stonewalled by Florida for most of the game. His pass coverage wasn't as good either. His run defense is pretty good, played a really disciplined game. As a pure pass rusher, I just did not see him as a threat. Where he is likely to get picked, I'd have to pass on him in the scheme the Browns run.

Nate Orchard: Reminds me a lot of Jabaal Sheard. He's a more natural 3-4 OLB and has pass rushing skills that are more raw than Sheard had. If he develops, he could become a really good pass rusher, because of how he plays. He does have a pretty darn good swim move right now, though. He plays really tough and with a lot of energy, although he's not a show off on the field and he does lack the ultra aggressiveness that Fowler has in spades. He shines in the run defense game. He is disciplined and holds his ground. When rushing the passer, he doesn't try to assault you with moves. More than likely, he'll try a move and if it doesn't work, he is neutralized. Still raw in that area. All the tools are there, though.

While you're looking at edge rushers, look at Odighizua. I read he had hip surgery and dropped it without looking at video. Then I read some others on the board raving about him, so I went back and watched. I am impressed. j/c since you've taken the time, what you might think.

I appreciate the information, guys.

Thanks.

Thoughts:

-Looks like Tarzan, plays like Tarzan. Holy crap is this guy built. 6'3", 270 LB wrecking ball of destruction sometimes.

-There are times where he has everything clicking and it is just beautiful to watch. He put a prison beating on USC. He dominated, at times, Virginia tackle.

-Then there are times where he is just kinda there. He doesn't move laterally well, and his pursuit isn't as good as someone who should be an elite run stopper.

-I love the way he plays when standing up. He can put his hand in the dirt, but I think he's more explosive when he stands up to start.

-Pass rushing moves were functional in college but needs to get more fluid and develop more. His spin move could become lethal if he tightens it up more.

-Incredibly strong at the point of attack. Does a really good job at sealing the edge. He can become an elite run stopper in the NFL at the word go.

-I like him a lot. It seems, though, that he isn't as fluid as he should be. Could be problems with his hip/knee? I don't know, but he looks like a guy who should be a top ten player but does not perform consistently enough. His effort level is extremely high, though.

Seemed to me as I watched him through the season that his play declined. Not as quick off the snap, not getting in the backfield... I think the injuries were carching up with him. I'm worried it's something thats always going to bother him.

I would agree with that. He doesn't seem like an every down player, because as the game wore on he got a little more sloppy.

Good player, would be a good rotational player, but not the every down stud that he should be looking at him.

Worth a 2nd round pick as a pass rushing specialist who could transition into a starting LOLB after Kruger?

Common sense would say limited snaps would negate his wearing down and a professional staff of coaching and health specialists could turn him into a true terror to take over for Kruger in 2018? Similar to Hughes' development now.

Playing with the Draft simulator I wanted DL at 19 and Malcom Brown was gone. So I took a real hard look at Carl Davis. Went back and looked at his cut-ups and it confirmed what you and draft profiles say. He's extremely talented and could line up at any DL position in our defense. I don't see much difference between his ability and that of Brown but with his reputation I went OLB at 19 but did draft him at 43.

I'd like to think that the presences of Chris Kirksey to lead him (both Iowa alumns) and the lockeroom culture in general would coax the best from him. If so he could be a DL stud.

I think his injury history slowed his play during the season, but he was a force in the bowl game against Kansas State.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8AdCCOD4iw

I found this on Randy Gregory on another sight.