Originally posted by SanDiego49er:Originally posted by GhostofFredDean74:Originally posted by SanDiego49er:Originally posted by GhostofFredDean74:Originally posted by modninerfan:Originally posted by GhostofFredDean74:Originally posted by nickbradley:Originally posted by ninertico:Originally posted by nickbradley:
Thankfully for us, the top tier of this draft is seven-deep with Luck's return to Stanford...we pick 7th!
It is very difficult to put any non-quarterback in front of these (2) CBs, (2) DTs, (2) DEs, and (1) WR...Julio Jones could make a push for Cleveland at #6, but if they're going to do that they might as well just trade down for Blackmon or something like that.
But with the difference between winning and losing in this league primarily coming down to the signal-caller, any team that gets a 'warm and fuzzy' from a quarterback will probably pull the trigger. That includes us, Arizona, and Buffalo, although I think Arizona will pursue a veteran instead and Buffalo won't draft a quarterback until Chan Gailey is fired after next season.
For example, Jim Harbaugh will be running the West Coast offense, so Mallet's out. Locker is a perfect fit for the WCO, but Gabbert was supposed to run Bill Calahan's West Coast Offense at Nebraska as a 5-star recruit...transferred when he was fired; so he must have the makeup for the WCO (mobility is decent, not great). On Locker, if Harbaugh passes on him -- a guy who he has a ton of tape on and has played him multiple times -- Locker could drop like a stone.
If we don't feel VERY strong about either Locker or Gabbert, we have to take whoever left out of the Elite Seven....probably Amukamura or Dareus will be left.
My prediction is that Harbaugh signs off on Locker as 'the guy' and we take him. Another possibiltiy is that Harbaugh gives Christian Ponder or Ricky Stanzi a first-round grade and we take them in the second round; Harbaugh was spot-on with some draft grades while in Oakland (gave Romo a high grade, even though he went undrafted, for example)...in that scenario we take Amukamura or Dareus and call it a night. I highly doubt that we try and get crafty and trade down in hopes of snagging Locker at 15 - 20.
1. AJ Green
2. Nick Fairley
3. Patrick Peterson
4. Da-Quan Bowers
5. Marcell Dareus
6. Prince Amukamura
7. Robert Quinn
I absolutely agree. I have always thought that it would come down to Darius, Quinn or Amukamara. Now, however, I believe that QBs could dictate the top 10 more than ever. You could see at least one in Gabbert, but Newton and Mallett could jump in. Now add Locker, wow.
Still, I love our chances to land a great player. We won't be picking top ten for a long time so we better get it right.
The fact that we're picking 7th with 7 elite non-quarterbacks really helps. I don't think Newton is a 1st round QB after Monday night. Harbaugh is going to try and find value in the second or third round with Ponder, Stanzi, and Devlin...but will take Locker if he checks out, IMHO.
Food for thought; Andrew Luck's stats against Oregon compared to Cameron Newton's (and Oregon had 5 weeks to prepare for Newton):
Andrew Luck:
29/46, 349 yards, 2 TD passes, 2 Int, 131 rating, 38 rushing, 1 TD - Lost 52-31
Cameron Newton:
20/34, 265 yards, 2 TD passes, 1 Int, 137 rating, 64 rushing - Won 22-19
Just sayin....
Cam Newton had 5 weeks to prepare for oregon
And he won. Your point is?
To be fair Auburn has awesome talent. Last time I checked I don't see a Fairley on Stanford. It's not the same talent level at all. And Stanford was on the road vs. Oregon. Not a neutral field.
Stanford_excuses.
LOL... Newton is good at the college level. But you got to admit the Auburn talent level is better than Stanford. Stanford was mostly Harbaugh + Luck. Great HC + Great QB. Auburn has talent all over. Including awesome talent on the D. Line.
True, Auburn has more talent on the defensive side, but not necessarily on the offensive side. IMO, they're pretty even there (with a speed advantage to Auburn) if you take all of the weapons/offensive line into account. The deciding factor is the play of the QBs and the coaching...Harbaugh/Luck wins out over Auburn/Newton.
IMO, Stanford beats Auburn in that game on Monday, mostly because of Luck and Harbaugh.