my mock #2 (post-combine)

communist · 2015-02-25T09:31:00-08:00

1)CBS is the main source again 2)I do imply small trades without mentioning them explicitly Round 1: WR Parker/Strong/Coates/Smith NOT DGB!!!!!!!!! All of these guys can stretch the field. Coates, Smith and even Strong could be available way later than at 15th ovr, thus trading down is possible. Round 2: DE Mario Edwards jr., FSU Not THE pass-rushing 5-tech we are looking for but according to my knowledge you won't find any pass-rushing d-liners who can play 5-tech in this draft anyway. This guy seems to have some potential and we need some new bodies at the d-line anyway, either LDE or RDE. Round 3: RB David Johnson, Northern Iowa Seems to be very athletic but still powerful. Can be a reliable pass-catcher. Just look at the Senior Bowl reports. Round 4a: CB Ronald Darby, FSU Although we got some CBs in the pipe, bringing in an additional one through a day 3 pick won't hurt. This guy has got some character concerns but he is very quick and fast, a thing is missing a little bit here. Round 4b: TE Mycole Pruitt, Southern Illinois Seems to be the most athletic prospect in the draft. Has to learn more efficient ways to block. Pick him over Saxton because the latter one is an even worse in-line blocker according to scouting reports. Round 5: DT Xavier Williams, Northern Iowa I assume that he is able to play at NT, that is why i pick him here. Round 6: FS Adrian Amos, Penn State FS-backup who can play at CB as well. Round 7a: QB Blake Sims, Alabama Career-backup with some speed, arm, pro-style experience in the SEC Round 7b: WR Chris Conley, Georgia 6-2, very fast, comes from a pro-style offense where he run several routes, played in the SEC. Critique 1)no o-line at all? I don't think that we won't leave the draft without a single o-line pick either. Though, the only vacancy we got, is the LG which could be filled by MMartin, Looney or Brandon Thomas. 2)no OLB? Skuta is a FA, Brooks as good as gone (his demeanor set it not the money, imho), Aldon is Aldon, Lynch played good, Lemonier sucked. Way too many question marks to ignore this position. But I had the feeling that we need more help at other positions. 3)RB high? Yeah, it could be shocking for some of you but let's spend a look at the facts: a)we don't have any change-of-pace back (yeah, the guy I picked is certainly not a Sproles either, yet he is athletic) b)Hunter was good in his first season but after that we haven't seen anything and he was re-signed due to Lattimore's retirement, c)I love Gore but the guy is 31 and RBs, especially those who got a lot of enemy contact wear down after they turned 30. d)we won't change our offensive philosophy THAT much, i.e. we will need at least two good-very good RBs and a very solid 3rd one. 4)QB-backup this low? this year's QB-class sucks ovr anyway AND you won't find good material in late rounds anyway. I strongly prefer to get an experienced backup for this season and try to develop a career-backup behind him. 5)two d-liners? Yes. RayMac is gone, Cowboy will retire this or next year. We cannot rely on Tank and the other guys who are solid but none of them is close to being a very good d-liner. any questions?

Feb 25, 2015 at 10:44 AM

Quest4six
The Q46 Dude
Posts: 4,040

I just don't know how I feel about not taking a o-lineman in the first two/three rounds.
Joe Looney was horrible last season, Marcus Martin has been training as a center and would have to learn our system again (if we switch to a ZBS)
Another thing that has been bugging me is people thinking Thomas is going to come in and start. He is a year removed from football (and that was college ball) and now people think he is going to start. Thats a BIG if

I'm not sure how I would feel about taking Devin Smith in the first round, I think he is a second round talent and I hope if we go WR in the first its with Strong.

IMO, this draft would be perfect if we went Carl Davis/Devin Smith/Cedric Ogbehui
Also I don't think Conley goes in the 7th

But I like the rest, especially the Darby and Johnson picks

Feb 25, 2015 at 11:09 AM

stonecold590
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Posts: 2,382

I'm very much in agreement that we need Oline help with in the first 3 rounds.

Feb 25, 2015 at 12:26 PM

slowriot
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Posts: 3,933

Originally posted by stonecold590:
I'm very much in agreement that we need Oline help with in the first 3 rounds.

This - but I do think we need help at OLB

Feb 25, 2015 at 1:00 PM

NYniner85
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Posts: 118,870

Wait weren't you just debating with me that we didn't need to draft a WR early in another thread

Feb 25, 2015 at 1:02 PM

pd24
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Posts: 9,407

I think Chris Conley is gone way before the 7th

Feb 25, 2015 at 1:05 PM

9erguy
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Posts: 3,349

The Northern Iowa 49ers

Feb 25, 2015 at 1:57 PM

communist
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Posts: 12,475

f.. the morons from CBS updated their board today. Conley is a 5th-rounder there.
Yeah, then pick Conley with our 5th or that from a different team

nice, they changed way too much. Have to restart

[ Edited by communist on Feb 25, 2015 at 2:06 PM ]

Feb 25, 2015 at 2:16 PM

pd24
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Posts: 9,407

Originally posted by communist:
f.. the morons from CBS updated their board today. Conley is a 5th-rounder there.
Yeah, then pick Conley with our 5th or that from a different team

nice, they changed way too much. Have to restart

We will probably have a 4th round comp, we can take him or Smelter with that.

Feb 25, 2015 at 2:37 PM

communist
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Posts: 12,475

My problem is that I wanted to take a speedster-project in the 7th round.

Though, Conley instead of the TE would be ok. The TE would be useless anyway due to 53man-roster-limit given that we will keep Davis in 2015 and got Carrier and Vance there as well. Celek and Grimble could also be helpful.

[ Edited by communist on Feb 25, 2015 at 2:51 PM ]

Feb 25, 2015 at 2:38 PM

#10

tatdwolf49
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Posts: 3,206

Originally posted by communist:
f.. the morons from CBS updated their board today. Conley is a 5th-rounder there.
Yeah, then pick Conley with our 5th or that from a different team

nice, they changed way too much. Have to restart

Got a link to that cbs player ranking page ????

Feb 25, 2015 at 2:51 PM

#11

communist
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Posts: 12,475

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

Feb 25, 2015 at 2:59 PM

#12

WRATHman44
Staff
Posts: 16,951

Originally posted by Quest4six:
I just don't know how I feel about not taking a o-lineman in the first two/three rounds.
Joe Looney was horrible last season, Marcus Martin has been training as a center and would have to learn our system again (if we switch to a ZBS)
Another thing that has been bugging me is people thinking Thomas is going to come in and start. He is a year removed from football (and that was college ball) and now people think he is going to start. Thats a BIG if

I'm not sure how I would feel about taking Devin Smith in the first round, I think he is a second round talent and I hope if we go WR in the first its with Strong.

IMO, this draft would be perfect if we went Carl Davis/Devin Smith/Cedric Ogbehui
Also I don't think Conley goes in the 7th

But I like the rest, especially the Darby and Johnson picks

I'd like to read your analysis on how horrible Looney was. I broke down a lot of his plays, and he really only struggled that first game. If Boone hadn't come on strong in December, Looney would have had a better year than him. Regarding ZBS, we already run zone plays, we just didn't run them frequently enough to be successful at them. Martin won't be adjusting nearly as much as a rookie will have to. Thomas has already been taught our system, and will have an entire off season to apply his knowledge physically, giving him a distinct advantage over any rookie we select.

Feb 25, 2015 at 3:41 PM

#13

communist
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Posts: 12,475

Originally posted by WRATHman44:
I'd like to read your analysis on how horrible Looney was. I broke down a lot of his plays, and he really only struggled that first game. If Boone hadn't come on strong in December, Looney would have had a better year than him. Regarding ZBS, we already run zone plays, we just didn't run them frequently enough to be successful at them. Martin won't be adjusting nearly as much as a rookie will have to. Thomas has already been taught our system, and will have an entire off season to apply his knowledge physically, giving him a distinct advantage over any rookie we select.

This is a very valid point which was overlooked:
the only advantage a rookie OG would have on Thomas is that he played football in 2014. Yet, he has to adapt to the NFL.

But, I do understand the doubts. I would like to draft an o-liner, an OG in particular and I do second the "trenches are always a need" in every thread. Though, our pressing needs are at WR and d-line.
Now, let's come down to my 3rd round pick:
-at OG we could try out Looney, MMartin or Thomas. Thomas only problem is his injury but he certainly haven't forgotten how to play football...I mean he would be gone in round 2 if it weren't for his injury. round 2 equals a lot of talent which equals a lot of abliity and fast-learner. Looney is a very solid guard-backup, MMartin can play Guard.
-at RB, we got Hyde, a pending FA named Gore who happens to be 31 years old and Hunter, who is coming from an injury and who was a good #2-RB at the very best.
--->the immediate need seems to be at RB, way before OG.
I mean, if we were a pass-happy team, then I would go for an OG within a heartbeat. But given our ground'n'pound-focus, we need a 2nd RB who has to have potential to be a very solid #1-RB in this league.
BTW, the very huge majority of the zone haven't expected Baalke to pick a RB early in 2014. Lattimore was coming back, Gore was still there, Hunter was still there, LMJ was still there (though of course, he wasn't ever viewed as a every down back at all). Now, we are VERY thin at RB and given the facts in the last sentence, I would expect Baalke to go after a RB in the first 4 rounds.

yes, this conclusion comes from a guy who always seconds the "trenches are always a need"-philosophy.

Feb 25, 2015 at 4:58 PM

#14

crew
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Posts: 805

Like the 1st 3 picks with a preference towards Parker or Strong in the 1st, Devin Smith & Coates are 2nd rounders, would take Smith before Coates.
Ronald Darby will be off the board by the 4th round after his combine results, like the Pruitt and Xavier Williams picks, Chris Conley is goin Rd 3/4.