Season 24 Draft News

Week 3
"Student of the game - Son of legendary Texas high school coach Dyson, QB Toby Dyson has been around his entire life."
SMLE Draft Expert: Dyson has the elite height and build of a superstar NFL passer, he can put zip on the ball but has questionable athleticism and needs to work on his downfield throws. He has the smarts but the skills need to catch up. 
Player Comparison: Jared Goff, decent physicals but questionable deep accuracy.
Combine Review: 5.4 - He's got some speed, good hops and average burst but you only need him to pass the ball. Not a killer here. 
Projected Draft Position: Top3 pick

Week 6
"Slowed Down - An MRI Confirmed that Liberty HB Dixon Armour tears ACL and PCL in second quarter of 37-10 loss."
SMLE Draft Expert: It was already a top heavy running back class pushing Dixon down in value, a devastating knee injury will only add to that free fall. Proving it's repaired well enough at the combine will alleviate concerns that a injury of this magnitude hasn't slowed him down. 
Player Comparison: Darren McFadden, decent runner but no knees.
Combine Review: 6.6 - Dixon hasn't recovered that well from surgery and his conditioning showed, average measurables but okay speed and strength. 
Projected Draft Position: Rounds 4 to 6

Week 7
"D-Nied - With thanks to LB Richey Acho, Ohio State is allowing the least amount of rushing yards a game this season."
SMLE Draft Expert: Let's face it, SMLE loves fast MLBs but a 6'1" 255lb Prototypical MLB with elite skills is gold dust. LB Acho is clogging lanes, killing crossovers and thumping anything in his path.
Player Comparison: Patrick Willis, elite linebacker with instincts galore.
Combine Review: 7.3 - 4.53!!!!!! That's faster than the Quinn-Jet!!! He's other measurables were good but Acho is a bat out of hell!
Projected Draft Position: Top10

Week 8
"Hail Mary Miracle - The play of the week came from Pittsburgh QB Mario Lang. A well timed Hail Mary landed perfectly in his receivers hands giving Pittsburgh a win this week in amazing fashion"
SMLE Draft Expert: While scouts agree Dyson has the better potential, Lang is a Big Ben clone with size, great arm and better touch to his throws with that playmaker knack.
Player Comparison: Ben Roethlisburger, size, good physicals and accurate.
Combine Review: 5.6 - A statue in the pocket but with decent burst for moving around, average bench which means he looks more Manning than Big Ben. 
Projected Draft Position: Top3 pick.

Week 9
"Record broken at Alabama - RT Heath Walsh sets a team record for most consecutive starts with 50"
SMLE Draft Expert: In a class of RTs lacking elite talent Walsh is making himself heard with good attitude, toughness and durability. A true old school bully football player.
Player Comparison: Brandon Scherff, decent RT but could also move inside.
Combine Review: 5.0 - Where did all that grit go at the combine? Decent Bench at 29 reps but he's too cumbersome for the edge, recommend a move to guard where he'll flourish.
Projected Draft Position: 1st Round

"Grades really matter - MLB Willis Richards will be sitting out the rest of the season for academic reasons"
SMLE Draft Expert: With a super talented linebacker class this year Willis has pushed his draft stock even lower. A good combine could recover it but a poor one would see him slip to day 3. Just because they're the hammers on D doesn't mean you don't need smarts.
Player Comparison: Rolando McClain, decent player but also a bonehead.
Combine Review: 7.3 - Willis managed to qualify for the combine and boy aren't we glad he did, super quick, super agile, super strong with great film. Buyer beware though, he's still a numpty.
Projected Draft Position: Rounds 2 to 3

Week 10
"Brick wall or matador - Arizona St. C Peter Trusty rebounds with 3 pancake blocks in victory after dismal performance last week."
SMLE Draft Expert: There's a big market for centres in a "meh" class which will push Trusty's value up to day 2. His value is determined by who's drafting him, his tape doesn't pop but neither does it look bad, a starter on a bad team but a backup on a good one.
Player Comparison: Eric Wood, great instincts & awareness but technique needs work.
Combine Review: 5.0 - Decent bench with 31 reps but don't expect trusty to get to the second level or work in a zone scheme. This is a one level power blocker. 
Projected Draft Position: Rounds 2 to 4

Week 12
"Fort vs Quinn - Sheldon Fort locks down top prospect Kristian Quinn, helping his team to a 27-24 win."
SMLE Draft Expert: Fort was already 1st round material but might have just cemented a top pick. He's got a napoleon complex so look out for that big chip on his shoulder.  
Player Comparison: Antoine Winfield, no size, all heart and willing to tackle AND cover.
Combine Review: 7.3 - Fort is the roadrunner, 4.34 40 and agile as they come, his film shows he can lock down in any coverage and hits harder than his size lets on. 
Projected Draft Position: Top10

"Tripping and falling - it's been a rough few weeks for RB Leilon Poli-Dixon. His draft stock is now in jeopardy."
SMLE Draft Expert: He's got the strong arms but two left feet and poor development this season has the 23 year old back falling the board. He'll do what he does well, but this is no multitool.
Player Comparison: Legarrette Blount, if you need 3 yards, he'll get you 3 yards, if you need 5 yards, he'll get you 3 yards (except in the playoffs...derp).
Combine Review: 7.0 - As expected, fantastic straight line speed, great burst, okay strength but can't turner a corner to save his life.
Projected Draft Position: Rounds 3 to 5

Week 13
"Late Bloomer - Miami LT J.T.Lewis is a hero after a series of key blocks that led his team to a late season victory"
SMLE Draft Expert: Lewis is a better prospect than any of last years draft class, elite pass blocking skills, great length and strong initial punch has him locked in to the top of the draft.
Player Comparison: Jason Peters, he's got the size and strength but is a dancing bear with great technique.
Combine Review: 5.3 - Everyone wanted to see him post some great numbers, he had a subpar bench but looked exceptional in drills with his quick footwork. All QBs want this guy on their blindside.
Projected Draft Position: Top10

Week 14
"The Old Bait and Switch - Taylor Frost was a QBs worst nightmare for LSU this season, finishing wity 10 INTs and setting a school record"
SMLE Draft Expert: With the rise of the heavy zone defence, pure man cover lock-down corners might start losing value, but Frost has the potential to freeze out the primary receiver. Coaches and GM's just have to ask themselves if he's worth the risk as an elite-man but project-zone defensive back. 
Player Comparison: Darius Slay Jr, similar length and build, good in man-cover but questionable footwork in zone coverage out of college.
Combine Review: 6.8 - Good 40, exceptionally agile but unfair to compare him to McClean and Fort. He'll lock down any no1 WR with ease. 
Projected Draft Position: Top10

Week 15
"Catching trophies - after an incredible season as one of the best receivers in college, Rashaud Mclean has won the Heisman."
SMLE Draft Expert: McLean has declared as a DB for the upcoming draft where his elite press and man cover skills will be used to stop catches not make them.
Player Comparison: Xavier Rhodes, size, strength and lots of press.
Combine Review: 7.1 - McLean arrived looking leaner and it helped his 4.36 40 but disappointed with 12 reps. Questionable initial burst but it shouldn't hurt his draft stock.
Projected Draft Position: Top 5 pick

Superbowl
"Making Matters Worse - Upon aggravating a previous injury, SS Djuan Hartwell has adhered to doctor's requests that he sit out pre-draft workouts."
SMLE Draft Expert: Hartwell has some of the question marks regarding development that Dunn had entering the draft but Dunn at least had a clean bill of health to go round 1. In a league starved of good safeties and a ho-hum draft class Hartwell should still go Day2 but GMs will get nervous about his measurables. 
Player Comparison: O.C. Dunn.
Combine Review: DNP - A big unknown in a deeper class...
Projected Draft Position: Rounds 3 to 5

Combine
"A Slow Split - Devon Norman didn't run a slow 40 at the Combine, but the intial burst was slow compared to other LGs."
SMLE Draft Expert: Norman looks like a beast out there, natural hands and amazing punch, he's an OL coaches dream on paper, he fit's any run schemes but questionable pass footwork. 
Player Comparison: Greg Robinson - All the physical tools in the world but questionable effort.
Combine Review: 6.7 - Great burst, fantastic agility, 36 reps and a 4.87 40 but one only wonders if the 10 yard split was due to his bad conditioning trumping his natural talent?
Projected Draft Position: 1st to 2nd Round

Pro-Days
"No INTS  SS Elijah Steele had an uneventful Pro Day that could have been worse if he dropped a few passes he had trouble bringing in."
SMLE Draft Expert: Steele's film looks great, his combine looks great but his pro day looked sloppy. Is this just a one off or has the human missile shown true metal?
Player Comparison: Taylor Mays - Big, fast, strong, hits but not all quite there.
Combine Review: 7.2 - Nothing to complain about other than he might get turned around by some of the more agile route runners.
Projected Draft Position: 1st round

"BYU Pro Day Report - C Kevin Torres looks like a different player at his Pro Day compared to the end of the season. His footwork has improved and he's looking a little leaner"
SMLE Draft Expert: A late comer rising up some draft boards, he had a decent combine and then showed some great technique at his pro day... but how high is his ceiling? 
Player Comparison: John Sullivan - Came out late in the draft undersized and average strength.
Combine Review: 5.3 - Acceptable for a C but you want to show more strength...
Projected Draft Position: 3rd to 5th rounds

"Looking Lost - FS Adonis Ross had a rough time at his Pro Day, moving in the wrong direction on several drop backs in reaction drills"
SMLE Draft Expert: Adonis Ross does nothing excellent but nothing bad, a tweener in technique who was consistent until his pro day where the lack of excellence plumetted his draft stock. 
Player Comparison: Shilah Keo - No Speed and did everything asked of him.
Combine Review: 7.4 - Don't let that fool you, the 4.69 40 is a killer so drops rounds.
Projected Draft Position: 3rd to 5th rounds

Draft
"First in Line - All the experts agree, Allen McBriar is a surefire difference-maker with huge upside"
SMLE Draft Expert: Not all the experts agree, this expert saw shoddy technique on film all season and his stock was only saved by a great combine and unbelievable tenacity on every play.
Player Comparison: Chris Long - Decent physicals, great bend and pursuit but needs more moves.
Combine Review: 7.4 - He's got strength, burst, agility and straight-line speed... is it enough?
Projected Draft Position: Top10

nice matr please continue

Nice one Matt, top effort as always

“If you need 5 yards he’ll get 3 yards” that tickled me

Legarrette Blount, if you need 3 yards, he'll get you 3 yards, if you need 5 yards, he'll get you 3 yards.- He needed 3 in the NFC champoinship game but got 11 and a TD!

zill_kills wrote:Legarrette Blount, if you need 3 yards, he'll get you 3 yards, if you need 5 yards, he'll get you 3 yards.- He needed 3 in the NFC champoinship game but got 11 and a TD!

Haha, that was a bruising run, an unfair comparison now...

Bump for the new guys...

Great stuff Matt

I think we can all agree that the Draft Story lines are trolling us all...