Season 25 Draft News

Week 1
"Off the rugby pitch - LT Gordon Patterson was a rugby player just a few weeks ago, but his strength and endurance translates well to football."
SMLE Draft Expert: Rugby players are notorious for their all around technique and Patterson should translate well to football. He can think like a runner, a defender and loves to ruck. Expect raw talent and a smart player.
Player Comparison: Alejandro Villanueva - Both big raw players who translate well to OT.
Combine Review: 6.9 - A dancing bear with freak numbers. All good here. 
Projected Draft Position: Top5 pick

Week 2
"Apple doesn't fall far -  Virginia SS Rashard Hester has been by his father on the sideline during football games since he could walk."
SMLE Draft Expert: Hester's game doesn't flash but he's a complete player. The combine will show whether he's got his dad's speed.
Player Comparison: Deandre Olsen - while he doesn't flash for the Patriots, he doesn't flop either.
Combine Review: 7.4 - Very quick feet and fluid hops, good burst and strength but a tad slow.
Projected Draft Position: Top16

Week 5
"Kilgore leaves team - LOLB Reggie Kilgore announced today that he would be leaving the football program due to personal reasons."
SMLE Draft Expert: There's not much game film on Kilgore so he best have a great combine. After last drafts crazy linebacker class who knows which team will take a chance?
Player Comparison: Reuben Foster, talented LB falling in the draft due to some big question marks.
Combine Review: 6.6 - Good speed with some strength and burst but stiff hips. 
Projected Draft Position: Rounds 2 to 5

Week 6
"Crash Landing - The top WR prospect in the game Marshall Ladler shattered his collar bone. The injury puts his draft status up in the air."
SMLE Draft Expert: It's a shame that Ladler can't put up any tape and the jury is out on his combine invite. He's an unknown project who might boost his stock if he can show he's healed and athletic.
Player Comparison: Laquon Treadwell, his college injury put a big question mark against his development as a WR and it showed his 1st year with the Vikings.
Combine Review: DNP
Projected Draft Position: Round 2 to 5

Week 7
"Record Holder - Brian Gomez sets team's single season completion record with 56 in blowout victory."
SMLE Draft Expert: Gomez had a great game but some question whether that's the high volume quick pass scheme he plays in. Decent arm, decent accuracy but no flash. Typical high floor lower ceiling QB but will be pushed up in a weak class with no surefire No1 QB like Mili, Lang, Dyson or Brockel.
Player Comparison: Alex Smith - Great game manager who needs a scheme to succeed.
Combine Review: 5.9 - Quick feet and okay speed, he'll be fine in the pocket and bootlegs.
Projected Draft Position: Top20 pick

Week 8
"Pancakes Served All Day - Thomas Ward stonewalls fellow top prospect Skinner in 17-3 win."
SMLE Draft Expert: Ward had a great game and could be a draft steal, but he's never 1 on 1 in pass protection... Angry undersized LG but decent zone blocking C in the right scheme.
Player Comparison: John Miller - Small angry OL who was run ready but pass poor.
Combine Review: 5.2 - Decent burst of the line and okay hips but only 24 reps, move to C.
Projected Draft Position: Rounds 3 to 5

Week 9
"Back and Forth - Ga. Southern ROLB Sheldon McGraw can't build on success of last week, struggles in a 37-3 blowout loss."
SMLE Draft Expert: McGraw is too small for the 34 but doesn't show the lane discipline for a 43. He needs a good combine and to demonstrate coverage skills or he becomes a tweener casualty.
Player Comparison: Mark Barron - tweener player in danger of being irrelevant, but at least the Barron could hit...
Combine Review: 6.3 - Decent speed and okay hips but little burst and weak for the position. 
Projected Draft Position: Rounds 4 to 6

Week 10
"Hail Mary Miracle - the play of the week came from Texas A&M QB Todd Raymer. A well timed Hail Mary landed perfectly in his receivers hands giving Texas A&M a win this week in amazing fashion"
SMLE Draft Expert: Raymer's stock was slipping with tape showing floating inaccurate passes despite being billed as a strong arm QB. His 1st round status is recemented following a pinpoint bomb to win the game.
Player Comparison: Riley Brockel - Hasn't got as high a ceiling as Brockel but the arm strength and development needed are similar.
Combine Review: 5.7 - Had a dadbod, he'll move around the pocket okay but not much strength.
Projected Draft Position: Top20 pick

Week 11
"Tackled for a loss - Arizona ROLB Sanchez Richardson can't end his lacklustre performances and draft experts take notice"
SMLE Draft Expert: They certainly do take notice, an undersized pass rusher who can't rush the passer is going to slip. Unless he puts in an amazing combine the slide won't stop.
Player Comparison: Shea McClellin - billed as a pass rusher who will have to find a home as a 43 backer.
Combine Review: 6.4 - No flash and stiff hips, okay speed and strength. 
Projected Draft Position: Rounds 3 to 5

Week 12
"Guaranteed TD - The last time Florida State FB Allen Dragons didn't rush for 100+ yards in a game, was last year."
SMLE Draft Expert: Dragos is a man amongst boys on the field, constantly using his size to Mother-truck DBs. But everyone is big in the nfl so he best show he's got some moves, hands and speed too.
Player Comparison: Tim Tebow - Great highlights, brutal runner, similar passing ability.
Combine Review: 7.0 - Looks exactly like Tebow, decent everything but not flashy. Strong!
Projected Draft Position: Rounds 2 to 4

Week 15
"Rowland wins Heisman - Pittsburgh HB Jimmy Rowland has just won the Heisman after an impressive season leading the conference in every major rushing category."
SMLE Draft Expert: Rowland looks great in college but some of his moves are sloppy, instead relying on speed and power to win runs. On a good day he looks like Marshawn Lynch, on a bad day...
Player Comparison: Benjarvis Green-Ellis, more potential but solid carrier with no flash.
Combine Review: 7.1 - Decent speed, strength and burst but average agility. 
Projected Draft Position: Top 20

Superbowl
"Struggles at all-star game - FB Antoine Caldwell had a rough day at the all-star game, averaging less than two yards a carry before his injury."
SMLE Draft Expert: Caldwell has enough on tape to prove even though FBs are almost extinct, you don't mess with a T-Rex! He'll run through walls but don't expect a T-Rex to carry the rock (short arms see).
Player Comparison: Vonta Leach - Road grader that hits like Mike Tyson but a slow plodder.
Combine Review: 5.0 - Disappointing slow weak sluggish combine
Projected Draft Position: Rounds 5 to 7

"Shutdown WR - FS Jaron Tillman shut down any receiver he faced off against in the all-star game."
SMLE Draft Expert: In such a weak CB class look for teams to shore up the secondary in other ways. Tillman moves like a hawk, great range but average takler.
Player Comparison: Ed Reed - 70% of the earth is covered by ocean, the rest is covered by Tillman...
Combine Review: 7.5 - Fast and agile with average strength, burst and jump. 
Projected Draft Position: Round 1

Combine
"Kluwe stonewalls Portilla - RG Eric Kluwe looked like a Pro at the All-Star game, keeping Portilla away from the QBs all day"
SMLE Draft Expert: Kluwe looked phenomenal out there and Portilla is no pushover. This game tape very much cemented his first round status as a dominant OL ready for the NFL. 
Player Comparison: David Decastro - Bully blocker with great physicals with polished run game.
Combine Review: 6.9 - Freak athlete in every category
Projected Draft Position: Top20

"Combine Report: LB Class - UCLA LOLB Vaughn Merling surprised scouts with his speed at the Combine"
SMLE Draft Expert: Merling was under most scouts radar until he carried himself well at the combine. Going back to review his game film shows a decent LB but excels in coverage. 
Player Comparison: Sean Lee - Clever technician without the physical dominance
Combine Review: 6.6 - Plays faster in pads but generally acceptable stats for an LB
Projected Draft Position: Rounds 3 to 5

"Best Bench Press - LE Morris Dekker did the mist reps at the bench press in Lucas Oil, getting just over 40"
SMLE Draft Expert: Dekker is a man beast who owned every lineman he went against with speed and stregnth. But everyone is fast and strong in the NFL so a he'll need coaching up a bit to be effective at the next level. Side Note: 5 reps didn't count...
Player Comparison: Solomon Thomas - Great physicals but needs to improve pass rush moves
Combine Review: 7.0 - Super fast, super strong, super agile with decent burst.
Projected Draft Position: Top10


Pro Days
"Cooper Romanowski shines at Pro Day - The Right End showed off his high motor at Pro Day"
SMLE Draft Expert: You want an none stop motor in a DE, combine that with speed and power and with a bit of coaching polish, one day you'll have a monster DE. Cooper has that DNA. 
Player Comparison: Jared Allen - Perfect 43 end that never gives up!
Combine Review: 7.0 - Fast, very agile with good burst and bend and functioning strength.
Projected Draft Position: Top10

"Tired before the whistle - DT Anton Divens started to slow down halfway through his Pro Day, barely finishing the second half of the day"
SMLE Draft Expert: Coaches need a certain amount of rotation to an effective DL but Divens has a look of lethargy about him. He's country strong but that god given gift has bred some lazy habits.
Player Comparison: Marcel Dareus - When the light's on its go, lights off is nap time. 
Combine Review: 6.7 - Very strong one gap with some short range burst and agility.
Projected Draft Position: Round 2

"Tough Road Ahead - Georgia HB Jaquese Ridley finds his draft stock dipping after lackluster IQ test results"
SMLE Draft Expert: Running backs aren't always known for their academic prowess but there's a base line level needed to digest a playbook. Ridley will need help with pro concepts.
Player Comparison: Frank Gore - Got 6 on the wonderlic but still had a good career.
Combine Review: 6.8 - Fast enough, agile enough, strong enough but nothing stands out.
Projected Draft Position: Round 2 to 3

Bump, if anyone has a screenshot of the missing Week 8 and 9 stories I'd appreciate it. I think one is a WR story...

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Week 8 & 9 are right here:
Check out @SMLEurope’s Tweet: [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]

Do we have week 16 n 17?

[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] I didn't see any I think? [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] can you confirm.

Don't think there are draft stories after the Heisman until the Super Bowl. At least as I can remember...

and where there any in weeks 3 or 4?

ParaAUT wrote:Don't think there are draft stories after the Heisman until the Super Bowl. At least as I can remember...

Usually not, then you get the college bowl stories at the superbowl...

Bump for superbowl week

Bump for pro day and combine