NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

full first round mock with player profile links, combines info, news, etc etc (link below)

1. Oakland - JaMarcus Russell QB
2. Lions - Gaines Adams DE
3. Browns - Adrian Peterson RB
4. Buccaneers - Jamaal Anderson DE
5. Cardinals - Joe Thomas OT
6. Redskins - Alan Branch DT
[....]

[URL="http://www.nfldraftscout.com/mockdraft.php?round=1&year=2007"]2007 NFL Draft Scout, 2007 Draft Coverage for Pros by Pros -- Powered by the Sports Xchange[/URL]


this one seems more reasonable than the last one. calvin johnson goes to the vikes at 7. values seem to be ben grubbs (OG) at 22, okoye (DT) at 24, and patrick willis (MLB) at 31.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

[quote=That Guy;273879]full first round mock with player profile links, combines info, news, etc etc (link below)

1. Oakland - JaMarcus Russell QB
2. Lions - Gaines Adams DE
3. Browns - Adrian Peterson RB
4. Buccaneers - Jamaal Anderson DE
5. Cardinals - Joe Thomas OT
6. Redskins - Alan Branch DT
[....]

[URL="http://www.nfldraftscout.com/mockdraft.php?round=1&year=2007"]2007 NFL Draft Scout, 2007 Draft Coverage for Pros by Pros -- Powered by the Sports Xchange[/URL]


this one seems more reasonable than the last one. calvin johnson goes to the vikes at 7. values seem to be ben grubbs (OG) at 22, okoye (DT) at 24, and patrick willis (MLB) at 31.[/quote]I still don't understand the implied infatuation with Al Davis' and Jamarcus Russell. I think a lot of draft mocks are making some interesting assumptions at the top of the draft. That's all I'm gonna say for now.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

I still don't see how Russell's stock has risen so high..

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

yeah, i'm kinda weird on that too. his completion % and td/int ratio is very very good though, and he improved a lot year to year.

I guess the thinking is brady quinn wilted in any game where he had to play a good team, but oakland needs a QB bad, so they have to take somebody.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

I think they're also banking on his size and everything that comes with it. He seems like he has all the physical tools to be a very good NFL QB.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

[QUOTE=GTripp0012;273882]I still don't understand the implied infatuation with Al Davis' and Jamarcus Russell. I think a lot of draft mocks are making some interesting assumptions at the top of the draft. That's all I'm gonna say for now.[/QUOTE]

My guess is that Al Davis likes a vertical passing attack and Russell is perfectly suited for such a scheme. Supposedly, Russell can throw 85 yard bombs without much effort and can throw 45 yarders while sitting down. I don't know how much good, however, Russell would do for a passing attack that is going to rely on a Moss-less receiving corps (who will be traded) and an offensive line that seems to have a fetish for QBs lying on their backs.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

I can't see Tampa passing up Calvin Johnson if he's available, as long as Gruden has a say. I'd be happy w/Branch, Adams or Anderson. Lots of good DEs will be there when we pick.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

Jamarcus "Akili Smith" Russell...but seriously. What's interesting, to your point SGG, is that the Raiders recently named Greg Knapp their offensive coordinator (from Atlanta) and he's all about the west coast offense so we'll see how that plays into things

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

[QUOTE=TAFKAS;273900]Jamarcus "Akili Smith" Russell...but seriously. What's interesting, to your point SGG, is that the Raiders recently named Greg Knapp their offensive coordinator (from Atlanta) and he's all about the west coast offense so we'll see how that plays into things[/QUOTE]

Good point, I didn't even think of that. Did I just hear wrong and Davis isn't a huge fan of the deep passing game? Or is he simply realistic and knows that his offensive line can't protect sufficiently to implement a vertical attack?

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

There's so much wrong with that particular mock draft I don't even know where to begin. Adams too high. Johnson way way too low. Okoye too low. Posluzny too high. I can go on and on and on and even though I have no idea how the first round will play out this mock draft is the definition of what won't happen IMO. The pick of Branch going to us seems to be a pretty common choice for us in the 40 million or so online mocks.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

we. need. more. picks.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

i know we need d line help. but i would have to do a real long double take at calvin johnson before drafting a dlineman. my thinking is that though that branch and jamaal would be my first choices on the dline johnson is a once in a decade talent.just like bailey was a once in a decade cb. i think you take the rare talent over the need. we can fill it in other ways.these defensive players are good but not dominating. but johnson could be dominating with moss and cooley and portis to play along side. again yes d line is the greatest area of need but you can't go by complete need at the beginning of the draft. maybe in later rounds you can, but in that position. i;m taking johnson.i guess im kinda cookey like that,

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

Johnson doesn't fall. Someone will trade up for him. He is considered the best prospect in the draft. He goes top 3.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

Well if some reason Calvin Johnson falls to us, we should consider trading our pick to the falcons. They need a receiver in the worse way and would give us they 1st and 2nd for the right to draft Calvin Johnson

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

[quote=Sheriff Gonna Getcha;273895]My guess is that Al Davis likes a vertical passing attack and Russell is perfectly suited for such a scheme. Supposedly, Russell can throw 85 yard bombs without much effort and can throw 45 yarders while sitting down. I don't know how much good, however, Russell would do for a passing attack that is going to rely on a Moss-less receiving corps (who will be traded) and an offensive line that seems to have a fetish for QBs lying on their backs.[/quote]

Not to be too offensive but....

The only thing that Al Davis likes is when his diaper is changed. There is no way that he is still running the team.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

[quote=Grim21Reaper;273944]Not to be too offensive but....

The only thing that Al Davis likes is when his diaper is changed. There is no way that he is still running the team.[/quote]
that just gave me one nasty ass visual( no pun intended)

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

AD runs that team(into the ground) for sure. Why do you think they are such a disaster?

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

How good is Calvin Johnson? I for one don't really know how good this guy is. Yeah, I've read the draft reports, and heard all the hype, but that doesn't really mean much to me. I've seen the guy play before and no doubt he's a stud, but how much better is this guy than some of the other young wideouts in the league? Is he head and shoulders better than guys like Larry Fitgerald, Anquan Boldin, Andre Johnson, or Marques Colston?

The Lions have used draft picks on plenty of wide receivers like Roy Williams, Charles Rodgers, and Mike Williams. Mike Williams may have been the most hyped receiver coming out of the draft in the last 10 years. Now, Charles Rodgers isn't even in the NFL I believe, Mike Williams got benched, and Cade McKnown was put in to play receiver over him!

It seems to me like it's too big of a gamble to take wide receivers that high because the talent level at that position is commonly misjudged. Is this guy really [B][I][U]THAT[/U][/I][/B] good? I don't think anyone can really say for sure. So is it really worth taking a gamble when we're already deep at receiver and passing up a defensive lineman, or trading to get more draft picks? Two things that we absolutely NEED.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

[QUOTE=gabe1984;273959]How good is Calvin Johnson? I for one don't really know how good this guy is. Yeah, I've read the draft reports, and heard all the hype, but that doesn't really mean much to me. I've seen the guy play before and no doubt he's a stud, but how much better is this guy than some of the other young wideouts in the league? Is he head and shoulders better than guys like Larry Fitgerald, Anquan Boldin, Andre Johnson, or Marques Colston?

The Lions have used draft picks on plenty of wide receivers like Roy Williams, Charles Rodgers, and Mike Williams. Mike Williams may have been the most hyped receiver coming out of the draft in the last 10 years. Now, Charles Rodgers isn't even in the NFL I believe, Mike Williams got benched, and Cade McKnown was put in to play receiver over him!

It seems to me like it's too big of a gamble to take wide receivers that high because the talent level at that position is commonly misjudged. Is this guy really [B][I][U]THAT[/U][/I][/B] good? I don't think anyone can really say for sure. So is it really worth taking a gamble when we're already deep at receiver and passing up a defensive lineman, or trading to get more draft picks? Two things that we absolutely NEED.[/QUOTE]

Very true. I agree that it's too risky, especially when we have far greater needs. However, I would LOVE for him to fall to us, because that would give us a lot of leverage in trading down.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

Does anyone else have this erie feeling that we may totally botch the draft this year? As everyone knows, the Redskins have made some absolutely horrific personnel decisions in the past decade. And, it seems like this year's draft is absolutely pivotal in turning this team around. It makes me really uneasy to think that some of the same guys who traded a 3rd rounder for Duckett, got rid of AP, got rid of Bailey, got rid of Smoot, got rid of #56 signed Archuletta, and signed Lloyed are going to be the ones selecting our draft picks. I'm going to go breath into a brown paper bag now.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

[quote=AlvinWalton'sNeckBrace;273908]we. need. more. picks.[/quote]

No question, we have a need lb, secondary, line and not alot of FA $ to go around.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

[quote=gabe1984;273974]Does anyone else have this erie feeling that we may totally botch the draft this year? As everyone knows, the Redskins have made some absolutely horrific personnel decisions in the past decade. And, it seems like this year's draft is absolutely pivotal in turning this team around. It makes me really uneasy to think that some of the same guys who traded a 3rd rounder for Duckett, got rid of AP, got rid of Bailey, got rid of Smoot, got rid of #56 signed Archuletta, and signed Lloyed are going to be the ones selecting our draft picks. I'm going to go breath into a brown paper bag now.[/quote]

Or you could also look at it as the front office that brought us Moss, Washington, Springs, Portis, Cooley, Taylor, Griffin, Golston, Campbell, etc.

The glass isn't always half empty.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

[QUOTE=gabe1984;273959]How good is Calvin Johnson? I for one don't really know how good this guy is. Yeah, I've read the draft reports, and heard all the hype, but that doesn't really mean much to me. I've seen the guy play before and no doubt he's a stud, but how much better is this guy than some of the other young wideouts in the league? Is he head and shoulders better than guys like Larry Fitgerald, Anquan Boldin, Andre Johnson, or Marques Colston?

The Lions have used draft picks on plenty of wide receivers like Roy Williams, Charles Rodgers, and Mike Williams. Mike Williams may have been the most hyped receiver coming out of the draft in the last 10 years. Now, Charles Rodgers isn't even in the NFL I believe, Mike Williams got benched, and Cade McKnown was put in to play receiver over him!

It seems to me like it's too big of a gamble to take wide receivers that high because the talent level at that position is commonly misjudged. Is this guy really [B][I][U]THAT[/U][/I][/B] good? I don't think anyone can really say for sure. So is it really worth taking a gamble when we're already deep at receiver and passing up a defensive lineman, or trading to get more draft picks? Two things that we absolutely NEED.[/QUOTE]

I agree. If we draft Calvin Johnson I will be pissed. WE DO NOT NEED HIM. You don't take a player you don't need with a team that could contend. You take a guy who instantly improve you. I don't care how good he is he will not instantly improve us all that much. When there are other players who are clearly very quality players who can help you then you either trade down or take of the other guys. ANyways I still think CJ doesn't even get close to us. If he does we be trading baby. Someone will want him at 6. I would rather have Anderson but Branch will do if Anderson is gone.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

[quote=Mattyk72;273988]Or you could also look at it as the front office that brought us Moss, Washington, Springs, Portis, Cooley, Taylor, Griffin, Golston, Campbell, etc.

The glass isn't always half empty.[/quote]

no, but if you miss expensively, it cancels out a lot of the good. if you use a lot of draft picks, you can afford a lot more misses, since they don't destroy your cap like archuleta's or lloyd's. It's much better to not make a move or overpay for guaranteed talent then take expensive gambles on questionable guys.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

[quote=FRPLG;274000]I agree. If we draft Calvin Johnson I will be pissed. WE DO NOT NEED HIM. You don't take a player you don't need with a team that could contend. You take a guy who instantly improve you. I don't care how good he is he will not instantly improve us all that much. When there are other players who are clearly very quality players who can help you then you either trade down or take of the other guys. ANyways I still think CJ doesn't even get close to us. If he does we be trading baby. Someone will want him at 6. I would rather have Anderson but Branch will do if Anderson is gone.[/quote]

well, he'd be better than ARE, and the offense would improve... but without a better defense, the W-L would probably stay the same :/. if CJ is there, it'd give us great leverage to pick up a 2nd round pick though, to use on a DL/LB/OG (if needed)/CB(wilson?).

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

[quote=Mattyk72;273988]Or you could also look at it as the front office that brought us Moss, Washington, Springs, Portis, Cooley, Taylor, Griffin, Golston, Campbell, etc.

The glass isn't always half empty.[/quote]

I dunno, in my opnion they've made more bad decisions than good decisions in personnel since Gibbs has come back.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

So let's hear the bad ones. If ANYTHING, it's 50/50.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

you can't afford to be 50/50 in FA. the margins of error just aren't very big with that much money/cap space at stake.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

True, while I'd rather the team build through the draft, if this is HOW they're doing it, their success rate has been pretty good.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

trade randle el and take johnson!!

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

[quote=TheMalcolmConnection;274023]True, while I'd rather the team build through the draft, if this is HOW they're doing it, their success rate has been pretty good.[/quote]

no, it hasn't been. if you go 50/50 in 30$mill FA contracts, you're success rate is TERRIBLE. If you go 50/50 with draft picks or vet min FAs, you're doing absolutely amazing. when you hand out huge contracts, the guys are supposed to have already proved that they're able to play.

and what about the guys they let go? the 4 dbs that were depth here and became STARTERS for other teams. those have to be considered misses as well.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

[QUOTE=TheMalcolmConnection;274023]True, while I'd rather the team build through the draft, if this is HOW they're doing it, their success rate has been pretty good.[/QUOTE]

I think their 2004 free agent class was great. Their 2005 free agent class was mediocre (they let Pierce go, and got Rabach). Their 2006 free agent class was pretty bad, at least when you measure production against salary. Overall, our free agent acquisitions under JGII have been so-so.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

[quote=redsk1;273977]No question, we have a need lb, secondary, line and not alot of FA $ to go around.[/quote]


Money is not a problem this year.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

[quote=gabe1984;274015]I dunno, in my opnion they've made more bad decisions than good decisions in personnel since Gibbs has come back.[/quote]

Other than some obvious bombs along the lines of AA and Lloyd, how do you figure the bad outweighs the good?

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

[quote=TheMalcolmConnection;274023]True, while I'd rather the team build through the draft, if this is HOW they're doing it, their success rate has been pretty good.[/quote]I think the Redskins have shown that free agency is a perfectly acceptable method of building a roster...but they've also shown you have to be smarter about it then they have.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

[quote=GTripp0012;274214]I think the Redskins have shown that free agency is a perfectly acceptable method of building a roster...but they've also shown you have to be smarter about it then they have.[/quote]

5-11 isn't acceptable. We will find out next year because if they don't have a winning record, Joe is probably gone.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

I am somewhere in between Grim21 and GTripp. I think the Redskins have done a pretty decent job of scouting free agents (e.g., Washington, Griffin, Springs, Daniels, Coles/Moss, Portis, Rabach, Thomas, ARE). Those guys far outnumber the Lloyds and AAs.

On the other hand, they have overpaid for their free agents. They've given them fat contracts (e.g., AAs being the richest for ANY safety in the history of the league). They've also overpaid to acquire them (e.g., 3rd rounder for Brunell, 3rd and 4th rounders for Lloyd, 3rd rounder for Duckett).

Then there is the whole matter of the draft. Cooley was an excellent find int he 3rd round, Taylor had a bad 2006 campaign but should be stud, Golston is an oustanding find when you consider he was a 6th rounder, Campbell looks very promising and may prove to be worth more than we gave up to get him, and it is still too early to judge Rocky McIntosh. But, Rogers was perhaps a big mistake (especially considering Ware and Merriman were on the board).

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

[quote=Sheriff Gonna Getcha;274219]I am somewhere in between Grim21 and GTripp. I think the Redskins have done a pretty decent job of scouting free agents (e.g., Washington, Griffin, Springs, Daniels, Coles/Moss, Portis, Rabach, Thomas, ARE). Those guys far outnumber the Lloyds and AAs.

On the other hand, they have overpaid for their free agents. They've given them fat contracts (e.g., AAs being the richest for ANY safety in the history of the league). They've also overpaid to acquire them (e.g., 3rd rounder for Brunell, 3rd and 4th rounders for Lloyd, 3rd rounder for Duckett).

Then there is the whole matter of the draft. Cooley was an excellent find int he 3rd round, Taylor had a bad 2006 campaign but should be stud, Golston is an oustanding find when you consider he was a 6th rounder, Campbell looks very promising and may prove to be worth more than we gave up to get him, and it is still too early to judge Rocky McIntosh. But, Rogers was perhaps a big mistake (especially considering Ware and Merriman were on the board).[/quote]I'm not sure what Merriman or Ware would be playing in our defense. I think that Carlos will work out fine after awhile anyway. He already provides great run defense, and has shown flashes of shut down cover skills. I think our current college scouting department really knows their stuff. Look at Campbell; dudes a projected 3rd rounder and we trade our 2006 first rounder to move up into the bottom half of the 1st round to get him. He's probably going to be a top 10 QB in this league by 2008.

But your post is pretty much what I was saying in not so many words. The Skins have built a great core through free agency. They proved that it can be done and sustained. They have just made some idiotic mistakes that are equally as frusterating for me now as they were at the time they were made.

It's going to cost us over 2008 and 2009 since we dont even have 25 roster caliber players under contract for 08, yet we are within 6 million dollars of the cap, and that doesnt even count the signing bonus allocation/base salary of our 6th overall pick and any free agents we get this year and next year, and our draft picks in 2008. [B]We will probably be over the cap by 4-5 million and still need to add 15-20 players to the payroll just to field a team[/B]. Then we're in a predicament. We could restructure every and all veterans, but thats only going to make the situation 50% worse in 09 and 10. If you make substancial cuts, you start the road to recovery with little roster talent for the 08-09 seasons. It's unfortunate because this situation could have been completely avoided with our current philosophy with some light film study prior to signing FAs and not giving our draft picks away for nothing.

So in summary, we've pioneered IMO a legit method for roster building, and ultimately screwed it up for ourselves.

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

[quote=Grim21Reaper;274217]5-11 isn't acceptable. We will find out next year because if they don't have a winning record, Joe is probably gone.[/quote]I'm guessing you didn't read my whole post.

It was two lines...

Re: NFL DRAFT SCOUT 1/30 mock (Alan Branch, DT)
 

[quote=Mattyk72;274212]Other than some obvious bombs along the lines of AA and Lloyd, how do you figure the bad outweighs the good?[/quote]

Matty, I feel like I could go on alllll day about why the bad outweighs the good, we probably just look at the situation differently, but here are some reasons.
1. We traded Champ Bailey, the best cornerback in the league, and a draft pick for Clinton Portis. In my opinion, this was not a good idea because talent like Bailey's is extremely rare, and while Portis is a stud, I can think of a handful of NFL running backs that are close to or of his ability or even better such as LT, LJ, Stephen Jackson, Sean Alexander, Edgerrin James, Frank Gore, Thomas Jones, you could make a case for all those guys. They should have looked at what we already had in Betts, Duckett, and Sellars. Or gone through the draft! What did the colts do when they lost Edge, they got a new RB through the draft!

2. I'm going to kinda lump the rest of these guys together. Over the last 4 years, we've continually gotten rid of solid NFL players such as Fred Smoot, AP, 56, and I know the these last two may be debatable...Walt Harris and Ryan Clark. Not only have we gotten rid of talent, but it shows that rest of the team that they're not really willing to take care of their own, and it destroys team chemistry and comradery.

3. I know this is also debateable, but bringing in Mark Brunell. We had a young, promising quarter back in Ramsey, and we decided to bring in an old man. Yes, he went went to the playoffs with him, but I don't think he was really key in doing so. Other than that, we've had two losing season with him, and Gibbs's allegiance to him has hurt the team because he kept him Brunell in longer than he should have.

4. Carlos Rodgers. We had a chance at Ware and Merriman, and we passed up on both of them. Maybe we needed a cornerback, but guess what, maybe we shouldn't have gotten rid of Smoot and Bailey! If we woulda kept them, maybe we would not have drafted Carlos, and we'd a have a pro bowler in either Ware or Merriman, instead of a guy who drops interceptions, and says there's nothing he can do about it when he gets burned for TDs.

5. I don't think I need to go into detail about the cap situaton, AA, Lloyd, and trading a 3rd rounder for Duckett.

Bottom line, if the personnel decisions are that good, then why does GibbsII have a losing record? To their credit, we did bring in some good players like Taylor, Moss, Cooley, Washington, Springs, possibly Campbell, Griffin....... But, I mean, I can also argue as to why they're not that good. Ok, Moss, Cooley,Taylor, and Washington, IMO, were all good. Springs, is an aging CB, that cannot stay healthy, and may have to move to safety. Why didn't we just keep Bailey or Smoot? Washington was a great move too, I can't argue against that. But a lot of the defensive lineman we singed like Griffin, Salavea, Daniels, they're all getting old, they're production is going to start dropping off because they're in the second half of their career. In addition, we've all seen how getting rid of Clark has hurt Taylor's performance.

It's like the Redskins front office is a bunch of Heroin addicts. They're addicted to spending tons of money on free agents because they think it'll fill the insatiable desire for the team to win. But, many of these acquisitions are merely a quick fix that will end their pain for a short time as it did in 2005, but as proven last year it will then start up again if they continue on with the same habits. It didn't work when we signed old guys like Deion and Bruce Smith the first time, and it's not gonna work now.

This why I think that the bad outweighs the good.