Diamond in the rough.
 

Not much news out there so I thought I'd post a fun question.

Did Gibbs and company find a draft day diamond in the rough this year and if so, who will it be?

Last year I think that clearly it was Cooley. Taylor doesn't count cause we all expected him to be good as the first rounder.

So, who could it be?

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

ALL OF 'EM!!!

seriously though, I think McCune.

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

I know that we traded alot to draft him. But Mr. Gibbs seems to think highly of Campbell. After that, I would like to carbon copy another post, and point out that Nemo was predicted to be 3-4 rounds. The only down side to the 250 lb full back, is that he is not incredibly elusive. WHO THE HELL WANTS A FULLBACK TO BE ELUSIVE?


Think Mike Alstott, with a stiffer neck.

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

I don't consider Cooley exactly a diamond in a rough. Didn't he lead all TE's in receiving yards as a senior in college?

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

5tds from a 3rd rounder when you've got the 30th passing game in the league is still a great find...

mccune this year hopefully, maybe nemo too. campbell is another candidate but he went high and i doubt he'll play for a few years at least, so i'm discounting him.

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

Cooley did an amazing job without doubt, however, everyone knew he was a talent coming out of school just scared to take a guy from Utah State I suppose.

Wasn't it 6TDs? Which is even more impressive. He lead the team as a rookie.

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

Me'moms always said I was a Diamond in the Rough. Now if only an NFL scout would discover on my couch.

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

[QUOTE=Daseal]I don't consider Cooley exactly a diamond in a rough. Didn't he lead all TE's in receiving yards as a senior in college?[/QUOTE]

Your right. Maybe I should have said something like "Better than expected". Anyway, I think that Cooley was the diamond. A third round pickup delivered 6 TDs as a rookie. Even more impressive is that Gibbs didn't realize what he had in Cooley until 3/4 of the way through the season, and still the Gibbs game plan did not stress getting passes to the H-Back.

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

[QUOTE=saden1]Me'moms always said I was a Diamond in the Rough. Now if only an NFL scout would discover on my couch.[/QUOTE]

You never know, they may have a need for an arm chair QB (or is that Brunnel's new position?).

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

Everyone is getting me pumped up about Nehemiah Broughton (sp?). I haven't seen any game film of him, but everyone's getting me to believe that he could become the breakout rookie.

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

i hope all of them are <> in the rough.

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

[QUOTE=Monksdown]I know that we traded alot to draft him. But Mr. Gibbs seems to think highly of Campbell. After that, I would like to carbon copy another post, and point out that Nemo was predicted to be 3-4 rounds. The only down side to the 250 lb full back, is that he is not incredibly elusive. WHO THE HELL WANTS A FULLBACK TO BE ELUSIVE?


Think Mike Alstott, with a stiffer neck.[/QUOTE]

remember, jerome bettis wasnt elusive as he is now when he came into the league at 250+ either. and broughton played HB college not FB. the NFL scouts put broughton in the class of FB because of his weight, (same with manuel white). NEMO could be another BUS because of his height (5'11") which i love for RB's. I dont like white as a short yardage back because of his height at 6'4", that means his knees are very high off the ground. NEMO at 5'11" is short and at 250lbs is BIG, and i hope hope hope we use him alot more than expected. even though he "looks stiff", you cant argue at 5'11" 250 he cant be a force to reckon with

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

and when i said bettis wasnt elusive, i didnt mean he couldnt run, he just couldnt "dodge tackles". but he would smash your ass to get where he wanted. i just know this because im huge ND fan and especially the reggie brooks and jerome bettis days. whata hell of a 1 2 punch. to bad brooks didnt do squat for us, i was so pumped when we got him too. but in college brooks was a beast. i remember one play that will never be topped in nfl or college; brooks ran agaisnt michigan one game back in '91 or '92, and on one play brooks broke like 6 tackles, BUT... he broke six smashing tackles and the last one right before the goaline he got hit so hard he passed out right after staying on his feet and crossing the goaline. he was knocked out in the endzone literally for about a minute or so, it was the best play and wish i had some kind of film to show you guys. anyway, it was great and it turned out to be poop for us.

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

I am not sure on the drafting, but in the offseason aquisitions, I like Prileau (sp) and Holdman.

When I heard of the Holdman aquisition, I had the same grin and feeling from last offseason with the pick up of Washington.

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

[quote]i remember one play that will never be topped in nfl or college; brooks ran agaisnt michigan one game back in '91 or '92, and on one play brooks broke like 6 tackles, BUT... he broke six smashing tackles and the last one right before the goaline he got hit so hard he passed out right after staying on his feet and crossing the goaline. he was knocked out in the endzone literally for about a minute or so, it was the best play and wish i had some kind of film to show you guys. anyway, it was great and it turned out to be poop for us.[/quote]
Wow - that sounds awesome. If you ever find film hook us up!

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

[QUOTE=jrocx69]and when i said bettis wasnt elusive, i didnt mean he couldnt run, he just couldnt "dodge tackles". but he would smash your ass to get where he wanted. i just know this because im huge ND fan and especially the reggie brooks and jerome bettis days. whata hell of a 1 2 punch. to bad brooks didnt do squat for us, i was so pumped when we got him too. but in college brooks was a beast. i remember one play that will never be topped in nfl or college; brooks ran agaisnt michigan one game back in '91 or '92, and on one play brooks broke like 6 tackles, BUT... he broke six smashing tackles and the last one right before the goaline he got hit so hard he passed out right after staying on his feet and crossing the goaline. he was knocked out in the endzone literally for about a minute or so, it was the best play and wish i had some kind of film to show you guys. anyway, it was great and it turned out to be poop for us.[/QUOTE]

I remember that play, it's one of the best runs I've ever seen, college or pro. Brooks had a nice rookie year for us, but his problem was he always wanted the home run. Kinda reminds me of how Skip Hicks was too. Just couldn't plow into the line for 3 yards, they both spent too much time dancing in the backfield.

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

What happened to Reggie Brooks anyways? I mean statistics wise he had a a very good rookie year. The following year he just flat out dogged it (averaged 3.0 yards per carry).

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

after reading the "RURAL DEVELOPMENT" story, it looks like jason campbell truly is a diamond in thr rough. the kid is a proven winner at every level of football in which he has played.

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

1st round picks aren't normally considered "in the rough"

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

yeah. i think robert mccune will be a diamond in the rough, but only for a few years cuz his age. him, and nemo because i think nemo will really help us in short yardage situations, and goal line situations which is a place we had trouble last year.

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

[QUOTE=Daseal]1st round picks aren't normally considered "in the rough"[/QUOTE]


but most people had him listed as a 2nd round pick, plus i consider every pick in the rough cuz none of these kids have ever played at the pro level.

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

[QUOTE=wolfeskins]but most people had him listed as a 2nd round pick, plus i consider every pick in the rough cuz none of these kids have ever played at the pro level.[/QUOTE]

I don't think he's a diamond in the rough in the traditional sense. However, most people think he's a project and wasn't worthy of a 1st round pick - so maybe we were the only ones to see him as a diamond when most thought less of him. A diamond on the fairway when most diamonds are found on the green (1st round)?

Let's just hope his "mental game" is as good as his arm.

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

There were people arguing that Campbell was the best QB coming out this year. I don't think Alex Smith will do anything in the NFL, I just don't see it. Very smart, noodle arm. The Cal guy maybe because he'll get to sit behind Favre for at least a year and learn some. He'll be solid.

Campbell gets the benefit of having a few years to learn. I am curious how he reads defenses. He has great mix of mobility, accuracy, and power.

Personally, I considered anything in the rough fairly unknown players or someone from an unknown school (TO, Jerry Rice, etc, etc) or someone in the last 2-3 rounds. Who didn't exactly put up stats in college but has potential.

McCune could be that guy. His physical attributes are second to none. He's actually one of our picks I'm most excited to see play!

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

i'm so excited and i just can't hide it, i'm about to lose control and i think i like it.

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

[QUOTE=wolfeskins]i'm so excited and i just can't hide it, i'm about to lose control and i think i like it.[/QUOTE]


:laughing-

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

[QUOTE=wolfeskins]i'm so excited and i just can't hide it, i'm about to lose control and i think i like it.[/QUOTE]


:laughing-:

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

No one has mentioned Manny White or Jared Newberry, and that's interesting to me, because I think they are both more likely to succeed than the widely-loved McCune. Don't get me wrong, I am excited about McCune's tools as well, but it's important to remember that all they are is tools. He still has to learn how to use them, and it's just really up in the air as to whether he has the ability to do that.

White is exciting to me mostly because he was featured in an article I read. Apparently he has been very impressive in the shift to H-Back, and is a better blocker than Cooley out of that spot. I think he is a definite possibility to be the short-yardage back, certainly much more likely than Nemo, who has gotten some love here. If he can work on his route-running and hands, he could be a very nice little H-Back from the 4th round.

Newberry intrigues me because of his intelligence. Judging solely from last year, it seems that this is crucial in Gregg Williams's defense, much more so than physical tools. Neither Pierce nor Marshall was physically gifted compared to other players at their positions, but they got by on their ability to place themselves (and in Pierce's case, other players) in the right spots at the right times. It's very possible that Newberry will be the next to step in with a high level of play.


All the same, I would say McCune has the best chance to be a real stud. I think he is an all-or-nothing guy. These two I just talked about will very likely be solid players.

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

white is generally thought of as a decent RB and a good value pick in the 4th (by nearly all the scouts/gms/experts asked)... newberry i'm not really that hot on... he's played FB and such, so he's good depth, but i'm not sure his upside is all that great.

mccune and nemo are the guys with the most upside, that's why most people here are hoping they can break out...

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

[QUOTE=Monksdown]I know that we traded alot to draft him. But Mr. Gibbs seems to think highly of Campbell. [/QUOTE]


I don't particularly look for Campbell to be diamond, despite all of the puff, or fluff articles written by the washpost in the past couple of days. He's better than the "cheap-and-available" that "ole-ball-coach" would have gone after. And he and P. Ram are paid for. But he was not considered a 1st rounder by many NFL GMs, and not a need position for us, nor was he worth a three-fer deal!

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

[QUOTE=Daseal]1st round picks aren't normally considered "in the rough"[/QUOTE]

True, but there are some exceptions. How about Matt Jones?

Re: Diamond in the rough.
 

I consider Matt Jones a project. He's a well known player that's going to cost the jags a pretty penny.