The Tiger Report

Cordarrelle Patterson will not escape the first 16 picks

2013-03-26T21:24:00.001-04:00

Written by Tiger Hebert

Tonight I watched NFL Network's Game Changers: Wide Receivers. I know that these shows are designed to put the players in the best light prior to the draft, but I still find this show to be valuable to watch each year. In tonight's episode they had Kenny Stills, Robert Woods, Keenan Allen, Da'Rick Rodgers and Cordarrelle Patterson.

A lot of people, myself included, have viewed this years draft class to be a down year for wide receivers. Not that the group won't be good, but that there appears to be a lack on the top end blue chip players. That may or may not be true, but this episode of Game Changers definitely had guys with the ability to produce at the next level.

The consensus top wide receiver in the group is the Tennessee Volunteers' Cordarrelle Patterson. At 6'2, 216 lbs Patterson ran a superb 4.42 official time in Indianapolis. He added a 37" vertical and a 10'8" broad jump to further display his explosiveness. No one really needed to see his measurables in Indy to know that he is an electrifying playmaker though. All they would have to do is watch any of his 2012 game tape as he dominated the elite competition that is the SEC conference. His 1,858 all purpose yards and 10 all purpose touchdowns show that he was Tennessee's most dangerous weapon.

Now there are some concerns with Patterson. He only played for one year at Tennessee after transferring in from Hutchinson C.C. (JUCO). Additionally, as he was only at a top tier program for one season, and his route running is far from polished as well as some of the finer nuances of the position, like down field body control when covered. These are things that he will need to learn from savy veterans at the next level, but if he is committed to his craft he will be fine.

Beyond his obvious physical skills, Patterson has tons of upside. Scouting reports and film confirms that he is a natural hands catcher and that he does have the body control to adjust to poorly thrown balls. Coaches have said the Patterson also possess impressive football intelligence, which will be vital for a rookie in one of the NFL's most difficult positions to learn.

Another aspect of Patterson that teams will like is the fact that his swag is off the charts, even compared to the other wide receivers on the show with him. Confidence will not be an issue for Patterson, which is going to be important with the pressure to immediately produce, that comes with being a top 15 pick.

One other small thing that I found interesting was how he reacted during the dialogue portions of the show. Steve Mariucci was asking the players how often the went back to the huddle and told their QBs that they were open. Each of them laughed as they said 100% of the time. However the conversation continued to how they would react if the ball was completed elsewhere. At this point a few of the receivers said if it doesn't come to them it was incomplete. Mostly they were laughing, but Cordarrelle responded twice by saying something to the effect of, "you guys are diva's." This whole exchange was funny and light-hearted, but I liked his response, because it showed that even though he wants the ball in his hands, that he is a true team-first player.

There is a pro-player comparison that I want to make, but it will surprise people. Not because it is hard to see, but because it is an NFL player that plays a different position. In fact, every time I watch Patterson with the ball in his hands, I see player who used to wear an orange jersey and had braids hanging out the back of his helmet. That player is the former Texas Longhorns' running back Jamaal Charles. Charles is only 5'11 and 199 lbs, but he is an explosive home-run threat every time he touches the ball. Despite being bigger at 6'2, 216 Patterson runs with a very similar lean and body control. His movements in the broken field are strikingly similar to Charles'. The only thing that I would like to see more of is Patterson getting North-South quicker, because in the NFL those running lanes will close much faster.

I know that many people will find a pro player comparison of a future NFL wide receiver to a current NFL running back to be odd or even useless, but the bottom line is that Patterson is a nightmare when the ball is in his hands like Charles. He may not rank as highly as Julio Jones, AJ Green or Dez Bryant, but I believe that he could prove to be just as, if not more explosive after the catch than any of them.

Cordarrelle Patterson will not escape the top 16.

Possible destinations: #8 Buffalo Bills, #9 New York Jets, #11 San Diego Chargers, #14 Carolina Panthers, #16 St Louis Rams.

Jarvis Jones disappoints with 4.83s Forty

2013-03-21T15:54:00.001-04:00

Louis Bien - Mocking the Draft.com

Georgia Bulldogs outside linebacker Jarvis Jones opted not to work out at the NFL Combine, making his showing at today's pro day all the more important. For a moment, that gamble appeared to have backfired as Jones apparently pulled a hamstring running the 40-yard dash.

Athens Banner-Herald beat writer Marc Weiszer and 247Sports reporter Gentry Estesreported the hamstring tweak as it happened. It doesn't appear to be a huge issue, though, because Jones ran the 40 again without a hitch as Seth Emerson of The Macon Telegraph and Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reported later.

More: 2013 NFL Draft coverage Bulldogs coverage at Dawg Sports

Unfortunately, Jones probably didn't achieve the time he was looking for. Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald reported Jones at a 4.85 in the 40-yard dash. By comparison, linebacker Alec Ogletree and safety Bacarri Rambo ran 4.53 and 4.50, respectively. Likewise, Jones put up underwhelming numbers in the broad jump, recording 9'3" and 8'7" on his two attempts according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Jones did look good in position drills according to Tony Pauline of DraftInsider.net.

Jones is the 2013 NFL Draft's third-rated outside linebacker prospect as ranked by SB Nation's Dan Kadar, and projected to go ninth overall in the first round to the New York Jets in Matthew Fairburn's latest mock. As mentioned, Georgia's pro day was important for Jones to establish his physical skills and post strong workout results in front of a host of NFL team scouts who didn't get the answers they were looking for at the combine. Whether he remains in the Top 10 will depend on how much stock scouts put on his Pro Day numbers.

More highlights:

Defensive tackle John Jenkins also ran well, posting a 5.1 in the 40-yard dash according to Ledbetter. Considering he weighed in at 346 pounds at the Combine, NFL scouts had to be impressed.

Cornerback Branden Smith was not invited to the Combine, but he tested very well for pro scouts, running a 4.3 in the 40-yard dash and jumping 10'8" in the broad jump. He led all players among reported scores.

Running back Richard Samuel was also able to show off his explosiveness, jumping 10'5.5" in the broad jump.

Cornerback Sanders Commings tested very well at the Combine, but sat out the bench press portion of the event. On Thursday, he put to rest any questions about his strength by putting up 23 reps of 225 pounds, according to Pauline.

Defensive tackle Kwame Geathers reportedly looked strong during drills, and said afterward that he has dropped his weight down (!) to 335 pounds.

Cornelius Washington showed off his versatility by participating in linebacker and defensive line drills. He apparently performed well enough to get daps from New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan.

Star Lotulelei medically cleared for Pro Day workout

2013-03-20T08:50:00.001-04:00

Giffin Gota - Mocking the Draft.com

As NFL pro days hit their last major push as March winds down, Wednesday's schedule features one of the 2013 NFL Draft's top prospects in Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei.

Lotulelei was forced to miss the NFL Combine after getting diagnosed with a heart condition. He will be a full participant in the Utes' pro day, however, after he was cleared to resume workouts in late February. The 6'3, 320-pound tackle is the position's top-ranked prospect in SB Nation's rankings by Matthew Fairburn.

More: Lotulelei's Draft scouting report Utah coverage at Block U

Once widely considered the draft's top overall propsect, Lotulelei has some work to do at Utah's pro day to ease the minds of NFL teams and reestablish himself in the loaded position group that is the defensive line. He is currently projected to be taken 13th overall by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Fairburn's latest mock draft.

Tennessee's pro day features a group of offensive players that figure to garner plenty of interest from the NFL. Quarterback Tyler Bray remains a mysterious prospect -- though SB Nation has him as the draft's fifth-best QB -- and will try to follow up a strong showing at the NFL Combine to further increase his stock.

Wide receivers Cordarrelle Patterson and Justin Hunter are both top 10 prospects in Fairburn's wide receiver rankings for SB Nation, and will likely be jockeying for a potential spot in the first round of the draft. Former Volunteer wide receiver Da'Rick Rogers, after getting kicked out of Tennessee's program due to failed drug tests and then joining Tennessee Tech, will also work out on Wednesday. He sits atop Optimum Scouting'ssmall school draft board.

At Virginia Tech, wide receivers Marcus Davis and Corey Fuller, along with offensive lineman Nick Becton and linebacker Bruce Taylor, will try to stand out at the Hokies' pro day.

North Carolina State quarterback Mike Glennon, the third-ranked quarterback prospect by SB Nation, could continue to attract attention from NFL teams who think he might fit their specific system.

More: Complete 2013 NFL Draft coverage

Elsewhere, both Baylor and the Ohio Bobcats -- with offensive lineman Eric Hermanand defensive lineman Tremayne Scott -- will have scouts hovering over their respective pro days. Western Kentucky, although defensive end Quanterus Smith may not be able to showcase his skills, will feature prospects such as tight end Jack Doyle and offensive lineman Adam Smith.

Other schools holding their pro day workouts Wednesday include Ball State, Central Florida, Ohio and Sacramento State.

2013 NFL Draft: Compensatory Picks

2013-03-20T08:46:00.001-04:00

Matt Verderame - Mocking the Draft.com

The NFL announced the 32 compensatory picks for this year's draft, giving teams the final answer to where they stand heading into April.

The big winners from Monday's announcement were the Houston Texans, who scored the highest compensatory pick at No. 95 overall in the third round to go a along with a sixth-round pick. The Kansas City Chiefs also earned a third and a sixth, and the Tennessee Titans earned picks in the third, sixth and seventh rounds.

The Atlanta Falcons and the Baltimore Ravens earned the most compensatory picks, with four each. The Falcons earned a pick in the fourth as well as three seventh-round picks, while the Ravens earned picks in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh. Meanwhile, the Super Bowl runner-up San Francisco 49ers were given a fourth-rounder and two seventh-round picks to add to an already huge bounty of draft picks. You can check out the full list of 2013 compensatory picks here.

Team	No. of Picks	Rounds
Arizona Cardinals	0	-
Atlanta Falcons	4	4, 7, 7, 7
Baltimore Ravens	4	4, 5, 6, 7
Buffalo Bills	0	-
Carolina Panthers	0	-
Chicago Bears	0	-
Cincinnati Bengals	2	7, 7
Cleveland Browns	0	-
Dallas Cowboys	0	-
Denver Broncos	0	-
Detroit Lions	2	7, 7
Green Bay Packers	1	5
Houston Texans	2	3, 6
Indianapolis Colts	1	7
Jacksonville Jaguars	0	-
Kansas City Chiefs	2	3, 6
Miami Dolphins	2	5, 7
Minnesota Vikings	0	-
New England Patriots	0	-
New Orleans Saints	0	-
New York Giants	1	7
New York Jets	0	-
Oakland Raiders	1	6
Philadelphia Eagles	1	7
Pittsburgh Steelers	1	6
Saint Louis Rams	0	-
San Diego Chargers	0	-
San Francisco 49ers	3	4, 7, 7
Seattle Seahawks	2	7, 7
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	0	-
Tennessee Titans	3	3, 6, 7
Washington Redskins	0	-

The picks are given out based on which players a team lost in the previous offseason to free agency. From there, the pick depends on how much the player was on the field, how well he performed and his salary. The third round is the highest selection that can be awarded.

More: Mocking The Draft

Last year, a total of 15 teams received compensatory draft picks. The Raiders were the only team to get a third-round compensatory pick.

It is also worth pointing out that the compensatory picks can not be traded under any circumstances. The team granted the slot has to draft a player right then and there.

For example, Brandon Carr was signed away from the Kansas City Chiefs by the Dallas Cowboys last year. Carr went on to be a full-time, high-caliber starter, which netted the Chiefs a compensatory third-round pick.

Some might sneeze at the idea of a compensatory selection, blowing it off as being the bottom of the barrel. But not so fast pal, I'll give you a few examples.

Linebacker Miles Burris of the Oakland Raiders was taken with a fourth-round comp pick last year and developed into one of the best rookies in football, making 96 tackles and starting 15 games.

In 2011, the New York Giants snagged Jacquian Williams from South Florida, and he became a key player in bringing Big Blue another Super Bowl championship that season.

The year before that, the Green Bay Packers landed offensive tackle Marshall Newhousein the fifth round, now a nice tackle for the Pack.

Don't sleep on the compensatory picks.

Scouting Combine Observations: Defensive Line & Linebackers

2013-02-26T10:16:00.002-05:00

Written by Tiger Hebert

Dion Jordan showed he is every bit the freak athlete that we thought he was. Not only did he run fast, jump high, etc., but he looked like a natural in the different bag drills. He bends surprisingly well for someone of his height. The only knock on Jordan is that he is too light right now to play a traditional end role in the NFL.
Barkevious Mingo has question marks concerning his effort and production, but his workouts were exceptional as expected.
Ezekiel Ansah flashed the elite athleticism that we expected with a 4.63 forty and a positional best 1.56 10-yard split. Ansah also put up a decent 21 reps, considering his arm length (35.18). Ansah will not escape the top 15.
The "Eastern Block", Margus Hunt wowed everyone with his combination of size and athleticism. The Estonian stands 6'8 and 277 pounds. He benched an amazing 38 times, especially with such a long frame, and ran an official 4.60 which is one of the fastest among defensive ends. The big question about Hunt is why there was minimal production at SMU, outside of his nearly record setting 17 blocked kicks.
DaMontre Moore, as I previously mentioned, was a huge disappointment over the last few days. He only repped out at a pathetic 12 bench presses. His forty time was terrible at 4.95, which was slower than defensive tackle Shariff Floyd.
Bjoern Werner was rather average among the defensive ends. He did have 25 reps, but his 40 was officially 4.83 and his 10-yard split was a respectable 1.66. Ultimately I need to study more tape on Werner because his production seems solid, but I think he will be over-drafted in April.

Florida Gator defensive tackle Shariff Floyd raised concerns with his tiny little arms which only measured in under 32 inches, but when he did the rest of his workouts, his talent was on display. He looked very fluid in his drills, enough for Warren Sapp to comment on his ability to really flip his hips and run. He also had an impressive 4.92 forty while being 300 pounds. Floyd seems to be a lock for a top 10 pick come April.

Khaseem Greene will need to rely on his production and game tape, because he disappointed during the combine. The former safety ran a pedestrian 4.71 while putting up just 17 reps. Fortunately he did have a 1.62 10-yard split though which should help.
Zaviar Gooden is a player that I am high on and his stock continues to rise with an impressive combine showing. He ran a sub 4.5 forty, 27 reps and a 34 inch vertical. You see the explosiveness and athleticism, the question will be why his production dipped after his impressive sophomore season.
UConn's Sio Moore did not run quite as well as I anticipated as he was in the mid 4.6 range, but he had better size than I realized at 6/1 245 with 33.58 inch arms, so that makes up for the speed difference. He also had a very good 10-yard split like Greene at 1.62. With this size and 29 reps on the bench, I think Moore is a good fit for both 4-3 and 3-4 teams and could go as early as the 2nd round.
I don't want to over-analyze Manti Te'o's workout at the combine, but it is work taking a look at. His forty was slow as expected, but I am not sure that many people thought he would run in the 4.8s. Again he is much quicker than fast, and he showed it with a decent 10-yard split of 1.62. I am curious as to why Manti declined the bench. This may not be anything, but it does concern me that he didn't feel prepared to display his strength. He did show decent lateral agility and the quickness in his drills, but his feet didn't look as clean as they could have been. I don't know if this is an issue or if he was just dealing with nerves and anxiousness. If I were to make a pro-player comparison at this point in the process, I would have to liken Manti to Rey Maualuga. So I looked up Rey's combine performance and I found his numbers for the most part to be in the same range as Manti. I believe Manti is better in pass defense where Rey is more a thumper, but ultimately I think they both fall to the second round and do not have the same impact in the NFL that they did in the college ranks.

Mecial test reveals heart condition for defensive tackle prospect Star Lotulelei's

2013-02-25T08:52:00.004-05:00

Posted by Michael David Smith on February 24, 2013, 5:39 PM EST

Star Lotulelei, a defensive tackle from Utah who is widely viewed as one of the best players in this year’s draft, was found to have a heart condition when examined at the Scouting Combine.

ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reports that Lotulelei’s left ventricle is pumping at 44 percent efficiency, below the normal range of 55 percent to 70 percent. As a result, Lotulelei will leave Indianapolis without going through any workouts.

Lotulelei’s condition was discovered via an echocardiogram conducted as part of the normal Combine medical evaluation. He will now return home to Utah to undergo more tests.

ESPN’s Scouts, Inc. ranks Lotulelei as the No. 1 overall player in this year’s draft, at any position. NFL Network’s Mike Mayock calls Lotulelei the second-best defensive tackle in the draft.

Scouting Combine Observations: Offensive Skills Positions

2013-02-24T20:37:00.003-05:00

Texas A&M's Chrstine Michael

Written by Tiger Hebert

Geno Smith still has many question marks about his accuracy but he showed that not only was he incredibly productive in college, but he is a much better athlete than many people may have realized.
Overall, the quarterback group seemed to lack any players that really stood out from the crowd.

Tavon Austin was blazingly fast running an unofficial 4.25 with a final "official" 4.34. Austin showed excellent burst and long speed as was expected, but his 40 time was even better than advertised. Further he showed excellent hands seemed natural in positional drills, he may not escape the first round.
Texas A&M's Ryan Swope surprised with a much faster 40 time than many expected when he ran a 4.34 with a 1.47 split, showing he could be more than just a possession receiver at the next level.
Denard Robinson's best time was 4.4, but more importantly he showed better hands than what were on display at the Senior Bowl. He will still be a project player taken in the later rounds, but this improved his stock.

Overall the running back group was a bit of a let down to me, because I expected that with the abundance of smaller backs that we would see more burners today. However many of the players that I thought would torch the 40 ran in 4.5s or higher.
Only two running backs ran sub 4.4 forties today.
Arkansas running back Knile Davis became relevant again today after putting on a show. The 227 pound back ran an official 4.37 and did 31 reps on the bench. If he can prove that he has put his medical problems behind him, teams will really need spend more time evaluating him and why he struggled so much in 2012.
Christine Michael is a player that I find very intriguing. He has red flags for have some off the field issues, including having issues with his coaching staff at Texas A&M. Without knowing the details it is hard to tell if there is a lack of maturity or if the player can be trusted, but his talent is unmistakable. Today he ran a 4.54 at 220 lbs and had an impressive 1.51 second 10-yard split. He also hammered out 27 reps. One thing that stood out beyond the numbers was watching him run through the positional drills. He ran angry, even during the drills. This guy might be a huge risk, but I think he could be special.
I did not really know anything about Johnathan Franklin, but apparently I will be watching some film now after watching and hearing about him today. Former NFL coach Jim Mora Jr., who coached him at UCLA gave a glowing endorsement of the young man. He said Franklin reminded him of a running back that he coached in the NFL named Warrick Dunn. He said that he was like Dunn both as a running back, but more importantly as a person. Saying that Franklin was the most impressive combination of talent and character that he has ever coached in his 30 years of experience.

Scouting Combine Observations: Offensive Line

2013-02-23T20:15:00.001-05:00

Eric Fisher - Central Michigan

Written by Tiger Hebert

Here are just a few thoughts and observations regarding I have after watching the scouting combine.

Many people seems to think that Eric Fisher is catching up to Luke Joeckel, and they may very well be correct. Ultimately the game film will determine who ends up as the drafts top tackle, but Fisher just looks the part more than Joeckel to me. However, I think both players will be anchors on their respective lines for years to come.
Lane Johnson was generating a lot of buzz over the last few weeks and after seeing his impressive athleticism today I can see why. I do not have any familiarity with his game film though, so I can't really speak to that yet. However the crew on NFL Network seem to think that he is a lock to go in the top 10 now.
Oday Aboushi had a disappointing day where he only put up 17 reps on the bench. For a big man to run as slow as he did (5.44) and to only put up 17 reps with arms that are under 34 inches should raise concerns. He was more of a mid-late round guy to begin with and his performance did nothing to help that.
Terron Armstead of Arkansas-Pinebluff took the gold in the underwear olympics today as he put up 41 reps and posted an unofficial 4.65 forty with a 1.64 10-yard split, all of which are incredible for a 306 pound man. Ultimately the tape will be the true evaluator of his ability, but he definitely improved his stock today.
DJ Fluker is a massive dude who definitely looks like he has the tools to be a dominant player in the NFL. I also feel good to here Mike Mayock confirm what I was saying about Fluker last week when he said that Fluker would ideally be an RT in the NFL. Fluker's feet were not great, but that was to be expected. What wasn't expected was that he would would put up 21 reps, but keep in mind that he is doing those reps with 36.68 inch arms, which makes the reps that much harder.
Reid Fragel may not have hurt his stock today, but I was expecting him to be a better athlete for a former tight end. Unfortunately he only ran in the 5.10 range. However, he did pump out 33 reps.
Warmack and Larry Warford are arguably the #1 and #3 guards in the draft and on paper they look like they would have hurt themselves as they were both pedestrian with runs in the 5.5 range or better and 10-yard splits north of 1.8, but in the positional drills they looked fluid and natural, and reminded everyone that it is all about what they do on the field.
Johnathan Cooper is a name that is starting to be in the conversation a lot more in the last month as a premiere player, potentially a top 15, top 20 pick. It isn't common to see guards taken so early, but Cooper is so good that he is even giving Chance Warmack a run for his money as the best at their position. Cooper may or may not be the better player, but he only helped solidify himself with a great showing today. His feet were fluid and he showed a great base in his drills. He was nasty on the bench throwing out an impressive 35 reps and having a 1.73 10-yard split. This guy is big, powerful and explosive, and he will be a stud in the NFL.
I was interested in finding out more about Brian Winters out of Kent State. He has a good size at 6'4, 320, and seemed like he may be a good value on the inside in the later rounds, but he has surprisingly short arms at 32.68 inches, and he only did 9 reps. Apparently they announced afterward that he had to stop because of a pectoral cramp, but this deems a second look by scouts on his pro day. He did not participate in the other drills, so March 6th will be a big day for him.

Houston Texans Draft: Needs and Greeds

2013-02-16T23:47:00.000-05:00

By: Colin Cook

No one can say the Texans had a "bad season". They did make the playoffs and win the Wild Card game, but aside from never having a losing playoff record, the Texans' final six or seven weeks of the 2012 season have been...well, abysmal.

The first twelve or thirteen weeks were absolute magic for Texans fans, as they put every team they played against on blast, dominating every aspect of the game. Sure, Matt Shaub had targeted his tight ends more often than any time in his career. Sure, they led the league in 'time of possession' with their ground attack led by the spry Arian Foster. But the Texans' offense, on the whole, was not showy.

In my years of being a fan of this team, I've come to expect us to kick field goals more often than scoring touchdowns; to the point that whenever we're in the other team's thirty yard line, and it's third down, I'll usually walk away and do something else while the field goal and commercials take place.

Since Eric Wilson was traded to the Raiders, the offensive line has definitely struggled to protect Schaub, and even though he is one of the least sacked quarterbacks, that added pressure would definitely force him to rely on the 'easier' tight-end passes.

Offensive Needs:

Before the Texans run off to find a true #2 wide receiver to co-star beside Andre Johnson after a career season, they need to fix that offensive line problem. It isn't as bad an o-line as, say, the Eagles, but you never want to let a crack in a dam get too big. The Texans need to solve this problem as soon as possible, especially with Shaun Cody's back injury.

Offensive Greeds:

I trust and believe in Matt Schaub 100%. Even after his highly erratic final six or seven weeks of the season, he is definitely one of the league's best quarterbacks, not only as a player but as a human being. As much as I hate to say it, and as much as the organization hates to say it (they gave him a four-year contract extension) Shaub's time may be coming. It may just be the aforementioned offensive line issue, which is why this isn't a 'need', but Schaub's erratic play was just heartbreaking to watch. To see us go from a #1 seed to playing in the Wild Card again was just terrible. Not that I'm blaming Shaub, but he did contribute.

The defense of the Texans, however, is a solid wall. Can you run through a solid wall? Nope; you can only beat yourself against it until you manage to break through a weakened spot. But how else do you get past a solid wall? Well, you can always throw the ball over it!!

Defensive Needs:

Oh my goodness, how can our secondary be so tremendous and then become so atrocious week-by-week? If you watch the game tape of the Texans' loss to the Packers, you will see Aaron Rodgers and his wide receivers making plays that are miraculous at best. Against the Patriots and Tom Brady, you can see the same thing. Now, I said the same thing before their losses to the Patriots, "If we can use our awesome pass rush to put pressure on these quarterbacks, they'll be bad!".

It didn't work. Our secondary is definitely improving, but as good as Wade Phillips is at blitzing, their coverage seems to be the weakest point on this team. And you know what they say about a team and it's weakest link...

Defensive Greeds:

Far be it from me to say that a dirty play by the Jets affected our defense by knocking Brian Cushing, but did you notice that, every week, the commentators kept using a merry-go-round of names for our linebackers? Yeah, that's because the injuries piled up so high we had to pull players off of free agency just to play. Brian Cushing is the burning soul of our defense, any Texans' fan will tell you. The team clearly plays at a higher level with him around. Then Brooks Reed went down. And then Dobbins...

This is probably the most worthless thing to ask for, but the defense cannot get the injuries that they did this season. Even the secondary was running on empty! Alan Ball? Who is that?! Granted, our defense played like champions week in and week out (there are YouTube videos that back up that statement) regardless of the injuries, but you can never rely on second-string players in a starter world.

2013 Detroit Lions Offseason Strategy: The NFL Draft

2013-02-14T22:35:00.001-05:00

Written by Tiger Hebert

The playoffs have raced past us and the Baltimore Ravens are the newly crowned champions. The Super Bowl itself was a game that I really appreciated, because it was a game of two tough and physical teams fighting it out for the ultimate goal. Now everyone understands that these were not the 2000-2001 Ravens, but they are still a physical in your face team. I know that it is the offense that carries them and not the defense anymore, but this is still a blue collar team. The 49ers on the other hand are just short of a punch in the mouth.

I understand fully that the NFL has evolved into more of a passing league, but the reality is that to be consistently relevant in the NFL you must invest into your offensive and defensive lines. Everyone knows the Lions' secondary has been awful, that the receiving corp is a joke, and the running game is abysmal but there are two things that can make all of those other areas better. The offensive and defensive lines. If the Lions want to be a legitimate team who is in contention year after year, they need to build a solid foundation.

The Lions started building what was supposed to be a fear evoking front four when they signed Kyle Vanden Bosch and traded for Corey Williams. Then they drafted Ndamukong Suh, and lined up him next to rising star Cliff Avril. The following year they added luxury pick Nick Fairley. and opposing offenses were supposed to waive their white flags in fear of the Silver Crush.

Now just to be clear, I am not criticizing the strategy at all. In fact, I like the approach. I just don't like the execution of the plan. Fortunately, the team will not be saddled with KVBs contract anymore now that he was let go, but Suh's contract is like a millstone around the teams proverbial neck. Unless he restructures his contract, he will be counting just over $18 million against the cap in 2013 and 2014, over 15% of the teams cap space for just one player. Now I understand that there was not much that they could do, because this is an old-CBA rookie deal which grossly overpays young players, but the impact goes beyond that. The following year, the team used the 13th overall selection to draft Nick Fairley. I was more than skeptical about the drafting of Fairley because of the character concerns, especially when the team had many more far pressing needs throughout the roster. Instead they grabbed a backup defensive tackle. Now Nick has actually been quite impressive showing flashes of brilliance, but unfortunately up to this point, they have only been flashes.

On the offensive side of the ball, it has been eve worse. The team did make a great move to acquire Rob Sims when he was let go from Seattle a few years back, but that was the only impressive move prior to the drafting of Riley Reiff. Instead of making a big splash, they opted to draft project players like Jason Fox, who may or may not ever become a starting caliber player. The team did work the waiver wire to snag players with a high ceiling like Bill Nagy, but again the team still doesn't know what they have with that acquisition. So in 2012, they trotted out the same five starters across the offensive line, with Backus and Sims being the teams top talent. Unfortunately this left the oft over-matched Dominic Raiola and Stephen Peterman to handle the business at center and right guard. Statistically speaking, this group looks good on paper, allowing so few sacks despite the record setting number of pass attempts that were made in 2012, but make no mistake this group is a liability. Matthew Stafford has developed happy feet and his pocket presence has actually gotten over the last season, and is is because he doesn't trust the guys that are paid to protect him.

The running game is an even bigger mess. If you watched any film of the Lions running game, you know that Mikel LeShoure left tons of yardage on the field this season. There were several occasions where the offensive line created massive lanes, sealing on the second and sometimes event he third level, but he was unable to make the plays for a variety of reasons, leaving chunk plays un-made. These were the plays that Joique Bell regularly seemed to make. Those running lanes were not the norm though, and they were typically when the Lions were running from a passing set, where the defense gave them an incredibly favorable box. What I mean, is that those were the plays that the team has to make, and has to make them regularly. The Lions run blocking was actually quite miserable the majority of the time if the opposing defense even had just seven defenders in the box. This is not acceptable, and it must be corrected.

At this point in the offseason, the Lions made made a few things clear about their roster for 2013. First off, they acknowledged that this team's talent is not as good as their playoff run in 2011 led most of us to believe. The team simply does not have enough impact players, and too many mediocre talents. Martin Mayhew has pointed to the fact that the team has not made enough game changing plays offensively or defensively, and that this needs to change. This tells us a few things about the Lions talent acquisition strategy at this point. We should expect that the Lions will focus on speed at running back to fill the void left by Jahvid Best, and that on defense they will focus on pass rushers and ball-hawks.

This does not mean that they won't draft players outside of these positions, but rather when evaluating players, which ones will be more sought after. This is where a Florida's Mike Gillislee could be rated higher than an equally talented Eddie Lacy, or where Ezekiel Ansah could be favored over a more polished product like Bjoern Werner. This is also a reason why the team could elect to take a mid-to-late round flier on the player formerly known as "The Honey Badger", Tyrann Mathieu.

So without further ado, let's take a look at some of the positions that the Lions are likely to draft, and which players would fit this strategy in terms of value and draft position.

Offense
Running Back
Mike Gillislee - Florida
There is probably no running back in this class that intrigues me more than Gillislee. His frame is 5'11 and 209 pounds which is a very good build for a speed back in the NFL, which Gillislee clearly is as we will see soon with a potentially sub 4.4 forty time. In addition to being a home run threat, he runs with more power than you would expect, and he is solid in pass protection.

Kenjon Barner - Oregon
I did not get to see Oregon play this year, so I was excited to see Barner the "Burner" at the Senior Bowl. He got a lot of playing time, but I did not get a great feel for him. It seems that every couple of plays the quarterbacks were dumping off a check down to him, but he did flash the play making ability that was common-place in Chip Kelly's high octane offense. Other than having a reliable set of hands, the jury is still out on Barner.

Andre Ellington - Clemson
Andre Ellington certainly didn't make any Tigers' fans forget about CJ Spiller, but he did prove to be a dangerous weapon in the Clemson offense. Ellington is an undersized at 5'10 190 pounds, but has show the ability as both and inside and outside runner. We will have to wait for the combine to see, but most say that Ellington is quicker than he is fast, but he still figures to be a big play threat.

Christine Michael - Texas A&M
I think Michael is a player that is a little bit under the radar at the moment because of the attention that Johnny Manziel and Ben Malena garnered, but I feel that he is better than a lot of people realize. At 215 pounds Michael has a sturdy frame that should be able to deliver power and handle the rigors of the NFL. I also think he will open some eyes with better than expected speed and quickness when he performs at the scouting combine. I think he would be a good change of pace for the LeShoure/Bell combo the Lions have.

Receivers
Tavon Austin - WVU
Just to be clear, I don't think the Lions have a realistic shot at landing Tavon Austin, nor should they spend the picks that it would cost to move up and grab him. However, if she slides at all, he would be a amazing addition to the Lions offense. Austin is a little guy at 5'9 176, but he is lightning in a bottle. Some scouts have said that he is the most dangerous offensive player in this draft and the best open field runner out there. He has great vision and instincts to go with his blazing speed. Despite being listed as a receiver, he would fit a Jahvid Best/Darren Sproles type of role very well for the Lions.

Stedman Bailey - WVU
Stedman Bailey does not receive the recognition of his former WVU teammate, but he is an impressive playmaker. While he is slightly bigger than Austin, at 5'10 193, he also has electrifying speed as well making him a big play waiting to happen. He will be a productive slot receiver in the NFL, regardless of where he ends up.

Markus Wheaton - Oregon State
Markus Wheaton may not be a big name, but the senior is a one to keep an eye on. The former Beaver has good height at 6'1, and has deceptive speed, and his production this season matched where he had 91 catches for over 1,200 yards and 11 scores. Despite the changes at quarterback, Wheaton continued to produce and will be a quality middle round pick.

Offensive Line
Barrett Jones - Alabama
The current think is that there are three elite offensive line prospects. Luke Joeckel, Eric Fisher, and Chance Warmack. With that being said, they may not be a more valuable offensive lineman in the draft than Barrett Jones. Jones has great size for a center at 6'5 311 pounds and he has the intelligence to handle all the mental aspects of making the line calls. More importantly though, Jones has displayed as much versatility as you could while at Alabama. He has showed the athleticism to play left tackle, the power to play guard, and the brains to play center. If Jones does in-fact slide to the Lions in the second round, as many project he will, they almost have to take this future All-Pro lineman.

DJ Fluker - Alabama
Continuing with the National Champion Crimson Tide, the next player is the massive DJ Fluker. At 6'4 355 pounds, Fluker may not have the athleticism to handle the premiere right defensive ends in the NFL, but he grades out to be a dominant force at right tackle. His size and strength appear to be a great combination and would fit that position well. If Fluker is available in the 3rd round, the Lions could find an immediate replacement for Gosder Cherilus who is currently an unrestricted free agent.

Manelik Watson - Florida State
Watson is raw product, who has only been playing organized football for a few years after coming to the states from Manchester, England. Originally he hoped to use his 6'6 frame to play basketball, but they quickly found a better use of his rare combination of size and athleticism in Tallahassee. Now at 320 pounds this physical specimen has flashed the ability to dominate in the run game, and flashes the ability to handle pass rushers at the next level as well. Watson would likely be a project player and would be best suited to right tackle initially, but does have the talent to play on the left side when he is developed.

Kyle Long - Oregon
Because I haven't seen much of Long's play, it is hard for me to know what to think of him. His namesake alone gives him notoriety, but apparently he is more than just riding on the coat tails of his family. WalterFootball.com has said that he performed well this year for the Ducks, particularly in the running game, and during talks throughout the Senior Bowl, it was said repeatedly that despite being raw, that they saw something special in him. Unfortunately, he may be overdrafted because of his lineage, but if he is a mid-late round selection, he could be a great developmental selection.

Defense
Defensive End
Ezekiel Ansah - BYU
The projections for where "Ziggy" should and will go are all over the place, and for good reason. Ansah has been rocketing through the ranks of draftable players since early in the season, and that will only continue as we pass through combine season, where he is expected to wow. With only one season as a starter for the Cougars, there is little film to go on with Ansah, but his natural ability is undeniable. I wish that I could have watched his practices at the Senior Bowl, but unfortunately I only saw the game. However, he did not disappoint when facing the stiff competition that they presented. There were a few things that were most impressive about his play. The first is that this dude is fast. Watching him string out a reverse to Tavon Austin in the open field was eye opening. The second was that he was a smart and instinctive playmaker. He naturally got up into passing lanes when he didn't reach the quarterback and he also made an excellent play stripping the ball away from the quarterback, forcing a fumble. He may be raw, but I think he could be an impact player from day 1 in Detroit.

Bjoern Werner - Florida State
I realize that many experts have Werner to the Lions, and often he is referred to as the 1st or 2nd rated defensive end in the draft. His production at Florida State certainly puts him in that conversation, but I am just not sold on him as a top 5 pick just yet. I have to admit that the Orange Bowl is the only time I actually watched him play a full game, but I was just not blown away. Now my issue with Werner has nothing to do with his ability, but he just was not as aggressive as I wanted to see from an elite prospect. This could purely be a scheme issue, if his coaches have him focused on contain rather than collapsing the pocket. I hope this is the case, because that is the only excuse I can make for the amount of time I counted him just standing up during a play.

Damontre Moore - Texas A&M
Moore is a very interesting prospect to me. WalterFootball.com has had him rated as one of the top defensive ends all season, and he still ranks him as a top 5 talent. However, the whispers around the league is that Moore's stock is falling. I heard it mentioned that Moore was not even a first round talent, which I find mind boggling. Now I need to watch more film on the young man, but the fact that he just changed positions to defensive and switched to the best conference in football, and still dominate makes me question what the heck these scouts are seeing that makes them think this. Regardless of what the current buzz is on Moore, the reality is that few teams will be willing to pass up a young speed rusher who has notched 26.5 sacks in three seasons, he will not last into the second round unless there are unknown red flags that we don't know about.

Dion Jordan - Oregon
One of the names that has recently gained momentum among defensive ends is the edge rusher from Oregon. Jordan played in a 3-4 defense, and that is possible his ideal fit, but his pure pass rushing potential is there. There are question marks about Jordan though because of his size. His length is incredible at 6'7, but he is only listed at 243 pounds which is lighter than you would like, especially considering his length. This could make anchoring against the run very difficult as an end in the NFL. With his frame adding bulk shouldn't be an issue, but it is a concern. Additionally, in part because of his defensive role, Jordan has only racked up 12.5 sacks over two seasons, which is not a lot of production from a guy who is projected as a possible first day pick.

Barkevious Mingo - LSU
I was excited to watch Mingo this year, as I thought he was the next great pass rusher. Unfortunately on each occasion I came away disappointed. In the games that I watched, he pretty much disappeared for stretches of time. He is a speed guy with the ability to turn the corner, but the lack of size and strength will put him at a disadvantage too often for him to be a top pick in a 4-3 system. Walt has suggested on his site the Mingo is better suited to play outside in a 3-4 system and that would be a logical thought, but I have no idea if he has the feet and hips to play in space. The combine will tell us a great deal about Mingo's future role in the NFL, and perhaps we will see him in a Von Miller or an Aldon Smith type role.

Alex Okafor - Texas
The standout defensive end for the Longhorns is going to be a big time player in the NFL. He most likely will not be drafted as high as some of the aforementioned players, but he could have an even larger impact than some of them. Okafor is 6'4 261, but plays with both quickness and power that allows him to deploy an assortment of moves. The Lions have said they are looking for impact players, and Okafor's production indicates that he fits the bill with 16.5 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and a blocked kick this season. In addition to his production, he was the only player that routinely gave Eric Fisher a hard time during Senior Bowl practices. Fisher is currently the second ranked tackle in the draft.

Sam Montgomery - LSU
As I mentioned before, I had a few occasions to watch LSU play this year. Each time, I was wanting to see what Mingo would do, and each time I came away more impressed with the lesser known Sam Montgomery. While neither defensive end had the season they hoped for, Sam was more impressive to watch. He was able to shed blocks more frequently and he made plays in the run game as well as helping collapse the pocket. I don't think he is a top talent in terms of pass rushing, but I feel that he is a very solid 2nd day pick and that if the Lions go elsewhere in round 1, he could be a good choice in the 2nd or 3rd round.

Devin Taylor - South Carolina
I had heard a lot about this Jadeveon Clowney and got to witness his brilliance when the Gamecocks beat out Michigan in the Outback Bowl. Yet you couldn't help but pay attention to Devin Taylor. Taylor by most accounts did not have the production most hoped to see out of him in 2012, but his physical tools are obvious. At 6'8, 270 pounds Taylor is still anticipated to run in the 4.7 range which is more than impressive. It is not just about the measurables though, as he is a fluid athlete who moves well and seemed capable to get off blocks routinely. He is not a premiere rusher, but as a mid to late round pick, Devin Taylor could bring a lot of value to a team that wants to bolster its depth on the defensive line.

Linebackers
Jarvis Jones - Georgia
Jarvis Jones scares me. He scares me that the Lions could select him and opt to create a role for him as a pass rushing linebacker in a 4-3 scheme, and that his injury history will do what it has done to countless Lions draft picks. It also scares me that the Lions could pass up on the next Von Miller/Derrick Thomas style pass rushing linebacker. The Spinal Stenosis that caused him to leave USC and transfer to Georgia is a real concern, but there were recent reports this week that he has been medically cleared to play football. Whether or not there are lingering medical concerns there are other question marks surrounding Jones as well. It is said that he is not a hard worker and that he doesn't put time into the weight room. These are more reasons to be leery of this stud pass rusher, because in the NFL if you don't take care of your body, you won't last. Jones could be well worth the risk, but how many times have us Lions' fans heard that line of thought?

Khaseem Greene - Rutgers
Khaseem is an interesting player because he was a huge factor for the Scarlet Knights defense this year. He made loads of plays all over the field in both run and pass defense. Now at only 6'0 236 he is small for an NFL linebacker, so the question is if he will need to be shifted back to his original safety position. In either position, he could be an impact player for the Lions because they need help in both areas. With that being said, I don't think they draft a linebacker in the first half of the draft unless he is a proven pass rusher. In this case, Green looks more than capable, despite his smaller frame.

Sio Moore - UConn
I don't know a whole lot about Sio Moore, but from what I have read he seems to fit the mold of a linebacker who brings legitimate pass rusher ability off the edge. During his senior season at UConn, Moore tallied 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. As a mid to late round pick, Sio Moore could add good value to Detroit.

Zaviar Gooden - Missouri
Gooden is a bit of an enigma to me. He burst onto the scene as a sophomore with great production, but his play has tailed off over the past two seasons. More of a concern is that fact that he seemed to struggle against the better competition. It may be too late, but Gooden did help himself by playing well in the Senior Bowl. He showed good range and instincts, but expect him to still be available as a mid to late round selection at this point.

Jelani Jenkins - Florida
I am really looking forward to seeing Jelani Jenkins during the combine. He is a young man with an incredibly high ceiling, but potential can get you fired. Jenkins has excellent speed and a knack for making plays all over the field, but he missed a lot of time due to injury in 2012. You also have to wonder what prompted his decision to declare for the NFL draft, despite having a disappointing 2012 season. There could be legitimate reasons, but I will be interested to hear what comes out of the team interviews and how he fares on Wonderlic test. Hopefully his reasons for entering the draft are good reasons, and not signs of immaturity or worse. Jenkins is another guy that had a subpar season by most accounts, so his stock is in the mid-late range, and could be a draft day steal.

DeVonte Holloman - South Carolina
There might not be a lot of people familiar with DeVonte Holloman, and quite frankly neither was I until I watched the Outback Bowl. But when I did start watching the game, it wasn't long before I started to hear his name. Then again, and again, and again. Holloman was all over the field making plays against the Wolverines, shutting their offense down for most of the day. At one point I was confused whether he played safety of linebacker backer of his range. Holloman may not be a flashy pick and he doesn't necessarily fit the bill as a dynamic pass rushing linebacker, but he could definitely make an impact on this team, even if it was just on special teams to start.

Corners
Desmond Trufant - Washington
Marcus Trufant's little brother is making a serious case for being a first round pick in April's draft. He played well, excelling in man to man coverage all season and showing up big in key moments for the Huskies. In addition to that, he made his presence felt at the Senior Bowl all week, showing that he had all the confidence and skills needed to play on an island. Trufant's stock is rising, but if he somehow slips to the Lions in the second round, they may have a tough decision on their hands.

Xavier Rhodes - Florida State
Xavier Rhodes is an interesting player, and one worth keeping an eye on during draft day. He has a special blend of size (6'2 215) and speed (4.4 range) that you don't find often at the cornerback position. Now he is another player that did not perform as well in 2012 as he did in 2011, but his ability is there and his upside is pretty impressive. I doubt Rhodes will fall all the way to the third round, but if he does he will be a bargain value who anyone that grabs him.

David Amerson - NC State
Of all the defensive backs listed here, I think David Amerson warrants the biggest question mark. After a stellar sophomore season, the junior was all the talk among defensive backs. Physically he is off the charts at 6'3, 200 pounds with the speed to turn and run deep with receivers. Then he showed a nasty habit of attacking the ball every time it was in the air, as if it belong to him. Something was different this year though, and the whole thing never came together. I don't know if he was dealing with off the field issues or what, but his performance in 2012 was markedly worse. If there are legitimate reasons for his struggles that is one thing, if it is simply a confidence issue, then that is another matter all together. Amerson has incredible potential, but some digging needs to be done to find out what happened in 2012.

Will Davis - Utah State
Players from Utah State don't tend to have the luxury of getting much national attention, so when I heard about this corner from Utah State my first thought was, who? Will Davis is a guy that has really seen his stock rise over the last few months, but it is not a knee jerk reaction. Yes he played well and competed hard during the Senior Bowl week, but his rise is well deserved for his play as a senior. Davis is a ball hawk that recorded an interception in five straight games, something the Lions desperately need. Davis would be a good value in the middle rounds.

Jordan Poyer - Oregon State
Being a little late to the party, I didn't know who Jordan Poyer was until the Senior Bowl. Even still, during the week leading up to the game, I probably would not have paid much attention until I heard Charles Davis talking about Poyer. And generally when Charles Davis speaks, I listen. Charles said that he really like Poyer, and that he just always seemed to be around the ball whenever he watched film. Charles Davis made the same comment later in the week, and the next thing you know Poyer was tipping a pass up into the arms of his teammate. Poyer may not be a household name, but when you watch him play, he finds ways to impact the game. He is the type of player that Mayhew has been talking about.

Tyrann Mathieu - LSU
After the 2011 season there was probably not a more popular or iconic football player in the nation than the Honey Badger. As a freshman and sophomore, Mathieu had an undeniable impact on the Tigers' defense, as he helped lead them to a National Championship showdown with the Crimson Tide. Mathieu is far from a prototypical defensive back, as Les Miles staff found a multitude of ways to deploy this defensive play maker. Mathieu made play after play, and was even a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. However, everything spiraled out of control in 2012. He was kicked off the team for failed drug tests, then he got arrested for drugs later in the year. 2012 was a long year for Mathieu, and I think it was an important year for him. It is hard to know whether a man has changed or not, but there is a well written article on ESPN chronicling Mathieu's journey and his new mindset. Has he really moved on from his struggles and addiction, I don't know. Will he ever be the same player he was 2011, I don't know. But if there is any chance that he will be, he is worth the late round pick it will take to snag him.

Robert Alford - Southeast Louisiana
When players come from a small school or a lower division, you always wonder how they will handle the transition. Will they be overwhelmed, will they be intimidated, will they be out of their league? This wasn't the case at all for Alford. He showed up at the senior and backed up his college resume with a good week or practice and solid performance at the Senior Bowl. Alford's value also increases because of his ability to play special teams, particularly returning kicks, which he also displayed in Mobile.

Safety
Matt Elam - Florida
I don't know if Elam will last beyond the first round, but he would be a tremendous pick-up for Detroit. Elam's measureables will probably not wow anyone, but make no mistake about it, he is a game changer. Whether in run support or pass defense, Elam had an impact. I don't think the Lions have a legitimate shot to land him without trading back into the first, but he could be an instant impact player.

TJ McDonald - USC
I have heard many Lions' fans clamoring the TJ McDonald in the 2nd or 3rd round, and they seem to be on track with right where WalterFootball.com has him slotted at this time. McDonald is a physical force who is able to play deep center field as well as delivering bone jarring hits.

JJ Wilcox - Georgia Southern
Playing for Georgia Southern has prevented Wilcox from becoming a big name player, but he is starting to gain notice. His blend of speed and athleticism is opening the eyes of a lot of scouts around the league, especially with his ability to contribute on special teams right away.

Phillip Thomas - Fresno State
We have said that the Lions are searching for playmakers, particularly on defense. Phillip Thomas was just that in 2012 as he led the nation in interceptions with 8. In addition to that, Thomas also had 83 tackles (12 for loss) and forced four fumbles. Thomas is a game changer and would look great roaming the Lions secondary, and he could potentially be available in the mid rounds.

Tony Jefferson - Oklahoma
There are mixed reviews on Jefferson. There are games where he plays lights out and looks like an NFL caliber safety in both the run and pass games. Then there are games where he seems to struggle, sometimes against the higher caliber opponents. WalterFootball.com also said that they were reports that his work ethic in the weight room and practice field were lacking. If this is the case, then I would just scratch him off the list, but at this point, his talent merits mention.

Jonathan Cyprien - Florida International
Jonathan Cyprien looks like he could be an ideal fit for the Lions, and they could most likely land him in the middle rounds if they haven't addressed safety yet. He has decent size at 6', 210 pounds and he has decent range. All reports out of the Senior Bowl are that he helped his draft stock by showing up and competing hard and doing a good job in coverage throughout the week. Cyprien is also really good in run support and he seems to have a knack for deliver the big shot, as we heard happened all week in Mobile. Interestingly, Cyprien is also a high school teammate and good friend of Louis Delmas. This could not only be a great way of instantly having chemistry on the back end of this defense, but it would also possibly help the Lions find a way to keep Delmas from leaving for greener pastures.

Robert Lester - Alabama
At 6'1, 212 pounds Lester has the body type that NFL scouts are looking for at the safety position. He has the body to bring Alabama's physical style of play to the NFL, and he has the speed to not be a liability in coverage. However, Lester is not considered the top can't miss safety prospect that he was at the beginning of the 2012 season. In fact, his stock has pretty much plummeted at this point from potential top 20 pick to what is now expected to be 3rd or 4th round by some scouts. Lester may have a bright future ahead of him, but 2012 was just not as productive a season for him and he did not stand out at the Senior Bowl, where players like the aforementioned Cyprien made bigger waves. Even with his stock dropping, the Lions would instantly upgrade their secondary by adding Robert Lester to the mix.

Prospects with Red Flags

2013-02-11T14:54:00.000-05:00

Bucky Brooks - NFL.com

The NFL Scouting Combine is a proving ground for NFL hopefuls, but most of the work is done behind closed doors. Prospects must convince general managers, scouts and coaches they have the capacity to handle the rigors of the pro game by delivering impressive answers in the interview room. Additionally, prospects must demonstrate the requisite work ethic, football IQ and character to thrive in the NFL.

Mock draft central

Events: » NFL Scouting Combine \| Pro days \| Draft Mock drafts: » Jeremiah: Joeckel falls to Lions » Brooks: Version 2.0 still has Smith at No. 1 » Breer: No quarterbacks in first round » Brandt: Joeckel, Werner, Smith go 1-2-3 Draft coverage: » Debate: Who is draft's best prospect? » Brooks: 10 with most to prove at combine » Combine invitees \| Te'o headlines list \| Snubs » Brooks: Offensive rankings \| Defensive rankings » NFL Draft Tracker Podcast: Latest buzz Video: » Players to watch at the combine » Senior Bowl surprises \| Winners \| Awards

The interviews give NFL hopefuls an opportunity to substantiate their football character, but general managers and scouts also closely monitor the medical evaluations submitted by the NFL's team of doctors and specialists, which help determine a prospect's viability as a pro. With some teams willing to remove prospects deemed medical risks from the draft board, the results from the examination room are as critical as the play on the field.

Given the importance of scoring well behind the scenes at the NFL Scouting Combine, here are 10 guys with a lot to prove next week in Indianapolis:

1) Manti Te'o, LB, Notre Dame

Areas of concern: Maturity and leadership.

Te'o's draft stock took a major hit following his disappointing performance in the BCS National Championship Game, but the girlfriend hoax scandal has led scouts and coaches to also question his leadership skills and maturity. NFL executives certainly worry about a naïve young player commanding the respect of the huddle following the well-publicized catfishing saga. Additionally, coaches will have concerns about his ability to play through off-field distractions, based on his miserable game against Alabama with the revelation of the hoax on the horizon. To alleviate those concerns, Te'o must squelch the speculation surrounding his involvement in the hoax, while also reminding NFL personnel about his role in guiding Notre Dame to the title game with his spectacular play and leadership. If he can win the respect of coaches and scouts in the interview room, he can salvage his position as a potential first-round selection.

2) Matt Barkley, QB, USC

Areas of concern: Physical dimensions and rehabilitation progress.

Barkley has seemingly experienced a dramatic slide down the charts following a disappointing senior season, but he was certain to face questions about his physical dimensions anyway. Scouts harbor concerns about his height and athleticism after watching him perform for the Trojans over four seasons. If he doesn't measure in at 6-foot-2 or above, there will be questions about his status as a legitimate franchise-quarterback candidate. Additionally, Barkley must convince team doctors that his shoulder injury is healing according to plan and isn't a potential concern in the future. With Barkley reportedly leaning toward not throwing at the event, the X-rays and medical exams will play a prominent role in his combine showing.

3) Jarvis Jones, OLB, Georgia

Area of concern: Medical history.

Jones is undoubtedly one of the best defenders in this draft class, but his spinal stenosis diagnosis threatens to keep him off several draft boards across the league. Team doctors will dig through his medical files to see if he is at risk of further injury before granting him full clearance on the field. While Jones can point to two seasons of exceptional, injury-free play at Georgia, the fact that USC's medical staff refused to clear him following his neck injury as a freshman could factor into his final medical evaluation. (Jones played for the Trojans in 2009 before suffering a season-ending neck injury against Oregon. When USC wouldn't clear him, Jones transferred to Georgia.) If Jones can obtain a clean bill of health from the NFL's medical team, he will remain a candidate to come off the board as a top-10 pick.

4) Marcus Lattimore, RB, South Carolina

Areas of concern: Rehabilitation progress and injury history.

Lattimore was regarded as the top running back in college football until a gruesome knee injury ended his junior season prematurely. This potentially could keep Lattimore on the sidelines for the early part of the 2013 season, which diminishes his stock in draft rooms across the league. Additionally, it is Lattimore's second major knee reconstruction in two seasons. Scouts wonder if he will ever regain his stellar form as a workhorse runner. Although Lattimore is still a few months away from a full recovery, he can allay concerns somewhat about his long-term potential with a glowing progress report from his doctors. More importantly, he can convince scouts and coaches that he possesses the necessary work ethic and mental toughness to overcome the spate of injuries and become an all-star-caliber running back as a pro.

5) Tyler Bray, QB, Tennessee

Brooks: Draft rankings by position

With the evaluation process in full swing, Bucky Brooksprovides position-by-position rankings for the 2013 NFL Draft. More ...

Area of concern: Maturity.

Bray is arguably the most gifted passer in the 2013 NFL Draft, but he is not considered one of the top quarterback prospects due to concerns about his character. Scouts are worried about his immaturity following several off-field incidents at Tennessee. While these incidents were minor in nature, the fact that a potential franchise quarterback has been embroiled in teenage shenanigans is certainly a problem in the minds of NFL executives. To alter the perception in meeting rooms, Bray will need to be forthright about his mishaps and show scouts he has moved beyond his immaturity issues. If Bray is able to get evaluators to focus on his immense talent on the field, he could be one of the draft's biggest risers over the next few months.

6) Tyrann Mathieu, CB, LSU

Area of concern: Drug issues.

A year ago, Mathieu was one of the most dynamic playmakers in college football. He captivated the attention of NFL coaches and scouts with his game-changing skills as a defender and returner. However, a reported string of failed drug tests, which led to his shocking dismissal from the LSU football team prior to last season, has led to questions about Mathieu's accountability and character. In fact, most NFL scouts wonder if he can stay away from trouble after his fall from grace continued in October with a marijuana arrest. With coaches and scouts certain to probe Mathieu about his past transgressions and reported behavioral changes, the interview room will provide the former LSU star with the biggest challenge of his career. How well he fares in those 15-minute sessions could determine if Mathieu recaptures the attention of NFL executives prior to draft day.

7) Da'Rick Rogers, WR, Tennessee Tech

Areas of concern: Character issues and drug problems.

There is no doubt that Rogers possesses the talent to be a star at the next level, but concerns about his character and decision making could prevent him from getting a solid shot. Rogers was suspended indefinitely at Tennessee -- reportedly due to multiple violations of the school's substance-abuse policy -- leading to his transfer to Tennessee Tech. Additionally, he has a long list of questionable decisions that have resulted in numerous suspensions and off-field issues. With Rogers' transgressions overshadowing his spectacular talent and production (67 receptions for 1,040 yards with nine touchdowns in 2011), the interviews and one-on-one conversations with NFL executives are the most important part of his evaluation.

8) Alec Ogletree, LB, Georgia

Areas of concern: Character and durability questions.

Ogletree is one of the most intriguing athletes in the draft. He possesses the size, speed, athleticism and instincts to develop into a disruptive defender as a pro. However, questions about Ogletree's durability (missed six games in 2011 with a broken foot) and character (suspended for four games due to a violation of team rules) could affect his draft status, despite his exceptional talent. To minimize the damage, Ogletree needs to address his past missteps and show up in remarkable physical condition to alleviate concerns about his durability. If he can provide solid answers to questions regarding his off-field behavior, he could climb up the charts dramatically following his four-day stay at the combine.

9) Ezekiel Ansah, DE, BYU

Area of concern: Football knowledge.

Ansah certainly is not a character risk based on his impeccable reputation, but NFL scouts will thoroughly investigate his background to assess football knowledge, given his limited experience with the game. The Ghana native has just three years of football experience under his belt, but he is one of the most disruptive defenders in this draft class. Scouts will look to find out more about his diverse athletic background (Ansah ran the 200 meters in 21.9 seconds and earned the reputation as a legendary intramural basketball player) to better project his development as a pro. Most importantly, NFL scouts will want to see if there are any barriers that will prevent him from continuing to develop at the next level.

10) Mike Glennon, QB, N.C. State

Area of concern: Leadership skills.

Glennon is a borderline first-round pick based on his arm talent, but some NFL scouts wonder about his ability to command a huddle based on his soft-spoken demeanor. Glennon doesn't ooze charisma like some franchise quarterbacks, which makes some scouts nervous at the prospect of him leading a group of strong personalities. Given the importance coaches and scouts place on the leadership skills and personality of the quarterback, Glennon must convince NFL executives that he can handle the pressure of being the guy in a pro locker room. Although there is not a manual or guideline for Glennon to follow to accomplish this feat, he must find a way to wow observers in interview rooms to continue his climb up the charts.

Follow Bucky Brooks on Twitter @BuckyBrooks.

Mocking the Drafts' Post Super Bowl Mock Draft

2013-02-07T12:20:00.001-05:00

Matthew Fairburn - Mocking the Draft.com

Welcome to day one of the NFL offseason. We won't have a meaningful snap of football for quite a while, so the only thing left to satisfy our appetite is months of draft talk.

Let's get to it.

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1. Kansas City Chiefs - Geno Smith, Quarterback, West Virginia

Geno Smith is far from a slam dunk to be the first overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft, but this pick still makes the most sense. The Chiefs have a desperate need at quarterback, and Smith is the draft's highest-ranked player at that position. This pick could change between now and April, but when a team doesn't have a quarterback, that's the biggest need. This will be a fun pick to debate over the next few months.

2. Jacksonville Jaguars - Barkevious Mingo, Defensive End, LSU

The Jaguars' pass rush has been a sore spot for quite some time. Barkevious Mingo would be a huge upgrade for a defense in need of playmakers. New coach Gus Bradley will need some pieces for his defense, and Mingo would make an ideal LEO in Jacksonville. He is a lengthy pass rusher with incredible burst off the snap.

3. Oakland Raiders - Star Lotulelei, Defensive Tackle, Utah - Scouting Report

Does any team need to address the front seven more than the Raiders? Star Lotulelei didn't put up impressive numbers this season at Utah, but he faced consistent double teams and proved to be dominant at the point of attack. He has scheme versatility and a world of upside.

4. Philadelphia Eagles - Luke Joeckel, Offensive Tackle, Texas A&M

Luke Joeckel would be an obvious choice for the Eagles if the Chiefs pass on him with the No. 1 pick. Jason Peters is a huge question mark given his injury, and Philadelphia can't afford to have the offensive line issues they had in 2012 for another season. The position needs to be addressed.

5. Detroit Lions - Ezekiel Ansah, Defensive End, BYU

Defensive end is the only missing piece to an otherwise solid Detroit Lions defensive line. The Lions staff worked closely with Ezekiel Ansah at the Senior Bowl and he had a huge week. He's not a finished product, but he has a wider array of moves than most give him credit for. This pick is a bit out of left field, but hey, it's February.

6. Cleveland Browns - Damontre Moore, Defensive End, Texas A&M

The Browns plan to run multiple fronts under new defensive coordinator Ray Horton. The team is in severe need of a pass rusher, and Damontre Moore played in both the 3-4 and the 4-3 while at Texas A&M. He would make a ton of sense here.

7. Arizona Cardinals - Eric Fisher, Left Tackle, Central Michigan

Another player who made waves at the Senior Bowl was Eric Fisher. While Fisher tends to struggle with the bull rush, his athleticism and technique make him a potential anchor on the left side. The Cardinals need to fix the offensive line before they worry about anything else.

8. Buffalo Bills - Dion Jordan, Defensive End/Linebacker, Oregon - Scouting Report

New defensive coordinator Mike Pettine throws a wrench into the equation with this pick. He's a creative defensive mind who likes to attack the offense in a number of different ways. Dion Jordan is the perfect piece for his puzzle due to his versatility and explosiveness off the edge.

Complete NFL Draft coverage

9. New York Jets - Tyler Wilson, Quarterback, Arkansas

Mark Sanchez had a disastrous season, and the Jets desperately need to address the quarterback position. New York could choose to address the position through trade or free agency, but the possibility of Alex Smith or Mike Vick can't be too exciting. Tyler Wilson would bring a live arm and tons of competitiveness to an offense that could use both at the quarterback position.

10. Tennessee Titans - Kenny Vaccaro, Safety, Texas

Safety is a big need for the Titans, and Kenny Vaccaro is a player that should find a home in the first half of round one. He is head and shoulders above the rest of this safety class given his physicality at the line of scrimmage and ability to play man-to-man coverage in the slot. Vaccaro is also an excellent athlete.

11. San Diego Chargers - Lane Johnson, Offensive Tackle, Oklahoma - Scouting Report

A former quarterback and tight end, Lane Johnson has developed into a bookend tackle prospect during his time at Oklahoma. He is very light on his feet and exhibits ideal body control in space. Johnson won't blow you away with his strength, but the upside warrants this pick for the Chargers, who badly need some help on the offensive line.

12. Miami Dolphins - Jarvis Jones, Linebacker, Georgia

With only Cameron Wake to get after the passer, the Dolphins need to find another weapon. Jarvis Jones slips a bit because of his past spinal injury and lack of a counter move once he's initially stopped on the pass rush. Still, the upside warrants a top-15 pick.

2013 NFL Draft scouting reports

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Dee Milliner, Cornerback, Alabama

Dee Milliner will be a dangerous cornerback in the right scheme, but he's not a lock to be dominant in the NFL. He plays the boundary well and has the ability to read and react on the football. Given his size, Milliner also plays the game with a physical edge. Does he have the ability to dominate in man coverage? Maybe not. But after losing Aqib Talib, cornerback has become one of Tampa Bay's biggest needs.

14. Carolina Panthers - Sheldon Richardson, Defensive Tackle, Missouri - Scouting Report

The Panthers can't continue to ignore the hole in the middle of their defensive line, right? Sheldon Richardson is sure to blow up at the combine given his athleticism. He had a huge junior season and would actually be a value pick at this spot.

15. New Orleans Saints - Bjoern Werner, Defensive End, Florida State - Scouting Report

For the record, Bjoern Werner is my top ranked 4-3 defensive end in this draft. With the abundance of pass rushers in this class and the variety of schemes at the top of the draft, Werner could slide. Either way, expect the Saints to have a shot at one of the top defensive ends in this class, which is exactly what they need.

16. St. Louis Rams - Chance Warmack, Guard, Alabama - Scouting Report

Rams fans would be doing backflips if Chance Warmack is still available at the No. 16 pick. He's one of the best draft prospects to come along in some time and has more than enough ability to warrant selection in the top half of the first round.

17. Pittsburgh Steelers - Jesse Williams, Defensive Tackle, Alabama - Scouting Report

Jesse Williams displays an impressive combination of size and athleticism. He moves around well for a big man and would fill a huge need for the Steelers at nose tackle. It's about time for Pittsburgh to retool the Steel Curtain.

18. Dallas Cowboys - Jonathan Cooper, Guard, North Carolina

If Chance Warmack is the best guard prospect to come around in years, Jonathan Cooper isn't too far behind. He has picture-perfect technique both when firing out of his stance and when pulling across the line of scrimmage. The Cowboys need all sorts of help on the offensive line. Tony Romo would appreciate a bit of help up front.

19. New York Giants - Xavier Rhodes, Cornerback, Florida State - Scouting Report

The Giants are one of the best teams in the league at collecting value in the draft, and this is just another example of that. Xavier Rhodes could be the best cornerback in this class, depending on who you ask, and his ability to play physical, man-to-man coverage will be a welcome addition to the Giants secondary.

20. Chicago Bears - D.J. Fluker, Offensive Tackle, Alabama

D.J. Fluker probably doesn't have the quick feet or athleticism to protect Jay Cutler's blindside, but he's an absolute mauler in the running game. The Alabama tackle should be a huge upgrade on the right side of Chicago's offensive line from day one. He's going to find a home in the first round by the time it's all said and done.

21. Cincinnati Bengals - Arthur Brown, Linebacker, Kansas State

Arthur Brown and the Cincinnati Bengals are a match made in heaven. Some may look at Brown and see an undersized linebacker, but there is nothing small about how he plays the position. He is a stack and shed linebacker who can cover as well as any player at his position in this draft class.

22. St. Louis Rams (via Washington Redskins) - Keenan Allen, Wide Receiver, California - Scouting Report

Keenan Allen's late-season injury is causing him to go unnoticed in the pre-draft process. Make no mistake, Allen is the best wide receiver in this class and a steal this late in the first round. He battled maddening quarterback play this past season, but he is a physical wideout with the speed to stretch the defense deep.

23. Minnesota Vikings - DeAndre Hopkins, Wide Receiver, Clemson

Assuming Percy Harvin is still a Viking in 2013, Minnesota will need to add a complementary threat to give the passing game a boost. Tavon Austin is too similar to Harvin to be the pick, but Hopkins would make plenty of sense. His body control, route running and hands continually stood out this season.

24. Indianapolis Colts - Sharrif Floyd, Defensive Tackle, Florida - Scouting Report

The Indianapolis Colts had one of the league's worst defensive lines in 2012. With Josh Chapman plugged in as the nose tackle in the team's 3-4 defense, the Colts need to solidify the end positions. Sharrif Floyd is a perfect fit given his length and quickness.

25. Seattle Seahawks - Tavon Austin, Wide Receiver, West Virginia

The Seahawks' passing game is just waiting to break out. With the emergence of Russell Wilson, the Seahawks need to continue to surround their young quarterback with weapons. Tavon Austin would be the ultimate weapon and make this offense a handful for defenses.

26. Green Bay Packers - Kevin Minter, Linebacker, LSU

The Packers need a new attitude in the middle of their defense after they were completely gashed by the San Francisco 49ers. Kevin Minter brings some fire, advanced play recognition and the athleticism to play sideline to sideline.

27. Houston Texans - Cordarrelle Patterson, Wide Receiver, Tennessee

The 2013 NFL Draft class is strong at wide receiver, particularly in the first two rounds. The way this mock draft is playing out, a wide receiver run at the bottom of the first round makes a lot of sense. Cordarrelle Patterson would provide the Texans' passing game with a much needed spark across from Andre Johnson.

28. Denver Broncos - D.J. Swearinger, Safety, South Carolina

D.J. Swearinger is a force in the secondary. He's got a ton of athleticism and plays the ball in the air as well as any defensive back in this class. Swearinger played some cornerback and safety while at South Carolina, so the Broncos will have some flexibility in how they use Swearinger.

29. New England Patriots - Quinton Patton, Wide Receiver, Louisiana Tech

Not a household name at this point, Quinton Patton was one of the most consistent players in the country this season. Given his precise route running and solid hands, some have compared him to Reggie Wayne. The Patriots can't get by another season without upgrading the wide receiver spot.

30. Atlanta Falcons - Giovani Bernard, Running Back, North Carolina

The Falcons' running game was inconsistent throughout the 2012 season. Jacquizz Rodgers proved that he can't be counted on as the team's featured running back, andMichael Turner is on his last legs. Giovani Bernard has the tools to be an every-down back in the NFL.

31. San Francisco 49ers - Jonathan Cyprien, Safety, Florida International

The Super Bowl exposed the 49ers' weakness in the secondary. Jonathan Cyprien may be a bit of a longshot for the first round, but it's tough to find too many safeties with a more complete game than Cyprien. The choice of A.J. Jenkins a year ago shows that the Niners aren't afraid to step outside the box.

32. Baltimore Ravens - Logan Ryan, Cornerback, Rutgers

The Ravens may have won the Super Bowl, but they still could use some pieces in the secondary. Lardarius Webb will be back from his knee injury, but another corner would be a big help for Baltimore. Logan Ryan fits perfectly with Baltimore's defensive mindset. He's a competitive and physical cornerback.

Scout Inc.'s Big Board for 2013

2013-02-07T08:52:00.002-05:00

According to ESPN, here is a list of Scout Inc.'s Top 32 prospects for the 2013 NFL Draft.

Top 5 players for each offensive position

2013-02-07T05:00:00.000-05:00

Bucky Brooks - NFL.com

At the conclusion of Super Bowl XLVII, coaches and scouts across the NFL immediately turned their attention to the 2013 NFL Draft. Team officials are busy at work this week putting together their initial draft boards heading into the NFL Scouting Combine. While much attention within each organization goes to the vertical board, which features the top 150 to 200 prospects in the draft, the scouts spend the majority of their time working through rankings on the position-specific or horizontal board.

With coaches and scouts starting to project which players are the best fits for their respective squads, I thought I'd take a look at the top five prospects at each offensive position to give you a peek at some of the conversations that are taking place in draft rooms across the league.

Click here for the top five prospects at each defensive position.

Quarterback

1) Geno Smith, West Virginia
2) Matt Barkley, USC
3) Mike Glennon, N.C. State
4) Tyler Wilson, Arkansas
5) E.J. Manuel, Florida State

In the mix: Tyler Bray, Tennessee;Landry Jones, Oklahoma; Ryan Nassib, Syracuse.

The 2013 class of quarterbacks is short on star power, but features several intriguing prospects with tremendous potential. Smith currently ranks as the top choice at the position, largely due to his impressive combination of arm talent, leadership and poise. While some suggest Smith lacks the pizzazz to emerge as a franchise quarterback, the film from his early-season play reveals a polished passer with the capacity to fit into any offensive system. Bray could join the top-five list based on his exceptional physical tools, but scouts are leery about his immaturity and off-field decisions. However, a strong performance in meeting rooms at the NFL Scouting Combine could alleviate those concerns and put him back in play as a potential franchise quarterback.

Running back

1) Giovani Bernard, North Carolina
2) Eddie Lacy, Alabama
3) Le'Veon Bell, Michigan State
4) Montee Ball, Wisconsin
5) Andre Ellington, Clemson

In the mix: Joseph Randle, Oklahoma State; Stepfan Taylor, Stanford; Marcus Lattimore, South Carolina; Jonathan Franklin, UCLA.

The running back class took a major blow when Lattimore suffered a catastrophic injury in late October. The Gamecocks star will remain on the radar of teams looking for a value pick in the middle rounds, but his injury opens the door for Lacy or Bernard to emerge as the top pick at the position. Lacy created quite a buzz in league circles with his dominant performance in the BCS National Championship Game. He displayed impressive quickness and burst, while maintaining the rugged running style that scouts covet in a big back. Bernard, on the other hand, is a scat back with explosive speed and quickness. Factor in his ability to contribute as a receiver and returner, and Bernard is a legitimate difference maker at the position.

Wide receiver

1) Keenan Allen, Cal
2) Cordarrelle Patterson, Tennessee
3) Robert Woods, USC
4) DeAndre Hopkins, Clemson
5) Terrance Williams, Baylor

In the mix: Tavon Austin, West Virginia;Justin Hunter, Tennessee; Markus Wheaton, Oregon State; Aaron Dobson, Marshall; Quinton Patton, Louisiana Tech.

Teams in need of explosive playmakers on the perimeter will have plenty of options to choose from in the 2013 class. The group is loaded with big, physical pass catchers with the ability to thrive as No. 1 receivers. Allen missed the last part of the season with a knee injury, but he is the most complete receiver in the draft, boasting a rock-solid all-around game with impressive physical tools. Patterson was arguably the most explosive receiver in college football in his only season at the major college level. He scored touchdowns in four different ways (receiving, rushing, punt and kick returns), while displaying enticing skills with the ball in his hands.

Brooks: QB matchmaker

Bucky Brooks takes five top quarterbacks from the 2013 draft class and matches them up with QB-needy franchises. More ...

Tight end

1) Zach Ertz, Stanford
2) Tyler Eifert, Notre Dame
3) Gavin Escobar, San Diego State
4) Jordan Reed, Florida
5) Travis Kelce, Cincinnati

In the mix: Dion Sims, Michigan State; Ryan Otten, San Jose State; Michael Williams, Alabama.

The tight end position has become the spot where NFL teams seek to create mismatches in the passing game. With offensive coordinators seeking versatile athletes to man the position, the 2013 class offers plenty of options for teams looking to find difference makers over the middle of the field. Ertz is at the top of the list with his big body and soft hands. He has the capacity to stretch the field on vertical routes, but is also adept at working the underneath areas of the field. Escobar is underrated at this point, but scouts have been buzzing about his immense talent and potential. Expect him to rise up the charts after coaches and scouts get a closer look at him at the combine.

Offensive tackle

1) Luke Joeckel, Texas A&M
2) Eric Fisher, Central Michigan
3) Lane Johnson, Oklahoma
4) D.J. Fluker, Alabama
5) Kyle Long, Oregon

In the mix: Oday Aboushi, Virginia;Dallas Thomas, Tennessee; Menelik Watson, Florida State.

Franchise-caliber offensive tackles are still valued at a premium. Joeckel is aPro Bowler waiting to happen with his exceptional footwork and athleticism. He is not only the best tackle prospect in the draft, but there are some scouts who believe he's the best overall player in the 2013 class. Fisher earned rave reviews for his performance in the Senior Bowl. In fact, he was so dominant in Mobile, Ala., that some view him as a potential top-10 pick.

Centers/Guards

1) Chance Warmack, Alabama
2) Jonathan Cooper, North Carolina
3) Barrett Jones, Alabama
4) Justin Pugh, Syracuse
5) Travis Frederick, Wisconsin

In the mix: Larry Warford, Kentucky; Khaled Holmes, USC; Brian Winters, Kent State.

Offensive guards aren't typically coveted in the early rounds, but the 2013 class features a few special players in this area. Warmack and Cooper are game changers on the interior; scouts can't stop raving about their ability to dominate the middle of the line. Warmack, in particular, is a sturdy blocker with the size, strength and power to move defenders off the ball. Cooper is surprisingly athletic for his size, but also displays the strength and power to excel as a drive blocker.

Click here for the top five prospects at each defensive position.

Follow Bucky Brooks on Twitter @BuckyBrooks

TTR shifts focus

2013-02-06T14:15:00.000-05:00

With nearly two years under our belts, The Tiger Report is changing gears. While the site will remain a football site, our focus is now going to be primarily shifted to all things relating to the NFL Draft. There will still be a variety of articles both written by our team and an assorted collection that is found from around the news world, but the focus will be decidedly different going forward.

Some of the content that you can expect to see will be:
*Scouting Reports
*Team Needs
*Mock Drafts
*Draft Grades
*NFL Rookie Fantasy Perspectus
*NFL Rookie Progress Reports

As always, we would love to hear your feedback on our new direction.

Sincerely,
Tiger

First Impressions: Johnthan Banks, CB

2013-02-05T09:14:00.001-05:00

Written by Tiger Hebert
I was looking forward to having a chance to watch the Thorpe Award winning cornerback from Mississippi State. Johnthan Banks is currently ESPN's #2 ranked draft eligible corner. It didn't take long before I formed a pretty strong opinion of number 13 for the Bulldogs.

What I found immediately is that his natural spot on the defense is playing right corner, which is typically considered the #2 corner at the NFL. This could be more about that fact that he played opposite of a very capable Darius Slay. What was evident immediately though, is that when someone was needed to shift into the slot, it was always Banks. Playing in the slot is often considered a unique skill-set. That versatility will make Banks highly desirable in the eyes of many NFL scouts and executives.

Another things that was noticeable, was that he was placed in different situations by the defensive calls by his coaching staff. There were occasions where he was called to play tight man, off-man, and even still times where it was pure zone. Impressively, Banks looked comfortable in each scenario. Unfortunately he I did not see any press man, but it looks like he has the physical tools to be able to excel there as well. Part of that skill-set was that he appeared to have good feet, and was very smooth and controlled in transition when he needed to flip his hips and run with a defender on a vertical route. During the film session that I watched, it was clear that North Western had no intention of throwing the ball in his vicinity, which is yet another vote of confidence for the young man.

However, despite the positive signs that I saw above, I saw a few things that were very concerning for a potential 1st round pick. With Banks lined up in the nickle covering the slot, there was a strong side run that came his way. First when the blocker engaged him, he read the play wrong and lost contain. Not only did he give up his outside leverage, but he showed little resistance to the blocker. Finally, and most concerning was when he did disengage, he simply jogged as he trailed the play. He was play-side, and the ball carrier was weaving his way down the sideline through his teammates, yet Banks never showed any hustle. He simply gave up on the play.

Personally, I think Banks could be an excellent cover corner at the next level, but I don't like the way that he simply showed little to no effort once the ball carrier passed his face. This lack of effort alone should be a serious red flag in pre-draft evaluations.

Arian Foster not having heart surgery, yet

2013-02-01T11:07:00.001-05:00

Posted by Josh Alper on February 1, 2013, 11:00 AM EST

It seems like the report that Texans running back Arian Foster is “likely” to undergo heart surgery to deal with his irregular heartbeat was a little premature.

Foster was a guest on the Dan Patrick Show Friday and took a moment to address the report from Alex Flanagan of the NFL Network. Foster said that surgery is a possibility to help correct the issue, which forced him out of the team’s loss to the Vikings in December, but that he hasn’t spoken to any doctor yet about the specifics of an operation. Foster also downplayed the seriousness of the issue.

“Nothing is life threatening,” Foster said. “It’s a scary nuisance.”

Texans General Manager Rick Smith said that the team’s doctors don’t believe Foster needs an operation. The running back’s answers on Friday suggest that he is still weighing the options available to him, which is obviously the wisest course of action when dealing with something as significant as heart surgery. For now, though, it appears to be too early to say what decision Foster will wind up making.

Arian Foster will have heart surgery

2013-02-01T07:58:00.000-05:00

Posted by Curtis Crabtree on February 1, 2013, 12:58 AM EST

Getty Images

Houston running back Arian Foster was forced to leave the Texans’ Week 16 loss to the Minnesota Vikings due to an irregular heartbeat that surfaced during the game.

It was considered a minor issue at the time and didn’t keep Foster from playing in any of the Texans’ remaining games this season. However, it’s an issue Foster appears to be looking into correcting.

According to Alex Flanagan of the NFL Network, Foster islikely to undergo a procedure on his heart in about a month to correct the issue. Foster has apparently experienced issues with his heart dating back to when he was 12 years old but the episode against the Vikings was the first time he’d experienced it in a game.

Even though the episodes of irregular heartbeat themselves may be considered minor, heart surgery isn’t. Hopefully, Foster’s surgery goes by the book and he’s back and ready to go for the start of next season.

Update: PFT has reported that this was a bit premature, and no procedure has been planned or scheduled.

Hue Jackson apologizes for introducing Ray Lewis to S.W.A.T.S. owner

2013-01-31T09:22:00.000-05:00

Posted by Mike Florio on January 31, 2013, 7:17 AM EST

Reuters

At a time when Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis vehemently has denied any use of banned substances in connection with his recovery from a torn triceps or at any other time in his 17-year career, a former Ravens assistant has confirmed that he introduced Lewis to the owner of Sports With Alternatives To Steroids (S.W.A.T.S.).

The confirmation from Hue Jackson, now the Bengals running backs coach, came via Jackson’s apology for making the connection between the two men.

“First of all, I’m disappointed for the Ravens,” Jackson told Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun. “You hate to ever put an organization in that kind of situation. I never knew the young man [Ross] could be that way. Iapologize for the whole organization. It should be about the Super Bowl. I met the guy at the [NFL] combine in 2008. . . .

“I don’t get this because we’ve already addressed all of this before,” Jackson said. “It’s just not right. I feel very bad for making a mistake and bringing this guy around Ray and the other players.

“I regret that ever happened. You trust people sometimes, and they let you down. This is an absolute shame because it should be about football, not this stuff. . . .

“What happened is you think everybody is doing things for the right reason. I knew there was nothing illegal based on information given by him. He always talked about things, saying they were already approved by the NFL. You live and you learn. I dealt with that two years ago. Anytime it comes up, my name is mentioned.”

In addressing the situation, Lewis has invoked the “two years ago” explanation, overlooking the fact that Mitch Ross, the owner of S.W.A.T.S., contends that Lewis contacted Ross in October 2012, after Lewis tore his triceps against the Cowboys. According to Sports Illustrated, the call was videotaped. According to Ross, he contacted Lewis immediately after the game.

“As soon as I saw him hurt his arm against the Dallas Cowboys, I texted Ray,” Ross told Wilson. “He texted me back after the game and said, ‘Possible torn triceps.’ Once that was confirmed by the doctors, I asked Ray if he wanted me to set up a program for him and he said, ‘Yes.’ I got him set up and now he’s back on the field.”

The problem with the various media availabilities during Super Bowl week is that there’s no one interviewer who can ask specific questions with meaningful follow-ups. Once the player or coach answers a question, there’s a likelihood that some other reporter will ask some other question. This allows Lewis to avoid a situation in which he’s grilled in detail about the communications with Ross, the phone conversation, and any other specific information linking the two men not two years ago but three months ago.

In the grand scheme of things, none of it matters, since there’s no way Lewis would ever be suspended before Sunday’s game. But there’s definitely a cloud over Lewis that won’t be pushed away simply because Lewis has issued a general denial without specific elaboration on the underlying contentions and allegations.

Chandler Jones to train with his brother, UFC champion Jon Jones

2013-01-31T09:18:00.000-05:00

Posted by Michael David Smith on January 31, 2013, 9:05 AM EST

Getty Images

Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones is the latest NFL player to take up mixed martial arts training during the offseason. And he’s the NFL player with the best access to high-level training.

Jones’s brother is UFC light heavyweight champion Jon Jones, and Chandler says that he thinks that training with a UFC champion can help him in hand-to-hand combat at the line of scrimmage.

“That definitely helps you,” Jones said on Comcast SportsNet New England. “[Jon] has a boxing coach, a muay Thai coach and a jiu jitsu coach. That helps a lot when you’re tugging, playing in the trenches. My biggest thing is I try to get my hands inside before blockers touch me so if I work on my hand speed, that’ll be a great aspect to add to my game.”

Chandler and Jon’s oldest brother, Arthur Jones, will be playing in the Super Bowl with the Ravens on Sunday. Meaning Chandler may be the only Jones brother who isn’t a champion in his sport. Which may motivate him to work that much harder in the offseason.

Donald Driver announces his retirement

2013-01-31T09:16:00.002-05:00

Posted by Darin Gantt on January 31, 2013, 8:17 AM EST

Well, if the Vikings are interested in Donald Driver, it’s clear now that they’re going to have to go in another direction.

The Packers announced Thursday morning that the veteran wide receiver was retiring as a member of the team, with a ceremony planned for next week.

“I played my entire career in Green Bay and have always enjoyed a special bond with the fans,” Driver said in the team’s release. “I can think of no better way to retire than to celebrate with them and the Packers organization.”

Driver’s about to turn 38, and he was reduced to volunteering for special teams duty just to be on the active roster on game days in the postseason.

He finished his career with 743 catches for 10,137 yards and 61 touchdowns, all for the same team that took him in the seventh round of the 1999 draft.

Ravens' Ellerbe playing through intense pain

2013-01-30T08:55:00.000-05:00

Posted by Michael David Smith on January 30, 2013, 6:56 AM EST

Getty Images

Ravens linebacker Dannell Ellerbe says his injured ankle is the most painful injury he has ever experienced. But he played through it in the AFC Champioinship Game, and there’s no way he’s missing the Super Bowl.

“Yes, I’m playing if I played last week,” Ellerbe said at Super Bowl Media Day. “That was the most pain I’ve played in in my entire career. I’m definitely playing in this game. I feel a lot better and it’s the Super Bowl, so I’m not sitting out. I got a cortisone shot. I’m going to stop telling people I got an epidural because that’s what pregnant people get. Never again. I don’t want to go through that again. I hate needles.”

But Ellerbe reiterated that there’s no chance he’ll sit out on Sunday.

“Oh yeah, I’m definitely playing. If I could handle it last week, I can handle it this week,” Ellerbe said.

Despite the ankle injury, Ellerbe has played very well in the playoffs, with 23 total tackles, two pass deflections and an interception. Ellerbe becomes an unrestricted free agent in March, and by playing well through pain, Ellerbe is making himself a lot of money.

Absence of failed drug test doesn't exonerate Ray Lewis

2013-01-30T08:53:00.003-05:00

Posted by Mike Florio on January 30, 2013, 12:11 AM EST

Reuters

The obvious response to the allegation that Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis used a deer-antler extract containing the banned substance IGF-1 is that Ray Lewis has never failed a drug test.

“Every test I’ve ever took in the NFL? There’s never been a question if I’ve even thought about using anything,” Lewis proclaimed Tuesday.

The team said the same thing. “Ray has been randomly tested for banned substances and has never failed a test. He has never been notified of a failed test,” declared the Ravens.

But here’s the thing. The NFL tells PFT that IGF-1 can be detected only through blood testing. And there’s currently no blood testing for IGF-1.

So passing a drug test has nothing to do with the question of whether someone was or is using IGF-1. It’s no different than a player responding to allegations of HGH use by declaring that he’s never failed a drug test, since there still is no testing in place for HGH.

Thus, absent an admission from Lewis or other conclusive evidence of IGF-1 use, there’s no way this thing will ever go anywhere.

Michael Oher is tired of "The Blind Side"

2013-01-30T08:51:00.002-05:00

Posted by Michael David Smith on January 29, 2013, 8:37 PM EST

Ravens tackle Michael Oher is probably the NFL’s most famous lineman: If you go to a Super Bowl party on Sunday, there’s a good chance that there will be someone there who doesn’t really follow football, but knows who Oher is. That’s because Oher’s life story was told in the bestselling book and hit movie The Blind Side.

But Oher could do without all the publicity that Hollywood gave him.

“I’m tired of the movie. I’m here to play football,” Oher said when asked about it at Super Bowl Media Day.

Oher wasn’t thrilled with his portrayal in the movie, particularly scenes depicting him not knowing what he was doing at his first football practice. But Oher does say that the movie accurately portrayed the love he has for his adoptive family.

“I’ve got them coming to the game,” Oher said. “They’re still my family.”

So that part of the movie is real. The part about Oher needing Sandra Bullock to show him how to block is Hollywood.

Urlacher understands it will take a pay cut to keep him in Chicago

2013-01-30T08:50:00.002-05:00

Posted by Josh Alper on January 30, 2013, 7:47 AM EST

Linebacker Brian Urlacher hasn’t spoken to the Bears yet this offseason, but he doesn’t need to have direct contact with them to know what it is going to take to have any shot at remaining in Chicago in 2013.

He’s going to have to take a serious cut from the $7.5 million that he made in 2012. That would probably be true based on his age (35 in May) alone, but the fact that he dealt with a variety of injuries last season only makes it more of a necessity. Urlacher has no illusions about his need to make less money next season and it sounds like he’s fine with it.

“When you look at my age and everything, it’s going to be hard to not give them a discount,” Urlacher said, via the Chicago Tribune. “I’m not going to make what I was making in the past, how about that? Does that make sense? That’s fair.”

The fact of the matter is that this isn’t just about a “hometown discount” for the Bears. If Urlacher’s going to play anywhere in 2013, he’s going to need to agree to play for a lot less money than he’s accustomed to making. Maybe he’d sign with the Bears for less than he’d be willing to sign for in another city, but it’s a new financial reality regardless of the uniform he winds up wearing.

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Absence of failed drug test doesn't exonerate Ray Lewis

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Urlacher understands it will take a pay cut to keep him in Chicago