Mocking The Draft

Saturday NFL Draft watch notes

2009-11-07T15:42:51Z

about 1 month ago: LSU wide receiver Brandon LaFell (1) gets away from Louisiana-Lafayette linebacker Devon Lewis-Buchanan in the second half of an NCAA college football game in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Sept. 19, 2009. LSU defeated Louisiana-Lafayette 31-3. (AP Photo/Bill Haber)

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• Even though they don't face off against each other, being on the same field could be enough to raise the gameplay of both Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh and Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy. Both are top five talents, but Suh is considered the better player by most.

One of the most disappointing players for me this season has been Oklahoma left tackle Trent Williams. He's showed he's a better player on the right side, which he played previously in his career. He could be given some trouble against Nebraska end Pierre Allen, a relentless player who doesn't quit until the whistle blows.

• Don't look now but Florida's Carlos Dunlap has four sacks in the last two games. He brutalized a bad Mississippi State team on Oct. 24 but has been pretty pedestrian this season. If he doesn't have a strong game against Vanderbilt, expect more dissenters to emerge.

• Pittsburgh quarterback Bill Stull has been gaining a good bit of attention as a draftable prospect. He's had an average career but is putting together a great season. If he can stay composed against Syracuse's front four, he could have another banner day.

• Entering the season, LSU wide receiver Brandon LaFell was considered the best senior wide receiver in the nation and a first round player. While the latter is still true, it's not a guarantee he gets taken in the first 32 picks. Alabama's cornerbacks, Kareem Jackson and Javier Arenas, are the best LSU will see this season. To improve his stock, LaFell needs to show he can beat physical coverage and make plays in the air.

• Penn State junior Stefen Wisniewski is arguably the best center in the nation. His signal calling will really be put to the test against Ohio State's experienced and crafty defensive line.

Against a very good Penn State offense today, Ohio State strong safety Kurt Coleman can really showcase his all-around skills. He's a borderline NFL starter who can make plays all over the field.

• This could be the day that Cal's Tyson Alualu becomes an early round pick. A gap-shooting high-motor player, Alualu could feast on an Oregon State offensive line that is 101st in the nation in sacks allowed.

• Few talk about him, but Arizona State junior cornerback Omar Bolden is loaded with talent and athleticism. He can get people talking today against USC, which features NFL talent at every starting receiving spot.

• Remember Georgia Tech defensive end Derrick Morgan? He of five sacks in the first two games of the year? He's come back on with three sacks in the last four games and could have another banner contest against Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons allow a lot of pressure on their quarterbacks and Morgan can take advantage.

• People keep telling me I'm missing the boat on Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis. The senior is clearly having a good season. But let's see what he can do against North Carolina's rush-heavy defense.

Note: I will not be around today. I'll be at the Akron/Kent State game, which starts at 3:30 p.m. With tailgating before that and watching MMA afterward, there won't be time to get online.

It won't be a completely lost day, however. Kent has a couple possible NFL prospects. Tight end Konz Jameson is very athletic and reportedly runs a 4.4 40-yard dash. He's undersized but worth watching. Junior middle linebacker Cobrani Mixon is also worth checking out on the Flashes. He's a Michigan transfer and a great all-around player. By the time today ends, Mixon could have more than 100 tackles on the season.

Rock out with your mock draft out: Draft Countdown

2009-11-07T02:00:33Z

More photos » by Elaine Thompson - AP

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Since it's been nearly a month since last doing this, why not talk about a mock draft on a Friday night?

Now, if you think I've been writing this during a Friday evening, you'd be wrong. But that's the beauty of future posting!

Anyway, this time we're taking a look at the latest mock draft from Scott Wright of Draft Countdown. Wright boasts that this mock has more than 7,000 words of analysis. So, there's that.

This is going to be an infrequent feature here at Mocking the Draft. The plan is to showcase some mock drafts from sites of name, and pull no punches. Instead of running down the first few picks opining on them, I'll talk about some of the surprising choices.

The first surprise is Cleveland taking Jake Locker at second overall. At this point, the Browns are such a mess it seems a little tough to expect them to not take a player who could start immediately in the NFL. While Locker is loaded with as much talent as anyone in the nation, he seems like a player who might have to sit and learn a year.

As per usual, Wright does an overall nice job with this mock. He covers all his bases in his descriptions and his layout is always clean. But back to the issues.

If someone can convince me that Oklahoma left tackle Trent Williams is deserving of a top 15 pick based on this season, please do. And while C.J. Spiller is a nice running back, I don't think he's a workhorse worth the 12th pick overall, which Wright does giving him to the Seahawks.

Tim Tebow to the Jaguars ... moving on.

It's a little surprising to see Wright putting Corey Wootton in the first round. Last year Wootton was one of my favorite players in the nation. This year he's clearly not as good after suffering a devastating knee injury. And I still don't get the Patrick Robinson as first-round talent argument. Someone please make it.

Like I said, though, this is a well-thought-out mock draft. That's something you can expect from Wright.

Dez Bryant NFL Draft scouting report

2009-11-06T21:54:16Z

Dez Bryant

6'2, 215 pounds | Oklahoma State

Strengths: The most noticeable thing about Bryant are his hands. They're incredibly large and strong, which allows him to make a lot of difficult catches in traffic. Bryant's hands are so impressive the New York Times wrote a whole story about them.

Does a really good job concentrating on the ball when it's in the air. Rarely has to make body catches. Often showed good awareness of where the sidelines were and can get his feet inbounds.

Has a great grasp of a play while it's developing. Knows when to come back to the quarterback to get open and gain positive yards. Excels catching the ball in the air and is a great red zone target. Shows the agility in the air to twist his body around and shield defenders off.

Bryant has good size at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds. More importantly, he knows how to use it after the catch. In the open field, Bryant is a bull to take down. He can easily break arm tackles and shrugs off tacklers who don't wrap up.

Lateral quickness and speed is as a good as when he's going straight line. Very good stop and go receiver. Doesn't take long strides which gives him some separation. Also uses head fakes well to trick cornerbacks.

Weaknesses: The biggest complaint about Bryant is his playing speed. Unlike Randy Moss, for instance, he probably won't time especially well. Fast cornerbacks can stick with him down the field and edge him over to the sideline.

A step slow off the snap. Could improve his suddenness to beat jams better with his quickness.

Because he comes from a spread offense, Bryant hasn't been asked to run a full route tree and may have to learn some in this area. His best route is clearly the quick slant.

Too often, Bryant likes to initiate contact. While this was fine against smaller Big 12 defensive backs, this could get him in trouble with more aggressive NFL defenses.

Can get knocked off his route and get knocked off his game somewhat (see this year's Georgia game). Could do a better job of properly securing the ball after the catch.

Typical of most spread receivers, Bryant can struggle blocking against the run.

Never really considered a leader on the Oklahoma State offense. Some question if he's a system player, much like former Oklahoma State star Rashaun Woods.

Final word: A lot of the same complaints that were made about Michael Crabtree can be made about Bryant. They both played in a spread offense. Neither has blazing speed but have the hands and high-point agility to make up for it.

The big difference is their attitudes. While Crabtree was known to have an inflated sense of his own self worth, Bryant is known to be a down-to-earth individual. He had a rough upbringing, being raised by a single mother who spent 18 months in prison for selling drugs.

Trouble with academics in high school scared away some teams, but his football acumen is sound. It's impossible to say how well Bryant will be able to digest an NFL playbook, but he just knows how to get open.

To do that, he can rely on his athleticism and quickness. Bryant may not be terribly fast, but he strong and shifty. No receiver in college football could cut on a dime as well as Bryant. That allowed him to get open for a split second and that's when his elite-level hands come in.

Over two and a third seasons, Bryant had 147 receptions for 2,425 yards and 29 touchdowns. He's also a very good special teams player who took back three punts for a touchdown.

In Crabtree, Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald and Andre Johnson, there have been some special receivers in the draft this past decade. Bryant has the ability to be as good as any of them. He's like a better version of Anquan Boldin.

What makes Rolando McClain the best linebacker in America?

2009-11-05T20:00:36Z

by Ed Reinke - AP

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His teammate Javier Arenas said he's like having a big and athletic version of Nick Saban on the football field.

Some consider him the next Brian Urlacher, at least when Urlacher was healthy. Saban, who doesn't just throw praise around, said he's the football version of Albert Pujols.

What Alabama's Rolando McClain is for certain the optimum linebacker prospect. He's got NFL size at 6-foot-4 and 258 pound. When he hits, he hits hard.

But McClain isn't just a shoulder-leading highlight-catching defender. He clearly knows how to wrap up and drives through the ball carrier.

This season, McClain's stat line is impressive. In eight games, e has 57 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, two sacks, two interceptions, seven quarterback hurries, three passes defended and a forced fumble.

McClain will also do well in offseason testing. He recently told a reporter his body fat was only 9 percent. When asked about his 40 time, McClain said he ran a 4.59 and 4.63 over the summer.

But McClain isn't one of those players who doesn't play up to his speed. He's always going hard and fast toward the ball. He takes correct angles to the ball carrier and doesn't get caught up on blocks.

While McClain is rumored to have some anger issues, is that such a bad thing for a middle linebacker?

Most impressively, McClain is smart. As a sophomore, McClain became the leader of the vaunted Alabama defense. He's like another coach on the field, barking order at his teammates making sure they're in the proper position.

"He lines up the guys next to him," LSU coach Les Miles told reporters this week. "He understands backfield sets and what to expect. You can tell he's a very bright player. (He) understand the intricacies of the game."

Those intricacies are just what might make McClain a top five pick in the draft.

McShay says it perfectly about Mike Williams

2009-11-05T15:55:11Z

Instead of coming up with my own half-assed opinion about wide receiver Mike Williams quitting the Syracuse football team, ESPN's Todd McShay did it for me.

Here's what he had to say for a story on Syracuse.com:

"There’s real serious concerns about him from a maturity standpoint, a mental toughness standpoint and handling everything that takes to be successful in the NFL," McShay said. "Everyone has talent in the NFL. A lot of cases, it comes down to whether you’re mentally or physically tough enough to play at the next level. If you have a guy that wasn’t tough enough or mature enough to handle academics and mature enough to finish out the season …if he just quit because he was frustrated, it can significantly hurt him."

McShay goes on to somewhat intimate what happened with Williams might help the case of Oregon's LaGarrette Blount who stayed in school while being suspended.

Okung solidifies himself as top 10 pick

2009-11-04T04:44:04Z

Oklahoma State may have been dominated 41-14 by Texas on Saturday, but the Cowboys still had the best player on the field.

That would be senior left tackle Russell Okung. Against one of the best pass rushes in the nation, Okung was stellar. Neither Texas starting defensive end -- Sergio Kindle and Sam Acho -- registered a sack or a tackle for loss.

Okung showed every aspect of his game on Saturday. Against Ocho's deep outside pass rush, Okung effortlessly slid around the edge to seal off. When Kindle tried to bull rush, Okung sunk his hips, repositioned the end and neutralized him. On run plays Okung kept his legs moving finishing off his blocks.

Those are precisely the skills that make Okung clearly the best left tackle prospect in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Also see: Russell Okung NFL Draft scouting report

Nation's sack leader talking NFL Draft

2009-11-03T16:18:46Z

More photos » by Nick de la Torre - AP

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Texas A&M junior Von Miller said on Monday that he'll wait until the season is over to decide whether or not he'll enter the 2010 NFL Draft. Miller, a hybrid defensive/linebacker, leads the nation with 13.5 sacks.

"You've at least got to take a look at it," Miler told reporters about his draft possibilities.

A&M is currently 5-3 with games remaining against Colorado, Oklahoma, Baylor and Texas. Unless the Aggies lose a game they shouldn't don't expect to hear Miller's decision any time this month after the team concludes its regular season on Nov. 27.

It should be noted that eight of Miller's sacks came against New Mexico, Utah State and UAB. Still, he knows how to get after a quarterback. That often comes at a premium in the NFL.

Miller is not considered a great prospect. At 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds, he has decent size. But he's not known to have great speed or athleticism. It seems likely his role at the next level would be that of a nickel package pass rusher.

Mike Williams Quits the Team

2009-11-03T02:55:27Z

Wide receiver Mike Williams has left the Syracuse footbal team, as announced by head coach Doug Marrone today. Williams was the Orange's best offensive player, despite the lack of play makers on Syracuse's offense. My question for you is this: how will this affect his draft status? You have to assume that he's going to the NFL, it would make little sense for him to transfer to another program given the year he lost to academic troubles.

Extra added by Dan: Williams is a big target with 20 career touchdowns. He clearly has talent, but there are a ton of issues surrounding Williams. Before this, he was suspended for the Akron game for breaking a team rule. He sat out the 2008 season because of academic issues.

This post started as a FanPost. Find news or have some good thoughts? Start your own FanPost or put up a FanShot and if it's good I'll showcase it on the main part of the site!

Poll

How will this move affect Mike Williams and his NFL Draft stock?

Earl Thomas of Texas is the most intriguing man in the world

2009-11-01T14:35:23Z

More photos » by Sue Ogrocki - AP

Texas safety Earl Thomas, left, takes his third-quarter interception back 31 yards for a touchdown as Oklahoma State's Hubert Anyiam trails. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

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Texas strong safety Earl Thomas continues to look like a star in the making this season.

In the Longhorns' 41-14 route against Oklahoma State, Thomas was one of the defensive standouts. He intercepted a pass that was returned for a touchdown and broke up two other throws.

This comes two weeks after Thomas secured Texas' win over Oklahoma with a fourth-quarter interception.

On the season, Thomas has 37 tackles, six interceptions, 11 pass breakups and two touchdowns.

Compare that to Tennessee's Eric Berry who has 57 tackles, six pass breakups and only one interception. In Berry's stellar sophomore season, he had 72 tackles, seven interceptions and six pass breakups.

Berry might get all the NFL Draft headlines, but Thomas should not be overlooked. He's a redshirt sophomore, making him eligible for the draft next year. Given the uncertainty of the NFL rookie pay scale, a larger number of redshirt sophomore could enter the draft.

Thomas and Berry compare favorably because they play the same position and have very similar size. Thomas is listed at 5-foot-10 and 197 pounds. Berry is at 5-foot-11 and 203 pounds.

They also have very similar playing styles. Both could probably line up at cornerback against a team's No. 1 receiver and do well. They show excellent instincts when the ball is in the air and are dangerous with the ball in their hands.

Although Berry is only slightly bigger, he plays much better against the run. In Thomas' defense, though, he's not always asked to play the run in Texas' scheme.

But if Berry is supposedly the next Ed Reed, Thomas just might be the next Eric Berry. And there's certainly nothing wrong with that.

Saturday NFL Draft watch notes

2009-10-31T13:30:30Z

More photos » by Don Ryan - AP

about 1 month ago: Oregon tight end Ed Dickson celebrates his touchdown during the first half of their NCAA college football game against No. 6 California in Eugene, Ore., Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)

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• Oklahoma Stat's Russell Okung has emerged as a possible first overall pick this season at left tackle. He can really help his cause against a good Texas pass rush that features ends Sergio Kindle and Sam Acho. Both ends are quick, which will test Okung's kick step off the snap.

• The play of Iowa left tackle Bryan Bulaga has been somewhat up and down since his return from a thyroid issue. He'll be tested by one of the nation's top defensive end duos, Jammie Kirlew and Greg Middleton of Indiana.

• Junior left tackle Anthony Davis is having a great season for Rutgers. He's played like an early first-round pick after starting his career at guard. He could matchup against Connecticut's Lindsey Witten, a streaky pass rusher who has good quickness to the outside.

• Over the last two games, Mississippi quarterback Jevan Snead has shown why he was considered a very good prospect entering the year. Against UAB and Arkansas, he's completed 37 of 55 passes for 572 yards and five touchdowns. Auburn has an above-average pass defense (35th nationally) that will challenge Snead's decision making.

• There is no better one-on-one contest today than the one between Nebraska defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and Baylor center J.D. Walton. Both are widely considered the top seniors at their position. If Suh can have another dominant game, the top-five talk is warranted. If Walton excels, he could be a late second-round pick.

• Possibly matching up against Georgia's A.J. Green, Florida junior Joe Haden can establish himself as the best cornerback in the nation. Haden has shutdown corner ability, but has been a little inconsistent in man coverage this year. He's certainly an all-around corner talent but needs to show he can shut down a great receiver, which perfectly defines Green.

The Georgia/Florida game offers a great matchup on the inside when the Gators are on offense and the Bulldogs on defense. Mike and Maurkice Pouncey will have their hands full against Georgia defensive tackles Geno Atkins and Jeff Owens. Mike Pouncey, a junior, is one of the best guard prospects in the country.

• Arizona State senior guard Shawn Lauvao will have his hands full against California's Tyson Alualu. The senior defensive tackle is a rising prospect who plays with a high motor and a lot of tenacity. He has good pass-rush moves for an interior player and could cause problems for Lauvao, a top player at his position.

It should be interesting to see if Cal lines senior cornerback Syd'Quan Thompson against Sun Devils receiver Chris McGaha. Both are considered second round prospects, at best, but could offer a premiere contest.

• The play of USC safety Taylor Mays has been a little suspect this season. He's blown some coverage assignments and needs to tackle better. That will be tested greatly against Oregon tight end Ed Dickson. A hard runner after the catch, Mays' tackling could be exposed against Dickson.

• Quietly, Central Michigan quarterback Dan LeFevour is putting together another great season. He has 16 touchdown passes to only four interceptions and is completing 70 percent of his passes. He gets Boston College today in what could be his last big showcase game of the year.

• Book it: The legend of Golden Tate will grow today against Washington State. The Cougars have the third-worst pass defense in the nation and arguably no player in the country is as hot as Tate.

New site top 100

2009-10-29T04:35:04Z

Click the banner to see the whole list. This will be expanded in the coming weeks.

1. Ndamukong Suh | DT | 6'4, 305 pounds | Nebraska

2. Eric Berry | SS | 5'11, 203 pounds | Tennessee *

3. Gerald McCoy | DT | 6'4, 295 pounds | Oklahoma *

4. Russell Okung | OT | 6'5, 300 pounds | Oklahoma State

5. Taylor Mays | FS | 6'3, 230 pounds | USC

6. Dez Bryant | WR | 6'2, 210 pounds | Oklahoma State

7. Bryan Bulaga | OT | 6'6, 304 pounds | Iowa *

8. Jonathan Dwyer | RB | 5'11, 235 pounds | Georgia Tech *

9. Rolando McClain | MLB | 6'4, 248 pounds | Alabama *

10. Sam Bradford | QB | 6'4, 228 pounds | Oklahoma *

* denotes juniors. (note: redshirt sophomores were not included)

Ryan Mathews' biggest run could be straight to the NFL

2009-10-28T17:34:04Z

More photos » by CRAIG KOHLRUSS - AP

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Finally healthy, Fresno State junior running back Ryan Matthews is pondering a jump to the NFL.

Following this season, Bulldogs coach Pat Hill will get advice from NFL evaluators on where his star player could be taken in the draft. If it's inside the first 30 or 40 picks, Hill said he's suggest to Matthews that he turn pro.

"We talked about it, and [Hill] is going to get evaluations on me and if I'm going to go in the top couple rounds, he's going to tell me to go because it's good money," Mathews told the Fresno Bee. "But if not, I'll just play here another year and have fun."

Matthews currently leads the nation in rushing. In seven games, he has rushed for 1,131 yards and nine touchdowns. Against Boise State he had 233 yards rushing and 145 against Cincinnati.

Those games put Matthews on the national spotlight. Here at MTD we currently have Matthews rated as the fifth-best junior running back, but he is rising. What will always be in question about Matthews is his health.

He was banged up a lot as a freshman, but played well when healthy. As a sophomore in 2008, Mathews suffered from nerve damage and played in only eight games.

Dez Bryant to remain suspended; draft entry probable

2009-10-28T02:04:09Z

More photos » by Brody Schmidt - AP

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It won't be until next September when top wide receiver prospect Dez Bryant will be allowed to play college football. Because of that it is highly likely that he'll enter the 2010 NFL Draft. Should he do so, he could be a top 10 pick.

The NCAA ruled today that Bryant, a junior, has to sit out an entire year for being dishonest about a meeting with Deion Sanders.

Oklahoma State is appealing the decision, but at his news conference today Cowboys head coach Mike Gundy seemed deigned to the fact that Bryant wouldn't rejoin the team.

"I think everybody has given up," Gundy said.

On the season, Bryant had 17 catches for 323 yards and four touchdowns in three games. Last season, he caught 87 passes for 1,480 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Far too early to slap Maybin with 'bust' label

2009-10-28T00:06:36Z

Far too early to slap Maybin with 'bust' label

Make sure to check this post out from Brian Galliford of Buffalo Rumblings. He's an excellent blogger and here he gives a detailed look at Maybin compared to other early drafttees.

In my opinion, you can't label a rookie a bust unless they get cut by the team that drafted them. Or if it's Darrius Heyward-Bey.

Site positional rankings updated

2009-10-27T02:42:18Z

More photos » by Carolyn Kaster - AP

Iowa's Pat Angerer, right, celebrates with teammate A.J. Edds against Penn State Sept. 26. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

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At just over the half way point of this year's college football season, I thought it would be a good time to do a quick update on the positional rankings.

Sometime later this week a new top 100 will be put out.

Among the highest risers were Iowa linebackers A.J. Edds and Pat Angerer. They've been the main players behind one of the nation's best defenses.

You'll also notice that Sam Bradford remains the top junior quarterback, even though he's out for the season. For me, there are still questions Jake Locker has to answer to achieve that spot. And, to me, Bradford is just as good or better than Jimmy Clausen in every area (cue the hatred!).

So those are some of the bigger changes. Take a look through the rest and offer plenty of feedback. More importantly, tell me who else I should have included.

QB | RB | WR | TE | OT | G | C | DE | DT | OLB | MLB | CB | FS | SS

Quick NFL Draft links

2009-10-26T11:00:37Z

Central Florida defensive tackle Torrell Troup has been invited to the East-West Shrine Game. Troup is a natural nose tackle.

Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli personally attended Massachusetts practice to observe Vladimir Ducasse. The senior left tackle is getting a lot of NFL attention.

Rutgers junior left tackle Anthony Davis is emerging as a top prospect. Scarlet Knights head coach Greg Schiano knows Davis' draft status is something that will have to be discussed at the end of the season.

Pete Thamel of the New York Times is an outstanding journalist. Make sure to check out his profile of Myron Rolle.

While you're into reading the Times, also see their profile on TCU defensive end Jerry Hughes.

Oklahoma's Sam Bradford opts for surgery; intends to enter 2010 NFL Draft

2009-10-25T21:33:52Z

More photos » by Charlie Riedel - AP

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Oklahoma junior quarterback Sam Bradford announced today that he will have season-ending surgery.

He suffered a sprained right AC joint against Brigham Young and sat out two games. He sat out two games before coming back to help the Sooners beat Baylor. Against Texas on Oct. 17, he reinjured the shoulder.

If his rehabilitation goes as planned, Bradford said he'll enter the 2010 NFL Draft.

Bradford's surgery will be performed by renowned sports surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala.

"I dreamed about coming to Oklahoma my whole life," Bradford said in a release. "That's the reason I came back for this season. And I came back to play, not sit on the bench. That's the reason I tried to play after the injury. I'm very disappointed that it didn't work out differently."

On the season, Bradford had 562 yards passing with two touchdowns. He was completing a career-low 56.5 percent of his passes.

Bradford won the 2008 Heisman Trophy. For his career, Bradford completed 67.6 percent of his passes for 8,403 yards and 88 touchdowns. He started 30 games.

Entering this season, Bradford was the most highly regarded quarterback prospect in the nation. He earned high grades with his, accuracy easy throwing motion and strong enough arm. The belief among talent evaluators is that Bradford needed to get stronger to handle the rigors of NFL football.

While Bradford came into the season a few pounds larger, most starting NFL quarterback weigh 230 pounds or more. Oklahoma lists Bradford at 6-foot-4 and 223 pounds.

Terrence Cody captures the heart of America

2009-10-25T19:40:58Z

More photos » by Dave Martin - AP

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The talk of the college football nation is the play of Alabama defensive tackle Terrence Cody.

Justifiably so. He blocked two kicks, including the game-clincher in the Tide's 12-10 win over Tennessee. Any time someone blocks two field goals in the fourth quarter it's an impressive display.

While it's fine for Tide fans, don't get carried away thinking about Cody as a draft prospect. He's strictly a two-down player and gets taken out of the game on obvious passing downs.

Cody also doesn't seem quite as immovable as everyone thinks. Against South Carolina on Oct. 17 he was pushed around, sometimes even by single blockers. Teams might not run at him, but his gaps can be opened up.

Although you can't judge a player totally by stats, particularly a defensive tackle, Cody hasn't registered a tackle for a loss in more than a month.

There will always be weight and stamina issues with Cody as well. He wore down toward the end of the 2008, so the final five or six games Alabama plays will be critical for Cody.

Between now and April, teams will have to decide whether a player who doesn't play every down is truly worth a first-round pick.

Saturday NFL Draft watch notes

2009-10-24T14:22:20Z

More photos » by Keith Srakocic - AP

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• If your team needs a defensive end, make sure to tune into the South Florida/Pittsburgh game. Pittsburgh's Greg Romeus has great power and speed on the edge. This game will allow him to showcase his gap discipline as USF quarterback B.J. Daniels can get out and move.

For the Bulls, senior George Selvie is seemingly in his ninth year of college. It seems like ages ago that he had 31.5 tackles for loss. But that was in 2007. Since then, Selvie has been solid. He's a 3-4 rush linebacker candidate, but could stick at end. He's been overshadowed this season by junior college transfer Jason Pierre-Paul. He's a physical freak with an 81-inch wingspan. Pittsburgh has a good offensive line so this could be a good test of Bulls' pass rushers.

• Clemson defensive end Ricky Sapp is having the best season of his college career. He has eight tackles for a loss and three sacks, which are decent numbers. But he's showed he can quickly fire off the ball and has deceptive strength. He's a good 3-4 outside linebacker option for teams. Against Miami, he'll have to quickly get around left tackle Jason Fox's good first step. Sapp can cement his draft status today.

• While it seems improbable, Tennessee's Eric Berry could be tested mightily against Alabama. Crimson Tide running back Mark Ingram is a physical, aggressive runner. Berry blew some tackles last week and could use today to show that was a fluke. When Berry isn't hunting down Ingram, he might have to give help coverage against Julio Jones, the talented sophomore wide receiver.

• Although Florida might be without two of its defensive tackles, Mississippi State running back Anthony Dixon can make his case as an early round draft pick today. He's run for 100 yards or more in five-straight weeks and is a powerful runner.

• Another player who could have a big-time game is Syracuse wide receiver Mike Williams. He's been explosive this season, finally healthy after injuries slowed him early in his career. If he doesn't get at least 100 yards receiving against a bad Akron secondary, Williams' play seriously deserves a second look.

• Connecticut senior defensive end Lindsey Witten has been a sensation this season. He has 10 sacks already, but seven came in the first two games. He can show that wasn't an aberration if he does well lining up against West Virginia's Selvish Capers. An above-average right tackle prospect, Capers can get out of the blocks smoothly and may give Witten trouble.

• The draft stock of Idaho guard Mike Iupati has been gaining steam of late. Today the Vandals play Nevada, a team that has potentially three NFL-caliber defensive linemen. The Nevada rush really gets after the quarterback. Iupati will have to be quick and decisive in his blocking. End Kevin Basped shifts inside on third downs and gives a lot of linemen trouble with his length and quickness.

• Lousiana-Monroe defensive end Aaron Morgan is arguably the best player in the Sun Belt conference. He projects as a 3-4 outside linebacker because of his size (6'4, 235 pounds) and speed. Kentucky might be seen as great competition, but SEC talent will be a good test for Morgan.

Pondering Green Bay's A.J. Hawk as a bust

2009-10-23T21:30:57Z

More photos » by Mike Roemer - AP

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The struggles of Green Bay fourth-year linebacker are becoming troublesome.

In Green Bay's last game, Hawk only played on nine snaps. In 125 plays over the last two games, Hawk has only been on the field for 31 snaps.

Hawk's playing time dipped earlier this season when the Packers took him out of their nickel formations. While Hawk towed the company line about his reduced role at first, he's clearly become a frustrated player.

He rarely talks to the media now and immediately left the field following the Detroit game.

"If I was A.J. Hawk, I'd be disappointed I wasn't playing either," Packers coach Mike McCarthy told reporters this week. "Yeah, he hasn't played a whole lot the last two weeks, but I don't really think anything's going on. . . . He just doesn't have a lot of opportunities right now."

When Hawk came out of Ohio State, he was largely viewed as a can't-miss inside linebacker. He had a very good rookie season with 121 tackles, three and a half sacks and two interceptions.

But his play has dropped since then. While injuries can be attributed to his struggles last season, he's healthy this year.

Green Bay's new 3-4 scheme just doesn't suit Hawk's strength of being a straight-ahead run stopper. Hawk is best when a play develops in front of him, not when he has to work through blocks and make plays.

He has trouble flipping his hips and moving laterally and struggles mightily in pass coverage.

Because of where he wad drafted and that he's on pace for the worst season of his career, in a contract year no less, Hawk has to be considered a possible bust.

Not helping his cause is the play of fellow 2006 middle linebackers DeMeco Ryans and D'Qwell Jackson. Each has lead the NFL in tackles while Hawk, picked a whole round higher, is struggling.

Can Hawk still find success in his career? Absolutely. But it just might not be in Green Bay.

This is the first part of a five-part mini-series contemplating big-name players who might be busts.