Thread: Various draft news and notes

any random stuff that doesn't need its own thread can go here. . .


Mayock: Suh and McCoy are easily draft's top two players
Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on January 22, 2010 8:28 PM ET

Most draft analysts don't inspire confidence, but Mike Mayock of NFL Network has consistently proven to be ahead of the competition. When he bangs his fist on the table for a player, we listen.

On Friday, he said that defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh (Nebraska) and Gerald McCoy (Oklahoma) are the draft's top two prospects. By a lot.

The names aren't surprising, but Mayock's belief in McCoy is noteworthy. He sees Suh and McCoy as equally valuable and doesn't see a quarterback as a candidate for the top pick.

"I think it's a big reach,'' Mayock said. "The logical guy is [Sam] Bradford. I'm not a big [Jimmy] Clausen fan. No way in the world in my mind; that's today, I've still got a lot more work to do on Bradford. Those two players [Suh and McCoy] just dwarf the quarterback issue.''

Mayock's words were transcribed by MLive.com in Detroit, where the Lions hold the second pick. If Mayock is right, Jim Schwartz should be a very happy coach.

Jason Paul-Pierre to be riser this draft season?

CBS' Charley Casserly predicts that USF DE Jason Paul-Pierre will be the "fastest riser" during the pre-NFL Draft process.

Mock drafters take note. Ex-NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah also predicted on Twitter late in the week that Paul-Pierre would be a top-five pick. The consensus All-Big East first-teamer only played one year at the D-I level, but led the Bulls in tackles for loss and sacks. Paul-Pierre has a whopping 81-inch wingspan and can do a back flip in full pads. At 6'6/265, look for him to run a sub-4.6 forty-yard dash at February's Scouting Combine.

Originally Posted by Skinny

Jason Paul-Pierre to be riser this draft season?

CBS' Charley Casserly predicts that USF DE Jason Paul-Pierre will be the "fastest riser" during the pre-NFL Draft process.

Mock drafters take note. Ex-NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah also predicted on Twitter late in the week that Paul-Pierre would be a top-five pick. The consensus All-Big East first-teamer only played one year at the D-I level, but led the Bulls in tackles for loss and sacks. Paul-Pierre has a whopping 81-inch wingspan and can do a back flip in full pads. At 6'6/265, look for him to run a sub-4.6 forty-yard dash at February's Scouting Combine.

I heard thats the guy we are looking real hard at.

If he fell to Denver...and we end up losing Doom...I think it would be a no-brainer to draft him

Originally Posted by CoachChaz

If he fell to Denver...and we end up losing Doom...I think it would be a no-brainer to draft him

Well, what did Mayock say about Ayers last season?

Originally Posted by SOCALORADO.

Well, what did Mayock say about Ayers last season?

Mayock said in two or three years Ayers may turn out to be this draft's best defensive player.

Again, that's in two or three years.

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I like Ayers, but regardless of what he turns into...I wouldnt mind having another one on the other side.

I'm not a fan of Ayers at all. I think what's the most disappointing thing of him for myself is there are plays he just doesn't work very hard.

I long for the days when Denver can actually use the draft to improve the team, as opposed to filling significant holes they lose after the season due to players not meching with the team or whatever reason.

One of the biggest problems Denver seems to have is lack of stability. At some point "building something" needs to be an improved work of progress.

Looks like Jonathan Crompton has drawed some attention at the Texas vs. The Nation Challenge in El Paso, Texas this week. Game is this coming Saturday.

While the Dow falls, Crompton's stock rises

Before and after every practice, Crompton is quickly whisked away from the padded group of all-stars on the Sun Bowl turf to spend time with several National Football League general managers, pro scouts and draft insiders.

"Very good quarterback," said Joel Turner, Crompton's agent. "That's what the majority of NFL teams are saying about him. I was told by one NFL team's director of player personnel that 90 percent of the teams have come here for one reason, Jonathan Crompton. A lot of the teams like him, but about a dozen teams really love him."

The Crompton Camp has already met with the Dallas Cowboys, Seattle Seahawks, Arizona Cardinals, New England Patriots, Tennessee Titans, Carolina Panthers, Washington Redskins, Denver Broncos, St. Louis Rams, New Orleans Saints, Kansas City Chiefs, Pittsburgh Steelers and several other teams, including the Jacksonville Jaguars, who sent its entire scouting staff along with its general manager to watch the former Vols' QB.

Originally Posted by topscribe

Mayock said in two or three years Ayers may turn out to be this draft's best defensive player.

Again, that's in two or three years.

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He also said "may".

Originally Posted by Skinny

Looks like Jonathan Crompton has drawed some attention at the Texas vs. The Nation Challenge in El Paso, Texas this week. Game is this coming Saturday.

really? i haven't watched tennessee since early in the year-- when'd he turn into a good QB?


smiley, report!

Originally Posted by dogfish

really? i haven't watched tennessee since early in the year-- when'd he turn into a good QB?


smiley, report!

he played really well this season . . but i cant recall but for what i remember a lot of his stats came from far lesser opponents this year

Originally Posted by BaileyTheBest

He also said "may".

Right. The poster asked what Mayock said about Ayers, and I responded with what Mayock said about Ayers . . .

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Brandon Spikes Quietly Prepares for NFL Draft

By Jeremy Fowler
Orlando Sentinel
February 6, 2010

GAINESVILLE — While Tim Tebow monopolizes the NFL draft headlines, the other star Florida Gator who returned for a senior season last year now quietly prepares for the pros.

That's what Brandon Spikes does best — stay quiet. Spikes hardly conducted interviews during his senior season at Florida, and his recent play didn't exactly electrify college football.

Spikes had his worst season in 2009. He missed two games to a groin injury, one to a suspension for an eye-gouging incident against Georgia and finished with a pedestrian 52 tackles while fighting through heel tendinitis. Teammate Ryan Stamper outplayed him at linebacker.

Still, the Gators defensive captain says he has no regrets as he looks toward his "dream" of playing in the NFL. Spikes is expected to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis from Feb. 24 to March 2.

"I'm anxious to get started," said Spikes, one of 10 Gators expected to appear in Indianapolis. "Hopefully, I can go to the league and grab it by the neck."

Since his sophomore year in 2007, Spikes earned a reputation as a menacing defensive presence that placed fear in the eyes of running backs. At 6-foot-3, 258 pounds with dreads spilling out of his helmet, Spikes is a great open-field tackler while serving as the team's vocal leader.

Those attributes will serve him well at the next level, but he faces challenges that didn't exist at Florida, where his talent could take over.

Spikes must prove he has the closing speed to play on Sundays.

"How he runs at the combine is very important to him," said Rob Rang, director of NFLdraftscout.com. "He has the build, the makeup, the ferocity to be a consistent linebacker in the league, but he doesn't look fast on film. If he stays in shape and runs a respectable 40 time, that can go a long way."

Spikes' legacy at UF transcends draft positioning. With Spikes in the middle the last two years, the Gators went 26-2 and came one ugly Southeastern Conference championship game from a chance at back-to-back national titles.

His production dipped drastically each year — from 131 tackles in 2007 more than 30 tackles less in each of his next two years — but he was always there to make the big play for Florida. Four of Spikes' six career interceptions went for touchdowns.

Next year's Gators must regroup without Spikes, Tebow, Stamper, receiver Riley Cooper and five early NFL draft entrants.

Spikes says he's eager to see how Florida develops

"Those younger players know what we started and the legacy we have here," Spikes said. "They just want to keep it going. I say it all the time to my younger group, the linebacker corps, those guys are talented. The sky's the limit for those guys. If they continue to work and buy into the program, they'll have the same success."

spikes will be a beast inside in the 3-4. . . love to see him run a bad 40 and drop. . . .