Stacking the Board -- 2nd Update

(Player name): Desirable but will probably be gone. (FA) listed are gone. Player name: this is a player that I really like. Position titles spring from the "state of the art" discussions in previous articles. "Value @ the spot" is some consensus from various draft gurus. I don�t always agree and (DND) which is "do not draft" will indicate that. "Stretch" is also a consensus from various sources.

First Round: With the Hartings signing, OL are off the board for this round.

To me, the choice is easy if any of those five men are on the board. If not, Hampton leaps up both because of his size/position and, like Morgan, his leadership. Hampton could be had in the 20�s overall; this argues for the Stillers to move down.

Middlebrooks, at 6�-2" and 4.38, seems to be a prototype CB; in 1999, Willie was all Big Ten. However, he is very inexperienced; picking him here would be a projection. Clements ran 4.28 in Columbus; this solidifies him in the 1^st round. However, like Allen, Clements is very raw; with Middlebrooks, these 3 CB are values based on ability but not production. Smoot had a fine Senior Bowl, is a good cover corner but doesn�t have much size. Fletcher turned out to be a dwarf.

Like Seymour, Stroud is another enigma. After an indifferent senior season, he dominated 3 Wolverine O-linemen at the Senior Bowl. To me, that is tantamount to, say, Haggans dominating the 2^nd half of any exhibition game last summer. Stroud is huge and said to be very strong but did only 21 reps at the Combine; Chris Combs, who is considered weak, did 22 last year. At 6�-6", Stroud may be too tall to be a NT but lacks the speed and lateral agility to play outside. He sounds like Jeremy Staat to me; this man has enormous bust potential and, as of now, joins Lewis on my DND list.

Willie Howard is considered a 4-3 �tweener but is described as, potentially, a quality 3-4 DE. I�d prefer to phase out the 3-4 but it is fair to say that, like Hampton and Morgan, Howard was a high try, leadership guy during his college career. Howard lists at 6�-4", 295# and has been credited with a 4.78 in the 40. Didn�t fare especially well in post-season games where Hampton and Stroud starred; no way is he a mid-first and may not be worth a mid- second.

Consider the following matrix for evaluating players. I�m going to give a few examples; you can do the rest. Eye test refers to "state of the art." Football character refers to leadership, toughness, or team orientation as opposed to gentler, civilian virtues. "Where taken" refers to value/position/round as described in my Pro Bowl Analysis previous. "Work out confirmation" suggests that the proper use of Combine or campus activities is to confirm that players have the ability to play in the NFL; it follows that these should not be used to project that any Scott Shields type player will, in fact, succeed.

Second Round: Same as the first, Hartings cancels Raiola.

There aren�t a lot of elite prospects in this draft but there is good depth. Regardless of position, the players available at 16 overall (with the 5 exceptions noted) will be only marginally better prospects than those available at 50. As with the discussion pertaining to Hampton, this suggests that the Stillers move down, if possible.

There are a large number of DB and LB who would be values at this spot. While there is depth on the DL, the premium that position commands (Ref: Pro Bowl article) suggests that, if the Stillers are going to draft a run stuffer, they�d better go earlier. Right now, at least 8 teams picking between #16 and #50 would have interest in such a player. They are: Indy, St. Louis (twice their 1st and KC�s 2^nd round picks), Cleveland, Arizona (assuming Justin Smith in the 1^st), Cincinnati, Dallas, Seattle and the Jets. Not all teams will go that way but some will. Warren will be gone before the Stillers ever draft. As things stand, Hampton will be gone before their second chance arrives. While there is depth at DT, that isn�t infinite.

There is a concentration of value at LB. The measurables given here are from the Combine including (bench, 40, cone). Seasonal stats are (tackles, TFL, sacks, Int).

Kendrell Bell went 6�-1", 234# and did (24, 4.65,4.5). His Combine figures closely match those of Mark Simoneau and Corey Moore from �00 except that his cone was slower. Both of those players were 3^rd round selections and did play well in various duties. Bell�s stats were (85,5,2,0). Bell is an aggressive read and react LB who did display leadership and a good approach. He lacks experience in coverage.

Sedrick Hodge went 6�-3+, 244# and did (21, 4.46, and 4.09). Hodge was the fastest LB at the Combine at 10, 20 and 40 yards. His measurables approach Keith Bullock�s numbers from �00; Bullock was a 1^st round pick by the Titans and is a "speed freak" LB. Hodge�s stats were (82,6,7,0). Hodge is not a finished product; he lacks strength at the point of attack and generally is better in space than, say, over the TE. However, he has all the skills; he is fast and fluid, he will be able to cover. A highly aggressive player who wants to get better; Hodge would be my selection here, if available.

Torrance Marshall went 6�-0", 249. He didn�t participate in the Combine workout but is reported to have done a sub 4.5 40. Good stats for the champion Sooners (87,11,5,0). I like him a little better than Bell but not as much as Hodge.

Caver showed up at 6�-4", 227# and did (23, 4.65, 4.21). His stats were (91,10,2,1). Reportedly, this man had some difficulty locating the ball in post-season games. That�s a problem for a LB. Caver projects well but I don�t like him. Karon Riley came to the Combine at 6�-2", 264# didn�t bench but ran as well as Jamal Reynolds. Riley�s stock went up but, like Reynolds, I see him as an OLB or rush specialist.

Eric Westmoreland is Dexter Coakley in Volunteer drag. Small, 5�-11 �", 236# but did (21, 4.63,4.21). Aggressive and can play over the TE, at least in college. Locates the ball and reacts well but is a poor pass rusher. Good approach, good leadership, a very tenacious player who impressed at the Senior Bowl. While his measurables and production as similar to Bell and Marshall, he is ranked lower. Westmoreland would be an outstanding 3^rd round selection.

Turning to the run-stuffers, Shaun Rogers came to the Combine in a wheelchair and is no longer considered a 1^st round prospect. This man has a Sam Adams physique and, like Adams, a reputation for laziness. Suffered a high ankle sprain, or so it is said. Rogers looks like a premium DT; the Stillers should get UPMC on his case immediately. Blades is moving up much as Steve Warren did last year but probably will settle back into the 3rd. Fatafehi, while productive in college, came to the Combine at 295# (advertised as 310#) and ran slow. Darren Howard and Simoneau, both �00 K-State products, played better than they projected last year but, as of now the Fat-Man is out of my 2^nd round selection list. I really like Mario Monds, but not at #50 overall.

I like Archuleta for reasons given in earlier articles but the Stillers have needs beyond Safety. DT/DE Jenkins measured at 6�-5", 316# and did (33, 5.14, 4.41). He had decent speed at 10 and 20 yards but fell off the pace. His cone test was #2 for DL and his bench was also #2. Played well at the Senior Bowl but remains a projection here. DeLawrence Grant is also a projection; his workouts now match Justin Smith�s but his career did not. This man is highly irrelevant unless the Stillers go 4-3. Willie Howard is the anti-Grant; he would become irrelevant if the Stillers went 4-3.

Outlook: Here are a couple options, roughly ordered.

Morgan and Rogers or Jenkins: Top LB, various questions at DL.

Morgan and Archuleta: Great leadership and athleticism but addresses neither DL nor CB.

Seymour and Rogers or Jenkins: DL goes from weak to, potentially, awesome. However, there are questions with all of these players.

Seymour and Hodge: Could be superb but not in 2001.

Hampton and Rogers or Jenkins: As dual DL above except there are no questions with Hampton. Lower ceiling than Seymour though.

Hampton and Hodge: One jumbo DT and one swift, aggressive LB. The Stillers could do worse, and have.

Hampton, Hodge and Archuleta or Middlebrooks. There is bulk, speed and leadership.

Summary: There are 5 D-side players who combine state of the art physical traits with great football character. They are Justin Smith, Casey Hampton, Dan Morgan, Sedrick Hodge and Alan Archuleta. The Stillers have a reasonable shot at two; with some effort they may get three.

Second Day: there will be some first day prospects sliding into the 4^th round though, perhaps, not all the way down to the Stillers. There should be value in the interior OL and with run-stuffing MLB. There will be speed to help ST all day.