Author Archives: NFL Draft News Feed

NFL Draft Countdown | No.5 Jarvis Jones

Pros: Talk about exploding onto the scene, that’s exactly what Jones did as one of the premier pass-rushers in the country. The defensive team captain has racked up numerous accolades during his course of destruction through the SEC. He came to the Bulldogs as an inside linebacker and was converted to the outside in defensive coordinator Todd Grantham’s 3-4 defense, adding versatility to his game.

Cons: Still developing as a pass-rusher, Jones skillset remains raw and he will need to enhance his arsenal for beating opponents on the outside edge. Once he puts it all together, its scary what he can become.

Medical Report: He suffered a sprained neck during his freshman season at USC, which nearly ended his career.

Quote of Note: “Disruptive edge rusher, sure tackler, defensive leader. The perfect combination, the prototypical 3-4 outside linebacker. A top five [overall]

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NFL Draft Countdown | No.4 Sammy Watkins

Pros: Impressive. In one word, that is Sammy Watkins. He had one of the more memorable freshman seasons for a wide receiver (82/1219/12) in recent memory, becoming just the third ever true freshman to earn First Team All American honors (Herschel Walker, Adrian Peterson). Separation. Whether it is running routes or after the catch, Watkins has the ability to get open coming out of breaks and take it the distance once the ball is in his hands. His game speed has another gear that is unordinary, which also makes him a dangerous return man—Watkins loves to return kicks as well as punts.

Cons: There are not many weaknesses in Watkins’ game on the field. Getting stronger will come with time and Watkins said he has worked on improving his lower leg strength. Like most wide outs, blocking can improve. Off the field, he was

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NFL Draft Countdown | No.3 Tyler Bray

Pros: As a freshman, Bray took over the starting job from Matt Simms and showed immediate star ability. The California native has progressed steadily on picking up on defensive reads and improving his accuracy—has a strong enough arm to make all the throws. Bray places good touch on his pass attempts, he knows when to zip it and when to float it.

Cons: Despite his vast improvement, Bray still needs to be more consistent with his decision-making. While Bray has great height (6’6), his frame appears fragile and one has to wonder whether he can sustain the impact of NFL caliber hits over time. He could stand to fill out his frame and improve his mobility in the pocket.

Medical Report: A broken right thumb held him out of action the remainder five weeks of the season in 2011.

Quote

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NFL Draft Countdown | No.2 Jadeveon Clowney

Pros: An immediate impact starter as a freshman at the SEC level, Clowney has the most impressive combination of athleticism and explosion of any defensive lineman in college football. His burst off the ball snap is where the battle begins for opposing linemen, who then have to deal with his size, strength and speed. The South Carolina native can play inside and out but has rare pass-rush qualities that could translate into being an elite defensive end at the next level.

Cons: Coaches have criticized Clowney for not practicing hard enough at all times. Ironically, he seems to come up with big plays during critical moments, which is something he’s ben doing since high school—Clowney logged a remarkable 52 ½ sacks during his final two seasons. However, his conditioning has come into question since his arrival at South Carolina. He admitted that the playbook

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NFL Unrestricted & Restricted FA Signings

NFL UNRESTRICTED & RESTRICTED FREE-AGENT SIGNINGS

(Based on official notification to NFL office as of 5/16/12)

1)     139 UNRESTRICTED free agents signed with a NEW team:

TEAM

PLAYER

FORMER TEAM

DATE REPORTED

Arizona Cardinals

DB William Gay

Pittsburgh

3/30/12

DB James Sanders

Atlanta

4/9/12

G Adam Snyder

San Francisco

3/15/12

Baltimore Ravens

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NFL Draft Countdown | No.1 Matt Barkley

Scouting Report: A four-year starter who has improved his accuracy immensely each season, Barkley brings leadership intangibles and intelligence. The California native has displayed impressive maturity during his development and possesses all the physical tools that NFL teams look for in a franchise quarterback. His experience running a pro style offense makes him an ideal fit for a West Coast style of offense at the next level. Barkley said he intends to practice refining his footwork and throwing mechanics and becoming “a coach on the field.” Another area he will need to tame is his tendency to force bad thrown balls. Some NFL scouts have questioned his accuracy on the deep ball. Regardless, Barkley will be in contention for the number one overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft.

Medical Report: Needed surgery on his throwing wrist to help with stiffness and inflammation prior

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Scout Nation: SEC | NFL Draft 6-Year Analysis

There have been 19 players total selected from the SEC in the first round of the NFL Draft over the past two years. The SEC dominated the first round of the 2012 draft with eight of the first 20 selections (40%). Here’s a look at first round draft picks from the SEC for the past six seasons.

2012 1st Round Picks
No.3-Trent Richardson, RB, Alabama (Browns)
No.6-Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU (Cowboys)
No.7-Mark Barron, SS, Alabama (Buccaneers)
No.10-Stephon Gilmore, CB, South Carolina (Bills)
No.12-Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State, (Eagles)
No.14-Michael Brockers, DT, LSU (Rams)
No.17-Dre Kirkpatrick, CB, Alabama (Bengals)
No.18-Melvin Ingram, OLB, South Carolina (Chargers)
No.25-Don’t’a Hightower, LB, Alabama (Patriots)
Number of Picks: 9 Average Draft Position: 12.4

2011 1st Round Picks
No.1-Cam Newton, QB, Auburn (Panthers)
No.3-Marcell Dareus, DT, Alabama (Bills)
No.4-AJ Green, WR, Georgia (Bengals)
No.5-Patrick Peterson, CB, LSU

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New All-Star Game Resurfaces In Montgomery

City administrators and civic leaders gathered on Thursday afternoon at the city’s new multipurpose facility to announce plans for a new college all-star football game to be played at Cramton Bowl next January.

Game officials predicted the game would be a financial success, although a title sponsor is still in the works. The game has a one-year deal with a television network and will invite some of the nation’s top collegiate athletes to the Capital City in January.

Sound familiar?

Nine years removed from the last Blue-Gray All-Star Classic that ran on the same model, organizers unveiled an unnamed “College Football All-Star Game” that will be played in Cramton Bowl on Jan. 19, 2013, at 2 p.m., and will be aired nationally on CBS.

“We’re going to take it a year at a time,” said Johnny Williams, the game’s executive director and a former

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2013 NFL Mock Draft

1.    Arizona Cardinals: QB Matt Barkley, USC – Little sunshine in the desert this season as Arizona finds out there isn’t a starting quality signal-caller on the roster, problem solved with Barkley.

2.    Cleveland Browns: WR Robert Woods, USC – With teams keying on Trent Richardson and no weapons at wide out, Cleveland is forced to select best receiver on the board.

3.    Jacksonville Jaguars: QB Tyler Bray, Tennessee – The Blaine Gabbert experiment ends after just two seasons, new rookie salary structure makes this move possible.

4.    St Louis Rams: CB David Amerson, North Carolina State – Rare one-on-one coverage abilities makes this Wolfpack ball-hawk too enticing to pass up.

5.    Indianapolis Colts: OLB Jarvis Jones, Georgia – After overloading on the offensive side of the ball, Colts begin to re-build the defense with young pass-rusher.

6.  

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NFL Draft Watch: Michael Dyer Not Eligible

New Arkansas State Head Coach Gus Malzahn stated that running back prospect Michael Dyer is unlikely to play in 2012 after transferring from Auburn.

The 5’9, 210-pound back broke Bo Jackson’s freshman rushing record and tallied 2,335 yards during his first two seasons for the Tigers.

While he is considered a first round talent, Dyer projects as a mid-round draft pick due to his off the field concerns. He is eligible for the 2013 NFL Draft but is expected to remain at ASU, according to Malzahn.

Auburn Head Coach Gene Chizik suspended Dyer at the end of 2011. He transferred to ASU after Malzahn was hired. There is no timetable for a decision to be made.

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