Josh Norris's big board 5.0

[xXwarXx]

http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/cfb/61314/325/draft-rankings-big-board-50

I've always liked Norris because he doesn't try to follow the trends or whats popular.

Some ranks where players aren't where you might expect them.

6. Baylor WR Corey Coleman

Where He Wins: Functional athleticism helped Coleman win both “small” and “big” while at Baylor, and the latter is difficult to find with a 5’11/194 lbs receiver. Coleman will win contested catches, elevating over corners or adjusting with body control to haul in targets. Add that on top of vertical speed, quickness in and out of breaks and yards after catch ability, and Coleman has the tools to be an all-around receiver.

7. Ole Miss WR Laquon Treadwell

Where He Wins: Obviously I would not argue with anyone who ranks Treadwell as the top receiver. I love both prospects. Treadwell displayed his physical dominance in college both before and after the catch. Treadwell fits the template for a focal point of an offense at 6’2/221 lbs. His game did not slow down in 2015 after returning from a horrific leg injury. Treadwell can win at every level of the field with position and agility for someone of his size. He is used to catching erratic targets away from his body. Treadwell is the type of possession receiver teams should want.

8. Louisville DL Sheldon Rankins

Where He Wins: A true interior disruptor. Rankins was asked to play next to the center, guard and outside of the tackle this year. He’s at his best getting upfield off the snap with explosion and agility, then uses a variety of moves to win one on one. He’s quite strong for a compact defensive tackle. Disruptors like Rankins can be difficult to find in any class. Rankins was on the field for 79.4% of the school’s snaps.

9. Notre Dame T Ronnie Stanley

Where He Wins: Many will question Stanley’s strength and/or power. By this I think they mean anchor versus power. I believe Stanley combination of length, frame, footwork and athleticism is enough of a combination to get by with possibly adequate strength. I’ve seen him display an aggressive temperament on multiple occasions.

10. Baylor DL Andrew Billings

Where He Wins: Billings might be labeled as a nose tackle by some, but he is so much more. I expect Billings to play multiple gaps and alignments, similar to Star Lotulelei early on with the Panthers. Billings can will at the line of scrimmage and also behind it. He is nimble for a big man with athleticism to gain initial ground and power to press his opponent backwards. An injury slowed down Billings for a few games. He was on the field for 77.9% of the school’s defensive snaps this season.

11. Oregon DL DeForest Buckner

Where He Wins: Butler moves differently than most interior defensive linemen. He can be slippery on counter moves or off the snap, even at 6’4/325 lbs. Butler has displayed the ability to win through his opponent and around them. Don’t go too far with this comparison, but Butler can win in the same ways as Mo Wilkerson. A “leap of faith” candidate due to poor athletic testing, although it was improved at the school’s pro day.

13. Florida CB Vernon Hargreaves III

Where He Wins: 2014 was far better for Hargreaves than 2015. Still, I don’t think talent just disappeared. The corner can be aggressive at the catch point, closing on receivers after the catch when in off coverage and when playing the run. He allowed separation on deep routes this season. When he’s on, Hargreaves plays with intensity and fights for positioning to beat receivers to their point. A ridiculous athlete.

14. TCU WR Josh Doctson

Where He Wins: Doctson produced so many highlight reel, acrobatic catches in the end zone and along the sideline. He can get open when working back towards the quarterback after winning vertical, resulting in easy separation. A better route runner than I think many expect, specifically with minimizing wasted movement. A very good athlete.

15. Ohio State WR Michael Thomas

Where He Wins: On the Michael Crabtree - Demaryius Thomas spectrum. He can take short passes and surprises with acceleration and balance to pick up yards after the catch. A large portion of Thomas’ catches were made within ten yards of the line of scrimmage, but he can also win vertically and adjusts to the football while it is in the air.

16. Eastern Kentucky EDGE Noah Spence

Where He Wins: The former Ohio State Buckeye is an outstanding talent. Most pass rushers win one way, either with speed or power. Spence has the potential to win in both areas. A lot will be made about Spence’s past and “character concerns,” but what if they aren’t concerns any longer?

17. Clemson EDGE Shaq Lawson

Where He Wins: Shaq Lawson shows a variety of moves to win versus his opponents, displaying intent and awareness as a pass rusher. Lawson will take advantage of linemen who overextend and win around the edge. Then he can win inside after tackles compensate on the edge. He even displayed a successful spin move. He is just as successful against the run as he is rushing the passer.

67. Michigan State QB Connor Cook
68. Oregon QB Vernon Adams
69. Florida S Keanu Neal
70. Boise State S Darian Thompson
71. Ohio State CB Eli Apple
72. Michigan OL Graham Glasgow
73. Boise State OL Rees Odhiambo
74. Boise State EDGE Kamalei Correa
75. WKU TE Tyler Higbee
76. BYU DL Bronson Kaufusi
77. Georgia EDGE Jordan Jenkins
78. Missouri LB Kentrell Brothers
79. Ohio State LB Joshua Perry
80. Oklahoma State EDGE Emmanuel Ogbah
81. UCLA RB Paul Perkins
82. Colorado State WR Rashard Higgins
83. Boston College S Justin Simmons
84. Notre Dame OL Nick Martin
85. Washington State OL Joe Dahl
86. Ohio State TE Nick Vannett
87. Clemson DL D.J. Reader
88. Auburn CB Jonathan Jones
89. Alabama CB Cyrus Jones
90. Clemson WR Charone Peake

 

[BobDole]

Yikes on a bunch of those. If ogbah ends up being the 80th best player drafted this year I'll eat my armpit hair

 

[Gonzo]

Yikes on a bunch of those. If ogbah ends up being the 80th best player drafted this year I'll eat my armpit hair

But you do that anyways?

 

[BobDole]

But you do that anyways?

i only floss with it. any hair that is ingested is purely coincidental

 

[Brazzi]

I dont believe there should be a single OL or DT in top 50. They just dont impact the game enough to be selected in the first round and a half.

 

[BobDole]

I dont believe there should be a single OL or DT in top 50. They just dont impact the game enough to be selected in the first round and a half.

how many posts like these before you reach enlightenment troll level?

 

[xXwarXx]

Yikes on a bunch of those. If ogbah ends up being the 80th best player drafted this year I'll eat my armpit hair

Well its not so much where they'll get drafted as much as where he ranks them as players.But yeah, Norris definitely makes a big jump from the trends that everyone else follows.

The truth is most of these guys are all full of ****, and that is why there boards are all so similar, there all just copying each other.All these draft "experts" watching tape on hundreds of players, and there boards all look the same, something isn't right there.

That's why I like Norris, he's actually putting in the film work, not letting other peoples opinions or ranks effect his own.

 

[BobDole]

Well its not so much where they'll get drafted as much as where he ranks them as players.But yeah, Norris definitely makes a big jump from the trends that everyone else follows. The truth is most of these guys are all full of ****, and that is why there boards are all so similar, there all just copying each other.All these draft "experts" watching tape on hundreds of players, and there boards all look the same, something isn't right there. That's why I like Norris, he's actually putting in the film work, not letting other peoples opinions or ranks effect his own.

that's why i said the 80th best player and not the 80th player drafted

agreed that most of the so called draftniks just copy each other and don't really offer anything - mcshay being the most egregious and worthless offender - but some of these guys get too cute just to stick out from the pack. i'm not saying this guy always does it but that board is all over the damn place. at least he's a 'free thinker' i suppose

 

[Brazzi]

how many posts like these before you reach enlightenment troll level?

Where is the impact?

The best dts and ol have the equivalent impact on the game of the worst rbs, wrs, cbs, lbs, edges selected in top 50.

 

[j-off-her-doll]

Some solid slots, some dicey ones. Like that he's high on Sean Davis, and I've had Eric Rowe as Davis' comp. Conklin is way too low, and Spence and Lawson are way too high. So is Coleman.

I like Norris' premise: how he wins. But, I find his rankings completely erratic. Ogbah is one of the better prospects in this draft - maybe top-10, easily top-15.

 

[xXwarXx]

Some solid slots, some dicey ones. Like that he's high on Sean Davis, and I've had Eric Rowe as Davis' comp. Conklin is way too low, and Spence and Lawson are way too high. So is Coleman.

I like Norris' premise: how he wins. But, I find his rankings completely erratic. Ogbah is one of the better prospects in this draft - maybe top-10, easily top-15.

Yeah there's a lot rankings here I wish he would further explain.

Vernon Adams ranked 68?
Apple at 71?

He use to explain his ranks on twitter to anyone who asked questions, but I don't even think he bothers anymore.

 

[j-off-her-doll]

Yeah there's a lot rankings here I wish he would further explain.

Vernon Adams ranked 68?
Apple at 71?

He use to explain his ranks on twitter to anyone who asked questions, but I don't even think he bothers anymore.

Lol didn't even notice Adams. Dude's a UDFA and will have a hard time making a team.

 

[SF Dolphin Fan]

Amazing how low Apple, Neal and Ogbah are ranked. Nice to see another view, though. These rankings do tend to be too much copy cat.

I will say that Apple is the most likely pick at #13 for Miami right now. I do like his upside, but I'd rank him closer to the end or R1 or start of R2.

 

[Awsi Dooger]

Apple and Ogbah immediately jumped out at me. Those positions do have more bust potential than most so I don't mind the wild ratings, even if I don't agree on specific players.

It's boring when every analyst seems fixated on other rankings and makes obvious adjustments based on what he hears. These days I don't follow closely but when I did decades ago I'd stick to my own impression. It led to lots of chaos and listener phone calls on that Stardust Line radio show. I remember when plenty of fellow USC alums attacked me on the air for laughing at Todd Marinovich's arm strength.

Stanley is always assigned ultra high athletic ability. That may be, but it pales in comparison to Tunsil. That was one of the startling aspects of the combine to me, how lopsided it was in raw athletic ability in the one-on-one drill with Tunsil against Stanley. Tunsil was tall and effortlessly gliding side to side while mirroring Stanley, who was hunched and all but huffing and puffing while trying to figure out what to do.

 

[xXwarXx]

Lol didn't even notice Adams. Dude's a UDFA and will have a hard time making a team.

Yeah, I've never seen all these "draft experts" try to like a player as much as they claim to love Adams. They want him to be Russell Wilson so bad.

Amazing how low Apple, Neal and Ogbah are ranked. Nice to see another view, though. These rankings do tend to be too much copy cat.

I will say that Apple is the most likely pick at #13 for Miami right now. I do like his upside, but I'd rank him closer to the end or R1 or start of R2.

Ya the difference in talent between 13 And the end of round 1 is non existent.