Likely Early Entries

[rafael]

when will the players learn. I'm sure RW realizes that hiring master P was one of the worst business decisions of his life.

That whole quitting thing wasn't a great business decision either.

 

[Ozzy]

I am just curious, but where are the Aaron Brooks comparisons coming from? Brooks does not bring the playmaking ability that Young does. Furthermore, Brooks has marginal speed. If you've seen Brooks try to turn the corner, he has very pedestrian speed. Young, on the other hand, has a real burst, and that is the first thing you think of with Young. I do not see any similarity whatsoever other than the obvious social issue which is amateurish or worse to even be considered. Brooks has a decent arm and has not shown the ability to lead to victory. Young, on the other hand, has been a 60% passer, but his decision-making until this season and overall passing has been somewhat suspect, although not nearly as suspect as some people on this board claim. Young will be a top 10 pick this year. People who know what they are talking about are high on Young. Period.

When I'm looking for a Qb, the first thing I want to think of is, man he is an excellent PASSER, not how he turns a corner, or how much burst he has.

Brooks has more than a decent arm. The only thing that would make one say decent might be his accuracy. But he has a GUN for an arm.

I've seen Young play plenty enough to know that his Wr's have helped his percentage rate immensely. You take a look at some game tape, and you see a lot of them are so wide open that they have time to adjust to the passes Young throws. It makes the placement of the pass look a lot better than it was.

A year ago he was terrible in his decisions, and his throws. It's not a claim, it's a fact.

BUT.........

Young has made leaps and bounds this year, that cannot be denied. But his best bet for becoming a bonafied NFL Qb, is for him to stay at Texas one more year. He may end up riding a bench in the NFL whereas he won't at Texas.

One thing that I like about his passes, is that even if they are off, the passes look to be easy to catch. He throws a nice spiral a lot of the times. He has the potential to become a passer, who happens to have the ability to run. But he needs more time. One year of solid improvements are not enough.

 

[Ozzy]

Keep an eye on Ashton Yobouty from Ohio State. He could find himself into the middle part of the first round with the dearth of cornerbacks in this draft. He's got great size for the position (6'2", 200 lbs), and has great hips in coverage. He can defend the deep part of the field and is a player I feel Nick Saban will have his eyes on. Ashton is one of the more impressive corners I've seen all season.

I would love to see him in a Dolphins uniform. He keeps great speed on his backpedal, and his turns.

Ohio State has an excellent defensive scheme. Their players will be a lot more NFL ready than a lot of top talent from some other schools. I think this will be the case with Yobouty.

Mark my words, that when some Notre Dame offensive lineman that learn from Weiss start coming out, they will be a lot more NFL ready, than some players ranked above them....

 

[Ozzy]

I completely disagree with the wording that Devin Hester is a hugely overrated talent. He is a supreme talent who has never been utilized properly. It's possible he's just not bright enough to grasp a complex offense. That's supposedly what kept him off the field as a freshman when he was still listed as an offensive player. In his brief time on offense he has been an absolute blur to the corner on pitchouts and catches the ball effortlessly in the very rare times Miami has thrown it to him. I think a better staff would have kept him on offense and he'd be a much more polished threat right now. You watch the moves and instincts during returns and they are world class, although this year Hester he has been hurt and not been as decisive, preferring to circle back or allow the defenders to draw toward him instead of exploding with a decisive initial move.

It was a fact that Hester was having trouble with the system. He is not stupid by any means. He's just a very slow learner, and most of all, he was very stubborn with change. He also was having a terrible time catching the ball.

Also I think Hester requested to try defense, and Coker went with it. That was indeed a big mistake. They should have used him primarily at Rb.

 

[Boik14]

OK, here's a look at who is likely to be in and who is likely to stay from a variety of sources.

Reggie Bush and Winston Justice are in. Take that to the bank. Bush will announce after the Rose Bowl and is, barring a trade, likely to be the #1 overall pick to Houston, who feel they can dramatically improve the OL in FA and at the top of R2. The Carroll thing blaming the media was just hype.

WR Steve Smith is also a likely jumper, whereas safety Darnell Bing is 50-50.

LenDale White's relationship with Snoop Dogg makes it difficult to call. White has said that Snoop will be his agent if and when he becomes a pro, and whilst the White family think he'll stay, the influence of Snoop is looming large.

The Vince Young bangwagon changes hourly. There have been a lot of mixed signals. Most associated with Texas thought he'd enter the draft if Texas wins the national title. But it seems that win or lose he may well be out. OT Justin Blaylock may well declare also.

Devin Hester has been promised more of a role on offense. Hester to my mind is a hugely overrated talent. A great returner, but an average corner. Getting him involved in the offense only complicates the picture. He is likely to stay if that is true. Ryan Moore is staying and so almost certainly are Baraka Atkins and Brandon Meriweather

Minnesota TB Laurence Maroney is out for certain. He's a 1st round lock and a great back.

Joe Thomas, the superb Wisconsin T and TB Brian Calhoun are 50-50. Thomas is a 1, so he may well jump. I think personally he'll stay.

Ohio State receiver Santonio Holmes and cornerback Ashton Youboty will enter the draft. So will Oregon DT Haloti Ngata.

At Fresno State high rising C Kyle Young and cornerback Richard Marshall will declare. Both could fall in the 30-50 region. Look for Marcus McCauley to jump as well.

WR Jason Hill of Washington State will also enter the draft. Should Hill run well for the stopwatch prior to April don't be surprised if he slides into the late part of round one. Meanwhile, running back/return specialist Maurice Drew-Jones is about 50-50 right now. Several feel at worst Drew-Jones will be a mid-second round choice in April while some feel he could slide into the late part of round one.

Hawaii guard Samson Satele is also considering entering the draft.

At Florida, Defensive tackle Marcus Thomas, wide receiver Chad Jackson, cornerback Dee Webb, and running back DeShawn Wynn have petitioned the NFL advisory committee.

Look for Brady Quinn and Omar Jacobs to stay.

Thanks Boomer. Just a question though: What are your thoughts on Youboty and where do you see him going? i feel as though with his speed, height and stregnth this kid can be another shawn springs type and is probably the best CB in the draft by a fair margin. I know its early to tell but i have been really impressed by his developement. All he really allows wrs to catch are screens and some hitches and with his speed, he should be deadly when he learns better technique.

 

[Boik14]

Keep an eye on Ashton Yobouty from Ohio State. He could find himself into the middle part of the first round with the dearth of cornerbacks in this draft. He's got great size for the position (6'2", 200 lbs), and has great hips in coverage. He can defend the deep part of the field and is a player I feel Nick Saban will have his eyes on. Ashton is one of the more impressive corners I've seen all season.

thank goodness someone sees what i see when i watch him! With the lack of attention hes been getting i was starting to wonder if i was delusional but now i know that my delusions are only a problem sometimes!

 

[Boomer]

Boomer...Do you think Paul Posluszny LB from Penn Stae will come out early...he just won the Bednarik award for outstanding defensive player. The kid is a tackling machine.

Pete, apparently he's set to stay.

 

[Boomer]

Thanks Boomer. Do you get the sense that Jacobs and Quinn are staying in hopes of raising their stock in their senior year?

Without question. Jacobs has to put a fairly mediocre season behind him and Quinn needs to build on this year and showcase any doubters who think he might be a one year wonder.

 

[Boomer]

i would love to get young in the 2nd...im suprised by marshall leaving....hey boom do you think young may go ahead of eslinger i belive he is the best C in the nation but im also a fresno state homer so just wondering where you rank him.

Whilst he's the best pure OC in the draft, at 280lbs, Eslinger is a system center that will only really work in Atlanta or Denver. With that in mind, you have to take into account how he will fall. Thus Young may well go ahead of Eslinger.

 

[Boomer]

How about SS Jesse Daniels from LSU. Like Landry, he's a Junior, any word if he is coming out.

Haven't heard about either's decision.

 

[Boomer]

Where do you see Young going? Do you think a team will take a chance on him in the early part of the draft, or do you see him there when the Dolphins pick? I know workouts will play a part, but what are your early thoughts?

I also agree with you on Hester. He is an absolut magician in the return game and could be used on both sides of the field, but I don't ever see him starting in the NFL at any position.

If he comes out then I would imagine he'll go in the first 20 picks, probably between 10 and 20 depending on who else QB wise declares and how long teams are prepared to wait for him.

 

[Boomer]

Boomer,
Do you still believe that Young will be a bust in the NFL?
What NFL QB is he most similar too? Aaron Brooks, maybe?

Thanks for the input!!!

I think he's making a stupid mistake if he comes out. He needs to stay and continue to improve as a passer.

 

[Boomer]

Boomer, do you see Vincent Young as a fit for the Phins? I think his athleticism and arm strength could thrive in this offense..I know he may take a year or two to develop. What are your thoughts on Kitna/Young for the Phins future?

Young is certainly a player that Miami are interested in. Kitna is also a veteran that the team could show some interest in. I suppose it depends how the rest of the season plays out and whether Sage gets any other opportunities to showcase his skills. I also get the feeling that people that matter would like to see Cleo Lemon at some stage, just to gauge exactly what they might have.

 

[Boomer]

when will the players learn. I'm sure RW realizes that hiring master P was one of the worst business decisions of his life.

Like CK said, Ricky certainly was as culpable for allowing that to happen. Plus I don't think anyone would subsequently be so foolish as to allow that sort of deal to go down.

 

[Boomer]

I see the fins taking a nice playmaking TE to compliment McMike. Someone with reliable hands to play next to, flexed, or on the other side of Randy. Some I like:

Pope from GA - underclass
Thomas - TX - SR
King - VT - not sure?

-GV

Leonard Pope is a solid mid 1st rounder so I doubt he'll be a player we sign.