Mel Kiper's First Mock Draft

[Houligan26]

All I am saying is that he would make life easier for everyone around him especially the lbs. For you to say that his size wouldn't be a big impact in the nfl is kind of crazy. He is 330 lbs and agile, he isn't a fat load like Gabe Watson. In the NFL, a 330 lb d-tackle isn't a dime a dozen. It was also said he needs to improve his technique, anyone we draft needs to do that. All these guys are getting drafted high because they dominated college. Is that a reason not to take a guy??? He is also a mountain that would give smaller qbs fits and he is great at getting his hands up to deflect balls. Which could lead to turnovers and god knows we need them.

[PulpExposure]

For you to say that his size wouldn't be a big impact in the nfl is kind of crazy.

I didn't say that at all. What I said is that big passrushing DTs are non-existant. He's a big DT. Do the math.

He is 330 lbs and agile, he isn't a fat load like Gabe Watson. In the NFL, a 330 lb d-tackle isn't a dime a dozen.

There are quite a few, actually. Running down the NFC alone, you can see these guys are all around that size as DTs: Gabe Watson (Cardinals, as you pointed out), Kris Jenkins (Panthers), Kenderick Allen (Packers), Colin Cole (Packers), Anthony Bryant (Lions), Shaun Rogers (Lions), Jimmy Kennedy (Rams),

You're right in that guys Branch's size aren't exactly common. But they're not rare. But they also don't contribute much (if anything) to the pass rush. Look at it this way. Jimmy Kennedy was the 12th pick in his draft...and in 4 years he has 4 sacks.

Remember Gerard Warren? Coming out of college he was supposed to be what Allen Branch is supposed to be. 3rd pick overall, big guy, agile. In his 6 seasons, he averages 3.5 sacks per year. And plays for a different team than the one that drafted him.

My only point...is that big guys are great at stuffing the run, but they can't rush the passer. Honestly, if we draft this guy, I wouldn't be surprised to see him sitting on the sidelines on passing downs, as you'd probably get more out of Renaldo Wynn playing DT in the passrush than Branch.

Yeah, it might help our run defense (though I think our run defense was getting gashed really badly off tackle...which points more to DE and OLB than DT). Imho, we need a pass-rusher more than a DT. 19 sacks in a year is a great year for a DE, but a historically awful year for a team.
Without a better pass rush, our secondary will continue to be ripped apart by other teams.

But if we draft Branch, I wouldn't exactly be upset. It's not like we're completely set at DT for years to come either.

[Houligan26]

I do see your point but there is one thing that sets Branch apart than these guys. None of them stand at 6'6 and although I can't find a website that shows wingspan, I think Branch would be near the top of the list. I can see where your doubts lie. Most likely he wouldn't have a statistically better year than Adams or Anderson. I am curious to know if you have watched him play a lot or have read about him. I think you would be impressed at how he gets at qbs and closes. His body doesn't look like a fat mess like many of the players mentioned, I think thats what I like about him so much. I went to Michigan so I am definitely bias but I love the guy. He got so much attention he let Lamar Woodley have a monster season which is what I would hope he would do for Carter

[Smithian]

I am pretty sure Jamaal Anderson is 6'6.

Also, for kicks, Jamaal Anderson's recruiting profile; http://arkansas.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=18842

[Houligan26]

[quote="PulpExposure"]

There are quite a few, actually. Running down the NFC alone, you can see these guys are all around that size as DTs: Gabe Watson (Cardinals, as you pointed out), Kris Jenkins (Panthers), Kenderick Allen (Packers), Colin Cole (Packers), Anthony Bryant (Lions), Shaun Rogers (Lions), Jimmy Kennedy (Rams), [/quote]

I was referring to the players mentioned in this quote.

[Smithian]

If Bryant is the guy from Alabama, then I'll say... He is a big boy.

He didn't start his final year at Alabama, believe it or not. He got pushed around a lot when I watched.

Mentioning Shaun Rogers, the Razorbacks played Texas in the Cotton Bowl when they had Shaun Rogers and Corey Hampton in the middle... They were BIG.

It was off tackle all day long.

[brad7686]

Mel's second mock, along with scouts inc. latest mock, has us taking Jamaal Anderson.

[SkinsFreak]

Mel's second mock, along with scouts inc. latest mock, has us taking Jamaal Anderson.

Link?

[brad7686]

FIRST-ROUND PROJECTIONS
(ASTERISK DENOTES UNDERCLASSMAN)


1.



Oakland Raiders



JaMarcus Russell*


QB



LSU

2.



Detroit Lions



Joe Thomas



OT



Wisconsin

3 or 4



Tampa Bay Buccaneers



Calvin Johnson*



WR



Georgia Tech

4 or 3



Cleveland Browns



Adrian Peterson*



RB



Oklahoma

5.



Arizona Cardinals



Gaines Adams



DE



Clemson

6.



Washington Redskins



Jamaal Anderson*



DE



Arkansas

7.



Minnesota Vikings



Ted Ginn Jr.*



WR



Ohio State

8.



Houston Texans



Levi Brown



OT



Penn State

9.



Miami Dolphins



Brady Quinn



QB



Notre Dame

10.



Atlanta Falcons



LaRon Landry



S



LSU

11.



San Francisco 49ers



Alan Branch*



DT



Michigan

12.



Buffalo Bills



Amobi Okoye



DT



Louisville

13.



St. Louis Rams



Charles Johnson*



DE



Georgia

14.



Carolina Panthers



Dwayne Bowe



WR



LSU

15.



Pittsburgh Steelers



Jarvis Moss*



DE



Florida

16.



Green Bay Packers



Marshawn Lynch*



RB



California

17.



Jacksonville Jaguars



Sidney Rice*



WR



South Carolina

18.



Cincinnati Bengals



Leon Hall



CB



Michigan

19.



Tennessee Titans



Dwayne Jarrett*



WR



USC

20.



New York Giants



Lawrence Timmons*



LB



Florida State

21.



Denver Broncos



Adam Carriker



DE



Nebraska

22.



Dallas Cowboys



Reggie Nelson*



DB



Florida

23.



Kansas City Chiefs



Aaron Ross



CB



Texas

24.



New England Patriots (from SEA)



Daymeion Hughes



CB



California

25.



New York Jets



Robert Meachem*



WR



Tennessee

26.



Philadelphia Eagles



Tim Crowder



DE



Texas

27.



New Orleans Saints



Darrelle Revis*



CB



Pittsburgh

28.



New England Patriots



Anthony Gonzalez*



WR



Ohio State

29.



Baltimore Ravens



Anthony Spencer



DE



Purdue

30.



San Diego Chargers



Patrick Willis



LB



Ole Miss

31.



Chicago Bears



Arron Sears



OL



Tennessee

32.



Indianapolis Colts


Justin Harrell


DT

Tennessee

[The Hogster]

check this one out... not bad and with video

http://youtube.com/watch?v=yMoY9XoB0-E