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Mel Kiper Re-Grades Redskins 2011 Draft


The draft class was everything that it needed to be at the time, and it worked out tremendously for an injury-ridden Redskins team. But it was not a “sexy” draft according to experts. Because the Redskins took so many players, they had a chance to find some gems; but because they took nine players after the third round, there was a chance few would pan out.
Football draft guru and ESPN analyst Mel Kiper gave the Redskins a post-draft grade of a C+, equivalent to passing mediocrity. Eight and a-half months later, he’s begging your pardon (Via ESPN Insider and friend Kevin Ewoldt of Hogs Haven):


Post-draft grade: C+

Summary: This felt like a novelty — a Redskins draft with a ton of picks. The story of this draft was the fact that Washington didn’t see a quarterback it wanted. Given the returns in the range in which the Redskins would have picked, it looks like a good calculation, at least in the short term. Only moving way down the board and ending up with Dalton could have looked better. Instead, the Redskins traded down, got Ryan Kerrigan at No. 16 and really aced the pick. Kerrigan picked up 7.5 sacks and played exactly as his draft projection had him pegged. Round 2 pick Jarvis Jenkins never saw the field because of injury, but both running back picks, Roy Helu and Evan Royster, played well when given the time, and I still thinkLeonard Hankerson has a chance to develop. Maurice Hurt looks like a seventh-round keeper. Having a lot of picks can help; it certainly helped this grade rise over the course of the season.

New grade: B

This modest improvement seems to be based on the performance of the rookie draft class, which suited up 11-of-12 picks at some point during the season (defensive end Jarvis Jenkins ended the year on injured reserve in the preseason). Given that every single rookie cycled through the active roster in the first season, there’s reason to believe that this draft will be viewed as a historic one for this franchise.
But is analyzing a draft class after their rookie season a bit premature? You betcha. There’s still no way of knowing what the ceiling is on this group, but it’s nice to see that the respect and expectations have gone up.

Sorry... I've never been a fan of Kiper... and could care less what his opinion is.

Countertrey wrote:Sorry... I've never been a fan of Kiper... and could care less what his opinion is.

Changing Draft grades after one season... what is that anyway?

He can't simply be saying he was wrong... we already knew that

Give me Mike Mayock and I'll read it.

Countertrey wrote:Sorry... I've never been a fan of Kiper... and could care less what his opinion is.

Every time I read his opinions, like this, it reinforces your view. First of all, no duh, a C+ was ridiculous. I also don't like how he grades based on what teams get instead of what they did with what they had. Is Kerrigan Cam? No. But how is it fair to just compare them like that? And that's what he constantly does.

"Who in the hell is Mel Kiper, anyway? I mean, here's a guy who criticizes everybody, whoever they take. In my knowledge of him, he's never even put on a jockstrap, he's never been a player, he's never been a coach, he's never been a scout, he's never been an administrator, and all of a sudden, he's an expert. Mel Kiper has no more credentials to do what he's doing than my neighbor, and my neighbor's a postman and he doesn't even have season tickets to the NFL."
-- Bill Tobin

I'm no Kiper fan either, but thanks for posting. These grades they give immediately after the draft are stupid. Grading the draft after the rookies have had a chance to play makes a lot more sense. Nice to see Shanahan/Allen getting some credit for making the most out of last year's draft!

riggofan wrote:I'm no Kiper fan either, but thanks for posting. These grades they give immediately after the draft are stupid. Grading the draft after the rookies have had a chance to play makes a lot more sense. Nice to see Shanahan/Allen getting some credit for making the most out of last year's draft!

It takes at least 3 years to have a meaningful rating. One or more guys we think seemed to be nice depth pickups will probably be cut before the season. Remember Horton's rookie year, which was sweet, and what followed, which wasn't? Our #2 was Jenkins and you can't even rate that yet. Yeah, one year is better then draft day. But it's closer to draft day then not.

KazooSkinsFan wrote:It takes at least 3 years to have a meaningful rating. One or more guys we think seemed to be nice depth pickups will probably be cut before the season. Remember Horton's rookie year, which was sweet, and what followed, which wasn't? Our #2 was Jenkins and you can't even rate that yet. Yeah, one year is better then draft day. But it's closer to draft day then not.

Completely agree with you. As soon as I started to read your post, I was thinking to myself, "Chris Horton". hah.

Just looking at Kerrigan, Helu and Royster, though, you gotta feel pretty upbeat about that draft so far. I wish we'd gotten to see more of Hankerson too. This past December would have been a great opportunity for him.

over time 1niksder (and many here) have shown us a lot more than the idiot Kiper

thanks for the analysis as well

riggofan wrote:Just looking at Kerrigan, Helu and Royster, though, you gotta feel pretty upbeat about that draft so far.

Agreed

This was probably the most productive first-year, Redskins draftee class in my life... and that's with Jarvis going down in pre-season, and Hankerson blowing up his knee. Even the bottom of this class got quality time in games. In two more years, I have a feeling that this will be an "A" grade... Nicely played, FO.

Deadskins wrote:"Who in the hell is Mel Kiper, anyway? I mean, here's a guy who criticizes everybody, whoever they take. In my knowledge of him, he's never even put on a jockstrap, he's never been a player, he's never been a coach, he's never been a scout, he's never been an administrator, and all of a sudden, he's an expert. Mel Kiper has no more credentials to do what he's doing than my neighbor, and my neighbor's a postman and he doesn't even have season tickets to the NFL."
-- Bill Tobin

Yea, but Mel was right, Dilfer ended up being better than the other guy. Although they were both bad. If you're going to make a statement like that about somebody, then you have to be the one who's right, and since he wasn't, Tobin lost all credibility.

Countertrey wrote:This was probably the most productive first-year, Redskins draftee class in my life... and that's with Jarvis going down in pre-season, and Hankerson blowing up his knee. Even the bottom of this class got quality time in games. In two more years, I have a feeling that this will be an "A" grade... Nicely played, FO.

Throw in that it's probably also the largest haul in over decade, and Will Smith who they almost drafted but signed as a UDFA. It was very nicely played.

Dont really care about Kipers opinion really. I am just entertained by the funny faces he makes when arguing his point. Love it when he and Mcshay go at it.

brad7686 wrote:

Deadskins wrote:"Who in the hell is Mel Kiper, anyway? I mean, here's a guy who criticizes everybody, whoever they take. In my knowledge of him, he's never even put on a jockstrap, he's never been a player, he's never been a coach, he's never been a scout, he's never been an administrator, and all of a sudden, he's an expert. Mel Kiper has no more credentials to do what he's doing than my neighbor, and my neighbor's a postman and he doesn't even have season tickets to the NFL."
-- Bill Tobin

Yea, but Mel was right, Dilfer ended up being better than the other guy. Although they were both bad. If you're going to make a statement like that about somebody, then you have to be the one who's right, and since he wasn't, Tobin lost all credibility.

Tobin may have been wrong about Dilfer (though, as you pointed out, not by much), but he was right about Mel.
And as Hero pointed out, the look on Mel's face was priceless.

I like Mel Kiper because he looks like a mafia member. The last sports mafioso guru!

You all act like his grade is off...I have to agree with him...we needed a qb, we didn't get one...

Heck, a B is a good grade. Besides Kerrigan who helped us win a game?

We ended the year 5-11, getting a B in our draft is pretty good.

I agree that rating a draft needs to occur 3-5 years after the fact.

fredp45 wrote:You all act like his grade is off...I have to agree with him...we needed a qb, we didn't get one...

Heck, a B is a good grade. Besides Kerrigan who helped us win a game?

We ended the year 5-11, getting a B in our draft is pretty good.

I agree that rating a draft needs to occur 3-5 years after the fact.

You agree with him on his draft grade AND you agree it's 2 to 4 years too soon to grade that draft?

While I actually believe you knew what I meant, I'll clarify...

If one were to grade our draft NOW, we'd be a B...to get a true sense of a team's draft, you need to let some time elapse...

fredp45 wrote:While I actually believe you knew what I meant, I'll clarify...

If one were to grade our draft NOW, we'd be a B...to get a true sense of a team's draft, you need to let some time elapse...