Mock Draft v1.1, put up 10.20.08

[ReasonablySober]

A few of us Badger fans that also have a big interest in the draft have never considered Beckum a tight end, but a big, slowish WR. I made the comparison of Colston last year and I know that others on the Packer board agreed.

But he's not an in-line TE at all.

[PhilipNelsonFan]

Ic, originally you had Ringer in the first round now you drop him out of the top 2 rounds. What have you seen to warrant such a fall? I know his numbers this year are inflated due to having so many carries but you can't deny the numbers. Where do you see him going now?

Does he need to see much? I've enjoyed watching Ringer put up numbers this year, but he's a 5-9 power back who'd be the ideal third-stringer in a two-back system. You draft that in the fourth or fifth round, not the first, but he might sneak into the second with a great combine.

[Icness]

Re: Beckum--I sent in an interview I conducted with a scout that should be up sometime tonight or tomorrow. We talked about Beckum in it. The scout compared him unfavorably to Mike Williams and Billy McMullen, and this is a guy who butters his bread with offensive skill position evaluation. I know some other people do like Beckum for what he is (great Colston analogy Drugbust!) and I fall in that category, though he wasn't playing well before the leg break. I can't see any way he goes before the compensatory picks at the start of the 4th round now.

We also talked about Ringer and he was not real impressed. I think what PNF said is right on--he's an undersized power back who ideally is a platoon guy. Think Antonio Pittman or Najeh Davenport in terms of NFL production, and like PNF said you don't spend first day draft picks on backup RBs. Unless you're Carolina or Detroit or New England. On second thought, two of those three teams are legit Super Bowl contenders...

[SteveScheffler]

beckum should play defense in the nfl. he was origionally a lb coming out of highschool but got switched. that experiment worked out horribly and im sure beckum is yearning to do what he did best and hit people.

[ReasonablySober]

At some point I'd like to know what exactly everyone sees in Matthew Stafford that I don't. In three years of watching him play all I've seen is an average QB that other's like to make excuses for. The line, the playcalling, the WRs...

Right now I'd take either Tebow or Bradford over him, easily.

[Rafael122]

I say Bradford is the best QB in college football right now.

Tebow is Eric Crouch V.2. If someone takes him in the first round, they will severely be disappointed.

[ReasonablySober]

Best QB in college football, or the best pro prospect at the position? Huge difference.

Crouch and Tebow have almost nothing in common as players.

[Icness]

Best QB in college football, or the best pro prospect at the position? Huge difference.

Give that man a prize!
That's one of the msot common misconceptions I encounter when I get email on mocks or the Top 103 or on radio shows. Just because a guy is great in college doesn't mean those skills translate well to the NFL. And there's nothing wrong with that; there's great achievement in being a great collegian without having an NFL career. My former neighbor Ty Detmer and I talked about that quite a bit. He would know.

Stafford plays in a pro-style offense, has good size, great arm, good accuracy, and he's managed a huddle in the defense-stacked SEC for 3 years surrounded by several NFL players. He knows how to read defenses, make sight adjustments, and he's got unwavering confidence and oozes leadership.

Tebow plays in a college-style offense that actually requires him to not do the things that make successful NFL QBs--he makes one read at the line, and if that route is covered, he runs. If he can't figure out the defense, he runs or checks to a WR lateral that features two flaggable offensive pass interference fouls. He never takes snaps from center, he never turns to hand the ball off, never has to feel pass rush because the ball is out quickly. It's like the difference between being a slow-pitch softball pitcher and a major league starting pitcher. There is no doubt that Tim Tebow is exceptional at running that offense and has some physical attributes (size, arm, toughness) that will play well in the NFL. And he's unfailingly optimistic and positive and players sure seem to genuinely like and respect him. I wouldn't bet against him being a decent NFL QB at some point, but if you're drafting for need in the next 1-2 years you're wasting a pick on him. That's almost universally true of any of the spread-option QBs, not just Tebow.

[ReasonablySober]

When I see Tim Tebow I see Steve McNair. Like McNair, Tebow will need a lot of time on the sidelines before he's ready, but I think he's a special talent.