2013 Ask Jeff Risdon a Question

[Worm Guts]

jeff, any vikings news? what are those guys up to at the combine?

Saw very little of them there, but I was only there for a day and a half. Both the guys I knew well within that org got washed out

I do know this--they're not going to force the QB if it's not there. They are a candidate to move up

candidate to move up huh? that's interesting, i would have thought it would be more likely to move down (assuming one of the qbs aren't there) and getting more picks and stocking up on defense

It makes sense to move up if they like one of the QB's. I can't imagine them moving up for anybody else.

[Charles Lee Ray]

Has Jimmy "the wop" Garrapolo cracked the 1st round?

[Icness]

Has Jimmy "the wop" Garrapolo cracked the 1st round?

I doubt it but he's somewhere in the 30-50 overall range. And the team that drafts him had better already have a starter for 2014 ahead of him because no way in hell is he ready.

[Icness]

Jeff, in your opinion what is the vikings best option with their first round pick? I expect the three main qbs to be gone and don't consider Carr a more serious candidate that any other defensive players left on the board. They could use a SS, CB, MLB/OLB,DT, and possibly a DE. Would they be better off trading down and accumulating an extra second round pick? I have no idea what the talent level is in the second round. Or are they better off getting someone like Gilbert, Dennard, or possibly Mack?

At 8 I would hope for Khalil Mack and then Justin Gilbert. They are in a decent spot to move backwards if someone like the Giants or Rams are looking to move up and target an OL like Lewan or Matthews.

Khalil Mack is better than Von Miller. Not quite as dynamic of a pass rusher but he's a stronger player and does everything else better. You want him.

[Da Schwab]

Any post-Combine news/grumblings from the Giants camp? They're still pretty much guaranteed to take an OL in the first, right?

[Charles Lee Ray]

Is ryan shazier a middle line backer prospect in the 3-4??

[ATL Boy]

is there any chance of Cyrus Kouandjio falling to the 2nd round? And maybe Cyril Richardson falling to the 3rd?

[BearTooth]

Jeff, gimme 3 players that consensus draft opinion is vastly underrating. And three that they're overrating.

[Devilzsidewalk]

Any info on Connor Shaw? I don't know anything about him, but the Vikings supposedly have met with him a couple times already.

[Icness]

Any post-Combine news/grumblings from the Giants camp? They're still pretty much guaranteed to take an OL in the first, right?

Top three 1st round options are Aaron Donald, Taylor Lewan and Zach Martin. I would bet on Donald at this point. They're in a good spot to land a guy like Bitonio, J. James or B. Thomas in the 2nd and all those guys could start right away for NYG.

If you've got time, find the Nevada/UCLA game and watch Bitonio make Anthony Barr his submissive beeotch.

[Icness]

is there any chance of Cyrus Kouandjio falling to the 2nd round? And maybe Cyril Richardson falling to the 3rd?

Kouandjio is not a top 50 pick. Might not be a top 100 pick. Failed at least 12 teams medicals, looked horrible in position drills and it backs up the unimpressive game tape. He's not a top 150 prospect to me but I suspect he goes in the 60-75 overall range on name value to a gullible team. My 10th-rated tackle.

Tough to say where the guards/centers go. Su'a-Filo is the only surefire top 50 guy, he's going 25-40 overall. Richardson, Jackson, Richburg, Swanson could all go 2nd, could all slide to the late 3rd/early 4th. Gotta see how it plays out.

[Icness]

Jeff, gimme 3 players that consensus draft opinion is vastly underrating. And three that they're overrating.

Good question!

Three overrated in terms of ability, and the first two are easy:
1. Calvin Pryor
2. Justin Gilbert
3. Marcus Roberson/Loucheiz Purifoy. Both suck, Roberson sucks less.

as far as draft stock being overrated:
1. Jordan Matthews, will not go before the 3rd round. I've actually bet $100 on that. Good player but no special traits to offer, other WRs have a special trait or two that will get them drafted over him.
2. Louis Nix. His teammate Tuitt will go before him. I vehemently disagree with that, but I'm not running the draft. Tuitt is a 5th rounder to me, pops straight up out of his stance all the time.
3. Tiny Richardson. Two words: arthritic knees. Stock killer.

Underrated in ability terms:
1. Terrence Brooks. Better player than Calvin Pryor or Ahmad Dixon, won't be drafted as such.
2. Xavier Su'a-Filo. Will be one of my 25 highest grades
3. Aaron Murray. I have to redo my QB rankings, he's no worse than 5th.

Underrated in terms of perceived draft stock:
1. Jawuan James
2. Marcus Martin. could be 1st center taken. I've yet to evaluate him.
3. Kyle Fuller. Very real possibility he goes in the 20s. 45th overall is his draft floor

[Icness]

Any info on Connor Shaw? I don't know anything about him, but the Vikings supposedly have met with him a couple times already.

Shaw is an interesting evaluation. Was pretty much an underachiever until his senior season, when the light bulb went on and he stayed healthy. You can see the game slowing down for him, his confidence growing.

Pros: Pinpoint accuracy, great agility/mobility (was fastest QB at Combine, innate scrambler), makes quick reads, can throw on run, learned to avoid mistakes, exceptional play action faker, gutsy/tough as hell, arrow still pointing up

Cons: Arm strength is good-not-great, only 6 feet tall and has small hands and short arms, sees ghosts in the pocket, doesn't challenge down the field as often as he should in part by design of Spurrier's offense, has had shoulder problems

Best comp I can think of is a smaller, more athletic Kirk Cousins with some durability issues. He's a far better prospect than Tajh Boyd, who is not at top 15 QB for me.

[gswhoops]

Any info on Connor Shaw? I don't know anything about him, but the Vikings supposedly have met with him a couple times already.

Shaw is an interesting evaluation. Was pretty much an underachiever until his senior season, when the light bulb went on and he stayed healthy. You can see the game slowing down for him, his confidence growing.

Pros: Pinpoint accuracy, great agility/mobility (was fastest QB at Combine, innate scrambler), makes quick reads, can throw on run, learned to avoid mistakes, exceptional play action faker, gutsy/tough as hell, arrow still pointing up

Cons: Arm strength is good-not-great, only 6 feet tall and has small hands and short arms, sees ghosts in the pocket, doesn't challenge down the field as often as he should in part by design of Spurrier's offense, has had shoulder problems

Best comp I can think of is a smaller, more athletic Kirk Cousins with some durability issues. He's a far better prospect than Tajh Boyd, who is not at top 15 QB for me.

Do you think Shaw would be a good option to develop as a backup for Kaepernick? Or, as a more general question, is there anyone in particular you would look at as a developmental/backup QB for the Niners that might be available in the mid/late rounds?

[Icness]

Shaw would be a good fit in SF. Actually his game reminds me some of a weaker-armed Harbaugh, never really thought of that before.

He won't last out of the 3rd round but Logan Thomas would be an ideal backup for Kaep. Can do many of the same things, just not as quick mentally.

Brett Smith from Wyoming is intriguing. He's too skinny for my liking but he has some things to like, among them testicular fortitude and improvisational ability.

If you don't mind relative immobility, Keith Wenning is a good late-rounder. Cannon of an arm, has swagger to him, kinda streaky ball placement.

[gswhoops]

Shaw would be a good fit in SF. Actually his game reminds me some of a weaker-armed Harbaugh, never really thought of that before.

He won't last out of the 3rd round but Logan Thomas would be an ideal backup for Kaep. Can do many of the same things, just not as quick mentally.

Brett Smith from Wyoming is intriguing. He's too skinny for my liking but he has some things to like, among them testicular fortitude and improvisational ability.

If you don't mind relative immobility, Keith Wenning is a good late-rounder. Cannon of an arm, has swagger to him, kinda streaky ball placement.

I'm not really sure what kind of guy Harbaugh would be looking at. From a layman's perspective I'd want a guy with at least some mobility so we don't have to put a whole new offense in place on the fly if the unspeakable happens, but most of the guys we've brought in as third QBs have been relatively tall, immobile, big-armed pocket passers (Skelton, McBLT)

[Da Schwab]

Any post-Combine news/grumblings from the Giants camp? They're still pretty much guaranteed to take an OL in the first, right?

Top three 1st round options are Aaron Donald, Taylor Lewan and Zach Martin. I would bet on Donald at this point. They're in a good spot to land a guy like Bitonio, J. James or B. Thomas in the 2nd and all those guys could start right away for NYG.

If you've got time, find the Nevada/UCLA game and watch Bitonio make Anthony Barr his submissive beeotch.

Oh man, Aaron Donald would make me so happy.

Thanks, Ic.

[Charles Lee Ray]

I feel like bridgewater is head and shoulders the best QB after debating and analyzing these guys every which way. Also he's by far the safest guy imo. Do you feel this way or is there a guy you like more?

[Icness]

I feel like bridgewater is head and shoulders the best QB after debating and analyzing these guys every which way. Also he's by far the safest guy imo. Do you feel this way or is there a guy you like more?

Teddy is my #1 QB and it's not real close.

[Manhattan Project]

How would you rank the WR's if every single one of them realized their full potential?