The latest on what I'm hearing

[Icness]

Some of this is lead-pipe stuff, some is secondhand knowledge, some is speculation, some is reading between some lines. The draft picture as a whole is still cloudy but the rain is starting to wash some of the mud away...

1. Miami Dolphins--it

[PhilipNelsonFan]

1. Reading between your lines, this screams that Glenn Dorsey will be a Chief. But if the front office does go towards Ryan Clady, then do the Jets take him? Does he fall all the way to the Bengals at 9?

2. Do the Saints trade down? Looks like they're in great position to do so.

3. As someone following the Bengals, it's a little disturbing that you mention Philip Merling as a candidate for the ninth overall pick and then you don't mention him at any other spot in the top 20. What's wrong with him/what is he expected to bring to the table?

[CJ_18]

DAAAAAAAAM YOUUUUU STOPPING AT 20!!!!!!!!!!

haha im kidding. keep up the good work.

The one thing i hate about excellent analysis is it takes the fun of waiting on the edge of your seat 2 months to the draft.

But do you have anything interesting about the Chargers in brief?

Thank you sir.

[Next Coming]

McLevin and Jenkins? Dang! Never would of thought.

[Icness]

1. Reading between your lines, this screams that Glenn Dorsey will be a Chief. But if the front office does go towards Ryan Clady, then do the Jets take him? Does he fall all the way to the Bengals at 9?

2. Do the Saints trade down? Looks like they're in great position to do so.

3. As someone following the Bengals, it's a little disturbing that you mention Philip Merling as a candidate for the ninth overall pick and then you don't mention him at any other spot in the top 20. What's wrong with him/what is he expected to bring to the table?

1. I would bet great $$ that Dorsey doesn't fall below #5, but it might not be the Chiefs who would pick him there. Both the Saints and Bengals have enough to offer to move up to #5 to get him. Say, Robert Meacham or Chris Henry.

2. I hear the Saints and Patriots all the time in terms of moving from their spots, often in both directions. One rumor I heard that I like (not that there's any truth to it!): The Saints deal #10 to the Texas for #18 and also next year's 2nd rounder. It only works if the Texans can get Mendenhall. The Saints would fall back and happily take Merling or Balmer or even Dan Connor in that range.

3. Step away from the ledge--if you've been a Bengals fan for any period of time you know you're dropping the soap in the prison shower a lot with the Brown family in charge! It's actually more of an indication that very few teams between #9 and #20 are interested in going DE in the 1st. Plus Merling most closely translates to Justin Smith at the next level, and teams generally want more sacks out of 1st round DEs than 4-5 a year. Merling is well-regarded by pretty much everyone I talk to, one of those proverbial "safe" picks...

I'm heading to Lansing for MSU's pro day and a sit-down interview with a director of collegiate scouting for an NFL team that should get posted on the main page late tonight. One of my questions I have written down is about Merling and Calais Campbell.

[catalyst]

ARRRGH!

As a cowboy fan I look forward to the Michigan pro day.

[moocow007]

Regarding Gholston not wanting to be the OLB and the Jets needing him there...are either of those really definites?

---

In a recent online interview, when asked whether he'd prefer to be a OLB in a 3-4 or a DE in a 4-3, he really didn't sound like he was deadset against playing in a 3-4 at all. His response was essentially either or though he would prefer DE.

---

Here's also blurbs from an interview with Gholston during the combine...

On possibly having to switch more of a 2 point position (OLB) compared to a 3 point position (DE) in the NFL:

[deeney0]

How often do teams play the counterintelligence game and feed BS information? How easy is it to tell when they do?

[hermes]

Some of this is lead-pipe stuff, some is secondhand knowledge, some is speculation, some is reading between some lines. The draft picture as a whole is still cloudy but the rain is starting to wash some of the mud away...

17. Minnesota Vikings--If Derrick Harvey is gone they will take Calais Campbell. Forget WR or QB, it ain

[OAKTREE NYK1]

Hey Ice St. Louis is still interested in Jake Long even after the signing of Bell???? Where are they going to play him with Pace and Barron coming back. Do they plan on releasing Pace or something???? Or do they plan on trading Barron???? They have such a huge need at DE I cant see why they wouldnt go for Vernon Gholston at #2. I think he would be a perfect fit in Haslett's hybrid defense. He can play plenty of 4-3 but then move over to the outside 3-4 spot during third downs. I cant envision why the Phins wouldnt be taking a LONG look (no pun intended) at Jake Long to solve there offensive line woes. If you look at there depth chart they are pretty much missing the a whole left side of there offensive line taking into consideration a move back to RT for Vernon Carey.

If you where playing draft strategy we are looking at a very deep offensive line class that can all go between the 1st and early second rounds. So if Parcells is targeting Flacco with the 1st pick in the second then who do you think is going to be left at the LT spot with the latter pick in that round???? As i see it

OT
1st Round Graded
Jake Long
Ryan Clady
Chris Williams
Jeff Otah
Gosder Cherilus

2nd round graded
Sam Baker
Anthony Collins
Carl Nicks (Just got arrested and is banned from his pro day)

Plenty of OT needy teams in the second round being

Detroit
Atlanta
Oakland
San Francisco
Carolina Panthers
Philadelphia Eagles
Tampa Bay Bucs

* Keep in mind all pick before the Dolphins barring that they take Flacco with the high second.


So I am telling myself that the Dolphins brass is actually thinking about forgetting to protect there QB or taking a gamble on a late round flyer like Heath Benedict or Barry Richardson to come in and play right away???? The most ready offensive lineman to step in today and make a difference on that line wether on the right or left side would be IMO Jake Long or even Ryan Clady for that matter.


Looking at ther depth chart at OLB and here is what i see

OLB Jason Taylor
OLB Joey Porter
OLB Reggie Torbor (Could even play middle)
OLB Quentin Moses (Coaching staff has taken a liking to him)
OLB Matt Roth (Has early college experience playing linebacker-needs to drop some weight)
OLB Abraham Wight


I can see where drafting a Chris Long would make a ton of sense if you where able to get a second rounder for Jason Taylor but Parcells has come out strong saying that Taylor wont be traded. He is still the face of the Phins franchise and the only player in this town that people will still pay to see. He also his a huizenga favorite and does a ton in this south florida community.

It is of my opinion that they are selling Matt Ryan hard in the hopes that Atlanta will trade up in order to get him. Then it will allow Bill to grab the best long left at #3 and use his top pick in the second round along with there's to get Flacco and the best OL availible. If the pick is Chris Long then there 1st pick in the second round now puts the stress on getting one of the 1st round graded OL that falls. If you pass and take Flacco then who is going to protect McCown,Flacco, or Beck?????

LT????LG????C Samson Satele RG Justin Smiley RT Vernon Carey

Backups Trey Darilek,Drew Mormino

Miami is also going to have to take a long look at adding more then just one offensive lineman.

Free Agency: OT Barry Sims?????

Mock Drafts projections

1.OT Jake Long
2A.QB Joe Flacco
2B.CB or OG or DE/OLB (ie:Cliff Avril)

or

1.DE/OLB Chris Long
2.QB Joe Flacco
2.OT ????????? Oniel Cousins

or

1.QB Matt Ryan
2.OT
2.OG-CB
3.OG-TE


Just some tidbits Ice too see what you think... look forward to the response

[treyZz]

[quote="Icness"][/quote]

Are the Saints really that down on Meachem?

[CJ_18]

-= original quote snipped =-



Are the Saints really that down on Meachem?

Yea and why would they take Mendanhall?

Reggie Bush is only 23.

[revprodeji]

Iceness,

WOuldnt you acknowledge that the vikings need a LDE not a RDE? If anything the RDE is fine with Edwards and Robison, but neither are big enough for the LDE. Is Harvey really possible as a LDE? Is CC strong enough for LDE?

[NO-KG-AI]

Calais Campbell is talented enough to play either side, he just has to get the mental part of the game down. He's probably the most talented DE in this draft, on pure physical talents, and size.

[moocow007]

There are some rumblings that the Rams would take Gholston with the 2nd overall pick if Long is gone and that they were absolutely floored by Gholston's great workouts in both at the combine and during Pro Day.

[revprodeji]

Calais Campbell is talented enough to play either side, he just has to get the mental part of the game down. He's probably the most talented DE in this draft, on pure physical talents, and size.

I know he is 280 or so but thin-framed DE's are not usually good LDE.

I hear some are concerned about his ability to be an anchor against the run.

I have even heard he lacks functional upper body strength

And some worry he plays lazy, even getting eliminated vs better competition(Oklahoma)

I guess the raw talent is there, but he did regress. I am worried that he lacks true closing speed off the edge. I guess if he could use his height and length effectively to rush and limit passing lanes he could be a very good all-around DE. I do hear he has very good character.

[catalyst]

How often do teams play the counterintelligence game and feed BS information? How easy is it to tell when they do?

That could be a fascinating book in dall drafts, especially NFL and NBA

[NO-KG-AI]

-= original quote snipped =-



I know he is 280 or so but thin-framed DE's are not usually good LDE.

I hear some are concerned about his ability to be an anchor against the run.

I have even heard he lacks functional upper body strength

And some worry he plays lazy, even getting eliminated vs better competition(Oklahoma)

I guess the raw talent is there, but he did regress. I am worried that he lacks true closing speed off the edge. I guess if he could use his height and length effectively to rush and limit passing lanes he could be a very good all-around DE. I do hear he has very good character.

That would be my worry, he's tremendously athletic for his size, and that frame is definitely going to fill out, he's a bit below Mario Williams on a physical standpoint, which still puts him above a lot of the league. I'd take him over Merling or Harvey personally.

[A.J.]

i like the idea of the vikings getting cb in round 2

[Icness]

The hot rumor circulating around here is that the Bills are real interested in Devin Thomas at #11 overall. He's getting the rep of being Desean Jackson with much better size. I'd put it at about 50/50 that Thomas is the first WR off the board.

You're likely to see Dustin Keller to Seattle in a lot of the next round of mock drafts. I like that pick if it comes to fruition.

Jonathan Stewart had toe surgery and is out until late July at the earliest. It wasn't exactly turf toe but rather a stress fracture at the joint where turf toe happens (the bump where the base of your big toe meets your foot). That's a real tricky proposition for him now. He's a guy who thrives on power and what really makes him special is his ability to cut sharply at full speed with his mass. Basically he won't see the field until about the 3rd preseason game at the earliest and might not be at full speed until ??. I haven't gauged a lot of reaction about it, but I have to think this keeps him from going any higher than Houston and has to give the Texans some thought for shoring up their super-thin secondary at #18.