2012 Ask Jeff Risdon a Question

[studcrackers]

i never thought of ok states guys on defense as really special aside from markelle martin and sean lewis but broderick brown really impressed saturday vs. jeff fuller. i know he's 5'8 but did this give him any chance of being a mid round guy? idk if fuller's hamstrings are bothering that much but he didnt do much aside from his 2 td catches

jamie blatnik and richetti jones also looked good at times

[Icness]

I thought Richetti Jones played a great game. Fuller was at about 75% and if it wasn't a big game they would have sat him. He cramped up several times and just couldn't get any sort of leg drive. Brown was feisty and he can really jump, has some Javier Arenas to him.

Came away a little more down on Blackmon than expected. I didn't like him showing up Weeden and he's really not a sudden guy at all. I still see a lot of Julio Jones, who never played anywhere close to the 4.3 he clocked at the Combine and I suspect Blackmon will be similar.

Weeden was awesome in the second half once they lengthened the field for him and let him mix up the snap count more. He's a tough evaluation because he's older than Aaron Rodgers. If he were 22 he's almost certainly a 1st rounder but a 28-year old that didn't play football for 5 years is a tough sell in a draft room. I still think Tannehill is a 1st rounder even though he had a rough 2nd half. He throws the deep in as well as most guys starting on Sunday already and he throws on the move very well.

[studcrackers]

you suspect blackmon plays slower than what his 40 time will be? idk what he runs but if i had to guess id say high 4.4 or into the 4.5 and i think he plays faster on the field.

let me know when your thoughts from the game go up

[Killa K]

Does Robert Griffin III have pro potential?

After watching the LSU-WVU game I noticed Tyrann Matieu has been playing great all season, is he headed to the NFL?

[Icness]

Does Robert Griffin III have pro potential?

After watching the LSU-WVU game I noticed Tyrann Matieu has been playing great all season, is he headed to the NFL?

I am warming to Griffin as a pro prospect. I love how he throws the ball on the run with pinpoint accuracy and touch. Has a good feel for the game and understands how to make the most of his options. Very fast but he has learned to not go full tilt every time he has to run, which IMO makes him more dangerous and more of a threat as a passer. He used to sprint out and then stop to set his feet and throw, but this year he has done a better job of staying at a steadier speed and throwing on the run. Comes from a pretty simplistic read offense, but it's more complicated than what Gabbert or Kaepernick ran. I like his charisma and leadership. I am curious how big he really is. If he's 6'2" I like him more than if he's actually only 6'0", and his legs and lower body are narrow.

He's definitely an evaluation in progress. I saw him in person in their bowl game and he looked very good, and he has built upon that so far.

Edit--forgot the second part. I think Mathieu is only a 2nd year guy and cannot come out this spring. Great playmaker though.

[JaxMagic]

Here in Jax, pretty much everyone is clamoring for a number one WR, who do you think would be a good fit with Blaine to be his number 1 WR? I've heard the knock on Blackmon and Jeffery is they don't have elite spped to stretch the field? Do you believe this to be true or do you feel they could handle being the man in the Jags offense? If not is there another guy I should keep an eye out for? Thanks

[Icness]

Here in Jax, pretty much everyone is clamoring for a number one WR, who do you think would be a good fit with Blaine to be his number 1 WR? I've heard the knock on Blackmon and Jeffery is they don't have elite spped to stretch the field? Do you believe this to be true or do you feel they could handle being the man in the Jags offense? If not is there another guy I should keep an eye out for? Thanks

Blackmon has better speed than Jeffery but neither guy is a real burner. But the Jags already have a burner in Mike Thomas, so they need the big, physical, reliable kind of player like these two. I prefer Blackmon because he's a little thicker and his routes are more consistently precise. Floyd from Notre Dame fits the similar bill too as a first round receiver, and he looks like he will be in the range where teams would trade up into the first round to get him should the Jags choose to go LB or CB with their 1st pick.

[studcrackers]

how do the interior lineman rate in this draft class and who are some of the top guys?

[Roger Murdock]

I think RG3 will be a top 10 pick when its all said and done.

[WAYSA]

This is a week late & a year early, but Tyler Bray of Tennessee looks to be one hell of a QB prospect.

6'6" but rather thin, great accurate arm and looks to be a good leader. Made some really great throws against Florida and was without his best WR. I rarely come away impressed with pro style QBs in college, but he looks like the real deal.

As for 2012 -- Jelani Jenkins the Florida LBer is a freaky athlete. I don't hear a lot of buzz about him, he's an underclassmen and seems to have a family that values education, but I don't see how he isn't a first rounder if he comes out. Thoughts on Jenkins?

DJ Fluker of Alabama -- is he strictly a RT in the NFL? Your thoughts on him?

[Icness]

Bray has shown more potential than expected and he is starting to get more love. I've only seen him in their bowl game last year and some of the Florida game but I like what I see so far. Get that kid a steak though because he is skinny.

Jenkins is well-regarded but lke Bray it's too early for scouts to really do much with him other than take notes for the future. My Florida people rave about him, say he's got the best range of any LB they've had there and has a great football IQ. He will probably go into next draft season as the top OLB.

I think at Fluker's size he's a guard or a right tackle. Hard to put a 340 pound guy at left tackle. Reminds me of Phil Loadholt but a little more focused. Coming from Bama you know he will be well-coached and ready mentally, which helps his stock. He made a couple of just devastating run blocks last week and he keeps his legs driving hard when engaged. I like that a lot.

[The_Trade_Seer]

How much would Andrew Luck bring in trade to a team with the #1 that doesn't want or need to draft him like the Carolina Panthers? Could they realistically get (2) #1, #2 and #3 picks for him, or???

Also, if the Broncos get the #1 pick and take Luck, who trades for Tebow (Washington? Miami?) and how much could the Broncos realistically get for him?

[Icness]

How much would Andrew Luck bring in trade to a team with the #1 that doesn't want or need to draft him like the Carolina Panthers? Could they realistically get (2) #1, #2 and #3 picks for him, or???

Also, if the Broncos get the #1 pick and take Luck, who trades for Tebow (Washington? Miami?) and how much could the Broncos realistically get for him?

Tough question. Because it appears this draft is pretty thin, I think it will take at least a top 5 2012 pick, a top 10 2012 2nd round pick, a 2013 1st, and probably some other picks/players.

Tebow has far more value to Denver than he does to anyone else, except maybe JAX but they're in no position to deal for him. Just a guess but I don't think he'd bring back a 4th at this point.

[Roger Murdock]

Thoughts on the Honey Badger?

[Manhattan Project]

Thoughts on Michael Egnew and/or the overall view of the TE class.

[Icness]

Thoughts on the Honey Badger?

Russell Wilson? He's somewhere between Troy Smith and Colt McCoy with a stronger arm. His size is a real problem. It's interesting to me how some people are radically changing their views of him now that he plays for a big-time program. I thought he was a late-round pick coming out of NCSU. He's playing behind one of the best collegiate offensive lines in history, hasn't played a legit defense yet, has a future NFL WR (or two) and TE and probably a NFL RB beside him. He's better look awesome, and he has. But my scouting opinion is that he's no better than a 4th round pick. There just isn't a market for 5'11" (and he might not be that tall) quarterbacks. I like pretty much everything else about him--arm strength, touch, mobility, poise, smarts, character. Maybe Doug Flutie II? I'll say this--I will rate him higher than I rate Matt Barkley or Kirk Cousins.

Thoughts on Michael Egnew and/or the overall view of the TE class.

Egnew fits in the oversized slow wide receiver category more than a tight end. That sounds worse than it really is because there is a growing demand and use for these type of players. I'll equate him with former Wisconsin TE Travis Beckum, who was a little faster but a similar pathetic blocker. Beckum is behind Jake Ballard with the Giants and I think that will wind up being Egnew's fate, a receiving specialist red zone guy that gets overdrafted because of his college numbers. I watched their ASU game and wasn't overly impressed with his route running, but his hands are fantastic and his athleticism is a plus. He'll go in the 2nd/3rd round but I will rate him probably 6th round.

I do like this TE class quite a bit more that last year, but that is assuming some guys come out early. Orson Charles of Georgia looks 1st/2nd round to me but he's a little shorter than teams like (he's 6'2"). Clemson's Dwayne Allen looks a lot like Brandon Pettigrew, solid in-line blocker that can reliably get open in the intermediate range and has a great catch radius. Love his ability to transition from receiver to runner. I just caught some Louisiana Lafayette tape and really liked their TE Ladarius Green. He's like Egnew physically but a little longer and runs tight routes, but he is also an enthusiastic blocker, really gets after it (he's not real strong and needs technique work but the effort is there). I've heard he will time in the mid 4.5s and if he does that and impresses at the Senior Bowl (he should get an invite) he could be a legit 2nd rounder. There looks to be a solid group of middle round guys too, like Colby Fleener, Brad Herman, David Paulson, Brian Linthicum. There's no elite guys but a lot of solid NFL players.

[Roger Murdock]

Thoughts on the Honey Badger?

Russell Wilson? He's somewhere between Troy Smith and Colt McCoy with a stronger arm. His size is a real problem. It's interesting to me how some people are radically changing their views of him now that he plays for a big-time program. I thought he was a late-round pick coming out of NCSU. He's playing behind one of the best collegiate offensive lines in history, hasn't played a legit defense yet, has a future NFL WR (or two) and TE and probably a NFL RB beside him. He's better look awesome, and he has. But my scouting opinion is that he's no better than a 4th round pick. There just isn't a market for 5'11" (and he might not be that tall) quarterbacks. I like pretty much everything else about him--arm strength, touch, mobility, poise, smarts, character. Maybe Doug Flutie II? I'll say this--I will rate him higher than I rate Matt Barkley or Kirk Cousins.

Thoughts on Michael Egnew and/or the overall view of the TE class.

Egnew fits in the oversized slow wide receiver category more than a tight end. That sounds worse than it really is because there is a growing demand and use for these type of players. I'll equate him with former Wisconsin TE Travis Beckum, who was a little faster but a similar pathetic blocker. Beckum is behind Jake Ballard with the Giants and I think that will wind up being Egnew's fate, a receiving specialist red zone guy that gets overdrafted because of his college numbers. I watched their ASU game and wasn't overly impressed with his route running, but his hands are fantastic and his athleticism is a plus. He'll go in the 2nd/3rd round but I will rate him probably 6th round.

I do like this TE class quite a bit more that last year, but that is assuming some guys come out early. Orson Charles of Georgia looks 1st/2nd round to me but he's a little shorter than teams like (he's 6'2"). Clemson's Dwayne Allen looks a lot like Brandon Pettigrew, solid in-line blocker that can reliably get open in the intermediate range and has a great catch radius. Love his ability to transition from receiver to runner. I just caught some Louisiana Lafayette tape and really liked their TE Ladarius Green. He's like Egnew physically but a little longer and runs tight routes, but he is also an enthusiastic blocker, really gets after it (he's not real strong and needs technique work but the effort is there). I've heard he will time in the mid 4.5s and if he does that and impresses at the Senior Bowl (he should get an invite) he could be a legit 2nd rounder. There looks to be a solid group of middle round guys too, like Colby Fleener, Brad Herman, David Paulson, Brian Linthicum. There's no elite guys but a lot of solid NFL players.

Oooops - I actually meant Tyrann Mathieu. I guess hes not elligible for the draft yet. Hes really small too but to use a cliche 'Is just a football player'.

Anyway I am interested in Russell Wilson also, so thanks for the response. I'm not excited for him to light up my buckeyes next weekend. Also good gems on Barkley - I'm not high on Barkley either, which worries me because I could absolutely see the Browns drafting him this year.

[Killa K]

Mathieu has looked impressive to me too, although he just got suspended for the Auburn game.
What's your thoughts on the other LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne?

[Icness]

Mathieu has looked impressive to me too, although he just got suspended for the Auburn game.
What's your thoughts on the other LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne?

Claiborne is as good as Patrick Peterson was at LSU, maybe even a little better in off man coverage. I'd put very good $$ he is the first CB drafted, probably in the top 10. He's on the skinny side and he doesn't have Peterson's size or long arms, but he is a legit blanket cover man and he makes plays on the ball very well. If you can, watch him when he has to change direction and go get a ball. It's like watching Charles Woodson the way he moves.

[Rafael122]

I'm watching Mizzou/OK State. Christ is Blackmon an imposing figure. Dude's built like a tight end, reminds me a lot of Calvin Johnson. Doesn't seem like he has big time north-south type of speed, but the man is a red zone target. Looks humble as well?