Since during the college football season, NFLMocks.com lead editor Jesse Bartolis and I have been tossing questions at each other. This week, he answers my questions.
NFL Draft Q&A with NFLMocks.com: Change of Colts’ defense will affect draft plans
1. Of the teams who have changed philosophies on defense, which do you think has to use the draft to make the new scheme work?
I think the team right now that has the worst fit for the new schemes they are going to run is the Indianapolis Colts. Assuming they are going to move to a 34 they have a lot of players who need to make conversions. Can Dwight Freeney play 34 OLB, do they have anyone who can play 34 DE? They've preferred smaller, faster players up front, but if they play a lot of 34 that's not going to work. Even their cornerbacks were "system" type cornerbacks. I think they have a lot of work to do in the next two off-seasons.
2. What players need to have a big Scouting Combine and why?
For this question I’ll stick with the potential first round prospects and I’m going to stick with the drills. Obviously any player with character concerns (Jenkins for one) has to do well with interviews, but we don’t get access to the interviews. And it’s always better for OL and DL to have long arms so we’ll assume that’s part of the answer as well.
Dont’a Hightower, LB, Alabama
There are a lot of questions about whether or not Donta Hightower has the athletic ability to play 43 ILB and whether or not he can play outside linebacker in some 43 systems. He has legitimate questions about his speed and a slow time could really hurt him. Last year Akeem Ayers was considered a first round prospect by many leading up to the combine and ran really slow and hurt himself. Hightower could also benefit from looking more fluid in drills than the reputation that proceeds him.
Kendall Wright, WR, Baylor
He has put out a lot of good tape this year, but I think he has to do two things: first he has to measure in around 5’10. Right now that’s his listed size, but if he comes in under 5’10 I think that could hurt his stock a bit. He would also benefit from running as fast and people think.
Alshon Jeffery, WR, South Carolina
The only question about Jefferey seems to be his straight-line speed. He has terrific size, if he runs a lot faster than people are expecting his stock could rise again.
Whitney Mercilus, DL, Illinois
This might just be me. I don’t think he has enough athleticism to, play in a 34 defense. If he can prove me wrong and looks athletic and fluid maybe there are 34 teams who now consider him in the first round which would really help. If I am right he might not go in the first round a tall.
Vontaze Burfict, LB, ASU
Burfict has to be as fast and as athletic as most of us think he is. He really just had some terrible moments in during the season even getting benched towards the end of the season. Burfict looks out of shape or comes off as less athletic than people have claimed braced with his penchant for dumb plays on the field he could see his stock take plummet.
3. Keeping on the Combine talk, should Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin II throw there?
I would advise them not to if I was in a position to do so. There is absolutely no upside for Luck to be throwing at the combine. He has already locked up the #1 spot. Why throw? Maybe Griffin III wants to try and wow a fan base and put pressure on the General manager of a team to trade up and make him the second pick, or try to surpass Luck as the first pick, but he’d probably be better off just waiting until Baylor’s pro-day (conveniently schedule the same day as Luck’s Pro day) to t hrow because I don’t think either player is going to change any minds with an impressive throwing display. What’s more important for Griffin III is to ace the medicals.
4. Notorious for making trades, what do you expect the Patriots to do with their first two first-round picks?
Maybe it’s just my own “in the moment” thinking creeping in, but at some point they have to relaize Brady’s window is closing and cash in their chips right?
I could see them moving up for a WR if they can’t find one in free agency, but they will probably do the same thing they do every year. Use one first round pick and trade back and stock pile second round picks. The Pats real problem has been that they aren’t hitting any home runs with their early round picks.
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