Gang Green Nation - Scouting The Draft: 2014 NFLAnd the home of the Jets!https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/50543/ggn-fav.png2014-05-06T04:59:41-04:00http://www.ganggreennation.com/rss/stream/49817352014-05-06T04:59:41-04:002014-05-06T04:59:41-04:00Beckham, Ebron Gone By The Time The Jets Pick
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<figcaption>Jared Wickerham</figcaption>
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<p>Draft week is rumour week, where you listen to everything but believe nothing. </p> <p>At this stage in the draft process, teams are throwing out all kinds of smoke screens, bluffing, double-bluffing and on occasions telling the truth in the hope that other teams think they are bluffing. So anything you read this week, please take with a pinch of salt. Most of this information is being fed to the media for a reason.</p>
<p>However if the rumours are to be believed, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">Jets</a> won't have a chance to select LSU receiver Beckham Jr, or North Carolina TE Ebron, because both players will be off the board. If you believe Rich Cimini and Tony Pauline:</p>
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<p>If Jets want WR Odell Beckham Jr, they'll have to trade up. Hearing he won't make it to 18. At least 1 team above them loves him. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Jets&src=hash">#Jets</a></p>
— Rich Cimini (@RichCimini) <a href="https://twitter.com/RichCimini/statuses/463487878858022912">May 6, 2014</a>
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<p>Several sources tell me <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/">Baltimore Ravens</a> covet Eric Ebron in round one- could be there for them...more: <a href="http://t.co/8RsaXWtdtX">http://t.co/8RsaXWtdtX</a></p>
— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) <a href="https://twitter.com/TonyPauline/statuses/463516547474939905">May 6, 2014</a>
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It wouldn't surprise me if come selection #18 on Thursday night, neither of these players are available. However it also wouldn't surprise me all that much if both players were available. There is so much talent in this draft, as long as we draft smart, we'll be coming away with an excellent prospect in the first round.</p>
https://www.ganggreennation.com/2014/5/6/5686354/beckham-ebron-gone-by-the-time-the-jets-pickDavid Wyatt-Hupton2014-04-27T08:00:04-04:002014-04-27T08:00:04-04:00Scouting the 2014 Draft: Combo Mock 4.0
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<figcaption>Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>The NFL is killing me with these extra two weeks before the draft. I should be getting hyped for the 2nd round tonight. By the time this is published, we should already be knee deep in post draft analysis. There are only so many mock drafts one can make and read before they go insane. After this mock, we promise to not make anymore to add to the over-saturation. Drew (@DrewFromJersey) and I decided to go back to a guy that wasn't a popular pick when we first mocked him to us. Enjoy!</p> <h3 style="text-align: center;">Round 1</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;">Odell Beckham, Jr., WR, LSU</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">5'11" - 198 Pounds - 4.43 40</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Beckham was the perfect fit for us when we first mocked him to us in <a href="http://www.ganggreennation.com/2014/1/19/5323164/scouting-the-2014-draft-combo-mock-1-0" target="_blank">our first mock draft</a>, and he is still the perfect fit for us. Mind you, we picked him before it was cool to pick him in the first. The addition of <span>Eric Decker</span> is great, but by himself, he can't thrive. Jeremy Kerley is a great slot guy, who can dabble on the outside, but he isn't a true X receiver. We need that speed guy that can stretch the field, and back defenders off of the line of scrimmage. Beckham can slip right into that role, better than almost anyone in this draft. With the amount of talent he possesses, along with the very high ceiling he has, I don't see anyone being a better pick for us.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 1.0 pick: Odell Beckham, Jr., WR, LSU</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 2.0 pick: Jace Amaro, TE, Texas Tech</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 3.0 pick: Kony Ealy, DE, Missouri</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Round 2</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;">Bradley Roby, CB, Ohio State</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">5'11" - 194 Pounds - 4.39 40</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Our secondary needs a lot of help. Our safeties have maybe half a starter amongst all of them, and our CBs are riding on <span>Dee Milliner</span> stepping up and <span>Dimitri Patterson</span> staying healthy. The CB position is an important one in the modern Rex Ryan defense. I for one don't want to putt all my eggs in the Milliner/Patterson basket. We will be drafting a CB, it is just a matter of when. We have been linked to Roby quite a bit leading up to this point. Some scouts see him as a late 1st rounder, but Drew and I have him as our 5th ranked CB. His OUI arrest also won't help his cause for breaking into the 1st round. I can see Rex molding Roby into a deadly secondary weapon.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 1.0 pick: C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 2.0 pick: Jason Verrett, CB, TCU</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 3.0 pick: Jordan Matthews, WR, Vanderbilt</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Round 3</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;">C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">6'5" - 265 Pounds - 4.76 40</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span>Jeff Cumberland</span> has been resigned, and that's great and all, but we need someone else who can be more of a complete TE. I am not going to rely on Cumberland to ever be a great in-line blocker. C.J. on the other hand can step into that roll, and flourish. At Iowa, he played in a very run heavy offense. A lot of his success came from blocking. This doesn't mean it's all he can do. He has shown that he is very capable of being a receiver as well. He has above AVG hands for a TE, and knows how to use his big body to get leverage.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 1.0 pick: Deone Bucannon, S, Washington State</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 2.0 pick: Jared Abbrederis, WR, Wisconsin</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 3.0 pick: Terrence Brooks, S, Florida State</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Round 4</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;">Charles Sims, RB, West Virginia</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">6'0" - 214 Pounds - 4.48 40</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">We already have one of the top backfields in the NFL, but Goodson might be on his way out. This is a bit of a luxury pick. Drew and I are very intrigued though by Sims. He is the complete package. He is big, he has quickness, he can block, and he can catch. I can't think of anything more I would want in a back. Having so a lot of talent at a position is never a bad thing. CJ is only a 1 or 2 year rental. This is a depth/future contributor pick. I can see him taking Powell's spot eventually.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 1.0 pick: Ryan Groy, G, Wisconsin</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 2.0 pick: Ryan Groy, G, Wisconsin</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 3.0 pick: C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, Iowa</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Round 4</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;">Yawin Smallwood, ILB, Connecticut</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">6'2" - 246 Pounds - 5.01 40</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Don't pay any attention to his 40 time. That was due to an injury while running it. <span>David Harris</span> will be a free agent soon, and <span>Demario Davis</span> is developing, but at a slow pace. It would be wise to bring in some competition, or maybe someone to replace Harris in the near future. Idzik is all about looking forward. Smallwood has been a menace for Connecticut, and would be great value at this point in the draft. In order to have the most dominant front 7 in the league, we need to see more from the back half of that 7.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 1.0 pick: No Pick</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 2.0 pick: No Pick</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 3.0 pick: Jordan Tripp, OLB/ILB, Montana</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Round 4</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;">Jackson Jeffcoat, DE/OLB, Texas</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">6'3" - 247 Pounds - 4.63 40</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">As good as our interior pass rush is, we still need consistency on the edge. <span>Quinton Coples</span> started to settle into his new position as the year went on, but some youthful talent is needed opposite him. <span>Calvin Pace</span> had a great year, but I would say almost all of his sacks were coverage sacks, or missed blocks. He is also getting up there in age. Scouts have poo pooed Jeffcoat because they don't see him standing up, and they think he is too small to be an NFL down lineman. What they overlook is how good of a pass rusher he is. I have a lot of confidence in Dunbar and Rex to find a way to get this guy in there, killing QBs.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 1.0 pick: No Pick</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 2.0 pick: No Pick</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 3.0 pick: Jalen Saunders, WR, Oklahoma</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Round 5</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;">Kenny Ladler, S, Vanderbilt</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">6'0" - 207 Pounds - 4.70 40</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Besides CB, FS is probably our biggest need in the secondary. <span>Ed Reed</span> probably won't be coming back, and <span>Antonio Allen</span> is better suited being a SS. We could use a guy roaming the back-end, making big plays. Ladler can very well be this guy for us. Kenny is a big hitter with great instincts to break on the ball. He led the team in forced fumbles, and brought in 5 interceptions to boot. I want guys who are always around the ball, and can give the offense back the ball.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 1.0 pick: Dri Archer, WR/RB, Kent State</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 2.0 pick: Dri Archer, WR/RB, Kent State</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 3.0 pick: Terrance Mitchell, CB, Oregon</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Round 6</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;">David Fales, QB, San Jose State</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">6'2" - 212 Pounds - 4.99 40</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">We really don't need another QB, but I think if Fales drops this far, we would be picking him up at great value. I loved Fales in 2012. His 2013 wasn't as good, but my feelings about him haven't changed much. We would be picking up and extremely accurate QB, who can come in and manage a game. His arm might not be as strong as <span>Matt Simms</span>', but he won't make crippling mistakes that kill drives. If he is there take him. He would be the BPA.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 1.0 pick: T.J. Jones, WR, Notre Dame</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 2.0 pick: James Morris, OLB/ILB, Iowa</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 3.0 pick: Ryan Groy, G, Wisconsin</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Round 6</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;">Ryan Groy, G, Wisconsin</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">6'5" - 320 Pounds - 5.10 40</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I have been banging the drum for Groy all offseason. All I see when I watch tape of this guy, is him opening up huge holes for the Badgers, or keeping his QB clean. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">Jets</a> have already shown some interest in Groy at the East West game. <span>Willie Colon</span> was brought back, but is an old injury concern. Winters can still redeem himself, but he was the worst O-linemen we had last year. We can absolutely benefit from bringing in more G talent. Groy has also shown that he can play tackle as well. I love versatility along the line.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 1.0 pick: No Pick</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 2.0 pick: No Pick</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 3.0 pick: Colt Lyerla, TE, Oregon</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Round 6</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;">Jalen Saunders, WR, Oklahoma</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">5'9" - 165 Pounds - 4.45 40</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">We can always use more playmakers on our offense. Beckham and Decker can be our X and Z receivers. Nelson and hill can back them up. This leaves <span>Jeremy Kerley</span> as our Y receiver, and no backup. Saunders can step in and fill this spot immediately. Saunders might be a bit undersized, but their is no denying his production for the Sooner's offense. He finished 2013 with 61 receptions for 729 yards and eight touchdowns. He had a decent combine to boot. Drew and I probably overdrafted him in our last mock, which will explain the drop to the 6th from the 4th.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 1.0 pick: No Pick</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 2.0 pick: No Pick</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 3.0 pick: Logan Thomas, QB, Virginia Tech</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Round 6</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;">Matt Patchan, OT, Boston College</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">6'6" - 302 Pounds - 4.97 40</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">I don't think we can go wrong with some extra O-line depth. Patchan has no shortage of raw ability, but has had a rough go of things. On the field Matt is a very competitive athlete, who has a lot of potential. He will need to hit the weight room, and hone his craft, but there is absolutely something for the coaches to work with. Off the field, things take a weird turn. He has gotten into two scooter accidents, and was shot in a drive-by shooting. I don't believe he was under the influence, or was the intended target in either of those events. This guy needs a break. Maybe we can give him one.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 1.0 pick: No Pick</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 2.0 pick: No Pick</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 3.0 pick: Matt Patchan, OT, Boston College</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">Round 7</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;">Colt Lyerla, TE, Oregon</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">6'4" - 242 Pounds - 4.61 40</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">If we were looking at physicality, and talent alone, Lyeria could be a 1st rounder. Alas, it isn't, and he won't be. His off-field issues will surely keep him low on team's boards. He could very well go undrafted. We don't think he will though. There will be some team that takes a late round flyer on him. Why not the Jets? If Rex and the gang can straighten him out, it would be an incredible steal. We dropped him a round, because a coke addiction is a hard thing to get over.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 1.0 pick: James Morris, OLB/ILB, Iowa</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 2.0 pick: Shaq Barrett, OLB/DE, Colorado State</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Mock 3.0 pick: James Morris, OLB/ILB, Iowa</p>
https://www.ganggreennation.com/2014/4/27/5652380/scouting-the-2014-draft-combo-mock-4-0Matthew Mauro2014-04-24T16:42:06-04:002014-04-24T16:42:06-04:00McShay Would Pick Gilbert For The Jets
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<figcaption>Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>McShay has released another Mock draft, this time with a little twist.</p> <p>We all have our opinions on draft analysts, some we like, some we dislike. Some of us love mock drafts, some of us absolutely hate mock drafts. However for those who enjoy them, <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2014/story/_/id/10826960/2014-nfl-draft-todd-mcshay-gives-picks-make-first-round" target="_blank">McShay is back with another mock</a> but this one has a little twist to it.</p>
<p>Most of the time, analysts will try and predict what the organization will do, even if they disagree themselves. They are predicting what they think will happen on draft night to the best of their ability, it's tough and it's not an exact science at all.</p>
<p>So it's refreshing to see McShay stray away from curve and just do a mock based on his own thoughts. These are selections he would make if he were GM of each team, they are not necessarily the picks he thinks will happen.</p>
<p>So for the <a href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Jets</a>, he selected:</p>
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<h3 style="margin-bottom: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-size: 1.2em; vertical-align: baseline; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">18. <a href="http://espn.go.com/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; text-decoration: underline; color: #225fb2;">New York Jets</a>: <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/34122/justin-gilbert" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #225fb2;">Justin Gilbert</a>, CB, Oklahoma State</h3>
<p style="margin-bottom: 10px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; line-height: 17px; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If I thought the <a href="https://www.musiccitymiracles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Titans</a> fans would boo me for my pick at No. 11, things could get downright ugly with Jets fans after this pick. Not just another defensive player in the first round, but a corner? I get it, but let me explain my reasoning. I think it's too early to take <a href="http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/33604/marqise-lee" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; color: #225fb2;">Marqise Lee</a>, and all the top remaining players on my board in this scenario are either quarterbacks or defensive players. Moreover, the Jets could certainly afford to improve at cornerback, and Gilbert could provide some much-needed playmaking ability from the defensive backfield (two interception returns for TDs in 2013, six career kick return TDs). They'll wish he was more physical, however.</p>
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<p>Cooks, Beckham, Dennard, Ebron, Clinton-Dix, Evans and Watkins are all off the board in this scenario. If the Jets fans at the draft booed this selection, I would be very disappointed. For me he is the best corner in the draft, Dennard suits our style more but Gilbert is the best athlete in the entire draft. Personally I would have absolutely no problems with this selection if we were to make it come draft night.</p>
https://www.ganggreennation.com/2014/4/24/5650588/mcshay-would-pick-gilbert-for-the-jetsDavid Wyatt-Hupton2014-04-22T16:51:17-04:002014-04-22T16:51:17-04:00A Brief Look At The NY Jets Pre-Draft Visits
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<figcaption>Andy Lyons</figcaption>
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<p>We are going to take a step back to look at the past, and if there is significance in the pre-draft visit. </p> <p>Over the last few days, I have seen a lot of people asking what the significance is of the pre-draft visit. Will we definitely select a player we have invited to visit the facility? Do most of our actual selections visit the Jets? All good questions, and all questions I had no answer to. I tried to rack my brain to remember if Quinton Coples, or Mo Wilk visited us, but I just couldn't put my finger on the answer.</p>
<p>Tonight I decided to look through the historical data associated with Pre-Draft visits, to see if we usually draft from the pool of players we invited to the facility. I have tried to find the most up to date historical list, but of course there may be some discrepancies at certain points. All data was taken from either ESPN or Pro Football Talk:</p>
<p>Lets start with the most recent draft, 2013:</p>
<p>*This list only includes players who actually visited the facility. It does not include any private work-outs that were held.</p>
<p><b><i><u>2013- Taken From ESPN/Draft Insider</u></i></b></p>
<p><b>Geno Smith, Quarterback, West Virginia</b></p>
<p><b>Dee Milliner, Cornerback, Alabama</b></p>
<p><b>Oday Aboushi, Offensive Tackle, Virginia</b></p>
<p><b>William Campbell, Defensive/Offensive Line, Michigan</b></p>
<p><b>Sheldon Richardson, Defensive End, Missouri</b></p>
<p><i><u>Did not visit, but were selected:</u></i></p>
<p>Brian Winters, Offensive Guard, Kent State</p>
<p>Tommy Bohanon, Fullback, Wake Forrest</p>
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</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b><i><u>2012 - Taken From Pro Football Talk</u></i></b></p>
<p><b>Josh Bush, Safety, Wake Forrest</b></p>
<p><b>Quinton Coples, Defensive End, North Carolina</b></p>
<p><b>Stephen Hill, Receiver, Georgia Tech</b></p>
<p><i><u>Did not visit, but were selected:</u></i></p>
<p>Demario Davis, Inside Linebacker, Arkansas State</p>
<p>Terrance Gannaway, Running Back, Baylor</p>
<p>Robert Griffin, Offensive Tackle, Baylor</p>
<p>Antonio Allen, Safety, South Carolina</p>
<p>Jordan White, Wide Receiver, Western Michigan</p>
<p> </p>
<p>
</p>
<p><b><i><u>2011- Taken From ESPN</u></i></b></p>
<p><b>Bilal Powell, Running Back, Louisville</b></p>
<p><b>Kendrick Ellis, Defensive Tackle, Hampton</b></p>
<p><b>Muhammad Wilkerson, Defensive End, Temple</b></p>
<p><i><u>Did not visit, but were selected</u></i></p>
<p>Jeremy Kerley, Wide Receiver, TCU</p>
<p>Greg McElroy, Quarterback, Alabama</p>
<p>Scotty McKnight, Wide Receiver, Colorado</p>
<p> </p>
<p>What conclusions can you draw from this? I really don't know. We have a very small sample size to work with, especially considering we changed GM after the 2012 draft and before the 2013 draft. Very quick conclusions would suggest that John Idzik likes to draft prospects he has met and is familiar with, especially ones who have visited the facility. 5 of the 7 selections he made in 2013 visited the Jets pre-draft, in comparison to 6/11 in the last two years under Mike T.</p>
<p>Like I said, you can't draw many conclusions from this. If the lists I referenced were accurate, then it gives you a little peek into how Idzik is working. We'll know a lot more after this draft.</p>
https://www.ganggreennation.com/2014/4/22/5640946/a-brief-historical-look-at-the-ny-jets-pre-draft-visitsDavid Wyatt-Hupton2014-04-21T09:32:38-04:002014-04-21T09:32:38-04:00Ranking The Outside Linebackers In The 2014 NFL Dr
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<figcaption>Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Spor</figcaption>
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<p>We are going to continue our series with a look at the outside linebackers available next month</p> <p>We've needed an elite outside linebacker for as long as I can remember, however we have neglected it for far too long. If <span>Calvin Pace</span> can rack up double-digit sacks in this system coming from the outside, imagine what a guy like Mack could do, our defense would be downright scary up front. Saying that we have <span>Quinton Coples</span> coming into his second year at the position, so I'm sure everyone is hoping to see an improvement.</p>
<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">Jets</a> will be hoping that <span>Antwan Barnes</span> manages to stay healthy, he was placed on injured reserve on October 9th and missed the majority of the Jets season. If you couple that with the re-signing of Calvin Pace the Jets look to have at least some serviceable talent on the outside. However we don't have a game-breaker from the position, unless Coples makes a leap.</p>
<p>So will the Jets be able to address this issue in the draft? will they even want to? Lets take a look at some of the talent that is available.</p>
<p><b>TIER ONE</b></p>
<p>Khalil Mack - Buffalo (Projected: Top 10)</p>
<p>My Take: It's very unusual for me to place only one player in a tier, but that's because Mack is ahead of the pack in terms of pure quality. He may be my favourite prospect in the entire draft and the frustrating aspect? he would be absolutely perfect for the Jets. He has played his entire college career as a OLB in a 3-4 system in Buffalo. Unlike a lot of players in college who have to switch positions from a 4-3 DE to a 3-4 OLB, he has already been asked to drop into coverage a lot and he has already excelled at that aspect. He was asked to drop into coverage a lot more in 2010 where he had 10 pass break-ups. There is very little to dislike about Mack, he has an excellent first step, he has elite instincts and awareness, he basically lives in the back-field, he has an array of pass rushing moves, he has elite speed in pursuit and he has a motor that doesn't stop. So when you put all that together into one package, you have an elite prospect who is going to cause some serious problems in the NFL. He is the only player I would consider trading up for, basically because he would take our front 7, which is already one of the best, and turn it into an elite unit. It would also take a lot of pressure off the secondary.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/J9-RznymSW4" height="315" width="560"></iframe> <br id="1398081590533"></p>
<p><b>TIER TWO</b></p>
<p>Anthony Barr - UCLA (Projection: 1st Round)</p>
<p>Ryan Shazier - Ohio State (Projected: 1st Round)</p>
<p><b>My Take: </b>I did think about placing a couple more players in this bracket, however these two just get the nod ahead of the chasing pack. Prior to the 2012 season, Anthony Barr was a running back, splitting carries with several other backs, he looked as though he was on the road to mediocrity. However new head coach Jim Mora arrives and switched Barr to OLB for the 2012/2013 seasons. He went on to lead the team in tackles for a loss and sacks in both years. Barr has exceptional speed off the snap and he can deliver a powerful hit, he also has elite speed in pursuit and his lateral movement to move to the ball is excellent. However I am very wary about Barr because he is raw, his instincts, awareness and feel in coverage all scream that he's been playing this position for just two years. He uses his speed in college a lot and hasn't developed his hand placement or pass rushing moves. The team that takes him will be getting a player who's got a very high ceiling, but who will need a lot of work to become the finished prospect.</p>
<p>I was really looking forward to seeing Shazier at the combine, but his hamstring limited his participation. He has spent the majority of his college career at WLB, but he's racked up a ton of tackles and is rightfully being looked at as a first round talent. 39.5 tackles for a loss over the last two years, he is a gap shooter who plays the run as well as any outside linebacker in this draft. He's an explosive player who can get upfield in a hurry, his hands are strong and he is a very hard man to keep engaged. He also looks very fluid in coverage, with good speed and excellent range. He does sometimes over-pursue and he can lose containment on the edge by being too aggressive, however as far as a first round talent goes, there is a lot to like about Shazier's game.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/wmT5sX7G3xk" height="315" width="560"></iframe> <br id="1398083238856"></p>
<p>TIER THREE</p>
<p>Jeremiah Attaochu - Georgia Tech (Projected: Second Round)</p>
<p>Kyle Van Noy - BYU (Projected: Second Round)</p>
<p>Trent Murphy - Stanford (Projected Second/Third Round)</p>
<p>Adrian Hubbard - Alabama (Projected Second/Third Round)</p>
<p><b>My Take: </b>Jeremiah is the cream of the crop here. He played most of his college career as a 3-4 outside linebacker before switching to a 4-3 defensive end in 2013. He'll also only be a 21 year old rookie, with a lot of potential, a quick burst, excellent closing speed and a non-stop motor. He's definitely a player who I would consider in the second round if he was still there. Van Noy is another player who has vast experience playing as a 3-4 outside linebacker, although he experienced some personal maturity issues earlier in his career he came on strong towards the end culminating in a fantastic 2013 season. I worry about his lack of strength at the point of attack, however he does get off the snap quickly and he shows excellent closing speed and range when dropping back into coverage. He's also very agile and works well to find the football.</p>
<p>Trent Murphy looks to be a Rex Ryan kind of player, very tough and physical at the line, a non-stop motor with good leadership traits. He had a very productive year in 2013, leading the nation in sacks and he has a wide variety of pass rushing moves, and he has really worked to develop his hand placement and power. However he does struggle against bigger blockers and could do with adding some weight to his upper body. He also doesn't look as smooth as the others in coverage with his speed only being average at best. Hubbard on the other hand doesn't have the explosive burst as some, but he does have a lot of strength and can anchor the edge against powerful lineman. He has enough speed to stretch out to the sideline and he does have some bend and pass rushing ability.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/sjFj8xZuUsE" height="315" width="560"></iframe> <br id="1398084340605"></p>
<p><b>TIER FOUR</b></p>
<p>Ronald Powell - Florida (Projection: Round 4)</p>
<p>Lamin Barrow - LSU (Projection: Round 4)</p>
<p>Carl Bradford - Arizona State (Projection: Round 4)</p>
<p>Prince Shembo - Notre Dame (Projected: Round 4)</p>
<p>Jordan Tripp - Montana (Projection: Round 4)</p>
<p>Trevor Reilly - Utah (Projection: Round 4)</p>
<p><b>My Take:</b> There are a lot of players around the 4th/5th round, so I've selected a fair few here to just highlight. Powell is a guy who was highly recruited out of high school, but he's never managed to stay healthy long enough to fulfill his potential, he missed the entire 2012 season with an ACL tear and he pulled a hamstring running the 40 at the combine. He has good closing speed but he's never put it together, some team will take a chance on him, but I wouldn't want that to be us. Barrow really impressed me in 2013, he's very athletic, with a great motor, very tough, good tackler and he uses his hands well. Bradford is a stunt and loop player who plays with good speed, acceleration and can pop you if you get in his way, he's played a hybrid of the DE/OLB positions for much of his college career so he offers scheme versatility. With the Jets running out of the 3-4 and 4-3, that could be very useful.</p>
<p>I've seen a lot of Prince Shembo and he really does have a lot of talent and experience from the OLB position. He's very strong at the point and he does have the quickness to play sideline-to-sideline, however it's his tackling ability that will get him drafted, he does lack the instincts to be elite though. Reilly is a player with good functional strength but whenever he dropped back in coverage I always thought he was going to be beat, not very agile or fluid. When I saw Jordan Tripp, I came away impressed with two main aspects of his game, his tackling, and his instincts. Both very important if you hope to be a success at the next level.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/uyBTI2XTwig" height="315" width="560"></iframe> <br id="1398085338364"></p>
<p><b>TIER FIVE</b></p>
<p>Christian Kirksey - Iowa (Projected: Round 5/6)</p>
<p>Yawin Smallwood - Connecticut (Projected: Round 5/6)</p>
<p>Derrell Johnson - East Carolina (Projected: Round 5/6)</p>
<p>Shaquil Barrett - Colorado State (Projected: Round 5/6)</p>
<p>Brandon Watts - Georgia Tech (Projected: Round 5/6)</p>
<p>My Take: This group possesses two of my favourite guys at the position in Kirksey and Johnson. Showed a lot of explosion and range playing at Iowa, covering a lot of space, and although he maybe doesn't have the ideal strength you would want, I really like him as a pure tackler who has room to develop (Only 21). Johnson is just a physical guy who will knock your cleats off without even trying, he's played more as a DE but I think he could work in space with some development. Although Smallwood is more a ILB, I think he has the pace, tackling and coverage ability to play on the outside in a 3-4. Barrett will get drafted because he always seems to be around the football making tackles and disrupting the play. Brandon Watts is just pure pace and energy, not a bad player to try and develop into a more rounded backer.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/2fXGnsNacpY" height="315" width="560"></iframe> <br id="1398086403731"></p>
<p><b>TIER SIX</b></p>
<p>Kevin Pierre-Louis - Boston College (Projection: Round 6-7)</p>
<p>Jeremiah George - Iowa State (Projection: Round 6-7)</p>
<p>Morgan Breslin - USC (Projection: Round 6-7)</p>
<p>Jonathan Brown - Illinois (Projection: Round 6-7)</p>
<p>Randall Johnson - Florida Atlantic (Projection: Round 6-7)</p>
<p><b>My Take: </b>Again, this is a case of picking a few from a bunch. You can go linebacker crazy in the late rounds of the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-draft">NFL draft</a>. So I've just picked out a few names that stick out to me. Pierre-Louis put on a clinic at the combine, He was a top performer in everything apart from the 3-cone drill. His instincts and play recognition needs work, but he is strong, fast and athletic. A defensive minded coach will love the prospect of moulding this guy. Breslin is very under-sized, however he shows excellent knee bend and he has been very productive, one of the hardest workers on the field and his motor will just keep ticking over. Finally I just want to mention Randall Johnson from Florida Atlantic, now he is as raw as you get, but he shows excellent length, tackling, pursuit and recognition, he needs a lot of work, but if you have a 7th round selection, I would love to pick him up and give him to Rex.</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Sg72XyNakIg" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
<p><b>DW's Conclusion</b></p>
<p>Best Outside Linebacker: Khalil Mack</p>
<p>Mid-Round Gem: Lamin Barrow</p>
<p>Late Round Sleeper: Kevin Pierre-Lewis</p>
https://www.ganggreennation.com/2014/4/21/5635602/ranking-the-outside-linebackers-in-the-2014-nfl-draftDavid Wyatt-Hupton2014-04-20T15:15:22-04:002014-04-20T15:15:22-04:00Ranking The Running Backs In The 2014 NFL Draft
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/l5Q_kzItLIG8A066RKaeaVL44eg=/0x9:4000x2676/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/31901369/156649490.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Ronald Martinez</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>To continue our series, we are going to look at the running back position</p> <p>I would say our running-back situation is very strong. We have a battering ram in Ivory, complimented by an effective if declining 3rd down back who's never rushed for less than 1,000 yards in a season. We have an offensive coordinator who will be able to use Johnson's speed and Ivory will wear the defense down to make the change of pace that much more effective. Not to mention we still have <span>Bilal Powell</span> who tired last season after getting off to a fantastic start.</p>
<p>Lets put it like this, if you combine the production of our top three running backs from last year, you end up with 2607 yards on the ground and 627 yards in the air. Now I would take that every single time. Obviously the roles will change this year but that's not a bad situation to be in by any means. I don't think Goodson will be here for much longer, he may spend more time in prison next year. However right now, if you said we'd go into the season with that depth chart, I'd be delighted.</p>
<p>Saying that, there is some serious talent in this draft and I do expect us to pick up a running back at some point, as long as the value is there. So lets dive straight in, and I apologise in advance if this is a little longer than some of the others.</p>
<p><b>TIER ONE</b></p>
<p>Carlos Hyde - Ohio State (Projected: Round 2)</p>
<p>Tre Mason - Auburn (Projected: Round 2)</p>
<p>Bishop Sankey - Washington (Projected: Round 2)</p>
<p>Jeremy Hill - LSU (Projected: Round 2)</p>
<p>Andre Williams - Boston College (Projected: Round 2)</p>
<p><b>My Take:</b> As you can see, I've included a lot of players in tier one. I don't see any running-back worth a first round grade, but I do see plenty of players with potential to be a steal in the second round. I see Carlos Hyde very much as an Eddy Lacy type player. A good downhill runner who's very difficult to bring down, good in short yardage situations. Can block and catch the ball when needed, but his power is his main trait. The same can be said for Williams, who is just a bowling ball, punisher on every single level. Where as Tre Mason is a little bit of a dancer, in that he has excellent slide cuts and stop-start quickness, although he needs to hold onto the football more. Bishop Sankey may be my favourite guy from this group, great instincts and awareness and he reads the game as well as any one. He can slide and accelerate but some will question his elusiveness in the open field and does he have enough speed to run away from NFL backs? Hill is a player who really punishes defences when he gets going, a true power football back who can run through and off tackle quite effectively. Has good feet for a big man but again, he isn't the most elusive runner. Of everyone here, Williams and Sankey are my two favourite prospects. However personally, I would bypass all of these guys and move to the next tier to pick up the value.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/Ujt1S9P2XHE" height="315" width="560"></iframe> <br id="1398018947699"></p>
<p><b>TIER TWO</b></p>
<p>Lache Seastrunk - Baylor (Projected: 3rd Round)</p>
<p>Devonta Freeman - Florida State (Projected: 3rd Round)</p>
<p>Terrance West - Towson (Projected: 3rd-4th Round)</p>
<p>Ka'Deem Carey - Arizona (Projected: 3rd-4th Round)</p>
<p><b>My Take:</b> I will put a disclaimer here and say that I really want us to select Lache Seastrunk. I think he is a fantastic back with a very bright future, especially if he can land in a west-coast offence. He has excellent speed and acceleration. However he also runs with a low centre of gravity making him difficult to bring down, he spins off a lot of tackles and for a speed back he makes a lot of people miss, while churning extra yards by fighting through arm tackles. Devonta is another guy I like because he can do it all, he's well balanced and patient. Can pass protest and catch the football away from his body. West is a very talented player who can run through the tackles, he has excellent vision for the cut-back lanes and he can really stretch the corner, not to mention he's scored a ton of touchdowns. Ka'Deem is a very nifty runner with good balance who's been a very productive back over the last few years, has had to carry a lot of the load at Arizona, so he's already got a lot of mileage on the clock.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/ATV13gzocN0" height="315" width="560"></iframe> <br id="1398019009348"></p>
<p><b>TIER THREE</b></p>
<p>Charles Sims - West Virginia (Projected: Round 4)</p>
<p>De'Anthony Thomas - Oregon (Projected: Round 4)</p>
<p>Jerick McKinnon - Georgia Southern (Projected: Round 4)</p>
<p>Storm Johnson - Central Florida (Projected: Round 4/5)</p>
<p><b>My Take:</b> We are coming with some serious speed, fast and fluid athletes who can beat anyone to the corner. Both Sims and Thomas are fantastic athletes, both show elusive moves in the open field, finding the cut back lanes, and when they find a gap, they are gone. Both can be used out of the back-field and both can do some damage after the catch. Jerick McKinnon may be the steal of the draft, or he may just be a work-out warrior. I hadn't really looked at him much before the combine, but he blew it up, so I went back and had a look and couldn't help but be impressed. He's as strong as you can get, with a strong upper and lower body. Punishing runner who's also a very effective blocker. He has moved around a little too much, which means he's very raw. If he can find a spot in the offence, and then work at it, with a little development, he could be a real talent. Storm Johnson wins the award for the best name, he's also a very powerfull back who runs between the tackles and keeps his legs churning, however he also possesses some open field moves to really gain that extra yard or two, although he doesn't possess top end speed and won't run away from many NFL backs.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/RZ_eIM9EV0I" height="315" width="560"></iframe> <br id="1398019646638"></p>
<p><b>TIER FOUR</b></p>
<p>James White - Wisconsin (Projected: 5th Round)</p>
<p>Alfred Blue - LSU (Projected: 5th Round)</p>
<p>Tyler Gaffney - Stanford (Projected: 5th Round)</p>
<p>Isaiah Crowell - Alabama State (Projected: 5th Round)</p>
<p><b>My Take: </b>I actually really like James White, I think he possesses a nice blend of size, strength, speed and vision and could be a little diamond in the rough down here in the 5th. Alfred Blue is a guy that shows a lot of patience and vision and I really like that in my backs, he also has the power to run inside and the pace to reach the corner, I really don't know how some outlets have him being a UDFA. Gaffney I like for two reasons, he has excellent patience and waits for his blocks to set, and he can catch the ball out of the backfield. Two traits that I think you look for in a WCO running back. Crowell only just make this tier because of the sheer power he possesses. Players just seem to bounce off him right, left and centre. He struggles with his balance and has had some off-field incidents which may make him drop even further than the 5th round.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/0-gL9wNVdHc" height="315" width="560"></iframe> <br id="1398020142215"></p>
<p><b>TIER FIVE</b></p>
<p><span>Damian Williams</span> - Oklahoma (Projected: Round 6)</p>
<p>James Wilder - Florida State (Projected: Round 6)</p>
<p>Rajion Neal - Tennessee (Projected: Round 6)</p>
<p>Senorise Perry - Louisville (Projected: Round 6)</p>
<p>Marion Grice - Arizona State (Projected: Round 6)</p>
<p>My Take: Now we are getting to the bottom of the pack and you can start to tell. All of these guys have some serious flaws to their game. However first I want to talk about Marion Grice, a player I really like. He's a one-cut runner, but he does it better than most, he has good balance, good awareness with vision and an ability to be elusive in the open-field. I think this guy is a diamond and will be an effective back for whichever NFL team decides to take him. Williams has excellent balance with good hands, however he never looks as though he has a feel for the game and will often run into the wrong situations. James Wilder breaks a lot of tackles and hasn't had much mileage on the clock, but he does run too upright, losing a lot of momentum. Neal is a big guy at 220lb's but he manages to get to the corner quickly and works his way through traffic with some quick footwork.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/CCVfPNeVKF0" height="315" width="560"></iframe> <br id="1398020670624"></p>
<p><b>TIER SIX</b></p>
<p>Lorenzo Taliaferro - Coastal Carolina (Projected: Round 7/UDFA)</p>
<p>Antonio Andrews - Western Kentucky (Projected: Round 7/UDFA)</p>
<p>Ben Malena - Texas A&M (Projected: Round 7/UDFA)</p>
<p>Henry Josey - Missouri (Projected: Round 7/UDFA)</p>
<p>Silas Redd - USC (Projected: Round 7/UDFA)</p>
<p>My Take: I really could have put 100 players here, there are a ton of guys around the 6th, 7th round. So if I haven't added your sleeper, it's not because I don't think he's any good, I just needed to pick out a few players to feature. Back in 2011 I thought Silas Redd would be a star, he was picking up yards for fun and his vision/cuts were among the best in college football. However after he transferred from Penn State to USC his career just derailed due to injuries. He's a one cut back who can certainly pick up some hard yards. I do also have a lot of time for Josey, a player who has a lot of ability, a quick-twitch athlete who's struggled with some nagging injuries. Finally on to Ben Malena, a guy who has some lateral quickness, with patience to allow the play to develop. A very entertaining player who also gives 100% in the blocking game.</p>
<p><iframe frameborder="0" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/2rZIBCgKzQU" height="315" width="560"></iframe> <br id="1398021232368"></p>
<p><b>DW's Conclusion:</b></p>
<p>Best Back In The Draft: Carlos Hyde</p>
<p>Mid-Round Gem: Lache Seastrunk</p>
<p>Late Sleeper: Marion Grice</p>
https://www.ganggreennation.com/2014/4/20/5633940/ranking-the-running-backs-in-the-2014-nfl-draftDavid Wyatt-Hupton2014-04-20T09:01:05-04:002014-04-20T09:01:05-04:00Scouting The Draft: Davante Adams, WR, Fresno
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/c8e8cMf7z8oxnNCtNNpiNGxi5-k=/5x0:3995x2660/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/31888883/20131019_ads_ak6_112.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Another potential target for Geno Smith to throw to.</p> <p class="p1"><b>Introduction</b></p>
<p class="p1">Despite the signatures of Eric Decker and Jacoby Ford, the Jets still seem primed to draft from the deep WR pool in the early rounds. Today we’ll look at one who could be in the mix on the second day of the draft, the ultra-productive Davante Adams out of Fresno State.</p>
<p class="p1">A lightly-recruited 2 star WR out of Palo Alto, California (Stanford’s backyard... whoops), Adams had offers from San Diego State and Fresno State before going with Fresno. After redshirting his first year on campus, Adams proceeded to put up video game numbers over the next 2 years, putting up 3,000 yards and 38 TDs on 233 catches. With Derek Carr leaving and nothing left to show at the college level, Adams forwent his final 2 seasons of eligibility and declared for the 2014 draft.</p>
<p class="p1"><b>Measurables</b></p>
<p class="p1">Height: 6-0 7/8"</p>
<p class="p1">Weight: 212</p>
<p class="p1">Arm length: 32 5/8"</p>
<p class="p1">Hand size: 9"</p>
<p class="p1">40 yard dash: 4.56</p>
<p class="p1">10 yard split: 1.53</p>
<p class="p1">Vertical leap: 39.5"</p>
<p class="p1">Broad jump: 10-3</p>
<p class="p1">Bench press: 14</p>
<p class="p1">3-cone drill: 6.82</p>
<p class="p1">20 yard shuttle: 4.30</p>
<p class="p1"><b>Stats:</b></p>
<table border="0"><tbody>
<tr>
<td><br></td>
<td>Receptions</td>
<td>Yards</td>
<td>Yards Per Catch</td>
<td>Touchdowns</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2012</td>
<td>102</td>
<td>1,312</td>
<td>12.9</td>
<td>14</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>2013</td>
<td>131</td>
<td>1,719</td>
<td>13.1</td>
<td>24</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<p class="p1"> </p>
<p class="p1"><b>Positives</b></p>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li1">Good NFL size at 6-1, 212, and has a broad frame to add muscle and become stronger. </li>
<li class="li1">Despite smallish hands, has excellent grip strength and squeezes the football.</li>
<li class="li1">Uses long arms and high vertical to high point the football and win jump balls</li>
<li class="li1">Uses his body to shield defenders away from the ball</li>
<li class="li1">Very good at beating the press and setting up corners with both inside and outside releases</li>
<li class="li1">Accelerates quickly- reaches his top speed fast</li>
<li class="li1">Elusive and strong after the catch. Consistently breaks tackles when he gets the ball and has good run instincts in terms of cutting back and following blocks, will be a weapon on screen passes.</li>
<li class="li1">A natural hands catcher who plucks the ball out of the air</li>
<li class="li1">Good sideline awareness when running the fade route, which he ran an extraordinary amount of times at Fresno.</li>
<li class="li1">Said to be an intelligent player.</li>
</ul>
<p class="p1"><b>Negatives</b></p>
<ul class="ul1">
<li class="li1">Does not have great speed and won’t blow the top off of defenses</li>
<li class="li1">Can get outmuscled by the physical corners- needs to improve functional strength (does have the frame to)</li>
<li class="li1">Inflated production from funky system, Derek Carr, weaker competition</li>
<li class="li1">Inconsistent effort as a run blocker- one play he’ll seal off his man perfectly, the next he’ll completely whiff</li>
<li class="li1">Simplistic route tree, mostly ran fade routes, screens, comebacks, and slants. Rounded his routes the few times he ran hard plant routes.</li>
<li class="li1">Somewhat prone to "hearing the footsteps"- saw a couple drops he alligator armed because the hit was coming.</li>
<li class="li1">Can play a little high at times coming off the LOS</li>
</ul>
<p class="p1"><b>Conclusion</b></p>
<p class="p1">I believe Adams could be a nice addition to a team and has the potential to be a high end #2 receiver. He does a lot of things well, and his ability to juke the press and break tackles makes him a bit of a unique player. However, Adams lacks the speed and route running to have elite upside, and he tends to play with an inconsistent and occasionally sloppy effort. That said, his production is undeniable and at age 21 he still has plenty of room to grow. If a team has a competent WR coach and can get the already pretty strong frame filled out, I see no reason why Adams couldn’t be a thousand yard receiver at the pro level.</p>
<p class="p1"><b>NFL Comparison: <i>Michael Crabtree, 49ers</i></b></p>
<p class="p1">Similar to Crabtree, Adams is a great RAC receiver who is tough to press. Crabtree is a better route runner which gave him higher end upside, but both players win with their frame, length, and strong hands moreso than athleticism. This is far from a bad boom scenario for Adams.</p>
<p class="p1"><b>Draft him for the Jets?</b></p>
<p class="p1">Adams isn’t my favorite day 2 guy, but I don’t think I’d have a problem winding up with Adams. I like his potential. I think the Jets can do better with their second round pick, but if the Jets were to trade down towards the end of the second or top of the 3rd, Adams would be on my radar, and I’d be all over it if Adams drops our 3rd.</p>
<p class="p1"><b>Highlights: </b></p>
<p class="p1"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/uvGeiqmqWE0" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
https://www.ganggreennation.com/2014/4/20/5633236/scouting-the-draft-davante-adams-wr-fresno-stateJ-Cubed2014-04-19T07:44:45-04:002014-04-19T07:44:45-04:00Ranking The Tight-Ends Available In The NFL Draft
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/eNnQbjSEK-175YK05lmxKEpY_O4=/0x0:4000x2667/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/31848347/20120908_jrc_bb4_092.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Jeremy Brevard-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>We continue our look at the best prospect available at each position with a look at the tight-ends. </p> <p>When we selected <span>Dustin Keller</span> 30th overall in 2008, he was supposed to be the athletic freak who could take our offence to the next level. Unfortunately, although it came close at points, it never quite got there. Lets not forget that Keller did have a 815 yard, 5 touchdown season in 2011. So although he maybe never got to the standard we wanted, he was a valuable first round selection. I always wonder what may have happened, had he managed to avoid all those nagging injuries.</p>
<p>We resigned <span>Jeff Cumberland</span> to a three year, $3.7 million deal with $1 million guaranteed. However he hasn't shown he can be a consistent pass-catcher. So I find it hard to believe that we won[t select a TE at some point during this draft. Some think it may be in the first, but that will depend how the board falls. Below I have ranked the tight ends as I see them, feel free to agree, disagree and to leave your comments at the bottom.</p>
<p><b>TIER ONE</b></p>
<p>Eric Ebron - North Carolina (Projected: Top 20)</p>
<p>Jace Amaro - Texas Tech (Projected: First Round)</p>
<p><b>My Take:</b> There seems to be a lot of disagreement about the tight-ends this year, mainly because the position is quickly changing into a more receiver dominated position. Ebron does most of his damage from the slot, and the same can be said for Amaro, the in-line blocker is quickly fading and the athletic pass catching tight-end is the flavour of the moment. However if you have a quick, agile tight end being covered by linebackers and safeties, you're going to have success. Which is why we have these two guys rated as the top guys available. Ebron is just a fantastic athlete with excellent release, good speed, good hands and his route-running is superb for a tight end. He has quickness, agility and balance, and I would love to see him on this <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">Jets</a> team. Jace Amaro had a great year, and he's another guy who has good quickness and good hands. He doesn't have the speed of Ebron, but he is a better blocker. Some have Amaro falling to the 2nd round, personally I don't see it. I think both of these guys are gone by the mid-twenties.</p>
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<p><b>TIER TWO</b></p>
<address><span>Troy Niklas - Notre Dame (Projected: Round 2)</span></address>
<address><span>Austin Seferian-Jenkins - Washington (Projected: Round 2)</span></address>
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<address><span><b>My Take: </b><span>If you want a good all-around tight-end then Troy Niklas is the best rounded TE in this class. He has excellent size with a big body, and big target in the red-zone. He is a good in-line and combo blocker and has the agility and balance to be a dangerous receiving threat. However he doesn't have the speed of the top two or the elusiveness after the catch. Like I said he's more of a traditional tight-end who still needs a little refinement, but he has a ton of potential. ASJ is a big man, a big target who has surprising quickness and agility for such a big guy. He has soft hands and catches the balls away from his frame. Why isn't be in the same league as Ebron or Amaro? mainly because his release off the line is only average and he needs to build up his speed, he can also round off his breaks making him a little easier to track down. However he is still a very good player. If we end up with ASJ in the second round, you won't hear any complaints from me.</span></span></address>
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<p><b>TIER THREE</b></p>
<p>C.J. Fiedorowicz - Iowa (Projected: Round 3/4)</p>
<p><b>My Take: </b>I've placed C.J into a tier all by himself for two main reasons. One, he's not as good as Niklas or ASJ in my opinion, and two, he's much better than anyone left in the draft after this point. At 6'5, 265lb's he is a very big guy. However he has good agility, enough pace to threaten the seam and he catches the ball cleanly away from his body. He can adjust to poorly thrown balls and like Niklas, he is comfortable lining up in-line or split out. However he's down here in tier three for a reason. When I watched him I saw a guy who takes a while to get up to speed and in and out of breaks and he wasn't always going 100% all the time, inconsistent effort is a massive problem for me and I think it will be for a lot of coaches. He is raw as a blocker and has relied on his size too much. I'm looking forward to seeing him develop, but I'm not sure I want another developmental guy on the Jets.</p>
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<p><b>TIER FOUR</b></p>
<p>Colt Lyerla - Oregon (Projected: Round 5-7)</p>
<p>Anthony Denham - Utah (Projected: Round 5-7)</p>
<p>Arthur Lynch - Georgia (Projected: Round 5-7)</p>
<p>Marcel Jensen - Fresno State (Projected: Round 5-7)</p>
<p>Richard Rodgers - California (Projected: Round 5-7)</p>
<p>Trey Burton - Florida (Projected: Round 5-7)</p>
<p>Blake Annen - Cincinnati (Projected: Round 5-7)</p>
<p>A.C Leonard - Tennessee State (Projected: Round 5-7)</p>
<p>Crockett Gilmore - Colorado State (Projected: Round 5-7)</p>
<p><b>My Take: </b>I could have put a lot more guys in this bracket. There are probably around 40 tight ends who could potentially go anywhere from round five to round seven. I've picked out a few here who are likely to be more around the round 5 and 6 region, which means I can have another group below looking at the late, late guys. The cream of the crop here for me is Colt Lyerla. If he could have kept his nose clean and his concentration focused, I truly believe he would be in consideration as a first round prospect. He's had a rough upbringing but now is the time for him to turn it around. He's missed games due to suspension, missed classes, left the team for personal reasons, had his driving license revoked for four tickets in two years and pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine. Any team who takes him will need to be prepared to work hard to keep him on the straight and narrow. However he is so athletically gifted, he's balanced and fluid, elusive and as quick as Ebron. He has excellent hands and will compete for every single ball and every single yard. I want to take him, but the team need to weigh up the pros and the cons.</p>
<p>Denham has good size and strength but he is raw with his route-running. Jensen is a guy with good size and effective speed, he's quick off the line but he is very stiff with his cuts and breaks. Tre Burton and A.C Leonard don't have the size of the others but Burton is a fantastic route runner who has excellent recognition and as good a set of hands as anyone in this draft. Richard Rodgers is a guy who does everything well but nothing exceptional, he is a little tight in the hips and won't get much separation but he'll catch nearly everything you throw at him. Annan ran a 4.41 at his pro day and he's 6'4, 247lb's...not sure it shows up on tape, but that is fast.</p>
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<p><b> TIER FIVE</b></p>
<p>Jake Murphy - Utah (Projected 7th-UDFA)</p>
<p>Xavier Grimble - USC (Projected 7th-UDFA)</p>
<p>Joe Don Duncan - Dixie State (Projected 7th-UDFA)</p>
<p>Alex Bayer - Bowling Green (Projected 7th-UDFA)</p>
<p>Nic Jacobs - McNeese State (Projected 7th-UDFA)</p>
<p>Asa Watson - North Carolina State (Projected 7th-UDFA)</p>
<p>Rob Blanchflower - Massachusetts (Projected 7th-UDFA)</p>
<p>My Take- Here we come down to the "will they get drafted" group. Jake Murphy is definitely a guy I like, mainly because he has good hands and is a good move blocker. Unfortunately he doesn't have the most athletic game and will struggle to get separation at the next level. I've never personally seen Rob Blanchflower, but I've heard he's a very good pass catching tight end. Joe Jon Duncan put up 35 reps on the bench which shows you how much strength he has. He has good awareness, soft hands and excellent recognition, once he gets going, he is very hard to bring down, and most of all, he is a very smart receiver, dropping down into zones and selling his routes to the corners. Last guy I want to mention is Alex Bayer of Bowling Green, mainly because he is an excellent in-line blocker and can offer you something on short patterns. If you want a good blocking tight end late in the draft to develop, then he may be your guys.</p>
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<p><b> DW's Conclusion</b></p>
<p>Best Overall Tight End: Eric Ebron, North Carolina</p>
<p>Mid-Round Gem: Colt Lyerla, Oregon</p>
<p>Late Round Sleeper: Joe Don Duncan, Dixie State</p>
https://www.ganggreennation.com/2014/4/19/5630488/ranking-the-tight-ends-available-in-the-2014-nfl-draftDavid Wyatt-Hupton