2014 NFL draft thread (no longer too early)

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

Belichick is smart enough to play to his team's strengths. When he had the best receivers, he threw the ball 50 times a game. Now that the strength of the team is the offensive line, they run the ball a great deal more often, even with very average backs.

It's interesting how the value of running backs seems to have declined over the past 20 years or so. Used to be guys like Marcus Allen, Bo Jackson, Barry Sanders, Emmitt Smith, etc. were all first-round draft picks and considered franchise players. I'm not sure there is any single running back now who would be considered a lock for the Hall of Fame. Teams don't want to spend a high pick on runners, figuring if you have a good line, anyone can find the holes. And they'll be injured or run down in four years.

Take a guy like Auburn's Tre Mason, big-time stud who broke many of Bo Jackson's records at Auburn. People are talking about him as a third-round pick.

Just another reason why football was better 30 years ago.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

On that we agree.
I don't think there's any question it was better even 20 years ago.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

I wont go 30 years but maybe 20ish.
The game was better because it was more balanced. Teams had to run effectively, pass short and long, and play DEFENSE.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

No D nowadays? Well the thing I hate about modern football more than anything is the allowance of grasping of the d-linemen's jersey; its a wonder the D linemen can do anything positive.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

Adrian Peterson is a HOF lock.
But, yeah, your larger point stands. Just look at this past year's draft. Giovanni Bernard (No. 37) was the highest running back picked, and it's not like it was a terrible RB class. The top four RBs selected (Bernard, Le'Veon Bell, Montee Ball and Eddie Lacy, all in the second round) all either started or contributed to teams that made the playoffs or just missed it.
Receivers are largely the same way. The general thought is that it takes 2-3 years for most receivers to blossom, so why waste a high pick on one? Only six of the top 20 in receiving yardage this season were first-round picks. Lots of second-rounders in that top 20 group, though.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

For the second straight year, LSU suffers a mass exodus of players to the draft. It's now up to 6, with WRs Odell Beckham and Jarvis Landry and RB Jeremy Hill (who first said he was staying and then changed his mind) joining DTs Anthony Johnson and Ego Ferguson and OG Trai Turner.

I know LSU's always loaded with talent, but the defensive attrition after 2012 obviously hurt them this past season. If they take another step back next season, things could get hot in Red Stick.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

Kiper's updated mock draft has Johnny Manziel No. 1 to the Texans:

http://insider.espn.go.com/nfl/draft2014/story/_/id/10283026/2014-nfl-draft-mel-kiper-unveils-first-mock-draft

By the way, AJ McCarron has declined an invitation to play in the Senior Bowl. This is causing a minor uproar in this part of the country, being that AJ is from Mobile and local guys nearly always play if invited.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

AJ don't wanna be around all dem guys who don't speak no English.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

A record 95 underclassmen have entered the draft, up from 73 last year:

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2014/01/a_record_94_underclassmen_have.html

Keep in mind that there are only 224 draft slots available. This is getting to be like the NBA, where half or more of the early-entry candidates don't get picked.

However, unlike in basketball, undrafted football players can't go make six figures playing in European pro leagues.

Full unofficial list (official list comes out Sunday):

http://college-football.si.com/2014/01/13/nfl-draft-early-entry-tracker/

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

There was a double-digit number of players last year who went undrafted. I cannot believe that number rose. Somebody is feeding these kids bad information.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

Just think that the kids are so eager to make money, and don't want to be in school, that they decide to take the chance. Makes no sense to me to come out early if you aren't going in the first few rounds, but I don't know their situations. I know James Wilder decided to go pro because he wasn't getting enough touches to justify going back, since he might have gotten even fewer next season. And I can't fathom how Kelvin Benjamin thought it was a good idea to leave a national title team with a Heisman-winning quarterback to take his chances in the draft. He'll probably go late first round because of his size, but he showed in the national title game that he doesn't have the best hands in the world, except on the winning TD, of course. He could have been a top-10 pick if he had come back. Or he could have wrecked his career by getting hurt. Who knows.

 

Re: (Way too early) 2014 NFL draft thread

Since they all think they're first-rounders and future stars, all it takes is one person to drop one small hint and for the most part they're gone.