From the All-Star games, through the NFL Scouting Combine and the pro days, right up to the 2011 NFL Draft, the NFL Draft Bible brings you the most comprehensive radio show on the NFL Draft. This week we break down the linebackers. Find out which players can be three-four edge rushers and which guys can play sideline-to-sideline as we breakdown both inside and outside ‘backers. Special guests former Miami Hurricane Colin McCarthy and Nevada Wolf Pack Dontay Moch. Hosted by NFL Draft Bible president Daniel Mogollon and senior editor “The Reverend” Ralph Mancini.
Author Archives: NFL Draft News Feed
Pro Day: Vidal Hazelton Heats Up Cincy
Cincinnati’s recent pro day featured a draft worthy prospect that not only needed a strong showing but took advantage of the opportunity to showcase his abilities for representatives of more than 25 NFL teams that were present.
Vidal Hazelton was supposed to be the featured pass catcher in the Cincinnati offense in 2010 but due to a devastating knee injury in the season opener against Fresno State, he ended up missing the entire year and his draft stock took a big hit as a result. Hazelton later decided to forgo his final season of eligibility and enter the 2011 NFL Draft but hasn’t been able to work out publicly until Monday.
Kelli Masters, the agent of Vidal Hazelton, claims that the junior wide receiver ran a 4.50 forty yard dash. Meanwhile, two different Cincinnati beat writers are reporting times in the 4.63-4.68 range. That’s a very
Team Needs: New York Giants
New York Giants: Team Needs Rookie Review On The Clock Insider Podcast
2011 NFL Draft–
- ILB – The Giants still have a dire need for an inside linebacker to not only stuff the middle and monitor the short area zones but to serve as the quarterback of their defense. It’s become clear that, that player is not currently on the roster. With all due respect to second-year pro Phillip Dillard and Jonathan Goff, they’re just not the type of leaders the Giants need in the middle. A player like Illinois middle man Martez Wilson would be an intriguing fit because of his athleticism, size, and smarts.
- OL – What was once a position of strength for the Giants is fast becoming an area of concern with injuries starting to pile up for long time starters David Diehl and Shaun O’Hara. Their
Rookie Review: New York Giants
New York Giants: Team Needs Rookie Review On The Clock Insider Podcast
2010 NFL Draft Class–
(1-15) Jason Pierre-Paul, DE, USF: Credit the physical freak for not getting down on himself during the first half of the year when it appeared he had a difficult time grasping the playbook. JPP emerged late in the season by showing the ability to get underneath blockers on the edge and racing by them to get in the face of opposing quarterbacks. Grade: B
(2-46) Linval Joseph, DT, East Carolina: Made good use of his hands in the preseason to show that he could disengage from blocks to get into the backfield. However, a solid showing in August wasn’t enough to convince Giants’ brass that the 328-pound space-eater was ready to contribute in a rotational role. Joseph was a healthy scratch for most of 2010.
Spotlight: Elliott Finkley, Jacksonville U.
Find out why the 5’6″ dynamo Elliott Finkley is a major weapon, as he talks to “Reverend” Ralph Mancini on the NFL Draft Bible Player Spotlight Show.
Team Needs: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Team Needs Rookie Review On The Clock Insider Podcast
2011 NFL Draft–
- DE – The line play overall was underwhelming to say the least (Stylez G. White led the team with 4.5 sacks). A pass-rusher is the missing ingredient on defense if the Bucs are going to become an upper-echelon defense. There’s not much upside on the current roster—Tim Crowder, Alex Magee and Michael Bennett don’t offer much promise. When Commissioner Goodell walks to the podium in the first round, don’t be surprised to hear a defensive end get the call for Tampa.
- OLB – Last year we saw the team use multiple 3-4 fronts at times, steering away from their traditional cover two defense. Tampa plans to implement more mixed coverage but in order to be effective, a pass rushing linebacker is essential. It would
Rookie Review: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Team Needs Rookie Review On The Clock Insider Podcast
2010 NFL Draft Class–
(1-3) Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma: He was essentially a no–show for much of the year, appearing hesitant and confused. McCoy seemed to get tied up with blockers too often, as they used a variety of hand tricks to keep him at bay. The one-gap penetrator finally began exhibiting signs of life in late November when he appeared much more explosive off the ball. He has the athletic skills to shoot the gaps but he’s not in Ndamukong Suh’s league (the man he was frequently compared to last year)…then again, not many are. Grade: C-
(2-35) Brian Price, DT, UCLA: The stout defensive lineman only offered a tiny dose of what the Bucs thought they were getting with the run stuffer in the preseason. By and large,
2011 NFL Mock Draft — Two Rounds
ROUND ONE
1. Carolina (2-14) – QB Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
2. Denver (4-12) – DE Da’Quan Bowers, Clemson
3. Buffalo (4-12) – DT Marcell Dareus, Alabama
4. Cincinnati (4-12) – WR AJ Green, Georgia
5. Arizona (5-11) – OLB Von Miller, Texas A&M
6. Cleveland (5-11) – DT Nick Fairley, Auburn
7. San Francisco (6-10) – CB Patrick Peterson, LSU
8. Tennessee (6-10) – OT Anthony Castonzo, Boston College
9. Dallas (6-10) – OLB Robert Quinn, North Carolina
10. Washington (6-10) – CB Prince Amakumara, Nebraska
11. Houston (6-10) – DE Cameron Jordan, California
12. Minnesota (6-10) – QB Cam Newton, Auburn
13. Detroit (6-10) – OT Tyron Smith, USC
14. St. Louis (7-9) – WR Julio Jones, Alabama
15. Miami (7-9) – RB Mark Ingram, Alabama
16. Jacksonville (8-8) – DE Adrian Clayborn, Iowa
17. New England (from Oakland 8-8) – DE JJ Watt,
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Team Needs: Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts: Team Needs Rookie Review On The Clock Insider Podcast
2011 NFL Draft
- OT – The most glaring team need is protection for Peyton Manning. At first glance, the 16 sacks that the Colts allowed a season ago appear to be impressive but a lot of the credit for that can be given to Manning’s quick release and ability to get rid of the ball. Current free agent Charlie Johnson held down the left tackle position, playing through a litany of injuries last year despite being in way over his head. The team should look to re-sign him but not as the starter. Former guard Ryan Diem has been disguised as a right tackle for the past two seasons and the result has been a weak spot on the roster. Diem is due $5.4M in ’11 and could