TMB 2011 NFL Draft Part III

Part I - Players Ranked 1 - 16
Part II - Players Ranked 17-32
Part IV - Players Ranked 49-64

The-Mainboard.com 2011 NFL Draft Initial Big Board

List is from NFL Draft aficionado, Neal Olson. Discuss the rankings with Neal by clicking here


33. OLB Von Miller, Texas A&M
-Miller is an interesting case to me. I was very high on him coming out of the spring and still think he is a very good prospect but I have some concerns as well. There is no doubt that Miller has excellent speed coming off of the edge. He uses his speed to great advantage when taking the edge to get to the quarterback. It is also a plus that Miller does have experience at the 3-4 outside linebacker position. It is always a risk for NFL teams to try and evaluate undersized 4-3 defensive ends and try to see how they translate to the adjustment that is required to play the 3-4 scheme. The big concern I have with Miller is that he uses his speed to often. In college, the speed off of the edge is a great asset that catches many offensive tackles off guard. However in the NFL he is going to get burnt relying on that as he will have to take wider routes leaving more time for the quarterback to get rid of the ball. Other than that I am interested in seeing how he does with the increased weight. I know someone referred to him as a heat seeking outside linebacker in a safety body, I don't think that assessment is far off with the frame of his body last year. I think with a year to prove that last year wasn't a fluke and playing at an increased weight level, he can see his stock rise quickly and challenge a guy like Bruce Carter.

34. OG/OC Stefen Wisniewski, Penn State
-Wisniewski is possibly the best pure interior offensive linemen in the 2011 NFL Draft. Wisniewski is very athletic for an interior line prospect. He moves his feet well and keeps a low center of gravity which allows him to maintain a low pad level. This is a huge advantage for him as he isn't the strongest interior linemen eligible for the draft. He uses excellent technique to have the initial advantage and he keeps it up throughout the play. If he is able to clear the way early in a play, he has an excellent motor which allows him to keep with the play and move to the second tier of a defense and open up further holes for his running back up field. This should translate well to the next level and make him a valuable prospect to a team later in the first round or early in the second round which may be a steal to get him there. The one thing that I think he has to do at the next level would be to increase his strength. With more NFL teams going to bigger three man fronts, this could expose Wisniewski early on in his career. I am not sure he has the strength to handle a guy like Jerrell Powe or other strong tackles like him. Obviously in a 3-4 setting, he would be allowed help but that is giving into what a nose tackle's job is. However that should come within a few years and he has the frame to increase his strength, so I am not sure it will be a major red flag for teams going into April.

35. DT Jared Crick, Nebraska
-There have been many questions in regards to Jared Crick on how he would fare in the 2010 season without Suh by his side. I don't think those issues are as big and it isn't like Crick is going to fall big time without Crick. This is due to the fact that Crick's game doesn't rely on rushing the passer which would have been aided the most by having Suh by his side. He did have a breakout game against Baylor, however that certainly wasn't the norm. Crick reminds me former Nebraska DE Adam Carriker. Carriker was a highly regarded defensive lineman coming out of Nebraska's program and was taken highly by the St. Louis Rams. Carriker didn't pan out, however was used completely wrong. Like Carriker, Crick isn't going to be an ideal 4-3 defensive tackle at the next level. He is a guy that has extremely active hands and most of the time uses great pad level to occupy blockers and clog up potential holes. He is well suited for the 3-4 end position, which is the same position that Carriker should have been used for. Outside of this Crick does have one issue and that is popping up on occasion. When he uses proper pad level, Crick commands double teams. However when he pops up to quickly, guards are able to get their hands on the inside of him and make him a non factor during the play which will be taken advantage of even more at the next level.

36. RB Daniel Thomas, Kansas State
-Thomas was another big riser on my board after looking at guys more closely and has separated himself in what is shaping up to be a rather weak running back class. Thomas went from a high third round grade to a high second round grade. I think he is as physical as either Williams or Ingram. He is a great between the tackles type of runner and is extremely physical taking on initial opponents. He does have good explosiveness and when he sees a hole open up he isn't hesitant in taking advantage of it. He keeps his feet moving when in traffic, which allows him to keep upright and not go down by a simple arm tackle. He does have adequate speed in getting to the corner against some linebackers, however when a quicker linebacker is matched up with him they are able to take away the corner more often than not. In addition he doesn't have the top end speed that Ingram or Williams has either which isn't elite by any stretch. However he is a very good all around back who isn't elite at any one area but is very good in pretty much every area which should make him attractive to potential suitors in next year's NFL draft.

37. QB Pat Devlin, Delaware
-Devlin definitely came onto the scene last year for the Blue Hens. He transferred from Penn State after being beat by Darryl Clarke and Devlin certainly proved that he didn't lose the spot from a lack of talent. Devlin arguably has the quickest release of any quarterback going into this season. He places balls with relative ease and is able to put the ball where it needs to on intermediate routes with the proper velocity as well. He excels on throws up to 35 yards or so and has excellent touch when delivering his throws. He isn't the most agile quarterback, but like others he has outstanding pocket vision and steps up into throws very well in order to get the best velocity and to avoid the oncoming rush. If there is an issue with Devlin, it is both the competition in addition to the questions about arm strength. He has enough velocity to make most throws down field but anything longer than 40 yards I have trouble seeing being a positive for Devlin. He doesn't have the tools that Flacco had coming out of Delaware and with that I would be surprised to see him beat out the other quarterbacks ahead of him in this class. However he should have good value in the second round and could be a great pickup for whoever is looking for a quarterback.

38. S Mark Barron, Alabama
-Barron makes the fourth Alabama member to be ranked among the top 46 for me. Barron is an intriguing prospect for me. He came out of high school playing offense but was moved to the secondary for Alabama. Barron is much like DeAndre McDaniel in terms of the physical nature he has. He is big at 6'2 and roughly 215 pounds and reports are has continued to get stronger this offseason. With his physical nature, much like McDaniel he has the ability to take out every level of the field. He can go up in the box when needed and make a play to prevent a play from developing or can stay back and be an outstanding centerfielder. He has excellent athleticism for the position and his vertical jump should blow scouts and other prospects away at the NFL combine next February. He does have an excellent burst when attacking a ball and doesn't hesitate if he is able to recognize a play quickly. If there is one true weakness it would be probably be his long range speed. It is above average but isn't elite which could knock his stock down slightly. Either way he is a fantastic all around safety and is poised for a big 2010 season for the Crimson Tide.

39. WR Jeff Fuller, Texas A&M
-Although this may surprise some, Fuller did enough for me to place him over Julio Jones. Fuller was the go to receiver for the Aggies and provided much help to Jerrod Johnson in the receiving game to complement Christine Michael. Fuller does an excellent job of using his hands instead of watching the ball go into his body and create miscues. He runs very good routes which isn't a surprise given who is father was and is extremely well taught in terms of shaking defenders loose. Although he doesn't have an excellent burst, he is deceptively fast and if opposing defenders don't take him seriously he can break free for a long gain or even breakaway for a touchdown like he did in the Texas game. He does do a good job of attacking the ball at its highest point and doesn't allow smaller defenders to get a good opportunity against him going for a jump ball. Although he is pretty polished as a receiver, his lack of top end speed may hurt him and the ceiling might not be enough to push him into the first round. He is a very good possession guy but his big play ability at the next level may be a red flag for teams that might select him in the first round. Even with that, I would be surprised to see him drop to low and at this point is a solid second round talent for me.

40. DT Jerel Worthy, Michigan State
-Many draft pundits believe that Greg Jones is the top pro prospect for the Spartans entering the season. I do not agree with that assessment although it is very close. To me Worthy is the better prospect and certainly has a higher ceiling going into the season. His biggest asset his is explosive jump off of the line of scrimmage. He is outstanding at getting penetration and blowing up plays in the backfield either in the run game or attacking the opposing quarterback. Towards the end of the last season, Worthy garnered enough credit to start being double teamed against opposing teams. When faced with this, he held his ground and maintained good leverage in not being blown off of the ball. He has a good motor in not giving up on plays that are to the edge, he fights through blockers in order to make a play on either side of the field. Although Worthy's potential is through the roof, he still has plenty of work to do. He does tend to jump to easily and is susceptible to being pulled offsides against experienced quarterbacks. He is an unknown to many and needs to follow up on what was a very good coming out party during the 2009 season and show the necessary adjustments to garner the national consideration he deserves.

41. OLB Adrian Robinson, Temple
-Like Worthy, Robinson is a relative unknown to most of the national media due to playing at a smaller school. However that shouldn't be an excuse as he is poised to be a household name to many after the 2010 season if he plays like he is capable of. He is an undersized defensive end in a 4-3 scheme for the Owls. However at the next level he is likely to be transitioned to a 3-4 outside linebacker. It is tough to make the adjustment, but looking at Robinson it shouldn't be to hard to make the adjustment. He is extremely quick off of the ball and does an extremely good job of fighting through blockers and shedding opposing offensive linemen. He has enough explosiveness to come off of the edge in a 3-4 and speed likely won't be a huge issue for NFL scouts. He does a good job at staying home on his assignment which minimizes the liability to the defense overall. He is able to drift off of the line of scrimmage and make plays in coverage in tipping passes that try to go over him. Although there are plenty of positives for Robinson, he isn't quite the athlete that a Von Miller or a Bruce Carter is. He does have more pass rushing moves than Miller, however just doesn't have the heat seeking missile quality that could push him out of the first round and into the second round. However with a quality 2010 season, Robinson can have a similar rise like Larry English of Northern Illinois did a few years ago.

42. WR Julio Jones, Alabama
-The Crimson Tide receiver makes it five members in the top three fourths of my initial big board. Jones is thought of by some as the jewel of the class for Alabama, however I think differently. There is no doubting that Jones has all the talent one would need to be a superstar, however the light bulb hasn't officially went off for him. During some points of games, he has asserted himself over opposing defenders and force his way into the passing game. He does run good routes and due to this can create great separation from other defenders which allows him to get open. However with that goes the negatives. Throughout his career at Alabama, he has had lapses in concentration which lead to more drops than one would like. He doesn't look the ball in always or uses his body to secure the ball which creates the drops that he has. These are certainly a cause for concern and something that NFL scouts will be keeping a close eye on during the season and if he starts to realize his potential, there is no doubt he should begin to climb up my board and up where others have placed him.

43. DT Marvin Austin, North Carolina
-Much like Jones, Austin is thought to be one of the crown jewels of the Tar Heel defense and while he is a very important part of that defense, I think he has tended to be overrated at this stage in the game. I like his game, but am not in love with it as some others. He does have great closing speed for a defensive tackle and that is his best asset in my eyes. He does a great job of recognizing where the play is going and uses his uncanny speed to track down the play and make the play as well. In addition to this, when he is able to make a play he rarely misses. He stays low and drives through an opponent not whiffing on an opportunity and makes sure he wraps up and makes the sure tackle rather than blowing up the play with a big hit. In addition to the positives, Austin does have some technical flaws. He tends to stand up immediately which causes offensive linemen to get the initial pad level advantage and sometimes has a hard time breaking free of opposing offensive linemen. He also is slow getting off of the line. He isn't as explosive as a Jerel Worthy and I think that is what separates them slightly for me. In the end, Austin does have tremendous potential and I think his skill set is best in a 3-4 defensive scheme at the end spot.

44. QB Blaine Gabbert, Missouri
-Gabbert is probably the last elite talent in what should be a loaded quarterback. Gabbert possesses a ton of tools and raw skill that trumps that of Devlin and Ponder and on par with a guy like Mallett. He is a big physical quarterback who stands tall in the pocket and can deliver an outstanding ball. He has tremendous velocity and has shown the necessary touch to be more than just a big armed quarterback who has the skill set to air it out but can't put it on the spot. Gabbert has shown the ability to evade the rush and step up on occasion against oncoming defensive opponents, however there is some concern. Since he is young, he does try to use his arm to much and falls back into his throw and just use his arm to get the ball to the receiver and limiting his velocity. He also does have a tendency to throw behind receivers limiting the ability for the receiver to run after the catch as he slows their momentum down in order for them to make the catch. In all Gabbert is one of the most skilled quarterbacks in this class and with progressing on his fundamentals should begin to vault up big boards.

45. LB Greg Jones, Michigan State
-There is no doubt that Greg Jones is one of the most productive players entering this year's NFL Draft. He has produced since the minute he stepped on the campus at East Lansing. He shows excellent pursuit towards the ball and has great closing speed in getting to either the opposing quarterback or running back. He has an outstanding motor and never gives up on a play that is going away from him. He also is one of the better pass rushing linebackers eligible for this year's draft. He has great explosiveness and shows a great ability of getting to the quarterback from the middle linebacker spot. Even though he is one of the most productive players, he does have areas to work on. He was undersized going into this year, however reports are he has bulked up for the new season. It will be interesting to see how this weight affects his on field speed and overall ability. In addition to his size, he hasn't had the best of luck getting off of blockers at the linebacker spot at times. He doesn't always use his hands the proper way which slows him up in getting to the backfield. Overall if he shows that new weight isn't bad weight, he should get back into first round consideration.

46. CB Davon House, New Mexico State
-Although the other cornerbacks in this draft are more well known, House should solidify himself as one of the better cornerbacks eligible for this year's draft. House is a big physical corner which seems to be the pattern for this year's draft. He does a great job in press coverage at disrupting receivers and causing them to improvise during their routes. He shows a great job in the box and shows a great job of fighting off blockers and making a play against an opposing running back. In coverage, House shows good hips and keeps up with opposing receivers well. He gets his head around quickly and allows him to get in a position to play the ball and either break up the pass or create a turnover. The biggest thing with House will be working on technical things. He is slower than others in getting out of his backpedal which slows him up against quicker moves and can allow receivers to break free more easily. He doesn't have the recovery speed that other top corners in this class has, which makes him more susceptible to giving up big plays when his technique isn't as good as it can be. Overall House should be amongst the middle tier of defensive backs and starting out the year is the best of the second tier cornerbacks eligible for the draft.

47. OLB Nick Perry, Southern California
-Although Perry plays defensive end for the Trojans, I think his best position at the next level will be at the 3-4 outside linebacker spot. He is explosive off of the ball and showed great speed for the Trojans in his first full season playing at Southern California. He uses his hands very well and they are very active throughout the play. This allows him to make up for his lack of strength in fighting through opposing linemen and he is able to break away quicker by doing so. He has a tremendous first step burst in addition to the explosiveness that caught many linemen off guard last year and allowed him to get up field in a hurry. He demonstrates excellent tackling ability and drives through opponents to bring them down with relative ease and normally doesn't require help from his teammates which is a definite plus. Perry does need to show a bit better pad level more consistently. When he keeps low to the ground he proved to be almost unstoppable for the Trojans, however on occasion he shot up out of his stance to quickly and gave up the initial advantage he had by jumping the snap. I would also like to see Perry drift back into coverage and see how he does, but the athlete that he is I don't expect that to be a major issue with him.

48. OLB Mark Herzlich, Boston College
-Herzlich is my most intriguing player going into the 2010 season and I am going forward with the belief that he has recovered fully from his cancer treatment. However going into the 2009 season and before news of his cancer, I had Herzlich as the top linebacker on my board and the best 3-4 outside linebacker of all eligible players. But unfortunately the cancer news made football take a backseat which is completely understandable and now he is ready to hit the field once again. He is a tremendous technician and demonstrates excellent hands and pad level throughout the play. In addition to his technique, Herzlich has excellent football intangibles. He stays at home with his assignments and was rarely out of position during his 2008 season at Boston College. He also showed the explosiveness off of the edge to be a feared pass rusher in the ACC. Although Herzlich easily has first round ability, it still remains to be seen how he comes back from a year off. He has the ability to be a top 15 pick in this draft but he has to prove to everyone that he is fully healthy and hasn't lost anything from his 2008 form.

Discuss the rankings with Neal by clicking here