ESPN's Michael Smith on first five in Draft

[Totally_Red]

He was on NFL Live on Tuesday and guessing the first five picks. Interesting comment on the lions. Said he is picking up info from multiple sources that the Lions are very interested in DE Gaines Adams because he fits the "Tampa 2" system perfectly. They'd like to trade down obviously, but if there are no takers may take Adams anyway.

I remember the rumors last year about Ernie Sims and sure enuf they ended up passing on Leinart and drafting Sims. Frankly, it's surprising, but not unbelievable. We know Marinelli is a defense-oriented coach, and the Lions have fortified their O-line and RB situations in free agency. Who knows what Millen will do?

Smith guesses:

1. Jamarcus Russell
2. Gaines Adams
3. Browns - Brady Quinn
4. Bucs - best player Calvin Johnson
5. Cardinals - no brainer of top five according to Smith, OLT Joe Thomas

Hard to believe we'd have our pick of Thomas or Adrian Peterson. I am starting to believe that one of the two will be there.

 

[Zeno]

Smith guesses:

1. Jamarcus Russell
2. Gaines Adams
3. Browns - Brady Quinn
4. Bucs - best player Calvin Johnson
5. Cardinals - no brainer of top five according to Smith, OLT Joe Thomas

Hard to believe we'd have our pick of Thomas or Adrian Peterson. I am starting to believe that one of the two will be there.

I hope this rings true. It will be 2 years in a row that the first round fell right in to place for us.

 

[Shogun]

I hope this rings true. It will be 2 years in a row that the first round fell right in to place for us.

Dear god yes.

 

[kerouac9]

ESPN.com is reporting that the Browns are a good possibility to acquire QB Trent Green for a mid- to late-round draft choice. If that happens, I don't think there's any chance that Cleveland passes on Adrian Peterson.

I still don't think the Raiders want Russell. What does he give that team that they don't already have in Andrew Walter? He's not Michael Vick or Vince Young. He's a slightly more athletic but not as good a leader/winner as Byron Leftwich.

 

[Zeno]

ESPN.com is reporting that the Browns are a good possibility to acquire QB Trent Green for a mid- to late-round draft choice. If that happens, I don't think there's any chance that Cleveland passes on Adrian Peterson.

I still don't think the Raiders want Russell. What does he give that team that they don't already have in Andrew Walter? He's not Michael Vick or Vince Young. He's a slightly more athletic but not as good a leader/winner as Byron Leftwich.

You know that Al Davis falls in love with numbers and potential. I read one scout who said Russells on campus workout was the most impressive performance he had ever seen for a QB, if other scouts share that opinion and one happens to be a Raider then it could happen but I could very well see them taking Calvin Johnson instead, especially if they can move either Moss or Porter.

Oh and comparing Rusell and Walter is suspect at best. Walter runs like his feet are in cinder blocks and has zero pocket awareness and as far as I can recall his completion % in college never approached the 67% Russell put up last season.

I do agree that Russell isn't Vick or Young, he isn't even as mobile as Culpepper was early in his career but he isn't Drew Bledsoe or Kurt Warner either.

 

[vinnymac]

You know that Al Davis falls in love with numbers and potential. I read one scout who said Russells on campus workout was the most impressive performance he had ever seen for a QB, if other scouts share that opinion and one happens to be a Raider then it could happen but I could very well see them taking Calvin Johnson instead, especially if they can move either Moss or Porter.

Oh and comparing Rusell and Walter is suspect at best. Walter runs like his feet are in cinder blocks and has zero pocket awareness and as far as I can recall his completion % in college never approached the 67% Russell put up last season.

I do agree that Russell isn't Vick or Young, he isn't even as mobile as Culpepper was early in his career but he isn't Drew Bledsoe or Kurt Warner either.

I agree with assesment on Russell. The one thing people are mentioning is his arm strength. The man has a strong arm. That is what Davis likes. A QB that can throw it 80 yards down field. As a QB you don't need to run a 4.3 or 4.4. They need to have enough speed to avoid the rush.

 

[D-Dogg]

Dear god yes.

I second that.

 

[Stout]

ESPN.com is reporting that the Browns are a good possibility to acquire QB Trent Green for a mid- to late-round draft choice. If that happens, I don't think there's any chance that Cleveland passes on Adrian Peterson.

Actually, if they do acquire Green, I think that makes them a lock to take Quinn if he's available. That way, they'll have a vet QB to start for a while and to groom the young kid. Not only that, but a still serviceable vet too.

 

[kerouac9]

Actually, if they do acquire Green, I think that makes them a lock to take Quinn if he's available. That way, they'll have a vet QB to start for a while and to groom the young kid. Not only that, but a still serviceable vet too.

Why wouldn't they work on the 2nd or 3rd rounder that they've already been working with? It'll be a battle between the coach (who knows you can't win in the NFL without a good RB) and the FO (who wants a flashy young QB).

As for Walter, maybe he never topped 57.3% completions as a passer in college, but he was also playing in a high-risk, vertical offense and never had the weapons at WR that Russell had. At the same time, Walter threw for 30 TDs and 9 INTs his last season. He was a first-round prospect before he injured his shoulder at the end of that season, and Kniffin knows him. Walter also possesses an above-average arm.

If Davis falls in love with measureables and potential, there's more to love about Calvin Johnson than JaMarcus Russell. Davis got talked into a bad pick when he drafted Gallery ahead of Fitz; I don't think he makes that mistake again. Davis hates drafting quarterbacks high.

He'll take Johnson in the first and Troy Smith in the third. Watch.

 

[Evil Ash]

Why wouldn't they work on the 2nd or 3rd rounder that they've already been working with? It'll be a battle between the coach (who knows you can't win in the NFL without a good RB) and the FO (who wants a flashy young QB).

As for Walter, maybe he never topped 57.3% completions as a passer in college, but he was also playing in a high-risk, vertical offense and never had the weapons at WR that Russell had. At the same time, Walter threw for 30 TDs and 9 INTs his last season. He was a first-round prospect before he injured his shoulder at the end of that season, and Kniffin knows him. Walter also possesses an above-average arm.

If Davis falls in love with measureables and potential, there's more to love about Calvin Johnson than JaMarcus Russell. Davis got talked into a bad pick when he drafted Gallery ahead of Fitz; I don't think he makes that mistake again. Davis hates drafting quarterbacks high.

He'll take Johnson in the first and Troy Smith in the third. Watch.

I can agree with you on Calvin Johnson but Al Davis taking Troy Smith?! Are you kidding me?

Davis is obsessed with the vertical passing game and wants a strong armed QB. Smith does NOT have a great arm and the situation with Walter got downright nasty last year so I don't see the Raiders relying on him again.

 

[kerouac9]

I can agree with you on Calvin Johnson but Al Davis taking Troy Smith?! Are you kidding me?

Davis is obsessed with the vertical passing game and wants a strong armed QB. Smith does NOT have a great arm and the situation with Walter got downright nasty last year so I don't see the Raiders relying on him again.

Smith has a strong arm. The problem is that he's too short.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

K9 is right. Troy Smith's best asset is his arm strength.If he was 6'4 then he'd be in the running for the top draft pick. I've posted on here a couple times that the Browns plan is to sign Trent Green and then draft Brady Quinn. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen.

 

[Southpaw]

Actually, if they do acquire Green, I think that makes them a lock to take Quinn if he's available. That way, they'll have a vet QB to start for a while and to groom the young kid. Not only that, but a still serviceable vet too.

I agree, but what do they do with Charlie Frye, Derek Anderson and Ken Dorsey? Not that those guys are quality QBs , by any stretch of the imagination, but it would mean that they would have 6 QBs on the payroll.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I agree, but what do they do with Charlie Frye, Derek Anderson and Ken Dorsey? Not that those guys are quality QBs , by any stretch of the imagination, but it would mean that they would have 6 QBs on the payroll.

If everything works out, they will sign Green,draft Quinn, and release Frye with Anderson being the #3 QB. That is according to Chris Speilman anyway. I don't know what they'll do with Dorsey. I would guess he'd be released.

 

[Southpaw]

If everything works out, they will sign Green,draft Quinn, and release Frye with Anderson being the #3 QB. That is according to Chris Speilman anyway. I don't know what they'll do with Dorsey. I would guess he'd be released.

I would imagine that is what may transpire. Chiefs will need another QB, which might be done by taking one of Brown's extras as part of the deal. As for Chris Spielman's opinion, this is the same guy who palyed a huge part in the Dolphin's disembowelment a few years ago as the GM/ Pro Player Personnel guy. He is tough for Dolphin fans to listen to for advice.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I would imagine that is what may transpire. Chiefs will need another QB, which might be done by taking one of Brown's extras as part of the deal. As for Chris Spielman's opinion, this is the same guy who palyed a huge part in the Dolphin's disembowelment a few years ago as the GM/ Pro Player Personnel guy. He is tough for Dolphin fans to listen to for advice.

That was Rick Spielman, Chris' brother. He is now working on ruining the Vikings since the Dolphins canned him.

 

[Southpaw]

That was Rick Spielman, Chris' brother. He is now working on ruining the Vikings since the Dolphins canned him.

Oh,never mind. Speilman confusion. Is one brother brighter than the other?

 

[Billy Flynt]

Smith has a strong arm. The problem is that he's too short.

Actually, in the College QB Challenge, only Zabransky of Boise State had worse arm strength. Smith does not have the arm to get the ball downfield.

If Detroit really wants Adams they can trade out of the second pick using the value of Calvin Johnson, AP, and Joe Thomas on the board (assuming Russell goes #1 to OAK).

 

[kerouac9]

Actually, in the College QB Challenge, only Zabransky of Boise State had worse arm strength. Smith does not have the arm to get the ball downfield.

If Detroit really wants Adams they can trade out of the second pick using the value of Calvin Johnson, AP, and Joe Thomas on the board (assuming Russell goes #1 to OAK).

Oh, well if one thing seals the deal, it's the College QB Challenge.

Following the Senior Bowl, Scouts, Inc. gave Smith a B+ in terms of arm strength: "Above average arm strength. Good zip on deep-out routes and can fit the ball into tight spots."

It gave him a better grade than Drew Stanton or Jordan Palmer. Again, the knock on him isn't his arm strength, it's his size.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Actually, in the College QB Challenge, only Zabransky of Boise State had worse arm strength. Smith does not have the arm to get the ball downfield.

If Detroit really wants Adams they can trade out of the second pick using the value of Calvin Johnson, AP, and Joe Thomas on the board (assuming Russell goes #1 to OAK).

I think,at the combine, they have a machine that measures ball velocity and rpm's for each QB. Smith was second in velocity.Arm strength is not an issue with him no matter what the QB challenge showed.

 

[Southpaw]

I think,at the combine, they have a machine that measures ball velocity and rpm's for each QB. Smith was second in velocity.Arm strength is not an issue with him no matter what the QB challenge showed.

Zackly. Smith can throw the ball through a wall, just not over it.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I can agree with you on Calvin Johnson but Al Davis taking Troy Smith?! Are you kidding me?

Davis is obsessed with the vertical passing game and wants a strong armed QB. Smith does NOT have a great arm and the situation with Walter got downright nasty last year so I don't see the Raiders relying on him again.

If they really wanted Smith, they should take Johnson with the 1st, and draft Smith with the 3rd pick.

 

[kerouac9]

He'll take Johnson in the first and Troy Smith in the third. Watch.

Bump for DCR. Way ahead of you there, big guy.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Bump for DCR. Way ahead of you there, big guy.

Good call. Didn't see your post. If the Raiders do not select Russell, I could see a Rodgers-esque drop for him.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Good call. Didn't see your post. If the Raiders do not select Russell, I could see a Rodgers-esque drop for him.

I don't think there's any way he'd get past Cleveland. Somehow Cleveland's GM, Phil Savage, has a relationship with Russell and has told him he will not drop past them. I know GM's say this stuff all the time but i have read where that is the case. Also, I'm assuming that Quinn is gone by three. If not then there will be a real debate going on by Cleveland as who to take.