Official 2008 NFL Draft Thread

[cardsfanmd]

CASON TO THE CHARGERS

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Cason, damn. Dreamcast,i'll be there for Buffalo,i think .

 

[HooverDam]

Seems like a bit of a reach for Cason, but he won't have to move far.

 

[Dr. Jones]

# 27 - San Diego Chargers

Antoine Cason


CB | (6'0

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", 191, 4.45) | ARIZONA
Scouts Grade: 86

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Strengths: A tall, somewhat lean corner with long arms (32.3) and big hands (9.2). Very instinctive and confident. Played in a blitz-heavy scheme that frequently left him on an island, but he's better suited to play zone in the NFL. He has very good straight-line speed. Footwork is sound, plays with good balance and shows good burst coming out of cuts. Gets good knee bend in backpedal, reads routes fairly well and closes quickly. Times jumps well and is tall enough to compete for jump balls. Has quick feet and shows a second gear when tracking the ball downfield. Reads routes well, reads quarterback's eyes and is aggressive. Locates the ball well. Displays good ball skills and flashes big-play ability after interceptions. Physical and fills hard when reads run. Active and can effectively bluff blitz. Has progressed steadily and should only continue to get better with experience. A person of high character and a hard worker on and off the field. Passionate about the game and is out to prove he's better than people think. Very durable athlete.

Weaknesses: Though he has quick feet and good straight-line speed, he shows stiffness in his hips. Struggles to open quickly and mirror faster/quicker receivers. Press technique can improve. Hand-placement is inconsistent and he hasn't shown great upper body strength. Will have some problems rerouting receivers at the NFL level and is more effective playing off the line than he is jamming receivers. He plays the game hard but isn't as physical as you'd like to see, especially from a cover-2 type NFL prospect. Takes too long to shed block when gets reached and occasionally takes himself out of the play by trying to avoid blocker rather than stacking him up. Doesn't always wrap up upon contact and is an inconsistent open field tackler that isn't going to deliver a lot of big hits.

Overall: Cason arrived at Arizona in 2004 and went on to start all 46 games during his Wildcats career ('04-07). In his first three seasons, he compiled 182 tackles (10 for losses), three forced fumbles, 10 interceptions (one of which he returned for a touchdown) and 18 pass breakups. He turned in his finest season as a senior, recording 71 tackles (four for losses), two forced fumbles, five interceptions (two of which he returned for TDs) and 14 pass breakups. He had two more scores and averaged 10.0 yards on 27 punt returns last season. Cason also participated on Arizona's track team in 2006, competing in the 200 meters and the sprint relays. His father Wendell played three seasons in the NFL and his cousins  Aveion Cason and Ken-yon Rambo  also played in the league. Aveion has played six seasons with three different teams and Ken-yon played two seasons (2001-02) for the Cowboys. Cason has some stiffness in his hips and will struggle to turn-and-run with some faster NFL receivers, which is why he's best suited to play in a cover-2 heavy scheme. Otherwise, his combination of physical tools, mental toughness and versatility is impressive. He has the size, straight-line speed and anticipation to emerge as a solid starter in a zone-heavy NFL defense, and he also can compete for touches on punt returns. Cason should come off the board in Round 2.

 

[TJ]

My boy Cason!!!!!! Goin in the 1st round!!!!!

 

[Assface]

So much for Cason lasting to the 2nd round.

 

[WildBB]

I was just thinking that's who Houston should have taken!

 

[bg7brd]

A good team just got better with Cason.

 

[Lefty]

Bear Down Cason! Congrats and hopefully you have a stellar career.

 

[Dr. Jones]

Looks like this 1st round will be around 4 hours long.

 

[WildBB]

Welp. Cason is gone.

Here's to Flowers at 50.

They might actually do that if he's there.

I actually like the Arkansas St. Kid too! He compares favorably to Cromartie.

 

[azsouthendzone]

Looks like this 1st round will be around 4 hours long.

They should go 5 minutes between picks. 4 hours is rediculous.

 

[Pariah]

Now a trade-up I could get behind would be for Flowers at the start of the second.

 

[Shogun]

They might actually do that if he's there.

I actually like the Arkansas St. Kid too! He compares favorably to Cromartie.

Tyrell Johnson = pure safety. I can't see him on an island with a receiver on a constant basis.

 

[Dr. Jones]

They should go 5 minutes between picks. 4 hours is rediculous.

I loved it when it was 5 to 6 hours long. lol

 

[Dr. Jones]

# 28 - Seattle Seahawks

Lawrence Jackson


DE | (6'4

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", 271, 4.82) | USC
Scouts Grade: 88

Flags: (D: DURABILITY) Player that can't stay healthy

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Strengths: Possesses good overall size; adequate height, thickly built with longer arms (34.1) and bigger hands (9.1). Displays good initial quickness and mobility for his size. Shows some variety as a pass rusher, using a combination of quickness and power. At his best as a pass rusher when working one-on-one on the perimeter. Displays enough upper-and-lower body strength to seal off the perimeter when he's playing with leverage. Does a good job at times of keeping separation from blockers and is learning how to disengage quicker than he would earlier in his career. Is tough and plays with a mean streak.

Weaknesses: Is more quick than fast. Lacks ideal top-end speed. He will never be the type of speed-end that can consistently run past offensive tackles. Lacks explosive closing burst as a pass rusher. Really struggles to split the double-team. He leaves his feet too frequently. Durability is only a minor concern but he has had ankle surgery twice during collegiate career; once in 2003 and most recently in spring of 2007.

Overall: Jackson was redshirted in 2003 and underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle after the season. In his first three active seasons (2004-'06), he played in 39 games and recorded 121 total tackles (35 for losses), 20 sacks, five forced fumbles and two interceptions. Jackson started all 13 games as a senior, delivering 60 tackles (17 for losses), 10.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. His right ankle required a second surgery before 2007 spring practice. His brother, Keith, played offensive tackle at Arizona. Jackson was one of the best young defensive ends in the nation during his first two seasons at USC (2004-'05) before his production tailed off as a junior in 2006. Part of the problem was that Jackson spent more time inside as the Trojans' injected more 3-4 alignments on defense. The other problem was that Jackson didn't handle all the double-team attention well. Regardless, Jackson bounced back as a senior in 2007, showing far more explosiveness when turned loose more frequently as an outside rusher. Jackson does not possess great top-end speed but his combination of initial quickness, size and power give him a chance to make an impact as an every-down starter in the NFL -- likely as an end in a traditional 4-3 scheme. But if he doesn't become a more consistent performer on the next level; Jackson will be a disappointment as a projected second-round pick.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

SF takes Dan Connor,imo.

 

[TJ]

Seattle just wasted that pick

 

[Pariah]

SF takes Dan Connor,imo.

Nah, WR.

 

[WildBB]

Tyrell Johnson = pure safety. I can't see him on an island with a receiver on a constant basis.

Not necessarily, he has good speed. Lets see if the Gnats take him at 31. He'd be a hell of a nickle.

 

[Dr. Jones]

# 29 - San Francisco 49ers

Kentwan Balmer

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Selected by: San Francisco 49ers
Round: 1
Pick (Overall): 29(29)
DT | (6'4

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", 308, 5.339) | NORTH CAROLINA
Scouts Grade: 93

Flags: (D: DURABILITY) Player that can't stay healthy

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Strengths: Is tall with adequate bulk and room to get even bigger if necessary. When he plays hard he can be flat-out dominant. Gets good forward lean in stance and displays outstanding initial quickness. Has experience playing DT and NT. Takes sound angles to the ball and makes plays in pursuit. Is playing with a better motor as a senior. He can take on blocks when he stays low. Generally wraps up upon contact and is an adequate open field tackler. Athletic, flashes the ability to redirect inside after setting blockers up to the outside and is a relentless pass rusher. Moves well laterally and runs line stunts well. Shows adequate awareness, times jumps well and he gets hands up when isn't going to get to the quarterback. Blocked two kicks in 2006 and can contribute on special teams.

Weaknesses: Inconsistent effort earlier in career. Is he a one-year wonder? Plays too high at times and will lose his power when he does. Not disciplined enough. Gets sucked inside and upfield too often. Needs to do a more consistent job with his hands and can take too long to shed blocks.

Overall: In his first three seasons at North Carolina (2004-'06), Balmer appeared in 30 games (11 starts) at defensive end and defensive tackle, recording 34 tackles (7.5 for losses) and 3.5 sacks. As a senior in 2007, he started all 12 games and delivered 59 tackles (9.5 for losses) and 3.5 sacks. He had right knee surgery following the 2005 season and missed two games in '06 after suffering an ankle sprain. Balmer could play DE in a three-man front but we think he's better suited to play DT or NT in a 4-3 scheme in the NFL. Regardless, he is tall and strong with adequate bulk and outstanding quickness. Balmer can take on blocks, disrupt plays in the backfield and collapse the pocket  but only when he wants to. While he finally displayed first-round ability as a senior, NFL teams must be concerned about this one-year wonder. Prior to 2007 we viewed Balmer as a talented underachiever and the question is whether the light has finally come on or if he will revert to old, lazy habits following his big NFL payday.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

blah on the hawks pick

 

[Assface]

Damn, Mayock is nailing it.

 

[WildBB]

Good pick by SF. Willis will be more dangerous now.

 

[WildBB]

2 more to go then we count down again.