Question on 3 prospects for draft

[Russ Smith]

1) Michael Huff S Texas, is he coming out? He's a great talent, not there yet and Texas kids usually stay as I've been saying about Wright, but we need a FS and this kid is good. Many of the SS's like Davis are higher rated but aren't good enough in coverage to play FS. Taylor could have done that if we'd taken him instead of Fitz, but I don't see anybody in this draft like Taylor. Huff appears to be the best pure FS if he comes out, is he?

2) Shawn Merriman OLB/DE Maryland. 245, great athletic numbers, I haven't seen Maryland play while he's been there how good is he? I'm seeing top 15 pick, maybe he's the OLB we need if we can't get Johnson? People are raving about his pass rushing but he's gotta put on 30 pounds just to get to being a "small" DE for Dennis Green. Never seen him play, can he play LB or is he a DE?

3) Marcus Spears DE LSU. I've been touting this kid for years, all SEC TE as a freshman, major college PF basketball recruit. He's not as good as he should be, better athlete than his stats suggest but he's a 290+ DE and he's not fat at all, there is no better run defending DE in this draft, might be the perfect pick to play opposite Berry. Is he going to last into the 2nd round? Last year he looked at the draft, was told 2nd round, and went back to school, weaker draft, but not a great senior year, has he moved up?

 

[SMAC]

Huff is staying another year at UT.

 

[Russ Smith]

Huff is staying another year at UT.

Craph(honso), I was hoping we could steal him the way we did Adrian Wilson a few years ago.

thanks.

 

[Snakester]

Marcus Spears is the prototype left DE. You are right in that he probably is the best run stuffing DE in this draft. He most likely will go between 20-32 in the draft. He could slip to the second round if he has a bad combine or if he plays bad in a bowl game. I have not seen whether or not he is going to play in the Senior Bowl. He is not much of a pass rusher, but will get a sack now and then.

 

[az jam]

The announcers at LSU's bowl game against Iowa stated that Marcus Spears was an underachiever this year. They had high expectations this year for him and he really was very inconsistent. I think he will drop to the second round.

 

[joeshmo]

Merriman is the prototypical 3-4 outside LB. I fully expect a 3-4 team to pick him in the 1st round. Wouldnt be to surpised if Merriman has a good combine that Oakland picks him as high as #7 since there OLB suck and DJ would be gone.

Spears will without a shadow of a doubt be a 1st rounder. At 295 he still had 9 sacks(lead the team) and 17 tackles for loss(lead the team), 1 int, 5 passes batted down, 2 FF, 1 FR, and more QB hurries.

A 295 lb DE with is athletic ability and strength to go with it, there is no way he last till the 2nd round. He doesnt last past Jax at pick #21, as they need both a RDE and LDE.

 

[football karma]

2) Shawn Merriman OLB/DE Maryland. 245, great athletic numbers, I haven't seen Maryland play while he's been there how good is he? I'm seeing top 15 pick, maybe he's the OLB we need if we can't get Johnson? People are raving about his pass rushing but he's gotta put on 30 pounds just to get to being a "small" DE for Dennis Green. Never seen him play, can he play LB or is he a DE?

I have never seen him play --

reports say that his combo of size, speed and athleticism is top 5 pick territory -- but will drop because they have only seen two years of production.

They beleive that he is an outside linebacker who can both drop into coverage and rush off the edge.

If the reports pan out, could be a #8 choice

 

[football karma]

more on Merriman-- while confirming the athleticism, speed, seems to indicate #8 is too high---



Merriman enters NFL Draft


By Rick Snider
THE WASHINGTON TIMES


Maryland defensive end Shawne Merriman will forego his senior season after declaring for the NFL Draft yesterday.
Merriman finalized his long-expected decision to leave after recently being rated a late first or early second-round prospect for the April 23 draft by an NFL personnel panel. Merriman informed Terrapins coach Ralph Friedgen late Tuesday.
"I thought about staying," Merriman said. "Maryland will be pretty good next year. Coach Friedgen and the staff and fans have shown me a lot of support, and I want to be part of the program, [but] I'm ready to make the jump and play at the next level."

This is the second straight year Maryland has lost a potential senior All-American to the pros. Randy Starks was a 2004 third-round selection by the Tennessee Titans.
Maryland staffers pressed Starks to remain, fearing correctly he wouldn't match his expectations of getting chosen in the second round. However, Merriman's probable first-round selection left the Terps wishing him well.
"Shawne will test well [in the NFL Combine starting Feb. 23]," Friedgen said. "And if he goes in first round, then he made a good decision. He played well for us last year. He should be very proud of his community work and his football at Maryland."
Said Merriman: "Coach Friedgen has been on that [NFL] level and knows what kind of player I am."
Merriman (6-foot-4, 245 pounds) should impress NFL scouts in workouts because of his exceptional speed for his size. Merriman probably will be an outside linebacker in the pros but could play defensive end. ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. called Merriman a "workout warrior" who could go in the middle of the first round.
"He has a lot of qualities you like in a combo outside linebacker," Kiper said. "He could also be a defensive end in a 4-3 with his strength and speed."
Merriman said he "can't wait" for the combine, knowing a strong showing could be worth several hundred thousand dollars in a pro contract.
"I don't know if [NFL] people know Shawne Merriman that much, so I get a chance to display my talents," he said.
An All-ACC defensive lineman last season with 81/2 sacks, 10 quarterback hurries and 85 tackles, Merriman finished one sack behind Terps career leader Mike Corvino (24). Missing the school mark bothered Merriman because he might have broken it had the Terps (5-6) reached a fourth straight bowl game.
"I would have liked to be the best record-wise, but if anybody saw me play, there's no question who was the best," he said.

 

[spanky1]

Merriman is the prototypical 3-4 outside LB. I fully expect a 3-4 team to pick him in the 1st round. Wouldnt be to surpised if Merriman has a good combine that Oakland picks him as high as #7 since there OLB suck and DJ would be gone.

Spears will without a shadow of a doubt be a 1st rounder. At 295 he still had 9 sacks(lead the team) and 17 tackles for loss(lead the team), 1 int, 5 passes batted down, 2 FF, 1 FR, and more QB hurries.

A 295 lb DE with is athletic ability and strength to go with it, there is no way he last till the 2nd round. He doesnt last past Jax at pick #21, as they need both a RDE and LDE.

There is no question that Oakland needs OLB's......as a matter of fact they could use both their 1st and 2nd round picks this tear on a S/OLB and a W/OLB. I'm not too sure that Derrick Johnson won't be available at #7.

You are right however.....Merriman is another Terrell Suggs and he goes to a team that uses a 3-4. He's top 15 material to be sure.

 

[Rocco]

Spears is a guy I have been interested in for our base end spot as well.

Strong, good run player, long arms, some pass rush ability (9 sacks this year).
Excellent athlete, good quickness, agile, good feet, explosive, makes big plays.


It's all going to depend on how well he runs - he supposedly was timed at 4.8 last spring at LSU. If true, at 295 lbs, I'll bet he goes higher than projected right now. The knock on him is that he's inconsistent, same as the knock on Dockett. If he can take hard coaching (Deek Pollard), I'd be interested.

Shaun Cody is another guy that projects well as a base end. Again, it's going to depend on how well he runs and if his arms are long enough. He supposedly runs under a 4.8 but, like Spears, I have to see it to believe it.

 

[Rocco]

If he lasts long enough, Merriman has STEELER written all over him.

Jason Allen is coming out of Tennessee and is a very similar player to Huff. He may very well be there when we pick in the second round along with Shazor of Michigan.

 

[Russ Smith]

If he lasts long enough, Merriman has STEELER written all over him.

Jason Allen is coming out of Tennessee and is a very similar player to Huff. He may very well be there when we pick in the second round along with Shazor of Michigan.

He played CB at Tennesee but is projecting to FS from what I read? Allen that is.

What I liked about Merriman was the size/speed combo. Dansby is tall and fast but light in the butt, we're trying to bulk him up, Merriman is already there. Put those 2 guys together with Hayes in the middle could be something. If Johnson slides to 8 I want him, just trying to find a replacement since i think Johnson will go top 5.

 

[Russ Smith]

Shaun Cody is another guy that projects well as a base end. Again, it's going to depend on how well he runs and if his arms are long enough. He supposedly runs under a 4.8 but, like Spears, I have to see it to believe it.

Not a big Cody fan, tweener to me.

I believe it on Spears, he was a nationally rated TE coming out of HS, played TE his first year at LSU had 2 catches but was named to the all Sec Freshman team.

He was also a recruited basketball player although 6'4" PF's aren't that big of a commodity in the NBA so he went to football.

 

[Rocco]

He played CB at Tennesee but is projecting to FS from what I read? Allen that is.

What I liked about Merriman was the size/speed combo. Dansby is tall and fast but light in the butt, we're trying to bulk him up, Merriman is already there. Put those 2 guys together with Hayes in the middle could be something. If Johnson slides to 8 I want him, just trying to find a replacement since i think Johnson will go top 5.

Allen, like Huff, has bounced a bit between FS and CB. Will supposedly need a lot of work on technique to play corner in the pros. Projects much sooner at safty.

I think Johnson goes top 5 too or at least no later than the Titans and since Brooks isn't coming out, I'm waiting to see what Abdul Hodge does. If he stays in school. there aren't a lot of top LB prospects left (just the guy from Tennessee) though there are some pretty decent ones. Merriman is supposedly similar to Abraham of the Jets.

 

[BACH]

From The War Room:

Marcus Spears
DE, LSU
War Room analysis
Strengths: Is freakishly athletic with great agility and instincts. Shows great power as a pass rusher. Is versatile enough to play in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme. Has the strength to push back offensive linemen. Once past blockers, shows impressive burst to the quarterback.

Weaknesses: Might not be fast enough to be a consistent edge pass rusher or strong enough to play inside. Must improve upon technique and ability to shed blockers.

Bottom line: Spears' athleticism will allow an NFL team to move him around. He can play end on running downs and tackle on passing downs. His production will improve with better technique and more experience. He should be selected in the latter part of Round 1 or early in Round 2.

Dan Pompei analysis
Is a big, athletic, agile end who could fit in a 3-4. Has good strength but doesn't always use it. Lacks polish and is somewhat inconsistent.
Overall grade: 7.7


Shawne Merriman
DE, Maryland
War Room analysis
Strengths: Big, strong and athletic with outstanding physical skills. Played mostly at outside linebacker but is a tremendous and aggressive pass rusher at end. Excels at tackling and hitting. Shows great speed to chase and close.

Bottom line: Merriman will blow observers away in his personal workouts and move quickly up draft boards, probably to at least Round 2.

Merriman, a junior, announced Jan. 5 that he will forego his last year of eligibility and enter the '05 draft. Merriman, who played end as a senior, could be shifted to outside linebacker in the NFL.

Merriman was a first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference selection in 2004, leading the Terrapins in sacks and tackles for losses. He ranks second on the all-time Maryland sacks list with 23.

Merriman is the second Maryland defensive lineman in the past two years to leave early for the NFL. Randy Starks was picked in the third-round of last year's draft by the Tennessee Titans. Starks, the youngest player in the NFL, finished his rookie season with 28 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
Overall grade: 6.5

 

[Pariah]

Bach, isn't it 5AM in FL? What the heck are you doing up?

 

[BACH]

Florida??? I'm not from Florida...

Hint: There's something rotten....

 

[Pariah]

Florida??? I'm not from Florida...

Hint: There's something rotten....

What? You live in my refridgerator?

Maybe I have you confused with someone else. But, good to hear you're getting your requisite sleep (to sleep; perchance to dream?)

Why, then 'tis none to you; for there us nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so: to [BACH] Denmark is a prison.