Sean Weatherspoon Sliding?

[Buckybird]

This is what i dreamt up last night-

1. Sean Weatherspoon
2. Sean Lee
3. Linval Joseph
3. Perrish Cox
4. Brandon Spikes
6. O'Brien Schofield
7. Earl Mitchell

Would be very good Monty. I just have a strange feeling Spikes will go in Rd 2 given his production on the field & I would luv to see him selected above Lee in Rd 2 because I think the guy will be a gamer.

 

[Monty]

Would be very good Monty. I just have a strange feeling Spikes will go in Rd 2 given his production on the field & I would luv to see him selected above Lee in Rd 2 because I think the guy will be a gamer.

Ive been down on selecting Spikes ever since the gouging incident and i though his poor pro day performances had destroyed the guys draft value permanently. But when you watch footage of Florida you cant but feel that the guy does have the skill set and the motivation to not only play the game right but to go beyond his physical limitations to actually do a very good job as the thumper inside linebacker. I would think now that his stock is probably not as low as i though but i still dont see him going before the end of the second and i dont see him going before Lee. However i can see somebody taking him in the third and i wouldnt be to averse to taking him there which is something i wouldnt have thought even two weeks ago. If we were to draft Spikes i would expect to be of the believe that the gouging incident was a sole isolated incident and not a real portrayal of the guys character cause if it is i wouldnt draft him regardless of his talent.

 

[perivolaki]

Some tidbits from Pro Football Weeklys Draft Preview.

Runs his mouth, draws attention to himself and carries a false bravado that could rub veterans the wrong way. Focus will have to be monitored-could be distracted by the trappings of success.

Weatherspoon is not universally liked amongst scouts. Is viewed by some decision makers as a potenial locker room toxin because he talks to much and carries a prima donna attitude. Is not for everybody and would be best served landing in a strong, veteran locker room where teamates hold him accountable.

 

[JeffGollin]

Disinfo Time

This is when all the weed, juice, injury and DUI rumors (some true/most bogus) come out to play.

"Weatherspoon talks too much!" You gotta love it.

Tell you what - if he can rack up 100 tackles a year and help hold opposing run offenses to less than 100 a game, I'd be willing to give him his own radio station to gab on.

That said - I'm biased against ILB's who don't weigh more than 245 lbs. I think Weatherspoon is a tad light, and would be more inclined to go the pass rusher route (Hughes or Graham) or a corner (L Wilson or McCourty).

Rather than call it a "mock", the following is how I hope the 7 rounds might fall to us (CBSports BPA ratings in parentheses. As you can see, I reached a little bit a couple of times):

26. Jerry Hughes DE/OLB TCU (29)
58. Chris Cook CB/S Virginia (47)
88. Dorin Dickerson WR Pitt (84)
89. Jared Veldeer OT Hillsdale (75)
123. D'Anthony Smith DT Louisiana Tech (122)
195. AJ Jefferson CB Fresno St (195)
233. Daryl Sharpton ILB Miami (235)

 

[Stout]

This is when all the weed, juice, injury and DUI rumors (some true/most bogus) come out to play.

"Weatherspoon talks too much!" You gotta love it.

Tell you what - if he can rack up 100 tackles a year and help hold opposing run offenses to less than 100 a game, I'd be willing to give him his own radio station to gab on.

That said - I'm biased against ILB's who don't weigh more than 245 lbs. I think Weatherspoon is a tad light, and would be more inclined to go the pass rusher route (Hughes or Graham) or a corner (L Wilson or McCourty).

Rather than call it a "mock", the following is how I hope the 7 rounds might fall to us (CBSports BPA ratings in parentheses. As you can see, I reached a little bit a couple of times):

26. Jerry Hughes DE/OLB TCU (29)
58. Chris Cook CB/S Virginia (47)
88. Dorin Dickerson WR Pitt (84)
89. Jared Veldeer OT Hillsdale (75)
123. D'Anthony Smith DT Louisiana Tech (122)
195. AJ Jefferson CB Fresno St (195)
233. Daryl Sharpton ILB Miami (235)

So, you want us to have a losing season, eh Jeff?

Failure to address the ILB position this season (a 7th rounder isn't getting the j-o-b done) will lead us to a losing season, IMO. Bank on it.

 

[kerouac9]

This is when all the weed, juice, injury and DUI rumors (some true/most bogus) come out to play.

"Weatherspoon talks too much!" You gotta love it.

Tell you what - if he can rack up 100 tackles a year and help hold opposing run offenses to less than 100 a game, I'd be willing to give him his own radio station to gab on.

That said - I'm biased against ILB's who don't weigh more than 245 lbs. I think Weatherspoon is a tad light, and would be more inclined to go the pass rusher route (Hughes or Graham) or a corner (L Wilson or McCourty).

Rather than call it a "mock", the following is how I hope the 7 rounds might fall to us (CBSports BPA ratings in parentheses. As you can see, I reached a little bit a couple of times):

26. Jerry Hughes DE/OLB TCU (29)
58. Chris Cook CB/S Virginia (47)
88. Dorin Dickerson WR Pitt (84)
89. Jared Veldeer OT Hillsdale (75)
123. D'Anthony Smith DT Louisiana Tech (122)
195. AJ Jefferson CB Fresno St (195)
233. Daryl Sharpton ILB Miami (235)

Here are some ILBs who weigh under 245 lbs. Let me know how much you think they suck:

Patrick Willis (SF), 240 lbs.
Barrett Ruud (TB), 241 lbs.
Jon Beason (CAR), 237 lbs.
D.J. Williams (DEN), 241 lbs.
Dhani Jones (CIN), 240 lbs.
Paul Posluszny (BUF), 238 lbs.
Jonathan Vilma (NO), 230 lbs.
Keith Brooking (DAL), 241 lbs.
Nick Barnett (GB), 236 lbs.
Stephen Cooper (SD), 235 lbs.
James Farrior (PIT), 243 lbs.
Bart Scott (NYJ), 240 lbs.

Should I go on?

 

[JeffGollin]

Here are some ILBs who weigh under 245 lbs. Let me know how much you think they suck:QUOTE]
Point well taken, Keruac, but in the future, please don't misquote me.

I conceded a "bias" toward LB's weighing under 245, but never came close to suggesting that anyone weighing less "sucked."

 

[Mulli]

Point well taken, Keruac, but in the future, please don't misquote me.

I conceded a "bias" toward LB's weighing under 245, but never came close to suggesting that anyone weighing less "sucked."

Judges accept this answer.

 

[JeffGollin]

So, you want us to have a losing season, eh Jeff?

Failure to address the ILB position this season (a 7th rounder isn't getting the j-o-b done) will lead us to a losing season, IMO. Bank on it.

Obviously, you try to fill needs as you move through the draft, but the way the scenario played out, there was never a ILB available at each of our first five spots who was tangibly better than other available players at other positions.

Remember too, that scoping out all 7 rounds in advance is an exercise in futility, and that it's quite possible that in the "real draft", there will be "surprise players" (including possibly a couple of good-value ILB's) who unexpectedly fall to us. This is especially true in this draft (where each scouting service's Top 100 - 300 BPA boards vary widely from one another).

You alluded to my not addressing the ILB position "leading us to a losing season." You're assuming that, by drafting an ILB, we will achieve a short-term fix. Frankly, I don't think we can. With the exception of McClain, there is nobody available this season whom I feel is a sure-fire bet to capably replace Dansby from Day One. (Shoot me, but I just don't think there is).

The Cardinals used to draft for need (Remember Tommy Knight)? It wasn't until we started drafting for value that the overall level of talent on our roster gradually improved to where it is today.

 

[kerouac9]

Point well taken, Keruac, but in the future, please don't misquote me.

I conceded a "bias" toward LB's weighing under 245, but never came close to suggesting that anyone weighing less "sucked."

All right, then. I hope that I removed your bias. Most of the top ILBs/MLBs in the NFL are under 245. Very, very few that I noticed are over 245.

Brian Urlacher (258) and Ray Lewis (250) are the main exceptions.

 

[Stout]

Obviously, you try to fill needs as you move through the draft, but the way the scenario played out, there was never a ILB available at each of our first five spots who was tangibly better than other available players at other positions.

Remember too, that scoping out all 7 rounds in advance is an exercise in futility, and that it's quite possible that in the "real draft", there will be "surprise players" (including possibly a couple of good-value ILB's) who unexpectedly fall to us. This is especially true in this draft (where each scouting service's Top 100 - 300 BPA boards vary widely from one another).

You alluded to my not addressing the ILB position "leading us to a losing season." You're assuming that, by drafting an ILB, we will achieve a short-term fix. Frankly, I don't think we can. With the exception of McClain, there is nobody available this season whom I feel is a sure-fire bet to capably replace Dansby from Day One. (Shoot me, but I just don't think there is).

The Cardinals used to draft for need (Remember Tommy Knight)? It wasn't until we started drafting for value that the overall level of talent on our roster gradually improved to where it is today.

I don't think we'll draft a Tommy Knight, and I think there will be a convergence of talent and need very early in the draft. I'm pretty sure that we'll take Lee if 'Spoon and McClain are gone. I personally feel that each of them will have a shot to start and succeed this season.

I agree that drafting purely for need is stupid. Two problems with your hesitance to use need in earmarking a WILB for us, though: One is that there is significant talent and depth at that position in this draft. The other is that our need is so desperate that, IMO, it's almost a case of us having to change to a 4-3 base defense if we don't pick up a starter in the draft. That's how awfully bad we are at the position.

Something will have to give, Jeff. We MUST have a new WILB, or we will suffer mightily this season. It's a tough spot to be in.

 

[Pariah]

I don't think Weatherspoon is sliding, per se. I think he was always going to go in the 20s. The Eagles getting Sims sure helps our cause, though.

 

[lobo]

The Cardinals used to draft for need (Remember Tommy Knight)? It wasn't until we started drafting for value that the overall level of talent on our roster gradually improved to where it is today.

One of the most accurate comments of this draft season....the list is a lot longer than Knight too, but i am too lazy to list them all and have to get back to work!!

 

[juza76]

now the only 2 teams can pick weatherspoon before us are giants and falcons

 

[Pariah]

now the only 2 teams can pick weatherspoon before us are giants and falcons

Broncos could. So could the Pats. As might the Titans.

...I don't think they will, but there are other teams out there that could use a player like Weatherspoon.

 

[binkar]

Sounds like Weatherspoon might need the same medication Dwyer tested positive for...

 

[conraddobler]

It aint braggin if you back it up and teams love guys who back it up.

No one likes those type of guys unless they're on your team, then they love them.

http://www.fftoolbox.com/nfl_draft/profile_display.cfm?prospect_id=1691

3/24 Update: Weatherspoon has put all the size issues behind him after some very good workouts leading up to the draft. He ended up even shorter than his 6-2 listing, but he has the strength and speed to make up for it. Perhaps what is keeping him in the first round even more than his measurables is his attitude. Weatherspoon has always been a leader, but many reports have surfaced that his personality has been a big hit with some teams. This is the type of player any defense would love to build around and in a few years he will be a great leader on and off the field.

I guess some people see things one way, others see them another way.

Frankly if someone starts talking you up before the draft is when you should be concerned, the less they say or if they start a "you talk to much" rumor I'd take that as a positive, but that's just me.