Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
Having watched every game these guys have played for the last 4 years, I strongly believe this is the best class BC has ever had entering the draft. Their work in itself is impressive (7 consecutive bowl wins---4 for these players---and finishing 9th in the country this past season), especially since none of these players were on anyone's top 150 list coming out of high school. here are some of my notes on the players:
1. QB Matt Ryan. High character, intensely competitive player who won close to 80% of his starts at BC. Stands tall in the pocket and snaps off ropes with a smooth delivery. Can throw the 15 yard out pass from the far hashmark as well as any QB in the country. Throws exceptionally well on the run, and has the arm to set his feet and throw strikes 30-40 yards deep across the grain. The toughest QB I've seen in a long time. One game at Clemson he took a shot while throwing on the run that was about as crushing as one will ever see...his helmet came flying off and landed about 5 yards behind him..and Ryan bounced back up, shook his head to get rid of the cobwebs and went right back to compete a very exciting upset of Clemson at Clemson that day. Furthermore, last year he was first team All-ACC playing on a badly sprained foot and ankle the whole year.
The only real negative I would mention about Ryan is that sometimes when he checks down he will force a ball into the intermediate zones underneath, which sometimes results in an interception. However, in terms of exploiting defenses in the intermediate zones by throwing to the TE, I've seen no college QB better. This should quickly win him the favor of his new NFL coaches. Get him with a good TE or two and look out.
Ryan is the best pro QB prospect the Eagles have ever had. While Doug Flutie was a different kind of player, style-wise, and was thrilling to watch, Ryan is the more complete player because of his size and arm strength. Matt Hasselbeck wasn't nearly the leader or clutch performer that Ryan is, although Hasselbeck has made tremendous strides as a pro. Brian St. Pierre was steadier than Hasselbeck, but not quite as agile. Tim Hasselbeck got about the most out of slightly above average college ability.
Ryan---because of his talent, character, leadership ability and work ethic, will be an outstanding pro. I would be delirious if the Cardinals made a move to get him (the odds are slim to none that's going to happen)...he would absolutley thrive in Whiz's offense, especially since Whiz loves the TE passing game.
2. T Gosder Cherilus. Another strong player at a school famous for generating good NFL o-linemen. Big, physical tackle who just flat-out competes. Doesn't always look pretty and can play upright too much...but he gets the job done almost all of the time.
If he were available at #50...he'd be a fine pick for the Cards there.
3. CB DeJuan Tribble. This guy is always around the football. He just has an uncanny sense about him. He's a more natural playmaker at RCB. Excellent competitor...and plays very well with the game on the line. Last year at Florida State he sealed BC's upset win at Tallahasee when he jumped an out pass and raced the pick 65 yards for a TD. He was playing lights-out this past year until he suffered a leg injury...which he bounced back from, but was still clearly hampered by. Tribble knows how to play good angles, and like all BC DBs, he's a sound tackler and special teams player.
4. FS Jamie Silva. Hits like Pat Tillman...and that's no lie...and has the instincts of Ed Reed in coverage. It seemed like in every big game this past year, Silva had a key interception or drive stalling tackle. He's just not a total burner and he lacks proto-typical height, which will lower his draft stock. Was a finalist for the Thorpe Award and deserved to be.
If he's still on the board at #149 when the Cardinals pick in the 5th round, I will be praying the Cards pounce on this kid. He will intantly endear himself to the coaches and fans and he will stand out on special teams and in nickel packages right away.
5. LB Jolonn Dunbar. Won't impress anyone with his 40 time...but his clockwatch speed is irrelevant because he plays with such incredible adrenaline. He's an inside 3-4 LB who single-handedly turned numerous games around for BC by creating the defensive turnover that changed the entire momentum of the game. He jumps inside passing routes up the seams as well as any LB I've ever seen at the college level. And it seems whenever there's a fumble he's right there to scoop it up and take it to the house. Dunbar is a good, solid reliable tackler...but needs to play more physically at the next level. I believe he will, and I believe he will be one the best 6-7th round steals in this draft. he could immediate play as a Mike backer in the nickel because of his penchant for pass coverage.
6. RB Andre Callender. Maybe the best pass catching RB in this draft. He's got good size, is slippery in the runniing game and is dynamic in the passing game. Many of you probably saw the catch he made at the back of the end zone on national TV to beat Virginia Tech. That catch was more impressive than one would realize. Callender even said afterward, he had trouble picking up the ball because of the lights , the rain and a VT DB was between him and the ball. Callender is not a physcial a runner as scouts would like from a player his size...but he's not shy about taking on contact and he does lower his shoulder and slides for as many extra yards as he can. While it's unlikely he'd ever be a #1 RB in the NFL, his pass catching ability could win him a role with the team that signs him.
7. RB L.V. Whitworth. Got a little lost in the shuffle this year when new HC Jeff Jagodinski implemented his passing offense that favored Callender. But, Whitworth is one solid RB...he's tough and durable, and he has good vision. This kid could surprise the team that signs him and could well wind up on a practice squad this year.
8. WR Kevin Challenger. Diminutive flanker who has a knack for making the big TD catch...just ask Charlie Weiss, and others. He may be too small and slight to play in the NFL, but could find a job and a successful run in Canada.
9. DE Nick Larkin. Was off to a great start but then injured his knee...but came back late in the year and made some big plays in BC's bowl win over Michigan St. This kid brings Mike Vrabel type intensity...and while he won't wow anyone withb his times or numbers, he will turn your head on game days because he's relentless.
Predictions:
1. Ryan: Top 8. He won't get past Baltimore.
2. Cherilus: Late 1st (Steelers at #23 is possible) or Early 2nd.
3. Tribble: 3rd to 4th round.
4. Silva: 4th-6th.
5. Dunbar: 6th-7th.
6. Callender: 7th-UCFA
7. Whitworth: UCFA
8. Challenger: UCFA
9. Larkin: UCFA
Pretty solid class, considering none of these guys were being recruited by the big boys out of high school.
1. QB Matt Ryan. High character, intensely competitive player who won close to 80% of his starts at BC. Stands tall in the pocket and snaps off ropes with a smooth delivery. Can throw the 15 yard out pass from the far hashmark as well as any QB in the country. Throws exceptionally well on the run, and has the arm to set his feet and throw strikes 30-40 yards deep across the grain. The toughest QB I've seen in a long time. One game at Clemson he took a shot while throwing on the run that was about as crushing as one will ever see...his helmet came flying off and landed about 5 yards behind him..and Ryan bounced back up, shook his head to get rid of the cobwebs and went right back to compete a very exciting upset of Clemson at Clemson that day. Furthermore, last year he was first team All-ACC playing on a badly sprained foot and ankle the whole year.
The only real negative I would mention about Ryan is that sometimes when he checks down he will force a ball into the intermediate zones underneath, which sometimes results in an interception. However, in terms of exploiting defenses in the intermediate zones by throwing to the TE, I've seen no college QB better. This should quickly win him the favor of his new NFL coaches. Get him with a good TE or two and look out.
Ryan is the best pro QB prospect the Eagles have ever had. While Doug Flutie was a different kind of player, style-wise, and was thrilling to watch, Ryan is the more complete player because of his size and arm strength. Matt Hasselbeck wasn't nearly the leader or clutch performer that Ryan is, although Hasselbeck has made tremendous strides as a pro. Brian St. Pierre was steadier than Hasselbeck, but not quite as agile. Tim Hasselbeck got about the most out of slightly above average college ability.
Ryan---because of his talent, character, leadership ability and work ethic, will be an outstanding pro. I would be delirious if the Cardinals made a move to get him (the odds are slim to none that's going to happen)...he would absolutley thrive in Whiz's offense, especially since Whiz loves the TE passing game.
2. T Gosder Cherilus. Another strong player at a school famous for generating good NFL o-linemen. Big, physical tackle who just flat-out competes. Doesn't always look pretty and can play upright too much...but he gets the job done almost all of the time.
If he were available at #50...he'd be a fine pick for the Cards there.
3. CB DeJuan Tribble. This guy is always around the football. He just has an uncanny sense about him. He's a more natural playmaker at RCB. Excellent competitor...and plays very well with the game on the line. Last year at Florida State he sealed BC's upset win at Tallahasee when he jumped an out pass and raced the pick 65 yards for a TD. He was playing lights-out this past year until he suffered a leg injury...which he bounced back from, but was still clearly hampered by. Tribble knows how to play good angles, and like all BC DBs, he's a sound tackler and special teams player.
4. FS Jamie Silva. Hits like Pat Tillman...and that's no lie...and has the instincts of Ed Reed in coverage. It seemed like in every big game this past year, Silva had a key interception or drive stalling tackle. He's just not a total burner and he lacks proto-typical height, which will lower his draft stock. Was a finalist for the Thorpe Award and deserved to be.
If he's still on the board at #149 when the Cardinals pick in the 5th round, I will be praying the Cards pounce on this kid. He will intantly endear himself to the coaches and fans and he will stand out on special teams and in nickel packages right away.
5. LB Jolonn Dunbar. Won't impress anyone with his 40 time...but his clockwatch speed is irrelevant because he plays with such incredible adrenaline. He's an inside 3-4 LB who single-handedly turned numerous games around for BC by creating the defensive turnover that changed the entire momentum of the game. He jumps inside passing routes up the seams as well as any LB I've ever seen at the college level. And it seems whenever there's a fumble he's right there to scoop it up and take it to the house. Dunbar is a good, solid reliable tackler...but needs to play more physically at the next level. I believe he will, and I believe he will be one the best 6-7th round steals in this draft. he could immediate play as a Mike backer in the nickel because of his penchant for pass coverage.
6. RB Andre Callender. Maybe the best pass catching RB in this draft. He's got good size, is slippery in the runniing game and is dynamic in the passing game. Many of you probably saw the catch he made at the back of the end zone on national TV to beat Virginia Tech. That catch was more impressive than one would realize. Callender even said afterward, he had trouble picking up the ball because of the lights , the rain and a VT DB was between him and the ball. Callender is not a physcial a runner as scouts would like from a player his size...but he's not shy about taking on contact and he does lower his shoulder and slides for as many extra yards as he can. While it's unlikely he'd ever be a #1 RB in the NFL, his pass catching ability could win him a role with the team that signs him.
7. RB L.V. Whitworth. Got a little lost in the shuffle this year when new HC Jeff Jagodinski implemented his passing offense that favored Callender. But, Whitworth is one solid RB...he's tough and durable, and he has good vision. This kid could surprise the team that signs him and could well wind up on a practice squad this year.
8. WR Kevin Challenger. Diminutive flanker who has a knack for making the big TD catch...just ask Charlie Weiss, and others. He may be too small and slight to play in the NFL, but could find a job and a successful run in Canada.
9. DE Nick Larkin. Was off to a great start but then injured his knee...but came back late in the year and made some big plays in BC's bowl win over Michigan St. This kid brings Mike Vrabel type intensity...and while he won't wow anyone withb his times or numbers, he will turn your head on game days because he's relentless.
Predictions:
1. Ryan: Top 8. He won't get past Baltimore.
2. Cherilus: Late 1st (Steelers at #23 is possible) or Early 2nd.
3. Tribble: 3rd to 4th round.
4. Silva: 4th-6th.
5. Dunbar: 6th-7th.
6. Callender: 7th-UCFA
7. Whitworth: UCFA
8. Challenger: UCFA
9. Larkin: UCFA
Pretty solid class, considering none of these guys were being recruited by the big boys out of high school.
