SB Nation - Davon Drew

Rumblings Authors Mock, V2.0 - krytime's take

Brian Galliford — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:00:13 -0000

More photos » by Rogelio V. Solis - AP

Mississippi OT Michael Oher getting more and more love from Bills mock drafters. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

Ed. Note, by Brian Galliford: Yes, this is another post in the Rumblings Authors Mock series. Raise your hand if you're tired of mock drafts and just want it to be the weekend already! Even so, 'krytime' has got some thoughts to share and a Buffalo Bills mock to present; he gets that opportunity now. Everything from this point forward is his. End Note

Here's my feeble attempt at predicting what will happen from now through the end of the upcoming weekend.

Before I go further, let me re-state a few of my beliefs when it comes to the draft. First, I like to draft big guys in the early rounds, and by that I mean addressing the following positions: DT, DE, T, C, and G, in no particular order. I'm also a proponent of 'best player available'. Most important to my strategy, though, is to stay out of the top half of the first round, and accumulate as many picks as you can in rounds two through four.

As such, I’m a huge fan of trading down. The Bills never seem to do that though, as pointed out over the last five years in Peter King’s MMQB. Not once did they move down to get an extra pick in the last five years. Ridiculous, I say! As far as trading up goes, I think it’s fair to say that two of the three times they did, it backfired. Ugh. I get puke in my mouth every time I think of this.

Thankfully, the Jason Peters ordeal is over, and it gave us two extra picks this year to add talent to the team. It also left us with a gaping hole on the OL, and that has to be addressed. I think Kirk Chambers should be given the first shot at LT, and then I’d like to keep an eye on Demetrius Bell and his development. It’s obviously just the homer in me, but I do tend to overrate both, especially Bell. Langston Walker, in my opinion, should be kept at RT, along with Brad Butler staying at RG.

Is there any chance they can improve the OL before the draft this week? FA is never done; it just slows down. Would an old guy like Mark Trauscher, Chris Naole, or Jon Runyan be decent depth options? Brian Waters from KC is the rumor many of us hope for in a trade, but I doubt it happens. I would just like to get another vet in to guard against the volatility of the draft forcing them to reach for a player for the desperate OL.

Parrish Trade Projection, other wild cards to consider
I will pencil in a trade that I do think and kind of hope happens. Roscoe Parrish may need a ride to the airport on his way out of Buffalo. I think he’ll go for a fourth, and I’d like for the Bills to do that. Many here have argued against this. But with only 53 roster spots and the OL surely to have some inexperience, they may have to shuffle the way they build a roster, and in my opinion, it won’t be one that carries six or seven receivers.

Now, as for my super-huge wish of trading out of eleven and down to the twenties, adding an extra second rounder - I don’t think it’ll happen. I just don’t see a player at that spot who teams would move up for. Like Peter King, I think USC QB Mark Sanchez has a lot to do with the way this draft plays out. If he were to last until eleven, then I think some teams would call the Bills. I could see Washington and Denver making a move, but that would barely net a fifth rounder, assuming it would be the first Denver pick. I want to say Minnesota would be a good fit, but I don’t know if they are content with Sage Rosenfels or not. The Jets? Doubt it. Seattle and/or Cleveland moving back up in the first for him? Doubt that too.

So for this mock draft, I have the Bills picking at the following spots: 11, 28, 42, 75, 110, 118 (I used this middle of the round spot as an average for a Parrish trade), 121, 147, 183 and 220.

Just for the heck of it, a few wild cards to throw out, as I‘ll never rule out anything:

Chris Kelsay trade - I really do think he’d get you more than a seventh. Nothing more than a fifth though. It’s something to consider.
Marshawn Lynch trade - Out of curiosity, what would he fetch?
John McCargo trade - Maybe a fifth?
Ashton Youboty trade - Maybe another fourth?

And for the record, I doubt any of these happen. On to the mock… which appears after the jump.

1-11: Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi. I know it’s been said the Bills prefer Andre Smith, but I don’t think he’ll be there. If he is, he’s my pick. If not, I’m taking the next best LT in this year’s draft. His alleged ability to play G makes him more attractive to me.

1-28: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State. My prediction here is that the Bills trade up into the early twenties to get Pettigrew, using a third-rounder to do so. I hope they don’t. No knock on Pettigrew, but I’d rather take a chance on Michael Johnson. The kid is a freak, and reminds me of Calais Campbell. They say he has some issues with regard to work ethic. I don’t buy it. His dad is a military guy, and all he did last year was produce.

2-42: Max Unger, G/C, Oregon. I would love to see Max Unger fall, and I think he will. That’s who I’m picking here.

3-75: Tyrone McKenzie, LB, South Florida. Tyrone McKenzie is my pick for the third round. I think he has good size, and is a nice fit in a Cover 2. If the Bills were to use this pick in a Pettigrew trade, I’d use the multiple fourth rounders to get up enough to get this guy. It goes against my thinking of trading down, that’s for sure.

4-110: Sammie Lee Hill, DT, Stillman. Sammie Lee Hill gets picked here. It’s good to have an over-sized DT with some athletic ability on your roster. If Chris Baker is here, that’s my pick. He’ll be gone earlier in my opinion.

4-118: Derek Pegues, S, Mississippi State. If Chip Vaughn is here, he’s my pick. If not, maybe the smaller, jack of all trades Derek Pegues will do the trick.

4-121: Phillip Hunt, DE, Houston. I have to pick him here. After all, I interviewed Jim Jeffcoat about him.

5-147: Davon Drew, TE, East Carolina. He’s a blocker, and that’s what I think this team could use. I really like Fine a lot, so I’ve ignored this position throughout the draft, maybe even to a fault. Depending on how things go (for example, with Pettigrew), LB Zack Follett could be a choice here. From what I’ve seen, I like watching the guy play football.

6-183: Ryan Stancheck, OT, West Virginia. Ask me any question about him - I won’t know it.

7-220: Phil Trautwein, OT, Florida. Ask me any question about him - I won’t know it.

I obviously mailed in the last two picks. But they are what they are - flyers on big men who have played a lot of college football in big time conferences. Maybe one of them turns out to be practice squad fodder at best; maybe one turns into a player.

I’m sure I’ll get beat up a little for this mock, and most likely, deservedly so. Have at it...

Rumblings Authors Mock, V2.0 - sireric's take

sireric — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:00:13 -0000

More photos » by Rogelio V. Solis - AP

Mississippi OT Michael Oher (right) could be the ideal replacement for OT Jason Peters in Buffalo. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

Browse more photos »

I think that for this mock draft - my final entry in this year's Rumblings Authors Mock series - I am going to go against one of my preferences when doing a mock draft. Normally I dislike including trades, mainly because I think that as Buffalo Bills fans we tend to give our team too much compensation and overrate our own talent. That said, I think that this year could see a few trades by the Bills, so I will give it a try. I was going to include a Jason Peters trade, but I no longer have to speculate about that.

The Bills send Roscoe Parrish to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for the Cowboys' Round 6 (No. 197 overall) pick in 2009. The Cowboys were third from the bottom of the league last year with a terrible 6.4-yard punt return average; compare that to the Bills, who were No. 1 with a 15.5-yard average. Roscoe gives the Cowboys and upgrade at returner at minimal cost. Why so low on the compensation you ask? How much would you give for a guy who is basically just a punt returner who is making what Roscoe is?

After trading Jason Peters and my prognostication about the Roscoe Parrish deal, that gives the Bills the following picks: 11, 28, 42, 75, 110, 121, 147,183, 197, 220. Here is what they do with those ten picks:

1-11: Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi. After trading Jason Peters, tackle now becomes a huge need for the Bills, and Oher is probably the best one left on the board at this point. Oher also has the ability to play guard, which makes him even more valuable to the Bills since they have a hole there also.

1-28: Alex Mack, C, California. I'm not sure that the Bills would ideally like to take two linemen this high. They would most likely prefer to add a DE somewhere here. Alex Mack however would be just too darn good to pass up. The Bills need more ~~Kiss Ass~~ Kick Ass toughness on the offensive line, and Mack has that in spades. I think that Geoff Hangartner still stays at center and Mack is a guard, but who really cares where they play?

2-42: Fili Moala, DT, USC. For those of you who are still pining for Haloti Ngata, fear not - Moala is Ngata's cousin. The 6'4", 305-pound Moala has plenty of size and will fit into the Bills' DT rotation quite nicely.

3-75: Marcus Freeman, LB, Ohio State. There could be several options still on the board to fill the OLB spot for the Bills. However, their compulsion towards OSU players compels them to grab Freeman. Freeman is a solid blitzer who, at least initially, can be subbed for by Keith Ellison when needed to drop into coverage.

4-110: Phillip Hunt, DE, Houston. A little late for a DE? Sure. But let's be honest - Schobel and Kelsay are the starters, and Ryan Denney is going to play a prominent role also. The Bills need a guy who an come in on passing downs, pin his ears back, and go get the QB. Hunt can be that guy - then maybe next year when at least one of the Trio of Suck leaves, Hunt can have a bigger role.

4-121: Sherrod Martin, S, Troy State. Martin has good timed speed, 4.46 in the 40 at his pro day, and has decent ball skills recording 4 picks this past season. He was of course also a teammate of Leodis McKelvin last year.

5-147: Davon Drew, TE, East Carolina. I have touted the likes of Bear Pascoe and Davon Drew for quite some time now, and here is why: the Bills are going to put an onus on running the football this year. If Derek Fine gets hurt and misses some time, like he did last year, that will leave Derek Schouman as the top TE on the Bills roster. Schouman isn't the best blocker around, so if Fine goes down it could really hurt the Bills' run game if their next best blocking TE is a guy like Chase Coffman or Jared Cook. Give me a blocker.

6-183: Lee Robinson, OLB, Alcorn State. A solid depth pick here. Robinson is athletic enough to comtribute on special teams right away and could develop into a pretty solid player. Robinson was an All-SWAC First Team qualifier as a senior.

6-197: Dallas Reynolds, C/G, BYU. Reynolds was an All-Mountain West first team performer, and was the leader of a unit that blocked for one of the top offenses in the nation. At 6'5" and 328 pounds, Reynolds is a massive road grader who is easily an upgrade over the mercifully-departed Duke Preston.

7-220: Mark Hafner, FB, Houston. I know some of you love Quinn Johnson and Tony Fiammetta, but Hafner is a great receiver out of the backfield. He finished his senior season by catching 86 passes for 907 yards and 11 scores. Given Trent Edwards' love of the check down pass, Hafner's hands could prove invaluable. Next Larry Centers?

***

Alright, let's hear it. I know most of you will hate the the fact that I didn't take a DE until round four, and I know that plenty of you want a TE that can stretch the field so I doubt that this will win too many of you over. I am OK with that. I will settle for an I told you so.

TE, Davon Drew, East Carolina

Jeremy Bolander — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 22:02:51 -0000

TE, Davon Drew, East Carolina

At A Glance
Position 1: Tight End	Height: 6-4
Position 2:	Weight: 256
Class: Senior	Age:
Projected Round: 7th-FA	40time: 4.78

Combine/Proday Results
Bench Reps: 17	Vertical: 29.5
20yd Split: 2.72	Broad Jump: 9'5"
10yd Split: 1.58	20yd Shuttle: 4.66
3 Cone Drill: 7.28

Pros: Good height with long arms, strong biceps and adequate lower body build. Versatile enough to be used outside, in the slot, in motion and on the line. Reliable hands and will snatch the ball outside his frame. Good release off the line, and can use hands to shake off linebackers and get into his route. Will set up out routes well, using his long arms to get separation. Quick enough to threaten the seam and open up underneath routes. Fights off arm tackles and gain additional yardage after the catch. Former quarterback who knows when to sit down in zones and works to make himself available. Very willing run and pass blocker, giving good effort.

Cons: Body type somewhere between a receiver and tight end. Will be better as a H-back in the pros. Only average straight-line speed and does not separate from quicker linebackers. Potentially good blocker but needs a lot of technique work. Lunges in his in-line blocks, gets ripped too easily and loses his balance. Blocks downfield but does not always hit his target or sustain well as he fails to use his hands or move his feet. Will lower the shoulder instead of sustaining when in a fullback mode inside. Needs work on his route running - doesn't sink his hips and will round off his cuts.

Around MHR:

Around SBNation:

Highlights:

Scouting Reports and Offsite Links:

"I think I am right where I need to be. I am doing what I am capable of doing," Drew said. "It is a big dream of mine, and it is something I look forward to doing. I am just going to keep doing what I do and come out and trying to get better."

Drew, who is majoring in management of recreation facilities and services, will graduate from East Carolina in December. If he doesn't reach his goal of playing in the NFL, he plans on helping the youth of New Bern. [see more...]
Drew took advantage of ECU's climb to national prominence early in the season to improve his draft stock. The honorable mention All-Conference USA pick is an ideal H-back candidate because of his size and receiving skills (43 catches for 695 yards and three scores). Came to college a successful high school quarterback out of North Carolina and played quarterback his first two seasons at ECU, so he's still learning his new position. Scouts think his best football is yet to come. [see more...]

2009 Liberty Bowl: A look at the East Carolina Pirates

Ken Howlett — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:11:24 -0000

Kentucky fan itinerary: Graceland, Beale Street, barbecue, B.B. King's joint, the blues, and a big bowl win (actually, any size bowl win will do). The Liberty Bowl may not be what Rich Brooks and Crew dreamed of after Kentucky's 5-2 start, but after an avalanche of injuries and one pre-season forced defection, the 'Cats managed to scratch their way to a 6-6 record and a third straight bowl bid.

One thing the Liberty Bowl provides the football 'Cats is a chance to redeem themselves after disappointing losses to Vanderbilt and Tennessee which ended the regular season. But, as with everything football related this year, it won't be easy; Randall Cobb is recovering from knee surgery, and running back Moncell 'Turtle" Allen has been deemed academically ineligible for the game. Neither Dicky Lyons nor Derrick Locke will be available, although Dicky allegedly pulverized 'em with his pulsating pelvis in winning the Elvis impersonator contest earlier in the week.

Alas, UK is not alone in having no vacancies on the training table. East Carolina has suffered through an unusually high number of injuries and suspensions, as well: Wide receivers T.J. Lee and Dwayne Harris endured season-ending surgeries; projected starting running back Dominique Lindsay was lost in the pre-season; top wide-out Jamar Bryant was suspended for a violation of team rules in mid-season; running back Jon Williams was suspended for violating team rules in late October.

ECU offensive coordinator Todd Finch bemoaned his fate; "Our top five skill guys haven't played the second half of the season for us." Join the club, coach Finch. I say we rename the 2009 Liberty Bowl, the M.A.S.H. 4077 Bowl. But, enough of the pity party.

Instead, let's take a look at the East Carolina Pirates, beginning with ...

Head Coach Skip Holtz

Holtz took over a program that has a tradition of winning (ECU has produced two NFL quarterbacks in Jeff Blake and current Jaguar David Garrard), but was only 7-28 the three seasons leading up to his hiring. Since Holtz was hired in 2004, the Pirates have posted the following records: 5-6, 7-6, 8-5, and this years 9-4. As with UK, the Conference USA champs are playing in their third straight bowl game. Last year they defeated #24 Boise State 41-38 in the Hawai'i Bowl for ECU's first bowl win in seven years.

Interesting Holtz tidbit -- He was hired in December of 2004 by former Virginia Cavaliers head basketball coach Terry Holland (yeah, the guy who recruited Ralph Sampson away from UK) who is now the athletic director at ECU.

The Pirate Season

Wins -- #17 Virginia Tech 27-22, #8 West Virginia 24-3, Tulane 28-24, Memphis 30-10, Central Florida 13-10, Marshall 19-16, UAB 17-13, UTEP 53-21, Tulsa 27-24.

Losses -- N.C. State 30-24, Houston 41-24, Virginia 35-20, Southern Miss 21-3.

ECU began the season with the two upset victories over Virginia Tech and West Virginia. They then beat Tulane, which was followed by three straight losses. Since their 3-3 start they have bounced back to win six of their final seven games.

Pirate Offensive Personnel

Quarterback Pat Pinkney: 6'0", 198 lb senior -- This season Pinkney was 205 of 327 (62.7%) through the air, for 2,379 yards, with seven interceptions and 12 touchdown passes. He ran the ball 80 times for a gross of 206 yards, but he lost 156 yards due to his 18 sacks, so he posted only 50 net yards rushing. As I noted, Pinkney has been sacked 18 times this year (Virginia got to him six times), but he's only been sacked four times in the last seven games (a result of a change in the offensive game-plan, due to injuries).

Pinkney, having lost his top receivers, relies heavily on the running game to set up the pass. Pinkney has endured multiple shoulder surgeries, but has been injury-free this year.

Running back Norman Whitley: 5'9", 187 lb sophomore -- Whitley rushed 135 times for 667 yards (4.9 yards per carry). He averaged 51.3 yards rushing per game, and scored four rushing touchdowns.

Whitley ran a 4.47-40 in high school.

Running back Brandon Simmons: 6'1", 223 lb, senior -- Simmons rushed 124 times for 430 yards (3.5 ypc). He averaged 33.1 yards rushing per game, and scored six rushing touchdowns. He also caught 24 passes for 149 yards (6.2 yards per catch) and three touchdowns.

Whitley and Simmons (a former walk-on) form quite a formidable combination in the Pirate backfield. With the loss of so many receivers, Holtz has gone to a two-back set on most plays, relying on the run more than ever.

Receivers and Tight end

Tight end Davon Drew: 6'4", 260 lb senior -- Drew pulled in 38 receptions for 575 yards (15.1 ypc) and three touchdowns. He averages 44.2 receiving yards per game.

Wide receiver Alex Taylor: 6'4", 210 lb junior -- He snagged 23 catches for 310 yards (13.5 ypc) and one touchdown. He averages 23.8 receiving yards per game.

Wide receiver Darryl Freeney: 5'11", 196 lb redshirt freshman -- Freeney made 17 catches for 240 yards (14.1 ypc) and one touchdown. He also returns punts -- 13 on the year, for a 7.3 yard average return.

Freeney ran a 4.47-40 in high school.

Wide receiver Joe Womack: 6'1", 195 lb true freshman -- Womack grabbed 16 receptions for 215 yards (13.4 ypc).

Field goal kicker Ben Hartman: 5'11", 210 lb junior -- Hartman was 19 of 29 (65.5%) on his field goal attempts. He was 15 of 18 from 20 to 39 yards, but only 4 of 11 beyond 40. For his career Hartman is 35 of 56 (62.5%).

He bears a remarkable likeness to UK's own Dicky Lyons, Jr.

Pirate Defensive Personnel

Defensive end C.J. Wilson: 6'4", 271 lb junior -- Wilson is fourth on the team with 64 tackles. He also has an incredible 18.5 tackles for loss, 10.5 sacks, and five quarterback hits.

Wilson was named First Team All-Conference USA. He was also named Conference USA Defensive Most Valuable Player by The Sporting News.

Defensive end Zack Slate: 6'5", 221 lb senior -- Slate recorded 45 tackles, eight tackles for loss, five sacks and five quarterback hits.

Wilson and Slate have been honored with a nickname: "Lumber and Lightening." Wilson is the "Lumber" and Slate is the "Lightening." In ECU's 4-3 defensive set they have proved to be quite an effective combination in rushing and pressuring the quarterback; they have combined for 109 tackles, 26.5 tackles for loss and 15.5 sacks.

Linebacker Pierre Bell: 6'2", 233 lb senior -- Bell leads the team with 92 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, one sack two interceptions and five pass break-ups.

Bell was named Second Team All-Conference USA.

Linebacker Nick Johnson: 6'1", 215 lb junior -- He is tied for second on the team with 89 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, one sack, two interceptions and three pass break-ups.

Free safety Van Eskridge: 6'0", 200 lb junior -- Eskridge also had 89 tackles, four interceptions and three pass break-ups. He returned one of his INT"s for a touchdown.

He was named First Team All-Conference USA.

Defensive back Emanuel Davis: 5'11", 190 lb freshman -- Davis recorded 42 tackles, two tackles for loss, four interceptions and seven pass break-ups. He also returned one of his INT's for a touchdown.

Davis was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team. The Sporting News named him to their national All-Freshman Team.

Punter Matt Dodge: 6'2", 220 lb junior -- Dodge punted 65 times for an average of 43.5 yards (16th nationally). He had 22 punts travel over 50 yards. He also kicks-off: 66 kick-offs, with four touch-backs.

Dodge was named an Honorable Mention All-America by SI.com.

UK National Ranking Comparison to ECU

Total Defense -- UK - 34th (327 yards allowed), ECU - 43rd (334 yards allowed) ... Scoring Defense -- UK - 38th (21.7 points allowed), ECU - 31st (20.8 points allowed) ... Rushing Defense -- UK - 66th (142 yards allowed), ECU - 52nd (138 yards allowed) ... Pass Defense -- UK - 28th (184.6 yards allowed), ECU - 48th (196.7 yards allowed) ... Team Interceptions -- UK - 56th (12 INT's), ECU - t5th (21 INT's) ... Total Offense -- UK - 105th (298.4 yards per game), ECU - 83rd (336.0 yards per game) ... Scoring Offense -- UK - 87th (22.4 points per game), ECU - 79th (23.8 points per game) ... Rushing Offense -- UK - 78th (129.3 yards per game), ECU - 83rd (128.3 yards per game) ... Pass Offense -- UK - 98th (169.2 yards per game), ECU - 64th (207.7 yards per game).

Miscellaneous ECU Information

ECU is +5 in the takeaway department, but they've turned the ball over 27 times ... In the red zone ECU has converted 35 of 41 chances (85%), but they've only scored touchdowns on 22 of those 41 opportunities (54%) ... ECU's red zone defense has been effective; in 42 opportunities their opponents have scored a touchdown 20 times (48%) ... ECU has executed 30 sacks in 13 games ... ECU averages 3.4 yards per rush as a team.

Tennessee Titan rookie, and former ECU Pirate Chris Johnson, was recently named to the Pro Bowl.

ECU's victory over Boise State in last year's Hawai'i Bowl, coupled with the two season-opening victories over ranked opponents this year, marks the first time in Pirate history that they have defeated three straight ranked teams.

Thoughts and a Prediction

This is a game with two teams who are going to attempt to execute very similar game-plans; both teams are going to look to run first, and pressure, pressure, pressure the quarterback on passing downs.

I think the game hinges on UK quarterback Mike Hartline's performance. If Hartline plays up to the praise he's been recently receiving, then I feel UK wins the game. But, if he goes 12 for 25, for 140 yards (or something similar) the the 'Cats are in for a long evening. With ECU knowing that Kentucky wants to run, if Hartline and his receivers aren't on the same page, then Holtz will stack eight in the box and dare UK to handoff.

There are reports that say that Hartline and his stable of colts have progressed nicely over the last few weeks. I want to believe, but in a year as strange as this, I'm hopeful, but not expectant.

Three straight bowl wins for the first time in school history? I can't pick against that -- UK 23 ECU 20.

Thanks for reading, and Go 'Cats!