SB Nation - Nic Harris

2009 OU Football Preview: Defensive Secondary

ccmachine — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 06:47:04 -0000

Carter could be the big hitter that the OU secondary has missed since Roy Williams

Oklahoma’s defensive secondary is a bit intriguing because the Sooners boast two of the best corners in the country and a pair of safeties who will be first year starters. Dominique Franks and Brian Jackson are both shutdown corners who can turn an interception into a pick-six in a matter of seconds but that isn’t what excites me the most. Don’t get me wrong, because it’s great to have two guys on the islands like these because it frees up Brent Venables to send the safeties on blitzes because they can hold their own in single coverage. Not to mention their ability to blitz themselves.

All that said, it’s been a while since head hunters roamed Oklahoma’s secondary. There’s been a nastiness missing that’s caused opponents not to fear catching passes over the middle. Nic Harris was more than solid in coverage and despite size that allowed him to play linebacker he consistently didn’t provide the type of eye popping hits that make receivers listen for footsteps. Quinton Carter may be the player to change all that. He loves to make the big hit and if the glimpses that he gave us last season are what he provides on a game to game basis this year then opponents had better strap up, and that’s what excites me the most.

Cornerbacks

Starter – Dominique Franks, Jr: Was a second team All Conference selection in `08, scored two defensive touchdowns (fumble against A&M, interception against Nebraska), led the team with 10 pass deflections.

Starter – Brian Jackson, Sr: Recorded 66 tackles in `08, broke up 10 passes, recovered 3 fumbles, forced 2 fumbles and intercepted 2 passes.

Jamell Fleming, So: Recorded 23 special teams tackles in `08.

Lamar Harris, RFr: Was the nation’s 26^th ranked athlete in the `08 recruiting class.

Demontre Hurst, Fr: Nation’s 37^th ranked corner in the `09 recruiting class.

Gabe Lynn, Fr: Nation’s top ranked cornerback in the `09 recruiting class.

Jonathan Nelson, Jr: Played in four games on special teams in `08.

Strong Safety

Starter – Sam Proctor, So: Was a regular on special teams in `08 recording 10 tackles, recorded 4 more tackles in game action.

Javon Harris, Fr: Has impressed coaches to the point where he will play somewhere as a freshman and not necessarily on special teams. Could actually be pushing Proctor for playing time.

Joseph Ibiloye, RFr: Was the 10^th ranked safety in the `08 recruiting class.

Free Safety

Starter – Quinton Carter, Jr: Started two games last season (Kansas, Big 12 Championship) and played in a total of 12 games recording 37 tackles and 2 pass breakups. In his two starts he recorded 10 tackles against Kansas and 8 against Missouri.

Desmond Jackson, So: Played in 9 games in `08 as a special teams player.

Emmanuel Jones, Sr: Recorded no stats in `08.

Sooner Rookies Make Good First NFL Impression

ccmachine — Wed, 06 May 2009 03:53:37 -0000

More photos » by Jim Mone - AP

7 months ago: Minnesota Vikings tackle Phil Loadholt, left, a second-round draft pick, goes through drills during the Vikings' minicamp Friday, May 1, 2009, in Eden Prairie, Minn. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)

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Phil Loadholt had his first workout with the Minnesota Vikings over the weekend and apparently made a huge splash as the biggest man on the Vikings roster. According to a quote in the Star Tribune, Vikings coach Brad Childress was very upbeat about Loadholt’s potential.

"You can't miss him," Childress said when asked about Loadholt after the team's first rookie minicamp workout Friday.

"I told these guys here, 'That's a big man.' Great reach. Athletic. Got good feet. With his reach and that length, it's hard [for defenders] to get away from that guy."

Loadholt is competing with Ryan Cook for the starting right tackle spot but Childress says that he believes him to be versatile enough to play both tackle spots.

Also making a good first impression was Juaquin Iglesias who according to a Chicago Sun Times report is competing for an open receiver spot.

The reports are positive regarding Iglesias as well. He stood out for how well he’s put together at around 6-foot-2 212-pounds and he showed good quickness coming out of his breaks in the route running he was doing, and showed great hands catching numerous balls in practice.

Coach Smith stated “I liked what our receivers did, Juaquin Iglesias and Johnny Knox. Both have a lot of upside and can run well.”

At the Buffalo Bills’ rookie camp Nic Harris made a play where people took notice and is adjusting to playing linebacker. SBN’s Buffalo Rumblings has this snippet about Harris.

Defensively fifth-round pick Nic Harris had a pass breakup on a play that was going to tight end Travis McCall. Harris shadowed the tight end well in coverage and got his hand in the passing lane to prevent the completion.

"I'm just trying to make plays," said Harris. "Right now just being an athletic guy, being brought down to the linebacker position. I played a little bit at OU, not necessarily linebacker, but covering receivers and stuff like that. Kind of with the scheme right now it's an every down linebacker. It's new, but I'm learning on the curve."

The Other Guys

The only thing I could dig up on Duke Robinson is that he’ll wear #72 for the Panthers. Dishingoutdimes reported to us that Manny Johnson was not among the injured in the collapse of the Cowboys’ training facility. Although the rookie camp was cut short due to the tragedy Johnson was able to receive some pointers from former Dallas All-Pro receiver Michael Irvin.

The Sooners NFL Draft Recap

dishingoutdimes — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:38:53 -0000

More photos » by Jerry S. Mendoza - AP

Detroit Lions' tight end Brandon Pettigrew, left, safety Louis Delmas, center, of Western Michigan, and quarterback Matthew Stafford, of Georgia, sport looks of concern about being drafted by the Lions during a news conference at the Lions' headquarters on Sunday, April 26, 2009, in Allen Park, Mich. [I made that up]. (AP Photo/Jerry S. Mendoza)

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No Sooners are going to the 0-16 Detroit Lions, but it seems like the Minnesota Vikings have a thing for the Oklahoma Sooners. They drafted Adrian Peterson in 2007. They drafted Rufus Alexander last year. And now it appears they have two Sooners on their summer roster - Phil Loadholt and Jon Cooper. It should be noted that Brad Childress, Vikings head coach, visited Norman a couple of times personally. I had that in one of my notebooks, but I'm not going to dig it up now.

In any event here's how it breaks down:

Phil Loadholt: drafted by the Minnesota Vikings with the 22nd pick in the 2nd round, 54th pick overall.

Juaquin Iglesias: drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 3rd round with the 99th overall pick.

Nic Harris: drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the 5th round with the 147th overall pick.

Duke Robinson: drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the 5th round with the 163rd overall pick.

Manuel Johnson: drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the 7th round with the 229th overall pick.

Jon Cooper: signed as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings.

Brandon Walker: signed as a free agent with the Houston Texans.

Lendy Holmes: signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins (h/t to Woodrow Wilson).

Quentin Chaney: signed as a free agent with the St. Louis Rams (h/t to Woodrow Wilson).

So in total, 5 Sooners were drafted and 2 more were signed as free agents. Here's a good summary quote from soonersports.com:

Oklahoma continued several notable streaks in the 2009 NFL Draft. At least one Sooner was selected for the 47th consecutive Draft (1963-2009) and for the 41st time in the first seven rounds (1969-2009). For the 12th-straight year (1998-2009), a Sooner was selected in the first three rounds.

OU has supplied 339 players all-time in the NFL Draft (fourth-highest total of all schools). Despite its relative youth when compared with other coach staffs, the Sooner staff has done remarkably well at preparing players for the next level. This group of coaches can boast more than 66 players (41 drafted) who entered the NFL.

Personally, I'm shocked that Duke Robinson fell to the 5th round with his work ethic and talent level. He was often widely considered to be one of, if not our best, linemen.

I'm not really too surprised by anything else. Players still out there that might catch on with free agent contracts include Branndon Braxton and Mike Knall.

2009 NFL Draft Grades: Buffalo Bills Edition

Brian Galliford — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 12:30:10 -0000

More photos » by Don Heupel - AP

7 months ago: Russ Brandon, center, Buffalo Bills chief operating officer/general manager, stands with the team's first-round NFL draft picks, Aaron Maybin, left, and Eric Wood at the Ralph Wilson Stadium complex in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Sunday, April 26, 2009. Maybin, 11th-overall pick, is a defensive end from Penn State and Wood is a center from Louisville. (AP Photo/Don Heupel)

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The 2009 NFL Draft is in the books, and the Buffalo Rumblings community - at least to the point that this is published - has given the Buffalo Bills' efforts over the weekend an overwhelming 78% approval rating (while 9% of voters disapprove and 12% are undecided).

I have long believed that handing out grades after a draft is an exercise in futility, because ultimately, we have no idea how each pick is going to pan out. Ellis Lankster may end up being the best draft pick out of this class; we just don't know yet. But we do a reasonable amount of research, and far more prudently, we can grade the picks on a philosophical level - so grades aren't completely irrelevant. Here's how we grade the Buffalo Bills' 2009 NFL Draft efforts - factoring in player, philosophy and using those to form an ultimate grade.

1-11: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State
Entering draft weekend - and throughout the entire pre-draft process, really - I worried that the Bills would pass on a speed rusher for a more well-rounded, every-down defensive end. That's the type of athlete they've targeted in the past, and I didn't expect it to change. I'm happy to report I was wrong. On paper, Buffalo has its most explosive pass rusher since Bryce Paup.

What makes this pick better is the fact that they took the right player. No DE displayed a quicker first step in college or at the Combine than Maybin. I had him rated as the top DE on the board the moment he declared for the draft, and the Bills clearly followed suit, if only at the most critical juncture. I think he's the best pass rusher in the draft. The Bills, too, think he's the best pass rusher in the draft, and his upside is tremendous. There is risk here, and he won't play every down, but this is still a perfect fit. Philosophy grade: A; Player grade: A-

1-28: Eric Wood, OG, Louisville
Considering the fact that Buffalo went into the draft with only three set starters on the offensive line, this pick made a ton of sense both philosophically and player-wise. Wood was Buffalo's top-rated interior lineman, and he was close to the top on my board as well. He was one of four or five guys that I viewed as immediate starters at this level, and it was plainly obvious that the Bills needed one of those. They may have had to reach a touch to get him, but blame the Cleveland Browns for that - they took California C Alex Mack at No. 21 overall. Buffalo couldn't wait on Wood once that happened, so they're not docked as many points overall. Philosophy grade: A-; Player grade: B+

2-42: Jairus Byrd, FS, Oregon
My eyebrows raised a bit on this one, as I'm certain yours did as well. It was pretty apparent, however, that the Bills were going to add a DB early on in the draft process, and it was nice to see them target a safety prospect with ball skills. Byrd's ball-hawking tendencies alone make him a smart investment, but like Maybin, he's probably not an immediate starter. I like the fact that they targeted a playmaker here; I do believe there were some better safety prospects available, but I'm not complaining about the Byrd selection in the least. Philosophy grade: B; Player grade: B-

2-51: Andy Levitre, OG, Oregon State
Remember when I said that I thought four to five interior linemen in this draft class could start right away? Levitre was one of them. He was also the third-rated interior line prospect on Buffalo's board (behind Wood and Seahawks C Max Unger), and at this point in the draft, he was another supremely intelligent investment. Don't be concerned with the college tackle's position switch - Levitre was born to play guard. He's a Wood clone. With this pick and the subsequent shift of Brad Butler to RT, Buffalo had quickly re-assembled its offensive line after the trade of OT Jason Peters a week prior to the draft. Philosophy grade: A; Player grade: B

4-121: Shawn Nelson, TE, Southern Miss
I'll say it now, folks - Shawn Nelson is the steal of the 2009 Draft. Name any other pick by any other team that you think is a steal, and I'll tell you why Nelson is a better pick. At one point in time, Nelson was considered a fringe first-round pick. A day before the draft, most experts would have told you he'd be a second-round pick; third at the worst. This kid is tall, super fast and athletic, and outside of Bengals TE Chase Coffman has the best set of hands on any receiving prospect in this draft class. Buffalo actually considered trading up on day two for this guy. His athleticism, ability to stretch the field, and run-after-catch abilities are going to be an excellent help for QB Trent Edwards - who got a lot of help in this year's draft, by the way. Philosophy grade: A-; Player grade: A-

5-147: Nic Harris, OLB, Oklahoma
I have no issues with Buffalo taking a productive, athletic collegian and asking him to make a position switch. Harris will be able to handle it. We've crossed the threshold from instant impact to depth here, though; Harris will make the team and contribute as a special teams player (where he actually has a good deal of potential), but he's not an answer to the team's question at starting SAM linebacker. Philosophy grade: B; Player grade: C+

6-183: Cary Harris, DB, USC
You knew that Buffalo would take a pure corner at some point, and Harris was actually one of the late-round sleepers I'd circled because of his physicality and zone-based skill set. He has the potential to start in this league, folks. He'll never be a spectacular player or a Pro Bowl performer, nor will he make many big plays, but he's smart, tough, defends the run well, and will hold his own. He can also play some safety if need be, and of course, he'll play special teams. Philosophy grade: B-; Player grade: C+

7-220: Ellis Lankster, DB, West Virginia
Was I surprised that the Bills ended the draft by taking two defensive backs? Not really. Lankster is a fringe prospect, but he has a bit of playmaking potential and, like Harris, has a zone-based skill set. I'll defer to the Bills on this one - they've drafted relatively well in the late rounds over the past three years. It would have been nice if they'd had a player at a different position graded out as highly as another DB, however. Philosophy grade: C+; Player grade: D

Total (weighted) philosophical grade: B+
Total (weighted) player grade: B
Overall 2009 Buffalo Bills Draft Grade: B+

2009 NFL Draft: Buffalo Bills Pick Recap

Brian Galliford — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 23:33:19 -0000

More photos » by Charlie Neibergall - AP

Buffalo Bills DE Aaron Maybin, the team's first first-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft.

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The 2009 NFL Draft is officially in the books!

Entering the weekend, the Buffalo Bills had three areas that needed immediate attention: their woeful pass rush; their porous offensive line; and a defensive playmaker. The Bills addressed those needs on day one, and coupled with one tremendous value selection on day two, the Bills made out like bandits this draft weekend - whether you're a fan of their late-round picks or not.

Without further ado, here are your eight newest Buffalo Bills...

1-11: Aaron Maybin, DE, Penn State (Coverage)
We asked for a speed rusher and the Bills obliged. Maybin, by a country mile, is Buffalo's most athletic pass rushing threat since the days of Bryce Paup. He is undoubtedly a gamble, and won't be an every-down player right out of the gate. But with quarterbacks Tom Brady, Chad Pennington and now Mark Sanchez in the division, the Bills needed a guy to put heat on those signal-callers. This is a smart risk for the Bills to take - and Maybin's potential is elite.

1-28: Eric Wood, OG, Louisville (Coverage)
They tried to move up for TE Brandon Pettigrew but weren't prepared to pay out the nose to do it. Instead, they stay put and take a smart, athletic, tough-nosed kid who steps in and immediately fills the right guard position vacated by Brad Butler, who will move to right tackle.

2-42: Jairus Byrd, FS, Oregon (Coverage)
Buffalo went into the draft keenly aware that they needed a playmaker defensively, and particularly at the safety position. This is a risky pick in that they're asking Byrd to make a position switch, but he enters Buffalo as the best DB on the team in terms of pure ball skills. Ko Simpson, beware: you are officially on the roster bubble.

2-51: Andy Levitre, OG, Oregon State (Coverage)
Buffalo traded third- and fourth-round picks to move back into the second round and draft another instant starter in the versatile Levitre. He is a Wood clone - tough, smart, and durable. He has the inside track at starting immediately at left guard; the Bills will move Brad Butler to right tackle and flip Langston Walker to left tackle to replace the departed Jason Peters. And just like that, Buffalo's in-flux offensive line is once again settled - and perhaps better.

4-121: Shawn Nelson, TE, Southern Miss (Coverage)
This was by leaps and bounds Buffalo's best selection, if you're asking me. Nelson is one of the finer athletes available at any position in this draft class, and he's also got an incredibly soft pair of hands. He's an immediate upgrade at the tight end position and complements Derek Fine and Derek Schouman perfectly. Even better - unlike some of his "receiving TE" counterparts, he's got upside as a blocker. Buffalo now has themselves a legitimate tight end threat for the first time since Jay Riemersma ran routes at The Ralph, though whether or not he'll contribute as a rookie is another question.

5-147: Nic Harris, OLB, Oklahoma (Coverage)
He played safety in college, but the Bills will move the 230-pound athlete to outside linebacker. This is where Buffalo's draft class crossed the realm from "contributor" to "depth", but Harris was very productive at a high-quality program. He's worth a shot, and he'll compete directly with Keith Ellison for a future roster spot.

6-183: Cary Harris, CB, USC (Coverage)
Zone-based, physical cornerback that provides depth and special teams potential. May have a tough time making the roster considering Buffalo's envious depth in the defensive backfield, particularly at cornerback.

7-220: Ellis Lankster, CB, West Virginia (Coverage)
... Zone-based, physical cornerback that provides depth and special teams potential. May have a tough time making the roster considering Buffalo's envious depth in the defensive backfield, particularly at cornerback.

That's it, folks. Draft weekend at Buffalo Rumblings has officially concluded. Thanks for dropping by this weekend; I know that personally, I had a blast hanging with y'all. Cheers!

Poll

Do you approve of the Buffalo Bills' efforts in drafting eight players in the 2009 NFL Draft?

Yes

1064 votes

No

131 votes

Undecided

159 votes

1354 votes | Poll has closed

Bills select Oklahoma LB Nic Harris at No. 147

Brian Galliford — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 18:40:23 -0000

More photos » by J. Pat Carter - AP

7 months ago: FILE - In this Jan. 8, 2009 file photo, Florida's Percy Harvin (1) is tackled by Oklahoma's Nic Harris (5) during the fourth quarter of the BCS Championship NCAA college football game in Miami. Harvin is a top prospect in the 2009 NFL Draft. (AP Photo/J. Pat Carter, File)

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With the No. 147 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, the Buffalo Bills have selected Oklahoma LB Nic Harris.

Though he played safety in his time as a Sooner, the 6'3", 230-pound Harris lacks the straight line speed (4.65 seconds in the 40) and fluid hips to remain at the position in the pros. He does, however, have the size and upside to play outside linebacker in a Cover 2 scheme - which as you're well aware, the Bills employ.

Harris was a very productive collegian, amassing 232 career stops, 7 interceptions and 21 pass breakups from Oklahoma's defensive backfield. As it stands now, Harris will look to come in and compete with veteran Keith Ellison for the starting SAM linebacker position. There is a chance, however, that the Bills could bring in a vet to man the position; either way, this is a solid pick, as Harris is an excellent athlete and has some upside, particularly in this defensive scheme.

Buffalo's next pick is in the sixth round, No. 183 overall. Stay tuned!

Poll

Are you pleased with the selection of new Buffalo Bills LB Nic Harris?

Yes

702 votes

No

152 votes

854 votes | Poll has closed

Phil Loadholt First Sooner Taken According To Todd McShay

dishingoutdimes — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 19:49:40 -0000

According to ESPN's Todd McShay, Phil Loadholt will be the first Sooner taken in tomorrow's NFL draft. Of course, it's a mock draft, which are in general, not all that accurate but still fun to complete and look at.

McShay has Loadholt going in Round 2. He also has Duke Robinson going in Round 3, Nic Harris and Juaquin Iglesias going in Round 5, and Lendy Holmes in Round 7.

Time to just relax and take it all in. I'd say at the very least the Sooners should have 4 players drafted (Loadholt, Robinson, Harris and Iglesias). I'm shocked that McShay has Robinson going in Round 3. That seems way too low, but I have Loadholt pegged about where he does.

Here's my thoughts:

Duke Robinson: anywhere from late first round to early third round, but most likely somewhere in the early 2nd.
Phil Loadholt: could jump up into the late first round but I suspect he'll go somewhere in the 2nd round.
Juaquin Iglesias: I think he could be high as late 3rd round, but most likely will go early in the 2nd day (4th or 5th round).
Nic Harris: his 40 time will hurt him. I think 5th or 6th round, most likely 6th.
Lendy Holmes: maybe late 6th, but most likely in the 7th or free agency.

Rumblings Authors Mock, V2.0 - Ron's Take

Ron From NM — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:30:09 -0000

More photos » by Sue Ogrocki - AP

7 months ago: FILE - In this Oct. 20, 2007 file photo, Oklahoma State tight end Brandon Pettigrew, right, dives for a touchdown as Kansas State defender Justin McKinney, left, defends during the fourth quarter of a college football game in Stillwater, Okla. Pettigrew is a top prospect in the 2009 NFL Draft. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File)

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As I sit down to write this latest installment of the Rumblings Authors Mock series (gotta love having a Monday off), I have the distinct feeling that my seven round tradeless draft is going to be ugly. Way back on Valentine’s Day I put up a mock draft in which I predicted the Top 10 shaking out like this: OT Eugene Monroe, OT Andre Smith, DE Everette Brown, WR Michael Crabtree, LB Aaron Curry, CB Malcolm Jenkins, DE Brian Orakpo, DT B.J. Raji, LB Aaron Maybin, QB Matt Stafford.

That was back before the Jason Peters contract debacle, his subsequent trade to Philly, and even before the Combine. Naturally, things have changed a bit and I see the Top 10 going a little differently now.

1 - DET - QB Matthew Stafford
2 - STL - OT Jason Smith
3 - KC - LB Aaron Curry
4 - SEA - OT Eugene Monroe
5 - CLE - WR Michael Crabtree
6 - CIN - OT Andre Smith
7 - OAK - DE Everette Brown
8 - JAX - DT B.J. Raji
9 - GB - DE Brian Orakpo
10 - SF - QB Mark Sanchez

The Bills think Andre Smith is the best OT in the draft irrespective of his weird behavior and flabby gut. Aaron Maybin apparently won’t be the pick. OBD thinks highly of both LB Clay Matthews and TE Brandon Pettigrew. Given that Dick Jauron needs to save his job this season, here's my "no trades" mock draft...

1-11: Brandon Pettigrew, TE, Oklahoma State. Matthews has ‘upside’. That won’t help Jauron, since it will take Matthews time to develop. Pettigrew, by all accounts, is a fairly well-polished all around TE and will be able to step in and play effectively immediately. Besides, the Bills lost games due to offensive ineptitude, not shoddy linebacker play. Yes, Pettigrew is off the board much earlier than his ‘value’ dictates, but Buffalo has been happy to buck conventional wisdom in the past.

1-28: Robert Ayers, DE, Tennessee. There is a better chance than some think that Ayers will be available late in the first round. Oher, Freeman, Maualuga, Jenkins, Maclin, Heyward-Bey, Jackson, Maybin, and Jerry figure to round out the Top 20 in some order. Houston is the wild card, as they play a 4-3 and could take Ayers even though they have other needs. After that Philly, Detroit, Atlanta and Indy are the only 4-3 teams standing between Ayers and #28. All of them have bigger needs than DE that they could choose to address instead. If he's gone then Max Unger could be the pick instead.

2-42: William Beatty, OT, Connecticut. The Bills will be drafting 2-3 offensive linemen. If Ayers is gone at #28 and Unger is the pick there then Barwin could be the choice here. It's simply inconceiveable that Buffalo would completely ignore a huge area of need early in the draft. Whatever the order, Buffalo should come away from the first two rounds with a DE and OL.

3-75: Kraig Urbik, OG, Wisconsin. Naturally, if Unger was the pick at No. 28, then Urbik won’t be the pick here. He’s enormous, something Buffalo seems to like in offensive linemen, and should be on the board here. If no DE was taken earlier, then DE Lawrence Sidbury from Richmond would be the guy at No. 75.

4-110: Michael Hamlin, SS, Clemson. Considering both the quality of the guys manning Buffalo’s FS and SS positions and the fact that they will all be free agents within the next two years makes it important to begin to develop a SS now. Plus, Hamlin should be a demon on special teams.

4-121: Trevor Canfield, OG, Cincinnati. Buffalo needs interior line depth. Butler has missed games each year he has been in the league and Chambers could be recalled to his swing tackle duties if Walker, Bell and/or Beatty go down. Barring injury, Canfield - like Urbik - would have time to develop.

5-147: Nic Harris, LB, Oklahoma. Yes, this pretty much means that Keith Ellison will be starting for yet another season.

6-183: Kevin Ellison, SS, USC. Yes, the Ellison brothers are hitting the town together. Lock up your women and preferably any ball carriers. For a late round flyer the younger Ellison should, if he makes the team, at least help on special teams. Let’s just hope that tackling isn’t a genetic thing…

7-220: Brannan Southerland, FB, Georgia. The Bills, according to Turk Schonert, aren’t going to be using much in the way of a true fullback. Of course, with the Lynch suspension, someone is going to have to carry the ball. Also, having a mammoth offensive line just screams fullback in third and short situations.

Well, it’s not quite as ugly as I thought: TE Pettigrew, DE Ayers, OT Beatty, OG Urbik, SS Hamlin, OG Canfield, LB Harris, SS Ellison and FB Southerland. Of those guys, I see Pettigrew making an immediate impact. Ayers should at least push for significant playing time, though he's not going to solve the pass rush woes. Urbik and Beatty would likely be training camp battles just to see if they could see the field, and everyone else but Southerland would be dedicated special teamers. Better than I thought but not enough.

Relax, though - there's hope. Head on in past the jump to read "Ron’s Wheelin’ & Dealin 7 round draft", where things get... a bit more interesting. And lengthy.

Okay, we’ve seen how a draft without trades, so now let’s see what kind of draft the Bills could have with a couple of do-able trades. The Bills have already swung a trade with Philly, sending perpetually petulant Peters packing (alliteration!) for 28 and 121 (plus a 2010 sixth rounder).

The Bills are, as of this writing, set to begin draft day with 11, 28, 42, 75, 110, 121, 147, 183 and 220. However, there are rumors of a Parrish to Pittsburgh deal in the works. Since Buffalo seems willing to move Parrish (and Kelsay, as if anyone would give up anything of value for him) and Pittsburgh is in need of both a WR and return man I'll factor in a pre-draft deal. Most folks seem to think that Parrish should bring a 4th or 5th. I'm going to err on the conservative side of things and send Parrish and 121 to Pittsburgh for 96. On the trade charts that works out to about a mid 4th round selection in terms of cost to Pittsburgh, not an unreasonable asking price. It also doesn't deplete the Steelers' stock of picks. So, after two pre-draft trades (one completed, one just a possibility at this point) the Bills enter the draft with 11, 28, 42, 75, 96, 110, 147, 183 and 220.

The teams at the top of the board have been trying to trade down but have apparently not found many takers--mainly due to the cost of those top 5 picks. I don't see Cincy trading out of #6 given their dire need at OT nor do I see Al Davis passing on DE Brown.

1 - DET - QB Matthew Stafford
2 - STL - OT Jason Smith
3 - KC - LB Aaron Curry
4 - SEA - OT Eugene Monroe
5 - CLE - WR Michael Crabtree
6 - CIN - OT Andre Smith
7 - OAK - DE Everette Brown

The Jags, on the other hand, are in terrific position to drop back (particularly if Henderson is still on the roster) and are reportedly eager to do a deal. With Sanchez and Freeman on the board QB starved teams will make efforts to move up and Jacksonville is going to benefit. With picks to burn and a dire need at QB, Denver outbids everyone and makes Jacksonville an offer Del Rio would be brain dead to refuse: #12 and #48 for #8.

8 - DEN - QB Mark Sanchez
9 - GB - DT BJ Raji
10 - DE - Brian Orakpo

Buffalo’s phone starts ringing mainly because QB Josh Freeman and OT Michael Oher are on the board. Teams like San Diego and Washington want to move up but can only offer their 1st plus a 2010 pick. Jauron tells them he won't be around in 2010 to use the pick if he doesn't get guys to help him win in 2009. The Jets, interested in Freeman but not completely in a panic over the thought of waiting, offer the Bills #17 and #76 for #11 and #110. Tampa Bay, not entirely confident in Griese or Leftwich, offer #19 and #81 for #11. Detroit, wanting Oher to protect Stafford, has the juice to beat those other offers. Needing to also retain a goodly number of early round picks (to offset their lack of 4th and 5th rounders) the Lions offer #20 and #33 for #11 and #75. With Oher not ranked much higher than the OTs left on Buffalo's board and with Pettigrew, Matthews or Ayers certain to be on the board at #20 it's just a question of which deal to take. The Jets offer is quickly dismissed. The Bucs offer gives the Bills an extra third while simultaneously screwing the Jets. The Lions deal, however, is too tempting to pass up.

11 - DET - OT Michael Oher

The Bills now have the No. 20 (Lions deal), No. 28 (Philly - Peters deal), No. 33 (Lions deal), No. 42, No. 96 (Steelers) No. 110, No. 147, No. 183, and No. 220. Freeman is still on the board and Jacksonville, needing WR help and knowing they'll have options later in the round, fields calls from the Jets and Bucs. The Jags take the Jets' offer (17 and 76 for 12 and 107), mainly because the Jets are likely to take a WR if they don't get a QB.

12 - NYJ - QB Josh Freeman
13 - WAS - LB Rey Maualuga
14 - NO - CB Malcolm Jenkins

Philly is right behind Buffalo and knows that the Bills may well take Pettigrew. With their LT position solidified, the Eagles use their 3rd rounder (which Buffalo oddly turned down) and #21 to try to trade up with Houston. The Texans, without gaping holes to fill, are more than happy to add a 3rd rounder for dropping back.

15 - PHI - TE Brandon Pettigrew
16 - SD - DE Tyson Jackson
17 - JAX - WR Jeremy Maclin
18 - DEN - DE Aaron Maybin
19 - TB - DT Peria Jerry

OBD has to be thrilled to see both Ayers and Matthews on the board at #20. Taking a look at the 4-3 teams standing between picks #20 and #28 (Houston, Minny, Atlanta, Indy), the Bills realize that Atlanta (LB), Indy (DT, LB), Houston (G, C) and Minny (OT, C) have more needs to address than DE...and that most of the 3-4 teams need LBs. The Bills pass on Ayers, gambling he'll be on the board at #28 and begin the run on LBs:

20 - BUF - LB Clay Matthews

21 - HOU - LB Brian Cushing

22 - MIN - WR Darrius Heyward-Bey

23 - NE - DE/LB Michael Johnson

Baltimore hops in front of the Dolphins and gets one of the better 3-4 OLB prospects left. With the pick values closing rapidly it only costs the Ravens their 4th rounder.

24 - BAL - DE/LB Larry English

25 - MIA - LB James Laurinaitis

26 - ATL - CB Darius Butler

27 - IND - DT Evander Hood

The Bills are ecstatic to see that Ayers has slid through the 4-3 teams to make it to 28. Houston was the real wild card. Ayers is their kind of DE but Cushing's slide saved the day. If Ayers is taken then Mack or Unger would be a good pick.

28 - BUF - DE Robert Ayers

29 - NYG - WR Percy Harvin
30 - TEN - CB Vontae Davis
31 - ARI - OT Eben Britton

32 - PIT - C/G Max Unger

The second round begins... Buffalo needs offensive line help but has yet to address the TE position. Loadholt has the size the Bills like in linemen but not necessarily the speed and agility. With that in mind:

33 - BUF - OT William Beatty

34 - NE - DT Ron Brace
35 - STL - WR Hakeem Nicks
36 - CLE - LB Clint Sintim
37 - SEA - RB Kwonshon Moreno

38 - CIN - C Eric Wood
39 - JAX - RB Chris Wells
40 - OAK - S Sean Smith

41 - GB - Phil Loadholt

For the fourth time in the day, the Bills are on the clock. Alex Mack is on the board and Buffalo still needs an interior lineman. With Hang penciled in at center and the semi-fragile Butler locked in at one guard spot, the thought of having Mack on the roster is certainly appealing. Giving up 75 in the Detroit trade makes this a painful decision as Buffalo won't be able to get a TE before the end of the third. Nevertheless:

42 - BUF - Alex Mack

At the end of an eventful first day, the Bills have LB Clay Matthews, DE Robert Ayers, OT William Beatty, C/G Alex Mack, 96, 110, 147, 183 and 220.

The next day begins with a couple of minor trades between teams but not anywhere near enough action to keep a guy like Dan Snyder engaged. A joke is made about taking Derrick Dockery's younger brother Cedric, but an icy stare from Jauron kills that conversation. Christmas cards will not be exchanged. The Bills cool their heels until the last non-compensatory pick in the 3rd.

3-96: Cornelius Ingram, TE, Florida. OBD reaches back to the Willis McGahee days and plucks a player off the board with a significant injury history. At least we won’t have to see how his knee can swing in both directions during slow motion college highlights every Sunday. The Bills possibly have quite the steal with this pick.

4-110: Jason Watkins, OT, Florida. Buffalo goes Butler-hunting and takes Ingram's less gimpy teammate. He's no threat to Beatty, Chambers or Bell so if none of them prove to be capable of manning the LT position Trent Edwards is in for a Hobbes type year: brutal, nasty and short.

5-147: Courtney Greene, SS, Rutgers. Watching Kiper and McShay rip each other new orifices helps the time pass quickly. The Bills would have preferred not to have put this position off for quite so long. However, the combination of holes on the roster and players available when Buffalo was making selections conspired against taking a safety earlier.

6-183: Brannan Southerland, FB, Georgia. I think we’d all be happier with Quinn Johnson and if he’s on the board he should be the pick. However, I think there’s a pretty good chance that he’ll be taken with one of those compensatory picks at the end of the 5th round. There’s a good chance Southerland would be available in the seventh, but if he’s a guy Buffalo wants, why chance it? The re-signing of the ineffective McIntyre suggests Buffalo isn't done with FB after all.

7-220: Lendy Holmes, S, Oklahoma. Brian’s story about the entire safety corps becoming free agents inside of two years convinced me. Well, that and the fact that Buffalo hasn’t gotten terrific play from the guys on the roster.

So there it is, sports fans and people with nothing better to do than read this. I tried to err on the conservative side of things in terms of types of trades and trade value that Buffalo might receive. I also selected players who should be on the board when Buffalo picks.

LB Clay Matthews, DE Robert Ayers, OT William Beatty, C/G Alex Mack, TE Cornelius Ingram, OT Jason Watkins, SS Courtney Green, FB Brannan Southerland and FS Lendy Holmes… that sounds quite a bit better than the no trades version. At the very least, Ellison is riding the pine and six of the nine picks figure to see playing time beyond special teams. Rip away!

Sooners in the NFL Draft

dishingoutdimes — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:43:11 -0000

Despite Oklahoma making the national championship and graduating/losing 9 starters, and 6 backups, none of them are really projected as a first round pick right now (per ESPN). this is pretty shocking, especially with the talented offensive line that OU had. Before the season ended, many people thought that Phil Loadholt or Duke Robinson might be able to sneak into the first round. Anyways, we're going to examine some guys here and give a little capsule on what each might expect in the draft. Enjoy!

Duke Robinson - OG

6'5" 329, 40 Time: 5.32 sec, 225lb Bench Reps: 20, Vertical Jump: 31.5", Broad Jump: 8'3", 20 Yard Shuttle: 4.90 sec, 3-cone: 8.09 sec. (Most of those are OU Pro Day results)

Duke is widely regarded as the top guard on the board. He will probably be the first guard off the board. He didn't do a whole lot other than the 40 at the combine (perhaps he hurt his stock a little there), but his measurables at the pro day all looked pretty good and most of the NFL teams had scouts there. And at the pro day, all the scouts loved his build. He projects as one of the top interior linemen in the draft and will probably work best on a team that has a power rushing attack. No doubt he'll get drafted. If all the teams pass on him for one round, expect him to go in the first 5-7 picks in the second round. "During his last two seasons, Robinson had 229 knockdown blocks and had a key block on 29 touchdowns" --NFL Draft Scout. I don't know if he'll be a pro bowler, but I expect him to be successful in the NFL.

Phil Loadholt - OT

6'8" 332, 40 Time: 5.45 sec, 225lb Bench Reps: 26, Vertical Jump: 29", Broad Jump: 8'9", 20 Yard Shuttle: 5.06 sec, 3-cone: 8.18 sec. (Most of those are OU Pro Day results)

Phil Loadholt has the size to have a huge impact as an offensive tackle in the NFL. He probably projects to a right tackle, but is a bit too tall for guard. The Bears and the Vikings have expressed interest in Loadholt already. Despite extremely long arms he had 26 bench press reps which is great. He's a better run blocker than pass blocker. "He has the size, strength, and flexibility to be a dominant drive blocker in the running game. He had pass blocking challenges at the Senior Bowl that validated concerns about his ability to stay at left tackle in the NFL" --NFL Draft Scout. Look for Loadholt to perhaps move to right tackle to fit in at the NFL. Given the pass blocking concerns he might drop to mid to late 2nd round. Anything after the 40-45th pick I would consider a steal though.

Juaquin Iglesias - WR

6'1" 210, 40 Time: 4.50 sec, 225lb Bench Reps: DNP, Vertical Jump: 34.5", Broad Jump: 9'8", 20 Yard Shuttle: 4.40 sec, 3-cone: 7.22 sec. (Most of those are Combine results)

Depending on how the draft is going, I would expect Iglesias to go somewhere in the 2nd to 3rd round. For being a "hands guy" who should be reliable to catch just about anything, he has a decent amount of speed. I think his fastest 40 time was in the neighborhood of 4.45. Overall he has good measurables. In pads he has a surprising quickness and he has a feel for getting open in the coverages (just ask Sam Bradford). At the OU pro day he dropped his first pass and his last pass but caught everything in between. NFL Draft Scout said it was "like watching Velcro". In any event, I think Iglesias could be one of those guys who is never an elite NFL receiver but a solid guy who catches a few passes a game for decent yardage and would be a good threat out of the slot.

Nic Harris S/OLB

6'3" 234, 40 Time: 4.84 sec, 225lb Bench Reps: 15, Vertical Jump: 31.5", Broad Jump: 9'1", 20 Yard Shuttle: 4.37 sec, 3-cone: 7.05 sec. (Most of those are Combine results)

Nic Harris is a great athlete, but he's one of those guys that it may be difficult to find a position for in the NFL. At safety, he is a bit too big. He's very fluid in coverage but may not be able to keep up with the speed at the NFL level. At linebacker, he's a bit undersized and might not be able to fight off blocks or work too well close to the line. So, he's kind of a tweener. It's a shame, because I think he has the athleticism and talent to make a big impact. If the right team with the right scheme drafts him, he might work out okay. I think he'd work better in a 4-3 defense, but could work in some sort of hybrid 3-3-5 defense where he can slide down to LB to make it a 3-4 in running situations. Gil Brandt from NFL.com raved that his backpedal was just about as fast as his 40, so it would be a shame to waste his coverage skills. He's projected in the 5th round right now.

Those are the guys who are projected to be definitely drafted. Here's how the rest shake out:

Possible Late Round (7th) or Free Agent:

Brandon Walker, OG: Don't know all that much about Brandon, other than that there's a lot of guys who are projected ahead of him. I don't think he really separated from the pack at pro day or the combine. I don't think he'll go in the draft, but could get invited to a camp.
Branndon Braxton, OT: See Brandon Walker.
Jon Cooper, C: He's a really talented player. Some may say he's a bit undersized for the NFL but he weighed in at 290. He quarterbacked OU's amazing offensive line and I think he could actually surprise in the NFL. Could be a steal as a 7th rounder or a camp invitee.
Manuel Johnson, WR: He's smaller at 5'11" and only about 190 so that immediately raises some flags for NFL scouts. He doesn't have a great 40 time and he only really broke out last year with solid stats. Despite all that, he's a solid receiver with good game speed, agility and fluidity and reliable hands. It's possible he'll go late in the draft depending on how quickly receivers go earlier on.
Lendy Holmes, FS: He hurt himself with a 40 time around 4.7. Unlike Harris, he doesn't have the size to be a tweener at linebacker. His 40 time is disappointing since I always considered him as faster than that. Still, he's been a playmaker during his time at OU and started out as a corner. His coverage skills and talent might be able to overcome some scouts who will frown on some of his combine measurables.
Mike Knall, P: Overall he was a solid punter in his time at OU but never did anything really special to make you say, "well that guy could play in the NFL". Punters aren't a dime a dozen so even if he isn't drafted he could get an invite to a camp.
Quentin Chaney, WR: He's got the size at 6-4 208. However he got way less playing time than Johnson or Iglesias. I don't think he'll be drafted but because of his size and his pedigree (OU), I could see him getting invited to a camp.

Rams reviewing late rounds, work out Oklahoma S Nic Harris

VanRam — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 13:38:48 -0000

The Rams have been busy working out draft prospects, conducting interviews, and just getting ready for the draft in general (Oh, for a peak at that draft board...). Recently, they held a private workout with Oklahoma safety Nic Harris, after having a formal interview with him at the Combine last month. Who is Nic Harris?

Listed as a safety, many figure him to convert to outside LB at the NFL level based on his ability to play the run and smother tight ends in coverage. Here's a link to his scouting report over at Mocking the Draft, which projects him to go in the fifth round. He was an All Big 12 defensive back for his junior and senior seasons. What's most interesting is his versatility; at various times through his college career he's played nickel, middle LB, and both strong and free safety. That includes special teams duty too, where he'd likely get time in the NFL based on his flow to the ball and ability to make open field hits. He's also an honors student, which, along with his versatility, points to a player who meets the high character standards Devaney and Spagnuolo have talked about recently.

Hmmm, who does he remind you of? If you said last year's seventh round pick Tulsa LB Chris Chamberlain, you win. Chamberlain came in as an OLB with real strength in coverage. Many, in fact, felt like Chamberlain could play safety as well as LB. Of course, Harris sound more like a Roy Williams-type safety turned LB, while Chamberlain seems oriented more in the other direction. Drafting Harris would probably mean a little more competition for depth spots at LB.

Harris is at least the third defense back the Rams have had workouts with, which of course means nothing as far as trying to devine who they'll draft. They also worked out Utah CB Sean Smith and Cincy CB Mike Mickens.