2018 NFL Draft General Discussion

[JLambert58]

I was wondering how important having a high completion percentage in college is.  Obviously, it's a factor.  Out of curiosity I checked the highest completion percentage in college all time and found this:

Rk	Player	Pct	From	To	School
1	Colt Brennan*	70.39	2005	2007	Hawaii
2	Colt McCoy*	70.33	2006	2009	Texas
3	Kellen Moore*	69.78	2008	2011	Boise State
4	Graham Harrell*	69.77	2005	2008	Texas Tech
5	Brandon Weeden*	69.54	2008	2011	Oklahoma State
6	Case Keenum*	69.36	2007	2011	Houston
7	Chase Holbrook	69.35	2006	2008	New Mexico State
8	Seth Doege*	69.00	2009	2012	Texas Tech
9	Johnny Manziel*	68.95	2012	2013	Texas A&M
10	Brandon Doughty*	68.61	2011	2015	Western Kentucky
11	Baker Mayfield*	68.54	2013	2017	Oklahoma
12	Teddy Bridgewater*	68.39	2011	2013	Louisville
13	Luke Falk*	68.31	2014	2017	Washington State
14	Bruce Gradkowski*	68.21	2002	2005	Toledo
15	David Fales*	68.12	2012	2013	San Jose State
16	Doug Gaynor	68.06	1984	1985	Long Beach State
17	Chase Daniel*	67.99	2005	2008	Missouri
18	Sam Bradford*	67.64	2007	2009	Oklahoma
19	Cody Kessler*	67.49	2012	2015	USC
20	Greg Ward Jr.*	67.45	2013	2016	Housto

 

Not nearly as good as you would think.  

[MOSteelers56]

I like this idea @JLambert58 I'm a big fan of keeping all general draft talk in one area. 

I'm starting to see some ILB's rising up. I'm really liking Rashaan Evans. He seems like a good, tough, smart, tough ILB that we need. I think we need football smarts and playing in a defense like Bama's usually leads to that(not you Rolando McClain). I think he would greatly bolster our defense. 

[JLambert58]

22 minutes ago, MOSteelers56 said:

I like this idea @JLambert58 I'm a big fan of keeping all general draft talk in one area. 

I'm starting to see some ILB's rising up. I'm really liking Rashaan Evans. He seems like a good, tough, smart, tough ILB that we need. I think we need football smarts and playing in a defense like Bama's usually leads to that(not you Rolando McClain). I think he would greatly bolster our defense. 

Thanks Mo.  I thought it would keep it tidier.  

Evans is tremendous.  I would absolutely be in favor of taking him at #28.  If he runs fast at the combine, he might go earlier.  But in general ILB is not valued as high as some positions and that might benefit us.  

Not sure why Colbert, Tomlin & the FO never take Bama players, but he'd be a good one to break that tradition on.  

[jebrick]

IMHO, Bama defensive front 7 players tend to be maxed out.  Or they have so much support it hides other issues.  Mosley is the only one I can think of that has lived up to the hype.

I personally think Evans will be the pick if he makes it to the Steelers.  I think Harrison could be in the running as well.  I would love Esch.

But as to the accuracy question.  It is very hard to judge on stats an accurate QB.  The spread offense can leave WR very wide open.  You have to watch the games and see how they do with tight windows.  for example, Mayfield looks really good in those posted stats.  I have watched him in games where he struggles to throw into tight coverage.  The Oklahoma St. game this season was a good example.  I think Iowa St was the other.  His OC was so good and he knew the system that he rarely had to throw to Wr that were not wide ( no one within 3 yards) of them.

 

Luke Fauk is another one on the list who is a system QB.  I like him better than Mayfield because I see him do progressions.

If you get a chance watch some games with Nick Fitzgerald (Miss St.) or Kelly Bryant ( Clemson).  Those two make throws into tight windows.

[armsteeld]

@jebrick you hit it head on.  These new spread offenses saturate the completion percentage but i like the tight window throws because that is what they will face in the NFL. I don't believe in pro style offense or blah blah translate better to the pro game.

Also, I'm in the minority but I'd draft at least 3 LBs in this draft class.

[jebrick]

25 minutes ago, armsteeld said:

@jebrick

Also, I'm in the minority but I'd draft at least 3 LBs in this draft class.

I do not think there are 3 quality ILB to draft.  Most of them are more buck LBs in the 3-4.  240+ and little side to side movement.

Figure you would get one of Smith or Evans or Esch.  Maybe Darius Leonard and Worley ( Ohio St.). Who is another one I like.  At that point you are spending a 1st a 5th and a 6th ( if you are lucky).  I would get a FA LB like Bowman or Demario Davis and draft a ILB in the 1st.

 

I will say that if the Steelers do not get Evans, Smith or Esch the class gets really thin after that.

[armsteeld]

3 minutes ago, jebrick said:

I do not think there are 3 quality ILB to draft.  Most of them are more buck LBs in the 3-4.  240+ and little side to side movement.

Figure you would get one of Smith or Evans or Esch.  Maybe Darius Leonard and Worley ( Ohio St.). Who is another one I like.  At that point you are spending a 1st a 5th and a 6th ( if you are lucky).  I would get a FA LB like Bowman or Demario Davis and draft a ILB in the 1st.

 

I will say that if the Steelers do not get Evans, Smith or Esch the class gets really thin after that.

Marquis Haynes checked in today at 6'2 233 and no player in this draft class has a first step like he does.  He is instant QB pressure.  We still need a cover type and Evans, Nick DeLuca, DJ Calhoun, Edmunds will be a Top 15 selection, and then I'd add a strong edge run defender.  Watt is the only LB I have a lil faith in.  VW is a backup in my eyes.  The rest are ST or Practice Squad types.

[steelcurtain29]

Anyone else like Rashaad Penny?

[Steeler Hitman]

I like his return ability and he was pretty explosive out there during the game. He had a tremendously productive season.  He is a guy who will probably be a highly productive pro back on the right team.

[JLambert58]

1 hour ago, steelcurtain29 said:

Anyone else like Rashaad Penny?

Penny made himself some money today at the Senior Bowl.  

[jebrick]

6 hours ago, JLambert58 said:

Penny made himself some money today at the Senior Bowl.  

Penny hurt himself a bit with his inability to catch passes and blitz pickup.  Other than that he is really good at running the ball.

[warfelg]

So question to all the Vita fans out there:

 

You say part of the reason our run defense stunk was an inability to take down the runner; so how exactly does Vita fix poor tackling and angles by ILBs, Mitchell, and Davis?

Part of the reason I don’t want Vita is I see those issues of something that will fix the run defense no matter what, Vita doesn’t fix poor tacklers up the middle. 

I could go on much more, but I got to get ready for work. If you want me too I’ll rant more on it and show what I’m talking about and why needing a different NT is an overrated concern. 

[JLambert58]

1 hour ago, jebrick said:

Penny hurt himself a bit with his inability to catch passes and blitz pickup.  Other than that he is really good at running the ball.

I didn't watch the game, only the highlights, but I did see him catch a 73 yard pass for a TD, that was impressive.  Add another 64 on the ground with a 7.1 yd average per carry which made for a good showing.

Don't know anything about his pass protection but I can imagine not practicing with his teammates for more than a week could have some effect on it. 

[warfelg]

3 minutes ago, JLambert58 said:

I didn't watch the game, only the highlights, but I did see him catch a 73 yard pass for a TD, that was impressive.  Add another 64 on the ground with a 7.1 yd average per carry which made for a good showing.

Don't know anything about his pass protection but I can imagine not practicing with his teammates for more than a week could have some effect on it. 

Wouldn’t have that big of an effect. 

RB pass pro isn’t that hard. You sit, scan, chip. If you need to take the man I look for technique. Meaning as a RB, do you wait, get low, force the guy down or to jump. 

Most RBs cannot Block man on man. So shoulder chipping and taking them down are the next best. If you can be run though or around and not slow the guy it’s an issue. And from what I saw, that’s what he struggled with. 

 

[Magnus-Viktor]

I'm of the thinking that we have exactly ONE starting caliber LB on the entire roster with Shazier out.  Watt.  I'd draft 3 as well, if the value presents itself.  Sam Hubbard, Lorenzo Carter, etc, are the type I'd be looking at for OLB opposite Watt.  I like Josey Jewell, but I'd prefer more speed at ILB.  I'm not too enamored with any ILBs that I expect to be available.  I also believe we have ZERO starting quality safeties on the roster.  I don't think there is much in this draft though either.  The Mizzou WR would be a good replacement for Bryant.  Chark?  Western Kentucky's QB looked pretty solid in the senior bowl.  I want Josh Allen if he slides.  He checks every box for me, and he'd have time to develop behind Ben.  Josh Jackson and Isaiah Oliver are 2 more guys I want.  I'm a big proponent of a great secondary and pass coverage, so that's what I look for and those guys have it.  

Unfortunately, when it's all said and done, I think this is a poor draft for LBs and Ss, which are the biggest needs on the team by far.