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Your Favorite Prospects of All Time


Sugashane

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With the draft around the corner I was just wondering who your favorite prospects were, it can be by position or just all time. I started looking at the draft magazines and watching college football for more than just a few teams around 2000, so don't be surprised that all these players are post-2000.

 

My all-time favorite prospect - David Pollack

Guy was switched from DT to DE in college then Cincy switched him to LB. His season started slow with the major transition but over the last 7 games he got a major boost in reps. In the last 5 games he had 3 starts, and was able to get 3.5 sacks in the last 7 games. Cincy got to the playoffs he had 8 tackles and a sack, looking like he was going to take over as a cornerstone. Sadly next year in week 2 or 3 he broke his neck, nearly being paralyzed. I loved his devotion, has OCD-level attention to detail in everything, from film study, his diet, weight room, everything. His motor was they highest I have seen even to this day, and is one reason I loved Watt coming out. Watt had that same freakish motor, but was physically superior to Pollack, who was no slouch himself.

 

QB - Aaron Rodgers

Possibly born out of desperation as I was not a huge fan of Grossman coming out (I know, as a Gators fan it sounds crazy, but still) but everything I saw from Rodgers was improved over Grossman. His touch was great, he didn't seemed fazed by pressure and moved in the pocket well, but I didn't like some of the footwork he had to do (like dropping back with his left shoulder back, just bizarre but not his choice). Seeing us grab Benson then watching GB draft him was the most heartbreaking/infuriating thing football has ever presented me.

 

HB - Adrian Peterson

I loved the aggression, strength and speed. Shades of Payton. Seeing him go to MIN sucked, a lot.

 

WR - Calvin Johnson

Big as some TEs, freakish athlete in very sense, and still a complete player. Again frustrating to see him go to a division rival.

 

TE - Vernon Davis

Ok, I am seeing I have a major trend toward physical freaks. While he was never elite I think with a better QB/coaching he could have been much better.To me he was Cutler-ed - had a ton of potential, was put in a near impossible situation due to coaching ineptitude and lack of surrounding talent, and never lived up to potential.

 

OL - Jake Long

I thought he was Orlando Pace 2.0. Not the same size, but simply just a guy who lined up at LT and owned the EDGE play in and play out. Guy had no flaws to me, he moved fast, didn't get bullrushed, and just was a monster out there.

* Nelson is growing on me and I have looked at him as an interior version of Long. Nelson isn't as athletic but I think he dominates at OG as well as Long did at LT.

 

DL - Pollack noted above

 

LB - Patrick Willis

Another freak, but he played like Ray Lewis, I would have taken him 1st overall if we didn't need a QB in most drafts. He is the only ILB I can say that about, I wouldn't have even said that about Kuechely, who was my number 2.

 

EDGE - Myles Garrett

I am thankful he came through because I was unhappy with Merriman holding that title. lol. Seriously though he had Peppers/Clowney athletic traits but not the on/off motor. Strong hands, crazy first step, smart enough to sniff out play-action and counter-blocks. Just about a perfect prospect.

 

CB - Jalen Ramsey

The guy has All Pro potential at any spot in the defensive backfield. I expect him (barring -Pollack like injury) to hit the HoF on the first ballot.

 

S - Laron Landry

This one sucks, I know. I saw a guy potentially laying Sean Taylor/Brian Dawkins hits but with his speed doing it all over the field. Those two guys and Mike Brown changed my views on safties being able to be dominant players, and Landry was the first one I fell for as a prospect..

 

Specialists - Eddy Pinero

This is one based on potential, but I love him as a prospect. Massive leg. He is still pretty new to kicking, but this year he only missed one FG, going 17 or 18. His only missed was the first game of the season from 40+ yards, but he went 2/2 from 50+ and 4/5 from 40-49. Add in the fact he handles kickoff duties and does a great job of it and you have a fantastic potential here.

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May as well just say "Vic Beasley" and call it at that. This forum was basically the Official Vic Beasley Fan Club in the spring of 2015.

Full disclosure: first year I watched the draft was 2007. Every year since, I've gotten more and more into it, so I really didn't have strong feelings in the beginning, because I was just watching to see what would happen. 

Guys I really wanted the Bears to take: Mendenhall, Sam Baker, Eben Britton, Patrick Chung, Phil Loadholt, both Pouncey brothers, Corey Liuget, Gabe Carimi, Stefen Wisniewski, Dre Kirkpatrick, Cordy Glenn, Rueben Randall, Chance Warmack, Alec Ogletree, Kyle Long, Haha Clinton-Dix, Kyle Fuller, Timmy Jernigan, Kony Ealy, Amari Cooper, Shane Ray, Landon Collins, Randy Gregory, Owa Odighizuwa, DeForest Buckner, Jack Conklin, Shaq Lawson, Cody Whitehair, Jonathan Bullard, Solomon Thomas, David Njoku, Obi Melifonwu. A lot of misses on that list.

The guy I thought would be dominant and was actually right about: Luke Kuechly

Favorite prospect ever (in that he entertains me the most): Baker Mayfield. Love the swagger.

FF Bears Consensus Biggest Miss of All-Time: Jake Kirkpatrick. I bring this up every year, but it still amuses me. The Chris Conte draft day thread. People lost their minds because Angelo didn't take Jake Kirkpatrick out of TCU with that pick. There was a massive blowout argument about how he was clearly a second round talent. Jake Kirkpatrick went undrafted, never played a snap in the NFL, and was out of the league after a year.

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