Firm Draft Opinions Clash
February 26th, 2016
Consensus can be hard to find at the NFL Scouting Combine
Guess what happens when you talk to Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff and a prominent offensive line coach about the talent in the 2016 NFL Draft?
You get different takes.
Yesterday, Joe joined a chat with Rivera in the bowels of Lucas Oil Stadium at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Rivera was asked about position groups in the draft and shared what the Carolina personnel team is reporting.
“I haven’t had a chance to look at it a lot. but what I’ve heard from our scouts, they feel strongly about the offensive and defensive lines. They feel strongly about the corners,” Rivera said. “So those are probably the positions that every [team] will be looking at … we just got to look and see how they’re going to fit us.”
Dimitroff was asked a similar question during a formal news conference and said the trenches, the O-linemen and D-linemen, are the strength of this year’s draft.
But early in the week, Joe talked to a very well known and respected NFL offensive line coach. It was an off-the-record chat strictly about O-linemen. Joe was not recording audio. The coach was very down on this year’s class, as it compared to that of 2015, and he broke down strengths and weaknesses of various 2016 prospects for Joe.
Again, his take was this is not a special draft for O-linemen.
It’s this kind of contrasting opinion helps illustrate what a crap shoot the draft is.
Back in the fall, Dirk Koetter said he had seen enough; the Bucs “hit the jackpot” drafting starters Ali Marpet and Donovan Smith in the second round last year. Second-year versatile guard/tackle Kevin Pamphile, a 2014 fifth-round pick, also shocked plenty of folks after an invisible rookie season.
The more Joe talks to NFL people about what the Bucs accomplished in their last two drafts, the more Joe realizes how hard it will be for Jason Licht to maintain his level of success.
February 26th, 2016 at 11:55 am
hoping 2015 was the ten year anniversary of the 95 draft….
February 26th, 2016 at 11:56 am
hoping that it’s a ten year anniversary reboot of the 95 draft, rather…
February 26th, 2016 at 12:15 pm
That would be impossible since it’s been 20 years.
February 26th, 2016 at 12:20 pm
Go to hell with your math!
February 26th, 2016 at 12:40 pm
Both those guys are covering their asses for when they go O-line in the 1st and or 2nd round. The draft does appear to be strong at D-line and cornerback, which bodes well for us. Unfortunately we will have to wait till next year for our replacement for Doug as next year draft should be stacked at RB.
February 26th, 2016 at 12:52 pm
The strength of this draft is the defensive line. No doubt. There are 14 to 15 players on the defensive line who have a shot at the first round! Then there are another 15 or so quality really good players left after the first group. Some of the under the radar DL group are –
DT Nile Lawrence-Stample Florida State (6′ 0″ 310)
DT Maliek Collins* Nebraska (6′ 2″ 300)
DT Javon Hargrave South Carolina State (6′ 2″ 295)
DT Adolphus Washington Ohio State (6′ 4″ 290)
DT Hassan Ridgeway* Texas (6′ 3″ 314)
DT Willie Henry* Michigan (6′ 3″ 310)
DE Greg Townsend Jr USC (6′ 2″ 275)
February 26th, 2016 at 1:25 pm
Joe I’m all in on drafting BPA even if it’s a DT early! A young explosive DT would have helped in GMC injury year down the stretch and got valuable snaps.
February 26th, 2016 at 1:35 pm
Hit another grand salami, Jason! If anything prove to BuccaneerBonzai how much Lovie stunk!!!!!!
February 26th, 2016 at 1:53 pm
Trade down in the draft and grab more “Big Uglies” on the defensive line.
February 26th, 2016 at 4:47 pm
Here is the beautiful thing! Many mocks including Walter Football have two QB’s going before we pick. They are going to take up spaces for a position we don’t need. This means we have a shot at either Hargreaves or Spence.
What say ye JBF posters. If we have our pick between these two very talented players…Hargreaves or Spence…who do you take?
February 26th, 2016 at 4:54 pm
@SP
Depends on if Hargreaves comes in at 5’9″ as has been alluded to? If so, Spence.
Although, if Myles Jack drops, you jump on him. I think he’s going to be good. Even with the 2 QBs, I don’t see any way that Ramsey drops, unfortunately. He is going to absolutely kill at the combine.
February 26th, 2016 at 5:19 pm
L & WD
Yeah I think we all lust for Ramsey but that ain’t happenin’.
I was watching the combine on the tube today. Hey it’s 5 o’clock somewhere and being retired I spend my afternoon at the Alehouse bar sipping a cool one and watching the OL and RB’s.
Watching the OL’s run 40’s is a hoot. And even at 68 watching these poor beasts makes me feel athletic. But then I’m not 6-5 315 lbs.
February 27th, 2016 at 12:36 am
If they are comfortable with Spence’s off the field stuff, I say take him. He is the closest thing to a Von Miller type in the draft.
February 27th, 2016 at 1:44 am
All I know is last year I made a bet with someone on this site that the Bucs would draft Winston and he would have the better year. Someone else said Mariota and took that bet for $100. Where are you, you coward. My baby needs new shoes. Man up. HEEAARD.