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Buckeyes in the draft/NFL Combine

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jwinslow said:
it's been over an hour, and the ESPN NFL draft special and we've learned nothing about anyone besides Bush, Leinart and Young. Fortunately, we have covered nearly every aspect of the NFL (Favre, TO, Edge, assistant coaches). Brilliant work espn:bonk:

oh, I'm sorry, we also had mel field 3-4 emails about the draft, with a kneejerk 'donte is rising' comment.

fortunately, now we're back to talking about the superbowl champions and their losses in teh offseason, with no mention of what they should do in the draft as a result.
Click to expand...

The ticker showed that Santonio was once again Mel's top-rated WR. That wasn't enough to make you happy? :tongue2:
 
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ABJ

4/16

McManamon on the NFL

OSU standouts not overlooking training

Holmes, Youboty turn to camp to fine tune skills before NFL Draft

By Patrick McManamon

<!-- begin body-content --> Santonio Holmes has been spending his time in Orlando, Fla., since Ohio State's bowl game.
He and cornerback Ashton Youboty -- another Buckeyes player -- have been following the newest pre-draft routine for top players: Train, train, train, and then when you're done, train a little more.
Training for the draft has become a full-time job.
Holmes and Youboty have been at the Tom Shaw Performance Camp at DisneyWorld's Wide World of Sports Complex.
Their days start at 8 a.m. with stretching. Workouts commence soon after, and the routine is completed at 1:30 p.m. with weightlifting.
They come back in the evening for 90 minutes of position-specific work and drills.
The effort is part of the overall year-round regimen of NFL players. It can make the difference between going late or high first round for draftable players, which can mean a lot of money, or late or early round, which can mean making a team or not.
``Our camp is not a camp where we're going to train you for the combine drills or to run a fast 40,'' Shaw said. ``Ours is a football training program. Anybody can run a fast 40 if that's all we work on, but if you're a lower-round draft choice, you might still be cut.''
Shaw's reputation precedes him.
He used to work in New Orleans, but Hurricane Katrina forced the move to a bigger and better complex at Disney.
He's trained NFL players for years -- and they include Browns center LeCharles Bentley and running backs Lee Suggs and Reuben Droughns. His other clients have included Deion Sanders, Darren Sharper, James Farrior and Eric Moulds -- and former Browns cornerback Corey Fuller.
To this day, veterans come to help the rookies.
Shaw said Sanders spent a lot of time at the camp this spring, and he tutored defensive backs along with receivers like Holmes, telling him what he looks for when a player lines up, how to come out of a break.
The proof is in the results -- Shaw said he has seen 77 first-round draft choices come out of his camp since 1994.
Holmes and Youboty are two of 50 draft-eligible rookies who have come through the camp this spring (and they include Vanderbilt quarterback Jay Cutler). Shaw said Youboty got stronger and more explosive, and his vertical jump went up. Holmes lost six pounds of body fat, which helped him run better.
``I would put Ashton in the classification that he'll never be out of shape his whole life,'' Shaw said. ``Santonio is another good worker. You're asking about two good kids. I've had some lazy kids now.
``Ashton is a perfectionist. He wanted to come out at 6:30 in the morning with Deion and work individuals. I see them as being successful, both of them.''
Those 40 times
Shaw also brought some perspective to the plethora of lights-out 40-yard-dash times that crop up before the draft.
Every year, players reportedly run in the 4.3-second range, which would make them faster than most players who ever played the game.
``The NFL times differently than mom and dad and a strength coach,'' Shaw said. ``They want everyone to seem like they run fast.''
Or the people who are trying to get their kids in the NFL want it to seem like everyone runs fast.
Shaw said he saw a major college Web site recently that listed 14 players who run a 4.4, and one who ran a 4.3.
``It's for the NFL,'' Shaw said. ``I don't know where they get a lot of the bogus timing.''
On the draft
General consensus continues to be that the Browns will take a Florida State player this year.
Focus continues to be on end/linebacker Kamerion Wimbley, linebacker Ernie Sims and tackle/end Brodrick Bunkley.
Wimbley could fill the needed outside pass-rush role, but Florida State does not have a great track record with pass rushers (Peter Boulware being the exception).
Sims at one point was considered undersized, but his stock has risen steadily.
Bunkley probably would play end in a 3-4 defensive scheme.
The one caveat would be if Oregon nose tackle Haloti Ngata were available. The Browns no doubt would take him.
The wild card continues to be Texas quarterback Vince Young: Can the Browns afford to pass up this multi-talented player?
``Can he run an NFL offense? No. And you know what -- who cares?'' Browns quarterback Trent Dilfer told SI.com this week. ``If you get a guy like that on your team, you change the offense. It would be bold, and this league is very resistant to change, but it would be awesome and he'd be a star.''
Young addressed questions about his throwing motion when he visited the Houston Texans by saying:
``A lot of guys don't bother that. They say (my) throwing motion is good. I just have a quicker release than most people.
``The release that I have -- it helps out getting the ball out faster. A lot of guys will point out through all the games that I played, I only had three knockdowns of the ball.
``So continue doing the things that you've been doing, throwing the ball and completing it down field and winning ballgames.
``That is all that matters to the coaches.''
Edwards help
Receiver Braylon Edwards will donate $500,000 to endow a scholarship to the player who wears the No. 1 at Michigan. Edwards, David Terrell and Anthony Carter all wore ``1'' at Michigan. The scholarship will go to another player if nobody wears that number.
 
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Times Leader

4/16

REALITY CHECK: OSU's Three Amigos set for next level
By RICH GIBSON Times Leader Sports Writer

Their tax brackets are about to be dramatically altered.
Until NFL draft day arrives, however, A.J. Hawk, Bobby Carpenter and Anthony Schlegel are spending their final days on a "Goodbye Buckeyes Tour" throughout the state of Ohio. "We've done about 30 or so of these. Now, it's finally winding down," Carpenter said of the trio's meet-and-greet, autograph sessions which stopped at St. Clairsville's Ohio Valley Mall Saturday afternoon.
Hundreds of OSU fans, many of whom donned jerseys of their gridiron heroes, lined up outside sporting goods giant Steve & Barry's where Carpenter, Hawk and Schlegel exchanged greetings with area fans.
"Hard to believe it's over," Hawk exclaimed, regarding a remarkable collegiate career which is due to culminate with the Centerville, Oh., native awaiting his future employer for Sunday afternoons.
"I grew up a Bengals' fan. It would be something to actually play for them, but at this point, it's just wait and see," Hawk described.
Carpenter, meanwhile, maintains allegiance to New York's Giants, but, like Hawk, just wants to hear is name called at the draft.
"When you consider how few football players even have a shot at playing at the next level, it's an honor to just be in the mix," he remarked.
An injured Carpenter missed the Buckeyes' Fiesta Bowl win over Notre Dame this past January, but proclaimed himself fully prepared to tackle the grind of an NFL rookie camp.
"Once you sign (a professional contract) it isn't a game anymore, but I look forward to that day. It's what you dream about since you were a kid."
Hawk's early intention, actually, was to play point guard at Duke considering he was equally adept in hoops at Centerville High.
But an over-the-top rating at a Buckeyes' summer camp culminated with head coach Jim Tressel offering him a scholarship.
Four years later, the 6-3, 240-pounder became one of the finest ever to play his position on the banks of the Olentangy River.
"(After signing) the big thing for me now will be just going in and learning (my new team's) system as soon as I can," Hawk observed. "I had a great (linebackers) coach at OSU (Luke Fickell), so I feel I'm well-prepared for the future."
Schlegel, a OSU transfer from the Air Force Academy, was a lightning rod on the field and is also eager to prove his worth on Sundays.
The loss of three such integral components of their defense would seem of legitimate concern for Buckeye fans.
But Hawk discounts that theory. "(They) recruit great athletes (here). They'll be high-caliber people stepping in our place," he stated.
 
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I was watching a local show on the draft, and they were very pro-Buckeye. They had Hawk as the best pick overall, even though he won't be the first pick. They also had Mangold as the #1 center, Whitner as the #2 safety, Kudla as the best "value" pick at his position, Santonio the #2 WR, and Sims as the most underrated OL. I missed where they had Carpenter and Huston.
 
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jwinslow said:
it's been over an hour, and the ESPN NFL draft special and we've learned nothing about anyone besides Bush, Leinart and Young. Fortunately, we have covered nearly every aspect of the NFL (Favre, TO, Edge, assistant coaches). Brilliant work espn:bonk:

oh, I'm sorry, we also had mel field 3-4 emails about the draft, with a kneejerk 'donte is rising' comment.

fortunately, now we're back to talking about the superbowl champions and their losses in teh offseason, with no mention of what they should do in the draft as a result.
Click to expand...

ESPN is terrible at the draft. They will give a lot of info on the first 15 picks. Once the 2nd round starts, all ESPN talks about is the 1st round picks. The 2nd day is pretty much joke with the way ESPN covers it. I want to see more analysis on those picked in 2nd day. I have already heard everything I need to know about the first 15 picks by the time the 2nd day of the draft starts.
 
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Gil Brandt apparently picked 28/31 of the 1st round picks last year...

His Top 20 safeties - good breakdown of what the NFL looks for in a safety

1. Donte Whitner, Ohio State (5-10 1/8, 204, 4.45)
Whitner had a complete workout at the Combine. He ran his 40s in 4.40 and 4.49, had a 40-inch vertical jump, 11-foot long jump, 4.12 short shuttle, 6.79 three-cone drill, and did 18 lifts. He played defensive back and wide receiver in high school. He played, but did not start as a freshman in 2003. Started five games in 2004 and all 12 games in 2005. He has a great feel for the game, an outstanding competitor, strong, has quick feet, great anticipation, outstanding leadership, and is a very good football player. Smaller size is a little bit of an issue, but because of his football abilities, Whitner could do well as a safety or even a cornerback. He has Pro Bowl potential and outstanding character.
...
The following players are listed in alphabetical order. Every player listed below has some ability to play in the NFL, and most likely they will be picked in Rounds 4-7.
...
Nate Salley, Ohio State (6-1¾, 215, 4.67)
Salley worked out at the Combine. He ran his 40s in 4.63 and 4.69, had a 40-inch vertical jump, 10-foot-3 long jump, 4.15 short shuttle, 6.79 three-cone drill, and did 14 lifts. He was a three-year starter at safety and will compete hard at the NFL level. His former high school athlete from Florida could see a move to outside linebacker.
Click to expand...

Top 20 CBs

9. Ashton Youboty, Ohio State (5-11¾, 189, 4.50)
Youboty did not work out at the Combine but did everything at Ohio State's Pro Day on March 9 on a fast track. He ran his two 40s in 4.41, had a 36½-inch vertical jump, 10-foot-1 long jump, 4.20 short shuttle and 6.93 three-cone drill with 11 bench presses. Youboty played defensive back in high school and returned kicks. He also ran the 100 meters and 200 meters for the track team. Youboty played as a true freshman at Ohio State in 2003, started nine games in 2004 and made 12 starts in 2005. He does a good job in press coverage and is a very good tackler. He is a physical player who may have trouble with the smaller, quicker receivers in the NFL. He has average ball skills for the position. In the past, Ohio State cornerbacks have done well in the NFL. Youboty has a chance to start for a team but it's doubtful if he will ever be a star.
Click to expand...
 
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USAToday

4/18


A competitive friendship<!--startclickprintexclude--> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="25" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td><!--endclickprintexclude-->Updated 4/18/2006 10:12 PM ET<!--startclickprintexclude--></td> <td align="right"><!-- EdSysObj ID="SSI-B" FRAGMENTID="13417811" mnguyen --> <!-- /EdSysObj --> </td></tr> </tbody> </table> <table style="float: left;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr><td> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="245"> <tbody><tr><td><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"> <tbody><tr> <td colspan="2"></td><td rowspan="3" valign="top" width="20">
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</td> </tr> <tr> <td class="vaLink" height="18" width="80"> Enlarge</td> <td class="photoCredit" align="right" width="165">By Paul Connors, AP</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1">
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</td> </tr> <tr><td colspan="2" class="photoCredit">Bobby Carpenter, left, and A.J. Hawk developed a friendship before college and built on that friendship at Ohio State. Both linebackers are expected to be drafted by NFL teams.</td> </tr> </tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>
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LINEBACKERS</td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" valign="top">
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</td></tr><tr><td class="vaText" colspan="2">Teams in need: Green Bay, San Francisco Oakland, Detroit, Cleveland, New England, New York Giants, Jacksonville
Insider's take: "I'll take either one of them. All I know is you put on the game tape and both those guys produce." —former Ohio State and NFL linebacker Chris Spielman, now an ESPN college analyst, on A.J. Hawk and Bobby Carpenter.
Prospect's view: "A guy I really look up to is Zach Thomas," Hawk says of the Dolphins linebacker. "He can do everything as a linebacker. I have a lot of respect for him."
Carpenter says: "What's fortunate at Ohio State is that guys like Mike Vrabel come back in the offseason and work out with us. Mike is a tremendous athlete who can run for days. He's helped me a lot. He gave me some pointers on how to play defensive end and rush off the edge."
Stats and stuff: A two-time Big Ten defensive player of the year, Hawk had 9 1/2 sacks last season and finished fifth on Ohio State's all-time list with 382 tackles.
Carpenter was second on Ohio State's fifth-ranked defense with eight sacks last season when he was turned loose as a third-down, edge rusher.
Last year's gem: Shawne Merriman, selected 12th overall by San Diego, earned Defensive Rookie of the Year honors with 10 sacks.
Cream of the crop: A.J. Hawk, Ernie Sims, Bobby Carpenter, Manny Lawson, Chad Greenway.
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</td></tr></tbody> </table> <!-- EdSysObj ID="SandboxLede" FRAGMENTID="13513978" jzillgit --> <script language="javascript">swapContent('firstHeader','applyHeader');</script><!--endclickprintexclude--> By Jim Corbett, USA TODAY
A.J. Hawk and Bobby Carpenter forged their friendship at the weight room door the week of Ohio's 2002 north-south high school all-star game.
Their overachiever fervor bonded Hawk and Carpenter well before they raced each other to the football in Ohio State's distinguished linebacking corps.
"Practice was over at 11 a.m. and Bobby and A.J. were like, 'Where's the weight room?' " says Bobby's father, Rob, a former NFL running back and current Lancaster, Ohio, high school coach. "I found the janitor and said, 'These two guys will be coming in here every day. Can they get their own keys?' ... They're ultra-competitive kids who feed off each other."
The all-out, all-stars were the only players to hit the weight room after practice that week.
"Bobby and I were roommates and we're the same type guys who enjoyed working out every day after practice," Hawk says. "We hung out at night and talked about what we wanted to accomplish. We pushed each other in a good way."
Their high-effort ethic figures to pay first-round dividends in the April 29-30 draft when they are expected to be among the top outside linebackers taken in one of the deepest groups in recent memory.
"A.J. Hawk is very explosive and instinctive," Titans general manager Floyd Reese says. "The term 'throwback' applies to this guy. If you wish for 10 things a linebacker should have, he has all 10.
"Bobby Carpenter is more suited to playing strong-side linebacker. He can do anything. I coached against his dad and remember wishing his father wasn't so darned tough. I'm sure Bobby's a first-round guy as well."
Hawk and Carpenter have the size, speed, instincts, power and the ability to blitz or drop into coverage. They have the versatility NFL personnel men covet.
"When you speak about A.J. Hawk and Bobby Carpenter, it's high praise," says John Dorsey, Packers director of college scouting. "They're very passionate players with a high intellect for the game. They have great instincts and a unique way of getting to the football. A.J. and Bobby will make a very successful transition."
The 2005 Lombardi Trophy winner, Hawk is touted as a top-10 pick.
The trend has been for linebackers to fall since LaVar Arrington was chosen second overall by Washington and Brian Urlacher was taken ninth by Chicago in 2000. Last year's Defensive Rookie of the Year, Shawne Merriman, was the 12th overall pick by San Diego. Defensive rookie runner-up, Seattle's Lofa Tatupu was the 45th overall selection.
"It's a position where a lot of times they say they don't want to draft people too high because they think, 'How much impact can a linebacker have?' " Hawk says. "Guys like Shawne Merriman and Lofa Tatupu had huge years.
"The linebacker position, with all the defenses they're playing and with the offenses you have to face — one week you're facing a spread offense, the next week a team is trying to pound the ball on you. You have to be able to do a little bit of everything."
The 6-1, 243-pound Hawk has the 4.59 speed to play any spot. But he is considered best suited on the weak side in the mold of Tampa Bay's Derrick Brooks.
The 6-3, 245 pound Carpenter thrived on the strong side in a third-down edge-rusher role similar to one former Buckeye Mike Vrabel popularized with the three-time Super Bowl champion Patriots.
With more teams playing the 3-4, linebackers who can pressure the quarterback off the edge are in high demand.
"Obviously, Mike Vrabel is someone I've looked at and tried to emulate ... (and) Joey Porter, those guys have extremely complete games; they're extremely talented and tough players," Carpenter says. "It's tough to say I'm on the same plane as them. But those are two guys whose game I try to emulate."
Hawk and Carpenter pride themselves as throwbacks always in relentless pursuit.
Says Hawk when asked his throwback fantasy:
"I would have enjoyed playing back with Dick Butkus. There were a lot of tough guys who played back then. I'd like to see how much different the game they played was."
 
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ESPN had their insider draft:
Round 1
5 Green Bay AJ Hawk
12 Cleveland Kamerion Wimbley FSU DE/OLB
16 Miami Santonio Holmes WR (one pick after Jackson)
18 Dallas Donte Whitner S
25 NY Giants Bobby Carpenter LB
26 Chicago Ashton Youboty CB

Round 2
34 New Orleans Nick Mangold C
43 Cleveland Sinorice Moss Miami WR

Round 3
78 Cleveland Montavious Stanley Louisville DT

Round 4
110 Cleveland Ryan O'Callaghan Cal OT
112 Atlanta Rob Sims G

Round 5
145 Cleveland Barry Cofield Northwestern DT
152 Cleveland Reggie McNeal Texas A&M ATH

Round 6
180 Cleveland Dion Bynum Ohio U. CB
191 New England Josh Huston K

Round 7
211 NY Jets Mike Kudla DE
212 Miami Anthony Schlegel LB
229 New England Marcus Green DT
222 Cleveland DeArrius Howard Arkansas RB
 
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TheStoicPaisano said:
ESPN had their insider draft:
Round 1
5 Green Bay AJ Hawk
12 Cleveland Kamerion Wimbley FSU DE/OLB
16 Miami Santonio Holmes WR (one pick after Jackson)
18 Dallas Donte Whitner S
25 NY Giants Bobby Carpenter LB
26 Chicago Ashton Youboty CB

Round 2
34 New Orleans Nick Mangold C
43 Cleveland Sinorice Moss Miami WR

Round 3
78 Cleveland Montavious Stanley Louisville DT

Round 4
110 Cleveland Ryan O'Callaghan Cal OT
112 Atlanta Rob Sims G

Round 5
145 Cleveland Barry Cofield Northwestern DT
152 Cleveland Reggie McNeal Texas A&M ATH

Round 6
180 Cleveland Dion Bynum Ohio U. CB
191 New England Josh Huston K

Round 7
211 NY Jets Mike Kudla DE
212 Miami Anthony Schlegel LB
229 New England Marcus Green DT
222 Cleveland DeArrius Howard Arkansas RB
Click to expand...
Oakland?
 
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