2012 College Football / 2013 NFL Draft

[NinersFan80]

Cierre Wood is leaving for the draft.

ENTERING THE DRAFT:
QB Tyler Bray, Tennessee

RB Cierre Wood, Notre Dame

WR Justin Hunter, Tennessee
WR Da'Rick Rogers, Tennessee Tech
WR Marquess Wilson, Washington St.

RETURNING TO SCHOOL:
QB Logan Thomas, Virginia Tech

That guy is a stud. Saw him play here at SEMO and nobody could stop him at all (not a very good QB either), had over 200 yards and like 3 TD's

 

[clyde_carbon]

Dooley has been fired! Show Gruden the money!

Forget Gruden. If I was Tennessee I would hire Mike MacIntyre yesterday. How he has San Jose St. at 9-2 and playing this well is beyond belief.

Just get him away from USC.

 

[ChrisPozz]

Texas vs. the Nation game returns for 2013 - CBSSports

 

[imac_21]

Brandon Jenkins declared today.

http://www.tallahassee.com/article/...-NFL?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|&nclick_check=1

 

[NinerSickness]

Brandon Jenkins declared today.

http://www.tallahassee.com/article/...-NFL?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|&nclick_check=1

Nice. His stock is low, and there aren't a lot of pass-rush options outside of the first couple of rounds IMO.

 

[BINGO]

NFL Draft Blog
Tavon Austin makes a first-round case
November, 19, 2012 3:08PM ET
By Kevin Weidl

I was in Oklahoma Edges West Virginia In ShootoutI was in Morgantown, W.Va., over the weekend for the shootout between Oklahoma and West Virginia -- won by the Sooners 50-49 -- and it turned into one of my most enjoyable scouting trips in recent memory.

The star of the show was dynamic West Virginia offensive weapon Tavon Austin, who looked like a combination of Percy Harvin and Darren Sproles on his way to setting West Virginia and Big 12 records with 572 total yards.

We knew about Austin's versatility as a receiver and return man, and he didn't disappoint in those areas. He caught four passes for 82 yards and returned eight kickoffs for a total of 146 yards, but it was his performance out of the backfield that was most impressive.

Mountaineers coach Dana Holgorsen inserted a wrinkle in his offense against Oklahoma by lining the undersized Austin (5-foot-8⅜) up in the backfield, and all Austin did was shred one of the most talented defenses he'll see all season for 344 yards and two touchdowns.

Tavon Austin's complete showing against Oklahoma is creating first-round buzz.

His long speed is elite, and it showed up on a 74-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter when Austin burst to the left sideline and outran pursuit angles on his way to the end zone. What stood out even more, though, was Austin's ability to make cuts at full speed without gearing down and losing momentum.

Austin's body control and ability to accelerate out of cuts are special, and his 4-yard touchdown later in the third quarter is a perfect example. He was able to take the handoff and string together multiple moves to shake two defenders and leave them grasping for air, looking like a natural in the backfield all the way. Several high-level NFL personnel evaluators were in attendance, and they could be seen smiling and shaking their heads in amazement.

His overall performance against the Sooners is among the best I've seen in person, right up there with Cincinnati WR Mardy Gilyard (381 total yards, 2 TDs) in a Big East-title clinching win over Pittsburgh in 2009 and LSU CB Patrick Peterson (257 total return yards) in the 2010 season-opener against North Carolina.

I was still in middle school at the time, but Austin's game reminded me of the day I witnessed Brian Westbrook lead Villanova to a near upset against Pittsburgh with 428 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns, one each receiving, rushing, on a return and on a fake punt.

As for Austin's pro prospects, he is not likely to become a standout No. 2 receiver in the NFL, but he can contribute as an all-around weapon. He can line up all over the field and is a mismatch waiting to happen. His contributions on special teams only help his cause. Austin is gaining momentum, and some of the NFL scouts I talked to said Austin has the look of a first-round pick. If he does get into the late first, his Oklahoma game tape will be one of the things that put him over the top.



Tale of two QBs

The quarterbacks offered up an intriguing subplot during Austin's showcase performance, with Oklahoma's Landry Jones and West Virginia's Geno Smith flashing skills that make pro scouts take notice.

Landry Jones wasn't flawless against West Virginia, but he showed plenty of fight on the way to victory.

I was on the field during warm-ups and came away impressed with Jones' sturdy build and the way the ball comes cleanly off his hand. Smith is a bit more lean and athletic, with room to add some strength and bulk. And the ball jumped off Smith's hand with even more rpms than Jones put on it.



The biggest takeaway from field level, though, was that Smith is a much more fiery, vocal and engaged leader with his teammates, while Jones is more of a quiet, stoic presence.

As for the game, each showed some inconsistency but also showed off impressive tools.

Smith threw two interceptions -- one after missing an open corner route and trying to squeeze the ball to a receiver underneath it, the second when he floated a late pass on a corner route -- but he battled back later in the game.

His accuracy was off at times, but Smith flashed anticipation and the ability to get the ball in the air before his receivers came out of their breaks. I was impressed with his easy-looking deep ball, which he threw with good trajectory and showed off on a second-quarter scoring pass to Stedman Bailey. The ball left Smith's hand before Bailey broke on a deep post route and landed right in his hands in stride.

Smith is a passer first and shows the poise to hang in the pocket and get through his progressions. He also showed he can extend plays and pick up yards with his feet. That, combined with his leadership ability, gives Smith a mid-to-late first-round grade in my book. He could be drafted higher because of positional value and a thin overall quarterback class.

As for Jones, first take into consideration that he put up his 554 yards and six touchdowns against a West Virginia team that has been torched all season and now ranks dead last in the nation in pass defense (364.6 ypg).

Overall, this game was his entire career in a capsule. Jones clearly has the physical tools, and when he had a clean pocket, he was a marksman who drove the ball into tight windows downfield. He distributed the ball well, throwing with timing and getting through his reads, when he was given solid protection.

While Jones has been knocked during his career for failing to handle the pass rush well, he was surprisingly good against the Mountaineers at feeling outside pressure, stepping up and buying time in the pocket. He even broke contain at times and made some nice throws on the run, including a pair of third-down conversions on the first drive of the game.

However, the critical mistakes that have plagued Jones showed up again against the Mountaineers. He made an awful decision to put a ball up for grabs in traffic after buying time at one point in the second half with the Sooners leading by eight, resulting in an interception that gave West Virginia some momentum.

Those bad decisions keep happening, but Jones showed a lot of fight and kept delivering when his team needed plays. I'm not ready to close the book on him yet. He can still regain some momentum during the pre-draft process and get himself solidly into the Day 2 mix.



Wideouts impressive

Austin got most of the attention, but Bailey would have been the story on any other day with his 13 catches for 205 yards and four touchdowns.

Bailey is a little smaller in person than I expected, maybe 5-10, and he could stand to add some overall strength. He is not a blazer, but his body control and focus are excellent. Bailey made a nice adjustment on a back-shoulder fade in the end zone, went down low to pluck a pass on a dig route and tracked the ball well on the deep-post touchdown from Smith.

He also showed some savvy in his routes, using a nice head-and-shoulder fake to create separation on a comeback route, and his sideline awareness is very good. Bailey displayed some toughness on a great catch deep down the middle, elevating with three defenders around him to make the catch and holding on to the ball while taking a big hit.

Finally, Bailey made a tackle on special teams and returned a kickoff for 22 yards. That kind of versatility can help a wide receiver's stock. Bailey has the look of a third-rounder.

Oklahoma's Kenny Stills had four receiving touchdowns (10 catches, 91 yards), and showed a smooth overall skill set. Stills has an athletic frame, and while he doesn't show exceptional burst out of his breaks, he transitions his weight well.

He displays good hands to pluck the ball away from his frame and won a pair of one-on-one balls in the end zone with his hands and body control. Stills plays hard and could be seen hustling downfield to throw a block on Jalen Saunders' 76-yard touchdown in the second quarter. I was impressed with Stills' complete skill set. He could get himself on to the fringe of the second round before all is said and done.

 

[ChrisPozz]

Jeff Tedford's out at California Golden Bears after 3-9 season - ESPN

 

[NinerSickness]

Cornelus Washington: I finally thought of a potantial NFL comparison. Audalius Thomas. (That would be if he's successful of course).

It's not perfect because he's a little bigger than Thomas, and I actually would be interested in making him a 3-4 DE. But I could see Washington having similar success if he works hard.

 

[clyde_carbon]

Pittsburgh WR Devin Street and DT Aaron Donald are returning.

Pitt football notebook: Pair of juniors plan to return next season | TribLIVE

ENTERING THE DRAFT:
QB Tyler Bray, Tennessee

RB Cierre Wood, Notre Dame

WR Justin Hunter, Tennessee
WR Da'Rick Rogers, Tennessee Tech
WR Marquess Wilson, Washington St.

DE Brandon Jenkins, Florida St.

RETURNING TO SCHOOL:
QB Logan Thomas, Virginia

WR Devin Street, Pittsburgh

DT Aaron Donald, Pittsburgh

 

[BINGO]

NFL Draft Blog
Bears need help on both sides of the ball
November, 20, 2012 2:38PM ET
By Steve Muench

The Chicago Bears haven't been to the big game since losing to the Colts in Super Bowl XLI following the 2006 season and have not won the Super Bowl since the 1985 season.

The Bears could make a run at a title this season, but Monday night's blowout loss to San Francisco shows they will have to overcome some potentially fatal flaws to do so.

It begins with an offensive line that has allowed 34 sacks this season, second most in the league. Age on defense is also an issue.

What specific holes does Chicago have, and who from the 2013 draft class could help? Here's a look.

Justin Pugh could fill what is clearly the Bears' biggest need.

Offensive tackleChicago's biggest weakness is clearly pass protection. Though the hit that knocked Jay Cutler out of action wasn't a result of bad protection, Cutler and backup Jason Campbell have taken far too much abuse this season.

San Francisco OLB Aldon Smith made it painfully obvious the Bears' top priority is shoring things up on the edges. Chicago LT J'Marcus Webb and RT Gabe Carimi are incapable of matching up with the league's better perimeter rushers when left on an island.

Syracuse's Justin Pugh (Grade: 85) missed the first four games of the season with a shoulder injury, but he is one of the best pass-blockers in this class when he's healthy. Pugh gets set quickly, is an effective hand fighter and is agile enough to stay in front of defenders when his footwork is sound. If the shoulder checks out, taking him late in the first round wouldn't be much of a reach.

Virginia's Oday Aboushi (84) is another tackle who could move into the late-first-round conversation before all is said and done. Aboushi has the length, quickness and upper-body strength to quickly develop into an effective blindside pass protector.

Interior offensive line
The Bears' issues up front don't end with their tackles tackle. LG Lance Louis is more of a versatile reserve who can provide quality depth than a player you want starting every week. RG Chilo Rachal is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent and may not be in Chicago in 2013.

C Roberto Garza will be 34 years old at the start of next season and has just one year left on his deal. Finding help at guard is the priority, but adding a player who can line up at both positions would be ideal.

Alabama's Barrett Jones (83) is the top-ranked center on our board and has experience lining up at offensive guard and tackle. Jones is a smart player who masks average quickness and power with footwork, technique and effort. The Bears would do well to land him.

An underclassmen worth tracking is Wisconsin's Travis Frederick* (no grade), who has lined up at guard and center for the Badgers. Some Chicago fans may cringe at the thought of drafting another Wisconsin lineman considering Carimi's struggles, but Frederick has the size and power to push for early playing time. It will be interesting to see if he declares for the draft or returns to Wisconsin.

Tharold Simon has the size and length to make plays on the ball.


Cornerback
Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings, who had a disappointing 2011 season, have been turnover factories this season. That doesn't mean the Bears don't need to address the position, though.

Tillman turns 32 in the offseason and is scheduled to enter free agency in 2014, and Jennings' smaller frame will always be an issue when it comes to matching up with bigger receivers. Chicago traded its third-round picks in the 2013 and 2014 drafts to the Dolphins to acquire WR Brandon Marshall, so the Bears will have to look to Day 3 for corner help if they address the offensive line with their first two picks.

LSU's Tharold Simon (66) and Ohio State's Travis Howard (62) project as fourth-round picks in part because of their average man-to-man cover skill, but their length and ball skills make them good fits for Chicago's zone-heavy scheme. Neither has great change-of-direction skills, but each has enough size/speed to turn and run with receivers when the Bears mix in their man-coverage looks. That's something Bears CB Kelvin Hayden could not do when 49ers WR Kyle Williams beat him over the top in the first quarter Monday night.



Linebacker
Bears mainstays Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs continue to play well despite getting a little long in the tooth, and SLB Nick Roach's lower production isn't a reflection of his value. Roach is a tough player who understands his role and gets the job done more often than not.

Still, age catches up with every player at some point, and the Bears don't want to be caught unprepared. Age is also a concern considering their relative lack of depth.

Believe it or not, another Wisconsin underclassman makes sense here. ILB Chris Borland* (60) is shorter than Urlacher has had some problems staying healthy, but he has the instincts and range to line up at inside or weak side linebacker in the Bears' scheme. He is an effective pass-rusher who has the burst to provide pressure off the edge and instincts to find seams in the pass protection between the tackles.

 

[Ray_Dogg]

I'm hearing Cordarrelle Patterson is #12 on Kiper's big board. True?

 

[ChrisPozz]

I'm hearing Cordarrelle Patterson is #12 on Kiper's big board. True?

Edit: Oops. I looked at last week's due to an error by ESPN. When you click his big board on the main page it gives you the one from last week but there's a newer one that came out today. Yes, he's now number 12. Last week he wasn't even in Kiper's top 25 or in the top five JUNIOR WR RANKINGS either.

 

[BINGO]

I'm hearing Cordarrelle Patterson is #12 on Kiper's big board. True?

He's my number 1 rated receiver. I've had him there for some time now people can go back in this thread to see for yourself...

 

[Ray_Dogg]

Edit: Oops. I looked at last week's due to an error by ESPN. When you click his big board on the main page it gives you the one from last week but there's a newer one that came out today. Yes, he's now number 12. Last week he wasn't even in Kiper's top 25 or in the top five JUNIOR WR RANKINGS either.

Thanks Pozz. I can forget about him lasting until the 2nd round if he declares then. The guy still doesn't know the offense. Again he ran a wrong route resulting in an INT. Crazy to think he can be even better. Hopefully he has the smarts.

 

[ChrisPozz]

Cornelius Tank Carradine reportedly tore his ACL. Oh, boy.

 

[NinerSickness]

Cornelius Tank Carradine reportedly tore his ACL. Oh, boy.

Wow! Huge news. He was gonna be a top 20 pick & maybe top 15.

 

[Yoshi]

Jeff Tedford's out at California Golden Bears after 3-9 season - ESPN

Tough to fire someone who was arguably the best coach in the school's history. He made Cal into a solid program and I have to admit, it was fun watching players such as AR12, D Jax, Marshawn, Jahvid B, Hawk, and others when I was there. However, he lost his touch as far as recruiting goes (although how he was able to steal Keenan Allen from Bama by bringing in his half brother, Maynard, was pretty damn good).

However, his time was up, and Cal needed to go into a new direction. Nonetheless, thank you Coach Tedford for making Cal football fun to watch for your first 5-7 seasons at the helm.

 

[clyde_carbon]

Tough to fire someone who was arguably the best coach in the school's history. He made Cal into a solid program and I have to admit, it was fun watching players such as AR12, D Jax, Marshawn, Jahvid B, Hawk, and others when I was there. However, he lost his touch as far as recruiting goes (although how he was able to steal Keenan Allen from Bama by bringing in his half brother, Maynard, was pretty damn good).

However, his time was up, and Cal needed to go into a new direction. Nonetheless, thank you Coach Tedford for making Cal football fun to watch for your first 5-7 seasons at the helm.

He needed to go. San Jose St. can beat Cal today. That should never happen.

 

[Ray_Dogg]

Yeah he needed to go. He hasn't brought in a good QB since Rodgers and that was a loooong time ago.

 

[Ray_Dogg]

Did anybody watch CP in the UT game vs Kentucky?

He had one of the best runs I have ever seen by a WR. It wasn't for a lot of yards but it was damn impressive.