2016 NFL DRAFT THREAD

[bluepigpen]

I want a center

 

[Vitamike]

Up next!

 

[RamsFan88]

I don't think Allen will do well at the next level, give me the Bruin!!

I'm ok with that!

 

[Red_Chaos]

Rams draft Josh Forrest | ILB, KentuckyHeight: 6-3 Weight: 249

 

[bluepigpen]

Josh Forrest LB UK

 

[UVA_Guy81]

Well UVA Guy, some bias from my end, I'd go with Center Jake Brendel UCLA, dude starts week 1 if they can put some size on the man. He was Co Captain the last 3 years and blocks well vs talent in both run and pass, his knock is his size however he is one of the larger Centers still on the board at 6'3".

Nevermind my post about Allen. Looks like he was granted another year of eligibility, likely due to the injury.

 

[Vitamike]

The Pick is in!

LB Josh Forrest University of Kentucky

Overview

Although Forrest didn't play football until his junior year of high school, he did enough there (14 touchdowns receiving, seven interceptions -- three returned for touchdowns) to earn a scholarship from the Wildcats. After two years as a reserve, Forrest took over as a starter, leading the team in tackles in each of the past two seasons (110 in 2014, 93 in 2015). He also made plays in the passing game, intercepting two passes each year (including a 81-yard pick six against Louisville this year).


Pro Day Results

40-yard dash: 4.78 and 4.85 seconds
20-yard short shuttle: 4/22 seconds
3-cone drill: 7.48 seconds
Analysis
Strengths
Tall, long-limbed and athletic. Was used all over the field by Kentucky staff. Has 202 tackles during his two-year stint as starter. Has plus chase speed. Lateral quickness is a strength. Length and closing burst gives him extended range to make tackles. Has quick direction change to put himself in position for difficult open field finishes. Uses hand and foot quickness to sidestep and brush away blockers targeting him on second level. Frequently used as blitzer and gap shooter. Able to "get skinny" and sneak through crevices and into the backfield.
Weaknesses
Could use more strength in his lower half. Needs to add play strength to avoid being washed down against run. Physical tight ends can push him at point of attack. Too upright on downhill charges and blitzes. Gets jostled out of the play by redirect blocks. Effort runs hot and cold. As tackler, below average job of breaking down in space. Relies on catch-and-drag technique over chesting up and finishing. Had nine broken and 22 missed tackles over last two years. Slow to diagnose and gets few head starts on the play. Average awareness in pass coverage and needs to get better at squeezing targets in his zone.
Draft Projection
Rounds 5 or 6
Bottom Line
With his athleticism and length, teams may be tempted to try him out as an edge rusher, but he is a much better straight-line blitzer through the A and B gaps than he is around the edge. Forrest is a WILL linebacker with the size and range teams look for, but his combination of average instincts and wasted movement in space could be an indicator of up-and-down play in the pros.
Related Links

• Brandt: Official Kentucky pro day results

 

[bluepigpen]

Could put Tree back outside?

 

[Vitamike]

Okay fellas, time to hit the gym and work off this brunch!

See y'all when I get back.

 

[bluepigpen]

12 until our last shot at a center

 

[Battlelyon]

Okay fellas, time to hit the gym and work off this brunch!

See y'all when I get back.

 

[SJ76]

Good targets for Goff in the 4th round.

Big ??? On Higbie blocking so add that to the other ?? On the Oline. Sure hope we can protect Goff and give him time.

Seattle and San Fran loading back up

 

[bluepigpen]

Barnes can't be the center in front of Goff. FA, last pick or undrafted FA. I hope they draft someone.

 

[UVA_Guy81]

Michael Thomas WR

They were really going all out I suppose to get targets for Goff this draft. If they were going WR, surprised they didn't draft Lawler since Goff and him played with each other at Cal.

 

[RamsFan88]

Nice! Great pick. SJ is stoked

 

[Red_Chaos]

Rams select with

Mike Thomas | WR, Southern Mississippi
Height: 6-1 Weight: 193
final pick

SJ should be happy

 

[UVA_Guy81]

Overview

Thomas collected 71 receptions for 1,391 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2015. Those totals easily eclipsed his numbers from 2014: 41 catches for 592 yards and five touchdowns.


Pro Day Results

40-yard dash: 4.53 seconds
Vertical: 36 inches
Broad jump: 10 feet, 11 inches
Short shuttle: 4.29 seconds
3-cone: 7.06 seconds
Bench: 16 reps of 225 pounds
Analysis
Strengths
Plays like his hair is on fire. Posted eye-opening production in 2015. Motor is always in the red and brings enthusiasm and urgency to the field. Has good size, but plays even bigger. Able to play through contact and still make difficult, contested catches. Confidence took off as season progressed. Doesn't have blazing speed but hit explosive play after explosive play. Good leaper with great body control to win high percentage of 50-50 balls. Good hand fighter down the sideline. Will drain every yard he can get out of every catch.
Weaknesses
Average athlete inside first 10 yards. Hip tightness limits sink into and out of breaks and routes can be very raw. JUCO transfer who played just two years of FBS football. Easy target to tag for press corners. Needs to vary approach and tempo of press release. Drop rate of 10.1 percent due to focus issues. Struggles creating separation at top of his routes versus tight man coverage. Needs more commitment as run blocker.
Draft Projection
Rounds 6 or 7
Sources Tell Us
"You want to write him off when you start watching the tape and then he just starts outworking everyone for the big plays." -- NFL South scout
Bottom Line
While much of Thomas' production was churned out against middling competition, it is worth noting that he had at least one touchdown catch over his last 10 games including two touchdowns and 190 receiving yards in his bowl game against Washington. Thomas could face a struggle to get open against NFL press coverage, but his desire and competitiveness will make following his run in camp an interesting one.

 

[SJ76]

Maybe the YouTube vids I sent Demoff (twice) of Mike Thomas from
southern miss helped his decision.


Sweet!

 

[bluepigpen]

ok will see you guys on the other side. Not bad draft, no center but they have to look at that in the UNFA.

 

[RamsFan88]

I like the draft. Didn't think I would be saying that, but I like the weapons we added.