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Mel Kiper's Biggest Freaks in the 2014 Draft

Posted on 4/30/14 at 10:58 pm
Posted by GynoSandberg
Member since Jan 2006
71940 posts
Posted on 4/30/14 at 10:58 pm
He includes a few of the big name guys that everyone knows about, but here are a few that aren't talked about as much that I think could interest the Saints


Sproles' role RB?

quote:

Jerick McKinnon, RB, Georgia Southern
He saw a lot of time at QB in college, but McKinnon is a major sleeper at running back. A compact but powerful 5-9, 209, he ran the second-fastest 40 among all RBs at the combine at 4.41 -- behind only the diminutive Dri Archer -- but also had six more reps at 225 pounds than any other RB (32 total), and showed off a 40.5-inch vertical.



2nd round WR?

quote:

Donte Moncrief, WR, Ole Miss
His route running needs work, but there's nothing more Moncrief can show as an athlete after running 4.40 and leaping 39.5 inches in the vertical, and he put up those numbers as a 6-2 wide receiver weighing in at 221 pounds. It's hard not to bet high on that workout.


See above

quote:

Martavis Bryant, WR, Clemson
College teammate Sammy Watkins has pretty strong "athlete" credentials, but at a full three inches taller (6-4), Bryant ran faster (4.42), and also jumped 39 inches. Those are stretch-the-field-and-go-up-and-get-it totals.


Future athletic TE in case Graham leaves?

quote:

A.C. Leonard, TE, Tennessee State
He ran faster than any tight end at the combine (4.50) -- next fastest was Eric Ebron at 4.60 -- but Leonard is no lightweight. He's on the shorter side at 6-2, but is 252 pounds and has 33-inch arms. He also posted a 34-inch vertical. The one-time Florida Gator and big-time recruit is a tremendous athlete.


See above

quote:

Colt Lyerla, TE, Oregon
The character questions are a major problem, but Lyerla's "freak" credentials are pretty solid. Lyerla is 6-4 and 242 pounds but still ran 4.61 (he can go faster) and posted a 39-inch vertical in Indy. The next closest tight end went 35 inches. He's a big question mark, but not as an athlete.


Future center?

quote:

Russell Bodine, C, NC State
I had to get an interior blocker in here, and Bodine is a worthy choice. He put up 42 reps -- that's six more than any other player at the combine. It's no wonder Bodine does such a great job of creating movement inside.


Darkhorse 1st round pick? I really like this guy.

quote:

Ra'Shede Hageman, DT, Minnesota
Hageman can run sub-5.0 at 310 pounds, has a huge 34-plus-inch wingspan and a 6-6 frame and can jump 35.5 inches straight up. The former high school tight end also banged out 32 reps. He's a work in progress as a football player, but his athlete credentials could keep him in Round 1.


Rush specialist?

quote:

Howard Jones, OLB/DE, Shepherd
Let's get a sleeper in here. Jones battered tackles at the D-II level, and piled up 71.0 TFL and 34.5 sacks. His explosiveness is the reason why, as he ran a 4.60 40-yard dash and posted a 40.5-inch vertical. While strength is a question (21 reps), Jones has a long wingspan with 34 1/8-inch arms. He's a little bit in that Bruce Irvin mold: "It's third down. See the QB, get the QB." But he could be a find in the middle rounds for a team looking for an explosive situational rusher.


OLB

quote:

Prince Shembo, OLB, Notre Dame
He lacks one crazy workout number aside from a 38.5-inch vertical, but Shembo is good all around at 6-1, 253, and with long 33-plus-inch arms. He can run sub-4.7, and has good strength at that arm length with 26 reps.


OLB

quote:

Kevin Pierre-Louis, OLB, Boston College
He's a bit undersized for an OLB, playing at about 225-230 pounds, which could make him a conversion candidate, but Pierre-Louis is a lithe, lean, explosive athlete. In Indy he ran 4.51 with a 39-inch vertical and did 28 reps at 232 pounds. He could be a project, but he was productive as a four-year starter.



Probably projects as a OLB

quote:

Jordan Tripp, LB, Montana
When he makes the read, Tripp comes flying out of his stance downhill to make plays at the line of scrimmage. And it's great when the workouts match the tape. His change-of-direction explosiveness is real, as the only players who were faster than him in the 20-yard shuttle are wide receivers, and one safety who beat him by a hundredth of a second. Tripp is explosive, and his 4.67 40 and 37.5-inch vertical at 234 pounds aren't too bad.
This post was edited on 4/30/14 at 11:00 pm
Posted by saintsfan22
baton rouge
Member since May 2006
71441 posts
Posted on 4/30/14 at 11:03 pm to
quote:

Jerick McKinnon, RB, Georgia Southern

Since they had him at QB he's probably extremely raw catching and running routes.
Posted by GynoSandberg
Member since Jan 2006
71940 posts
Posted on 4/30/14 at 11:15 pm to
Project
Posted by htran90
BC
Member since Dec 2012
30064 posts
Posted on 4/30/14 at 11:20 pm to
McKinnon is extremely raw. That is a player you gotta spend a year developing. Long run, I'd do it if it was 5th round or later.
Posted by GynoSandberg
Member since Jan 2006
71940 posts
Posted on 4/30/14 at 11:40 pm to
I don't want to turn this into a pissing match about Jerick McKinnon, but any new RB coming in has to learn the routes out of the backfield. As far as catching, he played QB, RB, DB, and kick returner in college. I would venture to guess he would not have a problem catching the ball out or learning quickly how to catch out of the backfield. He looked pretty coordinated at the combine catching balls.

No one is suggesting blowing an early pick on the dude. But you don't teach athleticism like this guy possesses. I mean, Jimmy Graham was "extremely raw". With all the talk of Dri Archer coming here, this guy is basically the same speed except he's 40 lbs heavier, more explosive, and a lot stronger.

Pass catching at the combine @ :18

LINK




quote:

McKinnon was used in a variety of roles at GSU, starring at quarterback, slotback, fullback, defensive back and kick returner over his career. Used primarily as an option quarterback for the Eagles, he rushed for 3,899 yards and 42 touchdowns over his collegiate career and fared well against FBS competition, including running for 109 yards and two touchdowns against Georgia in 2012 and another 125 yards and the game-winning touchdown as a slotback to shock Florida last year. Numerous players have successfully changed positions in the NFL and McKinnon appears to possess the frame, toughness and work ethic to handle the move. He is a fluid, well-built athlete who - like his former teammate - could earn a surprisingly high grade on draft weekend due to his upside.
Posted by soccerfüt
Location: A Series of Tubes
Member since May 2013
65425 posts
Posted on 4/30/14 at 11:45 pm to
quote:


Rush Specialist

quote: Howard Jones, OLB/DE, Shepherd Let's get a sleeper in here. Jones battered tackles at the D-II level, and piled up 71.0 TFL and 34.5 sacks. His explosiveness is the reason why, as he ran a 4.60 40-yard dash and posted a 40.5-inch vertical. While strength is a question (21 reps), Jones has a long wingspan with 34 1/8-inch arms. He's a little bit in that Bruce Irvin mold: "It's third down. See the QB, get the QB." But he could be a find in the middle rounds for a team looking for an explosive situational rusher.


Things can only get better.

Today's Tom Sawyer; Mean, mean pride.

Posted by Mshargois3
NOLA
Member since Jan 2014
1664 posts
Posted on 5/1/14 at 12:09 am to
MONCRIEF MONCRIEF MONCRIEF
Posted by KG5989
Das Boot
Member since Oct 2010
16324 posts
Posted on 5/1/14 at 3:40 am to
Hageman isn't a dark horse 1st rounder. He's a darkhorse top 15 pick. He's going 1st round.
Posted by LSUalreadyknow
Texas
Member since Jun 2013
1703 posts
Posted on 5/1/14 at 5:48 am to
Yea dudes going in first, too much potential.
Posted by NOFLyZ0ne28
West Florida
Member since Apr 2014
876 posts
Posted on 5/1/14 at 7:00 am to
Nice post, man. You lost me, personally, at Mel Kiper though. Anything this guy says is . If it ain't Mayock, I ain't listenin'! (Even though he lost cred w/ me for dropping Bridgewater so far down after his pro day)...Hageman isn't really a darkhorse though, most likely a mid-late 1st round lock. And I would LOVE to get Moncrief in the 2nd if we went w/ another need in the 1st.
This post was edited on 5/1/14 at 7:02 am
Posted by GeauxAggie972
Poterbin Residence
Member since Aug 2009
29424 posts
Posted on 5/1/14 at 7:11 am to
I wouldn't mind a d-line of Hageman, Hicks and Jordan
Posted by jralspanky
Fargo - Home of NDSU Bison
Member since Apr 2009
1479 posts
Posted on 5/1/14 at 7:34 am to
Bodine and Tripp look like good late round picks
Posted by Dead End
Baton Rouge
Member since Aug 2013
21237 posts
Posted on 5/1/14 at 7:39 am to
quote:

Donte Moncrief


Yes please.
Posted by Mr. Hangover
New Orleans
Member since Sep 2003
34506 posts
Posted on 5/1/14 at 7:41 am to
quote:

Donte Moncrief, WR, Ole Miss His route running needs work, but there's nothing more Moncrief can show as an athlete after running 4.40 and leaping 39.5 inches in the vertical, and he put up those numbers as a 6-2 wide receiver weighing in at 221 pounds. It's hard not to bet high on that workout.



Would love this pick... When I watched him of LSU, he reminded me a lot of Chris Henry (WVU and Bengals WR) in high school but he was doing it in the SEC..


Honestly, if they can get a stud that isn't a WR in the 1st, then Moncrief in the 2nd, I'd be very pleased
Posted by Mr. Hangover
New Orleans
Member since Sep 2003
34506 posts
Posted on 5/1/14 at 7:43 am to
quote:

Jerick McKinnon, RB, Georgia Southern Since they had him at QB he's probably extremely raw catching and running routes.




I never understood the 'coach speak' on message boards regarding RBs being able to run routes... How hard can it be to flare out of the back field or to run a screen??
Posted by illuminatic
Manipulating politicans&rappers
Member since Sep 2012
6962 posts
Posted on 5/1/14 at 9:29 am to
I'm not a fan of Kiper either but he's been right more than Mayock. Someone posted it before.
Posted by GynoSandberg
Member since Jan 2006
71940 posts
Posted on 5/1/14 at 9:41 am to
quote:

Hageman isn't a dark horse 1st rounder. He's a darkhorse top 15 pick. He's going 1st round.



Darkhorse 1st round pick of the Saints

do you even context bro
Posted by NOFLyZ0ne28
West Florida
Member since Apr 2014
876 posts
Posted on 5/1/14 at 9:58 am to
I think subconsciously for me, the only reason I can stand/take Mayock is because he isn't associated with ESPN. If he were, he would probably be equally ignorant/annoying as Kiper in my mind. Watching Mayock throughout the whole combine/draft process helps his case for me as well though.
Posted by Suntiger
BR or somewhere else
Member since Feb 2007
32846 posts
Posted on 5/1/14 at 10:39 am to
quote:

Sproles' role RB?
quote:
quote:

Jerick McKinnon, RB, Georgia Southern He saw a lot of time at QB in college, but McKinnon is a major sleeper at running back. A compact but powerful 5-9, 209, he ran the second-fastest 40 among all RBs at the combine at 4.41 -- behind only the diminutive Dri Archer -- but also had six more reps at 225 pounds than any other RB (32 total), and showed off a 40.5-inch vertical.



Everyone keeps sayint that McKinnon is comparable to Sproles. I really think a better comparison to Sproles is Bishop Sankey. 5'10", 203 lsbs. 4.49 40 (Sproles ran a 4.47 40) 4.0 in the 20 yard shuttle (Sproles ran a 3.96 20 yrd shuttle) 6.75 second three cone drill (Sproles ran a 6.96).

Sankey had 28 receptions last year and had 33 receptions the year before that.

Sankey is a hell of a running back, and lets not forget that Sproles was a hell of a running back in college. Sproles was 6th in all-purpose yardage in NCAA history (Sankey was 5th overall this year) and 5th in the Heisman voting. Sproles would have probably been picked sooner if that draft wouldn't have had guys like Frank Gore, Ronnie Brown, Cadillac Williams, etc. in it.
Posted by GynoSandberg
Member since Jan 2006
71940 posts
Posted on 5/1/14 at 11:03 am to
I like Sankey but I think he will be gone by the time we would want to go RB, if we even want to at all.
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