2014 NFL Draft

[Red2111]

so ... the Rams drafted the first openly gay football player.

 

the Rams have a history of drafting social firsts, the head coach made a point of tellign interviewers that the Rams also drafted the first black player int eh NFL one year before Jackie Robinson was hired by the dogers.

 

 

 

so, good Draft pick ... or just the Rams trying to make headlines?

 

 

 

[SinisterDeath]

Both from my understanding.

 

My home team(vikings), is the opposite.. they love firing players who make any kind of social commentary, and then waste a valuable 1st draft pick, on a kicker. >_<

[Haxorsist]

The Rams are really deep at DE, so it'll be tough for him. I've read they might try to make him a LB.

 

I guess this also means that the Rams will be on Hard Knocks this year.

[Tyler Glembo]

SEC [insert anything] player of the year should always be picked in the draft.  If the SEC offensive/defensive/whatever PotY wasn't drafted, then I'd question it a helluva lot more. 

 

Sam is a tweener, but you see how that has worked out for players like abraham and von miller. 

[Tyler Glembo]

And let's discuss what is really important here.  The green bay PACKERS D is going to be improved and that means another Super Bowl Year!

[Andrej]

The Rams are really deep at DE, so it'll be tough for him. I've read they might try to make him a LB.

 

I guess this also means that the Rams will be on Hard Knocks this year.

 

I think their depth there will actually help. He'll have more players to learn from/with and now they can get a more solid rotation going. Their pass rush is already nasty and as proven by the SB Champ Giants (vs. the perfect Pats) having too many pass rushers is never a bad thing.

[Andrej]

FTR and to stay on topic, I think his sexual orientation is irrelevant to his caliber as a player or human.

 

That said - I do think it affected his draft stock but not ONLY because he is gay. I think what hurt him more was the fact he came out in the manner he did -  which was unprompted and pretty unrelated to his talent as a football player - HE is who caused the "controversy" if you want to look at it that way.

 

Some coaches/owners/GMs may simply have not wanted that type of constant news presence in their locker rooms. I certainly can't blame them.

[Red2111]

well i question whether its more of a publicity stunt for the Rams rather than picking a high caliber player (out of a wealthy draft, seeing how many were in it this year) because he was their 7th round pick and was so close to being Mr. Irrelevant if you look at his pick #.

 

 

if he was such a high caliber player, i think he would have went higher in the draft, regardless of his sexual preference.

 

 

that said, i wouldn't be surprised, if he doesn't get cut, that he'll be the player Madden features on their cover this upcoming year.

 

 

also, Bubba's not too happy with the picks the Saints did this year *smh*

[Tyler Glembo]

well i question whether its more of a publicity stunt for the Rams rather than picking a high caliber player (out of a wealthy draft, seeing how many were in it this year) because he was their 7th round pick and was so close to being Mr. Irrelevant if you look at his pick #.

 

 

if he was such a high caliber player, i think he would have went higher in the draft, regardless of his sexual preference.

 

 

that said, i wouldn't be surprised, if he doesn't get cut, that he'll be the player Madden features on their cover this upcoming year.

 

 

also, Bubba's not too happy with the picks the Saints did this year *smh*

 

Are you saying that you can't get high value players in the later rounds?  Which player, specifically, would you rather the Rams had drafted at that point and why do you think that player would be better for the Rams over the course of the next 5 years?

 

 

having too many pass rushers is never a bad thing.

 

This.

[Andrej]

Sam was pretty legit as a player this past season. I'm pretty sure he led the SEC in sacks, which is no small feat since that conference is basically looked at as the pros farm system - his NFL combine numbers weren't very impressive though which likely hurt his stock as a pick as well. I think he probably could've been a good 2nd/3rd round pick if it weren't for the controversy. The guy has talent, there's no denying that.

[Tyler Glembo]

Sam was pretty legit as a player this past season. I'm pretty sure he led the SEC in sacks, which is no small feat since that conference is basically looked at as the pros farm system - his NFL combine numbers weren't very impressive though which likely hurt his stock as a pick as well. I think he probably could've been a good 2nd/3rd round pick if it weren't for the controversy. The guy has talent, there's no denying that.

 

There is no way he could have been a 2nd/3rd round pick with his lack of coverage skills.  He is looked at as a specialist and was drafted accordingly. 

 

What do ya'll think about the Packers drafting Clinton-Dix as a safety?  I'm thinking he could ball-hawk and that would add just a little bit of extra time to opposing QB's decision making, and thus the Packers might actually start being able to sack opposing QBs.  Last year the Packers safeties had 0 INTs.

 

AJ, you a chargers fan?  Who did they draft first round?  You like the pick, hate it?

[Tyler Glembo]

A bit of data for consumption.  Let's compare the SEC Defensive player of the year draft position for the last 10 years and see where Michael Sam fits. 

 

The SEC Defensive Player of the Year / When they were drafted

 

2013 - Michael Sam / 7th Round pick #249

2012 - Jarvis Jones / 1st Round pick #17

2011 - Morris Claiborne / 1st Round pick #6

2010 - Patrick Peterson / 1st Round pick #5

2009 - Rolando McClain / 1st Round pick #8

2008 - Eric Berry / 1st Round pick #5

2007 - Glenn Dorsey / 1st Round pick #5

2006 - Patrick Willis / 1st Round pick #11

2005 - Demeco Ryans / 2nd Round pick #33

2004 - David Pollack / 1st Round pick #17

 

So, every player who was SEC Defensive Player of the Year (SECDPOY) was drafted in the 1st round except for 1.  That one, Demeco Ryans, was picked with the very first pick of the 2nd round.  The average position a player was drafted is at and the standard deviation is 11.8±8.7.  3 players were drafted at #5 and one at #6. 

 

Now, the NFL obviously thinks very, very highly of whoever the SEC DPOY is.  And with good reason. 

 

Jarvis Jones became a regular in the Pittsburgh D as a rookie.  Morris Claiborne had a decent rookie season and got injured his second season, losing his starting job.  Patrick Peterson is in discussion for best corner in the league, was the only rookie to be in the 2011 All-Pro First team, and is a Pro Bowler.  Rolando McClain got drafted by the Oakland Raiders and had a good rookie season, only to have bigger and bigger issues with the team causing him to announce his retirement.  Eric Berry is a 3x Pro Bowler.  Glenn Dorsey was a solid starter for the Chiefs and has since become a starter with the 49ers.  Patrick Willis is arguably the best linebacker in football and a 6 year all pro/pro bowler and was ROY.  Demeco Ryans was ROY and an Pro Bowler.  And David Pollack unfortunately suffered a career ending injury his first year in the league.

 

So, apart from injuries the worst you can do by drafting the SECDPOY is get an every down starter, and you damn near have a 50/50 shot at drafting a guy who will become the best player in the league at his position.

 

Given all of that, where would you expect the 2013 SEC DPOY to be drafted?  1st round?  At worst....and I mean worst, maybe 2nd round?  But 7th?  Really?  REALLY?????

 

I can buy the argument that he needs to work on his coverage skills.  Okay, that can be improved.  But you don't pass over the SEC DPOY for 7 rounds unless there is some other issue. 

[Andrej]

I'm a Cowboys fan TG. I loved our 1st pick - Zack Martin is a freakin' beast of a guard and likely future Pro-Bowler on a consistent basis. Dallas is working on building that front line we had back in the early 90s, so beware

 

I don't think Sam will be used for coverage, like ever. He's a weakside DE pass rusher, pure and simple. I'm pretty sure the Rams run a 4-3 defense anyway, so likely I think he'll see time on a rotational basis on passing downs where he rushes from the QB's backside. In a 3-4 scheme I think he would be a primarily pass rushing OLB like you see with Suggs, Harrison, Jones, etc. I would be very surprised if you ever see him dropping back into coverage.

 

Nice research you did there on looking up the POtY and their draft order - pretty interesting.

 

Oh - and I think the Packers got an awesome pick with Clinton-Dix, that dude is going to elevate that defense by a lot.

[Tyler Glembo]

I'm not certain of the Cowboys draft...Zack Martin should be a perenial pro-bowler...but trading away so many draft picks for Lawrence?  Hmm....  And then who knows what value they'll get from the late round picks.  I think, right now, the Cowboy's D needs a better coach more than they need the D players. 

 

But yeah, if Romo can feel a little more comfortable in the pocket he could be deadly.

[Andrej]

I honestly haven't really looked at most of the late round picks from anyone. I think the first two rounds were pretty solid all around, I felt like Dallas sort of reached to trade up and pick that DE from Boise though (is he the Lawrence you're talking about?). I think Sam could've easily been in that spot, for instance.

[SinisterDeath]

So yea, I don't watch college football, nor do I know the rules/intricacies of the game that Andrej,TGlems, and others have mentioned..

I know the basic rules,  and what my favorite team is. (Vikings)

 

So here's there 'picks'.

http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/10-Vikings-Draft-Picks-Where-Do-They-Fit/1ec0a8ba-7aac-472d-9d89-8625c4360f58

http://www.vikings.com/news/article-1/Vikings-Use-Draft-To-Fortify-Defense/a40c2dce-e042-4426-b696-485e58f44d70

 

What do you all think about there picks? Am I destined for another craptastic year?

[Andrej]

Vikings scored big-time in the first round. Anthony Barr is a STUD linebacker, although I'm not sure he'll be a perfect fit in their 4-3 system, he's more a 3-4 OLB prototype imo (that was what he played in @ UCLA). The Vikings trading up to snag Teddy Bridgewater to the close the 1st round was HUGE and extremely savvy, especially since it was thought that Houston would take him with the 33rd pick.

[SinisterDeath]

Vikings scored big-time in the first round. Anthony Barr is a STUD linebacker, although I'm not sure he'll be a perfect fit in their 4-3 system, he's more a 3-4 OLB prototype imo (that was what he played in @ UCLA). The Vikings trading up to snag Teddy Bridgewater to the close the 1st round was HUGE and extremely savvy, especially since it was thought that Houston would take him with the 33rd pick.

Think there new Defensive coach will actually give them a real defense this year? (combined with the new picks?)

[Suttree]

What do you all think about there picks? Am I destined for another craptastic year?

 

Agree with the last post. As a Cal/Pac 12 fan I saw a ton of Anthony Barr. He is very versatile, an absolute freak athlete and as someone relatively new to the defensive side of the ball he has a super high ceiling.

 

Big move to score Bridgewater as well. Great arm and skill set, he could be a franchise QB  eventually.

[Andrej]

 

Vikings scored big-time in the first round. Anthony Barr is a STUD linebacker, although I'm not sure he'll be a perfect fit in their 4-3 system, he's more a 3-4 OLB prototype imo (that was what he played in @ UCLA). The Vikings trading up to snag Teddy Bridgewater to the close the 1st round was HUGE and extremely savvy, especially since it was thought that Houston would take him with the 33rd pick.

 

Think there new Defensive coach will actually give them a real defense this year? (combined with the new picks?)

 

I forgot they hired a new D-coordinator. If they are installing a 3-4 package then yes, Barr was a perfect fit. Bridgewater also offers a lot of potential at QB with all the trouble they have been having in recent years. It helps that they still have AP to carry most of the load.

[Tyler Glembo]

Vikings should be a vastly improved team....provided their coaching can take them there.  Coaching counts for a whole lot in the NFL when the differences between failure and success are razor thing.

 

And it doesn't help that they play in the same division as the Bears (downward spiral?), the Lions (one of the most talented and underachieving teams in the NFL but always dangerous) and the Packers (great coach, great QB, getting a better defense).

[Andrej]

The division looks pretty exciting as a whole.

 

The Lions would be dangerous if they can get their act right.

[SinisterDeath]

Vikings should be a vastly improved team....provided their coaching can take them there.  Coaching counts for a whole lot in the NFL when the differences between failure and success are razor thing.

 

And it doesn't help that they play in the same division as the Bears (downward spiral?), the Lions (one of the most talented and underachieving teams in the NFL but always dangerous) and the Packers (great coach, great QB, getting a better defense).

From my perspectives, the bears almost always suck. But when the Vikings and the Packers both lose to the Bears.. they might just have a super bowl year in the works..

[Red2111]

 

well i question whether its more of a publicity stunt for the Rams rather than picking a high caliber player (out of a wealthy draft, seeing how many were in it this year) because he was their 7th round pick and was so close to being Mr. Irrelevant if you look at his pick #.

 

 

if he was such a high caliber player, i think he would have went higher in the draft, regardless of his sexual preference.

 

 

that said, i wouldn't be surprised, if he doesn't get cut, that he'll be the player Madden features on their cover this upcoming year.

 

 

also, Bubba's not too happy with the picks the Saints did this year *smh*

 

Are you saying that you can't get high value players in the later rounds?  Which player, specifically, would you rather the Rams had drafted at that point and why do you think that player would be better for the Rams over the course of the next 5 years?

 

 

 

 

 

bold - no, i'm saying that generally spekaing, the round 7 picks are of players that teams expect to cut after boot camp, that the round 7 picks are throw aways.  and that historically you have very few people picked in round 7, let alone that far down in round 7  (i mean he was like 3rd to last or near to that) that go on to do anything in the NFL.

 

as for who the Rams should have picked.  i'm not a Rams fan, so i dont know their teams needs versus who was left in the draft; though by all accounts from what i've heard they soerly need to beef up the WR and didn't relaly need any LB's.  i will say that who ever they would have drafted in place of Sam will be picked up in free agency by them if there is another player they had their eye on.

 

 

what i'm saying, is that the rams drafting him is less about their team needs, and more about the PR that goes with drafting the first openly black gay guy.  nothing against Sam and his life choices, i just hate seeing him used as a pawn for a team that has been lack luster the past few years to boost their PR with fans and non-fans and get their name in the head lines.

[Suttree]

what i'm saying, is that the rams drafting him is less about their team needs, and more about the PR that goes with drafting the first openly black gay guy. 

 

Fixed.