Thursday, February 26, 2009

Orange Bowl: Virginia Tech vs Cincinnati

Virginia Tech:

Kam Chancellor, S– I am shocked and amazed that Chancellor did not come out early. After watching him play last year, I was certain he was leaving after this year as he was ready to play in the NFL as a Sophomore. And with the fact that there was no real first round caliber safety in this year’s draft, he really could have skyrocketed up the board. But I will not begrudge him for improving his overall game for one more year in college. Chancellor plays a hybrid FS/Rover position that requires him to do many things. Some plays he may have deep centerfield responsibilities, other times he may be in the box blitzing, and other times he may line up in the slot and cover a WR or TE. He’s versatile enough that he can do it all. He’s tall, very physical, he has good speed, good instincts, great closing burst, and his vertical is outstanding. He plays both the run and pass so well that I think he can fit either a true SS or FS position in the draft next year. It’s rare to see a guy have two impressive years in a row, and still come back for a third. I fully expect him to give Taylor Mays a run for his money as the best safety prospect in next year’s draft. I implore you all to watch him closely next year and see how good he really is.

Macho Harris, CB- I question Harris’ deep speed, but he’s a very physical corner. He’s got the build and game of a prototypical Cover-2 corner. You can trust him to jam guys at the line and cover the short zone, but he might need help in deep coverage from a safety. He’s the kind of guy I’d love to have on my team, but for the right price. If he’s available in the third round when the Bears pick, I wouldn’t hesitate at all in picking him.

Ryan Schuman, OC- Schuman is yet another quality center in this draft, but he’s the typical kind of center prospect that you can get very late in the draft and be happy that you did. He can get pushed back at the POA at times, but his technique is solid enough that he knows how to recover and get back into position. He’s a very good pass blocker, and he understands angle in the run game very well, especially at the second level. I expect him to be something like a 7th round pick, but he’s a solid back up to have on your team that won’t hurt you if he has to start.

Cincinnati:

Kevin Huber, P- Yes, I’m listing a punter! I NEVER do this, but Huber deserves it. He’s the truth and his leg is outstanding. He can directional kick well too, and I expect he’ll be the first and maybe only punter drafted this year. He’s worth a look in the 4th or 5th round for a team that needs a guy with a big leg. He’s one of the better college punters I’ve seen since Daniel Sepulveda (who plays for the Steelers but was on IR this year). I like to knock punters as much as the next guy, but the field position game is crucial in the NFL. Having a guy like Huber can help your defense out more than you’d expect.

Mike Mickens, CB- Mickens gets a lot of love from people, but I don’t like him. He’s undersized, his hips look too stiff, and he’s a half step slow on every play. I’d take him only very late in the draft, but I wouldn’t count on him being a major contributor at the next level.

DeAngelo Smith, CB- Same as Mickens, except even shorter. I’m not a fan.

Trevor Canfield, OG- Canfield is a throwback type of OG. What he’s lacking in talent, he makes up for in demeanor on the field. He’ll need to be surrounded by a solid veteran center and tackle, but he’s a blue collar kind of guy who likes to hit people. The only thing is that falls into the old school way of thought that you can have a guy like him in the 5th or 6th rounds. He’ll be a very solid player if grabbed then, but I wouldn’t go higher on him.

Terril Byrd, DT- Byrd is an interesting looking 4-3 NT. He’s a bit too small to play the zero technique, or 3-4 nose, but he’s stout enough to be a run stuffer in an even man front. He keeps his shoulders square to the line, he occupies blockers, and he can even get after the passer a little bit. He’s a very nice late round sleeper looking for someone to add some bulk to their DT rotation.

Mardy Gilyard, WR- I like Gilyard’s ability, and would liken him to a Steve Smith-esque receiver. He doesn’t have ideal size, but he knows how to use his quickness to his advantage and get off the jam at the line. He’s very dangerous after the catch though, and he has good ability in the return game as well. He’s someone to watch very closely next year as I think he will outperform his measureables.

Connor Barwin, DE/OLB- Barwin is a very intriguing prospect as he has only played one year at DE. He played the previous three years as a TE, but the coaching staff thought the team would be better off using his athleticism on the defensive side of the ball, so he made the switch as a Senior. Barwin is undersized but has great speed and a non-stop motor. The team that takes a shot on him will need to be patient, as he still has a lot to learn as far as technique goes. But from a pure athleticism and effort point of view, Barwin is the type of guy I want on my team. He’s probably best suited to play OLB in a 3-4, but he can definitely get after the passer, he has enough speed to cover with some coaching on pass drops, and he gives full effort in the run game. Plus he provides a team with the depth and ability to carry one less TE on the roster, as Barwin has shown he could be a very effective NFL TE as well. That’s a much bigger deal than you would think, as it allows a coach to carry an extra player at another more valuable position on the roster each week. I could definitely see Barwin doing well at the combine, and I fully expect him to gain a lot of momentum toward draft day. He’s the kind of guy I could see the Patriots taking in the second round and developing into their heir-apparent for Mike Vrabel.

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