Former Browns GM Phil Savage's nuggets of opinion on the Draft.

Direckshun · 01-26-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

I think, with no games this weekend, that I'll have Phil Savage, the former Browns' general manager who scouted all the practices at the Senior Bowl in Mobile last week, check in with his thoughts on the movers and shakers among the prospects there:

a. "The senior quarterback group is not strong. Matt Stafford and Mark Sanchez [juniors from Georgia and USC, respectively] must have known if they came out, they'd go high ... I liked the arm of Rhett Bomar, the Sam Houston State quarterback. He got a lot of exposure here and kept himself alive.''

b. "Alex Mack, the center from Cal, distanced himself from the pack at his position. He probably got himself into late in the first round.''

c. "Brian Cushing and Rey Maualuga get the attention as USC linebackers, and they're good. But Clay Matthews Jr. weighed in three pounds heavier than Cushing and showed he can play inside or outside linebacker. He went from being a mid-round guy in the fall to late in the first or the second round. He was a 175-pound kid in high school. He's 246 and instinctive, just like his dad.'' (Clay Matthews Sr. played 19 NFL seasons in Cleveland and Atlanta, and his 278 games played are third-most in history.)

d. "Cushing looks like a pro, an outside 'backer, kind of like a Kevin Greene.''

e. "Brian Robiskie, the Ohio State wide receiver, has had his speed questioned, but you can tell this is a kid who'd been to NFL camps and worked with his dad, because in the one-on-ones, he was very prepared and competitive. He's probably still a mid-round pick, but he's a good third-receiver type, a possession type who will make some plays with his size and his hands.''

f. "Rey Maualuga is a first- and second-down run defender. Not sure if he's going to be a great third-down player.''

g. "Pat White's been at the center of a lot of debate about whether he can play quarterback in the NFL. It's probably a longshot at 6-foot and 190, but who knows? I'd love to see him play that Wildcat spot. We had Josh Cribbs do it in Cleveland because he could throw the ball. I would think Pat White's a receiver, probably, but he can be a third quarterback type and play the Wildcat. He adds a dimension to the Wildcat because he can throw.''

h. "Michael Oher, the tackle from Ole Miss, is shrouded in mystery. He's the kid [Michael Lewis] wrote the book on, who kind of went from poverty to a suburban life because of football. He had a solid week, put himself in position to be a top 10 pick. He's 6-5, 325, with long arms. He's athletic, and he should be able to play left tackle. The great thing about taking a left tackle is if he doesn't pan out, he'll be able to be a right tackle.''

i. "The best three players I saw, maybe, were Cushing, Oher and Brandon Pettigrew, a tight end from Oklahoma State who is probably the most complete tight end in the country. Very impressed with him. He could go at the bottom of the first round.''

j. "Not much of a surprise, but 46 juniors came out, and I've seen most of them now, and I think it could potentially be the biggest draft for juniors ever. There will be something between 12 and 20 juniors picked in the first round.''

k. "First pick in the draft? If it's Detroit, and Jim Schwartz is talking about Bobby Layne, and the offensive coordinator is Scott Linehan, who wants a big, strong-thrower, I'd say the big strong QB with a strong arm would be the pick. Matthew Stafford is big and throws the ball so well. It's a pretty easy guess.''

Any guesses as to how great the Browns' drafting had been under Savage?

Chiefnj2 · 01-26-2009, 10:41 AM

Good find. Rep your way.

His draft's were okay. It's hard to say if it was coaching or bad picks in some cases.

**OnTheWarpath15** · 01-26-2009, 10:47 AM

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"The great thing about taking a left tackle is if he doesn't pan out, he'll be able to be a right tackle.''

CP "experts" calling Phil Savage an idiot in 3...2...1...

**The Franchise** · 01-26-2009, 10:56 AM

Damn.......I guess I can hope for this::

1st round - Mark Sanchez
2nd round - Alex Mack
3rd round - Clay Matthews Jr.

**DaneMcCloud** · 01-26-2009, 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pestilenceaf23

Damn.......I guess I can hope for this::

1st round - Mark Sanchez
2nd round - Alex Mack
3rd round - Clay Matthews Jr.

All Pac-10 guys?

Chiefsplanet would go nuts.

**The Franchise** · 01-26-2009, 11:35 AM

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Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

All Pac-10 guys?

Chiefsplanet would go nuts.

Ehhhh....screw em. I don't care if they come from the MAC....as long as their talented and can help this team.

**DaneMcCloud** · 01-26-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pestilenceaf23

Ehhhh....screw em. I don't care if they come from the MAC....as long as their talented and can help this team.

I'm with you. But it's Big 12 country. So many people can't understand why Chase Daniel isn't a first rounder.

**doomy3** · 01-26-2009, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I'm with you. But it's Big 12 country. So many people can't understand why Chase Daniel isn't a first rounder.

Yeah, the board is just full of people wanting to take Chase Daniel in the first.

Give me a break.

bdeg · 01-26-2009, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pestilenceaf23

Damn.......I guess I can hope for this::

1st round - Mark Sanchez
2nd round - Alex Mack
3rd round - Clay Matthews Jr.

You're gonna have to pick between Mack and Mathews with that 2nd. Tough choice, but I think I'd take Matthews if we are indeed moving to the 3-4. Unless we could package LJ and Tony to the same team or add in a pick with one of them and get back into the early 2nd.

**The Franchise** · 01-26-2009, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdeg

You're gonna have to pick between Mack and Mathews with that 2nd. Tough choice, but I think I'd take Matthews if we are indeed moving to the 3-4. Unless we could package LJ and Tony to the same team or add in a pick with one of them and get back into the early 2nd.

Well here....how about this?

1st round - Matthew Stafford QB Georgia/Mark Sanchez QB USC
2nd round - Clint Sintim OLB Virginia/Clay Matthews Jr. OLB USC
3rd round - Paul Kruger DE Utah/Antoine Caldwell C Alabama

Frankie · 01-28-2009, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdeg

You're gonna have to pick between Mack and Mathews with that 2nd. Tough choice, but I think I'd take Matthews if we are indeed moving to the 3-4. Unless we could package LJ and Tony to the same team or add in a pick with one of them and get back into the early 2nd.

Don't trade Tony.

Frankie · 01-28-2009, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pestilenceaf23

Damn.......I guess I can hope for this::

1st round - Mark Sanchez
2nd round - Alex Mack
3rd round - Clay Matthews Jr.

I can live with that.

bigdreams1 · 01-28-2009, 01:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pestilenceaf23

Damn.......I guess I can hope for this::

1st round - Mark Sanchez
2nd round - Alex Mack
3rd round - Clay Matthews Jr.

This would be amazing

DrRyan · 01-26-2009, 12:50 PM

I would be surprised to see very many mid-major conference players drafted. Some story about the Pioli/Bill B. drafts I read showed they rarely ever drafted players not from a major conference. This year the Big 12 had a great year and a ton of really good college players but I don't see many of them translating into great pro players. Obviously there are exceptions...

**DaKCMan AP** · 01-26-2009, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrRyan

This year the Big 12 had a great year

Not so much when it came bowl time.

01-26-2009, 10:41 AM	#2
Chiefnj2 In Search of a Life Join Date: Mar 2007 Casino cash: $7823688	Good find. Rep your way. His draft's were okay. It's hard to say if it was coaching or bad picks in some cases. __________________ Mismanaging the clock.
Posts: 22,395

01-26-2009, 10:56 AM	#4
The Franchise Most Valuable Villain Join Date: Dec 2006 Casino cash: $2835047	Damn.......I guess I can hope for this:: 1st round - Mark Sanchez 2nd round - Alex Mack 3rd round - Clay Matthews Jr.
Posts: 92,296

01-26-2009, 12:50 PM	#14
DrRyan Veteran Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: AZ Casino cash: $6891721	I would be surprised to see very many mid-major conference players drafted. Some story about the Pioli/Bill B. drafts I read showed they rarely ever drafted players not from a major conference. This year the Big 12 had a great year and a ton of really good college players but I don't see many of them translating into great pro players. Obviously there are exceptions...
Posts: 2,094