Sac's 2012 End of Season Mock

[Saccopoo]

1. Peter Konz, C; Wisconsin: 6'3", 313 lbs.
- Yep, it's a ten pick reach at minimum, but Casey Wiegmann, while one of the best at his position during his career, is sniffing 40 and contemplated retirement before this past season. Rather than moving Hudson to center, keep him at guard (where he was a three time ACC first teamer & AP AA) and get a guy like Konz when you have the chance. He's big, physical and has the strength to handle even the biggest defensive tackles. I don't know if he's as good as Alex Mack at the same stage, but he reminds me a lot of him.



Other options would include OT's Riley Rieff or Jon Martin; ILB's Luke Kuechly or Dont'a Hightower (no Burfict as he hasn't shown the instincts to play at the next level or the capability to be anything other than a 15 yard personal foul waiting to happen).

2. Matt Reynolds, OT; BYU: 6'6", 330 lbs.
- Reynolds is a four year starter, and three year conference first teamer at left tackle. This also might be a bit of a reach, but he won't last beyond the second round and is most likely a better pro prospect than any offensive tackle beyond the top three. He's very athletic for a guy his size and could effectively play either side of the line. Plays nasty and through the whistle. Barry Richardson might be the worst starting offensive tackle in the NFL and the position needs to be addressed immediately. If the Chiefs don't get a shot at one of the top three in the first round, it needs to be addressed here - and Pioli has also shown the propensity to draft offensive line in the second round.



3. Derrek Wolfe, DT; Cincinatti: 6'5", 310 lbs.
- Initially, I would have loved the Chiefs to have picked up Wolfe in the 5th round, but after a monster 2011 season where he had 19.5 tackles for a loss and 9.5 sacks from the defensive tackle position for the Bearcats, he's going to be a riser, especially at the 3-4 defensive end spot where his length and speed to go along with his size are damn near prototype for the position. Jackson flashed a couple times in 2011 for the Chiefs, but Dorsey just looks like a "guy" out there and has a tendency to get absolutely engulfed by NFL guards.



4. Vick Ballard, RB; Mississippi State: 5'11", 215 lbs.
- With teams loading the box in an effort to stop him (because the Bulldogs didn't have much else offensively), Ballard still managed over 1000 yards on a 5.6 yards per carry. He's physically solid with good muscle mass and has very good vision. Is effective inside as well as out and is a good receiver. He went for 180 yards and two TD's in the Music City Bowl to close out his college career. He's a really good runnning back that would effectively fill the Thomas Jones spot in the lineup.



5. Tank Carder, MLB; TCU; 6'2", 240 lbs.
- With the two best blocking tight ends (Lutzenkirchen and Williams) going back to school for the 2013 season, this gets changed to linebacking stud Carder, who is the two-time MWC Defensive Player of the Year. Very instinctive and fundamentally sound, he was asked to do a lot in the middle playing in TCU's oddball 4-2-5 defense. Is effective in both coverage and filling the gaps on runs. Likes to put the big hit on carriers, but also plays smart. Is long and would be capable of carrying more weight to play inside in a 34. MVP of the 2011 Rosebowl when TCU beat a very good Wisconsin team. The guy can play some football.



6. Sean Cattouse, SS; California: 6'2", 215 lbs.
- With the loss of Berry at the start of the season, it highlighted the lack of depth that the Chiefs have at the strong safety position. McGraw has superb instincts but runs like he's in molasses. Sabby was a stopgap because of the injury. Cattouse has been solid for the Bears all season and one of the few bright spots on their defense. He's big, fast, likes to put the big hit on guys and has the tools to be an effective player with coaching. This is what you want in a backup strong safety.



7. Nick Provo, TE; Syracuse: 6'4", 250 lbs.
- Originally this was Caleb McSurdy, ILB; Montana, but with the pick of Carder in the fifth, another productive tight end on the roster is needed. Provo was First Team All-Big East in 2011 and set the Syracuse school record for career receptions for a tight end despite really only getting onto the field his junior and senior seasons. A Mackey semi-finalist in 2011.

[Nightfyre]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

He didn't play that well this past season. He was downright horrible in the Utah-ASU game and really cost his team with some really dumb personal fouls and plays in that game alone. He can hit people, but that's about it. He didn't show very good instincts.

If it's not Kuechly in the first or Hightower in the second (barring any movement), I'd rather them go another direction, give Belcher another year of growth and possibly look at Manti Te'o of Notre Dame next year with their first rounder. After Kuechly and Hightower, there is a real drop off in talent or you'd have to hit with a diamond in the rough type guy late in the draft. (See my seventh rounder McSurdy - I think someone posted Walter's draft around here and he had us taking a Montana CB, but the real stud of the Grizzlies defense was McSurdy, who was the conference defensive POY. A real thumper with great instincts.)

I'll assume you've watched all of the UM games to backup this McSurdy claim.

[RealSNR]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

I'll assume you've watched all of the UM games to backup this McSurdy claim.

He's projecting him as a 7th rounder. It sounds like he might be the Brian Shay of college linebackers.

[Nightfyre]

Originally Posted by SNR

He's projecting him as a 7th rounder. It sounds like he might be the Brian Shay of college linebackers.

McSurdy was no where near the heart and soul of that defense. That defense started and ended up front.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by Nightfyre

I'll assume you've watched all of the UM games to backup this McSurdy claim.

Three this past season actually. My cousin's "friend" graduated from Montana, so we usually catch a couple of the Grizzlies games every season. (Her and her friends actually have a yearly reunion of sorts here in SLC to watch one of the games - typically the Montana/Weber State matchup, which we actually go to when it's held here in Utah.)

[spanky 52]

BPA will likely be DeCastro who also fits a need.

[Bewbies]

Originally Posted by spanky 52

BPA will likely be DeCastro who also fits a need.

A true game changer. A G in the top 12. FML.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by lewdog_5

Yea the O-line needs upgrading but I sure would hate to use our top 2 picks on the OL.

49ers did it in the 2010 draft with Davis at #11 and Iupati at #17 in the first round.

[Dr. Gigglepants]

What about your 5th round TE? Is there a gronkowski type coming out this year? I know we'd have to get him earlier than the 5th if there was. Watching the Pats with RG and AH make me want an elite TE, I've already forgotten what that's like from the TG days.

Chase Coffman should he available, couldn't he be an elite weapon in the passing game? Obviously a liability in run blocking but who needs to run anymore.
Posted via Mobile Device

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by Coogs

49ers did it in the 2010 draft with Davis at #11 and Iupati at #17 in the first round.

Let's not anoint them just yet.

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Let's not anoint them just yet.

I'm not. I think the Jets did it a few years prior to that with D'Brick and Mangold in the first round. Not 100% sure on that, but that is what I recall.

[O.city]

I love the idea of fixing hte oline. Get young and really good up front, so Stanzi has a chance next year.

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by Dr. Gigglepants

What about your 5th round TE? Is there a gronkowski type coming out this year? I know we'd have to get him earlier than the 5th if there was. Watching the Pats with RG and AH make me want an elite TE, I've already forgotten what that's like from the TG days.

Chase Coffman should he available, couldn't he be an elite weapon in the passing game? Obviously a liability in run blocking but who needs to run anymore.
Posted via Mobile Device

Mike Williams of Alabama is a tight end in the mold of a Jason Dunn type player - big, physical and is effectively another tackle on the edge. He is athletic enough to be effective in the pass game, but he's first and foremost a run blocking end - probably the best of that type in this draft.

If Moeaki is capable of coming back from his blown knee and having two very big wide receivers in Bowe and Baldwin, another pass catching type of tight end isn't really required. However, an effective run blocker like Williams is is something this offense has lacked since Dunn was let go/retired.

Williams has paved the way for two superlative running backs in Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson. He's a much better option to have in that role rather than having Moeaki stay back to cover Barry Richardson's huge blocking deficiencies or having McCluster try to keep defensive ends off of the quarterback.

However, Williams is a red shirt junior who hasn't decided if he's going to stay at Alabama or enter the draft. At this point, I'm almost thinking that he stays and works on increasing his receiving numbers which will help his draft stock in 2013.

I'm not really impressed by the tight end class this year outside of Dwayne Allen. It's definitely not the 2010 class, which was amazing - Gresham, Gronkowski, Graham, Hernandez, Pitta, Dickson, Moeaki and McCoy all are starters for their teams and Graham and Gronkowski had a record setting type season in 2011. (Though, considering who was throwing to them skewed their numbers a bit.) I think Fleener is the college version of Deon Branch - numbers and production skewed by who is throwing to him (in fact, I think all those Stanford offensive guys (Martin, DeCastro, Fleener) are a being a bit overvalued due to Andrew Luck's capabilities). (Which is why I really like Peter Konz - he had an even better year in 2011 and that's without 2011 first rounder Gabe Carimi to help him. The guy has just about every measurable and game performance to put him at "elite" level for his position.)

[Coogs]

Originally Posted by Saccopoo

However, Williams is a red shirt junior who hasn't decided if he's going to stay at Alabama or enter the draft. At this point, I'm almost thinking that he stays and works on increasing his receiving numbers which will help his draft stock in 2013.

Yesterday was the day. According to this list, he is staying in school...

http://www.gbnreport.com/juniors.htm

[Saccopoo]

Originally Posted by Coogs

Yesterday was the day. According to this list, he is staying in school...

http://www.gbnreport.com/juniors.htm

Thanks Coogs. I was looking for it this morning but couldn't find anything on him. I figured that he might. Guess I gotta fix that pick.

[Bewbies]

Originally Posted by Coogs

49ers did it in the 2010 draft with Davis at #11 and Iupati at #17 in the first round.

Good thing they already had a #1 overall pick already playing at QB...