Best of the rest

[Chiefnj2]

Best Players Remaining after 2nd Round from PFW's Top 238

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rk. Pos First Name Last Name School
33 ILB Dan Connor Penn State
37 FS DaJuan Morgan North Carolina State
38 WR Mario Manningham Michigan
44 OLB Cliff Avril Purdue
48 DE Jeremy Thompson Wake Forest
51 CB Tyvon Branch Connecticut
52 WR Andre (Bubba) Caldwell Florida
53 WR Early Doucet III LSU
54 CB Reggie Smith Oklahoma
61 OT Oniel Cousins UTEP
62 TE Craig Stevens California
64 RB Tashard Choice Georgia Tech
65 CB Justin King Penn State
66 DT Marcus Harrison Arkansas
67 TE Brad Cottam Tennessee
68 DE Kenny Iwebema Iowa
70 OLB Xavier Adibi Virginia Tech
71 CB Charles Godfrey Iowa
72 FS Thomas DeCoud California
73 RB Jamaal Charles Texas
74 DT Patrick Sims Auburn
75 OT Anthony Collins Kansas
77 OLB Bryan Kehl Brigham Young
78 OLB Ali Highsmith LSU
79 RB Kevin Smith Central Florida
86 OG Roy Schuening Oregon State
87 DT Dre Moore Maryland
88 DE Chris Ellis Virginia Tech
89 OLB Tavares Gooden Miami (Fla.)
90 WR Earl Bennett Vanderbilt
92 OT Carl Nicks Nebraska
93 DT Letroy Guion Florida State

[KCChiefsMan]

it would be great to get Godfrey, Ellis or Connor

[CupidStunt]

Avril has to be a target. He's a good pass-rusher. Another corner would be fine with me. Manningham would be great if he wasn't a complete fruitcake.

There's NO value in OL so they better ignore that garbage and stick to BPA. There's some pass-rushers, DBs and WRs I like quite a bit.

[Bowser]

Charles Godfrey

Early Doucet

Dan Connor

[buddha]

There are some excellent players on the board still. It sure doesn't suck having two 3rd round picks. I'd pick another OL guy, and what about Malcom Kelly?

[Bowser]

There are some excellent players on the board still. It sure doesn't suck having two 3rd round picks. I'd pick another OL guy, and what about Malcom Kelly?

I'd take Kelley, Doucet, or Manningham, but I think we can hold off on OL for this round. This round we need to address receiver and depth at corner.

[Mr. Laz]

of interest to me

Rk. Pos First Name Last Name School
33 ILB Dan Connor Penn State
53 WR Early Doucet III LSU
61 OT Oniel Cousins UTEP
73 RB Jamaal Charles Texas
74 DT Patrick Sims Auburn
75 OT Anthony Collins Kansas
92 OT Carl Nicks Nebraska

add
RB Mike Hart Michigan
FB Owen Schmit W. Virginia

[Mr. Laz]

There are some excellent players on the board still. It sure doesn't suck having two 3rd round picks. I'd pick another OL guy, and what about Malcom Kelly?

btw we have three 3rd round picks


<table id="players-grid-table-by-team" class="players-grid-table" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="100%"><thead><tr><td class="col-first-spacer">
</td><td class="col-pickext">Pick</td><td class="col-player">Player</td><td class="col-pos">Pos</td><td class="col-height">Ht</td><td class="col-weight">Wt</td><td>College</td></tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr class="drafted-data-row"> <td>
</td> <td>Round 1 (http://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker#tab:dt-by-round%7Cround-1), Pick 5 (5)</td> <td>Glenn Dorsey (http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/glenn-dorsey?id=218)</td> <td>DT (http://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker#tab:dt-by-position%7Cpos-dl)</td> <td>6'2"</td> <td>316</td> <td>LSU (http://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker#tab:dt-by-college%7Ccollege-91)</td> </tr> <tr class="drafted-data-row id=" #players-grid-table-by-team-analysis-row-218=""> <td colspan="2">
</td><td colspan="5">Pick Analysis:Dorsey's dominance should go a long way toward helping Kansas City rebuild its defense. He should command double-teams and the Chiefs become better up the middle instantly. There were some concerns about problems with Dorsey's tibia stress fracture, which may have been the reason he was still on the board at this point. His best traits are outstanding agility and a great effort. </td> </tr> <tr class="drafted-data-row-alt"> <td>
</td> <td>Round 1 (http://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker#tab:dt-by-round%7Cround-1), Pick 15 (15) (From Lions)</td> <td>Branden Albert (http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/branden-albert?id=660)</td> <td>OG (http://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker#tab:dt-by-position%7Cpos-ol)</td> <td>6'6"</td> <td>309</td> <td>Virginia (http://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker#tab:dt-by-college%7Ccollege-8)</td> </tr> <tr class="drafted-data-row-alt id=" #players-grid-table-by-team-analysis-row-660=""> <td colspan="2">
</td><td colspan="5">Pick Analysis:Albert has the versatility to play guard or tackle in the NFL. He finishes blocks down the field and in space. He started 37 games (35 games at left guard, two at left tackle) for Virginia over three years. Has great overall athletic ability for a big man and could develop into the best offensive lineman in the draft.</td> </tr> <tr class="drafted-data-row"> <td>
</td> <td>Round 2 (http://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker#tab:dt-by-round%7Cround-2), Pick 4 (35)</td> <td>Brandon Flowers (http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/brandon-flowers?id=754)</td> <td>CB (http://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker#tab:dt-by-position%7Cpos-cb)</td> <td>5'10"</td> <td>189</td> <td>Virginia Tech (http://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker#tab:dt-by-college%7Ccollege-28)</td> </tr> <tr class="drafted-data-row id=" #players-grid-table-by-team-analysis-row-754=""> <td colspan="2">
</td><td colspan="5">Pick Analysis:With better speed, Flowers would have been a much higher pick. He plays the game faster than his times speed. Best traits are good instincts and physical play.</td> </tr> <tr class="drafted-data-row-alt"> <td>
</td> <td>Round 3 (http://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker#tab:dt-by-round%7Cround-3), Pick 10 (73) (From Broncos through Vikings)</td> <td> (http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/-?id=)
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr class="drafted-data-row"> <td>
</td> <td>Round 3 (http://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker#tab:dt-by-round%7Cround-3), Pick 13 (76) (From Lions)</td> <td> (http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/-?id=)
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr class="drafted-data-row-alt"> <td>
</td> <td>Round 3 (http://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker#tab:dt-by-round%7Cround-3), Pick 19 (82) (From Vikings)</td> <td> (http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/-?id=)
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr class="drafted-data-row"> <td>
</td> <td>Round 4 (http://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker#tab:dt-by-round%7Cround-4), Pick 6 (105)</td> <td> (http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/-?id=)
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr class="drafted-data-row-alt"> <td>
</td> <td>Round 5 (http://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker#tab:dt-by-round%7Cround-5), Pick 5 (140)</td> <td> (http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/-?id=)
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr class="drafted-data-row"> <td>
</td> <td>Round 6 (http://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker#tab:dt-by-round%7Cround-6), Pick 4 (170)</td> <td> (http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/-?id=)
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr class="drafted-data-row-alt"> <td>
</td> <td>Round 6 (http://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker#tab:dt-by-round%7Cround-6), Pick 16 (182) (From Vikings)</td> <td> (http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/-?id=)
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr class="drafted-data-row"> <td>
</td> <td>Round 7 (http://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker#tab:dt-by-round%7Cround-7), Pick 3 (210)</td> <td> (http://www.nfl.com/draft/profiles/-?id=)
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> <td>
</td> </tr> <tr class="drafted-data-row-alt"> <td>
</td> <td>Round 7 (http://www.nfl.com/draft/tracker#tab:dt-by-round%7Cround-7), Pick 32 (239) (From Giants)</td> </tr></tbody></table>

[Hoover]

As an Iowa fan Godfry is OVERRATED

[buddha]

Right you are, Laz. My bad.

All Malcom Kelly did was catch everything in site at OU. He's tall and he adjusts well in routes. Manningham is a TD machine. As we have discovered in the past, you can draft the 40 time monsters at WR and "hope" that they learn how to play the position and catch balls, but they NEVER do.

[HolmeZz]

I want Andre Woodson at some point.

[Mr. Laz]

I want Andre Woodson at some point.
why?

[Pitt Gorilla]

I'll take Doucet.

[Chiefnj2]

Not much DE talent for the value.

If KC could come out with Connor and a WR like Caldwell/Bennett/Doucet round 2 would be pretty damn good, no matter who the third guy is.

[HolmeZz]

why?

He's worth taking a flyer on. He fell like a rock because Martz f*cked with him at the Senior Bowl. He's not someone who'll compete for the starting job off the bat(mainly because of his lack of mobility and our OLine), but with the amount of talent he has and the lack of QB talent I see in future draft classes, he'd be a very smart pick.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Avril is a little light even for a Cover 2 DE. He'd be a very good Falcon type, and I think he'd make a good edge rusher, but if we did get him, we'd have to realize that he's going to get bulldozed in the run. He's damned fast though, faster than Flowers.

If we use him correctly, he could be a very very nice weapon for us. I can't imagine the Dolphins would let him slip by though. He's an unbelievable OLB in a 3-4.

[Mecca]

Zuttah is the only OL with good value....

I'm a huge fan of DaJuan Morgan but some people would flip out if we took a safety.

['Hamas' Jenkins]

I think a guy like Philip Wheeler would be a very good fit as a C2 MLB, Dan Connor is too slow, and Jonathan Goff projects best inside in a 3-4.

But we have to find a way to get Reggie Smith. He'd be a special player in our system, and a huge upgrade over Page.

Smith:

Strengths
A smooth natural athlete...Good size and bulk...Very strong...A great leaper..Quick and plays faster than he times...Has fluid hips...Excellent range...Great hands and ball skills...A reliable tackler...Physical and will support the run...Smart with terrific instincts and awareness..Really versatile and can also contribute as a return man.

Weaknesses:
Timed speed's relatively average...Lacks a burst to close...Has to put in some time when it comes to footwork...Can be a little too aggressive...He doesn't have much experience at cornerback....Could struggle to turn and run with pro wide receivers in man coverage....Might be a bit of a 'tweener....Has some minor health concerns.

Notes:
Highly-regarded recruit out of high school...Three-year starter who stepped in and made a instant impact as a true freshman..Played safety in 2005 and 2006 before moving to cornerback as a junior....Broke his big right toe late in the 2007 season which prevented him from working out for teams until early April...Is probably best suited for free safety at the next level but he can certainly play corner in the right situation...One of the most versatile defensive backs in this draft...Definite starter.

[Mecca]

Tavares Gooden has experience inside and projects very well to a cover 2 defense if you are looking for a MLB...

['Hamas' Jenkins]

Tavares Gooden has experience inside and projects very well to a cover 2 defense if you are looking for a MLB...

I like Gooden too, but Wheeler is a little bit bigger with similar athletic ability.

[DaKCMan AP]

The homer in me would love to grab Bubba Caldwell in the 3rd.

[Bowser]

He's worth taking a flyer on. He fell like a rock because Martz f*cked with him at the Senior Bowl. He's not someone who'll compete for the starting job off the bat(mainly because of his lack of mobility and our OLine), but with the amount of talent he has and the lack of QB talent I see in future draft classes, he'd be a very smart pick.

If we're going to take a flyer, I'd just as soon wait until the sixth and take a flyer on Dennis Dixon.

[Deberg_1990]

Id take a flyer on Kevin O Connell in the 3rd. I think he could be a sleeper...

[HolmeZz]

If we're going to take a flyer, I'd just as soon wait until the sixth and take a flyer on Dennis Dixon.

I just don't think Dixon will ever be a decent passer at the next level.

[BigChiefFan]

Oniel Cousins would give us our starting RT with one of the 3rd round picks...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uHeHLy_sT4

[DT Fan]

Please let Doucet fall to us. The idea of reuniting Bowe and Doucet is perfect (and Dorsey, too, I guess).

[Bowser]

I just don't think Dixon will ever be a decent passer at the next level.

Maybe, but he looked pretty good against Michigan last year.

[Mecca]

Id take a flyer on Kevin O Connell in the 3rd. I think he could be a sleeper...

Don't make me smack you..

[rrl308]

and what about Malcom Kelly?

What about him? He's already been drafted.

[CupidStunt]

If we're sticking with LSU, Doucet and Chevis Jackson make some sense.

[Mecca]

If you wanna take "flyers" take god damn DaJuan Morgan, he has ridiculous talent at safety and at very worst will be a pro bowl level special teams ace.

[Deberg_1990]

Don't make me smack you..

Hey, hes a project, but he threw the ball alot, and started alot of games.

[Bowser]

If you wanna take "flyers" take god damn DaJuan Morgan, he has ridiculous talent at safety and at very worst will be a pro bowl level special teams ace.

I'm good with that, because I'm not sold on Pollard or Page at this point.

[Mr. Laz]

[quote=Mecca;4715895]Zuttah is the only OL with good value....



Scouts has Zuttah as a 7th round pick.

how dare Scouts dare question the great and powerful Mecca?!?! :eek:

[Mecca]

[QUOTE=Mecca;4715895]Zuttah is the only OL with good value....



Scouts has Zuttah as a 7th round pick.

Yea that's nuts, I suspect he'll be gone before the 3rd round ends. He has very good athletic numbers and started on a very good Rutgers line that Ray Rice ran behind.

[rrl308]

[quote=rrl308;4716044]

how dare Scouts dare question the great and powerful Mecca?!?! :eek:

I know. I couldn't believe it either.

[Mecca]

Hey, hes a project, but he threw the ball alot, and started alot of games.

Carl......what did I tell you?

I'm just having fun doing that, sorry LOL

[Mecca]

[QUOTE=Laz;4716048]

I know. I couldn't believe it either.

If he lasts till the 7th round I'll cut my balls off and eat them.

[noa]

To the gurus, what are you takes on Carl Nicks?

What about Nicks, Reggie Smith, and Early Doucet?

[rrl308]

Overall: Zuttah played in 31 games (27 starts) in his first three seasons at Rutgers (2004-06). He played every position on the line except center in '04, started at left guard in '05 and started at right tackle in 2006. As a senior in 2007, he started all 13 games at right tackle. Zuttah didn't allow a sack in his last two seasons with the Scarlet Knights. He missed three games in 2005 because of an ankle injury. Zuttah played guard and tackle while at Rutgers but his best chance of making it in the NFL is inside at guard because he isn't athletic or quick enough to make it at tackle. In addition, he is a developmental prospect at guard because he doesn't have ideal weight or lower body strength for the position. As a result, Zuttah projects as a seventh round pick.

[Mecca]

To the gurus, what are you takes on Carl Nicks?

What about Nicks, Reggie Smith, and Early Doucet?

I like Smith and Doucet they'd also be fine picks,Nicks is falling due to character issues.

[Mecca]

One reason I dig Morgan is he has complete swagger for his position he brings complete attitude to his position.

[CosmicPal]

Wow..there are some good players left. I'd be happy if the Chiefs selected any 3 of the following guys from that list:

33 Dan Connor ILB Penn State There's certainly value for this guy. I doubt he's still available for our first pick in the 3rd round.

38 Mario Manningham WR Michigan I doubt he's available as well, but if he is, he'd be a steal here.

48 Jeremy Thompson DE Wake Forest It's quite possible he might be there for us, but we need too much help on the offensive side of the ball. But, I certainly wouldn't be disappointed if we took him.

92 Carl Nicks OT Nebraska The best OT left. I could see us picking him in the 3rd round.

65 Justin King CB Penn St He certainly would make a nice pairing with Flowers for years to come.

53 Early Doucet III WR LSU Hmmm...if we ended up drafting him, which is indeed a possibilty, we'd might have to call ourselves the LSU Chiefs.

62 Craig Stevens TE California
67 Brad Cottam TE Tenn
88 Chris Ellis DE Virginia Tech
90 Earl Bennett WR Vanderbilt

[rrl308]

Hey Mecca! What do you think about A. Collins out of K.U.?

[Mecca]

Hey Mecca! What do you think about A. Collins out of K.U.?

I'm not a huge fan of his.....I think he may be better suited as a guard...I don't think he really stacks up with some of these other guys left.

Maybe end of the 3rd top of the 4th.

[Coogs]

I really think we have to give LJ and Croyle some more weapons. We may or may not have a center as of right now, and Zuttah is projected to be the top center in the draft. Even above Pollack who was already taken. And he is like the 6th or 7th best player left on Kipers board right now.

Doucet we be a great addition as well.

And while we are talking about safties, Branch from UConn is supposed to be a hitting machine that has 4.31 speed. Sort of a bit bigger version of Bob Sanders. Either Branch or Morgan would be great additions as well.

Maybe in the 4th we could get another O-lineman like Grecco or a DE like Ellis.

[Mecca]

I really think we have to give LJ and Croyle some more weapons. We may or may not have a center as of right now, and Zuttah is projected to be the top center in the draft. Even above Pollack who was already taken. And he is like the 6th or 7th best player left on Kipers board right now.

Doucet we be a great addition as well.

And while we are talking about safties, Branch from UConn is supposed to be a hitting machine that has 4.31 speed. Sort of a bit bigger version of Bob Sanders. Either Branch or Morgan would be great additions as well.

Maybe in the 4th we could get another O-lineman like Grecco or a DE like Ellis.

Branch projects to corner I think....

There are a ton of guys this team can take than can come in and play and contribute right away so as long as they don't do something really stupid we'll be fine.

[TrickyNicky]

What about Marcus Howard? A one year wonder who is way too small?

[HemiEd]

There are some excellent players on the board still. It sure doesn't suck having two 3rd round picks. I'd pick another OL guy, and what about Malcom Kelly? I think they still have 3 3rds, right?

EDIT, I see Laz already mentioned it.

[BigChiefFan]

Again, Oniel Cousins would be a STARTER on our team-why get another LT, when we need STARTERS, Cousins is ready to start from day one as a RT. We've got 3 picks in the 3rd round-we are sitting pretty. I like MLBer Dan Connor-he's a headhunter and incrdible value in the 3rd round. We also need to consider a WR.

[CosmicPal]

I really think we have to give LJ and Croyle some more weapons. We may or may not have a center as of right now, and Zuttah is projected to be the top center in the draft. Even above Pollack who was already taken. And he is like the 6th or 7th best player left on Kipers board right now.



Oh, that'd be sweet. Will Zuttah be available with our first 3rd round pick?

[Mecca]

Connor doesn't really fit what we do, he's a 2 down thumper and suspect in coverage...like I said a guy like Gooden or Adibi profile alot better to our team if you want a LB.

This is what I think....

Early Doucet.........one of the safeties Morgan/Smith, I personally like Morgan, then an OL like Zuttah or some of the other guys that have been mentioned.

[Coogs]

Branch projects to corner I think....

There are a ton of guys this team can take than can come in and play and contribute right away so as long as they don't do something really stupid we'll be fine.

Here is what Gosselin had to say about Branch in his top 100 a couple of days ago...

91. Tyvon Branch, S, Connecticut
Branch lined up at cornerback last season. But he's a physical presence (230 career tackles) with speed (4.31 seconds in the 40-yard dash) at the back end, so some NFL teams project him at safety. There's a premium on coverage safeties in the NFL, and Branch would have the speed and skills to match up with the slot receivers. He's a former prep and college sprint champion and also uses his speed on kickoff returns, averaging 28.9 yards in 2007 with two touchdowns. So even if he doesn't start at safety, he can have a rookie impact on special teams.

[BigChiefFan]

Oh, that'd be sweet. Will Zuttah be available with our first 3rd round pick?With Will Svitek and Wade Johnson being signed, I don't think we'll be drafting a center in this draft, at least not early on day two.

[Thig Lyfe]

When is Anthony Collins projected to go? Would he be a good fit here?

Bah, I decided to read the thread after posting this. But I'd still like to see more opinions on him.

[Mecca]

I seriously hope the Chiefs don't not draft someone because of some bum on the roster right now...

Like Donnie Edwards and Nap Harris should have no effect on picking a LB.

[milkman]

I think they still have 3 rds, right?

Yep, still 3 picks in the third.

[Basileus777]

Zuttah was an excellent guard/tackle at Rutgers and was the best player on a very good line. He doesn't have ideal size, but he's very athletic and plays well in space. Plus he can play multiple positions. Calling him a 7th rounder is insanity, he's going to be a 3rd round pick.

[milkman]

Overall: Zuttah played in 31 games (27 starts) in his first three seasons at Rutgers (2004-06). He played every position on the line except center in '04, started at left guard in '05 and started at right tackle in 2006. As a senior in 2007, he started all 13 games at right tackle. Zuttah didn't allow a sack in his last two seasons with the Scarlet Knights. He missed three games in 2005 because of an ankle injury. Zuttah played guard and tackle while at Rutgers but his best chance of making it in the NFL is inside at guard because he isn't athletic or quick enough to make it at tackle. In addition, he is a developmental prospect at guard because he doesn't have ideal weight or lower body strength for the position. As a result, Zuttah projects as a seventh round pick.

Who the hell wrote this?

Zuttah is athletic.

He needs to add strength, and the primary reason he's being looked at for guard or center is his short arms.

[BigChiefFan]

Connor doesn't really fit what we do, he's a 2 down thumper and suspect in coverage...like I said a guy like Gooden or Adibi profile alot better to our team if you want a LB.

This is what I think....

Early Doucet.........one of the safeties Morgan/Smith, I personally like Morgan, then an OL like Zuttah or some of the other guys that have been mentioned.Connor has been in the 4-3,we run the 4-3-he fits. He also has some INTs in his career-I don't think he's the liabilty you pretend he is.
Gooden is a good player, very versatile, but his injury past is too much to risk early in the 3rd, IMO. I like Connor over Gooden player versus player.

[Mecca]

Connor is dropping due to that, he isn't a 3 down LB and what is asked of a MLB in the cover 2 he'd struggle hard..

Dan Connor is a less athletic Pozluszny he needs to end up on a team that lets him play downhill, our defense doesn't let him do that, he's a bad fit.

[Basileus777]

Connor has been in the 4-3,we run the 4-3-he fits. He also has some INTs in his career-I don't think he's the liabilty you pretend he is.

Connor is a MLB, and in our Cover 2 system MLBs need to be able to cover the deep middle of the field. Thats basically Connor's biggest weakness.

[Kylo Ren]

After reading their draft reports these four guys sound good to me:

48 DE Jeremy Thompson Wake Forest
52 WR Andre (Bubba) Caldwell Florida
53 WR Early Doucet III LSU
68 DE Kenny Iwebema Iowa

[Mecca]

I'm the only person with love for Morgan.....you guys do realize that Smith and Morgan are the 3rd and 4th rated safeties in this draft right? Getting one of them is a steal...

[CosmicPal]

Gil Brandt's Best Available for the Third Round

Day One of the draft is a wrap, and 56 of the 63 players selected were among my top 70 players in my Hot 100. That means 14 players among that top 70 are prime targets to be called early Sunday morning when Round 3 begins.
Photos ...
2008 NFL Draft

Here are the 14 players:

Jamaal Charles, RB, Texas

Pat Sims, DT, Auburn

Jeremy Thompson, LB, Wake Forest

Dan Connor, LB, Penn State

Marcus Harrison, DT, Arkansas

Cliff Avril, DE, Purdue

Bryan Kehl, LB, BYU

Justin King, CB, Penn State

Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan

Tyvon Branch, CB, Connecticut

Oniel Cousins, OL, UTEP

Tavares Gooden, LB, Miami (Fla.)

DaJuan Morgan, S, N.C. State

Kevin Smith, RB, Central Florida

[Mecca]

Gil Brandt's Best Available for the Third Round

Day One of the draft is a wrap, and 56 of the 63 players selected were among my top 70 players in my Hot 100. That means 14 players among that top 70 are prime targets to be called early Sunday morning when Round 3 begins.
Photos ...
2008 NFL Draft

Here are the 14 players:

Jamaal Charles, RB, Texas

Pat Sims, DT, Auburn

Jeremy Thompson, LB, Wake Forest

Dan Connor, LB, Penn State

Marcus Harrison, DT, Arkansas

Cliff Avril, DE, Purdue

Bryan Kehl, LB, BYU

Justin King, CB, Penn State

Mario Manningham, WR, Michigan

Tyvon Branch, CB, Connecticut

Oniel Cousins, OL, UTEP

Tavares Gooden, LB, Miami (Fla.)

DaJuan Morgan, S, N.C. State

Kevin Smith, RB, Central Florida

I think Gooden and Morgan there are the best "fits" for us.

[BigChiefFan]

You're off your rocker... he has SIXTEEN INTERCEPTIONS ...

Overview
Overview
Joe Paterno's first perfect season came in 1968, his third year of coaching the Nittany Lions. Ever since, the Penn State coaching staff has produced an incredible number of NFL-quality linebackers who had success at the next level.



From Dennis Onkotz in 1968 to Paul Posluszny in 2006, Penn State boasted 16 linebackers garnering All-American first-team honors, with Onkontz ('68-69), Shane Conlan (1985-86), LaVar Arrington (1998-99) and Posluszny ('05-06) receiving that prestigious honor twice.



At the end of his standout '07 season, Dan Connor became Joe Pa's Sweet 17th.



In addition to his All-American selection, the PSU middle linebacker was the recipient of the Bednarik Award (top defensive player), was a finalist for the Butkus Award and set the school record with 419 career tackles while his 145 tackles in 2007 led the Big Ten Conference and ranked seventh in the nation.



Connor comes from a family of football players. The Crime, Law and Justice major learned from his older brothers and became the third sibling to play in the collegiate ranks. Jim played football at Boston College and Mike played at Lehigh. But even before he stepped on the field at Penn State, Dan Connor earned national attention.



At Strath Haven High School, Connor was a consensus All-American, and the four-year starter was selected the nation's top prep linebacker by Parade. He earned first-team All-American accolades from USA Today, Super Prep and numerous other media outlets. The 2003 Associated Press Big School Player-of-the-Year, Connor was named first-team All-State three times. He also earned All-Region, All-City, All-County and All-League honors.



The captain and MVP of his team, Connor also won the Maxwell Football Club's prestigious Jim Henry Award as the Philadelphia Area Player-of-the-Year and was the Philadelphia Inquirer Southeastern Pennsylvania Player-of-the-Year as a senior. He totaled 4,556 rushing yards and 77 touchdowns during his prep career. Defensively, he made 451 tackles, 18 sacks, 16 interceptions and six fumble recoveries.



As a senior, Connor rushed for 1,807 yards on 251 carries, for a spectacular 7.2-yard average, scoring 28 touchdowns. He was instrumental in Strath Haven winning the 2000 Pennsylvania Class AAA state championship and played in the AAA state title game in 2001 and '02. He played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in 2004 and also lettered in basketball and track, where he participated in the high jump, javelin, discus and shot put.



Connor enrolled at Penn State in 2004, appearing in 10 games while earning four starting assignments.



After lining up at outside linebacker most of the season, the Freshman All-American shifted to middle linebacker for the season's final three games, leading the team in tackles in each of those contests. In 558 plays, he finished second on the team with 85 tackles (50 solo), adding a sack, 4 1/2 stops for losses and an interception.



During the 2005 offseason, Connor was charged with making prank phone calls to a former PSU assistant coach. Joe Paterno suspended the linebacker in August for his involvement in the incident, keeping him out of the lineup for the team's first three games. He started six of the nine contests in which he played, posting 76 tackles (38 solo), 1 1/2 sacks and 5 1/2 stops for losses, to go along with eight quarterback pressures from his right outside linebacker position. He also recovered a fumble that he returned for a score.



In 2006, Connor gained national attention for his exploits on the football field, walking away with All-American and All-Big Ten Conference first-team honors. He combined with fellow All-American Paul Posluszny (116 tackles) to become the first Penn State tandem since Andre Collins (130) and Brian Chizmar (110) in 1989 to record more than 100 tackles in a season.



The right linebacker started all 13 games, participating in 908 snaps. He finished second to Posluszny with 113 tackles (70 solo), adding five sacks, nine stops for losses and three forced fumbles. He also deflected a pair of passes and intercepted two others.



Connor and Posluszny will be forever linked. The two star linebackers squared off against each other in the 2002 PIAA Class AAA championship game. Posluszny, then a senior, led Hopewell High School to a 21-10 victory against Connor's Strath Haven team.



Posluszny later served as Connor's host for his official visit to Penn State. Both broke into the starting lineup as freshmen at Penn State, albeit a year apart. "If you ask me, I'd say Paul's better," Connor said. "If you ask him, he'd probably say the opposite."



Connor joined Posluszny as one of three finalists for the Bednarik Award in 2006, as Connor became the 13th Penn State linebacker to earn first-team All-American honors under Paterno. He was the 77th Penn State player selected a first-team All-American.



Connor moved back inside to middle linebacker as a senior. He finished seventh in the nation in tackles and led the conference with a career-high 145 stops (69 solo). He delivered 6 1/2 sacks with 15 stops for losses and two fumble recoveries. He also picked off a pass and deflected six others. He would record at least 10 tackles in eight contests, giving him 20 games during his career that he reached double digits.



Connor started 36 of 45 games in which he played at Penn State, including 16 contests at middle linebacker. He holds the school's career record with 419 tackles (227 solo), produced 14 sacks for minus-101 yards and 34 stops for losses totaling 141 yards. He recovered three fumbles, returning one 18 yards for a touchdown and had three forced fumbles. He deflected eight passes, gained five yards on four interception returns and registered one safety.


Career Notes
Holds the school record with 419 tackles, topping the previous mark of 372 by Paul Posluszny (2003-06)...That duo joined Greg Buttle (343, 1973-75) and Brian Gelzheiser (315, 1991-94) as the only players in school history to record over 300 tackles in a career...Registered 145 tackles in 2007, the second-best season total in school history, topped only by Greg Buttle (165 in 1974), marking only the fourth time in school history a player posted 140 or more tackles in a season (Buttle had 140 in 1975 and Shawn Mayer made 144 in 2002)...Recorded at least 10 tackles in 20 of the 45 games he played in...His 14 sacks rank eighth in school annals among PSU linebackers (16th overall) and his 34 stops for losses rank sixth among Nittany Lions linebackers (13th overall)...Recorded 18 tackles twice -- in the '07 Ohio State and Temple games -- the second-highest total by a Penn State player in the last 22 seasons (Paul Posluszny posted 22 vs. Northwestern in 2005. The previous high was 21 by Trey Bauer vs. Rutgers in 1985 and the school record is 24 by Greg Buttle vs. West Virginia in 1974 and matched by Bill Banks vs. North Carolina State in 1977).


High School
Attended Strath Haven (Pa.) High School, playing football for head coach Kevin Clancy...Consensus All-American...The four-year starter was selected the nation's top prep line-backer by Parade...Earned first-team All-American notice from USA Today, Super Prep and numerous other media outlets...2003 Associated Press Big School Player-of-the-Year and named first-team All-State three times...Earned All-Region, All-City, All-County and All-League honors...Captain and MVP of his team...Won the Maxwell Football Club's prestigious Jim Henry Award as the Philadelphia Area Player of the Year and was the Philadelphia Inquirer Southeastern Pennsylvania Player of the Year as a senior...Totaled 4,556 rushing yards and 77 touchdowns during his prep career...Defensively, he made 451 tackles, 18 sacks, 16 interceptions and six fumble recoveries...As a senior, Connor rushed for 1,807 yards on 251 carries, for a spectacular 7.2-yard average, scoring 28 touchdowns...Instrumental in Strath Haven winning the 2000 Pennsylvania Class AAA state championship and playing in the AAA state title game in 2001 and '02...Played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in 2004..Lettered in basketball and track, where he participated in the high jump, javelin, discus and shot put.



Copyright NFLDraftScout.com, distributed by The Sports Xchange.

[Coogs]

I'm the only person with love for Morgan.....you guys do realize that Smith and Morgan are the 3rd and 4th rated safeties in this draft right? Getting one of them is a steal...


Have not seen him play. I think this team could use a total stud at saftey. Look at the difference Sanders makes in the cover two for the Colts. I think it would be a great move. Either one of them or Branch as well.

[Mecca]

Um because you get picks doesn't make you good in coverage.....stats and ability.

If Conner could cover he'd have gone high like Poz did, he's not the overally player that Poz is/was.

[Mecca]

Have not seen him play. I think this team could use a total stud at saftey. Look at the difference Sanders makes in the cover two for the Colts. I think it would be a great move. Either one of them or Branch as well.

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/s/dajuanmorgan.html

[Coogs]

http://www.nfldraftcountdown.com/scoutingreports/s/dajuanmorgan.html


Just read it. Back at you on Brnch from the same site...

Tyvon Branch
Height: 5-113/8 | Weight: 204 | 40-Time: 4.31

Official Bio

Strengths:
Has terrific size and bulk...A great athlete....Outstanding timed speed...Tough and physical...Will come up and support the run...A reliable tackler...Smart with a great football IQ...Good instincts and awareness...A respected team leader...Three-year starter with a lot of experience...He should also contribute as a special teams ace.

Weaknesses:
Does not have very good hands or ball skills...Hips aren't fluid and he struggles to transition...May not be a perfect fit for every team...He could be forced to make a position change...Is not a playmaker...Doesn't always play up to his measurables.

Notes:
Also being looked at as a potential safety...As a prep he was named the Gatorade New York State Track Athlete of the Year and won the 2004 National Indoor Track Championship in the 60 meters (6.82)..Was arrested in May of 2005 when he and some teammates shot out a car window with a B.B. gun...Does a much better job in zone coverage than he does in man..Workout Warrior with prototypical triangle numbers..Snuck up on people as a pro prospect but he really is the total package.

[HolmeZz]

I like Morgan quite a bit.

[Mecca]

I know I like Morgans size though.

[HemiEd]

I am sold on the Morgan choice.

[BigChiefFan]

Um because you get picks doesn't make you good in coverage.....:D Okay, Meckie. Sure thing.:doh!:

[DaneMcCloud]

I like Smith and Doucet they'd also be fine picks,Nicks is falling due to character issues.

Great. Let's get Nicks with our final 3rd or early 4th. He'll probably start immediately at RT.

I hope Doucet is our first 3rd round choice. That would be awesome.

And for all of the Croyle fans, it would be put up or shut up with Bowe, Doucet, Gonzales and a healthy LJ.

[suds79]

Great. Let's get Nicks with our final 3rd or early 4th. He'll probably start immediately at RT.


Couldn't agree more. And even if say he bombs at RT, he's got the body to make the transition to Guard.

I'm sure he'll work his way into the lineup being that big and athletic.

[the Talking Can]

i'd like a RT and WR

doucet and Nicks/Cousins......coming out of this draft with bookend tackles would rock

but I hope we just keep taking the best players regardless...safety, RB, DE...whatever...

[BigChiefFan]

There's still some quality players left-this is the year to have so many picks in a rebuilding effort. Just think we could end up with THREE of those players listed or like quality.

[Ultra Peanut]

73 - Early Doucet
76 - Chris Ellis
82 - Jeremy Zuttah
105 - Carl Nicks
140 - Josh Johnson

Let me dream, damnit.

[BigChiefFan]

I really like DE Chris Ellis-He's good at stopping the run and putting pressure on the QB. I think he'll make a team happy.

[Molitoth]

73 - Early Doucet
76 - Chris Ellis
82 - Jeremy Zuttah
105 - Carl Nicks
140 - Josh Johnson

Let me dream, damnit.

I like that a lot

[Mecca]

If you could find a way to get my boy Morgan in there we'd be all set.