Round 1, Pick 3 - Tampa Bay Bucs - Gerald McCoy

Gerald McCoy, DT, Oklahoma

Ht: 6’ 4 1/8” Wt: 295

EMQB’s analysis on the pick:  McCoy brings instant energy to a defense that was lacking playmakers in 2009.  McCoy is the perfect Cover 2 defensive tackle and should dominate as a one gap penetrator.  

Pro Football Weekly’s scouting report: An extremely disruptive, powerful inside penetrator who will make a mark living behind the line of scrimmage in NFL backfields, McCoy is a relentless pass rusher and will keep opposing quarterbacks on edge because of how hard he plays every snap and the consistent pres- sure he produces. Very mature and grounded with a strong on-field leadership presence to rally a defense. Has very little downside and will only continue to get better. Has a Pro Bowl-caliber makeup and is the type of player that is worth considering with the top pick in any given year. A special talent.

NFL projection: Top-five pick.

GM Jr’s scouting report:  McCoy is a junior who is coming out early for the 2010 NFL Draft and while he could have improved as a player had he stayed for his senior season, I do not know if he could improve his draft stock much as he is expected to be a Top 10 Pick despite his inconsistent production.  While his production definitely is not consistent, he is an elite athlete with the playing strength to be a force rushing the passer and making plays vs the run.  His production was tied almost completely to the level of aggressiveness and intensity he played with and he definitely showed the ability to be a completely disruptive and game changing force for the Sooners.  Overall, McCoy is likely to be drafted higher than his college production warrants because of his rare physical talents, but if he does not play with aggressiveness, intensity and better hand use on every snap then he will struggle to become the consistent, elite NFL DT that he should be.  An example of his inconsistent production is that in the games I evaluated he was involved in only 1 play out of every 14.5 snaps, which is a very bad number for an elite DT.  His combination of elite talent and being more of a disruptive force than an actual play0-marker reminds me a lot of former Sooner DT Tommie Harris who has become an elite DT for the Bears. 

Lindy’s Sports scouting report:  It’s reasonable to consider McCoy a bit underrated considering the headlines focused on QB Sam Bradford’s injury and the attention given fellow Big 12 star Ndamukong Suh.  However, teams in the top 5 will be more than happy to select the athletic, high-motor Sooner, who would be the first defensive tackle picked in most drafts. 

Pro Football Weekly 2010 Draft Preview available @ http://www.pfwstore.com/detail.aspx?ID=695

GM Jr. 2010 Draft Guide available @ http://gmjrnfldraft.com/

Lindy’s Sports 2010 Draft Guide available @http://www.lindyssports.com/product.php?cn=332

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Redskins, Please!

Courtesy of UPI.com

Pro Football Talk is reporting that the Redskins are interested in a quarterback with the fourth overall pick.

You can't trust anything that comes out in the media the week before the draft, and I love every bit of it.

Does anybody really believe that the message they want to send to Donovan McNabb is, "Here's the guy who is going to take your job"?  Donovan has been there for two weeks and hasn't even taken a snap with the team.  If the source that let this little gem slip out doesn't have brown eyes.......

The Redskins have so many needs that a report like this becomes laughable.  I understand that teams must "play the game", and perception is - at times - more important than reality.  The Redskins are keeping their options open in hopes of attracting a trade partner who wants to move up and select a quarterback.  They can get in line behind St. Louis, Detroit, and a slew of other teams in the first round.

In my recent mock draft, I have Russell Okung going to the Redskins with the fourth overall pick.  Sam Bradford won't be available, and Jimmy Clausen doesn't hold value at that pick.  There is a chance that Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy could fall to them, or they could prefer Oklahoma tackle Trent Williams.  However, selecting a quarterback would be an unmitigated media disaster.  I don't think Washington has really forgotten all of the craziness that surrounded McNabb when the Eagles selected Kevin Kolb in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft.

In the words of Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, I can sum up this report in one simple phrase:  "Child, please!"






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Browns Equal Greens

The recent story has been about the Browns being interested in trading up to the number one overall pick and selecting Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford. As Flavor Flav once said, "Don't believe the hype."

This is a classic case of the Browns conjuring up interest in their number seven pick. If another team below the Bills first round pick (number nine overall) believes that the Browns want to select a quarterback (at that point Jimmy Clausen), the interested team will have to give the Browns a king's ransom to trade up to Cleveland's selection to grab the last blue chip quarterback.

My personal belief is the Browns would like to trade down from the seventh pick, and use some of their fire power (five picks in the first 92 selections) to possibly move back up and select a second player in the first round. The Browns could have the best draft of any team - if all the pieces fall into place.

As for Bradford, the possibility that any other player will be taken with the first overall pick is over. Thanks to the Browns "sharing" interest in Bradford to the media, quarterback's agent has even more leverage in the negotiations.

The Rams using Gerald McCoy and Ndamukong Suh as negotiation leverage would be disastrous. The media has hammered home the idea of St. Louis selecting Bradford for so long that perception would be that selecting one of the defensive tackles would be settling. Given the Rams quarterback situation that isn't a stretch. Expect Bradford's guaranteed money to be around $45 million.

The week before the draft is filled with misleading stories. I enjoy reading every single one of them.




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On The Marc

A series of roster moves have, in my mind's eye, solidified the top four picks in the NFL Draft later this month.


It started with the trade for Donovan McNabb yesterday that ended all talk of the Redskins selecting a quarterback at the fourth pick.


The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have been widely reported as coveting one of the top two defensive tackles in the draft - Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy.


The Detroit Lions acquired a left guard in Rob Sims, earlier today, solidifing the left side of their offensive line. In separate news, the rumored trade that would send DT Anthony Hargrove from the Saints to the Lions has apparently fallen through.


Then the most telling sign of the day:  the Rams have released starting QB Marc Bulger. 

I'm merely speculating, but if Washington got wind that they had no shot at drafting Bradford, and did not want to pay the price to move up to the top selection, that might have set in motion the McNabb trade. With the Rams losing what seemed to be their only reasonable trade partner in the Redskins and coveting Sam Bradford, it makes sense to release Bulger today.


So here it is: the first four picks in the draft have been set in stone. The Rams, having no starting quarterback, will select Sam Bradford with the first pick. The Lions have solidified the offensive line and still need a defensive lineman. They will select Ndamukong Suh. The Buccaneers will be thrilled that Gerald McCoy is still available and select him at the number three position. Lastly, the Redskins, no longer needing a quarterback will select offensive tackle Russell Okung.


Trust me. My predictions never fail. When I give my word on the NFL, it's as solid as oak.



 


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Loaded Colt

Two days ago Sam Bradford had a praised workout that led to rampant specualation, including on my part, that Bradford would be the number one overall selection in this year's NFL Draft.

Today the Rams announced that they would be privately working out former Texas quarterback Colt McCoy. Since McCoy is widely considered a second round prospect, this would send the message that they would consider selecting McCoy with the 33rd overall pick next month.

It also sends the message to Sam Bradford's agent that the Rams could still select Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy with the first overall pick.

The fact is the Rams are going to start negotiating a contract with Sam Bradford. If they can dangle the "we can draft Suh and Colt McCoy instead of you" scenario in front of Bradford's agent, they possibly could get Bradford to sign a more "club friendly" deal before the draft.

Just remember this about draft time: where there is smoke, there is more smoke.  I doubt McCoy's private workout has much of an impact on who is drafted where, but this move solidifies my opinion that the Rams are going to draft Bradford.






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The Real McCoy?

Pro Football Weekly recently joined Mike Mayock and Charley Casserly, two NFL Network draft “gurus” who are often maligned or celebrated in ranking DT Gerald McCoy ahead of the de facto best overall player DT Ndamukong Suh. I happen to respect all three sources, because they make their assumptions off their own observations and not because they think the draft is a popularity contest.

The fact that PFW added that they believed McCoy was “a special talent” and did not bestow the same observation on Suh was suprising. They also added that Suh has an “inability to unlock and use the power in his hips.” Ouch.

This all begs the question. Could we see McCoy selected ahead of Suh? Two months ago, I would have been taken out and executed by firing squad for even thinking it. I can't wait for April 22nd.

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Tim Tebowitis

I have noticed that the majority of comments from users about Tim Tebow on blogs and forums (where public opinion is really formed) are negative. With this draft lacking a healthy or participating skill player near the top, Tebow has become its focus and that has caused some backlash (or Cushlash if that is more appropriate).

From my prospective, Tim Tebow’s wide ranging draft stock, views on faith, and undeniable leadership and character is giving this draft what it needs:  a story that brings in extreme viewpoints. Few people will sit around and debate the pedigree or selection of Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy. What they will do is discuss Tim Tebow regardless of where he is selected in the NFL draft.

When you have a person who is a quarterback, religious figure, and an anointed head figure rolled up into one , the media has a gold mine. It’s like having Brett Favre, the Pope, and George W. Bush rolled up into one. Make no mistake, Tim Tebow will continue to use this media coverage to get his viewpoints across and the media will continue to eat it up until the real season kicks off.

So love them or hate them, figures like Tim Tebow will dominate the big time football media as long as we continue to love them or hate them.

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