2006 DRAFT updated

[ICON]

http://football.about.com/cs/nfldraf...ockdraft_3.htm

[ICON]

Negatives:
Unfortunately for Holmes, he is not close to being complete. He is hurt by poor quarterbacking play but doesn't help by not running very crisp routes.

Disappears at times, mostly in big games

. He is somewhat careless about protecting the football and will put the ball on the ground at times. Has had only three 100-yard games in his career. Not a productive wideout. He won't win a lot of jump balls because of his size. Needs to work on his focus.

[ICON]

I'd like Marcedes lewis alot better then homez.

Position: Tight End
School: UCLA

Status: Senior

Height: 6-6

Weight: 255

40-Yard Dash: 4.78 (EST)


Positives:
Lewis has incredible athleticism for his size and excellent body control. His size makes him a great downfield target, especially with his ability to go up and get a ball. Lewis has the ability to line up in the slot as a wide receiver. He has probably the best hands of any tight end in the nation, rarely dropping a ball that comes his way. Also, he seems to be a very coachable player. Marcedes Lewis is very possibly the most well-rounded member of his position in the upcoming draft

[elpasojoe]

Excellent points concerning Lewis and my vote goes for him instead of Holmes. Lewis I believe will be gone in the Top 15. I might be leaning towards Darnell Bing, USC safety for 1A and
1. Tight End (Leonard Pope or Vernon Davis);
2. Defensive Tackle (Orion Harris, Miami); or
3. Greg Eslinger, Center, Minnesota with the 1B pick

A good defensive tackle could be had in round two, and Safety Pat Watkins could also be had in Round Two, as will a couple of wide outs who will fall through the cracks. Just like last years, I fully expect some great talent to last into the third and fourth rounds, where we have two picks eack. This could absolutely be a great draft year for us.

[Elway 4 Life]

Originally Posted by elpasojoe

Excellent points concerning Lewis and my vote goes for him instead of Holmes. Lewis I believe will be gone in the Top 15. I might be leaning towards Darnell Bing, USC safety for 1A and
1. Tight End (Leonard Pope or Vernon Davis);
2. Defensive Tackle (Orion Harris, Miami); or
3. Greg Eslinger, Center, Minnesota with the 1B pick

A good defensive tackle could be had in round two, and Safety Pat Watkins could also be had in Round Two, as will a couple of wide outs who will fall through the cracks. Just like last years, I fully expect some great talent to last into the third and fourth rounds, where we have two picks eack. This could absolutely be a great draft year for us.

Bing is weak in pass coverage and is very injury prone. Huff is a much better prospect at safety. Huff has great cover skills. He has played both CB and SS. I'm not sold on bing. I would like to get Huff and either Lewis or Hagan.

[ICON]

Originally Posted by elpasojoe

Excellent points concerning Lewis and my vote goes for him instead of Holmes. Lewis I believe will be gone in the Top 15. I might be leaning towards Darnell Bing, USC safety for 1A and
1. Tight End (Leonard Pope or Vernon Davis);
2. Defensive Tackle (Orion Harris, Miami); or
3. Greg Eslinger, Center, Minnesota with the 1B pick

A good defensive tackle could be had in round two, and Safety Pat Watkins could also be had in Round Two, as will a couple of wide outs who will fall through the cracks. Just like last years, I fully expect some great talent to last into the third and fourth rounds, where we have two picks eack. This could absolutely be a great draft year for us.

Vernon Davis HAS THE MOST UP SIDE.

[Elway 4 Life]

I still would like Huff at SS and a good solid WR threat. These are our weak areas in my eyes.

[Billy Clyde Puckett]

Originally Posted by ICON

Vernon Davis HAS THE MOST UP SIDE.

I think Pope has the better future, but both are juniors and I would be surprised if they come out this year

[Hercules Rockefeller]

TE ain't gonna be one of the 1st round picks this year guys. That was sealed when Shanny put Duke back on the active roster to prevent someone from pilfering him from the PS. Putzier, Alexander, Jackson, and Duke are going to be fighting it out again next year in camp, they're not going to add a 1st round pick to that equation.

[bananasplit_13]

The best safety prospect is Laron Landry of LSU. He plays the run well, has shown a propensity for getting to the QB when asked to blitz, and is the most polished in pass coverage. Huff excels at making big plays though, and this could push him ahead. Bing is a true SS. Great playing the run, worst of the three in coverage.

[ND Bronco Fan]

Originally Posted by elpasojoe

Excellent points concerning Lewis and my vote goes for him instead of Holmes. Lewis I believe will be gone in the Top 15. I might be leaning towards Darnell Bing, USC safety for 1A and
1. Tight End (Leonard Pope or Vernon Davis);
2. Defensive Tackle (Orion Harris, Miami); or
3. Greg Eslinger, Center, Minnesota with the 1B pick

A good defensive tackle could be had in round two, and Safety Pat Watkins could also be had in Round Two, as will a couple of wide outs who will fall through the cracks. Just like last years, I fully expect some great talent to last into the third and fourth rounds, where we have two picks eack. This could absolutely be a great draft year for us.

Alright, someone else is on to the Eslinger pick I have been wanting as well, wonder if 1B is a little early though?

[SpringStein]

Originally Posted by ND Bronco Fan

Alright, someone else is on to the Eslinger pick I have been wanting as well, wonder if 1B is a little early though?

It's probably 1b or not at all. Doubt he will be there at our 2.

[longtimer]

The last thing I want to see is any pick that is not a to OT or DT in the with the first pick in the draft. If a OT like Marcus McNeal is still on the board I would be pissed if we took a skilled player. Games are won by winning the battle at the kine of scrimage,

OT McNeil, Marcus 73 6083 337 5.12/5.23 0 1.40

Positives:
Marcus McNeil is a colossal tackle with a punishing style of play, and he is more willing to lay his man out than contain him. Even if someone manages to survive the first contact on his feet, McNeil has the ability to hold them at bay with his massively long arms. He is quite possibly the best run blocker in the upcoming draft.

Negatives:
McNeil occasionally has trouble against speed rushers that avoid his first shot, and has shown problems against the spin move because of footwork that needs improvement. He's far from a liability in pass protection, but it's definitely not his strong suit.

Overview:
Marcus was coveted by NFL scouts in his junior year, and very likely would have been a high first-round pick if he had entered the draft. He was named to the first-team All-SEC squad by several media outlets.

With the sencond first round pick the following DT's would help our D get to the next level.

1. Haloti Ngata Oregon 6-5 338

Haloti Ngata has always been one of the most imposing figures you’ll see on a football field. He was widely regarded as one of the top five players in the entire country coming out of high school. He gave glimpses of his talent as a freshman, but missed the entire following year due to a knee injury. Ngata didn’t regain his previous form until halfway through last year at Oregon.

You cannot dream up a more physically gifted defensive tackle. Ngata is absolutely massive and is immovable from the interior line. He combines his bulk with amazing physical strength. Along with his great size and strength, he has impressive athleticism and agility. Moving up the field, he shows the ability to change direction well and has the closing speed to finish off plays. Oregon even drops him into coverage from his tackle spot. That is unheard of for a 340lber. He must be accounted for at all times. Teams routinely double and triple team him to neutralize his impact.

Ngata has gotten a ton of hype because of his physical gifts, but he still needs some more consistency on the field. At times, he thinks his raw strength is enough to dominate, and that will not work at the next level. He injured his knee in 2003, and even though he appears to be back at full strength, it will be something that is looked into.

On his talent alone, Ngata is going to be a high draft pick. Teams will drool over his physical ability in workouts. Whether he leaves this year or stays for his final season then enters the league, he is going to impress on the post season circuit.


2. Rodrique Wright Texas 6-5 305

Positives:
When you watch Rodrique play, you'll notice he is often the first player off the ball. Combine that with his good speed for a 330 pound lineman, and you have many sacks and tackles for loss. He's also a very strong player, which allows him to push linemen into the backfield. Wright can also drop back and cover a small zone once in awhile, and his good jumping ability allows him to knock down some passes. He also takes up a lot of space, and draws double teams due to this fact.

Negatives:
Once in awhile, he'll take a play off. While it rarely occurs, if he continues to do this at the pro level, he won't be the player he's capable of being. He will also occasionally be over aggressive, and overrun a play, or get a costly penalty at a crucial point in the game.

Overview:
Just like when he was entering college, Wright will be the top DT prospect available. He should definitely be a top-10 pick. His size, speed, and strength make him a constant threat to get into the backfield. And he has proven he can play very well against top offensive linemen.

It will more then likely take him a couple of years to adjust to the speed of the NFL game. But he will quickly learn that he can't over-pursue plays and still have positive results like he did on occasion in college. With the right coaching and a better work ethic, he could be one of the better DTs in the game.
3. Gabe Watson Michigan 6-4 331

Positives:
When most people look at defensive lineman, they look for sacks. Watson isn't that kind of player. He is a run stopper. At 6'4 and 335 pounds, he is a whale of a man who stuffs the interior of the line. His big body is hard to get around and creates big problems for smaller guards and centers.

Watson constantly attracts double teams, which helps the players around him. He's one of the strongest tackles in the country. A 3-year (soon to be 4-year) letter winner at Michigan. Played against big-time competition and great offensive lines in the Big Ten (Iowa and OSU). Won't cause problems off the field.

Negatives:
Watson is not very fast or agile. He won't get up field quickly, and recorded just 1.5 sacks in his career. He has started only 11 games at Michigan prior to the '05 season even though he wasn't redshirted. Needs some polish and to make better reads on plays. As of right now he more of a two gap tackle. Could be a one gap if he sheds a few pounds.

Overview:
With more teams switching to a 3-4 defense I could really see him going top ten in April. A team like the Browns could really use him in their defense. He is stronger than Rodrique Wright but not as agile. Watson is most comparable to Casey Hampton.

[SpringStein]

On the other hand, I'd be really dissapointed with taking McNeal. He is slow, not athletic - a very un-Bronco like offensive lineman. I'm all for an OL or DL, but give me a Jon Scott or an Eslinger at 1b and I'd be content.

[bananasplit_13]

Originally Posted by SpringStein

On the other hand, I'd be really dissapointed with taking McNeal. He is slow, not athletic - a very un-Bronco like offensive lineman. I'm all for an OL or DL, but give me a Jon Scott or an Eslinger at 1b and I'd be content.

As of right now, all three of those players (McNeil, Scott and Eslinger) are looking like 2nd round picks. The combine may dictate otherwise, but based purely on their play, none of them warrant a first rounder.

[SpringStein]

Originally Posted by bananasplit_13

The best safety prospect is Laron Landry of LSU. He plays the run well, has shown a propensity for getting to the QB when asked to blitz, and is the most polished in pass coverage. Huff excels at making big plays though, and this could push him ahead. Bing is a true SS. Great playing the run, worst of the three in coverage.

Obviously we may disagree on some of the prospects. And that's fine. I'd take Huff and Bing way before Landry, but that's just my opinion.

If Scott goes round 2, someone will have the biggest steal of this year's draft.

[longtimer]

Originally Posted by bananasplit_13

As of right now, all three of those players (McNeil, Scott and Eslinger) are looking like 2nd round picks. The combine may dictate otherwise, but based purely on their play, none of them warrant a first rounder.

So was Foster the year we took him in the first round. McNeil would be great on the right side of the line and Foster would be moved to the left. I do not think that Lepsis will be back after this year. McNeils issue is he needs to work on his foot work. It is not that he lacks agility, If OT does not use the proper techneque he is going to look slow. Every thing I have read on him says that he is very athletic but he just needs work to work on foot work.

Negatives:
McNeil occasionally has trouble against speed rushers that avoid his first shot, and has shown problems against the spin move because of footwork that needs improvement. He's far from a liability in pass protection, but it's definitely not his strong suit.

Sunquist has said he sees Foster as the a LT of the future.

[bananasplit_13]

Originally Posted by SpringStein

Obviously we may disagree on some of the prospects. And that's fine. I'd take Huff and Bing way before Landry, but that's just my opinion.

If Scott goes round 2, someone will have the biggest steal of this year's draft.

Don't get me wrong, there are definitely aspects the other two S prospects possess that I would love to have, and I would take any one of the three players. Huff and Bing definitely have noses for the ball, but Bing's injuries worry me, and Huff has been juggled between CB and S (which may prove to be a strong point, but could also mean that he is not fully comfortable at either). Landry has been the most consistent in my eyes, and playing in our secondary could be a serious force.

[bananasplit_13]

Originally Posted by longtimer

So was Foster the year we took him in the first round. McNeil would be great on the right side of the line and Foster would be moved to the left. I do not think that Lepsis will be back after this year. McNeils issue is he needs to work on his foot work. It is not that he lacks agility, If OT does not use the proper techneque he is going to look slow. Every thing I have read on him says that he is very athletic but he just needs work to work on foot work.

Negatives:
McNeil occasionally has trouble against speed rushers that avoid his first shot, and has shown problems against the spin move because of footwork that needs improvement. He's far from a liability in pass protection, but it's definitely not his strong suit.

Sunquist has said he sees Foster as the a LT of the future.

McNeil is about as good a prospect as you could ever want based purely on his measurables. But from what I've seen of him this year compared to last, his blocking has definitely taken a step back. He doesn't seem to have the same edge or hunger to finish his blocks that I saw of him last year blocking for Ronnie Brown and Cadillac. He's looked lazy out on the field. He, in my eyes, would be a project, and the first round is far too high, even given his measurables, to draft a project at Tackle.

[longtimer]

Originally Posted by bananasplit_13

McNeil is about as good a prospect as you could ever want based purely on his measurables. But from what I've seen of him this year compared to last, his blocking has definitely taken a step back. He doesn't seem to have the same edge or hunger to finish his blocks that I saw of him last year blocking for Ronnie Brown and Cadillac. He's looked lazy out on the field. He, in my eyes, would be a project, and the first round is far too high, even given his measurables, to draft a project at Tackle.

-

The reasons you state would be why denver could have chance to draft him. Like Foster who had an injuried wrist which is why he fell to denver the year we drafted him, McNeils lack of crispness in his blocks will be the reason he could fall to Denver. I would take my chances on what the culture the Broncos have when it comes to work ethic to help McNeil play to his talent level. Just look at what it did for player like Warren. Remember you can not teach Size and Athletic ability but you can coach techneque and work ethic. From what you said McNeil seems to play at his best when blocking for an outstanding running back. The broncos have a history of having outstanding running backs.