QB - John Beck, BYU: Due to an LDS Mission served while at BYU, Beck is going to be 26 years old by the time he puts on an NFL uniform. Because of this fact, I don't expect him to get legitimate consideration from NFL teams until the third round. It will probably be a full round later before he's actually drafted.
At that point, however, I believe he'll prove to be one of the steals of the draft. I feel that the two most important characteristics for a quarterback are not size and arm strength, but leadership and accuracy. These are two of Beck's greatest attributes. His size, arm strength, and mobility are all better than advertised. If I have a top 5 pick in this draft with Russell and/or Quinn on the board, I draft another position and target Beck in the middle rounds.
Tony Hunt, Penn State: I don't care what Hunt ran the forty in. I don't care that for every Larry Johnson or Curt Warner, there is a Ki-Jana Carter or Curtis Enis. Tony Hunt is the top interior runner in this draft. If placed in a system that uses him correctly, either as a starter or valuable short yardage option, Hunt will prove to be one of the more effective backs from the 2007 draft.
Cory Anderson, Tennessee: The knock on Anderson is that he is more sledgehammer than Swiss Army knife. He has the lead blocking skills required from the traditional fullback role, but when given the chance at the Inta-Juice North South Classic to show his receiving and running skills, Anderson flashed the soft hands and natural running skills to develop into a true multi-purpose fullback. There are better lead blockers, runners, or receivers among this class of fullbacks. There isn't one who is a better combination of the three than Cory Anderson.
Sidney Rice, South Carolina: I'm admittedly higher on Rice than most. While he is faster on the field that some give him credit, he lacks game-breaking ability and he doesn't have great quickness. I am concerned about how well he'll be able to gain separation against quality corners. I'm also concerned that Rice doesn't use his 6-4 frame and 39.5" vertical to his advantage aggressively enough when competing for jump balls. That said, Rice has very good body control for such a big receiver and, in my opinion, the top hands of any receiver in this draft, including Calvin Johnson, my top rated prospect overall. For the reasons mentioned earlier, I'm not willing to proclaim Rice as a future star in the NFL. I do, however, feel he can quickly develop into one of the game's most effective goal-line targets.
Jacoby Jones, Lane: I'll admit it. I had never seen Jacoby Jones play previous to scouting him in person at the East-West Shrine Game practices. In nearly ten years of scouting all-star games, however, few players have made such an immediate impression upon me as Jones did during that week of practice. After lettering in both track and basketball at Lane, as well as football in 2004 and 2005, Jones focused solely on improving his play on the gridiron this past season. I made locating some Lane film a priority, and I saw the athlete on tape that I had watched in person in Houston. It certainly wasn't hard to find Jones on film. The extra focus on football paid off. The 6-3, 210 pound receiver finished with 2,089 all-purpose yards, earning SIAC MVP and Offensive Player of the Year honors.
Kevin Boss, Western Oregon: If it weren't for a shoulder injury that limited his senior season to only six games and held him out of any all-star games, I am convinced that Boss would have been the first senior tight drafted this year. He still might. Boss has to develop more strength and use his hands better when blocking, but at nearly 6-7 and 252 pounds he has the size to work with. There isn't a better receiving tight end in the draft. Boss lacks the elite speed of a Greg Olsen, and his injury and small school status will cause some hesitation among clubs, but few prospects pop off film like Boss. He's among my top rated small school prospects, regardless of position.
Mike Otto, Purdue: All Otto did at Purdue was start a school record 50 games and earn recognition as among the best blockers in the entire country throughout his career. That said, when you play in the same conference as Joe Thomas and Levi Brown, it is hard to get the national acclaim. Otto isn't flashy, but he does have the athleticism to potentially remain on the left side and certainly has the size at 6-6, 308 pounds and technique to play early on. The major knock on Otto is a lack of strength. It is the same knock of former Boilermaker Matt Light, before he became a rock at left tackle for the Patriots.
James Marten, Boston College: There may not be a program in the country that more consistently produces quality offensive linemen than Boston College. Marten, along with (guard/center prospect Josh Beekman) continue this tradition in 2007. A career left guard until he was asked to move to the all-important left tackle position as a senior, Marten will almost surely be moved across to right tackle in the NFL. Though Marten allowed only 1.5 sacks in his only season at left tackle, he lacks great footwork and balance.
Used at right tackle at the Senior Bowl, Marten showed a strong hand punch and the physicality teams want on the right side. A typical draft class has only a couple of legitimate left tackle prospects, but there are usually half a dozen prospects viewed as capable of playing on the right side. Depth and talent among right tackle prospects is a weakness of the 2007 crop, with Marten appearing as sure a thing as there is for this specific role.
Arron Sears, Tennessee: Sears might be the most versatile offensive lineman in this draft and for that reason alone he deserves a spot on Rang's Gang. A veteran of 37 starts for the Vols, Sears' earned time at left tackle (26), right tackle (6), left guard (1), and right guard (5) throughout his career. He may lack the size (6-3, 319) and quick kick slide to remain at left tackle, as he did throughout his senior campaign, but he could be a standout guard early in his NFL career. There are few in this draft with a better combination of straight-ahead blocking in the running game and the devastating hand punch to control his man as a pass blocker.
Manuel Ramirez, Texas Tech: A four year starter for the Red Raiders at right guard, Ramirez isn't your typical Texas Tech offensive lineman. With head coach Mike Leach's preference for the passing game, scouts have come to view Tech as a hot bed for quick-footed pass blockers. While Ramirez is surprisingly nimble for a player of his dimensions (6-3, 326), his best asset might be his pure power. The school record holder with a 550 pound bench press, Ramirez seems better suited to a straight-ahead run blocking unit than the pass-happy Texas Tech squad with which he played his collegiate ball. Ramirez tied with Texas offensive guard prospect, Justin Blalock, with a Combine-leading 40 reps of 225 pounds this year.
Enoka Lucas, Oregon: Interior linemen, especially centers, tend to drop a bit come draft day. While this certainly won't make Lucas (or his agent) happy, it will almost surely lead to some NFL team finding itself a considerable steal on the draft's second day. Lucas is the prototypical center -- short, squatty, fiery, and a leader. The 6-3, 305 pound Lucas is the school record holder with a 455 pound bench press and though this strength translates well onto the field, Lucas' technique and leverage are the assets that make him most effective in the pivot. A two-time team captain, Lucas has the look of a player who scrapes out a decade-long NFL career.
Daymeion Hughes, California: I entered the 2006 season not particularly high on Hughes. I saw him as a slow corner able to feast on the heavy passing attack of the Pac-10 and unlikely to be able to make the transition to the NFL. Now, despite evidence that my initial conclusions are correct, I can't help but list the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year on my team. Hughes lacks prototype speed for the position. After times ranging from the mid 4.5s to mid 4.7s at both his Pro Day and the Combine, there is simply no denying this fact. That said, Hughes will be able to get away with his relative lack of speed in the NFL for several reasons.
One, teams that require great speed at cornerback aren't going to take him. He'll almost surely be drafted by a team that operates in a Tampa Two or similar alignment which will protect Hughes with safety play over the top. Secondly, Hughes has very good quickness and the best instincts of any cornerback in this draft. Finally, Hughes has the good hands to make the interception when the opportunity presents itself. Expect Hughes to go somewhere in the late second to third round. Give him 3-4 years. If placed in a scheme that suits his talents, you'll see his name among the league leaders in interceptions -- and most likely wearing a Pro Bowl jersey.
Jonathan Wade, Tennessee: Generally speaking, the players on Rang's Gang tend to high effort players with some questions about their overall athleticism. In Tennessee's Jonathan Wade, I take the opposite approach. Wade is as athletically gifted as any cornerback in this class. His 4.36 forty, 40.5" vertical, and 10'6" broad jump are among the elite numbers produced by any prospect tested at the Combine. Wade is precisely the type of athlete-first, football player-second prospect I generally stay away from. So why am I so high on Wade? In a word, upside. Wade's first four years at Tennessee he spent focusing on the track team during the spring. While his track coaches certainly appreciated his help (Wade was a key member of 2 of the 3 fastest 4x100 meter relay teams in UT history), Wade struggled to improve on the gridiron.
It didn't make things any easier that Wade, recruited as a wide receiver, was asked to make the transition to cornerback after two seasons with the program. Electing to focus on football in the spring of 2006 rather than track (as he had every other year at Tennessee), Wade made significant improvement in his recognition and the physical nature of the game. He still needs to develop in this area, especially when it comes to diagnosing and supporting the run. However, as a pass defender, Wade made huge gains as a senior. In his first season as the fulltime starter, Wade earned Second Team SEC honors, giving up only 2 touchdown receptions despite being pitted against some of the elite receivers in all of college football. Wade's impressive senior season extended into the off-season, as he stood out in Mobile, as well. Wade very much reminds me of Ken Lucas, another former SEC wide receiver turned cornerback, who has gone on to enjoy a strong career in the NFL with the Seahawks and Panthers, respectively.
Ikaika Alama-Francis, Hawaii: June Jones and Jerry Glanville, Alama-Francis' head coach and defensive coordinator, respectively, characterize the 6-5, 280 pounder as the best end they've ever coached -- at the collegiate or NFL level. I see Alama-Francis as not only an intriguing prospect worthy of a second round pick, but one who could enjoy a significant rise late, perhaps enough to even make the end of the first. I haven't scouted many prospects that have generated more buzz entering April than Alama-Francis. It is easy to understand why.
How can you not get excited about a prospect that developed into an all-conference player after never playing football until he reached college? Alama-Francis doesn't have the burst off the edge to ever be a dominant pass rusher, but his strength at the point of attack makes him a nice fit as a 3-4 defensive end (as he played at Hawaii) or perhaps even as a 4-3 defensive tackle. Certainly teams are intrigued by his athleticism, as several teams are grading him as an outside linebacker, and a few like him as a tight end.
Quinn Pitcock, Ohio State: By racking up a career high 8 sacks as a senior, some incorrectly classified Pitcock as a significant playmaker and potential first round choice. Unfortunately, this simply isn't Pitcock -- which isn't to say I'm not high on his ability. Pitcock is a blue collar, run-stuffing defensive tackle that will generate some interior pass rush at the next level, but it will be the result of his determination, technique, and strength, rather than rare explosiveness or dominant size. Therefore, the former Buckeye isn’t going to develop into a flashy Pro Bowl caliber performer, but his consistency and leadership should make him a significant contributor, nonetheless.
Derek Landri, Notre Dame: In Pitcock and Landri, I may have the most productive pass rushing tandem of defensive tackles in the draft. Whereas Pitcock is a limited pass rusher whose actual specialty is stuffing the run, Landri is quite effective in collapsing the pocket from his interior position. Landri has legitimate burst off the snap, and despite his short arms, he possesses good strength and hand use to disengage. Landi makes the most of his mediocre athleticism because of instincts and non-stop motor. Again, he isn't a star in the making, but his ability to provide an interior pass rush will make him a valuable rotational defender.
Anthony Spencer, Purdue: There are enough teams as high on Spencer as I am that he could break my singular rule of eligibility for Rang's Gang and find himself drafted in the first round. If that is the case, Spencer will simply have to be an exception to the rule, as I just can't create a team of my favorites without having him on it. There are more talented pass rushers in this draft. Bigger, stronger, faster athletes who have higher upsides. I don’t know that there is a more consistently productive pass rusher, however. It is easy to get caught up in statistics -- but when you post the kind of numbers Spencer did as a senior, there is some validity to them.
Spencer finished with 26.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage in 2006, the second highest total in the country last year and the fifth highest in Big Ten history. Certainly the fact that Spencer accumulated only 7.5 tackles for loss as a junior is a redflag. However, as important as tackles for loss and sacks are, the number I always look to in grading pass rushers' explosiveness is forced fumbles. Spencer, with 11 forced fumbles over the past three seasons - including 5 as a senior - speaks to his closing speed. In scouting him, I'm consistently impressed with Spencer's burst off the edge, lateral quickness, and especially his use of hands. For this reason, I remain convinced that Spencer, even with marginal 40 times (4.70), can be effective not only as a 4-3 defensive end, but as a 3-4 pass rusher, as well.
Sam Olajubutu, Arkansas: At a shade under 5-9, it is easy to see why Olajubutu won't hear his name called early on draft day weekend. That said, despite being short, the 227 pound Olajubutu is a legitimate prospect. Fans of SEC football certainly know what he can do. There may not have been a more dominant linebacker in the conference over the past two seasons -- and remember Patrick Willis lined up at Ole Miss. Voted First Team All-SEC each of the past two seasons from his weakside linebacker position, Olajubutu was able to dominate in a conference blessed with spectacular size and athleticism.
He averaged 116.5 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks over the past two years and was a 40 game starter for the Razorbacks. While his height is an obvious concern, it also helps in some areas. Certainly offensive linemen asked to block a moving Olajubutu will find it difficult to sweep him off his feet due to his low center of gravity and excellent lateral agility. Furthermore, there may not be a linebacker in this draft with finer cognitive skills. Some will try to move Olajubutu to strong safety and his 4.61 forty during his Pro Day provides proof that he has the speed to handle such a move. Regardless of where he lines up, Olajubutu is going to surprise at the next level. Simply put, if this kid were 2-3 inches taller, he'd be a 1st or 2nd round pick.
Stewart Bradley, Nebraska: At 6-4, 254 pounds Bradley is the biggest of the top rated outside linebackers and yet his speed is on par, as well. Size and speed are not the only aspects that intrigue me about Bradley, however. His play on the field, of course, is of far greater importance. It is in this area that I rank Bradley among the better, more versatile OLBs in this draft. With his size, strength, and instincts Bradley is a force against the run. He fights through blocks well and is more fluid that you'd expect for a linebacker of his size when in pursuit.
Also, though he wasn't often used as a true edge rusher by Nebraska (only 1 sack in 2006) Bradley has the prerequisite skills to quite effective in this area. With his size, burst, and instincts I feel he can further develop as a rusher, especially if used in a 3-4 alignment. Perhaps the area that intrigues me most is Bradley's agility in coverage. Certainly for a player of his size, expectations in pass defense are limited and this area is often referred to as Bradley's weakness. During the Senior Bowl practices, however, I was pleasantly surprised with the fluidity with which Bradley moved, especially considering that he missed the second half of his junior season with a torn ACL in his left knee.
H.B. Blades, Pittsburgh: There are plenty of knocks on Blades. At 5-11, 236 pounds, he certainly lacks the size scouts want. Blades also lacks the prototype speed for the position and his short arms make it difficult for him to disengage from blocks. That said, Blades reads the action well, avoids blocks nicely, and is among the class' most explosive hitters. Blades' ability to generate explosion in his tackles has led to gaudy numbers.
The Panthers leader in tackles each of the past three seasons, Blades' production grew as he gained experience. In 2004, Blades finished with 108 tackles. In 2005, he finished with 121. This past season, he not only led the team and conference, but finished fourth in the entire country with 146. Like his father, Bennie, and uncles Brian, and Al, each of whom played in the NFL, H.B. not only has the physical tools to be successful at the pro level, he has the intensity.
Brandon Meriweather, Miami: Based on his play, Meriweather is an easy first round pick and thus, ineligible for this list. Two ugly off-field incidents may scare off teams enough that he falls out of the top 32, however. I generally avoid character concerns. No other player on this list has been red-flagged. When I looked into Meriweather's eyes at the Combine as he answered questions about his role in the Florida International melee, I believed his regret.
I believe he is a player who made mistakes, has learned from them, and is the leader who was voted defensive team captain as a senior and who was the only player involved in the melee to publicly apologize for his role. Though 5-11, 195 pounds, Meriweather hits like a linebacker and covers like a cornerback. His play stood out amongst the best in country at the Senior Bowl. The last safety I was this impressed with during Senior Bowl practices was Colts star Bob Sanders. Let me put it this way - there are only a handful of players, regardless of position or ranking, in this entire draft who I feel rank with Meriweather as sure things. This kid is going to be a star.
Eric Weddle, Utah: Readers may have noted by now that many of the prospects on Rang's Gang offer a great deal of versatility. Of course, there isn't a player in this draft more versatile than Weddle. All he did was start 45 times for Utah, with 9 coming at right cornerback, 12 at left cornerback, 6 at nickel back, and 18 at strong safety. Weddle, is similar to two of the other defensive backs I highlighted -- Cal's Daymeion Hughes and Miami's Brandon Meriweather -- in that all owe a great deal of their success to their instincts.
Weddle is a good, albeit not great natural athlete, but his ability to read the play and waste no motion in getting to the ball, is perhaps without rival in this draft. Proponents are projecting that Weddle ends up as one of the better all-around defensive backs in this draft and a likely annual Pro Bowler. Even his critics contend that while he'll be a jack-of-all-trades, (though they argue a master of none). I'd simply point out that out the fact that there isn't a team in the league that couldn't use a jack-of-all-trades in the defensive backfield.
April 13, 2007 - In scouting hundreds of players each year in preparation for the draft, it is impossible not to develop some favorites. Before explaining what "Rang's Gang" is, let me explain what it isn't. The following list isn't a ranking of the best talent per position. It isn't a projection for the 2010 Pro Bowl. It isn't necessarily even a list of underrated prospects.
Rang's Gang is the collective answer to the question I'm most often asked: "If you were running a team and you needed a (insert position here), who would you take?
Of course, anyone could compile a list of the top prospects per position and call them the surest things of the draft. There is a reason, after all, that those are the players teams pick first.
Therefore, there is only rule for eligibility on Rang's Gang: No first round prospects.
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