LSU vs Oregon

Games like this are the best chance to see how college stars will fair as NFL players. All too often we see hyped college players stomp weak teams and look like studs; when these same players meet other top ranked teams and players they sometimes fold.

LaMichael James, Oregon- James faced a very stout D-line in LSU and performed very predictably; just ok. James cannot run between the tackles, he does not have the vision or toughness to see a tiny crease and bolt through hit. What I really like about James is his shiftyness in space and his ability to run the counter. This guy cuts very smoothly and that is key when running the counter. James will need to find a home in a westcoast driven team to find success in the NFL.

Michael Clay, Oregon- The obvious leader on Oregon's defense, I was very surprised with his instincts to the ball. If my MLB is not making the tackle on every play I want him to be close and Clay most always is. I expect Clay to hae a big year.

Lavasier Tuinei, Oregon- I really like the way Tuinei runs his routes; he is fearless in the middle and aggressive on the sidelines. He is not very big or very fast, but Tuinei plays with an attitude and that is a great attribute in a receiver.

Rueban Randle LSU- I was very impressed by Randles ability to go up and get the ball. He has great size/ speed ratio. Randle's greatest asset is his ability to go up and grab the ball out of the air. He plays the ball like a basketball player; almost boxing out defenders.

LB

The BIG question is…. How should you rate a linebacker. For me MLB must have at least 100 tackles, a few sacks and maybe an interception. For OLB, I’ll take upper 80s in tackles but I better see 8 plus sacks. Linebacker, especially MLB, used to be the marquee position for NFL defenses. Now there are so many great athletes on the D-line and the Safety position is so much more of a thinking man postion;  that great pass rushers and versatile safeties have over- shadowed the meat and potatoes linebacker position.  That being said, we have a lot of really nice LB prospects at for the 2012 draft and here are my tops.

 1.       Lavontae David MLB, Nebraska-  David had an incredibly productive JR year; I think he will only improve on that as he has moved to the Big Ten. My only question is his size at 6’1 220, NFL teams will want him to be a little bigger. Really though, if he posts another 162 tkls and 6 sacks this year, they won’t mind his size so much.

2.       Curnelious Arnick (Dark Horse) Tulsa-  6’1 230 115 tkls 5 sacks, and 4 INTs; do I really need to explain much more. Yes this is a very high rating for a guy that plays in Conference USA; but if you get the chance just watch him play and you will be a believer too. Hopefully an injury free SR. year and continued production will prove me correct. Everyone will be talking about this guy as a sleeper by draft time.

3.       Luke Kuechly MLB, Boston College-  Guys like Kuechly are why I hate weak conferences like the Big East. This guy is everything a Linebacker should be. He is the leader of the B.C. defense and totaled an incredible 183 tkls and added 3 INTs on top of that. I really wanted to put Kuechly  on top of my board, but I truly believe I have it right.

4.       Jerry Franklin MLB, Arkansas- This is the size LBs should be 6’1 245lbs! The kind of guy that just screams “COME GET SOME”. After a very solid JR. year I look for Franklin to get a lot of attention and breakout this year.

5.       Miles Burris OLB, San Diego St.- Burris is on the list for one reason; guy just gets in the backfield and makes plays. Burris is one of those players that just has a natural ability to get to the QB; and when he is not recording sacks he is stretching out the run and making RBs take losses.

I would be remiss if I did not add a couple more very exciting players to keep an eye on.

Bruce Taylor VA Tech, Audie Cole NC State, Ryan Baker LSU, Michael Mauti ( Injured Last season but really impressive in his 7 games)

Preseason DL

This year will prove to be a deep class at DL. There are a few players that could have come out last year and done well in the draft but chose to stay (rightfully so) and compete for a top ten draft pick.  Watch the D lies carefully all around this year as there are always a few relative unknowns that have break out years.

1.       Jared Crick DT, Nebraska- There can be little argument with Crick’s placement at the top of not only the DL list but and defensive list. That being said let me solidify his spot with a few stats. 70 tkls, 10 sacks, and 8 tfl. With an additional 10 QB hurries this guy could very well post 15-20 sacks this year. At 6’6 285 I would like to see him add about 5-10 lbs before the draft; but with Crick’s ability to shoot the gaps in the OL I am fine putting him in the top 10 or even top 5 at his weight.

2.       Quinton Coples DE, North Carolina- I have to admit, as much as I like Crick Coples and he will I think be battling for the spotlight this year. Coples stats weren’t quite as good as Crick’s, but maybe that’s because he was playing on a defense with so many other stars. I think Coples will stamp himself as the best pure pass rusher entering next year’s draft, though only time will tell as he will be getting more attention from OL’s this year than last.

3.       J.R. Sweezy DT, N.C. State (Dark Horse)-  Sweezy is one of those guys that I predict will have a breakout year. Sweezy anchors a largely underwhelming defense and scored 46 tkls and 6 sacks last year. I like his size at 6’3 293; returning Seniors Audie Cole and Terrell Manning at LB should help take some of the OL pressure of Sweezy this year.

4.       Kawan Short DT, Purdue- Kawan is a guy, I think, is not getting enough attention. That maybe because Purdue generally is overlooked in the Big ten, but he is one of those quiet riots. He is a 6’3 305lbs Junior that posted 41 tkls, 7 tfls, and 6 sacks last year. This kid is more than just a space eater, I will be very interested if he puts on more weight this year and if his pass rush stats go down because of it.

5.       Nathan Williams DE, Ohio State- I already know that there will be a lot of sentiment that he should be higher on this list. To be honest I though about leaving him off completely. I think he projects much better as a LB in the NFL, but as we have seen those transitions are tough make work. Trust me Williams will show up on Saturdays and look great for the Buckeyes. Question is at 6’3 260 is he a good enough athlete to show up on the DL on Sundays; my guess is he will make a decent transition in and OLB for a 3-4 team that is in need of much LB help.

As I said this is a very deep draft and here are some Honorable Mentions to keep an Eye on.

Ryan Van Bergen DE, Michigan- I really really like this kid. Excellent hand placement in the pass rush.

Kendall Reyes DE, UCONN

Datone Jones DE, UCLA- Missed last year; maybe another Dark Horse

Alameda TA’Amu DT, Washington- Big space eater.

A.J. Francis DT, Maryland

Preseason OL

Simply put, OL is the most technical postions in football. Though size plays a mojor part as an OL (obviously); pass rush in the NFL has become the mark of good defense. Truth is simple; technique will beat strength/athletisism 95% of the time. More than any other postion OL skill is displayed in the drills at the combine; that being said my firm judgments on OL will be listed after the combine. So this article is just a "keep an eye on these guys".

1. Nathan Richman, C- Boston College
2. David Molk, C- Michigan- Michigan OL need I say more?
3.Ryan Miller, G- Colorado
4. Gordy Glenn, G- Georgia
5. Rokevious Watkins,G- South Carolina
6. Ken Plue, G- Purdue
7.Kelechi Osemele, T- Iowa St
8.D.J. Flucker, T- Alabama
9. Rick Wagner, T- Wisconsin

Preseason WR

All preseason appearances point to the deepest draft at WR in a very long time. WR is a very a difficult transition into the NFL; most top level WR in college make a name for themselves because they out athlete everyone. This proves difficult in analyzing a WR’s projection into the NFL as route running  ability are subjective specific systems. For me better gauge for how to project a players success, into the pros, is grit. Some WR seem to muscle their way through defenses and just get open, that is what I call grit. That is what I look for and that working class mentality on top of supreme athletic ability in tandem is what makes great NFL WRs.

1.       Justin Blackman, OK St.-  QB Brandon Weedon is being talked about as a potential Heisman candidate and top NFL prospect after a stellar last season. Dig a little deeper and you will find that 20 of Wheedon’s  were thrown to Blackman. As well, almost half of Weeden’s total passing yds were to Blackman too! That points to great ability at WR, not QB. OSU looks to put a great team on the field this year and keep an eye on Blackman to lead a high scoring offense (shouldn’t be har).

2.       Juron Criner, Arizona-  Criner is another WR that has accounted for a large portion of last years total passing offense.  Criner plays with more natural speed than Blackman; Criner similar to a Vince Young is deceivingly fast. At 6’4 210 his size and speed should translate very well. Unfortunately for Criner his star is dampened by a very mediocre supporting cast.

3.       Alshon Jeffrey, South Carolina-  Jeffrey could easily move to the top WR postion by the end of the season. Spurrier’s Game Cocks have on of the best one-two punchs at running back in college football. This took away from Jeffrey’s limelight last year; as he only recorded 9 tds. Put more than 1500 yds.

4.       Mark Harrison, Rutgers- Let me take a moment to make a small school disclaimer; ANYONE that can stand out at Rutgers must be pretty damn good . Harrison lists at 6’3 230 lbs, which makes him a tough opponent for any DB. I will be very interested to see Harrison in the combine; he will have a good season but, I think, will not make a big name for himself until the postseason.

5.       Junior Hemingway, Michigan-  Hemingway stand out in an abysmal offense that is certainly not known for its passing. Never the less as the 3^rd receiver Hemingway avg. 18.5 yds/ reception and 4 tds. At 6’1 225 Hemingway has very good size; we cannot overlook the fact that his talents are retarded in  that ridiculous Michigan Offense.

Because this talent pool is so DEEP; I have decided to add some honorable mentions.

Michael Floyd, Notre Dame

Jeff Fuller, TX A&M

Marcus Davis, Virginia Tech

Ryan Broyles OU

Preseason RB

Running back is most often the easiest transition of any position into the NFL. What makes a running back great at the next level has a lot to do with what the player does instinctively.That's not to say that there are not a ton of refinements that creates a truly elite back, reading defenses pass blocking etc. In evaluating the talent at running back this year I will be focusing on what the player does instinctively, but here are some other very key elements that are sometimes over looked but also very important at the next level. FEET, do his feet move with a purpose. Wasted motion in the NFL kills productivity. Mileage, this is a common theme for me; backs take a lot of punishment in the NFL and players that carry too much of a load in college rarely last. Does the back fit schematically, some teams use their RB as a work horse. Just point the stallion down hill and let him go. West coast based offenses want a back that can be more versatile and won't need to be as large, but will need great acceleration and agility.

That being said here are my top 5 backs to watch this year.

1. Trent Richardson, Alabama- Mark Ingram left Richardson some big shoes to fill. We got a pretty good preview of how he would do and oh man did he impress. Last year while filling in for the injured Ingram Richardson impressed with his rare combination of power and speed. Splitting this time with Ingram has kept the mileage low on Richardson; if he gets through the year injury free Richardson will be a major Heisman contender and possible top 5 pick.

2. Edwin Baker, Michigan St.- Baker carried the offense much of the year, posting an impressive 5.8 yds/ carry and 13 TD's. Baker lists at 5'9 208; though a little short enough backs have proven over the last decade that prototypical NFL backs are not necessarily 6 footers. Michigan State's outlook is very good this year, I believe Baker will once again carry a very good offense and Baker will open some eyes this season.

3. La Michael James, Oregon- A number of people are projecting James as the best back in college football this year. I think his role will be limited in the NFL; coaches will need to spend some time teaching the finer points of the passing game. However, he is an incredibly elusive back with great speed that reminds me of Brian Westbrook. Durability could be a big isues in the NFL.

4. Christine Michael, Texas A&M (Dark Horse)- The Aggies have the best one two punch in college football this year with Cyrus Grey and Christine Michael. Probably this is the best tandem since Auburn with Cadillac Williams and Ronnie Brown. Cyrus Grey is listed as the starter and seems to be getting most of the attention due to his stellar performance at the end of last year after Michaels's season ending injury. Christine was the better back last year though and had he not been injured would be getting serious consideration in the Preseason Heisman talk. Michael is Listed at 5'11 215 but runs like he is 6'4 250, with unmatched acceleration and great instincts for finding the whole he reminds me of Chris Johnson.

5. Knile Davis, Arkansas- Knile Davis quietly racked up over 1,300 yds. and 13 TD's in Petrino's high powered offense. Offer shadowed by Ryan Mallet and an incredible passing attack Davis had six games over 100 yds and 4 of them  over 150 yds. At 230 lbs. Davis has blazing speed; he will outrun everyone in college and most in the NFL. We don't see that kind of size speed ratio often, that extra poundage will pay big dividends in the NFL.

Preseason QB's

As difficult as it is to project NFL talent; its even more difficult to see how the prospects will perform in the season leading up to their potential drafting. However, I would be remiss if I did not give my readers a taste of things to come this season. I will be posting one position a day over the next week of the top 5 players to look out for this season. Not every player finishes the season with the same heat he starts with (Jake Locker). So, I will be including at least one "dark horse" prospect this week for every postion. NO ONE TAKES ME BY SURPRISE.

Preseason Quarterbacks:

1. Andrew Luck, Stanford- Of course, the biggest prospect and probable #1 Overall pick stayed in school (your welcome Cam). Luck shows he has all of the physical abilities to be a stud in the NFL, but I have the same concerns about him I had a year ago. Is he really a great quarterback or does he look great against mediocre Pac 10 schools, a la Matt Leinart. One thing is for sure, if he didn't think he was ready for the NFL last year, he definately wasn't. You want to be an Engineer be an Engineer; to play quarterback in the NFL takes a dedication that CANNOT waiver.

2. Landry Jones, Oklahoma- OU has had an incredible run of quarterbacks for ten years now; so it must be the system right? Tell that to Sam Bradford and the St Louis Rams. It's hard to argue with a 65.6% completion rate, 4,718 yds, 38 tds, and only 12 ints, but he and most of the QB's for the last decade have had stellar talent at WR to work with. This is what I want to see..... The deep ball; can Landry throw it and will he be able to make all the throws at the next level.

3. Robert Griffin, Baylor (Dark Horse)- I know, I know; I have heard the excuses. He is a system QB,  you can't out athlete everyone at the pro level, this is not Vince Young! Griffin completed 67% of his passes for over 3500 yds. He put the ball in the air 454 times last year and only gave up 8ints while bringing in 22 TDs. And we all know what a great runner he is, adding an additional 8 TDs to his total. Bottom line is this; yes he is a system guy but system guys are coachable. With his physical abilities I think this is the best "great athlete" QB I have seen in a while. I think he will have to mature a lot this year to be a first rounder but he will make a splash somewhere if he decides to come out this year.

4. Matt Barkley, USC- I went back and forth on whether or not to include Matt in my top 5; but when you see this guy on Saturdays he will standout as the guy that most looks NFL ready. He was underwhelming as a sophomore throwing 62.6% , 2,791 yds and 26 tds. Add 12 ints in 377 attempts and the red flags are everywhere. He does not have the talent around him that his USC predecessors did. So maybe he gets a little bit of a pass? I think he has a real chance to breakout this year and if he does; he WILL be the #1 overall in 2012.

5. Tyler Wilson, Arkansas- I'll bet most of you had no idea he was the heir apparent to Mallet. Wilson is no slouch coming off the bench and completing 66% is not easy. He has some defense awareness issues that he needs to work out, but that will come with reps. Playing in Petrino's pro style offense will only help him in his transition. Full disclosure.... I am only 50/50 on whether or not he will have the kind of year to flirt with coming out as a JR.