Brandon Graham

[PJ1]

I believe he just assured he will not be there for us in the first round with that performance. Damn...Really like this guy.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

I believe he just assured he will not be there for us in the first round with that performance. Damn...Really like this guy.

He was great!

If he was the pick at #26, I'd be content.

With a high #2, we might be able to grab Weatherspoon too.

 

[binkar]

I agree. Much like the board popular Larry English did last year, Graham will get snatched up long before we pick. I hope I am dead wrong.

 

[Chopper0080]

His physical makeup might cause him to drop. Remember that this draft is chalk full of front seven guys who physical makeup is better than Grahams. I don't think he makes it out of the first, but he should be there when we pick. For me it would be tough to choose between Brandon Graham, Dan Williams, and Terrance Cody in the first round.

 

[Buckybird]

...but his performance could let Jerry Hughes slide to us because he's the guy I want anyway. Watched him for 2 straight years here living in Dallas, he's a beast!!!

 

[187]

Brandon Graham has been an absolute animal at the senior bowl. Getting him would be great, but like bucky said if that allows Hughes to fall I wouldn't mind that either!

 

[joeshmo]

Just a caution on taking converted DE's such as Graham or Hughes, heck any pass rusher for that matter even 4-3 DE's. By no means do you not take one because of this but you have to remember that 95% of them fail to make an impact their rookie years. Take a look at last years class of converted DE's. Not exactly stellar rookie years. Woodley wasn't even Woodley his rookie year.

Remember that taking a DE to convert to OLB is a pick for the future and not an immediate upgrade type pick. Again doesn't mean I wouldn't take one I just wont expect anything out of them until 2011 and why I believe if you want to fix your pass rush this year, you are already to late, you should have done it a year earlier.

 

[PJ1]

Just a caution on taking converted DE's such as Graham or Hughes, heck any pass rusher for that matter even 4-3 DE's. By no means do you not take one because of this but you have to remember that 95% of them fail to make an impact their rookie years. Take a look at last years class of converted DE's. Not exactly stellar rookie years. Woodley wasn't even Woodley his rookie year.

Remember that taking a DE to convert to OLB is a pick for the future and not an immediate upgrade type pick. Again doesn't mean I wouldn't take one I just wont expect anything out of them until 2011 and why I believe if you want to fix your pass rush this year, you are already to late, you should have done it a year earlier.

We tried and Cody Brown got hurt. Davis did show some promise and then he got hurt. I agree with you although I would not go first round for ILB unless he was really special.

 

[Buckybird]

Just a caution on taking converted DE's such as Graham or Hughes, heck any pass rusher for that matter even 4-3 DE's. By no means do you not take one because of this but you have to remember that 95% of them fail to make an impact their rookie years. Take a look at last years class of converted DE's. Not exactly stellar rookie years. Woodley wasn't even Woodley his rookie year.

Remember that taking a DE to convert to OLB is a pick for the future and not an immediate upgrade type pick. Again doesn't mean I wouldn't take one I just wont expect anything out of them until 2011 and why I believe if you want to fix your pass rush this year, you are already to late, you should have done it a year earlier.

That means our defense will be pretty much like last season because we got little production from the outside rush last year. If we want this defense to take the next step were gonna have to swallow our pride & have patience by drafting these kids. I'm willing to draft at least 2 more of them & wait.

 

[WarnerHOF]

That means our defense will be pretty much like last season because we got little production from the outside rush last year. If we want this defense to take the next step were gonna have to swallow our pride & have patience by drafting these kids. I'm willing to draft at least 2 more of them & wait.

I don't see why we can't wait. The team is most definately not super bowl ready yet especially with Green Bay and New Orleans still around.

 

[Unsterblich856]

Mayock is still saying he is an early 2nd/late 1st. I say we bring him in, he was unblockable.

 

[lauraw]

x2

 

[PoolBoy]

another senior bowl note....say no to tebow.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Graham has looked good but we need to remember that the best players aren't at the Senior Bowl. He's still, like Mayock said, a late 1st early 2nd round guy. Like Joe pointed out, teams are getting wary of drafting converted DE's very high anymore. There were only a couple last year and Vernon Gholston still hasn't had a sack in 2 years. That's pretty amazing right there.

 

[joeshmo]

Considering the fact that DE to 3-4 OLB position is so unpredictable and is a dicey at best. If you want a 3-4 OLB that is going to give you an immediate impact and have a much higher percentage of success in future years you pick one who already has LB experience in college.

Just look at the 1st rounder DE's who tried making the switch to LB. You have to go back all the way to 2005 before you can find a pair that made a successfull switch. 4 years straight of 1st round DE to LB conversion failures.

2009 Draft -

English - Former DE switched to 3-4 OLB. Inneffective.

Ayers - Former DE switched to 3-4 OLB - Inneffective.

2008 Draft -

Gholston and Harvey both tried at 3-4 OLB. Fail.

2007 Draft -

Jarvis Moss = Fail
Tambi Hali = Was a 4-3 DE until this past year, made a nice switch to 3-4 OLB after being a 3 year vet.

2006 Draft -

Wimbley = Fail
Lawson = Fail

Back to my point. You want a 3-4 OLB who has a much, much higher success rate and faster return on investment. You go with a guy who already has college LB experience. Take 2009 for example. Orakpo and Matthews although they had some DE experience in college they also played a lot of LB. Both had awesome rookie years.

What am I getting at. Do not draft Brandon Graham, draft Sergio Kindle.

 

[football karma]

I cant remember who it was -- perhaps Kirwan or Lombardi, etc -- but they were telling the story on how their team used to scrimmage in training camp with the Steelers.

He noted that they would look at some of these rookies the Steelers brought in like Porter, Gildon, etc, etc, etc -- and their rookie year, the impression was that these guys were total busts. Then two years later -- they are impact pass rushers.

 

[Catfish]

Dan Williams is OK with me----or even Torrell Troupe, out of UCF who was an ablsolute beast in the Shrine Bowl, and is a very fast rising player in the draft. Both are extremely strong legged, and command double teams which they handle well. Both are strong enough to hold at the point of attack, and then disengage, (Williams with his swim move, Troupe with violent hands), so that they can get through the junk to plug the hole. Williams is often able to use one free arm to stop the ball carrier while engaged with the blocker. Troupe seems to have a little better motor to keep this up throughout the game. Troupe might be available with the 50 pick, leaving 25 for CB Devin McCourty out of Rutgers, another player on the rise.

 

[Early]

Considering the fact that DE to 3-4 OLB position is so unpredictable and is a dicey at best. If you want a 3-4 OLB that is going to give you an immediate impact and have a much higher percentage of success in future years you pick one who already has LB experience in college.

Just look at the 1st rounder DE's who tried making the switch to LB. You have to go back all the way to 2005 before you can find a pair that made a successfull switch. 4 years straight of 1st round DE to LB conversion failures.

2009 Draft -

English - Former DE switched to 3-4 OLB. Inneffective.

Ayers - Former DE switched to 3-4 OLB - Inneffective.

2008 Draft -

Gholston and Harvey both tried at 3-4 OLB. Fail.

2007 Draft -

Jarvis Moss = Fail
Tambi Hali = Was a 4-3 DE until this past year, made a nice switch to 3-4 OLB after being a 3 year vet.

2006 Draft -

Wimbley = Fail
Lawson = Fail

Back to my point. You want a 3-4 OLB who has a much, much higher success rate and faster return on investment. You go with a guy who already has college LB experience. Take 2009 for example. Orakpo and Matthews although they had some DE experience in college they also played a lot of LB. Both had awesome rookie years.

What am I getting at. Do not draft Brandon Graham, draft Sergio Kindle.

1st round 43 DE's that got drafted to play the same positions in NFL ... There are really really many ineffective and busts to chose from as well ... Even with so many years of experience on the position .. For them, inexperience with position is not the excuse

It's just about picking the correct guy... I don't think you should necessary shoot for experience at the position

 

[cardsfanmd]

Graham has looked good but we need to remember that the best players aren't at the Senior Bowl. He's still, like Mayock said, a late 1st early 2nd round guy. Like Joe pointed out, teams are getting wary of drafting converted DE's very high anymore. There were only a couple last year and Vernon Gholston still hasn't had a sack in 2 years. That's pretty amazing right there.

FWIW, Brian Orakpo, Robert Ayers, Clay Matthews and Larry English were all college DEs drafted in the 1st last year as LBs.

I still think Graham will go before we pick, simply because pass rushers always seem to go earlier than expected.

 

[Buckybird]

Do not draft Brandon Graham, draft Sergio Kindle.

I really believe Sergio will get destroyed at the point of attack at OLB and thats coming from a Horns fan. When teams ran at him in college that was the verdict most times. I still believe in time Jerry Hughes will be better than both.