Possible draft picks

[cardpa]

Penn State held its Pro day yesterday with some pleasantly surprising results. According to Draft 2003, RB Larry Johnson, 6'1", 222 lbs, had a forty times of 4.45 and 4.40. Additionally he had a vertical leap of 41". According to one source he "looked outstanding".

Impressive as those times were WR Bryant Johnson, 6'2 3/8", 211, did him one better when he posted times of 4.41 and 4.37. Bryant also looked good in pass catching drills.

On the other side of the ball DT Jimmy Kennedy, 6'4", 323lbs, turned in times of 5.2 and 5.22. Kennedy, who is arguably the best DT in this year's draft, also bench pressed 225 pounds 23 times.

Fellow DT Anthony Adams,6', 299lbs, had 31 reps of 225 pounds.

DB Bryan Scott, 6'1 ½", 212, was clocked between 4.38 and 4.45 in the forty. Excellent times for a DB of that size.

It was DE Michael Haynes, 6'3 ½", 278lbs, who really helped his cause though. Haynes, who pulled a quad muscle during the combines, ran in the 4.6 range in the forty yesterday. Additionally he participated in a full range of positional drills.

I still like Haynes because he is a complete DE.

The one who really stands out in my opinion is Scott. How many guys his size run at that speed.

 

[Garthshort]

Possible Picks

Cardpa, I also like Haynes, who has shown that he is a complete DE. I think that the Cards would like to trade down and maybe select him or Williams the DT from Okla. St. I'm hoping that they follow the same road that Indy took last year when they picked Feeney. At that time the draft guru's said he was selected much too high. If he's good then pick him.

 

[BACH]

There's is no question that Hayes is an awesome player, but I think he's overrated too. In some of the new updated mock drafts he's moved up from an early-mid 2nd round to a mid 1st round pick.

This is IMO a classic example where two good D-linemen play on the same team. The "lesser" player has a great work-out and suddently everyone starts to speculate if he really is the better player and if he's the reason for the other player's production etc..

It happened two years ago, where Jax' Stroud (Playing next to Pats' Seymour) jumped from a early 2nd projection to #13. Last year Ryan Sims (who played next to Julius Peppers) jumped from the 4th rated DT to the first one drafted. At the same time John Henderson slipped to #9, because people began to speculate if Hayneworth was better.

My point is that in every one of these cases, the highest rated player turned out to be the better player. I know you really can't make this direct comparison, because injuries, hold-outs etc. have influenced these players' various production, but I'm just tried of hearing the "Makes you wonder if Hayes is really responsible for Kennedy's production"- cliché.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Kennedy proved from his workout, exactly what I thought about him....slow and maybe a tad overrated. Dewayne Robertson is far and away the best tackle in the draft now imo. His low 4.8 forty and his 30 reps, show that from a speed/strength angle, Robertson is superior.

Penn States dline wasn't exactly stout (hahahah stout ) last year. There was a few games where the gave up more yards than anyone would anticipate.

I like Bryant Johnson, and I would love to get him in the second. Speed and size are a lethal combination, and he seems to have both. Jerry Sullivan would be very happy with a prospect like Johnson.

 

[CardLogic]

Krang,


In arguably the best rushing conference in the country, Penn State gave up only 3.11 ypc. They did give up 256 yards rushing to Nebraska (below Nebraska's average per game), however this resulted in a total of 7 points; one rushing TD for the entire game.

RUSHING DEFENSE

Rank Team Gm Rush Net Avg TD YdsGm
1. Ohio St. 14 418 1088 2.60 5 77.71
2. Iowa 13 416 1065 2.56 17 81.92
3. Penn St. 13 479 1492 3.11 11 114.77

Not to shabby IMO!

Penn State had one of the top defensive lines (end to end) in the country last season!

Actually, for the place known as Linebacker U. lasts years linebacking corps was one of the weakest in many years.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Wow, I was just basing my knowledge on what I had heard from the Big Ten "guys"!

I should've looked it up myself, and not trusted others judgement.

 

[SECTION 11]

Originally posted by CardLogic
They did give up 256 yards rushing to Nebraska (below Nebraska's average per game), however this resulted in a total of 7 points; one rushing TD for the entire game

Being a Husker fan, I can honestly say that last year Penn State should have held NE to 5 total yards with a final score of 70-3.
That was absolutely the least talented Husker squad I've seen since the 80's.


If they run that stupid fake reverse more than 75 times a game next season, I'm flying to Lincoln to demand Solich's resignation.

 

[Stout]

Good deal, my Lions are successfully defended before I even log on! I'm not sure on these guys. They were pretty damn good in college but you never know in the pros. Kennedy is very boom or bust, though I think it will be boom. Haynes will be solid. Adams will be a solid rotation guy. These are my thoughts on our old D-line.

And Section, phooey on you! Huskers are only one spot up the evolutionary ladder than Seminoles! I am more than willing to debate how we would have taken the national title if given a head-to-head game against the Corn Dogs. I mean, how do you go from number one to number two in the country in a week where you absolutely wreck your opponent? We were robbed. Still, at least Pepsi and SI realized who was the true champs.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Stout, what's your take on Bryant Johnson? I think he will be a money player in the NFL.

 

[Stout]

If you would have asked me before last season, I would have said late-round project but man, has he improved! He always had the speed but he never used to get open. He was uncoverable, literally, this year. He used to have the dropsies. Well, it must have been lack of concentration, because he hauled in everything in his area. Plain and simply, I would love if we took him in the second or late first (if we trade down).

In fact, he even made a huge catch to help us win the Michigan game...oh, wait, no, college refs don't consider two feet in bounds to be a catch. That's right, we lost that game. Johnson made an incredible catch on that play. We PSU fans speculate maybe our Lions need to also drag certain parts of our anatomy along with two feet (instead of the required one) to get a reception Lol!

 

[Skkorpion]

Welcome Pacard. Your Nittany bias needs a dose of reality!

 

[Skkorpion]

One more thing.

Edited because it was unduly insulting about Penn State players.

 

[JeffGollin]

Penn State players are all the greatest! Give me a break.
To reinforce what Skkorp says - I have two words: Curtis Enos.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

Who is the other DE from Penn State?That guy was a good pass rusher and could be a sleeper.his only knock is that he is undersized a bit.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by JeffGollin
Penn State players are all the greatest! Give me a break.
To reinforce what Skkorp says - I have two words: Curtis Enos.

You mean Curtis Penis (as my brother and I always call him)? Actually it is spelled Enis.

 

[cardpa]

Never ever ever draft a Penn St running back!!!!!! Larry Johnson will be the next in a long line of PSU backs that will flop in the NFL.

I am not saying all these guys are first round choices however Haynes just seems to have that knack for making the big play when needed. Penn State even used him in pass coverage.

The other guy that others may be refering to is a DT Anthony Adams. He is probably a 3-4 round guy.

 

[CardLogic]

Cbus, the "the other DE from Penn State" is John Bronson a redshirt sophmore (two more years eligibility).

Regarding Penn State running backs... Granted that some of the recent backs (Curt Enis, Blair Thomas) haven't lived up to the expectations. My recollection is that in several of these situation there have been injury issues.

Larry Johnson, who was little used until his senior year at Penn State follows more in the mold of another former Nittany Lion bust... Franco Harris!

 

[Stout]

Aaargh, God, thank you!!! Someone finally menitoned Franco! Uh, can you say, Heisman? Oh well. It won't be until Larry shines in the NFL (as I hope he does) that he'll get some true respect.

Now, as to Lion bias, I do have some. I'm a realist, though. I've said Kennedy is boom or bust. Adams, while a great college DT, will only be a rotational DT in the NFL, if he pans out. Johnson is a stud, plain and simple. I feel Haynes will play well in the mold of Wistrom. But, do I make any guarantees? Of course not. It's all wait and see right now.

 

[mdsisquo]

I think L. Johnson will be a good back but will have severe fumbling problems durring his rookie season. I've watched how he holds the ball and I don't know if it can be corrected. If it can he will be a pretty good back. If not, he'll fall out of favor and wind up in his coaches dog house.