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Top Prospects By Position

According to ProFootballweekly.com, these are the top-10 player rankings by position( these are all seniors):

http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/NFLDraft/Player+Rankings/2008/08top101220.htm

What do you think? Who are the top underclassmen who might and who needs to go pro (before they have a bad season)?

I am surprised that Zack Follett of CAL was not on the top 10 OLB's. He could be the steal of the draft.

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Niners Nation's writers or editors.

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Lots of underclassmen will go pro

…because it looks like next year they may have a rookie salary cap. So they need to cash in now.

I’m guessing Sam Bradford will go now, especially if he wins the National Championship. His stock won’t be any higher. Stafford from GA stands a good chance to go. Nate Davis too, with Ball State’s stock so high right now.

RB-wise…um…maybe some of the USC kids? None of them will put up spectacular season #s because of the timeshare, so maybe they’ll take a shot at an awesome combine to get out. I like Havili’s chances of going high for a FB/H-back.

Follet doesn’t seem that surprising. The LB class is especially deep this year. I doubt he is very far down the list (I’d guess 11 or 12).

by RobbieS on Dec 23, 2008 6:08 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Hmm

According to their own scales they have only listed a total of 11 first rounders in those rankings.

by Cruithear on Dec 24, 2008 12:41 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Yeah, it’s all seniors. A bit of a flawed list, but a good start.

Zach Follett not on that list is a huge snub. I would absolutely love to see him and Willis team up to cause pain in the backfield.

Also, I don’t know if anyone saw the Meineke Car Care Bowl (what a retarded name), but Pat White looked impressive and it really looks like teams don’t want to draft him. I say sixth round on him, let him try out as a QB (backup – Shaun Hill is our starter next year), and if he doesn’t work out, ditch him or turn him into a slot receiver or run him exclusively out of the Wild Niner formation.

I have no new information on that at this time.

by Rishi on Dec 29, 2008 12:33 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

Pat White

I did see his performance. And I think given his performance (a career best in passing yards) and given the greater use of the wildcat formation in the NFL, it’s a virtual certainty that somebody grabs him in this draft, quite possible before the 6th round. It’s a copycat league after all and everybody’s looking for the next interesting thing. If Tim Tebow can get drafted, Pat White can too.

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by Fooch on Dec 29, 2008 12:47 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Tim Tebow is an exceptionally odd case that doesn’t fit any rule.

Pat White, though, it seems is projected as an undrafted player or a converted receiver. If the Niners offer him a shot as QB, I would love it – it would definitely atone for the sins of not drafting Dennis Dixon last year.

Speaking of wildcat, we ran it once against the Redskins, but with Frank Gore. Why didn’t we run it with Robinson, who is an actual passing threat? He’s been with our team for three years – how many passes has he attempted?

I have no new information on that at this time.

by Rishi on Dec 29, 2008 12:50 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

1 pass his rookie season

He’s 0-for-1. You’d think they’d role it out more.

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by Fooch on Dec 29, 2008 1:00 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Arnaz Battle is 2 for 3 for 27 yards.

We really should utilize their passing skills more often. I mean, hard-nosed running game, yes, but once in a while, throw in the wrinkle of Robinson where he can hand off to Gore, run it himself, screen-WR double-pass to Shaun Hill, or pass it to a receiver. I’m sure he still works on his passing skills in practice or on his own.

I have no new information on that at this time.

by Rishi on Dec 29, 2008 1:31 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

to be honest i forgot battle was still on the team esp with Bruce, Morgan, Hill (Johnson a lil too) producing

by cazzuno on Dec 31, 2008 12:06 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Wildcat

formation with Robinson, Battle, and Shaun Hill. All capable of a homerun pass. Or, use Michael Robinson like a Harry Sydney type on a HB/FB option.

"The voice of the intellect is a soft one, but it does not rest until it has gained a hearing"

by Jeff_Fuller_49 on Jan 1, 2009 12:37 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Remember when...?

The West Coast offense was unstoppable without any need for gimmicks?
I do. :/

Leading the Pro-Aaron Rowand contingent on the McC!
You can ridicule me in 2009 if you like...

by ThrillisGone22 on Jan 2, 2009 1:09 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I'm a big

Harry Sydney fan. I think he was the reason why Montana, Farve, and Young were all so good. Just kidding of, course. But, he did throw some good passes during his days.

"The voice of the intellect is a soft one, but it does not rest until it has gained a hearing"

by Jeff_Fuller_49 on Jan 2, 2009 11:26 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Pat White to Tim Tebow?

First off Pat White is sub 200 lbs. He’ll get broken in the NFL. Secondly that was a career game he just had, he’s never thrown for more than 1,800 yards in a season. Any comparison between the two is crazy.

by methodrampage on Dec 29, 2008 1:19 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I still would take a sixth round pick on the guy.

I have no new information on that at this time.

by Rishi on Dec 29, 2008 1:28 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

He’d be a situational player and a sort-of emergency QB. Is that really a bad use of a sixth-round pick?

I have no new information on that at this time.

by Rishi on Dec 29, 2008 1:43 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I don't really have a problem with it

Just wanted to make sure that you weren’t considering him a QB of the future type player.

by methodrampage on Dec 29, 2008 2:01 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

No, that’s Shaun Hill’s job.

I have no new information on that at this time.

by Rishi on Dec 29, 2008 2:04 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Tebow/White

Didn’t mean to compare as exactly the same. Tebow brings a lot more to the table, but I see Pat White as sort of a poor man’s Tebow (or something like that).

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by Fooch on Dec 29, 2008 2:14 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Tebow and White are nothing alike. They both run, but that’s where the similarities end. Tebow is more of a bruising runner who picks up most of his rushing yardage on draws and up-the-gut runs on fourth down and goal line situations.

White is a shifty runner who can run laterally and tries to outrun the defense.

Neither style, in my opinion, will work in the NFL. Tebow may be superman, but there’s only so much bruising a QB can take.

And defensive linemen and linebackers are much faster in the NFL than in college.

Doesn’t mean there shouldn’t be experimentation though. Just don’t try turning either into pocket passers who throw out routes and slants.

I have no new information on that at this time.

by Rishi on Dec 30, 2008 10:47 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

What's your knock on Tebow's passing?

He throws often enough and completes over 65% of passes and rarely throws picks.

by methodrampage on Dec 30, 2008 10:52 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I’ve actually defended Tebow a lot here. His passing skills have improved a lot. I’ve watched him play.

Just like most others, though, I’m skeptical as to whether his skills translate to the NFL or not. Doesn’t take away from how good a college player he is. And I really just don’t think he can function as a straight-up pocket passer.

If I drafted Tebow as my QBOTF, I’d adjust the offense to him and not repeat the mistakes of Alex Smith.

I have no new information on that at this time.

by Rishi on Dec 30, 2008 11:01 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Pat White as ...

Slash 2?

"The voice of the intellect is a soft one, but it does not rest until it has gained a hearing"

by Jeff_Fuller_49 on Dec 29, 2008 3:26 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

at best...

In fact, I think White will be lucky to crack 1000 yards passing let alone the 3000+ that Kordell Stewart had in 2 seasons.

by grantmp on Dec 29, 2008 5:33 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Follett

I watched a good chunk of the Miami vs Cal Emerald Bowl and I was quite impressed with Follett. He seems like a beast pass rusher. Every place I’ve seen has him slated for 3rd-4th round. I don’t know if I’d use a 3rd on him with the 9ers current needs, but if he’s still around in the 4th he could be a great pick.

I like Lawson and Haralson and both seem to be improving, but Follett appears to be a natural pass rusher. Maybe work him in the first year or two and then have him be the eventual replacement for Spikes?

by Sebaz49 on Dec 30, 2008 12:16 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Replace for Spikes?

Do you know what position Spikes plays? Spikes plays TED. The TED position is nowhere similar to what Follett plays, which in the NFL would probably be a 3-4 OLB. Essentially he’s probably best suited to play Haralson’s position as a pass rushing 3-4 OLB.

by methodrampage on Dec 30, 2008 1:13 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Ted

I’d have to agree with methodrampage in that Follett is definitely more suited for outside than the Ted. Our 3-4 has been interesting b/c normally the Ted takes up bodies to allow the Mike (Patrick Willis) to make the plays, but Spikes brings his own playmaking abilities and thus gets a lot of tackles on his own. Maybe Follett could be converted, but I’d expect he’ll be a pass rushing OLB for the most part.

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by Fooch on Dec 30, 2008 1:23 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I agree with both of you

My comment wasn’t as well stated as it should have been. When I said:

I like Lawson and Haralson and both seem to be improving, but Follett appears to be a natural pass rusher.

I meant that one of the OLB spots would be his best fit even though we have to guys there that I like and think will get better. It seems like OLB pass rusher is his strength so he might be an upgrade at the position. But unless he is a clear upgrade over one of the two, I’m not sure I’d want to completely replace one of them, but maybe have Follett mix in there.

Maybe work him in the first year or two and then have him be the eventual replacement for Spikes?

What I was saying was work him in at OLB for a couple of years, maybe test him out at MLB and see if he can be switched from OLB to MLB as a replacement for Spikes. Like I said “He seems like a beast pass rusher” and as such would probably stay at OLB, but it was just a thought.

After reading your comments and rereading mine, I see that my brain was going a little to fast for my fingers and a whole paragraph turned into two very vague sentences.

But like I said “He seems like a beast pass rusher.” So if he could upgrade our pass rush I would say he’s worth the 3rd or 4th rounder.

by Sebaz49 on Dec 30, 2008 2:39 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

No problem

I see where you’re coming from with working Follett in at the Ted. I’m not sure how well that would work, but this team could really use some outside the box thinking along those lines.

Niners Nation - The premier 49ers blog on the Internet!

by Fooch on Dec 30, 2008 2:47 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

If Follett ...

is still available in the 2nd round, I would take him. But, I am not an NFL GM/President/owner.

"The voice of the intellect is a soft one, but it does not rest until it has gained a hearing"

by Jeff_Fuller_49 on Dec 30, 2008 2:27 PM PST reply actions   0 recs

You're not?

Damn. I thought we had an NFL executive reading this blog!

Niners Nation - The premier 49ers blog on the Internet!

by Fooch on Dec 30, 2008 2:47 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Don't know..

what I would do with an NFL team. I know what to do with a platoon of soldiers, though.

"The voice of the intellect is a soft one, but it does not rest until it has gained a hearing"

by Jeff_Fuller_49 on Dec 30, 2008 3:14 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

That's ok

John York doesn’t know what do with an NFL team either.

Perhaps Jed will…?

Leading the Pro-Aaron Rowand contingent on the McC!
You can ridicule me in 2009 if you like...

by ThrillisGone22 on Jan 2, 2009 1:13 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Let's

all hope so.

"The voice of the intellect is a soft one, but it does not rest until it has gained a hearing"

by Jeff_Fuller_49 on Jan 2, 2009 11:23 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Bay Area Bias

With the emergence of Haralson (8 sacks in limitted playing time), I’d say LB corp (if Spikes resigns) is the storgest aspect of the team and nowhere near worthy of a 2nd round pick.

by methodrampage on Dec 30, 2008 4:06 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

By Tom Marino

http://sfo.scout.com/a.z?s=69&p=2&c=824757

and

http://sfo.scout.com/a.z?s=69&p=2&c=824744

"The voice of the intellect is a soft one, but it does not rest until it has gained a hearing"

by Jeff_Fuller_49 on Jan 1, 2009 2:33 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

One more link.

http://sfo.scout.com/a.z?s=69&p=2&c=824171

"The voice of the intellect is a soft one, but it does not rest until it has gained a hearing"

by Jeff_Fuller_49 on Jan 1, 2009 2:35 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

Off topic issue.

Forgive me but I really want to post this. It makes Miami U look like an even bigger 5h1+ than they already are.

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=dw-marve010308&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

"The voice of the intellect is a soft one, but it does not rest until it has gained a hearing"

by Jeff_Fuller_49 on Jan 3, 2009 11:06 AM PST reply actions   0 recs

read about that today

That article mentioned the coach softened his stance to include only florida, LSU and tennessee in the SEC. I can’t believe they’d prevent him from going to Florida International. Crazy.

by Fooch on Jan 3, 2009 11:13 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

The 'U"

is college football’s Dallas Cowboys. Easy to hate, hard to like.

"The voice of the intellect is a soft one, but it does not rest until it has gained a hearing"

by Jeff_Fuller_49 on Jan 3, 2009 11:55 AM PST up reply actions   0 recs

Slanted article

I’m biased because I’m a Canes fan, but that article does very well with all impassioned complaints about fairness to the player and grand assumptions about the coach, but all but ignores the all the inconvenient facts. Especially, that the university has evidence Marve’s family began contacting SEC schools about a transfer midway through the season while Marve was still starting every game for Miami.

How would you feel if the starting QB of your team was contacting other teams about a transfer while your team was still playing for its conference title (they still controlled their destiny with 2 games to go in the season), and while he was still attending your school on the university’s tab? That’s why they included the SEC in the ban. Literally dozens of other players (even top recruits) have transfered from the U over the past few years, and they never tried to impose any ban like this before. You’d think that might raise a few questions about Marve in the media, but that would just get in the way of a good story bashing an easy target.

Only then, did the dad mention he had cancer. That really turned the media toward their side, but the school was completely unaware of until it was reported in the media (That does a great job of making them appear heartless in that column though, doesn’t it?). The school then immediately softened its stance to only include the three colleges in the SEC the Marve’s contacted directly (and illegally).

So the kid gets into a car crash before he ever plays a down, and the university pays for all his medical expenses. They stick with him despite two suspensions in his first year. They ignore his overtures to other schools (which, if pursued, could cost him more eligibility), and allow him to play anywhere but teams who are a) in their conference, b) schools he had direct contact with, or c) schools which regularly appear on their schedule (they played FIU each of the past two years, including one featuring a bench-clearing brawl). That only gives Marve 100 division 1A schools he can transfer to. I wonder how the poor kid will survive?

Check out The Examined Life. Or don't. Whatever.
"I been waitin' a long time for this! I been waitin' since the f**kin' amateurs!" --WILL "THE THRILL" CLARK

by Josh from Hollywood on Jan 3, 2009 1:36 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I especially like this very misleading passage:

“Marve hails from Tampa. His father Eugene has prostate cancer and while it’s not the stated reason for the transfer, Marve understandably wants to stay in the Southeast, if not in state.”

The “while it’s not the stated reason for transfer” intimates that his father’s cancer has something to do with the transfer. It doesn’t. He transfering for two reasons: 1) He just got suspended for the second time this season — he thinks unfairly*, and 2) He just lost his starting job due to combo of the suspensions, and having clearly worse than the other QB (despite having greater physical skills). If he really wanted to be near his dad more than anything, he could stay at Miami. It’s the whole “no playing time” thing that makes him want to go somewhere else. That said, I wish him (and his father) nothing but luck.

* He missed a class, but claims he was talking to another teacher, and was just minutes late and the monitor who marks them present had left. But it was his fourth missed class (the threshold for suspensions, which he knew).

Check out The Examined Life. Or don't. Whatever.
"I been waitin' a long time for this! I been waitin' since the f**kin' amateurs!" --WILL "THE THRILL" CLARK

by Josh from Hollywood on Jan 3, 2009 1:56 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I would have very

much liked it if Nate Longshore actually sat out the whole year.Since it’s his senior year, Tedford gave him a lot of opportunities to play.

"The voice of the intellect is a soft one, but it does not rest until it has gained a hearing"

by Jeff_Fuller_49 on Jan 3, 2009 10:23 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

I was as down on Longshore as anyone after last year, but Riley really wasn’t impressive at all this year. Also, Longshore’s last few starts (including, if you believe some guy at the SB Nation Cal blog whose name I can’t be bothered to look up) were all caused by various injuries to Riley.

In short (not that it was long above), I don’t think it was a “Longshore’s a senior” issue for Tedford. I think Riley was benched for health and performance reasons.

GROUGTHINK ALERT

by groug on Jan 3, 2009 11:22 PM PST up reply actions   0 recs

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