NFL thread! What are you thinking?

[CFreddie]

1 hour ago, chisag said:

... Well, the draft is almost here. Gotta say as a Bears fan, this is the first time since 1985 I have complete confidence the Bears will be selecting a potential franchise QB in Caleb Williams. I do think Maye is a much safer pick and still has the potential to be a franchise QB, because I think Williams has a lower floor but I think he has a higher ceiling. I would like to see them take a DE at #9 or if an OT with a very high grade is still available I think that could produce a more reliable offense than one of the 3 standout WR's. With K Allen, DJ Moore and C KMet already in the fold, there are just so many balls to go around. But then again, nobody from the front office called to ask what I thought. 

... The other aspect I am super interested in is if Danials goes ahead of Maye. As a HUGE Maye fan, I would hate to see him go to DC and play for Kingsbury. My nightmare is the Vikings trading up to take Maye. Keeping in mind I thought Mahomes would struggle in the NFL   I expect Maye to be a much better NFL QB than Danials. All easy for me to say from the comfort of my Lazy Boy and many a GM has lost their job picking the wrong QB because as we all know, predicting how a college QB will play in the NFL is far from an exact science. But I do feel relatively secure in saying drafting Williams at #1 will be in the Bradshaw, Elway, Manning, Luck and Burrow camp, not the Russell, Carr, George and Couch camp.  

Happy to eat crow partner, but it’s the Bears…they will probably screw this up…

Edited April 23 by CFreddie

[cnosil]

16 minutes ago, CFreddie said:

Happy to eat crow partner, but it’s the Bears…they will probably screw this up…

They've done it before and will probably do it again

 

[chisag]

31 minutes ago, cnosil said:

 

I saw a story on SportsCenter earlier this evening that made me think of you.   It was about how Caleb Williams and other NFL quarterbacks are working on their skills to be better passers by working with biomechanics.   Guess even these guys can become more efficient and learn how to throw better.  

 

... Pretty crazy. I imagine it is very much like the golf swing. A fine line between what is natural and what can be improved while maintaining the things that already work. Can Rodgers and Mahomes improve their footwork but not take away from their off platform ability to make throws from "poor" passing positions? When I played we had 8mm projectors and if the film got burnt or stretched, it was gone LOL. 

[cnosil]

3 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

... Pretty crazy. I imagine it is very much like the golf swing. A fine line between what is natural and what can be improved while maintaining the things that already work. Can Rodgers and Mahomes improve their footwork but not take away from their off platform ability to make throws from "poor" passing positions? When I played we had 8mm projectors and if the film got burnt or stretched, it was gone LOL. 

It was a bunch of 3D cameras and based on what they saw they were able to determine physical limitations and design exercises to improve range of motion and mechanics.  Williams was also talking about how it taught them to improve efficiency to release the ball faster since they have limited time.     Pretty interesting stuff.   

[Wheelieb]

Not gonna lie, I feel the combine is pretty much for nothing anymore. Schools have their pro days, and more and more players are starting to just do the 40 at the combine and then do all their other stuff at their pro day. It makes more sense in the long run for those players. That is my opinion though. 

[chisag]

1 hour ago, CFreddie said:

Happy to eat crow partner, but it’s the Bears…they will probably screw this up…

 

... Since the Falcons didn't trade for Fields you are dead to me. And I won't make you eat the feathers, but I will be making you a nice Crow Tartare. I have already bet they will do better than 8.5 games this season. It is time for the Historic Franchise to return to relevance in the NFL. 

[Wheelieb]

27 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

... Since the Falcons didn't trade for Fields you are dead to me. And I won't make you eat the feathers, but I will be making you a nice Crow Tartare. I have already bet they will do better than 8.5 games this season. It is time for the Historic Franchise to return to relevance in the NFL. 

Behind the Packers. Yes

[hohjoe]

11 hours ago, chisag said:

 

... Since the Falcons didn't trade for Fields....

Falcons fans celebrate that non-trade daily.

[CFreddie]

Just now, hohjoe said:

Falcons fans celebrate that non-trade daily.

Preach!

[GolfSpy_KFT]

13 hours ago, cnosil said:

It was a bunch of 3D cameras and based on what they saw they were able to determine physical limitations and design exercises to improve range of motion and mechanics.  Williams was also talking about how it taught them to improve efficiency to release the ball faster since they have limited time.     Pretty interesting stuff.   

The sports science world anymore is absolutely incredible with how technology has been incorporated into training both for specific sport movement patterns as well as weight room efficiency. I love all this stuff, primarily because it is in my field of scope with work. Just amazing what some of these professionals can do with athletes already at an extremely high level and find ways to make them even more efficient.

[ejgaudette]

21 minutes ago, GolfSpy_KFT said:

The sports science world anymore is absolutely incredible with how technology has been incorporated into training both for specific sport movement patterns as well as weight room efficiency. I love all this stuff, primarily because it is in my field of scope with work. Just amazing what some of these professionals can do with athletes already at an extremely high level and find ways to make them even more efficient.

The throwing coaches and changes are insane and it is so true that even the best are working to get a little better. I remember Brady in the past working with Tom House on his throwing and at the time they were talking about how to get him to be 1% better maybe less.

Its that adage about finding a bunch of tiny spots where you can get 1% better and how at the top level that can make so much of a difference where everyone is so close to maxed out on performance.

[GolfSpy_KFT]

1 hour ago, ejgaudette said:

The throwing coaches and changes are insane and it is so true that even the best are working to get a little better. I remember Brady in the past working with Tom House on his throwing and at the time they were talking about how to get him to be 1% better maybe less.

Its that adage about finding a bunch of tiny spots where you can get 1% better and how at the top level that can make so much of a difference where everyone is so close to maxed out on performance.

It truly is incredible, and goes to show why the greatest to play their respective positions in sport are so dominant for so long. It's just like Aaron Rodgers working on his footwork with Tom Clements in Green Bay to get it down to near perfection. 

It would be so cool to watch some of these guys train in person just to witness the intensity and attention to detail. One of my former high school athletes, Sam Hauser, when I was working as a sports performance coach in Stevens Point is now a regular rotation player for the Boston Celtics. I'm not saying this to compare him to some of the greatest to ever do it, but every single movement and repetition he performed was with 100% focus and intent. There was no detail too small and there was nothing we overlooked when working together. It was special getting to work with someone that focused at the high school level.

[ejgaudette]

4 minutes ago, GolfSpy_KFT said:

It truly is incredible, and goes to show why the greatest to play their respective positions in sport are so dominant for so long. It's just like Aaron Rodgers working on his footwork with Tom Clements in Green Bay to get it down to near perfection. 

It would be so cool to watch some of these guys train in person just to witness the intensity and attention to detail. One of my former high school athletes, Sam Hauser, when I was working as a sports performance coach in Stevens Point is now a regular rotation player for the Boston Celtics. I'm not saying this to compare him to some of the greatest to ever do it, but every single movement and repetition he performed was with 100% focus and intent. There was no detail too small and there was nothing we overlooked when working together. It was special getting to work with someone that focused at the high school level.

Reminds me of when Brian Scalabrini was the 12th man for the Celtics and everyone said how bad he was and then he did a series were he played the local Y type players and just absolutely destroyed them. Even the end bench players in pro sports are likely the best athlete you would ever meet.

I have a friend down at UNC for his masters in athletic training and he is working with the soccer team and he said the level of training and performance for that team is crazy to watch. And most of those players will never see a professional field. It is a level of physical fitness which I do not recognize.

[chisag]

39 minutes ago, GolfSpy_KFT said:

It truly is incredible, and goes to show why the greatest to play their respective positions in sport are so dominant for so long. It's just like Aaron Rodgers working on his footwork with Tom Clements in Green Bay to get it down to near perfection. 

It would be so cool to watch some of these guys train in person just to witness the intensity and attention to detail. One of my former high school athletes, Sam Hauser, when I was working as a sports performance coach in Stevens Point is now a regular rotation player for the Boston Celtics. I'm not saying this to compare him to some of the greatest to ever do it, but every single movement and repetition he performed was with 100% focus and intent. There was no detail too small and there was nothing we overlooked when working together. It was special getting to work with someone that focused at the high school level.

 

... This draft has the potential to be a historic QB class. And the potential to improve mechanics at the highest level is so very impressive. But I think it is safe to say all have the physical skills to thrive right now. But playing QB in the NFL requires superior ability between the ears. I expect that to shake out with this years 5 or 6 QB's taken in the first round. Not to harp on Fields as I could use Trubisky as well, but both have the physical skills to play at the highest level and Fields athleticism and throwing ability is off the charts. But mentally he never could adjust to the NFL, learning to process information instantly and get rid of the ball quickly. 

... I remember a seminar hosted by a scout my son and I attended for high school football players looking to be recruited for college and the one thing that stuck with me was the speed of the game. He said you must play faster than everyone else or as he put it "You must play at college speed in high school". This is as much mental as physical so processing information quickly and reacting is the key. He said when he puts on tape, he expects to see someone playing much faster than everyone around him. Better to make mistakes playing fast than play at the speed everyone else is playing. I think we all know it is a big jump from high school to college, but pales in comparison to the HUGE leap from college to the NFL. 

... It is that mental ability that separated Tom Brady from Jamis Winston. I think Williams and Maye are already there. Most likely Daniels and Nix too. I have a suspicion McCarthy may struggle here and why I hope he goes to the Vikings LOL. Pennix is a mystery to me as far as translating how he will transition to the NFL. Of course like every GM that has lost their job, I could be wrong on all of them. But one way or the other, this years QB class will be talked about for years to come. 

[GolfSpy AFG]

1 minute ago, chisag said:

 

... This draft has the potential to be a historic QB class. And the potential to improve mechanics at the highest level is so very impressive. But I think it is safe to say all have the physical skills to thrive right now. But playing QB in the NFL requires superior ability between the ears. I expect that to shake out with this years 5 or 6 QB's taken in the first round. Not to harp on Fields as I could use Trubisky as well, but both have the physical skills to play at the highest level and Fields athleticism and throwing ability is off the charts. But mentally he never could adjust to the NFL, learning to process information instantly and get rid of the ball quickly. 

... I remember a seminar hosted by a scout my son and I attended for high school football players looking to be recruited for college and the one thing that stuck with me was the speed of the game. He said you must play faster than everyone else or as he put it "You must play at college speed in high school". This is as much mental as physical so processing information quickly and reacting is the key. He said when he puts on tape, he expects to see someone playing much faster than everyone around him. Better to make mistakes playing fast than play at the speed everyone else is playing. I think we all know it is a big jump from high school to college, but pales in comparison to the HUGE leap from college to the NFL. 

... It is that mental ability that separated Tom Brady from Jamis Winston. I think Williams and Maye are already there. Most likely Daniels and Nix too. I have a suspicion McCarthy may struggle here and why I hope he goes to the Vikings LOL. Pennix is a mystery to me as far as translating how he will transition to the NFL. Of course like every GM that has lost their job, I could be wrong on all of them. But one way or the other, this years QB class will be talked about for years to come. 

As a Broncos fan I'm seeing a lot of mock's that suggest McCarthy won't be there at 12, but Nix will.  But, those same mocks suggest Nix at 12 is a reach.  We'll see.

[chisag]

Just now, GolfSpy AFG said:

As a Broncos fan I'm seeing a lot of mock's that suggest McCarthy won't be there at 12, but Nix will.  But, those same mocks suggest Nix at 12 is a reach.  We'll see.

... As far as mock drafts are concerned, where was Brock Purdy projected to go in the 2022 draft?  Extreme example of course but then again Brady went in the 6th round. It's fun to speculate of course but kinda silly at the same time. There are knowledgeable folks in the Bronco's organization that have every game going back to high school on both these QB's and will have a much more educated opinion on which/neither will be best for the Bronco's. As you said, we will see. 

[GaDawg]

3 hours ago, GolfSpy AFG said:

As a Broncos fan I'm seeing a lot of mock's that suggest McCarthy won't be there at 12, but Nix will.  But, those same mocks suggest Nix at 12 is a reach.  We'll see.

Personally, I would not pick Nix in the first round but that's me.

[GolfSpy AFG]

37 minutes ago, GaDawg said:

Personally, I would not pick Nix in the first round but that's me.

Agreed.  I hope Denver trades back, picks up a second in the process (they don't have one), and he's still there in Round 2.

[Hobert]

Just over 4 hours...let's go! I feel like we could see a ton of shuffling around after the first 3 are off the board. Can't wait! 

[Hobert]

23 hours ago, GolfSpy AFG said:

Agreed.  I hope Denver trades back, picks up a second in the process (they don't have one), and he's still there in Round 2.

The risk for the Broncos is that if the drop too far back/wait too long, someone like the Giants may swoop in and grab the last of the top 6 QBs. But now that they have Zach, they should just go OL/WR... 

[chisag]

1 minute ago, Hobert said:

Just over 4 hours...let's go! I feel like we could see a ton of shuffling around after the first 3 are off the board. Can't wait! 

 

... Most exciting draft in years. After Williams, Maye and Daniels who moves up to take a QB? When will the first defensive player come off the bard? Will Harrison, Nabers and Odunze go in the top 10? So many interesting questions to be answered soon!

 

[chisag]

3 minutes ago, Hobert said:

The risk for the Broncos is that if the drop too far back/wait too long, someone like the Giants may swoop in and grab the last of the top 6 QBs. But now that they have Zach, they should just go OL/WR... 

 

... One popular rumor today is the Pats trading with the Giants and they take Maye at #3 and the Pats take McCarthy at #6. I would LOVE to see Maye go to the Giants. 

[Hobert]

3 minutes ago, chisag said:

 

... One popular rumor today is the Pats trading with the Giants and they take Maye at #3 and the Pats take McCarthy at #6. I would LOVE to see Maye go to the Giants. 

Interesting! And all morning, clips of JJ all over ESPN talking about how he spent so much time with the Giants in response to being asked which team he thinks will pick him... The intrigue! 

The Cardinals are going to be able to drop a few spots, pick up extra draft capital, and still get Marvin Jr. or Nabers.  They have to be loving this.

[GolfSpy AFG]

17 minutes ago, Hobert said:

The risk for the Broncos is that if the drop too far back/wait too long, someone like the Giants may swoop in and grab the last of the top 6 QBs. But now that they have Zach, they should just go OL/WR... 

I'm hoping getting Zach was just a flier.  If he's the plan, good lord....

[Hobert]

1 minute ago, GolfSpy AFG said:

I'm hoping getting Zach was just a flier.  If he's the plan, good lord....

If he could realize his purported potential under Payton, could be a massive steal.

[chisag]

19 minutes ago, GolfSpy AFG said:

I'm hoping getting Zach was just a flier.  If he's the plan, good lord....

 

... It is always pretty amazing how many top 10 QB picks are busts and another team thinks they can fix them. I think Zach has shown us his ability and it is substandard for the NFL. Close to home, Trubisky played with the Bills and Steelers as a back up and once he had his chance to start, failed again. I do think he is a capable back up if it is a short stint but who drafts a QB #2 thinking he will be an "adequate" back up? 

... OTOH, I think undrafted Tyler Bagent proved he can be a starter in the NFL. I thought he played much better than Fields and the Bears are lucky to have such an excellent back up. Selecting a college QB to play in the NFL really has to be the most difficult endeavor to get right in all of sports. 

Edited April 25 by chisag

[BreakfastBall15]

Curious to who’s everyone’s “Vontae Mack, no matter what” for your teams 1st round pick

[chisag]

34 minutes ago, BreakfastBall15 said:

Curious to who’s everyone’s “Vontae Mack, no matter what” for your teams 1st round pick

 

... My anti Vontae Mack pick is the Vikings moving up to #3 and taking Drake Maye. My favorite college QB and some have him rated highest in this draft, haunting the Bears for years to come is an absolute nightmare!   

[Hobert]

Ugh, still almost 3 hours to go. This is taking forever...

[funkyjudge]

1 hour ago, chisag said:

 

... Most exciting draft in years. After Williams, Maye and Daniels who moves up to take a QB? When will the first defensive player come off the bard? Will Harrison, Nabers and Odunze go in the top 10? So many interesting questions to be answered soon!

 

OK; here’s my prediction: The Buffalo Bills trade up to get pick #7 from the Titans (I’d actually love to see them pull off a trade with the Cardinals for the #4 pick, but that won’t happen), giving up their #28 and #60 picks in the process, and maybe an early 2025 pick if they want to get the Titans’ second round 2024 pick (#38) in the deal. Then, they draft Odunze with the #7 pick.

Edited April 25 by funkyjudge