and Tomlin..his fingerprints are on this defense more than anyone elses

True. I guess I'm partial to blaming position coaches for the lack of player development, and the coordinator and head coach for the more global failures.

I'm warming up to the LB from South Carolina State, Darius Leonard. Could be there on the 2nd day. Hopefully, end of the 2nd RND? I'm sure how he tests will determine where. MEAC defensive player of the year second year in a row. Thoughts?

Be interesting to see how he tests out. I could see anywhere from mid-2nd to 4th at this point. Nice highlight reel, low LOC, starting to acquire some buzz already.

Speaking of which, Tremaine Edmunds seems to be already well out of range at 1.28.

What the mockers say and what happens on draft day is generally very different. For most of these drafts they do not look at historical data on what positions get picked the most. From 10 to 24 I will bet that 80% of those picks will be passrushers(EDGE and DT) and CBs. QB, OT and perhaps a WR will be scattered in there to fill out the other 20%( I would never take a WR in the 1st round but their mileage may vary).

I still like Esch on his football smarts. I would be quite happy with that pick. I am sure NE is looking at him.

thats fair

I look at the height/weight/speed/explosiveness possibilities with Edmunds, and I could see him getting flexed to a couple of different positions, and that kind of versatility could definitely shoot him upwards of pick 28, sadly.

If we could end up with Esch and Penny after the 1st 2 rounds id be happier than a pig in mud. Perhaps we could also do a sign and trade of Lev Bell and pick up another 1st

If he runs the 40 as what they are predicting ( 4.7-4.9) I will be stunned if he does not fall into the Steeler's range. His last recorded 40 is 4.8. His play recognition is like Shazier, which is to say poor. Shazier had 4.3 speed to make up for that false step. Unless he blows up the combine( like Shazier) I just do not see him taken in the teens.

for reference, Shazier was predicted to run between 4.4 and 4.5. he ran a 4.38

Fair enough. Underwear Olympics, for good or ill, can be decisive. Will definitely take a look at this Esch kid, as somebody coming in with football smarts, won't be as susceptible to the poor positional coaching we currently have on offer at LB.

Leonard weighed in at 6'2", 229 today. Passed my size test, I had read somewhere that he was at 215lbs. Now he needs to pass the speed test.

That's still awfully small for anything but dime backer.

Shaz was 6'1", 237 coming out of tOSU. No such thing as an apples to apples player comp just based on height/weight, but similar at least.

I think Shazier was playing around 230-235

I don't disagree with you, but I was hoping for a measurement of 6'2" 230 when I watched his film. Then I read about him playing smaller and I flagged him as a size question mark. He will have have more time to really refine his body and add 10-15 now that he is out of school.

Maybe. He doesn't have the base-- more high cut than Shazier and minus the otherworldly closing speed. Fun player to watch but he was skating around out there on interior runs and a step slow to the sideline vs. UCF, for instance.