2009 Early Draft Outlook Rankings

[Elvis]

Just because I think that our Defensive Line is gonna be one of our biggest needs for the upcoming '09 season I will start this with the D Line..

2009 NFL Draft Defensive Line Rankings


By: Robert Davis | Updated: 9/22 Defensive End

1. George Selvie, South Florida, Jr.
2. Michael Johnson, Georgia Tech
3. Tyson Jackson, LSU
4. Greg Hardy, Ole Miss, Jr.
5. Greg Middleton, Indiana, Jr.
6. Brian Orapko, Texas
7. Matt Shaughnessy, Wisconsin
8. Kyle Moore, USC
9. Brandon Swain, West Texas AM
10. Larry English, N. Illinois

Defensive Tackle

1. Fili Moala, USC
2. Sen’Derrick Marks, Auburn, Jr.
3. Geno Atkins, Georgia, Jr
4. Peria Jerry, Ole Miss
5. BJ Raji, Boston College
6. Vince Oghobasse, Duke, Jr.
7. Ricky Jean-Francois, LSU, Jr.
8. Terrance Taylor, Michigan
9. Vance Walker, Georgia Tech
10. George Hypolite, Colorado

[Elvis]

And now our Offensive Line Prospects[/I][/B]2009 NFL Draft Offensive Line Rankings

By: Robert Davis | Updated: 9/22

Tackle

1. Michael Oher, Ole Miss
2. Eugene Monroe, Virginia
3. Andre Smith, Alabama, Jr.
4. Ciron Black, LSU, Jr.
5. Phil Loadholt, Oklahoma
6. Jason Smith, Baylor
7. Alex Boone, Ohio St.
8. Jamon Meredith, South Carolina
9. Sam Young, Notre Dame, Jr.
10. Adam Ulatoski, Texas, Jr.

Guard

1. Duke Robinson, Oklahoma
2. Herman Johnson, LSU
3. Jeff Byers, USC
4. Kraig Urbik, Wisconsin
5. Tyronne Green, Auburn
6. Cedric Dockery, Texas
7. Trevor Canfield, Cincinnati
8. Louis Vazquez, Texas Tech
9. Anthony Parker, Tennessee
10. Andy Kemp, Wisconsin

Center

1. Alex Mack, Cal
2. Max Unger, Oregon
3. Jonathan Luigs, Arkansas
4. Antoine Caldwell, Alabama
5. Eric Wood, Louisville

Continue to DL rankings -->

[Elvis]

Remember This Guy Come April If He Declares For the Draft


Taylor Mays S 6’3 230 USC Jr.

By: Robert Davis

Mays was expected to be eased into action as a freshman, but a season ending knee injury to starter Josh Pinkard forced him into action. He started 12 games as a freshman, tallying 62 tackles and four interceptions on the year.
As a sophomore last year, he again was the teams starter at free safety and he finished the year with 65 tackles and a pick, earning quite a few All American awards in the process.
Strengths
You could not draw up a better safety prospect than Taylor Mays. He has fantastic size, at a chiseled 6’3 230lbs, but combines that with fantastic speed and athleticism. It is not all just in workouts that Mays stands out. He displays all those gifts on the field as well.
His role at USC has been to patrol deep coverage and be the last line of defense. That has limited his ability to produce eye popping stats, and limits his opportunities near the line of scrimmage. He is physical and will lay offensive players out on the field. With his strength and speed, he packs a punch when he hits receivers. Mays has shown the athleticism to match up in coverage with players, and the speed to cover a lot of ground when he has to pursue. There isn’t anything on the field he cannot do.
Weaknesses
Mays has missed a fair amount of tackles, which shouldn’t happen considering his size. The problem appears to be that he tries to knock people out instead of trying to wrap up. He will have to work on that tendency in the NFL, because it will be a major problem in the league. While his role doesn’t allow him to fly around the field with reckless abandon, you would like to see more playmaking numbers from Mays as well.
Future With all the talent on the USC defense, Mays may actually be limited on the field because he doesn’t get to fly around the field making plays. He draws criticism because his numbers pale in comparison to other top prospects, but it is not because he cannot do them. As a junior this year though, you do want to see him take advantage of more opportunities and make some more plays. If Mays continues to improve and declares for the draft, he is a player that could be drafted extremely high.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

I saw a projection that maybe Tyson Jackson doesnt have the measurables and he ends up sliding to the Steelers at the end of the first.

Good 3-4 DE prospect. I'd be happy with that and hopefully using a compensatory pick in the Faneca loss to trade up in the 2nd for a lineman on the other side of the ball.

[Havik]

I like Vance Walker from Georgia Tech. He is good at getting to the quarterback and stopping the run.

[Texasteel]

Originally Posted by Havik

I like Vance Walker from Georgia Tech. He is good at getting to the quarterback and stopping the run.

I was a big Walker fan early, but he has been sliding bad. We might even be able to pick him up in the 3rd round unless he starts to recover a little

[HereWeGoSteelers219]

2009 NfL Draft MUST be offensive and defensive line all day. No excuses this time and I don't care who's left on the board.

[The Duke]

Originally Posted by HereWeGoSteelers219

2009 NfL Draft MUST be offensive and defensive line all day. No excuses this time and I don't care who's left on the board.

you don't care who's left on the board? sure, let them get a bust

I'm so glad we have GMs!!

nice findings Elvis

[HereWeGoSteelers219]

Originally Posted by The Duke

you don't care who's left on the board? sure, let them get a bust

I'm so glad we have GMs!!

nice findings Elvis

So your going to be happy if we ignore the offensive line again in this draft? This off-season we're losing nobody and our only weaknesses from making this team GREAT is the O-Line. We have 8 picks so far and I think at least 4 should be used on O and D lineman.

[El-Gonzo Jackson]

IF the Steelers used the first round pick for an OT this year.....it would have been a huge reach. Anthony Collins was the next OT taken and I think he went in the 3rd. No use reaching too far.

The good thing is between O and D line, there should be somebody there in the first couple rounds worth taking.

Just watched the Ohio St game and Alex Boone looks heavy footed. Kind of a slower version of Joe Thomas, but he doesnt even look to have decent balance. I think his #7 ranking of the OT's is probably decently accurate. He will likely be a RT in the NFL.