If by "board" you're referring to your list of player ratings then why would it?Gandalf wondering out loud:
Would our board change because of trades made after our mock began?
If by "board" you're referring to your list of player ratings then why would it?
Big time fan. I have every cd they put out. Even the later ones. Saw them in St. Louis and they did all of Aqualung and Thick As A Brick. Great stuff. Always liked the sound of a flute.SierraRam of like mind:
Do I detect another Tull fan?
Great pick Rambitious1! He should have gone about 20 picks ago!! In addition to the qualities you've mentioned, he has a great SPARQ score of 138.7, 2nd best among TE's!With the 93rd selection in the 2017 NFL Draft the Green Bay Packers select:
Bucky Hodges Virginia Tech TE 6'6" 257
Virginia Tech’s Bucky Hodges could be the right tight end for the Packers
Other tight ends are making bigger headlines, but a potential day-two draft pick could be just what the Packers need in the long run.
On Saturday at the NFL Scouting Combine, plenty of players made waves with good workout performances. John Ross’ blistering 4.22 40-yard dash set a new record, and practically the entire tight end class impressed with their athleticism in the 40 and leaping drills.
O.J. Howard of Alabama ran the 40 in 4.51 seconds, a ridiculous time for someone weighing more than 250 pounds. Ole Miss’ Evan Engram ran in 4.42 while carrying 237 pounds. A total of five players ran under 4.60 seconds.
But perhaps no one tight end did more to boost his stock this week than Bucky Hodges of Virginia Tech.
Hodges, who was a consistent producer in three years for the Hokies, had a tremendous all-around workout, measuring in at 6 feet, 6 inches and 257 pounds, running the 40 in 4.57 seconds, and posting position-best numbers in the vertical (39 inches) and broad jumps (11 feet, 2 inches).
Beyond the obvious athleticism, however, is a player who can be a dangerous receiving threat immediately as he works on improving his blocking abilities. If the Green Bay Packers do re-sign free agent tight end Jared Cook, Hodges just might be a good long-term solution to the team’s question marks at that spot.
However, Hodges was not always a tight end; rather, he started out his college career as a highly-touted quarterback recruit, earning a four-star rating from Rivals. However, early on during his first year on campus, Hodges said that a coach “asked me if it was cool for me to play tight end that week.” He did, and quickly made the position switch permanent.
Hodges went on to play tight end on the scout team all season, and got some good feedback from NFL scouts who came to watch older players on Virginia Tech’s roster. “We had a lot of pro prospects on (defense) at the time,” Hodges said on Friday. “I was making good plays on them and (the scouts) gave me some good feedback that it was a good position change.”
Still, Hodges carries his experience playing quarterback through as he continues to develop as a receiver. Hodges says he knows what his quarterback is thinking: “I know what he wants, how he wants certain routes.” He also uses skills in diagnosing defenses to help him get open, noting that “I read a lot of coverages in high school so reading coverages were very easy for me in college.”
He’s certainly more polished as a receiver than an in-line blocker. In fact, he said he ended up playing almost exclusively a receiver role in his final college season when the Hokies installed a new offense. “I can run any route, I’m comfortable with the entire route tree,” Hodges said.
Still, NFL teams will likely expect him to play in-line eventually, even if he starts out as a large receiving option in the slot. While the effort level will not be a question mark for Hodges — “I’m not scared to put my helmet in anybody’s face,” he says — an NFL team will need to teach him the finer points of blocking. “Blocking from a three-point stance (is) something I haven’t really worked on since my freshman year of college,” Hodges pointed out. “I’m still raw fundamental-wise and technique-wise, but I know I’m capable of it with my work ethic and I’m very confident I will be a good blocker.”
All in all, Hodges is unlikely to be the first tight end off the board — Howard will likely get that honor, especially after seeing the numbers he posted today — but he should be in the conversation for a day two draft pick. He possesses excellent size and athleticism, and the technique will come with time.
For the Packers, that might just be the perfect fit.
Nice pick, probably should have gone earlier, but not for the run on CB's in this Draft so far! Good Value pick!With the 94th pick in the draft the Pittsburgh Steelers select:
Ryan Anderson OLB Alabama
ANALYSIS
Strengths
Thick through shoulders and chest with good upper-body power. Exhibits professional approach on the field. Disciplined and married to his assignments. Stays clean. Comes into the league with NFL-caliber hand work. Ready hands at point of attack with a willingness to stick and move to avoid being swallowed by size. Sets a sturdy edge and makes a point to physically challenge tight ends early in the game. Will "dead arm" inside shoulder to alter blocker's balance and sneak around the outside hand. Relentless charge as a pass rusher and gets home thanks to his effort. Leverages runners to the sideline and rarely gives up a cut-back lane. Tackle finisher who is always hustling. Plays teammate ball over hero ball. Has experience at outside linebacker in both 3-4 and 4-3. Forced five fumbles over last two seasons.
Weaknesses
Relatively average athlete for the position. Lacks desired pursuit speed and closing burst as a 4-3 linebacker. Hips are a little stiff and he lacks plus range of motion. Could struggle with cover skills in space. Short arms could become an issue if asked to stack the edge against NFL tackles. Effort rusher missing desired traits found in consistent NFL pass rushers. His edge rush is more elongated and gradual than tight and sharp. Gets punched by tackles while shoulders are still square, causing him to flatten out as a rusher.
Sources Tell Us
"Size is more suited for 4-3 SAM but he could play some rush outside backer in a 3-4. He would fit Baltimore and Pittsburgh as a 3-4 SAM, too." -- NFC area scout
NFL Comparison
Ahmad Brooks
Bottom Line
Well-schooled with a high football IQ and a history as a winner. His disciplined, assignment-based approach to the game should resonate with defensive coordinators. Lack of length and average athletic traits could put a cap on his draft stock, but he should be a safe pick and a long-time starter as an outside linebacker.
Great pick Rambitious1! He should have gone about 20 picks ago!! In addition to the qualities you've mentioned, he has a great SPARQ score of 138.7, 2nd best among TE's!
Maybe he fits as a situational TE to start. Some TE's are used strictly as blockers IDK. But having 4 TE's on the Roster isn't unheard of!Meh. How's he fit? Martellus Bennett, Richard Rogers, Kendricks and now Hodges? Bennett and Rogers are going nowhere. He would have to beat out Kendricks, or Hodges may very well not even make the roster. Weird, weird pick in my opinion.
Reminds me of the role that Sims, Hayes and Westbrooks played with Long and Quinn as starters yes?DaveFan'51 with a possibility:
But having 4 TE's on the Roster isn't unheard of!
Good pick Merlin! Best DT left on the Board!! I had him Late 2nd Round!! You got really nice Value here!!With the 95th pick the Atlanta Falcons sprint to the podium to select Montravious Adams, DL, Auburn, whose film was insanely better than his draft estimates (I have him as early round 2 fwiw). Thanks dudes!
100. Tennessee: Warner4Prez -
101. Denver: Mojo Ram -
102. Seattle: A55VA6 -
103. Tennessee: Warner4Prez - New Orleans: shaunpinney - (ROD trade)
104. Tennessee: Warner4Prez - Kansas City: 12intheBox - (ROD trade)
Good point! But I have at least 12 WR's rated in the first three rounds, and four more that could go in the 4th round, maybe their not all "#1's" but they're good WR's!WR: Mike Williams, Corey Davis, John Ross, Chris Godwin, Zay Jones, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Curtis Samuel, Cooper Kupp, Carlos Henderson, Gerald Everett, ArDarius Stewart, Robert Davis,
....this tells me that if we don't select a WR by round 3, there's not going to be much left by round 4. This isn't a draft deep with WR's anyways, but boy do we need to add at least one. I get the Evan Engram pick - he's a stud TE and can line up wide - and I have a lot of hope in Woods - but with Britt & Quick gone & without counting on our rookies from last year (M. Thomas?) Rams really need a #1 WR that can take the top off a defense & keep safeties out of the box. With any improvement in our OL, our WR's will get looks downfield.
Good point! But I have at least 12 WR's rated in the first three rounds, and four more that could go in the 4th round, maybe their not all "#1's" but they're good WR's!
WR: Mike Williams, Corey Davis, John Ross, Chris Godwin, Zay Jones, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Curtis Samuel, Cooper Kupp, Carlos Henderson, Gerald Everett, ArDarius Stewart, Robert Davis,
....this tells me that if we don't select a WR by round 3, there's not going to be much left by round 4. This isn't a draft deep with WR's anyways, but boy do we need to add at least one. I get the Evan Engram pick - he's a stud TE and can line up wide - and I have a lot of hope in Woods - but with Britt & Quick gone & without counting on our rookies from last year (M. Thomas?) Rams really need a #1 WR that can take the top off a defense & keep safeties out of the box. With any improvement in our OL, our WR's will get looks downfield.