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P-D mock draft 2.0: Rams to select Iowa OL Scherff
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_b7b38bf9-885b-5407-ad80-f2b79ac3ff48.html
Put away the pencil. All signs in Tampa, Fla., indicate it’s safe to use ink to write in quarterback Jameis Winston of Florida State as the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, by the Buccaneers, on April 30.
So what about Tennessee, at No. 2? Well, the Titans appear to be taking a long look at Oregon QB Marcus Mariota, which makes all the sense in the world considering their current depth chart consists of Zach Mettenberger, Charlie Whitehurst and Jordan Palmer.
“From Marcus’ standpoint, he exhibits a lot of the qualities that I think are important to the position,” Tennessee coach Ken Whisenhunt said at the recent NFL owners meetings. “He’s got good leadership. Very smart. Accurate thrower. Doesn’t turn the ball over a lot. Can extend the play. So he does a lot of things that I think no matter what you do (scheme-wise), transition well in the NFL.”
Whisenhunt’s inaugural season in Tennessee was anything but a smash hit. The Titans finished 2-14, the worst record in the franchise’s 18 seasons in Tennessee. But he knows better than most how strong quarterback play can make a coach look smarter.
In 2008 and ’09, quarterback Kurt Warner took Whisenhunt’s Arizona Cardinals to the playoffs, including a Super Bowl XLIII appearance against Pittsburgh to conclude the ’08 season.
However, once Warner retired, the Cardinals went 18-30 under the likes of Kevin Kolb, Richard Bartel, Ryan Lindley, John Skelton, Derek Anderson and Max Hall at QB. Whisenhunt was fired after the 2012 season.
The Titans spent a lot of time with Mariota after Oregon’s pro day, including 1½ hours in the classroom. Whisenhunt came away from that session impressed with Mariota’s football IQ.
“He has very good spatial memory, and when you say what’s spatial memory — he remembers plays, he remembers fronts, he remembers things in the short term and the long term,” Whisenhunt said.
“You have to have a memory that can see everything and remember it. Because when it happens in a game, then you have to come over and communicate that on the sideline, and then you have to have a plan for how you’re gonna adjust to it. That’s what the really successful ones do. He exhibits that type of quality.”
For all those reasons and more, we have Mariota going to the Titans at No. 2 in the draft in Mock 2.0. Our original mock draft, published March 8, had Mariota going to the New York Jets at No. 6.
At the NFL owners meetings, Rams coach Jeff Fisher said it was highly unlikely that Winston or Mariota would end up with the Rams. He didn’t think either would fall far enough for the Rams to make a serious trade-up proposal (they currently have the 10th selection). At this point, that looks like the case.
Another move that changes our top 10 in Mock 2.0 resulted from reports of drug use by Nebraska outside linebacker/defensive end Randy Gregory.
He tested positive for marijuana at the NFL Scouting Combine, in February, and tested positive twice at Nebraska as well.
So Gregory, taken at No. 2 by Tennessee in our first mock, slides all the way out of the top 10 to New Orleans at No. 13 this time around.
Mock 1.0 had the Rams taking speedy West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White at No. 10. But in our latest mock, White goes to Chicago at No. 7, a result of the Bears trading wide receiver Brandon Marshall to the New York Jets just a few days after Mock 1.0 came out.
So where does that leave the Rams?
With Brandon Scherff, the highly-touted offensive lineman from Iowa. In Mock 1.0, Scherff went to the New York Giants at No. 9, just ahead of the Rams.
In our latest mock, the Giants address a different need, selecting Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes. That left the door open for the Rams to take the first offensive lineman in the draft.
At this point, it looks like a must move because free agency for the Rams has been stuck in neutral on the offensive line for the past three weeks.
Center Stefen Wisniewski, guard Justin Blalock and tackle Joe Barksdale still have yet to decide on where they’re playing next year.
The Rams have interest in all three and need starters at center, guard, and right tackle. The re-signing of free agent center/guard Tim Barnes last week gives the team four offensive linemen who have started an NFL regular-season game. That isn’t many.
While the Rams wait out Wisniewski, Blalock and Barksdale, they are going heavy on offensive linemen in their early pre-draft visits. Stanford tackle Andrus Peat, Duke guard Laken Tomlinson and Louisville tackle Jamon Brown all paid “top 30” visits to Rams Park last week.
(They’re called “top 30” because teams are allowed only 30 such visits before the draft.)
In addition, Pittsburgh tackle T.J. Clemmings told Sirius XM radio that he has a visit scheduled to Rams Park. Peat and Clemmings project as first-rounders, although neither figures to be top 10 material. Tomlinson is expected to go in Round 2, while Brown projects as a late-rounder.
Some see Scherff as best suited to play guard in the NFL. In fact, NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock thinks Scherff has all-Pro potential there like a 2015 version of Zack Martin in Dallas.
Scherff — who had a formal visit with the Rams at the Combine — could open 2015 at right tackle serving as a bookend with left tackle Greg Robinson should Barksdale slip away.
But that’s assuming Fisher, who didn’t draft any offensive linemen in Round 1 in his first 18 seasons as an NFL head coach, takes one in Round 1 for the second year in a row.
============
Jim Thomas' NFL Mock Draft picks
Team-------------- Jim Thomas' pick
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Tennessee Titans Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Jacksonville Jaguars Dante Fowler, DE, Florida
Oakland Raiders Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Washington Redskins Leonard Williams, DE, USC
New York Jets Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
Chicago Bears Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
Atlanta Falcons Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
New York Giants Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
St. Louis Rams Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Minnesota Vikings DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
Cleveland Browns Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
New Orleans Saints Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
Miami Dolphins La'el Collins, OT, LSU
San Francisco 49ers Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
Houston Texans Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida
San Diego Chargers Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
Kansas City Chiefs D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida
Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo) Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
Philadelphia Eagles Landon Collins, S, Alabama
Cincinnati Bengals Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
Pittsburgh Steelers Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
Detroit Lions Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
Arizona Cardinals Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
Carolina Panthers T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
Baltimore Ravens Cameron Erving, C, Florida State
Dallas Cowboys Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
Denver Broncos Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma
Indianapolis Colts Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
Green Bay Packers Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
New Orleans Saints (from Seattle) Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri
New England Patriots Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_b7b38bf9-885b-5407-ad80-f2b79ac3ff48.html
Put away the pencil. All signs in Tampa, Fla., indicate it’s safe to use ink to write in quarterback Jameis Winston of Florida State as the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, by the Buccaneers, on April 30.
So what about Tennessee, at No. 2? Well, the Titans appear to be taking a long look at Oregon QB Marcus Mariota, which makes all the sense in the world considering their current depth chart consists of Zach Mettenberger, Charlie Whitehurst and Jordan Palmer.
“From Marcus’ standpoint, he exhibits a lot of the qualities that I think are important to the position,” Tennessee coach Ken Whisenhunt said at the recent NFL owners meetings. “He’s got good leadership. Very smart. Accurate thrower. Doesn’t turn the ball over a lot. Can extend the play. So he does a lot of things that I think no matter what you do (scheme-wise), transition well in the NFL.”
Whisenhunt’s inaugural season in Tennessee was anything but a smash hit. The Titans finished 2-14, the worst record in the franchise’s 18 seasons in Tennessee. But he knows better than most how strong quarterback play can make a coach look smarter.
In 2008 and ’09, quarterback Kurt Warner took Whisenhunt’s Arizona Cardinals to the playoffs, including a Super Bowl XLIII appearance against Pittsburgh to conclude the ’08 season.
However, once Warner retired, the Cardinals went 18-30 under the likes of Kevin Kolb, Richard Bartel, Ryan Lindley, John Skelton, Derek Anderson and Max Hall at QB. Whisenhunt was fired after the 2012 season.
The Titans spent a lot of time with Mariota after Oregon’s pro day, including 1½ hours in the classroom. Whisenhunt came away from that session impressed with Mariota’s football IQ.
“He has very good spatial memory, and when you say what’s spatial memory — he remembers plays, he remembers fronts, he remembers things in the short term and the long term,” Whisenhunt said.
“You have to have a memory that can see everything and remember it. Because when it happens in a game, then you have to come over and communicate that on the sideline, and then you have to have a plan for how you’re gonna adjust to it. That’s what the really successful ones do. He exhibits that type of quality.”
For all those reasons and more, we have Mariota going to the Titans at No. 2 in the draft in Mock 2.0. Our original mock draft, published March 8, had Mariota going to the New York Jets at No. 6.
At the NFL owners meetings, Rams coach Jeff Fisher said it was highly unlikely that Winston or Mariota would end up with the Rams. He didn’t think either would fall far enough for the Rams to make a serious trade-up proposal (they currently have the 10th selection). At this point, that looks like the case.
Another move that changes our top 10 in Mock 2.0 resulted from reports of drug use by Nebraska outside linebacker/defensive end Randy Gregory.
He tested positive for marijuana at the NFL Scouting Combine, in February, and tested positive twice at Nebraska as well.
So Gregory, taken at No. 2 by Tennessee in our first mock, slides all the way out of the top 10 to New Orleans at No. 13 this time around.
Mock 1.0 had the Rams taking speedy West Virginia wide receiver Kevin White at No. 10. But in our latest mock, White goes to Chicago at No. 7, a result of the Bears trading wide receiver Brandon Marshall to the New York Jets just a few days after Mock 1.0 came out.
So where does that leave the Rams?
With Brandon Scherff, the highly-touted offensive lineman from Iowa. In Mock 1.0, Scherff went to the New York Giants at No. 9, just ahead of the Rams.
In our latest mock, the Giants address a different need, selecting Michigan State cornerback Trae Waynes. That left the door open for the Rams to take the first offensive lineman in the draft.
At this point, it looks like a must move because free agency for the Rams has been stuck in neutral on the offensive line for the past three weeks.
Center Stefen Wisniewski, guard Justin Blalock and tackle Joe Barksdale still have yet to decide on where they’re playing next year.
The Rams have interest in all three and need starters at center, guard, and right tackle. The re-signing of free agent center/guard Tim Barnes last week gives the team four offensive linemen who have started an NFL regular-season game. That isn’t many.
While the Rams wait out Wisniewski, Blalock and Barksdale, they are going heavy on offensive linemen in their early pre-draft visits. Stanford tackle Andrus Peat, Duke guard Laken Tomlinson and Louisville tackle Jamon Brown all paid “top 30” visits to Rams Park last week.
(They’re called “top 30” because teams are allowed only 30 such visits before the draft.)
In addition, Pittsburgh tackle T.J. Clemmings told Sirius XM radio that he has a visit scheduled to Rams Park. Peat and Clemmings project as first-rounders, although neither figures to be top 10 material. Tomlinson is expected to go in Round 2, while Brown projects as a late-rounder.
Some see Scherff as best suited to play guard in the NFL. In fact, NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock thinks Scherff has all-Pro potential there like a 2015 version of Zack Martin in Dallas.
Scherff — who had a formal visit with the Rams at the Combine — could open 2015 at right tackle serving as a bookend with left tackle Greg Robinson should Barksdale slip away.
But that’s assuming Fisher, who didn’t draft any offensive linemen in Round 1 in his first 18 seasons as an NFL head coach, takes one in Round 1 for the second year in a row.
============
Jim Thomas' NFL Mock Draft picks
Team-------------- Jim Thomas' pick
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State
Tennessee Titans Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
Jacksonville Jaguars Dante Fowler, DE, Florida
Oakland Raiders Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama
Washington Redskins Leonard Williams, DE, USC
New York Jets Vic Beasley, OLB, Clemson
Chicago Bears Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
Atlanta Falcons Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
New York Giants Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State
St. Louis Rams Brandon Scherff, OT, Iowa
Minnesota Vikings DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville
Cleveland Browns Danny Shelton, DT, Washington
New Orleans Saints Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska
Miami Dolphins La'el Collins, OT, LSU
San Francisco 49ers Bud Dupree, OLB, Kentucky
Houston Texans Breshad Perriman, WR, Central Florida
San Diego Chargers Andrus Peat, OT, Stanford
Kansas City Chiefs D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida
Cleveland Browns (from Buffalo) Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
Philadelphia Eagles Landon Collins, S, Alabama
Cincinnati Bengals Ereck Flowers, OT, Miami
Pittsburgh Steelers Marcus Peters, CB, Washington
Detroit Lions Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
Arizona Cardinals Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
Carolina Panthers T.J. Clemmings, OT, Pittsburgh
Baltimore Ravens Cameron Erving, C, Florida State
Dallas Cowboys Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia
Denver Broncos Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma
Indianapolis Colts Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest
Green Bay Packers Jalen Collins, CB, LSU
New Orleans Saints (from Seattle) Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri
New England Patriots Arik Armstead, DE, Oregon
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